Monday, December 28, 2009
December 28, 2009--President's email--What a Great Week!
December 28, 2009--Out of the Hospital!!
Friday, December 25, 2009
December 25, 2009--Our Christmas phone call was NOT what we expected!!
Monday, December 21, 2009
December 19, 2009--Mission Christmas Conference
December 21, 2009--MIAMI!!!!!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
December 15, 2009--Bye-bye Boca!!
So we had the Ward Christmas Party on Saturday and it was so fun! There were like 14 non-members, and 12 less actives!! How cool is that! We were able to talk to a lot of them and it was really good. Oliver came and stayed until about 10:00!! He told us on Sunday that he is going to be baptized sooner than he thought because he isn't so sure his girlfriend is the one for him! How cool is that!!! Oh my gosh! What an answer to prayers!!!! I was like dying cause I couldn't jump for joy at the church!! Rosie didn't get baptized because she didn't realized how much she had to learn and didn't realized that she had to quit smoking completely. Keep praying for her. She's going through a lot of struggles right now because her mom is giving her a hard time about a lot of things.
While Sister Eland was sick this week I was just reading and studying a ton. I read the whole priesthood session and I'm totally going to have a ton of boys so that they can all be amazing priesthood holders!!! I'll have to have some daughters too because I need some amazing wives for the other amazing priesthood holders out there too! Hahahaha, yeah, me, Sister Denson wants a lot of kids now. You better right this down of paper!!!
So, I do need one last thing for Christmas. I was at the church on Sunday and was getting picture with President and Sister Lake. President wasn't at church because he had to do an interview down south somewhere and wouldn't be able to make it to the meetings, but would try his hardest to come back to Boca to get a picture with me and Sister Moore because we are leaving. He's the best. So anyway, my bag was SUPER heavy on Sunday because I put both my scriptures in their case in my bag. It says in the white handbook to always have your scriptures in their cases to protect them. I usually just carry around my triple combination because that Bible is so darn heavy!! Anyway, so of course, President makes a big fuss over it and just teases me like crazy--remember the bag story from last week?--anyway. So they invite us over for dessert that night. They still had some Red Velvet Cake left over from last week (my new favorite dessert) and wanted us over. So we go over there and have dessert and share a message with them and then President says, "Sister Denson, how are those scriptures of yours?" I was like, "Fine." He was like "It's really bad for your shoulder and back to be carrying around those big of scriptures." I was like, "President, I'll be fine, I'm just trying to be exactly obedient." So he walks out of the room and comes in with a brand new, still in the wrapper, standard size quad and hands them to me!! I was like "No way!" They both insisted because I should have a bought a new set of scriptures for my mission because they are the ones that every one cherishes the most and that I'm still new enough in my mission to mark up a new set. They also insisted that they are pretty cheap too. I didn't say it but of course I thought it--they're not cheap!! They are like $55 because they are all indexed too!! They are the sweetest people and I love them with all my heart!!! So, the last thing I need for Christmas is a new standard size scripture case. I don't care what it looks like, as long as it is not ugly. They are black, so something that matches black. I am going to give my big ones to Sister Lake on Saturday and she is going to ship them to you. I thought a lot about keeping my big ones, but finally decided to send them home. The hardest part for me was that all my Preach My Gospel scripture stickers are in my big ones and I LOVE those!!! I'm sorry, but I'll definitely use them in the future.
I LOVE YOU guys so much!!!! Thank you so much for everything that you do!!
I will try and get a card to Bishop this week, but I have a lot of thank yous to write to ward members today as well as pack and everything else. I'll do my best, but no guarantees. I've sent cards to the Primary, no worries. And yes, I got something from the RS a couple of weeks ago, oh and from Richard and Heather Ford's family! I want to write them Thank Yous too, but it is not going to happen this week.
I LOVE YOU!!! Enjoy the snow for me!! It's been pretty darn warm this past week. I believe the highest we got was 89! The humidity isn't bad at all. The only time I feel it is when it rains. It's rained more than usual this week, not being rainy season and all, so Sister Eland and I have been inside a lot because we don't want to make her sickness worse.
PPS the picture is with President and Sister Lake. I made him hold my bag :):):) and the other is with my new friends Andressa and Renata. I LOVE THOSE GIRLS!!! and with the Briggs girls. The 8 year old twins LOVE me:):) I love them:):)
PPPS Sister Olson already knows about her homecoming and she knows your going to be there too. She is so excited to meet you!!!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
December 12, 2009--Boca Raton Ward Christmas Party
Sammi found a dear friend in one of the sweet sisters from the Boca Raton Ward. Sister Keydi Vallencillo-Gwynn has been taking the Sister Missionaries out on appointments, out to lunch, helping them with their Spanish, and generally being a great friend to them. Sammi and Keydi have become dear friends. One of the best parts, for us, of this friendship has been Keydi found me on Facebook and shares them with us. She's been a GREAT blessing to us!!
These pictures are from the Boca Raton Christmas Party held Saturday night. They look like they had a GREAT time!!
Sammi and Sister Moore serving dinner.
Sammi and Sara Gwynn
Monday, December 7, 2009
December 7, 2009--Enjoy the snow for me!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
November 30, 2009--I'm SO glad Thanksgiving is OVER!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
One tired Sister Missionary!!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
November 24, 2009--More pictures!
Sister Moore and Sister Ellsworth
"The Braids!" Remember President Hale wanted to see Sammi's hair in "soft curls"? Well, this is the process! She said she LOVES that Sister Eland and Sister Moore love to play with her hair!
Monday, November 23, 2009
November 23, 2009--Hey Guys!!
Monday, November 16, 2009
November 16, 2009--Sounds like fun!!
First though, last week at Transfer Meeting, Sister Hale talked to us about Grace and how we see the grace of God in our lives daily. She challenged us to study it and then to recognize it daily. She's amazing. So Wednesday Sister Eland and I were at an appointment, was provided with dinner from the Gwynn family (the family that just moved from Utah). We were debating if we should go home and eat it, or if we should go to the church and eat it. We're not supposed to be in our apartments after 6:00, so we just felt right to go to the church and eat it there. So we microwave the dinner, and as Sister Eland is blessing it we get a knock on the door in the kitchen. I open my eyes and look over there and tell the girl at the door, "Just on minute." So when Sister Eland finishes the prayer, I go to the door and open it for this girl who is just sobbing! She walks past me and says, "I just need someone to talk to." Sister Eland gives her a big hug and we go down the foyer where we can sit and talk. I get her a glass of water and she just pours her heart out to us. She had been sitting at the Calvary Chapel across the street (a VERY popular chapel here in Boca) and didn't like it. All the people were so happy, but the chapel it self was just too flashy. She wanted a simple church and had always thought our church looked nice and simple. So she proceeds to tell us all the struggles she's been going through and asked for help. We told her if she was willing to do anything she needs to do in order to grow closer to Christ, we could help her, but she had to be willing to do anything. She was, so we gave her a Book of Mormon, some of our pamphlet and told her to go home and read them. She said she would. The most amazing part of the story is that we were SO close to going home to eat, but something-obviously the spirit-told us to go to the church. We definitely saw the grace of God in our lives on Wednesday.
Friday was AMAZING!!! Brother Bradley isn't freakishly tall. I don't really like how you make him sound like a monster....Sorry, I don't mean to sound rude, but he a completely normal person, just taller than most. He communicates with his wife just as any other man would communicate with his wife. They are so normal, I love it! President introduced them and then turned the time over to Brother Bradley. He is told a little bit about his life in the NBA and how he and Sister Bradley met. He served his mission in Sydney, Australia and she served here. They are both SO missionary minded. They carry a box of English and a box of Spanish Books of Mormon in the back of their car to give to EVERYONE! The woman in the post office, the man that takes their groceries to their car, and to the members on each of the teams that he's played on. They give them out for Christmas presents to teachers and to friends and to the teammates. Its so awesome!! She told a lot about her experiences while here on her mission and gave us a lot of GREAT advice! We were able to ask a lot of questions after they spoke to us. One asked what he did for work now and he said that he is the Vice President at a "non-denominational/gospel based correctional facility for troubled teens." I thought that was super cool, but didn't know they lived in Utah (Duh Sister Denson, they are both from Utah!) During lunch, I had the pleasure of sitting with them and talking about their family and what they do. I asked what facility, because I had learned they live in Murray, he said Westridge Academy. I was like, "That is so cool! My brother was there while it was Utah Boys Ranch!" (I hope that is okay with you Zack! Sorry if it's not! I won't mention it to anyone else) He asked me about you and how you are doing now and was SO SO SO happy to hear that me, you and Kenzi were able to go through the Temple together. He is so proud of you! He LOVES, LOVES, LOVES success stories like that. He is no longer the Vice President, but is still on the board and actively involved. He said that they look over old files to see if there is any way they can help with current boys and girls. I would not be surprised at all if he goes home and looks at your file now. He was SO happy!!!! They are SO humble for how famous they are!! I LOVE IT!!! He is now ranching and loving life out on the farm. Obviously, not right now--yesterday I was told about the blizzard earlier this week--but still loves that he has a ranch.
I love that you guys were able to spend time with Jason. I would have loved to have been there, but I was enjoying myself with the Lakes. President Lake, is from the mission presidency. He is in our ward and just LOVES to tease me!!! Ha ha EVERYONE here loves to tease me. It's a good thing I can take it and dish it right back!!! Hahaha I love this ward and I love being a missionary! Seeing miracles daily is the most amazing thing!
Alex and Oliver are doing great! Alex was supposed to be baptized on the 14th, but is having doubts in himself. He knows it's what he needs to do, but he doesn't think that he'll be able to commit to it for the rest of his life. We found out on Saturday that his is NOT willing to live the law of chastity. He doesn't' want to stop what he's already started and is afraid he wont get married until he's like 50. We will meet with him again this week and clear up any problems that he is having.
Oliver pretty much has the same problems. He's excited to get baptized, but is planning on moving in with his girlfriend soon. He's got a lot of questions about the word of wisdom and the law of chastity, and repentance, so when we meet with him tonight we'll clear up anything that he is having problems with too. He's set for this Saturday for baptism, but doesn't think he is going to do it. Right now at least.
Tomorrow is Zone Conference and I'm so excited!! If you get the chance read the talk, "Seek Learning By Faith" by Elder Bednar. It's amazing! I love it!
I love the pictures that you sent! I want to see the finished product of Char Char though!
Oh, I got to teach the 8 year olds yesterday at church and get to do sharing time next week! I'm excited! This primary is so different from our primary at home, but I love that it's the same at the same time! Kids are just a bit more crazy.
Well, the pictures I'm attaching are from Sisters Conference. Our goofy president just wanting to know what it feels like to be 7'6"; Sister Call, Olson, and myself (we thought all our moms would like that--it's not the best picture. Sister Pirotta just sits there snapping pictures, plus the wind was blowing) and one of the Elders here that is 7'2" with his companion and Brother Bradley. It was such a fun day!!! Oh! and one of me and Sister Hale! Gosh, I LOVE HER!!!!!!!!!
Remember last week I told you President wants to see my hair with soft beautiful curls? Well Sister Moore and Eland are going to braid it tonight so they I can show him tomorrow at Zone Conference. He is excited. He reminded me at Sisters Conference on Friday.
I'll take pictures and show you how it turns out!
LOVE YOU TONS!!!!
More pictures from the Sisters' Luncheon
It is absolutely unbelievable to me that someone can be this tall!! Sammi said they are completely amazing and she had a great opportunity to talk with Shawn. Oh the blessings she's receiving on this mission!!
President Hale wanted to see what it would be like to be 7'6". I can't imagine!!