Hey what's up....hello! Hi world.

Life's been pretty crazy here in Ohio. If you haven't heard already, a bunch of people were injured and some evn died at the Ohio State fair in Columbus this week.  The were on a ride at the fair and one of the arms of the ride broke and the people fell off the ride. And they kept the fair OPEN. WELCOME TO OHIO!!! Then just a few days later, some kids at the Knox County Fair (the fair in Mt. Vernon) got thrown off a ride. They weren't hurt but STILL! smh. Life in Ohio is crazy guys.

Best news of the week, ASHLEY PASSED HER BAPSTISMAL INTERVIEW!!! WOOHOO! She has had it rough the past couple of weeks, and Satan is still being a huge pain in the butt to her, but she is doing so good and she is smoke free. (':  I'm so proud of her. She has come so far in such a short period of time. Her baptism is scheduled for Saturday and it is going to be awesome!!! We were kinda, sorta, teaching her friend Kat until she stopped keeping commitments so we had to drop her.  But this week she came to church!  She showed up unexpectedly. Ashley didn't even know she was coming. Afterwards, she texted us and asked us to come over, so we have started teaching her again. She is reading the Book of Mormon and asking such great questions.  She is now on date for baptism on September 16th! Kat is so cute. I can't wait for her to be baptized!! I'm feeling good about her baptism date and Sister Flora and I are feeling positive about her progress.

Not much has happened this week. We are teaching so many lessons and I am meeting so many people. Everyday I get to see miracles, there's just too many to write down. I met a guy this week who's in a metal band called "Captain Dan's Legs." He was super kind and super respectful.  He even let us pray with him.  He wasn't too interested in our message. But that was cool.

The ward threw a surprise bday party for Lona, a recent convert. It was at the Weavers house. It was lots of fun and she was so happy! This ward I pretty great. They are so supportive of the work and of each other.

We had Zone Conference this week and it was awesome! I seriously love zone conference so much. We were asked to come prepared to give a five minute talk from something in chapter 6 of PMG (which I almost forgot about).  The night before zone conference I keep having promptings to review chapter 6 of PMG. I was like, okay, I will but weird.  Hahaha.  It was a good thing I listened to those promptings because I got randomly asked during zone conference to give my talk! Shout out to the Holy Ghost for saving my butt again!!!!

Seriously though, God is so good, and He knows us all so well. It's amazing. Any time I'm having a rough moment or I'm feeling completely wrecked from a long day, I get home and start reading my scriptures, in some random place, and I feel so much better. The Book of Mormon renders so much comfort. Last week I was tired and I came home from a rubbish day and felt like GARBAGE.  I was even stinky (it had been a hot and humid day). I went to my scriptures and they were already opened up to my FAVORITE scripture...again:

"Wherefore, for this cause I gave unto you the commandment that ye should go to the Ohio; and there I will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high;" D&C 38:32

God helps us in so many ways.  He will even speak to us through the scriptures. Ohio is such a wonderful place and I'm so grateful to be here. God always helps me remember that. He helps me stay focused on what is important. This is the Lord's work and I love doing it. It's not always easy and some days you feel like the world's largest garbage can, but when I'm able to have faith, hope, and optimism, I'm able to see and experience miracles. It's such a blessing to be apart of this work. I love those I teach and I love Lord. I don't love the heat and humidity, however.

 

Anyway, here's wonderwall.

Te amo!

Have a good week!!!

Also, tomorrow I turn 6!!! SIX MONTHS AS A MISSIONARY ALREADY? SMH LIFE IS CRAZY! I'm trying to make every moment and day count.  I don't want to waste a single minute!

 I LOVE YOU!

-Sister Hannah Thomas

Week #25

Hey Everyone!!! Short letter. Crazy week. Satan tried to do what he does best and be an evil sewer rat but Heavenly Father swooped in with Jesus and the Holy Ghost and so Satan got sent back down to the sewer!!!! Nice try Satan!!!! But truth and light always prevail!!! 

My new mission president is the best.  He and Sister Stratford have so much excitement for missionary work.  They are full of energy and it is contagious.  They make me want to work harder and be a better missionary. They inspire me to never give up on anyone that I meet or teach because the Lord never gives up on anyone.  My companion is honestly, so kind.  We laugh together and we pray together and I love her.

We were invited to speak at Girl's Camp last Monday night. It was such a fun night! We made our talks fun as we shared our testimonies on Joseph Smith, perseverance, and daring to do right.  The young women were so cool! They face so much adversity in their lives but they are so positive and stalwart.  I was so touched to be a part of camp.  Hahahahahaha...I even sort of missed being at Girl's Camp.  I know, you can't hardly believe that, especially my mom!  The camp had bed bugs (Ohio probs) and it was gross but funny.  I gained a great appreciation for the leaders who were dealing with the issues and drama of Girl's Camp!

Best experience of the week.  So we were having dinner with Ashley and our recent convert Ed, and Ashley's friend Kat. While we were there Ashley was obviously stressed. She could not relax. We asked her what was wrong and she said, "I quit smoking last night and know I just REALLY want a cigarette. It would be better if I had some caffeine but I ran out of coke last night and I don't have money to buy more." What??? Ashley you quit smoking last night???? On your own??? Anyway, she was a little on edge and then the next thing we know, some little kid comes running through the door and screams "ASHLEY, GRACEN JUST CUT HER FOOT ON SOME GLASS!" Yikes!!! Ashley was so stressed!! We went with Ashley to help and poor little Gracen (Ashley's daughter). She was bleeding but she was being so tough and brave. Ashley doesn't have a car and so she freaking out because she didn't  know how to get Gracen to the hospital. We were on our bikes so we weren't much help. All of the sudden, Ashley starts cussing and then looks at us a says, "I'm not doing the whole baptism thing. I can't do this! God doesn't seem to care. He's throwing all of this crap at me and isn't helping me at all!" Then she took Gracen with her bleeding foot and left with her friend to the hospital. Yikes!!! Sister Flora and I didn't know what to do?? We just told her that we loved her and that's it. Then we knelt down and said a prayer with Ed.  I felt so helpless and pleaded in my heart with Heavenly Father to bless Gracen and Ashley.  About 10 mins later, Ashley called us back and apologized.  She asked us if we could come to the hospital.  She said that, "Gracen would like you to come to the hospital and be with her. Also, can the elders come too? We both could use a blessing right now. I'm sorry, I didn't mean any of it." (:(: So we called the Elders and then we ran to the store and got Ashley a coke and then got our car and went to the hospital to be with Ashley and Gracen. The Elders also came to the hospital. They gave Gracen a blessing of healing.  Gracen was so calm.  When the doctor came back to stitch up Gracen's foot he looked at it again and said "this is a miracle, I don't know how, but those cuts have closed up enough that stitches are no longer needed." Ashley started crying right there in the hospital and she said, "I know how, it's the power of the Priesthood!!" (: The priesthood power is real folks and God watches out for us. The blessing the Elders administered to Gracen was heart felt and the spirit was there.  It was a pretty cool/stressful experience. Something that I will never forget.  

Ashley has her baptismal interview this Saturday.  We have been working with her to be prepared.  There is no doubt in my mind that she will pass with flying colors. She is so ready.  She has a testimony of the truth.

The church is true and that is my cool experience of the week. Ashley is the bomb. I love her with all of my heart. We are now teaching her daughter Gracen, who will hopefully get baptized soon after her mom!!! I love how the gospel speaks to your heart and how it changes lives.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK (this is real folks): "I'M SO SICK OF THOSE TWO GUYS. YOU KNOW WHAT. I BET THEY WERE RED HEADS. THOSE LITTLE EFFERS. SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE TIED THEM UP WITH CORDS." -Ashley's feelings about Laman and Lemuel (I was dying when she said this, but I kinda have to agree with her.)

Have a good week y'all! There are miracles all around us!!  I'm so humbled to be doing the Lord's work!!

- Sister Hannah Thomas

1575 Yauger Rd. Apt #24 

Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050

Week #24

Hellooooooo!

Nice try Satan!!!!!!! Regardless of the many times you have tried to WRECK the work this week, it has continued and the week has still been incredible!!!

This week was freaking ridiculous! That's all I can say about it. A deer ran into our dang car, so we had to take it to the shop to get it repaired. Because of this, Tuesday and Wednesday we didn't have a car. Tuesday and Wednesday also just happened to be the two days this week that were 90+ degrees and 100% humidity. 🙃 We walked all around Mount Vernon on Tuesday and my lungs were on fire and I thought a Dementor was sucking out my soul. On Wednesday we were biking and I literally couldn't BREATHE. I had my inhaler with me and everything and nothing was working. I was dizzy from not breathing and because of the heat, I passed out and fell off of my bike!🙃 My Comp was so scared! I woke up and I was hyperventilating and not breathing.  My lips were purple. She called 911 and an ambulance came and picked me up so ya know life is great!  It was so embarrassing!  But at least the paramedic was cute (even though I wasn't supposed to notice)! HaHaHaHa! 🙃 I was transported to the hospital and they gave me a breathing treatment and I was fine.  I didn't break any bones or get any bruises because I am accustomed to falling, so I do it gracefully.  Anyway...life is CRAZY!!! When I was in the ambulance I guess I was in shock and would not stop freaking out about our bikes getting stolen, so Sister Flora called one of our recent converts, Ed, and asked him to pick up our bikes for us so they wouldn't get stolen.  LOL.  At least I am responsible even while experiencing trauma.

By the time I got to the hospital I was just DONE with everything!  I just wanted to be out doing missionary work. The mission president and his wife came to the hospital as well as our district leaders.  It was such drama! But I really am fine!

Ed and his step-daughter, Shay ended up picking us up from the hospital and they took us to the mechanic shop so we could pick up the car.  I was supposed to go home and sleep for the rest of the night after that, but I was like, "ya no, screw that." I felt like we just really needed to follow Ed back to his house and pick up our bikes RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT.  Apparently, I am just concerned about the bikes.  When we got to Ed's house to pick up our bikes, Ed had a friend visiting.  The friend looked like he just needed a nice hug. I couldn't hug him, obviously, so we decided to start talking with him. He told us that he's staying at Ed' s house for a while so that he can get clean. This guy is highly addicted to CRYSTAL METH 👍(Welcome to Mount Vernon!!!!)! I knew he needed a hug but hopefully he felt comforted by the spirit because we started teaching him about Jesus Christ and his Atoning sacrifice for us.  He seemed to be touched by the spirit. We invited him to be baptized and he was like, "yeah. Of course." He has a long way to go but he is really trying to overcome his addictions and many mistakes.  He has so much potential and he really did feel the spirit.  Currently, there are some drug lords looking for him (cool), but we are going to start teaching him at Ed's house. There is a 12 step program just a couple of towns over and Ed is going to take him there every week, so that he can get some help getting clean. He is a great guy and I have zero doubt in my mind, that he will eventually be able to over come his addictions. Through Christ, nothing is impossible. 😊 I could feel the love that Heavenly Father has for him as we spoke with him.  My heart was almost bursting because of the love!  I knew in that instant that he is a son of God and I could feel how much he needs the light of Christ in his life.

We were also able to teach Ed's 18 year old step-daughter, Shay. She has been to church a few times and has come to our Book of Mormon class, but she hasn't ever been interested in taking the lessons. She finally decided that she wanted to learn more! We taught her about the Restoration yesterday and I elected her to be our baptismal candidate on August 12th. She said agreed to the election and said "yes!!!" Hahahahaha!  She's a candidate I will vote for!  She is so cool. I am so excited for her!! That's now 3 baptisms scheduled for the month of August!!! Heck yes!!! The Lord has prepared so many people here in Mount Vernon! The field is so white!!!!

Another cool thing that happened this week: we were at Ashley' s house and she lives in a really sketchy neighborhood. It's the same neighborhood Ed lives in. Anyway, while we were there a cop came and knocked on her door and told us that the entire neighborhood was on lockdown and nobody could leave. Apparently there was a guy on drugs running around with a gun trying to break into people's cars in the neighborhood and they were trying to find him. Long story short, we heard lots of gunshots and eventually the guy was arrested and stuff but ya' know, life is crazy here in Mount Vernon!!! There is never a dull moment.  But on a good note, we gave Ashley' s daughter, Gracen a CTR ring this week. She flipped when she found out we had matching rings!  Now we can "choose the right" together.

Anyway, it's been an eventful week. I'm very tired. I'm gonna take a nap. I love y'all. Don't do crystal meth. Bye!


Love you,
Sister Hannah Thomas

Week #23

Hello All! It's been a good week. We have had lots of lessons with lots of people and experienced lots of miracles!  There is so much work to do in Mount Vernon and we are trying to get it all done.

Ashley is so ready for baptism! She just absorbs everything we teach. She loves the gospel and she LOVES church. She reads and reads the Book of Mormon and she always has questions for us.  I love her!!! She had a rough week, however, maybe it was more like a strange one. Ashley has been having some health problems and she felt ill this last week. :( She also decided to go to a Wednesday night church service at another church (because a friend invited her) and she decided she wanted them to pray over her because she hasn't felt well. She was like "why not? All prayers are good! Right?" WRONG. The congregation started screaming, and wailing and speaking in tongues, they had their hands on her head and were whipping her head around in crazy ways, they were chanting strange things about her instead of praying for her and they were just being all great and abominable and Satan like.  It kind of scared her. So when she got home and that night, she just felt terrible. She felt more sick than she did before she went to the church meeting. She started having night terrors!  She was really upset.  Every time we went into her apartment we just felt like there was something there that shouldn't be. The best way to describe it is that her apartment felt "dark" and we felt "restless." We finally got her to tell us what happened at the church meeting and we were like, "WHAT?!" We instantly called the Elders and had them bless and dedicate her home. Since then, she hasn't had anymore night terrors and her house's vibe feels way better and way more peaceful. Satan thought he was being sneaky. Nice try dude!!! The power of Christ and the priesthood got you again!!!!!!!!!

We also have another investigator on date for baptism!! Woohoo! Her name is Kim and her husband is a member. She has been meeting with the missionaries on and off for years. We have been visiting the family weekly. Kim was on vaction last week and she said while she was sitting by a waterfall and she felt that God needed her to be baptized, so that's what she's doing!!! She's excited! She knows the church is true and that God hears and answers our prayers. She is nervous about tithing but we testified to her aobut the law of tithing and let her know that God will help her and her husband provide for their family if she is faithful in her tithes.  We let her know that she would be blessed so much for her faithfulness in God and in His commandments. The law of tithing is all about putting your trust in God and she said she is ready to do that.  She is so excited. Sister and Flora and I are also excited! (: August 19th come faster!!! Say a little prayer for her!

The 4th of July was pretty uneventful. Boo! Sister Flora and I were both inside all day because we were both sick as FRICK. Both puking our guts out. Idk what was wrong with us, but we felt like death. I have puked more in the last 5 months then I ever have before and let me tell ya I'm SICK of it....get it. SICK of it. It was a pun. That was punny.  The next day we felt a little better and we were mad that we didn't get to have a cute 4th of July picture so we went to the store and bought some half price American flags and took some low quality pics the next day. Lol. Happy 4th of July on the 5th!!!

I saw a lot of very "Ohio" things this week. Lots of corn, a bunch of tordano warnings, lots of  Amish people, and so many confederate flags, it was crazy! Ohio is a strange place, but there's no other place I'd rather be in the world right now. I love the people. I love this place. I love the gospel. I love this work. I don't love puking. I feel so incredibly blessed.
Also, shout out to my cute, cute cousins for sending me the best letters I've received on my mission! The letters made my entire week. Thanks Johnny and Megan and family!!!

"Remove any of your fear with faith. Trust in the power of God to guide you." -Elder M. Russell Ballard
Words to live by!
 
Have a good week. 🤗

- Sister Hannah Thomas 🖤
1575 Yauger Rd. Apt #24
Mount. Vernon, Ohio 43050

Week #22

 Hi Family and Friends! Wow! I have had such a great week!!!  I have been so blessed and there have been so many miracles.

Ashley, our investigator is doing amazingly! We taught her about temples this week and I was hecka nervous, I'm always a little scared people are gonna think temple ordinances are weird (oh ye of little faith).  :/  However, after we taught the lesson on temples she seemed excited. When we met with her again she let us know that she had read the pamphlet again by herself and she had prayed about it. She said to us, "whatever I have to do to prepare to get to the temple, I'll do! Pack my bags! I wanna go there right now!" It was so tender. (: She is so prepared. Ashley is truly elect and I love her. She has cute down from 6 cigarettes a day to only 1 and a half!!!!! She is amazing!!!! 

I got to spend part of my Saturday in Chillicothe at the baptism of Thomas!!! It was a miracle! The new mission president, President Stratford gave me permission to go! Then a member of the ward in Chillicothe, Sister Francis somehow got our phone number and called Sister Flora and I and said she was coming to get us early Saturday so we could get to the baptism early.  The ward in Chillicothe worked really hard to make certain that I was able to attend the baptism because they knew how much it meant to Thomas.  President and Sister Stratford even came to the baptism, it was their "first" baptism as mission presidents and they said, "they wouldn't have missed it for anything." Thomas didn't know I was coming and he CRIED when I showed up. He was so happy when he saw me at the church.  In fact, there was a smile on his face the entire baptism service. I, too, cried.  I cried a lot. Before I was transferred, Thomas had asked Sister McClellan and I to sing his favorite hymn, "How Great Thou Art." When I was transferred he was a little sad that I could not attend his baptism and that we could not sing.  Well, not only was I at the baptism, but Sister McClellan and I sang.  It was such a spiritual moment for me.  I had a steady stream of tears running down my face as I sang.  In fact everyone at the baptism was crying. It was just one big "cry fest." Watching Thomas be baptized was so powerful.  He was so confident as he entered the waters of baptism and he came out with a big smile on his face.  He also shared a beautiful testimony about the hope and peace of the Atonement and about the happiness that the gospel has brought into his life  I've never felt so inspired to strengthen my testimony in my life. He really did inspire everyone. Thomas is #testimonygoals. For real. The ward was so supportive and there were so many in attendance.  I was so grateful that Thomas had so much support.  He truly is an elect Son of God.  Seriously, the love I have been able to feel for that man is unreal. I feel that love every I see him and every time I pray for him. I know God was crying along with all of us throughout Thomas's baptism service. It was such a spiritual and happy day for me. I can't even begin to explain it. Best moment of my life for sure. Thomas is going to help bring so many souls unto Christ.  The gospel is true!  It changes lives and it makes people smile.  My heart is so full of gratitude for this miracle.  I am so grateful that I was able to met Thomas and share my testimony with him and watch him grow in the gospel.  I am even more grateful that I was able to attend his baptism and see the smile on his face. 

I had a lot of cool experiences with members in Mount Vernon this week. We had dinner with the Weaver family this week. They are the cutest family and so stalwart. The Weaver family used to be AMISH until someone left a Book of Mormon in Brother Weaver's furniture store. He read it and showed his family and they met with the missionaries and they were eventually baptized. His testimony of the gospel is so sweet and so strong. However, their conversion wasn't without drama! Satan LOVES drama . When the Amish community found out that the Weavers had accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and were going to be baptized they were shunned completely. It was so hard for them.  They have a lot of family and friends who do not speak to them anymore.  They had to leave their home and the community they loved.  After their baptism they started to stugggle financially. Their furniture store wasn't as profitable as it has once been.  But God is good and they were blessed through their trials and so everything worked out.  They are strong members of the church.  They have since shared the gospel with two other families from their Amish community and both families were baptized! This is so amazing to me.  There are some pretty cool families in this ward and I am learning so much from them. Brother Weaver shared that cool conversion story with Sister Flora and I this week. It was awesome and I could feel the love that Heavenly Father has for him and his family. Also, the family let me play with their baby goats and their puppies. They were cute and it was a great dinner and lesson. They definitely taught me more than I taught them.  

I adore my companion.  Sister Flora is so kind and so cute. We get along really well. She is a hard working missionary.

It has been an amazing week. I love this gospel a lot. I am so blessed to be a missionary. My heart is full. That's all. Be good! Or don't! Whatever!!! 

I love you.

- Sister Hannah Thomas