Nov 28, 2011

Hello Everybody! I hope everything is going well for you, You are the greatest!!!

 

THis week has been a week full of tender mercies and miracles, i have been so humbled by the love of my Heavenly Father and all of the wonderful people of the Chelsea ward. I felt like the last few letters have been a little depressing and not so good, so especially after this week i am focusing on the good things! :) The blessings, miracles and answers to prayers. Sis Burnham and i knew that this week would be interesting because it was Thanksgiving and a lot of our investigators would be out of town. We planned on visiting a lot of members, stopping by less actives, and . . . . tracting! (Our favorite!:)) So, We tried our hardest to fill THanksgiving day with members visits so that we wouldn';t have to be out knocking doors on the holiday. We would have done it, but we thought it would be more beneficial to focus on the people we know, try for referrals and let them know how thankful we are for their love and support. THe Taylor family invited us over for dinner and it was SO FUN!!! THey have 6 kids (They are all grown now, but most of them were there.) Plus sis Taylors sister and family. (I hope this makes sense!) So we all sat down at one table, Well actually 2 tables but together, there were like 15 of us and ate, and talked and laughed and ate some more. IT was wonderful! After dinner was over we gathered around the paino and snag Christmas Carols. It felt so much like home, it was wonderful!!!!! :) The spirit was there and i knew that even though we were so far away, we were together in our thoughts and prayers. I felt so loved! I knew that my Heavenly Father was aware of my feelings and was comforting and helping me to be a part of a family that was filled with love and the spirit of Thanksgiving. :) Before we left Sis taylor gave us each a big hug, and told us how much she loved us! It was just what we both needed! Heavenly Father really does hear and answer our prayers! He loves us and shows that love in so many ways!! What a blessing! :) After that we stopped by the Miller family. The same thing happened, as we were leaving Sis Miller hugged and and told us how much she loved us, she told us to keep smiling and working hard. SHe said, "what ever you put into this mission is what you are going to get out of it!" That definately gave me a boost. I'm going to give this my all, it isn't easy and sometimes it's hard to find the fun in tracting for 4 hours in the cold. .. .  but i WILL find it! :) That night we made one more stop. Sister Temple (Noelle) is an RM and is like 27, she's so great! We visited with her for a little while, then before we left she gave us a little pep talk. She was like, "Girls, this is supposed to be FUN!! Make it FUN! The lord didn;t call a cookie cutter missionary to be able to say and do all the right things, he called YOU! There is someone here that needs something that only you can give them! You aren't always perfect, he doesn't expect you to be, you just do your best, do everything that you possibly can and give the rest to him! He promised to take it and he will. You just have to let him. But really, do something fun every day! AND if you need an ice cream break, then pull over, and take an ice cream break! It's worth it I promise! :)" WOW!!! Ha ha, i thought i was the one who was supposed to receive reveltation about what others needed to hear, but i guess it's a two way road! :)  So our Thanksgiving was so amazing! ( I feel like I say this alot, but agian . .. . . It's just what i needed!!!) :)

 

So after visiting all of these members on Thursday, our Saturday was really empty. We did a little tracting on Friday and found a potentail investigator. We decieded to visit with him on Saturday, then spend some more time tracting to build up our teaching pool a little bit. We went to the lesson saturday morning and suprise!!! The guy we talked to the day before (Clark) was a truck driver and would be gone for the next 2-3 weeks! Ha ha, We were like, "Oh great! Now what?!?!" But his girlfriend let us in, and we taught her the first discussion. It was actually really good. It amazes me everytime, but the Lord really has prepared these people! They are put in our paths for a purpose and it's no coincidence. She kept smiling and shaking her head throughout the lesson and at the very end she explained, "My boyfriend is a truck driver and he ALWAYS does this to me!" I guess a few years ago some Jehovah Witnesses knocked on the door and he invited them back to visit with her. :) Then they moved and not 3 weeks later "Here comes the mormons!! I guess I can finally see what God wants me to do! I get it, I get it!" :) We all laughed and she agreed to let us come back and teach her. We left a copy of the Book of Mormon, and asked her to read it and pray about it. It was another miracle!! After visiting with Nicole, we had like 6 hours of tracting ahead of us. We knew that we just needed to do it and that as long as we were working and doing our best, that Heavenly Father would bless us. We tracted for like 4 hours and actually taught a few lessons, then because it was dark, we decided to stop by Less actives and former investigators. We tried that without any real success, but right before we were going to head home for the night, we decided to try one more stop. As we walked up to the door we noticed a woman trying to get a stroller us the stairs onto the porch to get it out of the rain, we stopped to help her and just visited for a few minutes. Well come to find out, she straight out told us that she was looking for a church to join because she wasn't satisfied with hers!! We both wanted to jump for joy! We taught her a little about what sets us apart (The Restoration) and about Prayer. We invited her to church the next day and she said she would come! (The real miracle here is that she REALLY DID COME!!!) What a miracle, right?? We are going to continue teaching her and i think she is going to love it! This was just a testimony to us that God really will bless us if we are working hard and doing our best! He knows the intents of our hearts and will help us to be successful.! 

 

There were other miracles, but i will write about them in the snail mail letter. Some funny stories though . . . .  So last Monday after p-day was over we headed out to teach Mike one of our investigators. We meet with him 2 times a week, but this time we couldn't find a 3rd woman to come with us, but did we let that stop us??? NO WAY!!! We just bundled up, put on a few extra layers made him get out some blankets and a lamp and we had the lesson outside!! Ha ha! Fantastic right!?!? Di- We thought roasting marshmallows in the dark was something! Try teaching a 60 year old man about the word of wisdom, on his front porch (He lives right by a lake, so it was even colder!!) in the dark and freezing cold. It was so fun!! Every 30 seconds he was like, "OH MANN!!!! It is SO FREAKING COLD OUT HERE!!" Ha ha, we just laughed and told him what scripture to read next! :) Ha ha, good times!!

 

Well family! Time is short as always, but i will get a letter and hopefully some pictures in the mail today. I love you all so much!! I'm thankful for your thoughts and prayers and letters and packages! You are another of the miracles that i thank my Heavenly Father for each day! I know that I am a Daughter of God! He loves me more than i can say. He knows my thoughts, joys, struggles and weaknesses, and because of that, he can strengthen and uplift me. I have seen so many miracles this week, i am so Thankful for this knowledge that i have!! I'm so glad to be a servant of the lord and to share this with these amazing people! :) I love the gospel and i love my Heavenly Father! :)

 

Watch for little miracles, you will be amazed at how often they occur! :) Love you guys the BESTEST! :) I think of you and pray for you all the time!

 

Love,

Lisa

I'm great Mom! So good to talk to you! Here is one other thing i thought of in my letter to Pres. Holmes, just thought i would share! :)

 

I was studying gratitude this week and read the story of the 10 lepers. I was humbled to note that all 10 lepers were cleansed, but only the one who returned and gave thanks was made whole. It made me realize all of the blessings that i have received and how i should be much more thankful! That is something i really tried to focus on this week, and i noticed that when i watched for blessings, noticed them and said a little prayer of gratitude, there was so much more to be thankful for! As I've tried to communicate this more effectively through my prayers, I have felt a closer bond with my Heavenly Father. I have been more in touch with the holy Ghost and more receptive to promptings. I have been uplifted and held in his hands! I have never felt this comforted and loved before! IT's so amazing to be a part of this! :) I have experienced so many miracles this week, I've been reminded of his love for me and I feel like i've been able to be made more whole. What a great blessing!

 

P.s. I still haven't got my blanket, President Holmes wanted to just verify that you DID send it and maybe to what address?? They are trying to track it down for me! :)

 

Thanks agian for all you do! You are such an awesome example! I look up to you in so many ways! LOVE YOU!!!

Lisa

Nov 11 2011

Dear Family,
So life is so crazy and busy and full so that is kind of how this letter is going to be!  I have a buch to tell you so I thin I'll just have to do bullets points to make sure we get though everything,, so here goes......
* I got my shot record! Thanks! I have a dr. appt. tomorrow so hopefully everythingwill all be taken care of. I also got my package! Youo're so awesome.  Tootie- Yuor cookies are AMAZING! I offered some to my room mates but they hade just brushed thier teeth and said maybe later.  I laughed and ate like 4 of the 6 of them.  They were delish:D 
*My shoes are woderful and I loved the watermelon candies and lettters.  Basically, you guys are the greatest!      
* I met an older couple the other day... Brother and Sister Allen.  (Sorry Hannah they didn't know your friend.  But they are serving at Cove Fort. If yo get the chanceyou should take a weekend and go try to find this couple.  They are super sweetand i told them to watch for the Bishop Family.  They had never been to Cove Fort. (which was hard for me to understand) but they were really excited.  They will be great!
* So if you haven't sent me my mission home address yet in a Dear Elder, I owuld really appreciate it! I want to keep in contact with these sisters that i've come to know and love so well.  Thanks!!  That would be great!
*So on Monday we got tohost the Senior couplesWhich means that as soon as they drove up we helped themget their luggage,take them to their rooms, give them a quick tour of campus and get them to their otientation.  I love the Senior couples! They are amazing They were all so h appy and excited, it actually reminded me of Christmas morning!  They just opened the perfect gift and they couldn't wait to share it with everyone in the whole world.  Theywere so sweet.  We ran into a couple the other day and it was like they were out Grandlparents!  They were so happy to see us andgave us a big hug@ Just saying senior couples are the Best!
*So the other day E Anthony and Ellder H had to go off campus for a dr. appt.  We were alljust a little jealous that they got to go experience the real worls and all the rest of us were stuck in the class room.  When they got back theyere all excited adn proudly announced "Hey guys, Guess What?!?  They still drive cars in the real world!!!  It was kinda dumb, but funny and it was really nice to know aht the world and life is continuing even while we are stuck here inour class rooms all day:D  Another funny thing happened  theother day..... ha ha imagine that!  Elder
Cook was reading a letter from home and he mentioned something that his mom had written She told him "Jeff, it's great to experiencethe blessings of a missionary!  It took me a few minutes to process the fact that Jeff was Elder Cook!  I didn't even thin about the fact that the rest of the orld knows all of these Elders and Sisters by a first name,not Elder and sister!  I huess that shouldn't surprise me because you all write to "Lisa" not "Sister Bishop"!  I dunno it was just something that made me smile.  :D
* So Hopefully you have all read the mole people story!  I thin that onw was the bast.  We still bring it lup all the time when we feel lilke we need a good laugh.  So the other time # Young got us so good was right after a 3 hour long class/study session.  It was so good and we had learned a lot. but after 3 hours you arekinda dragging and you definately need a break.  I think we were heading to lunch.

Nov 14,2011

Dear Family,

 

HELLO!!! I made it to Michigan!!! I'm so happy to be here! :) This place is very pretty. The flight was just over 3 hours and it actually wasn't too bad. ..  probably the BEST flight i've ever been on, LOL. The air port here is huge and when we got to the baggage claim we must have looked pretty overwhelmed, but as soon as we stepped up to the baggage claim, there was President and Sister Holmes! :) They gave us a great big hug and it was just like (almost) Coming home! :) We gathered up our luggage, the hot pink was very easy to find and everbody loved it, and headed to the mission home. That night i went out with some of the sisters and did some tracting! It was so awesome! It was kind of a sketchy area, but i guess welcome to Detoit, right?? :) We actually found 2 families that might be interested, so that was really neat! The next day was transfer meeting where i was able to meet my new companion, Sis Burnham. She is so awesome!!! She is very enthusiastic and happy! When i met her she ran up, gave me a huge hug and was screaming and laughing! Ha ha, I was, "WHOAH!!! Ha ha, this is gonna be GOOD!" LOL. She is an excellent teacher though and we get along really good.

 

We have had some great teaching moments this week, and i will be sure to write all about them in my other letter, but talk about growing experiences!! :) We have 2 investigators, Janet and Janeil.  They are older ladies and are super sweet, you can't help but loving them the minute that you meet them! THey are funny and happy and just so cute. Here is the catch though. . . .  they are Lesbians. Ha ha! So we have taught them like 2 lessons and they were doing so great! They were progressing, praying, reading the Book of Mormon, and Janeil even came to church. So Saturday night we decided that we needed to tackle the big job. . . . . we had to teach them the lsw of chastity and let them know where the church stands on this issue. Scary right?!?!? YES!!! It took a lot of prayer and study and role-playing, everything! But Saturday night was actually pretty good. We gave them a church tour, answered some questions and ended by reading the first part of the family, the proclamation to the world. Brilliant right, we read and discuss, but let them hear it straight from the first Presidency! It was really hard to see their reactions. Janet was heart broken because she was loving this! CHurch was great for her, and i felt like she was looking for a place to belong-- and at church she felt that. But after this discussion she was like, "Nope, i don't belong here either!" We tried to make sure they both know how much Heavenly Father loves them, and how much we love them! We wanted them to know that they were welcome anytime and that we loved them, but their lifestyle was what was making their progession stop. We were all crying because I think that was the end. They have been together for almost 17 years and couldn't see the future without eachother. We were sad beacuse they were doing so good, but without that change, they can't progress. . . . sad but true! We comitted them to pray and ask Heavenly Father what he wanted them to do, but i don't know if they will have the courage to do that or not. It was definately a growing exoperience. One thing that i learned though, is that the best was to say hard things is to be BOLD!! In 1 Nephi 4, i think like verse 3 it talks about how Nephi is telling his brothers that they know this is right!! They have even seen an angel, so so get it together and get the job done. That is exactly what we need to do as missionaries! We have poeple who are doing things that are against the commandments and we are here to help them come to Christ, it's hard to tell some one that they are wrong, but boldness is the way to go! :)

     

    So, funny story of the week. . . the Zone Leaders called this week just to welcome me to Michigan and see if we needed anything. We talked for a minute and got everything figured out. Then i had this brilliant idea! :) I took the phone from sis burnham and explained to the ZL's that tomorrow was Sis Burnham's birhtday so we would appreceiate it if they could call her back tomorrow and sing to her! :) Ha ha, the best part of this whole storyu is that her birthday was a month ago, the zone leaders were the same and they really did sing happy birthday to her!! Ha ha ha! I guess it wasn't that memorable though! So, they didn't actually call and sing, but they texted us and wished her a happy birthday!! He he he, we had a good little laugh! :) Then we told the Distrct Leader about it and he chastised me for lying!!! Ha ha! He quoted that scripture about, "Wo unto the liar for he shall be thrust down to hell!!" That was even funnier! I know that was a lye, but it was so funny! :) Ha ha, so this week i'm going to be better and i promise that i won't lie and tell any body that it is Sis Burnhams birthday! :) Ha ha , good times!

 

So, yesterday was the primary program! It was so sweet. Primary children have a way of bringing the spriit and touching the heart. I loved it! It was just what i needed to hear! It reminded me a lot of home and my little sunbeams! (How are my sunbeams??? Did they get a new teacher yet? If you see any of them you should give them a big hug for me and remind them who loves them!!)

 

This week is Thanksgiving!! Can you believe that!!! Time flies! :) So, we are going to dinner at a Members home and we have a few appointments but other than that i think we will spend most of the day tracting. Holiday's are just like any other day! So, if you have the missionaries in your area you should invite them over to share a message with you so they don't have to be out tracting all day long! :) Give them a piece of pie, and know that i will be thinking of you! Heart!!! :)

 

Well, family, i really have to get going, time is short and i still have to write President Holmes. But i love you so much!!! i think about you all of the time!!!!!

 

Mom-- Just so you know these letters are written mostly with you in mind, but to the whole family too! That sounds dumb, but Di chastised me for just writing to you. LOL So give everybody a a hug and tell them how much i love them!!! :)

 

Tim-- I WENT TO HELL!!!! Ha ha, i was so excited, it was on our way to disctict meeting, so we stopped and took pictures!! I will try to send them to you soon, but i have officially been to Hell, and THROUGH Hell!  ha ha ha! :) THinking of you always!! :)

 

Love you bunches and bunches!!

 

Love,

Lisa

 

Friday Nov 11, 2011

Hello Family!!! I can;te belive that it has been 2 weeks already!!

So here is the deal. I'm flying to detroit on MOnday the 14th! I'm the travel leader and i have 2 elders as my companions! Ha ha, great right?!?! :) So i think my flightleaves oat like 9ish. So'll be calling hopefully around 7-8/ :) I can't wait to hear all of your beautiful voices!! i've missedyou so much!!  Thanks for the calling card! I will have to figure it out, but i', sure it'll be great!

 

So funny stories. . . .

 

The Mole People!! The other day we were just finishing up our district studt. Elder K. had just told us his conversion story which was so AMAZING!! We have a trap door in our class room and E YOung tried a couple of times to pry it open, with no success! It was locked tight! So after we had finished this amazing conversion story, we kept hearing this banging on the wall coming from by e young.  He had a funny look on his face and kept shooting his comp funny looks. Finally he couldn;t handle it any longer and he stood up to investigate. . .  as soon as he stood up his chair flew up and the trap door flies open!!! There coming out of the hole was a hand, then an arm and then a face!!! Elder Young was in shock and all  he could say was, "IT"S THE MOLE PEOPLE!!! ha ha ha! It was so funny!!! I guess there was a problem with the electrical wiring or something and they were trying to fix it. The funniest thing was that they totally knocled the desk out of the way, came out of the hole and were like, "Wow, thanks! IT was really hot down there!" and then walked out of the room!!! it was hilarious!! We were all rolling on the floor for like 10 minutes and i almost had an emergency. . . . . if you catch my drift!

 

 

This computer is super retarded and i will have to tell you the other funny stories and send them snail mail! :) BUt i watned to tell you about my amazing investiagtor, Barbara! :) She is the sweetest person i've ever met. Her parents were holocaust survivors and her mom died when she was a baby. Her dad died when she was 14 so she was in foster care after that. SHe knows a lot about so many different religions but doesn;t know what to belive. The first visit, we tried to tell her about the restoration. It all kinda blew her mind and she didn;t know what to think. The next lesson tough, was so GREAT!!!  We taught her that God is her loving Heavenly Father and  that fthrough the Atonement she can be with her family forever! It took some convincing and definately some sirection from the holg ghost! But when we left, she said that she would pray and ask God if he really did love her! Of course he loves her and of course he is going to answer her!!! :) It was so great! We went back on MOnday and agian it was so amazing. We shared the story of the first vision and she piped up and was like, "Oh yeah, this reminds me of that story of Moses and the burning bush!!" We were like, YEAH!!! We turned to 1Nephi 1:6 and explained that Lehi saw the same thing! (This was my insight for the day and it was perfect timing, the Holy Ghost really does know how to guide and answer prayers and when we are prepared, he will help us!) So we talked it out and decided that Moses and Lehi didn't have anything but fire to compare the light to! We concluded that they probably all saw the same vision! :) We have one more visit with her and we really want to get her to pray with us there, i feel like if she will pray with us, then we can ask her to be baptised, it is am,azing to see the change that the gospel can make in the lives of all these people, if they will let it! I love it! It;s so amazing!!!

 

So, i guess all the other stories will come in the mail, but would you please send me  my mission home address in a dear elder so that i can give it to my roomies?? I got my immunization card! Thanks! I have am appointment tomorrow so hopefully i will be all good and wont' have to get any shots! :) 

I will be calling monday morning hopefully about 7-8ish!! :) I can;t wait to hear all of your voices!! I've missed you! :) 

P.s. I a, the travel leader and i'm traveling with 2 elders, so this could be interesting . . but i'm super excited to get out to DEtrtiot!! Thanks for mailing my quilt! I'm out of time!  I lvoe you all so much! Choose the right!! :)

 

Love, Lisa

Nov. 4,2011

Dear Family

I hope that when you get these letter they make sense!  I feel like I've been learning, studying, growing, studying, doing. and some more studying.  and that possibly I'm cramming so much into my brain that it could possibly explode! :D

So first I wanted to tell you about my district.  That are so great!!  There are 10 of us so here goes: ME - Yay  I'm super excited to be here and lobing MTC life. 
Sister Johnson- My companion  She is a little older than the rest of the sisters. but still so amazing.  She taught 5th grade for a few years to earn money to come on a mission.  She is from Washington State. Seattle area.  When we teach together. it's so amazing.  I knew that this companionship was no accident!  I'm thankful to my Heavenly Father to send her to me because she's just what I needed!

Sis Merrill_ She is from Texas and if we can talk just right she will start talking with a Texan accent that is so cute! She is a sweetheart and is very good at loving others.  I'm glad she is part of out district.  Sis. Chantry- She remind me so much of Aunt Jannie!  She is super sweet and really loves the gospel.  she is also really short.  (I think that's why she reminds me of Jannie.)  and a little stubborn :)  There haven't been any problems, but I'm glad that Sister Merrill is her companion.  They balance each other <3 :D

Elder Kahahik- Anthony He is out district leader.   This Elder is amazing!! I think he is like 23-ish and is from Hawaii.  He was converted at age 18 with his brother and sister.  He is a spiritual giant and a natural leader. 

Elder Cook is Elder Kahahiki companion.  He is from Idaho Falls.  (But he doesn't know Aunt Dona.  Rats!  He is a professional jump roper.  He jumped for us in gym the other day and is very talented.  He does all sorts of push-ups and tosses and all sorts of stuff that I didn't even thin was possible with a jump rope!

Elder Young- From Orem.  This Elder is possible one of the funniest people I've ever met.  sometimes it s a little distracting (and annoying) but a lot of times I'm grateful for the break.  We all need a good laugh every once in a while, right?!?

Elder Simpson _ Elder Young's companion, he is from Washington State too.  But I don't remember where.  He is the only other missionary in my district that is going to Detroit.  (Everyone else is going to New Hampshire.)  He is really quiet.  But knows his scriptures so good.  He wasted all of us when we tried to make him the investigator.  We decided to get a bunch more experience  before we let him be the investigator again!  LOL :D

Elder Jenkins from Las Vegas He is the one that I constantly have to remember that he is a 19 year old boy.  He is is really sweet.  Every time I cough (I've had a little cold)  he always checks to make sure I'm okay.  He is also very energetic and loves to talk.  Thankfully he has a very patient companion to reign him in. 

Elder Hill is from Aurora!! :D  His mom is Mrs. Hill at the high School.  That would be so awesome if one of the kids had her as a teacher!  You could tell her that her son is an amazing missionary!  He is so good with Elder Jenkins.  I will send you pictures and I think that will help you visualize all of this!  The other night we were in district meeting and Elder Hill shared some of his thoughts.  He said when he first met Elder Jenkins he was like "What had I go myself into!?! We were all sympathetic.  But then he proceeded to tell us how he has truly come to love Elder Jenkins and that patience and Godly love is so amazing!.  It was really touching and helped me to see both of these Elders in a different light.  L learned not to judge and that everyone is different, but Gos still loves them just as much us he loves me!  :D So that is my goal for the week no Judging!

Each Day we have the opportunity as a companionship to teach some"Investigators".  These investigators are out teachers, and at first I thought they would be to our advantage.  No such thing!  They are ruthless!  Which is a good  because it helps us prepare for the real world.  We really try to focus the lessons to their individual needs.  it is really challenging!  My teacher explained that other day that they used to teach the "How" how to teach, how to shard the gospel, how to relate to investigators.  But now we are focusing on the WHY!  We try to teach the doctrines that matter to the investigator so they are applicable to their lives right then! But it is hard!  You should all try it For FHE make Ben be the investigator  (Don't go easy on them Ben) and try to teach/show him why he needs the gospel in his life!  Let me know how it goes and any insights you come up with would be greatly appreciated. 

So, yo all know that I ran into Stephen , which was really great.  WE actually sat together at the fireside Sunday nigh.  so I thin we had a whopping 15 minutes to actually talk!  It was definitely a blessing.  I feel like we both needed the family connection.  If you have a few minutes though you should send him a dear Elder.  He seemed a little down. 

We got 2 new sisters in our room today, so it's almost like home!  6 girls in one teeny room.  I haven't met them yet but I'm really excited to. One of them has some awesome hot-purplish luggage that is super cute. 
The MTC is the most amazing place I've ever experienced.  At first I was really nervous cause I thought it would be sad leaving all of you (which of course it was)! and only boring classes all day long.  Well, I'm happy to announce that is not true!  It is a happy place.  We are all excited to be here, excited to share the Gospel and serve the Lord.  You could walk down the hall any say hi to everyone!  The thing that I really love the most though is the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.  It sis almost tangible!  We are constantly praying and asking for his companionship!  seriously I bet that 24?7 there is at least 1 person praying.  here.  It's so great!  We pray at class, during class, before gym, every morning and night, before any activity or teaching experience.  when yo pray that much and invite him, of course he will be there! it's so great!

So before I send this I wanted to share a story.  Sis Johnson and I were teaching a less active i
the other night.  It was a couple (an older couple) with 12 kids.  They didn't have any at home, but were constantly visiting them.  The Dad explained with 12 kids it was always hard to pay tithing because there was just never enough money to go around!  I felt like I could totally relate! I told a couple stories about the blessings of paying tithing and read the Malachi 3:5-6.  The I bore my testimony! He was so powerful!! (not me, but the Holy Ghost!) We got them to commit to pray every day and the visiting teacher who was there with us invited them to sit with her at church.  The gospel can and does change lives!  The power of the Holy Ghost the love of Our Heavenly Father is real!! If the people will accept it they can really turn their lives around!  The gospel is true.  I love it with all of my heart!  I know this is what I need to be doing!

Please give all of mu little sunbeams a hug for me.  Remind them that even though I'm not there I still think about them all the time and I LOVE THEM.

Please hug all the chillen's for me!  Tell Matthew that I blow him kisses every night!  Tell Beckah that I put her picture up so I see it every day!  All of my room mates love it and I'm pretty sure they are all jealous.  Tell the girlies that I love them and think about them all the time.  And tell the boys (and Jake) that I've love them and miss them dearly!  They will be awesome missionaries one day!  Mom and Dad_ you guys are the greatest ever!  I Love you!  Thanks for teaching me the gospel.  I love you all the bestest!!!

 Love Lisa

Please also tell Rachel & Di hi for me!  I just don't have enough time in my day!  I was going to write them each a letter, but I guess next week will have to work.  Tell Di I'm loving all of the Dear Elders!!!

This letter came last week in the mail, but I didn't get it added.

Dear Family,
You guys are the greatest!! :D  I already miss yo so much, but let me tell ya.... This place is absolutely amazing!!! :D  after you droppped me off. they showed me my room, dropped off my luggage and took me to my class room.  where I met my 2 teachers.  I was the first one there soI get to get a little extra time to get to know them.  they were fantastic!!  Talk about dedicated and enthusiastic about the gosopel.  That's my teachers!  I can just tell that the next 3 weeks with them is gonna fly by and be so great!  I'm all ready learning tons (actually I feel a little overwhelmed:) but welcome to the mission field!!  That's right...Oh, so on my way to my class room guess who I found??? Stephen!!!  It couldn't hav been better timing!  Ha Ha.  I think I gave my escort a heart attack cause as soon as I saw him I started screaming and crying.!  :)  :)   We shook hands (So LAME RIGHT!?!  I all ready dislike that rule but I'm trying not to be bitter.  Anyways , it was so Good to see him.  We chatted for a minute but then we had to go.  Oh Mom!  you know Cody and Tanaya's nephew (I think it's her brother) Jordan White...Yeah he and Stephen are totally companions!! :)  I told him that Merrill and Pam are my Uncle and Aunt and then it was just like the 3 of us were having a Family rerunion!  :) So Great, right?!?  I thought so!!
Anyways, so I went to my classroom, met my teachers and did a little orientation thing tha was super cheesy, but my companion didn't get there until later.  When I finally met her I was so excited! :)  She is AWESOME! :D  She reminds me so much of Kate Osler, I can't believe it.  Needless to say, I love her already and I think we will get along very well..! :) I'm in a room with 3 other sisters and we all are new today.  They are all really sweet, I think that the next 3 weeks are going to fly by. so funny thing though.....  in my district there are only 2 missionaries going to Detroit!  me and an Elder!  Ha Ha. My companion (Sister Johnson) and my other 2 room mates are all going to New Hampshire..  We all leave the same day so hopefully we can travel together,  for at least a little while... I don't know, but I'm sure it will all workout! :)
Well family, I love you all so much.  The MTC is amazing and I'm so out of time.  :)  But I wanted to let you know tht life is good.  I'm great, my companion and room mates are awesome and the MTC is incredible!  My P-day is next Wednesday, I think.  so I will for sure be able to write more the.  I love you all so so so much!  Thanks for all the notes, nail polish. necklace and earrings (and the monkey necklace-Di it made me cry!)  Ha Ha I would be lost without you.  Love you Love sister Lisa Bishop
Hopefully you can read this. I had to write super fast because it's almost bed time.

Lisa's 1st week

 

Heelo my Awesome family!!! I can't believe that it has been a week already! Time sure flies! At the same time though, this is probably the longest week of my life! :) It's amazing the contrast. . . but any ways! The MTC is so amazing!!!  I have so much to tell you, and i wish that i could type fasterm but I guess that whatever i don't get to in this will just go into a letter later tonight! So, you already know my Companion's name is Sister Johnson, she is so great! We are a natural team! I was thinking the other day and Mom, you were a Johnson/Bishop Companion ship too! :) It's the little things that are so amazing right! Well, the Johnson?Bishop compaionship is totally rocking the MTC! I feel like this was definately meant to be! I needed her and she needed me,when we teach together, we both know what to do and it all just works out great! We get to teach atleast once a day. Right now we are teacing 4 "Investigators" I'm pretty sure that they are all actors but it is so amazing how the spirit can be so real even when we are just role playing! :) SO GREAT!!! Any ways< Since today is our p-day we got to go to the temple. It was comforting to know that you go the the temple on wednesday mornings too! I', pretty sure that we were there about the same time. Anywasy, so i went on my first movie session. . . it was good. ..  but i'm still in love with the live session and themanti temple! Anyways, then we went to breakfast and i had the BIGGEST most selicious waffle i've ever had!! It was amazing!! So after that, i just kept thinking that i should go and do some inittiory. I didn't really know why or really want to casue i wanted plenty of time towrite letters. BUt i'm really trying to be obnedient and listen to those promptings when i receive them. Ikept thinking i would run into someone! So i finally gave in and Sis Johnson and I went to do it. No sooner had we sat down then guess who walked around the corner!?!?! Eunice Cadwallader!!!! Ha ha! I looked at her and she looked at me and we hugged and then i finally knew who she was! So funny! She had to ask who i was, but when i told her, her eyes lit up and she arapped me in the biggest hug!! It was so great! Just like a lttle piece of home! She said to say hi to you\> MOm! Needless to say, i was glad i followed that prompting. So. this tuesday for our fireside we had Elder Zwick of the seventy come and visit. It was so great!!! (I just have to say that ever since i got here i have been like a leaky faucet that can't be fixed!! I seriously cry overeverything!! Ha ha, not that i'm sad but there is a spirit around this place like i've never felt before! It is so a,azing!!) So elder Zwick said something that really hit me. Mom, in one of the letters you wrote me you said that Heavenly Father knows and loves me better than anyone else and that he could take the best care of me! I knew you were right! (You are ALWAYS right!:) ) But he said the same thing!!! He told us with tears in his eyes of the love of our Heavenly father for all of us! It was so amazing, the spirit was super strong and i was thinking of all of you the whole night!

 

So, it really amazes me how quickly I found a new family here at the MTC! I feel like that is one of the tender mercies of the lord. I have been very blessed with the most amzing distrct! :) The boys are all really like my little brothers. They take really good care of all the sisters. They always get the doors, and take our trays after meals. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that they are only 19, but that it the beauty of family, RIGHT?!?!

 

Sorry, i pushed send befiore i was finished. I have to say that time goes was too fast!!! I have so much to tell you!! AHH!!! So, one of the Elders in my distrct is from Aurora. His nam e is elder hill and his MOm teaches at the high school in Manti! Do any of the chillens have A mrs. Hill?? If so, you should totally tell her that we are in the same district! These elders are so amazxing, i really love them already! I am trying not to think about having to tell them good bye in 2 weeks! Time flies so quickly, what is the name of that hymn. time flies on wings of lightening. . . :) I dunno something like that, but it really does!!! So, I'm glad that you all heard that i found stephen. It was so good to see him and just like he said, it was super hard not to hug him!! But, agian OBEDIENCE!!! :) We have run into reach other a few times and actually got some pictures, so i will try to send some home to you today! HOpefully the machine at the book store is working! Well familu, i"m down to like 30 seconds so i guess that i better sign off.All of the dear elders are so great! Thanks! I LOVE THEM!!! It really makes my day! If you get a chance, please send a quick note to stepghen too! He was a little down this week and there is nothing like mail to cheer you up! :)  Sorry about all the spelling errors. I will write you a letter and mail it todqay for sure! I lvoe you all so much!!! Heart! You are all the diamond of ,y life! :) Choose the right and the important things! LOVE YOU!!!

 

Love,

 

Sister Lisa Bishop! :)