Companions again???

Sister Kimball and Whit

It is Patriots' Day in Maine which meant public libraries are closed.  Luckily, Sister Upton needed to go to Portland to get her hair cut and they have a family history center in the church.  Whitney was able to use their computers for a few minutes to send a quick update.

Sorry, I only have a few minutes.  Sister Upton is getting transferred.  We think she will be going to Canterbury, Maine.  It is about halfway to Manchester.

Soooo, at this point is looks like my new companion won't be new to me at all.  I think I will be with Sister Kimball again.  I will continue to be a Sister Training Leader and she will join me.  Not that it means much, but I will be STL1 and she will be STL2.  I have kept in contact with her throughout this transfer as one of her STL's.

I have a feeling I won't be in this area for a long time.  I won't be surprised if it is only one more transfer.  But, I only have 4 more transfers left in my mission.  How crazy is that?

Sorry this is so short and sorry I didn't have time to reply to everyone's emails.

I love you sooooo much and I hope you have a great week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I will send more next week and hopefully will have time to send some pictures. :)

If you want to learn a little more about her companion, you can look back at the posts from October.  Whitney was companions with Sister Kimball for one transfer, when she first transferred from Manchester to Augusta.  It will be easy for them to reconnect once they are both home as well since Sister Kimball is from Riverton.

Reunited with MTC Companions

MTC Companions - Sister Blume, Sister Frame and Sister Collins

Over the last week and a half we have done exchanges, some tracting, went to the Mission Leadership Conference (MLC) and did service.

MLC was great!  I got to see Sister Blume and Sister Frame and also some other great missionaries.  We learned a lot and found out that on May 20 we are having another missionary conference to train us on using Ipads.  Yep, I get to spend my birthday with the entire mission! President Stoker showed us the app for the pamphlets and it is so cool! It's called LDS pamphlet, I think... And then we learned some other cool stuff and items we have to train on for Zone Meeting this week.  

Note from Mom - The app is called LDS Pamphlets.  I just downloaded it on my phone.  The actual pamphlets take quite a bit of memory.  Most of these can also be downloaded in LDS Gospel Library under "Sharing the Gospel."

While I was in Manchester for MLC I also got to stay in my old apartment.  It was so weird being there without all of my stuff and with other sisters now living there.  Also, Elder Dahlberg who served in Augusta with me is now in Bedford.  He picked us up for the meetings.

Sister Upton and I felt prompted to do this thing we came up with that we call The Atonement Walk.  We are going to try it out tonight with some members.  We felt like we needed to something else for our training.  While discussing what we could do, Sister Upton mentioned that for Christmas in her zone they did a Walk with Christ activity.  As we talked we decided that we could do a silent walk and walk through the different facets of the Atonement.  Our plan is to start off by telling them to be silent and to follow us and we are going to read Matt 26:36, about how Jesus and his disciples went to the garden and he told them to sit and watch. Then we are going to walk them to a room that we are hopefully going to have set up with some plants and chairs.  We will then read Matt 26: 37-39 and then Alma 7: 11-13 and ask what pains of yours did he feel?  They won't share these with us but will be given time to ponder how He sacrificed for them.  After that we are going to read Matt 26: 45-50 and they will walk with us to the next room.  There we will read Matt 27: 17-20, 37, 46, 50 w/JST, and 54 and ask, "When was a time that you felt forgotten or misunderstood?" We will let them ponder and then ask, "Did you know the Savior was with you?" Then read Matt 27: 57-60 and move to the chapel.  In there we are going to have them close their eyes and we will read in parts with the Zone Leaders John 20: 11-17.  We are then going to have them open their eyes and there will be a picture of Christ in front of them and we will ask them what Christ has done for them and have a mini testimony meeting.  I hope it works out like we have pictured it.

For service we go to the library and help out with old documents and the town's history stuff which is super cool!  We also help at the food pantry every other week and just help carry out the people's bags for them.  It is a lot of fun.  I love being able to serve the people in this mission.

We had a meal with some members one night.  My companion was having a rough day and feeling kind of down so I did the lesson and led the discussion.  It was a really good lesson and the spirit was so strong that almost everyone was in tears.  They said we answered their prayers and it went very well.  I think that night help us come closer as a companionship as well.

Last week we did exchanges with the Sisters from the Saco ward.  We met up with them at the Portland Headlight Lighthouse.  We had lunch while we were there.  It was really cold so we ended up eating in the car.  Of course, we had to take some pictures while we were there. 

One of these days we are going to take a ferry to tract an island and we also have areas to tract right along the ocean.

There is a chance I won't be able to email next week.  Patriot's day is celebrated as a state holiday so the library will be closed on Monday.  We'll cross our fingers that I can work something out.

Love You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Meeting up for exchanges

Portland Headlight Lighthouse

The Ocean!!!

Sister Collins and Sister Upton

Happy (cold) missionary

Sister Missionaries at the Mission Leadership Conference

Whitney's District

Conference and Easter

I love the ocean!

I hope you had a fabulous Easter and enjoyed General Conference.

Notice the ocean in the top corner of the picture. :) Also, the snow is almost gone!!!  It has still been really cold and we have had a couple snow storms, but I am hopeful spring is on its way.

This week I went on exchange with Sister Craig!  She was trained by Sister Smedley.  She is super cute.  We talked a lot about Manchester and the super amazingly awesome people there! :D

Sadly, we didn't have any lessons this week, but we are hopeful that as we continue working and praying that they will come.  It is going to happen.

I think the most uplifting moment for me this week was Conference.  We are asked to pray before conference with specific questions in mind.  I did and had so many questions and prayers answered!  It was also good to hear about how people in Manchester are doing, both members and the investigators I met with back in September.  I have been blessed to serve in some amazing areas.

I loved all of the talks in conference.  I love how the focus of this weekend sessions and the General Women's Broadcast were so focused on family.  If I had to pick a favorite talk, I would say the talk by Quinten L. Cook.  You can view his talk at the following link:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2015/04?lang=eng&vid=4154381044001&cid=12 

I am also so grateful that I get to talk to Sister Bee every week when we do call-ins.  I love hearing about my friends in Augusta.  It is amazing to hear about the investigators we had and also the potentials from before who are now investigators!!!

Later today I will be heading to Manchester for MLC.  I am excited to see many of my friends.  I will get to see my companions from the MTC, Sister Frame and Sister Blume.  They are currently serving as STLs together.  All of the STLs will be staying at the mission home tonight.  I am pretty excited. There will also be four of the Elders I have served with.  It will be so nice to catch up with them as well.

Sorry, I don't have much time to write today.  I also ran out of time to upload more pictures.  I will send more next week.

Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Interesting side notes from her emails to me (mom):

Her companion thinks I am "trunky" (more focused on her coming home than her service).  I was a little confused at how she could come to that conclusion.  I then realized it is probably because of the packages she has received.  I normally send her a package every other month.  Nothing fancy, usually a homemade treat and items she has mentioned she needs as well as notes from home.  Well, since they have been companions she has received three.  The first package had cookies that she requested so she could have them with a family in Augusta before she transferred.  Unfortunately, mail was held up and it arrived after she left.  Sister Bee gave her the package when they went to Augusta for Zone Conference.  The second package was small and just had brownies and a music cd.  I had extras from a YW/YM activity and decided to send her some since she didn't get the cookies.  The package she got this week was to celebrate her 1 year mark and Easter.  I can totally see how she could think that many packages were excessive if you didn't know the why behind them.

Our family also has a joke with Whitney.  She HATES any food/candy that will turn her mouth a different color, especially blue.  With every package we have sent we have included some type of blue candy.  We know that she will give that item to her companion or the Elders in her area.  Her four year old cousin  recently asked if Whitney hates her car (it's blue).  We had to explain that it is just blue candy she hates.  Well, we sent her a package of blue peeps in her Easter package.  She laughed and set them aside, saying that she would be giving them to the elders.  Not understanding the running joke, her companion was offended that she didn't appreciate the items we sent her and would just give them away.  She had to explain to her companion that I sent them knowing she would not eat them. 

I love my missionary daughter.  I love hearing her stories and watching her grow.  I love receiving pictures where I can see the true joy in her eyes.  I wouldn't trade this time for anything, but of coarse, like all moms, I am excited for the hug I will get in October.

Bonus Post - letter to Young Women

Whitney with her "little sisters" - Girls' Camp 2012

Whitney loved being part of the Young Women's program.  Being the youngest of two girls, Young Women's gave her the opportunity to be a "big sister" to other girls in our ward.  She teases them and loves them as any big sister would.  The following is a letter she sent to our ward's Young Women, but it contains advice we all can use.

Dear Tuscany Young Women,

How are you?

I recently studied all about the strong women in the scriptures.  While I was studying this I thought about how the Lord must have prepared them in their youth in order for them to have such great spiritual experiences.  Then I thought about you.  How great of an opportunity you have to be prepared by the Lord for something great.  Within each of you lies enormous potential and a great influence for good.  But, just like these great women of the scriptures, it takes  sacrifice and you have to work for it in order to unlock it.

President Gordon B. Hinkley once said, "It is so important that the women of the church stand strong and immovable for that which is correct and proper under the plan of the Lord... We call upon the women of the church to stand together for righteousness."

How great of a call is that?! We must unite ourselves together and we must start today. There is a saying, that big gates move on small hinges.  Sisters, even though what you do may seem small, it makes a huge difference.  Like Alma said, "It is by small and simple things, great things shall come to pass." Just by the way you dress and groom yourselves, the way you talk, the way you pray, the way you testify, the way you live every day will make the difference.  These are your beginnings. This is your day of preparation to unlocking your potential, to becoming the Daughter of God that He knows you to be.

The opportunities that are presented to you each day might never come again.  So if you would like to have amazing spiritual experiences like these strong women then you need to seize these opportunities; take that leap of faith.  Actively participate in the activities of the church and activities that your leaders prepare for you.  Your leaders have been set apart by someone holding the priesthood, the power and authority to act in God's name, for your benefit.  They are led by your Father in Heaven to know what you need.  Trust in God and His servants. Joyfully live the commandments and the standards that are set before you.  And NEVER deny yourself the opportunity to feel the spirit. 

This is the time to establish who you are! The choices you make today will affect you for the rest of your life, so firmly establish yourself to be the daughter of God that Heavenly Father knows you are. Live the way that He would have you live. Cling to your loving and understanding Savior, who is Jesus Christ.  I promise you that as you do these things you will know of a surety who you are! You will be blessed with wonderful faith building experiences that will mold you.  You will have the overwhelming conviction that this gospel and its precepts are true, because it is! But, you can only know it is true by allowing yourself to experience it.  Remember, you are first and foremost Daughters of God and your purpose in life is to come close to Him.

It is my prayer that you will remember that and that you will always strive to come closer to Him.

My dear friends, I testify unto you that as you live the Gospel Joyfully you will find true, lasting happiness. I know this beyond a shadow of a doubt because I have experienced it myself.  I know that I wouldn't have experienced it without putting in the effort. I know that there is a God and that He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us so that we may live again and that we my reach our Divine Nature.

"Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever.  Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of His great power and His mercy, and of his long suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel" - Alma 26:16

There are not enough words to describe my gratitude or explain the great joy I've found through and in my Father in Heaven and in my Savior, friend and Redeemer, even Jesus Christ, the constant comforter which leads and guides me and this gospel.  This is true and it is real.  I say these things in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

With lots of love,
Sister Whitney Collins

Praying for Spring

Sister Upton and Whitney

So, a member called a big snow bank in front of her home the Matterhorn.  It totally made me think of Disneyland.  However, the one at Disney is a lot more fun and WAY WARMER!!!  I am getting a little sick of the snow.

This week has been interesting...
The members are really nice... well, the ones I know.  The others are just super busy and haven't really talked to us much yet.  We went tracting a lot and also went on exchange.  I stayed in our area with a new missionary.  She is here training while she waits for her visa.  While she was here we had a meal appointment with some members that I hadn't met yet.  They were so sweet!!!!  They have three kids and it was so fun just to be around kids.  They fed us this yummy stir fry.  We didn't have too much time so we just shared Jacob 3:2 and talked about ways we can feast upon His love.  One of the boys who is almost eight went and got this cute little spiritual experiences journal and had me read on of his experiences from it that had to do with coming to know that God loves him.  IT WAS SOOOOO CUTE!

The area I am serving in has a lot of doctors, scientist, lawyers, etc.  A lot of them are never home so they don't really interact with the missionaries much.  The people I have met have been really nice, but it may take longer for me to get to know people in this area.  It seems a little off because I am used to how things were in Augusta and Manchester.  I still love the area and the people.  I just hope I am able to get to know more of them.

We only have one set of investigators right now.  We have been meeting with a married couple.

We go to the branch to watch the Women's Conference and General Conference.  I really liked all of the Women's Conference.  One of the sisters who spoke during the video clip said something I really liked, "On earth we are not perfect, but we have the seed of perfection within us that we must nourish and grow."  I really liked how several times they said to defend the gospel and also the home and family. I thought it was interesting how it was all centered around the family. And I liked where they talked about how if we don't make family a priority then we are more opened to attacks from the enemy.  We need to build our spiritual walls within the homes of our families to protect us from the perils and evils of the world. Also, a thought came to my mind during it that once I am home if I make the family my priority then I will be blessed to accomplish my dreams and goals.

Well, I am out of time. Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sister Upton and Sister Collins by the Ocean

The Ocean!!!

Did someone say spring?

Good Morning!!!
It definitely doesn't feel like spring in Maine.   It is only supposed to get up to 30 degrees today and drop back down to 8.  

Thanks for the brownies!!!  They were super yummy!  It was a nice surprise and the letter helped a lot!  I actually read that talk for studies that morning before I got it.  Funny how God works. I also loved the music you sent, especially her version of "Endless Night" from The Lion King.

I can't believe my one year mark is this week.  It doesn't even seem like it has been that long.

This week we went tracting a lot and were able to teach two lessons.
I also did exchanges with Sister Farrally in Oxford.  She was in the MTC with Sister Bee.  Sister Kimball came here to do exchanges with Sister Upton.

So, while we were emailing, a lady just walked up to us and asked if she could give us her number to give to the ward clerk. Turns out she has been less active and was about to start drinking coffee again and she looked up and saw all four missionaries sitting here.  She also took a picture of us and was posting it to her facebook saying that she guessed that this was a sign that she needs to go back to church because she has never seen missionaries here before.

There are four missionaries serving in the Yarmouth Branch.  There is me and Sister Upton and two elders, Elder Williams who is from New Zealand and Elder De Leon from Guatemala.  I finally got to go to church in this branch.  People in this area are very busy and can be hard to catch, but they are also very loving.  On Sunday they made me feel very welcomed and loved.

Right now my companion and I are still figuring out how we are going to food together.  I like cooking and having leftovers for days when there is no time to cook.  She doesn't like leftovers and prefers just having frozen pizza, sandwiches or pasta sides.  I am just not used to eating like that.  Even in college I had real meals.  We will figure it out eventually.

Sorry I don't have much time to write.  Here are a few pictures.  This sd card doesn't have a picture of me and my companion.  Hopefully I can send one next week.

Love you lots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the talk that was mentioned above:

I got to see Sister Bee at Zone Conference

With Sister Farrally on exchange in Oxford

We saw deer while we were driving.  Yep we still have lots of snow.

Yarmouth / Cumberland, Maine

Near the islands in the north you can see Cumberland and Yarmouth where she is now serving

So, it is official, I am now a Sister Training leader in the Yarmouth Branch.  I am actually living in a small town named Cumberland that is just a few minutes away.  The road I live on is a small country road with some cute older homes, it reminds me of some of the roads and homes in Wayne County.  

My companion is Sister Upton.  She has been out for 14 months and is also from Utah.  I think she is from Vernal.  We are still figuring out just how this companionship is going to work, but it is going to be great.  I know there are things we both need to learn from each other.

I haven't met many members from the Yarmouth Branch yet because we had Stake Conference this weekend.  However, Stake conference was in the Farmingdale Ward!!!!! (my Augusta ward)  I was able to see so many people I had just said goodbye to and got lots of hugs.  The other good thing is that some of the members have friends from the Yarmouth Branch and took the time to introduce me to them. 

We did a lot of tracting this week, but not a lot of teaching.  

We had two meals with members.  This was different for me because we had gotten to know the members in Augusta so well that we were getting meals most nights during the week.  We are going to have to really work together and figure out we can best budget for meals because without meals with members, our tiny budget can go pretty quick.  One hard thing is that my companion doesn't really like leftovers which makes stretching the budget even harder.  From what I can tell, she has been having frozen pizza, pasta sides, sandwiches, cereal and yogurt.  I just don't think I can do that.  Don't worry, I will figure it out so I can make regular meals.

Oh, also, there isn't much to cook with in this kitchen.  I am going to have to get a couple pans and some utensils.  I will be able to get reimbursed for them and leave them here for future missionaries.  Luckily, there is a crockpot but I don't think it has been used in a very long time.

We found out that we will probably be getting Ipads in June.  Luckily, those who are leaving before the end of November don't have to pay the fee and we will just leave them with the mission when we go home.  Tender Mercy!!!

Oh, guess what. . .. . . . . I may have to sing at our zone conference next week.  They needed a musical number so my companion volunteered us to sing a duet.  If we sing, we will be singing "I Heard Him Come" A'Capella.  AHHHHHH!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I promise I didn't forget yours and Grandma Shauna's Birthdays.  It has been really crazy moving and going back for Stake Conference.  I feel so bad that I wasn't able to send a card.

Sister Bee's new companion came from Manchester.  She told me some of the members from the Manchester Ward told her to tell me hi and that they miss me.  It is amazing how much these wards start to feel like your family after serving with them for a few months.  I have been blessed to have been able to serve in both Manchester and Augusta for 6 months each.  I am hoping that my new branch becomes family and accepts me as quickly.

One thing I have realized is that often it is hard for me to notice if I have even done any real work.  I have to step back and look at the things I have done and see if I have served as the Savior would.  I have decided that when I am serving people with a true Christ-like love, it doesn't feel like work at all.  I do this things because I love my Savior and have developed a true love for the people in my mission.  

Love you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

The following maps were taken from google maps.  The first is the driveway to the branch she will now attend.  The second is the aerial view of the church building.  I love how it is hidden in a forest.