WEEK 65- it starts with the kids

Hey there!

Happy week in Wyoming again!! Kinda. Haha we were all over this week.

Haha started off last preparation day, we drove to Billings and spent

the night there...then got up at zero dark thirty (3:30 in the

morning) to make the long drive to Helena! It was way early

 but the meeting itself was so awesome.

I love seeing President and Sister Wadsworth. Love them so much! We

were gone all day Tuesday, spent the night in Billings again, then

drove back to Wyoming Wednesday morning. Lots of driving but it was so

good. Those meetings are honestly always the best!

We had zone training in Gillette this week and it was so awesome! We

woke up early again and left the apartment around 6:30 to get to

Gillette on time. Some of the focuses were meaningful prayer, using

Preach My Gospel more, and working with ward councils better.

President Wadsworth said that "Preach My Gospel is one of the most

powerful, yet underutilized teaching resources for our families." So

if you haven't read Preach My Gospel or haven't looked through it in a

while, go do it! There is power that comes with it, I can testify to

that! Afterwards, we had an awesome exchange with the Gillette Spanish

Sisters, Sister Seamons and Lisberg.

So one of the best days this week was Wednesday. As soon as we got

home from Billings, we dropped our stuff and headed out again to

Ranchester!

The mom and dad are members of our church but  have not been to church in years . When we met them last

week, they were pretty standoffish at first....we got talking with

them and got to know them and they definitely opened up lots. We got

to meet each of their kids and they're all so sweet! There's 3 kids.. They are so

awesome!

We were planning on teaching the restoration. They were so

sweet, they got all 3 of their kids to come in and sit down and

listen. It is one of the most precious experiences to teach kids the

simple truths of the gospel. It is so 110% true that the kids are "the

elect". They truly hear and are touched by the Spirit. And they listen

and are bold about it! When we started teaching, T,  and he  was like "Mom and Dad,

 how come we don't go to church?! I want to

go!" His parents were a little surprised and taken aback. Haha. We

gave each of the kids a Book of Mormon with a bookmark with Christ on

it, and we gave the family a children's Book of Mormon with all the

pictures in it. The kids were SO EXCITED! Sweet little T made

sure to tell his parents that "this isn't too hard to read! I'm gona

start reading this!" It was so sweet to see their little boy just jump

in and feel the love and the light this gospel brings! And it was so

awesome to see the effect that it had on his parents, seeing that

their son felt something and recognized it. It really strengthened my

testimony that often times, it  starts with the kids

They committed to read as a family and invited us back. So

excited to keep meeting with them. Such a sweet family. And I know

that learning gospel principles in the home, with your family is one

of the best places ever to learn. Their family is SOOO amazing and so

prepared!!

Well pictures are coming! And they will do a much better job at

explaining this week than I can do. So here's the thing...I have

everything written down in my journal! But it seems like weeks these

days just fly by and I can't even remember what happens!

 I know that this is the Lord's work and

miracles never cease. I'm so excited to actually get to work in

Sheridan this week! It feels like we've been gone, out of Sheridan,

forever. Even just a few days in missionary time actually seems like

forever. I love being a missionary. I

just love being able to wake up each day and go out and talk and

testify to each person we meet. Love you all! Have a great week:)

W/<3

Sister Hodgson

 

Week 64- WYOMING!!

Soooo....I'm totally sitting here in WYOMING writing this letter. Haha

so crazy!!!

So transfer weeks are always insane. But can I just say it was SOOO

tough to leave my beautiful Missoula and the people there. I love it

lots! We spent Monday and Tuesday in appointments with everyone! The

work is just picking up there in Missoula and I can't wait to see the

many more miracles that come! The people are incredible and so

prepared by the Lord for this gospel. After 6 months, Missoula

definitely became home. But that happens with each area. And so far

Sheridan is on track to be the same!! It's so perfect here!

So Wednesday morning=transfer morning. We got up and met at the church

at 8 to get everything loaded. We piled all the Sisters that were

transferring in "VANessa" (the zone leaders mini van) and drove the 2

hours down to Helena. From there, we jumped in the space shuttle

(transfer van) and drove 2 1/2 hours to Bozeman. Swapped some people

there, then drove another 2 hours to Billings. Swapped around at the

mission home and met up with Sister Wong! And then drove 2 more hours

to Sheridan. Long day of travel. Haha we got on to Sheridan around 7!

What a crazy day. We were so ready to go work.

Sheridan is so precious! It's the smallest town I've served in but

it's just so cute! It's "the pretty part" of Wyoming as President

called it. Haha there are such great people here…

 the ones I have are amazing! Just so real and kind.

So the Sisters met a woman named A  before I got

here. She is super sweet! We got to go and teach her the restoration.

And my oh my she is awesome! She is such an intent listener and really

listens to learn and understand, not just to hear. She is so sweet.

She had been invited to church a few times before but never came. So

when we invited her again, we were just PRAYING she would come! And so

we were at Ranchester branch first on Sunday...and guess who walked on

the door. A! Wooho! She is so sweet! She came and sat with us and

the branch just jumped in and introduced themselves and made her feel           

right at home. The talks were on family and marriage and things.

Ashley is married with 4 kids, and the talks were AMAZING! It really

hit home with her. She was tearing up by the end of the meeting.

She loved it! And told us afterward "I'm gona go tell my husband what

I learned and I'll be back next week for sure!" Gosh. It's so amazing

to see what the knowledge of an eternal, loving families does for us. It

truly makes us feel home.

The people in Sheridan are the THE BEST!! Funny little story for

ya....We had dinner with this one family, the Binns, and the message

we shared was about being "fishers of men" like the Savior invites us

to be. We showed the children's bible video and talked about ways that

each of us can be "fishers of men" and do little acts of missionary

work. We asked their son, Xavier, what he can to do be a "fisher of

men" and he looked at us, quite disturbed and said "I am NOT going to

be a fisher of men! I'm going be a MONSTER TRUCK DRIVER!" Haha it was

so funny. We were dying.

I am so excited to be here and be a part of

this amazing work here. Sister Wong and I are loving it! Is is truly

the Lord's work and the work continues to hasten

 I can't wait to meet everyone and get to know the branch and ward. I love this gospel

and I love the Lord. Hope it's an amazing week!

Loveyou!!

W/<3

Sister Hodgson

PACKING IS HARD.....MISSOULA  HEART

WEEK 63- all in his timing and its time for some WYOMING!!

oly cow. Oh my word. Transfers whaaat?! So.....

IM GOIN TO WYOMING!!!!!!

WOOOHO!!!! Hahaha Sheridan, Wyoming! I'm going to be with Sister Wong

and I am SO excited! She is the sweetest person on the planet and I

can't wait to serve with her.

But along with that, comes the heart breaking of leaving Missoula. So

many mixed feelings right now...leaving those I've loved so hard here

in Missoula and my beloved companion Sister Fletcher! Literally, not

only is President separating us, but he's putting us in two different

states!! Going to the opposite side of the mission...Haha so crazy.

But the Lord knows what He's doing! And President knows how to follow

the Lord. So we are ready for whatever comes:)

But this week was amazing. The Storm before the calm is a real thing

because as insane as last week was(it was a rough week) this week was

just as insane! But instead, it was full of miracles!

So, it all started off with exchanges!!! Sister Decker, who is serving

in Frenchtown, came here to Missoula with me for the exchange. Our

focus was talking with everyone we saw!! So literally everyone

We saw these 2 people on bikes at one point but couldn't catch up to

them (and they didn't hear us calling after them) haha and they were

literally the only people he had passed that day that we didn't talk

with. In my head, I prayed that we would have a second chance to talk

with them...then what do you know....5 minutes later we were at a

stoplight and guess who pulls up onto the bike lane next to us?! THE

SAME BIKERS!!! Haha I'm like "SISTER DECKER!!!! Look!!" So we rolled

down the window and talked with them

Haha way fun. I love the people of Missoula. But one of

the awesome miracles was Tony. We decided to park and walk to one of

the houses we were going to find. On our way, there was this guy out

fixin his car. The conversation just

kinda naturally turned to the restoration and he asked what kinda

things we talk about as missionaries? Then he invited us to sit on his

porch and teach him.. A lot of the things he believes line up so much with ours.

Sh is doing so good! She's been reading the Book of Mormon every

day! Wooho!  She's such a sweetheart.

Also, BONNIE QUIT SMOKING!!!! WHAT?! She the sassiest but one of my

favorite people ever!  She has been so happy since she conquered that!

 

Jonathan is doing AWESOME!!! He's been reading every day and HE AND

JESSICA BOTH CAME TO CHURCH THIS WEEK!! They like

fellowship each other.  Is so  wonderful!

Last little miracle was Ken. So Ken is Sara's Catholic friend

that we've been trying to meet with. We had an appointment for Sunday but they called and asked if they can move it sooner!!

Umm....yes

The loved that it rang true with them when they were learning about the church. It was

awesome. The Spirit was so strong because it was in a member's home. It was one of the most amazing

lessons of my mission

We had some Great fun serving others...something you learn in the mission is the joy in serving others.  Its just a win /win.

I am so so grateful. So grateful for everything. My heart is full! I

have LOVED this time I've been blessed to spend in Missoula. In a lot

of ways, it was a bit of a refiners fire for me. I've learned a lot

about who I am, who I want to be and in what ways the Lord needs me to

become that. I have met some amazing people who have changed my life

forever

Most of all I'm grateful for this gospel. It changes

lives and changes who we are and what we desire. I'm grateful for my

Savior. He knows exactly what each of us need and when we need it. He

is there for us.   I am so grateful to be able  to see

His miracles unfold here in Missoula. And they will just keep coming

no matter what!!!!

Love you!!!!

W/<3

Sister Hodgson