Weekly email #12 Sunset Cliffs and Service

Well, another week come and gone. Last P-day we went to this place called Sunset Cliffs. We can't go to the beach, but we can go to sunset cliffs because it's not sandy. It's just cliffs by the ocean. It was gorgeous and we all loved being there. =D We took district pictures and I did two ballet poses and it hurt. I am so out of shape. =[ Bum. I hope you like the pictures!'

This past Saturday we got to help someone in our ward move to a different house in our ward boundaries. I feel crazy saying this, but I had fun. It was fun to serve and fun to be involved. I hope I have opportunities to serve when I get home and I take them. Even when they're just at home helping Mom and Dad around the house before I go back to school. I am just really loving service.

Another thing I'm really loving is reading the scriptures! This week I read Luke 15. It's all really good, but vers 10 almost made me cry.

10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of angels of God over one sinner that repententh.

I love the hope in this! We invite people to repent and change every day. Angles of God are joyful when we repent! I just want to show this to everyone.

Also, Alma 44:5

 5 And now, Zerahemnah, I command you, in the name of that all-powerful God, who has strengthened our arms that we have gained power over you, ^aby our faith, by our religion, and by our ^brites of worship, and by our church, and by the sacred support which we owe to our ^cwives and our children, by that ^dliberty which binds us to our lands and our country; yea, and also by the maintenance of the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our happiness; and by all that is most dear unto us—

I love the highlighted part. I just do. I hope you feel Moroni's testimony.

Speaking of more spiritual experiences, last......Sunday? Maybe Satuday, I was feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes it is hard to live up to the expectations of my trainer. I CAN'T  BE PERFECT IN 12 WEEKS! Anyway, I was praying and I decided to give it to Jesus. He knows what it feels like to be overwhelmed. I said that, and immediately I started to feel better. The atonement is real and it works. It is real for me, and real for everyone else. At least, I hope it's real to everyone else. I don't have a whole lot more to say in this email. I hope everyone is doing fine. Julianne, I hope training is good. I don't want to train because it's hard, but I do because I'll learn a lot. I don't know how my trainer can do it so well.

Mom and Dad, did you give mission prep my letter? Mom, did Sister Cecchitini ever email you the picture of us? 'Cause if she did, I would like it, please.

I'm learning lots! I hope I'm being an effective missionary. LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD!!!!!!! And family. =D -Sister Bishop

Weekly email #10 Some Weeks are Normal and Some are Exciting

Weekly email #10

So......this week was pretty awesome. Here's why:

Sunday was mothers day and I got to talk to my mommy! By the way, Mom, thanks for keeping up with my blog. People tell me they read things on there and then they email and tell me things, and it's great. You are the best!

We added two new investigators. One we found street contacting, and the other we found by a member inviting him over for dinner. And Robert (that's his name) came to church this Sunday. We were really excited about that. Ana, our one investigator with a date, fed us dinner on Saturday night. We had barely started eating when she said she had a question. Usually her questions are about doctrine, but this time she said "I was wondering if there is any way I could get baptized sooner?" We were so surprised. And of course, ridiculously happy! She was set for the 25th. The only reason we hadn't picked the 18th is because she was supposed to be out of town, but her husband's work cancelled his vacation. So Ana said she knew it must have been for a reason, and she should get baptized this Saturday. So now we're putting together a baptism for this sweet lady who has a growing testimony of the gospel. It's wonderful to watch and be part of. We're working on talking to everyone about the gospel and asking questions, just like we learned in MTE, (missionary training experiences. See next paragraph) to get to know them better and know what to teach. We were successful on that yesterday. We're also asking everyone for referrals. We haven't seen success with that yet, but we know we will! If any of you are not talking about the gospel to everyone you know, DO IT! Missionary work is the greatest work you could be part of. Missionaries need referrals and finding through the members is the best way. And if you're worried about not being their friend, just remember that giving them the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ is the BEST way to show your love for them and for Heavenly Father. THIS MESSAGE IS TRUE. I love bearing my testimony every day. It is one of the greatest blessings I've ever been given.

MTE's are like zone conferences except we go on exchanges with a trainer for the day. Sister Brown was a trainer for another set of sisters in a different zone, and Sister Greathouse and I had a trainer. Her name is Sister Kober. She's great. =] We saw two people pray for the first time (which is one of the coolest things about missionary work) and had a lot of great street contacts. It was good to have Sister Brown back, though. And now we're applying the things we learned last week. We're becoming better missionaries! It's great!   .

On an unrelated to missionary work note, I tried some new things this week! Mom, I wore that animal print scarf I thought I was going to hate, but I didn't. I kind of liked it. Thanks for sending it to me. I also did pin curls. I put them in on Saturday night and had curly hair on Sunday. That was fun. People don't need to see these pictures, but they can if they want. It's the little things we occasionally get to do for ourselves that keeps us going sometimes.

Missionary work is the best thing ever! Ups and downs, with mostly ups because when we are obedient and diligently engaged in the Lord's work, we are bound to be blessed.

-Sister Bishop

Audrey and companion with Anna and children. Anna is getting baptized this Saturday!

Animal print scarf modeling

Curls! (back) and Sister Brown!

Curls! (front) (look at that face!)

This is the painful process. (How it's done)

Weekly email #11 Missions are Hard But Don't Forget Rewarding

Everyone,

This week was one crazy emotion roller coaster. Ana's husband didn't let her get baptized. We were all really sad, but we know she has a testimony and she has friends in the ward that are keeping in touch. We got a referral from the elders in Linda Vista who already has a baptismal date for June 29th. His name is WD Rice and he for sure is going to get baptized. He came to church this Sunday along with Robert, a member referral, and Rachel, another member referral. 

Rachel is 19, still in high school. She set a date with us for June 8th. She's really excited about it. We are too, obviously. We can see the work picking up in Chula Vista and we are so excited! When Sister Brown and I white washed Chula 3rd we had no solid investigators and we didn't know what to do. So we went to work, and people are coming out of nowhere. Actually, they're coming because the Lord has prepared them. 

We reached 21 lessons last week, which was the first time we've ever reached 20 here. The first time I've ever reached 20 lessons in a week period. One day we taught 6 lessons. Our companionship study was full of role plays, and we can tell that it helped. We're learning to simplify and intensify our teaching and people can tell. 

OH EVERYONE! NEXT WEEK I WILL BE EMAILING ON MONDAY!!!!! There's some kind of sister retreat the first two hours of P-day next week, so we're going to email on Monday. Be prepared and send things before Tuesday or I will be a sad missionary and nobody wants a sad missionary, right? Email me! =P But seriously, signing on to an inbox full of emails is the best thing ever.

Mom, could you find the quote that I love about graduating from seminary, loving home and family, not settling less for a temple marriage, and then women can perform miracles for the Lord now and throught eternity? It's on a picture thing I have somewhere. Or it's at the back of the new personal progress books. It's from an older prohpet like Ezra Taft Benson or Spencer W Kimball.

Dad, once upon a time you were what kind of 70? (the priesthood calling)

Mom, could you also call Sister Teresa Johnson in San Antonion and get Ana and Reed's email addresses? I'd like to get in touch with them.

Everything is great! I included a picture of me being a missionary. =P Well, I'm actually showing mom the awesome new clothes she gave me, but you can probably see my name tag.

I love you, Mom and Dad!

New scarf/missionay clothes

Me in beautiful San Diego!

My new scarf and sweater

Weekly email #9 It's Almost Mother's Day

Hey, it's almost Mother's day. In case I don't get to send a card today, Happy Mother's Day to the best mommy in the whole wide world! I can't wait to talk to you.

Does anyone know if Peyton Green has turned in her mission papers and if she has her call yet? I heard she wanted to serve.

The picture I've included is from this last Saturday. The Chula Vista YSA ward had an all day activity they called "One Day Mission". Basically they went on splits with the Chula Vista missionaries. We went out proselyting for 5 hours. Sister Greathouse and Sister Brown stayed together and they were supposed to get a third but she never showed up. I had two companions, Sister Lao, who served her mission in Lubbock, TX (WHOO-HOO!) and Sister Lee, a recent convert. They were awesome! We added a new investigator that day and taught a less active family, taught an active member, got a phone number to a guy who said we could come back, and talked to a bunch of people. It was a pretty cool day.

I love being a missionary. This Sunday was fast Sunday and an elder that used to serve in our ward that just barely went home last week came and visited. All 3 of us sister missionaries (we're in a trio now) bore our testimonies as did the former Elder Roestenberg. It was such a spiritually uplifting sacrament meeting. Lukas Roestenberg said in his testimony that he didn't know what true joy was until he came on his mission. He said "you want to know what true joy is?" And then he went on to say that true joy was seeing members of the ward that were recent converts in the congregation, or less-actives that were at church. That really rung true to me. Our whole lives are missionary work. Just for this little amount of time, I get to focus on nothing but serving the Lord's children by inviting them to be baptized and join His church. It is SO good when those we're helping take a step towards Christ. It really is rewarding.

There is a 16-year-old in my ward that came up and sat with me after I sat down from bearing my testimony. Her name is Mariella Macias. We identify with each other because we both have a sister on a mission. She was really missing her sister (that reported to the MTC 2 weeks ago) and she came and cried on my shoulder. She's super sweet and wants to serve a mission one day. While I know that missions aren't for every young woman, they certainly seem to be for a lot of them. And they are! The Lord is hastening His work and we are scrambling to keep up.

While I love being a missionary, I have some days that I miss home and other "worldly" things. Last Saturday I had a dream about dancing. I LOVED that dream and was sad when I woke up. I did fouette turns in my socks in the gym before we started morning sports. I was sad at how out of shape I am. Still am,actually. Did you know that 30 minutes of exercise isn't very much? And people like to feed us? Yeah.........weight gain happens. Bum. Anyway, I love ballet. I realized that I haven't done ballet in what will soon be 6 months. That is the longers I've EVER gone since I started at age 9. There is an 11-year-old in our ward that just got her pointe shoes. She showed them to me when we went over to their house for dinner last night. I almost cried. I miss my pointe shoes.

BUT! I love being a missionary. I just put my faith and trust in the Lord that I will be blessed for my service in His work. It's pretty exciting. Sometimes I still can't believe that I'm a missionary and that every morning I put on a name tag that shoes I'm a representative of Jesus Christ. Crazy cool, that's what it is.

I love you!

-Sister Audrey Michelle Bishop

Audrey and her two temporary companions

What the heck?! I've been in Chula Vista for 6 weeks already?!?! I can hardly believe it. We just got transfer calls. I'm staying, but

we got news that we will be getting another sister in our companionship. I'm a little nervous. I hope I can get excited.  Sister Brown thinks I might finish her training after she goes back to the battalion. Whatever happens, I'll keep working. I want to be a great missionary. 

We have been making sure great progress with the Gray family. When we first met Scott he said he wasn't ready for the discussions, and now he's keeping commitments. When the whole Gray family walked in to church this Sunday, dressed in their Sunday best, Sister Brown and I both couldn't help but feel Heavenly Father's love for them. I hope I get to attend their sealing one day. Their family is going to be eternal. It is in God's plan. 

Ana Defiori, our investigator with a date for May 25th, came to church this Sunday! We were super excited! We have been waiting for this for a few weeks. She brought her 4-year-old daughter that already has a friend in primary, and her 8-month-old daughter that the Relief Society president helped hold so that Ana could pay attention. The ward is reaching out to her, and it is awesome. Ana's husband, John, is anti-Mormon. He lets her meet with us, but she's really worried about what he'll say when she tells him she's going to get baptized. Sister Brown offered a priesthood blessing, and she wanted it. Our bishop and ward mission leader gave her a blessing. It was powerful and exactly what she needed! It is absolutely amazing to see her testimony grow. We taught her the Word of Wisdom yesterday and she had been a little nervous about giving up coffee, but she said she would do it. She knows that she needs to be baptized and is willing to do everything to get there. 

As I've been reading the Book of Mormon I have been noticing that the things they teach in the Book of Mormon are exactly what we teach as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!!! In Mosiah 18 they talk a lot about being in Christ's church, and how baptism is how they become a member. They have to be baptized by someone holding the authority of God or it isn't complete. Alma the elder tells all of the ordained priests and teaches to teach nothing but repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, which is exactly what we teach as missionaries. Also in a later chapter it talks about those that teach the people were given power to teach by Alma, who received it from the Lord. It is just so cool. Another thing I noticed is that when we are reading about king Noah and his wickedness, it doesn't mention Jesus Christ nearly as much. That's no coincidence. My testimony of the Book of Mormon increases each day. 


Mom and Dad, THANK YOU SO MUCH! My package was awesome! I've worn all the clothes you sent me already, some of the jewelry, listened to a lot of the CD's, and LOVED LOVED LOVED looking at my new pictures of you! Also, did I tell you that my birthday card was totes presh!? Because it is. I love the ballerina card. SO cute! Oh, and I painted my finger nails and toe nails already with the polish you sent. Basically, that whole package was a blessing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Loved it all. And I love you, Mom and Dad. =D

Mom, will you forward this picture of me and Grandma and Kristin? In the card they sent for my birthday Grandma was a little bummed I didn't get one of her and me. But I did! Mind you, this picture is almost 2 months old. The 2nd picture is of my district that won't be the same anymore. Elder Sprage, our district leader, went home TODAY. Weird. Two of the sisters are leaving, and Sister Brown and I are going to be in a trio. Man, lots of changes.

The gospel is true and everybody needs it! Spread the love! -Sister Audrey Bishop

v Dinner at the Cloves Cafe' Rio style v

  

v The day I entere the MTC  pictured with Grandma Merril and Kristin Bishop and Hank v

 

Hello everyone!

As most of you know, I turned 20 this week. Can I just tell you that having a birthday on a mission is the best thing ever! We go to Milkshake Monday at Chick-fil-A every Monday with our district, and yesterday was no exception. It was super great. My district is so awesome. They brought me a card, cookies, and a cake, included with a happy birthday song. So fun. Love them all. <3 After that we went to work!

Felicia Gray is a new member, baptized about 2 months ago. Her family wasn't open to listening to us, but as we came over they listened anyway, and now the father, Scott, is even keeping commitments! On Sunday we talked to their family (including a daughter, Sarah who is 14, and a son, Kyle, who is probably 13) about family prayer and scripture study. Then when we taught them again on Monday night they had already had a family prayer together! There are big miracles happening. 

Monday (yesterday) was just the greatest day. It is week 6 in my training, which means we're learning about the importance of the Holy Ghost in teaching. During our companionship study we discussed ways we could be better at having the Holy Ghost with us, and it was with us all day! We went to the Mormon Battalion with Virginia Borjon, a woman whose husband is a less active and is currently deployed in the Navy. She felt the Spirit there. She really thought it was a neat story. We're hoping to set up more appointments with her to teach her. We have a goal for her to be baptized before her husband comes home in 6 months. Then they can work on going to the temple together! 

We taught Ana Defiori, our investigator that has a baptismal date. We had to move it from May 11th to May 25th because of church attendance and some vacations of hers, but she told us that she is excited to get baptized! We were still waiting on her to know that being baptized is what she needs to do, and she told us in this lesson that she had been thinking about being baptized. We're praying for her husband to come with her to church. He used to be really anti-Mormon, but now he lets her meet with us. 

We taught a less active family a lesson after dinner about the Holy Ghost. Because we had the Holy Ghost with us and were inspired to ask certain questions, they remembered times that were really special to them and they felt close to the Spirit. They agreed to meet with the bishop. 

Probably my favorite part of yesterday (which was my birthday, just as a side note) was the lesson we taught to the Gray's. We knew that we needed either Sarah (the daughter), or Scott (the dad) to pray after our lesson because they needed to know that's how they receive revelation. We showed them the 20 minute restoration video and talked about how the Holy Ghost feels. We invited them to be baptized. All 3 of the non-members there said they weren't ready yet. But the fact that they are investigating the church and are expecting to gain a testimony was a miracle! When Scott said the closing prayer I was praying so hard for him. I was also so excited and happy that he was praying, I couldn't contain the tears. It was such a beautiful thing. 

Missionary work is the Lord's work, of that I'm sure. I am so glad I get to be a part of this. I am becoming a better disciple of Christ as I learn about how to teach to our investigators what they need to know to gain a testimony and know they need to be baptized. The gospel of Jesus Christ is true.

Love everyone! -Sister Bishop

v  Sarah Grey  v

v  Audrey at the Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center v

v  Audrey and fellow mission sisters  v

v  Audrey and fellow mission sisters on P Day  v

v  Audery was well taken care of on her 20th birthday.  v

Weekly email #6

Hello everyone!!! I hope all is well. I'm doing WONDERFUL!

First off, my birthday is in 6 days. And then I'll be 20. It's my last P-day as a teenager!!! Say what?!?! If people want to send me LETTERS, as opposed to email, go ahead. =D I have a lot of wonderful things planned for my birthday. Lots of work. =] It'll be so good. Last night we had dinner with Bishop Moulton and his family (they are so cool!) and then made me a pie! Like, for my birthday! How they introduced it was Sister Moulton asked me if I liked strawberries. I told her I was allergic. (It's a funny joke to Sister Brown and I to tell people we're allergic to everything when they ask. People ask a bunch. They're very considerate. =]) Then I started laughing because I was kidding, of course. She said, "oh! Because we made you a strawberry pie for your birthday, even though it's early." Wouldn't that have been so bad if I really was allergic to strawberries!? Yikes. They sang to me with a candle and everything. I almost cried, I was so touched. But I didn't. Sister Brown told me later that she said and she thought "baby". I keep telling her that when I cry all the time it's not because I'm a baby, but because I'm sensitive. Maybe one of these days she'll believe me. 

Sorry about the short email last time. I was so excited to send pictures. Also, we have 2 hours to email, but I don't like to take the whole time. I get tired of sitting in front of the computer typing as fast as I can. So...yeah. This week I'm making up for it, though. By the way, does anyone know why I didn't get an email from Julianne this week? Because I want one. 

On Thursday half of the mission took part of a mission conference (the other half did it on Friday) with Elder Scott D Whiting of the 70. That was cool. He taught us how to teach the restoration more effectively. We learned SO MUCH. Being a missionary is awesome, you know? We get to see general authorities all the time. =D As part of our 3 hours spent in the chapel with him, 5 of us were called on to give a talk on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everyone was told before hand to prepare one. Anyway, I was called on. I definitely need to practice. XD But it was okay. Kind of exciting. Elder Whiting thanked me and said I did a great job, so I guess I'll believe him. 

Have I told you how much I love my district? 'Cause I really do. We have 5 sisters and 4 elders, and we are all awesome. Just sayin'. We had a really good district meeting sharing what we learned at the mission tour and then learning about prayer from our district leader, Elder Sprague. He's going home on April 30th. Too bad, 'cause he's cool. Chula Vista is the place to be. For reals. 

Remember Felicia Gray, the lady that called you? She came out with us on Friday night to try and contact some referrals and former investigators. She was nervous at first because she's brand new to the church, but she ended up having a blast. We didn't teach any lessons, which was a bit of a bummer. When we got back to her house her daughter, Sarah, who is 14 and not a member, asked if we taught any lessons. We said no. She was sorry/sad for us. I said "since we didn't get to teach any lessons, can we teach you?" She said "sure!" Sister Brown and I were so excited because we had asked her, her dad, and her brother, Kyle, if they wanted to get the lessons the Sunday before and they all said no, they weren't ready. But Sarah was totally open to it. Sister Brown, the inspired person that she is, asked what she wanted to learn about. She said "why do the Nephites and the Lamanites always fight?" Guess what! She's been reading the Book of Mormon on her own! She has good friends in YW's and went to a Book of Mormon readathon they had that Sister Brown and I went to a tiny bit of. They started in Alma, because they had read the first part previously, which confused Sarah because she doesn't know the stories. They challenged all the young women to finish the Book or Mormon before girls camp (in June). Sarah is going to girls camp and was trying to finish it. SO AWESOME, right?! Anyway, we answered her question by reading a bunch of scriptures and she thought it was dumb that they fight throughout 1000 years because they had a grudge against the first Nephi. Anyway......we showed her the promise in Moroni 10:3-5. SHE LOVED IT! She thought it was so cool. We committed her to praying to know if the Book of Mormon is true, and she said she would. It was a miracle. A BIG miracle.  So. Cool. 

Sister Brown and I walked one of our investigators dogs for a service. That was kind of fun. =] 

And some thoughts....

I want to love people. The thing I've been praying about is loving the people we serve. It's a lot easier for me to know God loves them than it is for me to feel my own love for them. While my love for them isn't as important as them knowing God's love for them I don't want people to think we're teaching them just because we want them to join the "Mormon" church. I want to be genuine. 

Because of inspiration received during General Conference I am starting to read the New Testament. I realized I didn't know Christ's life in Jerusalem really well, and I wanted to know what He taught. I have been reading it for about a week, and I love it! Yesterday in my personal study I read a lot of miracle that Jesus performed in Matthew. I used to have a hard time understanding Jesus' compassion because the New Testament is so .......dry. But the Spirit was with me as I read and my testimony as Jesus being our Savior and Redeemer, 

was strengthened. I was so grateful for the people that recorded His life so that we would be able to read it. I also read a lot of things from the end of 2 Nephi that had to do with the prophecies of Christ. I love that the people in America knew about Christ coming to the earth to perform the atonement. I love Jesus Christ. I want to be a worthy representative of Him so that people know I am doing His work. I am so grateful to be part of this marvelous work that is hastening. I pray that I can be an effective servant in the Lord's vineyard. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is true! Love, -Sister Bishop