11/9-11/15

Hey hey! :)

So this week was insane, so many amazing tender mercies and some downs as well.

Monday-- We had an awesome day up at the Rudd's! We made sugar cookies and had a great time visiting with everyone there. There was a girl named Izzy there that was staying the night before she headed back to school in San Fransisco, so we got to share the message of the Restoration with her and it was so good! She was asking us questions all day. :) Loved every second of it! I LOVE THE RUDD'S.

We had a lesson with Sondra when we got back from the Rudd's and we taught her the Word of Wisdom, and it was AMAZING. I could definitely feel the spirit guiding the lesson and we were able to help her understand the changes she was going to need to make. She was willing to give up everything! :) She's going to need a lot of prayers to help her overcome her addiction to smoking cigarettes, please send some up to heaven for her!

Sister Long finally taught the Word of Wisdom for the first time on her mission! hahaha it was a pretty big deal.

Tuesday-- We had interviews with President and it was so good! I LOVE MY MISSION PRESIDENT. He and his wife are my favorite people. They are such amazing leaders and I just love them. When President tells you, you don't have much time left... then you really know that time is running out! haha SO NUTS HOW FAST THIS MISSION THING HAS GONE.

We had exchanges with the Laurelglen sisters and I got to go with the one and only..... SISTER KURTZ! :) Oh how I love that sister. She is soooo amazing and has become such a great missionary. So fun to be reunited with my companion from the MTC! :) We reminisced about the good old days and it was perfection. Tender mercies. :) We found a few great people! One was a cute family that spoke spanish and english.. a couple days later, they called us and told us that they didn't want us to come back.. so that was a bummer.

Brother Haney took us out to sushi! WOOHOO. :) 

Sushi!

Wednesday-- I started getting a cough/cold thingy... super lame, but no worries because I can still work just fine! Don't worry mom, I am taking my vitamins! :)

We did some service for Sondra and Mike! Their kitchen was pretty bad, so we offered to help them clean it, especially since Sondra has been feeling really sick this week. When we finished, it most definitely sparkled with cleanliness, but most of all it sparkled with the SPIRIT! :) 

Later that night Brother Bey and Brother Lindley gave Sondra, Mike and their daughter Nixxyn a blessing! IT WAS AMAZING! We wrote down what the blessing said and gave it to them a couple days later, and they loved it so much! 

Thursday-- We did service for the Martin family, because they are moving to Lehi, Utah after Christmas. We helped them pack up their kitchen and it was pretty fun! Then Mary came with us to the church for a lesson with Brian! We gave him a church tour and taught him about Following the Prophet and Keeping the Commandments. We read the talk from President Monson from this last General Conference (we got the conference edition Ensigns and we are HAPPY CAMPERS.) Anyhow, it went really well! He's pretty golden. He's 23 and has been in the Navy... I think.. but he's off duty or something like that or in the reserve.. so he hasn't been deployed or anything like that. He said he wants to become a better person and change his life for the better! Well Brian, this gospel is for you!!! :) It definitely can transform us and help us become the person Heavenly Father wants us to become.

Friday-- All of our appointments cancelled or they were not interested anymore. After knocking a few doors, we felt impressed to go by a few investigators in the nieghborhood... they weren't home... then we both thought of Tracy! (we haven't seen her in months) So we went and knocked on her door... not home... BUT MIRACLE--> We were in the right place at the right time and started talking to a woman outside of an apartment in Tracy's complex and her name is Darneesha! We taught her the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and she was SO STOKED to read the Book of Mormon! She said she had JUST gone through a really hard trial and she felt lost and hopeless.. so she prayed for help and then we showed up! :) So amazing!!!

That night we had a lesson with Sholanda about how to stay spiritually alive by doing CPR {Church, Praying, Reading}. She loved it! Sister James came with us, she's so awesome. After the lesson we taught all of her grandbabies what prayer was.. it was pretty sad, they didn't even know who Heavenly Father was... so we taught them all about it. They said their own little prayers about wanting to be a princess, and other things. It was pretty cute haha. Then Sholanda said the prayer and it was super genuine and so heartfelt! I just love her.

Saturday-- We didn't have too much luck. People told us that we were doing the wrong thing and part of the wrong church... but don't you worry, we sure let them know that we belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ and that we knew we were doing the right thing.

After lunch, we talked to a sweet lady named Adrianna! She was way nice. She told us her and her husband were studying with the Jehovah's Witnesses... so that she would get back to us after talking to her husband about it. She was super grateful though. They have such a cute son! Good family.. hope they become interested.

We had a lesson set up with Leann and Heather to meet with them at the church, but they stood us up... so we decided we can't teach them anymore, even though we love them. They aren't willing to do anything! :( 

We had a ride set up for Brian to come to a baptsim! We all got to the church ready for the baptism to start in ten minutes... and there were no cars in the parking lot.... BAH! It had been cancelled and no one told us. :( We miraculously got inside because someone just got there and had a key. We taught him the Word of Wisdom and read a chapter out of the Book of Mormon and got to show him the baptismal font. It went well overall, even though we were WAY bummed there wasn't a baptism for him to see and go to! Later, we realized all the tender mercies that happened in the experience, and we were super grateful.

That night we had an amazing lesson with a part member family, the Burton's!! :) The husband is not a member, but their two kids want to learn more and get baptized! Their names are Kaylee (12 yrs old) and Kyle (9). SO GREAT! Love love love it. They went to Magic Mountain on Sunday, but they said this next week they will come!

Sunday-- We stopped by Sholanda's and she had a rough night... she's having marital problems with her husband who works out of town.. It was so hard to see her so upset and sad. She wasn't sure if she was going to be able to come to church.. we really encouraged her to, because we knew it would make her feel better. She didn't end up coming. And either did Brian! That stinker! Sondra and Mike couldn't come either because they have her son every other weekend. Next week! We got to teach the Young Women's lesson! It was super good. I love the Young Women in this ward. They are amazing! And soooo strong!

IT RAINED! :)

We had dinner with the Mahan's! They remind me soooo much of my family. I just love them! Haha they were spewing movie quotes and the little brother who is Mason's age was doing super funny things that Mason would do hahahaha. I died, so hilarious. Love their family! The dad isn't a member, but he is warming up to us and he listened to the message we shared! :)

We went to the Bey's that night and had the best little discussion with them. They have been through some major health challenges with their son, and they've seen so many blessings and miracles! Such a good family. :)

I was reading Preach My Gospel this morning and it correlated with President Monson's talk! I'll share some of it with you. It's about recognizing the promptings of the spirit. "The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand. Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all." (PMG 96) Are we too busy and moving so fast, where we can't feel the promptings of the Holy Ghost? 

"We are surrounded by persuasive voices beguiling voices, belittling voices, sophisticated voices, and confusing voices. I might add that these are loud voices. I admonish you to turn the volume down and to be influenced instead by that still, small voice which will guide you to safety... Open your hearts, even your very souls, to the sound of that special voice which testifies of truth. As the prophet Isaiah promised, 'Thine ears shall hear a word..., saying, This is the way, walk ye in it.' May we ever be in tune, that we might hear this comforting, guiding voice which will keep us safe." (President Thomas S. Monson, Oct. 2015)

I hope we can all follow the promptings of the Spirit this week, so that we can reach outside of ourselves and be instruments in the Lord's timing in answering other people's prayers. 

I love this gospel. I love this church. It truly is led by a prophet of God. I love you all! Hope you have an amazing week! Keep smiling! :)

Love,

Sister Loar

xoxo

11/2-11/8

Hey-O! :) I just love you all so much. 

I can't even put into words what all happened this week! It was amazing!

Monday-- We played a game called gatorball... super intense and probably my favorite hahaha. A spanish elder turned around after I had apologized for kicking the ball super hard and said, "no sister, with ANGER!" hahaha it was hilarious. 

IT RAINED!

We had a great lesson with Jesse at Sister Burdick's about the Plan of Salvation!

Tuesday--We had exchanges with the Snow Sisters and we didn't have much luck in the morning until we felt like we should knock on a certain door (definitely the Spirit leading us) and we met Maria! Super amazing mother who is searching!!! She didn't set any return appointments with us sadly.. but we will hopefully see her this next week at church.

Half way through the day I found out that Sister Olsen knows SARAH LOAR!!!!! SAY WHAAAAT?!? hahaha I was flipping out all day long, it's the smallest world ever! I just started asking her about what she did before the mission and she said she nannied in NYC for a little bit! COME TO FIND OUT SARAH AND HER WERE LIKE BESTIES AND Sister Olsen totally knew all about Mitch! hahaha SO NUTS! :) and a tender mercy in disguise!

We had a lesson with Sholanda and it went really well! She's progressing well, just slowly..

Wednesday-- We had MLC in Tehachapi! IT WAS SO COLD hahaha we were all freezing up there. It's okay I've become a true Californian.. I've acclimated and with the slightest degree change, I need a cardigan and my boots! haha

We taught a lesson to Brian, a guy that the other sisters found on exchanges, at the park! He is super legit and keeping all of his commitments! We've taught him three times this week and he is solid! He should be coming to church this next week, he wasn't able to make it this last week. MIRACLES!

Thursday-- We had an amazing church tour and lesson with Sondra!!! SHE IS AMAZING AND SO STOKED TO BE BAPTIZED! :) Some members of the ward were there having a presidency meeting and so Sondra was able to meet so many great people and she loved it!

We had dinner at Sister Nowak's and she is just a gem.

Friday-- We had exchanges with the Monica sisters and we talked to Tony! And he basically couldn't get his hands on the Book of Mormon fast enough after we taught him the Restoration. It was really awesome. I LOVE IT. We've found so many prepared people this last week! SO AWESOME. We had dinner at SONDRA'S! :) She invited all four of us over for some bomb spaghetti!

Saturday-- We stopped by Sholanda's and read some of the Book of Mormon with her and she is doing well! She didn't make it to Stake Conference the next day because she got sick. :(

We had dinner at Janessa Haney's and they were celebrating her son, Alastor's, birthday! It was super fun and crazy with super great people!

Alastor's party‏

That night we had Stake Conference and it was so good! Elder Brag from the Seventy came and it was super amazing. I loved listening to such amazing speakers!

Sunday-- Stake Conference again and it was SO FUN seeing everyone from Stockdale! Love all of those wonderful humans!!

SONDRA & HER FAMILY CAME TO STAKE CONFERENCE! It was so amazing! We showed her the baptismal font and everything and she was planning her baptism and she is so excited! Brooke and Cody were there too and invited us all to come over for quesadillas for lunch and a lesson! Let me tell you... I've never had a better quesadilla.. it was DEVINE.

We taught the Restoration and it was amazing! Her face was priceless when we said there was a prophet on the earth today. She almost fell out of her seat! SONDRA PRAYED TO KNOW IF JOSEPH SMITH WAS 100% A PROPHET AND IT WAS THE BEST THING EVER. :)

I love all of them! SO AMAZING. Miracles are happening and people are super interested and keeping commitments! HALLELUJIAH!

Then we had dinner at the Lindley's, I just love them!

And a lesson with Sister Burdick and Brian! And then we ate some pie at the Hunter's. LOVELOVELOVETHESEHUMANS.

Love you all so much. 

The Lord is so good to each one of us. I just love this work and I love being a missionary. Each and every day brings new and old challenges and uncomfortable situations and opportunities for growth, but as I've exercised faith in my Savior and tried my best, the Lord has blessed me so much, I can't even begin to describe how loved I feel and how comforted I feel from the Holy Ghost. I just love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. BAH I CANT EVEN EXPLAIN MY LOVE FOR IT. It's the greatest.

One thing from Stake Conference that stuck out to me that Elder Brag said is that everyone on this earth chose to follow our Savior, so what do we have to lose! We need to share the gospel with everyone! :)

Love you all!

Love,

Sister Loar

xoxo

10/26-11/1

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Hey hey! :)

SUCH AN AMAZING WEEK! Let me tell you whyyyy --->

Miracle report, ready go!

Monday-- Sister Burdick told us to come over and teach her best friend's son, so we did! His name is Jesse, he's 16 years old and he is SEARCHING for truth. We taught him about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he said he would read, pray and get baptized if he found out the Book of Mormon was true. :) So amazing! We are teaching him tonight as well! SISTER BURDICK IS ON FIRE!

We had Sister McMullin come out with us that night to see a few people.. all of which were not home, so we went back to her home and shared a message with her family, and they were the ones to uplift us I think! It was awesome. I love their family. They are amazing and they have a daughter out serving (actually she served in Sister Long's home ward! Crazy small world! So awesome)

Mission President gave us all "little boulders" because he wants us to remember to all be a little bolder! :) hahaha love it!

Tuesday-- We had ZONE CONFERENCE! :)

It was seriously so amazing and exactly what I needed.

President Wilson taught us how to be problem solvers through explaining Nephi's experience and what he chose to do when his bow broke and his family would starve if they didn't have any food. {1 Nephi 16} His plan of action is as follows: 

1-PRAY (Pray after thinking of a solution to the problem)

2-DO SOMETHING; ACT

3-Turned to his PRIESTHOOD LEADER (father,and leader)

4-Read SCRIPTURES

5-EXPECT MIRACLES--> nothing is too hard for the Lord. Show trust in the Lord.

Food for thought for you all :)

Wednesday-- We went on an EPIC EXCHANGE!

I went with Sister Perrin and we had sooooo many miracles happen! WE FOUND 4 NEW INVESTIGATORS! And then when we reunited with Sister Long and Sister Alderman (she is from Eagle--She said she knows Summer from High school!) THEY HAD FOUND 4 NEW INVESTIGATORS! So amazing!!! We just followed the plan we had made and were in the right place at the right time, and the Lord blessed us with so much courage and the words we needed to say in our mouths! We each had picked something that we feel uncomfortable doing, or something that's awkward for us in missionary work and prayed to have opportunities to face our fears and grow our faith. IT HAPPENED LIKE SO MANY TIMES where I had to work on my fear/ awkward thing and it was awesome! We found this lady named Tiffany and she is SOOOO SOLID. She asked us to come back that night to teach her family. Sadly, her husband called and told us that they had a previous commitment they forgot about.

Thursday-- We had SUCH a rad day! Brooke came out with us to go to an appointment but it fell through so she ended up calling her step-mom (who isn't a member and is married to her less active father) to see if we could come see them and they weren't home, so Brooke invited them to come to her house when they were done running errands. BASICALLY THE BEST LESSON ABOUT THE PLAN OF SALVATION with their family!!!! They are so excited to come and change their lives! Sondra (the step-mom) is so intense and so excited to learn about the gospel! She took NOTES! hahaha it was the best! I was so happy! 

Then we had a lesson at Sholanda's with Sister James who came with us! It was great! Sholanda went out of town so she wasn't able to come to church. But she agreed and committed to meet with us twice this coming week! :)

Friday-- We did service at the Senior Center and all of our favorite cafeteria ladies dressed up for Halloween! It was super fun to see them.

We were walking down a street and started talking to this single mom for a minute, but they were heading somewhere and were running late, so we weren't able to talk too much with them, but we did figure out she needs some employment so we are going to give her info about the unemployment center the church has here, and then we got her name, it's Jessica Johnson! (I was like MY BEST FRIENDS NAME IS JESSICA JOHNSON!) hahaha I thought it was a cool thing. :) She also told us they just moved there and want to go to church.. so yay!

Brother Jorgenson's wife just recently passed away a few weeks ago, so we went and visited him and we needed some water, so he gave us some. The sweet man. He is so awesome! My favorite! He gave us some great life advise and wisdom. Such a great man.

By the way, I've never seen so many ice cream trucks in MY LIFE. They must follow us around or something, because we hear them and see them 24/7.

Oh also great news! It's finally cooled down! We are hoping it's the El Nino year so we can get some major rain in this desert! We are in for some sort of storms this week hopefully! :)

We also talked to Tiffany's husband when we stopped by and invited him to church! He seemed pretty pumped about church! They didn't end up coming, sad day. But they are SUCH a good family. Good things to come for them in the future hopefully!

Saturday-- We contacted Erica's grandpa (she is someone I met, and whom I love, in Stockdale area and her gramps lives nearby!) He was happy to see us and super nice!

We tried to fix Sister Bower's computer for her so she would be able to watch conference, but we failed.. she doesn't have the right connection for the internet. Oh well! We taught her about ponderizing and that seemed to help! :) We also talked to her niece Charlene that lives with her for a minute and she is SUCH a gem. She is super rough around the edges and acts big and tough, but she is truly such a wonderful example of selfless and quiet service. She's amazing! Love that woman.

We went to the Bey's for some baked potatoes and I showed them how Idahoans get down with their potatoes! ;) hahahaha and then WE GOT TO SEE TEAGYN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT WAS AMAZING!

She spent Halloween with Sister Nowak and Zek and it was soooo good to see her! 

We had to go in at 7pm that night for curfew, but we were A okay with that. We went to be SO early hahaha best day ever. SLEEP IS GOLD.

Sunday-- For old times sake we walked to church with the Teag-mister! :) It was fun! She's such a doll. Just has such a rough life to live. Love her so much.

Church was awesome!! I bore my testimony of the Savior. That morning I learned a lot about what He went through for us. My heart was so full. I am so grateful for Him. For His perfect example and sacrifice. I love Him.

We had dinner at the Despain's and she had asked what we were wanting for dinner and we said french dip sandwiches (miss you mother and your delicious french dip sandwiches:)) haha and she totally outdid herself! They were delicious!! I love the Despains! They are amazing.

We got a call from the Haney's and they had their son (who hasn't been to church forever) and his girlfriend over for dinner and they both came to church and she had some questions! So we taught her the Plan of Salvation and it was super great! She had some good questions! She said she doesn't have time right now to investigate the church full fledged... soon Jessie, Soon! :)

"Part of our challenge is, I think, that we imagine that God has all of His blessings locked in a huge cloud up in heaven, refusing to give them to us unless we comply with some strict, paternalistic requirements He has set up. But the commandments aren't like that at all. In reality, Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us. His commandments are the loving instructions and the divine help for us to close the umbrella so we can receive the shower of heavenly blessings...

"The choice is yours! The Creator of the seas, sands, and endless stars is reaching out to you this very day! He is offering the grand recipe for happiness, peace, and eternal life! To qualify for these glorious blessings, you must humble yourself, exercise faith, take upon you the name of Christ, seek Him in word and deed, and resolutely 'stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places.'" {President Dieter F. Uchtdorf}

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Stay strong!!!

Love,

Sister Loar

xoxoxo

This dog got a hair cut... hahahaha

The Zone Leaders asked to borrow our costumes!

10/26

10/19-10/25

Alright so this week was a good one!

Monday-- I dyed my hair! :) Well Sister Livingston did, and it's so fun! While she was dying my hair, Sister Long made our Halloween costumes.. stay tuned for some pictures. 

Everytime I looked in the mirror this week, Skuttle's voice from The Little Mermaid comes in my head, "Ariel!! ARIEL!!!!" hahahahaha since it has some red in it, I felt like Ariel. haha

Tuesday-- We went on an adventure with Sister Hillhouse up to the Rudd's in Glennville! It's about 50 miles from Oildale/North Bakersfield and it is way pretty up there!

We ate some lunch at the Rudd's and then they gave us an awesome tour of Sister Rudd's family Ranch! It was so rad! I loved it! They have summer camps during the summer up there where kids from all over come and spend two weeks and get to explore and have a good time! Harry, a 29 year old, worked as a cook up there this last summer and is staying with the Rudd's, trying to decide what he's going to do next. He isn't a member of the church... yet ;) haha before we left, we shared a message with their family. It was the message of the Restoration and we invited Harry to learn more and to read and pray about the Book of Mormon and to come to church and to be baptized adn he said.... he'll think about it. Haha it was super intense! Afterwards Sister Rudd sent us a text that said, "Halfway through I smiled and thought wow, this is the first discussion lol. Good job girls." hahaha it was awesome! I LOVE THE RUDD'S. Sister Rudd is like my lost long sister. She and Aunt Sherri would have a BLAST together hahaha they are so awesome! I love it!

That night, when we got home, Sister Long went to bed super early because she wasn't feeling good. 

Wednesday-- Sister Long didn't feel well so she took a nap and then we went out that afternoon. We were talking to a less active lady in the ward on her doorstep, and Sister Long started to collapse. She has hypoglycemia, and she wasn't watching her blood sugars at all and she basically went into a diabetic-like shock and thank goodness I watched Steele Magnolia's so many times so I knew what she needed! I asked the sister, if she had any juice. We got Sister Long some juice and she came out of it and was able to become coherent again. Scariest moment of my LIFE!!! The ambulance came, but Sister Long was well enough not to have to go to the hospital, thank goodness. We stayed in for the next couple of days until she was better. She was super sick and had a hard time recovering.

Friday-- Sister Long was still not doing well, so we took her to Urgent Care and got her some meds to help her out. 

We stayed in all day Friday too. The ward was AWESOME. Seriously so many people asked us if we needed anything. Brother Bey brought us a bunch of food that Sister Long could eat and the Shimmin's brought this bomb soup and homemade scones! SO GOOD. I just love this ward. They are so amazing!

Saturday-- Sister Long was feeling a lot better, so we were able to go to the AP comp study with the STL's it was SO good! They gave us sooo many good things to work on! Here is an acronym they came up with to help us out (lots more was learned along with the acronym, but lack of time, I can't explain all the way!)--->

T-Teach

R-Remind

A-Ask Questions

I-Inspire

N-Never be complacent

Then they talked about a "growth cycle". If we exercise our faith and do things that are out of our comfort zones, the faith of others and the Lord will help us and give us the strength to do it, then we see the evidence of our exercised faith, and then our faith and knowledge GROW! :)

We went around and invited everyone to come to the Trunk or Treat Halloween party that the ward was putting on that night! It was fun! We found a new investigator, Delia while we were out!

The Halloween party was super awesome!! Brooke took us in her car and Cody took the elders in his jeep! It was out in some almond orchards the church owns and it was SO fun! Everyone's costumes were great and festive. We had a good time! And our costumes were a hit! (literally kids were punching our boxes hahaha)

Someone thought my costume was a garbage can!!!

Sunday-- WAS THE BEST!

Church was so amazing. EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED. It was the Primary Program and SHOLANDA CAME!!! :) With her grandson Duane! It was so fun!

That morning I read another talk about the Sacrament that changed my life. Here's a link to it! https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/the-sacrament-and-the-atonement?lang=eng

Sister Rudd taught the Relief Society lesson and words can't describe how much I needed it. It was so inspired and I'm so grateful. It was all about the conference talk, Waiting for the Prodigal. Sister Rudd came up with some steps for inviting family and friends to church that really touched me.

1. Lovingly let them make their own choices.

2. Never stop caring for or loving them

3. Pray for them

4. Never lose hope

5. Continue to reach out to them

6. Continually try to reach out again.

7. Reach out to their family and friends.

8. Support them in things you can 

9. Listen for and obey promptings

10. Don't judge we all fall short!

Pay attention to what repeats in the steps, and do them! That's my invite to all of you is to invite someone to church. :)

That night we had dinner at the Jorgy's (Jorgensen's) and the Rudd's were there! It was a Ruddly weekend. :) and it was riot. I love those families.

Afterwards we went to Leann and Heather's to try to teach them a lesson, which wasn't successful, but we ended up singing primary songs and teaching them to the 3 little boys. They are so crazy, but so cute. They just need to come to church!!! :)

This week I had so much time to study, a little too much time hahaha. I was ponderizing the scripture, Doctrine & Covenants 121:45-->

45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. 

and in 3 general conference talks and an ensign article I felt impressed to read, there that scripture was! Tender mercies and revelation! :) SO AMAZING.

"Dew moistens and cools whatever it forms on. Because of this, it can help plants survive hot, dry summers... We live in a world that is hostile to faith and testimony, but our Heavenly Father never leaves us to wither. When we allow God's word to "distil upon [our souls]," we can be refreshed and kept alive spiritually, and we can then thrive, grow, and bring forth the fruits of faith-- a change of heart, a love of God and our fellowmen, and good works."

Hope you all had an amazing week!

Love you all!

Love,

Sister Loar

xoxo