2017.4.17 Captain's Log-- Stardate:2017.April.17

Baby Calve's and Marriage Proposals

Alright, let me explain. The two highlights of the week happened on the same day--Easter Sunday. We spent the afternoon after church contacting less active members and giving them goodies. We made homemade rice krispies (thought of my brother-in-law, Bryant) and shaped them into eggs (smooshes of a circular shape). One of the members we contacted has a calf who's mother passed away. He is so cute-- seven weeks and shiny black! Well, since I've never actually touched a cow before, I asked if I could pet the little fella. Turns out, he was a hungry fella! I decided to feed him... MY FINGERS!!! I stuck to fingers in the calves mouth and boy is he strong! He pulled and pulled and pulled! It was so awesome! It felt like a warm, soothing, hand massage. Too bad my companion's camera was dead, she wanted to take pictures so bad! The baby cow sucked on my fingers rigorously for about ten or fifteen minutes, then we had to scoot. Coolest animal experience ever. Oh, and did you know that the color of a cows tongue is purple? Go figure!

So, a man in my ward proposed to me yesterday in church. He is mentally slow, and I think he might have Asperger syndrome. He has been getting closer and closer to me over the past few weeks (physically- he was really in my bubble!), and he's a really tall fella. I don't think he even knows that I have a companion, he talks only to me. Well, after gospel principles class, and before relief society, he asked me my age. He responded telling me he was 27, then proceeded to say "Wanna get married?" I still do not know if he was kidding or being serious, but I left as soon as I could, told Sister Stettler, then we talked to the bishop about it. Bishop Hinkle talked to the fella and later he found me to apologize. Things should be getting better after this, just thought you ought to know. Life here is never a bore! That makes my second marriage proposal this month (the first one was from a cute old man). Gotta lay off the beauty sleep. oh, wait, I already am! #eighthoursisnotenoughofsleep

We move in to our new apartment today!!! Packing is a lot of work, let me tell ya! We will also begin planning another baptism this week for Sister Ordanez. This baptism will be performed in Spanish, so Sister Stettler and I have to find Spanish speakers in out ward and stake to participate in the talks and music. Sister Ordanez is very fluent in English, but her family is not, so we are doing this for them :) 

This Easter season was definitely different for me-- More about the Savior, less about chocolate. More about service and the Atonement. less about Spring. I've been studying the sacrifices Christ went though so He could succor us. I've learned so much about the actual event of His crucifixion and Resurrection, as well as what this means to me. I really do know that Jesus is the Christ and He is God's own Son of the flesh. His mortal parentage (that of Mary) enables Him to suffer and actually die and to bleed blood. His divine parentage (that of God) allowed Him to live through the suffering and to know the suffering of all mankind. I love my big brother David, and I believe the Savior of the world knows me just as my earthly brother does, and loves the same way. He is willing to do anything for me, and so I am willing to do anything for Him. I stand as a witness before God that His Son id the Living Christ, and that He saved us all. Christ's church is alive today in that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Son of Man is our Prince of Peace. God be with you until we meet again. I love you, and He does too, more than you could ever imagine.

Will you all do something for me? Commit to watching these videos and let me know how they make you feel :)

https://www.mormon.org   Prince of Peace

 https://www.mormon.org/easter/principles-of-peace/compassion

2017.4.10 Captain's Log: Stardate--2017.April.10

Howdy, y'all

Whoa. Well, that week just flew by. Everything happened so fast, I'm not sure where to begin. Mmh... Let's see... Oh yes. Once Upon a Time....

...There were two Sister missionaries. They spent the first three days of their week searching for a new apartment. Who knew house hunting would be so laborious and exhausting?! Well, they looked and looked and looked, but they could not find the right place. One apartment was too dirty. Another one was too expensive. One was too small. Another one was too close to a fraternity house! After days of searching and prayer, these two Sisters found an ad in the paper- "For Rent--two bedroom apartment. Call this Number." What an insignificant ad. No detail, no address! But one of the Sisters said "Let's try it." So they did. They called the number and got the address. As they drove down the street the Holy Ghost told the Sister missionaries that this was the best place for them, and that they would be safe here. After a tour of the apartment and even more prayers, the Sisters called mission president, who told them he would take care of the rest. One week later, the sisters found themselves packing up their old apartment, ready to move into the new, clean, safe apartment. (And this one had a dishwasher! Yippee!) The two sister missionaries were oh-so-thankful and said many prayers of thanks to the Lord. He led them to where they needed to be so they would be safe. The moral of this story is... Always follow the Spirit, and look for a place with a dishwasher. The End.

Oh, but that is not the end... There will be many adventures for these sister missionaries. This tale may be a short one, but there will be many, many more to come. Remember- To live happily ever after starts with the choices you make. :)

2017.4.3 Captain's Log: Stardate-- 2017.April.3

Happy Birthday to Andrew (who turned one on the 2nd) and happy birthday to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (which is.... very old...)

First of all... WASN'T GENERAL CONFERENCE A RUSH! Who needs drugs when a spiritual high is so much better and brings so much joy?! I had a few questions, and they were all answered, even the questions I didn't think I was asking XD My goal is to rewatch or read all the talks that really touched me first, then go through all the talks again when the Ensign comes out next month.

Here's some good news! We are getting a new apartment in Buckhannon! Today we are going apartment shopping, so please pray for us, haha. President Salisbury hopes to have us moved into a new place by the end of the week.

Cool bit-- A friend of one of our new investigators is an artist, and creates 2-D and 3-D art of things, like Star Wars paintings and Super Hero costumes that he makes himself. Well, I just learned this week, that every Saturday night, he dresses up a Batman (in a costume he built and molded himself) and watches over the town form 11pm to 4am. No idea what he does, but Buckhannon has one more superhero than Salem, that's for sure. 

Speaking of superhero's, we missionaries are the real deal. Just as Spider-Man was rejected at first, we too experience a lot of slammed doors and hurtful words, but we get up and get out and are instruments in the Lord's hands. I love being a part of something that is bigger than just myself. I don't have a light saber, or Mjolnir, or a suit of iron, but I have the scriptures and my testimony. I don't have a sidekick, but I have a companion and the Holy Ghost :) Life is full of surprises, and every day is an adventure :)

Thank you to every one who supports me, whether it is financially or spiritually. I'm very happy here, and my heart has grown so much to love so many. It's hard, but I can't imagine being anywhere else :) Remember the reason for the season!!

https://www.mormon.org/ This video, #PRINCEofPEACE just came out on Friday, and we missionaries were the first to see it. Like #LightTheWorld, this is a two week initiative, counting down to Easter Sunday. There is something to do everyday, to learn the principles of peace form the Prince of Peace. This will be our main topic and finding method for the next fortnight, and I am so excited I am hopping out of my boots! 

Love from the wild and wonderful, Sister Sierra

Shout out to one of my best friends, Jess Knight, who just received her mission call to CHILE!!!!

2017.3.27 Captain's Log: Stardate--2017.March.27

This week was tough. Sister Stettler and I had to drop a lot of investigators. To "Drop" someone means that because they are not keeping commitments ans are not progressing, we missionaries need to move on and focus our time and efforts on those who will keep commitments and who will progress. It hurt my heart, as I've really come to love and care about everyone we a re teaching. But the Lord's work needs to move forward. I have great faith that the Lord will lead Sister Stettler and I to families who will enter the waters of baptism. The Lord is preparing His people. Our job is to find them :)

You know how every once in a while you get an epiphany? Like a lightbulb goes off in your head? Well, a UV Ray Ultra Lite just went off in mine during companion study on Friday. Sister Stettler and I were reading some scriptures on adversity, and why God allows pain and suffering to occur, and suddenly my brain went a million miles an hour and I finally understood it!! Most of you know--I'm a reader. I go through books like no one's business. I spent Christmas break reading all the books I got for Christmas. Yeah, I like to read. Well, my brain finally got it. What makes stories so entertaining? Why do we enjoy books and movies so much? Why are we fascinated about the cool experiences other people have? Because of adversity! What's the point of a fairytale if there is not dragon or evil stepmother? What good is the rescue if there is not tower? There would be not a single happily ever after if there was no adversity. Adversity--trouble; affliction; tribulation; infirmities; opposition; tried, trial; persecution. When we think of Moses we think of the hardship the people had to bear, and the trial of crossing the Red Sea. Remember Job? Why is his story so remarkable? Because he lost everything and still praised God. We season our lives the oppositions we face. What good id the protagonist if there is no antagonist?  

One of my favorite things in the world is character development. The refiner's fire that all must face if they are to become what the author has truly meant for them. Princes and princesses would not cherish eachother as much is their love had not been at the mercy of the evil sorceress or had to face fire breathing dragons. Christ suffered so we could live with God again. We suffer so to entice us to action of the Atonement. A ring only has value if the blacksmith breaks his back in order craft such a home for such a precious gem. We may be beaten and glowing red-hot in the furnace, but inly the best bands of metal are crowned with the rarest gemstone. Eternal life is our diamond. Who are you? A cheap mood ring that often pendulums from one attitude to the other? Or are you sterling, becoming what the Master has always had in store for you?

Just food for thought! Love you all so much! Can't wait for GENERAL CONFERENCE!! #TakingNotes 

2017.3.22 Captain's Log: Stardate--2017.March.22

First of all-- Shout out to all my Irish Step dance friends! We be a lucky bunch. This week has been crazy busy! We planned the Perfect Storm, which is what we call the most epic baptism on the face of this planet. It consists of hours of planning and making phone calls, but it worth it! Needless to say, I have become a pro at leaving messages on answering machines. The trick is to smile when you talk, so you sound super happy and perky. Brother Howard got baptized! We had a lot of non-members and less-actives there, and over 60 people came! That's more than half of sacrament meeting!! It was an exhausting evening, and my face hurt from smiling so much, but it reminded me that all our hard work pays off. Another soul is on it's way to the celestial kingdom! Boo-yah baby!

Just because I am in the mood to show off my mad skills, guess who changed the windshield wipers all by herself? Yeah that's right, this girl! I've never even pet new wipers on before in my life, but I tinkered with the car (out in 10*F weather at night!!) while Sister Stettler made phone calls in the heated car. I don't know much about cars, but I know how to figure out how things work. If I din't loath mathematics so much, I think I would be an engineer of some sort. Oh, don't worry, I'm not puffed up in the vanities of my heart, I'm just squealing with delight at myself! Oh wait...

Story time!

I can really testify that the Spirit leads us to where we need to be, not always to who. Sister Stettler and I went to go see an elderly gentleman who happened to not be home, but we felt that we where right were the Lord needed us, so all we had to do was find the person whom we needed to be with. After a few minutes of knocking on doors, Sister Stettler told me that a former investigator lived up a flight of stairs from the door we just knocked. We decided "what the heck," and knocked on her door as well. We were warmly welcomed, to my surprise. Apparently she didn't receive the sister too well last time they went to check up on her. Within a matter of minutes sitting on her couch, Carmen broke down in tears. Only moments before she heard our knock at the door, she had been contemplating suicide. We must be trustworthy vessels of the Lord's Spirit if we are to find and teach those prepared. I'm very grateful that Sister Stettler listens to and acts on the promptings of the Spirit.

Today Sister Stettler and I got our hair cut. Because there are some pretty sketch places in Buckhannon, we went to a Paul Mitchell Salon so our cuts would be legit. It was costly, but SO WORTH IT! I just melted as the hair dresser massaged my scalp and lathered soap in my hair. She cooed over my healthy hair, said it was the softest hair she's felt in years. Most people who step into her salon come with stripped hair that has been dyed so many times that it is brittle. I talked to her the whole time to keep myself from falling asleep (it was like a massage!) I was just at the point when I was going to ask her if she was religious at all when she turned the loud blow dryer on. I got her card and plan on visiting her again in a couple months or so. Even though we don't proselyte on preparation days, there are still so many ways to share the gospel!!!!!

So we are entering a new transfer!! I've been in West Virginia for six weeks, and have been on a mission for about two months now. By the end of my first transfer my 3x5 planner was bursting! Getting a new planner feels like putting on clean sheets!!! I pasted a picture of Jesus holding hands with some children on the front, to remind me to be Christlike and patient :) I love finding ways to fill my sights with the happiness the gospel brings. I've missed art and my multitude of sketchbooks back home, but I've noticed that I am doodling less, and  it's more missionary related too. I don't draw as much (far, far too busy) but when I do it is based off of a scripture I've read. 

Well, I've got loads more to write, but we're putting on a talent show for our ward, so I gotta go. Love you all! Bye!!!!

Captain's Log: Stardate-- 2017.March.13

Let's start off with a little bit of laughter, shall we?

Every morning we get up at 6:30 (this is an obedience thing, so I've never been able to sleep in. Ever) and then we roll off the bed and fall onto our knees to pray. Well, this morning, I rolled out of bed like I am commanded to do, and said my prayers. I said Amen, and then I started to get up to get ready for the day. My sleepy brain did not like that. Instead of standing up and being mature about it, I promptly fell over and snoozed for a little while longer on the floor (five minutes tops). My companion saw me get out of bed to pray and thought "Wow, she is getting so mature--she is up before I am!" Well, Sister Stettler finally got out of bed to say her prayers, and lo and behold, she sees me sleeping on the floor, snoring slightly. She's sitting next to me cracking up about it right now. So glad to make her smile. I also started dozing off during planning this morning. Again. No beauty sleep for the righteous, am I right?

So here's a tidbit about the area in which I serve. As missionaries in the country of West Virginia, our particular area covers has about a fifty mile radius. One of the towns in which we proselyte is Weston. Guess what's in Weston? A Hogwarts-size lunatic-insane asylum. Look it up. It's huge. It is the largest hand-cut stone building in the USA. I housed thousands of mentally disturbed people. I was shut down about twenty years ago due to funding. Well, right before it closed, the staff and doctors let go all the crazy people who didn't have a criminal record. So guess what Weston is populated with? That's right, the insane lunatics and their posterity. Shnazz, right? We visit Weston twice a week, and our visits are always very.... crazy. The asylum opens in the summer for historical tours, so sister Stettler and I plan on going sometime on a preparation day. Spooky! I kid you not-- the asylum is as large if not larger than Hogwarts (it's definitely bigger than the theme parks). 

This week has been a roller coaster. Most of the week has been at the bottom of said roller coaster. It was a hard week. We got really stressed out for out investigators and roadblocks kept on popping up. People weren't reading, lessons were falling through, mistakes were made and challenges kept arising. Sister Stettler and I have been fasting and praying like no one's business. Just as we thought this week would leave us hanging out to dry, the sun broke through the clouds. Who says miracles ceased with Christ? Goodness, I have seen the blind gain their sight! 

A recent convert couple have really been struggling with their faith. They stopped reading the scriptures and haven't been able to make it to church the past few weeks. The husband was beginning to question that which did not understand. He was doubting his faith rather than doubting his doubts. Well, here's the miracle-- they came to church and spoke with the bishopric. Both husband and wife now have accepted callings and the husband will receive the priesthood soon! We will work with them to get them to the temple to perform baptisms proxy for their deceased ancestors. 

Another miracle-- We are teaching a recovering drug addict. He has been clean from drugs and alcohol for a few months and has really changed. But the programme he is in does not consider smoking as a drug, so we've been helping him quit smoking. He's done it before, but then he picked it back up because he was not in a good environment at work. Well, our ward mission leader offered him a job at the wood cutting mill, and he's been smoke-free for a week now! He just had his baptismal interview this week and will be baptized and confirmed next Saturday!! He is going to be such an amazing member!!

Well, would you look at that! Another miracle-- One of our investigators is actually the daughter of the recent-convert couple afore-mentioned. She saw the difference in her mother's life and began meeting with the missionaries. She's 21, and just had a baby. This baby has been the best thing that ever happened to her. Her baby matured her. She wants a good life for her little boy, and her maternal nature has begun to peak through, preparing her to receive the restored gospel!!! Guess who is planning a wedding?! WE ARE! She will be married to her boyfriend in mid-April, and baptized soon after. Her boyfriend/fiance is really supportive of her, even though he is not interested in the discussions himself (he'll change, with faith). I AM SO HAPPY!!

Miracle part four-- We have been teaching a part member family. We have been wanting to bring up the subject of baptism with her, but have felt that this case was special, and that the way the Lord wanted us to go about it was to let the wife come to the conclusion of baptism by herself. Guess who asked us to be baptized next month?! AWESOME, AM I RIGHT!! That's not all-- she also wants her children to be baptized!

Oh, look, another miracle-- The wife of one of our members feeds us dinner and really enjoys having us over, even though she is of a different faith. We love her and she makes me so happy. Well, guess who came to church on Sunday?! WILLINGLY AND ON HER OWN!!!! RIGHT?!  MIRACULOUS! 

Does this not prove that God is preparing the hearts of His children to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ?! There have been other miracles as well, but I'll save them for later. My testament of the Saviors hand in the lives of those whom He loves. Through the Book of Mormon the questions of the soul can and will be answered, if we diligently seek. Oh, speaking of diligence, I gave a talk yesterday! One of the speakers fell through, so I volunteered to speak in his place. I felt that the ward needed to hear about becoming diligent missionaries, even when they are not missionaries, and that we are blessed and are the means by which others receive blessings. A woman gave her talk before I, and she spoke on fellow-shipping and working with the missionaries to aid in the kingdom of heaven. How perfect! I expounded upon some scripture and bore my testimony. Although I had little time to prepare, I did prepare, and prayed mightily that the Spirit would guide me. One of the best talks I ever gave. Miracles, miracles, miracles!

I began a gratitude journal this week, an example set by my trainer. Instead of dwelling on the things I miss, I've been able to focus more on the things and experiences that have blessed me and helped me to grow. I expect that journal to be bulging in no time at all, hehe! Well, this captain has to clean her Enterprise, vacuum her T.A.R.D.I.S., and go shopping in Diagon Alley for spells and potions. I love you all with all my heart, and thank God every day for your prayers. I love you. Have Courage, and Be Kind.

2017.3.6 Captain's Log; Stardate--2017.March.06

This one's going to be a short one, folks...

Thanks y'all for your loving words of kindness and encouragement! They are deeply appreciated. So, I left my journal at the apartment, but I have my notepad and I wrote a few things down that help me to remember what I need y'all to know :) :) 

Because I've been sick for the past four weeks, and have been a pendulum of stuffed up, raspy voice, and clogged Eustachian tubes so I couldn't hear others very well, I've been pretty quiet during lessons with investigators. I know, right?! A quiet Sierra? Yeah, way weird.  Well, guess who felt better after a week of half a dozen medicines and remedies? SISTER PEACOCK IS IN THE HOUSE!!! I've learned so much, and have been able to connect so much more with those whom I am meeting :) I've also been really blessed with remembrance. Back at home, all through high school and college, I had a terrible memory. I just didn't retain much, you know? Well, the Lord has seen fit to expand my memory capacity!!! I remember details about people, their names and general location. I remember street names, times, dates, and events happening on those dates!!! IT'S A MIRACLE! Once I am released as a missionary, I'll probably lose those gifts, but boy oh boy am I going to enjoy them while they last!! 

Fun fact of the week-- here in West Virginia, people give gifts of bottled water. The water here is undrinkable, and so we must all drink from bottled water purchased at the store. Well, for Sister Stettler's birthday, a member gave us a whole case of water. Whenever we do service or leave a lesson, people offer us a couple bottles of water. It's really cheap here because it's a necessity. The trunk of our car is full of bottled water!!! :) And everyone always asks us if we have plenty of water :)

West Virginian Words of the Week- 

You don't say 'purse' here, it's 'pocketbook'

A grocery shopping cart is referred to as a 'buggy'

There's been a lot of push from the Presidency to build up food storage. Not just for this area, but for everyone world wide. We are counseled to have at least a year worth's supply of food stored in our homes. I really feel the need to remind everyone to prepare-- we never know what's in store for us, but we can build up a store for us :) 

I am very grateful for Thomas S. Monson, the prophet who leads our church today. Just as in times of old, when Moses and Joseph and Adam were called by God and ordained by His power to lead the people in the ways of the Lord, just as Elijah and Noah received revelation and foreknowledge from Heavenly Father, we have a man called by God and ordained with His power today, who leads us and receives revelation today. The Lord is on our side, and our Father has not left us without His guidance. I am called of this modern day prophet to serve the Lord, just as through Moses was Aaron called to serve and perform mighty miracles. My miracles may not be mighty, but they are miracles nonetheless. Leading a thirsting soul to drink from the everlasting waters of our Savior Jesus Christ. Helping understand how to repent and come unto Christ. Comforting the wounded souls of God's children through the knowledge and truth that death is not the end. Are not these miracles? And every single one of them come by faith, which I am slowly but surely building. :) I  believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church today, as He established it when He ministered on the earth 2,000 years ago. It was through Joseph Smith that Christ's church was restored, and that God's divine power, the priesthood, was brought back, never to be taken from the earth again. I read the Book of Mormon every day, and through it I have come to know my Savior, and be saved though His atoning sacrifice and triumph over death on the third day. I know this church is true, which is why I am so far from home, not to return for many months, leaving behind my dance, my books, my education, so serve as the Lord would have me serve. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have faith in Him and in this church. I repent daily, because heaven knows I am far, far from perfect. I was baptized more than a decade ago, but I renew the promises and covenants I made with God every Sabbath when I partake of the Sacrament, the bread and water that symbolize the atonement of Christ. Through the influence and sanctification of the holy Spirit, I can know the truth of all things. I am, every minute of every day, enduring to the end. It's not easy. I've only been out in the mission field for a month and I've wanted to give up more times than I can count. But it is though the love of my Savior and my Father that I get out of bed every morning, forget myself, and go to work. 

2017.2.27 Captain's Log Stardate--2017.Feb.27

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JAKE AND GAMMIES!!! 

I love my family with all my heart, and I'm so proud of every member. I miss my dance family (Yeah, keep on rockin' Discovery School!) and my Church family (Go Turner Ward, Go!), but I've made great new friends here in Buckhannon, West Virginia. The members are great about feeding us (everyone, look up pepperoni rolls) and coming with us to teach our investigators. Investigators are those who are investigating the church. We teach by the Holy Ghost, and help them overcome challenges they face by placing trust in God. We teach that families are forever; about God's priesthood power here on the Earth today; Temples and the blessings we receive when we covenant with our Father; and how to improve our lives by reading the Book of Mormon. If any of y'all want a Book of Mormon, go to mormon.org and you can request for missionaries in the Salem area to give you one. They are free, just like Bibles. Also, please be kind to missionaries, wherever you are. You have no idea how refreshing it is to meet a kind soul who wishes you well. As missionaries, we get a lot of hurtful words thrown at us, and a lot of cold shoulders thrust our way. Please be kind and loving, even if you don't want anything to do with us. We respect everyone's beliefs, and only wish to add to other's faith. For me, please smile :)

I have a quest for everyone. Please share your favorite scripture with me. It can be from the Old or New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, or from other sanctioned scriptures. It's difficult to relate to people whose experiences are so different from your own. I'm only nineteen and haven't experienced much in this life, and yet I am a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ and am to minister to His sheep. I pray very hard to be the best I can be, but it is only through Christ that I am able to do this day in and day out. I am enough :)

I'd like to share with y'all what a missionary’s typical day is like. We wake up at 6:30 am every day, even the weekends. We roll out of bed and fall on our knees and pray. We exercise for half an hour. We are instructed to get our heart rates up for thirty minutes every day (except the Sabbath) in order to keep ourselves fit. After an hour to shower and dress (and fight our hair, golly gee) we have half an hour for breakfast. We pray over every meal, and I am so grateful for the food we have to eat. Thank you, God, for inspiring someone to invent bagels! Next, we pray together as companions and plan our day. This is not scheduling. This is planning. We take a half hour to plan with whom we'll meet and what we'll teach them. Next, we pray privately and commence personal study. This lasts from about 8 to 9. I ask Heavenly Father to guide me in what to study so that I may better help and serve others. I also pray for focus, because y'all know how I am (I'm off my ADHD medications as a part of mission policy). Boy oh boy do I pray for focus. It's not uncommon for me to get side tracked. I find myself daydreaming about the next Marvel or Disney movie, or about my beloved library back home. I read from the Book of Mormon for ten minutes, then delve deeply into Preach My Gospel. This is a book of Gospel doctrine and principles. It is inspired and written by apostles of the Lord to help us teach effectively and with the Spirit. I've read it many times, and continue to study from it daily. I highly recommend it to any and all seeking to come closer to Christ. I study by topic. Yesterday I studied the Fall of Adam and Eve, and how through their transgression, we had a reason for Christ's atonement, or His suffering and grace. Today I studied the Commandments. Tomorrow I'll study the Restoration of the Gospel. To wrap up my study time, I'll read a talk from the Ensign, a magazine put out by our church.

Next, we pray. This time together as a companionship. This starts off our companion study. You might have noticed, we pray a lot. Yup. Every time we leave the house. Or the car. Or before we eat. Or before a lesson. And after a lesson. And when we get lost. Wow... we really do pray A LOT. Well, we gotta have the Spirit of the Lord with us, what do you expect? :) Together we study the topics we plan on teaching our investigators, and what each person needs, and how we can serve them. We desire all to come unto Christ and hear His Restored Gospel. After an hour of companionship study, we fill our bags with supplies (Book of Mormons, pamphlets, water bottles, gospel videos) and then--you got it-- WE PRAY AGAIN! Then we leave the apartment and skedaddle! 

We have to be home by 9 pm if we do not have an appointment, and home by 9:30 pm if we do have an appointment. When we arrive home, we record our miles on the car, go inside, pray (yet again, hehe) and record the lessons we taught and the people whom we've met. We get ready for bed, tidy up the apartment, and have to be in bed lights out by ten thirty. I often make a snack, like peppermint tea or hot chocolate before retiring. We have not problem falling asleep right away each night-- serving the Lord wears you out! :)

So, as some of you may know, I love doing accents. I do all the voices when I read aloud. Every character has a variant of English in my head. When I read, I hear Scottish and French. I hear Southern and Redneck. I hear East End British and Cockney. I hear a menacing growl and lisps and Australian. These are my characters. So when Sister Stettler found out that I can monologue in quite a range of voices, I've become her main source for entertainment. Not going to lie-- I love doing it. She'll put me on the spot at someone's house, and I'll rant about my kilt in Scottish. I'll talk about shoes in Northern British. I talk about my dog in Australian. I'll go on and on about silly things in what we've nicknamed "Braces Girl," derived from Sid the Sloth form the Ice Age movies. And sometimes, I'll just entertain myself and go off about something in French. Man, I love that :)

Also, I guess I never noticed this, but I've got a firm handshake. Everyone has mentioned it when I introduce myself. I guess it's because I have a big brother :) Turns out, I can hold my own :) Most people kind of just flop like a fish when they go to shake a girl's hand (not being sexist, it's just true). Sister Stettler has a mild grip, but once people shake my hand (as missionaries you shake A LOT of hands), they always comment on how firm it is. Mmh, makes me happy :) Put 'er there!

Here's a poem that came to me one morning when I was in the MTC. I just kept forgetting to email it, hehe.

I AM GOING ON AN ADVENTURE/ AND OR/ WHAT WILL I BECOME?

I may not be a Hobbit

Sent to burgle from a beast;

I may not be a lost boy

Fighting pirates on the beach.

I am not a demigod

Battling monsters the most;

I have not superpowers

For which I can boast.

I am not a princess

Locked away in some tower;

Nor am I a maiden

Breaking the spell of an enchanted flower.

I am not an explorer 

Of the Final Frontier: Space;

I am not a Jedi

Nor from a galaxy far, far way.

I travel not to Narnia, 

Nor with the Doctor;

I possess no Keyblade

To unlock world doors.

I may not train dragons,

Nor on them learn to fly,

But learn and little closer

And I will tell you why....

I am going on an adventure,

I will find my Neverland;

I am going on a quest,

With the Lord as my right hand.

No longer am I a mermaid

With a tail that's sleek with brine,

For I am purposed far more glorious--

With God's light I will shine.

Father's power is behind me,

I am of His royal line;

I captain my own ship,

I travel through His time.

I am one with the Spirit, 

And the Spirit is in me.

I stepped into a new world--

I AM A MISSIONARY!

The rhyme came pretty naturally, which surprises me. As did the meter. If you notice, every line has an opposite. Hobbit=adventure. Lost boy=Neverland. Doctor Who and Kingdom Hearts=new worlds. Et cetera...Everything has it's opposite :) This is what I am giving up. But I gain so much more in the Lord :) :) :) :) 

I love you all, so very dearly and so very greatly. I feel the strength from your prayers, and am so blessed to know each and every one of you. Well, time to go eat and preach!

~Sister Mary Sierra Peacock

West Virginia Charleston Mission

"Rise in Might" and "Fight the Good Fight"