Merry Christmas from Sister Pace

  This Christmas season has been so great! I feel like I have really been able to feel the Christmas spirit so strong. I know it is because I haven't been as distracted by the commercial part of Christmas, and I've  been able to really focus more on Christ this Christmas and give back to him by giving of  my time and service.

 We have been taken care of so well by this ward! My love for this ward grows more and more. There are so many wonderful people here. We have been involved with the ward Choir which has been so fun! We went to a Christmas sing along at a members home and sang Christmas carols with the choir. That was probably my favorite Christmas activity so far! That is a fun tradition I would love to carry on. There are so many homes that are decorated from the grass to the roof and everything in between. I tell ya, everything is bigger in Texas! 

I just want you all to know how happy I am here on my mission! I have been growing more and more to love this place and what I am doing here! My love for the people has grown, the missionaries I serve with are so amazing! We have so much fun together and they have such great testimonies.  Also, my love for President and Sister Ashton have grown. They are soo amazing as well!  I definitely consider them as second parents. Sister Christopherson  (one of my companions) got to go spend a few days in their home with their family to see what a gospel oriented family life is like. That doesn't happen very often. So I was able to see them a few times this  past week. I have so much love and respect for them. Sister Ashton is a huge role model in my life. 

Most of all, my love for our Savior Jesus Christ has grown. I have loved studying his life and ministry these past few weeks in the New Testament. I love how the world is so happy during the Christmas season because they remember Christ so much more. Just think of what it is going to be like when he reigns again on the earth! Its going to be amazing! 

 I love you all and hope you have a great Christmas season! I challenge each of you to find one way you can go out of your way to serve someone everyday until Christmas. I promise you will be able to feel the Christmas season even more this year! 

Fall in Texas for this Missionary!

New Harmony Apples!

I got the apples!!!! Thanks so much.  It was a wonderful surprise and totally made our week!  I bought the ingredients for apple dip so we will be snacking on them.  Yum...Yum!!! Fall weather in Houston is still in the 70s and 80s, but there have been more days that are overcast and the breeze is nice and cool. 

                                                                                                                                                                                   

We're the Snow White Twiners!

Trunk or Treat!! Happy Halloween from Snow White and Cowgirl (missionary version)

We went to ward Halloween trunk or treat  which was so fun.  We helped with some of the carnival games for the kids.  We dressed up for it too!  I was Snow White  and Sister Thompson was a cowgirl.  We found out the last minute that we could wear costumes so we tried to be creative with what we have.   

  This is a picture of my sweet friend Morgan.  We're the Snow White twiners.  This girl is a doll!  She is in our ward and is the daughter of one of the Bishopric.  She is a special Olympic Swimmer and has so much love.  She will just get up in the middle of Sacrament Meeting after someone  has shared their testimony and give them a hug and a kiss on the cheek!  She is my favorite!              

PS:  Yeah, I died my hair!  I didn't want to worry about the up keep of the blonde.  But I'm getting use to it.  Now I definitely fit in with the Pace Girls!     

We'll it was transfer week again and guess what!?  Sister Thompson and I are still together in the same area.  But there is a new addition to our companionship, Sister Christopherson!

 

 

 

 

Sister Christopherson, Sister Thompson and Sister Pace

    What a blessing it has been to have Sister Christopherson with us.  She is on her last transfer and comes with experience and so we are benefiting have her for this short time before she goes home.  

I've been here for 3 months and sadly we haven't baptized anyone in the time I have been here.   But instead I look at our successes and all that we have been doing.  We have worked hard getting the ward excited about missionary work, helping strengthen the members and less actives.  We met with Bishop Brower and he is really happy with what is going on,.  He told us how we have met his goal with 55 people coming back to church.  They haven't been baptisms, but in the last year there have been many people who were inactive or less active coming back to church.  This is so great!  He told us that 54 people have come back and he is considered number 55 because of his conversion through all of this. 

                    

I really am loving being a missionary.  There has been some great times and hard times.  The thing about being a missionary is God is trying to mold us into a person that He wants us to be. I'm learning a lot about myself, what is important in life, and most importantly the gospel.  It is great!!

Rainy Day in Houston!

                                 

 

Temple Day at the Houston Temple!

Sister Pace and Sister Thompson at the Houston Temple

The Houston temple is gorgeous!  I had an amazing experience. It was a great feeling being in the temple with a bunch of missionaries in the same session.   Every time I go to the temple it just gets better and better.  I loved the Celestial room.  My thoughts kept going back to the first time I went to the temple in St. George.  Having the whole family there was really a special experience.  I just remember going into the celestial room and seeing everyone waiting for me.  I know that's what it is going to be like on the other side.  I am so grateful for this gospel.

It's been a busy couple weeks with zone training and conferences.  My mission President is absolutely amazing.  I have so much love and respect for him.  He has such a powerful testimony and I can tell he cares so much for his missionaries.  We had interviews with the President and then we   did some role playing with him.  It really pushes my out of my comfort zone, but I did learn a lot. The

Sister Pace and President and Sister Ashton

coolest part about the training was the assistants came to the meeting as well and met with us as companions and had a training about our area.  We set goals and prayed about our investigators.  So this zone conference helped light a fire of faith and determination to get back to work!  Sister Thompson and I feel impressed with a few individuals that will hopefully be baptized by the end of the year. 

Sister Thompson did a training also that was just so powerful about how we represent Jesus Christ as missionaries.  Just so you know my companion is amazing.  She is so knowledgeable in the gospel and we have definitely grown closer.  I learn so much from her.  Even though she's almost two years younger than me, we really balance each other out very well.  She has helped me so much in the mission just by her wonderful example.  She has so much love and charity.  It's great being her companion!

Survived my first transfer!!

Bishop Brower and the Sister Missionaries at the Astros Game!

I am staying here another transfer, which I am so happy about.  I love my ward, they are so supportive.  The people here take such good care of us.  The Mission president has asked us to have FHE lessons with members of the ward, so it's helped get better acquainted with some of the families.  I love the Schwoush family.  They have four adorable children and Ally the youngest has won my heart as she hugs us every chance she gets.  The Orr family have just started coming back to church and Sister Orr LOVES to cook and enjoys feeding us.  She always has a great dessert for us to take home. (oh-no!!!)

We had the opportunity to attend a ward activity at the Astros baseball game.  Our Bishop had us invite investigators and  less actives to attend.  One of our investigators, a single dad, and his two young boys were able to go. You can imagine how excited these little boys were to attend a professional baseball game.  This is something that they had never experienced.    Bishop has an office in one of the tall, big buildings down town and we had a devotional there before the game started.  This was a great missionary opportunity for the ward.

Sister Thompson and Sister Pace       

 

           What a fun environment, even wearing missionary attire!                

Jimmy and the boys!

                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                             

Blue bunny Ice Cream is the best at a baseball game!

What a Shot!

1st Transfer-"Clearlake Area"

I'm in Texas!  My area is Clearlake.  It's the suburbs of Houston and a nice area.  NASA is nearby.  There seems to be a different church on every corner.  It's a new experience for me not living in a Mormon community. All I want is to be honked at and hear people yelling "Sister Missionaries!!" The people are super nice and love talking about Jesus, politics, history, NASA, farming, oil or whatever.  Everyone seems to have dogs in their homes.  I mean everyone!  I love it and hate it.  Some are stinky, but most of them are pretty loveable. 


When I arrived at the mission, I was able to see Sister Kunzler from Cedar City, Utah.  Oh can I just tell you how great it was to see a familiar face.  She just glows because she is so happy and such an amazing missionary.  I have heard nothing but good things about her.  So be sure to let Bro. Kunzler know that!!

I am in a Trio companionship with Sister Thompson, who has been here for about 3 months or so, and Sister Hawkes, who's on her second transfer.  So we are all kind of new, but they are great missionaries.  A rule that I am getting use to, is that we cannot be out of sight or sound from each other...even in our apartment.  So a little adjustment for me, but it's all about having a good attitude! 

One thing about our area is it's reputation for being a hard area for the missionaries.  They use to send missionaries here to die!  But--6 months ago there was a sister that went home  this week that really made a difference.  And yes I took her place and yes everyone misses her and loves her.  Big shoes to fill right?  But the missionary work is really starting to come along.  We want to work with most of the less actives. There are tons of them! I love the people here. I'm really falling in love with my ward.   Bishop Brower is amazing. He has a goal to get 55 baptisms by the end of the year.  And so far they have 23 members going back to church. So we are dedicated and want to achieve that.  I love this challenge.  I really want to work hard and make a difference here and help the community grow together. 

We live right next to a school so I actually got the sisters to go out and run around it.  So there's hope!!  I'm not going to get huge!  I am not on a bike right now because we live so far from where our area actually is.  But there was one day where we had to take our bikes out so I was so happy!

We do get fed a lot by the members and the food is great!  They know how to BBQ!!



The mission president encourages us to participate in service.  So we've helped a lady in the ward decorate for her daughter's reception and helped serve for a while at the wedding.  We've also involved our district in yard work and painting an investigator's home. 
I'm adjusting to the millions of mosquitos.  Can I just say, I really hate them.  We don't get along.  They are always at every door step waiting to suck our blood and now our legs are just covered with bites.  Sister Thompson counted 32 bites on one leg if that gives you a clue.  My legs look ugly because I scratch them so much.  We even coat ourselves in repellent without much success!

My 3rd week here, the President called our cell phone and said; "I have some bad news, put me on speaker!"  So that is never good.  So he told us a sister in the mission was going home because she was sick.  "So Sister Hawkes, you are being transferred tomorrow."  So the next day, we drove her to the mission office 45 minutes away and now it's  just me and Sister Thompson! It was so sad.  I liked having a trio, but I felt like I wasn't growing as fast and I was relying on them too much.  So now that it's just the two of us, I feel like I'm pushing myself  and just more at ease.  So it's kind of a bitter sweet thing.     

I had a great birthday and appreciate all the fun birthday wishes and gifts!  Sister Karen Brown, from the ward made us dinner and made me a birthday cake.  She is so loving and takes good care of the sister missionaries. 

We are having some success with our "cottage meetings" which involve members inviting non-members to do some sort of activity, FHE etc. with them.  A recent convert who was baptized about four weeks ago had been reading the D&C and had some questions about Joseph Smith, and so we decided to get together and have a "movie night" and watch the Joseph Smith movie.  We made  pizza and she invited people from the singles ward over and had her neighbor who is not a member to attend as well.  It was a great night!  We gave a brief summary of the first part of the restoration and then let the movie go from there.  I just felt the spirit so strong and was so excited to watch it with an investigator. It was just amazing.  We had to be home by 9:30 and they wanted to stay and watch more Mormon messages.  So we were super happy about the night! Sister Thompson and I have continued to teach this investigator and she has been coming to church and wants to be baptized.  We have another investigator who has shown an interest and wants to be baptized as well.  We have some work to do with her but are very hopeful 

I have learned a great deal about unity in a companionship and grateful for Sister Thompson and the relationship and bond we had developed.  I really feel companionship unity is one of the keys to be successful, because when we have unity we are also united with the spirit in our lessons.  I will be the first to admit I do not teach as well as I would like to, but I know if we are worthy the spirit will make up for it.  Sister Thompson is such a good teacher!  We have figured out what we can learn and how we can really help each other and I just love her. 

I have made it to week 6 of my first area.  I can't believe how fast it has gone by.  I am just falling in love with my area!  I really do love my mission and am getting adjusted to my ward, area, companion and district.  It has been successful and we've done a lot. It's hard work, but we do grow through hard things to make us better.  I love this gospel.  I'm so happy and know we are blessed as a family with the gospel as the central focus of our lives.  Being out of Utah in a state where we are definitely the minority really makes me grateful that we live where we do.  I love my little Mormon bubble, but I'm so happy to share my happiness and knowledge with everyone here.  God wants all his children back home, and I just ask--"What holds us back from sharing that with everyone else so they can have what we have?"  I'm so grateful to have it in my life.  We are truly blessed!!!

 My district went to Clearlake and went crab fishing.  It was a blast!  We got string and chicken, tied it together and we were able to catch some. Enjoy my district p-day and birthday celebration!!



Love my district!



The MTC in a Nutshell...

The MTC is an awesome experience that takes a good attitude and hard work to get through,which I feel everyone here has done--for the most part.  I have been super lucky to have a companion whom I get along so well with.  SISTER HARRIS!...She is amazing!  She has such a great attitude and is such a hard worker.  She makes having someone stuck at the hip with so easy.  I love her to death.  

 Sunday walk by the temple with my amazing Companion--Sister Harris!

Then, we were so lucky to have Sister Lindmier and Sister Simmons in our room and District, which makes things so fun!  These girls are so awesome and we all are such good friends!  I've been very lucky to meet them here at the MTC and have this experience with them.  

Our District is the BOMB!!  That is the second reason that made the MTC enjoyable for me.  We were just like a big family where we learn a lot, work hard, but also have a good time!  Shout out to the Elders:  Shoenberger, Nelson, Anderson, Saunders, Clarkson and Morales!  These Elders are Stellar!  Our teachers, Brother Green and Sister Grenfield are so amazing.  They love us so much and we feel the same about them.  They have really helped us stretch and grow .  I can honestly say I love them!  The sad thing is that Sister Harris and I are the only ones going to Houston.  Everyone else is going to Kenwick, Washington.  Saying Goodbye is going to be really hard.  

The best District ever!!!

THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MTC:

• We stayed busy enough, where once we got to our first Sunday, we were golden.  Time flies!
• The Spirit here is AMAZING!  It's awesome to see everyone with the Light of Christ, who are always in happy spirits.  
• GYM TIME!!!!  This 50 minutes is the most precious time to let out our built up energy.  We either play volleyball, basketball, or most of the time go running!  Can't let that die!
  
• We've trained our Elders to take our trays for us at all meals...or their mothers just raised them right. 
• All the teachers here made it enjoyable.
• Seeing people I know!  AKA...Ashley Anderson, like everyday.  Ezra Haynsworth, Angie Sleck, Kylee Washburn, and more people I went to high school with.  It's always fun to see people I know.  
• But most of all, the highlight is everything I've learned here.   The gospel is so amazing as I am coming closer to Christ.  I am really learning how much God truly loves us and wants everyone to return to Him.  I've learned so much about the Book of Mormon and how it teaches us to be more like Christ.  I just wish everyone knew about this gospel because everything about it makes sense.  It is so simple.  We tend to let the world and the adversary make it difficult. The MTC has been a great experience.  So much has happened here, that I want to share--It is so hard to put into words.  It takes obedience, humility, faith and desire to be a valiant missionary.  

 I am so scared and mostly excited to get to Houston, because I still have so much to learn!  But I am grateful and excited to finally get to the mission field where the Lord is preparing his children to be taught!

Family, I love you so much.  I think about you everyday.  Not in a trunky, homesick way though.  I know the Lord is going to watch out and bless you!  

With much love,

Sister Pace                        

Off to Houston...August 13th

My Final Days in the Real World

Howdy Ya'll!! Well, as you can tell Im already practicing my Texan drawl  because I have about a week till I leave! Holy smokes!! I think it is all now starting to hit me that im leaving so soon. It is kind of difficult because there is so much I want to do, but in such little time. It is a bit overwhelming but I am just taking it easy and enjoying the things I love most! A lot has happened the past few weeks since I last blogged. One of the most memorable experiences was going through the St. George Temple. Oh how I love that place. Living in St. George I was very blessed to be living so close to that temple. Many nights I sat outside of the temple wondering what it was like inside. Then I finally got to go in. It holds such a special place in my heart living in Southern Utah, I can say it definitely is my Favorite temple! The best part about it was I was able to have my whole entire family there with me. I can't express how happy that made me! That was so special to me because I never was able to go in on any of my siblings weddings or endowments because, well that's just what I get for being the youngest. But they always told me when I go through the temple, they all will be there for me, and they were! Im so happy for my wonderful family and that we can be together for ETERNITY!

Peace I leave with you,
   
     MY peace I give unto you,

 Not as the world giveth, give I unto you,

Let not your heart be troubled,      Neither let it be
                Afraid!










Id just like to give a shout out to my second home... CVU!!! The past two years I have been soo blessed to work with such and awesome team!! I honestly can say I loved everyone I worked with. For the first 9 months working with the night crew, as hard as it was on my normal life, as in sleeping patterns and having a normal social life my freshman year of college. The people I worked with sure made it enjoyable! It is weird being awake for 12 hours while the world was asleep, but I made it through. Some would agree I did hit my wall and was a little worthless after about 3 or 4, and I will admit that was where my addiction to Diet. Dr. Pepper came into play. It all started from the night shift, and a certain roommate who wore off on me. (Tandy). But I did learn a lot and have a lot of good experiences. Nights still always hold a special place in my heart! Day shift has saved my life. I was normal again!! Also, I loved being around many more people who I got to know pretty well and gained great relationships with. I loved being able to get to know my patience more which made a huge impact in my life. One thing I love about working as a CNA at the hospital is getting to know so many different people. Every day is a new day. I learned so much from a lot of patience that have really taught me a lot of life lessons. I have definitely learned a lot about myself and life in general with my experience working there. It was really hard to leave that place. Id say one of the hardest things to leave behind, but I sure hope theyll take me back in 18 months! I truly mean it when I call them my second family! Love you guys!

The final stages of my big indication of CHANGE, is that I said goodbye to good ole Muleberry point #10 and moved back to my lovely abode New Harmony! I have had the time of my life the past two years! I know I went to Dixie and moved to St. George for a reason. And a big part of that reason was to meet such good friends, and have such Amazing roommates! Starting with moving in with my big Sister Allie whom Id like to thank for making my transition into College 100x easier! I cherish those memories we have traveling to Bolivia and Peru, going out for runs, having a good laugh, and really always having a sister to run to when I really needed someone there for me. Krista, always making us laugh, risked a lot saving the poor fish, who almost died in a terrible hunger games war. Brooke, who was the amazing artist and wonderful homemaker. Jaime, who always has good advice and is a great example. But I want to give a huge shout out to my last two roommates who I give it all to. Tandy Lashea Taylor, and Annalee (Anal) Brunt! Just want to thank you two for seriously being so AMAZING! I dont know where id be without you guys. Lashea was my first and longest friend at Dixie, and was my right hand woman. I give her credit for keeping me out of trouble and in line throughout college. She is such a good example and seriously like a twin sister to me! So many wonderful memories that ill always remember, Dixie Rock talks, Logandale dates, hikes, swig runs, mattress slumberparties, and more!  Anal, I just gotta say the past year ive known you and grown close to you has seriously been a riot! You are also an amazing example to me. I know I can always get good advice from you and will seriously miss my adventure buddy! Snowboarding, hiking, wakepark, you helped me win my season pass, and also being your b... well motorcycle back seat driver will always be my favorite memories. Thanks for also being a best friend to me! I know we dont like talking about this, you two.. But seriously, just want to say thanks for everything. You guys are the greatest. Ive enjoyed being roommates and am glad when I get home, wherever we re at, we'll still pick up where we left off. Even if your married. I dont want to forget those who I didnt live with, Haley, Steph, Abby, Alex, Jordyn, and everyone else...AMBADASSADORS!--- I could go on another whole post about ambassadors. But really quick. I am so grateful for the relationships I gained in that organization! It really was a huge growing and learning experience for me. I wouldn't have wished for a better college experience without that organization. I can also call that organization my family away from home. Thanks guys for being a great part of my life!

                                                                 Its been real.

H O U S T O N S O U T H M I S S I O N

   Well everybody!! Its getting closer! Today marks 5 weeks until I go into tbe MTC to start my new adventure in Houston Texas!! But most importantly its the day I get to start my job on the Lords errand to join His army of Missionaries. Ive never been one to really blog, but am kind of excited to track this new adventure, and would love for you, whoever is interested, to join me on my journey. I hope that as I grow from this new experience, possibly as I share I can help you grow as well. Or even just get a kick out of the experiences I will have while I serve.

  I guess the first question to answer is how did I decide to go on a mission!?  Well, I will just share during this decision making, I definately gained a testimony on seeking and recieving revelation. The Lord will give you answers if you put forth an effort in recieving your answers to what you want to find. All growing up I was interested in serving a mission. Shout out to my older brother Dave, who served in the Dominican Republic and his example to how awesome missionary work was. I always thought it was so cool what the missionaries did, and hearing about his experiences in the field. I always wanted to join the missionaries and do what they did because I highly looked up to them, and at that time..there wasn't that many sisters to go out in the field as usual, so how cool is it to make that sacrifice and do something that not everybody, who are girls, will do? Well, I guess karma hit me because Fall of 2012 the big news hit of the age change! Now it is the thing to do, especially for girls to go and serve a mission! This age change for missionaries is a significant part in our church history. At first, I fell away from the idea of going on a mission. I wanted to get into a nursing program, I LOVE my job, and life is just smooth sailing. It just wasnt my time right..?? Wrong! I just recieved my associates, and am getting ready to apply for nursing programs. Ive been trying to figure out which programs to apply for, where to go, what to do.. Just trying to get everything in life figured out. I still had a curiosity if I should go on a mission and I was just waiting to have my huge answer of MEGAN YOU NEED TO GO ON A MISSION! Or be woken up in my sleep by an angel telling me I need to go, which didnt happen. I just was wanting something big to tell me I need to go.  I kept saying no, its not my time to go.  But low and behold with a few good examples in my life who are currently serving missions, and getting letters about the mission field sparks my interest again. I remember the day I was on a spiritual high! Had a great day at institute in the Atonement class, and got a letter from my best friend, I just needed to get down on my knees and really try to get an answer to if I decided to go on a mission, would it be the right thing? Well I tell ya, once I got that idea of, yeah maybe it is for me....the Lord just opened the doors for me. I am grateful for the support of my family. Talking to my parents and siblings that day, they each said something different that helped me really decided and make my decision. Once I put forth that effort to get my answer is when I really got it. The excitement and peace I felt of going on a mission is the greatest feeling. Yeah im sacrificing a lot here in my life right now. But 18 monthes out of eternity is tiny! If I can show my love to my heavenly father and bring others unto Him, thats the least I can do. I am so excited to go meet the people of Houston, I can already feel my love for them. I am also honored to join Gods army of missionaries right now. Its so cool to hear the new numbers about how many missionaries are going out. It is just another testimony builder to prove that we are getting closer to His coming again!  So much work is to be done and I cant wait to go put my all into the work!