A Merry Mission Christmas

Hey y'all!

This week was a lot of fun! I hope y'all had a Merry Christmas!

Monday we had a fun pday with the Dutch Fork sisters and our recent convert W. cornrowed our hair! It was a party! Then in the evening we went caroling with the Dutch Fork Sisters!

Tuesday we had our district meeting! Sister Welch and I did a musical number. We did the arrangement of "O come O come Emmanuel" by the piano guys. I was on piano and she was on violin. Then we went on exchanges. I was in Chapin with Sister Cook (who I came out with!) we helped out at the mission office and then in the evening we had a really good lesson with B. on baptism!

Wednesday: we did service at J.'s gym again helping him set up Christmas lights. In the evening we had a good lesson with C. 

Thursday: we did our weekly planning. Then we had a super good lesson with A. (the girl who's grandma called us last Sunday to teach). We taught restoration and it went really well. Then our zone went caroling at the state capitol in Columbia! It was a party!

Friday: we went caroling at an old folks home with the Dutch Fork and Irmo sisters! Then we saw C. and talked about the power of music and we sang for her! Then we went caroling again with the Dutch Fork sisters!

Saturday: Christmas Eve!!!!! We spent most of the day will J. (the recent convert) and her daughter K.! We went out to lunch and then went shopping! So it was a ton of fun! Then we had dinner with the members whose property we live on! It was a lot of fun! Then we had a sleep over with the Dutch Fork and Irmo sisters!!!! It was awesome! 

Sunday was Christmas!!!! We had a combined sacrament meeting! Sister Welch and I did another musical number in sacrament meeting! I played the piano and she played the violin again. This time we did "What Child Is This". It was super cool because after the meeting several people came up to us and told us that our song brought the spirit so strong that they cried. Then we had lunch with the branch president and his family. Then we face timed our families!!! It was so good to see them and hear their voices :):) then we had dinner with the B. family! Then we stopped in to see J. again. We sang a few songs for her! 

So it was an awesome week and a fantastic Christmas!!!! 

 

My Spiritual thought: of the week is John 3:16-17. "

 

16  ​For ​​​God​ so ​​​loved​ the ​​​world​, that he ​​​gave​ his ​​​only​ begotten ​​​Son​, that whosoever ​​​believeth​ in him should not perish, but have ​​​everlasting​ ​​​life​.

​​​​​17 ​For God ​​​sent​ not his Son into the world to ​​​condemn​ the world; but that the world through him might be ​​​saved​."

 

 The reason we celebrate Christmas is because Christ was born in the world to save all of us. I am grateful for my savior and all He does for me each day. I know He loves all of us so much. 

I love y'all and hope yall have a blessed week!

Love always,

Sister Amy Bennett :)

The master Corn rower

 

 

 

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Hey y'all! 

I hope you had a good week! Honestly this week went by so fast I can't even believe it!! 

Monday: we played sports with the sisters in my district! And we (well actually mainly just me) edited our district skit. I love video editing!! In the evening we had a really good lesson with B. where we taught the gospel of Jesus Christ! He is just the cutest kid ever! 

Tuesday: we had Christmas zone conference! So much fun! It was combined with the Columbia zone!! We had a couple trainings. And the trainings the Assistants gave was honestly the training I have been waiting for my whole mission. It was amazing! We talked about finding and a few other things and the spirit was so strong and it just reminded me how awesome being a missionary is! Then we watched all the district skits! Our missionary kid history skit was a hit! So fun! Then we watched a movie. I was expecting some good church type movie. But then president pulls out a hallmark movie called "Christmas in Conway." Before he told us a few religious lessons we can pull from it and then said "but basically it's a chick flick" and he was right! Haha!  But it was set in South Carolina so that was fun! But it was weird watching a chick flick... in the evening we saw C. and R. and showed them the Christmas video. 

Wednesday: we did the same service at walmart that we did last week. The we saw members the Johnsons and showed "testimony of the Book of Mormon" video! Then had branch missionary meeting!

Thursday: we planned for our week and then went out finding!!! Not much else went on this day haha! :)

Friday: we went and helped out at We Care again! Then we saw a less active named Angie and invited her to the branch Christmas party! In the evening we had a really good lesson with Melissa, Robin, and Petie.   We showed the video where it's the guy who's family got killed in an accident by a drunk driver and he talks about endurance and forgiveness! So that was awesome! We also sang a Christmas song for them! 

Saturday: we saw J. and S. We talked about the purpose of trials in this life and  how we can rely on Christ through them. In the evening we had our branch Christmas party! And of course Sister Pickett and I wore matching Christmas sweaters! Always a hit ;) 

Sunday: M. and P. came to church. We were also super excited because A. (who we saw on Friday) came with her daughter and stayed all three hours! Also another super exciting thing happened on Sunday! So there was a less active family that moved in recently. And their 14 year old daughter is not baptized. But she has been coming to church the past few weeks. During the afternoon we got a phone from the family asking us to come teach the 14 year old, A., the lessons and set an appointment up! It was such a big answer to our prayers! We totally felt like the part in the "Best Two Years" movie when they pray that the guy will call them back and right then he phone rings and when it's him the missionaries look up and the Hallelujah chorus plays in the background haha!! But it was awesome! Then we went and had an early Christmas dinner with the J. and their less active son. 

So it was another great week here in Chapin! 

 

My spiritual thought comes from a quote I read this morning by Abraham Lincoln (I picked this just for you Katie!). "I have bee driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day." I have really seen the difference that prayer makes each and everyday. I have no idea where I'd be without prayer and the support I receive from my Heavenly Father! 

I love y'all so much and hope that y'all have a blessed week!!

Love always,

Sister Amy Bennett :) 

Christmas Tree Happiness

 An Ornament fell on her head!

 

The Three Pack Reunited

With Dutch Fork Sisters and their new cars

With her little buddy!

 

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!!

Hey y'all!
This week... haha well... basically all I did this week was perform musical numbers ;)

Monday We had pday where we filmed our district skit for our Christmas zone conference! Then in the evening we practiced with Elder Jacobsen. They came up the night before the leadership meeting so we were able to practice again, but since they are coming all the way from Charleston they were running late so that took up our whole evening haha!
Tuesday We performed the musical number at MLC (mission leadership conference). Elder Jacobsen and I did this really awesome medley/mashup of "O Come O Come Emmanuel" and "I wonder as I wander". And it went super great! So good in fact that President asked us to also sing "What child is this" that we sang for the senior couples meeting! So we did two songs haha! In the evening we went to a member's house because they were having a Christmas party and wanted us to talk to their nonmember friends, sadly none of them showed up haha!
Wednesday We went with the Dutch Fork sisters to push people in wheel chairs around Walmart for service. Then we went to practice with some other sisters for a different musical number. Sadly then sister Pickett got super sick so we were in the rest of the day :(
Thursday Sister Pickett was still really sick. :( In the evening we went to our Relief Society Christmas party. At that I also did a musical number. I did a solo singing "Mary did you know?".
Friday We had our zone meeting! Sister Pickett and I and two other Sisters sang a medley of "Mary did you know" and "O Come O Come Emmanuel" #BenOnThePickettFence after the meeting we went and helped out with the mail at the mission office. Then in the evening we went to a little branch gathering.
Saturday We got to do missionary work! We saw W. and had a really good lesson with her where we taught the gospel of Jesus Christ! Then we did our weekly planning. In the evening we went out to dinner with J. and S.n and then talked about the importance of service!
Sunday: J. and B. came to church! It was so exciting!!! Yay :) We also had a really good lesson with M., R., and P. We read out of Moroni 7 and talked about getting answers to our prayers!
So it was a good week, but seriously feel like I spent the whole week singing haha!

And in honor of that my spiritual thought of the week is going to be from the first presidency message in the hymn book. It says "Inspirational music is an essential part of our church meetings. The hymns invite the Spirit of the Lord, create a feeling of reverence, unify us as members, and provide a way for us to offer praises to the Lord." I love music so much and I know that it can invite the spirit in such a powerful way!
 I love this gospel more and more each day and know that it is true and ever lasting!
Y'all have a blessed week!
Love always,
Sister Amy Bennett :)

When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God!-

Hey y'all!!!

And actually I'm still rocking the short sleeves, so it doesn't really look like Christmas here... but it's December and people have put some decorations up so I'm trying to imagine the snow haha ;)

This week was another good week! (which tends to happen a lot ;) )

Here is the run down:
Monday was a fun p-day! We went and hung out with the Dutch Fork Sisters and said goodbye to Sister Burt because she was getting transferred, :( sad day! Then in the evening we saw a less active named W. B.! She is basically just like Mamma Oddie off of "The Princess and the Frog". So that's pretty fun! She's had 3 people in her family die in the past month and so we watch a video called "Mountains to Climb" and talked about the reason for trials in our lives. Then we went and saw W.! We read out of the Book of Mormon with her. We read where she was at in her reading, which meant we read right in the middle of Second Nephi. Gotta love that Isaiah!

Tuesday: So Tuesday morning the Zone Leaders called us saying that President called them asking for Elder Jacobsen (the zone leader I sang with at the mission home a few weeks ago) and I to do a musical number at the meeting President has with all the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders (which is taking place tomorrow). The one problem was Elder Jacobsen got transferred to be a zone leader in Charleston and so we had to go practice with him on Tuesday before he got transferred ha ha! So we put together a little musical number that will hopefully be pretty good haha! Then we met a lady named K. and showed her the Church's new Christmas video!!!! #LightTheWorld Then we saw TJ again and also showed him the Christmas video (we've been doing that a lot this week and LOVE it). We also had dinner with a former investigator named A.!

Wednesday: We helped out at We Care again! That was really good! Then we went and had a lesson with a lady named N.! Sister Pickett and I finally got to teach a full restoration! That was a first for our companionship and it was awesome :) In the evening we saw B. and J. again! B. is just as cute as ever! We taught him the Plan of Salvation using cut outs and then had him teach it back to us. Teaching 9 year olds really is just the best!

Thursday: This week the Chapin, Dutch Fork, and Irmo wards did a combined "Nativity Celebration" where they had a ton of nativities set up and then had live music going. So on Thursday we spent a good chunk of the day helping set up for that. Then in the evening we had a really good lesson with M., R., and P.!!! We also showed the Christmas video to them, hehe :)

Friday: We had weekly planning. Then we went and did service at Jerry's boxing gym again! And then we went to the Nativity Celebration. Okay here's where it gets fun! Sister Welch (Dutch Fork) plays the violin and had this great idea that we could do a harp/violin duet as part of the live music at the celebration because the member in the Dutch Fork ward was bringing her harp anyway. (Which was a fantastic idea!) The funny part was that we didn't get to practice before hand. So literally the first time playing these songs ever was in front of people! It went mostly good haha! I only had to ask Sister Welch where we were once ;) But it actually went really well all things considered! So it was a blast!

Saturday: We saw W. B. again in the morning and... also showed her the Christmas video ;) Then we had lunch with C.! Then we went to the Nativity Celebration again! We played the harp and violin again and it went much better the second day! Then we went to go see J. and B., but when we arrived, J. wasn't back from work yet.

Sunday: Church was good! Then we had lunch with members, the B.s, and J. and S.! So that was fun! In the evening we went and watched the Christmas Devotional with M., R., and P. In good old Bennett fashion we had quite a few technical difficulties, but we got it all figured out and probably watched about half of it, haha! But they did make these amazing gluten and dairy free cookies, of which I ate way too many! They take such good care of us! We also got to watch it wearing snuggies. Which made me decide I should never own a snuggie because I'd be way too tempted to leave the house wearing it, haha!

So we definitely had another really great week!

Well along with the churches Christmas initiative of service for my spiritual thought of the week I want to share Mosiah 2:17, "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." I have LOVED all the service opportunities I've had throughout my mission and continue to have every day! Service truly is such a blessing and makes the world a better place!

Well y'all have a blessed week and a fantastic start to your Christmas season!

Love always,
Sister Amy Bennett :)

Service at the Boxing Gym

 

Snuggies during the Christmas Devotional

 

When we rely on Christ and are strengthened by him, we really can do anything

Hey y'all!!

I hope y'all had a fantastic Thankful Thursday (aka Thanksgiving haha!). We had a great week here in Chapin! 

Monday: We had p-day! We went to Irmo and hung out with quite a few of the Sisters in our Zone so that was a ton of fun! In the evening we saw M., R., and P.! We taught about the importance of prayer and how prayer can impact us daily. 

Tuesday: We had district meeting! And you'll never guess.. I did a musical number haha! This time Sister Pickett and I did a duet. We sang "In Christ Alone" and it was awesome! #BenOnThePickettFence Then in the afternoon we went out finding. We met a lady named T. and then a guy named TJ we talked to both of them about the Book of Mormon! Then in the evening we had a Relief Society activity where we were making freezer meals! So that was a lot of fun!

Wednesday: In the afternoon we went out trying a lot of people. In the evening we saw C. and watched the video "Hope of God's light" with her! Then we saw C. and R. With then we talked about how our trials help us to grow closer to Christ! 

Thursday was Thanksgiving!!! It was a fantastic day!!! We were orginally going to a combined zone sisters activity so we were picking up the dutch fork sisters and right as we got there we got a texted saying the location had changed so it was going to be too far away for us with the amount of miles we had left this month. So we just hung out with the Dutch Fork sisters instead! One of the sisters earlier on her mission had made a Book of Mormon version of Candy Land so we played that and it was awesome! haha :) Then we went and had dinner with some ward members, the J.! They were super nice and we had a lot of fun! We also went and had dessert with the Z.s! So it was a fun and full day!! 

Friday: We went and helped out at the mission office, which was a blast! With Christmas coming closer they are getting more mail so they have missionaries come in a help with the forwarding mail process so it was a lot of fun! We then went and had lunch with J. and talked with her about prayer! We then started to plan for our upcoming week! Then we went out to try some people for the evening! Funny story was that our appointment that night had forgot we were coming and were in the middle of watching Big Hero 6. I recognized it just by the sound of it as soon as the opened the door! Haha! So we rescheduled with them.

Saturday: I had accidentally been fed wheat somewhere in the process of this week and so I was out. We stayed in most of the day Saturday. I don't think I've slept so much in a single day my whole life. Sister Pickett is a saint and had such a good attitude about it! In the evening we went and saw a lady named P. And then we saw M. and P.! We had a good lesson with them talking about baptism!

Sunday: We had church, which went well! M. and P. came, as usual! So it was great :) We finished planning for our week after church. And in the evening we saw J. and B.! We taught B. the Restoration and had a really great lesson and we set the goal for him to be baptized December 31! So it was awesome!

So we had another great week!

 Spiritual thought: Something I've been learning a lot about on my  mission is the topic of Grace. So I wanted to share a quote I found on it by President Utchdorf that I really like, "A powerful expression of that love is what the scriptures often call the grace of God- the divine assistance and endowment of strength by which we grow from the flawed and limited beings we are now into exalted beings of truth and light, until we are glorified in truth and  know all things." My mission has really come to show me that when we rely on Christ and are strengthened by him, we really can do anything. And that is what the scriptures mean when they talk about Grace. 

I love this Gospel and I know that it is true.

I hope that y'all have a blessed week! Love y'all!!

Love always,

Sister Amy Bennett :) 

Happy to be staying together for another transfer

A Pretty Gazebo

Playing games on Thanksgiving!

 

 

Patience requires actively working toward worthwhile goals

Hey y'all!!!!

This week was awesome! It was basically a party everyday haha!

Let me tell y'all about it:

Monday during p-day we went to the state capitol with the Newberry Sisters and that was a ton of fun! We took lots of awesome pictures!!!

Tuesday: We did service for C. again! She is so cute and a lot of fun to be around! She has also started reading the Book of Mormon! Then we had interviews with President Turner and that took up a good chunk of time (with travel and the interviews, etc). In the evening we were supposed to have our branch missionary meeting, but it got canceled last minute and so we were a little at a loss of what to do. So during dinner we made cookies and in the evening we went around delievering cookies and nice notes to several of the less active members.

Wednesday: In the morning we had our District meeting! I was a part of the musical number... again haha! but this time I was playing the piano accompanying Sister Welch on the Violin! So that was awesome! Then we had exchanges! So I stayed in Chapin with Sister Brewer! We saw J. and talked about the temple (because she was going to do baptisms on Friday!). Then in the evening we saw M., R., and P.! We had a really good lesson with them really focusing on the Atonement and how it applies to the trials we go through. The spirit was very strong. 

Then Thursday we got a ride from a member to go to Irmo to unexchange. But on the freeway there was a huge traffic jam and the most exciting part was we almost ran out of gas in the middle of the traffic jam haha! But we made it safely! So that was exciting! Then something super cool happened! On Monday we had gotten an email from the zone leaders saying that the BYU women's soccer team was playing in South Carolina and that we had permission to go!!! So on Thursday the west columbia and columbia zones went together to the BYU women's soccer team game! And it was so much fun! The best part was that both Sister Yancey and Sister Staheli were there so my threepack was reunited!! It was awesome!!! 

Friday was fun as well! We did service at We Care in the morning. Then we planned for our week! Then in the evening the women's soccer team did a fireside and the same two zones got to go to that as well! It was really inspiring and it was a lot of fun!!! On the way home we got stuck in another huge traffic jam! It was crazy! But we made it home safe too haha!

Saturday was back to normal proselyting!! We saw P. and talked about the importance of following the spirit. Then we met her neighbor P. and talked with her about the Book of Mormon. Then we saw a less active named C.! The one hard thing with that visit was her TV volume was up super loud and she had lost the remote and it was one of those TVs that couldn't even be turned off without the remote. So Sister Pickett was next to her and I was on a chair in the room accross from her and I tried really hard to contribute, but I honestly couldn't hear anything over the TV. Oh well haha! Then in the evening we saw W. and we talked about the Book of Mormon and missionary work with her again! Then in the evening we saw A. and T. and did a gratitude family home evening with them :) 

Sunday was good! WE had church! A. and T. with their two kids came! Also M. and P. were there! Then we had our Branch missionary meeting! Then in the evening we saw Jazz and her family and we had a good lesson talking about Jesus Christ and all that He has done for us. 

So it was a really great week that was a party haha! 

Spiritual thought: Something that I have learned a lot about on my mission is what patience truly is and why it is important. There is a quote I really like by President Uchtdorf that says, "I learned that patience was far more than simply waiting for something to happen- patience required actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn't appear instantly or without effort." Patience is more than just sitting on the couch waiting for  good things to happen. It is getting up and working hard and using Christ's atonement and then trusting in the timing of God. 

I love y'all so much and hope that y'all have a blessed week!

Love always,

Sister Amy Bennett :) 

 

Visit to the Capitol... I am on the far right

 

 

 

3 Pack reunited at the Soccer game

BYU soccer game fun!

 

 

 

Ben on the Picket Fence

Hey y'all!
Sister Pickett and I decided we should start a band and name it "Ben
on the Pickett Fence" yup, we think we are hilarious!
Man this week was crazy! Where to begin? Probably with Monday haha ;)
Monday was super awesome! The sisters in the Dutch Fork Ward knew a
member in their Ward who played the harp and they worked it out where
I was able to go play the harp for over an hour and it was seriously
the best pday of my entire mission! I was so excited! And I managed to
only get one blister so that was a miracle! Then in the evening we had
a super good lesson with J. and B. We brought W. along and
she and J. clicked right away! It was awesome! But we talked about
the sacrament with them and it was really good.
Tuesday was crazy! We had our district meeting in the morning. And the
zone leaders came to visit our district meeting and it got work out
some way or another where I actually did a musical number with one of
the zone leaders. We sang "What Child is this?" While I played my
guitar. The other crazy thing was that President Turner (the mission
president) randomly decided to come to our district meeting as well.
After the meeting he said he wanted to talk to me and Elder Jacobsen
(the zone leader I sang with). He asked us what we both had going on
that day at 3. And let's just say that when your mission president
asks what you have going on your answer is "what ever you want me to
have going on" haha ;). Well anyway he said that there was a training
meeting for all the senior couples in the mission at his home going on
and that he wanted us to come perform that song as a musical number
for them. So of course we cleared our schedule and went to the
mission home at 3. When we got there he said, "when was the last time
you were able to just sit and relax for a half hour completely guilt
free?" And then explained he had told us the wrong time and that the
meeting was at 3:30 and so we just sat talking with the zone leaders
and President for a half hour haha! The second time around with the
musical number went well too! And then in the evening we had our
branch missionary meeting! So it was a crazy day haha!
Wednesday we went and volunteered at We Care. Then on the way home we
had to drop by the store. At the check out stand there were three
elderly sisters behind us and one of them passed out and the other two
sisters started freaking out because apparently this sister had done it
before and had died and was revived. So then 911 was called and
honestly thought I was about to watch someone die. But the ambulance
came and she seemed to be okay. But it was cool timing for us to be
there because we were able to reach out and comfort these sisters.
After that we went and had dinner with M. and P. at J. and
S.'s house! We talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon.
Then for the evening we actually went and helped out with young men's!
They were going to the mall and doing "random acts of kindness" and so
they would spin a wheel and do the little act of kindness that it
landed on i.e. Give a stranger a complement. Since it was going up
and talking to strangers and that's basically all we do as
missionaries they wanted us there to help out, so it was a lot of fun!
Thursday we went and did service for B. This time we helped her
out with her yard and actually the Elders from the Newberry Ward came
and helped us out so that was really good! After that we helped W.
do some family history! In the evening we saw a guy named J. and
talked about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Then we saw B.
and Z. They actually moved on Saturday so that was our last time
seen them :( but we talked about temples!
Friday we planned for our upcoming week! Then we went and did more
service for C. and R.! Then in the evening we saw M. and
P. and talked about the importance of scriptures!
Saturday was a day that was one of those days that better helps you
appreciate the good days. Haha ;) but we did get to see A. and
T. in the evening, a recent convert family who kinda dropped off
right after her baptism. We talked about the importance of God's love
for us!
Sunday was awesome! Sister Pickett and I spoke in sacrament meeting!
M., P., C., R., A. and her daughter were there! It
was awesome!!! In the evening we saw the K.s, members of the
Branch, and we also saw a lady named S. and we also talked about
the Book of Mormon with her!
So it was a good, but eventful week! Haha!
Spiritual thought is a quote by President Boyd K Packer. “It was meant
to be that life would be a challenge. To suffer some anxiety, some
depression, some disappointment, even some failure is normal. Teach
our members that if they have a good, miserable day once in a while,
or several in a row, to stand steady and face them. Things will
straighten out. There is great purpose in our struggle in life” part
of the purpose in life is to have challenges and those are only there
to help us grow closer to our Savior Jesus Christ!
I love y'all and hope y'all have a blessed week!
Love always,
Sister Amy Bennett :)

Rain fun

The District

P-day harp

When Christ is the focus on our lives we can be happy no matter the situation

Hey y'all!!!

I hope y'all had a fantastic week, because I sure did! Mission life is just awesome :) Hard work, but awesome :) 

Here is the run down of the week;
Monday was Halloween! It was super crazy because we had p-day, but they never let the missionaries out for Halloween evening so it was basically an all day p-day! It was super weird! So during out time in for the evening we carved pumpkins and watched the face to face event for the youth with Studio C! It was actually super, super good! It was a good combination of funny, but also really inspiring!!!! 

Tuesday: We saw J. and S. (the recent converts) and we talked to them about different ways they can do missionary work! Then we went and did service for an investigator named C. C. and her mom R. were going through their attic and getting ready for a yard sale they are having on Saturday! They have meet on and off with missionaries for a little bit, but they don't know a whole lot. C. is a cute teenager and it was just a really good interaction with her! She is so nice!  Then in the evening we had our branch missionary meeting!

Wednesday: We shook things up a little bit and helped out at We Care on Wednesday this week! It was really fun! Our job this week was actually taking the food out to the clients so it was really awesome to get to interact with them! Then in the afternoon we went around trying to meet people. WE met a really awesome lady named H. who was super friendly! We talked with her about the book of Mormon and she said we could come back :) In the evening we had a realkly good lesson with M. and P. where we talked about keeping the Sabbath day holy! 

Thursday: We had our weekly planning session, which is always good! Then in the afternoon we visited with Sister L. (the lady in the ward whose husband died recently). Then in the evening we saw W. (recent convert) and had a good lesson with her!

Friday we had ZTM!! (Zone Training Meeting). The meeting was super good! I had actually been asked do to 20 minutes of prelude on my guitar while singing, so that was a little intimidating, but it went really well! Also we had a funny moment where one of the zone leaders, in all seriousness, told the elders that in January their cars were getting taken away and they were all becoming bike elders. Everyone in the room just paused and you could have heard a pin drop and then the Zone Leader started laughing super hard and said just kidding. Probably the funniest moment on my mission (well at least at a zone meeting). He sure scared all the elders hahaha! After that we went and helped C.and R. get ready for their yard sale. Then in the evening we saw Z. and B. and had a good lesson with them on the Sacrament! 

Saturday: We had a really fun relief society activity where everyone was making fun crafts! So that was a lot of fun! M. came to that as well as W. and a few less actives! So it was great :) Then in the afternoon we had a little lesson with a family in the ward, the H.s. And then in the evening we had a lesson with another family in the ward the R.s. Then we went and saw M. and P. again! We read 3 Nephi 17 with them and they all really liked it! So that was super cool! 

Sunday was great! Church was good as always! M.S.. She was really nice and we read Alma 22:14 with her. In the evening we saw another family in the ward the B. and talked with them about missionary work! 

So it was another super awesome week! I am blessed :) 

Spiritual thought: This week I've been reading in the Book of Mormon during the war chapters. And I came across a verse in Alma 50 that I really liked. In this chapter it was talking about how even though the Nephite people were at war and it was a really hard time for them that when they were faithful the Lord would watch over them. In verse 23 it says, "But behold there never was a happier time amonth the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni." And it just got me thinking about how happiness really isn't circumstantial. That when Christ is the focus on our lives we can be happy no matter the situation. And that has really rang true for me on my mission. I have found so much joy in my mission because I am doing the Lord's will. Even on days when we aren't able to teach or people aren't nice for us or appointments fall through I am still happy because the Lord's got my back. 

I love y'all and hope y'all have a blessed week!

Love always,

Sister Amy Bennett :) 

Halloween Pumpkin Carving

 

 

Reunited with Sister Staheli at Zone Meeting

 

Our Zone

That we might not shrink!

Hey y'all!!!

How are y'all doing today? I am doing Fantastic!! This week has been awesome, but also crazy (as usual).  What are y'all dressing up as for Halloween tonight? I decided to be really creative this year and dress up as a sister missionary haha ;) 

Well here is a sampling of my week:

Monday: We hung out with the other sisters in our district for p-day! So that was awesome! In our district we have 4 sets of sisters and 1 set of elders! So it's super fun to have sisters in my district! This is my first district with more than one set of Sisters.  Yay!! In the evening we saw J. and S. who are recent converts. We did some family history with them to help them prepare to go and do baptisms at the temple. 

Tuesday: We had our district meeting! I played a musical number at it. I rearranged the "Savior Redeemer of my Soul" that I played at the last ZTM so I could perform it by myself instead of the four we were able to perform together at Zone Conference. It went really well! In the afternoon we saw C. and it was super exciting because her husband N. came and sat in for the lesson! We taught the Plan of Salvation and it was such a good lesson! I just love knowing that God  has a plan for all of us and then being able to share that plan with other people! In the evening we saw J. ( a less active) and B. (her unbaptized son). That went really well! We read 2 Nephi 1:15 with them and talked about God's love for each of us. Then we had our branch missionary meeting.

On Wednesday we went and did service for a sister in the ward whose husband died about a month ago. We were helping her sort through some of his stuff and organize her house. It was helpful to know the Plan of Salvation and to be able to talk and share our love for that while we sorted.  Then we had a lesson with J. and S. where we actually talked more about family history work! In the evening we taught a guy named R. Sister Pickett had met him once before and he is a really cool guy. We were talking to him more about the Book of Mormon and why it is so important and the keystone to our religion! 

Thursday: We went out and tried a few people and spread the love of the Lord with any one and everyone we saw! Then we did service for a man who owns a boxing gym. We helped him clean the equipment and mop the floors. His name is J. It was almost like being  back at yoga day with J. (since that was at a martial arts studio). But the marshall arts studio was much bigger than this boxing studio. It was still fun ha,ha! In the evening we had a dinner with a family who the husband is less active.  So it was another great day!

Friday: We went and did service at We Care packing up food boxes for those in need.  What a great way to meet people in the community!  I just love doing service! It is awesome!! Then we planned for our upcoming week which is always good! In the evening we saw M. and P. again. They are still doing so good. They are so cool! We watched a Mormon message called "The Hope of God's Light." Which is really good and talked about God supporting us in our lives. 

Saturday: In the morning we saw a ward member named P. With her we talked a lot about prayer and the importance of praying and turning to our Heavenly Father in all things. So it was good! In the afternoon we saw W. (recent convert) and shared a video called "Good things to share" and talked about missionary work!! My favorite! Then we had a Trunk or Treat activity! It was combined with the Dutch Fork and Irmo Ward and it was a ton of fun!! J. and her family came and also M. and P. came!! The Young Men have been really good about fellowshipping P. and he even helped run one of the stations with them! It was a super fun activity. When the actual Trunk or Treat part happened I unashamedly went around "trunk or treating" with P.  ha, ha! It was a blast :) In the evening we saw a less active couple named Z. and B. We had a really good lesson with them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Sunday was great! We had church! M. and P. came! Wahoo!!! Then the rest of the day was spent going out and trying people and spreading gospel love! 

So it was another fantastic and blessed week :) 

My Spiritual thought: This morning I was reading a CES devotional from 2013 titled "That We Might 'Not... Shrink' " by Elder Bednar. In it he quotes Elder Maxwell from the October 1997 general conference saying, "As we confront our own... trials and tribulations, we too can plead with the Father, just as Jesus did, that we 'might not... shrink' -- meaning to retreat or to recoil. Not shrinking is much more important than surviving! Moreover, partaking of a bitter cup without becoming bitter is likewise part of the emulation of Jesus." 

I know this Gospel is true. I know Christ lives and is my Savior and your Savior. I know His Atonement is real and can and should be applied daily. 

 

I love y'all so much and I hope y'all have a blessed week and a Happy Halloween!!!

 Love always,

Sister Amy Bennett :)

 

 

Sister Bennett with her brother-in-law's cousin!  Small world!

 

 Trunk or treat fun!

Sister Bennett and Sister Pickett

Ward Trunk-or-treat Party!

 

 

Keep our focus on what the Lord HAS given us :)

Hey y'all!!!

How are y'all doing today? I am doing good!! This week has been awesome, but also crazy (as usual).

So here's the run down:
Monday was spent running around packing like a mad woman! Then in the evening we went and said goodbye to B. and then to S. and S.. With S. and S. we made cookies and then we talked about individual worth with them!!

Tuesday: Transfer day!!! We got there just in time for the meeting to start and slipped in the back. Then transfers were called out! I got transferred to Chapin!!! Chapin is a branch in the West Columbia Zone (my first zone). And my companion is Sister Pickett!! She is from Idaho and she just finished training! She is a lot of fun and funny! She is super friendly with everyone and is an awesome missionary!! So the Lord has again blessed me with an awesome area and an awesome companion! Life is good :) Chapin is only 20 minutes away from the church building transfers are held at. So we came home, ate lunch and jumped right back into the work. We saw a girl named C. She's been meeting with the missionaries for a few weeks now and is really excited to learn more. With her we read Moroni 7 and talked about gaining spiritual knowledge. Then we saw a lady named W. who was baptized in September. With her we talked about the temple because she is preparing to go do baptisms at the temple in just a few weeks! In the evening we had our branch missionary meeting which went very well. 

Wednesday: We went out to meet some people. We met a guy named T. who at first seemed very hesitant to talk with us, but then he opened up and agreed to read the Book of Mormon. So that was cool! We also met a guy named T. and we gave him a Book of Mormon and will hopefully see him again soon! Then we went and saw a lady named K. that has only met with missionaries a couple of times. We shared Moroni 10:32 quickly with her. After dinner we saw a couple named Z. and B. who were baptized in January. We talked about Christlike attributes with them. 

Thursday we had a really awesome zone service project!! Our zone went to the state fair in Columbia and assisted people that were in wheel chairs! So that was awesome!!!! In the afternoon we had a visit with a member in the branch, Sister W.! In the evening we saw a part member family. We only taught the mom (who is a less active member) named J. and her unbaptized son B. With J. and B.  we talked about our baptismal covenants from Mosiah 18. 

Friday was another awesome day! We went and did service at a place called "We Care". It's basically a food pantry. So we were in the back filling up bags of food for people. Then we saw C. again. With her we read the introduction to the Book of Mormon. Then we planned for our next week! In the evening we saw a mom and son, M. and P. We taught them about tithing and fasting! They are really cool! They want to get baptized really badly, but they have a couple things to work through first, but I am so impressed that they have a lot of desire. M. asked if she could start paying tithing before baptism. So that was cool! They have a lot of faith. 

Saturday we had more service!! We went and helped a lady named B. clean her house and start to organize her things for her. So that was good! Around her house we were able to meet a guy named D. who had talked a little bit with missionaries before. And we met a lady named L. who's grandma was actually a member of the church! In the evening we saw a couple named B. and D. and we watched a video called "He lives" with them and talked about the atonement and resurrection of Christ! 

Sunday was great! We had church and I'm already getting to learn everybody in the branch. Chapin is actually really big for a branch so that's really awesome! We meet in the Irmo building (where transfers are held) so that's pretty fun! Church was really good! In the evening we met a lady named L. and talked with her about the Book of Mormon and she told us we could come back!! Then we saw M. again! We watched a video called "Because of Him" and with them we talked about the changes they have seen in their lives as they've been meeting with the missionaries so that was super cool!!

My spiritual thought of the day: 

I read this really awesome talk this morning called "The Laborers in the Vineyard" by Elder Holland from the April 2012 general conference. He talked about the parables of  the laborers in the vineyard that is in Matthew 20:1-15. He talks a little bit about the danger of envy and he said this,

 

• "Furthermore, envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving. Obviously we suffer a little when some misfortune befalls us, but envy requires us to suffer all good fortune that befalls everyone we know! What a bright prospect that is- downing another quart of pickle juice everyt time anyone around you has a happy moment!"

 I thought it was a funny way to state a very simple truth. The Lord has given us so much, even if it doesn't look like much. And our lives truly are so much better and we can find such greater peace and happiness if we focus on what the Lord has given us, instead of what He has given others.

 

I love y'all so much! I love being a missionary! I am excited for this next transfer! And I hope y'all have a blessed week!

Love always,

Sister Amy Bennett :)

 

With new companion Sister Pickett at the State Fair :)

serving!

With former companion Sister Staheli :)

 

"The joy we feel has...everything to do with the focus of our lives."

Hey y'all!!!!

We had another big and exciting week here in Inman!!! Missionary life is just so awesome!!!

So here is the run down of the week:

Monday was p-day! We had fun playing games that J. and K. let us borrow! Then in the evening we saw S. B.! We shared 2 Nephi 32:8-9 and talked about the importance of prayer in our daily lives.

Tuesday: We saw Sister K. and had a good visit with her. Then we saw Papa J.! We taught the Law of Chastity and he is getting more and more set on being baptized- which is awesome!! Then we saw Sister M. We read out of 2 Nephi 9 with her and talked about the Plan of Salvation. Then we sang at Golden Age! In the evening we saw B. and had a really good lesson on obedience to God's commandments! Afterwards we saw the M. family and taught about the Word of Wisdom. Then we were able to stop in and briefly see a less active named A. that we hadn't been able to see in a really, really long time! So it was a full day!

Wednesday we helped out at the soup kitchen! Such a blessing! Yay!! In the afternoon we tried a lot of people who ended up not being home, but it was still good and we enjoyed being missionaries! In the evening we held our Book of Mormon class which went really well! Afterwards we had our ward missionary meeting!

Thursday: We had yoga day! Always a favorite!  Then we planned for our upcoming week! Then in the evening we saw K.! We watched the Mormon message "Life's drama" with her and talked about how we are responsible for our own actions. We then tied it in to the lesson on since we are responsible for our own actions we should use our agency to do good things! So it was good :)

Friday: We had our Zone Training Meeting!!! I was part of a really awesome musical number! It was me, Sister Coleman, Elder Guzman, and Elder Swingler (two of the Spanish elders in our district). Elder Guzman and I did a guitar duet for the accompaniment! We sang "Savior, Redeemer of My Soul." And what was extra cool was that the Spanish Elders did one of the verses in Spanish! It was just really awesome! I love THE MESSAGE! 

 Savior, Redeemer of my soul,

Whose mighty hand hath made me whole,

Whose wondrous pow'r hath raised me up

And filled with sweet my bitter cup!

What tongue my gratitude can tell,

O gracious God of Israel.

 

 Never can I repay thee, Lord,

But I can love thee. Thy pure word,

Hath it not been my one delight,

My joy by day, my dream by night?

Then let my lips proclaim it still,

And all my life reflect thy will.

 

O'errule mine acts to serve thine ends.

Change frowning foes to smiling friends.

Chasten my soul till I shall be

In perfect harmony with thee.

Make me more worthy of thy love,

And fit me for the life above.

 

 The rest of the meeting was good too! In the evening we saw J. and read 2 Nephi 31 with him and talked about baptism and enduring to the end! then we saw E. and D. and read Enos with them and talked about prayer!

Saturday: We saw R. in the morning and had a super good lesson with him about Temples. Then we saw B. We read Alma 36 with him and talked about repentance! Then we saw Papa J. again! We read 3 Nephi 11 with him so that was good! In the evening we saw the B. family! We originally planned on teaching about the priesthood, but then they had a lot of questions about the temple so we talked about that instead! So it was another good day:)

Sunday was great! We had church which is always awesome! B. and B. came! It was B.'s first time coming to church so that was really exciting! He really liked it and wants to come again :) the M. and B. families were there as well :) The other exciting thing was the ward organist is out of town, so I was asked to play the piano during sacrament meeting (luckily that was ahead of time). I was a little nervous, but it went really well :) Then we saw E. and D. again and taught them about the Plan of Salvation! Then we saw the M. family again and shared Moroni 7:16. Then we saw J. and K.! We listened to the general conference talk. "Joy and spiritual survival". so that was great :)

So it was another amazing week being a missionary!

The other news of the week is that transfers are here again! This time transfers are on Tuesday (so tomorrow) and because of that the transfer voicemail came out on Saturday. Unfortunately my name was a part of the voicemail, so that means that tomorrow I will be headed off to a new adventure! I am sad to say goodbye to all the people here that I have been working with for so long, but I am excited for the new adventure ahead of me!

For my spiritual thought today I wanted to share a quote from "Joy and Spiritual Survival" by President Nelson. During the talk he speaks on how as we focus on Christ we can find joy during our life no matter what we have going on. He says, "My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives." I know that as we put Christ as the main focus in our lives that everything else will fall into place and we will find joy come what may!

 

I love y'all so much! I am nervously excited for tomorrow! And I hope y'all have a blessed day!

Love always,

Sister Amy Bennett :)

 Saying Goodbye to J. at Yoga day!

Zone

District Fun!  

 

Too much District Fun!  ;)