This week I had the best miracle of my mission! Just kidding, but ti really is so amazing! I was transferred back to Sequim! I was told that I was coming back to it on saturday and my heart was so full of JOY! I was devastated when the mission president took me away from my trainer so quickly. I kinda got over it, but I never stopped loving Sequim. I am just so grateful! I got here and things are just as I left them, but the missionaries aren't utilizing the wards as they should cause they are the best in the mission up here. I love it! So, I fully intend to get Sequim back to its full potential :)

Well, they put me back with Sister Nybo (from Salem, UT) whom I served with in Gig Harbor and we had a terrible time getting along back then, but I think that we've both grown so much and I think this time around will definitely be better and we'll be more effective missionaries. I also have another companion from the Phillipines and her name is Sister Directo. She is actually a Temple Square missionary here on her proselyting portion of her mission. I can already tell that I really love her spirit :)

This past week we met with a PMF and he felt that he had to tell us what his spirit told him about our spirits. Sounds weird I know, but just hear me out! He said that I had a very strong spirit and that people are drawn to me because my strength provides strength for them. He said that I was very determined, and that it is because of these qualities that I am meant to have amazing success in my mission and in my life. WOOWWWW.

I was blown away. He said that he had this gift of discerning spirits but that he hardly ever used it anymore because it weirded people out. I thought it was incredible though. :)

This past week, we had a mission tour which is when one of the general authorities come to the mission and talks to us about the work, how we can improve, etc. Well, I was one of the five that was chosen out of the whole mission to talk to the authority and I asked him questions about how I could endure to the end well. He told me that it's the little things that make the biggest difference; If I ever stop praying, studying or going to the temple, than I have stopped enduring well. The temple is a major blessing, one that I didn't realize or take advantage of before the mission. I will never let that happen again.

Man alive, I've achieved something I never thought I would . . . I am fully devoted to the work, through and through. I love The Lord so much and I have determined that there is nothing that will keep me from reaching my eternal potential.

Love you all!

-Sister Emily McRae

New Insights Every Day

The miracles just keep on rolling in! Last Sunday, January 23, we were able to baptize some of our investigators, Hannah and Macy Dosher. There were so many people there. We had to open the next curtain in the gym (that's where the baptismal font is. . .). We even had another one of our investigators there, Tyge Barker.We've taught him about 3 times since we met him a little over a week ago and we put him on date for the 30th of January (today!!!). It's amazing! We were able to confirm his desire to be baptized last saturday and he said that when he prayed he felt like it was the right thing to do and that he knew he should! It was awesome. So, we got to see him baptized this month! And then this time next year we will be able to see get sealed to him family for time and all eternity in the temple! I am so excited to be able to say that! That's the whole reason he's getting baptized; isn't that crazy?! When he said that he wasn't even a member yet and yet he was already wanting to take part in the blessings of having an active life in the gospel.

So, it's been pretty busy lately and the only thing that helps me get out of bed in the morning is that the mission president said in the last transfer meeting that "Zion is built at the edge of exhaustion." That's been my hope, that as I work really hard to find and teach the best lessons I can, I will begin to see Zion being built. Another thing I love that I read somewhere is that without faith, The Lord can do nothing with or for you. That has been something that I have had to keep in mind as I go to see members and share messages with them is that there is a bigger plan for us, but without faith, we can have no part in it. This ward I am serving in is really great, but as we have been sharing with them our goals as missionaries and the baptisms they have helped us with, they have shown a lack of faith. I feel like that can change though with a few good messages on faith building.

I read in this months ensign the story of the Home Teachers that made a difference and there were several about part-member families and less-actives that had been reactivated and/or baptized because of the efforts of good, faithful Home Teachers and I had a revelation that that is its very purpose and that having faith is essential, especially in those seemingly hopeless cases. That, over time, is how The Lord softens their hearts. I am so grateful for and have developed a great testimony that th epriesthood is the biggest difference in The Lord's church and those other churches built around it.
I also just recently FINALLY came to the realization of what my true purpose is. I was given a promise in my patriarchal blessing that I would be able to bear testimony of the truths of the gospel and it will touch the hearts of others. I have to know these things are true though. And so, I've begun my quest for more knowledge. I hope to be able to understand the gospel better in my quest for knowledge of these truths. Anyway, those are my big insights into the gospel for now, wish me luck for the weeks to come! :)

Love you all! Talk to you later!

-Sister Emily McRae

The Mission During the Holidays

So, I heard you guys got so much snow that they closed all the freeways and schools and whatnot. Is that true?! The kids here went to school for a total of, like, 4 hrs this last monday and then left early because the snow was getting too bad. The difference here was that we only got a whopping 6 inches; my comp. and I went out and did missionary work and they didn't even go to school. Sheesh! We went out on tues to visit the less actives from the ward and one of them had their 4-wheeler out towing people around on a sled. I had yoga pants on under my skirt so, skirt and all, I jumped on the sled and was towed aroung the neighborhood! So much fun!
On Thanksgiving, we went all over the place. First, we went to the Ferrin's house and had some chocolate hoapia (Hawaiin for coconut) pie and we wrestled with the 5 Ferrin boys. Then we went to the Wooleys and talked with them for a while. And then we went to our house and ate our first meal there with Sis. Swanson's family. We had helped her prepare the turkey earlier that morning and it was delish. She also had the most yummy mashed potatoes. So GOOD! Then we went to the Haskett's house where they had fake mashed potatoes (two thumbs way down) and played uno. AND THEN we went to, like, 4 other houses and had pie. One of the houses was having a PIE FEST and the winner was a pumpkin pecan pie. Wooee. My companion accomplished her goal of getting seven pies, one for every day of the week. So, overall, it was a good Thanksgiving!
As for Christmas, it was pretty much the same story. We went to so many houses and ate so much food! I was so sick by the end of the night! There was also a very nice Christmas program put on by the stake the sunday before Christmas and it really helped put me into the Christmas spirit! It even had a live nativity! I got to pet a ram, an alpaca, and a donkey. It was really fun :).
We've also been blessed with alot of miracles lately. This last week, we were able to make a part-member family from the ward we are serving in our new investigators! The bishop had gone over there and the member mom had said she wanted her eight yr. old to be baptized and that she wanted to make sure the missionaries knew so that she could taught. So, we went over there and invited non-member dad and their 11 yr. old son if they wanted to be baptized and they became really excited right away, even making jokes about what their baptisms would be like. I can tell that satan is hard at work at this family, but I can also tell they are ready.
Another miracle was that we were able to baptize Robert, a boy we met in the last transfer and were able to teach for two months. He was baptized on Dec. 19 and his non-member even came and was very supportive. I was also able to give a really powerful message on the restoration while we waited for Robert to change. The spirit was so strong! It was a great baptism.
Third miracle of the week happened when we were knocking on doors in the Sunrise ward and we knocked on the door of Becca. She was so excited because her best friend is a member and lives in Utah. She has been so prepared by that same member friend to receive the restored gospel in her life that she came on a church tour with us on sunday after the baptism. She is our same age, in college and looking for a place where she belongs. We took her to the font and asked her if she would commit to learning more and being baptized, and she said YES! It was an incredible miracle that I am going to record in my journal if I remember. :)
As a poor missionary, I can't give many gifts but as I share messages and talk to people at the door, I really start to realize what Christmas is about. I love my Savior Christ and am so grateful he was worthy and willing to save my life. I also am now realizing the comfort The Savior can give as we let Him take on our struggles and truly, with a full heart, turn it over to The Lord. I love you all and thank you for all your prayers and support! Please keep my investigators and newly baptized members in your prayers. Love you!

-Sister Emily McRae

Things Are Still Going Good :)

First, to get you updated on Richard the investigator.
The first we hear about Richard is this:
So, we met our miracle Richard a few weeks ago and we have been able to continue to teach him and yesterday he went to church even without his fellowship. He even stayed for all three meetings!!! We think he might chew tobacco and that is a scary challenge for me because I've never taught someone that had to give up an addiction who wasn't already a member.
Then the next week we hear this:
Well I don't know if I told you, but our investigator Richard, when we found him, had a crazy mustache. So we always commented on it cause it was just the wierdest stache we had ever seen. This last meeting we had with him, we talked about him getting baptized in the Carbon River, cause that's what he requested, and we said jokingly "Haha, what if you get a hook stuck on your stache?!" And he said, "I'm gonna cut it off!" So, Sunday rolled around and his mustache was gone! Oh man, I felt terrible. He takes everything to heart! On a more positive note, he learned about the word of wisdom last week in sunday school and then at our discussion on thursday, he said he had already started to quit. We were really proud of him. He says that he thinks it's going to be easy to quit because of his faith in Christ. He's so cool. He'll be baptized this weekend.
Then in a card she sent this last week, she also sent a program from Richard's baptism, her first baptism where she got to see an investigator all the way through; she and her companion found him, taught him, and were there at his baptism. So awesome, right?
Anyway, here's this week's news:
Okay, so we are doing really well up here! The weather is getting wetter but it's really not that cold. It's only rough because I never hear the end of it from my companion.While it's raining up here, I can't help but think it would be snowing in Utah. I miss the snow already!
So, I have people tell me all the time about their vices. You know, the kind that keep them from coming to church and all I say to them is "hey man, I'm a missionary. I don't care what you do as long as you come to church!" Coming to church is the best way for them to feel the spirit enough to get the motivation to make changes. I know the power of a dedicated building is so great.
Okay, that's all I can think of. Love you and thanks for your prayers!
-Sister Emily McRae

Six Months Under the Belt!

I have been in the mission for six months!!! Crazy, huh?! Yesterday I had EXACTLY a year left of my mission. I love the area I'm in right now; the ward is really strong, which is great members. This week my new companion and I have been trying to get in contact with the less active members in our ward. We got return calls for all of them!! Great, huh?! We dropped all but one of our investigators. Margaret was the only one that we could see improving even a little, and Margaret is a really great lady. I'm so glad I got to meet her.
Yesterday we tracted in this low-income apartment bldg/motel and we had this old man (who was inebriated) rant to us about soliciting him at his house. Then he told us God was a girl. He needs the gospel someday when he hasn't been drinking. It's kind of funny that I have been offered more alcohol as a missionary than EVER before. Satan is funny. In that same building though, we were able to place a BOM with a really nice man named Tim and set up two church tours, one with a German kid with a cool accent. Those are our miracles for the week. :)
It's been soooo hard to get miracles. Heavenly Father promises us them if we do what he asks, and I think my companion and I have been, but a sour attitude can get in the way. You know I decided that all the Christ-like attributes are so horribly intertwined that it can kind of hard to work on just one. If you have any suggestions on how to find hope and faith, let me know :)

Okay, love and miss you all!!!!!!!
-Love Sista Emily McRae

So, I have a new companion as of last monday. Her name is Sister Allison Laws from Fairfield, California. She's really nice and plays the piano. Of course, I had a hard time getting used to her, but what I am still learning and have to keep telling myself is that if we don't talk about what is bothering from the start, there is going to be alot of tension. So, I finally told her that I thought she was judging me, thinking that I didn't work hard enough and that was really bothering me. It's been better since then. I've been alot happier.
Well, we've had a couple of REALLY nice days here in Gig Harbor, so on Saturday, my companion and I went out and pulled weeds and then we went tracting in a neighborhood with no trees. I got sooo burnt. Then, on Monday, we played football and played in the backyard and it was sooo sunny. Loved it. Got a 'lil more burnt. Haha, need to get some sunscreen I guess.
Well, we have been teaching this one lady for the last month or so and when we first tracted into her, she said we could come back because she was friends with some members. Then we went back and gave her a pamphlet and she agreed to take the lessons, mostly for knowledge sake. So, we taught the rest and she says it really has been making a lot of sense and she's agreed to come to church and take a church tour! So great! We are going to commit her to baptism on the church tour and I just feel really good about the whole thing. We had Kathleen, another investigator, on date, but she didn't come to church this past sunday and she fell off date. So frustrating. But it was only because she wasn't back from California yet, not necessarily because she didn't want to come. So, please pray for those two!!!
LOve you!!!
-Sister McRae

Lots of exciting new stuff!!

There are alot of exciting things happening in the area right now. This week so far has been so full of surprises, it's ridiculous! We found a new house to live in (the place they were living in before had a kind of crazy landlady). It's way out in the middle of nowhere (pretty much not in our area at all), but the circumstances are way better than what we have now. The room is huge and has desks and lots of storagbe space (huge plus). We'll be living with an old lady (91 yrs) who goes to the Gig Harbor because that's where her boundaries are.But the land we live on, which is about 20 acres, all belongs to the Paulson's who are LOADED. We live on the second floor and the maid who cleans all their many houses lives on the third floor and the old lady lives on the first floor. The house has a grand piano and an organ. In the backyard they have a water slide and two ZIPLINES and everyy weekend during the summer, they have big BBQ's for everyone and anyone. It's so cool! But the best part is that we are going to have a kitchen that we are actually going to be able to use! Great!

The next exciting thing that happened is that we had the opportunity to teach at the Women's prison on sunday. It was really fun, and the lady's there are for the most part really nice. I couldn't figure what they could have ossibly done to get themselves in prison. The sister that played the piano was really nice and told me her mom and dad, two brothers, and two sisters all served missions, and she said 'I just went a little off the path.' So wierd! But, we were able to teach the first two missionary discussions to the sisters there. Really cool experience. The spirit there was a little different, but what is interesting is that there is still the spirit there that influences and can witness of the truth of the gospel to these women. Amazing. There is one sister who isn't a member but has been coming to every meeting for the last five years. She has read the Book of Mormon so man y times and I am positive that she will be baptized when she gets out, she just has to wait aonther 5 years. AMAZING!

The last exciting thing I wanted to talk about is something that happened on Memorial Day! The Boy Scouts have a fundraiser breakfast every year for camp, and of course the missionaries eat for free. So, what happened is we were pulling up to the park and we were going to turn a U so we could park on the side of the road. There was no curb and the ditch wasn't that deep, or so I thought. It was a really short climb into the ditch, so when the car started going into the ditch, I figured I could back it up or just pull into the ditch. Then all of a sudden, someone comes running up and yells "STOP!" The driver's side tire was a foot and half off the ground!!! So they weighted the back of the car and we got out before we flipped the car. It was so crazy. Long story short, because we weighted the back of the car, we didn't have to have a tow truck come and pull us out and we were able to just drive into the ditch and out onto the road. No harm, no foul . . . Right??? Lol, just another one of Emily's stupid car stories.
Love you guys!
Sister McRae