Magic and Mayhem; Week one (Oct. 23, 2017)

Yoohoo from Ohio and Kentucky!!!

Thursday was an early morning, but I said goodbye to Sister Harris, jumped on the transfer train, and made my way to Portsmouth, Ohio! My new companion is Sister Roesengren (her name is not German, it is Swedish). She is so sweet and very dedicated to the people here. I sent an introduction video of her to y'all so check it out :) I can tell we are gonna have good times together.

We are teaching a lot of less actives and part member families, a long with just families in general. About half the people here live in trailers, which is a gold mine of 'salt-of-the-earth' people and just tracting in general. Everyone here is so excited for halloween, and most porches are decorated. A few are even so decked out I refuse to walk past a butcher with knives, even if he is made of plastic. I emailed president about what we should do on Halloween, and I'll let y'all know next week what our October 31st looks like :)

 We have a Walmart here, with is so happy, but of course, modest skits and blouses are in short supply. *Eyeroll* Oh well.... We have a car and it's been so weird to drive! Out car is blue, so I am extra happy!! We plan of finding something fun to do and shopping and playing in the torrential cloudburst outside (yes it is finally rainininiininininiininining!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). There are a few little stores here and a gas station or two. The towns we are over are kind of spread a part and kind of attached. *shrugs shoulders*

WE have district meetings in Ashland, KY, about an hour drive away, so we get members to drive us to save on miles and gas. The members here are super nice. They are not yet involved with missionary work, but I plan on changing that, hehehe. I gave a mini talk in church yesterday, more of an introduction of myself really. Our ward should really be a branch, only about 25-30 people attend. We have 300+ members, but most are inactive. We'll fix that ;) 

That's 'bout it. I'll talk to y'all next week!!!!!!!!! P.S. Please write me, my address is beneath my name, it only takes a stamp!

~Sister Mary Sierra Peacock

West Virginia Charleston Mission

888Oakwood Rd. Suite 310

Charleston, WV 25314

Serving in Portsmouth, Ohio

Ohio Space cadet!!! (Oct. 18, 2017)

This week flew by, but one thing for sure... Tracting really does work!! Friday, Sister Harris and I spent the evening tracting a few buildings, and as it was fall break here at Virginia Tech, it was slim pickings. But, one kind fella answered his door, and was interested in what we had to say. Saturday, we gave him a church tour and taught about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. Sunday, he came to church! The members, especially the brethren! Monday we taught him the complete lesson of the restoration and invited him to be baptized.... HE SAID YES!!! Feilding (that's his name, by the way), is very close friends with a member back in his hometown, and has always admired his example and looks up to him. He came to institute last night, and as we had two new investigators going to institute we decided to attend as well to oversee initial member interaction with our investigators. The Blacksburg YSA members are phenomenal. They fellowship like *finger snap* that! I am sad to leave this wonderful place and the wonderful people, but I know it's in good hands. The Lords hands, and Sister Harris's. She'll do just fine :)

Indeed I am gettin' transferred. You'll never be able to guess where. ... Oh, alright, I can never keep secrets anyway! Portsmith Ohio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's right, my third area, third state!! Tomorrow morn I will be traveling about 6 hours to get there, and so will my big brother (although, he's goin' to Salem, Or, and it will take much longer!!) Keep us in your prayers :) I am so sad to leave Blacksburg, Va. I love the members here, and the people. The area. Sister Harris, man I'm gonna miss her the most!! She and I are truly sisters, and I know our lives will be intertwined forever. She has been so good for me. I love her dearly. 

It's getting cold here, and the leave are all a-fallin'. Pumpkin everything is everwhere. I love it! I love the Book of Mormon. I've been enlightened every chapter I read. Most the time it's something small, not necessarily a big bang. Sometimes all you need is peace :)

All is lookin' well here in WVCM, the final frontier. I love you all so much :)

~Sister Mary Sierra Peacock

West Virginia Charleston Mission

888Oakwood Rd. Suite 310

Charleston, WV 25314

Serving in Blacksburg, Virginia

Can't think of anymore Star Wars puns... (Oct. 9, 2017)

Aloha my family and friends!!! I hope to find you all in good health and happy spirits! I expect each and every one of you to send my either a photo or a video of your lovely selves in your Halloween costumes!!! 

This week has been... interesting, to say the least. We got a referral from a member, but not an specific address. Actually, the member just said she lived on such-n-such street, but even the member wasn't sure. So Sister Harris and I said a prayer, picked the first apartment building we laid eyes on, and knocked on the first door. You'll never guess who answered. Yup, our referral! It was crazy!! The Lord totally orchestrated it all! I was floored by how everything worked out. We had lunch with her later in the week, and we are planning on picking her up as an investigator sometime this week. The Lord has miracles ready and waiting, we have to take action.

Well, with every joy there is also a little sorrow. Trenton has been meeting with missionaries since April. He's been coming to church and reading the Book of Mormon. He's come to activities, dinners, and even stopped drinking alcohol. He even had a baptismal date for later this month. Gosh darn it, he even took note during General Conference! But although Trenton was doing great and keeping commitments, his heart really wasn't in it. Like Lot's wife, he kept lookin' back. And when you don't give your all to the Lord, will the Lord invest in you and give you an answer when you really don't have real intent? Trenton asked to meet with us Tuesday morning. Sister Harris and I knew something was up. We sat outside the church at a picnic table and Trenton told us he would no longer investigate the church. He told us he loves us and the ward, and that he still plans on coming to activities. He wants us to still send him the daily scripture, and he's still planning on being on the ward's volleyball team. But he has yet to realize he already has his answer. Facepalm all day long! Anyways, it put sister Harris and I in a sad mood all day :( I love Trenton, and I know he knows this seed is good. The Spirit has whispered to me that Trenton will be baptized one day, just not today. 

I can testify that God hears our prayers, and will bless us when we take action. Yes, I am over two thousand miles from home, but really, I'm just a thought away. And our true home is just a prayer away. I love you all. Thank you for your ears, they mean a lot to me. Photos to follow!!

~Sister Mary Sierra Peacock

West Virginia Charleston Mission

888Oakwood Rd. Suite 310

Charleston, WV 25314

Serving in Blacksburg, Virginia

*insert Star Wars reference here* (Oct. 2, 2017)

Hey Y'alll!!!!! Just got back from the Pumpkin Patch! Sister Harris and I are now proud owners of Harold, our pumkin :) We plan on leaving Harold whole, and carving him the closer we get to halloween... any carving ideas? Videos and pics from the patch to follow :)

The leaves are changing colors, pumpkin flavored things everywhere, autumn colored outfits that look like blah... Sister Harris and I are sad because we cannot dress up for Halloween, but we have been speculating what we would dress up as if we could. I was thinking either Ray from Star Wars, Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter, or Cora from Tron. Oh well, I'll just have to wait!

 Mmmmmh, I just love fall. Mainly because it leads into........ WINTER!!!!!!!! Why do I like winter so much? Well, other than the fact that winter is cold and crisp and snuggly, winter also reminds me of a lot of the worlds I've visited. I love it when there is snow in a film, or the description of winter in a book. And yes of course I've already started praying for snow!!

Wasn't General Conference amazing this weekend? I bought a brand new notebook just for the occasion. I loved the talk by Elder Nelson, that when we read from the Book of Mormon, we are immunized. No, we are not free from all temptations, but we are strengthened :) 

Sorry the email is so short. But, enjoy the vids and pics!! 

~Sister Mary Sierra Peacock

West Virginia Charleston Mission

888Oakwood Rd. Suite 310

Charleston, WV 25314

Serving in Blacksburg, Virginia

Running out of Star Wars titles.... (Sept. 18, 2017)

Alright, time to get down to brass tacks. Sorry I haven't written a big email to y'all in the past couple of weeks. But Sister Harris and I are now learning to prioritize, haha!

The past couple of Mondays we've had loads of nonmembers show up to YSA activities, and the members are great about fellowshipping. I love Blacksburg with all my heart, and I think it might break when I eventually leave. 

Here are the highlights of the past three weeks. Brace yourself.

   I had show'n'tell in district meeting a few weeks ago, and brought the tsum tsums my little sister sent me of some of my favorite Marvel Superheros. got to geek out and it felt so good!

   One of our Chinese investigators had us over for lunch, and made this awesome eggplant stir fry... with jalepino's! Both Sister Harris and I turned bright red, couldn't breath, and had to tame the flame with a banana we shared. It was the first time I heard Peter laugh, hehe!

   We had nine, count 'em NINE, nonmembers at our Labor Day BBQ, and that has resulted in more investigators!!!

   

   We celebrated Sister Harris's 2nd month mark!! Which reminds me... Today I am EIGHT MONTHS OLD!!!!! I'll be seein' y'all in 10 months :)

  A couple of preparation days ago, we went to the mall in Christiansburg. They have a Hot Topic, with is a fandom and music place. I got a few stickers (Stitch and Kingdom Hearts) and practically melted when I saw a Toothless dress. Wish I had all the munny's...

   Elder Quentin L. Cook visited the mission, and testified to us of Jesus Christ. I am now focussing more of my studies on the Savior, His ministry and divinity, and His atonement. I'm so excited!!!!

   We had our Book of Mormon Stories fireside, which turned out better than I anticipated :) Resulting from the fireside, the elders picked up a few new investigators!!! The Lord has been so good to us :)

  On another p-day, Sister Harris and I went back to the mall (hehehehehehehehehehehehehe). We (really just sister Harris) spent about an hour looking at perfumes, and then we went to the toy store and the Halloween store and I became a kid again! #LegoLover 

   Later that evening, one of our investigators fed us dinner at his place, and we picked up his girlfriend! Trenton is awesome, and he is doing everything he can to be closer to the Lord. We know he will be baptized, the question now is when...

  We had zone conference this past Tuesday (all of the spiritual enlightenment!) and have begun teaching English to Muslim refugees on Wednesdays. I love it-- reminds me of my big brother who teaches English in Japan on his mission as well :)

   Peter was baptized this past Saturday, and confirmed a member of the church and given the gist of the Holy Ghost yesterday in church. It was a private baptism, Peter is very shy. We were only allowed two investigators to invite (silly Peter) and they came! Seriously, the Spirit overtook the room and filled every heart. The Lord has blessed me way more than I deserve.

   One of our investigators, Logan, who just popped outta nowhere, is getting baptized later this month (he would be baptized already, but he wants his family to be able to be there). 

I know there is a lot more I could include, but y'all hear about it endlessly when I come home next year, so don't worry. Christ, the very Son of God, rose from the grave, and therefore has overcome death. No matter the infirmities with which we are afflicted, when we are resurrected, we will be made whole. 

I love you all with all my heart! If I had the time and stamps, I'd write you all to hte moon and back :)

~Sister Mary Sierra Peacock

West Virginia Charleston Mission

Blacksburg, Virginia

" 'Ohana' means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten." Lilo and Stitch

Some days we are Padawan's, some days we are Masters;2017.Aug.28

My favorite thing that Sister Harris says is "We're Sisters, not Saints." You know what this means? It means we are not perfect; in fact, we are less than that-- we are human. Sadly, when we missionaries are set apart, we are not made perfect. But that's okay, we learn and grow with the people whom we teach. God's given me many opportunities to learn. Such as this past week...

Monday started off great. In fact, we had a solar eclipse, so it was pretty special! But then we got lazy. You're probably thinking "Sister, you can afford to be lazy on your preparation day! It's your day off!" Wrong. It is NOT a day off. It is a day to prepare. Things still have to be accomplished and goals have to be met. When six o'clock came around (when p-day ends) Sister H and I were still writing letters. We didn't get up and going until about 7pm. Then e didn't know what to do with out time because we hadn't planned for the evening. So we then wasted another hour not knowing what to do. About this time of the evening, we both started to feel really disobedient and kinda worthless to be honest. And I recognized this feeling. It was a sign from the Lord that we needed to get to work! Sister H and I, repentant and determined, prayed, grabbed a note card, and then headed out. We went to the nearest apartment buildings, which haven't been tracted since last semester, wrote the building down on the note card, and proceeded to knock doors. Oddly enough, the Lord saw fit to bless us, even though we hadn't been the best all weekend. 

His first blessing- we knocked into a very nice young man who is studying aerospace engineering. Guess what project he is currently working on? THE IRON MAN SUIT! I kid you not-- Carlos Something-or-other is working on the suit of my dreams! He showed us some videos on his phone. Right now, the company he is working for only has a few operating jet packs-- legs, arms, and back. But flight student who wore the "Suit" could levitate in place, and maneuver around, and get up to about 16 feet in the air!!! The landing is a bit dodgy, and take off is pitchy, but so far so good. Carlos said that flying cars are within our grasp-- 17 years down the road or so :) Made my day!!!!!! Now I just have to find a magic hammer formed in the heart of a dying star....

After we left Carlos, we knocked into Junru (aka miracle #2). Junru is from China, and looks like a 12-year-old. She is a computer engineer, and is working towards her doctorate. We visited her twice this week, and we are helping her build her Christian faith!!! She loves emoji pillows, and Hello Kitty. Typical ;P She loves the Chinese book of mormon we gave her :) From now on, I will be exactly obedient, and not waste a single minute!

Tuesday we asked Bishop Passic for father's blessings. We thought "The school year starts next week, might as well get some blessings." Although different hands were laid on my head, I felt as if Daddy was standing behind me. And I knew they were not Bishop Passic's words, not were they the words of my dad. They were the words of my Father-- God. His comforted me with words and feelings. 

Wednesday was a hoot, hollar, and a half-- we taught Trenton the Law of Chastity. That's right folks; We taught a male peer about birds, bees, and abominations before the sight of the Lord. It was actually really entertaining. He knew we were uncomfortable and he accepted our invitation to live a sexually clean life. A video from Mormon Channel helped :) I'll attach it to this blog :) We also committed to go without sugar until Saturday, which was the day we would teach Trenton again. He's been trying to follow the word of wisdom, and decided to try it with him. The following three days people were just offering us sugar left and right. Someone took us out for ice cream, someone made us brownies, someone gave us chocolate from Paris! The Adversary knows....

Friday we had interviews with President Lindhardt, and I just fell in love with him all over again! He is most definitely called of God, and holds missionary keys :) Sorry, this is a long email, I'll wrap up. Sister Harris ran her bike into a pole, but she's all good-- just her dignity, haha! Trenton came to church and we had a lesson with Wu after that. The Lord is definitely on our side... Actually, we are on His :) 

~Sister Mary Sierra Peacock

West Virginia Charleston Mission

Blacksburg, Virginia

There were waves in the sky, that would ebb and flow with the wind tides.

Padawan's will be Padawan's...2017.Aug.21

Shout out to my big brother, for labeling his weekly email "Stardate!" I knew he's convert. My mother is a Star Trek fan, my father is for Star Wars. Indeed, mine is truly a house divided. Haha, I got the best of both worlds!!!

Just witnessed a 90% total eclipse. Super cool! Almost the whole city of Blacksburg went to North Carolina or Tennessee to see the actual thing. Yup, it's a good thing this is our day off! Really love the majesty of our Creator, Jesus Christ. Under the direction of the Father, the Son gathered materials and formed the earth. Personally, I think some dinosaur bones were floating around in space from another realm and got caught up in the debris, and the Lord was like, "Oh well, something for scientists to discover." I know that's not doctrine, but the Church has no statement on Dinosaurs, and Imma gonna have to wait 80 years to ask the Source of All Knowledge, so gimme a break ;p

Happy Birthday to muh DA!!!!! (Tuesday, the 15th of Aug) Also, happy birthday to Percy Jackson (the 18th of Aug)(sorry PJ, didn't have any blue food coloring). I also celebrated my 7th month on the mission!!!!!! I dressed up in my sailor dress; Sister Harris did my makeup and plucked my eyebrow for the first time ever!!!; Ate at Gobble Cakes(cupcake place with boss frosting and killer flavors).

Funny story of the week!

So, we sisters of Blacksburg ride the city buses quite often. And we've gotten to know quite a few bus drivers. In fact, the elders are teaching one of the bus drivers. Anyways, the past month, there has been this really attractive bus driver who looks EXACTLY like Leonardo DiCaprio! Put the pieces together, shall we? 1. Very attractive bus driver our age. 2. What do we do all day? We go tracting. 3. We are the YSA sisters, so we knock apartments. 4. Cute DiCaprio lookalike most likely lives in an apartment.... Guess who we bumped into this Thursday? That's right!! Sister Harris and I knocked into Colby the Bis Driver, AKA Leonardo DiCaprio's doppleganger from Titanic!!! I was so flustered, especially when he started flirting with us! I held my ground. We gave him a Book of Mormon, invited him to church, and we may or may not go back to follow up.. depending on the strength of sister Peacock, hehe!

We got some very interesting news this morning from the Mission President. Elder Cook will be visiting the mission this upcoming month. We will be addressed by him, shake his hand, and take a group photograph. There's a lot of strict rules we need to follow, considering the fact that an apostle of the Lord is coming! I am so stoked! 

I love you all so much!! I see my families smiling faces everyday on my study wall, but I wish I had photos of each and every one of you. Thank you for your prayers... They keep me going :)

~Sister Mary Sierra Peacock

West Virginia Charleston Mission

Blacksburg, Virginia

There were waves in the sky, that would ebb and flow with the wind tides.