Crazy week = short letter

August 25, 2014

 

This week has been CRAZY!!

We had a Zone Conference and car checks. The Zone Conference was wonderful. BUT our car had to go into the shop. NOT BECAUSE I DID ANYTHING TO IT. But because the tires were going bald. We were without it for 3 days. So, we walked to appointments. We walked 20 miles last week. In the rain. And humidity. It was a blast!! Haha I bet people got a kick out of us walking around in the rain!!

We have a baptism this Saturday!! He is very prepared. His interview is tomorrow. I am so happy for this guy!! Our other investigators are progressing beautifully.

This week has been a good one!!
Love,
Sister Preston

I am incredible blessed to be a missionary for the Lord in Ohio

August 18, 2014

This week has been one of those weeks that just go by quickly!!

To begin with, we have a baptism on the 30th of this month!! Woohooo!!!! If only all of you could be there to feel the spirit that is there when we have discussions with this investigator!! He quit drinking coffee in 2 days. He drives himself to work (now that he has a car), and he is reading 2-3 chapters of the Book of Mormon a day. All of his neighbors approach us, and tell us that Brad has changed so much!! Haha I love seeing people let the Gospel of Jesus Christ become apart of them. The ward loves him, and is excited to see him become a member!!

We have been teaching like CRAZY!! We go from lesson, to lesson. I love learning from these people!! I can't remember if I've told all of you about the Baptist, the Atheist, and the Wicken. . . But here's an update on them: the baptist is progressing wonderfully. She was at church this last Sunday, and she loved it. Her only comment on the whole thing was .... the music. It cracked me up. She loves the Book of Mormon thus far. Her roommates the Atheist, and the Wicken are liking the Gospel. She mentioned to us the other day that when we leave, they all talk about what we just taught. I'm not sure if they are reading from the Book of Mormon yet, but my prayer is that they will soon. Sister Cater (my new companion) and I love teaching them!!

We have been finding new people to teach through former people we have met with. I LOVE meeting new people. Each and everyday, I fall more and more in love with Ohio, and with the people. Which reminds me of a new lady we just met. She is the sweetest person I have ever met!! We have been teaching her for about 3 weeks now. She has been finding a lot of joy in the Book of Mormon, and loves to talk about our Savior. She said that the Book of Mormon reminds her of the Bible. :) We finally got in touch with one of previous investigators!! Oh boy, she is going through some trials right now. She is allowing us to meet with her once a week again. In God's time she'll be converted.

Whenever someone asks me what my favorite part of missionary work is, I say that it is watching these incredible people progress. (even the members) I am incredible blessed to be a missionary for the Lord in Ohio. I feel like I am becoming the person that he wants me to be. "By Small and Simply things Great things are brought to pass."

Funny story: We had dinner with a member who usually feeds the 3 sets of missionaries back to back, and right after us the Elders were up. We noticed that they had put a few pass-a-long cards on our car. Sister Carter looks at me and says "Let's put pass-a-long cards on their car!! This is how the Sisters in Pason would do it!!" So she goes to the Elders car, and lifts up both of the windshield whippers, and we start putting pass-a-long cards all over their car!! haha it was so fun!! We have been hearing about this bakery in town called Buckey's Bakery. So, we went just before we came to the library to do e-mails. Let's just say that they are pretty good!!

Sister Carter and I go for runs just about every day. We have been going for walks with one of the recent converts. (She spoils us. She feeds us dinner at least once a week) She is going to be moving to Utah in April. :) She'll love it there!!

My mini-missionary, Kimmy Hansen received her mission call!!! She is going to the Panama City Mission!! She is so excited!! I can't even express how happy I am for her!! I can't believe she will be leaving soon!!

5 months of fun, and hard work go by quickly. Jacob will be home soon. Life goes by much too quickly. I hope every one has had a fantastic week!!

I know that this church is true. Each moment I have to feast from the words of Christ, and then go and do what He has commanded, I know that this is His work.

Love,
Sister Zoe Preston 

P.s. General Conference is almost here!! I love Conference, so we are preparing the members of the ward here by talking about this last Conference and what they can do to prepare for the up and coming one. :)

The more I am in Ohio, the more I know that this is where I am meant to be.

July 7, 2014

Okay, I've been slacking on e-mails and letters. I'm sorry. Time runs out SO quickly on preparation days!!! 

Anyhow, here is an update on the Mansfield 1 Area, and the Mission!! 

This week we met this awesome lady. She has 2 sons.  One of the sons told us to go see his mom while we were at his complex looking for a family that was referred to us. This lady is incredible. She has a very strong testimony in faith in our Savior. She's so passionate about the Gospel. This last time we met with her she told us that she liked what we were teaching, and really felt the spirit. She will be coming to church this Sunday. 
The more I am in Ohio, the more I know that this is where I am meant to be. I meet people who are just incredible. I feel like they teach me more than I teach them!! haha 

We have a new Mission President Daines. He's a cool guy from Texas. He has 7 children, 2 of which still live at home. He was SO nervous when he met all of us!! Poor guy. Luckily, he has great Assistants who are obedient and set a great example to the whole mission. We haven't seen very many changes thus far, but I feel like there are a few in the wind that are heading our way. 

Update. Our investigator is getting BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY AT 1:00!! ( I put the time in there so that on Saturday, at 11:00 your time you can think about me. :) If you remember. :)) 

I've been noticing that a few of the recent converts in this ward don't see the relevance of going to the Temple. But, I hope and I pray that with time, they will. 

My Zone is doing the FUNNEST thing this Transfer!! We are doing this fun Harry Potter theme with houses and the whole lot!! The purpose of it is to help us to beat our recent records. Today, we played Quittich ... and it was so much fun!! I swear, this mission keeps getting better and better. We have a blast. The goals that I have set this transfer are ones that will stretch me. I want to be successful out here. And in retrospect, I don't have very much time to twiddle my thumbs. 

I've been thinking about Repentance a lot lately. Mainly in the mornings when Sister Vance and I are running. There are So many people out there who have NO idea about this Gospel. This 'good news' is meant for them. ( I think a lot more out here. :)) I've also been thinking a lot about the Savior knocking on our door, waiting for us to let Him in. I've been putting myself in the Saviors shoes, and at each door, I imagine that I am Him, waiting for someone to answer. Each time someone does, I get so excited. Anyway, I hope all of that made some sense. Life is good. 

Love, 

Sister Zoe Preston  

This week has been incredible

June 25, 2014

Hello friends!! 

So, this week has been incredible. Like, I honestly don't have any words to describe how incredible it has been. Anyway, here is what has happened. 

The guy I mentioned last week, is on date to be baptized. He'll enter the waters of baptism on July 12!!!! He is such a cool guy!! He picked out the day he wanted to be baptized, and everything. It's incredible to see the way he has changed. 

So, we have been working with this guy.  He's about 60 years old, and he's terrified of cars, and he has social anxiety.  For the past month we have been asking him to come check out the church, and each time he has made up some excuse. Well, the other day, we mentioned that he could receive a priesthood blessing for comfort. We asked a member and his wife to come, and thankfully, they agreed. So, they come over, and we explain a little bit more about priesthood blessings, and Brother Hoffaman ( the member we asked to come) gave him a blessing. During this whole time, I had this prompting to ask him to come check out the church. I was a little scared because we have asked him SO many times before if he would, and each time he has said no. Anyway, after the blessing, I followed that prompting, and I asked him if he wanted to go check  out the church. He literally hopped right out of his seat, and said "Sure! Let's go!!" haha it was incredible!! We had a great church tour, and he loved the chapel. He is coming to church this Sunday!! That whole day was filled with blessings. 

Anyway, this week was awesome!! I hope everyone is doing great!! 

Love, 

Sister Zoe Preston

A week in the life of a sister missionary

June 9, 2014

Since we didn't have preparation day on Monday last week, we had quite a busy day!! I feel like it went by SO quickly!! We were all around the town, looking for those who are prepared. Since Tuesday was our preparation day, we had some time to chill. BUT haha we were super busy!! Nikki and her twin Krissy ( the one who just got baptized!!) Took us to this cool thrift shop. And then after that we went to lunch with a couple in the ward. I have been absolutely addicted to hearing about convert stories, and how couples met and tie the not. :) The couple we went out to lunch with are in their 80's. By the end of lunch they wanted us to meet with their daughter who is super in-active. On Wednesday we had a Zone Conference. It was my first one, so like any conference I went in with questions and ready to be slapped by the spirit! President talked a lot about obedience. There has been a big problem with cleanliness in the mission. ( The Elders have been BIG slobs.) Sister Nilsen gave a wonderful talk!! She talked about the Atonement; and how we can better use that in our lives. I wish I would have brought my note book... but haha that's what I remembered the most from that conference. 

On Thursday we visited this man. He's in his 60's and he doesn't know how to read. He explained to us that his parents were terrible alcoholics, and didn't make him go to school. The cool thing about this whole thing is, he has had missionaries in the past come over before for discussions. The Spirit is always super strong during our lessons with him. 

That evening we visited Krissy. Now, I have been thinking about the way the Holy Ghost changes our continence, and boy, has it truly changed Krissy for the better. She is so happy now!! She told us for the first time that she has been praying for specific things, and she recognizes how Heavenly Father answers her prayers. Hearing her say that made all of the frustration, and fasting and anxious prayers worth it. She wrote us a letter the other day and told us that before she joined the church she was super un-happy. She said that she was in a "dark world, and that she didn't know how to get out." The Gospel does that for me each day. Not as dark of a world as she was in, by any means. But sometimes I find myself in a bit of a spiritual rut. It's incredible how well our Heavenly Father knows each and every one of us. As much as He has helped His precious daughter, I believe that He has helped me too. 

For the past couple of years the Ohio Columbus Mission has been having youth 16-18 ( or recent converts who are interested in going on a mission) participate with the Full Time missionaries. They call them Mini-Missionaries!! Haha so, I have with me a mini-missionary!! Her name is Kimmi Hansen. She's from the Mt. Vernon ward ( where all of the Amish are!!) Her calling is to teach the little sunbeam Amish kids the gospel. :) She's sooo cool. :) It's a great conversation starter with people whenever we tract. 

All in all, this week has been incredible. 

Transfers are in 2 weeks, and this is President and Sister Nilsens last transfer. Time fly's by SO quickly out here!! The longer I am here, the longer I fall in love with Ohio. I love the children that run up to me and tell me and give me hugs. I love serving all of the elderly. I love seeing someone willing to change. I can't even express how much I love giving my all to the Lord. Whenever I think I don't have enough to give, He surprises me with more than I could ever expect. 

I love all of you!! And I hope that everyone has had a phenomenal week!!! 

Love, 

Sister Zoe Preston      

I am so grateful to be a missionary!!

June 3, 2014

Okay, So today is a busy day, and I don't think that I'll have time to write those whom I usually write. :( Next Preparation Day!! :) 

So this week has been AMAZING!! 

The other day we were out looking for people in our neighborhood. We have been to a majority of the apartments, and this one guy comes out and says "Hey!! Why haven't you been to my apartment?" We explained that we had, but a lady who answered the door had told us that she wasn't interested. So we left. Long story short, he wants to learn more about the Gospel. 

It seems like there is always a theme for each week. This week had been meeting people who had been associated with the Gospel in one way or another. For example, we met a lady the other day who had a terminally ill son. The other day he had passed away. We were able to be a tool for the Lord and help this woman grieve. 

I am so grateful to be a missionary for the Lord!! 

I love all of you SOSOSO much!! 

Have a great week!! Fun Fact: Tomorrow is my Mission Presidents Birthday!!! 

Love, 

Sister Zoe Preston