12/16/12

hi!!

Sister Harun and Sister Pitcher

 Yes things are good! I am in Hastings now so I am on the coast and on the other side of the mission. My new companion is Sis. Harun. She is from Malaysia!! She has a hard time with the language but she is so sweet!! I already love the area. The ward is awesome. We had a ward christmas party on saturday so I got to meet a lot of the ward so that was really good!! and then on Sunday I got to meet everyone else! They were so lovely and so welcoming. I have fallen in love with the area already. We knock every single day.. It is not so nice but we are determined to turn it around and start finding and teaching people. We went to the bishops house for dinner last night and he is hilarious and I love their family! He is giving us the key to his chiropractic center so that we can skype there and not worry about members.  I will probably call you and organize a time the night before so keep the phones handy. I don't know if we will be able to email on christmas eve because everythign will probably be closed. Also will you set me up my own skype account so that we can do it because I won't be able to use anyones skype cause we will be alone. but I am excited to skype you! Our flat is soooooo big! It has a balcony as well and a really nice view! We can see the sea and a lot of Hastings! I took pictures but it doesn't look as good in the pictures!!

THE VIEW FROM THE BALCONY

 Also yes i got patty's letter. and I don't know if I have the presents yet! I will know on Thursday when I go to the temple. I did ask President but he didn't reply so I will talk to him at the conference. I am kind of hesitant to ask because it's not something I should be worrying about ahah except that I am. but i will ask him! Can't believe I am halfway done.

 It is soooooooooooooooo cold!! I am dying!! haha it is horrible. ha and every morning when I get ready I have been bathing in cold water because I would turn the tap to all the way hot and it would just be cold it was not nice. But then today I figured it out! If you turn it halfway it's hot. So I have been having cold showers since I got here haha. Also on the way up to the temple when I was moving the Elders and I took a little detour and went to Bath. It was cool I got to see the Bath Abbey and it was really pretty!! but anyway things are good and I am loving it here. my address is

Flat 1 Rosehill House

44 Mt.Pleasant Rd.
Hastings, Sussex
TN34 3SH

 put it on face book please so that people know haha

 other than that not much has happened!! love you and miss you!!

 love syd

12/9/12

Hi

Birthday Present

My birthday was so great! I loved it! thank you so much for the toms i love them!! ahah and yes I got the card and everything from Laura!! It was so great. My favorite part was the video.. and yes I did cry. I loved the card and the egg things as well haha and I can't wait to make cookies, but I have to find a spice cake first. But the video..... it was my favorite gift. Also Nathan sounds flippin weird ahah. i can't believe he sounds like a man. It made me really excited to Skype you all. I am so blessed and the members made it so good! I got Mexican 2 days in a row so that was pretty awesome! and I got like four birthday dinners so i am definitely being takin care of!! we made cake with Xi Brenda and Louisa and then watched Joy to the World, and the cake was so rich. Xi loved it. She had a second piece and after a couple bites she was like iIcan't eat it and we were just kidding around and told her she could not waste it, So she just shoved the whole thing in her mouth at once haha I took pictures of her face because she was in pain eating it haha. it was so funny! she is hilarious


In church on Sunday we learned about talents. It was a lesson that I didn't know that I needed. We talked about finding and using our talents. I have never really known what my talents were but then I never really did all that I
could to find them. But they mentioned that sometimes we are told what our gifts and talents are in our patriarchal
blessing and so I got mine out to look at it and to see because I was pretty sure that it had told me but it had never really sunk in. Sure enough, in my blessing it told me. It doesn't necessarily mean that I have perfected them
but they are things that I need to develop and it just really helped me recognize my worth and that I am
important and that Heavenly Father really does have a plan for me and for all of His children. It was just something that I needed to be reminded of and it strengthened my testimony.

Yes it is reallllllllllly cold here! I am trying to stay warm haha. Transfers are tomorrow and so I will know if I am going. I have been told that I am most likely moving but I will know for sure!! If you send letters send them to the temple! so that I will get them at Christmas ahah The more letters the better. I think I might be able to tell you if I move or not on Wednesday or tomorrow but if not you will find out on Monday!

Bree's baby is so cute! I love the pic. and I am really glad that your surgery went well.  

I sent Karli's present so it should be getting there soon! Don't let her open it and will you wrap it properly for her or just wrap what it comes in so it's a surprise for everyone. Let me know when it does get there so that I know it's not lost.

love you all so so much!

love syd

12/2/12

Hiya!!!

Yeah sorry about the letter I was really quite depressed but I talked to President and that really helped! I really don't know why I get sad! I just think it's cause I'm not focused and think about home too much so I have tried to stop that and just think about the people we are teaching and it has been a lot better so no worries :) but no I can't believe that it's December already!!! crazy!! It is freezing here and there is no snow, it's just freezing cold. Also yes I have had my hair trimmed once!! I am scared to go to the hairdressers plus it's really expensive to get you're hair cut. I have trimmed my own bangs more than just the once tho! and it's getting really long! I want to color it but I am just going to wait till I get home. No I don't know if I will be transferred we will know on Monday or Tuesday of next week! I am ready to get transferred. I wish it wouldn't be before Christmas but I will just deal with it cause I want to go to a new area!! so I am hoping I leave. I love the people but I am ready to leave the area :) I have got my birthday package and I have not opened it!

 But things are good this week! Sister Adam got some bad news about her uncle. He just passed away so she has been having a rough time!! I don't really know what to do to help her! This week is going to be bomb because we have loads of dinner appts and they are going to throw me lots of birthday parties!!

The conference was so good! It helped me so much and I learned so much!! And also we had a fun zone pday .  We got to watch The Best 2 Years so that was a lot of fun and some other sisters got to stay at our flat!! We had so much fun! also I got to see loads of people at the conference and that is always so good! Elder kearon from the seventy spoke to us so that was pretty awesome! Also Patty said that she was going to send me a package so can you give her the info about the money limit and everything else!!

 Sorry this is a rubbish email! you all sound like you are doing good but the elders are all here and they need to email as well! I will hand write a letter as well! You are all great and I Love you so much and I can't even wait to be able to see you on Christmas!!! You are the best family ever! tell Nathan I will write him next week and sorry I couldn't email him. Tell him I got his letter and I loved the spiritual experience he shared with me. All is well here. just the same old same old! love you

you got a rubbish letter but at least you got some good pictures today!

love syd

11/25/12

Hiiiiii

 I sent a letter and not sure when you will get it, but as for Christmas send PJ's for Sister Adam!! I will probably see her so I can give them to her if we aren't still together. Over Thanksgiving I was depressed. haha my letter will tell you all about it. ha but I am good now and the past few days have been really good. Today we are having a zone pday and then tomorrow we have a conference. I'm way excited about it. I can't believe I am nearly half way done either. crazy! You guys sound like you are always having a good time!! Glad you enjoyed Thanksgiving and shopping!! also the letter I sent is probably depressing but don't worry.



Sister Adam, Kris Jennings, Sister Pitcher
Thanksgiving

We are teaching a girl named XI and she is so funny.  She has such a great personality and has such a desire to change.  Last Monday we took her to a family home evening at a members home, which she loved.  It was nice to be able to help her to get to know people and see what family home evening is.  The best part was on the train ride over.  The train was really crowded so we were just standing and they were having some issues with the cables on the train and we were going to be delayed for about 20 minutes or so.  While we were waiting we were just talking to her and she told us that since she has met us that she had been so much happier.  We were thrilled of course because we know it's not because of us and that she is feeling the spirit.  then she went on to say that she thinks it's the Holy Ghost that we told her about.  It was a miracle because she was able to recognize that it wasn't just us and that it was something even better.  It is the spirit and the change of heart that she is having inside.  She is so lovely and we have been so excited to be teaching her.  It's been cool because we met her through Brenda, who we have been teaching for awhile and she loves it and tells all her friends about it.  We are teaching three of Brenda's friends.

I love being able to see how the spirit works with people and how it teaches them of the truths and helps them all to remember the things that they once used to know.  I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be able to be a mouth piece.

Other than that not a lot is going on! 
Life is good and I love and miss you all so so so so so so so so so much!
love you
syd

 

11/18/12

HIIIIIIII!!!!

This week has been another really busy and really good week. The students seem to be really receptive here in Exeter so that is so good. This week we have seen quite a few miracles. We were able to teach a referral that we got from the office. His name is Alexander and he ordered a Book of Mormon. He is already through the first two books of Nephi and he is really liking it. He said that everything is making a lot of sense to him so that is really amazing. We also we able to watch The Prophet of the Restoration DVD with Theresa, a girl that we have been teaching for a while and something changed in her. She really enjoyed the movie and when we were talking with her afterwards we asked her to just focus on praying about the Book of Mormon rather than praying about a lot of things at once. She said that she would and in her prayer she said thank you for giving Joseph Smith the revelation. It was a cool experience and things are starting to progress with her. The last one was about a girl named Jasmine. She is a chinese student and she is studying business. She arranged a time to meet with us and then she flogged us. Then the next day we got a text from her saying she was sorry and explaining what had happened and then she asked if she could just come to church with us on Sunday, so of course we said yes and she showed up to church and she really enjoyed it. We were so so excited. We are being so blessed here and I am so grateful for that and for all of the people the Lord is trusting us to teach. They are all so eager and willing to learn which makes it that much sweeter.

Sister Adam and I are doing great. We still get on so well. We have a lot of fun being missionaries together and getting to know all of the members and the investigators. This week I have been studying in Alma and the past few days I haven't been able to focus in my study. I am in all the war chapters and they were just hard for me to take in. But today was such a good study! It was about Moroni and Ammoron and the city of Gid. And then I continued to read about the sons of Helaman. These chapters just captured me in today and I was so grateful for that and was able to learn and apply and feel the spirit so strongly. One of the things that I learned from them is that it is when we are strong and when we are spiritually in a good place that Satan is going to try his hardest to make us slip and fall and so we need to have a watchful eye and not let him deceive us. But as long as we remember to include the Lord in all that we do we will be able to overcome the adversary.

And to answer all your questions.. I want you to send the pumpkin stuff.. haha no don't send it that is too much money. I think about those cookies all the time tho. haha money is fine and I can just buy a cake. and ok I will try not to open it until my birthday! also if you want me to have christmas stuff for christmas make sure that it's there before the 19th of Dec. I will be there for a christmas conference :)

The next transfers are on the 12th of Dec. and I think that I will move. Kind of a bummer because of christmas and all but I want to go to a new area. Also can you please answer my questions haha. I need a list from karli desperately!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't have a lot of time so please get me a list. Also I sent you a letter about all the meds and stuff so you will get it this week I believe.  Thank you for all that you guys do. You are so amazing and I think about you everyday. You are the best family that I could ever have.

Also that is so good that USU is doing so great!! I am so excited!! and also it's exciting about MC. It's always Timpview that they go up against. haha but it sounds like football is going good :) It's what I like to hear. We are going to play football today with some people for pday! It's going to be fun! Thanksgiving is going to be weird and not feel right with out you guys but I am still excited :) We are going to a members home and they are going to make me Thanksgivin dinner!

anyway love you and miss you lots!!

love syd

11/11/12

Dear Family,

This week was a busy one which is really good! Things are starting to pick up and I love it because it means that we get to teach a lot of people! We are starting to teach a lot of foreign people! One of them is Brenda who is chinese who is amazing! So amazing that she went to Scotland this weekend and still went to church! She met Sister Adams boyfriend. She's not even a member yet and she still went to church!! Solid!! I am glad that you are having fun in Cali and Oregon. That is good to hear. We went to a bonfire and some fireworks the other night with a lot of the ysa for bonfire night so that was fun! It was also the senior couples last night here. They are from Idaho and their names are the Simons. I gave them your number Mom! She was going to stop at our house this week and meet you guys but you were going to be gone so she said she was going to call next time they were in Logan :)

This week we taught Robin my recent convert about temples and family history. He basically knows everything because he is such good friends with the members. anyway he loves doing family history and has so much work done. He is preparing to go to the temple like right before I go home so hopefully I will be able to go to. But he asked me to take some names home and do them in the temple for him. I was so honored because that's big and they are all family names. Anyway that's the cool story for the week! sorry I don't have a lot of time! I love you all and miss you much! have a good week!

love syd

Letter from Pres Millar to Families and Missionaries

2012 Dear Parents, We are so excited to be serving here with your sons and daughters. We love each and every one of them. They are so amazing and are outstanding examples for the Church here in England. Thank you for the wonderful job you have done in raising such wonderful young people. We had a reporter ask us recently how you get young people like them, and we told them it was because they have such wonderful families at home who taught them to revere the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are already anticipating the Christmas season. We are hoping to have a wonderful celebration with our missionaries. In addition, we know that you will want to send Christmas gifts to your children. Could you please send all packages to the Mission Office? Last year, some of our missionaries received their gifts at their flats. Unfortunately for some, once the postman left the package, someone came by and stole everything. More than one returned to their flat to find an empty box sitting in front of their door. By sending your parcels to the Mission Office, someone will always be there to receive it and place it in a secure location. We shall distribute the packages throughout the mission, and they will receive them in their assigned areas sometime before Christmas. The office address is: England London South MissionThe London TempleWest Park Road, Newchapel, Surrey RH7 6NBEngland When mailing a package from North America, please indicate the value of the package as less than $40.00. This is so the missionaries won’t have to pay 20% Value Added plus custom charges. Thank you so very much for all your sacrifices. We love you very much and enjoy our association with you as parents. May God bless you. Sincerely,England London South Mission Office Staff

Dear Sisters and Elders, 12 November 2012 The election is over. Some of you may be disappointed that Governor Romney did not win. The church received a lot of notoriety throughout the last year. This was good. We need to accept that God knows best what is needed for the church at this time. I trust fully that the Lord is still in charge. We need to support the governments of the countries that we represent. It is a worldwide church and we need to remember that. (this is what president millar wrote us so i thought you should read it haha)

11/4/12

Hi! :)

How are you all! I am feeling a lot better! Still have a runny nose but it's basically gone and I feel fine! also yes I got the pin and the CTR earrings haha thank you very much! and I got the sd card with all of the cds which I love and the Halloween card! thank you thank you!

 

London was pretty sweet! We had a lot of time to go to a couple places before our train and so we went to Kings Cross train staition where Platform 9 and 3/4 from Harry Potter. That was a lot of fun. Then we went to Covent Gardens and that story is in nathan's email. :)    (got to go to london and we got to go to this place called Covent Garden and there are lots of street performers. There was this guy who blew up some balloons. the kind of balloons that you make balloon animals out of and he ate it! he slid it all the way down into his stomach and didnt take it back out! it was soooo gross!)

  Also last night we got to go to our Chinese investigator Brendas house and she cooked us proper Chinese. It was different but I liked most of it :) She also invited loads of friends so we were able to find new people thru that. I tried dumplings and I did not like them at all!! Also the other week we went to an african ladies house for dinner and we had these boiled banana things and this spinach fish sause stuff with rice. As we were eating I kept getting these really crunchy things. I was chewing and I just thought that it was rice that wasn't cooked or something. We finished eating and I looked at the african ladies plate and there were fish bones on her plate.... yup i ate a couple of fish bones and one got stuck in my throat. It was not pleasant and the food really didnt sit well with Sister Adam or me! haha

Yesterday I had a really good study in Alma 43! One of the war chapters between the Lamanites and Nephites and a couple others. anyway I loved it because Alma prays to the Lord to know where the Lamanites will be and God tells him. Moroni is the leader and prepares all the Nephites because they are just trying to protect their families and their religion and he prepared them with proper clothing and sheilds to gaurd the vital parts of their bodies. The Lamanites however are barely clothed. Tons of the Lamanites are killed because of their lack of preparation. The Nephites were protected because of their armor and God. Although some still died they were better protected. I just related that to our lives. If we prepare ourselves spiritually thru the scriptures, prayer, church, and obedience, we will be able to protect our hearts, minds, and spirits from the temptations of the devil, but as soon as we let our gaurd down or if we don't prepare properly we will be defeated. Keep preparing and rely on the Lord and whatever happens we will be able to overcome the adversary!

 

I love you all so much and miss you even more! you are in my prayers everyday!

10/28/12

Hello!!

Yhis week was a pretty boring week, ha not too much happened!! It was moves and I am staying in Exeter for sure. I don't know if I want to move right before christmas but I am ready to go to a new area! I will just have to wait and see! I don't really know what I hope happens. but yes it is this week that I go to London! We are going tomorrow!!

 Also I haven't gotten the package yet! Did you send it to Exeter or to the mission home? also send my christmas package to the mission home.. the one with the london temple address so that it doens't get lost. :) I am worried about the other one. Hopefully it will be there now. Anyway I am getting a cold so that's no fun! It's a head cold so I feel like my head is going to explode. hopefully it doesn't last very long.

It was a lot of fun on pday, we went bowling with our district! I bowled a 134!! It was the best that I have ever bowled in my life! I was way excited! The next round wasn't that great but it was so much fun! I got some cute pictures that I will have to send you! but they are on sister adam's camera! Then after that the senior couple took us all to pizza hut and bought us pizza! I am glad because I have no money cause I lost my bus pass :( but we get more travel money this week so that 's good! also could you send me your cream cheese frosting recipe? :)

 I don't really have a spiritual thought at the moment cause I can't really think clearly cause of my cold haha. but when i come home I want to start doing family history! Since i have been out I have really taken interest in it and it makes me excited to be able to learn how to do it. I love being on a mission, and I feel like I am running out of time! I can't believe I am nearly half way done! It blows my mind! ha.. and as for the accent I don't think that I have one yet! ha sorry! I guess you will just have to see for yourself at christmas. :) Also i need a money limit for christmas and tell Karli to send me a list! :)

love you all and miss you so so so much!

 love syd

10/21/12

Hi,

I am so glad that you are home from the hospital and feeling good! :) I haven't worried at all about it which is weird but I just felt good about it after some prayer! So glad to hear everything is good. Also to answer your questions.. I had an interview with Pres. Millar on Sand he said I will be staying in Exeter for one more move and so I don't think I will be here for Christmas. I am ready for a change but I also absoluetly love all of the missionaries that I am serving with and Exeter ward. But I do hope this is the last transfer I will be here.

Also yes I love the skirt that you are wearing and I would love one :) I need clothes tho because winter is going to be cold but I don't know if you want me to buy them here or send some! because I am just going to get basic stuff and layer up! it's not too cold yet but it's starting to get cold.

Yesterday was stake conference and we got to listen to some amazing speakers. A member of the Seventy spoke to us as well. He's in the 3rd quorum or something but it was really good. He was talking about forgivness and how Heavenly Father want's nothing more to forgive us. But we need to be careful because we carry around and do little sins that we think are just apart of who we are but we should get rid of them. It's going to be those little things that cut us off. That statement really struck a cord. There are so many things I just bypass because it's not that big of deal but in reality it is. And then he went on to talk about trials and so many times when a trial arises we pray instantly for relief rather than praying for strength and trying to understand the lesson that Heavenly Father is trying to teach us. I do that so much. and in some cases maybe we would be able to get thru things easier if we would try to see the bigger picture and see what we are supposed to learn from the experience.

Seven is doing good! He has a baptismal date now and he is still hilarious as ever. In our last lesson during his prayer he thanked God for his new career in Christ.. It was horrible because I started laughing during the prayer. I don't even know if any of the things I tell you sound funny or if you have to be there. He is just so funny.

We also met this guy named Ben! He is a biker and he's way cool! We just started to meet with him so hopefully it will progress well. He is way funny but has a lot of issues. He loves us coming around. We got pictures with him and he said that when he and I were getting pictures together he felt a warmth. I hope it's the spirit he's talking about. but he is awesome!!

This week has been a good one and I am so excited because we are finally starting to get Exeter rolling again so that is good! We are seeing a lot of really cool people. Sister Adam said that isn't her mom.. so look some more.. haha but we are still having so much fun and get along great!

How much is the limit for christmas? and who got me? it's going to be weird without you guys but at least it's only one :)

I love you all so much and you guys mean so much to me! :) thanks for all of the support and for all of the prayers.

Love, Syd

10/14/12

Family,

I am way better this week than last week until I read Nathans letter about Mom in the hospital and now I am worried! but it will be ok if I just rely on the Lord to help me not to worry! I hope you are out and well by now but I will be praying hard for all of you. Thank you for telling me tho because I don't want to be in the dark.

 A yes I still love my companion! We have so much fun! And her moms name is Karen Adam. We think that she may have added the wrong darlene haha!

Also what are we going to do about christmas? are we drawing names or am do you guys just want me to get something little for all of you? let me know :) I can't believe we are already talking about christmas. It's going to be strange without you guys.

This week like I said was way better than last week. I was really having a rough time but I went on an exchange in Cornwall with Sister Ball and that was just what Ineeded.. a little change and then we had a zone training which was exactly what I needed again and it answered a lot of my questions and concerns that I had so I was so very grateful for that. Sometimes I am too hard on myself but in the conference they were talking about not getting discouraged and just account with the Lord. Numbers don't matter.. we should aim to improve them but put a name to a number cause it's the people that matter most and as long as we get the confirmation from the spirit that we are doing our best that's all that matters. It's not about impressing people it's about working as hard as you can and doing the Lords will. I just needed to be reminded that we can't be perfect...yet.. haha but it was good and I got a lot of comfort from it.

We have been meeting with this chinese girl named Brenda and she is awesome!! She is so golden. She has been in England for three weeks and for two of those weeks she has been at church. We met her the first week she was here. She is so interested in learning about God and she wants so badly to know that He is there. When she told us that this week we invited her to pray and ask right then and there with us if God was there. She prayed but she didn't realize that we meant pray out loud but she was praying in her head. The spirit was so strong even though we couldn't hear the words we could feel her prayers being answered. It was such an amazing experience. She then had some questions about baptism and so we explained what it was and we felt that we should invite her to be baptized and she was more than willing to accept. It was a really good lesson and the spirit is teaching her so much. She is so pure and so humble. Sister Adam and I both just think that she is amazing.

Well I am going to london today for my appt so that's good! I love you all and pray for you constantly! Love and miss you so much.

love syd

10/7/12

Hi,

This week has been a long week. I am glad that I get to email you guys now. I got to watch all but the last session of conference so that was good. I loved it so much. One of my favorites was from Pres. Uchtdorf. When he said stop looking for the finish line and just enjoy the moment that you are in. I find myself a lot looking for the finish line and thinking I will be happier when I get to it and that's not how it works. we can be just as happy on the journey and that's where all of the important things happen. And we should just spend meaningful time with people that we love because it is precious. I can't wait to be able to spend time with you guys again. I miss you so much. I have been struggling a bit this week but Sister Adam showed me something that her mom wrote her. She said that it's ok to miss your family and be really sad that they aren't here because it just shows you how much you are sacrificing to serve the Lord. If we weren't sad or missing home this wouldn't be a sacrifice. It put things into a better perspective for me. This is a huge sacrifice and I would have never realized how much I love all of you guys and what you mean to me without this experience. It's hard but it won't last and it's for the Lord's precious children.

Also the new changes about the missionaries is so awesome!! There will be so many more missionaries coming out! It's going to bless the church so much and so many other peoples lives. All of us missionaries were way excited!

So this week we were teaching this chinese guy named Seven. We have to go very slow because they don't know a lot about Christianity or God. He has been meeting with us for a few weeks now and so we were just telling him that his faith had grown since we had first met him. He was like What?! what's growing? we were like your faith is reallly growing and then he was like My FACE has grown since I met you?! haha we were like nooooooo and explained and then he got it. He thought that we were telling him that he had gotten fat since we met him hahaahaha.

I just love you guys so much and I really miss you! I think about you everyday and how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family and how fortunate we are to have the lives we live. I am so grateful to have the knowledge of the Gospel and for all of you! I love you! I can't wait till christmas!!

love syd

9/30/12

This week has been good. Same ole things going on haha. and it was kind of a long week. We are teaching a Polish guy and he now has a baptismal date so that is good. We are still trying to find a lot of people to teach but it's good. We have started to teach a few chinese people which is awesome. I love them. Sister Adams taught a lot of them in Liverpool when she was there so she is really good with them. His english name is Seven. Hahah it's awesome. He's hilrious as well.

We are teaching a guy named Kyle and he has a little boy named Loki who is 3! and we always ask him if he want's to say the prayer and so Sister Adam was helping him. She told him to say thank you for my Dad and when she said that he like jumped up and was like daddy yeah!!! haha it was so cute and then at the end she said in the name of Jesus Christ amen and he yelled at her. He was like "you don't say that word!! it's bad. you just say amen and look up!" it was sooo funny! I may have already told you that but i'm not sure.. but he is adorable.

 

Also I love the pin that you sent me! it's awesome. I am probably keeping that pin for myself! I loved it and I loved the chocolate covered cinamon bears as well. and everyhting else. Yeah just send the makeup in a little envelope to exeter! because i need it and i won't get it for a while if you send it to the Mission Home. And you keep asking if i have gotten my package from the MTC. I hope you don't ever send stuff there because i wont get it... send it to the mission home.  Also sister adam's mom added you on fb so you can accept :) and yes we are still getting along. haha. also I loved the table things that you are making. you are turning so crafty!! I don't think it's grandmaish!! haha I think it's cute.Today we are going to Plymouth to chill with the elders again so that should be fun!! sorry I don't have much to say this week. but I hope you guys have a good week and I miss you guys so much. like a lot. I love you!

love syd!

9/23/12

Hello,

My week has been good. It's gone by really fast! I am glad that he liked the archery! haha i loved it too! it was so much fun.  and yes i did get the pin so thank you! :) i might give it as a gift because i already have one for myself from malayna haha so it can be from both of you! but i will just wait and see because i don't really want to give it as a gift. but i should get my package from the mission home soon. should get it this week.

Not a lot has really happened this week. We are just trying to find new people to teach. Um we went knocking one day and we were coming out of someones garden and there was this scary looking dog staring at us. We didn't really think anything of it but as soon as we tried to leave it freaked out and started barking and growling at us and darted at us. It was holding us in this garden. Basically we were trapped. Then we threw Sister Adams planner to try and get out and that worked. But then the dog was guarding the planner. and we really needed her planner. so we tried to get it and the dog just ran at us and was going to attack us hah. Sis Adams almost got bitten. It was so scary haha but funny afterwards. We got her planner back eventually. Our miracle for that day was that we didn't get eaten by the dog. haha

Recently I have been studying the Christlike attributes and it has been really good. I am only on the first one but they are so good. They make you really think about the person that Christ was and just how amazing He really is. Makes me want to be that much better. Because the more Christlike I am the happier I will be. It's amazing. I can't believe I didn't take this time out to really study before I left!!

Not really too much happened this week so I don't really have a lot to say! It's starting to get a lot colder here. I don't think I am at all prepared for the winter time. But oh well. Since it was transfers there were a lot of changes. We got a new district leader and 1 new missionary and then another missionary who has already served here. The new missionary is from SisterAadams ward so she was way excited about that because it makes her feel more at home. anyway sorry there isn't much going on at the moment :) but could you please send me some recipes :) thank you!

Love you all so so much!

love syd

9/16/2012

Hello Mom, Dad, and everyone!

You guys look so good in your pictures! I love them. I am also sad that we won't be talking because I miss you so much too. I have really been missing you guys so much the past couple of days. Also I am glad that you got all of the packages finally :) and yes I do need the sd card back. I will be sending another one back here soon because it's almost all filled up. They were kind of boring but I am glad you liked them. I can't believe that Liam is engaged to her. Yes I know her not very well tho! that's way cool. tell him I say congrats and that I want an invite :) Also I did get Patty's letter and the money! Tell her thank you so much as well! I really love all the mail and stuff I get. It helps me stay sane without all you guys. The more the better. for christmas I am just concerned about clothes cause mine are starting to wear out a bit. Not too bad yet! Also I do need some makeup right now. They don't have it here so I will send you them so that you know wht to get and what to send. I don't have any preferences for christmas. Good efy cd's.. I don't really mind. Whatever you want to send. also will you email me some recipes for snickerdoodles and for german pancakes? thanks. Sorry to hear about Ruby! I don't really remember who that is or if I even know her. :( Also I haven't got your package yet cause it's still at the temple but hopefully this week.

 

I still love my companion so much. It feels like I have known her for ages. It's great and we get along so much and we just have so much fun! Her name is Sister Adam and she is from Aberdeen Scotland! I am pretty sure I have told you guys already but you keep asking haha. but yeah she is great. I am learnign a lot from her and learnign so much about myself. I think that is why I have been reflecting so much on what and who I want to be becasue I am responsible for teaching her and training her to be a missionary so I just want to be a good example cause ultimately that is the best way to teach.

 

Well this week has been good! We have been finding a lot so that we will have people to teach. I have really been reflecting on who I want to become and who I want to be at the end of my mission. I want to have changed for the better. I don't want to be the same person I was when I left. And I know that if we do everything that the Lord wants we are going to be so blessed! even if we don't know why we are doing it. there is a reason. I just really want to change and have my life aligned with the Lords. We will be happy if we do that. We will have challenges but we will be better prepared to deal with them if we fully give ourselves to the Lord.

We did archery last week for pday and it was so much fun! Dad when I get home I want my own bow!! haha it was so much fun! I lloved it so much and I was pretty good haah. There were no sites or anything on the bows so that was a bit difficult. We played against the elders and we totally won! haha

 

anyway I love and miss you all so so much! you are alll the best ever.

syd

9/9/12

To nathan!

hey buddy! i miss you so much too!! and that is hilarious about the spider but really kind of gross! haha Don't go crazy! :) i only have a year left so it's fine don't worry it will go really quick! you will go on your mission soon enough! just enjoy the moments that you are in and you will love every second of it! Don't wish your life away! you are amazing and i love you letters! i will write you one as well because this is short!

love you so much

love syd

 to the family

so this week has been really good! i got my new comp and she is so great! She loves these things called kebabs and so we got one the other day. I tried lamb.. it was the most horrific thing that i have ever tasted!! i almost threw up because it was so horrible. never eat lamb. haha we have had some really good times because she is funny and we are always laughin which is really good.

So I have been thinking a lot this week about who I am and what it is that I am doing here. As in what do I want to look back on and see when my mission is over. There is this thing called the 4th missionary and it's about becoming someone the Lord wants you to be rather than becoming someone by accident. And it really hit me that i feel like i am just letting myself become someone by accident. because i have been giving my strength and my talents to the Lord but i had to ask myself if i was giving my heart. and it isn't until we completley give up what it is that we want to do and give the lord our heart thta he can shape us into our fullest potential. it is then that he can help us acheive and become more like christ and help us gain all of the attributes that will make us the happiest. It will give us the peace of heart and mind in knowing we are on the same page as the Lord and we are doing what he has set out for us to do. I just was thinking that i want to look back on my mission with no regrets and i want to walk out of it a better person, a changed person. Not only on my mission but i want to look back on my life and decisions that i have made and be proud and know that i included the lord and that i did what he wanted me to do. I want to become someone pleasing to him and not someone that the world pleases. If we don't change for the better then what is the point of life. We have to give up all of our desires and do what the lord wants. it doesnt mean that we cant have fun we just have to know how to let the Lord take the lead in our lives and not fight inside with our own natures and our divine natures and as soon as we give up that inner fight we will sore and become who we want. :) I love the gospel!!

I will write more in the letter i write!

love you all so much and miss you! love syd

9/3/2012

Hello my lovely family!

 This week has been so good! I finally got my companion and I absolutely LOVE her! She is so great! We have sooooo much fun together and I love it. We just bonded instantly! She is basically already trained. I am pretty sure she came to train me some more. I have already learned so much from her and I am positive I haven't even taught her half the stuff that she has taught me. She is such a good missionary and she is just a natural at everything. The other day we were running for the bus and this little family were walking across the street. They walked directly behind the bus so we couldn't see them and they had a pram. She was sprinting and didn't see them and took out the pram and the child and just continued running. She said sorry but kind of forgot to stop and make sure they were ok. it was hilarious. It might be something that you had to witness but anyway.. it was funny and the baby was ok. Everyone was just shocked. She is hilarious and we are just constantly laughing which makes everything so much more fun.

It's nice to be able to be in just one area again. but while I was gone things kind of died so that means we are doing a lot of finding so we will have people to teach. We spent most of the day on Saturday just contacting and knocking. We were feeling like knocking was being really ineffective so we decided to just go and contact people on the street. We got off a stop early and the second person we stopped was golden. She was like I feel like my prayers have been answered and I just feel lost and confused and we were like "don't you even fret we can help you. :)" Maybe not like that but she just wanted to know her purpose and so we asked her if she had a minute and we shared some of the plan of salvation with her and invited her to come to church. So the next day at church I was a bit sad because we invited a few people and none of them came! About 5 minutes after church started she showed up. It was so great and we were so thankful. Afterward she was like I feel like this is where I needed to be today and I felt very comfortable here and I definitely felt the spirit. So that was an amazing miracle and we are seeing her again tomorrow.

It's just so great to be here and I am loving every second of it. And it's so amazing to be able to be led by the spirit. Sister Nelson, Willard and a few others were talking the other day about finding new people. Sister Nelson was like I wish that we had some sort of device that told us when people were ready for the gospel and it would just beep when we pointed it at them.. and one of the members was like.. we do have a device that tells us that.. it's called the spirit!! Listen to the prompting of the spirit we have our own little walky talky between us and God that is telling us where to go and what to do. Make a conscious effort to listen more closely. As I have been doing that I have been able to recognize better what it is that I need to do and it can be applied in missionary work as well as in making daily decisions about our life. HOW LUCKY ARE WE TO HAVE THIS WONDERFUL GIFT!! I love the gospel. I love you and i hope that you all have a wonderful week and are having fun camping.

love you all like crazy and miss you as well!!

Love syd

8/26/12

if it is little it should be fine! :) Kirsti sent one to Exeter and i got it!! but here is my letter! it's real short but it's a letter!! :) I will try and be better and write better! sorry! but i have to go now! i love you very much and thanks for getting up early. Love and miss you all! i really love you so much and i will miss not talking to you next week!! thanks for all you do for me! love youuuu

Well this week has gone real real fast! We went and ate dinner at a lady's house and her name is Sister Blampey!! She wanted us to tell her our first names and so when I told her my name was Sydney she was like "isn't that a boys name??" haha and I said I actually know more girls with that name than boys.. and she was like 'well what do they call you, SYD!!' haha. She is so great. She doesn't mean it rude but it comes off that way. hahah she's way funny! And then she asked if I would like any more to eat and I was like 'I am good'. and she said  " are good like a good little girl? I think you are alright not good!!" haha It was funny! Hope both of those make sense lol. if not.. sorry. You just had to be there.

 And spiritual thought for this week is from the Book of Mormon. I was reading in 1Nephi 16 about Nephi's bow.. and Laman and Lemual and all them were out hunting for food..  Nephi's bow broke and they all flipped out and were complaining to God and about Nephi and everything  Basically feeling really bad for themselves because they weren't going to be able to eat because his bow broke. Nephi didn't complain once.. what did he do.. Nephi decides to try and make a new one and new things to hunt with and make the situation better.  I was just thinking about my life and how much I am complaining and feeling bad for myself for things that I am going thru rather than just getting on with it and trying my best to make the situation better. It made me realize that I need to be more like Nephi and be more positve while dealing with my trials. The gospel is great and I looooove it!!

 

You are so great and i miss you all like crazy!! love you so much!!

 

love syd

8/19/12

Hello family!!

 It has been a busy couple of weeks!! I have been traveling back and forth between different areas. I am in one area and the flat is right next to the coast. It is soooo pretty! I love it. The beach is very tempting in the heat. It has been about 77 degrees for the past couple days!! I miss having a proper summer. Basically it is either raining here or it's humid or it is just like having the deck misters on. Traveling is crazy but Luckily we have been able to catch a ride with the senior couple! So we haven't had to ride the bus. Yesterday was the first time we had to ride it but it wasn't a bad ride!

I love being on a mission!! I finally have my feet on the ground and am stable so that I can actually enjoy what I am doing. It is the best thing ever and it's so much fun! The gospel is true!!! haha. It's so fun working around all of the other missionaries. I seriously learn so much from all of them. It's so amazing that even tho we are all at different stages in our lives, from different countries, different places spiritually, we can all still come together thru the gospel!! It's a wonderful thing.

Robin, who was baptized 3 weeks ago got to bless the sacrament which was a way cool thing. I was glad that i got to be there when he blessed it. He is so solid. He just wants to know everything about everything which is so great!

That's basically all that has happened this week! love and miss you all so much! you are all so amazing!!

Loly, Syd at her baptism.

She did get to go up to the Olympics!

In her flat

love syd!

8/5/12

Well this week has been a super busy but really good week. Loly, Vivaldos friend, was baptized. We taught her everything in a week and she was baptized on Sunday. It was such a wonderful time. It's so amazing! Heavenly Father prepares all of the people we teach and all we do is find them and the Lord does the rest. Being on a mission is so amazing and I am starting to realize why everyone loves them so much. Just had to get adjusted and forget about myself to realize it. But it really is so amazing and I am meeting so many amazing people here and making so many good friends. I still can't believe that I am actually on a mission in England. It's crazy! I look in the mirror and it just doesn't seem real. But it is great. Time is just flying by and there just isn't enough time in the day to do everything that needs to be done.

Sister Binnie and I are done serving with eachother. We have seen so many miracles and we have been so blessed in Exeter. I will be getting a new companion on wednesday and I am excited and nervous about it. I learned so much from Binnie. She is a fantastic missionary and has blessed my life and so many peoples lives here. I will miss her but the Lord needs here somewhere else.

On a spiritual note I have learned how to rely on the spirit so much more these past couple of weeks. Usually we would plan our lessons and find specific scriptures that we want to use but we haven't been. We plan for the topic and study for the person but when the time comes we just let the spirit direct our thoughts to the scriptures and the things that we need to share. It's amazing how if we just listen that the spirit can bring all things back to our remembrance. The key thing is to just trust and listen and study so that we will have something to remember. And it benefits and helps the people that we teach so much more as well.

The gospel is amazing and I just love it so much! I love the book of mormon and I just know with all my heart that it is the word of God and it is specifically for us. Stay close to the Lord and the scriptures and to family! They are the very most important things in this life. I love you all so much! miss you!

 

love syd

7/30/12

Hello everyone!

This week has been good! We have been traveling a lot. We went on two exchanges and I got to serve with a couple other sisters which was so much fun. The first exchange was with Sister Nelson and so I got to go to a different area. It is a place called Paignton. It is beautiful there. I loved it. It is on the beach and it is just so pretty and a lot different than Exeter. It was sooooo hot that day! Seriously I had sweat rolling down my face haha. It was so gross but I was glad to finally have some heat and I was glad to get a little bit of a tan. I am starting to turn all pasty and white. It's not cute. haha But that was so fun. And then the second one was with a Sister named Sister Ball who is from Idaho. She is way nice. This is the first transfer that she has been out and so she is still pretty new and trying to get used to being a missionary. I am grateful that I have settled in and am starting to love it and get the hang of what we are doing. It's such a huge relief actually because I kind of know what I am doing :) but that was a lot of fun because she came to Exeter so I got to lead the area and so that was a really good change.

Robin was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. It was a really nice experience! and the ward love him so that is even better. He's a strong member already and I think that the Lord has work for him to do.

We have been seeing a girl named Loly who is one of Vivaldos friends. She also wants to learn more but she leaves to go back to her country in a week and a half and so we are hoping and praying that we can teach her everything before she goes back home because she want's to be baptized. She is a professor and so she is very intelligent. She is just here in England studying English so that she can improve and do well on her tests.

I just want you all to know that I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior because I experience the Atonement every single day that I am here. I have received so much strength from Him and I know that it wouldn't be possible without Him. The comfort He gives is like none other. I know that Joseph restored the Gospel and that we all have a part to play in these last days. We are so blessed to have this Gospel and the more we learn and understand the doctrine the more we want to share it with others. Turn to Heavenly Father in all that you do and I promise that he will continue to bless you in all that you do. He definitely has for me.

I love and miss you all so much. You are all amazing and I am so blessed that you are my family and friends.   love syd

Sister Pitcher and Robin

Sister Binney,  ????,  Robin,  Sister Pitcher

On Mon, Jul 30, 2012 at 10:45 AM, Sydney Pitcher <sydney.pitcher@myldsmail.net> wrote:

hello mom are you going to talk to me this morning? :) haha also i need money in my account please

7/22/12

Dear Family,

I know!! I can't believe it has already been four months. crazy. This week has been good and it has been warming up a lot. The main thing that we did this week was go to the temple. We were able to arrange a mini bus and go just for the day! It was a long day but it was so worth it just to take people to the temple. There were a few of the people that we are teaching that went as well. It was such a spiritual and happy day and everyone felt the spirit and enjoyed themselves. We just had a tour of the visiting center and watched The Restoration and then we walked around the grounds. It was such a pretty day as well. It wasn't raining and the sun was shining! It was just perfect.

Robin is going to be baptized this weekend. He is a way cool guy and the ward and everyone just love him already. I will send pictures and stuff next week. He received his answer at the temple which was a really cool experience for him and for Sister Binnie and I. We are just so excited for him and for this wonderful decision that he is making.

Yesterday morning in my study I studied faith. There are so many wonderful scriptures about faith. The one thing that I learned yesterday was that we all go thru trials and it is just to shape us and perfect us. The Lord knows our potential and so we go thru things to make us the person we should be. We just have to remember to have faith and put the Lord first and he will help us through everything. He doesn't give us anything that we cannot handle. One important part of faith is in order for us to receive the blessings we have to put the first step forward. We have to do something and fully trust in Jesus Christ and in Heavenly Father and then we will see the miracles and receive all that we need to make it thru. I love you all! I love my savior and I love the gospel.

loveeeee you all so much and miss you like crazy

love syd

7/15/12

Hello family,

Not a lot happened this week! It has been pretty mellow! On wednesday we have district meetings and we are doing this new thing where all of the missionaries prepare something that we are assigned and we may or may not be chosen to teach. I was one of the ones that was asked to talk and I actually quite enjoyed it. I was asked to study and prepare something based on my purpose as a missionary which was exactly what i needed to study. I am pretty sure I was asked to talk on that because I needed to learn something.

It was sister binnies birthday on saturday so that was fun. We saw Robin and went for hot chocolate and then after that we met up with Vivaldo and he bought her a cake and we had a mini birthday party for her and then we spent a few hours with Catherine and Bella. They live out in the country and their house is gorgeous. Mom and Dad you would love to live out where they do. We watched the Joseph Smith movie and just hung out. Also mom do you remember the mango vera lotion we have? they had it and i was just telling them how it reminded me of home and when we were leaving she gave it to me. I was excited :) haha so we had dinner there for her bday and then our ward mission leader invited us over for tacos so we went and had dinner again and spent time with his lovely family. He's american so they were real good! haha he knows how to make proper mexican food.

Saturday night we forgot to bring our phone up to our room and that was bad because we use it as an alarm. haha we woke up late on sunday morning. It threw everything off. but I guess on the bright side we got to sleep an extra 45 min. haha. We went to FHE with all of the young single adults last night which was a lot of fun. We played some games and it was fun to just hang out and play games. We are supposed to supervise for the next 2wks because the senior couple had to go back to America for some family stuff.

anyway not a lot has happened! love you all so dang much! stay fantastic.

love syd

New Mission President

Roger Clive Millar, 71, and Valerie Ann Aston Millar, nine children, Stone Cliff Ward, St. George Utah Little Valley Stake. Brother Millar serves as a high councilor and is a former counselor in a bishopric, high priest group leader, high councilor and missionary in the Australia Mission. Cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, Dixie Regional Medical Center. Born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Roderick and Louie Estella Millar.
Sister Millar, a Relief Society teacher, is a former counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency, stake and regional dance director, Primary teacher and Relief Society secretary. Born in Chorley, England, to Arthur Victor and Jessie Morris Aston.

This is her First Mission President and wife!

Lyle Eric Shamo, 62, and Tracy Jean Bedney Shamo, eight children, England London South Mission; Parkway 8th Ward, South Jordan Utah Parkway Stake. Brother Shamo is a former counselor in a stake presidency, bishop and counselor, ward Young Men president, high councilor and missionary in the Southwest British Mission. Retired managing director of the Audiovisual Department for the Church. Born in Hurricane, Utah, to George Harry and Irene Brooksby Shamo. Sister Shamo is a gospel doctrine teacher and a former member of a stake Young Women board, counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency, ward Relief Society teacher, Cub Scout leader and ward activities committee chairwoman. Born in Minneapolis, Minn., to Robert Steele and Dorothy Jeanne Bedney.

7/2/12

Hello,

 

I can't believe another week is gone. Sister Binnie and I will be serving together for another transfer in Exeter. Not a whole lot has happened this week. but things are still going really good. We get to meet the new mission president and his wife on Thursday so that will be fun.

 

Yesterday was Fast Sunday and it was amazing! I think fast Sunday's are probably my favorite Sundays! You just feel so close to Heavenly Father when you are fasting and I love it. I feel so warm and comforted and so many more questions can be answered when I fast. It has been good. Vivaldo, Catherine, and Bella are all doing really well. We call them every night and when we call Vivaldo he has been sharing scriptures with us. He is seriously a spiritual giant. He was so so happy that both me and Sister Binnie stayed. Before transfers he was like" why do good things have to end so quickly '. He is still going strong. Also Bella bore her testimony for the first time in sacrament meeting yesterday. She is such a doll. All three of these guys are such a strength and an example to me.

 

We are teaching a guy named Robin and he is a really cool guy. All of our lessons are very spiritual and so good. It's amazing how the Lord leads and guides you and puts you in the right place at the right time. We met robin outside the bus station cafe about a month ago and we weren't even supposed to be there, because the person we were going to see we had just decided the day before that we would just teach them at church. For some reason that day we wanted to go and see him. We just saw this guy and decided we would go and speak to him. We did and we had a lesson and it was really cool because the other day in our lesson he told us that he has been thinking about having the discussion for two years now, When we talked to him it just happened to be the right time. It's amazing to see the Lords hand in all that we do.

 

I love you all and miss you so much!

love syd

BELLA,  CATHERINE, SYDNEY

6/24/12

Hello,

I love all the pictures you sent me! you guys are so cute. Mom I will try and find the coins for you. I haven't seen any yet tho. Also could you get me everyones addresses please so I can send letters? thank you :)

Last week was really good! We had our last conference with Pres. and Sister Shamo so that was really emotional but also really spiritual. We also got to go to the temple. I love the london temple and I can't wait till you guys get to come and go with me. Everytime I am there I just think about how blessed we are to have the knowledge we do and that we are all sealed together. It is such a beautiful thing that we have in our lives and I realized how much I took it for granted when I was home. Living in Utah is a privilege and I am so grateful for that. I appreciate it so much more since I have been here and realize how hard life is.

On Sunday Bella was baptized and then her mom Catherine was baptized today! I haven't taught them a lot because they have been away but I have been getting to know them and they are amazing and I already just love them so much. Bella is amazing. The way she found the church is really cool. She didn't like the things that her friends started to do and the way they acted and so she went online and just looked up groups with good standards. She found the church and when the young women met up with and just showed up and it went from there. It's amazing because she is only 17 and not many people would do that. Both of the baptisms were so great and so spiritual. both of them had a really good spiritual experience and i was so glad that i was able to be apart of it. They are wonderful people and i just love them.

I don't know if i told you this yet but we went to Teignmouth with some members and while we were there we got these most amazing doughnuts. They were better than Krispy Creme and while I was eating them I was thinking of home because we buy them all the time and about how much Dad would love them, so when you guys come we will have to find them becasue they are the best ever. Dad you will love them.

anyway I love you all so much and love hearing from you!

Syd

6/17/12

Hello,

It sounds like you guys are having a good time. I wish i could be there with you as well. You all look so happy so I am happy! Also I love your dress Mom it is so dang cute. I want one haha. Save it so I can wear it when I get home. :) Also you guys are all so tan. i am all pasty and white cause the sun hardly shines haha. also karli's new man looks nice you will all have to keep me updated on him. and dad's new gun looks sweet. i wish i could have come shooting with you. Dad an Elder in my district is going home next week and he is from idaho and hunts and does everything you do. he is starting his own taxidermy business and said that if you want anything done he will give you a way good deal!! :) haha also i love love love all the pictures you all look so good. i cried when i saw them! i am so lucky to have you all as my family! Cheryl too! she is just as much family.

Anyway this week has been good. we had no money for food cause we are waiting on all of our travel money to get reimbursed so we asked the relief society president to help us find dinner appointments so that we wouldn't have to buy food haha and yesterday at church there were so many people that bought us groceries!! it was amazing haha we won't have to buy food for a really long time!!

So a kind of embarrassing story! We went to a less active lady's house and her name is Kathy. we talked to her for a bit and got to know her and all that good stuff and then i said the closing prayer. as i was saying the prayer i was blessing her but i called her heather in my prayer!! hahahahahha it was so bad. because we have someone named heather we are going to start teaching and I just got them mixed up ah man it was horrible. but luckily i don't think she realized i said that ah man bad bad bad ahah.

Also my bangs were getting really long and I tried to cut them myself. That was also a really really bad idea as well. I messed them up bad. haha I have had to pull them up since but they are growing fast luckily so I just need you and Karli here to do my hair. because they look really really cute when I cut my own bangs.

Yesterday on our way home from a members home Sister Binnie and I were at the bus stop and we just gave this man walking down the sidewalk a pass along card and he stopped and looked at us and kissed us. he was drunk and almost fell over. hahaha it was really awkward but really funny ha!

 

Not too much going on this week! A girl named Bella is hopefully getting baptized this sunday! i haven't taught her that much because since i have been here they have been on vacation so i have only taught her once. she is 17 and she is really sweet but the sisters were teaching her before I came. So I don't know her too well but she is lovely.

 

Well I hope you are all doing good!! I miss you and love you so so so so much!

love syd.

6/11/12

Hello,

Oh my goodness!! This weekend has been amazing!! Best weekend yet since I have been here. So as you know it was Vivaldo's baptism!! He is seriously so amazing and has changed so much since we started teaching him! The baptism was so spiritual!! He got there late because he thought it was at two because that's what the bishop told him and then we had to change it but it was still an amazing day! We had a Portegues Elder named Elder Simplicio come to our area to baptize him and give him the Holy Ghost because he has also been teaching Vivaldo over the phone and helped him understand better! So that just made it 100 times better because it was that much more special for Vivaldo.    Sister Binnie and I got there early to fill the font and the ward members told us to fill it to the third stair and that is what we did. So when they got into the font the water was only knee deep! it was terrible but he was still baptized. It was just really hard to do it haha. ah man he was so happy and was just beaming!! After that we went into the chapel and heard a talk and we asked Vivaldo if he would like to bear his testimony, so he went up and bore it in Portegues and a sister that speaks that translated! He just said how much he loves Jesus Christ and he knows now more than ever that this was the right decision and that this is the true and only way back to God!! He thanked the missionaries for teaching him and said how much he appreciated it! Then his friend Olgario said the closing prayer, we are also teaching him, and he said that he felt like he was going to be baptized as well. It was just so amazing and then we all just hung out with Vivaldo and  Olgario and their friends and then the Elders!! It was so much fun. We just went out to eat and just spent the day with them.

Sister Binnie' Elder Simplicio, Vivaldo  and Sydney

Elder Simons, Sister Simons, Vivaldo, Elder Simplicio, Olgario, Sister Binnie, Sister Pitcher

The next day in church is when he got confirmed which was just as amazing as the day before. So usually Vivaldo just wears his regular clothes to church but yesterday he showed up in slacks and a shirt and tie and he was just so excited and so happy you could just feel his spirit!! He looked so nice. He had a beautiful blessing in Portuegues and it was just the most spiritual weekend ever!! It's so great cause he is always talking about becoming a missionary and teaching people and helping them learn more about the gospel so that it can help them in their lives. He has been saying stuff like that for the past few weeks and he always calls himself Elder Pedro! So I really think that he will serve a mission. Man he has completely changed and there is seriously no greater feeling that I have felt before just knowing that I got to be apart of bringing someone into the gospel. I have never felt this way in my life!! It is a beautiful thing. I wish that I could just video everything so that you guys would be able to feel it to because this letter does it no justice whatsoever! He just kept saying how good he felt and saying that he couldn't even describe the feeling he was having!! ah my goodness! I love it.

The pictures are of Olgario who is Vivaldos friend and then the older guy is a recent convert named Alec that we see every week!!

love you so much and i miss you all like crazy!! stay amazing!
love syd

Sydney, Ryan (an investigator) and Sister Binnie

Ryan and Sister Pitcher



Alec, a recent convert and Sister Pitcher



Vivaldo, Olgario and Syd

Seeing the sights!!