Ava's Mission

I've realized that I always tell you how much happiness comes from missionary work... but I don't think I've ever broke it down for you all as to what that happiness is. Happiness is when it snows in Arizona. Happiness is when Jay Randall calls you on Wednesday saying he wants to be baptised on Saturday. Happiness is when his kids are all kneeling down in front of the font watching him and his good example. Happiness is seeing the joy in his wife after she has waited patiently and lovingly for so long to have her husband hold the Priesthood and the promise of an Eternal family one day. Happiness is eating a big fat chocolate brownie after going without sugar for a month. It is sitting in Texas roadhouse with your Bishop and his Wife hearing your favorite songs from home playing but not wanting to be anywhere else but here or do anything else but this. Happiness is coming home after a long hard day and laying on your bed that is too small for you and telling yourself that y...

I feel like I just wrote an email to you all because everytime I blink my eyes its pday again. I don't know when or how time started flying so fast, but there is just not enough time in the day or week anymore! We are helping everyone get their wood stocks ready for winter because apparently the snow is coming soon. We had 14 people we are teaching show up at church yesterday!!!! It was epic. (@jessicaashby) And the Bunny family is still on track for their baptism on Dec. 7th! Other good things this week, our friend Arionna put herself on date! She is a referral from Linda, one of the youth in our ward, and we stopped by and because she knew Linda she had a lot of questions and the gospel was exactly what she was looking for! Now Linda is taking part in her lessons and she wants to be baptised on Dec. 26th because that is the day her grandpa passed away. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER YOU HAVE AS AN EXAMPLE. And if you have someone in mind who could use the gospel, give th...

Hello family and friends! I have a goal to make this the shortest email I have ever sent. Everything is progressing super well here! Our ward members have caught the fire of doing missionary work and every week we start teaching more of their friends. This is the promised land. I want to introduce you all to Jay Randall. The husband of Krista. They have 4 boys all under the age of 12. They are your classic country cowboy family. Krista grew up a member of the church and Jay has been taking missionary lessons for 2 years straight. He comes to church every Sunday (that he isn't hunting) and bishop even had him speak a while ago! He told us a few months ago that "I felt the spirit very strong while in the sacred grove, I know the book of Mormon is true and I feel the spirit when I read it, and I know the church is true... but I haven't got my answer." FRIEND THAT IS YOUR ANSWER AND YOU KNOW IT. (Super frustrating, one of those people who waits for an angel to come and...

My mom sent me a letter this week titled HAPPY HALFTIME. I've been a missionary for 9 months. She talked about how halftime in a game is a time to catch your breath, refocus, tweak your game plan, and take a drink and tighten your shoes to go out and give your all the second half. This week was the greatest halftime and exactly what I needed. - We had a 2 day LTM meeting, which meant we got to stay overnight in the valley. It consisted of lots of good inspiration and instruction, and just as much fun. We hiked, the Elders had a giant game of dunk ball, and President let us all watch the other side of Heaven 2! SO GOOD. It felt super weird to sit and watch a movie... I felt guilty and honestly wanted to go knock on some doors, but it was a good time. ANDREW WAS BAPTISED! Love that kid. After he was baptised he came into the room smiling which is huge for him! Teaching him has been a blast. The whole mission got to go to the Phoenix Temple for Halloween! Here is the story of th...

(From last week but didn't send.) Another week for the books. The McHoods got baptised on Saturday! We can't take any credit for it, because the Sisters in Fortworth Texas taught them everything! They just moved here a week ago all changed and ready to go! The Dad Scott, a returning member, baptized his wife and two sons. It was BEAUTIFUL. We had two exchanges this week, one I was in Camp Verde and the other I spent a day in Sedona! Northern Arizona is the coolest ever. While in Camp Verde we got a call from a random number and it was a guy saying that he had hit rock bottom and wanted to change his life around. He said the only time time he ever felt true peace and happiness was in one of our churches when he was in 3rd grade and he has always remembered it so he tracked the missionaries in the area down. We met him at a park that same day and this big rough looking guy who was covered in tattoos just cried as we told him about the Atonement and how he can be forgiven and t...