I Finally Feel Like A True Southerner"

Hello my dear family!

I was reading in Preach my Gospel this week the first page- it is the letter from the First Presidency and it reads

’ We compliment you on the great opportunity you have to be a missionary". 

 I looked up the word opportunity in the dictionary and by definition it says

1. a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place.

2. A chance for advancement.

I loved that, I truly feel I am in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing. and everything I am doing is helping me become better, and its helping me help others do the same.  The mission I am now serving is the best opportunity I have ever been given.  I feel so humbled and blessed to be serving as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. :)

I couldn't believe I hit my one month mark on the 29^th!!  I can't believe how quickly time is passing.. 

On that very day Sister Chidester and I went to visit a former investigator to find him not at home.  We were leaving when I noticed two men working in their yard across the street.  My companion and I kept walking to our car and I felt a continual tug to go and talk to the two men.  Finally as we were about to get in the car I stopped being stubborn and suggested to my companion that we head over.  We met D.J. and Wash and shared the message of the restoration with them.  We invited them to be baptized and they both accepted.  Wash kept saying "I really needed this.. I really needed this" and he was so sincere.  I couldn't help but think how long Wash would have had to wait to hear of the gospel if I had just gotten into my car like I had originally wanted to do. 

We have already met with them two more times and they seem just as excited about keeping commitments and learning more than they were in the first meeting-- its incredible how the Lord is preparing people everywhere.. I'm so determined to find them :)

Stake Conference was incredible this week.  Elder Zwick and Elder Parker came to set apart the new Stake Presidency. 

Something that was shared that I really loved was in Mark 10:12-14 when Christ is blessing the children. The speaker said that there is no doubt the ones bringing the children to Christ were the parents.  The parents were the ones taking their children to the Savior, so He could touch them.  he said, that needs to be our purpose, to lead our children to the Savior to be touched. We need to teach our children to have the desire, the testimony, and the courage to come unto Him.  He said that in our homes "we need more experiences with the sacred and we need to make them more simple" .. the most important thing we put deep into the hearts of the children is the testimony of Christ. 

how beautiful is that?

Elder Zwick said that it is not enough to just pray and ponder but we also need to prune as well :) we need to be willing to change everyday. 

I love that this gospel is a gospel of change.

Our investigator Wayne was interviewed for baptism this weekend and President Fussel had us sit in at the beginning of the interview which was really neat. He talked about the parable the Savior taught "the first shall be last and the last shall be first" .. the workers in the Vineyard.  He said that we are all equal in the gospel.  and that Wayne knows enough and that he is right where he needs to be.  The spirit was so strong in the meeting and Wayne is so eager to be baptized which is so neat to see.  He said to us that the LDS church is no lazy man's church :) -- isn't that the truth?! I'm grateful that it keeps us busy with so many good things, keeps us in line :)

I had grits this week and loved them- I finally feel like a true southerner

I have bruised knuckles from knocking on doors- I finally feel like a true missionary :)

I am getting real good at my Yes Sir, and No Ma'm

all the billboards here are incredibly tall to reach over the trees

I love using y'all :)

exchanges were awesome this week- I had the opportunity to work with Sister Christensen- I love learning from other missionaries

and I love y'all.  Thank you for all of your support. We are blessed to have this gospel in our lives. so blessed. 

I testify that there is the most sincere joy in trying to become more like our Savior.  I testify that there is so much peace as we come to understand the relationship we have with our Heavenly Father and feel of His perfect love for us.  I testify that we will feel hope and a sense of purpose as we begin to understand His plan for us. 

the church is true and I love you!

Love Always,

Sister Welling

it was POURING rain last night.. we were knocking on everyone's doors and they all thought we were crazy to be out in the dark and the rain and during the super bowl.

we told them our message is THAT good :)

My Great Great Grandpa gave me Strength

Hey you good looking people-

I'm writing at the end of another miraculous week.  I told you once before that before we fall asleep we share the miracle we saw for that day, it's amazing to me at the close of each day I feel that I could go on and on about the miracles.  It's  always difficult to only choose one to share.  I feel so blessed to be a part of this work.

Fist day of really good weather.....we had a picnic:)

Sister Chidesters Birthday dinner

I have had a few really great experiences while doing family history this week.  I was writing down all of the names on our family tree and It's so neat to see our relation to Hyrum Smith and his mother Lucy Mack Smith. I had been reading verses in D&C about them- if you go on to lds.org it will show you your relation to Joseph Smith then it will show all the records and stories about those ancestors- y'all need to check it out. 

I was  reading a conference talk by President Eyering called The Caregiver and it talked a lot about Lucky Mack Smith! read that talk too :) I was so uplifted and inspired by her words.

There was a really rainy day this week and my knees were giving me a bit of grief and I came home to a package from mom with history of LeGrand Richards inside.  That night as I was icing my knees I read about his physical trials and the desire he had to always serve.  He had so much faith in the priesthood power and he never let his physical limitations hold him back.  I felt like he was speaking directly to me.  My great great grandpa gave me the strength, encouragement, and comfort that I needed on that particular night. I felt so blessed.

"no one comes to the earth like grass- we come like trees- we all have roots"

and we have some incredibly strong roots.  I am so grateful for our valiant ancestors and the fact that I get to learn from them and be blessed because of their decisions they made so long ago.

W is such a special investigator.  He is so anxious to be baptized and to covenant with God to always follow Him.  He shared something that I loved yesterday.  He said that He was praying and realized that God wants to be your "first call" when something good happens, not only for the difficult and hard things- but he's our loving Father and wants to hear from us in our happiest moments.  Its something I've always known, but I loved the way he said it.  I love that I get to learn everyday from the people I interact with.

Cutest kids!

Sister Chidester and I fasted for a particular investigator on Sunday.  We asked for assistance in helping her move forward toward baptism, she is just waiting to be baptized. 
We were very specific in our prayer and it was the sweetest experience.  We taught B and everything we prayed for came to pass in the lesson.  She said things, before us even mentioning it.  The spirit was incredibly strong and I just know that our Father in Heaven wants to bless us, and wants to help us.  Sometimes we just need to ask the right things, or exercise enough faith, I am so grateful for His constant companionship through the Holy Ghost.

Josh!   Mom and Dad told me the story you shared about me in church and it melted my heart- how are you already writing talks on your own?! I can't even do that.  You are amazing and you are already an incredible missionary.  I look up to you little brother. I LOVE YOU

I love this gospel.  with everything I am, a woman said to me yesterday that she has never seen someone look so genuinely happy as I do. hahaha I feel so genuinely happy.  I love testifying of my Savior daily and seeing His life touch the lives of other.  It’s the happiest gospel and work to be a part of.

Love y'all soo much
Love always,
Sister Welling

The missionaries in our district sang at the Ward Chili cook off "Called to serve" ha

Having a little fun:)

Our life lately.................

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. :(