Hello from Virginia!!! :)
WOW!! This past week is FILLED with amazing new experiences!!! I don't even know where to begin!! I can't believe I'm out of Provo...out of the MTC!
Well, we left the MTC at 2:30am to drive over to the airport! (That was the fastest drive to Salt Lake that I've ever experienced!) We only got about an hour of sleep before that... I wasn't too tired until we boarded the plane! Luckily I got a little bit of sleep there. It was so fun flying with all the missionaries!! I did sit by a man who served a mission, but looked like he wasn't active in the gospel now. I hope he was able to remember how he felt being a missionary! He was nice! I also sat near a lady who asked me why we don't have cellphones! (She noticed all of us calling our families on the payphones) Because what teenager doesn't own a cellphone these days, right? It was my first experience telling a complete stranger what missionaries do! Kind of nerve-racking, but AMAZING! It is so cool to share my testimony and talk about Christ with everyone around me. Now that I'm OH SO experienced (wink wink), I wish I could go back and talk to that same lady --I would have so much more to say! ;) Anyway, after our layover in Minneapolis, we were on our last run to DC!! That time I sat next to missionaries. (There were 21 of us going to this mission!! And 4 more that came from the Mexico MTC!) Flying into the DC airport was AWESOME!! Seeing the Pentagon and all the other memorials from the sky was so cool!! (I also took an awesome picture from the plane.. I'll be sending it!) Then seeing President Riggs and his wife was the greatest feeling. He knew each of us by name and I knew that I was sent here so he could be my President! They are both so nice! We all got to have a mini tour of DC before driving to the President's home. It was so nice to have a dinner not made for thousands of missionaries. ;) That night the Sisters slept in a hotel! (Because there were so many of us) That was different! It was my last night having Sister Malufau as my sweet companion. I miss her! But my trainer is so wonderful! Sister Cordner from Pleasant Grove and Nephi Utah! She amazes me every day in all that we do!
Now that it's just us and the world, it is pretty weird! I'm used to being surrounded by teachers and other missionaries! But I love this so much!! We are SUPER busy all day everyday. We are covering TWO wards! Which is out of the ordinary around here. It's a LOT to remember and keep straight. Two wards means 2 Bishops, 2 Mission Leaders, twice the amount of members to work with, and twice the amount of dinners provided...which is a plus ;) But Sister Cordner has got it all under control! It's a good thing she was already covering these two wards before (but last time she was in a tri-panionship).
Anyway, I'm just rambling on... Yes life is super busy, but it is so good!! I love being so busy! It makes the days go so fast, and no room to think about anything besides the wonderful missionary work! I cannot tell you all how JOYFUL missionary work is!!! A couple days ago it was my first time knocking on doors! The people were so nice and one man from Saudi Arabia (there are people from ALL OVER here) was so excited and told us he'd call! :) That is quite the lucky first experience I think.. It has also been so amazing visiting all the less-active members and strong members. It is just so cool how I have nothing else to worry about besides these people! I can just talk to them and comfort them and not have to worry about getting homework done, or heading to school the next day, etc.
SUNDAY. Well! Two wards also means double ward council meetings and sacrament meetings! I was of course asked to pray for almost every meeting in classes, etc. I guess that's what happens when you're fresh! ;) I was also asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting for the Great Falls ward in two weeks!! Hahaha! It'll be great! It is a mission farewell. Also, it was so glorious to see a soon-to-be member in church!! He has been meeting with missionaries for over a year now, and is scheduled to be baptized on December 6! I hope everything goes well. He's been kind of hard, but looks like he's ready! :) Sister Cordner says that I'm a miracle! There has been so many people that haven't been home or have been busy, but since I've been here and met them at the door, they have been open! I just love being a missionary. I have never felt so much love for others!
Also, I cannot believe
Well, just some background on what I'm seeing over here in Virginia! This area is very rich, and almost everyone lives in a mansion, or city apartments! The houses are beautiful!! The Stake President (in the Great Falls ward as well) has a beautiful home where all of the missionaries in the stake had breakfast on Saturday! They are so nice! Sister Hall even had mini stockings with treats for all of us!)
There are TONS of trees here!!! The city area and big streets are filled with tall buildings and cars, but once you turn off of those roads, it feels like you are driving through the canyon! I can't wait for the spring when all the leaves come back! There are also tons of animals everywhere! Every morning I can hear the birds singing! --Literally singing! You can see deer and squirrels running through the trees everywhere too! And with lots of animals, trees, and roads.....you get lots of road-kill! Within 5 minutes, I saw a raccoon, deer, and three squirrels on the side or middle of the road..pretty sad. But it really is beautiful here ;)
To answer some of my mom's questions.. :)
1. No, I haven't gotten my package quite yet. It is still in the Mission Office, but I will be getting it tomorrow at our District Meeting.
2. I'm not quite sure why there were so many missionaries coming out at the same time.. But there were about 20 that left that day too! That was so cool to hear their testimonies at the Transfer Meeting! I wonder what I will be saying that day.
3. My address is 1444 Crowell Road Vienna, VA 22182. We live in a members' house!! Brother and Sister Davis (85 and 65 year olds) are the sweetest people!!! Brother Davis is a convert to the church and LOVES missionaries. Brother Davis is famous for his chocolate ice-cream sodas, and homemade biscuits!! (SO yummy!)
4. Sundays are pretty crazy! OH! And I saw the flyer with my picture on it!!!!! Hahahah!!! I took a picture with it :)
5. One of the many funny stories include:
We met with a non-member Ms. Murray last week. Her son is a convert and has schizophrenia. They are Hispanic, and Ms. Murray is about 4'6"! Very tiny, sweet older lady. :) She just talks and talks and talks and loves to go on about how God gives her everything she asks for (even two new cars!) :) She has amazing faith! She is a faithful Catholic, and is verrrry slowly but surely coming around...hopefully. Anyway, the funniest thing is that she says things and it makes me think of Nacho Libre!! Ha!! Sister C and I just can't help but giggle when she's talking, and while her son is chatting away at the same time. But anyway, there are so many funny people that we talk to. It's interesting to see what people tell missionaries! They tell us EVERYTHING :)
6. For Thanksgiving we are going to eat with some members in their home. They are so nice!
7. My straightener is working great! No need for a new one! :D
8. I don't have anything on my Christmas list... haha! I really have everything I need and want! If I think of anything, I'll let you know. Thank you so much! :)
I cannot believe Kale might have broken his wrist!! I hope he gets better for basketball! And how cool is meeting and hearing Elder D. Todd Christofferson at our stake fireside!!! That must have been amazing!
Well, I just want to tell you all that being a missionary is definitely the most amazing thing I've ever been!! Yes, I am very tired, but doing this work is so exhilarating! I would encourage all of you to look at everyone around you and see how you can help. Think of someone who just needs someone to listen to, or who could use a kind note :) Because there aren't as many members here in VA, the members in the wards are AMAZING at all they do for their neighbors! Sister Parker in the ward goes around walking each day and has found countless people to share the gospel with. The members help find people for us to teach all the time. Last week we also got to meet a lady from Latvia! She is an older lady and is living alone now. Her husband passed away and didn't have children. Sister Parker is her close friend and invited us to come visit her. We helped her fix some light-bulbs and talked with her. She gave us some Danish cookies and we were able to pray with her. She was very hesitant and didn't want to at first, but we did it! She even got emotional --which she told us was because she missed her husband. I could feel the Spirit there and I know she felt it too. I just find so much joy in sharing the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and how much Heavenly Father truly does love each of us individually.
I cannot wait to see the future unfold!
I want each of you to know that God, our loving Heavenly Father knows you. He loves you! We are His children! Children of God. In Romans 8:17 it says, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." How amazing! We are truly heirs of God and we can be joint-heirs with Christ by suffering with Him. Think about what that means to you. How can you suffer with Christ that you may be glorified with Him? I know that by relying on Him and utilizing the Atonement daily, we will each be glorified infinitely!
I love each of you so much! Thank you for all of your love and support. I feel it!
Love,
Sister Winterton ♥
P.S. Wish me and Sister C luck tonight as we teach a member of the Seventy! (He's a member in our ward! --We teach member lessons daily!) I'm excited! It is Elder and Sister Gerard. :)
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