Doug Makes Amazing Sourdough Bread!

 Hi, wow, it's been a week. How about y'all? 

If I were to describe my week real quick to you, it would be falling asleep in the church on uncomfortable chairs because we haven't stopped moving; the life of a missionary.

- We went on trade offs this week, that's when the people who are more in charge come be your companion for 24 hours to see how you're doing as a missionary. I don't like them all that much. Let's just say, I missed sister Thueson a lot, and I'm so glad to have her back!

- We have been up to Gainesville too many times. I'm really really tired of long drives; we live an hour away. 

- We spent all day Saturday washing cars and working on a Facebook video that took way too long to make... It         comes out tomorrow. Please watch it for Elder Kapele's sake.

- We got Russ back on baptism date! He is super excited and super ready! 

- My companion got me the cutest little baby yoda stuffed animal! And it smells really good. I'm obsessed!

- A woman gave us pegacorns... she has something like 100 of these stuffed animals in her house.

I'm so grateful for prayer and what it can do for us. It is such a blessing to be able to communicate with our loving Heavenly Father as often as we want. I always felt like I was annoying Him with my many prayers. But in the scriptures it says to weary Him with your prayers. So keep going. Anytime of day. I promise He is listening and He will respond.

I LOVE YALL! AND HE DOES TOO!

 Sister Bailey

(Side note from Mom- My sister Tanja and her husband Doug went to visit Brennan today. She is only about 2 hours from them. Doug made her homemade sourdough bread and gave her the sweetest blessing. I must admit I bawled as he told me about how much love God has for her and what a strong woman she is. I'm so grateful she got called on a mission so close to family!)

Spiders and Cockroaches!

 I love Chiefland and Cross City so much already and it hasn't even been two weeks! But it definitely wasn't that way when we first got here...

The day we moved, transfers, was on a Wednesday, but we didnt get to our new apartment till Thursday. Apparently the elders before had taken the keys to the car with them to Jacksonville. We had to stay with some other sister missionaries while waiting for the keys to show up. It was a mess, but a great way to start with a new companion. We're already best friends.

- We got to the area with someone already ready to be baptized! That is so exciting! We're working on setting up a date to do that now. 

- We have had so many amazing service opportunities, members, and lessons with people looking into the church these past two weeks, We didn't have time to clean our apartment until a few days ago. If we're not moving, we're sleeping. It definitely is exhausting, but I love it. 

- We share the area with elders, so it's like having three companions instead of just one. But we are working it out. At this point, I've convinced one of the elders and my companion to get guitars so we can jam out together. 

- I've officially hit eight months out on the mission. Which means I'm a month away from halfway. That is crazy to think about. 

- Another update is that there are way too many spiders and cockroaches here. If there is more than one in your apartment a week... it's too many. You would think I would be used to bugs at this point.

Thank you to all those who write me or take the time to read my blog; I know I'm pretty bad at writing you back, but know that I love you all a lot. You're in my prayers and on my mind all the time. I know that you are not alone, God knows you. He knows where you are and what you're going through. He knows your thoughts, your doubts, your insecurities. He is with you, you don't have to face this alone. And don't try to. I've tried to do it alone, and I was miserable. He has already taken it all on Him, so give Him the rest.

I love yall, He loves y'all! 

Just keep swimming!!

Sister Bailey

My Comp. cut my hair, it was getting way too long!

The Cat Came Back

My my my, after 6 weeks of being in Bristol FL I am being transferred. I don't feel like I did anything here, but I am excited to head to Cheifland and Cross City, Fl. Its somewhere near Gainesville, if that helps. Elders are there currently, so I'll be whitewashing in. That's really all I know how to do, so I'm pretty excited about that! 

In other news:

- We have been doing service, cleaning out a vacant house. It's full of spiders, roaches, mouse poop, and a lot of mixers and toaster ovens. Let's just say there has been a lot to throw away. But it has been so nice to get out and do something.

- We've done a lot of service, we ending up pulling staples out of a ceiling, then out of our shoes. I'm sad to be leaving this area because of the many chances we get to serve people here. 

- Every time we get home, its normally around 9:30. There is a tiny cat that comes rushing towards us. She always let's me hug her and play with her. We're now best friends. The other night she knocked on the door. It was 10 pm, not sure who would be knocking on the door then. But I answered it, and in she walked. I told myself that as soon as she walked into the house she was mine... it was hard giving her back. 

Anyway, I have felt very blessed this week because of my knowledge of the afterlife. So many people here have been passing away, or have been very sick. I have been blessed to share with them, that this is not the end. There is more to be had then what we have now. We will live with our Father and Mother again, just as we did before we came to this world. I don't know where I would be without this knowledge, it has brought so much peace into my life. 

I love you all, God loves you all!

Sister Bailey