Week 26 - (01/19/2015) I'm getting transferred :[

Hey everyone!  So this is my huge letter for the week!  Wednesday 1/14/15 I was able to go to the temple!!  Man I love the temple.  It's truly a house of the Lord.  I feel closer to him every time I enter! I love my district.  I will have to send you all Photo's soon.  It's Elder Swaney as the district leader, Elder Monsen his companion. Sister Tibbs and Bartonwho share a ward with us, Elder Fordham and I :D.love working with these people so much!  They are truly awesome!  I love working with them and laughing with them.  This week has been so great! We had another 4 baptisms in the ward this last Saturday!  Total in the last 6 months the ward has had 10 baptisms!  I love the Stead Ward.  Today is Sunday... So... :[  I get the call... *sigh*  I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE!!  This ward is absolutely amazing.  It's not allowed to change. But if I have learned anything from this ward, It's that nothing happens until the members are ready.  10 Lives have been changed forever in the past 6 months, due to the love and care the Ward members  have given to there friends and family :] I respect them so much for it.  Sorry the letter is so short but the news is...  I'm getting transferred :[

  

Week 25 1/2 - (01-16-2015) My Questions Are Answered

I wanted to add this extra entry to share with you some of the questions Elder McSheehy answered for me.  Several people told me they really enjoyed his question and answering email a while back. So here are some random questions I asked -

- How did you like the Plan of Salvation puzzle?

Holy cow! That puzzle is so cool!! It's a really good visual aid for teaching. I've had the kids practically teach the lessons! :D

- So explain to me what these things mean. They were on your dry erase board.

Ok before I start this is a miracle board/ notable mentions board. So a lot of stuff on there is EXTREMELY Random. 

> How did you make the Walmart Cashiers day?

So the Cashier is this older lady she looked about 65-75 and she wasn't having too good of a day, so when we were checking out, we always talk to the cashier unless they look like they just don't want to talk.  sooooo She was apparently having a bad day. So we talked to her for a little bit while she rang up the groceries. And we said we hope she would have a better day that she deserves. So she said don't worry it's already better! We see her like every Monday now and we will wait in any line for her to be our Cashier haha. REALLY REALLY nice old lady :]

- Are you worried about transfers?

YES :{ I don't want to leave this area.. It's amazing! I think I might be leaving but I really don't want to :(

- Is Elder Carvajal going home this next Transfer?

*sigh* yess..... :[

- Was he training Elder Tex?

Yes Elder Tex and Elder Fordham came out together.

- Tell me as much as you remember about Jose’s Baptism

So Brother Carl Cogswell conducted (he was a nervous wreck about that). Brother Wright said the opening prayer. (He was honored that Jose would want him to say the opening prayer supper cool cause he's a less-active) we had Brother Larson give the opening talk about baptism (he's a really good speaker :D) then I baptized Jose. (The water was super-hot but it was all good) he said he would rather be baptized in hot water than Cold water. Then we got changed, He shook my hand and said thanks :] 

- Do you have a good ward mission leader?

Oh yes, he is the best! He would do anything for us. He does take really good care of us as well. His wife makes us goodies every now and then!  He’s great!

- Do I hear from anyone from the skating rink?

I do :[ I got a Christmas letter from Mrs. Marie. She sent the sweetest Christmas card. if you ever get the chance give her a Hug for me!

- Do you like the weather?

I LOVE IT! It’s really nice out! People complain all the time but it's actually really nice compared to Florida! I've learned that the temperature is just a number. It gets just as cold in Florida as it does here in Reno. Only difference is there's no snow ;D.

- How are my shoes holding up?

Great! They’ve needed shinning for a while. But I did that already. They are holding up SUPER well very surprisingly :]

End of Questions :O

If you have any questions you would like for me to add to my list please send them my way.  It may take a while but he is usually really good about answering them all.  Love that Missionary!!

Week 25 - (01/12/2015) - Possible Transfer Next Week?

"Hey everyone! Sorry you haven't heard from my voice in a while.. :D I've been pretty busy!! So, My mom bought this cool Alpha Smart. It's basically this small little keyboard that I can type notes on and then plug into the computer and it spits out all of what I just typed! Pretty nifty huh! So lately I've gotten the feeling that I'm going to get transferred... :[ This is my first area and I hope to stay much longer.. but that's just what I've been hearing. I really hope I can stay because I just love these people here in the Stead Ward so much!! *sigh* oh well.  It's bound to happen eventually. (i kinda just don't want to send all my cool stuff home ;D). Anyway. I will tell you a bit about our awesome ward.  To start, when I first came into the field our Bishop was just called.  So I got to know the ward at the same time as him. (he's pretty awesome).  He is a BOSS when it comes to missionary work. haha :D. I serve with Elder Fordham, Sister Barton, & Sister Tibbs. Sister Tibbs is newer to the ward (Elder Fordham and I feel like the ward likes the sisters more ;]) but that's normal right :]?! haha oh well! 

So i got a little sick over the weekend :[  My district leader had food poisoning D: so what happened is, we went on an emergency exchange so the two sicko's could stay home and sleep in while the others could do missionary work :\ productive day for them but we were ready to puke our brains out (sorry that was a little gross) ;D 

So right now i'm on top of a HUGE mountain typing this letter! I'll try to send some awesome pictures!!

haha cool!

Elder McSheehy

Here is a little part of Elder Fordham's weekly email as well -

"One more week before transfers. Elder McSheehy thinks he's getting transferred, but we'll see what happens.

Last night was another Why I Believe Devotional.  For those that don't know what that is, it is a meeting where speakers talk on why they joined the LDS church. Sister Lester who I have written about several times was the first speaker. She was up there for about 15 minutes and had everyone laughing just about the entire time while she was teller her story why she joined the church. She should just go into standup comedy. She one of the biggest characters I think I will ever meet, and I've none quite a few characters.  

Elder McSheehy was sick on Friday and Saturday so on Saturday we had an emergency exchange with the Lemmon Valley elders. While the dying (they weren't that bad) Elder McSheehy and Elder Swaney were at home, Elder Monsen and I went out and visited some people. It was a fairly productive day, but the highlight of the day was I got to drive the truck. That was my first time driving since I came out on my mission, and it was glorious. We visited someone out on Red Rock Road which goes up and down and all around mountains. Needless to say its a really fun road to drive on.

Thursday we had meetings for 7 hours. I think that says it all for Thursday. 

Today we hiked up the hill behind the church. Its a bit of a trek due to sage brush and rock, but it was fun. We were in shorts and short sleeves so we only stayed at the top for a little while. It was windy and cold and starting to sprinkle, so we made our way back down soon after getting up there."

It sounds like they are doing okay now that everyone is healthy again.  

Week 24 - (01/05/2015) - "I need your love♪♫"

I just finished emailing Elder Noah Mcsheehy. His emails have been very brief over the past few weeks. He says he is really staying busy which is exactly what I love to hear!  I did want to share just a bit of our conversation with you all. Those of you that are his closest friends will appreciate this the most.

Me - "before you have to go, know that I love you so much. Do you need anything right now?"

Noah - "I need your love♪♫
I need your time♪♫
when everything is wrong you make it right!"

Hahaha - he cracks me up! I bet he misses his music sometimes.  I love that kid so much! Even being across the country, he still makes me laugh!!  (those are lyrics to a song he used to love to dance to)

Elder Fordham says -

"Truck update.1) We were finally able to see our investigator that lives 25 miles away. 2) Our truck gets great gas mileage for a truck. We've had it for two weeks and have driven over 150 miles and we filled it up this morning for the first time, and it was only down just below a quarter of a tank.

Super funny story from church yesterday (at least we thought it was funny, maybe you had to have been there). The chorister was gone yesterday so Brother Larsen was subbing in for her. For the last song he was holding his youngest daughter while conducting up at the front of the chapel. (Little background on his daughter. She's about three years old and is very confident. Elder McSheehy call her "Cindy Lou Who" just because in fits her perfectly) So back to the story. Brother Larsen was with Cindy Lou Who in his arm when she starts trying to conduct too. I might have started laughing in the middle of the song.

One more highlight from the week. We were playing basketball with six other missionaries, and I was being me usual coordinated self, only making shots by accident. One of the many times I missed a pass and was cantering over to get ball, I was facing away from the net when I got the ball and people were running towards me. Well, I didn't want to get pummeled for having the ball so I randomly tossed it backwards over my head in the general direction of the hoop. It flew and landed right in the hoop getting a point for my team an making me look really cool. That was a real esteem booster until I missed the next dozen or so times I had the ball."

Week 23 - (12/29/2014) - Happy New Year

We were soooooo excited to hear from Elder McSheehy on Christmas day.  I think our whole family would agree that our Skype session was by far the best Christmas present we could have asked for.  

We teased him about being trapped in the TV.  We had so much fun with him during that very short time.

We were so blessed to get to meet his compaion Elder Fordham and the 2 spanish speaking Elders that live in his apartment complex.  Elder Tex and Elder Carvajol.  They were so much fun and hilarious to talk to.  I think we laughed together 95% of the time we shared together.  I am so thankful to see that Elder McSheehy is surrounded by good friends and great missionaries. As you can see, Elder McSheehy has not lost his awesome since of humor and amazing positive attitude.  Oh how we LOVED seeing him on Christmas.

Elder Fordham and Elder McSheehy were very honored to be able to baptize a dear friend they have been teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jose was baptized on 12/27/2014 @ 11:00am. Elder McSheehy baptized him and then Elder Fordham gave him the gift of The Holy Ghost on Sunday 12/28/2014.  They both agreed that was a very humbling experience.  Elder McSheehy stated "That was the most amazing thing I have ever done."  He had been teaching Jose since the time he arrived in Reno 21 weeks ago.  As Noah said before he left for his mission - "I will leave my family for 2 years so that I can help others have their family for all eternity."  That is what missionary work is all about.  Serving others as our Savior would serve them.

As a mom, I am so thankful for the kind people in Reno, NV that have loved and helped Elder McSheehy in this amazing adventure.

As Elder McSheehy says - "Mom, being a missionary is the best thing in the world!  I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!"