Monday, January 25, 2016

Week 40 - #livingthebuslife

I'm running out of opening statements. So I'm just going to jump right into this week's recap :) It's been one heck of a week, to say the least. First of all we are car-less. Not due to my accident, but the Racine sister's car is in the shop for a week so they gave our car to them for the time being. Luckily, Milwaukee has a decent bus system! Imagine this: two girls who have never taken a bus anywhere in their lives trying to navigate the city of Milwaukee. It hasn't been too bad. It's kind of an adventure, I must say. Although, my nose has almost frozen off like five times while waiting for the bus. But we're surviving :) I do have to say, I'm pretty proud of us. Especially considering the fact that we had less than 3 hours notice to get bus passes, routes, maps, etc... if I had to title Thursday it would be "the day we ran around like chickens with our heads cut off"! It ended well though with a great surprise dinner with Sister Stewart (RS pres) and a nice lesson with a less active woman. Sister Stewart is such a rockstar. She took us out all day on Saturday! 

Friday was our first full day on the bus. I mean, it took us an extra hour to plan out bus routes/times/changes, but we did it! It's kinda fun to be honest. We were suppose to see Sis. W, but she was sleeping when we got there. So we taught her non-member mother the Restoration instead. It's sort of weird because when we had our car we usually just pray before we get out and go into the appointment, but seeing as we don't have a car we totally forgot to pray before we walked in. Both Sister Garner and I could definitely tell the lack of spirit as we taught. Things just didn't go as smooth. The spirit is so essential in teaching and testifying of the gospel! 

So I don't know if I mentioned this, but Brother Capps asked us if we could go visit some people whose records they just received. He told us how he had tried to call them, but some of the numbers were disconnected or they didn't answer or whatever. So we pull up to this one lady's apartment complex and we find out that she lives in a place for deaf people! So obviously she's not answering her phone...she can't hear! Now I'm really wishing I had paid better attention in my ASL classes and not just watched Switched at Birth for extra credit. But fun fact: Sister Garner also took two years of sign language in high school! So we were able to communicate with her and set up a return appointment. I really need to brush up on my ASL though...

On Friday I hit my halfway mark. So strange. I've been reflecting a lot lately on the past nine months and I've just been filled with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. I've met some of my favorite people, become a Green Bay Packer fan, learned how to say "Wisconsin" correctly, seen families become united through the gospel, eaten more custard than I care to admit, felt the spirit on a daily basis, and most importantly I have come to know my Savior on a more personal level. I've finally decided to tackle "Jesus the Christ" by James E. Talmage. And I'm so happy that I started reading it! I'm not too far along in it, but I love this scripture that he referenced. John 6:38 "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me". I've been thinking a lot about that and how Christ was per-ordained to come into this world to be the Redeemer of mankind and how He didn't come to this world on His own agenda, but He came to do the will of the Father. I guess it goes back to the talk by Sister Marriott, about yielding our hearts to God. It's super tough to do, but I know that as we try our hardest to submit to God's will that we will be blessed with the strength and courage to do so. 

Be good this week and always choose the right! 

XO, Sister Quist


If you need us, we'll be at the bus stop!
Elders cut their ties in half at their halfway mark...
apparently sisters take a "9 months" pic. LOL.
From Utah to Montana to Wisconsin to Arkansas to Wisconsin... I finally got my package! :)

Monday, January 18, 2016

Week 39 - a week full of tender mercies

Fun fact: every night before we plan for the next day we write down tender mercies for the day. Here are mine for the week:
  1. Beanies. This week has been chilly. High of -1.
  2. Saw Trish & Callie this week (investigators). Love getting to testify of the Plan of Salvation!
  3. Laundry dayyy! Clean clothes...yes.
  4. Emailing my family and friends
  5. So we have this cute old man investigator, Stanley, and we finally got to see him again this week! Hooray! He even let us in (perks (only perk) of the cold weather)! 
  6. The Munoz's are gems and gave us a little space heater because no big deal our heating doesn't work in the apartment. 
  7. Barbara!! Even though we didn't get to see Dylan and Carly. I still love meeting with Barbara.
  8. Chick-fil-a (always a tender mercy)
  9. Tidied up the apartment. 
  10. Munoz's. Crazy lesson on the 10 commandment. Exodus 20, people. Read them, live them. 
  11. Transfer point! Seeing some missionaries who are leaving/coming. I love making new friends!
  12. Earl + Fischer's for dinner. I love older people.
  13. Sis. Escobar left, but on her last day we took her out with us!! Rockstar. 
  14. Tina! She hammered down in our lesson with our investigator, Fred!! 
  15. Sister Cutler's cookies.
  16. Jessica's lesson with Bishop and Sister Hayes!! Never having a lesson without a member there. (Bishop showed an AWESOME series of videos called Patterns of Light by Elder Bednar. Go watch). 
  17. Sister Morris' dinner. I love hearing all about her mission stories. 
  18. Tracting!! Gave out two Books of Mormon (whoo!). 
  19. Taco bell
  20. Kelly. She's so awesome. 
  21. The beautiful weather! (when it heated up to 34 degrees...so tropical)
  22. Sister Osburn coming to the Munoz's with us. Talk about flashbacks. 
  23. Got in a car accident...with a pole. No worries. Everyone is safe. Except our car.
  24. Saw Jaclyn. She went to the temple for the first time!! 
  25. My companion
  26. The spirit
  27. Sister Skye's talk in church. Quote, "You don't have to be doing something extraordinary to have an extraordinary life, but you do have to be doing something". 
This week I'm going to focus more on finding joy in the journey! I encourage you to do the same :)

Be good. Say your prayers. Do missionary work.

Xo,
Sister Quist

 Companion close-up! Wearing our matching beanies.  
So fun to be reunited with this girl! Lucky we got to take her out for the day!

Monday, January 11, 2016

Week 38 - Round 4 in West Allis!

Transfers are in and looks like I'll be staying in West Allis for another transfer! I'm so happy to finish training Sister Garner and to stay here in MKE. There are so many great things happening here. Not much to say about this week. We had a super bomb lesson with Jessica at the Mead's house. The Mead's have mad missionary skills. I've seen so much success and progression in people when we have the lessons in member's homes/with a member. Their testimonies and spirits have the power to astonish people! We talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and specifically about repentance. That's something our mission is really emphasizing right now. I've really enjoyed studying repentance. I have found that the only way to have a good day is if I'm repenting daily. Using the Atonement daily has given me the power to overcome trials and has helped to strengthen my weaknesses. I'm so thankful to my Savior for atoning for each and every one of us. I know that this gospel is true. I know Christ lives and loves us. 

Keep saying your prayers and choosing the right. I love you!

Xo,
Sister Quist

ahh, soup is good food. especially when it's 2 degrees!

Monday, January 4, 2016

Week 37 - the one when we got stuck in the snow five times in one day

Yo! let me begin with this (insert picture where I'm scraping ice off the car). 


Yep! "They" said two inches. Try NINE inches of snow. Luckily it was last p-day so we didn't have to be anywhere super important. But getting to our dinner appointment was fun. Let's just say I'm really good at getting stuck in the snow. Sister Garner is a champ to get out and push the car! Her arms are gonna be so toned by the end of winter. Lol. 

In other Monday news-we had a really great lesson with the Abshire's. Ashley shared her conversion story. I loved the spirit that was there as she bore her testimony to us and her husband and son. 

Tuesday we were suppose to have a lesson with Dylan and Carly, but Barbara decided the weather was too yucky for them to walk over to the house. So we shoveled her walk instead and had a nice discussion with her. We were also suppose to have a visit with this less active couple, the F's, but he called last minute to cancel :( It was a really big bummer because we haven't seen them in forever and this is the second time they've cancelled. But on the positive side it was really good to talk to Bro. F on the phone. He said we should call in a couple of weeks to set something else up. Also, on Tuesday we lost the phone...RIP phone. We think it was dropped in the snow. Maybe we'll find it in the spring! 

Wednesday we had a super bomb lesson with Kelly, Brent, and Brittany. I don't really fancy teaching the Law of Chastity, but it was a great lesson and both Sister Garner and I felt the spirit there. We shared this video-- which is really awesome when teaching teenagers. Later that day we met a woman named Samantha. She lives in our apartment complex and we were all walking out at the same time and just got talking. She expressed a lot of feelings and especially how she wants to find a kid-friendly church for her children. I've never felt the Spirit witness to me so strongly of the genius and sacredness of the Primary program. As we talked more she became more open and you could really see the Spirit softening her heart. She told us we could stop by anytime and said how she's very anxious to begin this new year with a fresh view of God. 

New Year's Eve we went on exchanges! So I went to Kenosha with Sister Soifua. Seriously such a fun New Years Eve!! We went to this recent convert's home and oh my goodness, guys...it was seriously like a house in Better Homes & Garden's magazine. SO BEAUTIFUL. I was dying. Sister Worth is from South Africa and just moved here three months ago to be with her husband. She has a whole storage room full of ancient African artifacts and pieces of art. Seriously I was looking at all the stuff I learned about in my art history class. 


But anyways...we had a nice dinner there with the Elders and some of the members of the Kenosha ward. Sister Worth is so funny. While we were all sitting around the dinner table she says, "I love all these godly people sitting here! There must be a beam of light shining into heaven right now" (said in her thick South African accent)!! Kenosha was great! I always love going there. 

We were sharing 3 Nephi 13:33 with people and talking about the blessing that come when we seek first the Kingdom of God. It's way to easy to get priorities mixed up and put worldly things above God. We were challenging others to write down some spiritual goals that will help them to draw nearer to our Savior. It's been amazing to see how when I have set those spiritual goals I can feel the help of my Heavenly Father because I know He wants me, and all of us, to grow and progress spiritually. 

On Saturday we attended the wedding of N & E, two of the Elders' investigators who are getting baptized next Sunday! Now that's putting faith into action! We also helped Brittany paint her room, which was fun. Love that girl!! Felt good to serve... and to paint again ;) That night we stopped by the B family. Brother B is actually sitting in on the lessons and talking to us now!! 

Sunday was church. We moved up to 1 o'clock, which is actually pretty nice. Jessica came to Sacrament meeting and man alive, I just love that lady! She is doing really well. She just needs to stretch herself more. Also, happy birthday shout out to Brent!! 


He turned 12 and got the Aaronic Priesthood!! Brent has such a special spirit. He is so tender and so receptive to the Holy Ghost. I know that as he stays close to the gospel and to God that he will be a powerful force for good in this world!! 

Well. God is good and life as a missionary is wonderful! :) Lots of love from Wisconsin!

Xo,
Sister Quist


exchanges with sis soifua and sis escobar! freezing our faces off!

when we got lodged in the snow bank at 9pm... 
we had to wait until someone stopped to push us out...