Um...We're on Fire!

February 6, 2017

Dear friends and family,

Here is a little bit about my week.  It won’t be as long of email as last week, though.   On Thursday, we had a lesson with Demetrius and it went SO WELL!  We sat down with him and talked about how by reading the Book of Mormon he will find answers to his questions. We read the 1st chapter with him and he loved it! We invited him to say the prayer at the end of the lesson and he did. After he said amen, he did a little dance and said "I'm so excited!!" He is so excited to learn more and to continue reading the Book of Mormon. 

The other day we were getting ready for bed and it was a bit late... like…LATE. I looked out our bedroom window and I said... what the heck...? We look out there and our downstairs neighbor had caught the backyard on fire!

He and his friend were standing around it like... uh... what do we do?? So, they start trying to throw dirt on it and they were falling into it catching themselves on fire! It started spreading like really bad, so we were like uhhhhh...should we call 911? We did call and I felt super awkward ‘cause I've never called the cops before. I’m all... "um yeah, there's a fire in our backyard and there's two guys trying to put it out and they're falling in it and we don't know what to do..." hahaha! So meanwhile, our apartment is filling up with smoke and the fire is getting bigger by the second so we try calling our district leader and our zone leaders but no one was freaking answering! That’s when we got dressed and went outside to get away from the smoke and flames.

Meanwhile, the guys who started it are banging on their door trying to get inside and their family wouldn’t let them in! So, they were walking around all angry. Then our other neighbor comes up to us and said, "hey, just so you know... we saw that he has a gun... you probably should go inside..." So we're like... uh.... no argument there!" We rushed inside and opened the windows and watched the firefighters talk about how people who start fires are stupid! Hahaha! By now it’s 12:00am “ish” and we are now super awake so we made some food, called our mission president’s wife cause we were scared we were gonna get shot in the foot ‘cause we could hear our downstairs neighbors yelling and banging things. Haha so.... that was fun.  (Fun she says.  Fire.  Guns. Not what a mother wants to EVER hear in a missionary letter.)

We also had zone conference and interviews and it was so good. President is inspired and wonderful.

Love,

Sister Alisha Magda

Mission Broadcasts, Crazy Stories and Sam's Club Hotdogs

January 30, 2017

Hello friends and family!

This week was amazing! It went by way too freaking fast though. On Wednesday, we had a worldwide missionary broadcast. It was really interesting. The executive missionary counsel got together and held a meeting and we missionaries could be a part of it through the camera. They talked a lot about our missionary purpose and focus and how we can build faith in the lives of our investigators and the members where we are serving. They also talked about how we define success as missionaries and gave encouraging words to help us not beat ourselves up about not being good enough. Some of the things that I really love that were said were:

- "All things gather together in one. There is little or no spiritual power when we treat these fundamental principles of the gospel as separate things." - Elder Bednar
- "The baptismal invite and commitment should be based upon the individual and promptings from the spirit" - Elder Oaks
- "You're not just called to proclaim the gospel, you are also called to establish the church" - Elder Oaks
- "Will a missionary continue to choose what he knows is right whether or not the Lord decides to grant unto them "success?’ That is when you are establishing the church." Elder Bednar
- "You just have to be as good as you can be. God will magnify you to be more than you could ever become. We don't want missionaries beating themselves up saying,” I'll never be good enough.” None of us will ever be! But the Holy Ghost will work through you." - Elder Bednar

They also talked a lot about some changes being made to missionaries worldwide. They rearranged our daily schedule to make it not as blocked out as what we now do at particular  times of the day. Now it is more flexible and we are able to choose when we do certain things to be most effective. They want us to use our agency to be able to plan out our own days so that we learn this skill for when we go home as well. They also changed the things that we report on. We used to report to our leaders how many lessons we had, whether they were with active or
not active members or investigators and referrals received and contacted and a bunch of other things. Now we only focus on a few things: new investigators, Investigators who attend Sacrament meeting, investigators who have a baptismal date, and if anyone was baptized and confirmed. I am really excited about this new change because it changes our focus and helps us to better see how effective we are being. It is really cool because we are now more focusing on how we can build the faith in people's lives rather than anything else. I am excited!

Sister Gillespie and I have been so poor lately... Here's a few of the creative things we've had to eat...
- Saltines in chocolate icing
- We wanted eggs... But we weren't sure if they were still good. So, we opened a few to make sure... The first one was good... The second one was...........BLACK INSIDE! It was BLACK and ooooh. The smell.... You know how everyone says "it smells like rotten eggs!" Well guess what?
This smelled worse!!
- We really wanted brownies, but we didn't have any eggs... So we made a concoction up with this brownie/cookie mix, corn syrup, water, and sugar... It wasn't that bad!
- A Ketchup sandwich... Sister Gillespie would have no part in that though.
- Tortillas rolled up with strawberry cream cheese inside
- Old mac and cheese
- And the sisters from our ward brought us some soup to have for lunch yesterday! It was so kind!!
But we got our money allotment today #thankthelordandtithing so we are good!

We bought a
ton of groceries for super cheap today! 🙌🏾 score! And on Friday we had a member give us $20 for food. Since it was the end of the month we are really running low on funds and food… We needed to make this money STRETCH. We went to Taco Bell for lunch then we decided to go to Sam's Club for dinner... And lunch the next day… And dinner again… We did pretty good though! We made 20 bucks last us four meals! It was kind of embarrassing though going to Sam's Club three times in a row with the same people working… One lady even said something! She was all "weren't you guys here earlier today" and we were like "umm…Yes..." But hey, when we went the third time, we saw two people sitting on the corner and they looked freezing! My mom sent me a package of hats and gloves and stuff so we pulled over and gave two beanies to them. They looked so happy! The man put it on right away and patted his ears. It was so cute!

Here are some funny stories for the week!
- So one day we went to dinner at a member's house and their dog peed on sister Gillespie's leg. She had to go into the bathroom and wash her shoes and tights haha. Then when we were sitting down after dinner he started notice my leg... I think he likes me....
- The next day we went to another member's house and their cat is super evil. He pretends to like you and then mid-pet, he turns into Satan and bites you. Well... While we were eating, we were just talking about random things and then Sister Gillespie goes "Ah! The cat is under my skirt!!" She looked so terrified. The cat had been playing with the bottom of her skirt and decided to hop up onto her lap... Underneath her skirt.... I may have snuck him some food....good
job cat.

- Topeka is full of interesting/sometimes crazy people. Nothing as freaky as a guy with an ax though hahaha. But last week sister G and I were in the car getting ready to leave when we saw this young women dressed in this weird dress thing with two baseball hats on, one backwards and one forward.... She was just walking in the middle of the road sauntering around. I was like "what the heck, she is crazy looking!...We should talk to her." Then this guy comes running around the corner yelling at this chick and like waving his hands all over the place! I was like, "oop never mind! Pretend like we don't see them!" The guy then ran back behind the corner, crouched down in a creepy way, and started eating something from a bag he was carrying.😮 Then he got back up and started running after this girl like hecka fast. Thats when I said, “Oh heck no! I had started to drive towards them when sister G asked, "what are you going to do if he starts attacking her?" I said, "I don't know-run  him over!"...  But in the end
he just jumped into a car and she got in and they drove off... super shady stuff! I love Topeka!!

While I was in Abilene, Sister Southwick (one of my STL's/best friends) taught me how to use a prayer journal. It is the coolest thing ever and has helped me so much!!! What you do is you say a prayer like normal but then in the middle, you ask a question and then stop praying to write what you feel impressed to say in a journal. It has helped me receive a lot of answers to prayers, questions, and worries. I love it!!!

Well, that’s my week! I love you all so much!
Sister Magda
 
P.S.  Sister Gillespie had me dress up in all of my clothes and model!  I know.  Me.  I've come a long way!!!!

And Illness Strikes Again...

January 16, 2017

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was interesting....It began with my companion going to the doctor. Diagnosis—Strep Throat. So, the next day, Tuesday, we were stuck in the apartment all day long because she was still contagious. We couldn't go to district meeting so we had to just be on call for it. That was very interesting. This meant a lot of down time that day so we decided to start a puzzle that we got from sister Aldrich a few weeks ago. It was the hardest puzzle of my life! It is 3D and everything is the same freaking color! But it was so fun :) It took us a good long while....

Then on
Wednesday she woke up feeling even worse than Tuesday, so, not a lot got done that day either. So, the week was off to a great start....

Thursday was exchange day! Sister Gillespie finally felt better, so I went to Lake Shawnee with Sister Pritchett and sister Gillespie stayed in Kaw Valley with Sister Chappell. It was super fun! Sister Pritchett also served in Abilene. She was there with Sister Nail right before I got there. The first day we just visited a lot of people that Sister Pritchett didn't know so we were going in blind most of the time haha. But that night we stayed up late making jokes and laughing about funny moments in our mission. Funny story though, we were walking in the freezing cold and saw people unloading a truck so we decided to go and help. Well, the guy was moving from Ogden, Utah and knew all about the missionaries. He was really nice but wasn't interested. so, we decided to give everyone there our card. As we walked away one of them texted us and was wanting to go on a date with Sister Pritchett... hahahaha we laughed so hard about it.

One of the best things about this week is that we met this really cute old man named Don! He just recently lost his wife and was really struggling with it. We told him about the Book of Mormon and read him a verse and he got really excited to read it. We also met this suuuuper cute lady named Arlie at McDonald's. She has hair so long she can sit on it. We felt prompted to ask her if she would like a picture of Jesus and she started tearing up and said "on a day like this, I would really love one." We now have an appointment with her on Tuesday. I am super excited. We also finally got back in contact with Daniel! And he still wants to be baptized! We are so excited!

I cannot believe that it is already the middle of January!! Time is going by too too fast. I want it to just slow down for a second!

I hope you all have a lovely week!! Love you all!

Sister Magda

Ever Heard of Wind Chill?

January 9, 2017

Dear Family and Friends,

This week the weather is absolutely crazy. We had one day that it wasn't a freaking -8 degrees!! That is insane.... And ever heard of wind-chill? It's like the worst thing ever. It might be 10 degrees but it feels like -10. Stupid. It is stupid. Sister Gillespie has a picture of me hiding in my bed ha ha!

The strangest thing that happened this week was when we saw a man yesterday night walking down the street with a weird scrappy wagon thing. Except, he wasn't pulling it... There was a chain attached to it... that was attached to his waist... and he was carrying an ax. Yeah. An ax. He looked very.....intense? Let's just say he was "walking with purpose"... Very quickly. He looked super shady. Topeka blows my mind sometimes. We decided to follow him and he went into the back door of a house with the ax!!! Then when we went around again he was sitting on his wagon and it looked like he was sharpening something... Then he saw us and we booked it out of there.

We met an awesome lady named Deidra. She is amazing. She is super excited about the Book of Mormon and wants to come to church! We're super excited to see her progress!

Last Monday, our P-day, Sister Aldrich took the whole district bowling! it was so much fun. We spent practically the whole day with her doing puzzles after that. Now I'm addicted to puzzles... It's bad.

Today the elders let us pick out what style to cut their hair.... I was very excited... They look so much better. And then we played an intense game of Frisbee with 8 people.  Super fun!

The Jordan family are still working towards baptism. They keep coming to church and reading the Book of Mormon. They are doing so well! They just need to get over some trials of faith. I love them so much

Hope you have a great week!

Sister Magda

Memories of Christmas and a Brand New Year

January 2, 2017

Dear friends and family,

We got a new district leader named Elder Mortensen. He is really cool and has been “following me around the mission”. It’s actually kind of funny. He was in my first zone, then he became my district leader in Wichita. Then there was one transfer where he wasn't in my zone, and then he became my zone leader in Salina. Now he's my district leader again in Topeka. Funny, right? We were joking about it today and he said, “I never have to wonder where I am going to go because I’ll just see where you are and know that’s where I’ll be!” It’s super funny to me as well because we go home the exact same time too.

Anyway, today Sister Aldritch, a member in our ward, took our whole district out to go bowling! it was so much fun... although I realize I didn't inherited my grandmother’s talent at bowling which stinks. She then made us all lunch, chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes... it’s
a Kansas meal, I guess, but it was really good!!!

Christmas was wonderful. A member of our ward let us use their house and our entire district played the game Settlers of Zarahemla and watched Disney movies (approved for that day only) then I got to skype my wonderful family and laugh and tell them all about Kansas. it was awesome!

Afterward, we all went caroling for the rest of the night!!

I just love Christmas on my mission because you truly get to experience the true meaning of Christmas.
Happy New Year!

Love,
Sister Magda

P.S. So, everyday this month Sister Gillespie and I went into the elders' apartment when they weren't there and took one tie a day until Christmas.

Then we bought them each a tie and signed the back of it and wrapped them, and put them at the bottom of the box and folded all 46 ties and put them on top. then we wrapped the whole thing and gave it to them for Christmas. Elder Monson wore his new tie for Christmas. 

Thanksgiving of Ice Cream and Crackers

November 28, 2016

Hello friends and family!!!

So this week was Thanksgiving week!! We, the missionaries of the Wichita Kansas Mission were told last Monday that all holidays were p-days so we could do whatever we wanted (other than emailing that had to be done on Monday). That meant that Thanksgiving Day would be a P-day.  Hooray!  The cruddy thing was that last week Sunday I started to feel really sick and on Monday it got worse. So, I went to bed early taking Nyquil to help me sleep but it only helped for three hours in the night the rest of the time I was awake and coughing like crazy with chills and a fever. Then on Tuesday we went to district meeting and I was still feeling so sick but I was hoping it would just go away and I could go out and see people.   Well, not quite. I ended up sitting in the car because I couldn't move. We went to dinner with a member that night to Pizza Hut and all I could think about was how badly I had to cough and how I felt like they could bake a pizza on my face. We then got home right after dinner and I attempted to get some sleep but ended up coughing the whole night and passing out a few times.

This lovely Sister is waiting in the car as her companion and my companion go shopping.  I am not allowed out into the cold!

That did it.  I had to call the mission nurse. She gave us options of medicine and our lovely district missionaries were kind enough to get them for me and bringing us ice cream and crackers. THEY ARE THE BEST. My companion and I also had members bring lots and lots of medicine—the Kaw Valley Ward is amazing. Thanksgiving day I spent sleeping on the couch at the church until 5pm. We went to dinner at the Fruen’s house and they had an amazing Polynesian Thanksgiving but sadly I was not feeling well enough to eat it and had to leave early because I had a fever. The rest of the week is the same. I was stuck at the apartment very sick, and today went to the doctor and found out I had Bronchitis and must stay inside for another 4 days.... HELP... can’t wait for this to be over!!! so I can go back to working haha :D I miss seeing people and teaching !!!

Love you,

Sister Magda

Changes and more Changes!

November 21, 2016

Dear family and friends,

This email is going to be a little rushed, sorry. So, this week has felt like a short week!! Last Monday we found out where we were being transferred... and I got transferred to... Kaw

Valley Topeka!!! and Sister Goff went to Harrison park Derby. This means we were officially “whitewashed” out of Abilene, KS. (To be “whitewashed” means both missionaries are transferred away to other areas leaving two brand new missionaries coming into that area at the same time.  Neither will know the area or any of the people.  It will be completely new.) It was so hard saying goodbye to all those I loved in Abilene especially Ibet, Kala, and a whole lot more people.

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Abilene has a huge part of my heart!

It is where I came closer to Jesus Christ. We had only a day and a half to say our goodbyes and it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

We then Had to pack ALL our stuff plus clean the whole apartment and then fit everything in our little Toyota Corolla plus Sister Goff’s bike on the back. But after playing a little “Tetris” with our stuff, we got everything fitted nicely. Wednesday, we had breakfast with the Salina Sisters before we all headed up to Wichita to the mission home. 

While we got on the freeway I of course got lost for a second but it was all good and I found my way haha!  I told Sister Goff to keep an eye on her bike which was strapped to the bike rack on the back of the car because I couldn't see it in the rear window. We were by then half way to Wichita when I asked her if she could still see it and she just went white.... It had completely fallen off the car while we were going 80 on the freeway (speed limit was 75 just so you know)!!!!!!!  So... we quickly called the Salina sisters and asked them if they saw the bike.   We were so relieved when they told us that it fell to the side of the road. Thank goodness it didn't hurt anyone!

 When we got to Wichita I got to see all my favorite people! I even got to see Sister Tafua for first time since training which was so nice to catch up with her. I also got to say goodbye to Sister Petersen before she went home completing her mission. She has been one of the most amazing missionaries I have ever met!

Yaaaaaay!  My Mission Mom--Sister Tafua!

My Mission Mom (Sister  Tafua) and
Mission Grandma (Sister  Peterson).

We finally got to Topeka and I met my new companion Sister Gillespie. She is from Layton, Utah and has been out for 10 months. She and I get along so well and have had so much fun and have seen so many miracles in the last 5 days. We had a baptism on Saturday that we had just found out about two days before I got to Topeka! Right away we went and taught her.  Her name is Kaylee G. and she is nine years old. She is a part of the most awesome family in our ward. Kaylee was baptized with her 8-year-old sister Payton, it was so cute!!

Baptism Day with my new companion,
Sister Gillespie

Then on Sunday we had stake conference and a member of the Quorum of the Seventy was there—Elder Anderson and his wife! It was so such a good stake conference! I also got to see my Aunt Teresa as well which was one of the highlights of my mission :D !

After stake conference, we had another zone conference with the Manhattan, Topeka, and Lawrence zone to hear from Elder Anderson and our mission president.  The neat thing was that we got to have two hours of asking Elder Anderson questions about missionary work. we then had a mission president devotional which is where our recent converts come and bear their testimony. So many people bore their testimony and almost all of them bore it on how the Book of Mormon changed their life. It is so true—reading the Book of Mormon is the way we can truly come to know our Savior and of His restored gospel It is the keystone to everything! I have loved being blessed with seeing how by reading and studying it that it has changed so many people’s lives including my own life.  Studying the Book of Mormon has shown me how much our Heavenly Father and our Savior loves us and how we can return to Him and be with our families forever. Every day I read it and every day it changes me. I love my mission more than words can describe and I love my Savior even more!  I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving !!!

Love,

Sister Magda