He Will Never Give Up On You 3.28.16

What a crazy last three days it's been. I feel like I had to put my big girl pants the moment I got told I would be training. It's been a different experience training a missionary. I've been able to learn a lot through the experience, even in three short days. I'm so thankful for my new companion! Her name is Sister Birchett and she is from Payson, Utah. She graduated the same year as me and attend Utah State University for 3 semesters before she came out. She is INCREDIBLE.

Seriously, she testifies all the time, teaches clearly and simply, and I feel blessed! She has such a humble heart and I love her drive to help Gods Children.

On Friday, we were out knocking and we met a girl named N. She is probably a year or two older than me. We showed her the new Easter video and then she asked if we had time to come in. I simply said, "Yes" when inside I was screaming, "OF COURSE WE HAVE TIME...OH MY GOODNESS, YES WE WOULD LOVE TO COME IN." But that would have freaked her out so I stayed with the simply yes. Haha. We walked in and she shared personal stories how she gained her faith in Christ. We were able to share the restoration with her and she was so engaged. It's been the most engaged I've every seen someone in a first lesson my whole mission. We extended baptism and she didn't accept...(YET) because she has already been baptized...but we can work out that. (:

We set up a return appointment and came the next day. About an hour before our appointment she text us and told us she was excited to meet with us again. When we got there, she had chairs set up and her Book of Mormon as well as her restoration pamphlet out. We had Sister Logan come with us and it was such an incredible lesson...I really felt like "Teach People, Not Lessons" was happening. As we taught about the pre-mortal life, she said with excitement, "Yes!!" Sister Birchett asked her why she reacted like that and she explained that she loves the idea that we once lived with God as spirits. She said she couldn't wait for the day to live with him again. As we have met with N, my eyes have been open. She has taught me so much and I can't wait to continue to teach her. She is such an incredible example of someone who has a sincere desire to follow Christ.

Saturday, we had the opportunity to sing at the Zone Leaders baptism.

(YES, MY COMPANION SINGS.) We sang "I Know That My Redeemer Lives."

The spirit was so present during that baptism. We had opportunity to help J get in and out of the font due to her age and physical state. It was a testimony to me that no matter our age or physical condition, we can follow the Savior.

We've been working with M and things with him are slow but he is making progress! He has made the comment, "I tried the Jesus thing before you were born." But I know that Christ is more involved in his life than he realizes. I know our Heavenly Father is so aware of Mick and all we have to do is invite the spirit and help him recognize it.

We are trying to focus on him understanding the plan of salvation so he can understand that he does have a purpose on this earth. As I was studying the plan of salvation this week, I came across a quote I wanted to share. Bruce R. McConkie said: "It is not possible to believe in Christ and his atoning sacrifice, in the true and full sense required to gain salvation, without at the same time believing and accepting the true doctrine of the fall. If there had been no fall, there would have been no need for a Redeemer or Savior. And it is not possible to believe in the fall, out of which immortality and eternal life come, without at the same time believing and accepting the true doctrine of the creation: If there had been no creation of all things in a deathless or immortal state, there could have been no fall, and hence no atonement and no salvation. The Father’s eternal plan called for the creation, for the fall, and for the atonement, all woven together into one united whole." I came to realize the importance of the creation, fall, and atonement. Our Father in Heavens plan is so perfect. How lucky are we to know the plan of salvation. It is eternal. It is for US as Gods children.

I am so thankful for the time to wear my Saviors name and represent Him everyday. Everyday I learn more of who He is to us all and is to me personally. Because of Him, we can overcome physical death and spiritual death. Many people begin to give up as they feel like they will never be good enough. Brad Wilcox says, "There should never be just two options: perfection or giving up. When learning the piano, are the only options performing at Carnegie Hall or quitting? No.

Growth and development take time. Learning takes time. When we understand grace, we understand that God is long-suffering, that change is a process, and that repentance is a pattern in our lives.

When we understand grace, we understand that the blessings of Christ’s Atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). When we understand grace, we can, as it says in the Doctrine and Covenants, “continue in patience until [we] are perfected” (D&C 67:13)." I know that everyday through Christ and His grace that we can strive for our divine potential. How thankful I am to know this. I know Christ lives. I know He loves each one of us personally. He will never give up on you, so never give up on Him. I say these things in the name of our Beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen. Until next Monday...lots of love!

Please read this talk:

https://www.lds.org/youth/article/his-grace-is-sufficient?lang=eng

XOXO

Sister Detamore

1. Sister Birchett and I

2. oHiO

3. Easter

4. I LOVE OHIO ❤️

 

"The Rewards Are Always Good." 3.23.16

Happy Easter! I can't believe it's Easter on Sunday. How thankful I am to be able to serve during this time. I feel so privileged to be able to share this message with the people of Ohio.

Transfer calls came....DRUMROLL...I will be staying...and TRAINING. what?!! I feel so inadequate. I know with the Lord all things are possible and that I can find strengthen through Him. I know that President Daines is inspired and I can't wait to see what I will learn from this new missionary. How lucky am I to get her?! Sister Alius will be leaving....and that is going to be one hard thing for me. Friends for life for sure. MISSION FRIENDS ARE THE BEST FRIENDS TO HAVE FOREVER. She has done so much for me and I'm forever grateful for her. ❤️❤️

On Thursday, we were doing service for a member who is moving to Utah. As we were able to leave, we were singing softly in the kitchen while grabbing our stuff. We went to walk out when the painter, K, stopped us and told us we had beautiful voices. He asked if we had done any recording together and we simply said no. He went on to explain that he has 5 free hrs of recording at one of the biggest recording studios here in Ohio and that he would love to have us use them. He asked if we had a YouTube channel and of course the answer was no, he then said, "now you do." He explained that he shoots videos and records music. He said he would love to share the Lords word through our music. We then gave him a Book of Mormon and shared with him the message it contains. He promised he would open and read it. He said he knew we were "holy" the moment he saw he. He said, "you had a light in your eyes." He told us a personal story and we were able to teach some the plan of salvation to him with the Book of Mormon. We got his information and referred the missionaries over to him. What a great guy K is! Such an incredible guy with the most sincere desire to follow God. Our example in everyday life really DO make a difference. We have to be the light of the world at all times. 

On Saturday, we got home from serving in the pantry when we saw a family moving into our apartment complex. We immediately walked over and asked if we could help. It was such a neat experience to be able to serve them and help them move. We were able to get to know them in such a comfortable setting. We went over later that day and sang them Where Can I Turn for Peace. I hope one day we can start to teach this sweet family. 

We had a lesson with J(the less active we are working with) and his parents. We focused on the second principle in the gospel, Repentance. We watched a short clip from Mormon.org. As we were watching it a small line stuck out to me that never did before. The young boy said, "Change is not easy but the rewards are always good." That line pierced right to my heart. I have been a witness of that line countless times throughout my life and on my mission. Change is not easy. I would know firsthand. Sometimes we, as mortals, can be stubborn and put up a pride wall..thinking we know better. But the rewards are ALWAYS great. Because of the atonement of our Savior, we CAN change. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can work toward the divine potential that our Father in Heaven desires us to reach. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, "If our weaknesses and shortcomings remain obscured in the shadows, then the redeeming power of the Savior cannot heal them and make them strengths. Ironically, our blindness toward our human weaknesses will also make us blind to the divine potential that our Father yearns to nurture within each of us." How thankful am I to be able to learn to change and become better through the Atonement. 

I'm so thankful for the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. How lucky are we to know that through Him we can overcome physical and spiritual death. We have the opportunity to change and that decision to change starts within ourselves. I know that Christ lives and He reigns today. We have a living day prophet who has been called of God to lead us. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church restored on the earth today. I love you all. Until Monday..

XOXO

Sister Detamore 

1. Service for the LEGGS

2. Service

3. LOVE MY WSU WILDCATS 

It Was Never Easy for Him 3.14.16

Can you believe it...it's been 6 MONTHS. HALF A YEAR. This has been some of hardest yet most rewarding 6 months of my life. How grateful I am to be able to serve the Lord at this time in my life! What a great past three days! Sorta crazy that I'm already emailing again but I do have some experiences we had that I want to share with you all! 

On Friday, we had a chapel tour planned with a less active. While we were weekly planning, she had canceled. Her visit teacher, the bishops wife Sister Stevenson, had planned to come with us. Though she canceled, we didn't want to cancel (sounds familiar?...aka my last email has a similar story)! So we decided to call J, who is a less active we have been sorta working with (He was the one that we didn't plan to see but he was home and while we were talking we invited him to church and he said he had thought about attending church...and then he came that Sunday!) a couple hours before it, he responded and said he could do it! Sister Stevenson said she would still come which ended up being a tender mercy because she knows J well and her son is going through a similar thing as J. We did a brief chapel tour and focused on the paintings of Christ. We went to the chapel and had them sit in front of the sacrament temple. We discussed the importance of the sacrament then Sister Alius sang "Abide With Me 'Tis Eventide" the spirit was so strong! J talked about how he remembers passing the sacrament and what a sacred opportunity that was for him. It was such a neat experience for him to remember that spiritual memory. Everyday he is making progressing and our hearts are filled to the max with the love that our Father in Heaven has for J. I know that our Father in Heaven is watching over J and is so proud of the changes he is making in his life.

About 7:15 pm on Friday, we were at knocking doors and looking for potentials. As we were walking, we saw a group of about 20 people doing a bonfire outside. Sister Alius jokingly said, "Should we sing for them?" I was like "Sure, you wanna!?" She then awkwardly laughed and was like, "ehh..you choose. Cause if I choose, I'll say no. So without responding, I walked straight towards the bonfire (hopefully, I didn't embarrass her too much lol). I asked the group the stupidest question..drumroll please..."Are you all from Ohio originally?"...stupid...stupid..stupid but they all simpler responded with a yes or no..one lady asked if we were. We said we were from Utah and explained who we were. We then sang Where Can I Turn For Peace for them. Instantly, the group was quit and you could feel the spirit. We then testified of our Savior and His divinity. No way, would I have ever done that at home but because of this little black name tag, I get to represent our Savior Jesus Christ and testify of Him. 

Saturday, we worked at a food pantry in Delaware through Just Serve. One of the rules for us doing service through just serve is that we can do any proselyting of any kind, just simply serve. While about an hour into working, it became really slow so us and about 7 others were standing waiting for people to help. As we were there, people started to ask us simple questions then led into what we do as missionaries. It was such a cool opportunity to share what we do. One guy came up to us and said, "I really appreciate what you do. You not only talk the talk but you walk the talk. Thank you for your example." It was such a neat experience to have. I've truly come to know that it is worth to stand for what you believe In and to be a light to this world. I love the rhyme from President Thomas S. Monson talk Dare to Stand Alone:

Dare to be a Mormon;

Dare to stand alone.

Dare to have a purpose firm;

Dare to make it known.

Lastly, as a mission we have made to a goal and big push to get investigators to church this month. We did a big mission fast the beginning of the month and lots of praying. This area hasn't had an investigator to church in at least 6 weeks maybe more. So Sister Alius and I really want to exercise faith and help someone attend. Last Monday night we met M on her moms driveway as we were living a street. I started to introduce ourselves as she cut me off and explained that she knew who we were. We started to talk to her and found out she had attend church with the sister missionaries last summer but stopped going for some reason. She explained that she was going through a hard time and was out of a job. As we were, talking I kept having the impression to invite her to church and promise her that she would find a job if she attended church with us. After wrestling with the idea, I realized it was a spiritual promoting and I could not deny it. I invited her to church and promised her that blessing. She wanted the promise to be true. We asked if we could meet with her this week and she declined because she was busy. We then asked if we could get her number so we could find a good time when she was free. She once again during declined but said if she came to church, she would give it to us. We were on our way, during the entire week I thought nothing of it. By Saturday, we were running around inviting people to church and teaching them the importance of it. Everyone was like eh about the idea. Sunday came and we had invited many people with no success...but then 10 minutes before sacrament meeting started, M walks in! What a miracle. We had her sit by the Hendersons and they were so good to her. We had talked to her once the only week and never saw her again...but she came!! Again, my testimony was strengthened that "Miracles happen through the faith of mortals." 

It's such an incredible and sacred opportunity to wear the Saviors name everyday over my heart. This work isn't easy, in fact it never was or will be. Jeffery R. Holland said, "this work isn't easy because salvation never was cheap. It was never easy for Him[Christ] so why do we expect it to be easy for us?" I know the church is true and that Christ is the head of it. I know God lives. Thank you for all the love and support. Until next Wednesday... (Transfers are next week).

With love

XOXO, 

Sister Detamore 

 

1. Just messing around cause...PDAY

2. #what?!

3. Love her ❤️

 

Jesus Christ Lives 3.10.16

Hello there! It's been kinda a busy and crazy last week and a half.

There is SO much I could share with all of you but I just share with you the highlights of the week.

Last Wednesday we went to go see a less active, M in the elders area. We parked our car next to a lady and worried if it was M.

We both are new in the area so we just decided to knock on her door.

M's husband (who is a former of the elders) answered and said she wasn't home. We started to drive away and got pretty far down the road when we saw the lady in the car waving at us. We thought it was M so we literally turned around as fast as we could...(and plus, even if it wasn't, you know missionaries are going to turn around when someone waves to them like that). We parked our car and probably looked crazy as we ran to her and asked if she was Me! She was like, "No, I'm K but I live with M." She then randomly went on to tell us her story and her past. She explained that literally without Christ, she wouldn't be living today. She said she doesn't tell her story to people but had a feeling to tell us. We testified of the savior and the asked if she attended church near by.

She said she moved to Powell about 2 months ago and hasn't attend on here but did before she moved here. We invited her to church and then also, invited her to the relief society actually that would be held in

1.5 hrs. Later, we got to the relief society dinner and she showed up!

She had gotten all ready and looked beautiful! (As well as L, another investigator of our who also came!) Everyone was so welcoming to K and she kept telling people how we literally pulled her from the side of the street. We decided since we were at the church that we would give her a chapel tour with a member. It was so spiritual. We sang "Abide With Me 'Tis Eventide" to hear in the chapel. We stopped at the painting of the priesthood being restored and briefly explained the apostasy and restoration. As I shared the first vision, tears filled her eyes. She said, "Joseph Smith restored the full truth to humanity." We didn't even explain it to her like that...the spirit taught her that! We then explained baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. She expressed that she would love that gift so we extended baptism and she accepted! We met her 2 hrs before that. I learned that God really does put people in our path and if we simply open our mouths, they will be ready to hear the message!

So last pday (March 29th), a guy came up to us at Krogers and asked what church allows us to dress like this. He explained that we were stylish yet conservative. We shared who we were and gave him a card.

It was such a nice compliment but we didn't think anything of it.

Well, a week later on this Monday we were walking up to an investigators house and we see a man next door start waving at us. IT WAS THE SAME GUY. He asked us if we would come visit him after we were done at his neighbors. So we did and now we are teaching him. Heavenly Father really does put people in your path!

Just Serve is a new thing that the church has come out with! We did some service at a food pantry on Tuesday during exchanges and it was such an amazing experience...we are going back on Saturday and I can't wait! I invite you all to go to just serve online and start to serve others. Remember, Mosiah 2:17 "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." We also got to do service at an assisted living center yesterday!

Yesterday, we had a chapel tour planned with a member and one of our investigators. 30 minutes before it our investigator canceled. We were really bummed but we didn't want to cancel the chapel tour. So we pulled over and we decided we would pray about it. Instantly, an investigators name popped up...I brushed it away thinking, "there is no way...its 29 minutes before!" I decided to tell Sister Alius and she agreed! We knocked on E's door 20 minutes before. At first, she was not really for it but then she decided she would. We were able to do the chapel tour and to sing for her. It was such a spiritual experience. The member that came is Bro. Henderson..a convert of two years. He is incredible! He married a member, rejected missionaries for years, but now is one of the most amazing members I have ever met!

20 minutes before and she came! I've learned a lot the past couple weeks that miracles really happen through the faith of Mortals. I know that to be true!

We had the opportunity to attend the temple today. It was such a sacred privilege to attend a session and be in the Lords house. There is so much peace from the temple and it is literally a piece of heaven on earth.

There is so much more I want to share with you all but I know this email is already so long. It's been such an incredible week, with a lot of downs as well. I'm so grateful to share this restored gospel to Gods children in Ohio. It's such a privilege to represent my Savior Jesus Christ and wear his name literally on my chest every day. I love this gospel so much. It has brought me so much peace and happiness. I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves each one of us. We all have divine potential and a purpose here on earth. I love you all so much, until next Monday!

XOXO,

Sister Detamore

1. LOVE HER

2. 80 degree weather

3. Temple!

4. Don't ask me.

5. I fell lol.

6. It was a rough day...so I stared at a old package. Lol