Last one...

Okay... There's really no point in writing a full email for this week... considering next week I'm going to see all of you anyways... Man... That's so weird... 

Dad asked me a bunch of questions and I dont really know the timeline that everything will be happening because I just put Randi in charge of all the party type things for when I come home. All I know is that on the day I get home, I'm most likely not gonna be that hungry so I'm not going to want a big huge meal. Maybe save that for Sunday and we can have a family dinner or something. My request is roast beef and yorkshire pudding. Then for my actual BIRTHDAY, we need to go out to eat at Doan's because the only Asian food they have in Arkansas is gross buffet stuff. I need legit Vietnamese.... 

Also... Good news. I get to go to the Memphis Temple after all! WOOT! I'm going on Monday. So the plans are to go to Church in Hot Springs on Sunday, then right after, we're leaving and going to spend the rest of the night in Maumelle so I can visit Larry and Louise and Ashley and all the other people I love from there. Then that night, I'll be staying in the mission home, and we'll be leaving to go to the temple (all the departing missionaries) for a Monday morning session. then we come back to Little Rock to have our final interview with President Drewes and we do whatever it is departing missionaries do that night. Then off to the airport the next morning at 7:00am and I'll be home 6 hours later... this is all sooo weird.... 

Anywho... That's what's going on.. Thank you so much for everything that y'all have done for me. I've needed your prayers and appreciated your letters. I'll see everyone soon. Dont get too excited. Stay busy. Love you!

-Sister Dyer

Happy Victoria Day!!!

So Canada's Holiday is this week and the USA's holiday is next week... I have no idea what Memorial Day is all about other than that it closes the li-berry and is making me have to email for the last time next week on Tuesday. Oh well... That's just how it works out. 

So... I hope all went well for everyone this week. It certainly went well for me. I have exciting news!! HOT SPRINGS ISN'T CLOSING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was actually quite an incredible series of events. President Drewes told us that the lease of our apartment ran out this month, so we'd be closing the area, but then this week he told us that the lease was still running out, but that we wouldn't closing the area!!!! So this is what happened. There is a member in the Ward here that is serving as Mission President for the Tennessee Knoxville Mission (President Griffin), and he called President Drewes and told him that the Sisters in Hot Springs needed to move into his house that he still owns here. Soo... We're moving into a house!!! Well... I'm not.. I'm moving in for one day... but the point is that Sisters are staying in Hot Springs!! YAAAAYY!!!!! President Griffin's daughter is living in his house while he's away on his mission, so that's perfect because they have plenty of room for two others in their big house. So. That's my exciting news. And the best part about it, is that President Griffin knew nothing about the lease expiring, and he's been gone for a year already, and just chose this month to open his house to the Sisters. Seriously... NOT a coincidence!!!

As for other exciting news. I got to participate in the 3rd annual bathtub race... Look it up. Steweart Pennington's Bathtub Race in Hot Springs. Basically we all dress up according to our team's theme and we race in bathtubs on wheels down Central Ave.. hahaha. So we, the missionaries were dressed up like cows pushing a pink "cow-dillac"... haha... a ward member does it every year with the missionaries and we participate gladly. haha..

We're still working closely with the less-actives and making small differences. I'm really enjoying my time here. It's finally stopped raining, and it's been staying in the 70's and low 80's all week.. It's perfect weather. I'm so glad I'm missing out of the hot, sticky Arkansas summer. I timed this very well. hahaha...

That's pretty much all I've got for this week. Keep on choosing the right and making me proud. I love y'all and am thankful for you in my life. THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Sister Dyer

Happy May

So... Another month begins, and it continues to boggle my mind at how fast time passes...

Thankfully, this week has been a lot less eventful, and because of it, there's not really much to report. But I'll still share a couple of experiences from the week.

On Tuesday we went to a member's home for dinner and that was a monumental event. haha. Sis Gibbs has had a rough past with the Sister missionaries and as a result, for the last year she's been very cold to the Sisters, but did everything with the Elders... That's fine and I can handle it, but I took it upon myself to change that and get the Sisters back into her good books. MISSION COMPLETE!!!!! She's the one that bought me the pair of heels! The only thing I did to get her to like us again, was talk to her and compliment her everytime I saw her on her hot shoes.. She's like 56 and still wearing heels that I would wear. She's amazing like that. haha.. So. She invited both us and the Elders over for dinner on Tuesday, and it was awesome!! I feel so accomplished. haha. So she showed me her closet FULL of shoes and I practically had a heart attack because I was so excited about them, and then she gave a pair of heels to Sister Costley! WOOT!!!!! I love having these experiences where you know you've made a positive change that will continue to affect people long after you're gone. This was one of them. 

Also. Last night we got to go to the CES Broadcast! I WAS SOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't been able to go to a CES Broadcast since BEFORE my mission, so this was a happy event for me because anything CES or Institute related brings me immense joy. So we were supposed to have a couple investigators show up, but none of them did... So us and the Elders and one other YSA in the ward were in the Chapel watching it. hahaha... Kind of funny, but still enjoyable. Sister Costley was geeking out because it was broadcast from BYU-Idaho, where she graduated from before she came on her mission. Add the fact that Elder Bednar spoke, who was the President of BYU-Idaho when she attended... She was in heaven. It was kinda funny.

So this month seems to be pretty promising. We have a 10 year old and and 11 year old that we're planning on having baptized on May 30. They're both from different less active families that are wanting to be active again, so we're super pumped about that. 

Basically that's all I've got for today. The Church is true. Things happen for a reason, and the Lord's timing is always the perfect timing. It's kinda neat to look back in the events of your life and realize how perfectly put together each of those events were that planned you for where you're at right now. At least that's how it is in my life.  Jesus Christ is my Savior. His Church has been restored to the earth today. There is a Prophet on the earth today, and his name is Thomas S. Monson. He leads Christ's Church. I love the peace the Atonement brings, and the opportunity I'm given each day to testify of it's reality.

I love y'all! Talk to you next week!

-Sister Dyer

Hello

Hey Everyone.

Brace yourself.. This has been a crazy week... Well... More like weekEND... 

Well... First off, Elder Berlin, who I came to Arkansas with on the plane, and have been serving here in Hot Springs with for the past 6 months went home on Saturday... Not because he was stupid, but because something happened to his back and he doesn't know what, but it's preventing him from being able to do anything so for the past two weeks he's been sleeping because he's been on pain medication... So... LAME!!!! Now we have a new Elder, which is fine... It's just weird when unexpected changes occur... And this weekend has been FULL of them..

Next unexpected event was a phone call we got telling us that there was a funeral happening at the Church this last Saturday and we needed to make the program, sing a song in it and on of the Elders was giving a talk... None of us knew the lady who died, so that made it super weird because we thought we were doing the Bishopric's job... We were so confused the whole time. The lady who passed away has been less active for the past 20 years and I'd never met her, but the Elders went to give her a blessing two weeks ago... So.. That funeral was soooo sad!! Most everyone there was Baptist, and I'm sure that they were even more sad because they thought that she had doomed herself by joining our Church... Everyone there was crying and miserable, and I was so uncomfortable. I never want to be at a funeral like that again... Yes death is sad, but it's still full of hope. Those family members are going to see this lady again, but they just dont seem to get it... ugh. At least Elder Willmore gave a great talk.. I think it was the best, most spirit filled event of the afternoon.

So... Then after that we had lunch at a member's home. It's actually the member that gave me the pair of heels... Well.. She gave me 3 more pairs of shoes that she already had but didn't like.. haha. They're all the same style, just different colors. So that was a bonus and not part of the craziness of the weekend.

But worst of all was Saturday night. A member called us when we were with the Elders at about 8:00pm and told us that Sherry Hardin was in the hospital and she needed a blessing NOW!!! Sherry is a LA that we've been visiting every week for the past 5 months and teaching her the missionary lessons because she's too sick to come to Church. We've basically been doing our best at bringing Church to her.. So... We all book it over to the Hospital because we're ALL really close to her. We found her room and she was asleep and we tried to wake her up but we couldn't.. I guess she was under a lot of pain medication... It was soooo sad.... The Elders gave her a blessing though, while she was still asleep and it said that even though she was asleep that she'd feel the blessing in her heart. She was assured that the Lord is aware of her and that she'll have comfort and peace. It also assured her of the love that us as missionaries have for her. She's become an adopted mother to us all... We hung around for a minute after the blessing and left. Two hours later we get a phone call telling us that she had passed away.... It was the most devastating phone call of my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so upset because just last Thursday we were at her home and everything was normal! She's only 56, but her kidneys had failed 6 years ago and has been on dialysis ever since.. I guess her lungs couldn't get enough oxygen and that was the cause.. Her heart just stopped and it was only 45 minutes after we had left the hospital. So we were the last ones to see her... Which was kind of comforting.. We know that she's finally free from pain though. I'm so thankful for my testimony of the plan of salvation. As empty as Thursdays are going to feel now, I know she's happier and that I'll see her again... Unfortunately her daughter doesn't want to have a funeral for her, so we're going out with her Visiting teacher to have our own little memorial on Thursday... 

This weekend has been so full of death... I dont like it... So with all these events, I know that nothing can happen for the rest of my mission that will be more emotionally draining than this... I'm thankful for the gospel, and for the hope it provides. Comfort really is granted when you ask for it, and it's all because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He is there for us in everything. I know it because He has been here for me this weekend... 

I love all of you. Thank you for your prayers and support. I need it, and have been blessed because of it. The Church is true.

-Sister Dyer

Visiting Sherry in the hospital

Clearly she was a fun lady. How could we not love her??

Miss you Sherry...

FW: THE KINGDOM OF GOD OR NOTHING!!!!! - Pres John Taylor

Okay... So first off.... IAN!!!!!!! WTC?!?!?!?!?!?! No DYING when your Sister is on a MISSION!!!!!!!!!!! I mean... Its a cool story and all, but seriously... that was scary!!! So you kinda deserved that concussion... hahaha... You live and you learn right?

Anywho... This has been a fantastic week. I got the package from my family!!!!! And I've decided that aside from being a dufus sometimes, Ian really is quite the stud. The little ukulele song was AMAZING, and the Elders here loved it too. I hope you dont mind, but I'm bragging on you a lot lately. hahaha... It was good to hear Mom and Dad's voice too. But in about 3 weeks I'll be on the phone with y'all anyways, so... WOOT!!! haha.. Also... the chips and Wunderbars were greatly appreciated by all. Sis Costley borderline worshiped them. hahaha...

So. This last week we taught SOOO many less actives, and the fruits of our labors were apparent at Church yesterday because there were SOOO many of our less actives and the Elders has a whole bunch of theirs there too. It was amazing. We were all on cloud 9 during Sacrament meeting. With all of these LA's we just seem to be running into them. We're aware that we have to find them, but we just run into them in the most random situations. Like one of them was a clerk at a gas station we went to and she told us she was a member and that she wanted to come to church and we were just dumbfounded!!! haha!! So. We're definitely doing some good here.

Also.. The mission as a whole is doing amazing!!!! last year the mission got just under 300 baptisms for 2008, but this year the mission is already at 128 baptisms and it's only April!! All the missionaries have stepped up their game in a major way!!! I'm excited to be here to see all this, and Sis Costley and I are desperately wanting to be a part of the baptisms, so we're working our hardest getting referrals from the less actives we're working with.  The Elders told me.. Go big THEN go home. That's my motto. haha...

So. Like I said. This has been a fantastic week, and this one's looking good too. The weather is going to be perfect this week too, so I'm not even upset that it's our walk week.

This last transfer of mine starts today. So this is the beginning of my most productive transfer yet! WOOT!!!! I'm so glad that Sis Costley and I are staying together too. We're the only Sisters NOT getting transferred, so that makes me happy. 

The Church is SOOO true. I love sharing it, and my testimony definitely increases as I bear my testimony. The same goes for all. Keep up the wonderful work, and remember that I love you!!!

-Sister Dyer

Happy Easter

Hello Everyone.

I double checked and I typed the address correctly this time. So you dont have to worry about me this week.

This has been a crazy week, and a lot has happened. The most exciting of which was a repeat of this time last year.... THERE WAS A TORNADO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But dont get upset or worried because we're okay and we didn't even lose power. We just got a frantic call from our District leader telling us that there's a tornado coming and to gather what we need so that we can huddle in the bathtub. hahaha... So when we got that information, the crazy lightning outside made a bit more sense. So we stayed in the bathroom for about 30 minutes listening to our radio and hearing them describing the areas that were in danger, and it was all only 5 minutes away from us. haha.. Kind of exciting... But yeah. It's all over now, and we really didn't have any effects from it. That is something I will not miss. Tornados are terrifying.

Spirituality wise though, this was an incredible week. Being that it's Easter, every lesson we taught was focused on the Savior and His Atonement. So because of that, I felt more peace through the Spirit than I have in a long time. I realized that the more we testify of the Savior over and over, it changes your countenance and the way you think. I was really basking in it. Then the talks that were given yesterday in Church were fantastic. I really appreciated this whole Easter Season.  The Easter Bunny even stopped at other people's houses for us. haha... I think this has been one of my most memorable Easter's.

Earlier on in the week, Sis Costley and I were discussing how we can help the less actives here in the area. We've been really focusing on them and getting them reactivated, but we haven't figured out a way to do that. But one morning it dawned on us. We just need to tell them why we're there. Flat out say, "we're here to invite you to come back to Church. We want to come over and share messages with you to bring the Spirit back into you're lives and ultimately help you qualify for a temple recommend so that you can have an Eternal Family." It's pretty intense!! When we thought of this we were both just like... DUH!!!!! Because we have been visiting people but it's been so awkward because we've been trying to be their friends and we've been afraid or something to tell them what we're really doing at their home, but once we decided to just tell them, the response has been really positive. So. The lesson we learned, it to be upfront in every interaction. Tell them your purpose so there's no question. And if you really have the Spirit with you, they wont be offended at your boldness. It's terrifying though. haha. We sit in these people's living rooms and tell them that they need to come back to Church and brace yourself for the response... But so far so good. I like it this way. The anxiety of it all makes it fun. haha...

So... That's basically been our whole week. Testimonies of the Savior, and beginning to bring people back home. I've really enjoyed it.

Now we're off to Little Rock for a Sister's Day that Sis Drewes organized. She's the Mission President's wife. So all 10 of the Sisters in the mission are gathering at the mission home for a brunch thinger and then we're doings stuff together. So I'm excited to see all the people that I've served with today. It's going to be a blast. I can already tell.

Have a fabulous week everyone. This is a beautiful time of year, so enjoy it. And dont get too anxious about me coming home. I'll be there eventually. I'm in no rush. hahaha.. Love y'all.

-Sister Dyer

This is LAST WEEKS email

Okay... Sorry everyone. I didn't type Dad's email address correctly.. So this is last weeks email... Enjoy!



Well.. Happy Birthday Church. April 6 is a special day. So. Take some time and reflect.

This week. Good things happened. Funny things too. haha. So. On Wednesday we decided to do something that was uncomfortable, and so we decided to go downtown to do some contacting there. Contacting people on the street is the most AWKWARD thing ever!!! Here we are walking down busy streets, and trying to stop people in the middle of their walk to where ever they're going and we try to teach them the Restoration in a minute. haha... Gong show. So while we are walking, Sister Costley and I are contantly trying to egg each other on and it's funny to see how we each react to the most awkward situations ever. haha.. But it's fun and it makes good memories. Thankfully, we dont have to do that every day but we've decided it needs to be done every once and a while, just to keep us on our toes. Good times.

Also... WHAT THE LAME!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!! You weren't supposed to find out that I was coming home on June 2 until Mother's Day!!! I had this great plan all figured out. I wasn't gonna tell you when I was coming, home and so far I've been doing really good at keeping my mouth shut. I've known for a long time. So I was gonna tell you on the phone when I talked to you in May.. SURPRISE!!! I'm coming home 3 weeks before you thought I was!!!! haha... Oh man.. When I played the event over in my head, it was hilarious... I'm sad that I dont get to live through my ingenious idea... haha... But yes... The truth is out.. I'm coming home the day before my birthday... Take that Clarke! You get married the day before my birthday, I come home on your anniversary. hahahaha. Oh the sweet revenge. hahaha...

So... Anywho... The other awesome event of this week was of course General Conference. I LOVE HEARING FROM THE PROPHET AND APOSTLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They have such an incredibly strong spirit, and I think that I payed better attention this time than I ever have in my life! But it was so good!!! Everybody talked about enduring through trials and adversity, and assured us that as we live worthily, that we'll come out on top, and that we'll be able to have the eternal life that we all hope for. I love the gospel. I know it's true more than anything. I love sharing the Gospel and seeing it bless the lives of the people I've come to love here. So. Share the gospel with everyone. Seek to have the Spirit, and by doing so, the Lord will make you an instrument in the hands of the Lord. Love y'all. The Church is true.. without a doubt.

-Sister Dyer