"The mom cooked funeral potatoes so I think she is basically a Mormon..."

I have so many crazy stories for this week that I am not sure where to start.  I want to start with the little miracles first, and then tell you about the amazing opportunity I had on Friday.  AH I AM SO EXCITED TO BE EMAILING TODAY!

OKAY! So first off, we found SEVEN investigators this week.  One is a family of four, mom and three kids. The dad is less-active in the church. and let me tell you, they are GOLDEN. They want us to come over every Saturday and teach them and we had dinner with them on Saturday and they are just absolutely incredible.  The mom cooked funeral potatoes so I think she is basically a Mormon.

We went on exchanges this week.  My new sister training leader is a lot like Sister Eyre in a lot of ways so I had a lot of fun on Tuesday.  We taught the ****** and found out a lot about their religious background and how we can best help them.  They have religious trust issues.  They found out that they were lied to as children in the ******** church so they are a bit cautious, which I think is a total blessing because they will definitely recognize the truth when they feel it.  I absolutely adore them.  We went back to see them on Thursday, and they were too busy to meet with us, but ****** said that she read the pamphlets we left with her and she wants to read all the ones we have and do all the cross references for the Bible/Book of Mormon.  She is really trying to learn what is true and what isn't.  I'm really excited to go back and teach her this week.

We got six referrals from the *****.  They are an awesome family!

*****, another investigator, read Alma 32 like we challenged and was amazed when she realized that the Bible and the Book of Mormon teach the same things!  She's another one I have a lot of hope for.

I got the package!  Thank you so so so so so so so much. It came one day before it got FREEZING here! also I got Kenface's (McKenna) letter. Tell her she will have one shortly!

And now for Friday.

Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy came to speak at our half-mission conference.  Three other missionaries and I got to sing in the conference.  I was absolutely terrified, because:  1. I was singing in front of over 100 missionaries, President Killpack and his wife, and his counselors; 2. I learned the song two days prior to the conference; 3. I was singing the 2nd soprano part (alone) at 8:00 in the morning, and had to hit a high E. and THEN to top it all off; 4. a general authority was there.  Surprisingly, I think I actually hit all the notes.  Before the conference started Elder Johnson came around and shook hands with all of us.  I thought that was super cool to get to shake hands with someone who is really close with President Monson.  He was telling us about the last time he got a letter asking him to speak in General Conference and he read, "You will be speaking for 12 minutes, following Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf."  His reaction: "Great.  HOW am I going to follow THAT?!"  Hahah.  I liked him.  He was way funny.

After the conference, we all were eating lunch, and one of the APs came up and said, "Sister Chatterton, make sure you stick around for a bit after pictures.  Elder Johnson would like to have a personal interview."  My first thought, "great. what did I do?!" and then in the interview, he was so laid back and kind and I KNEW that he had such a strong conviction of this gospel and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to spend a few minutes with him.  Out of over 100 missionaries, he picked me to come and talk to him.

I KNOW that this is the one true church on the face of the earth.  I know that it is Jesus Christ's church; the same one that He set up when He walked this earth.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true.  I know that we can each receive help and comfort from reading it.  Up until two weeks ago, I wasn't sure why I was really serving a mission, but I know now that there are lives that I need to touch because of my testimony.  I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to be serving, and for my amazing, incredible parents who have provided me with the means to come out, not just temporal means but spiritual means as well.  I love this church.  I love knowing who I truly am -- a daughter of a King.  I love knowing who I can become.  I love all of you, so so much.  Thank you for your support and care.

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!!!

Sister Chatterton

Norma Lee who?

I met this really great family in one of our wards.  They're really friendly and funny and cynical and YouTube stalked me and now make fun of me for the high-out-of-my-mind wanting to kiss someone video (to explain:  this would be the video we posted after she had her wisdom teeth removed last December).... haha.  Also another family I love . . . the mom looks like a fairie.  They're having us over for Thanksgiving.  Their little boy drew me a picture.  I like them.  We taught ***** this week, and she is a fireball. She refuses to read the Book of Mormon until she knows it's true and that's fine and all but she won't know it's true until she reads it!!!  I'm basically at a brick wall here.  We might have to drop her, which is sad, but I know she feels the spirit when we're over there.  When we were teaching her she was asking where the evidence is that the things in the Book of Mormon actually happened.  Her reasoning was that she couldn't see them and she can see the streets that Jesus walked on in Jerusalem.  So, without thinking very much I said, "Well, how do you actually know He walked there?  People could be making it up."  She thought long and hard about that one.  I hope someday she comes to know that it's true, but I don't know if it will be in this lifetime.  We will be teaching her tomorrow.  I'm terrified.

We got a new ward mission leader for one of the wards.  He's awesome.  I knew I'd like him because when we were at dinner I asked one of the elders (who doesn't have a sense of humor), "So are you like severely blind or what?" and Brother Dougaard said, "..so are you like severely retarded or what?" I laughed so hard at that.  I like it when people make fun of me.

We went to a potluck! it was fun. I like Hawaiian food.  I also met another family I like a lot.  Their names are the ***** .  Super friendly.  Recent converts.  They have piercings and tattoos and I love them.

The second time we taught ***** this week, we showed her elder Holland's testimony of the Book of Mormon.  I cried the whole time.  I don't know why I keep crying so much, but I do.  A lot.  Not sad crying. Like spirit crying.  It's very out of character for me.  I'm disturbed.  But I realized how strong my own testimony is of the Book of Mormon and of Joseph Smith.  I never realized how much I believed it until I had someone questioning it.

We taught a total of 26 lessons this week.  It was a really really good week.  We also had interviews with President Killpack. 

Talk to you next week! Love you! BYYYEE!

ps  Christmas is SOOON!

pps  We watched Mr. Krueger's Christmas (I'm sure i spelled that wrong)

This is my only picture this week!

COUNTDOWN CLOCK WEBSITE

"I'm not typically one to go talk to random tattooed men . . . "

Sorry we didn't get to write yesterday!  (Libraries were closed due to Veteran's Day)  But anyways, this week was absolutely amazing.  We saw SO many miracles.  I can only write about a few cause we don't have much time, but whenever I get a real-life letter from y'all I'll send one back with more info ;)  Haha. (Yes, this is a bribe) but anywayyys . . .

 

We left our phone at a member's house Sunday night which typically isn't an issue except on Sunday when you have to call in your numbers and if you don't apparently everyone freaks out and thinks you're dead.  So that was fun!  But Monday morning when we were going to pick it up we saw this biker on the side of the road.  He looked like he was in distress.  Sister Gibby said we should stop to see if we can help. Now, I'm not typically one to go talk to random tattooed men on the side of the road, but it felt okay, so I flipped a U and we asked if we could do anything for him.  He needed a ride to his house to get an extra chain because his broke.  We aren't allowed to have anyone in our cars, so we said we would be right back with someone to help, and we got his number.  We went and got our phone (we had three million notifications) and we and the member went and picked him up and took him to his house.  He had a lot of questions about Mormons and told us about his life and we got to share with him what we do as missionaries.  He rejected a Book of Mormon, but he took a mormon.org card.  I'm sure that he will remember the kindness of the members of our church, and I'm so grateful for my airheadedness and the fact that I spaced grabbing the phone because we were able to plant a seed.

 

WHATABURGER!!!  This is one happy Texan!

 All in all, this week was the best one I've had.  Plus, I turned five today (Mom:  meaning that she's been out five months today!)  That's exciting. :)

 

Tell the family hi from me!

 

p.s.  Brandy sent me a package of Japanese candy!  SHE'S THE BEST.

Title: "My monkey toes are not good at gripping pencils" or "Glow sticks. We threw a rave." (I can't decide which title I prefer -- Mom)

The Field REALLY IS white!

Mom,

This past week has seriously been so incredible.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new ward and companion,  Sister Gibby.  She's 21 and a half and she's super tall and the most optimistic person I've ever met (without being annoyingly so) and I just adore her.  I think she was God's birthday present to me.  Also, (no offense) this birthday was one of the best I've ever had.

Me & Gibby -- My Birthday Present!

Gibby uses a magnifying glass -- cause she's so old!

Tuesday, we went to sports and unpacked (after her transfer to the new area) and taught a lesson to Shyann and Baylee (that IS how they spell their names).  They are getting baptized this Friday!  They're super sweet girls.  Their aunt was baptized recently and they've been going to church basically ever since! Wednesday we had a district meeting and I was challenged to draw my face with my foot.  My monkey toes are not good at gripping pencils.  It was a failed attempt.  Thursday we had to be in at 7:00 so we watched Finding Faith in Christ and played with glowsticks and made and decorated rice krispie treats. Friday we found a new investigator!  We're working a lot with less actives.  Saturday I had to take benadryl cause I got hives and promptly fell asleep.....

Birthday Rice Krispies

"Glow Sticks . We threw a rave."

So, as usual, I've been super annoying for the past month because my birthday was coming up and I was just SO excited about it! and everyone kept telling me not to get my hopes up because birthdays on the mission are no fun.  BUT they were all wrong.  I got a call from the elders who serve in our wards and they were like "uhhh.. your mom sent us a package."  So they brought it over (Saturday) and dropped it off to me and I know I should have waited but I totally opened it right there without waiting and i'm a terrible daughter but I'm so glad I did cause I got to wear my new clothes and jewelry ON my birthday (sorry) but i was just super super happy and then I got home and I had TWO letters!  One from Brandy and one from Justin.  I love that Brandy writes me.  She's such a fun lady.  So then Sister Gibby and I went to bed and the next morning I woke up and Sister Gibby had put up birthday signs for me and she's just so precious and nice.  Made my whole day.  We go to church and she literally tells EVERYONE that it's my birthday.  So I got PLENTY of birthday wishes.  One of the elders in our ward gave me a really neat book for my birthday!  I also got a call from Sister Eyre.  LOVE HER!  We had dinner at the Bishop's house (IT WAS HIS BIRTHDAY TOO!) and then got to teach some young women and it was just a really great day.   Also, I had to sing in Relief Society.  Sister Gibby also likes to tell everyone that I sing so there is plenty of that happening. I'll be singing at the Tucson Heritage Day, as well.

YAY! CAKE!!

Today we got taken to lunch by Brother Burger. It was a 50's diner and it was super cute and really really good and then they sang to me.

Little Anthony's Diner -- Love the Burgers (no pun intended)

It was really, really good!

They sang to me!

Q&A (from my letter since I still have to ask the mom questions):

Do you have lots of people to teach?  WE HAVE TONS.

Are the members nice?  Yes, very very nice.  They're all funny, too. must be something in the water.

How is it working with two wards???  Working with two wards is good, except we are at church for 7 hours every Sunday.  No complaints.  But maybe a little complaint.  That's a LOT of attention.

Do I understand correctly that you are living with a member?  Yes, kind of.  We live in a house attached to their house I guess. 

Is she nice?  They are a very nice family. 

How is it going with the new companion?  (See above -- "God's birthday present to me")

FIRST OF ALL DID I HAVE THE RIGHT ADDRESS FROM THE MISSION HOME FOR YOU?  NO.

Did you receive your package?  Yes.

I searched for things for you for a solid two weeks and was just more and more confused about what to send.  You did awesome, seriously. perfect job. I loved everything. Especially the fox because Sister Gibby and I were talking about foxes and the law of attraction happened and then I got a fox. (I answered her back to let her know that the fox was from her future sister-in-law and about all the hype of what a fox says!)

I hope for Christmas that you can help me out a little bit and let me know things that you are needing.  Yeahhh.. we will see.

If the address I sent the box to is correct then I will plan on sending out your coat, sweaters, etc., this week.  STILL SEND IT THIS WEEK. 

Have a great week, y'all!

The North Zone