March 16, 2016 Last Mission Blog Entry

MAR 8, 2016

Hello everyone! Departing is stressful. I don't recommend it.

So to catch up on the past few weeks. (Sorry if I repeat anything) We had stake conference 2 weeks last month. It was awesome! (2 hours of church instead of 9). The one week we did have normal church we taught 2 classes on the fly then went straight to the mission president's devotional on the other end of the mission in Chula Vista. It was like a road trip because we car-pooled with all the Sisters. Great times! It was also my last devotional which was sad. It's sad to begin realizing your "last times". But life moves onward.


We've also done a lot of goat farming. (We go to a goat farm and bottle feed the little ones and shovel their poo.)  On the more appealing topics of missionary work, a few weeks ago I went on exchanges to Ramona. It was a Spanish speaking area...I don't speak Spanish...but it was great! we've been teaching S and S! S is the coolest! She is the most prepared person I've ever taught. S is her son. He's awesome but is still figuring out if there is a God. The whole time I've been here we've just
bounced from member's homes for dinners with S and S then teaching. The Ward loves them! They will also be the ward's first baptism!! That's coming up this Saturday! But they've been great to
teach and get to know. It's helped me figure out how to do member missionary work.

L, our recent convert in another Ward, moved. That was sad. But she might come to conference and visit! She calls me her peach angel... Not sure why but I'm flattered!

The M family!! Our Other recent converts in the Other Ward are getting sealed this Saturday!! The family got baptized a few years ago, their family went less active, then the missionaries found them and baptized N, the youngest girl. So this Saturday is going to be the best day full of ordinances!! Please pray for them that they will all be able to go and everything will work out.

Other than that, work has been a little slow. It's getting harder to talk to people on the street. I have less confidence. People are less receptive. A titch discouraging BUT the work still moves on
BECAUSE.... Last week we began teaching a family of 5!! Sis. Cortello taught them before I got here, they fell of the radar but now they're back and super solid!! We also called another former investigator who really wants to meet this week. Then last week we went to go see a person, but that
person had moved but there was a couple there who was really nice!  They had us come in and share our message. They thought it was really intriguing because it was so new to them. But they want to know more!  From hearing their experiences they have been prepared!

The highlight of this past week was was certainly zone conference. We went to Camp Wildwood!! Oh it was THE best thing of my life!! It's a church-owned camp sight in Ramona. Half the mission was there!! If I was a puppy I would've piddled!   In the morning we sat in an amphitheater surrounded by olive trees, listened to nature, there was a breeze, and received training. Got SUPER pumped for Easter!! Ah!  Christ Lives! Hallelujah! THEN we did team building activities!! It was like Girl's Camp. (Don't worry, we wore P-day clothes) Oh it was the best! Then we went on a silent hike. At the top we just picked a spot and sat and pondered and prayed and just soaked it all in. Best.
Zone. Conference. Ever!

This week will be the best week ever because the M family will be sealed and S will be baptized!! Ah! I have a strong testimony that when we turn our life over to the Savior, He will do wonders for
us that we could never do on our own! I love this Gospel. I'm excited
to see all of you! Have a lovely week!
Sister Pinkelton


MAR 15, 2016

It hasn't really hit me at all that I'm leaving.  Last week was amazing! We taught a new couple. They were raised Catholic but now they just go to any church their friends go to. We talked about the Fall of Adam and Eve. He said, " you know, this might be blasphemy for me to say this but I don't think Adam and Eve were sinners. I think what they did was necessary. If I were God it would only make sense." My mind was blown. That's what the Plan of Salvation is!! Then we read 2 Nephi 2 with them and it was like it was quenching their thirst. The Book of Mormon really does answer questions of the
soul.


Friday we went to the temple with the departing group of missionaries.  That was awesome!  We also taught another family, the U family! They're a big family that Sister Cortello taught a while ago.  We're teaching them again and they're super awesome!!  Saturday was the best day of my mission. We went to a Relief Society activity in the morning. Then we went to the M's sealing! That was
the best thing! The 2 oldest, M and N weren't planning on being sealed because their biological mom didn't give them permission.  Then last minute she did! It truly was a miracle!! Nothing is more
important.  S's baptism was that evening. That was insane. We got there a little late, we didn't have time to wipe out the font before filling so while it filled I got in and fished out the larva. But half the
Ward showed up! It was so amazing! It was Lake Hodges 1st baptism andeveryone was so excited!! We had to move into the chapel. She is so solid! The best was her son, who hasn't felt ready for baptism yet, out of the blue just bore his testimony at the end. It was the best thing! Oh it was just the best day!


Sunday was insane! We presented the Hallelujah video in like every hour. Holy cats we were excited! But man it was great. I love that video. If you haven't seen it yet, you should.  It was a miraculous week. I've seen many miracles over the course of my mission. Sometimes I didn't realize they were miracles until much later. But our God is a God of miracles. He loves us. He's aware of us. I absolutely know that He can do so much more with our lives than we can. This is the best decision I've ever made.

Don't forget to read and pray every day. You'll come to know Him, I promise.
Sister Milkington

 

 

 

Mar 1 2016

Hello!  This week was hard. We hardly taught anyone. I was getting pretty
discouraged. But then! On Saturday I got to go back to Santee for
J's baptism!

To recap the story, a few months ago we contacted a boy in a complex,
asked who he knew who we could talk to, he pointed to his dad's
apartment and said his dad was a member of our church but hadn't gone
in a long time. We stopped by, thought he would be a friendly less
active whose not interested but he told us to come back and teach his
daughters! So we taught his daughter J and she got baptized this
weekend! Their family from Arizona came! They were sooo happy! They're
all very active. Her uncle baptized her. When D saw his sister they
embraced and just cried. I realized how important this is! D bore
his testimony at the end. He could hardly get words out. He said "It's
been over 20years since I bore my testimony infront of a
congregation." He then went on to tell his kids how much Heavenly
Father loved them. It was so powerful. I'm doing a terrible job at
explaining this. I'm not doing justice. J also bore her testimony.
Everyone was in tears. It was the best experience..... You know, I'll
just tell you in person when I see you because... It's better in
person. But I'll go through a million rough weeks if they end like
that. God won't forget us. He knows when we're ready. He loves us!

Bloopers of the week:

-We lost our car...right before curfew. It was a complicated dark
complex. Don't worry we found it! We asked strangers to help us...
Then we shared the Gospel with them.

- we were talking with a man on his porch. There was a fence between
us. He was telling us to be careful, then told us stories of people
getting abducted...then his pants fell down.

-We're sick again...then sang at a baptism.

- we bottle fed baby goats!!

- A member dropped off multiple trays of fudge at our door for Valentine's Day

-We went on splits with L! She made us sandwiches, then bore her
testimony to a guy on the street and they cried. Good stuff!

Don't forget to read and pray every day!!
Sister Plinkerton

 

Sister Missionaries at Drug Testing

 

Annual Groundhog Day treats!

 

Great friends!

 

January/February 2016

JANUARY 19, 2016


Hello! Sorry for not writing for weeks. A lot has gone on so I haven't had a ton of time to write. Sister Whitcomb is the most talented pianist/ sight reader so we've spent a lot of P-days at auditions for
firesides, which really has been a blast. I've been able to see all my favorite missionaries and sing!


This past week we went to a fireside in Penasquitos! I got to go back to Black Mountain!! J spoke as a recent convert! And I got to see a good amount of my favorite people from Black Mountain (not
all of them but C'est la vie). It was the best! My joy was so full I almost passed out!


Another fun fact update, we think that El Niño gave me pneumonia....Ha! But I'm still alive.


We also went on 2 exchanges. So I'm not sure if a lot of people know this but San Diego is where a lot of missionaries get sent who have medical problems (I'm glad I had my heart problem!) because of the care and environment, etc. So I just get to have 1-on-1 with some extraordinary, humble, hard working missionaries. It's incredible!  I had that experience this week. I also got to go back to La Jolla! I didn't see any familiar faces but I did get to walk down memory lane. I also learned how to be a big girl, out with my big-girl pants,  and have big-girl conversation that maybe aren't always easy but they need to happen... If that made any sense.

Update on D and J!  D is the man who Sis. Wilson found while street-contacting.  A  few weeks ago Sis. Whitcomb and I met with him. He said us sitting there was proof that God answers prayers. He has recently just gotten back into religion and he wanted his daughters to learn. So we've been teaching his daughter, J. The Young Women in the Grossmont Ward have been so excited to meet her! She came to church, loved it, and is getting baptized Feb. 13. It's a huge miracle!!  We've also been seeing E more. He is with the YSA and he's doing great! He loves all of this. Still no date but doing a lot better.  J, who got baptized in September, is now in the Relief Society for YSA. J and A who both got baptized last month both have the priesthood now and we are going with J to the temple
Thursday morning! Everything is great!

That's the majority of what I have to share. And I just know that the mission is the best thing I could've ever done. However, missions don't change people. The gospel does! I've just lived gospel more on my mission than I ever have. So live the gospel!

Love, sis. Fibbleton (my nickname from our Ward mission leaders daughter)


2/2/16

Okay so this has been the craziest week! First of all, I don't have Pneumonia, but I DO have a cracked rib from coughing so hard!  Great!

Let's go day by day...


Wednesday we started out by going to the Food Bank. We wiped out moldy fridges...it got in our hair... Then we got hit on by a gentleman...He called us dynamite. I had to remind him we were Sister
Missionaries. Later on we taught our YSA investigator with his girlfriend and they were getting pretty touchy...we had again remind them we were Sister Missionaries. We also taught a less active family who told us we were too intense and it made them uncomfortable....So... Cool.  We also had a District meeting/ birthday party. Always the best! We did service by wiping down antique flashlights and other antique stuff. We also taught wonderful recent converts who have been changed by the Gospel.


Saturday we went to the Mormon Battalion Commemoration day with E.  That was really fun! J, our 15 year old investigator, is enrolling in Seminary!


Sunday we went to the YSA Mission President's fireside! That was the best!! I love YSA so much.
Then Monday I found out I was getting transferred. I am no longer in YSA. I am in Poway.  I'm covering 3 family wards! Rancho Bernardo, Del Sur, and Lake Hodges. My companion is Sister Cortello. She is mini-me! I am so excited!!! I love her a lot! But, as excited as I am I will miss
Santee so much because I loved it so much!! And I was replaced by 2 of my best friends! Sister Stewart and Sister Purcell!(my baby!) They're in a trio again!! I will miss it so much but I trust that I'm where I need to be.

I hope you all have a great week!!


2/9/16

I love Poway! I'm not going to lie. I'm pretty sad I'm no longer in a YSA (Young Single Adult) ward but it's all good.  We live in a beautiful neighborhood in a beautiful home with the Smitheram family! I feel like I'm staying at a relative's house while doing missionary work!
Sister Cortello is the best!! I love her a lot. We're in a "bromance".  We cover 3 wards! 3 family wards! (Poway is basically mini-Utah). So we have 9 hours of church. It's awesome but I'm still recovering.  The M family is my favorite! They were converts, went less active for various  circumstances. Their 10-year-old, N,  was not yet baptized. The Sisters met them and started teaching
them. The family was so excited! She got baptized this past weekend by her brother M who was just ordained a Priest. Her dad confirmed her the next day. They're getting sealed next month! I love them!


L is also another recent convert! She is incredible!! We celebrated her birthday with her. 

We helped an investigator move. We asked the ward to help, we were expecting a few men to show up but a TON showed up and helped her move out in like an hour and a half. She broke down in tears after they left. It was awesome for her to see and feel the love!


So bottom line, I do love this area. Great adventures ahead!

                                                                                    El Nino

                                                                        Crazy Weather!

                                                                                 El Nino!

                               Cracked Rib...Bag of frozen veggies tied to rib with decorative scarf

                                                  District Meeting, aka The 2nd St Library

                                              Another blustery day...good day for FroYo

                                                         Mormon Battalion Commemoration

                                                                Mormon Battalion Party

                                       Yay for my Groundhog Day/Valentine's Day package!

                                                       Love these people! Sad to leave Santee

                                             Sis P doin' the Kevan, and Kevan doin' the Sis P

                                        Back to ourselves (Sis P is always doin' the thumbs up!)

                                                                       Welcome to Poway!

                                                                   Fun Welcome Party!

                                                                    Just a typical day!

                                                                    Life-Long Friends!

                                                Wonderful Baptism of a beautiful young lady!

                                                                   Love my Sisters!

Dec 8, 2015

NOVEMBER 2015

We ate so much this weeeek!!!!!
I literally almost threw up on a members couch during dinner. But it
was thanksgiving so I expected nothing less. It was quite the eventful
week!!


Last year, the day before Thanksgiving was rough! I was on exchanges
in a high society part of town. Everyone yelled at us because they
were prepping food and taking to family and all that jazz. This year
we were super productive! It was awesome. We started off by doing a
service project. We cleaned out a woman's back patio. There was
just a mass pile of dirty dishes, cigarettes, piles of ash, garbage,
and complete with maggots and spiders. It's okay. We made it out okay.

Thursday we taught our investigator E. He's so awesome! I think I
told you about him at some point. He is getting baptized soon. He
found us. We meet with him like every day. He's great! Other than that
we didn't do much else but eat, I'm ashamed to say. We had 4 dinner
appointments. We also got left overs. And for some reason, the rest of
the week we got double dinners. Everyone just gave us food! I've seen
better days. But it was very kind! They're looking out for us. We also
got fed Guamanian food at one point, and learned more about that
culture. That was good times. Oh and we were teaching a family over
dinner with the elders because the mom is less active and their YSA
daughter is less active. So the dad invited us all over. We taught the
restoration...which is not an easy task with 5 people. Then we got fed
the fanciest feast I've ever had in my life. Then he whipped out To-go
boxes to fill up. Madness!


Sunday was awesome because everyone came to church!!! That always
makes a missionary's week. And! A Savior is Born video came out!!! If
you haven't watched it, watch it!!! Then discover why!


So that's basically it for this week. However, I do want to add what
I'm thankful for. I didn't get to last week.
I am so grateful for so many things this year! I'm grateful for the
Book of Mormon and a living prophet today. That is how I have my
testimony of the Gospel. So are so many minor things that people can
argue or misinterpret. However, I know that if I follow the prophet's
counsel I will never be lead astray. It hasn't so far. I can have
complete trust in Him. That proves to me that we have a loving
Heavenly Father. I am grateful for that. I'm also grateful for my
companions and the lessons I've learned from them. I'm grateful for my
area. We have wonderful members and many people to teach, which I am
so very grateful for. I'm also grateful for the chance I've had to
serve in a YSA Ward or branch throughout mission so far. It has helped
me love and appreciate the Gospel at this time in my life. I also have
a deep charity for the missionaries I've had the opportunity to serve
with. They are some of The most amazing people I've met, my dearest
friends, and I'm lucky to serve with them. Lastly I am so grateful for
my family and their support and being raised in he Gospel. I am so
blessed to have had this Gospel my whole life and now gaining my own
testimony of it.


Thank you so much for all of the support!
Love Sister Pilkington



DECEMBER 2015

Hello!
I very much look up to the Schmitts. After crazy things from last week he made us feel more loved
and valued. Not torn down.


So to sum everything up, we have so many miracles happening! This
weekend, C should be getting baptized. She was our
investigator for Grossmont but we have to pass her off to Bostonia.
However that has been an ordeal! We brought President Schimpf (the
stake president) to our lesson to explain to her why. Anyway it was a
great lesson. She took it well. She planned on baptism this Saturday
night! Then we called the Bostonia elders and that didn't work out.
It's all just messy because we're passing her off at the same time as
her baptism.

The trickiest part of everything is this weekend, Elder L. Whitney Clayton is coming for a big mission conference. It's a big deal! We're spending all day cleaning, prepping, etc. it was supposed
to be Thursday and Friday (we were going to the Friday conference). But now it's split between Thursday, Friday and Saturday. So it all depends on whether or not Catherine is getting baptized Saturday to know when we can go. But she is waiting on her son getting work off. So....it all hangs in the air.


But the good news is E and A, for YSA, are getting baptized next week!!  Also I love the Christmas spirit going on. For the past 14 months, my  entrance music has been "Sisters" from White Christmas, but especially at this point of the year. We've also been focusing on the phrase "Fear Not" that is throughout the scriptures. At this time, with the things in the world, there is much to fear. But because A Savior was born, we don't need to fear. The small things we fear are temporal and
will fade over time. The large, lasting fears are taken care of by our Savior. Don't forget Him.


Have a wonderful week!!
Love, Sister Filkington (new name again!)

Oct 27, 2015

Hello!


This week was great! We saw a lot of progression!  We started off the week with exchanges. I went to Chula Vista with Sister Cava which is always a good time. However, I was sick. There
were a few lessons where I got pretty drippy. No worries. I kept it
together.


We also drove past TJ at night and it looked like a big
carnival with no ferris wheels. So many lights all connected together!
I went on splits with Sister Carrisoza! We taught J which was fun.

There's a recently returned less active person in the home Ward. He's the
best and he always bakes for us. He's working on his temple recommend.
His wife isn't a member and every time we go over we invite her to sit
with us and she politely declines. We think it's because she's old and
frail. But we went by there to see her husband on splits and he wasn't
there. So we taught just her! That was big!  Then we went back the next
day and taught both of them!


Meanwhile my companions were teaching the S family. Please pray for them.
The wife is who we're teaching.


We had a meeting this week with Brother Hemmingway, the director of
Proselyting. It was good stuff. Always point to the gospel. The best
thing we can do for these people is point them to the gospel and help
them live it. Everything else will fall into place.


Saturday was awesome! We taught L.  She is progressing! It's
amazing to see the change in people. She said that people have been
mentioning that she's been different for the past few weeks. That's
when she started progressing! The same thing happened with J. The
gospel changes lives for the better!

Later that day we went on a 3-way split. Crazy stuff!


Then Sunday, J gave her first talk in sacrament meeting and a
less active member got his temple recommend! Also D passed the
sacrament!! (I might have already mentioned that) but good things are
happening.


Happy Halloween! Don't forget to read and play. And don't mess with
Wigi boards. (Ouija boards-LOL!)

Love!
Sister P

                                                              Halloween Costume

                                                                YSA Halloween Party