PICT'S FOR YOUR PLEASURE AND ENJOYMENT!!

SISTER FITZGERALD ~ SISTER HOOD
BONDING THROUGH GERMAN CHOCOLATE COOKIES ~ YUMMMMMMMM!!

WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO MAKE GERMAN CHOCOLATE COOKIES!!
"THE DUCK" WILL BE VERY IMPRESSED WITH SISTER BEADIE MCDOODLE BERRY!!
SISTER HOOD & SISTER FITZGERALD

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO SISTER BINGHAM
SHE IS ONE AMAZING LADY~ I LOVE HER SO MUCH!!

OH BABY!!
THESE CHEESE STICKS ARE TO DIE FOR!!

READY ~ SET ~ GO!!
WE ARE MAKING SOME SCRUMPTIOUS STUFF TODAY!!

LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL THESE EDIBLE FLOWERS ARE SO GORGEOUS
 I JUST CAN'T BRING MYSELF TO EAT THEM!!

WE'RE TESTING OUR NEW FOUND SKILLS AT HOME!!

JUST TAK'IN IT ALL IN ~ I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M REALLY HERE!!
FEEL'IN SO BLESSED RIGHT NOW!!

I BET YOU ARE WISH'N YOU WERE HERE
EAT'N RIGHT NOW!!  HA!!

LOVE THIS GIRL!  SISTER FITZGERALD IS THE BOMB!!

YES!  WE ARE SO GOING TO GET ALONG PERFECTLY!!

I LOVE YOU SISTER SEELY ~ THANKS FOR MAKING MY EXPERIENCE SO POWERFUL AND AMAZING!!

RELYING ON THE SPIRIT IS THE ONLY WAY TO BAPTIZE NATIONS!!

What up e'rybody!! 

Wow. Where do I start!! Aw man! So!! Tuesday was transfers and so it was soo busy! At least in the morning. Sister Seely was just getting her mounds of stuff packed!  jokes, jokes. It wasn't too much stuff. I just say that because I know it will get her feathers ruffled!  It was good though! We took some selfies and she was gone...  but in the mean time of packing and waiting for the member, Sister Fitzgerald showed up! That was fun. She joined in on some of our selfies! She's so cute. She is from South Weber!! So between Ogden and Layton. She knows Jared Benjamin and Jessica Greer! Small world... We have had an awesome time so far!! 

We are on the same page and wanna get out there and work our booties off!! I have already seen why Heavenly Father put us together! I have learned so much from her! she is so passionate when she teaches and it makes it so powerful!! I'm amazed! She's also really good at coming up with these random analogies on the spot that go PERFECTLY with our lesson. Super awesome. Her thoughts blow my mind... she has this epiphany journal where she writes all these amazing quotes and stuff! So! I am starting one this week! It's gonna be great!! But she is from... guess where?!? UTAH!! Hahaha!!! Shocker.... but she lives in South Weber!! So only like 15 minutes from us!!!  it's also awesome because she came out 2 weeks before I did. So she will go home with me! She's a riot though!! We do duets in our opera voices... I play the man and she plays the lady.... hahaha... its super great!! We have lots of fun! We have tons of fun! We have also become good at going totally by the spirit! Of course we have plans and stuff but we most rely on what we feel! And it has been AWESOME!! So that's my new homie! 

We had 7 lessons on Thursday alone, then CRANKIN' 'EM OUT! And 23 was a our total for the week! The spirit is such an amazing thing! Just driving down the road and a prompting comes and we are able to have amazing lessons. It's so cool. I have learned a lot about that this week!! Relying on the spirit is the only way to baptize nations!!! 

So we went to the women's conference at our stake center!! It was amazing! But when we were supposed to be meeting at the church we were just on our way back from Sister Bingham's because we made German  chocolate chip cookies!! They are TO. DIE. FOR.... O MY GOODNESS!! And these homemade cheese stick things... they are super good!! So that was fun... but we got left... so we had to drive up to Anderson.... that was bad. But!! We had 2 gators there and we couldn't just not go... haha. It was super good! Kodi and Barbara came. That was great! Man. It was super spiritual. And my notes from that are on the thingy I sent y'all!! Super great! 

So after church yesterday, Sister Trapane called us and told us what Kodi said. So ya know at church, they talk about baptism and everything. And Kodi said that she "knows how to go about baptism".. so from what Sister Trapane said, she is thinking about it and loves, loves, loves the ward and how she feels there. But we all know that it's more than that... so that's our task tomorrow! Is to go over that and talk about it! So that will be fun! 

One more thing!! So we taught Margurate this week and that was great! We taught her the Plan of Salvation. She LOVED it!! She said she felt "something strange". She couldn't quite describe it but we all know it was the spirit! It was so great. One of the miracles we saw from following the spirit though. So last night at like 8:30 we had finished seeing someone and, it being Sunday night, we thought we should go put in lesson reports so we could be on time for numbers. But Sister Fitzgerald was like Nah! We can get one more! So that made me think of Margurate. I thought it was because she was close to the wifi but it wasn't.. haha. So we went and stopped by. We decided to show her Wrong Roads. It TOTALLY hit home with her! She was going on and on! She said that was exactly what she needed to hear!! It was so great!! Aw man... we were so grateful!! 

Your spiritual thought this week was an answer to my prayer on Thursday! So I had started my studies with the questions: "What can I do to be more humble?". I opened up my studies letting Heavenly Father know that this is something I want to work on. Slowly the spirit put thoughts into my mind and I wrote them down. I then felt prompted to search in gospel library "Be thou humble". (This is why we love iPads ) So I did and I found a talk with that title. So ya know, I read it of course. It's by Steven E. Snow of the Seventy. He starts off talking about hymns and how we got our hymn books and I was thinking "Heavenly Father.... are you sure this is relative...?" see there you go... I need more humility... shame on me.. But then at the very end of the talk he quoted President Kimball when he said "How does one get humble? To me, one must constantly be reminded of his dependence. On whom dependent? On the Lord. How to remind one’s self? By real, constant, worshipful, grateful prayer.”. And there you go! It's so amazing.. and it's funny because in district meeting the day before that's what we were talking about, prayer and having truly heartfelt, sincere prayers and not just making it a routine. Which I am somewhat guilty of in the mornings because I'm still dead.. BUT! Nonetheless, I have seen my prayers and my life change as I have really thought about what I want to say and let Him know that I am truly grateful for all of the blessings He has given me in my life. Most of them, I don't feel like I deserve.. what a loving Father we have. I'm so grateful for the gift of prayer. There's an EFY song that I love! The lyrics fit right in. It says "He hears every word that I say. He knows just how I feel. And I can pray for answers and I can turn to Him for peace, just to be heard. He hears every word." I know that to be true. I see it every day! For myself, as a missionary and for our investigators. Prayer is just so amazing!! We basically have constant communication with our Creator, our Father who is also the most powerful Being in the universe!!! Ahh! It's just so great... I just feel so grateful... ️

Also, not on the topic of prayer! But I felt like I should add this in! I like in that quote how it talks about our dependence.. well!! One of my very favorite scriptures came to mind, Mosiah 2:21. It talks about our dependence! I would love to invite you all to read it and let it sink deep into your heart! Let yourself be dependent upon the Lord. It's a glorious feeling to depend on Him. Who better to depend on than He who created all things, loves each of us so much He suffered and bled from every pore, then gave up His perfect life for each one of us? I can't think of anyone we need more than our Savior. I love Him with all my heart. If y'all can't say that, I invite you to get to the point where you can. Learn of Him, pray to know Him and soon enough, you will feel that love overtake your heart. It will change your life.. I know that is true because I feel it everyday! 

But yeah!! That's our week!! I learned a ton and my confidence in myself, the spirit and the gospel has sky rocketed. It's been amazing! I love you all so much! Thanks for all you do! I pray for y'all all the time! 

Love, 

Sister Hood!! 

GROWING PAINS WILL BE A REAL THING!!

Hey howdy hey!!!

Welp. The time has come when the baby bird must fly. Hopefully not straight into the ground..... Hah! Jokes.. I hope. But no!! Anticipation is terrible!! We found out that Sister Seely is getting the boot. She is headed all the way down to Antelope. So by the mission office. She is probably going to be biking so that will be great for her. She is stoked but super sad. I am too. She has been an amazing companion and a great trainer! Not to mention we have a blast all day every day!! I learned tons from her. As for me and good Ol' Corning, we are getting an amazing sister!! Her name is Sister Fitzgerald. She was living in the same apartment as Sister Cowden so when I went on exchanges up to Redding I talked to her a little bit and stuff. Sister Seely also went on exchanges with her and said she was amazing and so obedient. I'm super excited! But I will probably only be with her for a transfer. I will let ya know more about her next week! So, please pray for me... I need all the help I can get. Haha. Taking over is so stressful. Especially when "mom" isn't gonna be there!! Haha. Growing pains will be a real thing, but I'm excited to stretch and reach outside of myself more. 

Things are going great!! I watched a guy walk into the lady's restroom and watched him walk right back out with a look of complete awkwardness!! It made my whole day!!  we had 3 funerals in a week!! Dropping like flies... It's terrible!! A lot of people here aren't LDS so an LDS funeral still isn't as LDS as it is in Utah... It's different because the people don't understand or don't know what happens after we die so it's just a terrible experience for them. It makes me sad. But the talk about the Plan of Salvation really touched Margurites heart. She said it is amazing to think that our Heavenly Father has had it all planned out. So! That was awesome!! We also met a few people there. One funeral was a house full of J-dubs... Quite awkward lemme tell ya... Haha. It was good though. They're nice people but it's just awkward when you try to make conversation and they just kind of stare at you.... Gotta love 'em..  our ward is great! They do have some parties sometimes. Mostly linger longers every other month.  I wish they had more but there are some Relief Society activities that come up once in awhile. But they are awesome at fellow shipping and making everyone feel welcome!! They're like a family. 

This week has been a little rough, work wise. But ya know, ups and downs are what missionary work is. Sister Seely was sick so we just hung out at home and weekly planned. We kinda may have passed out for 2 hours. (Not literally mom. Just sleeping.. ) then I got a major headache and so that was great.. It was kind of nice to not do something for a day. But it is better to be busy, trunkiness will set in otherwise. Haha. It was super weird! The day before, in studies I went to put my iPad down on my desk and something tweeked in my arm and then all day, if I moved my hard wrong it would hurt SO BAD!!! Then it started to spread down into my thigh and calf... So that was kind of scary, but don't worry!! All is well now!  I love the power of prayer!! 

But let's talk 'gators! Tianna. We don't really think she is accountable... We can tell she has some kind of disability. But she is still wanting to come to church and ya know, maybe it will help her mom to get more into the church! Who knows! But yeah, we are probably just going to feel it out because at this point we aren't super sure. 

Michelle! Yes momma, she is still planning on moving... So unfortunate, BUT! Hearts change! It has also been hard with her because she has epilepsy which makes it hard for her to remember things. So we have taught the restoration like 3 times and she still doesn't really remember... That's a toughy too. But I'll have to tell ya about Brother Wallace!!! But first! Austin... He is struggling... He didn't come to church because he went out of town with his dad. Which shocked us a little because his dad beat the heck out of him.. But we also found out that he might be moving an hour and a half away to get away from everything here to LIVE WITH HIS DAD!! AHHHH!!! NIGHTMARE!!!!  so... Please pray for him.... 

But today was a great sacrament meeting!! We had a pretty good turn out! We had Margurate and Cam show up and they stayed for 2nd hour then bailed. Then a new investigator Kodi and her niece and nephew with her. Then... This made the whole day!!! So.. We were just sitting here next to Margurate, I happened to look over at the door and guess who is standing there!!!! RON!!! WHAAAT!!! I didn't believe my eyes! We hadn't seen him for like a month!! So he went by and sat on a row on the side. We talked to him after and he came to school then he left. He said he had stuff he had to do... But man... I missed his weirdness. Haha. He is a funny guy.  so that was great!! I took some great selfies for Sister Seely. And yeah, it was just good! We left Ward Council early to see if we could roust the Burrells out of bed... We didn't see them this week because it wasn't going anywhere so we decided to try a different approach. Unfortunately, they still wouldn't come... So that was a bummer.. But ya know. They have to want it. If they don't, we just have to let them go their way and be there when they decide they want it. So... We will be waiting!  

So I will tell you about Brother Wallace, then Kodi. So! We were teaching Michelle and were about to head out and Brother Wallace just had gotten home. We talked with him about his mom because she is trying to get back to church. He said she is working towards the temple. We felt inspired to ask him if he wanted to work towards the temple too. He said that he knows there was something more to life than what he was doing now in life. But for now, he just wanted to start with church. Ahhhh!!! So excited about that! They just need a little push and some love comin their way and they would be back into it. Terrible of me for doubting! Ah!! Terrible person.. Anyway! So! We are going to try to set up a time to meet with the family and Michelle alone during the week. But not this week because he is going to be hunting. So! That was exciting!! 

Now for Kodi! Well, a member, Sister Trapane had us for dinner and she invited her assistant, Kodi to join us. She is super spunky and pretty funny. So we enjoyed her company. We got to know her and apparently she felt comfortable because she wanted to come with us to the Relief Society activity that was right after dinner! So of course, she came and according to Sister Trapane, she couldn't stop talking about it! And she came to church this Sunday, so that was awesome!! They are super nice people. Very simple people. I love them!! 

Here's my thought for this week!! I found this scripture and I LOVE IT SO MUCH!! It's Romans 8:16-17-"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." It's just so amazing... But I was thinking about how we actually get to be heirs of God. It is born into our spirits but we have to work for it still. It's not just by good works alone that we receive everything God has though. It is by making and keeping covenants. Sister Seely and I were talking to Emily and Lulu about this yesterday. Covenants are like checkpoints. They are what perfect us and help us make our way back to Him and by keeping them, we are learning to live in a higher way,literally set apart from the world. I find that fascinating... What a merciful Heavenly Father. He loves us so much that He gives us checkpoints, or baby steps as I always say, to help us become and live more and more like He lives, over a lifetime and even beyond that of course. I'm just so grateful for my covenants that I have made and that parents made covenants and the rest of my family too. That's what it going to tie us together throughout the eternities. 

So! Going into more hard core missionary mode here, I want to invite each of you to pray about one way that you can more fully keep your end of the covenants you have made. Whether it be the baptismal covenant or those that we make in the temple, you pray about it, be ready for the answer and work on it. Make it a priority. I promise you that when you do that, each of you will become stronger and you will become, more fully, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. You will be able to more fully reach your potential as a literal child of the Almighty God.  

Well!! That's about it for this week!! Thanks for much for all you do. Especially for the prayers. Y'alls are great! Also, I'm sending home my notes and thoughts and quotes from the whole time I've been here. It's really long... But I just don't want to lose them. But you are welcome to read it if you feel so inclined. It's just some stuff from studies, zone meetings and conferences. But yeah! Pretty cool. But thanks so much!!  love you guys tons! 

Love, 

Sister Hood

TURKEY MOVIE FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT!!

FORGET ABOUT DOG'S
 WATCH OUT 
FOR THE TURKEYS!!

I'M A FLEA BITTEN VARMiNT!!

Hey Family & Friends!!

Yes, I am a flea bitten Varmint... I will explain later. 😊 but this week has been really good. It's your typical week, but there are always exciting things that happen during a typical week here in North Calfornia! I don't need anything that y'all can send me except the amazing love and support. Y'all do a great job at the by the way! 

So our 'gators are dwindling. We need to find new ones to add to our pool. But as for those that we have, Ron FINALLY called us back and informed us that his mother in-law passed away and he had been working outta town. So it's been busy for him. And, he didn't say it, he's just super flaky. But we talked with him on the phone for almost half hour and set up a time for to teach him. But he must've forgotten because we showed up and he wasn't there. His wife, Bonnie said he had gone somewhere.. But we just stayed and talked with her for a little. She isn't really interested right now but I don't think she really knows what we have to offer. Ron hasn't really shared anything with her, apparently. But ya know. 

MaryAnn. We are probably going to end up dropping her sometime soon-ish. She just won't come to church, read or even meet with us sometimes. She is just in a ton of pain. So I'm sure it's rough but we promise her blessings but she is so stubborn. Man, that lady has a hard head!! 

We met with Adam this week. That was really good. He is just way too smart for me. He using really big words and rants for a long time so I can't take everything he says in.. Haha. So that makes things interesting. But we had really good chat with him. He said he read the Book Of Mormon but not with an open heart. He read it more critically like a philosophy major would. So, obviously he's not really gonna find truth if he is criticizing it. And that's kinda what we talked about. We told him he had to have an open heart and really pray about it. It was good. He said he would do that. It's probably too soon to know if he is ready yet. But we are helping the process along. The spirit is working on him. He is super lonely and looking for something. So!! Maybe he will open his eyes and see what's right in front of him. 😊 

We met Tianna this week. She is 21 and super funny. She has some kind of disability but she is such a sweetheart! We aren't totally sure if she is accountable... BUT we invited her to church. No harm in that, right? 😊 She said she would this coming week because she had a football game with her dad last Sunday. But when we met her we just invited her to read the Introduction to the Book Of Mormon. Well, she was SO excited that it was more scripture! Haha. She said she was gonna read it and have a page of notes and then invited us back the next day! So we went back, there was no page of notes but! This girl kinda blew my socks off. Haha. She read ALL THE WAY TO ENOS in one day!! Crazy... Haha. She said she felt good when she read it but some of it was hard to understand. Very common. So, yeah! That's her! She is awesome and we will probably see her again his week! 

We met with Angelica and that was great! It's Emily's cousin! Emily is the one that is always in our pictures! She is our 3rd companion! 😊 love her!! Anyway!! We had been trying to meet with Angelica for a couple weeks but work and family stuff made it hard. But we talked with her and read 3 Nephi 17 with her. Which talks about Jesus blessing the children and how He cried with the people because He just loved them so much. So we talked about His love for her and if she could feel it. She said she couldn't really because she wasn't really putting in the effort. But she said she wanted a relationship with Heavenly Father. We showed her the video titled 'Our True Identity'. She really liked it. Then she prayed at the end and she thanked Heavenly Father that she was able to feel His love. It was SOOO great!! Ahh!!! I love 'gator prayers!! I love helping people feel that they are loved by the Almighty God because He is our Father which makes us ALL Gods! Well, not yet. But at least have that potential to be! 😇 

Then we met with Michelle. But just her, not her parents... 😒 she doesn't really remember a ton and has a childlike understanding. So we taught her very simply. It went well. But she told us that she is moving to Nevada because she wants to move in with her Boyfriend/Fiancé... 😒 BAHHHH!!!! I HATE SATAN!! He always ruins things... But anyway.. So she said she is going to do that in July... But we told her about the law of Chastity and how that is NO Bueno. But she still doesn't really understand, I don't think. Her parents have met the guy but they already don't like him.. So that will be a big explosion.... Aye yey yey!! Then they came home while we were getting ready to head out. We asked how they liked church... His face told all.. 😝 they probably won't be coming back. They are really stuck in their ways. He drinks a ton, apparently and we smelled smoke on her.. So! The planting of the seeds will continue! But please pray that Michelle will wise up.. It's a Bad idea.. But ya know. Agency. It's a blessing and a curse sometimes so ya, but she did come to all of church yesterday. So that was great!! I still love the Wallaces
but they just aren't quite "ripe" yet. 

So. We were knocking this house. It's the turkey house, if you remember the pictures I sent to y'all of the turkeys! Don't let them fool you... THEY ARE KILLER TURKEYS!!! Who needs a guard dog when you have 3 massive turkeys... Not pleasant! But makes for a good adventure!! Haha. They literally trapped us on the porch and we couldn't go anywhere!! Then I got up the courage to go around them then the scrawny one started squawking and coming at me so I plowed over Sister Seely to get back behind the fence.. Haha. Then after like 5 minutes she had to run for it and they started chasing her!! But luckily, human legs are much longer than turkey legs! Haha. Heavenly Father was smart with that one!! 😂 then I made it out. Sprinting/screaming for my life... How embarrassing.. They were probably watching out the window. "Crazy Mormons.." Haha. I have a video of it. I'll send it to y'alls haha. 

Then we had exchanges!! That's always an adventure! We met a family this week before exchanges happened... I was prompted to put them on our "Others" list.. BAAAAD DECISION!! Well. Let me tell ya. Todd opened the door and was like "Ohhh!!! Hello!!! Come in, come in!! Onya, look who's here! Mormon Missionaries!" My thoughts: "oh no...".
Then Onya came over and was WAAYY too nice.. She said she wanted us to come back another time because they were just heading out to church.. So we set a time for the next week. It was the most bizarre thing I have ever experienced... The feeling in their home, they were way too friendly! No one is ever that nice to us unless they're active members... It was super weird. We had decided the were J-dubs (Jehovah Witness)... Which they turned out to be... BAHHH!!! My last encounter with a J-dub was awful.... Such frustration. The spirit was not there. This one was similar... 😒 It started out really good. She listened to us and we listened to her and she wasn't passive aggressive at all. Then when it got to her comparing Heavenly Fathers title, Elohim, to a pagan god that's when I shut down or I would've blown up... She also was almost "in the attitude of mocking" Moroni... It really burned me up ... I haven't been that mad for quite awhile... The spirit was not there.. Only when Sister Saxey bore her powerful testimony, but then Onya opened her mouth... Sister Saxey, in her testimony told her that we will be judged upon the things in the Book of Mormon. So she felt like she kind of condemned her... But ya know. The lady was also getting all up in our grill about something else and Sister Saxey was SOOO blunt and was like "pray about it.." With that annoyed tone and expression. It was just so frustrating because all she wanted to do was be passive aggressive and rip the Book of Mormon apart. It was the most infuriating thing of my life.. Man... Nothing she even said made sense. She just kept contradicting herself.. Another thing she was picking at was when we bore our testimonies we both included that we had a feeling of some sort. She said that feelings can be of the devil too. "They just aren't a reliable source." BAHHH!!!!! Stupid... I don't even know.. I think that experience was supposed to be just a huge testimony builder about how lost people are and how huge of a job members have in spreading the truth. I need more charity.. 

But another thing that happened on exchanges. So the Burrells. They have promised they will be at church 3 TIMES now!! And have they.. Negatory captain!! So we had a little bit of a spiritual smack down. We shared with them Jacob 3:10-- "Wherefore, ye shall remember your children, how that ye have grieved their hearts because of the example
that ye have set before them; and also, remember that ye may, because of your filthiness, bring your children unto destruction, and their sins be heaped upon your heads at the last day.".. Hence the smack down.. It is them holding Lily back from being baptized and blocking their family from blessings.. It's so frustrating... But yeah. It was good but they still didn't come to church... 😫😳😝 STINKIN Satan!! Speaking of the Burrells.. This is where the flea bitten varmint comes in.. They have a little bit of a sketchy place and their dog was COVERED in fleas... And she wouldn't stay off my lap.... Hence the flea bites.. It's common though. Almost every dog I have come across has fleas. Except the spoiled ones. 😊 but yeah.. So I washed everything today because they started showing up the next morning... So hopefully I got rid of them. FREAKS ME OUT!! 

Also!! Austin is really struggling... His dad decked him in the face and now he has a black eye and can't be in the house on the weekends when his dad is home... Then to top all this persecution off... Courtnee broke up with him that same night..... So he is really struggling. We had a really powerful lesson last night. He was crying the entire time. We just shared a bunch of scriptures with him. But I shared with him D&C 121:7-8. And inserted his name and read it to him and it was the first time I had ever felt the spirit as a burning sensation. It was amazing!!!!! Usually I get tingles but never a burning. It was really powerful. Then we gave him a little booklet. At his baptism we just had everybody write a little note to him and then finally got it to him. Aww... You should've seen him light up. It meant so much to him. Ahh!! Just so awesome!! 

A couple more things. So we came home the other night and there were 20 FLIES IN OUR HOUSE!!! We counted as we played fly assassins.. Haha. They keep getting in somehow and its dumb! I have killed 10 more in like 3 days. It's driving me crazy because flies are so cocky!! 

Funny story from today!! So in the morning we clean. And I had the potty scrubber and Sister Seely had the windex. I knew she needed mine and I was going to find the windex because I didn't know she had it. Haha. But I get to her bathroom, she's holding the windex and we just switch and walk away. Haha. It was just weird! Then!! We were driving in the car and we hadn't even talked about groceries except for an hour before. I pulled out my iPad to add something to my list and she was like oh. We need beans and corn. Will you put that in your list? I hadn't said anything... or anything...it was just one of the companion unity moments. Haha. Super weird but that's how it is!! 😊 transfers are next week so that will be sad..... 

But yeah, for the spiritual thought!! Here! I was just reading in Alma 42, where it's takes about justice and mercy. 

Boyd K. Packer said this: 
“Each of us lives on a kind of spiritual credit. One day the account will be closed, a settlement demanded. However casually we may view it now, when that day comes and the foreclosure is imminent, we will look around in restless agony for someone, anyone, to help us. “And, by eternal law, mercy cannot be extended save there be one who arrange the terms for our redemption. “Unless there is a mediator, unless we have a friend, the full weight of justice untempered, unsympathetic, must, positively must fall on us. The full recompense for every transgression, however minor or however deep, will be exacted from us to the uttermost farthing. “But know this: Truth, glorious truth, proclaims there is such a Mediator. “‘For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.’ (1 Tim. 2:5.) “Through Him mercy can be fully extended to each of us without offending the eternal law of justice. “This truth is the very root of Christian doctrine. … “The extension of mercy will not be automatic. It will be through covenant with Him. It will be on His terms, His generous terms, which include, as an absolute essential, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. “All mankind can be protected by the law of justice, and at once each of us individually may be extended the redeeming and healing blessing of mercy” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1977, 80; or Ensign, May 1977, 55–56). 

I love you guys a lot. Sorry this is so ginormous. I guess I just needed to vent to y'all! 😊 but I love you guys and I hope you are all doing great! I pray for each of you at least twice a day! Have great week!! 

Love, Sister Hood 

PS... If you are ever wondering what my favorite church cd is, well! I am obliged to tell ya it's anything by Daniel Beck! He has a pretty voice.. 😊

PEEKCHAASSS & BEEDIOS!!

Lovely Sister Saxey ~ We went on splitz ~ Down by the river!!
SOOOOOOOO PRETTY!!
Sister Saxey & Sister Hood

I FINALLY LOCKED HER UP!!
SUPER ~ SISTER SEELY

WALMART WITHDRAWLS = REAL THING!!
SISTER HOOD (AKA BEADIE)

WE BE DUH SHEPHERDS YOWWWW!!
EMILY ~ SISTER SEELY ~ SISTER HOOD ~ OUR FLOCK

I NEED TO SPREAD MY WINGS!!!

Hey hey!!

It is actually cooling down a little! It's actually been pretty nice! Everything is going good! I actually eat healthy!!!... Ish. Haha. I eat salad almost everyday! And today I actually bought lettuce for lunch... Whaaaa....? Hahaha!! I like veggies now guys. Proof that a mission can change you!! Haha.😊 

Aw, Family ... I love ya more than words can express! I just look around at all the families who are broken or who don't support each other or who don't have a worthy priesthood holder in the home or a loving, faithful mother to raise kids up unto the Lord. I am just so grateful. I always ask myself why I'm so blessed to have the opportunity to be with you all in is life as well as in the eternities. TRULY BLESSED!! 😊😇💖💖💖 I honestly don't understand Heavenly Fathers love at all... It just blows my mind. Nevertheless, I cannot express my gratitude for that love and mercy that He blesses us with everyday!! 

This week was good! Honestly, all is really great. I just love being a missionary. There is no greater feeling than to see someone light up because the spirit touches them. I love that feeling I get when I just hunger to testify of truth to EVERYONE!! I just want everybody to have that feeling.. How much greater can the joy get from that. Well. It may have gotten there today! It was just such a glorious day!! 

Ah!! Got up, opened my fast for those things I need the Lord's help with and those whom I love with all my heart! Went to meetings and then it was time for church! We had Margurate and Cam, the Wallace Family, Sister Mcka and her grandsons (quite the miracle because they hadn't come to church for at least 6 months and they just lost her husband to cancer 2 weeks ago...), Felicia came. I dunno if I talked about her much but she is working towards her baptismal date in January.. She chose it not us.... 😕 But yeah! 

So we had 5 'gators to church this week!!! So great! (Sorry Ma, should have explained what 'gators were.. Hahah!) it was just such a powerful testimony meeting!! Probably the most powerful in my life.. And I'm not even exaggerating.. The spirit was just so strong and my thoughts were just directed at the Savior and those we are teaching. It was great. Then!! The best part!! Jesus got up and bore his simple testimony. He said that he knew the church was true because he had been trying to change all his life but he never could until now. He said he just knew it was true. It made us both cry!! He is like our child!!! Hahah, awkward? slightly... True? 

Absolutely!! 😂😊 we just love him so much.. Oh!! And to top everything off!! We found out that Austin AND Jesus are being ordained to the priesthood next week!!!! AHHHH!!! Both of our children our growing up!! Haha. It's so amazing!!! Then we witnessed a ward baptism! That was great! Cutest little girl! Her name is Rylee. We were standing in the hall for the baptism because it was CRAMPED full of wardies. But it was amazing just hearing the prayer and then the best part was the sound of her being immersed in the water... Best sound I have ever heard!! ☺️ SO GREAT!! Best day for quite a long time!! At dinner, we ate with the Skousen's and their daughter, Becca, just got her call to Raleigh, NC. And Emily came with us to dinner. She is basically our 3rd companion! She comes out with us all the time! She also plans to serve! But they practice taught us and it was SO good!! I was super impressed! 😊 

Speaking of practice teaching, a lesson bailed and Becca was already at the church which is where we were meeting! So! We decided to practice teach!! Me and Becca tag teamed it. We taught Sister Seely the Restoration and it was actually SUPER powerful! Made Sister Seely cry! Which, in and of itself, is a feat because she RARELY even gets teary!! So that was really cool. And boosted my confidence in teaching. Because ya know, teaching is scary so often times I will sit there without anything to say but that has gotten a lot better since I have had more time out here and as my faith has been strengthened!! It's really cool! But yeah. That was an amazing experience! 

Exchanges!!!! Happened twice this week! Haha. Once because of Mission Leadership Council and once because it was exchanges for reals.. 😊 first, I was with Sister Frost! She's from Provo. She is just a baby in the mission. She is super good at testifying tho! Holy Moly!! We got along great and had some great things happen in good Ol' Corning!! I can also drove now that I'm not a greenie anymore!! WOOT WOOT!! 😂 Then I went up to Redbluff with Sister Johnson! I have been one exchanges with her before but not on her turf. So that was interesting... Haha. he hadn't really planned much so it was a little rough. The main thing I learned though is that obedience is what moves the work forward.. Without obedience, nothing will happen Luckily, I have a great trainer who has taught me how to be obedient and a conscience always helps. Haha. Overall, it was a great experience! 

So with the 'gators... They are dwindling... Haha. So Ron and MaryAnn we took off date. 😫😞 we STILL haven't met with him because he is in Eureka working... And MaryAnn just isn't progressing.. We were going to meet with her but she bailed on us. Typical missionary life. But it's all good!!! We had a great lesson with Adam!!  He is a super cool guy. He is super intellectual. He writes poems and stuff and he talks way to smart for me.. Haha. So sometimes he loses me when he talks but most the time I follow. 😅😉 but he thinks of God as more of a maternal figure. Therefore, to him, God is female.... Interesting point of view.. But yeah. He said that he isn't going to be our "next convert".... We shall see... 😂😂😉 when they say that they don't realize what they just did. Even if we are just planting seeds with him, I know he will come around. They always do! But it was good. We talked about the Book of Mormon  and the Bible and how they work together. He thought it was amazing. We invited him to pray to know if the Book of Mormon  is true. He said he would try... I don't like that answer but I know the spirit will work on him. He is looking for direction so we testified that the Book of Mormon  can answer any question life throws at you. Doesn't matter what it is, I have found that NY question can be answered through the Book of Mormon and sincere prayer. So that's what we told him! Going back this week!! Woo!! 

So we saw the Wallace's this week. Aw man! They're a riot! Haha. Brother Wallace is a pretty rough dude. He has a massive snake tattoo going up his arm, a nice mustache. He is a way friendly guy and his wife is super nice too! We were helping the figure out his dad's funeral arrangements and she didn't feel comfortable really doing it because there was some bad blood in there, I guess. So we were helping them put things together. Then they fed us dinner!! mm.. Brother Wallace makes a MEAN tri-tip!! It's just like steak in case you are like me and had no idea what that was until a month after I got here.. But it's so good! Great dinner!! 
I ate so much.. Haha. I just kinda click with them. I don't know, they are just no nonsense people and super down to earth! I just love them! I was actually sitting in sacrament yesterday and basking in the spirit and it whispered to me that they are why I am in Corning. It was crazy because I was thinking about that a couple days before. Ya know, you always here people say that they find someone they know they went to that area for. And I was wondering if I had a certain person or if it was to teach me something. But apparently it was both!! So that was something pretty cool. 😊

We saw Sister Bryant. Part member family. Never had met them before but she was super nice. He isn't a member but he has been through SO many companionships. So we talked with her and showed her "Our True Identity"! Ahh!! It's so good!! WATCH IT! That was a great visit. I have come to the conclusion that I need to spread my wings! I love Sister Seely to death, but it has been time for quite awhile! On exchanges with Sister Frost, it was awesome! I was lead by the spirit to see people, including the Bryant's and I was able to do things better when I was free to fly. I just get complacent with Sister Seely. It's too easy to just let her to it because it's easier for both of us sometimes. But I like it better when I can do it and learn from my own mistakes. That's really the only way I learn things... As we have all probably noticed!! 😂 but transfers are on the 20th. And she is for sure getting the boot. It will be bitter sweet for sure. We actually work really well together now and have tons of fun. 😊 

Oh my goodness!!!! So. These members that we ate with this week. They have gone on like 3 missions. He is the patriarch and walking into his home is almost, but not quite, like 
walking into the temple. The spirit is that strong in their home. It's crazy! But that wasn't the point.. So their missions!! When they came home their kids had made them a book with pictures and parts of emails in it. And it was just the best Thing of my life!! So... Mommy... Haha. Ya know, if you are ever board, you could always make your Beadie McBoodle Berry a book like that.. But of course, just a suggestion... 😉😘 

Welp! The time has come, my dear Family! Thanks for all you guys do! I love ya tons and tons! I just can't wrap my head around how blessed we are to be sealed forever... Even though ya'lls  are a buncha WACKOS! 😉

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!! I love ya so much! Oh!! And happy anniversary you two love birds!! 😂😂😂 glad you're my pocito and my momito!! Don't have too much fun without me. 😊

Thanks for the cute recording of the primary kiddos! That was ADORABLE!! I love primary!! Thanks for the pictures of baby Gus Bus! He's just the cutest!! I'm so glad he can be a big boy and stay home by himself! Give him a snuggle from
Beadie! 😂😉 have a great week!! 

Love y'alls

Sister (Beadie McDoodle Berry,Geadie Gear, Beadie Lump, whatever ya wanna call me..) Hood