Letters 9-4-12

Annie’s Letter

Hello family! Yes, you read that subject line correctly. I have a daughter. Her name is Sister Twitchell and she is from Las Vegas. In other words... I'M TRAINING! How scary is that?! I feel like it's a bad case of babies having babies! I'm sooo not old enough to be training! I haven't even been on my mission 5 months yet and I've barely been in the field for 4 months! But apparently the Lord, and President Nilsen, have decided that I can be trusted with this scared calling. I am very humbled and grateful for the opportunity that I have to be serving Sister Twitchell as her trainer. But we don't call it training. When I was in training we called in Aoaoga, well for Sister Twitchell's training we call it....

SUPERHERO ACADEMY!!

Yeah, we're pretty cool! It has been great to get to start going through the training program again. I am learning a lot! I'm pretty sure the actual reason I was called to train was because I needed to go through it again! But it's going really well. Sister Twitchell is full of "green rage" she is just on fire! She loves the gospel and has such a fantastic testimony. I love her so much already! The minute I walked into the room where the new missionaries were waiting for their trainers... I didn't see her. Haha. She is the only new sister that came in this transfer. I was so disappointed when I walked into the room and didn't see her. But then she walked in and I was just so full of love for this Sister! I am so grateful to her for being willing to serve our Heavenly Father. I have already learned a lot from her! She is just the best greenie I could ever hope for! Sister Richardson is also still with us. I love being back in a trio.

Dad, Sister Skaggs DID get the sourdough recipe! She told me about it the other day when we were at their house and I was SOOOO excited! That is the food I have missed the most and it's the one that no one can make! So I'm stoked she asked for it! She took us to transfers and then out to lunch at Culver's and I had a sourdough sandwich and I mentioned how sourdough pancakes were like the best thing ever! And then I guess she asked for the recipe! Yum! Also...

"if you've never been frog kissin' then you don't know what you've been missin'..." I can now sing that song with authority! I have officially kissed a frog! It took a couple of attempts but I did it! We saw it and I mentioned that someday I was going to be brave enough to catch a frog so I could kiss it but it wasn't going to be that day. So Sister Twitchell caught it and eventually I kissed it! Poor thing was terrified though. It peed. And every time my mouth got close to it his heart rate increased. He thought I was going to eat him! But now I can cross that item off of my bucket list. It has been on my bucket list since I saw a huge-o frog outside my apartment in Orlando in 2010! (that was the day I started my first blog theprincessandherfrogs.blogspot.com) Oh, in case you were wondering, he didn't turn into a prince. I think it might have something to do with the fact that I'm on a mission. Maybe.

So about the work...

On Wednesday last week we had an appointment with Mark and Olivia, which went really well! We taught the restoration to Mark (review for Olivia) and Olivia was helping to teach and testify and BDAW... she's totally a little missionary! She has such a great testimony growing and Mark is really seeing how the gospel can bless his life! They want it sooo much! We extended a soft invite to Mark to be baptized, which he accepted! It was great! Then we were talking about things they will need to do before they can be baptized, such as have the rest of the lessons and stop smoking (which they are doing pretty well with). Well, then I mentioned the law of chastity. We had had the law of chastity lesson the week before and it went really well, but must not have quite sunk in. So we told them that they couldn't be baptized if they were still living together and talked about options (marriage or move out). I honestly felt like I had hit them both in the face with a bag of bricks. I was almost crying- mark gave me tissues because he could hear it in my voice. It was hard. But this week they have been thinking and discussing and praying about what they should do about this and we have an appointment with them tonight that I am excited/anxious for. They both want the gospel. They are realizing the blessings it brings and they want to be baptized! I hope this doesn't become a major stumbling block for them. That night was the first time I left a lesson and started to cry. But that night we were praying and I was thinking about them and the scripture John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you.l Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Wow. I am still worried about them but I know that God is aware of the situation and He loves them and everything is going to work out.

Now on to you guys...

Megan and Justin, yay for getting the topsoil done! Sorry I couldn't be there to help! I would have loved to! But I'm kindof in Ohio...

Rachel, I'm glad school is going well. Sorry basic foods is a bust. Just wait until you get to start cooking and then it will get better! I hope!

Mom, I hope school is going well for you! Winter clothes: You can send them anytime. My coat, and some sweaters would be good (I'll most likely be in Marysville until at least November since I'm training!) Also, my grey and black boots. But could you spary them with water proofer first? Thanks soooo much!

Dad, I hope school is going well for you too! And thanks so much for burning the CD's! If you haven't sent them yet, don't send me the one with the musicals and stuff. We don't listen to that here in the OCM! Haha. However... if you could possibly find my green frog (I'm not sure where it is... probably in the shed) I really miss having a stuffed animal to sleep with. I need him. I don't want figment because I don't want anything to happen to him. So if you could please send me my froggie I would really appreciate it.

Side note...I will be buying an electric blanket because I freeze at nights! And it is just going to be getting cooler and cooler...plus, like normal people, my companions like the air conditioner. I'm becoming more and more like you dad. Just leave it at one temperature and then if you're cold put on a jacket! All this up and down stuff is driving me crazy! It'll be an icebox and then an oven. But mostly an ice box.

And I feel like I forgot something... oh yeah...

CONGRATULATIONS NATALIE AND JON!

I am very excited for you two! Although still a little miffed that you're getting married before I get home. Oh well, at least I will be able to go to your sealing the next year. But I can't help plan your wedding! :-( Your loss. Please send me letters! I want to see the ring, I want to know how Jon proposed... YOU HAVE TO TELL ME THESE THINGS!! So I expect a letter THIS WEEK! Also, I hope school is going well for both of you. Love you both!

Well, have a great week everyone! I love you all so much and I am so grateful for all the love and support and letters(*hint*) that you give. You're seriously the BEST FAMILY EVER! I am so lucky to have each and every one of you and I don't know what I would do with out any of you! (Justin and Jon, you're included in that! Yay for more brothers!) Thanks for your e-mails. I love being able to read them! I'm glad you got to see John and Jan yesterday. I love them and miss them! Tell them hello for me! And everyone else. Love ya'll!

Tata!

Annie

Landon’s Letter

So I have 9 minutes to write. the work is going good.

We have been truely blessed. Our investigators are doing good. James got baptized and Megan is getting baptized this week. then in 2 weeks Rob and Jordan should be getting baptized and hopefully Kevin. We will keep working to help them reach what can be eternal happiness.

I saw Elder Hyatt this week and talked to him, I can't wait for the CD's!, we saw a black bear run across the road not even 30 feet infront of us out in the middle of no where and that was pretty cool. We also saw a racoon walk infront of our window this morning and we went outside to go see it. It was a younger racoon and it was up in a tree by the time we got outside. It was pretty darn cool.

I am so grateful for all of my family in my life. I have seen how much a family can impact your life. Especially this week. We were studing the the 5th discussion (temples, marriage, priesthood, church assignments) go figure huh. But I am so grateful for all of my family. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father put me down in our wonderful family. You are the greatest blessings in my life. Thank you.

Love your favorite Elder, Brother, and Son

Landon Webb