October 14, 2013

Dear Family,

So this week was a tough one. Isn't every week with me though? Hahaha I feel like that's how it's going. But Sister Masima and I are going to keep working hard and hopefully things will perk up a bit around here, eh?

On Saturday, do you know what happened? People actually let us serve them! It was great! Usually people tell us, oh no, but thank you. But on Saturday we actually got to do service! First of all, Sister Masima and I were finishing up our morning studies when I looked out the window to see a woman struggling to carry a heavy box down the stairs. We waited to see if she would bring out another one (since she was at the bottom when I saw her), and when she did, we ran out to help. Turns out the guy directly across from us was moving out, so we helped him do that! Him and his two friends were amazed at how quickly we were able to get stuff done. Then, we went to visit that less active woman whose two children we've been teaching. She wasn't home, but her friend across the way was! Sister B had brought this friend to church once, so we went and talked to her and helped her do dishes and clean house. Sister B showed up and was talking to us about how she was for sure coming to church tomorrow (finally haha), how she was bringing her friend Katie (I changed the name don't worry), and about her children's baptism (WHICH IS ON THE 26TH YAY!!!). Anyways, before we left we asked Katie if we could come teach her some more about our church and she said yes! So we're dropping by later this week on her day off to do that. Finally, at dinner with Sister Atkinson, she put us to work flattening boxes to go to the recycle. It makes me happy when people let us serve them. They should do that more often.

On Friday, Sister Masima and I were tracting and this guy let us into his house. We talked with him for a while and we were going to say a prayer with him. WELL he brings up out of nowhere that there's a ghost in his house. He's telling us about all the creepy stuff that goes on and I REALLY don't like hearing about it and it just feels different as he's telling us this. Well, guess who gets to say the prayer? Me, naturally. When we pray with people as we're tracting, we say "In virtue of our calling as missionaries, and as representatives of Jesus Christ, we ask for the Savior's peace and blessing to be on this home and this family." and then you add whatever else you want. The elders say something about the priesthood which they hold (I haven't really heard them do this, for obvious reasons hahaha). So anyways, I got to pray that the ghost/spirit/whatever was troubling them would leave in peace. I have never wished so much that I had the priesthood so I could have the AUTHORITY to make it leave. Maybe we'll send elders by there later on.

Hey so fun fact: Elder Jacobson, the new elder in our ward and our new district leader, has the same birthday as you mom! We found that out because we had dinner with them one night, and because my birthday, Sister Masima's birthday, and Elder Austin's birthday are all within about two weeks of each other. So we thought it'd be cool if all four missionaries in the 1st ward had birthdays around the same time, but Elder Jacobson had to go and ruin it for us. Hahaha.

Anyways, still loving being a missionary and still missing you guys! We're looking out for people to teach and opportunities to share the gospel with more people.

I love you guys so much!!!

Love, Sister Noakes

 

Sister Noakes with member's dog

Sisters Noakes and Masima at ward trunk or treat

Mom note: We are having a special stake conference on 10/27/2013, with Elder M. Russell Ballard as our special guest. Turns out Elder Ballard is also visiting Grand Junction, Colorado! He’ll be there on 11/17/13. Sister Noakes is pretty excited about that!

Our stake is supposed to read Elder Ballard’s last General Conference talk (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/put-your-trust-in-the-lord?lang=eng), and also read about his trip to Rome in September (http://www.lds.org/church/news/apostles-organize-stakes-in-rome-paris?lang=eng). 

Sarah said: We're (I say "we", but the letter from the stake presidency was addressed to the families/members in the Grand Junction West Stake) supposed to ponder and pray about how we can increase reverence before and during the meetings. That way we can be more prepared to hear the message he'll be bringing. It's at OUR building too, because that's the stake center, and I imagine we won't be allowed to save seats either. But I also think he'll probably talk to just the missionaries out here as well. We'll see.  

October 7, 2013

WEEKLY EMAIL HERE WE GO.

SO this week has been pretty fabulous. I mean, we taught a whole 3 lessons instead of just one! Yippee! And Tuesday was a miracle! We invited our newest investigator, Samantha, to be baptized. She was the one who came up to us in the street and asked for us to teach her. We taught her about the plan of salvation this week and invited her to be baptized. She started crying and said she would love too. AH IT WAS THE BEST MOMENT EVER. Then, we went and taught the two children of that one less active lady in our ward. And now they're both on date for baptism as well! So Tuesday and its lessons were great. On Wednesday, we did EXCHANGES. Sister Bennett joined our companionship for the day. Oh man, she is AWESOME! Let me tell you: I am having a hard time with this area. I just don't know what to do with it! Sister Bennett gave great guidance and direction and at the end of the day, during our companionship inventory, I was able to just tell her everything that had been going through my mind, how stressed I was, and how much I wanted to succeed but felt like I was failing. She gave me great advice about working with members and branching out from there. I feel a lot better and hopefully as I apply what I've learned, we will find success. Plus, with conference this weekend and Saturday afternoon basically being entirely about how members need to do way, way more to help the missionaries, I think this plan just may work. On Thursday, we went with Sisters Cope and Joslin to do service at the Mesa County Food Distribution. It was tons of fun and the time just flew right by! We grabbed lunch at this place called Main Street Bagel, which was so good! Then, Greg, the guy in charge, gave us a HUGE box of toffee. Not just any toffee... Enstrom's toffee. So, the good stuff. It's way delicious and we've been handing it out to people because we have way, way too much. Haha. Conference this weekend was AMAZING. We watched it at the church building with all of the other missionaries. I just loved loved LOVED it. I noticed that a recurring theme was 1) MEMBERS GET INVOLVED IN MISSIONARY WORK (hello I loved that one. Obviously.) and 2) "Come, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Seriously, that one was in there at least twice a session. I guess that that's something that we tend to forget, that when we are struggling and are searching for relief, the place we can turn to is our Savior, Jesus Christ. He knows our sorrows, our weakness, and our adversities. He is where we will find peace and comfort. If we turn every hard thing or sad thing over to Him, He will help us overcome. As a missionary that is so important. Turn your whole heart over to the work, over to your Savior, and He will give you rest. It's so true, and definitely something I need to work on.

I love you all so very very much! I feel your prayers and your love every day. Thank you thank you thank you, and you're always in my prayers. LOVE YOU!

Oh, Sister Bennett is one of the sister trainer leaders for out west. An STL is kind of like a combo between a zone leader and an AP, but just for sisters. Her companion, Sister Jones, is from Moses Lake! She went with the singles sisters. We help at the food bank every week! They love us there.

Have fun/good luck at your interview! You'll do GREAT. I pray about you guys every night. I hope it goes well for you.

Oh, and about missionary work - I'm now super duper curious about the missionary work back home in the Edison ward. You want to ask the elders for me? (Do we still have elders, or are you blessed with sisters yet? ;)) But really, I am very very curious! You could ask and report, or I guess they could write me a letter/email and tell me. I want to know these things!

Sisters Noakes and Masima, visiting with Sister Julie who sends me pictures!

Whole lotta toffee!! Sisters Joslin and Cope.

Sisters Joslin, Cope, Noakes, and Masima between Conference sessions.

Sisters Noakes and Cope, being silly.

September 30, 2013

Well I have like a bajillion little things to reply to you about, so let's see if I can keep them all straight hahahaha.

OKAY #1: I'M A TRAINER AHHH. I'm training Sister Masima. She's from American Samoa!!! And she is so sweet. I'm constantly apologizing to her because we taught ZERO investigators this week and it's totally my fault but she still loves it and is just so nice about it all. Hahahaha. She's 19 but about a week older than me. Older companions forever.

So yeah. ZERO. I'm a failure. Haha okay not really but I just have no idea how to make it better! Well I have a few but it's gonna take time. I'm trying my hardest and I know Heavenly Father will bless me for that. I just have to keep trying and eventually I'll figure it all out, right? Hahaha. Oh and I can ALWAYS tell that you guys are praying for me. I hope you can tell that I always pray for you!!! Every morning and night :)

So I don't know if I have any stories for you.... This week was pretty uneventful. I bruised my knuckles from knocking on doors one day because that was literally ALL WE COULD DO. But, like I said, as long as we're trying and not just giving up and laying around the apartment all day, Heavenly Father understands.

I didn't bear my testimony in sacrament meeting this week. Did you guys???

Yeah, about long john garments - I know how long they are, Sister Jensen has a pair and explained it to me. I'll try to figure out sizing this week. And I would only want one set, btw. Also that skirt you sent me a picture of is SO CUTE. I think blue or red would be cute!! I promise to send sizes soon. I need to actually write myself a note this week. Hahaha.

This week we did a service project with Cross Orchards Historic Farm or Museum or something. Haha. It's an interactive pioneer museum, and they grow all these crops! (https://www.museumofwesternco.com/visit/cross-orchards-historic-site/) We weeded for 3 hours and I got one heck of a sunburn. That was on Thursday and it started appearing a LOT on my arms during dinner. Sister Stephenson (who we had dinner with) was like "Hm, someone got some sun today." Hahaha. And then we had ward coordination meeting right after, and Brother Becker was like "Sister Noakes, did you get burnt?" YES I DID I'M A PALE PALE CHILD WHO TURNS INTO A LOBSTER IN THE SUN. Sheesh. Hahahaha.

I saw Claire/Sister Hardester in the choir! And Sister Barber (Mckenna) and Sister Rebentisch! (Elsa). It was exciting. That night we had dinner at the stake center because they had a stake RS dinner before the broadcast. We went with Sister Cope and Sister Joslin. They serve in the singles ward and Sister Cope is a 6 week old missionary like me. So we're best friends hahaha. We both REALLY want to be companions one day. Hahaha.

Um, I can't think of much else right off the top of my head. I LOVE YOU GUYS. Keep up prayer and scripture study and relying on the Lord and He will bless you. If you're doing everything you possibly can, blessings will come. I promise this! I've seen it as a missionary.

I love you!!

Sisters Noakes and Masima

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!)