Dear Creason Family,

                We wanted to inform you that your missionary has arrived to our mission, has eaten dinner with us, has been trained, is with her trainer, and today is in her new area. We are very thankful to have her with us, now counting her among the Lord´s messengers. We know that you, like her, will receive great blessings because of her faithful service in this Work.

                We advise you to always send uplifting letters to help her and allow her to stay focused on her mission. When sending packages we advise that you do not let her know you are sending the package, because the missionaries become very anxious and the mail system may delay in sending the package.

               We appreciate your prayers for this wonderful work of saving the souls of our Heavenly Father.

Cordially,

Elder Acevedo|Secretario

Misión Argentina Salta

Today is the day!!!!! I can not believe it is here!!!

Today's Plans 

-We will be done emailing at 10 

-We will drive to Warner Robins to get those sisters. Because transfers are in a week Sister Hathaway is going to be spending the week with the Warner Robins sisters. They will be coming down a couple days this week for K_______ and her baptism. it should be good! I don't know if she will be back in Cochran after transfers...

-After we pick up the Warner Robins sisters we are going to drive to the Macon Mission Home. The Mission President and his wife want to spend some time with me. Take me out to eat and stuff like that ;)

-They will then take me to the airport. Not sure what time though. I know that I have to be there two hours early but the airport is HUGE!!!! So I don't know what time I will be calling ;)

-My plane is at 9:11 but you already know that. 

-My arrival time is 10 something.... 

-OH and I will then have a 12 hour bus ride to Salta...... Sister Buckholz Told me all about it in her email..... keep me in your prayers! haha

-then I will get in Salta!

But yeah that will be the next 48 hours of my mission! 

I am actually really excited! I'm not so scared anymore. If you asked me last Monday, I couldn't tell you how scared I was! The whole beginning of the week was like that. But then I got a Letter from mom and I was all better!! It helped me a ton! The rest of the week was good. The hardest day was yesterday. 

First of all, in church they asked me to come and bare my testimony in sacrament.... I just spoke last week! haha no it was good! We went around to several families. We went to the Bishop's after Church and had lunch. She made a good old southern meal. Fried chicken, string bean casserole and potatoes! It was YUMMY!! We then went to Brother and Sister T__________. Sister T_________ served in Argentina too. She gave me a few pointers. We later went to Sister S________.. She is the one where I went to skype you. She is such a sweet heart!! After we went to go see K____ one last time. It was sad but I know that she will be great!! I think that her family will eventually investigate the church.... at least I hope so! After we went to see the K_________'s.  Brother K__________ gave us a lot of advise. I asked him if he would be willing to give me a blessing. He did. I know that I am going to be alright!  Then we had dinner at the D_________'s. They asked for your phone number because they like to call the families before we leave! They are great and so caring for us! I am glad they called you!! After we went to see the M__________'s......... Hardest thing ever! (other than saying by to yall!!)

We were all fine, until we had to leave and we were taking pictures.... People don't look pretty in pictures when your crying! I love this family so much!!!!! The first day at the MTC our teacher had us write a list of things we want from our mission. One thing I put on there was that I want to form a friendship with a family just like the friendship Grandma and Grandpa have with J_____ and B_______.... I had no idea that I would have gotten that so soon!!! I know that the M________ family was my purpose here in Cochran! There might be other things of why I was here but I know that they are one of them! I can't wait to one day take a trip here and y'all can meet them! 

Well I know that this is a short letter but we have run out of time.   I want you to know that I am so excited for this new "adventure"!!!! I'm so excited to get to my mission but the Macon mission has become my mission! I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to serve in 3 missions!!! This mission has already changed my life and I can't wait to see what I am in for!!!!!

Love y'all!!! TALK to you later!!!!

~Hermana Creason!! 

VISA IS FINALLY HERE!!!!!!!

Sister Hathaway and Me

  

I have been serving for 5 months!!

Homemade zuchinni bread from home

OH my goodness!!! So much to tell you right now!!!! So much has happened!!! Please be sitting as you continue reading!!!!

I GOT MY VISA!!!! No Joke!!!! They just called me this morning! Like 2 minuets before we walked out the door to email!!! I leave on the 26 (next Monday). No details yet. That is all the information that I know. I think that President Cottle will be getting in touch with you. If I get any information I will have Sister M_________ get to you!   I can't believe it is here! I usually forget all about it! I know you all are crying right now but just know that I am doing all right! I will tell you why! This has been the best week ever and getting my visa has topped it off!!!!! So let me tell you about my week!

So we went on exchanges this week on Thursday and Friday with the Warner Robins Sisters. I stayed in Cochran again. I have not been in any other area besides Cochran to do any kind of proselyting. Now I know why ;) We had a great time. She helped me understand some things to help this area. It was fun! Well while we were on exchanges we got a call from our district leader and gave us AMAZING NEWS!!!! He said that Elder Neil L Anderson was coming to our mission on Saturday and that he wanted to speak to us!!!!!!! WHAT?!?!?!?! Crazy cool!!!!! 

So that takes us to Saturday. So we carpooled with the Warner Robins Sisters because he was going to speak to us in Columbus. It is like a 2:45 drive... It was fun though! So we get there and it was actually the first time that our whole mission was actually together! It was so neat! So then Elder Anderson got there and we got a huge picture done with him. I think they will send it to you.... maybe.... anyway then we all got the opportunity to shake his hand and meet him personally! How cool is that?!?!?! It is a cherished experience! He then spoke to us and it was incredible!!! I took a picture of my notes so you can read what I wrote. It was sooooo cool!  After he spoke to us he bore his testimony............. The spirit that was there was so strong! No one could deny that he is an Apostle of the Lord!!! It was so powerful and I know that what he testified to be true is true! I can not deny the spirit that bore witness to my heart that his testimony is true!! Ugh it was incredible!!!! After the song he counseled us to sit and ponder on the things that was said. We sat there for a good 5-10 minuets while someone played the piano. I then offered a silent prayer. There was a warmth that enveloped me. That moment was so amazing! I knew that I was talking to Heavenly Father and that he was sending me the comfort I needed! It was probably the closest thing that I could give me the feeling I have at the temple! It was so comforting! Best thing EVER!!!!  

So that was Saturday!

SUNDAY

So yesterday was a very eventful day!! I spoke in sacrament meeting! I talked about receiving help from the Lord. Elder Scott's talk from 1991. It was very good I thought! A lot of people said that Ii did good so I will take their word for it ;)

Right after sacrament meeting was A_________'s baptism. It was so good! The ward helped out a lot so there was very little that we had to do! It was a beautiful service! She was so prepared and she is being such a good example for those around her! I am so grateful that I got to teach her! She was only part of my purpose here in Cochran!!! 

This was such a great experience! Teaching kids is very different but they are so willing and humble to learn! A_________ was so quick to want to be baptized and it was a testimony builder for me! I have witnessed what Christ means to come as a little Child! It was beautiful!!

Cochran was having a lot of success last year but it had started dwindling a little bit. It has been so cool watching Cochran Blossom!! It has been great! K_________ is so excited for her baptism! She came to A_________'s and that just got her even more pumped!! It so cool to watch her come closer to Christ!  

Thank you so much for the package! It was great! The blanket is simply beautiful!! I wish that you could have seen their faces when E_________ opened it!! It is perfect!! One day y'all are going to have to meet!! The M__________'s have been a home away from home! I am actually taking time out of P-day to go over and tell them about my Visa! Im actually kinda scared on what they are going to do..... hahaha! Watches and slip are perfect! Thank you!!! And the bread! Oh the bread! I actually started crying a little bit! It was so scrumptious!!!! It was so nice to have something I know you made!!!! THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!

So I don't know what else to really say...... I am actually going to Argentina! Personally I thought that this day would never come! It has been such a blessing to be here in Cochran! Of all the reassignments I could have received I NEVER EVER NEVER EVER would have guessed or picked Cochran! But this little town has blessed my heart! I actually was hoping that I would stay in Cochran until my visa came. I know that Georgia Atlanta Mission and Greorgia Macon Mission was not my reassignment. Cochran was. I want another charm to go on my mission necklace that says Cochran!!!!! I will have to do that when I get home!

Well not much else to say! If I get any info during the week, Sister M_________ will let you know! 

Love you so very much!!!!!!!!!!

~Hermana Creason

Hey there!!! 

Once again there is not a whole lot this week. Just working hard with the same people that I had talked about last time. Nothing has really changed here. I am loving every minuet here in Cochran!

A________'s Baptism has been moved to Sunday after Church. It should be really good! She is such a cute girl! It has been great teaching her and helping her family come closer to Christ! 

Nothing really I can update on. Our investigators are still going strong! Which is FANTASTIC!

We had to go to Warner-Robins on Friday to get new tires for our car. It turned out to be a 4 hour ordeal! We were so bored! But we had fun together! 

Sister Hathaway is so great!!! She is a HOOT! We get along great and we have really become close! Haha funny thing about her is that she talks in her sleep and it is HILARIOUS!! Crazy as it sounds, I have become a very light sleeper on my mission, so I wake up every time she starts talking! Oh the things she says! Last Monday night she started talking and she said,"Get what ever you need." and jokingly I thought "I don't know what I need." Then right after I thought that she said,"Do you want yogurt?" hahaha it was great! Then just the other night she was talking soooo much! I couldn't remember everything that she said but I remembered this. "We can sing whatever..... Then we can boil it..... then toss it in the fryer." hahahaha good times!!!! I will have to tell you what else she says this week ;)

So funny story! So Yesterday Sister Hathaway was asked to speak in sacrament meeting. She did fantastic! But after sacrament meeting we were talking with the 2 counselor, Brother K__________, and Sister Hathaway said to him "It isn't fair that I have been here for 3 weeks and was asked to speak and Sister Creason has been here 4 months and has not been asked!" Brother K__________ then turned to me. "Your speaking this Sunday."

SHE TOTALLY THREW ME UNDER THE BUS!!!!! hahahaha she feels so bad now! It is actually cool because both me and Conner are speaking in our sacrament meetings! OH even cooler!! My ward does Sacrament meeting last so sacrament meeting begins at 11 and yours is at 9.  The time difference between us is 2 hours!! Conner and I are going to be speaking at the same time!!!!! HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!?! that's awesome!!!

I heard about the temple!!! I am so jealous!!!! I hope that I can go! Because the Atlanta temple is not in my mission, I'm not sure if I can go.... so it just might have to wait for another year :( They were talking about it in ward council yesterday and it made me want to go even more!!!! UGH!!! Oh well.

Sounds like you had a tiring week! That's a lot of driving! I know how you feel. We have to drive a lot every day some times out appointments are 30-40 minuets away... so we get exhausted by the end of the day. ;)

One thing that I have come to understand on my mission is how to best help others. For about a month all the letters mom wrote me she gave me the same advise. Just LOVE and SERVE! I started applying that into my work and I am seeing the rewards of my love and service! The success we are having is not because of us, but it is because the Love of Christ that is working in the hearts of man.

I have been working on the will of Heavenly Father as well... it's hard! It is so hard! I sometimes think that I know what I am doing but I have realized as I have been training that I really need to rely on his will because this is HIS work!!

Well that's about it for this week but I do want to give ya a spiritual thought.

Yesterday I finished reading the Book of Mormon. I started reading it when I got out here and have read it every day since. The stories in the Book of Mormon have really come to life for me! This has been a whole new experience reading it! It has been soooo cool! But I took Moroni's challenge and prayed to know if it is true. So I knelt down and asked him, and I felt nothing really. I asked him again... nothing. I panicked a little and told Heavenly Father that I wanted to know if it is true. I knelt there for a little bit, hoping that if I stayed there I would get the feeling of the Holy Ghost testifying that it was true. I knelt there for a little while. I then told Heavenly Father that I KNOW that this book was true. It was then that my prayer was answered. I could not doubt that the Book of Mormon was true, I just had to simply tell him that I still believed it to be true and that was when the Holy Ghost testified that to me that my belief is right.  

I KNOW that the Book of Mormon is true and that it contains the fullness of the gospel!

I love you so very much!!!

~Hermana Creason

Hey there familia!! Not a very exciting week this week and not much to report on. This week has been busy but very humbling! 

Training is fun but I just hope that I am doing a good job at it! Sister Hathaway is doing great! I really love her! We laugh a lot and we have a lot of the same insights. She has been a great first Trainee!! Sometimes I don't even feel like she is being trained!

I feel like a different missionary than I was before. A better one. I guess that comes with training. I have felt the spirit much differently but it has been much easier to discern. I have a drive to do the work and that has been a cool thing to have! I am stressing out a little though. I'm very nervous about Argentina! Not about going there but about speaking the language,,, I practice every day but it is hard because I have forgotten some things because I learned them nearly 4 months ago! Hermana Chapman and Hermana Buckholz got their Visa's and are leaving today! Have not heard back from the rest of my district but I know it must be coming close! Please keep my Spanish in your prayers! Because I need all the help I can get!

The work has been busy and tiring.   

We have 6 investigators!!! 

K_________ is still going strong! Her baptism is still August 31. She is going strong! We are starting to bring the Young Woman out to her lessons because she will be one of them in September. She is dead set on Baptism! So cool!

A_________'s baptism is on August 17. She is so cute! She knows the gospel well so we are also working on the family so that they don't become less active again ;)

A_________.... not sure how much she is progressing. Her health is declining fast again and she still has not come to church... we are still working on her though!

J________ is a referal from Salt Lake. He is SEARCHING! He has a lot of potential! He have only met with him once and we are seeing him again tomorrow so we will see!

P__________ is a former investigator that Sister Snyder and I taught! She is cool! We have not been able to teach her this week because we have been so busy but we will tomorrow! 

R_________ is a referral from a member in the ward. She is going to be a little slower process. I am not sure how much she is interested in the church but I can see that she really does listen to the lessons and I think that she is interested!

But yeah that's about it this week. Not much to report on sadly.  

The Elders are good. We don't really work with them but we are going to start up a Book of Mormon Study class on Wednesdays together for our investigators. They are cool Elders! Elder Ditty can beat box and it is so cool because he can make the transformer noises! I make him do it every time I see him! haha! He is from California and so is his Companion Elder Hooper. He has been out for a year and is great! He is our district leader.

Thats so sad that yall are sick! That is not fun at all! I hope that you feel better! Conner is going to be gone all week? What in the world are you going to do? I guess you will have to go to the temple a lot! I am so jealous! I miss the temple so much!!!

Yup tomato soup! I really like it! I still don't like tomatoes though. I think it is the texture. A lot of the dinner appointment's we go to they have cut up tomatoes on the table to just eat plain.... yeah don't like that BUT I love the soup!! Especially with grilled ham and cheese!!! YUM!     

Well I love you so much and I miss you more than you could ever know!!!

~Hermana Creason