Way Lovin' Life! :)

Hello hello!

So I was going to try to send pictures, but the silly computers here won't let us.. Maybe one day I'll get to send some... ;)

Well things here are going good... Monday we had our weekly morning sports and we walk in and our Zone leaders are standing on the stage with all the lights out except the red ones with all these chairs lined up with shirts hung over the back. It was super funny.. Turns out they had gotten everyone in our zone shirts with our goal for investigators spray painted on the back of em. Ha I love our zone leaders. They are seriously the greatest ever and they make serving a mission so much fun!

My little birthday party coordinator calling is still going good. I swear everyone and their mom has a B-day this month so it's been craziness trying to come up with different ways to surprise everyone, but it's been a lot of fun. I definitely appreciate party planners way more now.

So here in the mission, you never seem to have the greatest health because of how much you eat. The other day we were sitting in an appointment with an investigator and all of the sudden I could feel something coming up (sorry I know that's gross) so I told our investigator- mid sentence that my comp and I had to grab something. Ha ha, so we run out and I go running to the bathroom puking... It was pretty embarrassing, but funny all at the same time.. First time that's ever happened.. Ha, my stomach is still adjusting to Polynesian food I guess..

Next funny story- I went to sit in the bathroom just to have a 5 min break, literally just to sit there (all my stories seem to always happen in the bathroom) and next thing I know I wake up 20 min later.. I thought to myself, "self, did you really just fall asleep in the bathroom?!" I guess that's what happens when you don't get too much sleep. Ha ha good thing no one else had to use it..

OK, now for the spiritual serious stuff- the reason I'm here! The other day my comp and I were trying to find this referral we had received, so we go to her house but no one answers, so S. Loo decided to knock on the neighbors door, well this nice girl answered and actually let us in. We ended up teaching her one of the lessons and it was just so awesome! At the end of it, she is just bawling and told us how she had just been sitting in her kitchen praying, before we knocked on the door, asking God what she should do with her life knowing that she needed to come unto Christ. Ah man, it was just the coolest experience ever. This lady was totally prepared and ready to hear about the church. I am so so grateful that my companion followed the promptings of the spirit and knocked on that young lady's door. You just never ever know who is ready for you! She said that she wants to get baptized, and we are going back today to visit her! YAY! I love this!

Another cool thing happened last week.. So I was downstairs doing referrals and I was going through names of people that I received. I called 2 or 3 and none of those were interested. I was starting to get discouraged and so I told myself that I was going to call just one more.. Well as I was flipping through names, I passed this one name and the spirit told me I NEEDED to call this person.. After a little reluctance I finally did. This was a referral that had been given to me in the MTC and this person lived in AZ. So I call and the mom answers.. Well turns out the referral was actually a member but had decided not to go on a mission. So his mom starts talking to me telling me all about her son and how she just didn't know what to do to help him because he was struggling a little bit in life.. Then she started crying and told me how weird it was that I had called because earlier that morning she was talking with her son and he had finally opened up to her why he wasn't going. I felt like I had known this woman for years. So I told her about my experience of how I decided to call him and told her I would pray of what I could say to her son and then call him back, but even if I don't ever get to speak with him, I am so glad I followed the strong impression I had to call that particular referral because I know that woman was grateful for the phone call. Gosh, I just love the spirit!!!!! 

Anyways, so many more cool things have happened over the past week, but I have to get going. I can't believe transfers are already next week... Time just needs to stop going so stinkin' fast. Know that I love you all and I love hearing from you. Thank you thank you for the love and support you give me. The church is true!!!

Love, Sista Conrow :)  

Gettin' Old! ;)

Seriously, I am getting old, I can't remember anything!

I've come to the point on my mission where everything turns into one big, fat blurry blob. I couldn't even tell you what I did yesterday, let alone last week. I have to constantly make notes in my planner when something happens that I want to write home about, but even then, I forget to write it down in my planner so then I forget what it was I even wanted to tell everyone hahaha.

Anyways- hello all! I'm sorry I don't have any pictures to send home, we can't send pictures on the computers that we use here at the library... maybe later on when I get transferred. Just know I'm doing well.. almost too well food wise. Haha. The members feed us like we're starving Ethiopian children--

Things here in Missouri are going good. I love my area, my ward, and all my leaders. They are just so great, I couldn't ask for a better mission. The Lord is still humbling me day by day. I'm starting to realize that I have quite a bit of humbling to do, haha. The Visitor Center is starting to slow down little by little. I still seem to meet people here that I know from back home. President Weaver and his wife came in the other day (he's from my stake presidency from my Young Single Adult ward in St. George) and so I was able to take them through. It was just so cool to be able to talk to people I knew from home. Crazy how small this world is. Even though I'm miles and miles away, and don't have daily contact with everyone back home, I still seem to hear all about the goings on through the people that come into the VC. Haha. It's cool. 

We have a few investigators- and things are going alright... We took Cathy on a church tour last week, and committed her for baptism. The spirit was so powerful and, ah, I can't even describe how awesome it was. Just know it was really awesome. Anyways, she said that she'd come to church on Sunday, but never showed up so my companion and I were pretty bummed only because we knew that she felt something on that church tour. She said she felt complete being inside the church- and it's because she is! We haven't been able to get hold of her since then, but it's alright, everything will work out in the Lord's way.

Sister Conrow took Warren and Marilyn Hickman,

from Washington Utah, on a tour at the visitors center.

On Saturday, my comp and I had our ward missionary activity that we set up. It actually went pretty well. The members were able to go out and visit people in the ward that needed a helping hand. A lot of them came back telling us all about their neat spiritual experiences. They all told my comp and I that they really wanted to start doing this activity every month, and so Sister Loo and I were like, heck ya, of course! We hope that it will help these members gain a desire to do missionary work within their own ward. It's just so so so important to reach out to everyone in the ward and to let them know they're loved, and to remind them of who they are, but most importantly, who their Savior is. 

Well all, that's about as much as my brain can remember... ha sorry. I'll try to be better at writing things down because I know that so much more happened this past week. Know that I am doing awesome, seriously. I am finally starting to feel really comfortable being here. I feel like it's becoming my home. I just love it, in every way. Even though it's very different than what I grew up around, it's where I need to be. I only hope that I can become who the Lord needs me to be as a missionary and as a person in general. I love this church, I'm so grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission. The church is true! CHAAA! (said like, ch-yaa- missionary lingo whenever we see a miracle, haha) 

Love, Sister Conrow :)    

A Piece Of Humble Pie

Ahhh man, this week went by too quick- well slow, but quick. So this past week I got called to be the birthday coordinator for our zone and so I had my first little surprise birthday party on Sunday. It was for our zone leader Elder Smith- I got him a shirt and had everyone sign it and then made him some goodies.. and that night we surprised him at the VC. It was so so so much fun. I think he realy enjoyed it! I love having this calling. I've never been much of a party person, so this calling is helping me to gain a greater appreciation for party planners! Haha it's a blast though!

Anyways, greatest thing happened this week, Jace came back to the visitors center and I got to give him a tour, and take pictures. Luckily it was a slow night so we got to spend a little more time together talking (all about missions and the church of course, what else?) Haha, no, but it was so so so good to see him again. After he left everyone kept asking me, are you ok?? Ha thinking I was going to break down because my brother came in, I'll admit, it was hard to say goodbye, but if anything it taught me a lot. With Jace coming in, I realized how truly important my family is to me and how much I love them with all my heart, and how when I get home I want to make more of an effort to spend time with everyone and let them know how much I care about them.

This past week has been a big week of learning for me. The Lord has been humbling me lots and helping me to recognize my many weaknesses and the things that I really need to fix in order to be a more effective and powerful missionary. Sometimes it's hard to admit to those faults, but I know that I can't progress if I don't fix those things that the Lord needs me to fix. I can't even imagine being home right now and not having this mission to teach me many vital life lessons. I am learning so much from my companion. She's a rockstar. So full of life, love, and service. She teaches me more than she probably knows.

The visitor center is going well, it's starting to die down a little bit now that school is starting (weird). I love it though, I love the people I meet and the lives that touch my heart. When people come in they think they are learning from me, but in all reality, I'm learning from them as we go through the tour.

As for investigators- we had a cool experience on Saturday. My comp and I were at this multi-cultural stake activity when this girl told us to come outside to meet the other sisters out there.. We thought something was wrong for sure, but turns out there was a man out there who lived in our area that wanted to be baptized... I felt like it was another Derek repeat all over again... Haha it was craziness.. That just doesn't happen. Nonetheless, we were so extremely grateful for the tender mercy of the Lord and for him allowing us to be apart of that miracle. So now we are teaching him and another lady who is all alone and works as a nurse.. Her heart has been broken, but as we work with her, each and every time her heart softens a little more and her desire to learn more grows as well. I just already love this lady so so so much and want to do whatever I can to help her come closer to Christ and understand why our church is so different, and to help her understand the importance of a proper baptism in her life- to be cleansed from all sin on earth and in heaven.

Anyways, I better get going, but I just want all of you to know how much I love you. I want you to know how much I am learning out here and how my heart is begining to become tied to Independence. The Lord is my Shepherd and I'm grateful for the lessons he is teaching me while I am out here serving. Stay humble as a child, just like it talks about in Mosiah and allow the Lord to shape you into who he needs you to become.. I feel like that's the theme of my mission, trust in the Lord, and then go and do.

Well, the church is true, 1000%! I love your guts!

Love, Sista Conrow :)

All Is Well In Zion :)

First off- coolest thing happened the other day, I was coming out of a tour at the Visitors Center and my companion was all, "Sister Conrow, come downstairs real quick." So I did, thinking something was wrong, turns out, there JACE was standing by the stairs. I booked it down the stairs and gave him the biggest hug. I was like, I don't care if I can't hug you, you're my brother, so I'm doing it anyway. Ha ha, it was so so so awesome. We got to sit and talk for about 45 minutes. Ha, I love being at the Visitors Center particularly for that reason. You see everyone you know. Jace, you need to come back so I can give you a tour by the way..

Ah man, I don't have much time to write, as usual, but this past week has just been the greatest. I feel like I am now fully engulfed in the work! Seriously. I don't know how I'm going to leave this place when the end comes, good thing it's like forever and a day away.

Anyway, transfers came and went last week and my companion Sister Loo and I are staying together once again in our same area. I'm so so glad because there's still so much work that has to be done here. I can't believe that next week will be my 3 month mark. What the? Where has the time gone? I finally passed off all my lessons to drive. I am officially no longer a greenie! Joy to the world. It's so nice to not be the new one anymore. Granted, I'm still young in the field, but it's all good.

This past week my comp and I have really been focusing on getting those lost sheep who have fallen away from the church, back to activity. We want to remind them of who their Heavenly Father is and how much he loves them. Real quick side note: EVERYONE DO YOUR HOME AND VISITING TEACHING. Not ifs, ands, or butts about it Ok? Ok, cool. We're putting together this big activity on the 20th where we're getting the whole ward involved and getting them to go out that night to a certain family in the ward who needs an extended hand. It's going to be so hardcore, we're excited.

Other than that awesome activity coming up, we're trying to find those who are seeking the truth.

Last week we had a funny experience- we went tracting into this neighborhood where an old former investigator lived, and turns out a different person lived at that address. Well her name is Cathy and when she answered the door she was drunk beyond all reason and covered in smoke- She has this big gulp thing that was full of alcohol. At first she was very much against us coming in. She said that she was just at the bottom of the bottom and didn't want to talk to us until she came out. And so Sister Loo and I were like, "uh, please let us help you get out of the bottom, better yet, let your Savior, Jesus Christ help you." She was still pretty hesitant but then finally let us in. We sang some hymns to her to help calm her down, and then left her some pamphlets about the Word of Wisdom. Well sister Loo went back the other day when we were on exchanges and I guess she was so happy to see her and loved what she and the other sister had to share. So now we have a return appointment. I really hope that she'll be able to humble herself and see that this Gospel will bring her ultimate peace, and lasting happiness, not just temporary satisfaction that drinking brings. Man, I love this Gospel. It's just the greatest.

Well, I'm doing fine, gaining weight from all the Polynesian food ha ha, but doing just fine! Thank you all so much for your love and continued support in writing me. I promise I'll get better at writing back. Our time is just so limited sometimes. Well everyone, don't give up. Be an example to those around you, become missionaries, and the Lord will bless you. This is Christ's true gospel on the Earth, if I haven't said it enough, I know it is!

Love you all!

-Sister Conrow

Holy Cow!

Hey, hey, hey!

So....What the heck- I cannot believe I've already been out here for 6 weeks and it's time to be transferred. I have no idea where I'll go, I won't know til tonight so the nerves are acting up. I have a feeling that I'll stay here in Independence with my companion Sister Loo. I hope so. I love it here, it's great, but if the Lord wants me to be somewhere else, than I'm totally cool with that. I won't lie, I could use a little break from the Visitors Center though. Haha. I know, I know, I'm horrible.

Saturday we were blessed to have another baptism. Ahhh it was just the greatest. Her name is Gloria and she is seriously just a rockstar. She's such a huge example to me. So full of strength and power. She's been through so much, but has still sought out the church on her own. She is the first in her family to be baptized a member. They weren't too thrilled with her decision and Satan really threw her for a loop, but she stood firm to what she knew was true and did it anyways. Her whole family actually ended up showing to the baptism. I was soooo glad because I knew that really helped her a lot and showed her that even though they weren't happy with her decision, they still loved her.

This Gospel is just the best. Serving a mission has the greatest rewards. You get to see someone completely change their life around for the better and become full of light. Sunday our recent convert, Derek, came up to my companion and I and said, "I just want to thank you girls. You have no idea how much you have changed me. I have never been this kind of person before. Normally, I would never be so involved in a church, or be so happy, but I know it was because of you girls that I am who I am today." It was just the coolest, I loved it, but I kept thinking to myself, it wasn't us Derek, it was all the Lord and you. Derek allowed the Lord to soften his heart and let Him shine his light through him. Man, we can all be like Derek if we'll just humble our stubborn selves. The Lord can shape us into He needs us to be if we'll just let him. It's super hard, believe me, I'm learning this right now, but I promise you it's worth it.

It's a good thing I'm on a mission because I am truly finding out how much learning and growing I have to do. I can't imagine not having this mission to help me become better. The Spirit truly does teach you humility, love, compassion, PATIENCE (my biggest weakness), and really helps you build a firmer testimony in our Savior Jesus Christ. I LOVE MY MISSION. I am just so so so grateful to be here, to teach and to help others come unto Christ. If I haven't said it enough, I'll say it again- this is Christ's one and only true church here on the Earth today. It provides the fulness and allows us to return back to our Heavenly Father. Man, I could go on all day. I love it, I love it, I love it. I can't wait for the next adventure, or the next transfer. You just never know who the Lord will put in your path.

Love your guts everyone!

Love, Sister Conrow