October 29

Hi Family,

 

There is a storm brewing in the Ohio and the weather man says it will hit us hard but not near as bad as the east coast so keep them in your prayers. Lake Erie is crazy beautiful in this storm we are going up to take a picture today so I'll get that sent ASAP. Don't worry they are keeping us safe, and making sure we are prepared for whatever hits. Ewwwww you had snow? bleh, we don't have that yet but it's only a matter of time. Looks like you sent me the coat in just the right time. I still haven't gotten it, it is still at the mission office. I'll get it on Thursday when we go to our meeting. It's been a crazy adventure here the last week or so. We went tracting on Friday for about 4 hours and were completely drenched, I wish I would have gotten a picture. It looked like we went swimming in the lake fully clothed :) That was probably the most fun tracting experience ever. I had fun even though we were freezing and no one was talking to us! Oh the life of missionaries. We have been doing a lot of comparing the storm to the gospel. We must be prepared. We can't stop it but we can prepare. That's the gist of it. Apply it how you will. We would rather hear about the storm than the election. Holy smokes. There is one thing that matters in the world and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everything else is dumb!

It's okay mom I'm fine, tears are just side effects of missions. Missions are just emotional roller coasters , and this transfer has just been kind of a struggle for me. I do miss my VC sisters but I'll see them really soon and there is something here that the Lord needs me to learn. And like I said before I just cry a lot more than I used to. I'm not sure the elders know what to do about me crying all the time...just kidding they have only seen me cry once. But they are being super patient with me, and helping me become the missionary the Lord needs me to be. I never thought younger boys could be so wise. Transfers is next week. Holy smokes. WHAT!?!?

Happy B-day Grandpa! Oh I love them so much. In my district there is a senior couple. Elder and Sister Howell. I have adopted them as my grandparents so it's all good for now. You tell them to hold on until I get home though okay.

Happy Halloween. We are not allowed to go out trick-or-treating. or proselyting. We have a meeting that night and then we will be doing weekly planning. Happy are we. We are stuck in our apartments both tonight and tomorrow because of the storm. Hopefully we will at least be out sometime tomorrow. It's boring when all you do is make phone calls and organize dead pool (former investigators). We live the LIFE!!!!

Home sounds as busy as ever. Woah I can't believe it is almost the end of the year. That went fast. Any big plans for Christmas. Skyping again? I vote yes! I don't know where I will be but most everyone has a computer so it should work out. I can't think of anything I need, pictures of the kiddos. For Christmas I wouldn't mind some homemade bread or goodies. I'm good on the black skirt. I could use another dressy jacket but not necessary unless you find it really cheap. Could you maybe wrap up my blue polk-a-dot skirt and send it to me? That can be one of my gifts, it's free and I'll like it :)

That is interesting about dad and His Jewish client. Dad needs to tell him about a book of scripture that talks about a Jewish Family, and their dealings with Heavenly Father. The Book of Mormon was written for them as well!

Life is good in the Ohio. We found a legit less active family, that is part member. We are hoping to work with them. The dad is the member and the wife is an absolute doll. Joseph the dad is long time in active and was a little surprise when we showed up on the door step and said hello We've been looking for you! Not in a creepy way though!

Keep those that are getting hit with the storm in your prayers. I love you. I hope all is well!

Love,

Sister Hillman

 

October 15

Hello Dearest Family,

First off. Mom send my coat to the mission office. We are not home often enough to get UPS packages at our apartment. They will see that I get it if you send it to the office :) Thanks for getting that for me. It's going to be a nice thing to have here in a couple of weeks. It is starting to get CHILLY!!!!!!

Second. It sounds like you had a really fun stay in St. George there is a lot to do there, sounds like everyone had fun. Oh my I can't believe Gracie is talking that much. Oh I miss the kiddos so much. They are all going to be so grown up when I get home. It's interesting to watch the babies here grow up too. I bet the Magleby's are a tired bunch. They have been doing a lot of traveling these last few weeks!

It sounds like you are getting pretty busy. I expect these next few months will start to speed up as the holidays always do. Mom, how do I make time slow down? I am officially half way through and it makes me sick. And time is just speeding up. There is so much work that needs to be done. I am excited to see what the lord can make of me in these next few months. What are your plans for Christmas? Are you staying at home. We will be able to skype again, so just make sure you are in an area that you have access to a computer. If not a phone call will work too

I'm glad you had a great week. Ours was interesting. We tracted for 14 hours this week...holy cow. All of our appointments fell through, it was crazy. Satan is definitely working hard against us in this area. We found one new person to teach this week. Her name is Ernestein Williams but she goes by Pee Wee. She is amazing! Thursday night we went and helped at the relief society gathering, they had a class on extreme couponing, it was crazy. A lot of stuff she got for free. It is very time consuming though. Anyway. The reason they invited us was because there were some non-members there. Talk about a golden family. We were talking the the girl Amanda, she is 22. She was explaining that her family was looking for a church. They were methodist and moved here about 4 years ago, since then they hadn't found a church that they felt comfortable in. We jumped on that, and quickly moved into teaching mode. We invited them to church and they said they would try to make it. We got their address and phone number. We have high hopes for this family. There are 3 children still at home. A mother and father, plus older ones who have children of their own.

Something that I learned this week. God does love us and is very aware of us. We went tracting ALL DAY on Friday, with no success. I think we talked to like 5 people, all of whom were not interested! but on our way home from dinner, we got a call from our District Leader saying he had a referral for us. We were like saweet! She seems awesome too. So the Lord blesses those that serve him.

Ha. So funny story. We were out tracting the other day, we had like 5 minutes before dinner. We saw this older couple outside and asked if we could share a message with them. They asked what church we were from and the lady (Doris) got all excited and said "You're Mormons!!!" the next thing I know she gives us a big hug and is telling us how much she loves mormons. I can assure you this never happens. We kept talking and then all of the sudden she turns to Sister Feldt and plants a big kiss on her cheek and then does the same thing to me...whoa that definitely has never happened. It was funny. Sister Feldt didn't know what to do so we just kind of laughed it off. She loves mormons. We are taking her a Book of Mormon next week :) I love this place. It's soooo awesome:)

So Sis. Feldt has been out 6 months, and as for the driver it is always the senior companion, so I get to drive again! I am getting really comfortable with driving in big cities that's for sure! We normally do pday with the elders. we are cleaning our apartment today though so it's more work than play. Yes we go to the library to email :)

Thanks for everything. I hope you are all seeing the love that God has for each of you in your daily lives. If not take a step backwards, breath a little bit, slow down and open your eyes! It's there. The gospel is still true:)

I love you all!

Love,

Sister Hillman

Oct 8, 2012

Here is Chelsey’s new address:

3900 Seneca Ave. # H-4

Lorain, OH 44055

 

 

Hello Family,

Life in Lorain is good. Sister Feldt is not a VC sister so that has been an interesting change as well. We tract a lot because we are in finding mode. Happy are we. There are people to be found here, it's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. We are trying to find a family to teach! There are 10 of us in the district. 2 sisters and 8 elders. They are all great. We are the only sisters in the Zone so they take good care of us!

Sorry this is going to be a short email. There is just not enough time in the day! I did get a letter written to Grandpa and Grandma so they should be getting that shortly. I'm not a very good letter writer so this has been a challenge for me. There are some people I have yet to reply too. Whoops!

Yes Sister Nelson stayed in Mayfield. She is going to do great things for the area. She is a great missionary. Her companion is Sister Arnesen. Who is one of the best, so I have no worries that Mayfield is in great hands! I haven't heard from the Marx but I am sure they are doing fine. John, is john, his happy, loving the gospel self. I love this work.

Conference was amazing. I can't believe they changed the age. I'm jealous I had to wait until I was 21. But then again I definitely wouldn't have been ready to serve at that time. It was definitely inspired. It is true what they say the youth of the church are getting stronger and stronger. I am excited to see how this will affect missionary work. I think it will open the door to a lot more people being able to serve.

I hope you have a great week! I love you all! Thanks for everything.

Love,

Sister Hillman

October 1

Hi Mom,

And 8 months later!

I'm glad that you are inspired to email on Monday's now! Yes my Pday has changed, and I was really hoping I would have a letter waiting for me when I got on here :) Well, I got shipped out full-proselyting! It broke my heart to leave Mayfield and Kirtland behind but I'm excited for this challenge. I'm still in recovery mode. I was called to serve in the area of Lorain. What a wonderful place! It is a very quaint town, and has a lot of potential, my favorite is a little town called Avon! My companions name is Sister Feldt. I'll get pictures and send you a letter for my new address! Not all of the sisters get a chance to go out full-pros, but a fair few do. It wasn't a huge transfer, just enough to shake up the mission a little bit. I serve right on Lake Erie it is so beautiful! I am in Cleveland Zone!

So I was able to watch the Broadcast. I think it was written just for me. I know everyone else thinks that too, and they are right! That's what I love about the gospel. Everyone can hear the exact same message and get completely different things out of it. And yes we attend all of the Block meetings every week! It's before and after church that our "fun" meetings are held. Sunday's are long days :)

Oh Mom, I love being out full proselyting, but it also scares me to death. Our schedules are wide open! We do A LOT of tracting and contacting, Lorain is slow in business, right now if you know what I mean. But I have plans to change that very soon :) Heavenly Father wants His children back!

 

It sounds like you are having a great week! I have 9.5 months left, CRAZY!!!!!!!!

What else is new? Hopefully bishop gets feeling better! Tell everyone to send me pics of their cute little ones!

I love you!

Love,

Sister Hillman

September 25

Dearest Family,

It sounds like life back home is super exciting and busy. Life gets that way :) Life is good. I can't believe Christmas is already in the air. Weird. It needs to stay away as long as possible.

 

What a week! It started out same as normal, but then it got crazy busy. So pioneer school is where we go and volunteer at Lake county historical society, we teach school children how they made candles on the frontier in the 1800's. They have a fun little program and they do other fun things but the Sisters are over candles. We get to dress up and everything. We had that on Wednesday and then had to go and finish our shift at the VC. Thursday we had Mission Conference, which was one of the most amazing experiences ever. It was Elder Perkins of the Seventy (an office that was established in Kirtland) that came to speak with us, we heard from president Vellinga as well. I wish you all could have been there, I learned so much about becoming a Preach My Gospel Missionary. At lunch he came and sat at our table and he told us all about the things that went in to calling missionaries to their missions. He also had some good stories about the 12 and the first presidency, no big deal, he just gets to see them every other day. I just can't believe how lucky we are to be able to listen to a prophet of God, and sit and listen to General Authorities. So amazing. After that we went back to our area, taught John and Joan Shuster, and then headed to Kirtland to a stake dinner held at the Kiwanis club. It was a thank you for helping out with Strawberry days! Friday was the big day. We went over to a LA's house to visit her and talked to her about the love that god has for her. It turns out a lot of people don't believe that He loves them. But I KNOW He does. Then we headed over to the Church to clean and prep the church. JOHN IS BAPTIZED!!!!!!! It was us that planned it with the help of the WML, and everything wrong that could have gone wrong, did. It was so sad, Satan really didn't want this baptism to happen, but lo and behold it did. It was so amazing, there is something so amazing about seeing someone change and be baptized, it is the greatest. John smacked his head on the tile going down, that was tragic, whoops. Bro. Jensen baptized him. Don't worry I have pictures of all these people. But he was too happy to care. Saturday we officially moved out of our apartment. So our lease is up so they moved us to a house near the VC, it is such a nice house, it's nice and cozy :) But the Zone Leaders along with the office staff came and helped us move our things out, and then all of our furniture is going to the Kent sisters. Then we went to the VC and finished our shift. Sunday was invite a friend to church day and John's confirmation day, he was so excited for the Holy Ghost, so we prepped for that and then had a linger longer. Then we went over to Pres. Stacey's house and had a transition lesson, we handed our recent converts over to the ward to teach. Monday was sites and now it's Pday again! Woo, sorry I just like vomited all of that info on you, but that was my week! Good news though....Moses is back from Africa!

It has turned fall here in the ohio, the leaves are starting to change and it is going to be a beautiful fall. The weather is perfect, we are all wearing cardigans and scarves and boots, and its just the perfect crispness that reminds me of harvest, and football games :) Amy you are in for a treat! Hopefully it stays this way.

So I am officially leaving Mayfield, not only that but I am being out zoned, I am leaving Kirtland. When my district leader told me I was shocked, and just started to cry. I love Mayfield, I know that the Lord needs me elsewhere but still it makes me so sad to leave. The Marx are taking it pretty hard but they will be fine. I'll be fine, change is just rough sometimes. I am so scared of not being in Kirtland, there is a couple of areas I can go, a couple of them are still VC sisters, just not as often, and then some are full prose. It's crazy. Transfers are tomorrow so I'll find out where I am going at 11:30 tomorrow.

Sorry we have to run. I hope all is well! I love you all so much! I think of you often and you are always in my prayers.

Love,

Sister Hillman