Terra -- Back Home!

Note from Renee -- As many of you know, Terra came home from her mission in Ohio a little over a week ago.  She completed her mission at 6 months due to some health concerns.  It all came about quite quickly, and we were in Utah for a family reunion, so she flew into Salt Lake City to be with us there.  We are so proud of our Terra for the fabulous work that she did and know that she touched many lives in the Ohio Columbus Mission!  

The kids made welcome signs at Cebre's house

We know you want to see the details on James'
morphed Ditto welcome sign

We waited and waited and waited and waited.

And after seeing over 100 people come down the escalator, 
(and look at our signs) we finally spotted Terra!

Tears of joy

Together with Terra again!

As we left the airport, Scott suggested that Terra have a simple answer for any friends or relatives who may wonder what happened, how she's doing, etc.  Terra said that she liked Kirby Heyborne's response in "The R.M." movie . . . , so we'll just let him answer for her:  :)



Terra's home and she's doing great!  We love having her with us again!

(edited several months later -- I just have to add this fabulous picture of Terra at BYU -- she's doing great in school and loves working on campus as a Graphic Designer)

Terra -- Transferred!!

Got to do exchanges with Sister McDougle!!

I'm no longer in Lancaster!! There was an emergency transfer this past Wednesday morning and I was moved up to Delaware, Ohio and am now companions with Sister Stump. And I love Sister Stump. It is very fun being with her. I already know that we're going to be good friends forever. And I mean forever. 

So Delaware, Ohio. It's a cute old city town. Well, it's got a cute downtown. Our apartment is two stories like the one in Lancaster. And it has been raining like CRAZY this week. Which is wonderful, because of my new love for the rain. Last night was a crazy storm again. The thunder was so loud!! It was as loud as that one time Jenna spent the night and we both woke up and got super scared. I think the lightning must have been right above us. BECAUSE IT WAS LOUD. Kind of fun, but I really wanted to sleep.

Visiting someone in the hospital-
we got to wear fun yellow dress things!

We have some investigators, none are really progressing. The work isn't going very swiftly here. There are elders in our ward as well, they're our zone leaders. So we share the ward, which confuses things sometimes, but I think we've figured it out. 

For the fourth of July we decided to do some street contacting, because we figured people would be out downtown. We planned to go during the parade at 4pm. Well, it turns out the parade ended at 4 and started at 3, so no one was there. But we walked up and down the street and talked to some people. We talked to one guy named Josh who was sitting by a building out of the rain, and it was a really good conversation. We got super wet, but it wasn't cold so it was okay. Sister Stump and I both felt that the Spirit was there and that the conversation went really well, and he accepted a return appointment, but the next day he called us and told us he didn't want us to come, and then he hung up. We had a few people drop us this week. Never fun. But Preach My Gospel in chapter 9 says that no effort is wasted! But sometimes it feels like it is. Sometimes it's hard to be faithful. Sometimes it's hard to be a missionary.

So this email isn't 100% super cheery. But it is cheery because I'm with Sister Stump again, and I love her. I wish we could be companions my entire mission. The rain is good too. And it was fun feeding a baby cow. 

Love, Terra

Feeding little cows (calves, if you want to get technical)!
They were strong little fellas.

Columbus zoo!  Bats.  Aren't they wonderful?

Our friend, the gorilla

Windy, windy on the bridge

Terra -- Rain Time!

It's been raining a lot in Lancaster. I've never particularly liked the rain. Well, no I've always liked it, but I only like it when I'm inside and I'm dry and warm and watching it be pretty but not being affected by it. Well truth, I really don't like my hair being wet, and my clothes being wet. So I don't like getting wet. But guess what. Another opposite affect from the mission. I love the rain!  I love getting wet!!  I woke up one night hearing light booming noises. I thought, "ARE WE GETTING BOMBED??  Why would anyone bomb Ohio, it's so friendly!!!"   At night time, nothing makes sense. Anyways, it was a thunderstorm. Super loud thunder. Not as loud as the time Jenna was spending the night and we ran upstairs and slept on the couch with Cebre. But it was loud.  And the lightning lit up the entire sky. It was neat watching the windows light up.

Anyways. I had some things I wanted to share, but that's in my little black notebook which is in my bag, which is about 30 feet away. Hang on, I'm gonna go get it. I just realized it's down the stairs, so never mind. Oh! I'm at the mission house today. But that's a different story that we don't need to tell. 

Gosh I can't remember what I had to say this week! Hmmm. Well, hmmm. Yeah I really can't think of anything. Sister Burton and Sister Reed are still pretty great. I don't think that's going to change anytime soon. 

I know that I must have learned something profound this week! I always do! But alas, my bag is downstairs, and I am too comfortable in my chair. 

Well, I do remember this. I was having a great day. "Great" as in, I was happy. Nothing great was going on in the work, it's still moving pretty slowly, but I was so happy and just laughing at everything that I said. (My companions don't talk too much, so I do a lot of talking out loud and telling jokes to myself.) And I got two letters! Both from you, Momma dear. As I read one, I realized it was a sad letter, bearing the news of Mr. Hart's passing. My heart stopped. But I read on, and I read about how you wrote that he will be able to watch Drake and I from the other side of the veil. And as soon as I read this, my heart was filled and I laughed out loud. I'm so excited for Mr. Hart to watch me be on a mission!! I want him to see me improve. (It's always a wonderful feeling when your teacher talks about how much you're improving or growing.) I pointed my finger up to the ceiling and said with a smile, "You better watch me!"  I loved Mr. Hart.  He will be a wonderful asset to the Spirit World. 

Okay that's enough for today. Spread the gospel. Sing some songs.

Love, Terra

P.S. (I'm at the mission home with Sister Stump for a few days. Today we went to the zoo in Columbus.  It's been really, really nice to be with Sister Stump again).

Terra -- Lancaster

Fun flowers and my little mini Terra doll!

The computers at this library are SUPER slow with uploading pictures. And we have less time as this library, so I'm too impatient to wait for the pictures to upload one by one. But I'll try to send some at the end of this computer session.

Wow, this week was hard. Why? You know what, I don't really know. No that's a lie, I know exactly why. I figured it out part way through the week. Probably on Thursday or--no no, I figured it out on Wednesday. Sister Reed was reading a talk to us while we were driving to an appointment. I don't remember what the talk was, nor do I remember who it was by or what it was about, but while she was reading it, I gained some personal revelation. I realized something: A selfish person cannot live a selfless life and be happy. It just doesn't happen! It just doesn't work! And I realized that that is a HUGE reason why I have been struggling. A mission life is a selfless life. I am a selfish person. But I am living a selfless life, and therefore, I am not happy! It all makes sense now. But not the hard part is to become selfless. Line upon line... always.

My lovely companions!

The mission broadcast last night was incredible. I cried during each video. Especially the first video where it showed a family, and each member of the family reached out to someone and shared the gospel with them. That is exactly what missionary work is supposed to be like! The work hastens through the members! We need the members! Members are to find and fellowship, missionaries are to teach them. There's a fine line for missionaries when it comes to gaining their trust and becoming their friend and being only a missionary. Does that make sense? No, that doesn't make sense. Okay, well what I'm trying to say is, our purpose as missionaries is not to sit and chat with people, and get to know them, and be their friend. That sounds harsh. Of course we are supposed to be their friend! Everyone should be friends! But what I mean is that we have a different calling and a different purpose. We are to teach them about the gospel, and invite them to come to Christ. If we are spending too much time getting to know them, then we're not using our time to its best efficiency! That's why members are so crucial. The members need to fellowship. Our ideas of what missionaries are is really the definition of what members are supposed to be. The members ARE THE MISSIONARIES. We are simply there to assist the members in the work. Elder Russel M. Nelson said that. When I am no longer a missionary, I am going to share the gospel with all of my friends!! All of them!! Why shouldn't I? And of course, I'm going to do that while I'm a missionary as well. :] With the people here. But just last night, I gained such a strong testimony of the power of the members. Members are everything. 

Wow, let me get off my pedestal. Sorry, I was just excited.

Our new apartment!  I love it!

Okay. So we had a wedding and a baptism here in Lancaster this weekend. Our investigators, Bobby Jo and Keith got married on Saturday , and got baptized Sunday morning! Exciting! And...SISTER WARD GOT TO COME!!!!!!!!!! Sister Ward was in Lancaster before she was in Eastgate, and she was actually one of the missionaries who started teaching Bobby Jo and Keith. So we worked it out so that she could come. Let me tell you something, I love that girl. I can't put into words how amazing she is. When I was companions with her, I knew she was awesome. But being away from her, good heavens. I learned SO MUCH from her. About missionary work, and about life. COMPANIONS ARE THE BEST. That was the last time I will see her until after my mission. In just a week or so, we will no longer be in the same mission. Sad day. I wanted to stay in Cincinnati, but for some reason, I am in Columbus, and here I shall stay. And I'll always be grateful for those LOVELY, WONDERFUL, AND FANTASTIC months in Cincinnati.

Our run in the morning 

THANK YOU FOR THE DRIED MANGOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO MUCH HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Times running out! xoxoxox

Love, Terra

I caught Sister Reed by surprise  :D

Terra -- Lancaster, Ohio

Brand new Sister Burton with Terra
(texted to Renee from a woman at transfers)

Well as you probably know by now, I am in Lancaster Ohio! It is a lot more beautiful than Eastgate (but I still absolutely love Eastgate) but I left my camera in Eastgate, so I have no pictures to send home this week. Sorry about that. But that's okay. So! I am training two sisters. I'm finished the second half of Sister Reed's training (she came out 1 transfer ago) and starting the training for Sister Burton (she came out just this past transfer). So...that's been a little bit of a whirlwind. They are both pretty timid, so I've had to pull out my "crazy Terra" side quite often. It's interesting though how being put in a leadership position changes your perspective and the way you work. I have had to completely switch around my mindset. I have had to cast away all fears of being shy myself. We can't have 3 shy missionaries in one area!!! What would get done?! So I've really had to step up the plate. But it's been okay. It's been fun to be able to use my own ideas for how we can help the work progress. 

During my first personal study in our new apartment (which is SUPER CUTE by the way) I was feeling a little stressed inside. And also super upset. Okay, let me tell you this. During the transfer meeting, when I found out that I was not with Sister Stump anymore and not in Cincinnati anymore, my heart just broke. It was one of the worst feelings I have ever felt. That's the truth! I held in tears the entire meeting, my face hurt from holding them back. And then at the end when we sang "Nearer My God to Thee" I just lost it. Why? Why was I being separated with companions I loved and worked so well with? Why was I being taken away from an area I love? I was so angry, and hurt, and so sad. Just so so sad. But I had to hide that all away when we drove to our new area. Anways, the first morning we were in our new place, I was sitting at my desk. I was observing everything on the desk. An old bin with pens in it..papers. And I looked in the one drawer it had. Inside was a quote on old water-colored paper. The quote read,

 "Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses, applied simultaneously. When these trails are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more. He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain." --Richard G. Scott

I folded it up, and put it in my Book of Mormon. I am keeping that quote forever. I was definitely meant to read that that morning. I realized that it's not about being comfortable. Missions aren't supposed to be comfortable. Growth isn't supposed to be comfortable. I was comfortable in Eastgate. I was comfortable with Sister Stump and Sister Ward. It was time for me to leave and grow some more somewhere else. Richard G. Scott's testimony really helped me. I read this quote nearly everyday now and I probably will each day for a while. The Lord feels that I am prepared to grow more, so I am going to do my best to remember that and to trust Him.

Love, Terra

Terra -- Getting Transferred!!!

2/3 of Sister Stump + Sister Ward and me

Cincinnati East Zone!!

The sisters!  Boom baby!

Our District at the Olive Garden

Today is my last day in Eastgate. Sad day, but that's okay. It's sometimes best to leave things at its best moments so that the memories of them are wonderful. So that's what's happening here. Tonight we're going to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform in Columbus. Super missionary treat, I'm so excited!!! And then tomorrow we have our transfer meeting, and then I'll find out where I am going. Could be Columbus, could be Cincinnati. Who knows what mission I will be in! Who really cares, I'll be doing the same thing whichever. Except no, I do care. I like Cincinnati, I'm biased. I don't know what Columbus is like, and I'm just expecting that nowhere is greater than Eastgate. And that's probably the truth, but you still can never be sure. Unless you're sure. Then you're sure. Obviously. And that doesn't even make sense.

BAPTISMS!!!!!!!!!  YAY!!!

PAIGE!!!!!!!!!!

Bye Bye Jody's family :[

Bye Rachael!!

So let me tell you something. At the end of my second transfer, Sister Ward and I were on the phone with President Nilsen. We wanted to stay together so badly for the next transfer and it was like 99% sure that we would be split up. While we were on the phone with President, we told him, "President! If you keep us together another transfer we promise you 10 baptisms!!!!" And he was just quiet. Then he said something along the lines of, "That would be nice." We felt very stupid afterwards. Well, we were kept together, and we kept our promise. This past Saturday , we had our 10th and 11th baptisms. We were so excited to call President Nilsen and tell him that we reached our goal, and so excited to tell him that we kept our promise!! We expected him to be super proud of us and super excited to hear it when we told him. But when we told him on the phone, he gently said, "Remember to thank your Heavenly Father for this tender mercy." And he probably said a few more words, but none were of excitement or being proud of us. We were confused. WE GOT 11 BAPTISMS! We exceeded our goal! But the way he responded was perfect. It humbled me. It humbled all of us. He really doesn't care about the numbers at all, he doesn't care about whether or not we are some great missionaries in some great area. He cares about what God cares about. And God cares about each person individually as His child. 11 baptisms or 1 baptism. Heavenly Father is happy with either. He has more joy with more of His children, but He will never be disappointed with just 1. This was a humbling short conversation with President. And it was perfect.

Our mini-missionaries with us at the big pond.

Just another story; it's super. Jon (who is 10 and was baptized in April) was praying the other night. During his prayer he thanked our Heavenly Father for his blessings. And then he said, "Is the Book of Mormon true?--Wait a minute, never mind. I already know that it's true." Cutest thing ever. I got to teach him and Drew and Bubby ( ages 10, 9, and 11) the other night and read from the Book of Mormon with them while the others were talking to Jody. Their insights were pure, and their answers were direct and perfect. I LOVE LITTLE KIDS. And I love their testimonies. AND I LOVE JACK PETERSON AND THE PARIS KIDS AND THE BARTON KIDS AND GRANT AND ALL OF THE CUTE KIDS IN SANTA CRUZ. I can't wait to see all of them again.

Okay, no more time. The next time I write I'll be in a different area. Super fun! 

Hey everybody! CHOOSE THE RIGHT! Love you all.

Love, Terra

James and I both share an affinity for turtle culture

Silliness

Clean desks are the best!

This flower wanted to see out the window, too.

Talking to some really rich people

Terra -- Wheezie

Drawing for the day

Okay, this week I made a list of things that I need to write about. Let's start with the funnies (that's where people always turn to in the newspaper first. Come on, let's be honest. That's really the only thing that people read in the newspaper.)

Sister Stump talks in her sleep. I've had a few roommates who talked in their sleep, and whenever they did, and I was awake, I had to do everything in my power to keep myself from busting up laughing. This week Sister Stump was talking SO loudly in her sleep, she woke both Sister Ward and I up. And she talked for a long time, and who knows what she said! It sounded like monkey/baby talk! It was pitch black, but I heard Sister Ward say, "did you hear that?" I said, "yes". "Are you awake?" I said, "yes." And then both Sister Ward and I lost it, we started laughing our heads off. In the middle of the night! In the dark! We were busting up laughing, and we couldn't stop and we couldn't quiet ourselves! And then we both got super hot in our covers because we were laughing so hard. Finally, we tried going back to sleep. But both of us would replay Sister Stump talking in her sleep and one of us would crack and laugh and then the other would too. This went on for a while. FINALLY we were really able to go back to sleep. And Sister Stump never even woke up.

I made...ANOTHER DOLL!

Now little mini Terra has a friend. :]

Another funny story. Before our last transfer, we ate with a less active member, we call her Wheezie. She's the CUTEST and FUNNIEST old lady ever!! Seriously, she is so dang quirky. Her quirks are very similar to mine, and she likes wearing black dresses, and I want to be an old lady just like her. Anyways, we didn't know what was going to happen this last transfer, but we planned that with whoever the new missionary was, we were going to play a trick on her. We planned for Wheezie to pretend that she was Albanian and couldn't speak English. Well, this week we finally got to visit Wheezie. Sister Ward and I prepped Sister Stump telling her that Wheezie was crazy and only spake Albanian and was really hard to communicate with, but it was important that we visited her. We talked to Wheezie right outside her house. Sister Ward and I were holding in laughter the whole time, and couldn't get the smiles off our faces. Wheezie spoke "Albanian" to us, and we used exaggerated hand motions to "try" and communicate with her. Even Sister Stump did. :] It was THE BEST. We talked for a while, and then said goodbye. And Sister Stump asked loudly and with her hands, "How do you say goodbye in Albanian?" And Wheezie pondered, and looked puzzled for about 10 seconds, and then she exclaimed, "Well you'd reckon you'd just say see you later!!!" And we all started cracking up. Sister Stump was...well stumped. I can't put it any better than that.

BFFFFFs in Ohio.

So I was wondering, what do weathermen talk about for small talk? Weather is their main topic of conversation, so...

Okay, so this weekend was great. First of all, I can no longer tell you when we have such high numbers for the week. ("high numbers" sounds bad, but you know what I mean.) So last week we had 12 investigators at church, and I told you that. Well, this week we only had one (given 4 of the previous investigators were baptized..), which is still great! But I think I need to be careful what I say. On Saturday, Jammie and her two kids, Mikey and James, and another guy, Anthony, were baptized. Jammie is Jody's sister. Anthony...holy cow. Anthony we met only two weeks ago. TWO WEEKS AGO! And he just got baptized on Saturday!!!   If that doesn't tell you the church is true, I don't know what does. Seriously. And it also tells that it wasn't us who converted him, it was the Spirit. It was the truthfulness of the gospel. He just knows! HE JUST KNOWS. And he can feel it. And he acted upon it. What a special baptism. Baptisms are my favorite. They really are. They are just...I don't even know what they are just. THEY ARE JUST AWESOME, OKAY. The Spirit is great there. Oh! Nancy was there too! I love seeing Nancy. I'll have you know, this is the first time that I saw Nancy without crying. A day in history worth recording.

BAPTISM DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Saturday we're getting mini-missionaries (prospective missionaries in the area of our mission). There are 170 of them who applied. They are going to stay with us for a week. I am getting two sisters. So I'll be in a completely different trio for the next week. It's going to be crazy. There are going to be 8 missionaries in our apartment. Well house, since we live with members. So, this'll be fun! And also very scary. I know that I'm not considerably normal (no I am pretty normal, I just like strange things) so I hope they like me. And I know that's not the important part, but still, it matters! So, we'll see how this week goes. Also during the mini-missionary week is transfers. So wherever I go, they go. I don't know what's going to happen, if I stay in Cincinnati or go up to Columbus. It's kind of a big deal, because it may be a deciding factor of which mission I am in. Also that week, we get to go to a Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert!!!!! SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone is this picture (besides the girl on the far right) was baptized either that day or just one month before. 

Everyone should read from the Book of Mormon everyday. It's too good of a book not to be reading it. That's all for this week!! 

Love, Terra

Terra -- Life

We matched, totally. We didn't plan it, 
and we didn't realized it until around 4pm that day. 

Woo hoo!!

Dear Mom,

So this week! What happened this week? Gosh, I don't know. I don't remember. It's all a blur. I mean, it wasn't the best and happiest week, but it wasn't too bad. I mean, I feel good right now, so I'm guessing that means it was a good week. Usually if I'm crying while reading emails, that means it was a pretty rough week. But I'm not crying right now! So that means it was a good week. Hard, but good. My mission president always says that, "hard is good." So it was both I guess. I don't know how I feel about that saying though. I think my favorite saying is, "Money CAN buy happiness." Cause it can. Or at least it can for you and me, Mom. :]  hahaha.

Sunset in Cincinnati. (Well, my camera was on sunset setting...)

Okay, I want to tell you about all the work going on in our area. BUT, as I tell you, you cannot judge or think that I am being prideful for saying this. The work has being going extremely well here, and I've been trying to figure out how to tell you how good it is without sounding like I'm bragging. But I'm not bragging!  I'm just thankful, and want to share, and inspire that PROGRESSIVE MISSIONARY WORK IS POSSIBLE.  Because sometimes it feels like it's not. But here are just some wonderful indicators from our area. Sister Stump, Sister Ward and I have 5 baptisms this weekend, 2 next weekend, and 1 the weekend after that. This week we had 12 of our investigators as church. We hardly get any tracting in because we have so many appointments. I'm telling you, if my entire mission could be like this...wow, that would be amazing. I cannot even tell you how cool it is to work with these people. Miracles are happening left and right. And honestly, all of these people getting baptized and coming to church are falling into our laps. And that's the truth. It's not because of us, it's because they have been prepared by God and they are ready for the gospel to be in their lives. They have been SO prepared. It's ridiculous. I am so thankful to be in an area where Heavenly Father has placed so many of His select people who are willing and ready to hear the message of the Restoration. SO THANKFUL.

"One by one, until it's done." I love reading Dad's notes in my scriptures. Especially things we grew up learning.

This is my "Half Blood Prince" Book of Mormon. I feel like Harry Potter with all of Dad's notes.

Recognize this, Lexie?

But still I find myself with so many vain struggles. Enos talks about that in the Book of Mormon. He wrote about his struggles being vain. Of course, his struggles were vain because he was trying to change the hearts of the Lamanites, who at the time, would not. So his "vain struggles" are quite different than mine. Mine are "Terra vain struggles". I want to be a missionary. I want to want to be a missionary. I am a missionary, but I don't always want to be a missionary. That's one of my biggest struggles. But I do want to be a missionary! I don't know, brains are crazy. People can have so many opposite ideas. Or maybe that's just me. But it is a little discouraging because there is quite a bit of what I very much so want to change about myself, but I haven't yet changed it. But I'm trying. I am trying. But I know I'm still the same in a lot of categories. *sigh* Come on! JUST CHANGE! I just want to change. For the better, obviously. But I don't know, it's not coming very quickly. Whatever. Obla-dee Obla-da, life goes on.

At a nursing home. This poodle was just sitting there so cutely and lonely!!

Me and Sister Stump!

Four months. Weird. 

I'm four months old. I don't remember what it was like the last time I was four months old, but I imagine it being similar to how I feel now: Used to a lot of things, but yet still so inexperienced; wants to cry a lot but knows that people are used to it by now; not quite a newborn, but still needs a lot of help everyday; WANTS TO BE WITH MY MOM. I miss you, Mom. But hey, it's alright. Your letters suffice. :] I love them.

Well, if I find more to share, I will share it. I love you all. Make good choices. Floss your teeth. Be careful what you pray for. :]

Love, Terra

Hiding at the piano.

Ohhhhh lovely mornings.

P.S. from Renee -- The background story to Terra's quote about "Money CAN buy happiness" is from last summer.  Terra was home for a month and was having a down day.  I said, "Let's go to the thrift store!" so we went.  We donated a few bags of whatever it was we were getting rid of that day and then we walked around the store for a bit.  Terra was SO EXCITED because she found some black and white checkerboard fabric that she had been wanting and had pictured in her mind would make a really cute skirt or jumper!  (The fact that neither of us really sew didn't deter her in any way).  We walked around some more and I found an old Raggedy Ann doll in really great condition.  (Terra collects soft dolls with red hair and I had thought of getting her a Raggedy Ann doll for her birthday, but opted for Pippi Longstocking instead.  After her birthday she said that she'd like to get Raggedy Ann someday and this was was only $1 instead of the $20 they were selling for on ebay!)  We found a few other great things for next to nothing. After we got home, Terra was in much better spirits and  said, "Mom, they say 'Money can't buy happiness, but it really can!"  I agreed and told her we did a triple whammy.  Yes, it's fun to go go shopping.  But we added to that joy by also finding goods that we'd been on the hunt for AND getting them for a really low price.  All very fun things to brighten our day!  So it's our own little inside joke. :)