Rep that name tag with joy

Hello hello!

How are all of my beautiful friends and family? Thank you for all of the support and prayers, it is much needed and appreciated!

Well, first week of this new transfer completed! My new companion is Sister Fairbanks and guess where she's from - Valencia, CA! So close to home! She's awesome. She's been out about 9 months so it's been nice to be with someone who's been out around the same amount of time. :) she actually already graduated from BYU in food science! So that's fun. Anywho, we've had some great times and lots more to come! Within our district, half of the companionships have trainees! So many greenies and I LOVE it :) weird though, 'cause I still feel brand new.

Having been in this area only two weeks longer than she has... This has been a stressful week of figuring out where things are! Did I mention this area is huge? Annnnd they cut back the miles we can drive from 1300 to 905 a month.. Meaning because it's the middle of the month we only had approximately 8 miles to use each day. That's NOTHING. Freaked out? Yes. So we got members to drive us Saturday and part of Sunday but then we called the APs and they gave us some back phew! But THAT was insanely stressful (as if missionary work isn't already haha).

Something that was SO sweet this week though, is that I truly saw how kind Heavenly Father is :) seriously. We're both really new here and our first day together EVERYONE we talked to was super friendly. He's certainly watching out for us :)

CooL little update about Leesburg! (I do miss Leesburg). Betty (my recent convert, I hope ya'll remember her!) is preparing to do baptisms at the temple! And the two kids in the Murray family got baptized last Sunday. Wish I could have been, but I saw pictures! Yay!

We found some really neat investigators this week and actually got a new referral we're hoping to see tomorrow. Praying for some progress! Just going to double our efforts and keep the faith strong, I know God will bless this area with success. The Ward is working hard and we've seen some sweet success with members being missionaries :) after talking about the needs of the people we're teaching, one of the Ward missionaries took it to heart and went and fellowshipped our 'gator at church. We've been looking for a good member friend for him and it looks like we found it :)

Thursday night we had a stake missionary meeting and my lovely MTC comp sister Guynn was there! She's training- how awesome!

This morning we sang at yet another funeral. Ayaiyai. Too many out here, it's sad but amazing to see the support the church gives to these people.

Funny story!
The member who drove us around a bit on Saturday made us lunch at her house afterwards and then a huge storm came in so we helped a little with her family history work. Side note, earlier I had mentioned how I really need a haircut. Well, while looking at the computer she started playing with my hair and I thought nothing of it. Then I saw her grab scissors and I freaked out and she cut off about half an inch! Ahh! I was SHOCKED. It wasn't much and you can't tell but I about died laughing after. Never tell an older woman you need a haircut. Ever.

Well, that's about it for this week. Friday we get to do a session at the temple early in the morning and I'm STOKED. can't wait. :)

Lately we've been talking about happiness. You'll notice in Nephi he says, 2 Nephi 5:27 "And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness" It doesn't say they were always happy. By no means would traveling in the wilderness with your family splitting up be a happy time, yet they searched for happiness. Always remember, happiness is a CHOICE. I hope this week we can all strive to have the mindset of being happier than we were before :)

I love you all!
Sister Woolley

Pictures: the temple trip with Leroy, Cece, and Tom

The elders and sisters in the ward! (before transfers)  

 The temple trip with Leory, Cece, and Tom

 The Elders and Sisters in the ward before transfers

New companion Sister Fairbanks! 

"Oh look! Three drowned rats!"

Hello my wonderful family and friends!! This week was amazing, flew by yet was so long at the same time... Tomorrow sister Taylor goes home and I get a new companion! As always, slightly nervous but excited.

First off with a lovely story from Friday! So we decided to have a temple tour with Leroy, Ceaira, and Tom on Friday. We invited them all to fast about their questions and we were fasting too. Talk about spiritually awesome. Friday morning was also sister Taylor's departing temple trip so we went down super early and did our studies while she went in. Then two recent converts in this Ward were going to do baptisms for the first time so we got to go in with them! (New rule yay). It was SO wonderful being in the temple :) all smiles! So then we had to plan for our next week (which, if I haven't told ya, takes 5-6 hours). Two and a half of those hours was spent trying to find a ride for Leroy, Cece, and Tom because our member bailed last minute! No one could come. Fasting, stressed, and defeated we may have sat for 15 minutes praying and crying. And then Leroy decided he could drive down! Woo! The temple tour ended up being a huge success and they loved it. In Tom's words "I felt the vibes (spirit) from the parking lot". Aww yay. :)

Earlier this week we were supposed to meet someone at the bowling alley in the Villages. We couldn't find him... Cause all oldies look alike :) so we walked around like craziness and attempted talking to people, probably one of my more awkward experiences.

It rains almost every day and one day it came down hard and the Lightning was super close haha. So we ran through it to someone's house, they weren't interested but let us hang out on their porch for a while, then drove to Tom's, dashed out into the rain again and onto his porch. He opened the door and jumped, "Oh look! Three drowned rats!" Oh boy. He's a hoot :) he is doing so well! Still trying to get him to come to church, keep praying for him!

On Saturday we attended a funeral and were asked to sing. The songs? We had to include I Am a Child of God and If You Could High To Kolab.... Woah. So we did a super cool combination of the two with the elders and it was legit! Sing  If You Could High To Kolab at a funeral in front of non members? Challenge accepted. Mission accomplished.

More next week! Hopefully I'll get some pictures sent :) love you all! Thanks for everything you all do. I love my mission more than anything, these people are amazing and I feel so blessed.

Sister Woolley

 Tom, her "gator" at a temple tour

 Companions! 

The district! Two elders have reached 18 months so they burned skirts... and sister Taylor is going home so she did too! 

"This is what weekly planning looks like. Gum, because we're fasting. Tissues from the tears"

July 6

Hello all! Hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July! 

President Berry gave us all permission to extend curfew from 9 to 10pm on Saturday night so we got to watch the fireworks! We had a dinner with some members and had SO much food. Then there was a ward get-together after that which our investigator was attending so we went and they made us eat even MORE food. So in total I don't believe I've ever been more full in my LIFE haha. But it was quite fun to be with the ward :) We didn't think there'd be fireworks but last minute we found some community ones! The place was packed so we talked to a few people before they started. Sat right underneath and the pieces were basically raining on us and it sounded like bombs going off... 'Tis the Star Spangled Banner for sure! 

So last Monday we got to teach FHE to the oldies and our investigator, Leroy, and his granddaughter Ceaira (recent convert). We decided to teach "Moving Forward with Faith" and used Nephi's story of moving into the wilderness and going back to get the plates -- see 1 Nephi 4:6 :) So, at dinner with our bishop they gave us costumes to dress up as legit Nephites and it was AWESOME! We made headbands for all the members too which they just loved. 

I should probably tell you a little about my companions! I'm with the STLs (Sister Training Leaders), not sure if I mentioned it last week. But! Being with them means I get to see what the life of an STL is like and yikes... haha. We had exchanges on Tuesday and Wednesday which meant waking up at 5am to drive down there woo! Back to my comps: Sister Lokotui is from Australia and is awesome. She is so amazing. She's applying for BYU for Winter Semester and we're hoping she'll get in! Sister Taylor is from Bountiful, Utah and goes home next week.. which everyone just keeps reminding her about! She's so great and also attends BYU! Gotta love Provo. 

We are working with so AMAZING people here in Belleview. Leroy is our main guy. He struggles with a lot of doubts but is SO close! We're taking him on a temple tour this Friday and we know he'll feel the spirit so strongly there. We're excited! He's so funny too. They feed us almost everytime we're there, even though we tell 'em not to! He's so sweet.

Then there's Tom. Oh Tom is a character. Everything he says just makes us laugh! He's roommates with a recent convert. We're just really working on getting him to church, but just yesterday he says he is an honest seeker for truth which is great! he just needs to put that into practice, which he committed to! 

Please pray for these amazing people. I love them so much! 

This week I've been super obsessed with this "letter" called "Elder Riccardi's Letter" and it is the greatest thing a missionary could read. Not sure where you can find it, but if you do tell everyone about it! Basically, it's about this missionary who is such a fantastic missionary and how to apply these things to our work. Not sure if that made any sense. There's two parts I love: 1. the greatest conversion of your mission is YOU. It's not about the numbers, it's not about the baptisms. It's about bringing others to Christ. And if you are the only one who becomes converted, that's all that Heavenly Father asks of us missionaries. That's why we're here at such a young age. 

2. "If you want to punch Satan in the mouth, open your mouth and preach". Yes. need I say more? Just do it. 

I love you all so much! I love my mission so much and can see how much I've already changed. Thank you for all the support and love, it means a ton.

Smores and summer lightning

Hello everyone, happy Monday! 

Thank you all for the prayers and encouragement, keep it up, it means a ton to me! I'm praying for ya'll and hope that everything has been going well with each of you.

Last P-day we had an awesome event! We were driving home and a lady's car was stuck in the middle of the road (don't worry, it wasn't too dangerous) so we all got out of our car and pushed her car into a parking lot right by! There was five of us so it was easy. Apparently that was her second time this week meeting missionaries so she said it must be a sign (and the fact that she just had her car checked out so really it stopped for no reason) woot woot! We gave her number to the missionaries over her area and hopefully something good will come of it :)

Our little Yazay is doing so well! She bore her testimony to us about how she knows the Book of Mormon is true and that the church has been restored. Way cool! We were so happy. And on Saturday we finally met her mom. We were kind of worried because last time the missionaries met with Yazay (probably two years ago), her mom said she couldn't get baptized because she wasn't old enough to know what she was doing. But when we talked to her mom about it now she was totally fine with it so long as we make sure Yazay understands the commitment she's making. WOO! She was super cool :) Also, her mom was happy because she kept saying how she's never seen Yazay get so into studying the Bible and the Book of Mormon. How cool is that!?

We did some yard work for a member this week. So fun! We seriously love service, but everyone thinks we don't so they won't let us do stuff for them often. But we're dead serious! So if the missionaries ask you if there's anything you can do PLEASE take them up on it! haha. We cleared out a TON of weeds and bushes in her backyard. Anyone who's ever been to Florida has probably seen it before... but there's these GIANT grasshoppers that are just nasty and scary and we're pretty certain they're the same grasshoppers that were part of the plague in Egypt. yup. Just a little fun fact! 

It's been SUPER hot, apparently record breaking for how early in the summer it is... Humidity has been about 90% supposedly? I now understand when everyone says you can't get dry. But I don't mind it too much, you just have to wear your hair up haha. 

We're teaching a preacher! He's super cool. His name is Terry and he was taught maybe a year or two ago but wasn't too interested them. He LOVED Joseph Smith's experience though and he said right then he knew it was true. I just love that! You never know who will be ready for the gospel, that's why we have to share it with everybody! Please pray for Terry! The transition (as it is for everyone) will be tough. 

Happy Summer! Meaning- lightning storms! Nothing very dangerous. Some members had a firepit outside and we had s'mores in the rain- super fun! And they are so great- they offered to help with our investigators, which we don't hear very often. 

I realized I haven't written a ton about my companions, sorry about that! They are straight up hilarious! We have a lot of fun together which I'm thankful for. They both go home soon though so I've attempted helping them fight trunkyness, but there's not much I can do ha. They're just great :) 

Sorry this is so long! Short story long, things are going really well :) Also, if ya'll could email before Monday that would be so great because then I could read them before email time, thank you! Love you all! Keep on keeping on, wherever you may be! 

Sister Woolley

Pictures:

Sister Woolley and I at a dog park.... yes we contacted people at a dog park without dogs. awkward, but hey, what's not awkward about missionary work?

Weddings + testimonies

Hello family and friends! How is everyone doing this week?

It's getting hot. Let's be real, Florida is crazy, but I love it here.

We didn't get to teach a ton this week... it was actually a very slow week with the work. Lots of people dropped us and bailed on lessons. But we talk to everyone we see and got a few new investigators so pray that we can teach them and help them progress! 

Exchanges! Thursday we went on exchanges with the Sister Trainer Leaders (STLs) so Knutson and I stayed with Sister Lynch. Got to bike all day woo! We also went to Texas Roadhouse (not exactly the best place to be as a missionary... but yummy).

We got to help set up for the bishop's son's wedding reception! Oh so fun! I thought of the sisters who helped set up for my sister, Heather's, wedding :) Two of the members there gave us a referral too! But she ended up being in the elder's area... but hey same jersey right?

Gave another talk on Sunday! It was just a short 5 minute one for the ward to get to know me and to bear my testimony. The ward here is really friendly and took to us new sisters quick. That's really comforting because it's rough switching wards already so I'm really thankful they're helping us transition. 

Which leads me to an awesome experience- we had dinner with some members Friday night and they are just the sweetest. We've been sharing the First Vision whenever we see members, in hopes for member referrals. But it's been super spiritual. I LOVE Joseph Smith's first vision and could recite it a gazillion times. We shared it and discussed it with this one member family. I was testifying of receiving answers to prayers and just seeing the mom get tears in her eyes from feeling the spirit is really what I needed that day. This work is just awesome.

In ward council someone was talking about looking for the positive in life. I think that's something I need to apply and everyone could probably apply more! If you're looking for negative you'll find it. But if you want to see miracles and search for happiness you'll find that. Pray! God is waiting to bless you. 

I'm sorry this was so short and uninformative. I love you all!!! I pray for you everyday and hope that everything is going well and ya'll are happy :) Keep on smiling! 

Love,

Sister Woolley 

 the trio! 

helping at a wedding :)

2 Woolley + Knutson = dream team

Hey ya'll!

Wow, it feels like it's been a month since I've emailed... psych it's been a week. haha. And what a great week it was!! For starters, I was transferred to somewhere not too far from Leesburg called Winter Garden. Our Zone includes the temple!! Oh so happy :) Because that means that every week we get to do temple service! It's so amazing getting to be on temple grounds every week. And this last week we got to clean the fountains!! Meaning we got to stand in the water (closest thing ever to swimming on the mission haha) so refreshing! It was fun.

And on to my companions! Yep, that's right, I'm in ANOTHER trio. Crazy! I'm loving it though. But for some unknown reason our Mission President had some fun putting companionships together... or so it seems. If you guessed it, I'm with Sister Knutson and Sister WOOLLEY! President Berry made a really strange comment about how we will find out in the near future why he put us together. We're still confused but it's fun! When we introduce ourselves it's usually...

"Hi! I'm Sister Woolley!"

"I'm Sister Knutson!"

"And I'm... also Sister Woolley"

And then we get weird looks, and "Did you just take her nametag for the day?" "I swear we're not polygamists"... but it's a great opportunity to talk to people about family history work! And no one can use the excuse of forgetting our names haha. 

This area is TINY compared to Leesburg. But that is so nice because it means we get to bike more often and talk to lots more people. We aren't teaching quite as much here but this week there were a lot of miracles we saw with finding people. We're going through names in the Area Book of people who had been close to baptism in the past and we've been contacting them and found a new investigator that way! Her name is Yazay and she is this adorable 14 year old girl. When we met with her for the first time Saturday she still wants to get baptized and knows it's all true! She came to church yesterday and they were talking about the Priesthood in Young Women's and her face just lit up. It was the sweetest thing. Her parents aren't all for her being baptized... so please pray that her mom will start taking the lessons and allow it to happen :)

Another cool miracle! The sisters met a lady named Mary in the McDonald's bathroom last week (the Lord works in mysterious ways) and we taught her the first lesson yesterday. She's been searching for a church for her and her family. She said she would most definitely study the Book of Mormon and come to church and pray about it. WOW! How much more could we ask of her? haha. We've got high hopes for her :)

Some funny events:

A member was feeding us and showed us her swollen ankles and Sister Knutson just let slip "cankles..." I don't know if the member heard but when she left the room we couldn't keep it together haha.

There was this adorable boy we taught the new member lessons to yesterday. He is SO smart but went on to describe how he has "no common sense! Like, I don't even know what that word MEANS" and then he asked Heavenly Father to bless the chocolate we gave him haha.

Anyways! Winter Garden is going to be amazing. I love these sisters and I'm very excited for this new transfer! Thanks for the support and love I receive from each and every one of you. I'm praying for ya'll! 

3 Nephi 13:34 For anyone struggling day by day. Just don't forget to take it one day at a time. Rely on the Lord and put your trust in Him. 

Love,

Sister Woolley

Sister Woolley, Sister Woolley, and Sister Knutson :) 

Love + laughs in Leesburg

How are all my beautiful friends and family doing this week??

Let me just start by saying how quickly this transfer flew by! And.... I'm getting transferred :( It's interesting because you typically know (thanks to the spirit) before you find out and I knew I'd be leaving I just didn't want to accept it. So when we got the call we were pretty upset but hey! The Lord just needs me somewhere else and that's pretty neat :) but! There were SO many miracles this week and seriously this area is booming.

 I got to say a talk in sacrament meeting yesterday because it was "missionary Sunday". It was cool because the Ward mission leader had asked elder Wilson and I to speak and it turns out both of us are leaving! Oh my goodness, yesterday was just amazing. You guys! JR came to church and so did one of my favorite families ever, the Warrens!!! Her first time back at church in probably 15 years and his first time EVER in any church! Made my life. I'm just so happy!! We starting teach John Warren, slowly but surely :) took pictures with my favorite Ward members. I'm so happy to have gotten to serve here and meet so many wonderful people. Can't wait to come back and visit eventually!

Back to last week. Monday evening we had some fun teaching a less active family the primary song "Book of Mormon stories" - ohh so fun. Lately we've been teaching some younger kids so it's been interesting thinking of fun and entertaining ways to teach!

The first half of this week was very much a trial of my faith, and it seemed to be like that for a lot of the missionaries in my District. Ether 12:6 people, look it up! But it was amazing to see how at first, everything was falling through but as we kept going and ended up finding a new investigator! Woo! That's a miracle. 

Now let me rant about member missionaries for a second--- oh my goodness two of my most favorite people here are Shelley and Stewart Polsoni! They're the ones who we did yard work for last week and I just LOVE them. They've been coming to most of our lessons with JR and they have just been so awesome! What's really neat too is that they haven't been to church in a while because of different issues but they made time to go to Book of Mormon class on wednesday with JR and then to church on Sunday with JR too! AHHH. I can't describe my happiness :)))

Really cool side note that I hope I can explain alright...

On Friday we committed JR to be baptized on June 27th! His response was hilarious but he's excited to keep learning :) When I said goodbye to Stewart Polsoni I told him he's going to baptized JR. He then told me how, before Friday's lesson, before he even knew we were going to commit JR to baptism, he told his family that he was planning on baptizing him next month. Then we threw out the date that night. AH. It's going to happen, please pray for him!! 

Our sweet girl Hannah leaves today for Michigan and will be getting baptized on Sunday up there! We had an awesome lesson with her and her mom yesterday about the temple and she can't wait to go :) it's amazing to see such a young girl be so committed to be baptized and living righteously.

Sorry this was so long. There are so many amazing people here that I really am sad to leave. I'm so excited for those getting baptized this next transfer: JR, Hannah, the little Murray kids. Nonetheless I am excited for a new adventure and I know the sisters here will take good care of them. 

Stay awesome my dears! Pray for Leesburg, it's the greatest place ever :) I'll let you know next week where I end up!! 

Love,

Sister Woolley

Murray family!!

 Awesome district... going to miss them

 The Polsoni couple :)

Hannah!!! 

Elders and the Westerns

 Caught a frog + a lizard... just call he the gator hunter ;)

Dale :)

 The Warrens at church!

 Betty :)

Sisters + fro yo! :)