Mom to Maddie - Reminder from my 12/26/16 email!! And Coming Home!

12/26/16

It was so good to SEE you and talk to you yesterday. Grandma and grandpa kept saying how good you look. I agree you look good and happy. I know there are probably still times when you doubt yourself or think of past mistakes, that is normal but remember to dismiss them right away don't let Satan stay mulling around in your head!! If you have repented you are forgiven- forgive yourself too. You are making good choices and you are following the Lord and becoming more like Him . You are doing all that the Lord asks and more. Be happy!! Know that God loves you and We love you too. Have a great week! 

I sure miss you while we are on vacation, our life back home has adjusted without you, you've been gone a few years now but this is the first family vacation without my whole family, soon it will be just me and dad:)

Love you and talk to you soon!!

Mom 

Maddie will return home in February and prepare to go to BYU-Idaho in the Fall - we are so proud of our daughter and her willingness to serve the Lord. We will be happy to have her home for a short time before she leaves again to prepare for all the wonderful things the Lord has in store for her!

Package Received!!! More school talk - worrying over nothing

1/23/17

HEY MOM!!!

YES!!! I got my package on Saturday!! It was awesome!! CHEESE!!!! and Chocolate :) a great combination ;) AND the scarf is amazing! I love it. I wore it to church yesterday :) THANK YOU!!! 

Nothing really new happening this week :( but I was surprised that my application is complete, I thought I would have to rewrite the essays but it looks like I don't have to. :) Yay!!! Now I just have to wait and see. I was also looking at apartments and I really would love to go back to the Willows but I'm not sure...But some other options I found are The Ivy, which is not as expensive as I thought it would be and the plus is that there is a shuttle, which is nice. And the other one is Royal Crest, which is the cheapest one out of the three and is at a pretty good location to everything :) I'm really not sure though, I guess I'll just have to see if I even get in the BYU-Idaho :/ 

Sorry there isn't more I've been stressing all week about write those essays and find out today that I don't even have to do them! :P Anyway, I love you and thank you for the amazing package!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you Lots, 

Sister Sanofsky 

Transfers and School Talk (already??)

1/16/17

Hey Mom! 

I'm good, everything's pretty great here in Lakewood :) Transfers aren't until the 31st of January, so you can send the package tomorrow! :) 

We found a family on our Pday because Pday only lasts from 10am until 6pm and then from 6pm till 9pm we work. That is one on the reasons that everyone is so excited about the changes happening on the 25th because there is a rumor that they are extending Pday to all day. Which would be awesome :) 

Nothing much has really happened this week. But I did start filling out the BYU-I application I need to schedule an interview with president'

Could you review some of the things I put as answers to questions they had? I'm not entirely sure I answered them correctly :)  

Oh and I'm applying for the Fall Semester. I'm not sure how the whole money thing is going to work out but I will probably have to take out loans. Also now that I don't have an active account with Capital Credit Union I was thinking about banking with another bank entirely. If I'm going to be in Idaho and anywhere else life takes me I don't want to always have to come back to Wisconsin to cash a check or anything else. So...could you look at national banks for me and choose one? I was thinking either Chase or Wells Fargo? but I am not skilled in that kind of thing especially with my limited access to anything while on my mission. Also, ultimately what would be easiest for you, the only things I know for certain now are where and when I want to go to school :) 

Anyway! can't wait to get the package :) Thank you!!! 

Love you Lots, 

Sister Sanofsky

Zone Conference Training

1/9/17

Hey Mom, 

So Monday night we found a family of four who invited us to come back. They are super nice and have had positive contact with missionaries and Mormons before. They are really involved in the church they attend currently but hopefully they can feel the Spirit and have a desire to change :) 

Tuesday we didn't have a lot of luck. We had six appointments scheduled that day and four of them cancelled on us. it was disheartening but the good thing is all of them wanted to reschedule :) 

Wednesday was super great, we had Zone Conference that day, so we met at the stake center. President Gifford and Sister Gifford were both there as were the assistants to the president, the zone leaders, and the sister training leaders. 

They all gave training on various topics. On of the topics that i really like was from the Sister Training Leaders. They read in John chapter 21;

 3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

 4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

So my take on it; A Stranger on the shore tells them to cast their nets on the other side, they do so and they have so many fish they can hardly pull it into the boat. They didn't know it was the Savior but they followed the direction anyway and were blessed. It reminds me of commandments we are given. We may not always know why they are given but our task is to be obedient and as we are obedient to the commandments we WILL be blessed. 

20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—

 21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated. (D&C 130:20-21)

ALSO news that we received at zone conference is that on January 25th there will be a Worldwide Missionary Broadcast and the Brethren will be making changes to Preparation day and the daily schedule! This is HUGE!!!!! The Goals that they want to accomplish are as follows; 

1. Increased productivity 

2. Improved health

3. Lifetime time management skills 

So anyway that's been my week :) 

Love you Lots, 

Sister Sanofsky

The power of Priesthood Blessings

1/2/17

Hey Mom!! 

So we had a good week this week, with four new investigators and meetings with a ton of Less Actives. 

First Monday night we decided to try a referral that we got form a member. Remember the funeral we went to a couple month ago, she was an older lady? Well she has two sons who are grown and have their own families. Anyway the referral was her oldest son Devin and his wife Jenny and they are so AMAZING!! They let us right in and they opened up about all the trials that have happened this year. There have been a lot of deaths in their family this year and they almost lost their youngest son at the beginning of the year (he's two) Long story short he has an immune deficiency. So he got sick and all the symptoms were a million times worse and the doctors didn't know what was wrong so they were treating the symptoms and he got sick with something else and the only antibiotic that was doing anything was this really strong one that kills anything and everything. Jenny was telling us this and she was getting teary eyed because at the time she didn't think he was going to make it. Marcia (Devin's mom who passed away) asked if men from her church could come and give him a blessing. Jenny said she thought anything would help at this point. So they came in, and gave him a blessing (Jenny described it as 'they said a prayer over him' ) and the spirit was so strong at this point, she said that after they had prayed over him, he immediately started to get better. she commented that it was a miracle. So we showed them the Mormon Message "good things to come" set a return appointment and left them with a prayer. it was a great start to the week, unfortunately their other son got the flu and they had to cancel but she said she wants to have us over again, hopefully this week. 

We also met this AWESOME Less Active woman named Barbara and guess what!!! She was a professional body builder!!!!! She is 69 and looks GREAT! But she started in her 40's, she won Miss Colorado in '87 and came 2nd for Miss Universe in '88. She showed us pictures and all of her trophies. It was really interesting :) 

We also went out tracting with one of the young women in our ward which was a lot of fun. She wants to serve a mission so it was cool to take her out with us a giver her a taste of the missionary life :)

Cole, Randi, and Tyler should ALL go out with the missionaries!! Although Tyler has to be 16 (I think) so in a couple months!!! 

Anyway that's all for this week :) 

Love you Lots, 

Sister Sanofsky 

Post Christmas Call Home:) A lesson shared.

12/26/16

Hey Mom!! 

It was really good to see you yesterday. It was weird I didn't feel very emotional at all. I just really wanted to touch and hug all of you guys :)  

Nothing really new to report. Everything's pretty much the same as it was twenty four hours ago :) 

Hope everyone is happy and going to write me over break. 

Here's a story we share with members when we have lessons with them; 

The Unmoved Rock

Once upon a time, there was a man who was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man He had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled form sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might.

Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture placing thoughts into the man’s mind such as: “You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn’t budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it.” Thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure.

These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man even more. “Why kill myself over this?” he thought. “I’ll just put in my time, giving just the minimum of effort and that will be good enough.” And that he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.

“Lord,” he said, “I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock a half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?” To this the Lord responded compassionately, “My child, when long ago I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that you task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push.

And now you come to me, your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewed and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition, you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. I, my child, will now move the rock.”  ~Source Unknown

Anyway talk to you next week :) 

Love you lots, 

Sister Sanofsky

Personal Study Blessings

12/19/16

HEY MOM!!

This week has been uneventful due to the whole shoulder thing. But I did learn a couple things in personal study as I was reading the November Ensign that has the General Conference Addresses in it. 

Elder Renlund's Talk; 

Repentance: A Joyful Choice

It talks of how "real repentance must involve faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" and that "Without the Redeemer, the inherent hope and joy evaporate, and repentance becomes simply miserable behavior modification." Faith is what makes all the difference, essentially do we trust in our Savior Jesus Christ?

Elder Renlund quotes President Packer, "The Atonement leaves no tracks, no traces. What it fixes is fixed...It just heals, and what it heals stays healed...The Atonement, which can reclaim each of us, bears no scars. That means that no matter what we have done or where we have been or how something happened, if we truly repent, [the Savior] has promised that He would atone. And when He atoned, that settled that...The Atonement...can wash clean every stain no matter how difficult or how long or how many times repeated." 

Another quote, this time by William Shakespeare, 

"What win I, if I gain the thing I seek? 

A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy. 

Who buys minute's mirth to wail a week, 

Or sells eternity to get a toy?"

"The fact that we can repent is the good news of the gospel!" 

-Elder Renlund

That's all for this week :) 

Lots of Love, 

Sister Sanofsky

Ward Christmas Party!

12/12/16

Hey Mom!!

So...I'm STAYING in Bear Creek with...SISTER SMITH!!!!! Three transfers in a row!!! CRAZY!!! 

The Concert was great, it was the Lakewood Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Mormon Chorale and the Rocky Mountain Bell Rings. They all did a very good job and there was a church there, St. Rafka, and all the proceeds and donations went to them to help their mission of hope in the middle east. helping Christian refugees in the middle east that have lost their homes or loved ones. It's pretty cool. The music was amazing and it really makes me want to be in choir again :( 

We had a Mission Tour with Elder Grow, of the Seventy, this past Friday and it was super cool, he is very spiritual (obviously) but also very funny :) we were giving new instruction on how to plan and set goals. So before when we would set goals for the week we would always put a one for those who are being baptized and confirmed in the coming week. But this training from Elder Grow actually says that if we don't have a baptism we should put ZERO, and in turn plan that particular goal for the entire transfer. So long story short Sister Smith and I both prayed and when we were finished we both said at the same time that we would have 2 baptisms in week 5!! WOW!! It was super cool and so now we are trying to find those people are suppose to be baptized in the next couple of weeks! It definitely helps with motivation, because now you know when it is going to happen and you know that people are definitely prepared, you just have to find them. 

Ward Christmas Party. SO we were elves (see attached pictures) and it was super fun! SO story time. There was this homeless guy named Randy, who was living in his car and was in the parking lot when people started to show up. A member of our ward Bro. Jones walks over to him and invites him to join us and have a warm meal. He agrees and joins us for the party. At the end he is given leftovers and President Carter (1st counselor in stake presidency) ends up talking with him about a picture in the hall way. It's the one of Joseph Smith and the First Vision. And we join in on the conversation and end up giving Randy a Book of Mormon and our number. we were talking and he expressed that he was very impressed and it reminds him of how he needs to treat others. It was super cool!! 

That was pretty much our week, nothing too exciting ;) 

Anyway, 

Lots of LOVE, 

Sister Sanofsky :) 

P.S. Did Cole, Randi, and Tyler get my letters?

Happy companions and new hair color for Maddie

Christmas Elves and A Snake?!

12/5/16

SUP MOM!! :) 

First, we are focusing on and reading a lot of Repentance chapters for our upcoming Zone Conference. Elder Grow of the Seventy will be there, and is giving instruction on teaching Repentance and Conversion using the Book of Mormon. SO...we (meaning Sister Smith and I) are reading in the Book of Mormon in Alma 26!! And it's amazing!!! you should definitely check it out. 

Also check out the talk by Jeffrey R Holland called 'Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence" It's fabulous also :) 

Had Stake Conference this weekend it was pretty great learned a lot and we were able to have 2 investigators come to both the adult session and the Sunday morning session. It was Awesome. 

this week is going to be super busy with service and this huge Lakewood Christmas concert and we have our ward Christmas party this coming Saturday (Sister Smith and I are going to be Santa's Elves) AND transfers are next week. Not sure what's going to happen but don't send anything as I'm not sure if I'll be going or staying. I'll let you know next Monday. 

Nothing else is really coming to mind and I forgot to write down the things that happened this week. SORRY :) 

Love you as always, 

Sister Sanofsky

PICS:

Sister Anderson gave us stuff for our elf costumes and the last one is of me holding a snake :) 

Thanksgiving and a little Homesick!

11/28/16

HEY MOM!!! 

So Happy Thanksgiving!! We had a great Thanksgiving with the Thomson Family they are great and we had a lot of yummy food :) I got a little homesick that night and cried for a bit before falling asleep. I'm not sure why I got homesick, probably just remembering being with family this same time last year. I'm SO glad I only have to endure one holiday season on my mission, It's really difficult. 

On Wednesday we visited Sister Norris and she has a 2 year old named Olivia and Olivia has this baby doll that is scary real, i will attach a picture, but it looks like a real baby so Sister Smith and I just had to hold it :) 

On Friday we had dinner with the Brody Family and they are awesome, they have a fifteen year old daughter named Bronwyn who reminds me a lot of Miranda, in the fact that she doesn't really like physical touch especially hugs of any kind. So as a punishment they would set an amount of time that she would have to hug them. And if she didn't do as she was told the first time they would continue to add time until it got to a family group hug :) I suggest doing that with Miranda, see what happens :) 

So we had exchanges this week, which is where two companionships exchange companions for the day. It's super fun and we get to know other sisters in the Zone. 

YUP... I think that's it :) 

Lots of Love, 

Sister Sanofsky

1. Picture I drew for Olivia, It's her and Anna and Elsa :) 

2. LOOK a BABY

3. It's fake!! 

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