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The mission has been successful.  Now the great adventure of life begins.

"Brethren, I bid thee Farewell"

This isn't the end, but merely the beginning.

Ohio has taught me to to rely on our Heavenly Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ. Ohio has taught me to have a passion in the Book of Mormon and to love Joseph Smith for who he is. I stand all amazed at the love that Jesus has for me and for every person that I meet. Christ has truly helped me to have charity.

This week has been bitter sweet. Everyday has been meaningful. I wish I had the words to describe how much I love this Gospel and the work that our Father has us do. How can you put into words the feelings and experiences that one feels while being on a mission for the Lord? I've been thinking about this a lot, and I have come to find out that you can't. The only way that you possibly can is by continuing to serve and apply what you have learned. Every day this week I have prayed more earnestly and worked my tail off. 

 

Y ended up not wanting to see us any more... Which made me SO sad because I love him SO much!! But I know that he'll join the church at some point in his life. He's bound to since he's still reading the Book of Mormon. #thatwillconverthim But guess what!!! We saw him this week!! He still wants to meet with the Sisters!! 

We received a referral for this lady. She lives in the Hilltop and hasn't had the easiest life. She has seen a lot of things that would scar ANYONE. She wants answers to her questions and to come closer to her Savior. My heart hurt for her as she was telling us her story. She wonders why God allows bad things to happen to good people. Her and I share the same question. I was able to tell her that Christ knows and so does our Father in heaven. The Spirit was so strong as I told her with all the passion that I have that this Gospel is true. 

Throughout the week I have been praying even more than ever to be kind and have charity and to find SOMEONE who is sincere about learning about the Gospel. It turns out that those prepared people are all around us, and I grow more and more grateful for all of the work that our Savior does in order for me, a weak servant to find them. B is one of those guys. He has a Christian background and loves the Savior. We had a lesson with him the other day about the Plan of Salvation. It was so powerful. You could feel the Spirit as we talked about our Fathers plan. B liked the message and has accepted the baptismal date of October 31. Good things can happen on that day!! 

  

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. I have no doubt that Jesus Christ is real and that our Father in Heaven know us. I am grateful for the sacrifice that was given for me. I don't have the words to describe how I feel. Grateful comes pretty close. 

 

See ya'll soon!! 

 

Love, 

Sister Preston 

Short and Sweet

"Shall we not go on is so great a cause? Go forward and not backward, Courage.... And on, on to victory." D&C 128:22

Y came to a baptism the other day. He dressed up in a suite! He said that in the Children's Book of Mormon they dressed up in nice cloths. So he wanted to dress up in nice cloths. He enjoyed the Spirit that was felt at the baptism. At some point he'll be baptized. I just know it!

We are working with this lady named W who has been reading the Book of Mormon with her kids every night! She is such a sweet lady. At some point she will come to church. She is always going through something hard.

Sorry this is so short every one!!

Love,

Sister Preston

"The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning!"

One of the sweetest thing any missionary experiences is when a person who they found, taught, baptized is active and IS HOLDING A CALLING AND GOING TO THE TEMPLE!!!!!!

That's what motivates me. There are people like BH out there. Ready and eager to have this Gospel be familiar to them. I remember the day I found him. I was with dear Sister Vance on the eve before the transfer call. We were in Lexington, Ohio a small suburb outside of Mansfield. We were knocking on doors like crazy, praying that we would find someone who would be prepared for us to teach. Remember that day Cassi?? The principle that helped BH understand that this is the Lord's Church is knowing that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and that he translated the Book of Mormon by the Power of God. I remember clearly the day he told us that he knew the Church was true.

I love how the Spirit testifies of truth. I have been thinking a lot about that lately. In the Book of Mormon we read that "...By the Power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things." As a missionary I have the opportunity to fine tune to the promptings of the Spirit. To really know how the Father communes with me, and to better help those I meet understand how the Father communes with them.

To go along with this thought we have been talking to a lot of people who are a part of Strong Christian backgrounds. They bare testimony of what they believe and tell us to read the Bible. I have found myself walking away feeling frustrated and hurt all at the same time. If they took one second to just listen, they would feel the love that God has for them. I often wonder if they aren't listening to me because I am too focused wanting theme to listen to me and the Lord's message. I've come to realize that I like doing the will of the Lords a lot more than doing my own will. I found a talk given by Sister Burton last year about the Spirit. She adds a poem that her blind mother wrote. It

says:

                                 "I know not by what methods rare,

                                  But this I know, God answers prayer.

                                   I know that He has given His Word,

                                 Which tells me prayer is always heard,

                                 And will be answered, soon or late.

                                 And so I pray and calmly wait.

                                 I know not if the blessing sought

                                Will come in just the way I thought;

                               But leave my prayers with Him alone

                                Whose will is wiser than my own,

                                Assured that He will grant my quest,

                                Or send some answer far more blest."

I love that poem! Aren't we far more bluest when we follow the voice of the Spirit?

  

This last week in MLC we talked about the basics of the Book of Mormon. It is the Keystone of our religion. Through it we come to a deep understanding that Jesus Christ is the Son of a living God, and that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God who through God's power restored His church.

Our mission is super young. 48 of the companionships are training.

President Daines wants to have theses young missionaries be passionate about the Book of Mormon. I love how many restored thirties there are in the Book of Mormon. From Baptism to the Sacrament -- it's all in there. I want to read these sacred scriptures over, and over, and over again to be able to stay away from the adversary. I want to be a better person because of this Book.

We've been doing all that we can to help T and C to understand this. C often forgets to read, now I don't blame her for forgetting when she had a pile of homework to do. Sister Corbett and I are able to bare our testimonies about the divinity of the Book of Mormon to her and teach her why God commands us to read and study the scriptures. She wasn't at church this Sunday... I have hope and.

LOT of faith that she will be baptized at some point. I know she knows this church is true. She sees how happy it makes her friend who is a member of our Ward. I know that they feel the Spirit as they love the Word of Wisdom. They're good girls, and I love them SO MUCH!!

Poor Y. He's having a lot of medical problems, but he's holding in there.  When we were on exchanges the other day we read 1Nephi with him. Let me tell you, the Spirit was SO strong hearing him read the chapter heading in English. I was in awe of the Spirit. After he read the heading he said " I read, but no not what it says!" So we explained it to him. The funny things is, and the Spirit was growing stronger, a storm came and drove us out. Literally it was crazy!

Sister Morgan and I were soaked from head to toe. I know Heavenly Father is looking out for Y.

We have been doing a lot of finding. We have a deep, strong desire to see these people progress. Sometimes agency isn't my friend because these good people end up telling us to not come back. I have faith that as long as I invite everyone to be baptized on the first lesson that at some point someone will be baptized.

This Gospel means a lot to me. I was asked to beat my testimony at MLC and I walked about thinking and feeling that I had so much more to say about our Savior. My words can't even begin to express just how much love I have for Him. I know He lives and loves everyone. He is my brother and dearest friend. Through Him I can have a better relationship with our Heavenly Father. They answered Joseph's humble prayer. Through him Christ's church was restored to the earth and the Book of Mormon teaches us of our Savior's doctrine. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God. I have read his words and studied them in my mind and the Spirit tells me that he is. I love our Prophet. I know that the Spirit directs him as he does the Lord's will. I know that the Spirit will continue to teach us all things, as long as we are willing to act.

I hope everyone is preparing for General Conference!!!

Any guesses as to who the new Apostles will be??

I don't have any.

Make this week a happy one!!

Love,

Sister Preston

Almost the 9th hour...

This week has been so busy!

We have been doing a lot of everything.

Since I remember Sunday the most, I'll start with that.

I gave a talk at church. All of the missionaries spoke. Guess who went last? If you guessed me, you are 100% correct. I don't know why this always happens.... It went well though. The Elders gave a 3-4 minute talk, and Sister Corbett gave a 3 minute talk. So it was up to be to talk for the next 20 minutes!!! Remember when I gave a 3 minute talk before I left Bishop Walker? For once I spoke for the whole 20 minutes! Who knew how fun it is to talk about out Savior and invite others to come closer to him. We almost had a cute little Asian man at church. He was willing to come-all he needed was a ride. I'm not gonna lie, I came really close to just giving him a ride. Since I love God more I didn't.

C was at church. She is currently working towards baptism on the 19th of September!!!

We have been meeting with her quite a bit. She misses the other Sisters. But I assured her that we are just as cool as Sister Beebe. :) It's been so much fun to teach her! She will be the second person whom I've taught who is under 20!

Sorry this is short!!

But I'll end with a bang.

I know Jesus Christ can and will help us if we call on Him. The friends that we make in the Gospel are eternal and precious. I know God loves me and will direct me.

Peace, love, and mucho fun!!

Love,

Sister Preston

New Area, New Companion, Thug Life

So this week has been WILD.

I am in a new area, it's not too far away from Riverside. In fact I switched areas. I am in THE HEART OF COLUMBUS!! And I have a lot of homies who are teaching me how to be a "Straight up G." My new companions name is Sister Corbett. She is from West Jordan in Utah.

She is a straight up cool person. We get a long well. :) I forgot to mention that we were doubled in. This means that we were put into a new area without having a previous person here who knows it. It was a tender mercy for us since I have been on exchanges here, so I know my way around just a little bit. Our first couple of days have been really exhausting. On top of getting to know the current investigators here, we have been finding through our own efforts. It was kind of hot the other day when we were out knocking on doors. There were a lot of people out. We talked to a lot of people who would be interested in learning more.

 I have been hitting a big wall lately. Not a wall of not wanting to do the work, I am just extremely tired. My heart has been drawn out in prayer in order to push past the wall and to keep going against the grind.

In Columbus there are all sorts of different kinds of people. I like the verity. We had an interesting lesson with one of our investigators the other day. She mentioned to us that she has a problem with the men holding the Priesthood. I listened to her as she told us how "women don't have a say in our church, and how the men have all the say." My heart hurt for her, or maybe it hurt for me, I'm still trying to decide. I expressed to her as simply as I could that the Priesthood is a sacred gift given to men to help God's children. I told her that the best way to find this out for herself was to read the Book of Mormon and find out for herself if what we are saying and what the Book of Mormon are saying are true. We have a Mission Wide Leadership Training on Tuesday, so President Daines has asked us to come prepared to learn. He assigned a talk given by Elder Oaks to read entitled " The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood." click here for a link to the talk  Perfect timing if you ask me!

As I read this talk this morning I couldn't help but feel the love that God has for us. He must really trust us if he would give us His authority on the earth. I'm just going to throw this out there since I am being "straight up", men and women need each other. The more righteous men and woman are, the more they can influence one another.

Not only that but in order to reach exaltation we need the new and everlasting covenant  that is preformed under the priesthood authority. And I feel like I have a voice in this Church. Even though I am in a Missionary Council, I feel like my voice is heard. Any who, that's my soap box for the day. :) Our apartment is kind of ghetto. All of you wouldn't believe what I found.....

Life is like a box of Chocolates...

The other day I was in Alma 26, better knows as Alma's psalm. Click here for a link to this chapter of Alma He was testifying of the goodness of God for all of the success that he had had during the course of his mission. He said these words that I totally concur with. He said "Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land." The only person that I can boast in is my God who has saved me from "the bonds of iniquity." Okay, I am still really dramatic, but seriously, I do dumb things and He forgives me. He has guided me to those in this area who want to feel their burdens be lifted from them. The joy that I feel from seeing someone even invite us back is glorious. This week we have been seeing miracle after miracle. And all of it is due to our Father in Heaven. For instance, on exchanges we tracked on a street and found 4 new potentials. Sister Crandall and I went back and met whom we thought was a lady named R, we met a lady named K. She mentioned to us that she was was just talking to her mom about going to a church. The Spirit was SO strong as we talked to her about what this Gospel can do for her, and especially what the Gospel has done for us in our lives.

Oh yeah on top of all of these miracles, we had a member of the 12 come to Columbus. We had Elder Cook!!! He met with all of the missionaries. President Daines promised us that if we came to this meeting prepared that we could influence the Spirit. Sure enough we did, and we ended up having a question and answer with Elder Cook. We also had Elder Hallstrum with us. He's in the presiding Bishopbric.

Meeting with these men was highlight of my  mission. Before we started the meeting, Elder Cook and Elder Hallstrum shook each missionaries hand. There was a special Spirit of love in the Chapel. I was so excited to hear his words. It was a very special experience to hear from an Apostle of the Lord. I know that he has been called of God, and I know that he can only do the will of the Lord. I am so grateful to have this opportunity to serve and love and be who the Lord would have me be.

Before I forget, I chopped ALL of my  hair off and now I look like a boy. Just kidding!! I did cut my hair though. It's a good 5 inches shorter. Guess who did it.... If you guess Sister Crandall, you win the big prize. :) Any who, the church is true. I have been so happy serving my fellow beings. I know that living within the bonds of the Restored Gospel that I can be infinitely happy.

I love you all. Live long and prosper. Don't let the muggles get you down!

Love,

Sister Preston