August 31, 2015 - Pictures! More Pictures! And Mosiah 2.

This was my district before transfers. The only change is our district leader (far right) Elder Tramacchi. He will be missed. Gave the best District Meetings. 

We LOVE taking corny district photos. lolol

This week I have been studying

Gratitude 

True Happiness

Promised Blessings of Keeping the Commandments 

It's all related. 

When we keep His commandments, we are blessed. When we recognize those blessings and are grateful for them, our attitude towards the commandments change and it becomes easier and more desirable to live them. We receive more blessings, and become more grateful, and that is true happiness. Our trials are tailor made for us, and only our Heavenly Father and Christ can truly understand, but the Commandments enable us to stay on the path, despite of opposition To be confident in the direction we are headed, despite the clouded view, and with a perfect brightness of hope, accomplishing our righteous goals and receive Eternal Life. 

We all receive blessings from living righteously, but recognizing them for what they are, and having faith in The Lord's hand in our lives proves difficult if we do not open our hearts to the spirit. 

Mosiah 2 is when King Benjamin speaks to the people. It's a beautiful chapter and I've learned a lot from it this week. But I love this part: "I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

If we aren't finding the blessings of living the gospel, it's not because we aren't receiving them, but our heart is not in a position to recognize them. This happened to me this week, but as I counselled with my Heavenly Father, I realized honestly how much I'm blessed with and I haven't been this happy in months. Prayer Works. Notice the Blessings.

We got to go to the city this week for my chiropractor apt (surprise mom I went to the chiropractor but all is well) and we had a leadership meeting in the morning. In order to make everything work and not drive back and forth, we left the flat at 545am and got there early. Across the street from the chiro is Kings Park, the most famous park in Perth. So we went and took pictures. We got to the mission home early to make sure our hair and makeup looked decent before our meeting started and sister Fife fed us :D

Our bikes broke, so we took them to our investigators house that night and he fixed the tire. the next morning we got on them again and OOPS it broke again. Flat tire. So we went BACK to his house, and he ACTUALLY fixed it. In the mean time we were taking selfies next to his garage. :D #skyblue 

Sister Nansen is an amazing companion. She teaches me SO SO MUCH every day and is so much fun. She laughs at my horrible driving all the time and we love morning exercise together :D :D haha good times

This is me in the morning next to our amazing view of the sunrise 

THIS IS WHY I LOVE BYFORD!!! We wake up to this almost every morning but this one was especially colourful so I had to take a picture of it.

Her skirt got caught in the bike...... lolol luckily she had another one under it.... 

Right after I found out my tire was flat. 

NICE NOT EVEN OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. 

but we met some cool people on foot so all goods!

SERVICE!!! Is my favourite. We get to help sister penton in her amazing garden sometimes and it's the best

 

KEEP BEING AMAZING!

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY. 

Love you all!! Miss you so much. :D :D :D Love seeing all the good things happening and how much different everyone is / looks. 

Sister Brooklyn Falter

August 24, 2015 - (Brief email, is an understatement!)

this week in a nut shell. 

I am staying in BYFORD YAY 

Best week of the transfer. So many miracles. the members are starting to not just love but TRUST us YAY

And I love Australia! 

unexpected challenges led to a sleepover and a totally candid prayer shot (we were posing)

August 17, 2015 - Kangaroos

Almost died when we were in the car on the way to the chapel because I saw some kangas in the distance and was definitely distancing myself from the lane in the process. My companion LOVES my driving LOL but she can't drive because she is basically blind. She's getting new glasses next week then we might call and try to switch drivers. :D :D (that's my idea but I haven't told her yet lol) 

Had interviews with our mission president and he is so awesome. We were discouraged because in Byford, everyone knows everyone. It's kinda out a ways, inland, and the people are friendly and the houses are just 3-5 years old so when we go tracting, they post on the "Byford" facebook group where we are and everyone closes their doors and windows and pretends that they're not home EVEN THOUGH WE CAN HEAR THEM. haha. Some members and random people have told us they see our names on their quite often. Usually tied words like "witches" or "mary poppins" or "school girls". So the people know OF us but they don't KNOW us. My first thought was "MARKETING YAY!!!" Growing up with dad as my father, of course I was excited about the free advertisement, but when you start noticing people literally running away from us it becomes a bit discouraging / frustrating. HAHA. 

It's also quite funny and we usually have a great time just laughing about it. 

He told us that if we pray for the people who see us on facebook, or close their doors on us, Heavenly Father will give us the opportunity to talk to them, the spirit will tell them to open their doors, and we will have greater opportunities to serve the people of Byford. 

That's exciting, right!!? 

LOVING my companion. We have too much fun together -mostly her laughing at me but she can we an egg sometimes too. :D 

Thankful for trials - they make me stronger. 

I LOVE YOU ALL SOOOOOO MCUH. Congrats to my beautiful bestie who is getting married without me *cries* 

xxx

Sister Falter

PS convention sounds AMAZING <3 loved the pics

August 10, 2015 - scary angels turned pink, Melissa, Sister Book and MIRACLES

The first time I walked into their home, the first thing you noticed was a large scale wallpaper covering one entire wall. A picture of a dark angel with wings, praying with a cross with a scull at the bottom of it. Pictures of emo angels and small statues covered the house, leaving it feeling pretty dismal. Now, let me tell you about this amazing family. Mum and 6 kids, basically raising them on her own. The kids were pretty uninterested about church, missionaries, and anything we had to share the first time I went over there. Over the past few months, many trials have come down upon this little family. Things happened in her life that caused this sweet sister to feel like she hit rock bottom. Our heart went out to her in love as we visited. We knew only the gospel would help revive her from spiritual and emotional fatigue. One day we sang her a song, and asked what the spirit told her as we sang, and from that moment on, they kicked it in to gear. She's been coming to church every week for 3 months. Everything in the house that didn't invite the spirit was removed, walls were painted (pink - we helped) , pictures of Christ and the family were placed, and they spend their time listing to uplifting movies and music that fills the home with love and purpose. The physical changes are the least of the progression that this family has made. The kids are different. More loving, more kind, more involved. They feel the spirit more, they get excited to see us and when we are over, they are well behaved and love to give us hugs and high fives the minute we rock up to their door. I love this family. They've become so precious to me. They are so happy, so bright, so fun! One daughter of theirs was baptized this Sunday and confirmed. We were there to help prepare her for that special day. What a beautiful thing this gospel has done for that struggling family. That's what it's about. Bringing hope, purpose, and the love of our Heavenly Father into our lives. All we have to do is invite him in. 

I went on exchanges with Sister Tusi this week. She's in my intake and I've been DYING to go on exchanges with her, because she is just amazing. I kept telling her how utterly excited I was. Not sure she was as excited to come with me, but we ended up having such a fin time!!! That exchange was what I needed to get out of my head, get out of the car, and talk with everyone. She reminded me to not only tell people our purpose, but more importantly to show people our purpose by inviting them to keep commitments, being bold, and sharing gospel principles or scriptures with EVERYONE we meet. I loved feeling her testimony as she taught and testified. She's a powerhouse, and such a good friend. Love Sister Tusi (means book in Samoan). She also taught me some Samoan words so I'm going to probably come back fluent. LOVE MY SAMOANS!! (: 

A miracle happened. I was riding my bike and felt prompted to STOP. I ignored until it came again stronger so I obeyed straight away. Almost got thrown off my bike but I followed a prompting and we were able to provide comfort and support to a family in need.  The gospel blesses families. I KNOW IT. I've seen it so much, lately. Never ignore promptings.

Things are really starting to roll in Byford. We are starting to get member referrals, we are starting to get heaps more potentials, and we are meeting a lot of people. I am so excited for the coming weeks!! 

I LOVE YA!!! So much. Sending packages / letters today (once I finish them). 

Feels like Christmas here. Been singing my favourite CHRISTMAS songs ALL week. Enjoying the rain as well. GORGEOUS sunrises. 

That is all. 

Also I'm not really sure if my letters are any good so if I'm not answering the questions you really wanna know pls tell me or ask me bc honestly I could be completely useless and wouldn't even know it. I just write what comes. 

I need feedback lol. 

Love, Sister Falter

PS the suspense is killing me pls someone tell me is Melissa engaged yet #uselessbestfriend #inthedark 

August 3, 2015 - Reflections

It's amazing how much of a difference your week is when you have a minute to just take a step back and look at what's been accomplished. I moved my bed right by the window so I can look out every night. I love the Australian sunrises and the stars are amazing in Byford. I love writing in my journal and recognizing the hand of the Lord each day in my life and in the lives of all the people we meet and work with. Recognizing the moments when I truly was speaking as a representative of Christ and not just sister Falter or BK. 

I am thankful for a couple of main things:

1. Leadership - the amazing missionaries I work with, the assistants and President and SIster Fife. Amazing leadership. We feel their prayers and concern each day and every time we receive training. We feel the spirit of their own personal conversions and experiences each time they counsel with us. 

2. Repentance and Practice - that we sometimes are really bad at what we are required to do, but the more we work at it, the more we pray for it and study it and practice, the more effective we are at using that skill. I LOVE developing skills, even though it's a long process it's fun! 

3. The Sacrament and the Spirit - Saturday night and Sundays have become such a huge influence to the rest of my week. The way I prepare effects the way I feel when I partake of the sacrament. It allows me to receive more of the spirit because my heart is more broken or open and it influences every day afterwards. I had an amazing feeling, a beautiful experience last week during sacrament. I felt so enlightened and peaceful. The spirit was teaching me and helping me remember WHY the sacrament is so important, and why I need it, and how I can be more like Christ THIS week!! 

4. Prayer and Reflection - accounting to the Lord in prayer, the ups and downs of the day, helps a lot. Helps me understand my purpose, helps me recognize weaknesses and be humble, helps me feel the spirit and recognize answers, brings me peace and enables me to feel the love of God. 

Christ enables all of these blessings which is why I am so thankful and owe so much to Him. It reminds me of why I decided to come on my mission- because it is a way for me to acknowledge my Saviour and what he has done for me, as His sister, and to enable me to learn how to serve him more fully throughout my life. 

 I am trying to be a great missionary. Yoda was wrong, there definitely is a TRY when it comes to personal progression. Sometimes I fail, but then again I realize that once again Christ has got my back, and my front and both sides. Completely covering me with Grace and Love. 

My gratitude for Him grows as my understanding grows. Experiencing the atonement in my life through trials is one of the greatest gifts the mission has brought. 

I AM THANKFUL (can you tell). 

I am also thankful for Pday. it is part of the mission experience. (: I love learning more about the people you all are, and seeing the blessings of the gospel in each of your lives. Honestly, it is such a blessing. I feel the spirit as strongly during emails than during the rest of the week.

Thank you. Your examples give me a beacon to follow. 

I love you all<3