12/28/11- Letter to the World

Midweek SURPRISE!

Monday the library was closed and Tuesday I was in Pittsburgh, so that leaves e-mailing for Wednesday!

Monday (19th)
I SLEPT during P-Day.  I love naps :D  Afterward we taught Mariam and Domitila...I'm so glad Domitila is meeting with us again!  It was great :D

Tuesday
We went on exchanges, so Sister Samuelson came up to my area with me--she came out the same time Sister Davidson did--2 transfers ago.  We went to teach Claire, this super biblically aware person.  It was interesting.  She wants to meet with us one more time.  We went to see Alexis--she's doing so well!  She and Danial are hoping to get married soon!  Later we got to go to the Padillas for dinner--I love them!  Exchanges are always fun!  At a Zone Conference, we were asked why we do exchanges and someone said, "Because companions are like french fries--no matter how good they are, you're sick of eating them by the time you get to the bottom of the box"  haha

Wednesday
District Meeting!  After lunch and companion study, we went to see Sis Wood and shared a Christmas message.  That night we didn't have a dinner appointment, so it was top ramen at the church.  Before mutual, we were able to teach both Soila and Bernard!  Soila is SO funny.  She's 14 and autistic, so it's interesting to teach her sometimes.  I did a 6-week-sub in a behavioral unit before I came out and that helps me a lot.  Bernard is doing so great and wants to get baptized either this year or next!  Not many days left in this year, though lol

Thursday
We got to go talk to our people at Luthercare.  That evening, we got to teach the Wong family.  It was an awesome lesson on obedience.  This is where I found out that David Archuleta is going on a mission!  So cool!  Oh..and on a music note...Lady Gaga is moving into the Lititz area.  Oh ya haha.  That night we went tracting and I was like, "I am so sick of getting rejected!"  The next 3 houses either made return appointments or took a Book of Mormon!

Friday
We went to an appointment we'd made the night before, only to be stood up.  Home for weekly planning and lunch and then we went out tracting.  We headed to some apartments we'd been meaning to tract for forever.  On the way there, we called a less active to set up a later appointment, and she was having a hard time, so we almost just turned around and went there, but I really felt we needed to go to these apartments.  Well apparently that was the Spirit!  The first three were no good, but Clara let us in the fourth door!  We chatted a little, and then we asked if we could share a message...whole first lesson right there!  Oh ya!  And she has twin 8-yr-olds...great age :D  lol.  They're only there on the weekends, though.  Later we went to the less active house and helped her finish some Christmas decorations and taught a lesson.

Next we got to go see Mariam and Domitila again...I love them!  We're helping them with Personal Progress.  Then we went to the Barber's and caroled to a couple of their neighbors.  Then we went to the Fosters to go caroling--they came with us for over an hour!  We'd sing a song and then one of the kids would hand them a pass-a-long card--it's my favorite type of tracting ever!  The kids were so excited to hand out the cards.  It was great!

Saturday
Christmas Eve!
After lunch, we had an appointment with Deven--an Italian woman I met on Tuesday.  She became a new investigator!  Then we went tracting for awhile.  We had the best Christmas Eve ever at the Pratts--our Ward Mission Leader--I'm going to adopt some of these traditions!  They always have Mexican Christmas eve.  They'd invited a new couple from the ward over and a little family.  Then we had a talent show..so fun!  I played and busted out "In Our Humble Way" from Saturday's Warrior.  Oh ya.  Sister Davidson clogged.  Others sang, played banjo, violin, piano, did sign language, and danced.  It was so cool!  Then we had to go to an appointment that stood us up.  We still had extra time, so we went to Luthercare and met Clementina, a sweet woman that I hope we get to put into our Thursday routine.

Oh ya...President called and asked me to train again.  I was shocked!  I thought Sister Davidson would for sure.  I'll be training for my last two transfers...that's the last 9 months of my mission training!  Crazy!  It also means I'm staying in Lititz (lid-its for those of you who need the help....dad....).  I'll have been in Lancaster County (Lititz/E-Town) for 14 of my 18 months....nuts!!

Sunday
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
After church, we were going to stay at the church and have top ramen again for lunch because we had nowhere to go and low miles, but the Fosters drove us to their place for lunch.  I absolutely adore their family.  They have a daughter and three younger brothers...sound familiar?  Their daughter is like right out of our home movies of me lol.  She's 10.  Then they drove us back and we headed to the Castro's for our Skype calls.  SO good!  I LOVED seeing my family!!!  Sister Davidson now knows how awesome my family is too lol. We were all laughing SO hard!  Sister Castro is German, so she made us an authentic German dinner!  The meat was beef rolled around a bacon/mustard/onion mix and a pickle spear...it was fun to find the pickle inside!  We also had potato dumplings and an amazing salad and rolls.  The gravy was delicious too--with mushroom!  Yes dad...I eat mushrooms now :D  Dessert was a German Black Forest Chocolate Torte Cake...two layers...cherries..yum  After dinner, we went to an appointment that stood us up.  Then we went to Luthercare again and chatted with Marcene for awhile...our 102 years old friend :D  Best Christmas ever!

Monday
We took care of stuff in the morning and then swapped the car for the Elder's minivan.  Oh ya.  Then we rode up to STATE COLLEGE to pick up Sisters Mortensen, Juliano, and Quijano.  We all headed out to Pittsburgh where we spent the night at the sisters apartment out there (funny how I serve in Pittsburgh and have only been there 4 times lol...5 when I fly home).

Tuesday
Training meeting in the morning.  We got assigned our new sisters--mine is Sister Page from Maine!  There's probably a pic of her on web.me.com/jeannetopham.  She's the redhead.  She's awesome!  We then drove back to State College with Sis Mortensen who is training and Sis Juliano who is training.  Then Sis Page and I traveled back to Lititz and got in around 11pm.

Wednesday
Hey that's today!  We had district meeting this morning (only 11 more to go, but who's counting?).  After lunch and more studies, we went to see Alexis who wasn't home.  We tracted for a little and then taught Sis Wood--best lesson I've ever had with her!  We really invited her to make changes!  It's exciting :D  Then we went to dinner with the Brintons, who are awesome.  Now we're e-mailing :D  Later tonight, we are going to try and see another less active or tract and then switch cars back with the Elders.

Love you all tons!
Sister Denton

12/19/11- Letter to the World

I grabbed the wrong planner, so I'll do my best to remember this week!  I'll try to use Sister Davidson's :D

Monday
We went to Sis Meza's house to make cookies!  Super fun!  We also made some chocolate covered popcorn and she gave us some more melting candies to make more at home...which has been perfect with the stuff my mom sent me.  So much goodness!  Afterward...I'm not really sure lol

Tuesday
We went out for lunch with a woman in the ward to El Rodeo.  Afterward, we tracted until dinner, which we had at the church--cup a soup...o ya.  We met with the bishop and then went to teach Mariam.  I love that girl!  It's so amazing to see her learn more about her true potential.  Afterward we tracted :D

Wednesday
After District Meeting, we had lunch at the church and then went to pick up some Secret Santa stuff from one family to bring to another--seriously one of the best parts of being a missionary.  Then we went to Sis Wood's house and then up to the Hilliers for dinner.  Delicious dinner as always and then we taught the family a lesson.  Afterward, we went to the church and taught Soila--our 14 year old investigator.  That night we got to teach Anton again.  It'd been awhile and we finally found a team-up that just clicks so well!  He might come to church on Christmas!

Thursday
We taught Claire again...our biblical scholar.  I don't know how long she'll be considered an investigator.  She seems more interested in proving us wrong.  We'll see.  Then we went to Luthercare.  One of the women we visited--Diane--died this week.  That was kind of sobering.  Afterward we tracted until dinnertime.

Friday
In the morning, we got to go see Alexis with our Relief Society President.  Afterward we went to this awesome Mennonite buffet for lunch.  After weekly planning, we had dinner and then went to teach Mariam with a young woman in the ward.  It was awesome!

Saturday
The Christmas party!  So good!  It was epic :D  I'm out of time, though.

Love you all!

Sister Denton

12/12/11- Letter to the World

Hello World!

Can you believe that it's almost halfway through December?!  Crazy!  As of today, I have 100 days left as a missionary.  I cannot believe it!  Time is flying by!

By the way, check out web.me.com/jeannetopham for updates on the mission!  They'll also post pics, so you can try and find me :D  Shouldn't be hard...there aren't many sisters...

Monday
After P-Day, we went to the Bushda/Archer.  We're pretty much only teaching Mariam now.  We taught about scripture study and following the prophet.  I just love Mariam to pieces.  She is so amazing!  And she knows it's true!  Afterward, we went tracting and the unthinkable happened.  Normal intro and then "We're Catholic...we're not interested."  "Okay...do you know anyone who might be interested?"  "Hmm...well our neighbors, the Mccall!"  "Okay.  Thanks!"  "His name is Dan."  "Merry Christmas!"  Usually when we ask if they know anyone who might be interested, we get one of the following responses:

    No
    I think everyone around here goes to church
    I don't ask about their personal affairs
    Well, you can keep asking them for yourself
    I wouldn't want to give them false doctrine
    Not in listening to you
    Maybe my neighbor over there (usually a house we had just tracted with no success)

So ask you can imagine, we were super excited to have a name and a house and a real referral!  So we went over, and this guy opened the door and I asked if he was Dan. "Yes..."  "Your neighbor said you might be interested in our message--we're missionaries with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints."  "Oh!  Ya I am interested!  Come on in!"  (WHAT?!?!) "Is there a woman home?"  "No"  "Ok, we can't come in then, but would you be interested in us coming by another time?"  "Sure"  "Awesome!  What about tomorrow night?"  "That works"  "And have you heard of the Book of Mormon?"  "No"  "Oh!  Well this is another...etc.  Will you read the introduction by tomorrow?"  "Ya"  "Great!  We'll see you then!"

SO COOL!

Then we went to follow up with a media referral we'd received.  It said he requested a Book of Mormon.  He seemed surprised and said he was Jewish.  He was going out of town, but said we could come back in a couple of weeks.  We started tracting around his house and found two people (neither of which lived there) who were interested, so we forwarded the info on to the respective elders.  Keeley was particularly awsome.  She's Christian and as soon as she realized we were too she was on board!

Tuesday
We started the day out by tracting and got a return appointment (RA)!  Then we went to Sis Meza's for lunch and to help set up her Christmas tree (part-member family).  We were also able to share a lesson w/ her husband, who we recently started teaching and it was great!  Sis Meza was so happy!  Next we went to teach Soila who we FINALLY got a hold of again and had a great lesson 3.  She committed to be baptized on New Year's Eve (although her grandma didn't get her to church again, so she won't be able to be baptized on that day).  They just moved and her grandma just had surgery, so we helped move some of her furniture around and then she took us out to dinner.  After that, we went to the Reese's house.  I love them!  Last of all, we went to our appointment with Dan.  It was a good lesson, but he didn't want to meet with us again.   Sad day.  He's a part of LCBC...a HUGE phenomenon out here (LCBCchurch.com or .org I think)

Wednesday
We spent a lot of time tracting this day!  In the rain again.  We got let into a couple of houses, one which ended up with a return appointment.  She's actually a former and VERY knowledgeable about the bible.  Should be interesting.  After dinner, we stopped by the Paynes house.  They're moving away this weekend--I really hope the missionaries find them there!  Then we went to the church to pick out a song for Sunday (I played the flute).  Last of all we saw Laura again...for the first time since she got married.  They're getting it anulled now.

Thursday
After Weekly Planning, we went to LutherCare.  It was spa day, so we did some more manicures.  Afterward, we went to an appointment that fell through and did some more tracting before going over to Sis Bell's and doing a little service before dinner.  After that, we got to go to movie night!  We got permission to watch the recording of last year's Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert which features David Archuleta!  The Day kids and Soila came.  It was great!  After Soila left, we got to teach Bernard the Word of Wisdom and he said he wanted to be baptized!!

Friday
Zone Conference!  Then we went to the Vaughan's house for dinner where we got the exciting news that they are going to be sealed in April!  Then we taught Mariam about baptism and confirmation and she committed to a date!!!!  Then we went to Sis Heaton's.

Saturday
Relief Society Brunch and then studies in the morning.  We did some tracting and then after dinner we had an appointment that fell through.  We went out to Manheim to see the Stones and it was a great lesson.

Sunday
After church and studies, we went to the Blacks for dinner--love them to death!  Then we got to teach Mariam again and found out that her mom won't let her be baptized at this point.  PLEASE keep her in your prayers.  Then we went to the Reese's again.

It was a great week and I am out of time!  Love you all!

Sister Denton

12/5/11- Letter to the World

Hello World!

Well it's been a crazy week.  This is the first week of our mission reverting completely to PMG definitions for numbers.  Before, we could get "other lessons" while tracting, teaching members, street contacting, etc.  Now other lessons are only those which are with an investigator, but without a member.  It made for a huge decrease in numbers, which really shouldn't matter, but it is kind of disheartening to see 20 lessons a week drop to 2...continuous improvement right?

Monday
We went to teach someone at a pizza shop. He didn't show up, but we enjoyed wonderful food :D  We also stopped by Wilbur's Chocolate Factory.  We got to walk around downtown Lititz, which was pretty fun!  We're going to do it again today with the other sisters.  We taught the Bushda/Archer family and shared with them part of Pres. Uchtdorf's talk.  We followed it up by some tracting.

Tuesday
A member picked us up to take us down to a less active member's home for a lesson.  She wasn't home, so they took us out to lunch on the way home.  Afterward, we had 3 hours of tracting planned.  The forecast had said  rain, but all morning--in the car and at lunch--had been beautiful.  Right near the end of lunch, it started raining...and didn't stop.  We were SOAKED!  We went to our 3:30 appt only to find they weren't home.  We walked home and dried off/changed into dry clothes and backpacks.  We went to dinner with an awesome family in the ward.  Afterward, we stopped by Sis Russell's and had a good lesson.

Wednesday
The day started off with District Meeting.  We came home for lunch, which a member had left for us, and then headed down to see Sis. Bell.  I got to teach her a lot when I was in Millersville, so it's fun to see her again.  We stopped by Sis Wood's for a lesson and then went home to finish up companion study and have dinner.  Our last two appointments canceled, so we went out tracting for the night.

Thursday
After lunch, we did some tracting/street contacting and then got to go to LutherCare to volunteer.  Afterward, we headed home to stop by Bernard's and see how he was doing.  We went to our dinner appointment's neighborhood to do some tracting before dinner.  We ate with the Blacks--I love them to pieces!  Sis Black is just the sweetest woman in the world.  During the lesson, one of the kids pulled their tooth out lol.  We went to the Paynes next and were able to see Marie, their youngest daughter.  Afterward, we went to an appointment with our RS Pres as the team-up, but they weren't there, so we went to a less active home nearby.

Friday
After Weekly Planning, we went to see one of our part member family investigators that we've not been able to contact for a few weeks.  They weren't home, so we tracted for a couple of hours before our appointment.  They weren't there, so we headed toward home to take our dinner break earlier rather than later.  We ate at Ciro's--quite possibly the BEST Italian food I've ever had in my life.  Mmm.  And homemade gelatto.  Oh yeah.  We picked our team-up for our 5:30 appointment and headed over only to find that the wife wasn't quite as interested as the husband had been and we weren't going to be getting in.  We dropped her off and headed out to the Blacks--a returning family that I LOVE!!  We were able to teach the mom.  Our 7pm canceled with us, so we stayed out in their area and went to a less active the bishop had told us to visit.  She let us in!  Last year when I tried, we only got to stand in the front door, but we gave a whole lesson and she said we could come back!  We got to the car and found that our 8pm canceled, so we tried to contact another less active out in Manheim.  She was buys, so we went to one more--a sweet woman I'd been able to teach a couple of times before.  That pretty much summed up our night!  So for having every single appointment cancel, it was a great day :D

Saturday
After lunch, we went to our first appointment where...guess what...he canceled.  We went out finding for a few hours until we needed to come home for dinner.  We ate and then headed out to contact a few member referrals with no luck.  We had a 6:30 appt, but hadn't heard from our investigator for a days despite calls and texts.  We went to the neighborhood near where we were going to meet him to tract for a little bit and he called!  He came!  It was almost an hour late, but we were able to teach him in a member's home AND he said the closing prayer!  It was a wonderful prayer, too, asking the Lord to open his heart to the truth.  Afterward, we went to the Bushda/Archers again and taught about prayer.

Sunday
We walked into the church to find it BEAUTIFULLY decorated!  There are garlands and wreaths and bells and ornaments in the foyers and the chapel.  It's gorgeous!  Chruch was great--Bernard and Altagracia came again,  as well as Bro Wong.  After church, we went home to do companion study, and then it was off to the Collins for dinner!  He's our ward mission leader and their daugthers are the BEST at giving referrals!  They also said we could come over for Christmas Eve and to Skype on Christmas Day :D  Afterward, we tried to contact more of their referrals and then headed down to see a less active/part member family we'd not seen for awhile.  Turns out her phone fell into a bucket of water and that's why we've not been able to get ahold of her.  We'll be able to meet this week sometime.  Then it was back to the church for the Christmas Devotional, which was awesome.  It was neat to see the new movies, too, because my friend Hillary has been working with the production of those!

So, it was a crazy week!  It's now the beginning of another week, which means another chance to go out and work even harder to bring more souls unto Christ!  I appreciate all of your prayers and love you all :D

Sister Denton