Letter #54 - Merry Christmas

December 26, 2017

Dear Friends and Family,

P-Day was moved to Tuesday this week and next week because of the various holidays. Christmas was really nice this year. We had a breakfast, lunch, and dinner appointment and were showered with love. Santa even dropped off a couple of stockings the night before. I guess because we don’t have a chimney, he had to leave it on our porch :) Also on Christmas Eve we got to decorate sugar cookies and have a visit with an investigator that involved hot chocolate and popcorn...yum!

This past week the city of Gatesville has been pretty sick. We knocked on their doors and many of them did sound terrible. One or two let us in and we almost wished that they did not. Almost. But by the grace of God and a good deal of hand sanitizer (because we know that there is no nutritional value whatsoever in a missionary’s diet at this time of the year), we have not gotten sick. It’s been quite wet lately, but that also means it stays warmer and we are grateful for that (and sweater tights).

I am grateful most of all for my Savior Jesus Christ. I am grateful that Heavenly Father loved us enough to send his Son into this world to suffer for our sins and to die for us so that we might be able to return to live with Him. His is the peace which passeth all understanding and it can be ours this holiday season as we contemplate the matchless gift that He is to us.

Love,

Sister Prue

Christmas Day Skype

December 25, 2017

Got to Skype with Sister Prue #1 in the morning and Sister Prue #2 in the afternoon. They both looked great and had a great spirit with them. Only 45 more days for Sister Prue #1!

Letter #53 - Merry Christmas!

December 18, 2017

Dear Friends and Family,

Transfer news is in and I will be spending a third transfer here in Gatesville with Sister Chambers. We’re pretty excited because we’ve been invited to the homes of several members on Christmas and it should be a really good day. The weather has been nice here in Gatesville, mostly staying in the 60s. We’ve been working with some good people and have definitely felt the Spirit of the season as those in the branch have reached out to serve and take care of those around them.

This week we had our Mission Christmas party. We watched the movie ‘Errand of Angels’, made gingerbread houses, and had a talent show in which the elders were the primary participants. They looked like they enjoyed themselves immensely.

I hope everyone has taken the chance to look around them and find someone who could use a little more cheer in their lives and have sought to fill that need. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that our efforts to reach out to others are precious to him. Merry Christmas!

Love,
Sister Prue

December 11, 2017

December 11, 2017

I met a donkey.

Letter # 52 - Happy Thanksgiving!

November 20, 2017

Dear Friends and Family,

This past week was a good one. We had a wedding and a baptism back to back. The wedding was for a couple in our branch and my companion played the wedding march for them. The bride gave me her bouquet 💐 :) The Baptism was for a woman named Sandie. Her sister who is a convert referred her to us. Her sister and brother-in law came out and he baptized her. Last week we also were invited to a house for Thanksgiving, so we will have somewhere to go :) Church was eventful. The relief society, young womens, and Primary presidencies were all released along with other callings in those auxiliaries #branchlife.

I am so grateful for everything the Lord has blessed me with. I am grateful to be on a mission and have the gospel and all it’s accompanying blessings in my life. I am grateful to have so many people who love and look after me.

Love,

Sister Prue

November 13, 2017

November 13. 2017

New Washer and Dryer!

Letter #51 - Bike Riding Adventures

November 6, 2017

Dear Family and Friends!

One week on a bike and things are going well despite being pretty out of shape. Being on a bike means more picture taking and good stories. I’ve discovered that I don’t have a great sense of balance and have a hard time signaling turns and staying upright on a bike. So we’ve decided to leave that up to my companion. We are perfect bike riding partners. God knows best. The members have been good about taking us places as well. We didn’t do much for Halloween, but we did get to carve a pumpkin at a member’s house. That was about it. This is the last full week of the transfer. Next Monday we find out whether I get companion #10 for the year :) The weather continues to stay in the 80s and that’s been nice. I’d rather be hot than wet and cold on a bike. I finished reading through all the Conference talks given this past General Conference. Elder Andersen was the last to speak at General Conference and this is what he taught us about the experiences we can have with these heaven sent messages:

“I give you my witness that Jesus is the Christ, that He guides the affairs of this sacred work, and that general conference is one of the very important times He gives direction to His Church and to us personally.

I promise you that as you prepare your spirit and come with the anticipation that you will hear the voice of the Lord, thoughts and feelings will come into your mind that are customized especially for you. You have already felt them in this conference, or you will as you study the messages in the weeks ahead.

There is a treasure chest of heavenly direction awaiting your discovery in the messages of general conference. The test for each of us is how we respond to what we hear, what we read, and what we feel.

I promise that as you hear the voice of the Lord to you in the teachings of this general conference, and then act on those promptings, you will feel heaven’s hand upon you, and your life and the lives of those around you will be blessed.”

I can testify that as I have read over the messages given in Conference, I have felt the spirit witness to me the truth of their teachings. They have provided me with comfort and guidance in my life’s journey. I know they can do the same for you if you will read them, ponder them, and apply their teachings in your life.

Love,
Sister Prue

Letter #50 - Halloween Festivities

October 30, 2017

Dear Families and Friends,

This week has been a lot of fun as the Halloween festivities have begun. Our branch had a trunk or treat type activity, but instead of cars, each family signs up to decorate a classroom in the church building and hand out candy there. We decided to set up an area with a Halloween backdrop where families could take their family Halloween pictures. We set up this quote from The Family:A Proclamation to the World :”Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.” We encouraged families to post their family photo on social media and say what helps them build a strong family and use the hashtag #sharegoodness. There was also a chili cook off and dessert contest. We had to leave halfway through though so that we could help judged the city’s costume contest at their Halloween event called the Boozar. The library is in charge of it and since we volunteer at the library, they asked if we could help out! We also passed out some candy at the local flower shop where we also do service occasionally.

Before I got here some people in a truck backed into our car and tomorrow it goes into the shop to get repaired. That will leave us with just our bikes for about 10 days or so. The area is mostly highways, so it should be an adventure. Extra prayers for safety are appreciated!

Elder Oaks was quoted in Conference as saying this: “Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best. Sometimes a ‘healing’ cures our illness or lifts our burden. But sometimes we are ‘healed’ by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us.”

Thanks for all your love and support!

Love,
Sister Prue

Letter # 49 - Social Media

October 23, 2017

Dear Family and Friends,

I didn’t learn anything about Facebook from our training that I didn’t already know, so that was kind of funny. The senior missionaries laughed at me because I looked away when I got my flu shot. Here is another gem from General Conference:

“Innovation and creation are spiritual gifts. When we keep our covenants, it may make us different from others in our culture and society, but it gives us access to inspiration so we can think of different solutions, different approaches, different applications. We aren’t always going to fit in with the world, but being different in positive ways can be a lifeline to others who are struggling.” -Sister Eubank “Turn On Your Light”

I love trying to use my talents and use new ideas to help encourage others to live the gospel in their lives. Sharing and living the gospel should be enjoyable and when we stay close to the Spirit, He gives us guidance that makes that possible and also give us new ways to reach out and bless others. We are encouraged to pray about how to use social media to share the gospel and are promised that as we do so, we will be given new ideas that will bless those we are trying to reach.

Love,
Sister Prue

Letter # 48 - Small Town, Big Blessings

October 16. 2017

Dear Friends and Family,

This is the week. On Wednesday we get training from the mission president and should be authorized to use FB and other tools for proselytizing after that. We also get our flu shots that day :/ I’ve been making a habit of reading a conference talk from this past General Conference every day and they have just really touched my heart and lifted my spirits each day. Here is a promise given to us about the Book of Mormon from President Nelson:

“My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions--every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.”

What a wonderful promise given to us from a servant of God. I know that as I have studied the Book of Mormon on a daily basis that I do make better choices - I am more patient, more compassionate, more kind.

Gatesville is probably the smallest town I’ve served in - either that or it just feels small. I’m enjoying the unique charm of the place. There is one billboard here and it is called “The Sign” and it just consists of letters put up and it changes every couple of days and it just cracks me up and I love to see it change so often. The Coryell Medical Something or other welcomed their new cardiologist on it a few days ago. #smalltowncharm

I love you all and hope you have a great week. I hope you take the opportunity to find some time to open the Book of Mormon, study and ponder it, and see how you do make better choices that day.

Love,
Sister Prue

Letter #47 - Still Short

October 9, 2017

Dear Friends and Family,

Our mission conference with Elder Bednar had to be cancelled because of Elder Hales’ funeral. I don’t know much about what online proselyting will entail for our mission, but trainnings start this week and my area will get it next week. I have downloaded the FB app and starting this week you will start to see some activity on my account, but not too much until after our training.

Gatesville is very rural and in one day we can drive over 100 miles in our car no problem. It is in the southern region of our mission. This will be my first time working in a branch. Sister Chambers is great and we should have fun together. Still working on settling in here, but hopefully I’ll have more to report next week! Love you all!!

Love,

Sister Prue

Letter #46 - #ByTheNumbers

October 2, 2017

Quick summary:

Being transferred to Gatesville.

New Companion: Sister Chambers.
Companions this year: 9
Areas this year: 5

We are also going to become an online proselyting mission - more
details next week! We will see Elder Bednar this Friday at Mission
Conference as well!

Favorite conference talk: Elder Rasband's

Love,
Sister Prue

September 25, 2017

September 25, 2017

September 18, 2017

September 18, 2017

Exchanges!

September 11, 2017

September 11, 2017

September 4, 2017

September 4, 2017

The flooding hasn't affected too much down here, except it flooded the oil refineries that our gas comes from and so there have been gas shortages and we need to be careful about that. My current area is not one we could get around in without a car. Sometimes there are really long lines we have to wait in, but luckily we have a few gas stations nearby that supply it. A ton of gas stations don't have it at all. So that's been an adventure. I don't know how it has affected other parts of the mission. There are lots of people working to help the people down there.

August 21, 2017

August 21, 2017

Solar Eclipse!

Letter #45 - Baptism!

August 14, 2017

Dear Friends and Family,

This past week was very eventful and very busy! Last Sunday, a man who
was not a member, but who has been married to a member for over a
decade, stood up and announced that he finally knew the Book of Mormon
was true and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was
Christ's church on the earth today. We already had a baptism set up
for Melissa on Saturday and they asked if he could be baptized then as
well. We had to move quick to go through all the lessons and set up
his interview, but it got done! He had been coming to church for years
and even had a calling. He paid tithing and was considered a dry
Mormon, but he is no longer! It was a wonderful event and there were
around 100 people at the baptism. It was awesome. That being said,
Melissa was also baptized and I have felt so blessed to be a part of
her journey. I have truly felt God's love for her and her family. They
have made such a big step forward in their lives and I know she will
be a blessing to her family as they already have been in her life.
Thanks for all of your love and support!

Love,

Sister Prue

August 7, 2017

August 7, 2017

Letter #44 - One Year!

July 24, 2017

Dear Friends and Family,

This past week I hit my year mark. I am so grateful that I have been
able to be out this long and look forward to completing the remaining
7 months. I love having six hours of church on Sunday, but being over
two wards has been a little overwhelming. The good news is that we
will have a baptism this next month. Her name is Melissa and she is a
pre-teen who started coming to church with her friend. She has faced a
lot of opposition from friends and family in her decision to be
baptized, but she is staying strong and is such a wonderful example to
me. Other than that we have been working to learn the area and meet
the members and teach the recent converts. Life has been good. Hope
you are doing well!

Love,

Sister Prue

July 17, 2017

July 17, 2017

Letter #43 - Quick Update

July 10, 2017

Dear Family and Friends,

Transfer news today and the trio is getting broken up. I'll be staying
here and my two companions will be going to different areas. I'll be
getting a new companion (7 in 7 months), Sister Mosher.

I hope you are all having a fun and cool summer. It has stayed nice
and cool here in Texas. It doesn't usually get past the mid 90s, which
is excellent for this area. Hopefully it stays that way.

Love,
Sister Prue

June 26, 2017

June 26, 2017

Exchanges!

June 19, 2017

June 19, 2017

My companions are the ones on the ends.

Letter #42 - Quick Update

June 12, 2017

Dear Friends and Family,

My companion and I got a call on Saturday morning from our mission president letting us know that we were going to be involved in an emergency transfer. We leave this morning. Sister Hatch is filling a Spanish vacancy in Denton, and I'm going to be in a trio serving in the Joshua and Centennial wards. In the meantime there won't be missionaries serving in this ward until at least the next transfer. Fun fact #1) Joshua - population 5k. Fun fact #2) I will have had 6 companions in 6 months. I don't know much more than that. They haven't provided me with an address yet, so I will send that when I get it or probably next week.

Love,
Sister Prue

June 5, 2017

June 5, 2017

With Sister Hatch

These are the houses I tract.

A rainy day.

Sister Hovenier finished her mission!

Letter #41 - Highlights from May

May 29, 2017

Dear Friends and Family,

This month has been crazy, but first things first. I am being
transferred! I will be serving in the Highland Village Ward. It is in
the Lewisville stake/area. My new companion will be Sister Hatch who
was serving as a Spanish speaking missionary up until the last
transfer, but is now English speaking.

Other highlights from May include:

-My Birthday! Thanks for all the birthday wishes :) The sister
missionaries put on a scavenger hunt for me to find my presents, and
made me an adorable cake. My companion was really good to me.

-Mission Baptism Goal: At our mission tour with Elder Larry R.
Lawrence, the leaders in our mission (zone leaders and sister training
leaders) announced a goal of 100 baptisms by the end of July. They
encouraged us to reach for this goal by 1) Being believing 2)
Increasing in Obedience 3) Praying for it Always and 4)Making a
sacrifice. My sacrifice is to read the Bible dictionary, and I'm
really excited for it!

-Mother's Day: It's always good to hear from home and family. I have
been blessed with a particularly good one who has always been
supportive of me and my decisions.
Thanks for all your support and love!

Love,
Sister Prue

May 22, 2017

May 22, 2017

Mother's Day Skype!

May 15, 2017

Letter #40 - Turning Things Around

May 8, 2017

Dear Friends and Family,

This week was full of door knocking and door slamming among other

adventures. As we started on one street, every one of the first four

or five doors answered, and as soon as they saw us, made some kind of

negative remark and shut the door before we even had time to say "Have

a good day!" After we had made it back onto the street from the fourth

or fifth door, the woman re-opened the door and yelled out , "God

Bless!" I think she must have felt a little guilty about the harsh way

she responded to us, and it reminded me of how quickly we can repent

when we realize that we have acted amiss. And for reasons that I don't

always quite understand, we were able to turn around and respond in a

like manner with genuine smiles and pleasure. We can undo so much of

the negative results of our sins when we repent immediately and allow

Christ to help us. I hope that I can be more like this woman and

recognize when I have done wrong and immediately try to make it right.

In other news, this week we will have the opportunity to hear from

Elder Larry R. Lawrence, which should be fun. He had an article in

last month's Ensign, which I particularly enjoyed. Thanks for all the

e-mails and love! I love all of you!

Love, Sister Prue