old post from while I was not able to get into her blog (newest one is below with all the pictures):
October 7, 2013

Happy Missionary Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!

 

General Conference. Nuff said. If you didn't get the opportunity to watch General Conference this past weekend you must go to www.lds.org immediately and watch it. All 8 hours of it because it will blow yo mind! But, seriously though, this past weekend was a dream being able to sit at the feet of prophets and apostles through the electronic media and receive the Lord's counsel. What an amazing opportunity we have, and the best part is that it happens twice a year and in 6 months time we will get to do this again. Gen Con on the mish really is like Christmas haha. This is the first time that I've been able to watch without having to worry about tests or homework or any other distractions. So cool. Anyways, There has been a change in the transfer schedule and we now receive news about transfers on Sunday evening. So the verdict is that I'm staying in College Station and Sis. Jacobsen and I get to stay companions. Thank goodness! I could really use the stability right now haha. Being with her will be the longest I've ever had a companion out of 5... Also we were able to set a baptismal date with one of our investigators this past week. His name is Jeremiah and he is so great. Hopefully, as we continue to teach him, he will be able to learn, progress, and grow in the gospel and ultimately be baptized in the next coming weeks.

 

So I just want to share my favorite parts of Conference. 1) President Henry B. Eyring's talk on the family. Wow! What a great message. My absolute favorite thing that I got from that was that we have all been given the families that we have here on earth because Heavenly Father trusts us to love them no matter what. To love them as he would if he were here. What a great responsibility and such a sacred trust. Regardless of what the members of our families do, or the choices that they make, whether they are aligned with our personal beliefs and opinions or not, we have been given the sacred responsibility and opportunity to love them unconditionally. This can be so hard when offenses have been made and promises are broken and people fall short of our expectations, but through the enabling power of the atonement and through our own personal repentance, we can be strengthened in order to become more like our Savior and obtain the pure love of Christ, or charity, for the members of our families. What a blessing! I am far far far far far far far far from perfect in this respect, but I know that with the help of my Savior, he can turn this weaknesss of mine into a strength. 2) Elder D. Todd Christofferson's talk on women and their role. As women we have such a great responsibility to keep ourselves clean and pure in order to be influences for good to those around us. That too can be so hard in this world where so many virtuous qualities and practices have become "old fashioned". Thank goodness again for the Atonement! It can be pretty discouraging to fall short of such high standards again and again, but we can always look to the Savior and use the incredible gift that he has given us to be made clean and strengthen us to start again. I love this gospel so much and while at times it is so hard to have this message rejected, I know that as we keep sharing it lives will be touched and hearts can and will be changed. These are promises that we have been given by a loving Father in Heaven who wants nothing more than for all of his children to return to live with him again. I really do hope you all take the time to listen to at least one of the talks that were given this past weekend. I promise you won't regret it! Have a wonderful week and I'll write again soon :)

 

Love, Sister Williams

Chelsea Williams	Sep 30
to me

Hola!

 

So it's been a while since I've updated and a lot has happened since then. To start off with some very good news, it is finally starting to cool down! Oh my gosh I could die of happiness. Not that I don't love that blazing Texas sun, but it is definitely nice to have a break from it. So Sister Santistevan and I have been living it up out here in College Station. What a great place. It really is hard for me to think about the idea of going back to a family ward. YSA's are just so much fun and so much fun to teach! But, some sad-ish news is that Sister Santistevan went home on Monday. She had been out in the field for 3 weeks and realized that she needed to go home and marry her boyfriend. It was way sad because we had become really good friends, but I know everything will be alright. In her place though, I got Sister Jacobsen as my new comp. I absolutely love Sister Jacobsen. She is such a fun companion and we get along really well, and best of all she's been out for 15 months! Yay! I can finally relax and let her take things from here. Haha I'm just joking, but it really is nice to have a companion who knows what she is doing though. But, transfers are next week so we'll see what happens! To further my joy, AMY WAS BAPTIZED THIS PAST SATURDAY!!!!! Ahhhh! I was so happy I could have died and gone to heaven. She is such a gem. Amy is the girl we started teaching about a month ago, who came up to us in church and wanted to receive the discussions. It has been such a blessing getting to know her and teaching her about the gospel, and the best part is that this is just the beginning for her. That's the cool thing about baptism, it isn't the end game, it is merely the gate to endless joy and other blessings.

 

So now that that's happened, the focus is getting our 6 other investigators to the waters of baptism. They are all such sweet people whom I've come to love dearly and I hope and pray they will be able to see what a blessing this gospel really is, and choose to take that next important step of baptism. As for now though, we are continuing to find and teach and pray. Always pray. Oh ya! Something else that happened was that Marge the Mini Van died on Saturday. It was so sad. The elders were leaving the baptism and it was raining torrentially outside, and they didn't realize that  the road had flooded, and they drove poor Marge into a lake where she proceeded to drown. They tried their best to revive her, but she didn't make it. There have been some good times in Marge and we will miss her dearly. She was loyal, kind and true,  but I know that she is in a better place now, away from silly missionaries who blast Christmas music in September. Anyways, now they are waiting on getting a truck. We'll see how that goes. I love you all with all of my heart and I miss you so stinking much! I love my mission more than words can describe and even more than all of that I love my Heavenly Father, my Savior and this gospel. There is no way in heck that I would be out here away from ya'll and regularly sweaty if I didn't know this gospel was truer than true. That's why I share it. Because it's true, and it's not just for a select few, but it is for everyone, and while I may not be able to get it to everyone, I aim to get it to as may people as I possibly can. Have a wonderful week and know that I keep ya'll in my prayers regularly. Talk to ya next week!

 

-Sister Williams

 

p.s. The reason I opened with Hola is because I'm trying to get fluent asap so President Pingree will transfer me to the Spanish program. When I suggested it to him the first time he just laughed. We'll shall see :)

October 21, 2013

LOOK!

Amy's baptism.

Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory.

Poor little baby calf.

Sister Santistevan in my laundry bag haha. Dork

Howdy!

 

So it is going on the second week of having Sister Myers, and let me tell you, there is never a dull moment. She is a hoot! But, seriously though I just laugh all of the time. She says the craziest things but is one of the sweetest girls at the same time. I really am so grateful that she is in our companionship. So I started realizing a couple days ago that I think I am changing, which is always a good thing haha. While I have loved being on a mission from the start, as a missionary you still struggle with missing your family and friends and having to do hard things everyday. But, I think I have finally gotten to a point where I am just completely content with being where I am. I love it here. I love College Station, I love my companions, I love the people here and I love the other missionaries who I get to serve around. At this point in time, there is nowhere I would rather be than here. I am so grateful for that! It definitely makes being away from home a lot easier. This doesn't mean I don't love y'all, because I do! I think I'm just trying to say that I am just very happy.

 

Anyways, this weekend is Jeremiah's baptism and we are all so excited. Seriously, Jeremiah was heaven sent. He grew up with a friend who was LDS, but never looked into it or anything, but judging by how his lessons went, I think he just needed someone to invite him. He is the perfect definition of an "honest truth seeker". So prepared and willing to listen to the message of the restoration and Heavenly Father's plan for us. I am so happy for him that he is going to be able to take that next step of drawing closer to our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ, by making a sacred covenant with him through baptism. He is seriously such a testimony builder to me of missionary work and the power of a simple invite. In President Eyring's talk from General Conference I really gained some good insight. He said that Heavenly Father has a plan for each and everyone of us to make it back to him. The Plan of Salvation is a general plan that encompasses all of us, but he has a plan for each of us individually. That is such a comforting thought to know that we have a heavenly being guiding our lives, who is in the details of our lives, working to get us back home to him. I know that the way he works is though other people. As we listen for those promptings from the Holy Ghost and strive to follow them, we will be the means of helping someone on there journey in this life, make it back to Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. What a responsibility, and what a blessing to know that the Lord trusts us so much with his children. We are his hands here on Earth. Anyways, as always I am so grateful for all of your love and support, and I hope y'all have a wonderful wonderful week. See ya!

Getting crazy with the camera!

Comp pics.

Sister Newhouse and I came out in the field together.

More comp pics.

Zone pic.

Elder Stepp playing with my camera

Our pet catepillar

PURE JOY!

Sometimes we take selfies while walking.

Sister Jacobsen and the Rainbow Road.

Some guy in the singles ward asked,!  I said  :)

This is how we roll. (Elder Wible HATES it haha)

pumpkin patch kids!

Sister Myers, Sister Jacobsen and I.

Look at Sister Kelly's face in the back.

Sister Williams and Sister Flanders at the Temple

My new companion Sister Santistevan

 

Sister Williams and Sister Flanders

 

Family!

 

Alrighty let's just get right to it. 2 weeks ago was transfers. Sister Flanders got transfered and I stayed and... I'M TRAINING. AGAIN. If you were wondering, the answer is yes. I did cry again, but I got over it way sooner than last time haha. Sister Santistevan is awesome! We get along so well and we have the same sense of humor and mannerisms and it's just great. Plus, College Station is great so I am so stoked that I get to stay here for another transfer. Not gonna lie, I was slightly worried that I would get transferred and have to train and open up a new area again, which was a very real possibility. But alas! Prayers are answered. So Texas is as hot as ever, and you know what, that is just fine because you get over it. On that note, here are some things that are not ok: 1) I am practically obese! I'm just kidding. In all honesty though, I do think I am getting fatter and that is not ok with me. Don't worry, I'm in the middle of starting operation "get skinny". I'll let y'all know how that goes. 2) a few of our investigators have dumped us and it hurt. They pulled the whole "it's not you it's me" card, and the "but, we still want to be friends" line. It's ok though. I know that at the very least a seed has been planted, and maybe some other missionaries will come along and they will be exactly what these people need to bring them to the gospel. On a happier note, here's all of the good things that are happening. 1) While we lost a few investigators, we gained a bunch! I just love them all so much! 2) We have at least one (hopefully 2) firm baptismal date set for the 28th and I am so excited. Her name is Amy and she was literally Heaven sent. Last Saturday the Elders were holding a baptismal service for one of their investigators and she randomly showed up with her friend. I briefly introduced myself afterwards, but didn't do anything more than that. The next day at church she walks up to me and says she wants to be baptized and she wants us to teach her... Miracles do happen! She is so awesome. We have already taught her 3 of the lessons, and every time we teach her I can just see this new light and understanding in her eyes as she recognizes and understands more and more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is one of the best things about being a missionary. You get to be there when others have that light bulb moment and they just know what we've been telling them is true. I love it! 3) This past Saturday we were able to go do some service on a members ranch and it was so dang fun. We herded cattle all day long and then we got to tag and Castrate this poor little baby calf. Being a new born cow is a hard life for sure. This little guy had only been in the world for a few days and... well let's just say he wasn't a happy baby cow. This coming wednesday we are going to go drain a swamp. I LOVE TEXAS!

 

So here's my spiritual thought for the week. Elder Bednar (one of the twelve apostles) once said that when he reads through the Book of Mormon, he likes to use those little blue soft back copies. In every copy, there is a white blank page that he writes a question on that he has been wondering about. Then he reads the entire Book of Mormon with that question in mind. Afterwards he writes the answer he receives underneath his question, and then he does the whole process over again. I decided a couple of months ago that I was going to try this out. Let me tell you, I have read through the Book of Mormon quite a few times, and I have gotten more out of this one time than I have all of the other times combined. This really tells me something about scripture reading and getting out of it what we put into it. When we "feast upon the word of Christ", always starting and ending with a prayer, we can receive so much more from our reading than if we just go through the motions. Reading the scriptures has become one of my absolute favorite things to do and no longer feels like something I just need to check off my to do list. I am so grateful for that, because it is really transforming me into a better missionary and person in general. Anyways, that was my little tidbit for the week. I love you all more than a fat kid loves cake and I will see you soon!

 

-Love Sister Williams

The District at College Station August 2013

Transfersssssss!!!!!

So here we are once again at transfers week and my future is once again unsure. I'm thinking that I will definitely stay in College Station, but I'm also definitely getting a new companion. I have an eerie feeling that I will be training again which is...... fine, I guess. We'll see what happens though. 

So I love where I'm at right now. The people are awesome and their hearts are just so soft and willing to let us share our message, even if they politely decline to learn more...haha. Also, I absolutely love the Elders we work with in our ward. They are so fun and such good missionaries! One of them, Elder Wible, is from Carlsbad, California, and he also goes to BYU. Our high schools played each other! We talk about the fun little mission reunions we're going to have after we both get off our missions all the time. It's gonna be a party. It just blows my mind that there are so many awesome people I would have never gotten the chance to meet had I not decided to serve a mission. Really though, let's be honest. I would have never had a reason to come chill in Texas otherwise. I mean, Texas is great and all, and I love it with all of my heart, but, no. 

Speaking of awesome people, let's just talk about Herilala for a sec because he is pure gold. This guy is so ready it's painful. I just know that he will accept this gospel and that it will change his life FOREVER! Alright, I'll calm down, but really though it's the truth. 

If you can't tell by this post I'm kind of all over the place because I have a ton of energy, but that's only because life is so stinking good right now. The way I feel just seriously strengthens my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ a thousand times more. There's a scripture in the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 2:41 that tells us to "consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God". It's so true! Is being on a mission a walk in the park? heck no! Do I still have problems out the wazoo? Definitely. Am I happy? Absolutely. That's the thing. God never promised that your life would be easy if you were obedient, he just said you would be happy. There's a difference. Carrying your burdens on your own is way harder than letting the Lord carry them, not only with you, but sometimes for you. It's such a cool thing. We still have trials and hardships so that we can learn and grow and gain experience, but at the same time we can have peace and happiness during those hardships if we trust in the Lord, have faith that He is who He says He is, and that He can do what He says He can do, and are as obedient to those commandments as possible. Ahhh the simplicity of the gospel. 

Anyways, like I said, I'm full of energy, so we're going to go food shopping and then play some dodge ball to cure that...haha. 

I love you all more than anything!

Love, Sister Williams
(foot note from Sister Williams' Abuelita...her camera is broke and she promises pictures next week)

(to all who read this blog:  ANOTHER WEEK WITH NO PICTURES FROM SISTER WILLIAMS.  It's time to write to her and ask "What's the deal?".....and I will.   From Sister Williams' Abuelita)

Howdy!

 

So because we serve in a college town we get to proselyte on the Texas A&M campus and the only way people are allowed to greet you on campus is by saying "howdy". Needless to say I feel like such a tool saying it, but hey, when will I ever get this experience again? Also along the lines of funny southern things, is my almost perfected southern accent. Haha Sister Flanders and I talk like we'er from the deep south (she is) more than we do in our regular voices. It is so funny, and if you don't think so, I would ask you to please remember that as missionaries you have to find new and diverse ways to keep yourself entertained and accents are one of them. Anyways, so I would just like to start by saying I LOVE MY LIFE!!!!  Seriously College Station is like the only place I ever want to serve for the rest of my mission. It is seriously so awesome here and things are about to get crazy because school starts today and that means 65,000 brand new shiney faces to meet. Let's GOOOOOO!!!! So over the past few weeks we have accumulated, through our own efforts and the grace of God, a fairly decent sized teaching pool. Get this, we are teaching a kid from China, a girl from Switzerland, a girls from the Middle East, a guy from Madagascar and a few Americans. Who says you have to go on a foreign mission to teach foreign people. Talk about language barriers!! But we are making it work. Lots of visual aids. So a quick story about the guy from Madagascar. While I was in the MTC I had an allergic reaction to something and I ended up having to go to urgent care. There were a few other missionaries who had to go as well for various reasons, and three of them we going to Madagascar on their missions. So while we were waiting for forever in the waiting room to be seen I asked them to teach me some words in Malagasi (that's the name of the language) so I ended up spending about a half an hour learning gospel terms in malagasi and they left me with a few flash cards so I could remember. I never thought there would be a day when I would actually get to use it. You should have seen Herilala's face when I said some words in his language (that's his name hahaha). He almost passed out he was so happy. He took like a billion pictures of me holding my flashcards to send home to his family in Madagascar. Apparently he never thought he would meet someone who "spoke" his language in America. Seriously though, what are the odds? So I have officially been able to use every language tidbit I learned in the mtc within the first 3 months of my mission. I love it! But really though missionary work is where it's at. I have gotten to a point where this feels like my real life and my home life feels like the alternate one which is a blessing for sure. It makes not being with those you love so much easier and allows you to lose yourself in the work. Well my friends and family I love you all more than you'll ever know and pray for you on the reg. Keep the fire, keep pressing forward with a perfect bightness of hope in Christ and a love of God and all men. Endure (well) to the end. Check out 2Nephi31:20, such a gem. Talk ya'll next week!

 

Love, Sister Williams