Another Week in Paradise

Hello Everybody, it is Sister Dalley from paradise. Sorry, I hear you all have a whole bunch of snow. That sounds like fun, I am so happy for you but I am not jealous. I am so happy to be where I am and I am so happy to be warm.

This week was great.This week was crazy. We have had a lot of fun experiences and a lot of really great experiences as well.

After I emailed on Monday we went to play volleyball. I am in a YSA ward and we get to go to FHE, so it is really great. I get to be with a whole bunch of people my age and so FHE is awesome. My goodness, I love California, holy cow.

Tuesday:

We always start the morning with a morning run. I love it. I get to go see the ocean. Then we get ready and do morning studies and because I am new I get to do all the training paperwork stuff which is so fun.

We had a district meeting on Monday. I love my district. We all get along together really great. We all talked about our areas and what we can do better and role played. I am not a fan of role playing but I do it anyway because it will help me be a better teacher and a better missionary. We got to set up facebook and I am not really a facebooker. We will see how this goes, I will figure it out. Now that we are all tech we can prepare people all over the world to hear the missionaries and the gospel.

We went and contacted a bunch of people and we taught a girl, Jocelyn who is a recent convert. We had a recent convert follow up lesson. She is awesome and has such a powerful testimony. Though I didn’t get to teach her and haven’t really known her very long, I just love her, she is amazing.

We contact a lot because we have one investigator and not many people to teach. We talk to a bunch of different people with a bunch of different backgrounds. I love it. I get to hear about everyone’s view on religion and their beliefs and lives and it is so cool. It is just interesting to see their different stories.

We finally finished our area book which is great because we are now all technology and no paperwork.

Wednesday:

I went on exchanges with Sister Cam Richey, many of you know her. We went to highschool together. She was a senior when I was a sophomore (she is Jake’s age). Her little brother is Beau Richey who I knew in high school. He was the “Be Happi” “Live like Beau” and “Make Jesus Christ the center of your life” guy and many of you know his story. It was so cool, we got to talk a lot about who we knew and how we knew them. We got to talk a lot about Beau. She was super happy and positive. She was just like, “Sister Dalley you need to be more confident. You need to share Jesus Christ and you need to share the gospel just by being you.” She was super crazy and fun. Oh man, I just love being a missionary.

We got to meet a lot of really cool people. We went to a lady who is not really active. She opened the door and said, “Oh my goodness I was just feeling so stressed and worried.” She sat us down for an hour and talked our ears off. Then she gave a big sigh and said, “Thank you for listening. I have a question, what happens to us after we die?” I opened Alma 40 and talked about death. We invited her back to church. I love how Heavenly Father is watching out for her and that we were in tune and knew to go talk to her and make sure she is doing alright.

They have an investigator, Daria who is so prepared and so awesome. She is one of the elect. I helped Sister Richey teach that lesson and we were able to get her on date for baptism. I love this, holy cow, I love this.

Thursday:

We had a lesson or more of a chatty with a less active member, Lauren. Then we had a recent convert lesson with Shay. Shay is so cool. Sister Henrie taught her and  helped her reach baptism. Shay just walked into the church and everyone thought she was a member but she was like “nope, I am just visiting.”  She wanted to teach the lessons and she was baptized a month ago.

We do a lot of contacting and we call a whole bunch of people. We had a dinner with the Imans. Members like to feed us meat so to be polite guess who gets to eat meat. :) I gave the discussion on what Jake taught me in Alma 5 because I absolutely love that. I love how we can all reach this level of testimony. We look at Alma as this amazing man in the Book of Mormon. As Jake taught, yes he did see visions and his father was the prophet but he gained his testimony by fasting and praying just like we can.

Sunday:

Our investigator Caroline came to church. Afterward she said it was kind of long but it all seems right. She believes it but it’s gonna take a while. I have a new niece and nephew because we went to the Bishop’s house for dinner and his grandkids were there and asked us if they could call us their Aunts.

Today P-day:

We got to go fishing on the pier this morning. The hardest thing about missionary work is not being able to get in the water.

I just love you and love getting your emails. I absolutely love getting pictures. Love you so much I absolutely love being a missionary! Hope you have a great week.

Ocean Air

Hello, it is me Sister Dalley. I am here safe and sound in California!! Holy Cow!

Monday was a goodbye dinner with our district and the Elders gave everyone blessings and we had a mini testimony meeting.

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Tuesday was filled with packing and really tearful goodbyes. Then we had to say goodbye to the MTC.  We got on a bus that took us to the frontrunner. We rode the train with all our luggage and then we rode the shuttle to the airport. It was crazy, there were a lot of us - like 50 missionaries and we all had all these bags. We got off the shuttle and went to the airport and I got to talk to my family. So, that was fun. I loved talking to all of you it was super fun. It was super weird because it felt like I haven’t been gone that long but at the same time I feel like I have been a missionary forever.

Then I got to fly! I got to fly and I love it! I don’t know why I haven't done that before. There was this sister who I hadn’t met before who was sitting next to and so I said, “OK am kind of scared, I have never flown before.” She was like, “Oh, I will help you through it.”  It was the best thing ever! I absolutely loved it and it was amazing!

Once we got to the airport I got to meet our mission president, President Thomas and his wife Sister Thomas. We walked out of the airport and I was hit with this warm fresh air that smelled like the sea and it was amazing and I was like “Oh Ya! oh ya, I am all about this.”

We went to the mission home and did paper work and then I got to meet my companion, Sister Henry who is awesome. She is amazing and I absolutely love her.

I am in the Carlsbad YSA ward which means we cover the entire stake in Carlsbad. Wednesday morning when we woke up we went on a run and came up over a hill and there was the beautiful ocean. I just like freaked out because I love the ocean. I was so happy. We run to the ocean most days.

My days generally are filled with studying and training and contacting that I call stalking. We just go up to any random person on the street and talk about religion and the Book of Mormon. Just doing missionary work. Also, because we are a new technology mission, we do area book where we sit and put all the people into the system. We do that a lot.

Thursday we went to a training meeting where Sister Henry learned how to train me and I learned how to be trained. We set goals and my goal was to be more bold. I struggle a little because I think “why would do that? it is so weird.” Then I am like “why wouldn’t I do it? they are my brothers and sisters why wouldn’t I want them to have what I have.” Then we did more contacting. Lots and lots of it.

On Friday during personal study and I was reading my father’s blessing that Daddy gave me right before I went into the MTC. I had just talked to Sister Henry about being more bold and  confident. Then I read the blessing where Dad said “Be bold, speak up. Just because you are new and a junior companion doesn’t mean you should wait. Say what the spirit asks you to say.” I found that as a little miracle / tender mercy and know the priesthood is real. Heavenly Father knows me and is aware of me. It is crazy how much we do in a day.

For dinner we went and had a mini picnic for dinner. We went to a park and I asked Sister Henry if we could swing on the swings. She laughed at me but I guess I am a little kid at heart. We did more contacting because we don’t have any investigators. We went to clean the church. I usually clean the church in sweats and a t-shirt but we got to clean it in dresses.

Then Saturday! We were looking forward to Saturday all week. After studies and planning we got to go to a special meeting and got to hear Brother Davis, Elder Whiting and Elder Clayton of the seventy, and Elder Uchtdorf! We all got to shake his hand and he looked at me and said, “Thank you for your service, precious sister.” I have pages and pages of notes I wrote. It was awesome. He told us a lot about Chapter 3 The Gospel of Jesus Christ. He encouraged us to have its content in our minds and heart. It is what we take to the investigators so we have to live it. When he was walking away he was waving and then did this hang loose sign. We all laughed. He really is an apostle, called of God and a special witness of Jesus Christ.

Sunday, we went to ward council and even though I did not know about anyone they were discussing it helped me get to know our ward a little. Church was fun, kind of strange because everyone is my age. After church we had a linger longer where we frosted cookies. It was fun. Then we went contacting again. Yea!

Something Sister Henry and I do everywhere we go is look for miracles. So, we basically get out of the car and say, “ok where is the miracle here?” We basically say, “We trust you and we know you want your work to go forth.” It is awesome because when we look for miracles - we see them, our eyes are open to them.

Today we got up super early and went on a zone hike up a volcano. Then we are going shopping and doing emails.

Say Hi to everyone for me and send my love.

See ya!

   

Carlsbad YSA Missionary, Sister Henrie and Elder Uchtdorf

Hello hello!

I've been doing good and I am here safe and sound in California! I am in the Carlsbad YSA mission area and I love it here! My companion’s name is sister Henrie and she is awesome! She is from Idaho and has been out a year:) It's really warm and we run to the beach every morning! Tell Hannah not to get too jealous:) it has been a crazy week full of tons of stuff! I don't even know where to begin!

I love hearing that about Hannah that she's doing lifeguarding and learning how to teach swim lessons! That's awesome! I'm glad she'll be doing that! Patience has never been her best quality but I'm sure she'll do great! I love that she had a soccer tournament in Arizona that's awesome! That's where half my MTC district went and I love hearing that! Of course she's killing it there! She always does!:)

Oh please send me pictures of baby bump I want to see! I'd love to see ultrasound pictures! That would be nice to get to know my little nephew now!:)

We don't really have any investigators right now... but we practice teaching to each other a lot! We also practice teaching to a stuffed animal rat and a ghost and we named them Tim and Allie:) so I guess that's kind of funny haha:):) We have done a lot of contacting for the most part and it’s super cool to see and hear other's experiences and points of view on religion:) I never realized how many people were not LDS! I guess that comes from living in Alpine, Utah though…

We got to meet Elder Uchtdoft and hear him speak which was amazing!

I Gotta run!

Loves!

Picnic Dinner

Sister jo:)

Newbies

Elder Uchtodorf and Elder Clayton - Saturday Mission Conference

My Family Tree - I am the baby, my trainer and her trainer

A friend told me to be sure to go to Cessy's - I came the first week - Yummy!

Goodbye, Jeffrey!

Traveling Missionaries

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Last Photo together for 18 Months - Love for Sister Romney and Sister Terry!

California Here I Come

Hello!

I made it! I absolutely loved talking to you all today! Sorry to Cami! I tried calling... but I loved talking to all of y'all! Thank you for your love and support! 

I am doing well and loving it already! I actually get my comp tonight and find out where I'm going! :):) 

Much love!

Sister Jos Dalley

See ya later MTC - It's been Good!

So first things first:)

I will be calling tomorrow from the airport:) I should be calling between 12 and 2 sometime:)) So if you are getting a call in between that time from a random number... it's probably me:))

okok 

So, my week:))

Tuesday after I emailed: we got to go to the temple! I love the joy the peace and the love that I feel there! I am sad I wont be able to go as much now that im going to the field:( but, I will try and remember the feeling that it brings being in the house of the Lord:). We have been having fun as well as learning:). We ended up making MTC crib videos where we all showed the "viewers" around the residence room.

Thank you for teaching me how to sew! I already have sewed buttons on suit coats for the Elders and fixed up some things for me and the Sisters! It came in handy so thank you! 

We also have a starfish named Jeffery "living" in our trash can filled with water:)). He actually is just one of those growing things that you leave in the water and it expands but we love him anyway and we read him scriptures and give him the discussions:)). Gotta love Jeffery:)).

Wednesday: All the new missionaries got here this day! It was so fun to see friends! I saw Eliza Terry, Chad Davies, Nickmo, Hubert Kim, and Emma Austin:)) So so much fun!

Elder Nickmo and Elder Hubert Kim are actually in my zone so I see them a lot and I love it!

TRC's are hard but I love them:)). We have so many cool experiences and we end up loving the people that we just met:)). I love feeling God's love for everyone:)).

Thursday: Actually, I have an embarrassing story... yaaa... so it was early in the morning and we were going to go get breakfast and I saw Elder Nick Mortenson across the courtyard and ended up yelling NICKMO! Needless to say that is probably not something to yell in the MTC... oops... we had a laugh about it though! The rest of the day was dumb... I ended up throwing up... and so because of that I was required to go to the sick room and to stay there all day. They drew blood and did some tests just to make sure I was okay hha:) but it was loserly:(. I did not like staying in all day. I'm good now and not a sicky:).

Elder Hill and Elder Johnson ended up giving me a priesthood blessing:) which helped me feel much better.

Friday: I had to go for a check up in the doc office:( blah and then he made me go and get meds from the BYU health clinic so I got to leave MTC campus which was so weird! We kept joking about feeling the sin and the worldliness ... it was funny:) The rest of the day was just filled with classes and service:).

Saturday: we had chair races where we raced around our room on our wheeled chairs! That was so fun! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PACKAGES! My district loved them and all say that you are amazing humans:))! Thank you thank you:) and the people who hardly get anything loved them :)). It made me happy:)! Thank you tons!

Sunday: Me and sister green taught Relief society:)). We taught about the great apostasy and the restoration:)). We had a departing devotional and then church movie night:)). Woot woot:))!

I am so happy here:)!

I love you lots and lots:)) 

Missing you ... send pics! I love seeing them!

Love,

 Sister Josie Dalley

MTC Week 2

Has it been a week already?! hha Things here are flying by  but they also feel like they have been inching along! I have no idea how that’s possible... hha but it is:)) I love it here and love everyone I meet:))

I leave to the airport at 9:50 am on the 13th and my flight takes off at 3:))

I get the saying "oh my goodness Sister Dalley you are so loved:) so thank you for loving me and sending me lots of dear elders and packages:)) Speaking of which:) thank you for the cute valentine February goodie bags:) All the sisters loved them:)!  I tried blowing up the balloon and it ended up popping in my face:) it made for a funny laugh though!

So my week was filled with classes and workshops and TRC's (which is where we teach someone and we don’t know them:). It’s a really cool learning experience:))

They don’t have soccer here for exercise which is a bumma hha but I have grown to like volleyball:)). It is so much fun:)) I have also been able to see Sage and Kenna and Brody and Missy and Adam and Rachel so basically it’s just a mini lone peak here:)) which is so fun:)).

Sooo ... a funny ... one of my sisters in my district wanted to go to counseling so I went with her:). I was in there waiting for her and then they were like “Sister Dalley it’s your turn.” I was like “what ?” So I go into this room and it’s the whole deal like a big comfy chair and tissues and the whole shazam. I sit down and she is just talking to me lol and she says, “Wait, so why do you need counseling?” I say, “Umm I didn’t think i did hha.” It was so funny because she was super confused. We laughed.

My amazing STLs are leaving us... makes me sad:((

Holy cow this is hard:) but hey it wouldn’t be called missionary WORK if it wasn’t hard:). I love it:)! I love it so much and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else:)

My favorite things I have learned about being a missionary are iit use to feel like a job being a missionary, but now it’s my joy:)) and nothing is a burden when you love people:):) I also love something that someone said :)) They said that we are called to a people not a place:) I love this because even though I am so happy I will be going to California, I will be there for the people, not to say that I went on a mission somewhere cool, it’s to say I went on a mission and I served the people:)

I have drawn a lot of strength from Alma chapter 26 this week:) because this week has been a hard one:) I’m still happy and still seeing blessings and love in my life:) I especially verses 3, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 27, 30, 36, and 37.  I love this:) it is a comfort to me as a new missionary:)! As I walk in unfamiliar places, he is aware of me. As I struggle and have my own afflictions, I can have God with me helping me, comforting me. I am so happy here:))

Yes we go to the temple:)) I forgot to tell you that I saw Eliza Terry last week when we went to the temple:)) such a tender blessing:)

Well I loves you:))

Love you tons! Think of you lots! Pray for you always!

Love Sister Josie Dalley