Hello Family!!!!

 AH ANOTHER FAST WEEK HAS GONE BY. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY. I CAN'T SAY THAT ENOUGH!!!!

I hope all is well :) I love y'all so much and pray for y'all every day!!!

Ah. Well, last week, I went out on my first exchanges with a cute sister named Sister Bush. I served in Millbrook for a day which was so fun!! It's funny how different the people are there from Clanton and Millbrook is only 30 mins away. Anyway, it was so fun, but I definitely missed being in Clanton!!!!

We met with this cute lady named Annie last Wednesday and shared different Bible verses with her that we loved and she did the same. We then introduced the Book of Mormon to her and showed her some of our favorite scriptures from there as well. She LOVED the verses that we shared with her and she kept saying, "I'm gonna read this book and I will mark it ALL UP and then ask you questions about it later. When shall we meet next?" PEOPLE ARE BEING SO PREPARED HERE IT IS CRAZY!!!

We met with this man named Jeff Dalrymple who was neighbors with one of our investigators. He just talked and talked and talked. Really nice guy. I had a really spiritual experience with him because I felt as though I could easily relate. He had just found out that his wife has Melanoma and I just started to cry because it hit home for me and I just looked him in the eyes and told him that everything would be alright and that everything that is going on is in God's hands. I KNOW that he was sent to me so that I could talk with him and comfort him and relate. Heavenly Father knows what we need to go through so that we can help others along the journey as well. He agreed to let us come talk to him again and give him a lesson this week. He excitingly told us that he has a pear tree and wants us to have some of his pears!!! So excited to teach him!

We are working now with this member named Brother Lutz. He is a smoker and is just recently starting to come back to church. His wife was baptized last month. We are working with him to stop smoking and also his step-daughter, Sarah. We had both of them give us all of their cigarettes and THEY DID. We went through this 15 step program that a missionary gave to us to use. It seems like it's working because both of them have not smoked for 3 days!!! Brother Lutz called us this morning and confessed that he got a cigarette from his friend and started to smoke, but felt sick after two puffs of the cigarette!! MIRACLE. He has been smoking for nearly 35 years!! We had them both write a pledge to stop smoking and read it aloud. Brother Lutz's pledge was so precious. It basically read saying: "I, Michael Lutz, will stop smoking so that I can be healthy and go to the temple one day. I will stop because I want to be with my family in the spirit world." Too grand.

We went over to Brother and Sister Mitchem's home. Sister Mitchem is not a member and is very lonely. We shared a Mormon message with her which went well! She loved it!!! Brother Mitchem started to talk to us about how he thinks that eating meat and treats is completely against the Word of Wisdom. He has a good heart though. 

We met with Shirley again and soon realized that she is not quite ready for baptism yet :( which is fine. Patience is a virtue. She told us that she knows that the Book of Mormon is true though so that's good!!! She just said that she wants to decide on her own when she wants to be baptized. We asked her if she thinks she has done her part in knowing if what we are teaching her is true. She said "no" and told us that she could definitely do more praying about it. She is such a sweet lady and LOVES going to church.

We met with Betty again yesterday! I love her!!! Her husband came out and said, "What are these girls doing here again???" Betty just boldly told him, "They are my friends and God has sent them to me!!!" She is just so precious. We taught her the restoration and OH MY the spirit was SO strong in that room! SHE READ FROM THE BOOK OF MORMON. (this is the lady who thinks it's a sin to read from it). We have another appointment with her this week so we shall see how it goes! She is so full of questions.

Miss Daisy was able to go through the temple this Saturday and it was a very amazing experience. She WAS SO HAPPY. She just glowed!!! Her daughter was able to be there for her and she was sealed to her. Her daughter kept saying, "you'll be my mama forever." That was the first time I have ever cried in the temple and it was just a very spiritual experience. It made me think of my family and the blessing that we have to live with each other for ETERNITY. I can't wait :)

I love my savior, Jesus Christ so much. Everyone needs this gospel!! People here are so grand, but NEED the FULLNESS of this gospel. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much while being here. One thing that Sister Casperson and I do is write down miracles at the end of every day that happen. I invite y'all to do that as well! You will recognize a lot more blessings if you do that!!!

I love my family so much. I love how close we all are. It is such a blessing to me. I'm grateful for the knowledge that I have of families and how they can be together forever. So many people here just think that they won't know their families after this life and that we are all just going to live with God. One guy asked us if he would know his wife who passed away and be able to recognize her. We gladly told him that he would!!!!!!

Did anyone watch the relief society broadcast? It was so grand!!! Monson spoke at the end and ah, it was amazing!!!!!

Let us all have an increased faith to get answers to our prayers. "Be still and know that I am God."

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

p.s. I love letters a lot

p.s.s. Everyone here has dogs. EVERYONE.

Our Building

We love Sonic

We love cows

MIRACLES ARE REAL!!! GOD IS SO GOOD :)

I SHOULD START OFF BY SAYING THAT I AM SO HAPPY FOR MEREDITH AND GARY!!! A BOY!!! WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT??? hahhaha only Lydia thought it was gonna be a boy. Too funny. Ah. I'm so excited for y'all!!!! I seriously love my family so much. I am so blessed. We are all SO blessed!!! Heavenly Father is so good!

Well, it was another GRAND week here in Clanton!!!

SHIRLEY COMMITTED TO BAPTISM!!! OCTOBER 5th is the date!! WAhooo!!!! We were able to teach her and her older daughter, Cyndi, about the Plan of Salvation. They both just soaked it all in and Cyndi kept saying, "wow. That's so cool!! wow. That just makes sense!!!!" We invited Cyndi to come to church with Shirley, but she said that she gets shy around people, but also said that she was willing to try it out. She didn't come this past Sunday, but we will see how she progresses this Sunday :) We asked Shirley if she was still reading the Book of Mormon and she said, "yes! I read it every morning and it makes my days less depressing. It really does make me happy!!!" She still doesn't quite understand that she needs to pray about it so we discussed that with her and asked her to say the closing prayer. She just said a memorized prayer, but it was still beautiful that she was willing to pray with us!!! She is so sweet and always loves coming to church and to our scripture study class.

We went over to Cynthia's home who is investigating the church. She told us that she was sorry, but she couldn't meet with us because her brother was in the hospital and needed help, but didn't have medical insurance so they were in a pickle. So we offered to say a prayer with her which was great! She then told us as we were leaving, "Don't give up on me please. I still want to learn more! Don't give up on me. Come back next week." hahaha It was so precious. Of course we will :)

Last Thursday, a thought came to my mind that we needed to see Betty again. (She was the lady who thinks the BOM is a sin to read). We decided to bring her some food with quotes on it along with the Book of Mormon in a basket. We knocked on her door and she opened it and just started crying. She started to explain to us how she has been struggling that day and how we were an answer to her prayer! She started to explain to us about her son and how he doesn't want anything to do with her, etc...

We said a prayer with her and afterwards, she looked at my name tag for a long time and finally said, "you know what. I think it's pretty weird how you two always show up at the perfect time. It's like God is trying to tell me something and wants me to hear what you gotta say. Maybe I should give this Mormon thing a try. And you both just have God's light shining through you. Why wouldn't I listen to you. ya know?" UH YEAH THAT REALLY DID HAPPEN!!! Chills just ran through me as I thought to myself, "Did she really say what I think she just said????!!!???" Through the spirit, hearts of people can REALLY be softened!!! Ah. I just love being a missionary. I really do. We will meet with her again this week and give her the first lesson again :)

Last Tuesday, we were able to listen to a general authority named, Elder Kopishke and his wife!!! He talked about how we need to develop a "vision" as missionaries of what we want to accomplish and who we want to see throughout the day and week. So, every morning, Sister Casperson and I wake up 2 minutes early to think of someone "dressed in white" going into the font and then ask Heavenly Father to help us find that person that day.

It's a pretty neat idea!!! Oh, we had lunch for a break between meetings with him and his wife and guess who decided to come sit at the table Sister C. and I were at??? YEAH. Elder Kopishke and his wife did!!! They are grand!!! :) No big deal. Just ate some lunch with a general authority of the 70 :)

We did a lot of service this week with helping a teenage boy with his math homework. I calmly tried to explain everything to him. I am definitely learning patience here on my mission :) We were also able to go see the Kane family whose this super cute family with three ADORABLE kids who remind me of my nieces and nephews. We helped them do yard work. (Yes. I moved some gravel rocks with a shovel. Brought me back to the good ole' days a month ago :)) The husband is not a member, but is the nicest guy in Clanton, I'm convinced. The wife is a member, but doesn't go to church very often. They are just the perfect family and have so much potential!!!!!! AHHHH

I have noticed that people are generally scared of us here and we don't know why. We got a referral from a lady in our branch to go see this man and his wife. We knocked on the door. He cracked the door open and I could barely see his eye as he said, "If you want to talk to me, I'll see you over at that church on Sunday." As he pointed over to the Baptist church across the street. So fun. :)

OH GUESS WHAT. This morning, we received a referral from Mormon.org!!!! A lady messaged us saying she wants us to come visit her!!! THIS NEVER HAPPENS!! wahooooo!! We will go see her today which I'm so happy about! Pray that she is home!!!!!!!

Did you know that people eat dove here? No. Not the chocolate. The actual bird. Yes. I've never heard of that before!!!

I was reading in the "Jesus the Christ" book which is a million pages long and find it VERY interesting!!! I suggest everyone to read it. It's amazing. I was reading about Christ and how he always told his disciples in fear, "Peace. Be still"

It reminded me of one of my favorite verses in the Book of Mormon in Mormon 5:23 "Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God?" WE ARE IN HIS HANDS!!!!! When Christ was on the boat with his disciples, he rested during the storm and actually fell asleep. His disciples were frightened and awoke Jesus and asked him why he wasn't helping them!!! "Oh ye of little faith." he said.

May we all try a little harder every day to be more faithful. I know it's hard sometimes, but I know that it is necessary to exercise faith in He who created us and KNOWS us!!!!

I just love y'all so much. I'm grateful for this gospel. I love this church so much and don't know where I would be without it. It all seriously just makes sense. I love that I can pray to my Father in Heaven WHENEVER and WHEREVER I want and need to.

I just want everyone to have this gospel in their lives. It's the best thing in the world!!!! THE BOOK OF MORMON IS SO TRUE! THE BIBLE IS TRUE AS WELL!!! HEAVENLY FATHER IS REAL AND IS WAITING TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Ya'll

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH OH MY GOODNESS!! Being here has really opened my eyes to how lucky I am to have such an amazing family. God is so good to us!!!

Well. I would like to start off by saying that literally EVERY day here goes by REALLy REALLY fast. My mission will be over with before I know it! ah. so crazy. Well, we got THREE new investigators this week!! WAHOO!!!!! I will talk about the three righhhttt now.

Cynthia: Cynthia is great. We love her. She is this cute older lady whose husband was interested in the church, but recently passed away. We taught her this past Saturday and gave her the first lesson about the restoration. She was honestly teaching us because she kept saying, "yeah. I don't get why all the preachers need the money when they preach. They should preach because they love Jesus." and then she told us that she has always wanted to be baptized by immersion because she thinks it's the right thing to do because Jesus did it that way. She just gets it. I recited the first vision to her and she just closed her eyes and smiled when I said it and kept saying, "mmmhmmm. yes Jesus Lord. Yes Jesus" She is one of my favorite people ever. I just love all the people here. She has such great faith and is coming to church with us this next Sunday!!!

Betty: We met Betty while tracting. We knocked on her door and she didn't even ask who we were. She just let us in and started to ask us questions. She said that there was a light of Christ in us and it was obvious. She started to talk about how she has been given the Book of Mormon, but she thinks it would be a sin to read it because it's not the Bible. We began to explain to her that it is another testament of Jesus Christ. Sister Casperson and I started teaching her the restoration and it was REALLY going well and the spirit was so strong and then.. WHAM. The door opens and her two crazy sons walk in and start talking and she started to tell us to come back another time because the football game was about to start. The lesson was going so so well, but it has given us the opportunity to go home and study the things that we need to teach her. She knows that the bible has gaps, she just doesn't understand the need for the Book of Mormon.

Shirley: Shirley is great!! We walked up to her home and she opened the door before we knocked and said that we had a unique message of Jesus Christ for her. She is in her late 60's. We gave her a pamphlet to read and asked if we could come back later to teach her and she agreed that she would. So great. So, last Tuesday, we taught her the first lesson and loved it! Her husband joined in on the lesson, but his confidence was low with reading and praying about the Book of Mormon because he can't read. We asked Shirley if she would read it to him at night and if they would both pray about it. Shirley seems more ready than him, but that's alright. We will work on him!!! She came to our scripture reading class that we have every Wednesday night and she LOVED it!!!! yay!! and she also came to church yesterday so WAHOOO!!!!! 

We also knocked on this door in the trailer park area and talked to a man who was super nice and said that his two kids were just "saved" and baptized and that he is just so happy. Then, Sister Casperson said, "yeah that's great!! well. is there anyone in the area that would be interested in our message about Jesus Christ?" and I just thought to myself, "no. HE NEEDS this message." So after he talked about the woman down the street, I quickly said, "Do you mind if we come back and just share our message about Jesus Christ with you?" He said that he would love to!!!!!

I have come to realize that those who are more humble are those that are really ready to here this gospel.

Heavenly Father is preparing so many people here in Clanton!!!!

I am so grateful to be here. I really am. I love being a missionary!!!!!! It really is the best feeling ever to wear my tag with my name on it and having "Jesus Christ" right next to my name!!!

We had a branch pool party on Saturday which was fun!! I got hit in the head with a football as I was talking to a lady from the branch and now that is the joke going around the branch. so fun. hahha.

I went to the Birmingham temple this past Friday which was GRAND!!!! It is the SMALLEST TEMPLE in the world, but I loved it anyway. Definitely was much needed!!!

Oh. MISS DAISY IS GOING TO THE TEMPLE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH!!! She is a sweet old lady who got baptized 5 years ago. She is kind of nervous and unsure, but Sister Casperson and I read out of a temple prep book with her to make her feel at peace! We got permission from President Hanks to go with her that day! SO EXCITED:)

Speaking of President Hanks, I love him. I love him and Sister Hanks so much!!! They are amazing!!!! :)

I have felt the spirit so much here on my mission. Every time I talk about the restoration with an investigator, I just get chills and think to myself, "this gospel just makes sense." gah. I love it so much!!!!!

# of bug bites currently on my arms and legs: 15

# of times I've said "y'all": 10

# of times I've been called "honey child" or "baby": 20

# of hugs I've received: A MILLION!!!!

# of times I've been called a Jehovah Witness: 2

# of times I've been called a nun: 1

9/9/2013

Gracie is in Clanton, Alabama

this is her first letter from being in the Mission Field. 

We are so thrilled she made it safely and is already engaged in the work. We are so proud of her and look forward to hear from her each Monday. 

Here is Gracie with her First Companion

Gracies Mission President and his wife. 

Brother and Sister Hanks

I JUST WANTED TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK and GOD IS GOOD.

I am in Clanton, Alabama which is a tiny town between Birmingham and Montgomery. My trainer is Sister Casperson and she is so grand!! We get along so well :) Ah I don't even know where to start.  Everyone loves giving hugs here

I will start off with just talking about some of my favorite experiences so far. Sister Casperson and I were walking to our car from our apartment when we came across a woman unloading her car. We asked her if she needed help, but she said no and so we continued on our way. We forgot something in the apartment so we went back to get it fast and then came outside again. We saw her again. This time, coming out of the house, we just smiled and waved at her and then, a miracle happened. She stopped us and said, "who are you girls anyway? obviously, you're not sisters. or partners. who are you?" and we then proceeded to explain to her that we are missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints. She began to ask us random questions and then she asked us if we believed everything the bible said. We told her we believed in the King James version of the Bible and also the Book of Mormon. She was SO interested!!! We then explained what the BOM was about and how Jesus visited those in the Americas. She thought it was the coolest thing and then said, "I will have to go buy me one of those books at the library or somethin" We quickly told her that it would not be necessary as we gave her a copy. She just kept saying over and over again, "yeah. I'm so interested in this. this is somethin special" We then asked her if we could give her a lesson at her home, but she said that she lives in Hoover which is a TOTAL BUMMER because we had to refer her to the other missionaries. Gah. It was a beautiful experience though because I specifically was prompted in my prayer that morning to ask Heavenly Father if I could find at least ONE person that was interested. BOOM. Prayer. Answered.

Another good experience that I had was when we decided to go out and tract because there was still some time before coming home. We came across this one house and the lady just said to us, "I'm Baptist. Don't go teachin' me bout Jesus. I know him." So then we just said, "That's great!!! Do you know anyone in this area who would be interested in our lesson about Jesus Christ and his restored gospel?" She just replied, "No. the lady across the street is Baptist. The man next door is Methodist and the other man is the Minister of that church over there."

Ha. I love the south. I'm obsessed with these people. I really am. 

I love this gospel so much!!

Oh. I've gotta tell you about my church experience!!!!

They asked me to share my testimony at the end which went well!! I have to give a talk next week on the spirit and how we can use it to know God's will.

Oh, on Friday morning, Sister Casperson and I did volunteer work at the Humane Society which involved cleaning out the cages of the cats and dogs there. It was so sad to see how scared they were of us because so many people here abuse their animals, but it ended up being really fun!!!

We are going to the temple this week which I am excited about!!!

Well. I will try to send pictures now!! The library here only lets us use the computer for an hour :/

But, I am so happy and I love you all SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!