Bonus Christmas Picture

Utah Salt Lake City Central Mission

 

Where is Sister Young?

Clues

Beautiful blond hair

pretty red sweater

Winter Wonderland

 

 

 

 



 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Thank you so much for the beautiful packages and your warm love, prayers and support. I could feel them from all around.

Calling home went by too fast!! But it was so good to get to hear everyone's voices and be uplifted by how sweet and familiar they all sounded. Like no time had gone by at all. This all is going by so fast and I still have so much to learn it's overwhelming at times. But this beautiful Christmas season has brought a needed peace to my soul as I ponder on what it's really all about. Christ, his love for us, and our love for each other. As we bring our focus back to that, then we can breathe freely knowing that our most important job in this world is to love one another and as we do that, things will start to fall into place.

 

I love you, love you, love you! What a beautiful White Christmas we were given, it all came in yesterday. heheh

-Sister Young

 

 

More Snow and Pictures

 

Sister Ogzewalla and Sister Young

 

 

The first annual Salt Lake City Central Mission beat the president 5K run

Feels like Home

Here are pictures of things that make it feel like "home." :)

Love you love you love you!

-Sister Young

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

I Am Going to Like it Here

---

I'm so glad everyone had a great Thanksgiving together!

"I am going to like it here...If I go to another place I am going to like it there." (Such is the life of a missionary.) heheh

 

It was very hard to be in a new area but it helped with the pains of missing home, I was missing Taylorsville instead. funny eh? So like I said in the last email, people in this area had said they hoped I'd come here soon and here I am and they are still teaching some of the people I had lessons with that one day I was serving here. I know I'm here for a reason to help them. But that doesn't make it any less hard to get used to a new area and new people. But it does help me face my struggle of wanting to be able to be comfortable with people I have just met. (I'm not so good at it yet.) But I'm working hard and praying praying praying.

 

My new companion's name is....*Drumroll* Sister Ogzewalla!  Yes, my first task for myself was to learn how to say it then learn how to spell it. :)  She is very different from Sister Crockett but we are getting along well. There's always the growing pains of getting used to each other but things are going well.  The landlady here is the sweetest lady ever.  I haven't named the squirrel yet but he's so cute and keeps me company as I study, which I've been doing a lot because I  have been struggling, wishing I was better at this already. So study study study I go.  Sorry I don't have any pictures yet. A little scatterbrained but I will have some next week. :)

 

Thank you Mom, so much for your letter! It helped me so much to  hear from  you so quickly in a new area. :) And thank you for reminding me to take the moment to move in. I finished my unpacking that day and put things around that make me comfortable and made it feel like home. Then I took a deep breath and thought about the things I was thankful for in this new area and imagined how it will be when its all comfortable, and then I was able to start fresh. :)

 

I love you love you love you!

Sister Young

 

A Transfer Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!!

Big news this week! *drumroll*

I am getting Transfered to the Murray Little Cottonwood Stake.

My new address will go on facebook but not the blog.

 

I don't know how to spell my companions name so that will come next week but I'm excited to be second transfer training again! So to all of those who are coming out soon - learn to love the 12 Week Training it will stretch you but it will help you go so far. Keep up with it. Its awesome and inspired!!

 

Anyway, it's been a good week. It's warmed up and Sister Crockett and I have fully enjoyed being companions and working with our awesome investigators. I'm sad to leave them but I know they will love Sister Crockett's new companion. (Who she will be training! :)



Selfishly, I wanted to stay with  her in the area for the rest of my mission but we have other jobs to do now and we will go do them joyfully but of course stay connected for the rest of our lives. :) 

 

I sadly didn't get many pictures of this past District but here's some fun ones of them having a snowball fight. heheh

 

So off to new adventures in Murray! I can't wait. :)

 

love love love!

 

-Sister Young

 

Raking Leaves to Shoveling Snow

---

 

I don't have much to say to the blog this week. Other than I love everyone, things are going well. I loved Alma 37:36-37 in my reading today.  Service wise this week has been fun as well. We went from helping raking leaves to helping shoveling snow out of driveways. Enjoy the pictures.

 

Love love love,

 Sister Young

Alma 37:36-37
 36 Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and withersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

 37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

Halloween

---

 

 

Halloween was so fun! Our 'costume' was to dress similar which was fun. Lots of people noticed as well. heheh The weather was beautiful that day, it felt like Halloween all day and it was sooo fun to have people out and about with us after dark. We're so used to being all alone on our bikes on quiet streets during the evening that we loved having the company and watching all the hustle and bustle.

 

Caren's baptism was beautiful she had so much support from extended family coming in out of town. It was amazing. And we were blessed to have started to teach 2 new families.  :)  We also have had lots of fun raking leaves as our service this past week. Good thing I had lots of practice before I came out,eh? ;)

 

 

I love you all so much! Remember your importance to your Heavenly Father and to others. I've realized these past few days that we are all being watched and noticed by somebody, even if we're open or closed etc etc etc, no matter what we do people notice. So let's work hard and do our best to be a good example!  Because that is what's going to do the most good for the people that are noticing us.  Just seeing you do something nice to someone else can change a whole persons day or outlook. Let's stop thinking about ourselves and trying to hide what's most important to us and think about how it could help them to see us put those things first. Stand out as a representative of Christ and keep doing your best. No moment is wasted. :)

 

Love

Thank you always!

-Sister Young

Catching Snow

Caught my first real snowflake this week! So exciting!

Give a big hug and kiss back to Gram as well for the sweater and jacket :)

This week we've have a "warmer" 60-70's weather. teehee Its been nice.

I'm way excited for Halloween tomorrow! We will be out and about working so I know we'll be making lots of fun memories. hehe We haven't looked at our goodie bags yet. We will some time tonight or tomorrow but we are excited!

I'll be going to the mission doctor today to have my foot checked out. I've been getting a pinch in the ball of my foot after walking a while and I was told it might be something called nuroma so since we'll be less on bikes soon I just wanted to have it checked out to see what stage it's at and stuff.

Actually, I was praying yesterday to have the courage to make the call to Sister Moffat when our doorbell rings and there comes in President and Sister Moffat to check our apartment and our Area Book. So there she was and I finally just spit it out and asked her and of course the doctor was in today. hahah But we also found out that our apartment wasn't as tidy as it should be and spent more time cleaning this morning, (mostly clearing out old missionaries stuff that had been left...)  

But know that I love you! And that things are going well. We are so excited for a Baptism this saturday and hope to be able to  help her parents come back to activity as well.

Love you,

You're missionary daughter,

-Sister Young

PS Anna is getting so big! I can't believe it! What a cutie! I'm so happy to see her again soon!

Happy Monday P-day

Well, I am so excited for next week when I recieve twice the emails. Just like your last letter about roadsigns I've been all confused this month missing the roadsigns. I almost missed Jen's Birthday, I thought this week was Halloween, and then I forgot they had told me one week we were going to have a P-day on Monday because the General Authority over Missionary Work is having a conference with our mission on Tuesday and Wednesday. I was reminded last Wednesday and felt so stupid that I forgot it was this Monday! So anyway back to normal p-day next week on Tuesday.  Sorry for the confusion but happy surprise for you today I bet! :)

So here's some fun pictures!

1. Fall leaves, they're everywhere! People are talking snow this week. I hope I'm ready!

2. Our nice warm heater. :)

3. Study time in my new sweater.

4. A new halloween "friend". Frosty the Ghost Head. hehehe

5&6. And our Book of Mormon reading schedule for anyone that wants to follow along and read together with me. :)

 How are things going back at home? I've had to be careful this week becaues I've easily become distracted and depressed thinking of home, all of you and Ojai itself.  Yet it's beautiful here and well sometimes I'm just still to hard on myself. Ah, I need to stop that.  I know our actions do reach out to people I just need to stop being scared and believe in the simplicity of it all. Especially when the people we're talking to try to make it so complicated.

Thank you so much for the ballot I am excited to vote and am having fun laughing and thinking of home as I read some of the measures. "Only in Cali" I keep saying to myself. :)

I can't believe a year ago this time I had just finished helping watch the Ashton boys while Charlene and Trevor were out of town, I got my glasses, and was preparing to get my wisdom teeth taken out. How time flies, eh?

Well, I love you so much!  I'm sorry again for my confusion. But I love you, love you, love you!!

Love,

-Sister Young

Follow Every Prompting

So Sunday I was having a bad day. I don't know why and it made me more upset that I was feeling so upset. I sat there in Sacrament meeting trying to sort through my thoughts when I looked down at the program. In there was an Ensign story about Family Home Evenings. We've been pondering of having a family home evening lesson for a family in the area so I began reading it. The story was sweet and simple, almost familiar. Then I get to the end and the tears started flowing. Who was it written by but the one and only Sister Brandolino. I thought of her and her great influence on me, my family and others. I thought of Lindsday and the time that we went through together after she had passed away, and how she is still a great strength and friend to me today. I was reminded just how small the world is and how much God is thinking of all of us. How everything we do matters and the influence we have on others is lasting into this life and the next. The program maker had no idea that I needed that piece of home at that time, as she wrote it years ago Sister Brandolino didn't know it would help me in that way, but Heavenly Father did know. And I know it was able to help me because they both followed His promptings to do such simple things as write a sweet story and use a sweet story.  Just as Elder Ballard's talk in General Conference tells us never let yourself believe that any act of kindness is too small, follow every prompting. I love you all at home and miss you so much! Not a day goes by where I don't think of one of you and the great influence you've had on me and know that I am out there everyday  working my hardest to be a great representative of the Lord and of you back home. I claim Ojai proudly. :)

 Thank you always for your love and support!

-Sister Young

Staying Put

Sisters Crockett and Young at the Conference Center

View from seat

The District traveling from the Conference Center

Sister Young

So *Drumroll*

Sister Crockett and I are staying together in the same area!!!! :)  Same Address!

The only change is that our Stake is splitting so we are giving up 3 of our Wards to a new set of Elders who will be coming tomorrow. But that's okay because then we can focus even better on those we are teaching in the 3 wards we are keeping. :)

The Conference center is beautiful. The set up is familiar to church so it doesn't feel overwhelming even though it's so big, it feels comfortable and you go ready to learn and be strengthened. We were seated on the far left in the front during the Saturday afternoon session. I doubt we were even seen but it was still an amazing experience. Also we knew a lot of the kids in the choir, that made it so special as well. A session of conference has never flown by so fast, I wanted it to last all day. I'm excited to go again some day. :)

Its been getting colder alright. Today we are venturing to TARGET! :) To buy sweaters, gloves, hats and of course just have fun at Target! heheh First time in 5 months that I've been to Target. Never thought I'd ever say that, huh?

The new missionary age is way exciting. We're excited for the idea that in a few months we could be training 19 year old sisters. Won't that be a kick! I know it's totally inspired. We do need more missionaries and I think this will help a lot of young people make it out, as they make their decision and start their focus younger. :)  I know as the days continue to become harder, as we know they will, our conversion will need to be stronger as Elder Bednar taught on Sunday afternoon and what a better way than to learn and serve earlier in our lives. It's great.

Well I love you so much! Thank you for your constant love and support. I can't believe how quickly the time is flying by.

How beautiful is Ojai right now? Are leaves changing yet? I'm excited to see pictures of pumpkin patches and all that fun stuff. 

Love love love!

Sister Young

Utah Boots:)

Cooler Nights

Happy Birthday tomorrow Jen !!! :) 

Awww I love you all so much. And please let the Ashton's know how much of a sacrifice it was to leave them as well. We're always around kids so I'm constantly always having these flashbacks and missing them too.

So next Wednesday is Transfer day we find out all about Transfers on Monday evening so I will have all the info for you in my next email. We know our stake is being split with another set of missionaries (3 wards 3 wards) but we're praying we both get to stay and continue with our investigators here. We love them so much they're just moving a little slow.

The picture this week is a reminder that missionaries have fun too! (If you couldn't already tell) heheh

It has been cooler at nights. We are going out today to buy boots and those fun things. Wish us luck. :)

We haven't been able to see the RS Broadcast yet but we are having a special "Sisters Training" meeting tomorrow and its been rumored we'll be watching it there. :) I'm very excited and I know I'll feel you and Jen there with me as well. :)

I love you all so much. keep us and our investigators in your prayers. Pray for us to continue to learn and grow and to not be afraid to be real about how we feel about this gospel as we share. I know that's what still holds me back is that dumb fear. Yet I know that once I am myself and real, that's when feelings change, that's when people want to talk to me, because I want to talk to them and share this happiness I feel. And all those great things. Little by little....I'm learning and growing. :)

Love you,

-Sister Young

Please note that the next transfer date is Oct 10th. So any mail this week should be mailed soon, until we hear if she is staying or moves and we get a new address.

Happy 5 months of Tuesdays :)

Yes 5 months today! Its hard to believe.

Thanks so much for the apron! Teehee

I was able to go to the broadcast of the Brigham City Temple dedications in the stake center near our house. It was beautiful and so special because  we were able to go with Preston and his Grandma.  Did I go to the Nauvoo dedication with you as well? It seemed so familiar.  Also, I will be *attending in person* the Saturday Afternoon Session of General Conference. :) So be looking out for me.

I loved the package this week and your printed letter I received yesterday. In my first area the YW were also in a RS meeting doing their opening exercises and I remember being amazed at how its all right there in the theme. What we are working towards and how you can say it every week as a YW and still never really understand it and how amazing it is until you have done the things it says, then it all just falls into place in your mind.  I love that we were able to have the same spiritual experience, shows how connected we really still are. :) :) :)

So guess what? I can drink root beer again! hahah It was offered to me a few times this past week and I drank it with no problems and it tasted really good too. haha

Things have been good here, going slow but good. I'm glad the weather is cooling down, today has been rainy and calm.

Well I love you love you love you!!

Sister Nora Young

Ensign Peak and Heritage Park

Sisters Young and Crockett at Ensign Peak

Sister Young at the top of Ensign Peak

Sister Young

Knocking on every door :)  At Heritage Park.

Train Track at Heritage Park

Beautiful Missionary Daughters on the bus.

Hello Friends and Family,

The mission outing was amazing! We hiked up to Ensign Peak (which to get there we drove past Temple Square. Lots of memories came flooding back of the trip we took to take Ben to the MTC. :) ), anyway we went there to look over the Valley and ponder on the days when they were building up the town physically and to think of how we are here to help build up the town spiritually. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful perspective to take with us after the day was over.  After that we went to Heritage Park and got to soak in some more history as well as have a testimony meeting for the departing missionaries in a replica church house of the times. It was a very special day and helped refresh and recharge all of us as we went back to work that evening. :)

I still struggle a lot  with a lot of things. I always want to be more perfect and I get tired out easily. But when I have these moments of peace nothing can get to me. So I hold on as tight as I can to those moments and remember their reality so when the storm of doubt and fatigue comes again I can more quickly tell it "No I won't give in to you because I can't deny that peace I felt just a minute, hour, day ago." And then I'm able to work through the struggle and continue moving forward and come out stronger and grateful on the other side.

I love you all so very much, always remember who you are and how important you are to your Heavenly Father he will always help you in times of need.

I am always grateful to you for your love and support.

Love you love you love you!

-Sister Young

Another Wonderful Tuesday

Your Welcome, Love Mom

Sister Crockett from Colorado and Sister Young

Amazing

Its been a good week.

Pictures:

Here's my bike hanging out with some summer Sunflowers.

My pretty new polka dot shirt. Thanks Mom!

Sister Crockett and I having adventures at the park. :)

And a doll Yard sale we came across this past weekend. Crazy! :)

We've been working hard talking to everyone, staying positive even in the heat or the rain. haha And REALLY diving into the Book of Mormon during studies. We have been challenged to read it from start to finish from now 'til the end of the year, marking all the times we see Christ being referenced. I'd like to extend this commitment to all of you reading this as well. Its roughly 2 chapters a day or so, and I know that as we put that time and focus on how much it talks of Christ and follow Nephi's great example to pray and find out for ourselves if these things are true, Heavenly Father will give us the answer and bring more peace into our lives. I've learned so much in just this past week since we've started. Any part of this path of life we're on, Heavenly Father wants to give us the answers  we need, we just have to sincerely ask. :) 

I love you all so much! I am so grateful to your love and support it means so much to me and I wouldn't be able to do this with out you.

Love you love you love you!

-Sister Young

Sister Young also wanted to invite you to look up Mormon Message- Finding Hope.  It is about a 9-11 survivor.

A Change and the Same.

I'm staying in the same area with Sister Crockett and we are both doing well as newer missionaries just trying to do our best. heheh I've learned the area a lot better than I had in the past 9 weeks (only got lost a few times) and she's picking it up super fast! She's already taking the lead in biking us to certain houses and such. :)

We've been tracting A LOT lately and running into more grumpy or mis-informed opinionated people, its been wearing on me but I'm happy that p-day is here so I can refresh.

I'm so excited for fall. Its still super hot here but the evenings are getting cooler and we're hearing and seeing tons of flocks of geese! We had a thunderstorm a few nights ago with a sunset and a rainbow. I guess that's Utah weather for you. 

The change of companions took a little time to get used to but we've jelled really well and I'm talking a lot more since I've had to take a little more of the lead. So yaaaay. Some days are still hard. It still is weird trying to lose myself and find myself, trying to make the days meaningful, do our best, and enjoy our time as well. But I'll make it through.  Yesterday was a good Labor day, we found a lot of people outside to talk to and spent our lunch outside eating with our landlady, so that made it special.

Thank you so much for all your love and support. 

Sister Young

Sister Young's address remains the same.

Beautiful Missionary Daughters

Aren't they wonderful!!!!

Changes

Sister Young and Sister Baeni, who is from the Kiribati Islands near Fugi.

Sister Youngs district

Sister Brush saying good bye to Frodo

Lots of Birthday Love - Thanks

My window with cards.

---

What a crazy day.  Sister Brush is leaving for the mission home at 5 tonight and I become a second transfer trainer/co-senior companion with Sister Crockett starting tomorrow. But as of tonight I still don't know where I'm going or who I'll be with. How exciting. haha

My brain is a little bit of mush at the moment but I'm excited for this next transfer. Its going to have its hard moments but both of us are going to learn and grow a TON and we'll have each other to help pull us along.

But most importantly today here's some pictures. :)

Sister Exchanges with Sister Baeni, birthday packages, Sister Brush giving Frodo her goodbye, our District this past transfer. :) Lots of fun memories.

I love you love you love you!

Thank you always for your love and support!

-Sister Young