April 26, 2010--Day of Service

As Sammi mentioned in her email, they participated in a Day of Service on Saturday, April 24. Thanks to Beth Wilcox, another Ft. Lauderdale Missionary Mom, I got pictures!! THANK YOU BETH!!!!!!!!

From the looks of them, it looks like these are the Miami and Homestead Zone missionaries! Arent' they BEAUTIFUL??

Sisters L-R: Sister Lealaogata (Sammi's companion), Sister Briggs, Sister Denson, Sister Crane, Sister Call, Sister Vance. (Notice they have water??)

Elders L-R (I think...): Elder Alvarado, Elder Lopez, Elder Kennington, Elder Langford, Elder Barrington, Elder Cotterell, Elder Wright, Elder Wilcox. (Notice they have soda?? Silly boys!)

April 26, 2010--It's Raining! IT'S POURING!!!!!

Hey everyone!
How is everything going??

I'm so excited that you go to see Sister Moore!!! I called her on Monday to say goodbye and got all her info so I could get it to you. Didn't you take any pictures though?? I love Sister Moore. She is one of my most favorite sisters.

I talked to Elder Hirschi this week. His homecoming is on June 13. I told him that is Maddi's birthday, but I really want you to go to it. He didn't tell me an address or anything. He said Neal Crookston would be there. So, if you have any questions you can call him. I'll try and get the info from Elder Hirschi. I'll text him sometime. I said a couple of weeks ago that I owe him a ton because he was the one that helped pull me out of my shell. I met him my first day here and he saw how shy I was. He made it a personal goal that if we were put in the same zone that he would "break" me. Sure enough Heavenly Father knew what to do. My second transfer he was put as my zone leader. Since I had such a desire to come out of my shell, but didn't know how to do it by myself he put us in the same zone. It was Elder Hirschi's personal goal. He called it "Operation: Break Denson." Haha sure enough. It worked! He would always just talk to me. Ask me what I was having a hard time with, give me advice, tell me how he overcame obstacles, etc. He's so goofy that I felt like I just had a friend. He's awesome. You guys will love him to death. He REALLY helped me at the first of my mission. He was my zone leader for transfer 3, 4, 5. I'm going to miss him. The mission will be boring without him.

This week was so amazing! We participated in a region wide day of service. I told you that I have been dying for yard work. Yeah, I got an entire day of it. We went down to Naranja, FL (South) and helped pick up trash in the parks, paint homes in the projects, do some landscaping and more painting. It was so fun! Just being out in the sun with other members of the church and a lot of other people from other churches, and businesses all with the same purpose in mind. It was great! I got to know Elder Wilcox--his mom is on missionary moms. He is so cool. It was fun to get to know him. I also got to get to know Elder Langford better too. He's one of my favortite elders too. He is so kind and humble. He's adorable. Tell his mom he's doing GREAT!!! Everyone that I know that has served around him has so much respect for him and just loves him.

My package was so awesome! I loved it. I loved all the pictures the most. Thank you so much for doing that! Although it was a little sad to realize that I am already half way done. It makes me sick. I still feel like I just got here. In our apartment I am the one that has been out on her mission the longest. It makes me so sick! I still feel like I don't know anything and that I haven't helped many people learning about the gospel. I loved that package though. Thanks so much. :) The only picture that I wanted that wasn't in there was one with the Chandler's. I haven't seen a picutre of them yet. Jess sent me some back in like September, but that's it. I've written Bishop once, maybe twice, but I really want to hear from him. Sister's get letters from their bishops and stake presidents all the time. I'm a little sad that I haven't heard form mine once.

Tell Chase I said Congratulations! It's exciting! Are they getting married in the temple?
All the picutures were so cute this week! I love the one of Rivers. She's smiling. How adorable. Where did they get the name from? Its a little funky. I like it.

Can you order some Mary Kay Night Solution from RaeLin? She gave me some testers and I've been using it and I love it. I have the day solution already.

Thats so cool about the Sheepie. Weird that they didn't know anything about Butt Rubs...

The only thing that I want in my package is pictures of you guys and the dogs. I cant print them out here. They only have black and white printers.

We are going to the RS president's house for Mothers Day. The Tracy's. Our church gets out at 12, but we probably won't go there until later. We'll try and coordinate it with them this week so I can get you more info next week.

Check the church new site. They should have an article about the day of service. We're the only area in the whole church that does it. I tried to add pictures, but Sister L has too many pictures on her chip. It was taking too long. I didn't get any my camera.

Thank you so much for everything! I love you!!!!
Love, Sister Denson

April 20, 2010--I'm so excited to stay!

NOTE from Mom: Sammi seemed to be short on time today for some reason. She sent me her "President's Email" and then we "chatted" via email for a few minutes. Next thing I knew, she said she had to go. So...here are bits and pieces from our "chat" and her President's email. She owes us a long one BIG time!! And pictures!! :)

PRESIDENT'S EMAIL:
This week has been good! We only have one investigator right now and we haven't been able to meet with her, so we are souly focusing on our members. We have been able to get into so many homes that I haven't been in since I've been here. It's so great to get to know them and to earn their trust. We've got some referrals from some and we are going to be working with others as they introduce their friends to the gospel. It's so exciting!

I was just thinking the other day that I loved serving in Boca Raton so much and how hard it was for me to leave, but then I realized how much I LOVE this ward and how much I LOVE the members!! They are so fabulous! I love how warm the people are in Boca. They are so easy to get to know, and the members down here are a little harder, but they share the gospel! It's so exciting! They want all their friends to know how their lives are being blessed!! I'm so excited to stay here and to serve with Sister Lealaogata. I feel like I can be myself around her. I don't always have to be worrying what she is thinking of me. Many members have told me how happy I look this transfer and how obvious it is that we get along so well. I feel so happy!!!

I have a couple of questions:

Would you consider putting us in the same district as our elders again? We only see each other on Sundays and I feel like I don't even know them any more. I feel so not unified. I really don't like it.

There is a single man in our ward that wants to take us to dinner. Are we allowed to go to a public restaurant with him before 5?

Thank you so much for everything! I was bummed we weren't able to see you last Thursday! I am so grateful for Heather. I feel like I made a new friend. She is so sweet and I am sad to see her go. I really hope to keep in touch with her when I get home. Of course I wll! Duh, because I'm not going to lose contact with you and Sister Hale! Duh.

Thank you!!!

Love, Sister Denson

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Email “chats” with Mom…

Heather did my hair last Thursday and didn't charge me anything. Brat. I tried and tried, but she wouldn't let me. She said it was her going away gift. I'm going to send her a card today and tell her that she better call me when I get home so I can teach her how to sew.

These are the MoTab cd's that I have:

All the ones that you listed plus:

Heavensong

Consider the Lilies (a member burned that one for us this week)

And the two you sent this week. Love them by the way! Thank you so much for them!

Oh, and Christmas Bells. There should be 8 total.

It was so good to talk to Dr. Bean this week. Haha he's totally still the old rough Dr. Bean. My arm has been bothering me more and more lately. I will have it propped up at a desk or doing my hair or riding my bike with the backpack on and it starts turning purple, it's hard to move and it's heavy. He thinks I have Thorasic Outlet Syndrome. Did Sister Welch call you? I have Naproxin because of my shoulders. Remember I would sleep on them and then they would get inflamed. I don't take them regularly (well, now I do.), but I have had them for a really long time. Yes, Carl gave them to me. It's all a circulation problem. She sent me some info on it, but I don't really feel like that is my condition. My blood is pooling in my arm instead of not getting to it like Dr Bean described. He wants me to do the exercises and take the Naproxin for 3 weeks and then email him and let him know how it's going.

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Sister Vance is training this transfer. Either Sister Briggs or a Polynesian girl will be her greenie. I bet it will be Sister Briggs. That would rock!!!!! (Note: She’s friends with Bruce & LuAnne Roberts; she’s from Syracuse. Talked to her dad for quite a while on Sunday.)

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Investigator: We haven't been able to see Brother and Sister Weidner for a while. They blessed their baby last week. We want to know how Krystal is doing since having the influence of Brother Weidner's parents in town. I know they were a good influence on her, but I don't know how good. I'll let you know when we see them.

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I don't know anything about Mothers Day yet. I know whose house we are going to, but I don't know anything else. I'll let you know as soon as we do.

Thank you so much for everything!!! LOVE YOU!!

Love, Sister Denson

April 12, 2010--An Amazing Weekend!

Hey guys!! How have all of you been?? Sounds like you guys are having way too much fun on dad's little motorcycle. I knew you wouldn't sell it.... You all like that stuff too much! Haha the pictures of Zack and Mal are great though! It's good to see you both though! Zack.....what's with the facial hair? Gross! Mal.....your hair looks fabulous!!!! I like the flower in it!

This has been an amazing week. We've gotten Fabi and Morena ready for their baptism that we never thought would happen. It was such an amazing day! Make sure to read about it in my email to President. (That email follows this post.)

Call me crazy, but for some reason I have had this desire all transfer to do some yard work! I wanted dirt under my nails, heavy labor and to get sweaty doing it! Of course, like everyone here lives in apartments, so it's been impossible for us to find any. My desire just kept growing. I wanted to serve someone!!! Finally, Friday night at the baptism Sister Le told a sister in the ward that we have been wanting to do it and she was like "Come over tomorrow, I have a whole yard full of weeds!" Perfect! I was so excited! If you look on my big map--look where out apartment is on 107th Ave. We biked from there, up to SW 56 St. all the way east to SW 57 Ave/Red Road, all the way north to Flagler, and then West to SW 60 Ave. It's like 15 miles. Dang, it felt so good! Although, my companion was dying! She was so tired! I thought I was going to be the one to slow her down, but no I was LOVING it! So we finally get there, get changed into basketball shorts and a t-shirt and then dive in to literally a full yard of weeds. They don't have hardly any grass, it's all flower beds, so we jumped in and started pulling weeds. The whole project took about 2 1/2 hours. It felt so good! Totally satisfied my craving for yard work! Hahah yeah mom, who knew! This is the second time of yard work! So then we eat dinner with them and it's time to head. I was all for riding back those 15 miles, but Sister Le was really tired and so the members just drove us back home. I was a little bummed, but it's all good. We'll be doing it again. We still have the back yard to do!!!!!! hahaha It was such a fun week!
We are really low on investigators right now. Krystal is the only one we have, so we are working on our members. How we can help them with their missionary work. Its fun Sister Le is so charismatic, so it's easy to get in with the members. I'm still working on being their best friend the first time I meet them. She's a pro.

I'll be staying here in Miami for next transfer. We'll be staying together. President says he really likes us together, so we'll be here for a while. Of course, I have no idea how long that means. Anything could change in a matter of minutes with President.

Thank you so much for everything!! I love you all so darn much! I wish I could express it in words, but it's hard for me!

I LOVE YOU!!!!
LOVE, Sister Denson/ Sam

PS I'm so sorry I forgot my camera!!!!

April 12, 2010--President's Email--Witnessed a Miracle!

This past Friday was a day that I have been waiting for since I got here to Miami and a day that Fabi and Morena have been waiting for for even longer. On March 31, 2010 when their dad signed the baptismal record papers it was a day that changed their life forever. They are now able to be a part of the Church that they have each come to love. Witnessing their baptism was something that I didn't think I was going to be able to do while I have been here. I never thought their dad would sign the papers and I knew their parents weren't able to get a divorce because of some circumstances. I realized that I needed to change my attitude. It was possible. We just had to keep praying for the opportunity. He wasn't happy about them getting baptized, but he knows that since he is leaving here soon to go back to Nicaragua there is nothing to lose. It was so amazing! They have both worked so hard for this and have been so patient! I'm so happy for them!!
Sunday was an amazing day. Our other investigator, Krystal Weidner, and her member husband Todd blessed their first baby. Brother Weidner never wanted to bless the baby, he wanted his dad to do it. After talking with our bishop he prayed a lot and came to the conclusion that he would bless Jacob. Then, with Elder Packer's talk he said it was a "slap in the face." It was the most beautiful baby blessing I have ever heard in my life. I couldn't believe the physical feeling that came over me when he started the blessing. So beautiful! Right after that, Fabi and Morena were confirmed. They too were so beautiful. Bishop is a very inspired man and recognizes and listens to the spirit. It was such a wonderful Sunday. It has been such a fun week getting those two ready for the day they've been waiting for for a really long time. I'm so grateful I was able to be there and participate in that wonderful event!

Love, Sister Denson

Picture sent to me by Tatiana, Fabi and Morena's sister who was baptized the end of December.

L-R: Sister Denson, Fabi, Morena, Sister Lealaogata

April 5, 2010--Isn't Conference AMAZING!?!?

How is everyone???

Isn't Conference just the best ever? I love it! I always took it for granted before I got out here, and I regret it so much! Yes, it is two full days of rebuking, but it is also two full day of loving guidence of how we can become better diciples of our Savior. They were so amazing! I love how so many of the talks were for parents, mothers, and women in general. I love it! I'm so sad it's over. I'm grateful though that I'll be able to apply the teachings to my life when I begin a family. (Since all the talks were toward raising children!)

It sounds like you have had a ton of fun this week! I'm jealous that you got to be in the actually Conference Center. I'll never take Conference for granted again! I promise! I love this sunny weather, but seeing the shots of Temple Square this weekend made me a little homesick. It's a beautiful sunny day in the seventies today though, so I'm over it:)

We had kind of a slow week, so there isn't really a lot to report on. Sorry! Oh, I'll add my pictures of when I got sunburned. Haha they're hilarious. It's all tan now, but that next day the back of my neck stung! Thank heavens for Shade shirts! Oh, and Sunbreeze with lotion! Sister Brown got a little bit of sunburn too and so I showed her that remedy and she loved it!!!

Oh! How could I forget! Last week I told you that we were going to see Tatiana's dad to see if he will sign the papers so that Morena and Fabi could be baptized.... Guess what! He signed them!!!! They're being baptized on Friday and confirmed on Sunday. I'm so excited for them!!! Fabi is the cutest little/kinda big boy ever! I want a little brother now, but only if he is just like him! He's so adorable! He gets embarrassed around me because I just tell him how much I love him and I tell everyone how cool he is. Haha he's so adorable! So, keep them in your prayers! And think about them on Friday! I'll have pictures next week!

I just want you to know how much I love riding the bike! You probably all don't believe me, but I love it! BTW mom, those leggings rock! I have a deep desire now to get a basket for the front. I see so many of them around and I just want one for myself! We went to a bike store the other day to see how much they were and they were $45 to $50!! I was so sad! Google Mack Cycle. They probably have a website. They have the coolest bikes ever! The old school ones with awesome paint jobs. Like lime green with big flowers! I want to trade mine in.

Anyway! I love you all so much! I'm so grateful for all of your support! I'm so grateful that we are all sealed in the Temple together and that we'll all be together forever as long as we keep our sacred covenants!

Love, Sister Denson