It was to good to last

Our Zone Leaders and a member. We have loved serving in the same ward as the ZL's. They are amazing.

Here is the photo from the 4 Northern Zones for our Special Mission Conference, Sept. 2014

Well transfer information is in... I am being transferred. It still hasn't settled. Sister Aisa and I were very surprised. I am excited though. Sister Aisa and I got along really, really well.  I think I am going to be going down south. They need some excitement down there.... I am finally leaving the Palm Beach Zone... haha

I love proselyting Mondays. They are better known as MIRACLE Monday. Sister Asia and I went out excited and we saw many miracles. We were able to see 2 PMF, Give to 2 new member lessons one was a FHE at a member's home. Not only that but while we were working with these new members we were able to OYM an elect lady who accepted all our invitations. We were on exchanges and utilized our car time well. We passed the time with calling less actives and were able to schedule 2 return appointments. While harvesting we blessed 2 strong families that both accepted return appointments. The miracles were flooding upon us and we are so grateful. It is going to be an amazing transfer.

I hope you all have a good week!

I love you!

Love,

Sister Hartley

Our Sister activity last week! so fun. :D

After we had Fondue.

Look what I get to stare at everywhere.

Harvesting in the rain...

On a fire exchange with the Sisters.

Our dinner eating off the car. You do what you got to do.

BIG spiders!!!

We had a wonderful week here in Palm Beach. Sister Aisa and I are still as happy as ever and getting along well. One of our investigators refers to us as a Mary and Martha combination and I couldn't agree more. We click and really compliment each other. We are different but it works. I love it.

Family Home Evening with our Ward Mission Leader.

We saw a miracle this week as all are plans fell through. We saw a woman and contacted her. We began just simply talking with her and transitioned into a harvest approach. She at first refused, but we were persistent and she accepted. At the end she was in tears and claimed that she knew God sent us to her. It was amazing. Sometimes all things must fall through so we can be right where God wants us to be.

This week I was really reminded that no effort is ever wasted. We had lots of opportunities to serve unexpectedly like helping others grocery shop or unload things from their cars etc. I love planting seeds. Interestingly enough, this week we have also been received by a lot of people because they have had positive encounters with missionaries before that have helped them and they have never forgotten. We never know how much good we do.

Our finding efforts are focused on individuals with cars, priesthood holders, and families as this is what the ward is greatly in need of. We know God is preparing these people. We are spiritually creating and we know we will find them.

Everything sounds good at home. It looks beautiful. Here there are so many squirrels, lizards, and BIG spiders. Haven't seen to many snakes thank goodness. The humidity has died down dramatically so it doesn't feel as hot even though it is. I am grateful.

Lots of fun things coming this week. We have a specialized training with President that I am excited for. It is always a revelatory experience. Transfers is next week so I won't be emailing until Tuesday.  Sister Aisa only has one more transfer left so it will be interesting to see what happens. How blessed we are to know that it is all in God's hands.

Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Hartley

                Look what Sister Aisa ate for dinner by her own free will!!! haha I am so proud of her.

This one time both Elder Passey and I Iost in "What are the Odds" and had to eat this nasty stuff! It was so gross!! Sorry for sending the pictures one at a time. It will not let me send multiple.

 This is at our members home. It is a chalk board so she can erease it and change it when ever she wants! Cute eh?!

Getting to bike in the rain all day with Sister Vaioleti on exchanges!! It was an eventful day. I am predicting it now that she will be my next companion! She is amazing.

This past week I got to go on a fire exchange with Sister Porter. It was her birthday and she is a twin!!

A really strong member friend

We had another wonderful week. Here is one of our miracles:

I was on exchanges and literally all of our solid appointments fell through. I was praying for a miracle because I really wanted this dear Sister to experience it. We began to knock and sure enough it was the last door we knocked on. We met a wonderful lady. She recognized us as the Mormon missionaries instantly. She loved the prayer and accepted a Book of Mormon. She asked us where the nearest ward was.... turns out she grew up with a really strong member friend. They have kept in contact all these years. She went to young womans with her as a child and everything. She related how she had always been so impressed with this family. She had only been living in that area for a week and she knew we were sent by God. We followed up the next day and she related how she had taken a picture of the Book of Mormon and sent it to her friend with the caption "Look who knocked on my door last night". They even talked about the chapter we left with her in the Book of Mormon! When we were doing our How To Begin Teaching she expressed that she wanted the genuine happiness that we all had...when we asked her what she needed to do to receive it she replied, "Well I guess I need to be baptized!". She is elect and it is all because she had a great example all these years!!! She herself even related that had it not been for her member friend she would have wanted nothing to do with us. It was great to share this experience with our members yesterday about how there examples really do make all the difference!

We had Zone Training this past week and President came.

Mom this is what we did for the ZL's... we did a sunshine scavenger hunt around the church.. haha they enjoyed it and felt lots of love... they loved the yellow fuzzy socks... we had fun at the dollar store ...you would have been proud.

Matched on Sunday and didn't even plan it.

Yes Mom we are still biking. :-D

Sister Aisa and I are getting along well. We can communicate openly and I am grateful for that. We are learning so much together. We had an amazing day yesterday. We both bottle up stress and yesterday we both realized that there was a lot of stress and things we needed to talk about so we did. We both agreed that when our sisters have problems like this they have us that they can call but when we have problems we have no one to call... then it clicked that there was indeed someone to call! Sister Richardson!!! (Mission President's wife) At first we didn't want to... our pride was preventing us from doing it. Then we realized that this is how our sisters must feel when they know they need to call but don't. We realized that if we want our sisters to do the same thing then we to must do it. So we humbled ourselves and called Sister Richardson. I am so glad that we did!!! It was refreshing and exactly what we needed. We told her what we were going through and what we needed help with. She gave us the council and direction we needed. She was so happy that we trusted her enough to call her. She let us know that that is exactly what she is here for. She was so grateful. We all rejoiced and were edified together... (Sister Steg that was for you!!). God always provides servants to help us. It was a great lesson learned. I am so grateful to be on my mission. I am learning life lessons for eternity. I can't believe how much trust God puts in us. We are so young and have so much responsibility as missionaries/leaders but we are sanctified and purified as we leave ourselves behind and seek the Lord's aid in all that we do. It is the best 18 months to 2 years we could ever do.

A highlight of this week was getting to go on exchange in my old area!!! I got to go back to Delray! I am so grateful. We got to teach one of my recent converts in one of my favorite members homes... I also got to talk to one of my favorite members on the phone. It was such a tender mercy. It is such a blessing to still be in the same zone. I love exchanges. I learn a lot from the Sisters. They are all amazing. Sometimes I think we learn more then they do.

All in all, it was a wonderful week.

This beautiful girl lives so close to the spirit!! Her prayers are so POWERFUL!

Love

Sister Hartley

Turns out she is even a minister at her church!

Wow what a week! We saw so many miracles and I am so grateful. I LOVE Sister Aisa!!! We are so unified and I love it. We get along well, which I am grateful for. We have a lot of time in the car so lots of time to talk, laugh, and just enjoy the moment. We only get to be on missions once. We have the best sisters and we love going on exchanges with them. I got to experience my first MLC (mission leadership conference) and it was a treasured experience that I am grateful for. This is undoubtedly God's work. 

Comp Study with the Assistants! These are the hardest working Elders ever!!!!

This one time we were in a trio for the afternoon...

Picture from my first MLC (Mission Leadership Council). All the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders come together to receive training from President and the Assistants. The District Leaders were invited this time as well.

Our area is doing well. We experienced a huge finding miracle this week! Following MLC, we talked together on the way home about what we wanted to apply in our stewardship and area. We felt that we needed to be more persistent with our OYMing. Rather then focusing on giving pass along cards, we determined to seek a harvest prayer at every opportunity. God gave us an immediate situation. We had just followed up with a referral and were heading back to the car when we saw a couple getting out of the car. We approached them, gave them a card, and began to talk with them. Looking tired and complaining, the wife claimed she wanted nothing to do with us but said that we should pray with her husband. She headed up to her apartment expecting us to stay there and pray in the parking lot but we didn't. We testified that it was a blessing for his home. Finally, he agreed and we followed him up to the apartment. Long story short, in the end both the husband and THE WIFE joined us for the prayer and they loved it! We gave them a Book of Mormon, invited them to be baptized, and they agreed to come to church. We didn't once doubt that they would come. They were honest people. On Sunday they both walked in!! Not only that but the wife got up and bore her testimony!!! She started off with, "Well this is the first time I have ever been to a Mormon church. . . " and it went from there. Turns out she is even a minister at her church!                              

Our investigator that bore her testimony on Sunday!

She related how we found her and how impressed she was with our love, boldness, persistence, and obedience. She could tell that we had a purpose for being there. She commented on how we were so full of faith and determined that she just couldn't say no. It was such an incredible testimony. She recognized the light in us. It really hit us that this is what being a FFLM missionary is all about. We are bold. We are loving. We are full of faith. We are persistent. We are challenging and testifying. All-members and non members-will recognize these qualities because we literally are being beams of light for all to see. This is what FFLM is all about.

This experience of having one of our investigators bare there testimony also developed a lot of trust with members of the ward. They were able to here what we do in relation to harvesting from the investigators perspective. They were able to see how hard we work. It was such an incredible experience. We were so grateful to God for allowing us to see such a big miracle! We know many more are in store as we continue to be true FFLM missionaries.

There are twins in our ward!

                              

In effort to greater know the ward and develop the trust of the members, we decided to go to Young Women's. I felt so old! haha they are all SO young. It was an amazing experience though. Sister Aisa and I were able to contribute a lot to the lesson and we could tell the leaders really appreciated us being there. It really impacts the girls to have us there. It made me so grateful for my own young women's leaders and teachers. They have all impacted my life so much. I never thought that I would receive my Endowment at such a young age. However, I was prepared to do so and the young women's program and my leaders played an integral part in that. I am so grateful.

We have another busy week ahead. It will be another amazing one filled with miracles! I love you all!

Love,

Sister Hartley 

Exchanges really tire me out

Bro. and Sis. Sommerfeldt are back in Canada

That is so weird to see you with the Sommerfeldts!! I sure love them and miss them. I am really happy that you saw them. Happy Birthday Dad! It sounds like you had a great day. Sister Aisa and I had a great week. Together we are both very positive and full of faith and we are trying to instill that in all our dear Sisters. I love Sister Aisa. She is teaching me so much. I love my area as well. We literally have the best zone in the mission and the best zone leaders. They are such extraordinary missionaries and men and I am so grateful to serve along side them. Really we are just loving life and loving being missionaries and servants of the Lord. Travis I am so happy that you are training!! O my both you and Sariah are greeny training! That is so awesome! You'll be a ZL and STL before you know it! Katelyn you look adorable as always in all your pictures. You look so happy and I love it. I am learning wonders about the atonement. It truly strengthens us beyond what we can do. I have never been so tired in my life. Most nights I just drop to my knees, not knowing how I am going to have the energy to do it all again tomorrow but then I begin to pray and I feel Father take over.  physically, spiritually, and emotionally. But I am learning so much and loving every minute of it. Our sisters and investigators are so wonderful and sweet. I love them all. I am so filled with gratitude for all of the many blessings Father has given me. I have no room to ever ever ever complain! I have been given so much. I am so grateful. I hope that you all have a great week!

I love you!

Love,

Sister Hartley

Parcels the Sommerfeldts brought home for me.

I am very excited/humbled to be serving as an Sister Training Leader

my beautiful Aussi comp

A little taste of Palm Beach for ya... it is pretty humble.

Saying goodbye...hardest thing ever!!!

Well... what a week it has been. I am so excited/overwhelmed for this transfer. Transfer meeting was CRAZY! There were so many changes made. It feels like a completely new mission. President Richardson is making it his mission. He has been here for a while now and has things figured out as to how he wants to do it. I am excited. I about died when they read my name and said my new area and companion! I am now serving with Sister Aisa in an area called Palm Beach. The funny thing is I didn't even leave my zone! haha I have been in the same zone my entire mission so far... (Sister Steg why am I just like you?! haha) Sister Aisa is such a good companion. She is from Australia but not Travis's mission she lives in the Brisbane mission. It was funny she was my STL and we went on an exchange just under 2 weeks ago and had a great time and now I am her companion. I am very excited/humbled to be serving as an Sister Training Leader with her. We look after 7 companionships of Sisters. We go on one full exchange and 2 fire exchanges every week... in other words, we are very very busy. I have never been so tired. It is a good tired though. I figure I only get to serve the Lord in this way once and I need to embrace it and cherish every moment. I love our dear sisters so much. They are amazing. I went on my first exchange this past week and was very humbled. I learned a lot. Most Sisters think the STL's are there to be an example and learn from but in reality the opposite is true. We probably learn more from them then they do from us. As a leader you see lots of things that you don't as a regular missionary. So much goes on. Basically it has taught me that I literally have so much to be grateful for. I have no reason to ever ever complain!!!!! 

The Comp Study with our District leader

Heavenly Father has blessed me so much. I have a new appreciation for the Assistants to the President. Man are they ever amazing and work so so very hard! I enjoy getting to talk to them regularly I learn so much from them. Looking back I can see how God has been preparing me for this my entire mission... especially with Sister Stegelmeier being my trainer. I am so grateful. One thing I love about being a leader is having an awesome companion! You don't have to worry about dis obedient issues or anything like that because we both have to set the tone and be the example. It is nice. We get along really well together and both work very hard. Even though we have only been together for a week we are really unified. We teach very well together. I am so grateful.... I just love her to death. The new area and ward are awesome. The zone leaders serve in our ward to so we get to spend lots of time with them. It is really fun....I think I will stay. :D haha  Anyways I don't have much time.... to be honest letter writing is going to be hard. On PDay's all we want to do is sleep... haha I will do my best. If you don't get a letter just know it is not because I didn't want to, it is because I am losing myself in this great work. Now I not only get to work to bring our investigators closer to Christ, but other sisters as well. I am so excited. I love this work.

Pray for me and my new area and companion

I don't even know where to start it has been a wonderful week. We had transfer call last night. It was wild like always. The unexpected happened as usual...but I felt that I would be leaving. I am just starting to get to comfortable here and I need to get out and climb the next mountain. I love this area though and all of the people in it: members and recent converts especially. But they will be taken care of and will see them again. 

So this was my face when I found out I was being transferred!!! No just kidding... Sister Furner hid in the bathroom and when I opened the door she scarred me and took a picture of it! Best picture ever eh?

I am so very humbled to have spent the first 7 transfers of my mission in the Boynton area. I have seen many miracles and I can definitely see God's hand in me being here so long. I may have been in the same area but much has changed. I was able to be a part of the newly formed Delray Beach ward and play an integral ward in pioneering the missionary efforts as well as now seeing a newly formed Boynton Beach Stake. Same area but different ward and stake! God's work is surely hastening and I am so grateful to have been able to witness this first hand. 

Wahoo we are done 12 week!!! One of our miracle returning members. I just adore her. Classiest old lady ever...

 One of our miracle returning members. I just adore her. Classiest old lady ever...

We had Stake Conference this weekend and 2 general authorities came to reorganize the stake. It was such an exciting day. Great things are happening in this part of the vineyard. In Stake Conference the General authorities talked all about the work of salvation. We don't hasten the work by being hasty. What it really means is completion. Completing families...on both sides. Both missionary work and family history work. Part member families must be completed and non members baptized and then on to the temple...it was such a good conference. It was very motivating. I loved every minute of it. Our new Stake President himself is a convert of 14 years. He is a piano tuner and one day he went to a ladies home and while he was tuning her piano she shared the Gospel with him and gave him a Book of Mormon. He is so converted. He may have only been a member for 14 years but he said he has only sat with his wife for a year and a half because of his callings! He has been in a bishopric, bishop, high council, you name it he has done it! He is so awesome. There are prepared people. We must open our mouths and talk to them!!!!! 

Hope you all have a great week. Pray for me and my new area and companion please. Thanks for all the love and support! 

 The sandwiches we had for lunch were HUGE! 

I live with two crazy sisters

Zone Conference

 My STL's and me. I love these dear sisters. Exchanges with them are the best. 

FHE with my favorite family! We teach the new member lessons in Members homes for FHE's...it is always some of my favorite memories. We taught of the importance of prophets. Each paper had a different bible/book of mormon prophet and they had to ask yes or no questions to determine who they were. It was a lot of fun. They are all getting to no the Book of Mormon really well!

My foot continues to heal from the bike crash... It was starting to get infected and we just happened to be teaching a lesson at the mission nurses home she checked it out and told me what I needed to do. All my shoes would rub against it so she told me to go without a shoe. Made for a good conversation starter with people. 

Teaching one of our investigators... he was so excited when he found out I grew up on a ranch. I brought him all sorts of pictures and he just loved them and asked question after question. He was pretty disappointed though when he found out I didn't ride much and didn't even have my own horse.. haha He had a CAT hat on and I asked him if he ever wore John Deere hats and he said he did. The next lesson he brought each of us one!!! I was so happy. The other man is another one of our investigators...we had a combined lesson with them both.