Week 7 - June 27, 2022

To be completely honest, this week was so hard. 

But even through all of the hard and looking back at the week, I can only think of the good to share with you all.  The goodness ALWAYS overweigh bad/hard times. 

VIRGINIA IS BEAUTIFUL 

Ahhh, we love Colette, she's amazing (I'm trying to learn French so I can speak to her more.  If you have any tips send them my way)

First, we started out with a HUGE storm, the power was out, tornado warnings, lightning, RAIN, and winds up to 80 MPH!  IT WAS INSANE!  One of the Elders got struck by lightning, but no worries, he's all good now.  Definitely a story for him to always tell!

We had Zone Conference this week on Thursday, so we drove down to Richmond for that and it was so much fun.  There were 4 of the 9 zones there because it was the last conference with President and Sister Droubay;( Sister Robinson gave her departing testimony and she talks to me so much about the growth she has seen on her mission experience, and I can already see a little growth in myself. Missions are so good!!

 Fredricksburg Zone!!

But, after Zone Conference, we had exchanges with the STLs. I went to Spotlyvania with Sister Nanto and Sister Strasser and slept there.  In the morning, we got to work!!  

The STLS🤎🤎

GUYS EVERY DOOR WE KNOCKED ON, THEY ANSWERED AND WANTED TO HEAR OUR MESSAGE!!  I have not had a person want to hear our message yet, so I was so EXCITED!! It was a miracle!   We definitely met some INTERESTING people, but ah I felt God's love for them. 

To share a funny story, we knocked on this door and an older man with no shirt answered.  He saw us and immediately says, "You ladies stay right there I'm going to get y'all some fudge."  So we did HAHAHHAH.  He brought us some fudge (we were nervous to eat it, so we just held it as we spoke with him).  Then he proceeds to show us his tattoos on his wrists that say "Jesus Christ" but in a different language and tells us he has been saved but would love to talk to us.  We all sat on his porch and shared a message and answered questions that he had.  He told us, "The only true Church on this earth is the Church of Jesus Christ" and we all pointed to our tags and he goes, "NO, y'all are Mormons, I don't believe in anything y'all say.  I just know Jesus Christ died for us and that you guys need to start studying more."  We ended the conversation and got going and Me and Sister Nanto and Strasser were DYING.  It made our day.  We know William's day will come when he's ready to hear our message.

Also, another cool story.  We went and visited one of their members and she has been going through SO much.  We just wanted to read a few verses with her about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and as we were reading, she started to cry and share her testimony with us.  It was SO powerful.  I had never met her before, but I could feel God's love for her and see her faith.  It encouraged me to build my faith and my foundation. 

I'm so grateful I got to go on exchanges and see a different way of missionary work.  The STLS are amazing, and I learned so much.

Saturday was Tom's baptism day!!!  I'm so happy for him, the Spirit was so strong and you could see how happy it made Tom.  Then Sunday when he got confirmed with the Gift of the Holy Ghost, he shared with us that he's never felt so much happiness and love in his life.  It was amazing and Tom is amazing.  He's come such a long way and he is always striving to become more like our Savior. 

Tom's baptism day!!! Love him

That about sums up my week.  Even through all of the hard times, I know that Jesus Christ was there with me feeling every pain with me.  I know I am never alone.

 

Helaman 5:47

Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my well beloved, who was from the foundation of the world. 

This was my favorite verse of the week.  There is always peace through our Savior.  I encourage you all to read your scriptures.  They bring so much peace into my life and encourage me to press forward!! 

I love you all and I'm praying for you!!!  Have the best week and know YOU'RE NEVER ALONE!! 

-Sister Copeland 

Week 6 - June 20, 2022

 HELLO, EVERYONE!!!  I hope and pray everyone is doing well!

First, want to wish my dad a happy Father's Day!  if you know my dad, you know he is the hardest working man you will ever meet.  I hope to be just like him one day!!  He is the perfect example of someone striving to be like our Savior, he is always studying and learning more about the gospel of Jesus Christ!! I'm so grateful for him and his knowledge.  It's helped me to be where I am today.  LOVE YOU DAD!!!

Second, want to wish Lauren a happy birthday (on the14th)!!!  I'm so grateful for Lauren and her example she is to me!  She's been my best friend since day 1.  If you know her, YOU LOVE HER!!  Love you, LU!!!

Virginia is starting to get SO HOT!  Everyone that lives here always says, "Just wait for the month of July and August!"  I am hoping it doesn't get much hotter and more humid than it already is because we walk outside and already SWEATING! This week we got to do a lot of service.  We helped Sister Johnson plant her garden on Saturday, her grandson was in town and he's 4 and he reminds me so much of my little nephew.  It made me so happy!  He came and helped us plant some carrots, spinach, and peppers!!! 

We went knocking on Friday and we were inspired to knock on this door and a man answered.  We asked him if he wanted to learn more about what we are teaching, and we gave him a pamphlet and our number!!  Then he brought us water bottles! A miracle!!!!  We are praying to hear from him and to stop by again this week. 

Sister ROBINSON <3

Sister Robinson had her departing interview with President Droubay.  So, we got to drive down to Fredericksburg on Saturday.  While she and President talked, I got to chat with Sister Droubay!!  She is the best!  They are leaving here on the 30th!  It's so sad!!

ALSO, GUYS UPDATE ON TOM!!!  HIS BAPTISM IS NOW THIS SATURDAY THE 25TH!!!!  I'm so excited for him, we challenged him this week to watch the Book of Mormon videos to help him understand more!  HE called us THE NEXT DAY and told us everything he learned, and he talked about how much he loves it and knows that the Book of Mormon was translated by Joseph Smith and that they were all prophets! 

I'm learning so much and I'm so grateful for everything I'm learning.  This week an attribute of Christ I've been learning about and trying to be more is, Charity.  In Moroni 7:47, it says, "But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him."  Charity is to love as Christ loves.  We are all children of God, he loves us, he wants us to help each other endure to the end!  I challenge you all to remember that Christ loves you, turn to him and challenge yourself every day to become more like him!

THE BEST BOOK ON THIS EARTH!!!  "Get your face in the Book of Mormon EVERYDAY"-Sister Gillis always says this and it's TRU!  DO IT

I love you all and I'm praying for you all!!

-Sister Copeland :)

Pic of the Week

A frog that Elder Bingham found on our hike last P-day!

Week 5 - June 13, 2022

 Hello!!!!  This week honestly had so many emotions I don't know where to start, but it was such a good week--it flew by!!! 

To start out, our friend Tom has been overcoming some challenges he's been facing.  He called us late Tuesday night and told us today was his first full day of not feeling the temptation of smoking and that he threw everything away because he loves God so much and knows God will help him. That was the most happy feeling.  He has so much faith.  I'm getting so excited for Tom--on July 9th he will be baptized.  

Sister Riner is a sweetheart, I love her so much 

On Friday, we got a text from our 2nd Counselor asking me and Sister Robinson to both speak on Sunday..... I know as a missionary this is a normal thing, but oh man, it is not my favorite.  I always get so nervous.  I hope this is something I will learn to love.  But anyway, it actually went super good.  We both spoke about God's love and the knowledge that God loves each and every one of us. 

This transfer, we are really focusing on the members and getting to know them.  We were able to meet with a ton of the members this past week and really tried to encourage them to be a missionary, too, and to reach out to those who are needing God's love.  So our talks we gave on Sunday helped us both be able to share that with those we weren't able to meet with yet.

We were, also, able to do a lot of service this week and help people clean up their yards and help at the food closet. 

Morning walk 

Anyway, we went knocking many times this week and had no sucess.  Even when we tried to street contact.  But Sister Robinson kept saying, "Hey, but we planted a seed."  I didn't understand at first because how could we have planted a seed when they didn't even let us talk, and she said something along the lines of, "We are representatives of Christ.  We did our part and that's all that matters.  They need to be ready and when they are, they will remember the tags we wear.  That was something I needed to hear.  I love being a missionary.

Little background about Virginia.  The weather changes more than it does in Utah.  (I didn't think it was possible either). Sister Robinson and I were driving home the other night and it was still really sunny, so we wanted to take a picture by the "Lovers" street.  It started to rain a little and we both still wanted to take the picture,  and as soon as we got out of the car, we were DRENCHED!   It was so much fun. 

After we were in the rain for 30 seconds HAHAH

But, that pretty much sums up my week.  Many miracles happened this week.  I, also, have learned to LOVE personal study and reading the Book of Mormon.

I'm so grateful for the support and love that I feel from all of you.  REMEMBER:  GOD LOVES YOU NO MATTER WHAT.

Love you all,

Sister Copeland 

Week 4 - June 6, 2022

 I made it to Virginia!

Amish?  Nuns?  Polygamist?  Pilgrams?  Hahaha that sums up my week.  Just kidding!  There's been so much good and so much happening, so I'm excited to keep you all updated. 

Anyway, hello everyone!! I love you all. 

The end of my MTC experience was amazing.  I met so many amazing people and loved being around missionaries.  It truly gave me a new perspective knowing everyone has a different story, but we are all wanting to accomplish the same thing.  To help souls come unto Christ!!!  This email is going to be long... so sorry there's so much to say!!!

Monday was "packing day," so I started packing up everything for Virginia and struggled doing so without my mom!  I also said bye to Sister Preece, Frolliech, and Sister Barkdull Monday morning at 4 AM!  The crazy part about this story--I was asleep when they were getting ready, but as soon as they were about to leave, I woke up and I knew immediately it was a tender mercy.  God knew I needed to say bye to them and knew how much I love them.  I know they're killing it in Indiana and North Carolina.  I said bye to everyone on Monday and got up Tuesday morning at 3!   Sister Tuilimu and Sister Raymond walked me to the travel office.  They're amazing, I miss them already.  

Sister Tuilimu - Good luck in Washington!!

But then we got going and took a shuttle to the SLC airport.  I was the only Sister with 5 Elders, and I'm so grateful they took such good care of me.  We got to the Atlanta Airport and not too long after, we were boarding the flight to Richmond, Virginia!! 

On the flight I actually got to share about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with someone that was sitting by me and guess what!  HE READ SOME OF MY BOM AND HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS!!!  After that, I was so pumped to start my missionary work. 

When we landed in Virginia, President Droubay, Sister Droubay, the APs, and STLT were there to greet us!  I was so happy to finally meet them.  They drove us over to President's home and we had dinner and got to talk and meet with everyone.  ALSO, VIRGINIA IS BEAUTIFUL AND SO SO GREEN!!   

We ended up staying in a hotel that night and got up early to go have some more orientation and to meet our trainers.  Since I was the only Sister, I got to meet my trainer before and her name is Sister Robinson!!   I love her so much and I'm so grateful that she's my trainer.  It's Sister Robinson's last transfer, so God is so good for letting her be my trainer.  He knew I needed her. 

The STLTs--they're the best 

We got our area and we are serving in the Culpepper/Piedmont area!  Sister Robinson says it's different then any other area she's served in Virginia.  We have rolling hills, small towns, farm lands, and so many trees!!  We were both new to the area, so the work started out really slowly as we are both still trying to figure out everything and to meet and know everyone.  Our first time we got out, we went to Walmart and met a man and he asked us if we were Amish or Polygamists or Pilgrams.  It made us laugh and we just told him who we are!  We settled in Wednesday and started to get to work on Thursday.  We had service on Thursday, and I loved it so much.  There we met our friends Rusty and Carlos, and Carlos is convinced we are Nuns haha!  Me and Sister Robinson are determined to have some lessons with him.  On Thursday we found out our stake had their day to go to the Washington DC Temple.  We were determined and needed a miracle to be able to go.  We had to find a ride from a member and to bring an investigator!!!  Good news!  We found both!!! 

Friday, we got to go to the Washington DC temple and it was BEAUTIFUL!  We took our friend Tom.  Tom has the biggest heart and is now on date to be baptized, and I'm so happy for him.  The questions he asked about the temple made me so happy.  He said, "I wish I would've known about this sooner.  My life would've been so different."  That hit me so hard.  We're truly so lucky to have the gospel in our lives, and it made me so happy to be a missionary!   

Tom is amazing!!

On Saturday, we went knocking and it was so much fun.  Not a lot of people wanted to hear our message, but we got to the last house and met this women named Edith.  She wanted to hear and know more!!  We read her the Book of Mormon and she wants us to come visit her more and read it to her.  Sunday was amazing, we were able to have dinner with the Solderholm's family and it was so fun.  It made Sunday feel more at home! 

Anyway, sorry that was long I'm just so happy and so grateful to be a missionary.  God is so good. 

I challenge you all to pray and look for miracles in your life!!  I promise as soon as you start looking, you see them everywhere.  God is so good!!

Love you all!!  Have the best week

Sister Copeland 

More Pics of the Week

 My friend Rusty!!

A picture of the sky for my favorite Elder since it was his birthday this week 5/31.   Love u, boo!!