My Last Will and Testament

November 23, 2015

Well, This week has been pretty crazy. My companion had to go home for medical reasons so I get to be with the Ontario Creekside sisters until I go home. I've had my ups and downs but through it all I really felt the hand of the Lord. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would all be but I know that that wasn't anything that I did. He's just helped me through it all. The day she left I also came down with a nasty cold so I'm out of it right now. haha. Sister Moser, one of my comps also came down with a different kind of cold so we're all just a bunch of sickos. keke. I've still been able to work though so it's been nice. It's been good being with those two. They are super good missionaries who know how to have fun and laugh a little. Once again, God always puts so many wonderful things in a hard situation.

This week is going to fly by! I have my departing interview and Temple trip plus Thanksgiving so I have some fun things to look forward to. Life is good 

 I don't even know where to start. To put a whole 18 months into writing is almost impossible. I guess I can't say much more than just that I'm so incredibly grateful for this experience. I wouldn't change it for the world. 

Things I've learned From my mission.

1. The gospel is amazing! The more you learn the more you realize just how perfect and wonderful it is. Every day I connect one more piece to the puzzle. As I do the beauty and purity of the big picture becomes more and more clear and more and more exciting. It is the answer to everything.

2. God loves each one of us! He is so aware of our trials, our hopes,our dreams, and our potential. Even those that look like they have nothing always have something. God is just as much in their lives helping and strengthening them at every corner as any one else. I have only scratched the surface in trying to see others the way God sees us and I can testify with all my heart that He is aware of us and He loves us. 

3. We can love everyone no matter who they are. I've already talked about this several times, but it's so true. We need to look at others through God's eyes if we are to truly love them. The same personality and opinion shouldn't qualify others for our love.

4. The Spirit is the most amazing gift. It will lead us, guide us ,purify us, teach us and lead us back to our Heavenly Father. Nothing is worth not having it's companionship.

5. Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven. It is only when we sacrifice a part of ourselves that we experience true growth and progression. As we sacrifice for others in our time, word, and deed we come to love them. We have to give or give up something if we want to learn or grow.

6. The Atonement is real! Anyone can change! But the Atonement is not only for the those that have made huge mistakes, it's for the good people striving to be the best that they can be. 

7. Real growth comes through serving others. When we love ourselves, we find ourselves. Nough said.

8. Opposition in all things. We have to experience the bad to appreciate the good. Some of the hardest times in my mission brought the most growth. My mission has been the hardest thing I have ever done. It's been exhausting mentally, physically, and Spiritually, but those trials have refined me and brought me closer to my Savior. We need hard things to stretch us. There is no comfort in a growth zone and no growth in a comfort zone.

9. Humility is key for growth. God can always work with a willing heart. If we want to change, humility is our first priority. God will do as much with us as we let Him

10. Love holds it all together. 

So there you go, this is what 18 months has brought. But the cool thing is you don't have to go on a mission to change, to draw closer to the Savior, or to serve others. Those opportunities abound in everyone's live's. The principles are still the same no matter where we are or who we are. As we serve the Lord and strive to be the best we can, He will be change us.

Everyone says that our missions are for others but I think our missions are totally for the missionaries. God converts you more than you convert anyone else. I can't say that I had any mind blowing experiences, that I baptized a lot of people, or even that I made a 180 degree turn in my life, but I can say that I feel converted to the gospel. I'm the one who was converted. It's almost like missions are inspired or something;)

I love you all so much! Thank you for all that you have done for me. I have felt your prayers and love and they have got me through more than you know. 

Love ya lots,

Sister Prows

Have you done any good in the world today?

November 16, 2015

Sorry for being such a slacker the last couple of weeks! I will repent and be sure to write every week for the rest of my mission. haha. ;) 

I don't even know where to start. The last couple of weeks have been pretty hard. My comp is still sick and there is a good chance that she will be going home soon. It has been emotionally exhausting trying to help her, but I know that the Lord has helped me to know what to say and do. It's definitely been a lot harder for her though so I have no right to complain. I've just been talking it one day at a time. I'm good though. Things are starting to get a little better again.

So I have no idea where we left off so I will just write whatever comes to mind. 

On Saturday we had the Mountain View ward annual chili cook-off. We were the official judges so we got to sample all of the chili! I almost killed over with a couple of them though. Apparently it tastes good to have your tastes buds seared off by peppers. haha. I do like spicy but some of the guys got a little crazy with it. My poor comp about passed out haha. 

On Thursday I went on exchanges with Sister Van Heel from Minnesota. It was especially fun because I got to go back to Chino Hills! Ah, it was just what I needed. I didn't get to go to Diamond Bar but I at least got to go back to where we spent most of our P-days. I forgot how hilly that place is! I met so many wonderful people and I left just feeling so inspired. I'm so grateful for my STL's and how in tune with the Spirit they really are. It was the first time I wasn't in charge for like 8 months so it was kind of nice haha. 

Things with investigators have been kinda slow. Our baptismal dates got moved back again:( But we've done all we could for now. The work must go on! Stinken Satan keeps getting in the way! What the meow. 

I have been learning so much the last couple of weeks about selfless service and just how important it is to serve despite inconvenience or circumstances. Christ wasn't lying when He said that we need to have unconditional; love and self less service. In fact, when it's the most inconvenient or hardest is the time when it matters the most. So I challenge you all to go and do one act of service a day, despite inconvenience or personal gain. Got it? cool.

I have to go but I just wanted to let you all know I wasn't dead. Keep being wonderful! and know that I love you.

Sister Prows

Guess what family! I've been adopted!

October 26, 2015

So I finally got my life long dream of being a Poly. We moved in with a Tongan family today and the Elders moved into our old apartment. I'm pretty excited:) I love Polynesians.,...and their food...and I think it will be fun. I wanted to serve in a Tongan ward but instead God just let me live with one. haha. 

This week has been pretty cray cray. My comp deals with stress and anxiety and in turn her body basically shuts down and her head, stomach, muscles and chest all hurt really bad. We had to stay in a couple of days but I did some area book work so it turned out fine. I kinda liked the quiet time to think and focus. It was kinda weird though, not going to lie. I'm going to have companion withdrawals I swear. I'll be in the grocery store and freak out because I can't find my comp and them realize that I don't have one anymore...sad day:(

So I'm super pumped because Valerie and Crissandra have a baptismal date! Woot 

woot! Hallelujah! It's about stinken time. Something always comes up but not today! We were determined not to leave until we set a date....only now our ward council is being difficult so pray it all goes well haha. Miracle number dose: We found a lost member! So it goes like this- We were at a dinner and a member gave us a referral for someone across the street. We tried them but no one was home so we went on with our day, but we both had the feeling like we should knock the neighbors door and ignored it because we were chickens and she was sick so we were heading home. But decided to go back later that day and try again. The referral wasn't home but we tried the neighbor like we had planned. Long story short, she showed up at our ward Halloween party with all her kids and they all loved it! We are hoping to get them involved and active again so we will see what happens. Hurray for the Spirit! 

Miracle number tres. There is a recent convert family that was apparently impossible to get in with and so we took on the challenge to become friends so we dropped of little goodies and notes for them and lo and behold they signed up for dinner! It went so great and they are such a wonderful family. We have been increasing how many people we talk to each day and and have been meeting so many awesome potentials. We get our share of trials and setbacks to counteract it but who needs to focus on those, right? My testimony that this is the Lord's work grows each and every day but I know that we have a huge part to play. He won't force us to do anything but He sure does bless us when we do. 

I have a challenge for all ya'll! Are you so ready for this!? Pick one person that you want to help. Seems simple enough right? Make a little plan of what you will do to help them, whether it is spiritually, physically, emotionally, etc. Remember, missionary work is finding a need and filling it! I think our family could do a little better. Btw, sign up to feed the missionaries and you will totally make their day, just saying. It took going on a mission for me to realize how happy helping others makes me. Try it! And I'll bet you a million bucks that you will see miracles in your life. Actually LOOK for opportunities to help some one out and God will give them to you. I think we tend to get so caught up in our own problems and busy schedule that we forget to reach out to others. I promise! It will be so worth it. Especially you RM's out there:) 

Love ya all! Let me know who did the challenge and what happened!

-Sister Prows

Becoming a Consecrated Missionary

October 19, 2015

Hope you are having a wonderful day! So update- I'm staying in my area! Woot woot. I will also finish training Sister Fawcett in the ways of the Jedi. I feel good about it and I'm ready to tear this place apart and find some new people to teach! I only have 6 weeks to live and I aint wasting it! No way jose. I've got it all planned out. I am determined to finish strong! I have been reading a talk called becoming a consecrated missionary. Best talk EVER! Well, I'm going to become one. I've been working on letting go of any pride or fear and now that I have the area down pat it will be a little easier to focus on training. I know I won't be perfect and progression is a life long thing but I really want to make the most of what little time I have left. 

Well, now that I got that out, I will tell you the happenings of the week. On Tuesday we started teaching a little girl named Sophia. Her mom is less active and her dad isn't a member. She is a little cutie and I'm excited to see her learn and grow. We also did a lot of service for some members. She texted last minute to cancel because she was too tired to help but we went anyway and just did it while she packed for her trip. I am really good at picking weeds now. I should be a professional when I get home. Let me tell you something about people. They need help but they are often too stubborn to ask so you just gotta take the initiative and do it anyway. They are always so relived and appreciate it. So that next time somebody doesn't want to ask but you know they need help just do it. Emkay? Emkay.

We also taught the young women at mutual about the Book of Mormon. We brought a copy for each of them, gave them some scriptures to highlight, and then had them write there testimonies in the front. If they give it out they get awesome points....and blessings of course. We also saw Julia our other investigator. She likes to swear a lot haha. but she is learning to abbreviate for us. keke. I love seeing how she is over coming things one step at time. Satan just throws one thing after another but she demolishes them like Jet Lee. We are still working on finding so nothing much to report. I only have 3 min left on the clock so I have to say good bye but know that I love you all!

Sister Prows

Jose Got Dunked!

October 13, 2015

Hey! It's me! I'm back from the dead. Yesterday was a holiday and last week we didn't have much time, but needless to say, I'm slacking. Sorry :D

Well, the last couple of weeks have been going by way to fast. That's the awe full thing about being busy. I am still loving the area. I know it's October but it was 115 degrees the other day haha. Dang it. But that's okay because when I get back to Rexburg it will be negative 15 so I'm enjoying it while I can.

Jose, the Elders investigator got baptized on Saturday! Only missionaries basically showed up and he had to be dunked 6 times, but other than that it was so wonderful. He is one of those super prepared people that just gives it all he has and never looks back. Needless to say he is a genius! He knows 7 languages, studied physics and math in Europe and is the head chef at a super expensive Italian restaurant, go figure. But he is so genuine and ready to start his new life. He has a cool ponytail too. haha

 We had a cool experience last week. We had tracted a couple of little old houses and met a really cute young lady. She already had a church but was still really kind. That night I had a very distinct impression that we needed to go back and see her. I was kinda hesitant because I knew she wasn't interested but I put it down on the schedule for the next day. Well long story short we didn't get to go back until about 4 weeks later. Finally we caught her at home and we just told her that we didn't really know why we came back but we felt like we needed to tell her that God loved her and was pleased with her efforts to follow Him and strengthen her family. She started crying and said she was pregnant and thanked us for coming back. We left an open invitation to call us if she ever needed anything. I have no idea what will happen but I hope one day she see the missionaries and wants to learn more. I love things like that! I love the Spirit and I'm grateful for experiences like that that teach me how much my Heavenly father loves each of His children.

I only have 5 minutes left but I just wanted to let you all know how grateful I am for such a wonderful and supportive family. It means the world:)

Love ya lots,

Sister Prows

Who ever said that Disney Land was the happiest place on earth was lying

October 1, 2015

It's the Temple! Yeah, I just got back. Ya know how sometimes you just need a little pick-me-up, well that was mine. I haven't been since February so it was extra special. I forgot how much I love it there. There is just a peace that I feel there that doesn't come anywhere else, especially in the Celestial room. I'm excited that the Temple is so close up at school. Don't take it for granted people!! Go as often as you can. Remember, put God first and everything else will fall into place. Works every time:) 

I'm freaking out because time is going by way to fast and I don't know what to do with myself. Like, this transfer is almost over! Dahh. So basically it feels like I wrote yesterday. To sum up the last couple of weeks, we have basically been getting to know the members and area. The members are so kind and always let us in and talk with us. We have a lady from the Virgin Islands that taught me how to make curry and all that jazz. It was great! and so tastey.....only I don't think me stomach is used to that kind of food anymore so it came out the same way it went in at 3am that night. Well, it was good while it lasted! I was really really sad that I didn't get to eat all the left overs though haha. 

 It's been a getting harder to fill nights though since it gets darker a lot faster and lets just say that going to some of our areas would be a bad idea after dark hehe. We have met some cool potentials though. Still working on finding families. We're so close I can taste it! I want to find one so so bad. I know that our efforts aren't wasted though an that the Lord will give us one in His own due time. He keeps having to remind me that this is HIS work, not mine. It's hard winding down because sometimes you feel like you're running out of time and you feel like you should be perfect at everything by now haha, but it's about the journey, not the end. I have to remember that. I would always leave an area right when I felt like I knew everyone and what they needed and I feel like I'm finally starting to put it all together and now I'm leaving haha. Dang it! I guess I have other things to learn now. 

We did get a new investigator though! Her name is Sylvia Nightwalker. Her husband who was a member just died of cancer and so now that she isn't taking care of him full time she wanted to start learning more. We helped her clean out her basement yesterday. My comp is terrified of spiders though so she stayed outside and we threw all the garbage up to her haha. One of my favorite parts of missionary work is definitely the service. I love it! While she was cleaning she told us about her crazy background. Oh my goodness, I don't know how she got through it all. You would have never guessed looking at her but she has been through just about anything and everything. She would tell us about her friends that would do drugs and leave their kids and all this craziness. I'm reminded every day just how blessed we are. Like, we are really really blessed! Just having a home with both parents is more than 75% of the people here and that I was never on the streets while my parents did drugs or had abusive parents, etc. I have a wonderful family, I get to serve a mission, and I have the gospel. There is nothing more I could ask for. Count your blessings because we definitely have a lot! But even though people have had really hard things happen to them or they did really bad things I can still see how the Lord was still always there for them. His love really is UNCONDITIONAL. That didn't hit me until the other day actually. I had heard it a million times but it just hit me. We don't earn his love, we accept it. Aint it great!

Well, I love you all and I'm so grateful for you. Let me know how things are going! 

LOVE YA LOTS,

Sister Prows

All You Need is Love

September 21, 2015

Hello Family! 

Sorry for the lack of letters lately. Last week I had to catch up with everything and I didn't have much time so sorry about that. I know, I'm horrible! 

Well, now that I'm done with that little spill, I will tell you about our week. It went by so fast! We are still trying to get to know the area and whatnot which is a little hard sometimes but we are figuring it out. We have a couple of investigators that were ready to be baptized when we got here so we are excited to get them the last little way. We get to visit lots of cute old people and talk to lots of really.... interesting ...people, like Pedro, the homeless guy we met in the park. haha. He decided that he wanted to listen to us practice the Restoration and it ended up that he called the Elders and they taught him, only I don't know how far it will go but ye never know. He was this little old Mexican guy with orange teeth haha. There are a LOT of Hispanics here so maybe bu the time I get home I'll be able to introduce my self and everything! Here I am all excited and pumped to go and talk to this family and get them to church and then the minute they open their mouth all I hear is kjgfhgfiubiusufbubfffthfghfhvtaco, aka no English! Dang it! So then we give them a Spanish card and move on. haha. Yep, that consists of about 90% of our contacts, so needless to say I need to learn some Espaniol. Speaking of families! There has been a big push to find families in the mission so just giving you all a heads up that we are going to baptize like ten families. Do we have any yet, no, but they are coming! Don't you fret. They're out there and we are going to tract them down. 

Training is getting a lot easier as we go. She is getting this whole missionary thing figured out and I'm getting this whole new area thing figured out. Hurray! She is so pumped to do missionary work and I'm grateful for the chance to go back to the basics. It's so easy to get caught up in all the cool tips and tricks that you forget that the basics are the best way and that you never needed all the fluff after all. It has been keeping me occupied and on top of things. Overall, things are getting a lot better and I'm enjoying it a lot more.

I think the biggest lesson that the Lord has been teaching me lately is that I can love and get a long with people that I never thought I could. People like that are constantly put in my path and at first it's hard not to base them off of a stereotype, ya know, but the more I get to know them the more I realize that even though we are totally different we can still love and connect with each other. It wouldn't have been hard for me to love the people of a third world country but it was hard and first to love the stereotypical Americans haha. Like the ones that like to nag, or the "trailor trash" or nerdy or crazy or gang bangers, ya know, those that are just a little rough around the edges. I know that sounds really awful to say that but I just love them all at a level that I never thought possible. Cause not going to lie, I totally thought I was going to be sent foreign and I think you can all figure out why, but God needed me here to learn a more eternal lesson about truly loving everyone, no matter their appearance or behavior. I'm grateful for tender mercies like that. I really am.

I can't really think of anything else to say so I bid thee farewell until next week. Remember, it's never too late to send repentance mail for all you who have been slacking a little! you know who you are. haha. jk

Love ya lots,

Sister Prows