Dec 10th Email

Mom,

This Saturday Elder Nelson came and spoke to our mission. The Elders let the sisters sit on the first two rows and I was on the very end. So I got to be the first person to shake his hand, I was so nervous. Then I got to sit back in my seat and watch as he looked into the eyes of each of the missionaries in my mission and sincerely greet them. Mom It was powerful. I still feel a special peace and spirit that came when I was in his presence and has not left. I looked into His eyes and saw that He knows our Savior. It was different, even among missionaries, this man is not an ordinary man. He is an apostle of the Lord, filled with the spirit. As he taught us he taught how I imagined the Savior would teach. We would ask questions and he would respond with a question, or a story (parable), or tell us that we already knew the answer. And some questions he didn't know so he would just laugh and say, I don't know! Oh it was wonderful. He also had with Him a member of the 70. I keep thinking about how blessed we are. 6 billion people on the earth and I got to be in the midst of an Apostle of the Lord.

Last night I was laying in bed and thinking about my first six weeks as a missionary. We have seen so many miracles, but the hard part is all these miracles happen and then we hit a wall. Two weeks ago a man walked into district meeting and asked if there was a pastor around. Did I tell you this story? That day he was going to step in front of a car and end his life but something pulled him to the church. Our district leader and companion stepped out and taught him and invited him to be baptized. They got his information and later found out he would be in our area. So we went to his house but it was the wrong address and the phone number he gave us stopped working and we havent gotten a hold of his wife. We also had 2 investigators with baptisimal dates that we havent been able to see in three weeks and so have stopped concentrating on them. I was wondering why all these miracles were happening and then seemingly wouldnt complete themselves. I realized that these past 6 weeks have been amazing and I have grown SOOOOO much. I feel different. I am more patient. I have more purpose then ever before. I try hard to listen to the spirit. I love people more. I have changed, because I wanted to and the Lord blessed me with this. But why did I want to change? I want to change so that I am a better person, so that when I come home my family sees a difference, I want to change for my kids and my future husband and my future callings and the list goes on. These are all great reasons but there all about me. I should be changing my whole mission but I dont want ME to be the focus of my mission anymore. I really dont. I want to start changing because it will make me better for my investigators, the people I teach, the people of Clarksville. When I start focusing on them, then I believe even more miracles will happen. I have been trying and I know the Lord has accepted my try. But I dont just want to change for me. I dont want to make it to Heaven alone. I want to bring a whole bus full of people with me, a whole DOUBLE DECKER BUS!

Mom I don't want you to read this email and think that I am just being hard on myself. I know I have done a lot of good, but I know there is so much more to do! And trust me I am still as weird as ever. I laugh a lot and make jokes and sometimes I think my district leader is like What are we going to do with the Sisters. Haha we are nuts. I am trying to become the most Christlike Sister Oldham I can be, I am not always sure how but I am trying and learning.

Sister Mckee is making progress. She has now sat up and can respond to people by blinking and moving her lips and toes and stuff. We know she will heal. The best thing we can do for her is work, be obedient, and baptize and so that is what I plan on doing.

President Nelson blessed our mission with many things, one was that our family would have renewed feelings of peace and the importance of our callings as missionaries. I hope you have felt that.

Also one of the areas in Clarksville is so busy that they called a set of sisters in Clarksville 1 (we are clarksville 3) and guess what that means! We get to share the car so guess who is going to be a biking missionary in the winter! THIS GIRL! We are hopefully getting bikes from ward members or the missions so I dont need a bike just yet but I will keep you posted. We dont know the details

We helped deliver gifts to the less actives in our ward and we had miracles. It was lady and we were in a scarier part of town. We realized we were going to have to walk around the complexes to find the apartment we were looking for and we weren't sure if that was a safe thing to do but we felt we needed to visit this sister so we said a prayer and Sister Vandenberg heard the words in her head, "Walk, I'll protect you." So we got out and walked. We found the apartment and when the Sister came to the door she explained that she was tired and had a long day, you could tell she wanted us to hurry and wasn't up for a visit if that is what we were hoping for. We explained that the Relief Society just wanted to give her a gift to let them know she was loved. She took the gift and it looked like she was almost going to cry, we then asked if we could visit again and she said yes. We said a prayer with her on her doorstep and as we prayed she started to cry. I felt like I should hug her so after the prayer I gave her a hug. She thanked us and then we left. As we were leaving she reopened the door and said an extremely sincere thank you, and then closed the door again. I know that Heavenly Father knows all His children, He knows when they are having bad days and He knows when they need a gift, a prayer, a hug. I loved being his tool.

Another miracle from the gift giving is while we were out we knocked on a door, the sister no longer lived there, this was now the home of her Sister and her Sisters Fiance Josh. Only Josh was home but we talked for a bit on the door step. I felt like I should ask him if we could come back and talk with him about Jesus Christ, just as I was about to He asked if we only do stuff like this for Christmas time or if we come by for other visits. We explained a little of our purpose and he said he would love it if we came back. We then gave him a Book of Mormon, as soon as we gave it to him he told us the best time to return so his fiance and daughter would be there. Wow! He made me so happy we practically skipped to the car. We are going to visit them this week.

I am so grateful I get another transfer in Clarksville, I love these people. I was sitting in church I was filled with even more love when I realized the Lord was blessing me, allowing me to labor among these beautiful people. I feel we are really becoming a part of the ward. Although the work has been slow number wise, miracles are happening, and I am expecting more. I love this opportunity, I love this calling, I love being in His army.

I love my family more then anything. I hope you know that. I hope you feel that.

Love, Sister Oldham

December 3rd Email

Haha oh Mom you make me laugh. I love that you searched Salons in Clarksville. I have been plucking so I dont have a unibrow but the eyebrows themselves are quite bushy.

So this week was really interesting. I am so grateful for it though because I learned so much. Remember when I was talking to you about well what if I have a rough week and you said just tell us about it. Well this week wasn't rough, I never have bad days or hard days, just hard moments. This week was slow though. My companion is sick so we have had to move a lot slower. Our ward also put on a festival of nativity thing that we sang at and also helped prepare for and because it was the end of the month we were depending on members for rides. They were so helpful but that also took up extra time. So we didn't get much accomplished in terms of numbers. This was making me feel quite crummy. I know it is not all about numbers but still I felt I didn't work very hard. Sister V is always telling me I need to be more patient. But I learned a few things, I learned that even if the work doesn't go as I plan it doesn't mean its wrong. Heavenly Father has called me to be a missionary, a full time Servant of the Lord and that can mean different things each day. In whatever capacity I am called to serve in I need to give it my all.

Remember my farewell talk on God loves and accepts our try. Well I refer to that a lot. He still does, even though I may not understand why. I feel like I made a lot of mistakes and had lots of failures this week but guess what the Lord blessed us with miracle after miracle. I am amazed at the power of the atonement! I am amazed at the Love of our Heavenly Father. He really does love us, He really does look for many ways that He can bless us when we even just try to follow his example and do what is right.

On Saturday a member came up to me at the Nativity and started talking to me. She is one of my favorites I love her so much. We got into talking about the atonement and she started telling me about some of the trials she has gone through. Let me tell you she is a walking, breathing reality of how the atonement can heal ANY pain, hurt, sin or affliction. The things she has had to endure are unreal, but were made possible because of Christ. I want you to know that I know that nothing is to big for Him. I know that He has felt it all. Sometimes it is so frusterating to see the people of Clarksville suffer when they do not have too. He suffered so we would have an escape, so that we would have help, so that we would not have to endure it alone if we would but reach up and ask Him to grab our Hand. I know where to go to get that healing, I know the book that can help every single person in this town! I am grateful that I get to spend the next 17 months teaching people about it and helping them find the source of freedom and Salvation.

Mom, I am still me its almost unreal. Im like Hi I am imperfect look over here. But my companion is helping me see how failures and mistakes can be a hopeful thing if we look at them as oppurtunities to change and grow.

Throughout the week I keep having these moments when I realize that I am actually doing this, that I am actually on my mission. I am just like WOAH I am really a missionary. Wow this is awesome! It makes me think of a talk by Elder Holland that this mission is the most real my life will ever be. That is so true, I am really living each moment of my day. I am so blessed to be a missionary, I know these 18 months will effect who I am for the rest of eternity.

We had 3 referrals from church headquarters this week! How amazing is that! We also were able to witness 2 amish boys, and 2 mormon missionaries lift an old stove into a man who is not of either faith's truck. That was an interesting sight that made me smile.

Sister Vandenberg felt we needed to visit our friend Larry in the nursing home. While we were there a sweet women in the cafeteria came and asked us what church we were from. She then explained that she was a member as well! We had seen her name in our ward list but had not visited her yet! I am not sure why she needed to run into us that day, but I know the Lord had his hand in that.

My favorite part of the week was visiting the Harris family. They are converts of about 2-3 years and haven't been to church since January because she has had health problems and he has been dealing with a lot of post tramautic stress from being in the military. We went over with our ward mission leader. We got to know them a bit and then started teaching them about the restoration. When we asked them a question about their relationship with God, Brother Harris explained his feelings about being unsure which church was true now. He knows God is real but is questioning the best way to worship Him. He has been going through so much pain that he thinks he is now past feeling and he doesn't know what to do. All three of us were able to testify of the power of the atonement. We invited them to church and are going to make sure they get visting and home teachers. They are a wonderful family and accepted the invitation to begin reading and praying together. I know this will bless their family. I know this will be the means of healing their afflictions. I know that the gospel can heal anyone, anytime of anything. This Jesus Christ's church and we do things His way.


Also the Trainers'training meeting was wonderful. I sat there thinking how amazing it was that 2 20 year old boys were teaching a room full of 19-25 years old and haveing an amazing spirt led meeting! We are a peculiar people and I am so happy to be one of them. We are different because of the Lord and I hope people can see that and desire to have what we have.

Mom I love you so much, I am so happy I am here. I know the Lord is going to do great things with me. I know the Lord has done and will continue to do great things for you! We have some really awesome families in the ward and when I see them and how the moms take care of their kids I think about how good you took care of me. I promise you are the best mom in the whole world. I hope everybody feels that way about their mom, but when I say it I mean it the most. I love you and dad so much! Thank you for raising me right. The Lord will continue to bless you. Remember to look for all the blessings.

Love Sister Oldham

Happy Thanksgiving

Mommy,

Yes Sister Mckee right now is in the waiting period. President said that the next 24-48 hours will tell us how she will be. I imagine you got the same information we got. She had a heart attack and a blod clot in her brain. Our whole mission has been fasting and praying for her. My President and his wife our amazing. He has been finding referrals while he has been in the hospital. He told us the best thing we could do for Sister Mckee is work hard, find and baptize. So that's exactly what I plan on doing.

I want you to know that everyday I have to fight to be a good missionary. I thought that when I came on a mission it would just happen, I would eat, think, breathe, dream about missionary work and only missionary work. But that isnt the case. I have to work hard to focus. I find my mind wandering to home or my future, those aren't nessicary bad things to think about, but at this time in my life I am to be completely dedicated to this work. When I accepted my call I commited to, "leave all other personal affairs behind and fully commit myself to the work." But it hasnt just come. I am learning how to do it and I get better everyday. This week I had two pretty tough moments, Thanksgiving and Friday. The Lord is blessing me so much, I never have hard days, just hard hours. My heart was heavy, I really missed my family, so my companion and I prayed hard for help. It was her big holiday away from home as well. We had Thanksgiving Lunch together and ofcourse to carry on the tradition I made a paper indian hat with feathers for me and I made her a pilgrim hat. As we studied and had a fun lunch my spirit was lifted. The cool thing is is my heart is only ever heavy in the mornings. When Ileave my apartment and start working it is easier to focus on the people and then I get sooooo happy. I love what I am doing and desire to give it everything I have.

President Mckee asked that we spend only 2 hours eating Thanksgiving dinner with members (we had 6 invitations! and still have 4 plates of leftovers in the fridge) and then spend the rest of the day going from members house and giving a 10 min message on gratitude. We were running low on miles so we decided to park our car at one members home and then walk to another it was only 1.8 miles but it took us 45 minutes there and 45 minutes back haha. But it was good for us, we dont actually walk very much. We ate at the Riggans home ( they feed us every Thursday they are awesome and have the craziest stories, we get on the weirdest subjects with them, they are fascinating I love them so much) he made like this turkey loaf thing that was apparently like the Spam version of turkey but it was AMAZINGly delicious! Then we went to the Welch's, and they fed us leftovers, which her yummy too. Alot of the members we tried to visit werent home but we were able to contact a sister that hadnt been to church in a few weeks and she happily welcomed us in and she made it to church on Sunday! We also visited a family the Waldroups who have 6 kids, 3 of them were born with severe handicaps, and 1 was born with a more mild case. They are the most patient loving parents. The spirit was so strong in their home, I said the prayer and cried during the whole thing, but its okay cause Sister Waldroup cried too. I know I will tell my children about this Thanksgiving. I am sorry to hear yours was so crummy, I take it you are feeling better I hope? I am glad the other kids made it to Joannes though.

Man the Lord has great things in store for us doesn't He! This week was slower in some areas. Our two baptisms date we have to put on hold because we havent got a hold of either of them for 2 weeks. I realized I have been here for a month and I was worried I haven't done that much. I know that sometimes the Lord puts us through times of Famine, because a miracle is right around the corner. But other times as missionary's I assume that the work is slow because we are not doing our part. So I was wondering which case it was. Obviously there is always more that I can do but am I doing something wrong or is the Lord testing my patience, So I prayed about it. I think i am still in the midst of getting my answer, it keeps coming. I know the answer to this question. The best is yet to be. Miracles are about to happen, and miracles are happening. Of course I need to change something, he wants to me to grow and to change and to try new methods of finding and strive and struggle to figure out how to be the best missionary I can be. But in the process He is there. He is always there.

I love being a part of this mission. I love wearing this name tag. I love being different. I love that I can help people have the same thing that I have. I love that the Lord has allowed me to be one of his missionary's.

I think I really need to find a way to work with the youth. I have felt this since the beginning of my mission and it continues to manifest itself to me. This week we went to go visit a potential investigator, it was quite out of our way. Before we knocked on his door a 14 year old girl walked past us. We gave her a book of Mormon and prayed with her, she said her mom was sleeping so we couldn't come over today but she gave us her phone number and told us to call this week. She continued walking and went into her apartment which was at the end of the street. We went up to Kayan's door but unfortunately he wasn't home. I felt prompted to knock on his neighbor's door, so we did. No answer. So we knocked again, still no answer. This seems to happen quite frequently, I think Heavenly Father is seeing if I follow through on my promptings, but ofcourse He knows what He is doing. We decided to make our way back to our car and go to plan C when our new friend comes out of her house holding a bunny. She yelled to us to come see her pet. We talked to her for probably another ten minutes, she really opened up to us and told us about her rabbit, how she is a cheerleader, about her family, how her best friend past away from cancer last year and she knew she was in heaven and she knew she would see her again. I was sitting there amazed it was like we were her best friend. I love what the spirit does through me. I dont even do anything I just sit there and people feel something and they start opening up like we have been best friends forever. I LOVE IT! Her mom came out as were leaving and she wasn't up for talking to anyone at the time. We are going to set up an appointment this week. I have high hopes, high expectations!

I know that God is close and His hand is in our lives. I know He has the map. I know He is proud of us when we trust in Him.

I dont know whats going to happen this week but I know that great things are in the works. I know that the best is yet to come. Sometime I think I am supposed to have seen all these miracles by now umm HELLO I have only been here for four weeks, If I was supposed to have accomplished everything the Lord wants me to accomplish on my mission by now he would have called me to do a 2 month mission. But He didnt He has called me to labor among the people of Tenneseee for the next 17 months. I know that a great work is about to come forth among the Children of men. I know the Lord has great things in store for us His children as we trust in Him. I know that he knows me. I got to give my first talk in church on Sunday! IT was on faith in Christ, I loved being able to testify of Christ. I stated that I didnt just believe in Christ but I believe Christ, I know my Redeemer lives and I also Know My Redeemer! I really do. I am coming to know Him more and more everyday. He lives!

Mom I love you so much. I have to run now but I hope you know that I love you so much. I love MAddie and am so proud of her desire to do whats right. I miss her a lot and the Lord is shaping me so that when I come home I can be a better sister for her and example. Gentry just gets more and more amazing it sounds like. I hope blake is doing good I love him! and keltzie I love her so much I dont have time to write her this week but tell her I love her! and mitch and holly! And dad I love my dad so much.

Love you so much!

Sister Oldham

November 19th Mitch and Holly are married!

Mommy,

THEIR MARRIED! So Saturday Morning was kind of rough for my focus. At 10:00 are time, which Is 9:00 your time, which I believe is when the sealing started, I started to cry, I told my companion that my brother was getting married right then. My heart was so happy, I prayed for you and I prayed for them. What a beautiful wedding it must have been! It sounded amazing, and I got the pictures. Oh they looked beautiful. YOUR FIRST BORN IS MARRIED!

This week was so long and so fast all at the same time. My mind feels super blank. I will start out by explaining some of the things that I learned this week. I learned that being on my mission has magnified weaknesses I didn't really know that I had, but at the same time I know my Heavenly Father wants me to notices me weaknesses so I can give them to Him and He can make them into strengths. I have a lot of wrinkles in my teaching and in my missionary self but I am so greatful that He is helping me iron them out. I realize that becoming the Servant of God He expects of me may take my entire mission, but I am going to give everything I have to become that each day.

I loved my first mission conference with Elder and Sister Perkins! Sister Vandenberg told me that I would feel the spirit so strong and she would have to hold me back from running out early and teaching everybody I saw. She was right about the spirit that is for sure. For the conference we were supposed to prepare a personal talk, and a presentation as a companionship just incase Elder Perkins calls us up. He had 2 sets of missionaries do a roleplay teaching infront of everyone (which was half the mission for our conference) and guess who he picked! Me and Sister Vandenberg! So we were supposed to roleplay a 10 minute lesson on keeping the sabbath day holy. He had a senior couple, Elder and Sister Sasser, be our investigators. When he picked us I knew it was going to happen so I started praying and my heart was SHAKING! So we get up there and my companion told me she wanted me to start us out to get some practice in. We were praying the whole time we were up there but it went wonderfully. The spirit was very strong, Sister Sasser said she was trying to be a difficult investigator but she just didnt know how to be because she was feeling the spirit so much. I know it happened because we were both praying and trying to have the spirit guide what we said. Afterwards Elder Perkins, not knowing how long either of us had been out, said, "I don't know which one of you is the Senior companion!" Then President Mckee came up to me and Sister Vandenberg and told us that he has been looking for powerhouse sisters since we are losing so many this transfer, he then compared us to Sister Jensen (she went home the transfer I came) and Sister Bishop who goes home this transfer. THESE SISTERS ARE LEGENDS! So that was a HUGE compliment. My companion was beaming because Sister Bishop was her trainer and to be compared to her trainer was the biggest compliment anyone could ever offer. Afterwards the assistant came up to us too, he gave great advice, he said "all through your mission people will give you advice and tell you what you did good and what you did bad as you teach, listen to none of it. You focus on the spirit the whole time and you will be powerful."

Sister Vandenberg is amazing for giving me so many opportunities to lead our lessons. She is helping me grow so much. I know the Lord knows what he is doing when it comes to companions and areas and zones and MISSIONS. I am working very hard to keep my mind centered on the work. I want to become a missionary in everything that I am.

Last Tuesday we had a few minutes before a member visit so we went knocking around our apartment. We passed a door that looked like no one was home, I felt I needed to knock on it so we went back. The man on the other side sounded a little gruff and asked who we were through the closed door, when we said we were the missionaries he opened it! He told us he read the bible all the time and so I told him about the Book of Mormon and gave him one, we tried to set up a teaching time but he travels a lot, He took our card and gave us a pamphlet to his church. We prayed with him right there on the door step. I had been hopeing for 2 things that would happen, One I would get rejected to my face so I wasn't scared of it and 2 that I would be able to give away a Book of Mormon to someone on the street or at the door. And both those things happened! Ofcourse I don't want to be rejected but I know that rejection is a part of missionary work and it has been something I have been afraid of and as of last week no one had rejected me to my face, when it happened I still knew how important the work was and hoped that the man would one day be open to hearing the message but knowing I had tried and done what the Lord asked of me that it was it is important.

We taught our second lesson to Shay and the spirit was so strong. She said she has been telling her friends and sister about us. She told them that we could help them with whatever was going on in their life. I thought this was so cool because before this lesson we had only met with her once and she had opened up to us a little bit but not even that much. So I know the spirit must have spoke to her and calmed her fears and worries and helped her with whatever she needed. We will be hopefully meeting with her and her friends when she returns from Thanksgiving break with her family! We invited her to pray about being baptized during Christmas Break when her mom comes to visit.

We have two baptism dates but both were either sick or not home this whole week. Its frusterating but I know that their is great things ahead. I keep thinking, I am only 3 weeks in! I keep getting happier,. There is so much happiness ahead I just know it. The best is yet to come.

The thing I am working on this week is trying to get people to feel how important my message is. When I talk to people at the store, in the streets, on the doorstep or in their house I don't want them to think I am just another member of just another church. I am not just teaching A message about Christ but THE message about Christ. This isn't just another Church in Clarksville Tennessee but this is THE church of Jesus Christ, His restored church with His restored Truths. I want people to know that this is something different, that this is something they need because it is just that. This will be the means of their salvation! A missionary in our last mission email said, " Forever Families are what we are out to give!" This message is eternity altering, not just life changing!

I gave my first Book of Mormon away in Walmart today. I am making small strides and expect to continue. We are supposed to talk to everybody and I dont know how to do that but I am trying and I know the Lord is helping me. I just need to move my feet and open my mouth, it is never as scary as I think that it is!

Love Sister Oldham!

6 more sleeps till Mitch gets hitched!

 6 more sleeps till Mitch becomes hitched!

ITS WEDDING WEEK!

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I cannot believe/ I totally believe that my brother is getting married and holly officially becomes my sister! I am so happy that this is happening. I keep telling everyone at random intervals, "My brother gets married this week and I get a new sister." Their all like, cool. They have no idea how BIG of a deal this is! It is so crazy how one day your single and the next day you are Sealed to the Love of your Life for ALL OF ETERNITY. Or how one day you are not a missionary, and the next day you are a set a part full time missionary for the Lord for the next 18 months. The Lord sure expects allot of us, but he gives us the help and the strength that we need to do it.

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We got permission to have a few minutes on the computer today! So I don't have much time but I do just want to write you and say I love you! Holly goes through the temple tonight! Oh my heavens I am so happy for her. I should of wrote her a note about my thoughts about the temple. She is about to be granted so many blessings and happiness I am so happy for her. It is overwhelming but remember this is Eternity we are talking about. Tell her to just Trust Heavenly Father and pray to Him the whole time.

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The miracle for this week is we commited a girl named Tracie to be baptized on December 1. She lives with her boyfriend and has for 11 years and she smokes. She knows that she cannot do either of those things to be baptized so she is praying for the strength to know what to do about her boyfriend and the strength to quit smoking. I know it will be a miracle if it happens, but that is just the thing, I know it can happen. She was going to come to church but she woke up in the night with seizures and was sick all day. We are hopeing to stop by tonight and have some men from the ward give her a preisthood blessing. She loves Jesus Christ so much. We asked her if she believes Jesus Christ can do anything, she said she knows he can, and I was able to bear testimony that He could help her overcome anything that stands in her way of baptism. It was so cool because I really knew it was true, it wasn't just words I was saying but truth I feel and know!

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On Saturday we decided to knock some doors around our apartment. The first door nonone answered and the second door noone answered but a girl came around the corner. She was was just getting home from work, her name is Shay she is probably about my age, she lives with her sister and is just working right now. She let us in and we taught her the first lesson. It was so neat I felt like I was on an episode of the Districts (The missionary training videos) We used a pamphlet, we read scriptures to her, we testified throughout the lesson, we asked her questions, we invited her to be baptised, we invited her to read the Book of Mormon and to pray! We invited her to pray at the end of the lesson and she said she didn't know how, so we taught her how to pray! and She knelt down and she asked God for help in changing her life, she asked to know if what he taught her was true. After the prayer she said, "My mom's Catholic, do Mormons and Catholics not like eachother? Like will she be mad if I tell her about you guys." She hadn't ever heard of the Mormons! And it was so cool I could tell she was asking because she really felt something and could see herself joining some day! Some day soon I hope! As we were leaving she said she hoped we would able to bring hope to more people that day. She wasn't able to come to church because she had to work and we haven't been able to meet with her again but I hope tonight is the night!

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We are having success and we are having failures. I haven't been rejected to my face yet, only over the phone when we try to set appointments. I am hopeing that I get rejected to my face soon only so I can stop worrying about it so much. That's a part of sharing this gospel, a huge part is rejection! The key is having faith and knowing that your message still is the most imporant message in the whole world and that God is preparing specific people to hear my message!

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Tomorrow we are having a 7 hour long conference with Elder� Perkins a member of the 70, I am so excited I love mission conferences so much!

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My companion is really amazing. I ask so many questions and sometimes I think I know what I am doing. But she is patient with me and just walks besides me while I learn. She says she loves watching me learn and grow because she feels I am learning so much by the spirit. She teaches me so much but I dont get it until like the fifth time she says it, but she still loves me. She is an incredible example of talking to everyone. She says hi to everybody and gave a Book of Mormon to the man that did the Emission test on our car! I just sit in the passenger seat with my jaw open AMAZED at her courage. My courage is coming slowly, I just need to act on it more.

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Being on a mission is so cool, everyday I am like I CANT BELIEVE THIS IS REAL LIFE. I know I will look back on my mission every single day for the rest of my life so it is so cool to be living RIGHT NOW in a memory that I will be remembering some day. I don't even know if that makes sense but basically I am actually, in reality, on my mission and the that is so cool. I am slowly learning how to give my Heavenly Father everything, my thoughts, my fears, my hopes, my pride, my goals, my might, my strength, my time. I realized today that a good missionary isn't perfect at what they do, but I think rather a good missionary is constantly repenting. Repent is to change. So if we are truly and honestly repenting we are truly and honestly changing. A great servant of the Lord changes for the better everyday.

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I know my Savior is real. He walks with me. He walks with you too. Look for Him mom, I promise you He is there.

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Goodluck this week with the wedding. I'll have Grandma Oldham go in my place since I can't be there. Tell everyone I love them. I love madz, and gen, and blakey and keltzie and Mitch and Holly and daddy so much. Let them know that I miss them, but I am happy and getting happier everyday. My goal is to get to the point where the mission is all that I am, its all that I know and want to know. I am not there yet but I do believe I am getting closer. I love you Mom so much, your the best Mom in the whole world I just know it.

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SHout out to Shelby, Jessi and Anne!

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Love your favorite sister missionary, Sister Oldham

Week 1 in Tennessee!

Mom! Oh Mom I miss you so much and dad and everyone. I have so much to say I hope I can get it all out in the time that I have. First of all I LOVE my coat and hat and gloves and my comforter is so comfortable. My mattress here Is really nice and I have slept better in TN then I ever did in the MTC, I am working harder too so I bet that has something to do with it. I loved the fun picture you sent it made me smile and I put it right by my bed. The Assistant to the President came up to me the first day I arrived and said, Sister Oldham you have received more packages today then I have my whole mission, you must be loved. I am loved and I feel it. Thank you mom. Oh also as for sending letters just send them to the mission home, they like you to do that and then they forward the letters and packages to me, if you can send all packages through US mail and not like ups or fedex or something they say that works best so they can just forward things immediatly. But I dont need anything right now so dont worry about sending any packages.

My first area is called Clarksville 3. Clarksville is really big and there are 5 sets of missionaries serving in this one town! There are 4 wards and one spanish branch. My companion and I are the only sisters in our district and it is wonderful. The Elders treat us with so much respect and love. Oh did I tell you we are WHITEWASHING THE AREA! Do you know what that means! That means she is new to this area, just as new as I am. Sister Vandenberg is her name. She is from Roy, UT and has been out 6 months. This is her fourth area already. She is short and really outgoing and spunky. She listens to all my questions and lets me talk about my feelings. She is a Tomboy and gives like these huge hugs I just love her. She is really patient with me and lets me ask questions all the time. She is super obedient in everything she does and I love that because I know that I can trust her.

Missionary work is so different than I imagined. You dont go tracting all day long! I thought I would be teaching like a lesson a day and then be knocking doors all day, nope! Not here atleast. We spent most the first week getting to know members and less actives. The last sisters that were here set us up perfectly. We began teaching their investigators they were teaching so we got a few lessons in their. This ward is amazing and we get fed every single night. The families are so much and crazy and let me tell you Tennessee sure has character! Half of the ward and Clarksville are here for Military, we are right by a base, and then the other half of Clarksville is so southern. Some pretty poor areas but these people are great. We will be teaching a lesson or saying a prayer and when they hear something they love or agree with, just in the middle of your prayer they will say, "Amen, Thank you Jesus." They Love Jesus Christ and really know Him.

My favorite southern thing I have heard so far is from an investigator named Greg. He has been investigating the church for a year now. I am not sure what we are going to do with him because he likes to make jokes a lot, which is great but I want to bring him closer to Christ, I need to, that's my job! He cant get past Joseph Smith so we are going to really work on that with him this week when we see him. But anyway, we are outside on his front lawn and he got off about his dogs and then he said, "Everybody needs a cat to kick. Ya'll have any cats to kick?" True story. 

The first day I got here I was SOOOO overwhelmed. My companion is amazing so she would really try to help me. We ate dinner at a members and they have 3 kids, they both served missions and are from Arizona and are here for military. Their kids were hilarious and crazy and so it made me feel right at home. But we had a couple investigator lessons and they all were falling through. It was my first day and we hadn't taught any investigators. I then felt inspired to knock on a certain door around an investigator who didn't answers house, so we did and guess what! They didn't even open the door, they just talked through us through the door and said they were busy! I walked a way really happy, which was weird, I was sad they didn't want my message but I realized that even though I was going to have to do hard things I knew the Lord was going to help me and I knew He wanted me to knock on the door just to see if I would follow His spirit!

Another day we were sitting in a baptist parking lot trying to locate where a less active member lived and this jolly skinny man walks by our car, my companion turns to me and says, "We need to give him a Book of Mormon." She then busted up laughing because she said I all the sudden looked like I was going to barf. So we tried to find our Book of Mormon but were so frazzled that he was already half way down the street. We didn't think chasing him down would be appropriate so we got back in the car. Then I see him come back so I tell her, she jumps out of the car and says, "Hey can we give you a gift?" She is so enthusiastic its great. We then give him Book of Mormon and our number and explained it a little. We try to get his name but he tells us that too many women already have his name. Oh he also had GOLD TEETH with letters imprinted on them. Probably his initials, idk. Seriously these people are just so cool it's unreal. 

Our ward has a lot of inactives and so we are going to be focusing a lot of our efforts on building the kingdom. Our ward mission leader and his wife are amazing, both RMs and really young and have so much enthusiasm. It's going to take a lot of effort, but together we are going to really try and boost activity in the ward and get a family mission plan for each of the families. I also feel a great stress to involve the youth. I am really excited when I talk about it!

Mom this work is hard, it really is. But the best part is the Lord is with me. Whenever I get discouraged, or afraid, or I lack charity, I close my eyes and picture my Savior. He was the PERFECT teacher and people still rejected him. Are they going to reject me, absolutely. But that is okay because I am about His work and He has promised to help me. I picture what He would do if He were ministering and helping the people I am working with, every time I do I am immediately lifted! He loves me so much and I am coming to know Him so quickly and in ways I had not imagined. He is so close to me and I need Him, I physically, emotionally and spiritually CANNOT do this work without Him. But with Him I can witness miracles, with Him I have witnessed miracles. I have felt love for His children through me. I cannot believe He has chosen me to help Him in His work! My Heavenly Father will use me as a tool. 

AHHHH so little time, okay this is the story that will top off the cake! And it isn't just a story, it is real!!!!!  My companion and I went to the assisted living home to visit a Brother on our agenda. We assumed it was a member because we couldn't find any information on him. When we got there we found out he isn't a member and the other sisters had given him a Book of Mormon last week. So we discussed it with him and he said he felt so much peace. His name is Castudaryl, he is 54 and lost his legs in Vietnam. He is African American and the sweetest guy. We taught him about Joseph Smith and bore testiomony of the Book of Mormon, then I invited him to be baptized and he said yes!!!!!! It was a soft commitment but still! He was moving to Texas today so we didnt have much time with him so sadly we wont see him out till the end but this is the amazing part. We got him to come to Sacrament yesterday and we visited him last night. He said that he told his friends about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and we were able to share a Book of Mormon with a friend of his. He got our addresses and told us first thing he will do when he gets to texas is find the church and then write us each a letter. He said we touched his heart forever and told us to always remain true. He called this morning and left a message and said he is going to be baptized in 3 weeks because we said he had to go to church a few times before he gets baptized. I will love than man forever! He also said that he knew he would see us again and that we were his sisters in the gospel! It was amazing! The miracle I knew would happen.

Oh my heavens I cant believe that story is mine but it is! I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store this week! I Love Him so much. I invite everyone to pray and ask for a stronger testimony of the power of the Book of Mormon. It is our bridge to our Savior and tells how we can get home to our Heavenly Father!

Oh Mom I love you so much! I love Mitch and Holly and Keltzie and Gen and Blake and Madison and Dad too!

Love Sister Oldham

Week 2 in the MTC!

Hi! Mom I just got an email from my Mission president and there were 13 baptisms in our mission on Saturday. I dont know how that compares with other missions but this made me so excited!

 Yesterday at 6:15 I was woken up by the most awful noise. the fire alarm. So all the girls in my building were filed out to the lawn. All of us in either pajamas or bath robes. It was just a dust mite in the system but we had to stay in the gym until 7:00 which made us have a late start to our day but all was well and it was on adventure. My Korean roommates were like what is going on! It was kind of funny. They left today and I gave one some candy I received from Barb and she started to cry and told me she loved me. These were the sweetest girls, I will miss them. I think that means we get new roommates this week! I just want to hold them when they get here and tell them that everything will work out okay because Heavens yes it does.

Saturday was the hardest day so far. We taught Dom (one of our fake investigators who happens to be our teacher) and it went so well, we had the spirit, asked good questions, kept it simple, made it apply to him. Brother Martin gave us some minor feedback but overall we felt really good. sO I am all on top of the world thinking, wow I am really getting this stuff. When we go to class and I forget it all. WE had a mini speed teaching lesson where our whole district got to teach a section of lesson 3, the gospel of Jesus Christ, we all thought we did well when after our teacher informed us that we didn't apply it to the investigator, we did almost all of the talking, and we didn't let the doctrines sink in. Then he has us each teach as companions to either him, another teacher or another companionship. So Brother Martin came over to have me and Sister Obando teach him. She was really frusterated because here English was struggling that day and I was frusterated by the fact that I felt we did so good in our earlier lesson, then in a moment of pressure I forget everything I had just learned. So Brother Martin sits down and says teach me about Baptism then invite me to be baptized, we start teaching him and he stops us in the middle of the lesson and said wait you havent even asked me a question. So he says think for a minute about a question that can involve me in the lesson then we will try again. I know I am not describing my emotions but at this point I just want to throw something and burst into tears. So I cover my face as I think and start look at Sister Obando she mouths, "I want to go the wash and cry." The wash is the bathroom and that is where we go to talk about our feelings and cry after we are frusterated. But we couldnt because Brother Martin is still waiting to be taught. He then sees that we are at cracking point (ps he is my age, he just returned from his mission in IReland/Scotland in may) and he tries to comfort us and tell us to not be frusterated but you know me, that isnt going to work. He asked us about our feelings, which I loved, and I explained that I was frusterated that I wasn't perfect at it yet. Yep I actually said that.He told me that I need to be patient and practice. He reminded me of talk by Elder Holland who said that we are to be our first convert. He said that the Lord could do this work without me, He doesn't need me. But he is using me so He can make me into something. It is going to take time, a lot of time but If I allow the Lord to mold me He will make me into something great. I know this is true. I know that the Lord is overall. I am reminded that He does accept my try, even in the MTC, even when I am supposed to be a missionary and think about others, the Lord needs me to take care of myself. He needs me to do my best to be my best and He will do the rest.

A HUGE AHA moment I had was on Monday when Brother Starkey are other teacher had us imagine if someone we look up to was took out of our lives, I thought of Mallory and my heart was so made. Brother Starkey even said that I looked like I made kill him and he was scared. Then he said, you need to fill that same way about the Book of Mormon. I realized I didn't. I have read the Book of Mormon every day for as long as I can remember. I have a testimony of it, I understand its importance, I have received answers from it, but I realized that wasn't enough. We talked some more and wow it was amazing. Let me see if I can share my thoughts. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ right? That is its whole purpose is to bring us to Christ. I know Christ lives, I know it with my whole heart but do I know Christ. The Book of Mormon is our bridge to our Savior. {Prayer is how I have made my bond with my Father in Heaven and this Book is how I need to make my Bond with my Savior and Redeemer. I need to feel beyond upset by the thought of the Book of Mormon being taken out of my life because it is my Link to Him who died for me. So this week I have taken time to read the Book of Mormon for myself everyday. I am not sure why the Lord is being so merciful on me but He is and I already feel my self coming to know Christ more than I ever have before. I open up the pages and read about Nephi and I feel Christ coming towards me. He is the way, the Truth and the life and the only way back to our Father in Heaven. He is the Savior and Redeemer of the World and I need to do all I can to know Him because He is the most important person I could ever know. As I come to know Him I feel my heart being purified, I feel my safe changing. Mom I literally feel God changing me. I feel Him shaping me, molding me, making me into a better, stronger tool.

This week after listening to an Elder Holland talk I have decided that I am no longer striving to be the best missionary I can be, but rather the best Servant of God that I can be, because that never changes. When I take off my tag I am still a servant of God. I have 18 months to serve my Father in Heaven in this capacity and I WILL NEVER GET THAT BACK. I have to lay everything on the table, I  have to learn how to give him my whole heart, my whole mind, my whole strength and might (D&C 4:2). This mission will change me.I am not the same person I was 2 weeks ago and I hope to never be. I can never go back. I have promised him my everything and I am learning how to do that. I am scared, so scared to go to Nashville in one week but my Father in HEaven has promised to hold my hand as I go. this is His work and I should not be scared. I am inviting people to come unto their Savior, their Best Friend to Be, the person that change everything for them What is scary about that!? Nothing. Faith not fear.

I am out of time but I love you so much. I got a package from Laura and Barb and the cookies from you and I gave them to my ZL's and they lvoed it. Thank you for everything. Tell Maddi I love her, and Gentry I love her, and Blake, and Keltzie and mitch and Holly and daddy.

Love Sister Oldham