Merry Christmas!

Hey everybody! So this is my letter once again this week. Next week I should be getting stamps, but I do like emailing though. Anyway! I had a great Christmas with Sister Bode and Sister Stiger and her daughter Ciara. I love the clothes that I got, it makes it fun. :) I went to a funeral this morning, so I am in a funky mood. Sorry. There is no snow in El Paso! Yay! I'm loving it! So I got a Christmas card from Mike and Chelsea...she's pregnant again! Why has no one told me? I feel so left out of everything! Whatever. It was great talking to all of you on Christmas, I still feel as if I saw all of you yesterday. So after I called you we went to the RS presidents (Sister Richardson) for lunch, and we played games and had a lot of fun. Then we went to the Flemings house, he is in the stake presidency. That was fun too,they have all older kids, so it was nice to have conversation. Did I tell you about Zone Conference? It was great! Elders Gibson and Webb did a fantastic job of singing what child is this, and they did awesome on Sunday when they sang it again. Our talent show was fun. I have some pictures, but I don't feel like emailing them right now. You will have to wait till next week. :) Sister Bode and I got $50 from a lady in the ward out here, so we used it to buy one of our investigators Christmas. It was so worth it! :) The lady hasn't been progressing very much but we taught her today and she had read! It was so exciting! So we are hoping that she will be baptized soon! Sister Bode told me that last night she prayed that Melinda (the lady) would have a desire to read. And she did! It's definitely a faith promoter. We went tracting a few days ago, and we found this lady named Ofelia. We asked her a few questions, and we got onto the topic of eternal families. So Sister Bode gave her a watered down version of the Restoration and how we can have eternal families. Before we explained things we asked her if there was a number we could contact her at, and she kind of sidestepped a bit. But after we explained how she can be with her husband forever, she actually gave us 2 numbers we could reach her at! It was interesting because just a few minutes before we kind of had no faith that people were going to listen to us the day after Christmas. But I tried to change my outlook and told Sister Bode that we were out there looking for God's children who were ready for the gospel. And then we found Ofelia. It was awesome! We still need to go back, but we feel like she is looking but doesn't know it.

Thanks everyone for the Christmas card you sent me! I enjoyed it. And thanks again for the presents! I don't know what else to say at the moment, but keep writing me! I love you all!

 

Love

Sister Stolp

 

ps. annie and julia, sorry i wasn't able to talk to you on the phone, the connection was bad somehow. but send me pictures of the girls! i'm sure they are huge by now! love you both. i hope you had fun in cali julia. :)

Happy B-Day to Juju

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIA!!!!!!!!!!!!
How was your birthday today? What are you having for dinner? Are you at home right now or are you still living at your apartment over the holidays? The choir class I was in was the University Choral...I think. I had Steve Durschti (?) for my teacher and he was awesome! You should take him. El Paso weather is awesome! There is no snow and it is so warm! It's always in the 60's or higher and I love it! I haven't even had to wear my big coat yet! Yay! How was the Christmas program at church? Did you go to the 14th ward program? How was the school church christmas program? We are having Zone Conference tomorrow, and I am singing in a doublish quartet (I think we are lacking the 8th person), we are singing the prayer of the children. And it sounds awesome so far! And I'm playing What Child Is This for 2 elders to sing a duet, it sounds good, they have to sing it in church next sunday also. One elder is wayyy nervous! But he is good and can sing on key, so that's all that really matters. :) And Sister Bode got sick, so we aren't singing lead kindly light anymore. One of the elders wants me to sing a medley that he hasn't written yet that he is playing on the guitar, so we will see how that goes.
OK, so I guess this letter will be the letter home this week. Oh my goodness! So yesterday we were filling up gas in our car and a lady approached me, she was wearing a dress and looked religious. So she started talking to me and said she came up to me because she saw my tag. So I was like Ok, I'll listen to her, I know what it's like. So she shoved this booklet in my face about her religion, so I asked if I could give her one of our pamphlets. She started making noises like she was fishing for an excuse for not taking our stuff. Then she said that she couldn't take our material because I didn't approach her, but she can only give me her stuff because she approached me. It was so lame! So I asked her why she couldn't take my stuff, and she again said that I didn't approach her. Then she asked me if I believed in the Bible. I said I did, but I really wanted to know why she couldn't take ours. So I asked her again if it was against her religion to take our material. She said no, but said that same thing that when I approached her then she could accept our material. I was so mad! But boy did she want to get out of there, she didn't give me enough time to reply to anything and she left. But after I got in the car I was thinking I should have told her that I couldn't take her material unless she accepted mine. Grrr... So when we got home I was flipping through her booklet and I just got really mad! I have looked through their stuff before, and it just reaffirmed what I was thinking back then. They have NO stance on ANYTHING. They do not talk about salvation or authority or how I can develop a relationship with God or Jesus Christ. I was fuming! Their stuff is so shallow! It just shows me how true our church is. We talk about Jesus Christ and who He is and how we can return to live with Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ and His atonement. Grrr...JW's make me so mad. I respect them to a point, but they really have no religion. It's so dumb. In their material they ask the stupidest questions and talk about the stupidest things. One thing was a fact and fiction. One was is Satan real? Fact. Is Jesus Christ and God equal. Fiction! Is there a spirit realm. Fiction! I got so mad that I threw the booklet in the garbage. No one can tell me that the Spirit realm is fiction! I really want to ask them the next time I see a JW is: where is my mom then if you don't believe in life after death? I want to see her again! It makes me so mad! There is no hope in that church! I am so grateful that I have the knowledge that I do, I don't have to worry about losing hope or anything like that. Everytime I make a mistake and I think that I can't be forgiven because what I did was so wrong, I have to remind myself "Sister Stolp, if you understand the Atonement like you think you do, then Heavenly Father will forgive you for what you did and you can do better next time." I actually was thinking of that on Sunday. It's a new day to start. I am taking the Sacrament and this week I am going to stop all of those things that I know I am doing wrong. It was actually a good feeling. It really does help me understand my investigators better I think what I try to think OK, they don't know that they can be forgiven of their sins. They have probably given up hope and that's why they have a hard time accepting the gospel. So it does give me a better perspective. And I have to be able to forgive myself and not look back on what I did. I do have to remember though that I did do something wrong and that I need to fix it, but I can't dwell on it and always think that I'm a bad person. Anyway! I think I understand better now why I was put in this mission. I know it's not the hardest, but it's definitely not the easiest. If I stayed on the rez, it would have been to easy. Heavenly Father wanted me to have these experiences to grow and to learn what I truly do believe in. I don't know where my life would have gone without my mission.
I hope you all have a great Christmas, and I will call home around 11am on Christmas morning. I hope you're there Julia! Love you! Love you all! Love, Sister Stolp

Good Times

Hey everybody! So this week has gone by reeeaaallllyyyyyy slow. But we got a new car and a new district leader and a new elder in the ward. :) We are getting ready for our zone conference next week. I am playing the reflextion version of Come thou Fount and Elder Webb is doing a solo. It will be fun! And then I'm playing What Child is This and Elder Webb and his new companion Elder Gibson are singing a duet. Yay! And me and Sister Bode are singing Lead Kindly Light. And I think there is going to be a double quartet, I will be singing alto and Sister Bode will singing soprano. It will be fun! Get this so my old district leader was Elder Gibb, now my district leader is Elder Gibby, and Elder Gibson replaced Elder Gibb. CRAZY!

So this has been on my mind since I got on the computer...but I got an email from Kathy Campos...Reg has been convicted and is in prison in Gunnison Ut from 3 years to life. I am so shocked! I can't believe that he was convicted. It was so apparent that he was not trying to kill this guy. He was defending his daughter for crying out loud! But Kathy said that Reg is a different person and that he has changed for the better. He is looking towards the Lord and is drawing strength from Christ. I am so grateful that he doesnt' have a bitter heart and that this is softening him. I hope that Kathy is being taken care of, she has to sell the house and go back to school. She told me that everyone is doing fine, but this trial is very hard to carry. I really wish I could be there right now to help them. I think this is the only time on my mission that I wish I was home...but I'm not coming home because I know this is where Heavenly Father wants me, and I'm positive that they are being blessed. But I do still worry about them.

 

Annie, sounds like you guys had a great Thanksgiving! I'm glad that you guys are doing well. I loved your letter that you wrote me a few weeks ago, sorry I haven't replied to it yet. It really made me think about how there are still miracles here on earth. Sometimes I wonder why He couldn't have saved mom, but then I think yes, He did save her. Because He was resurrected, she will be resurrected and perfected. So then I don't worry to much about the past. Same with Allen, sometimes I wish that Jesus could come down right now and heal Allen, but then I think, yes, He will heal Allen, all in good time. But that was a cool story about that lady!

By the way Julia, the boys look great! I'm sure they wish they all had real six-packs. Haha! Good make up job! Valeries hair is so long! I can't wait to see your daughters Annie! Vanessa is so funny! "only a little one mommy" HAHAHAHA!!!!!! She's so naughty! Hahaha! I want babies to cuddle with! I haven't held a kid in a loooong time. But I can wait a little longer. :)

 

So I will be calling on Christmas around 11am, I hope. It might be earlier or later. We will see. :)

I love you all!

 

Love

Sister Stolp

Hey everyone. I don't have any stamps left and I don't have enough money to get stamps, so I'm writing you this email.
So we had a baptism this week! I was so excited! It was Angie for those of you who have been reading my letters. It was so good! We made her a tie blanket with her name embroidered on it, and told her it was the "comforter" and that when she looks at it to remember what we have taught her. Her husband came and I think he enjoyed it. He didn't say much, but Angie said that he took her out to Applebee's to celebrate, which Applebee's is a special occasion restaurant. So it was cool! She cried like the whole time! In one of her lessons she was praying and said that she was grateful that Heavenly Father has led her back. It was so sweet! I will have to send pictures when I have more time.
We also taught this one guy named Enrique who is an alcoholic and we asked him if he would live the word of wisdom, and he said he would quit cold turkey if I would get drunk with him. Haha! I told him no way! We had a good laugh. :) But I think he will get there. Hopefully soon!
We are having Christmas at the Richardson's house, she is the RS president, and they have 8 kids! So I'm pretty excited! OH! I forgot to tell you, this week is transfers and I'm staying in El Paso!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!! I love El Paso and will be very sad to leave. We are trading our truck for a Malibu. So I'm pretty bummed about that. And no, I am not homesick yet, I didn't get homesick at Thanksgiving either. I think it's because home is different anyway. So all my homesickness was last year. But I'm fine this year. I haven't even thought about mommy too much lately. I think with teaching the gospel and seeing the happiness it brings, I don't worry to much about that stuff anymore. I do get sad, but I don't worry anymore. And plus I try not to think about it too much.
What are you all doing for Christmas? Can you please send me pictures of you guys in your plays and Christmas and stuff? I will probably be calling sometime Christmas morning, like 11am? Probably. Just plan for that.
Alright, well, I will email next week! And I'm glad to hear about Allen, I know, he loves me. :)
Love you all!
Love
Sis Stolp

Ok, so I have a little more time than I thought.

Picture

1. my district.

2.me with Angie and her family.

3.me with Enrique and his wife Maria.

4.Enrique with his bar in his living room.

5.me in Vinton. it's part of my area. it's very country.

Thanksgiving

The girl in the baptismal suit it Tempestt. She got baptized last week. The suburban is the border patrol. Thought you guys would like that picture. :) And then the table is the buffet of thanksgiving dinner. :) Hope you like them! Sorry I look so fat in the picture with Tempestt. I have actually lost 10lbs. since Los Lunas. Haha!

(To Julia)
Hmmm...Tyson is getting really old, I worry about him sometimes. But I hope things work out for him. And that's cool that Crystal got her endowments! Which temple did she get them out in? If you don't go on a mission soon will you think about getting yours out soon? I really do want to be there for that though. :) So you traveled the train by yourself? How long are you staying out there? Did Annie pick you up in Sacramento?
You know, sometimes I look at my life when I get back and all I see in the future is school and money. I really can't see myself doing anything else because I have done it for so long! Marriage just seems so far away for me. And honestly, I'm ok with that. I guess. I mean, I just want to get out of school and be able to start my career. I think then I will feel like I am not living in a box. I realy want to do the hands on counseling and stuff. I see so much and I am usually dead on with people's feelings concerning marriage and stuff. I have actually met a few people that tell me they want me to come back to help their marriage or their family. So I already have clients! Haha! :) The mission has really helped me to see that there is more to life than school. I just hope that I can remember what it's like to be in the real world. I think when you're in school it's hard to see what the real world is like. Oh well. Anyway! You will have to tell me how things are going out in Cali...oh wait, you're probably home by now...I'm a week behind, sorry. Tell me how Thanksgiving was! What are you doing for Christmas? I had 2 thanksgivings...one with the Bowdens who are really cool people and I love them to death! And the other was with a Samoan family, the Faimalo's, at the church. They had a buffet style dinner and a lot of music (which was really really hard for me to be there and not want to dance or sing) and the daughters did a dance for us. It was way fun! So ya, that was my thanksgiving. :) I'll talk to ya next week! It's transfers next week again, so I will let you know what happens next week! I love you!

Love
Sis Stolp

Not Much

Hey everybody!
So I am surviving El Paso and training! It's been pretty crazy though, we only have 1000 miles for our area...which is not near enough. BUT the ward is awesome and is helping us get around. So it's pretty nice. :)
Julia, when is your dance? And I want to see pictures for sure! That's cool that you got called to be a Sunday School teacher! I would not want that calling at all! Teaching families is hard enough for me! Just remember that you can only teach with the spirit, so pray to be guided in how/what you teach. Remember to love the people you teach, pray for those people in your class. I know that you will be an awesome teacher though! And stay away from the opinion corner! That's danger. Just stick to the doctrine and you will be fine. :)
So wait, which next door neighbor? I don't remember a Shannon. Is it the one with the 2 boys and the motorcycle? Her name is Heidi and she's a member right? Have they had the missionaries over? Do they have a Book of Mormon? I think that one day he will accept the gospel. They say it takes 7 tries. So maybe yours was the 6th. You definitely planted the seed! But as long as they feel your love for them and the kindness and unity that they church has, they will probably be looking for it again one day.
It's always good to hear how Allen is doing. I love him to death! I hope he knows how much I miss him. How is Helen doing?
I am sick right now. I have a cold or something. I am really tired, but I just have to keep pushing! It's hard though, because no one wants a sick person in their home getting their kids sick. So it's always hard to know what to do. Can you please send me some money for meds? I know I'm going to spend all I have on drugs if I'm not careful.
So before I forget, we are having Thanksgiving with a polynesian family! They have 8 kids and I'm so excited! It will be like home! I'm so excited! So for Christmas, tell me a time you want me to call you. It has to be after 10am and before 8pm. So I'm thinking like around 10 or 11am? Tell me when it will work out for you guys.
I'll write to you later today! I love you all!


Love
Sister Stolp

El Paso

Yes, I am training again for my 3rd time. I started training in June, then had about 5 weeks of not training (almost a whole transfer), then I trained Sister Hiatt, and now I'm training Sister Bode (Bow-dee). She's awesome! She's from Indiana, and is a convert of a year and a half! So she's perfect in her teaching because she knows exactly what it's like to be on the other side of things. So it's awesome! I am in El Paso right now, and I LOVE IT! Juarez, Mexico is right next door, so it's a little scary. While we were driving up on the freeway to the meeting point in El Paso we could look to the right and see Mexico and on the left was the US. We never left the US but it was weird looking at another country...I'm just glad I didn't see any dead bodies or shootings in my brief passing...
We live with a member, she is so sweet! She is divorced and has one daughter. They take very good care of us. :)
Yesterday at church there was a talk on tithing and how if you pay your tithing you WILL be blessed. There was a quote that I liked so much that I had to write down. It says "You will never get out of debt until you pay the Lord first." It made me think of all of your guys different situations, and I was wondering if you all paid tithing. I don't know why, but I felt very impressed to ask all of you this question. And if you are not paying your tithing, you better start now and ask Heavenly Father for forgiveness. I know that if you all pay your tithing then Heavenly Father WILL bless you! Brenda, that's awesome about the garden, for some reason I felt so much joy when I heard that the garage looked like the produce isle. I know from your efforts, you will not go hungry. Dad, I'm really sorry to hear that things are so tight. I really don't want anything for Christmas, you sacrifice so much for me already, so I don't want you to have to worry about me for Christmas. And besides, I have everything that I need already. I have learned how to live within my means, and I'm very happy.
Elder Zivic asked us to do a 40 day fast, not from food or water, but of things that poke at our spirits. I wrote a list of things that I have not been able to conquer:

Slang
Bedtime (I am always a few minutes late)
Fear God more than my leaders -
-how does God look @ me?
-am I doing this work for God or someone else?
Checking out the boys (my hardest one to conquer!)
-Keep my focus on God
-Keep my focus of the work
Don't get caught up with elder stupidity. Worry about my own work
Don't get caught up with transfer news
Always be within sight and sound of my companion (sometimes I don't worry about that as much as I should)
Be professional with the members -
-don't get to casual

I'm sure I have a ton more things that I need to work on, but that is my list. When I wrote that list I felt so much guilt and basically all the pain of my sins. I fasted yesterday for Heavenly Father to help me with these things. So I have to work on these things for 40 days. I know I'm going to mess up (especially the slang one) all day everyday, but Heavenly Father will help me I know it! When you train you really see how inadequate you are. I sometimes feel very unworthy to be a missionary. Especially after I wrote this list. I just don't see how a new missionary can learn from me about being a good missionary when I slack on so many things. But president wrote me and told me that it was very clear that I was supposed to be with Sister Bode. :) That does make me feel better to know that Heavenly Father trusts me enough with a new missionary.
So when we got here, there was no area book for us, no old teaching records, no ward list, no nothing. We really did start from scratch! The elders that we share the ward with gave us a few teaching records of former investigators, and we actually had the area book for a day, but only to get our area out of their book. We had to go get a binder and print a map for us. So ya, it's been fun. We actually have one investigator at the moment. Her name is Tempest (cool huh?), and she will be getting baptized on Nov. 20th. But we really want her family to be involved, so we might postpone it if her family is not helping with her commitments. So anyway! We will see what happens.
Annie, we did go to the Halloween party at the church, it was a trunk or treat. We all dressed up as fairies, we were so cute! I will send a picture of it. And I got my truck! YAY! We handed out pass along cards with a dum dum taped to it and told the kids they could have the sucker, but give the card to a friend. It was awesome!
I really want to go sing in the choir, but I think we have to have an investigator there. But I will see what I can do. Practice is at 5pm, which cuts into dinner and time when people will be home, so it's a little hard to say yes to something like that. But I wish I could! The choir director here in the Redd ward is intense, he's like a professor at the college or something. He looks like Jackie Chan. Haha!
I am having more training meetings this week, YAY! And I'm so excited! I get so pumped when I get the training! :)
That's too bad that your camera got stolen! Who stole it? I'm glad to hear that the kids are doing great with their plays. So Val doesn't like Tyler. Is it because he has a girlfriend? :) And the Hepworth girl got married huh? Who did she marry? And who was this Bryan that you were talking about? His mom was dating someone? Or something like that?
Well, I should get going. I have to write president now. But I guess this is my weekly letter. I just get to excited when I get emails! I have to answer them right away! It's easier to type than to write anyway. Take care everyone. I love you all!

Love
Sister Stolp