Christmas

hello family and Merry Christmas to you all!

Hope you are enjoying the christmas holiday, i am so excited to see you all tomorrow! so this is how this is going to work. i will call home at approximately 1pm wisc time (11am cali time), sorry that the earliest i can get it in. i will probably just call the home number cause i know you all will hear that one ringing. this call will be short as i want to spent the hour video chatting you all on google plus. yes i will use my gmail account so the set up will be just like we have always had. please try to trouble shoot to make sure your webcam/mic/etc is working so we dont have to waste precious time. oh this is all so exciting to be on the other side of this anticipated christmas call for the first time.

well what happened of late...

im sick. dont judge me if i sound manly tmr. i dont think ive taken this many drugs or gotten sick this many times in my life than on my mission. guess im just falling apart. what else is new haha.

the world ended on friday. didnt you hear. bahaha we had SO many people ask us about it. and it was good cause it lead right into gospel principles. friday we had a wonderful temple conference which included a endowment session, so yes we were in the temple when the world ended,  couldnt have planned it better. ALSO ROBBY BUSCH WAS THERE! bahahaha hes a friend of mine i met through natalia. hes one of natalias bffs. that was so funny. ironic a few weeks ago i trying to brainstorm people i might know who live in this mission. robby was one of those names and i was trying to remember which part of sac hoping maybe we could beg his family into feeding us dinner one night. haha yes deaf branch sisters sometimes go to extreme measures to get fed. but yeah there he was in the same endowment session as me. we got to chat in the celestial room for a bit. kind of a different experience. i tried introducing him to sister wilson whos going home soon... haha :]

we met a wonderful WONDERFUL man this week. his name is ronnie. hes in his 40s. it is so neat to be an instrument in the lords hands as he does this marvelous work! ronnies parents are deaf and we knocked on their door having never knocked the door before. ronnie answered and we asked for his deaf parents. they were not home so we said we would come back tmr. there was a little awkward stumbling over each other sentences and as we walked away we were a little confused why that was kind of awkward. we go back the next day and ronnie again answers. he lets us in and chat with his mom for a bit for but soon he interrupts us and started asking a thousand questions. well pretty much in turned into me have a lesson with ronnie for an hour introducing SO MUCH and sister wilson signing with his mom trying to give me more time. hahaha it was awesome. hes hearing so we have to pass his off to the elders, luckily the elders are in our zone so can hear updates about how hes doing and if hes progressing or not. so excited. Ronnie is seriously a golden investigator. he wants to learn so much and he had such a light in his eyes. so cool when the lords uses us asl missionaries to help with the hearing work too!

and im already out of things to write home about. sorry this is difficult... i forgot my planner with all my emailing notes.

this christmas season has been different not being home for the holidays but oh so wonderful the christmas spirit is everywhere. i feel like i have truely focused on the christmas season everyday, almost every moment since thanksgiving ended. its been wonderful to make the birth of the savior as my #1 christmas focus. its been a wonderful month as ive learned so much about that simple nativity story. saturday evening they delivered all our christmas packages to all the missionaries and we have a little christmas devotional which included some christmas stories and testimonies. the spirit was so strong and although i was sucking on cough drops and blowing my nose i felt the power of the spirit in that little room just as powerfully as everyone else did. i barely could muster out words when president asked me to say the kneeling closing prayer. this christmas season ive come to know deeper that it is not just a nativity story but something that truely happened so long ago. one little boy was born so we call could live, and that same boy died that we might all overcome death. it has truely been a wonderful christmas season full of opportunities to give and serve, what this season is so really about. so many people have been so generous to give to the missionaries during this christmas time too. our apartment is full of lots of candles, lights, way too many sweets, and presents around our tree. it will be a merry christmas.

see you all tmr.

love,

sister oliphant

DAD  CONGRATSSS!!!! i want to hear about everything!!!! how exciting! let me know when you know more! ohhh yay cant stop smiling for you dad!

okay the costumes are fabulous. those will be nice for future christmas' to come too! terrill you sure are standing aweful close to sophie there... bahahaha kind of funny seeing she looks 9 months preggo. hold old is sophie now? she looks so old! maybe its the pregnant part haha (ps do the kids read  these emails? do you read them at fhe like you did with richards?) okay i need a reminder on who is in the bishopric. the pic is too small all i can make out it bishop schaefer on the right.

this week was one of achievements but also trials.

the branch had its christmas party of which 64 people were in attendance. the largest activity the deaf branch has had in ages! with much hard work and publication were were blessed to have over half of them non-members! it was a miracle! hopefully they were able to feel the spirit as they came into the church building and it gave the members also a chance to fellowship and be missionaries! i know many of them stepped up to this! it was quite a success!

we were also able to add a new investigator named Anna. Anna is Ukrainian  she is deaf but knows Ukrainian sign language, different than american sign language. we hope to teach her but know the language barrier will be difficult. serving the deaf community we really run into so many cultures (mexican/spanish, armenian, hmong, ukrainian, iranian, british are just a few of them so far!) its so fun!

yes that was Molly and her son in that pic i sent last week. yes this is now kathy #2. she is deaf and we are teaching her up in carmichael. more fun stories to come about her.... ;]

it was also birthday week for sister wilson and myself. thanks so very much for the many birthday wishes! we indulged quite a bit this week and had way to much unhealthy food. we had homemade pf changs, papa murpheys pizza, i made cupcakes!, cheesecake, etc. the members were very nice here and we were privileged to be in the homes of members on both of our birthdays for dinner. one sweet woman even gave us birthday gifts: homemade hot pads! they are so cute. Ramiro even made us a birthday dinner saturday with awesome authentic mexican food homemade. delicious and so nice to stay in contact with them. i just love Ramiro and Sandra both so much!

my roommates are all a little frustrated with me... because I received a ton of packages this last week!!! thanks to everyone! i feel so loved from home!

mom you spoiled me rotten! thanks so much for everything! wow what a birthday package! i dont think you missed a thing! the candles smell amazing! they are also on my desk and are great christmas decorations. i lit up the rose that night and had fun being a pryo and playing with the flame and wax :] the russian refresher tea i have all the time and the cup cake in the mug was such a cute idea. too bad sister wilson is allergic to citrus or i would have shared.... oh well more for me ;] the cds and cheeseboard came too!! not sure if i was supposed to open the last one but i got it confused for the amazon package. i will save it for christmas to eat tho. makes me feel right at home, thanks for bringing a little wisconsin to me :] im sure the cheese will be delicious! do i have to refrigerate them tho? ive never heard of non refrigerated cheese. the rest i will open on christmas.

kassie your package came! oh my goodness i love it!!!! best idea ever! seriously how did you know thats exactly what i was hoping for! my roommate in stockton had one and i thought it was just the best idea ever. but it distracts me all the time during studies haha. now when people email me pictures i can just upload them on it! perfect! thanks for the package again i will open the rest on christmas :] dont think ill be able to open them on video chat tho. let me know anyone if you want me to save it to open when we chat.

amanda that thing is disgusting! oh my goodness youre crazy. crazy awesome. i love it. have no idea what to do with it but i love it. am i really supposed to eat it!? ps ive already worn the belt! thanks so much!

alecia!!! cute elephants!! and i am currently wearing the necklace! just got it in the mail today :] its shineyyyyy haha. thanks. the silk scarf is cute too thanks. im trying to figure out the best outfit to wear with it! so soft too. also ps that black shirt you wrapped it all in made me really confused! sister wilson and i had some good laughs and had a little fashion show. hahaha passing it along for laughs. ALSO we all enjoyed the homemade cookies! they made it all whole just fine! no crumbs!

thanks again! everyone!!!!

this week we have a temple conference which means we also get to attend the temple!!!! woopee! excited to go again... i forget how grateful i should be to go the byu where there are so many temples so close.

mom thanks for your note about the funeral. i didnt know her right? what was her name? i just remember the McCormicks as the only relatives to the Reyes... right? Funny you just finished Luke this week, CAUSE SO DID I! haha it was perfect timing with the christmas season too. yes now on to John which is a good one. looks like ive caught up. repenting for all my seminary slack back in the day ;]

i am truly grateful for this opportunity to serve. my eyes have been opened far wider than i ever imagined. i am learning to rely on my savior.

sister oliphant

ps: terrill or stu?! does ms straughn still work at LHS?
pps: oops forgot to attach this long ago.

THIS IS OUR TITLE OF LIBERTY WE MADE! i havent sent this home yet have i?

we changed one word. any guesses? hahaha

 

 

baptism and birthday week

i would like to tell a story about my friend named Kathy:

When sister wilson and I met Kathy she proclaimed to us "I for sure dont want to join your church, ive been baptized 4 times already and im done. im just a little curious as to what all-ya'll believe." Kathy previously in her life given up christianity, what she was raised with, and decided to become a witch, and practice the religion wiccan because it brought her the most peace. In our first lesson she prayed to the great goddess diana and the great horned god. although it might been have been addressed to a name a little different than our heavenly father i think that might have been one of the most sincere prayers i have EVER listened to. The spirit came into the room with such power we were all so very moved with how much sincerity she expressed. The entire transfer sister wilson and i had the privileged of sharing the principle that God is our loving heavenly father from about 8 different angles. thats all our lesson plans ever consisted of. Kathy needed to understand and hear one principle. My last sunday in the Stockton Brookside ward has Kathy's first. One of the talks mentioned that the word of wisdom included tea and that as latter-day saints we sustained from drinking it. she turned to us and told us "I will never give up my tea." oh we laughed and laughed about this later. Sister wilson simply said "Kathy we havent asked you to." Kathy slowly started to feel the love of her heavenly father in her life, began to trust in Him more, and began to prepare for something she had no idea was happening to her. Kathy glowed. Kathy always had a glow but when i saw her again about a month later she shown more than i had ever seen her. That evening she announced she was ready to commit to baptism. the sisters had challenged her just the night before. Her baptism date approached and after many hardships that satan always threw her way, including the loss of a job, she managed to over each one of them. One of these also included a baptismal font that refused to fill up. minutes before the baptism we were using water pitchers, trashcans, and mop bucks to fill the font. Satan did not win and Kathy was baptized on saturday december 8th. Wiccan to Mormon in 4 months. Kathy has been such an example to me of why it is so important to understand who you are and that you have a heavenly father who loves you. when we understand and feel this love it becomes the greatest power.

sister wilson and i are staring together again for another transfer!! woopy. which means yep- we get to celebrate our birthdays and christmas together. sister wilsons birthday is the day after mine! thursday the 13th!

sister druyon took us out to eat at... THE ELEPHANT BAR!!! yes it was awesome. sister D is seriously amazing! we almost asked if we could get a discount cause my name means elephant haha. and of course they served us free dessert. yummm.

our current progressing investigators are two. molly and kathy. more stories to come. but its so obvious how willing these two are to learn and do all they can to keep commitments. they are such blessing to the deaf work and while we know their teaching process will be slow we are excited to be able to be here as it happens. this week we taught molly for the third time the simple principle that there is a spirit inside her and that she is literally a daughter of heavenly father. this week it finally clicked and the light that shone in her eyes when she understood was remarkable. the gospel is so simple and brings so much joy. we are excited for her to learn so much more and foster that beautiful light she has.

molly is hmong and made is cake for our bdays too! so sweet of her! ps do i know anyone hmong is sac from the second ward?

we have another girl we have been trying to teach. she is an animal hoarder. she calls them her sons and daughters. a few times we dont have the guts to knock on the door when we arrive because the stench is so bad. one day this week we toughened up and knocked. turns out as well as being deaf she cant smell either. (deaf nose she called it haha) it explains alot.

things are beginning to look like christmas :] we have a mini christmas tree and fun decorations up around the apt. we even have a fireplace! we are trying to find firewood to make a fire on christmas morning! we already got approval ;] we are still preparing the the branch cmas party on friday. i swear we invited everyone and their dogs. literally. we have many who have promised to come so hopefully lots of missionary work will be done! yes ramiro is coming! and bringing a friend :]

the hudnors our missionary senior couple in the deaf branch are doing amazing! we again are so blessed to have them! sister hudnor is now signing prayers and elder hudnor is on to sentences in sign! we know learning a language especially later in life is not easy work but we are grateful for their positive attitude and willingness to serve where the lord has asked them to be. elder hudnor was nice to have sacrificed his football game to drive us to stockton for kathys baptism as well this week. they serve us so much and i dont know how we ever survived without them previously.

its stopped raining. for now. 

ill keep you posted about christmas. i think google+ would be best. were flexible as to time, we have yet to ask a member still.

YES wasnt that lesson in RS amazing! oh my goodness best lesson in the deaf branch so far. felt the spirit. i have much to be retentive of still.

sister worrison, my bestest friend from the mtc is serving in NJ! so i have heard about whats going on there. crazy huh?! (sister mo do you know bishop matthew woll?)

as to the packages. i got alecias cookies!!! thanks alecia! and the big bday/chistmas one. thanks so much! im excited to open :] also the achievement days sent me a cute package of christmas cards. so nice of them! thanks too lydia!!!

merry christmas to all. we'll chat soon :]

love sister oliphant

ps thanks for all the happy birthdays

With Kathy on her baptism day December 8, 2012

Sisters with Kathy on her baptism day

With Molly and son

Birthday twinners- sisters Oliphant and Wilson

At the Elephant Bar

[Brief preface ... as the "editor-in-chief" of this blog, I have been - up til now - editing Sister Oliphant's letters home to include capital letters where they should be, apostrophes where they should be and so forth.  But knowing I need to do the editing slows me down from posting right away.  Therefore, I am "ceasing and desisting" with the editing, although I am still trying to catch typos.  The blogs more correctly reflect Crissa and how she writes.  :)  ]

good morning :]

here are thoughts from the week:

so last pday we went to the mall cause we had to return something and on our way out santa clause in his little elf village land calls out to us "hey sisters." we were kind of taken back not sure if he was trying to sell us something or just being friendly. so after a little contemplation we decided say hello to santa. oh my funny. so we asked if he was lds. his response: "well of course silly, didn't you know santa is a member!" oh my goodness it was hilarious. but i should have guessed im sure hes had his temple work done for him by now ;]

i think my new approach to people when i ask them if they are members or not will simply be, "so have you been baptized?" haha santa included.

so as an asl missionary we get to drive practically wherever and talk to practically whom ever the lord places in our path. sometimes we call ourselves the phantom missionaries cause we pop up almost everywhere for small moments. this week upon our 6 hour extravaganza all over sacramento area we only ended up meeting one deaf person but had 3 lessons with other hearing people. so many times deaf move so we find hearing people behind deaf doors. its a great opportunity to still testify of the restored gospel. we try to make sure we are where the lord wants us to be cause we know he can use us for almost anything.

we had the chance to say hello to ramiro and sandra this week. stopped in for a hello. they are having us back for dinner for our birthdays. (did i tell you sister wilsons birthday is the 13th!? hahaha we are twinners and if we dont get transferred next week we will have a fun birthday week together.) sandra  makes jewelry so i picked up a little something im mailing home to kelsea for christmas (kelsea i hope your reading this... its coming your way soon :] )

my hair finally fit into a pony tail this week! woo-hoo for hair that grows! did you see my pics of how short it is? im dying for it to grow back out again.

this week we had zone conference. they split up the mission in thirds and have three big conferences. the first was for the south half of the mission but they asked us to attend to interpret for sister sellers. that was neat to see a few of the stockton missionaries again. interpreting is hard. especially when it is for a 70, who is standing 3 feetin away from you. blah. we also got to attend our own zone conference because we all know how much you get out of the meeting when you interpret... aka close to nothing. (you turn into more of a machine and dont comprehend much). our conference was in the afternoon the following day so we got to say hello to the missionaries leaving from the morning conference and all the missionaries at our conference. anyways between it all we saw every missionary in the mission in 2 days. thats pretty hard to do but it was nice again to see some friends and familiar faces.

our 70 was elder Porter and his wife! they had some amazing insights. and all we discussed was the doctrine of christ, or the first principles of the gospel. its amazing how simple the gospel truly is yet how much you can get out of it. love it :]

you are right, we should be very grateful for our car. she is a beaut. did i tell you we named her chery cause i miss read chevy and thought she came with a name. bahahaha we spend a lot of time with chery and cause im the driver it can be kind of hard. all those miles everyday can easily equate to 6 hours of practically non stop driving. with 5 minute breaks when we get to stop and have a little lesson at the door. im growing to really appreciate dad and his 24 hour long drives through the night. your shoulders and head can tend to hurt.

but im truely excited to make the hour trip to stockton and back this weekend! we are all so excited for kathy! shes still set to get wet on saturday :] its been amazing to see her transform and it was such a privilege to be there at the beginning and now at the end. to see how the gospel can transform someone is amazing! ive never seen someone change so much so fast. she is such a wonderful example to me.

its been raining like crazy!!!!! and we have been having flooding all over the area. (im in dying need of rainboots!) luckily it dried up a bit yesterday and today but i heard we are going to get more this next week. this past week the lights have been flickering in many different neighborhoods because of all the rain. our roommates and a few other elders had their church meeting canceled because the electricity was out so they put on jeans after a short sacrament meeting in the dark and went out doing flood damage control. lots of trees have branches down cause of the wind too. luckily our apt has been safe and only one of our branch members have had flooding problems. (most live in apt complexes and on second floors). sunday when the lights went out i was in the shower. haha so fun. except not. pitch black. the thought crossed my mind i had gone blind. instantly. haha

we are currently preparing for what we call a "white christmas" in reference to those we love being dressed in white as we humbly have the opprotunity to give our savior something special this year for christmas.

the deaf branch is preparing the a christmas party on dec 14th. its our BIG event for the year. so we are passing out many fliers and inviting all. hopefully we plan for enough food ;]

it should be fun and the missionaries of course have something planned up our sleeves for the event as well.

yes we do get to skype or google+ video chat! but actually i think most missionaries get to do that now, its not just limited to asl. maybe you can set up a big projector on the living room wall so i can see everyone :] 

terrill you look like a stud. keep it up good lookin' ;]

and dad arent HUNGER GAMES AMAZING! so glad you read them. sorry you didnt enjoy the movie as much as i did. maybe it was the midnight premier madness but i LOVED that movie. for a book to movie conversion i thought it was quite well done.

hope all are well at home :]

merry merry christmas season. hope you still put up my ornaments on the tree ;]

LOVE!

sister oliphant

ps: elvera thats bomb you got to hear from holland! and so close! im trying not to be envious you got to hear him speak. funny quick story. our deaf investigator came to general conference and watched the asl for hollands talk. afterwards we turned to us and with wide eyes simply signed "power" hahaha it was amazing. he is such a wonderful man. i wouldnt be surprised if he was our prophet during the second coming ;]

happy turkey day

and another week come and goes so quickly...

Well I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of lots of turkey, pie, and stuffed bellies.

Yes I had a very enjoyable Thanksgiving thank you. We were successful and had a Thanksgiving entirely in our sweatpants :] Which means we did skip out on the many dinners members offered us. A sweet older missionary, Sister Druyon, brought us by some some turkey and potatoes and things to help us celebrate. She is such a sweetheart, we were just planning on ordering pizza haha. WE DID MAKE PIE THO! haha The p-day before we went grocery shopping and decided to veto all food and just bought fixing for pie. hahaha So we made a cheesecake and a yogurt frozen pie. Which were extremely hard to make with our regular kitchen tools. haha We ended up using the blender to whip cream lol. Great stuff. One of the best p-days I've had yet :]

All the ASL Sisters and an Elder

Clarissa's study desk

Sister Wilson is now the coordinating sister so she goes on exchanges, so I have had quite the number of temporary companions this transfer. Also between all the illness and health problems currently happening in our apt we're on swaps alot.  Its not easy doing deaf work solo. Actually its frightening. But it means I've also got to do a bit of English work lately with our roommates Sister Jolley and Sister Soloman. Sometimes it helps with my self esteem to be doing more normal missionary like things, doing hearing work. Again ASL missions are strange. Sometimes I don't feel like a missionary much. Not a good feeling.

With the announcement of the program about teaching youth at this general conference, the stake organized a workshop held in our chapel for all those who are teachers of youth including parents. We have one child who attends our deaf branch so after much encouragement for his parents to go, his mother showed up which means we were privileged to interpret. I was on exchanges with Sister Jolley, an English sister. So i got to sit up front and interpret for two hours straight. With quite a few videos. Oh my goodness, my hands have never hurt that much after signing. There is a reason they tell you to only interpret for 20 min chunks and to have someone to switch off with. I survived don't worry ;] And now I have so much more compassion for Sister Wilson who usually takes on more of the interpreting anyways. (Shes a bomb signer! Deaf studies graduate from UVU). But what was neat was the chance to over hear all they said about how the youth program was changing. So neat that when the Lord asks us to do something (go on missions younger) he provides a way for us to accomplish it (new youth program). It also was clear how important missionary work is for the entire church and how everyone can do their part to help build His kingdom here on the earth. The parents raise their children to be missionaries, the youth prepare for missions and share the gospel with friends, the young adults GO on missions, and when you get home from the mission the work is not over. We get to help bring people to Christ no matter what our age or calling in the church. It is all our goal and we can all do our part. It was neat to see the teachers catch that vision during the workshop. They are also fueling and keep progressing!

So apparently the deaf have ASL institute that they broadcast every couple of months. We got to watch it from the video phone at the branch presidents home. That was neat. Institute about cool symbolism in names in ASL. Coolest part about it too was that i actually understood it haha. The lord is blessing me :]

    

 

WE GOT A NEW CAR! Spankin new just off the lot. Yep that pictures says how many miles it has on it. bahahahaha And did i tell you I'm driver. oh. my. goodness. amazing. I want a car when I get home hahaha. Its a 2013 Chevy Cruise. We call her Chery because I can't read and thought she came with a name hahha. But we needed a new car bad. Well missionary standards bad. We had the car with the most mileage before. Typical for ASL I guess. Just this past week we went 120 miles in just one day. That might be a new record for us I think. Did I also mention we cover more than one mission. I probably should include these details huh? We cover a good portion of the Roseville mission just north of us. For a total of 12 stakes that we cover. we cross mission boundaries almost everyday :] Its sweet and feels so much less confined. 

KATHY GETS BAPTIZED DEC 8th! And we get to head down to Stockton for the big day! It will be so exciting to finally see and feel a part of a baptism :]

Did my Christmas gifts for Amanda and Zak ever make it home? I can't even remember what they are exactly but they were given to Amanda to bring back to Wisconsin.

Keep me posted on Emily! Sounds like the wedding party was fun. I'll forgive Natalia and Aaron when I get a letter ;] The fact that they mentioned me gives them a little bit of a break ;] haha   Love them both.

Richard and Terrill... oh my shave. That's gross.

Mom the ornaments are adorable and so creative. Love the domino idea. I'll read the Good Samaritan thing soon.

LOVE FROM SAC!

Sister Oliphant

PS I'm collecting pictures of ice creams trucks. They are sketchy down here! 

PPS  Sister Wilson can cross only ONE eye! I have been practicing.  See the photo.

happy thanksgiving

hi :]

I just wasted all my time writing everyone else. oops.

Quick update but I'll email again Monday.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

This week was good. Except umm there was a lot of illness. I'm falling apart lol. Hopefully we'll figure out what's wrong. It might be a dietary allergy. So I'm trying a bunch of stuff and currently trying meds. Don't worry tho' I'm alive and working just fine :]

For Thanksgiving we are staying in ALL DAY! Other than for email of course. It feels great to have nothing to do.

Umm can I get a USB for Christmas? Mine is a 2G and its almost full of all my pics for backup. Do they sell 5G or larger? Sorry side note.

Oh my goodness my entire perspective on faith was shattered this last week. Its so cool when you study the basics. I'm starting to realize how important and amazing they really are.

Mom tell me more about your craft fair. Where was that? Sounds like fun. I didn't know you were doing that kind of thing. What organization is it through and how did you stumble across it?

We can burn candles in our apt :]

Cross county is done?! Whew that went fast! Stu what are you ideas about college?

Mom sorry about the bread store.... isn't hostess being bought out by someone else tho? I thought I heard rumors from members. haha Start food storaging Twinkies. And hey they will last for forever bahahaha. 

Yes I got the black cardigan. It was really too big... so i gave it my companion... I think. Sorry. It was really cute tho!  I just didn't know how to make it work. 

Way to go on the turkey trot!!! I actually suggested it as a fun activity for our zone but they all vetoed it. I'll do one next year. Maybe by then I will have slowly saved enough money to buy new running shoes.

Okay please explain the Good Samaritan and the plan of salvation correlation. Sounds fascinating.

Sorry today was seriously random thoughts without any good stories. I promise I will tell them all Monday :]

 

Love you fam!!!!

Sister Elephant

Boo. Oh wait, Halloween is over

Family,

You made donuts without me?!?!?!?! Offended. hahaha Okay I have never craved donuts more in my life than I have on my mission. I think weekly we try to find a way to have donuts somehow and then I hear you keep up the Halloween tradition and I got envious. And then I repented. But then went out and bought donuts  myself. Sounds like a party though! 

This week was really full of meetings. A missionary has many more meetings than I thought. But they help us stay organized and keep us productive. This week we lost our branch mission leader (he was also serving as Elders Quorum president), did I also tell you we have no Relief Society president nor counselors to our Branch President. hahaha Yep the branch is crazy. Hopefully this new senior couple we have now in the deaf branch will be called soon to help with a few of these voids. The deaf branch keeps getting smaller and smaller. Other than the missionaries, at church I would say we have less than a dozen active members. With a few more less actives we see once in while. Oh the joys of an asl mission. Speaking of Richard would you mind writing me a long fat letter about your experiences with deaf work in Anaheim?  I'm really curious how they compare. I know you are probably one of the few who come close to understanding what deaf work is really like. I think I need someone to chat about it with. Someone outside the mission hahaha.

We have started asking the two wards we meet in the same building with to start feeding us. They are so great! Carmichael 1st ward and the Del Campo ward are so sweet and take such good care of us. The asl sisters used to serve in the Carmichael 1st ward and the deaf branch, doing hearing and deaf work (like Stockton) but they decided to pull Carmichael from us right before I came to the mission to help focus on the deaf branch's needs. The other asl sisters know the ward well because of it, but its been nice getting to know them now too with the dinners.

This Sunday was the primary program in the Carmichael 1st ward, and because one deaf family has a hearing son he goes to their ward for primary. So we got to interpret for his parents for Sacrament meeting yesterday. I am a horrible interpreter. Not sure if that's my dream to be anymore.

Sister Wilson is now the coordinating sister, which means I get to "third-wheel" the English sisters sometimes. Its so fun!!! I went tracting for the first time! hahaha Strange I know. But asl you simply don't park on a street and knock every door on the street. That was fun :]   Its one of the favorites I think.

We added a new investigator this week! Her name is Molly. And shes Hmong! Okay did you know Sacramento has the largest Hmong population in the US?!?  Yeah I miss the 2nd ward.  I'm so grateful to be able to understand their culture a little better because our ward had the Hmong group. I heard Pachia Vang (not Chia's sister) is out here somewhere. I'm curious if shes in one of the Hmong/Asian wards here.

Haircut is happening today! But by another lady. I'm hacking it off! Trying to grow out the old color. ummm the Armenia woman we are trying to catch home again. But she had a pet bird that I fell in love with! and he liked to kiss me. Like a lot. hahahahaha  It was cute.

My next pday is Thanksgiving.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And you asked for a few Christmas ideas so this is what I need:

~ to look less frumpy. I know you know I love clothes and fashion and stuff but its all getting so old so fast and I'm looking more and more frumpy everyday haha. A skirt, scarf, and actually boots I need desperately. Nice rain proof ones 'cause it gets wet and cold in the winter. Not looking for rubber ones, but leather like with big soles. I have a pic of one I bought on my pinterest account as an example. Those are knee highs though and they are packed away in James attic.  [Kassie you get shoe detail.  I'm not going there. -Q]

~ more entertainment in the car. general conference on cd. music. maybe the Book of Mormon on cd. anything on cd... thats missionary appropriate.

~ Russian refresher tea mix. I miss it. Especially on cold wet nights. Alot.

~ skin care. (cough richie/bobbie) probably cause of stress but a do-it-yourself missionary skincare kit would maybe make me the happiest sister missionary ever. 

~ a gift card to target :]

some pics attached

 

This is Kathy!  She's getting baptized so soon!!!

My "I Love You" Sign pumpkin

English Sisters, Sister Wilson, Elders with finished pumpkins (and Crissa's back center)

 

The Trio:   Sisters Oliphant, Wilson, & Larsen

They called this dressing up for Halloween.  (They were Elders)

Love you family oh so much! Mom thank you for your support. I feel the same every time we sing that song [Armies of Helaman]. It feels so wonderful to be apart of something so big and especially with all the new missionary changes going on right now! Just remember to be member missionaries at home! You can make a difference too! We are literally nothing without the members! Help give us a reason to be doing what we are doing! We need help and support and we rely on the ward and branches so much!!

Share the gospel!!! I have over a dozen people I need to get in contact with from Wisc as soon as I get home. They need to know.... their time is running out.

The gospel is true and the Savior lives!!!

Love,

Sister Oliphant

ps Everyone read "Jesus the Christ" :]

 

with love

Well its that time of the week again.

Halloooooooooo (that was meant to sound like Tigger).

The Lord has taught me ALOT this week.... and I am going to have to leave it at that. Sundays are always our most eventful days. We are so very ready for pday.

I got a blessing yesterday and it was amazing. My Heavenly Father truly does love me and know me personally. Don't worry everything is okay... NOW. Again the Lord is just teaching me lots on this wonderful mission :]

Our deaf and almost blind investigator came to church tho! It was a miracle! He's as blind as you mom and currently doesn't have glasses. It makes for an interesting conversation in sign. Too bad he doesn't do tactile sign.

And happy late Halloween by the way.

 

We dressed up!!!!!!  Picture included.  [Didn't get a photo, maybe next week.] So Halloween night came around and we had to be in off the streets at 6. Kind of glad I wasn't in Stockton for Halloween. And then our zone got together and got to watch a movie about President Monson... anyways we dressed up... but were still missionaries! bahaha It was awesome :] There is currently lots of candy laying around our apartment now. everyone has given much of their leftovers.

So with the new announcement about age our mission has been informed that we will probably grow from 190 missionaries to 250 in the next six months!! And most of those are sisters!! Apparently they are kind of worried about how we are going to train all of them, but it makes me nervous cause I know I will be put to work soon and I'm still new at this thing.

Amen to daylight saving time!! I woke up on Sunday turned off the alarm, switched the light on, mumbled to the comp, and instead of dropping to my knees I decided I needed to go to the bathroom first. So I finish and come out and my comp is still in bed! I'm like umm its 6:33 get up.  When she tells me to turn off the lights and get back in bed we have another hour! Oh my goodness!! I was so filled with joy!! We got to sleep in an extra hour! And still wake up at 6:29! Daylight Saving is one of God's greatest tender mercies to missionaries.

Umm I received way too many hugs from men this week. They seem to just lunge and you can't really shout to tell them when their deaf to say no thanks. Oh my goodness, so awkward lol. I got some loving this week too... from a bird! He is an adorable pet of a lady we met FROM ARMENIA! She's legit and going to cut my hair for me. She knows Armenian/Russian/Ukranian sign too. Its all the same language. Anyways he loved me and kissed me a ton... most loving I've had in awhile.

We are also hoping to start working with a deaf FAMILY we met recently. The mother is a member and they have 5 kids, 4 deaf! They are all so adorable and we hope to help them draw closer to their Savior. More to come with them hopefully!

There was no youth conference over Halloween break? I loved the costumes :] bahahaha Thanks for the "boo bong Schaefer" story. bahahaha Made my day :] Did i ever tell you Danillo got tackled last time we did the Strates?!. bahahaha

As to the stake presidency ... do I have a picture up or anything at the stake center? I know a lot of missionaries have a plaque with their mission scripture or something and I was just always curious if that was the case with our stake as well.

Sorry I'm out of time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you all so much!

Sister Oliphant

Dad: write me! I need more daddy loving :]

 

November begins ...

Hello Dad, Mom, and kiddos ... and whoever else might have interest in my life

I don't have the chance to read emails before I write them today so sorry... this wont be in response to anything in your letters. Although I did see the Halloween costumes. Looks like fun!

Today is Sister Larson's last day with us. It will be sad to send off a companion already. We have had some fun and wonderful moments together these last 6 weeks, but it will be nice to be back into a regular companionship. Seriously trios are a testimony to me why we don't practice polygamy haha. It just doesn't work when we are not perfect people.  It also feels like Christmas... or like when Kassie left for college. We all dig through all her stuff and take what we want. And of course since I am one of the newer missionaries I had a lack of all the important stuff.

Well this week the senior couple arrived! And it was a miracle they came exactly when we needed them most. Two or even three missionaries in the deaf branch were still not enough. Prayers were answered when the Hudnors came to us! They have such fire and are ready to work. So wonderful to us too :] ... They don't know a lick of sign tho'... so we are their interpreters. Mom you should keep up the sign and Dad learn it so you can come do this in 10 years. Then again I don't know if I would wish that calling upon anyone haha.

Let me describe how Sunday went... This might give you a better clue as to what an asl mission is like and when the Hudnors realized what they were getting themselves into. Our meeting schedule is backwards by the way.

Right before we head into Relief Society the teacher says she can't teach and asks us to. We tell her we are instructed not to so she asks Sister Hudnor on her first week and not knowing sign to fill in and hands her the Ensign. Welcome to the branch Sister Hudnor. I sat in on priesthood to interpret for Elder Hudnor so he wasn't completely clueless. First time I have ever attended priesthood. Wish I could have attended Sister Hudnors lesson tho'. Sunday School teachers didn't show up so we ended up teaching Sunday School about the holy spirit. We had two hearing non-members there so we translated as well. Lastly as we walked into Sacrament meeting the bulletin said "Speakers: Missionaries."  Oh my goodness.  We all just about died. Surprise! I'm not sure if it was lucky or not that the sacrament look 30 minutes to pass to the 15 members there haha but it made our talks that much more like testimonies. Oh and we translated for Sacrament meeting too.

Oh deaf work is so different. I am so glad I have Sister Wilson again because she just laughs with me when something goes amiss. I think i come home every Sunday with a side ache and ab work out cause I have laughed all Sunday through.

It has its perks though too. We are the only two missionaries who leave the mission almost everyday. We cover the southern half of the Roseville mission as well. We had dinner this week with two sisters from the Roseville mission actually. We also put over 115 miles on our car that day. I have gone to more Starbucks on my mission than in my whole life combined. Haha. Ironic I know. But deaf socials are always there and that is how we tract. We go to 2-3 of them a week. Sometimes its at a pizza place or that 5k etc.

Ramiro and Sandra dropped us this week. It was one of the saddest things I have ever felt. The highs are high and the lows are low and its crazy how they happen with the same people just weeks apart.

Mom I started the New Testament this week as well! Terrill I think I beat you in the Book of Mormon race. Finished and already back to First Nephi to finish a challenge my mission president gave me. I have learned to love the scriptures so much on my mission. I finally understand what it means to feast. Although there isn't much time to feast the desire is there and it makes we want to absorb everything. I love learning and knowledge has been poured out to me these last few months.

Thank so much for the support and love!

Take care!

Love,

Sister Elephant

Hello Familia!

Its raining here today!? What about you? I love it! Its so cleansing. and its like legitimately raining. (Utah has few of those) and I feel right at home. Now if only it would lightening and thunder too. Last night as the clouds began to roll in and the winds picked up as we stood outside and chatted with Demetrius for a good hour. We froze. Came home put on our big sweaters, made hot apple cider, and curled up. It was so cozy and I have a feeling there will be many nights like that in the near future. The sunlight is a little shorter and the wind a little crisper. It feels like fall :] We even carved pumpkins today as a district. Mine has a little asl "I Love You" hand (ily) but it didn't turn out as well as I would have liked.

This week we had a nice little surprise. Monday night President Lewis gave us a call announcing an early transfer. My companion, Sister Larson, doesn't go home until the end of the month, but with Sister Acker coming in (not on a transfer) she threw off everything. So we met Sister Acker Tuesday evening and became a trio! But with Sister Wilson! My momma! Sisters Acker and Sellers (deaf sister) are in Stockton now and Sisters Wilson and Larson are both in Carmichael with me! We will be a trio for a total of two weeks and then send Sister Larson home. That means I get  two mommas at the same time and get to be with Sister Wilson again! She is just the best and its so rare to be with your trainer again. We have three beds crammed in a little room.  Its like a sleep over every night.

This week I had my first encounter with JWs. I bawled afterwards. Like a baby. I'll admit it. And I wasn't even with my companions. I was on exchanges and was with a member.  We were trying to teach a lesson to an investigator. Trying.

This week we met a 4 year old deaf boy. He is just the cutest! His family are members of the Spanish branch and they are afraid he's not learning anything at church. So for our service hours we are going to go over and do some primary lessons. Should be fun :]

Saturday we organized a branch missionary activity. we had a picnic at the chapel right next to the Sacramento Temple and then went on a temple tour afterwards. It was so great! We ended up not having any investigators there but we did get quite a few less actives, members of the branch who have yet to enter the temple, and Kelly our recent convert (baptized when I was in the mtc). Missionaries have the opportunity to bring investigators to the temple tour when it is out of their area so when hearing about the deaf event the Stockton sisters decided they wanted to come as well! They brought Lani (deaf woman), Jamie (The one who keeps texting you pics), and Kathy!!! It was so good to see her! And she announced to us that evening she wants to be baptized! December 1st is her big day! We are so excited for her!!

I have to write a shorter letter this week. Sorry. but I love you all so much and pray for you all so much! Take care and hope you are enjoying this beautiful time of year :]

Love,

Sister Oliphant

Rollercoaster

Hello hello.

Okay, well that's nerve wracking to know that any word I type could potentially be shared across the pulpit at the 2nd ward. but I'm just going to try and write my letters like I would normally. Pressure is on. Thanks for the warning haha.

Sounds like the family and second ward are very involved with missionary work right now. Thanks for all your support. It really makes all the difference when missionaries feel like they have support. Without it we are entirely useless. So excited for Issaka :] Way to go on eating meat! Big steps! Woo-hoo!

Hopefully I will get an invite from Natalia and Aaron this week too. Please PLEASE take lots of pictures. It really hurts knowing I can't be there for her wedding. Or Aarons wedding. And the fact that they are marrying each other just adds a hundred more "hurts" and "PLEASES" to those statements.

Umm, please do not throw the typewriter away.  I want to have a stab at it too :] Even if it is for just a letter or two. Knowing our family we will find many uses for fun stuff like that. Sounds like terrill is keeping the family laughing! Thanks for the laugh Terrill, I too enjoyed your funny one liners even if i have to imagine your voice myself. Keep up the good work running you two boys! (and Mom for that matter!) Boys will you keep running over the winter to stay in shape? How does that work? and Terrill are you doing TRACK?!

Well autumn is rolling in and the weather is not as bright and sadly my emotions of this past week have reflected it. You know at the beginning of the rollercoaster you start climbing and you are all excited and pumped for the ride cause you know its going to be awesome! You have this huge smile on your face cause you know the ride is always crazy yet worth it. And with every click of the rollercoaster, as it gets farther and farther from the comforting ground, your excitement and fire doubles. Well its sad to see it go, but time ticks and its sad to see that part of the mission was past. This week the ups and downs and all-arounds with wind blowing in your hair at 100 miles an hour kicked in. WELCOME TO THE MISSION :]

 

Now luckily I've ridden many rollercoasters in my life and still have a strong passion for them. Your mind goes crazy, but as you try walking toward the exit sign in a straight line you realize that while that was the craziest thing ever, you also want to hop back in line and do it all over again. So while you get jerked all around, don't know which way is up, and there are moments you think you're not quite strapped in tight enough, you still find it all so thrilling and glad you bought a ticket. Well my friends and family the bumps and jumps and loopty-loops are crazy and now I know exactly what everyone talks about when they try to describe missions. But while your hearts wants to leap out of your chest for most of the ride, you love the experience and it makes it all worth it.

So that's about how I describe my week, I don't know how to go into much detail. I think its more the emotions that fly in every direction rather than the actual events.

Let me tell you the story of Sandra though. Sandra is Ramiro's mother. Now she is not really his mother. But shes more or less adopted him into her family. When we first went to visit Ramiro, he was not home but had a wonderful chat with his mom. When we mentioned we were missionaries she got real wide eyes and a lot more quiet. Upon returning we bonded so close with her, but she asked us not to talk religion in her home. We made plans to teach Ramiro elsewhere. But on our third visit, as we got out of the car, she approaches us and tells us to stay she WANTS TO JOIN TOO!! It was a miracle and one of the most amazing lessons and night of my life. I don't know if I have ever been more happy in my life. She is a gem and I have grown to love her so much. The thing is tho'... she's hearing so we need to pass her off to English Elders. Its too impossible to teach ASL and English at the same time when they have completely different needs. I love the both of them so much tho!

We taught so many lessons this week and have a hand full of investigators which NEVER happens in the deaf branch. Our asl work is booming and the Lord is blessing us with so much success. We had the highest number of goals reached and surpassed for the district this week! And we have 4 progressing investigators! That is unheard of in deaf work. When I came at the beginning of the transfer we had zero. The lord is blessing us so much!

One of the hardest things about missionary work is seeing others (especially those you love so dearly) know the truth yet chose to ignore it. I don't quite understand why yet. I'm not sure if its just lack of knowledge or understanding about how it all fits together and why its so important.  I just don't know why someone can intentionally choose bad over good. Maybe its patience. I don't know. But its so frustrating! Especially when there is nothing you can do to help. You pour your soul out and while they listen and understand they don't seem to regard it as something special or that it applies to them.

ASL work has its own dynamics like any other different culture. Its very unique and so very hard to explain. Maybe I will have at it one of these times... It will help you understand how serving ASL is unlike any other mission. Especially when so very few people understand.

Anyways...

my time is up.

I continue to love this gospel so very much! i am so grateful that the lord has blessed me with so much knowledge and truth. The atonement of Jesus Christ is so very real and is the most real power that exists and we all have access to! Riding the Rollercoaster is such a thrill and Iam so grateful for the opportunity to have a place and empty seat on the ride.

Much love from your daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, niece, granddaughter, and dear friend.

I am so lucky to have you all.

Sister Oliphant

General Conference Rocks!!!!!

GENERAL CONFERENCE IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my goodness, best conference ever. ever. ever. ever. EVER.

Sister Wilson told me they are going to set up a baptism date with Kathy soon!!!!

So missionaries age standard?! right?!?!?! The chapel was filled with 8 missionaries and 5 members. Jaws dropped and then it took a lot for me to not start cheering. I'm stoked. There WILL be more missionaries out. Especially sisters. Numbers are going to explode for sisters. That sisters can go on missions and then come back and get married before their 21st birthday. Yeah it doesn't surprise me that Issaka and Emily are putting in their papers!!!! Woo-hoo!!! Love those two. They were one of the many my mind immediately jumped to. I'm excited to hear about the many more :]

This week has been a week of awareness. We are so in the last days. Like LAST last LAST of days. And its the missionaries responsibility to help sort the wheat from the tares before the great burning. I am here to harvest the wheat! The world is ready for a change and its obvious that with this new missionary announcement we need to work hard to prepare the world for what is coming. It is coming soon. We have a few things yet to accomplish, but we seem to be beginning it all. Steps are being taken and the work is accelerating.... I'm so excited, i just cant hide it ;]

My first week in Carmichael we had an ASL celebration in downtown Sacramento. We had a whole list of people sign up for free dvds. Well turned out most were hearing we had to pass them off to the elders. Its nice to be able to be a part of the finding though. Anyways after a chat with Ramirio and friend across the walkway I was able to invite them over to talk to me. We chatted and discussed the Book of Mormon. Well this week we were finally able to contact him, and since we have taught him twice! He came to General Conference and says he wants to be baptized! Because this is Sister Larson's (my companion) last transfer we are going to do everything in our control to see that he is baptized before the end of the transfer (Oct 31st).   We will see what happens. He is very language-less (bluebox is what we call it) meaning he's more gestures than asl.  We will see how this goes! We are relying on faith so much that this can happen!!!!!! (picture of us at the celebration above)

Contacted the Chords this week.... They moved to Orem, Utah. Shucks. This was the referral I received the day I got my mission call at Tucanos (in Orem, Utah)!!!  Funny how small the world is.

Being in Carmichael we are in the stake where the headquarters of the mission is. We stop by the mission office almost weekly, if not more, and its been great to make relationships with all the older missionaries who serve there. The APs and office elders are also in my zone because of this. Its a nice treat :]

This week we had a zone meeting and they picked on me to recite all of D&C 4 in front of 18 missionaries. It felt like primary days when they asked me to recite the 10th Article of Faith in sacrament meeting. Somehow it all came out tho. Hopefully in the right order.

Well I just wanted to let you know how AWESOME my companion is. I love her. I am not quite sure why the Lord has blessed me so much to send my three amazing companions in my mission so far. Sister Furnell, Wilson (Wink), and Larson (Laugh), are all super amazing!!! .. Which makes me a little nervous for what is to come haha. Anyways sister Larson and I work well together, we have had high goals together and we are hitting most of them! Over all mission work is fantastic. Such a positive experience :] I think the only thing I miss are people (and sleeping in past 6:30). My companion goes home at the end of this transfer, and there is a new asl sister (Sister Acker) coming 2 weeks ahead of transfer! I have a feeling we will be serving around each other lots this next year together.

Anyways, I'm jealous of the autumn you are having, it is just beginning to cool off around here. I like to have a cardigan on me when it gets dark. Which does earlier and earlier. I don't know what we will do when it gets dark so early and people don't like us knocking on their door when its dark.

Aww I still forgot pics of our title of liberty we made last week.  Its super fly ;]

Love you all so much!!!!! You help me be so much better :]

Love,

Sister Elephant

OH I LOVE YOUR LETTERS!!!!!

They seriously make my week! I just laugh then cry through them every time. 

Terrill you are seriously the greatest stud for writing me so much! PS all you other kids shape up, or I might only write you as many times you wrote me on your mission ;]

STU BALL! Congrats!! Holy guacamole! I kind of wish girls had that kind of thing {referring to his Eagle Court of Honor}. Guys are lucky. Getting dirty and going camping is actually quite the fun I've realized. Young women's isn't just quite the same. Anyways love ya! Hope that was a great b'day present too!!! Seriously so proud of you!

And to the two running boys:  Your pics rock. Terrill it's obvious by your face expression you're giving it all you got. Keep it up you two! I know you can achieve you goal!!!

So glad you are enjoying the autumn there... Its not quite as colorful here. Nor do I think it will ever be. Mom you rock at running/ walking. Keep up the good effort. We are having another family race the month I get home, and everybody is running this time! :] It is what I wish for my coming home present from all ya'll in Wisc. So start practicing now. 14 month notice should be plenty of time ;] Dad that includes you hahaha.

Mom you need to learn asl!! Haha just think how useful that would be when you end up going deaf.  Don't worry I'm planning on inheriting the genetics soon too. Sorry about your ear tho. Don't forget to take care of yourself too okay. I know you work your toosh off for everybody else, but its also important to reward ourselves too. When was the last time you sat down and had an hour to yourself?  Like really yourself.  Do it k. Mom's are too important to have them not treating themselves right. And make Terrill and Alecia start teaching you basics. I'm sure they have them down still.

Elvera spoke!? woo hoo!! When does she leave again? When she is a missionary she can email me :] its nice... missionary to missionary can email too.  It saves on stamps. Not that we ever do it anyways 'cause we only have that hour. Oh well.

Okay well this week was MIRACLE WEEK!!!!

We had at least one everyday!!!

The lord answers prayers! haha I was beginning to miss the outdoors so much he gave us an opportunity to go hiking... in our skirts. What we thought was a driveway out in the middle of nowhere turned out to be only a jeep trail.  Instead of a house we found vultures and a deer carcase at the end of the trail. hahaha It was quite the fun experience. We did find the house later and with perfect timing too! Right as Connie came home. Shes an asl teacher who lives literally in the middle of the boonies. We are going to teach her though!!!

Tuesday miracle was finding and teaching Bibca. bahahahhahahahaha That's another story. I think she wins over Holly as the craziest person I met on the mission though. Her name that she introduces herself as is "Biblical Creator Virginia Ann". Pretty much she thinks she's the savior of the world, will never die, and can heal people. We thought her name was Bibca so that's what we refer to her as. All good.  She'll get it figured out in the next life. Until then we prayed she will have peace in this life.

Second miracle.... i got a letter in the mail :] very much anticipated.

Wednesday we met Adam at gospel dictionary night. We teach gospel related signs. Also we had 3 members present lessons and 2 rclas. It was a good day for numbers!

Thursday we found a new deafie.. who is a member!!!!! Funny how people go into hiding. Also had dinner with Adam.

Friday we found Sonny!!! Well more like he found us. Also a miracle, hearing, but so ready for the gospel. We sent the elders back.

Saturday the RS broadcast seemed to say exactly what everyone needs... We had to leave the room in search for tissues. and Kelly, a recent convert came! Because she now has a permanent ride to church! Members who take their covenants seriously rock!!!!!

Sunday we were exactly at the right place, at the right time, and said exactly the right thing to help a dear friend feel her heavenly fathers love.

"There can be miracles" has been our theme song this week.

LOVE YOU FAM!!!

Sister Elephant

ps  www.mormon.org/me/72KM   <--- hey its me. online!!! boom baby.

pss We made a title of liberty for our front room this morning. its AWESOME! And we almost lit out apt on fire. haha That's how cool missionary work is!!

Its autumn which means crunchy leaves

Sisters Oliphant, Wilson, Marroquin, Landon at the Sacramento Temple

So before I begin with this week I didnt have a chance to finish last week. So this is carry over from my last week in Stockton.

Sister C. introduced us to her neighbor who is a complete drunk. Oh my goodness he is hilarious. I could not break a smile on my face the entire time hahaa. But yeah although he said he has not been sober for I think 8 years, literally, he has one of the most profound testimony of Jesus Christ I have heard yet from an investigator.  We stopped by his home and visited with him for a bit and he practically taught us about the atonement. He knows the only way out of this whole mess is though Jesus Christ. It was sad though because I think he thought he was too trapped to get out. We told the addiction recovery instructor about him and invited him to come on Tuesday nights. The gospel can change lives if we only allow it.

I keep having funny dreams. I dont know if its apostate to have mission inappropriate dreams or not but I can't help but think they are just tender mercies from the lord. I mean I really can't help what I dream about right. haha  A few I had at the MTC were about escaping the MTC and trying to get back in undetected. It was like a Jason Bourne action movie with hired secret agents to do the job for us. I had another about someone in particular (I wont mention names) kidnapping me from the MTC.  Anyway its fun because in the morning we seem to have fun unrealistic stories to share from our dreams and while they dont make sense they are our source of entertainment. Anyways....

Sister Wilson sang a beautiful musical number on Sunday. She sang "Savior Redeemer of My Soul" #113. But the Joseph Smith version. Look it up. Its jaw dropping awesome. (Also its in 17 miracles. Have you seen that movie? you NEED to!) Well anyways we had a little posse of people sitting by us, well me cause she was singing on the stand. This posse included all our friends aka people we were encouraging to come to church (recent converts, less actives, and investigators). Well anyways the song was beautiful, Sister Wilson has a gorgeous voice. Well as she finished the crowd erupted with applause! bahaha Okay maybe not the whole sacrament meeting, but at least the little posse I was sitting with. Oh my goodness hilarious. No one knew what to do, especially me. Turns out a few in the back rows joined in too. Luckily I caught Sister Wilson's face before she came to sit down with us.  Priceless. bahahahahaha

Sign language is rough. Every time we teach it feels like my first week in the field all over again. Mostly because we dont teach in asl like ever and I am super rusty at it already in just the 6 weeks since the MTC. (Don't worry I've already warmed up in Carmichael.)

Good luck to Elvera. Hopefully Riverside doesn't have as many dogs as Sacramento, but oh my goodness I have never been covered so much in dog hair in my life. EVERYONE has dogs here.

Okay quick Lynda story. bahaha This one is good too. So Lynda was invited over to FHE at the Robisons home. We were invited over as well. Well in Stockton everyone lives in gated communities. Doesn't matter how rich or poor you are, there are fences around everything. The poor areas the gates are easy to get past, the rich ones, more difficult. Well the Robisons lets just say are well off, so they have a gate keeper even. We pull up to the little booth with the gate keeper man and say who we are here to see etc.  Meanwhile on the right side of us is a separate lane for residents to beep themselves in, while we wait for the guy to call the Robisons to make sure they are expecting us etc. Well as he is doing his gate keeping job we hear a big crunch on our right side. We look over and there is Lynda, who had just broke the wood gate/stick thing that comes down! Apparently she thought she could just tail gate someone in! So the little thing came down right on the hood of her GIANT SUV and snapped into 4 pieces. We just looked over in horror and awkwardly didn't know what to do. bahaha Anyways Lynda didnt really know what to do so she just followed us into the park/neighborhood. Later, security came to the Robisons home and without Lynda knowing, the Robisons were so great. They told the officer they would pay for the entire thing and not to tell Lynda about it. For all we know it cost up to $500 to replace the gate. The Robisons are true examples of those who love as Christ and sacrifice.

Lori is doing well! She is less active and this week we had the most inspired lesson. lLri has set a goal to receive her temple recommend. So excited for her! She's also planning on getting her patriarchal blessing as soon as she can too!!!

I have a pic of Barb and Guyla to show you. haha  They are our friends who live at the trailer park next to Dan. Dan will be baptized in Jan.  I'll tell you more when I get the pic, but this is to remind me.

Okay back up to 

CARMICHAEL!!------------------------------------------------------------

This week was stake conference so it wasnt normal asl branch style. Instead we took turns, Sister Larson and I interpreting for both sessions. That was fun. Okay and yeah the Lord blessed me the entire time. I don't know how I did it but I think those from the deaf branch hopefully got something out of the whole thing. The asl is coming quite along. We taught in asl all week and for some reason its not as stressful as I thought. I'm catching most of it and for some reason I feel pretty comfortable teaching too. The MTC is all coming back! lol. Thank heavens for the MTC. Literally.

But this week, on Thursday, my first full day up here we had a booth at the ASL celebration on the capitol grounds in down town Sacramento. We got 12 referals!!! 10 of which are deaf! It should be a busy transfer contacting them all :] So very excited! I came at the just the right time! The Lord has blessed up with much work to do. Also quite a few hearing people flocked to me at the booth and I found Nathan!! Well more like Nathan found us!!!! He's read the Book of Mormon, knows its the word of God, and wants the gospel in his life. I was in shock the whole time as we chatted. He's never met with the missionaries before. Because I'm an asl sister we had to pass him off the the YSA elders because he's hearing.  I was so privileged to still have taught him his first lesson! Do when he is baptized I'll still be able to go! He's awesome and will get wet! The Elders already told me they met with him and he's progressing!!! Woo hoo!!!! Miracles baby!

I love Sister Larson! My step mom as I call her. Sister Wilson is my mom. Don't worry mama mie you cannot be replaced, its a missionary lingo thing. Sister Larson is actually very mother like, very gentle and loving. She is the perfect balance to me who is a little more rough around the edges. Sister Larson went to the MTC with only 2 years of asl under her and bless her soul she has improved so much I'm sure! She's so much better at comprehension that me. Half the time I'm still clueless to deafies when they just start going. My brain doesn't work that fast yet.

I shattered a glass cup all over my kitchen yesterday. That was a pain cleaning up. Took an hour. A thousand little pieces and I didnt want glass in anyone's foot. Missionary apartments are quite the habitation. I always move in and have the desire to organize. There is always so much stuff left behind.

Did I mention we have a gym!!! At our complex! Aww its the best! Also the members don't feed us as much so maybe between less giant meals from the members, not dessert everynight, and a gym I'll take off all this weight I've put on. I've never weighed this much before. Oh my goodness I do not like it and miss running. Praying for a running companion at some point on my mission.

Saturday we ran a 5k actaully at a deaf event. We go to alot of those. Its how we tract. Congrats to Stu and Terrill on their way awesome PRs.  I won't tell you how long it took us to finish it. But yeah I can't complain none-the-less. How many missionaries get to run 5ks on their mission- not on a p-day!

HAPPY B'DAY STU!!!!! HOOO WOO!! You are super old now, but yeah happy b'day. Hope your day is magical! ... and you hit your under 20 min PR soon!

Did i mention its FALL!!! Its nothing compared to a Wisconsin fall but the trees are changing colors and there are crunchy leaves everywhere. I probably look drunk when I walk cause I'm always trying to crunch all the leaves as we walk around. Its so much fun :]

Well yep that's the mission. Life is still good. And its all thanks for Heavenly Father and you for getting me here. Thanks.

Love,

Sister Elephant

ps Thats my name here.