Monty Memories

I got to the bottom of my bag of trail mix and what did I find? The
biggest earwig bug of my life. Yummy.

Dear Family & Friends, today feels like a much needed preparation day
since last pday we were sitting in a meeting or a car all day. BUT it
has been a good week, so very many blessing have i witnessed as Sister
Astle and I have strived to do His will and work.

Marietta was baptized on the 27th. For those of you who can relate....
Baptisms for missionaries are nuts! So much stress, but it is all
worth it. I will never ever forget looking into Marietta's eyes as she
stood there in the font. Oh what joy her face held. The spirit was so
strong and I knew, Marietta knew, everyone knew! That this is the one
and only way to obtain celestial glory. I was overcome with peace and
gratitude for my knowledge of this and to be able to watch someone
choose it for themselves. I love Marietta, and I don't think I
mentioned this but she is actually moving to Arizona in a few days so
I am VERY sad to see her go. She took such good care of me and helped
my testimony strengthen. It's a good thing I know that if I don't see
her again in this life, I'll be sure to see her in the next. :)

We got a new investigator and she is G O L D E N. Her name is Dulce.
She is 13 years old. She comes from a Spanish family and she is the
only one who speaks English. The Spanish Elders found her and her
family and since she is a single female they gave her to us. Yay! The
Spanish Elders are teaching the family and we are teaching Dulce.
Dulce has been prepared by The Lord to hear, receive and accept the
Gospel. She has a baptismal date for August 13!! She has a fear of the
water but wants to be baptized so please pray for her!

Sister Astle is driving while I am writing. She just hit a bird.

We do a lot of service out here in New York and since I live right in
the middle of thick forest farm town we do a lot of farming. It is the
best. We go to a members home, The Phillips, every Saturday and help
them on their farm. Sister Astle and I are usually assigned to weed
the rows of veggies in the garden [Credit to Mom for teaching me how
to be a A+ weeder], and the Elders do the heavy labor. I love it, I
get to just be under the sun and in my own little world thinking about
life, nature, my mission, and receiving my own bits of revelation.
This past Saturday I might have zoned out a bit to much because later
that night I found that I had walked through a garden of poison ivy
and managed to be eaten alive by spiders.... Yup. My body is a red,
itchy, bumpy mess. ;) All is well.

I am finally entering the stage of my mission where my dreams consist
of nothing but teaching investigators... It's awesome, i get some good
revelation from it. :)

My testimony of the Restoration grows more and more everyday. I know
the Book or Mormon is the word of God and it was translated by Joseph
Smith, it is the keystone of our religion. It has brought me more
peace in my life than I can begin to explain to you. If I were to
recall to you some of the most spiritual moments in my life it would
be while reading from the Book of Mormon. I love it and I love how
close I feel to my father in Heaven when I read it. When did you gain
a testimony of the Book of Mormon?

I love you all so much, I failed to mention that last time and it
bugged me all week. Know that I love you and pray for all of you. Viv,
thanks for taking time to write me it was so nice to hear from you.
Shout out to my Miranda.... Or should I say Sister Brayton!! She is
preachin the good news in Russia. She will be a wonderful missionary.
Have a good week, I'll talk to you next. Adios. XO
Love, Sister Checketts

"In my deepest, darkest moments, what really got me through was a
prayer. Sometimes my prayer was 'Help me.' Sometimes a prayer was
'Thank you.' What I've discovered is that intimate connection and
communication with my creator will always get me through because I
know my support, my help, is just a prayer away."
Iyanla Vanzant
{quote cred: Aimee Ladow}