1/20/15

 Dear Family,

Thanks for your sweet letters!  I ALWAYS love hearing from you

I sent off something for your birthday Mom.  I hope you get or got it!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. I had so much fun writing your birthday letter and just reflecting on everything I love about you. I sure am grateful you were born!!!

I was studying my Patriarchal Blessing the other day and this sentence really hit my heart-- "you will be blessed with the ability to continue to show your love to others, that as you feel for their needs and you apply yourself to assisting them to attain their goals your own testimony will be strengthened in preparing you for the blessings that are yet to come".

I feel so much love for the people I am serving with and around at this time.  I love being an instrument in the Lords hand as I get to help them come closer unto Christ.  Ms. H cried at the end of our lesson yesterday saying, "I just feel so much better about myself, I just feel so much better about my life and where it is going".  I love being a part of others journey in finding who they were meant to be.  Helping them find the happiness and peace that has been designed for them.  It’s amazing how I feel my testimony being strengthened as I serve in the beautiful Forsyth Georgia.  Every day is the sweetest blessing.  I can't say it enough.

I had the opportunity to switch places with Sister Schmidt for the day this week :) I loved working with Sister Smith and being able to learn from her.. 

Jenna and our cute neighbor Sister Schmidt.  Jen said Annie is a wonderful missionary!

I was a little nervous going on my first exchange alone but it was an incredible experience.  I love getting to know the Sisters in the mission and I had so much fun with Sister Smith.  The people in that area love Sister Schmidt, wow.  Each home I went in to they talked about her goodness, the way she can truly sympathize with others and how she just shines with love, happiness, and goodness. 

Amen to that.

We had amazing first lessons this week-- I'm telling you Forsyth is soo prepared.  I am serving in the best county in all the world.  I can't wait for our group to become a ward :) I really love first lessons with investigators, we had four commit for baptism.  And all talked about how they felt good and peaceful about what we shared-- its so cool to see people's hearts' touched, I love when they recognize it comes from God.  I love doing what I do :)

A member from the group came and worked with us this week-- she is so valiant, she is the gospel principles teacher and she is the only member in all her family.  She is so full of love for others and the gospel-- when she dropped us off at the end of the evening she thanked us and said "this is the most fun I've had in quite a while.  .. this is the closest thing I've had to a date in quite a while.." ... "oh, you girls too?!" hahahaha rubbing it in that we can't date. She's the cutest

We got the instruction this week in a meeting regarding our investigators, that we need to "be their partner in change"

I loved that- that's what we all need to be doing-- partnering up with others to help them change for the better, and work on changing ourselves for the better.  I love that this gospel is one of change.

The missionaries really run sacrament meeting for the group- Elder Higgins and Sister Chidester spoke and then all five of the missionaries sang "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" the spirit was so strong.  and the high councilmen got up as the concluding speaker, and with tears in his eyes said "there is something so special about worthy young people" I sat there so grateful that we are all here- doing what we are doing- that we play such a large role, in such a big plan, at such a young age. pretty cool stuff- huh?

Sister Frandsen got transferred  to Savannah.  A WHOLE LOT of tears have been shed the past few days.  She will be very missed.

Last time this threesome would be together as companions.

I am so relieved to be staying in Forsyth with Sister Chidester- I realized that i'll probably serve a Forsyth mission-- I could be here the whole time and wouldn't mind it one bit :)

Romans 15:4

John 15:12-13

Ether 12:33-34

Moroni 7:6

I love you all, I hope you know that :) I love this gospel and I am so grateful for the gift of my testimony.  I know with everything that I am that my Redeemer lives.  What comfort that sweet sentence gives :) I will continue to share that for the rest of my life.

The church is true and I love you!

Love Always,

Sister Welling

Jen said W their investigator is one of the most incredible people she has ever know.

The missionaries that run the "group" meeting each Sunday.  Last Sunday they will be serving together. :(

"I Am So Blessed To Be A Missionary"

January 12, 2014

Hey y'all :)

We had some of the best lessons this week.. I think it’s pretty incredible how I leave each lesson feeling so enlightened, whether it was from the person we were teaching, my companions, or a thought that entered my mind.  I love being an instrument of the Lord-- I feel very humbled at the fact that He is willing to use me.

We are teaching the most elect investigators right now- I wish I could go through and tell you about each lesson. 

Wayne is preparing for baptism-- we had a lesson on Baptism and Confirmation

D&C 20:37- Wayne responded- baptism is promising, committing, and cleansing. I loved that.

Ms. Hoyt is also preparing for baptism- in her prayer this week she said "I can't wait to be baptized and become a Sister missionary like them" -- it made us all smile :)

Going on Exchanges!

I feel really lucky that I get to be a part of exchanges and working with other missionaries, this week I got to work with Sister Tevi- she goes home this transfer.  I learned so much from her, she taught me a lot about "not fearing man" but always striving to please God.  Because she does this she is bold in testifying the truth.  She was so cool, I loved working with her.

I love attending church every Sunday and hearing from the members- I have a vision of growth.. but I have to admit I love the small members numbers right now.  Every single person plays an important role, and there's such a feeling of loss when someone is missing.  We know each other, love each other, and look out for each other. Just how the church is supposed to be.

It’s been neat for me to learn from these faithful members- almost every person there has been converted to the gospel later in life.  I love when they tell about their conversion stories. Sister Grigsby spoke yesterday and said that she went through three sets of missionaries before she finally "got in the water" She said something that I loved.. "those people loved me right into the gospel". my goal is to be a missionary like that- love people right into the happiness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same"

We had the opportunity to hear from our Apostle Elder Anderson, there is nothing quite like being instructed by a leader of the church and feeling their love surround the missionaries, and the missionary work.  It was one of the most incredible meetings I had ever been to. Something that I really liked that he kept repeating was to look at missionary work from an eternal perspective-- we will not see all the fruits from our labors- and we will never be able to know of the good we do.  Our work is not limited to this life-- often times we will not be able to see those we teach enter the waters of baptism in this life, but we can continue to prepare them for the other side.  He continually repeated that every single thing we do has an eternal significance. 

I am so blessed to be a missionary.  Elder Anderson stated that our missionary badge will forever be a badge of honor.  He looked at us and said "you are His servant, He will bless you".  

I have felt Him blessing me every moment of every day, I love my Savior Jesus Christ whose truest servant I am striving to be 

I am as happy as I have ever been- and I really am not just saying that. I have never been so focused on the work before and I just love my companions, the missionaries, mission president, investigators, and ward members for showing me how to give 100% to the Lord.  I am so grateful for Him and for having this opportunity.  

It’s the greatest thing :)

I know I am here for a reason

I LOVE ALL OF YOU 

Love always,

Sister Welling

Moroni 7:45-47 replace the word "charity" with the "Atonement"

"The Atonement is not a part of the gospel, it IS the gospel".

First week in Georgia

Hello my sweet family,

Wow, what a week! The first day here, I'm pretty sure I was only smiles.  Turns out being a new missionary is easier the second time :)

I feel an even greater love and excitement for the work.  I truly realize this time is a gift, and I know how quickly it gets taken away so I committed to do my very best to learn every lesson that I can, bear my testimony as frequently as possible, and to internalize the Atonement of Jesus Christ in my life. It's so cool that I get to be back at this again.

I am serving with Sister Frandsen and Chidester.. I have been put in as a Sister Training Leader with them.  They are some of the very best missionaries I have ever met.  I have been so impressed by their exact obedience and for their love for the work.  They are positive and upbeat and EXTREMELY hard working.  I feel very blessed to have this opportunity to learn from the best.

We had the opportunity to train at the leadership meeting-- a 6 hour meeting holy cow-- but it was so neat.  I loved learning from the leaders of the mission.  What I have been most impressed with in the Georgia Macon mission is the love.  The love the mission president has for the missionaries, the love the missionaries have for each other, and the love the members have for the work.  

I am currently serving in a group-- a group that is working towards becoming a branch.  We meet in a conference center and everyone knows everyone.  In sharing fast and testimony meeting I was so touched at the authenticity and sincerity of the members.  The group feels like family.  .. I feel so lucky to be a part of it!

Something I love that my companions and I do every night after we turn out the lights is  share a miracle from the day.  I always go to bed smiling at the hand of the Lord in my life and in the missionary work-- ya'll should try doing this, it brings the neatest spirit :)

This mission is completely different than my last but I its neat how serving in the Philippines prepared me for serving in Georgia. 

I am very very happy.  and it feels so good to be back at the work.  

The gospel is true and I love you!

Love Always,

Sister Welling

Jenna's district.  She said they were all such awesome missionaries!

Jenna with Sister Frandsen and Sister Chidaster..she loves her companions!

The AP's brought her a welcome package:)..

There is only a "group" in her area that is working on becoming a "branch"  They meet here each Sunday