ASKING FOR HELP - NOT AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS!

11/21/16

HEY MOM!

Okay so this past Saturday we attended a funeral for an older lady in the ward who hadn't been able to attend much the past few years because of cancer and other health problems. But she pasted away and the funeral was very well done, not a ton a people there but it was still very good. I don't know if I told you this but about a month ago, we went to another funeral for a young girl who was 21 and died of an asthma attack. She wasn't really active in the church and there were a ton of people there both members who knew her when she was younger and her friends who knew her recently. Both were very sad and at the same time full of hope, because at both funerals the plan of salvation was mentioned and emphasis was made on the life that both of them had lived. In both there was also the comment to look at your own lives and what you have done and how you can make your life better, in memory of the ones you have lost. All very emotional but I realized that no matter who you are, when you die, or what life you have lived the Plan of Salvation is still the same and we will still be able to see our loved ones again.

So last week, Saturday, we (Sister Smith and I) where asked by a member of the bishopric to speak in sacrament meeting this past Sunday. My topic was "Finding answers to your own gospel questions" So long story short I could not come up with anything and it was super stressful and so it's the night before and I am asking Sister Smith what she thinks and she tells me I should pray about it since I want to receive an answer to my question. And me and my prideful self are like "NO I don't wanna" when the rational part of my brain is like, "that's a good idea and could really help this process along." so after going back and forth for a good hour I FINALLY got on my knees and said a prayer. And after that the words came easily and I was able to finish my talk that night. Fast forward to yesterday morning when we are giving our talks in sacrament and I use some of the scriptures from the talk that I had written but all in all I didn't really use my notes at all. It's really cool and really frustrating at the same time. Cool because I know that it was by the spirit because I can't even remember what I said, but frustrating because I can't remember what I said. Oh well at least I made some people cry and I could definitely feel the spirit while Sister Smith and I were speaking. 

Okay so Wednesday was 70 degrees and then Thursday morning it dropped to 30 and started snowing!!!!!!!!!! It's gone now but it was so COLD!!! I stand by my statement that I do not like snow :( 

Nothing much else has happened this week, and since this week will be a holiday week we will be doing a lot of service. Since people don't really like it when we knock on there doors and they are trying to spend time with family and have Thanksgiving dinner :) 

LOVE YOU LOTS, 

Sister Sanofsky :)

COMP FEELING BETTER / LESS ACTIVE WORK IS HARD

11/14/16

HEY MOM!!!! 

I got your letter! We went home last Monday and it was sitting in the mailbox, but I got it!!! 

And Sister Smith is feeling a lot better. It's been great, and I haven't gotten sick yet and probably wont get sick, at least not by her.

Things in Denver are good. It still hasn't clicked in my head that the temple is fifteen minutes away. People talk about going to the temple and I think "Oh, you are going to be gone all day. Stuck in the car for 6 hours" But it's really not and I just can't wrap my brain around that! :P 

SO about our week, the mission has shifted focus to helping the ward and reactivating less active members. So we have been visiting a lot of less active members this past week. It's interesting the different responses that we get, some are "we don't want anything to do with the church, not interested" or they invite us in and tell us how much they love missionaries. It's like they consider themselves Mormon but don't come to church. Which when we teach them is frustrating because they, for some reason, aren't willing to admit to themselves that they aren't actually doing what they are suppose to. 

Also is Miranda doing one of the BYU softball camps this coming summer? I was talking with a member a couple nights ago and one of their daughters wanted to play softball at BYU, and he said the most important thing you could do is go to the camp, because BYU doesn't really do the whole recruiting thing because of the honor code and standards that you have to uphold. They just let players come to them. Anyway, yeah...just so you know. ;) 

But yeah that's all for this week :)

Love you Lots, 

Sister Sanofsky

ARE YOU THERE? AND ARE YOU SEEING WHAT I'M SEEING? SWEET!!!

11/7/16

So I haven't heard from you in awhile, starting to think you don't love me????

please see Alma 60:6

In other news, I forgot to tell you last week, but we got transfer news this past Saturday, I can't believe it's already been six weeks, it has flown by SO fast, it's crazy! But anyway, we got transfer news..and...I'm staying, in Bear Creek, with Sister Smith. YAY!!!! 

Hey I got a letter from Miranda! It was crazy, I opened the mail box and it was weird in the first place, because I don't usually get letters, then I saw the handwriting, and I thought 'that kind of looks like Miranda's handwriting, weird.' And then it turned out it was from her and that she's SUPER serious about serving a mission! That's AWESOME!!!! So I wrote a LONG reply pretty quickly and dropped it in the mail Thursday, I think. So it should be there soon. 

Speaking of letters, did you ever get the letter I sent awhile ago with the pictures of all of us and of Cole at his baptism and the short letter I sent with? Just wondering. 

Also, is there snow yet in Wisconsin?! We haven't gotten snow yet for the past month or so, it's been in the low 60s, sometimes high 60s, super sunny and not a snowflake in sight. The people don't really like it right now because they want to go skiing and it's not even cold enough in the mountains for them to make snow. But as missionaries it's GREAT for tracting! :) 

So I may have said this in my last letter but last Saturday Sister Smith had to go to Urgent Care (so I totally didn't know that these were a thing, are they in Wisconsin too?) and they said she had bronchitis. So we had to stay inside because Sister Smith was REALLY sick and that didn't get over till about Friday evening. She is still coughing and gets tired easily but she is on the mend and we were able to work Saturday and Sunday. We were able to talk to people, although no new investigators as of yet.

Also did you have Regional Conference yesterday, where Elder Rasband spoke and there was a lot of talk about temples? If so we were watching the same thing at the same time!!! SWEET!!!! 

Yup so I think that's everything. This week has been uneventful, but I'm sure I will have more to tell next week.

Lots of Love, 

Sister Sanofsky

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

10/31/16

Hey Mom, 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!! 

So the first part of this week was AMAZING, we were able to contact a lot of less-actives and we found a family of four to teach!!!! YAY!!!!! Her name is Kaylee and she is a single mom with three teenage daughters. We have a return appointment with them tomorrow! 

So then most of this week Sister Smith has been really sick so we went to the doctor on Saturday and it turns out that she has Bronchitis :P so she's on medication that makes her really sleepy and she is really tired and so we haven't been able to do much but that is okay because a plus side to all of this is that the members are being really nice to us. We can definitely feel the love!!! It's AMAZING!!!!! 

So yeah I lot of catching up on paper work and things, just trying to keep busy. :) Other than that not much going on, what about you?

Lots of Love, 

Sister Sanofsky

Maddie Learns a Lesson! (and I have to say Wow!! I'm so impressed by her)

10/24/16

HEY MOM!!!!! 

FIRST: Thank you SO much for the package, it was SO much fun to open! And the salsa didn't break in transit!! YAY!!!!!! And thank you for the gift cards, you didn't need to but they are greatly appreciated :) And you'll be happy to know I've already decorated our apartment, Thank you!!! :) LOVE YOU SO MUCH. (I brag about you all the time to my companions, they all know how amazingly wonderful you are!) I Love You!!!!!

FYI: Sister Smith and I were both wearing jeans/pants because we were going around that day raking people's leaves and we didn't have dinner that night and we were wondering what we were going to do, when Sister Harper opens the door and said because we raked her leaves the least she could do was feed us :) So we helped bake treats and make dinner, it was DELICIOUS!!!! 

So yeah...I have been thinking a lot about school. Well not a lot, a lot but it just kind of kept coming up, So I was really adamant that I would not go back to BYU-Idaho, my fear was that I didn't want to place myself back in that same environment only to get the same results. At fist with Sister Davis I wanted to go to a Washington school, maybe stay with her or family or something but then that really didn't feel right so then I thought, okay what about a Wisconsin school, you know instate tuition and all. That idea was immediately shut down, I know they are good schools but it felt like I was taking a step down. I don't know but the only way I may consider UW schools is for my graduate program. (UW Milwaukee and Madison have #8 and #9 in the top 10 for the Library Sciences Graduate Program that I want, Boston is #1 :) ) anyway, then I'm like, okay I need a church oriented (sort of) school that is not BYU. So then I was thinking Snow or maybe Southern Virginia, or even UVU. After much prayer and fasting (hehehe I sound like the scriptures) :) my answer was basically 'you know where you need to be' and I thought, 'Are you SERIOUS, do you want me to fail! AGAIN!!!' I wasn't very happy. But like I said, I've learned a lot on my mission and it FINALLY hit me. BYU-Idaho is perfect, it was perfect when I first went and it is still the perfect school for me. The thing was that I just wasn't ready yet. And that ultimately if I hadn't of gotten the results that I did I wouldn't be here. I would not have given a mission a second thought, it was not in my plans until it was one of my only options. The Lord knows me and He knows what will make me the most happy and now I finally am willing to accept that the mission has changed me, ALREADY!! I was thinking all the variables were the same but they're not! it is the same school, same major, same campus, same honor code, but it's not the same ME!! I'M NOT THE SAME!! :D So that's were I will go and now I know how to talk to Him and I know He will be there with me every step of the way, I just have to let Him. 

Anyway that's all :) 

LOVE YOU, 

Sister Sanofsky

Fort Collins has a New Temple:)!

10/17/16

Hey Mom, 

Oh! I'm a fire pincher! Hehehe you know when you have an open flame, on a candle or something, and you lick your fingers and put it out? I did that!! It was so cool, and scary :) Anyway yeah...what missionaries do for fun :) 

Fyi...If anyone wants to send me anything and wants to know what i want, say...gift cards!!! :) Specifically to Michaels, King Soopers, Walgreens (for pictures) and Starbucks (not for coffee, I swear :) just hot chocolate, it's going to get cold pretty soon) 

So Yesterday was...Your BIRTHDAY!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! And it was also the Fort Collins Colorado Temple Dedication. So Backtracking a bit, Saturday night was the Cultural Celebration, that was really cute and super fun. I kind of went in with high expectations, and so I had to adjust those about ten minutes in :) but it was really good. And then the dedication on Sunday. President Uchtdorf was presiding and offered the dedicatory prayer. There was a choir and speakers, who all in some way or another made me really want to go to the temple :( and I can't! although if I stay Metro Side another transfer I'll be able to go! (missionaries go, once every other transfer) They talked about pitching your tents toward the temple and ultimately that means directing our families towards eternal life. Because it is in these sacred temples that we receive ALL of the covenants and ordinances in order for us to receive eternal life in our Father's Kingdom. To prepare ourselves to make promises regarding the higher law we have been given is something we should readily strive for. "It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance" (D&C 131:6) and that "The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth" (D&C 93:36) so in essence the more we know and learn the better prepared we will be to enter into the Kingdom of God. 

So I have been reading Jesus the Christ for the past two months or so, and I just have to say it is AMAZING! Best Book Ever!!! Anyway I was reading a couple days ago and it mentioned when Christ says 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect' and that always kind of confused me, and so many people have different interpretation, but James E Talmage says this "[This] cannot rationally be construed otherwise than as implying the possibility of such achievement. Plainly, however, man cannot become perfect in mortality in the sense in which God is perfect as a supremely glorified Being." so basically Christ, in the way that he said this statement, implies that it is achievable, but we can't expect to become a perfect supremely glorified Being when we are still mortal. He goes on to say "It is possible, though, for man to be perfect in his sphere in a sense analogous to that in which superior intelligences are perfect in their several spheres; yet the relative perfection of the lower is infinitely inferior to that of the higher." So both may be perfect but because of the difference in intelligence they are different kinds of perfect. Talmage gives a great example "A college student in his freshman or sophmore year may be perfect as a freshman or sophmore; his record may possibly be a hundred per cent on the scale of efficiency and achievement; yet the honors of the upper classman are beyond him, and the attainment of graduation is to him remote, but of assured possibility, if he do but continue faithful and devote to the end." Isn't that so cool! we cannot be expected to be perfect as a supreme glorified Being is perfect, but we can be perfect in our own spheres. And, like the college freshman, as we continue forward, as we continue progressing, we have the opportunity and likely possibility of achieving graduation. As we keep the commandments perfectly and when we mess up, we can sincerely repent, using the Atonement that has been given to us by our loving Heavenly Father and Elder Brother, and our sins WILL be forgiven, we can move forward, continuing our journey 'faithful and devoted to the end'. :) 

Like I said, BEST BOOK EVER!! 

LOVE YOU LOTS, 

Sister Sanofsky

P.S. In the Halloween package, if you haven't sent it yet, I have a request. Red Gold salsa (mild) from Woodmans, Colorado doesn't have the same, wonderful selection as Woodmans. :( 

Lakewood Stake Needs the Sisters!!

10/10/16

SO the walls were painted in our apartment, we got a new shower and the counters were re-done AND new carpets and tile flooring!!! It's SO nice! We love it! I'll have to send you pictures next time but it is so great! 

Blog? So I got an email from Kiana and it said that the blog hasn't been updated in forever, so just a reminder :) love you mom!!! you're the best!!!! 

<3 WE HAVE A 2016 FORD FUSION, it is AMAZING!!!! I want that kind of car when I get older!!! and it's BLUE!!!!! I'll send pictures eventually :) 

So almost the entire Lakewood Stake has been whitewashed and it's been mostly whitewashed with Sisters, where Elders had been before. And so we go to the meet the members and get to know them and they say "Well you know it's bad, when they send in the Sisters" :) that just made me happy...cuz sisters are AWESOME!!!! 

So the Halloween package...hmmmm...decorations would be cute...could you send an orange and black maxi skirt, that I can wear on Halloween(or something that is just halloween-y but still missionary)  :) OH and obviously candy ;) preferably things that wont melt in transit. 

We went hiking at Red Rocks today!!! (sending postcard) It was a lot of fun! So there is this thing called the Red Rocks Amphitheater, you should look it up, it's cool, but it's super pretty and we went with the Thomson's. It was lots of fun and a ton of people, famous people, have performed there. 

We also had our interviews with President Gifford this past Wednesday and I have my special temple recommend for the temple dedication on SUNDAY!! I'm SO excited! It's going to be awesome! and spiritual, but still Awesome! :)  

So here in this area it's a lot of working with the members, gaining their trust and working with Less Actives and Part Member Families. We really aren't pushed to go tracting, like, at all. Because most of the time nothing ever comes of it, we just do it to show the Lord our willingness to put in the work. 

Anyway that's all for now. 

Lots of Love, 

Sister Sanofsky

No Bed and The MIRACLE of Food Storage!!

10/3/16

Hey Mom!!! 

So I'm in Bear Creek on the Metro Side. So I got to Metro and met my new companion Sister Smith. She's awesome but we are whitewashing and we are staying in an apartment missionaries have never lived in before, so there was only a table and two chairs in the apartment when we got there. SO...the first night we slept on the floor because, NO BEDS!!! 

But the next day was pretty great, we planned most of the day because we had no idea what we were doing but then we had dinner with the Anderson's, they are SO missionary minded, and they invited Trevor and Sia (Trevor is a member, Sia is not) So we had a fabulous dinner, and then a lesson afterwards! Because they are expecting a baby, in THREE WEEKS!! we decided to share The Family A Proclamation to the World. The Spirit was so STRONG!!! IT was amazing!!!!!!! such a miracle. 

And then we mentioned that we didn't have anything in our apartment, Sister Anderson insisted that we go shopping in her basement, which if you haven't already guessed is full of food storage! we ended up taking two huge boxes home full of food and laundry stuff and kitchen utensils, ANOTHER MIRACLE!!!! 

We haven't had a whole bunch of work this past week, because we are just trying to get settled but the members are amazing and we were able to watch every session of conference at a different members house!!!! 

Oh did you get the pictures of us at the Thomson's on Dad's phone!!! 

I'm glad you got the letter, I can't wait until you open it! 

It's nice having a good impact on my siblings when for so long I wasn't a very good example. I'm glad they notice and it's helping me too! so it's a win-win!!! :) 

I need pictures of the deck!!! But it's weird, things are getting done and your getting new things after I leave :P 

Anyway Lots of Love, 

Sister Sanofsky

DRUM ROLL PLEASE.......I'M GOING METRO!! WOOT! WOOT!!

9/26/16

HEY MOM!!!! 

So we got transfer news this past Saturday night and.....drum roll please....I'm getting transferred! Yup, I've already begun packing and am still not sure how to deal with the news, it doesn't really seem really but oh well. So I'm getting transferred to the Bear Creek Ward which is in Lakewood, so I'm going to basically be in Denver. METRO!!! WOOT WOOT!!!! 

So yeah, Homecoming was also this past week and so on Friday night the College students (I'm pretty sure) set the W on fire!!!! it was so cool. see picture below. 

Here is a picture of me and my companion, SISTER WEBSTER!!!! aren't we hilarious. :) 

And oh my goodness gunnison and the surrounding area is absolutely gorgeous in the fall and it's like a mix between winter and fall, because there is snow on the top of the mountains and then right below is the changing leaves :) so great! 

We also met a new investigator named Cindy who is a freshman at Western this year and Sister Webster met her on the street on exchanges. and we had a return appointment with her yesterday and it went super well. The spirit was so strong and afterward she said that this was a sign and that she felt really good, like a sense of relief or a burden was lifted off her shoulders. It was pretty cool and can't wait to hear about how she progresses from Sister Webster, since I will be leaving for Metro tomorrow. :)

Anyway that's all for this week, 

Love you Lots, 

Sister Sanofsky

Transfers Coming and Pizza Waffles???

9/19/16

Hey Mom!!1

Okay so transfers are this next Tuesday, September 27^th. Sister Webster both have the feeling that we are getting whitewashed, or in other words we are both leaving Gunnison which is kinda sad but it is what it is. And you are right the Fall is absolutely gorgeous here, with the mountains and all the trees turning colors, although I do miss the abundance of leaves in Wisconsin. 

So the Nelson’s (Sister Betty Nelson took the pictures of me) have Waffles every Sunday afternoon and we, as the sister missionaries, have a standing invitation to join the YSA and newly married couples for waffles. So it’s waffles for lunch every Sunday!!!! The 1^st week was chocolate cake batter waffles, 2^nd week pizza waffles, and this last week was churro waffles, YUM!!! 

Also there is this thing called Family History Night that the Branch does the third Sunday of every month. It’s basically this class where people can learn to do and learn about their family history. And it’s not at the church building so I think non-members will feel more comfortable coming. 

Oh and we have been doing service this week for the Wardleighs. Sister Wardleigh wants to put grass down in her pasture and so we have been digging out all the rocks so it’ll be easier for the grass to grow come spring. There are a TON of rocks, it’s ridiculous!!!!! 

So yeah that's about it for this week, there isn't really much else to report. Talk to you next Monday, and by then I'll have transfer news :) 

Lots of Love, 

Sister Sanofsky

New investigators/Branch BBQ/Sisterly Advice

9/12/16

HEY MOM!!!!!

So this week was cool we found a new investigator, her name is Celeste and she has a daughter who is 11. So at the church that they are currently attending they don't offer a youth program of any kind and so her daughter is going to come to activity days. Celeste remembers going to those kinds of things with friends when she used to live in Utah and is excited for her daughter to have the same opportunity. YAY!!!!! So yeah I hopes on that front. 

We also were able to make contact with a less active, her name is Elena. she is struggling with addiction right now, going through withdrawals and such. But she sincerely wants to turn her life around and be a better mother for her children. It's really cool to see her desire and want to change, it definitely makes it easier to teach someone when they have the sincere desire to repent and change their life. It reminds me of why I love being a missionary, and that we aren't dragging people to the font or to repent, but we are their guides on this journey that they are taking and we are here to show them the path and help them to stay there so that they can receive eternal life, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God. 

Also we (Sister Webster and I) got a call Saturday night at 9:30pm from our Branch President asking us if we would both give talks on Sunday, as in the next day! I have now proven to myself that I can write a talk in one hour :) I used the Conference talk "Do I Believe?" by Sister Bonnie Oscarson. You should read it, it's AMAZING!!!! 

Then on Saturday we had a Branch BBQ which was delicious and Elena was able to come and make friends and socialize in the Branch outside of church. p.s. we had BBQ Pulled Pork! It was Delicious!!!!! 

Has Kordell decided what he is doing? school? mission? 

Also do you get emails from Elder Richards (Steven)? if so can you forward them to me it's been six months and I would like to know how his mission has been going?

So yeah for Cole I'm not really sure, First he should pray about it. But in my opinion mission would be good first for him but if he really does want to do school first, to try sticking to doing only a couple semesters. so you're not too far along in your major and can leave easily. 

Anyway talk to you next week!! 

Love you Lots, 

Sister Sanofsky

the Atonement is AMAZING! (and so is my daughter!!!)

9/5/16

HELLO MOM!!! 

I can't believe that Taz died!!! I cried a little bit, it seems kinda surreal. But I guess deep down I kinda knew it was a possibility. 

Sorry my letters have been short there really isn't much to talk about, we currently have no one to teach and we basically tract every single day and no one wants to talk to us and if they do they never want to continue. It's kinda depressing, the only interesting thing that we do during the week is service. We help out at the food pantry, giving out food, or at six points which is a thrift store. Where we hang clothes and sort and price and stuff. So that's nice, but other than that we really don't do much else. It's kinda hard to feel like a missionary when you don't teach very often. :( But this week we are changing things up and focusing our efforts on strengthening the members. Hopefully that bears some fruit but if not, it's back to the drawing board. 

Also there is this poem/prose piece that was shared at district meeting, it's called The Room by Joshua Harris. You should look it up, it's really good! Anyway I really love the picture it paints of the Atonement. I've been thinking about the Atonement a lot this week and I've come to a decision...the Atonement is AMAZING!!! It is the center to this entire gospel, it allows us to change for the better. There is this phrase that we use in the mission, it's "don't just change your behavior, change your nature." meaning anyone can change their outward behavior, but as we use the Atonement and truly Repent (go through a change of heart) we can change on the inside too (our nature) It shows that Christ will not condemn us for our thoughts and actions, he will cry with us and then take those things from us, he has already paid the price. He KNOWS us and KNOWS how to help us to overcome those trials and tribulations. It also really brings into focus that everything we think and say, whether we remember it or not, is recorded. It has definitely made me more aware of the things I say and do. 

Anyway that's it for this week, again sorry. 

Love you Lots, 

Sister Sanofsky

BIG NEWS from BYU-i friends

8/29/16

HEY MOM!! 

Okay so big news Christina is getting married!!!!! IN OCTOBER!!!!! :( i'M HAPPY AND SAD ALL AT THE SAME TIME!!!! Her fiances name is John (I think...not sure on that one) and they look good together and she is really happy from what I can tell.SO I guess I'm happy if she is happy :) So they are getting sealed together for time and all eternity in the Louisville, Kentucky Temple :) 

I'm glad the wedding went well :) and it looks so pretty (but wow that's a lot of bridesmaids) 

So I think I mentioned Diana last week but she dropped us it was kinda sad even though we only met her once. She said she was just gonna stick to what she knows and stuff like that. 

But no I haven't run into to Martin yet, we tried to look him up in the phone book but there is no one in there by the name Klinowski. 

We don't get to go to the Fort Collins open house because it is out of our mission but on October 16th (Your Birthday!!) the stake centers will be turned into extensions of the temple and we will be able to attend that :) It should be really fun, I'm excited :) 

Still haven't gotten those letters yet that I was promised :( will be expecting  them this week :) 

Anyway I think that's it, until next week!! 

LOTS OF LOVE, 

Sister Sanofsky