missionary letters: 3.29.15

Some weeks its seems like there is so much to tell and others... not so much. Today was a beautiful sacrament meeting. Our choir did a great job.

We left just a few minutes early to go pick up elder Oliphant and carder to go to a musical stake fireside in centralia. We packed a lunch/dinner and ate on the way down. Oliphant needed to be there because of his awesome musical talents. It was a really good fireside and so much fun joking and talking with the elders on the ride. At one point we realized we accidentally left the cookies in the trunk. In our car you can pull the seats down and get stuff into the trunk. So funny, hearing them..seeing them trying to get back there. They succeeded! Those are the only 3 pictures I've got for you. I added a slightly blurry one. Funny story about that blue tie elder carder is wearing.. all the missionaries were suppose to wear purple ties, but carder forgot. As you can see, his tie was bright and would of stuck out.. so he traded with bro. Shoop..who just happened to be wearing a purple tie.

But, don't worry, the next 2 weeks, I'll have picture and story overload for you!! ;) We're leaving Thursday for Utah to visit Melissa and see some of our returned missionaries. I can't wait and am do excited!

Have a great week! Enjoy conference!!! I'm excited to hear from our prophet, apostles, and other leaders!

Love ya!

Sis Shoop

This week I enjoyed a couple of letters from Elder Jesse Williamson that I am including. This is his letter to me.

Hey!

Sorry that this will be rather short... But thank you always for writing me Sister Shoop :)

So this week was quite hectic. We had a sweet activity with the youth friday and saturday which was a lot of fun, but the sand thing about this week is changes... I now know how oyu feel when the missionaries that you come to love leave :P But from the other perspective. The missionaries really do miss you too. And they will never forget either :)

But hey, atleast I will get to have another learning experience by being a Zone Leader. Never really wanted to be one of those though... dats. Never really liked them... hahaha

Thank you for everything Sister Shoop :) I also say Hi to Keagan and Brother Shoop :D

Elder Williamson

and my letter to him

My heart aches for you. Change is always hard for me and especially when you grow to love people! Thank goodness for modern technology so when you get home you can keep in touch with some of your people. I know how much you loved your little branch. It has been great to hear your stories and seeing/hearing you learn and grow!

One of the times we had a stake temple day, we were in the Celestial room afterwards and got scolded to be quiet. Everyone was greeting each other and hugging and talking to loudly. I’ll never forget Marcie Turner saying, I think this is what it will be like in the next life. We will be all excited to see each other and greeting each other! I’ve had several people in my life that I truly love move away. I’m so grateful for the knowledge of the gospel that binds us together and that if we live worthy we can see them again.. forever! What a glorious reunion it will be! I just hope I can live worthily for that blessing!

We went to transfer meeting yesterday. 3 of my missionaries that I knew well went home. One of them I get to see in a few days! The next 2 or 3 transfers will be someone that we have grown to love going home. It has been so fun, though when they go home that we can talk and send each other messages! When we go visit Melissa this week, we get to see some of them! I can’t wait! The best part is actually giving them a hug!! That is the hardest part for me sometimes with the missionaries! lol

One of the missionaries said something in their talk about it saying in preach my gospel something like the relationships that you develop on your mission will always be a treasure to you and celestial.. or something like that. I tried to find it quickly... but couldn’t. Maybe you know what I’m talking about?

I said an extra little prayer for you for your changes. I’m sure you will grow to love your next area, too! And then you’ll be crying when you come home.

love ya!

Sis. Shoop

and his letter back to me

Yeah, its hard to have changes :/ And well this morning made it even harder... I have emergency changes now... :/ I was just getting used to being a Zone Leader, I love my two companions that I have, I love the area that I am, but I have to leave so soon :( The hardest part is that even though I have been here for a week, I met this investigator that is a Single mother with two kids and I got to know her quite well this week and help her get ready to be baptized on the 25th of this month and I was so excited for it, but now I wont be here to see it :/ She is such a great person and has such a cute 4 year old daughter. Her daughter is one of the sweetest little girls I have ever met. haha, that always happens to me, theres always a cute little girl that i miss more than anyone else in my areas :P hahaha

But I am sure I will be fine in this next area. I just hope my companion isnt too bad... The president called me this morning and theres an elder having some sort of problems or whatever, I didnt hear exactly what was going on too well, but he is also going home really soon so I will probably have to babysit him until he goes home....

But we will see what happens haha, I go and do whatever the Lord wants me to do. I have a feeling its going to be hard though... especially since we had so much success in the area I am in right now with my two comps and being a Zone Leader... haha, I also thought there would never be anything that would suprise me in my mission anymore after being called as a Branch President, but this sure has surprised me x) haha

I like what the missionary said, that in every area we make relationships not just for this life but for forever. Even though I have only been here for one week I have made atleast one relationship that I will never forget :) I just got to remember to write in my journal because I am still not the best with that... haha x)

Thank you for everthing Sister Shoop :) Keep up the good work at home! :D haha