"I crave dirt" -Sister Crane 5/9/2022

So we had an ET this week. Not an extra terrestrial but an emergency transfer. Sister Crane (may she rest in peace) had only an 1.5 hours to pack her things and be out. Our mission president decided to try something new. She was only my companion for a transfer and a week, but I learned soooo much from her. Miss you Sister Crane!!I thought in honor of her leaving I would make my subject line my favorite Sister Crane quote. But her new companion is Sister Baxter!! My previous companion!! It's hard having her so close yet so far away. I am doing everything in my power to see her at zone conference. I love you Sister Baxter. Anyways, enough with the sob story. We have had quite the busy week.

We went street contacting and got to talk to so many people. One of which was actually a member that left the church. He talked about how he went through the temple and did baptisms but then fell away shortly thereafter. It was sad to hear, but he might let us teach his kids. Who knows??

Our friend Emad has come to church several weeks in a row and he is LOVING it!! Honesty, I feel like he is ready for baptism. Stay tuned.

Remember that dad with the 3 kids?? Yeah...they dropped us yesterday. That was really sad because the kids loved meeting with us and wanted to come to church. Its a bit of a shock, but hopefully they will be ready in the future. 

We have also been getting referrals from the ward to go visit or check in. The other day we stopped by. The home had a gate and the lights were off and then someone was closing all the blinds. We were like dang we are just going to miss them. BUT the guy came out and talked to us!!! MIRACLES!!! We had a nice chat with him about his conversion story. We are going back later this week to meet his wife!!

The week has been full of ups and downs, but what week isn't. I'm almost done with Saints volume 1. They went through sooooo much and yet here I am...complaining about 5 people that didn't want to talk to us. Its safe to say that everyone has their own ups and downs. Its a learning experience for sure. 

Streets with Sister Crane

Streets with Sister Gleason

Saying goodbye,

May the 4th be with you.

"Eyes of wisdom" 5/2/2022

I got to go to the temple!!! It was so fun. We got to see Nathan being baptized for his brother Logan. Many tears were shed. We got to go with some elders and their recent convert Joel. Guess what?? Joel baptized me! And he did a fantastic job. It was really special.  It was not however, fun being in a car for 8 hours. Car sickness makes it impossible to do missionary work.

We lost contact with our friend Elizabeth and she finally answered the phone this week! And we felt that she was ready for baptism. She accepted a baptismal date for May 21st! Please pray for her!!

This week was kind of wild. We had a homeless man scare the living daylights out of us. He went off about how he wrote the Bible and the Quran and how he was "the Mormon God." It was really spooky and we were not a fan. As we were leaving the store, we had to run to our car and quickly drive away. He saw us running and made some signals that made it seem like he wanted us to pick him up. Oh heck nooooooo bruh this is a company car.

We went to knock on a member's door but it didn't end up happening. We saw a guy hanging up his laundry, so naturally we walked up and talked to him. He screamed like a little girl because he didn't hear us. But we had a really good talk with him. We said a prayer together but he wanted to hold hand while doing it. He was squeezing our hands so tight. After we said a prayer with him, he looked me dead in the eyes and said that it was his turn. He then grabbed our wrists. Sister Crane said that her eyes were open to make sure he didn't do anything. After we talked to him a little while he turns and looks me dead in the eyes again and goes "you have eyes of wisdom." 

But this week I have been making my way through Saints volume 1. It is so good! It is amazing to hear first accounts of what was happening to the early saints. It's even more amazing seeing God's hand through it all. "No unhallowed hand can stop [God's] work from progressing"

The MacWright family came to church!!! They LOVED it and the ward embraced them immediately. We went so happy to have them come :) They talked about how they are planning on coming back next week

Street contacting.

Temple trip w/ Nathan (& Kaylyn)

Temple trip w/ Kaylyn (& Nathan)

...Are you sky high right now?? 4/25/2022

Ethan got baptized!!!! It was amazing to see how smiley he was, and his dad came! His dad isn't a member, but he was also smiling the whole time.

We have been meeting with the MacWright family. They became less active a couple years ago because of some opinions. We met with them, and they said that they are wanting to come back to church!!! The children were the real reason they decided. Their oldest, Trinity, made them promise to come on Sunday :))

We've been able to meet with a lot of less active and part member families.

Prayers have been answered and a lot of people have been really nice....at rejecting us. Its ok though. We're getting through to the people here. 

We met with this lady named Vanessa who has been looking into churches. We were able to give her a tour of the chapel and she immediately recognized the spirit. And she wants to be baptized...so stay tuned

Transfers are this week, but nothing is happening. Only one person is leaving our zone. We were really surprised, but here is to another 6 weeks in Paso

This week I have been reading volume 1 of Saints. It is amazing what you learn. It has helped me understand a little bit more about the Restoration. Plus I've been reading about the temple because...wait for iiiiiiiiiiiitttttt 

I get to go to the temple on Saturday!!!  Basically amazing! We have to wake up at the butt crack of dawn, but we are EXCITED!!!

The title of my weekly is from a phone call we had. He gave us his address which was XXXX sky-high street. Sister Crane goes "is that your actual address or are you sky high right now? It was SOOOOOOO funny. I mean everything is funny to me, but I was cackling

Ethan's baptism

Kaylyn

The Boushka family 

Sister Crane's birthday dinner.

Sis Moak took us out for dinner for Sis Crane's birthday.

Sis Moak made us Sunday dinner.

I got Jesus on my Register 4/18/2022

I got to go on exchanges with Hermana Martin. That means I get to work a Spanish area for the day. It was really chaotic because I don't know Spanish. We went to our dinner appointment and the lady (in Spanish) asked me how my day was. All Spanish I have ever heard or practiced in my entire life went out the window and I just went ?Hermana Martin thought it was really funny. The sad thing is, I knew exactly what she said to me...I just panicked. 

We stopped at a gas station and this guy is telling us about how someone stole the picture of Jesus off of his register. We were like "Hey buddy you are in luck. We have 2 pictures of Jesus for you." He was so happy. It made my day!

Our friend Nathan got baptized!!! He was so cute. The entire time he was just smiley and fidgety. But it went well. He chose me to give the talk on baptism. I'm gonna be the queen of relating baptism to video games at this rate. This Saturday is Ethan's baptism!!!

In my personal study, I came across the answer to my prayers. There is a song that was attached to the new Easter study plans. It is a song called "Slow Down." The lyrics were BEAUTIFUL and made me bawl through my entire study. I suggest you listen to it because it helped me a lot. ☆Mary Remains at the Sepulcher☆

This Easter was really fun. We didn't get anything from any of the members and that helped me remember the true meaning behind this season. Everyone talks about the reason for the season, but Christ should be the reason for every season.

Nathan's baptism.

The Good News.

Who we gonna call? Everyone! 4/11/2022

 This week we had zoom and in person zone conference. It was super awesome! And I got to see my beautiful "daughter" Sister DG and Sister Long! Dreams really do come true!

We got to meet with one of our friends Cristina. We dropped off a Book of Mormon to her and her son was there. He was asking a lot of questions. But he also wanted to convert us the entire time. 

We had 2 people on date, but they took our 2 wards and turned them into 3. And our 2 people on date....were in the other ward. But we still get to team teach them with the elders. One is getting baptized this weekend! And the other is getting baptized on the 23rd (the best day ever...ain't that right Elise).

The end of our week consisted of Sister Gleason puking her guts out. We ate out at a Mexican restaurant that was super cute inside. The food was really good, but it didn't sit well with her. Therefore, we were quarantined. 

We called like 10 thousand people this week but no one answered which SUCKED!!! Somehow the Lord still provided a way and we were able to find 4 new people to teach!

I have been working really hard on reading this list of talks that I have collected over a while. I'm almost done. And some are really good. If you have any questions about where little children go read "The Salvation of Little Children" by Bruce R. McConkie. 

Sister Long & Sister Crane

El Paso Mural

Easter Picture

Three generation picture.

#worstcompaward 4/4/2022

Ok so I will get to the title of my email soon. First, let's talk.  Conference was absolutely AMAZING!!! I felt so hyped for missionary work after the Saturday morning session. Then the temples were announced and Idaho is getting another one!!  It's crazy how time flies. Feels like yesterday I was watching the April conference in HMTC.

We got to go to ABQ at the beginning of the week. Longest 4 hour drive of my entire life. When you can't nap, read books other than the standard works, etc...car rides can be really boring. Especially in New Mexico. It is FLAT here. Everything is very spread out so there weren't any fun towns to go through on the way up. On the way down, the wind was blowing so bad that we were swaying in the back seat #carsick   But the temple was AMAZING!!!! I want to go back so bad. You really do learn something new every time you go.

We were able to talk to a lot of our friends despite having a ton of meetings. The Lord really does provide a way. 

Now to the title of my email. We went to a member's home after the temple. Well, Sister Gleason was holding her phone so I was like "hey I can hold that for you since I have pockets" and she was like "sure." Welllllll, we get a tour around the home, take several pictures and then we head home. In the car, Sister Gleason asks for her phone. Guess who didn't have it?  You guessed it. I lost her phone. We went back the next morning to look for it, but we never found it. So yeah...that was a greeeeat moment for me.

On a happier note my goal was to finish the Book of Mormon before the conference, and I made it!!!  Plus there are only 180 days until October General Conference. Start thinking of goals for these next 6 months

P.S.  my goal....find Sister Gleason's phone 

The Sandias

My "mom."

Street Contacting

MLC Group Photo

Dutch Bros monthly sticker.

Temple Tuesday 3/28/2022

 This week we met with an 11 yo kid named Nathan. He is actually the cutest!! We out him on date for April 16th!! Keep him in your prayers. He is so excited because the ward is doing a temple trip 2 weeks after his baptism. He's going to do baptisms for his brother who passed away a couple years ago. Talk about precious!!! 

 We attended a meeting the other day....they are splitting the 2 wards we are over which is not good. The new ward is the middle boundary of the 2 wards. Our 2 people on date live in the far east ward and our teaching pool is in the new ward boundaries. We have no clue what this means for us. Fingers crossed that we get to keep all 3 wards! 

 This week I braided my companions hair. I had very little faith in my braiding skills but they actually turned out really good.  

This week is general conference!!!! I am PUMPED!! That means my alarm sound is "come listen to a prophet's voice." I'm excited to hear the messages they have prepared for us. We have all been challenged in the NMAM (aka the BEST mission ever) to write down our questions. We went on exchanges with our STLT (basically Sister APs), so we were in a quad for a day. A bit hectic but we figured everything out. We sat in the car for about 2 hours teaching lessons over the phone. Then at 9pm as we are getting ready to go home, we get a message that says emergency MLC meeting. We were freaking out. BUUUUT President Weathersby told us that we are having an in person MLC on Tuesday followed by a session at the temple. It was the best news ever. We all started crying.

We have been working hard in Paso. We are hoping to have a temple announced this general conference. The closest temple in Juarez....over the border....that or it's ABQ which is 4 hours north. The people are praying hard. Hopefully prayers are answered!! 

 Remember God loves you 

I love you I love you I love you 

 This is the way 

 Love, Sister Amanda Moser 

Exchanges

I had the highest tower.

The coolest picture in the Family History Center.

Street contacting.

No more green chile 3/21/2022

>Hello and welcome back to my channel. But actually hello, and welcome to my weekly, where I try to sum up all the adventures that we experience in a week. Let me tell ya...it has been one heck of a week. I'm exhausted.Well quick recap, I am now an STL in El Paso. I had to say goodbye to my adorable comp Sister Baxter (I love you, queen!!) And Hermana Wells went home. Tears were shed. But we hit the ground running as soon as I got to El Paso!! 

 My new comps are Sister Gleason and Sister Crane. Fun fact: all 3 of us are from Idaho! Crazy!! Sister Gleason is from Preston and Sister Crane is from Rexburg. Basically, we are a party. We are over 2 wards. Kind of crazy for me since I have the SIM after 9 months of not having the SIM. Still trying to get the hang of having it again. AND trying to memorize everyone's names in 2 wards. That means we also have to attend 2 ward's sacrament meetings. That was a little rough for me, not gonna lie, haha but I'll get there....eventually. 

 We have a guy on date. His name is Ethan, and he is prepared. He has discovered the church through family history. Home boy has done.....drum roll please.... 6,000 names!!! Yep, you heard correct. 6,000 names found by our friend Ethan. We were able to move his date up (rather than the norm of moving it back). He is going to be baptized on April 23rd!!! 

 Some highlights:I got to talk to my "daughter" Sister DeGroot!! I drove down to El Paso with Sister Long!!And I'm caught up on my Book of Mormon reading (trying to finish by conference)Conference is in 12 days!! I hit one year as a missionary this week!

This week in my Book of Mormon reading, I got to read about baptism, the priesthood, and the sacrament. 3 Nephi is just an incredible book. Period. We get an account of Christ teaching the people. How cool!!! But then shortly thereafter the people become prideful. There is a talk that I read that has helped me understand pride. It is called "Are ye stripped of pride?" It is a BYU speech. While I was reading, I discovered 31 talks to read...it's gonna be a lot, but I am excited to hear what they have to teach with the Albuquerque District.

👏👏👉 3/14/2022

I got a call this week that I will be transferred down to El Paso. And I will be a Sister Training Leader (STL). Sister Baxter is also leaving which means our area is being "washed." By elders. The sad part is we have had several friends start to drop us because they don't want to talk to elders. It's sad and neither one of us want to leave, but it's the will of the Lord.

We had a great lesson with our friend Richard. For those who don't know, Richard accidentally called us a couple weeks ago. We were able to start talking to him and we trailered the gospel #miracles. We talked to him this week and we both felt that he needed to hear about repentance. Basically he is going to be baptized. 

I have had the wonderful opportunity to help many people return to activity in the church. The Haines ward has been so good to me. This is going to be a good change for me and the ward. 

We have started cleaning our SIM card because there were a lot of people in there that we didn't know. We've been able to start teaching them again. And one of them was so happy to hear from us!! That was pretty cool. 

☆ Time for some funny stories ☆

Earlier this week we were partying up in the car. Dancing away and singing the songs at the top of our lungs. This lady next to us just stopped and started and then went. We have been laughing about that.

A bit of an explanation behind my subject line. We were at a busy intersection and the people in the car next to us just stared at us. They got the green arrow. They didn't see that so I was like I need to get their attention. So I clapped twice and pointed. Then the car behind them honked and they both looked at me. Sister Baxter and I have been laughing about that, too. 

Floor dinner, b/c why not?

Visiting Carl, Deb, and Janet.

President & Sister Weathersby

Cabin Fever 3/7/2022

Welp. Home girl can't catch a break lol. This week, our apartment got covid...yay...That means we are quarantined.Wish I could tell you that stuff happened. The only thing is we are losing our minds. We went on walks, took naps, and even watch the restoration movie. 

This week was zone conference. We didn't get to go in person, so it was over zoom. I have never taken so little notes. We also had interviews. Also over zoom. Not ideal for me because my attention span is not good. But hey... I had access to snacks the entire time.

We had a total of 13 lessons. Most of them we have no recollection of because we were both miserable. But I do remember one lesson from yesterday with our new friend Spencer. He has a really strong testimony of Christ. He told us that if he feels like this church is right, he'll convert. That was pretty cool.

The YSA sisters have the coolest ward. They constantly brought the sisters food and even fed us, whereas the good ol' Haines ward didn't even realize we weren't at church yesterday. Tears. 

Other than that we have been struggle busing to Struggle City. Population 4 (me, my comp, and the other 2 sisters in our apartment).

Negative Covid test!

We found a swing.

A screenshot of one of our days (the green at the bottom is individual contacts).

Laughter is the Best Medicine 2/28/2022

 This week started off with our zoom portion of zoom zone conference. We are doing a mission fast until conference. That means no talking about social media/worldly things, school, boyfriends or girlfriends and family. This is THE hardest thing I have ever done. I never realized how many things I quote on a daily basis. Well because end that we have what is called an unconsecrated jar. Every time someone talks about anything related to those topics, they write their offense on a piece of paper. There is a punishment involved.

Some funny moments:

-Hermana Wells stepped on a bowl to demonstrate her tripping off a curb. She ended up breaking the bowl, and we laughed for ages about that 

-We made a video with some vine energy because we were following a meat truck

-Because of the 40 day fast, we have restrained saying or quoting anything. The funny part is when someone quotes something, we all go dead quiet and look at then until they realize

-President Weathersby has his name in the jar...literally the day after he told us about the fast.

-We spent about 10 minutes laughing about absolutely nothing before every lesson.

-We were able to get in contact with a lot of people this week. Sadly a majority of them had to be passed off. 

-We were knocking on some members doors. This one blue dot stuck out to me. We went and knocked and he answered. He began by telling us that he had a bad experience with he Haines ward a couple years ago so he left. He really liked talking to us and said that he was wanting to come back to church!!!! He said that when he opened the door and saw us he knew that it was a sign from God.

Helping a lady move.

Our tarts.