Week 50 - April 24, 2023

 I GOT TO GO TO CULPEPER THIS WEEK!  HOLY I LOVE THAT PLACE AND THOSE PEOPLE WITH MY WHOLE HEART!  It was so much fun to be there and be on an exchange with Sister McCollugh!  We have both had Sister Draut and Stauffer as companions, so we related a ton and love those women with our whole soul!  We were able to see so many miracles as we focused on following the Spirit.  Sister McCollugh blows me away, she's such a diligent missionary who truly wants to be here and gives everything to this work!! It's amazing, it was so fun to spend a day with her:)

Also, cute Gin came to church with us yesterday.  It was amazing to have her and see her.  She truly feels like a best friend from home, and it feels like a reunion every time we see each other.  We had to teach young women and she came with us and told the young women her story and they were blown away by her faith and love she has for the Savior.

This week was a week full of emotions, but I'm grateful for them.  I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who helps me see his hand in everything! 

We had interviews this week and President is always so inspired.  He shared something with me from his personal study and I loved it so much.  I'm going to share it with y'all.  He goes, "Sister Copeland, what did the Nephites desire most?"

Then had me read 3 Nephi 19:9:

"And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them."

Then shared that our friends desire that, too, and we should appreciate the gift that we have been given!  I'm so grateful for the Holy Ghost and how it speaks to me.  I know that God is good and when I pray and feel good, it's the Holy Ghost confirming how I'm feeling!  The Holy Ghost guides me in everything I do as I try and listen and feel what God needs me to do! 

I love y'all and this work, hope everyone is well🤍

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

#CTR

Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL SISTER-IN-LAW ON THE 26TH!!  I love Aleece so much and am so lucky to have someone so kind and pure in the family!!!  Wish I could give you the biggest hug, but I will soon. :)

Week 49 - April 17, 2023

The most bittersweet week of the last week of the Virginia Richmond temple open house!  The pictures below explain the happiness I feel when I am near the House of the Lord!

I don't have much to update, y'all, on about the work in our area due to being at the temple!!  But, I know that the Lord will help us find some people, but it CAN BE SO HARD AND SO DISCOURAGING.  I PROMISE SO MANY TEARS ARE SHED WHEN YOU WATCH PEOPLE REJECT THE MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST!  But God is changing me so much.  The mission has been the best thing as He has shown me my weaknesses and helped me overcome some and become more like my Big brother! 

At the temple there's a man named Terry who would also help out!!  This man is so funny, every time I'd see him, he'd be like "Sister Copeland, listen to this" and tell me the most in depth gospel principle and yeah, I was blown away with his knowledge every time and would come home and study it immediately!!  So, he goes, "Do you know what house means?"  I was like I mean comfort place?!  No idea and he was like, "What is the House of Israel?"  And I was like the Gathering, and he was like, "Who is Israel?" and I was like well Jacob... I know this seems weird, but I thought it was so cool just wait!  He then goes into telling me about Jacob and his 12 sons and says this, "House of Israel is a family so now apply that to what it says on the temple.

"Holiness to the Lord, The FAMILY of the Lord" 

Hebrew 3:5-6

"And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end."

Isaiah 2:2-3 

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem"

I'm sorry if that made no sense, but to sum it all up is that we are all a family, God wants us to all be together forever!  This only happens in the temple.  I got to see so many people feel the Spirit of the temple that they've never felt before.  It was amazing.  I love this work because I get to help others understand that Spirit and know for themselves the truthfulness that the Spirit can confirm!  THIS CHURCH IS TRUE!!  SPEND MORE TIME IN THE LORD'S HOME.  HE WANTS US TO HELP OUR FAMILY MAKE IT BACK TO HIS PRESENCE. 

Also, if anyone has any favorite talks, stories, scriptures, send them my way:)

My cute brother CONNOR is turning 28 this week!!  I love and miss you BIG TIME!!  SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EXAMPLE EVERY DAY💗💗 GO GIVE HIM A BIRTHDAY HUG FOR ME! 

#CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND

Lol at the picture of our weekly planning board!!

 

Week 48 - April 10, 2023

 Hello, everyone, hope all is well and everyone had an amazing Easter and Holy week!!! 

Easter Sunday 🐣🌟

Got to sleep over at Sister Boldt's slumber party.  She's from Cedar hills:)

Sister Holt's mom sent us an Easter package 

Such a special time to be a missionary, to wear my Savior's name and help others know of him more.  This week was so powerful especially thinking more of what the Savior did for me and for you! 

Yesterday at church we sang, "I know that my Redeemer lives," and the first verse touched me so much! 

"I know that my Redeemer lives.  What comfort this sweet sentence gives!  He lives, he lives, who once was dead.  He lives, my ever-living Head.  He lives to bless me with his love. He lives to plead for me above.  He lives my hungry soul to feed. He lives to bless in time of need."

Such a powerful thing to know that my Redeemer lives, He loves, He was Risen and He is always blessing us.  It truly is the most comforting news that we can give and help others know. 

We had exchanges this week, and it was my first time leading out an exchange. I went with Sister Young and we were in our area.  This Sister amazes me.  She is so devoted to this work and our Savior!  I learned so much from her and we saw so many miracles as we worked.  

Sister Young ❤️ 

We went and visited one of our friends and his girlfriend was there.  She told us to come in and share what we've shared with him.   She told us that she's dealing with a lot of anxiety, and we promised her of the Savior's love for her and that she wasn't alone because of Him.  She began to cry and just thank us and told us she wants to know more of what's she was feeling!  The Spirit was working and she recognized it, it was so cool and powerful.  We felt so lucky for the knowledge we have and want to give as we have been given!! 

It's been so awesome to be spending so much time at the temple and helping other people come and see for themselves! This week will be the last week for the Richmond temple open house so we will be spending 5/7 days in Richmond to help with that!  It can for sure be stressful not spending time with our friends and finding, but the Lord asked us to do this, and we are seeing miracles for the sacrifice of time!  But if y'all could pray for all us missionaries in VIRGINIA and the people to recognize us and us to recognize them, it would mean the world!  Prayers are so felt here 🤍

Driving with Troy and Carmen to the Richmond open house (they loved it)

Don't worry, Mom, I'd never forget.  My mom's birthday was this last week the 5th.  I hope everyone was able to wish that beautiful soul the happiest birthday and give her the biggest hug for me!!  I am so lucky to have my mom in my life.  She is truly my best friend, and I love her love for our Savior!!  God is so good for sending me to her, Love you mom❤️

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

Here's my new address 

10202 Hyde Park Dr # 205 Spotsylvania, VA 22553 

#CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Pics of the Week

Working with hay! 

Pretty view from our friend's house 

Week 47 - April 3, 2023

 Hello, everyone!  I feel like I was just writing and telling y'all about my week!  Well update, this week was again very busy, but I wouldn't want it any other way!  It's been so fun working at the temple and meeting so many people.  It's so cool to see so many hearts that have been preparing for this, the people of Virginia have been wanting a temple for years and it's finally here!  And MY VIRGINIA PEOPLE ARE GETTING ANOTHER TEMPLE IN WINCHESTER!!!  SO HAPPY, AND I KNOW MY HARRISONBURG PEOPLE CAN'T WAIT!

I hope everyone had the chance to listen to General Conference and listen to our Prophet who gave amazing counsel for us!  I loved how he spoke about becoming peacemakers and developing the attributes of Jesus Christ so we can become that!  I can't wait to read and listen to all the talks again! 

We got to watch it with our friend Troy and his grandma, and he loved it!  He had so many questions that we were able to answer, and we also set up a time to take them to the temple so we will be going on Thursday yay!!  Everyone please pray for him:)

We had Zone Conference this week, and my Mission President gave an amazing Easter message that I'd like to share a little bit with y'all.  

So, he mentioned that one year he and his wife spent Easter in the Holy Land and people would say, "Christ is Risen," and people would respond with, "Indeed, He is Risen." Such a powerful statement to know that He lives, and he truly is Risen.  President Hutchison invited us to make Easter a season not just a day and to study his last days, so I want to invite y'all to do the same.  He read John 20:13-17 

"13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 

15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God."

This is such a powerful scripture, Mary went into the empty tomb and felt lonely, sad, confused and don't we all feel like that at times.  We all have our empty tombs, but then he said, "Mary."  He called her by name, and he knows us by name and he turned her away from the empty tomb and toward the Risen Savior Jesus Christ.  Let's all do the same and turn to He who Lives!!  Because indeed He is Risen!

I love you all and I love my Savior.  I loved what Sister Cordon said to never give up an opportunity to testify of Jesus Christ, so I know my Savior lives, I know that he was Risen on the third day, I know that he atoned for every one of us, and I know that he felt it all for me and for you!  I know this by the Spirit of them who send truth and I cannot deny what they've given me. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

#CTR

- SISTER HANNAH COPELAND