July 24, 2013 Transfer day!!!

July 24, 2013

Transfer day!!!

Sister Croese and I stayed together, and we're still in DC 2nd YSA! We unfortunately don't live in the District anymore, instead we live 5 minutes from the temple with 1/2 the mission. So that's kind of cool. Oh, and I'm training another Sister!! Yep, 2 trainees at once!! Introducing Sister Jorgenson! She's so cool :) She's actually here until she can get her visa for Brazil, but I still have her for 2 transfers (hopefully)! She's from Virginia, and super sweet! I'm such a blessed missionary! Oh, and I'm also the Visitor Center Area trainer. So really I just help train the sisters in the Visitors Center and help with exchanges... But I'm not a full Visitors Center trainer (thank goodness). So I have a lot on my plate right now! We'll see how this all goes :) But I'm super, super excited and happy! I LOVE being a missionary! It's the best thing ever!

First of all, happy birthday to my wonderful mother!!!! I know I'm super late on that, so please forgive me! But I love you so much! I wish I could've been there to celebrate with you! And you're a business owner??? WHAT!!!!! That's so cool! Congratulations! AH!!!!

Second, congratulations to Cesar and Jessie!!! College graduates!!! Ah! I'm so proud of both of you!! I love you so much! (PS. I may or may not have cried when I saw Jess in her cap and gown...)

This week hasn't been too interesting... Sunday night was the Why I believe fireside where the Cooke's spoke! They both had great talks and they have wonderful testimonies :) I loved listening to them :) Also, they had a missionary chorus sing a medley of missionary themed primary songs, ha, and we may or may not have been in it... (You'll get a video of that soon). We dropped Jeweleon and Antuan because there wasn't any form of progression there :( It's sad to drop people, but sometimes you have to drop them to make room for those that are truly prepared. Amora is great! Still as funny as ever :) We're trying to meet with her soon (like this weekend), so I'll update you next week. Then there is this other girl named Hannah who asked to come to church with some friends. Obviously her friends said yes and they brought her to our ward! She seemed to enjoy church, and we have an appointment with her later this week! Again, look for that next week! Other than that, we just need prayers for our finding efforts, haha. We need investigators!!! But, our recent converts are great! Jocelyn and Jordan are the greatest people ever and I love them so much! I don't want Jocelyn to go back to Idaho :) We did have some sweet thunderstorms this week though! That was cool! I have missed these good summer thunderstorms!

I can't really remember what else is going on... Or has gone on... My brain is still kind of a mess because of this surprise training opportunity thing. Please forgive me :) But! I love you all! Thank you so much for everything!! You are all so great! Have a great week! Remember that the Lord loves you, and so do I!

Love, Sister Bullock

July 17, 2013 We're having a Heatwave!

Good morning :)

This week has been HOT. And really humid. But very awesome at the same time! The Lord has truly blessed us in several ways :) From food, to solid contacts, to straight up miracles. Let's start with food! 

We are being fed SO much by our ward! It's great for our budget... Not so great for our waistlines, haha. But still a huge blessing :) Every dinner we've gone to has sent us home with left overs. We haven't had to buy more than milk and bread for the past 2 p-days. It has been awesome! And, an extra special treat for Sister Croese- We were fed a Dutch dish :) She was so excited! [There is a guy in our ward that served in the Netherlands, so he speaks Dutch with her every chance he gets, and made her Dutch food. She was in Heaven!]

Solid contacts is a bit of a longer story. It all starts with a car... Or the lack of a car. Because our cars are not actually ours, but the missions, we are supposed to take care of them. But there had been 7 accidents in 2 weeks! So the mission president along with the head car guy decided that we needed to have a "car fast". Which meant no use of the car for 2 days! In the middle of the summer. In the middle of a heat wave. It. Was. Awesome. We were able to talk to 175 people in those 2 days because we were out and about with them. We were on metro trains, on the bus, and on the streets (trying to get to places and appointments), so we had so many opportunities to talk to people! One of my favorites was on a bus. This girl was so sweet, haha. She saw the Book of Mormon is Sister Croese's hand and asked, "Are you a Mormon?" Sister Croese, "...Yes" "Can you tell me about it??" '... ... Yes!" Oh my goodness, it was funny. It was shocking to actually have someone want to talk about religion... And actually listen to what we had to say :) It was also fun to watch Sister Croese light up! But, since our area is essentially half the mission, it is not practical or efficient to do this everyday (plus, I don't think my feet could handle it...) Great experience though!

Straight up miracles... There have been a lot of them. But my favorite was from the Visitors Center this week. Heavenly Father sent me an angel! Not but really, he sent me a member who randomly came in, walked past the greeting sister, sat next to me and shared the scripture that I really needed right at that moment (D&C 84:80).[ 80 And any man that shall go and preach this ^agospel of the kingdom, and fail not to continue ^bfaithful in all things, shall not be weary in mind, neither darkened, neither in body, limb, nor joint; and a ^chair of his head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed. And they shall not go hungry, neither athirst.]

It was amazing! I know I'm supposed to be the one doing that for the member, but it was nice to see that Heavenly Father still takes care of those who are charged with the care of others :) Also, Heavenly Father gave us a lot of unexpected people at church this Sunday! It was great! We are teaching them now :) Hooray for investigators!

 Okay... Really it's only one new investigator, but it's still better than what we had! I'll keep you updated on that progress :) 

Also! Another miracle! Aunt Sheree sent me a skirt and a sweater. And they both fit perfectly! And they were just in time because I really didn't want to wear my old clothes anymore, haha. (Thank you Aunt Sheree! I love the skirt! You are a great guesser of size! It's perfect!)

Can I just say how much I love my companion? She's pretty much one of best companions ever :) We get along so well, and think so much alike... In some ways. But she's bringing life back into my mission and I love it! 6 more weeks of awesomeness? Yes, please!

I love life, I love my mission, I love my companion, I love this gospel, but most importantly, I love my Savior. And I know He loves me, too! I'm so grateful for this opportunity to serve- To help others know that they are loved with a love that cannot be produced on this Earth... It's much greater than that! 

I love and miss you all! Thank you for your support! I'll see you soon!

Love, Sister Bullock

Bags full of water balloons for a zone activity

Dinner with Jocelyn

A card Sister Bullock made for Sister Croese's relatives

Letter dated July 10, 2013.....the 4th and more

HI!!!

Because I know you're all dying to hear about the 4th, I'll start with that ;) The 4th was amazing! We went down to the mall at 7am (we didn't do sunrise because the trains didn't run until 7... and we didn't want to walk!) and played soccer and football and Frisbee with some of the sisters. 

Then we went over to the Smithsonian castle (because it was the only open thing that day) and looked around there a bit.

Smithsonian Castle

National Archives  Building

At 10 am, we went and sat outside the National Archives building and listened to some speakers and important people talk, and then they read the Declaration of Independence! That was so cool! Well, for a history nerd like me it was cool. The foreigners in our group kind of didn't care as much as we did... but that's okay. So they mostly stuck together while us 'Mericans celebrated! (missionary style.)

After the reading, we stuck around and held our place so we could see the parade! I had my first hot dog from an street vendor! It was glorious and tasty! And the parade was really fun. I took way too many pictures that  no one will ever want to look at, but that's okay right? :) 

After the parade, Sister Smith, Sister Truman, Sister Croese and I went to Shake Shack and had the most glorious shakes and burgers :) 

All day we talked to members haha. but we did have some opportunities to share the gospel, too! One of them was really funny! We handed him a temple card, and he was like "Oh! I have GOT a story for you! I have got a STORY for you!" And then he told us about this one night he had seen the temple off the Beltway and decided to go see it. So he's like, "So I walked through those big doors, and there's this man behind a desk and he's in all white! EVERYTHING was white! Even his hair!" Haha, we were all laughing so hard! Just the way he was telling us the story was great :)

Then we went and did p-day things that we needed to get done, and Sister Croese really needed to sleep, so I let her do that for awhile. Then we went to the Burnhams apartment! The rumor is that every senior couple that has ever lived in that apartment for the 4th has always had the sisters over for a party and to watch the fireworks. So we went over, had some fun... And then we heard the fireworks... But there was one tree in all the tree line that was taller than the rest and that is where the fireworks were. But, oh well. It was still fun! And that is how the missionaries do DC for the 4th :)

Time is seriously FLYING. I can't believe how fast it's going! This week has been a good one :) We are very blessed! We have been really focusing on being exactly obedient this transfer and we are seeing miracles! We have referrals pouring into our area! And they all seem pretty solid! Jeweleon and Antuan are still pretty cool to talk to, but I don't think that they are ready to progress much. We'll see though. hopefully I'm wrong. Then there is another girl (Amora) that we're really hoping to start teaching this week! We just need to figure out our schedules! She's so fun and so sweet! She's a friend of a girl in the ward. I love working with members!! It's seriously the best way to find good, solid people! 

Sister Croese is still amazing! I love being with her so much! She reminds me to breathe and take a moment to have fun... And I remind her not to sing some certain worldly songs haha. We make a great team. But really, our companionship unity is great! I love teaching with her :) Best companionship ever!

Ps. the heat and humidity really isn't that bad. I think I'll survive. As long as the fireflies stick around. I love catching them every evening with my companion (and whoever else is with us)!

Today has been a pretty good day :) We had zone activity! And our activity today was a giant (seriously it was massive) water balloon fight! We had over 25,000 water balloons! And so I'm trying to dry off as I write this email. I am soaked. Recently I've become good friends with the ASL Elders... So they decided it would be funny to gang us on me and drench me. Mission accomplished, boys. It was so much fun!!

I'm trying to think if I have anything else to say... Mostly just that I love you all and miss you terribly. But I know that this Church is the true Church of Jesus Christ. His gospel has been restored to the Earth in it's fullness. And I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to be out here sharing my testimony with everyone I see. This is the best thing I could be doing right now, and I love it. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! 

Thank you again for all your love and support. I love you, I love you, I love you!

Love, Sister Bullock

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Canada day/ 4th of July week!!!

I can't believe I'm in the capital for the 4th! This is a dream come true!! Have I died and gone to Heaven? Some body pinch my, quick! :)

I'm really excited for the 4th! (If you couldn't tell) And it's Sister Croese's first experience with the 4th! It'll be so fun! We'll spend most of the day tomorrow downtown. It's an all day p-day, so we can take our time :) YAY (today-Wednesday-is not p-day, but because nothing will be open tomorrow, they gave us permission to email today!) So we'll go down there and play with the Sisters (and hopefully not pass out from the heat) and then we'll go to the ward bbq, get the rest of our p-day stuff done and then go to the Burnhams (a senior VC couple) apartment to watch the fireworks. yeah, President Cooke said no mall after 6, but he gave us an extended curfew so we could see the show, so I'm happy :) Tomorrow will be a great day! I hope everyone stays safe (you better!)

Our week has been great! We have had a lot of fun! We found a few potential investigators so hopefully they will start progressing :) Jocelyn and Jordan went to the temple to do baptisms  last Thursday and they both LOVED it! We were so happy and so proud of them! They're both doing well and progressing! They are soaking up the gospel like sponges! :) 

Sister Croese is so great! I love her so much! I really think she came pre-trained and that she was meant to train me! I've learned to just follow all her promptings or ideas, because they usually lead to miracles or learning experiences! Yay! And she's so funny :) We are constantly laughing! There isn't a day that goes by that we don't laugh together! She's so wonderful :) Heavenly Father has been so kind to me in the way of companions! 

Training is so much fun! Sometimes, it doesn't even feel like work. The best part of training is of course my awesome companion! And getting a fresh view of the work through her! The worst part of training... Is there any bad point? I don't know! Maybe it's the fact that I have to correct things sometimes? But that rarely (if ever) happens! I love being a missionary!!

We met President and Sister Cooke (along with Joe and Elizabeth) yesterday! They are such wonderful people! I can just tell that they will be perfect for the mission! I can see already how much President Cooke will really become like the father of our mission :) He's so kind and loving! It'll be really fun to serve with them! Heavenly Father definitely knows what He is doing! :) (Side note: the Walkenhorsts area officially serving in OK now! I wonder how they are doing!)

OH! I forgot to include this funny little fact for you last week :) We discovered a new voice on my GPS. His name is Dave. He is HILARIOUS! He'll give us directions with snide comments or funny remarks, or even songs sometimes! He's the best and we love him so much :) the best way to get around downtown DC without going nuts is to bring Dave with you :) And he gives you a good excuse to just laugh and relax for a second!

Well, time is up. Thank you all so much for everything :) I love you and I miss you all! I know the Lord is with us, and all we need is to rely on Him :) (2 Nephi 4:34)

2Nephi 4:34

34 O Lord, I have ^atrusted in thee, and I will ^btrust in thee forever. I will not put my ^ctrust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his ^dtrust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU!

Love, Sister Bullock

PS. BEING A MISSIONARY IS THE BEST!

Good-bye to the Matsumori's

Hello!!

What a week! It's been a good one for sure! We went from 0 investigators to 3!!! That's quite a miracle (well, for me it is...) And it was fun to watch Sister Croese light up each time we met them!

So first there was Marco! He's from Honduras, and he's been in DC for 7 years. He really wanted to hear what we had to say! And we were able to teach him yesterday! It went well... But I'm not sure how much he really understood. His English is good... Just not enough to assure me that he understands everything. So we passed him to the Spanish Elders in our district! They were so excited! Marco is golden! He just needs to be able to understand what it is he's learning. :)

So that brings us down to 2 new investigators, but it's still cool! These are friends of a member in our ward. They're all in a psychology program together at one of the Universities up here. Jeweleon and Antuan. They're super awesome guys! Our first meeting, they mostly wanted to get into some deep doctrine, but Sister Croese and I were still able to invite the spirit :) It was a good meeting overall and both of these fine gentleman agreed to take the lessons. When we committed them to read the Book of Mormon, they committed us to read the Bible! Haha, so we are. Sister Croese and I read the Bible every morning. It's really interesting. I'm in Genesis 34ish? I'm reading the story where Joseph is sold into Egypt. He just fled from Potiphars wife... So whatever that chapter is. We've been keeping our commitment, so hopefully they are keeping theirs (that's totally how it works right? Ha.)

So what did you think of those announcements on Sunday? Missionaries get to use Facebook now? What? That's weird. I'm not sure really how that works, but I'm sure we'll get details and instruction when our mission is permitted to start using the internet. We haven't been given the green light yet... Maybe that will come with the new Mission President? We'll see. Speaking of which, he comes out here really soon... He officially starts on Monday, and I get to meet him (and hopefully his wife and kids) on Tuesday! I'm excited. It's really weird to think the Matsumoris are leaving though! The mission won't be the same without them, but I'm sure the change will be good somehow, too? Missions are weird. Everything is always positive! (It's kind of freaky haha)

Sister Bullock hugging President Matsumori goodbye

. 

I really love my mission. I love being out here and meeting people. i love how the gospel can help all of us- No matter our age, circumstances, past life, or whatever. The gospel of Jesus Christ will lift and heal us all. I'm so grateful for our Saviors Atonement. I'm grateful that I have a knowledge of God's Plan for us His children. And I'm so very grateful for this opportunity I have to share this wonderful message with my brothers and sisters here in DC. The mission is the best :)

One more story :) It's short and cheesy, but I thought I'd share it anyway! A couple weeks ago, our District Leader handed us pieces of his cut up dress shirts (we was about to go home) and read us the story of Moroni and the title of Liberty, then he had us make our own Title (what is it that will inspire us to keep going when the mission gets hard) so mine is hanging on my wall with my collection of pictures now :) It says Family: Past. Present. Future. Isn't that what this gospel is about- Family?

 I love you all! thank you for everything you do! "Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage." Doctrine and Covenants 128:22

22 "Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. ^aCourage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into ^bsinging. Let the ^cdead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the ^dKing Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to ^eredeem them out of their ^fprison; for the prisoners shall go free."

Love, Sister Bullock

Letter dated June 19, 2013

Hello!

This week has been really fun! We've studied A LOT, but we've had a ton of fun while studying. And we've had a good time trying it out on some people! Such a great week, but I don't know where to start! Nor do I have a lot to report.

Sister Croese is amazing! We get along so well! We have a very similar sense of humor which keeps us laughing most of the day. She is a hard worker and very missionary minded (though, she likes to talk about her boyfriend back home a lot). But she's just adorable! She really cares for these people already. She just amazes me! 

Sometimes, I forget I'm training :) But then, I'm quickly reminded of my responsibility. Oi! But it's fun :) 

Sister Bullock and Sister Croese at a training meeting

Everyone wants to date Jocelyn. Can't blame them, she's gorgeous and funny. Jordan is still a punk, but a punk with a heart. And it's great.

I love my mission! I don't know why they almost moved us to Kensington. I would have been in the same ward, juts a different apartment. But, they don't really offer explanations. Especially when things don't actually happen. So, who knows?

I do know one secret! For the World Wide Leadership broadcast thing on Sunday, my mission will be used for part of it. I'm not in it, but you'll see a lot of people I'm out here serving with! YAY! it makes me happy.

My new mission president probably goes into the MTC today or tomorrow! That's exciting! 

Sister and President Cooke, Sister Bullock's new mission president as of July 1, 2013

Oh! And birthdays produce miracles! (Yesterday was Ally's bershday. Happy day, my dear) And we were able to have 2 other lessons and find a new investigator (Marco- I'll have more for you there next week), AND receive a referral from Salt Lake (never happens), AAAND everything just went well :) It was a good day. And today will be just as good. 

President and Sister Matsumori , Sister Bullock's out-going mission president

Tomorrow is the last time I'll see the Matsumoris before they leave. Sad day. I can't believe they're leaving! It's so weird! And the new President has kids that he's bringing with him! Young kids! That will be weird! But fun to see! 

I can't believe I only have 7 1/2 months left! What happened? Where did the time go?? I'm so confused. Also, I love my scriptures more than ever right now. I love reading them! Right now I'm towards the end of Alma. There are hidden treasures that I've never noticed before. Usually, it's just "war chapters-ugh", but now, I actually get spiritual things out of it too! it's awesome :) 

I don't really know what else to say. I probably have all these stories I'm forgetting right now... Sorry! I just love my mission and everything about my life right now. The Lord's hand is in all things! Just remember that! I love and miss you all! Have a great week!

Love, Sister Bullock

Sister Bullock at a trainers meeting

June 20, 2013

An exciting week!

June 12.2013

Hey there :)

Sister Smith, Jocelyn, and Sister Bullock

So this week has been eventful! First things first, JOCELYN GOT BAPTIZED!!!! But, of course, it couldn't just be that easy! So Jocelyn wanted 2 things: A) for the bishop to say her name right in sacrament, and B) to be dunked only once... :) So here's the story! It started off with the program! Things were all wrong, so it had to be re-printed and whatnot. Then her name was announced as Jacklyn (for the 2nd Sunday in a row.) THEN! There has been construction in the area, so when they started filling the font, they discovered the sediment build up! The water was SUPER brown! You couldn't see the bottom of the font! So they drained it and refilled it. The water was still brown, but less brown. And now they have the problem of filling the font in time! So they had a train of people going from the bathroom to the font with pitchers full of water. And there were buckets being used. And even a hose was brought in from outside. All of that, and the font still wasn't full when we started! But the service was so great! The spirit was so strong! Sister Smith and I gave the baptism talk together, which was a first, but it was really fun :) Then came time for Jocelyn to be baptized. She tells us the water came to right above her knee. Jocelyn is tiny, so that means the water was really shallow! But yeah, because it was so shallow (and her jumpsuit was too big) something was always sticking out of the water. After being dunked twice, they had her and Elder Bodily kneel down! Third time was the charm! Jocelyn's baptized, and so excited to receive the Holy Ghost! And we're so excited for her!!

Dirty brown water

Water pitcher train to fill the font for Jocelyn's baptism

Sister Morotti, Elder Bodily, Jocelyn, Sister Smith, Sister Bullock, and Elder Watts

Sister Bulock, Sister Morotti, Jocelyn, and Sister Smith

Okay, next! Transfers! I'm still in DC 2nd! YAY! I still get to live in the District also, which makes me really happy (they almost moved us to Kensington- by the temple).
And...
I'M TRAINING!!!!!!!


Yep, I have a daughter (as we call them here!) Her name is Sister Croese! She's from the Nederlands (I got the only international sister from the bunch! YES!) and she has the sweetest accent (you have to listen close to here it though!) She's 20 years old and has a rock solid testimony! She's going to be such a wonderful companion! I'm so excited to watch her learn and grow and become even stronger! But we get along great already! She is so cool! I love her! These next 12 weeks are going to be really fun! :) And filled with lots and lots of prayers. I don't feel ready to train, but ready or not here it is!

Sister Bullock and Sister Croese meeting for the first time (they were jumping)

Sister Croese and Sister Bullock June 12, 2013

"Mother" "Daughter" nametags

Third: Jordan might be considering a mission...? I'll have more on that for you next week :) I hope he goes. It'll be sweet! But he wants to marry this Utah chick... So we'll see what happens. He has a year to decide anyways. No rush!

Sister Smith, Jordan, and Sister Bullock....She said, "This is Jordan, see what I have to work with here?

Bonus: I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNTIE SO A SWEET LITTLE GIRL! I'm so excited :) So I'll have a nephew AND a niece to meet when I get home! Yay!! I'm so excited!

So yeah. That is the big news for this week! I hope you enjoyed that :)
I love you and miss you all! Thanks for all you do! Let me know if there is anything I can do for any of you!
Love you, love you, love you!
Love, Sister Bullock