Merry Christmas!

Here is a bit of a letter I got from Sister Tincher this week.  We were able to skype with her on Christmas Day.  It was so fun to talk to her.  She looks happy and talks like a missionary.  We are very proud of her.  Thanks to everyone who writes to her.  That keeps her spirits up.   

Jana

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It was good to talk to you all as week, I loved it :) 

It sounds like you have a good week planned with lots of fun stuff. 

Christmas dinner was good, the Filipinos  Love to feed the missionaries, they make so so so much food, and hen sent it home with us, they gave a like a whole cake, I just don't know why people think that is okay! 

But they gave us ribs, spaghetti, macaroni, black rice, fruit salad, vegetables, this avocado coconut thing haha I don't know. so much though. They make you eat it all too, I was dying after.

This week we got to go to the temple with the whole zone and meet at the mission home. It was really good, I loved it. It helped me feel some comfort. And get some strength to keep going. 

Then we had dinner appointment on Christmas Eve, with the polish people. I love them they are sweet. Before we started the feast they had wafers that you would take to everyone and you each break off a peace, and wish them something for the new year. It was really cool, I want to do something like that. 

Then we had Christmas and we visited some lonely people and stuff, that was good. 

Then the rest of the week we have been working, finding and planning. Friday was kind of hard, because everyone we saw was just being rude, or told us what we believe in is crazy, or they don't want to meet with us so that was hard, but we go on. 

Our mission president wanted us to find someone by the end of the month, a new investigator, we are still trying to meet that goal, and also have a baptism.... I think we missed the ball on that one. 

I pray that things turn around. 

I hope you have a good day though, love and miss you! Keep on keepin on! 

Sister, Tincher 

Christmas Time

 Well!!! We are in a trio again!!! Sis. Bonvissuto, Goff and Tincher!  We will be working together two weeks until the new senior sister comes, she is 70 years old, and sis.b is training her. 

So it's been good to have her back, love that sister. 

Every week I serve this ward I just grow to love them more and more, it's so good to see these saints striving to do their best to do their callings and strengthen and support one another. I truly feel like the church was organized not only to bring us closer to God, but to help us have a family, spa support system and to draw us closer to Gods other children to help each other get through this mortal journey, wow what a good plan! 

This week we met with a a family we knocked into. We got an Arabian Book of Mormon for them. It was a mom and her two kids. They are 14 and 26 they are from Assyria. When we told them about the Book of Mormon the first time she said she didn't need another book, that she had enough. Well we showed the he is the gift video, ad asked how they keep Christ in their life, her son walked in and then we asked him, he told us to follow him to a stand he had with a picture of Jesus and he bibles, and a cross. He talked about how the Bible has blessed his life, and then we testified of how the Book of Mormon has blessed ours, along with the bible. The spirit testified, and he asked for a copy. 

So as we came back, he wasn't there, but we introduced it to his mom and sister. They just kept saying, " you believe in Jesus, we believe in Jesus, it's the same Jesus. God loves you."  Well as we turned to some scriptures for her to read, she couldn't put it down she kept reading, and would look up saying, "I like, I like!" The spirit was really strong, it reminded me of d&c 50: 22. It was so powerful as we spoke together as sisters, and rejoiced in our Savior. Such a powerful moment, and we are scheduled to see them again! 

 We met with a less active and her son who we are working with. She invited us over for dinner while we were at the ward Christmas party! Which is pretty cool. As we were eating dinner Nathan turned to his mom and whispered in her ear, "When am I getting baptized?"

We were like.... This goes right with the lesson we planned for you. 

We taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. And had the mom hold a temple and made foot prints with the five steps to get closer to his mom or the temple. Oh my! The spirit was so strong, and so sweet as this less active mother who is detangling her life and figuring things out to help her son and teach him! My heart was full. They decided on a date for them in January. 

We are praying for things to work out. 

The season of Christmas is special if you remember the real meaning, I know I know everyone is always talking about it, but really it true! It's the family with life. If we remember the real reason we are here then it will change things around. 

One member we were talking to said "You can say all you want he is the reason for the season, and this and that, but it won't mean anything if you're not doing anything about it in the home." I think this is true, He is the reason for the season! And you all are awesome, and I am thankful for all of you and for the gifts of service and love you have given me. Thank you! I couldn't ask for anything better then the people God has blessed me with. 

Merry Christmas!!!!! I love you!!!!!!!! 

Sister Tincher

Walnut Room at Macy's

Here we come a caroling

Hellllllo!!! 

This week we have been trying to get a hold of our recent convert, Jasmine. She has gone down hill quite a bit, we can't write her on fb, call her, she won't really chat with texting and she won't come to church. It just makes me sad to she someone who has had big changes in their life and you could see the change in her, the light and everything and then it is almost like Satan trips them, grabs them by the leg and then starts running way with them! 

we have been caroling as well around this time of the year with our district. President loves music so he encourages us to carol. And its was so great! A man stopped and just stood there and listened to us, a couple moments later he came back and stopped us saying, "I don't mean to disrupt you, but I didn't know Mormons believed in Jesus!" We told him we do and showed him the He is the Gift video. It was cool. He said this, "Religion is a way for man to reach out to God, and Christianity is Gods way to reach out to man."I LOVE that.  I think it's interesting with this new "He is the Gift" thing the first presidency wants us to use. We aren't testifying of Joseph smith or the Book of Mormon, but we are testifying of Jesus Christ and what he has done for us. 

I have faith it will help others gain a desire to learn more about the restoration as they see we do believe in Jesus Christ and all His glory.

Something I have noticed recently is that we are all learning, no matter how long we have been in the church, or how short. We all learn something new. The church is true, and the firmer our foundation the more complete the world becomes. 

Elder. Bednar said, " When we follow the savior and his teachings,  it will illuminate every aspect of               our lives." 

I know this is true, the gospel is light. Given to man by Gods son, so we may have ever lasting, hope, joy, peace and love for those around us. 

I love you guys!! I hope you have a great week, merry Christmas!!! 

Love, sister Tincher :) 

Share the Gift

Hi Everyone!  We just got Emily's release date this past week!  She will be returning on March 18.  We are really excited about that.  Here is her address if you would like to send her a card or something for Christmas.  Everything just goes to the mission home.  I know she would love to hear from you!

Sister Emily Tincher

Illinois Chicago Mission

800 Waukegan Road, Suite 203

Glenview, Illinois  60025

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Hey guys!

So this week again, We have been working on talking to everyone. We just stop people and ask they if we can share a video with them and usually they say yes, if they don't we just give them a card, testify of Christ and ask if they would like to learn more. People around this time seem to open up pretty good for the most part when you put Jesus Christ in the sentence. 

"Oh sure, yeah I'll take a card!"

We actually picked up a new investigator from Ukraine, he lives in Russia. I don't know how but he found me on Facebook back in April and I didn't notice until last week. He is really cool and so prepared by the Lord. We have been teaching him, and it's cool to see how much someone can see for themselves the correlation between the Bible and the Book of Mormon. When people actually know their stuff they can see more light, but also sometimes it causes more contention. 

In 1 Nephi 13:39 it talks about how the Book of Mormon will come for for the convincing of the Gentiles that the Bible is the word of God. I thought that was so powerful. When you put two and two together you know that there is truth, evidence and light coming through the same source, who is God. 

"And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true."

We have been working with Jasmine... She is a recent convert. She is struggling hard. Satan is just yelling in her ears, and her strength isn't the best right now to fight it off. So Bishop is working with her, and we are getting her home teachers involved. They are so great, and so willing to help and so patient. It helps me feel comforted that the ward cares about her. 

This time of the year is exciting for everyone. I love serving during Christmas, and lucky me I have two of them! I am thankful for the gift Christ gave me and his example of how to treat others. The atonement is real, and I am thankful for that knowledge. 

It's Christmas time, live. It. Up!!!!!! cheers to everyone ;) 

Love you all so much, have a really good week. And remember to serve someone. 

Love, sister. Tincher 

To Church We Go!

Dear family and friends, 

First of happy thanksgiving. I love you guys so much. 

Secondly, this week was really good. Lots and lots of holiday cheer goin around. 

The church has come out with this way awesome video and website to help us and others remember the true meaning me behind Christmas. 

It's: Christmas.mormon.org 

He Is The Gift

The Christmas Story - Discover the Meaning of Christmas

But we have been really using this as a source for contacting and talking to people, as well as tracking. We have been showing it and it's great! 

So check it out sometime! 

We had a pretty good week working with less actives and it paid off! They came to church on Sunday!! It's so good, and so cool. To turn around and see them sitting church! The Lord is really doing work here in Chicago, the percentage of less actives going back to church in our mission is at an all time high!! It's so cool! 

Something pretty funny, outside of our apartment is a dunk n' donuts. We go there some nights to get information on our iPads. Well this is where Peter John is also there, because he picks his wife up at night. Anyways so we get out of an appointment and are driving by this DD and the we are like, "hurry look and see if Peter John is there!" So we do and he was there! We hurry and park run in, and act all like,"oh hey! fancy seeing you here!" Haha so we are talking and then we is like. 

"How close is your church from here?"

"10-15 min" 

"Can we go there now!? Is it open? I want to see it" 

Haha so we were like oh! For sure, yeah... Haha so we drove to the church and gave him a tour. It was perfect. He loved it, the elders taught him that Saturday and he is on date to be baptized jan 10th! He wasn't able to come to church the following Sunday, but he had his nephew and cousins go including there families. So it was good! 

I am excited to be here and to serve, it's really great. I know the church is true, that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior and that God loves and looks out for us as His children. When we are truly thankful everyday for the things around us, it will change the night, to day. I love  his gospel and what's it's done for not only me, but so many others. It's true, it's real! 

I love you all!!! Good luck this week!! 

- sis. Tincher 

Sister Tincher and Santa

Here to Serve!

Hello guys!!

This week was great. We had a zone conference and it was so good the
theme of it was "fear not, for I am with thee." I really loved this
because it so true, he is with us and we can actually tell he is when
we let him.

Last week I told you about a man Peter John that we contacted while we
were in dunkin donuts. Well we figured out that he is in the elder ps
area so we had to give him off to them, but we wanted to have pass off
lesson with them first, because of great our first exchange went. As
we arrived he greeted us with a great smile and his whole family did
as well it was so great and so perfect! We sat down and his friend
came in and started to translate for Peter John, because they are from
Pakistan. Before we start a lesson we like to say a prayer, so as we
asked them if it was all right, Peter John said, "yes of course, but
hold on" and he started to call all his children in! And then his wife
was there and they were all sitting around us.
We began to teach the lesson and it went so good, they then went and
got their neighbor across the hall way, to come and join us. The
lesson was so good, and so powerful. And then we passed them off to
the elders, that was rough... But you know, the Lord works in
mysterious ways. So it will be good.

We got this referral, her name is Christine and we have been helping
her move things around. She has A LOT of stuff! As we arrived the
first time she was so happy to see us! She was like we are going to be
great friends! Haha she is funny. But I was looking around and there
was thing everywhere... All around, up and down, side to side,
covering the ground. It's fine. Then she tells us I am having a tea
party this Sunday (it was Tuesday) I just don't even know how this
was possible. Well Saturday came and we stayed for a couple hours, and
then we had to go, and it was still... A mess. She said she was going
to handle it by tomorrow. Well... I was really think, "um...."
So we go after church to see and oh my it was clear! I was stunned.
She was bragging to everyone there about us and calling us the ladies
for latter-day-saints haha. She is funny. But everyone kept thanking
us for helping her and it was good, so hopefully someone step closer
for people to get familiar with us.

This week has been good, and full of humbling and inspiring
experiences. I think I learn something new every week where I am like,
"why didn't I know this in the beginning of my mission!" Haha I surely
don't know why it takes so long for things to soak in. But I love it.
Every step of the way is necessary to cross the finish line. Whether
your trippin over your shoes laces for a mile, slipping on a banana
peel, rolling down a hill- it's getting you there!! And that's all that
matters. The atonement heals and fixes to bruises, ties up the shoes
and rubs out the grass stains. It's real.
I love you guys! I hope you have a good one coming up, and happy
thanksgiving!! :)
Love, sister. Tincher

This Week!

Hello

This week has been just great. 

First off we had transfers which was good, you know I just love these meetings it just lifting my soul to the level it needs to be at, and then I am ready to go and work my heart out. 

We have been able to teach Oso this week, it was good! We had her friend who is a member come to the lesson. Oso asked what the Holy Ghost feels like. Sis. Goff opened up to a scripture out of no where. (Let me tell you something, this girl! She has a talent for knowing her scriptures!! Wow, I am just like let the holy spirit guide! She just randomly opens up during the lesson and it fits perfectly. She has a pure spirit.)

Anyways! 

So we talked a little about how the Holy Ghost feels, and tried to help her understand. Then we had the impression to ask sis. Bat (sis. Bat just started coming back to church about two months ago) what her first time feeling the spirit was like, she shared it with us, and afterwards she turned to us and explained how she really needed to hear that experience again to remember why she is a member of the church and the feeling. So that was so great. Then later Oso asked us about baptism and why we decided to be baptized. 

She is from Mongolia and grew up Buddhists so its a neat experience to teach her, because well it different! 

Then we met with Mark. When we first met with him the first thing he said was," I know your view on baptism and I do not agree" so we were like... Well this is a problem, but he was super nice about it!  Anyways he was telling us about how he is in and out of the hospital, because of his sickness and so we taught him about the apostasy a little and priesthood then extended the invite for a blessing. He agreed! We had the elder go over and give one to him and it went so well. He called us up after and expressed his appreciation to us for getting that all lined up and much better he felt. His heart is becoming more soften to the idea of being baptized and he said that we will be seeing him at church.

I got to go to the temple to see Tammy  do baptisms for the dead!!! Which was so good, so cool. And then right after the Robles family in our Ward got sealed! It was such a special experience. I haven't ever seen before. But wow. That was cool. 

We met this guy in Dunkin Donuts yesterday. We were just there loading stuff off our iPads and as we getting ready to leave sis. Goff saw this guy, she was like, "should we talk to him? Let's go talk to him" as we start talking to him he realizes who we are. Turns out he is from Pakistan and got shot by the Taliban and is here now, but a relative of his is Mormon in Pakistan and he was visiting with elders in Bangkok before he came moved here!! He was so excited to see us, and was just like, "take down me address, here is my number, come to my house at this time this day!" We were just like frantically writing! 

He was waiting for his wife to finish working, and he had us go over to his while she was working at at the cash register and we introduced ourselves, and he was like, "they're Mormons!" She was happy to know this too, she greeted us with a smile. 

There has been many miracles this week, lots of tender mercies and I know that the Lord is involved in this work, because it is his. If we allow ourselves to humbly submit to his will we will see things come together. 

I love being a missionary. I have the opportunity to talk to people all the time, everywhere I go about God, Jesus Christ, the spirit, the Book of Mormon and it is completely fine! Because people expect it from me. I love being here. It's so hard, depressing, exhausting, exciting, powerful and glorious all in one. But that's that makes its worth it. 

I love you all! 

Good luck this week!!

Love, sister Tincher 

 Transfers with the Trio

 Tammy at the Temple

Jessica

Transfers and a cooking lesson

The last week of the transfer flew by and We received the dreaded
transfer call. We all knew that it wasn't possible that we would stay
together, but sometimes a little hope is all you need to keep going.
It's been a good time, that's for sure!
I am staying in the area and getting Sis. Goff! We both came out together!
Sis. B is serving with another senior sister in the ward because her
companion is going home early. They are best friends so it should
really work out good!
And Sis. Bishop is going up north again. We won't see her very much
because she is in a different zone. Ugh, I am sad.

This week was fun and good though.
We went to Sotheoun and Pheap's,  they are Cambodian and it's the same
girl who's hair I cut. So we go over and teach her English every week
and sometimes we go over and she just throws in surprises. I have
learned a lot of how to make different Cambodian foods. Well this
time!!! I will tell you I think this tells that I am a true woman, I
earned my badge prior to having children.
So we get there and we are setting things up to teach, and she asks
Sis. Bishop and I if we want to cook, so we are like sure.... (We have
done it before.) well she takes some peanuts out and a bowl to smash
them in and gives it to Sis. Bishop then she takes this whole chicken
out and say, "cut, you cut" at first I was like okay I can do this.
Then I realize that there is a head inside of the chicken and other
things... Long story short. I cut it up. Like she wanted me to hack at
it over and over even the bones. I don't know how this was possible.
But it happened.

I think it's interesting the mission really isn't what I expected it
to be. It's so good, so hard and then so rewarding. I absolutely love
the people I serve with and the friends I have made out here. I
wouldn't change it for the world.

I hope your week is good!!
Love, sister. Tincher

Good Experiences

I just love holidays, even though this one is probably not that missionary friendly... And this year WOW! It snowed like crazy, a straight up blizzard was goin' on. It's fine though haha. We had to go in early for the day and we baked cookies for our neighbors to give them and introduce ourselves. It's pretty weird how you don't even know your own neighbors sometimes... We decided that needed to change. Haha 

One day we ended up walking to a less active's place it was really a good experience because we got to talk to a lot of different people a long the way! When we finally got to the person's house we were headed to we ended up knocking on the wrong door... And so of course their neighbor answered it! He started to explain how he is going through a rough time, and decided he would start going to church. So we invited him to check out our church. He opened up to us and invited us in where we were able to introduce him to THE best thing anyone could be introduced to... The gospel. We have an appointment with him this week! We will see how it goes. 

It's so cool how we see everything happens for a reason. 

What was funny though, was right as we walked out of his house we saw the less active with her friend we were trying to get to, she saw us and then had her friend hide her from us! Hahaha too good 

We also decided to stop by an Italian bakery. Sis. Bonvissuto was funny when she brought it up, she was like "Can you do me a favor?... Can we go into that Italian grocery store. Really quick we can be in and out." and as we walk in we see this cute little old lady walking out from the back, and I am thinking, "oh my it's an old Sis.Bonvissuto." 

Haha of course she goes right up to this cute lady and start Italianing it up! 

It was so cool because while we were in there another guy came in who Sis. Bishop and I started chatting with and then he looked at me and said, "You look really familiar." and then we figured out that we knocked here at the beginning of my first transfer here. He was really cool and as we left the store he said, "You never know, one day! One day!" 

We also have a returning appointment with the lady who runs the store! How cool is that!!?

Haha it was an awesome day. 

Transfers are coming up next week, we're all stressing about it. 

I love this so much, the church is true, the book is true and the gospel is the best. 

I have really been thinking about family lately, it's a pretty big deal. It's so great. I love that we have all been sent here in a family. A pre- packaged fellowshipping deal. And if we haven't really been, we have such good opportunities in the gospel to build families. 

The gospel is family. 

We are all family, God's family. To help each other. We aren't alone, we never will be. I think a lot of times we hear about the blessings we will receive if we are righteous, and true. Sometimes these blessings seem very enticing and inspiring, sometimes is just hoopla. But really the blessing of the gospel is the relationship we will gain as we love true to the faith, we will never be a lone. Because the love of the gospel will make life fuller as we gain new relationships with those around us. 

I love you all so much!! I hope you guys have a fabulous week, full of great adventures :) haha

Love, sister. Tincher 

Sister Snow invited us over on pday to teach us to paint

another week and a party

Another week came and went! They go so fast. 

Last Monday we traveled on down to Gary Indiana for a baptism Sis. Bishop had. It was cool to be in Indiana, I felt a little closer to family and I was think it just may be the only time I will get to be down here on my mission. Maybe someday I will get to see my dad's old stomping grounds. It's my dream! 

But because we traveled down there... Our limit for miles became very slim, so we have walking a lot which is always nice to get out and about. Right now we are focused on finding more people to teach. Things are running pretty slow at the moment in our area, but really it's okay because there are many less actives to teach and service opportunities. 

We got to teach a woman from Mongolia for the first time about church things. We taught her about Heavenly Father and prayer. At first she didn't understand really the reason for praying, or why we do it. Haha she asked what percentage of your prayers actually get answered. 

The idea of God is so foreign to people, but it's cool to see them as the humbly begin to build that relationship with Him. 

We had a Halloween party this week too, the thing I love about church activities is they are PERFECT opportunities for missionary work! You just invite people to a party and it's in a church, how perfect. We had a lot of members invite their friends, and part member families came. It's was a success and we got to meet and talk to a lot of new people. 

The people in this area are great, and we have awesome members. It's great to be here, doing work seeing the Lord's hand and having the opportunity to serve him everyday. 

I hope you have a good week! 

Love, Sister. Tincher 

 Making ravioli with Sister B

 We had a Halloween party so we dressed up as triplets. :)

Great surprises

Hey Guys!! 

This week was well great though we have been doing lots of service and seeing many members, less actives and investigators progressing in the gospel. 

We got to teach our Mongolian investigator this week. She is still progressing she wants to be baptized. She brought it up her self after she told us about how much she agrees with the gospel principles books she has been reading. She is a very serious, educated and well mannered individual. She will be such a good member. Her daughters are so cute and do really good in primary. She helped out with the sunbeams on Sunday so we got to see them singing a long with all the kids and everything. We love her and are excited to see her grasp the gospel and bring her family into it. 

We have been working with a less active family. They are a broken family the boy is nine and we are working on him being baptized. We got him on date for Nov 8 and he came to church with another family for the first time maybe this year! It was great to have him. He is going through more than any little boy his age should even experience, but the ward is aware and are wanting to work with him and his mom to feel loved and supported. We are going to have fhe's with them at members home so that he can see what a priesthood hold should be like in the home. The member who took him for the day Sunday called us and had the same idea. I love how the Lord helps unify us with the members. It's truly his work! 

So after a dinner appointment with the senior sisters and Jasmine we were walking back to our car when we decided to stop by this guy's house who we talked to a couple weeks ago, who said we could come back sometime. 

He wife answered the door and they had really cute kids, she was so nice! Then he walks in and we sit down. The first thing he says is, "you know I have a history?" 

We look at each other, look back at him, and are like, "oh? What is it?" 

So he goes on to tell us of all this crazy stuff, he is from Iraq and I guess some girl poisoned him, he used to have a army of 2,000 Mexicans on motorcycles and now he can't sleep anymore,he said he has to take pills to sleep!   And now ever since "he can't trust nobody" 

It was a very intense story. Haha we showed him a quick video about Christ, and afterwards asked him if he had any thoughts about it! Well he just went straight into how..

 "You can't trust Americans! They don't have any respect, I used to have an army of 2,000 soldiers. Just like Jesus had the 12 apostles, and it took one person, one girl to take it all away" 

So that was an adventure, pretty cool.... Hahaha. It was weird and funny at the same time. 

So this week has been full of great surprises and everything. I love it! There is nothing more true than the gospel of Jesus Christ, it's the key happiness. I know this to be true with all of my heart. All we have to do it pray, read the scriptures with a sincere heart to find this out. 

I love you guys and I hope you have a great week ahead of you! 

Keep on keeping on!!! 

Love, Sister. Tincher 

Teaching English

So this week we had such a good time teaching our investigator Oyunna, she is really loving the gospel. She is from Mongolia and we have a few families here in the ward from there as well, so she is getting fellowshipped so so well. She was given a gospel principles book a week ago, and she said she wanted to read it because she really thinks her questions she has had her whole life about where she came from, why she is here and where she is going will be found or established in this book. Well we show up for this lesson and she already read the WHOLE book! Oh my and she really liked it, so that is a plus. She agreed with everything she read and said that it was true and they are good teachings. It really cool.

I talked to president about her and she said that in Mongolia the church is really growing! 1 out of every 10 people are apart of the church! It's so cool! She loves coming to church, and she had finally found the peace she has been looking for in a long time.

 

We have been teaching English to another lady from Mongolia. We had her meet us at the church on Saturday and so while we were there we explained what we really do (teach the gospel) and then about church. We went on with our lesson and then about half way through she started to ask us if we believe in Jesus and that she wants to find him and learn more about him. It was so cool!!! So now we are going to begin teaching her as well.

These are both referrals who asked on their own to learn more. The Lord is completely preparing everyone.

 

I love this area because everyone is basically not American haha when I first got here I was like... everything has an accent. Including my companion haha. so it's a perfect service opportunity here to teach English and we have been blessed to find people to teach the gospel as well.   

 

So we got a call Saturday night from president telling us that he is doing an emergency transfer and we would be in a trio... we had to drive to the mission home that night and pick up our new sister. And guess what, you'll never believe it! I got Sister  Bishop back!! She is our third companion, how cool!!! I trained her just in case you forgot. So we have been catching up. Being in a trio is way too fun.

 

On Sunday Jasmine came into sacrament and showed us a picture she made on her phone... haha it was like a digital cartoon. But it was of Sister  Bonvissuto and I. I was holding a book, because she said I am always carrying a journal around... I think she was just thinking about me at conference time. Too funny. And then Sis. B was holding her hands in a heart shape, because she was the first one to tell Jasmine she loved her. I thought that was so tender. Jasmine has come such a long way. It's so cool, and you can really see the difference in her continence its like night and day almost.

 

The Atonement is real, it will change us. It heals the broken, wounded and tired parts of us. I know this is true. I am so thankful for my Savior, and for Heavenly Father who loves each of us so perfectly.

 

I love you guys. I hope you have a good week :)

 

Love, sister tincher

Things are changing around here

Helloooo! 

This week was good, pretty awesome. I just keep thinking to my self of
how lucky I am to be here, doing this work and being surround with the
people I love. I don't think we ever are aware of what we are walking
into when we open a door. We are always scare, nervous or maybe
apprehensive when it comes to the unknown of experiences, but God
always requires us to stretch out of our comfort zones. This is where
faith in Jesus Christ and the enabling power of the Atonement step in.
I am sure you can relate with experiences like these.

With people we are teaching I have seen great changes come about and
it's because of the hope for a better twirl they have found by letting
go and launching forward into unknown path, to and all knowing God.
There is no failure when we choose to follow someone who loves us more
than we can imagine and who knows our destiny better than we do.

One night this week we taught a brother in the ward who is struggling
with activity, and who knows where it really starts, but he brings up
the subject of tithing a lot. So let's say that is the problem. He is
a really cool guy! Just has trouble with trusting the lord, and it all
starts from how he grew up. It makes me sad to see all of these
problems that start with family. So many people want to feel excepted
and loved, but because they feel different from "average" they feel
like they are being judged.
It's not that way at all. I always think back to what our stake
president said "the more you pay attention you will notice that satan
divides, while God gathers" just like sheep. The wolf comes and splits
the weak from the strong and then attacks!!! While the shepherd tries
his best to have a good view of all his sheep and keep them close by.
When we choose to disobey the prophet and the commandments or things
he has said, we are wandering from our Shepard making it easier for
the wolf to corner us into a dark, hopeless problem.
With this guy, I so bad wanted him to just clear off the dirt from his
glasses and maybe then he could see things the way God wants us to and
make the changes that would actually help him.

After this appointment it was getting close to curfew, we were
deciding whether we should make some phone calls or do the one last
stop by we had planned. We decided we could do the calls later and it
would be better for us to try and see this less active (who I have
never met yet!) As we knocked on the door we heard her yelling, "the
sisters!! How did you know I was thinking about you!" She opens the
door and says it again. We were planning on just inviting her to
conference and leaving, but she invited us in and just talked to us,
told us the load that she was baring. She had some questions she
needed answered and really she needed the comfort of the Lord, so he
sent us. She was reading the church website right before we got there!
And we were able to set up a priesthood blessing for her the next day.
It was so perfect. I love how the Lord can use us to help bring his
love to his children. It's the way the church works, we need each
other.
It reminds me of something I hear in conference about how the love we
feel for the prophets and gods leaders is the Love that God has for
them. I feel like that is so true for every day life.

Jasmine who was baptized last week was able to come to all the
sessions of general conference and even on Saturday she came with us
to watch it at a members place. It was so great to have her come, and
she made it through all the sessions! I was way happy for her, haha
that's rough for the first time!

Things are changing around here, I can't tell if it's the weather or
the work, but I know it will be good!
I love you guys, thank you for everything. I hope you have a really
great week, if it isn't one, make it one! ;) y'all deserve it!!
Love, sister. Tincher

Too many bananas!

Baptism Week

Illinois Chicago Mission July 2014

Another week!! 

Wow! This one has been full of really great things. It always is, but we had a baptism this week, so it was fun to prepare for that and see things come together! 

Her name is Jasmine, she is 19 and really sweet. She had a baptismal interview and on the way home we were talking to her about why she decided learn more about the church and everything, and it was so great. She said she was trying to find a church to go to, but the ones she went were just not her favorite the people there didn't treat her right and she didn't want to be there, so she prayed that night asking God to help her find a new church. Well sooner than later she ran into the missionaries on the street, and it began. She has felt so much love and acceptance from the ward, it's truly a miracle and such a great experience from the short 6 weeks I have known her I have seen a big change in her, not just physically but spiritually. You can feel the happiness radiating off her and her willingness to follow God. 

I love being able to see that God loves all his children, and no matter where you have been or what you have been through he has a plan for you! He wasn't all of us to succeed, and to be happy. That's why he lead Jasmine to the missionaries. That's why she found the gospel. What a miracle! 

I absolutely love this church, because it's real. 

The baptismal service went so good though, and actually we had two at once!! The elders had someone they were teaching that wanted to get baptized. The spirit was so strong and it was so exciting. But on Sunday when they were going to get confirmed, Jasmine didn't show up! She was late... Oh my sis. B and I were stressin! The Elders confirmed Nelson and then.... Well... Jasmine, yoo hoo where are you? The sacrament was passed and later she showed up and somewhere along in the program it got thrown in there. I was perfect! 

Oh transfers happened, and we are both staying! this is sis.b's 5th transfer here. 

Something pretty awesome. We teach English here in this area. And one of the memories who is Mongolian is very great at inviting people she randomly meets to take the classes. So Oyunna is a lady we are helping with English (honestly I don't know why, because she is very good at speaking) but we have been teaching her a couple weeks, and one appointment we had I just had this goal that I was going to insert the gospel somehow. And wow! The Lord lined it right up for me, like a "T" with the ball, I had the bat and bam it flew. 

Really though, she was interested and wanted to come to church, to read the Book of Mormon. She talked to the sister in our Ward later that week and they had a long discussion while their kids were playing at the park, and Oyunna actually said she wanted to quick the English lessons and to start studying about what we believe and come to church!!! Ah!!!! 

So she came to church with her two girls! And she really liked it, haha it was funny she came out of her first class with serious 6 books! Oh my, haha our members. Their gems!

I am excited to see how this goes. :) 

So Saturday was woman's conference, and wasn't it awesome!? 

I loved how it spoke of the temple. I feel like they talk lots about the temple and covenants. But what I really loved was President Utchdorf and how he was speaking of our destiny. Do you know who you are!? 

This is a serious question! 

We must remember. 

What I love is at the temple whether you are in it or outside it can feel closer to God. This is where we will better understand who we are. 

Because our Heavenly Father loves us no matter what, no matter our worldly circumstance, but because he created us. He will always be there. He will always listen to you, when you pray to him. You are never alone, when you are walking towards Christ. 

the church is true, the gospel is pure. 

I love you guys!! Good luck this week :) :) 

Love, sister Tincher 

 Sister's Conference

 The District