Heavenly Father loves us so much! I hope everyone knows that. I have never felt that so strongly in my life. Believe it! OK so some big news from Belgium...As you may recall, Sr Orton is my trainer and the expectation was that she was going to finish out her mission here in Liege at the end of the next transfer. She had extended and I think she was excited to finish with me:) Well, she has been having some pretty awful back problems and it has been decided that she is going to go home at the end of this transfer when it was originally scheduled aka Wednesday. Sr Carson is going to open St Quentin (spelling? sorry!) SOOOO I am inheriting LIEGE! My new companion is going to be Sr Shannon from Ireland! She has been out since June so were going to be a relatively young companionship. I am sad to see Sr Orton and Sr Carson leave, it has been easy to do the work with them. It was instant love and having to move on is going to be hard! I know I have mentioned this before but it is difficult to learn to love someone so fast and then have to move in different directions. I have been so blessed to have Sr Orton as a trainer. I know were not supposed to have graven images but I seriously idolize her. If I could be half the missionary she is I would be proud. Anyway...just like New Jersey, I am seeing that the Lord TRUSTS us! We just have to have faith in that trust he has in us. I read 1 Ne 17:3 just this morning. I know that if Heavenly Father wants something to happen, he will provide a way...Even if it is through my weak self. He is our Father who loves us more than we can possibly comprehend, he wants the best for us and he will provide a way to make that happen. Sorry for not being able to type out these scriptures but I only have my scriptures in French and trying to type in French would eat up all the time I have. I also read D&C 11 today, read it. It is so amazing. When we have desire to serve, we are used in the way the Lord needs us. Mmm, time is so short! Your trip to Connecticut looks like so much fun! I'm only sad I couldn't have helped carry the kids down. PREPARATION is key, family! hahaa Im glad everyone survived. I love you all so much. Our window overlooks the city and the river and the colors are gorgeous. We are far apart but Heavenly Father lets us share in his beauty together. Teaching and finding and talking are so much fun. I am still working on doing more than testifying but Heavenly Father has been so good to me. My french is coming along and the members are so willing to help me out. They love teaching me and I love learning. The members here are incredible. We ate raclette last night with the Fonicellos and loved how european it felt. The people are so kind and I am excited to develop relationships with them. It's funny....I can't speak french but again, we are able to develop relationships routed in testimony. We don't really have to be able to have in depth conversations to be able to relate to people. I must go but know that I love you. I pray for you everyday and so love hearing from you. Keep working hard and praying every chance you get.
Sr Powers
O so Brussels exchange was awesome...I was there with Sr Flood's trainer and a Dutch sister! For language study we read the BOM in French, Dutch and Portugese (sr flood's trainer) so cool to feel the stone cut out without hands!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Dearest Family,
Last week I figured out how to change the keyboard into English but I haven't been able to figure it out at this new place...forgive all the mistakes to come. Good to hear that life is still good in VA/CT. I remember going to one of those seminary reunions with you dad. I am excited at the prospect of one day getting to do the same thing with Sis Delhoyo! When is Josh going through the temple? I suggest earlier rather than later...get in as many times as possible! How was the birthday celebration for mom? Hadley...how is school? Have you started basketball? Have you heard from the Quinns how the wedding went? Love the news from home! Liege remains beautiful and cold! The week has been absolutely jam packed with miracles, love and hilarity. Apparently the other day I prayed and blessed the woman with death and with liver! In short the french is coming along nicely:) Because i can't type very fast i am going to include just the highlights...we were doing a consecrated hour on Wenesday and after a series of events we were reffered by this muslim man to go knock on a door that had a bunch of christians living their. The doorbell didn't work but the door was open so we decided to go in and knock the doors. We climed to the top of the stairase and found this family who had just moved there from Kosovo 3 days ago. The house was COMPLETELY trashed and the family was doing their best to clean. Turns out they could speak 8 languages between them but not English or French...we managed to get them to allow us to return and we spent a while at their house on Friday cleaning. Incredible faith and we are taking a russian speaker zith us next week to teach them. Amazing we have been doing a lot member passbys since i have been here to find out who wants to have home teachers. Last week we found this woman who is so solid. She was so strong in the church but some things happened that weren't so good and she hasn't been back for 12 years. Long story short we had talked to her, had the wml go over and the elders also stopped by. When we went by two days ago she told us she is coming back. Ahh betwenn inability to type and express myself these stories hardly seem as amazing as they were. I guess all I can say is that Heavenly Father is so involved in His work and that miracles are all over the place. We just need to work our hardest to keep up with Him. One last quickish thought. I was studying in Alma 37 and loved where he talks about how we need to teach people to hate sin and then later he talks about how easy it is to live the gospel. Its so hard to see how real satan is and how he is so good at making what the wolrd teaches as the easy and entertaining path. dont let him get you! anyways I love you all... I am leaving tonight for an exchange in brussels and am so excited! I'll keep you updated bisou!!!! soeur powers
Last week I figured out how to change the keyboard into English but I haven't been able to figure it out at this new place...forgive all the mistakes to come. Good to hear that life is still good in VA/CT. I remember going to one of those seminary reunions with you dad. I am excited at the prospect of one day getting to do the same thing with Sis Delhoyo! When is Josh going through the temple? I suggest earlier rather than later...get in as many times as possible! How was the birthday celebration for mom? Hadley...how is school? Have you started basketball? Have you heard from the Quinns how the wedding went? Love the news from home! Liege remains beautiful and cold! The week has been absolutely jam packed with miracles, love and hilarity. Apparently the other day I prayed and blessed the woman with death and with liver! In short the french is coming along nicely:) Because i can't type very fast i am going to include just the highlights...we were doing a consecrated hour on Wenesday and after a series of events we were reffered by this muslim man to go knock on a door that had a bunch of christians living their. The doorbell didn't work but the door was open so we decided to go in and knock the doors. We climed to the top of the stairase and found this family who had just moved there from Kosovo 3 days ago. The house was COMPLETELY trashed and the family was doing their best to clean. Turns out they could speak 8 languages between them but not English or French...we managed to get them to allow us to return and we spent a while at their house on Friday cleaning. Incredible faith and we are taking a russian speaker zith us next week to teach them. Amazing we have been doing a lot member passbys since i have been here to find out who wants to have home teachers. Last week we found this woman who is so solid. She was so strong in the church but some things happened that weren't so good and she hasn't been back for 12 years. Long story short we had talked to her, had the wml go over and the elders also stopped by. When we went by two days ago she told us she is coming back. Ahh betwenn inability to type and express myself these stories hardly seem as amazing as they were. I guess all I can say is that Heavenly Father is so involved in His work and that miracles are all over the place. We just need to work our hardest to keep up with Him. One last quickish thought. I was studying in Alma 37 and loved where he talks about how we need to teach people to hate sin and then later he talks about how easy it is to live the gospel. Its so hard to see how real satan is and how he is so good at making what the wolrd teaches as the easy and entertaining path. dont let him get you! anyways I love you all... I am leaving tonight for an exchange in brussels and am so excited! I'll keep you updated bisou!!!! soeur powers
Monday, October 12, 2009
Mon Famille!
I LOVE LIEGE! Considering the fact that everyone already looked up my apartment in Liege...you know that I am here! When I walked out of customs I scanned the crowd for the President...scanned again and noone! :) I wondered if it was some kind of candid camera test...would I start contacting ASAP?! Alas...they were just running late! President and Sister Brubaker are incredible. In response to your question Chelsey, I would say he is most like President Burton, the perfect combo. The arrrival pictures are a little rough looking but I don't know if I expected much different.I couldn't be happier. Honestly, I feel so incredibly blessed. I am serving with Sisters Orton and Carson. Sis Orton is my trainer. She is from Ceder City and couldn't be more amazing. She has been here for more than a year aka she goes home in December and I have so much to learn from her. I am in awe of her every moment we spend together. Last night she got really sick and when we came home to plan she threw-up, crawled to the bedroom, changed her clothes, came back into the kitchen and said...'OK time to plan.' The dedication is unbelievable and I feel so blessed to learn from her. She likes to tell stories and I am ALL EARS. Sr Carson is also amazing. She is from Indiana and a Public Health major at BYU. She speaks French beautifully and is always willing to help me! She came into the field already knowing the language so that has been a blessing. The way the sisters work is awe-inspiring. It would be easy to just sit back and let them do their thing BUT I am doing my best to jump in when I can. I am the resident prayer because that is about all I can do without stammering! I am beginning to be able to decifer what is being said and can tell that there is a whole lot more than my own brain power at work! We serve in both Liege I and Liege II branches. Liege I is everything north of the The Meuse and Liege II is everything south. Our apartment is on the 10th floor of the building and overlooks the Meuse. It has been gorgeous here with the leaves changing. It reminds me a lot of home. Yesterday we were in a city that was a little bit farther out and walked under some tunnel trees. It made me think of the Harper Lane bike rides. The members here are also incredible. They have been so welcoming. I bore my testimony in both meetings yesterday and only fumbled a coule of times. After the meetings everyone came up and started babbling at me in French...I guess I fooled them! One of the sisters told me I reminded her of Princess Diana:) I'll take that. Liege is a city of miracles. We have been so blessed to be able to spend time doing member passbys and contacting people along the way. Really quick I want to share something that happened on Thursday. We do what are called consecrated hours everyday. We take time the night before during planning to find a street that we need to go to find who Heavenly Father wants us to find. We go to the street, pray and then do our best to follow the spirit to find the people who are searching for truth. Well, as we started our prayer...it started to POUR. Cats and dogs. We opened our umbrellas and ran to the first door. The man who opened the door goes...:"Come in...I'll give you 5 mins." 45 mins Later...this Muslim man had a Book of Mormon and a return appointment AND the sun was shining. So amazing. ANd it keeps happeneing! Ok I have to go a couple of quick things - 1. Only Family can email 2. YEA for LEONA AND FANNY!!! I am so proud of them and happy for ADE, tell them I love them 3. Did Courtney get accepted to Parson school of design? there is a member here whose daughter wants to go there...if so can I Courtneys phone number sis Finocello wants to call her. I LOVE YOU!
I LOVE LIEGE! Considering the fact that everyone already looked up my apartment in Liege...you know that I am here! When I walked out of customs I scanned the crowd for the President...scanned again and noone! :) I wondered if it was some kind of candid camera test...would I start contacting ASAP?! Alas...they were just running late! President and Sister Brubaker are incredible. In response to your question Chelsey, I would say he is most like President Burton, the perfect combo. The arrrival pictures are a little rough looking but I don't know if I expected much different.I couldn't be happier. Honestly, I feel so incredibly blessed. I am serving with Sisters Orton and Carson. Sis Orton is my trainer. She is from Ceder City and couldn't be more amazing. She has been here for more than a year aka she goes home in December and I have so much to learn from her. I am in awe of her every moment we spend together. Last night she got really sick and when we came home to plan she threw-up, crawled to the bedroom, changed her clothes, came back into the kitchen and said...'OK time to plan.' The dedication is unbelievable and I feel so blessed to learn from her. She likes to tell stories and I am ALL EARS. Sr Carson is also amazing. She is from Indiana and a Public Health major at BYU. She speaks French beautifully and is always willing to help me! She came into the field already knowing the language so that has been a blessing. The way the sisters work is awe-inspiring. It would be easy to just sit back and let them do their thing BUT I am doing my best to jump in when I can. I am the resident prayer because that is about all I can do without stammering! I am beginning to be able to decifer what is being said and can tell that there is a whole lot more than my own brain power at work! We serve in both Liege I and Liege II branches. Liege I is everything north of the The Meuse and Liege II is everything south. Our apartment is on the 10th floor of the building and overlooks the Meuse. It has been gorgeous here with the leaves changing. It reminds me a lot of home. Yesterday we were in a city that was a little bit farther out and walked under some tunnel trees. It made me think of the Harper Lane bike rides. The members here are also incredible. They have been so welcoming. I bore my testimony in both meetings yesterday and only fumbled a coule of times. After the meetings everyone came up and started babbling at me in French...I guess I fooled them! One of the sisters told me I reminded her of Princess Diana:) I'll take that. Liege is a city of miracles. We have been so blessed to be able to spend time doing member passbys and contacting people along the way. Really quick I want to share something that happened on Thursday. We do what are called consecrated hours everyday. We take time the night before during planning to find a street that we need to go to find who Heavenly Father wants us to find. We go to the street, pray and then do our best to follow the spirit to find the people who are searching for truth. Well, as we started our prayer...it started to POUR. Cats and dogs. We opened our umbrellas and ran to the first door. The man who opened the door goes...:"Come in...I'll give you 5 mins." 45 mins Later...this Muslim man had a Book of Mormon and a return appointment AND the sun was shining. So amazing. ANd it keeps happeneing! Ok I have to go a couple of quick things - 1. Only Family can email 2. YEA for LEONA AND FANNY!!! I am so proud of them and happy for ADE, tell them I love them 3. Did Courtney get accepted to Parson school of design? there is a member here whose daughter wants to go there...if so can I Courtneys phone number sis Finocello wants to call her. I LOVE YOU!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
On to Belgium...
So Sister Powers is off! She left Monday at 5 p.m. for Belgium and arrived around 5 a.m. Belgium time! Exciting! It sounded like she had mixed feelings, glad to finally be getting to her assigned mission but she really did love her companion and the good situation she found in New Jersey. She really enjoyed being with a companion who was also really new to the mission because she felt like they were evenly yoked. Her branch was also awesome and she enjoyed the people while she was there. Off to new things - make sure to send your mail to Belgium!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
MTC-ing
Yeah, finally, some pictures for the fan club! Just makes you want to be a missionary!
Fun shot with the Sisters
The District
Else Birk Elder Call Elder Weber Sr Flood Sr Powers Elder Acorda
With Sr Earl and Sr Flood in front of the Temple. Sr Earl got temporarily assigned to Milwaukee while she waits for her visa...I got her so excited for CUSTARD!
Another shot with Sister Earl. This picture is a little goofy but perfectly illustrates our relationship. Wow, she is unbelievable. It has only been two days since she's left and I miss her like crazy.
The 1st set of roommates- they have been in Texas for a month now!
Sis Aing Me Sr Flood Sis Maxwell Sis Hansen
Me Elder Weber (German) Elder Birk (Danish)
Elder Rogers (Cedar City) Elder Acorday (Canadiana Philipino)
Laundry Room Fun!
Elder Zacherl (also German) Elder Acorda
This one is for you Josh- Hoorah for Israel!
With Sr Earl and Sr Flood in front of the Temple. Sr Earl got temporarily assigned to Milwaukee while she waits for her visa...I got her so excited for CUSTARD!
Another shot with Sister Earl. This picture is a little goofy but perfectly illustrates our relationship. Wow, she is unbelievable. It has only been two days since she's left and I miss her like crazy.
The 1st set of roommates- they have been in Texas for a month now!
Sis Aing Me Sr Flood Sis Maxwell Sis Hansen
Me Elder Weber (German) Elder Birk (Danish)Elder Rogers (Cedar City) Elder Acorday (Canadiana Philipino)
Laundry Room Fun!
Elder Zacherl (also German) Elder AcordaElder Randall Sister Flood Elder Birk
This one is for you Josh- Hoorah for Israel!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
