2K17 1.2.17

Hello Friends and Family:

Happy New Year..#2017. I really can't believe it's 2017. I can't believe I just spent all of 2016 in Ohio. Woah, that's crazy awesome. I'm so thankful I got a whole year in Ohio. (: I learned so much in the past year and I'm thankful for what my Heavenly Father taught me. I have really come to love New Years. To reflect on the previous year and look toward the future. I pray that each of us have set goals on how to bring the Savior more into our lives this coming year. 2017 will be a good year! 

Some missionaries asked Sister Alius and I to sing at their investigators baptism on Saturday. It was such a tender experience. There is such a special spirit at convert baptisms; I love it! It's such a privilege being able to help others come unto Christ and be baptized. I love my calling! 

We saw so many miracles this week! I'm thankful for all the my Father in Heaven has given us this past week. Also, quick tender mercy he sent me: MALLORY THOMAS! I was in Miss West Point royalty with Mal and did theatre/choir with her siblings. I even spent some time at her home hanging out with her siblings. Her sister who lives in the Marble Cliff ward had her baby so Mal and her dad were visiting. I can't begin to tell you what a tender mercy that was for me! 

I had the opportunity to go on two exchanges this week! One with my old companion, Sister Scott. She is such incredible missionary! And the second With Sister Empey who is in her second transfer of training. I learned so much from these sisters! I love exchanges! 

A is just incredible. He went to the baptism with us on Saturday. His baptism is this Saturday!! We are so excited for him and he is so excited. Last night in his lesson he goes, "Sisters, just know after my baptism I'm open to go to lessons with you. It'd be an honor." So we will be taking him on that offer. Like right after he becomes a member of the church.

Smoved back to London, OH so we won't be teaching her anymore. In fact, we never met her hah. She still is going to get baptized!

K and K are really making steps of progression. It is so wonderful to see the changes they are making. We have had some wonderful experiences with them this week and are very excited to help them continue to progress.

Crazy story: so on Christmas Eve we gave a card to this guy through the drive-thru window of Wendy's (pause: can we take a minute to talk about How much I LOVE Wendy's?❤). Well later that night a less active took us there for dinner and randomly that guy, D, came up to us and asked for another card...and explained he was looking for a church. He went back to work and after that we never talked to him again.  We were pretty bummed. Well Monday came and some things changed in our schedule so we stopped in Wendy's to use the wifi. There was D..in the back and he goes, "OH HEY SISTERS!" haha. Well, when he got off work, he came up to us, sat down, and started to ask us tons of questions. So we taught him the restoration right there. We set up a time to give him a chapel tour and he declined on getting a Book of Mormon until the tour. He leaves to go home, walks into the store 5 minutes later and said, "you know what, give me one of those books. What's hard about reading?" Ahah (oh little Davonne was rebuked by the spirit). It all started with sharing a card with him through the Wendy's drive-thru. How important it is to have the confidence and courage to share the gospel to our brothers and sisters! 

Saturday, Sister Alius and I were out working. As we walked towards our car to go to our next destination, we saw two guys walking down the street. They seemed a little sketchy especially in the area we were in but thankfully the spirit comforted us and we past our car and went straight towards the two guys. We met Eric. He shared how he was suppose to get heart surgery but the night before the surgery he was healed and he knew it was a miracle from God. He had gotten into some really bad things in his life and he knew this was a second chance to live from God. He wanted so badly to turn his life around. We shared how baptized was the greatest way to start a new chapter. We extended baptism for March 25th and he accepted! We helped him say an audible prayer on the side of the street and set up a return appointment. We went last night to teach Eric and it was wonderful! He had read all of the restoration pamphlet and just loved it. As we taught prophets Eric was like, "oh yeah, like Joseph Smith!" Ah, he is wonderful! He is so excited to read the Book of Mormon. I gained an even deeper testimony of talking to everyone, sharing the gospel with everyone! I'm also grateful for the spirit. It gave me the confidence and courage to speak to this man...who turned out to be one of the most humble people I have ever met!

I have really falling in love with the youth theme this year, "Ask." I think it's absolutely incredible that when we have a question, we can ASK God. God is our father and He has given us open communication with Him. Prayer is our connection with God. I've come to learn the importance of ASKING and then ACTING. I know that God is loving and is willing to answer our prayers. He loves me. He loves you. He loves us. I know that God sent His son Jesus Christ to atone for each of us. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Until next Wednesday...can't believe it's transfers again...thanks for all the love and support!

XOXO,

Sister Detamore

ONE WHOLE YEAR SPENT IN OHIO. I LOVE THE OCM. ❤

MALLORY THOMAS.

Sister Scott! ❤

Happy New Years 

Christ Centered Christmas 12.26.16

Merry Christmas Friends and Family! ❤

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. It was such a privilege to be able to partake of the sacrament on Christmas and to remember my Savior. Yesterday was wonderful! Filled with lots of singing. After church, we went caroling with the Hillard Sisters for about two hours. Boy, I love those sisters. They crack me up. We went to the complex for retired senior citizens and they referred us to everyone. We just bounced from house to house it was wonderful to bring Christ into so many homes this Christmas. We also had the privilege FaceTime our wonderful families and how thankful I am for technology to be able to do so. My heart is full for all the love and support this Christmas season. Thank you to all. We then spent the rest of the evening caroling at an assisted living center. I cant explain the joy I felt going from person to person singing about Christ. Christ centered Christmas is just the best. 

We also had a mission day centered in Christ and Christmas alllll day Tuesday. It was wonderful to celebrate the birth of our Savior as a whole mission. (: That night we each received our own Book of Mormon and study journal from our mission President and his wife for Christmas. We are doing a Book of Mormon reading challenge as a mission and will finish March 28th. I love the Book of Mormon!! I chose to study Faith and Endure To The End. There is such a power and learning that enters your soul as you study the Book of Mormon with a purpose. I invite each of you to do so.

A is doing AWESOME. He had his baptismal interview this past week and passed! (We weren't surprised at all). He will be baptized January 7th!! A is such a great example of how the gospel can change lives. 

K and K are great. We have a great experiences with them this week. My favorite was reading 1 Nephi 4 with them. The spirit was so strong as we studied the Book of Mormon with them. The Book of Mormon really does bring a sense of peace, joy, and hope into a home when a family reads it. 

This week S was referred to us who moved into our area. We will meet her for the first time tomorrow. Her baptismal date is this Saturday but due to her just moving here we most likely will postpone it. But we are excited to teach her (: 

And...everyone has heard me talk about my best friend and brother Justin. Long story short, I had the privilege to be there as he took the missionary discussions, spoke at his baptism, watched him get the priesthood, go to the temple for the first time for baptisms and so on. As I served my mission, I was able to read emails of how he was growing in the gospel. On the night of my birthday in May, I received a video from Justin informing me that he would not be home when I got home and that he would be serving his own mission. Last night I said goodbye to Justin and look forward to reading his emails as Elder Olson. To see who he meets and helps come unto Christ. Friends and family, that is what the gospel is all about...helping others come to Christ so that they can help others too. The gospel changes lives I've witnessed it. Let's reach out and share the gospel! No effort is wasted! 

I love the Book of Mormon, I really do. There is power in the Book as we open it up and strive to live the principles within it. I know the Book of Mormon testifies of Christ and invites us to come unto Him. I hope we each take time to set goals on how we can bring Christ more into our lives this new year. Jesus Christ lives. God is Real. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Until next Monday, thanks for all the love and support!

Happy New Year, see you all in 2017.

XOXO, 

Sister Detamore 

Merry Christmas

Zone Nativity Pic

It's always a party with Miss Sister Alius  

Sister Hall, Sister Manns, Sister Alius, and I #Caroling

Do We Let The Opportunity To Be The Masters Hands Slip Between Our Fingers Daily? ✨ 12.19.16

 

Friends and Family:

Can you believe how fast time is going by? I can't believe it will be 2017 soon. I'm not quite sure what to think...so for now, I'm going to ignore that it's almost a new year. 

Merry Christmas! I love being able to spend the Christmas season bringing the light, life, and gospel of Jesus Christ into the world. It's such a sacred opportunity to represent the Lord Jesus Christ. To bring others to Him this Christmas season. I hope we each take time to pause and reflect on our Saviors birth. To show gratitude for Him and to Him. 

A is doing wonderful! We reviewed the baptismal interview questions on Saturday and he most likely will be interviewed tomorrow evening! We are very excited for him. We did a lesson at the Spackman’s Saturday night which was a huge tender mercy for me. I did theatre in high school with Brother Spackman AND Sister Spackman’s siblings. I was in Miss West Point Royalty with two of Sister Spackman’s sisters. Brother Spackman’s dad was one of my seminary teachers in high school. It was such a neat experience to teach in their home. 

K and K are great. They are preparing for March 11th to be baptized. They have the cutest 4 kids. This week we took some time to read from the Book of Mormon with them and it was incredible the power and spirit that the Book of Mormon brought into that home. I love the quote " Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." I've seen this unfold in my own home. Happiness in a home really does come from being founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ. I'm grateful to be able to teach this family. 

I want to share an experience we had a couple days ago. We were at McDonalds, using the wifi to do some tasks. As we prepared to leave, we saw a 50 yr old man yelling at a 30 yr old woman. We weren't sure what was going on....but had a strong impression to talk them. They separated as we walked out and we asked the woman if she was okay. She didn't talk much and then here was some more arguments between them as we stood there innocently. Next thing we know, she was walking down the street. We could have easily let her go but we decided to follow her. We found her sitting in mulch, up against the wall of a building, tears flowing from her eyes. We sat next to her, waited for her to calm down, and then showed her #LightTheWorld. There was a clip from the video (photo below) that screamed at me....I was sitting in that moment but in a place of the Savior. 

We talked about the video and asked what her story was. She shared with us events in her life that lead her family to become homeless. As we sat and talked to S, a pouring of Heavenly Fathers love for her rushed over me. We shared with her the Book of Mormon, which we found out she had been given a copy awhile back. We wrote down a scripture for her to read and invited her to do so. Before we left, we helped her say a audible prayer to Heavenly Father. It was such a sacred experience for me. I truly felt I was standing in place of the Savior that day. To help her feel a glimpse of Heavenly Fathers and the Saviors love for her. To feel peace amongst the trials. We were given the opportunity to be the Masters hands. What would have happened if we decided to not follow her? To not minister to her, the ONE. Do we, as disciples of Christ, let the opportunity to be the Masters hand slip between our fingers daily? 

My hope is that each of us can recognize, acknowledge, and act upon the opportunities we are given to be the Masters hand each day. We have the opportunity to minister to the ONE. Jesus Christ showed the perfect example of love, compassion, kindness, charity, mercy, forgiveness, humility. I know with every fiber of my soul that we each are given an opportunity daily to minister to someone for the Savior. May we each take time to recognize, acknowledge, and act upon those opportunities. Jesus Christ is my role model. My savior. My brother. I love Him. I'm learning of Him. He lives. He is the reason for the season. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Until next Monday. Thanks for all the love and support.

XOXO,

Sister Detamore

The Gospel Can Bring Light Despite The Weather ❄️ 12.12.16

Friends and Family,

What a marvelous and wonderful week it has been. Every week that goes by, my love for being a missionary just expands. It's definitely December...with snow, cold weather, and putting on many layers but the gospel still can bring light and truth despite the weather. 

Sister Alius and I had an experience our first day back together that I never shared. In Powell, we grew very close to a family. One night in February we all decided to drop off a pan at the members home that they had lend to us (at this time we were in a trio with our lovely Sister Scott❤️). Brother and Sister M weren't home but there son Josh answered the door. Josh was inactive and we didn't really know him but we got to know him while we stood there. Without realizing, we had transitioned into how much our Father in Heaven and Savior love us. He shared a really personal story from his past that showed him that Christ was there for him. Without thinking about it, we simply invited him to church and to partake of the sacrament. He then said, "You know, I was just eating dinner and thinking about how I needed to go to church again." We didn't know Josh was home, we didn't even plan to talk to him but our Father in Heaven knew we would be at the home and knew that we would help build his faith. Sunday came and it was the most precious experience to watch Josh walk into church with his dad. My heart was filled with so much joy to be able to see his dad's eyes fill with tears and love that his son was at church. I can't imagine the joy that our Father in Heaven had to see his son, Josh makes steps of faith and change to come to church. So from there we would teach Josh every Monday night and it continued while I trained Sister Birchett and even continued after I was transferred. Well, flash forward to December 1st as Sister Alius and I were about to leave transfers, we saw Brother M walking up to the temple. With tears in his eyes Brother M, shared that Josh was still progressing and now paying his tithing. What a tender mercy to hear. 

We read 3 Nephi 11 together as a zone at Zone Training Meeting and it was very powerful. The spirit was so strong and hearing the missionaries bare testimony was a sacred opportunity. I feel so privileged to stand side by side with these Warriors and Servants of Christ as we proclaim simple truths. 

A is doing well. We had two great lessons with him in members homes. Tuesday we shared the Light The World video with him while we taught service. We asked him how he would have felt if he was there experiencing those miracles like those who walked with Christ. With tears in his eyes he said, "in a way, I already have." The spirit was so strong. For awhile A was atheist but with personal experiences he has come to believe in God and the Savior. Isn't it wonderful that we too can experience miracles in our lives just like those of old? Saturday we had a lesson at the Bishop’s home and A said he had some questions but bishop answered them through his testimony. It was SO cool. 

We had dinner at our ward mission leaders home yesterday. It was awesome, him and his wife both are return missionaries. In fact, his wife is a convert and was found on OSU campus. (To all my OSU campus missionary friends, keep up the good work! You truly are making a difference). At the end of dinner we asked who we could share the Light The World video with and they invited us to share it with their neighbor K. We went over without any hesitation and K let us right in. We came to discover that her ancestors were pioneers, members of the church, missionaries, and even her great great grandfathers son served as a mission present over the North German Mission for the church. The same simple truths, the Book of Mormon that we were sharing with her....was the same message her ancestors were sharing with others years ago. We could feel the presence of her ancestors in that room with us and it was such a powerful experience. We are excited to share more with K. This experience truly was a testimony to me that the work we do is true and that the individuals on the other side of the veil are very involved. 

Family and friends, I know how true this gospel is. I know the light and joy it brings. We each can find our purpose on this earth as we turn to the Savior, understand His gospel, and LIVE His gospel. There is power in righteous doing. The Book of Mormon is true. Jesus Christ lives. I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Until next Monday. Thanks for all the love and support!

XOXO-

Sister Detamore

Recent Convert, Erika. We love her.

Harriet Malone. Our dear 101 1/2 yr old best friend.

Zone Pic #LightTheWorld 

YWs of our ward. We taught them yesterday.

 

Deja Vu Anyone? 12.5.16

Well, it's been a few couple crazy days. Why? I'm BACK WITH SISTER ALIUS. That's right folks. 6 weeks in Powell, Ohio in February wasn't long enough so we get another 6 weeks together but in a cute place called Marble Cliff. I feel like I'm living Deja Vu every day and it's been SO much fun. Sister Alius goes home at the end of this transfer so I'll be in mission terms..."killing" her. How thankful I am to be able to learn and grow from her example again.

(Good news is: the Sister that Sister Birchett trained is now training a sister. In mission terms I am now a great grandma. I'm old. )

Marble Cliff Ward is wonderful. The Columbus Ohio Temple is in our area. It's absolutely wonderful. We basically cover Columbus but we also have a little village called Marble Cliff, Grandview Heights, and Upper Arlington. If I had to describe this area in a nutshell (besides Upper Arlington), I'd say it's like good ole' Ogden, Utah. 

A is just golden. He is definitely a kingdom builder. He is preparing to be baptized January 7th. It's crazy how prepared he is. We text him and asked him to read Mosiah 13 in preparation for our lesson on the Ten Commandments and he text back, "Great, I read that chapter the other day. I'm excited to discuss the Ten Commandments." He loves the Book of Mormon and no matter how busy his schedule is, he reads it everyday. He is constantly receiving answers to his prayers and it's because he is committed. 

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to be in a trio for the day with Sister Hill. She was supposed to go home Friday but extended her mission for 3 days so that she could go to the temple on Saturday with two different converts of her. It was such a fun experience and she actually served in this area a year ago. She felt inspired to follow up on a family she had taught and we had a great experience meeting K, K, and their four kids. We are so excited to be able to teach them tomorrow! We took Sister Hill back to the mission home last night and had the opportunity to watch the Christmas Devotional at the mission home. There was such a sweet spirit there and my testimony of the Savior deepened. It also was a tender mercy because Sister Slater (one of my greatest mission friends) who went home in march was visiting and watch the Devotional with us!  

We met a less active of the church this weekend who was kind to us but didn't want his kids to have any contact with Mormons or even religion in general. My heart completely broke and I almost couldn't hold back the tears. There is so much hope, love, and joy that comes into the home as we allow our Savior to be there. I spent a lot of time pondering my home that was, thanks to my incredible parents, based on the teachings of Christ. How thankful I am to have grown up with the teachings of Christ. There was a sense of belonging and peace that I haven't found anywhere else but the restored gospel. I wondered what can I do to have a Christ-Centered home one day...how I can make my home a holy place. It's the gospel and practicing living the gospel principles in the home. I love the quote "By striving to make our homes peaceful places where we can feel the influence of the Spirit, we can help ourselves and our families to be more Christ-like." We can become more like Christ as we allow our home to be filled with spirit by living gospel principles. 

I know without a shadow of a doubt that this gospel brings such a great sense of peace, hope, love, and belonging in a home. It is the ONLY way to make a home a safe haven; especially in the world we live in today. Let us each strive to develop stronger relationships and spiritual strength in our homes by practicing the gospel principles. I know the Book of Mormon is true and was given to us by a loving Father in Heaven. The Book of Mormon testifies of our Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the reason for this season. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen. Until next week, love you all..thank you for all the love and support!

XOXO,

Sister Detamore

"God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again." 11.30.16

Hello Friends and Family, it's been some time.

Transfer called came...and of course, we know that it was time to pack up and head out. Saying goodbye to Marysville breaks my heart just a....lot. Yeah, not a little. This place has become home. The people here are incredible. But I am SO excited to go to another part of the Ohio Vineyard. Farewell Marysville, the last 5 1/2 months were SO memorable. "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again." I'm excited to meet my new companion and new area.

Well, it's been a fabulous week and a half. There were so many tender mercies and miracles I would like to share with you all.

Tuesday I had the opportunity to go on Exchanges with Sister Hansen in Delaware. We decided during companion study (9:30 am) that we were going to pray with a girl wearing a red shirt that day. We went out to work and kept that in our prayers. After we talked with one of the sisters investigators we went to find a potential....at 10:45 AM there was a lady in a red shirt washing windows at a church. We were able to get to know the lady, talk about family history with her, and pray with her. It was SUCH a huge tender mercy. It's incredible that as we prayed with faith for that miracle, we were able to experience it. 

Wednesday right before District Meeting we had to run to Krogers to grab something. We saw an elderly couple putting their groceries in their car. We helped them and let them on their merry way without thinking much about it. 30 mins later a woman with her little girl came up to us in the store to thank us for helping the couple. She told us that she hopes her daughter will grow up to do acts of service like that. She thanked us for the way our parents raised us. This was such a tender mercy. It made me realize how thankful I am for the gospel helping me to reach out and serve others. It made me realize how thankful I am for my parents who raised me to follow the Saviors example. 

I love that we each can follow the Saviors example this Christmas season. It's our turn to #LightTheWorld. I hope each of you takes the time to watch this video (https://www.mormon.org/christmas/light-the-world?play=hero). I'm SO excited to be able to light the world this time of year. 

Thanksgiving was great! We had the opportunity to have dinner at the Terry's in our ward and then headed to have Thanksgiving with D, G, H, and B. It was such a great experience to be in their home with them. To invite the spirit in their home that day. During dinner my fever spiked and I became really sick, so we headed home and were in for the rest of the evening and Friday all day. But I'm good now (:

Monday we went out to lunch with A, A, and a member. Bless their souls. A paid for us all. I am so humbled to have met them. 

I love this work. I love the Savior. I love the Book of Mormon. I love the restored gospel. what a blessing it is to have the gospel to find peace and joy. As we commit to follow the Savior and His gospel, we can find safety, peace, and joy in this ever changing world. Until Monday, love you all!

XOXO,

Sister Detamore

Wednesday surprised and went to clean their home for Thanksgiving

Lunch at a Mexican Restaurant 

 

Thanksgiving with the Fam.

Happy Thanksgiving 11.21.16

Hello friends and family (: 

I hope this email finds you all well...especially with the lack of info that comes with it. It's been quite the week. To sum it up, I spent last Wednesday to today in bed 24/7. the mission doctor said he believes I caught two different viruses within the last week and a half. So that's been fun. Not really. But all is well and I'll continue to press forward (:

We decided to postpone B and H’s baptism. We feel we need to prepare them more as they prepare for baptism. We also want to help their parents more to baptism. They love learning the gospel and I'm thankful for the opportunity to teach them. (:

We had Zone Conference on Tuesday and it was wonderful. We are truly blessed to have President and Sister Daines leading us in The Great OCM. As we received training, I reflected back to the trainings I received a year ago during Zone Conference. It was evident that our mission has truly grow and advanced. It's been such a privilege to watch this unfold. The Lord really is moving His work forward and He has sent out some of His finest soldiers. I am in awe of the missionaries I serve amongst. They a true warriors in my eyes...with determination, obedience, fearlessness, and love. They continue to push me to be a little better, a little bolder. 

Happy Thanksgiving. how thankful I am to be able to spend another thanksgiving as a missionary. I'm thankful for the gospel in my life. I'm thankful for each of you. The love and support I receive. The examples you offer me. May we each take time to thank our Father in Heaven for the blessings He grants us. Not only during the holiday seasons but throughout our lives. 

This isn't my work, it's the Lords. I have the opportunity to wear the Saviors name on my chest for the next 4 months and I hope to represent Him well. The work is moving forward. The gospel is being spread. May we take the time to reach out and be the Lords hands. To #LightTheWorld. I know that the gospel has been restored....to bless us and families around us. The Book of Mormon outlines our purpose on earth and the blessings that come from being true to the gospel. It testifies of Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father lives and He loves. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Until next Wednesday, ah...transfers. Not sure the odds are in my favor this time but it would be a blessed day if so. Thank you for all the love and support. Talk to you next week!

XOXO,

Sister Detamore

I forgot to share the sweetest experience. We were on the phone with Abraham, our recent convert yesterday asking about church since we didn't get to go. Sister Ali asked if he could pray for me sometime so that I would feel better. Immediately Abraham began to pray:

"Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you watch over Sister Detamore and help her to feel better. She is a very nice person and is the one who got me into the church. I pray for all of them. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen." 

How humbling that prayer was as he spoke to our Father in Heaven. I'm very thankful for it.

I also had the opportunity to get a priesthood blessing yesterday and how thankful I am to know that the priesthood authority is on the earth today. What a blessing.

Have a blessed week, everyone. XOXO.