Week 16 1.10.17 - 1.16.17

Hello Y'all!

Sorry for the delayed email. Wifi was out at the church... but we played Bball, Volleyball, and Warrior Ball. It was a ton of fun and I love my new district.

This week started with my last few days in Mandarin and as a Trio. I went on splits with the YSA Sisters and helped clean  their investigator Joe's house. (Picture) I got to saw bye to Sharon and teach her one last lesson and I got to say bye to Lisa... I may have shed a couple of tears when saying bye. (Pictures below) We spent the nights this week at my apartment so I could pack... oh how I strongly dislike packing... but I am going to miss Sister Harris and Mann (pictures below)

Transfers... I was honestly nervously packing and went and said bye to Sister Johnson. But as soon as I handed literally everything over to Elder Christensen and Petersen I felt so relieved and calm. All my prayers were answered and I truly knew that the area I have grown to love and the people that are like my family are in good hands. I then met Sister Warr! She is AMAZING! She is hard working, but not over bearing about it. I love her! Our first night we took the traditional Whale picture! (See below) This week we're able to have a great week of lessons and finding here in Ocala 1st Ward! Here are just a few miracles and tender mercies:

We got a self-referral from a lady named Delta for a Bible. We were going out that night with a member and so we had scheduled a time to meet Delta and took our member with us. Once we got there we gave Delta the Bible and talked more about it. She wanted it for her grandson and she told us about her religion and how the Bible has blessed her life. We then testified to her about how the Book of Mormon has blessed our life's. We taught her the Restoration and she was very involved in her answers and asked us to come share more. What truly touched my heart was that our member shared her conversion story of how she was a devout Jew and how when she was approached by missionaries she could see the light within them and how much they truly knew that what they were sharing would change her life. Delta turned to us and said that that is how she felt. It was powerful.

Then just last night we went to have a lesson with a recent convert and he had some neighbors that had asked him if we could go pray with them. We went over and talked with them about their current situation as a family and how they really need a prayer. After we prayed we talked with them more about our purpose as missionaries and how we help guide people and invite them to come unto Christ by being baptized. The mom got so excited cause she has been wanting to get baptized with her daughter for the longest time, but every church she went to wouldn't let them. We explained our purpose and gave them our information. It was such a tender mercy.

All around a great first few days in Ocala, FL with many more to come!!!

Love yall and miss yall!

Love,
Sister Foster

Sister Harris and I then End of the Mandarin Sister Trio.

Me and Sister Randel and Sister Anderson (YSA or Young Single Adult Ward)

Sharon Rose and I

Lisa Toms and I

Whale of a Trio life with Sister Harris and Sister Mann

Sister Johnson and I

Sister Harris and I then End of the Mandarin Sister Trio.

Sister Warr and I are ready for a Whale of a time in Ocala!!

Week 15 1.3.17 - 1.9.17

Hola Y'all!

So this week Sister Gibb finished her mission and she went home to Utah. I was put into a Trio with the other sister missionaries in the area, Sister Harris (from Beaver, UT) and Sister Mann (from Payson, AZ) it has been a ton of work, but so much fun.

We had a great lesson/discussion with a Youth Pastor and were able to teach them about the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation. At the end he told us he has great respect for us and our firm faith we have and that we have courage to talk to a Youth Pastor. We had a great week of miracles and cover two areas, two wards, two stakes.... We knocked some dirt roads and were able to find some potential investigators. We went to Farm Share which is a food bank type service activity in Florida. We also helped the cutest older couple take down their Christmas decorations! 

We had an AMAZING Zone Conference and it was much needed, our missions new year is focusing on "Finding One by One Everyday" we had a training by Sister Lee on Repentance and the Sacrament and then the APs trained on having be still moments as we teach the invite the Spirit in. Then President Lee trained on finding One by One. It truly was the best meeting I have been to thus far on the mission! On Sunday we had a surprise investigator come to church that we haven't talked to in a while. It was amazing!!

So I am being transferred to Ocala, FL.... I am Excited, but sad... it's mixed emotions all over. I am so happy we have amazing Elders to take over the area. 

"And p day starts at seven thirty if we want it to now! So that's pretty cool I guess. In other news, I"m being transferred to ocala! It is the land of horses and ocala-it's. Mandarin is the true promised land, though. Best zone in the mission. We met a drunk man this week who tried to swallow a chicken but he decided to actually swallow a turkey. Mandarin...crazy place. Ocala is full of crazier people than that, I hear. Right now I am playing spike ball and another person is writing my email for me. Without seeing the keyboard. No bids deal. Right now I am just typing without any thoughts in my mind whatsoever. Can you imagine what would happen if Donald Trump was an alien and he took over the entire earth with his mind powers? That would make great interstellar headlines. Especially since he was elected. Haha" from Elder Flake

This week is going to be great being in a new area!!! I am PUMPED!!!

Love,

Bay
Sister Foster

Sister Gibb and Me... at Journeys End...

Last Mandarin Car Share Selfie

Dirt Road

My last Sunday here!!

Florida is Cold!!!

Mandarin Zone!!!

Week 14 12.27.16 - 1.2.17

Aloha Y'all!
This week has been crazy, stressful, revelatory, sad, happy, fun...aka another week being a missionary... and I truly love every single week, day, moment, second I am able to wear my black name tag and represent my Lord, Savior, and Redeemer Jesus Christ!! 

Last Pday we played Ultimate Frisbee and it was a blast. We just all relaxed as a Zone and had a great time. We visited some less-actives and knocked around them. A family welcomed us in and then nicely bible bashed us... it was intense, but not scary. I am understanding the reason it is called the Bible Belt here. 

Tuesday we went to Farm Share and dumped expired milk and then went on trade offs with Sister Clay. We had a great trade off in the Mandarin 1st Ward. Sister Clay was with me and we went to go bike to our appointment and my bike tire popped. We went back and got Sister Gibb's bike. We had a great night of finding! We found 3 new investigators and 2 potential investigators! We then biked home and the next day we went to district meeting and had pizza for district lunch together. That night we knocked a street called Siesta Del Rio... man oh man did we find some amazing old ladies there! We first knocked on a ladies door and she came out and asked if we had been there before... we said no, she continued and said well some little ladies came by and I taught them how to sew yoyo's... she then invited us in and showed us her entire house! 

We then go a couple more doors and knock on this cute ladies door. She said she wasn't interested and then we told her we liked her Mickey Mouse collection she said, well might as well come see it all you never know I might be dead tomorrow. She then opened her door... y'all her house is decked out with Mickey Mouse her name is Miss Penny and she was the cutest lady ever! On Thursday I Weekly planned as a Trio with Sister Mann and Sister Harris, cause this week when Sister Gibb goes home I will be in a trio with them until transfers the following week. That afternoon we had an amazing lesson with a girl named Alia and committed her to baptism and a date of January 28th! The next day we spent finding and taught a lesson to a preacher who taught us in return. We found a potential investigator as well.
 
That evening we went and visited less-actives and Sister Johnson. On Saturday we went out to sushi as Sisters to send off Sister Gibb and Sister Warr. That afternoon we tried to visit some less-actives and one of the people that answered said the man we were looking for no longer lived there and we should check the county jail... needless to say it was a good time. That evening we picked up the Mandarin 2nd sisters and went to the Lee's to help them prepare/cook for our New Years Eve district dinner that night. We helped prepare for our delicious fondue feast!
That evening we came home and our apartment smelled so bad!!! We discovered that our kitchen sink was filled with disgusting water...so Sister Gibb goes and twists the pipe so it starts dripping into a bowl and we got impatient and so twisted it a little bit more and it bursts open and floods our kitchen.... we finally get it back on and clean up the water... we took showers and went to bed cause we were done. Then Sunday morning we have a great time at church and come home to a filled sink once again.... we called the plumber.... we were done... I made ebleskeivers to cheer us both up!
I said bye to Sister Gibb.... sad/happy feelings all the way around...
Love y'all!!! Hope y'all had/have great weeks!!!
Xoxo
Sister Foster
 

Miss Penny!!

Caught my first frog!!!

helped the Lee's

Me, Sister Johnson, and Sister Gibb!!!

Our sink.... its evil....

Flat Ableskivers..... not the same, but good...

Sister Warr & Sister Gibb right before dropping them off to go home...

My district and President and Sister Lee!

trade off with Sister Clay was a Whale of a time!!

Week 13 12.20.16 - 12.26.16

MERRY BE-LATED CHRISTMAS Y'ALL!!!
This week was great! We went to the Jacksonville Zoo for Pday. I saw GATORS!!! I may or may not have ran right up to them with a huge smile on my face... and they may or may not be my wallpaper... haha...
 
The next day we were on bikes in 45°-55° weather and misty air. We did service for Lorraine, she is older and sick but so sweet and kind. We then did service for the Hunt's, she is a member and he is not a member they are a super cute old couple whom I love! We then biked to visit less-actives and other appointments. 

I truly do love my district. We had an amazing district meeting. We then went to Farm Share and also taught Lisa Toms about Learning and Serving in the church. She had some questions about callings and her family being together. I was able to bear my testimony to her on both. I told her how inadequate I felt when I was called to be in the Relief Society presidency and how I needed to pray and act on the faith that I have in my bishops authority and in Jesus Christ. I know that he knows what is best for me and what I need in my life. And how we will receive all of God's blessings as we trust in him and strive to do what is upright and truly live the commandments of God. 

The next day we went to President Lee's and Sister Lee's to talk with them. I needed some help adjusting and guidance on some personal struggles I am having. It was amazing to talk with him and
walking away I truly know that I was called to this mission because of President Lee. We then went to the mission office and I got my Packages!!! 

I got to vacuum a deck this week... and we went caroling with the sisters in my district. We heart attacked a few sisters in our ward... I almost died... I tripped and fell down a ditch on the side of the road... haha... on Friday we had a miracle time finding! We found several people and taught them the Restoration. We also had a miracle on Wednesday and found a new investigator across
the street from some members. We then had a delicious Christmas Eve brunch with my favorites the Carver Family!! They remind me so much of my family it's crazy!! Haha... We went to a senior couples for lunch with our Zone and then to dinner at the Readings/Hudgins party. (Members in our ward) We had a wonderful night by the river across from downtown caroling as a zone. I would chase
people down and had them pass-along cards and talk with them about their faith in Christ. One couple had an adorable dog that jumped on me and the gentleman was a less-active member. 

Then Christmas morning we went to the mission home and I was charged with manning the cooking
of the eggs and bacon!! We then had a brunch with our ward mission leader and then went home and opened our gifts. We went to church and sang in the choir. Our ward came together and filled gigantic
stockings for us. We then Skyped home and spent our night at the Aniel's eating Filipino food and enjoyed the company of all. Last night before going to bed Sister Gibb made me go through her clothing with her... I am not ready to say bye to her... we are making this week the best week of her mission!!!
I hope y'all had a Merry Christmas and now have a Happy New Year!!!
Love y'all so much!!
Sister Foster

GATORS!!!!!

....biking.... in the cold....

packages

stockings

Zone caroling

Week 12 12.13.16 - 12.19.16

Hey Y'all!
This week has been another great week in Miracle Mandarin. My comp Sister Gibb LOVES to bike, so we bike everywhere when we don't have the car. It is a ton of fun!! It's getting humid and gross here...I want to chop off my hair now... ugh! We had the opportunity to serve a lot this week. We helped Sister Johnson paint crafts and wrap gifts. We helped Yvette clean up her garden and then later helped her clean out her kitchen and reorganized it. We were able to have power lessons with members this week and challenged them to give two people the pass along cards and to invite
their friends to the Christmas Day church service. We have already had members share with us their experiences of the challenge and one has invited three of her friends. I love the members here, they
truly want/love to help us missionaries, its amazing!! 

While visiting with some members this week, one of them was talking about the reason for the season. He said, "Its all about what's under the tree!" Then I said, "Actually it's all about what's under the straw.... oh wait I meant star!!!" Everyone erupted in laughter!! Oh man... in my defense I was super tired and hungry... but remember this season is all about what is under the straw... star... haha... 

I realized this week that I have a tiny love for Harry Potter...we met a less active and her husband have a custom made pensive with pictures of their story. He spent a whole year planning the Harry
Potter scavenger hunt proposal. And even planned a Harry Potter scavenger hunt the year prior so when the proposal one happened she wouldn't suspect anything... they have Everything Harry Potter!!
We also had another Amazing lesson with Lisa! We taught her about Tithing and Fast Offerings. She then had us over for dinner and while we were eating she was talking to us about how she wants to be a light to others and help those around her become better people. Lisa is still on track for her Baptism Date of January 21st!!! She is Elect y'all and I love her so much!!!!
 
This week we went to go find a less active... he lives off of a major highway and so we turned off it onto a dirt road that for two miles is through over grown Florida wild life for some reason I could not stop laughing the whole time... we then came across a bunch of random houses and tried to find his. We got to the end of the road and ended up in a mud pit with a dog chasing the car... oh I am also the one driving... I may have been freaking out. Then out comes this drunken man with no shirt on and mangled hair and beard with his beer in one had and gun in the other... he said, "little ladies y'all better get lost! I have been pulling people out of that thing all day!" We asked him if he knew the name of the man we were looking for and he said no, so we swung around and went back to the other houses... never found the guy we were looking for.
 
Later that same night we were going to an appointment and there was a sign that said cemetery, Sister Gibb said let's check it out, so I turned onto a dirt road. There was a huge puddle, so we then splashed
through it and I drove up a little more and then Sister Gibb grabbed my arm and gasped... I slammed on the breaks and screamed!!!! AHHHHHH!!!! She could not stop laughing... I am here for her
amusement!!! Haha...
 
Then last night we were knocking and this man opened his door and came right up to both of our name tags calling us by our names and was very rude and scary... he Bible Bashed us... Sister Gibb was really great at staying calm and testified!!! It was amazing... while walking away I started crying... which surprised me so I started laughing and Sister Gibb was very confused... haha... we said a prayer and I felt the Spirit again!!
I hope y'all had great weeks!!
LOVE YALL AND MISS YALL!!!
Sister Foster

I saw my first G-sled this week!!

Me

A cute Candy Cane Reindeer we got from. Member this week!

We got flowers made out of the Harry Potter books from the Less
Active in the color of our house... I don't know what house I am...

Week 11 12.6.16 - 12.12.16

Hey Y'all!
This week has been great... stressful... but great! We were able to talk to a lot of random people and show them the Christmas Initiative video on Mormon.org and everyone we showed it to loved it and how it reminded them of the Bible stories and people were surprised that Mormons believed in the Bible at times.

COURTNEY COX IS ENGAGED TO NICK EDWARDS!!! Ahhhh!!! (Court is my Best friend!) 

It poured buckets of rain this week for 4 hours straight!! YAY!! And it got to 55° this week and made me super happy for Christmas time!! We had a great District Meeting with President Lee there and was able to learn more about how become an even better missionary! We then had a Mission wide Christmas Party and it was so much fun! We had skits for each Zone and ours was titled A Mission Carol and it was awesome. We then had an amazing spiritually uplifting Christmas devotional! 

That night we went and visited a less-active member in our ward and I turned to her husband and asked him how long he has been a member for... he said I am not a member... now you feel awkward don't you! I said no but screamed inside YES!! We then went knocking that night and ran into some people who were high... we gave them pass along cards and they smelt them and said Mmmm... so sweet! Haha... we then had the Ward Christmas Party on Saturday night and it was really cool! We were in charge of the candy bar! We then had a great Sabbath day. That night we went biking to an area and knocked, we still had quite a bit of time before we needed to go home and so I felt like we needed to go visit someone, but wasn't sure why. And so when we did and they weren't home I was bummed, but Sister Gibb said let's knock, we were led here for a reason. As we were knocking we came across a man named Marcus, and he loved our message and we set up a return appointment!
Lisa Toms is truly Elect!! We taught her the Word of Wisdom this week and she kept saying I know I have to give up smoking, but TEA! She also showed us her cigarette case and how she had laid out 10 that morning, but only smoked 3 that day!!! She is going from packs a day to only 3 y'all!! She committed to do it though and live the Word of Wisdom! She then came to the Ward Christmas Party and brought a ginger bread house that was an island beach theme and it was amazing and won! She then came to church on her own and we LOVED it!! She is getting along perfectly with Everyone! I love her so much!!!
 
Tuesday evening we went knocking in a neighborhood we prayed about and met an amazing Catholic lady named Maria and invited her to the Christmas Party for our congregation. She ended up coming and Loved it! Sister Gibb and I gave her a tour of our church building and she stopped at every painting and asked us to explain the stories of each. Her favorites were the pictures from the Book of Mormon stories. And afterwards she told us she needs to read the Book of Mormon. So Sunday night we went over on our bikes and gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon and the Restoration pamphlet and set up a time to meet with her this week and talk about it with her.


I love y'all and miss y'all!! Hope y'all are having a great Christmas season!!!

Xoxo
Sister Foster

Sister Gibb, Sister Lonnie Thomas (member), Lisa Toms (investigator), Me

Me and my two trainers!!! Sister Gibb and Sister Tu'ivailala

An amazing poem I found from the Ensign

Week 10 11.29.16 - 12.5.16

Hello Y'all,

There has been one thing pressing on my mind this week. And that is the testimony I have of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the real relationship we can have with him. Every morning and every night I am able to get down on my knees and pray and know he is always there with me! I know that Christ Atoned for our sins very personally because he loves us enough to suffer and go through such great pain for each of us individually. I know that it is only through his Atonement that we can become spiritually clean. I know that he died for us so that we may rise again and be whole. I know that he loves each of us individually and personally!

This week I got a new companion her name is Sister Gibb. She is from American Fork, UT and is seriously amazing!! This is her last month on her mission so I will be her last companion. This week we have been able to have a ton of fun together and worked hard and taught many people. I am learning so much from her and am loving it so much here. We saw Miracles! We got to help a family who recently got baptized move into a house in our ward. We got to go teach a lesson with Lisa Toms and were able to teach her the Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson. She loved it and when we talked with her about repentance she immediately said "Sisters I know I need to do better. I have to quite smoking." She then asked us to pray for her to have the strength to quite smoking. She truly is elect y'all!! She also came to church with us this week and absolutely loved it! When she walked up I couldn't help but have the biggest smile on my face!! She is so cute and amazing I just love her so much!! She is excited to be baptized on January 21, 2017!! I have loved being able to see her grow and learn in the gospel! When she participated in Sunday School I felt like a proud mom!! She truly shines and is so happy with her decision to become a member and stands her ground with those around her!  We also had a lesson with a women named Nicole. She is a Army Vet, Single mother of 5, and going to school to become an Occupational Therapist. We taught her the Restoration and she loved it and she is excited to be baptized on January 28, 2017! This week we also were able to help Lisa build her deck and cut some fencing for her backyard garden and pool. I love being able to share my beliefs with others and to hear their stories. Even if they reject the message I have to share I still find joy in what I am doing and LOVE everyone I get to talk with.

Love,
Sister Foster

Sister Gibb and I eating Ice Cream

This picture describes my comp perfectly. I was driving to go to dinner and all of a sudden she yells STOP!!! So I slam on my breaks. She proceeded to tell me that she wanted me to turn around so she could take a picture.... this is the picture she wanted....

Me, Sister Gibb, and Lisa!!

Me being.... well... me!!!