The End

Well it is actually time for my final email as a missionary. Next week there will not be much time and I will want things to talk to you about when I get home. It is strange to think that the time has gone so fast. It seems that just yesterday I left for the MTC and cried like I would never see you again. I have not seen any of you in person for over 18 months, and I have missed y'all more than you can ever imagine. This past year and a half I have seen, heard, and experienced so many things. And there is so much that I wish I could tell you, but there are something's that words can not express. However in this my final email as a missionary I will do my best to try and give y'all a piece of what I have learned.

 

I know that God is my father and that he loves his children. As a missionary you are given the special ability to feel how much God truly loves all of his children. It does not matter who they are, where they come from and what they have done. He is always there and will always love us! I have had the chance to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord. And God has shown me many great things, and many great people. This past week we were out in a small town that we cover named west way. The people that we went to see weren't there and so we were on our way back home. When I got a feeling to go and see our investigators Olga and Eddie. Which meant that we would just stop in unexpected. This is not my favorite thing to do so I tried to tell myself that we would see them later in the week. But again as we were driving down the street I felt it again, this time with the words "You Promised". It seems that every time I try to do my own will and not Gods he reminds me of this. That I promised long ago to do his will, and that it is all that matters in this life. So I turned the car around and we went to there house. while we were there not only did we see Olga and Eddie. But we also met her husband David, who has never been there when we have met with them in the past. He told us that had we come a few minutes later he would have been in bed, and we would have missed him. We had an amazing lesson about our purpose in life, and how much God truly loves us. As we were talking he stopped me and told me that as I was reading the Book of Mormon the pain in his heart stopped. And that he truly felt the Lord, he asked if we knew why it was the he felt that. And I told him that it was the Holy ghost witnessing to him that the words which we spoke were true. He has committed to read the Book of Mormon, and to be there when we meet next Friday. I know that God lives and loves his children.

 

I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet, and that this is the true church of God on the earth today. I have met many people from many different religions. And many have tried to tell me other wise, but they have done so in vain. For I have received a witness from the Lord that they are wrong. This is the one true church of God here upon the earth today. I have been told by many people that they wish that they could save my soul. That I should not listen to the things that I have been brain washed to think. And you all know that I am not going to do any thing just because someone tells me I have to. No I am here and have stayed on my mission because I wanted to. Many people think that it is crazy to 'waste' 18 months of you life to do 'nothing' with your life. So yes to some I am crazy, and have wasted 18 months. But they do not truly see the reason behind why I did this. I have been given these 18 months to learn more of my Savior, and my self. I did not give this time to God because it was not my time to give. Everything that we have has already been given to us from our Father. The only thing that we can give to him that is not already his, is our will and our hearts. I have been trying these past 18 months to give God the only thing that I have to give him. Because life is not about what we want but what the Lord wants.

 

I know that my Redeemer lives, and he knows and loves me. I know that Jesus is my Savior, and the only means by which we can gain eternal life. It is through him that our families can be together forever! It is because of his great sacrifice that I can be cleansed from my sins, and made whole in the eyes of God. I know that we will be with the ones that we love for time and all eternity. That as long as we do the things that we have been asked to do that we will find piece in this life and the life to come. I am so blessed to have this gospel in my life and in the lives of my family. I know that we reap what we sow, that we must treat others the way that we want to be treated. And in the way that Christ would treat them. We are all children of God, and he loves us. So we in turn must love one another.

 

This mission has been the single greatest things that I have every done in my life. I love my Father in Heaven for giving me this chance to serve him with all my heart might mind and strength. I pray that I have been able to do enough in my time here in the Albuquerque New Mexico Mission to possibly repay in some small fraction of a way all the many great blessings that the Lord has given me.

 

 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which I give of him: That he lives!  For I know that Joseph Smith saw him, even on the right hand of God; and heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God. I know that this work will go forward and that all the people of the earth will have the chance to learn of the true gospel of Jesus. I love my Savior and my Father in Heaven more than I have every thought possible. I love y'all so much and pray that I can live my life to make y'all proud! Again I love you and cant wait to see you next week , and next October. By the way mom President and sister Miller gave me permission to hug Makall first! But any way I will see y'all soon!

 

Love always and for the last time

Sister Jenna Sherrilyn Chatwin 

A Missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints       

Canine attack

Hey y'all how are ya doing?!?! I hope that all y'all are doing good, and enjoying the last little bit of summer. Well this week has been fun, we have seen some people and seen the way that gospel affects people. So I actually have a few stories this week! So lets get started!

Story 1 The Tale of the Super Sunday

These past few weeks I have been writing to you about Olga and Eddie. Well this past Saturday we went to there house with a member. And we were able to invite them to church and the member offered to give them a ride. Well they came!!! And they loved it!! We are going tot meet with them again next Saturday! I know that God has truly touched there hearts and that they will one day be baptized!

Story 2 The Tale of the Carnivorous Canine

So this past Saturday we were walking down the street in Canutillo by our house. Ok well back story the people out here do not train there dogs. They just let them do what ever they want and let them wander around the street. I cant tell you how many doors we go up to and the people tell us to watch out for the dog. Because he attacks people.... And they say it like it is a normal everyday thing.

And while most the dogs are little yappy things some of them are huge!!! So needless to say we are very weary about the dogs out her. Well I am sure that you can see where the story is going. So we were walking around trying to talk to people when these two little yappy dogs came out and started yipping at us. The little ones they don't bark they just yip. So this little Chihuahua, and a medium size white mutt came out and tried to scare us. So I just walked normally by and told them hello. Well something in how I said that must have gotten the mutt mad. because he came up and started to follow me. As I continued to walk away he bit my leg!!! Not bad he didn't break the skin but I do have a nice bruise there in the shape of his mouth. I put pictures in the drop box so you can see.

Well that was the week, we had people at church and I got mauled by a little dog. So fun right! Well I love y'all so much and I cant wait to hear from you soon. Love ya!!!!

Love Sister Chatwin

Tale of the Hungry Door

Well family how are y'all doing?! I hope that you are all doing well and that you all know how much I love and miss y'all so much! It is crazy to that my 18 months is almost over! Well this week was ok, not much happened. Well except this morning. So here is my story for the week.

Story 1 The Tale of the Hungry Door

This morning we were doing things the normal way. And we were getting ready to leave and go to the store. Well our front door is very stubborn and does not like to open or close. So you have to pull really hard to open and hard to close. Well this morning the door was be just as stubborn as it usually was. So as I went to close the door I pulled really hard so that it would close. Well it did close but decided to eat my finger while is was at it. My right ring finger got smooched in the door. ​  So the bottom 2 pictures are my make shift band aid, till we went to the store. It hurt so bad and bled a lot, I think that I will loose the nail.  So you cant laugh when I come home with only 9 fingernails ;)

Well that is really the most exciting thing that happened this week. We are still trying to find people but I know that things will turn out alright. I Love yall and will write more this week!!!

Love Sister Chatwin!!

A Slow, Long Week!

Hello Family! How are y'all doing? I hope that you are all having a great week and that you are enjoying the end of the summer:)  Well this week has been long, and slow. But that is ok because I know that things will happen when they are supposed to happen. But I am just trying to work hard and to stay focused. It is crazy to think that in less than a month I will be home!!! time has flown by faster than I could have ever thought possible! I am very blessed that the Lord has given me this time to be close to him. There really is not much to say about the week, we stopped by lots of houses, and no one was home. But we will continue to look for the ones that the Lord has prepared to receive the gospel. But I cant wait to hear from you and to know how things are going! I know that this church is true and the this is the wok of God! I will strive to do my best and to finish strong! I love y'all so much!! Write back soon!

Love sister Chatwin

What an amazing Testimony!

Hello family how are things going? Things here in the west Texas town of el Paso. We have been trying to find people so we are talking to everyone. My new comp is sister England, she is from Mantica California and has about 4 months left. She is a very sweet girl and I am excited to work with her. So this week we taught a total of 1 lesson... Yay! Well that is one person that is brought closer to Christ. So there is really not much to tell about this week. We drove around a lot and walked a lot. We did get a washer and dryer this week so that's good.

The only saving grace that has helped me get through the week is my Savior Jesus Christ. Sister England has a CD that I have fallen in Love with. It is called the "Lamb of God" by Rob Gardner. It is kind of like Savior of the world but it is about Christ Last week. I urge all of you to get this CD (Mom get Makall a copy). It is so amazing and has helped me so much to have an understanding of my Savior that I have never know. There is one point after Peter denies Christ he says,"As Thou hast taken stripes for me,Could I not take but one for Thee?". Christ has done so much for us and all he ask is that we follow him and keep his commandments. After this the Peter speaks of how he can not watch the Savior be Crucified. And this is what he says

'"For I know this Man! I know Him! I know this Man! I cannot watch what He must bear. For surely He must carry all my burden. Forgive me, Lord, that I’m not there…But, when my eyes are closed in death, These words will hang on my last breath: I know Him." 

And this really hit me, how often do we "deny" that we are disciples of our Lord. Maybe not in word but in the things that we leave undone, or when we tolerate things that we know are not right. I have been guilty of this my self when I did not stop someone from taking my Lords name in vain. Or heard talk that was contrary to the things that I believed and know to be true, and say nothing. This is not to be rude to people but to kindly to stand for what we know to be true. There is another song that is called Here is Hope. It is Mary the Mother of Jesus after the Savior is crucified. And this song says this,

 "He who healed our sorrows, Here was bruised and broken. He whose love no end knows Here was forsaken, Left all alone, Here despair cries boldly, Claiming this its vict'ry. Sweeter peace enfolds me: Hope did not die here, But here was given. Here is Hope." 

I realized that this is why we share the gospel, and why I am on a mission. I am here to tell the world that there is hope and that it is through our Savior Jesus Christ! I want to be like Peter and shout to the world, I know Him! And I will forever be in his debt for what he has done for me and you. I came on my mission because I knew that I was supposed to. God had given me so much could I not give him a few months of my life? Over the past 17 months I have realized this it is not me giving this time to the Lord, but him giving it to me. He has given me this time to learn and grow. And to know my Savior more deeply than I had every thought possible. I thought I loved him before but know I can not even think of him with out tears coming to my eyes and the spirit burning in my chest. He is my Savior and yours, the King of Kings, the HOPE and the light of the world. I know that my redeemer lives! And that is why I am here to try and repay but a small portion of the debt that I owe to him. I love Jesus Christ and I know that he loves me. I love you all and have a great week!

Love Sister Chatwin

The tale of Gods great plan of happiness

Surprise its my p-day! And that it because this week is transfers. So here is the news.... I was born here in El Paso and I will die here in El Paso! My comp is getting transferred so I will be getting a new companion. This will be 10 companions and 5 areas for my whole mission. It is so crazy to think that this in my last transfer. I will be home in 6 weeks! I am so excited, but so sad at the same time. This is a great work and I will be very sad to leave it. But I can not wait to see y'all again! I hope that all is going well and that you are enjoying the summer! Well this week has been a pretty good one. We have been blessed to find a new family and they are a great example of member missionary work. So lets get on to the stories of the week!     

Story 1 The tale of Member Missionary work!

The Elders that are serving in the ward next to us told us a few weeks ago that they had found a family who wanted to take the lessons. This family has had many friends that are members, and they have been very good examples. This family is named the Flores family. The have two sons, and have been living here in El Paso for most there lives. They have seen how the members of the church have raised there children and how they are very good people (generally). There oldest son has been going to another ward with some of his friends. And there younger son has been going to scouts with his friends. We met with them yesterday and had a great lesson and they are so prepared for the gospel. They want to see what it is that makes the people so different and how it is that we have such strong faith. This just goes to show that we need to be the best examples that we can be in order to help others come unto the gospel.

Story 2 The tale of Gods great plan of happiness

I have told you about a Olga and Eddie. They are another very prepared family, and we have been seeing them every week for the lasts 3 weeks or so. And every week Olga tells us how happy she is that we come by. This past week she was waiting outside for us to come by, and it is so great for us to see how far they have come! Well this past week we taught them the Plan of Salvation. This is one of my favorite things to teach people! Well this time was no exception, especially when we tell them about  how families can be together forever. Olga told me that in her church they told her that in the next life we will not know our families. That we will not have our families in the next life. And she said that this thought always made her so sad. She thought that heaven would always be with her family. And she was so excited to hear that there would be a way that her and her family would be together forever. I am so grateful for this plan and for a the fact that we can be together as a family forever.

Well that was the week and we are seeing great miracles in our area. I am so excited to see you all in 6 weeks! Have a great week and I cant wait to hear from you soon!

Love Sister Chatwin 

Tale of the Hard Truth

Hello Family! How are you doing? The pictures of baby Liam is so cute! And all the kids look so big!! I cant believe that they are all so grown up now! Well this week has been ok not much has happened. I made y'all a video to make up for the lack of excitement :) I hope that it uploads fast. Because that is really all that I have for you. But I do have another  experience that happened this week. So here is my one and only story.

Story 1 and only the Tale of the Hard Truth

This past week we stopped by a Less actives house. She has not been to church in a few years and her reason is this. She has family members who are struggling with homosexuality. And she says that until the church would change and accept her family she would not return. She cried and asked how the true church of God could shun and hurt those around them. Why would god give this situation to her family if it was not alright. She fells that people with challenges such as this should be accepted in the church and allowed the same privileges that all other members have. Because God made them this way. As you know I am not one to shy away from the truth. So as kindly and plainly as I could I told her that this church will never change. Because this is the church of God, and is run by him not man. She tried to argue that God is perfect, but that the men who run the church are flawed by pride and hate. She says that the scriptures are mistranslated/ mis interpreted. I again tried to tell her that the men who lead and guide the church are not perfect but they do the will of God. And the scriptures are the word of God, and as far as they are translated correctly they are true. I bore my testimony that I know that this church is true and that it is not mans church but Gods. Yet still she tried to tie my words and my testimony. Telling me that I could not know that and asked how I could give 18 months of my life to a church that treats people so badly. She continued to say that I could not know that this was the true church because she has asked and not been given her answer. This is were I get very upset with people. How dare they tell me what I know. How Dare they tell me that I can not know that this church is true. This has been one of the hardest tests of my mission, to be kind yet firm. So I again told her the things that I know . That this Church is TRUE! Thomas S Monson is a PROPHET today. The Book of Mormon is TRUE. This is God church NOT mans. Marriage is between a MAN and a WOMAN ONLY. And there are laws given to all men by God that CAN NOT and WILL NOT be changed. As President Monson said this last conference  

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

 Mark concludes the account with the Savior’s statement: “There is none other commandment greater than these.”

 We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this mortal journey. Likewise, we cannot fully love our fellowmen if we do not love God, the Father‍ of us all."

We need to love the sinner but hate the sin. If we can not then we can not truly love and know God. Elder Holland adds this,

"And what of those who just want to look at sin or touch it from a distance? Jesus said with a flash, if your eye offends you, pluck it out. If your hand offends you, cut it off.12 “I came not to [bring] peace, but a sword,”13 He warned those who thought He spoke only soothing platitudes. No wonder that, sermon after sermon, the local communities “pray[ed] him to depart out of their coasts.”14 No wonder, miracle after miracle, His power was attributed not to God but to the devil.15 It is obvious that the bumper sticker question “What would Jesus do?” will not always bring a popular response."

Jesus clearly understood what many in our modern culture seem to forget: that there is a crucial difference between the commandment to forgive sin (which He had an infinite capacity to do) and the warning against condoning it (which He never ever did even once)."

This is so true! The comment "What would Jesus do?" Has often been posed to me as a missionary. And the truth is it is not always what people think. We still need to love those around us despite what they do. No one is perfect so we need to treat all of Gods children with love. Judge not lest ye be judged. I know that this church is true and that it is run by men of God. The church is not perfect but the Gospel that it teaches is the true word of the Lord. This is the hard truth that the world is struggling to ignore. But we know the truth and we need to share it with the world.  

I love y'all so much and I pray that we can all be kind to those around us. I cant wait to hear from you soon.    

Love Sister Chatwin

Wow how she has grown!

Hello my family!! 

How are you all doing? Congrats to Kate and Kendell
on the birth of baby Liam!!! He is so cute and I cant wait to meet
him!! This week has been kinda slow, we have been trying to see lots
of people but not many have been home. The most exciting thing this
week was a lesson that we had with our investigator Olga. We went to
see her and her son was there and wanted to sit in on the lesson. We
had a great talk about the restoration and Joseph Smith. Olga's son
Eddie was very touched. He said that he felt as if he had learned
something new, but that he somehow remembered what he was learning. We
have committed them to baptism and we hope to see them again this
week. 

Well that really was the week. But I will relay an insight that
I have been given this week. On Thursday while talking to a sister and
we got on the subject of trials. We were talking about a sister that
we both know, and how her life has not been easy in any way. She told
me that she was almost jealous of her in some way. Obviously I was
very confused, and asked what she meant. This sister told me that all
her life she has heard things such as "God will never give you what
you cant handle" or "God gives his toughest challenges to his toughest
children". I have heard these things all my life and have taken great
comfort in these words, as I have had my fair share of hard ships and
trial. So I asked what she meant, and was very surprised in the answer
that she gave to me. She said that these statements were almost unfair
in away. In fact she is not the first person to tell me this on my
mission. I have had the opportunity to talk with many sisters from all
different walks of life while serving as a sister training leader. And
a few brought this concern to me, which was this. There lives have not
been that hard, nor have they had "tough" trials. Some have in fact
said that there lives have been almost perfect. This is not to say
that they have not had hard time but when the hardest thing that you
go through is the break up with your boy friend. It is not really
comparable with the trials that many are called through. All of these
sisters have expressed to me that when they hear that God gives his
toughest trials to his toughest children. They feel depressed in away,
or left out. Meaning that they feel that if God gives his toughest
trials to his toughest children, then what are they. They have asked
if they are just not strong enough to be tryed, or that God does not
trust them to make the tough decisions. This has always perplexed me
because I, and so many others have been on the other end of the
spectrum.


Asking things like why me, will I every find peace. Have I not made enough tough choices? A few months ago Mom sent me a talk by uncle Robert titled, "Allotments and Contentment's" So we read this talk together, and found a few things. First is that God gives everyone the things that they need, no more and no less. For some it is required a little more than others to be the person that God wants us to be.



 That does not mean that those who go through more are better
or stronger than others. It means that they needed to go through there
own trials to be the person who God wants them to be. Probably because
they are stubborn and would not chance any other way ;). Second that
we need to be content with the lives that we have been given. This has
been something that I have been thinking a lot about. I was telling
mom the other week that my mission has been so hard, because it seems
that God puts me in slow area to start them back up and then kick me
out before anyone gets baptized. And my last area had a baptism last
Saturday from someone I found... It has been very hard to be the one
that God puts in the slowest areas to start them back up again. And
right when things start to go better I am put in another place that
needs some TLC. I would wonder if God just did not trust me to help
the people there, or if I just was not good enough to the things that
need to be done in the area. This has been on my mind a lot lately.
But mom said something that puts things in to perspective. To quote
mom she said this. "Well I've been thinking a lot about what you said
in your email from last week, you said that you get to an area that's
dead you work really really hard and finally turn things around and
then are sent to somewhere else and 


you don't get to see all of the
people that you've contacted accept the gospel. Well I decided you are
either really humble or maybe stupid ,just kidding ;) I think it's
awesome that the Lord knows your strength and sends you to the areas
that will give the ward and the missionaries what they need. If he
left you in the area that just started to take off who would be there
to get the next area going." I realized that I was having the same
view as this poor sister. I was almost jealous of the missionaries
that get to see there areas grow. When in reality I should feel
blessed to know that I have the mission that I need. No more and no
less. I have seen many wonderful things and had many miracles happen.
I just need to be content with the mission I have been given. I know
that I will see the reasons behind things someday, but till then I
need to be content with my lots in life.

Well I love y'all so very much and cant wait to hear from you soon.

Love Sister Chatwin

No really nothing happened

Hey how are things going? I hope that all is well and that you are all
enjoying the nice summer heat. Well this week was very slow and
nothing happened. No really nothing happened. No one was home, no one
would talk to us, and it was very hot. The ward is doing ok, but they
are struggling with the dinner policy. I am doing well though and I am
getting very excited to see all of you again. I put lots of pictures
in the drop box! Most of them are from service that we did at an old
air plan museum. We dusted things off and then took pictures. Dad the
Hawaiian shirts are for you ;) But I love you all so much and hope
that you all are having a great week. Sorry for the short Email but
again nothing happened this week. But I know that this next week will
be much better and that we will see lots of miracles! I will be one
for a little while if anyone else. I love y'all so much and cant wait
to hear from you soon!

Love Sister Chatwin

"Spiritual Crocodiles"

Well hello there my family! This has been a great week! We have seen
many miracles and have found a few great people whom the Lord has
prepared! I know that my time as a missionary is drawing to a close
but the Lord has not stopped blessing us with many great things! I
feel truly blessed t have this time to serve the Lord and will miss it
when it is over. So here is the stories of the week!

Story 1 The Tale of the Cholo

This past sunday was a great miracle! Church had just ended and we
were out talking to the ward members. When a member asks us to come
and meet this young man. So we went and met this young man. He was one
of the most interesting people that I have every seen in a church
building. He was covered in tattoos, had saggy pants, and a sideways
hat. He apparently just walked in and wanted to learn more. So we
found an awesome member who was willing to stay after church for a
while and help us teach Kevin. That's the young mans name. Well we
started meeting with him and he said that he was just walking by the
church and felt that he needed to come in and learn more. Well we
found out that he was in the Elders area so last night we had a hand
off lesson. The spirit was so strong and he was so very prepared. Oh
and by the way Cholo means gangster in Spanish. There are lots of them
here. But it is just so amazing to see that God has prepared so many
people who are ready to listen.

Story 2 The Tale of Olga

A few months before I came down back to El Paso the sisters got a
media referral. This is when a person goes on online and asks for a
video or a missionary visit. So we give them a the thing that they
requested and teach them a lesson. So the sisters got a referral from
this lady named Olga. Wanted a finding faith in Christ video. So they
took it to her and set up an appointment, unfortunately she did not
keep the appointment. So when I got here they were still trying to met
her. Well the other day when I was on exchanges ( which I will tell
you about later) they were able to meet her husband and set up a time
that we could come back. So we went back and we were able to watch the
movies with her. And if you haven't had a chance to watch that movie
in a while go watch it. The spirit was so strong and I had a strong
feeling that my savior loves me. He knows me and he wants me to be
like him. I am so grateful that I have a Savior who has done so much
for me. And it is because of this that we will all be together
forever. And Olga was so very touched by the spirit, and also the
member who was with us. She was able to bear such a miraculous
testimony, of her love and knowledge of the savior. We are going to
see Olga again this weekend and I know that she will again be touched
by the spirit.

Story 3 The Tale of Exchanges

On the 4th of July I was able to go on an exchanges with the Spanish
sisters. Makall I wish that I had your Spanish because I did not
understand anything that they said. Ok that's not all true, I was able
to tell kind of what she was teaching but as to the full extent and me
adding any input there was nothing. But we did meet a young man who
spoke English, and he has met with missionaries before in Colorado.
And he said that he has been asking God to tell him what it is that he
needs to do. And then here come two missionaries with an answer to the
questions that he has. I now that God hears our prayers. And that he
will put people in our path to be able to help us answer the things
that we need to know. Oh and for dinner we had grilled cheese... Yeah
with the dinner policy it is hard to get dinners some day's. But I
know that President Miller is inspired man. And if the members of the
church would just have faith and invite there friends and the people
that they loved to just meet us. I know that there hearts would be
softened and they would listen to the spirit of the things that we
have to teach and that there would be many brought to the knowledge of
the truthfulness of the gospel.

Tale 4 The Tale of Why this Email took me 3 hours to write........

Ha so yeah it normally does not take me this long to write to you. But
I have found videos on LDS.org and they are really cool! so I have
been watching them as I write to you. There is one in particular that
I feel that would be good to share. It is called "Spiritual
Crocodiles"

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-06-13-spiritual-crocodiles?category=book-of-mormon/book-of-mormon-presentations

Here is the link and I encourage everyone to watch it. It helps us to
know why it is that we need to listen to the voice of the prophet.

I love y'all so much and I know that this church is true. I love being
a missionary, and I hope that y'all are praying for missionary
opportunity's. Have a great week and I hope tot hear from you soon.

Love Sister Chatwin

Full Circle

Well hello family! Well it looks like I have come full circle...
Literally! It seems that I will start and end my mission down in the
West Texas town of El Paso! So God has a very funny sense of humor. I
am in El Paso for the summers and Santa Fe for the winter. I don't
really think that it is funny... But what can we do. This week has
been pretty good week, again it has been above 110 most days. And we
have been walking around a lot trying to find people. So hopefully I
will come home tan and skinny! Hopefully ;) But now lets get on to
the stories of the week! 

Story 1 The Tale of Sister Garate: 

Sister Garate is my new companion. She is 20, from Nevada, and the
oldest of 8 kids. She has a brother in the MTC who is going to the
Philippines. She can play the piano and the cello. And she is a nerd
like me :) She loves Harry Potter, Zelda, and Music. I am so very
grateful that she is my companion! We have had lots of fun and will
have lots of stories to tell soon!

Story 

2 The Tale of Irene and Sister Sullivan:

We are teaching a lady named Irene. She is a very interesting person,
she is kind of upset at God for something but we don't really know
why. This past week she was asking questions like why God can let
innocent people die and do nothing to help the world. And no matter
what scripture or gospel truth we said she would not open her heart.
Then the member who was with us named Sister Sullivan. Was able to
bare such a powerful testimony and was able to say things that we
could not. This just solidified my testimony in having members with
us! So go out with the missionaries! They need you more than you know!

Well that really has been my week. I hope that y'all are having a
great week and I cant wait to hear from you soon!! 

Love Sister Chatwin

Back "Downin the West Texas Town of El Paso"

Well you wont believe it........... I am........ Back down in the west
Texas Town of El Paso! Hurray!!! Well kinda it is summer after all so
pray that I don't burn. But my new companion is Sister Garate, and I
am excited to get to know her :) 

Also my new address is 

117 Central
Ave #4 Canutillo, 

TX 79835. 

I am so excited for this new transfer and
will do my best to make you all proud. I will also be on for a little
while so if you get this and want to talk I will be here :) Love y'all
so much!!

Love Sister Chatwin

P.S Maybe this time I will teach the gospel to Mexican boys instead of
Girls... never know ;)

Hey Family

Hey so I may or may not have forgotten that it was transfers this
week.... Oops. So I am emailing today! And also I am getting
transferred :( But even though I am very sad to leave this ward I know
that this is what God wants me to do. But this week has been full of
miracles! Aurora is just fantastic! 






She went on line this week to
look up things about the church. And she came to us with a list of
questions that she had found. Most of them were the usual ones about
polygamy and coke. She also found lots of anti things on there too.
But she told us that she could not get Sister Walkers Voice out of her
head. Telling her to remember how she felt and to see if the things
felt good. And she told us that the things on the Internet did not
make her feel the same peace that she felt when we told her the first
vision. I feel so blessed to have had a chance to meet such a
wonderful daughter of God. I feel truly blessed that I have this
chance to serve the Lord. Then we had stake conference and Elder Jones
of the Seventy came and spoke. He did so amazing! He talked all about
3 Nephi and the character of Christ. He spoke of how much the savior
loves and knows us. This topic was especially important to me and
sister Walker. Because the day before we had gone to the house of a
Less active, and she informed us that she was leaving the church. I
can not tell you the pain and sadness that filled my heart when she
told us this. When we asked her why she turned in the Book Of Mormon
to 3 Nephi. And during chapters 6-9 when the cities of the wicked are
destroyed, and the voice of Christ is heard, she told us that that was
not the Christ that she believed in. The Christ she believed in did
not just kill people, and no matter what we said did, or what
scriptures we used she would not open her heart. Even when Sister
Walker gave the promise as a servant of God that if she would go to
Stake Conference Elder Jones 






would Talk about her concern. She still
refused to come, and I as told you that promise was fulfilled. Again
I will never be able to describe the depth of the sorrow and pain that
I felt that day. To know that someone I loved was turning her back on
the Book of Mormon and in turn the Savior (though she believes she is
not) broke my heart. I am not a crier but that day I wept, and had a
glimpse, just a glimpse in to how or Heaven Father feels when we turn
from him. I love this work and I pray that all of you stay true to the
faith. I have seen what it is like for people when they don't have the
spirit with them. And I would not wish that life on anyone. They may
seem happy but you can feel the difference in there lives. I love you
all and will write you soon! And I will try and get you my new
address. Love you!!!!

Love sister Chatwin

Exciting week!

Well this has been a very exciting week! June is almost over and time
just keeps going faster! We have seen many miracles this week, and I
am so grateful for the chance that God has given me to serve him. It
is crazy to think that in 3 months from today I will be home. I am
amazed that it has gone by so fast! But I am still trying to learn and
try to find people who are prepared for the gospel. As always time is
short and so lets get going to the Stories of the week!

Story 1 The Tale of the 


Breakfast

So there is this one less active that we have been trying to see since
I got to this area. And a few weeks ago we finally were able to
contact her. After talking with her she invited us to come to her
house for breakfast. So this past Friday we went to her house, for the
breakfast. It all tasted very good and she made this Egg Mcmuffin
thing on a beagle that had green chilly on it! I love green chilly!
Mom we will have to come back and I will show you what real Mexican
food is! Well any way we had a great lesson and went home. At home
things turned for the worst. I got sick and had to lay down and sleep
for a few hours. We are not sure what is was but we think that is may
have been the large quantities of fatty things. There was tons of
bacon on the beagle which had been toasted with butter, and eggs that
were dripping with cheese. Also apparently the chocolate milk was
whole milk and I did not notice it. But things are better and later
that night we helped a Less active clean her house. So everything
worked out!

Story 2 The Tale of Our Many Miracles Again this week has been so amazing! We have truly seen the hand of the Lord in this work. First off is one with our investigator Aurora. She has been going through some very hard times. But she has recognized that meeting with us has been helping her to feel better. She also knows that is not us who is making things better. Apparently she has told a few of her friends that she is meeting with us. And when anyone says this your heart automatically sinks because this usually means that they are not going to listen to us any more. She said that they started to tell her about how we are terrible people who lie and lure people in with lies. But she has truly felt the spirit wittiness to her heart that we are none of thoughts awful things. She told us that she just stopped listening to them, and that she knows that what we are saying is some thing good and that has helped her. She said that she remembered the time that we shared the Joseph Smith story and the peace and calm that came over her then. She said that she wants to be baptized and to have that peace in her life always!!! I love her so much and I am truly blessed that I get the chance to work with her and her family. And Aurora and her son Miguel are on date for July 12 for baptism! So pray for them! The next miracle was the Begay family. I told you how we felt like we needed to go see her and she was having a bad day. Then she accepted to take the lessons. Well on Sunday night we felt prompted again to go see them. And we find Tina sitting on the stairs, she had apparently just got home from work. so we went in and started talking with her and her husband.

We shared a message about how much Heavenly Father loves them. And Thermun ( Tinas husband) Just started to cry and told us that he wants his family to be together forever. Tina also told us that the first day we stopped by she had been praying for help from God. And that she knows that we are truly the answer to her prayers.She also accepted baptism for July 18! So pray for her also !! Well I have to run but I love y'all so much and will try to make you all proud in the last 3 months of my mission! Have a great week and I cant wait to hear from y'all soon!!! 

 Love Sister Chatwin

SUMMER FUN?

Hello my family! 

Well this has just been a good week. Not much out of
the ordinary just talking and teaching people about Jesus. Um yeah we
have been mostly walking around trying to find people to talk to and
teach. The excitement if having a new person in the ward has kind of
died down. Things have been just a little slower this past week and
lots of our appointments have fallen through. Summer fun seems to
always get in the way of missionary work. But that is ok and I know
that Heavenly Father will be there to help us.


This morning I was reading from the conference ensign, and I read The
Witness By President Boyd K. Packer. And he talks about the things
that are most worth knowing. And that got me thinking, what are the
things that are the most worth knowing for me. Well mostly I know that
Jesus is my savior. I know that I am a child of God. And I know that i
am so grateful for my family ! I love y'all so much! And I miss you
all more than you can even imagine! I know that my emails have been
kind of short lately but that is because nothing has really happened.
Bu I do love you so much!! And I cant wait to see you in less than 100
days!! I cant wait to hear from you all soon!

Love Sister Chatwin

Happy June!

Hello Family! How are y'all doing? I hope that you had a great week
and that you are not melting in the summer heat... Especially Makall.
It is not only hot down there but insanely humid.. Yuck :P Things here
have been hot but not to bad, not nearly as hot as last summer in El
Paso. But I have already gotten my first sun burn of the summer! It is
not even bad but because I am so white everyone thinks that I am
dying. But I am not so dont worry ;) Well this has been a pretty calm
week we have seen a few people and have seen miracles like we always
do. Here are just a few :) 

 Story 1 The Tale of the Man Who Waited

As we were going through former investigators we found a man named
Gerard. It said that he had given up on God long ago but that he was
willing to 


meet with missionaries. We have been trying to see him for
a while with no luck. Till this past week and we actually caught him
at home. He says that God has not made any contact with him in 60
years and that he is just waiting for God to say or do something. That
made me think of D&C 9

"Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give
it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.But,
behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then
you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that
your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is
right."

God is not going to just give us the easy way out. He wants to see how
much we truly want an answer. I told this to Gerard and we gave him a
Book Of Mormon. We will be meeting with him this week and I know that
if he truly wants to know. That God will give him the answer that he
has been waiting for for 60 years. 

Story 2 The Tale of The Coca family

So Aurora and her family are doing so very good! We taught them this
past Thursday and the kids came to mutual again! The are beginning to
see how the gospel can truly bless there family. We are meeting with
them this next Thursday so we hope to help them come to church this
Sunday! Also Aurora is going to go to the scout pack meeting this
Wednesday!! That is such a big step, because she does not like to
leave her house! But I am so grateful that go let us find them!

Well that really was the most exciting parts of my week. We have been
tracting a lot. Because Sister Walker likes it.... I am not that big
of a fan of it. But I know that we need to find people and it is
really the only thing that we can do. Oh well! I love y'all so much
and I hope that you have a great week! And I cant wait to hear from
y'all soon!!

Love ya

Sister Chatwin

Hello Family!

Hello my family!!! 

How are things going? I hope that y'all are loving
the spring weather. How was everyone's memorial day? Did you do
anything fun? We had dinner with a member that was pretty good but
other than that not much was done for the holiday. Things have been
really great this past week, and the Lord has blessed us greatly in
seeing miracles almost everyday! And here are just a few of the
awesome things that have been going on! 

Story 1 The Tale of The Worlds Greatest Temptation 

Ok so this is not so much as spiritual as funny but hey. So the other
day we were going to see a less active and his family. First off it is
a miracle that we even got in in the first place, and second that his
parents were home the second time. Unfortunately the young man we were
there to see was not... He forgot we were coming. And can I just say
that if I had a dollar for every time that someone




forgot we were
coming I would be pretty rich.. Just saying. Well so we go in and they
are watching there grandson, who is watching Frozen. At first they
turned it off, but then the kid got hold of the remote and turned it
back on! It was one of the single most tempting things on my mission!
I could have just turned my head and watched just a little bit. And
also it was really loud and noise, color, and anything that moves
always grabs my attention. Well I did not fall in to temptation, and
we set up another time to see them when they will not be watching
Frozen.

Story 2 The Tale of The Coca Family 

Do you remember that story I told you last week about the little boy
following us around the circle? Well we were able to teach that family
again. They are all so amazing. The two boys went to the Wednesday
activities and loved them, they want to go every week. Well we saw
them them this past Thursday and shared the first lesson with them.
And after I recited the first vision Aurora started to cry. She said
that she was so grateful that God had sent us to them. And she
accepted a baptism date in June! It is amazing to see how that Lord
has prepared so many people to receive the gospel! 

Story 3 The Tale of the Freeks
On my mission 

I have met some very interesting people. In El Paso it
was the Strange family, there last name was strange. And they reminded
my of our extended family... A lot. Well here we have the Freek
family. So I have4 met a Strange family and the Freek family on my
mission. Ha I think it is funny :) Well the Freek family is inactive
and we have been trying to get in and see them forever! Well this past
week we finally caught her at a good time. We were able to talk to her
for almost an hour, and she told us about why she and her family dont
go to church. They are just having lots of problems and dont feel that


they have time for it right now. Sister Walker and I were able to
testify about how we know that the Gospel is the best thing for her
family if they are having a hard time. And I know that that is true. I
have seen it in my life countless times. It like Linda S Reeves said
in this past conference. She said

"A friend recently cautioned, “When you ask the sisters to read the
scriptures and pray more, it stresses them out. They already feel like
they have too much to do.” Brothers and sisters, because I know from
my own experiences, and those of my husband, I must testify of the
blessings of daily scripture study and prayer and weekly family home
evening. These are the very practices that help take away stress, give
direction to our lives, and add protection to our homes."
I know that this is true and I am so grateful that we practiced this
in my home when I was younger. So hopefully she and her family will
again begin to come back to church.

Story 4 The Tale of the Miracle Meeting 

Last night we were driving around trying to fill the last 20 minutes
or so of the day. We tried a few people and they were not home, so we
were driving to one last house to see if anyone would be there. So we
are driving down the road and we see these people just sitting on the
side walk. I was driving so I barely caught a glimpse of them, but I
thought that they looked familiar. And then Sister Walker said that it
was Aurora and her family! So we pull over and talk to them, it is so
crazy that we saw them. Because Aurora said that she was just thinking
about us and that she thought about us a lot the day before! She
apparently got some kind of bad new and she was very depressed. So I
told her what I do when I am depressed, and that is to read the Book
Of Mormon! We had a really good talk about how the gospel and the
scriptures can bring peace to her life. I love when the lord just puts
us where we are supposed to be! It really just reaffirms that the
Church is true!

Well family that was my week! I am sop blessed to be hear in New
Mexico and sad that my time is almost up. But excited to see everyone
again.... And watch Frozen. Ha but I love y'all very 

much and cant
wait to hear from you all soon! 

Love Sister Chatwin

Grasshoppers!

Hello everyone I hope that y'all are having a great week! So what is
everybody up to? I know what Makall is doing, but what about the rest
of you? And Happy Birthday to Avery and Morgan last week!!! Also Happy
Birthday to Dad this week! It is just crazy that it is already may
again. It was really crazy to think that I have less than 4 months
till I see you again! It has been a very good week! And there are
actually stories to tell!! So lets get to them!

Story 1 The Tale of the Egyptian Plague

"Behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast. And they
shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the
earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which
remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which
groweth for you out of the field. 


And they shall fill thy houses, and
the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians;
which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers’ fathers have seen, since
the day that they were upon the earth unto this day." Exodus 10 4-6

I hate bugs! especially if they can fly up and hit me in the face!
Well this past few weeks it seems as if God is pouring out his wrath
on the city of Albuquerque. We have had an insane infestation of grass
hoppers! 


They are EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!! You take a step in the wrong
place, and you have this swarm of grass hoppers flying at your face!
Also you drive down the road and see lots of little rocks in the
road... only they are not rocks it is hundreds of grass hoppers. Dead
and alive! We have been praying that the seagulls that saved the
pioneers will come and save us.Because the other day one flew and
almost got stuck in my hair!! So pray that this plague will be lifted,
believe me it is really nasty! 

Story 2 The Tale of my new Companion!

So as you all know that this past week was transfers! And I got a new
companion! Well she is not really new because I was her STL for a
while. But her name is Sister Walker! She served in White Rock when I
was in Santa Fe. She is the one that I went to that fancy restaurant
with in December of last year. She is such an amazing missionary! She
reminds me a bit of Sister Rose, very committed and consecrated! We
have already seen lots of miracles because of her desire to serve! One
of which I will tell you right about....now! 

Story 3 The Tale of Aurora and her Family

Well Sister Walker loves to go tracting. I have never really liked it
much but she makes it so much fun! The other day we had an appointment
fall through so we started to tract the neighborhood. There were these
three boys playing in the street and they kept following us around the
street. One of the little boys asked us what we were doing. We told
him that we were telling people about Jesus. He then told us that we
should go to his house! And he kept following us till we got to his
house. At which point he jumped off his bike and ran in the house to
get his mom. Well she came to the door and invited us in. We told her
about the message that we share, and asked about her life. She has
been through lots of hard things and has been asking God what she
needs to d o. Also she is worried about her daughter Jovanna, who has
lost of questions about God. We told her that we could probably answer
her and her daughters questions. So she invited us to come back later
in the week. So we did and it was an amazing lesson! Jovanna has lots
of questions about the plan of Salvation and why we are here. So we
talked a little about that and how they could know that this was the
true church. The whole family accepted baptism!! And Aurora has 3 kids
Jovanna who is 13, Frankie who is 12, and Miguel who is 9. Miguel is
also to the one who told us to go and visit his mom. All the kids are
going to the activities tomorrow and we will be going to see them on
Thursday! It just the best to find the people that God has prepared.

Well that was my week and I hope that y'all enjoy the rest of yours. I
hopefully will have time to write everyone letters today so keep an
eye out for them! I love you all so much and pray for you always!!

Love Sister Chatwin