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 

Week 28 - November 21, 2022

 Hello, my people!!! 

I'll be honest--it's so weird not being in Culpeper with Sister Stauffer.  But, I love my new companion.  She's from Spanish Fork, UT, and lived in Michigan most of her life.  She's the funniest person I've ever met!  Literally, we are always laughing, so I'm stoked for this transfer!

I, also, feel like I entered a whole new mission.  It's SO different here!  Culpeper was a small farm town and not that many people and Harrisonburg is a college town/city and there are SO many people!   Harrisonburg Ward is very little, so I'm so excited to do some good work here! 

I sat down for personal study one morning and I read this...

"I am learning that Heavenly Father is more interested in my growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ than He is with my comfort.  I may not always want it to be that way—but it is!" (WHOLEHEARTED SISTER CRAIG OCT 2022) 

Yeah, so let's just say I can relate exactly what the quote says, and I know Heavenly Father needed me to see it.  I know that through this I will come to know my Savior even more and understand his character. 

For Christmas, our mission had a challenge to spend more time with Jesus every day and we can decide how to do so.  So for part of my gift, I decided to read some of the gospels and 3 Nephi every day.  This week I started in Matthew, and I was reading Matthew 5 when Jesus is giving the Sermon on the Mount. 

Matthew 5:3-12 

    3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

   4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

   5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

   6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

   7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

   8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

   9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

   10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

   11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

   12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

I love the promised blessing that Jesus Christ makes to us in these verses and soon after he invites us to: 

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

This challenge has also helped me come to learn more about Jesus Christ and who he is and what he does for us!  I invite y'all to spend more time with him and get to know him!  It will change your life, I promise ❤️

I honestly don't have a ton to say this week either, I'm so sorry!!  But just know I love y'all so much!  Also, here's my new address :)

627 John Tyler Circle Apt 101, Harrisonburg VA 22801

Also, Happy Thanksgiving y'all❤️🦃

#CTR

-Sister Hannah Copeland 

Pics of the Week

I held a literal wolf

 Saying bye to Robert was ROUGH!

 1st apartment:( bye Culpeper 

Miss Sister Stauffer already

The Bowler Family❤️

Week 27 - November 14, 2022

Goodbye, Culpeper!

I'm sure none of you could have guessed that my time here in Culpeper is over:( after 6 months in an area you learn to love it and it becomes home.  Culpeper is a new home to me and so are all the people here.  I'm so grateful for all the experiences I've had here and everything I've learned!  Saying goodbye to the ward and the people that have changed me so much definitely has not been the easiest, but I know it's not forever and I'll see them again!  Plus, I feel so lucky to have had the chance to meet them and feel the pure love of Christ through them. 

The Wests and the Lepharts (I miss them already) 

Gonna' miss my comps so much 

Cute letter from Hanna

SISTER NANTO AND STAUFFER❤️❤️

But...I won't make y'all guess where I'm going!!  I'll be going to HARRISONBURG with Sister Draut!  She's so cute and just got out of training, and we are going to have the best time ever.  I won't be too far from Culpeper--only an hour away, but I will be in a new zone! 

This week consisted of a lot of members' meals, finding, service, lessons and LOTS OF TEARS!!  All the good things of missionary work.  We also got to go down to Spotlyvania again for an exchange with the STLs, and it was so much fun!  I love them so much.  And this week will be a lot more tears and goodbyes and getting to know my new area.

The Barnhurst fam❤️

I'm going to miss Sister Bove

Clark is the best!!  Took us to a battlefield here in Culpeper 

Felt like a summer night Smores with the Thelins

As much as I know, I am doing God's will and know he needs me in Harrisonburg.  It's not easy knowing I'm leaving a place full of people I love so much.  Culpeper is where I learned how to be a missionary, it's where I learned to adjust to missionary schedule, where I had so many amazing days and so many hard days, where I've met some of the most incredible people, where I've come to know myself more, where I've grown my testimony, and most importantly, where I truly came to know my Savior Jesus Christ!  I came to know him through my studies, reading the Book of Mormon, through prayer, through the good and bad!  Christ has been with me through all of it and he taught me to feel his love through others and the scriptures!  I can't thank Heavenly Father enough for everything he's teaching me, and I know that my Savior will be with me through every moment of my life, and he will be with me in Harrisonburg helping me along the way just like he has done here! 

Sorry, this is all over the place, I'm sure I'll have much more to update y'all on next week!!  Here's a scripture that I love, go read!!  ALMA 26:35-37

GOD IS SO GOOD!:) 

#CTR

-Sister Hannah Copeland 

VA representing the best last name EVER 

Week 26 - December 7, 2022

 Wahoo, hello friends and family, I hope y'all are doing well. 

I will be honest, this week was probably the hardest week on the mission yet, but then I heard the song, "Count your Blessings," and that's what helped me! 

So first, the biggest blessing of this week, Gin was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday with the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  It was the most incredible day.  She bore her testimony, and I was just crying so much because God has blessed me to be able to be a part of her journey.  SHE IS AMAZING AND SO IS HER FAMILY!  They have all become some of my best friends.  Her husband Ken came to both and was so happy and proud of her! 

Hannah, Chris and Gin❤️

Second, we had interviews with our mission President and let's just say so many of my questions got answered.  He gave me great advice and strength to keep me going this week.  God knew I needed that and his words. 

Third, this week I received some emails, texts and got to call my parents!  I don't know but it felt like everything I was receiving they knew exactly what I was going through and exactly what to say.  That was proof that God knows me and answers prayers through other people sometimes!  So, thank you all for listening and following the Spirit.  Keep doing it, you could be an answer to someone! 

Last, Sister Stauffer has been such a blessing to me.  We have been together now for 4 months, and I've learned so much from her.  She is always there for me when I need someone to talk to and she gives me such great advice.  She sticks up for me and she is a lifelong friend.  I know our time together will be coming to an end here soon, and I know it's going to be so hard, but God has blessed us so much and trusted us with his children and his work.  We feel so lucky, and I feel so lucky to know her! 

My spiritual thought for you all is,

 

Count your blessings;

Name them one by one

Count your blessings;

See what God hath done. 

I know that life can get so crazy and the adversary is so real. But when life gets so hard, we can remember what God has given us and blessed us with when we take a step back and count our blessings!  The blessings always overweigh the hard days. 

I hope you are all doing well.  Know I love you and so does Heavenly Father!

OH, I also want to say congrats to my brother Kade!!  He and Savannah got engaged and I'm so so excited to be getting another sister-in-law!!  I love you both and so excited for you❤️❤️ (LOOK!  ANOTHER BLESSING) the Copeland family is growing😊

#CTR 

-Sister Hannah Copeland

Pretty sky

Week 25 - October 31, 2022

 Time is flying, it's insane!  I don't understand how it's already P-day again🤣But anyway Happy Halloween, I hope you're all doing well! 

THE FARM SERVICE

COWS ARE SO CUTE

Teaching the cows that God loves them too 

This week was another week where I don't quite remember what happened🤣but, I know it was a great week.  We went knocking this week at this apartment complex and every single door we knocked someone answered and listened to our message and gave us their number....this was a MIRACLE AND SO HAPPY! (obviously, doesn't happen too much).  But, another amazing thing.  This upcoming Saturday, Gin is being baptized and I just love her and Hanna so much.  We got to spend time with them on Saturday with their family, and it was so much fun.  Gin is so excited for this week, and I couldn't be more happy for her and to be a part of her journey.  God knew I needed Gin and Hanna in my life, and I feel like the luckiest person to be able to know them and watch them come to know our Savior and know they're loved by our Heavenly Father.

At church yesterday during the discussion, someone said, "Your worth is not your worthiness.  No matter the standards you can't reach right now, you are still worth everything to God, you are his child."  This is something I think we all need to remember, no matter our mistakes or sins we have made, we can always be forgiven, and our worth doesn't change because of those!  God cares and loves each and every one of us for who we are, and he knows who we can become!  I love this quote by Sister Craig, "I am learning that Heavenly Father is more interested in my growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ than He is with my comfort."

This is something I feel like I am learning as well.  I'm learning that Heavenly Father wants me to grow and become a more converted disciple of Jesus Christ!  I love reading the scriptures every day and know they help me know them more! I challenge you all to spend more time this week to focus on your growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ and look at things through HIS lense.  Maybe your trial right now is preparing you for something amazing.  I promise he loves you more than you can ever imagine.  Learn to love him! 

1 John 4:19

"We love him, because he first loved us."

That's about it for this week, but I hope y'all have a good Halloween and week!  BE SAFE OUT THERE!  I love y'all! 

CTR

-Sister Hannah Copeland

Pics of the Week 

Cute Sister Riner wanted us to help hide pumpkins for the pumpkin patch 

LENNIE GIRL