#ItwasMom

A tree down, some where on the roads

Date:  May 12, 2014
Area:  Valpo, Indiana
Companion:  Sister Wells
Valpo Week 10




Oh my goodness loved ones! Hello! :)

holes int he sidding and broken windows

I am safe and happy to say that I am ALIVE!!! :) my family already knows the story, but the rest of you don't so here I am to tell you! So last night we were visiting a less active and then a storm was coming...hmmm...(had no clue!) so we both felt like we needed to go so we did. Well we didn't listen right away(we tried to share a message, but left before really talking about it, just a few minutes different in time) so we got stuck in a storm! It was CRAZY!! We were like five minutes from our members house. And then the storm hit! We couldn't see in front of us really and there are branches falling and oh my goodness! It was so crazy! And honestly super scary! We even saw a mail box fly! We were driving when there is a tree branch...a big one (as big as the car) blocking the road but we  got past by driving on the grass. (You can do that here...they don't really have sidewalks) and we are like, okay if we get stuck we are going into that house! Well guess The Lord didn't want us to get stuck because we kept going! It was terrifying! But with praying our hearts out we made it to Sister Skeen's house! Jumped out of the car, ran through the puddles and around two huge tree branches! I was so glad to be inside! It sure was crazy! I've never been so scared of driving in my life! In my first area it rained and you couldn't really see but here we had the wind going and trees falling! So yeah pretty crazy!

My family and me

Sister Skeen is so cute! We both were kinda still freaking out so she was like, do you guys want some cake and ice cream? We both said yes to ice cream! Yum! Haha my mind was pretty much blown!

We didn't know if we would be able to talk with our families but we did! And it was super wonderful! They even heard part of the crazy storm and my little brother was a little scared! He is so cute! :)

Mother's Day and Christmas are the two times we get to actually talk to our missionaries.  We were able to Skype with Amber and see her.  It kept cutting out and we kept having to reconnect but it was totally worth it to get to see her happy, smiling face, and hear her excitement for the work she is doing there in Chicago and Indiana.  

Silly picture

My mom and grandma's - love them all

Big trees knocked over

 And on the way home, it took longer because we had to take a few detours! There was a power line that fell and also a huge tree fell! I don't think I could wrap my arms around the trunk! ....I wanted to take a picture...BUT we needed to get home! It was after nine...and it still wasn't the safest outside. And when we got closer to our apartment we had pretty much a lake in the way, so we took another detour but ran into a lot of water! Man I felt like such a rebel! Backing up without my companion, running stop signs because we were afraid that if we stopped we would get stuck! It sure was a crazy awesome night! And glad to say we survived the storm!

Whenever a missionary is going in reverse their companion must stand behind the car to make sure all is clear and direct them.  Just one of the many safety measure put in place to try and keep the cars and missionaries safe.
So Happy Mother's Day!!!! :) yesterday!

Go check out: motherhood.mormon.org #itwasmom :)

Yep pretty great Mother's Day! And the only one I'll have as a missionary! I even got a flower and chocolate at church today because I am a 'future mom'....can I just say, I sure am glad I am a missionary! :) not ready for that step in my life.

This week was a weird week, but it was super awesome! :) we didn't really get to meet with any of our investigators. Just the Yarros, but we did teach NINE less active lessons!! It was super duper awesome! :)

We had a great lesson with Gloria and Lindsey the daughter. We taught the Restoration. Gloria has heard it before and really likes it and you could tell Lindsey needed to have some time to take it in, but she was really listening and thinking. She is a sweetheart! We are meeting with them on Tuesday with Brother Lester and planning on watching the
Restoration DVD and talk more about the Restoration. They are a really cool family! :) I think I am going to buy stuff to make cheesecake and share it with them for all of our birthdays.  :)

On Tuesday night we had a sleep over at our place so that we could all be together and ready to go bright and early.

On Wednesday, We got to go to the Temple Day! :) Words can NOT describe how amazing Wednesday was!! A few things I have to say is How important Eternal Families are!! Wow! Not only for my family now but for my future family! What an amazing blessing it is to have in my life to KNOW that I will be with my husband FOREVER!! :) it brings me so much peace and joy! I don't know what the Lord has planned for me, but I do know He has a plan for me and you that will bring us the most JOY!

Sister Buckmiller and I jumping

Our zone at the Chicago Temple

Sister North, Spackman, and Goff

Sister Backman

Sister Buckmiller and I jumping

Sister Wells and I

We left to go to the Temple at 6am and got there a little after eight and it was such an amazing experience! :) yay! After that we had lunch at the mission home. Then we had a super awesome testimony meeting about the Book of Mormon challenge we got for Christmas to Aprils conference to mark all the references of Christ and His Atonement! I
invite you to do the same! It will change your life! :) It has changed mine! :) it was such a sweet experience to hear everyone's testimony in our zone (32 missionaries) as well as instruction from our sweet President and his delightful wife! :) they are just the cutest! :) and then we left to go back home about four.

One other thing I would like to mentioned is we are seriously in enemy territories! Look at the World around us! What is happening? Where are our focuses being taken? How is the 'enemy' taking you down? The world down? ....it is a lot to think about. He is trying to destroy families! Families are so special and so important to Gods plan! Without them we have no point. How are you going to bless your family today?

The week of Less Actives!

Ha this was my thought on Thursday! "Three less active lessons! And service all on a weekly planning day? That is just super awesome! And oh my goodness!  Summer all the sudden it is upon us! ...." (It was hot! And I was like what happened to spring? Ha

D****:  It was Sister Wells first time meeting her. We planned to have lunch with her Friday but plans changed but we got to go visit her the day she called. :) we had a great lesson with her and she loves the Because of Him video. When she first saw the video it actually made her cry a little bit and we talked about the Atonement and a few things and it was just a strong lesson! We are suppose to go have breakfast with her this week at 'Tate's' so that will be good.

L****:  Oh my goodness! So a member suggested that we should go visit her and so we have been trying but she keeps making up excuses and not meeting with us. One day she said she couldn't meet so we came back the next
day and she forgot, But still let us in! It was crazy! And we tried sharing a video but honestly her and her mother in law didn't really watch it but she did share her conversation story. And when we asked if there was anything we could do for her she said yes! (I was so floored! No one ever takes us up on our offer!) she asked if we could mow her lawn! I said oh yes! And man I was actually really excited to mow her lawn....part of it is also because the Elders keep doing that
and other things and always have service and I'm like just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't do it! So yeah pretty excited! And I did! And it was a work out! But grand! :) and she really opened up! I've always heard service works but I haven't really been able to use it and see the fruits of it and today was the day!! :) after we helped her we talked with her for a while and she pretty much told us why she stopped coming to church. She has a bad back and that is part of it,
but when we listened we found the deeper reason. She would always read her scriptures with her Mom and when she passed away pretty much all the church stuff stopped. We had a great lesson with her. We set up a return appointment and she was super excited! It will be good to meet with her! We left her Alma 7 to read. We did invite her to church as
well, but she didn't come this time.

M****: we didn't know if we would be able to meet with them because we hadn't heard from them but we went anyway. Brother Martinez wasn't there but the kids were and we had a great lesson on prayer! They are so great! And I just love them! :)

P****: they all came to church on Sunday! Ahh yay!! :) that made me so happy to see them all! The other day we saw Chris-little boy at the library! That was so fun to see him. :) we had a small lesson with the kids this week.

Y***: We met with a few times and it actually is going pretty well. Sister Yuen even read more of Joseph Smith history by herself. And our lessons have been more focused too. :)

M***: oh my goodness! So visiting with her was awesome! :) we got there and she was excited to see us and she was like I thought you missed me this week, because we usually visit her at the beginning of the week. So that is cool! She really wanted us to come! She is feeling the spirit and it is awesome! She has been doing good about
praying at night, but forgetting to pray in the morning, and well that is a hard thing to do sometimes. But so excited for her progression! :) yay! It made me so happy! It is great to see her desire to meet and want to know more! :)

It has been a great week! :D I love being a Missionary! You never know  what is going to happen but if you work hard you know it is going to be a good day!! :D 

Letters:

-Rachel F.

-Grandma Mary

I love you all SO much! Thank you so much for all the support!! :D It really does mean a lot!! :D  

I took tons of pictures this week so be ready! :D

Keep working hard my friends!

The milk knows its my birthday

Me waiting for my companion

silly faces while on the phone

We got flowers for Mothers Day - kinda weird

Me and little bit of Chicago

The McDonalds is literately in the middle of the Highway 

I love Sister Woodbury

Happy Birthday to Sister Wells and I

Love,
Sister Amber North :D

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOMMY!!! :D

our little fake growing fish

Date:  May 5, 2014
Area:  Valpo, Indiana

Companion:  Sister Wells

Valpo Week 9

Welcome To MAY My fellow friends and Family!!!

I am still in shock that it is MAY! I still feel like it is Feb! ha! ..yeah I am wrong!

The thought I want to share this week is: called A Mother's Hope.  I thought this would be perfect because this coming Sunday is a great day to remember our Sweet Moms :D

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=2371781721001

I love the line "Faith overcame her Fear"  If we have Faith we can do anything!! :D 

Letters:
- Grandma and Grandpa North and Great Grandma Nielsen!
- Aunt Karoline
- Elder Shick
- Elder Deweese
- Grandma Maxine
- Elder Krogh
-Grandma Mary! Your card made me laugh! :) thanks! :)
- Elder Wilkinson

Man thank so so much for the letters everyone! It is super crazy and makes me feel beyond cool! :) I have a favor! Will you all write a Happy Birthday card to my companion Sister Tayla Wells. Her birthday is on the 25th of this month and here I am being spoiled with mail and she hasn't really gotten any. :( she would love to hear from you! She is super awesome! :) thanks guys. :)

So this morning we as we left I jumped in a puddle! Yay! But then I got my sock wet :( and I laughed! :) we vacuumed our car out too! The inside is all clean. :)

Elder Foster, Berhow, Angletti, Whitehead

Monday
We had an a zone activity today!! Yahoo! And we met at the church because it was all cloudy and rainy. We played volleyball, soccer(I even scored two points! It was cool!-Mookie and Taryn you should be proud of Me! :) and I played some basketball. At one point we did a barrow race and then I just had Sister Wells push my feet and I was like super women going across the floor! ha! I have been asked more in my life if I played sports and told I am a sportscy person here on my mission then anywhere! I had one Elder even tell me I was a Beast! I guess I have good endurance...or I'm just one of the only Sisters that really gets into the game! We played 'knock out' and I kept getting the Elders out and so the other Elders cheered me on! Yeah I felt cool not gonna lie! Ha! Zone activities are always a good time! :)

For dinner we ate at the Daubek's house and Debbie was going to join us but was still a little sick. So we go to the door and I ring the doorbell and I'm like did they have a doorbell last time? And we just shrug and wait, but no one answers. I remember sister Daubek saying something about softball practice so we thought hmm...maybe they are running late. So what do we do, put on our coats and wait a minute. As we walk down the driveway a car pulls up. In my head I'm like
hmm...maybe they invited one of their friends. We start talking to her and Sister Wells notices we are at the wrong door but we got her information and it was awesome! We then go next door to the Daubek's and tell them what just happened! It was awesome! Hopefully the Elders will be able to teach her soon(she is in there area). We had a great
dinner with them and played a game called 'Bee Attitude' and I just love the three kids, Hugh the youngest has so much energy and it just makes me smile and reminds me of being home! :) kids are wonderful!

Hermana Escabar, Me, Sister Wells, and H. Meinea

We got to visit the Edwards tonight, it was the first time I met her and she is great! We had a great lesson with her and her two kids. We shared the #BecauseofHim video and talked about how Christ can help us and it was just good. :)

Tuesday
My favorite part about today was visiting Mary Jo. She is starting to really open up to us. She is just wonderful! We shared the Humpty Dumpty poem with her and then she got a phone call and as she was on the phone guess what we discovered!?! A second haft to the poem! It was pretty funny considering Sister Wells has had this poem oh for
like seven years! Ha! But it was a perfect bonding moment for us all! :)


Wednesday - The Day full of adventures! :)
We had district meeting and the Zone leaders actually were there! Yay! (They take turns going to the other districts) and all I have to say is...my district can NOT sing! But man do I love them! :) haha we sang the opening song and Elder ...was singing with gusto! And pretty much everyone was singing on different notes and what do I do? I start
laughing! It honestly was so funny! And then I tried to sing and I sounded like a cow or something! The closing song was a little bit better!

Got up to 77 one day - that didn't last long

After that we had district lunch at a little Mexican restaurant, I think called Maria's. It was tasty! I have a great district! They make me laugh! One of the Elders asked hey 'Hey Sister North! We are thinking about starting a choir what do you think?' I just started laughing.... We had fun telling a few riddles and enjoying our food.  And seeing if Maria wanted a free copy of the Book of Mormon.

After lunch we met the Elders(foster&berhow) at a hospital because the Shellie's(a senior couple) wanted to join us for the day. So Sister Shellie came with us and Elder Shellie went with the Elders. Sister Shellie is awesome! Our first destination was trying to contact a referral but no one was home so we decided to knock some doors and then we met Eddie! He said he would read the introduction of the Book of Mormon! :) yay! And then we walked back to the car....in the rain.  Silly me didn't even have a jacket on.

Then we stopped by the Partlow's and Sister Partlow was home! Huge miracle! We got to share a brief message with her. Then we went to the apartment to change our cloths for service to go help the Yarros! We just helped them sort some things and then we started talking about the Book of Mormon and some different things. My favorite part is
Lindsay asked a question! I was trying to figure out how to get her more involved! So it was grand! We went back to the apartment to change back into normal cloths and then Sister Shellie was like is it dinner time yet? We said yes and
then when she found out we didn't have any plans she was super excited to take us out to dinner! It was super cute! :)

We ended the night with teaching Debbie! And Debbie thought it was cool that Sister Shellie is a missionary with her being older. We planned to teach the gospels but while we were there we felt like we should watch the Restoration DVD. Sister Shellie gave some awesome comments. It was great! :)

The little lake outside our apartment 

Thursday
Sometime you have those days where Satan knows exactly what you are trying to improve on and he is doing everything he can to take you down...down to the ground until you cry but we are NOT alone! He is there for you and I! So this is Sister North's wisdom for the day:  "God wants us to succeed, but it is up to us to listen to Him" so even
when things become hard with the Lords help we can do everything!  The End!

We had dinner with the Thomas (relief society pres. Fam) they are super awesome! We ate at Ci Ci's pizza. Then we got to talk with Sister Thomas for a little bit because the others had soccer practice and I guess our little message was perfect for her and she said she really needed it. So that was really cool! If we listen to the spirit we will truly be able to help those we come in contact with! It is awesome! :)

Friday
Today was an interesting day...we met with Sister Yuen today and we read from Joseph Smith history and talked some about his story and then we talked about how in the Bible it talks about the BOM and it was a short lesson that took a long time! BUT the cool thing is when we got there we had a few extra minutes and I was like let's go knock on this house. Well it wasn't me thinking that, because we went and knocked and got a PNI and gave our new friend J...a BOM it was pretty cool! Only door we knocked on today! That is my kind of tracting :)

We had a lesson with Cyndi and well I was glad we didn't have a member with us....it was a rather interesting teaching environment...so she takes care of an older couple and because it was kind of cold we were invited inside and Joan just walks around and Jim was watching the Big Bang Theory and it was super loud but we turned it down. It took a
little bit to get the lesson going and when the spirit was finally there before we got into the first vision we hear a car door and it turns out to be Diana her sister. So she comes in and she tells us her religious preference, and we talk for a little bit and then she dismisses us and is like you guys normally end with a prayer or something? We say yes, and I was the one that got to pray. So I asked her if there was anything I could pray about and she said yes and told us for about five minutes....and then I said a prayer...(just a little nervousness ha) but Sister Wells did tell me she felt the spirit
during the prayer so that is good. Before we left we offered our services and I think they'll actually take us up on it too!! :) yay! I also feel like with Diana we might be able to teach her more if we did service for them, because she seems to be he kind of lady that will ask us questions but won't really let us teach her....needless to say it was interesting!


After that we ended he night with going and seeing the Nickels family! I ended having a great lesson with Kayln the 12 year old while Sister Wells held down the fort with everyone else. Ha. Kayln and I had fun playing with a worm (we all were outside) and then we started talking about why we are here and I got to teach her a brief plan of salvation. She also asked a great question about Heavenly Father and Christ being one person and being called a God. And this is how I explained it to her: I said so at school you have and English teacher and a Math teacher, they teach you different things but they are both teachers. This is how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is,they both can be called God because they have the same purpose but they are two separate beings. Just like you have different teachers. (I thought it was cool) and she also understood it. We talked a little bit about Young Women's and she is interested in going so I am excited to help her come closer to our Savior! She is such a sweet girl! And Sister Wells went over the Ten Commandments with the other kids with Bro Nickels and Joe there uncle was even out too! :) I love this family!
They sure make me laugh! Oh and Paige the 9 year old I guess she is being defending God at school and is telling people who are taking the Lords name in vain "hey he doesn't like that! It is disrespectful!" She was also ready to come with us to go and do missionary work, she had her bag and tablet and everything ready to go. So cute! They are
learning more and more and it is super exciting! :)

Saturday
Man, all of our member presents keep not happening, it makes me sad.  We have had scheduled this week and they all have fallen through and so have our back ups. But The Lord knows what his children need and we will just keep trying.

We helped the Yarros do some yard work and they kept saying we could stop but Sister Wells and I kept going. Honestly we didn't do that much...they said we did but it was really nothing and it was enjoyable too! Yep I just said yard work was enjoyable ;) Gloria was laughing at me because I was getting all dirty and it didn't bug me one bit!

We shared with Joe the Because of Him video and then we talked about how we are all children of God and share the Child of God video. It went really well oh and we talked about the Atonement and there daughter Kelly was there and she is 13(she loves with her grandma).  Something that is cool is Gloria mentioned already how she wants to
stop smoking! Which is just awesome! So we are going to come up with a plan to help her out with that. :)

Sister Wells

Crazy story! As we are talking some how my birthday came up and that it was soon so Gloria asked when it was and I said May 18th and the way they reacted I just new it was some else's birthday. Yep it is Joe's birthday then she goes on saying that her birthday is May 25th and I just look at Sister Wells and I'm like that is her birthday! It was super crazy! So we have the same birthdays as them! Haha....crazy! It was pretty funny! :) they are a great family! We are teaching them, hopefully on Tuesday! :)

Sunday!
Oh how I love Sundays! They are just the best way to receive that spiritual strength and to start a new week! Church was wonderful. :) after church we went and saw Sister Clark and she is doing great! And then we went home and had our studies. :) and cooked a lasagna for dinner! It worked out because it takes more then an hour to cook so we
cooked it while we studied. It was yummy! And we had garlic bread too!

We had a great lesson tonight with Debbie on the Holy Ghost and what that is. It went really well and the spirit was there! Before we left we changed her light bulb. She was scared I was going to fall but it was real easy. Something that is funny, after church she said that she was on page nine in the Book of Mormon and I was like cool...then I
paused and then I was like wait! You were on page nine on Wednesday.  Well guess what page she was on when we came and taught her!?! ...43!  I was like what? Wow! You have almost caught up to us! I am in 2 Nephi
and Sister Wells isn't to far behind. So that was pretty crazy! And awesome! She is doing well, but not progressing as much as we would like, she is building faith but not that true conversation yet so her baptism might be pushed back but we will see. Hopefully she will do what we have asked her and will start to notice the spirit more in her life. She is so awesome! And I just love her! :)

Thank you so much for all you do!! I hope you all have a great week!! Work hard! and Remember! You can do anything and everything!! I love you all so much!! I know Christ loves you all so much!! Remember to keep Smiling!!!

Much Love,
Sister North :D

Sister Shellie took us out to dinner.

Sister North absolutely loves mail so drop her a line or a card, she would love to hear you.  PLUS it is her birthday on the 18th so that is an extra special reason to write.

Sister Amber North

Illinois Chicago Mission

800 Waukegan Rd #203

Glenview, Illinois 60025

Hard work brings Great Miracles!

Date:  April 28, 2014
Area:  Valpo, Indiana

Companion:  Sister Wells

Valpo Week 8

 

 

Hey! What is the Miracle in your life today??

You are all a Miracle to me!! Thank you for your support and prayers!! :D

I can't believe May is coming upon us!!! April almost over??? WOWZERS!! This is getting crazy!!!

Transfer 7 Week 2

Letters
-Easter package from my most wonderful Mommy! :) love the bags! So adorable! :)
-Sister Brittany Attansasio!
-Rachel Fishetau

Monday!
I already told you the awesomeness of today last week and that was meeting S*** while shopping. What is crazy is she lost her job that day and we happen to go to her line. She has been trying to find
another job this week and being proactive in that. She is calling us today to set up a time to meet with her! We called her yesterday. She is pretty cool! :)

Easter Package finally made it

Visited Sister S*** and her neighbor C****. Shared simple lessons with both of them and it ended grand. :) we did knock some doors too but nothing came out of it. But one lady said they make a lamb cake for Easter and I was like what? Really? Turns out it is a normal cake shaped like a lamb not an actual lamb haha! So that was a little funny.

Tuesday
Today we met K***!! While tracting and we taught him about the Book of Mormon! And he told us we can come back on Saturday at 2 and teach him and his two daughters more. We also got to meet with the B**** a less active family that we have been trying to get in contact with the entire time I have been here. It was a miracle we got to see them.  They are an awesome family! Hopefully we will meet with them again soon!

Wednesday!
We had a great district meeting! And before it started Sister Wells and I opened our awesome Easter package! Thanks Mom! It sure did make me giggle! I loved the 'Easter baskets' and we are watching our fish grow! We talked about finding people to teach and how when we meet new people we should start teaching them truth so the spirit has time to testify to them!

Trying on hats on Pday

We had a super awesome lesson with D****!! And Sister D*** came! We taught her the Plan of a salvation and invited her to be baptized on May 24th and she said YES!! And she also got a job and starts Monday!  I am so excited for her! :) The Lord really does bless us when we do what He asks of us. Something that is cool is with Sis. Comstock I promised Debbie that if she did what we ask and read the Book of Mormon that everything would work out and last weekish she found a car to buy and now she has a Job! It is so wonderful! She is so awesome and as we taught her today I felt like there was almost a little glow in her. :)

We had dinner with the S*** and it was Yummy :) we shared with them parts of Elder Ballard's talk 'Follow Up' and invited them to study Preach My Gospel and we told them that we would ask them what they learned and we also told them to ask us what we learned that day. So now I am inviting you to study Preach My Gospel. I know as you do so you will gain more knowledge and be able to share the gospel simply to those you meet. :)

Thursday
Planning day
Dinner at Archers
Dropped J*** a PNI finding the elect

Oh MY GOODNESS!!! Miracle Moment! We just got a call about what sounds like one of those 'Golden Referrals!' The Elders in Michigan city taught them the restoration and they love the BOM and are moving to Portage tomorrow! Ahh I am like freaking out here and feel so blessed!

Friday
The day all of our set plans fell through but ended to be a great day! We had to take our car in for a recall and make sure it is safe for us to drive and it is so that is good but it used more of our miles and
we didn't really have much to spare but I'm hoping we don't go over!

 

Tuesday Totinos Day

We got to meet with D**** today and we just read Alma 41 with her and talked about it, just to help her understand it better as she studies the Book of Mormon. It was good and we talked a little about Family History. :)

Like I said all of our appointments fell through so after dinner we spent the night tracting and before we left I got the most direct answer I have ever received praying about what street we should go and find people! At first it was just a letter or two and then a word came but I couldn't find it. Then this street stood out and I told Sister Wells and the. BOOM I saw it! The street named came to my head! So I guess I should explain how we 'find' what streets we go and knock on. We say a prayer and then we look at a map and we pick out a few streets that stick out and then we might say another prayer to which one we should go to first. Finding people is all about prayer and faith! I am learning more and more how true that is! Anyway we go and tract this awesome street!

First cool story!
we started walking to the door and saw this girl who was high school aged and kept seeing other kids and kept waving and saying hi until we got to the door. Then she came out with like eight kids all about 8-10! And we taught them all about the Book of a Mormon briefly. It  was funny because one of the little girls was like, "Have you ever heard of the Book of Mormon before? They said No" then I asked if they have heard about the Bible and they are like YES! We directed the conversation to H*** and asked if we could teach her more later she said sure and we exchanged numbers. Then T**** I believe the Dad came out and was a nice, joking guy but there could be potential. He seems
to be open to religion and we told him we don't practice purl marriage and he was surprised we are almost 21(we look younger) and then joked around why we aren't married. But an hour later we are walking back to our car and we were looking at what house we just were at and they stopped and asked us if we were lost. They are nice.

Story number 2!
We met B**** also high school aged and what is funny is when we first got out of the car I waved to him and he waved back haha. Not sure how interested he is but he said we could come back next
Saturday. He hasn't heard of Mormons before.

Story Number THREE! "Pick three my Lord" Is about the wonderful C****.  She is a spunky 57 year old and man she is just super cool. She had an ex husband involved in the church and knows a little about the Book of Mormon but hasn't actually been to a church service. We shared with her the Because of Him video and it was awesome! We had a great conversation about it and talked about church and we set up a return appointment for next Friday! It is going to be great! She is really nice. :)

Saturday
One of those, You can do it days! It started off good and I was all ready for life and then by dinner

Elder Smith Elder Power and Angeltti

time I was just done with life but we pushed through and it still was a good day! We got three potentials and visited two less actives and a member! 

 

Today we just talked to the Y*** kids about prayer and it went well. We talked about some of there concerns in life and how prayer can help them. We invited them to pray every night and even try praying together as a Brother and Sister. They both liked church last week and wanted to come this week but sadly they didn't :( but glad we got to meet with them.

Our appointment with K*** didn't happen :( I was so bummed! We had a member with us and everything! We even tried to go see someone else and that fell through too. I wish all plans worked out! But The Lord sees the bigger picture and he knows how to help us grow the most!

We met with the N**** and started talking about prayer with them but ended up teaching them the Ten Commandments. Two of the kids really listened the rest of them were in and out. But the nine year old called on her dad to say the closing prayer! That was pretty great!

Sunday
Man! Can I just tell you how much I love going to church! Best three hours ever! Sadly D**** didn't come today :( she wasn't feeling good. Today we had ward conference and I took some good notes but here is just one thought.

Elder Whitehead my awesome district leader

- "I took the one less traveled by" -do the paths take me closer to the Savior? Farther from the Savior? Or stayed about the same? The path we take in our life should be bringing us closer to the Savior everyday. Where are we on that path? It reminded me of a Mormon message.

https://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng

We can learn all that we need to through Prayer!! The Lord sees the bigger picture! He love us all so much and I know this to be true!! Just like in the video they let them take the wrong short road to know that it was the wrong road and was able to know that the other road was in fact the right road!!

I know our Savior loves us and I know he wants to be apart of our life!! We just need to turn to Him and we will come closer to Him!!

 

Something that is funny, at least to me.  So this morning we had Ward Council and I used the word spunky and needless to say they kept using it and then when we were in the last hour we were combined with it being ward conference and President Astle used it! It made me feel cool! ha :D

the end!

We met the Y****! The awesome referral the MC Elders gave us! We called them Saturday and offered our services and they said they need help moving there fridge so we had a couple ward members come help us and we also did a little yard work and it was fun! It was nice to do
some service! We shared with them the Because of Him video (can you tell we love it!) and talked about it and we are coming back this week  to help more and well start teaching them soon. It is a family of five. Mom and Dad, L. She is 17 and likes Anime, 13 year old daughter that lives with her grandma, 8 year old son J...who has autism and a very smart kid. I am excited to getting to know them more!

It has been an awesome week!! We have worked really hard and it shows and that is always a good feeling! This work is hard but I love it! And I am learning more and more how to give my full heart to God. It is a lot harder then it sounds. To be able to fully trust Him in everything! But when we do He sure does bless us.

Have a great my wonderful miracle people!! Go help make miracles happen!!
They are everywhere! :D I love you all so much!!!

Love,
Sister North  :)

 

So it is Sister North's birthday on May 18th so get those cards and letters out soon!!!!

Sister Amber North

Illinois Chicago Mission

800 Waukegan Rd #203

Glenview, Illinois 60025 

#BecauseofHim, #BIGTRANSFER

University of Chicago but it reminds me of Hogwarts

Date:  April 21st, 2014
Area:  Valpo, Indiana

Companion:  Sister Wells

Valpo Week 7

 

Hey Family and Friends!!!

Man so I am so excited about this Transfer and it is crazy that we are already on week two!!  A lot of awesome things are going to happen and I have high hopes that we will have a baptism too! that would be cool!! :D

The highlights of this Transfer

#Easter/BecauseofHim
#haftwaypoint CRAZY!!! 9 Months already?

#Mothersday

#Birthdays (both mine and Sister Wells)

#Baptism

Yep It is going to be an awesome one!!! :D

First off I want to start off talking about Easter!! How wonderful!!

I invite ALL of you to check out this amazing video!! #BecauseofHim

easter.mormon.org

Sister North and Sister Wells

I had the wonderful opportunity to speak in Sacrament yesterday on the Atonement! I was honored to speak and I must say I think I am getting a little bit better on speaking.  It was so much better then the last time I spoke...at my farewell(weird) on the same topic. 

I love the Atonement!! Because of the Atonement we are able to do anything and everything!! Everything is possible because Christ died for us! My favorite scripture that talks about the Atonement is...

Alma 7
 11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and ^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
 12 And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities.
 13 Now the Spirit ^aknoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the ^bflesh that he might ^ctake upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

I just love it so much!!  It tells us that he can feel EVERYTHING we are feeling!!! I know he lives! He is so wonderful! and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to serve him here in Portage, Indiana! I love it here!!

We had an awesome experience this morning!! Two of them in fact!!

Zone Valpo

The first one is we talked to Brother Nickels and asked him if it is okay to start teaching his kids the lessons and he said Yes! Super exciting! We have been over there a few times and they are great! Hyper and they can be crazy lessons but they are good.  We have been teaching them very basic things but we didn't want to teach them the entirety of the Gospel if Brother Nickels(the Dad) wasn't okay with that.


Then when we were checking out of Meijers our cashier asked why we were dressed up. PERFECT!! Well we told her who we are and a little bit of what we do.  She asked if we get paid for being a missionary we said nope we actually pay, then she found out that we are from Utah and then that we are here for 18 Months!  Because I was talking to her she almost forgot to scan the waters and then give Sister Wells her stamps but it was my fault so it was totally okay! But there was someone behind us so I asked her if we could tell her more or something and she gave us her number!! and we gave her ours and our Facebook information!! It was awesome!! The Lord really is blessing us SO SO Much!! I am so excited!! She is about our age.

District Awesome!

One of the cool things that happened this week was yesterday after seeing a less active we prayed about what area we should go and we both felt like the "green area" and then we looked at the list and a few of the stick out and them I said a name out loud and Sister Wells was like huh? Me too, so we went and saw the Nickels! We shared the #BecauseofHim video and tried to talk a little bit about why we have Easter. It was a little harder because there was a niece that has hardened her heart against the church but it was good. We are hoping to start teaching the kids soon, there are five of them and the
youngest is I believe six. While we go shopping we are going to ask permission form the Dad since he works at Meijer's. He likes us coming over and sharing messages and seems very supportive but we don't want to push any buttons, so hopefully we can start teaching them the lessons.

Elder Murillo!  Sister Kershaw and I served with him in my first area, first Transfer

Elder Power was taking pictures of himself so we joined in

Goodbye Elder Harrison

Oh! A miracle moment is we went to the library but it was a different one then we usually go to but I felt like we should go to that one before we go stop by some one else and Kim was there! She is working two jobs and going to school right now so she is hard to meet with. It was great! I told her we'd send her an cool Easter Video and guess what! When we got on the next day she shared it on her Facebook! It was super awesome. :)

The awesome Martinez family

Sister Comstock Sister Skeen and Sister North

Sister North and Comstock with the Vickers

We met with Debbie this week! Saw her Monday and then later in the week.  We had planned to see Sharon but she got sick so as a backup we went and saw Debbie with Sister Daubeck.  I love how the Lord works because during personal study I read a talk from the Engsin

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/04/the-blessings-of-perseverance?lang=eng
and as I read it I thought of Debbie and it was perfect because that is what we talked about.  We talked about Enduring to the End and it was a great lesson!!

Letters this week!
-Janelle Sanchez, Grandma Mary, Amiee Smith :D Thank You :D

Sister Wells and I on the first day together

University of Chicago - This super cool building thing that is a Library

We went and ate Mexican and well took silly pictures

I love you all so much!! Thank you so much for all your prayers and love and support!! I hope you have have a great week!! Go look up the #BecauseofHim video it is just a few minutes long and it is amazing!!!

I love you all!
Love,
Sister North :D
Well she still hasn't gotten her Easter package.  Goodness this package has taken longer to get to her than Jered's did to him in Guatemala.  O well, I am sure it will get there eventually.  Her birthday is on May 18th!  AHHH can't believe my baby girl is going to be 21.  Lets get those birthday cards out to her, she would love it!!!

Sister Amber North
Illinois Chicago Mission
800 Waukegan Rd #201
Glenview, Illinois 60025

Valpo Week 6!

Our District

Date:  April 14, 2014
Area:  Valpo, Indiana

Companion:  Sister Comstock

Valpo Week 6



Hey Mom! And others I love!

 So we got transfer calls and Sister Comstock is leaving me and Sister  Wells is coming here! She is awesome and I look forward to serving with her. We are spending the night in the cityish with some other Sisters and going to go visit a ward member who is in the hospital at the moment. So that should be fun....get to drive in the crazy traffic! We saw Debbie this morning so Sister Comstock could say goodbye. Things are good!

I hope all of you are doing great! I love you bunches!

Letters:
-Aunt Karoline - loved the pictures! They made me smile, and the
kiddos are getting SO big!
-Hermana Alex Jackson
- Grandma Mary

Monday April 7, 2014
We had such an amazing lesson with Kim! Wow! We taught her the Restoration! The spirit was so strong we read Alma 7:10-13 talking about the Atonement. We even invited her to be baptized, she was like what if I have already been baptized? And do you mean like convert? We briefly reminded her about the right priesthood authority and told her we don't expect you to say yes right now, but when you find out that it is true will you? She told us she would have to think about or something, but she was excited to read Moroni 10 so that is good. And we had the lesson at Fallan Tanner's house she is in her 20's and it was just perfect! :)


We had interviews with President and wow I love that man! :) I could tell him anything and he always makes you feel so cool. I am so grateful for Him! He is the best! :)

Tuesday
We had Zone training today and it of course was SUPER! :) something we are focusing on is making sure we are teaching the Big picture. We are not here just to baptize people but to help them be with there families for eternity!

We stopped by Sharon and talked about how God loves us and we just need to turn to him and we just got to know her and we are meeting with her next week! Yay! :)

We had such an amazing experience at the Tucker's tonight! We had the opportunity to sing hymns and we all chose one of our favorites and the spirit was there and it was so strong! It was so wonderful! :) it was neat and something I will always remember! :)

Wednesday
      Today was the day of visiting the Elderly. :) we visited Sister Clark, but she is a redhead where Sister Clark in Gurnee isn't :) hehe.       I met the Vickers for the first time and she gave us chocolate and then told us to keep eating it haha. :) we shared the Prayer poem with her (it is one of our favorites to share! I'm starting to have it memorized) and we shared a scripture and she teared up and it was sweet.

       After dinner we visited with the Ackleys and when I become old I want to be as in love with my husband as they are. They are so cute together! And you can just tell they love each other so much. They told us how they met and it was great, I always love hearing these stories. I gotta get my "romance" somewhere haha. :) we also talked about prayer and Sister Ackley shared the sweetest experience and the spirit was there and peaceful. When we left Bro. Ackley said stay sitting and went and put cookies in a bag for us.

We had a great lesson with Debbie! And she wants to be baptized! But we didn't invite her to a date yet. We talked about how we want her to be baptized for her and because she believes not because of us or anything or anyone else. She even did her reading and more too. Turns out she has a gospel doctrine book and when we got there she was asking us, so you really don't drink tea or coffee? We said correct. We focused on the BOM and talked about how we can get answers from it and how it brings us power and guidance. It was a good lesson. Her heart is changing and being softened.

Our zone

Thursday
Oh my goodness we had the most powerful lesson with the Martinez family! They are amazing! We were able to answer one of there questions through the Book of Mormon, why bad things happen to good people. Something that was really cool is Sister Comstock mentioned on sharing 'Good things to Come' by Elder Holland for someone else we would be seeing that day and I just went a long with it but it didn't feel right but I couldn't figure out what that person needed. Turns out this video was for them! I had a huge 'light bulb' moment while reading and explaining a scripture and new that the Spirit was telling me to show them this Mormon message! It was so powerful! All of us had
tears in our eyes! I can't wait to meet with them next week! :) we invited them to pray as a family.

We met with the Nickles family and it is a pretty crazy teaching environment. It is Bro. Nickles who is less active and his five children who aren't members. We just taught them how we are children
of a God. It went well but a little crazy! They are a great family, the kids don't know anything about the gospel. We are going to ask if we can teach the lessons to his children(he is there as well), we just
want to make sure it is okay. He is fine with us coming over. I have high hopes for this family, and I know that the Gospel will help bring them together and they are already changing super slowly with just the few times we have seen them.

Friday
We did some good old finding today! We tried to find people at the park but needless to say it wasn't really successful. But we did talk to one person!...but she rejected even taking a card. She had the
cutest little baby! :)

We then went tracting and we met Rita who is a super funny German lady! And she makes me laugh. She didn't want to hear our message but we started talking about other things and then she finally came outside and talked to us instead of from inside the screen door. She told us we could come back so that was cool. :)

We went over to Bishop Sarver's and they have eight kids, a few fun facts that I can't help but think of my own family is they sit on the second row at church, and they have a green van, but slightly smaller then ours. It was a little hectic teaching environment but so fun! I love being around kids, I just wish I could really play with them...can't wait to do that again. :)

Saturday
The Day of Services. We helped Sister Hagman with her yard sell and we even got a potential
investigator! Haha he is our age and we gave him our Facebook information and he added us on Facebook. So that is cool. We then helped the Sams dust some of there house it was grand. :)

Sunday
The Day of stop bys....Sister Comstock is going to Woodstock! I taught Sunday school about the organizations of the Priesthood, it went okay. Then Sister Comstock and I taught Young Women's and that was super awesome! It went so well! :) we taught the Restoration! And it is so cool how every lesson is so different because you teach to there needs. I love it! :)


Sister North absolutely LOVES mail, so drop her a post card, a letter, a package.  ANYTHING.  Her Birthday is coming up on May 18th so lets send her lots of birthday cards.  She would love that!  In the next few weeks she is coming up on her halfway point of he mission too.  AHHH time is flying for the most part. 

Sister Amber North
Illinois Chicago Mission
800 Waukegan Rd. #203
Glenview, Illinois 60025

Sometimes canned Juice will Help you die faster

Me and the Easter Deer

Date:  April 7, 2014
Area:  Valpo, Indiana

Companion:  Sister Comstock

Week Five in Valpo!

Bahaha!!! So I guess I should explain the "sometimes canned Juice will help you die faster" 

Story Time!  So we got these canned juices from a member.  We had grape juice when we were at her house and it was good, I just tried a little bit seeing how I think it takes like medicine. ha and she mentioned how she has some other kids such as blueberry, and peaches so she gave us them to take home.  Well needless to say....

This is from Sister Comstocks letter and it is just perfect so I asked if I could put it in mine :D

"Mmmm... Canned blueberries....

Nifty idea, right? Sounds good, right? WRONG! It tasted like paint varnish!! So if any of you have the desire to can
them.....please....reconsider. I made my companion try it, and then asked,"if you were dying, and this was the only thing to drink... Would you drink it?" She looked up and said, "Well sure! I think it would speed up the process!" So there you have it. Don't. Can. Blueberries."

Sister Comstock and the Easter Deer

We both died laughing and I hope this makes you laugh because as I read it I still am laughing and thinking this experience it is rather funny!! :D haha I promise you didn't miss out taste testing them.... ;) anyway, thanks again for the mail :) It is always a great way to put a Smile on my Face. :) *hint hint* Keep them Coming :D

Easter Deer

Letters:
-Grandma Mary (2) loved the funnies, they made us laugh! :)
- Nutty
- Sister Burr

Anyway!  It has been a great week! Being a Missionary is one of a Kind! I recommend it for EVERYONE :D

We were driving to an appointment and the train stopped.

Tuesday
It was a chalax kind of day. We visited Dolores who is a less active and a lot of it was just getting to know her and learning what her needs are. She is really nice. We came in a little early and went to bed early. It was nice doing missionary work. :)

Wednesday
Back to working hard and being a missionary full time! Yay! It is never fun being sick. We had a great district meeting as always and learned some different ways to work with members and helping them see the full vision of why we are here, and that is to help others have eternal families. :) so we set up an appointment with what we thought was a Less Active but turns out he is a former investigator. We talk to Him for oh ten fifteen minutes and the spirit told us to leave. It
was crazy! Talking after both of us had that feeling and it was cool to see the spirit warn and talk to both of us. I still don't know what would have happened if we stayed but glad we left. It is so important to listen to the prompting a of the Spirit. We met this cool guy named Keenen at the library today and he seems pretty interested, we have to email him later and set up another time to meet with him. We had dinner with Sister Sam and her house is the cutest little old house
ever! I look around and I'm like wow that is cool! It was good and we talked about the Book of Mormon and what are favorite stories are. :)

Thursday
Today has been a good day, we have been busy. This morning we helped Sister Hagman finish pricing things for her yard sell next week. She is moving to Utah she isn't sure where yet it just depends on where she gets a job. We got to meet with a Less Active older couple, they are really nice, it was a little weird at first and we did t know what to talk about but they said we could come back and we left our number with them and Sister....thought the Mormon.org card was cool and didn't know the church had a website. We invited her to check it out and she seemed pretty excited about it. So hopefully something will catch her attention.

We had dinner with the Archer family and I just love them! It is always so great going over there. :) funny: I was cutting

Getting my teeth fixed at the dentist

tomatoes and I almost cut my self...yikes but no worries. We talked about having a strong foundation. We then went and had a lesson with Tammy who we met at the Library my first week here(I still love meeting people there)  hehe it was an okay lesson. She has a ton of questions and but the lesson wasn't really focused and it was just everywhere so next time we are going to bring a member and keep it on one or two topics and that should help.

Friday
I finished the Book of Mormon!! Ahh yay! :) President Woodbury gave us a challenge during Christmas to read the Book of Mormon by April's conference and to mark everything that talks about Christ and His Atonement. Wow! My love for my Savior has grown. I love looking at my Book of Mormon and seeing ALL the blue highlight! This book is truly
another testament of Jesus Christ! He is written on every page! If you read it you WILL come closer to Our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ I promise you that if You read the Book of Mormon is can help you with anything!  As I prayed again about the Book of Mormon taking Moroni's Promise:

Moroni 10:3-5

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if
it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember
how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the
creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these
things, and ponder it in your hearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye
would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these
things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with
real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it
unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

I instantly felt a warmth and peace come over me confirming that what I have just read is true! It wasn't anything huge but it is all I needed to re-confirm my answer. I already knew that the Book of Mormon was true but I wanted to ask again. And He answered me again. :) I know God hears our prayers! He does hear your prayer! I know if you are having a gloomy day you can pick up the scriptures and God will give you peace and even guidance. This is His church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I know it to be true! :)

Video:
A Book of Mormon Story:

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages/topics/book-of-mormon?v=1256696369001  

I watched this video earlier this week and it hit me. I love the scriptures he shares. One of the things he said "I just want to share this book with everyone" this is how I feel. The Book of Mormon is so powerful and it brings that joy we are all are aching for! It is up to all of us to read the words, ponder them, and ask God if they are true.

Sister Comstocks birthday decorations

We had the most amazing Lesson with Debbie with Bishop Sarver!!! We taught the Restoration and helped her understand the Priesthood.  We ended the Lesson with singing 'Joseph's First Prayer'  It was a Powerful lesson!! :D  I was so grateful for Bishop Sarver and his willingness to come with us!! He answered and taught things we could never of explained or taught.  Members being involved in Missionary work is KEY!!!

Saturday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTER COMSTOCK!!! The Big 21!! :D  the night before she wasn't feeling the greatest so she went to bed early which was perfect because I had fun writing Happy B-Day on the wall with sticky notes and coloring on our bathroom mirror so she woke up to a fun surprise!

We watched Conference at the church and WOW it was so amazing!!! Sister Skeen picked us up and then we picked Debbie up.  For lunch we went to this place called Schoops and it was good but more money then I would pay.  BUT I loved the music...Might not be the best thing as a missionary but it was all 80's and this is how this place was just a cute little 80's place.  They played a few songs that I sang in Arise and it brought me back to thinking of how much I loved that Choir!! Wow so many great memories!! I wish I could be in it again :D

Out to eat for lunch on Saturday between conference sessions

We then went back to the church and watched Conference again! :D  We had MCM and dinner.  It was a day of meetings but really good. :)

Sunday!!

OH How I love Conference!! For lunch we stayed at the church and Sister Thomas brought yummy food and we all ate together with the Elders.  They have three kids Ashley 17 and Courtney 14.  They are great....I might of taught Courtney how to squirt grape juice at each other....it was fun!...but yeah...Ha! I can thank one of my buddies from back home for teaching me that one! Ha! Both the girls play soccer and even had soccer games Saturdaynight and it made me think if you guys did.  How is Soccer going?

So last night we went and visited the Yuen family and Sister Yuen was in the best mood! We enjoyed talking outside in her back yard chilling on her porch swing and can I SAY how Excited and THRILLED I am that it was 8pm and we talked outside for an hour and we did die from the Cold!! It was a nice night! a little chilly but so wonderful!! AHH SPRING IS IN THE AIR!! and I sure hope it stays!! It is really nice!!! :D

Alright So CONFERENCE!!

I learned a Lot, One of the things that I thought was interesting is I was reflecting back to the Book of Mormon and the Bible and how when Prophets came they called the people to Repentance and I was thinking to myself hmm...they don't really do that.  And then the first Session of Conference happened and I was like...Oh Yes they do!! and Boy was it awesome!!! 

 We are loved so much! and I am so glad we are able to receive direction from God in this crazy world!! :D

I think the biggest Message that I got for me is, You are loved, You can do anything with my (God's) help, you just need to trust in Me(Christ) and have Faith, and as I do my best He will Help and Bless me. 

I know the Lord loves us all!! He loves you!! and He wants all of Us to be happy and have the highest Joy!!!

I also loved the talk about how we just have four minutes, this life really is so short, so what are YOU going to do with it?

Thank you for all You do!!  I invite you to read from the Scriputres, re-read or watch the talks from conference, these things will guide you to happiness!!

Love,
Sister North :D