28 May 2013

Hi Family!

Wow! I didn't think seeing the pictures of Buddy's home coming would make me feel so emotional.  Honestly,  I don't recognize that person that got off the airplane.  He definitely is not the same little brother of mine that left two years ago.  I hope I look that good after 18 months in the field.   Thank you so much for all the pictures, especially the one of all the family together, you all look so beautiful!

Well, it has been another roller coaster week and yes, the Sister Missionaries were blessed to attend Sister Monson's funeral.  Temple Square was not the same during that time because there were security check points at every gate and you needed a ticket to enter and it seemed so strange.  Definitely, not the Square I'm used to but it made sense.  There were ALOT of General Authorities, so security was very tight.  We sat on the left hand side of the balcony right next to the camera man which faced the door where they brought Sister Monson's coffin into the Conference Centre closely followed by President Monson.  It was heart breaking to see President so sad and he looked like he'd aged quite a bit.  He needs our prayers right now family because it's not easy for him.  Most of the Apostles were in attendance and it was awesome to see how they interacted with each other.  For example,  Elder Nelson and Elder Oaks look like the best of friends and Elder Bednar was holding Elder Hale's arm as Elder Hale's he looked so frail.  Elder Uchtdorf gave an awesome talk and in his talk he said,  "When you die you open a beautiful door to a more beautiful room."  The service was amazing and the MOTAB sang beautifully and then the procession left for the Salt Lake Cemetary.  If any of you wish to view the service you can go online at lds.org to watch it.  It was really beautiful.  After the funeral it was back to work despite the difficulty of having to now pick ourselves up out of a mournful state to being the face on the Square.  The Lord helped after we prayed and we called one of our investigators who has been praying about a baptism date.   She has decided to get baptized on June 30th and we are so happy for her. I wish we had a deal with Delta Airlines that allowed us free tickets to fly to our investigators baptism in Louisiana.  I know I will soon be outbound and hopefully get to experience a real baptism at least once on my mission. 

We have witnessed so many miracles and the Lord has helped us to recognize them.  I find during transfers the Sister's testimonies and faith are strengthened.  We met this one lady this week and we were able to apply some of our role plays as a companionship, into a real life situation where we extend the commitment challenge.   I said to my companion after our role playing practices, "Okay, today your goal will be to extend commitments to whomever we meet!"  I said, "Keep the commitments simple and clear!"   So, during the day, we meet this one lady and take her on a tour.  She's from Ohio and is a Buddhist and we show her the video, "God's Plan!"  After the video she was crying and we knew she could feel the Spirit and then I looked at my companion and she asks the lady, "Would you like to learn more?" Pause….Power... Pause…  She said, "Yes I would like to learn more about the basic beliefs of your church!"  I was so grateful for the Spirit's role in helping her to feel the way she was feeling and I know that we are instruments in inviting people to know more and as we remain worthy the miracles happen. 

On Friday (I think it was) we had three investigator lessons scheduled with the Elders.   Three lesson's in one day is not very common but I'm trying to fill our day with opportunities to teach so that my companion can gain more confidence in opening her mouth and sharing the gospel.   All of our lessons today were with teenagers and our first lesson was with a fourteen year old boy and we taught him about the Priesthood.  That was awesome.  Our second lesson was with McKayla, a seventeen year old girl who we taught about Baptisms for the dead and Patriarchal blessings.  McKayla had attended the lesson with three of her friends.  We will attend McKayla's baptism and will try and do missionary work with her family and friends while we are there. Our third lesson was with Aubrey-anna, a fourteen year old girl who we taught about, "Modern Day Prophets and Eternal Families."   All three investigator's come from part-member families and they are pretty amazing individuals.  It was so comforting to see their local missionaries doing such a good job in helping the rising generation to strengthen their testimonies.  All three are getting baptized on Saturday June 1st, but we can only go to one of the baptisms so we've chosen to attend McKayla's.

We have a zone activity today so it'll be nice to be out in the sun and we're going to play water volleyball and eat ice-cream.  Thank you for your prayers family and the sacrifices you make for me. I read President Monson's talk that he gave in the Priesthood session of General Conference entitled,  "Come, all ye sons of God" and he said:

"I hope you appreciate the sacrifices which your parents so willingly make in order for you to serve. Their labors will sustain you, their faith encourage you, their prayers uphold you. A mission is a family affair. Though the expanse of continents or oceans may separate, hearts are as one."  So true! I love you family and friends and thank you for all you do.  I bought some inserts for my shoes because my legs and knee joints have been achey.  I've walked my whole mission and haven't been this bad before so I figured they would help and they have. I also bought some vitamins from the chemist so I think that's helping too.  Thanks to Brother and Sister Bunting for my new camera!!!!  You are both so kind and it's always great to see you each time you visit.

Have a great week and enjoy the time with Buddy because I don't expect him to be single for long!!!

Love Sister Chadderton xoxo

21 May 2013

Hi Family,

First of all, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD" for May 22nd!  "I can't believe your turning 21 tomorrow!"  It's so exciting and be sure you eat plenty of delicious cake for me and have a fun party.  I love you heaps Dad!

It was awesome to hear from everyone and to learn that you continue to be blessed for your obedience.  Hina, awesome news about your new car and what a miracle!  Okay, I know Buddy is arriving home on Thursday so be prepared for this week to feel extra long as you count down to that day.  Mum, it was so awesome to see the photo's of our family in your email to Buddy when we were all at the airport terminal over two years ago saying goodbye to him before he left for MTC.  I'm just thinking that soon two out of the three of us missionaries will have returned home and it's strange to think that so much time has passed already.  I'm so grateful that I still have more time in the mission field because I know my time is going way too fast.  Each time we have a Sacrament meeting where sisters give their farewell talks I think, "They will have to remove their badges soon!"  I personally am thinking of being an, "Undercover badge wearer" after the mission and just continue wearing my badge underneath my clothing for fun because they say by the time you remove your missionary badge, the Savior's name should be engraved upon your heart.

This week has been wonderful and filled with lots of learning and growing experiences.  It was great to have an apostle of the Lord - Elder M. Russell Ballard - speak to us. He gave us some good instruction and then opened the time up for questions.  One of the sister missionaries asked how she could discern whether the spirit was telling her to do something or whether it was her own thoughts because she didn't really know how to discern.  Elder Ballard paused for a moment and then said, "Just relax!"  I was a little surprised at his response because it was so simple, but true, and it was quite humorous.  I know that as sister missionaries we can become quite stressed over small things so the apostles counsel to, "just relax" was awesome - great word's of wisdom!  Since then, his counsel has become my mission motto and I apply it to myself and to stressful situations that may arise.  I even find myself saying to my companion, "just relax" because she gets stressed out when we take people around the Square and she doesn't know what to say.  She is starting to relax now.  We took a motor coach (bus group of people) for a tour and showed them around a few places and shared the basic beliefs and history of the church with them.  It's really a lot of fun because we carry a microphone and a colored flag so they can follow us. We had 27 people in our group and most of them were Filipino and I was so happy.  Of course I love the Filipino people because they are so sweet and kind and it was the best tour group to help my companion relax, loosen up and make friends.  Let's be honest, Filipino's are some of the friendliest people in the world!  I love them!

Well as part of our, "passing off" achievements, we got to eat at the Lion House Restaurant and it was Sister Pipes first time their so Sister's Magaoay and Ogato joined us.  The meal was delicious.  Oh and we had a big blessing happen to us yesterday.  We had exchanges with the Zone Leaders for a few hours and because summer time is such a busy time on the Square, we've started doing large group tours where we meet at the flag pole.  Sister Williams and I were at the flagpole and we met two people from England and showed them around.  They were really sweet and had a lot of sincere questions.  We answered their questions and they asked where they could get a copy of the Book of Mormon from so we gave them one.  They are in the States for three months so we have arranged to call and teach them and then hopefully, when they return home we can keep in touch.  Blessings!  Miracles on Temple Square are so great. 

We have a really great investigator that we are currently teaching whose name is Mandi.  Sister Pipe found her while she was still in the MTC and yesterday when we were talking to her we learnt that has attended church for the third time and she wants to get baptized but is worried that the members might judge her if they get to know her more.  I am so grateful for the members of her Ward who are doing a great job in helping her feel welcome.  She is praying about a date to get baptized and we will call her later on this week.  So excited for Mandi!

Well, we went to the Temple this morning and as usual it made my day.  It was another first for Sister Pipe as she has never been to the Salt Lake Temple before so that was a neat experience.  We went to Nauvoo Cafe after the Temple with a few other sisters and one of the workers at the Cafe approached us and told us that there was a man in the Cafe who wanted to give each of us a gift card for the Nauvoo Cafe.  He had bought 10 of them worth $15.00 each.  Wow!  Honestly, the members here in Utah are amazing and I am so humbled each time we are blessed at the hand of others.  So, a big, "Thank you" to all those wonderful people who are contributing to my mission and the missionary fund in general and for feeding the missionaries who might be serving in your Ward. We pray that each time that you serve the missionaries, the Lord will never let you go hungry. Thank you!

Well, family, have fun seeing my little brother because I love him lots so make sure you give him a big squeeze from me too!  Someone should video his arrival and send it to me because I wish I could be there but at the same time, not really.

Have a great week!!!!

Love Sister Chadderton

14 May 2013

Hi family!!!!

"Yay for Mother's Day phone calls!"  Wasn't that the bestest?!?!  I can't believe I've already used up 2 out of the 3 phone calls I am entitled to as a missionary.  Wow! Time goes so fast.

Well, as usual a lot has happened this past week andTemple Square is becoming busier and busier.  Today Sister Pipe and I went on a Zone leader tour to "Pass Off!"  This means the Zone leaders walk around with us as we pass off tour information and then they certify us to be eligible to take tours around the Square.  It is important to be sure that we know enough history about the Square when we take people on tours and balance it out with the doctrine. From now on our schedule will become a lot busier.  One thing I am really enjoying about training is the fact that I'm learning so much too.  I've started the 12 week program again and its been a real strength to my teaching skills, for example the other day we were role playing teaching the Restoration in two  minutes - making sure we covered all the bullet points and then inviting the person (prospective investigator) to do something. We role played as a companionship a couple of times before I went out and found a sister who was in the study lounge and asked if my companion could role play with her for two minutes.  So, my companion taught the restoration lesson and then we evaluated it and then I went and found someone else.  It may seem a little rigorous having my companion practice over and over again, but it helps the both of us so much and the amazing thing happened to us the next day.  We had been memorizing Joseph Smith's  First Vision verses so we could share it with the lesson on the Restoration.  That night we met two guys in the Tabernacle and had a great conversation and one of them started to lead into a discussion about the apostasy.  He was talking about how so much had been changed in the Bible when it was translated from its original language.  At that point the Spirit said to me, "Teach the Restoration!"  Without hesitation, I did it!  I taught it in two minutes and got to the point where we were to share the First Vision scripture and I turned to my companion and asked, "Sister Pipe, can you please share the First Vision?"  The two guys were like, "Yeah, we are really interested, can you share it because we'd love to know what happened!"  So, for the first time (after just memorizing the verses) my companion shared the scripture and even though it wasn't word perfect, she did great and the Spirit was testifying and it was really strong and my testimony of following the Spirit and using the things you study increased by 100.  I love that the Lord was testing me to listen to the Spirit because I know as a trainer I could have asked my companion to do a lot of the teaching but he wanted me to teach too.  The church is true.

On Thursday we had leadership training and it was awesome.  I really enjoyed the messages from our leaders, especially becoming better leaders and examples to all the sisters in the mission field. It's always refreshing to receive council from our leaders, especially the encouragement they give us.  I loved it!

Oh, and I have to ask, "Could someone please let Chris McClain know that if he is still in town and can make it to the Flag Pole tomorrow at 12:00 noon my companion and I will be there."  If he has already left then I'm sad I missed him.  I think every other Sister Missionary has seen him and gone all gaga at him.   It's ridiculous, all of them are trying to fit in my bag home so they can find someone who looks and sounds like Chris. Too funny.  

But yesterday for Mother's Day, we had a beautiful sacrament meeting and it didn't make us too home sick.  It was also announced in sacrament that Elder M. Russell Ballard will come and speak to us this week so thats exciting and something I am looking forward to.  Today for P-day we are going to Deseret Industries to find some summer clothing because it is so hot now and I love it!  I'd much rather be sporting a tanned look than a pale faced look - no offense!   I forgot, yesterday I met a Brother McQueen from Christchurch and he knows Uncle TC!  Prior to meeting him, I had seen the list of the new sister missionaries that will be coming to the Square on the next transfer and their was a Sister McQueen's name on the list.  So, it was a little comical when I met him and then asked him if he has a daughter coming to serve on the Square.  He looked a little surprised and said, "Yes!"  (I can read minds lol just kidding!).  There is also a Sister Leki from Hamilton that is also coming to serve here, so it will be fun to have more Kiwi's.  Woohoo! 

Well, family and friends as you go about your week remember President Monson's counsel from General Conference, "Obedience Brings Blessings" so if you want to be blessed be obedient.  Be good and have fun.

Love Sister Chadderton

xoxo

Photos 1: Explorer Day part 2 at the Humanitarian Center

2. Exploring the Church History Museum

3. When we were having a photo with the chicken a little boy turns up and I don't know what he's saying but I think this photo is hilarious.

4. For Mother's Day we made a card for Sister Calderwood and I wrote a poem and my child (her grandchild) drew a picture and spelt her name backwards, so loved it haha. Who wouldn't? 

5. Sister Pipe and I - we are the tallest companionship on Temple Square.  This picture was before Church on Sunday!

6. Me with my little Filipino buddies.  Elder Chadderton the little one next to me is someone you will recognize from the Philippines.

7 May 2013

Hi Family and friends!

"What a week!"  I think I use that phrase a lot because its true.

Well, our performance last week wasn't as well attended as the first time, but performance wise it was awesome!  Our Island songs and dances were a hit and I even managed to get the four poi up with plenty of time to spare and the audience went wild.  It was pretty cool and our Australian song, "We are Australia" was really nice too.  I had some of the people attend that I'd invited.  I had met this one family during General Conference and am trying to help reactivate their two sons.  Another family that came are a part-member family that live in Salt Lake City.  It was awesome to have them attend.  However, the night was coupled with sadness because many of our missionary friends were spending their last night with us because they would be flying home in the morning.  I am grateful that I don't have to say any more, "goodbyes" for another six weeks because I find goodbye's really hard.

Well, Wednesday came and I, along with the other thirteen trainers were anxiously awaiting the arrival of our new trainees.  We were to meet our Mission President and the Assistant's at 11:00 a.m. but they didn't arrive until a little later so we ate the pizza that was sitting on the table because it was getting cold. They finally arrived and Sister Vaivai's new companion is Sister Cummings from Hawaii.  Such a hilarious story because Sister Cummings really wanted Sister Vaivai to be her trainer so when she was assigned to Sister Vaivai she was sooooooo excited that she jumped on Sister Vaivai and wrapped her legs around her.  Sister Vaivai had to balance herself from falling over from the force that she was hit with.   I kept looking at President and Sister Gillette when that happened because they seemed a little surprised by Sister Cummings reaction but were laughing too.  I thought it was flippin' hilarious.  Best reaction ever!  Well, my new companion is Sister Pipe and she is six feet tall and from North Dakota, a Native American.   I call her my Pocahontas!  Haha!  I think she likes that.  She is super chilled but a little shy so hopefully me being overly confident will help balance the companionship.  We are working on her shyness because sometimes when I stop talking to people on the Square and I look at her as a queue to say something, she shrugs because she doesn't know what to say.  It'll come and she is getting heaps better at learning to trust in Heavenly Father's promise that if you open your mouth it will be filled!  Despite that we have had a lot of fun because that's important!  She is an awesome athletic so we've been running the "tracks" and today we ran the "Canyon!"  It is an up hill run from where we live and it was a great workout.  A lot of the sisters are runners so we had a great turn out for the run.   I of course, am not a "seasoned" runner like my companion but I really enjoyed being outdoors and ran for the most part of the 45 minute run.  We have basketball three times a week so running the Canyon will be on the other two days of the week because on Thursday's we have our Relief Society class and we have to arrive early for that meeting so no exercising that day.

I've just realized that there might be times when I don't always share a lot of the miracles that happen to me here on Temple Square so I wanted to share one that happened this week.  My companion and I had to return something to the Beehive House and because she hadn't been on a tour of the Beehive, I gave her a tour and after, as we were walking back to the Square there was a lady who was about to cross the road.   She was waiting for the lights to change and she looked back at us and smiled and then looked away, then looked back again as if she wanted to ask us something but she didn't and then turned and faced the lights again, and then turned back and ran towards us.  She then said, "Hey Sisters, can I ask you something?"  We said sure and she told us how she wanted to follow Elder Nelson's counsel from Conference to, "Ask the missionaries" and then she started tearing up.  She apologized for being emotional and asked us if we knew a scripture of hope and peace?  She didn't tell us about her personal life or what she might be going through but I opened my scriptures and shared Moroni 7:33 which talks about having faith in Christ.  Although it said nothing specifically about  hope and peace, I felt like she needed to hear that.  She thanked us before leaving so we hugged and then I asked her if I could call her and talk again so she gave me her phone number and left.   It was a neat experience, especially for my little companion  (who is actually taller than me) to see because it shows that sometimes people need us for a reason and we can be an answer to their prayers. Pretty neat aye!

Well, there are a lot of miracles that happen every day and it's great to be a part of them.  On Sunday we attended, "Music and the Spoken Word" with all the new Sisters and if you get a chance, go online and listen to the MOTAB sing, "Battle Hymn of the Republic"  because they sang it with so much power and it was truly powerful, motivating and inspiring! 

The Square is getting busier and busier and by next transfer we have been told that thirty new missionary sisters will be coming to join us and two are from NZ.  So exciting!  I have no idea who the NZ Sisters are but very happy to have more kiwis representing on the Square, especially when Sister Vaivai and I go outbound. 

Well, family the moral of the week is, "Trust!  Trust in the Lord!"  "Why?"  Because his ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts and even though we may  think we know best He knows better.  I know that Sister Pipe was meant to be my companion because I am learning so much from her.  She is really sweet and I'm grateful to have someone who is so teachable.  She is a rock and I really mean that in all sincerity because I learnt that her father passed away in March and through all of that she still decided to come on her mission and serve the Lord after going through such a challenge.  What an example!

Oh and tender mercies,  yesterday guess who came to find me? "Bishop Leota!!!"   Ashton is coming here to go to school so they stopped by and it was so good to see my Bishop.  I love him so much!  So awesome!

Love you heaps!  Oh and, "Happy Mother's Day" for next Sunday everyone!!!!  Sorry bout it but my mums the best!  Keep praying and reading those scriptures because God wants to hear from you all and he will answer your prayers through the scriptures.

Sister Chadderton