The Perfect Exemplar.

Dear Family,

         It’s hard to know even where to start! We had a great week! I have felt a little more myself this week than I have in a loooooooong time. President Weston always talks about the "pace we choose to run." Well, I know you haven't been out here with me. But even though I face challenges sometimes and have hard days like everyone does, the "pace at which I choose to run" is always pretty fast. I don't want to slow down for a single second. I just, I know how important it is! I have seen the blessings that come if we truly do "give our all."

         Ever since I came to Auburn I have wanted to just plow forward, but kept hitting stumbling blocks of "tradition" and "the way it’s always been." It has been a battle with myself to truly and deeply appreciate the work that has been done here but still be able to lift. I am so thankful for Jesus Christ and His example. I don't think it would be possible to know how to be a friend, parent, teacher, companion or leader if we weren't able to read and feel of the love He had for those He served. He truly is the perfect "exemplar." He was able to lift all those around Him. His intentions were always made clear by the love in His eyes and His vision of the purpose of this life. When words of correction were given it was with wisdom and an eye of futurity. This week I feel I have come to understand better the reasons why He lifts those around them. When I say I felt more like myself this week; I felt like we spent less time in the car and more time talking to people! When we did this I could feeeeeeeeeeeel the difference in my day. The experiences you have in a day when you move aimlessly from appointment to appointment could NEVER be matched by the way you feel when you get to look into the eyes of God’s children and truly know them. Know their fears and their worries. Know their hearts. And then be able to sooth those worries and those cares. There is nothing that fills you up more! I guess I just battled with myself these past few weeks. Every time I tried to move at the pace that I knew the Lord would have me run, I felt like I was stepping on toes or that I was "breaking tradition." But I have felt strongly this week that when I choose to run at that fast pace with positivity and a smile on my face, no matter the opposition I face... the love that I feel is contagious. My companion and the ward will begin to feel of the joy that comes from working hard and from truly giving our all. Sister Elliott and I are doing great and this week we even found TWO new investigators! We were talking to a man on the street who was blowing leaves on the side of the road. He put it on low so that he could blow our skirts off of us and when he did that we approached him and started talking to him. He had the motor running on his back so we had to speak loudly but even through the loud noise, the spirit was felt. We went back to visit him this week and caught him while he had family over. As we talked with him and his grandson, (who also lives in our area), about the gospel... he mentioned that he has a family member that just joined our church. His name, drum roll please..... is JERRY CREASON! (One of our recent converts that I sent you a picture of last week!) Then get this... Brother Creason had been thinking about giving Manuel a Book of Mormon. We had NO CLUE that this random man on the street whom we could have easily walked by was someone that a member of our ward had been praying for. It just goes to show how involved the Lord is in this work. He loves His children so deeply that He will remind each of us to act. WE are the ones that have the choice whether we want to be involved in this wonderful work or not. It is such a blessing to be tools in His hands to be able to lift and help His children. I love you guys so much and keep forgetting to wish you a Happy Late Anniversary! Thanks for all of your uplifting and encouraging letters. I really am doing great and loving life! I am so thankful to be a missionary! I miss you guys lots, but I will be having a talk with President Weston in the hopes that maybe he can at least let me extend for two more years? ... Do you think he will go for it? I love you guys to death! Hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving! Thank you so much for all you do for me!

Love,

Sister Mitchell

There Can Be Miracles; If You Believe!

Dear Family,

         This week was incredible! Sorry I didn't get a long email sent out last

The missionary that changed my life,
Sister Withers,  came back for a visit

week. But the crazy-cool experiences have been piling up. I love it here in Auburn--the people are incredible. Our area is so big that we really have to plan well in order to reach the amount of people we would like to each day. We have had the opportunity to talk to so many incredible people. Sister Elliott and I have really been trying to sacrifice and one of the ways that has been tangible is in our planning. Each night we really try to seek the Spirit’s guidance in knowing where it is that we should be.  I have tried doing missionary work "my way" before, and it doesn't quite work nearly as well as when we are consistently reliant on the Lord..   It is a lesson that is far too

easy for me to forget. I get so focused on doing "SO MUCH" that I forget to do the "right" thing at the "right" time. One cool experience we had with that principle this week was when we went to go see an inactive member.  She hasn't been active in the church since she was about 16 years old. She is married to a non-member and has two young boys that are living. Her oldest son died unexpectedly several years ago and it was really difficult for them. Sister Elliott had told me that missionaries had been out there before and the door was slammed in their face. She related a few other interactions members of the ward had with this family... but regardless of what we knew about them, we felt prompted to go. And so we did. Their house was WAY out on the other side of our area about 45 minutes out. It was pouring rain, our tire was flat, one headlight was out in the car and the odds just seemed to be very much against us.  Upon our arrival, we saw a car pulling out of the long driveway and so we had to back out so he could get out. When he saw us he rolled down the window to see if we were lost, only to find out it was the husband! He leaned up against our car, (once he saw that we were missionaries), and said, "How can I say this?..." I gave him a knowing smirk and asked, "Are you trying to figure out how to tell us you’re not interested in a nice way?" He looked at me with a smile and we were instant friends. And guess what Dad?!?! He works as a lab tech. We talked for quite some time in the rain until I had mascara running down my cheeks, haha. But the

consensus was that nobody wants someone to "force" them to believe something. Over the years, the feeling he got was that visits from the missionaries meant they wanted you to come to church! We talked about his belief in God and why it is important to him and shared the experience of loosing his son and the pain he still feels. As we talked, not about the church, but about the comfort that comes through prayer... he looked towards the house and said, "You better go in there and see my wife." We did so and had one of the most incredible experiences ever.  She had tried coming to church before when her son was born and got the feeling that people were telling her, "since she wasn't sealed to her husband she was a "bad" person." So many people feel as if others consider them to be bad. I know there are very few people that speak to others with malicious intent within the church.  But... unfortunately... we sometimes lack the full depth of the charity and compassion we should feel for others. Instead of saying, "They put themselves into this situation," our first reaction should be one of love and compassion companied with prayer. If we gave each other the benefit of the doubt—and instead of saying this is your "last chance," we said, "I will always be here for you,"--hearts would soften, people would change. We will now be meeting in that home once a week for a family home evening. I am so grateful to be a member of this church and to be able to see others through His eyes.     

Ericka and her children

               This week was made a thousand times better because I ended it by going to Ericka’s baptism back in Dry Creek on Saturday. President Weston gave me permission to go back and it was one of the most spiritual experiences on my mission. Ericka came over to Sister Rupp and I and said, "You know...I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you two." I sat watching her son Dylan as Ericka bore her testimony.

She is the most incredible example to me. She is like Alma, wanting 

to "Shout it from the Rooftops." Be expecting a visit from her once I am

home. This girl is FOREVER apart of my life and I am so happy I got to

The sisters I taught from Dry Creek

be there for this start of her journey. As I sat there with her, looking at Dylan, I knew that Ericka and her little family are going to do great things! I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you know how grateful I am for you and for the love and support I constantly receive from you. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! It truly is the best calling in the world! I love you all!

Love,  
Sister Mitchell

Reunited with Bishop & Sister
Wyllie from Dry Creek

I'm Running out of Titles. Written Nov. 13, 2012

Dear Family,

I only have five minutes left so this is going to be a short one. This week I had the opportunity to serve on exchanges with Sister Rupp. She came here to Auburn to be with me and Sister Elliott went down to be with Sister Tittle in Dry Creek. I found out that Sister Tittle

Mi companero; Hermana Elliott

(Sydney) is actually friends with Cyd Allbee!?!?! Small world right?

Welcome to Auburn!

This week went really well; we are really focusing on finding people to teach.  One of our investigators is married to a less-active member of the church and she is AWESOME!  She has four young kids and brought them to church on Sunday for the Primary program. I am always amazed every time she is in our gospel principles class because her understanding of the gospel is so deep and she just feels comfortable jumping right in. She talks so openly about how following the Savior blesses her in her life and it just makes everybody around her feel so good! Man, I really ran out of time fast but I do love you so much and hope that you have a great week!

Love,
Sister Mitchell

Bro. Creason, he is a recent convert
and is teaching us all about Bees!
He is the funniest man on the planet
and always has some kind of
new hobby like olive making,
canning, pie baking, marine biologist...
you name it, he's done it!

Bill & Norma
They are neighbors of ours
and she made me a blanket!

Believe in Your Purpose!

Dear Family,

         Things are incredible here in Auburn. I have been thinking a lot about our purpose as missionaries. We are to, "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End." So frequently missionaries get discouraged. We talk with a lot of people in a day’s time. Many might be busy or uninterested. They see us walking down the street and some may avert their eyes or try not to walk to close for fear that we might talk to them. I think for most, it’s just a fear of the unknown. Most assume that we might engage them in religious discussion. Call me crazy... but I have never thought of it as a "religious discussion." I have always felt, since being here, just this overwhelming love for all of God's children. It’s a beautiful day, you’re out for a walk, and you then have the opportunity to truly listen to these people; to hear about their lives and then to be able to boost and strengthen them. When you care for someone sincerely, you want to take away their trials and hardships and you want for them to feel peace. I am thankful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for all that he has done for us in this life... that healing balm. So many missionaries get so discouraged when someone slams a door or says an unkind word. So they turn back into their shells. They break down our purpose to just the first line to read, "Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ." They begin to think they can only do a "little" good. It saddens me to see discouragement or to see these missionaries, who have been called of God, loose sight of what we have been called to do. We are to increase our capacities, to strengthen our spirituality, and to be consistently striving to reach more people and help them to feel of His love. A particular part of our purpose has stood out to me recently. We found three new investigators this week whereas there have not been many for a long time. I keep wondering. What is the difference? Why are we finding people that are ready? I think it comes in the very next line, "by HELPING THEM RECEIVE." People may not recognize that they have a need in their life. They may not know that they need the peace that comes from forgiveness. But if we believe in them. If we can help them to open their hearts, make them think, ask the right questions, then we will be able to sit down with them in later years as they tearfully thank us for believing in them. I loveeeeeeeeeee being a missionary! We are working hard to find people to teach. I love the ward and the Bishop! Our Ward Mission Leader, Brother Godfrey, used to own a dojo.

         Things are just awesome! Thanks so much for your support and love and for all you do. I am still serving as an exchange sister and guess who President Weston assigned me to exchange with (even though they are really far away)!?!?!?.... THE DRY CREEK SISTERS! I am so excited to see Sister Rupp and Sister Tittle and learn from them. I love you all!

Love,

Sister Mitchell

Fall in Auburn! written Oct. 29, 2012

Dear Familia,

           Greetings from Auburn. This place is BEAUTIFUL! I love it here already. Sister Elliott is an incredible companion and I love her to death. She reminds me a bit of Alicia at times but then at others...she is completely different. She likes to dance, and sing, play piano, and tell me I sing off key... What does a "key" even mean? Haha. We get along great and have been moving the work forward at an incredible speed. We don't have any investigators. But have met some incredible people this week.

          Sister Rupp and I waited as long as we possibly could to show up at the mission office on Tuesday to transfer companions. After I had said goodbye to her and pulled away with Sister Elliott, I just kept wondering if I could really do this. If I could really leave the people I have come to love and still be able to connect with the people there in Auburn. Sister Elliott and I went straight to our dinner appointment and on our way, we passed this one spot at the top of the hill. Everything in Auburn is a hill. There is no flat land. There are TONS of trees and breath taking scenary. I remembered this particular spot very clearly. Exactly a year ago I had been on exchanges with Sister Carter and she had pulled over at the top of this hill so that I could take a picture. I didn't remember it until this very moment... but when I stood at the top of that hill with Sister Carter, I thought to myself, "I'm going to serve here." Later that night I looked back in my journal and I had written that same thing down. I hadn't thought about that at all but I just felt like everything was going to be okay. I know this is where I am supposed to be. I still remember sitting in church with Cyd's family the Sunday before going into the MTC and the closing hymn was, "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go." The same stands true. I will go wherever it is He would have me go.

         I know we don't need that kind of "proof" to know that things are right. But I feel like Heavenly Father has really blessed me with several "reminders" that he is aware of me and wants me to feel of His love. That very same night I was looking through the area book and found a name that the Bishop had JUST given them the week before to go contact. It was a move-in from Loomis. Her name was Sally High. She was a woman I was teaching in Loomis and our investigator, Rhonda, used to go and do service for her once a week. We went to visit Sister High and she told us that Rhonda still comes to see her once a month! Then... as if that wasn't enough... the very next day we went to a members home and something about her voice was so familiar to me. I couldn't put my finger on it until I finally asked and she is the sister to Lisa Ellis. Lisa was one of my FAVORITE people from Loomis. She hasn't been to church since she was about 11 or 12. I always felt such a close connection with her. The day before I left Loomis she said a prayer and the spirit was so strong. You could tell that she felt of His love for her. And THEN if that wasn't enough... on Sunday at church there was a young couple with a baby, Brother and Sister Madsen who were giving a talk. She looked SO familiar to me and she later approached me. We were in the same ward down in Tucson! Small world! 

         This change has been hard, but the period of time we have to serve the Lord with everything we have is so limited and I don't want to waste a single second. There are... a lot of changes that need to be made here? So poor Sister Elliott is newer to the mission and I think I am wearing her out a little bit. But she is a trooper and I am so thankful for how diligent and willing to work she is. When I first got here I was asking questions about the area and the people and her response to one of my questions was, "Yeah... your going to find that here in Auburn, we don't really teach. We more just visit and try to spread a little good." A piece of my sunk in my stomach. There are soooooooo many things that can be done here. We can do whatever the Lord asks us to. The next day we had a few spare minutes before our Harvest Festival at the church. We were just going to wait there but decided to go knock some doors when we met Susan. Susan is friends with a member of the church who is... not so active. When we got there she almost shut the door in our face until her dog came running out to greet us. We got to talking and eventually we were inside her house teaching the first lesson. Her love for the Savior and her honest desire to want to follow Him was so refreshing. She said that she has always thought of her body as a "temple" and it didn't make sense that people would cuss, or drink or spend their free time damaging themselves. She said she has always felt this way but has never felt like she could "fit in" anywhere. When we got out of that lesson Sister Elliott looked at me with big eyes and an open jaw and said, "I haven't taught like that since the MTC!" I had to giggle a little bit to myself. We always undercut ourselves with low goals and expectations. I love this talk called "O ye that embark." The Lord really does help us do more if we are ready to do it. I love it here in Auburn and am so happy to have the greatest family in the world! Keep us in your prayers while we find!

Love You,

Sister Mitchell