Week 59 - June 26, 2023

 JOY IS ALL I CAN SAY!!!  I AM SO HAPPY! 

We had a great week full of exchanges.  I got to go with Sister Richins and Sister Fry!  Holy, I learned so much from them and we saw so many miracles!!  It's the best being with past companions!!!  I loved every second with Sister Fry.  We had the coolest experience, we felt prompted to go and knock on a door and a mother answers.  At first she was very hard hearted and did not want to talk, but as we all talked, the Spirit completely softened her heart.  She ended up wanting us to come back and teach her family, so we will be doing that.  Pray for Danielle.  We had the chance to testify of our Savior and His restored church here on the earth today, and we all had tears.  I know my Savior lives and is aware of all of us.  He needed us to tell Danielle she's not alone♡

Something that's been on my mind a lot is my good friend Johnny.  The Lord has been putting him in our path too much for him to not know he needs to listen!  I don't know if I have updated y'all, but Johnny said he didn't want to learn more and then we saw him a couple days later at Costco, and I went and talked to him and said, "Johnny, you didn't give God a chance to hear His message.  You need to come to church so I can stop trying to convince you," and guess who showed up to church?  JOHNNY!  I was so happy.  Pure joy!  Then he gave us a call and told us he ran into some things and people told him some sad things about the church, and he said he can't believe them because he's met us and doesn't think they're true and they're not!  I'm happy he realizes that, but because of it he's stepped back.  If everyone could keep him in your prayers, he's seriously become one of my favorite people and I so badly want him to experience this joy because everyone needs it!

It was also just pure joy to see my Virginia mom AKA Sister Reisner!!!  AH MADE ME AND STAUFFER SO HAPPY!  She drove to FXB and took us to Cava 😋

I have never been so happy in my life and wanted more people to know the message, the good news, HE LIVES! HIS CHURCH IS HERE! HIS TEACHINGS ARE HERE!  AH I LOVE HIM AND LEARNING OF HIM! 

Truly, 2 Nephi 2:25 is 100% true! 

#CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Week 58 - June 19, 2023

There's so much that I can say about the Lord's work!  So much good is happening and I've never been happier!  I love being with Sister Stauffer.  We have been working so hard and seeing the fruits of it! 

We had Zone Conference this week and Sister Stauffer and Hermana Barlow gave their departing testimonies.  It was so sad I was sobbing in the corner.  God really puts people in our life that we didn't know we needed, but I know without a doubt my mission has brought me so many eternal best friends.  

But a focus our mission is having is LITERALLY TALKING TO EVERYONE AND INVITING THEM TO CHURCH!  It's incredible!  It was scary for me a while ago, but I now understand the weight of my calling.  I'm not here to be scared. I'm here to share HIS gospel and HIS message to HIS children.  I never want to walk away from someone until they know what they're saying no to!  I'm not perfect at it, but this scripture always helps me remember that He is helping me! 

Roman's 1:16

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek"

I love sharing this message and helping others feel the joy that comes from Him!  We saw this week that when hearts are ready, they will keep commitments and come to church.  We had seven of our friends join us this week and they LOVED IT!

 

I've never been more happy in my life and it's all because when we help gather God's children, he helps us become a lot more than we are!  He's helped me become so happy and see the good through the long days.  It is all so worth it!

Enjoy the pictures!!  I hope all is well❤️❤️

Can't forget the two big days for two of my favorite people this week!!

First it was LAUREN'S BIRTHDAY 

To know Lauren is to love her, she's a loyal friend to all!  I'm so grateful to have her in my life as my sister and my best friend forever!  Can't wait to see you soon!  Love you❤️

AND FATHERS' DAY.  This goes out to all the dads out there who read this and know that you've been an example to me! But especially my dad!!  THANK YOU!  I love my dad because he gives his all in everything he does, he priorities what's important and he LOVES so big!  Love you, Dad.  So grateful for your example.

#CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Week 57 - June 12, 2023

I still cannot believe that I'm companions with Sister Stauffer!!!  It's been the most fun thing ever.  We wake up and we just start laughing so hard because it doesn't feel real at all! But I couldn't be more grateful!!  Our President came up to us at MLC and told us why he put us together and said, "The windows of heaven told me to, and I denied it until I couldn't stop thinking about it," so she is needed here in Spotlyvania, and I needed her more than I thought. 

This week was so good!  We were busy and it was sad to see Sister Holt go, but God loves our growth so I'm grateful for the time we spent together.

 

Our wards are actually incredible, especially the Spotlyvania Ward.  They fellowship our friends like they have been members and besties their whole lives.  We had four friends at church yesterday and three were first timers and everyone came up and talked to them.  They invited them to a BBQ tonight and we are going to join!  Ah, it makes me so happy especially our new family we've been able to help.  They told us they're here to stay!  I know God is so aware of each of us and our needs!!  I'm so grateful for all the Lord is teaching me right now! 

We had MLC this weekend and President is so inspired!!  I love him and he has such a desire for us missionaries to become never-fall-away Saints and I can say without a doubt I know I needed President Hutchison and I have become a never-fall-away Saint by abiding the precepts of the Book of Mormon and enduring to the end!  I love this Gospel because it is our Savior's! 

For my spiritual insight I read Mark 10:46-52: 

" ¶ And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimæus, the son of Timæus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way."

I LOVE THIS STORY, A STORY OF HEALING, PERSISTENCE, AND FAITH IN ACTION!  Sometimes we all feel like Bartimaeus; he was persistent to come to the Lord, but the crowd was trying to stop him and silence him.  Some days I feel like the world is making me fear and doubt, but the Savior STOOD STILL, knowing that the most painful thing was ahead of him he was WILLING to help his brother who was faithful and persistent.  He is the same for us, he stands still for us to come to him.  Our Savior Jesus Christ always has open arms for us to come to him.  Don't worry about the crowd, the world, the noise, the good news is here, and we get to share that with the world!!  I invite y'all to remember this story in all times, "Bartimaeus received this sight after his persistent, faithful efforts to reach the Lord."  We can too!  He gives strength, healing, sight, love, comfort and so much more!!!  I love Him and I love y'all!!

Hope all is well❤️ 

#CTR 

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND

Week 56 - June 5, 2023

Are y'all ready for the craziest transfer news ever?!?!?!?! SISTER STAUFFER IS COMING TO SPOTSY AND BEING MY COMP FOR HER LAST TRANSFER!  Oh, my goodness, let me say surprised to say the least but I am so excited.  She taught me so much and I'm so excited to just sprint to the finish line with her and work our little hearts out for Jesus Christ! 

The crazier part is we had interviews this last week and President and I got in a good talk.  He told me Sister Stauffer mentioned coming to be my companion and he laughed and said to the both of us, "No way!  Y'all can just plan on being roomies one day."  He told the both of us that he needs us to train and be leaders and help other missionaries, but apparently Heavenly Father needed this for the both of us.  So, this will be fun to see what's in store, stay tuned. But then President said, "Okay, Sister Copeland, real talk here.  You have three more transfers left."  I sat there like ok way too soon and he asked me, "When did Jesus Christ do his greatest work?  The END OF HIS MISSION!"  So, we got talking and I got emotional and let me say I am giving the Lord every single thing I have these last three transfers.  I cannot wait to see what He has in store for this work, it's growing and growing every day and so is my love for Him. 

But I am going to miss Sister Holt SO MUCH!  She has truly taught me so much about charity, obedience, and diligence! She is the hardest worker I know, and I feel so lucky that the Lord trusted us so much with His children.  We got some good work done together and grew so much.  We really focused on the importance of goals, and we reached so many! Chesapeake is lucky!!!

Let me just say our current friends are so elect and I love them so much!  They come to church and the ward just loves them. Our neighbor, Tracy, came to church and she is so sweet and has become one of my favorite people.  She is a ray of sunshine and since we met, she tells us she knows God put us in her life and she needed us.  It's so sweet and amazing to see what God can do! 

Here is a little quote that I LOVE, and I want y'all to ponder.  It's from Elder Holland:

"Come as you are,” a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, “Don’t plan to stay as you are.”  We smile and remember that God is determined to make of us more than we thought we could be."

Sorry, I would go more in depth but I'm excited to go do some fun things with the Sisters in the Zone!!!   Love you all so much❤️❤️

#CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Week 55 - May 29, 2023

Man, every week just gets better and better!  I love this work, the ups and downs but mostly I JUST LOVE MY SAVIOR AND HIS ATONEMENT!!!  I want the whole world to know what I know!

Here's a little run down of this week!  Our cute friend Rosetta decided to push back her date to later in June, but don't worry! Everything is ALL good.  She just has some things to get done beforehand but keep praying for her;) then our good ole friend Johnny.  He is so sweet and so soft spoken its adorable!  He has so many valid questions but also so much faith to seek and to ask!  QUESTIONS ARE SO GOOD!!  Then our new friend Terry is AMAZING and came to church and is literally so elect!  Then Valery brought her family--so incredible. 

Also, got to go on an exchange with Sister Ashby from Cache Valley, Utah.  Love her life!  She taught me lots. 

We had so many moments this week that the Spirit was truly leading us to people not knowing beforehand the things we would do!!  AH AH SEE WHAT I DID THERE 1 NEPHI 4:6, but we were led to this family and HOLY they are so cute and they're coming to church next Sunday.  But while meeting them we ran into a little tragic moment where their cat was being attacked by a dog, so the mom has this little baby and is running with it to the cat and ran back and placed this baby into my arms..... FIRST TIME HOLDING A CHILD IN OVER A YEAR!!  Definitely apostate, but I know the Lord understood the situation I was in, but I will say I CANNOT WAIT TO HOLD MY LITTLE NEPHEWS!!  (Otto, if you're reading this, I miss you and can't wait to hug you and your little brother.)

I, also, wanted to just TESTIFY of member work!!  MEMBERS ARE KEY TO MISSIONARY WORK!  We had the most amazing experience the other week which has led to a change for people!  Ok so, Reba Burgess is a member in our ward.  She is 96 and has a lot of health issues, but we felt prompted to go and visit her, so we did!  

She had two of her great-granddaughters staying with her who aren't members, but they said they would like to join us, and we taught them the Restoration.  Keston is one of the granddaughters who has a daughter, but she just said she really wanted to hear more, so we went back on Friday.  We taught the Plan of Salvation and she didn't know or understand what Jesus Christ did for us.  As Sister Holt, Sister Burgess, and I spoke about our Savior's infinite Atonement and how it was for each of us individually, the tears were rolling down each of our cheeks.  She mentioned that she had been to our church when she was little but never felt the desire to learn more.  But we gave her a Book of Mormon and read some verses all together and she looked up and said, "I've always felt like I have so much going on in my head that I can't read easy, but when we just read those, it's like everything stopped.  I have never felt so much peace in my life."  THIS IS WHAT THE GOSPEL DOES.  IT LITERALLY CHANGES US!  I wish I could've recorded Sister Burgess, this 96-year-old woman who LOVES the Lord and is blind, going through a very hard time.  But we asked her to bear her testimony of the Book of Mormon to us.  It was the most powerful testimony and the Spirit confirmed to me over and over every single word she said.  She said, "When you come to know the Book of Mormon, you come to know the Lord and he changes your very being to be able to handle any situation that is in front of you."  I know without a doubt this is true.  I have experienced this for myself, and I know each of you can. 

The Prophet Joseph Smith said on the introduction page of the Book of Mormon:

“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

This is true!!  Read the Book of Mormon.  It's helped me get closer to my Heavenly Father and feel his love more deeply in my life!

I love you all!!

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Ps The family we made homemade tortillas with is my favorite.  Cute Niyah asked me to be her sister forever and said she would babysit my future family 😂😂🤝but enjoy some photos.