Week 22- moving !

Sorry, not much of a letter today! Things are so crazy, I promise I'll be better next week! We've been cleaning ALL DAY so we can move out...it's been crazy and we can't really send email from home....

I love you guys, Sister Hodgson

YEP...that was all we got for a "letter".........She was able to answer a few questions we had asked in an email....so I shared some of that :)

Tell us about your comp:

Sister Brielle Rasmussen!  She's from American Fork Utah!  She went to UVU before coming out on her mission.  She is THE BEST!  We have so much fun together!  It's going to be an awesome transfer.  Sister Rasmussen and I have made some really awesome goals for this transfer and with the Lord we can learn and grow and accomplish those things and learn from it and hasten the work!!  Because that's what we're here for.  It doesn't matter much that i feel awkward or inadequate, it matters that the Lord's work continues and it WILL!

So are you liking Helena?:

Yea it's beautiful!!  Lots of history.  We are going on  a tour of the big Cathedral today!!  Super pretty and fun downtown.  The work is going to be SO different here than in Great Falls but I'm so excited to learn more.

What does a typical day look like? 

The days look pretty much the same except for Sundays....haha Sundays, we have church and meetings STRAIGHT, like one after the other from. 7:30am-4:30. Haha it's insane...but it's good!  Keep us moving!! 

How are the Sister Training  meetings going?

SO INTIMIDATING! Haha we meet with President Bingham (our stake president) and the high counselors and the zone leaders every other week to discuss the work and the wards and the missionaries.  But as I'm getting to know the people and the area more it's easier to speak up.  It's just weird coming from an area where every name sounded familiar and I knew lots of people to coming here where I know nothing! Hahah  But it's so awesome cause it makes me learn fast!! 

 

 

 

How have you seen Gods hand calm and/or lead you this week?

Oh goodness.  Every day.  He truly is there for all of His children.  It's honestly been kinda stressful with new responsibilities and new area, new missionaries, etc., but Sister Rasmussen has been feeling it a bit too.  So the first night we sat down and prayerfully got down some goals that we both want to work on so we can help each other.  We found some scriptures that we are memorizing as a companionship and we pray.  A lot.  It's so funny how prayer just becomes a part of decision making! Haha  Like, often people sit and think about pros and cons and the decide.  As missionaries we  have learned to write down the options and the first thing we do is pray about it and pray for guidance!  Then we think about pros and cons, and logistics and stuff. Then we listen for promptings and watch for feelings. Then we decide. Then pray again for confirmation.  Literally, we don't do something unless we feel God's hand leading us.  It's such an amazing blessing to know how much God cares!  Even about the little things that we don't think would matter to Him. I've never felt so nervous and stressed constantly but I've also never received the peace and comfort that I do as soon as I start trusting the Lord and doing those hard things with Him.  Wow. Missions are HARD.  But even after just this short amount of time, I can't imagine my life without my mission.

Best and worst part of the week?

I think the worst was the stress.  Us and the zone leaders and the stake president have been doing training.  On Monday we had a zone breakfast at President Binghams house, I swear, I always learn WAY more in the training we do than those who are listening.  I was super nervous about it. ---I don't like to stand in front of people and give them advice on how to do missionary work!!!  Especially because I've been out way shorter than all of them except for the 2 new missionaries. --But I suppose that's why we teach by the spirit!  I know that anything "right" that comes out of our mouths isn't us-it's the Spirit.  And that's what makes it okay.  We also had mission leadership training so we got together with a few other zones and President and Sister Wadsworth came up and we did training...STRESS! Haha   But D&C 11:20-21 helps.  We first have to obtain the Lords word before we go about declaring it!  So preparation and the Spirit are real things. Haha

Best was Sunday I think.  I've been gaining a stronger testimony of he importance of the sacrament.  Although Sunday is the craziest day of the week, I can't wait for Sunday's because I know that's when I can partake of the sacrament and renew the covenants I've made. Gosh it's the best feeling to take the sacrament!

WEEK 21- what lack I yet?

Hello hello!

Wow. Things have been insane. Haha they always are with transfers but

this was my first time actually moving for transfers so that was even

more crazy. I packed up and said some tough goodbyes

 Leaving Great

Falls was hard...REALLY hard........

They mandate Flu shots here…….Here's photo evidence that I did.....I look like I'm smiling but on

the inside I was thinking "get that thing away from me". I hate

vaccinations. But you know...exact obedience......

Right now we live in a little trailer park. It's been a party! The bed

broke so we're sleeping on a mattress on the ground...the toilet seat

is broken so you have to be careful when you sit so you don't slide

off. It happens. Especially at when its dark. Haha  You can't run more than 2 sources of water at the same

time! If your showering and have the faucet on, you can't flush the

toilet.   Its all good.... it's usually just a nice, steady trickle of water to shower in.   So it's way fun!   I was spoiled in my last area....But change is good right?? Every day is an

adventure here.

Transfers last 3 days here in MBM. Haha they start

Tuesday and the last vans get to their spots on Thursday. I got here  on Wednesday and met with Sister Rasmussen. She's from American Fork Utah and has been here for a few transfers.

Oh my goodness, I haven't laughed this hard

 in a long time. Yes, we're pretty goofy but we're ready to WORK

this transfer! It's gona be the best. The first few days were stuffed

with a billion and one meetings.

 Sister Rasmussen and I split the 2 wards with the zone leaders…So….

 we met with both bishops,

both ward mission leaders, the stake president and high counsel, and

now we're meeting with all the auxiliaries for both  wards. It's been

insane. literally. But it's good!  It's such a learning

experience. Way more busy times

to come. But I'm SO grateful for this opportunity.

A little terrified too but it's great!

Okay and wow, we have an amazing zone!--I'm pretty sure everyone says

that about their zone though. Haha but I'm just so extremely grateful. We started off

this transfer with a zone fast to consecrate ourselves and give our

hearts to the Lord

 As we fasted, we thought about and prayed

specifically of what we can give to the Lord to purify ourselves.

We are here to do His work. There is

No other time like this to totally serve like  RIGHT NOW. So each of us kneeled down and once again,

recommitted ourselves to our purpose and to our Heavenly Father. The

beautiful thing is that it is not just for on our missions.

We can ALL turn our hearts over to the Lord.

I LOVE Elder Lawrence’s  talk about "what lack I yet?".

We can ask Him right NOW, anytime,e "what lack I yet?" What can I do better? What can I change

to become more like You? It really does work. He answers I can promise

you that. So I invite you to do it. :)

I love you all so much!!!! I miss you! But I love this work and I know

we're all where we're supposed to be right now. Love you love you!!

W/<3

Sister Hodgson

PS really gonna miss these ladies!!!

 

WEEK 20- Transfers.......

Sorry, so things are SO insane I'm not sure if I'm going to get a weekly email out.  Struggle of sharing a car...we have to drive around saying bye to people.  But I'll email later if  I can and try to answer questions.

So yes, the big news....TRANSFERS.....I don't actually get to stay for the wedding and baptisms.  I'm getting transferred to Helena.  I have totally mixed feelings about it! Haha  I'm excited for something new but I'm also SO sad to leave Great Falls.  2 more weeks and it would have been 5 months here. The ward is incredible and I LOVE the people were working with.  I'm going to miss everyone so much!  I think it's turning out to be harder than I thought to say bye to people. And I'm also going to miss everyone's baptisms... Beth, Dion, Rhonda, Leanna, and Trevor.  But I'm super excited for sister Crosland and her new companion (she is getting a greenie) to get to carry the work on!

So another terrifying thought.  As well as getting transferred to Helena, I was also asked to be a Sister Training Leader. Eek.  The other 5 Sister Training Leaders are amazing and have been out in the mission for over a year.  So I'm a little-actually a lot-intimidated.  When president called I said “are you sure"?

What would you say is one of the hardest parts of the mission?

I think the hardest time is the love.  Honestly, we just love people so dang much!! And when they're hurting its hard to watch.

And saying good bye ….its been really hard.

This was our cheap missionary meal ....$4 pancake and we could not finish it.  GREAT restaurant run by a mom and daughter. Sweetest people EVER!!


This is the Bailey family.  They have taken such good care of all the missionaries in Great falls.  They are truly angels.

 Saying good bye is hard...........

I love you and think of you soooo much!!! Thank you for your

support and everything. Love you love you.

Sister Hodgson