Week 33 - December 26, 2022

 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO Y'ALL!  I hope you had the best Christmas ever and it was full of thinking about the true meaning of the season, Jesus Christ!

Yesterday, I got to witness the cutest thing that helped me remember my Savior even more.  During Sacrament, we sat in front of a young family and the dad was talking to his son and he whispered to him, "Why do you love Jesus?"  The little kid replied, "Because he died for us to heal us."  And his dad said, "Yes, he did.  Do you know why else you love Jesus?"  The kid sat and just tried to think, and the dad said again, "Because he loved you first, he and your Heavenly Father love you so so much and they want the best for you." 

This helped me remember the true meaning of Christmas and also made me think of how amazing it is that we can reassure everyone around us that they belong, they're loved, and that our Savior Jesus Christ and our Father are cheering us on every step of the way.  How lucky are we to have both of them who love us so so much.  I invite you all this week to think of why you love Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father!

I thought Christmas on the mission would've been so hard and different, but I truly think it's been my favorite Christmas yet because I got to think of the true meaning of Christmas and remember who I'm a disciple of!  I've loved this holiday season and to think of the one who has done it all for us so we can live with our loved ones for eternity. 

I've got some crazy news for y'all.  My companion is being transferred to Culpeper!  I'm so so excited for her because if you know me and read these, you already know Culpeper is home to me!  But I'm going to miss her so much.  We've gotten so close and I have learned so so much from her and I feel so lucky to know her.  

But this means I'm going to be training a new missionary who is coming in from the MTC and I can't wait.  I'll tell you all more about her next week as I don't know who yet, either, but I can't wait to help her fall in love with missionary work because I love this work more than anything! 

This week was full of service, freezing cold weather, and being with missionaries and members!  It's been so much fun! 

I don't have tons to say, but here's a scripture I've loved this week. 

Isaiah 9:6 

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

I love this because it helps me think of all the names of Jesus Christ and what ones I want to take upon myself weekly.  I invite you all to think of some of your favorite names of Jesus Christ and apply them to your life. 

I love and miss you all so much!  So crazy it's almost the new year, too!  Happy New Year!

Sister Copeland's dog, Tug, wishing her a Merry Christmas!

CTR

-Sister Hannah Copeland 

Week 32 - December 19, 2022

This week was awesome and so so busy!  But I have some exciting news!  We put Mark and Matthew on baptism date for December 31!  I'm so so excited for them. They are twins and they're 14 years old, they've had a hard life already and live with their aunt and uncle who are members. They say another reason why they want to be baptized is to have the life that the gospel brings and to be sealed to their aunt and uncle!  So, I'm so so excited and happy for them and the path they want to get on! 

My bestie Hermana Barlow 

Lunch at JMU with Koya

The Waynesboro STLS

We, also, had exchanges this week and I went with Sister Hilton!  She's so cute and plus we got to go down to Charlottesville (IT'S SO CUTE).  

Sister Hilton ❤️ 

But, when we were on our way home, Virginia had a freezing rainstorm!  Those of you who don't know what that is--it's pretty much when it rains and because of the humidity, EVERYTHING freezes!  Literally, there were icicles everywhere and there was no home on the road!  By the time it was nighttime, though, it was pretty much gone and safe to drive.  People were telling us they shut down school for days and no one goes out, and I didn't believe them..but it's true🤣 

On Tuesday, we had interviews with President, and I always leave feeling ready to go to work and so motivated!  President Hutchison is the most dedicated man I know and I'm so grateful for his example.  But so crazy that transfers are already happening, and we will find out this week!  I'm not sure what's going to happen, but I know that God knows exactly what is, so all I have to do is trust him! 

PRESIDENT HUTCHISON ❤️🇺🇸

I cannot believe that this week is Christmas, it came SO fast!  It doesn't feel much like Christmas here without the snow, but I'm so grateful that this Christmas I get to spend thinking and understanding the true meaning of this holiday.  I've loved being able to spend more time with my Savior these past couple weeks reading 3 Nephi and the gospels.  I love nothing more than talking to people about Jesus Christ and helping them understand more who he is to them!  To me, he is my brother, best friend, Shepherd, Savior, Redeemer, Counselor, and many more.  I've truly come to know him and understand who is he to me, and I love him so much and this Holiday season when everyone thinks more of him!  I hope you all have the best Merry Christmas ever and remember to be more like our Savior and invite, love, care and share with all those around you!

The Hermanas baptism! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM VIRGINIA, LOVE YOU ALL!!

#CTR

-Sister Hannah Copeland 

Week 31 - December 12, 2022

 This week flew by!!!  Besides this weekend, since I'm sick, but other than that it was a great week:)

My favorite sisters so excited about the Richmond Temple 

 I love to see the temple 

You're probably wondering, I didn't know Sister Copeland knew Arabic?!  Don't worry...I don't!  We were knocking and ended up knocking on a families' door who is from Syria and one of the kids spoke little English and the mom was telling us to come in and share more.  So, we come into the house, and we all sat on the floor together and I got my phone out and started using Google translate and asked them about their beliefs and more about them and they did the same.  Anyway, long story short, we told them about the Book of Mormon and how there's a prophet and from what I know...they loved it and want us to come back!  We even found someone here that speaks Arabic who is coming with us so we can help them understand and know about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! So cool!  This area is so diverse, and I love it!

We, also, had the amazing opportunity this week to hear from Elder and Sister Sikahema from the Seventy!  They came to our Zone Conference and shared with us how to teach to someone's needs.  It was such a spiritually, uplifting. and edifying day!  They talked a ton about how the Book of Mormon clarifies doctrine that's not clear in the Bible. Especially 2 Nephi 2!  Everything they said was so inspired because we used it the next day!! 

 Zone conference (half the mission)

Listen to this, okay so me and Sister Draut went tabling the other week.  (That means you go on campus and have a poster and have people come up and put something on the poster.)  On our poster, we had, "How will you remember Jesus Christ this holiday season?"  So, many students were coming up and putting things on and we were just talking to them. Then this kid named Seneca came up and ended up talking to us.  He told us he was Catholic and told us how cool he thought it was to see us out in the cold talking about Jesus and gave us his number.  So, we ended up inviting him to institute with us since we are studying the book of Isaiah, and he came!!  We get there and the teacher knew he is a Catholic and didn't know anything about our church.  So, we answered his questions and told him about our church, the Restoration, and the Book of Mormon.  It was so cool!!  Everyone in the class was answering his questions.  Well, after the class he ends up talking to us and the Elders and he said the one thing he's never understood is why we humans sin and where that started.  We all were like, "WELL, the Book of Mormon clarifies this, and gave him a Book of Mormon and invited him to read 2 Nephi 2! 

I'm so grateful for all the experiences I'm having.  I'm so grateful for the Bible and the Book of Mormon!  They have helped me understand so much.  Those of you who don't know what 2 Nephi 2 is, go and read it!  It's incredible and talks about why it was necessary for Adam and Eve to partake of the fruit. 

2 Nephi 2: 24-25

"But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." 

God is all knowing and knew that they needed to fall so we could have a savior!  I'm so grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and know that he is always with me. 

I hope y'all are doing well!  I love and miss you!

#CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Pics of the Week

We had to get our car fixed and played that game for so long! Sister Draut was so proud

We got to see Richmond finally!! (Sorry, it's so blurry)

 A cute museum in Richmond 

Week 30 - December 5, 2022

Hello, friends and family.  This might be a long one, so I apologize in advice.

 

First, the miracle!

This last week has been the hardest mental week I've had my whole mission.  I won't go into detail, but let's just say I wasn't feeling the overall happiest and it was a very hard mental game.  I've been trying to adjust and know that Harrisonburg is where God needs me to be because when I was in Culpeper, I felt such a strong connection to the ward, the people, and it became home so quickly.  This place has been totally different for me, which has been so good.  It's a learning experience.  I have been praying to see the Lord's hand more in my life and to be able to recognize the people he has prepared here because we haven't been teaching much.  Well, little did I know he was going to answer so quickly!  Okay, ready for this story?!  I'm about to tell anyway...

So, Saturday we are getting ready to contact a ton of member referrals and as we were driving, I felt inspired we needed to visit this other member than planned, so we drove to the Smiths and knocked on the door.  But wait, before we knock on this door when we were in the car, we both were just talking and super sad about how everything is going.  Okay, now back to the story.  We knocked and she ended up answering and she hasn't seen missionaries in years.  We end up talking to her and told her we will come back and bring uplifting lessons and would love to see her at church.  We were about to leave and she continues talking, then all of sudden we see a woman behind us on the sidewalk looking at us and she goes, "Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt, but can I come join?"  And Sister Smith ends up introducing us and the woman reads my tag and looks at me and goes, "Amy, can I borrow them?  I have questions and I know they have my answers" so yeah... we followed of course and end up walking with her to her home.  As we were walking, she asked for some of our basic beliefs, and we told her and when we sat down in our house, we looked at each other and she said, " I wasn't going to interrupt but something was telling me I had to," and she started to cry and told us that she's been lacking with God and knows that we can help.  We started testifying of our message and told her that it can change her life, and right then the Spirit hit me so strong and confirmed to me that I'm exactly where I needed to be.  Sometimes even when we think we're not being led by the Spirit, we are and this just really opened my eyes to how knowing and loving God is.  I started to cry and so did she! She looked at me and said, "You know this is true and I feel that, so I need to listen," and we shared with her the Restoration and she LOVED IT!  She ended up taking a Book of Mormon and was so excited to read it.  We are planning on teaching her more this week, so God answered our prayers and her prayers so much!  So, I'm so grateful for the power of prayer and the miracles God puts into our lives!  Also, her name is Sheila...keep her in your prayers!

Sheila's daughter, Patience ❤️

Second, the random happy thing! 

Okay, so this is so random, but it made me so happy.  So, the whole six months on my mission I haven't been the driver and I wanted to be.  But I just never got assigned it. vBut in our mission cars, we have a device and her name is TIWI and she tells us to login, check our speed, put on our seat belt, and if we are being aggressive drivers.v (We love TIWI), but Sister Draut and TIWI didn't get along too well and that means Elder Fillmore (Elder over the drivers) wasn't too happy.  JK he didn't care but Sister Draut just didn't want to drive anymore, SO GUESS WHAT!!  I'M DRIVING AND I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT IT.  I DIDNT REALIZE HOW MUCH I LIKED TO DRIVE UNTIL THIS WEEK!  Also, incase y'all are wondering, me and TIWI get along great.

Third, this one happened hours ago. 

So me and Sister Draut were talking and going to sleep right? Well, once we said goodnight and finally started falling asleep, I woke up and got the thought that I didn't lock the door.  Right when I said that, we heard a loud thud on our bedroom door and we both shot up and out of bed.  I walked over and made sure our bedroom door was locked as Sister Draut started trying to get ahold of literally anyone!  Well...no one is answering, and we are still hearing noises in our apartment, so we go hide in the closet and finally the Elders called us back and told us to go to the Hermanas'.  So, we ended up jumping out of our bedroom window and went to the Hermanas'.  So yeah, y'all will read this and be like why didn't you call 911? Well, we wanted to but we're literally so afraid and we didn't know what to do because our mission President wasn't answering.  But all that matters is we are safe and sound at the Hermanas' and slept here. 

So, my email is a little all over the place!🤣  So much happened this week, good and bad and scary and happy!  But I'm so grateful that no matter where we are, God is so aware of is!

I hope you're all doing well and staying safe in the snow!!

Love and miss yall❤️❤️

Naps after service in the car 

#CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Week 29 - November 28, 2022

 Home Away from Home!  This week I got a text from Hanna letting me know that they were going to come visit me in Harrisonburg...I thought they were kidding!  But good news-- they weren't and on Friday I got to see them!  We went to dinner with them and caught up.  Holy, it was exactly what I needed!!  I love them so much, it's insane! 

My literal lifelong friends

Ken called and told me they're going to kidnap me and bring me back to Culpeper 

But we saw a ton of miracles this week.  We have been working on cleaning out our area book.  (That means you go through and discern who is actually ready and who to continue teaching).  We have been praying for the gift of discernment with a few of our friends because the situation has been so weird with them.  We couldn't tell if they were actually interested or if other things were getting in their way.  The Spirit confirmed to us what we were feeling was true and that we needed to stop teaching them until they were ready.  It's so cool to see that the Spirit truly does tell us everything we need to hear.  We just have to listen and be patient. 

I love Hermana Barlow 

Thanksgiving Left-overs

Our friend Paublo (from Venezuela) has been coming to all of the YSA activities.  He mentioned to Sister Draut a couple weeks ago he doesn't want to be a member but wants just be a part of what we do.  So, the first step with Paublo was becoming his friend and showing him he can trust us.  LSI is such a real and powerful thing, but he ended up calling us this week and asked us some questions that he's heard, and we asked him what about we start teaching you what we know so you gain a knowledge for yourself?  And he loved the idea, so we taught him the Restoration and started talking about the Holy Ghost and he mentioned that ever since he has been coming to our activities and been reading the Book of Mormon, he's felt more direction and peace in every aspect of his life and that he's the happiest he's ever been.  Another powerful lesson for us because it's so true and every missionary I think can agree that YOU know, and the Spirit confirms when someone is ready!  We then had him come with us to the Spanish Elders' baptism and during the baptism he looked at me and started asking me what some of God's commandments were so he can follow them so he can be baptized one day!!  He was so happy, and he is so funny!  I'm so happy and excited for him and that day to come.

My spiritual thought is that this is truly God's work!  I can see the Lord's hand in everything in my life and in this work.  I was reading in "Saints," and I came across this scripture that I love. 

D&C 3:1 

"The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught.”

No matter what is happening in the world, God's work never stops and will continue to press forward. 

The Harrisonburg District 

Also, happy birthday yesterday to my cute brother, Taylor!  I love him so much and I'm beyond grateful for him and his example in my life.  Plus, he brought two of my favorite people into my life so that just adds even more love!!  Hehe love you Tay❤️

Love and miss you all and hope you had the best Thanksgiving ever, I'm so so thankful for all of you!!! 

#CTR 

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Pic of the Week

Decorated our apartment for Christmas