MERRY CHRISTMAS, SUZZIE, MY LITTLE GINGERSNAP!!

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(Note from Mom:  Camille has five layers of "down" jackets/coats with her.  In the picture below, I notice that she has at least two of them on. Her warm days must be coming to an end.)     Hello beautiful family and friends!! Tis the Season to be Jolly, because it's CHRISTMAS!! "It's snowing! (WHAM!)" [(This is from Hook, one of the all-time best movies)].. and this happened this week. Haha!  Ok, so you know how there is a commercial where this little kid is in bed, and he runs to his parents room because he is "too excited to sleep" because they are going to Disneyland? Yeah, well, this is me, right about now. I AM TOOO EXCITED TO SLEEP, BECAUSE IT'S CHRISTMAS!!  How truly grateful I am for the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. I was reading in Luke this morning about His life, and something that has touched me recently is that Christ is the Prince of Peace. In the moments after his suffering in the garden, He then turned to heal the guard. As Christ literally just descended below all things, his attitude is one of peace. He isn't frustrated, or angry, or lashing out at other. He sees that someone else is hurting, and His peaceful attitude is to help someone else. I am evermore increasingly impressed with how AMAZING Christ is, and how much I want to be like Him!  I know the Savior lives. I know it. How grateful I am to be one of His representatives, and to help others come unto Him. Yesterday for the third hour of Church, the primary put on a nativity. As I looked around the room, I realized how many people in this ward have gone out of their way to serve me. I looked around and saw so many people who have had me in their homes, and how real a WARD Family is. This Christmas will definitely be one to remember, as I will be away from my family. I am so grateful though, for those who have made me feel welcome here. I am beginning to recognize people by their voices, and am finding shortcuts to people's homes. My only worry is that because I feel like I kind of know what I'm doing, I will be leaving soon!  I love my Savior, and I honestly love being on a mission. We visited the Alzheimer's facility again this week, and it was SO funny!! Haha!! I love fun people!!   I love you all!! Can't wait to talk on Christmas!! I'll talk to you in a few days!! Hopefully Santa comes! Love ya!! Here is Sister Collins :) Xoxo Sister Ensign

IIT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE......

     Before this letter commences, ladies and gentlemen-boys and girls! If you have not yet seen the Christmas video on Christmas.mormon.org called "A Savior is Born", close this e-mail right now, put down the handful of trail mix, and go WATCH IT!!! It is soo good! How blessed are we to know that the Literal Son of God, Jesus Christ, came into this world for US. Not only so we could be saved from our sins, but so we can change and use the Atonement to become LIKE Him. And all that He asks is that we keep His commandments and endure until the end. Seriously?!? That is so cool! What a blessing it is to live in this day and age where we have the fullness of the gospel, where we have a living Prophet, and where we are able to have the Book of Mormon at our very fingertips. Being a member of the Church is so cool it blows my mind! AH!

     So Merry Christmas everyone! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....except for outside! It is nice and WARM Here!!! Wait...what? Did I just write WARM in the middle of Michigan in December? You heard it right, folks, it will be 60 today! Boom baby!! Man, life is so good. Due to the warm weather, and the change of scenery, Christmas this year is "somewhat unique and calls for a different kind of introduction" (quote from Tower of Terror in Disneyland:) ) We are doing all we can to bring the Christmas Spirit. It's definitely a lot different and easier as a missionary, and I love telling people Merry Christmas because it forces them to be nice in a sort of way. #tistheseason This week, we had quiet a few cancelations, so I took some of my Dad's mission advice and did what? Went to the hospital to carol! OH MY GOSH IT WAS SO MUCH FUNN!!!! We ended up singing in the Alzheimer's Center, and it was one of the funniest and most memorable evenings!! There is a lady, named L., who is in our ward, who DOESN'T have Alzheimers, even though she is in the center. So why is she in there? I don't know! She sees me and says, "HEY! I KNOW YOU!!!!" Haha!! After a while, I figure out who she was and that she actually knew what she was talking about, and we had so much fun. There was an older lady who had huge dentures in, and she had her hair done and her nails done, and was in a matching pink pajama outfit, and she was so happy! It made me sad to think she can't remember things, and that she wouldn't remember us if we come back, but I loved seeing her all fancied up. It made me realize how important it is to establish yourself when you are young, because even when your memory is gone, you still like the same things. It makes me want to learn all I can about the gospel that so that later, no matter what happens, I'll still know that the gospel is true.

     We were ranted at by quiet a few people this week, which was quiet hilarious. We were in one neighborhood, and I said, "What I would give to have my parent's watch me do this right now!. It's amazing the different kind of reactions we get! But I know that the Lord is mindful of us, and that when we can walk away with a smile, we never lose. We met a guy this week who offered us Pizza after he turned us down.  He said he wasn't interested, but because it was cold, asked if we wanted food. He said, "This might sound really weird, but do you want some Pizza?" I laughed so hard! We said no, but it was so cool. Then we saw him again the next day! We were walking and he pulled over and said, "Hey! It's me again!! I don't have any food, but can I do anything for you?" People are soo nice.

     We also had transfer calls this week! AAANNNDD.......I'm staying in Mt. Pleasant to finish Sister W.'s training!! Wahoo!!! This is no surprise as training is two transfers, but I did get a little nervous that we might get another sister to train. When I found out that it would just be us again, we definitely partied hard.

     Well, I know that this week was great, and I know there were many miracles! Calie was baptized this week, so that was a really neat experience!! She has been on baptismal date for over a year, and she has been waiting because she wanted to be baptized on her 20th birthday! And she was! It was great! I love it here, and am so happy!! I hope all of you have a great week, and SERIOUSLY.....go watch that video.

Love you all! Thanks for all you do! I can't wait to TALK TO YOU NEXT WEEK!!!!

Xoxo

Sister Ensign

 

Hello Beautiful Family

Hello beautiful family and everyone else!!  I hope you are all doing well, and I hope you know that you are loved!!! This week was a really good week! I can't remember too much of what happened, but I do know that the Lord helped us in every phase of it!! We have been teaching Gary, who is so cool!! He has had some challenges with being able to afford tithing, so it has been a bit of a struggle. We talked with the Bishop yesterday, and I learned how impressive adults are. Man, I love being able to turn to adults who know what they are doing and to be able to be helped!  We saw many miracles this week, including a man who said, "Hey, do you have an extra Mormon bible on you?" After talking, we came to find that this man has been taught before, and he said, "How can I be a male missionary? I hope my life leads me to this becuase...Wahoo! Go mormons!" So that was pretty exciting!!! There are so many good people here who help us all of the time! Sorry this letter is short, I am running out of time, but know that this week was great, and I am learning how much the Lord is mindful of all of us! Watching the Christmas devotional last night was super fun, even though it is kinda weird to see Salt lake city and not be there!! I hope you are all enjoying the Christmas lights! Mt. pleasant is so fun, and I am loving Christmas time here! Have a wonderful week! Love you all!! Xoxo Sister Ensign The picture is for Huntie Baby :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

When life gives you a lemon, make lemonade. OR-go black Friday shopping with the entire Isabella county because IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!

Hello hello once again from the most pleasant of Places...Mt. Pleasant, where it can snow 6 inches and melt, all in the same day. 

We had a pretty crazy but good week this week!! There were a lot of people out of town because of the holiday, so we didn't teach too many lessons. We were able to see some of our top investigators, and things seem to being going really well. We ate dinner with Denise this week at her home, and she made grape leaves. THEY WERE SO GOOD! I thought all about you Momma, and I told her how much you would have loved them! We also have been teaching Gary, who should be getting baptized in the next few weeks! He doesn't have extra money, so we got him a few little things to decorate his apartment and warm it up a little. It's been really fun to have it finally be Christmas!

This week was also THANKSGIVING!! We had such a wonderful time spending it with AMAZING MEMBERS!! I love the people here, and have been so blessed to be around those who are so willing to sacrifice on our behalf. The Harrast family, in particular, have been so kind, and I ADORE THEM!!! We spend thanksgiving morning knocking on doors, and then we had the ENTIRE day to do whatever! So, we visited people, had a beautiful dinner, and then went Black Friday shopping to buy a few things to decorate our apartment. It is so cute with a huge red bow on our front door. We also were able to be in the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping at Walmart, which is basically one of the only stores in this town. And.. it was the only one open. So everyone was there. And I absolutely LOVED IT. 

We had trade offs this week, so I spend the night in Midland with Sister R. It was fun to do missionary work in a new town, but I also realized how much I love being here in Mt. Pleasant, and how much I truly want to do my best while I am still here. 

Sister W. is doing amazing things. She is so great at opening her mouth "at everyone opportunity to teach", and we have been led to so many people because of her service. She has such a desire to improve, and I am learning along side of her every single day. What a blessing she is :)

I studied gratitude this last week, and especially President Uchtdorf's talk : Grateful in any Circumstance. As I have thought about the last 4 months, I have truly learned how blessed I am, and how grateful I am for all of the things the Lord has blessed me with. No only do I have an incredible family that is stable, but they are also REALLY COOL people!! I love you all! I also have been blessed with incredible opportunities like dance and to serve a mission!!! Being a missionary is definitely tiring, but also a privilege to help not only others, but help myself become closer to Christ. 

Speaking of dance: Good luck Folk Dance Team in Christmas Around the World this weekend, and good luck Acadamh Rince in Festival of Trees. Whoever is gets to be Vixen is a lucky lady:) 

Anyway, I hope you all have a great week, and know that I love you! The book is blue and the church is true!

XOXO

Sister Ensign 

Pictures!!!

A family that needed some help.

I love this family that we taught last night!

My former companion

Sister W that I adore!

The Lansing Sisters

IT"S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!

EVERYWHERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Everyone, everyone! Hello! How are you today? I hope you are staying warm and dry, and are enjoying this new change of scenery! Happy Birthday Molly! Congradulations to all who competed in the Oireachtas! It sounds like it was a very successful day, and I am so happy and excited for all of you!! #Orlandohereyoucome :)

This week was SO MUCH FUN! It is kinda crazy to say that I actually really enjoy missionary work because it truly is so hard. But I really am finding it to be so fun! This week started with a nice 60 degree Monday, and ended with a 25 degree Saturday. Thank all that is good for a 1) Car 2).Dick's Sporting Goods and 3) a companion with a good sense of Humor! Haha Oh my goodness I honestly cannot say enough good about Sister W! She has such a positive attitude and a desire to be the best she can. You can't ask for someone better-especially as a trainee. 

This week was full of on-the-spot teaching opportunities. These are actually my favorite because I know that the conversation HAS to be lead by the Spirit. Sister W and I both spoke in Sacrament meeting this week, and as the sacrament is being passed, we looked at each other and said, "What should we talk about?" Haha! We both spoke for about 10 minutes, and they were very much prompted by the Spirit. It was a really neat opportunity. She spoke about how grateful she is for blessings of the gospel, and I spoke about some of my greatest blessings. Namely: being a missionary, My Savior's love, AND...My Momma. I started talking about my Mom and STARTED TO CRY!!! To which I then laughed thinking that if my Mom was there, she would cry. Haha! So I had this interior vision of my mom's reactions to my talk and I thought it was so funny....all whilst I cry in front of the congregation. Confused? Yeah, my emotions were too. Overall, The talk ended well, and I was grateful to see that the Lord will fill our mouths like D&C 100:4-6 says:) 

Happy Thanksgiving this upcoming week! I am SO EXCITED FOR THANKSGIVING! We will be door knocking for a couple hours in the morning, and then we have most of the day to DO *WHATEVER WE WANT!! (*according to that which is appropriate to my calling and position)... So by that I mean... WE ARE DECORATING OUR APARTMENT WITH CHRISTMAS THINGS AND MAKING GINGER BREAD HOUSES!! I AM SOOOO EXCITED! We are going to a members home for dinner, and they are easily some of my favorite members in the ward. AAAAAND they make AMAZING FOOD! You better believe we are pretty much not eating anything for the next 3 days. We will then probably visit some less actives, and see some people who we feel may be lonely on Thanksgiving. Then? CHRISTMAS TIME BABY! It is fun to see everyone get into the holiday spirit. 

This week was also filled with Miracles galore and people going above and beyond to help the missionaries. Truly, I can't thank my Father in Heaven enough for allowing me to spend some time with these people. I was able to teach a gospel principles class on the spot yesterday, and I learned how much the Lord is aware of us-no matter what our circumstance is in life. I know and can proudly testify that His Grace is sufficient, and that He IS helping us throughout our life. 

Seriously, I love being a missionary. 

Anyhoo, I hope you all have a great week! Thank you for all of the letters! STAY WARM! (I HATE it when people say that to us right before they slam the door in my face. Like, "I WOULD stay warm if you let me in your home to teach you!" Haha!) I love you all and I know that He lives! How grateful I am to be His servant, and to be apart of His Church in these latter Days. 

Love you all! BBYYYEEE!

Xoxo

Sister Ensign 

YOU SISTERS NEED A RIDE? OOH YYEEAAHH!!

(Note from Mom.  Camille sent lots of pictures.  I will be posting them soon on this post.  In the first paragraph, Camille is talking about the Western North American Irish Dance Championships which she participated in numerous times.)

Needless to say, it was a great week.       Do you ever have those moments when you are in bed, and all of the sudden you have a complete panic of a “recall number” overcome you because you realize that this week is the Oireachtas? Because I know I sure do. And I did this week! I guess old habits die hard. So to all those who are longing for orange legs, overpriced water bottles and warm sandwich meat, and to all of those who will be competing in this years' Western Regional Oireachtas, GOOD LUCK!!!! You Will be amazing Acadamh Rince!!! Remember to turn out your feet, smile, and enjoy every second of it.      This week here in the big ole’ Michigan was CRAZY!!  It was also full of many, many, miracles. Everyone, I have no clue what I am doing. And the scariest thing is that I fear this realization may never go away for the rest of my life. WHAT AM I DOING? I don't know how to be a missionary? I've only been out here for 2 and a half transfers! So what happens when I am asked to train? I do things the only way I know how: laugh at all of the good things, and pray when things aren't looking too great.  Like President Hinckley said, "It will all work out in the end.  If it isn't working out, it isn't the end".  I can boldly and happily testify of the reality of that! There are some nights I am trying to accomplish so much that I am pushing for time just to change out of my skirt before 10:30. I am definitely being kept busy, which is the best thing that could have happened.     There are many times I feel like I am running faster than I can run, which A) makes me feel like I should get a cute new runners jacket to celebrate  and B) realize the truth is, that this is God's work, and He won't let us fail if we are trying our best. I have been trying to find rides to and from places this week, and have been trying to find members to join us in lessons, and it is crazy. But miracles after miracles have happened. This was one of the best weeks of the mission. And as we were walking home from church, (which takes about an hour) a Sister in our ward-a police woman- says, "Sisters, you need a ride?" OOHHH YEEAHH WE DO!!! It was the hardest seat I've ever sat on. I hope to never be in the back of a cop car again, but I also really do because it was so fun. I guess if that is the extent of my rebellion, I'm doing alright.   Side note, I had some grape leaves this week, and I thought about you the whole time Momma. Love you!   Honestly, I have seen Heavenly Father's help more than ever before as I have had to rely on Him coming through to help make this work possible. I have also learned that being EXACTLY obedient is my “most favoritest” thing in the whole wide world. "Obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings miracles".     Again, thank you to all who send me things including packages and letters. I love you all! I hope you have a great week, and know that I pray for you!!    Love you!!   Xoxo Sister Ensign

SISTER W HAS ARRIVED IN STYLE

    

Hello Everyone!!

 

     I hope you all have survived this week much like I have! This has questionably been one of the craziest weeks I'll experience in the mission, and I absolutely loved it! This week, both of my companions left. Sister R. left for Australia, and it was so sad! (First there were three) and Sister M. went home! (Then there two...which then became one.) It was weird to watch her get on the shuttle! 

 

     So, what does that mean? I'm companionless you say? NOPE! I got to go down to Lansing and Serve on MSU campus this week!! IT WAS SOOOO COOL!! I met so many people, and I can't even tell you how good it felt to be back in a city. Oh how I loved it. We were in the mission headquarters building for quite some time, so I had the opportunity to meet and talk with many of the Office Missionaries.  I loved it. Talking to people for 8 hours a day was exhausting, but I loved the experience!  President Jacobsen, if you-by chance are reading this letter on my blog-I LOVED MSU....just saying...:) 

      Why was I at MSU? Because I was picking up my NEW SISTA! Oh and Behold, I have a cute new Sister named Sister W who hails from the great State of UTAH!  She is from Highland, and I love her to pieces. I don't know if it is possible to come on a mission Pre-trained, but if it is, she is. What a blessing she already is to me, and I love her to death.  I can't wait to share all of our adventures and let people know how blessed I am be TRAINING Sister Wilde, because I feel like she should be the one training me.

This week was full of stress and miracles: a perfect combination really. We were doorknocking, and A MIRACLE from Heaven alone occurred before our eyes. We received a referral from Lansing a couple months ago, and have been in contact with him for a while. He hasn't given us his address, so we texted him on Thursday to see when it would be a good time to meet this week. Oh and behold, the last door we knock on the last night was HIS. It made me feel so much better because I don't know what I am doing as a trainer, so to be LED to this man's apartment was a BLESSING! A Blessing I tell you! He said, "What are the chances that you would find me? This is all so crazy to me. I didn't want to tell you where I lived because I live with my sister while I am trying to figure out my life. So instead of me finding you, you came and found me. I can't believe you found me". And I can't believe it either. It was so crazy! I know this church is TRUE!  It HAS to be!

 

I love you all! Have a wonderful week!!

Xoxo

Sister Ensign 

HALLOWEN AND TRANSFERS

Note from Mom.. I am sorry that the text is black.  I have my person working on it. (Camille's brother Taylor).

Hello there dear family! I hope you are all doing well! Thank you to all of those who sent me things this week. Truly, it means the world to me! I love you all to pieces! Thank you again! 

This week has been pretty nuts! We had our transfer calls, and it went differently than I expected! Sister R.'s Visa came, so she left yesterday morning for Lansing and then Australia today. It was so sad to see her go. Mom, the skirt was PERFECT!!! It meant the world to her. The letters from both of you nearly made her cry, and she isn't a crier. Her family life is pretty rough, so to get letters from both of you, and a PERFECT skirt meant so much to her. She has already made plans to come to SLC. Thank you for making her feel loved and welcomed.

Sister M. and I will be headed down to Lansing in a little bit to drop her off. It has been a crazy week! We got the apartment all situated for my sister to leave, and it is SO sad!! What an experience this truly has been. 

You know how I told you not to freak out 6 weeks ago because I wasn’t a trainer? Well, let the FREAK OUT commence. Haha!! I will be training a new sister, and I can't even believe it. So this week has consisted of a lot of change and a lot of prep for my new sista coming! I have no idea what will happen, but I assure you there will be a lot of laughter and tears. Here we go! 

One of the craziest things that happened this week was that we doorknocked into an Irish man. When I told him I that I Irish dance, he grabbed my hand and started to spin. A). Don't touch me, I'm a missionary and B). That is NOT how you Irish dance! When he started to correct me, I nearly wet my skirt I was laughing so hard. He then began to chastise us for our belief in God, which made things a little less cool, but I still really enjoyed hearing the accent. 

Halloween was so fun! We had a ward part on Friday night, and it was so great to be with the ward. We had some investigators come to church and to the party, so it was a smashing success. We taught lessons on Halloween, and it rained the whole day, so we weren't too bummed to stay inside in the evening. We were outside on Halloween, and it was freezing cold. Like, SO COLD!! I was shaking so hard underneath my umbrella, and I couldn't feel most of my body. I looked at my companions, looked up at the sky, and laughed as I said, "I seriously am beginning to love this". The Lord has blessed me so much. For the first time, I truly am beginning to love it! What a great week! 

Sorry about the randomness of this letter, so much happened, and so much is going on around me. But overall, I am doing well! I am nervous to train, but I am honored for the opportunity to attempt to teach someone even newer than I. I definitely have mixed emotions, but overall, I am going to hold off on the complete break down for a few more days:) 

The weather has been so different every day, that I don't think I will be needing my coats this week. It should be warm, and I will be in Lansing for the majority of the week waiting for my new sister. I am thinking I may need them next week though! I'll have to get back to you on that! Thank you again for the packages sent and the letters from so many people this week! I love you all!!

Have a great day! Love you all!!

Xoxo

Sister Ensign

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THE RAIN CAME DOWN... AND SO DID WE! Ha!

NOTE FROM CAMILLE'S MOM...  I did not get her letter posted last week, but it is now posted below this letter.

Oh what a Week!! Happy week to you all! And Happy Birthday Lisi, Mckay, and Bennett! 

 The weather, is most definitely keeping us on our toes. And sometimes, even off of our toes when we fall off of bridges when we hit slippery leaves....oh good times... haha!! Man, we seem to trip all of the time. But I have gained a new appreciation for the season of "fall". 

This week we had a lot of appointments cancel on us. WHAT!?! No thank you! And the worst part is that we had so many already scheduled with members! But I learned that the Lord will allow things to fall out of place so other things can fall into place. 

This week we met a guy named Chris. Chris is so, so, so, so, cool. We taught him for his first time this week, and in the lesson I asked him if he would be baptized by someone who held the same authority as Christ if he could. He said, "I can confidently say that is something I would love to do". And now he is on baptism date! We had a few other lessons like that this week, and it has been really fun to be a part of!  We will be teaching Chris, his mom, and his little sister later in the week, and we are so excited to help him come closer to Christ. 

In the week, however, we also meet some very unique individuals that I believe the Lord puts in my path to keep me laughing. We were door knocking this week, and were talking to a man about receiving direction from God. The man said, "The only direction I have is what is stuck to my ankle”  Awesome…..an ankle bracelet.   Well, after a few more doors, and a few other criminals on parole, we left the area.  Oh man! You've got the love the randomness of missions!

We also meet a man who served as a veteran in the Vietnam war. We taught him the restoration in his barn because his wife wasn't home. It was dark outside due to the rainy weather, so we were teaching this man, who has severe ADHD, about the gospel of Jesus Christ...in his barn; while he downed a beer and smoked his cigarette. I asked him if he loves Jesus, and he said, “Of course I love Jesus. He saved me in war!" I then asked him if he would do something for Jesus if Jesus asked him to, and again he said, "Yeah! I would do something for Jesus!" I then said, "What if Jesus asked you to stop drinking that can of beer and smoking that cigarette?" The guy looked at me for a while and said, "If Jesus came to me right now, and told me that, I would probably have to quit all of my bad habits".  Bingo... Hook, Line, and Sinker.  So that is where we will pick up next time! 

It was a great week and I am enjoying all of the random things I am able to be a part of in my day!! Thank you to all of those who are praying for me; they are so felt! I love this gospel and love seeing the message change people's faces when they hear it for the first time! I love being a part of someone's first prayer, and letting them know that God loves them! Have a great week! The church is true and I love you!!

Xoxo

Sister Ensign

Welcome to Mt. Pleasant

Be mature at all times

Interviews

 

LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! Wait, WHAT!?!?!?!

Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:10:53 -0400

 

Hello hello once again!! How are all of you!! Oh what a week it has been! The weather here is so crazy and I love it!! It was so warm this week, in the low 70's. And it also snowed. You've got to love it. We never are sure of what the weather will be like, so we are always grateful when it is warm. The wind is called the lazy wing. It's too lazy to go around you, so it goes right through you. I can boldly testify of the truth in that statement! THANK YOU FOR THE PACKAGE of warm things this last week Momma!! They came JUST in time!! I don't think I will need my warm coats yet, and would love to wait a few more weeks on that so that-if I get transferred-I won't have to transfer them as well!

 

This week we had so much going on, that the three of us became way too tired. And what happens when I get too tired? That's right! I stop breathing before I go to bed every night due to my uncontrollable laughter! I have laughed more this week than I have since being on a mission!! The funniest moment!?!  We were in the car this week, and my companion in the back was making some phone calls. I didn't realize she was half asleep until I heard her say in a voicemail to a potential, "Thank thee...I mean you, for all that thou has given us". The best part is that the potential is one of our neighbors!! She started praying!! We were dying!! She was also trying to name all of my siblings, and instead of saying Hunter/Huntie baby, she said, "Howard baby" for Howard W. Hunter. I can't even type this I am laughing so hard!!  Oh how you've got to love being a missionary!!

 

You also know how I CAN'T order anything at the drive-thru because I laugh and then I can't talk? Yep, that happened on the phone this week also. My comp had to come save me, and then she also started laughing, so my other companion had to save the day. It was awful, but so funny. And all too late, we learned we can re-due voicemails.

 

We had trade-off's this week and we also had interviews with the mission president. They both went well, and I am excited to see what will happen in the next transfer! I will know on the 30th what will be happening for the next little bit and I am freaking out!!

 

Thank you, again, to all of those who write me and send me things! It means the world to me!! I love you all!! My scripture this week is D&C 11:21. I have seen so many miracles I can't even stand it. God is so great!

 

I love serving the Lord and am happy to be here! I hope you all have a wonderful week and know I am praying for you!! Love you!!

Xoxo

Sister Ensign

 

Nope it's actuallty Saturday

Note from Mom.. I think Camille must have been thinking that she would tell us why the subject of her letter was "Nope it's actually Saturday", but I believe that part of the story was left out. 

Hello, hello, hello!!!! Oh what a week it has been!! I would like to start off by THANKING all of those who sent letters/packages this week! It is the best thing ever to hear from those I love. You don't know how it brightens my week, so thank you!!!

We have had a crazy and good week this week! One of my companions goes home in 3 weeks!! It is crazy! And the even crazier part is that I will most likely be…(you never can tell what the next transfer will be) taking over the area all too soon! What the heck!?!

This week we door knocked into a part member family! We are super excited!! They have met with the missionaries before and it's awesome! The dad served a mission when he was my age, but hasn't been to church in a while. We'll see what happens!!

This week in church, I had a profound realization of how much the members in this area have to work to be members!! They are SO sweet and they give so much for the church! Some have to drive about 40 minutes to come to church. Some live on very modest incomes, yet insist on feeding us. I am realizing every week how blessed I am and how much I owe my sweet parents! Thank you mom and dad!!

The funniest thing that happened this week? Ok, so can I just tell you that I have NO IDEA how to be a missionary? I was doorknocking with my "trainee" who had never been doorknocking as a duo until I took her on Saturday.  As we were doorknocking, I was struggling because I realized that I didn’t have my own trainer to rely on. Though it was a struggle, I also realized how much I have learned! Yeah baby! And in the moment I think I am doing really well, I hear my companion snort because she is laughing so hard at my struggle. It's a working process!!!

Well, I hope you all have a great week!! Love you all, and thank you again!!!

Xoxo

Sister Ensign

BYU Dance Camp Information on Ward Bulletin

 

I'LL SEE YOU IN HEAVEN

Hello hello!! Greetings from Midland! I am in Midland today while Sister M. is at a "goodbye" conference. It's crazy that she'll be home in less than a month!

 This week was so busy and so so so good. 

 First, thank you for the package Mom and Dad!! I absolutely loved it, and loved the letter more than anything. Thank you for the Pumpkin Spice cake, it was so good and we enjoyed it! Thank you for the cute decorations that have helped make our apartment feel more like a home! I love it even more knowing my momma picked them out! Thank you for the CAMERA!! I have taken so many pictures, and I am sorry they came in single-e-mails today. I loved taking pictures and it was so fun to look for things to take pictures of to send home. Thank you thank you! I am so blessed.

 Fun fact for your day: President Jacobsen is the oldest mission president in the world:)

 Another fun and really weird fact for your day: My "trainee", Sister Roberts, entered the MTC July 22nd, a week before I did. However, due to her long time in the MTC, I spent an entire transfer out in the field before she came. So the person I am "training" has been a missionary longer than I have! Crazy, huh?

 This week started out a little rough. I was having a hard time trying to be ok with being a beginner trainer and trying to help other people. Overall, I was simply struggling. I prayed to ask God to let me know that I was doing what He wanted, and that He was proud of me. And guess what happened? We door-knocked into a deaf man named Casey.  Let me tell you, ALL OF THE BLOOD RUSHED OUT OF MY FACE. Oh freak!!! For the first time being on my mission, I could not turn to my trainer for help. I introduced myself, did my best to explain who we were, and fervently prayed to understand what he was saying. I can understand much more sign language than I can say, but I am not too familiar with church words. BUT! I was able to clear up and we were not Jehovah's Witnesses, and that he can learn more by visiting Mormon.org. He told me something about the Bible, and how he saw 4 angles when he was 14. (Let's just take a moment to appreciate this moment. Here I am, soaking in the rain, STRUGGLING to tell a man about Joseph Smith as a Prophet, (in sign language) and he GANDER-RANTS in a language I don't know very well! AHHHH!!) So during this door approach I learned two things: 1) I am exactly where the Lord wants me to be 2) I NEED to learn more sign. How can I do that without a teacher? Where can I get books or something?  It was so cool, but would have been cooler if I could have explained something like....um...the Restoration:) 

 Speaking of Jehovah's Witnesses, some knocked on our door this week! Haha!  Their faces when they saw our nametags were priceless!! We talked for a long time, and when they gave me the Watchtower, I asked if I could give them a Restoration pamphlet. They said no, but it was a really funny moment! Haha!!

Another Miracle this week: a few weeks ago, we met a man named Pat who told us his story about his brother who has cancer. He cried telling us how God has helped him in his life, but has struggled to find faith in him. We testified that God knows him and loves him, and he thanked us for our time, but said he wasn't interested in setting up an appointment. This week, we were knocking on some doors, and Pat answers one of the doors. He says, "So we meet again". What? He was at his daughter’s home watching her kids while she rested. NO WAY!! He said how grateful he was to see us, and how much he has thought about our conversation.  We found him, AGAIN!! We gave him a Book of Mormon, and it was so cool! I don't know what it is about him, but something in his eyes looks so familiar to me! I can't tell if he has the same eyes as Daddy, but there is something about him that just rings a bell. It was a really neat experience. 

 We also met this really old man this week that is devoutly catholic. We talked about the Plan of Salvation, and when we walked away, he said, "I'll see you in Heaven" and it was the saddest moment because this lonely old man said it!!

 

Another miracle this week: I was standing in line to get food with some members, and this woman looked at me and said, "Hello!" which is not the normal response of people around us in public. Turns out, she is a less active that we have been searching for. I wrote her name a couple weeks ago to try and contact, and there she was, a few towns away from her home, behind me in line at Burger King. What are the chances?!?

 

It was really a good week, and thank you to all who sent me things. It is seriously like Christmas getting a package/letter. Thank you!!! Conference was AMAZING! We watched all sessions at the church with some members. I loved ever talk, and it's amazing how conference is so different on a mission. I was worried about President Monson at the end of his talk, and we are all praying for him. I loved hearing from Elder Christofferson, and the three new apostles. It was so amazing!! 

 

Funniest moment of the week? I was making rice at the church, for lunch, in between conference, and Sister R. and I were trying to find the microwave. There were other people, so we were trying to be quiet, and search. After looking through the whole Kitchen 48,738,047 million times, we decided to simply bake it. The MINUTE after we put it all in the oven, we hear the microwave beep....behind the door. SERIOUSLY CAMILLE!?! DUH???!! I was laughing so hard I was sobbing. Haha  It was so funny!!! I felt so dumb! 

 Thank you again for all that you do!! I hope you have a wonderful week and know I am praying for you! The Church is true and God knows you!

 Xoxo

Sister Ensign

*Note from Camille’s Mom:  I wrote and told her who the person was that Elder Christofferson (a member of our ward), talked about in his Conference talk.  Her reply.. “I KNEW IT WAS D.!!! I tried searching through the ward in my mind, and then I leaned to my comp and whispered, D. K. That is so cool!! So many people talked about his talk.  It was a blessing from on high because it answers so many of the questions people have here.  How I wish I could personally thank him for his talk.  It will make missionary work easier as I have something to refer to now.  I whispered, ‘You knew I needed that’.  THANK YOU ELDER CHRISTOFFERSON!  It was amazing!!!”

It's Freezing!

The Ladies