Roseberry Topping, Capture the Flag, and a Dead Bunny

Hello!

This week went by so FAST! I can't believe my first transfer is almost over! Weird. . . :)

Sorry about how short last week's email was, we were having our zone p-day and our zone leaders made it sound like we had to be SUPER quick with our emails. We ended up having like 45 minutes to burn afterwards, hahaha.

We went hiking at a place called Roseberry Topping, and that was pretty fun. It was so steep though! When we got to the top we just hung out for a while taking pictures and stuff. Then we went down the . . . mountain. . . no it's more like a big hill. But, yeah, once we were off the big hill we played capture the flag, which was fun as well! Except for the part when I was running and then I saw this dead bunny and it was bloody and gross and very DEAD so I had to LEEEAAAAPPPP over it and I landed funny on my knee. I was running after one of my zone leaders afterwards and my knee started to really hurt and I kind of fell. . . and he was like, 'Oh! Man down!' and we was acting like he was gonna see if I was okay. . . yeah right! He came up to me and said, 'Are you okay?' then he ran around me and grabbed the flag and ran to his side! Unfair! But I was still on the ground nursing my knee after he got to his side and he came back over and made sure I was okay. So all was well. I showed him where the dead rabbit was and he picked it up and started to chase people around with it. The maturity level of some Elders is astounding. :) But it was funny. And disgusting. We all got bored of capture the flag and for the rest of the p-day we just threw rocks at the rabbit. Very exciting.

My knee hurt that night, a LOT, but since then my knee hasn't hurt at all. :)

The rest of this week has been kind of a blur. We had a fireside at our mini chapel on Saturday and President Lindley spoke. It was good! More people showed up then we expected so that was nice! But one of our investigators came to it and he was drunk. And after it was all over, he kind of made a scene. Luckily our Branch President was there to help us sort it all out. But all in all, it was a success. 

That same investigator said he was going to come to church yesterday, but he didn't show up. So we kept trying to get a hold of him, but he was kind of ignoring us. I think he was mostly embarassed about the whole situation. So Sister Smith and I went by his flat yesterday and we knew he was in, because his curtains were moving and he lives alone, but he wasn't answering the door. So I yelled through the post slot. Sister Smith was going to do it, but then I was like, 'I want to do it.' But then right after I said that, I regretted it. I didn't want to do it. But I did do it, because she woudn't let me not do it after that. :) She is such a fantastic trainer! :) 

I think that's all I have left to talk about for this week. . . :D

THE END,

Sister Stout

I LOVE YOU ALL SOSOSOS MUCH!

(Ali send these pics along with some others, but some wouldn't download for some reason.  I'll add them later if I can get them downloaded.)

"My Zone! :D"

"My District on P-day"

"Sister Smith and I at our District P-day"

"Our victory picture for winning the Billiham Belt thing for most investigators present!" (I have no idea what that means exactly, but she and her comp were pretty excited about winning it :)

Such a Great Week... I'm Speechless

Dear Spectacular People!

 

My week has been fantabulous! Hahahah, so GOOD! The investigator that was having suicidal thoughts got an ANSWER and now wants to be baptized as soon as possible! YESSSSSSSSS.

 

Hahaha, I cannot stop SMILING! :D But this week has been great! My thoughts are so incoherent right now. We had so many lessons this week. SO MANY.

 

Okay, gathering thoughts. We had District P-Day on Tuesday and that was fun. We almost got killed . . . hahah, not really, but it felt like it. We let another set of Elders drive and . . . yeah. That was fun. Crying from laughter.

 

But, yeah, nothing too exciting has been happening. We have a baptism set for the 28th of September, for a different investigator, and it's going to be epic!

 

I don't have much time at all to email today. . . I wish I did!  We have a zone p-day today and we are going hiking, so that should be fun. I love everyone and miss you all as well! Time is starting to FLY haha.

 

<3,

Sister Stout

ps - I'm so sorry this email is rubbish.  My thoughts are just all over the place today :) 

Here's What's Up!

Weeellll, this week should have been a 'bad' week. Considering I have been sick for exactly seven days today. SEVEN! Yes, I am still sick. But it hasn't been that bad. It's helping me to find out just how tough I am. Normally at any signs of illness I just get in my bed and watch telly for a couple of days. But here. . . I just want to work work work! Hahaha.

So, last Monday, something very exciting happened! In the morning we got a call from one of Sister Smith's former investigators. She was very surprised that he called! But he said that he had to talk to us that night. Sister Smith told me that the reason he was a FORMER investigator was because she had a dream that her and her comp should drop him. So they did. But now, about six months later, he calls us up and we met with him and then . . . he asked US if he can be baptized! Haha. It was amazing! He said that once the sisters stopped coming by that his life went down the tubes. And once he knew what it was like to have that faith in his life, he didn't want to live without it! It was incredible! It was a miracle! Haha, Sister Smith was inspired, the time that he had to learn on his own was exactly what he needed in order to fully commit himself to the gospel!

On Tuesday, I FELL DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS. Oh my goodness, it was terrifying. I just lost my footing, fell on my bum and slipped more than half way down. Hahaha, I have the grossest looking bruise on the top of my foot. But I'm okay. It was more scary then anything. I'm so clumsy. :) The stairs were very narrow and steep though. . . .

I am feeling much more comfortable every single day. It was hard at first, and it is still difficult, but seriously, every day it gets easier and easier. I love that. The Lord is most definitely carrying me. I couldn't do it without him!

I don't have quite as much time to write today, as we are going to Middlesbrough to pick up the Elders serving there and then going to Hartlepoole (sp?) to go to the beach for our district p-day (we're just eating and playing sports. . . no water for us :). Also the reason we didn't have p-day yesterday was because we had a mission tour. It was spectacular! So inspirational.

LOOOOOVE,

Sister Stout

I've Snipered...Haha

Hello EVERYONE!!!!!! :D

This week was pretty intense here. . . one of our investigators texted us Tuesday night and was saying he was gonna end his life. So we dropped what we were doing and spent nearly two hours telling him why that was not the right way to handle things. So, that was something I never thought I would experience. He is still alive, which is a blessing. But he is very depressed. But apart from that experience, things have been good! We scheduled three more for baptism. Oh, one of our other investigators was telling us about how since he has been investigating the Mormon church . . . a mole that he's had for as long as he can remember and always gave him problems, has mysteriously disappeared! IT'S A MIRICLE! I guess the Lord really does work in mysterious ways! :D :D :D

I have been experiencing some mild home sickness. . . but I know that it's just because I'm scared to push myself out of my comfort zone. Haha, but the missionaries here are quickly curing me of the dreaded 'comfort zone'. Two days ago, our zone leaders came down to see how we street contact and knock. At the end of street contacting, Elder Pahrem said that we couldn't leave until I had snipered someone. Which is to see someone who is far away from you, then yell out to them to get their attention, then you run up to them and start talking to them. Ugh, I did NOT want to do it. At all. But I did. . . .and it wasn't as difficult as I made it out to be. :)

Lucky, getting to be at the cabin. :) It sounds fun! I can't believe that I've been in Redcar for almost two weeks now. Oh my goodness. It feels like it's been way longer then that. Haha, but also shorter, at the same time. I keep getting told that the time will speed up . . . kind of looking forward to that moment. Oh, tell Aunt Ashley congrats! Also, send me a picture of the baby! I love that you sent me a picture of Cassie and Whitney. . . NEVER hesitate to send me pictures! :D Oh my goodness, I love Cass and Whit. . . and I miss them. And I miss all of you. Pictures are wonderful things.

NO! I have not driven yet. . . I have to take two lessons first. . . and I'm actually slightly terrified of driving . . . hahah. I'm sure it will be good though. I will eventually! But not many areas use cars. We are lucky that Redcar covers so much area, otherwise we would be walkers. But I'm sure I will learn how to drive eventually!

I love everyone and I LOOOVVVVEEEE getting letters! Oh my, I got five this week and it was GREAT!

LOVE,

Sister Stout

ps. Oh! I got a letter from Elder Davies mom! It was so sweet! It warmed my heart! :D

pps. I got letters from Cabel and Whitney as well, and tell Whit to send me a picture of her new hair! I want to see it soooooo bad! I bet it's amazing!

ppps. MOM! I love you with all of my heart! :D

First Week in the Field

Hello everyone!!! So, yes, I am finally in the field! I'm in a little town on the coast called Redcar! I actually live just half a block from the sea. Sooo, it is a bit cold, and I wish I had brought some more long sleeve shirts, haha, but I am doing fantastic!

When I first got here, I started to feel a little overwhelmed and cried a few times, but considering this would be the first time I've cried since I've come on my mission, I would say job well done on my part! Everything is getting much easier. Street contacting was so hard for me at first, but now I can just drum up a conversation pretty easily now. I get turned down most of the time, but that's okay. Knocking has also gotten easier. It was always the easier of the two, but now I am relying on the Spirit more to tell me what to say rather than having a pre-planned idea.

My trainer is really great and has helped me out a lot! Her name is Sister Smith and she is wonderful! She is from Boston, but she goes to school at BYU. She's been here in Redcar for six months. . . which is when she came out on her mission! She is training in her first area!

Here in Redcar, we have just a tiny little branch. There are about, maybe, 30 people. And that's a big maybe! The chapel is so tiny! And nobody knows how to play the piano so we sing a cappella.

The investigators are good. On Saturday I scheduled someone to be baptized! It was so cool! His name is Gary and he is a very kind person. We also started teaching a Filipino man and his wife yesterday and scheduled them both for baptism as well. That was the lesson where I felt the Spirit the most. They have such stong testimonies of Jesus Christ! And his wife seemed very interested in the Book of Mormon!

The food has been SO GOOD! I don't know what people were on about before! Haha, so yes. So so good. I love that they just put stuff in a pastry and call it dinner. . . most brilliant idea ever. Pastries are . . . heaven sent. Mmmm. We don't get many tea appointments though, so not too many opportunities to try authentic English food, but the appointments I have had, have not been a disappointment! By the way, in this area of England, breakfast is still breakfast, but lunch is called dinner and dinner is called tea. The sister missionaries eat at this Egyptian man's house every Saturday for tea, and that is pretty cool. He's not interested in the church (he's Muslim) but he loves us! Haha.

I'm so happy to hear that Miss DeeAnn liked church! I know that she will come to know that the gospel is true! She is such a sweet person and so loving! Aww, I miss Miss DeeAnn. And Tanci! Tell everyone I say hi and that I love them!

So, yes, yesterday was p-day and it was a bank holiday so we couldn't come to the library. P-day was fun, we went to the Middlesbrough Chapel and played chair football and some other ball game that the elders wanted to play. . . gatorball or something like that. Then we watched Hook! Haha, it's funny to watch a movie with elders. The movie is approved by our mission president, but there was a kiss or two and everytime that happened they would say, ugh, sick or something like that. Haha.

I'm very happy to hear that Brandon is doing better! I was going to write him, but I wasn't sure what to say. . . but it gives me a lot of peace to know that his testimony is growing.

Tell Robbie congrats for me!

Is that mom that you were talking about Elder Davies mom? Haha, he told me that his mom and my mom had been talking. We thought that was pretty funny. Elder Davies was in my MTC district.

Well, I really don't know what else to say. . . I am very happy to be out here and I know that I can do it! It's going to be tough, but nothing worth having comes easily! This gospel is amazing and I love the Spirit that it brings! I know that I'm out here doing the Lord's work and he is my constant companion on this journey!

I love you all and I hope to get some more letters soon!

Love,

Sister Stout

President Lindley, Sister Stout, Sister Smith (her trainer) and Sister Lindley

Last Day at the MTC

The MTC group excited to get out to there missions and get started with the Lord's work!

Hello everyone! I don't have too much time to write today, as they are only letting us write for a few minutes. We get transfered on P-day so we won't have any time to write . . . at least I don't think we do. We may, I guess. But I did read both of the emails you sent, mom! :D I got both of the boxes this week! Thank you so much, I really appreciated it!

I can't wait to get the letters waiting for me at the mission home! I hope they get there in time.

My week has been fantastic and I get to go into the field tomorrow!! :D I am so excited and so READY! I am a little bit nervous, but all is well. I know I can do it.

Oh, yeah! I went prostelyting this week and that was quite the experience! I got yelled at twice and no one took any of my BoM's. . . but that was okay. I only cried for a second. Haha! I'll get use to it. But after looking back on it, Heavenly Father knows how to teach me. He knew that I needed to have a slightly rough first go. This expericence is going to be so awesome for me. It already has been awesome.

Everyone got to have a meeting with President Walker and that was cool. He said that he never would have imagined that I was shy before . . . haha. He said he thought I was just one of those naturally confident types. Which I guess I am, really. Well, actually, I know I am. Being at the MTC has taught me so much and even if I am a little sad to be leaving, I know that I am off to bigger and better things!

Well, I love everyone and I'll write next P-day! (which I have no idea when that'll be! hahaha)

<3,

Sister Stout

And so the work begins....

All the Sisters

Ali with her MTC companion, Sister Belliston

America being represented at the MTC

The Moroni District

Ali in front of the Preston Temple

Hey mom (and family)

No I haven't gotten either boxes. :( I hope I get them soon. . . You should be getting some pictures from the MTC from when we went on the Church History Tour, which was WAY fun, by the way. We got to go to where some of the early missionaries lived and then we also went to where President Hinckley got his letter fom his dad . . . well you know the story. It was way fun! It was nice to get out of the MTC anyway. :)

Everything is going SO well! My teaching is really improving! I am getting so much better. At first my comp and I would talk realy fast, no silences or anything, but that is so much different than how it is now. We are 'teaching' a Jewish woman and the last lesson we had with her she said that she is starting to have faith in Jesus Christ! So that is way exciting. . . and she isn't just easy on us because we are new missionaries, she said that me and my comp were the only ones to actually get her to have faith in Christ! Haha, not that I'm boasting . . . it's just exciting!

There are four of us going to Leeds in my district, me and my comp and two elders. My whole district is fantastic and hilarious! We all have so much fun together. One of the Elders said last night that it seems like we have all known each other for years. . . and it really does. It's crazy how short of an amount of time it has actually been! Haha. We spend so much time together, because we are in class by district and we have class for at least 8 hours a day.

I leave the MTC next Wednesday. :D I am so excited to go to the field, but I love the MTC so much! So it's a bittersweet situation. But mostly sweet. :)

I played volleyball with my zone yesterday and I hurt my right wrist. . . remember how I said I thought I had carpal tunnel in that wrist from knitting? Yeah, well, now it's way more irritated. But it's honestly not too bad.

Well, I am going to send you pictures, and I need some time to figure out how to do it, so I'm gonna leave this one short. But I'm learning and growing a lot and having so much fun!

I LOVE YOU ALL :D,

Sister Stout

ps. Tell every one I love them and I miss you all, but it's really not bad. It's so great here!

pps.  I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH MOMMA!

(She couldn't figure out how to send the pics :(  Oh well, maybe next time)