Sister Gresham in Richland WA - June 30 2014

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!
I love you all!!! :D
I'm not going to lie, this week was probably the hardest of my mission so far. I've learned that P-days kinda set the tone for the week, so please, unless someone is dying or dead, please dont tell me sad stuff or drama. Thanks!
So yeah, monday and tuesday were really rough, but I just reminded myself "Forget yourself and go to work" the Lord really taught me how important that is, and that focusing on others and my purpose and working hard cures a lot of problems :D One of my fave quotes is by Ab Lincoln that says..."To lighten anothers burdens, is to forget ones own" or something like that. That is soooo true!!! Thinking of others = happiness. Seeking your own happiness = sadness/being unfulfilled.
But by tuesday night around 6, me and sis pugh were feeling blue and things were not working out and there was lots of confusion,and we were just saying how much we just wanted ice cream and we went to Bishops house for a lesson that was no longer happening and Sister Sintay, his wife, said "do you girls want some ice cream?" then we she took us to DQ and got us frozen hot chocolate! SO GOOD!
Tender Mercy :D

Then on wed, we had interviews with Pres Ware and training, it was nice. I learned a bunch! and President thanked me for always having a cheerful smile and working hard! haha
We also did role plays and the thought came to my mind...."You know your  theater kid on a mission when you say...just like in a show, when your in a lesson, dont think about what your going to say next, just listen, be in the moment and trust that you'll know what to say when its your turn" :D
Later that day it was still pretty rough, so we went next door to the Craigos, and Sis Craigo helped a bunch! Love her! They are the best! :D
on Friday I was reading in 1 Nephi 8 (i got a new Book of Mormon and each time I read it on my mish, im going to have a different focus and just highlight those things, right now its Jesus Christ/Atonement and Heavenly Father) but anyways, 1 Nephi 8:2 always makes me think of Les Mis and it was stuck in my head the rest of the day lol. #MissionaryTheaterNerdProbs
Then the Turners in our ward took us to Chinese for dinner! It was glorious!

On Saturday, we did a 2 hour exchange with Sisters Toomer and Camplese, so I got give my feet a break from tracting, it helped a lot, and it was nice to spend time with Sis Camplese who is also a convert from CA, so we have lots to talk about :D
We also met with an elderly woman in our ward who has been super depressed since her husband died and her whole life situation is just awful, but we taught her about the plan of salvation and the spirit was soooooooooooo strong!!!! It was really amazing! :D

Then we had Dinner with Bishop Sintay and his family. Sister Sintay called our families to get our favorite recipes then made them for us for dinner! It was sooo sweet and delicious! They are so sweet and the spirit is really strong in their home. Bishop works at the Temple, like really works there for his job and its so cool! We talked a lot about the importance of the temple and doing missionary work, it was awesome. I know that the temple really is worth any and all sacrifices :D
We get to go to the Temple next week!!!!! I'M SO EXCITED!!!! <3

Yesterday, was...interesting hahaha like, crazy. So crazy.
But the Sacrament was so powerful me, since it was such a hard week. I really foused on trying to turn things over to the Lord and recommit my whole self to His work. This is HIS work, not mine, I'm just a tool, but because of that, He is always there, I just need to get out of the way haha.
"Missionary work isnt easy, because Salvation isnt cheap" but every bit of this experience is important and matters. I know that Heavenly Father is working miracles in this area. I know that He uses trials to bless and refine us. I can always see His hand in this work, which includes me, He is working on me, making me better than I was, but its a long process haha, thank goodness I have eternity.
I love and miss you all, but I know this is where I need to be! and I wouldnt trade it for anything :D
Have a wonderful week and keep writing! A lot! Letters make me happy!! :D

Love always,
 Sister Gresham :)

Sister Gresham in Richland WA - June 23 2014

Hello everyone!! Another wonderful week has just FLOWN by!!!!
Last week after emailing me, Sis Pugh (my comp), Sis Camplese & Toomer all went to Walmart to do our weekly shopping and had to call an ambulance for a woman who was losing oxygen in her tank, it was crazy! But I just kept talking to her and she calmed down and all went ok. If your going to lose oxygen, do it in front of 4 sister missionaries, haha you'll be taken care of :)
After that we went to Leslie Grove park for a zone activity! It was soooooooooooo pretty! I wanted to jump into the river and swim soooo bad! But I didnt lol, obedience brings blessings!

June 17
We went in for Sister Pughs MRI, to see if she really did tear her ACL and if she has to go home, but she didnt, so she isnt! Yay! I really believe its to do the fact that she got a blessing! Miracles! :D
After that we had district mtg....which was....interesting...lol. 2 Elders baptized a man that previous saturday who is very large and has lots of troubles and 3 people had to be in the font with him. But he did it! yay!

June 18
We went to a return appt. with a stay at home dad name Frank, we taught him about the restoration. He liked it and agreed with a lot, but hes a devout protestant and believes hardcore in the Trinity/God Blob...and said he doenst think he can every change that belief. But he also said that he is looking for truth....um, yeah, WE GOT THAT! :D So, we are hoping we can help him feel the spirit, so he can testify the truth to Him, since He is the real teacher, we can say as much as we want, read dozens of scriptures, but it all depends on him feeling the spirit confirm. Pray for him :)
Then, the BEST THING EVER!!!! BAY GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEEEE!!!!!! :D It was soooo powerful!!!!! The spirit was there in abundance! We also had 2 investigators, 2 inactives and 2 non members there! Yay! I know they all felt the spirit. Bay has just been glowing ever since :D Go watch the mormon message "Lifting Burdens" its sooo powerful! we shared it at the baptism and there wasnt a dry eye in sight :D The video reminds me that not only is Christ our Savior in the big sense, but he can also save us every single day, form our pains, temptations, anger, sadness, loneliness, whatever it may be, He is always there waiting to help carry our burdens with us, we just need to trust Him and hand it over :D

June 19
We had exchanges! I stayed in Richland with Hermana Gifford (a Sister Training Leader) she also did some theater, so we bonded pretty quickly. Since shes not from that area, I took lead on planning and our whole day, it was a little nerve wracking but went great! We taught a young woman named stevie who is amazing ! She knows a lot about the church and even went to girls camp like 4 times, we felt prompted to change our lesson to be about the Book of Mormon and it was amazing, the spirit was strong and she is going to read 3 Nephi 11 :D
Then we went by Bays just to say HI and she was still glowing!! So happy! :D
Then I felt very prompted to go see Ashley, (the one people have been telling us to drop) and it was sooooooooooooooooooooooooo powerful!!! Shes struggling a lot and we just testified to her that God is always there and the power of prayer to bring peace to our hearts :D we also testified a lot about the Book of Mormon and the strength and peace we can receive from reading it. She was definitely feeling the spirit and shared that she knows that she needs to keep trying to change, trust in Him and by trusting Him is when miracles happen. She is so special! :D
Then we met with Carol (inactive after some awful tragedy 13 years ago) I could tell she was really feeling the spirit at Bays baptism and wanted to go by and keep that feeling fresh in her mind. She opened up more than she ever has, about how she was so angry with God for what happened and its taken her years to not be mad at them anymore, but that she knows they are with her, but that she is not over it at all. I testified to her that Christ knows exactly how she feels and is always there for her, and of the healing power of His Atonement. We also testified about the Plan of Salvation and that families are eternal. She cried and said she knows everything we said is true <3 Its hard, because she knows its true on some level, but wont accept it, it breaks my heart. I KNOW that the Atonement of Jesus Christ can heal even the biggest wounds and that, like Corrie Ten Boom said, "There is no pit deep enough, that Gods love isnt deeper still"
After we went to Dinner with a part member family, 2 of the kids hate the church, one was home giving us the stink eye and refused to eat dinner with us, and the other came home when were sharing our spiritual thought and stormed passed us after seeing us and say "OH NO"....charming...lol. I was getting all east bay in my head...i needed to repent lol, But its so sad to see the mom, who is trying to hard just to live a good life and constantly be attacked :( Kids, be nice to your parents!

After we had a powerful lesson with Lesa & Kraig. We talked to them about the blessings of having a Christ Center Home, doing Family Home Evening and making Temple Attendance a priority. It was sooo powerful! Before leaving I shared Doctrine & Covenants 88:84 (everyone go read it!)  and testified to them that Christ is ALWAYS with them, to lead and guide them, and that Angels truly are round about us to bare us up. They both teared and were just soo happy! It was amazzzzingggggg!!!
Definitely my favorite day on the mission so far!! SO MANY MIRACLES!! There are many every day that go both seen and unseen, but that was so just so powerful! As missionaries, we get a front row seat to the Atonement in action, changing peoples lives and hearts. How great is this calling!!! :D I feel soooo blessed to be able to do this!! :D
I also got 2 packages that day! From Lindsay and Laura! Thank you both sooo much!! :D

June 20
Weekly Planning day! which also means, lots of Sister Gresham and Sister Pugh bonding time.
She told me that all last transfer, whenever a Richardsons fart they say "I just pugh'd" or "I just did a pugh" LOL so bad, but sooo funny, it always made her sooo resembled! lol poor Sis Pugh.
Also, we were talking a lot about how emotional people always are about dumb stuff and how we just try to be chill and I said "yeahh, we should just go with the flow. ya know? Just flow....unless your in a stupid flow! Then change flows! You dont want to go flowing into sewage" LOL I was tired.
That night, Tim(a recent convert) and Robin (his wife, a return missionary) took us to Fro-yo after sharing a message with them about service, we watched the mormon message "Lessons I learned as a boy" its sooo powerful! go watch it! Service is the best <3 I learned while watching it, that we are all imperfect, but if we have our hearts turned toward others, God can and will use us as tools to bless the lives of others! <3 What a blessing! :D
Also, they are awesome and froyo is delicious! President Ware calls the secular music playing in publice places that we get to here is "a tender mercy" LOL. I love him! We have interviews this week and I am sooooooooooooooooooooo excited!! :D

June 21
All of our appts. fell thru that day :( so we went tracting, and NO ONE ANSWERED! bahhh!! I kept saying to Sister Pugh "WHY DONT PEOPLE WANT EARTHLY AND ETERNAL JOY??" lol it was rough, but we always have fun together. The Key I've learned to not hating tracting is to remember how important it is, and even when they say "no" that you are planting a seed, and helping Heavenly Father give everyone the chance, and also, when their mean, just learn to laugh it off, not in a rude, "we dont care about the way" cuz we need to care, but dont take it personally.
After all this we went to a Childs baptism, her name is Katie and I love her!! It was such a sweet baptism. She was so excited that we came and her little sister, Megan, is obsessed with me lol, and is 5 and asked if I can wear orange at her baptism. I had to break it to her that I wont be there in 3 years :( lol

June 22
BAYS CONFIRMATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was sooooooooooooooooo wonderful!!!!!!
But first, we went over before church and showed her mormon messages about the priesthood to prepare her more for her confirmation. Her cat also had kittens, so I'm in Heaven whenever I go over lol.
But yeah, her confirmation was wonderful and brought me to tears. During sacrament I was reminded of the joy I feel from the Covenants I have made and how grateful I am for the righteous priesthood hoolders who baptized and confirmed me (Yay Mitchell Stanford and my Cousin Scott :D) Those covenants are not just essential for Eternity, but there are also essential to have real peace and joy in this life.


I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!! Some times things are hard, but mostly, pretty stinking amazing, even the hard times are amazing, because I know that they are for a purpose, I know that Heavenly Father is refining me. I often think about how all these experiences, good and bad, are helping me to become a better friend, daughter, teacher and someday co-worker (woohoo acting) but most importantly a better follower of christ and future wife and mother :D I know that He will always be refining me, we are all works in progress, but if we submit ourselves to Him, and dont fight him, a looooot more progress is made.
I love seeing miracles every day! The Gospel is soooo true! Our Heavenly Father loves all His children, I can feel it all the time :D

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!! <3

Love,
  Sister Gresham :D

Sister Gresham in Richland - June 16 2014

HELLO EVERYONE!!!!
This week has been a week of miracles!! Well, every week is but especially this week! haha
June 9th/Last P-day:
Me, Siss Pugh, Sis Peatross and Sis Mulllins went to Uptown and went to a bunch of antique store! Its so cute there and I felt like I was back in the 50's! SO FUN!
Then we went tracting and got TWO return appts. in a row! One didnt pan out so well but more on that later lol
We also have recent convert fam who thinks me and Sis Pugh should be their marriage counselors. Its sooo hard cuz we want to help them, but we are clearly not qualified for that lol

June 10:
We met with a less active, Frank and his nonmember (soon to be) wife, Angela and they are golden! she wants to get baptized really bad! They just need to get married first. She is soooo prepared! We were talking at one point about the FLDS people and how we do not do polygamy and she said "YEA! It was Joseph and Mary! Not Joseph and Mary and Karen and..." LOL I jsut about died! lol.

June 11
We were teaching our wonderful investigator Bay and she said something about her Jesus Sandals and I was like "whaaaa?" and she explained that one day she was wearing gladiators that looked just like some that Christ was wearing in a picture. Then Sis Pugh was all "we look at the picture and say that they were the same! Speak of the Devil" then there was awkward silence when she realized she just said "speak of the Devil" when talking about Jesus. She was soooooooo embarrassed! lol
 but it was fine and we taught an awesome lesson and Bay decided to get BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On Wednesday!!! SO THIS WEDNESDAY!!! BAHHH!!! MIRACLE!!!!! <3 She is sooooo ready and prepared!! :D
She loveeees to pray and read the scriptures!!!! She married a menanite guy and has a really interesting past. She has 2 adorable kids and we just love them!!! :D

After, we were on cloud 9 and went to go dinner, which was insane. It wasnt ready, kids were screaming everywhere the mom was in pain, so we ended up cooking dinner, which was fine, but halfway thru, me and Sis Pugh are alone in the kitchen, dont know were anyone went and were like "ummm....soooo....should we eat?" LOL then people reappeared and I spent a while comforting one of their daughters who was crying. It was sad, but nice to know that we could be there to comfort them and share a message <3
after that we went to go to our return appt from tracting, the guy wasnt there but his wife was,a nd she screamed at us and slammed the door. I almost cried, it was hard. Like its hard feeling rejected and like people hate you, but its also sooo sad to see people with such hard hearts. JUST LET US LOVE YOU!!!! LOL
But then we got to go to that one member family and help them thry some hard stuff. I spent most the time with the kids teaching them that they can pray by themselves everyday and about how we need to help each other. One of the daughters is autistic and I think, truly an Angel and huge blessing to ther Family. They are stuggling a lot financially and with the moms oldest kids being with their dad and lots of hard stuff, so the kids are acting out a lot, but that sweet girl is always a good example :D

June 12
we met with a young mother, she wants to keep meeting w/ us but her husband doesnt want her too, and she just crashed her car while high on shrooms then tried to hit and run and has to go to court. so its a sticky situation. Lots of people keep saying we should drop her, including my comp, but I just cant, she wants to change, she realized she messed up and is trying to be better, especially for her 3 yr old daughter. We just cant abandon them. The Gospel is a message of hope and progression! The Atonement heals and changes heart. Please pray for them <3

June 13
So since I've been in the field my sleeping has gone all sorts of whack. I like half walk up and lay in bed thinking I'm in a lesson pretty much every night. This particular night, I slept walk to Sis Pughs closest and tried to do an OYM (open your mouth/door contact) LOL she said I ended up walking in the closet and said "Do you think shes in here?" LOL AH SO WEIRD!!! then she said, and I kinda remember this, I went to my bed and said "I think I'm hallucinating" LOL ahhh. Thats how you know my mind is really on the work!
June 14
Zone meeting! It was awesome! I recieved a lot of answers and strength! Also, my District leader is named Elder Tubbs (LOL, makes me think of a fat kid running) and he looks like Adam Levine. Someone please tell Raquel, Nayannah & Cristina! But it was sooo great! It was reminded that I'm here for a purpose, and that I have a responsibility to the Lord for those in my area and that He knows His children best. We are taught to give a soft baptismal invitiation on the first lesson ("when you come to know these things will you...") and that scares me sooo much! They also want new missionaries to do it asap! and I was freaking out cuz I was supposed to do that later that day with our other return appt. I was freaking out!  But I was reminded that its an act of faith and we are blessed when we act in faith, adn that really if thats what Hes asked us to do, its for a purpose.
So we went for His lesson, his name is Philip. Super nice guy, hes catholic and a wildlife biologist and just really wants to be a good person. We went thru the first lesson and it was good, the spirit was there but I was still nervous and kept praying in my head, then, the moment of truth, I said it and he accepted!!!! WHAAAAA!!!!! :D It was amazing!!!!!! Even if he had said no tho, I know that it still would have been good, cuz God knows best :D

Yesterday, June 15
Church! Bay, Angela and Frank all came to church! YAY! Then Bay passed her baptismal interview and I jumped on her in excitement! lol and Sis Pugh accidently hit a kid with her watch! LOL she was fine haha
then after dinner qot 22 OYMs!!!! The average is 10! We set a goal for 15, all said no, until the 15th guy! Miracle! Also, it was raining, so that was cool. haha

All is well here in Richland! So many miracles!!! I love being a missionary! Feeling God use me as a tool to help His children is the best feeling ever! This is the most important work there is and I feel so blessed to be a part of it! To witness the miracles and how the Atonement changes people! Go out there and do your part! Smile, compliment people, try to do 5 small (or big) acts of service every day! I promise it will change and improve your life. Members, PLEASE fellowship people!! Its soooooo essential! Always introduce yourself to people, ask the missionaries how you can help them. I promise they need it. This is a team effort.
Everyone go read Mosiah 14:5. Everyone should know that and reap the blessings. Christ atoned for EVERYONE!. It is our job to help them know that.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!
until next week!

Sister Gresham

ps. everyone keeps asking what I want for my bday, well no one feel like they need to get me anytihng, but if your feeling generous, Church talks! and if your feeling another kind of generous, Walmart gift cards! ahh I'm almost 21!

Me and the Sisters in my Zone at Dennys. Sister Camplese (also a convert from CA!) Sister Pugh, my comp, yours truly, Sister Peatross, Sister Mullins (the one mitch knows) and Sister Toomer :D

First email from the mission field - June 9 2014

So, I'm in the field!!!! BAH! I have sooo much to say! lol
so last friday we had infield orientation in the MTC and one of the teachers is Elder Christiansen from The District! I was star stuck! LOL
We left the MTC on tuesday, as we were walking to the travel office with out suitcases to other missionaries were all congratulating us on getting out! LOL like we were in jail or something! haha it was funny. I love the mtc but it was nice to see the outside world again. they took us on a mus to a train, then from the train we got on a bart thing to the airport, it was insane with all our suitcases. but we felt like celebrities walking around SLC with our badges! haha
Then we got on the tiniest plane ever and i was freaking out on the inside lol, when we got there we met President & Sister Ware then went to the mission home from dinner and a devotional. The sisters got to sleep there and then wqe had interviews with Pres. I LOVE HIM!!! He is sooooo stinking sweet and gave me some unusual council to not work too hard...hahaha he said he doesnt say that much be he can feel how much I care and doesnt want me to get too worn out lol. He does this cute thing were he lifts his shoulder and does an old man giggle lol i love it.
the next day we had training, it was great! then him and the assistants went and made our assignments. It felt like waiting for my mission call over again!! lol
I'm assigned in the Richland Zone, Columbia Ward with my trainer Sister Pugh.. It a walking area which makes my feet angry lol but I'm pushing thru and often recite the saying "Father proceeds miracles" when i'm having a hard time. Faith is trusting in him and acting, so I'm working hard to see the miracles that I know will come. She also has a hurt knee, so we are quite the pair! haha
Our area is very poor, with a few exceptions, and everyone, i mean everyone has custody drama, legal issues and/or drug issues. Its intense and hard to see. I have lots of work to do! I love the people so much!
The houses here are call "A" and "B" houses and they were built during WWII while they were doing all that nuclear stuff over here and everything looks really old. I often feel like I've transported back to the 40's/50's until ya know. I see the meth heads and what not. Kinda kills it. lol.
On my second day I was having a really hard time and feel pretty trunky, but while we were doing our planning before bed 2 sisters from the ward brought us gift baskets! so sweet and helped so much! A little tender mercy!
We also had a super cool training with our area 70 and the 2nd counselor in the YM's General Presidency about real intent and going forward in faith
There is a couple in our Ward, an RM Sister and her new membr husband....they are interesting and sister pugh was telling me about the,...heres all you really need to know
Sis. P: "So yea...they met on bigbeautifulwomen.com

"
so yeahh LOL
Next door to us are a cute member family, the Craigos, they are 30ish and have a 2 yr old son and I love them soooo much!!!! They always drop stuff of for us and are just sooo sweet! and sister craigo gave me some reeeeally good arch support shoes! love them
Yesterday at church we had 2 investigators who were supposed to come, one came with ehr mom after months of saying they would. The mom is an inactive member who stopped going after her bishop some unhelpful things to her after her daughter was murdered in mexico 12 yrs ago. But she came! She felt the spirit really strong. She ended us needing to leave in the middle of sacrament. we went and found her and she was sobbing. It was so sad. That wound is still gapping and she kept saying how she has demons in her and it was terrible. I just felt so overwhelmed with love for her and testified how prayer will help her. I know that thru the Atonement despair can turn to hope. She left feeling better and said she'll come next week. we are also teaching Bay(Gabby, switched at birth!) she wants to get baptized but is having trouble being consistent and we think she might have some word of wisdom issues.
Please pray for both of them! and my feet!

So being a convert missionary makes everyone love you, like way more, haha its funny. The members do not believe in fellowshipping, like no joke, only 5 people in the ward do. So I've been testifying a lot about member missionary work and how I was converted thru members, not the full time missionaries. I think a big thing I need to do here is help the members with that. The ward is struggling a lot. With people and their many issues but also with incorrect teachings and lots of stuff. Bah! Its a lot but I'm happy to be here!
I pray that I can always be guided by the spirit and do the things Heavenly Father wants me to do.
His work really is hastening! go out and serve! love your friends and family. AND strangers! Smile often. Say kind words. Be patient with people, for everyone is fighting a battle, look with your heart
"Christ-like love can change the world" - Elder Holland
I love being a missionary! I love feeling the spirit testify thru me and seeing the change come to people as they feel it and understand. I know that faith proceeds miracles. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love everyone and that we are all truly sons and daughters of God, and brothers and sisters. I feel so much love for the people here in the Columbia Ward. Its super hot, my feet/ankles are killing me, but I keep going forward because the Gospel matters, people need it, they need to know that God loves them and that the Atonement is real.
I love you all!!!! Thanks for your prayers, love and support!!! Keep writing!!! Preferably more on dearelder.com

and thru regular mail. But emails are great too! But Its hard reading thru 45 emails every week! haha
I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

-Sister Gresham

First Email from the MTC - June 3 2014

HI EVERYONE!!!!
I'm here at the MTC and its GREAT! I love it! I ave sooo much to say and not enouhgt time! bahhh! So i kinda freaked out the night before but It all worked out! Getting dropped off wasnt too hard, seeing Britt made me cry even more! but happy tears! haha :D

getting my name tag on was such an amaaaazing feeling!!

My comps are Sister Allred & Sister Marcom! I love them!! Go stalk them on my fb! we become friends before we came here! lol when me and sis A saw each other we freaked out and hugged! haha.
Day 1 we had an orientation and we sang "Amry of Helaman" but sang "We are now the lords missionaries" and just sobbed! it was amazing! haha and one of the ladies who talked said how we cant call each other "guys" cuz "guys are the people at home dating your girlfriends!" LOL scanzieees! but then she said that they'll marry the return missionary tho! haha

Thank you stanfords and kingdons for the packages!! I loved them!!! <3

we did this on investigator exercie on the first day and they played this vid that had a swear word and all of us gasped awkwardly! lol

Everyone go watch the mormon message "Lifting Burdens" its soooo good <3

I love my teachers! Bro. Mills & Sis. Howell! She served w/ Becky Rohner at Temple Square & he knows all the Rohners and his sis was one of Beckys bridesmaids! haha small world! I LOVE THEM! and my other teacher Bro. Weekes looks like the guy in Forever strond and plays the new cop guy on PLL (ya know, the one hanna kissed) yeahh haha so thats weird.

on of the Elders in my district is mix of Paki Porter and Bro. Gustafson! haha like, for real!

On the 3rd day we did role playing lessons and the teacher said my and my comps did some of the best teaching hes ever seen in the MTC! umm whaaaa? haha it was nice but really, I know im not the real teacher, the spirit is, i just have to study, have faith, open my mouth and trust Him <3

Elder Cordon, in my district told me a story about an elder i chile who kept getting robbed so he made home made numchucks! hahaha

Also, I'm writing mormon versions to frozen songs, currently working on "Love is an open door" ya know, like the empty tomb...open door...hehe and "we dont have to feel it anymore" Like the sting of death! haha...its still a work in process lol

we have this alarm thing that goes off to tell us lights out and it sounds like the noise in the Hunger Games when its starting...so yea, kinda weird. I kinda freak out everytime haha

on Sunday we had Relief Society and the spoken word and it was AMAZING!!! it was about sacrafice, focusing on our soldiers. I was feeling the spirit reeeally strong wheh they showed a pic of the pearl harbor memorial while play "God be with you til we meet again" and it made me think of my Grandpa Ray, and i was just sooo overwhelmed by the feeling that he and my grandma Deon love me and are happy with my choice to serve and spirit testified to my heart that I will indeed see them again <3 it was such a special moment. I am grateful for Christ ultimate sacrafice that made that possible <3

We also had  devotional that was awesome!!!

We sang "True to the faith" and i felt sooo overwhelmed by the feeling of love for my future children and that I want them to know that I do cherish this Gospel!! I know that Heavenly Father is refining me to be a better Wife and Mother some day <3 I love my kids already!! <3

on Tuesday we played vball for gym and i dominated, to everyones surprise hahaha it was awesome! THEN we had a devotional with....

i'm building anticipation.....

can you feel it??

ELDER NELSON!!! Yes, the apostle!!!!! BAH! it was amazing!! and we were 5th row center!! The moment he walked in the spirit became 20 times stronger and i just started to cry!! Then we sang "Called to serve" and it was so emotional, singing that song, with an Apostle of the Lord as a full-time missionary and representative of Jesus Christ and thye church was soooooo incredible and powerful <3
he taught sooo many amazing things that cant all fit but heres a few faves.

"repentance is conversion, and conversion is repentance"

"have character, dont be one"

and my fav "missionaries turn hurt to hope" <3<3<3<3

I cant believe ive been here a week! it feels sooo much longer but I LOVE IT!!! the spirit is sooo strong here and my testimony has like tripled since I've been here!! and i still have like 74 weeks to go! yay! I'm gonna be soo much cooler when I come home!! lol jk, kinda...haha

Me and Sis Allred realized something the other day...

"the spirit is so strong and drains us, thats why we need to eat...all the time"

I love it here sooooooooooooo much!!!!!

here are some of my fave scriptures right now, go read them!!
Alma 7:11-12

Jeremiah 31:3

2 Nephi 2:2

1 Nephi 1:15

Proverbs 31:9

I know that Christ lives and that he atoned for us! I know that he is carrying the burdens of homesickness and sadness for me and is helping me thru this. I can feel Him constant;y guiding me. I see miracles and tender mercies EVERY DAY! <3

The Book of Mormon is TRUE and WILL change your life if you read it with an open mind and a prayer in your heart. 

I am sooo grateful for this time that I have to be a fulll time missionary and wear His name over my my heart everyday <3

I leave for WA on tuesday!!!

I love you all!!! Be strong! Pray every day! It will change your life! Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father love you all! I KNOW it <3

and I love you too! Please send more handwritten/mailed letters <3

but remember i leave tuesday for WA haha

I LOVE YOU ALLL!!!!!!

-Sister Gresham

Receiving an Honorable Medical Release from my mission.

For me going on a mission was kind of like a big trust fall. I didn't know where I was going, who I was going to meet, the trials I would face, but, what I did know, was that I had a desire to serve others, that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ wanted me to serve and that they would be with me every step of the way. When I got my call, I knew that was where I was supposed to go.

Before going to the MTC I was soo nervous about saying goodbye to everyone and was sure I would have the worse case of homesickness ever experienced in all of history. But I kept looking to the Lord, reminding myself that he would bind up broken hearts. When I got to the the MTC I was so happy and excited! And homesickeness? Barely any. I realized, I had taken that fall, and the Lord caught me and was carrying my burdens for me. The MTC was one of the greatest experiences of my life and strengthened my testimony so much.

When I went out to the field, I was soooo excited! I was ready to work hard and see miracles! When I found out I was going to be serving in a walking area, I was a little worried about my feet (having had problems with them before) but trusted in the Lord and knew that was where I needed to go. It was a difficult adjustment for a few days, but I remembered why I was there and often repeated to myself "faith precedes miracles." I kept working hard  and indeed saw many miracles. It didn't take long for me to notice though that my body was not keeping up with my heart and mind. Only a few days out and I was experiencing a lot of pain in my feet, ankles and knees. I told myself it was fine. I said "Satan is just trying to weaken me, trying to keep me from working as hard as I can" or "I'm just being melodramatic and need to suck it up"

My companion was not having it. She was worried about both me and the work suffering if it gets worse, so I called my Mission Presidents wife and told her what was happening. She said if thats the case, I might need to go home, that was definitely not what I wanted to hear, I decided then that, yes, I really needed to just suck it up and deal with it, because I wanted to be there and knew that Heavenly Father wanted me to be there. I refused to let anything keep me from being a full time representative of Jesus Christ. Over time, my love for the work, the people, the ward and my companion deepened, as did the pain. I was constantly fighting within myself, wanting to work soooo badly but hating having to be in pain, but I kept pushing through and never stopped working, loving each and every day, regardless of the pain. I loved being a missionary. Seeing miracles, helping people, learning and growing so much everyday and having the spirit so abundantly was amazing.  One day, the pain became too much to bare, with my feet feeling like they were broken, stabbing in my knees and hips, and shooting pain up both my legs and back. I tried, unsuccessfully to bite back tears during the 20 minute walk home. When we arrived I fell onto the floor, hoping and praying that the pain would cease. I pleaded with my Heavenly Father to grant me the strength and healing my body needed so I could carry out the work and be the most effective instrument in His hands for the people he had called me to serve and that I love so much. This day also happened to be my birthday, so we had many people coming in and out of our apartment delivering various treats. People were very concerned about me and were all trying to help. Our wonderful neighbor asked her father to give me a blessing. It was beautiful and meant so much to me. I instantly felt the pain lighten and had peace in my heart because the words he said and through the comfort of the Spirit. I knew that all would be well and that I just needed to continue to trust in the Lord. I hoped that I would be transferred to an area with a car and felt confident that everything was going to work out and that I would continue my mission.
The next morning me and my companion agreed that I should call the Presidents wife and fill her in on what happened. She was very worried and said she would speak to President. As we continued our studies, we got a call from President. He told me that he had spoken to the missionary department, the missionary medical people and my Stake President and they all felt that I needed to go home, to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. I was devastated, I felt like I had been hit in the stomach by a semi. I didn't know what to say or think, besides not wanting to go home. We hung up so we could go to an appointment. After, he called again, to ask me how I was doing and to fill me in on what was being discussed. All I could muster to say was that I was broken hearted and didn't want to leave...but that wasn't an option. A few hours later, while I was trying my best to process and telling myself that it was happening for a reason and that I just needed to have faith, I received my flight info for the next evening. It was real. It was really happening. I was going home. I imagined myself at home, far from the people we were teaching, without the missionary nametag, without the calling and blessings. I saw myself trying to live without my purpose, trying to be "normal" again and later having to go through the pain of saying goodbye to everyone again (as I have been invited to go back when I am healed). I felt sick. We went around saying goodbye to as many people as we could, it felt like I was leaving home all over again, saying goodbye to the people I had developed so much love for.
While packing I made a mental "Positives lists," a list of all the good things that will happen and that I'll get to do when I go home, like "get better" and "be there when my best friend goes to the temple" and "be able to teach my friends and family with more power." I knew there was a reason I was going home and was determined to find it. I also decided that, either way, I am going home, so I should make the best out of it and trust Gods plan for me.

When I got home, everything felt different. It was my house, it smelt the same, most of the furniture was the same, I knew where everything was, but it was different. I was different. I loved it there but so desperately wanted to be calling my missionary apartment home. I didn't know how to talk to people, I only wanted to talk about my mission, like if I kept talking about it, maybe it wouldn't be so far away.

When I was released, things changed. I literally felt something leave me when I took my tag off. I spent days reaching for it and looking for my companion. Once the shock wore off and I really accepted that I was home, I tried looking even more for the good. Since then, I have seen over and over again, that Gods plan, is always the best plan. Since I was young, I've been a planner, I try to plan everything out the way I think will be the best, going home from my mission was not in my plan, but God needs me to be home. I need to be home right now.

I have seen, as I have strive to look for Gods Hand and trust in His perfect plan, many blessings and opportunities to serve that I wouldn't have had if I was gone. I have learned about many health issues I didn't know I had and have been able to receive treatment that without, and had I stayed, would have caused permanent damage. I have seen and felt Him teaching me priceless and immensely personal lessons that will bless me and my future family forever. But I think biggest of all, preparing to go on my mission, being on it and coming home has taught me to fully trust in the Lord. Not to just trust Him when I like the plan, or when I can see the benefits, but to trust Him and surrender to Him in all conditions and situations. I know without a doubt in my mind that God loves us and is mindful of us and our needs. When we seek Him we will be guided, strengthened, taught, empowered and feel His infinite love, no matter the circumstances.

I loved the time, though brief, that I was "Sister." My mission was amazing. Serving others is a gift. Working with God to bless His children is a sacred and priceless honor and blessing. I have really learned for myself the truthfulness of the sayings, "to love another person is to see the face of God," and “There are few things in life that bring as much joy as the joy that comes from assisting another improve his or her life.” I still wear the nametag in my heart and cannot wait to get back in the field, if that is His will, but I know that no matter what, as long as I trust in Him, all will be well.

-Sister Gresham

The Temple is the House of God

On Tuesday the 22nd and had the amazing blessing to be able to go to the Temple to receive my endowments and wow!! So amazing!!! I know that the Temple really is the House of God! I felt the spirit soooooooooooooo strong! Stronger than I ever have! From the moment I walked in I felt it! But especially during the Initiatory, my heart was truly full! I felt so much love and like my sins really have been forgiven! And the promises made they are sooo incredibly beautiful <3 The Endowment was so cool and spiritual! It also reminded me of how important it is to prepare our MINDS in addition to our spirits to help us understand. Of course, we won't understand it all at first, but good preparation and study will help so much! But really, preparing our hearts and spirits is the most important part. Then, the Celestial Room <3 It really is a piece of Heaven on Earth and where the spirit of the Lord dwells sooo powerfully! I never wanted to leave! I was reminded that my dad (a very inactive member) was at the Visitor Center waiting, but I couldn't leave, plus some time in the VC is good for him. Haha. But really, everyone who reads this, please do all that is necessary to prepare yourselves to go to the Temple to make those amazing covenants with our Father. I promise that if you are worthy and ready that you will have more strength, peace and joy! <3