6/2/14 | Reading Rainbow

Hello from Reading!

The Happiest missionary got transferred to Reading PA! That's
pronounced reding, like the reading railroad on monopoly...yeah, we've
been saying it wrong all of these years...well at least all of us that
thought we could read have been saying it wrong. Anyways, I LOVE
READING!!!!! It's a lot different than my other areas but its just
magical! It's a lot more open...not as many trees which feels really
weird but its super beautiful. Lot's of rolling hills, farmland and
backwoodsy stuff like dead possums in the road. That's what half of
our area is like, the other half is the city of Reading--which is
literally exactly like Philly without center city. It is just
fabulous!!! Rows and rows of the most charming row homes :). Did I
mention I love it here!? My companion is Sister Suckow--that's
pronounced Sue-ko :). She is so so so so so so funny. She's from
wherever people who go to Bingham High School live but her family just
moved to Alaska! So that's where she will go home to. She's been out
for 13 months and is 20 I think. She taught a year of preschool before
she came out here. She loves kids and has had 1200 embarrassing
moments since we've been companions :). There are 4 sisters and 4
elders in our district and they are all really great missionaries!
We live in a house. Yes a house...all by ourselves. It has a big front
room with uber comfy couches, a big kitchen that 2 people can actually
stand to be in together, 1 bath, our bedroom and our study room and
then there's the upstairs that we store random things in. It is so
fun! We even get to mow our lawn!!!!!!! We have a porch and a hose so
we can wash our car right here in the driveway for free! ayayyyah!
We have 2 recent converts we are teaching--Rosalie and Octavia (mother
and daughter) They are Haitian! How cool is that?! We had dinner with
them the other night and it was crazy! We had something....I know some
of is was chicken and there were plantains (I love plantains) then
there was this gravy...well she called it gravy but I'm going to call
it fire sauce. She told me to put it all over my food so I'm like "umm
ok, whatever you say..." Then my lips caught on fire but she fed us
cheesecake for dessert so it was ok.
The rest of the work here in Reading is mostly with less active
members. Apparently  it's "really hard" to come by a baptism around
here...we will see. It's been kinda a koo koo week so I haven't been
able to meet lot's of the people we work with but I love the ones I've
met.
We had stake conference yesterday! They had it at a high school so all of
the stake could fit, that was fun. President and Sister Anderson came
and spoke and it was just fantastic! Surprisingly I've been able to
meet lot's and lot's of the members here despite the abnormal meeting
today. They are all super involved in the work (WHICH IS INCREDIBLE!)
so we've met lots through missionary work stuff but I also got to meet
lot's of members at a funeral my first day here. Sad.
I had a real life Philly pretzel this week. It was YUM! I had no idea
what I was missing.
We are having a special meeting next sunday, they are making some
boundary changes in our stake so that should be exciting.

Well...any questions??

The gospel is still true, even in Reading PA! I love it here :) I hope
I get to serve the rest of my mission here :) Have a happy happy happy
week!

Love Sister Bailey

5/26/14 | Good Morning!

Here's a first: I don't really know what to write about today. How about I share some really good treasures I've found this week. 

Powerful Ideas by Elder Oaks

 

The powerful ideas that he is talking about are the plain and simple truths that really resonate with every human soul and will usher us home. These are the ideas that we need to really study and know so that not only we will be benefited by them but others will learn from us and our example (it literally shines through your face!!! Just ask Sister Dalton). One of the ideas he shared is the fact that "I am a child of God with a spirit lineage to heavenly parents. That parentage defines our eternal potential" This knowledge is "the most powerful antidepressant. < How cool is that?! That made me think of the presentation that the mission doctor and his wife gave at Zone conference a while back. They talked all about the internal pharmacy the Lord has given to us. We just need to know how to tap into it. 

Elder Oaks warns us to stay away from 1: Light-mindedness 2: Idle thoughts 3: Trivial things < These are the things that distract us, side track us and make our eternal perspective become blurred. No one likes a blurry picture. 

Second treasure I found: Finding Joy in Life by Barbara Winder (Dad is this your mission president's wife??) Oct 1987 GC 

There are so many talks on joy and though they are all very good, some of them leave you thinking stuff like, "ok great, I just have to smile more and be happy" But this one is different. In this talk Sister Winder gives us the how to. "Joy, it seems, is not only happiness, but the resultant feeling of the Holy Ghost manifest within us" So then, the way we gain a greater joy is helped through having the spirit more. She says we must create our own spiritual reservoir by.....looks like you're going to have to go read it yourself :) It's really goood! 

We went to Lois and Bears this week for our first real lesson (we've been softening their hearts with service!) We introduced them to the Book of Mormon and testified of it's truth. Bear was so excited he kept exclaiming "it is good! it is good!" (he had a stroke a few years ago, he understands everything very clearly but had a hard time communicating back--this was the most I've heard him talk!) before we even left, he had it open and was reading it very intently. It was such a great moment! 

Morrisville is a lovely place filled with lovely people. I'm sad and happy to be leaving. Sad because of the goodbyes but I know they will be taken care of. Happy because every time you're transferred is a new adventure! and I love adventures. I feel Delaware is calling my name...either that or Northern PA...or Jersey, or Maryland! That would be fun! Love you all to the Moon and back! 

Love, Sister Bailey

PS For the record this transfer was the worst! But I learned so so much!!!! and I'm so grateful for every moment of it. Sister Wright and I are friends and we had a lot of fun this past week. :) 

5/19/14 | Happy Monday.

This week was kinda koo koo. I'm really thankful that it is over :). 

Highlight of the week: Lois and Bear.

The Zone Leaders Doubled in and did some finding on thursday. They found us the bessstttt people ever! Lois is a 78 year old lady who carves walking sticks and gardens. She hates wearing shoes and has a pet bird that acts like a dog. It is seriously hilarious. Bear is her husband and had a stroke some years back so he can't talk very much. They are both so sweet and we are going to start softening their hearts with some good old service. 

Service is honestly my favorite thing to do :) We volunteer at a thrift shop 2wice a week and help Lyida with her packing to move efforts on saturdays. It's just fun to help people! 

Thursday was also Elder Reynold's (one of the ZL's) birthday. So his companion (Elder Bloomfield--his family lives right behind Audrey Lee's family!) texted us that morning and asked us to bring candles. We asked if he had a cake and he said no because they were fasting. So we got real creative real quick and got some of that squishy green foam stuff you put fake flowers in for the candles and gathered up all the birthday stuff we could find. Luckily I had some stuff left over from my birthday. Mom sent me a banner that said happy birthday on it (perfect!) I hadn't actually used it for my birthday (sorry) so I hadn't opened it yet. We got to the church before District Meeting to hang it up and blow up some balloons. When I opened the banner...I just started laughing. These are the letters printed on the banner: H-A-A-P-P H-Y-R-T-H-D-A-Y-! ...so close. He didn't notice till we pointed it out though :) 

We had a mini exchange with the Doylestown Sisters on Thursday also. It was great, I went to Doylestown with Sister Shaia and we went to their dinner appointment and I helped her make some grad announcements for one of their investigators (service) Then we came back to Yardley and the training sisters just stayed the night. It was good. 

The Zone Leaders talked with us after they doubled in and ended up giving me a blessing. I kinda hit my breaking point this week so it was much needed. Before the blessing they were talking to us as I expressed some of my concerns. The major one was that I just wasn't happy. I used to find so much joy in the work and now I didn't feel that happiness. Elder Reynolds told me something that no one has ever said to me. He told me that it was actually ok to not be happy. REALLY?! ok. For some reason that was the thing that helped me snap out of my funk. So I'm happy again so far. :) 

Life is just lovely in Yardley. Yous would love it here. It's right along the Delaware River. We actually had a pretty long conversation with Lois yesterday about how there is literally nothing in Yardley...and that's why we love it. They have a pizza shop and some water ice...and that's about it. Today we are driving along the river road to New Hope to do some exploring with the Doylestown sisters. It's going to be so charming. The Pennypack sister's were going to come too but sister Bettilyon is feeling Lymey today :(. 

We found a wild flower preserve in our area this week. It's called Bowman's Hill Wild Flower Preserve...google it. I wanted to go oh so badly but it's closed on monday's...of course. I also saw a sign in front of a nursery that said " Nicest Geraniums in Town!!!" ha, I thought that was really funny for some reason. My companion didn't but I just pretended Mom was in the back seat laughing cause she would have thought it was funny too :). 

We took a lunch break on the little trail by the delaware on Saturday. Then a flock of geese tried to attack us so we took that as our que to leave. Geese are freaky things. I think they just wanted us for our starburst jelly beans. We also saw a woodchuck. yes they are real. She had two babies and they were making a mad dash from the river to their hole. Have I told you that there is a tiny house on Yardley main that's number 114 1/2. We want to move there, it's the perfect size for missionaries. Two more things: Sister Wrights family sent us Sheri's Berries! YUM! and we made taco's this week :) also good. 

Anyways...This letter is getting a bit random. Let's all pray for good news this friday when transfer calls come in :)  Lydia had a new date for August 24th...It's a long way off for many reasons. And Bobby is scheduled to be baptized on June 1st! yay! 

Love Yous! Have a happy happy happy day! 

Love, Sister B. 

5/12/14 | Happy Monday

Good Morning Utahns!!

How are you doing family?? Remember when we got to talk to eachother
yesterday?? That was so much fun! Lets do it again sometime ok? I
think I have some free time on... December 25th, yeah that should work
:)
This week was lovely, the weather has been so so nice! I'm actually
out sitting on sister heaps porch with her right now :) it is so
niiiice! its supposed to get into the 80's today but back down to 60's tomorrow
...feels like home :) Well, I guess I"ll just give you a
little run down of this week starting with...
Monday : We went to Pennypack again! (seriously, what was president
thinking putting sister bettilyon and I so close together?!?!?) We
went and got the yummiest sushi and did our grocery shopping. It was
wayyy fun. Have I told you about Sister Adams? She is sister B's
companion now and she is sooooo great! you would love love love her!
I'm sure you'll get to meet her one day :)
Tuesday: We found the lovely park I told you about on tuesday, the
washington crossing historic park...super lovely. This is the day i
met my squirrel friend, francis :) he's nice.
Wednesday: We got a HQ referrall and went and taught him! He is from
Liberia and is so prepared! We taught him the restoration and he asked
all of the right questions! We were teaching him about the Book of
Mormon and testifying of it (right after Book of Mormon is pray to
know) and he asks "yeah but how do i know if this is true??" Well let
me tell you bobby! :) it was the greatest lesson and I'm super excited
to be able to teach him! side note: sister wright can't understand
him...at all. He just has a think african accent that I have been
blessed to understand :).
Then Wednesday night, we went to the O'rourks. Dan O'rourk is a
member but his mom is not. She is catholic but really likes us, we've
been over a few times. So he's going on a mission (just got his
call!!! to argentina! yay!!!) and so we told his mom, Debbie, that we
could come over and do a role play type thing to show her what dan
will be doing...thats code for how about we teach you the restoration
and baptize you too. We had a great lesson and she asked so many good
missionary questions over dinner. She'll get baptized while he's
serving :).
Thursday : BEST DAY EVER!!! We had Zone conference in Broomall! it was
sooo good! There were 6 Zones there so it was pretty massive. The
mission Doctor and his wife (remember Dr. Ohio?? :)) were there to
give a little health presentation. it was actually really good and
really helpful and I took some good notes that are not with me right
now or else I would spill all of their secrets. President Anderson and
the Assistants all taught us really good things. Zone conference
always uplifts and strengthens. I love it :) In one of the breakoff
sessions, Sister Anderson gave us all a fresh Book of Mormon and had
us write our testimonies in the front along with this little scripture
chain through it--then she committed us to give it out to whomever we
felt prompted to. I'll keep you posted on the miracles that follow ;)
Then we went to dinner at a RC's, her name is Debbie and she was kinda
distraught cause her Cat got AIDs and they had to put it down on
friday morning....
Friday: We had district meeting and Weekly planning! yay! Lydia called
us and postponed her baptism...:( But that's ok, she'll get baptized
soon!
Saturday: Pretty Sloopy. This is the day we had our comp inventory
that I told you about yesterday :) hahaha good times in the PPM!
Sunday: Happiest Best Day!!! Happy Mothers dayyyy! Seriously the best
day! We had a really great sacrement meeting and Bobby came to
church!!!! He loved it and stayed for all 3 hours!!!! Hootie Hootie!
Then we went to the Heaps because I told her we would make a Mother's
Day dinner for her because she's like our mom away from mom :) So we
made yummiest grilled chicken and pineapple, Those yummy potatoes
(with olive oil and herbs and stuff that you put in the oven and bake)
good salad and corn on the cob. It was sooooo gooood! We were going to
make some bread but I didn't have the super fast roll recipe (mom
that's the one sister heaps was looking for. i think they are called
yeast rolls....Look on my pinterest account) It was so fun and good!
and we had English KitKats for dessert because Brother heaps was just
in england for work and brought home a bunch of good chocolate! Then
we headed over to Alyssa Cox's house. Alyssa is so great, basically we
are best friends. She got home from her mission when I got to
morrisville. She was in Brazil but had to come home early because of
knee problems (she was out 10 months), oh and Aaron mateer was her MTC
teacher!!! Crazy! Then I called home! fun funnn think about fun! That
rally was fun stuff, i love you family. Then after I called Sister
wright was calling so I got to hang out with Alyssa more, She showed
me mission pics and told me some crazy stories! it was great. Oh and
she also played Lacrosse so we are automatic friends!
And today is Monday : I am doing laundry, writing letters and burning
some cds. I'll probably take a nap too because I can! or we might go
fly kites cause I got one for a dollar at target (when we returned the
massive bookcase). I love kites! and Kittens. and Pikas!!! Especially
pikas. and Bossy pants Mrs. Boss :) ohhh I just thought of a grown up
name for you boss pants! ready for it "Boss Hugo Boss" That can be
your bussiness man name for later in your life.
Ok is it just me or do you all feel in the dark about spencers real
misison??? who knew he had a broken shoulder??? do you feel like that
about me too? Do i not tell you everything??? hmmmm very curious.
Love you all and have a happy week 5!

Love, Sister Bailey

5/5/14 | Felize Cinco De Mayo!

Good Morning Familia,

We have taco dinners scheduled for almost every night this week. That's the east costers way of being festive :) I'll take it. That's something I surely miss out her, Mexican food. They try so hard but it tastes like a Cesar salad in a tortilla. So close. 

I was sick this week but no matter, the work goes on. A little girl in our ward was getting baptized yesterday so we invited Lydia to come. She came and loved it! It was awesome because she was able to meet a bunch of people in the ward more and invite them to her baptism next week. yay! Then we taught her the ten commandments. fun. OH and and Saturday we watched the Ft. Lauderdale Temple Celebration!!! Hootie hootie!! Did ya'll see Spencer!? I did. ok not really but i'm sure he was there :) We were watching it at a members home and they all knew that Spencer would be there so we kept waiting and waiting for the missionaries to come. When it was over and we realized they no, they wouldn't be doing a personal interview with an Elder Bailey because he is the best missionary in Flo Rida! So I pulled out my pic of Spencer in front of the temple to show them. Lots of ohhhs and he's really tall and he looks just like you yeah yeah yeah. Then Lydia takes the ipad and zooms in on his face to see better. She goes, he does look like you! Is he married?! um no lyida he is a missionary remember. oh does he have a girlfriend?! cause he should deffinatly have a girlfriend! ok then I took the picture and tried to talk about the spirit and the temple and stuff. *note to self: Don't show pictures of your brothers to teenage girls--it distracts them. 

Highlight of the week: We got home one day and there was this massive box leaning up against our second door (we live in this weird old house so one of the doors just goes into our kitchen and we don't use it) "That's weird, it must be for John" (the neighbor that lives upstairs). So we left it. Then Sister Anderson from the ward texted us about something that was sent to me by accident--don't open it. ok. We didn't realize till later that it was the box we saw earlier. When we tried to bring it in....well that was a struggle. it is like 53 pounds and is at least as tall as me! Then the next morning we brought it to target to return it. #adventuresinthePPM ha we had a good laugh about it mom ;). 

Well, that's about all we did this week. I'm feeling better though so we'll be able to work reall hard this week :) yay!!! We also have Zone Conference in Broomall this week!!!! I'm so so so so so excited! All my favorite missionaries will be there! 

Love you!!!

Sister Bailey 

The Study Nook

Double Rainbow

Philly North Zone!

4/28/14 | A Bedioun, a Congressman and a Missionary.

Good Monday People, 

Went to a fascinating fireside Brother Kruman had at his house last night. He runs the only chapter of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers east of the Mississippi...wonder why it's not more popular out here...

Beadioun: His name is Ishmael (Ish for short) and he is the first Beadioun Diplomat for Israel. Pretty neat. He spoke at a tiny fireside we were at last night and it was really cool to hear what he had to say. He is very nice too and wrote a tiny biography called "A Shepard Journey" go read it and tell me all about it k? He invited us all to go stay with his family in their beadioun village. (HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE?!--sign me up) 

Congressman: Fitzpatrick to be exact. Never heard of him, but then again I don't know many congressmen on any sort of name basis. His wife and I are basically BFFs. She told me all about her 6 (that's right six) kids and we had a grand old time! 

Monday: Oh don't worry, we just drove 15 min to Pennypack to visit SISTER BETTILYON!!! NBD. I love her so so so much! We could talk for dayyyss! Best p day everrrr

Tuesday: I was feeling sicky sick, but we were going on exchanges, I was supposed to stay in Morrisville with Sister Wilson but then the sisters saw me and thought it would be better for me to go to Doylestown with Sister Shaia because the mission nurse is in their area so we could just to go her house and stuff. So we did and she predicted seasonal allergies from the mold fiasco, just was Dr Charlie diagnosed!!! YAY. Tuesday rolled into thursday and we went did some volunteer work at a thrift shop (favorite service activity!!! you get first dibs on everything) Let me just say that I love sister shaia! I hope we get to serve together one day!!! She is the one from PG (we met her brother in law at CTR Clothing that one time mom?) 

Thursday: We planned. Comp inventoried for...a while. My dear young companion is...I'll leave it at struggling. Let's all pray for her k? Then we had what I like to call a series of miracles! First we went to our dinner apointment at IHOP. The member brought a friend (IBM!) (miracle 1) Then we were driving back and followed a random thought to stop by Jim's house. He came out to his porch and talked with us for a bit. He told us that he just got put on a job site that dosn't allow smoking (miracle two). I got right up into his face and said, "JIM! Do you think God's trying to tell you something?!" he chuckled and said yes. :) He also told us that he wanted to just come to the church the night before becasue he needed peace. He almost called us. (miracle 2.5). Then we followed another random thought to go to the Heaps and on the way I told sister wright to call Lydia (random thought) so she did but no answer. We parked at the heaps and they weren't home...bummer but Lydia called back. I was able to teach her the most incredible lesson over the phone and invite her to be baptized for May 11!!! YEAH! (miracle 3 + 4+ 5) I commited her to pray about the date and to let us know. She texted us back a little while later and said she was ready for a Mothers day baptism! (miracle 6). Random thought back tracked us to the church, on our way we got a HQ referral (miracle 7). We were already headed in that direction so we said let's go see him now! The lord time's everything perfectly so when we got there and couldn't see any house numbers, a guy walked out of his house and so I just asked hiim if he knew an Elvyn. oh it's his dad (miracle 8) His name was Zach and he told us Elvyn would be home tomorrow at 3. Before we left, Random thought me whipped out a book of mormon and said, "listen Zach, I know that this book is true and the things inside will change your life. But you don't have to believe me, will you read it?" Yeah! he exclaimed. (miracle 9). and we made it in and safe by 9 (miracle 10). 

But then things took a turn for the worst when we got to the apartment and our door was wide open....bad feeling took us runnin back to the car to call the DL. he didn't answer so we called the ZL's and told them that if they tried to make us sleep there that night we probably wouldn't be sleeping. So president gave us permission to go stay with the Pennypack sisters. Lovely. The elders came and checked the apartment but we still had this weird bad feeling about staying there. So they gave us blessings and in mine they told me that Heavenly Father agreed with my decision (to not stay the night there). So off we went for a sleepover with Sister Bettilyon and Sister Adams. They actually live in our area...weird so it was nice to be able to work on the other side of our area we usually dont have miles to go to on friday morning. 

Friday: Sister Wright got sick.

Saturday: Special Olympic volunteering and we found a Mini Reading Terminal Marking called Newtown farmers market on our lunch break. 

Well, That about sums up my week folks! 

I've been studying Patterns lately. GOOD STUFF. When I started my studies on thursday morning with this focus, I was thinking it would be about patterns of the priesthood and stuff like that. But the patterns that the modern day prophets focus on are Family, marriage and ...somthing else I wasn't expecting. Hmm I promise my insights on this was really good, I'll expand more next week when I have my notes fresh. 

Love you!!

Sister Bailey

PS. Remember Maddie Peters from West Chester? She just facebook messaged me and told me she finally went to church yesterday!!! HORRAY!

PPS oh yeah we had the most epic adventures in Valley Forge today :) pictures to follow.

Washington's chapel at Valley forge

Valley Forge

4/21/14 | Happy Easter!

Dear Family,

I hope you have all had the chance to watch the #BecauseofHim video at least 13 times. It is so good! and the best best missionary tool! Did you know you can access it on gospel library now? well you can so now you can watch it all day everyday! and share it will everyone you meet! even the cashier at Kohlers. share share share. 

Easter was the best! I had no idea how great it would be as a missionary! Probably my new favorite holiday. Thankfully I'll be able to have two of them out here in the field now that they changed sister missions to 2 years! #hootiehootie oh I forgot they're not announcing that till next conference so keep it on the DL :)

Oh I almost forgot! I have a new companion! Her name is Sister Wright. She is 19, from Thatcher and just very sweet. Been serving in Medford, Jersey. Here's the crayyy part: She just graduated from high school in May!!! like, when spencer graduated! Now that's insanity! She has been out 6 mo. (just a transfer behind me). she likes reading and sports and history kinda stuff, which is perfect because we have lots of history out here. We are planning on going to Valley Forge next week after my doctor appointment and Washington Crossing is like 5 min away from our house so we'll hit that up sometime. I still haven't hit up the historic district in Philly so maybe we'll do that next time we are in the city. I can tell we are going to see many a miracle this transfer. 

Sad: I didn't see sister B yet :( they did transfers different this time (the goldens came in the day after the rest of us did transfers) so she missed normal transfer meeting but get this: She is serving 20 min away from me in Pennypack! So I think we will go see her today :) according to Elder White (AP) They "hooked us up" --ha he called me on monday night to tell me not to worry about not seeing her at transfer meeting because she would be serving real close to me :) #blessed. 

Miracle: Remember Lydia? I think I told you about her. If not, here's a run down: shes 18, lutheren, dropped us 2 weeks ago after we taught her the first 2 lessons (which she loved)--she talked to her pastor and she told her to drop us. Randomly on Saturday night after we were feeling a wee bit discouraged at the way our week had gone, Lydia texted us this, "I had a dream last night that I was baptized at the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church and I was telling everyone that I was Mormon." I was jumping for joy and so excited and freaking out!!!!! I could barely explain to Sister Wright who Lydia even was i was so excited! So we asked her if she thought God was trying to tell her something. She said yes and wants to start meeting with us again! She came to church with us and stayed for all THREE HOURS! I know the 3 hour block is not really a big deal for us who have been doing it all of our lives but for everyone else...it is a really hard thing! at least for most people i've taught it has been hard. Except for Kollie, he's heaven sent :) I'm actually talking to him right now on facebook. :) what a blessing to be able to keep up with our converts while we are still out here serving! 

Louise: The woman we met cleaning Ann's house a while ago, remember her? Well, we met up with her yesterday and she was so happy to see us! So curious and askes so many questions! We gave her a BOM and she said she would read from it! :) YAY! That's what hooks 'em! 

Worst news on planet earth: My dear Sister Smith (MTC comp) is not coming back to Philly. She will be finishing her mission in SLC probably doing church media stuff (which she will be sosososo good at!) Sad news but for the best I suppose. She's really the best and always sends me the BEST lovely things!!! I LOVE HER! 

Mom, you are getting realllll good at sending me packages!!! The easter one was pure gold! for realllll. You are the best mom in all of China! and the rest of the world ;) it was a woolly woolly special easter package #diedlaughing Thank you 10 fold for the tree of life thingy! That is seriously so so cool! 

I love all of you so so much and pray for you literally 300 times a day. for real. Be safe out there! it's a crazy world! 

Love, Sister Bailey