12.20.16 Merry Christmas!

First off, I can't believe Christmas is this Sunday! Time seriously is going by way too fast. Transfer calls (if there is going to be a change) will come on Christmas day, but even though both of us hope that there won't be any change made, we know that we will go where we are needed, and I wouldn't have that any other way. This week felt a bit slow due to Zone Conference, exchanges, and snow storms, but as always we were able to see the work go forth!

So, last Tuesday we had our Zone conference, and the conference was really centered on teaching repentance, and helping others prepare to make covenants to Heavenly Father. One really interesting thing is that in missionary work, we call people to repentance by leaving them with commitments that help them make a change in their lives and develop faith. One thing that I have learned is that as a missionary, if you're not doing your part in leaving those you teach commitments and invitations to come closer to Christ, than you're not raising your voice of warning. Right after our Zone Conference, we had a Christmas party, where some of the missionaries preformed in a mini talent show and they also had some activities. It was a blast and just a good way to draw closer together with our zone and the Rigby zone! 

Thursday I went on an exchange to Rexberg with Sister Eas from Hawaii! It just so happened that Friday morning, there was this blizzard that hit, and the whole mission received a text message from President Nelson saying that we weren't allowed to drive, and we either had to stay home or walk around to proselyte. Since there was no way we were just going to just chill at the house all day, we walked around Rexberg in the snow- something that I would not suggest to everyone, but it honestly wasn't too bad! :)

Since we couldn't drive that day, our exchange lasted another 24 hours, which is just crazy!

Sunday, we were sitting in sacrament meeting up in Newdale when all of the sudden we received this text message from on the the in-active families that we have been working with in Teton, saying that they decided to make it to church and were wondering where we were at! We quickly hurried over to Teton, although we didn't make it in time for their sacrament meeting, (the sad part is that just that morning we at first felt like we should go to that particular ward in Teton, but we dismissed the thought since we had attended that ward just the week prior) we were able to help the kids to go to all of the right classes, and we attended Sunday School and RS with the mother, who hadn't attended church in years. We were also able to go sacrament in another ward with two other less actives we have been seeing! It was so wonderful to see both of the wards reach out to those who attended church with us. 

I swear miracles happen everyday, but here are just a few of them that we experienced this week. First off, last night we had some appointments fall through, and while we were trying our back up plans, I just was feeling a bit disappointed. But I was thinking that there had to be somewhere that we needed to be, so I said a quick prayer and a name came as clear as day to me. I turned to Sister Camarena and asked her if we could go try this one particular in-active woman. What was really neat is that Sister Camarena had been thinking about her strongly as well, so we went over to see her. Sure enough, she was home and we were invited in. We had been trying to set something up with her for a long time, and that night she happened to be there. Another prompting I received was just right after I said my closing prayer for my personal study Sunday morning. The thought came to mind to bring this one nice Book of Mormon I have that has tabs in it, with certain questions written inside, and the scriptures that answer those questions marked (hopefully that makes sense). I at first brushed the thought away, since I always carry a Book of Mormon anyway and I didn't really want to get that particular one I had to be damaged in anyway. But then I remembered a certain time that I had had a thought of bringing something and not acting upon it, and regretting it later. So I ended up taking the other Book of Mormon with me as well. So, in Sunday school with the one woman we have been working with, she needed a copy of the scriptures to follow along in, and I just gave her the copy I had with me. I watched as she ended up turning to each and every tab and reading the questions and the verses marked in it. She leaned over to me and asked where I had gotten it, and was super excited to read more! It was a really neat thing for me to see just how important it is to follow even the smallest of promptings! Also! This morning we had the privilege of going to the Rexberg Temple, and I had an amazing experience there! It is such a blessing to have a temple so close by, I love that we are able to see it from Sugar City. 

Since we were snowed in an we could only walk around Rexberg for so long on Friday, I was able to finish reading Doctrine and Covenants, and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to do so in one setting. I really only had 10 or so sections left, but I felt like I needed to learn all that I did from those particular sections at that time. Here are just a couple of scriptures from my reading then that stood out. 

~D&C 132:3

~D&C 136:31

I love you all, and hope that each of you have a wonderful Christmas! I know that Jesus really is the Christ, and this Christmas season my hope is that we can all thing of a way to align our lives closer to Him. We each have such a unique role to play here on earth, I know that to be true with all of my heart.

-Sister Cottrell 

12.12.16

Hi everyone! So since they changed our Zone Conference from Wednesday to Tuesday (tomorrow) we ended up not switching our P-day, but we will have it changed next week so that we can go to the temple. :)

This week was really good, despite the normal hard missionary moments that always occur! This past Monday night, we shared the Christmas Initiative with the one less active family, and that somehow ended up leading into a conversation of promptings of the spirit. They shared a few experiences when they both had been saved by following promptings. Pretty soon, their teenage daughter who we know pretty well (she's not a member, and a bit of a rebel. She's always friendly enough to us, though!) ended up joining us, and shared a near death experience that took place just a few days ago. She and her boyfriend had slid off the road and ran into a fence. She felt very strongly that God had a part to play in protecting them, and told us that she felt closer to God than she had in a long time. I felt so strongly that I should right there formally invite her to draw close to Him again, and we offered the discussions to her. She really opened up and said that she felt that was something she was ready for, and she right there pulled out her phone to plan a time that worked with her and her mom's schedule. It was just so powerful to me, because I've known her every since I first came into the area. It just added another testimony to me that Heavenly Father really is preparing the hearts of His beloved children! I know I say that like every week, but it's so true!

We also had the opportunity to pop in on a few ward parties, which was really neat because we had both less actives that we are working with and potential investigators that showed up! The greatest part about though, was seeing the ward reach out to them. I'm seriously so grateful for the wonderful members who help us in the work! As we attended one of the wards in sacrament meeting, one Sister who we know came up to us and told us that this one young non-member family went to their ward's Christmas party (unfortunately, we had an appointment and didn't make it to that ward's party) and the wife even mentioned that they would like to go to sacrament meeting! We are working with our Ward Mission Leader in that ward, and we both feel that they would be willing to meet with us through an invitation from the members they are friends with. We are very excited to see what might come from it!

We are still teaching our 12-year-old investigator, who just loves church and has been going for a solid month now! He's grandparents still want him to show that he's really dedicated, so they want to hold off him getting baptized for a little bit longer, but we know that he's on the right path. Another really neat experience was during another lesson with the Brother who we've been working with, and again he read another six chapters from the Book of Mormon (and we only committed him to two chapters last time!) The spirit was so strong while we were keeping the lesson focused on faith in Christ, and we all of the sudden felt prompted to bring up his tobacco, which he always used to jokingly offer to us in the past. He admitted that he would like to get off of it, and he knows he needs to do that to get active in the church, but that he's been chewing tobacco for almost fifty years. We talked about Lord can and will give him strength, and he said that he would think about asking for a blessing to help him. He kind of laughed as he mentioned how funny it would be when he would ask this one friend (who is an amazing member and helps us in the work!) for a blessing, and how he's been trying to get him to go to church for years, and then the Sisters show up! He very seriously though asked his wife though if she would like him to take her to the temple, and we know that he really is thinking about making some changes. He's coming a long way.                      

We also had exchanges this week, and I was with Sister Naitoko (from Tonga) in our area for a day! I learned a lot and we had a great time. I also just adore Sister Camarena! We teach really well together and are just getting closer each day. It's been neat watching her slowly start to love the people who I've been working closely for awhile now. I can't imagine what it will be like when I'll  eventually have to leave.

As a mission, we have a Book of Mormon reading daily chart, and we have now started over to the beginning. In 1 Nephi 4:6-18 it tells of Nephi and his experience of following the Holy Ghost. I think we forget (or, at least I do!) that the spirit often speaks to us through our thoughts in our hearts and impressions in our mind. He will also bring things to our remembrance (just like in verse 14). We need to just follow the guidance and trust in Him. :)
Also, one less active who we are working with was talking to us about how she doesn't understand why God would ever command His people to build a beautiful temple when those funds could be spent on helping the poor and needy. During personal study, I came across D&c 124, where in verse 21 The Lord calls on his servant to care for the poor, and then just a few verses later He gives the commandment of building a temple. It helped her understand that Heavenly Father is mindful of His Children's needs. It also helped her to see that Heavenly Father has always commanded His Children to build temples (D&C 124:38, and then Solomon's temple).

I just want to leave you all with my testimony that Jesus is the Christ. I can't tell you how amazing it is to share that with others each day! I really have felt like I've changed so much already on my mission in ways that I didn't expect. I'm so amazed at how the spirit is able to work through us to declare the gospel. I couldn't do anything on my own, and I'm thankful of the help I receive each day from the enabling power of the Atonement. I hold a deep love for all of the people I have met so far on my mission. I love each of you, thank you for your support!

-Sister Cottrell

12.05.16-- 4 Months out!

This week we had Zone Training and a special Sisters Meeting, where all of the Sisters in the whole mission got together for a training! 

Okay, so one wonderful thing about the Christmas Initiative is that it gives us an opportunity to go see people who we have maybe tried in the past, but who weren't super interested. One lady we decided to go see, I actually had met during my second week here, and that last time she flat out told us that she wasn't a member and that she wasn't interested. Well, to my surprise when we tried her again she invited us in and was way super friendly. Apparently, missionaries have been teaching her father who lives sort of near by, so maybe that's why she was a whole new different person and invited us in. We were able to share the Christmas Initiative with her and her two kids, and then we tied that into the Restoration a little bit. She is now really open and we have an appointment with her for tomorrow! We haven't been able to find new investigators recently, because we have been running into a lot of people (sometimes not very polite..) who just tell us they're "good" before we can really get a word out. 

We are still working with a lot of in-actives, and it's been amazing to see their progression! We have been meeting with this one lady who recently has been re-activating, and she used to just be super firm on not having any interest in going through the temple. However, we've been working with her, and she's starting to show more and more interest, and she's opening up to us why she's nervous about going through. It's amazing to see the change of people's lives as the spirit will testify of truth and what they need to do to become closer to Christ. 

Something that really stood out to me during a message at Zone Training is that you need to personally be converted in order to be able to help others on their journey towards conversion. During the Sisters meeting, we had some training on how to be able to teach about the different roles men and women play (for those who we teach who have concerns about women and the Priesthood). When you think about it, we are born through women, and when you're born, there's blood, water, suffering, and pain involved. The only way to get back to our Heavenly Father is through Christ, who suffered for our sins, and bled and died for us. When we are baptized, water is involved, and when we take the sacrament the bread and water represent the blood and his body. Women have the ability to bring children into the world, and in order to balance things, men hold the priesthood and are able to preform the ordinances that are essential to make it back to Him. Moses 6:54-60 came to my mind, and I think goes a lot with what we were discussing at the Sisters meeting. We also had training on clothing, hair, and things like that really only apply to the Sister missionaries. 

Also, I love my companion! We are really growing closer together each day, and I'm learning so much while training. 

-Matt. 20:30-34 This story really hit me! Do we sometimes see others who are calling for help, but we then tell them to "hold their peace"? Christ asked what the two blind men needed, and then He healed them. Right away, they followed Him once they could see on their own. 

-"Heaven is a continuation of the ideal home" (Preach My Gospel, pg. 85). I just love this quote! I'm so very thankful for being raised in what I think was an ideal home (not perfect, but close!). I'm forever grateful for being placed in my family, and I want to thank my parents and siblings for making our home one that really is a heaven on earth. 

One important thing to mention is that next week we are switching our P-day to Tuesday, so that we can go to the Rexberg Temple. :)

I love you all!

-Sister Cottrell 

Pictures: Sage went out to teach with us one evening, and is waiting for her mission call! One of the roads just right outside of Newdale :)

11.28.16!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! All morning till noon our whole zone volunteered and served those in need! There were a few non-members there also volunteering, which made it a great missionary opportunity as well. Afterwards we had dinner with one of our Ward Mission Leaders and their family! That evening our whole zone got together again, and we just played volleyball in one of the church buildings in Rexberg. We all had a blast :)

Just a few days ago we had a lesson with this girl in her early 20s who actually told us that she has been in-active for about three years now. She recently moved in, and when we went to see her we actually had no idea that she was in-active. She told us Saturday that since we first met her that she has started to recognize that she needs the gospel back in her life. It also turns out that she was baptized when she was 11-years-old, so she remembered being taught by the missionaries and felt the need to have missionaries over again help her (which is why we are here!) It really added to my testimony that we will be lead to those who are ready to come back to the fold! We are sending her scriptures each night to help her slowly get back in the habit of daily scripture reading, and she promised to attend church with us this next Sunday.

We also had to opportunity to speak in another ward yesterday! It was really neat, because one of the youth speakers who spoke before us talked about preparing for his mission, and his father is actually one of our potential investigators. The father is really friendly and even goes to church every week, but doesn't see the need to get baptized into the church. He always attends sacrament meeting though, and if his family isn't ready in time, he'll even go on his own and beat them to church! We were asked to speak about member missionary work in the Stake and I focused on being an example, service, and being converted yourself be a better member missionary.

We also were able to teach the in-active couple again who we taught last week! We weren't able to get to the computers this week due to the family history center being closed for Thanksgiving, so we weren't able to do any research on lds.org like I would have liked. But we were able to address his concerns by using the scriptures, which helped him a lot. Or at least, he didn't linger on the subject of polygamy and we moved on to other things. As he addressed a bunch of little things in the Book of Mormon that didn't settle right with him, I was blown away as each thing seemed to be something that I had studied a bit on within the last couple of months. One of the things was how when Nephi was commanded by the Spirit to kill Laban. I had seriously just read about that a few weeks ago, and we were able to flip to 1 Nephi 4:13 and 1 Sam. 15 without a problem, and discussed it a bit. The Spirit really does bring things to your remembrance, I'm more convinced of that everyday. Despite all of his concerns, he really does express that he's still willing to pray and find out the truth for himself. He also doesn't stay on the same topic after we use the scriptures and help him. Although there's a few things that we defiantly need to look up on lds.org, because he defiantly read anti-material somewhere in his past. They are both really sweet, and the wife even made us cake to take home (they both are worried that they are going to offend us with their questions).

We ended up teaching a lot of less active lessons this week, which is important! It's been a bit hard on my companion, since this was her first full week. But Thanksgiving did lead to a lot of our appointments with our investigators to be pushed back, so I'm hopeful that this next week will really help her. I'm really enjoying being with Sister Camarena, and she's still very excited to work and be here!

~D&C 112:11 Love others!
Some of the things I used in my talk this week-
~Alma 17:11 "And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls."
One of the ways we can be an example to those around us to to simply be patient in our own afflictions and trials that are unique to us. We then can take those things that we have learned from the challenges we face to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord.
~1 Nephi 8- During Lehi's dream, he recognizes that the fruit of the tree of life is desirable before he even partakes of it. It's not till after he eats of the fruit that he calls his loved ones to eat of it also. Likewise, we as members of course see the good the gospel brings, but it's not until we are fully converted and always striving to "eat of the fruit" that we have that strong desire to share the gospel.

I love you all,

Sister Cottrell

11.21.16

It was so hard saying goodbye to Sister Crandall and helping her pack! She was still feeling pretty sick up until she left, so I went on a few more splits with a few girls in the Stake preparing for missions themselves.

My new companion is Sister Camarena from Safford, Arizona! It snowed here on her first day out, as if Idaho decided to welcome her to the bitter cold! She's fresh out of high school and is ready to work, which makes my job easier. :)

Wednesday, right after transfers, we had a training as a zone on the new 2016 Christmas Initiative! #LighttheWorld! For each Christmas Initiative they let the missionaries watch the video before they release it to the world. I would really encourage everyone to make sure that they see it when it is released, and to participate in the Christmas count down that you can find on mormon.org. It is such a great missionary opportunity and it really will help you focus more on service this Christmas season!

We have been working with this one in-active couple who (mostly the husband) has a lot of concerns with church history that they finally opened up to us about. They are really open to letting us prepare a lesson to address some of these concerns (the husband even suggested it before we did!) and helping them gain a testimony as well as going through the list of "problems" in the church history. Yes, there's a list! This will for sure be so humbling for me! I used to feel pretty confident in addressing most concerns on the spot with scriptures and promptings, but some of his concerns are deeper than most that I've encountered in the past, so I'll for sure be studying a lot more this week and will be saying a lot of prayers. One thing that one of my MTC teachers taught me that I'm really convinced is true, is that the scriptures truly will answer any question. Also, out here I've learned that any concern others have might just be them "looking beyond the mark," and will always tie back to a simple principle of the gospel.

A blessing this week despite the work being a bit slow is that we were able to help a few people get to church! It really made me feel like we are making a difference and inviting the spirit into other's homes. Cody also went to church again and had a wonderful time. His Grandparents want to make sure he's ready to commit to this, so they won't let him get baptized for a few months. Once he proves that he does want this though, they are totally fine with it! Cody always sets up chairs for us when we come, and he really is focused at church! The other family that we are helping activate told us that they decided to push back their daughter's baptismal date from Dec. 3rd to that first week in January, so that family can attend and to help the father feel "more spiritually and worthy to baptize her." Another of our investigator's mother decided that she might not give permission to her son for him to be baptized either, but we can still teach him! Despite all of that going on, I know that they all are on the path towards baptism, and that's what matters.

In honor of Thanksgiving, I just want to express how thankful I am to be out here serving a mission. I probably say this every week, but I really am so grateful I made the decision to serve. I knew that it would be hard, but it truly is the most incredibly thing! As sappy as it sounds, I really never knew that I had so much room in my heart to love so many different people.

~Nephi 16:16- The Liahona led them to the more fertile parts of the land. When I read over this, I really started to think about how with everything you do in life, there's always going to be a good, better and best. :)

Love,

Sister Cottrell

11.14.16 Transfers!

So, this Transfer will be huge, since I'll be done with training! I'll also be staying here in the Sugar City Stake, while Sister Crandall will be transferring to Ammon Foothills. It has been a great three months with my trainer, and I'll miss her a ton. It will be so bittersweet saying goodbye but I also can't express how happy I am to be staying here for at least 6 more weeks!

Thursday we got a call from the Assistants to the President, and I was extended a call to be a trainer this next transfer! I feel that this will be a very humbling experience, since I feel that I have still have so much to learn. Because I'm training a new missionary, I won't know who my companion will be until Tuesday, the night before transfers. There are only two English Sisters coming out this transfer, so I'm really anxious to see who it will be! Friday I went to Idaho Falls to attend the Train the Trainers meeting in the mission office, and they really emphasized just how lasting of an influence a trainer has on their trainee. I have never been put out of my comfort zone so much while on my mission, but I guess that's the only way that you can grow. I'm extremely excited, even though I feel that this is a lot of responsibility and I'm not sure if I'm more worried about training or leading the area. Send a lot of prayers my way..!

Another change to mention is that they had to split a few of the Districts, so I'll actually be changing from the St. Anthony District to the Rexburg District. Our new District will only have three sets of missionaries including us, which will be really a bit different from St. Anthony, where there were five sets.

Alright, so this week has been a bit interesting due to illness(fun stuff). Thursday Sister Crandall taught the flu and has been sick on and off since, and I've felt half sick myself. Luckily I never got too bad, so I was still able to go on a some splits and teach. This week one of the Bishops in Teton introduced us to a 12-year-old boy who lives with his inactive Grandma and Grandpa who's not a member. The boy we were introduced to wants to get active, and we all found out and were surprised that he actually hasn't even been baptized yet! So we have started to teach him, and we even took him to a convert baptism in Rexberg Saturday night. He really wants this, even though his Grandma almost is unhelpful and keeps asking him things like "are you sure you want to go to church?" and keeps doubting him. But he just has so much zeal and he was excited to attend the baptism as well as church!

Another highlight is that we also got to have another lesson with the couple we watched "The Testaments" with, and the husband (the one who's inactive) read four chapters of the Book of Mormon! We really do feel like he is feeling the spirit more and more. As I keep teaching, I really have been able to see the Spirit put words into my mouth and I've had things that I've studied be brought to my remembrance. It is an amazing comfort to know that if I do my part and study, that I'll be guided by the Holy Ghost.

Lastly, here are a few of the things that stood out to me this week!

-D&C 100:4-8
D&C 106:7-8 If we humble ourselves before the Lord, we can be lifted up despite our weaknesses. We need only turn to our Savior and use the enabling power of the atonement!
-Mormon 5:23 "Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?" We need to never forget just how much Heavenly Father loves us! We honestly see so many people who I just wish could feel/know how much Heavenly Father is aware of them.
-1 Nephi 11 It's so interesting to think that both the tree of life (which produces the fruit) and the waters in this chapter are a representation of the love of God. Without food or water, we can't live or receive the nourishment we need. Everyone on earth in one way or another, are starving and are in need of the love of God and of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for the support!

-Sister Cottrell

Halloween with the Rexberg zone at President Vickery's house!

Another picture of our zone. This month there is just so much to be thankful for. Thankfully I'm a bit hidden! ;)

October 31st!

Happy Halloween! Today will be really interesting, since we aren't allowed to go proselyting on Halloween night, and it also so happens to be a P-day. So our whole zone is getting together for dinner and just to hang out in the evening, and it will be really weird to have an all day P-day.

Last week was Brian's baptism! So many people were there! We had to move everyone into the chapel again to fit everyone. Brian is such a sweetheart, and we have grown really close to the whole family! His younger brother got to baptize him, which was just a tender thing to see. Brian's other brother gave the talk, and it was really neat because he talked about how even though Brian doesn't need to be baptized because of his special needs, he getting baptized so that he can serve in the church.

This week was a bit slow because we had the baptisms, then Sister Crandall was sick Tuesday, and we also had another exchange. But we did still see miracles! Yesterday, we had a few lessons cancel, and even though we were able to teach a few less actives, every other door we tired no one was home/we weren't able to get in to share anything. We tried so many people and that made it really tiring/discouraging (the rain didn't help, either). In the late evening, we actually knocked at one referral's home and she totally let us in and was very friendly! She had some interesting beliefs and got a little bit heated at one point, but by the end of it we left on a good note and there's room to go back. We also tried one non-member who we have been trying for weeks, and she keeps putting us off and telling us that she will think about it. We have met her less active boyfriend a few times, and he genuinely would be willing to meet with us if she would be on board. Well, we tried her and she seemed so different, and we even set up an appointment with her! This was really big, because at the moment we don't have very many investigators and out of the investigators we do have, so many have been canceling on us lately. It is just amazing how Heavenly Father prepares His children.

Friday was exchanges again, and one of the lessons we taught was to this student from Germany, who is super sweet! Since she has already had all of the lessons but is still investigating, we taught her about Elijah. She wanted to know more about him since she heard mention of Elijah during one of her classes, and it was a really neat lesson! We also taught a lesson over skype to a guy who lives in Organ! He was super curious about prophets and asked really sincere, good questions. The BYU-I area is unique because they are the only area in Idaho where they can have skype lessons. Basically, if someone has a non-member friend/family member, they can invite them to have a lesson over skype where they can be present with the missionaries here. The BYU-I sisters then teach the first two lessons, and then hand them over to the missionaries that cover them wherever they live. It's a really neat way to ease people into the lessons, because they can investigate the church in the comfort of their home with the missionaries teaching them just through skype. It was a really neat experience!

We also had the opportunity to have another church tour! We took this re-activating family to the stake center, and it was really neat because the ward mission leader for their ward joined us to help teach. By the end of the tour, we set a date for their oldest daughter (who is 9-years-old) to be baptized on Dec. 3rd! Her father is trying to quit smoking, so we will be working closely with their family to prepare them for that date.

Lately, I feel that I've been getting way too emotional! Just yesterday, we had one lesson with the less active lady, who opened up to us quite a bit this visit and admitted that she hasn't been active (a lot of the time, people will sort of pretend that they are with us). While we taught her, I felt just so much love for her and I could really feel how deeply Heavenly Father cares about her! It totally chocked me up, and it was just such a tender moment for me. I realized just how much I truly love doing this work, even on the hard days.

Here's some notes from Elder Oak's talk this past conference! I just want to testify that when you pray for missionary opportunities, they do come. So be ready!

"What we call 'member missionary
work' is not a program but an attitude
of love and outreach to help those around us."

We need the help of every member, and every member can help,
since there are many tasks to perform as we share the restored
gospel with every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

1. We can all pray for desire to help with this vital
 part of the work of salvation. All efforts begin with desire.
2. We can keep the commandments ourselves.
3. We can pray for inspiration on what we can do in our individual
circumstances to share the gospel with others. This is different than
praying for the missionaries or praying for what others can do.
We should pray for what we can do personally.

I love you all,

-Sister Cottrell

Pictures: Brian! He was just so thrilled. We made a ton of food last Monday to just have for the rest of the week, and we made a lot of cookies to have as refreshments at Brian's baptism. Also, in case you didn't know, potatoes are kind of a thing here in Idaho.



Barn full of Idaho Potatoes



This is how large the barn is!



Food preparation for the week on p-day



Sister Crandall is so excited about potatoes

A wonderful baptism experience

This week again went by so fast! First off, Tambree's baptism was a wonderful experience. So many people came to support her! Before we could start, we had to move everyone to the chapel because so many people came. Her Dad was there to support her, even though he's not a member. Tambree was just so thrilled and happy!

We are also teaching a boy named Mason, who's almost 13-years-old and is just super sweet. He's Dad is a less-active RM who really wants this for his son, so he's been really doing his best to set up lessons with us and helping Mason in anyway that he can. Our last lesson this week we went on a church tour, and the spirit was really present. Mason just has to talk to him mom for permission to get baptized, so we are praying that she'll give him her consent and support him in this decision.

We were able to work a lot this week with some less-actives who know that the church is true and do not have any problem with the actual doctrine, so now we are just helping them come back. Saturday, we watched Joseph Smith: The Prophet of The Restoration with a less-active young couple. Cindy really wants to come back and even watched conference! Austin is the boyfriend and is really great, but Cindy has expressed that he doesn't really have a testimony. They both are really friendly towards us, and even fed us dinner a few weeks ago. They also have a room-mate, Jake, who is less active(and has been about his whole life,) but gets into all kinds of stuff and they told us that he wouldn't be interested. Shortly after we started the movie, he came up to grab a beer and so we met him and he kept coming back to watch the movie and saying things like how upset he was that he was so intrigued, and that he swears he's seen the movie before. He kept popping in and out, and Cindy was making fun of him for being so interested. Eventually he joined us! After the movie we talked about it, and when we invited Austin and Cindy to read 2 Nephi 31 before we came back, Austin and Cindy happily said yes! Austin especially seemed like he really changed and wanted to learn more. We were also talking to Jake, and he kept telling us that he had more "doubts" than questions. But we got him to open up, and one thing that bothered him was that Joseph Smith died, when plenty of other prophets lived (he named some even, like Samuel the Lamanite). I told him that I had a few scriptures for him, and told him briefly about how they would help and asked which of the two scriptures I found he would like to hear, and he actually said both. So I read D&c 122:7-9, and D&C 135:3, which defiantly came through divine guidance! He didn't bring up that concern again, and agreed to read a chapter of the Book of Mormon and have us over just to see him next week! It's amazing to see people change, and I know that change is because they feel the spirit. That experience really was neat, especially since that same day, we were going to take two of our investigators to the Visitor Center, but we couldn't get a hold of them in the end so that fell through. I know that miracles will happen! I'm looking forward to this week, and I am just more and more convinced that when one door closes, another opens!

Tonight we are thrilled to see Brian get baptized! During his interview yesterday, we all were not sure how it would go, but he actually said "yes" to all of the questions, when normally it's harder to communicate to him, since his expressive language isn't as good as his recessive. But that was really neat to hear about, and we are going to be a bit busy today, since we promised to make 5 dozen cookies for after the baptism! (Brian's mother is the RS president, so we offered to take a little bit off her plate).  

I love you all :)

-Sister Cottrell 

October 10, 2016 update

Hi everyone! This week has was wonderful, and a few really neat things happened! We got a text from Tiana and Gavin asking us if we would go to their ward with them, which was really funny, because normally it's the missionaries and not the investigator asking if you'll go to church (we were planning on attending their ward with them anyway, but still)! After sacrament meeting, Gavin kept talking about how so many of his questions had been answered, and he also thanked us for sharing our testimonies. We are so very happy for them! The only bad news is that they have to move out from where they're staying, so they might leave to Rexberg this week. It's still up in the air, but in any case, I know that they will be fine and will keep progressing!

Tambree is super excited for her Baptism! It's such an neat experience teaching her, and I know that she really wants this for herself. We also have a baptismal date for Brian, who's such a sweetheart! Brain is 29 years-old and has down syndrome, but has recently wanted to help with preparing the sacrament. So they talked to our mission president and we get to teach him the lessons and prepare him for baptism! There is such a sweet spirit in the room whenever we teach him with his family. Last Wednesday night, we were teaching this really great boy named Tate with his less active mom. Tate had a friend over, who's also not a member. We were going to show the video "Because of Him," and Tate's mother asked his friend if it was alright if we showed the video, since his parents might not be okay with it. He said that should be fine, but then asked "does it have any swearing in the video?" Tate's mom just laughed and explained that we were the sister missionaries, and wouldn't show anything that wasn't appropriate. The lesson was really wonderful, and both boys were so engaged! We get to teach a variety of ages, and I have to admit that I really just love teaching kids! They can get so excited, and light just radiates from them.

We also had our Zone Training this week, and we talked a lot about having high expectations in the mission, but also making sure you have a high love for others. When we teach, you have to make sure you establish your purpose as a missionary, but at the same time, you must be able to love the people you teach. In addition to making sure you always remember your purpose and having a love for those you teach, I really have learned that you can't teach anything without the spirit to lead and guide you.

One thing that really stood out to me this week in personal scripture study was Ether 6:30, 7:27, and 10:2- There is this pattern in Ether where the righteous remember all of the tender mercies of the Lord to their fathers. Even among the Nephites, the prophets tell the people when calling them to repentence to remember how merciful the Lord was in bringing their fathers across to the promised land. I really feel that this can apply to us, for I find that the stories and miracles of my ancestors really help me with my testimony. We can even reflect back to our own lives, and find times when we have been blessed and strengthened through those tender mercies of the Lord. "..But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance" (1 Nephi 1:20). In seminary during my sophomore year, my teachers had us look for the hand of the Lord each day and to write those tender mercies down. When you do that, you'll find His hand more in your life than you think!

I love you all,

-Sister Cottrell

More Yellowstone pics!

Here are some more pics of Sister Cottrell visiting Yellowstone Park with some of the other sister missionaries from the Idaho Falls Mission.

Another 6 weeks in Sugar City!

First off, we just got transfer calls! I'm staying in the Sugar City Stake with Sister Crandall! I'm really so glad nothing is changing. Well, I guess that is only partly true, because Sister Dodd got her Visa last Tuesday and left just yesterday morning. She'll be wonderful in Samoa, but I'll defiantly miss her a ton!

This week was pretty crazy, for we had quite a few of our appointments fall through, and we had exchanges on two different days this week! Sister McIntosh (Sister Dodd's trainer) went on a exchange with me to work in my area on Wednesday, which was just a really neat experience. I learned a lot from her and we had a great time, even though we pretty much walked the entire day. On that note, since our miles were cut half way through the month, we hit our millage limit Tuesday. So we had to rely a few times on the amazing members to give us rides to Newdale, Sugar City, and Teton. Walking however was really nice, and we felt like hardcore missionaries! Friday, Sister McIntosh and Sister Crandall had another meeting, so Sister Dodd and I worked on the Campus half of the day and the rest in Sugar. Twice a week, from 10am till 1pm, the sisters serving on Campus have a booth set up to help get referrals, members to attend lessons with us, and so let the students know about Skype lessons! Being on Campus was really different, but we were able to set up a few lessons and we got some referrals. I actually ran into a few people I knew from my home YSA ward! It is such a small world!

We also got to help glean a field of potatoes! The brother who owns the land has a contract with a few companies, one of which is 5 guys! He also let us ride in the tracker they use to dig the potatoes up. We have been giving away the potatoes we collected to some of the people we teach and want to teach. Potatoes and cookies we have discovered softens hearts!

General Conference was really just amazing, as always! I learned so much and I really am glad I was able to receive all of the strength that I did. This weekend was seriously an emotional roller coaster, just with experiencing conference without my family, Sister Dodd leaving, and the general uncertainty of staying in my area or not. General Conference was just what I needed though, and I just was able to re-focus on my purpose as a missionary.

All of the talks had such a profound impact on me! I'll try to just share a few things that really stood out.

-Alma 5:23 "If you have received this mighty change of heart, can you feel so now?" I really loved how President Uchtdorf focused on the basic truths of the Plan of Salvation, and how all of us chose at the beginning to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior in our pre-mortal life. We work with a lot of less actives, and I feel that they just need to remember back to when they first gained a testimony, and focus on those simple truths that President Uchtdorf talked about. I think we can each evaluate our own testimonies, and see if we still feel the spirit strongly in our lives.

-Elder Neil L. Andersen and Elder Dallin H. Oaks! I liked their talks for hopefully obvious reasons... ;)
 I would really encourage everyone to prayerfully think about how they can apply the things they taught into their own lives!

-President Nelson's talk- "When we focus our lives on the Plan of Salvation and the gospel, joy enters into our lives."  "Missionaries teach and baptize to bring joy into the world!" President Russel M. Nelson really helped me more strongly remember in my purpose as a missionary and servant of the Lord! I can honestly say that this is the hardest thing I've ever done, but I'm also just so happy. I know that the joy I feel despite the stresses of missionary life is because I'm striving to serve others!

-If I had to pick a talk that hit me the most, I would have to say it was Elder Bednar's. The message of how selflessly serving others helps us give up our selfish desires and submit to his will really was just so powerful. I've been asking myself ever since yesterday if I truly know my Savior. We come to know the Lord when we are filled with his love and serve others, as Elder Bednar taught.

In my personal study, I've been really trying to think about what it truly means to "bear up your cross." 2 Nephi 9:18- they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it. (They are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ). It made me think about 1 Nephi 8:24-28, when one group of people were on the path, but became ashamed and fell away. In 3 Nephi 12:29-30, after Christ teaches the people the be-attitudes and to live the higher law, He then tells them to take up their cross. D&C 23:6 (the scripture that first made me want to study this more) is council to Joseph Knight to take up his cross and pray vocally before the world. In Mark 10:38-39 is the story of the rich young man, who Christ also councils to take up his cross. Those who take upon their cross and loses their life for Christ's sake shall find it. To me, taking up your cross is to give up that which might be hardest for you to give up or do, and follow Christ. I think we each have our own different crosses that we have to recognize. We can't take up our cross by ourselves. We need to use the enabling power of the Atonement and have faith in our Savior!

I love you all! I love this work, and I'm so thankful for the blessing of a latter-day Prophet. I'm ever hopeful for the work here, as I get to serve another 6 weeks in Sugar City!

-Sister Cottrell

P-Day Visit to Yellowstone Park

The missionaries in the Idaho Falls mission get to visit Yellowstone Park once during their mission and we received these wonderful photos of some awesome sister missionaries at Yellowstone on their P-Day. Thanks to the family who gave them a ride, took photos, and were amazing tour guides!

The Work Continues

Hello everyone!

It's been a wonderful few weeks! We had a Mission Tour the 19th, where our mission was privileged to hear from Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Seventy! Because Elder Nielson spoke to our Zone for a Conference last Monday, our P-day was actually changed to Wednesday. My companion and a two other Sisters serving on Campus, who we are really closed to, decided to spend our P-day at Yellowstone! So I have quite a bit to update everyone on, since we didn't really have very much time to e-mail that day.

Yesterday, we had a wonderful lesson at the Bishop's home in Newdale with Tambree! She has so much love and support, and we set a baptismal date with her for Oct. 22nd! We always pray about every baptismal date before the actual lesson, and we also committed Tambree to pray about this date as well, even though she's really happy about her decision.

Tiana and Gavin are really progressing! Since we started the actual discussions, they have just been so engaged in each lesson. Right before we were to say the opening prayer a week and a half ago, Tiana jumped up and asked us to wait a minute so she could try and get her cousin to join us! Raylee, her cousin, is a few years younger than me and isn't a member. She decided not to join us, but she is fine talking with us, and I think she's warming up. We also took Tiana to the General Women's Broadcast, and she took two pages full of notes! She was sitting by me, so as Elder Uchtdorf got up to speak, I quietly explained who he was. After the Broadcast, she wanted to clarify with me that he was an apostle, because she wanted to make sure she wrote that down. We are just so excited for her and Gavin! They are sorting out wedding details as well, and I just can't wait. I can't express how happy I am to be here to see the change that's taking place in their lives! They seem so happy as well, and I really don't think we can take credit for it. They were just ready.

Like I mentioned, we had our Mission Tour with Elder Nielson! He talked a lot about the enabling power of the Atonement, and how we can better improve the missionary work in our mission. Sister Crandall explained to me that Mission Tours really rekindles the fire in the missionary field to work harder, and I would have to agree. After the Mission tour, I feel more motivated to work harder than ever. The conference was from 7:30am to about 3pm, and I just loved every moment of it! Sister Nielson also talked to just the sisters in the morning, and she talked a lot about holiness. There's holiness in everyday life, you just have to recognize it! As an example, she talked about how as a mother, she would be overwhelmed with her messy house that her children would make. But she then explained that through the stress and the tears of it all, she could still find holiness in the situation. She explained that it's a beautiful thing to be a mother and a creator of a home. The toys spread across the floor meant that the parents cared and had given those gifts to their children, and the mess that resulted from dishes and snacks left all over meant that in the home, the children were provided for. Sometimes chaos is in our life, but it is through the opposition that we can see the good. In the mission field, she explained that we will have hard days. Sometimes we may not be able to contact anyone, or our investigators will cancel our appointments. But we need to enjoy each moment of our lives, and realize that we can ask ourselves what Heavenly Father would have us learn from that situation. Here are some scriptures she shared that really touched me: 2 Nephi 2:11, D&C 46:33, and D&C 60:7. I also made it a point to study "holiness" in my personal study this week, and I'm so glad I did!

Our Mission President also addressed us during the Mission tour, and he talked about Jacob chapter 5- a really wonderful chapter that I didn't fully appreciate till Seminary. Right there on the pulpit, he grafted a small tree to show us how it's done! It was really neat, and I would also encourage everyone to study Jacob 5 if they have the time. There is so much about missionary work in that chapter alone!

Here are a few other scriptures that really had an impact on me from the Mission tour! D&C 109:14-15, D&C 123:17, and Mosiah 3:19. I really looked at Mosiah 3:19 differently after the Mission Tour. Elder Nielson talked about how the natural man is only an enemy to God because the natural man needs to change. We need to all think about if we have been changed by grace (look up "His Grace is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox! I read this talk a few weeks into the mission field, and it really is just amazing!). Another word for repentance could be "change". It is when we change something in our lives that we are repenting. Another way missionaries call people to repentance is through commitments.

So just a week ago we found out that our monthly millage was cut (this happened to all of the missionaries), so we only had about 100 miles to last us the week and a half. We have been depending a lot on the members for rides, but we have also been walking quite a bit. Which has actually been really good! It feels great to walk around, and I feel more like a missionary whenever we walk around Teton, Newdale, or Sugar City. So walking has been good, expect it rained quite a bit last week (of course it rains when we are running out of miles). Thanks Dad, for making sure I had an umbrella! Sister Crandall doesn't actually own one, so we really appreciated it!

Saturday the 17th was the Annual Teton Community Party! We had a few investigators go, and we saw a lot of potential investigators as well! It was a really neat event, but even a party, you're still very missionary minded! We were constantly finding people to talk to, and looking out for the people we are teaching.

We also had our second lesson with Cindy, a 13-year-old investigator of ours! She's very sweet, but since Spud Harvest has started and she's working and helping digging out potatoes, it'll be a bit tricky finding another time to teach her. Spud Harvest is when the schools get out for two weeks because a lot of the teenagers work with the harvest. They work from like 9am till 11pm or close to midnight each day till harvest is over! We are told that pretty soon we will see all of the trucks coming in and out. We are not sure if we like Spud Harvest yet, because it either helps us because people are home to watch the younger kids, or it makes it harder to teach/contact, since a lot of the people are helping out in the potato farms for the next few weeks.

Some other time I will have to talk about our other investigators! I love each one of them, and I'm excited for the coming lessons we have this week! I love the less actives we have been teaching as well! A lot of them have testimonies still, but they just need to remember what truly is important in their lives.

Since we went to Yellowstone for our P-day last week, I figured that I would talk a little bit about it! This amazing family who loves to take missionaries out to Yellowstone personally drove us all up there and showed us around! We saw a ton of buffalo herds! We also got to see Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and a lot of beautiful landscape. We also got to see Mesa Falls! It was an amazing day, and when I have more time next week I'll upload a ton of my pictures!

I'm so excited for General Conference! Saturday Night was amazing, and with everything that was being said, I couldn't help but be excited for Tiana, and how each thing could relate to her.

I continue to see more miracles each day! I know that this is the most important thing I could be doing with my life right now. They say that the definition of a missionary is to be separated from their family for a short time, so that others may be able to be with their families for eternity. I love my family, and although at times it can be terribly hard, if I can just help one person come closer to Christ and be together with their family for time and all eternity, it will all be worth it. Even if I don't see much "success" on my mission, I know that every lesson, with both less active and non-member alike, I'm helping planting seeds of faith. I know this church is true!

Love,
-Sister Cottrell

September 12th Update

It's such a small world! I ran into Spencer Garcia just a moment ago as we walked into the Family History Center to e-mail! It was so nice to talk to someone I know from home. He even served his mission here and has been on exchanges before to the Sugar City Stake!

This Tuesday we had our first district meeting! There are two sets of Elders in my district, as well as the Spanish Sisters. They are all really great! As a district, we spent all of Thursday morning offering service at a food bank. It was such a neat opportunity! All we really did was pack the food into the boxes for people in the community to pick up around mid-morning.

We had a few really great lessons! We taught 15-year-old Tambree at a member's home last night, and it was such a wonderful experience. Her parents are very in-active, but she has a lot of good LDS friends who've invited her to activities and church, and now she wants to take the lessons. I really just love teaching in member's homes and I know it helps the investigators so much to have that support.

We also taught the younger couple we found just a bit ago, and they decided to go to church! As we left after our lesson Saturday, Tiana mentioned that she felt pressured to be baptized and go to church in the past, but that she sincerely now wants to go. Gavin as well said that he at first just thought we were going to try to convince him to reform his ways, but he actually feels that God led us to him and that he thinks Heavenly Father has prepared him over the years to this point, and to go back to the Church. Sister Crandall and I were blown away! He even told us that in the past when missionaries would knock on his door, he would just tell them that he worshiped Satan and would try to invite them to come in and join him in a ritual. It's amazing how Heavenly Father prepares the hearts of people! I'm so glad we met him when we did, and that he didn't try to scare us away like he had in the past with others.

Friday was my exchange with Sister Dodd again, but this time we went to her area at the BYU campus! It was so busy on the roads, since classes start today. We taught a few lessons, and it was just such a neat experience.

Saturday one of the wards called us and asked us to give 10 minute talks the next day. We didn't have a lot of time to work on them that night, but we were both able to write up outlines and scriptures we could use. When we walked into that ward and sat down, we noticed that we were the only speakers! So we sort of both had to get up there and add on 5 or so minutes. I was so terrified at first, but I was amazed that I was able to give my talk without too much of a problem. I know that it was only thanks to Heavenly Father, for words really did just come out. It was just like I was giving a lesson. That would have to be one of the tender mercies I experienced this week.

We also got to teach primary in two different wards! I just loved it. One little girl walked up to us after and told us that she had never seen an actually missionary before, and that she thought we were school volunteers at first because of our name tags. The kids were all really excited and they loved to just come up and give us hugs. I wish we could teach primary every week!

One important thing to mention is that we have a Mission Tour next week, so my P-day will actually be next Wednesday!

One last thing to mention is that I have just fallen in love with Alma 13:24, for I really do think that you can compare members with the angels it mentions. Never underestimate your example to others! I know that many of these people are being prepared through the kindness, examples, and testimonies of the members about them.

Lots of love,

-Sister Cottrell

Week 2!

Again, so much has happened! The work has really started to progress and have a lot of appointments for this coming week! We taught a wonderful recent convert lesson with the Cash family! Parker (age 12) and Reo (9) Got baptized a few weeks ago. They are such wonderful, sweet girls. Their parents used to be really inactive but are now coming back! Since Sister Crandall had to go on an exchange, Sister Dodd and I worked in Sugar City for a full 24 hours, from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon. Sister Parker (the Sister we live with) was out of town for the weekend, so Sister Dodd and I were completely alone. She is so wonderful! We see each other pretty often because Sister Crandall and her companion have to get together to plan meetings/go on exchanges. We have gotten pretty close and I love teaching with her. Since Sister Dodd is on Visa wait to go to Samoa, we flew out together, so both of us have only been out for almost 2 weeks now. Since she's learning Samoan, I got to help her with her language studies, which was really neat!

The people here are just wonderful and I'm starting to hope I never leave this area! Yesterday was fast Sunday, and we got to bare our testimony in two different wards. The other ward we went to was very similar to Kaw River, for we didn't get a chance to go up, since there was always someone who had a really powerful testimony to share- which is great! The Ward Mission Leaders here are just so great, and I really have loved getting to know them. One of the Ward Mission Leaders was just called, and he offered to feed us Friday evening and then we could have a meeting. That was the exchange day, so I was really unsure how it would go, but luckily we have had a few meetings with WMLs before, so I knew the drill (more or less!) It went well though, and they have such adorable kids! The 5 and 7 year-old girls took a liking to me right away and kept wanting to sit by me and show me their ballerina dances- so cute! Charlie, the 7-year-old girl, drew me a picture right before we left and made sure to put it in an envelope for me. Their sweet kids made me miss the Crowders more than ever!

Last week we found a bunch of non-members that weren't even on our referrals list. One of them we found while leaving a door of a referral that wasn't home. We saw this lady walking her dog, and Sister Crandall and I felt impressed that we should talk to her. Since we had already started driving and didn't want to awkwardly stop and get out, we drove around the block close to the corner we knew she would walk around soon, and like the creepers we are, we got out and walked to cross her path. She wasn't a member, and although she felt like the people in the church are hypocrites, she was fine talking to us and said we could visit her! Another time we were trying to find another home, but it was late at night and we couldn't find it. We passed this house with this guy (around his 20's) just watching us from our car, and although the whole area seemed a bit creepy, I really felt that we should talk to him. We were both a bit hesitant, but we parked and tried his house to ask for directions. He was really nice, and we found out that his name is Gavin and that he and his fiancee, Tiana (not a memeber), are from Washington. They lived with an less active lady (who wasn't even on our list for less actives) and her niece, who's also in her 20's and not a member. They were happy to talk with us and Gavin seemed really spiritual and told us that he was baptized when he was younger, but sort of fell away in his teenage years. He invited us in to see their baby, who's just a few months old! We also went to see them last night, and found out that Gavin decided to go to church (it wasn't one of the wards we went to that week, but hopefully we will go with the whole family next week!) They really opened up to us. They have had such a hard life, but they really do hope to raise their son in a better environment than what they had growing up. We shared a message and an we have a return appointment for this Saturday! It's amazing how much timing is everything, for I really do think that Heavenly Father has been preparing them.

We also had a Zone meeting all morning Friday, and President Nelson and his wife came to that! Sister Dodd and I got to talk to Sister Nelson while waiting to have our interviews with the President, and it was really nice. She's such an amazing woman, and I felt very comfortable around her. Another thing to mention is that we are reading the Book of Mormon as a whole Mission. We read just two chapters from the Book of Mormon a day while in our personal study, which I think is just so neat. We just started Mosiah a few days ago. As a Mission, we also recite 3 Nephi 5:13 each day as well. That scripture has really grown on me!

Here are also just some scriptures that really stood out to me this week: Words of Mormon 1:7, D&C 27:15 ("and take upon you my whole armor.") 2 Nephi 28:24 "..wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" (I think that we must always be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and should always be on the look out for ways we can come closer to Christ. So don't be at ease in Zion!)

One more highlight! We got a call the other day from this Sister who told us about one of her daughter's friends who wants to take the lessons! She's 15 years-old, and we met her briefly last week. Our first lesson with her is this next Sunday, so we are super excited!

I really do love this work so much. I feel like my own testimony is growing more and more each day.

I love you all!

-Sister Cottrell

Unexpected text from total stranger

Yesterday, Hayleigh's mom received a text from a total stranger with a photo of Hayleigh and another Sister Missionary among with the following comment:

These cute sisters knocked on our door today looking for directions. I thought you might want to see their beautiful faces. Thanks for sending your daughters to serve the Lord. 

Idaho Fall Idaho Mission Sister Missionaries

So Sister Kolo (From Tonga) left today! It was pretty bittersweet- she's really great, and Sister Dodd and I were "babysat" by her Saturday when Sister Mcintosh and Sister Crandall were planning a zone conference. SIster Dodd is in the middle with the blue dress in the group picture! I'm right by here. Sister Kolo is the second to the left in the purple skirt.