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!!

Sammi with some sweet sisters at the Sisters' Luncheon. The picture was taken outside the Hale's home. BEAUTIFUL!!

Sister Olsen, Sister Call, Sister Denson

November 13, 2009--Sister's Luncheon & Training

Dearest Sisters,

You are all invited to attend the Sister’s Luncheon at the mission home on Friday, November 13^th at 10:00 am. We welcome our guest speaker Sister Annette Bradley, a former Ft. Lauderdale missionary, mother of six and wife of former NBA star Shawn Bradley, who stands seven feet six inches tall. He will introduce his “senior” but much shorter companion, Sister Bradley. The event will be appropriately themed, “Walk Tall, You’re a Daughter of God.”

Sisters – we love and admire you and pray the Lord’s choicest blessings will be yours,

President and Sister Hale

This was held at the Hale's home! BEAUTIFUL!!

CHECK IT OUT!! Sammi sitting right next to Shawn Bradley!!
Left to right around the table: Sister Olsen, Sister Lowe, Sister Bradley, Brother Bradley, Sister Denson, Sister Eland, Sister Call.
What a GREAT day these wonderful Sisters had!!

Sisters with cute, little Sister Hale...President & Sister Hale's youngest daughter. (She even has her own "Sister Hale" name tag!! CUTE!!)

November 9, 2009--HELLO!!!

Hey guys!!! How is everyone?

I'm doing really good! Mom, President called me just after he got off the phone with you. He told me that he had a hard time believing you when you told him that I was shy at home. The only reason why he believed it was because it was my mom that told him it. He thinks I'm going to be the General Young Women's President some day and has requested tickets to General Conference. He was like, "Please don't forget about me when you get called to that amazing calling." Haha silly president. I made him promise me though that he wouldn't forget about me when he's called to be a general authority. Haha it's a deal we have between us now. When I was on the phone with him, he was like, "Is Sister Eland just standing by you staring at you doing nothing?" I was like, "She's actually braiding my hair! Its a win-win situation. She loves to do hair (she's the cosmetologist I told you about a while ago) and I love my hair being played with! It's perfect!" He always compliments me on my hair, so he said, "I bet your hair would be very pretty with beautiful soft curls in it." Haha how hilarious, so I told him that Sister Moore has braided it before and then I slept with it in and when I took it out I did have beautiful soft curls. He loved it, so he's requested that I do that for Zone conference so he could see it. Haha I love President Hale.

So, as you can see, Sister Eland is my new companion and as you read in my email to President, we are two very different people. When I heard we were companions, I was like What?? We are so different!!! But I love her. She's amazing and I love the way she does missionary work. Sister Ellsworth told us all about her family and missionaries on the drive home from transfers. Yes, I knew about Sister Call and her brother. I think you told me about them before I came out. I do remember hearing Elder W....'s name, but didn't get to meet him.

We are all very connected down here. Everyone knows everyone and everyone knows everyone's story. Very unified. I'm sure you've seen, but Elder Langford is in my district. He's awesome and such a gentleman. I love serving with him. And Sister Olson and Call are together and on bikes. Cool huh. They were so excited!! They are the only 2 sisters on bikes. They are like the Guinea pigs.

We haven't had a very exciting week... Oh, except we set 2 baptismal dates! Oliver, the one who was high the first time we met him, and Alex. I think I've told you about him. Let me know if I haven't.

Have you guys heard from Lauren? The last thing I've heard about her is that she sent me a letter and 2 weeks had gone by, but I hadn't gotten it yet. I still haven't heard from her and its making me really sad!!!!!

My navy blue skirt is 27.5 inches. I LOVE that skirt and the length it is. I would love a black one just like it. I forgot to tell you last week, I remembered right as we got in the car, that I didn't tell you about the bags. I would totally take either the black or brown one!! They are so dang cute!!!!! I think I like the black better though:)

I know this is so all over the place, but I'm trying to remember what has happened this week, and can't remember anything. It has been a really LONG week. We had 3 investigators at church yesterday. Alex, Oliver, and Jacquel-Alex's 11 year old step-sister. They all loved it and I'm so excited for them!!

I'm going to add a couple of pictures. One is of Sister Moore, me and Sister Lowe before we got split up and the other is of Sister Eland and I on our first night together. Elder Stewart, one of the Assistants, was talking to me at transfers and he told me I was going to be more angelic this transfer than I have ever been in my entire life. Hahaha I have ABSOLUTELY no idea what that is supposed to mean. I told that to President and he just chuckled and said the same thing. When Elder Stewart says some thing though, just nod your head and obey. President told me that when they are talking about who should attend what meeting and there is an elder sick president will suggest that they not let that elder come because he needs some rest, Elder Stewart will be like, "President, why don't we just go heal him?" He does it in such a serious way though. He knows with all his heart the power and authority that we hold. Every single person thinks he's going to be an apostle some day. He's AMAZING!!! So, if you notice that I am becoming more angelic through the weeks let me know. haha

Well, I know this is super short, but we are meeting a member for lunch at California Pizza Kitchen in 20 minutes. I'm not a fan of when they sign up to take us out on our p-day, but they do it without knowing it's our p-day.

I'll let you know how the sisters conference is. I'm so excited for it!!

I LOVE YOU ALL and Pray that you will have a good week!!

LOVE YOU!!
LOVE, Sister Sammi Denson

November 3, 2009--And the verdict is...

I'm staying in Boca Raton:) I love it here and don't want to leave. We have met some AMAZING people in the past week that I don't want to leave. They each have a special place in my heart, and I want to be here to witness each one of them get baptized.

I don't know who my companion is going to be. You never find that out until your name is called along with your new companions during transfer meeting. I knew all about the transfers with Hermana Call and Sister Pirotta because they were emergency transfers. Don't worry about those. It's not President Hales doing, it's strictly the Lords. President is a man called of God and when he commands something, you do it. No questions. So mom, I promise I am not covering up anything in my emails. What I write, and how good I am doing is exactly how I am feeling. Promise:):) I have ABSOLUTELY LOVED serving with Sisters Moore and Lowe. They take a different approach to missionary work that I love and have learned a lot from each of them.

I loved getting a package this week. It was super fun to open. Ha ha and I LOVE my pillowcase. We all LOVE the CD you sent too. I actually already had it, I got it when I exchanged the ones Melissa Nelson gave me. I hadn't listened to it until recently, but absolutely LOVE it. I think I burned it onto my laptop, so you should check it out. Number 10 is probably my favorite. The sisters also love when I get packages because they are so fun to open. We always know they will be good:) Did Zack and Mal get their package that I sent them? I was hoping to get it there on their birthday, but obviously it didn't. Let me know what you guys think of what I got you.

Mom, I was wondering if you could send me a couple of things? I don't need any of them right this second, so take your time. Sister Lowe wants a copy of the ward cook book. She absolutely loves it. Could you ask Tara Cannon if it is possible to order another copy? Let me know how much it will be and I'll tell Sister Lowe. This one is random--remember that vitamin E oil that I put on my scar so it would heal pretty? IF we still have it could you send that? I get misquito bites on my ankles and they stay there FOREVER! Of course, I scratch them and they get a scab. Thing is, the scab stays even longer! There are so many sisters that have gross scarred legs because of mosquito bites, and I don't want to be one of those sisters! It's gross!!! Remember the Biolage shampoo and conditioner I bought before I left? If you guys haven't used those, could you send them to me? I almost out of mine and don't want to have to go find a salon that sells them for a decent price. I need a refill of Relpax. I've had to take 2 this week because I got a headache from fasting and then it turned into a migraine. Silly me. I've been told to fast until I feel a headache coming on, and then eat. I don't like that idea, but oh well. A ward member gave me a copy of the latest Deseret Book catalog. I can't believe Jason's books are already out! Time has gone by fast! I got to tell them how your friends and how he's going to do a fireside for the stake. They thought it was pretty cool. Look up Brad Wilcox and some of the books he's written. We've been told that he's speaking at our Christmas Conference, and I've heard he's AMAZING. There were a few CDs in the catalog though that I wouldn't mind getting for Christmas....Another Testament: Music of the Living Savior (it's done by the same people that did the one you just sent me), Nearer: A new collection of favorite hymns (could you look and see if "There is a Green Hill Far Away" on it. If so, I really want that one!), and the last one is Alex Boye Be Still, My Soul. He's got a couple of songs on the one you just sent me (number 10, my favorite) and he's got an amazing voice. So beautiful!! I know it's a lot to ask for, but I just want that and a skirt. I'll measure the navy blue one when I get home and let you know next week.

Oh, that reminds me. Tell Jessika that she will for sure getting a letter from me this week because our P-Day zone activities are no more so that we can focus on our studies and to write letters. I have a list of people that I have been meaning to write, but am never in the mood to actually write once we get to the activity. Sorry! But I promise. Today is the day.

We got a media referral late Sunday night, that just requested a missionary visit. We were in the area yesterday so we stopped by to see her, Emily Mason, and she is also amazing. She moved here from Connecticut in May, where she was meeting with the missionaries. She never felt ready to be baptized, but has been praying about it a lot lately and is finally ready. One of the first questions she asked was, "When can I be baptized??" She's only been to church once, so she needs to come one more time and get the rest of the lessons and then she can be baptized. We told her she could pick her own date because she is so ready for it. She picked November 14. Cool huh!! We are so excited to finish teaching her and then see her baptized!!! So pray for her and Liza, who I mentioned in Presidents email. Especially on Saturday because that is the day of the Iron Man. She's going to be swimming 2.4 miles, biking 119 miles, and walking (supposed to be running) 26 miles. She's amazing and wants to run so bad, but if she does she'll make her stress fracture even worse and will never be able to run again. She needs all the prayers she can get!!

Maddi-I love your new car. It's way cute! Navy blue though? Never would have guessed. It's cute though! I have to say though that I liked the picture of Jessika the best though. What on earth was she???

I'm attaching a picture of us three sisters and Liza. She's a doll and has been through so much! I'm excited to stay here so we can teach her and see her get baptized!

Also the sisters showed me a HUGE red truck the other day and then Sister Lowe asked the guy if we could get pictures of it. He pretty much did a photo shoot for us. Ha ha it was fun though. HUGE though!!! The last picture is of a statue I saw while knocking on someones door. Ha ha I just loved it and wanted to share it with you guys. I know it is a Greyhound, but a dog nonetheless who is scratching his ear while standing up. Libby??

I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!! Have a wonderful week! Thanks for all your support!!! Give the pups butt rubs and kisses!!!

Love, Sister Denson

October 26, 2009--I'M ALL ALONE!!!!!!!!!!

Helloooo!!! How are you guys??!! It sounds like you are having fun, but having some time to relax too;)

So you heard about Sister Call.......What you didn't hear is that Sister Pirotta got transferred too!!!!!! Double sad huh!!!!! We found out on Tuesday at the PPI's that Sister Call was being transferred and that the Assistants to the President would be calling us on Thursday to give us all the details about who would be picking her up on Friday and at what time. Thursday we got the call as we were in the car headed back to our apartment for apartment inspections. Elder Olsen notified us that Sister Call will need to pack up because she is headed down to Miami Lakes (we knew all that) and that Sister Pirotta will also need to pack up because she is headed up to Boynton Beach. Sad!! We were like well what is happening with Sister Denson?? "She'll be in a threesome with the East Sisters." So now, once again I am in a threesome with Sister Lowe and Sister Moore. Friday was weird because my bedroom was empty and the walk-in closet that the 3 of us shared was completely empty except for my little corner. It was depressing. Because each companionship has to sleep in one bedroom the other sisters moved into my room because we have three beds. It was weird on Friday because all of the appointments we went to were all of theirs. At first it just felt like an exchange. It was really weird when we went home that night and didnt have anyone to share our days stories with. I felt lonely, but Sister Lowe and Sister Moore have been so kind to me and have taken me under their wing as if I had been their companion for the entire transfer. They are so sweet and we have had a ton of fun together learning from each other and just laughing and giggling at each other.

I've attached a picture of my new companionship as well as the last day that I was with Sister Call and Sister Pirotta.

Okay, so my week this past week has been fun. Sister Briggs, a sister in the ward, took us out to eat last Monday to an Italian restaurant. It only cost a mere $159 for LUNCH! Gees!! Good thing her husband brings in all the big bucks delivering babies!!

Thursday we celebrated mine and Sister Lowe's 3 month birthday. Crazy huh! It has been a very fast 3 months.

Saturday we went to a members home for dinner and it was a true Southern dinner. We had ox tails--yes, I tried them, cabbage collard (sp) greens, turnip greens, homemade mashed potatoes, curry and lemongrass chicken, pasta salad, cornbread muffins, guacamole, and fruit. Most of it was delicious. And to top it off we had Sweet Potata Pie for dessert!

Yesterday we sang in Sacrament Meeting. We are doing some member trainings about the Ft. Lauderdale Temple and how members need to be preparing people to go through it. Not just at the open house;) At the end of the training we sing I love to See the Temple. Well we did it for one of the counselors in the bishopric and of course he asked us to sing it on Sunday. At first we were fine with it because there were 5 of us. But it ended up only being the 3 of us, so we hoped it sounded good....

Tell Grandma Denson that money would probably be the best. I don't really need anything and it would be good to have a little bit for savings.

Mal-I got your package and it was munched up. The whole box, and cookies, were crunched up. It was okay though because they still tasted the same! Thank you so much for them! The Sisters love them too!

Maddi--I'm so proud that you are going to Matt's and that he is being taught. Last time you told me that you were going with him I thought that you guys were like going on splits or something. That they like needed a sister there for the lesson. I TOTALLY forgot he wasn't a member! I'm so happy! I'll pray for him, and that is parents will let him be baptized. I'll even pray for his parents to be baptized too:)

Dad-That was a crazy story about the F-16. Where is there a remote place on the base to drop all of that stuff?? I'm glad that it landed safely and I hope that no one got hurt. I hope the anti-inflammatory helps your finger. I hit my left elbow the other day on something and it was zinging for like 15 minutes. I hated it, but I'm all fine now, so no worries.

I was able to get my flu shot on Tuesday at Walgreens. We FINALLY found one that had them in stock! I went to CVS to get the other sisters pictures from their camera onto a CD so I can have them too. So, no it wasn't the flu shot.

As for Christmas stuff, maybe just some black skirts. They are fading and I HATE faded black clothes! I'm doing fine on other clothes. I wear the colored and printed stuff all the time. I guess we just never take pictures when I am wearing them....funny. I was wondering though if you could find some more of the perfume you bought me a couple of years ago. Hugo Boss Intense. I love it and want more. I ran out of it a couple of months before I got here. I don't know if they still make it, but don't order it off some weird internet site. If they don't make it anymore can you just find me a good smelling one that isn't sweet. Maddi, you'll probably know what I like the best.....I hope. I also want some more earrings. I can wear dangly ones, just as long as they are not distracting. I wear the exact same ones each day am getting bored with them. Also, you can send the turquoise ones that should be on my dresser, unless Maddi is wearing them.

The picture that I sent of my hair last time isn't curly. Sister Moore french braided it and then I slept with it that night. All I did to it was wash it, dry it, got it braided, slept, took it out the next morning, fixed my part, and used a little bit of hairspray on it. That was it! I got a lot of compliments on it at Church, and I loved it. I think I'll ask her to do it again tonight:)

I would love one of the bags that you and Kenzi make. Standard black is NOT the requirement!!! It's awesome. I've been using my bag from Franklin Covey lately and have gotten a lot of compliments on it. But yeah, if you could make it a little bigger than you scripture bags that would be WONDERFUL! I would love cute fun print! And don't forget to put LOTS of pockets in it! Thanks! Oh, and I was wondering why you were going to send a package this week, but I remembered that it's the end of the month. I get a new pillowcase!!! I'm so excited! I love getting the pillowcases!!!!!!

We taught a guy this week that requested a Book of Mormon from Mormon.org. He's 21, his name is Oliver and is really interested. It was funny because he was acting a little strange at the door when we were talking to him. He would get REALLY excited about the answers that we gave/have and even through himself on a flight of stairs that was right next to him at one point. He came to church on Sunday though! He loved it and we are going to go back on Thursday to teach him more. I feel really good about him and I think he'll be baptized. Pray for him! Oliver Caton. Oh, and come to find out that he was high on Friday. He confessed to us at church yesterday. Hahaha yeah, we had already guessed it because of his behavior and the fact that he was wearing sunglasses... It was still funny though.

We are also teaching a 19 year old guy named Alex. He's huge and he's from Haiti. We met his little sister a couple of weeks ago and went by the house to talk to her and he answered the door. He's really interested and came to church for the past two weeks! We went to teach him on Thursday night, and his dad, who is Catholic went and got the little sister Jaquel to come listen in. Haha SWEET!! She's only 11 but she had some AMAZING questions for us though. She didn't come to church yesterday, but I'll probably call her today just to check up because she said she was going to come. So please pray for them too. Thanks! Tomorrow and our weekly district and zone meeting I have to teach about Prophets. Since I've been here there hasn't been someone else doing a "training" at one of these meetings. I don't know if there will be others teaching too or if it will just be me. I'll let you know. It only has to be about 5 min long, but I don't like teaching in front of other missionaries. They've all been out so much longer than me and make me nervous!!

My PPI was great. I love being able to talk to President about how I am learning so much and growing daily. I love the advice that he gives and I just love him. He's amazing.

I heard that we are only getting 8 sisters this next transfer, 4 Spanish and 4 ASL. I'll let you know for sure in a couple of weeks though. Don't forget that because transfers are next week P-day is on a Tuesday.

Well, I've got to go. Tell everyone I said Hello and that I LOVE them!

Have a WONDERFUL week!!!

LOVE YOU!!! LOVE, SISTER SAMMI DENSON

Sister Moore, Sister Denson, Sister Lowe

Sister Call, Sister Denson, Sister Pirotta

Stop signs in Florida...

I found this picture on Sister Call's blog. Evidently, they had been out for a LONG day of tracting and came across this stop sign. WEIRD but COOL!! I'm not sure why the silly, goofy faces but they're still cute!!

October 19, 2009--Hello, Hello!

How is everyone doing?? Okay, first I have to address the fact that there is something coming in the mail. It was supposed to be there Saturday for the birthday kids, but obviously it didn't get there. That really bummed me out! Dumb. And I can't always write you so you get a snail mail letter on Friday. Just a heads up, you won't be getting one today. I just read your whole email, and besides, I still haven't written Jessika, and I have a couple other people I have to write. I just want to let you know too it was really boring not to get a single thing in the mail this week. Where is the Brad Paisley letter, and I thought I was getting pumpkin cookies Mal??

So here is my week in a nut shell: Friday we went to visit a couple less active members. We first went to Sister Thielmann. She's probably late 70's, early 80's. She is so sweet and told us all how she met her husband and how they came to learn about the gospel. It was SO fun to sit there and listen to her stories--you all know me, not good with old people--but I really enjoyed myself and she had a lot to share. We then went to Sister O'Neil. She's confused about which church is true, but was also VERY vocal about her views on abortion and how wrong it is. I completely agree, but that's how she started our conversation out. It was very interesting to say. She talked about the political aspects of it and all this stuff about the government. None of us had any idea what to say because we're not supposed to engage in political conversations and stuff like that. It clearly kicks the spirit out each time someone brings anything political up. I'm glad we're not supposed to engage in those types of conversations because we've run into A LOT lately!!

We were out tracting on Saturday and went to this street that we have never been on before. The first guy we meet was all about 'saved by grace.' How frustrating to know that so many people think once they are baptized, they're fine. No enduring to the end or anything. Ugh. If only they knew! If only they softened their hearts!! So we get to the third house and it was the exact same thing! Sister Call and I were so not wanting to go any further on the street because we were afraid of what was in store. Sister Pirotta was all excited though. I have no idea why.

Yesterday we were also out tracting and it was pretty darn cold. When we went to the church at 8:30 it was 55 degrees!!! After church we were out and about finding and it was 77ish, then by our last appointment it was 67. Cold for Florida! Everyone said there was a cold front coming, but of course we don't find that out until it's here. So, the wind was blowing and I was wearing my grey skirt that mom made for me. Yeah, it's probably what you are thinking. We are talking to a 19 year old kid and it was getting windy and cold. We were just at the edge of his yard (which is probably 10 ft long because he's in an apartment) talking to him. We give him our number and what happens, my skirt flies up and I flashed everyone. Hahahahaha it was so funny. LUCKILY he was putting our number in his phone and had no idea what was going on. All three of us sisters were laughing our heads off. He thought we were laughing at him. Hahahahaha it was seriously hilarious. Yeah, I probably won't be wearing my grey skirt on a windy day again.

Tonight we get to go to a members home that lives in a MANSION. I haven't seen it yet, but I have heard the grand stories about it. Their names are the Longs. They just got back from Park City where they just built their own cabin/house (I'm sure it's HUGE) that has it's own ski lift to one of the resorts. Ridiculous! I'll let you know how it is next week. I'm excited to see it!

I have 2 pictures I'm attaching. One, is of the vest that you bought me mom. I love it so much! It's me and Sister Call. I just wanted to show you how cute it was. I wore it with my grey skirt, but I don't think you can see it in the picture. The other picture is of my crimpy hair. Sister Moore, who is the tiny one next to me, french braided my hair Saturday night. I slept with it in and then took it out yesterday morning. Isn't it so cute!! She used to have hair like mine, but chopped it all off just this past summer! 11 inches!! I just tell her I'm not ready for that and she agrees because she loves to play with my hair. She said she'll braid it more in the future. Yay!

Okay, I decided on another picture too. We went to a house on the 'Saved by Grace' street and found this on someone;s front door. I took a picture of it and I know it's blurry. I was hiding behind Sister Pirotta and snapped a picture. The reason why I had to hide was because their big door was open and I didn't want them to see me. Some people are just so rude. Gees.

To answer the questions. I am in the Boca Raton ward. Yes, the entire city, plus some of Delray Beach is one ward. Crazy huh! If you look the map, the borders for Sister Pirotta, Call, and I are everything MINUS South of Yamato and East of Military Trail. We have a HUGE area, but the majority of it is gated. The Jewish people live in gated areas. We were told the other day that 65% of Boca Raton is made up of Jewish people and South Florida is either the second or third most populated place of Jews outside of Israel. CRAZY!! But the Coral Springs ward is the ward that borders us to the south I believe. My zone leaders are in that ward, so I can ask them today if they know the Buhlers.

We have a washer and dryer right in our apartment, so we are able to do our laundry whenever needed. I was so excited about that! I didn't want to go to a laundromat!

The picture of us all working out in the yard was yes, a grab any tool you could find and let's take a picture. The gross thing about doing yard work in Florida is because the humidity you sweat everywhere! I have never sweat on my forearms until I got here. I had dirt all over me because I just used my hands to get it all in the whole after planting the tree, well after you start to sweat what happens? Mud! Yuck! I had so much mud all over me! All down my legs because I knelt in the dirt, and all over my arms. So gross. The dirt here is more like black sand. Dumb.

Can't think of anything else to say! I know this is probably short....but when you have pretty uneventful weeks, that's how it goes. I hope you all have a wonderful, wonderful week! I loved the pictures of deer hunting though! There were a lot of Elders that were sad they couldn't go this year. Haha I'm sure they'll live. I told them you guys were going and that made them happier. Haha so thanks for making the Elders happy Dad and Zack. Let me know if Travis and Becky do ever get to meet! I want to know how it goes!!

LOVE you all so much!!!
LOVE, SISTER SAMMI DENSON

PS Tell the ward I said hi :)
Oh, and PPS Tell the primary presidency I taught the 8 year old girls yesterday in Primary and it just wasn't the same. All the lessons and songs were and everything, but it isn't fun when you hardly know the kids, they can't sit on your lap, and the SR primary only has 20is kids in it. I love our Primary SO much!!!!

A sign on someone's front door...