Week 72 - September 27, 2023

Hello, everyone, that still reads these!!!  You're the number ones!  This week was full of good and full of exchanges.  I had the opportunity to go on an exchange with Hermana Johnson, Sister Jones, and my companion Sister Horman!  It's the coolest thing to learn and grow together as we help gather Isreal. 

I love all these Sisters so much and they are doing such great work here in Newport News!  We saw lots of miracles and focused a lot on how we can improve our skills and help others come unto Jesus Christ!  I also love being able to help the Sisters and the love that Heavenly Father helps me feel for them so I can help them with anything they need. 

I don't have much to say other then exchanges and just staying busy!  Nelson is continuing to progress towards baptism.  It's coming so quick, next Saturday!!!  We get to go to the temple today and I'm so excited!!  I am also so excited for General Conference this weekend.

Also, if everyone could keep the Boves and the Thelins in your prayers!!  It would mean the world to them and me.  They got in a car accident this week and could use all the extra love in the world.  They've been some of the greatest friends I've met here in VA.

A lesson I've learned on my mission is that God is truly mindful of all his children (Alma 26:37).  He is in the details of our lives.  He's in the details of all his children's lives.  He provides all we need.  He sends people that he knows we will grow from (companions, ward members, doctors, neighbors, a random person at WaWa, mission president, people we've taught, people who slam the door in our face, etc.)  He sends EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME.  I know I'll look back and see/realize so much more, but one experience that comes to mind happened a few weeks ago. God was mindful of his child Gregory Brown.  This man is homeless and the Spirit told me I needed to go talk to him, so I did.  As I was talking to him explaining what we believe and know God to be, he looked at me with tears and said, "God sent me an angel today.  I needed this.  I will never forget this moment, Sister Copeland, because I now know God is aware of me."  God knew what Gregory needed.  I will forever be grateful that God allowed me to help be an instrument so Gregory could know he's loved by a loving Heavenly Father. 

As we help God help his children know he's mindful of them, it becomes more and more aware to me HE IS MINDFUL OF ME.  I KNOW I am a child of God, I KNOW God has a perfect plan for me that he laid out for me.  I KNOW he wants me to return to him because he loves me.  I KNOW I will return to him because I will forever choose him and his path and to love as he loves!!

I LOVE Y'ALL

I LOVE MY SAVIOR 

I LOVE THIS WORK!!

#CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Week 71 - September 18, 2023

 Continuing discipleship

We had interviews this week and President and I got to talk about all the goals coming up and it was incredible!  I'm going to miss him so much!  I'm so grateful for president Hutchison and all he's done for me.  

He taught me something amazing and reminded me of an amazing story after Jesus Christ died and seven of the disciples wondered what to do, what was next but Peter said to them, "Let's go fish," so they did and caught nothing.  Then Jesus appeared again and told them what to do and they caught fish.  Then the disciples realized it was the Lord.  They had a beautiful reunion I can only imagine.  But then Jesus asked them, "Do you love me?"  And then Elder Holland says something that stood out to me:

 "Then Peter, why are you here?  Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation?  Wasn’t it obvious then and isn’t it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish?  What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever.  I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs.  I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith.  I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do.  Ours is not a feeble message.  It is not a fleeting task.  It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history.  It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world.  So, Peter, for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me.”

When we walk with Christ and have walked with Him, we are never the same.  Our desires have changed.  We need to hold onto what we have learned and felt and continue to wear His name on our heart.  I want to be His disciple that doesn't go back to fishing.  I have seen what they can make out of people and I'm grateful they're still working on me.  I will continue to feed His sheep and learn of Him.  Christ has changed me, I have walked with Him every day. 

I had a beautiful experience in sacrament meeting yesterday that I want to remember so I'm writing about it.  I went to bed Saturday night sick to my stomach because of anxiety.  I woke up still feeling it and couldn't do much because of it.  So I tried to do personal study and take my mind off it and all I could think about was how ready I was to be at church and to take the sacrament I just needed it.  So I got to church and after the sacrament, I felt a little better.  Then they played Hymn number 97 and I thought to myself, "Why not Hymn 98?"  I like that one much better, but as we started to sing, the Spirit spoke to me and the words hit home.

"Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom; Lead thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead thou me on! Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene—one step enough for me. I was not ever thus, nor pray’d that thou Shouldst lead me on. I loved to choose and see my path; but now, Lead thou me on!" 

In this moment, I knew God knew what I needed and he spoke to me through a song.  I have never felt this anxious in my life, this sad for a chapter to end, scared for what's to come, scared to see what's ahead but the distant scene one step of faith is truly enough for me.  I would love to choose and decide what my path will look like, but I can't so I know he will keep leading me on like he has since day one.  I have complete confidence in Him and I know He will help mold me into the divine potential he has for me.  They're teaching me every day to continue to put my trust in them and faith in them.  They're truly my source of light!

So sorry for this email to be all over the place, I wasn't expecting that.  But overall it was a good week, I love my companions and we have a big few weeks ahead of us.  Our next p-day is on Wednesday next week because we are going to the temple 😊😊, but some really happy news--our friend Nelson is getting baptized on October 7th!  We taught him the Word of Wisdom and his faith is amazing.  He is bringing us ALL his alcohol on Wednesday so we can all throw it away together.  God works so many miracles behind the doors.  Remember that because I need to be reminded it every day. God is mindful of his children and I know that!  He puts people in our path! 

A lesson I've learned on my mission is how important sacrifice is.  There's a reason it's a covenant we make, there's a reason we sing "sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven."  It's real and it's important!!  On my mission, I've learned how important sacrifice is, its like fasting.  We remove it to show God we are willing to do HIS WILL even when it's so hard!  I read a scripture this week on Oliver Granger.  He was asked to leave everything behind to go help settle the business affairs in Kirtland!  Well, let's just say his mission was hard and very unsuccessful!!  In other words, a lot of missionaries compare baptisms, how many people they taught, and it can be HARD! But what God says to Oliver I like to replace it with my name. 

"12 And again, I say unto you, I remember my servant Oliver Granger; behold, verily I say unto him that his name shall be had in sacred remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever, saith the Lord. 13 Therefore, let him contend earnestly for the redemption of the First Presidency of my Church, saith the Lord; and when he falls he shall rise again, for his sacrifice shall be more sacred unto me than his increase, saith the Lord."

God remembers our sacrifices.  He knows what we put on that altar is NOT easy but he makes up for the rest.  I've seen blessings from sacrificing and I know my family has, too, and I know it is sacred to the Lord and for that, I am grateful. 

#CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Week 70 - September 11, 2023

This week we had Zone Conference and it was the best time ever.  We got to play games as zones before and get to know more missionaries!  I also had to give my departing testimony....so many tears were shed.  I've learned so much here in Virginia and I'm so grateful for it!  It's now starting to feel real, but I'm going to continue to work and do all I can for the Lord and His work.  But man, I am going to miss this place!

Sister Copeland with her mission president and his wife.

I love my companions so much.  We get along and get the work done, but it doesn't mean the work is easy!  It's definitely been harder but that is not stopping us!  

I keep thinking of Daniel 3:17-18.  It's when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were told to worship a golden statue and they wouldn't.  The king was very angry, but their response is amazing and how I have been feeling lately.  I will continue to teach, I will continue to try to find the elect but if not, I will continue to do what God needs me to do.  I will continue to let him use me as his instrument, I will continue to plant seeds, I will continue to knock doors, and continue to talk to everyone!  I will do all I can for him even if that means I don't see people progress.  It's about him and it's helping me more fully get to my good Shephard.  So I'm grateful for this work.

I've learned that the temple truly is the house of the Lord.  On my mission, I had the opportunity to attend the Washington DC and Virginia Richmond Open Houses.  We got to more fully participate in the Virginia Open House and take some time away from our areas and go help and give tours to all the visitors coming to the temple.  I remember many of times giving tours, people had SO many questions and it was so fun to answer them.  I was out one day taking pictures of people in the front and this man comes by me and is recording a video, the sweetest old man I've ever met.  He reads my name tag and goes, "Sister Copeland, I've never felt this peace in my life," so I asked him if he's been to a temple before and he said, "No," and that since the open house started he had been every single day, some days multiple times a day.  He said, "I just miss the feeling when I leave.   I want to stay in there forever."  ME TOOO!  But this to me was a testimony that the temple is truly the House of the Lord.  When I go, I get recharged and more momentum to keep going and keep enduring.  We got to attend the other week on p-day and I can't describe the love and peace I feel when I'm there.  I am so grateful for temples and for the knowledge we have to help others accept the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I love being a part of the gathering of Israel on both sides of the veil.  The temple makes the difference because it's HIS HOME!

#CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND 

Week 69 - September 4, 2023

 Hello, everyone.  I'm here to update you on the week but especially my new comp!  Her name is Sister Horman and I literally love her with my whole soul.  She's from Logan, Utah, and so ready to work.  It's been crazy since she got here, but she's handled it like a boss!  I feel so sad knowing I only have a little time with her, so I am going to soak every second up!!!! 

Something I loved this week is something my President said, and it will forever stick with me.  So, you all know, we all know Doubting Thomas right?  The one that said he wouldn't believe it until he saw the Christ... ya, but do you ever wonder who Thomas really was?  Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father do NOT label their children.  So why do we? 

If we go a few chapters ahead, we see who Thomas really was.  "Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him." Thomas was willing to go wherever the Savior went and was willing to die for him. 

I am confident that is who Jesus Christ remembers.  The Thomas who is willing--not the doubting!  Jesus Christ ALWAYS remembers us at our best!  Let's all be better at remembering the best and looking for the best in other people. That's what Jesus would do. 

We had MLC this week and it was awesome to receive guidance so we can all better our efforts to the work of the Lord!!! 

Also!!!  I am an aunt ×2!!  So happy for Taylor and Ellie and my cute Otto boy.  Nothing makes me happier than seeing him become a big brother.  His name is Archer!  I was in tears seeing pictures of him and El, literally so grateful for families and so grateful he was born close to the end.  Can't wait to meet my little Archie boy!

Something I've learned on my mission is that hard is good!  I had an experience on my mission where honestly, I was just so done and not doing well.  I was tired, I was struggling, and it just wasn't fun.  I opened up my scriptures to D & C 122: 7, and it said, "My son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."  This was when I realized everything that is going on is for my good, for my growth!  HARD IS GOOD!  The Lord never asks us to stay the same or we wouldn't come to the earth.  He asks us to grow, and he gives us experience, and I am so grateful.  I've learned to rely, to trust, and to have faith. 

#CTR

-SISTER HANNAH COPELAND