Birthday!! December 9, 2013 email

I had a great birthday! And I actually got your birthday package on Monday so I was DYING all week - but more on that later.

This week was really good! It was time for exchanges with the STLs again. I stayed here in 5th ward with Sister Jones and, once again, learned a lot from her. Oh, and here's a fun tale: So, Sister Keihle is the assigned driver, so I haven't driven this transfer. When Sister Keihle was gone, I got to drive. Guess what happened on Wednesday, when we had exchanges? We got somewhere between 6 to 8 inches of snow. Yippee!! I hate driving in snow, but it must be done. I didn't wreck anything or hurt anyone, so we're all good here.

This week we re-put our investigator Debbie on date for this Saturday! She's getting baptized! We're so excited for her. We also put Joyce on date for January 4th. Joyce is a little nervous and isn't sure if she'll be ready by then... She's going to be SO READY! Joyce is easily the most prepared investigator I have ever met. I taught her with Sister Jones on Wednesday, and after we left Sister Jones told me that Joyce was the most golden investigator ever. I love her so much, and not just for that. Joyce has such a desire to learn. She has said that she had been looking for a home and that she thinks she's found it. Oh the joy!!!

Sister Keihle and I taught the HARDEST lesson of our lives on Thursday. It was to this couple who were asking us these deep, doctrinal questions. They were mostly about the nature of the Godhead and the premortal life. oh boy. We were not smart enough to adequately answer them. Brother Groves, our ward mission leader, said that we should take him to our next lesson with them. (Brother Groves is a lawyer... and you can tell. Hahaha.)

So, my birthday was on Friday. Sister Keihle made me pancakes for breakfast, the singles ward sisters took me out for lunch (at this sandwich restaurant called Which Wich?, which is really good!), we did service, and we had our ward Christmas party! Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling too well on that day and was really tired. I asked the elders to give me a blessing. It was really great and I really, really appreciated it. I also realized that that was only the 2nd time in my life I've gotten a blessing of healing. Sadly, on Saturday I had to spend the day in bed. I had a case of stomach flu and I really wasn't able to do much. Which is the WORST as a missionary because all you want to do is work!! But I recovered pretty swiftly and was totally ready for church on Sunday (after seeking some much-needed "mom advice" from Sister Rasmussen, one of our ward missionaries").

Thank you so much for all the love you sent me for my birthday! It was a great day and a great week! By next Monday I'll be able to tell you if I'm staying or being transferred! Stay tuned!

Love you!!!!

Love, Sister Noakes

So, like I mentioned - lot of snow Tuesday night. A little more fell on Saturday night as well. This is apparently very un-Grand Junction like, but oh well. I haven't fallen on ice, at least not yet.

Oh, so funny quote of the week: at the ward Christmas party we sat with the Steeles (that's Brittanie's family, who we had Sister Keihle's birthday dinner with? Yeah? Okay). As they were leaving Sister Keihle mentioned that it was my birthday, and Sister Steele goes "What, it's your birthday? We could have fed you raw chicken!" I laughed a lot.

Birthday pictures! I didn't get to make the brownies you sent yet, but Sister Cope and Sister Joslin brought over that brownie with the candle in the morning, and I blew out the candle that night. Haven't eaten the brownies yet since I hadn't been feeling too great. Hahahaha. (Please ignore how huge my forehead looks in that one picture....)

 

Birthday banner and birthday girl (20!)

Birthday brownie! (Thanks Sister "J" and Sister "C"!)

No birthday's complete without a Princess crown for Princess Sarah!

Sister Noakes and Sister "C"

Sister Noakes and Sister "J"

ONE DEGREE??!! Sigh ...

November 18, 2013 -- Elder Ballard, Stake Conference

Our conference was incredible! It is a privilege to be in the presence of one who is called of God to be a special witness of His Son, Jesus Christ. Elder Ballard talked during the Saturday evening session about the hastening of the work, and it sounds a lot like he talked about similar things during your Sunday session. On Sunday he talked about becoming better by doing those small and simple things - studying the scriptures, praying, etc. He said "If you members would do the basics, then we could worry about where Kolob is." (Talking about why, during general conference, it seems like we hear the same basic doctrine over and over again.) He talked about how we need to live our lives for spiritual experiences, constantly reaffirming and growing our testimony through spiritual experiences, seeking spiritual growth. He talked about the Gospel appealing to some logically, but for it to truly become a converting force it must also appeal to their heart, and how we can help those who have wandered return by giving them spiritual experiences.

After the Sunday session of stake conference, all of the missionaries went into the Relief Society room to have him speak with us for a few minutes. I was in the front row, and while I didn't get to shake his hand, I got to look into his eyes. When Elder Ballard walked into the room and each time he looked at me, I felt the Spirit strongly and undeniably confirm to me that he is a man of God, that he is a witness of Christ, and that he holds great power and authority. What a privilege and an honor to be so close to one who is so called of God!

Oh, another thing: indirectly, Elder Ballard knows dad's conversion story. Let me tell you why. On our second night here in 5th ward, Sister Keihle and I went and visited Sister Rock, who is one of the ward missionaries here. Her husband, President Rock, is in the stake presidency. They were asking about our families and President Rock asked if we came from convert families or what, and so I told him about Dad and how he was asked by Brother Perry to take the discussions and all of that. After I finished, President Rock thought for a moment and then said "Can I use that in a talk?" I was a little taken aback but said "Sure!", and he did! He started it and I was just amazed. His talk was about not judging others based on if they're ready for the gospel or not, just ask, even if they've been asked before. And at the end of the story, he said "And this man's daughter is now serving a mission, and I don't know if she's here tonight, but she was recently transferred into our ward, and her name is Sister Noakes." So yeah, that's something that happened in my life this week. An apostle knows my dad's conversion story.

The rest of this week was pretty great! We now have one investigator! Pretty awesome. We also have appointments set up with 3 potential investigators this week, and one of them is SUPER promising. We see miracles happen as we work hard. The 1st ward elders gave us a referral for this solid potential, and she has been reading the Book of Mormon, is dating an LDS guy, loves what she's learned and wants to learn more. So exciting! Sister Keihle and I also tracted into a member from Utah, in a condo. Well, she's having an investigator who's on baptismal date move in with her next week! I can hardly believe the blessings that come from my loving Heavenly Father, but that's what happens when you "forget [your]self, and give it all to Him." We're excited for this upcoming week. I love this ward, and I'm having fun!

I love you guys!!!!!!

Photos followed ...

 

First is me and the Gyllings! Well, most of them. Brother Gylling is a ward missionary and Sister Gylling is just awesome. She has 3 daughters (one, obviously, not pictured) and one on the way!

 

The other is me and Melanie and Sondra :) I saw Melanie on Saturday at stake conference! She was excited to find out that I was still in GJ.

First is the 1st ward missionaries of last transfer. My face is dumb and I'm laughing at the distance between me and Elder Jacobson. Missionary life.

The second is our district last transfer. The beloved Grand Junction East district. From left to right, Sister Masima, Elder Rollins, me, Elder Austin, Sister Cope, Elder Jacobson, Sister Joslin, and Elder Mortenson. Elder Rollins and Elder Mortenson were our zone leaders, but Elder Mortenson got transferred to Denver and so our new ZL is Elder Jessee.

The last picture is Elder Jessee, wearing high heels post hymn festival yesterday. It was pretty hilarious.

Emails from September 23, 2013

MOMMACITA!!!!! Okay sorry about not emailing last week, I was on for a while but never got an email from you??? Who knows. Sorry. ANYWAYS. (Found out later on the mail system just got overwhelmed and there were problems delivering email all over the place.)

TRANSFER TIME!!! Yeah, Sister Jensen is leaving me. AND I'M TRAINING A NEW MISSIONARY WHAT THE WHAT. Okay here's the story. So usually missionaries don't start training until they finish their 3 month/2 transfer training program. Obviously I've only been out 6 weeks/1 transfer. Friday night is the night that President would call about training. Sister Jensen and I are at a barbecue at the Becker's and when we leave around 7:15 we check the phone and see that 2 of Sister Jensen's old companions and the singles ward sisters have all texted us about calls from President. We find out that Sister Cope (serving in the singles ward/came out with me) is TRAINING and that Sister Quist is being transferred (she's been here for like, 9 months in the same ward lol). So Sister Cope is freaking out but since they had been called at like, 5:30 I figured I was in the clear. HAHAHAHAHA. Sister Jensen and I finish up the night and come home, we plan, it's like 9:45 (which is phone quiet hours), we're so good. No way President is calling. HAHAHAHA. It's 9:58 and the phone starts buzzing. I pick it up and start shaking "SISTER JENSEN PRESIDENT IS CALLING?!?!?!!" "WHAT?? ANSWER IT!!" So I answer and President Murdock asks me to train and "Yes, of course I will" spills out of my mouth and WHAT AM I DOING I'M TERRIFIED. Well I'm excited but, like I said, Sister Jensen is leaving soooo now I'm in charge of a baby and the area and I HAVE BEEN OUT FOR SIX. WEEKS. But the Lord isn’t going to give me anything I can't handle. Also, I'm pretty sure this is the Lord's way of making me be a better missionary. hahahaaha. Basically I don't know what to do with myself. But anyways. Address is the same, yada yada yada.

More about our week: we have two new investigators!! One is a woman in her forties who's been wanting to meet with the missionaries for a while and we finally managed to find a place in her busy schedule. We taught her about the Holy Ghost and she LOVED it. Hopefully me and Sister New Missionary can meet with her this week. Then, on Saturday, Sister Jensen and I were tracting when a lady in the street approaches US, asks what church we're from, then she ASKS US TO COME OVER ON SUNDAY AND TEACH HER. holycrapwhatishappening. So we taught her yesterday and she LOVED EVERYTHING. How on earth is this happening?? Me and Sister New Missionary are going to go over on Tuesday (that's transfer day. hahahaha).

I can't think of much else exciting that happened this week. OH! Duh. The elders had a baptism! Her name is Melanie and she is awesome. I might have mentioned her before, I don't know. Anyways, her daughter got baptized into the Spanish branch a few months ago, but Melanie doesn't speak Spanish. So Elder Reese and Elder Austin taught her and she was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. Yay!! Oh and speaking of Elders. Elder Reese, our DL, is also being transferred, but Elder Austin is staying in the 1st ward too. So both of us have only been here 6 weeks and now we're the informed missionaries. HAHAHA. Elder Austin is getting follow up trained though, he's not training. ANYWAYS.

I'll think of more things probably. I'll go reply to some of your other emails now. LOVE YOU LOTS AND LOTS!!!!!!!

Remember how I told you I love the clouds/sky here in CO? Well, here are some pictures!!

More sky pictures!!

 

My district! From left to right - me, Elder Austin, Sister Jensen, Elder Rollins, Sister Cope, Elder Reese, Sister Quist, and Elder Mortensen. Silly Elders. Hahaha.

(Mom note: A fellow Colorado missionary mom sent me the following zone picture. Her son is zone leader and emailed it to her.)

 (I also got a few more pictures from one of the members Sister Noakes and Sister Jensen visited a lot. They mean a lot to me! Thanks so much Julie!)