Jill Was Baptized! UVU YSA 2nd Stake, Orem, Utah Mission, April 23, 2018

It hasn't been to long since my last Pday! Here's what happened :

Wednesday was my sister's 16th Birthday! Holy cow! ❤️ It was also our pday, and I go a lot of cleaning and organizing done which was a relief. I've become a bit of a neat freak on my mission (yes, mom it's true) so it was nice to get reorganized! Later that night we had a long lesson with Eme, who's getting baptized on the 28th. She's been struggling with a lot of different things, but is so strong in the gospel... Even though she's not a member yet! She's awesome and so ready and prepared, even though sometimes she doesn't feel like it. 

Thursday we had a lunch correlation, and then a lesson with Jill, who gets baptized this Saturday! She is so so excited, and got us the cutest gifts to thank us for teaching her. (really it's me that's honored to know her!) 

After that we had a lesson with Emily, one of our Recent Converts. 

*talking about the ACT*

Brock: "Even my dumb sister got a 16"

Emily: "She's stupid?" oh Emily haha. 

Emily also prayed specifically that my companion and I would get food the next morning. Every single prayer she says she mentions us getting food, but today she specifically wanting us to get it Friday morning lol! We had a good chuckle at that too. (The only downside of being in a student stake is that we don't get fed much!)

Friday we had a lot of random errands and different things we had to do. We had a few lessons, one of which was with two new investigators who are from Saudi Arabia. They both are interested in learning more about the church, so we will see how this goes! After that we had a lesson with a member who is coming back into activity and is getting deployed. The gospel truly can benefit every person, in every aspect of life!

Saturday, Eme got interviewed for her upcoming baptism, and Jill was baptized! Jill is the most sweet, bubbly, loving, and caring person I know. Her baptism was so wonderful and spirit filled. It is such an amazing experience to be able to witness these people make the choice to follow Jesus Christ.

Later that night, the Assistants, zone Leaders and us all knocked doors in our area, and we potentially have a few new people to teach!

Sunday Jill was confirmed, and we spoke in a Sacrament meeting, specifically on doing missionary work as a young adult. Those both went great! Later that day, we had dinner with a family, and I found out that one of them was related to one of my best friends from the MTC, Sister Smellie! It was her brother! That was pretty cool and we took a video together to send to her. I love that girl! We saw some other missionaries later that night to drop off a few things, and to give them money for the "Gourmet Breakfast" they're making our zone for our zone activity tomorrow. Breakfast and kickball, should be fun!

To end this off on a more spiritual note, I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity I have had to come out on a mission. It has blessed me in more ways than I can even describe. Never have I felt more close to my Heavenly Father and His Son. This gospel is true! Prayers are truly answered. 

Have a wonderful week! 

Love 

Sister Crofts 

Sister Missionaries at the temple open house!

Rachel's Zone

Jill's baptism!

Gift bags from Jill!  SO sweet!

Happy Sister Missionaries!

Still So Busy! UVU YSA 2nd Stake, Orem, Utah Mission, April 18th, 2018

Hello Everyone!

Please prepare yourself for the longest email of my mission.. This week I decided to take notes on each day so it would be easier for me to remember. So here it is! For those of you still reading over a year into my mission, thanks! ❤️

Last Monday, we had our district activity, which was roller skating and Bam Bams, a super yummy Texas BBQ place. Roller Skating was a blast, I fell twice and now have a huge goose egg on my knee haha! But so worth it. Then we went to a family history center to help Sister Snelson sign up for the ACT... Talk about complicated lol! We didn't finish so we went home and finished emailing and cleaning and all that good stuff. Once PDAY was over, we had a lesson with Eme. It went great! She is so sweet and silly and sassy and we are so excited for her baptism on April 28th. Never have I seen someone more prepared to receive the gospel than her. The rest of that night was spent finding and knocking on some doors and contacting different people!

Tuesday we started out the day with a lesson with Cody, who was 45 minutes late haha. But it was good, he continues to progress with keeping the commandments and building and strengthening his testimony. We also got free toquitos from UVU Institute because it's "Multi-Culteral Week"! Then, we went to a computer lab to work on signing Sister Snelson up for the ACT and to go to BYUI! Woohoo for my friends and companions going to the same school as me! Then we traveled home for lunch and right when we got home realized we were supposed to meet up with the other Sisters in our zone, Sister Rodriguez and Budd. We talked to them for a second and then went to a lesson with Jill! She gets baptized in less than two weeks and is SO excited! Later that day, we went out on Ward visits with the 19th Ward, and then had a lesson with Isaiah, the same person who was baptized three days after I arrived in this area! He has really been struggling recently, but his testimony in God and Jesus Christ and the atoning power of Jesus Christ is still there, and he continues to lean and rely on the Atonement and the scriptures. What a tender mercy when you see people you're teaching or have taught grow and learn for themselves what they need to do to grow closer to God.

Wednesday we got a call From Sister Killpack, asking us to help plan a training for all of the Sister Training Leaders for Zone Conference. We were busy doing that and working on a few other things in the morning, and then got to have an impromptu lesson with Davis! We taught him once about 3 months ago, and out of the blue he asked to meet with us! He told us that he is willing and eager to understand and know if the Book of Mormon. He is so sweet and kind and I'm so grateful we were able to meet with him again! After that we did companionship study outside, because it was over 70 degrees! I even got a slight tan! We had dinner with a sweet girl from one of our wards who is a cosmetologist and gluten and dairy free, which is something I feel I've been struggling with. So that was cool to talk to her. Then, we delivered some tiny pies to people and helped knock doors in the Assistants area. After that, we met up at the mission home with Sister Killpack and helped her plan out a training.

Thursday I started out with probably the healthiest breakfast I've ever eaten. Eggs with avacado, Greek yogurt with raspberries and Granola and some orange juice! Woohoo! Today my best friend Kayla got home from her mission.. Holy cow! I still remember when she left! What a fantastic missionary she was and is. We had our District Training meeting today, which was awesome and productive, and then we had crepes for lunch at our Senior Couples house! Then we had a other lesson with Jill, who said the cutest thing when we asked her if she feels like she's repented.

Jill: "Yeah I have, I did it the other day!"
*We all laugh*
Jill (laughing): "That makes it sound like it was something bad.. I was just wondering what it's like to repent, so I tried it! It's nice!" 

She is seriously the cutest, most Christlike person I know! What a joy. 

After our lesson with Jill, we heart attacked the Sisters' door, and then did our studies at UVU! I love that place! We didn't have a dinner planned, and Sister Killpack texted us right at dinner time and asked if we wanted to come eat with them! So we did, and it was delicious.
Miracle of the night on Thursday: we were knocking doors at a huge apt complex, and didn't have much time left before our next lesson. I had the thought to go visit a member in one of our wards, who used to be roomates with one of our investigators. We showed up, talked for a bit, and then she told us that right before we showed up she was sitting on her couch, about to start watching TV and cry because of hoe depressed and lonely she felt. That morning, I prayed and asked if God could lead us to someone who He needed us to help, and looking back I know that was a direct answer to my prayer, as well as hers! I am so grateful that we can receive answers from God today.

Friday we went on exchanges! I got to go with my bestie Sister Rodriguez. We have been serving in the same zone for 4 transfers now! At the beginning of the exchange, we had two Elders and a Senior couple come over and take their broken washing machine away and bring them a new one! We had some yummy tacos for lunch, and then did some finding.. All Spanish speaking so that was fun for me 😊. Someone later brought us a yummy Peruvian dinner and then we found out the toilet was broken too, so we had to have two other Elders come fix the toilet for us! (wow we are needy). 

Saturday we were at the Jordan River Temple Open House all day! 7:30am to 10pm! Lots of busy scheduling, running around, and I ran into the Doty's and Chandler Lindhorst! So cool, was great seeing some familiar faces! Weird being called by my first name though 😉

Sunday was busy of course, we taught a gospel principles class and went to a few sacrament meetings! A nice member who's a chiropractor offered to adjust us and the Spanish Sisters for free at his house after that, which was so nice. I sure miss having my dad always around to adjust me, I'm spoiled! Later that night we met up with our Investigator Jill and our zone leaders for Jill's Baptism interview! She is getting baptized on April 21st and we are so so excited! Her baptism interview went great, and after that we had a really awesome experience. We said a prayer to know where we should go knock before our next lesson, and after a few times trying to visit people and them not being home, we both felt that we should go to Gateway (student housing) with one of our ward missionaries. We started looking for a recent convert who we hadn't seen in a while, and after knocking several doors to find him, we were led to his friends house. We knocked on the door and a guy answered--his name is Pierre Joseph and he's from France! He said he had quite a few questions about the church and we were able to set up a time to meet with him! Miracle! After that we had a great lesson with our recent convert, Gift, on the Spirit of Revelation. 

Monday was a bit weird! We didn't have pday because we were supposed to be at the temple half of the day, but just as we drove up to the temple they texted us and told us it was too windy so they were closing the open house that day! So back to Orem we went. Only took us an hour and a half of so haha! Before that two elders in our zone made homemade churros which were so yummy. After getting home from the temple, we went to a computer lab to help Sister Snelson apply for BYUi in the winter! For dinner we went to Subway because I had a giftcard (thanks Sister Connell!) and there was this super crazy, possibly very drugged up guy who seemed like he was dancing/twitching and then the police came haha. That was interesting. Then we got to go to a combine FHE- it was a talent show filled with hilarious dancing, great singing, and just overall lots of laughs. Then we finished the night off knocking some more doors.

Tuesday we had another lesson with Jill, and then zone conference! It was so spiritually uplifting and made me really think and ponder about my purpose as a missionary and why I'm out here. I was able to reflect on why I originally came on a mission, and what my purpose was then, compared to why I'm serving now. What a difference a year and a bit makes! I truly have been changed through my Savior Jesus Christ. 

Another miracle, we got a call from a guy who found a Book of Mormon with our card in it and wanted to know more! 

I know this gospel is true! I love it! ❤️

Love, 

Sister Crofts 

Heart attacking with sister Rodriguez

Roller skating for pday!

Another Busy Week! UVU YSA 2nd Stake, Orem, Utah Mission, April 9th, 2018

Hello! This week was great and super busy! Here's what happened each day:

Monday- We had a lesson with our recent convert Emily, and also had one of our last lessons with Jerry, who got baptized on Saturday! Both lessons went great, and here is Jerry's sweet prayer before we left:

"Dear Heavenly Father, help me to live the word of wisdom and the law of chastity. Help me to feel your power after baptism and when I receive the Holy Ghost.."

The sweetest prayers are from the heart, and that's exactly where Jerry gets them! 

Tuesday- MLC aka Mission Leadership Council. 8:30am- 3:30pm. It was a very long meeting, but we discussed the importance of obedience and following the rules and how we can receive revelation more when we do follow the rules! It truly helped testify to me that as we live and follow the Commandments, one of the main ways God helps us is through personal revelation.

We also had a lesson with Jill after MLC, who is just the sweetest person I've ever met and is getting baptized on April 21st! After that, we had a lesson with Eme, who has such a strong testimony of the gospel, but wouldn't get baptized. She finally opened up to us and we were able to help her with a few things to be able to progress towards baptism.

We also are teaching someone who's a member,but has been struggling, Cody. When we met with him tonight he was making changes in his life and doing so much better! 

Wednesday- Today we got together as a zone leadership and planned for CDM (Combined District Meeting) the next day. @ CDM we teach the rest of the zone what we learned at MLC! It was great to discuss our thoughts and how we could all help the zone. After that, we had interviews with our mission President. He is such a wonderful person. They will be done their mission at the end of next transfer and I will miss them! President Killpack has done so much to help me as a missionary and a person. After that, we went to UVU and did some studies and ate dinner! We had another lesson with Emily and her boyfriend Brock, and we found out that Brock and Sister Snelson are third cousins! Lol

Thursday- We had our CDM, which went great! We discussed personal revelation, and studying to help the people we are teaching. 

Immediately following CDM, we went home, packed a few things, and headed to the Jordan River Temple where we were the rest of the day. Sister Snelson and I were the STLs (Sister Training Leaders) in charge of that shift at the temple, which was fun but occasionally overwhelming haha. But we did it! That night we slept over at a home In Riverton!

Friday- At the Jordan River Temple all day today! It was fun having a "sleepover" with other Sisters, since we usually aren't able to do that. This day was a lot more relaxing because we weren't in charge! We got home a little before 10 and called it a night. 

Saturday- HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY WONDERFUL MOTHER! Also, happy Baptism day to Jerry! The morning started out with us going to Eme's house for a yummy breakfast, and then we drove to the Jordan River Temple to go through a tour with her and her boyfriend. It's still beautiful, let me tell you! Then we rushed home, got a bite to eat, and started setting up and filling the font for Jerry's baptism. Jerry's baptism went super well, and I am so grateful for his sweet spirit! 

Sunday- Busy day full of lots of meetings and a few sacrament meetings, but overall it was great. Miracle of today: Eme agreed to be baptized on April 28th! We were and are so excited for her. We also had a FHE at the Killpacks last night, where we had a few people we are teaching come and enjoy some food. We also talked about how the gospel can help us overcome adversity. Then we had ice cream and ate it around a fire outside, since it's still a bit cold haha. Then another lesson with Jill, who is as awesome and amazing as ever! 

The gospel is true everyone! I know it! I can't say it enough, because it's literally changed my life! I am so so so grateful. 

Love, Sister Crofts 

Matching for mission president interviews!

Combined district meeting

Jesse's baptism Rachel's past and present companions

Eme and her boyfriend

Recent convert Emily and her boyfriend 

General Conference #3! UVU YSA 2nd Stake. Orem, Utah Mission. April 2nd, 2018

Hello, Happy Easter!

This last weekend was my third, and final General Conference that I will be watching on my mission- and it was definitely one for the books!

First off: A little more about my companion, Sister Snelson. I sure love her! She is a ball of energy and joy, and we are both Sister Training Leaders together in our zone. (A zone is made up of districts, which have 6 sets of missionaries in them). Our district is the Zone Leaders, us ( the STLs) and the Assistants! Its going to be a fun transfer! Sister Snelson is 5'3, from near Sacramento California (a place called Antelope) and is so funny. Her brother also lives hear here and goes to UVU, fun fact :). 

Also, this upcoming week we have MLC (Mission Leadership Council) tomorrow, and will be at the Jordan River Temple again towards the end of this week. And Jerry, whos from China, is getting baptized on Saturday (my moms birthday!) So stay tuned next week ;) 

Saturday Morning we got to attend Conference in Salt Lake City. The Assistants were supposed to drive us from Lehi, and we couldn't find the place, so we called them to ask how to get there. They sounded very tired when they answered, and told us that they didn't know what we were talking about. Two minutes later, they texted us and told us they were coming to pick everyone up. We were late to the station, and also dropped off at the wrong station! We ended up finally figuring it out and making in to conference!

The Solemn assembly, where each and every member stands and sustains the Prophet and Apostles, was incredible. I felt so blessed and honored to be able to stand with all the other women of the church, and sustain the Prophet whom I love. At that moment, I knew with all of my heart, that he was and is ordained of God. He is the prophet of this day- today! He is the one who will help us to better understand and know Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father, and will help us draw nearer to them. I was overwhelmed with complete joy and gratitude. 

The main things I took from conference were:

1. Follow the Spirit. Seek personal revelation. 

2. Read the Book of Mormon. 

3. Rely on and come to know the Savior through repentance, forgivness, and service to our fellow men. 

I know as we apply these things into our lives, God will bless us! He will help us! I am so grateful for that. 

Along with Conference, we also had Easter, which gives us an additional oppurtunity to remember Christ's sacrifice and Atonement and Resurrection. How grateful I am and will always be for Him! As you turn to Him, He will guide you. He will strengthen you. And He will never leave you. I can promise you that. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week and find ways to draw closer to Christ. 

Love,

Sister Rachel Crofts 

With Teo's puppy!

On the frontrunner to go to conference

In the conference center!

Ready for conference with President and Sister Killpack

Easter Sunday

Too much sun on Easter Sunday!

Transfers and Temple! UVU YSA 2nd Stake, Orem, Utah Mission, March 29th, 2018

Hello! This week (and a half) has been a long one; busy and great!

Near the beginning, a recent convert, Katie, from the Elders' area took me and Sister Harper out to lunch for her birthday, and also got us both flowers and a cake that said "Happy Birthday Sister Harper and Sister Crofts!" My birthday was a few months earlier, but it was so sweet and kind of her to do that for us! We sure love her!

Later in the day we met an old lady who other Elders helped carry her groceries.. She had a cat in a stroller who was wearing a cape and the cats name was Bitty Bit. That about sums up that story haha!

I hit my 13 month mark.. And as of Saturday I have 4 months left of my mission. It's really sad to me how fast time is going. I love being here in the Utah, Orem Mission, and helping and loving and teaching the wonderful people here. Even more proof to me on how true this gospel is! I've seen it firsthand change peoples lives for the better. 

Last Thursday, we had our last District Training meeting (About 6-8 missionaries are in a district and meet weekly to train each other and discuss the work).Elder Roylance from my MTC district is our district leader, and he talked about door approaches and how we should always testify of the Book of Mormon at doors. That night, we helped them knock doors in their area and got to use the exact same training he taught earlier that day! It's awesome to see that God inspires leaders to teach us things that we will need that day/week/year!

While knocking doors in the area, I met the sweetest old woman named Sister Cheeseman. Her son was handicapped and could only sign a few things to talk, and signed to us his testimony. "I love God, I love Jesus Christ, I love the Scriptures". It was so sweet. Sister Cheeseman also talked a lot about family history.. If you don't know your family history, go to a local free family history center and find out more! 

Gift and Teo made us an African meal on Friday that was yummy, and that night I also got to decorate for Sister Harper's birthday! On her birthday we spent all day at the Jordan River Temple.The highlight of that day was seeing a little girl go up to the statue of Christ, and kneel in front of it and start praying. So sweet.

Monday afternoon we went back to the temple, and actually slept over in Riverton after having a family home evening with President and Sister Killpack and one of his counselors at their home. Tuesday we were at the temple all day and Wednesday were transfers!

Speaking of.. Sunday night we got our transfer news. I am staying at UVU for a fourth Transfer (6 weeks) and by the end of my time here I'll be here 6 months! Sister Harper got transfered to Saratoga Springs, and I got Sister Snelson, who was just companions with Sister Wallentine. I also went on an exchange with her my second transfer and her first transfer in the mission! I'll attach a picture. 

The gospel is true folks! Also, thanks for those who read this and email me. I appreciate you!

Love, 

Sister Rachel Crofts 

Birthday cake from Katie!

...and flowers!

Last district meeting

African dinner!

Jordan river temple

At temple open house with recent convert

New companion--sister Snelson!

Sister Snelson gets me up early to exercise!