Sister Preston has been called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
in the Ohio Columbus Mission. She will serve from March 2014 through September 2015. Follow her service here.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

This Week has be WONDERFUL!

This week has been WONDERFUL! Sister Yance and I went tracting the other day and found the cutest family.  Their names are Amanda and Andy.  Amanda is Catholic and Andy is Baptist.  They have 3 kids.  When Amanda was younger she researched the church, but found a problem with the Great Apostasy.  When we had a lesson with her, she was very positive.  The Spirit was so powerful when I told her about Joseph Smith and gave his account in the grove of trees.  At the end of the lesson, she agreed to read two chapters that Sister Yance and I picked out.  We can't meet with her until after Easter.  I pray everyday for this family.

My other investigator is Krissy.  She's 24 and is the cutest thing!  She lives with her sister, Nikki, who is a recent convert.  I love how the Lord knows what she needs.  I have a deep love for these people.  I have a deep love for the ward.

By the way, Ward Councils are so, so important.  I didn't understand how important leadership in the ward was until I came out here.  Ward mission leaders are so important for missionaries. You should have Brandon go on exchanges with the Elders.  The sooner the better.  Knowing Brandon, he'll LOVE IT.  It wouldn't hurt for you or Steve to go with the missionaries to lessons.  If they don't ask you, ask them.  The work is so wonderful.  The Lord will bless you with what to say at the very moment.

My favorite aspect about the mission so far is the integrity that I am learning.  True integrity.  The Ohio Columbus Mission has high expectations and I want to be up there with the big dogs in 6 months.  So far I have 10 scriptures memorized.  I set a goal of 110.  100 more to go!  The mission has 48 scriptures for missionaries to memorize.  It's pretty cool.

It may not be today, but sometime, I'll have a baptism.  Some day I'll be someone's missionary.  I am hopeful that this will happen I know that this gospel is true.  The Book of Mormon is the Word of God and another testament of Jesus Christ.  Every person is dear to the Savior.  I am so blessed to be a part of this work.

Sister Zoe Preston
Can you spot our missionary?

I love the way the Lord works

One hour goes by way to quickly in the mission field. (We are getting hand written letters now instead of emails because Sister Preston only has an hour on the computer.  This makes going to get the mail so much more fun.  We should all write more letters and send them in the mail.)

I am currently in Mansfield, Ohio.  Its about an hour and a half away from Columbus.  I was sick on the way to Mansfield.  I felt bad for my companion.  My Companion's name is Sister Yance.  She's from Idaho Falls!  We have something in common.  She was at OSU for the last 6 months, so being in a family ward is new to her.  Have we had any baptisms yet?  NO. But I have hope to strengthen the less-actives in the ward and the part member families.  Is it hard?  Yes. Because half of them don't answer our calls.  Is it discouraging. YES!  But I have so much hope and love for this area that I know the Lord will guide us.  So far its been HARD.  But I know that this is where the Lord wants me to be.  I feel it more and more each day.

Conference was so Amazing as I was searching for answers for less actives and some families that I've met through service work, the Lord blessed me with information that I needed.  I was so touched by it.  I love the way the Lord works.

Love
Sister Zoe Preston

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Arrived in Ohio!

 Tuesday April 1, 2014

The newest missionaries in the Ohio Columbus Mission.
 
 
A trailer for all their luggage?  I guess two years requires a lot of luggage.

Saying goodbye to the MTC - Already?

Sunday March 30, 2014

Since conference is next week, we're having fast Sunday this Sabbath.  Sundays at the MTC are Amazing, but fast Sundays are even more spiritual.  All of the Elders and the Sisters bore their testimony today.  I found out some things about my companions that they've never talked about.

I feel like I'm adjusting to missionary life.  The first couple of days were really overwhelming, but now I am a bit more confident in the spirit and all of the studying.  The Elders in my Zone are SO funny.  They get so bored.  The other day at dinner Elder Rumley (who is from Portland, OR) started playing with his Jell-O.  He sat there laughing at his Jell-O while it jiggled.  The 3 other Elders just laughed along with him.  They crack me up.  They leave for South Carolina Monday morning.  They'll do great out in the field.

The other day the MTC had all of the Missionaries how would be leaving soon participate in an activity called "In Field Orientation."  We learned about planning and setting goals.  It was wonderful.  Although it was like 9 house long.  My butt hurt from so much sitting.

I can hardly wait to go into the field.  Tuesday will be here before I know it.  I know that there are people ready in Ohio to receive this message from me.  I know that if I work hard and always have the Spirit with me, I cannot fail.  I was given the best advice the other day.  I was told to see every investigator in their white baptismal clothes, being ready to join the fold.  It encouraged me to always share the message and never give up.

The 18 months that I'm away will go by quickly.
Love
Sister Zoe Preston