I'M MEEEELTING!

It's so warm here everything is melting! It's really weird to see the trees without snow and the streets with brown slush instead of white ice. I keep praying that this is just an early spring! Anytime I mention that to someone that to someone though, they laugh. Clearly an early spring is a silly thought. The temps are supposed to drop back down this week. But hey, it was nice while it lasted!

I'd like to point out that there's something sticky on my keyboard and it's really annoying. That's what we get for using the campus library for emails. It's looks like ketchup or something...ew.

WELL this week was fun! We had zone conference, which means PRESIDENT AND SISTER BEESLEY CAME UP! Holla! Seeing them always gets me so excited. When they got out of the car I was squealing (along with some other sisters) I ran and hugged sister Beesley so hard! And I firmly shook president’s hand. It was a heartwarming reunion. I always learn so much a zone conference, and of course I always cry. I just love my mission!

We had another lesson last night with Austin, he is working on changing a lot in his life, I think the biggest struggle is just overall influences from friends. But he really wants to change. He was very involved with youth groups from other churches back home and he really misses it. We talked about the importance of surrounding yourself with friends who are strength to you when you have moments of weakness. He says he had a strong church family back home and needs that support again. We are getting him as involved as possible in YSA activities and he has several people to fellowship who are great. I am excited to see him progress.

Well things are great here! Sister Swensen and I laugh all the time at everything...she likes to laugh. :) I am blessed to be learning so much in such an incredible area! I love this church! It's true, it's true!

Love, Sister Hallmark

How many times can I change my outfit in one morning....Elders have it so easy.

You know it's been a long day when you're eating nutella by the spoonful...

Haha! Ambers fork broke at dinner.

Shorts and tank tops

Guys it's so warm here everyone is in shorts...seriously. I never thought I would say that 25 is warm...but yeah, it's warm. It's a miracle!

Lots of awesome things are happening here. That 10 year old girl I wrote about last week is on date to be baptized for the 15th of Feb! Her name is Atrina...she is really excited. We are teaching her again tonight, we set it up to now have lessons in bishops home because he has a daughter the same age as Atrina. I think that will be really good for her, and I'm hoping her mom is able to benefit from it as well. We are really working on strengthening her mom because she is less active.

We have another investigator Austin, we met with him for the first time on Sunday. He committed to baptism and we will hopefully have a date for him later this week! He is so prepared. He came to family home evening the following night and loved it. I am so excited for him!

Things are going good here in freezin fairbanks! Just living the life! Funny story, the other day we were trying to find someones street and it was called "Da Niece" so we were driving along and the gps was getting me lost and I started to get a little impatient and I asked Sister Swensen "what street are we on?" and she replied "Da Nephew:" I quickly responded "That's not funny we're lost, sister!" and then I realized...we really were on a street called Da Nephew...We both died laughing Some street names in this town are ridiculous. 

Well I love you all! The church is true! I love being a missionary! It's the greatest thing in the entire world!

Love, Sister Hallmark

Hello everyone!

This week was a big one! I picked up my new companion!!! 

Blessings are pouring out. I'm not sure what we specifically did to deserve it, but I'll take it! We have appointments with a few potential investigators and a few other investigators. They are coming out of nowhere! We got a call last week from a less active lady that Sister Harrison and I had been teaching and she asked if we could start teaching her 10 year old daughter so that she could get baptized. We are teaching her for the first time tomorrow. I am really excited about that. And I think it's perfect for Sister Swensen to start teaching the lessons, it will be easier and less intimidating to teach to a child. She is really excited about that too.

We are just doing phenomenal. I love this area and I love these people! Sister Swensens is doing great and progressing so much. She has rejuvenated my initial excitement for missionary work! She truly feasts from the scriptures and has so much to share during our companionship study! She is gaining more and more confidence as we teach and I am trying to build her up as much as possible. I really do love her. 

I can't wait to see what this week holds! I know that this gospel is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Joseph Smith restored it to the earth today and is truly a prophet of God. I love being a missionary and teaching everyone about this truth!

 

Love you all!

Love, Sister Hallmark

Yup...I'm definitely in Alaska...

I love the peaceful beauty here!

It's 5 pm...and it's pitch black!

Sister Swensen and I