Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Hi Ho Hi Ho off to Ohio She Goes 9.30.15

Sister Detamore made it safely to Ohio today! She had to meet at the MTC travel office bright and early at 3:30 am this morning. After making it through security she got to call our mom and talked for about 40 min. Sister Detamore said she misses everybody, but she’s not homesick. She continues to emphasize how much she LOVES being a missionary.
She had a quick layover in Michigan and landed around 2:30 in Ohio. We feel pretty blessed that all three sisters had a chance to talk very briefly on the phone with her before heading to the mission home. She sounds awesome, happy, and so excited to get to work. P-Day is on Monday so we’re excited to get an email and hear more.
Here’s a picture that was emailed to our parents the other night. This is Sister Detamore, her companion and the MTC president and his wife. Pretty neat!
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Along with this picture a couple other pictures have been sent to my parents. We find these tender mercies from the Lord. Below is a couple of pictures from the MTC, one of missionaries from her District sent from another missionary mom, one sent just a few days after Sister Detamore entered the MTC. This one from one of the kitchen volunteers, Sister Detamore told this person she LOVES french toast sticks!, The last from an old friend and member of their ward in Utah. Joann Stoddard moved to Ohio and likes to welcome the missionaries and was at the meeting for Sister Detamore’s first transfer. Not only did we get a picture the day after she got to Ohio, but we know she is serving in the Fairborn area, which happens to be where my dad spent many summers with his grandparents. Blessings from heaven!

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Thursday, September 24, 2015

First Email! 9.24.15

Well. First week in the mission field is done. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY. I can't begin to tell you everything because I would be here for hours!! The first was crazy. I cant begin to tell you how excited i was to receive my badge...Having Sister Detamore and Jesus Christ on me everyday is an amazing feeling. CLASS EVERY SINGLE DAY for hours haha. So a normal schedule for me is get up at 6:15...gym 6:40-7:30...breakfast 8-8:30...planning, personal study and comp study 8:30-11:30 11:50 teach...lunch class 1:35-4:35....teach then dinner at 5:30..class 6:30-9:30. I learn so much that by the time I get to my room, I am SO ready for bed.
My companions name is Sister Nissalke. She is from Sandy, Utah. She is the amazing. She is shy compared to me especially in big groups but we are so CLOSE. We love almost every second together. She is a huge volleyball player and so..#VOLLEYBALLEVERYDAY. I love it. She is so funny and we get alone so well. We have different personally but we are so close already. I also room with Sister Nelson and Sister Williams..i met these girls through Facebook before i entered the MTC so it was nice to finally meet them. We all (including my comp) are going to OHIO and it seriously is so nice to be so close to them already. SLEEPOVERS EVERY NIGHT. We also kneel and say prayer every night together. I love my district. Seriously, they are family. The elders are super crazy and weird but they are like brothers to me now. 
This may not be surprising..BUT i am known as the emotional one in our district. I CRY ALL THE TIME (for good reasons). I just feel the spirit so strong and so I Cry A Lot lol.
I love my teachers Brother Stanley and Sister Steck. I have learned so much from them. Sister Steck reminds of my oldest sister Jennifer A lot...it is such a small tender mercy. 
I was able to see my best friend Sister Kutterer (KIRA) within 10-15 minutes of being in the MTC and I baled my eyes out. Being the MTC together is the most amazing thing EVA. TENDER MERCY. I see her every day even though we don't have the same schedule. 
My comp and I's first lesson was amazing.  We taught our progressing investigator who knew almost nothing about the gospel. We ended with talking about the Atonement and then challenged him to be baptized and HE SAID YES. First lesson ever on my mission and it was so powerful.
I have two TRC which is our two investigators. Erika knows SO MUCH about the gospel. She is trying to get over a really hard break up with a member and i know she just needs to feel gods love. She says she could see herself as a member and a good member...the only one holding her back is herself...she needs to have FAITH. The only thing holding her back from baptism is really herself.
Elsie is our second TRC. She is sorta hard to teach because she doesn't really open up and i am so OUTGOING. That is where my comp comes in. She knows what its like to be like that and so we had to adjust our teaching towards her. She doesn't know too much about the gospel but she does live with members. She is engaged and the lesson on Saturday we are going to teach the plan of salvation and how she can be married for time and all ETERNITY. 
I love being a missionary so so so much. My testimony has grown so much. The Atonement is so really. I testify that if you access the Atonement of Jesus Christ every single day that you will feel is love for you. I promise you that if you search the Book of Mormon with really intent and try to understand it...you will learn so much out of it! I challenge everyone to read the last two paragraphs of the intro in the Book of Mormon then read Moroni 10:3-5. 
The church is so true people. I love it so much. I love being a representative of Christ! Next time i email, i will be in OHIO. AWWW! I love this gospel so much.
XOXO Sister Detamore 
Pictures!!!
Her first letter
The sisters in her Zone
“Sister Hartvigsen, she is literally me. She is in the other district in my zone/branch”
Her Zone
First Package
BFF picture with their companions
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The sisters in her zone (?)
Finally got the name badge, she has been so excited to get it
Her companion Sister Nissalke District leader Elder Jarvis companion Elder Wagner
Her District

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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Entering the MTC 9.16.15

Heading down to the MTC Dad, Mom, Jackie, and Grandma hit a crazy storm. Jenessa was following behind with her two kiddos, but after hydro-planeing and seeing a couple of accidents she made a tough decision and decided to go back home. I’m sure angels were surrounding the car as they drove down to Provo to drop Sister Detamore off at the MTC. Jes stopped by earlier that morning to say goodbye. She wasn't able to drive down with the rest of that gang because of work. Sister Detamore and I (Jen) had a nice chat on the phone for a good portion of the drive and she also said good-bye to Nes and the kids over the phone. A quick bite to eat for lunch and they pulled up to the Provo temple. Thankfully the clouds parted and the rain stopped so they could get some pictures before she was to be dropped off. Sister Detamore randomly met up with two other missionaries who happened to be going to Ohio as well, I’m sure they are in her District in the MTC, She was also able to take pictures with her best friend Kira and of course our parents.
Mom kept it together as they dropped her off and parted ways. Sister Detamore was so excited and ready to get her badge (she mentioned this several times) and start getting to work.



Sister Detamore just before they headed to the MTC

Three new missionaries all headed to Ohio that happened to meet up right before they were dropped off at the MTC, Sister Detamore and Sister Kutterer, Sister Detamore and mom and dad.
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Sister Detamore’s Missionary Pictures

Hey friends and family! This is Jackie's oldest sister Jen. I have the honor of keeping Sister Detamore's mission blog up to date while she is serving the Lord in the state of Ohio. We received an email today! But before I make that post I'd like to share some of her stunning missionary pictures that our very talented brother-in-law Gary and sis Jenessa took. Enjoy!

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

This Isn't Goodbye...It Is Simply See You Later

Wow. In 18 hours I will be set apart as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I can't begin to tell you the emotions I feel at the time because it is simply too hard. The past week has been very bittersweet. I can't begin to tell you all the memories I made, laughs, cries, and every other thing that has happened. But the one thing that stings the most is the goodbyes.I did not know it would be this hard until this past week came. It was so hard to hug people and realize it was the last time I would see them...for some, I don't know if they will be here when I get home or part of my life when I get home....that is the hardest part. Every time I said goodbye to someone, another piece of my heart would break and endless tears would follow as I watched them leave. I think one of my hardest goodbyes will be my family. What hurts the most is knowing that my hardest goodbye will be my last one and won't be until I am inches from the MTC doors. There are so many people that I have made a huge impact in my life:
Oh my dear family...





oh my loving friends..

What I learned is that this isn't goodbye...it is simply see you later. I know that I am not saying goodbye to my life. In 18 months, I will be a new me but my life will not be different. I learned how much my Heavenly Father blessed my life. He knew exactly what He was doing when he put certain people in my life. I can't begin to explain how grateful I am for the examples in my life. Heavenly Father have blessed me with amazing examples. I am so grateful for this gospel. I am grateful for what it has done for me. I cannot wait to serve the people of Ohio. Thank you to everyone who has impacted my life. Even if you are not in one of the photos posted, know that you have impacted my life in one way or another (and plus, if I added a picture for every person that impacted my life there would be 1,000+ pictures haha). I love you all so much! until next time...

XOXOXO Sister Detamore