Sounds like an exciting week full of family and fun and I GOT A NEW
NEPHEW!!!!! I love how much time you're able to spend with everyone,
especially this summer! Island Park is going to be a blast! I'm
excited for all of you! Okay and I just need to clarify.... Maren my
friend from high school is marrying Aaron Williams?? If so that's
crazy weird! Okay moving on. Transfers are this Wednesday which means
leadership calls are tonight and transfer calls are tomorrow. I have
not a clue what will happen but we'll soon find out! Thank you for
being my #1 fans, I love you both so much! I can't believe how fast
time flys! It's already August! I'm staying hydrated in the crazy
weather, enjoy your 100 degrees pops😉 Our member is takin us to get
pedis! Perks of serving in fancy wards. I LOVE YOU BOTH!!!! Have the
BEST week every!!! But don't have too much fun without me and go down
the river once for me!
Love, Sister Eaton
Sunday, August 7, 2016
July 25 - Exchanges, Visiting Areas and Investigators
It's so fun to have the family in town! It's foreign to think about seeing everyone again but it'll be just like old times I know. I'm grateful our family's so close. You'll have to let me know how dinner goes with everyone!
We're staying busy going on exchanges and we have some wonderful people we're teaching as well! Although I've served in Chandler my whole mission it's cool to be able to get a feel of different areas for the day; a few being Tempe, Mesa, and Phoenix! The sisters are amazing and such great example to me, I love being able to get to know them all!
Yesterday one of our investigators showed up to church with her three kids for the third Sunday in a row, plus it was her birthday! We were able to eat dinner with her and our members the Martineau's. They served as a mission President and wife in Africa and are so lovely! We're also teaching a cute lady who's quite the free spirit! She has had more than her fare share of challenges in her life but it's amazing to see how the gospel changes lives. I'm grateful to be serving here in this beautiful dessert, even when it's 115! Have the best week ever!
Love, Sister Eaton
July 18 - Exhausted but keep going!
My favs🐎🐥 [these are your spirit animals I chose for you]
Pops, you're a stallion. You're strong and steady. You're a work horse and very loyal. I know you're always there for me and that will never change.
Ma, similar to the ugly duckling you grew to be a confident beautiful daughter of God. I don't believe you ever went through the ugly phase, however, you did begin as a young girl very timid yet determined to serve others. You've discovered your ability to love everyone and forgive easily. It reminds me of Elder Hallstrom's talk from this past general conference:
"There is pain--physical, emotional, and spiritual. There are heartbreaks when circumstances are very different from what we had anticipated. There is injustice when we do not seem to deserve our situation. There are disappointments when someone we trusted failed us. There are health and financial setbacks that can be disorienting. There may be times of question when a matter of doctrine or history is beyond our current understanding." He continues to ask what our immediate response is to trials in our lives and he says, "Is our first response to remember who we are--that we are children of a loving God? Is that coupled with an absolute trust that He allows some earthly suffering because He knows it will bless us, like a refiner’s fire, to become like Him and to gain our eternal inheritance?"
Thank you for being such wonderful examples to me! I'm so happy you were able to make it to President and Sister Toone's welcome home! I love them so much, as you know! I've learned so much from them the past year+ and it means a lot to me that you were able to hear their testimonies. The spirit is so strong around missionaries! It would be so cool for you to experience the love that comes from being a senior couple for a mission because you're able to feel of the missionary spirit and feel the love from 100+ young missionaries. Just something to think about☺️ The cabin sounds like a success! I missed out but we'll celebrate Christmas extra good this year! You've mentioned a couple times we may go on a vaca once I return. If possible would that be able to be in March or so before I start school in April and maybe for a Christmas present I could get a gym pass (aka recover from a mission pass haha) Just a couple thoughts.
I am adjusting to my new area. Much different than a YSA but the members are great! We're teaching a couple people and trying to teach many more but there's always work to do, that's for sure. I'm feeling good, tired as usual but I have to admit I'm terrible at taking the energy supplements. I'll repent and be better. And we do have a car. We're going to Tempe, Mesa, Phoenix, and Chandler (we live in Gilbert) for exchanges which keep us busy. We go on a couple each week and that may have something to do with why I'm so tired😉 But everything's going well and I'm grateful for all that you both do for me! I LOVE YOU!!!!
Love, Sister Eaton
July 11 - Home vs. Singles Ward
Hey parents! What an exciting week it's been back home! I love that you have been able to see Austin and Eli! It's amazing that even when I'm gone you're still tight with them. It makes me so sad to hear how hard it is for them to come home. I know they'll be okay, they're awesome! Also I love that you're going to lunch with Michelle! President and Sister Toone say they know uncle Spencer! The cabin will be lots of fun for our fam! To answer your questions pop the biggest difference would be the age. It's so weird being back in family wards! So weird! Everyone's a bit more set in their ways and you feel like you're tip toeing around as you try and do missionary work. In YSA you can say it how it is and they're receptive to that. I'm learning how to teach kids which is also weird because I've always been great with kids but I guess I'm just out of practice. We can't hold them which is so hard! I just sent grandma and grandpa a post card, I'm glad to hear they're doing well! Thank you for writing me and being so supportive. I love hearing from you and knowing the family is safe and happy. I will talk to you soon!
Love, Sister Eaton xoxoxo
4th of July - STL and Kate's Baptism
To answer your question pops we have a car so that we can do
exchanges. We are over 11 companionships so we'll be doing exchanges a
couple times each week... Crazy! That's fun you had the elders over
for dinner:) It was also fun to eat with the Sharps last night! You
saw on FB I was able to go to my investigator Kate's baptism. She's
incredibly sweet and it was wonderful to be back for a night in YSA.
It's very difficult to leave an area because you love them so much but
change is good. We went on our first exchange this week and it went
great! This week we'll go on a couple more and then we'll have MLC and
and zone meeting. It's going to be over before I know it! July is good
as over and I can't believe how quickly time passes. SISTER CLEMENS IS
PREGNANT!!! She's due Jan. 3 That's good to hear Eli's home safe and
Austin gets home on the 6th! I can't believe it! I LOVE YOU BOTH SO
MUCH!!! I wish I had more time to write Whit and Cal but my time
evaporates these days but send them my love if I don't get a letter
written in time, por favor!
Love, Sister Eaton
exchanges. We are over 11 companionships so we'll be doing exchanges a
couple times each week... Crazy! That's fun you had the elders over
for dinner:) It was also fun to eat with the Sharps last night! You
saw on FB I was able to go to my investigator Kate's baptism. She's
incredibly sweet and it was wonderful to be back for a night in YSA.
It's very difficult to leave an area because you love them so much but
change is good. We went on our first exchange this week and it went
great! This week we'll go on a couple more and then we'll have MLC and
and zone meeting. It's going to be over before I know it! July is good
as over and I can't believe how quickly time passes. SISTER CLEMENS IS
PREGNANT!!! She's due Jan. 3 That's good to hear Eli's home safe and
Austin gets home on the 6th! I can't believe it! I LOVE YOU BOTH SO
MUCH!!! I wish I had more time to write Whit and Cal but my time
evaporates these days but send them my love if I don't get a letter
written in time, por favor!
Love, Sister Eaton
#WalmartSpecial#TwinningisWinning
Kate's Baptism!
June 27 - Transfers: Chandler East Stake!
What a crazy, wonderful week! Transfers were this Wednesday and I was
transferred! I'm still serving in Chandler.... Surprise! I'm serving
in the Chandler East stake in two family wards: Partridge and
Greenfield 1st. And YES the Sharps are in the Partridge ward... What a
small world we live in! I love getting to meet all the wonderful
members. When Elder Holland came he talked about how our love is
always love multiplied and never love divided. I'm serving with Sister
Smith and she's from England! Round two with the Britts! I believe
it's tender mercies from Heavenly Father seeing how my soul sister is
serving in Birmingham.... I don't know! Anywho, she's wonderful and
we're excited for this transfer! On top of it all we've been asked to
be Sister Training Leaders (STLs) for the English speaking sisters in
our mission (minus Maricopa, Case Grande, and Yuma) so we'll be going
on exchanges a couple times each week. It'll be a mad house but I know
the Lord will help us in our area as we'll be in and out quite a bit.
This week President and Sister Toone will be headed home and President
and Sister Christensen will be arriving. It's bitter sweet having a
change in a mission President but I know that with change comes
growth. I'm so thankful for the countless lessons I've learned from
President and Sister Toone this past year. They've truly been my rock
and I'm going to miss them like crazy but I'm looking forward to
serving with President and Sister Christensen and learning from them.
It's amazing how much love you can feel for individuals that haven't
yet arrived but I know it's the Lord's way of preparing our mission
for this change. My last news for this week is about my dear friend
Lola. She was able to go through the temple this week and receive her
endowment! She's such an amazing example to me of putting the Lord
first and trusting in His plan even when she doesn't quite understand
it herself. It was so special to be in the temple with many of the
people I love so much and feeling the peace that comes from being in
the Lord's home. This gospel brings more blessings into my life than I
even realize but I'm eternally grateful for it. I love it with all my
heart and I know it is true. Heavenly Father loves each and every one
of His children and we are never too far gone. I love you all!
Love, Sister Jennifer Eaton
transferred! I'm still serving in Chandler.... Surprise! I'm serving
in the Chandler East stake in two family wards: Partridge and
Greenfield 1st. And YES the Sharps are in the Partridge ward... What a
small world we live in! I love getting to meet all the wonderful
members. When Elder Holland came he talked about how our love is
always love multiplied and never love divided. I'm serving with Sister
Smith and she's from England! Round two with the Britts! I believe
it's tender mercies from Heavenly Father seeing how my soul sister is
serving in Birmingham.... I don't know! Anywho, she's wonderful and
we're excited for this transfer! On top of it all we've been asked to
be Sister Training Leaders (STLs) for the English speaking sisters in
our mission (minus Maricopa, Case Grande, and Yuma) so we'll be going
on exchanges a couple times each week. It'll be a mad house but I know
the Lord will help us in our area as we'll be in and out quite a bit.
This week President and Sister Toone will be headed home and President
and Sister Christensen will be arriving. It's bitter sweet having a
change in a mission President but I know that with change comes
growth. I'm so thankful for the countless lessons I've learned from
President and Sister Toone this past year. They've truly been my rock
and I'm going to miss them like crazy but I'm looking forward to
serving with President and Sister Christensen and learning from them.
It's amazing how much love you can feel for individuals that haven't
yet arrived but I know it's the Lord's way of preparing our mission
for this change. My last news for this week is about my dear friend
Lola. She was able to go through the temple this week and receive her
endowment! She's such an amazing example to me of putting the Lord
first and trusting in His plan even when she doesn't quite understand
it herself. It was so special to be in the temple with many of the
people I love so much and feeling the peace that comes from being in
the Lord's home. This gospel brings more blessings into my life than I
even realize but I'm eternally grateful for it. I love it with all my
heart and I know it is true. Heavenly Father loves each and every one
of His children and we are never too far gone. I love you all!
Love, Sister Jennifer Eaton
Sister Smith :D
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