Mom fail! It has been 5 weeks and there is only 1 entry in this blog! I could go on and on telling about how crazed and busy I have gotten since school go out but this blog is about Cheyenne and her adventures. Here you will find the last 5 weeks of email and my goal is to get better internet at home and post weekly! There are about 50 pictures to post as well…those will be coming soon! So here we go…
WEEK 7 - 3 Falls in 1 Week
This week was crazy! We did a ton of biking to get to appointments. I'm pretty sure we spent more time biking than we actually did teaching people, but that's okay because at least we had our lines in the water and were able to talk to people as we did.
I also fell off my bike 3 times. We have a guy in the ward who works in the biking department of Dick's Sporting Goods and did bike tune-ups for us for free, which was really nice. Naturally though, I crashed on Tuesday. We were crossing the street and I missed the little ramp to get on the sidewalk, hitting the curb instead. Nothing major happened, other than a handful of scrapes on my leg, but it just goes to show how klutzy and accident-prone I really am. Haha. I also fell twice on Friday, and I'm still not exactly and entirely sure how it happened. I think the first time my foot missed the petal as I tried to go and ended up just falling over, and the second time I was trying to go around a curb literally right in front of our apartment building and fell into the sand. Can you tell I hadn't ridden a bike too much before my mission??
Wednesday both Sister Waters and I got bugs in our eyes as we were biking. For whatever reason, there were tons of gnats swarming together at different parts of the sidewalk. I was lucky because the one in my eye was little and didn't do much damage, but my poor companion's eye was killing her all week. Thankfully, it's gotten better since then. but it was just crazy how there were so many bugs out!
The last two weeks I've also tried a little bit of seafood, which is a big step for me. I tried Coconut Shrimp when a member had taken us for dinner one night, and it was actually pretty good. I've also tried a couple different kinds of fish. It's strange, but I'm working on it. I guess going on a mission was really good for me as far as trying new things, because I've found myself trying foods I never would've thought about eating before my mission.
Overall the work has been great this week. There are a lot of people who reject what we have to say, some even before we say it, but there are always those who have at least a little respect for what we're doing and who encourage us to keep moving forward. As odd as it sounds, those are the people I look forward to meeting the most.
I hope all is well with you, and I hope to hear from you how things are going and how you're doing. I miss you all.
Sister Rivers
P.S. Here's something unique! They have these signs at almost every body of water I've seen. This one is right outside our Ward Mission Leader's apartment complex.
WEEK 6
Hello! This week has been a long one! I don't remember all that happened whatsoever. We had a lot of lessons as the work has picked up, and contacted a lot of people. My skirt got caught in my brake again on Tuesday, but I didn't crash and was able to get it out without any damage done. We went up this GIANT ramp to an overpass over a main road, and I'm proud to say that I actually biked the entire way up. I also saw the water that day, and it was GORGEOUS.
Zone conference was on Wednesday and we learned a lot about planning and scheduling and which part of our schedules were set in stone vs which parts could be changed around. It's a little adjusting, but so far things have worked out great. We also talked about having the Faith to Find people and what we could use to help us get over our fears of why we might struggle to do so. The lesson that night went great, and our investigator even agreed to coming to the Relief Society activity the next day and church on Sunday, which is a big step for her.
Thursday we walked for three hours to get to a member's house before a lesson because we had the time to find people and didn't have any other lessons until then. It was great, but unfortunately I didn't use as much sunscreen as I should've and my face turned lobster red. I'm glad to say that it has now faded a bit and people don't look at me strange as I walk by anymore. Needless to say that my lesson has been learned, and I will never leave the apartment without sunscreen again! Okay, that might not be true. But I'll definitely use it more than I have been. That night we had a Relief Society game night and got to know some of the sisters in the ward. Not too many people showed up, but one of our investigators got a ride from a member and it was great to see her open up and get to know the sisters in the ward a little.
Between Friday and Sunday, almost all of our appointments cancelled. It was very discouraging, but we did our best to find new people and ended up visiting a new convert who moved into the area. It's amazing how strong her desire is to do missionary work, despite the struggles and challenges she's having in her life at this time. We also saw a sweet old lady we found tracting. She's 90 years old and convinced that she's too old to be 'recruited' but is fully mentally there and comprehends things and remembers things. She's always concerned about us going out on our bikes and talking to strangers, and constantly feels bad that she has nothing to offer us when we visit. She likes to talk a lot and sometimes it's hard to get even a part of a lesson in, but things are progressing with her slowly. Saturday we got caught in the rain, again. Did you know that Tampa is the lightening capital of... the world? the country? One of the two. There's never a storm where there isn't lightening and thunder, that's for sure!
Overall, this week was hard. But it was worth it. I'm doing my best and working on the things that I'm struggling with. I know that as I strive to do the Lord's work and share the gospel with everyone, that the Lord will make me equal to the task and things will get a little easier. It's amazing the blessings and miracles I see in my life because I'm learning to trust in the Lord more and more.
Something funny about last Sunday. We were all in Sunday School and introducing ourselves by sharing which kind of candy bar is our favorite. One sister brought up which one she likes but mentioned how many carbs and calories there are in a single rectangle (she was talking about Hershey's) and how she's trying to be better about it. One of the brothers in the class smiled and said, "I know how to fix that problem. You just have to stand it upright in the car and let it melt, then everything goes to the same spot and you don't have to worry about it. It's all one square!" It was a good laugh to have.
Also, I'm pretty sure my right arm is getting darker than my left one is because we're always walking south in the afternoon and evening. It's kind of amusing and frustrating at the same time, but there's not much I can do about it. I'm also beginning to get great tan lines on my feet from my sandals. I wanted to send a picture of that, but you can't really tell in the picture because my feet aren't super tan. I'm sure with the coming summer it will change, but I'm more focused on not getting sunburnt too bad.
This week we almost ran out of copies of the Book of Mormon! It's a good thing the Elders had some because we literally had one left and we were using it to contact people throughout the afternoon that day, so if we had given it away we would've been out of luck. It's a blessing because we're able to spread the gospel more and answer questions they have, but it's also a curse because then we don't have one to show people at the time.
I've made it a month! Can you believe it? A month in the field already. It's crazy! I can't describe how time passes. It's both fast and slow at the same time. It goes by quickly, which I'm grateful for, and it almost feels like I've been here forever. But when I look back and see that it's barely been a month, I'm kind of dumbfounded. I'm loving it, even though there are times when I feel like I'm struggling with everything.
I love you all so much and hope to hear from you soon! Here's my address if anyone wants to send me a letter or anything.
Sister Cheyenne Rivers
31177 US Highway 19 N
#302
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
WEEK 5
Hello all!
This week has been kind of crazy. We've had more lessons with more people and have been finding everyone we can. It's hard, and the days keep getting hotter and more humid, but it's worth it in the end.
This week I officially got caught in the rain. More like torrential downpour. On my bike. A long way from the apartment. It was fun and hard and crazy, but definitely an experience to have. The rain here is kind of weird, because it sprinkles for a few minutes before suddenly down-pouring for an hour or less and then almost stopping. It's great because it doesn't last that long, but depending on the day and if you have your bike or not it can be problematic. We had to go home and change before we could go back out again, but luckily we didn't have to bike the entire way. A member saw us biking down the sidewalk when we were almost halfway home and gave us a ride. I was impressed as she crammed two bikes in the back of her vehicle and had us climb in with her two daughters, a dog she was watching for someone, and herself. It was very nice of her to do for us, and I'm so grateful for the members of the ward who care for us and support us as missionaries.
We gave away three copies of the Book of Mormon this week, which is great, but also means that we only have three left because we still haven't gotten our box of them. What's even better than that is that we had three investigators show up at church yesterday and a new part-member family that had moved in came as well. We weren't really expecting any of that at all! It was great, but a little strange. I gave a talk and one of our investigators kept falling asleep on Sister Waters. One of the members in the ward that enjoys going out with the missionaries texted her and asked if he needed to step in and help her. This same investigator also hugged me after sacrament, which was weird and awkward. We explained the rules to him and he didn't seem to understand, but he didn't do it again. He also kinda freaked out the young women again. I'm pretty sure this investigator wasn't all there when he showed up. Another investigator that showed up actually used to be a member, but he's a little apprehensive about coming back to the church. He seems to love the missionaries though and has nothing against the church itself or the gospel and doctrines we teach, which is good. The third investigator was kind of our miracle this week. We had gone over to his neighbor's house for a lesson and kinda just got bible bashed the entire time, but this investigator kept asking us questions about our beliefs and the Book of Mormon and showed a lot of interest. He has a son who's turning 10 soon and really wants something for the two of them. I think he's been searching a long time but hasn't been able to find what he's looking for. We arranged a ride for him to get to church and he really enjoyed what he learned, especially that the Church is so big with Boy Scouts and stuff.
Overall, this week went really well. There were some struggles, like being all the way across town (having walked 3 hours and not have the appointment be home) and needing to be back at the church for an appointment in less than an hour. I think we called half the ward and nobody could help or answered their phones. But then a couple members ended up being home right as we got to their area and were actually headed to the church, which is where we needed to be. It's amazing to see how the Lord works and knows exactly what we need when we need it. We all just need to put our faith and trust in Him, even though it is hard sometimes.
Ether 12:6
"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."
Have faith in all that you do. I know the Lord will provide a way for you, even if you can't see how it can be done. He is able to perform miracles beyond our comprehension. He loves us, His children. Never forget that you are a child of God.
With love,
Sister Rivers
WEEK 4
Hello all!
This week has been kind of crazy. We've had more lessons with more people and have been finding everyone we can. It's hard, and the days keep getting hotter and more humid, but it's worth it in the end.
This week I officially got caught in the rain. More like torrential downpour. On my bike. A long way from the apartment. It was fun and hard and crazy, but definitely an experience to have. The rain here is kind of weird, because it sprinkles for a few minutes before suddenly down-pouring for an hour or less and then almost stopping. It's great because it doesn't last that long, but depending on the day and if you have your bike or not it can be problematic. We had to go home and change before we could go back out again, but luckily we didn't have to bike the entire way. A member saw us biking down the sidewalk when we were almost halfway home and gave us a ride. I was impressed as she crammed two bikes in the back of her vehicle and had us climb in with her two daughters, a dog she was watching for someone, and herself. It was very nice of her to do for us, and I'm so grateful for the members of the ward who care for us and support us as missionaries.
We gave away three copies of the Book of Mormon this week, which is great, but also means that we only have three left because we still haven't gotten our box of them. What's even better than that is that we had three investigators show up at church yesterday and a new part-member family that had moved in came as well. We weren't really expecting any of that at all! It was great, but a little strange. I gave a talk and one of our investigators kept falling asleep on Sister Waters. One of the members in the ward that enjoys going out with the missionaries texted her and asked if he needed to step in and help her. This same investigator also hugged me after sacrament, which was weird and awkward. We explained the rules to him and he didn't seem to understand, but he didn't do it again. He also kinda freaked out the young women again. I'm pretty sure this investigator wasn't all there when he showed up. Another investigator that showed up actually used to be a member, but he's a little apprehensive about coming back to the church. He seems to love the missionaries though and has nothing against the church itself or the gospel and doctrines we teach, which is good. The third investigator was kind of our miracle this week. We had gone over to his neighbor's house for a lesson and kinda just got bible bashed the entire time, but this investigator kept asking us questions about our beliefs and the Book of Mormon and showed a lot of interest. He has a son who's turning 10 soon and really wants something for the two of them. I think he's been searching a long time but hasn't been able to find what he's looking for. We arranged a ride for him to get to church and he really enjoyed what he learned, especially that the Church is so big with Boy Scouts and stuff.
Overall, this week went really well. There were some struggles, like being all the way across town (having walked 3 hours and not have the appointment be home) and needing to be back at the church for an appointment in less than an hour. I think we called half the ward and nobody could help or answered their phones. But then a couple members ended up being home right as we got to their area and were actually headed to the church, which is where we needed to be. It's amazing to see how the Lord works and knows exactly what we need when we need it. We all just need to put our faith and trust in Him, even though it is hard sometimes.
Ether 12:6
"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."
Have faith in all that you do. I know the Lord will provide a way for you, even if you can't see how it can be done. He is able to perform miracles beyond our comprehension. He loves us, His children. Never forget that you are a child of God.
With love,
Sister Rivers
WEEK 2
Dear family and friends,
My time at the MTC here in Provo has come to an end. I'm sad to go but also excited for the next step in serving my mission in Tamp and sharing the gospel with the people there.
You learn so much every day at the MTC. If I didn't have this calling, and wasn't set apart as a missionary on the Lord's errand, I wouldn't be able to do it. It's spiritually exhausting, but also a great and amazing experience to have. I can't describe the feeling I have, but I know it's a good one. I have felt the Spirit more in the last two weeks, prayed and relied on my Father in Heaven more in the last two weeks, than I think I have over my lifetime thus far. And I'm grateful for the experience.
My MTC district/zone has been AMAZING. The are wonderful and great and amazing missionaries. It breaks my heart that two of our elders will be in Louisiana, though I'm not sure if that's more because I with they were coming to Tampa with us or because I wish we were going to Baton Rouge with them. Did you know New Orleans is in that mission? Well, it is! Now you know. haha. I love all my elders and both my companions so much and feel so blessed to have had the chance to know them. I have learned so much from these missionaries, and it was really confirmed to me that the Lord's timing is everything. He truly does answer your prayers, but He will only give the answers He knows are best for you and it will only be on His timing. God knew what I would need in the MTC and gave me the people I needed to help meet those needs. I know He will continue to do so in Tampa, and I am so eternally grateful for that.
I learned, while at the MTC, to teach to people's needs. When you pay attention to what someone really and truly needs, and invite the Spirit in all you do, they will come to know the truth of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and have the Spirit of God testify in their hearts it is true.
Something I learned while at the MTC is that the Holy Ghost, or Spirit of God, is like a gentleman. He's there, but he only comes when invited. I also learned that there's 3 kinds of knowledge: head knowledge, heart knowledge, and soul knowledge. Head knowledge is when you know the doctrine; it's easy to obtain. Heart knowledge is knowing that the doctrine is true through the Spirit testifying to us. Soul knowledge is kind of both. Soul knowledge is having the head knowledge, knowing the doctrine, and feeling the Spirit testify in your heart (heart knowledge) to know for yourself that these things are true. It leads to our true conversion to Christ.
Don't be afraid of learning new things or coming to know they're true because you think it would be hard to follow through on. Have faith and pray to God to know truthfully and entirely for yourself, and then act on the answer you receive. Either 12:6 in the Book of Mormon states that "ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." I can't promise that things will be easy or perfect, but I can promise that if you have faith and put your trust in God that He will be there for you. Act on the answers Heavenly Father give you, and though it may be hard, you will be blessed. He has a plan for you. He knows you. He loves you. You are a child of God, and He loves you immensely. Pray to Him- He wants to hear from you. He wants that relationship with you. And really all you have to do is pray. Thank Him for the blessings you've seen and continue to see in your life, share with Him your thoughts and feelings, and ask Him for answers to your questions and feelings of comfort and peace. You will be blessed, and you will find answers. Gain the heart knowledge as well as the head knowledge. Find that peace and knowledge for yourself.
While days at the MTC are filled with classes and the Spirit, we also have our fun. We've discovered that though Elder Colburn is quiet and doesn't say much, he is HILARIOUS. At the beginning of the week last week, we were all at lunch. Elder Jensen had previously mentioned that he was trying to watch his weight at the MTC in preparation for all the food in Baton Rouge. Sister Huber had somehow convinced him to eat an ice cream sandwich, and as Elder Jensen finishes his first bite, Elder Colburn shouts out "ELDER, YOUR WAISTLINE!" There was a pause before everyone in our district burst into laughter. another comment was made by him a couple days ago at dinner when Elder Stewart pointed out that he doesn't talk much. Elder Colburn shrugged and said simply, "I don't talk much. I just east my food and think my thoughts." I'm not sure why, but we all found that funny as well.
The thing that made all the elders and I laugh to the point of tears, though, came from Elder Jensen. We were at dinner, finishing up so we could go to class, when Elder Stewart threw a pea. To understand, I have to add that Elder Jensen frequently throws and catches food in his mouth. So, Elder Stewart threw his companion a pea and Elder Jensen caught it in his mouth. What wasn't expected was that less than a second after catching it, Elder Jensen shot it back. The pea grazed the side of Elder Stewart's neck as he tried to doge our of the way, and that was the end of it. We all exploded in laughter, leaving my two companions (who were having a different conversation and not paying us any mind) totally and completely confused. They looked over and saw us all in tears because we were laughing so hard.
One of our favorite all-time things to say, as a companionship with my beautiful sisters, is "BROTHER MISTIFY!" This is because we had a teacher named Brother Mitzvotai and Elder Jensen was asking a question one day and accidentally called him "Brother Mistify." Then Brother Mitzvotai walked in and mentioned how on his mission (Melbourne, Australia) he had a family who couldn't pronounce his name and called him Elder Mistify instead. Now every time we say it we laugh and think of him. Sometimes we confuse Miztvotai and Mistify, which makes us laugh even harder.
I guess I can truly say that I've been happy these past two weeks. Happier than I've been in a long time. I've laughed more, smiled more, prayed more, and come to know myself better and have a better relationship with my Heavenly Father. I do miss you all. I love and pray for you. I invite you all, and challenge you all, to read the Book of Mormon- starting with the Introduction and reading all the way to the end. I challenge and invite you all do do that and earnestly and sincerely pray to know it is true and the word of God. I know some of you won't, and though that saddens me I also know that is your choice and you have the agency to use your free will however you want. I will not force anything upon you, but I will continually encourage you to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know it's true. I love you all. I know this church is true and I have a strong testimony of that.
With love,
Sister Rivers
Week 1
Hi friends and family!
I've been in the MTC for about 3 days now, and I've learned so much more than I could ever explain in one email. Today I taught my first lesson! I'm in a trio with two other sisters, Sister Olson and Sister Huber. They are amazing and sweet and I love them already. All three of us are going to the Florida Tampa mission, which is exciting because I don't think I could imagine going my entire mission without seeing them again. It's amazing how quickly you grow to love the people you meet, whether they are your companions or investigators, with the help of the Lord.
Our investigator is a substitute pastor for another church. He's Evangelist Christian, I think, and love Christ and the bible. It was amazing to be able to share more and expand his interest in the Book of Mormon as we spoke and taught him. What's even more amazing and incredible is how the Spirit helps you know a person and what they need without you knowing too much about that person. It's kind of insane, but I'm very grateful for it. It is through the Spirit that my companions and I have been able to teach our investigator and come to know him and his spiritual needs.
My district is amazing. We have two elders that have been called to Tampa as well and two other elders who are going to the Baton Rouge Louisiana mission. This is also our zone, and our branch. There's seven of us missionaries and we're small, but the spirit is so strong when we're together. We had extra study time before meeting with our branch president and his wife the other night and used that time to do some study for our investigators as a district. Our branch president, President Noel, was amazed. He told us he'd never walked into a room to see an entire district studying like that.
There's so much more I want to tell you, but I don't think I have the tine to. My P-days here in the MTC are on Fridays. Also, we got our travel plans for going to Florida. We have to leave at 3:30 AM! Since we all know I'm not too much of a morning person, this should be interesting. But I've decided to make the best of my time on my mission and look at the positive rather than dreading things and soaking in the negative. I know that if I were to do that, I'd just be miserable the entire time. I'd rather be happy and enjoying myself as much as possible.
I was told to tell/remind you of
dearelder.com because that has a kind of 'same day delivery' thing for us in the MTC. If you write a letter on there, someone here will print it and have it in my mailbox by the end of the day. I think it's pretty cool, and almost wish they had something like that for the mission field as well.
I'm not sure I can think of too much else to say, but feel free to email me with questions and advice as I embark on this new journey. It's kind of insane that I'm actually going on a mission and that I'm actually here in the MTC! I don't think it's really hit me yet, and I haven't broken down crying like many have said I would, but I'm sure it'll hit me soon. I'll make sure to let you know when it happens ;) I love you all.
Sister Rivers
