Elder Cook 4-25-11

Hey everybody! So this weekend we got to listen to Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, along with Bishop Keith McMullin, and Elder Claudio Costa (the area authority for our mission). It was fantastic! Elder Cook talked to us about the Savior and the restoration. He said that it is important that we teach our less actives the importance of Joseph Smith and how is was foreordained to be a prophet. It will help them remember their own conversion. It was really cool. He said that he helped write Preach My Gospel, and that they never taught dispensations before, or Adam and Eve, but they felt very strongly that in order for people to understand the importance of Joseph Smith they needed to see the importance of the previous prophets. It was pretty cool! He talked about the Atonement, and that they felt very strongly that we needed to teach that the atonement makes up for all the unfairness of this life. Or something like that. I will have to look at PMG again. I was going to do that, but I keep forgetting! Anyway! It was cool. He also said that because of our willingness to serve missions, we will be blessed for eternity, and that everyone that we come into contact with in this life will bless them also. I never thought about it that way, that we will be blessed for eternity. It was cool!

Bishop McMullin got up and he said "Elder Cook will never say this, but I will. You are in the presence of a 12 Apostle. He is a prophet, seer, and revelator. He is a prophet." When he said those words, I knew that he was indeed an Apostle. I was thinking about his the other day, but Elder Cook is a witness of Jesus Christ, just like I am right now, I am a witness of Jesus Christ. I am not comparing myself at all with an Apostle, but it is cool that we have the same job right now. :) Elder Holland couldn't make it because he just made a 2 1/2 week trip to the middle east, and President Packer said that he wasn't going to go to ABQ, and that he needed to rest and take it easy for a bit. I guess he looked really worn out. So anyway, that's why we had Elder Cook. But did you guys know that Elder Cook and Elder Holland were mission companions? Cool huh? :) Anyway! It was a great conference! We had Bishop McMullin come to our stake conference yesterday. It was really good! He talked about Jesus Christ and the atonement. We 2 investigators to come yesterday. They are married. Their names are Doug and Theresa. I will have to tell you about Theresa sometime, her life is messed up! She has gone through A TON! It is a cool story. I will have to tell you when I have more time. Anyway! I love you! Thanks for the letters and the Easter package!

 

Love

Sister Stolp

Easter 4-24-11

I hope the picture comes through. President and Sister Miller are standing on the righthand side of the picture. And the couple on the left is the temple president, President Shumway. Anyway! It was a great conference!

 

Love

Sister Stolp

Hold the Phone 4-25-11

Hold the phone Annie! So Crystal is getting married! Wow! So who died of cancer? And is this guy Shawn Harmons son? I'm really confused! But I hope he's a good guy for Crystal! That's kind of weird that she's getting married. Someone else is joining the family. I think it will be weird when one of us gets married too. We are all so used to having Jimmy being the only in-law! So what are her colors, and when is she getting married? You have to remember that this is the first time I'm hearing any of this! You should start at the beginning. Anyway!

That's cool that you are fixing up the backyard and stuff! I can't wait to see it all! You are too creative for you own good. :) Anyway! I am suffering from major allergies. I have a runny nose and a cough. Blah. But I'm taking allergy pills, so I'm hoping by sometime this week I can kick it!

So the coolest thing, we live with members, but they are hippies! They are so cool! They are the Volkmans. They did a lot of hard drugs when they were younger, but then they found the gospel and changed their whole lives around! About a week after they joined the church, their daughter who was 5 was in a horrific fire that almost claimed her life, but she lived, and is now 30 years old and is going strong! But even with all the trials they faced with her and stuff, they stayed strong to their new found faith. They are awesome! They have a dog named Dylan. The #1 rule in their house is "it's Dylans fault" Hahaha! It is so funny! We have a Bro. Volkman quote wall, it's hilarious! He once gave me some ginger soda, and he said, "it will make you cough the first time you drink it" I asked why and he said "there's 12% alcohol in it" Hahaha! I laughed so hard! Their basement is totally a flashback to the '60's, they have a bunch of posters of bands and stuff like that and a bunch of...junk. But it's so fun! I wish you could meet them. :) They're awsesome!

Anyway! Thanks for emailing me! I really appreciate it! I love you!

 

Love

Leda

Quick Update

Hey everybody! I'm doing much better emotional wise. I think I just had my mental breakdown last transfer (for reals), but I'm doing much better now. :) So we were at a referrals house yesterday, the ladies name is Barbara, and she is about 80 years old. She is so cute! Sister Barello was sitting by her (so sweet!) so that Barbara could hear the scriptures being read, and Barbara looked at Sis Barello's name and said it sounded like a song! So cute! Her name is Italian, so anyway! She looked at me and asked me my name. I said Stolp. She was like, "that doesn't sound like a song" It was sooo funny! :) Stolp is such a harsh sounding name! But oh well. I like it. :) Anyway, I don't have much time to write. But I just wanted to let you all know I'm doing well, but suffering from some major allergies, but I'm slowly getting over it.

 

ELDER HOLLAND COMES THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

But yes, I will call sometime after 12noon on Mother's Day. We get out at 12noon. So that will be perfect! I don't think we can do skype, but that's ok. I'm seeing you all in like 11 weeks anyway. So ya.

Annie, how are you doing? How is the pregnancy? Let me know how you are!

 

Love you all!

 

Love Sister Stolp

Freak Out 4-11-11

Hey everybody! GUESS WHAT?!?!?!??!?!?!? The general authority coming to my mission on April 23 is going to be....

 

 

                                   ELDER HOLLAND!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

Crazy huh????? OH MY GOODNESS!!!! We ALL freaked out in the library just now when we read it!!!!! AHHHHH!!!!! We are all soooo excited!!! I know EVERYONE was hoping it was going to be Elder Holland, and it came true! Oh wow! :) :) :)

By the way, I'm getting transferred again, up to Bernalillo with Sister Barello. She came out last May, so she is almost as old as me here on the mission. I have been demoted back to junior companion, but I think that's only because Sister Barello has been in Bernalillo for 6-7 months, so she knows the area like the back of her hand. Which I am OK with being junior. I was a little shocked at first because I thought maybe I had done something, but I know I haven't done anything to make it a bad demotion. It's just that I think she needs it, and besides, she knows the area super well. SO anyway! I'm moving on to my 6th area and my 14th companion! Crazy! But Sister Barello is cute, I've seen her around almost my whole missions. So it will be fun to be with her. And Bernalillo is in the Rio Rancho/Santa Fe zone, so I will be able to go to Santa Fe!!!! Yay! I'm excited!

So this week has been crazy. I got the stomach flu and had a fever of about 100.2 for about a whole day. It was bad. And then I got a little bout of hives, I think I'm allergic to green chile (I had some soup with it in it.). But I'm doing ok now. I feel a ton better! The elders all came and gave me a blessing. Wow, they have seen me in my WORST! But whatever. OH! And Sister Bode is coming to take my place here with Sister Nichols. I love Sister Bode! I miss her a ton! I'm excited that she is coming to Albuquerque. We have a great district leader up here, Elder Fraughton. So anyway! It will be a fun change. I will be living with members up in Corrales, which is just a little south of Bernalillo. But you will hear more of it next week! Love you all!

 

Love Sister Stolp

4-4-11

Hey everybody! What is new with you all? How is the garden going? Haha! That reminds me. So the other day we did service for an investigator named Pam, and we helped her with her yard and getting all the weeds and dead things out. So as I was plucking and pulling I noticed a smell that I haven't smelled in YEARS...it was mint!!!! I was so excited to smell it again! It took me back to California and the good old days of mint taking over our yard on the side of the house. :) I was so happy! She also had a dead lilac bush that she didn't know what it was, so I told her it was lilac. I know because that was one of mommy's favorite plants. It was interesting how much I knew about plants and gardens, when I didn't know I actually knew that much! It was fun! I should be a farmer. JUST KIDDING!!!! I will not be a farmer, but I will have a garden one day. :) Anyway, it was fun. We also did service for a man who had strayed from the church for 40 years, but is now coming back to church  and is getting his patriarchal blessing, and his son is a little interested in the church, so we talked to him for a bit. But anyway, we painted a shed for a neighbor of his. It was fun! Last week I got to go on exchanges with the Los Lunas sisters...I got to go back to Los Lunas with my "daughter" Sister Hiatt! I was so excited! I wasn't sure how it was going to be, especially with all that had happened there when I was there, but I wanted to go back to see if I could mend a few things in my mind. It was the best experience for me! I got to see so many people that remembered me (I haven't been there for 6 months), and love me. Imagine that. :) I got to see Miguel Flores!!! He was an investigator when I was there, he was so close to getting baptized. He was the one with the date for your birthday dad, Aug 27, but he missed it because he wouldn't listen to me or the spirit and took a job that didn't allow him to take the lessons anymore. BUT he got baptized on Oct 10!!! And I missed it! BUT he gave me a picture of his baptism, which I will cherish forever. Miguel and his fiancee Diane were married shortly after that, and they told me that they will be getting sealed in Salt Lake sometime this year or next year. I told them that I will be in SLC, and they said that they wanted me there!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm soooooooo excited for them to get sealed! It makes my heart so full to know that I could help him along that path to eternal life! :) :) :) I have a special place in my heart for Miguel and Diane. Sister Hiatt and I got to teach a few lessons together, I love her. We went and saw Danielle Hardyman, she is coming back to church and all that, and just loves the sisters! So she had gotten her recommend to go get her patriarchal blessing, but didn't have the guts to call the patriarch. So we made her call the patriarch right there on the spot. :) It was awesome! We are so evil together, but it worked! So she will be getting that within the month.

Anyway! So Annie, are you on bed bedrest or what? What is happening with that?

Well, I love you all!

 

Love Sister Stolp

3-29-11

Hey everyone! Wow Annie, wow. I know everything will be ok because Heavenly Father told you it would be ok. Wow. That is crazy! I will be praying for you and the baby. But please keep me updated on what is going on with you and the pregnancy! Send me pictures of the girls! I can't wait to see your house! I'm sure I won't recognize it. Wow! It sounds like you guys have been busy!

Julia, I am still waiting for the letter. :) I'm so excited to get it now! Yay!

So I went to the temple yesterday, it was really really good! I definitely received some revelation for me. I will be sending a couple of journal entries to the house and Annie, and Julia so that you can all read it. But this might make more sense with the journal entries. So I learned that it is a commandment for me to be happy. Heavenly Father created this earth so that we can find happiness and joy. I mean, He even created it for the animals to find happiness and joy! So of course me. :) 

 I also learned that I think I'm just homesick for my heavenly home. I think I just want to be in the eternities RIGHT NOW! It's so sad to see everything in the world and all the imperfections of this life. I want to see mom again. It's been a long time since I have been able to talk to her. I think it's kind of good being away from home though because it lessens the saddness of mom being gone because all of you are gone right now! I mean I hear from you and stuff, but I don't get to see you. I think it's kind of like when I dream on mom, it's like getting a letter. Anyway, I don't know if that makes sense.

It was really sad though, at the temple there was an older lady that was working at the temple in my session. During the session, she had a bowel movement that I'm sure she couldnt' control and maybe even didn't know it was coming. But as she was walking out of the room, she looked really out of it, and just not there. So I don't think she was feeling to well. But they had to do some deep cleaning because it was really bad, so they made us all go back into the chapel to wait while they cleaned it up. It was really sad. But we heard that she was ok. They were afraid it was a mini stroke, but thankfully it wasn't.

But it was really good to be in the temple and to feel peace, and to know that Heavenly Father talks to me, and that He really does look out for me. We stayed in the Celestial Room for a good long while. I went through an inventory with Heavenly Father and told him about all the bad experiences I've had on my mission, and then I talked to Him about what I learned from them, or what I was supposed to learn from them. It was really good, I really could see the good in all of my bad experiences. I think it really helped me look on the brightside. Which reminds me, I was reading the scriptures before I left, and I was thinking about how sometimes I don't think I have any faith. But the thought came to me that I haven't lost ANY faith, I've always had faith. I just need to have a brighter outlook on my situations. I need to have HOPE! So anyway. You will understand a little bit better after you read my journal. :) I hope it doesn't get you all too depressed. But it has all of my feelings in it.

 

So no one ever told me if there are any young men from the ward going on missions? Did you all hear that Brieanna Thrall is going to Moscow Russia?!?!?!? COOL! I can totally see her in Russia! She is going to be a great missionary! I will be sad to have missed her by a couple of months! Helen, please call her and tell her good luck for me! I want to send her a letter, but it may not get to her in time before she heads out to the MTC.

Anyway! I love you all! Have a great week!

 

Love Sister Stolp