New Years Adam Eve...?

Wello!!! <--- What hahaha I can't spell or type to save my life, but now I am too far ahead to change it back. Oh well hahaha.

Hello!!! How was your Christmas Week? Was it amazing? I sure hope so! 

This week was the bomb.com. Fo'sho. 

Monday- We went to Springfield for a Christmas Family Home Evening with like 3 zones. It was at a family's home and there were like 60 missionaries there. It was fun! We saw T! Gah I love her! 

Tuesday- We got to see S for the first time in a while! I love her and she has had miracle after miracle happen! We also had dinner with the LB's and we had a great Webex with President about King Benjamin's speech. 

Wednesday- Christmas Eve! We went to the Y's Home and the S's and the LR's were there too. We had a wonderful dinner and then we did an Nativity play. Sister W, Sister G and I were "The three Wise Sista's!" ahaha It was great!

Thursday- Merry Christmas! I woke up at 6:00 and I stared at the Christmas tree for a half hour while my comp was in the shower. Then we had breakfast with the R's and we opened presents. I got a Loki bobble head doll from my family... I might have shrieked with joy when I saw it haha. He did have a knife so I had to cover that up ahahaha... Now he is "Elder Loki". It is very likely that he will be in many future pictures. We then went and Skyped our families. It was so great to see them! What a blessing technology is! Good stuff! We then had dinner at the F's. It was fondue and it was amazing. SO GOOD! They showed us the Piano Guys and David Archuleta Nativity thing on youtube... Oh my word. #Obsessed. Oh and they have a fish that is named Mikey Bubbles...(Michael Buble in Fish)

Friday- District Meeting was great! we also got to see a bunch of referrals that have been coming in like crazy! So cool! I also almost chopped off my finger with my CTR ring ahaha... It caught on the trunk and I slammed it down. Needless to say my ring is now on my left hand and it is awkwardly sitting there like a promise ring even though it is from Nana haha. #righton

Saturday- We hoped to be able to Skype some online investigators that I have been talking to but they both cancelled. Sad day. So we went and visited some of the elderly ladies in the ward and it was time well spent with them. 

Sunday- We went to church and it was wonderful! Last Sunday of 2014! A and M both were out of town which was a bummer but they will be here next week! I think the most exciting thing that happened yesterday was about our December goal.

So our mission for the month of December has had a goal to get 100 recent converts (Baptized within this year) to the temple to do Baptisms for their own family names and as of Saturday we have had 96! We only have E, who was baptized in June, and she has been to the temple only once before so we texted A, one of the Youth that is going on his mission in like 20 days, and we are now going to the temple on Wednesday with E and A! So exciting!!!!!! God is a God of Miracles! 

Well, I love you all and I hope that you have a great New Year!

Lets make 2015 THE BEST!!! 

Love,

Sister Alexander

 

 



 

Picture 1: Elder Loki

Picture 2: Everyone needs a Christmas Cat shirt.... 

PS. What are your New Years Resolutions?

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Merry Christmas!

How fast has this year gone by! Craziness! It feels like it was just yesterday that I was bugging Bishop Brooksby at the New Year's Party about starting my mission papers and now I have almost been out here for 6 months!  This week was super busy but super awesome! 

Monday- We filmed for our Zone Video... which turned out okay. The elements were hilarious but it was super quiet and choppy... Its all good though. Our scene was good haha. We did a video about how Salt Lake was getting complaints about how Missionaries don't know how to answer their phones when the mission president calls so the MTC created a video on how to NOT answer your phone. For our part we passed around the phone because none of us answered it and then finally Sister Grant did and she just goes, "Hello this is Sister Alexander," and it zooms to my face all half annoyed/half shocked and then down to my name tag. People laughed so it was good haha. What they didn't know was that Sister G has done that to me before hahaha the punk.

Tuesday-We had exchanges and so Sister G went to Bridgeport and then Sister S came to Madison with Sister W and I. We got to visit a bunch of people and we had dinner with the cutest family ever. They own a sewing machine repair shop and she is pretty much Etsy and Pinterest in a house. Oh, and they have two little girls with bright red hair. Precious. 

Wednesday- We finally were able to go back to Service at the Soup Kitchen. I love those people! We also had to get an oil change #milesgalore

Thursday- We woke up at 4:00 am and drove to Boston for the first ever Digital Mission Conference. It was great! The only sad part... no more Pinterest aha. It wasn't as good at finding people as they wanted it to be. It is whatever though because it will be there when I get back. It has been nice being away from it all. 

Friday- We spent the night at the Digital Mission Sister's apartment and then we got to go to the temple and we had our Christmas Conference.

Fun Fact: The last name of the person that I went through the temple for.. "Bailey" it was cool. The Conference was wonderful. It was Music and some talks from the mission presidency and then we had dinner and our videos. Then, oh my goodness we each got a package from home and I got the cutest one haha!  It was a sunshine package and I loved it. It had so much fun stuff! then we had to drive home the 2.5 hours. Tired.

Saturday- We had our Ward Christmas Party and guess what? there were 31 non-members there! It was amazing! We are definitely going to be busy these next couple of weeks. 

Sunday- I love Christmas Sunday. First off, we woke up to snow. Everywhere. It was glorious!  We had both A and M at church, and it was all Hymns and scriptures. It was beautiful. Our lesson in Relief Society was given by the wonderful Sister S, and it was awesome. Here are some little tidbits that struck me. 

The prophet, Joseph Fielding Smith once said to a group of people, "I pray for the end of the world," and a woman spoke up and said, "I sure hope not!" So Sister S explained that the righteous need not worry. He also said, when asked when the 2nd coming will be, "Tomorrow". 

Then Sister S talked about the holidays and the stress that comes from shopping and cooking and entertaining and how long our lists must be and how we make sure that everything gets done. Then she paused and said, "Shouldn't it be the same for our preparation for the 2nd coming?"

Shouldn't we have a long list of people to see and scriptures to read and things to pray about and repent for and shouldn't we be panicking about those things not being done even more than we are about a commercialized holiday, that is supposed to be a time of peace and rest and thought? Yeah, just some food for thought.

Holiday urgency< 2nd coming urgency.

Think about it. 

I am so grateful to be on a mission, for my Heavenly Father. That I get to share my joy and peace with people from all over the world. I am so grateful for the gift of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and that I get this next year to represent him as though he was here walking where I am. Christmas is such a wonderful season. Take a step back and remember the true meaning of Christmas. christmas.mormon.org  

I love you all and I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas!!!!! 

Love,

Sister Alexander

 

 

Picture: SNOW! Isn't is beautiful!?!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Hello All! This week has been crazy and awesome wrapped in a fun little package. Like a Christmas package ahaha! 

Monday- We had dinner with one of our favorite families, the S's. They have 4 boys under the age of 10 and T, the youngest, gets in trouble for "attempting to kill his brothers with unforgivable curses" Needless to say, they love Harry Potter, and we love them. 

Tuesday- It was raining like crazy but we had a lot of fun driving all over our area trying to see referrals then we had dinner at the LR's and they are a blast! 

Wednesday- We had Book of Mormon night, and A and M both came! We had a great time and the spirit was super strong! We read Moroni 10. Great chapter! 

Thursday- The Digital Elders came down and showed us how stinking awesome the digital mission is! So far I have 3 potential investigators who I just need to have a skype lesson with and then they will be real ones! Woot! OH! And we woke up to SNOW!!! Like on the ground! But it melted by noon but still SNOW!!! :)

Friday- We had Zone Meeting and it was great! Pretty much all of the Elders and Sisters here can play the piano... except for me ahaha. But our District Leader, Elder L (not to be confused with our zone leader Elder L haha) Knows all of the Charlie Brown Christmas songs... talk about memories ahaha. He plays the main Charlie Brown song and all I think of is dad kicking Corben off of the piano so he can play the one song that he knows ahaha. I will have to have him teach me it so both dad and I learned it on our missions :) We also had dinner or "A Christmas Party" with C. I love that woman. She is adorable. 

Saturday- The Stake puts on a Christmas Concert every year (for like the past 26 years) and we got to be the ushers for both of the shows. It was great! One of the men in our ward is super deadpan and monotone whenever we talk to him but when he was singing in the choir, it was the most adorable thing I have ever seen. He was so animated and happy and oh my word I love that man. It is good to know that he gets excited about something. 

Sunday- We had A, M and M all come to church! It was wonderful! I love the Christmas season! We are so blessed to know of our Father in Heaven's love for us and to know that Jesus Christ truly is the Ultimate Gift! 

Well, I love you all, and I hope that you all experience the wonderful Christmas Spirit that I have been feeling! 

Be Good! 

Love,

Sister Alexander

The Tres Amigas...Wait...What?

This week was full of... well a lot of surprises! So, Lets start form the beginning! 

Monday- P-Day. We went to Woodbridge (the Stake center) and we played this game of soccer... yeah, thats right. I played sports for fun... haha we each had a chair that we guarded and if your chair was touched by the soccer ball you had to sit down and try to catch the ball with your hands to get back in the game. I pretty much yelled and shrieked the whole time but it was fun :) 

Tuesday- Well, Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday went a lot different than we had planned... 

Tuesday morning before the Book of Mormon webex we get a text from who we thought was our new STL who is now serving in Bridgeport saying, "Hey Sisters! What is our address?" Needless to say we were a bit confused and I of course went into a panic ahaha. We got to the church and we looked at the mission adjustments document online that shows who is being transferred and who they are going to be with and all that jazz and we scroll down to Madison and Lo and Behold we see...

S. Alexander   S. M. W   S. Grant

WHAT???  We totally called the AP's very confused not only because we had no idea that we were going to be in a trio, but both of the Sister W's in the mission have their first name that starts with the letter M!!!! Who was it!!! Oh that and we didn't have like any room in the apartment for a 3rd person... so that is what we spent Tuesday doing... figuring out where to put beds, when we get one for her, without covering the heaters and catching anything or anyone on fire... Wahhooo haha. 

Wednesday- We drove up to Weston to pick up our new companion Sister W, and guess who I got to see??? Sister G!!!! My "Mom"!!! It was so awesome to see her, and to hear her departing testimony! Gah! I love that girl. Oh and it was pouring again... haha poor Sister G had to drive in the rain for another 4 hours. 

Thursday- We found out that Sister W is a Digital Missionary, and GUESS WHAT?!? We now are too!!! We are on Pinterest and on Facebook everyday spreading the goodness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That's right. I have totally stalked you all on facebook aha. No, but seriously if you have any friends that you think could use a boost you can ask me for a video or quote and I will more than likely have one on hand hahaha. I cant message friends from back home but I can send and post links and good stuff like that :) 

Friday- Our first District Meeting and every single companionship had changed! It was crazy! It was great though. I was asked to give the training on making sure that you always have Christ centered lessons. Christ is why we are out here! Of course we should bring everything back to him!

Saturday- Everyone cancelled on us and it was raining like crazy so we went and saw our friend P, who is like 87? and she is precious. She lives in the Old Folks Pemberly. It is ridiculous. 

Sunday- We had a Fantastic Sunday! A wasn't there, total bummer but M was! We also had a lesson with him and he is pretty much golden! He is really interested in the Gospel and he is already reading the Book of Mormon and he downloaded the Gospel Library app onto his iPod after 20 minutes of looking for it without knowing what it was called! Oh and guess what... it was 27 degrees outside yesterday. That is stinkin' cold. 

'Twas a wonderful week. We are super excited to have a trio, and to be a part of the digital mission! 

Love you all!

Watch this video!

 http://www.mormon.org/christmas?cid=HPFR112814529

It's good!!!! Okay... It's the BEST!!! Hahaha 

Be good!

Love, 

Sister Alexander

 

 

Sister G would not cooperate ahahaha 

#November2Remember

WHAT A WEEK!!!!!

Oh my lanta, the Lord is good!!!
This week we have seen so many miracles! So much awesomeness that I am seriously stalling with all of this because I have no idea where to even begin!

How about with Monday!
Monday- We went shopping and I found cat socks... like... 4 pairs. heh.heh.heh. Totally got them. 

Tuesday-We had our Book of Mormon Web conference. We read Alma 26, which is Ammon, a missionary in the Book of Mormon, praising and thanking God for allowing him to serve and share the Gospel. My favorite verses are verses 11 and 12, after Ammon's older brother warns Ammon that he sounds like he is boasting. 

 

11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength,nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
 12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak ;therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

 Wednesday- We went and served at the soup kitchen, and guess what? There was a new kid volunteering and our conversation went like this

"Oh hey, you are LDS?" 

"Yup, we sure are, we are missionaries!" 

"Oh that is cool! I live right down the street from a Mormon church!"

"Oh the one in Madison?"

*Surprised look on his face*

"Yeah!"

"Oh cool! That is the one that we are assigned to!"

"Really? What times are services? They have a Family History thing in there too right? I think that it is super cool that you guys do that, but I have never gotten around to checking it out."

We told him the times and stuff and then we got his info and he texted us first! He couldn't come to church, but he is going to try to come to the family history center sometime this week! WOOT!! #Miraclenumberonemillion

OH AND IT SNOWED!!!! I will totes send a picture.

Thursday-Thanksgiving! And it snowed all day! Nice little flurries that didn't stick but were sooooooo pretty out the windows as we were eating. I made a list of 100 things that I am grateful for. It was hard but really nice to be able to look back at it and be reminded how truly blessed that I am. We ate at the S's house. They are so fun. The turkey was awesome. We played scrabble... I won, Grammy should be proud :)

We also went to the VDM's, or rather F's(Their grandma). We helped put up her Christmas tree and make decorations for it, all while listening to Christmas music and watching the snow fall :) It was a great day. 

Friday- We had District Meeting and we were supposed to get T-texts but they wanted them to be perfect so we had to wait. It felt like forever. After district meeting we went to Boston Market... and got Thanksgiving food... because we were craving sweet potatoes. We had dinner with C and we watched a couple talks from general conference with her. She fell asleep. So cute. 

Saturday-We went to L's and we saw Sister G. That night we got T-texts and....

I AM STAYING IN MADISON!!!!

#ChristmasinConnecticut #hallelujah #soexcite 

#miraclenumberbazillion

We are the only companionship in the district that didn't get touched. I am so grateful for that!

We also had our 77th baptism on Saturday... What? 77? But the goal was 70??? WOOOHOOOO!!!! 

Sunday- Church was awesome. A was there. So was M, who came to the open house, and M who was our only investigator when we first got here. It was a wonderful 3 hours all about family history. I really wish I had done more when I was still at home! 

Then, we ran out to the car with E and A and A and we drove to Woodbridge for a baptism so that A could see one. It was wonderful. The man's name is S and he was so happy. His whole family was there and he was so grateful. After he was baptized I turned to E and Sister G and they were both crying. Good thing I wasn't the only one! haha. Then I turned to A and his mouth was slightly agape and he just goes, "That is really powerful," I just nodded. Then after the prayer I asked him how he liked it and he said, "I didn't think that something could be more powerful than sacrament meeting or church but that was." and I was just like, "Just imagine yours," and he said, "I know, I was just thinking that," and then I told him that the feeling that he was feeling was the Holy Ghost and that when we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we can feel the feeling all the time. He just said, "Well, that would be nice," Then the Elders asked him how he liked it and if he had a baptismal date and he just goes, "I do," and they asked when and he said "I am actually going to move it up," We don't have a definite date but he wants to do it before A goes on his mission which is on like January 21st so.... needless to say we screamed in the car when we left hahaha. 

Then we had a lesson with L and S. S had a lot of questions about the Plan of Salvation. Oh! And E told us that L thinks that is it ridiculous that A hasn't been baptized yet... uhmmmm aight...

That night we had a mission-wide conference call for our #mbm70 goal. President told us about tons of miracles that had happened around the mission and then he announced, along with Sister Packard that the Massachusetts Boston Mission, for the month of November 2014 has helped 100 people enter into the waters of baptism. 100!!!!!!!! I should make it bold or something because we got 

100 BAPTISMS THIS MONTH!!

 Oh my goodness I totally cried. 

 

 12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak ;therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

 

God is Great. This is His true gospel once again restored on this earth and he has a plan for each and every one of us. I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Know that you are loved infinitely by a being that is far greater and more powerful than you can imagine. I have felt that love in my life and I am so grateful for it. 

I love you all. 

Be good

Love,

Sister Alexander

#mbm100 :)