Sleeping Princess

MONDAY JANUARY 25

Hey hey hey!

Things are still movin' and goovin' up here in Maine!

It was a good week, even though we had a lot of things fall through..

We had 5 member present lessons we had all set up with members fall

through at the last minute. Such a bummer, but we'll go and get em'

this week!! We have a lot of great people to teach in our area, with

great potential! One thing I was reminded time and time again this

week was that as we look for Gods hand in our life, even when things

aren't going exactly the way we had planned that we can always see His

hand and influence in our life more. His Tender mercies are

everywhere. I noticed an immense amount of them as I strived to look

for them this week. It may have been warming up my hands in the car

after a cold few hours of being outside, or it may have been a sweet hug

from a kind member. I know that God is everywhere, and so aware of

each of us. I'm grateful that as we be still, look for blessings in

our lives, that will be able to feel our Heavenly Father clearer, and

be more grateful for the blessings He sends our way.

So we had a funny experience after sacrament meeting. Sister Boudreou

in the ward came up to us after and told us that during the sacrament

her little boy looked back and saw me praying to myself and yelled

"Mom!! The princess is sleeping!" Haha he's so stinkin cute, this

branch has a primary of 60 kids, which makes things so fun!! Last

night at our meal appointment we taught 7 boys under the age of 7 a

lesson... Haha what an adventure.

We have an awesome week ahead.. We'll be busy traveling around doing

trainings for two zones, which I am really excited for! I'll be

praying hard that the spirit will be with me. I truly know The spirit

is the prime teacher, We have to be worthy to bring the gospel unto

others, and they have to be the ones that's let it into. I'm so

thankful for the Holy Ghost, and for the blessing it is to be able to

have such a gift in our life.

My apologies for the short update, I won't be emailing next Monday

cause I'll be at the temple! I'll be emailing this Saturday instead. I

wish you all a happy happy week!

THIS EMAIL WAS EVERYWHERE, KIND OF LIKE MY LIFE RIGHT NOW!! LOL

xoxox

Love,

Sister Bee

We had the BEST P-Day last Monday. We had the most intense snowball
fight I've ever been involved in, and then ended with the capture the
flag! These missionaries here in this picture are all so incredible. I
feel so grateful to be serving with such wonderful sons and daughters
of God.

ELDER ALCARION.. it was his birthday, so we made him a cake! My baking skills are improving!! #celebrate 

Micah Reynolds.. Such a little angel! 

These icicles are killers!

Emma Griswolds.. Haha man this little girl LOVES me. When it's time to leave her house she literally sits and holds my leg so I can't go. Haha. She has been working at making me a "New Sunday Dress." They'll see my coming to church in this one. Lol 

If words could only explain the love I have for this girl...

Be Happy, and Rejoice!

MONDAY JANUARY 18

Hi fam!
Not too much to update you on this week. Other than I LOVE YOU!
This week was good, we were really busy, and saw some great miracles!
The Yarmouth Branch is AMAZING!! There are just a ton of wonderful
disciples of Christ in this area. We have had a meal appointment
almost every night here. (it hasn't been like that my whole mission!)
We're working really closely with the ward members this year. Our
mission President has came up with a new big "mission vision" this year and
he wants for every member to pray about a date and then set a date for
someone to be prepared to take the missionary lessons in their home.
How neat huh!? We just started this at the first of January and have
already seen some great miracles. Us and the members are so on board
for this, and I know that Heavenly Father is preparing many people!

It snowed quite a bit this week.. Talk about a winter wonderland! It's
so beautiful here :) trees and snow everywhere, it's so dreamy! I love
when it snows because it gives us lots of opportunities to serve
others! This week we did lots of snow shoveling and moving wood.. You
know what that means, I'm gettin me some #buffarms. 😉 Crazy thing
that happened is we went out one morning and we were shoveling out our
driveway, as we were shoveling I see a big plow truck coming down the
road and say to my companion "hey maybe he'll come and plow us out!"
As the plow got closer, I froze and couldn't even believe my eyes
as I yell "there is no one in that truck!" About 30 seconds
later it runs into a snow bank and stops and Sister McVey runs over
and puts it in gear, I was still standing in the driveway completely
FROZEN. A man had ran into the post office and had forgotten to put it in
park. It was the most craziest thing to see a big truck coming down
the road with no one driving!!

Favorite scripture of the week is Alma 26:12-14. I love Ammon, he is
such a boss! I admire a lot of his work in the Book of Mormon and I
love a lot of his attributes.

Ammon says:
12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak;
therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for
in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles
we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name
forever.

13 Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the
pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this
because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not
great reason to rejoice?

14 Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God.

   I feel like this scripture really hit home to me.. There was one
day this week that I was just feeling so weak, the flesh really can
just get so weak. I was physically, mentally, and spiritually
exhausted. I had a big day of work ahead of me, and I know the only
way I got through the the day was because of God and through much
prayer. I know that through Christ we can do all things. It's in and
through Him that it is possible. He can and will help us endure as we
rely on the Atonement. I hope we can all remember, including myself,
when times are hard, or even when things are going good, that we have
much reason to be happy and rejoice, because of Jesus Christ! He has
come and saved us all, and I'm eternally grateful for that! I know
that as we strive to keep the commandments until He comes us again
that we will have a sense of greater peace in life. I love my Savior,
I know that He lives and that He is the Christ!

Hope you have a good week. So glad I have you guys for forever!
Say your prayers and read your scriptures!

Xoxo
-Sister Bee

Sister McVey and I! She's so great! We're so similar, it's kind of weird!

I looked out the window and what did I see?!

Sunday breakfast after church at the ward mission leaders home! The Bairds, they're my favorite!

3 Nephi 11

MONDAY JANUARY 11

Hi family,

It's been another good week here.. I still am really loving my area.

If I didn't miss you guys, and if I didn't have your wonderful faces

to come home to, I would really consider living here. It's just such a

great place! 💛

We had some wonderful miracles this week!

We were blessed with finding 2 new investigators, who are so prepared

for the gospel! I am looking forward to teaching these two people

about this great and restored gospel. Saturday was a special day, our

investigator Ellie was baptized. Ellie's mom and little sister were

baptized in October into the church. And Ellie made a carefully

decided choice to be baptized, which I am so happy for. She's great,

her testimony is solid. I was thankful to be able to be apart of her

special day. I love sweet Ellie, and I know and can see the light of

the gospel growing within her already!

This week I've been on a huge 3 Nephi 11 kick. I read it, and read it

again, and than read it just one more time for the fun of it. Each and

every time I did, the spirit taught me something new, and beautiful. 3

Nephi 11 is the chapter where Christ comes down and visits the people

in America!! The whole experience of Christ coming down is phenomenal,

but I just really love verses 14 & 15 when Christ says to them..

"14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into

my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands

and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the

God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their

hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands

and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until

they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with

their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was

he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come."

What Christ teaches in these verses is so neat. At that time when he

came down He invited 2,500 people to come to Him ONE BY ONE and to

touch the prints in His hands and feet. To help them gain a personal

testimony that Jesus is the Christ. From this chapter my gratitude of

the knowledge of Jesus Christ and His desire to know us each and

everyone of us individually has grown so much. He is our Savior, He is

our Brother, He is our Redeemer, and HE LOVES US! 3 Nephi 11 shows

perfectly that He wants each of us to come unto Him. Im grateful for

the counsel he gives us with such secure promises always attached. I

know that as we strive to build a personal testimony of Jesus Christ

and the atonement, that we will. Why? Because He is inviting us to

come unto Him, to have a personal relationship with Him, and follow

Him. Through the spirit and the Atonement I know that we can come to

know the reality of the Savior and His love for us. I hope we can all

remember that Christ is inviting each of us to know Him, and so He can

help us through this life with divine guidance. I know that "As

children of God, He will build us, mold us, and magnify us if we will

but hold our heads up, our arms out, and walk with him. What a great

blessing to be created in his image and know of our true potential in

and through him!"

This chapter also helps makes me think of the scripture in Doctrine

and Covenants 18:10 "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight

of God;

- I know that you, you matter to God. You matter enough that He wants

us all the have that personal testimony that He lives! I love you.. I

really hope you have a good week. Let me know if I can do or pray for

anything for you guys! Love you to the moon and back! 💛

Xoxo - Sister Bee

Ellie's Baptism!

All of the sister training leaders in the mission! We had missionary
leadership council down in Manchester with the stokers, the assistance
and zone leaders. It was a blast! We drove down Monday night and
stayed in the mission home. It was a perfect start to a good week. I
learned a lot, and have so much love for those around me.

I love Sister Harper, and Sister McVey!

Exchange with the Winthrop Sisters!

Terrible picture, BUT look at this huge yogibo we have in our apartment!

Sister Farrally! We came out together, and were able to go on an exchange together this week! It was great, and we even got a new investigator.

My companion has the best laugh!

Happy Everything!

MONDAY JANUARY 4

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Area!!

Happy Sister Bee! 😊

Hello my cute family 💜

I was a little scared to be leaving Manchester. I was just so happy, and I

loved my companion.

My last night in Manchester I stopped by famous Blakes.. It's a diner

there, and they have the best graham cracker ice cream! It was one of

our favorite stops in Manchester. The Banks has us over for dinner,

then we also had a really spiritual lesson with them afterwards!. We

filled out Kiks baptismal record which was very neat as well. The

lesson was going so good, brother Banks even told us that their New

Years goal was to get sealed as a family in the temple this year!! I

have so much love for them, and was so happy to hear that. I think

that's a great goal that they've set. Its such an opportunity that we

can to be sealed together as a family for time and all eternity. I

know that many blessings await them! So can I get a drum roll

please?.... Then after he announces the big news we hear a big scream

out of Sister Banks mouth. We look over to where she was looking and

she was staring at the new big ball pit that their two little boys had

just gotten for Christmas, Rhys, their two year old, was standing in

the ball pit. He had then taken off his diaper and had gone pee in the

ball pit. Hahaha it was so funny. We had chocolate brownies for

dessert, and it was just so funny to look over at a naked baby with

chocolate all over his face and peeing in the ball pit. Such an

entertaining family that I'll miss so much, along with Kiks, I hope

and pray her baptism went great on Saturday!

Tuesday transfer meeting was so good. One of my favorite missionary

meetings. All of the missionaries going home share one "golden truth"

that they've learned on their mission and share a short testimony.

Some very powerful missionaries were there, I feel so privileged to be

serving with all these great friends. It's always such a good day when

I get to see them at meetings. I found out that I had been called to

serve in the Yarmouth area, which I was SO excited for. I went on

an exchange here at the vey first of my mission and LOVED it. I remember

when I was here a year ago thinking to myself, man I would

love to serve here if I ever get the chance. And lo and behold.. Here

I am! I am so grateful to know that Heavenly Father knows my heart,

and knows where I'll be happy. I'm loving Yarmouth so far. We have

WONDERFUL people to teach. It was such a joy to meet all of them this

week. Our area is so cute, part of it is so farm town, that I couldn't

love more, and the other is in Portland ME, which is the most charming

place ever! Oh and my companion. Where do I begin? We get along so

good, sometimes a little too well! I was worried leaving Sister

Hallam, because we had became just the best little friends. But

receiving Sister McVey as a companion has already been such a

blessing. She's hilarious, we laugh all day long! Her sense of humor

just kills me. She played rugby in high school (so total beast, in a

good way) and she's just simply great. She has a strong love for God,

and I love serving with her! The Yarmouth apartment is really nice

too, we accidentally locked ourself outside early this morning with no

shoes and no phone, in the cold, so that was an hour adventure.. We

sure learned from that one, we seriously tried everything, and then we

just laughed for like 10 minutes, but the scared kind of laugh and

then we finally figured how we could break in! Which was good because

we share a house with a lady and we live on the top floor. Other than

that the apartment is great, it's got a dishwasher and washer and

dryer. It's awesome! Yesterday meeting the Yarmouth Branch was great,

good good people here. My area is a very very wealthy area. A lot of

the ward members are lawyers, dermatologist, surgeons etc. It kind of

freaked me out at first just cause I've been used to teaching and

serving around people who are in much more humble circumstances. But

let me tell you how loving and kind the branch, and the people are

here. Even just shopping at the local grocery store today was a whole

different ballgame of people. I feel blessed to be getting to know all

these great people, and to be here in the Yarmouth area. We been so

busy this week, (I haven't even had time to write in my journal..

(Only a missionary would be complaining about that) haha) but it's

been a great busy, I am a much happier person when things are up and

going, and I'm up and doing.

Just a quick few thoughts on the new year.. First off I wish you all a

happy new year. 2016.. Can you believe it!? I sure can't. Being out

here on a mission I've gained a huge testimony on the importance of

goal setting. I prayed to Heavenly Father, and he clearly showed me

things I need to work on this year. I encourage you all to do the

same!

This past week I've thought a lot about the story in the bible of Lot.

When he was commanded to take his family and leave Sodom and Gomorrah.

(Genesis 19)  As they left, Lots wife was told in verse 17 to "look not

behind thee." As time went on she did look behind her and turned into

a pillar of salt. I've pondered this story and what we can learn from

it. >>>"LOOK NOT BEHIND THEE!" I love a new year to reflect on the

things we enjoyed of the past year, and the things we have learned.

But we need to remember to look not behind thee, always keep our eyes

set on our future and where we are going. Leave our mistakes, our sins

and weaknesses behind us and move forward. It's such a refreshing

thing to start the new year and to think of the things we want to

start, and the resolutions we also want to set. But this year I've

really considered some things that I want to stop. I know that as we try

to set goals, and ask for Heavenly help that He will help us. I know

all of you can reach any of your goals or the things you want to

achieve this year, just have faith, rely on your Savior, Jesus Christ!

Love you so much. Thank-you for all the prayers, love and support. I

hope you guys have a happy happy week. I seriously have the greatest

family..I think and pray for you  guys often. I love you terribly!

Also if you could keep Peter Lewis in your prayers. One of the sisters

that I just love to pieces, her little brother has cancer. So please

keep him in your prayers!

Xoxoxo

-Sister Bee

Oh-- another plus for serving in Yarmouth and not a city is stars!! I

had missed them so much. So many pretty stars that you can see during

the night here!

New address:

5 Farwell Ave Apt 2

Cumberland ME

04021

This is our church! It looks just like any other church haha

Transfer meeting! My favorite Missionary meeting!

Sunday was a good day! Helped in the nursery, got to meet our awesome new branch, and teach some fun lessons to a recent convert and investigator! We also had a great dinner with the awesome Wilson family, which was so enjoyable!

My companion, Sister McVey! She's a turkey head, and we have sooo much fun together!

Christmas cheer, and Manchester goodbyes!

 MONDAY DECEMBER 28

Lots and lots of Christmas cheer this year!

I really enjoyed our Skype call, and when I say really enjoyed, I mean

REALLY ENJOYED! It was just so good to see all your cute faces. It was

good to fuel up with some family love, and laugh. You all sound great,

and I'm so excited to have another babe added to our family!!

The second Christmas away from home was much much easier! I was

thankful I didn't get homesick this year. I have found out that the

trick to a good Christmas away from home is to not expect it to be

like it is at home. To have Christmas focused on others and not me. To

find gratitude for the Christmas' that I've had in the past, and to be

thankful for the tender mercies of the one I had this year. It's such

a blessing at Christmas time to be a missionary, it's probably the

most Christ centered Christmas I will ever have. Being here really

showed me the true meaning of Christmas, Jesus Christ. What a splendid

time of year that we celebrate His birth, and how he blesses us all so

individually. The ward here made it so wonderful for us! I'm thankful

for my Heavenly Father who has helped me endure all the difficult

things out here. After we skyped we went caroling with the AP's which

was really fun! The weather was AWESOME too! We were caroling in

December with no jackets. Amazing huh? This season has just had such a

special spirit to it, that I love!

I finished packing today. Man did I have heavens help on that one. It's

not easy for a girl who loves clothes to live out of 2 suitcases,

haha! I will be transferred to a new area tomorrow as a sister

training leader, I feel very humbled, excited, and thankful for this

opportunity. I am sad I'll be missing Kiks baptism on Saturday, but so

happy for her, and for the decision she has made to make covenants

with Heavenly Father. The last Sunday in Manchester was such a

touching one. I love the ward. We even had a surprise former

investigator of ours that we found, pop her head into sacrament.

Bishop Dickson gave me such a comforting and sweet priesthood blessing

as well. It was a wonderful Sunday! Manchester, the ward, area, the

people we're teaching, and my companion, I couldn't love more. This

time I've spent here will always have such a special place in my

heart. I'm excited to see where the journey takes me now!

Nothing too crazy happened this week besides an Oklahoma Baptist trying

to convert us. We happened to run into Him the day after Christmas,

and his Christmas present was an anti Mormon book.. Eee, that was a fun

one! I feel like James E Faust said it best when he said "our own

personal testimony is the strongest arrow in your quiver." Sometimes

that's all we can do is just share your simple testimony of what you

know to be true. This week we ran into a lot of people that were out

and about, and I so strongly saw in them the need for the gospel in

their life. The Book Of Mormon, and the gospel will just help them so

much. I love the gospel, it changes lives, I love the Book Of Mormon,

it changes lives. I know that because I've seen it change my life,

and I've seen on my mission it change others.. There are a lot of

people who don't allow it into their life which makes me sooo sad. I

just want everyone to know about the gospel. They have a loving Savior

who will never give up on them. He's already died for them, it

wouldn't make sense for Him to ever give up on us. I love sharing the

gospel, and I love serving. Sometimes, well most times, I'm just at a

loss of words for this whole mission thing. It's just too great for

words.

Welp family and friends.. Till next week 💜

Sure love you.

Xoxo

-Sister Bee

Oh..PS:

The "Called To Serve Missionaries from BRHS Class of 2014" Christmas

present was amazing!! I was so humbled to receive such a gift! I was

amazed to read over the testimonies of dear friends, and was happy to

feel of their testimonies. It's a book I'll hold close to me forever.

It took me to move out of Utah to realize what a blessing it really is

to be surrounded by people with the same standards and beliefs.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

Sister Banks, and Kiks. Kiks got her baptismal interview after church yesterday! Today Sister Banks cut our hair. They're having us over for dinner tonight for my favorite sweet pork! So excited, but sad to say goodbye!

I wasn't kidding when I told you to send me my snap backs so I'd fit in! :)

Sister Wheeler! The most active 84 year old you'll ever meet. We enjoyed Christmas brunch with her and some of the single elderly. Earlier this week we made 120 gingerbread men to take to the food pantry. What a job, but we had fun!

Christmas Eve lunch with the Elders, and Bishop and Sister Dickson. We had a blast! 

Sister Hallam made me the BEST breakfast this morning. She's such a good cook.
I love her and  am going to miss her sooo much!!

Christmas Skype!