It's Glorious!

We'll Bring the World His Truth. . .

Hi Family!

It’s another rainy, spring day in Wilmington, Ohio. Oh man, it is BEAUTIFUL here! It really is something spectacular. I’m going to really miss the trees when I return to the desert. I’ll have to try and catch some pictures to send next week.

Well last week was definitely an adjustment period. It’s a whole change of pace here, both in the people and in the work. It’s a bit difficult to come here from a thriving ward, but I’m excited for the challenge. Plus, I’ve really been blessed to work with some strong leaders in my other areas which will come in handy here.

Some fun facts about Sister Cahoon:

Hometown: Hesperia, CA
Before the mission: Working as a substitute teacher in CA.
Family: Youngest of 5 kids
Favorite Food: Spaghetti
Favorite Color: Blue
Craziest thing she has done on her mission: Barked at a dog
Favorite things about the mission: Focusing on others

The branch here needs a lot of healing. Sister Cahoon and I both have a strong conviction that helping them learn to love missionary work will heal a lot of those wounds. There is a joy that I’ve felt doing this work that is completely incomparable to any other feeling. As Russ would say, “It’s glorious.” I used to make fun of him for saying that word a hundred times in every letter he sent, but it’s so true! The best word to describe it is glorious!

Church yesterday was a lot of fun, especially since we got to teach Priesthood. How often do girls get to say that? Ha ha. Oh man, those men were stone faced for the first ten minutes, well up until I accidentally called Sister Druck, Sister Drunk! Ahh! It was awful! But it definitely lightened the mood and we had a “glorious” lesson with them. I love the feeling you get when the Spirit takes over your words and you speak exactly what the Lord would have you say. Its seriously is addicting. We were able to bear strong testimony that this is truly the Lord’s work and he is laboring here alongside us.

Our one investigator is doing really well. (Yes, I said one.) She has a baptismal date for July. It will be a long road, but like I said the Lord is close by. Needless to say, our goal is to find new investigators (and lots of them).

Thanks for your encouragement and support. I have the best family in the world! Tell Grandpa Boyd I’m praying for him. He really is a strong spirit to overcome so much pain! What a good example!

I’m glad Sister Manwaring called you. She is a doll. I love her lots!

Thanks for the Emails and the card I got this week. We laughed at the map of Wilmington on it. Oh, and thanks for the flowers. They were beautiful!

I love ya! Lots and lots!

Until next week…

Sister Painter

P.S.
One quick funny for the week. We got a call from our district leader one night informing us of a tornado warning coming right for us, he gave us some quick instructions and hung up. Sister Cahoon turned to me and said, “I’ve never lived through a tornado before.” Ah ha ha… Good thing she’s never died in one either. Hopefully we live through all of them yet to come.

Where is Wilmington, Ohio?

So if you were wondering just where Wilmingtion, Ohio is, just take a look!

I Got Transferred!

Dear Family:

It happened!

I got transferred. We figured it was coming, since Sister Thacker and I have officially been together for half of our missions! :) Good thing we get along.

It was hard to leave those we were teaching, especially since both Sister Thacker and I got transferred out. I know this will be a great transfer. Change is good. Sister Cahoon is my new companion. She is a doll! We get to serve in a little country town called Wilmington, OH! It’s practically like being in Rexburg. It’s a small branch, so hopefully, with some love and hard work, it will grow!

This week was amazing! Like the last few weeks I wish I could share EVERYTHING, but I can’t. I will tell you though; I don’t have a shadow of a doubt of God’s love for His children and His eagerness for us to succeed. And even though we have to go through times of testing, heartache and trial, He will set us up for success. All we have to do is recognize what He’s done. I want you to know that I KNOW that.

Last Monday Sister Dalley and her girls took us to the Cincinnati Museum. Loved it! (Pictures)

Our whole Mission gathered together for a Mission-wide Conference. Amazing!

Here are Pictures! Lots happened this weekend! If I remember I can tell you more next week. Sunday morning we went to the Thompsons to wake them up for 1:00 church! ha ha. That is the first picture of Hudson and Daryl (we were teaching both of them). The next picture is the whole Thompson family when we had to say good-bye. Sister Thompson is the only member in the family. Oh man, I LOVE them!

Last picture is Betty Wise. She was baptized last November. She is amazing.

I don’t have much time, just some quick notes:

Happy Birthday Dad! One year older and wiser too! I was thinking about you “post tax-day.” Sorry I missed it. I promise I’ll be at the next one.

Brandon, I LOVED your Ohio state report! Sister Thacker and I sat down and read it all the way through. You are right; this would be a great place to come on a vacation. Maybe next summer! (hint hint)

Mom, Thanks for keeping me updated. You really do rock. And thanks for all the mail this week.

I'm glad you finally made it to St. George. It sounds nice. I've been thinking about my grandparents. I sure love them and miss them. I've been blessed.

I love you, Mom and family! Sorry my emails are always so scatter brained. I need a nap today. ha ha.

Sister Painter

Gratitude!

Dear Family:

You know those moments that your heart is just overflowing with gratitude? Well this is one of those moments. I was reading through your emails and I just thought to myself, “I have so many blessings!” Seriously! I can’t keep up with all of them. Where much is given, much is required, and I’ve been given so much. But I’m grateful! I really am! I love serving a mission! Almost more than that- I love knowing I’m where the Lord wants me, when He wants me here, doing what He wants me to do. The peace and confidence I feel in knowing that was worth all it took to get here.

All of our investigators are doing well. There are small, slow steps of progress. But we just have to glory in those little miracles anyway. Sometimes I wish I could just do it like the old days and stand on the corner of a busy street and sing the song that’s in my heart and testify in a loud voice for all to hear. I think Cincinnati would give me a ridiculous look. Maybe I’ll do it anyway. Ha Ha.

I appreciate that quote you sent about faith! You were right on Mom with what I’ve been contemplating this week. Maybe it’s because we share brain waves, even across the country. :)

Faith in something greater than ourselves enables us to do what we have said we'll do. . .to press forward when we are tired or hurt or afraid. . . to keep going when the challenge seems overwhelming and the course is entirely uncertain.
Gordon B. Hinckley

Leave it to President Hinckley. But I know it’s true. I was studying “conversion” this week and was reminded that we aren’t truly converted until our faith has been tested and tried, even over a lifetime. Will we really hang on to the rod and walk through the midst of darkness? Will we cease murmuring and start counting our blessings when the going gets tough? Faith is an assurance in something that has yet to be seen, the blessings to come after the trial. But if we endure well, if we do the things we said we’ll do (specifically keep our covenants) we will see the fruits of that faith because “Heavenly promises are always kept.” That truth is the same for me and for our family as it is for our investigators. We just have to have faith.

Lots of blessings. Lots and lots of blessings. I love you!

Thanks for being such great blessings!

Sister Painter

We finally tried Skyline Chili! Its famous Cincinnati cuisine!
Sister Savage took us for dinner this week.

Modern-day Prophets and Apostles!

Dear Family:

This definitely is another week I wish I could tell you EVERYTHING! The Lord truly is in the details and it is amazing. However, I can’t write that much. Bummer huh!

First off, CONGRATS on being the 2010 Parents of the Year! I knew you were special, now the whole world gets to know it too! What an honor! Dad, just accept the award! I know you hate that, but if you would stop being so great you wouldn’t have to:) I sure love you both! I have been so blessed to have the family I do. I’ve been thinking a lot about you due the major theme of General Conference on families. It was INCREDIBLE!

I knew with the first two speakers, President Packer and Sister Beck, that this conference would be just what the world needs right now. I can’t even describe the depth of gratitude I have for prophets and apostles today who commune with the Lord frequently and who spend their lives teaching us what He would have us do. Can you believe it! Modern-day prophets and apostles!

For a few minutes this morning I was reading in Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage about the Dark Ages and the Great Apostasy. What a horrible time to live! It truly was dark times, particularly spiritually. Contrast that with the light we have because of Joseph Smith’s prayer, a vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ,and a prophet on the Earth today. I am so grateful!

I think I’m extra grateful right now because I’ve spent so much time with those who are still caught up in those “dark-ages” philosophies of men. They are searching for the truth but are distracted. I appreciated Elder Foster’s words when he said, “A distraction doesn’t have to be evil to be effective.” How true.

I loved President Monson’s remarks about how he didn’t live in the time of the Savior’s mortal ministry, but he believed the words written centuries ago testifying of Him. He believed the words written by the Nephites. He believed the words of Joseph Smith. We have so many recorded testimonies of the Savior. Do we read them? Do we believe them?

Our mission presidency challenged us to study the last week of the Savior’s mortal ministry to prepare for Easter. Interestingly enough we had some inside time for a few days because I got pretty sick, so Sister Thacker and I had lots of time to spend in the New Testament and in Jesus the Christ. It was a really humbling experience to consider His life and what He did for us. I didn’t live in Jerusalem at the meridian of time either. I didn’t follow the Lord as he walked the region teaching and healing. I didn’t see Him condemned, crucified, or resurrected. But I believe the testimonies of those who did. I really do.

I know that Jesus is the Christ, that he lived a perfect life to be an example for us. I know that He gave His life out of perfect love for us. And I know we will one day see the prints on His hands and His feet! I can’t see them now, but I know they are there. I know that I’ve received a witness from the Spirit that these things are true. And I am so grateful.

I’m grateful that we can feel His influence during these “perilous times.” I’m grateful for families, for temples, for leaders and teachers, missionary work, family history work, all things given us that we can come to know Him. Honestly, I basically cried like a baby all the way through President Monson’s talk. Haha.

I am especially grateful that we have the truths of the gospel and that I get to share them with the people I have to come to love here. Our investigators are doing so well! Ernest, who officially changed his name to Nana, passed His citizenship test and is going to be baptized the end of this month. Wahoo. We have a couple more upcoming baptisms too. Lots and lots of tender mercies! I’ll have to tell you more about them next week!

I’m glad all went well with the Wedding! Congratulations Cindy & Kelly!!!!! Thanks for the picture everyone!

Tell Brandon to send me a list of all the really fun missionary approved things to do in Cincinnati Ohio! I hope he got an A on his report!

I love you all! Lots! So let’s do everything we can to make sure our family is together forever!

Sister Painter

Picture is at the Peaces: Sister Peace colored a Christmas tree Easter egg. Can you see it? Ha ha

We See Miracles Everyday!

This is Carlee's letter from March 29th. My computer was being funny this last week and I couldn't get it on the blog. So here is her letter a little late.


Hi Family!

I wish I could tell you EVERY detail of this week because it was just that good! We see so many miracles everyday! It’s interesting because often those miracles are so small that if you aren’t watching for them you might miss them. We just have learned to keep our eyes open.

It sounds like you are keeping busy! Good luck this week with the Wedding, and Easter, and farewells. Dad, I was waiting for your birthday week but it seems like you need this picture now. Ha ha. I saw it and I thought to myself, “Dad needs to see this.” Just know that I’m thinking about you and praying you through tax season.

Well this week we definitely had a spiritual “feast” with some incredible lessons! We were able to meet with the Randall family at the Livingstons. I hope you can meet them all someday. Nate Randall is a less-active and his wife has been investigating the church. Oh man, they have the most adorable three kids! Their oldest is eight and he is a gem! Seriously! He talked his mom into letting him read the whole Book of Mormon. She was a little worried because she doesn’t have any religious background and she didn’t know how to answer his questions, so we started them on the Book of Mormon reader. Well this week when we had our lesson on the Restoration Tyler says, “We read that in our book,” and proceeded to tell us the story of Joseph Smith. Kids are so smart! He had all the answers! We watched the movie about the Restoration and Crystal (the mom) totally lit up. The Spirit was so strong in that home! Sister Thacker and I were seriously walking on clouds the rest of the day!

We had a sweet lesson with Dennis too. We talked about having “real intent.” If we want Heavenly Father to answer our prayers we have to show Him we really want it! No half-hearted efforts will do for Him. We have to walk in faith believing that the answer will come. We promised him that if he came to church EVERY week and made plans to attend ALL of General Conference he would receive his answer. But Heavenly Father is going to hold us accountable for what he tells us so we have to be ready and willing to act. I’ve been pondering that lesson all week and re-evaluating MY half-hearted efforts I make sometimes. The conclusion is the same for us as members. If we wish to keep our testimonies, no half-hearted efforts will do. God wants our heart and he expects us to give it to Him!

Oh and guess who came to church! Finally! Gina and her whole family came! We called her before church and her mom said she was still asleep so we got her to wake her up and put her on the phone. We told her so could be late but she needed to come, so she did. See, it wasn’t so hard was it Gina! Ha ha. The Young Women were wonderful! They arranged to pick her up for the activity on Thursday at the Bishops and made sure she’d come next week. It was great!

And yesterday we had the neatest lesson with Ernest! We talked about Scripture Study and he shared his budding testimony with us about the Book of Mormon and the principles of the church. It was so tender! He explained how since he decided to start living the principles of the gospel he’s seen the blessings, like not going to jail. Seriously. Awhile back he had a friend that wanted him to go drinking with him and Ernest told him no and explained why he shouldn’t go drink either. Well his friend decided to go anyway, ended up getting arrested and spent some time in jail. Now that he is out he’s been coming to church with Ernest. :) Hopefully this week we’ll be able to set another date with him.

Oh one more I have to share! This week we had to take in the car to get some more maintenance done. While we were there one of the employees of the dealership came up and said he had recognized us from when we were there a few months ago. He said he would never forget us, he reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a wallet size picture of The Savior he had seen in our car and we had given him months ago. He told us he keeps it in his pocket and it’s what gets him through every day. “By small and simple means are great things brought to pass!” Isn’t that precious! There are so many small ways we have to share the gospel! Just keep your eyes open!

I am so grateful for the gospel! I’m grateful for the principles of the gospel (that keep me out of jail). But I’m especially grateful for our Savior! For the love He has for us! I love Him so much!

Have a good week this week!

Sister Painter

This is for you dad. . .