Oh the weather outside is......actually really nice!! 12/15/14

So this week has been so long but at the same time so much fun!! Seriously I don't think I have ever been to so many Christmas parties before! But I really cant complain its been so much fun and I am finally starting to get into the habit here now and adjusting to life here in Burley. Its a really great place... small... but so fun. Like really though this place looks like it came out of a Hallmark Christmas movie! With main street all decorated in lights (Ill have to send Pictures) and where everyone knows everyone! haha But there is so much work to be done here and we have been seeing so many blessings come! 

Monday: So on Monday we had breakfast that morning with all the missionaries here at the Gibbons house (he is in our mission presidency) they do this every month and sister Gibbons makes the best homemade biscuits ever!  we had a district activity and so we had a bonfire at a members house and roasted marshmallows and played games haha you would have thought it was summer! The weather here has been so nice and basically like home I'm talking like 60s everyday! haha that night we had FHE again with the Dowdels and we helped her get some secret Santa stuff ready for Christmas! 

Tuesday: Sister Ritchel still hasn't been doing good and we are still trying to get answers as to her foot and if she really broke it or sprained it. so that morning we went and did service for the relief society in the 8th ward. Which I have to say was so funny!! they are a hoot and have been so welcoming and fun, its like home! haha so we helped wrap potatoes (SHOCKER! I know) and cut lettuce for the ward Christmas party on Wednesday. Then we had lunch as a district at the Farfans and ordered pizza and what not since we didn't have district meeting this past week. The we went and had a lesson with Taylor and we talked to her, She is really amazing and I am so in awe with how strong of a person she is! Later that afternoon we went and delivered invites to the ward party to some of our less-active and investigators to try to get the to come and we were able to meet with he Hoskins who are less active. It was awesome because sister Hoskins came to the party and when we went over to visit them they were so nice, and showed us all around there house and they are collectors... not like the scary kind... like the really cool kind. I told brother Hoskins that him and Dad would get along because his collections consist of jet skis and boats and RV's hahah! We had dinner then we went and helped out at the church to set up the tables for the Christmas party that night. 

Wednesday: So The next three days were the busiest days ever i think I went home Exhausted everyday! So we went to the Church building at 10 that morning and spent most the day at the Church helping with the Christmas party for the night. We also later that afternoon went over and finished helping sister Dowdel with her Secret Santa things. Then went back to the church to help finish up then spent that night at the party and cleaning up. haha But seriously these wards have crazy parties I love it. The ward party that night was themed a Christmas Carol so they had the whole Christmas carol acted out! Crazy but it was really fun and I got meet a whole lot more people that way so it was a success. 

Thursday: We had the mission wide Christmas party! haha I had been looking forward to that  for like the past 3 weeks! haha Its was fun because we  got to see ALL the missionaries from the mission. Got to see sister Bly :) ahah but it was so much fun. We had a whole zone conference before and then they had a talent show and then a devotional with Elder Allen of the 70. It was a packed day from 1-8 pm and we had to get up there early so it was a LONG day but so much fun! 

Friday: Was the day of the 9th wards Christmas party so we again headed over to the Church at 10 and spent the whole day there helping set up. We also had a lesson, well was going to have a lesson, with Dakota. He is 10 and his whole family are members except for him so the sisters were teaching him because he wanted to be baptize... when we went over though he told us that he was to busy to meet. so kind of disappointing but we are going to try to meet again with him this coming week. Well that night we had the party and it was great we got a lot of people to the party and a lot of good came out of it. They had a funny little talent show and they had Santa come and everything.. even a hot chocolate bar!! we got to run it too and I'm talking Stephens hot chocolate! it was awesome! 

Saturday: We were busy we had a lesson Saturday morning with Karen and Dorthy Norton. Karen is about 50 and Dorthy I think is 90 something but they are amazing women who are really seeking after the gospel and want to be baptized. Karen has been through a lot this last year and so she is working really hard to become better and the person Heavenly Father wants her to be. I love teaching them because they are so ready and Karen has the biggest heart in the world and is really seeking after it! We had lunch and then we had to weekly plan to get all caught up for the coming week. We had dinner with the Kays who own Papa Kelsey's here in Burley ( its a sandwich shop here) and so they took us to dinner there. The  we had to correlate with our ward mission leader then we went home. Sunday: Sunday we saw so many miracles happen. We got Greg to stay for gospel Principals, we had Sonya a less-active who has never been to church ( because of health issues) come! Her daughter came to town do she asked her to bring her! also we heard about a YM who is not a member who asked the leaders if he could be baptized! and there were so many more we also had a stake Christmas concert last night and a non-member couple the Zimmermans came to the concert. They are amazing and they are so prepared for the gospel. I would have thought they were already members! So it was a great end top the week. We also went over tot he Farfans that night and she mad home-made chocolate chip cookies and we played board games and what not ( it was so much fun and like home!) haha 

This week was really great and a lot of really great things are coming and I am really excited for them and to be here at this time! I love you all and home that you have an amazing week

#itsnotgoodbyeitc-yalater

Love,

Sister Owsley

Who needs running water?? Dec 8th

So this week was ....interesting! I guess We had a good start to the week. We went and had a district activity last Monday and wee all just played board games and what not. That night we had FHE with the Herraras and we went to he Burley light parade #smalltown it was literally like 5 minutes haha I was dying #10,000population. Then we had dinner with the Dowdels. Tuesday we had district meeting It was actually really good we were able to talk about a lot the blessings that come to us because of the restoration of the gospel. Then the sisters came over and we were able to do some christmas lessons. I got to meet Taylor Little,She is awesome and she is so sweet! We had dinner with our ward mission leader that night then we went out with him and contacted some people in the are. Seriously this is like the best time of year to talk to people because they are so open to the gospel! Wednesday sister Ritchel wasn't feeling well so we staying in for a while Then we got to Contact a lady named who the sisters have been teaching and we talked to her forever about her job as a special ED teacher ( thanks to sister Bly I actually knew a little of what she was talking about) We went to the Whittacers and helped the decorate for Christmas! YAY! Then had dinner with the Bishop in 8th ward. Thursday was crazy,But it was sister Ritchels and my ONE YEAR mark! We had a district service project to help with the Festival of trees here, then the sister Macdonald and Patterson took us out to ice cream. Also Sister Mclaws (from Twin) came and took us out to lunch!! Ahh so Excited. After that we had to weekly plan, that night though sister Palmer an widowed lady in the ward took us out to dinner at Steve-o's which is so goo ... Im creating a detailed list of great places to eat here in Idaho! haha Then we went home and weekly planned more, then we went over to the Farfans who we live with and the indulged us and we got to burn Tights for our 1 year.. haha pictures to follow. The elders stopped by too and were super jealous so they burned stuff too. Friday was.... uh good. That morning we had an early breakfast with the stake president here President Loveland and it was so good and they are so nice!! We then went to a members house with the sister and worked out then we came home. Unfortunately though there was no running water at home because they had to dig up the back yard to look at plumbing so we had to wait to shower. Well while we were waiting sister ritchel came to see that her ankle had swollen up and so we had to go see a dr. She has a pretty bad sprained ankle and she also is having problems with her hip.. so to make a long story short we haven't been able to do much else this week the resat of our days consisted of dr. appt and what not so she can figure out whats going on because they said there was a bigger problem. So Keep her in your prayers hopefully well get some answers! Sorry this was so short nothing too exciting but it going good and we are figuring a lot out and the work here is amazing and growing seriously such a change from my last area. Love you all so much!! 

#itsnotgoosbyeitsc-yalater

love,

Sister owsley

One Year......in Burrrrrley!

yup it getting colder that for sure!! 

This week has been CRAZY! between transfers (so spending the first half of the week in Twin and the second half in Burley), Thanksgiving, and trying to remember names I have been wiped! anyways last Monday was good it was weird though because all of the departing missionaries were at the mission office while we were there.! It was good though we got to say bye to them! We had dinner with the Folkmans in the ward and then we went and picked up Sister Walker form the mission home. She was leaving to go home but not till Wednesday so they needed to stay with some missionaries in the mean time and so they asked sister Bly and I. So she came over and we had a sleepover in the front room. We pulled out the mattresses and crashed there.:) Tuesday we visited a ton of people so I could say bye to them.  We had Lunch with Judy Taylor who took us and we got Buffalo Wild Wings which I have never had so it was humorous to everyone else! haha then we had dinner with the Mclaws and Billings who took us to the really good Mongolian grill in Twin! So MUCH Fun I miss those families so much! so That whole night I packed and got everything together. Wednesday was transfer meeting to we had to get there early... I might have cried when I left ans sister Bly stayed :( so sad to leave that girl miss her a ton too!! Oh and I also got to see the Ogaurds from Mountain Home!!! AHH IT WAS SO COOL! Sister Ritchel my new companion is great though. She and I came out at the same time last year and she served int he same ward in Twin Falls right before I got there so we got catch up! She is awesome and we have been doing really well and she has already helped me a ton! Wednesday night we went out and met some people in the ward and It been great seriously I can complain I have been so blessed to have such great and welcoming wards! Thursday was thanksgiving so wow did we eat a lot of food. 2 full thanksgiving dinners and desserts and snacks. Wow I was FULL! it was fun though I got to know a lot more members of the ward and they were all so welcoming to me even though they had never met me! Thursday was fun  we played a lot of Board games and we were able to have a fun time. with everyone's family! Friday was again Just meeting a lot of people and same with Saturday. so nothing too exciting. We do get to help out with this festival of trees this week which is a big deal here so I am excited for that we are helping them set up for there big Gala which obviously is like my favorite thing in the world to do so I'm pretty stoked. Church here is great. We cover 2 wards so I'm getting back in that mind set right now. Really its been a good week. Just a lot of Adjusting! this transfer is really going to fly by because we have so much packed into it. Between Christmas and New years and thanksgiving we are living up the holiday spirit! But I am so grateful for it. Also I don't know if yo all know yet but the Church has come out with the He Is The Gift and it s a great video and seriously watch it tit is amazing its at Christmas.Mormon.org and it is AMAZING! I love being a missionary at this time of year because people are so much more in tune with the spirit and searching for that spirit, and Miracles always happen this time of year. So I am really excited to be here and It just a new adventure!! love you all and really hope you Thanksgivings were great! 

#itsnotgoodbyeitsc-yalater

Love,

Sister Owsley 

B-Town!!!

So big news this week transfers! I'm am leaving and going to Burley! It weird I'm kind of sad and kind of happy I haven't been able to get my head on straight yet but it stinks i'm really sad to leave sister Bly like REALLY sad! Im am gonna miss that girl like crazy! I am excited though sister Ritchel is my companion and we came out together and I know her pretty well so it will be fun! and Elder Howard my old district leader is there and our Zone Leader Elder Te'o will be there too so I know we will have tons of fun. I kind of had a feeling that this was going to happen but I know there are things that I need to do there. So sad to leave this ward though they are AMAZING!!! It weird we are coming up on a year crazy right cant believe this time last year we were getting ready to go to the MTC. Time fly's so fast! 

Well as for this week it wasn't anything super crazy... Wednesday we went to the YW in excellence here and it was so cute there theme was "your eternal best friend". We also have been helping sister Billings paint her sons room and sister Bly is doing a huge mural on it and it amazing! We got to finally have a lesson with Natasha and she is so sweet I am going to miss that girl like crazy! Also we did indexing with David. I seriously have never seen someone so excited for family history work! Other than that just the usual! I Love this ward so much and I am sad to leave but, they have helped me so much and So has sister Bly I am grateful for them! 

 I love yo all and hope your week is awesome (sorry this is so short!)

#itsnotgoodbyeitsc-yalater

Love,

Sister Owsley

Pictures

1. Natasha and I 

2. The mural thus far

No dayz like snow dayz

This week was a little crazy. Had an appointment in Idaho falls hence why this email is so late.

Really thins week was nothing too exciting we keep on working with the members and trying to get them all squared away... we don't know whats happening this next transfer ( which is next Wednesday) so we are just trying to make sure that the ward is ready for whatever happens. It was a pretty good week though. We got to go to the Family History center with David this week and let me just say that It was so neat to see him get excited about family history work. He went right home and told his non-member sister about ti and she spent that whole night finding family members. We are helping out this week and we plan on getting him addicted to indexing next Hehe! :) Lately we have been doing a lot of service for the members. It helps us a ton to get to know them and serve them. its a blast too..  on a mission service is seriously the best thing! 

Oh and other exciting news this week which Im sure everyone knows but it snowed here... and this San Diego sister drove in it and did NOT crash thank you very much! However my lovely Minnesotan companion might have been very worried that I was going to too. Haha Dang did it get cold quick here! it dropped pretty quick and snowed for about two days then we got an ice storm so it froze over YAY! but dont worry we broke out the hot chocolate and Christmas music! Another Highlight of this week and let be frank this year was the primary program . Its seriously like reality TV for missionaries. the sunbeams always shine and this year it might have been one in particular who started singing her part to a tune that sounded distinctively like frozen...hhhmmmm.. she got the favorite award! haha it was great thought and I love this ward so much. It sad I feel like we just survived transfers. We had interviews with president this week and he told us that Sister Bly and I will most likely not be together next transfer. WHICH IS NOT OK let me just say! I am going to be so sad! P.s. that means probably should send some letters to the mission office address just in case next week (421 Maurice street North) Anyways those are basically the hightlight pretty steady week we are just trying to find more people to teach which is a constant theme but we know its all in the Lords timing and He will lead us to the people who are ready if we are doing the best we can! I love you all and hope that you all have an amazing week! 

#itsnotgoodbyeitsc-yalater

Love,

Sister Owsley

Service in Sweaters 11/10

So this week was pretty normal i guess. Normal in a relative missionary sense. Sorry if this letter is shorter. 

The temperatures are dropping and winter is coming. Not sure if I am excited or not.. still deciding . Monday though we had dinner with the Orotns a new family in the ward. It was so cute they have 3 little girls and a little boy and all they wanted to do was perform for us. Totally reminded me of all those time I am sure Sarah and I put on shows haha. We then went over to the Carrs a less active family in the ward and we were able to talk to sister Carr for a while and we just are trying to help her with the move and making sure she is doing okay. Tuesday we had district meeting and then we went to lunch at Daisy's probably the cutest place in the world its a little candy shop run by this older couple and they have a little diner attached to it. with soups and milkshakes. After that we went over to the older Thompsons in our ward and helped her rake up some leaves. Ya I learned to rake leave like a ton this week! We had dinner with Joan smith and her friend she took us to chilis for dinner YUM!! Had a lesson with David our new recent convert! We talked a lot about Family history work and he is really excited to take names to the temple soon. Wednesday We kind of had to run around in the morning to take care of some insurance stuff for sister Bly. We went with sister Christensen about ward missionary things and then we went and did service for these non-members. Anne and Van Petersen. Sister Manning in the ward told them we could help with some yard work. Van just had back surgery so he wasn't able to help so we cleaned out their gardens and raked.. again! we went back twice that week! Had dinner with the Perrons in the ward who they have 2 sons on a missions right now and then we went to contract a referral we have been trying to get a hold of forever. So we stopped by her mom opened the door, then she let us in and told us Kayla (the girl we were trying to contact) was sleeping but she asked if we wanted to sit down. We ended up talking to her for an hour and a half! She has so many people who are members of the church and she knows so much, in that short time she opened up about so much and I can honestly that it wasn't anything i said or did it was all the spirit. she invited us back and we are also going to help her paint! woot woot service! Thursday we had to run more errands.. :/ I had to pick up somethings from the hosptial and what not. We went over and helped sister manning finish painting her fence. had dinner at the Robinsons who we LOVE!! and weekly planned.. not so fun haha ;). Friday sister Bly had Physical therapy and then after we went and did more service!! helped sister Pertersen (different one than ann) who is a single sister in the ward we raked her leaves and then we mowed her lawn for her. Afterwards we sat and talked to her for a while. It amazes me how the members here are doing so much missionary work! She told us how she invited some people to do family history work so she was going to help them out! We had dinner that night at the Soloagas who is the less active family we have been helping. Oh My goodness I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! We had a blast over there and they are changing so much! since the first time we met them a month ago there has been such a change in there lives and there family. And they are ALL coming to church now! #BESTPARTOFMISSIONARYWORK! Saturday we Helped out Anne again and Mary Toft form another ward (she like JUST got home from her mission) Came and helped us, she was so much fun! We went over and helped out sister Adams, the primary president, get ready for the primary program. had Chinese dinner dropped off to us! GREAT!! and then we went to the elders baptism. After that we sat in the car for a while and sister Bly was struggling and so we talked and then we went and walked around the temple. It seriously is such a blessing to live so close to it! WOW! even though we cant go every week its still just a blessing being able to walk on the grounds it brought me so much peace and comfort that I cant even describe! Sunday we had church, we got to help sister Grimshaw in her lesson, had missionary meeting. Came home, lunch, weekly planned more since we didn't get to finish. Had dinner with the Spauldings who just moved in. He is our Gospel Essentials teacher and they are hilarious he reminds us so much of Caesar Flikerman from the hunger games!! Haha its there are seriously the sweetest people and we had such a good time with them! 

Well that's about all this week 2 new investigators and lots of service really cant complain Its great. Definitely bundling up here for winter its getting COLD! haha Love you all and hope the week is Warm :) 

#itsnotgoodbyeitsc-yalater

love,

Sister Owsley

CRAZYY Busy!! 11/3

Happy Halloween

This week has been CRAZY! We have been out all day and haven't come home till late. Its great but man was it great to get an extra hour of sleep this weekend.
> Monday: We had a crazy p-day and sister Bly got her hair done so that was fun got mine cut for free :0 woot woot! We had a lesson with Kamryn and her family. They opened up to us a lot and April her mom talked to us about the struggles the ahve had getting to the temple so we mad some goals with them and we are so excited for them, We just love them so much! We had dinner with the Allens that night and they took us to Johnny Carinos for dinner and they are hilarious brother Allen totally reminds me of dad and it was so much fun to have FHE with them. Later than night we got home and finally looked at our phone right before i got into bed... and we had like 20 messages from the zone leaders.. we forgot to turn in some of our numbers opps ;) haha so right as i am about to start listening to then 20 voice-mails they left we hear the door bell ring and so i of course pushed sister Bly in front and made her open the door.. and the zone leaders were standing there with very serious faces on and we just started laughing and. and they told us to come stand in front of them and they totally silly stringed us! haha we were all laughing so hard! haha so funny.. (elders are so weird!)
> Tuesday: We didn't have district meeting this week because of zone meeting. so we got some stuff done in the morning for our baptism that weekend. Then we went out and sister Mclaws took us to lunch and it was so much fun. After we went and helped her with some socks (ya they are cool and own a sock business!)  We then went over and helped the billings with there party and finishing some stuff up. We had dinner at the Lynches and we had a lesson with David that night to go over somethings for his baptism. He is seriously amazing we just loved teaching him so much!
> Wednesday: Sister Bly had physical therapy that morning then we had lunch and we met with one of our ward missionaries to go over plans for the baptism on Saturday. Helped the billings again! haha Had our last lesson with the Kamryn before her baptism this weekend. Had dinner with Judy Taylor it was really cool though we have been helping her put in her mission papers and we had a really good conversation with her about everything missions and all!
> Thursday: We went over early since it was the day of the party and helped them. We had to leave though and go and help sister carr and new family that moved in about 2 months ago. She has been really stressed and so we went over and helped her clean and empty a lot of boxes. I love this ward though because we called up the relief society and sister Quast came as well as sister Mclaws just came and helped us. We went over to the billings and I did her makeup for the party. Had dinner with the Thompson's and we had thai food (common theme much?)Then we had the party that night! So much fun!
> Friday: HALLOWEEN! We had Zone meeting in the morning then we had Davids interview. It was amazing and he was so excited and ready! We had dinner with the Days later that night. and then we had to be in by 6 so we got to have a district party. We watched the RM and played apples to apples and it was great! so much candy and it was so much fun!
> Saturday: We got to go over to Kamryns and do her hair for the baptism. the we went to her baptism and it was so cool and we love her so much! We ran around all crazy and trying to get ready for the baptism. But Davids baptism was later that night and it was so amazing! He was so excited and I really couldn't complain it was the first baptism where nothing went wrong! AHHH! but we had dinner after with the Albrechts and we were able to help Sister Albrecht with some things she was struggling with. She is amazing and does so much good even just for the missionaries so I was glad we got to sit and talk to her.
> Sunday: David was confirmed in church and President and sister Curits came to our sacrament meeting . He was just beaming and I was so happy for him! All the lessons were just really inspired and exactly what I needed to hear. We had dinner with the Ames and we were able to go and watch part of the CES Devotional.
> This week was crazy but it was so good. Love being busy and it was what I really needed this week. I love you all and hope that you all had a good week!
>
> #itsnotgoodbyeitsc-yalater
>
> love,
> Sister Owsley