Fort Collins Letter #12

I read something really neat the other day in a talk by Elder Scott. He spoke about the blessings that come when we serve others. Shining a light on ourselves only blinds us, however, when directed outwards that light will illuminate our path.

 

 

I was able to go to the Denver Temple on Friday with Sister O'Donovan. It was her 'departing trip' that I got to tag along for. I never wanted to leave. It is the most peaceful place. I read the last part of Alma 34 while I was there and some things really stuck out to me. Particularly not contending with the Holy Ghost, if something is good (no matter how difficult, unconvenient, unpopular, awkward, etc.) do it. Simple as that. Oh and I got to see Elder Heywood, the missionary that reminds me of Seth. I'm not sure if I told you already but, in the MTC I told him not to get weirded out but "you remind me of my little brother..." He surprised me when he said, "No way! You remind me so much of my older sister!!!" Well needless to say, he was just as excited to see me as I was to see him there. So we took a professional picture together (and Sister Gregory of course).
 

I'm officially in the Fort Collins Mission. Have I told you that already? I found out last Saturday that I will be staying in the same area (Stetson Creek Ward in the Loveland Zone) and training!!!! Well I'm excited, terrified, nervous, and calm all at the same time. I got to meet Sister Rosier, my new companion, yesterday. She is amazing. I am really looking forward to getting to know her better, but I feel like I already love her. There is something really neat about her. I know she is here for the right reasons and that in itself gives us a lot in common.
 

The weeks keep speeding up. It's been an incredible last few days though. I've really had a peace come over me that is directly related to my testimony of Jesus Christ. There is so much to learn still, but I know that through Him all things are possible. I know that my weaknesses will never hinder His purposes. I have felt so peaceful and sure of what I am doing with each day I'm out here. Heavenly Father really loves us. I can feel it.

 

I'm excited to read along with you in the Book of Mormon starting June 1st. It will be fun to see how many people join in! Keep me posted.

 

I sure love you guys, I have to tell you a cool story. I was at the mission office yesterday picking up my new companion and there was a huge table where they had the mail for the week. Instead of forwarding it, they just let us pick our letters up while we were in town. I hadn't made it over that way yet (I got distracted by several of the missionaries I was in the MTC with!!! I love seeing them!!) when I heard, "Who is Sister Hoer (pronounced incorrectly), she gets all the mail!" Family and friends, I cannot adequately describe what all your support has meant to me. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about each one of you and how lucky I am. Thank you so so so very much. You mean the world to me.

 

Sincerely,

Sister Rashauna Hoer

Fort Collins Letter #11

Sorting donated items at Habitat for Humanity

(Rashauna on the right)

WEEKLY UPDATE: 

Monday: Made some crock pot veggies and a bunch of quinoa for easy meals for the rest of the week. 

Tuesday: Left a Book of Mormon in the library of an Elderly care center where we visited a member of our ward. I may or may not have said see-eth instead of see during our dinner message..... evidence that I've been studying the scriptures a lot but embarrassing nonetheless haha. 

Wednesday: We volunteered at Habitat for Humanity restore (thrift store) and climbed to the top of the pile of bags of donated clothes. (Yes in skirts - the clothing manager got some pictures of that as well that I'll try and get to you) I also found some cute skirts while sorting through clothes. 

Thursday: Zone Conference. All the missionaries in the Loveland area got together and had a very uplifting meeting. The whole first part was all about our Savior, Jesus Christ. I love being reminded of what every message we share is really centered around. Faith in Christ keeps us moving forward. It doesn't mean that life is going to be easy, but it ensures us that we will be facing the right direction. My companion and Sister Gregory's companion are 'Sister Trainer Leaders' (Very silly name, but they are essentially Zone Leaders for the sisters) and go on exchanges with other sisters so starting right after our conference, Sister Gregory and I were left as companions for a full 48 hours. We tracted all that evening. We really enjoy each other's company, but more importantly, we teach very well together. We are almost always on the same page and had some really neat gospel conversations. 

Friday: Tracting again. Sister Gregory broke somebody's doorbell but you could tell that it was in the sun for most of the day and therefore brittle. The man was very kind and said not to worry about it when we offered to replace it. We ate lunch at a restaurant called Rustic Oven when a woman named Robin Bowler called. (This whole time I thought it was Robin Fuller until I read your email haha) She met us at our next appointment and delivered flowers, fruit tarts and a card. I felt so special. Thank you mom and dad!!!!.... however, I'm pretty sure that's not allowed (even if I don't know them). Haha I think that was our one freebie.... Sister Gregory and I then walked several miles tracting and were very sweaty. I don't know how much we walked but I do know that we probably looked pathetic. We gave out some Book of Mormons and bore testimony of the truths we have come to know as often as possible. There are random pianos all over Fort Collins. They are all painted differently and are just outside on the street for anyone to play. SO COOL! We had dinner at Panera Bread with some members in Sister Gregory's ward and saw one. This town is incredible. We tracted some more in the evening. 

Saturday: Have I told you about justserve.org yet? Well it's so neat!! It's a website that anyone can post service opportunities to. We (as missionaries) have been encouraged to find service projects and help out the community whenever we can. We were able to help out a Lutheran church in the area that was getting a huge garden planted. All the food produced will go directly to the food bank. Not only was it nice to do some real work but it was incredible to think that we were helping to feed people in the future. If every church (not just Mormons, but everyone) did this, think how many people we could feed. We also were able to have several positive conversations with other people serving due to the relaxed environment and obvious common ground (service-oriented Christians). After dinner we switched back to our original companions. 

Sunday: Church gets better and better each week. We had a lesson on faith during Sunday School and a lesson on temples in Relief Society (we get to go to the temple this Friday!!!). We just talked about the basics. We talked about the blessings that come from faith and regular temple attendance. I've decided faith is a choice (at least at first). We have to choose to have faith or rather focus on what faith we do have to see the blessings and make the connection that they are indeed from our Heavenly Father. As we apply our faith by acting according to what we know, we see blessings, we recognize miracles everyday, and we experience growth. Choose to believe everyday and you'll see miracles according to your faith.

Today: HIKING!!!!! It's been way too long. Sister Soulier (Soo-lee-"A") took us and the other sisters up to hike Horsetooth rock. I couldn't stop smiling. Colorado is so beautiful. Cool note: A less active member in our ward (that we've been working extensively with) told us recently that she asked her fiance how he would feel if she started going back to church!!!!! I couldn't be more excited. 

Love you all. Love the updates. Love the letters. Love your prayers. 

I pray for each of you every night and think about you even more. Keep on keeping on.

Love, Sister Hoer

 

Fort Collins Letter #10

I thought about you a lot yesterday mom. During Sacrament meeting talks, sunday school, relief society, member visits. I think about you all the time, but I hope you know how grateful I am for you. You are such a good example of unconditional love, one lesson I truly cherish and will never forget. You inspire me to be better. Thank you and happy mother's day (again). Stay groovy ;)

 

I can't tell you how neat it was to hear all your voices. It reminded me of why I'm here. It reminded me of the blessings that come from living the gospel. It reminded me of what I am here to offer to others, or more correctly stated, what Heavenly Father has to offer.

 

In Relief Society, Sister Jensen (is an amazing teacher) led the lesson on families. We talked all about how our relationships are actually strengthened after this life. I just kept thinking about how much I care about my family, about how much they care about me, and how much we have to look forward to.

 

I also read Grandpa Hoer's sacrament meeting talk on patience and persistance this morning. It was so motivating and just what I needed to hear, just like this email was. I feel like all my prayers are being answered. Being a missionary is amazing. Amazingly hard and amazingly humbling and amazing in every sense of the word.
 

We are starting to meet with members as we have been discouraged from tracting. It has been going so well. Members are so supportive and I can't tell you how important they are to seeing the work progress and truly bringing people unto Christ.

 

Love you,

Sister Rashauna Hoer

 

(Pray for missionary opportunities!!!! Everybody!!! and then take advantage of them when they come)

Fort Collins Letter #9

I can't tell you how neat it was to hear all your voices. It reminded me of why I'm here. It reminded me of the blessings that come from living the gospel. It reminded me of what I am here to offer to others, or more correctly stated, what Heavenly Father has to offer.

 

In Relief Society, Sister Jensen (an amazing teacher) led the lesson on families. We talked all about how our relationships are actually strengthened after this life. I just kept thinking about how much I care about my family, about how much they care about me, and how much we have to look forward to.

 

I also read Grandpa Hoer's sacrament meeting talk on patience and persistance this morning. It was so motivating and just what I needed to hear, just like the emails from the family are. I feel like all my prayers are being answered. Being a missionary is amazing. Amazingly hard and amazingly humbling and amazing in every sense of the word.

We are starting to meet with members as we have been discouraged from tracting. It has been going so well. Members are so supportive and I can't tell you how important they are to seeing the work progress and truly bringing people unto Christ.

 

Love you,

Sister Rashauna Hoer

 

(Pray for missionary opportunities!!!! Everybody!!! and then take advantage of them when they come)

Fort Collins Letter #8

This week has been a little discouraging, but it's given my companion and I an opportunity to regroup and focus on what we can do to improve and to branch out and try some new things. We have some exciting new (pretty bold) tracting approaches to try out and we've been reading Jesus The Christ by Talmage (Thanks Trent!!) during part of our study time and it is amazing. Everybody should read this book and have a dictionary handy. It has really helped me to better understand the time in which Christ was on the earth and led to an increased faith in Him as my Savior. Knowledge is power. However, that being said, what good is knowledge if you don't share it. Increasing my understanding of Christ has helped me to better explain what He did for each one of us. Not because I share all that I've learned, but because I can explain it more simply than I did before. 

I also had the opportunity of studying 2 Nephi 4 this morning. In short, Nephi offers up his heart to Heavenly Father, recognizes his weaknesses, and asks for strength. It was comforting to realize that we all (should and need to) rely on Heavenly Father, even the prophets then and the prophet now. We are all human, and only through relying on Him can we accomplish more than we could on our own. We have to ask for it though, as Nephi clearly promises in one of the last verses of that chapter. 

Let me tell you, Heavenly Father answers prayers through scripture study. 

I love you and hope you have a fantastic week!

Sister Rashauna Hoer

PS: Talk to you soon :)  I'll be calling for Mother's Day at 7 p.m. Colorado time!