Photos For Your Enjoyment!!

TIM TAM SLAM!! OH YEAH!!
SISTER HOOD & SISTER DUNCAN

LOVE THIS BEAUTIFUL WEATHER ~
AUTUMN LEAVES ARE FALLING DOWN!!  

LOOK WHAT WAS FOUND IN A CAR ~
 SWEET LITTLE BABY MOUSE!!

MY HEAVENLY FATHER LOVES ME!!

HEY!  WHAT'S UP YA'LL!!
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR LOVE & SUPPORT ~ LOVE YA!!

REVELATION IS FLOWING!!

Welp! It's been an interesting week!! Since I am the one shipping Sister Duncan (She is a trainer) home, it has been busy with getting everything ready for her.

It's so crazy how much there is to do... it stresses me out and I am not even close to going home!! Haha, I'm not trunky though. Ain't nobody got time for that! Hah!!  😁

This week has been good. We have been really thinking about how we can help our little branch here. The members don't see a need to change from a branch into a ward, so we have really been trying to figure out how to help them see what they can become and what Heavenly Father has in store for them. That was our main thing in Weekly Planning this week. Normally, we would just plan for our week, but we feel like even if we were trying to get people to come to church it would be hard to keep them there because the branch struggles a little with fellowshipping.. so we decided we needed to focus on the ward and strengthening them first. We decided that it would be the best to work from the inside out. So yeah. It was super cool. We went into the chapel, prayed together and were in the scriptures for like an hour and a half seeking Heavenly Fathers guidance. It worked. Revelation was flowing and we both received answers and put them together and made a "Know-Feel-Do" thing. So... we are going to run it by our ward mission leader and Branch President and see what they think. Then from there, we will make a game plan... haha. It's going to be interesting... but we feel that this is really important. 

Don't get me wrong though! Our branch here is awesome. The people are so kind. They just like to keep rule #1: Never "Branch" out! 😂😂😂 (no pun intended...) 

This we saw a recent convert named Cynthia. She's so solid!! Man, we give her all this stuff to study and she just soaks it in and takes notes and everything. It's super cool. She's great. She needs to get to the temple, but we can't make that happen for her so it's kinda hard waiting... She's really the only one I have really met since I've been here... but we WRECKED it. We felt prompted to go find this guy who missed the return appointment. But when we went to go
find him, there were people along the way we stopped and talked to. The one lady just had her mom pass away recently and was really struggling. We gave her a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and asked if we could come back. She said sure. We went back to knock on her neighbors door and rang the doorbell on their little duplex thing and it apparently wasn't to their neighbors house.. She saw us and went right back in. Tell us how ya really feel! Hahah! 😂 it was funny. Planting seeds, planting seeds. 

We also met this lady named Julie. We thought, at first, that she was not going to be super nice, but she was. She told us about her mom and how she is blind and stuff. She invited us back that same day. So we went back and her mom was in the wheelchair on the porch and Julie was inside doing stuff... it wasn't really what we had in mind, but Connie (Julie's mom) is the sweetest old lady with SOO much faith. She is also super lonely. So we offered to come back and read the Book of Mormon with her. She said she would love that. So that will be awesome. She was so nice. But yeah! That's our week... haha. Not much, I know. But we do work, I promise! Just not too many stories to tell.

Welp! This week, my eyes have been opened spiritually in several different aspects of the gospel and eternity. But this morning I was studying about what it means when someone's "calling and election is made sure". Which basically means you have a straight shot to Heavenly Fathers presence. 😊 It is so fascinating to me.. I looked up "Election" in the Bible Dictionary. And it has SOOO many amazing things in there about. But it had a scripture reference in there that was awesome. It was in 2 Peter 1, verse 10. "...give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:" In this chapter, it tells us how we our calling and election can be made sure! It's so awesome! The conclusion that I came to with this and what the spirit taught me was that when we are being diligent and doing all things that Heavenly Father has asked and we will have our calling and election made sure!!! Loved it!!

Fun facts:
-In California, they passed a law where they can charge 10 cents for
each bag when you go shopping..... 😒

-the water here smells like rotten eggs... so. When you shower or
wash your hands, you smell like rotten eggs... then it goes away later
but it's kinda fun.. HAHA!!

My new area is quite a town! Haha... funny funny people live here. Welp! That's it y'all!! Have a great week! Love ya tons!

Love,

Sister Hood

P.S. I just wanted to say I'm really grateful Momma taught me how to clean.....  #BlessedWithBossParents!  Love you guys! 

GROWING PAINS ARE REAL!!

Hey peeps!! 

Mom and Dad and Duck, thanks sooo much for the package! I finally got it and it was seriously like Christmas!! I got another package and a couple letters! It was so great!  I love you guys a lot!

Peace out Corning, new area here I come! It was a sad goodbye... its like leaving home all over again. And quite honestly, I didn't realize what I had until I lost it... don't get me wrong, I like my new area, but it's no Corning.. haha. I'll send come pictures of the goodbyes and stuff. It was kinda sad but I'm growing more here.  growing pains are real!! Haha... 

Welp! It went down! Transfers happened and I'm still alive and kickin! My new area has like 9 tiny towns included into it. It includes Sutter county and Meridan. HUGE AREA!!!! Seriously, we drive over an hour and we are still in our area...  it's awesome tho!! Oh man! There is so much to do here! We try our best to find most days and have a couple planned lessons with people. So that's good! Seriously though!! I'm super excited to just dig in and baptize nations!! I LOVE missionary work! It's funny! Something about the area! It's the longest standing branch IN THE WORLD!!! Our goal: make this baby branch a ward!!  crazy! Why it's like that? Well... let's just say the branch members don't want things to change so it makes our job a tad bit harder.... But I feel so blessed to have the responsibility of the work here. It's a lot to take on but I'm super excited. 

They are encouraging y'all to send stuff directly to our house. It gets there quicker. But of course, if you feel more comfortable with the mission office that's still an option.  it's great! Still blessed with a house! we have lots of room! It actually used to be a senior couples home! We also have couches....  coveted in the mission field.. hahahah!! We don't time to really use them though so ya know. I'll show y'all some pictures!

As for my new companion, Sister Duncan, we seriously have a riot!! Haha... we laugh way too much! She is so great at making it a gospel conversation instead of just a lesson. I'm super impressed with her ability to teach, her prayers are also amazing!! We have a lot of fun! We are so much alike it's kinda weird.. haha. 

This week we had a few lessons. Not as many as I'm used to but it's a new area, new branch, new comp, new people... haha. Everything is different! So that's interesting. But with the lessons we had, we were able to testify. It's addicting!! Once you are bold and bare testimony by the spirit, you want to keep finding people who will listen to you testimony because you want to keep sharing it!! It's so great! This week I told a lady that was apprehensive to meet with us that what we have is what she needs and it's the only way she can live with her family and God again and be happy forever. It was powerful!! I love it when that happens!! Man... it's so cool to be a vessel of the spirit and to let others feel it thru you.. such a privilege! 

Well, that's pretty much my week! I did meet a bunch of members and they are all super nice. They just don't quite see the need to change yet. But they will eventually. I also got up and bore my testimony again. It's always fun when you can't sit still then your comp nudges you... don't have a choice at that point! Haha.. 

Funny/awkward story though.. haha, so we were knocking on this one door and the lady had a southern draw and was super funny, haha. I just had my hair down that day and she was like "honey, how'd you get your hair to look that pretty?" I just said I just threw some mousse in it. She was like "honey! I'm gonna spank you!!" Hahaha!!!! Whaaaat.... I was quite taken back... she didn't of course but it was just the awkwardness of the whole situation. 

Here's a cool thought from this week! So it's talking about calves in the stable. 

"Contemplate the difference between a calf that is raised out on the range or in the mountains and one that is raised in a barn. The calf on the range is subject to all the forces of nature: inclement weather, predatory animals, and occasional scarcity of food and water. On the other hand, the calf raised in the barn or in a stall is protected from poor weather and predatory animals. Likewise, food and water are regularly provided. Nephi taught that “the time cometh speedily that the righteous must be led up as calves of the stall” (1 Nephi 22:24)."

I learned from that that it's a good thing to be sheltered! It is a blessing to be in the security of the stable! The world makes it sound like it's a bad thing but it's truly a blessing! 

Anyway. I love you guys!! Thanks for all your support! It goes a long way.  you're all in my prayers. 

Love, 

Sister Hood

PHOTOS FOR YOUR PLEASURE & ENJOYMENT!

FITZ & HOOD SISTER SHIRTS ~ HA!!
THAT IS HOW I ALWAYS ANSWERED 
THE PHONE AND WE DECIDED IT WAS SHIRT WORTHY!!

MATCHY ~ MATCH SISTAZ IN ZION
I WILL MISS SISTER FITZ ~ SHE'S THE BOMB!!

KODIE CARVED ME A JACK-O-LANTERN!!
SWEET~ IT SAYS "SISTER HOOD" ON IT!!

LOOK! A STREET NAMED AFTER ME!!
BEADIE MCDOODLE BERRY~ HA HA HA ~ LOVE IT!!

MY SWEET NEW COMPANION SISTER DUNCAN!!
SHE LOVES THE AUTUMN LEAVES HERE  HENCE THE PHOTO ~ THE COLORS MAKE OUR EYES POP ~ DON'T~CHA~THINK?

OH!  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PACKAGES!!
IT WAS LIKE CHRISTMAS ~ MY TOOTSIES WILL BE WARM AT LAST!!

I'M READY FOR THE BLIZZARD ~ THANKS MOMMY!!
I DON'T THINK SHE KNOWS IT DOESN'T SNOW HERE ~ WE WILL KEEP THAT TO OURSELVES!!

GETTING TO KNOW THIS POWERHOUSE OF A SISTER
SHE KNOWS HER STUFF AND IS AMAZING ~ I REALLY LOVE MY NEW COMPANION ~ FEELING LUCKY!!
SISTER DUNCAN & SISTER HOOD

SHE IS JUST AS QUIRKY AS I AM ~ THAT JUST FREAKS ME OUT!!  HOW COULD I BE SO LUCKY TO HAVE MY TWIN WITH ME ON MY MISSION ~ WE ARE ROCKING IT HERE IN OUR NEW AREA!!

I JUST LOVE THE GOSPEL!!

Welp!!! It is here! I will leave Corning tomorrow! I'm headed to Colusa. It's in the Yuba City Zone! It's about 2ish hours from here. So it will be super excited!! And the AWESOME part! So my companion is Sister Duncan! She and Sister Seely were actually companions! I've head awesome things about her! I talked to her one the phone earlier today and I'm super excited! Sister Fitzgerald will do a killer job taking on Corning! We have also heard great things about her new comp Sister Heder. So!! Another adventure begins!! But not yet... I'm still in Corning! I have to soak in the time I have left! Haha. But let's talk about the week, shall we! 

So this week we were able to see Kodi almost everyday. We first taught her about Repentance and then the Law of Chastity, had her interview, as she called it "before-baptism-dinner" and then Sunday was her baptism. It's just been so amazing to watch her grow. I'm so blessed to have been there from start to baptism. She had literally given up her sins to know God. She gave up smoking, coffee, tea, she comes to church every Sunday, reads the Book Of Mormon, does kneeling prayers, studies the heck outta the pamphlets we give her, she has repented. She just has completely done a 180.. wow. I'm just so dumbfounded when this happens. I was pondering the other day about a change of heart. How can we CONSTANTLY have that change of heart? How can we always feel that conviction that our recent converts feel or even when we truly repent and feel that undeniable power of the Atonement? How do we always feel the gospels truth and power in our lives? 

Welp, let's talk about Kodi's baptism..... I wish I were more excited to tell this story. Why you ask? Let's just say it almost didn't happen...  so.. this is how it went down. So you must know that where Kodi and Pat live is about 15-20 minutes away from the church. So Pat tried to get his truck started. He got 2 feet and it completely died... COMPLETELY!!! She told us that the battery totally is done... so Pat is basically in tears and Kodi is upset, .   Long story short they were finally able to make it to the church, the baptism was an hour and a half late starting, some of the wardies had to leave, but the most importantly Kodi was finally baptized!!!  She and Pat were so HAPPY!!  I am so proud of her!!! Righteousness won!!!

It was super cool. So we found these people last Sunday and they didn't seem super interested. But Sister Fitz really felt prompted to go see them. So we did and we caught them just as they were about to leave. Her name is Sara, his is Marty and his sisters name is Elizabeth. They said they wanted us to come back later. So we set a time and it all worked out perfectly with what we got caught up doing and when they got home. It was so cool. We taught all 3 of them the restoration and they totally felt the spirit. And THEY ASKED if they could come to church!!! Oh man!!!! I love it when that happens!!  it was so cool tho! It just goes to show that we are doing the Lords work. And when we realize that and follow the spirit we will always be doing His will and find who He has prepared for us. It's so cool to see these kinda things happen! I love missionary work!!  

Something that I really found interesting. So we were visiting a less active and her daughter happened to be there. Now, you must know that this less active lady had told Sister Seely and I months ago that she instituted the Sacrament at home. So with that being said, there are things obviously not right there. But her daughter was just going on and on, talking a million miles an hour, about how all these people are so deceived and a certain huge religion has the devil at the head of it. And she was just saying that the Bible was so true it's just that all these people are deceived. Then she goes on to say that she has "the Lord in her life". Then she would say that there was no way Noah could've gotten all those animals on one boat. So she said that he must've gotten all of their DNA and that's what they meant but all the animals. But then she said "well, then where would he have gotten the DNA from?" It was just crazy... she went on and on about "holy men" and if they were really holy they wouldn't need a bulletproof car to drive around in, that God would just protect them.. Then we finally got a word in about Joseph Smith and she was like "oh, didn't he restore the Lutheran church?" Hahaha.... it was quite the visit... the words of the Savior kept coming to mind when He said "they draw near unto me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." That's exactly how these ladies were.. it just blows my mind how so many people can say that they know Jesus then completely reject Him and His teachings. It never ceases to amaze me! 

Going along with things that never cease to amaze me!!! So... this happened with Felicia ('gator on date for 1-1-17 Baptism) and Michelle (girl with epilepsy that wants to get baptized). So we were teaching them the law of chastity, at separate times of course. But we explain that it entails not living with someone before marriage. Well, after we explain it and even talked about "buying the Home" vs. "renting the home" and that it comes with investment and when things go wrong your gonna fix it when you buy it. But when you rent, it's not going to be a priority because you may not be there for long anyway. So, you see, we asked them if they had questions and they both said no. Then they just go on about how they plan to live with their boyfriends/fiancés... BAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! IT MAKES ME CRAZY!! They want to be baptized but they don't understand that in order to be worthy of baptism, they have to live these laws and they are COVENANTING WITH GOD that they will obey FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES!!!... I just can't believe it... it blows my mind how blind with world is... Satan is doing a heck of a job... 

But!! One a happier note!! We had the ward Halloween party this week and it was HILARIOUS!!!! Kodi came IN A MINION ONEZIE!! Hahahahaha!!!!!  oh man, I just love her!! Hahah! She also carved a pumpkin that said "I ️ Jesus" on it... hahahah!! Oh I love Kodi...  then Tiana came too and she latched on to one of the members and afterwards she was asking about Tiana.... so, Tiana has the mindset of a 10 year old. Haha. So. Yeah... haha. Sister Reid was concerned for her... but yeah! Then Brother Day!! Oh man! He's a funny guy! He dressed up like a pumpkin! He put on an orange shirt and cut out jack-o-lantern shapes and stuck them on! Then he's like "Sisters, I need a picture with you two!" Haha. So don't worry, there will pictures come out the wazoo this week!  super fun time!! 

Well, the spiritual thought today is from studies today. Ahh!!! I just LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON!!! Can't deny it's truth!! But in 3 Nephi 15, Jesus talks about His sheep. Well, I LOVED  what it said in the institute manual about this! It was just a random commentator who said this but it is amazing!! 

"By day and by night the shepherd is always with his sheep. … This was necessary on account of the exposed nature of the land, and the presence of danger from wild animals and robbers. One of the most familiar and beautiful sights of the East is that of the shepherd leading his sheep to the pasture. … He depends upon the sheep to follow, and they in turn expect him never to leave them. … As he is always with them, and so deeply interested in them, the shepherd comes to know his sheep very intimately. … One day a missionary, meeting a shepherd on one of the wildest parts of the Lebanon, asked him various questions about his sheep, and among others if he counted them every night. On answering that he did not, he was asked how he knew if they were all there or not. His reply was, ‘Master, if you were to put a cloth over my eyes, and bring me any sheep and only let me put my hands on its face, I could tell in a moment if it was mine or not’” (George M. Mackie, Bible Manners and Customs [n.d.], 33, 35).

Love that!! Also, I read in 3 Nephi 17. This is my very favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon. Ah! It just is so amazing.. so it's Jesus blessing the little children.. again in the institute manual, Sister Michaelene P. Grassli tells of Spencer W. Kimball's amazing experience visiting some members in Chile. Here's what she said:

 “One of the greatest expressions of love for children that I have seen occurred when I was serving as a stake president in Chile. President Spencer W. Kimball visited Chile for an area conference. Members of the Church from four countries met together in a stadium that held about fifteen thousand people. We asked President Kimball what he would like to do after the conference. His eyes full of tears, he said, ‘I would like to see the children.’ One of the priesthood leaders announced over the microphone that President Kimball would like to shake the hands or bless each of the children in the stadium. The people were astounded--there was a great silence. President Kimball greeted about two thousand children one by one, crying as he shook their hands or kissed them or put his hands on their heads and blessed them. The children were very reverent and looked at him and cried too. He said he’d never felt this kind of spirit in his life. It was a tremendous moment in the lives of all the Church members there” (Janet Peterson and Eduardo Ayala, “Friend to Friend,” Friend, Mar. 1996, 6–7).

I just love the gospel. I'm so grateful to have to knowledge and the light that it brings. I would be nothing without my Savior. I'm so grateful for His compassion and His love towards all of us. I know He Lives and I know this is His gospel. This is the way back Him. HE is the way back home. Only through Him will we live again as we did before this life. It's all true. How blessed are we to have to fullness of the truth. 

Thanks for all you guys do!! I love ya a lot! And thanks for sending the package!! I haven't gotten it yet because it's at the mission office but within the next couple days!! It will so nice because my feet won't be soaked all the time! Haha.! 

Love, 

Sister Hood

Ps...Fun fact: Juicy fruit gum will blow up voles and gophers!  

As we were talking about this Kodi said "Well, if they blew up above ground the bright side is you wouldn't even have to decorate for Halloween!!" HAHA!! She's hilarious! 

 

PHOTOS FOR YOUR PLEASURE AND ENJOYMENT!

Love Visiting Sister Knowles & Her Cute PUPPY!!

MY THRONE IN CORNING!!

SISTER HOOD ~ SISTER FITZGERALD & MAX
STINKS FOR YOU GUSSY!!

RAIN ~ RAIN ~ GO AWAY!!  OUR FEET ARE PICKLED!!
SISTER HOOD & SISTER FITZGERALD

KODI'S BEAUTIFUL BAPTISM DAY
FEELING BLESSED TO BE WITH HER TODAY!!
SISTER FITZ ~ KODI ~ SISTER HOOD

SISTER LEQUIA ~ SISTER HOOD ~ BROTHER LEQUIA
SOME VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE ~ LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!

OLIVE ORCHARDS ~ YUMMY YUM!!

GOOFY GIRLIES!!
SISTER HOOD ~ SISTER FITZGERALD ~ KODI

#BAPTIZINGNATIONS

Hey Fammmm & Friends!!

No, the weather isn't really super cold. There was a crazy hail storm here earlier this year and a couple tornadoes but apparently that's not normal. I should most likely be transferred down south so I should be good! I'll keep y'all posted on that next week!! 

Well... anywho... I'm glad all is well in Farmington. I'm excited for my package. Transfers are next week so hopefully they will just keep it at the mission office!! Thanks for all you guys do!! 

Great things are happening! Crazy that we are having back to back baptisms!! #BaptizingNations. So blessed.. seriously. The longer I'm out here the more I just feel so incredibly blessed! I love my Heavenly Father so much!! 

So we met with Margurate this week! I really really love meeting with her! I just love her! HAH! It's just always so edifying! She feels the spirit and it teaches all of us. She has a bunch of questions about what exactly it means to be "a member" and stuff. So we shared Mosiah 18 with her. It just talks about what we are covenanting and we also shared an awesome quote about why we have the church. The answer is to perfect us as we strive to live Gods laws. But it really resonated with her. We talked about her being baptized and she said that she will get her answer but it's just going to take awhile because she is one to think it through lots and lots of times. Which is good because she understands that it's a huge decision and she needs to be committed to it. I mean these are promises to God we are making here.. She was ready a long time ago though. She will come around, but will y'all just pray for her? Her son Cam is struggling a little in school and she's a single mom and she struggles and she's looking for an answer. Bottom line, she could use the prayers.  she did come to Sacrament Meeting and Nic's baptism! She and Cam bolted before we could talk to them though... 

Oh good ol' Kodi! Hah!! Aw man! She's a riot, let me tell ya! Never a dull moment with this one! But super cool experience during planning. So ya know how we were planning her date to be the 30th. Well, it's hard sometimes to get through a lesson with her so we were kinda wondering if we were going to make it. So we thought about it, talked it out and prayed about it. We came to the conclusion that even 8 year olds get baptized.. they don't need to know the in's and out's of the gospel. They just need to have experiences that tells them this is true. For instance, in the Book Of Mormon the people Alma was teaching by the waters of Mormon, Alma asked them "if this is what you want, to be baptized, what are you waiting for!?!" So they went into the waters of Mormon and were baptized!! They only knew the little bit of what Alma taught them and what they felt in their hearts. This is a powerful and humbling lesson for me.. haha. When someone is ready, by all means! Run with them to the font! 

So. After we talked about this we prayed again and decided to talk to the Zone Leader's to talk about things like the amount of time they need to be living the Word of Wisdom, for example. We found out it is 2 weeks. We were freaking out because Kodi was going to drink some coffee when Sister Trapane got back from Utah because she hates it.. so we called up Kodi and asked her how long it had been since she had coffee or tea! She was like "uhh... a month...". Sister Fitz and I freaked out!! Best news we had heard for a long time!! So we told her about it and that she can't have it if she wants to be baptized on the 30th. We did actually teach it to her too. Haha. It is such a tender mercy that Heavenly Father is letting me be her for both of these baptisms!! So blessed!! Nothing short of a miracle! 

We also had dinner with Kodi, Sister Trapane and Kodi's relatives, Joe and Shannon. It was cool. Joe and Shannon had never heard the Restoration so it was cool to teach them and see them feel the spirit. 

Welp.. I got bit by a STINK'IN dog!! I was so mad.. lemme tell you this story!! So! We were going to visit a less active and they have a fence around their yard and so we opened up the fence and this dumb dog starts growling and being sassy. So I bent down to let him sniff me because usually they are fine after that.. but instead he attacked my STINK'IN leg!!!!! I was so mad... then!!!! I backed up to give him some space and he lunged at me again and I about kicked him but I heard the owner pull up so he just bit my shoe a good one too... it's a dang good thing she pulled up or he would'a been punted across the yard... . 

But.. on a more spiritual note!! I liked this quote! 

The battle for your souls is increasingly fierce. The adversary is strong and cunning. However, you have within your physical body the powerful spirit of a son or daughter of God. Because He loves you and wants you to come home to Him, our Father in Heaven has given you a conscience that tells your spirit when you are keeping the Lord’s commandments and when you are not. If you will pay more attention to your spiritual self, which is eternal, than to your mortal self, which is temporary, you can always resist the temptations of Satan and conquer his efforts to take you into his power” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1993, 5–6; or Ensign, May 1993, 6–7).

We saw Jesus today for lunch and he told us some serious issues are happening with his family situation... so please keep them in your prayers!! 

Nick's baptism was so great!! Aw man! It always hits the feels when someone gets baptized. It was so great. Kodi showed up and she's was having a really hard morning because of a difference in opinion with her family member... but it should all work out... pray for her too.. pretty please.  

Sorry, I don't have a ton for ya this week but I will shoot some pictures over! We do have some pretty funny ideas for Halloween. So stay tuned! Thanks for all the love and support!! Love you guys a lot!! 

Love, 

Sister Hood