Happy Halloween (late post)

Well looks like my email didn't send and it deleted itself.... I am really really sad about that. It was my first time getting to sit down and write a real email to you wonderful people in a while. It's crazy that even these top notch technologies can't get a sad sister missionaries email back. Welp, I guess I couldn't call it a mission with out this happening at least once. 

I will try to remember all that a wrote....

It was Elder Palakiko's first time jumping into a pile of leaves.... I guess the excitement was too much because he over shot and missed the pile.

This week has been a crazy one, full of ups and downs, but I am learning a lot. I am learning to trust my savior. All in all I am happy and I see so many miracles EVERYDAY here. Oh I am so blessed.

We had interviews with president this past week. That was wonderful. I have to take a moment to express my gratitude for righteous priesthood leaders. Sadly, I have seen leaders throughout my mission and my little time of life who does not lead righteously. It is discouraging and frustrating but at the same time it is definitely teaching me to love, support and trust my leaders as well as my Father in Heaven. I am grateful for the wonderful righteous humble leaders I have had, President Morgan and his wife are defiantly one of them. I love them.

Remember those days you would go to bed every night just dreaming about the day you would be on a mission? And now you are waking up and you are already 6 months out or your parents are picking you up or you are already home!! It's crazy how fast the time flies. It wasn't supposed to go this fast. I love Clark. He was a wonderful missionary and I know he'll be a rockin RM. :) GIVE HIM A HUGE HUG AND A KISS FROM SISTER CHECKETTS. Gracias. Welcome home Syd. Thank you for being a wonderful missionary and cousin. I love you!! Ben, keep it up. I love reading your letters grandma sends. Justin! I am so proud of you! Yay for missions! 

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT: Genesis 29:20. "And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her." Of course right after I read this during personal study my mind went off into la la land day dreaming about the day when my sweetheart and I get married. Just as soon as I was about to say I do in my dreams the spirit whispered to me.... "And Sister Checketts served 18 months for Heavenly Father and his children; and they seemed to her but a few days, for the love she had for Him and His children." 

I must tell you about Hilal.... She is like my mother with her beautiful skin decorated with soft smile wrinkles and of course the topper her dark hair lined with silver. Hilals husband moved to the states with their oldest daughter to find a job and left Hilal and their youngest daughter back in their home land, Turkey. While here Kurt (Hilals husband), after a long investigation of the church, was baptized. He once told me "I have done a lot of things for my family but being baptized and baptizing my daughter has been and will be the most valuable thing I could ever do for them." Well his baptism wasn't all butterflies and rainbows for Hilal. She came to join them here in Connecticut after four long years and she was devastated by his choice to join this church. She vowed to divorce him. To her he was blatantly going against everything they knew to be right and true especially coming from an rich Islamic background. Two years later and still married, Hilal is opening up and her heart is softening. She doesn't speak a lick of English and who better to teach her than sister missionaries!? :) She sees through our smiles, love, determination, and laughs that we are something good, and every good thing comes from God. Last night we were over at her house and she invited us for dinner!! Turkish food here I come! This is a huge step for her. I want to be here to see this family sealed for time and all eternity. I love this family.

Hmmmm....I think that's it. I love Danbury, it is hard work and partially because there isn't much work but we are working!!! Hehehe did that make sense? I love you. Thank you for your prayers, keep them coming. XO

Love, Sister OPC

I love this time of year

I found a pair of tights in our apartment, left over from another sister missionary probably ten years ago. Score for Sister Checketts... Until they shrunk while on my body! By the end of the lesson the waist of the tights was sliding down my thighs! I tried the lunge move but that's a no go with cotton garmies. 

It's been a speedo week and so much has happened... I think. Well it was Halloween this week, I don't know what other missions do but we had to retire a few hours early that night because the crazies come out. So Sister Oluwalana, Sister Ponce, Sister Tirado and I had a sleep over. We had mattresses laid out and jammies on so it quickly turned into a wrestling match. Of course I dominated. 

I would like to take another minute to talk about FB. Some of you who are on FB can see some of the work we are trying to do and I need your support! Thank you for all those who have liked or commented on posts. Please feel free to share them, leave comments, and continue to like them. If you have ANY ideas, advice or critique let me know! I would really appreciate it. At the beginning of my mission I was VERY skeptical of online proselyting and it took a lot of praying to my Heavenly Father for him to soften my heart. I have seen miracles as we have strived to use this tool appropriately and effectively. I know social media is not for everyone and it is a powerful force for bad but i can also testify that there are ways to use it in healthy, safe ways. It can be a powerful force for good too, it's your choice.

Through this technology I am able to communicate and have conversations with people across the world! I recently had the opportunity to talk to someone in Serbia about the gospel. I have been blessed, as I have prayerfully brought names to the lord, to help several loved ones come back to the goodness of the gospel. I also had the sweet opportunity to communicate with one of Clark's investigators in Germany. This work is Gods and I feel so blessed to be a part of it. You can be too! It is a wonderful way to introduce people to the church, they can meet with the missionaries online which in some cases is a less intimidating way for you and for them. I am allowed to teach people all over the world so if you have referrals for me.... EMAIL ME. I would love to reach out to them or help answer any questions they might have. My Facebook name is Sister-Olivia Page Checketts. 

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear"

1 Peter 3:15

Okay I'll step off my soapbox now. :) 

We had dinner at Hilal's this past week. Turkish food is so good! I get to try so many different things out here since we are surrounded by diversity. It's pretty sweet. But anyways.... We were able to share a message with them and that was the very first time because before it wasn't allowed. We had Hilal read some of the Family Proclamation to the World and though she didn't understand to much of it the spirit was so strong. Hilal is slowly recognizing it and you can see it as the light enters her countenance more and more. 

For the past three weeks the spirit has kindly told me over and over and over again to ask for a blessing. Three weeks is a long time, the spirit has serious patience. I was [still am] stubborn and prideful. I had no serious reason to be asking for a blessing and, to be honest, I didn't want a blessing from anyone other than my pops let alone an eighteen year old tease. Heavenly Father finally had enough of my pride and asked me "Why won't you let me bless you? These are my servants." It was serious humility time calling the Elders that night, but right after I asked them a weight, I didn't even know was there, lifted. I received a blessing from Elder Palakiko and I know without a doubt in my mind that the words he spoke were from my Father in Heaven. It was a beautiful experience. 

This area ain't easy but it feels good to be pushed to have faith and grow from it. I am happy. It feels wonderful to be out here. I love you so much. Hope you have a lovely week! XO

Love, Sister Checketts