Hey, y'all! I know a lot of you seem to have read this blog here. And since I'm no longer a full-time missionary, I will no longer be posting to this blog.
However, I will be posting to a new one called Returned with Honor! If you'd like to keep up with this blog, you can find it here. I'll be making weekly posts that will be inspirational, with some advice and bad puns here and there. The first post is already up!
Thank y'all so much for your love and support! I hope to see y'all in the future!
Godspeed!
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Monday, March 13, 2017
That Awkward Moment When You're Done.
Good morning.
It's funny when you spend a whole week saying goodbye, it causes this odd feeling to grow in your stomach; it sinks deep into your ribs and wraps carefully around your heart. It's like sepia-tone photos, a quiet grove, a monotonous drive through the trees. I think we call that nostalgia, but this is mixed with something like a longing for more -- a longing for the future.
It has been a lovely year and a half, brothers and sisters. Lately, I've frequently thought back on the moment I stepped off the curb in the MTC. An elder took my bags. He was going to the Philippines. In the next few seconds, I was standing beside a short, sister missionary escort. Standing beside her was Sister Maughan, who I would later come to love more than I even imagined.
I remember the first time I saw Sister Harrison, and the noise of the Clinton transfer point. I remember biking through the streets in Flowood, Mississippi, and the roar of the T-Van on my first transfer ride down to Purvis, Mississippi. I will always and forever remember the many sweaty summer months I spent in Biloxi, the fireworks over the bay, and then the road trip up to Bossier City, Louisiana where I embraced my last companion, Sister May.
I couldn't tell you everything I've learned. I couldn't tell you everything I was sent here for. I couldn't explain to you the Spirit I've felt. I couldn't expound in any poem or writ what the Lord has done with my heart in eighteen months.
Jesus Christ asks us to come unto Him. He asks us to learn of Him, to walk as He did. If we abide in Him, then He will abide in us. We will be changed. We will become a new person.
Jesus Christ has changed me. I can feel it in my heart. I have watched others come unto Him, and I am so thankful for the choices they've made. He always leaves it up to us.
I cannot describe how it feels to walk by your Savior everyday. I cannot describe how truly amazing it is to be His servant, to work as He did, and to find and help those who need Him. He is the good shepherd. He knows His sheep. They hear His voice. I am so thankful to have been able to help find those sheep.
I am grateful for all the support that has been given to me, and I am grateful for all of you who seem to read these silly emails of mine. Thank you for your love and your kindness.
See you next week.
Godspeed!
Sincerely,
Sister Rose
Me and the Bossier Sisters <3
My homies at Renesting! (Left to right: Noel, Holly, ME!, Norma, and Betty):
When you're kinda sick and you're ending your mission so your companion makes you a grave + tombstone:
It's funny when you spend a whole week saying goodbye, it causes this odd feeling to grow in your stomach; it sinks deep into your ribs and wraps carefully around your heart. It's like sepia-tone photos, a quiet grove, a monotonous drive through the trees. I think we call that nostalgia, but this is mixed with something like a longing for more -- a longing for the future.
It has been a lovely year and a half, brothers and sisters. Lately, I've frequently thought back on the moment I stepped off the curb in the MTC. An elder took my bags. He was going to the Philippines. In the next few seconds, I was standing beside a short, sister missionary escort. Standing beside her was Sister Maughan, who I would later come to love more than I even imagined.
I remember the first time I saw Sister Harrison, and the noise of the Clinton transfer point. I remember biking through the streets in Flowood, Mississippi, and the roar of the T-Van on my first transfer ride down to Purvis, Mississippi. I will always and forever remember the many sweaty summer months I spent in Biloxi, the fireworks over the bay, and then the road trip up to Bossier City, Louisiana where I embraced my last companion, Sister May.
I couldn't tell you everything I've learned. I couldn't tell you everything I was sent here for. I couldn't explain to you the Spirit I've felt. I couldn't expound in any poem or writ what the Lord has done with my heart in eighteen months.
Jesus Christ asks us to come unto Him. He asks us to learn of Him, to walk as He did. If we abide in Him, then He will abide in us. We will be changed. We will become a new person.
Jesus Christ has changed me. I can feel it in my heart. I have watched others come unto Him, and I am so thankful for the choices they've made. He always leaves it up to us.
I cannot describe how it feels to walk by your Savior everyday. I cannot describe how truly amazing it is to be His servant, to work as He did, and to find and help those who need Him. He is the good shepherd. He knows His sheep. They hear His voice. I am so thankful to have been able to help find those sheep.
I am grateful for all the support that has been given to me, and I am grateful for all of you who seem to read these silly emails of mine. Thank you for your love and your kindness.
See you next week.
Godspeed!
Sincerely,
Sister Rose
Me and the Bossier Sisters <3
 |
When your district is pretty cool:
We volunteer at this place called Renesting. It's legit. This is a sign they put up when we came to volunteer one day:
Renesting!
My homies at Renesting! (Left to right: Noel, Holly, ME!, Norma, and Betty):
When you're kinda sick and you're ending your mission so your companion makes you a grave + tombstone:
Monday, March 6, 2017
Penultimate
Hello, y'all!
I'm unsure exactly what to say in this one. I'll do my best.
Sister May shared her favorite word with me. It is "penultimate," which means "second to last." I thought it would be fitting for this e-mail.
My penultimate district meeting was this last Wednesday. My penultimate correlation meeting was on Saturday. My penultimate Sunday as a missionary just passed. Sister Greenhalgh was my penultimate companion, and today is my penultimate P-Day.
Second-to-last. Who would've thought?
We got to teach the youth about missionary work this second-to-last week. With combined Young Men and Young Women, we had them ride bicycles in skirts, knock on doors and do an approach to teach the gospel, and share the gospel on social media. We taught them about the nitty-gritty parts of being a missionary. We gave them a glimpse of the mundane things we have to do everyday. It was fun, and I hope the youth liked it.
I always want to share the miracles that have happened, despite the nitty-gritty, awkward, weird things that we have to endure. I cannot explain in words the feelings I have had as a servant of the Lord. I cannot truly share what it means to watch someone come close to the Savior and become better because of it. I cannot expound to you the miracles that God bestows upon His servants every hour, every minute of everyday. The miracles this week, albeit second-to-last were second-to-none. I will always and forever believe that Heavenly Father is preparing people for us to find and teach. I do not knock on your door out of coincidence; I, as a messenger of the Lord come into your life because He knows you need what I'm carrying.
The message of the everlasting gospel was meant to be preached "two by two" in the name of Christ, with voices "as with the sound of a trump" (Doctrine and Covenants 42:6). We are to be as angels, declaring tidings of great joy and bringing souls unto Christ. We are to have our feet firmly planted in the mission field, listening carefully for the Spirit to guide us as He has guided the missionaries of old (see Alma 21).
There are things I've experienced here that I could not have experienced anywhere else.
We have taught someone the meaning of the Book of Mormon and shown actual, living proof of what it does for them. We came cross a family who were previously taught by missionaries, and another who were ready to listen to our message.
This message is the most important message in the entire world. it is meant to be delivered by the weakest of all because it magnifies their weaknesses until they become even the greatest strengths. This message changes hearts. It lifts you to your highest potential.
Truly, a marvelous work has come forth among the children of men.
If you choose to embark in the service of God, see that you truly do serve Him with all of your heart, all of your might, and all of your strength. Because when it is too hard to climb, and when your legs shake and your heart pounds and sweat pours, the Savior is right there, pushing with you and helping you up this mountain of missionary work.
It is work, but it is the best work to have ever graced the earth.
I am so grateful to be a missionary. I am grateful to wear this name tag. I am grateful to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's church on the earth today.
I know it. I have felt it. And nothing can change that.
Have a good week.
Godspeed!
I'll see you next week.
Sincerely,
Sister Rose
I'm unsure exactly what to say in this one. I'll do my best.
Sister May shared her favorite word with me. It is "penultimate," which means "second to last." I thought it would be fitting for this e-mail.
My penultimate district meeting was this last Wednesday. My penultimate correlation meeting was on Saturday. My penultimate Sunday as a missionary just passed. Sister Greenhalgh was my penultimate companion, and today is my penultimate P-Day.
Second-to-last. Who would've thought?
We got to teach the youth about missionary work this second-to-last week. With combined Young Men and Young Women, we had them ride bicycles in skirts, knock on doors and do an approach to teach the gospel, and share the gospel on social media. We taught them about the nitty-gritty parts of being a missionary. We gave them a glimpse of the mundane things we have to do everyday. It was fun, and I hope the youth liked it.
I always want to share the miracles that have happened, despite the nitty-gritty, awkward, weird things that we have to endure. I cannot explain in words the feelings I have had as a servant of the Lord. I cannot truly share what it means to watch someone come close to the Savior and become better because of it. I cannot expound to you the miracles that God bestows upon His servants every hour, every minute of everyday. The miracles this week, albeit second-to-last were second-to-none. I will always and forever believe that Heavenly Father is preparing people for us to find and teach. I do not knock on your door out of coincidence; I, as a messenger of the Lord come into your life because He knows you need what I'm carrying.
The message of the everlasting gospel was meant to be preached "two by two" in the name of Christ, with voices "as with the sound of a trump" (Doctrine and Covenants 42:6). We are to be as angels, declaring tidings of great joy and bringing souls unto Christ. We are to have our feet firmly planted in the mission field, listening carefully for the Spirit to guide us as He has guided the missionaries of old (see Alma 21).
There are things I've experienced here that I could not have experienced anywhere else.
We have taught someone the meaning of the Book of Mormon and shown actual, living proof of what it does for them. We came cross a family who were previously taught by missionaries, and another who were ready to listen to our message.
This message is the most important message in the entire world. it is meant to be delivered by the weakest of all because it magnifies their weaknesses until they become even the greatest strengths. This message changes hearts. It lifts you to your highest potential.
Truly, a marvelous work has come forth among the children of men.
If you choose to embark in the service of God, see that you truly do serve Him with all of your heart, all of your might, and all of your strength. Because when it is too hard to climb, and when your legs shake and your heart pounds and sweat pours, the Savior is right there, pushing with you and helping you up this mountain of missionary work.
It is work, but it is the best work to have ever graced the earth.
I am so grateful to be a missionary. I am grateful to wear this name tag. I am grateful to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's church on the earth today.
I know it. I have felt it. And nothing can change that.
Have a good week.
Godspeed!
I'll see you next week.
Sincerely,
Sister Rose
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| When you try to get a selfie with your district and it fails (Left to right: Elder Ostergar, ME!, Sister May, Elder Green, Elder Craig) |
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| When you think it's your last district meeting, so your district leader plans a funeral. (Top from Left to right: Elder Craig, Elder Sillitoe, Elder Green, Elder Ostergar. Bottom is just Sister May and me [the dead one].) |
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| SELFIE WITH THE SON |
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| Quick! Pretend you're in the MTC and you point at your mission on the map! |
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| This is pollen. That yellow stuff is POLLEN. I now understand allergies. |
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| Sister May wanted to do a countdown. Yesterday was 10 days! So, here, have me in my pajamas and a 10! :D |
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