Week 56

2/21

HELLO FAMILY! how is hawaii?? so jealous haha not really, because I get to be out here preaching the gospel!!!!! 

We had stake conference this week and oh my! This is some exciting stuff in the Oakley Stake. Our stake presidency got reorganized because the stake president is going to be a mission president in Knoxville, Tennessee. Every talk given in the adult session talked about member missionary work somehow. I know how crucial member missionary work is!

Speaking of member missionary work.... ;) we got a referral from a 12 yr old in one of our wards and when we went to contact them they were so excited to see us. We were able to come in and chat with them. They are the Prow Family. Beck Prow the mom kept saying, "oh yes, we are believers! Christ has changed our lives!" We explained to them that the purpose of our message is to strengthen others faith in Christ. We had a great talk about religion and the importance of God in our lives. We asked if we could set up a return appointment and she said, "Well, you tell me. Do you want to com back?" YESSS!!! haha Of course we do!!!

We had an incredible lesson with a part member family, the Smiths. I'm not sure if I've talked about them yet. anyways.. Gene is not a member is interested in learning. We taught the 1st half of the plan of salvation with him and as we all shared our testimonies he said, "Well, I don't know about this whole repenting thing... that might take a while for me with all the things i've done" We were all able to share our testimony aout how the Atonement has changed our lives

LOVE YOU ALL!!! SHARE YOUR TESTIMONIES OFTEN!! :) Keep the Faith!

Sister Summer Stone

PICTURES!

-Selfie in da car cause 6 months as comps!! 

-Feeding baby goats on preparation day last week

-Crazy beautiful sunsets here! (not as pretty as hawaii I'm sure fam haha)

-Happy Valentines day! Love you all so much!!

-More baby goats

-Sister Barlett- "Can you take a picture of me and my friends?" HAHA Love her so much!!

Week 55

2/13

HOLA FAMILIA! or should I say ALOHA. I hope you all have a blast in Hawaii this week and miss me a lot. haha I think I might have jinxed the weather last week in my email because is snowed on Tuesday morning and rained off and on the whole beginning of the week. I still absolutely love this area and I know there's a reason I am here.

We had an amazing answer to our prayers and fasting this week. So we have been really worried about Mike our investigator and so we have been trying to know how to help him progress and how to know how to help him with that desire. We had an awesome lesson with him on Wednesday and he opened up with us and thanked us for never giving up on him. He said, "I know I need to do my part. God has been there waiting for me and you have been waiting here for me. I know you want the best for me and my family. Thanks sisters" We continued to pray for Mike and his family, send him encouraging texts to keep going, and on Sunday he came to sacrament and we went up to him after and invited him to sunday school and priesthood meeting. He said he had "somethin' else he had to go do". BUT whatever he had to go do got cancelled and he said "something" was prompting him to come back. THATS THE SPIRIT!!!! I know this gospel is true and i love this area

oh btw, we went and filled sand bags with the youth in our wards and after they turned on some country music and everyone got up and started country dancing. You know you're a red neck when you have a county dance party in a "spud cellar"!

haha LOVE YOU ALL! KEEP THE FAITH

SISTER SUMMER STONE

Pictures:

filling sandbags in the spud cellar #beforethedanceparty

The floods in our area

Windmills

lol when you have all do a timer picture and no one looks at the same camera

Week 54

2/6

Fun fact... It is starting to get warm here in Idaho!! When I say warm I mean 40's. But oh man, that's warm here. haha I think I saw some green(er) grass today where the snow melted. Also, there was some dirty snow on the side of the highway and if you looked at it at the right spot it kinda looked like sand. (tender mercies from Heavenly Father). All of the fields are full of waters here again from all the snow melting. Some of the water even made it into peoples basements. So that has been the center of our exciting week. But hey, another tender mercy is that the big bodies of water in the fields look like lakes so that is beautiful!

We did have a few good lessons this week but majority of our week was really slow. We had some awesome lessons with Sydney and David this week. It seemed like each lesson seemed to come back to the fact that we need to keep the commandments and how having faith that God will help us it will make it possible (1st Nephi 3:7) One night we had another lesson at a members home and Sydney was sick so David just came and we shared the video "The Hope of Gods Light". The spirit was so strong and we all shared after what we can do and how we can improve to grow closer to God. Everyone's response seemed to involve having faith and doing the little things like going to Church/keeping the sabbath day holy, Praying, and Reading our scriptures. We like to call this spiritual CPR. Chruch, Pray, Read. I know as we do the little things in life to follow Gods commandments, He will find a way for us to accomplish His will. I know God knows and loves each and everyone of us. I want you all to make a goal of either sharing CPR or starting to do CPR more in your home and daily life.

Keep the Faith!!!

Sister Summer Stone

Pictures

1: We went Ice skating for Preparation Day last week and I think I had 2 right feet skates on but it was fun so that's good haha

2: More pics from Monday

3: Giant icicles 

Week 53

1/30

Oh man you guys! What a blessing it is to be on a mission! What a blessing it is to see people change their lives for the better! What a blessing it is to see someone finally take those steps into the waters of baptism! What a blessing it is to share my testimony and knowledge of the restored gospel! 

Marissa was able to get baptized this weekend! She had such wonderful support from family, friends, and members of the ward she didn't even know. Marissa is such a good example to her family. She knows the gospel is right and when you obey God's commandments he will bless you in return. 

I feel like this whole week was just focused on the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We taught Marissa, Sydney and Dave. 

On Friday we had an incredible lesson with a new investigator Gene. He told us "don't push me... I don't wanna be forced" We told him our purpose is to invite not to force. So we invited him to pray after the beautiful lesson that was totally led by the spirit and I know he felt good in his heart. 

We taught the Restoration at Marissa's baptism and once again... I felt the spirit. 

We were so blessed to be able to help with a Relief Society lesson yesterday and this was just the cherry on top of the milkshake! My testimony this week was confirmed over and over again as I shared what I knew to be true. I want to invite you all, to pray again this week and truly ask god with a sincere heart if the gospel is true, if Joseph Smith really was a prophet called of God, if the Book of Mormon really is true. You will be able to feel the spirit, it is just your job to be able to recognize how He speaks to you. 

I know that we have a prophet today who was called of God. I know God is a God of patterns and he would not have just left us here alone to wander in the wilderness. Ask the missionaries in your area to come over to your home and teach you the Restoration. You will feel the spirit and you will be able to remember how much our Father in Heaven loves us. I love you all so so much! I know this gospel is true and I know that God loves each and everyone of us.

Keep the Faith!!

Sister Summer Stone

pictures! 

From the baptism

Twin Falls for the broadcast (Lunch with the OG BUR W district)

SNOW

ps, hit 1 year. HOLLAA!!

Week 52

1/23

Our car didn't get dirty this week until yesterday!! WOOHOO! That is seriously incredible because usually it's dirty the day after we get it cleaned. we lasted a whole 6 days! It's mostly because it's been dry this week but don't worry... there's another storm coming.

I am so excited I am staying in this area another transfer! We taught Marissa and Sydney a lot this week. On Friday night we went over the baptismal interview questions and the spirit was so strong you couldn't have denied you felt it if you were there in the room. We asked the last question which says, "When you are baptized, you covenant with God that you are willing to take upon yourself the name of Christ and keep His commandments throughout your life. Are you ready to make this covenant and strive to be faithful to it?" She said "Yes!" then Sydney looks at Marissa and said, "Missy, your mom is really proud of you right now" And then Sydney started crying. Marissa's mom and Sydney's sister passed away this last summer and Marissa and her mom were taking the lessons together before we came into the area. Sydney wasn't taking the lessons before but I know that since she's really started to read and pray she has felt the spirit. I know she especially felt the spirit on Friday. As I looked at her the spirit touched my heart and told me she was understanding the truthfulness of our message. That desire is growing within her. :)

I am so so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve a mission and see peoples lives change for the better. Keep the faith everyone! 

Love you all!

Sister Summer Stone

Saying goodbye to the Oakley Stake missionaries #FAM

Week 51

1/17

WOW WOW WOW! 1st off... Sister Cluff and I are staying again! haha we will have been here for 6 months together after this transfer! But I am so excited. 

OK. Also, this week has been absolutely full of miracles. We were able to meet with Sydney, Marissa and Dave 3 times this week! We taught them the Plan of Salvation one of those nights and the spirit was so strong. Sydney and Marissa lost their sister/mom a few months ago and Dave lost his brother a few years ago so the lesson really meant a lot to them. We were able to testify to them that they will be able to see their loved ones again. We set a baptismal date with Marissa for next weekend so we are really excited about that. All 3 of them came to church this Sunday too so WOOHOO! The gospel is changing them and blessing their lives. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.

When we were on exchanges this week we went and saw a part member family to do some service and ever since we have gotten to this area she has been really stand off-ish. BUT this time she really opened up. We started talking about her mother who passed away a few years ago and that she WILL be able to see her again. I know that that is true and I also know that she felt the spirit. This message that we have about eternal families is for everyone. and it can bless everyone. I KNOW God has a plan for all of us and i have no doubt in my mind that I will be able to be with my family forever. Keep the faith you guys! I love you all!!

Love Always,

Sister Summer Stone

Pics

holding newborn baby lambs

sydney, dave, marrisa and the Gibby's (their fellowshippers)

before the "lakes" in all the fields froze

After they froze

Week 50

1/9

If it's been windy & snowy & rainy & sunny & -30 with a wind chill all within 3 days clap your hands <clap, clap> 

WOAH!! SO this weekend Idaho was in a "State of Emergency" because of all the crazy weather, but it's all good because I read and studied A TON! I'm sorry to say we haven't had any lessons since I last emailed because of the snow and wind and ice and all that fun stuff. Its snowed almost 2 feet within 2 days. Church was cancelled for at least 20 stakes in southern Idaho. 

Something exciting that happened this week was my birthday!! Thanks so much everyone for the birthday wishes. It made me feel so special. We have only been able to spend time with members and stay home so we've gotten rides from everyone and just hung out. We took down lots of christmas decorations and wrote thank you notes. haha 

During our free time I read, "Our search for happiness" SO good! My testimony was strengthened so much. I know that the priesthood power that we have here on earth today is the correct and true authority to act in Gods name. I know we have a living prophet on the earth today to lead us and guide us. I know the gospel is true without a shadow of a doubt. Let's go and share the blessing we receive with everyone.

Keep the Faith y'all!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!

Sister Summer Stone

pics

1. getting rides with members #littlekidsfreezing&squished 

2. Still cold... haha