January 18, 2011--No email...just a few pictures

Happy Birthday Brother Hardy! (Ward Mission Leader)

Coral Springs Zone

Sister Denson!

January 10, 2011--Fun Surprise Yesterday!

Saturday night we got a text from President Lake, "Can you sisters be sure to be at the Coral Springs chapel tomorrow at 11:00?" Uh, duh we can! It's our chapel, and we start church at 11:30, and if it means we get to see President Lake then OF COURSE! We just figured he had some meeting or something at the chapel and wanted to say hi to us. Wrong! I saw their truck pull into the parking lot (I was in the foyer chatting), and was chatting with someone when I glanced to my right and saw President and Sister Lake walking up the hall. Yay! Sister Lake came too!! (If you didn't know--she's my favorite!) But then I did a double take because I recognized the couple that was walking up the hall behind them. Daren and Heather Checketts?? What on earth are they doing here? Coral Springs of all places.... It was such a fun surprise and it was fun to chat with all 4 of them. What a small world that they are here for a conference and that their friends that they came with know the Lakes!! That was SO kind of the Lakes to bring them down to us a Coral Springs. They got to attend the Boca Raton ward for Sacrament Meeting! Lucky!!!


This week has been fun! Of course it has, I'm with Sister L!! The work is slow right now, but we were able to set one of our investigators with a date. Remiel, 28, for Feb. 5th. Keep him in your prayers! We were able to set a lot of appointment for the coming week with a lot of new people! We're so excited for them! It's going to be a great week!

Sounds like you had a fun day yesterday in Idaho. I love Sister Crane. She's great. She is loved SO much here!! Lol all last week people were asking us if we were able to talk to her yet. OBVIOUSLY they don't know anything about missionary life.... haha

Thanks for the pictures.

I just need two things for this week. Lol

1. The Hot Chocolate cookie recipe. We had so many extra that we took some to the Buhlers and Sister Buhler LOVED them! She wants the recipe.

2. Mom, will you tell Brady Stephens about my homecoming? Just find him on Facebook. I've thought of him a lot this week, not sure why, but I'd love to see him when I get home... Tell him I said Hi. I don't have an address for him. Maybe you can get one from him...

Okay, I have 3 things.

3. I am buying some conditioner and leave-in cream today. I'm not buying a big conditioner, just a small one. It would weigh too much in my luggage for the trip home.

I hope you have a wonderful week! Don't let the paint fumes get to you too much!

LOVE YA!!
Love, Sister Denson

January 3, 2011--Ya'll are gonna flip!!

I love my new area and I love the weather and I love my companion!!! This is going to be such a great transfer! I couldn't have asked for a better "final" companion. It's most definitely weird to be back in a family ward and to have little kids running all around. And babies. Babies are everywhere and I want to actually hold one and I can't! No fair! I got quite used to the silent singles branch. Oh wait;) have I told you where I am yet? I'm in the Coral Springs ward with freakin' Hermana Lealaogata!!! Shut up. I know! What on earth is Heavenly Father thinking??? This will definitely be a great experience for us and for the last transfer for both of us. Hahaha I love her so much! I'm SO stoked for this transfer! The last few days have been GREAT!!! It's so fun to be with her since we have both grown so much since we were together last.

Sounds like Mom, Dad and Mal have had a great week! Haven't heard from the rest of you......wink wink

We haven't had much of an eventful week. Ya know, just preaching the greatest message ever! We got out on bike--the weather is BEAUTIFUL!

I really don't know what else to say.... I'm sorry!

I only have 2 pictures to send this time. One of us, our "new" companionship and one of our New Years sleepover. We're on the third floor, Hermana Lealaogata wanted to sleep on the balcony, it was too cold for me, we pulled out the hide-a-bed and put my mattress on top of that. Lol she's a nut.

Oh, just kidding. I have more pictures to send. I had to say goodbye to a lot of missionaries. It was the last time I'll see them until they get home or come to Utah... Didn't get as many pictures as I wanted to, but it's okay... Sister Zitting, Elder Steele, Sister May, Elder Ricks' family came back a couple of weeks ago. Lol they visited us at our apartment. He's the greatest. His family is adorable. Not the best of our companionship. Just took it this morning while headed out the door. No worries, there will be more....

I love you all! Have a great week! Have fun back at school and work!

Love, Sister Denson
 

Companions again!!

Sister Denson & Hermana Lealaogata

New Years' Eve "sleepover"

Elder Ricks' family visiting the mission

Sister May and Sister Denson

Sister Denson and Elder Steele

Sister Denson and Sister Zitting

President's Email:

President-

Wednesday was such a GREAT day! It was so amazing to see that me and Hermana Lealaogata are back together! I'm so grateful and excited for this final transfer for both of us. I feel like I'm serving with one of my best friends. My eternal companion as Elder Zwick put it. That was such a powerful experience to hear from him and his sweet wife. It's definitely made me ponder and reflect a lot this week.

I'm excited to serve in the Coral Springs ward and most definitely with President Current. He is so amazing. I love serving with him.

This transfer is going to be the BEST! I'm excited to "be in the middle of my mission" and have the excitement for the work still. It was so great to see all of you yesterday.

Thank you so much for everything!

Love, Sister Denson

December 28, 2010--2011??!!??!!

I can't believe this week will be the first of 2011! It's just crazy to me. I remember seeing the dates that I would be serving and 2011 seemed SO far off. I was like, "Oh, this isn't going to fly by...2011 is SO far away!!" Say what??? Yeah, it's in 4 days! It's insane.

 

I just want to know if/when we are coming back. People are asking me left and right when I am going home and when I am coming back. It's like I have a stamp on my forehead that says, "Leaving Soon!" And I bet it is flashing! It drives me nuts. Oh well, it's part of the package. I want to come back in April/May. That's a beautiful time of year!!

 

This is for after I get home, but Mom, can you set up a hair appointment for me for right aftre I get home. I'm already in need. Lol Thanks!

 

Yes, I am being transfered. Remember how I left my heart in Miami? Lol Well, I got it back! I am so grateful for the almost 3 weeks that I've been able to have here. I love the people SO much and I saw a lot of them from the 4th ward that completely changed my life. Gosh,I love them all so much. I love being a missionary!!!!!!

 

My CTR ring. I really really REALLY want to wear it right now. I don't want to have to wait 6 weeks. Do you think that by the time I sent it home, go it exchanged and got it back it would be like 6 weeks? If so, I'll just wait. I only need it a half size bigger, I'm pretty sure....

 

I really don't have a lot to report on this week. I just talked to you..... Christmas Day was good. We had lunch with the Tracy's, went home for an hour, went to Aracely's (our RS pres), she's Mexican and we had carne asada for dinner. YUM!!! It was so good!! I love having real latin food! Not from a restaruant....

 

Remeber the Non-member BYU guy that we taught? Bradley? He's back and we've been teaching him. He's great. Last night his mom invited us over for dinner. Bradley was really nervous, because his parents aren't huge on religion. Well, he was wrong. Lol It was SO great!! They asked us so many questions and they LOVE Mormons. It was so great to finally sit down with them and tell them what it was really like first hand. His dad is so awesome. I just kept telling them to go to Mormon. org, because they're not ready for the elders yet--they're not that interested, but I just know that when his dad sees the website and feels the spirit that he is going to convert! We seriously wouldn't be surprised if his dad joins before Bradley does. Lol That'll totally help with Bradley's conversion though! Yay!!

 

Well, I hope you have a great week and a happy new year!!

Love you all!

Love, Sister Denson

President's email:

President-

 

I was TOTALLY shocked last night when Elder Stevens called and told me that I was being transfered. I was for sure that I was staying here this last transfer. Of course I am sad about it, because this is my most favorite area in the mission, but I am also okay with it. It feels natural. No worries, I'm not crying and haven't cried and won't cry. I think the hardest part about leaving will be leaving my companion. I love her with all my heart. She is such a hard worker and she has such a love for being a missionary and such a love for the people. She is so great! I'm so grateful that I at least got these almost 3 weeks with her.

I'm so excited for a new are and a new companion though! It'll be such a great transfer and such a great note to end on!

I love you so much! Happy New Year!!

 

Love, Sister Denson

Merry Christmas 2010

Mom opened her email late Christmas Eve to find this amazing gift. It's PERFECT!!

On Christmas Day, we were able to visit with Sammi via SKYPE. We struggled to get it all set up and working well...her computer sent choppy videos which froze frequently and the microphone wouldn't work. She ended up calling us from the Tracy's house phone to our home phone and we just put it on speaker. It was so great to talk to her, share our stories, see her face, etc. We can't wait for 45 more days!!

These are a couple of pictures we "snapped" in SKYPE. Check our her CURLY hair!!

Sister Denson and Hermana Hendrix

December 20, 2010--Plans for Christmas Day

Okay, so the plans for Christmas day are this: 1. Not going to the hospital. 2. Sleeping in my own bed. 3. Not getting a pill lodged in my throat. (See last Christmas' excitement here.) 4. Enjoying the beautiful holiday with my companion and the members down here in Miami. Lol Sound good? Oh, and 5. Calling home between noon and one. We can only talk for 40 minutes. And it's okay, I promise. We'll be seeing each other soon enough....

Yeah, It's been feezing down here. I had to buy boots because of my circulation problem. Remember that? IT's been killing me these past couple of weeks. We were doing a booth at one of the local campus' (handing out pass along cards and inviting). That morning though we were in the chapel having our district council and I about froze to death and though my feet were going to fall off. They hurt so bad. I felt like I was in Utah! Ugh! I'm in FLORIDA for crying out loud! So then we went and did this booth. I had thick black tights on, and two pairs of socks. By the end of the two hours I couldn't feel my feet. I'm really glad I bought them though!! I can't imagine what my feet would have felt like in just the little flats that I have. I wore it with my big grey skirt, a sweater and my wool coat. Lol one of the elders that we were with, their investigator, said us sisters looked eligant. Haha sure. We were just miserable and feezing! I'll for sure be able to wear the boots at home. I'm considering wearing them off the plane!! They're so cute though!! Thanks!

I'm sending off the Christmas package today. Its small, just to let you know. Not everyone is getting a gift... I figure I'll get better stuff in February when I have more time.

Question: When are we planning on coming back to visit? Like a million people asked me yesterday when I was going home. It bites, but I'm just glad I'm not freaking out about it and that I'm still focused and obedient. Gotta finish strong!!

If my package doesn't get here by Friday or Saturday DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!! I'll be getting the most for Christmas and Sister Hendrix has some too, but we've already decided that we're going to open ours later in the day in our room together. We don't want to make the others more sad. So it's okay. Really, Dont sweat it. I'm just excited to talk to you all.

I love you all!!! Have a great week!! Talk to you Saturday!

Love, Sister Denson

President's email:

President-

 

This week has been great. It doesn't show numberswise, but I am still having fun and still fulfilling my purpose. I have such a great companion. She is such a hard worker and she loves the YSA so much! And you're right--she is a GREAT teacher! I am excited to be here with her at this time in each of our missions. She is in a great spot and just has a desire to do her best. I feel like she is having the same experiences I've had on my mission and so it's fun to tell her how I've grown and how the Atonement has helped me.

We have had fun talking to our members all week on how they can rescue their friends and family members. The YSA are so great!! I love being here again with the people that I love SO much!

This holiday season is so great and such a special time to be with these young single adults and to feel of their fire and love for the gospel.

Thank you so much for everything!

Merry Christmas!

Love, Sister Denson

December 13, 2010--An Amazing Weekend!

This has been such an amazing weekend! The first part of the week was rough. I found out Monday afternoon that the Nova sisters area was closing. It made me SO sad! Also losing my favorite companion was really hard. There just wasn't enough work going on for two companionships to be there, and since President is short on sisters right now it was my area that was closed. Wednesday night made up for everything though. When President told me where I was going I just about lost it. I love this area with all my heart. It's been my dream to come back down here, but I honestly never thought it would happen. Heavenly Father is SO good to me! It was hard to leave the area, the sisters that I lived with and the elders that I served with, but I just love it down here. I'm home.

Yesterday and Saturday was amazing. We found out it who our guest speaker was when he walked in the door. It was fantastic. Sister Uchtdorf is hilarious and especially with her thick German accent and broken English. Lol when she would get excited she couldn't think of the words in English so President Uchtdorf would have to help her. It was adroable. It was so amazing to hear from a Prophet of God speak directly and specifically to the FL Ft Lauderdale missionaries. He's amazing. And yes, better looking in person. I'm so grateful for his counsel and for that opportunity. I will treasure it always.

We've got some great investigators right now. The week has been crazy, so I'm excited to finally get all settled in today so that we can dive into the work with this new companionship. I love Hermana Hendrix so much! She's great! She's going to be another life long friend.

I'm sorry this email is short. The experience with President Uchtdorf was something very spiritual and sacred and personal to me. I know that he is a man of God and that he is leading and guiding the Church with President Monson and President Eyring only though our Savior.

 Sister Cluff and Sister Denson

Sister Crane and Sister Denson

Not sure who the Elder is but he looks happy to be in this picture! :)

Sister Lealaogata and Sister Denson!!

Sister Hendrix and Sister Denson...new companions!

 Elder Parry and Sister Denson

 Sister Denson, Sister Williams, Sister ??

President's Email:

Hey President-

This has been one crazy week! I've never had such a hard time saying goodbye to a companion as I did with Sister Katterfeld. I love her so much. She's so much more than just a companion to me. She's a life long friend. As you know it was really hard for me to leave Nova. I love the YSA up there, but when I found out I was going back to Snapper Creek all was well :) I absolutely love serving with President Perez and the members down here. The branch has changed so much since I left. I didn't recognized half the people at Sacrament Meeting yesterday, but I'm so excited to get to know them all. Being back in the Kendall chapel was a dream come true. I saw so many members from the 4th ward who have had a HUGE inflence on me. I love them SO much. I really just can't get the smile off my face to be back.

How have I seen the hand of the Lord in my life lately? Putting me back in Snapper Creek, and with one of the most amazing sisters that we have in the mission. I love her so much. We are already going to be great friends and we already work so well together. She's amazing. Something that is huge for me right now and will be for the remainder of my time is the desire to finish strong and obedient. I've only got one chance to be here and to serve Him like this, and so I don't want to have any regrets. I feel like I am "in the middle of my mission." It's great. I'm so grateful for that.

Christmas Conference was spectaular. I loved every minute of it. A very spiritual and sacred memory that I will cherish always.

I love you so much! I'm excited for Wednesday! See you then!

Love, Sister Denson