Sister Missionary Feature- Sister Jessie Wengert

Sister Jessie Wengert

England Birmingham Mission

March 2013- September 2014 

The age change affected me by just a few months, I turn 21 In may and put my papers in about 3 months earlier. But it was a shocker when it happened! Best day ever- I called my Bishop 5 hours after Conference to set up an appointment to start my papers!

I wasn't planning on serving a mission until last summer when I was an efy counselor and it was absolutely life changing. I was just waiting till I could put in my papers and then the age change came! (thank goodness)

I learned that I LOVE this gospel and that I love sharing it with others. Seeing progress and watching it click in their heads as it all makes sense, makes it so worth it, and that is what I say daily as an efy counselor. I know I am doing exactly what I am suppose to be doing- and it feels so right and so great! I want to be that beat up used instrument in the Lord's hands- his go to instrument!

I thought I wanted to go to go somewhere foreign speaking Spanish, or maybe Africa! That was until I opened up my call and Knew that England was perfect for me! Birmingham, England Speaking England- the last place I would go really! haha I was very suprised, but after thinking at first I was going to Birmingham Alabama, which I was stoked about! haha I knew that England was perfect! 

I am serving a mission because I want to join in and share this amazing gospel of happiness with others that I love. The gospel is what makes me happy and I want to allow others to be happy! I want to give everything I have towards the Lord and I know I will be blessed for it! I am going to be a representative of Jesus Christ and the restored gospel and I could not be more happy! I love this gospel and that is why I am serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! 

My advice is to start preparing early and go to the temple early so you can go many times before you leave on your mission. Get ready to work hard- know that it is going to difficult at times, but you can do hard things through the help of our savior. and Most importantly I think is to Love the people! Be proud to be a sister Missionary! 

W9,

Sister Jessie Wengert!

Goodbye GFC...

Happy Monday! 

First things first, 

Google Friend Connect is going to disappear on July 1, 2013. 

*sigh* I know, what a pain.  The blogging community might put up a big enough fuss to stop it, but I doubt it. Google pretty much owns the world. 

So, because of this the lovely little "Followers" box on the right of your screen will disappear, meaning anyone who is following this will be lost into the void of nothingness. 

Sorry. 

But! We can fix that! I'm going to suggest you start following me on Bloglovin'. Honestly, I like it better than GFC, you can see posts more clearly, it's all nice and organized, and you still don't have to be a blogger to be part of it. 

Until later, enjoy this picture: 

XXo, 

Mo

L'alphabet

So, I was going to give you the names of 26 exotic animals in French, but then I realized it would ruin the alphabetizing and my OCD couldn't handle that. 

Enjoy! 

This is a baby anteater

This is a baby aardvark

C'est une enfant BEAVER

C'est une enfant CAMEL

C'est un enfant DINGO

C'est une enfant EMU

C'est une enfant FLOUNDER

C'est une enfant GRIZZLY BEAR

C'est une enfant HIPPO

C'est une enfant IMPALA. (He's playing with the lion.)

C'est une enfant JACKALOPE.

C'est une enfant KIWI.

C'est une enfant LLAMA.

C'est une enfant MARMOSET 

C'est une enfant NABARLEK

C'est une enfant OCELOT

C'est une enfant PENGUIN

C'est une enfant QUAIL

C'est une enfant REINDEER 

C'est une enfant SEAL

C'est une enfant TAPIR

C'est une enfant URCHIN

C'est une enfant VULTURE

C'est une enfant WALRUS

C'est une enfant XERUS

C'est une enfant YAPOK

C'est une enfant ZEPHYROSAURUS

The Imapla is my favorite. 

XXo, 

Mo

p.s.

Thanks

Awkward Wednesday

Hello Hump Day!: 

Aardvarks are ugly... Really though, we always talk about them, they're the animal that have two letter "a" in their name, but how many of you have actually seen one? NO. Arthur does not count.

The moment when Josh (who is home on medical leave) is writing about being in the MTC and I steal his laptop and write this lovely intro: 

                The giant multi-colored galactic blimp was hovering over the Provo area. Who would have thought that it was only dropping the MTC’s newest missionary- Elder *click* **beep* *rawr*

When my beloved triangle of corn fell into the deep gooey depths of the queso jar, requiring skilled, nimble fingers to willingly be subjected to the fake cheese, in order for the triangle to be saved. #firstworldproblems

When I hashtag sentences in real life. Just to be annoying. 

Sometimes I coach debate, and sometimes I'm supposed to be a coach at the state tournament, and sometimes... they leave me. 

At my place of employment, where I spend 83% of my time (yes, I calculated it), I cut the entire bottom of a shake off resulting in a runny creamy mess all over the floor, my shoes, my shirt, and everywhere else. Except the cup. #evenfirstworldproblems

Having your mother post on Facebook about having a baby come to our house, specifically stating it's my cousin, and having people comment on how it's good it's not a grandchild. Really? Come on, missionary here!! There ain't no way a stork is going to drop off a baby for me, there's not even a stork nest in my backyard yet. #evenmorefirstworldproblems

Looking up pictures of Sloths with moustaches. (yes, spelled m-o-u-s-t-a-c-h-e-s) because of Lilly and Kjersti. Yes. Sloths. And kittens. Aardvarks. Giraffes. Owls.  But really, even the animals want to be hipsters.

Josh saying to me: No food for 50 days #livingthethirdworldlifestyle

Sitting down to listen to a fantastic playlist on Grooveshark, inserting the pink earbud into one ear, selecting the play button, and having nothing at all come out. Proceeding to freak out that your computer is broken. Realizing... You should probably plug the headphones in....

I'm awkward. 

XXo, 

Mo

Sister Missionary Feature- Sister Howell

Sister Jessica Howell

Des Mones Iowa Mission

March 13, 2013

Did the age change affect you?

Yes! I am 20 and I turn 21 in June but I would've had to wait to serve until after I graduated because once I'm in my student teaching program I have to stay in school the entire time. The age change was definitely a blessing! feel like the Lord was preparing me for a long time to serve a mission, so the instant the age change was announced I knew I was going. But for a couple months prior to conference I felt like I was at a standstill in my life and I wasn't on the right track. I prayed a lot about this and was trying to figure out what I should do. I pondered and prayed about some questions I had the week before General Conference that I was hoping to have answered and right before conference started I added the question "should I serve a mission?" to my list. Of course, I meant in the future. I had no idea that the Lord would answer my question so soon!

Did you always want to serve a mission? Why/why not?

Yes! Well at least since I started college. I was baptized when I was 16 1/2 and still wasn't very active in the church after my baptism. But when I went to college I decide that I wanted the Gospel in my life and so I started attending church and Institute. I received my Patriarchal Blessing the first semester of college and it was a huge source of guidance. After that I started seriously considering serving a mission. I always had the desire and when others would talk about their missionary experiences I wanted so badly to go serve!

Where did you want to be called? Why?

I wanted to be called to a Spanish speaking mission because I've always wanted to learn Spanish. I also wanted to be called somewhere foreign because I thought it would be awesome to experience a different culture! I really wanted to be called to Spain!

Where were you called? Was this surprising? How do you feel about it?

I was called to the Iowa Des Moines Spanish speaking mission. I was so nervous while I was opening my call and I couldn't wait to see what it said. My imagination was going wild thinking of all the foreign places and possibilities. When I read that I was going to Iowa though, instead of being disappointed or surprised, I was so happy! I knew that Iowa was where the Lord needed me. It felt right. My non-member friends and family kind of struggled with my call and expressed to me multiple times that they wished I was going somewhere cooler or more exciting, but that's not how I feel. I'm not serving a mission to go on a vacation for 18 months. There are people in Iowa who need me and I can't wait to meet them, to help them, and to love them!

Share an interesting missionary experience or story.

I've lived with my grandparents for the past 2.5 years while attending Idaho State University. They are non-active members and clearly told me when I came to school there that they didn't want to be a part of the church and I should never try to have the missionaries over to teach them or anything like that. We hardly ever talked about the church in my first 2 years there. But that all changed when I decided to serve a mission. I came home from General Conference and told them I was going to serve a mission and they were (surprisingly) so supportive! After that, we talked about the church almost every single day and they were always the ones to bring it up! My best friend, Aubrey, and I sang a song in Sacrament meeting one day and it was about missionary work (I Will Not Be Still by Kenneth Cope). After church we went to my house and sang it for my grandparents. The spirit was SO strong and I knew they felt it. Afterwards they got up and gave us both big hugs. It was incredible! I know they still have a long way to go, but they have come so far and I know that the Lord will bless them and help them find their way back!

Why are you serving?

I'm serving because I know that without the missionaries I would not have been baptized and it is important to me to show my Heavenly Father how grateful I am for His gospel in my life. I've seen what life is like without the Gospel and I know that it can be SO much better by being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I have such a strong desire to share the Gospel with my brothers and sisters and I can't wait to get out there and teach them! I'm also serving because I know it'll be the greatest investment I've ever made. I know my testimony will be strengthened. I know that I'll be put through the refiners fire and get a little closer to reaching my full potential. I can't wait!

Any advice for future sisters or girls still deciding?

To future sisters who are preparing: do not waste the time you have before your mission. It is so easy to get into a lazy slump and not do anything! I'll admit, I wasted quite a bit of time and I totally regret it. Make sure to read your scriptures every day for 30 minutes or more, study Preach my Gospel, and if you're learning a language try to get a jump start and learn as much as you can!

To girls who are still deciding: don't decide to serve just because it seems like everyone else is. Do what feels right to you. Make sure you pray about it and get an answer because if you decide to go, the adversary will test and tempt you and you want to be sure that this is what you want to do!

J'aime Dimanche

I loff her. 

And I made that scarf... FYI. 

I feel pretty legit. ;) 

Happy Sunday

XXo, 

Mo

Opposites Attract?...

I don't think you'll ever meet a more opposite couple! Bahaha, they're awesome. 

XXo, 

Mo

The Awkward Moment When...

You're sharing french fries and there's one left, but both of the people sharing are too generous to eat the last fry so it just.... sits there.... awkwardly. Then it gets cold, and slimy, and the poor fried potato is sitting there alone without it's potato friends. Awkward. 

Oh come on! You have had that happen to you. And we've all had the moment of, um, is that a boy or a girl... Maybe you asked a very nice, larger lady when her baby was due, instead of a chipper "August!" she breaks down into tears, grabs a chocolate bar, and becomes a cat lady. She's not pregnant. Awkward... 

Welcome to Mo's awkward Wednesday. I'll delight you with my random awkward adventures. Yeah yeah yeah, why Wednesday? Let me tell you. 

Wednesday is the most awkward day of the week. It's just stuck in the middle of everything, and besides poor Monday, EVERYBODY HATES WEDNESDAY. You're in the middle of the work week, you're trapped, and besides, it's called "Hump Day" you can't get much more awkward than that. So, I dedicate Wednesday to Awkward Adventure Day. 

You're belting Sir Bieber to the top of your lungs, along with dancing a spiffy dance at work and someone walks in. So much for being alone...

Whilst driving your lovely, high powered, incredibly sexy '94 Ford Escort (christened "The Stray") your nutritious lunch of granola goes flying all over the passenger seat and floor. *sigh* so much for lunch. 

You enjoy eating granola for lunch. Every. Single. Day.

As you're logging off your baby laptop you realize you've logged in 4 straight hours on your French learning program. You've spent more time at work doing French than actually working. 

Les ours mangent mes citrons. (The bears are eating my lemons.)

The french I know won't be very helpful... There aren't any bears in Tahiti.

On a cold, blistery Tuesday night, you realized the only sweatshirt you have has a lovely BYU logo stamped across the front. Too bad you're walking around USU's campus.

And if wearing the despicable "Y" across your chest on campus isn't enough, every single person within a 10 foot radius has to comment on it. Yes. I know I'm not in Provo. Shanks.  

THEN, you survive campus and head into Wally-word to get a fabulous scented mini-tree for your newly cleaned car, only to have the nice grandma at the register tell you your sweatshirt sucks... Thanks grandma.

You sell a nice couple large milkshakes, they sit down for a bit, then walk to their car. After cleaning up spilled Kit-Kat, peanuts, and ice cream you sit down with your baby laptop. As you begin to day dream and stare out the window, oblivious to your surroundings, you realize the couple's car is still there. And they're making out. And it looks like you've been staring at them. And they start staring at you. 

I'm awkward. 

XXo, 

Mo

Sister Missionary Feature- Sister Baer

Sister Monica Baer

Utica, New York

May 29, 2013

The age change affected me because I realized that now was the time to serve. I knew that because I could serve at this age, I needed to think about it and everything else that could happen in that year and a half. But knowing that I was supposed to serve, swept all those feelings of doubt and fear away. It took me a month after conference to decide fully that I was going to serve.

Um, I did always want to serve. I just didn't know if that would be a mission, or humanitarian, or peace corps, etc. I knew serving was important, but I wasn't sure how to serve was right for me. I spent a month in Ecuador serving in an Orphanage, and I think I realized then that while it was a good experience, it wasn't the service I was supposed to be doing.

On February 5th, 2013 I opened my mission call. I have been called to serve in Utica, New York leaving on May 29th. I wasn't necessarily surprised, I just knew it was right as soon as I saw Utica, New York. I know I am supposed to go there, for the purpose of serving a mission and bringing others to Christ.

I had the experience of having a non-member who was actually anti-mormon email me and um kind of tell me that I needed to figure out my religions origin before I proclaimed it to be the only truth. I was shocked. I had never had anyone tell me that what I believed in was wrong. I didn't know how to handle it. I decided all I could do was bare my testimony, just let him know what I believed. I did so, and he didn't question it again. It was amazing to be reassured that the Gospel truly does carry that power.

I am serving, because I know the gospel is true. I know what it can bring to lives. I know my Savior lives. I truly know that. We have a Heavenly Father who loves us, and wants us to be happy. That's why I am serving, because I am happy and I want others to have the knowledge and reassurance that I have that makes me happy. I want others to be happy, that is why I am going.

My advice for other sisters or girls who are still deciding is basically what I told another sister who was becoming discouraged and thought she couldn't do it anymore. I told her,

"I know, I worry about that too, but I found a quote that helped me a lot, "God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called." You are prepared to go and serve. Feeling like you aren't is Satan trying to get you to doubt yourself. Well, DON'T do it. You know you can do this. Yes, it will be hard, but life isn't meant to be easy. The atonement wasn't easy for the savior. Believe in yourself, obviously the Savior believes in you, and so do all your family and friends. I honestly believe that there is no better way to prepare to serve than by serving every day. Show others by example, discussion, and being you that the gospel is true. Be a light in the darkness, because God knows that you can do it, and so do I. You have a huge support system behind you. Don't believe me? Look around you, your family, friends, Heavenly Father, Jesus, The Holy Ghost, Prophets, leaders, and the 4,000+ sisters who will be serving by your side. We all are here for you, and you know you can do it. You are a daughter of God and as such you are given the Errand of Angels, you have been prepared by Heavenly Father to teach the people of your mission, whether at home or abroad and to bring them to Christ. You have already begun your mission, and it will never end. Spiritual growth is part of the package that you are being entrusted with. Spiritual growth can never get to a point where you have prepared enough, if that were so, life would not be the test it is meant to be. Believe in yourself and you will go far. We believe in you, love you, and stand by you Sister __________.

Make sure to check out Monica's blog!!

Don't forget, if you would like to be featured contact me. 

XXo, 

Mo