Week 27 - #blessed

Hello world! This week has been pretty normal. Other than Brittany was confirmed yesterday and is officially a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!! Wahoo! It was such a sweet and spirit-filled day. Our ward had their primary program yesterday as well and I just decided that I'm going to be the proudest parent when I have kids. I couldn't wipe away my grin when Jayson (7) and Brent (11) Munoz were up there singing and doing their parts. It was especially awesome because Brent just totally stepped up to the plate and took on the parts of kids who weren't there. What a rockstar. If you can't tell, I just love that family tons. 

I'm just kind of skipping around the week, but here are some highlights throughout:

On Friday we had a blast making applesauce with Sister Capps (a member). (We received a wonderful message on our phone that evening from Sister Capps telling us how much she loves and appreciates Maren.  Made us a little teary, but definitely made our day!) I came out of there sticky as heck, but man alive did we make some good applesauce! Nothing beats homemade.

Friday morning we were running late and I was backing out of the parking spot and my companion was in my blind spot and I'll be honest I wasn't really paying a ton of attention to what I was doing, but to be short I totally backed into another car. Yep. I was trying SO HARD to avoid any car issues on my mission. Whoops! Luckily there was no damage. #blessed

We had a really awesome lesson with our investigator, Jessica, on Saturday morning. Jessica is great and so prepared! She just needs to make more time for the Book of Mormon and CHURCH. But anyways. We decided that it would be good to read a chapter of the BoM with her to make sure she's understanding it and getting it. So we just picked up on where she was...which was 1 Nephi 15. And how perfect was this chapter!! While we were reading verse 27 really stuck out to me. I was like, "This is for Jessica"! And it was crazy cause after we were done reading we asked her what she liked, what she understood, what stuck out? And she totally said verse 27!! She just explained how her mind has been "swallowed up in other things". And I was just thinking how often times our minds are so swallowed up in the things of the world. It's nice as a missionary I feel like I just have one purpose to think about, but as a regular human being there are a million things going on! Life is crazy and that's just a fact, but how important it is to make sure that our minds don't get caught up in the "filthiness" of the world. There is a lot of evil out there and it's so easy to slip into bad habits or become consumed with things that don't matter. It's just awesome that we have the gospel to help our thoughts, words, and actions stay on course with our Heavenly Father's plan!! 

Thanks for the love and prayers. Snail mail is always welcome :) Keep up the Lord's work wherever you are. Love you all!

Xo,

Sister Quist

 Helllooooo Milwaukee! From our downtown excursion last Monday :) So pretty.

Goodbye Barley's :( Sad day to say goodbye to one of my favorite senior office couples today! I love these two so much. We all sang "God be with you 'til we meet again" as they walked into the office this morning and I'm not a crier, but I could NOT hold the tears in. These two just mean so much to me and I'm grateful for all they have done.

Week 26 - birthday baptism!

Monday: What a beautiful evening. We went over to the Munoz' and Orlando was ordained to the office of Priest. I could tell that this meant so much to him. The spirit was so strong as Bishop Hayes ordained him. How cool is it that now he could baptize his family?! He was seriously glowing with the spirit.

Highlights throughout the week:

Stopped by the Abshires (part member family) and caught her home with a sick Peter. So happy to see her since we haven't really heard from her in a couple weeks. We have been kind of confused as to why she isn't active so I just decided to be a little bold with her and read Moroni 6:4-6.  She expressed to us some feelings about her husband and the church and why she hasn't been coming to church weekly. It's interesting though because she knows that she needs to be there. She even said how if something is important to you then you will make it a priority. TRUTH. It's that simple and there is no getting around it!

On Thursday we met Brittany at the church for her baptismal interview. Afterwards she and Orlando tried on the jumpsuits and while they were doing that, in walks the Muskego Sisters (Sis Wise and Sis Peterson) with our shared investigator, Jessica! So after the Munoz' left we went and joined in on the lesson with Jessica. It was such a powerful lesson. I love teaching with Sister Wise. But anyways. Sister Wise just kind of looked at me and said "take it away"...okay, thanks for passing the baton Sister! I had no idea what to talk about. But I noticed Sister Wise's necklace was the YW medallion and it reminded me of YW in Excellence that we went to the night before. So I just started talking about how incredible it is that this gospel teaches young women (and young men) that they are all divine children of God. How a lot of kids these days don't really know who they are or where they belong. But in this gospel we know from the time we are in Nursery that we are all sons and daughters of a King! It's so wonderful to know that our Father in Heaven loves and cares so much that He provided a plan for us to return to Him.

On Friday all our appointments cancelled so that was a bummer, but we stopped by the Rein's (LA family). And it's always just a little awkward when you walk up to someone's house and they are sitting in their car. But anyways, it worked out cause she got out and talked to us for 45 minutes while her daughter, Kaley (shout out to Mom!), was sleeping. Sister Rein is so solid. She is a convert. Investigated the church for 4 years. And her husband, Brother Rein is a RM. So basically they are so cool, but are completely not active. We are thinking because of their profession. But we are not sure...we are seeing her tomorrow though so that's happy!

And of course, last night was Brittany's baptism!! It was absolutely wonderful to see her enter into this covenant with our Heavenly Father. And to see her father baptizing her. SO GREAT. Nothing better :) Brittany has made some major changes and it's so cool to be able to see that this gospel is not only changing her behavior, but changing her nature. The gospel of Jesus Christ changes hearts, people! The church is true and I'm so happy that Brittany is now a part of it (officially). Her family is following behind her and is headed toward the temple!! Happy days. 

Well. Lots of love! I hope you are all being little missionaries where ever you are.

Xo, Sister Quist

Quist family birthday poster…love it!!! :) 

 

 love the gift from lil' sis… thanks natalie! :)

the sisters in the district with sister smith (the senior couple) love them!

 the streets of west allis

Downtown Milwaukee for some Chinese on p-day

Week 25 - I touched a hedgehog!

Another week come and gone! This week has gone by pretty slow. But good things are still happening. Brittany is getting baptized on Sunday--woot woot!! She is so awesome. She made me cry when she got up and bore her testimony yesterday. She has such a sweet testimony of this gospel and is a wonderful example to me of recognizing the power of the adversary and overcoming it! Satan opposes God and so anything that we do to some closer to God, he does NOT want us to do. I love her and the Munoz family so much. Kelly and Brent are well on their way to baptism as well and that means their family is headed to the temple to be sealed for time and all eternity!! What a blessing and joy it is to know that we can be with our families forever. (Regarding the subject of this email: their family just got a hedgehog so obviously I had to touch it! Baby hedgehogs are so cute. Maybe someday I'll get the courage up to hold the thing). 

We also had Zone Training with the Zone. So fun to be able to see some of my favorite people! It was great to be uplifted and inspired by the ZL's and others. I know that this gospel is true and I'm so happy to be serving here. Honestly it's not easy, especially this week. I seem to have caught a bug of some sort. Being a missionary and being sick is NOT fun. But the Lord still takes care of us. Somehow this transfer is already almost over and I'm not sure how! Time is flying so fast. Ah! I'm trying to savor every moment. Recently I've been studying about repentance and forgiveness. It's so, so incredible how powerful the principle of repentance is. For the longest time I just though that repentance was a big, scary process that you had to do when you messed up super bad. But that's not really the case. Repentance is so much more than talking to the Bishop! I've read the talk "Latter-day Saints Keep On Trying" multiple times and every time I think about repentance I just think about the phrase, "Twas I, but tis not I". How wonderful it is that we can repent daily and become "new creatures" (Mosiah 27:26). Through repentance we can become more Christlike. 

Hope you all have a grand week! Be good :)

Xo,

Sister Quist

sis. martinez, sis. wise, sis goldwater, 

sis casas, me, sis peterson

no mistakin' where we live ;)

fellow sister in the gospel sharing some b-day love from Peru

 (love that Zoe.  Maren's bday is Sunday -- 20 years old! woot!)

Week 24 - "CTR"!

Hey y'all! How is everyone doing? This week has been one of the best! Nothing too extraordinary, but for some reason it's just been pretty dang great. Well I mean, obviously General Conference was amazing! Everyone kept saying how GC is like Christmas for missionaries and I kind of just was like, "Yeah, whatever"! But as the first session started I seriously felt like it was Christmas! It was so exciting!! We were able to attend all four session of GC. For the first session we went to the church. For the second session we were at the church too, but Kelly, Orlando, and Brittany came. Yay! They all loved it. Brittany said, "That was a long movie". Haha, she said she liked it though. Then they took us to Chick-fil-a for dinner. They're kind of awesome. Then on Sunday morning we met a recent convert, Tina, at the church. We went to the Cutler's for lunch with the other missionaries who watched Conf at the church building. For the afternoon session we went with the Munoz family and the Elders went to the Canapa's (a member fam) house. I have to say it wasn't the most reverent environment with kids running around and such, but there was just a very special spirit there. There's just something about being together as a family that brings the spirit so strongly. Eternal families are kind of the best!! Kelly just kept telling Orlando how they needed to re-watch President Hales' and Elder Holland's talks. She loved conference! Hearing the words from the General Authorities just reconfirmed my testimony that these men are truly called of God. I echo the words of Elder Bednar who said,  "May we hear and heed the eternal truths taught by the Lord’s authorized representatives". Hopefully you all were inspired and enlightened by the words spoken this weekend. I know I was. Also, how good was the MoTab?? So angelic. I could have listened to "The Spirit of God" five billion more times. Gave me chills! (Shout out to Brother Bunderson for killin' it in the choir! So fun to see a familiar face!!)

This week has been full of tender mercies! Monday we finally met with Jessica. She is an investigator that we share with the Muskego sisters. She is super sweet and brought cupcakes. We had a nice discussion about the BoM and how reading and praying about it is essential in conversion. She committed to focus more on making the time to read and pray about it. Later we had a great lesson with the Munoz family on the importance of obedience, prayer, and scripture study. The Packers also won their game so that made all of Wisconsin just a little bit happier! 

On Wednesday we were going to see this LA (less active) couple and after we got out of the car I look over at this guy pushing a stroller and recognize him as a LA in our ward that we helped move a week prior! He was just out walking his twin babies! We chatted and he invited us over later that day. So that was pretty cool. We talked about the Family Proclamation with him that afternoon and he should be at church this Sunday. So random that we ran into him, but something I've learned is that there really are no coincidences in life. The Lord has a plan for each one of us.

Thursday was a little unusual, but also really awesome. We went over to the Rebarchik's for lunch and afterwards they just drove us around for the whole afternoon to see less actives and help with Bro. Rebarchik's home teaching. It was nice and we were able to see 3 less actives with them!! That night Tina came with us to a lesson with Fred (a returning less active) and the Munoz family. We talked to Fred about prophets and the importance of them. Then we had a lovely lesson with the Munoz family on the Law of Tithing. Tina's testimony about tithing is so strong and really brought the spirit strong. They all committed to pay tithing!! :)

The Munoz family is doing splendidly! My heart is so full of JOY because of them. Brittany is most likely going to be baptized on the 18th, Kelly and Brent might take a little bit longer. BUT last night my heart almost exploded when Kelly basically told us she is going to be baptized! I'M SO THRILLED for them! Orlando will be ordained a Priest on Sunday, so he will be able to baptize Brittany. Yay! This gospel is changing their lives. It's incredible to see and sometimes I just don't know why I am so lucky as to be the missionary who helps teach them. So at dinner Saturday night we were sitting there with Orlando and Kelly while Brittany was in the restroom and Kelly told us how whenever they drop Brittany off anywhere they always say, "CTR"! I just think how the phrase "CTR" wasn't even in this family's vocabulary 3 months ago and now it's like their family motto! Makes me so happy. I love being a missionary!

The gospel is true, people! Keep reading your scriptures, saying your prayers, and doing your best! Make this week a good one :)

XO,

Sister Quist

 It's getting colder here and I'm not sure I'm ready for that!!

 Hey, this is Brittany!! :)

Week 23 - Good things happenin' in Stalis

This week was wonderful and we were able to go to the General Women's Conference with Brittany and Kelly! It was really great. They were feeling the Spirit strong! We had a great lesson with Orlando, Kelly, and Brittany last night and Bishop and his daughter were able to come. Getting members involved is KEY! We talked about the Word of Wisdom. Which went well. Thankfully none of them have ever had a problem with that! They are SO ready and so prepared. I love them!! Brittany is on track and we are still working with Kelly. She is ready, she just doesn't know it yet. How do we get her to recognize that baptism into this church is the only way to eternal happiness?! Having a hard time knowing where to go with her. Hopefully her daughter's baptism will be a positive influence for her. They will be going to the temple to take a tour of the grounds soon, which will be AWESOME for them. They are all very excited.

The temple was wonderful this week!! We went with the Lenhards (a senior couple here), what a wonderful day! Hope you enjoyed the picture :) I always feel such peace and joy in the temple! It was much needed.

So tender mercy time! We went to dinner at the Mead's last night and basically it was the best! Kneaders french toast and orange juice! My fave!! To top it all off both Brother and Sister Mead are from Highland/ Alpine and went to Lone Peak!! They graduated in like 2005 ( I think), but still!! Crazy small world. They have the cutest girls. Erin (3) and RORY (1). And yes, she did name her Rory after Gilmore Girls. I found my twin haha! And it's nice cause Sis. Mead is Brittany's beehive teacher in YW's.

My focus...lots better. Can you tell? The Lord has been way too good to me. He has blessed me in so many ways and I just feel like I can't not be happy, you know?  But all is well here.

Hope y'all have a great week! XO

Sister Q

 a fabulous trip to the Chicago Temple this week!

 he's going to wait for me!

 visiting with Sister O

the eclipse from our neck of the woods

Week 22 - Busy, busy in the Vineyard

Well y'all, this week was CRAY! I feel like I say that every week, but each week is a different kind of crazy haha. First of all last p-day was fun(ish). We just went and chilled with the Muskego sisters, Sister Wise and Sister Peterson...my faves! They are such a big blessing to me. That night we had a lesson with the Munoz family. The spirit was so strong as I talked to Orlando about being able to baptize his daughter. He was so shocked and just super excited about it. 

Tuesday we had interviews with President Cutler. Such a wonderful day! I love that man. He is so inspired and that interview was exactly what I needed. I asked for a Priesthood blessing and man alive, I love the Priesthood. There was such a wonderful calm and reassuring feeling that overcame me and I can't help but know that Heavenly Father does love me individually. 

On Wednesday we went over to a these two less active best friend's house. Wendy and Sheryl. They're pretty cool. They have 11 cats. We mowed their lawn and they fed us dinner. I had cat hair in my food. It was cool. BUT we asked them if they have work on Sundays and they said no, so we were all, "Perfect! You can come to church then". They haven't been to church in at least over 4 months. They came to church this week!! We were super excited and happy to see them there. 

Thursday we had an FHE with the A family. Such a cool family. We played Don't Eat Pete and talked about the Holy Ghost and agency. (shout out to Ali Peterson for giving that game to me!!) Later we went to the W family home to show them the mission DVD. Man, I love that family! Sis. W is a convert and has such a powerful testimony. We walk in and Bro. W starts telling us this story of how he gained personal testimony of the power of prayer and basically had me in tears. They are such a missionary minded family and are just great. 

Friday night we exchanged with our STL's and Sister Osburn went to Kenosha and Sister Green came here to West Allis! I have to say that it was probably my favorite exchange yet. Especially since Sis. Green knew the area and some of the people. It was nice. We statred out the day at a returning less active's house...which turned into more of a rant session. It's alright though, we brought it around. And we were able to go to Sis. Green's old investigator's baptism! Charlene is such a wonderful woman and her convert daughter and son-in-law were able to fly in from Idaho so her SIL could baptize her! It was a very powerful service. I love this church so much!! 

Sunday rolled around yesterday and boy I was so happy to see Kelly and the kids there!! She is progressing so much and Brittany as well. Kelly wanted to come with Brittany and Jayson. We were thrilled when they walked in the doors! I'm sure that this weeks' sacrament meeting program was inspired because Kelly was feeling the spirit so strong as people bore their testimonies on their personal conversion stories. I looked over and she was crying. It was incredible to see the spirit touch her heart. So we asked if we could come over later that night and talk to her and Brittany. Sister Stewart (the RS pres) was able to come as well. Kelly knows that this is true. I know it. She is just apprehensive to make any big jumps right now. But we did commit her to read and pray about the B.O.M. and she said she would with a definitive "yes"! Brittany gave the closing prayer at our lesson that night and it was so sweet. She prayed that her mom would be able to recognize that this is the truth and that she will want to be baptized too. Melted my heart and I know that the spirit was tangible in that room. We are excited for what's in store for them! 

 

The church is 100% true and I'm so happy to be serving here in West Allis!! 

 

Xo, Sister Quist

a trip to the Milwaukee Public Museum for pday today with some generous members

 "dumb dumb give me gum gum" 

night at the museum reference! the best!

Week 21 - Made it to West Allis!

Greetings from West Allis!  Hahaha yes, yes. I am safe... relatively ;) Yes, we have a car. Which is a huge blessing! It's a way nice car too. West Allis is not like Oshkosh, I'll tell you that. We were at McDonalds with a recent convert named Tubree and her daughter Shantella (7). And I've never felt more out of place! White girl alert! Sister Osburn and I were definitely the minority. They were playing Spanish music. I've also never been in a McDonalds where they had to have security. Lol. That's probably not comforting hahaha, but no worries. The Lord will protect us! And we are being smart and safe :)

Oh my goodness I love this ward!! There are tons of active families and I'm just falling in love with West Allis more and more each day. Plus, the weather is beautiful right now. Hopefully it'll stay nice for a while. On Thursday we had this appointment with a potential investigator and we go and she's busy, but then Sis. Osburn is all, "yeah the reason we were over here in the first place is because there is a less active part member family that lives over here". Awesome! So we go up to their house and I see Ashley in the front room eating and she invites us right in and introduces us to her non-member husband, Joe. And she told us that we were lucky we caught her because she was on her lunch break! Yay!! What a blessing. So we talk and get to know them and the whole time I'm thinking, how are we going to get back into their house to teach them? So I'm racking my brain and it hits me- FAMILY HOME EVENING. Duh. So I suggest the idea and they love it. They used to do FHE with the sisters and so we set something up for this Thursday and they offered to feed us (less actives feeding us?? awesome.)! But now we have to come up with a fun lesson/ activity for them that will engage a 6 year old. Any ideas?? Then we went to see these two LA ladies in the ward who have 11 cats. Yes. ELEVEN CATS. But anyways, we're going over to mow their lawn/ have dinner too. 

Anyways. The main people we are working with are the Munoz family. They are awesome. They had us over for dinner Friday night and just are so ready!! Orlando (the dad) is a returning less active. Him and his wife Kelly have 3 kids (with one on the way!!) and his daughter Brittany has a bap date of October 17, which we'll have to change to October 18. Which will be THE best birthday ever!!! Especially since we're working on Kelly, Brittany, and Brent (11) to get baptized that day. Pray for them and their progression!!  

Lots of love! Thanks for the prayers. 

XO
Sister Q

new companions - Sisters Osburn and Quist

Shantella and I at Mickey D's. She makes me so happy!!  

 good ol' car selfie

 New Missionary Training before leaving Oshkosh 
(thanks to the mission blog!)

Sisters Coley and Quist