The adventures of Nkauj Nag Xiong

My dearest family!

Oh my goodness! This week has been all over the board! I can't believe how fast the time flew by! Well I am just going to write about some key points of my week I guess! As all ya'll saw, I did get to speak in church this Sunday. My topic was on obedience. Our ward does monthly themes. I cracked some terrible jokes at the beginning, but it was a good crowd. Now my ward thinks I am funny, or at least so I think. I felt close to passing out before, I don't know why I was so nervous. I have no idea what I want to talk on this week. We will see. One thing at a time.

We had two investigators at church! I had to use my talk for all it is worth. Lexi was able to make it! That was great. She had homecoming the night before and didn't wake up until 15 minutes before church but she still came! Also Josh came to church! The Mackrory family was having us over for dinner, so they also invited Josh to dinner! So we were able to have a lesson with Josh in their home. It was wonderful! Brother Mackrory left a powerful testimony with Josh of how the Book of Mormon changed his life. We really hope this is a turning point for Josh. The Spirit was so strong and his answers to our questions were so spot on.

I had my final interview with President Cutler on Friday. That phone call was rather shocking! There are so many missionaries going home that he had to do some early. It was a great interview. President Cutler is one of the greatest, most exemplary men I know. He really leads in the Saviors way. Some of his marriage questions did get some eye rolls and cringes out of me. Sister Rosenblum said she could hear us laughing. I had exchanges this week with Sister Kelley and we had a really great time. We stopped at Great Harvest pumpkin bread! Oh it reminded me of home! I haven't had great harvest in years! We also saw Dawn and taught her the Plan of Salvation! It was a beautiful lesson! She also let us know her concerns and how we could help get to the point where she could be baptized and she agreed to work towards December 5th! So exciting! Also Carlene, a deaf member in the 2nd ward gave me contact info of a deaf member in IF who is willing to help me sign! So exciting!

I am so grateful for all the love and support you have all given me. Your prayers have definitely boosted me up. Your letters and packages have brought me joy. You have given me the foundation I needed to serve this mission. This mission has been the best thing that has happened to me up to this point in my life. It doesn't end here though, life will only get better if I use the things I have learned. I wouldn't trade anything in this mission that I have experienced. I have truly felt joy as I have watched others change and as I have felt that change within my heart. I have experienced such sorrow and grief, however that burden was lifted and carried by my Savior. I have learned the redeeming and freeing power of the atonement. It is only with the help of my Savior and the relationship that I was able to create with him that I am here at this point. I will forever be grateful. I can never deny the miracles and the Spirit that guides God's work. It truly is a marvelous work and a wonder to be a part of.

I love you all so much and I can't wait to get to hug everyone of you!

I love you more than infinity and beyond!

Sister Trent

The Last Leaf

Dear Family!

It was a great week! We had a beautiful baptism. Deandre got baptized! Now I know it's confusing. Kristy got baptized the weekend before I got here and she is a 30 year old single mom of 3 boys. Deandre is 10, Zavier is 7 and Travon is 6. Deandre almost got baptized 3 other times but Kristy didn't feel quite comfortable yet. He was grinning ear to ear, jumping from floor to ceiling and running from wall to wall. Such a cute boy. There was a very good turn out. I got to play the piano and pray and Sister Rosenblum got to give a talk on baptism. She made a joke that Deandre liked me better because he let me just pray :) However I have to give a talk this week in church because of her so I have been throwing her under the bus for everything there is to volunteer for. Travon was so excited for the baptism too that after the kids were playing on the stage and Travon spun right off the stage and landed on his face. That poor kid just has a bruised half of his face. It was fun to help Deandre to prepare for this moment.

Sunday after church Kristy had us over for dinner and the cutest thing happened. The boys lost their volleyball and were all upset and Zavier told them if they said a prayer the Holy Ghost would help them find it. So Deandre said a prayer and they all went searching and found it! It was such a great experience. I think especially for Kristy. She has 3 rambunctious boys but that was a tender moment.

We had a really fun time this week tracting in the fall leaves. We came up with the motto, "A block a day keeps Satan locked away" Cheesy I know, but it keeps us motivated. We had one of my favorite Book of Mormon experiences this week. We were tracting on a street and knew there was a less active nearby that we had never met. So we knocked on his door and this guy answered the door looking shocked we were there. He was a hilariously happy guy. Probably because it was Sunday and that is the day every Wisconsinite drinks their little heart out. We asked if he had ever heard of the Book of Mormon before. Very thrilled he said, "Yeah! That is a great book!" We were kind of taken aback. No one has ever given that response before. He had a good Mormon friend in college but never had a Book of Mormon. So we gave him one and set up a return appointment. So I hope that goes well and that he is just as receptive sober :)

We saw Jim again this week and he took us out to lunch. I can't wait to tell you all about this man. They need to make a movie about him. He has a cool conversion story.

What's your verse? Mine is D&C 121:41-42. It is a good one! I changed mine last week to D&C 6:34. I have always liked it but this week it stood out to me when it says let earth and hell combine against you that earth could represent things we can't control. Like sudden things no expects, health issues, accidents, unforeseen things. Hell could represent evil things that people do that effect you. It was really helpful to me and neat.

I love you all! Have a great week! Be safe! Take care!

I love you more than all the falling leaves!

Anne

Dear Family!

Well can you believe it was General Conference! I LOVED it! What more can you want in life? It is literally manna to the soul. Fun fact! I have 2 actually that correlate with conference. Did you know that Elder Renlund was President Cutler's mission companion in Sweden?! How cool is that! That was a weird reality. Then fun fact number 2! Elder Schwitzer who spoke is coming to the mission next month for a mission tour and general conference. President Cutler and his wife entertain authorities when they come and President Cutler is taking Jim and his wife and Elder Schwitzer and to lunch! How cool is that! Jim seemed pretty excited. I really hope and pray that pans out. He accepted the invitation, it is just a matter of getting him there. When we met with Jim he gave us an electronic copy of his book he wrote on being a spiritual guide. It aligns pretty well with Preach My Gospel.

Oh! I made something really really cool this week! I am not going to tell you what it was or send a picture. I just want you to wait in anticipation and see it in real life.

There was a funeral for one of our members this Saturday and the Rebarchik's from West Allis came! Oh it was great to see them! I gave them a note for Fred. I really hope I can say goodbye to people in West Allis while I am in Milwaukee for transfers!

We saw Dawn again, sadly she did not make it to conference. That would have been exciting. But she is noting the changes in herself as she reads and meets with us. Baby steps.

Sunday, Sister Rhodes made us a big breakfast and had some other families from the ward over, too. We watched the first session at her house and then watched the second session at the church. Her breakfast is to die for. I think quality breakfast foods are great! She makes syrup out of cookie butter. Wow. After that, The Barker's had us over for dinner for additional amazing food. The cooks in the ward are spectacular.

The crazy pictures are of us and some youth at volleyball. It was the two young men's last week before they leave on their missions. They took all of us missionaries out to dinner too! It is funny seeing that. We also had a young man in our ward come home from his mission this week too. Ah!

Did mom cry during Elder Holland's talk? I bet moms all around the world were weeping. That was beautiful! I loved Elder Hales talk. It answered a bajillion life questions. I loved all that was said about saving money in general conference too! I also like the ponderize talk. As I am sure all of facebook loved. Are there enough memes about it yet? What is your verse? Mine is 3 Nephi 9:14 this week. I'll tell you how it goes next week!

Well I hope ya'll have a spectacular week full of safe travels! That is so exciting Tyler is going to the temple! I can't wait to go to the sealing! Be safe! Make good choices! I love you!

I love you more than the air smells of cows!

Anne