The Ishees in Biloxi

25 July 2016

The Ishees went down to Biloxi to visit Markee and Sister Rose today.  I was tagged in this post from Doodle -

And larger sized photos -

True Markee form. :D

This has been quite a week.

My dear family and friends.

Let me tell you about it.

I spent p-day at the mall. We went to Hot Topic and Sister Rose bought me a present! (Awww! so sweet!) also Hot topic has a lot of Little Prince stuff so if you like the Little Prince (mom and sister Olsen) you should go check it out!

Then we went to Books-a-million and spent the rest of P-day there!

It was glorious! 

Then we had dinner with the Chavez family, who are super cool! They love Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. All the good stuff!

Also they live on base so I finally got to see what base looks like!

We had lunch with Dede and her Nana! I love Dede so much and her Nana is hilarious! Then we went to the DMV because Sis Rose turned 21 and needs a new license 

This was our 2nd time there.

The 1st time didn't go so well because there was a creep who was being very contentious. 

Made me very uncomfortable. 

Well this time we find out that Sis Rose doesn't have the correct papers or whatever and so we had to find/go to the courthouse so Sis Rose could register to vote for a proper proof of address. 

DMV part 3: The Call to Idaho

The next day we went back out to the DMV. This time Sis Rose had everything she needed but this time I guess she had a situation in Idaho and had to call them to fix that. Well that is fixed now.

BUT now we have to wait some more....

So stay tuned for DMV part 4!

Oh also we had the Zone Leaders with us for District Meeting. I kind of knew Elder Smith before from Monroe Zone, so I know he was awesome....and he is Canadian. Elder Bennett is a fellow Dovahkin so yeah. We are best friends!

Yesterday after church (which by the way we had to sing in Sacrament Meeting as missionaries it was awesome but we were informed last minute.)

we had dinner with the Perkes(bishop's family) and the Robinsons(senior couple) 

Well anyway  dinner was fantastic and Issac Perkes is ALSO A DOVAHKIN, AND WE LIKE BETRAYAL IN THE HOUSE ON THE HILL!!!!

All these Skyrim fans are great!

I love it!

I am growing to love Biloxi!

Now I got to go have fun with the Ishees who came to visit! :)

BIRTHDAY STUFF!!

Diane loves me! Thank you!

bleh ugly picture but there is the ocean!

Photo bomb!

ocean and light house

China proposed!!! (I ordered a Galadriel ring for her and it came from China with no note with it. Oops)

I owe Dede Gara big time!

Another visit from someone who is turning into a best friend; I sure love this woman and appreciate the love she shows Markee -

I will travel across the land searching far and wide

I am slowly getting to know the members here.....very slowly, but they have all been awesome!

We had dinner with a couple of them this week.

Ah, dinner appointments....so awkward.

I mean how awkward would you feel if you just moved to a new area and the previous companionship were invited to eat dinner with someone, but then transfers happen and so they get you instead. 

Welcome to missionary life!

The 1st meal appointment this week was with the Mylers. 

Bro Myler is in the air force (like everyone else in this ward), Sis Myler just had a baby (like everyone in this ward), her parents and brother were there helping with the new baby too.

Anyway, Bro Myler told us all about the new Pokemon Go game, and we talked about how it would be a good finding tool! We just have to find the hotspots (which Bro Myler would tell us where they are) and go talk to the trainers there. 

We even know how we are going to approach them! Our new how to begin teaching point is:

"Do you want to be the very best, like no one ever was?" BAM! Teach Restoration!

It will be perfect! THANKS POKEMON!!

The 2nd meal appointment was with the Lethcos. Bro Lethco is also in the air force, and to be honest I don't know what Sis Lethco does.

Well it was Cow Appreciation day at Chik-fil-a, so we and the Lethcos dressed up like cows and got our entrees free!!! I love free food!!

So that happened....it was awesome! Not many sisters can say that they dressed up like a cow for a dinner appointment!

We had Zone Training Meeting on Wednesday so we got to see everyone in the zone! That's always fun! I finally got to meet Sis Golder!

She is the sister that everyone in El Dorado LOVED!

I can see why! She is freaking hilarious!

Oh and in case you were wondering, I am in another car share but in this one we walk/bike 1 week and then we have the car for 2 weeks. Actually not anymore because Elder Ah Ching went home this Sunday :( so now we are in a full car! :D

Anyway we WERE walking/biking this week....actually my bike is out of commission sooo just walking for us.

NOW TO THE PART YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!!!

 I don't know about you but I'm feeling 22!

....I can't tell you how many people have sung that to me....

For my birthday we went and hung out at Beth's. We read from the Book of Mormon with her and talked about what we read.

She called me smart. 10 POINTS TO RAVENCLAW!

Then we visited a potential investigator, who talked to us all about speaking in tongues and what not. But hey, he came to church on Sunday and has expressed his desire to go into the temple! YES!

Oh Elders Smith and Bennett (the zone leaders) called me in the morning and sang me Happy Birthday and then we sang to Elder Bennett because we share a birthday! 

THEN later in the evening President and Sister Olson called and wished me a Happy Birthday. I felt special because they usually don't do that, but I also told Pres about my bday in the last interviews....

THEN after that Elder Paxton and Elder Ahanonu came and gave me birthday treats. :)

It was a good birthday!

On Friday it was a recent convert's birthday! 

I know, it was a week of birthdays!

So the recent convert's name is Vinny and he goes to the Gulfport ward but he works in our area. He works in the mall at Hot Topic!! The Zone Leaders, who work in Gulfport, asked us to go visit him and wish him happy birthday!

We hurried to finish weekly planning then we ran to the mall! 

We hung out in Hot Topic with Vinny for an hour or two....and I might have browsed....

Vinny is awesome and loves the gospel! He really brightens that store up! Also he gave us some cookie cake. It was delicious!

After we left the mall we walked along the beach to get to Beth's house, and we had dinner there!

On Sunday we had 4 investigators at church!!!! That was super awesome! Also we taught the 16-17 yr olds and that was fun. Also there was some missionary work going on because Sidney and Kee came with us and some of the young men helped answering any questions they had!!! 

Yay! 

That was all! It was a pretty good week! I liked it!

Now for pictures!

(I'm excited about one of them! Nico and Erik will love it!)

the district! me, sis rose, elder ahanonu, elder paxton, elder hughes, elder ah ching, elder tenifa, and elder roberts

And again, new angle :)

this is me and Sister Rose and Elders Davis and Ah Ching

me and Elder Ah ching!

me and Sister Conder and the awkward hug picture

Elder Ah Ching was awesome!

AHHHH I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!! IT'S ME AND THE DOVAHKIN (Dragonborn for all those muggles out there) I was so freaking excited about this!!!!!!!

I love these treasures!

Petal Ward members and Facebook for the win!  Dede Gara was in Biloxi for the weekend and posted this today -

This is Dede's Nana 

 Leslie Randall Jones Thank you, Dede! I'm sure you were a welcome sight to my cute girl! It's that your Nana in the picture?

Dede Gara Yes ma'am. She's already talking about taking them out to lunch for a girls day. She's going to love them to pieces! They're so amazing for spending their time with her for me!

Leslie Randall Jones How fun! I'm glad they can spend time with her when you are away!

Dede Gara Me too! It's a major blessing. She gets so lonely since I've moved away. I'm the only one who goes to see her regularly unfortunately.

Biloxi

Life on the coast has been good. 

I am actually really close to the beach but I can't see it because of the trees. So many trees!

Most of the ward here consist of military people and their families. We also, once I get a base pass, go to the military branch on Sundays. I can't wait for that. I haven't served in a branch yet but I know I love small wards. They feel more like a family!

We had a good week. I have met a couple families in the ward. They have been very nice to me and I know that I will come to love here. I will do a lot of growing here I can feel it. 

I have met a couple investigator but it has been a pretty slow week and people tend to not be home when they say they will be. 

The most promising investigator is Beth Caston. She, I guess, was baptized when she was 8 but the church can't find her records at all. Beth isn't gonna let that stand in her way though, she has decided to just be baptized again. They have searched and searched for her records and have found nothing. 

She has some things to work through but I know that she isn't going to let anything stop her! She is awesome and she loves the Book of Mormon and the Gospel! 

"is that the ocean?"

"THAT'S THE OCEAN!"

Me, Elder Hughes, and Sister Rose isn't paying attention....

my district literally consists of all elders. That means it's going to be fun!

Excerpt from Sister Rose's blog post this week - 

Happy Tuesday morning to everyone! It's a hot, sunny day in Biloxi, Mississippi. We are enjoying this beautiful summertime on the coast and adjusting to the changes of a new transfer. 

Who is this "we" of which I speak, you may ask? Why, none other than Sister Rose and Sister Jones! My new companion! 

Sister Jones comes from Utah. She and I are basically the same person, which makes proselyting all the more enjoyable. She has a deep love for those she serves, and she has the sweetest Spirit about her. She beams positivity and light, and she's already touching the lives of those in Biloxi. 

I am a sad person

I am pretty sad because I have been transferred! 

6 weeks is not a long time especially when you love the area that you are in. Sister Williams is also being transferred. They have a lot of new missionaries coming in, sisters in particular, and they need places to train them and since Petal is a wonderful place to be they chose to move us.

Oh well, it will be great here! I will make the most of it!

Heavenly Father wants me here so I will be happy because he knows what is best for me.

I will miss Petal and all the members there. They have all blessed my life in great ways and I definitely want to go back there!

So sorry it was been so long. I didn't email on the 4th and yesterday was transfer day. 

We had the best last weekend! On Sunday night we went to the train station and took pictures of the Petal missionaries and then Monday we had a district p-day!

I know that y'all have already seen what happened for the 4th but let me just tell you that that was the funnest p-day EVER! We had a blast! 

Also our team won in Slip-n-slide kickball. 

Then we had dinner with the Ishees, and then said goodbye. It was sad.

Also Sunday when we said goodbye to Joel was the saddest thing I have ever done. It broke my heart!

Transfers came and Sister Williams went to Shreveport and I kind of chilled at Hattiesburg until the transfer van to.....Drumroll please....................................................Gulfport! I am now in Biloxi!

Go ahead look it up and see how close I am to the ocean and be jealous! ;)

I am with Sister Rose from Colorado and she is awesome!

I have been really blessed to have great companions!

So while waiting some things happened. First of all and worst of all; I got eaten by ants and now I am feeling miserable about that! My feet are swollen and itchy and gross. I hate it! Ants down here are vicious! 

Second and saddest of all; I texted Joel one last time! He is the sweetest!

When I got to Biloxi Sister Rose and I discovered that we are going to be great friends! We also had dinner with the Ward Mission Leader here, Brother Davis. He is cool. I don't know much about him yet. 

my district Malmstrom, brinton, me, william, saunders, and scott

giant beetle!

Sister Haley's kids (Elise, Gabriel, and Madlyn)

Sister Williams, Kaycee Hill, and me

me and the ishees - mama ishee, Doodle, me, sissy, and jj

me and doodle

I love doodle

The petal missionaries - Malmstrom, Williams, me, Brinton!

Transfer day . . . still waiting for news . . .

Still waiting for news about where Markee is going, but here are pictures that Shanna Ishee took this morning (I believe).  **Actually Markee told me that these were taken Sunday night. :)**

This post broke my heart this morning as I remembered saying goodbye to Markee myself -