Carlee's Birthday is Coming!

Hi Everybody:

Hope all is going great with everyone. Just wanted to let you know that Carlee's Birthday is coming up on March 6th. I am sure she would love to hear from any of you for her birthday. So if you get a chance, drop her a card or a note, she would love it. Thanks for all your love and support.

Her apartment address is :

7441 Timber Drive #9
Cincinnati, OH 45241.

Thanks,

LaDawn

Having Fun!

All the Sister Missionaries in the Ohio Cincinnati Mission. . .




Dear Family:

What a blessing it is to be here! I just can’t get over that sometimes. I think sometimes we as a society don’t take the time to “enjoy the journey.” I’ve definitely been guilty of that. But we’ve had a great week just having fun doing what missionaries do.

Saturday was definitely a highlight! The three Cincinnati Stakes hosted a Priest/Laurel Conference on Missionary Work and all the missionaries were invited. (Well not ALL of the missionaries, but all of the Sisters were there! It’s been 6 months since I’ve seen some of them!) We held a “Zone Conference” for them: trainings, role plays, and food included! It was as fun as our zone conferences! All of us were paired up with a few new companions for the day and we went out to a couple of real appointments with investigators. That was a treat for me! The first appointment I got to take Erin and Hannah to see Gina, which was perfect because Hannah is in our ward so she invited Gina to come to church (again). And the second appointment I got to take Aimee and Emily to see Debbie.

The highlight of the day was being able to listen in on their testimony meeting. What an opportunity to feel the Spirit! When I was a laurel I would have been terrified to go out with the Sisters, but to hear their testimonies of missionary work and the “instant love” they felt for those they just met made me feel those “warm fuzzies” again. ha ha.

I’ve actually been pondering a lot about that for the last few weeks. That “instant love” I feel for almost everyone we meet. It’s indescribable! No matter who they are, where they’ve been, or how they treat you, you love them. And not just a little, A LOT! The more I’ve thought about it the more I realize that it’s the “joy” referred to in the scriptures! And THEN I realized why all of our covenants center around missionary work (they do! Just think about it)… it’s because that is what brings us the most joy. When someone we love purely accepts and lives the gospel of Jesus Christ and is able to experience the same joy we feel it INCREASES our joy (D&C 10). And THEN it occurred to me that all of this is because God’s plan is centered on our happiness and receiving his “fullness of joy.” It’s perfect!

I’m grateful to have this experience to truly learn to love. It’s pretty neat.

This week’s adventure was Sister White’s Wong Tong soup. ha ha. Sister White is Ji Soo and Hannah’s aunt (who is also from South Korea). We stopped by the other night to see how they were and Sister White asked if we had dinner yet. We told her we hadn’t, so she quickly insisted on making something for us. She’s just sweet like that. Well, we sat down to something a little bit “different” with a definite fishy smell. ha ha. It was REALLY good! Until I had a funny looking object on my spoon and just happened to ask her what it was. Battered fish skin. Yep. It was already on my spoon so I had the whole thing in one bite. I just wanted to let you know that and I expect you to be REALLY proud of me for getting it all the way down. And I survived. (Especially since Sister Gundersen ate three of them before she realized what it was! Ha ha)

I love you lots!

Sister Painter

Pictures included are my companions on Saturday and ALL the Sisters in the OCM now!

"All Weather Is Good Weather!"

Sister Painter helping Sister Thacker with her first snowman. . .

Every kind of weather is good weather for a missionary they say. . .

Hello Family!

We've had a snowy week! But just like President Packer said, "All weather is good weather [on your mission]!" People who wouldn't have let you in before at least think twice about it when they see three young ladies in skirts that are soaking wet from walking down the road that has no sidewalks and dodging semi's that shoot slush all over them! ha ha. Mission memories!

Sister Thacker made sure we made a snowman so I included the picture of the three inch snowman that is gracing our balcony. She also made sure she made a snow angel (in a skirt). I volunteered to watch rather than to participate. We've been having a lot of fun. And it’s true! "All weather is good weather [on your mission]!" We've met some wonderful people this week shoveling out their sidewalks!

Last night we noticed one of our neighbors got stuck and couldn't pull into the parking space. So we went down to help her (those years of getting people out of the snow in Idaho came in really handy!). We got her right out and were able to talk to her. She's from Micronesia! (Definitely don't have the snow problem there!) The missionaries in Micronesia have done great job because every Micronesian we've talked to knows someone in the church or some of the missionaries! Her uncle is a member and they've been to church a few times with him in Micronesia. They are looking for a church around here. (Perfect!)

Speaking of Micronesia our sweet 17yr old investigator from Micronesia is doing great! I absolutely love Gina! She is one of the brightest girls I know! We'll be reading the Book of Mormon and say, "Why do you think Nephi wrote that?" And she'll say, "Because he wants me to pray about what you sisters are teaching me." ha-ha. How did she know? :) I absolutely love her! Our current struggle is getting her to church.

But guess what! One of the ladies we've been teaching, Lila, finally made it to church this week! We were thrilled! Since August the sisters have been trying to get her to church, now she finally made it! She is a pretty amazing woman. So many of the people we teach have struggled through so many trials! It's incredible to me the strength that people have to endure so many things! Lila is definitely no exception. She's attended churches most of her life and she has a strong faith in Christ. What I love is when we teach her something new, like the pre-mortal life her eyes light up and her face just shines. It reminds me how precious these doctrines are.

Having grown up in the church I think I often take for granted what has simply become a part of me. I've always known I am a daughter of God and that he has a vested interest in me. But for Lila, that was something very new and real to her. We've been so blessed! We truly have everything! Everything that is important anyway.

Well that’s it for the West Chester update today. We're ready to go and forge the weather again!

Lots of Love!

Sister Painter

On the road again!

Dear Family:

I wish I had more to report on this week than I do. Ha ha. Since we were sick for most the week we didn’t get much accomplished. Sister Gundersen thought she made it out of the MTC sick free, but she got it a couple days after she got here. Then when she was starting to get over it Sister Thacker and I got it. I guess our immune systems have taken a beating because it took us twice as long to get over it.

Poor Sister Gundersen was patient with us until we could actually leave the house. There is nothing like being stuck in the apartment your second week in the mission field.

We’re better now though! Plus, we had a fabulous zone conference on Wednesday. (What I can remember anyway. My brain was a little fuzzy.) President Robbins is incredible at using the scriptures to teach! He trained on obedience and used the story of Naaman. I’ve never thought much about the story but President literally made the story jump off the page! I love it! I had to read it a few more times through when we got home. You should take a look: 2 Kings 5.

Since I don’t have much to report on I thought I’d tell you a little bit about my companions. I realized the other day that I don’t say much about them. (Good thing I’ve only had three so far and Sister Thacker and I have been together for 80% of my mission! Ha ha)

I gave them a one minute interview this morning and these were their answers:

Sister Thacker:

Time on mission: 1 year
# of kids in her family: 6 (oldest)
Hometown: Maricopa, AZ
Favorite color: Blue
Preferred candy bar: Reese’s P.B. cups
Best part of serving a mission: “Meeting so many different people. Everyone is so unique.”
Scripture Hero: Abinadi
If you could do anything right now: Go dancing
Where you were before your mission: going to Northern AZ University for Elementary Education degree
Favorite thing about Sister P.: Enthusiasm about the Book of Mormon and the gospel AND she shares EVERYTHING (so she says while she’s eating my teddy grahams).

My favorite thing about Sister Thacker is her patience. She is a great companion because not much ruffles her up. She loves the people so much. AND she stays focused. Ha ha… I can talk about all sorts of things and she’s good about staying on topic.

Sister Gundersen:

Time on mission: 1 month
# of kids in her family: 7 (third)
Hometown: Blackfoot, ID
Favorite color: Plum
Preferred candy bar: Reese’s P.B. cup Easter eggs
Best part of serving a mission: “Teaching the Gospel!”
Scripture Hero: Gideon (in the Book of Mormon)
If you could do anything right now: Go biking
Where you were before your mission: teaching 4th and 5th graders (in Blackfoot Charter School)

Favorite thing about Sister P.: She smiles!
My favorite thing about Sister Gundersen is her boldness. Man! She tells it how it is and then she commits them to be baptized! Ha ha. I love it!
Our favorite memory together:

We were all laughing about when our cars got grounded this week and we trudged 2miles in the snow storm to our dinner appointment. We were soaking wet from the snow/sleet and the cars passing by that would splash us. Welcome to the mission field Sister Gundersen! We really do have a good time together! We’ve been blessed with wonderful sisters in this mission! Next week I promise I’ll have more to report on our investigators and the work!

Oh yes, I have come to the attention that I’ve been on my mission 8 months now and am now old news, but I still like letters! And that will never change. (hint hint)

I love you lots!

Sister Painter

Happy Birthday Grandpa Boyd!

And Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa Painter!