Week 11 - July 25, 2022

 Hello, friends and family!!! 

Hope you all had the best 24th of July and enjoyed Pioneer Day for me!  Those of you who are in Utah, know it's the best state ever!  Did you know Utah used to be part of Mexico? Brigham Young and the pioneers went with so much faith knowing the Lord's hand would be in their work and he promised that, now look!!  UTAH IS NOW IN AMERICA AND THE BEST PLACE EVER!  

It's always freezing in our apartment 

This week we put Nathan and Matthew on date.  They are 9 and 11!!  I'll make a really long story short!  But anyway, when I was serving in the Piedmont Ward, we would reach out to Sister Grayson (their mom) all the time and she would never get back to us!  She is from El Salvador and her husband isn't a member and he's never home, so the Elders couldn't work with them.  We stopped by this week and introduced ourselves.  She invited us in and told us she really wants her kids baptized, so Matthew and Nathan came running in and we asked them if that's what they wanted, too.  They both said yes!  They have been going to church their whole lives and things just started getting in the way.  So, this week we are having all the lessons with them and looking forward to them being baptized on August 20th! 

We also had a lesson with Makenzie this week, she is 11 and her grandparents were recently baptized!  So, while we are teaching them the new convert lessons she has been joining in and we are teaching her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  As we were talking about Jesus Christ, she stopped us and asked who Jesus Christ was and said she doesn't know who God is. When we got in the car, me and Sister Stauffer talked about how lucky we are and how we are so excited to help her understand more about the best person there is! 

I'll share something funny that happened to us the other day! The Elders warned us about this guy named Danny!  They didn't tell us anything more and said they wanted us to find out for ourselves haha!  So, Thursday we get a call from him, and we answer and the conversation starts out great.  We are talking about our faiths and our religions and how much we just love God!   At this point we were like this guy is awesome we don't know what they're talking about... then he starts going off about the Bible and how we don't read it and we told him that we do but we also have the Book of Mormon!  I did not believe in Bible bashing and what people said about it until it was happening to us... we could not end this conversation without him getting more and more into it all!  But it made us laugh, and we know that Danny is a great guy with even greater faith! 

To finish, we had Zone Conference this week and it's always the best thing ever!  Hearing the advice from President and Sister Hutchison is so inspired.  They shared this week with us about becoming "NEVER FALL AWAY SAINTS" and to build our testimonies so much that we can say, "I have learned for myself..." (JS-H 1:20)

FREDRICKSBURG ZONE CONFERENCE 

This puts everything into a bigger picture for me, such as asking myself, "How can I become a never fall away saint?"  The answer is simple it's to become anchored to our Savior!  In Mosiah 3 when King Benjamin is talking to the Nephites and testifying of our Savior and his ministry he says:

"19. For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."  

When we put off the natural man and use the Atonement and remember our Savior always, we can become never fall away saints!  I have learned for myself that this Gospel is true and that the Book of Mormon is true and Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God!!!  I love being a missionary and seeing the Lord's hand in this work is EVERYWHERE! 

We didn't take like any pictures this week, so sorry!!! (I usually skip to the pictures too) Love you all!!  Read the Book of Mormon!  It's the best!

-Sister Copeland 

Week 10 - July 18, 2022

 HELLO!!! I love and miss you all so much!  But I am loving Virginia so so much! 

First, let me tell you all about Sister Stauffer!!  She is amazing and I love her so much, she is from Logan Utah!  

SISTER STAUFFER 🤎🤎🤎

Also, Sister Robinson is now home and she finished strong, and I'm so proud of her and so grateful she trained me!  I love and miss her.  If any of you see her around, please give her the biggest hug for me!

SISTER BENSON and SISTER JACKSON AND SISTER ROBINSON❤️with Sister Copeland

This transfer is already off on such a good note, and we have seen so many miracles!  Our ward has been so helpful and amazing and taken us in as if we have been here for months! We are both still trying to figure everything out and finding people to teach.  It's been all kinds of emotions but mostly good!  We did get asked to be Content Specialists for the Northwest region of the mission... if you know me you already know how I feel about this calling!  HAHHA but I am grateful that Lord qualified us and I'm praying to grow a love and desire for social media work! 

Anyway, Sister Stauffer and I have been listening to and reading "Saints" so much!  (It's all about Joseph Smith, READ IT).  But we have been talking about him so much and little did we know it was all for a reason and that reason was Steve!! We were knocking and we were joking about someone having their door open with dogs and that we had faith they would want to hear our message.  Maybe two minutes go by of walking, we show up to this house that was "Roberts" but he wasn't there, but the doors were open and there were dogs! This man comes out and starts talking to us and telling us that Robert wasn't home and then introduced himself as Steve.  We were just having a regular conversation and he tells us that the reason he stopped getting tattoos was because in the Bible it told him not to and that he couldn't disappoint God.  So, we asked him about his religion, and he said he was Catholic but doesn't go to church anymore and said he doesn't like how no one has ever "seen" God or Jesus Christ!!!  We started telling him that we knew a man that has and that man is Joseph Smith.  He was amazed!  Sister Stauffer even stated the first vision by Joseph Smith and whenever we were talking about him or sharing our testimonies, he wanted to hear and know more!  When I was testifying of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, I was almost in tears as I was realizing how much love I have for them!  I grabbed out a Book of Mormon and the Restoration pamphlet and he accepted both and said he will get back to us!  Please keep him in your prayers and that he will see how much the Book of Mormon will change his life! 

Right after we met Steve PURE JOY!

Also, Sister Stauffer has introduced me to a new hobby, READING!!  If you have any good book recommendations, please send them my way.  I have one for all of you, "The Divine Gift of Forgiveness" by Elder Neil L. Andersen!!  It has changed my perspective so much and strengthened my testimony, and I'm only halfway through!!! 

BOOK WORMS 📚

I'm going to keep this email a little shorter today and conclude with my testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel!  I am so grateful for this gospel and know that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ!  I know that he restored the gospel through the prophet Joseph Smith and without them, I would not be where I am today.  As I shared this scripture to Steve, it has stuck with me, 2 Nephi 25:26:  "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." Without Christ we would be nothing.  As I am now a missionary and get to wear his name every day, I'm reminded to strive to become more like him every day, and because of his great everlasting love, I can repent and ask for forgiveness of my sins and receive that forgiveness!  I know that Jesus Christ loves each and every one of us and if you don't know that answer, please email me or go to our Father in prayer and ASK! 

James 1:5:  "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him"

 I challenge you all this week to talk of Christ more in daily conversations!  Let him become part of your everyday conversations and your everyday life!!  He has done everything for us, the simplest thing we can do is to always think and speak of him.  

Love y'all so so much!!  Hope everyone is doing so good! 

-Sister Copeland 

Pic of the Week

Saying bye to Sister Linger 😢 

Week 9 - July 12, 2022

 So, everyone...I got my transfer news, and I will be whitewashing an area.  Again.  Hahaha!  Right now, I am in the Piedmont Ward and will be going to the Culpeper Ward.  So, the Elders will be coming here and we will be going there! It's the furthest north you can go in the mission!!  I'll be honest, I am very nervous because I feel like I was just starting to get comfortable here and gaining relationships, but I know the Lord knows what I need to be doing!  My companion is going to be Sister Stauffer, I can't wait to get to know her more! 

Anyway, this week was awesome, and it was Sister Robinson's last week in the mission field.  I'm so grateful for her and everything she has taught me!  I'm so excited for her to get home and see the people she loves so much, but I will definitely miss her a lot!! 

On Friday. Ava wanted to come knocking with us so she could get an idea of what mission work is, and it made me SO happy!  She is actually in the Culpeper Ward so I will get to see her much more.  

Trio!!! I love Ava 

We got Ice cream from an ice cream truck! 

When I was living in Washington, I had the opportunity to go out with the Sisters and Hermanas and get a feel of mission life, and it was easily one of the best decisions I have ever made.  Those missionaries changed me forever and helped me so much know that I wanted and needed to serve a mission.  This was something I wanted to do as a missionary because I was once in Ava's position and just wanting to start and know what to prepare for, and now I AM HERE!!  It's crazy to look back on my life and think of all my trials and experiences that have led me to be here in Virginia.  I know through all times of my life he has been preparing me for exactly this!!

Pics of when Sister Copeland went out teaching with the missionaries in Washington in 2021,

Here's an update on the work, I never know exactly what to share!  But, as to what is happening with Amy.  Sadly, we haven't heard anything back from her and we have tried reaching out, but we are praying for her and hopefully the Elders will be able to get in contact with her because I admire her! 

Two amazing miracles happened this week! 

First, on Thursday we were knocking and really wanting to find someone who would be interested in our message. I felt like I didn't have enough faith that anyone would answer and want to listen, so I stopped and said a prayer to Heavenly Father expressing how I felt and asking for help to build my faith.  Well, I received an answer to my prayer.  So fast!  After that prayer, we felt drawn to go knock on this apartment door. So, we did!  We knocked, no answer, so we knocked again... took some time and as soon as we were about to leave a lady with her cigarette comes out and we introduce ourselves.  We asked if she would like to hear a message about Jesus Christ.  She said, "No, I'm so sorry I don't have time," and we said, "Well, is there any kind of service we can do for you."  She started talking to us about how much she loves service and serving those around her and the things she has done to help others!  She asked us what church we belong to and if she could attend Church with us and asked for our number and we got hers!! 

She couldn't make it yesterday but said she will try and make it next week! 

MASKS😷

Second, we do a lot of phone work and calling people on area book.  As we were calling and leaving voice mails, no one answered.  It was almost the end of our day and Sarah was calling us back.  We answered and she said, "Thank you so much for calling.  I was just on the phone telling my mom I needed a miracle today, and I know that y'all are that miracle, is there any way you could come over and meet with my husband and I next week?"  I was so happy knowing that she recognized the miracle and the miracle she was for us.  Sadly, I won't be able to meet with her and her husband, but I will keep them in my prayers! 

I'm so grateful for the people here in the Piedmont Ward.  I have learned so much from them. 

Spiritual thought, we went over the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Jason this week.  It stood out to me!  We have five simple principles.  First, to have faith in Jesus Christ, then repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end.  Following these simple principles will help us stay on the covenant path and lead us to eternal life!  Also, it will increase our knowledge and if you're lacking on remembering how you can do these things, start with number 1...how can you increase your faith in Jesus Christ? Who is Jesus Christ to you?  Then remember how it felt to be baptized and the Spirit of the Holy Ghost and how it speaks to you! 

The Holy Ghost speaks to us all differently.  Understanding how it speaks to us is so important.  I know for me I feel happy and get a confirmation from the Spirit that it is the right thing for me to do.  But that doesn't mean it's always easy for me to remember how the Spirit speaks to me, I actually have a very hard time with that!  But it is something I want to improve, so going to my Heavenly Father in prayer and communicating with him the things I need to improve on and noticing the things I need to work on but mostly asking him the things he needs me to do so I can become the person he needs me to be.  Through God, we can become the person we are supposed to be.  Turn to him--he knows you!  Pray, he wants to communicate with you!! 

I'm so grateful for all of you and all of the prayers! 

Love you all, hope you had the best week ever and you're enjoying the sun for me:)

-Sister Copeland

Pics of the Week 

The Solderholm Family!❤️

The moon 🌙 

Week 8 - July 4, 2022

 Hello, friends and family!!  Happy 4th of July!!!!  Hope everyone is doing well!

I know every missionary says this... but I feel like I was just writing an email to y'all!  Time flew by this week.

Hermana Beck and Hermana Barlow🥰

This week, we got to meet President and Sister Hutchison and they are AMAZING!!  I've never heard someone speak more highly about America than Pres.  His words brought the Spirit so so strong, and we all love him so much already! 

A miracle happened this week, we met our friend Amy.  So, Sister Riner feeds us every Thursday, and we always talk about "Come Follow Me" or the things we have learned in the scriptures that week.  This week, Sister Riner had two friends come, Amy and her mother-in-law.  Amy has lived in Virginia her whole life and said, "I've never had Mormon friends, y'all are so sweet.  I feel like I've been missing out."  We got to share more about what we do as missionaries and answer the questions she had.  We didn't get to talk to her as much as we wish we could, but we gave her a Book of Mormon!!! and she put her number in our PHONE!!!  AND then WE SET UP A LESSON WITH HER!!  HOW AMAZING IS SHE!  We love her so much and can't wait to continue to teach her more about the goodness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and HIS church!

We went knocking this week, many of times and I love knocking!  But this week, I didn't love it very much:(  There wasn't one person who wanted to even talk to us, the door was shut in our faces too many times, and people telling us to not even think about coming to share what we have.  It was so discouraging, when we got home I couldn't help but cry and think how much that hurt me.  I turned on a talk to change my mood and to not think of the pain I was feeling so much.  Well, let's just say God really wanted me to listen to this talk about Missionary Work and the Atonement.  Elder Holland said, "As missionaries, we are proud to say we're disciples of Christ and we are!  But, mark my word, that means you must be prepared to walk something of the path HE walked, to feel a little of the pain HE felt."  POWERFUL!  I couldn't help but think of when Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane and felt all the pain/sins for us, he died and went through all of that for us!  If that doesn't show you how much someone can love you, I don't know what will!!  I know I shared about the Atonement last week, but it is so important and VITAL to know we are NEVER alone!

Our relationship with the members is growing and we love them so much!

Brother and Sister Candland have to be some of my favorite people.  They fed us this week and shared with me they knew Lauren Lefrandt now Skousen!!  It was like home away from home, it made me so happy!!!  They are amazing and Sister Candland makes the world's BEST food!!

Also, we got to go over to Sister Johnson's for Sunday dinner. They live far up in the mountains, we picked wine berries (don't worry, they don't have wine in them) and we made some juice!  It was so much fun, we love them!!  He is best friends with Topham from LP!  So, if you know Topham, then you will know Brother Johnson is AMAZING without even meeting him!

Wineberrries 🍓

On Thursday and Saturday, we got to do LOTS of service!!! In the heat!!  It was so much fun.  They were right though, it just keeps getting hotter!

Random weird thing about Culpeper, the water here tastes like CHLORINE and is NO BUENO! 

AHHH, I ALMOST FORGOT TO GIVE MY FAVORITE 4-YEAR-OLD OF ALL TIME A BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT!!  Otto boy turned 4 on Friday and I love him so much!  If you know Otto, you know he is the cutest/sweetest kid ever.  I'm so lucky to be his aunt!  (Ellie, tell him to not get any bigger and that one day I will get a car to match the one he got.)

Anyway, sorry this is so long.  I love sharing my mission experiences with y'all!  (Yes, y'all is a word I use all the time now even though I said I never would!)  HAHA!! 

My challenge for everyone this week is to find ways to serve those around us.  Serving and showing you care goes such a far way!! 

Love you all!!!  SO MUCH!!! 

-Sister Copeland

1300 Friendship Way #104

Culpeper, VA 22701 

Pic of the Week