I love these people and I love being a missionary! I don't know why, but I am so blessed!

Hello Family!

It has been another great week here! I love the people here, and Sister Skanchy and I are having such a great time! The members in the ward are amazing! We basically never go tracting because we find almost everyone through referrals! I am so thankful, because it is pretty darn cold outside right now :)

One of those referrals that we contacted yesterday, Harry, was SO elect. Completely golden. He is getting some treatment at the hospital today, and he told us he would have the Book of Mormon read in 2 weeks while he recovers. And then he set up his own return appointment and told us not to forget three times. It was a complete role reversal in the best way possible!  We're so excited to teach him! 

We just have taught so many amazing people this week! It is such a thrilling, put-you-on-the-edge-of your-seat anxiety producing, joyful, satisfying experience being a missionary. I want these people to accept the truth so badly! Peter is searching so much, he just needs to read and pray! And Kathy knows it's true, she just needs to overcome her fear of change! And Lindsey's Heavenly Father is waiting for her to pray and ask how He feels about her! I love these people and I love being a missionary! I don't know why, but I am so blessed!

So there are a lot more Hispanic people here than there was in WV, and I wish I knew Spanish! It would make things so much easier! I think it will be one of my life goals to learn it. And I know the subject to this email is making you wonder, so yes, I did eat cow tongue this week. One of the cute Hispanic families in the ward fed us cow tongue tacos (there is some sort of fancy Hispanic name for that, but I can't remember it) last night. It tasted like hamburger...but with a different texture.  

Last PDay we went and visited the newspaper with some other Sisters. It was super fun, and an awesome view of the valley. Here's some pictures. 

Sister Skanchy and I also went to a conference with President this week at the mission home, and it was such a cool experience! I love the Salisbury's, and how dedicated to the gospel they are! We also got to have a sleep over with the Forest V. sisters the night before, because they rode with us up to the mission conference! Sister Tafea is in the companionship, and it was so fun to see her! I hadn't seen her since we first got here7  months ago, so it was awesome!

All in all, I think that is about it! Love you all, and I'll pray for you!

Sister Ward

I love Him, and I know that as I've spent my Sabbaths with Him, my life has been so blessed!

Hey Hey Hey!!!

So I've been in my area for 4 days now, and it is an awesome area. I feel like I've come back to America! I will miss dear old West Virginny, but I am so excited for the work to accomplish here!

My new companion is Sister Skanchy! (scan-chi) I'm just barely getting it down after 3 days... She is from Sandy, Utah, and super awesome! She has been in the area for a few months now, so she knows it well. My favorite thing about her so far is that she is super great at using the scriptures as she teaches. It's motivating me to really start remembering the references of scriptures to share with people. Or at least tab them. :) She is also super nice and loving. I love her already! She's been out on her mission for 9 months now. She also went to BYU for a year before coming out, and so we've probably seen each other in passing before. 

Also there is now another Sister Ward in the WVCM!!  And her first name is Savannah. She came in this transfer, and Sister Burt and I were hoping she would train her in Cross Lanes. That didn't happen, unfortunately, BUT SHE'S IN MY DISTRICT here! We're going to have such a ball. 

As we have been visiting people this week, we have used this scenario and questions to get people thinking about the Savior and how they worship Him. They are slightly cheesy at times, but still good. :) So pretend Jesus Christ is coming to visit you tomorrow. And not just spiritually, but He is literally going to walk and talk with you, like He did during his earthly ministry. How would that day feel? What would you want to do with Him? How would you prepare for that day? What would you be willing to do to make sure you were there when He came? How would that day affect the days afterwards? 

And the beautiful thing is, we have a day with the Savior every week. Even though He doesn't physically come down, we still have that opportunity every Sabbath! Every Sunday can be a day spent with Him, to get to know Him, to show our love for Him, to appreciate and use the incomparable gift of His Atonement, to learn from Him. I love Him, and I know that as I've spent my Sabbaths with Him, my life has been so blessed! He came to give both you and I life more abundantly, and nothing else compares to the way He makes me feel. 

Have a great week, all! 

Sister Ward

Heavenly Father created us to progress and become better, and that is why life is full of challenges. There is no growth in the comfort zone!

I'm alive everyone!! Despite the fanatical, yellow-journalism type coverage of Storm Jonas, it really wasn't too bad here in Cross Lanes.  There was a WHOLE lot of snow, 18 inches-ish, but we weren't snowed in for long. We did stay inside last Friday night and Saturday morning, (which either God or Sister Burt ensured, because I had a gnarly case of food poisoning Friday night. It was lovely...) The roads are still mediocre-apparently it's just expected you have 4 wheel drive here in West Virginia, so they don't bother plowing much. But luckily, we have quite a few investigators who live within hoofin' it distance, so we've kept pretty busy. And we invested in a snow shovel right before it hit, so that kept us even busier. We should redo that whole push up challenge, because I am WAY buffer now. The Lord definitely blessed us throughout the storm. Our power stayed on, the pipes didn't freeze, and we got some good quality time in the scriptures! And we actually reconnected with some of our friends who aren't usually home.

So drumroll please for the transfer news........I'm going to VA!!!! And my baby Sister Burt is training a new missionary here! It'll be a big change, but I'm excited to take off for the South tomorrow. I feel like I just got comfortable here! But Heavenly Father created us to progress and become better, and that is why life is full of challenges. There is no growth in the comfort zone!! And so, I'm excited to go stretch and grow in my new area!

Last week there was an awesome worldwide missionary broadcast, and it was one of those events that leaves you feeling like you can go out and baptize the world! My favorite part of it was Henry B. Eyrings discussion on relying on the Spirit. Once you've been a missionary for a while, you "know the drill" in a lot of ways. You know what basic doctrine the convert will need to know, you have an arsenal of teaching methods to share it, and you have some experience on what works and what doesn't. Or at least you think you do. What we (I) sometimes forget is that Heavenly Father is really the person who knows what is best, and He will help us to know what to do/say/teach if we will just listen to the Spirit! Since then, I've been really trying to rely on the Spirit, and I've seen and felt the difference it makes. Trust God, He really does know best. And He wants the best for each and every one of His children.

I love you all,

Sister Ward

Be Careful What You Pray For

Dear Family!

It's been a good week here. The work of the Lord is certainly moving forward! We had 3 friends come to church with us this week, and like 5 no shows who we'll get next week, so that was great!

This week sister Burt and I learned that you really really need to be careful what you pray for. Or at least be super specific in your requests. We have a lot of investigators who don't have church clothes, and therefore, don't want to come to church. SO we had been praying that they would be able to find clothes to come to church in. And our answer came in a way that was definitely unexpected. We went to help one of our investigators, Ashlee, move, and she was throwing away mountains of clothes from her previous modeling life. And so were like "Yes! we can take a small manageable stash to help our friends out!" But then we ended up with a carload (or 2) of clothes. And so now our living room floor is covered in clothes. But lots of them are super cute, so Sister Burt and I got quite the addition to our wardrobes!

One of my favorite people to teach is this cute older lady named Betty. She is a solid octogenarian. And has no filter. Whatsoever. This week during our lesson, she told Sister Burt that she has childbearing hips, and that I probably am too small-boned to have children. And also that we shouldn't have children after we turn 25. I couldn't quite hold back the laughter that time. Thanks, Betty!

So transfers are this upcoming week, and I am predicting my own transfer. I think I will be going to Virginia. I'll let ya know for sure next week though!

Love you all! Keep writing me please!

Sister Ward