Transfers (#9)

Well, transfers have come and gone...again. And what a week. #somanymiracles . Sister Vonnie Anderson is my new companion. She has been out for almost 8 months and is 20 years old. She is from good ole Tennessee and is the youngest of 5 girls. She is amazing! I love her! She is quiet but is an amazing and hardworking missionaries. We saw so many miracles and are going to baptize our whole area! Ha-ha! 

One of the miracles we had was pretty cool. We OYM'd these guys. Their names were Zach, and Zach. One was a member, the other was not. And so we got talking to them and we think that the member one was a little LA (less active) cause he said that the elders have been stopping by (He's in the singles ward.) and the nonmember one has been to church and is familiar with the church. So of course we had to share a message. And #MiracleMemberPresentLesson 

So I am going to start ponderizing again. I need to be better about that. but this week its Jacob 4:7 "nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace and His great condescension unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things." 

I have gained such a strong testimony of the Savior and of His Atonement. I am so grateful for His love and His grace and His mercy towards us. I love this gospel. I will always share the gospel for the rest of my life. I cannot go back to who I was. I cannot go back to living the way I was before. Because of my mission, I am forever changed. I will always share my testimony from here on out. Because I am happiest when I share it. 

Love you all forever! 

Smile, be happy, have joy! 

-- 

-Sister Anna Haymond

Baptisms, Transfers, and Investigators

Hey everyone! What a crazy week. The anticipation for transfers was crazy. So I’ll just cut to the chase, Sister Rasmusen is being transferred! :( I am super sad but I think we both saw it coming. So I will have a new companion! What the heck! That means that for most of my mission, I will only have had a companion for the longest of 2 transfers! ... I don't know if that means I am a bad companion or I am just too good ;) ha-ha! 

But the way transfer calls came in was we had all gone to bed...and it was ELEVEN THIRTY and they called our phone and because we all sleep in the same room and I am on one of the bottom bunks, so I had to answer it and I was SOOOO out of it, the sisters had to yell at me to wake me up to answer it and when I did, I was just like "Hello?"

ZL Elder Brewer said: "Hey did we wake you up? ...  Hello?  ... Are you all there?"

(I guess I wasn't responding... I don't know I was in between sleep and awake...)

"Yes we are all here"

"Transfer calls are in... Elders Bright, Hurst, Brewer, and Sisters Rasmusen and Drummond"

(I was shocked and it didn’t really settle in...)So I asked "say that again?"

He repeated and I then said "ok thanks bye." 

So yep. Moral of the story, missionaries are not supposed to be on the phone after 10:30pm because it will be dumb.

Kate was BAPTIZED!!! I am so proud of her and I love her so much! I know that the atonement can make us feel skinny! It makes so much sense! Kate, you are amazing and I love you and miss you! Keep smiling and keep being awesome! 

This week we were able to receive 2 more new investigators! One of the new gators we picked up was a member referral, her name is Kelly and she is the mother of 2 teenagers. She has read the entire Book of Mormon, and "Our Search for Happiness" and is working on another book. She grew up Polish Catholic and is really searching for happiness and peace in life and said that she would be baptized if she got an answer to her prayers that this is the true church and that the Book of Mormon is true! So we are super excited about that!  

Our other gator is Camille, she is married to a LA member, Jason. They recently started doing FHE and reading Gordon B. Hinckley’s book "stand a little taller" every day. So they had us over for dinner last Monday and we taught the Restoration, she said that she believes that Joseph Smith could have seen the First Vision and was most definitely feeling the spirit. So that’s cool! 

Another we are working with but she is not technically an investigator yet, is Anna, Scott Wixom’s girlfriend. She is super sweet and will come to church with him and will let us share spiritual thoughts with them... so hopefully she and her son will be baptized and they will be an eternal family! :) 

Anyways... I am super excited to tell you everything that happens with transfers and the boundary changes! Love you all! 

--LOVE!!! 

-Sister Anna Haymond

We Thank Thee Oh God For A Prophet!

General Conference was... wow... AMAZING.  I am so grateful to be able to listen to the words of the living prophets and apostles and other disciples called by God. Just a few highlights: 

     1.) Saturday afternoon session: Our Mission President, K. Brett Nattress, was sustained and ordained as a member of the 1st quorum of the 70... *GASP* <---that's what it sounded like in the cultural hall full of missionaries... so that happened... He is going to finish out his mission here (until July) and then will move on to bigger and better things. 

     2.) Saturday afternoon session: BYU-I CHOIR!!!!! With a RM from this mission who I knew and we saw him in the choir like 5 times. Also the choir director Sister Ashby was my choir director while I was there! So that was legit! :) 

     3.) 418 missions. 150 operating temples. Some 15 million members and a lot of missionaries and a lot of converts. 500 of which are here in Gilbert, AZ. 

     4.) 3 best talks (as ranked by Sister Haymond): Thomas S. Monson. Hands down #1. M. Russell Ballard #2.  Jeffrey R. Holland #3. 

          -Thomas S Monson: "The choices we make determine our destiny." "Choose the hard right vs. the easy wrong."

          -M. Russell Ballard: "Council with the Lord in all thy doings" Alma 37:37 and council with your family. 4 types of councils. The Apostolic promise: we will be more successful and happy as we spend quality time and council together as a family.   

          -Jeffrey R. Holland: "Do you have any idea, do you have any notion or incline whatsoever, of how much we love you?" we all have to come down from spiritual highs. Love God with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, [1st commandment] because God loves you with all his heart, might, mind, and strength. [1st truth.] Moses 1:39

     5.) Most of my question and concerns were answered. And I have the faith that they will be answered as I study the talks in greater depth. 

I hope you all enjoyed conference as well. 

Kate, Happy birthday my sweet heart. I love you! I miss you! I am sending your gift in the mail as soon as I get the chance. Please know that this is a vital time in your life. You have the opportunity to be baptized. Don't miss that opportunity! Don't delay it for anything in the world! You are a strong spirit daughter of our Heavenly Father who loves you! You are worth more than all of the treasures of the earth to him. Have a happy birthday! I love you!

Other than that, this week has been really good. I am so grateful for my Compeniero Sister Razzy. She makes me laugh so much... Last night we were going to visit this active member family and they are both RMs... But every time we pull up I swear they always see us through the front window (cause usually we are on our bikes and park on the porch). But this time we were in our car and they still saw us and we start like freaking out and we are trying to be reverent and pray before we go in but... you know how when you get in those situations where it is SO inappropriate to laugh but you just cannot stop laughing???? it was one of those situations and we just literally were laughing for 5 min before we went and knocked on the door and by the time we get to the door I’m like crying cause I’m laughing so hard... anyways... it was just really dumb but hilarious. We have a lot of those moments... but that is the same family that sent the video so it was awesome :) 

Oh ya! On Wednesday we received a cool referral! Apparently she has read the whole book of Mormon and wants to meet with us but we didn't get her address, just her phone number so it’s hard to get in contact with her... but seriously family, give the missionaries Referrals because there are always miracles and you never know who is ready! 

That's all folks. I just want to let you know how much I love you and adore you and am so happy that you are all safe and well and happy! Keep being awesome! I love you forever!

-- 

-Sister Anna Haymond

#HALLELUJAH (praise God) The Atonement Is Everything.‏

  This is one of the times of year that I love most. Everything that was dead, is now rising again into new life. I am always amazed about how much it reminds me of the atonement and resurrection.  We all too go through times in our life where we may feel spiritually "dead". But, through the atonement, we can all be revived and resurrected. Our hearts can be softened and we can be new. "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 cor. 15:22) and even though there is death, and sickness and pain, it can all be made right in Christ. This is my simple testimony this Easter season.

     So I have decided that this is the toughest area I have been in on my mission. And I think that is due to the fact that I get "Anti-ed" more here than I have anywhere. And it’s so hard because I just want to tell them like "you don't even know! You haven't even read the book of Mormon! You can’t tell me what I believe! Take it back! Just stop!" or whatever... but all we do is look people in the eye, smile, and testify. Everyone has opinions, but not everyone has a testimony. A testimony is more powerful than an opinion. We, as members of this church will all face adversity. Why? Cause it’s the true church!  That’s why!!! If Satan knows it’s true, which he does, he’s going to do everything in his power to tear us down and make us doubt our faith. But if we build our faith on Christ and his gospel, we CANNOT fall. 

     If you find that you are struggling in your testimony, you need some spiritual CRP. Church, Pray, Read. These are the fundamentals. Going to church, Praying every day and night. And Reading the scriptures every day. With real intent, and faith in Christ. I know that as you do these 3 fundamentals, you will be blessed with stronger faith and a firm testimony.

     My mission is going good. I am coming up on my 11 month mark... woooo...*Sarcasm* haha :) but I just want to say thank you for all the Easter things. I love the book and the PJ pants. :) 

This week was good. We moved houses. Just a street over. Our new address is 3274 e. Patrick St. Gilbert, AZ 85295. Thank you! And no pictures this week :( sorry. I’ll send some of the new house next week. (BTW it’s BEAUTIFUL. like amazing.)

I love you all! 

Happy Birthday to Me!

So, because I am a real person and because I have feelings, I am going to share some feelings with you all right now. 

I never get trunky. EVER. 

But on my birthday, all I wanted to do was be home with my family. With the ones that I know and love. It was hard. I didn't think it would be that hard, but it was a little like Christmas. I just struggled. And that day we didn't have very many appointments to keep us busy. So that was hard too. BUT! The work of the Lord will go forward. And the atonement is real. Even if you just need to cry to Heavenly Father and say, this is hard, I need your help, and I need your strength... He is there. And he WILL NOT leave you comfortless. He knows us. He knows you. So let him in. And he can take away the pain. I promise you that because I know it and I have experienced it this week.  

That’s all. 

But I just want to thank everyone who wished me a happy birthday and thank you to my awesome ward members who sent pictures to my family. Thank you thank you thank you! 

This week like I said was pretty normal. (Besides the Mesa Easter Pageant, which was INCREDIBLE.) My comp and I continue to grow closer each day. We both struggle with depression a little bit and we both just struggle with a lot of the same things and so we are able to support and encourage one another through our hardships. A mission is hard enough as it is and you don't need your comp to be hard too so just be their friend. That is my advice to all you future missionaries. Be your comps BFF. That's what sister Rasmusen is to me. She loves and supports and encourages and serves me and I do my best to do the same. It’s awesome. 

Anyways... I love you all. You are all amazing. Never forget who you are or what you stand for. 

 

John 3:16

--With LOVE, 

-Sister Anna Haymond

Mesa Temple Easter Pagent

Birthday Decorations!

Sudden Sunday Service

Hey Family! I loved your emails this week! They really uplifted and strengthened me. Thank you for all that you do to support and love me. I love you! I can never say it enough! 

Dad: I am glad that you are done with busy season. I am so grateful that you made it through that trial just as you always have in the past. I knew you could do it. And thank you for that quote: "the Lord qualifies whom he calls." I love that. 

Mom: That's so fun about the primary class! I can’t wait to come home to a fixed up house! It will be so fun! And it seems like everyone here is putting in dark floors too. It must be "a thing". But yes I am a Sister Training Leader and I had to be sufficiently humble before I received the call... It’s actually a funny story...

-I had always looked up to my STL's and always wanted to be one... But my desire at first was a little prideful. I almost wanted it for the recognition. But the night before the call came I was pretty disappointed that I had not received a call yet. So I told Heavenly Father what I was feeling and I went to bed that night feeling relieved of a burden I didn't know I was carrying. Then the next morning, 45 minutes into personal studies, I still had not received a call, but this time my mindset was, I want to bless the lives of the sisters I am around, weather I am an STL or not... and that's when the call came from President Nattress, that he had put much prayer and consideration into me being an STL and that I was to teach my sisters love, perfect obedience, and hard work. But most of all to help them understand who they are as a daughter of God. And I thought, "ya I can do that" :) so, always be Humble, submissive, and teachable. That’s when the blessings come. I have been so richly blessed by my sisters. I am so grateful for them. I love them :) 

So Gabby's Baptism was wonderful! There were a lot of non-members there. Her dad, her grandma (Roxanne's mom who is southern Baptist...), and one of Roxanne's friends. So it was great :) Gabby was just the purest thing... she was a little nervous, probably stage fright, and so was Paul, who was baptizing her. But when she came up out of the water she just had this laugh of pure joy. She hugged Paul and it was just the sweetest thing I ever did see. :) 

Then of course she was confirmed in sacrament meeting the following day and now we keep teasing Cameron, Roxanne's 13 yr. old son that he needs to get baptized and he probably will :) so that's cool. 

Then I want to explain the sudden Sunday service thing... so I told you about Scott Wixom. Well, he is moving in with his girlfriend, Anna, and her son, Jonah. And so we stopped by to check on them and to see if we could do anything to help. And he was moving literally across the street and so we helped them carry boxes over and stuff and they were just super grateful and it definitely softened their hearts. So that’s good :) and the other night we gave Jonah a Book of Mormon and he said he would start to read and pray about it! Woo! They are so awesome and I just feel this immense love for them and for all the people I get to work with. It’s awesome. 

Other than that, nothing really happened. Just a good ole normal week in the field. 

I love y'all. Let me know if you need anything from me. Peace out.

Sister Haymond

Gabby's baptism 

"ASK and ye shall RECEIVE"

What a huge miracle this week. I cannot contain it any longer. 

So you know how Gabriel Lyons (her mom and step dad were just baptized...) had to get permission from her dad to get baptized? I mean this girl is like, GOLDEN. So of course we have been praying and fasting for her and for her dad's heart to be softened... well... HE SAID YES!  She is getting baptized this Saturday! How awesome!!! We are so excited!!! I know and can testify that God, our loving Heavenly Father, hears and answers prayers. If we but ASK in faith, we will RECEIVE! I know it! Joseph Smith had an experience with this verse that changed the world! I am so grateful to have the scriptures and to have the fullness of the everlasting gospel. It is true. Always has been, and always will be. 

{ Dad: thank you for sharing that experience and no I was not on exchanges... that is my companion, sister Rasmusen. who is basically my BFF and we both begged president to keep us together this transfer... and he did! }

{Mom: your week sounded good! I am so glad you got to go to the open house! I have seen so many pictures and videos to about it and I do remember going there and I LOVED IT. I am for sure so glad to know that even when things seem bad, something even greater can come of it. Just like the refiner’s fire. Sometimes we have to be melted down and purified and purged before we can become new. I actually shared that scripture/story with a super inactive family, after he told us that that's what he does is he refines silver, and he gave me and my comp an OZ of silver each. (Which is about 15$ worth now) it was pretty cool and they were pretty impressed that I could whip that up :) ha-ha but I love the pictures! Send more!!! Also I have no idea how you could send cake but I think I just prefer vanilla ... or chocolate... those are both good :) ha-ha}

Well everyone, my week was pretty good. We had some pretty sweet miracles. (See above :) 

Other than that, we had transfers and I didn't get transferred! So that's awesome! 

ALSO: This is the ONLY area on my mission that I have stayed for a converts baptism and confirmation, and seen them get the priesthood, temple recommends, and callings. Yes, Paul was ordained a priest in the Aaronic priesthood and he has matured and grown so much. And they both got their temple recommends and they both were called as ward missionaries and Roxanne got another calling as a RS committee chair member! So AWESOME!

Last Night, before that picture was sent, we had a lesson in a members home with one of his coworkers who has been asking questions about the church and one of her main concerns was "can I wear this tankini to that party? is it appropriate" and "so you can have caffeine but you can have chocolate???" and we laughed and we had a good time and we answered her concerns by building her faith in that there is a latter day prophet and that they receive revelation for us just as prophets of old. That Joseph Smith was called by God to restore or bring back the church of Jesus Christ. And she FELT THE SPIRIT. She said she felt so "warm" in her heart and that she just felt that it was right. And so guess what... we committed her to baptism. And she said YES.  

Ask and ye shall receive. 

Too bad she doesn't even live in our area!!!! But that's ok! Because the missionaries in her area now have a golden referral. 

But this is not all missionary work is... missionary work is as simple as an invitation... bringing up the gospel and tying it back to a normal conversation. For example: "what did you do over the weekend?" "Well, we took the kids down to go through the new temple on Friday and then had some soccer games on Saturday, and then we went to church on Sunday. Would you like to come with us next week?" "Ya sure I've never been to an LDS service before thanks!" OR "no that's ok I’m actually leaving to go out of town next week but maybe another time..." See??? Missionary work is easy. EASY!  And if you are not wearing a name tag on your chest, now is the time to paint one on your heart. (Some Apostle said that and I cannot remember who...) But anyways... the point is, we are all missionaries. That is part of our baptismal covenant. "To stand as a witness of God. At all times, and in all things, and in all places." 

I love you all so much! You are all amazing sons and daughters of the most high God. He loves you. 

Have a wonderful week! See miracles! Baptize nations! 

I love you, I love you, I LOVE YOUUUU! ;)