Do You Have A Mission Plan?

Howdy howdy!!

I always love hearing from y'all and seeing your pictures you all look great!! I was honored to have Zach congratulate me on not being "tubby" haha :)

Zone Conference

Wednesday: We served at Our Daily Bread in the morning which is always fun, I got to serve everyone desserts! Some are so grateful others are so not! And this crazy guy asked me, "has anyone ever told you you look like a farmer girl?" weird. We also were able to do family history for a little bit, I'm so bad at it, but the ladies in the center are pro's and they help me! Are there classes to take on how to do family history? I def have to take them when I'm home. We had dinner with this great missionary family! We are talking with all the members to make a family mission plan for this year of 2015 and theirs is awesome! And has specific assignments for each child! Do you guys have one for this year? You should!!:)

Serving at Our Daily Bread

Thursday: Every Thursday is planning day, it takes 2-3hrs and we do it right after our studies to plan for the coming week! Then I went to Justin because we had another exchange with the sisters there! It was fun and as always I learned a lot!

Friday: Still in Justin we went to the care center to paint old people nails... haha it was fun. I guess they do that every week but the cool thing is we got to talk to the workers there about what we do:) Then we exchanged back and had some lessons and went with some members to see some of the less actives!

Exchange with Hermana J - Love her!

Saturday: Our ward mission leader had us all over for breakfast! The M's are amazing! All of them!! We are so blessed to live in their barn:) our ward mission leader has great ideas and it really is getting our ward excited to do missionary work as well!! We also saw C a less active who is now active! I can't remember if I told you, but she got a calling and is getting her patriarchal blessing on Sunday!! Wow it's the most exciting feeling ever!!:) Then we had dinner with more M's:) and went on exchanges with them that night! We saw the H's, J is getting baptized on the 14th:) they are Awesome and loving everything about the gospel!! And we saw Q and the kids, they haven't moved yet and they are so shaky on when they are so we will just keep teaching them!!!!!!

Just being McKenzie :)

 Sunday: We went to ward council which was good, now that I go to them I always wonder what the ward councils are like in yalls ward? With dad in it and everything! Everything is basically about missionary work in the auxiliaries and as a whole! It's awesome! Because this ward had 4 baptisms last year and their goal is 22 for 2015 haha a big difference, lots of work, but we are all putting in the work to achieve it! We need it!! Q came to church and in the evening the G's (my faves) had Q's fam over for FHE it was so wonderful! So sweet of the Gs and she made Texas sheet cake it tasted just like yours mom! So yum!!!

S. Giblette

That is the play by play of the week kinda but we did lots of other lessons and finding inbetweeen, always busy:)!! I am continuing to read the Book of Mormon and I never want to put it down haha I just wanna keep on reading and finish it all the way through! I'm in Alma 52 right now!:) It's so amazing how everytime I read I get more meaning out of different verses!! It's so amazing!!!

Ofa atu

Hurrah for Israel!!!!!

Love,

Sister Wells

Don't Be A Robot :)

I'm glad Vegas was fun and that dad and Zach were able to get along by themselves! I am also so excited to hear where Sadie will be called!! Maybe Texas?!! haha

At Zone Conference

Every week just seems to zoom by and I can't remember everything! Good thing I have a journal! We had zone conference this week and we talked a lot about working with the members, and how we can use them more effectively and help them to share the gospel with their friends. Sister V and I have been working on that a lot and still have lots to improve, but we have seen a change in the ward which is really cool! Three members had us over for dinner and one even had us over to do nails haha but brought their friend so that we could meet them. One of them is really awesome and prepared for the gospel and we should see her again! The others may not be ready right now, but I know that it was a really good experience for the members and their friend! It's cool to see that change and see that the members really do trust us with their friends!

Outside my barn

Inside my barn

We continue going on exchanges every week and I'm actually on one right now with the hermanas. I'm so excited to sit in the Spanish lessons. I wish I could speak it! I'm learning a little! And I'm learning a hymn in Tongan and know some Samoan so that's pretty cool I guess ha:)

We also were able to see S this week! Finally! He is recovering from all his cat drama #prayforkiki and we talked about building our foundations on Christ Hel 5:12 so when the winds come that we can stay strong, and its doing the simple things pray, read, and go to church! He really loved it and was taking notes on everything ha  A member took him and his cat to the vet! His sight is still set on baptism but its just going to take some time!

Another cool thing that happened on Saturday was we did service raking leaves for some members neighbor and then she invited us in for breakfast and we talked about fam history and she was wayyy interested and said she would come to the family history center! Then later that day we went to visit a referral and she loves family history and wants to come to the center with us and have a tour of the church! How wonderful! I know that she'll feel the spirit so strong! Things are going good, its different than in Cove, we are trying to find really hard haha!! 

Sister V and I have so much fun together we laugh a lot and one of the zone leaders asked me today if my face was glued into a smile because he said I am always smiling "on the real" whatever that means haha! But I'm glad! I remember what Brady said a few years ago when he got home from his mission and he was like don't be a robot! I know what that means now, I've seen robot missionaries and it doesn't look like fun! I try to help them see we have fun while we work hard we should enjoy ourselves because our message is quite enjoyable! I know I've said that before but that's what this area needs to hear haha!!

Well I think that's everything! I love y'all lots, thanks for all the emails and prayers I really appreciate them:)

60 degree weather in January!

Sista Wells

I Am So Grateful To Partake of the Sacrament Each Week

Sounds like yall have lots of good stuff going on and lots of good stuff coming up!!!

With Sister V after a temple sealing of members she worked with.

I'm sitting here trying to think about what all happened this week but I can't it just goes by so fast and its just a blur but of goodness!! Last night we went to the mission President fireside and brought one of our la and investigators which was really cool!! It was nice and I saw sister t again:) Church was also very good! I don't know if y'all have already read this months ensign, but one of the articles talks about the sacrament and how it can be the hour that we give to the Savior.

Elder Holland relates a dream Elder Orson F. Whitney had in which he saw the Savior in the Garden of 

Gethsemane. Elder Whitney described the pain and suffering he saw the Savior bear. Then he wrote:

     

“Presently He arose and walked to where [the] Apostles were kneeling fast asleep! He shook them gently, awoke them, and in a tone of tender reproach, untinctured by the least show of anger or scolding, asked them if they could not watch with Him one hour. …

“Returning to His place, He prayed again and then went back and found them again sleeping. Again He awoke them, admonished them, and returned and prayed as before. Three times this happened.”

As I read this, the spirit of revelation entered my mind. In that instant, I realized that the way I could “watch with him one hour" was in the way I approached Sacrament meeting each Sunday. Since then, I have learned that this is an hour in which we can pray to our Heavenly Father in a more meaningful way. Prayer is fundamental at all times, but the spirit present in that hour of the sacrament is an opportunity to elevate ourselves closer to our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. When we focus our thoughts on the Lord, it is, in a way, accompanying him at the moment of agony He endured when taking upon Himself our sins. It is a time to acknowledge the pain He suffered for us.

I loved that so much I am so grateful to partake of the sacrament each week!!

Elder friends from "the South"

Sister V and I continue to have lots of fun together. She's never had pancakes, I made her some and now she makes them every night haha and she'd never had syrup and she's obsessed so I made her French toast and now she loves that it's hilarious!! She says that I've changed her life!! haha

Love yall have the best week ever!!!

Sister Wells

Sister C and I at our 7 month mark.

I Wouldn't Wanna Be In Any Other Place in the World!

Looks like Arizona was super fun I loved all the pictures!! Mom you need to be careful you're making me worry! I hope you heal soon!! New Years for us was really just nothing different just continuing to work!! Love it! And I'm way excited that yall are going to read the Book of Mormon again!! I just finished the NT this week so I was excited!! It was way good.

So S -- I don't know how to explain everything. He had a meltdown like his cat isn't eating #prayforkiki and it's stressing him out, he takes 600 mg of morphine for his back pain which makes him nuts, so we are just letting him relax and stuff like this week was NUTZ but it's ok I know there is a reason for everything and Heavenly Father is definitely helping us.

Janessa aka Sister Wells :)

But on the bright side of things!!! Q and the kids came to church and sacrament (usually they are late and miss sacrament) booya  she only has 4 cigs a day now which is good, they move the 15th I'm heartbroken because they are doing really really well!!!  But, some less actives the Sk came to church so did Sister H and Sis W and we taught Sis H granddaughters when we were over and they asked for a Book of Mormon and they came to church that's why Sis H came!! and they want us to come over tomorrow (they aren't members)!! So that is cool! Our other investigators are sick and the others mom just died... so like I said its been crazy! but we should see them this week!! We also are really working on the referrals from caroling following up with the members and stuff which is good!

As I was setting goals for 2015 I was thinking about where I was last year at this time when I was in Puerto Rico with the swim team and going to BYU and I was thinking those were some good times and at the time I felt like I was way happy, and I was, but I look at where I am now and I know that I am even more happy! I wouldn't wanna be any other place in the world! I love my Heavenly Father and I love my brothers and sisters and that is why I am here, to bring the world His truth!!

I love yall

Sista Wells

We Aren't Getting Taken Out of Our Area!

Hey y'all!! Sounds like you had a good fun week!! I can't believe Angela's already going home!! That's super exciting!! This week was super awesome here in Denton!!

Monday: P-day was fabulous I even went thrift shopping for the first time, I guess that's the thing to do here in Denton, its so hipster haha.  The other sisters here love it!! Then we went on exchange I got to be with my mtc companion Sister C it was a partay, I love her so much! And I love going on exchanges with the sisters because I learn a lot everytime.

Showing off her mad gymnastic skills!

Tuesday: I was with Sister C doing YSA stuff which was great until the evening and our whole district went caroling, trying to visit all the referrals the members gave us, which is like 70!! That's way good though, but takes lots of time so we have done that quite a bit this week!!

Wednesday: We did service at Our Daily Bread! But on the way there in the car I felt something weird on my head, I thought it was just my hair but then no --  a HUGE spider fell on my lap!! How did it get there? I don't know but I screamed it had the longest legs ew I was in shock for awhile haha. Sister S had her final interview with president so her and Sister J went to that and with the driving and all it took like 3 hours so I had H G as my companion (she's the one that just got home from Boston) The Gs are so awesome, they had us for dinner that night too!! Then we caroled!

Thursday: Planning day. Then this is where it gets good. I can't remember all that I told you about S our investigator, but while I was on exchange the sisters taught him the Restoration and he said, "I don't care how Joseph Smith got his answer, I just know it's true!" When I called him the night before to confirm for our lesson the next day he was talking about church and said when he walked in his heart tightened and he felt the spirit so strong and that he wanted to cry but he didn't want everyone to think he was weird.... amazing right?! So we had another lesson and I got to be there:) And we taught the plan of salvation, he was taking notes the whole time and just soaked it all in! He's started reading from the Book of Mormon and loves it! He is so amazing ah it kills me I love him! And he was found through a member!! It's just the best when it's through a member! By the way I was thinking the other day how that one year we studied Preach my Gospel as a family, that was so awesome!! I should've taken more advantage of that!! Y'all should do that again!!!! Seriously!!

Friday: Went on exchange with the Decatur sisters!! and caroled there! oh oh but I did find out that we aren't getting taken out of our area, and I know who my new companion will be, she is from Tonga!! She came out one transfer after me! We will no longer be in a trio. I'm so excited we are just gonna rock it! I love the Polynesians and they just love me:) She'll be here on Wednesday!!

Saturday: Saw some recent converts and caroled that night. haha nothing very exciting!

Sunday: Yay!!! J 10, B 8, C(their grandma), S and J all came to church!! It was so exciting!!! And our meeting and lessons were just amazing it was so great!!! There are miracles happening here!! And we went to the Denton Stake Christmas concert and is was so awesome they are very musically talented:) It was a nice day:)

I've learned a lot here with my Sister S and Jand I will miss them lots, but I'm excited to learn more and more!! And I'm super excited to stay in this area, I love it here!!

Oh and cool thing I learned this morning as I was studying about charity, in 1 Peter 4:8 its says "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." Charity preventeth a multitude of sins! I never thought of that before that is so awesome!!!!

Anywho I just love yall so much!!! Have the best week ever!!!

Sister Wells

Old photo with Sister T.  Blue Bell ice cream is made in Texas and is supposed to be super yummy!

I Love Sharing It With Others

Hey hey!!

First off, I'm glad to hear that dad is doing better!! And also I'm just super duper excited that Sadie is going on a mission!! Tell her yay yay yay its the best thing in the world!!!!!! Thanks for all the emails I sure do love reading them!! And I can't wait to get my package:)

So I wrote y'all just a few days ago it seems and since then I have had a lot of meetings, goodness being a stl requires a lot of that, its very different but I'm learning a lot of different things which is really good. I have realized that as a leader I have to be listening to the spirit to help those that I am over just as I do with the investigators that we teach. So on Friday we had mlc which was super amazing I learned soooo much! And of course I just love seeing President and Sister Ames! Sometimes I don't think about it but I feel the spirit so much every single day, I love it, that really is how we learn. As I kept a prayer in my heart throughout the meeting so many things came to mind to change and to help the sisters we work with. I also was able to see some old Killeen buddies so that was awesome. We had our ward Christmas party that night as well and Quita and her two kids were able to come and also Jessie! That's all of our investigators it was so exciting! It was journey to Bethlehem and it was really nice, each room was decorated and had the sheperds, 3 kings, angels, king herod, mary and joseph etc. and they would tell their side of the story and then we would sing a Christmas hymn! We also had members who brought their friends and tons of less actives, I feel like we need to have these kind of activities all the time to invite less actives and non members its the best opportunity and turned out very well!!

Bad news is, my sick companions are not sick anymore, but I am. Haha I'm ok though its also my allergies because the crazy weather just makes everything crazy! So I don't remember if I told y'all about the Hs, they are a part member family. They came to church 2 weeks ago because the parents  called bishop and asked about church time and place stuff and they all came! We have been trying to get a hold of them to teach their daughter and son and sister in-law and were able to get J to the party and then they all came to church again yesterday!!! They really want to be involved in the church again and their daughter J who is 30 wants to be a member! We had her over at the relief society presidents house for the Christmas devotional yesterday and taught lesson 1, she loved it, she understood it and has a baptismal date for next month! She said she feels peace and love at church and with all the members, she said it feels like home, it feels like family. It just showed to me again how God has people prepared to receive the gospel and so He says here ya go sisters you need to teach this family, you're welcome! We don't do a thing, its all through the spirit. It just is super great to be a part of the whole thing!!

Rumors are that our area might get closed! we will find out soon, 10 sisters are going home this transfer and only 2 are coming out! So we have to shut down some sisters areas! I'm just dying to know but I'll let y'all know next week!!

Yesterday we had a great testimony meeting, in my last ward and branch I had to get up every time because not enough people would, but there was hardly anytime for me to yesterday and it was powerful!! I bore my testimony about the restoration of the gospel, I know that this is Christs church restored in its fullness upon the earth, I know that it is logically because it just makes complete sense, but I know because the spirit has testified of this truth many times, Joseph Smith is a prophet and Thomas S. Monson is a prophet today, I am so blessed to have this knowledge. I know God lives and I know He loves each one of us, I am so grateful to my Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ and I know that it is only through him that we can live with our Heavenly Father again and make it through this life. I am so thankful for this knowledge and I want you all to know that I do love this gospel and I love sharing it with others, just as each of these children of God gain a testimony, my testimony continues to grow every single day.

I love you all so much

Sister Wells

While On A Mission Your Capability to Love Is Just So Easy

Ok I'm sorry I know y'all want pictures and I don't know I just lost my cord that connects to the computer......... so I don't know what to do... sorry I have taken lots of pictures though I wish I could send them!! Sounds like thanksgiving was fun and Las Vegas, where are the pics?!!:) Also I still wanna see what dads face looks like!

Thanksgiving was good here! It was our planning day so we did that then took around some thank you cards, the street we live on is basically all family and a member of the 2nd quorum of the seventy Elder Martinos home is there and I totally shook his hand haha. We had dinner with the M from our ward it was fun but their food wasn't as good, it wasn't homemade:( but still great and they invited their Buddhist friend J over and she was an absolute sweetheart she is from Thailand and  her husband passed away not to long ago, we taught a mini version of the Plan of Salvation and she really felt the spirit, but it's interesting because she doesn't really believe in God or Jesus Christ but almost everyone in Texas does so when they don't I'm like wuuuuutttttt?? hah It was good though. After, we went to the Gs she had some family who aren't members and just wanted us to be there and meet them and they had GOOD food, like way good so they gave us lots of leftovers:) I love them. And my favorite dessert was sweet potatoe flan, sounds weird right?! So so yummy!! We also just saw some less actives and that was our Thanksgiving!! Have you guys watched the "He is the Gift" video yet? It's so powerful, I love it, everytime! The weather has been kinda crazy it was like 75 then changed to 35!!

We went on exchange with the sisters in Decatur last week and I went there with Sister Bs and we did service and taught their investigator Ch he was super awesome, such a cowboy! But I just loved him and it was like only an hour I had known him, so I was thinking about that and really love that while on a mission your capability to love is just so easy and so much and so fast. I definitely do not judge people from their appearance anymore well hopefully not as much, and when you talk with everyone you just realize that they are super awesome!! I love that!

Funny story, the girl who said I looked like Shakira, we had dinner at their house and she was singing Shakira and Shania twain the whole time and she said the closing prayer and was like "thanks for letting us sing hips don't lie by shakira etc." and went on and on it was hilarious but so cute!

So Q and her two kids were in the hospital all last week so we weren't able to see them, but we were able to see them yesterday and they are doing well! The kids are so smart and remember lots of what we have taught them. I haven't taught kids a lot on the mish so it has been fun thinking of fun ways to teach them and they are very receptive and help their mom. The other week she told us "you better get that water running warm because I'm running to it!" talking about getting baptized!! And she wants to go to the temple way bad, but she is just having a really hard time quitting smoking:( we are doing all we can to help her and praying lots!!

Other than all that my companions got sick this week:( oh S is from West Jordan and J is originally from San Antonio but moved to Springville last year! The picture from K (she's less active) is when we went to teach her but she made all this herbal medicine tea stuff for them to make them feel better but she made me drink it too, gross it was gross haha but she wanted to send a pic to our moms cause she loves us:) 

We went to the temple this morning!! Yayyyyy Sister G is the sweetest lady ever and drove us and it was so so nice to be there, I've missed it, and I saw the new video which was cool, it was so peaceful:) I want all our recent converts to go there:) We just barely got back from Dallas and just doing all our pday stuff today! We have lots of meetings this weekend and lots of caroling to do so it should be great! Sometimes I get bummed with things that happen, but then during studies the other day I was just like I just love being a missionary and I love Texas so much! I've learned so much and I love teaching others everything that I've learned. Everybody needs to go on a mission:)

Scripture for the day: Nahum(who knew? haha) 1:7 love it! love yall!!!!!

Sista Wells