Sister Bullock is on Facebook! Letter dated September 25, 2013

Sept 25, 2013

Well, hello again everybody! It’s been another week out here in our nations beautiful capitol! I sure do love it our here! Sadly, I forgot to bring my planner to email… Therefore, I do not have the list of things I wanted to share with you, so I will just have to do my best at remembering. (Which usually isn't very good... But we'll see.)

·  Facebook: I have been getting a ton of questions about facebook! So let me try to answer a few of those really fast. The purpose of facebook for a missionary is to share the gospel. Whether it's through Mormon Messages, I'm A Mormon profiles, awesome quotes, or whatever, that's what it is meant for. It's supposed to be a finding tool as well. I'm there so I can answer questions and have great conversations with people about gospel related things. My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ, so hopefully I can do that through the internet. Now, that being said, I probably won't message you back if you are family, or a strong member of the Church (unless you have a friend you want me to teach). I'm sorry! I would really love to talk to you all, but I'll just have to wait to do that for another 4 1/2 ish months. But please remember, if I don't message you back or I hide a comment from my timeline, I still love you! :)

·  John Jackson: Once upon a time, there was a budding musician named Jack Johnson that my sister loved! So she asked my dad to find some stuff from him on the internet so she could put it on her iPod. Well, after some time, a very frustrated daddy came back and said, "I can't find anyone by the name of John Jackson! He doesn't exist!" Well, Dad, I found him. He lives here in DC :)

·  Day To Serve: It was awesome! I don't remember if I've written about this or not already... But it was awesome. Lots of people, lots of food, lots of service! It was so great! I took a few pictures that should be coming your way soon!

·  Sister Jorgensen: I love her so much! she keeps my working hard and she keeps me happy! We were able to find a balance of fun and work together this transfer and I love it so much! I'm so happy that she is my companion! We have seen so many miracles together this week! from finding a parking spot in NW DC, to getting new investigators (2 new investigators!! Both super sweet girls!), and many other things in between! I love the work, and I love working with her! Mission life forever!

·  Family History: So, last transfer, we had the brilliant idea to do a Family History Booth. Basically just a table with a big (awesome) poster and lots of flyers about family history work... All of that would just be an excuse to talk to people on the street. It was a great idea! But then we realized that we don't know anything about family history work. So this past Sunday, we (the Elders in the ward and us) went to the family history center and learned a few things! Really, I just learned that there is a lot of work to still be done! Large chunks of history that I thought were there, just weren't. I have some holes to start filling, I think! And I'm excited for it! I never thought I'd get into family history work, but here I am! Maybe you should try it out, too! Try FamilySearch.org. It's free ;) And maybe you'll have some fun like I did!

·  Brazilian: Ever since Sister J has become my companions, I have met so many Brazilians! And I love them all! They are such nice people! And I love the way they talk! Have you ever heard a Brazilian talk? It's beautiful! So the other night, a little Brazilian man came into the VC, and after my compa told me about her conversation with him, I really wanted to talk to him! He had been a Portuguese teacher in the MTC in Brazil! Super cool! So I went out and talked to him for a while about how awesome Sister J is, and then I casually mentioned how I'm secretly hoping she never leaves (becasue I love her!), and he stops, looks at me with this look of shock and (practically) yells, "It's you! YOU are keeping her here! That is so sad! Let her go! Stop praying for her to stay! She needs to go to Brazil! It's so sad that she is here! It's you, it's you, it's you! Stop it!" i couldn't help but laugh! It was just too funny :) I love Brazilians!

·  Best contact ever: So we all know I'm super strange, right? Okay, good. Well, the other night, Sister J and I were driving home from the Barlow Center and we passed a Smash Burger. She's never been to Smash Burger, so I started joking with her that they literally smash your burger before you get it. This may or may not have included a pantomime of me smashing something with a hammer. Aaaand that may or may not have been seen by the cab driver next to us. And he most definitely started laughing at me. Which of course made us laugh. So then Sister J rolled the window down and invited him to the Visitors Center!

·   Winter: It's coming. I don't like it. It's getting coooolder! But, at the same time! It means that Festival is coming! Yay!! I'm so excited for Festival!

·  Life goal: "One of my life goals is to hail a capsi. (...) No." -Sister J. She meant to say "taxi", but said "capsi"... And didn't immediately realize that was wrong. this is why I love her :)

·  Free drink: We know how to get a free drink at Subway! Just tell your cashier this joke (if they are having a bad day!): Why did the  cookie go to the doctor? (Because he was feeling crumb-y) Ha! It works, trust me.

Okay, that's all I can remember.  I hope you enjoyed that! I love and miss you all! Thank you for all your love and support and such over the past year! Be safe, happy, and healthy! Don't forget to say your prayers! Heavenly Father wants to hear from you! LOVE YOU!

Love, Sister Bullock

Sister Bullock with a new member

Letter Dated Sept 18, 2013

Well, hello there!

How has it been another week?? Time is flying way too fast! I kinda want this transfer to last forever :) I love my companion, the work, the ward, and the area so much! AH! But, I guess I can’t have everything, eh? List time!

·  Year: I officially hit my year mark! It was fun! I was in a meeting from 9-5, then on shift at the Visitors Center! But the meeting was really fun! Then that night, I burned a shirt! I just grabbed it from the closet of unwanted clothing in the Visitors Center… Mostly because I couldn't bring myself to burn any of my own shirts… But yeah. Twas fun. You'll (maybe) see the video when I send my SD cards home... (sorry it has taken so long!)

·  Big announcement: So the big meeting on my year mark was to tell us that we are now an online proselyting mission! What? It's weird... I don't like it yet. But maybe with time it will get better. You know, like when I actually start teaching people through facebook instead of just seeing that everyone and their dog got married in the past year. (Weird.)

·  Nats game: Again, was a great time! We won this time! that was cool! And it was cold, but we had to be in skirts and couldn't wear hoodies... So I brought a blanket instead. I was a very large, flowered mass sitting in the stands, but at least I was warm! :)

·  Package: Thanks, mom and dad, for the package! It was so fun! I stayed up way too late and ate way too much candy because of it, but it was great! I especially love the new skirt! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

·  Trainers curse: It's real. I didn't think it was real. But it's real. The trainers curse is when a trainer is never in her area, but is always in the Visitors Center! This week, I have 5 shifts! 5! It's crazy. I LOVE the Visitors Center, but I also love my area! I need a little bit more balance!

·  Gross: So this one is gross. I had a mole that Sister Cooke wanted to have checked out. So I had an appointment on Tuesday. Sunday, the mole turned grey, and got a dark spot. Then! Monday, it fell off! It just fell off! It was weird. So Sister J had me put it in a baggy and take it to the doctors (she wouldn't let me cancel my appointment). It might have just been a weird blood vessel thing, but they sent it to the lab just to be sure. And then they sent me home with samples to make my face less oily and bumpy :) Yay! I love the dermatologist!

·  Ward retreat: On Sunday, our ward was still at the ward retreat so we didn't have a ward! So we just jumped into the Chevy Chase ward. Which was fine... It just felt weird to not have any pressing responsibility at church. It felt like I was just a normal member sitting in church! I'm not used to that anymore...

·  Mall run: Today, I ran from the Capitol building to the Lincoln memorial! It was so fun! We ran it with Sister Cooke and the other Sisters. They ran back to the capitol, but Sister J and I bailed early to go get food. We were starving! But it was fun. My mission is the coolest ever.

·  Mission life: So at the beginning of this transfer, they gave all of the missionaries a booklet called "Adjusting to Missionary Life". My first thought was (prideful), "I don't need this! I've been a missionary for a year!" But Heavenly Father proved me wrong. Sister J and I have been studying it together every morning (that we have study time) and there is actually some pretty good stuff in there :) I like it. Mission life forever!!

·  Temple: Last Friday we went to the temple and absolutely LOVED it. :) Good stuff there!

·  District: We have the best district this transfer! The Elders are hilarious, diligent and good Elders. And the Sisters (yep, we're not alone anymore) are super awesome, too! The funny part is, most of us are "mission leaders" out of the 10 of us, 5 are leaders. Funny, eh?

·  Story: Yesterday, I had a Sister request that I write down my conversion story for her. It was kinda fun, and good to write it down for her. And it's something I think everyone should do. Whether you're like me and grew up in the church, or you're a convert, we all have a story to tell. We've been focusing on family history work a lot lately, and what better story than your conversion to pass to your posterity! Super cool. Give it a try!

·  Shooting: I heard about the Navy Yard shooting :( I don't know much about it except that it happened. It's so sad! The families affected by this terrible tragedy are in my prayer. Please keep them in yours also. 

Okay, I should stop writing and get to the other things I have to do today. BUT! I just want you to know how much I love this gospel! I love it with all my heart and soul! It mean everything to me. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to be missionary! Thank you for all your love and support and such :) I'll be home before you know it! (Doctrine and Covenants 88:73 has been thrown around a lot this week. I can't get it out of my head.)

D&C 88:73 73 Behold, I will ^ahasten my work in its time.

LOVE YOU! 

Love, Sister Bullock

It's been a year! Letter dated Sept 11, 2013

Hey!!

This week has been one full of laughter and good times :) I truly love being a missionary! And, as usual, I have a list for you... This one is kind of big. A lot has happened!

·  Keys: So last week, I mentioned that we moved apartments. Well, in our old apartment, we never locked our door. No one in the... In our building locks their door. Except for our new roommies. So here it is, 10pm, we're helping the previous sisters move out of our new apartment... And Sister Jorgensen and I didn't think to bring a key. And neither did our roommates. Yep. Locked out. We finally got the door unlocked at 12am :) It was a fun adventure that taught us to never, ever forget our keys.

·  Food: Sister Jorgensen loves food. Really, really loves food. So this last Friday, we found out just how much she loves to eat. One of the members in our ward made her The Lutherburger. it's a pound patty with bleu cheese melted on top, 6 strips of bacon, sauteed mushrooms and onions AND 2 Krispy Kreme donuts for the buns. SHE ATE IT ALL. The member was really impressed. He made me a baby one (like 1/4 of the normal size). It actually didn't taste bad, but I could feel my arteries closing with every bite I took... And that was just the baby burger! But, Sister J ate it all and then 2 and 1/2 more donuts. "What else can I feed you?" (David wanted to see just how much she could eat. It was hilarious)

·  Sister J: I love her :) She so happy and positive! I think this is going to be a great transfer.

·  Staying with the current theme: Again, Sister J loves food. And she talks about chicken and waffles like it's Heaven on earth! So, when I saw chicken and waffle chips, I had to get them for her. You have probably all heard about the contest... i didn't because I live in the mission bubble. But, Sister J explained it all to me, so we're good. But, the chips are okay. They taste like chicken noodle soup with syrup. But you all probably know that, too.

·  Unity Walk: Sunday was one of the coolest days on my mission!! We were able to participate in the 9/11 Unity Interfaith Walk! It was so cool! We walked down Mass Ave with all these different people from all these different faiths and just talked about life. We visited a Sikh temple and they served us the most wonderful food! And then went to the National Cathedral! It's beautiful. Then we went and visited with some Hindi people. They were really kind, and loved to talk! Then we went over to a Greek Orthodox church and they were so funny :) I won't bore you with the rest of the list, but it was just a really fun day, with a lot of great experiences! We're not really different, you know. We all have faith, and we're all working towards some kind of salvation! It was so neat to see that!

·  Book of Mormon: So our mission is basically awesome. For the next 3 transfers (this one and the 2 after it) we are reading the Book of Mormon together! And we're using 3 colors for the 3 different things we want to learn about: 1. Missionary purpose, 2. Doctrine of Christ, and 3. the Atonement (I added a fourth topic/color for names of Christ). It's so cool! I'm super far behind because 1 hour of study is never enough, but I've loved the experience of a study-by-topic read so far. You should try it sometime.

·  Time: This will be the last time I write this in an email. But one year ago today, I was set apart as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Tomorrow will be my anniversary of entering the MTC! How did time go by so fast?? This has been the best and hardest year of my life!

Sept 11, 2012 - heading to Utah right after being set apart as a missionary 

A brand new missionary in the MTC Sept 2012

·  Why missionaries get fat: Proverbs 28:25

25 He that is of a ^aproud heart stirreth up ^bstrife: but he that putteth his ^ctrust in the Lord shall be ^dmade fat.

·  On that note: My companion and I run to the temple every morning. It sucks and it's a hard run, but it should be good... Or something like that.

·  I love the temple: That's about it. I love the temple and I love it more and more everyday I'm at the Visitors Center... Which is a lot these days.

·  Dog hungry: I never realized how much I love dogs until I became a missionary. I'm seriously dog hungry. I talk to anyone who has a dog, I point out every dog I see, I get super jealous of anyone who has a dog! It's bad. I can't wait to see my puppy again!!

·  Nats game: Guess what! We get to go to another Nats game this Friday!! It's Mormon night at the park... So of course the missionaries are going :) I'm REALLY excited :)

·  Pack the Pantries: Day to Serve is back!! This year we are involved with a project called Pack the Pantries. All the food donations go to the DC Area Food Bank, and then go to those who need it most. It's really cool. We (the ward) are trying to double our efforts from last year. So far, it's been pretty great! I love service projects!!

·  Dork: I am one.

·  Snakes: Last night, I saw a snake while driving! So of course, I stopped the car, threw it in park, got out and took pictures of it. I LOVE SNAKES! It was fairly big, too. Not a garden snake- much too big for that. So I don't know what he was... Except for awesome! But, now I have a joke for you! 2 snakes were slithering along together and one turns to the other and says, "'ey Bob, are we poisonous?" "Yeah, mate! Super poisonous!" "Awe dang, I just bit me lip" (I laughed for a good long while about that one. Hope you enjoyed it)

·  Perks of being companions with Sister J: We have a new investigator! He's a friend of Sister J's. He's studying to be a Catholic priest, and he's super awesome :) I'll keep you updated on that one.

I love my mission. I love being a missionary. I love my companion. I love the work. I love the area. I love the ward. I love the scriptures. I love the gospel. I love the Lord. I love everything about everything right now. the Lord takes care of His missionaries. Than you all for your love and support! Have fun, be safe, and know that Heavenly Father loves YOU!

Love, Sister Bullock

Transfer Week! Letter dated Sept 4th

Well, hey there!

It's transfer day again... Are you ready for it? So let's get into the list!

·   Transfers: A few things have happened!
1) I'm in the singles ward for a 4th transfer! A record for sure. No Elder stays in the YSA for more than 2 transfer, and no sister Sister stays for more than 3... But, you know me. Always breaking the norm.
2) I'm still training Sister Jorgensen! I'm super happy about that! She's so wonderful! I think this transfer will be so great! Hard work, here we come!!
3) Sister Croese was moved! She is opening a new area for Sisters up in the Gaithersburg area with one of my favorite Sisters (Sister Balls), who is also training again this transfer! It should be an interesting transfer for that trio, but we know they can do it! They are the toughest and the strongest Sisters! That greenie sure is lucky! Sister Jorgensen and I sure miss our little Dutch girl though. It's not the same without her!

·   Mountains To Climb: So this past weekend was really tough for me. There were just a few things that just completely fell apart. I felt like the ultimate failure- as a missionary, as a trainer, and as a leader in the mission. It was awful. But the wonderful Hermana Word let me cry on her shoulder, then found Elder Petramalo who gave me the most wonderful and loving blessing. I'm so thankful for worthy priesthood holders! The Lord spoke peace to my heart and mind, and I was able to patch things up a bit. This has been the absolute hardest time on my mission, but the greatest time of growth! I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ which makes it possible for us to change! I'm grateful for the opportunities I have as a missionary to come closer to my Savior as I help my brothers and sisters do so as well. I am grateful for this time to work. This gospel is true and I love it so much! I am SO blessed!

·   I love the Visitors' Center: Saturday night was one of the coolest nights at the Visitors' Center EVER! We had a group of 15-30 Muslim clergy come in. We had 5 minute warning of their arrival! Hermana Clement and I were assigned to talk to/ teach these men! Except... That we're women. It would have been very disrespectful for us, as women, to try to teach these men in a formal setting like this. So! The wonderful Elder Burnham stood up front of Theater 1 and taught these men while Hermana Clement and I sat in the back with the only other woman in the room. We just listened Elder Burnham teach and answer questions. the spirit was SO strong! It was truly amazing! After a 45 minute Q&A, they all went out into the Visitors Center and walked and talked with Sisters all over. They loved the Family Proclamation and the service exhibit. A few of them requested copies of the Book of Mormon. It was just so cool to see faiths coming together and learning from one another. I love being a Visitors' Center Sister!

·   Old: I am 8 days away from my year mark. Weird. (Sept 12th)

·   FHE: This past Sunday, we had the chance to go to the Cooke's home to have Family Home Evening with them! We brought a recent convert named Mercy and she loved it! There was a great spiritual thought, and a fun game and delicious food! It was just so fun and a great way to invite people to feel what it is like to have a church family and to feel the spirit! I loved it so much! Speaking of the Cookes, I love them! They are such a great family, and such great leaders! So wonderful, and I love working with them!

·   Oops: I forgot to tell you something else about transfers, but I'm too lazy to scroll back up and put it there. I am now a Visitors' Center Trainer. So I'm not just the area trainer anymore. It's weird. I have A LOT more responsibility now. Hopefully I can handle it. And now we're in the Visitors Center a whole lot more, too. Let's hope our area gets stronger this transfer!

·   Christmas: I AM SO EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS!!!! I hope it hurries! I can't wait for the lights, and the trees and the Creche exhibit, and all the people, and caroling people out of the Visitors Center, and for the performances, and for the Christmas Eve/ Christmas party! And of course I can't wait to talk to me family :) I'm just so excited!

·   Also: I forgot to mention this about transfers, too. But again, I'm too lazy. We moved apartments. Again. But now, I have roommates!! I finally have roommates for the first time on my mission! I think I set a record of going a year without roommates. Kinda fun :) Hopefully it's cool.

Anyways, that's all I have for this week! I love you all! Thank you for your love and support! Have fun, be safe, and remember Heavenly Father loves you! Also, please read Mosiah 14:5. Love you!

Love, Sister Bullock

Mosiah 14:5

 5 But he was ^awounded for our ^btransgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are ^chealed.

Sister Bullock visits the DC Zoo - Letter dated August 29, 2013

Hello again!

This has been a great week. There isn't really a whole lot to report, but I feel like we've been super busy. It's hard to explain, and I didn't understand how that was possible at first, but it is. Weird, eh?

But! I have more things to tell you about! So let's get to it, shall we?

·   Dart: This past weekend, the Elders had a baptism! His name is Dart and he is awesome! He's been coming to church for over a year, and he just finished reading the entire Book of Mormon! He's really smart, and he has a great understanding of the gospel. I'm just so grateful that I was able to witness this great moment in which he took this step of faith! Good things lie in store for Dart, and I'm so excited for him!

·   Companionship: I still love my companions. Next week is transfers and I'm really sad. I don't want to lose either of my companions! Sure, it hasn't always been smooth sailing, but I love them so much! They are such wonderful sisters and they are solid missionaries. I have learned so much from their examples and I think we've all grown a lot this transfer. I just wish I could have been their perfect companion. There was so much I could have done better.

·   Relief Society: This past Sunday, my companions and I taught the lesson in Relief Society! It was so much fun! And I've heard good things in response :) Yay! ('Twas my first time teaching in RS) But we taught about the importance of member missionary work (big surprise, eh?) and then gave them a list of 129 ways to do member missionary work! The sisters seemed to like that. We also had them come up with a personal mission plan! As we've talked to some of the sisters about it, they have seemed to really take the idea, or plan, to heart. I love it! This is such a great ward!!

·   Trainer stuff: This past week of trainer stuff has been crazy! Last Friday (8.23.13) I was in meetings for transfers and such until 5!! It was crazy! We had little breaks in there, but it was a loooong meeting. It was super good though! It's fun to see exactly how Heavenly Father has His hand in transfers and how He puts companionship's together. It is just so cool! I'm humbled that I get to be a part of this :)

·   More visitors!: Also back on Friday, the Landers came to see me! AH! It was so fun to see them! It was like seeing my family! I heard the phone call that someone needed to pick up a family at the metro station, but I didn't know it was them! Then I went outside to gather another trainer so we could start the last of our meetings, and they walked up! It was the perfect sanity break :) I love them so much! Thank you for coming to see me!!

Amy Landers with Sister Bullock

·   ZOO: Yesterday, we went to the  Smithsonian Zoo! Oh my goodness it was so fun! :) Zoo's do something weird to me. I turn into a little kid again. Highlights: I held elephant poop, I saw a panda (more than just his butt!), and I fell in love with a giant Anaconda! It was seriously huge! It took up the whole back corner, and then some, of the huge case he was in! Ah! I love snakes :) But yeah, I can cross the Zoo off of my mission bucket list! Yay!

Sister Bullock at the Smithsonian Zoo Aug 2013

·   List: So we have received an assignment from the ward to go and try to find /talk to some people in the ward hat they don't really know... So we've been doing a lot of that! And it's so fun! A) It gives us something to do other than stand on a street corner, and B) People are mostly awesome. I have been able to sit down with some really cool people and chat with them about their lives. I love it :) I love being a missionary.

·   Blog!: My blog is reaching a bigger audience than I ever thought it would! I was told by a very kind man in the Visitors' Center yesterday that he's been reading my blog and really enjoys it! It's cool and fun, but kinda funny to think that people actually read it :) So thanks for reading it, I guess! I just hope that I can be a source of good and a source of inspiration. If there is one thing I hope to achieve as a missionary, it would be to bring people closer to Heavenly father and Jesus Christ. I know they live, and they love us so much. Today, a fellow sister and I were talking about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and I realized just how much it really means. Just how much the Atonement covers! It is truly amazing! Watch this , it always helps me. I am humbled by and full of gratitude for my Saviors sacrifice for me. I'm so happy that I can be a force for good as a missionary! MISSION LIFE FOREVER!

I love my life right now. As Elder Burnham (one of the Senior Elders serving in the Visitors Center) says, "I'm great, but I'll get better!" Seriously. I feel like it can't get any better, and then it does! I love, love, love being a missionary! (Can you tell?) I love and miss each one of you! Thank you for your love and support! You mean such a great deal to me! Stay strong in the gospel and always turn to the Lord. He can be your best friend if you let Him be.

I'll see you all way too soon!

Love, Sister Bullock