Hope the rain didn't wash ya'll away!

Sometimes I get mini headaches because I smile so much.

Ciao Chillins! I can't get it all in one email but here's what I can
give ya....This has been one LONG week... BUT it's been the best week
I've had on my mission. Yup. I haven't felt this happy and worked this
hard for a while. What a way to start off my third cycle in the
mission. I feel so blessed and I see so many miracles each and
everyday.

My new companion! Sister Toone.... Not Sister Taylor. Last week I told
you all that my new companion was Sister Taylor, well there was a bit
of a mix up. Hahaha for a good 4 days everyone thought a Sister Taylor
was coming up to Middletown but nope! I am blessed to be serving along
side what I now call one of my best friends. Sister Toone opened this
area at the beginning of her mission and so she gets to come back and
finnish off her mission here. It is cool to see what she started and
now where it has come. Beautiful. Sister Toone was a HUGE answer to my
prayers. I am learning so much from her. We work so hard and yet I
still feel like a real person as opposed to a robot. We laugh so hard
[yesterday I almost peed my pants in a parking Lott because we were
laughing so hard] and work well with one another. I still feel a fresh
excitement for these next 2 cycles and it's glorious.

Cat calling happens on a daily basis as we walk down the busy streets
in Middletown. Sometimes as we walk past a building they are all just
sitting at their windows waiting to taunt us. We try to just ignore
the filth but one day a man whistled and yelled out his window "Hey
beautiful ladies! I like your hair!" Sister Toone just about had it
with the disrespect, [after a full day of this kind of stuff it takes
everything in you not to turn around a scream] she looked up to let
them know we won't tolerate anymore of it. Just as her downward locked
eyes left the pavement she ran right into a trash can knocking it over
and her going down with it. We laughed for 15 minutes straight doubled
over as we tried to continue our march. It relieved the stress and we
were able to brush off Satan's belittling attacks for the rest of the
night. Thank you Sister Toone.

Tracy update! After our Law of Chastity lesson with her and Vinny we
couldn't get a hold of her and she wasn't calling us back which was
weird for her and made me quite nervous. We decided to stop by on
Sunday and just check in, she invited us to stay and chat for a bit.
We were able to talk about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we read my
favorite scripture 2 Nephi 31. She said is not looking to get married
to Vinny anytime soon but she does want to strengthen her faith so we
will start again there and work up. We are going to start teaching her
and the rest of her family together on Saturdays and I am so excited
for that. I know as they work to strengthen their family relationships
the spirit will come into their home and they will grow a stronger
desire to act on their faith.

Danielle update! She is wonderful. Satan is working so hard to keep
this young daughter of God from making and keeping these sacred
covenants but she is enduring to the end. I am excited for her and
feel so blessed to watch her on this journey. [I know I say this every
week... But it's true!!]

Of course there is opposition in all things. Amidst my glory days here
in Middletown this week we did get some more hard news. One of the LAs
that we meet with passed away. Valerie Sorensen. She was 68 years old
and just decided to give up on life and once she made that decision it
was a quick spiral down. The news broke my heart, but I know Sister
Sorensen is in a good place receiving the love and healing she needs.
I will miss her so much. It still amazes me how even a grumpy, old,
sassy lady can take up so much room in my heart. Again I thank my god
for putting these people into my life.

My miracle for the week was Alana Villada. 26 year old college student
studying at the new medical college her in Middletown. She wants to be
a doctor. We received her records back in the beginning of august and
just didn't get around to looking her up. I stubbled across her name,
address and number one day and received a strong impression to look
her up. After a while of walking up and down streets in the humid
summer sun, with no luck, we called it quits. As we got back into the
car I received another strong impression that we could not move this
car until we have made contact with Alana. I whinned to the spirit
"What!? You want us to go back out there and walk up and down the same
streets!? It's pointless, we couldn't find her house!" I then was
invited by the spirit to take a dose of humility pills and then to
immediately call her, "I guess I could do that". Alana picked up and
after I told her who was calling she proceeded to tell me how this was
an answer to her prayers. We immediately set up an appointment with
her and the bishop so she could receive the priesthood blessed she so
desperately needed. This young woman's faith and ability to endure and
endure it well was a testimony to me. I am sorry I didn't call her
sooner but I am grateful for the miracle I witnessed when we did.

Happy Happy Birthday to my momma and my sweet Elder Checketts. I hope
you had a grand day. I love you!

I come home exhausted every night but I can't even tell you how happy
I am to be out here right now. The work is good. I am being so
blessed, I can feel your prayers. Thank you. Thank you. I love you all
so much. Keep working hard and so will I.
Love, Sister Checketts

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience: we are
spiritual beings having a human experience."
-Tielhard De Chardin

PRAYER ROLL:
Zuley: She will get her new apartment.
Tracy & Katrina & Vinny: will meet with all together on Saturday.
Their hearts will be softened.
Danielle: Strength to quit smoking and drinking coffee. Keep coming to church.
Rudy & Helen: Health will improve. Helen will be able to go to the temple soon.
Sheryl & Amhad & Mckenzie: Be allowed to come to church on Sunday.
Alana: Her exams will go well this week. She will feel comfort
throughout the healing power of the atonement. She will be able to
come to church this Sunday.