Heavenly Father Loves Me

Dear Family,

 Korri and Matthew. They are getting
baptized this month and just
moved to Colorado Springs!

         I'm not sure if I have told you about this experience yet so forgive me if I have but you will soon understand it’s relevance.  While Sister Totau was "out of commission," needless to say, I struggled. We had just picked up several investigators and our area was starting to really move along. I was restless, I wanted to be outside. A few days before she was moved, we received an online referral from a lady who was looking for someone that spoke Chinese to teach her about the gospel. I felt it was an answer to prayer and was excited to make contact with her. We went to visit and we came to find out that she was actually "not ready" at the time. Her daughter met the missionaries in Sacramento and was just baptized last week. But all of this seemed to be happening just "too fast" for her. She is older, having health problems and said that she just doesn't have the time. She is used to her traditions. We knelt with them and I offered a kneeling prayer. I felt the spirit strongly. I left with my head hanging down that day disappointed with the way things had happened. There were lots of other family members there. One that stood out was this lady’s daughter.  While we talked with the woman, her daughter ran into the kitchen to grab us water and a bowl of strawberries from their farm. (They grow the most DELICIOUS strawberries you have ever had in your whole entire life!)  She was grinning from ear-to-ear and was so anxious to help us.

         Time went on. That was over a month ago. Then I found myself praying the other day that Heavenly Father would just let me know that He loved me. I went to church that week excited for our investigators to be there. We had invited 6 of them and they had all committed to come. None of them showed. Then... at the very last minute, in walks the daughter with one of her 2 sons! She had never been to church before, but her sister Yien (the one that was baptized last week) came up to visit and invited the whole family. She was the only one that accepted. Her son knew some of the members of our ward because they are teachers at his school. We are going over to teach them in just a couple hours. I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father. I am thankful for our trials and the miracles that come if we are truly faithful and honest through them! Thanks so much for all you do! I love you all and pray for you all the time!

Love,

Sister Mitchell!

Lasting Change

Dear Family,

         I know that the Lord gives us trials because he trusts us and knows

that we will be refined by our experiences. This week I have found myself wondering just how many things the Lord wants to "trust" me with. The stresses are too many to number but I feel closer to my Father in Heaven than I ever have before. I don't feel that stressful panic that I felt earlier in my mission but more of a quiet "building" of my worries with the quiet understanding that "this won't last forever."

         Our biggest struggle right now is with fellowshipping and reactivation.  We feel like we have been so successful in our finding and teaching and even have people lined up for baptism soon. But our difficulties come in getting people to "STAY." This is not some type of "program" to find more members or simply a "hobby" for the time being. But this is a way of life. This is bringing people to know of the life-long joy of living Christ’s gospel. Taking upon ourselves His name is something that we do daily. It’s difficult at times and we often get discouraged. But that is exactly why we need to be right there for each other to strengthen and uplift one another. I love this

gospel and I know of the joy it has brought me in my life. It pains me to see people have an attitude of "I have done enough" instead of "what more can I do?" I am thankful for the opportunity to serve and to be uplifted by this ward. We have WONDERFUL members with powerful testimonies. I hope that they can share it. Even just the simple truths. I hope that they can share the happiness they feel or the peaceful comfort that comes in times of despair. When we share the gospel with others, whether it be those we home and visit teach or it be a neighbor... we cause within ourselves a "lasting" change of heart. We are reminded of the joys we experience and we are enlightened by inspiration to know how best to help these people. This is a work Sister Simons and I cannot do on our own. I love you guys so much. Thank you for everything you do to keep me out here. You guys rock! Have an incredible week!

Love,

Sister Mitchell

Refreshing!

May 15, 2012 (I forgot to post this last week)

Dear Babes,

       It was soooooooooo good to talk with you on Monday! I just can't even tell you how grateful I am for all three of you! This week has been incredible! On Sister Simons’ first day here we had a lesson scheduled about 30 minutes after her arrival. We dropped off her stuff and then got right to work. When we showed up for the appointment, no one was home. There was a woman across the street catching some rays and we went up to talk with her. She is 8 months pregnant. She has a lot going on with her right now and things are hard. We talked about how the things we have to teach will bring a "relief of burdens." She has never felt that in her life before. She just jumps from one trial to the next, not ever knowing when she will "catch a break." She is now one of our investigators and the following day we had a lesson with her in which

she offered a prayer. Kneeling in her living room with her it felt like 5 minutes before she finally said..."I'm not sure if I can do it." My heart breaks to think of all she has had to deal with in her life without His constant guidance and support. She eventually offered a simple prayer and the spirit was so strong. You could TELL that she wanted so badly for Him to hear her.

       Later on that same day we were left with only 30 minutes before our dinner appointment. We pulled over the car and pulled out the map. Sister Simons thought I was CRAZY when I asked her to say a prayer. She said..."Are you serious? You want me to pray to know where to go even when I don't know a single one of these streets?!?!?" So we prayed and after a short while a street was picked. We gathered our materials and went to knock on the first door. A man opened the door. Now... when I say, "open" the door... what I really mean is that he opened it a crack and talked to us through a steel black screen door. We talked with him about his life and religious history. (All the while never seeing his face) Until several minutes later a woman’s voice said, "let those poor girls in." He opened the door and we sat with them in their living room. His father had just passed away and before he did, this man had wondered if he would "make it." He was a man that was a little rough around the edges and he worries what truly happened to his father. They live right next door to two families in our ward and their son used to be friends with a Mormon boy in High School. It’s incredible all the experiences that go together in someone’s conversion. I am so excited to have Sister Simons here with me and to be able to be completely reliant on my Father in Heaven for the success in this area.

Sis. Mitch & Simons
(compliments of Sis. Taylor)

       Poor Sister Simons never gets to eat. I always schedule lunch in as a backup plan if we even have time and I think she is about to kill me. She always calls it "Hangry." She gets "Hungry & Angry." But I just know that if we work hard and sacrifice, the Lord will know that we are truly ready for those prepared people. It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, what counts is where you are going. I am excited for the lessons I will learn this transfer in patience and humility and for simple reliance on our Heavenly Father in EVERYTHING.

Thank you for your support and for all you do. You are incredible people and I am soooooooo lucky to call you mine! I got a phone call on Mother’s day from Sister Adamson, Totau AND Garfield... all telling me to say hello to "Mamma Mitch" or "Mamma Palangi." So you have definitely won their hearts from afar. Happy Mother’s Day! I LOVE YOUUUUUUUU!

Love,

Sister Mitchell

Long Time No See

Dear Family,

Sis Totau in Gospel Essentials 

Sis Totau and her faithful
companion Sis Mitchell

         It is like a breath of fresh air to finally get to check my email. As you know, it has been an interesting couple of weeks with our fun little stay in the hospital due to Sister Totau's break. The members of our ward and President and Sister Weston were incredible! It almost brings me to tears when I think of how much they did for us. I can tell you one thing from all of it though. Our Heavenly Father truly does love us with a love that is infinite and full. I felt a little piece of that love as I have taken care of Sister Totau this week. It has not been easy for her. She wants so badly to be working and her health won’t allow her to do so. I can't fully describe to you how much I love Sister Totau. She has taught me so much about giving of myself and having faith, patience, and abounding love through trials and hardship. She has made a profound impact on my life and has shown me countless times what it is like to be "Christ like." Tonga is a little further away than I would like it to be.... but I know that distance won't stop us. She has become such a dear companion to me and I know we will be life-long friends.

         That leads me to my next sad subject... She got transferred! She will be in the Antelope 4th ward to finish off her mission while she heals. And as for me, I will be training. I get to pick up Sister Simons in an hour and I'm so excited! I have a good feeling about this chica! I know we are going to see miracles together.

         Well, all is well here. We have been home bound for quite some time and I am eager to get back out and be working. Gordon is here at the library again today and it’s incredible the progress he is making. He has not been meeting with us formally yet, but we talk on the doorstep and we seem to run into him all the time. I love you all and am so thankful for your patience with me these past few weeks. Sorry that I was not able to email! I love you guys soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much! Have a fabulous week!

Love,

Sister Mitchell

 (Photos are compliments of Sister Taylor--one of the fantastic members in the Dry Creek Ward)

Sister Totau's poor foot