2015 - a year of miracles

Hello everyone!!

I hope you each had a very merry Christmas!! Ours certainly was :)
Thank you family for the gifts and love and support and everything.
Y'all are the best!
There are going to be tears shed tomorrow as we found out that Sister
Arsenault will be transferred :( We thought for sure we were staying
together. But, she has some more lives to touch and she's going to do
a fantastic job. I have just LOVED serving with her. I have learned so
much from her this transfer and am very grateful for the time we had
together :)

We had a really great week- especially with Christmas and all!
Christmas Eve was actually a super successful day, and I attribute it
to the fact that the spirit is softening everyone's hearts for the
season :) We also went caroling to some nonmembers and less actives
with a family in the Ward and it was so fun!

We have been doing a 12 days of Christmas for a less active man and
his nonmember wife and their son. It has been SO great! We would go
early in the morning, right before getting home at night, and
sometimes in broad daylight (which was really scary) and they never
caught us. Christmas Eve we went by to give them a "treat" which was
their last gift, 12 candy canes, and completely pulled it off where
they didn't know it was us. UNTIL we walked outside, they opened our
note, and ran out to catch us! Oh well. It was amazing because their
hearts were definitely touched and the less active man even held up
his scriptures and told us he had been reading :) miracles!

Another service miracle happened on Saturday. We did some yard work
for a less active woman in the Ward and she just loved it. When we
went inside we shared with her Because of Him and asked her to pray
about how she can come closer to Christ this year. She kind of looked
at us funny and asked how can she pray? A little shocked, we taught
her how to pray  and she prayed out loud with us! It was very sweet.

Because you're probably wondering, Friday was Christmas and also our
weekly planning day so we spent most of the day just planning for next
week haha. But it was amazing! I got to skype the family which was
great. So amazing to see and hear each of you! I love you! And then a
member had us over for a delicious dinner with three nonmembers and it
was awesome. :) Merry Christmas!

And yesterday we got Ron, the less active we've been working with
since I got here, to come to church!!! Hallelujah. The talks in
sacrament meeting were perfect and he said he was so grateful he came
:)

It has just been such a good transfer. We have found some AMAZING
people who are very prepared, the Lord is blessing us and the area.
I'm excited for what this next transfer holds. The New Year is coming
up quickly and I've been pondering about how I've grown this last
year. One thing that is very dear to me is how close I've become to my
Savior. My love and faith in Him has grown immensely and I'm excited
to come even closer to Him this coming year :) My love for the Book of
Mormon has grown so strong as well and I am just so grateful for the
knowledge of this gospel. 2015 has been the greatest, a whole year
spent in the service of my Savior. I want to invite each of us to take
time to pray about how we can grow closer to Jesus Christ in 2016 and
how we can more fully serve Him. I'd love to hear your ideas and plans
:) I'm so thankful for each of you! Stay strong, always improve, and
have a Happy New Year!!

Sister Woolley

 Nielsen family 3 layer cookies 

the district 

Merry Christmas!!

Hey hey hey all! Thanks for all the birthday wishes! I really appreciate its It's been fantastic- my companion is the sweetest thing and made me breakfast this morning. I've been blessed to spend most all of 19 as a missionary and now half of 20 woohoo! Annnd Christmas is almost here! We had an awesome week here in Olympia. Some cool facts- I mowed a lawn for the first time on the temple grounds which was a ton of fun. A member took us to a restaurant called Texas de Brazil that has the most delicious food ever where they just bring meat to your table, we were in awe haha. Okay cool miracles! Brenda, the member referral from a couple of weeks ago, finally met with us early in the week and straight up asked what she needs to do to be baptized. Perfect! We had a timeline for her baptism all set up and she is SO prepared. We had amazing lessons with her in the church this week and the she most definitely felt the spirit. When we were studying to teach her the Plan of Salvation we thought we should focus on the pre earth life and when we taught it to her she told us her favorite thing was learning that she lived with God before. Oh it was great. I just love seeing the spirit work through us to teach :) Funny miracle- we're working with this young less active man who we taught and then he basically "dropped" us and didn't want us to teach him. Well we both kept thinking of him and decided to drop by one night with cookies for him. We pulled up unannounced and he was just getting home from work. He laughed and talked with us for a while and we showed him A Savior is Born which he loved. He basically said "I thought I blew you off?" But was absolutely happy we came. Sweet! Took Carl on a temple tour and the spirit was so strong. He loved it. He received an answer that he needs to read the Book of Mormon to know if all this is true... It's what we've been telling him over and over and he won't do it. We're not sure what will happen with him. Pray for him please! Okay then Friday we had the Mission Christmas Devotional!!! Probably my favorite thing ever!!! There were a bunch of different musical numbers and President and Sister Berry spoke. They told amazing stories about the reason for Christmas. The whole thing was just so uplifting and I was just all smiles :) then we had dinner and got to see all of our lovely missionary friends, yay! Only once a year does the whole mission get together so we were all super excited. I am just so excited for this Christmas season :) I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and His birth. I am grateful for the Atonement and I know that, because He came to the earth we can literally be forgiven for all our sins if we but turn to Him. He beckons us to come. Head His call. He loves you. I love you all! Have an amazing week and Merry Christmas!!!  Sister Woolley

The most wonderful time of the year

Hello family and friends!!

Well I don't have much time, so here's the quick update!

I got to go on exchanges again in a Spanish area and eat delicious
food and pick up on most of what is said yet not be able to
communicate much haha. But 'twas fun!
We had zone training meeting on Thursday and because we're over two
zones we went to both! Basically an almost all day event. We did a
training on recognizing how our investigators need to feel and it was
legit. Lots of fun too!
Oh! I got my splint taken off of my hand now, the finger is almost healed up :)

We had an AWESOME day on Saturday where we found three new
investigators. We were walking in an apartment complex and saw a
father and daughter moving in so we went up. Wow one of the first
people who actually let us help them! We moved stuff in for them and
got talking. Showed them the new Christmas video and while I was
showing it I was thinking over and over, how can I introduce the Book
of Mormon to them?? Lo and behold right as the video ended the dad
says, "I've always wanted to read the Book of Mormon." Really!? So
we're going back tomorrow :) miracles!!

Friday night was the Ward Christmas party. Woohoo so fun! We were
asked to perform something with the elders at which we procrastinated
until the morning of to practice... Simply put the first song we tried
was a train wreck, at which one point one of the elders sang out "we
are lost!!!" Haha. We ended up singing a medley of three songs from
the hymn book and it was a success. Anette, one of our investigators,
came with her granddaughter and loved it :) yay!

Sunday I got to give a talk in sacrament meeting about strengthening
our testimonies. One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how much
the little things contribute to our testimonies. Pray. Scripture
study. Going to church. Those three simple things make ALL the
difference in our testimonies. Never loose those. I have a HUGE
testimony that by doing the small and simple things our faith can grow
so much :)

One last thing. I got a letter from the mission office extended my
mission by a week because of the new MTC time period.. So my death
date is now August 3rd haha! Weird. Today marks 11 months of being a
missionary and the happiest 11 months it has been!

I love you all! Have an amazing week :)

Sister Woolley

Seasons greetings!

Happy December and Christmas time!!! I hope everyone is doing well and loving life! 

This week just FLEW by but we've had a great time showing everyone A Savior is Born. If you still have't watched it, do it now!

First exciting thing of the week was on Tuesday for temple service... a few of us got to go on the ROOF of the temple and bleach it! what a view. It was so fun. :) even with the hurt hand I just worked around it. also the weather is so cool now and I'm just loving it. feels like christmastime!

We had a cool miracle on Thursday. It was the end of the night and the last stop we made was not home so we decided to knock a house next door where we had just seen a couple walk inside. They opened the door right up and were SO sweet. They're from Brazil and are just adorable. They have a 7 year old who turns 8 in a few weeks and they all want to learn more about Jesus Christ. I just feel so good about them. It was an amazing experience too because we were most definitely led by the Spirit to meet them. AH it never ceases to amaze me how much the Lord loves us and will lead us if we but ask :) 

So on Thursday we had this big ole meeting for the mission leaders that basically lasted all day... but it was really inspiring and I just adore President Berry so much. Happy day!

I got to go on an exchange to Valencia with the Spanish sisters and wow I got a headache from lack of water and trying to discern spanish. I felt useless but it was fun :) 

So two weeks ago I talked about a less active man, Brother Machado, that we're working with and found stellar fellowship for-- Brother Santos! Well last night Brother Santos brought us dinner to the church and we had a picnic with him then went to Brother Machado's for the lesson with his other home teacher, Brother Fabbi! I know this is all over the place but the point is, the sisters have been working with Brother Machado for a while and trying to find fellowship and THEN both Fabbi and Santos moved into the ward two months ago. They are both definitely here for Brother Machado! It was cool. Sorry for the rant. 

Last night was the First Presidency Christmas Devotional and HOLY COW it was fantastic. We had our less active, Ron, come and he loved it. It was just AMAZING. I just loved Elder Bednar's talk on Christ being the light. I'm so thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and His coming. The reason for Christmas is our loving Savior and we are to share that message with the world! Ah, I love it.

Well, I just want to thank you all for the support and prayers and love. Always remember how much the Lord loves you. This week I've been working on making my prayers more meaningful and it has been a really a neat experience. I'd challenge ya'll to do the same! 

Sister Woolley

Merry Christmas!!

us on the roof of the temple :) 

Sam I am... I am Sam... I am Ortho

Hello hello!

How was everyone's Thanksgiving? It was a fantastic day as we got to ask everyone what they were grateful for and bear our testimonies of the Savior. When I really thought about it, the top of my gratitude list is my Savior, Jesus Christ, and my family. I know my Heavenly Father loves me and loves each one of you. He is so so sweet <3 I am SO stoked for the holiday season!!! The spirit is in the air and there is so much joy around :) ALSO the church JUST released the new Christmas Initiative--- A Savior Is Born!!!!!!!!!! Holy cow, if you haven't watched it yet, DO IT. I just love it and can't wait to share it :) 

Okayy so such a good week!

First off I just love having the temple in this are and to do temple service! We got to plant poinsettias around the temple grounds to add a festive spirit AND I got to see the Belleview ward bishop's wife and daughter there :)

This week I went on my first exchange with the sisters. It was awesome! On Wednesday I went to the Buena Vista YSA ward with two of the sisters and it was so neat! YSA is a lot different than regular missionary work ha and actually really cool to get to talk with most people our age. Something fun they do every Wednesday night is have "night games" where the YSA get together to play games and the missionaries join, with permission from the mission president :)  The day I was there happened to be volleyball (which I LOVE). But... I kind of chipped a bone in my finger, on my right hand. So I get to wear this cool brace for 4 weeks as it heals. Don't worry momma! It just makes it hard to eat and write haha. When talking to our mission doctor he said he could handle the situation, without an orthopedic. Hence, the subject title. what a hoot.

ANYWAY! We had an AMAZING miracle on sunday! A recently reactivated member told us he has a friend for us to teach! He brought her to the church sunday morning before church and we gave her a church tour. She's looking to change some things in her life and just loved and accepted the Restoration. It was legit! we got to set her a baptism date and she stayed for church and really enjoyed it. Prayers for her please! We are pumped :)

Last night we went to teach a new investigator and his daughter (his ex wife is a mormon by the way). In the beginning of the lesson we asked his 11-year old daughter if she had been to the church before with her mom and it turns out she's already been baptized! hahaha. so that was cool.

I am just so thankful to be a missionary. I love everything about it :) My companion is AMAZING and I'm so happy. The Lord really is so sweet. I have strengthened my relationship with Him so much since coming out and I strive to come closer to Him everyday. I know this church is true <3 I love you all!!!! 

Sister Woolley 

P.S. sorry for no pictures, the computer isn't working :/ 

Olympia!

Hello everyone!

It seriously feels like it's been a month since last week. A lot has happened this week for sure. First off, remember how I said I wasn't likely to be a Sister Training Leader this transfer. But, it happened. SO it's cool. But here I am now back in the Orlando South zone now (where I spent 4 weeks once haha). I'm in Olympia! The Temple is in our area and that just makes me SO happy. Just to see it brings peace :) I'm serving with the beautiful Sister Arsenault and she is AMAZING. She is practically my sister's twin. No joke. They look and talk the same. I showed her pictures of Heather (I love you sis!) and she even thinks they look alike. So basically we're getting along great and it's nonstop laughter with her I love it. Much needed. 

Also, it's finally cooling down and I can't believe it but Thanksgiving is this week! We found a Christmas tree in our apartment and decorated it this morning :) yay! It really is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!! It rained everyday this week and it was glorious. Our first day together we tracted a bit in the rain and this man with a mobile dog grooming business gave us towels to dry off with haha. 

We saw quite a few miracles this week with Less Actives. We brought a member with us to see a Less Active, Brother Machado, and it was PERFECT. They spoke Portuguese together and the spirit was so strong. yay for members. Also we teach a few children here and I am NOT used to that haha. It's fun and their cute but basically my whole mission thus far has been teaching older people.. so needless to say I've got a learning curve. Also, since coming to Orlando we've received at least three phone calls in Spanish... sorry, no hablo Espanol! one day. 

Because of new area, new calling, new companion, new ward, new everything I have sought a lot of peace through prayer and the Book of Mormon. I can't even describe my love for the Book of Mormon! I have learned a lot about the way the Lord answers prayers this week. In the new Ensign there's an article that talks about just basking in the warmth of the spirit through prayer. I can't really explain it but it was comforting. ALSO! I'm learning a lot from Sister Arsenault about the JOY that the gospel brings. Read Mosiah 2 about verse 14 on and as it talks about the secret to finding happiness. I just love it. 

Well everyone, thanks for everything ya'll do! I love you all SO much. Have a happy Thanksgiving and remember what's most important. I am so thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ, my family, and the gospel. 

Love,

Sister Woolley

Blessings in Bellevue

Well folks, I received the news on Saturday that I will be transferred out of Belleview. I saw it coming but I was hoping it wouldn't happen. We have seen tremendous miracles these past two transfers. My baby is all grown up now and will be in a trio here in Belleview! I'll find out tomorrow where I'm headed. I can't even describe how much I love this area. Really. This ward is the BEST and the people here are so dear to my heart. 3 1/2 transfers here wasn't long enough. Through many struggles, joys, tears, exhaustion, and spiritual experiences here I can say this area has changed me. I just can't even describe it. I'm so grateful my Heavenly Father placed me here.

INGE BENSON GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY! Hallelujah what a BEAUTIFUL day. She was so nervous she was going to drown. She wore socks in the font which made her feet slip out from under her but Brother Copeland was strong enough to keep her from slipping haha. She just kept telling everyone how she slipped :) She was confirmed yesterday in church and was just glowing with a huge smile on her face as she walked back to her seat. She just wanted the gift of the Holy Ghost to have peace in her life and she got it. Really puts it in perspective, I think sometimes we take that beautiful Gift for granted. It is a remarkable gift Heavenly Father gives us. The ward just LOVES Inge and welcomed her with open arms. She was shocked and sad when she found out I was leaving and I am heartbroken to leave her. But I know she'll be taken good care of here. 

Side note: She's a tracting miracle! The Lord knows where His chosen people are and we just have to follow :)

Okay so Tuesday I did that whole 20 minute training at Zone Conference and I was the LAST missionary to give a training so the whole day my stomach was in knots haha. But the time flew by and it was quite fun. Everyone keeps asking me if I'm an STL now but I haven't received a call so I'm safe from that!

A couple in the ward whom we just adore took us to Gator Joe's where I finally tried gator!!!!!!! Oh so happy. It was good, tastes like chicken ;)

Friday we got to attend the temple with Gary and Sharen so they could do baptisms for the dead. Oh my goodness it was AMAZING. We had a few other members with us. We don't participate in the baptisms but we watch and it was so sweet. I just love the temple and it's a spiritual boost to attend and feel so close to the Lord there. <3

Ready for another miracle? Remember Leroy and Cece? Cece was baptized back in May and the sisters have been teaching Leroy ever since. He hasn't budged so we just went mainly to teach Cece. Well, he's attended the last few baptisms and on Saturday night we had dinner with him and Cece and Brother D. Well, we started talking about the Spirit and how he felt at the baptism and before we knew it he set a baptismal date for himself in January! On his birthday! I'm sure our faces were priceless. He seemed excited and joked about buying a case of smelling salts for the ward because everyone will be so shocked. HA! Ain't that the truth. I'm so happy for him :)

Sunday night we had such a neat experience! Our Mission President set up a musical fireside for all the missionaries in our mission. It was with Marvin Goldstein and Jessica Joy, an AMAZING pianist and awesome singer. Gary and Sharen went with us and it was the greatest thing ever. I just felt so happy to be listening to them play and sing and testify of this great gospel. The Spirit was so strong. 

Another drum roll.... afterwards Sister Guynn (if ya'll remember we were in the same BYU ward my first semester) grabs me and pulls me over to where our BYU bishop, Bishop Sybrowsky, was there! I may have screamed a bit. Thanks for being there Bishop!!

Well everyone, I just want to leave you with my testimony that I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I am so honored to have my name next to His on my name tag everyday. I love this gospel and I have seen it change lives as it continues to change mine. Remember- continually improvement and progression! 

Thank you for everything. I love each of you!

Sister Woolley

P.S. Shout out to cousin Taylor Woolley and his 22nd birthday!

Bishop Sybrowsky :)

Inge's Baptism!

 reactivated Barreto family :)

 ate frog legs!

 gator joe's

Gary and Sharen got us all "Jesus is My Boss" hats haha

Isn't it wonderful

Hello Hello!

Another fantastic week in beautiful Belleview! Ah I'm just in love with this area and this mission and this life.

Okay so on Tuesday we had interviews with our Mission President which is one of my favorite things ever. He is probably one of the kindest, most Christ-like man ever. His wife too is amazing. :) 

Inge, our lovely German, is doing swell! She is on fire and just can't wait to get to the temple in the future. How grateful I am to have been raised in the gospel with the knowledge of the temple and the Plan of Salvation from such a young age. Inge lost her husband just three months ago. She is still very sad from all that's going on but compared to when we first met her, she is so much happier. The members of the ward have really reached out with love to her. 

Gary is doing GREAT. He received the Priesthood on sunday, how special! Sharen couldn't be happier to have the priesthood in her home :) yayy.

Ooh we had such a cool experience on Thursday! We had a few extra minutes before an appointment so we went to see a man we met a few weeks ago. He wasn't there but his dad and brother were who, when we said we believe we have a prophet on the earth he looked at us, then opened the door wider saying "come in! I want to talk about this!" Woah. So we talked for a while and he is super awesome and we're excited to teach him again. His little kids are adorable too. So that was fun

Saturday we got to go on exchanges woohoo! I got to go to Apopka with lovely Sister Bridgewater who finishes her mission in just one week yikes. We had a blast. They have some super great investigators out there we got to teach. I just love switching it up on exchanges and getting ideas from other missionaries of how to teach and contact. And our STLs (Sister Trainer Leader) are just super fun :) 

Sometimes I'm not really sure what else to write so I just want to say I love you all and I'm just so happy and giddy about all the good work that's going on here! We have been teaching SO much and it seems the Lord is continually placing people in our path who are open to learning about the gospel :) could one want more than that. NOPE. :)

Also, a couple days ago the Assistants called last minute to inform me that I will be giving a training at Zone Conference (huge missionary meeting with half of the missionaries from the mission) tomorrow. Well, I guess you could say I'm feeling quite inadequate yet very excited about the challenge. We don't grow inside our comfort zone and I can tell ya I've grown a lot on the mission so far. There's nothing like being a representative of our Savior, Jesus Christ. True happiness only comes through Him.

My ponderize verse this last week was Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

I testify to that. Have a wonderful week!!

Sister Woolley

Halloween Baptism

Hello everyone!

Wow what a fantastic week!

Gary got baptized!!! The baptismal program was amazing and probably the most spiritual baptism I've attended. After he came up out of the water he was BEAMING and gave us all a thumbs up :) It was the sweetest thing. After being confirmed yesterday he bore his testimony in sacrament meeting and it was amazing. I'm so happy for him and his lovely wife Sharen! On to working towards the temple now!

Real quick about church yesterday- remember Jimmy? He showed up with his member buddy oh my goodness we were so shocked!!

Not sure if I mentioned it last week but we're working with another Part Member family and their 18 year old daughter is on date for baptism too. She's the sweetest thing! And her boyfriend Tygar is just awesome too. They've been loving the Book of Mormon and we have high hopes for them :)

Halloween night was interesting. We had a ward Halloween party which was great. They had a trunk-or-treat in which we had a basket of candy for the kids but quizzed them on scripture mastery, their favorite Book of Mormon characters, or held up a picture of Christ (for the littler ones) and asked if they knew who it was. SO cute.

I'm just so grateful for this ward and all the support they give us. I feel really at home with each of these members. :)

To kick of the Thanksgiving season I'd just like to share my testimony of this Restored gospel to which I'm so grateful to have the knowledge of. 

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He came to this earth to live a perfect life and to sacrifice Himself for each of us. I know He loves us. I know this gospel can and will change lives if we let it. The Atonement is what makes it possible for us to receive forgiveness and gain strength. I have seen that in my own life and in the lives of others. There's no way I could do this work without my Savior. He is my strength and my source of joy. When times get hard we just need to remember- Christ is on our side. He is reaching for each of us just waiting for us to reach out for Him. Turn to Him.

Moroni 7:41

I love you all and I'm so thankful for each of you!

Sister Woolley

Gary's baptism :)

Florida's gator signs!

Gary + Sharen's light up Jesus sign :)

pumpkin carving last week!

SMILE

Hello everyone! Happy almost Halloween, can you believe it!? I can't.

I know I say it every week but miracles are everywhere! Holy cow this week was fantastic.

First off, Gary is getting baptized this Saturday (yes on Halloween) and cannot wait! He told everyone in church yesterday "in 6 days I will be a member of this church" :D We're getting him to the temple soon after to do baptisms and he and Sharen are just on cloud 9! ME TOO! Tonight they want to take us to Family Home Evening (we go every week to a members' home for it) but we have a lesson right before and Gary wants to join. Not even baptized and he's helping us with a lesson.. okay!

Then there's Miss Inge. OH MY she's just stellar. We took her on a temple tour on Saturday and YOU GUYS SHE JUST LOVED IT. She saw the front door of the temple (not the main entrance we go in) and just gasped and took a picture of us in front of it. I asked if she wanted to touch the temple and she said "Will I get shocked" We laughed and assured her she could most definitely touched it and she did so reverently and with a smile on her face. We asked her if she believes it's true and she emphatically answered yes and wants to be sealed to her husband who has passed. The gospel is so amazing! She stayed all three hours of church yesterday too :)

This week we found some amazing new people who are interested in the gospel as well. There was a woman we met a couple of months ago that we planned on popping in on Saturday night and when we did she and her husband were home. We got to teach them a little and they want us to teach their teenage daughters! 

Also last night we found an adorable family who seem really prepared. Let's pray they progress!

Okay one more thought. We FINALLY got in with this Inactive couple who's daughter hasn't been baptized (she's 18). We saw them Saturday and she wants to learn to see if baptism is something she can be serious about! Annnnd her boyfriend who's name is Tiger haha wants to learn too!!!! Side note: They have three gorgeous horses and dogs and cats and I was basically in heaven over there yes.
They all came to church yesterday and it was glorious. Speaking of church, we had the Primary Program yesterday so it was PACKED and the Spirit was SO strong. I just loved it and really needed that. An adorable little girl sang "I Know My Savior Loves Me" and that one just touched me so much. <33 He really does love each of us unconditionally!

All in all this area is fantastic and booming and I'm so grateful to be serving here. My baby, Sister Rytting, is doing wonderfully and we're working super hard, the Lord is definitely blessing us. The members are amazing and we're just so happy! :D How could we not be happy!? We're sharing the true Gospel of Jesus Christ with our brothers and sisters and I just love the light that comes into these people's eyes as they discover the truth.

This gospel is true and I love it with my whole heart. Last week my "Ponderize" verse was 2 Nephi 32:9 about praying always. Turn to the Lord and He will lead you, guide you, and lift you up <3 also just my favorite line from the song I mentioned above

   "I will follow faithfully... My heart I'll give to Him, I know that my Savior love me"

Thank you for everything ya'll do. I love each of you! Have a wonderful week and don't forget to smile and pray!

Sister Woolley

Pictures:

Inge at the templeeee

Sister Rytting and I accidentally matched (we must be companions) 

"I'm ready to be a Mormon"

Hello family and friends!

We had quite the fantastic week! I'm just loving this area and these people so much :)

First off: Gary and Sharen!!!!! I'm just overjoyed and all smiles when I think about them. Last Monday night they didn't come to FHE because Gary was tired from work and they wanted to finish watching General Conference (fine with me!). Well on Tuesday we had a lesson with them. Gary tells us how he's already in Jacob of the Book of Mormon and then proceeds to tell us how, when he was watching President Monson speak, the Spirit testified to him that this is the true church. He cried and hugged Sharen and told her that he wants to be baptized on November 7th. When he told us we cried and probably had the biggest smiles on our faces :) I'M SO HAPPY FOR THEM. Sharen is SO excited. She said everyone knew before he did that he would be baptized :) He's just so prepared. They can't wait to go to the temple next year to be sealed together for all eternity. I'm SO blessed to work with them. Heavenly Father is so sweet to allow me to be here at this time to meet them and see the gospel change their lives.

We met some awesome new investigators this week. We popped by a family who were taught over a year ago and they STILL had the Book of Mormon on their table and said they read from it every so often. We're hoping to work a lot with the 18 year old girl :) Also, their house is LEGIT. It's in the backwoods and it's basically a fancy log cabin. You walk in and there are taxidermy animals EVERYWHERE (the husband makes guns and hunts). Literally a 6 foot 'gator chillin' on a beam near the ceiling. Okay, cool. And we sat on real life bear skin and cow hide.

Remember Leroy? Still not baptized BUT the other day we had an unexpected super spiritual lesson where his member friend asked him really what's up that's keeping him from being baptized and he totally felt the Spirit. We cried and told him he knows it's true and one day he will be sealed to his wife who has passed on and his great grand daughter who wants so badly for him to be baptized. When that day comes, the church will be PACKED with so many people who've helped him come this far.

We had Zone Training Meeting on Thursday which was just AMAZING. Mini General Conference over here. Our Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders are just awesome. Afterwards we got to have lunch with the sisters which ended by one of the sisters' car breaking down in which we ran over to dunkin' donuts to have two employees jump start it :) My dear MTC comp Sister Guynn was the driver. So happy she's staying in the zone!

On Saturday we got to do some service for one of my favorite members :) Killed ant hills and tore down spanish moss from the grapefruit tree it was so fun! And two referrals she gave us were there so we finally got to meet them. 

That same day we spent some time at one of the town squares to find new investigators. It was quite fun!

Things are going just wonderfully. I'm "Ponderizing" Alma 5:60 this week. I love this gospel and my Savior Jesus Christ and am honored to wear his name and serve him every second of every day. I love you all! Thank you for the support and love. Keep on keeping on!

Sister Woolley

Fall is here!

Hello beautiful family and friends!

Say hello to transfer #7! Stayin' here in beautiful Belleview with my baby, Sister Rytting. The weather has gotten really cool and everyone has out Halloween decorations :) Fall is hereee.

We finally got Seaford on date for baptism! Woo! He's progressing pretty well. He loved Conference this weekend as well, who wouldn't? :)

Sharen and Gary, our part member couple, are on fire too! Eek, I just love them. We saw them twice last week, and Gary is praying about the date we extended for baptism. We'll see them tomorrow to solidify it. yay! Sharen is just darling. They watched conference together this weekend and she was telling us how it makes her want to be more diligent in her Book of Mormon study. I am so excited for their near future because not too far down the road they will be able to be sealed in the temple. ahhh yes happiness <3 Side note, they had us for dinner too and are such a joy to be around.

We did finally see Jimmy again this week! He's moving up to Michigan to be near his ill mother... hoping to refer him to those missionaries. His story didn't end the way we had envisioned, but the experiences we had with him have definitely shaped my testimony and influenced me for the better and I know they changed his life in a significant way.

Okay so we have this new part member family who recently moved from a neighboring ward into our area. The husband wants to get back to church and supposedly the wife wants to learn more. So on Friday night our Ward Mission Leader's wife drove us all the way out to the boonies to see them and they are SUCH an adorable family. I'm so used to working with older people out here basically my whole mission... it was so fun to have kiddos running around and laughing :) They did not make it to church, but we have high hopes for them!

Before General Conference yesterday we popped by a less active and had a really cool experience! Her, supposedly, atheist friend was with us and we invited him to church and in response he shyly nodded his head and said next week they'd be there. She was shocked. We were shocked. They've had rough lives, but are so sweet. I really hope they will be there.

Okay, GENERAL CONFERENCE. Can you say amazing? need I say more? It was just fantastic! It answered all of my questions and things I've been worrying/think about for a few weeks now! I loved Elder Holland's talk about motherhood on Saturday and it made me think about my own Mother whom I'm so grateful for. Shoutout to you Mom! I love you <3 It was so inspiring. And about the way we need to stand as lights for the world. From what we know is happening in the world, it's not getting better, and to think that we, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we have the responsibility and sacred duty to bring others to this message of peace! It's awesome. Please please always share the gospel. Why only keep it for yourself? I know that President Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of God. Anyone who watched him speak yesterday cannot deny it. The way the Spirit lifted him to speak with boldness and love and as he finished we see the weight of the world on his shoulders. The Lord is with him and he is inspired. I love this gospel and I know it's true.

Thank you for everything! Ya'll are amazing. Keep the notes coming! 

Sister Woolley

Picture: similar to last week's district picture.. but we had to take more this time haha.

Missionary Joy :)

Hello everybody!!

I want to thank everyone for the emails and support, ya'll are the best. I know I say it all the time, but this week just flew. Correction, this MONTH just flew by. woah.

Don't have a ton of time, so I'll try my best to keep it simple!

Monday night we had exchanged woo! Sister Rytting's very first exchange :) I stayed here with Sister Weston (we went on exchanges to Apopka last transfer). IT WAS GREAT. I learned a ton from her and we had a fun time with lots of miracles :) One being, that our part member couple is doing awesome! Gary, the nonmember, said yes to baptism because he wants so badly to do everything he can do be with Sharen for eternity. So cute. She's doing really well too. They watched the Women's Broadcast on Saturday with us and loved it! And both came to sacrament meeting, happy day :)

Also on exchanges, we decided to contact people in the cars next to us as we were driving (I've loved this my whole mission). The very first car I asked the man if he had read the Book of Mormon and when he said no I asked if he'd like to. He said yes (I was slightly shocked) and so Sister Weston reached in the back to grab one and I reached as far out the window as I could to give it to him! He barely grabbed it. SO COOL. We laughed about it all day :)

Seaford is swell! We got to take him on a temple tour on Friday and it was the SO great. We ended up being the only one's there for the tour but Seaford loved it. When we went over to the temple he knelt down and prayed that he could go inside one day. The next day we took him to the elders' baptism and he loved that as well. He wants to be baptized, it just might be a long process. Prayers for him please :)

We've been trying to find some more Less Active members to work with so on Thursday we popped by a part member couple who let us right in, gave us aprons to help her with dinner, and fed us that night! What a sweet elderly couple :) And way fun cooking a bit with her haha.

That night we went to meet with one of our new investigators and his whole family. We showed up and they were eating outside with some friends and the biggest pot of noodles you can imagine! So we sat with them and ate a bit while teaching.. pretty cool. Well turns out their friends had met with missionaries in 1997 so we gave them a spanish Book of Mormon and hope to teach them more!

We saw our lovely German 'gator this week and had a really great time teaching her the Plan of Salvation. She's already so much happier than the first time we met her and she's been listening to the Book of Mormon on lds.org yay <3 Also, she had made Leibkoochen, or German cookies, and they were so yummy.

Super pumped for what this week has in store! In the words of one of my favorite members here this is missionay JOY not missionary work. I love every minute of it here. Time has certainly been flying and I'm so grateful for all I've learned. I've got a long way to go to be who I want to be but, as President Uchtdorf explained so lovely on Saturday, we can all choose to be happy and skip down the path of life signing. The Lord loves you all <33

Hope ya'll have a wonderful week!!

Sister Woolley

 sister Weston :)

Our district #onlysisters. Two of 'em go home next week!

 tracting--giraffes! made my heart smile.

temple tour with Seaford!!!

"If you've not read the Book of Mormon...read it!" -President Monson

Howdy ya'll! How are these amazing people today? Hope ya'll had a wonderful week!

It was quite the week, but I feel like I grew a lot this week. Let me start with the bad...

Jimmy disappeared. We had an awesome lesson Thursday and filled out his baptismal record and he was all set to be interviewed the next day at the temple after the tour. He was excited! Then an hour before the tour on Friday he texted us telling us he wouldn't come. We tried calling and tried to get the concern out of him but he wouldn't budge. Said he'd be at dinner the next day with our member... bailed. Said he'd be at Sacrament meeting... didn't show. UGH. So, we haven't heard from him and we're just going to give him a break until he calms down or something. So, to make a long story short, we were pretty down. 

But! Applying President Berry's 10 second rule--- "what could I have done better?" Okay then move on! And boy oh boy did Heavenly Father bless us some :) 

We went Less Active finding on Tuesday and found this glorious street out in the boonies of Ocklawaha where we found an ADORABLE German lady! Such a cute house too. Another one of those "let's knock one more then we'll go" instances. She just lost her husband a month ago and was very distraught. We showed her Because of Him and she loved it and cried and told us to come back. She doesn't feel like she has much purpose here anymore. When we came again and gave her a Book of Mormon she was determined to read it and when we told her about General Conference (especially about our German general authority) she got so excited, haha :)

On Friday, as a backup to our cancelled temple tour, we went to our Burmese family's house and when they opened their door they had a table set out with some interesting looking food for two. Not sure what the Burmese etiquette is... they didn't eat though. The food was interesting but not bad! They had green tea set out and their reactions when we turned it down was quite hilarious. Then they offered us coke which we also had to turn down.. the poor wife. 

Saturday was wonderful! In the morning we got to go to Leesburg (YAY) to do a community cleanup project with a few other missionaries (my dear Sister Guynn) and the community. We picked up little for an hour and a half and it was great. I got to wear one of those neon yellow vests!!! Has been on my bucket list :)

Right afterwards we headed home to shower and then up to Belleview for the Fall Festival which we had a Mormon.org booth set up at with the elders in our ward and a senior couple :) we didn't get to stay long but I'm so thankful we came when we did! Because a family was walking by and I noticed the boy turned to his mom and pointed to the Mormon.org sign and picture of Christ. I walked up to them and turns out they were baptized 7 years ago, have been inactive for 3 years, and moved down here a year ago, we didn't receive any records! She said they had mentioned once about how they were going to find the church and didn't really know how. They had just been driving by the festival and decided to go and boom we met them and they all showed up at church yesterday!!!! It was the sweetest thing to see :) The Lord has His was of working. The two youngest kids were never baptized, so the elders will be working with them :) 

After the festival we had a funny lesson with a new investigator. She asked why we were there and told us she'd never convert. At first, slight disappointment. Then we taught them the Restoration and she softened up a ton and prayed at the end saying she'd have an open heart as she reads and prays about it :) 

Okay almost done! Yesterday was amazing :) We received 4 member referrals woo!

Right after church we snagged a member for a lesson with another new investigator. She is so cool! She told us she's looking for change, she even wants to quit smoking. We're excited to start working with her! 

THEN we had this amazing event called the Why I Believe Fireside and HOLY COW if it didn't touch our investigator's lives it touched mine. Seaford and Leroy came as well as our lovely returning members, the Barretos :) ALSO a family in the ward brought their new friend, Maria, who wants to start learning! #referral we're so pumped!!!

The Spirit was seriously SO strong at this fireside. Our zone got to sing a gorgeous arrangement of I Know That My Redeemer Lives and I can't even begin to describe how strong the spirit was as we sang. Eek! I needed that :) 

So basically this week I learned a ton about humility (I've said that before) and about patience in the Lord's timing. I'm ready to work even harder this week to help these wonderful people improve their lives and come unto Christ. I'm so thankful for this gospel. I know that it's true. I know that the Book of Mormon literally is the word of God and that it was translated by Joseph Smith, a true prophet of God. I'm grateful for this knowledge and how it's blessed my life. I want everyone to feel the Spirit testify that it's true. Please please please read the Book of Mormon EVERYDAY. It is a habit that has to be made and it is SO simple. It will change your life. It's changed mine. And it will change others' lives. I love you all. Until next time <3

Love,

Sister Woolley