Doubled-In X2 ✌ 2.27.17

Friends and Family,

This is been the strangest couple days of my life haha. I feel like I was thrown back into the world and it makes me feel awkward sometimes. So, where am I? My companion, Sister Jackson, and I were doubled into OSU. That's right everyone it's my second time opening a new area. I am currently serving at Ohio State University walking the campus and streets around it every single day. COTA has become my best friend which is the busing system in Columbus and is my only means of transportation besides my feet On weekends I'll see young adults partying. We serve in two YSA wards that meet at the institute building for church. I mostly talk to people my age 24/7. I will almost never knock a door again. I hear worldly music walking down the street or in the union. It's weird. But I love boldly proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ and the Book of Mormon is true to my peers even if they don't want to hear it. 

Sister Jackson is my wonderful new companion and is actual my "grandbaby" in mission terms (meaning I Trained her trainer). We both are trying to figure out this campus life haha. She is from Alpine, Utah and has been out 9 Months. She attended BYU Hawaii studying music before she came on her mission. 

With opening a new area, we aren't really working with anyone at the moment. We did meet this really cool guy named R yesterday. So we can't contact people in the union building on campus. Well, yesterday we did a quick companion study in the union and Rick sat literally right next to us which if you have ever been to college you try to avoid sitting by random people. I'm not sure why, it just happens. Well, we just briefly said "oh you fix phones?" and that was going to be the end of the discussion but because of R and his questions about who we were we ended up teaching the whole restoration, giving him a Book of Mormon, and setting up a return appointment. So pray for R that we can begin to teach him! 

Ohio is being super bipolar. Friday it was 75 degrees...just summer weather and absolutely beautiful. Saturday was 30 degrees and snowing. Not sure how that works out? But whatever. 

This week I came to realize you get to know someone better by experiencing things they have experienced. How would I ever get to know the Savior if I never experienced things He experienced? I will be better acquainted with Christ when I experience the joy and pain He felt as He walked the earth. So maybe I don't fully understand why hardship comes and trials occur and maybe we each have times when it's not the easiest thing we have experienced. BUT We do get the opportunity to become better acquainted to our Brother and Savior Jesus Christ...and to me, that makes it all worth it. Jesus Christ is the savior of world. He experienced all things so we could turn to Him. I love my Savior. He is my Brother. I say these in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Until next Monday, thanks for all the love and support. I'll never be able to fully explain how much it means to me.

XOXO,

Sister Detamore  

Hi campus.

Bonus!

Hey there! We’re getting down to the final countdown of Sister Detamore returning home! Just 6 more weeks to go! Enjoy a few more pictures from her mission Facebook page.

TRANSFERRED. ✌ 2.22.17

Family and Friends,

Here we are a start to a new transfer tomorrow and guess what? I'm being transferred. Yup. Unexpected. Oh wow. Let's see what the Lord has in store. (: 

There are many emotions I'm feeling now as my best friend, Kira, is returning home today to Utah from serving her mission in Georgia. It's been a privilege to serve side by side with her (only 8 hrs apart). It'll be a joyous reunion for sure. I've learned that Heavenly Father really does give you people that have your back. 

The past 17 months have been a roller coaster of emotions. It has been the greatest experience and I wouldn't trade it for a minute. I love the opportunity to witness people feel Gods love and to see the gospel change their lives. Little do they know they are allowing the gospel to change my life too :-)

This week was a great one. ✌️ We had some great experiences. It's been sort of a blur and with my emotions out of wack right now I'll share the best I can:

First thing first, this weather! We are not sure what's going on here in Ohio. But it's been 70 degrees and we pulled out the summer shoes. It's brings such a ray of sunshine in our souls ☀️

Random fact: I'm going to be a great great grandmother in mission terms.

I trained Sister Birchett. Sister Birchett trained Sister Jackson. Sister Jackson trained Sister Speakman. Sister Speakman will be training starting tomorrow.

T, oh T. So T was a bible referral. I will never be able to perfectly describe her but I just love her. She is this black lady from North Caroline who is about 57ish. She is wonderful and came to church too! Our first meeting with her, she randomly bust into singing amazing grace after we asked her how her relationship with God has helped her as a mother. Sister Deighton and I were caught off guard.lol but we love her (: 

N and E are family. They really are. They continue to amaze me on how much they soak up the gospel. 

Steps are happening with J. Funny story we accidentally left her with the wrong scripture one night and we came back a couple days later and:

J: "I just don't get why you gave me this scripture."

*i open her Book of Mormon and read the verse* "And moreover, I say unto you that I have caused that ye should assemble yourselves together, that I might declare unto you that I can no longer be your teacher"

J: "what are you trying to tell me?"

Us *starts laughing to the point of tears* "oh Janice, we left the wrong scripture!!! That scripture sounds like we are breaking up with you"

J: "that's what I was thinking. I kept asking my husband what you girls were trying to say."

We have human mistakes too. :-)

This week I was taught how important it is to reach out to our fellow brothers and sisters. There was a member that we ate with on Sunday (PS her apartment was like heaven and we felt like we were movie stars so basically she is the closest thing to perfect. Christ like and everything) and she asked us to go with her to visit teach the recent convert she was over. We surprise the recent convert with banana bread and three smiling faces. It was exactly what she needed at that time. As this member reached out in love to the recent convert I saw right then and there why we are given callings in the church. It amazes me how Christ like she was. We each have the opportunity to reach out and be the Saviors hands while we are on this earth. I've said it before but the best way to get to know the Savior is to do as He would do. 

I love this work. I love that I can be imperfect and the Lord still uses me to fulfill his purposes. The Atonement is real. Jesus Christ lives. I love you each. Thanks for all the love and support. Until next Monday! 

XOXO,

Sister Detamore

17 months

Goodbye to my English bff.):

Columbus, OH dinner at members 

 

"Trust Your Inner Goodness and You'll Love Where It Takes You." ❤ 2.13.17

Friends and Family:

This week I learned: "Trust your inner goodness and you'll love where it takes you. " As I have followed what my heart and soul tells me, I've come to L O V E where it is taking me. It's taking me to my Savior, Jesus Christ. Tomorrow is all about love and I can't wait to spread the Pure Love of Christ to E V E R Y O N E. I think that is one of my favorite parts about being a representative of the Savior; helping others to feel His love. Spend a few minutes between all the roses, chocolates, and dates to spread His love tomorrow. 

Thank you to each person who sent a quick Valentine note or "like" to me. My heart was F I L L E D with love and gratitude for those who are a part of my life. 

Wow, this past week was just amazing. I love it with my whole heart. ❤️ I'm just going to dive right into it. (Ps; thank you to those who pray for the missionaries to be guided, we really felt that this week).

As we were out working on Tuesday morning , we knocked into J. We said probably two words to her, she began to cry, shared personal stories about death in her family, and told us to come in. So we decided to teach her the Plan of Salvation. She loved it and told Heavenly Father in prayer that she knew it was true. We saw her Thursday, Friday, and Saturday too. J's heart is so open and so full of love for the Lord. We love our J.❤️ She radiates with the love of God. Her husband isn't too religious but he definitely is warming up to us. (Secretly, he loves us like we are his kids. It's so sweet haha.) I wish I could accurately express how we feel about J. Snippet from my comps email (: "She was tearing up the whole time and in the end she prayed thanking Heavenly Father for "sending these two angels my way". The whole time she was telling us of all these tragedies in her life, you could see the pain in her eyes. But at the end of her prayer, we asked how she felt. "I feel peace. I don't feel pain anymore"

Thursday as we planned for exchanges, I went to change come plans on my side when I had a distinct feeling not to move a potential to the evening. Not thinking much of it, I went out the exchange without thinking much of it. We went to the potentials and met B who is the home healthcare aid. She let us in, shared the restoration, and got a return appointment for the next Tuesday. We felt promoted Saturday to call her and see if she was going to come to church. She shared that she would think about it and let us know...but she said she read up to 1 Nephi 4...which obviously made us freak out. ☺️ About two hours later we got a text that said, "Sisters, call me when you can." We called and she shared that she was making the decision to go to church because the longer she thought, the easier it would be to back out. She didn't have any church clothes so we grabbed a bag of our skirts and went to her house Saturday evening.  We read some of 1 Nephi 4 and enjoyed the spirit together (: Sunday came and there was Breana, in her church clothes smiles and all :') She loved church! She said she felt like a member already. She also shared that she is up to 1 Nephi 9 already. We love B! ❤️

N and E are wonderful! E ended up in the hospital yesterday for his sickness that he was dealing with when Sister Alius and I first met him...so they weren't able to come to church. But we visited him to read the Book of Mormon and to sing to him since it was his Birthday! As we were there, N shared with their older sister all about how they love church and they feel like they have this huge family. Sister Deighton and I were trying to hold back the tears :') We love them. We also enjoyed dinner at their home on Wednesday! Also, N gave us cute little infinite rings!

K didn't make it to church yesterday. But she did write her baptismal date next to Alma 7:15 in her Book of Mormon lol. She is the cutest!

Jesus Christ is our Savior. True happiness comes from loving, serving, and following Him. He is our perfect example. Through His Atonement, we can find peace, happiness, joy, strength, forgiveness, and hope. I know this for myself because I'm learning to turn to Him. He is the way, the light, the truth. The Book of Mormon and Bible teach us of Him. I love Him. ❤ In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Until next Wednesday, its transfers again! #what. Love you all! Thanks for the love and support!

XOXO,

Sister Detamore 

Happy L O V E Day

Weekly planned McDonald's. Lol, what a sight. #HrsSpentInMcDs

One day this week it was snow and 20 degrees.

This what we find when tracting. Hahaha. No worries the lady is a progressing investigator now (:

Exchanges

Missionary Life Is Weird. But Fun. ☺️ 2.6.17

Hello Friends and Family:

It's been a fun week with fun adventures with the one and only Sister Deighton.  I'm pretty sure this was one of the craziest weeks on my mission with the craziest experiences. Welcome to the Cliff: We had to literally RUN from boys like 5 times ‍♀️, a family we teach got in a whip cream fight in the middle of our lesson , taught two church guys who came to teach us while we were contacting a girl , two doors opened at the same time while tracting so I taught at one door and Sister Deighton taught at the other , and more. Missionary Life is weird. But fun ☺️

Had such a great lesson with N, E's sister, on Exchanges Thursday. At the beginning of the lesson she shared how she didn't feel like you needed to go to church to believe in God and at the end of the lessons she was sharing how she is sick of her on excuses and she would be at church on Sunday. E and N came to all three hours of church yesterday They are so awesome! N is soaking up the Book of Mormon. We have taught E because he has been a little MIA but he back and ready to learn more!

K has a little slip back with the word of wisdom. As we read Alma 7:15, she goes, "OH! I need to repent." We testified of repentance. Talked more about the word of wisdom and church. Kim closed with a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to forgive her and then she goes, "I feel warm inside." That's what repentance does, it brings happiness and warmth. She is still working towards March 25th for baptism. She came to church again yesterday and was thrilled to share with her fellowshippers that she has been three times now. She is wonderful (: 

We had a wonderful Zone Training Meeting Wednesday, which was such an inspired meeting the whole time! At the end Sister Deighton and I did a "Real Play" (where you really teach the missionaries...you don't role play them as investigators) on revelation through prayer with some missionaries. At the end, we invited one Elder to kneel and offer a pray, asking if the Book of Mormon was true and if Joseph Smith was a prophet. At the close, we all sat in silence for 10 seconds...then we asked the Elder how he felt, quiet and calm he goes: "I feel like I gained another witness of the Book of Mormon." It was powerful. Later in another meeting a district leader said, "I didn't expect the spirit to rush over me but it did." It was such a powerful meeting. How thankful I am to serve with some of the most amazing warriors that God has. President Daines said some things to our whole mission while we were gathered for the World Wide Devotional that perfectly describe our mission. He said:

"In a world of turmoil and selfishness, there is You and Him."

"You are awe inspiring. You are the best the world has to offer and pretty darn good at it." I love my fellow missionaries.  

We need to be on a path that leads to living in the presence of our Heavenly Father and Savior. My best friend said in his email last week, "Live the Gospel like you're seeing God tomorrow and you'll never let Him down!!" We will be prepared and will be good enough to see Him if we live the Doctrine of Christ every day. The Doctrine of Christ is the means of finding happiness and joy. Jesus Christ lives. God is good. I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Until next Monday, thanks for all the love and support.

XOXO,

Sister Detamore

1. OHIO

2. The family...right before the whip cream fight...

3. Welcome to the Cliff.