May 18, 2015

Hey Family,

So this past week has been a little slow. Mostly Sister Quilty and I were organizing everything and looking through the Area Book (Potential investigators, Formers, less active).

On Monday, we just hung with the elders at the church and played some basketball and baseball. I got hit a few times by the ball, which oh well I’m used to it.

Tuesday we had our Mini-Exchanges with the STL'S (Sister Trainer Leaders). Sister Quilty went with Sister James, and I went with Sister Huston. We tracted for a few hours but nobody answered their doors. Which is kind of normal down here tracting. It is really hard to get investigators while tracting.

Wednesday we didn't have District meeting cause we have interviews on Saturday. So Sister Quilty and I tracted a little bit, then we went and saw Regina. We were only able to meet with her for a little bit because her back was hurting. I introduced Sister Quilty to her and we talked a little bit about how she was doing. We are going to call her Sunday to set up a time that we can come meet with her. Then we made our way to the church for correlation. We talked about Tracy and Regina. After the meeting, we talked with Bishop Shields for a little bit about Paula and Kyle. And during this, Elder Clyde got into our ipod and started playing music, "Glorious". Which he loves that song too.

On Thursday, we tracted some more and was going through the Area Book. I got to take Sister Quilty to Mustard Seed and she loved it there. It's always nice going there and being able to relieve some stress and serve. We got to see Paula and Kyle after and it is always nice to see them. They told us that they would be coming to church this next Sunday. So we hope we see them there.

Friday was pretty boring, we had to get the car inspected and all of our appointments fell through.

Saturday we had Zone District Meeting. And we were supposed to have Interviews but something happened so we would have interviews on Sunday instead. At the meeting, we talked a lot about Faith unto Repentance and being able to leave commitments with people. It was a really good lesson and I learned a lot about the importance of commitments. It helps people be able to make a change in their life so that they can grow closer to our Heavenly Father. After the meeting, we all went over to Cane's to eat, and by this time I wasn't feeling good. So after we ate, we went home so that I could rest. After the rest, we went over to visit Demond and he wasn't home again. So then we went and got some dinner to eat. After dinner, I decided to take a bath and I needed it real bad. It helped me to be able to relax and I felt better after it. 

On Sunday, sacrament meeting went differently. People would come up to the stand and would tell what their favorite hymn was and we would all sing it. I could feel the Spirit very strongly. I just felt Grandma with me as we were singing. After the meeting, we had to say good-bye to Paul, Tammy's husband, because he had to leave to go to West Virginia for work. Tammy is staying here for a while so that she can sell the house. After church, I wasn't feeling good again so we went back home so that I could rest before interviews. This was the Final Interview that we would have with President McDonough. I can't believe that they are already leaving. I feel like they just welcomed me off the plane getting here and now they are going home. Time goes by fast on a mission. We just talked about my goals again and not much time has really past, because we had interviews with him about 3 weeks ago. 

So like I said, not much has really happened this past week. This coming week is going to be better though.

I am so happy that you were able to meet Ridge and her Family. I love her so much and miss her.

Love you guys so much and miss you. I hope that everything is going great with all that this family does. Haha!!!

Sister O'Connor

 Cindy sent this on Saturday after their weekly pizza making dinner. So grateful for

members that take good care our our missionaries!

 Ashleigh and Sister Ridge after her Homecoming! Everyone says that 

Ashleigh and McKenna look alike only McKenna is shorter!

 Melissa brought me my hug all the way from Mississippi from my McKenna. 

Every mama needs those some days. We know why McKenna loves her so much! 

She is adorable and we are blessed to have her in our lives.

 Sister O'Connor, Sister Quilty with Brother Paul Whidden just before he

moved to West Virginia. He and Tammy have taken great care of the

missionaries and will be greatly missed.

 Sister McDonough with McKenna's district at final interviews. 

We sure love the McDonoughs!

 Always fun getting with the other missionaries in their mission.

Transfers, Goodbyes, Tears and Mother's Day

May 11, 2015

Hey Family,

So here is last weeks:

On Monday, we had Zone P-Day. We went to a baseball field and we played baseball and kickball. We had a lot of fun hanging with everyone.

Tuesday we had interviews with President and that went very well. We talked about me taking over the area and went over my goals and made some new ones. We emailed that day because the library was closed on Monday.

The rest of the week we went and visited people so that Sister Ridge could say good-bye to them.  Then on Saturday, we went to a Braves game. We had so much fun being able to hang with everyone before transfers and before Sister Ridge goes home.

This last week:

On Monday, Sister Ridge and I just cleaned up the apartment and we finished packing her up to go home. I would get emotional at some times, because she was leaving. We have gotten so close with each other these last few months and I am going to miss her so much. She has helped me to be more confident in myself and I am so grateful for that!!

Tuesday was Transfers. We got to the church building early so that Sister Ridge could hang with other missionaries. It was really hard to say good-bye to Sister Ridge but I'm excited for her to go home and see her family. I was able to meet my new companion, Sister Quilty. She comes from Alberta Canada, she is the oldest child and has two younger siblings. Has a single mom and is a convert to the church. She loves to play sports and be active.

Wednesday we had District meeting with all of the elders. We had a good meeting talking about faith and hope. Elder Clyde was talking to me a bunch, because I have been practicing with him a lot so that I can work better on my confidence.

      *Story: So one day we were practicing with Elder Clyde and Elder Bennett (Practicing is when we practice teaching lessons).  Elder Clyde was being a southern person who is dead set on their religious ways. I was getting really frustrated with everything, and so Sister Ridge took a time-out and I took a deep-breath and said a little prayer so that I could settle down, relax and be able to feel love for who I am teaching. After that, I was able to continue with the lesson, and the spirit took over my mouth and I was able to testify of this gospel. After, the Spirit was so strong and I have a testimony that if you just open your mouth, the spirit will work in mysterious ways.

We also had correlation Wednesday night (Correlation is when we have a meeting with the ward mission leader in the ward, and we talk about our investigators). After correlation meeting, we were able to talk with Bishop Shields for a little bit, and that was really great.

Thursday, I was able to take Sister Quilty to the Mustard Seed, and she had a lot of fun being there and being able to hang out with all of them. Later while she was finishing unpacking, I had a feeling that we needed to go see Paula and Kyle. So we drove over to their apartment and Paula was outside and welcomed us in. We were talking with her while Kyle was making dinner, and he asked us if were hungry. He then told us that we were staying for dinner and we were very grateful for that.  We continued talking to them about coming to church and they should be coming back this next Sunday which I am super excited for. I always love to talk with them because they care about us so much.

So Friday was a pretty cool day. We went and visited Shari and we read in Alma 26, which is a really good chapter. We had a really good discussion about it and how it applies to our lives today. Then when we got in the car, I had a feeling that we need to call Regina, which it has been a while since we have seen her. She didn't answer us which was kind of disappointing. Then we drove over to pop in on Tracy and she was home. I was able to introduce Sister Quilty and we were able to talk to her and see how she was doing. We set an appointment with her for this Tuesday. Then  when we were driving home, I pulled over into the library parking lot and had a feeling to go see Demond, who we also haven't seen for a while. So I called another missionary who baptized Demond to see if he had gotten in contact with Demond, and he hadn't been able to get a hold of him. So I started driving to his apartment. When we got there, we knocked on his door, and he answered it. I was super happy to see him and we were able to talk about him doing football and other things. Today has just been a really good day with the Spirit guiding me to people that needed to be seen. I don’t think we could have had such a great day without the spirit.

Sunday was Mother's Day which means we get to make our phone calls. Yea!!!!!!! But today at church,  Sister Quilty, Elder Vest and myself spoke in sacrament meeting. We all talked about mother's and how they have made a huge impact in our lives. It was a very spiritual sacrament meeting. After church Sister Quilty and I went over to the Young's house and we were able to skype with our families. It was so nice to be able to talk with my family. I have missed them so much. You don't really realize how much you miss them until you are on a mission. It was nice to be able to tell them stories about the mission and being able to see their faces.

These last few weeks have been emotional and I am so grateful to be able to serve a mission and to be able to serve around the people that I am with. 

Love you all so much!!!

Sister O'Connor

 Happy Mothers Day 2015

 Family Picture....Oh I love it!

 Back Side of Sister O'Connor's name tag. I love the Thor sticker! 

A piece of Westlake is with her.

 Sister Ridge, Sister O'Connor and Sister Burgess at Transfers

 10 Amazing missionaries go home. Oh how we will miss our

Sister Ridge.

 My new companion, Sister Quilty from Alberta, Canada