5/19/14

It sounds like a fun week back in O Town! I love hearing about what's going on there.

 

It has been a CRAZY week here as well. Holy Cow! It is non stop! There has been a little drama, but what else would you expect when there are 6 sisters living in an apartment together. One sister has an infection on her foot and isn't taking very hygenical steps to reduse the likelihood of spreading it to the rest of us so we had to have a little "come to Jesus meeting" over that. Things haven't really improved much... So we'll have to readdress things here in a bit. But it shouldn't be too bad.

 

Yesterday was SO CHAOTIC! Oh man! So the Cleveland Marathon was yesterday and they closed down Lake Rd. The road we live on is Lake Rd. So we had no way of getting out of our apartment building in the morning for church. And we aren't the only missionaries living in this apartment complex. How many missionaries live here you ask? 19. THERE ARE 19 MISSIONARIES HERE THAT HAD NO WAY OF GETTING TO CHURCH SUNDAY MORNING! hahahahahahaha! It was hilariously crazy. So funny! We were running around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to find rides for people to come pick us up down the street a few blocks. We got it all figured out, thank goodness. But there were a few sisters that are in the other ward that weren't able to make it to their Sacrament meeting and one of them was supposed to talk... She got out of that this week! It was so funny. I wish you all could have been there to see it. And it is Sis. Martin and Sis. Olsen, the senior sisters who work in the office, it was their last Sunday here in the mission. Boy what a way to go out. haha!  Saturday we did about 5 hours of service. We helped one of the other sisters investigators dad move out of their house. They're getting a divorce... So we packed him up, loaded up a Uhaul, followed them to downtown Cleveland, and moved him into an apartment on the 5th floor. It was quite the event. Lots of furniture and boxes. But it was fun. We got to see Cleveland, which as a Sister probably won't ever happen again. They don't send sisters downtown ever. But it feels like I'm just right back in downtown St. Louis. It's so funny. I think next week we're planning on hopping on a bus and heading downtown to do some site seeing on preparation day. I'm excited for that, should be lots of fun. We also helped a lady with her basement, it got flooded because of all the rain. So we were bleaching everything. It was an extremely long day but a lot of fun! I also kind of was attacked by a dog yesterday! We were stopping by a referral from the Akron elders and we couldn't even get up to the door. there was a big dog on a leash that wouldn't let us get past him. He was nice but wouldnt stop jumping on me. He was biting me but like play biting me so it didn't hurt very much, but I had scratches all over my arms from him jumping up. It was hilarious. Sis. Hawkins and I were both laughing so hard at the situation. We had to just get back in the car and leave. We'll have to try and stop by again another time. "mission aborted". haha! It was a good memory that's for sure.

 

We have an investigator, Angie, who is making A TON of progress! We haven't even started the lessons yet and she already wants to be baptized and said she was thinking about a mission! She loves young women's and church and is just soaking everythign up! She's been reading the Book of Mormon every day and loves it! We have another appointment with her tomorrow so I'm excited to see where she's at. We have another investigator, Sienna, who is 16 but can't get baptized till she's 18. But she goes to seminary, comes to church and mutual every week, she's basically already a member, just needs to get dunked. But she gave a talk in church yesterday about seminary and it was so awesome! She's so solid! I'm excited to see what happens. Her mom was at church so hopefully she'll give Sienna permission to get baptized sooner. We'll see...

 

Things are great. Life is great. The weather is great. the mission is great. Companion's great. I hear St. Marys is great. (65 people to church and Bro. Felver set a date to baptize his daughter on MAY 31ST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Everything is just great!

 

Something that we've been studying this last week in preparation for Elder Holland ON WEDNESDAY! is miracles. I was reading in the Bible dictionary about them this morning and I thought it was interesting how it said that Miracles are the natural result of the Messiah’s presence among men. How cool! Miracles still happen because His presence is still here. I know that! I have seen it so much while I've been here. I know that the Savior lives and His hand is so involve in our lives constantly. I know He leads and guides this church and that we are here to do His work and to be His servants until the work is finished. Let's all go to work!

 

I love you all and hope you guys have a great week and a good Family Home Evening tonight!!!!!

-Sis. Chapman

05/12/14

This has been one great week! So much has been going on and we are so crazy busy! I love it!

We made a ton of cookies to take to members and investigators for mother's day. People are always more likely to answer the door or respond to your phone calls if you have treats! (missionary tip #1)

So we had a lot of luck handing those out! It was good, we got a lot of lessons with that this week.

We have a less active that we teach Bro. Parrino, who is a little on the autistic side. He is really smart though. But he was telling us that we're protected as sister missionaries so that bad people don't hurt us and how we have a shield over us so that people can't "reallly see" us is how he put it... It got realllll awkward.... realllllll fast. haha! I love Ohio. 

 

We also have some awesome investigators! Sienna and Hailey are 16 and 14 and are the grandaughters of a member. Sienna is pretty solid, comes every week and is really active. She's just waiting on her mom's permission to get baptized which probably won't happen, so she's going to have to wait till she's 18.... But she's great! We have another investigator Angelica, who is so great! She has come to church 2 times and is coming to Young Women's on Wed and we haven't even taught her an actual lesson yet! SHE'S SO SOLID! and Sienna is awesome fellowship for her! It's really cool! 

On Thursday Ralph and Pam Hildebrand from Massillon came up and took Sis. Hawkins and I out to lunch! It was so so so fun to see them again! I have missed them a lot! It was weird to see someone from Massillon again! I am excited to go back. From what I hear things there are kind of falling apart. So that wasn't the best news, but they are doing good. 

 

Mothers day was so so so wonderful!!!! IT was so great to get to see everyone and talk to you guys! And getting to hear Rex's voice was the best. I am just so proud of that kid. He is such a stud! I love him so much! I loved hearing Hay and Mike too!!!!! That was so crazy for me! I can't believe how big they are. INSANE! I'm excited to get to spend time with them so they actually know who I am. AH!!!!! So fun! 

 

We skyped at the Jamba's. They are this sweet sweet sweet older couple who moved out here in August and are so lonely. They moved to be closer to their son and he doesn't really want them here. They don't have a car and they can't really get around on their own so they just stay in their apartment all day. So we thought skyping at their house would be good for them. They seemed to enjoy it. 

Well nothing else has really been going on. We've got a crazy busy day so it should be fun. I hope you guys all have a good week. I miss you all so much! But it was so good to see you all. now I can't wait to get to hug you all! 

 

LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sis. Chapman

05/05/14

Wow has it been one crazy week! I went from the biggest area in the mission where there was NO civilazation to Lakewood West IN CLEVELAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a tiny area right on the lake! I love it here so so so so so much! It is gorgeous. Huge houses EVERYWHERE instead of the trailor parks and farms I was used to in St. Marys. It has been a VERY busy week and I'm still not even unpacked. hahaha! But it is so great! there are 6 of us living in an apartment together right down the hallway from all of the mission office Sisters. It is really crazy trying to all get ready in the morning, but we make it work. In the morning for excersize we run to the pier and then spend some time out on the rocks and dock. I LOVE IT! It reminds me of home. It so beautiful to watch the sun come up and you can see the Cleveland sky line from the pier. I love it! I absolutely love my new companion, Sis. Hawkins! She is so great! She is 6 feet tall, very quiet, so funny, from Utah, and just awesome! She is exactly what I need right now. Most of my companions in the past have been very bold, in your face, intense, which is fine! They were wonderful! But after leaving St. Marys being so hard for me it is nice to have someone who is quiet and just nice. I really like her. 

 

I am living with Sis. Gardner who I lived with in Massillon, and her companion is Sis. Gannon who was in my district in St. Marys for a while. We also live with Sis. Mitchell who I have been on exchanges with and her companion Sis. Byers who is recently new to the mission. So we have a lot of fun. I really like it here and I feel like this is where I need to be. The Lord is so aware of us and knows us so well. It is such a blessing to be here! This was Sis. Dahle's first area, so she's pretty excited to hear that I'm serving here!

The only way to describe the past week would be fun. We've just had so much fun. I've met some pretty interesting people here. There is this one less active lady that we teach that loves anything that is an animal or insect or something like that. she's got tons of plants all over her apartment and she has these HUGE ants that crawl all over everything. it was so gross.... Then we went to another less active's apartment who made me a little uncomfortable. He owns a lemozine service and so he is very friendly and touchy. I didn't like that. He shook my hand a bit too long... They fed us this awful thing called Easter Cheese. All it is is milk and egg cooked and then strained and formed into a ball. .... not pleasent. But they loved it. We also have met a few active members who are nice and welcoming. Church was interesting yesterday. I'm used to the branch where the most people we've had is 53 and then I came here and we have a huge ward where I'm pretty sure the primary is the same size as the whole branch. So it was different. And they weren't as welcoming and friendly as the branch was, so that was kind of sad. But they have a lot more to do than the branch members do.

 

Not much else to report yet. Sorry I don't have any pictures yet, we've been too busy this week. But I'll make sure and get some to you next week!!!

 

I hope everyone has a good week! Love you all!!!
Sis. Chapman 

Sister's in work boots

4/29/14

Boy oh boy what a week I've had! We have been going non stop all week! I LOVE IT! Those are the best weeks.

 

Tuesday we had district meeting which was really good. Then we had a good lesson with Tara. We brought the YW President with us which was so good! She invited Tara to come to YW on Wed. and Tara said she would! So she went and had a really good time! She liked the girls and everyone made her feel welcome. I was so so so happy to hear that!

 

Wednesday was good. I can't really remember what we did.... but we did a lot of service

Thursday we had interviews with President. It went so good! He asked me if I loved St. Marys and I told him I LOVE IT HERE! and he asked me, "If I need you to leave, can you?" and I told him that I had been feeling for a while that I had accomplished what I needed to here in St. Marys, that it would be really hard to leave, but I could do it. He told me that he was probably moving me. That was good and hard to hear all at the same time. We also talked about when I was coming home and it wasn't a big deal at all, so that was great. I am so grateful for P. Vellinga. He is such an incredible man. After our interviews we had a lesson with Jim. He is doing so great. Still progressing! He's soaking everything up. He was sad to hear I was leaving, so we set up a night to go out to dinner. He's the sweetest. We also had a lesson with the "fiancé" of a less active in the branch. She is so prepared! She was feeling the spirit so strong the whole time we were teaching the restoration! She said that she would be baptized! I'm really excited for her. She's going to start progressing soon!

 

Friday we saw the Felvers! They are my favorite people! We had dinner with them and had a lesson on repentance. I love hearing Dane and Robin talk about how they are understanding  these simple principles so much more this time, that it's different. They are doing so great. They are still reading and praying every night. They have such a desire to come back this time! It's incredible. They get it.

Saturday we had a lesson with another new investigator, Amber! She was taking the lessons in Lima a while back and moved to our area and hopefully we can help her get back into it! She's great, so bubbly and cute, blaring her country music. I like her a lot!

 

We also went over to the Felvers again to help them out with stuff again. We moved their wood pile, cleaned out their garage where they've had their 50 chicks and turkeys and ducks, fed their goats, and a ton of other things. We were so exhausted at the end of that day. They fed us too! He is such a great cook. I love that family so much.

 

Sunday was so great! We had 53 people there! And we had a lot of families that were out of town too! It was really exciting! JIM PASSED THE SACRAMENT! It was such a good Sunday!

Yesterday we had district meeting and then had some really good appointments with some less actives and investigators. It was a really good day. We got transfer calls last night and I am leaving. I'm excited but really sad at the same time. Serving in St. Marys has changed me. This area was so hard and I struggled a lot here, but it needed to happen. I have never worked so hard in my life as I have here. I put everything I had into this area. This area is so special to me and I know that it is a special place to the Lord. This is a sacred place to me. Things have happened here that no one will ever understand but Sis. Bakker and I. and because of that she is going to be such a special person to me forever. I'm so sad because this next sister isn't going to have any idea of what she's coming into, no idea of what St. Marys is. That's the thing - this area has become mine! It's going to be really hard to place it in someone else's hands. I have grown more here than any other time in my life. My testimony of the Savior is stronger than ever because of St. Marys. I will forever be grateful that the Lord sent me here. He knew what I needed to become what He needs me to become and St. Marys has helped me come closer to that. I love it here. I can't wait to come back with you so you can try and understand what I've experienced here! It's going to be so special.

 

I'll be leaving early in the morning and will find out where I'm going when we get to the transfer meeting in Kirtland. So I'll let you know next week.

 

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! I'm excited to see you guys soon on Mother's Day!

4/21/14

It has been one awesome week!!! So many great things happened. Hopefully I can remember all of them for you guys.

 

Monday night we had a great lesson with Bro. Roode and his wife who isn't a member. She is starting to warm up to us. Bro. Roode is the former chief of police. He's a really good guy, we like him  a lot!

Tuesday after district meeting we had a lesson with Tara. She's 17 and is the daughter of a less active sister in the branch. It's frustrating teaching her though because her mom isn't being supportive. Her mom wants her to get baptized but isn't willing to read the scriptures with her or pray with her or take her to church. She's expecting Tara to do this all on her own. Which she can do, it would just be more successful if her mom was more supportive. I don't think Tara's mom realizes we won't baptize Tara unless we know she's going to be able to keep her covenants, meaning she comes to church every week and actually DOES stuff... So we'll see how this goes. We're taking it slow... We also saw the Felver's Tuesday night! That went really well! We started teaching Heather the Plan of Salvation. That is going really well. Heather is really excited to get baptized. Dane is working on it!

Wednesday we did a lot of community service which is always a lot of fun! We love it! We also had an appointment with our investigator Doug. He said he was planning on being at church with his 2 granddaughters for Easter. He sounded pretty excited. we were stoked! The lesson went well and he said he wanted to find out if Joseph Smith was truly a prophet. We love hearing people say they want to know! That means they are more likely of being a solid investigator.

 

Thursday we had an incredible lesson with our investigator Patty. She has 2 sons that have been in and out of prison. One is still there... It's been really hard on her. She struggles with depression and other things. She said she prays and prays and doesn't feel like He's listening anymore. It was really sad. We talked a lot about the Savior's Atonement and watched the Because of Him video. It went really well. We also talked to her about priesthood blessings and how they can help her. She said she would like one. So that night we came back over with Bro. Roode. We had tried to get a few other men over but it wasn't working out, so we brought Bro. Roode. WHICH WAS A MIRACLE!!! He had been the one that arrested her son a few years ago, he had been to her house a few times and was pretty familiar with her situation. She couldn't believe that it was him that came with us. She said she was so grateful it was someone that she knew and felt comfortable with. She was grateful she didn't have to tell her story to a new person and have more people outside of her "circle" know what was going on. It meant a lot to her. It was a sign that the Lord was listening to her prayers, that He is aware of His children and sends them what they need when they need it. IT WAS SO COOL!!!! I love it when things "just work out". The Lord is so smart.

 

Friday we helped out the Felvers for a few hours in their vineyard. They make a lot of grape juice and jams and stuff and were needing some help to get things started. We had such a good time with them. We learned a lot about vineyards that's for sure! The weather was so beautiful and the sunset was gorgeous. We enjoyed just being able to talk casually with Dane about some of his concerns. We were also grateful we got to do some service for them after all that they have done for us. So it was great.

 

Saturday we had a good appointment with Josh, Jill's son. He's doing really good. He said he would com to church for Easter! We were pretty excited about that. He seems like he's wanting to come closer to Christ right now. We'll see. He's a punk so we're not quite sure where this is going to go. We also went back over to the Felvers to help out more around their barn and property. It was awesome!!!! He made us some racks of ribs and so much food it was insane! IT WAS ALL SO GOOD!!!! It was a lot of fun. We roasted some s'mores out back and had a good time. we had a lesson on faith for Heather and Dane and Robin talked about how their faith has been growing since we've been here and how they have such a stronger desire now. It was awesome. I loved hearing them talk about what this has been like for them. It's incredible. They are such strong and devoted people. They will be going back to the Temple with in the next 6 months, I know it.

 

Sunday was so wonderful. Easter is the best! We went to the church early to meet with Doug, give him a tour of the church so he would know what to expect for church. (no, he didn't show up......) but we're glad that we got there early because we met a new sister that just moved into the branch!!!!!! IT WAS SO EXCITING!!!!! We've been praying  for growth and the Lord has answered that prayer. Grace moved here from Indiana with her husband who's not a member. They're in their 60's and just bought this beautiful farm house that we drive by all the time and wish we could go in. She's so excited to be here and can't wait to get to work with the branch. She's exactly what we need! We're so grateful she's here! We stopped by her place after church with the Jensons to bring them some dinner, they don't have any appliances so they can't cook or store food or anything. It was a lot of fun to get a tour of their beautiful house. I love it!!! (Don't worry, I'm sending pics). It was a lot of fun. We had dinner with the Davis' and it was great! We love them. They are the best people. They do a lot for us and are really supportive and excited about what all is happening in the branch.

 

This morning was so awesome. For Sis. Bakker and I's companion study this morning we tried to list all of the miracles we've seen since we've been in St. Marys. There are A LOT. It was the coolest thing. My heart just swelled with gratitude and love and joy and so many other emotions. I love it here. At the end of Sis. Lemmon and I's companionship I was praying that I would get transferred, that I would be able to leave. This was such a hard area and I was really struggling. But now I'm so grateful He knew better and kept here. One of the miracle I listed was my growth as a missionary. This area has changed me. the people here have changed me. I struggled and worked so hard and wanted to quit. And then I started seeing the miracles, the ones that had always been there, and the ones that were coming and the changes that were happening in the branch and in me and in our investigators. I am just so overwhelmed with love for St. Marys. It's so special for me because I have poured a lot of sweat and tears into this area. I feel like I pulled my handcart over the frontier and now am walking into the Salt Lake Valley. I suffered a lot here, but it was not in vain, it wasn't for nothing. It was for EVERYTHING!!!! It was totally worth it and if I had to do it again I would.

I am so grateful for my mission. It's been so much fun! SO MUCH FUN! I love being a missionary.

I love and miss you all so much! I hope you all have a great week and enjoy the beautiful spring weather! I know we've been loving it!

 

So the pics. there are some of the bon fire with the felvers, the house that Grace bought, the boots that Dane got us to work in the barn and some other stuff...

4/7/14

WHAT AN AWESOME WEEKEND OF REVELATION!!!!! I love General Conference! I love that we have these incredible men and women who are talking to the world, giving these wonderful and divinely inspired words of council and wisdom, and yet I feel like they are talking directly and personally to me. So many prayers and questions were answered this weekend.

 

It was also rough for Sis. Bakker and I. We went to Jill's funeral Saturday morning. I was asked to sing and boy oh boy was that hard. I had been praying all day that the Lord would help me just get through the song, that I could make it actually sound like I was singing. Man does the Lord come through. He sustained me the whole time. I sang "Every Life That Touches Ours For Good" and was actually able to keep it together during the song. Then I sat down and totally lost it, but still, He answered my prayers, I made it through the song. It was really hard saying goodbye to Jill.  I loved her so much and she is and will forever be a huge part of my mission. I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to know her, teach her, and help her come closer to Christ. It was a good service. There weren't many people there, but her missionaries were there.

 

We had a TON of success with the Felvers this week!!!!!! Dane went out of town Monday and to help him keep the spirit we told him that we would send them a scripture every morning for them to read and keep in their mind all day. We also sent him with some cd's that had some great talks to listen to while he drove down to Knoxville. He read every scripture and listened to every talk. HE LOVED IT! He got home around midnight Friday morning and before he went to bed he read all of the scriptures over again, the articles of faith, and D&C 89. He said he needed to wind down after the drive before he went to bed. We went over Friday and got to hear about his week. IT WAS AWESOME! He said that he was done with the things that are keeping him from living the word of wisdom. He said he couldn't expect his daughter, Heather, to get baptized and live these things if he's not willing to do the same. He said he has that desire again to do better, to be better. He opened up to us a lot and shared some really personal things and how he's changing. It was so incredible. I loved just sitting there and hearing him talk about some of his experiences and how he's drawing closer to the spirit. He's making such fantastic progress! He went to the priesthood session Saturday night and we came over and had dinner with  Robin and Heather. It was awesome! She really opened up to us as well and we got to know her so much better. They have had a rough time as a family, they've been through a lot. But they just keep going. They are making it work and are coming back. Heather is so excited to get baptized! For an 8 year old she's really mature and understands what's happening. It's so exciting for us too! I love it! I love getting to see the gospel and how it changes lives, really really changes lives. This is a different family than when Sis. Lemmon and I first met them. It's so delightful. Being a missionary is THE BEST!

 

Friday we had a zone training meeting that was so awesome! I really like our zone leaders. They are awesome elders and really brought the spirit to the meeting. They are so prepared and so in tune with the spirit. I gained a lot of insight for myself and our area. It gave me a lot of things to apply to myself and help me become a better missionary.

 

We had a good week over all. It was a crazy busy week and we accomplished a lot and participated in a great spiritual feast! I'm so excited to start hearing about your study of Preach My Gospel like Elder Ballard said! I love that book and am thrilled that we'll all be studying it together.

 

Love you mom!!!!

-Sis. Chapman