Johnny Lingo is my Source of Entertainment

2 months into the mission and I still can't pour pasta for two
people... I make enough for 10. Without fail.

Aloha loved ones! This has been the longest week of my life I'm pretty
sure and I don't know why. We have been so busy. Lots of things to do
and people to meet. Well we got transfer calls this past Saturday,
that was exciting. ;) Sister Astle and I will be spending one more
cycle up here in Middletown together before she heads back down to
Chinatown. I am so grateful to have another 6 weeks with her, I still
have so much to learn from her!

Well I thought you all should know, we bought a new shower curtain
last week. Woot! It's got fish on it and we write our funny quotes all
over it, I hope the mold doesn't attack this one because it's
precious.

My miracle for the week happened just yesterday. We went out to lunch
at a Chinese food restaurant so Sister Astle could practice her
Mandarin. While she was talking to the owner of the restaurant and I,
just awkwardly standing there pretending I could understand what was
going on, noticed a man starring at us. I made eye contact and waved
and he waved back. We didn't get to talk because he was on the phone
but he just continued to watch us. I didn't think to much of it after
we left. Later that day on our way home to do some work at the
apartment Sister Astle received inspiration to stop at Stewarts to get
a milkshake. ;) As we pulled up I noticed the same man I saw earlier
was there! I quickly made the B line to him. We started talking, he is
from India, owns a company out here, him and his family used to go to
a church but are now looking for somewhere else to go. He ended up
buying both of us milkshakes and giving us all his info. Miracles! If
we hadn't been in the right place at the right time we wouldn't have
gotten our free milkshakes... Or talked to Kumar. ;) The Lord uses his
tools [us] to do his work and it is amazing to watch. We invited Kumar
to church this Sunday.

Marietta gets baptized this Sunday! Woot! I am so excited. It truly
has been a blessing to help someone enter into the waters of baptism
in my first cycle. VIVIAN, every time I talk to Marietta I think of
you and that you and her would be good ole friends. :) I also remember
the day you were baptized and the spirit I felt at your baptism, I
can't wait for Marietta to feel that same sweet spirit. After my
mission I want to go visit her with you, okay?

We also found another investigator this week, her name is Shenickqua.
Yup. She is the cutest. She just had a baby 5 months ago so of course
we hooked her with the eternal family bait. I am excited to see her
progress.

I miss my temple!! When I can't sleep I replay the endowment session
over and over in my head. Go to the temple, if not for yourself go for
me! :) EMMA, could you send me some of those pictures of the draper
temple through email? Sister Davis wanted to take us down to the
temple today but we couldn't since we have transfer meetings... Cross
your fingers that we will get a chance to soon.

For those of you who know Sister Anne Collins and/or Sister Kelsey
Jensen who are both serving in the New Jersey Mission [FYI: one hour
away from me] I received this in an email Sister Jensen sent to me two
days ago... "Yes, Sister Collins is my STL. I had an exchange with her
two weeks ago. I LOVE HER....You remind me a ton of eachother. Even as
I texted her this morning asking for a pair of lost garments, we had a
nice exchange about how she's probably wearing them now and the way
she was saying it all reminded me of you--it was a good laugh. :)"

I've been reading Jesus the Christ. Beautiful book. Page 20. I learned
how Satan has tiny temporary triumphs throughout this worldly life but
Gods eternal plan is supreme, God will always win. We may lose some
battles but we already know who has and will win the fight. Don't let
Satan's temporary triumphs distract you for to long.
"I invite you to walk confidently and joyfully. Yes, the road has
bumps and detours and even some hazards. But don’t focus on them. Look
for the happiness your Father in Heaven has prepared for you in every
step of your journey. Happiness is the destination, but it’s also the
path." -Elder Dieter F. Utchdorf  (Your Wonderful Journey Home.
General Conference April 2013)

Well that's all for this week. I haven't heard from Vivian or Justin
yet... If you get time this week I'd love to hear from you two. Thank
you everyone! The work is working and it's working me. I am happy and
feelin pretty healthy. :) Thank you for the prayers, as always. Have a
wonderful week and I'll talk to you next. XO

PRAYER ROLL:
Marietta: That her baptism goes smoothly and the closing on her house
goes through.
Kumar: That he comes to church this Sunday and can witness Marietta's baptism.
Shenickqua: She will read from the Book of Mormon.
Sister Tremper: Have the strength to come to church this week.

Fireflies & Rainstorms all week (sorry this is late)

I woke up this morning to a Bronx bug under the arch of my foot. Don't
know what a Bronx bug is? Look it up buttercup. Yup.

To the people I love,
Phew I feel like I just emailed you, but at the same time I have so
much to share. So, where to begin.... Well actually I can't really
remember anything much except this past Monday, the day went down in
my journal as "Miracle Monday" and I'll tell you why. We woke up. Ran
our mile. Showered. Ate my peanut butter and honey sand which and
apples. Personal study. DIVINE. Companionship study. BEST IT HAS EVER
BEEN. I was feelin dandy. Off to my first zone conference. We talked
about our goals [dad: I use the quote "Failure to plan is planning to
fail." everyday of my life out here. Thanks.] as a zone and as
districts and the spirit was strong. I was also given the opportunity
to share my testimony with the missionaries, and that was humbling.
Scurry off to an appointment with an investigator named Marietta.

Pause. Marietta is one of those eternal investigators or what ever
they call them. She has been meeting with the missionaries for 5
years. That's quite a bit of time. So I was just another missionary
thrown into her teaching pool. She is a cat lover so her house smells
of cat heaven.... I pretty much try to breathe through my mouth until
the cat hair has lined my throat. Marietta is in her 60's. So funny
and so loving towards everyone she meets BUT at the same time she
don't take no junk from anyone.

We arrive at Marietta's home. Ready to teach the restoration. She
opens the door and pulls us in. I notice she was a bit antsy. She sat
us down and before we could even get a word out she says "Sisters? I
have something to tell you.... I want to get baptized." My head could
not comprehend what she had just said. Tears of joy flowed from all
our eyes as we sat there. She will be getting baptized July 27th.
Please pray for her. She is strong so I know satan will work hard. We
meet with her everyday and yesterday I got to teach her about the law
of chastity and plan of salvation. Oh man guys, our Father in Heaven
really loves his children.

After we left Marietta's we went to do service at a less active's. She
is gutting an old home so she was throwing out glorious old clothes,
suitcases, letters, books, nick nacks, ect! The elders pretty much did
all the work while I had a grand time playing dress up. :) Sister
Vilela [LA] took us missionaries out for my first trip to have real
New York pizza. It was glorious. Off to Milly's home right after. She
was so happy to see us. As we taught her that God loves her and Christ
died for her she got silent [thats not normal for Milly]. As we asked
her some inspired questions she opened up, and for a few moments Milly
was all there, it was like she was 20 years old again. So bright and
full of the spirit. I don't think Milly will have to opportunity in
this life to get baptized but I am so glad The Lord sent us to her
when he did.

We then hurried off to our dance lessons!!! Ah yeah! You heard right.
:) Sometimes us missionaries have to get a lil creative when it comes
to getting LA to meet with us. Julie Palazzo, she was baptized a year
ago and has been less active for a year. So if you do the math, she
hasn't been to back to the church since being dunked. So we texted her
and after a long battle trying to get her to believe us that we really
did just want to get to know her she finally said she would come teach
us how to salsa dance. Woot! It was a miracle that she came to the
church. She had a lot of fun, as did I since I crave dance. She even
said she would like to come back to church! MIRACLES I tell you. Oh
and she talks like Bon Qui Qui, no joke. It took all my strength not
to echo her every word in her accent/voice.

Just after we walked into our apartment door and plopped on the floor
someone knocked on our door and to our surprise it was out sweet
Elders with ice cream and homemade brownies! [not the first time this
has happened] Yes, that is how wonderful our Elders are. We then sat,
talked, laughed and enjoyed stuffing our faces full. It was an
exhausting day. We didn't even have time to change out of our service
clothes, even though they were filled with fiber glass, all day. I
have never felt more accomplished and I know that feeling only comes
through God.... And those boxed brownies the elders gave us. ;)

Sheesh, I'm sorry my emails are so long! The work is progressing. This
is hard and it is going way to fast. I am humbled. I miss my family so
incredibly much but seeing others take steps toward eternity with
theirs makes this all well worth it. I love this gospel. I love the
Book of Mormon. As we drive through the country side I love looking
through the thick trees and thinking about the young boy who knelt
here in New York to pray to ask a humble sincere question that has
changed my life. I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet. I love my
Savior and I know he lives!

"Half way in half way out fills the mind and heart with doubt." I love
you all! FAMILY: How was lake Powell? What did you do for the Fourth
of July? Where is Judell? Meredith, Vivian? You still alive? ;) Shout
out to Sha Nay Nay, thanks for the letter homegurl. I hope you have a
wonderful week, I'll talk to you next. SEND SOME PHOTOS. Ciao!! XO 

Love, Sister Checketts

 1- Service at the court house. We do it every Thursday. We organize

super old documents, it's so sweet!
2- Sister Astle teaching Milly on Monday in our service clothes. [yes,
she is wearing shorts]
3- Milly's collection of raccoons and teddy bears, that is her couch
and coffee table.
4- Sister Astle, Milly and I. FYI: natural hair right thur. I told you
my hair looks like Emma's out here.

On Thursday I Crave California

Some missionaries in our district don't like going and eating out all
together because people give us "weird looks". I wondered why the
"weird looks" don't even phase me until I remembered all the times my
family of 11 would walk into a restaurant on a road trip and we would
get the same kinds of looks, and you just get used to it. Welcome to
the life of a Mormon.

Howdy! Let's get to it shall we? This week has been a speedy one.
Everyday there is a new challenge, a new triumph, ah ha moment, person
to meet, prayer answered, trial, ect. “Life is full of difficulties,
some minor and others of a more serious nature. There seems to be an
unending supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is that we
often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting
that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is
required.”–President Thomas S. Monson [Ensign, Nov. 1995, 59]. God
works in marvelous ways, especially when it comes to missionary work.

Marietta is progressing! I am so relieved that she is with standing
all of Satans blows. He works so hard I'm telling ya! Marietta came to
church last week and it was simply beautiful. As we took the sacrament
together tears rolled down her cheeks and she turned to me and said
"This is the first time I've taken the sacrament and realized what it
is for." It was a good reminder to me of the beautiful blessings the
sacrament can bring if we humble our hearts, we can feel the way
Marietta did every week if we do.

Several times a day I meet or have conversations with people and I
think 'I wish with all my heart my family could meet this person'.
There are amazing people out here one of which is a young single mom
of two darling kids. She was baptized a little over a year ago. Her
name is Zuley. I love her so much. She has been having a VERY hard
time right now, her life is and has always been a whirlwind of
unexpected sad events. We go over there to check on her and give her
support and love. The gospel and the 2 angles God has sent her are the
only things keeping her grounded. She is amazing.

The other night we went over to see Zuley. As we sat down and started
talking tears filled my eyes as she shared her concerns, I couldn't
help but have thoughts of 'Why her?' 'Where can she go for peace?'
'Where is the hope in all of this?' It was then when the the words 'I
will not forsake my children' came thundering into my head and heart.
I was then able to listen to the horror stories and still feel peace
because I do have the knowledge and testimony of our redeemer who
saves us and a Father in Heaven who loves us and that love never
changes. Zuley knows that too and I am so grateful that, like me, she
has found it.

I got a fun video from Emma last week. I loved it. Meredith, Vivian
you both look so old already! I also got to chat with Emma last pday
and that gave me a nice boost and kept a smile of my face for days. I
love my family. Speakin of family....we do a TON of family history
work with less actives. As we do so the spirit never fails to come in
strong. I have a testimony of that work, it is important that we all
do it. It helps these members feel the important of finding these
people and then they feel the love and that love motivates them to
take those names to the temple. Next thing you know everyone is
blessed. :)

One thing I've been studying this week is the talk given by Elder
Holland called 'Place No More for the Enemy of my Soul'. It is
beautiful. It talks about the difference between love and lust. I've
had to take a step back and look at the work I'm doing and asking
myself am I loving these people or lusting after them? Love and lust
are not just referenced to romantic relationships. Sometimes as a
missionary we get so caught up in numbers, we lust after numbers,
praise, glory be ours. We must flip it, it must be out of pure love
that we do the things we do. Is my action bringing me and/or this
person closer to Christ? Or is pulling me and/or them away? It's a
fine line. If you guys get sometime I invite you to re-read this talk!
Let me know how it applies to you and what you think.
https://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/05/place-no-more-for-the-enemy-of-my-soul

Prayer Roll: Sandy- That her heart will be softened.
Zuley- That she will feel the Lords love.
Kimberlee- She will get an answer to her prayers that the Book of
Mormon is true.
Grandma Rose- That she will come back to church.
Marietta- Feel peace in her decision to get baptized.

One day I'll write a short email. ;) Thank you for your prayers, I
feel them and need them. I am doing swell, it has been a good week and
I'm looking forward to this upcoming one [last one for the cycle].
Winnie! I got your letter, I'll write you back soon! Meredith, thank
you so much for emailing me it made my day. Till next week family and
friends! XO
Love, Sister Olivia Page

P.S. Here is my bishop here in Middletown....
http://www.mormon.org/victor
There is also a Mormon message about him. Cool beans.

They just can't get my name right.... Sister Hackets is the current
name running around the ward. I just don't know if I should correct
them or just let it be.

Hello Familia!

You can't be a true New Yorker without going to a Yankees baseball
game. Yep Umi, today was the day. 200 missionaries, all in our
proselyting clothes. It was glorious. It was so hot but I lathered on
some sunscreen. Althought the Yankees lost, the city was a nice change
in scenery and I love seeing my old MTC buddies.

This week has been a good one. I hit a bit of a sleepy eye wall. I am
SO tired. I just can't seem to get on top of it. I guess it comes with
the mish. Out of all the things that could be distracting the thought
of a nap is the thing that really takes my mind from the work. ;)

So I want to take a minute and tell you about just a few of the tender
mercies of The Lord I saw this week. First, Sister Astle and I were
walking out of a dinner appointment, a cute old couple from the ward
had taken us to Olive Garden, we where in the parking Lott just about
to get into our car when we saw a lady watching us. Being the bubbly
missionaries we are we said "Hello! How are you?" This lady proceeded
to answer and before you know it we were talking to her about where
her recently deceased 20 year old brother is and inviting her to
church. Her name is Sandy and now she is an investigator. Bahhhh! If
we were not being exactly obedient we would not have been in the right
spot at the right time to see her.

Tender mercy two... Mildred Emma Gidings. A 80 year old women who we
starting teaching yesterday. How bout a little preface? We walk up to
a home that looks like it's been neglected for centuries and just
before we take one step on to the property out waddles an old woman in
a sports bra and hot pink daisy dukes. She has probably 4 pieces of
hair that she so neatly pulls back with 3 barrettes. Yup. This is
Mildred. We call her Milly. She needed us so bad. We sat in her hot
humid home sweating sticky drops as we had to fight for a spot on the
only couch between her collection of teddy bears and raccoons, just
listening to her crazy stories. I couldn't believe how much love I
felt for her and how strongly i felt the lords love for her. We needed
to be there and I can't wait to go back.

Tender mercy three.... My first splits was this past week. We went on
splits with the sister training leaders. I was with Sister Miller, who
is so much like me. I was running our area for those 24 hours in
Middletown so I was a bit nervous but it turned out to be WONDERFUL.
Sister Miller gave me the boost I needed to carry on. She was very
validating and insightful and we laughed so hard. It also helped me
realize just a little bit more why I needed to be companions with my
dear Sister Astle. Also that night we where on splits we had a dinner
appointment at Sister Davis house [picture below]. She lived next to
Aunt Ann and Grandma and Grandpa about a year ago for a bit in
Utah.That was nice and it felt just a bit like good ole home.

Not a tender mercy but it is tender. ;) Sometimes I feel like I'm in
Italy or somethin because everyone kisses you.... Especially the
little old ladies and sometimes you wonder if it is a kiss or them
chewing on your cheeks! There have been a few times where I get a
little nervous that they won't stop and I prepare myself to karate
chop my way out of it. It's instinct I guess, but luckily for them the
nonsense subsides before the reflexes kick in.

I GOT MAIL! :) thank you to the people who wrote me letters. I even
got a package from my bestie. Thanks Miranda. I love letters. [hint
hint]. Hey family? Could you email me a picture of our family? I want
to have one on my iPad to show people when they ask about you. :)
Gracias.

Funny story for the week.
Sister Astle: "Sister Checketts? Did you have a rough night last night?"
Me:" hmmmm nope..."
Awkward pause...
Me:"wait...why?"
Sister Astle:"well I thought maybe you were having a hard time because
you woke me up when you started praying last night."
Me:"what!?!"
Turns out I get out of bed to kneel and pray aloud every so often. :)
I have no recollection.

My dear Winnie. Happy [late] Birthday! Did you get my letter? Email me
or write me and tell me about your special day. :)

Well that's all I have time for today. Sorry I didn't get to send you
email mom and dad, and everyone else who emailed me. Because of the
game I didn't have much time, next week. I love you all. Thank you for
your support and prayers. Talk to you next week. XOxo

Alma 17:5 & Alma 26:27 [In the Life of a Missionary]
Love, Sister Checketts