Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Happy Turkey Day!


Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Greetings!!

Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope you have a marvelous time on turkey day with your family and friends.

This last week was great! A really cool part of it was that I got to shake hands with Elder Nelson of the 12 Apostles because he came to the Battalion. It really demonstrated the principle that sacrifice brings forth blessings. Elder Nelson came in the middle of a shift change at the Battalion so the Missionary Sisters who were in the process of guiding a tour had to be relieved. There was only one tour in process and I was the one to relieve them. While I was guiding the tour, I was praying for the tour, for charity, and for peace of mind because I was so sad that I was going to miss seeing and getting to shake Elder Nelson's hand. When I finished the tour, Sister Stallings (a Senior Sister) grabbed me, asked if I'd gotten to see Elder Nelson, and then pushed me towards where he was. So I did get to shake his hands, and because I had to wait until he finished his tour, to meet him, I got to take a picture with him as well!

We also had zone conference today. Zone conference was so good! I have so much respect for my Mission President, President Clayton, and his leaders in the mission. The zone leaders took about an hour to talk to us and they talked about following the Spirit and relying on the Spirit to do all things. It’s so true that with the Spirit we can do all things, but when we're prideful and try to do things our own way the work does not progress at the rate that it should. The Spirit is just so important in everything. Every time President Clayton talks he talks with the Spirit. I love watching him, especially when he listens to other people speak because you can tell that he's going heavenward and listening with the Spirit. I have a lot to learn from his example. I also got a candy bar because we've cleaned our bathroom, vacuumed the floor, did our dishes in the last 24 hours and made my bed. Woot! I'm getting all grown up, ha-ha.

We almost got dropped, then almost dropped again, and then ended up keeping Torino as an investigator. It was definitely an emotional roller coaster. But he still wants to learn and he's willing to keep commitments and progress now. So we are most grateful for that.

We had a miracle yesterday. We knew that this week was going to require miracles and a lot of prayers because we are at the Battalion every single night this week, and nights are the most productive times for finding and teaching people in our area. Also, it’s Thanksgiving, so most of our singles ward members are away at home, but the Lord gave us a miracle. My companion and I were just walking down the street to contact a less active and as we were walking I saw a man that I wanted to give a Mormon Battalion card to, and then I thought to myself "This is ridiculous. Why am I not inviting him to hear more about Christ?" So I did. He listened, took the Book of Mormon, has a return appointment on Saturday, and kept looking at his little baby son, Anthony, with the hope that he can be with his family forever. It was incredible. We're passing him off to the Elders in the family ward, but I know running into him was a tender mercy from a loving Heavenly Father.

I am just so grateful to be a missionary. I'm grateful for this opportunity I have to share the Gospel with others, to teach and testify that families can be together forever. This mission has been the best experience on my entire life. I'm grateful for the Atonement and the knowledge and experience that I have so that I know and can testify that the Savior never leaves us alone, that he is willing to forgive us of any sin, no matter how big or small it is, when we confess and forsake it. I am grateful for you, and for your examples and love. I am grateful that I grew up the way I did with the experiences that I have had. I'm grateful for miracles.

I am just so filled with thanks for this Thanksgiving season. I hope you all are too. Keep looking for the tender mercies of the Lord.

I love you so much!

Keep smiling, keep going. You are the best. =)

Love,

Sister Steph

Monday, November 21, 2011

"Pass it on"




Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Hey Everyone!

We had two members bring friends to church last week! Miracle.

So! The exciting news from this week is that Anna got baptized! Woohoo! But my goodness, it was a lot more stressful then it had to be, in a really hilarious way. We couldn't get a hold of Anna and we were planning on having her come early, explain more, give her more prep for the baptism and she slept in! So she was AWOL for like 3 hours. That's where faith comes in, right? Ha-ha.  She woke up about 10 minutes before her baptism and everyone was so worried about it, that we had to drive to her house. We had set almost everything up before everything got so stressful but we couldn't do the finishing touches. She showed up when her baptism was supposed to begin and we forgot to bring her a towel O_O hahaha. It’s so funny to look back on it, and embarrassing, but mostly funny. The sad part is that we didn't get any pictures with her in her white clothes. But really the most important thing is that she did get baptized and she has the Gift of the Holy Ghost and everything, everything is in God's hand. My favorite part of the experience was her receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. That part went perfectly. The Spirit was so strong, she was so prepared, so worthy and so ready for it. In her blessing it promised her that she would be OK in China and be a blessing to the people. She already is a blessing to the people there. She shares passages from the Book of Mormon with them and she is a gift to everyone that knows her. I really hope she goes to BYU for grad school.

Funny Story: Other than that, which really was the best part of the week, yesterday was another stressful day of hilarity. An investigator (who isn't even our investigator, or in our ward boundaries) wanted to come to our wards "Thanksgiving feast" since most of the people in the ward will be going home for Thanksgiving. But unfortunately his member friend told him the wrong time (an hour early) and the wrong address. So he called us, and told us that we had put him in "a hard situation" and expected us to fix it. Hahahaha. I think my face was turning red like dads when he's frustrated. We couldn't give him a ride, had NO idea where he was, and don't ride the buses in that area. *laughs* But sacrifice brings forth blessings. When we got to the place where he said he was, he wasn't there. However, it put us right next to a less actives house that we have wanted to visit which was way out of the way. We had a really neat lesson with him. His name is Yorbi. He's a special kid. I hope he ends up coming to institute and to church. He's ready, ready to repent, and start over.

Also, not really too important, but the Thanksgiving meal was incredible. =) My favorite part was obviously the mashed potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce. I'm pretty sure the cranberries were from Massachusetts. =)

This last week we worked a LOT with the members. It’s our goal to individually talk to every single member and commit them to do missionary work in some shape or form. It’s been so fun. I love meeting them and seeing how awesome they are, becoming friends with them, and showing how they can best show their love for there friends by sharing the Gospel with them and letting their friends see that what brings them stability and happiness is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I feel so lucky to be in this ward. It’s been incredible to hear each of their testimonies and to testify to them as well.

OH! This seems like so long ago! BUT! Obviously I'm still in the La Jolla singles ward AND! Dun, dun, dun, dun! My companion is still Sister Steven's! I get to keep a companion for at least two transfers again! Hurray!! We were so excited! We have our own separate transfer meeting for the Battalion and the new missionaries take a tour while we sisters hear about transfer. They pick two sisters every transfer meeting to give that tour, and those sisters are the ones that are staying together. Well we were just innocently sitting in the transfer meeting, convinced that Sister Stevens was going to go back to Spanish speaking when out of the blue we were told WE would be the ones giving the tour! Best feeling ever! We were grinning from ear to ear. Almost all of the other sisters got changed. Only two or three companionships stayed the same out of the 11 from last transfer and we dropped a companionship. Life is crazy. Life is good. =)

Anyway that's a little snap shot from my week. OH! No, wait! There’s one more thing. We added a former investigator named Collin. Holy cow, he's another one of those investigators who is ready even though he doesn't know it. He plays the guitar better than anyone I've ever met in my life, seriously. A member who is fellowshipping him had us over to dinner with Collin and his family and he told Collin to get out his guitar and play something for us; so crazy, so good.

My spirits are high! I love this work and I love my Heavenly Father.

Have an awesome, possum week!

SMILE!

Sister Tardiff

Monday, November 14, 2011

My 7th Transfer


Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Hello!

OK... crazy news of the week; It’s my 7th transfer starting tomorrow! WHAT? The people who have been here for my entire mission at the Battalion site are now gone. We waved goodbye to them as the bus came to drop them off at the airport. It’s really insane how fast the time has flown, and to be perfectly honest I had a nightmare about going home last night. I love you all dearly, but it’s a wonderful thing that I have so much time left.

This last week I would consider it being a week of refiner’s fire so to speak. We were doing everything we could to find people by working with members and meeting with people, but it was like going up against a brick wall. I'll be honest, I was a little bit frustrated, but it’s a good thing that I have Sister Stevens as a companion because she just has so much faith amidst everything and I love her so much for it. It was really incredible too, because when we talked about it, I was able to change my attitude from frustration to faith and endurance. Then miracles started to happen. I've learned a lot about personal attitude in this last week; about how faith and optimism are so incredibly important. I love a song “Walking in Sunshine” from the EFY CD “Courage to Stand Strong.” One of the lines says "Some times we forget how blessed we are. But it’s better when we remember, when we remember" It’s so true! I am so grateful for ALL the blessings that Heavenly Father has given me, and I am especially grateful for this last week because I've learned a lot about myself, and my weaknesses and just how very blessed I am. I just love this work so much! I'm grateful for the people and for the lessons and for church, and fasting. I'm just grateful for everything. I'd never trade it for the world. =D

This morning for companion study, since we're going to be at the Battalion after pday today, we decided to do the whole Battalion story. We were a little rusty because we haven't been there in four days but it was so funny. =) This Battalion and its story are going to be part of me for the rest of my life, and that is something that I am truly grateful for. They did so much because of their faith in Jesus Christ and their love for their Prophet, Brigham Young. I'm excited to give a tour again after four days. =) Bring it on world!

I've had some really good conversations with Sisters recently about the Atonement. The general consensus I've come down to is that we try to be as perfect as we possibly can - and then the rest - that's what the Atonement is for isn't it?

Some awesome things that happened this week: We got to meet with Will again. I swear he's just like Eric! It’s so fun to talk to him and teach him and help him understand what the Gospel is and how it can help him. He also went to the CES Fireside with us with Boyd K. Packer as the speaker and I think that was really good for him and for everyone else who got to watch it. Repentance is such a deep topic.  I'm learning more and more about it every single day.  We also got to teach someone named Maurisio. He's so cool. He has dred locks and everything and he has a deep connection with God and appreciates everything that he learns about God and our message. Also, Anna is just a gem as usual. She told us about how the Book of Mormon answers her questions and her friend’s questions and that she knows it’s from God and then she turned to me and said "Is that what a testimony is? Do I have a testimony?" I just love her so much and I'm so excited for her! It will be a great day indeed when she gets baptized.

My testimony of the Gospel is deepening each and every day. I love studying in the Book of Mormon and studying about Jesus Christ. I know this Gospel is true. I know it with all my heart and I know the Spirit can testify of it to each and every one of us. The Spirit is just a small taste of what Heaven will be like and I'm so grateful for it.

For this Thanksgiving season I want to say five things I'm grateful for every week and I'd love if you would do that too. =)

1) Being able to share the Gospel with others each and every day
2) My family
3) 7 - Eleven hot chocolate
4) Maps
5) Sister Stevens

Well... transfers are tomorrow, so for all we know life could be completely different next week. I'll keep you updated! I'm excited! I know the Lord’s hand is in this work, and everything definitely happens for a reason.

I am so happy! I'm so grateful to be here and I just know that I am having the perfect mission experience for me. Every step along the way is there because it’s exactly how it needs to be done. The Lord is just so perfect, and such a loving Heavenly Father in each of our lives. Sometimes He brings us low, but it’s only so he can lift us higher.

I love you all! Happy November 8th!

Love,

Sister Tardiff

Start of a new day






Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Hello!!!

That's so sad that Halloween got cancelled in New England because of the Nor’easter. Also it’s hard to believe that snow is happening right now... because... well... we definitely don't have snow here. Hey. I feel like my blood has warmed up or something because when it gets below 65 I’m FREEZING. I'm not even kidding, shivering and everything. I've become a wimp! I’m sure you're all laughing at me right now, but I am very content here in the 70 degree weather.  =) Did a lot of the trees get blown down? Last I heard the leaves haven't fallen off so I imagine with the snow it probably caused a lot of havoc.

But Halloween here was super fun! At the Battalion since we were all required to be in early at 5:30 and were required to be on shift at the Battalion, we still ended up having a Halloween party. I'm going to send a picture because about six of us used the kazoos that you sent mom, and played "How firm a foundation" hahaha. It was so fun. The Halloween package was a great success! Everyone was so grateful and so happy! The favorite was definitely the Kazoo's and the slap bracelets. =D They say thank you so much, just as I do as well. =) I also gave some of it to ward members and our investigators.

Speaking of investigators, at church it was so cute. People came up to Anna asking if she was visiting and she would respond "Yes, I'm visiting, but I'm getting baptized!" She's so excited! She reminds me of the people in the Book of Mormon who found the Gospel and just want it so much. Also, she finished the Book of Mormon last night. I think she might be my favorite person I've met on the mission. She's just so special.

Other than Anna, this week was decent. One of the other investigators, who I just love a lot, is named Melissa! She has so much real intent, but she also has a lot of questions. That's really what makes the difference in people. When people truly have intent and want to know that it’s true, that's when it makes all the difference, just like that promise in Moroni, if you ask with real intent. I'm excited to be learning from all these people, and to be teaching. I'm excited to keep teaching her.

We are still trying everything and anything to find people to teach. Singles wards are so different from family wards and it’s been a wonderful challenge to really learn how to rely on the ward for help. We've been able to find and teach people who are prepared to hear the Gospel, but we know there is always room for more ideas in finding these people. I just love being with people in this area. I love teaching people my age. It’s been an amazing 5 weeks!

I hope you are all having an awesome week as well! Enjoy the snow!

Well! Sure love you!

Love,

Sister Tardiff