Sister Mettra

For the last time

2011-12-20T13:00:00.001-08:00

Visit my sister's blog to see some of my last pictures...

http://www.reubenandkira.com/2011/12/for-last-time.html

18 Months Later... the LAST one:(

2011-12-18T08:04:00.000-08:00

Dearest Family, Friends and everyone I LOVE

Here we are 18 months later. As my hands touch this key board I feel them trembling a little trying to find the words to express how I truly feel. Its surreal sitting here writing this email knowing it’s my last one. This past week has been amazing the Lord is truly blessing us for all our efforts. We are realizing how truly sensitive we are to the spirit, we cry daily with just a simple testimony of the Savior. Because, it’s much deeper than I ever dreamed it’s real. This mission has gone through me I haven't gone through the mission. I truly believe 18 months later I've found who I really am and where I came from. I know that you find your purpose when you find Jesus Christ. I couldn't have made this journey alone. How can I really sum up 18 months of memories? When I stepped on Temple Square just 18 months ago, I never expected the things I would learn or really who I would be at the end. I think the experience of this mission has been much like a stone in a river.

Like stones in the river, we are tossed and turned when the current moves so strong but stones in living waters over time are shaped until the edges are gone, polished and smooth, that's what we will be, if we put ourselves in god's hands each day of our lives is a gift from the giver to smooth all the edges like stones in the river

I have been shaped in every possible way. My rough edges of fear are gone, I trust him. I’m grateful for the strong currents that have pushed me to change. I always said, this mission will save my life and in many ways I believe it has. What a blessing and honor it’s been to serve the Lord for a year and a half of my life. This week we were teaching Jacob one of our most favorite investigators and we issued him a challenge to read Alma 7and Luke 2 and think about who Jesus Christ could be to him. And to finish this sentence with three words, Jesus Christ is___. I’ve been pondering on that myself in personal study and there are so many words I could use. But Jesus Christ is hope, love, happiness to me. It’s amazing to watch hearts change when they find Jesus Christ in their own lives and apply it. I want to share the miracles of this week there has been many so brace you. This is the finale!!

Common Sista Really

I might as well start with one of the most recent. Alfonso from Alabama quite the character let me tell you that. Sister Harmer and I were at the west gate just talking to the 30,000 people here for the lights when Alfonso walks up. We started talking to him and learned that he has met with missionaries before but wasn’t sure if the church was legit or not. We showed him a mormon.org video on Paris. This guy from Alabama who found the church and is now serving a mission. We actually gave him a Book of Mormon and encouraged him to keep meeting with the local missionaries. Sister Harmer and I were able to testify so briefly and powerfully why this was important. It felt so good; I think heavenly father was preparing us for after mission life missionary work.

Eymard!!

Don’t even worry one of the happiest moments on my mission. December 10^th 2011 Eymard Martin was baptized in Ireland. We are so proud of him, we called him the day before he was baptized and he was so excited to be baptized. He said thank you for everything you’ve done for me so that I can receive the restored gospel. Here are some of his quotes.

“Just Taught that id send you a quick email before I go off and get baptized. Hope you are well. And have an awesome day thank you for all that u sisters have teached me up to my baptism”

Hey, Sister Jenna & Sister Amy!

“Just back from my baptism,

You wanted to know how I felt, after it, Well first I felt a little wet, and that I needed air, like if I was ducked underwater. hahaha okay, I felt great really felt the spirit, and more so when I went to change and had some time to my self for a few mins,”

What a blessing it’s been teaching Eymard. He is amazing and after we talked to him I could hear a change in his voice. Even though we never met Eymard face to face, he has made an impact in my life. Really though Sister Harmer and I were smiling all day! I’ve attached pictures.

Michael in Ghana

We LOVE Michael this week we had to say goodbye to him because it was our last time calling Africa. He is hilarious I remember the first time we called him he was watching Oprah and then the second time cheaper by the dozen he said he was keeping a low profile ha. He is seriously amazing; I wish everyone had the chance to teach Africa. They are so prepared and are waiting to come unto Christ. His response to us leaving our missions was, “oh no no why you leave me?” With the sweetest African sigh and then said, “ Jenna and Amy I will be baptized December 23 2011 you skype me from America. (ps if you didn’t know that is my birthday and Joseph Smiths so it’s a pretty big deal!) We told Michael that we were crying and he goes, “Jenna Amy don’t cry your tears will freeze on your face then laughs at himself so loud haha. We will miss talking and teaching to him but we know that the Lord will take care of him. Before he said goodbye he said, “Oh my Jenna and Amy I’m so lucky to meet you are such beautiful ladies.” Thank you for giving me the gift.

Walking with President

For some reason every time Sister Harmer and I plan to go outside to contact people on the Square, we find President Holmes. This week was extra special probably because it will be one of the last times it happens. We found him in the North Visitors Center and we all walked out together as the Nativity came on. In complete silence we looked at each other and started to have tears in our eyes, the spirit was so strong. And all Presidents said is; “imagine if Joseph could see this now.” It was so powerful because really none of this would be here. And all the things he went through I don’t know if he could have imagined all these beautiful people. Again we talked about miracles we’ve had on the square. In that moment Sister Harmer and I truly felt our calling, and who we are right now.

President Seppi

Monday night President Seppi first counselor in our mission presidency came into the North Visitors Center and I shook his hand. He said, “ Sister Mettra looks like you’re going home pretty soon. Tears just filled my eyes and I said President let’s not talk about that!! And he said, “Well I don’t really know what Temple Square will do without you. It will be different.” We both just started to cry and he walked away. I’ll never forget that moment it really meant a lot to me.

The next two phone calls changed my mission, and I know these both needed to happen before I sent this email. The Referral Center has been one of my most favorite things on my mission. Connecting with people over the phone and really being able to talk to anyone.

David

I met this member named Tony while standing at the desk one Monday night and he gave me his best friend David to call. It was after a long talk he just thought of him and I knew that there was a reason why I needed to call. I prayed a lot about this phone call and finally I was able to talk to him. When he answered he was in a party but once he heard his best friend referred him he stepped outside. It was hard at first to get through to him but after a while he opened up. He has such a wonderful heart and had been through a lot of things in his life including losing his father not too long ago. I shared with him how I was able to gain comfort in the scriptures when I lost a good friend of mine. I asked him, where he thought his father went? And he said that he hoped there was something after this life. After reading Alma 40 and telling him how much the gospel meant to me. I felt prompted to read Moroni's promise. He paused for a long while and I just started to cry, I could feel it so strong. I said what are you thinking? He said, geez I’m at a lost of words I’m kinda choked up. I testified of the power of the spirit and promised him that he would see his father again. He didn’t have a testimony of prayer and didn’t think it was real. So I asked if I could kneel down and say a prayer on the phone. Imagine this college student outside of a party in Arizona praying on the phone. After the prayer it went silent the spirit was thick and I said, David I know that you have two fathers in Heaven listening to you and love you very much. I couldn’t believe the words that came out of my mouth. But I knew that it was straight from Heaven. We are now teaching David.

Forrest

Forrest was a member referral from actually one of the Elders that Kira taught in the MTC. Elder Riggs he is home now though but I was lucky enough to meet him and receive this referral. This is his cousin and honestly from the moment I received it I has the strongest impression that I needed to get a hold of him before I went home. Well last week I was able to talk to him for a couple of moments but Thursday was when I really talked to him. He had finals and was really busy but finally we got in contact. What an incredible person he is. I asked him what happiness was and he said he didn’t really know. He has been searching for a long time and wants answers. If I could truly write this whole conversation it would take me hours because it was so personal and spirit led. A lot happen over the course of those 40 min (and they are never that long) but this one needed more time and I was honored to spend this time on the phone with him. He told me that he didn’t trust people and was surprised how much he trusted me. And he said it’s probably because you are a million miles away and I can’t see you. And I said yeah maybe. I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer as I boldly said, “but really Forrest I think it’s because I’m a representative of Jesus Christ you can feel of his love because he knows you. And you can trust me because I represent him, and say the things he wants you to know. “The phone went silent and we both were at a loss of words. I promised that his heart would be healed if he would move his feet. I had the same familiar prompting to read in Enos and help him understand he could start fresh from all the pain and sorrow. I could barely read the words on the page my tears were so thick. I committed him to be baptized right there when the spirit was the strongest. He responded with a tear filled, yes I will. Honestly if I tried to prepare for this phone call before I never would have been ready. This changed my life, I know who I am and why I’m here. I am a representative of Jesus Christ and will be the rest of my life without my tag. We are teaching Forrest. I love him very much, such a special young man.

Sams Baptism

Ah today we were honored to attend the baptism of Sam Case! He has been in and out of prison and recovering meth addict so it was very special to see him start fresh and really leave the past behind him. We have been waiting all month for this and was a wonderful way to spend our last Saturday morning. I was asked to sing at his baptism. We met Sam on an Elders Tour and we connected instantly he is really wonderful. Well we walk in they didn’t know I was singing so there was a lot of last minute changes to the program. Typical ahhaha. But I was fine with it. So I went up and sang after his preacher in prison said some touching words from the bible. It was really interesting the things that he said about baptism but we welcomed it all. As I sang my song Sam sat there with his arms wide open and closed his eyes he was crying. Then when I was about to finish the last verse, “ So when life gets dark and dreary, don’t forget to pray.” “CLICK” Yep Same grabbed his disposable camera and took a picture of me hahahah. Everyone was laughing kinda killed the spirit but that’s ok! Then my favorite part his baptism. Don’t even worry he went under the water and when he came up he rolled and hit his head on the wall hahahahha. Not hard where he was hurt just hilarious. Most of the baptism was spent laughing, but it was really tender too. Sam is so special to us and we love him and are very proud of him. I attached pictures too!

Music and The Spoken Words Gives a Farewell To Departing Sisters

We were able to attend music and the spoken word for our last time on Sunday. It was so special in the conference center with all of the Christmas decorations and lots of people. My personal favorite was Away in a Manger it was beautiful and I really felt the spirit so strong. At the end Loyd Newell had us stand up and be recognized for our service and everyone clapped and there were a lot of tears. This is what it comes down to. 18 months. What an honor to be recognized in that setting. And the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Singing God Be With you Till We Meet Again. Tears were streaming that’s for sure.

Some Randoms to Close

· We had our Departing Temple Trip with President and Sister Holmes

· It looks like we are in a Zoo at night what is up with these animal hats, it’s cute on little kiddies but what is with these 30 year olds with elephants on their heads? It’s Strange.

· Its freezing Cold

· Sunday I’m singing O Holy Night in Church!

Well there is so much more I could say but I must send this so you receive it before I come home on Tuesday. I love you all so much and thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the Love and support you’ve given me. What greater gift can we give then the gospel of Jesus Christ? Share it with the world. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and was born in a manger that still Christmas night. I love the Sheppard’s and how faithful they were to see the star. May we all look for that star in our life and find Christ.

Love Sister Mettra

Christmas Spirit

2011-12-14T07:40:00.001-08:00

Dearest Family & Friends

The Lights are up and it’s amazing every night we get to feel the spirit of Christmas. Sister Harmer and I have been teaching a lot lately what a miracle. We are very busy and I'm so grateful for every moment! Last night was a night I'll never forget. Sister Harmer and I were privileged enough to walk around temple square with President Holmes. What a memorable experience talking about mission miracles and our thoughts about the season. We all had a little tear in our eye understanding that we would be leaving soon. The lights on Temple Square are amazing and beautiful I wouldn't have it another way. Walking through the square with President it seems as though we were a little more reverent remembering everything we have been through. The temple glowing in the night and all the thousands of people everywhere, and then over tones of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir playing. I love it here and know that this is truly what the Christmas Season is all about.

I've spent a lot of time in the RC this week it’s been pretty intense because I have so many people to call. Time is running out sadly and I have to be so in tune with the spirit to know whom I need to call before I leave. Here are a few stories from this week.

Paula

He straight up just got out of prison about 2 weeks ago. I met his uncle here and just talked to him for a few moments it was crazy I was just saying hello and told him I liked his shoes. Then he goes I don't know why Sister but I want you to call my nephew. And I said I would love to, he said I can just feel it. Well I felt very honored to actually call 2 of his nephews that were just realized from prison after 6 years time. I talked with Paula he was pretty confused who I was and why I was calling but I continued on. I said that his Uncle came here and thought of him out of anyone in the world. And he said girl I don't know why he thought of me. And I went on to teach him about the atonement and what that could mean for him in his life. Enos 1 was read and for a moment it was almost like I could feel the despair in this man although I wasn't there and I couldn't see him. He said, yeah I guess I need to find God again. I told him that God loved him very much and wanted to heal his heart. I asked to say a prayer with him before I got off the phone. Now please picture a ripped Tongan about 6'4 don't worry he told me. And I asked him if he would kneel down where he was and I was doing the same. I said a prayer and really at that moment I felt like I wasn't speaking. The words coming out were really what he needed. And I felt his heart change. We are calling him next week.

Jacob

So as most of you know well if you really know me. I'm obsessed with Texas! So naturally if we have someone we are teaching from Texas I'm really excited. Well I told this guy we met on chat that I loved Texas in fact it was the second best state in the country. He said oh really what is first, and then I gently reminded him California was first. He said that is a lie I HATE California and everyone from there. Ha isn't that a great way to start a lesson seeing the fact Sister Harmer and I are from California. Well never the less the spirit softened his heart a lot. I think he was only kidding he secretly loves California. Anyways we started teaching him about Adam and Eve he had a lot of questions. And it was amazing how Sister Harmer and I both were able to testify on free agency and why that is so important. Jacob is amazing he wants to have answers now, and is really searching. We will be teaching him again this week!

A funny.... Don't even worry I was talking to someone and they recently started practicing Buddhism. After talking for a while I said, " So how do you feel bottyism has helped you in your life." HAHAH I'm ridic.

Well I will have more to write next week just wanted to share a few thoughts. The square is getting busier every night. I'm so grateful to have attended the Christmas Devotional, my last time hearing from the prophet as a missionary. Tender moment. Just being there in that room meant so much. I know that Jesus Christ truly is the Savior of the World and was born to save us all. What a miracle he was born. I love him and I love my father in Heaven. Here is a clip from a child teaching us yet again what it is all about.

Christmas Spirit

I love you all and hope that your week is full of Christmas Spirit.

Love Sister Mettra

Pictures

2011-12-05T09:25:00.001-08:00

I have large eyes.

Facial stretches before we hit the square.

Sister Moore, obviously one of my best friends.

Watching a movie.

Announcing, at work!

300 layers- it's so cold!

Bring them home

2011-12-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

Sweet Hallelujah!!!! - Sister Moore's favorite phrase

Oh I'm smiling so big. I love every minute of this work and really feel it every time I open my mouth. Sister Harmer and I love each other and have had so many amazing experiences this week that I can barely type fast enough to do them justice. We are being so blessed for working so hard. I've come to understand that none of this is really possible unless we gain a witness for ourselves. And that was manifest to me many times this week. There are things that Sister Mettra can do that Jenna never could. I believe it; I know it and I live it everyday. I'm so grateful for the trials that I've faced because it made me who I am right now. Sometimes trials will sting and physically, spiritually, emotionally and it won't be easy. But I testify from the deepest corner of my heart that with Gods help its possible. As we meet these people it’s so important that we put them just a step closer to their final destination, our Father in Heaven. I'm so humbled by this opportunity to serve with everything I have. I think back sometimes how it was hard to leave everything I knew. But what I know now weighs out any doubts of the past. I know that God lives and that through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can be healed from anything. And I know that because I've lived it and felt the reality of the atonement of Jesus Christ. We don't walk alone.

You Will Find Peace

This week Sister Harmer had a V.I.P Tour and so I was on exchanges with Sister Manukian from Armenia. I said what can I help you with we can go anywhere and she said, Sister Mettra please teach me the RC I don't know how you do it. I was so humbled to teach her what a blessing. Well we sat down and I had conferenced her in and put her on mute so she could hear the conversation. It was so tender she had a note pad and was taking notes of everything I was saying. I really prayed for Heavens help in my head, " Father we need a miracle." Well I literally called 15 people and no one answered. I could feel the pressure I really wanted to be able to help her love the RC but no one was answering. I had the flash back of this members face we met at conference and thought to call one of the names he had given us. Well two rings go by and I knew this was it. Devin answered the phone and we started talking and I introduced myself and told him where I was from why I was calling. He wasn't totally excited to talk to me but I kept the faith and continued to talk to him. Finally when nothing was working I paused and asked if he had a faith in Jesus Christ. Another pause and I thought man I hope he doesn't hang up. " I guess I'm Mormon but I haven't been since I was 14 after my parents got divorced." Its amazing how one inspired simple question can change everything. I felt a reverence for him like Heavenly Father was literally like, ok Sister Mettra I'm putting him in your hands lead him back. I promised him that he could find eternal peace. He opened up and started sharing more about what was holding him back. I read Enos 1 with him and asked him, what would it mean for you to have your guilt and pain swept away? I started to feel a stronger presence of the spirit then ever before and realized how precious this Son of God was to our Father in Heaven. I said, Devin you aren't too far-gone, your father misses you and he wants you back. I paused to let the spirit testify and it did so powerfully. I invited him to pray that night and ask God if he was there. Then that familiar spirit entered my heart as it has a few times before, " Sister Mettra pray with him." I asked him if we could pray and we all got down on our knees. Devin in AZ and Sister Manukian and I in SLC. Tears came to my eyes as I prayed with Devin. I know that this moment will be vital for the path he will walk for the rest of his life. And I am so grateful I was able to be apart of it.

I Love My Jesus

I can’t leave out Jimmy because it’s just too funny. Jimmy is our investigator from Indiana and says the funniest things when we are teaching him. I'll just quote a few he is so tender and really just wants to do what God wants him too.

" I'm married to the Lord Jesus I must not fornicate, praise Jesus you hear."

" Them lionesses keep coming and tempting me I'm serious you hear."

" My stony heart turned into a fleshy one, so keep them devils away."

There are many more but he is one of our favorites and always says the sweetest most intense prayers I've ever heard.

Memebers Matter

Sometimes as missionaries we tend to forget the members. When in reality they are just as important and it drives me crazy when people treat them differently or pass over them on the square. We met the most amazing members in the Beehive House (which BTW is amazing.) Logan and his Dad taught us what it means to love your family. The father talked about how him and his wife couldn't have children and were told don't even try. But now have 4 healthy children and Logan is preparing for a mission. As we went through the house and shared about Brigham Young the spirit was so strong and all of us really felt it. But the most powerful moment which maybe a lot of you don't know is a revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants was received in the Beehive House. We got to the room and we stopped and asked the Dad how he raised 4 wonderful children in the gospel. He replied, my wife and I put them in places where they could receive personal revelation. Sister Harmer explained the revelation that was given in that room and how powerful it is for our testimonies. Then I simply paused and said, " I remember the night I found God." Tears were streaming down my face my emotions were so thick because for a moment I was back in my car that rainy night and remembered how I felt. Prayers are heard. At the end of the tour the father looked straight into my eyes and said "don’t you ever give up you will change many lives." I'm so grateful for strong members of the church that understand what this is all about.

Amy

She is an investigator we received from Alyssa and she is so dedicated. But also says interesting things such as this......

We shared a scripture with Amy. She's from Colorado. After we shared the scripture, we paused, leaving room for the Spirit. Amy broke the silence with an unexpected......"cute". Not to mention her response in a later lesson about Joseph's first vision....."awwwww". Thanks Amy.

The Heavens Opened

So do you remember Richard the one that calls me his little lady? Well we are teaching him and he has been kinda sick the last couple of days. I asked is the missionaries had ever come and he said I don't know I might not be here Jenna. I said come on Richard are you doing street things hahah and he started laughing and said yeah you know me Jenna baby I be a street man. Well Sister Harmer and I shared some scriptures and it was a wonderful lesson and then we wanted to close with a prayer. We all got on our knees and we asked him what he would like us to pray for. Missionaries! And so we both looked at each other and said ok we will pray that the missionaries get there soon. And then he cut is off and said hold up yep they be at my door. Them missionaries are walking up let me get the Dog! Ha-ha we were smiling and laughing so hard cause we hadn't started praying and the missionaries were on his doorstep. He answered the door and said hey I got your people from Utah on the phone! Hahaha he said baby Jenna I'll you back ok Amy k bye. What an amazing/ funny moment! Heavenly Father was watching.

Orange Street Branch

We had an amazing opportunity to speak in another service on Sunday. Its not a ward it’s actually a half way house for women who have just come out of prison. Kinda scary I'll be honest but we were able to give them peace in their growing process. I was asked to sing, and I sang did you think to pray. Looking into these women’s eyes most have been beaten and told they are worthless and the messages that day gave them hope. Michelle was my favorite from Texas duh! Well she said, " Sister Mettra your voice healed me today thank you." She had been beaten and many other things and had a very rough life. The atonement is so real. And I knew God loved his daughters in that room that had gone away for a season. But now are looking for peace.

Stone

Sister Harmer secretly speaking Danish and Spanish so we took a Danish tour with a wonderful man named Stone! I just smiled and bore my testimony when prompted but one of the most powerful moments with Stone was in the Assembly Hall. I said " Stone God loves you and he wants you to feel it for yourself. I always believed in God and Jesus Christ but it wasn't until I got down on my knees and asked until I knew. You can know too." He looked up at me and said, " That was beautiful thank you." Gift of tongues is real.

Following The Spirit Might Require Literally Stalking/ Chasing

I will leave you with the biggest miracle this week. Tony! We love him so much but let me explain how we found him. We were finishing a Gods Plan and walking past the Christus when I saw a man sitting in a black leather jacket and the spirit yelled TALK TO HIM. Well he started walking and so I looked at Sister Harmer and said we have to follow him. Well we did all the way down the ramp through the North Visitors Center and outside creepy whatever. We walked right over to him and I said yeah we were following you sorry ha. You look like my friend hahaha. We quickly realized this was a very sacred moment led only by the spirit. He said he feels like the black sheep in his family. We both started to cry and told him how much God loved him and that he didn't have to do this alone. We both shared powerful stories and it was exactly what he needed. He told us that he was gay and it’s been really hard. Good thing Sister Harmer and I love gay people and just really want them to know that God loves them. We asked his favorite hymn and it was because I have been given much. I sang it in against the wall while it was no more then 20 degrees outside but as I opened my mouth I felt warm. We are so grateful for meeting Tony and know that the spirit truly led us to him.

Well I love you all so much and know that Sister Harmer and are bringing them home! Everyone we can find!

"If logic brought you in, then logic will bring you out." - President Holmes we can only know this is true through the spirit.

Love Sister Mettra

I'm so Grateful!!!

2011-12-05T08:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Well I'm so grateful for this week and all the things I'm learning everyday. Sister Harmer and I are tarring it up really working so hard and I love every minute of it. Tonight we are actually going to see Savior of The World which I'm really excited for because I was in it a couple of years ago. We have had quite the week as always. We started with leadership training in the Conference Center NBD. I'm so grateful to be serving here; I would never be able to do that at any other time. We really do receive high quality training always President Holmes is amazing and so inspired. So let me just tell you what we have introduced to the Temple Square Mission...... Cell phones! Ha yeah you are all probs thinking what? Didn't you already have those, FALSE. We have had special 80's addition of pagers for 17 months of my mission ha. I'm straight up don't know how to text which if you know me is very strange. Sister Harmer and I are discovering how together. So this is the rule, 10 words or less... Super weird yeah I thought so too. But guess what it is possible. It is so inspired here listen to a couple of these. Ps the purpose of texting is for daily contacting our investigators. So we send them little 10 word texts and pray about it before its so intense but it works. It all depends on their needs of course.

* You can do hard things.

* Church on Sunday you promised

* Put down the drink, God will give you strength

* When you left your room this morning, did you pray?

* God Loves you, we're praying for you

* If only you could see yourself as God sees you.

* 10% for 100% blessings pay your tithing.

Those are just a couple but it’s amazing what happens. Two sisters used these 10 words to uplift an investigator, and said something to the affect of don’t worry God knows you he loves you. Little did they know the exact moment they sent that text message, his car was flipping over and spinning on ice. He survived and when he looked at his phone he saw those 10 words. He is being baptized. What a miracle this is to uplift them and give that that strength to keep going. If we only teach them twice a week Satan has room to play for the other days. False not with this program. We are seeing it very helpful. Brevity and Clarity in all things invites the spirit. I love how much this mission has changed while I've been here. Miracles daily.

I HAVE to GO JENNA!

So Brian Kekana is probably one of my favorite investigators he is so humble and just wants to come closer the Savior. He is so amazing and I'm honored to have met him on chat many months ago. When Sister Harmer and I were teaching him last week he was telling us he wants to change he wants to be better. Ps keep in mind he is in Africa. I said Brian you can want to change, but unless you move your feet you will never be able to change. You need to go to church because you will be able to receive answers to your prayers, and finally meet the missionaries. " I HAVE TO GO JENNA" Sister Harmer and I just paused and looked at each other cause he thought he was hanging up. " I have to go to church my Jenna I will go this Sunday because you are my angel and I know he sent you." So tender he loves God so much and just wants to be better everyday. He will be baptized before I go home!

You are my Angel

So Sister Harmer was on the phone and I was chatting with this women named Rakhee I know without a shadow of a doubt I needed to talk to her. It was truly amazing how the spirit led my hands to type the things I did. She wants to learn more about how to have peace. Here are some parts to our chat. She is amazing we will be teaching her.

Me: I promise you I know I'm a stranger but I have been healed from things that I thought were never possible

Me: You are a daughter of God and he wants to hear from you

rakhee: I know Jenna it is His wish who brought me here to talk to you. You are his angel..I think

rakhee: really..I want to know more about this Jenna

Me: Because I wouldn't be sitting here today if it wasn't for the gospel and what I have come to know for myself

rakhee: please tell me more about your experiences,..

Me: rakhee God has a plan for you. You are a daughter of God and he loves you very much he doesn't want you to have to do it alone. He has provided a way for your family to be together forever. And I know that you will receive an answer to your prayers. Your Father in Heaven knows your heart.

Me: how do you feel?

rakhee: I feel good...really

Me: Rakhee that is the spirit testifying to your heart that God loves you

rakhee: I feel it I feel it Jenna you are awesome my friend

I'm so humbled to have met her and know that it was all the spirit.

I am Grateful For.......

The Savior

My Father in Heaven who loves me and hears every prayer

The Book of Mormon its true by the way

My Family

My nametag

Temple Square

My voice that I can testify to the World that Jesus is the Christ

A living prophet

Nature

Music

The spirit

My companion and all of the past ones

My hero's

My Journal

Mail

Winter Mints

My eyes because I can see Gods creations, and the Lost Children

Smiles

Knowledge

Laughing!!! HaHAHA

Jokes

The Temple

Mom and Dad <3

Our investigators!

The Priesthood

Lotion

LOVE

Phones, so we can teach the world

That the Savior Jesus Christ was born

http://lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages?lang=eng&start=49&end=60#2010-05-10-my-new-life

We have so much to be grateful for. What is your title of faith? Right now I am a reprehensive of Jesus Christ but had to work for that title. What are you willing to sacrifice? I reflected on that a lot this week. 18 Months ago I took of any other title I had and replaced it with Jesus Christ, I'm so thankful.

And a million other things I didn't type.... I am grateful to know this gospel is true with all my heart. And to understand how much God loves each and every one of us. I am thankful for the testimony I've gained of The Book of Mormon and it’s changed my life. I love serving at this time and everything I'm learning.

I love you All! And I'm so grateful for each of you . Thank you for everything you have done.

Love Sister Mettra

In no particular order

2011-11-18T19:47:00.001-08:00

Sister Mettra with some other nice Sisters at Zone leader conference at the Capitol. "Like Wo."

Changing

2011-11-09T21:24:00.000-08:00

Sister Frye's last trax ride.

Mo Tab

Me with Sister Nelson

My Polly

Dear Loves....

Well today starts my last transfer on my mission its really bittersweet. I gave a big hug goodbye to Sister Frye this morning and wished her good luck in her new life i will miss her a lot but am excited for her in every way. Sister Harmer is my new companion from San Jose California!!! Love her we were in the MTC together and we have already had a wonderful morning full of miracles. It doesn't seem real that its the last transfer conference and everything Sister Harmer and I are feeling like its a dream ha. This morning we called Brian Kekana and he is an angel. I haven't been able to get a hold of him in a really long time so I'm grateful that he answered. He just said, " Jenna my angel Jenna I feel so lost you must help me my angel Jenna." if you don't remember Brian he lives in South Africa and he is amazing. What a humbling moment to teach this man all the way in Africa and he wants to know his Savior. Sister Harmer and I just teared up a little as he poured out his soul to us we love him. He said " Jenna my God don't love me anymore so you pray for me." I said, " Brian God loves you so much and he wants to hear from you." I decided to sing him a primary song, I know my Heavenly Father loves me. After i sang it he said, " Jenna i feel it in my soul it is my song I feel it deep I miss your voice." We committed him to go to church and move his feet towards Christ, I'll never forget those words and the sincere desire he has to want to be better. We are never alone, and our Father in Heaven loves us he wants to hear from us.

Kelly!

So update on Kelly so excited! Well Sister Frye was in the temple yesterday so I called Kelly and she is doing amazing. Her and her boyfriend are getting married and then planning to be sealed in a year. She kept telling me over and over how grateful she is for Christine and I sharing with her the gospel and helping her feel the spirit. She said " Jenna this is all the Lords will because i feel his hand in my life right now as I'm learning from you." We see her being baptized sometime this month! Kelly lives in Las Vegas.

Tabatha David and Sam

Ah I love them sooo much! We met Tabatha and David on the tour with little Noah that got baptized. They are adorable and I love them. Tabatha said , Sister Mettra will you teach me how I can go inside the temple one day? So tender. So we put the referral through and Sister Missionaries in Salt Lake South are teaching them! We are so excited. What a blessing they want to be baptized so we will be going to that this transfer.

Doctrine and Covenants 122:7

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the ^apit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the ^bdeep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to ^chedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of ^dhell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee ^eexperience, and shall be for thy good.

I feel like this scripture perfectly depicts my Sunday ha not in a depressing way but I literally felt so burdened down. My companion was leaving and a lot was happening in the mission, people dropping us, family, everything was being pushed upon my heart. I was left in my room praying and crying harder then I have in a long time, I had walked my last steps i couldn't walk another that day just so much emotion. And as I sat up I wrote in my journal and realized that this moment was vital to pass to my last transfer. This mission means everything to me and as I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders I can literally be free when I trust the Lord. Now that doesn't mean its easy or even fair, but it is worth it. I received such a clear answer when I read the scriptures and prayed, this is all true. My heart is so full of gratitude to my Father in Heaven, I can do hard things and smile. Cause really your smile is the first testimony people see. ) And I know that the Lord carried me through this week there is no other way I would have made it. I'm so grateful for the strength i have gained through these many months. I know the atonement is real, and heals every moment of pain if we will let it.

I love you all so much and just wanted to end with a new favorite quote!

" God gave us memories, that we might have June roses in the December of our lives." - James Barrie

May we all look for the June roses and remember what the Lord has given us. Press forward in faith, this life is amazing and I love it all even the thorns. Thank you for your prayers I feel them.

Love Sister Mettra

The Lord's errand

2011-11-09T21:20:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends..

What an amazing week Sister Frye and I had and I'm so sad that she is leaving me on Wednesday. But miracles came this week as they always do when we push through and give it our all. So this week was Halloween we did see some lovely costumes aka fake missionaries so that was funny. We also had a man that was in a huge truck drive past us with a bloody hockey mask and point at us it was really creepy. Sister Frye and i have matching Halloween shirts so it was tender we wore them and we had a mission Halloween party it was so fun. We watched The Best Two Years and I cried most of the movie either dying of laughter or feeling the power of this calling. I love being a missionary and never want to take off my tag. It just became a little more real that soon this time will be over and it kinda stung my heart. But I have plenty of time and I'm so excited for my last 6 weeks which will be amazing. Tuesday we got to go to the bountiful temple which is beautiful and we were spoken too by the temple president!!! I learned things during those 30 min that I will never forget, the Temple is a BLESSING. I am so grateful to be serving right now and who the Lord is always sending.

Eymard!

Ok this story is so tender because it goes to show that the Lord has the correct time on the watch always. Sister Frye and i were about to leave chat when we got one more so i accepted it and we started chatting with him he wanted to learn more oh and BTW he is in Ireland nbd. Well Sister Frye was on the phone so i called him made sure the number worked and it DID!! We taught him the next day and committed him to be baptized!!! He said, Jenna and Christine this is what I want of course I will be baptized. It was so powerful we were cheering silently and hugging each other!! Then today we called and taught him and it was amazing he stopped smoking, started listening to the BOM on mp3. And he said I'm praying like you told me to and its workin i stopped smokin and this week I'm going to stop drinkin coffee. He is so prepared ah I'm so excited!

Me and my new comp will continue teaching him. This was a legit miracle!!

Kelly

What a tender soul omg we love her! She came on chat ( miracle place) And we started teaching her about temples. Then we actually called her and taught her a lesson and guess what she is so prepared!! She said when you girls talk I can feel something different I've never felt this. And we said Kelly the Lord loves you so much and he wants this for you and we will be there every step of the way. It was very clear nothing was by chance. I said Kelly God wanted you on Chat today speaking with missionaries this is all apart of his plan. She said i have chills Jenna I know this is true. She wants to be baptized!

Well the Lord is truly blessing us so much and we are working so hard. I wish I could tell you everything but today Sister Frye and I are taking the zone to Chipotle!!! So we have limited time. But before I go, Hillary came last night and it was amazing!! She looks wonderful and is a glowing RM! i love her so much! And Noe came too and duh I love him! Tender moment seeing each other after almost 2 years.

I learned this week that I can do hard things and that is possible through the atonement. I have taken my understanding of the atonement to a whole new level! I love this gospel and I know that it is all true. We are so blessed to be apart of this. You are in my prayers. I love you.

Love your Favorite Missionary, Sister Mettra

Ps EVERYONE do a mormon.org profile! Parents you heard me <3 <3

Picture time

2011-11-07T05:59:00.000-08:00

Fretta adventures!!!

Teaching over the phone.

Praying with Eymard.

So excited because Eymard is praying alone.

Pre-release form, "no thanks!"

We're killin it here

2011-11-01T17:30:00.000-07:00

Dearest Ghosts... ( some of you feel like that ha)

Wow this week has been so busy I can't believe I'm back to this computer. In fact to help you understand how crazy its been let me tell you that Sister Frye and I ate lunch yesterday at 8:00pm! And that’s a normal thing there is just no time to even breath. We had the Nuskin convention come and it literally looks like china town haha I'm not even kidding they had to close down streets and stuff. So you can imagine what temple square looked like. We had over 1,000 Koreans! What a blessing to really see all nations flow here. The leaves are falling and the season is deff changing. I'm so cold again ahh time to get my coat! Sister Frye and I have seen so many miracles its hard to explain how I feel about the mission right now. I'm working so hard I feel like I am not even here ha if that makes sense. It all comes down to the next 2 months of my life and I am giving it all I have. I truly believe how you finish your mission is the setting for the rest of your life. I have been studying so hard I feel like I know so much more and love to teach its my favorite. President called all the Zone Leaders together for a little meeting and discussed how we can improve and stand a little taller. Sisters were saying training more, pump up meetings and the list goes on. And I raised my hand and said President i think this is a matter of Love. Ha he goes ok Jem Mettra go on. ( haha so funny he calls me the Jem) I said President I've been on the other side I know how it feels when your leaders don't love you. Love is spelled TIME. We need to do exchanges, get involved not sit back and blame them for numbers lowering we need to dig in. It’s amazing what happens with a simple smile or a good job. I truly feel that love solves all problems, they need to know that we care and we are on their team. It was amazing because the attitude changed from a distant solution to a very involved one. I really have a love hate relationship with being a leader ha! I miss our investigators!!

Y'all do that Polygamy ..

So I had this women named Janice call in this week and she was seriously crazy. She wanted me to tell her why she couldn't have more then one husband? She was joking for the first like 5 min and was just calling to be annoying. But she was from the south and i don't really get annoyed with people cause they are children of God. So I was patient and laughed with her. And she is like, Well hunny y'all aren't funny like this who are you anyways. And so we started talking a little more and she started to listen and ask a lot of questions. I started to tell her why this church is different from any other. I bore my testimony about The Book of Mormon and she was in awe. She was like how do I get one of those? So she accepted for us to teach her and send missionaries. It was incredible what happened as I just waited a little longer and the spirit told me what direction to go. Families! So i started telling her about how we believe families can be together forever. She paused and she said, hunny that might be the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. And I testified to her that God wanted her to know that. Ahh I love my mission!

This story was written by another missionary long ago. But I had this very moment on October 27.

Brothers and Sisters, as you know, the past two weeks I've been waiting for my mission call. During the time I was waiting I had a dream. I knew it was not an ordinary dream. I dreamed I was in the pre-existence and awaiting my call to come to earth. I was filled with the same anticipation and excitement that I had before I received my mission call. In my dream I was talking to a friend, and I felt a special closeness to him, even though I've never met him in this life. As we talked a messenger came and gave me a letter. I knew it was my call to go to earth. In great excitement my friend and I opened the letter. I gave it to him and asked him to read it aloud. It said: "You've been called to earth in a special time and to a special land. You will be born to the true church and you will have the priesthood of God in your home. You will born into a land of plenty, in a land of freedom. You will go to earth in the United States of America."

My friend and I rejoiced as we read my call, and while we were rejoicing the messenger returned. This time he had a letter for my friend. We knew it was his call to earth. My friend gave me the letter to read aloud. His letter said: "You've been called to go to the earth in circumstances of poverty and strife. You will not be raised in the true church. Many hardships will attend your life. Your land will be fraught with political and social difficulties - which will hinder the work of the Lord. You will be born in Costa Rica."

We wept, my friend and I, as we read his call. And my friend looked at me with tears in his eyes, and said, "When we are down on earth, you in your choice land and me in Costa Rica, my friend, please come and find me."

The this young missionary, with tears in his eyes, said, "Brothers and Sisters, I have received my mission call. I am going to Costa Rica."

There is a sequel to the story. About a year after the sacrament meeting, the bishop received a letter from the missionary in Costa Rica. The letter had one sheet of paper in it and on that sheet written in capital letters were four words:

I FOUND MY FRIEND

October 27, 2011

Moon

This next story changed my life. So we started out the day running around V.I.P tours with people from all over the world and it was crazy. Now about 4pm Sister Frye and I still haven't eaten ha and this man walks up to us and in broken English asked if we could do tour. We smiled and said yes of course! So we took Jeshyo and Moon around they were from Korea. The spirit was so strong through out the whole tour and both loved the Savior. Moon was actually baptized years ago but couldn't go to church anymore because of cultural. We asked if she was happy and she just put her head down. Our hearts ached for her and we knew God had placed her in our hands for this moment. We talked to them about temples and many other things but everything changed as we walked into the Tabernacle. The spirit wrapped around us just like a blanket I've never felt it like that before. We both felt prompted to talk about music and the power it has. Moon said oh yes the Elders sang me this hymn ( in very broken English though so we can barely understand her.) The spirit told us everything. I randomly said, oh Abide with me? And I just started singing very quietly Abide with me. Moon's eyes lite up and she started to cry and so did Jesheyoo. They said another, so I sang I need thee every hour more tears poured and they placed their hands on their hearts it was so sweet. Then the man said Joseph Smith one. So i stood up and sang two verses of Joseph Smith's first prayer by the end of the song i had 30 Koreans filming me on their I Pads hahah. I said, Moon how are you feeling? She said I know its true and she was dabbing her eyes. We all sat in complete silence no words were spoken but the look in her eyes I knew she was feeling it. And she said thank you, I very blessed to meet you today. This change me life. We promised her that if she would pray and read The Book of Mormon she would have the courage to go back to church. It has been 10 years but she still felt it. I knew in that moment that is exactly where i needed to be no where else. If I was only given my voice for that one moment it would be worth it to me, it was so clear. Moon hugged us goodbye and said thank you so much thank you. I will never forget my feelings and how precious she really is. That hour changed my whole mission. I know that I promised Moon i would find her at here. No other mission in the world would I be able to meet so many of my friends before this life that I promised I would find. I'm so honored and humbled right now.

Korean Love..

Well before go i must share what happened this morning! Haha I was in West Gate covering with another sister and 4 little Koreans enter the gates and cant really speak any English at all! Well i go out and start talking to them. Then one gets really close to me and says BLUE EYES!!! Picture picture!! HAHAA i was like yeah sure picture!!! So they lined up and took pictures with Blue eyes. And one of them ( Mother you will love this) Puts their head on my shoulder and says awww blue eyes so pretty. Then another wraps her arms around me and says, You are very Beautiful. And I said aww thanks and we even took group pictures with peace signs and everything! If i had access to pictures in Korea I would have a Lot and many videos. We also took a picture hugging the tree with peace signs cause they wanted too! hahah i love Asians they are sooo funny! What a funny morning.

All my love! Halloween will be lots of fun I'm sure! I will have plenty of stories next week...

Oh Ps i was at welfare Square this week and i met this guy in the cafeteria. And we became friends and he was like aww i love you Sister Mettra! And he is homeless and stuff and he is so tender! He is a member and everything! He has since found a house and everything and works in the temple! Well I saw him yesterday and i said aww Hi SCOTT!! And it was so cute he gives me a big hug and goes, oh its my Buddy i missed you!! How tender! I think I love homeless and Welfare people!

I LOVE YOU ALL SOOO MUCH! If you really need a life changing moment this week, ask God and be prepared to receive it! I promise it will come he does it for me everyday and I know its so i don't feel any of the pain in my back! What a blessing!

Love Sister Mettra

Ps I guess I'm going with the trend of the rest of the world. I'm dressing up as a Mormon Missionary apparently it’s the hottest costume this year haha... difference is I'm Real! LOVE IT!

We are on fire

2011-10-22T19:01:00.001-07:00

Dear Mummies..

I'm keeping with the theme whatever! Ok so here we are another week goes by and i just want to cry. It rhymed but really its true we have seen so many miracles i can barely remember them all, isn't that crazy. I would like to start out with a crazy moment this week that none of us were expecting. So Sister Frye and I went to bed at 10:30 like normal last Saturday night, it was weird cause i fell asleep so fast I was really tired! Well about 2:30 Am we hear this pounding on the door Sister Frye and I woke up, they were screaming open the door! Well we live with the assistants so we see everything. They come in yelling FIRE! The apartment complex next to us was lit on fire. So scary it was a legit fire. We turned on all the lights woke up the assistants and got ready to run. Sister Rodriguez yells pull it! So I ran out and pulled the fire alarm it was like a moment from a movie really. Well all the sisters are like half awake running outside and one of our companionship's was still sleeping so we had to find them. Well we all stood outside of the apartments looking and the fire burning down the next building. There was a huge tree between us and the fire if the tree caught on fire our apts would be gone! We gathered in a circle all half dressed haha and Sister Frye and I led the Zone in a prayer that our apartments wouldn't be harmed! Well about 2 hours later they got it all under control and our apartments weren't even touched. It was a huge miracle. I've never seen a fire so close before. As I was running out of the apartment so many things were running through my head and the only thing I grabbed was my Tagg. It was a moment I'll never forget. Watching it burn and touching my tag knowing the Lord would protect our apartments. I'm so grateful to be here and have these experiences that are shaping my life.

Your Just a Little Lady..

So lets start off with funny moment duh. So yesterday Sister Frye and i finally got sometime in the RC again. I was able to make 4 phone calls and all of them said yes! Every call was truly inspired and i didn't do anything it was all the spirit. So the first one i called was Richard. He is from the deep south and it was so funny deep accent! And I was telling him how i met his brother and his brother is super tall! And he goes well how tall are you? And i said like 5'4 and he goes ahhh ok so you’re just a little lady. hahaha I was laughing so hard! Yeah I'm a little Lady richard your right. And then we were talking about life and he goes, um I'm a street guy i don't do that God stuff. And i said well haven't you ever wondered if there is more to life that girls, drugs, and cars? And he goes probably but I like my moneys. And i said i promise you Richard God knows your better then a street guys. There was a silent pause and he says little lady you might have a point. And i said Richard you are worth so much more then you think. We have an appointment to teach him. He closed with babe I'll talk to you later babe..

Mother Theresa

I talked to a good friend's mom this week. I feel so honored to be entrusted with these people. I love Theresa she is so willing to learn. We talked about the gospel and how she is scared to go to church. But luck Sister Frye and i taught a whole Zone conference on church attendance. The spirit was so strong during those moments on the phone with her. We talked about how it’s hard to forgive ourselves. And I promised her that the Lord would hold her hand if she would move her feet. Hey heart and feet had to be one. We just had some tears and she will be going to church tomorrow and reading the book of Mormon. Such a miracle to hear where she has been from. Her husband was a "member" but an alcoholic and not the best man. What strength it must take to look past that. I love her so much.

I feel it!

So we are teaching this girl named Chelsey which actually Alyssa Lamprecht gave us from Chat. We started teaching her and our first lesson she pulled over on the side of the road and we prayed it was amazing. She said I can feel it. the amazing part was it was only our first time talking and made me realize it doesn't take much we just need to push forward with faith. She went to church and met the missionaries and guess what she is going to be baptized on nov 5!!! We love her!

Matthew

Words cant really express how I feel about this next story. We were about to leave and we got a chat from a man named Matthew. He told us that his father had died 6 days before and when looking in his things he found a Mormon bible. Our eyes got so big. We taught him the basic principals of the gospel. He hadn't talked to his father in 2 years he felt so guilty and he felt was the only thing left of him. I felt so strongly to send alma 40 but the spirit typed, Matthew do you have that Book of Mormon by you? And he said let me go get it. We told him to turn to the page and he just typed, Wow that passage is highlighted in my dads book. We testified to him that God knew him and his father wanted him to read this book. We weren't there we couldn't see anything but the spirit was so strong when i typed those words to find the Book. That is a moment I'll never forget. Matthew then said , " Jenna i want to thank you if you never told me to go to that passage I never would have read it." I knew it wasn't me but God knew his son. We are committing Matthew to baptism this week!

I am a particle

James is an interesting story. We met him on chat and he pretty much thinks there is no point to life. We told him how much God loved him but that didn't seem to matter to him. We kept digging and digging and he said you aren't going to change my mind. We prayed and decided to call him, which he really didn't want but we did it anyways. He is really struggling right now understanding that there really is a purpose that he is here. We each told him how we found God. James is going to start reading the book of Mormon online till the missionaries come. We know that he came on chat for a reason we can see past the surface!

Wow..

so i called this women named Chrissy and she is amazing. So sweet has a little girl and has a faith in Jesus Christ we talked about prayer and families and it seemed to spark something. She talked about how she worked in prison and how its hard on her. And i started to bare my testimony on the power of a prophet, very random but she replied, wait a living prophet? As I started to tell her the Joseph Smith story i paused and asked her if she ever received an answer to her prayers. She started to cry and talked about her very rough childhood. i promised her that God had a plan for her and she was not alone in this moment. She said Jenna i don't know you but I feel it. Oh i needed to talk to her cause she taught me many things! We will be teaching her this week!

Well this mission is flying and I'm working so hard. I'm giving my all to every moment and I can feel the spirit work in me. I'm doing everything i can to be worthy for these miracles. And they are coming sometimes I don't feel ready for them but then God qualifies me to do the work. Something i learned actually during a call this week was how important it is to be reconverted everyday. Its not good enough to have served a mission, or had that miracle 3 years ago. Keep building every moment and you will become the strongest version of yourself. The spirit will work softly so listen, let it pierce your heart so the gospel is moving through you.

Helaman 5:30 Feel it for yourself

I love you all !! Love Sister Mettra

Home filled revelation

2011-10-15T17:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Pumpkins...

It was time. I have to start using these terms tis the season right! I'll start off by saying that this week has been one of much revelation. Sister Frye and I have had meeting after meeting this week its hard to keep up with ourselves. But little did I know what lay in store with Zone Leader Council. To be honest I never really wanted to be in leadership I'd rather just focus on the work but, I'm becoming more humble every day understanding why it has come now. Monday morning we left our apartment at 8 am and got in the vans and started driving. It was a surprise where we were going none of us really knew. Unfortunately I woke up that morning feeling so nausous and was worried I wouldn't make it through the day. Sister Frye looks at me and says," Sister Mettra your face is so pale you don't feel good do you?." Well I prayed to just make it and that all of this would go away. I remember looking out the window at the beautiful sky reflecting where I was a year ago. That a year ago i wasn't where I am today. Both physically and spiritually. A year ago I was taken in by my hero of a sister that helped me and pushed me to get back on my mission. I remember the first day I got to her house, I cried most of the day. I grew so strong during that moment of time, and would never take it back for anything. God knew I needed that to make me stronger in all aspects of the word. How grateful I am for my sister and what she did for me during those weeks. I learned The Book of Mormon and it changed my life forever. I guess what I'm saying is how grateful I am for the knowledge that God's timing is better then I ever imagined. If it wasn't for those couple of weeks I would have never made it this far physically. And I know i wouldn't be this strong spiritually. I knew my mission wasn't over when I had that medical release but it was all part of the plan. I bore my testimony on Sunday about this and it was very clear to me how important this mission is. I always said, this mission will save my life and so far it has in many ways. Daily I'm having experienced that manifest to me I'm standing in the exact place the Lord needs me. And I'm grateful for the broken road that lead me here. Yes I just quoted Rascal Flatt's but I'm totally ok with it. That song applies to this stage of my mission so much, I would like to share some lyrics.

Every long lost dream led me to where you are

Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through

I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you

But you just smile and take my hand

You've been there you understand

It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

As i read these lyrics and think about our Savior it just makes sense to me everything led me to this moment of my life. The Loving arms are our Heavenly Father and he is there every step of the way. I know that the Savior has taken my had and helped me move mountains I never thought were possible. 2 Corinthians 12:9-11. I have never enjoyed looking back so much, cause I see the moments that were essential for now.

Now continuing on with Zone Leader Council we pulled up to this huge house and out walks President Holmes! We were invited to his house from 9-3 to study. I still didn't feel well but the moment I walked into that house, my nausea went away. I felt that feeling of home that I haven't felt in almost 18 months. It was a feeling I missed and didn't even know I did till I felt it again. They had made a home cooked breakfast and lunch for us that day it meant more then they will ever know. I needed to feel home for a moment, and the spirit was there I just felt warm. We had an amazing study with President and Sister Holmes words were said that I'll never forget. But the most amazing thing was what i learned from the spirit. As I wrote the spirit taught me in a way I've never experienced before. We studied the God head and I received a lot of understanding that day. I am so grateful for a loving Mission President and his wife. I got to role play inviting for baptism with President and Sister Moore! I will never forget the spirit that was felt. We have changed our mission over to inviting for baptism. That's our goal! We had to build up referrals and IRCs and all these other things but now its time. It was amazing standing beside Sister Moore and teaching with my Mission President. After the meeting President send something so tender. He said, Sister Mettra I wish you could call all of my friends. It just meant a lot coming from him.

I will write more about the stories and miracles we had next week cause I'm running out of time. But just have to share who sister Frye and i met 3 days ago.

Hey Sisters!

So Sister Frye and I were just walking past the East Gate and then all of the sudden there was a flood of people in suits and everything. We just smiled then we saw a man that looked really familiar and I just smiled really big and said Hi! And it was Elder Scott and he reached out and Shook our hands and said Hello Sisters! It was so fast it was like a dream. But it was a blessing and something that we really needed that day. I felt a peace feel the air, I know he is an apostle of God.

I love you all so much and know God is watching out for you. Never Give up cause when you can't walk another step, he will carry you.

Love Sister Mettra

Every Soul is Great

2011-10-08T17:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

I think I'm sleep typing, yep I think that's what's happening right now ha. I'm so dead my body is mad at me cause well it walked for 14 hours straight for 2 days last weekend and then we were suppose to have make up sleep time but as Zone Leaders there is no time. We spent our make up time doing trainings ha. But you know what I'm smiling and I love it so it's all worth it really! God answers prayers and this work will go forward, no one will stop it. Saturday night we counted up the Member Referrals we were 5,000 short of our goal. President was really stressed out and called us all together to let us know who this is for. "Sisters heaven will accompany us if we will give it our all for them." We prayed and went to work Sunday, my legs and feet were literally numb. Sister Frye and I forgot to eat and just kept going it was amazing the strength we had even though we were half dead. Well we came all together at 9:00pm Sunday night to read the grand total. 9,222 member referrals! Isn't that amazing! Only through heaven was that possible tears of joy swept through the tabernacle. Everyone felt it this was a miracle. Do you understand what that means? 9,222 souls closer to Jesus Christ. I'm so honored to be apart of this mission and really all that is happening to further the work. We are so busy we got over 11,000 referrals from guests in the months of July-Aug. We are still trying to call and teach all of them ha its a great problem to have too many investigators. President wanted to have me be a finder for the mission. Which means I call all of these people and swift the elect. Thank goodness it was changed cause I would have so much weight on my shoulders. Sister Frye and I worked so hard and had quality contacts that's why we felt good when we fell into bed that night. We also got to attend one session of Conference and that was Sunday Afternoon! I loved all the talks and it just felt good to sit down finally. One of my favorites was Elder Richardson about being real. I aways wanted to be a REAL missionary and now I really am one. What an honor and blessing it is to serve so closely with the Savior. I literally feel angels next to me sometimes its hard to explain, but I know that I'm not alone here.

The Osmond's World Wide Fans

Well bless those Osmond's haha they bring some lovely people to Salt Lake City. We were in guest services and guess who called, Marell Osmond and I answered the phone NBD. Well we scheduled this V.I.P tour with his fans from all over the world. He said Sister Mettra make it special i want them to feel the spirit. I wish i could come you sound like an amazing missionary but I trust everything will go well. Ha no pressure at all, they said if this goes well they will bring the group every year. Well Sister Frye and i learned really fast that as soon as we said Osmond they would listen haha. They are like intense fans! So don't doubt I bridged the pioneers to the Osmond's to the Gospel ha. It was the craziest thing I've ever done ha we were laughing most of the time. Don't worry to top this off we had this women that was apparently representing the family. She was a member and guess what she did, tried to seduce the photographer so he would change the course of the tour. Omg Sister Frye and I died haha she was all plastic and so sketchy. Pretty much she was jealous that these people would be close to the family so she wanted to keep them as far away from them as possible. There was legit high School drama cause of her and we had to ignore her and try to bring the spirit. Ah she was nutts!Well we were able to testify so strongly of the gospel and what its meant to the Osmond's haha but really what it means to us. Jennie their tour director said at the end, Sister Mettra you are an angel I wish we got you with us the whole time. So sweet it was hard to be able to invite them cause we were running around but I don't doubt that they felt the spirit so strong. Some of them just met with missionaries cause Donny said it would be great. I hope they lean for the right reasons! But it was good never the less.

Needle in a Hay Stack

So as Sister Frye and I started our Sunday morning at conference we saw literally over 100,000 people there you have to pray for the discernment of who to talk to. Well i looked over and saw these two pollys! So I went for them Sister Frye talked to one I talked to the other. Well come to find out the one i was talking to wasn't a member!! So he started to talk to me about his thoughts on the church and that he wanted to see what conference was like. He said sister Mettra promise me you wont send those elders. And I started laughing oh why oni they aren't that bad. And he put his head down. My heart broke as he said this, " When i first started looking into your church i thought drinking was normal because of those elders, and they invited me to go with them on the weekends to Vegas. I didn't feel right so i didn't go but they make me feel weird." Omg I want to kick those elders apparently they would leave Sunday nights from CA and drive to Vegas and get home late Monday night. We promised Oni we would take care of his and call him. I shared how we all feel the spirit different for me through music. Oni being a polly goes sing for me sista.hha Well I couldn't say no so I did and he had a tear. I said I promise Oni that God won't give you anything you can't handle, we will help you learn the rest. Ah so excited and tender mercy we will teach him this week!

V.I.P Intensity

So the assistants called us in and told us that we would be taking a really intense V.I.P Tour at the humanitarian Center and then Temple Square. These weren't just people they were the heads of all the countries in which we DON'T have missionaries. We had to leave a good enough impression that they would allow missionaries in the near future to come. No pressure right. Well thats not all, we had Elder Hinckley aka son of the prophet and head of the missionary department accompany us making sure we were correct in all things. We prayed so hard to remember all of our facts and to bring the spirit. I swear the minute they came I forgot everything I was so nervous. And in V.I.P Tours you aren't aloud to teach gospel at all. As i was talking about the New Born Kits my mind shut off and I felt the spirit so strong and i said, these blankets hug someone in another country, and is God's way of telling us he loves us and we are never alone. Ah my eyes got so big I looked at Elder Hinckley and he just smiled. uhhhh was that ok I'm thinking oops. After words Elder Hinckley came up to me and said Sister Mettra that was perfect what a wonderful spirit you have. Well that calmed me down a lot thank goodness. Then the prime ministers in Nambia wanted to invite me and Sister Frye to the Lunch in with the Prophet and the Twelve NBD. I wish! I was so humbled and honored to take this very important group around and truly believe that they went home a different person. I love my mission!

Baptism!!

So Accosh was baptized last Friday such a tender experience. It was amazing to see someone that I had met and taught I little be baptized. He gave a talk after his baptism it was so powerful. He spoke about this is not all, he is looking forward to a new life! He is really smart and wants to know everything. Something that was hard for me is that in a lot of ways the YSA in that ward were treating this like a social event. Right after he was baptized they were just playing the piano it was so peaceful i could feel the spirit so strong testify of the truthfulness of everything that had taken place. We were in a rush sadly so we didn't get a picture before but after we did really fast! I'll try to send it. Just that small moment will change his life forever!

So many more life changing moments this week but I'm totally out of time! Sometimes I wish i could write this email forever and share all the Lord is blessing us with. Do you know that God loves you? I had a moment last night it was really stressful and I just wanted to cry honestly. As Zone Leaders you have so much to do and have to understand that its not just about you and your companion anymore we have 20 other sisters now. Sister Frye and i just talked about why we came on missions and what our purpose is. I know that the Lord called me here at this time to do amazing things. If there is ever a time I doubt or feel overwhelmed I just remember these words, " Fear not I am with thee oh be not afraid." I have grown a love for the Lord in a way that wouldn't have been possible if I wasn't serving right here right now. My desires and passions have changed this work will go forth. And my testimony is growing everyday.

I love you all and I'm praying for you.

Love Sister Mettra

You are not forgotten

2011-10-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

Dearest Favs...

Oh how i love you all so much! This week has been very surprising with transfers and things happened that i really never expected that's for sure. So we were all sitting as a Zone at transfer conference and my name was read first ahhhh. Sister Mettra your new companion is Sister Frye! i thought I would have stayed with Sister Mata'utia but I guess the Lord had a different plan. Well i thought that was it i would just stay as a District Leader and carry on. Nope we are now the Zone Leaders over the Extended Zone aka the hardest haha. We are in charge of all venues on Temple Square which includes, Beehive House, West Gate, Guest Services, Humanitarian Center, Welfare Square, Hospitality tours. So intense and kinda overwhelming but I'm so humbled I know that God called me in my weakness again but I'm learning so much already. I loved Sister Mata'utia but we needed to share the wealth she is amazing and someone else needs her! I've grown to capture the atonement in a different way this week, humility is HUGE in leadership even when you know that actually nothing you did was wrong. Sister Frye and I promised each other we were going to change this zone and teach love at its finest. Although I'm very overwhelmed by this assignment and don't quite understand why I was chosen, I'll humbly accept it and embrace the change. We live with the Assistants now and are very busy I feel like I never sleep but i like it cause I know that I am literally giving everything to the Lord. General Conference is this weekend and I'm so so EXCITED. But sad its my last one on the square, Conference will never be the same to me the rest of my life. There are over 100,000 people coming to the square this weekend seeking direction from a living prophet! How amazing is that can you just pause and think about it! The gospel is so true I've never felt this passionate about something in my life. I thought that music was something that meant the most to me, but now its the gospel everything I do and say is of Christ I love it. I would love to share some tender moments from this week that really opened my eyes to how our actions effect others.

Craving Oranges..

Well about 5 months ago i was on exchanges with Sister Dantas and Sister Gunter and we were shopping at WalMart. We were just about to leave when i felt the sweet taste of an orange in my mouth it was strange but i was craving oranges. Well we walked over and I started to pick out some oranges when a man looked at me and i started smiling and said hi. He walked over and stared and my eyes then down at my tagg he said what does that mean? We all three started sharing the gospel and teaching him of our purpose as missionaries. He said I've seen so many of you walking around but there was something in your eyes when you smiled. Well Sister Gunter and Dantas started teaching him and I was there when they took him on a tour and everything. Well months past and guess what i found out.... Tonight he is being baptized in SLC and I get to go!!!!! I'm so humbled right now I always dreamed of being able to attend a baptism of someone i found. I'll send pictures next week... Never forget who you are when you think no one is watching!

Your Voice

So that guy I shared about 2 weeks ago kevin who is leaving for iraq soon. Well I think i called him Kevin again i respect his privacy if he ever reads this but I talked to him this week and it was an answer to prayer yet again. Wow I'm so grateful for the power of prayer and I really know that God's timing is important. I called him all last week and he never answered which broke my heart but I had a strong impression try again! So I did and he answered and it was truly amazing. He asked me how he would know if one church was really true? I was able to bare powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon and prayer. I prayed so hard for inspiration and God did his part. He stopped me and said, jenna I like the way you talk. I feel peace and love in a way I never have before. And then he said how do I get that always? And i said when you gain a testimony of these things you can be baptized and have it forever. He said what i really want is to feel home in a religion. And i said, The gospel is home. I boldly said, I know that this is the home you've always dreamed of let God bless you. He is going to watch general conference this weekend with his wife!!

You are not Forgotten

We had an opportunity to attend the relief society broadcast last week and I'm so grateful for it. I don't think I told you fully but there was a sister in my district last transfer that would run away. And I mean like run past the capital and in the middle of the night I would have to go out running to try to find her. I spent about an hour driving around downtown Salt Lake in my Pjs looking for her early in the morning. Well that's how I started my day last Saturday it was crazy. I do know that it was inspired i was her district leader because i learned a lot of patience! She was sent home on Wednesday after the 10th attempt to runaway. Sister Mata'utia had maybe 2 hours of a P-Day Last week due to that. And she even decided to run when me and her comp had dye in our hair so we couldn't run out of the salon haha. Well Sister Mata'utia and I had about an hour till we had to be at the square for another tour and we were walking and get stopped by a member and his friend. They wanted us to take them around and I'm so grateful we sacrificed our Pday to take him because he refereed for missionaries and we will be teaching him this week. He said I'm on a Journey of finding myself and the most I've learned so far has been today with you two. Tender! Well then we took another tour with this tour group who called into church hospitality specifically for us. his name is Bruce and he said that he wanted me to take the tour. Well in the Tabernacle he said Sister Mettra will you sing for us I've been waiting 2 weeks for you. I met him earlier and sang to his group and he fell in love with us. He said you have made my season I'll never forget you Sister Mettra. You are a very special young Lady I really hope you know and understand that. Thank you for being so loving to every one of us, our lives are blessed because of who you are. I'm a better person. Thank you. What a blessing it was to take them around and share the gift the Lord has given me. After that amazing moment we sprinted home and got our tickets and ran back down in barely enough time to get in. Again my prayers were answered, we are not forgotten. There were a lot of moments that happened where I thought it was possible. But the moment President Uchtdorf spoke I knew I wasn't alone. God was preparing me for my new assignment. I love this mission and the gospel. I've never loved something so much in my life and wanted to give it to everyone I meet. We are not forgotten the Lord will not fail us, we can do hard things.

I love you all wish i could write more, don't stop believing!

Enjoy the Journey, I sure am

Love Sister Mettra

How will you know?

2011-09-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

Dearest Lovers...

Time is flying I can barely keep up. This week presented many miracles and many moments of deep reflection. Sometimes we get to the point of complete exhaustion when we really think we can't go another step, but that is when the true test comes and blessing comes when you endure. Sister Mata'utia and I have literally laid on the floor at Welfare Square after taking 6 tours back to back we were so spiritually and physically exhausted. Also seeing the fact it was almost 5 and last time we ate was 7:30 that morning. All the tours were amazing and the spirit was so strong in each of them but we still knew something was missing. We were so tired and then in the distance we see this couple walking towards the visitors center they wanted a tour. We both looked at each other with huge eyes and said are you ready for this can we do it? Sister Mata'utia just started laughing, i did a somersault to wake up and said this will be an amazing tour. The couple came in and we were standing ha don't worry and started the tour they were lovely members from Alaska that had always dreamed of coming to Welfare Square so drove across the whole country to do so. That in itself was humbling and we started waking up. Then we were half way through the tour and this young guy walks up to me and says hey can I join your tour? I said sure come on over. in reality Sam is what was missing he understood Gods Love. Now Sam wasn't a member but sure spoke like he was. We got to the last part and wanted to take Sam back to the parts he missed. We were alone with him in the Warehouse and i could feel the spirit filling that huge building. I had the strongest impression i needed to sing to him. But I was semi nervous well kinda ha not really. Actually I was nervous because in that moment i wanted to do Gods will for him not mine. Well just then my companion looked over and said Sam Sister Mettra is now going to sing for you. He was an actor and said oh no she doesn't have to I've been put on the spot before. I said oh just for you Sam i will ha. i took a breath and prayed with all i had that the message i sang would touch his heart. I've never starred so deep into some one's eyes while singing he just smiled and put his hand over his heart. When I finished the sound echoed and he said, i feel like I'm sitting on a Lake at 7 am looking out. It sounded like a glassy lake perfect and beautiful. He said I'll never forget how I'm feeling right now. We testified it was the spirit and it was so powerful because it was a simple testimony that he lives. I'm so grateful for the spirit felt and my companion felt it too. When you think you've given everything God will give you miracles. I really learned how to endure this week. Its so crazy the min we met Sam all my physical pains went away the feeling came back in my legs and I was able to walk. I know that its cause my heart was in it, God granted us many miracles in that our.

Funnies....

Well we also had some funny moments this week of course i cant leave those out i would be jipping you of some good stories haha. Welfare Square i a different world we meet people fresh out of prison that have killed people to transvestites and plenty of thugs. Well this week we were blessed to meet all three types. One of my favorites had just become a women about a year ago. Her name use to be Josh now its Krystial she says she use to be gay but now is a straight women. I really prayed not to say anything offensive she was sitting in the visitors center. She said some interesting things to us. Actually a Wicken and foretold Sister Mata'utias future, she is going to be a prophet who would have thought hahaha. Well she also sang to us which was interesting. Although it was so hard to listen to her without gagging cause she must have walked through dog poop or something and it smelled so bad and i was sitting the closest to her. But never the less i was able to tell her she wasn't alone and that God loved her. She said that the Mormon church is the closest thing she feels to love or God. Her priest actually rapped her when she was 15 and has a hard time with God since. We gave her a pass along card and she left but I could feel the deep sorrow inside her it was strange. But my heart really went out to the thing. Honestly I'm not being rude haha i don't know whether to say him or her cause we could see both sides that's all I'll say ha.

We were walking home and i saw some guy that looked identical to my brother Zach. HAHa i was so confused and i walked all the way to him cause I really thought it was. Well come to find out it wasn't and it makes for a funny story cause i got really close to this guy then turned around. We ended up going back and I told him why I was staring at him. And he goes oh really I look like your brother? I must be a babe hahha. Then he confessed that when him and his friends are ever in town for business they stop by temple square to see all the hot " Momos." haha they aren't members but I guess recognize the spirit in the women of the church ahahha.

This straight up thug ALWAYS checks Sister Mata'utia and i out at welfare square. He is from Compton NBD. Well the other day we cleaning up from eating and he comes running in and he goes wait your done already? I ran here to eat lunch with you hahahaha. We told him to come to temple square and we could teach him more about what he do. And he goes i don't know Sister missionaries are easier to talk to and they glow a little too. He is coming tomorrow and we are going to show him why we glow!!

Legally Blonde

We were walking into the NVC and all of the sudden this guy starts waving at us. So we walked over and talked to him he wanted to know where he could get a tour... Uh here we are!! His name was Lance and he is the tour director for the musical Legally Blonde haha. When I looked in his eyes I knew that we needed to drop the things we were scheduled to do and take this man around. I made some phone calls and cancelled somethings and ended up taking him around. We started downstairs and taught the restoration so clearly I was reconverted it was strange I've never said things like that before. He said its tender to actually think a 14 year old boy would have such a desire to know truth. He understood and was really thinking about it. Then we took him to the prophet display and had him select a topic. ( Which is perfect cause then we know what he needs) Well he selected Love at home. Tears just came to my eyes as I testified the power of a forever family. Then we took him to Gods Plan where he started to cry the spirit was so clear i cant really describe it. Then in the last room we promised him that if he asked he would receive an answer. He said I'm really going to ask God about this, cause if what I'm feeling is true i need to act on it. I know I was suppose to meet you two thank you so much. We are going to be teaching him!!!

How will you Know?

We had a member tour this week that honestly changed my life. Missionaries tend to get in this routine that members aren't souls but in fact they are and can teach you so much. His name is James and is amazing. He is only a member of 3 years joined the church in Chicago in college. The questions asked were so inspired I felt the Lord was taking us by the hand and leading us everywhere we went. As we came to the paintings of Christ the spirit intensified and I knew that Christ lived stronger then I've felt in a while. I asked James what thoughts come to his mind when he sees the painting... No words were said for 3 min we all stared at the painting and one by one all of us had tears streaming down our face. Pausing lets the spirit testify to your heart in a way words don't. I've never felt the spirit like that before it was overwhelming honestly. Then we walked up to the Christus and as we sat James asked us, how would you recognize the Savior if he came right now? As I thought about it, i responded when I looked in his eyes I would know and the way I felt next to him. When you look into someones eyes you feel things and I believe I would know because he is my Savior and I love him. How would you recognize him?

I've grown close to the Savior this week truly purifying all that I do and say. We watched as a mission 17 miracles and I am so humbled to serve in the exact place millions set their finish line on. We are so blessed to have those pioneers and their examples. Sister Mata'utia and i decided that it takes different faith to be a pioneer. I know we can make it through anything in our lives if we will humble ourselves and turn to the Savior. Every trial we face is truly a blessing to draw closer to him. Sister Brevard my bestie here went home this week due to back problems just like me almost to the date last year. She told me Sister Mettra this isn't apart of my plan its just not... I've prayed so much for her this week and feel as though one of the many reasons I had to experience that trial one year ago was to help my dear friend. What a blessing it was to look in her eyes and know she was struggling and put my arms around her and say I've been there its going to be ok. I really thanked the Lord for this tender mercy. Its all worth it to me now to be able to help someone I love feel comfort. And I would do it all over again if only just for that moment. Through this whole experience I've come to this simple conclusion.." Things that happen in our life may never be apart of our plan, but they are ALWAYS apart of his." - Sister Mettra

I'm so excited for General Conference and invite you all to have a question in your heart and I promise God will give you clarity on the matter at some point in the conference. I remember 1 year ago today when I received such a powerful witness God answers prayers. It was at the relief Society broadcast I was feeling so judged at that time by many people and it was really getting to me. My heart was burdened and I needed divine help. I remember praying for a message to be about judging anything at all something to plead with these people not to do so. After all the talks by the Relief Society, President Monson stood up and said.... " Sisters we need not to judge, when you judge you leave no room to Love." Tears filled my eyes and a quiet assurance that not only was he a Prophet of God, but that indeed my father in heaven heard my silent prayer. Be faithful he knows you and Loves you. I'm so grateful to be apart of over 100,000 people this weekend coming to hear a prophets voice. Although my legs may possibly be numb by the end of this conference walking 14 hour days, it will be worth it I'll be smiling. Even if my feet are bleeding whateves :) Faith in every footstep right?

I love you All So much and pray for you Daily..

Love Sister Mettra

ps transfers are Monday :( pray I stay with my POLLY!!!

Stand in the light

2011-09-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends....

Because I only wrote a couple of days ago due to some emergency tours I needed to take. I decided to attach some of my favorite clips that we love to share with our investigators. Something that I've really learned on my mission is where light comes from. Not just brightness in contrast to darkness but virtually every happy thing that brings Joy in our hearts. There are so many in this world in literal darkness because they don't know where the true and everlasting light is. I have grown to be closer to the Savior then ever before. I feel like the Light of Christ is really apart of me now. When we teach our investigators over the phone its almost like I'm not talking at all. When i testify of him it feels so much more real then it ever has before. No matter who we are or where we come from, Jesus Christ's atonement is real. Things that happen in our life may never be apart of our plan, But they are always apart of His. God has a plan for each of us and as we trust in him, things will fall into place. This week I was speaking with Joan one of our investigators and she kept saying, "if it be his will, I'll do it." And i said Joan the Lord will bless you for it i promise you. She said Jenna you sure have been through a lot serving a mission why is that? And I felt so peaceful just saying, "because its his will and I'm stronger because of it. Joan the atonement is real and I'm grateful for the moments of pain, despair, and disappointment because I'm becoming a true disciple." I'm so grateful to be serving here and would love to share one of my favorite stories about the pioneers in conclusion.

A man who crossed the plains in the Martin handcart company

lived in Utah for many years. One day he was in a group of people

who began sharply criticizing the Church leaders for ever allowing

the Saints to cross the plains with no more supplies or protection

than a handcart company provided. The old man listened until he

could stand no more; then he arose and said with great emotion:

“I was in that company and my wife was in it. . . . We suffered

beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure

and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of that company

utter a word of criticism? . . . [We] came through with the absolute

knowledge that God lives for we became acquainted with him in our

extremities.

“I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary

from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead

of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill

slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give

up, for I cannot pull the load through it. . . . I have gone on to that

sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have

looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my

eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.

“Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither

then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become

acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was

privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company.”1

Light

Happiness

This last quote is probably one of my favorites, anything we go through is not in vain. It is a privilege to serve a mission and teach the gospel. Nothing I've been through is too much, for the spirit I feel everyday and the closeness i feel with him. As we turn to the Lord and trust in him, we get to know him better. I am so grateful for the pioneers and the path they paved for each of us. We are modern day pioneers and grow closer to the Lord every day.

Much Love Keep the Faith

Love Sister Mettra

Never a better hero.

2011-09-10T09:06:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends....

Sister Mata'utia and I are seeing miracles together and I'm so grateful for her testimony side by side mine. I was thinking this week about the Hero's in my life and what attributes they have. And in turn of course wanted to obtain those same qualities and wondered what a Hero really is. Some say its someone who saves you, an example, helps you reach your full potential. When i think of a real Hero i think of the Savior. Many of my calls, contacts and tours were centered around the Savior this week and i felt as though he is truly my best Friend and Hero. No one quite understands to the fullness of our pain like he does. Many have asked why I'm serving a mission and that is because I Love my Savior. He is my Hero and has saved my heart many times i will never deny the love i have for him and till testify it to the whole world. This week has been very intense as it always is but I learned something this week, silence brings blessings. I don't like to hear myself talk the whole time I'd rather the guest talk but sometimes the best voice to hear is the spirit speaking to these hearts. I just want to be closer to the Savior everyday and so most of my study is on the life of Christ because when you understand Jesus Christ's purpose, you gain your own especially as a missionary.

I feel Warm..not cause its hot outside

Well Sister Mata'utia is very bold ha lets just say that but only with Pollys and she is one so she can say whatever she wants. Tavita is our new project lets just say cause he is less active ha but has been for about 10 years. We took him on a tour here and oh btw he is 7 feet tall. I felt really protected standing next to him. Well as we walked around we realized he needed to feel more and see less. We sat with him in the conference center and pretty much laid it all out to him and he was laughing and some tears. He needed it and we were asking inspired questions I'm sure of it. The Spirit was so strong and he said I just feel something i haven't in a while. Then we walked to Gods Plan but didn't turn it on we sat in the first room and Sister Mata'utia said now Sister Mettra is going to sing amazing grace haha. I decided i would and the minute i started singing he put his head down and was saying wow. i said your lost Tavita but through this gospel you can be found. He said he felt warm and had chills and we testified it was Gods way of telling him he was loved.

Glowing

Zach the tour guide I've become good friends with he is from Korea and he said that he missed me at the West Gate which was tender. He then went on to say, Sister Mettra you glow every time you have this light, I will miss you. God bless you. And i said Zach God be with you till we meet again. Tender moment just by smiling.

Loss of Words

We are teaching this guy in the south he is an angel and has really good questions. We started teaching him about there being a modern day prophet and he just kept saying wow really? The spirit was pouring out to this mans heart and we could feel it and so could he. As we taught him about the power of prayer he realized that there really was a God. This was amazing neither of us really wanted to speak. He said I'm at a loss of Words right now I don't know what to say. We then told him we were going to pray with him and as we started... SATAN hung up the phone! The spirit was so strong and the phone was disconnected so crazy. We called him back and apologized for Satans rude behavior. The we prayed with him and he said he would pray about these things cause he wants to know!

I love you Baby

So we have an investigator named Anna and she is the sweetest Texas lady and I wish i could teach her in person. She honestly makes me laugh so hard when she talks. So always say hunny its Jenna she is saving me today o baby i love you haha. And we are teaching her about The Book of Mormon and she is just shouting oh my sugar I love you. Jesus is healing me today bless the Lord! Thank you Jesus . Ha i love her and we call each other babe so its really fitting.

VIP Tour 2.0

Well Sister Mata'utia and I had taken 5 back to back tours and were so hungry when all of the sudden the missionary department decides to walk in and have a surprise audit. Keep in mind that we have only been there now for a total of about a week. Everything we said they followed with really are you sure? hahaha I'm just about to die here no worries. We were so nervous and prayed the entire tour to be led by the spirit. Well the Lord blessed us with having a very spirit led personal tour at Welfare Square. I've never felt so connected with this place as I did during that hour. We both cried testifying on the power of prayer. I can look back and remember the moments when the spirit was the strongest and that was only when w followed the spirit. President talked to us yesterday and said they were very impressed and loved the tour they thought we had been serving there our whole mission.

Phone call made in Heaven

Last night I talked with a guy who will remain nameless. It was amazing and I felt the spirit testify so strongly of the power of Love you can really have for someone. My heart just went out to this guy he was young and just got divorced. He was searching for something I could feel it and we had the deepest conversation about Christ's love. i started to cry speaking of how my heart has been broken by friends in the past and the only way it was possible to heal from all that was through the atonement of Christ. I can't really express how i felt but I needed it just as much as he did. Sadly satan hung up the phone right in the middle of the conversation and I couldn't get a hold of him again but I have faith that he will answer again and learn of these things. God loves him and I could feel that.

There was never a Better Hero then Jesus Christ. And I strive to be like him everyday. The closer I come to him, the more I miss him really. He is my hero and I love him. What an honor it is to serve him everyday.

I love you all

Love Sister Mettra

Trip to the bees game

2011-09-03T08:40:00.001-07:00

Sorry her camera is a little blurry, but you get the idea.

Eat-Sleep- breath the Gospel

2011-08-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

Ah Family!!!

I'm seriously so excited to email this week in fact i have so much to say so excuse me if my spelling is off. I'm literally becoming ESL hahah my comp is from Australia and says stuff like hey you bloke come ova here. And I'm starting to talk like her haha yesterday I didn't even make sense. We are probably the most bold companionship on the Square we don't take no for an answer and there is no beating around the bush ha. Sister Mata'utia is teaching me it doesn't matter just say what you feel ha and people laugh cause its so ridic hah I love her duzzies. So lets start off with the fact that apparently my mind is loosing control haha and I'm starting to do strange things. I guess being here over a year now giving tours everyday I pretty much breath the gospel 24-7 as i should being a missionary. But at night your mind is suppose to relax and rest haha well not mine. So 3 nights ago I woke up really worried cause I thought there were 30 people waiting for a tour haha ( I'm literally crying due to laughing at the moment) so not only do i get out of bed but I straight up stand over my companions bed trying to find her legs. Haha my long curly hair in my face staring and her and laughing I'm such a freaking creep. She wakes up totally scared Sister Mettra what are you doing? And i looked at her smiling, there are 30 of them waiting then I walked out of the room. Apparently that wasn't all i stood in the mirror in the hall way waving and talking to the 30 people ha making jokes hahah. Sister Mata'utia was laughing so hard and then I looked at her and realized I was out of my bed and started to laugh cause I had no idea what i was doing hahah. It made so much sense in my brain at the moment. I walked back to bed laughing so hard I was crying and oh in the process decided that my Pajamas werent important either. I'm literally loosing my mind haha we probs laughed for about an hour. It was a good ab work out for the night. Don't worry there are more things to come cause I did funny things this week we both did probs cause I'm getting no sleep cause I'm giving tours all night ha. ok I'll try to share as many stories as possible so they will probs be short but hopefully you get the same joy i did out of them.

Bobby and Brett

Ok they were probs my favorite gay couple I've ever met. They were so funny and really wanted to know about the church. We tried to teach as creatively as possible the basic principals of the gospel but soon realized they were lacking something. They didn't understand why Jesus Christ was important to their salvation. We tried to explain our purpose here on this earth and we were having a hard time explaining it just wasn't making sense. I realized in that moment no matter how simply we taught, no matter how creative our analogies were, if they couldn't understand Jesus Christ then they wouldn't have a purpose here. We invited them to learn more but they didn't see the need. After some more talk they wanted a Book of Mormon to understand a little more. We will be teaching them by the phone until missionaries come. I was so humbled to meet them and realize how Jesus Christ is the reason for everything.

Beehive House The M&M Version

Surprise we were assigned to the Beehive house as well as Welfare Square. So pretty much we know nothing about the BH and they just had us start tours cause it was so busy so hmm we just made it up as we went. I knew the time and dates and Sister Mata'utia knew about 3 rooms. We just bridged to the gospel like we do with everything haha probably the funniest thing we have done. So we were being asked so many questions and knew none of the answers so we just said what we did know, but quickly realized that was nothing ha. So we started saying approximately a lot and we got to the family store and I thought this is where they had family storage. HAHA totally not right my companion had to leave the room cause she was laughing so hard as was I. They were from France and just thought we were laughing cause of our Jokes but really we were making up facts haha really bad I know but mom you know i can just say whateves and its a good story haha. I kept saying if only my Mother was here and was listening to this tour hahaha. Oh we got better each room. But probs the worst thing I said was the fact that Lucy Mac Smith was Brigham Youngs Wife hahah when I meant to say Lucky Decker hahahha. We were laughing so hard I barely made it through the rest of the tour. YAY!!!

Power of the Pause

We took around these two guys that really didn't have a belief in God at all. We started to ask questions of the soul and nothing was really working. I felt prompted to share an experience I had in the conference center in my 3d transfer and Sister Mata'utia shared a very powerful one she had while working in a mens prison. We testified that we wouldn't be there if it wasn't for the power of prayer and paused. One of them looked up and said, I don't think i can pray to God I don't know him it would be weird. I paused looked up at him ans said Tim, do you know that God is your father in heaven? You have a father here on earth and no matter what happens, no matter how far away you get from each other he is still your father. As it is with God he misses us when we don't talk to him, you are never too far gone your Father Loves you and will answer your prayers. He had tears in his eyes and just said ok. I felt the power behind that statement and knew in that moment I wasn't speaking. We will be teaching both of them!!

Come to my Country Jenna

So last transfer we met Brian on chat. We decided to call him and share with him a little more, he said its what he had been waiting for his entire life. He said I clicked the wrong link on google and got here its not my chance is it? And we said no its God's way of telling you that he Loves you. This week Sister Mata'utia and i taught him and he said, Jenna when will you come to my country and teach my about Jesus? I wished in that moment i could see his face and tell him about Jesus Christ but knew it wouldn't be possible. I said Brian, the missionaries in South Africa will come and share more with you but we will be here every step of the way. Then he said in the sweetest voice, jenna do you think I should be baptized? I want to but i don't know how. We testified how it would change his life! AHHH he will bebaptized and bless his family with the knowledge of the gospel I know it.

Making it Through

Joan is from last transfer and has been going through a really hard time with her family. They don't want her to join the church and think she is mentally insane, her ex is very powerful man aka tons of money so they tried to send her into a mental institution. She is trying so hard and she left a message this week saying, I just wish I could hear your voice jenna you always brighten my day and I know this will all be worth it when I'm baptized. We called her and shared some scriptures with her that lifted her spirits, she said Jenna with your help I can do anything cause I know your speaking of Christ. It was so tender and i wanted to just give her a hug.

VIP Tour

Well last night we found out that we would be giving a VIP tour today with church officials. I wasn't nervous or anything as i found out that they weren't just church officials but they run the Welfare System for the Church WORLD WIDE. So they were from Africa, Russia, Germany, South America. They knew way way more then us each of them spoke about their roles in the church, these are important men! Well we tried to just use our personality and spirit. We shared testimony of prayer and fast offerings. They asked us what we did before our missions, Sister Mata'utia was a counselor in prison and I was an Opera singer. So we are ending the tour in the Dairy and the head of the group says, Sister Mettra as you can see these men are quite important so we would like you to sing now hahahaha OMG. So don't even worry I bore my testimony about Joseph Smith praying and now all of this is possible, then sang Joseph Smith's First Prayer in the dairy with cheese all around me NBD. They cried I cried we all cried then they clapped! And said our tour was amazing!!... Ha we have only been there a week, we don't know everything but we know enough.

I'm in Love with this Gospel I've never been happier, more tired and more insane! Nothing compares to this feeling I cant explain the joy coming from my smile. I want to end with a quote from Elder Holland...

" God expects you to have enough faith, determination and trust in him to keep moving. keep living, keep rejoicing. He expects you not to simply face the future; He expects you to embrace and shape the future- to Love it rejoice in it and delight in your opportunities. God is eagerly waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams just as he always has. But he can't if you Don't pray, and he cant if you don't dream. In short he cant if you don't Believe."

I know and Believe that Jesus is the Christ and I love him

Love Sister Mettra

A welfare heart

2011-08-23T13:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Loves..

Well transfers came sadly I'm no longer with Sister Abeyta my little princess I will miss her we were an amazing team. But with everything change must happen and I'm grateful already for this one because I know its a change for the very best. I am now with Sister Mata'utia from Brisbane Australia you guessed it a POLLY!! Yay I'm so excited just made my day when I heard that and I love aussies, this will be my second one!! Then they said oh and btw your a district leader hahah what? NBD just have a district and am loosing my mind already trying to get numbers everyday haha. I'm excited and know that there are specific sisters in my district that i need to help. This transfer started out with Sister Mata'utia and i being baptized by fire pretty much in Welfare Square, a venue that's apart of the temple square mission. At first I'll totally be honest I wasn't quite excited to go cause well I had never been there, but dumb me learned really fast why I was there. So at Welfare Square there is a Bishop's storehouse where anyone member or not can come and receive food. They meet with a Bishop and in return they serve at Welfare Square, its a very humbling place to be especially when your asked to help them shop. This week I helped this couple get some food and they looked up and said, " I wish I could have a cantaloupe" And I had to tell them I'm sorry you cant have one its not on your list. So sad I just wanted to be like pshh take one but I cant. I'm starting to realize hoe blessed we really are just to have food on the table. These people come from nothing and the joy on their face when they get some food is amazing and you feel so good helping them. My heart has been extremely touched this week in my new assignment and look forward to growing a lot.

First Run at it...

So like I said Sister Mata'utia and I just made it up as we went through tours on Welfare Square haha... I literally bridged every 3 seconds cause I had nothing else to say. Who knew you could bridge the cannery to the restoration? Well i did it ha and it was amazing we both just looked at each other smiling knowing that the spirit was guiding us nothing else. We had no training no nothing yet, the spirit was so strong. People were crying about how the cheese was made really? As we testified of the Love of Christ tears were brought to all the eyes in that tour, God loved us so he sent his son. While standing in that building behind me a cheese machine I felt a sense of love I never have before. I felt my heart change every tour we took and every step I became a little more humble. The man at the end said, Sister Mettra you must have been here at welfare square for a long time that was the best tour I've ever had. We looked at each other and said this was our first one. He just cried and said thank you for everything that was exactly what my family needed.

You Don't Want to Know Me...

This man we met Burt hahahahha he said listen you too are very nice. Actually too nice why is that? And we said duh we are Representatives of Jesus Christ. And he said you don't want to know me I'm from a very bad place. And he spoke of his life in the middle east in Afghanistan. And I said you know god loves you right? And he said don't joke babe hahahhha. I said listen babe I wouldn't lie! He just smiled and said you two glow that's all i know. We gave him a family proclamation and sent him on his way! We were smiling soo big!

I know Why..

So we met this couple john and Nancy at Welfare Square they said they heard they should come here so they thought they would as they were passing through for a convention. Well we met them and took them on a tour they said they were southern baptist of coarse from Florida! As we continued on with them we felt their hearts start to change especially at a specific display. Its called Atmit. In 2003 there was a famine in Ethiopia and thousands of little children were left starving and dying from it, the government had something called " Atmit" nourishing pour age that they could eat but didn't have the means to produce enough. The Church together with Project Mercy came together and sent over 600 tons of Atmit to Ethiopia. Two pounds can save a life. There are pictures of starving children practically dead and their mothers holding them. I looked at the picture and then at our group and said, imagine you are this mother you cant feed your child. Tears in my eyes I just paused and could barely hold it in everyone was crying even the men. I said I know that God answers prayers because this little boy's life was saved through this program. Looked at Nancy and said who is Jesus Christ to you? She said something we will never forget, " I know with all my heart I'm standing here today in this building for a purpose, that I'm talking to you too for a reason and none of this is by chance. Something life changing will come from this." She just started to cry and the spirit was so strong we invited her to learn more about these things and she just put her head down and cried. I think that's what the Lord wanted is that moment and really that's what she needed. Another women in the group testified that her newborn baby was a miracle and none of it would have been possible without God. I was amazed by the people put in that group and the spirit that was felt. At the end Nancy came up to me and said look at me honey, " I love you, Thank you for everything, you are an amazing person don't you ever forget that, you got something ok." I was so humbled to have this moment only on our second tour.

Well I must go so much to say no time to say it. But I am learning what a Welfare Heart truly is now, and being humbled by my calling.

Love Sister Mettra

Back to the Race

2011-08-06T16:36:00.000-07:00

Dearest Friends...

Well I've made it another week and going strong ha. Sometimes i want to die cause my stomach hurts but then I just get over it and find a miracles, amazing how that happens when you have the spirit. Every tour we took and every contact we had, I felt the spirit become stronger and I think that's because over the past couple weeks I've been more sensitive to it. I've turned a new page in my mission and working harder to find these people through obedience and a lot of prayer. Sister Abeyta and i had a very long companionship inventory my favorite! Especially when you love your companion and all the focus is how you can grow together. Well since we have missed a lot of time this transfer due to you know me having surgery, we decided to re adjust our goals. And we talked about how we could develop more faith to find in the short time we have, and sure enough we found many ways. As i got on my knees that night I felt something lift from my shoulders, I wasn't worried about anything but this work. It felt good to read my purpose again and find the strength to push myself harder. And the Lord brought many miracles in turn, and I'm so grateful for them.

Not Yet...

Sister Abeyta and I were walking on the square after a very rough morning on my part of throwing up ha so cute I know. But I said come on its time I'm going to make it lets find a miracle. So we kept walking around and around and Sister Abeyta looks and me and so sweetly said, "Come on liahona where are we suppose to go?" Ha I laughed and said hmm downstairs. We were walking towards the Map in the North Visitors Center and we saw this family and I felt, not yet. So we went downstairs and then outside and Sister Abeyta goes, you have a plan don't you? And I said yes i do. Well as we kept walking we saw the family again in the Tabernacle and then I felt so strongly ok now. Well we walked up to them with big smiles and they actually started asking us questions. We talked about the tabernacle a little and then they wanted to see the conference center. On the way over i felt talk about the temple especially families. So i looked at the mother and started talking to her about how its forever in the temple not till death. And she stopped and said what did you say? I said families are for time and for all of eternity. At that moment I knew we needed to see Gods Plan but we were already on our way to the conference center. We briefly showed them the conference center when the wife looked at her husband and said, I feel a lot of peace in here. We were in the hall of the prophets which is where there are statues of all of the previous prophets of the church. We testified of prophets ans the power that they have today. We decided to take them over the christus and speak more of the Savior. As we spoke they just looked up at the Christus and we said you feel it don't you? And they said yeah we do. We wanted them to understand how much God loves us so we took them to Gods Plan and it was perfect. They cried through most of it and were deeply touched by the spirit. Little did we know they had just lost a grandfather, but Heavenly Father did so that's why the prompting was so strong to take them there. Well we invited for missionaries to come share more with them on families and they said yes we would love that. I remember thinking how perfect that meeting was, if we would have walked up a moment sooner they wouldn't have been ready. I'm so grateful for the plan of salvation and the happiness it brings.

Funnies.....
*Women walks up to me... hey Sister Missionary can i borrow your eyes for the day? I think it will help my dating life hahahah

*Old couple i was talking to for a while and we were now friends and i gave them a hug goodbye. And the old man looks and me and says, you are a rare beauty really you
are, God bless you... aww tender

Sister Abeyta and I were called Mermaids... Loves it! ha

I can feel relief...

Oh dearest little Jeffery we love him a lot. He was the one weeks ago that I had called in the RC and he wanted to learn more but thought we were made from the dust pretty much. No belief in God but now is praying and reading the scriptures and going to church! Well we called him Tuesday and it was amazing I loved every minute of it. I think with him I'm listening so hard for the spirit to give me the words I forget I'm talking sometimes. He deserves the very best work from us cause I can feel how special he is to our father in Heaven. If you remember back a couple weeks ago when I prayed with him and began to cry because of the love I felt for him. Well this week we talked about the atonement and his purpose on this earth. He is so humble and willing to learn cause he says he has never felt love before. He wants to learn all that he can so he is doing what God wants him to do now. We closed with a prayer and I said the words but the spirit did the talking. We paused and waited and just heard Jeffery sniff and say I'm crying right now. I feel the biggest relief I've never felt and niceness all around me. Thank you Jenna thank you. He said he knows this is what he needs to do the spirit was so strong and Sister Abeyta and I testified how much we cared for him what a blessing it was to call him.

When the journey is hard and we are stuck all we need to remember is... All is well All is well! I know that God gives us blessings when we have the faith to endure.

I Love my mission and love all of you!

<3 Sister Mettra

There is a "why" in all things

2011-08-05T21:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Fam..

Ha one week down from surgery and I'm gaining my strength back, but man its painful sometimes. But everyday I'm getting better and healing so I'm happy to report that and very grateful for the power of the priesthood. I've been trying the Square a couple hours at a time so i don't have many stories but at least 3 in the short time i have had to be on the square this week. To start out strong ha we had a mission meeting with President and the Assistants, talking about how important words are and to love everyone and stop judging ( which I'm so happy for cause judging is so evil and harmful.) But my little compy was wheeling me over there in the wheel chair cause I couldn't quite walk yet. Well she didn't see the bump ahead of us and i was holding everything on my lap including a pen yep you can guess what happened... The pen stabbed me in my stomach where the largest incision is and the most tender part. I about died had some tears and tried not to pass out in pain haha ohhhh my life haha. That additional wound is healing as well just very sore!

I like Trolls..

Hmm this little man is pretty funny he as from Norway and had this troll shirt on telling me that the trolls protected him. We met him in west gate and he is a choir director that travels all over the world. We started talking about music and i was doing anything i could to bridge to the gospel but he just wanted to talk about music. And i told him i was an opera singer and he said i want to hear you sing please! Well I didn't have much strength and wasn't feeling the best. But i thought hmm this man wont listen to the gospel so I'll bare my testimony through music, I said you know what I'll sing for you one of my favorite hymns. So i prayed I would make it through the song and I just bore my testimony. He smiled the whole time and says, I've never felt something like that when listening to music. And i said well i know that God is our loving heavenly father and through that song I've found a lot of peace and comfort. He said i will never forget that, it was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. I was grateful the Lord gave me just enough strength to sing and bare testimony.

Frenchys Come!

We were sitting in West Gate and all of the sudden 50 french people walk in and want a tour, so normal to me by now so I said no problem I can do that. And i started speaking in my little broken french and I was smiling so much cause I love french people ha. And they always laugh when I speak french to them cause I'm a little American girl! But the women stopped me mid sentence and says in french your eyes are glowing they are very beautiful and your so beautiful. Thank you for your spirit..... French sisters took to the tour but at the end i just smiled and they were so happy. Oh i love people

The Why....

So during this medical time there are different sisters that are always on exchanges with me and one in particular they said Sister Mettra she is having a hard time she is giving up and we think you talking to her might help.I felt like i wasn't even speaking the words just came out and the spirit was so strong. I said you don't want to go home i promise. And was really open with her and i said i feel very strongly to share this exp with you. And I bore my testimony of the power of prayer and how it felt when i was on my medical release. She started to cry and so did i, and then she said Sister Mettra I prayed someone would talk to me today and answer my prayers, and you just did. And the thing is i was also praying to understand maybe a little bit why this had happened. In that moment i realized one of the reasons this had to happen was so i could be in that setting very humble and share this with her. I said, I know one of the reasons i had to have surgery was to talk to you today, and every moment of the pain was worth it to me if it helped you stay on your mission. She cried some more and said, you are an amazing person, and feel the spirit so strong when you speak. Ah i just have chills thinking about it I'm so grateful for it. If i wouldn't have had the surgery I would never have been on exchanges with a 2nd transfer sister. It all makes sense everything we go through. I will tell you this was one of the more painful trials but I'm humbled and understand the Lords reasoning's. When I looked in her eyes I knew she needed my experiences my trials, to save her from making a huge mistake. I was able to tell her some miracles I've had with people needing my testimony and promised that if she trusted God that he would give her the words she needed.

Again I've been humbled and understand that this work is so much greater then anything I could ever imagine. I love being a missionary and the spirit you have in any given moment. And I know that as we call upon the Lord he will give us the Why to make it through the journey!

Love you all, Thank you for your prayers

<3 Sister Mettra

"Golly gee what a week"

2011-07-26T09:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Loves....

Where do I start really? Sometimes life has a way of surprising us and making us rethink the purpose of our previous state of thoughts. For those of you who don't know, July 16th I had emergency surgery to remove my gal bladder. Not expected at all totally out of the blue. It all started about 12:30am I woke up in so much pain I could barely breath let alone talk, I called for my companion in the little amount of breath I had and finally she heard me. I told her we had to go down to Sister Hansen's apt she is a nurse. So I stumbled down there not really able to walk much either and the pain got worse, then I started throwing up more then I ever have in my life.Being me I tried to fight it and tell myself I could battle the pain I was going to be ok, but the pain was getting more intense and I was really loosing my breathing now. I prayed and prayed and finally said this is it I have to go, so now 5 hours later we called the assistants and I was rushed to the hospital. I couldn't even make it through the ER doors without throwing up in my bowl I was loosing all my energy as well. They took me back right away and I didn't get pain meds for an hour so a laid there with an IV in my arm still in pain throwing up. The doctor finally came in and I went to ultra sound where they found out my gal bladder was the big problem. We made the decision I would get it out then. After giving me some pain meds I started to be a little more calm but the pain didn't go away, so they had to give me something pretty intense which I was totally ok with ha. President came and gave me a blessing with President Harmen and I started to feel better, I knew this was yet another trial I would have to face to bring me closer to the Savior. I remember the feeling of waiting for the surgery totally out of if almost because of the medications but I started to think how really life jumps up and I never thought I would have to face another physical trial after my medical release. As they wheeled me into the O.R. my thoughts began to race and that's when I was told you might die and everything if things go wrong ha really comforting right before you go in right ha. But my doctor says, Jenna your a missionary for him you have extra help don't you worry. Only in a LDS hospital would that happen but still it meant a lot cause I was getting nervous. I lay there outside the O.R. and I prayed with everything I had, Father you have to stay with me I cant do this alone, then I started to hymn Nearer My God to Thee and felt peace.

(she looks 100% out of it)

I remember looking up at my doctor smiling with tears in my eyes just fell asleep, next thing I knew it was over and I felt like someone might have run me over with their car. And when I was coming out of surgery I was convinced I was a different race haha kinda funny side note the nurse was laughing. Sadly I cant laugh right now unless I hold my stomach and it sounds like I'm fake laughing actually haha. Recovery hasn't been the cutest thing that's for sure, the next day after surgery I spent most of it on the floor throwing up let me tell you that feels great after having your stomach taken apart!! Then I got jaundice ha I'm a baby again but only on my legs so its ok in fact it made me look more tan for summer so its ok! Everyday I'm getting a little stronger but still pretty week, especially after the elevator broke and I had to walk down stairs, not cool!! I do remember one thing though I forgot, when they were taking me to the O.R. the nurse said wow your really calm and she wasn't a member and I was able to say even without thinking, that's cause God is on my side. And I really knew that he was.

(Jenna in her evening gown)
So as I've had a lot of time to think, I've come to understand how everything I've faced on this mission has shaped me to be more life the Savior. Although these moments are confusing I'm grateful for them cause I feel closer then I have before. And I don't know if its cause I've been on medications or laying here for a week but I really don't think heaven is that far away. This week I came to understand heaven is where your heart is, where the spirit can talk to you, and where you listen to your father. Two nights ago I couldn't sleep so I got up and tried to kneel to speak to my Father. It was amazing how I had just enough strength to kneel and pray and then after a while I lost it. But for a moment I knelt and prayed for clarity for love and strength. I know I wasn't alone in that room I could feel it and tears came into my eyes because I realized again who I was, and what I was doing. I want you all to know how humbled I am to be a representative of Jesus Christ. I've learned eternal lessons that I could have never learned anywhere else, I love this gospel because its a gospel of Hope. Nothing we face in this life goes unnoticed, everything has a purpose and as we look to our Father we will find it. It's not easy being in the field and having to take a seat on the bench, to sit out a game. But the Lord has given me a glimpse of the whole picture cause I got to see it all not just the part of the game I was in, I'm learning from taking a step back. I miss my investigators and actually have pushed myself to go to the square a little at a time so I can talk to them. I received a blessing and was reminded I must be patient. I want to share one of my favorite quotes..

" When you are compelled to give up something, or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better."

I've learned this lesson, this mission has been withdrawn from me at different times but now the second time I know God always fulfills his promises. I'm not mad this happened or ask why me, rather I ask what am I suppose to learn how can I grow? I've learned more then I ever thought possible and have 6 more months to learn more! I love this gospel and love being a missionary all of it ha even this crazy part!

(One year and a supposed rock star)

(Missing her soccer days and is sporting her new shin guards.)

Thank you so much for your prayers and love, it's helped more then you will ever know! I love you all...

Love Sister Mettra

Healing the wounds from the battle of life

2011-07-09T17:03:00.001-07:00

I'm assuming these were taken at their 4th of July party. I can't tell you all of their names, but I know a few.

Sister Mettra and Sister Rathgaber

Sister Mettra and a very nice sister from Switzerland

Oh DANG, I should know her last name. Well, Sister Mettra and one of her best good friends.

Sister Mettra and "Super Star."

Dear Loves...

This week has gone to show me that, nothing is impossible with the Lords help... and a little Sunshine :) Well I'll say it, I miss my ocean and sunshine but it makes me more grateful when the sun does come! I'm feeling better since last week and know that only through the Lords help am i really where i am. I know that a good attitude and faith can endure anything that come our way. When i was studying this week i really came to understand how much the Lord loves each and every one of us. Although we are not even close to perfect, he teaches us with love. I came across this quote this week and really love it,

"Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his church."- Elder Bushe

And it has made me understand now, how utterly alone the Savior was during the moments in the garden.... But he was alone so we would never have to be. And how grateful i am for that in my life especially on a misison. I love my Savior and all he did for me because no matter what happens to me I know I don't walk alone in this work.

Kieth
i had an RC phone call this week that helped me see really that the spirit will tell you exactly what you need to say if you will let him. As i started to talk to Kieth he talked about how he was a strong catholic and everything but as the minutes past he started to soften up little by little. I finally found what he needed, to know that God was really there. He said you know Jenna, i wish i knew God more you seem to really know him. And I said the phrase that comes into my mind often, "I always believed that there was a God but it wasn't until i got down on my knees and asked till i knew." The spirit pressed a pause and he said, that was the most beautifully worded sentence i have ever heard. I said Kieth I'm calling to tell you that God loves you and he wants you to know him. He wants to bless your life, will you let him? .... We will be teaching him this week :)

Angels on the Square...
Sister Andersen and I received the pleasure of being at the desk for a little bit this week! My Favorite!! Cause when people walk into temple square, you are the first people they see. Aka you better be excited to see them, as i am :). Well Joan and Berry were talking to us a couple from Australia and they said when they walked around here they just felt peace. And they wondered what it was? We were able to bare or testimonies about the pioneers and of coarse tears came to my eyes as they always do when i speak about the Savior or the pioneers, well in general the gospel. But as i was testifying Joan says, your heavenly almost like an angel, hunny do you see that glow. Its the way you speak and your eyes just light up. And sister Andersen and i were able to tell them why we were different. That was an amazing moment where i really felt the lord magnify us.

Indie guys on the bikes.....
We were walking across the conference center back to the square and i was like oh sorry sorry cause i was in their way and he goes your fine your fine..... wow you are fine hahhahahha i was laughing so hard I almost tripped.

Miracles surround the Temple
Sister Andersen and i tried to something a little different then we usually do, and that was to walk on the grounds of the temple in the early evening to find some people. Well we saw these three guys and we kinda were following them ha but its ok to be creepy sometimes we are just helping with salvation haha. So my comp was like no Sister Mettra they saw us, and i said so what ha lets go. She was embarrassed so i just put on my smile and started talking to them. They wanted a picture all together so we took their picture and they were so funny especially TONY. So tony was this young black guy from TN! And he was visiting his friends here from the army. Tony was baptist the other two have been inactive since they were 14 pretty much. As we started teaching about the temple the spirit was so strong and i knew that this would be a miracle. Half way into the tour tony said, wow this place is heavenly! We felt the spirit prompt for the conference center which i love! .. We talked about prophets and what it means that we really have a prophet today! They took a seat at the very top and my heart started beating so fast. I saw for just a moment how much God loved each of these young men. They had all been to war and served their country well, but all had broken spirits wounded in the battle of life. As We stood there I told them i would like to share a hymn with them. They got so excited and all sat there and one i saw a tear come down Tim's face. The spirit overcame all of us i couldn't speak this truly was a song of the heart trying to heal the wounds of these men. We invited Tony to learn more about the restored gospel and he said yes! He then looked at me and sad something I'll never forget, he said... Sister Mettra you will never know how many lives you have touched through that voice. And you will never know how your message is received, thank you for sharing, thank you.

Opium?
Some guy was just walking past us on the square and told us how to make our own personal opium stash hahahah how thoughtful?

Swedish Babes
We found some swedish babes with tats at the flag pole and decided that they needed a little tour! As we took them around we quickly learned.... they didn't know anything about God. I've never testified so bodly of the power of God before. At the christus after playing the naration in swedish, I know that God loves you so much thats why he brought you here to salt lake city to be right here in this room. I felt my face and my spirit just glow because i could feel the Lord by my side speaking with me everything I said the spirit double testified. We will teach them in a couple of weeks!!

Youth Conference..
I was priviliged to be asked to sing at a youth conference this week and Sister Ching and i came up with an arrangement with did you think to pray and Joseph Smiths first prayer! it was amazing i wish you were all there. I havent felt the spirit tesitfy while I'm singing so strongly in a long time. My heart was pounding fast and i knew that this was exactly what many needed to hear in that room including me. Before singing i was able to bare my testimony of how the power of prayer is real and thats what led me here!

Well as always there is much more to say but i must say goodbye now with a thought.....

Dont look behind you to your past because your destiny is right infront of you... are you looking at it?

Love you all!
Love Sister Mettra

One year later

2011-07-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

Dearest Friends......

I'm writing with a smile of the many things i saw this week, good, great, and horrible. All make for yet another amazing week of my mission. As i look back on the past 12 months of my life so much has change not only around me but I've become different. I can actually say without a shadow of a doubt I know I'm right where God needs me and I've never felt happier in my life. On July 7, 2010 I stepped into the MTC leaving behind my life. Tears filled my eyes as I waved goodbye to my mom and sister I didn't know what would lie ahead for the next 18 months. I took a deep breath and put a smile on my face this is what I had been waiting for a very long time. As many know I didn't leave a happy little house with peace and comfort, in fact we had to move 2 days before I left to the MTC, packing up 12 years of my life and then getting ready for a 18 month journey wasn't easy that's for sure. But I promised the Lord the night I received my answer that I would make it into those doors no matter what was thrown my way. The MTC was an amazing experience one I wish I could have over and over again I loved learning and knowing that I would be able to help lost souls. Then I remember coming for our explore day on the Square before we actually reported and I was so grateful to have my best friend, Sister Lamprecht there to greet me and tell me it was all going to be ok. Then another angel Sister Lautaha was my companion for a couple of hours and that's when I knew miracles really did happen here. Then came time for me to actually report to the field Temple Square. I remember that long bus ride staring out of the window watching the sunrise wondering what the day would bring. How when I stepped off this bus my life would change forever. I wasn't afraid more excited for things to come and to be in the field. As we sat in the theatre waiting to hear who our trainer would be I prayed with all my heart I would have a good one, someone that understood me and could teach me things. I needed someone that would push me and that I could have fun with all at the same time. Then President said, Sister Mettra your trainer will be Sister Rathgeber, I was confused at first ha cause we knew eachother but knew that Gods hand was truly in this choice.
I would like to take a second and thank my loving trainer for all she did for me. Sister Julie Rathgeber taught me everything I needed to know and then some, I thank my father in heaven everyday for sending me her. She was the most amazing companion and loved me so much and helped me find me she never wanted me to be anyone else then Sister Mettra. I will be eternally grateful for the lessons she so humbly taught me, I saw more miracles with her then I ever thought possible. She is amazing and I will miss her so much as she leaves, but just so she knows she changed my life. Thank you Sister Rathgeber ( Rathy :) i love you.)
With one Year passing I have so much to say and wish I could sit here all day and verbally thank my Father in Heaven for everything he has given me here in my life but especially as a missionary. I've seen the miracle of the mission unfold and wouldn't trade it for anything in the World. Hearts literally change before my eyes and me change immensely. I have purpose and know that the most important things in life center around the gospel of Jesus Christ nothing else. Even though a mission isn't easy and sometimes you wonder why things happen, i know with all my heart nothing goes unnoticed by our father in Heaven. Even when i was sent away on my medical realise, My father in heaven was in it and knew that moment needed to happen. Not only to humble me but to help me gain a greater empathy for those around me and feel the spirit more abundantly. Most days I'm still in pain my back hurts but the Lord has made it bearable I can do hard things. Ha sometimes i just need to roll around on the floor and sing a made up song then i feel better. I call it the steam roller ha somehow it makes me feel better and I start laughing about the pain and it goes away. Laugh through the hard times and the miracles will come I can promise you that.

Yeah I'm Yana and I'm a Mormon ( investigator)

Hahaha I'm laughing even starting to type this one if only you all were standing there watching this moment unfold this lady was so funny and deff was a Sister Mettra contact for sure. All the other sisters were starting at me like what the heck is Sister Mettra doing she is crazy. Well this lady was yelling at me not in a mean way lets just say she has a very loud voice and isn't aware of people's personal space. She came up to the window and was like listen hunny I've been saved I'm an ordained minister, we are all ordained my goodness baby we are prophets. Haha I said now Yana what do you know what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She said, " Now baby I don't even know if you believe in Jesus cause I know I do remember I'm saved i said I believe in you Jesus thats all I have to do." Ha not quite Yana see we believe that we have to not only accept him but continue to serve him and repent. I tried to teach her about The Book of Mormon but before i could say a word about it she says ha... no put down that book girl its blasphemous don't you know hunny I only need that bible. ( Keep in mind she might sound black to you but she is white living in Michigan and fricken hilarious) I said Yana now if I'm ordained like you said would I know a little about the truth ha. She became quiet and listened to what I had to say about it all. Then she grabs my name tag and says baby I want one of them taggs but I want it to say Sister Yana Mormon!. Can you get me one please! I said well I'll see what I can do go explore temple square and come back at the end. Well she actually had bumped into Sister DeBoer which is really funny and she took her around on a little tour. At the end she comes back and yells from the other side of the square Sister Mettra baby I found more of you mormon girls hahah. i was laughing and everyone was looking at me whateves I attract these people and love them. Well I came out of West Gate to talk to her and see how she liked it all and she went on to say how she didn't know anything about mormons before and she was so happy that she came with her daughter here. She wondered if mormons were allowed to sing and i said uh Yana I'm an opera singer babe. Ha she goes hunny you better bust one out for me right now! And so i felt an overwhelming feeling to sing amazing grace, I took a deep breath and prayed that she would actually feel the spirit. As I sang I looked into her eyes and she started to cry, people stopped and listened and as i sang the last words she put her head down and wipped her tears. Her daughter said Sister Mettra my momma never cries like that. Yana said, you just touched my heart, you touched my soul. And embraced me with a big hug telling me how much she loved me. Then took a step back and said, you are somethin special i hope you know that, and your Mom is very lucky to have you as a daughter. Today you made another Mom, I've never felt like that. Then she smiled and said I'm going to need to read that book and ask God aren't I? And i said yes Yana and i promise you from the bottom of my heart, God will give you the truth. She smiled and said I know hunny I know. Then she told me she wanted to say a prayer ha and I let her do it. Yana then said i thank God I walked in the gates and met you today, I love you girl really i do. This event could go on forever ha and I would be laughing still. We will be teaching her next week !

Until we meet again may God be with you. We are so blessed to have this gospel with us on this earth. Ps transfers are monday so we shall see where I'm taken next!!

Keep Smiling World! Love you all so much

Sister Mettra

Divine intervention

2011-06-30T08:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Everyone......

Last night I experienced such a powerful moment that honestly I don't know if words will truly describe. This week has been full of very spiritual surprises that have made me step back in awe of the Love of God. I speak about love very often in my letters not to be repetitive but to hopefully convey how important it is to a soul. So many I spoke with this week had never thought to try God before and believed the answers to life were found in the world, when its really entirely the opposite. Its hard to comprehend the thought of depending on the world for happiness at this point in my life. When truly the things of this world offer a quick fix to lives questions and the gospel is everlasting, and pure happiness.

" I listened to every word"
Remember Alicia well the girl that called in and wanted nothing to do with the church, then ended up asking to learn more? Well we taught her this week how to pray and it was so simple yet I could feel how important this moment was because she had never really prayed before. As we taught her the importance of praying she started asking more and more questions we set a date to call her back and committed her to pray on her own. Then we got an email saying she was sorry she didn't answer the phone she was in the hospital. We were really worried and prayed everything would be ok. Then we finally were able to talk to her and she said, " Jenna I listened to how you spoke about prayer and when I was really alone in the hospital I decided to pray. And I felt an overwhelming feeling of peace that came from another source it was amazing." I was almost brought to tears with the power of Gods love for her. That phone call changed her life and she went and got a Book of Mormon herself before we even asked her too. She says she wants to know and to receive an answer. Today when we talked to her we committed her to go to CHURCH!! And she said she would really like to try it. Words cant express how I feel about this because it literally went from night to day in a week. What a blessing.

The Flowers
This family came up to the west gate asking us questions and I started talking to them while Sister Abeyta was helping another man. They asked me where i was from and everything and when I said Orange County they were so confused. They are from LA and they said it was refreshing to see such a fresh looking face from their part of the country. I testified about how the church helped me find individual worth ( they had a teenage daughter) and helped me look to real role models not celebrities. I bore my testimony actually about my Mother and the things she taught me. And my sister as well and what an example she is to me. They were blown away by the family unit in the church and wanted to learn more. They said thank you so much for your time we look forward to talking to you soon. I was so grateful for the young womens program I was able to be apart of and good women role models. And helped me understand how important the inside really is.

One sentence can change a heart......
We met this women Mary-Ann and she was here on a conference for some art show she was doing. We just started talking and she was curious about a couple of things including the temple. I testified to her that its a house of the Lord where heaven and earth meet. I felt a strong impression to share about The Book of Mormon and so I started speaking about it . At this time Sister Abeyta was helping this man at her window which was actually the bus driver to a huge tour group. I started testifying how its blessed my life and then I bore my testimony of when Christ came to the Americas. The man at Sister Abeytas window said what did you just say hunny?... I continuted on in the most simple yet profound testimony I've ever given. He said I need one of those books I want to learn more, and so sure enough we will be teaching him as well. Mary-Ann came back 3 days later requesting a tour from me cause she felt something. She wanted to hear me sing as well and begged me to sing ha. What was the most amazing part was how the words just worked if that makes any sense. As we took the tour the bridges just flowed like water. She refereed so did her devout catholic friend as well. He stopped Sister Abeyta and I mid sentence and said your eyes are so clear I can feel something when I look in them. Tender moments

West Gate Crazyness...
on Wednesdays aka our long days.... from 12-9 we had over 400 people come and I think by the end of that day I passed out and really could barely remember what happened ha that happens most nights, but I'm loving it going to the extra mile in West Gate. We are there almost every morning at 7:45. Its a sacrifice but its worth it with all the miracles we see, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

How Timely
I spoke with Colleen this week, the one that refereed for The Book of Mormon back at home. Well she said you know maybe I will just be born again I feel good in that right and I said you Colleen you felt something when you read verses from the Book of Mormon didn't you? She said oh yes I did hmmm well we will see. I knew at that moment this conversation would be a make or break it and I will never deny the power of the scriptures. So I turned to a verse and felt I needed to read that very one. Alma 5:14 as i read it I could feel the power behind the words. She said my goodness that was so Timely, I want that book thank you so much I know that all you have said is was through Divine intervention.

Old People say the Darndest Things!
Talking to this old guy and I was telling him about what temple square is and the pioneers and everything and he was so excited to be here. As I was actually telling him a pioneer story mid sentence he says......... "Sister Mettra, your blue eyes are turning me to mush" HAHA I died laughing ha.

Indie from Down Under
Met this guy Tom that was completely atheist and didn't believe in God even a little bit. He said that when we die that's it and God wasn't needed. I really wanted to help him understand what this could mean to him. And all of the sudden he says, why are you here? I started to bare my testimony on why I came on a mission. He was traveling to Orange County actually and was very interesting. He was like your not going to convert me, and I said I'm not trying to ha that is the weirdest thing you've ever said ha. Then I told him its not me that converts its the spirit, and then he started to give me a hard time ha. At the end he said, well I guess I'm going to have to read that Book. Who are you anyways ha no one makes me do things, and I go ha Tom again wasn't me it was the spirit :)

A Precious Gift
I received a RC potential a couple of days ago and was warned that he wasn't supper comfortable about me calling. I took a deep breath said a prayer and dialed the number. Let me back track for a moment though to help you realize how precious and inspired this moment truly was. Sister Abeyta and I had a tour planned with some Elders and their investigators and were waiting for about 30 min for them. Finally we called and asked if they were coming and they said oops we meant to call our plans fell through. At first I was annoyed because we were so excited to take this tour and had planned a lot for it. But then had a strong feeling it was better this way. My annoyance wore off very quickly and we walked back to the RC. I was flipping through my cards and saw Jeffery's name and it was if my fingers had a mind of their own. I started to dial his number after saying a quick prayer in my heart I would know what to say and be able to be myself. As he picked up I was like "HELLO Jeffery!" And he goes who is this? Its Jenna! Ha he started to laugh and say oh so your Jenna the one they have all been talking to. ( PS I've been calling a lot of people in the army in his unit cause this member Joseph has given me a lot.) So I said yes it is and aren't you excited to talk to me ha. Sarcastically he replied yep been waiting by my phone! Well I just started making small talk and saying my dumb jokes that well don't make sense and he started opening up. He is a computer guy and kinda witty. I made him guess what I was studying in school and he decided he would try to find it on Google. We started on a good foot and he started to speak a little more and I felt pretty comfortable talking to this stranger. As I continued on I asked him if through all of his studies of the universe if he believed in a God? He said no no I don't I believe that we were created from a nebula. I said where do you find your purpose Jeffery? And he said in being happy. And I said and what do you love in life what means a lot to you? And he answered that relationships make him happy, people do. But I felt there was something behind those words and in fact there was a lot. He doesn't really have any friends at all so that's why he treasures them when he does have some. I asked him if the things he did to make himself happy ever lasted more then a moment? " No I guess I never thought of it that way" I told him through reading The Book of Mormon its brought me the answers to life questions." Jefferey would you like to learn more about the questions to life?" He accepted missionaries and a Book of Mormon. I was completely shocked and in awe of the timing in this moment. At the end he said Jenna, I'm really happy that you called you are so nice and no one is ever this nice to me. You seem so happy and genuine in everything you say. I said you know Jeffery I haven't had a perfect life and I've had trials that I'd wish upon no one, but one thing got me through everything and that was a loving Father in Heaven that knows me, and knows each of us.

PART 2
He asked me to call him again so I decided to call him that next night. He told me he was actually looking forward to this conversation. We started off with a good laugh as usual and I was laughing so hard I started to honk ( for those of you who know me, that's when I'm laughing really hard ha.) Well I said so Jeffery did you have any questions or thoughts after we talked last night? And he said you know I thought a lot about what you said, especially the part about fleeting happiness. And I realized Jenna everything in my life is exactly that, I don't have a lot of friends and spend a lot of my time in my room after training and everything. " Jeffery whats missing in your life?" He said you know really I don't know what I want or whats missing but I do feel empty. I opened up and told him a personal story from my life when I really knew God was there. He said Jenna do you want me to tell you what my life has been like? He began to tell me the hardships he had been through and in that moment I could feel how he was feeling. It was if my body went back to that moment just to feel a greater sense of empathy. This young man is completely and utterly alone, and truly doesn't have one to call his friend. The difference between my empathy was even in my situation I knew there was a God and he knew nothing of him. My heart just broke and I began to feel very humbled to speak with his young man that had lost so much and now was giving his all to serve his country. A pause of humility brushed my ears as he said, Jenna do you really think this will make me happy? Because I think that this is something i could do. Within 24 hours Jeffery's heart was turned to find God. I felt very impressed I needed to kneel in prayer with Jeffery and so I did. I said, " Jeffery I strongly feel I need to say a prayer before I let you go, would that be OK?" He replied I would really like that actually. But before you leave Jenna can I ask you a question? And I said yes of coarse Jeffery. Then words I never thought I would hear came out of his mouth, Jenna when I learn these things for myself and everything like after the army I don't know where my life will take me or what I want to do, but one day will you teach me how to be a missionary? " I would be honored" To think that this was the same young man I spoke with just hours before was a miracle in itself. I knelt in prayer and again was overwhelmed with a feeling of love for Jeffery. But not my own, Christ's perfect love tears came to my eyes as I pleaded with God to help this young man feel and understand who he is in Gods eyes. Words weren't really spoken after that I could only thank my Father in Heaven for giving me that moment which I will be eternally grateful for. Jeffery is going to church tomorrow and starting to pray on his own.

I couldn't leave from this computer without sharing that last story which encompasses how much this message can change some one's life. I feel so humbled to be given these moments and pray I'm doing everything I can to bring peace and comfort the way God would have me do so. I love this work and know that it truly is everlasting happiness. I received more joy in that last story then any moment singing which says it all.

I love you all so much. Keep trusting. Keep loving. And never give up.

Love Sister Mettra

Painting of life

2011-06-21T07:48:00.000-07:00

Dearest Friends...

I had the privilege this week of going to the Hope gallery... Similar to the Carl Bloch exhibit in Provo I went to in November but this had even more paintings. As I walked into the exhibit tears just filled my eyes with an overwhelming gratitude from my Savior. One painting that really spoke to me was when the Savior was being tempted by Satan. Its a heart wrenching painting as Christ stands above Satan in complete peace and below him is the devil with red eyes and all. It has many symbolic meanings but I love how the Savior still stands so peaceful no matter what is happening. We need not to Fear if Christ is with us. Through the last 11 something months I have grown so close to the Lord and we were talking about it as a mission how close you really become to him. And I've noticed the closer I get, the more I miss him. I can feel him there as I'm speaking the words he would have me speak. I've realized that the Lord gives us all the things we can do, then he brings the miracles and as we watch with spiritual eyes we can see these moments unfold. I know that its is vital to have a living testimony of the Savior and through this gallery it helped me see that even more. And I ask myself,what does the painting of my life look like? Does it reflect the Savior in all that I do?

Alma 5:13-14

13And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved.

14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

This is what the gospel of Jesus Christ brings, Hope and a change of heart as we turn our will to the Lord. The gallery gave me a added measure of the Spirit and reverence for the sacrifice of the Lord. I know that there were many moments this week that we were placed exactly where we needed to be.

No I want you....

So the day started at 6:20 as we got up early and made a video for Sister Holmes she isn't doing to well so we sang a little song for her. I was already tired when I woke up ha and thought hmm wonder what today will bring. I did a little study and we were on the Square at 8 because of all the tours and everything. At 9 I felt we should go to the assembly hall, and there we find 3 guys from Tennessee! And felt we needed to go to the temple display and explain a little more about temples and the purpose. We let them go a little closer and look at all the rooms of the temple. As we were standing there this women says, "so did you say weddings happen inside the temple?" And I told my comp to go on and talk to the other guys and I would answer this ladies questions. She was so golden and had so many questions i wanted to take her around too but we were already on a tour. She said that the things I said were very interesting and made sense. She smiled and thanked me and her and her husband kept walking. Well just as I was about to walk I felt something literally pull me back like Sister Mettra don't you move ha. I was confused but I stood there for a second and then another women comes up and taps me on the shoulder and says, can you take me on a tour? i said oh sure you can join ours, but I saw other sisters walking and went over to them and asked if they would take this lady and her family around, she was from Ukraine. I figured that would be just fine but she stopped and put her finger up and said, NO I WANT YOU, NOT THEM, YOU. I'm sorry but I felt something when you spoke and i want you. Tears were at the base of her eyes and I have never felt so needed in a moment. Hmm well cant really say anything to that can you. I felt very overwhelmed with the spirit and reverence for being entrusted with this women and her spirit. She felt truthfulness " Sister Mettra your eyes and the way you spoke made me feel." I asked her how she felt as she stood in front of the temple, she replied ' i feel my spirit is hungry it wants more." We took all of them to Gods Plan and tears all around we knew it was only from God all these people were put in our paths. Especially Nina I knew I needed to meet her. At the end her husband hadn't said one word but looked at me and pointed you, you Thank you with tears running from his eyes. This little family had felt the spirit for the first time it was truly amazing to be apart of it. Nina stood by my side every step of the way she could feel I was a representative of Jesus Christ and her spirit wanted that. I gave them our number and know that this was a huge step in their lives. Moments like these help me see the Lords timing and how is all a miracle, every step. Love is not spelt L.O.V.E.... on a mission I've realized its spelt T.I.M.E. that's how we feel the love of God are through spaces of time where he is leading our actions.

A little Texas love...
I received an RC potential from Sister Brevard on of my favs.. and it was actually her brothers friend from high school. Well he went on to say that he was the quarterback of the football team all that stuff didn't seem to spiritual, but after 10 min this young man opened up his heart. I asked him questions i never really thought of before and that's how I knew that it truly was the spirit. As I shared moroni's promise he said, wait Jenna so I can just ask God and he will give me an answer? It was amazing and he fully accepted missionaries and the book of Mormon and said, I don't know Jenna just the things you say and how you say them makes me want to learn more. And i replied, that's because I know they are true.

My time is limited today but I wanted to share those moments from the week and look forward to next week to share the blessings what come. In closing I just want to say how grateful I am for a loving family that no matter what happens is there. And i love you DAD happy Fathers day!

Much Love
Sister Mettra

The plea of the lost soul

2011-06-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

Dear babes...

This week I've decided to tell you two of the most powerful moments I've had this week. The Lord never ceases to amaze me at the people I meet. Today I was asked, "what is the most important thing in life Sister Mettra?" Before I could really think, these words came out of my mouth... The Pure Love of Christ is the most important thing. I've addressed love many times in my emails but I truly feel its the most important and ultimately helped me be guided enough by the spirit to have these miracles almost hourly. My heart is so full of love for these people I meet, and I really can feel their spirits and what they need. Someone even said today, thank you for your kindness it means a lot to us. Now think of what just a warm welcome can do to someone searching for the truth. I had the most spirit led tours literally, every step guided us to exactly who we needed to talk to. My eyes saw the people almost before I did if that makes any sense. As we listen and are silent, slow down and wait the spirit will tell us all things we need to know.

The Miracle Box.. Aka West Gate
Well my little home right now is in west gate and I really love it. Especially when you meet people like Coleen and you know she was sent right to you. Well without further Ade... So Coleen came up to the window curious about what this place was. She was here for a Monavie conference and wanted to have a look around. Well she was so golden I cant even explain. I started teaching her the basics through the window and then decided that I would go and sit with her outside. I told her that Jesus Christ had come to the Americas and that she could know for herself. She looked up at me and said, hunny what you just said just makes sense. I feel so much peace right now... I told her who the Savior was to me and she started to open up that she was searching for a stronger testimony of him. And immediately i could feel the Saviors love for her. She was so prepared and we will call her this week and teach her. All because of a secret plea she had deep inside. She said that i was Heaven sent that really she couldn't thank me enough. What a miracle. Oh and she was from the south ;)

Temple Grounds
So we were walking around yesterday and I literally felt/ saw people at the temple grounds we needed to talk to. My comp was like Sister Mettra are you sure we can go on the temple grounds (usually you can not find there) Ha whateves the spirit told me to. And Lo and behold I saw them in front of us so we followed them and started talking to them and I started making some jokes so they wouldn't remember how creepy I turned around and stopped them. Ha its ok it was all amazing and they weren't actually weirded out. Well as we started talking they had lots of questions about the temple and their family was just here on vacation! Well we invited them to see Gods Plan the most amazing film that now is all redone and talks all about temples. They were crying as we bore our testimonies about the Savior. Even the 14 year old daughter was crying the spirit was so strong in front of the Christus. Then we went into Gods Plan and by the end all of us were taken by the spirit. They ended up not referring for missionaries mostly cause the husband was inactive but i know we planted a seed inside their hearts. And the mother thanked us for being good role models for her daughter. Again she said we were heaven sent.

Elder Allen..
Well we had a mission meeting on Tuesday morning. Now i want every RM or Missionary to read this ok .. as a mission here on temple square we rarely if ever get people to come speak to us. Oh and if someone does its at 6:30 AM. Yep that's right. Elder Allen of the 70 came and we had to be there at 6:00 hair done make up done Pres said no wet hair you need to look like beautiful ladies! So we woke up VERY EARLY and i was dead by the end of that day that's for sure. Again the meeting was all about loving guests, and really seeing them as children of God it was wonderful.

Don't you hate Gays?
Thank you Kira :) I owe my sister a big thank you for this miracle. She knows what i mean. So many people in this world think that Mormons hate gays.. well that would be weird cause if we did we wouldn't be followers of Christ. Let me tell you how we found him the course of events that led us right there. pres interviews went overtime, then i went and got food for someone and walked it all the way over the the Beehive house, then felt we should go in a different door and there was DAN. Ten minutes in he told us he had a partner for like 5 years. We smiled and welcomed him and he was confused, he said i thought you guys hated gays. I said haha that is the weirdest thing you've ever said we LOVE everyone. Well Dan was very spiritual and we actually taught him about the temple and he loved it. He said he would give us a call but thanked us for how loving we were. And of course it all ended with a kiss on the cheek and a hug haha.

And the Creator is Back..
Man i know you missed him ha i for sure did. Well jerimiah the creator came back this morning to our window and I saw him walk in the gates and already was on the phone with security by the time he got to the window. So he started talking to my companion and she froze and didn't know what to do ha. I had to scoot her chair over and practically sit on top of her so she would be protected. I had a feeling, it was really strange actually. But he said that we were both beautiful and he wanted to get to know us. Security was behind him hiding and they were watching his every move. Don't doubt he told us that we were very choice women. Ha I said ok well we will see you later and he left. Came back 10 min later crying saying sorry for making us uncomfortable. But he loved us and wanted to know us personally. hahha All is well I took care of it but man is he CREEEPINNNNNNN.

Tats+ Texas= Sign me up!
I know I say this a lot but literally i will NEVER forget Bradley. He came into the west gate on Thursday morning looking for some type of bus. He said he had no money left and lost his way and needed some directions on how to get to a bus stop. The minute he walked in I felt something pull me to him I had to talk to him. Now keep in mind we had 4 unscheduled motor coaches which means about 50 people showing up wanting a tour in many different languages. And that is my job I need to make sure they get one and greet the tour guides and Bus drivers so they feel welcomed. Seriously the hardest job in the world but I love it keeps me very busy. Well all of this was happening but I saw the one, it was like the story in the bible do you see the 99 and get overwhelmed and stressed and leave the 1? But no I saw Bradley and he needed it. I told him to take a seat and I'd help him. I walked over to him and told him I arranged for a bus to come and tonight they would find him shelter and food. His eyes perked up and he said really you did that for me? And I said of coarse, now lets talk about how you got here. Brad had tats from is toes and up his throat. He was about 26 and you could tell he was so lost. I could feel his silent plea for spiritual help, this man needed to know God. We talked for a while and I ended up teaching him about the restoration and testified with all my heart he was led here for a specific purpose. He looked at me after I finished testifying and said, Sister Mettra what you just said answered the questions I've been wondering my whole life. I just smiled my emotions were to strong to speak a word, then he said there was a light I had he has never seen. I then read him Moroni's promise very slowly and sincerely and I could feel every word tap on this man's heart. He started to shiver and said, " I have chills all up my spine." Bradley gave me his number and we will teach him this week..

Phone Call can change a life..
There was a lady that called in angry and wanted missionaries to stop calling cause they were looking for the wrong person haha... Well I felt like I needed to turn this little heart to God. So I kept her on the phone with me and we talked for a little and 12 min in she was asking my questions about me .. and at the end she said.. yeah you can call me again and teach me more! UM MIRACLE... So we will teach her this week and missionaries will actually come haha.

I end with one of my new favorite quotes..
" If only you could see the vision as i have. I wish I had your bodies to do this work. I would run from house to house telling everyone of the gospel. And after I lost the strength to run, i would begin to walk. And after I collapsed from walking, i would begin to crawl. And after my knees were so bloody that I could not use them, I would use my arms to drag myself. And once ever muscle in my body was gone I would begin to Yell!! Oh if only you could see the vision as I have." - Spencer W. Kimball

Intense way of looking at it but that's how I feel about this work. I literally go home everyday wondering how I will possibly make it another day because I am so tired. But low and behold I wake up the next morning ready for a new day, i love being a missionary and being led to the Pleas of the Lost Souls.

Much Love
Sister Mettra

Smile

2011-06-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Wow this week has been absolutely amazing, scary, sad, happy, spirit led- I LOVE MY MISSION! I have so much to say so hopefully i can type this all fast enough and with enough detail you will understand.
Just one hour ago I was able to attend Messiah in America and it pretty much changed my life. I miss music so much sometimes, performing, being on stage and feeling the adrenaline but its ok I get a little serving of that as a missionary ha! This Musical production is focused on 3 Nephi when Jesus Christ comes and visits the Americas. Music helps me feel and understand things that words just cant and I can testify without a doubt in my mind that Jesus Christ really did come to the Americas. During the entire show i felt waves of chills brush over my body the spirit was so strong and I'm so grateful for the restored gospel and that this musical could even be written. God hears our plea and he knows that I needed that moment, I literally heard in my mind and heart, Jenna this is what you were born to do. And I know I am suppose to testify of Jesus Christ through music and through my voice.

Smile, you can change a life.
So last Saturday Sister Abyeta and I were in WalMart getting some things and as she was getting something up the aisle I was looking at this young lady and I just gave her a big smile. Well I didn't think much of it and I turned around and walked away then i heard, " Hey Sister Missionary come here." So I turned around and smiled and walked back to her and she says, " thank you for smiling at me, no one has ever smiled like that at me before." She went on to say that she had seen so many missionaries and none had glowed with such sincerity as I had. Well i found out that she had heard about the church kinda grew up in it but not a devout member by any means. We passed by here about 3 more times ha and I just kept saying oh I'm stalking you know ha hello again. Then she stopped me and say hey what was your name again? Sister Mettra :)... She reached in her purse and pulled out a piece of paper and said, I would never do this or talk to a missionary, but you smiled and I felt something and I like you. I don't know much about the church and I'm very inactive but will you give me a call? You will do amazing things in this world I hope you know that. I never thought how much a smile could really change a life. She kept telling my presence was just inviting I was so humbled that God had given me the gift of love and now I will get to help this women come back to him.

I'm the Creator...
Well in West gate we get pretty much anything and everything so seriously welcome to the craziest part of the square. And of course I'm in it ha and running it! So Monday morning Sister Abeyta and I are just peacefully sitting inside west gate and we are singing some hymns and studying and in walks this guy. Well I opened my window and said Good Morning how can i help you?...And he quickly cut me off and said DONT CALL SECURITY ... hmm thats comforting.. and he said I was kicked out of here 3 times this week and you better not let this be the 4rth. Cause if you call security I'll break my covenants.... Well I put my hand under the desk and reached for the panic pull and he goes DONT YOU TOUCH THAT... Then he goes look into my eyes, I'm the Creator. And begged us to give him our first names and layed on the floor and said PREACH TO ME and was making some really strange sounds. Then I said are you claiming to be Jesus cause that's blasphemous you should probably not do that haha. I thought it was funny but he didn't, then he grabbed both of our hands and wanted to feel our spirit.... Lets just say it was fricken creepy but I was totally calm I knew I was protected. My comp was freaking out but I was just like well have a good day see ya later... Security later told us he was arrested and was very dangerous.. Ha fun times in west gate!

The Gospel Reaches Barbados!
That's right my friends we have a new investigator well actually 2 in Barbados and why is that? Well cause the spirit led me to find them! After that crazy moment we had sometime on the square and we were walking and I had that strongest impression to talk to these two black guys aka my favorite! Well we started talking and decided to take them into the Tabernacle and they loved it, then over to the temple view and they were amazed by the messages about the temple. We were so spirit led on this tour it was insane. Then at the Christus everything set in and as we look these men in the eyes and testified of Jesus Christ I started to feel overwhelmed and began to pause not say anything at all. We moved to some chairs by the old testament gallery and there had a moment that testified to me that there is power in pausing. Sister Abyeta was talking to Carlton and I talked to Jerome and I gave him the Book of Mormon and told him to just read the first paragraph of the Introduction. He went silent and read not only the first paragraph but the second and then the whole page and then the next. I promised him that through these pages he would find a greater understand of the Savior. He said you have a special spirit please call me and send me this book. He is a devout catholic but he felt it when he held that precious book in his hands.

Everlasting Gospel...
Alex is a very inactive member and we met him on chat and he said we could call him for potentials. But in all seriousness he is the one that needs the gospel right now. I started talking to him and I don't know I had this moment where I could feel the love God had for him. He is in the Military right now and doesn't even know why he is there. I could sense the urgency in this young mans heart, he needed his father back. He hasn't been going to church and I told him, " Alex the things in this life are gone in a moment, but the gospel is everlasting, its forever." I invited him to start praying and reading to find God. Well I called two days later and he said he has a hard time expressing how he feels. And I said Alex, what helps you feel? Music makes me feel, nature, good friends. All of these things help me feel Alex. He said I guess Jenna I've never really felt the spirit before and I don't know what will help me feel. I was prompted that he was looking back and told him that the miracles he is searching for are right in front of him. Many other things were said in this talk but there was a moment that I will literally never forget. I bore my testimony of the power of prayer and then was overwhelmingly prompted to pray over the phone with Alex. He said I don't know Jenna I've prayed my whole life for a moment where I am completely taken by the spirit, Jenna where I can feel his love. I knelt down on my knees and the spirit poured out words I couldn't even think of. They were so beautifully worded that I myself couldn't believe what i was saying. I was on the Verge of tears cause I know that God was speaking through me to him. I ended the prayer we said amen and I just sat there in silence. Tears started streaming down my face and he just said all I can say is thank you.... I'm feeling a lot more then I'm sayin. I said Alex, God wants you back, he is so proud of you. Silence again I could barely speak, " Alex remember how you just asked for that spiritual witness? I don't know you hundreds of miles away and I felt it, God loves you so much." " Wow, yeah I can feel it your right." I walked home that night in complete reverence for the blessings of personal revelation and prayer. Never underestimate the power of a humble prayer.

Lovin the South
Oh my heart I'm so grateful for the southern people. I'm so drawn to them I want to be their best friends ESPECIALLY TEXAS! So this little southern couple walks in and I'm like ok they are for sure from the south I'm going to need to talk to them. Well to my great surprise they were from Texas and I fell in love with them. By the end of the conversation the women was like, you know what hunny I think I might just love you. They were VERY baptist but I used my smile and some jokes to help me pry them open ha. They said they did feel something here and I said yeah that's the spirit you know that. I taught them quickly of the apostasy... and they thought that was interesting never thought of it. Well I gave them the reff card and they are like hunny we aren't going to be filling that out we are baptist. And I said well just take it around and come say bye before you leave I'll sing a little somethin for ya! Well they came back and hour later with huge smiles and gave me they card and said, Hunny there is somethin about you. ( The card was filled out and checked the box for the Book of Mormon) I sang amazing grace for them we took some pictures and they wanted me to come stay with them in Texas ha. Joyce the women said, I Love you I will never forget you angel you are so cute. God Bless you my love you are an amazing girl. TENDER MERCY and I just love them!!!

Through others our needs are met...
We met this lady Alice and her sister and brother in law were members but she wasn't. The entire tour I really felt like she didn't care what we had to say but it wasn't until the end. The spirit blurted out now we will watch a clip from the Modern day Prophet today, Thomas s Monson. I had her sister pick which one and at random ( but not really) chose the perfect one. Little did we know Alice was a single mom and was leaving and running away from her abusive husband. The clip was all about the role of a mother. That room was filled with the spirit and Sister Abeyta bore the most beautiful testimony cause she can relate and I bore mine. All of us were crying because of what abuse had done to the daughters of God in that room. When she started that tour she wasn't even claiming to be interested really. But at the end she filled out the card and it read, soon to be baptized LDS, Thank you stay in touch.

Well my loves that's all for now, looks like miracles are happening every moment. God Bless all of you. I love being a missionary my heart is so full of gratitude for the moments I've had this week.

Love Sister Mettra

Today is the first day of my life

2011-06-01T10:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Babes...
With a new transfer comes new goals, changes, and self reflecting. As I was pondering this morning sitting in west gate listening to some of my favorite music I looked out around me. I am literally sitting where valiant pioneers gave everything they had just to worship. I pictured them walking and pulling those handcarts and thought of my favorite and most touching story I share on tours. Since I have a little extra time I'd like to share it with you. Imagine yourself as this man, what would you do?

There is a story of a man as he made the difficult trek to the Salt Lake Valley, over 1300 miles he started to become very weak and tired and could barely walk another step. He saw a hill in the distance and said, " God I'm going to make it to that hill then I'm going to lay down and die because I can't walk another step." Just as he started walking he felt something push him from behind and saw no one so he kept walking very confused. Then as he got to the point of the hill he felt yet another large push from behind, and no one was there. he realized at that moment that God had heard his prayers, that he wasn't alone and God had sent angels to push his handcarts with him. I know that there have been moments in my life especially on my mission where I have pleaded for the Lord to walk by my side, and suddenly my feet are moving and I'm not the one doing it. Those pioneers had such great faith and never did they let their spirits hang low remember, All is well. And as I sat there early this morning I thought how grateful to know what I do. And that I acted on my faith because I've been blessed so much to serve on these sacred grounds, where millions of people come searching for the missing piece in their life. We can endure the trials of life, why? Because the Savior walks by our side and picks us up when the journey seems to hard. I love my mission I want to be the best me I can. I will fight harder, pray more earnestly and let the spirit guide my every step. This is the First day of the Rest of my Life and I will start strong.

To start off this transfer right of coarse I have two stories why not? So my very first day in west gate I'm helping this HUGE motor coach of lets just call them academy children. Well all of these teenagers walk in dressed up and then all of these middle aged women and 3 men..... Introduced myself and said we are happy to have you here, then one of them turns and says no we are happy to have you HERE..... and all of them I guess where like dude get her number get her number haha... And they were like surrounding me and I was just being professional ha well trying not to laugh actually. They left and I really didn't think anything of it ha..Well little did I know they were polygamist hahahha and I got hit on by them and they wanted me to be one of their wives! SICK ew ahhaha

Remember Tony? The black guy we took around a couple of weeks ago and I sang and he was like Sister Mettra you will never understand how your message was received? Well I called him this week and he was like omg SISTER METTRA I miss you, I think about what you said everyday and I'm praying and I try to help my mind wander so I can hear your angelic voice again cause I miss it. The elders are meeting with me I went to 3 firesides and I'm loving all of this! Remember what I said to you when I was there? I meant it you made an impact on my heart.... I was so humbled that Lord had led me to the temple grounds and I contacted them. I'm so excited to hear what happens next!

Well short and sweet, until next Saturday! I love you all thank you for your prayers they are helping!

Love Sister Mettra

PS if your thinking of seeing me from now till July 5 and you come to the square on Saturday I wont be here!!

Feed my sheep

2011-05-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

Dearest Love ones of Mine.....

Well here I sit another transfer has gone by and time is going by so fast. I'm entering now my 8th transfer Yikes!! We had an amazing mission meeting this morning that helped me understand yet again how important this work is. My heart is full of gratitude to the Lord at this time for all of the tender mercies I have seen this week. There were moments this week that I prayed for help and strength and in that moment it came. I would like to start my thoughts in reflecting on this transfer and springing forward to the next that lies ahead. I have been studying a lot lately of the life of Christ, his final moments, his teachings everything. And I was reflecting of who i would be in the last moments of the Savior. Would i be bold and testify who he was? Elder Holland spoke to missionaries in January at the MTC and we watched a little of it today. He said, " You need to be the best missionaries this church has ever had." We are in a war against the powers of Satan and we have to be valiant in all things so that we have the spirit as a shield. He brought our attention to the words of the savior... " if you love me feed my sheep." He asked Simon Peter 3 times because its that important, and if we really loved him that's what we would do. I am so grateful at this time to be a missionary to wear his name on my heart and teach his lost sheep. I love the Savior I love him so much he is my best friend, my brother, my savior and i will serve him until my last breath why?.... Because I Love him and in so doing i will feed his sheep.

I want to share an amazing miracle we saw this week... Adam

Adam was my RC call about 3 weeks ago and although he had heard many things about the church, none of it was true. He is a baseball star to say the least and is originally from Canada but now living here for school. He said that he would come for a tour, and i was so excited!! He had cancelled twice but the spirit said try again. I'm very sensitive to the spirit when it comes to people like this, because God would never give up on his children and i feel the same until prompted otherwise. Well he came and I was able to meet him, to look him in the eyes and tell him how much this gospel has blessed my life and who the Savior is to me. Thomas a member that actually gave me his number came with him and the most powerful thing happened. We were sitting in the conference center and Thomas turns around and pours out his heart to Adam and helps him understand what this means to him and why he was sharing it. I cried the whole time because I know Thomas has struggled in his testimony as well. The spirit was so strong and i was able to testify to Adam that his family would be together forever. For the first time I was looking in the eyes of someone i had found and taught. I was so grateful for that moment in time I want this for him more then anything and I'm looking forward to teaching him!

Its MotorCoach time!!...

You know what that means... 345734503945 people touring and me becoming super crazy and having nutts stories because I'm so excited for summer/ to tell the history ha. This week we took a dutch motor coach and I about died haha these old men would surround us and tell us we were very pretty haha. Then the women would ask a million questions! There were 45 on that tour and when we got the the Christus I just lost it. I could barely make it through my sentence cause the spirit was so strong as i bore my testimony on Jesus Christ, the whole room went silent and i poured my heart out to these guests that had come so far as families. Although none of them accepted a Book of Mormon or missionaries, they will never forget the spirit they felt.

Speaking of MotorCoaches ha.... My new assignment for next transfer....

Well president took me aside this week before transfer conference and pretty much told me everything i was doing ha which he never does. They said this was the hardest choice they had to make. I guess the brotheren are worried about who will be in charge of all the guests at the West Gate and VIP tours .... Well that is my assignment its bigger then being over a zone or district, I'm over the ENTIRE SQUARE. They are white washing it right now and I'm in charge of all tours for the summer, I talk with the tour guides, VIP services. If they have a problem it goes to me then to the APs. Ha no pressure, they called me in their office today and said, Sister Mettra we trust you with everything, God needs you here right now, with the summer coming we need your leadership, personality, and diligence to be the feet of the mission. If west gate fails, so does the square... hmm no pressure! ha so my new comp is sister Albyeta she is from Chino hills CA haha not to far so it will be good!

Time will tell.....

I have been trying to call this guy named Junior for 3 months now and we have never been able to talk. The Lord again helped me understand that I shouldn't give up at all. Today this morning i talked to him and now i know why the Lord had me wait. His heart is softened and he is getting married to a Mormon girl next year. The conversation wasn't long but I taught him about repentance and how much God loves him and wants him to make this step so he can receive more blessings. I felt the spirit so strong when all of the sudden this quote came to my mind... " The pain of sacrifice lasts only a moment, its the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes us not want to do it." Silence swept the phone and i knew at that moment that is exactly what Junior needed, i committed him to pray to know Gods will and promised he would give him an answer. See only 8 minutes and this mans life will change forever. Because he will come to understand that a temple marriage is what he needs.

" Even if you can not always see that silver lining on your clouds, God can. For he is the very source of Light you seek. He does love you and he knows your fears. He hears your prayers, he is your Heavenly Father and surely he matches with his own the tears his children shed." - Elder Holland

I love you all you are never alone!

Love Sister Mettra

miracles

2011-05-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

Dearest Babes...

Well this week has literally been a roller coaster of emotion. Ha I feel like I'm in a glass case of emotion ha.. maybe only funny to me whateves ha.... I have seen the Lord work miracles and right after Satan creep in and put his two cents in. I was pretty use to rejection before my mission, welcome to the entertainment world ha so I thought eh I'll be fine when people reject it but this week proved to me that there is such thing as Godly sorrow and I felt a lot of it. There are days where everyone tells you that your going to hell and what your doing doesn't matter but when it turns into many days sometimes it hurts. I asked myself, " Jenna what is your motivation, why do you keep going?"... My answer came through the spirit ... Miracles give you the motivation to push through the hard moments, Look ahead because your destiny and the miracles are right in front of you. Those words came out of my mouth and I wasn't thinking that in my mind, I was thinking of the Savior. But its so true pushing forward even when the road ahead is dark or clouded with uncertainty, I know that we are not alone because the Lord has been there. I thought about my moments of sorrow this week while listening to, The Lamb of God which btw everyone needs to listen too. But the song when Peter denies the Savior and he feels Godly sorrow, I realized how I would never want that moment to come upon me. So even when everyone says no and that I'm a failure, I can hold my head high and smile because I know that this is true and I don't walk alone. I testify boldly and with my whole heart that Jesus is the Christ the son of God and I will never deny that. I can not because I've seen his miracles in the eyes of the lost souls I find. Just think in your life, what motivates you? What keeps you going? I promise your answer will come in your own way cause God loves you and wants to help you.

God loves us so much that he has restored the priesthood back to the earth through a prophet! Sunday marked the 182 anniversary of the aaronic priesthood being restored. How grateful I am for the power of the priesthood and that through it, we can receive saving ordnance. And when talking to a group of young men and their mission prep class, tears filled my eyes looking at them and I was overwhelmed with gratitude for their choice to serve a mission. We need men to serve. why? Because without them baptism isn't possible and in that moment it all made sense to me why they encourage young men to go. I'm so grateful that the priesthood was restored at this time, and that I can receive the blessings of it. Men anyone who is reading this, do whatever you can to be worthy of the priesthood we need you. I have such a strong testimony of what that power really is, it changed my life. I'm so grateful for my brother and father that have that priesthood to bless our family. Every time I think about blessings I have received from it, I tear up because I know the Lord gave me that blessing. For those of you reading this and don't know what I'm talking about, ask me and I will explain.

Fabio breaks my heart!

Well we met these two young Swiss guys and they were so tender. Fabio and I just hit it off right away cause we are both musicians and love music and everything. Well we quickly realized that neither him or Lincoln believed in anything let alone God. As the tour went on Fabio would open up as we would walk and ask little questions here and there. Then we went to the conference center where miracles always happen as they walked in their eyes were so big and all they said was wow! We started to explain what happened inside, that a prophet of God speaks to the World. They thought that was cool but didn't really catch them as much as the building itself did. Sister Dantas bore her testimony of prayer, Sister Andersen about The Book of Mormon, and I felt the spirit lead my words to speak about the night I found God. Alone in my car one night while it was raining I asked if God was there, and through music my prayers were answered. Tears started streaming down my face because in that moment standing there, the memories and feelings came fleeting back into my heart. I couldn't speak my emotions were to strong, i looked up and Fabio had his hand on his heart he could feel it. I told him I know God loved them and I saw Fabio swallow big. I then decided to sing and it was almost like I wasn't there, I was back in my car. Fabio just smiled and again put his hand on his heart. We invited and Fabio looked at me and said you have a voice of an angel, but I don't think I need God........

Convention thought we would see the sights...... ya right!

We met this huge group from well all over the place and they were here for some crazy convention. Haha I'm laughing even typing this cause how funny these people were. I went into my crazy mood where everything was funny and my jokes were really good ok haha. Mike was the funniest one and he thought it would be a good idea for him to stand on the stage of the conference center and preach haha. He started walking down there and we were like well you can go to this point but not past it ha. He yells like he is about to sing... " I Bet the acoustics of this building are amazing." Hahah he was like talk singing and we were laughing so hard. Then they stopped the lady playing the piano and asked her to play stairway to heaven haha. They were NUTS, and to top it off they said now sing how great tho art! ... Um ok? I did next to the piano and it echos omg you kinda had to be there but it was funny.

How did you know?

I spoke to a girl this week named Hannah and the RC call was amazing, I really felt that I was suppose to talk to her that day. We started talking about why there is a God, how I knew and how she could know. The conversation switched really fast when I felt she needed to know that she was a daughter of God. We started talking about how people see women today, not the same as God does. Well she goes, how did you know? Ha I literally just got back from Ireland and you called. I had been holding onto her card for a while waiting for her to come back. Well She said yes to the Book of Mormon and everything and I was so excited to teach her. Cause for the first time in a while, I felt like I needed to talk to her. Well sadly 3 days later I get a text saying pretty much never mind. Just like with Fabio my heart hurt. Not cause I was discouraged or depressed but because they were so close. We will see what happens, at least I can say the spirit led that conversation, and one day she will remember how she felt.

Light...

At least three guests this week that did not refer, told us that we have a certain light about us. Its in your eyes girls, and like in your smile to? One of them goes really your teeth are white and your all happy what is it? ha we explained of course.

Hungary!

We took people around from Hungary/ Romania and it was amazing. They were all so old and really funny aka my favorite cause I can joke with them! Well in the conf center= miracles again... I felt prompted to speak about prayer and that's how you can know if the Book of Mormon is true, well I sang did you think to pray and no Joke the old man starts singing with me and they started crying it was amazing. I loved them! We will teach one of them which I'm sooo happy about!

Rob.. PTSD

We met this guy and he was totally inactive sadly due a lot to war, but as we talked I knew I needed to talk to him. He was this HUGE guy like 6'9 and like a biker dude. Well I wasn't afraid I made jokes with him and everything. He said he couldn't believe in God after what he saw and it was so sad. We showed a clip of Elder Holland and the atonement of the Savior. He started to tear up but was nervous to share emotion. Well Sister Andersen took the girl and I started talking to Rob. Long story short.. we were talking about when he lost his faith and I looked up to him with big eyes and pointed to him and said YOU MISS THIS. So loud ha I was embarrassed but whateves it needed to be said. I said don't deny what you feel you aren't dead yet be the man you read about in your Patriarchal blessing. Um ok ha really bold of me but he accepted it and said, your right I believe. I committed him to pray again! It was amazing/ really scary cause he probs could kill me ha.

Well Love you all! Next week are transfers so hold on tight!

Love Sister Mettra

May 9

2011-05-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Loves...

This week has gone to show me that, nothing is impossible with the Lords help... and a little Sunshine :) Well I'll say it, I miss my ocean and sunshine but it makes me more grateful when the sun does come! I'm feeling better since last week and know that only through the Lords help am i really where i am. I know that a good attitude and faith can endure anything that come our way. When i was studying this week i really came to understand how much the Lord loves each and every one of us. Although we are not even close to perfect, he teaches us with love. I came across this quote this week and really love it,

"Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his church."- Elder Bushe

And it has made me understand now, how utterly alone the Savior was during the moments in the garden.... But he was alone so we would never have to be. And how grateful i am for that in my life especially on a mission. I love my Savior and all he did for me because no matter what happens to me I know I don't walk alone in this work.

Kieth

i had an RC phone call this week that helped me see really that the spirit will tell you exactly what you need to say if you will let him. As i started to talk to Kieth he talked about how he was a strong catholic and everything but as the minutes past he started to soften up little by little. I finally found what he needed, to know that God was really there. He said you know Jenna, i wish i knew God more you seem to really know him. And I said the phrase that comes into my mind often, "I always believed that there was a God but it wasn't until i got down on my knees and asked till i knew." The spirit pressed a pause and he said, that was the most beautifully worded sentence i have ever heard. I said Kieth I'm calling to tell you that God loves you and he wants you to know him. He wants to bless your life, will you let him? .... We will be teaching him this week :)

Angels on the Square...

Sister Andersen and I received the pleasure of being at the desk for a little bit this week! My Favorite!! Cause when people walk into temple square, you are the first people they see. Aka you better be excited to see them, as i am :). Well Joan and Berry were talking to us a couple from Australia and they said when they walked around here they just felt peace. And they wondered what it was? We were able to bare or testimonies about the pioneers and of coarse tears came to my eyes as they always do when i speak about the Savior or the pioneers, well in general the gospel. But as i was testifying Joan says, your heavenly almost like an angel, hunny do you see that glow. Its the way you speak and your eyes just light up. And sister Andersen and i were able to tell them why we were different. That was an amazing moment where i really felt the lord magnify us.

Indie guys on the bikes.....

We were walking across the conference center back to the square and i was like oh sorry sorry cause i was in their way and he goes your fine your fine..... wow you are fine hahhahahha i was laughing so hard I almost tripped.

Miracles surround the Temple

Sister Andersen and i tried to something a little different then we usually do, and that was to walk on the grounds of the temple in the early evening to find some people. Well we saw these three guys and we kinda were following them ha but its ok to be creepy sometimes we are just helping with salvation haha. So my comp was like no Sister Mettra they saw us, and i said so what ha lets go. She was embarrassed so i just put on my smile and started talking to them. They wanted a picture all together so we took their picture and they were so funny especially TONY. So tony was this young black guy from TN! And he was visiting his friends here from the army. Tony was baptist the other two have been inactive since they were 14 pretty much. As we started teaching about the temple the spirit was so strong and i knew that this would be a miracle. Half way into the tour tony said, wow this place is heavenly! We felt the spirit prompt for the conference center which i love! .. We talked about prophets and what it means that we really have a prophet today! They took a seat at the very top and my heart started beating so fast. I saw for just a moment how much God loved each of these young men. They had all been to war and served their country well, but all had broken spirits wounded in the battle of life. As We stood there I told them i would like to share a hymn with them. They got so excited and all sat there and one i saw a tear come down Tim's face. The spirit overcame all of us i couldn't speak this truly was a song of the heart trying to heal the wounds of these men. We invited Tony to learn more about the restored gospel and he said yes! He then looked at me and sad something I'll never forget, he said... Sister Mettra you will never know how many lives you have touched through that voice. And you will never know how your message is received, thank you for sharing, thank you.

Opium?

Some guy was just walking past us on the square and told us how to make our own personal opium stash hahahah how thoughtful?

Swedish Babes

We found some Swedish babes with tats at the flag pole and decided that they needed a little tour! As we took them around we quickly learned.... they didn't know anything about God. I've never testified so bodily of the power of God before. At the christus after playing the narration in Swedish, I know that God loves you so much that's why he brought you here to salt lake city to be right here in this room. I felt my face and my spirit just glow because i could feel the Lord by my side speaking with me everything I said the spirit double testified. We will teach them in a couple of weeks!!

Youth Conference..

I was privileged to be asked to sing at a youth conference this week and Sister Ching and i came up with an arrangement with did you think to pray and Joseph Smiths first prayer! it was amazing i wish you were all there. I haven't felt the spirit testify while I'm singing so strongly in a long time. My heart was pounding fast and i knew that this was exactly what many needed to hear in that room including me. Before singing i was able to bare my testimony of how the power of prayer is real and that's what led me here!

Well as always there is much more to say but i must say goodbye now with a thought.....

Don't look behind you to your past because your destiny is right in front of you... are you looking at it?

Love you all!

Love Sister Mettra

All is well

2011-05-02T20:06:00.000-07:00

Hello Loves!

This week has been quite a interesting one and this email may be a little shorter then others but all is well! This week i had to take a little midnight stroll to the ER. Not the greatest thing to start off with but none the less has to be addressed. Wednesday i started to feel really dizzy and sick but kept working, and then Thursday nothing was getting better just worse. My DR wanted me to go to the ER for blood tests and everything and i said nah i will just keep working. Well that day i went to stand up after taking a nap and fell right back down and gravity took over the rest ha. Sister Andersen said i was passed out in my bed for like 2 hours. I became a little nervous and decided to be humble and just go even though i didn't feel like it. Well after being checked into the ER i was on a IV and blood tests right away. 12am,1am,2am the Doctor came in and said all looked pretty normal but felt like we needed to also do a EkG. Ten min later he comes in very concerned that i had abnormal Twave inversions? i don't know medical people you can figure that out. But pretty much i didn't have enough oxygen getting to my heart and he said if i was a 50 year old male he would think i was having a heart attack haha comforting... Well 3am we finally got home and i was drained and went to sleep. The next morning they took me back to the hospital to have a stress test of my heart super fun! All these wires hooked up to me running on a treadmill and a echo. They aren't quite sure still whats wrong everything thing looks fairly normal .... so I'm a mystery case aka totally normal to me haha. But through all of this I remember one of my favorite hymns....

" Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard? Tis not so all is right! Why should we think to earn a great reward, if we now shun the fight? Gird up your loins fresh courage take, our God will never us forsake and soon we'll have this tale to tell all is well, all is well." As i continue to fight and smile through the bumps the Lord will be right by my side, all is well :)

A miracle in the mess...
David we met on chat and he had many theories about the church ha aka not true! But he could feel the spirit as we testified to him that God loved him and that this really could bless his life.... He accepted missionaries in...... IRELAND!! We taught him 2 days ago and look forward to speaking to him again!!

God loves your Daughter
We had a little tour yesterday with Elders and their investigators! My favorite cause the spirit is always there, this man was so shy with his wife and baby but they were so humble to learn. They had brought the family to church that day and the Elders were able to give a baby blessing! I looked at the father and said, do you know that blessing came from God? He said i dint know.... words cant express how i felt during that blessing. And I said, " God loves your daughter so much that he brought back his authority through a boy named Joseph Smith, so that you could have that moment." He just smiled and kinda put his head down the spirit was so strong and he is excited to learn more from these Elders!! YAY!

I know that I'm not perfect and still have a lot to improve on. But what i do know is that when we humble ourselves before the Lord, we can learn a lot in the midst of a "rough patch." ha I think I've learned to love them cause A I can learn a lot, B something good is coming around the corner if i keep the faith!

I love being a Missionary and how much joy it brings to the world. And I've really learned how far a smile can go, even when the road ahead looks a little grey!

Love you Alll :)
Sister Mettra

The empty tomb

2011-04-26T06:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter Everyone!

What a beautiful morning I had yesterday reflecting on truly what the Savior did for all of us. The night before I read the easter story from start to finish and was overwhelmed with gratitude for my Savior. I thought about myself there with the Savior and what I would do. To truly understand who Jesus Christ is, we have to sacrifice the pride in our hearts for the things we want instead of the things he does. Easter Morning meant so much to me as I walked to church and saw the sunrise behind the temple, I knew I wasnt walking alone. Because he is Risen! Jesus Christ overcame death so that we would be able together forever and return to him one day. One of my favorite passages of scripture is in Matthew the account of the Savior in the Garden... Think of it.

And he went a little further, and fell on his face and prayed saying, " O my father if it be possible let this cup pass from me ;NEVERTHELESS not as i will but as thou wilt.

What always stands out to me in that verse is as soon as he asks for relief he also understands how important the Father's will is. He didn't hesitate for a couple verses and think about all he was going through, he trusted his father and I wonder sometimes do we? Because my companion was sick I spent many hours home this week and took that time to really... well pontificate as my dad would say ha with myself. I read more into faith and trusting God. In Matthew 9:20-22 ... " If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole." " Be of good comfort; thy faith has made thee whole" The faith of this women is an example to all of us, what one step of faith can do. I just thought, wow if i had that faith when I prayed so many miracles would happen, or when bad things happen just having faith all would be well because you are holding up your end of the promise. I appreciate my Savior so much more since I've been on my mission, words can express my love for him. I know that Jesus is the Christ the son of the Living God and that he truly is the Savior of the World. I have gained a testimony of how important prayer truly is. As I've kneeled down to cry unto God I know he really hears us and he loves us so much. I love you all and thank you for your prayers on my behalf. Reflect this week on really who the Savior is to you :)

I feel ashamed...

I had the privillage again teaching with Sister Gunter! We taught Nolan about how much God loved him. When he answered the phone he seemed VERY depressed and sad, we asked him why he was so upset and i guess life just took the best of him. He had lost all hope, and then we called. He said he didn't pray but God knew his thoughts cause he was looking for help that day. We tesified to him of how this gospel will change his life forever. He started to cry as we asked him about what he thought of himself. We could tell that he had very low self esteem and that he was in a dark hole stuck for a very long time. I'll never forget the tone of his voice quivering and saying I don't think I'm important really. My heart just went out to him for the many times in my life I felt the same way. Sister gunter helped him recieve comfort through some scriptures, and the spirit whispered to me, he needs to draw near to me. I knew exactly what that meant, I told Nolan to listen to the words of the song and understand God is always there. I know kinda strange singing on the phone to a stranger, but its normal for me now ha. Tears filled my eyes as i sang the hymn so reverantly and thoughtfully. He paused and just said... I stopped crying. I nthat moment I could feel the love the Lord had for this lost soul because, I was feeling the same way.

Ya I know you mormons..

I talked to Tommy this week and he actually grew up in Utah so knows quite a bit about the church ha. He lives in tampa ( yay z) and now is going to college not really worring about religion and everything. As I was trying to figure out what he really needed at this time but it wasn't coming right away. We started talking about prayer and if he prayed he said ehh sure ha. Well the conversation went on and I opened the book of mormon imediately I felt a power in my voice I didn't have a second earlier. I read him Moronis promise and all he said after was ... Wow I've never heard anything like that before. Sometimes I doubt the scriptures and then i have a moment like that and remember NEVER DO THAT AGAIN sister Mettra you crazy ha. I'm excited to talk to Tommy again and share more he can find out for himeself!

Elder Porter

So we had mission conference with Elder Porter of the 70 it was amazing! I was wondering if anyone would ever come to our mission!! Here are some highlights I learned..

1. Your mission, Sisters takes great faith because you never seen the end result, the brotheren thank you for your faith.

2. Always study the scriptures, that's where you will find the power you need.

3. Personal prayers is how you draw nearer to God ( this was after the expierence with nolan so wow i just realized the spirit said the same thing to Elder Porter! )

4. All the strength we need comes from prayer

5. You are the face of the church so SMILE :)

Crazy children

So we were walking outside ha and there were like thousands of little mexican kids aka I love them haha .... Well there was this young guy with them and i smiled and he goes excuse me... " I've never seen someone as beautiful as you before. Really wow your very pretty. Your eyes sparkel when you smile..." Uhhhh hahaha I didn't really know what to say other then smile and thank him haha... Come to find out he was a guest and I told him about the light of christ and the spirit... we gave him our number so he could learn more about the light in my smile. Semi awk haha but I tried to bridge to the gospel ha

Love you all Have a wonderful week!!

Sister Mettra

Falling into transfers

2011-04-18T17:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Loves...

Well this week has been semi eventful/ not really ha I've come to know my apartment very well staring at the walls, talking to myself, role playing teaching with the chairs in my apt really cool. I'll tell you what my ghost investigators are GOLDEN!.. In other words my companion sprained her ankle and cant walk for 4-6 weeks... I have now become a mom! She cant move its a really bad sprain so i do everything for her cook, clean, bathroom, icing... I am being humbled :)! We are loving each other well cause ha there is no other way really. I've been able to go on exchanges with the zone leaders and some other sisters and really have been learning a lot! I'm grateful for this stumbling block because it makes me want to work even harder ha when i do get to go to the Square! So for the next week for sure she will be home and we will go on exchanges every 3 hours so I will have 5 different companions really. I love my Zone leaders and I have learned so much from them this week while teaching! I think the reason why I'm sister Andersen's companion or at least one of the reasons is, I can empathize big time with being hurt on the mission and feeling helpless ha. But all is well we keep a positive attitude and I try to make the day as funny as possible so there is no suicide attempts ha.

Goin Crabbing...

So when i was on exchanges with Sister Gunter we had the pleasure of teaching Nolan. He is her investigator but I got to help teach and it was truly amazing. When we called him he said he was goin crabbing ha and Sister Gunter is from Germany and has no idea what that means. He tried to explain it and we had to mute the phone cause we were laughing so hard! He is so prepared its not even funny, as we taught him about God's love we all felt the spirit so strong. Sister Gunter taught me the importance of asking good spirit led questions at all times. We found his needs so fast and we were able to address them full of love. I have a testimony of the book of Mormon and the spirit it can really bring to a searching soul. Sometimes we read scriptures over and over so we are use to them after a while, but we forget the way we felt the first time we read them. Well the spirit prompted us to read Nolan Moroni's Promise. I read it slowly and tried to pause while reading in between verses..... after I finished Sister Gunter and i looked at each other and couldn't speak one word. I'm not kidding a minute past and Nolan says... Wow I've never felt this. We testified to him what he was feeling, he said it was a deep feeling he couldn't explain! The scripture had pierced his heart and he was at a lost of words. A moment I will not forget.

Vishnu Round 2

So remember the story from last week about Disneyland. Well i had to do damage control with him this week to help him understand what the real purpose of the church is and that LOVE is the key factor ha. I would NOT let him go. I know with all my heart that Vishnu called into my phone for a reason, and God knew I would NOT give up on him. The poor guy is so lost and I can feel it when he talks even when he is trying to be strong he needs the gospel. He comes from a very wealthy background i secretly think he is like a sultan of India haha. Well we kept playing phone tag and all he was able to do was to text so we started texting. I bore my testimony in the simplest way telling him, God loved him and this was the peace he is looking for. Back and forth i heard his soul's silent plea for help covered in a text message. I straight up told him it wasn't by chance this happened that we were talking, and if he would try God, his life would change. He waited a while to respond and said... " Jenna I feel your going to play a big role in my life somehow i don't know why but I just feel that way. I feel at peace with you right now I'm not worried about anything." I said... " Vishnu I'm not even talking to you on the phone, through a text message you are able to feel the spirit. This is Gods way of helping you see how much he loves you." I told him to read 3 Nephi 11 and pay close attention to how he felt and he asked me to pray for him and of coarse I was already doing that. Then this morning I got a text and he said, Jenna have you been praying for me? I feel different right now, can you call me. Well I was stuck at home so they connected me to the call in the apartment and I sat on the floor in my sweats and taught this man who Jesus is. The spirit was pouring out of that phone call we were miles away but i felt like i was right there with him. I said, " vishnu how do you feel?" And he said I feel different I cant explain it... "Jenna, I want this feeling to stay thank you for all you have done for me, I'll never be able to thank you enough for opening my eyes again to God. I want to go to church on Sunday and try the missionaries again." I just smiled so big :) .... " Jenna i know God sent you in my life for some reason now, thank you thank you." We closed with a prayer and it was so sweet kneeling on my apartment floor and he was kneeling on his marble floor bathroom. The Spirit will testify truth if you let it.

Southern Bell Zach

If you don't know by now... I LOVE people from the south. Zach called in from Kentucky wondering who called him.... Well none of the sisters claimed him so I called him back and talked to him yesterday! He said he had a lot of Mormon friends and always looked up to their morals but didn't really believe in God much. I felt like I needed to tell Zach really simply that God loved him. I didn't speak with him all about the book of Mormon of the restoration because he needed step one. He said you know what Jenna i never thought about that before, I'm open to hearing a little more. And he loves music aka ha I talked about music and testified of the spirit through music. Ah I loved talking to him I'm excited for him to have missionaries in the south!

AAron!

Our investigator Aaron is such and angel. We met him on chat and honestly he isn't quite sure of what he believes but we asked him how his prayers are going and he said he feels like God is there! HUGE STEP... then we asked him what he thought about everything we've been saying and he goes..... you know I'm really starting to like this stuff its really cool. Aaron wants to go to church but is afraid to go alone so we are praying the missionaries will hurry up!! Goodness they stood him up for their appointment LAME!...

Well friends until next week! .... I'll let you know how my Ghost investigators are doing! And hope I can have more time on the square this week!! I love you all

Love Sister Mettra

The One

2011-04-11T19:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends.....

I have been humbled this week in many ways, most of our investigators didn't answer the phone and we had to pray for patience and understanding why? This week I guess you could say i really had to reflect on what the Lord asks of us, and that sometimes we don't understand the why. I've now been here for about 9 months and have learned more then i ever thought possible. I've realized the Lords plan is greater then we will ever know in this life. Sometimes the events that we go through are for other people to help later on. When reading Luke 15:4...

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine ^ain the wilderness, and go after that which is ^blost, until he find it?

As missionaries for the Lord we are to go and find that lost sheep. But there are many times in my life that i have felt like the one. Waiting for someone to come find me, rescue me out of the hole i fell into. I asked myself this week, what pulled me out of those times? Well it was a loving family and the promised blessings of this gospel, through these things we are never really alone. We have a Savior that loved us so much he did all that was needed to save us. I am so grateful at this time to not be the one. But look around you, there are many who classify as the one right now. I'm so humbled beyond words that I have been trusted to find the one looking for their way back home. As I pray a little harder, walk a little faster, and trust in Lord greater, I am able to find the one. Have you ever looked into someone's eyes and literally felt pain for them? Or ever talked to someone and although they are smiling you know there is a war inside? I have, on both sides of these examples and there is nothing more i want then to cry out for help, or bring them back to the light. All of us have been on each side before, as we listen to the spirit we can help all around us. Through the eyes you can find the story, thats what i have come to know and as we follow the spirit I've felt the Lords hand.

Waves of the Spirit from Costa Rico.

We met these two men yesterday from Costa Rico here on buisness.. they were so nice and full of life. Ha i was so excited when we met them i could just feel of their love. Well we took them all around the square and juan carlos says, Sister Mettra i watched this thing on TV the other day and that guy was speaking... and pointed at the prophet and I said do you mean general conference? Yes this man was just flipping through the stations and turned to General conference and decided to keep it on cause he felt something. As we took these men to the conference center the spirit just poured through the seats and halls of that building. Words werent really needed only a testimony which we both gave. We felt prompted to take them to the BOM gallery and share a little more about it. They both wanted a copy for themselves to read although Juan said he was very catholic he couldn't deny what he was feeling. The spirit surrounded the painting 3Nephi11... We started to testify when the savior came to the americas and they felt it. Sister Andersen read the passage and i testified. Then out of no where the spirit said sing I stand all amazed..... I've never sung that on a tour.. the light came in through the window and reflected off this painting and the marble floors. I told them this hymn really puts it all into perspective of the Savior. Estebon didn't even blink his eyes, and just smiled. I could barely hold in the tears it was so powerful. What a blessing a simple testimony is when born through music. We will be teaching them in a couple of weeks.

Who is that Dude?

We met this little family from Holland haha and she goes, so who is that yellow dude on the temple? I said ha oh you mean moroni? We started to teach them about temples and they spoke very little english but i could understand what they were saying... We taught about the power of the priestood and the father's mouth just dropped he understood that Joseph Smith really was a prophet but was afraid to act on faith. We read from the book of mormon in Dutch it was beautiful to see their eyes light up with understanding. I love these moments when you can see that it doesn't matter what language you speak ha. Then barbra goes so do chicks have this priesthood stuff haha. And we explained that only men do. Then i couldn't rememeber the dads name so i asked barbara and she goes just call him daddy haha. So at the end when i was inviting him I curled up to him and he was laughing and i said, " Daddy can i send you a book of mormon? " He said now now lets not get ahead of ourselves love. None accepted but they wont forget the spirit they felt

Disneyland.. sharing the happiest message on earth?

Well Vushnue called in and i recieved his call. He is from Chino and he said a women at disneyland had turned around in the middle of waiting in line and said that the spirit had told her to talk to him. Asked him if he was searching for something? And she was a member of the church and wanted him to learn more. I think he was caught so off guard that he called haha. Well i testified that it was a miracle and a sign from God telling him that he was loved. He wanted to meet with missionaires asap. Well although i thought it would be a fairy tale ending..... the elders told him that he couldn't go to the church near him cause that wasnt his assigned ward... SO MADDD... then to topp it off his ex mormon friend told him that we seperate people by race and level of understanding, and gender.... Death to you satan I will KILL YOU... So I'm trying to do damage control with him cause he is no longer interested. I'm praying the spirit will lead my words to touch his heart again.

Why did you come here on a mission?

This girl named Lexie came and we talked about why i chose to come on a mission. She is thinking about serving one herself but i didn't know that till the very end when she was crying. I bore my testimony so strong on how a mission shapes you more then anything else and God will really answer your prayers. We talked about how hard life had been and I shared some insight with her. Tears in my eyes I promised her that if she would trust God and get a blessing that she would get an answer.... She looked up and she said sister Mettra i think i just did... So tender.

"The Furnace of affliction helps purify even the very best of saints by burning away the dross in their lives and leaving behind the PURE GOLD."-Elder Johnson

I love this mission all of it I'm learning so much. Thank you for your prayers they are needed and loved!

i love you all.... Sister Mettra

Conference weekend!!

2011-04-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

Good Day!!!

My goodness we made it through another wonderful inspiring conference and I loved every minute of it! I love how President Monson gave a shout out to temple Square, this is the place! Aka Temple Square thanks! ... After 3 days of hard work, seeing over 100,000 people we are all humbled and refined in wanting to be better servants of the Lord. Our days were 14 hours starting at 7 Am and ending about 10Pm.. I think my cheeks are broken from smiling so much ha we never know who is getting in the Ensign right? Well we were so blessed to have inspired members that wanted to share the gospel with their friends. We contacted over 300 members just in our companionship. My feet are still purple and swollen but its a good pain, my back made it i fought it and we received many blessings from it. So last night at 9:00pm we all piled into the Tabernacle to see what our hard work had brought! All tired and exhausted, we sat together and waited for the number. As a mission we made a goal of 6,000 potentials in 2 days. Finally we had all the tallies and the Assistants just started crying and I sat in prayer, praying we made our goal cause it wasn't as busy this conference and I was afraid. We sang the spirit of God and I felt an overwhelming spirit that I've never felt before. I know that the Lord was with us in that room celebrating with us. Well I'll just tell you what the Lord was able to help us achieve, in 2 days with rain, snow, thunder and tired bodies we received........ 6,455 potentials!!!! Tears just came to my eyes, do you understand that's 6,455 children closer to Christ. At least half of them will be baptized from all over the world. Conference brings such a new meaning to me, I want to have this enthusiasm to improve my life always. We are so blessed to have a Prophet today that loves and cares for us. Only through the power of God were we able to achieve that goal.

Just Passing through...

A Mexican man came and was wondering why there were so many people here? We were able to testify that God had called a prophet once again on the earth and that he was speaking now! This man was so curious and wanted to know more about everything we had to say. In my broken Spanish again I testified that Jesus is the Christ and the Book of mormon testifies of that. This man and I were speaking spirit to spirit, how humbling. He referred for missionaries to come teach him more!

A Child's prayer...

So As i told you last week that Travis prayed with the missionaries!.. But this week I was blessed enough to listen to him pray. I cant really express how it felt to hear him pray, to really talk to God. Where as before he didn't even know if he was there. He thanked God for letting him hear about this gospel, and Especially Father thank you for sending me Jenna, and she could help me see how I can be closer to you. I was smiling through the whole prayer, nothing compares to hearing him call on his father. I am so grateful for this moment

No Chinese Food Sister Mettra...

Well i have an announcement to make, I'm not allowed to eat Chinese food anymore ha. Sister Andersen and I went out to eat the other day and I just got some chicken as usual to what I always have. Well about 10 min into eating I started to slur my words and my eye lids became really heavy haha. I felt like gravity was pulling me down to the ground Sister Andersen was laughing so hard and I could barely walk. We were in the middle of the lesson and i literally couldn't even read the scripture ha i had to mute myself cause I was laughing so hard. The zone leaders said i looked drunk ha which is how I felt (even though I don't know how that feels) ha but I can imagine. They said just go home and go to sleep, I'm not kidding i couldn't even walk home my legs were like noodles hahaha... Lesson learned I'm not allowed to eat it.

Naomie..

Cute little black girl comes in and we take her on a little tour around, she asked why we believe in God and I really prayed for the spirit with us in every word we spoke. She was only 14 she was with a group but wanted a one on one tour. She said she feels the love of God when she walks into the Tabernacle. We were able to testify to her that God loves us so much he called a prophet again on the earth she wants to learn more about the Book of Mormon and what we taught her. I love teaching young people because it helps build my testimony cause the gospel really is simple.

Angel

This man named Mike came to the square and stopped us as we were walking and said i just have to say thank you. And I said for what? And he said anytime I meet sister missionaries i just thank them. Because of you I'm now a member of Jesus Christs church. He had tears in his eyes and just looked at me and said, God is so proud of you and the choice you've made to come here on a mission. He knows how much you have sacrificed and no matter what anyone says, you are doing amazing! it was so good to hear that cause you know everyone gets down sometimes and needs to hear it. I was so humbled to be a missionary and wear his name.

I learned so much this week and am so grateful to be here now, to know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that Thomas s Monson really is a prophet. When I was sitting in conference I prayed that God would tell me what I needed to hear, and the first talk in my answer was given. We are so blessed to have this in our lives and I'm grateful to teach the whole world this exciting message! There is more to say but I'm running out of time! I love you all and thank you for your prayers, keep being amazing and listen to the Spirit in all you do

Love Sister Mettra

In the very moment

2011-03-29T19:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Family!

For starters... Happy Birthday to the best mom in the whole wide world!!! I love you so much mom I hope your birthday is full of Love and happiness!!

My week starts with a member that was truly inspired. I met a girl named Jane who was so sweet and we started talking about my mission and when she served a mission as well. She said she didn't realize how many blessings would actually come after a mission, it was the hardest thing she ever did but has brought her the most joy. We could relate on many levels, I think as missionaries we only focus on those of other faiths but forget how wonderful members really are.

Prayer of the Heart...

So weeks ago I told you about Travis how I prayed with him on the phone and he said he felt peace. Well I've been staying in contact with Travis and checking in with him every once in a while. I felt like I needed to contact him a couple days ago and I received a message I will never forget. He said that the missionaries have come and he is really interested in what they are telling him!! And then he sent me a text and said.... Jenna i said the closing prayer last night! Tears just filed my eyes I was so humbled to be a missionary in that moment to experience the pure joy that comes from others feeling the the spirit. He then asked if i could call his friends and tell them more about this gospel. We never know what a prayer will do. I've prayed for Travis by name for a month now hoping he will receive a witness that God is listening to his prayers. What more can you ask for in life? This is pure joy.

June...

An Asian man and his son came to temple square both doctors and very smart if i say so myself. The man was kinda closed off but Sister Phillips took the son and I was talking to the father trying to get to know him a little. I was able through the spirit to bridge to the book of Mormon and bare my testimony of Jesus Christ. I read him 3 Nephi 11.. and he just stood there and looked at me like he was trying to remember why he heard it before. I said June do you believe Jesus Christ is your savior? He replied and said my wife is the religious one not me Sister Mettra. And I said, June Jesus Christ didn't just die for your wife, he died for you and me he loves you so much. I went on to bare my testimony of what a blessing this has been in my life, to know what life is really all about. He grabbed my arm and got kinda close to me ha I was nervous for a sec. And he looked at me and said, " You are a very beautiful girl, when I look in your eyes I can see something and when I listen to you speak I feel happy I am very lucky to have met someone like you." I just smiled and said, June your feeling the spirit and the light in my eyes is the light of Christ. He smiled and said I had left an impression on his heart.

Indie Jingle Bells sure its Christmas right?

So this little indie band comes in from Seattle and totally in thrift store clothes and ha well super indie brek knows what I'm talking about. I started to talk to them and they were really funny asking me a lot of questions that they heard on south park about Mormons... ha not the best source but I've heard it all before being at temple square! I started to bare my testimony to why I came on a mission and how happy it makes me. Then i told them I was an opera singer haha bad move. They wanted me to sing with them! haha out of no where they started busting out into Jingle Bells and made me sing with them ha all the guests stopped and I just sand jingle bells with them haha. They asked me why Mormons are so happy and i explained the real meaning of who Jesus Christ was.. I'll never forget them!

Mosiah 28:3 is real

I had a moment this week that changed my mission and really my life in understanding the importance of this message! I met a guy named Brandon from San Diego. We only had about 10 min together and they were asking just about where things where on temple square. I tried to bridge something to the temple or something and for the first time i was a little intimidated ha lets just say Brandon was a really beautiful person haha. I taught about eternal marriage and they thought that was interesting, they really didn't have a religion themselves and so I tried to find something to teach about. Well the father was really interested in family search and I gave him the information he needed they were in a hurry. And when i shook Brandon's hand goodbye its almost like his spirit spoke to mine and said I want to learn why didn't you teach me. He said he Sister Mettra maybe I'll see you one day in New York singing nice meeting you....I smiled and said yes maybe... they walked out the door and almost immediately after my heart started beating fast and i was sick to my stomach... I didn't invite for missionaries! I felt so bad I actually lost sleep that night I woke up 4 times replaying over and over what I could have done different to bring the spirit in faster. I will never let that happen again! My soul really did quake and tremble after and for days later, but I had to forgive myself and promise never to let it happen again. Brandon will be in my prayers everyday for missionaries to find him!

Gift of Tongues is real!

This was the crowning moment... I met Jose last night at the desk! He spoke no English at all only Spanish and I prayed to understand him. Like many times on my mission i wished i could speak Spanish but i had to trust in the spirit!.. I ended up grabbing all of the Spanish pamphlets I could find and English ha and started teaching with the broken Spanish i did know haha. I realized very quickly the language barrier was not going to be a problem the spirit would make up for what i lacked! Jose was actually from Santa Ana! So we could relate on that level and i started to teach about El Libro de Mormon. I used the New Testament gallery to help explain more of Jesus Christ. I will never forget looking at the painting of Christ being baptized and wanting to explain the authority. But I used everything I could and I said Jose don't you want to be baptized like Jesus? Now those that speak Spanish would laugh so hard if you really heard what I said ha including, Juan the Baptist e agua , mirror and so much more haha. But I took him to the garden of Gethsemane and just stood there with him and prayed Heavenly Father would just help know what to say. I ended up telling him how much Jesus loved him and that he wanted to know about this gospel. And be baptized like he was. I bore my testimony of prayer and who the Savior is to me. Tears filled Jose's eyes he understood every word I said, Jose and I were speaking spirit to spirit. I had a spanish sister make sure he could understand what he was accepting... and later the sister came up to me and said I didn't know you spoke spanish Sister Mettra?... I said no no sister Chavez i don't. She just looked at me and said, Jose talked to me how you taught him about baptism and being baptized like Jesus and when he came to the Americas and how his family can be together forever, Sister Mettra he understood. My heart was full of gratitude to be able to see this man as God sees him. And help him understand the importance of the message. You don't have to know their language to teach, you do have to trust God.

Terry Terry Terry

This man called in very angry and swearing he wanted someone that spoke English, i guess one of the Asian sisters had called him... Well i calmed him down and said Sir all she wanted to do is share a message about Jesus Christ is that so bad really?... The conversation went on and i testified of the Book of Mormon and how he could know if its another testament of Jesus Christ. He started to cry, the spirit had changed this man's heart, he was no longer angry but kept saying I'm sorry I'm sorry. Come to find out he lives in a little rock cave house and has no money. He is ashamed of who he has become and was afraid of the missionaries coming over. I said, Terry this gospel will get you out of your cave, you can be happy again I want this for you, Let the Lord help you. He just started to cry and said thank you bless you Jenna for your kindness and mercy on me.... When you love people anything is possible! We will be teaching terry this week!!

Well that's about it for now crazy week If you ask me!.. And this weekend over 100,000 people will come to the square to be spiritually uplifted by the prophet of God! I am soo excited for conference! As you watch conference this week have a question in your heart, and i promise you that if you have faith , the Lord will answer your prayer through his servants!

i love you All!!

Sister Mettra

Never look back

2011-03-21T13:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Family!

This week went by supper fast and honestly we were really busy with lots of people teaching. I've never had to remember so many names in my life, and usually I'm really good. But apparently on your mission you get memory block. This email will be a little shorter and more of things i learned then crazy stories this week!!

I'm famous by the way....

So we are just walking around on the square and found these two men by the temple. We started talking to them and one of them said he was a music professor in NYC. Well I said are you a theorist. He was like I think your the first person I've ever met that actually knew that's what I do. Most people ask me what instrument I play ha. Well we took them around and i was so grateful that heavenly father blessed me with an understanding of music because ha lets be honest i bridged the gospel from music and it was amazing. At a point in the tour I bridged the pitch of music to the restoration, don't ask me how the spirit did it ha. Well we had a very powerful moment in the conference center and they both felt it. I asked them if music had ever answered their prayers before. I told about an experience where a professor of mine had played Adagio for Strings and just said, I want you to feel. I don't them how it helped me feel a closeness to God. We testified of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon, they ended up not referring but thanking us for all we did. Then at the end he told us his full name, Joseph Strous aka VERY FAMOUS theorist that writes pretty much all the music theory text books! NBD I really wanted him to be my tutor hahah.

June Robbins is back...

Called her after sending her a copy of the book of Mormon with my testimony. Ha she is the one that told me i better not send stupid 19 year old boys to her house that don't know what they are talking about ha. Well something happened in her heart when we were talking, I told her to stop looking for a sign stop looking for proof. I told her to TRY GOD. i committed her for one week to pray if God was there, i promised that God would answer her prayers. I know that God placed me here to speak to her, most people would cry or hang up the phone ha.... but i just make jokes and cut to the point. I'm praying all goes well with June!

We had a Mission meeting on Friday at 6:50 AM!! goodness I was half asleep walking there ha. Well we went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and viewed the NEW Joseph Smith movie. it won't come out for a couple more weeks but we saw it! Its close to the same but it says a lot more. They were inspired to make this movie, a teaching movie. So it talks more about what the book of Mormon is and how we can learn its true or not. Its all from the prospective of Lucy Mack Smith. While watching it I thought about myself being a missionary right now. That i was called by God to be right here right now to preach his gospel to everyone i meet!, a feeling of pride came into my body i knew I was where the Lord wanted me. After the movie we were able to bare our testimonies about the movie and what we were feeling. My heart was beating fast i didn't know what I wanted to say. But there was a moment in the movie that spoke to my heart, " God calls us in our weakness, but he qualifies us in the Work." That line read as Joseph Smith was baring his first child can you imagine? Tears just filled my eyes, because I learned something I did not know before, God called Me in my weakness. When I walked into the MTC some 9 months ago I was not prepared for what was to come. I knew one thing and that was I had to make it into those Doors. Since the MTC I have learned more then I would have ever thought. I love my mission it means everything to me. But I know that God called me in my weakness, to push through the pain to keep going, and to never look back. I don't know everything but I know enough. I know that Jesus Christ restored his church back on the earth today through a young boy. God doesn't look on the stature of the Man, he looks on the heart. I testify that God knows us personally. He knows our hearts and who we can truly become. He will never give us more then we can handle, and through trials we learn how to become like him. I've never felt so much love for the gospel or for the people around me. Every soul is great in the sight of god, I know that without a shadow of a doubt. God hears every prayer we say, we just need the courage to take that first step. I love this gospel and i love being a missionary. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored by a loving God, Through a living Prophet. Never look back trust in God and SMILE :)

i love you all!!

Love

Sister Mettra

ps we have a new investigator in Singapore!!!!

2011-03-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

Dear love Bugs...

I have so much to be grateful for this week words can't even express my feelings. Last week i shared the reverence that I felt with being trusted with these souls, and this week follows the same profile. I am so grateful to be in this mission, I know everyone says they had the best mission. But in no other mission in the world could you teach all over the world in so many ways and touch so many hearts. I am truly humbled to be called to serve the Lord here one these grounds. Our Mission President is very inspired to make this the most obedient and successful mission. Of coarse that itself took learning to understand why.. but I realized we don't need to know the why. " We cant go asking God to put us on the path, if we aren't willing to move our feet." Not only am I able to move my feet, but my heart is on the path the Lord wants it to be. I have grown to love trials and hard times, because I know that God wants to give us something better if we will just hold on and not let go....

Remembering Every Soul is Great in the sight of God...

Do you remember John from last week??... He was the one that came on and the start of our conversation was very interesting on chat ha but he ended up calling us and we taught him this week. He is golden like literally out of no where ha! Both Sister Anderson and I had such huge smiles on our faces the whole lesson. You better believe that A he had a BOM, talked about it like he was a member already B prays all of the time, C knows more history about the Book of Mormon then me ha. He is so prepared but like I said last week, if we would have judged and just said no he isn't sincere, this moment I'm about to describe would have never happened. Well on our second lesson to John we wanted to commit him to have missionaries to bring the DVD the restoration his reply, "oh yeah I watched that on mormon.org i love how he really wanted to know the truth and God told him." Wow ha um wasn't expecting that at all we both looked at each other with huge eyes and laughing and we said are you sure your not a member John haha. Then we started to share how the gospel has worked in our lives, what it means to us. I shared a couple experiences where I felt very alone and through prayer I was able to find peace and comfort to a very dark situation. The spirit was coming in and words couldn't really express how I felt, we both felt a prompting to invite him to be baptized! Sister Anderson did it and there was just silence, then I did a softer invite and told him the gospel will change is life and literally mid sentence I was cut off by, no Jenna what I was going to say was... Yes I would like to be baptized eventually.........

My heart started beating so fast and i couldn't speak. Sister Andersen and I looked at each other and our mouths were just wide open and smiling. He started to bare is testimony to what he knows right now, and I couldn't help but cry tears just streamed down my face I had to mute myself cause I was crying so much ( normal for me). I knew it wasn't me, Sister Andersen but only the spirit that had testified to his heart that this was true! We don't have to meet people face to face or even know them to see a miracle. As we let the spirit speak and talk from the heart anything is possible. John is a progressing investigator now and told us that he enjoys our spirits. He is our favorite! Ps he is from California :)

Do you know...

We were at the desk which has become one of my favorite places to meet and talk to people. Mainly because you have a short time and you can see miracles in seconds. This guy walks in about 30 years old just looking at the map. I walked up to him and started talking to him his name was wade and was really stand of ish actually. But I don't really care about that I'll talk to them anyways and make a dumb joke so they laugh. We started talking and I started to get the hint he was inactive. He had actually served a mission but went right away to the military so he lost his faith with everything he saw there. I could tell that his soul was lost and he needed direction and guidance. I shared a 2 Nephi 4:20 with him and told him that so many people forget that God can keep them a float upon the waters of life. And started to talk about how God is our life vest we just have to hold on. He looked around and wasn't really listening. Then the spirit helped me to pause and he said, Yeah I guess I forgot that. And I replied, Wade do you know God loves you?.... Silence tears.... No not really guess I never really have. I paused and let the moment sink in and then said, Wade he is just waiting for you to come to him he loves you so much and doesn't want you to forget him. He is your Father and will always be there by your side. He looked at me and just said, thank you, thank you so much. His feelings over took him and he left I was so grateful that I was able to uplift a lost soul that has the truth but forgot.

God be With you Till we Meet again...

Gloria called in to Sister Andersen's phone this week and she asked her if we could call her back and teach her more about how families can be together forever. Now I wasn't in the first conversation but we ended up calling a couple of hours later and praying with her. I guess her grandson was in the hospital cause he got shot! We prayed that he would heal and that things would work out for the best. The next day we got a call, Her grandson had died he was 17 years old and now gone. She just cried with us on the phone and Sister Andersen and I shared with her some scriptures and did the best we could to comfort her. The this morning is what really touched my heart. We called and prayed with her and she started telling us about all the things that had happened in her life and she just feels alone and kept asking us where did Nathan Andrew go? Where is he? We started to cry because it was so heart felt and she really didn't know. Sister Andersen testified that she would see him again and this wasn't the end. She has a stutter and sometimes cant speak but once she gets the words out we can understand her. She just kept asking, where is he? Then the spirit prompted me to sing.... God be with you till we meet again. I told her to pay special attention to the words and how she felt. I was crying through the whole thing especially when I sang , Till we meet at Jesus Feet. I have sung this song so many times but that line just came over me. We really will see each other again this isn't the end no matter what happens. She cried and said thank you thank you Jenna, you made me cry. I will never forget you, and your voice thank you. Music heals hearts I know that without a shadow of a doubt.

Fun fact!! : Abby my investigator with Sister TaraSevich.. GOT BAPTIZED! She is from England and we taught her over the phone! YAY!!

I know that God is really leading me to these people and that if I let him do that, Miracles happen. Why I titled this strength beyond my own is because, this week I may have had the worst pain in my back, then I've had since I got back. I woke up Thursday morning not being able to walk let a lone move. I prayed I would be able to walk and endure the pain. It wasn't easy but with the help of, my Deep Blue oil, Sister Rodriguez's skills, a loving comp and faith..... Miracles happens hours later. Elder Hales said, Constant intense pain is a great purifier that humbles us... Yep that seems about right. For a moment I was afraid I wasn't going to make it. The pain went all the way into my neck and temples and I laid down on the floor and started laughing cause I couldn't really even open my eyes ha. But the pain slowly drifted and that night is when we committed John to be baptized. And I would go through it all again just for that one moment. And sometimes I think that's how the Savior thinks. He loves us so much that when even one soul comes back to him, it makes all of it worth it.

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

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