Staying in Dry Creek!

Hey Family!

         Transfers have come and gone and I am still here with Sister Totau! This is her last transfer so that means I will be sending her home. SCARY! One of my favorite missionaries just went home this morning, Sister Carter. Why is it that EVERY Sister that goes home ALWAYS stays the night at our place!?!?! I think it’s to remind me that this won’t last forever. This morning we all knelt together and she said a prayer with us. The spirit was so strong and you could see so clearly her love for the people of the California Roseville Mission.

         This week was INCREDIBLE! I had the opportunity to go to the Temple with Sister Withers, Adamson and Siemens. They said that the only mail they get is from you Mom! And I saw Sister Garfield yesterday and she said pretty much the same thing. The people in the office were making fun of me for how HUGE my package was! Haha. Thanks for all the love! Those Easter baskets are the best! I love you so much!

         The minute I walked out of the Temple I wanted to get back to work as sooooooon as possible! Both Sister Totau and I have really felt an urgency to this work lately. The ward here in Dry Creek really seems to be changing. It’s amazing to see their spirits lifted and to see the difference their attitudes and testimonies make in missionary work as well. The work here is nowhere NEAR where it used to be. We are teaching all the time and I just find so much happiness in being able to witness these people change their lives. I have a testimony of the Spirit. It’s amazing how He truly will guide us in our lives. I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with Sister Withers this week and we decided to walk to our appointments. (Firstly, so we could talk to more people on the way. Secondly, because these members here "love" us a little too much {aka feed us food}) But on the way we saw a random house. Antelope is a little (a lot) ritzier than Rio Linda so I was super out of my element. We felt like we should knock on this one

house on our way.  A young man, about 25, answered the door. We just said hi and he then said, "wait a second," and shut the door again. We waited for a while until he finally came back and sat outside with us. I'm running out of time but to make an incredibly long story short. He is a single dad, a member of AA, with no direction. He kept saying I just need someone to tell me there is "hope." It was crazy cool to see how the spirit works when we actually listen to its promptings. It is such an amazing blessing to be able to be led by the spirit in our lives. It reminds me that we are not alone and that we have a Heavenly Father who loves each and every one of us.

         I am sorry I didn't give a more detailed description of the week. We are all out of time because we have to go teach a Tongan woman that we met last week at the library! I love you all and I hope you know you are in my prayers! Thank you for you love and constant support!

Love,

Sister Mitchell!

What Kind of Love is This?

      I have been overwhelmed this week with how deeply I care for the people here in this area. They are special to me and I want so badly to see them find the joy in their life that they have been seeking. Sister Totau and I were in the neighborhood and felt that we should go visit a lady in our ward who has not been to church in several years. She has a husband who is not a member of the church. We got there and she came outside to greet us. I don't know her that well or know entirely too much about her life. (We

have only caught each other in passing one or two times) But we shared a tearful conversation about God's love for us and how deeply He cares about us and wants to hear from us NO MATTER what trials we face. I never was one to give hugs the way that Sheila does. But the more I come to love these people the more I want to just run around like a crazy person hugging everyone I meet!

         But even better than a hug is the teaching and accepting of Christ's Restored Gospel. What is His gospel!?!? We hear that all the time. It consists of so much and so how can I, in my short little time here, bring such a big message to so many people? It’s daunting to think of sometimes. I always wish there was more I could be doing. But my heart is full today and I know that as my love for these people grows, my desire to share my testimony of a living God that knows us and that wants us to have a real and lasting relationship with Him grows. I am so thankful to be here and so thankful for a ward that loved and nurtured me in my youth. I have realized how truly important it is to have members of a ward that will not only fully fulfill their callings as Home and Visiting Teachers but that will go beyond their duties and follow the promptings of the spirit with love. I could make you a list

right now of the people that helped me to be the person I am today. I am so grateful for a family and ward family that cared enough to

include me and teach me and to share their testimonies with me. I have felt the strength of those many things I've learned and you have no idea how often I pull from the love that I have felt there. I hope that every ward I serve in can learn to have the kind of love I

experienced in the Twelve Oaks First Ward.

         On exchanges a few weeks ago with Sister Love we found a woman and taught her the message of the Restoration. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she was excited to know that it was "Another Testament of Jesus Christ." She told us that she would be able to feel the spirit if that truly was a book of God. We left it, and our testimonies with her as we left. I was hopeful that when we came back she would have felt that same peaceful feeling that I get when I read the book. But... Sister Totau and I went back this week and she opened the door to return "our book." Something sunk in my stomach. We talked for a little while longer. But I have found myself asking this question a lot this week. "How could you not feel the spirit in this book?" I thought my part was done. She had the book! Now all she had to do was read and pray to her Heavenly Father to know of its truth! I have been thinking a lot about preparedness. The Savior teaches of the parable of "The Sowers," in the Bible. He talks of the soil and how some seeds are thrown to places where the conditions are just not yet suitable. Does it mean that they will never be? No. Is it bad sometimes that I am excited to come home and be a Visiting Teacher? Not in a trunky, "I want to go home" way. But in a, "WOW! I am amazed at how much of people’s success in the gospel is reliant on a Visiting and Home teacher." Without a Visiting and Home Teacher that TRULY and

DEEPLY cares for those they are called to serve...people get lost. I

have a testimony of this gospel and of the power of prayer. I know

that when I pray the Lord hears me and that he cares deeply for me. I know that if we pray to him in our weaknesses, he will make them strengths.

         I love you. I am so thankful for all that you do. Please know that you are in my prayers. I was thinking the other day about the Smith family and what an influence they have had in my life just from one little comment at girl’s camp. I love our ward. I love our stake! I love my sweet adorable family that goes to Disneyland without me! Have a fabulous week my loves.

Love,

Sister Mitchell

Be Diligent!

March 13, 2012

Dear Family,

         Woah Mom! You even wrote me from Disneyland?!?!? That is devotion! I can’t believe Wiew is in America now! That’s crazy! I am so happy for you guys and so anxious to someday go back to Thailand as a family. I hear so many wonderful things from my friends that are there right now. I almost died when I got that picture of Noi and Sister King! Craziness! One of my favorite Sisters, (Carper) is now serving in Bangkok as well. It’s so fun to think of them being in the same places that we were.

         Well, as you know, we had the privilege of hearing from L. Tom Perry. It was so amazing to be a part of that and to learn from him. Sister Totau and I sat on the second row and she gave the closing prayer. Afterwards he shook her hand and said, "You have a beautiful spirit. Let it shine!" I am so blessed to have such a faith-packed companion. I don't know if it’s a Tongan thing or just a "Sister Totau" thing...but in everything she does she is sincere. You can tell she just really REALLY loves people. She has the biggest heart. I love it!

         So that is what we have tried to do this week is to "let it shine." Sister Totau only has one transfer left and President Weston has been calling a lot to get stuff figured out for her flight home. It has given me some time to think a lot about diligence. When I arrived here on my mission, a missionary told me I had the "greenie fire" and that someday it would "wear off." I thought about this a lot. It bothered me. I am by no means a perfect person. I have made mistakes! LOTS OF THEM! But it seems when I am at the lowest of everything and feel as if I have nothing else to give, I find happiness in the gospel. I have felt a peace that can only be found by humbling myself to God’s Will. By relying on the Atonement and having a daily realization that everything we have been given, is from God. (I say daily because that’s how often I need to be reminded! Haha) I have felt this crazy awesome

comforting feeling and know, without a doubt, that my Father in Heaven loves me. I like this quote by Howard W. Hunter, He said, "What does the Atonement have to do with Missionary work?.... Any time we experience the blessings of the Atonement in our lives, we cannot help but have a concern for the welfare of others... A great indicator of one's personal conversion is the desire to share the gospel with others." And so... if we are truly striving to better ourselves. There will be no "wearing off." If we are truly seeking to be better and to be closer to our Heavenly Father we won't have to worry about how to "motivate" ourselves or to "push" ourselves to get outside and share the gospel. We will WANT it. It will be natural.

         I have just been thinking about that a lot. What happens to a

missionary to make them not want to work. To make them lazy? I think what happens is that they stop progressing. I studied this morning about diligence. "Diligence is steady, consistent earnest and energetic effort in doing the Lord's work." That is my goal this week, and for the rest of my life to be diligent. I have noticed the times I am not diligent are the times that I am selfish. I start to think, "Do I ALWAYS have to be the one to motivate?" "Why can't I just take a break and let someone else do all the work for a minute?" I need constant reminders that although the Savior fulfilled His assignment utterly alone... we don't have to. I forget sometimes when I start to feel bad for myself that I can rely on Him.

         This week was awesome! We picked up a new investigator. He is 10 years old and his mom is a less-active member of the church. She hasn't been since she was 16 years old. We taught about prayer and his mom was in and out of the room taking care of her other 3-year-old son. The lesson was simple and we were surprised at the questions he asked. He is a GENIOUS! But at the very end we bore our testimonies about prayer and that we TRULY do have a Father in Heaven that is listening. This ten-year-old boy started to cry. The spirit was so strong! It’s amazing the things that children can teach you. We asked him what are the things that he cares about in life and in his exact words he said, "To be honest with you, I'm kind of a church person, I think about Jesus and God a lot and don't focus too much on my toys or junk. That’s not as important." I couldn't stop laughing long enough to tell him he was right. RADDEST KID EVER!

         I hope you survive being at the house alone with Buddy Dad. It’s starting to be a tradition that Mom goes to Disneyland without you. Don't worry, we will take a trip together next year, get you Mickey ears, it will be good. I love you all and hope you have an amazingly fun week! Tell Wiew I say hi!!!!!!

Love,

Sister Mitchell

Thai Food Madness

Ashley's letter from March 6, 2012

Dear Family,

I miss you all soooooo much. This week has been fabulous. We had  the opportunity of going to President and Sister Weston’s home for a

"Sisters Training."  It was such an excellent opportunity to meet all of the Sisters in the mission and to feel the spirit. One of the things that Sister Weston taught about was selfless service. We read about Mary and Martha and how different their roles were. One got to go and listen at Jesus' feet and the other was busy serving. It’s easy to serve when we are recognized and praised for our service. But it begins to get difficult when we feel we are unappreciated. We turn inwards and think more of ourselves wondering, "Why me?" That is something that I have been guilty of lately when times get hard. We all have different talents. Some are to lead, teach, testify, love, to be teachable. We all are here to give the "better part." That is something I have had to re-focus in on this week. I have wasted too much of my time feeling sorry for myself or wondering "why." There is a strength that can come from recognizing the talents that Heavenly Father has given us and then rising up and boldly sharing and

cultivating those talents. Be grateful for your talents!

          Well I had a major cooking fail this week. We have been working with this less-active woman in our ward. She has four kids and a

husband who is not a member of the church. In our conversation the

other day I somehow ended up offering to cook Thai food for them.

Yeah....that didn't go so well. Let’s just say we will leave the Thai

food cooking to Mom... Haha. But the conversation was good and we got

a few laughs out of my soggy pad-thai. It is amazing to see the change

in her husband. Each time we come over to the house he moves closer

and closer to the front room. He tries to listen without us knowing that he is listening. He is a little rough around the edges but it comes from having such a hard life. He has a lot of pain and a lot of anger. It almost hurts to see how much of it he holds onto when the steps to let go of it are right at his fingertips. I am so thankful for the Atonement. It truly is the center of what we believe and the only way we can grow and progress. There is so much comfort that comes in the knowledge that, although we are not perfect, we are loved anyways.

I heard Sister Taylor keeps sending pictures home of me! Haha. Oh my goodness I love that lady! She is one cool chica and I have learned a

lot from her. She always gives me updates on Sundays on how my family

is doing. She knows more about you than I do! Well I love you all soooooo much! It’s so awesome to hear about all of your missionary experiences! You gave out a Book of Mormon!?!?!? Dang Dad! You’re a champ! You go boy! I am so proud of all of you for sharing that happiness you have found with others. I love you and hope all is well! Oh! And L. Tom Perry is coming to speak to us on Thursday and Sister Totau is giving the opening prayer! NO BIG DEAL! I am so excited. President Weston has asked us as Sisters to come spiritually prepared to receive the answers to our prayers we have been seeking. I love you all! Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Mitchell

Dinner at Sister Taylor's

Sister Mitchell and Sister Totau had dinner at Sister Taylor's house and she was so kind to send some pictures.  Thanks Kristy!

Ninja Missionaries  of Dry Creek Ward

Sister Mitchell fancies herself
to be a Ninja Turtle!

Sister Taylor said they were wielding the Sword of Truth and Righteousness!  Personally, I just think my daughter likes to play with knives:)

Peace!

Hey Family,

I have to make this one real quick. I only have ten minutos left on my

time! This week was awesome! We meet with an inactive woman whose son has brain cancer. She has already lost one child and she is very

bitter. We were told by leaders and members of the ward that it

"wasn't worth it" to go by and visit her.  I felt a special connection with her from the moment we met. She is very bitter. And she is verrrrrrrrrrry angry. And when you bring up God...she wants nothing to do with it. But this week we talked about Peace and if she has ever felt it in her life. She thought for a long time and after a long pause said, "no." We talked about that peace and how she can have it in her life. In previous visits she was impatient with us, but this time she walked us all the way out to the car...almost like she was begging for more. I love you guys! Have an awesome week!

I am so excited that WIEW is coming to visit! AH! I'm jealous!

Love Your Guts!,

Sister Mitchell