Week 64 - July 31, 2023

Well, everyone, time is flying, and it makes me so happy and so sad because I love this work.  But we saw some amazing miracles happen this week!!

The Newport News Ward is SO missionary minded, it's amazing.  They helped us get some of our friends to church yesterday!

To be completely honest though, I've never been more tired and been on my knees more just praying for strength and some Heavenly help to keep me going and I will tell you it works.  God hears my prayers and strengthens me.  He helps me see, understand, and know His plan for me, and I couldn't be more grateful for moments like these on the mission because they really do strengthen me and help me see that all things are done by Him who has all wisdom and love.  All these things we go through in our life are for our benefit and good!  Even when it can be hard! 

I got to watch Lonnie's baptism over Zoom and that was INCREDIBLE!  Hearing him bear his testimony was so powerful!!  Being an instrument in the Lord's hands and helping other people experience the joy of the gospel is indescribable!  I love Lonnie and his family and I'm so happy for them and that he had such a special day!!!  So grateful the other sisters have taken care of them 💓 

We had Zone Conference this week and the picture you see, yes, that's our zone, the NEWPORT NEWS ZONE IS MASSIVE!!  It's so much fun.  

Our mission is currently working on THE FLOW AND THE VIRGINIA PLAN!  ITS pretty much these 4 things: 

1. Go where the people are 

2. Talk to everyone 

3. Invite EVERYONE to church 

4. Use the flow

This was divinely inspired and has been working.  We saw a miracle.  We were knocking and met Tony by just inviting him to church and told him our purpose and a little bit about our message, then a member pulled up, we told him more and he came to church on Sunday and has already sent his friends the Book of Mormon app because he loves it!!  There truly are angels ministering to God's children before we arrive! 

Moroni 7:29

And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.

Then we had a good ole lesson with Bill.  Ah, this man is adorable and has gone through a lot, but we invited him to be baptized and he accepted and is so excited!!!  August 26th is the day, please keep him in your prayers ❤️

We share a ward with some other Sisters, and we have the time of our lives.  I love them all so much!  

FINALLY GOT TO SEE THE OCEAN AND I SAW A PALM TREE.  SO MUCH JOY AND GOOD TO SEE!! 

Something I thought of this week that I want to invite y'all to think about is we are who we spend our time with, so make sure y'all spend time with Jesus!!! 

#CTR 

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND  

Week 63 - July 24, 2023

Man, it's been a long nine days with so many emotions!  It's been hard, rewarding, joyful, tiring, and all you can imagine.  I don't know where to start but I am in Newport News!!!  So that's exciting! I got to go to speak in church yesterday 🤝 I'll give everyone a run down!

-said bye to Johnny there were tears 

-said bye to Rosetta EVEN more tears 

-said bye to Hermana Barlow EVEN MORE TEARS

-said bye to Sister Stauffer THE MOST TEARS 

-Sister Stauffer's family sent me letters for no reason and it was the cutest thing ever, so I cried 

-goodbyes to Jessica and Matt, Lonnie who is elect, so excited for him!  The Camps and Markers!! 

Said bye to a lot of people and I'm so grateful for the relationships I made in Spotlyvania and Chancellor!!  God knew I needed those people, and I can't wait to go back and see them again! 

-went to lunch with Hanna and Gin! 

-had MLC and received some good inspiration on how to improve as a missionary and disciple

-the most beautiful day at the temple sealing and endowment for the Boves.  Man, top 5 days of my life!

I would love to take a minute and share this beautiful experience.  While I was serving in Spotlyvania, I became super close with Rosetta.  When we told her we were leaving the area, she broke down in tears and so did I.  We had a moment and when we got up she looked at me and grabbed my face and said with tears, "I know we are asked to not covet but I wish I was grown and raised how y'all were, but I'm so grateful that God gave me the opportunity to have y'all help me know more and to start now at least," then proceeded to give me a hug and just cry and continue to just say, "Thank you."  That is all she could say.

This reminded me of the day I left my family to start my mission experience.  My dad was the last person I hugged and all I could say to him was, "Thank you."  I felt like my life had a total 180 and I was able to feel a portion of what love our father feels when we love his children enough to share what we know.

Sister Copeland saying good-bye to her dad as she left for her mission from home.

 

I feel so lucky to have had that moment and to be able to experience the joy that comes from loving God's children and sharing what we know. 

Newport News is beautiful and it's so fun to be back with Sister Draut!  She is full of joy and fun!  So, we are always laughing, and we have made lots of goals this transfer to work so hard, and I can't wait. 

Here is my new address 

747 Bellows Way apt 304, Newport News, VA 23602

Hope everyone is well!!

#CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Week 62 - July 15, 2023

Okay, two days, right?  Well, let's just say A LOT CHANGED, MIRACLES HAPPENED, AND LOTS OF TEARS HAHA! 

First let me tell y'all the happiest news.  So, we have been working with our friend Lonnie for about three weeks now.  He is married to a member and hasn't wanted anything to do with the church.  But we started meeting and his HEART WAS CHANGED.  This man went from not knowing if the Book of Mormon is true, if there's a prophet on the earth, to wanting to be baptized in just three weeks.  We had a lesson with him on Thursday and taught the commandments and he goes, "Sisters, I want to be baptized."  We sat there knowing it was coming because the Spirit prepared us but watching this family who had given up trying, sitting there, his son on a mission on the call, and the mom in pure shock goes, "YOURE KIDDING, RIGHT?!  He goes, "No, I'm not kidding.  I want to be baptized and I want to do it soon."  So, we went over the questions--he is PREPARED!!  All of us were in tears.  I felt so lucky to be a part of this beautiful moment.  To watch a family know they could finally have the opportunity to be sealed and to all be together!  That is what they're working for. 

But the sad part about this all is, I won't be able to make it to the baptism on July 29 because I am getting TRANSFERED! 😭😭😭  I have never been so sad in my life leaving an area.  I have never worked so hard in my life and loved God's children so much!  I love working with these people and I am trying so hard to find peace in this, but I know God knows me better then I know myself, so I trust him completely that Newport News is where I'm supposed to go.  He knew I have always wanted to serve by the ocean and my comp will be Sister Draut and we have been companions before.  I knew it was coming but didn't want to admit it and now that it's here, I am not ready of a week full of goodbyes, especially to Sister Stauffer!  But I will put my trust in Him and keep going!!  I know this work is his and I can't wait for the people I will meet.  But if everyone could pray for our friends here in Spotlyvania and Chancellor it would mean so much to me.  I love them and I can't wait to visit them after the mission. 

But to cheer myself and everyone up again!  I GET TO WITNESS A BEAUTIFUL SEALING TO TWO PEOPLE GOD KNEW I NEEDED!  BROTHER AND SISTER BOVE!  Holy watching 2 people you love enter the temple was amazing. Plus got to see Sister Scherer and people from Harrisonburg! God is good.

This IS HIS CHURCH!!  COVENANTS ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING WE COULD EVER MAKE! 

Talk to you all when I am in NEWPORT NEWS ON THE 24TH! Pray that this week goes okay for me.  I will need all the prayers! 

#CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Week 61 - July 12, 2023

Wowza!  The last 10 days have been CRAZY!  LIKE ACTUALLY CRAZY!!!  FIRST, I HOPE EVERYONE HAD THE BEST 4TH OF JULY EVER!!  I know I for sure had a good one. I do miss seeing fireworks tho!

One crazy amazing miracle this week was we went to CULPEPER, and I got to see so many of my favorite people!  I put some pictures below, but Sister Bove is getting endowed and sealed on Saturday so we will be having another p-day then, and today we are going to the temple with our district!! So, to say it simply--I'm the happiest girl in the world to go back to the temple 14 MONTHS too long!  

But in Culpeper we had a miracle.  We went and visited Heather.  I taught Heather and became really good friends with her when I was serving there.  She was on date but because of some family issues she no longer is and doesn't meet with missionaries.  But she opened the door, and it was the sweetest reunion, tears running down our cheeks as we just talked.  She thanked me for everything and bore her sweet testimony to me.  She goes through a lot of health issues and said that she reads the Book of Mormon every day and that is what gives her strength.  She knows her time will come to be baptized and is excited for that day, but she is still nourishing her testimony.  It was beautiful and so cool to see.  I love this woman and I know that God put her into my life for so many reasons.  She taught me more then I taught her.   She calls us her Han and Jen angels and she's our angel!! 

A lot of good things are happening here and I'm feeling so grateful to be a missionary. 

☆We had 4th of July with my favorite people--the Markers and the Empies 

☆ Had to say bye to Terry and I'm so grateful for him and love him!  He's going back to Oregon 

☆Had the most incredible Sacrament meeting 

☆Had dinner with Bishop Camp and his family + beautiful Rosetta 

☆Got to knock with Grace 

☆Got to see Sister Fry and Hermana Barlow 

☆Got to eat at the Reisners, so yum

☆Fernando is golden 

☆God changes people through the Book of Mormon

☆Johnny and I are homies--it's so fun

All of these incredible things and some hard things.  This week I got to experience a new feeling I haven't felt in a long time and so did my companion.  It broke my heart to see her break down because of some fear.  But good thing a good friend of mine sent me some knowledgeable advice and sent this scripture to me. 

2 Timothy 1:7

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

We have read this and gone back a lot.  God gives power and love, and Satan wants us to fear and doubt.  I know without a doubt God is full of love and wants us to feel like that.  So whenever you are feeling scared, anxious, etc!!  Remember this!

"We have the ability to choose whom we follow. When we follow Satan, we give him power. When we follow God, he gives us power. "

This is TRUE!  I HAVE FELT HIS POWER HELPING ME ENDURE.  I LOVE HIM!!!

 

I love this work, I love my comp, I love my family, I love y'all!!!!  I love my Savior!!! 

Send y'all another update in 3 days heheh

#CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Week 60 - July 3, 2023

THIS WEEK WAS SO GOOD!  A miracle happened!  Johnny came to church along with six of our other friends!  God is providing us so many miracles as we are doing our absolute best to accomplish JOB 1 & JOB 1; GATHERING ISREAL AND BECOMING DEEPLY CONVERTED TO JESUS CHRIST!  They work perfectly together! 

This week my dream happened, I got to be companions with Hermana Barlow!  Man, it was the best thing ever, I am convinced part of the reason I got called to Virginia was to meet her and my companions!  God knew I needed to know them especially Hermana Barlow.  She's been there for me since the first day and it was so cool to see her growth!  She goes home here in three weeks, and I am so not ready for it! But God is so good for letting us know each other!!  I look up to this woman with my whole soul, and she is going places that's for sure!!! 

ALSO I LOVE AMERICA!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AMERICA! Here's the reason I love America so much: 

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/ezra-taft-benson/gods-hand-nations-history/

GOD REVEALED TRUTH TO US AGAIN and so much had to happen for that!  But this is truly his work, and he will do all he can for His children!  I'm so grateful for the Restoration of the Gospel and to know we have a living prophet here on the earth today.  The HEAVENS ARE OPEN!  Everyone listen to that talk:)

Also wanted to wish my little bestie aka OTTO a happy birthday!  Otto is pure joy and I'm so happy to be his aunt! Can't wait to see him so soon! 

I hope all is well!!  I am happy and the Lord is taking good care of us!  I love my comp!!  Our p-day will be Wednesday and Saturday next week since we will be going to the temple!! Hope y'all have the best week!!!!  LOVE YOU ALL AND GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT!

#CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND