A Fabulous Week in Ohio!

A Nice tempature of 85 degress in Ohio, while Utah is snowing today.


Dear Family:

Another fabulous week in the Ohio! I can’t believe you got snow! I hate to rub it in, but we have beautiful 85 degree weather! Besides the tornado warning we had earlier in the week. Oh! Do you want to hear a cool story about that tornado? Well if not, I’m going to tell you anyway. :)

We were on our way to see Shawn and Judy, who happen to live in a little town 30 minutes away, when the Spirit told me there was going to be a tornado but not to worry we’d be okay. I was filled with this powerful peaceful feeling. Odd. It was raining, but it wasn’t too bad. What was even more odd is that peaceful feeling because I’m terrified of tornados! Ha ha. Seriously! I told Sister Cahoon what the Spirit had just told me, she gave me a funny look but I think she believed me. Then I asked if she could remember what we were supposed to do if we were driving and a tornado was coming for us! Ha ha.

Judy called a few minutes later and told us the tornado siren had sounded and we might want to reschedule for later. We told her it would be okay, we’d be there. While we were teaching her and Shawn the tornado warnings went off again, but I didn’t even flinch! I knew we’d be okay. Isn’t that cool! I think the greatest gift we have is the Holy Ghost! Heavenly Father knew I’d probably be a nervous wreck without that small little assurance. Needless to say, we’re really enjoying the 85 degree weather. :)

So I was looking at the 2009 Family Book you sent me Mom and I realized Brandon is like two feet taller now than when I left. My little family is growing up! I think you should stop.

Danielle, HAPPY GRADUATION this week! I sure love you and am so proud of you! You’re an incredible girl and that is a major accomplishment!

We’ve been so blessed! I’ve got to run, but enjoy the snow and I’ll talk to you next week!

Lots of love!

Sister Painter

Good Things are Happening in Wilmington!

Dear Family:

Good things are happening in Wilmington. I have been converted to the country and never want to go back to the city. ha ha. I’ll include some pictures. It’s beautiful!

All of our investigators are doing wonderful! Judy made it to church yesterday. It was so good to have her there. The branch welcomed her right back. Shawn had to work but he said he’ll come to Sunday school when he’s not working.

Oh my goodness! I got the best letter from Mary Halpin this week. I reread her letter over and over again because it made me so happy! When we left Fairfield she had started the Book of Mormon and in her letter she told me she has made it all the way to Moroni! After she finishes it she plans on starting it from the beginning again because she “doesn’t want to miss anything.” She basically bore her testimony of how the Book of Mormon has impacted her life and how grateful she is for it. I should have brought it with me so I could tell you what she wrote. If I remember I’ll bring it next week.

I wish everyone would just trust us enough to open the Book of Mormon! It is a masterpiece- besides that fact that it has power to change lives! When we started meeting with Judy and Shawn again, we told Judy to start reading from the beginning of the Book of Mormon and it has been such a treat to watch the literal change in her countenance as she understands more and more what she’s reading. It is incredible!

Speaking of incredible things :) I had a small tender mercy yesterday. It’s kind of a long story but bear with me. I taught the lesson in Gospel Principles yesterday, it was on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I think that is one of my favorite topics ever! It really is. We talked mostly about how we increase our faith and how it has to be tested and tried for our conversion to be complete (see BD Conversion). Some of the stories and comments made expressed concerns and fears about acing in faith. So we talked about how that process can be hard and scary sometimes, but the key is that our faith is IN Jesus Christ. One of my favorite things of my mission is testifying of the Savior’s role in our lives- He is our only constant and that is why faith in Him is so important. Thanks to previous experiences I can testify of that: that no matter how hard, how lost, how lonely we feel, no matter how little control we may have, He is our constant companion.

So earlier that morning we had had a situation that left me feeling overwhelmed with how dark and evil this world can be. Have you ever felt that feeling? I just felt like giving up because this darkness was so overwhelming. So I went and sat in the bathroom for a few minutes (the only alone place you have on the mission…ha ha) and desperately prayed for the Spirit to come back. The tender mercy is that the Spirit did come back. And it was strong! I was gently reminded that having faith is sometimes a hard and scary process, but in the end it is the easier way. Satan has influence, but God has power. I know that’s true.

President Robbins sent this quote in his email and I love it! So I’m copying it for you.

President Ezra Taft Benson said:

We once knew well our Elder Brother and our Father in Heaven. We rejoiced at the prospects of earth life that could make it possible for us to have a fullness of joy. We could hardly wait to demonstrate to our Father and our Brother, the Lord, how much we loved them and how we would be obedient to them in spite of the earthly opposition of the evil one. Now we are here. Our memories are veiled. We are showing God and ourselves what we can do. Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar His face is to us.

I love, love, love that! Because I know it’s true! Anyway, sorry for the long-winded email. I love you and remember that no matter how hard it gets, have faith! He’ll always see you through.

Lots of love!

Sister Painter

Happy Mother's Day!

We had a wonderful chat with Carlee on Sunday. It was the best Mother's Day Gift I could receive. She is doing terrific and loves being on her mission. The time is going much too quickly for her. She sends her love to everyone. She would love to hear from any of you.

Have a great week.

LaDawn


Hi Family:

Well, what do I say? Ha ha. I basically told you everything that happened this week on the phone. It was really good to talk to everybody. Britt told me she was almost done with the Book of Mormon and she is going to read it again by December. I forgot to follow up with the rest of you to see how it was going. It’s crazy the next time I talk to you will be when I come home.

The Gladys Knight fireside was on Thursday! It was all the way on the other side of the river (about an hour and a half from here), but it was well worth it. She was fabulous! During the night they basically taught the first two missionary lessons, which was great for our investigators there! Judy and Shawn were able to come. Oh man, I love both of them so much. We had a lesson with Judy on Saturday. We came in and she sat us right down, had her Book of Mormon open, her notebook close by and told us she was ready to learn. If only all investigators were like that! If only I was like that. She really is a doll. The Spirit is always so strong in her lessons and I know its because she’s willing to be taught.

When we were there she bore the sweetest testimony of how this church and its inclusive Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only place where her questions have ever really been answered. She told us that for years she has asked pastors about what the Holy Ghost is and she never had really figured it out. However, when she asked us we were able to open several scriptures in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon that teach us exactly who he is and what his role is. Not only that, but we were able to teach her about the Godhead and their respective roles. It really is the most incredible thing that we have the answers to life’s most difficult questions. I love it.

I love knowing that this is the Lord’s church. It truly is. It is His organization and His gospel and because of that we know that “the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all His promises shall be fulfilled” (Mormon 8:22). We really have no reason to waiver or doubt. We have all the answers! I just think its so cool.

Anyway, I love you lots. Thanks for all the love and support.

Sister Painter

Miracles, Miracles, Miracles!

Dear Family:

Oh my goodness! We had the best week EVER!

Miracles, Miracles, Miracles. I have the biggest testimony that this truly is the Lord’s work! We are simply His missionaries (not just us full-time missionaries…all of us)! And if we live worthy and willing He will use our little “uncelestial souls” (Elder Holland quote) to do great things. Ah! I can’t even tell you how much I LOVE this work!



Miracles, Miracles, Miracles. So last week we doubled our investigator pool. This week it doubles again! 2… 4… and now we have 8 official investigators! Ha ha! Just wait until next week! I think I was telling you a few weeks ago how this branch just needed some healing and not just concerning missionary work. It’s been great to watch the process. The Atonement works! And not just on an individual level! Christ should be the center of all of our relationships and organizations! What He did for us is just that powerful!



So I only have a few minutes but I’ll tell you about the people we’ve seen this week.

Judy and Shawn were former investigators. They even got to the point of having baptismal dates, but Shawn wasn’t sure he could give up his coffee and tobacco so he decided not to continue investigating. Judy didn’t want to move forward without Shawn. Well we got to see them this week and they are the sweetest people I’ve ever met! They remind me of my wonderful grandparents! When we were leaving we asked Shawn, “If God asked you to give up your coffee, would you do it.” He told us he would. So be praying for them. I know they are SO close to receiving the blessings of the gospel. They are coming to the Gladys Knight fireside with us this week. It will be perfect for them.

Sandy and Kim were really old headquarter referrals we wanted to follow up with this week. Turns out they had never been contacted to begin with (probably because Sandy was in the hospital for 6 months). Sandy is the mother, and Kim is the daughter, they both are a little older. We knocked on their door and they let us right in. They told us about the last few years of their lives and the struggles their family has been in, particularly the death of Kim’s 16 year old daughter. What an incredible feeling it was to share passages of the Book of Mormon with them and bear testimony that they would be able to see Hailey again. They are super excited to read the Book of Mormon and I’m excited for them.

Mary is doing great too! We had some really good lessons with her this week about what the Gospel really means and the importance of Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and continuing to live these principles for the rest of our lives. Heavenly Father truly has a perfect plan!

Anyway, we’ve been blessed this week! It has just been so much fun! (Even in the rain!) The country is beautiful! I love tracting out here! Ha ha!

Happy Birthday Brittany! There is something in the mail for you. You’ll probably get it in a few days. And tell Grandpa Boyd I’m praying for him still!

Tell Kristi congrats! I'm SUPER excited for her! We'll get home around the same time! Crazy huh! Anna is being such a good sport!

Thanks for your emails! I love them! And I love you! I’ll talk to you next week!

Luv you lots!!!!!!!!!!!

Sister Painter