Week 20 - September 26, 2022

 HELLO EVERYONE, this week was so crazy and full of a TON of driving! 

First, we started out on Tuesday going to Spotlyvania for exchanges with the STLs and were there until Wednesday evening.  It was so much fun, I got to go with Sister Nanto and I love her so much!!  We saw so many miracles and had a great lesson.  

SISTER NANTO❤️

We also got put into a situation that made me EVEN MORE grateful for the Holy Ghost.  Seriously, it is crazy how the Holy Ghost can warn and confirm our feelings and tell us to leave a situation.  We walked away from the situation feeling so good that we know and have the knowledge we have and know that no matter what the Spirit will guide us to those who are ready and help us know when someone is not. 

On Thursday, we had interviews with President Hutchison, so we drove to Fredricksburg for that!!  He is such a great guy and always is so inspired to know what to share.  Don't worry, I shared with him that I hope to stay another transfer, but I will go wherever the Lord needs me!! (Please pray I stay) We find out on Saturday what's going to happen!! 

ALSO, YES, THE SUBJECT!!  GIN IS ON DATE!!  We had a lesson with her and she said, "So when can I be baptized?" We were like whatever day works for you!!  She mentioned that she cannot deny all of her spiritual experiences she's had lately, and they have all led her back into our church and knows that this church is Jesus Christ's church!!  We are just waiting until she talks to her husband and that he's on board, so if y'all could keep her in your prayers it would mean the whole world to me!  I just love her so much. 

I really don't have a ton to say about this week, so I'll keep this one short and add in the fun things I got to do!! 

- we had a lesson with the Boves (a new member family) and they are incredible!  We have the best discussions and I leave mind blown about how incredible this church is!

Culpeper favorite women (Sister Reisner, Bove and Bearinger)

- we went to our ward BBQ and got a ton of referrals 

-I met a polar bear 

- I held a goat

Me and my new friend 🐐

- Sister Bearinger gave me and Sister Stauffer the CUTEST DRESSES 

-had dinner and a lesson with our friend Clark and taught him the plan of salvation (he LOVED it)

Anyway, that's about it for my week.  I hope y'all are doing well! I love and miss you so much. 

For a spiritual thought, I thought of ways this week that I can become a better missionary and the list is very long, but the first thing is I need to have more faith and I love this scripture!! 

Hebrews 11:1 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I just invite you all to remember to have faith in all things!! Have the best week:)

#CTR

- Sister Hannah Copeland 

Pics of the Week

District Council 

Robert's birthday 

 Dinner with Hanna and Chris (best friends forever)

Week 19 - September 19, 2022

 How are you all?!  I miss you and hope y'all had an amazing week.  I feel like time is flying!!! 

Knocking the world's cutest street

Well, it's official to say Hanna is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!  She was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday, and it couldn't have been more perfect.  The whole ward loves her so much and her whole family showed up at the baptism!!!  Her mom said to us, "This is going to be me soon, I can't wait to have the gift of the Holy Ghost!"  I KNOW WHAT!!  THEYRE LITERALLY GOLDEN AND DESERVE THE WORLD!  

We made seven boxes of gluten free brownies (we love Hanna)

Hanna and her special day

Hanna after she got the Gift of the Holy Ghost! 

Gin and Hanna are our best friends 

Hanna drew a picture on Saturday (I'll place picture down below) and showed us this on Sunday and explained the start of our eternal progression is having faith and coming to church and that her baptism is just the first step into eternal progression.  She expressed how much she loves that no matter what, we can progress, and we know the progression is eternal and that God loves us so much he wants that for us!!  I feel so lucky to be a part of her journey and watching her make that first step into eternal progression!! 

The picture Hanna drew 

I don't have a ton of things to say about this week that can top that!  But I will tell you all how much I love this place and this ward.  It's crazy to me how much strangers can turn into family. I love how you can walk into a church anywhere in the world and have a sense of belonging and know that we are all God's children!

Our friend, Maggie 

The Thelin family❤️❤️ 

 Being so far away from home and everyone I know, it is not easy: in fact, it's one of the hardest things I've ever done.  But I've also never felt closer to my Heavenly home, I've never felt God's love for myself and everyone around me so strong, and that's what makes every single step worth it.  There is nothing more rewarding than watching people you come to love, grow a relationship with our Heavenly Father and help them understand they are NEVER alone.

To all my missionary besties:  In Alma 29 when Ammon and Alma just got done with their work and they looked back and saw their success they said: 

8 For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore, we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.

   9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

   10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.

I just want you all to remember that you were called to this work for a reason!  The Lord knows you and he will answer your prayers.  I'm grateful for all of you and the examples you are to me.  This is the best work on the earth, and I feel so lucky to have some of my best friends doing the same work all over the world and helping others come to understand our Savior.  His arm is always extended for us and to our friends!!! I love you all so much and so grateful for missionaries in the past who have changed lives and those of you who are reading this:  GO ON A MISSION!  IT'S WORTH IT I PROMISE!!  WITH ALL OF THE TEARS ON MY PILLOW, I WILL TELL YOU TO GO.  YOU WON'T REGRET IT! 

Anyway, sorry for my tangent.  I wasn't expecting that either!  I just love you all and love this gospel that is full of eternal progression:) hope you all had the best week❤️

#CTR 

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND

Week 18 - September 12, 2022

HANNA IS BEING BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!  

SO, YOU READ THAT RIGHT!  We had a lesson with Hanna on Friday, and she asked us if she could be baptized next Saturday the 17th.  She said she wants to have her baptism before transfers in case one of us leaves and expressed her gratitude for us!  MY HEART!   I know one of the reasons I was put here in Culpeper was to meet Hanna.  She's been more of an example to me then I could ever imagine.  She's taught me so much about loving everyone!  Everyone needs a Hanna or Hannah in their life apparently!  HAHHA I'm kidding!  I just love her so much and know she's someone I'll always stay in touch with. 

So, I've talked about some crazy miracles here in Virginia, right?  Well, I have more!  Last Monday, we got a call and we answer and a women named Susan says, "My boyfriend wants to get baptized, can we meet tonight?"  So, like any missionary would we said, "OF COURSE!"  We met them both and Susan is a member but hasn't been active in years and knew she needed to start coming back.  Her boyfriend, who we think might hopefully be her husband, also is searching for something good and she said she wasn't going to just let him get baptized anywhere.  It had to be the right church!  We actually thought they were kidding and it was a joke.  Then Tuesday, she calls and says, "So we read what you asked, can we meet again on Thursday?"  And OF COURSE, WE DID!  But this time we brought a member, and it was perfect.  She shared exactly what they needed to hear, and they both came to church for BOTH hours!  It was incredible!  I can't wait to teach Michael more about the most amazing thing AKA The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! 

Anyway, another miracle.  If you know me, you know I love Sunflowers!  A LITERAL DREAM CAME TRUE! I SAW AND WENT TO A SUNFLOWER FIELD!  It was so pretty!  I'll add some pictures! 

 

We, also, had the opportunity to teach the Young Women about repentance and how it's a good thing!  I think most of us think repentance as this huge process, but no, it's simply recognizing, feeling godly sorrow, apologizing, praying, and forsaking!  We were given a Savior because he knew we would need someone who can atone for our sins!  How lucky are we that we can repent of our sins daily and become clean!  (Read the Divine Gift of Forgiveness!!)

I know Virginia is exactly where I need to be.  I read this verse this week: 

D&C 84:88

88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

When I read this, I thought about my mission.  I have felt my Savior every step of the way and know that he us guiding me to help find the people who are ready to let God prevail!  I love being a missionary more than anything, and I love and know this church is true!

I love you all and miss you!!  If you need anything, please let me know.  I'm praying for you💌

CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Service at the Kohl's 

Week 17 - September 5, 2022

  I LOVE VIRGINIA

HELLO!  I hope everyone is doing well! 

This week was another great one, but to be completely honest I'm not sure what even happened 🤣 so I'll try my best to put something together! 

Hanna and Gin:  It has been the coolest thing to watch Hanna teach her mom in our lessons.  She helps her mom understand in a way that she knows she needs.  Gin had mentioned she's never seen her daughter more happy and hopeful, and she knows that's what our message provides and that's what she wants and needs!  We invited Hanna to be baptized and she accepted and she wants to follow our Savior's footsteps in all that we do!  They also both came to church with us, and I just love them so much. 

We also had Zone Conference this week and got to teach early morning seminary (I'm grateful I had seminary in the day or who knows if I could've woken up.)  But Zone Conference is always the best and we learned so much.  

Fredricksburg Zone won the cleanest cars award AGAIN WAHOO

President Hutchison shared Matthew 14, and in this chapter, it's when the disciples are on the ship and see Christ walking on water and Peter asked if it is really you, let me walk on water.  Christ said, "Come unto me," and Peter did and started to walk on water! 

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

   27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

   28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

   29 And he said, Come.  And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

   30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

   31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

President Hutchison related this back to our life and said, "You might as well ask me to walk on water!"  When life gets hard and we are facing a tough challenge, sometimes it feels like we are Peter, and we are being asked the impossible.  But NO matter what, the Lord's hand is always stretched out to save us and he knows us and our potential.  He would never give us the impossible, he knows we can handle anything because of him.  

Chris (Hanna's finance) had mentioned an imagery that I haven't been able to stop thinking about and it goes along perfectly that the Lord's hand is always stretched out.  He said something like, "The way I imagine our lives work is like when we are walking, we have Heavenly Father and our support system behind us leading us and giving us direction and the person that's right by our side is Jesus Christ because no matter what path we might take, he has been there and will help us."  I thought that was incredible and so true.  No matter where we are in life, because of the Atonement, we have our Savior at our side! 

I love you all so much and that's why I'm challenging you to read the Book of Mormon and look for the character of Christ! 

1. Names of Christ 

2. He shows us who he is 

3. Atonement references 

4. Promised blessing 

5. What he asks of us 

I have been loving this and think everyone should do it so we can see that the Book of Mormon truly tells us all about Christ! 

To share something funny:  We stopped by a home this week and they let us in and as we were talking, the grandma walked out right after her shower and asked us to help her put her clothes on...let's just say I made Sister Stauffer do it🤣

But I hope you had the best week, and I love you all!!

#CTR 

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Pics of the Week