Sister Bailey Anne Harrison: 4 months down and I have become a Prayer Warrior ✌

Hello my dear fan club, this last two weeks have been one for the books! The reason why you are getting a letter on Thursday instead of Monday is because we went to the temple today! So sorry this might be jumbled, but I will talk about the temple next Monday, as for today, here we go!

Our P day this last week was pretty uneventful. We were able to get some laundry done then spent most of the rest of the day at the church emailing. It was nice and pretty relaxing actually. While we were at the church the family history consultants were having a pot luck and they offered us free food- and there was no way I was going to turn that down. They had elk stew which actually turned out to be very good! I really enjoyed it!

So we don't actually have a key to our family history center, and some missionaries in the past have learned how to open the door with a hanger to us the computers on p day. Well... this was awkward this week when we were in there with a family history consultant and missionaries were breaking in with a hanger, seriously they need to learn to be more sneaky, or to just knock on the door.

We had dinner with some of my favorite people on Monday, the Anderson's. Sister Anderson texted us last week and said, how are my favorite sister missionaries? We have been so busy that we haven't stopped by in awhile! It was fun to be able to talk to their girls. I asked Evelynn if she was excited for her birthday, I knew it was coming up because it was my moms birthday. Well she said yeah it's just 3 weeks away! And I said, don't you mean 3 days? And then she said oh man, I always get those confused! They are the cutest. I love my little companions!

So no one knew that Sister Sorensen was going home, we had to cut our dinner with the Anderson's a little short because the APs were at our apartment with Sister Rhoton. But it ended up being okay, a lot of people were in shock that she was gone, but they were excited to meet Sister Rhoton. The first thing that we did to get her broken into Roseburg was to go and meet the Harkers, they already love her, sphere first question to them was did you name your dog suki after Gilmore girls? It's going to be a great transfer with Sister Rhoton, I can already feel it.

On our first day as companionship, Sister Rhoton and I found an investigator! She was really great, her name is Marva. We don't know how receptive she will be, she grew up as a preachers daughter. But she really loved hearing about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. We had our lesson outside and Sister Rhoton and I thought we were going to die from the cold, but that's okay. She told us that our parents should be really proud of us back at home, I hope your hearing this parents. Also she called us Prayer Warriors after I said the closing prayer to our lesson, so I don't know what that means but I'll take it!

One day Sister Rhoton and I did a lot of walking that we were not planning on doing. This also happened to show us how out of shape we are, and that we need to be doing harder workouts then just stretching in the morning. We walked and walked and walked, I actually got some blisters. Then when we finally got to the house, on the map it said it was right where we were, well an hour later down the road we found it, it had the longest, steepest driveway. It was, fabulous.

While we were walking we saw a man that had lost his dog, and he asked us if we had seen it, and if we did find it that there was a reward. So what do we do? Go around whistling for Sydney the dog. We decided that if we found her that we would ask that our reward would be the discussions, we thought this would be a pretty good trade. Yet we had no luck, Sydney is still lost out there.

I think that I might actually be allergic to cats. We were teaching a less active this week and her cat kept getting on me, well it kept doing this thing called kneading the dough. Where it would stick its claws into my skirt, I swear I have holes in my skirt now. I could feel my tongue swelling up, it really wasn't a pleasant experience. The cat was also drooling, who knew this was a real thing? Well Sister Rhoton and I now know the reality of this statement, dogs rule, cats drool.

Sister Rhoton loves the fact that our apartment smells like a man. The air freshener that Jen sent me in my last package smells like a very nice men's cologne, no complaints here

Exercise is a humongous joke, I can feel myself gaining weight, PLEASE SEND HELP in the learning easy exercises to do in the morning, please and thank you.

We had to go get our tires rotated and our oil changed, lots of fun. We were able to learn about the siping on tires while waiting at Les Schawb, Dad you would be proud of me. While we waited for our car at Jiffy Lube we went to a donut shop, Henry's Donuts, that everyone talks about in town. I know I am being very contradicting with my exercise then donut talk, don't judge, after the last couple of emotional rollercoaster days, we needed a donut. And it was only $2.35, I had to.

Sister Rhoton got in a verbal fight with someone today about how God is invisible and about how Jesus tells us this in the Bible. Right when he answered the door he said unless you want to hear the real truth I suggest you leave. Well we should have left but we kept asking him questions then he left to go get his bible, to prove his point, obviously, and Sister Rhoton and I could not stop laughing from his ridiculousness. He then asked us to go back in an hour because he needed to feed his mom, don't worry we didn't go back, but we did get a good laugh, some things that people believe in this world are truly nuts.

We were out tracting and we happened to see some members outside doing some work so we went and introduced Sister Rhoton to the Hansen's. I love the Hansen's, we hadn't seen them in awhile and sister Hansen said she wondered if she had offended me, lol no. Brother Hansen offered offered us some coffee, then Sister Rhoton said oh I would like some Brandy in my Coffee please. We gave him a pretty good laugh. Also Brother Hansen is Danish, so half the time we don't even know what he is saying, he could be making fun of us for all we know! Actually he probably is.

We had dinner at the Gausnells and the news came out that both Sister Rhoton and I went to Lone Peak, he then started to talk about the well known rivalry between Lone Peak and American Fork and started to compare sports teams, including basketball. You could probably guess how this turned out, with Sister Rhoton saying, "Well if you want to watch Lone Peak play basketball just watch BYU basketball" she and I got a pretty good laugh, he not so much. #goknights

We got dropped this week by an investigator named Grace because Sister Rhoton wasn't Sister Sorensen. She told me to come back with the other girl, the one with the dark hair (Sister Sorensen, obviously), and I told her that she wasn't here anymore, then she told us that she was done talking to religious people and that she wanted to focus on her God. After we told her we both believe in the same God she told us that she just wants us to Worship our God and her to worship hers, you could say it was a pretty confusing drop of an investigator. Maybe Sister Rhoton should dye her hair dark just to see if Grace would talk to us again.

We were tracting pretty late this week, at least it seemed late but really it wasn't it was just dark. But as we were walking we saw a house packed with Halloween decorations

, we thought it was cool so we went to knock on it and it felt like we were walking through a haunted house, it was awesome but freaky. And after all these things about clowns, they are just bad news as Halloween decorations.

This week we were thankful for the opportunity to go to Costco with Sister Harker and a Grace in order to pick out some new glasses for me. For future reference Sister Harker is the best person to go glasses shopping with. She tells you the truth straight up and we found my favorite ones within a few minutes. Then we ate at Costco for lunch and Sister Harker offered to adopt me into her family, so you know I if I ever get disowned I have some where to turn to. Then she told me I could just marry her son, awkward.

Had dinner with the Powell's in the Ward. Brother Powell reminds me a lot of my Papa. He is very into and involved with scouting in the Ward, so of course I had to ask him if he was related to Baden Powell, just so you know he isn't but I thought it would be a good conversation starter.

So we have been informed that a huge storm is approaching us here in the Pacific Northwest. Rain up to 5-7 inches

️

and wind from 40-80 miles per hour

. They keep saying that it is worse then the storm on Columbus Day many years ago, I don't know what that means but it must have been pretty bad. We had a conference call with President and Sister Russell so that could tell us to be careful. We then looked outside and the church parking lot had begun to flood, and the elders were on bikes. Don't worry they made it home safe, but seriously the windshield wipers were on full blast and it wasn't doing anything, welcome to Oregon!

Sister Rhoton and I might have been freaking out, and someone told us to go get water for emergencies so we did at 9:00 at night, oops.

For rescue night this week we were with the relief society presidency. It was fun because I was able to go with Sister Henneke, the relief society president and we went to visit some lady's in nursing homes. Well it was 7:30 at night so they were all in bed at that point, but we were able to walk around a day hi to people that were up. I saw a few CNAs going around and doing there job, it made me miss working for a minute, but then I realized I would much rather be here working for my Heavenly Father, but someday I will be back doing CNA work.

For District Meeting, Elder Mafi bought all the ingredients for Sister Rhoton to make cinnamon rolls. We woke up at 6:30 and spent the whole time making them, okay well Sister Rhoton did, while I laid on the floor. I eventually got up and helped a little bit. We brought them into district meeting and no one was eating them. So what did I do, I grabbed one and started eating because my stomach was being so loud. So then Sister Rhoton and Elder Wright also grabbed one. Then Elder Mafi asked Elder Wright to read a scripture, as he was doing so he was struggling a little bit then he finally said, I am so sorry, my mouth is just literally watering from these cinnamon rolls I am having a hard time reading. It was hilarious. Needless to say Sister Rhoton knows her cinnamon rolls.

We had dinner with one of my favorite people of all time, Marilyn Russell. I seriously love her. We always have such a good conversation and very good food, although Sister Rhoton water smelt like cat urine. Very ew. Anyway she sent us with a whole basket full of food home. Homemade corn bread, potato soup, chocolate chip cookies and herbal tea. She was worried that with the storm coming in we would be stuck inside for a little bit. She basically made a whole other meal for our lovely basket, and told us next month to bring back the basket and she will fill it up again. I want to be her someday and treat missionaries the way she treats them. Can I adopt her as my Oregon grandma? She is so cute. I love her.

I just love telling my fan club about the weird people we find during tracting. This week we met a man who told us we kill people. That he is Christian, but we are hypocrites in our beliefs and we kill people. Well sir... the last time I killed someone was on the 12th of never so.... awkward. We also met a woman the answered the door and had that hole trachea tube thing. I don't remember what it is called. But my heart ached for her as she answered the door and told us with as much power that she had that she couldn't talk. I wish I would've said more to be able to try and teach her. Maybe we will go by again sometime. We also met a less active who told us that he just want to get unsealed to his wife... that was a weird one. We really didn't know what to say except give him the bishops phone number. Sometimes tracting brings a lot of adventures, actually it does all the time.

Okay so remember the storm I talked about? Well it was supposed to come in full force on Saturday afternoon. Well it did. The winds weren't as bad as expected but the rain very much so came down. During our lunch on Saturday Sister Rhoton and I found ourselves jumping in puddles in the church parking lot. At one point Sister Rhoton took off her shoes and was running around... we might be sick next week lol. But it was a lot of fun, after lunch we tracting and found ourselves freezing with wet feet and soaked clothes. So we went home and changed, and I might have bought rain boat at Walmart. The Oregon winter is coming in full force people. Full force.

We were able to have an amazing devotional on Saturday Evening with Elder D. Todd Christofferson. Some of the quotes that killed me were as followed:

Elder Christofferson talked about a stake conference that he was in where they had translation being done for languages. When he went to the stand he found a note from the translator saying, "Please speak slowly, you are being translated *laughter* it hasn't worked yet" hahaha
He talked about scripture study compared to studying as a missionary. He talked about how in our normal lives we are not going to have 2 hours to study, and even he as an apostle for the church has a hard time doing 30 minutes! They are normal people too, it's hard for them too, but they do it!
He talked about how the Lord says he will be with us even until the end of the Earth. How powerful is that. He talked about how Christ can not do it alone, how the apostles can't do it alone, how missionaries can't do it alone and how members can not do it alone. We are all companions in this great work and we need to work together! "Don't have a separate missionary life, but bring people into your regular life."
He talked about how the areas that have missionaries should utilize them while they have them, you never know when they are going to be gone! He talked about how a China is baptizing without missionaries right now, it's all the member work.
"If I would have had the technology that you have at your age I would have had the world converted in 10 months, you wimps!" #realtalk we need to step out of our comfort zones! #stepitup
Holland Edition of Scriptures: I need them! It was a travel size that only has the text of scriptures in them, no bible dictionary, index or maps. He said you can't buy it anywhere but I am going to make it my life mission to find them. He said it was Elder Hollands idea so they call it the Holland Edition and that most of the apostles have them.
"You could be 70 in my quorum and still be young" hahaha
He talked about when he was first called into the 12 apostles and he sat in the first meeting. He looked over and saw Elder Packer, the president of the 12 at the time and he was intently staring at him. He said to Elder Packer, "You look surprised to see me here," Elder Packer responded, "No, I am pleased to see you here." What a great day it will be when we will see our savior again to hear him say "I am pleased to see you here!"

I know that was a lot, but really it was amazing, and it was all about missionary work and becoming a better disciple of Christ, sorry if I bored anyone!

The sacrament is one of the most important things we do, so why would the church cancel sacrament meeting for a week for stake conference? Because it is important.

We had the primary program this week on Sunday! It was so cute to see all the primary kids up there that I have gotten to know, and to have Elenas kids (one of our progressing investigators) up there saying their parts. I am so glad that they love primary. Seriously Primary Program week is probably my favorite week.

This ward is interesting and the class we went to was not a friendly environment for investigators. Praying we won't get dropped this week. Had a really low point today, made music videos. Don't let the smiles fool you.

On Sunday our recent convert Cameron was able to pass the sacrament, it was awesome. He was a natural. His mom told us that he even asked for a harder bench next week. We can't wait. Also we had a lesson with Cameron and he said the prayer, and told us that he said the prayer in his class on Sunday! He has always been too nervous, so we were really excited to hear his prayer!

We were dropped by a new investigator on Sunday, his wife answered the door and said that he isn't interested and they go to their own church, well that's cool thanks for speaking for him. So disappointed we decided to go eat cookies, but I had a feeling like we should go see a lady in the area named Patty. And this was the first time she ever let us into her house! She is usually too busy to talk but we stayed and even ate cake at her house, it was pretty awesome. She used to bring her mom to church every week before she passed away, she told us the first time we met her that she felt guilty that she hasn't been going. She isn't even a member. But she has a sister in Springville who lives on Hobble Creek something.... maybe Grandma and Grandpa know her! The referral to teach Patty came from her sister... so that's pretty cool.

It's my half birthday!!! I hope y'all sang to me, thanks

🏼️

Well Monday was really weird because my body knew it was a Pday yet, it wasn't. Sister a Rhoton and I decided to spend the day trying to make it as productive as possible to make it a great Monday work day. Well it worked out pretty well, we did a lot of tracting. We met a man who drew a pornographic picture on his pants and then wore those pants as he went to jail, classy. He had a friend with him who talked about how he stays in abandoned house and asked if we had any weed, or any socks. Funny thing was I had socks in my bag, no I didn't give them him. At one point the man with the pants pulled out a piece of glass from his jacket, I thought we were gonna be shanked, it's fine. I stopped talking at this point and Sister Rhoton took control. Don't worry he was a nice guy, just very very strange. We met a man who had just come out of the shower in a towel, also classy. We met a woman who told us that she believed in over population, at this point I started singing in my head zero population from Saturday's warrior, oops. Also I didn't think her and I would get along seeing that I have 14 siblings, sorry lady, my family is a big contributor in that!

So one day in the morning Sister Rhoton and I got on this conversation about how the Elders go places and some how run into members and then the members pay for their food or whatever. Well we were saying how that had never happened to us before. Well that day we decided to go to Subway for lunch, and a member paid for our food. It was pretty great and I was very grateful, the members here are fabulous.

We spent all day working hard so we could do FHE with the Harkers, pictures are to come. We spent the whole time making rice crispy pumpkins for our investigators and less actives, it was a lot of fun, many laughs were shared. We then made Carmel apple nachos. We cut up the apples then put on Carmel and every other topping on top, seriously the best ways to do Carmel apples. I suggest it to all! I am grateful we were able to partake in the Harkers tradition, it was seriously so much fun.

This week I almost hit a lady while driving. Yes I watched her life pass before my eyes, its fine. She didn't even look both ways before crossing! I was going down a 40 mph road, so always remember fan club, left right then left again, then cross.

We had dinner at the Burts and I told Sister Rhoton about the choking fiasco with Sister Nowell last time we were there. Well Sister Rhoton got so scared about choking that she actually choked on her water! It was hilarious. And awkward because I was really hoping they wouldn't bring that up, oh well! It was funny!

We had a lesson with a new investigator named George, and our member present is pretty sure that he is schizophrenic... so that will be interesting!! It was a very scattered lesson, he had a hard time staying focused. And as we were sitting there we looked around and noticed that he had a lot of church materials. Family proclamations, teachings from the prophets, triple combinations, picture of Christ and even more. We then looked at his teaching record afterwards and found out he has been taught for 3 years, so wish us luck.

This week involved much video making and going around our area trying to introduce Sister Rhoton to every one. It had its ups and downs but it ended in the temple and that was the best ever. I hope everyone had a great week. I love you all. Till next time fan club!

Love, Your Favorite Sister Missionary,

Sister Harrison