4.29.2013

April 29, 2013

Dearest Family and Friends,

A week goes by really fast. We saw a lot of miracles so that was lovely. We have kept fairly busy. I'm still just trying to figure out why I am in Massillon. Sister O'Driscoll has only been out one transfer, so I'm training her. No sister has ever gone out full-proselyting twice so there has to be a reason right? It's been kind of a struggle living with another set of sisters, and sharing the ward. Especially when you are trying to lose yourself in the work. I would say that there was a minor digression in my love for the work this week. I seemed to be a little less focused than normal. I just need to get over this feeling and remember it's not about me. Don't get me wrong I still LOVE it here, and I'm not thinking of home, but Satan works in many ways to tear us down. Thank goodness for that enabling power of the Atonement. It's been a blessing out here. 

Sorry this is going to be short. We've been working hard and are starting to get to know the ward and area a little better. That makes it a little less overwhelming to open a new area. Sometimes I just expect Heavenly Father to give us people to teach, everyone should want to hear this message right? Ha. Just kidding. It takes work, and a lot of prayer. It's pretty easy to find people. It's just a matter of helping them to progress to the waters of baptism. We are teaching the Padilla family. They are from Cuba and speak very little English. Woe is me. Our teaching involves a lot of hand motions to help them understand what we are saying. We will say something, and it is a completely blank stare. Dang language barrier. They do speak a little so we just have to piece together what they are saying. It's a challenge. Maybe I was suppose to come and learn Spanish in Massillon? Sometimes I pretend I know Spanish and will randomly throw out a Spanish gospel term, and then continue in English. "El Libro de Mormon, es Verdad." :) It makes missionary work exciting. They feel the gospel changing them and Leticia (the mom) loves the Book of Mormon. They have a baptismal date of June 1! So pumped.

Love,

Sister Hillman

4.22.2013

April 22

Dearest Family and Friends,

Where do I begin? This week has been crazy but at least it's been warm. I'm doing well. Massillon is amazing. It's completely different than all of the wards I have served in. The people are awesome and they love having sisters in the ward. There is one other set of sisters besides us. It is a pretty big ward. Geographically at least anyway. There are a lot of Less Actives. A common theme in Ohio. It's an interesting area. I love the people and the people we have found are all really awesome. They all have dogs, and have no teeth (the people not the dogs), which seems strange. Maybe it's the water. My companion is Sister O'Driscoll. From Utah. She's awesome. She likes to work. So we are opening a new area and that has been kind of rough, neither of us know anyone in the ward so it's starting fresh. We have found a couple of people this week, that hopefully will be solid. I'm excited to really get to work and leave it better than I found it. I only have six weeks so that's a little scary. 5 now. It's kind of hard to get to used to the schedule of proselyting all of the time and not having the break of the Visitors' Center. But I LOVE it. You meet a lot of interesting people. We were craving a Hot Dog the other day, we stopped at speedway and there is where we met Anthony. Turns out he just got out of jail and is trying to find God, so we committed him to baptism. I knew that one day my appetite would pay off. I love spiritual food promptings. Also we ate at the Kremers home the other day. He is from Firth. Does that name ring a bell, he knows uncle Dennis? Side note: Matt and Jason guess what? The Football hall of fame is in Canton, OH, that's in the area that I am serving in. We are going next week for Pday. Do they have multiple hall's of fame or is there only one?  

Well it sounds like everyone is getting married. Lame. I'm not going to have any friends when I get home. That's okay I'll just go hang out with grandma and grandpa. Go finish my education and then do something else. As for mother's day. How about we plan on skyping around 4 your time? Will that work? I'll give you a call before I skype you just to make sure you are online and all goes well. It sounds busy at home. It's busy here too! It's going by a little too fast. 

My new address is 2040 Tennyson Ave NE # 7 Massillon, OH 44646. After the 29th of may it will go back to the VC address. Life is good. The gospel is true. 

I love you all.

Love,Sister Hillman

4.17.2013

April 15

Dearest Family and Friends,
How are you all doing? Life in the Ohio is crazy madness, all the time and it's 100% fun. Things have started to heat up. After two weeks of rain we have 70 degree weather and blue skies. Not to rub it in for those of you who have snow!
We are getting a lot of tours, some from Idaho and it's been really fun to talk to them. I hope you are all doing great, and that you are keeping busy. We should figure out how to make more time in the day. I can't believe a new semester is starting at school. Ugh I don't even want to think about going back to school. I think I may just travel the world. Just kidding, I love learning, and studying the gospel has given me a thirst to study as much as I can, both spiritual and secular, but still the thought of going back to school is a little daunting. They should have missionary college. Tell me all about the stories from home!

As for the Northern part of Ohio. First Kenia and Ernest are baptized and confirmed. Kenia kept kicking as they were baptizing her so she was washed really clean by the fourth round. Ernest was baptized by one of the youth in the ward, Kody, he was nervous, but his went flawlessly. The baptism flowed really well. Huge blessing, we didn't have a lot of time to plan it this week. Thank goodness for tender mercies. On Saturday after they were confirmed Ernest sat down and said" That felt good." Yes it does my friend, yes it does! It is the coolest thing to see someone make the progress to baptism. I love it. I love missions. Miracles are the norm out here. There was a lot of support from the ward, and the Young men, love having a 3rd priest! Also Sandy committed to baptism for the 31st of May. Woot.

We got transfer info this week, as tomorrow are transfers. They have been really messed up for the last few transfers. I know isn't it weird that I am getting released on a Saturday, they have had to change it a couple of times! But I was released as a training sister, broke my heart. I love the sisters, and I am being sent back to full-proselyting in Masillon, OH. It is down near Akron. I will only be there one transfer, but I was called to train one of the Full Proselyting sisters. I can't believe it. No Kirtland sister has ever been called full-pros twice, Salt Lake has given P. Vellinga directions about site sisters going full pros. I will still spend my last transfer at the VC. I am sooo pumped. But it's going to make the time go by even faster! Mother's day is coming up. We will want to start planning our skype session! Weird! They are splitting zones this transfer and they are also getting Sister Training Leaders, the new leadership position from SLC to accommodate the amount of sisters in the field. This is essentially what we were doing as training sisters, but now there is 6 of us instead of just two of us, so the work load goes down. WOOT! So many wonderful things are happening in missionary work and most of it is a little chaotic, but we are still surviving. Sister Crabtree leaves tomorrow. So sad. i love her. But we have made a lot of plans post mission. Good thing we are all from Idaho or Utah.

Well I have to run. We don't get a pday today because we are covering for the all of the sisters at sites today, and there are a lot of tours! I love you all. I hope you are doing well!

Love,
Sister Hillman

April 7

Dearest Family and Friends!
 
What a glorious week it was here in the Ohio. My week consisted of exchanges like crazy. Training, Meetings, The VC, and prepping Kenia and Ernest for baptism. They are doing excellent. We taught both the Word of Wisdom and Law of Chastity this week, double whammy! They both agreed to live it! We are so excited for their baptism this weekend. We still have a lot of calls to make to get the ward involved but they have a really great support system so I think it should go smoothly! We took them to Book of Mormon club on Friday and the elders got a little taste of what it was like to teach with Jordan being as crazy as he is! They loved conference. Kenia loves that we have a world wide church. She got her confirmation that Joseph Smith restored the gospel this week! We just need to get her to read the Book of Mormon consistently! Mostly I don't know where this week went. I can't believe it has already been a week since I was writing you!
The weather has decided to warm up here! Which is just lovely! I haven't had to have a jacket for the last 3 days! Woot woot. It amazes me that 40 degree weather feels warm to me. This week it is suppose to get up in the 50's! Boo ya! I got your package! Thank you so much.
So sorry not much time today! I'm glad to hear everyone is doing well and keeping busy! You are always in my prayers! I love you!
Also. No I should be good with my journal. I haven't been as diligent as I should have! Whoops!
Love,
Sister Hillman

April 1

Dear Family and friends,
It's Spring. The weather is looking up. It all started as we prayed with all of our hearts that we wouldn't have to tour the Morley Farm in pouring rain, or in a snow storm and it has been beautiful ever since. I love the sunshine. The leaves are starting to come out, and the birds are chirping, and the best part is Conference is this weekend!!!! So pumped. We have been talking and inviting like crazy, people are listening too :) We saw a lot of miracles this week! I love my companions. Oh my. Best week of my mission. It's been a work party all week. We have been going on exchanges like crazy just so we can fit all of the sisters in this transfer cycle. So we are never together, but when we are it's the best thing ever. I have never laughed so hard. We found three new investigators on Saturday. MIRACLE!!! We only tracted for about 15 minutes before we found them. Antoinette, Carissa, and Duane. Turns out they want to align themselves with a religion with high morals, and so we said "Hey we have those!" and they let us right into their home! Kenia and Ernest are still good for their baptismal date for April 13. We had a monster weekly planning session this week so that we could make sure that they are prepared for the date. We still have a lot to teach them. We are teaching Kenny, the 10 year old, the first 3 lessons tonight in the form of a treasure hunt. We'll see how this goes. Information overload. Sandy showed up at church dressed in a nice bright purple leather suit, she always keeps it classy. Love her. She decided she wanted to stay for gospel doctrine instead of coming to gospel principles with us on Sunday. We even taught the lesson. We used the 12 eggs of easter that you sent me last year. It went well. Pretty much we just laugh all the time. Our district thinks we are crazy because we have so many inside jokes that get us laughing really hard. Love it! Also we had President Interviews this week, and I actually made it through without crying...woot Gold star for me!
It sounds like you had a fun Easter! Ours went really well. We started out with a Sunrise Service in the Kirtland Temple. It was put on by the Community of Christ, and then we went to our meetings. Then after church we had to work at sites, not many people came in so we put on a Egg hunt for the sisters and hid all of the eggs out in the sawmill and ashery. Our site director thinks we are crazy. But that's fine. He just makes fun of us all the time, and asks for new assistants! Rude. He loves us, and wouldn't know what to do without us! Things are starting to pick up at the VC, it's spring break and so we have had quite a few tours. It's been really nice. Sometimes it feels like summer again. It gets crazy here. I wish I could sum up my week for you we had a lot of funny stories, but it would take me at least 3 hours to write it all out. I had to make bullet points in my journal just to fit it all in, and I still missed some.
This week I was really able to see the hand of the Lord. We had so many miracles of being in the right place to find those that are being prepared to receive this gospel. When we are about our Father's business, he blesses us to do His work. It's been really cool to reflect on our Savior this week, don't think I'm a bad missionary I do this a lot, but especially this week as we think about his sacrifice for us and how it wasn't only for our sins that he died, but that we could live again. The atonement is amazing, he knows what it's like to be sick, or to be hurt, and he's felt what it's like to repent. I've been reading Atonement talks this week. None were with him, has to be one of my favorites. I don't comprehend it but I feel it's power working daily.
Well I love you all!
I hope you have all had a wonderful Easter weekend!
Love,
Sister Hillman

Some More Pictures-March 25










March 25

Hello Family,
Is it really spring? We have been dumped on by the snow fairy this last week. :( it doesn't do great things for our morale. But that's fine more opportunities to make snow angels. This is going to have to be brief. We have a lot going on today. We have to get some of the sisters moved around. I will be in a triple up with Sister Crabtree and Mahrt because Sister Haupt got her visa and is leaving for Taiwan so wooot woooot, triple up in Shaker Heights! It will be so fun!

This week was really good. Both Kenia and Sandy came to church. Sandy in her classy bright blue leather suit! Love her. She refuses to wear dresses to church and I asked her if I could have one of her leather suits but says I'm not fat enough so it wouldn't look good on me...apparently you have to have curves for those kinds of things. She cracks me up. Kenia is rock solid. I have never loved a family so much. She came to the RS birthday celebration and loved it. The ladies in the ward are so good to invite her to things and fellowship her. When Ernest gets baptized and given the priesthood we will have 3 priest. A first time ever for the Shaker Heights ward. Crazy huh. We don't have a lot of youth, and most of what we do have is young women. They are great!

It sounds like life back home is busy as always. Keep being happy. The gospel is true. Will you let me know when you get the packet from the mission about my homecoming date? It should be coming any week. Yuck. It will be a crazy next couple of weeks. Also. Someone should send me pictures from the wedding. It's killing me.

Thanks for everything!
Love you all!
Love,
Sister Hillman

Pictures- March 25




March 18

Dearest Family and Friends,

Ohio doesn't seem to be able to make a decision on whether or not it wants to warm up. Last Sunday it was sunny and 65, this week it was back to the sleeping bag coats. Life is so good. We had a meeting everyday this week which was a little overwhelming, we got a lot of new information thrown at us. But it was good. I feel spiritually enlightened.

Sandy is doing well. She finally got over her nasty cold and was able to come to church yesterday. Kenia is doing awesome we committed them to baptism on April 13. We are doing a 40 day fast in our ward and we have a couple of baptisms planned to celebrate the end of the fast which is on April 11. So cool to see how the ward is coming together to help the Lord build up his kingdom. After our adventure with Kenia and Jordan last week in church we prayed really hard that he would be calm. Heavenly Father answered that prayer and went even further. He slept through the whole meeting yesterday. Woooohooo. In gospel principles the elders taught about tithing (donation of 1/10 of your increase to the Lord) and Kenia said that she wanted to pay hers. WHAT!?! That's one of the hardest commandments to get people to live. I love her. She is what we call a prepared soul. She told the other sisters that we were an answer to a prayer. The Lord works amazing wonders when you are involved in his work. So cool.

The Visitors' Center is starting to pick up. We have a lot of people coming because of spring break, then it will calm down for a while and then the madness starts. I love summer here and I can't wait until I can take you all on tour of this wonderful place. We went down to the John Johnson Farm for training meeting on Friday. It was lovely. We decided that our theme for this transfer at the VC should be stand in Holy Places. Doctrine and Covenants 101:22,64. It's been really good. We get to visit the four places that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared. I love my mission.

I'm doing great. Everyday I feel more exhausted but it's the best feeling in the world. Sister Mahrt and I are doing a lot of finding, and our area is doing very well. We love it. The Lord is keeping us busy. The new missionaries are young, but they are great. Sometimes you can tell they are younger but for the most part they are super solid and hard working. I think it's a shock to actually talk to people sometimes for them. It's cool to see how much they grow.

Mom. Cute elders who are 3 years younger than me. Not so tempting. Member missionary work is the best way to do missionary work. It sounds like you are all keeping busy. Tell grandma and grandpa they have to take care of themselves. I need them when I get home. I love you all and I think of you all daily. I hope all is well!

Love,
Sister Hillman

March 11

Hello all!
 
I miss this. Blue skies, warm sun rays, and 65 degree weather. It was the perfect weekend after a crazy week. Transfers are over. Sister Larson got shipped out, her new companion is a cutie and is a solid missionary. They'll do great! Sister Mahrt is doing well. I will learn a lot from her.
We got so many new missionaries. They had to open 13 areas. And our compliment at sites went up to 32 instead of 26. It's getting busier a the VC so that's nice.
Kenia is doing great. They came to church yesterday. Oh man that was crazy. We took her on a church tour Saturday and just showed around. Well we didn't know that they were laying new carpet this week in the church so there was a whole lot of concrete and random tools every where. She brought her kids with her for the tour, let's just say kids and tools don't go together. They were running around like crazy as we were trying to explain what the Sacrament was. Then when they actually came to church it was even crazier. Jordan is the strongest 2 year old ever. I think him and Nate would get a long well. In Nursery he decided to push the pseudo wall that separates the gym and the nursery over, and then proceeded to use it as a trampoline. It's really hard to control a child when you can't hold them. The leaders all thought it was hilarious, and Kenia was taking care of the other kids. She has 4 kids. Ernest is 16, Kenny is 10, Shantinese is 6, and Jordan 2. Sacrament meeting was another story. Jordan just wanted to run around. When the Sacrament hymn came on Shantinese asked if there was a funeral, or if someone was being baptized, so close :) Then after the musical all of them clapped:) We gave them restoration coloring books which kept them busy for a while, but let's be honest 1 hour is a long time for kids to be still. Overall I would say it was a good experience for them. Through all of it Kenia said that she enjoyed it. Let's hope they come again. Oh and also President Vellinga saw all of this take place, I'm sure he now thinks I'm one of the most competent missionary he has. He just laughed at me.
Sandy was sick this week. We talked to her about the Atonement. She said the most sincere prayer I have ever heard. We are just waiting for her to choose a date.
Life is good. It sounds like life at home is the same. Busy. I love you all.
Love,
Sister Hillman

March 4

Hello Family,
 
So sometimes we run out of time to do all the things we need to do so this will be short. This week was so good. We saw many miracles that helped to us to know this work is real and true. First Kenya and her family are awesome. We met with them on Saturday and there is not a doubt in my mind that they will be baptized. They are growing together as a family as they strengthen their faith in Christ. So cool to see. The kids love us and we absolutely adore them. We found a kid named Nick who is a MAD genius. Seriously he kept going off with these theories that he has, turns out they kind of sorta go along with what we believe, just in a different sense. He is soo smart, and wants to read the Book of Mormon, probably not for the right reasons but we'll change that. It's hard to explain. Let's just say there are some classy people in Ohio, especially Cleveland.
 
It's transfers this week and our week goes as follows.
Monday: Pday
Tuesday: Sites and finishing up the transfer Schedule.
Wednesday: Specialized training with the new missionaries with President and the Assistants.
Thursday: Transfers, Transfer Lunch, Take new sisters on tour.
Friday: Get transfer theme down and this transfers training meetings figured out.
Saturday: We finally get to our area, and we are taking Kenya and her family on a Church tour and meeting with Nick at the library.
Sunday: Back to sites to weekly plan.
These next 4 months are going to FLY!!!!!! You should be getting my trunky papers soon with all of my flight itinerary (sp?)
Yes. I am still a training sister, and yes I am in Shaker Heights still. I will be released next transfer. That makes me sad. I love this calling. There is a Joclyn Jones that is coming. She looks like a cute girl. Transfers is going to get crazy. Every companionship of sisters is being affect by transfers. It will be madness. My new companions name is Sister Mahrt. She goes home in 2 transfers, hence why I know I will be transferred in 6 weeks.
The Marx have not set a date for the temple yet. They are thinking the last week in August or the first couple in September. Ah that makes me so excited!
It sounds like everyone is doing great! Thank you all for you support. I look forward to seeing the pictures. I love you all.
Love,
Sister Hillman

Feb 25

Dearest Family and friends,
It sounds like things are busy at home. That's the way it should be.
Just some things to talk about this week.
1. Congrats to Jason and Jeni! Happy Wedding week. I still haven't received the announcement yet so hopefully they forward it on:) I'm so pumped for you. About 21% of me wishes I was there, but the other 79% is super grateful I'm here in the Ohio. SOOOO Exciting!
2. WHAT!?! 58 new missions announced. That is madness. I am so pumped. The Lord is truly hastening his work. 2 in Idaho. That blows my mind...I never would have guess Nampa and Twin! I'm super pumped about Cincinnati opening. It won't affect us at all. But that means more work can go on in this great state. We get 29 new missionaries this transfer. Things are getting crazy at sites/through out the mission. Areas are opening like crazy, Sister Larson got called to shot gun train full proselyting, so I'll be gettting a new comp. I'm stocked for her. Full Pros is the best, but I'm super bummed she's leaving me. I'm pretty sure I'll b e companions with Sister Stoddard again. My MTC companion. But we find out on Thursday.
3. The gospel is true. We have seen many miracles this week. We found a family. Found someone who was looking for a church with a prophet. (Hey we have one of those). We are super stoked about her. We went on exchanges with the Painesville sisters so I got to check that out. Every other house is spanish speaking, the only thing I know how to say is that The Book of Mormon is true and that I would like 2 chicken tacos. It was crazy. I need to freshen up on that language.
4. I am so lucky to serve in this wonderful place. Everyday, I walk where a prophet lived. I get to live where the restoration of the greatest message took place.
5. I experienced the power of the Atonement ten-fold this week. It's real. It works. As a commitment I would like all of you to read "Mountains to Climb" By Elder Eyring from Conference April 2012. Then watch the Mormon Messages that goes along with it on www.mormonchannel.org . This is what is so great about our message. He is the "balm of gilead" I see it working everyday with our investigators. Through the Atonement Sandy was able to overcome alcohol. Through the Atonement Kenya is able to have peace in her home, and love her family more fully. Through the Atonement I can overcome my weaknesses and become the missionary that Heavenly Father needs me to be. Through the Atonement I get to live with my favorite people even after this life is over. I love this work.
6. I love you all. Sorry this letter is short and doesn't have much info, except my thoughts. We have a lot to do today. We have a mission wide deep cleaning day. So I'm going to go prep for that! I can't wait to hear about the wedding!
Pray always.
Love,
Sister Hillman