Flying in Florida

My awesome companion Sister Pyper :)

Watermelon Shark we helped make:)

SO MUCH COOL STUFF HAPPENING RN 

my grammar is going out the window 

but the coolest stuff happening is definitely M.....

We had a lesson with him and silly enough it was the Restoration after we have already met with him three other times 

God works in mysterious ways and what one of His children needs is much different than the next and for whatever reason, M.... needed to have lessons two and three and part of three again before lesson one

The Restoration

L ... (I have been calling her Sister P.) and her husband M..... just went on a vacation and it was a five hour drive.  We found out four of the five hours they drove, they searched and listened to a ton of material on lds.org and cross referenced it to the Book of Mormon.  They listened to the first three chapters and all of Joseph Smith History.  Including the testimonies and title page of the Book of Mormon with their two kids in the back seat.

Yes.  I know they are incredible.

I love love love them.

and after a really powerful restoration lesson (they knew most of it-had already found it themselves) I was able to recite the first vision and the Spirit.. no words.  It was so amazing and a testimony builder for me of the divinity of the answer to that humble prayer.  At the end, we invited Matt to be baptized. 

He said yes.  

Then I invited him to be baptized on June 11th.

 A WEEK AND TWO DAYS FROM THAT DAY.  

He said yes. 

(side note- When sister Pyper and I were planning for the week and feeling prompted to extend the commitment to M.... to be baptized, I felt like woah... 

June 11th is so soon, their is no way he will go for that.  But the next week just didn't feel quite right.  When I asked Sister Pyper what she thought she said the 11th.  

Well it looks like it's going to happen and I am so excited! 

L ... was shocked at that point in the lesson, but when he said yes she said, "I have the chills." and she was beaming so excited and happy for her husband. 

GOD IS SO GOOD.

I am on cloud nine my friends and family.

cloud nine.

Okay.. now I need to back up. (So many amazing experiences with the First Vision this week)

Miracle Monday a week ago from today

I found the address of a former investigator in the area that stuck out to me.  So when we had some time, we went on an adventure to find her.

We got to the apartment complex and markings weren't clear as to where we were.  We were looking for apartment C

but

no markings on the first door.

I even verbally said to Sister Pyper "Do you have any idea what letter this would be?" 

"No"

"Let's just knock and ask if it's her or not."

We knocked.  And after teaching about half of the restoration on his front porch I looked at the door and saw an obvious "A" on the door.

That's right.  The Spirit blinded us because if we would have known it wasn't C we would have kept looking.

but we knocked anyway and met Alex.

Alex is from HONDURAS

My cousin Ben (on his last month of his mission in Honduras) will be so proud

not only that, but Alex remembers vaguely attending an LDS church IN HONDURAS as a child.

"lovely service" 

he liked it.  But doesn't really remember it. 

We taught him about the Book of Mormon, Joseph smith, prophets, and I had the opportunity to recite the first vision right there on the door step and the Spirit was like a tidal wave washing over us. 

Again, there is just about nothing like the exact words of Joseph Smith's First Vision

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2009-02-04-the-message-of-the-restoration?category=topics/joseph-smith&lang=eng

"I saw a pillar of light, exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun which descended gradually until it fell upon me.  When the light rested upon me, I saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description.  Standing above me in the air, one of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said pointing to the other: 

This Is My Beloved Son. Hear Him."

   

Joseph Smith saw God the father, and Jesus Christ.  He received an answer to his humble prayer and so can you. 

I don't know about you, but I have never seen God or Jesus in this life.  With my eyes. 

But I have felt Them in my heart. 

He communicates with us through feelings just as real and just as undeniable if we are willing to act on the answers He gives us. 

Do you know that??

Do you show that.

I tell ya'll what.  There has been many more great experiences but these were the icing on the cake for me. Perhaps a topping on the cake was when one of the cute Baxter kids came over to us at church yesterday and said

 "Sister Missionaries, can my family sit with you today?" 

Next thing I know I have a 7 year old on my left and a 4 year old on my right and I am holding a crayon box while they color pictures of minions and cartoon prophets. <3

Have I told you lately, that I have the best job in the world? 

Oh... Awkward.. 

Here:

I have THEE best job in the WORLD

Also inspiration moment of the day:

It is true that God knows exactly what will comfort us.

 He knows how to comfort us.  He is very capable of comforting us.

But He also knows exactly what will convert us.

 He knows how to convert us.  But He is only capable of converting us, if we allow Him to.

The truth of the matter is that sometimes being comforted and being converted require the sacrifice of the other.

As God chooses to Convert instead of Comfort

all that's left is our decision to accept, apply, and then FLY

accept the opportunity to be more converted apply the atonement to the situation and then

FLY

not forward not backward diagonal sideways or spiral

but UPWARD

Thank you for all the letters, packages, card hugs, support, smiles, heart ache, prayers, and especially for your love DEAR FRIENDS and FAMILY

dear friends that are family ;)

I love you.  I need you, because when our Father in Heaven promised us angels to bear us up he was talking about the unseen angels and the seen as well.  Near or far, you are angels to me and 

I hope sometimes 

I'm a little angelic to you too. *insert angel emoji here and maybe praying hands because those are cute too

;)

Love you all big

Make it a good day

-SISTASAUNDERS

P.S. Pray for M..... 

this week Satan is going to do everything in his power to stop him from making the first step to eternal joy before this Saturday.  Then he's going to do everything in his power to make M...... think it was a mistake right after, yeah.  Speaking from many experiences. 

The first step and any other big steps to eternal joy are never met without opposition.

BUT JESUS IS MORE POWERFUL

Boston this is for you

#TeamJesus

Last Pday with Sister C...

Lunch/Shirley Temples with the amazing Floods!

They have a convertible Mustang!!!

Blue Heron pic I took

Fort Pickens

one last thing

so... P.P.S.

AUBREY THIS IS FOR YOU: Happy Graduation, you were stunning in that cap'n gown. I love yo s'much <3

Infamous orange tree from one of my first Florida blogs...Blue Skies and Sunshine (or nah)

XOXO

It's Getting Hot

Happy Memorial Day!

This specific week, has been very.. interesting. People these days are very quick to be offended.

but as my favorite ward mission leader Bro. Harris would say and did say just a few days ago:

"Man.. You could poop on my head and slap my face and I wouldn't be offended."

I would have to agree.  Only not. 

Because as much as I have had it up to here with easily offended humans, I would definitely consider myself so if someone were to excrete on my head and/or slap me across the face.

Offendedception: When you are offended because so many people are offended because you got offended about something.

It's a real thing.

but that's another story I will not disclose.

I met my first real live Alabama old man with one and a half tooths.

We were out contacting people and oyming 

and we came across this sweet old dude putting an American flag in the window of his truck.

We talked to him and got to know him a little bit, he joined the military when he was 18 and he loves America.  He informed us he was not interested but told us he would read the Book of Mormon we gave him.  Then as we were leaving, he gave us some handy information about the neighbors across the street.

"Don't ya'll go no further.  They might shoot ya.  They been robbed a couple a times so they is really tough on anyone.  Ya'll is nice people, but they don't know that.  Don't go over there seriously.  They might shoot ya."

Yes that actually is legal in Florida. 

Shooting people on your property, not robbery.

Needless to say: We did not go to that trailer. 

Had a humbling but learning experience Monday. 

We set out because I felt led to a certain street we had passed in the car a few days before on the way to a lesson.

I forgot which house exactly it was so we knocked the street.  First door, a lady, very not interested in the gospel right off the bat.  I stumbled over finding a Book of Mormon or my planner and the words were not flowing very easy from my mouth. 

SOMETHING WAS MISSING

We left and I felt like poo.

My trainee said "We forgot to pray before we left"

duh. 

Reason number 48 why the greener greenie is training the trainer

;)

We prayed and then..

dun dun dun..

we met four more people three of which are interested in meeting us again and get this.

The words flowed for all of them, the Spirit was there not to back us up, but for us to back up.

and I saw especially one particular man glued in as we spoke, I knew without a doubt he could feel it.  It was so cool. 

Prayers are important because we can't do anything without the Spirit and the Spirit can't do much if we don't invite it, live by it, and allow it to be the teacher. 

We were able to have our last interviews with President Smith on Saturday. 

It was only my second, because I've only been here since February.  It was so powerful, I know that mission presidents and their wives are some of the most amazing people in the world.

They give up their life for 3 years

they leave family 

and they didn't even sign up for it like I did.  They were called straight from the prophet, and they accept that call to serve.

What amazing people, I am so sad to see them go but I know that God chose the new mission president and wife to guide and direct the Florida Tallahassee mission just like He called the first President and Sister Smith (fun fact my new mission president is also President Smith, but his first name is not Brad;)

I sure love this mission, my zone, the area, and my leaders near and far. 

Happy moment this week: Nanny and Grandpa sent me a bunch of tootie fruities. hahaha I love you two, so happy grandpas surgery went well.

Funny (terrible) moment this week: The head sister training leaders called me this morning and said

"Hi Sister Saunders, we just wanted to talk to you for a minute.. We were so sorry to hear about your mom. Are you okay?"

my heart dropped.

There are a couple of things that cause missionaries hearts to about stop in their chests.

1. Calls from the mission head quarters area about family.

2. Looking around and not knowing where your companion is. 

(I promise both of these things are very rare)

So on this phone call a million things went through my head. 

What is wrong with my mom.  

Is she okay.  Is she alive.

Your mind truly goes to the worst case scenario at times like this. 

"I'm sorry? What?"

"We heard about your mom. Are you doing okay?"

"I'm sorry... What."

"We heard your mom has cancer.."

OH MY GOSH sigh of relief 

for those that don't know the doctor found some pre-cancer spots on her skin that to my knowledge are just about taken care of.  Nothing too serious.

I explained this to the stls and they were relieved as well.  Miss-communications are no bueno.

 They had heard through the grape vine somehow the word cancer associated with my mom and were led to believe it was worse than it was.

They then apologized for scaring me so bad, but there was no way they could have known.  Then they promised to pray for her anyway like they already have been the past few days.  I seriously love them.

Mom: I am glad you are alright.

Here are some fun facts about life right now 

I lost my camera charger

my mom sent a new one

I found my old camera charger

I left my camera at Paul and Paula's

so pictures are very limited right now... tune in next week to see this weeks pictures because why..?

 I have been running faster than I can chew that's why. 

That's a saying right? 

;)

so no pictures unfortunately, but I do have this awesome update on my fathers life to share.

"Im sore from sleeping in the tent in a downpour after our outside movie fail on Ryannes old computer... the movie froze at the key battle in Narnia and then I woke up to a crow going Caw Caw Caw.  If I'd a had my samurai sword that crow would have died this morning.  I would have tomahawked his feathery behind with one swipe."

This is why I love my dad. 

I also love the gospel.  I'm starting to understand what Elder Jorg Klebingat, a member of the Seventy, said in "approaching the throne of God with confidence" when he said,
 "Become really, really good at repenting thoroughly and quickly. 
Because the Atonement of Jesus Christ is very practical, you should apply it generously 24/7, for it never runs out. Embrace the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance as things that are to be welcomed and applied daily according to the Great Physician’s orders. Establish an attitude of ongoing, happy, joyful repentance by making it your lifestyle of choice. In doing so, beware of the temptation to procrastinate, and don’t expect the world to cheer you on. 
Keeping your eyes on the Savior, care more about what He thinks of you, and let the consequences follow. Spiritual confidence increases when you voluntarily and joyfully repent of sins, both small and great, in real time by applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/approaching-the-throne-of-god-with-confidence?lang=eng&_r=1

Joyful repentance. That's hard to do when we feel weighed down with discouragement for what we have done wrong. But discouragement comes from the adversary, and hope comes from the Savior.  What greater joy can we have, than when we are repenting regularly and feeling that freedom of the burden of sin being lifted off of our shoulders by Jesus Christ and doing better the next moment we have the opportunity to repeat that wrong? 
NO GREATER JOY.  I love the gospel.

I am so happy, even when I'm not.

Make it a good day,

love me. a sister missiona(ry)