OH!

Oh my gosh guys. Everything right now is my mind is so scrambled. It's like scrambled eggs. All of my thoughts are everywhere. I just got the news that my sister/best friend/other half got her VISA TO GO TO BRAZIL! And she leaves tomorrow!!!!!(Tuesday) A year of waiting and it's finally here. I don't know what words I'm looking for to describe my feelings...they just aren't coming to me! This is too much happiness. I can't handle it! AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't even remember what happened this week...I have to focus. Okay, I think I remember. We went on a few exchanges, it was busaaaay. We worked with a couple sisters in this area and then also I got to travel to Palmer to work with a sister there. Palmer is SO pretty, it's about 45 minutes out of town. All of the leaves are starting to change colors and fall and it looks so cool. This sisters are doing great, it's seriously been such a blessing to be able to travel around and work closely with all of the sisters. I LOVE it. And I have a secret.... We're not supposed to get transfer calls for another few days but last night we were at a meeting at the mission home and president told me I was STAYING!!!!! I get to stay and for some reason he's keeping me as an sister training leader. I'm sure there are better sisters to fill that role but I AM SO BLESSED. I don't know who my companion will be, he didn't tell me that. But he told me I would be happy. :) It will be super sad to see sister Hewitt head home, but she's served 18 faithful months and it's her time! I've pretty much had her close to me my entire mission, but won't be long until I see her again!

We got a new investigator this week! Her name is grace and she is seriously incredible. She was a referral from the elders. Her husband is a member, just less active in the church. She has been pushing and pushing to get him to church and was practically begging to meet with the missionaries. She asked 6 months ago if he could help her get lessons with the missionaries and it's just now happening! What a miracle for us, we've been praying for people to teach! We asked her if she had a book of Mormon and if she's read it and she said "Yeah, but I've only read the first 20 pages" We about died. THE FIRST 20 PAGES?!?!?! ON YOUR OWN?! YOU'RE INCREDIBLE! Guys, I am seriously through the roof excited. Miracles are happening! We've got an appointment to meet with her again next week. She was so excited. She told us that like 5 times. She kept repeating "This Tuesday at 3:45?! I'm excited!" Hahaha I love it!

This morning we got a phone call from the APs, they asked if we wanted to go on a hike to the Matanuska glaciers with them and president and sister Robinson today. UHHH YEAH?! So I am totally stoked for that. Today will be a good day! And next monday I'll have a ton of pics for you all! :)

Guys my testimony and love for the savior continues to grow. I have SUCH a love for the book of Mormon. I read it everyday. I'm reading it through for the 4th time now on my mission. I can't believe how much I learn from that book! I truly feel that I am learning to become more like my savior as I read and apply it's teachings. When I'm having a hard time I'll have a thought like "Well, when Nephi broke his bow he didn't complain" or I'll think "The sons of Mosiah didn't have immediate success with the lamanites, but eventually they converted thousands!" It's seriously incredible how personally we can apply the stories and teachings. I want to challenge each of you to read the book of Mormon EVERY DAY. If you haven't been, start now. Start at the beginning and read it. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE! It can't NOT change your life.

I know the church is true!!!!! I love you all so so so so much. Thank you for your love and your prayers. I'm going to work and work and work until the very last second of my mission. I will see you all in a few short months!

Love, Sister Briana Hallmark :)

We painted a barn!

The mountains were incredible!

I love the sky here. Our drive back from Palmer.

I love the sky here. Our drive back from Palmer.

Our best friend AMY!!!!!!!!!

Our best friend AMY!!!!!!!!!

So we baked ALOT of cookies this week.

We gave them to everyone we could think of. There's a few investigators/less actives that we've been trying to get to church but we haven't really been successful so we decided we'd bring them all cookies! You can't reject someone with a plate of cookies! Also, I thought if I sang in church this week that we would have a better chance at getting people there. So here we are door after door with a plate of cookies, a plea to come see me sing, and a puppy dog face. YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE SAID YES! We thought we were brilliant. I thought, we've finally made it, we've found the hidden loop hole, we're going to get every person in the state of Alaska to church this Sunday

! Well....Sunday morning rolls around we get there waiting anxiously for all of our people to come. We waited...and waited...and waited. Not one person we invited showed up. It was heart breaking! Moral of the story: sometimes it takes more than a sad face and a plate of cookies to get someone to church. You can't con someone into doing what YOU know is right if they don't have the same conviction. If it's not a sincere desire of their heart, nothing you do will convince them. We need to focus on continuing to strengthen the testimonies of the people we work with. I will continue to pray for softened hearts for those here!

We had probably the most fun P-day I've ever had. We went on a hike with our district and president and Sister Robinson. It was GORGEOUS. AND WE SAW WHALES! On the drive to the hike we saw whales right next to us jumping up in the ocean. So neat. I wish I was quick enough to snap a picture! After the hike we all went to a park and played Frisbee and football and just hung out. Sister Robinson taught us a football drill and we all did that until we couldn't breathe! We just had such a blast hanging out with all our missionary friends. :)

Line of the week

A cute 6 year old girl at dinner the other night was talking about how her mom bought her little babybell cheese for her school lunches and she said:

"I'm just so glad I'm not lactose intolergist so I can eat cheese." SO CUTE. We had her repeat "lactose intolergist" so many times. Hahaha

Well I love you all a ton! Keep on keeping on! The church is true!

Love, Sister Hallmark

District hike! :)

McHugh creek! :)

 

These guys think they're funny....seriously we almost peed ourselves! Hahaha