Week 2

How has it been a week already? Man. That is so crazy!! SO much happened this week that I don't even know where to start! But I guess first of all, Sister Peterson and I are Sister Training Leaders. So that's pretty cool! We just kind of help out all of the sisters in our zone and make sure they feel loved :) 

So both of our investigators don't believe in God. So that has been quite the challenge to explain to them who God is and that he LOVES them! But we have really improved our teaching skills this week. We were teaching Brad about the Book of Mormon and as he was reading he was like, "Dang! This book has all of the answers!!" Haha it was the greatest thing EVER. Sister Peterson and I were like YES! It sure does. :) 

On Tuesday, Stanley G. Ellis from the Seventy spoke to us. Something that he said that I loved was that, "Everyone wants to be a part of a winning team." It just made me really happy because I am part of a winning team! I'm on the Lord's side. :) And everyone can be on His team! So come and join!! It is the greatest thing you will ever be a part of. :) 

I got to be a host for the new missionaries that came this week! It was a little crazy.. but way fun! It started raining and stuff though.. so I got to try out my fancy new rain coat! Don't worry, it's waterproof. ;) I was tempted to wear my rain boots, but it wasn't raining hard enough to do that. But everyone loved my AWESOME umbrella! Haha

So I'm not really one who likes to act, but we role play a lot here. Sister Jensen and I were role playing the other day and it was SO AMAZING! Holy cow. We both got so into it and we both just had tears in our eyes. It was the coolest role play ever. The Spirit that we felt was incredible! I wish all of you could've experienced it! 

Do you know what today is? Today is 10 days down for me and 10 months for Dakota! Is that crazy or what?! Haha. I thought it was pretty cool. :)

I want you all to know that I love you so much! Thank you for all of the love and support that you've given me. I know that my Savior has suffered 100% for me. So the things that I do every day prove to Him that I'm worth saving. That I'm worth that sacrifice that He made! So keep that in mind as you go about your week. :) You are loved!! Also, David A Bednar said, "Is it the Holy Ghost or is it just me? Don't worry about it." Act on your righteous promptings. :) 

I'll talk to you all next week when I'm in Washington!! Wahoo!! :) 

Love, 

Sister Flamm 

P.S. I can't wait to see pictures of my new nephew when he comes!!! :) :)

Week 1

Hey everyone!! :) It's P-day!! Oh my goodness. Being a missionary is just fantastic. :) I love it so much! On Wednesday I got my name tag. I am now an official representative of my Savior Jesus Christ. Ahh.. I still can't get over that. It's just the greatest! When we first got to the MTC, my companion Sister Peterson and I taught an "investigator" about the Book of Mormon. It went pretty well! I thought it was going to be hard, but it's easy to talk about something that you know is absolutely true.

On Thursday I realized that THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME! Like at all. I am just an instrument in the hands of the Lord right now. I need to focus on helping investigators get a relationship with their Heavenly Father.

On Friday we sat in the classroom for what felt like all day. But we got some really good things accomplished and we learned a lot! We taught our investigator Brad and things just didn't go so hot. Haha Sister Peterson and I realized that we know how to teach a lesson, we just don't know how to teach PEOPLE. I seriously have a lot to learn. Haha. But I guess it was way good for us to get shut down so that we can stop being so prideful. ;)

As for my district, there's 8 of us. 4 Sisters and 4 Elders. We're all 18/19 except for one Elder who is 25. Elder Tauoa is Samoan and I am very impressed that he made the decision to serve. It would be hard to be one of the older ones! But that just shows how much he truly loves his Savior. Sister Peterson and I are the only ones going to Washington and then 4 are going to Florida and the other two are going to Ohio. I met Sister Webb who I thought might be my companion! She's the one I talked to on Facebook before my mission. She's super cute too.

So Sister Peterson and I are the only ones in our room. Haha there's 6 beds in there. But it's pretty nice to be able to have some space. :) She is seriously so great. I couldn't have asked for a better companion! We totally just clicked from the very beginning. We're different, but so much alike at the same time. I just love her! We like to talk.. probably way too much. Haha I think the first night we stayed up til midnight just laying in our beds talking. So now we've been trying to go to bed earlier. I just plan on being tired for the next 18 months. But that's ok. I can sleep when I'm dead. ;)

The MTC food is pretty good! I don't really know why people complained about it.. because there's a million different options! Plus they have a salad bar too. And I like salad.. so it's cool. :) They have a lot of healthy options. So I better not gain weight while I'm here! I'll just make sure to use my gym time well. :)

Something that I've been trying to do lately is to strive to see everyone as Heavenly Father sees them. Because we are ALL equal. It's kind of hard sometimes. But I know that we can do it! So everyone should try harder to do that too. :)

Well I love you all so much! Keep writing me letters and dear elders. It's great to hear from everyone! I'll talk to you soon! :)

Love, 

Sister Flamm

I'm Alive!

Hey family and friends! 

I'M A MISSIONARY!! :) I was told to email and let you know that I am safe and everything is going well! This is seriously like the greatest thing ever. My companion's name is Sister Peterson. She's from Murray, Utah and she is SO sweet! We work so well together and I just love her already. Our room was freezing cold last night... but don't worry. We survived! I should've brought my electric blanket. But no big deal! We'll crank up the heat tonight. :) The MTC is super cool. The spirit is here and it is just the greatest feeling. I love you all so much! I'll talk to you again soon because I have P-day on Saturday. Wahoo! :) Thanks for everything!

Love, 

Sista Flamm :) 

Here I Go! :)

I have thee greatest best friend in the entire world. Elder Wilson sent me an amazing letter along with a planner! I about cried when I opened it up.

This is my all time favorite scripture. And he wrote it on my planner for me!

Man. He is seriously the sweetest guy that I have ever met. Even though we're like 5,500 miles apart, he still knows how to make my day! I love that boy :) 

Well this is it! TONIGHT. I get set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ tonight!! Ahh!!! Haha this is so great. I am SO excited! Ready or not, here I go! :) 

Sisters :)

Oh you know.. just hanging out with the Sister Missionaries! Haha these two are great. Sister Tipton and Sister Eskander are pretty much the cutest girls ever! We've had some good times! And some not so good ones.. Like people slamming the door in our faces! But it's totally cool. It's just preparing me for my mission I guess. :) But really... why would someone want to slam the door in our faces?! Look at us.. we're adorable! Haha. 

7 more days people. In SEVEN days I'll be in the MTC! And in FIVE days, I'll be set apart as a missionary!! AHH!!! What in the world?! Where has the time gone? I feel like I should still be waiting for my mission call! All of this is happening sooo fast. But ready or not, here I come! I can't wait to get to Washington. It's going to be the greatest time of my life. I can't wait to serve my Savior Jesus Christ! :) 

Cheese :) 

We pulled over so that they could take pictures of the cows. Haha only in Idaho! 

My Farewell

Well.. my farewell was yesterday! Things went pretty well, I think. I was crying.. but I made it through it! :) Everyone and their dog asked me about the poem I read, so I'm just going to post it on here.

I am SO thankful for all of my friends and family. They have given me an incredible amount of support with my decision to serve a mission. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I am very grateful for this opportunity that I have to serve him and the people in Washington. 9 MORE DAYS!!! :)

Hailey and I! :) 

Some of my cute friends! I love these guys! :) 

Dakota's grandparents came to see me! They are seriously so sweet :) 

He's Been There Before by Elder Whittle

The alarm bell rings at 6:30, I stumble to my feet
I grab my companions bedding and pull off his sheets

A groan fills the room, is it already time to arise?
It seems like just a second ago, I was able to shut my eyes
The morning activities follow- study, prayer and such
When it's time to leave the apartment, you feel you haven't accomplished much

"We have a super day planned,"
My comp. says with a grin
I lowly utter a faithless breath,
"Yeah, if anyone lets us in."

With the word of God and my faithful Schwinn, we ride off in the street prepared to
Face another day of humidity and heat
It's 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through
My champion and I are riding home not accomplishing what we thought to do

We ride up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot
Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate "air Box"
We go up to our apartment, the day is now complete
The only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet

It's past 10:30 p.m. My companion is fast asleep,
Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep
In the midst of sadness, I kneel down to pray
I need to talk to father, but I'm not sure what to say

"Oh, Father" I begin, "What happened to us today?
I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was away
My hands, my aching hands- worn, hurt and beat;
If our area was any smaller, we'd have knocked every street"

"Why on missions are the days so much alike?
The only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike
Will you send some cooler weather? The heat is killing me
I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes, it's very hard to see"

"Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough?
People always laugh at me, and call me stupid stuff
Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack
I want to give them Books of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back"

"And what about my family: They don't have much to say
I'm sick of not hearing from home day after day after day
Oh Father, Why am I here am I just wasting time?
Sometimes I just want to go home, I'm sorry but that's on my mind"

"My companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me?"
The way he rides his bicycle, I don't think he can see
Now you have it, I can't go on, I don't know what to do
That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I have for you"

My prayer now finished, I stand up, then jump right into bed
I need my rest for tomorrow, we have another long day ahead
Sleep start to overtake me, I seem to drift away
Then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day

I'm standing alone on the hill. The view is very nice
A man walks to wards me and says, "My name is Jesus Christ"
Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet
"Arise," He states, "Follow me to the shade. You and I need to speak"

My attention's towards my Savior, total and complete
He says, "Your mission is similar of what happened to me
I understand how you feel, I know what you're going through
In fact, it would be fair to say I've felt the same as you"

"I even know how you felt when no one listened to you
At times I felt not quite sure what else I could do
I know you don't like to ride a bicycle, for you a car would be sweet
Just remember the donkey I rode wasn't equipped with 21 speeds"

"I understand you don't like sweating, in fact it's something you hate
I remember when I sweat blood from ev’ry pore, oh the agony was great!
I see you don't like your companion- you'd rather have someone else-
I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth"

"It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you
I remember when they put thorns on my head and called me King of the Jews
So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack
I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back"

"Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all day
I guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ached in a similar way
It's hard not to hear from home when your family's not there to see
I lost communication on the cross and cried, "Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?"

"We have a lot in common, but there's a difference between us you see
I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me"
He embraced me with His arms and His light filled me with His love
With tears in my eyes I watched as He went back to the Father above

I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head
I listened and heard the alarm, then realized I was in my bed
My companion let out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!"
I sat up and said, "Come on, I'll even carry your scriptures today!"

No matter what we go through,
When we feel we can't take more
Just stop and think about Jesus Christ,
He's been there before!

By Elder Troy Whittle
Texas Houston Mission

Some days..

Sometimes I just really miss my best friend. Sooo.. what do I do? Make a video some of our fun times together. :)

You can watch it if you'd like...
https://vimeo.com/88539342

I can't believe Elder Wilson has been gone for 9 months though! When I'm out 10 days, he'll be out for 10 months. So that's pretty darn cool! :) Haha. I can't wait to see that handsome guy again!!