Miracles Everyday! (June 2, 2014)

Hey!

I want to learn how to do a Chinese fan dance!!! Hope will have to teach me when I get home! :) I can't believe school is almost out!!!!!!! Time does go by so quickly! What are your plans for the summer? And I will keep Conner in my prayers, I hope everything gets better for him. Oh and tell Jan Hamilton I Love her and Happy Birthday!! She is one incredible woman!

This week was yet again another awesome week!! Tuesday we went on exchanges in Grand Blanc, I LOVE the sisters we serve soooo much! They are wonderful examples and I get to learn so much from them. Wednesday we had a pretty sweet miracle. We had met this woman last week while walking and asked if we could walk with her. We did for a short time and found out that she is really going through a tough time, we talked a little bit about our church, but then she had to go home. So we had set up a time to meet back up where we had met on the street. Well she didn't show up to the appointment... So we went to check out if she was home, and her apartment didn't exist :( We were pretty bummed, because we felt super good about her, and she seemed pretty interested. Well we were back in that area on Tuesday and decided to knock this door to see if he knew this lady. He did, she lived right behind him! And he was actually super interested, now we are teaching him and his brother in law! Anyways we went to the lady and she let us right in. She talked about how much guilt and shame she has and how she wishes it would just go away. We told her, "We've got a place for you!" And she said "I'm all in!" We're now teaching her!! We just see miracle all over the place! The Lord sends us where we need to be!

We went to MLCM (Missionary Leaders Council Meeting). The mission president instructs the leaders of the mission and helps us become what we need to be. I've been praying and pondering a lot about the calling to be a sister training leader, and I've just felt so inadequate. There are so many fantastic missionaries out here, and I just never felt like I could be an example to them. I've felt like Enoch did in Moses 6: 27-35. The Lord asks him to do be his servant and Enoch says "Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?" The Lord asks us to do things and we often times ask "Why me?" but this is the Lord's reply, "Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good." We have to just Go and Do, and he'll help us out! :) I've been out on my mission for almost a year, and I've been a pretty good missionary, but there were times I knew I could be working harder. Since President has expected more of me, I've realized God expects more of me as well. This work is a very important work and I'm only out here for a year and a half! The time is flying by and I want to work my hardest everyday! I've worked harder these last two weeks than I have my whole mission. I'm grateful to be able to serve the sisters out here, but I also think Heavenly Father needs me to change, and putting me in a leadership position is pushing that change in me.

At this meeting we talked about the difference between testimony and conversion. Having a testimony is great! And we need testimonies, but more than that we need to be Converted! Elder Bednar gave a talk called "Converted unto the Lord" He says "a testimony is a personal knowledge of spiritual truth obtained by revelation." Conversion "is a result of revelation from God accompanied by individual repentance, obedience, and diligence." We do need that knowledge, but it's not enough. We need to ACT, we need to repent and change. We need to be obedient to ALL the things God wants us to do. And we have to be diligent in these things, it's not a one time, We're Converted and now I'm done. I'm grateful for the testimony I do have! I know God is real!! He is our father in heaven. I know Jesus Christ is his son. He is the savior of the world. I know Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet of God. And I know that Thomas S. Monson is The Prophet today. And I want to become converted unto the Lord, by now Acting! :)

I LOVE you all sooo much! You are amazing! Have a great week! :)

Love, Sister Tracy

The Joys of Missionary Work! (May 27, 2014)

Hey Family!!

First off, I'm glad everyone is doing alright! I'm so happy for Erin! Natalie did tell me she was getting married in July! That's so fun!!! :) Your week sounds busy and Super Duper Fun!! I'm glad everyone was ok on your trip. STAY ON THE PATH! Dad, what you said about staying on the strait and narrow is so important. We often think we'll be ok and that we know best, but we don't.... because God loves us, he wants to keep us safe and protected, and knows what is best for us! Haha and I love that Hope wore her BYU shirt all over the Utah campus, that's hilarious :)

So this week was Crazy Awesome!!! :) Monday we visited Detroit. It was fun! We didn't have too much time, but we did go to a place called the Heidelberg Project, It's pretty sweet, lots of art all over the street. We checked out the city and just toured it. It was fun! I took a few pictures, but then my camera died, so I'll just have to go back to get pictures :)

Tuesday was Transfers!! We had our transfer meeting in Lansing with the whole mission, which was pretty cool. My companion is Sister Stuart! She's super Awesome! She's from a small town near Logan, Utah. She's my age, and has been out 6 months. She just left her first area and she is on Fire! She's a powerhouse! I've never worked as hard as I have with her. I'm learning so much from her and seeing may miracles! She's teaching me the ways to be a sister training leader. I'm not going to lie, it's been a little stressful, but I know the Lord is helping me! Now there are not just non-members and members watching how I act, but all of the missionaries as well. I'm praying every day that I can be a good example and serve them at the best of my abilities.

So, I am learning that I am not the best at planning out our miles. Another month gone by and we are low on miles again! So we've been walking EVERYWHERE! Now I'm not just getting into shape, but I'm getting tan too :) haha I would say maybe one day I'll learn, but I'm not so sure about that. But, on the plus side we've taught SOOO many people! We taught almost 30 lessons to non-members this week, which is sweet for this area! We found some new investigators and the are is picking up!

Elder Holland was Awesome!!! The spirit was so strong in the room! First thing we all got to shake his hand! :) I was so stoked! I know with all my heart this is a true apostle of Jesus Christ! He is a prophet of God! He did tell us that as he interviewed each one of us, that our mission is doing great, I was pretty comforted by that :) We were instructed by Elder Hallstrom and Dunnigan and it was great! The Elder Holland talked about Our Purpose as missionaries, he went through each word and what it means. Our Purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them recieve the restored gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Recieving the gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the end. He said that we can't invite others until we have internalized this purpose ourselves. He told us that we are promised only one convert in this life and that is ourselves! We have to become converted and that is our purpose. He got pretty into it as he talked about when we return home. He got so intense and asked us what kind of mission was that, if you are going to return home and go back to who you were. We are to progress in this life. We can't go forward and then just jump back. I'm grateful for the things I'm learning and realize this is preparing me for the rest of my life and for my own Salvation. I forgot my notes but just trust me... He's Awesome!

Well we are on exchanges in Grand Blanc so I've got to go, but I love you all! Have a fantastic week :)

Love, Sister Tracy

New Transfer and I'm staying in Rochester :) (May 19, 2014)

Hey there family!

Not too much to report this week. I get to go to the Lansing mission tomorrow to hear Elder Holland, I'm pretty excited!!! And we're going to Detroit today for p-day, don't worry, we'll be safe :)

We are making progress with our car wash guy :) haha Everytime we pull up he always yells "My good sista's!" He's pretty funny. I keep telling him he need's to come to church. The first time he said "Ya and I can get me two of them wives!" (He said one would do though after we broke the news we don't practice polygamy anymore.) Anyways after 3 months of keep inviting him, last week he said he'd come.. well he didn't show up.. So I got after him, and he said "My spirit was in the front row!" I guess his spirit's coming, now we just got to get his body there too :)

We saw La...i this week. Our last lesson we had, we talked all about baptism and the spirit was super strong. This week when we came in she told us how she didn't know how to tell us something. She explained how she wouldn't be able to visit her Hindu temple in India if she converts to a church. She said how it has been such a big part of her life and has so many memories that she doesn't want to lose. We just sat and listened, after I just asked her why she would want to be baptized. She said I KNOW that everything you've taught is true and I want to feel the way I feel, when you are over...all the time! She still wants to learn and prepare for baptism, but wouldn't make a date to be baptized yet. We're going to just keep praying for her and I know she will join this church. She's one of the most special people I've ever met!

So you are right it is a new transfer! Sis. Ockerman is leaving Rochester and I am Staying! That's what I thought would happen so I wasn't too shocked. I'm going to miss Sis. Ockerman a lot! We've gotten pretty close and we have a lot of fun together! I know we'll be friends after the mission for sure, we've already planned our adventures :) haha But it's good she will get some new experiences and learn from a new companion, I'm excited for her!

Yesterday President called me and asked me to be a Sister Training Leader. I wasn't expecting that at all! So my new companion who is coming will be a Sister Training Leader as well. I don't know too much about my responsibilities, but we will assigned over the sisters in our zone. We'll go on exchanges with them, help train them and be there to help. I'm excited to get to learn from so many sisters! President stressed how he wants this area to be a model area! This last transfer was a bit slow in the teaching category, so I've already been a little worried about that. And now as we will be gone for exchanges and have more responsibilities, I'm hoping that will be a blessing for this area. In the Teachings from Joseph Fielding Smith he says "If all of us do all of the things we should in carrying forward the programs of the Church, the Lord will bless and prosper us so fully that success shall attend our labors, and out of it all peace and joy will be our lot here and eternal glory hereafter" I know the Lord does bless us when we do our Very Best in our callings! And I also just keep thinking "Whom the Lord Calls, the Lord Qualifies".

Well I love you all!! Have a super week!! :)

Sister Tracy

Happy Cinco de Mayo (May 5, 2014)

Hey, Hey, Hey!!

Happy Cinco de Mayo! I love holidays!! :)

This week I got to see one of my favorite guys get baptized! His name is C..... and the elders have been teaching him, but he likes me more :) haha, just kidding! I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost, and it was a pretty sweet baptism. But it was crazy how hard Satan was working to not let this baptism happen. I've seen how every time someone is so close to making this important covenant with God, EVERYTHING goes wrong! We weren't sure he was still going to be baptized until the morning of! It was stressful for the whole ward! But it happened and the spirit was so strong!! God is way more powerful than Satan! Faith is a powerful thing!

We've been doing a lot of tracting, going door to door. Our investigators are SO busy, and they are hard to teach. So we've been trying to find new investigators! We get to meet SOO many people! Not too many were interested this last week, but this week we're going to Find Lots of New people!! :)

Something I've studied a lot this week is love! And not just any love, but loving God! In preparation for Elder Holland coming, we study a talk by him every week. This week was 'The First Great Commandment!' I LOVE this talk!! We truly do show our love by becoming devoted disciples! We are not here to impress anyone else, only God! In the last General Conference Elder Hales talked about loving God. He talked about when we sin, it's because we love Satan more than God. If Christ was to ask us right now, just like he asked Peter, "Do you Love me?", Would we be able to say "Yes Lord, I Love thee" and would he know it was true by the way we followed him?! I do love my God and my Savior!! I know they are real and I know that they love me! I know as I strive to serve God and others, and put my Savior as my Rock, they will know I love them! Ask yourself this week, "Does God know I love Him?" As we ask ourselves this everyday, we will be stay on the right path to eternal life! :)

I LOVE YOU!! :)
Have a great week, and I'll talk to you Sunday!
Love, Sister Tracy

Half Way (April 21, 2014)

HEYO!

So you know how last week I was all excited about not wearing tights and the sun coming out! Well, it snowed the next day :) haha But we broke the record for the most snow in Michigan ever recorded!!!!!!!!!! I survived! :) I was pretty excited about that! Now when I'm an old grandma I can say "When I was on my mission we trudged through snow that came up to our shoulders (I have to exaggerate a little!) And I survived the snowiest winter Michigan has ever seen!) haha

We met some cool people this week! We've been talking to A LOT of people! Not too many new investigators, just a few, but we'll see more :) Two of our investigators are preparing for baptism!!!! :) So that's exciting!!  

I hid my halfway mark this week. I was on exchanges w/ Sister Hart who came out with me and we celebrated by going out to eat :) That was crazy! Half of my mission is gone! I don't know where it went! I feel like time is running out now, the bunny (which is me, in case you didn't know) is hopping down the hill super duper fast! I just got to make sure to talk to all the furry friends I pass on the way down, and maybe they'll hop along with me, and I can't forget to eat all the carrots along the way :) I'm so grateful for this opportunity! I Love my mission more than anything I've ever done :) I've learned so much, I've served more than ever before, I've met people I will love forever, I've strengthened my testimony in so many areas, and I've become closer to my Savior Jesus Christ!

For Easter, we had an Awesome Church meeting, it was definitely more full than I've ever seen, but you won't hear any complaints from me. We went over to the Leutze's, some members in our ward for dinner. They're awesome and even gave us Easter baskets! :)

I've loved this week!! Easter week is the best!! As I've studied about Jesus Christ and his life, miracles he preformed, his Atonement, his Resurrection, and how he still Lives, I have strengthened my testimony SOO much! I LOVE my Savior! He is the reason I am on a mission! I know this is His church and people need Him! Have you seen the Because of Him video? You've GOT TO GO TO http://easter.mormon.org It's super cool! Share it on facebook or with neighbors and friends! Even though Easter is over, It still Rocks! Everything we are and everything we can become is because of him! If you haven't watched it, please do :)

Well I LOVE YOU!!!

Love, Sister Tracy :)

P.S. Happy Almost Birthday Dad!! I LOVE YOU!!!!