What is happening I'm starting to like Family History

These past 2 weeks have been so nice!

Mostly because of the amount of times I have had to be in the temple! Not just serving there but also being able to go and be a patron and do the work for those that have passed away! It has brought me so much peace and steadiness in my life! And I hope all of you can going to the temple any way you can! Even if it is just going on the temple grounds and feeling the peace and seeing the beauty of the lords house, I know that it will bless your lives!

At Interfaith last week I got to help finish sending out all the Thank you notes that the families who received gifts from the “Adopt a Family” wrote. It was a big job that took the entire day but I was glad that I got to help and get it done!

I didn’t get to go to habitat for humanity last week because this crazy thing happened in San Diego. It rained. And made the job site very hard to work in, so I got the day off.

Family history center was super last week! We have been working on a project Salt Lake gave us to work on called the “yes or no project” which is pretty much pre indexing. This last Wednesday we finally finished a large section of the project- California WW2 draft registration cards! There were over 1,300 sections to look through and make sure they were marked correctly. So we were all pretty excited when we accomplished that!!!

Institute has been so amazing this new semester, I have loved going in depth in the doctrine and covenants. This week we talked about how we can have all things clarified to us with the help of the Holy Ghost! We read in the book of Revelations and got to notice all the symbols that were used and in D&C 77 we got to read about what they all meant! I love learning new things in the gospel and growing my testimony in ways I never thought.

Being on a service mission is hard stuff! The tug of war of being a missionary yet being at home is something that I hope I can one day master but until I become perfect (ha!) I'm just trying to figure out the balance one day at a time. Even with the trials and business of this mission, I am so grateful for it! I am grateful that I get to still be a missionary even with my small mental health trial. Most importantly, I am grateful that I do not have to go through this mission alone and that I can pray to my Father in Heaven and receive guidance on how to orchestrate my days and weeks, so I can more fully follow His Will.

<3

Sister Owsley

Pictures!!!

1. Finished California WW2 “yes or no” project 2. Quick trip= check off another temple... absolutely LOVED this temple

PINK

Hello all!

This week is starting to feel normal again! after some of my assignments being on hold due to the Holidays I am so excited to be able to serve at all of my assignments again!

Interfaith is starting to get back to normal after "Adopt a Family" the toy room is empty (which means they all went to kids who needed them, which makes me happy) and all the decorations are taken down. This week I did office work, inputing hours and checking off thank you notes.

I finally got to be back and serving at Habitat for Humanity after the 2 week holiday break, and man did I miss it. This Tuesday I helped clear out spaces and clean the units that are still being built, organize wood and do some blocking on the frame, needless to say it was a busy day there!

This past Sunday we had mission conference! It was strange to have it on a Sunday but it was super special because we got to have Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles come and visit with us. From the moment he walked into the room you could feel the joy he had, and the entire time he was with us he had a smile on his face. 

Later that night I also got to attend a Temple Worker Devotional with Elder Perkins of the Seventy. My Sabbath was just filled with the Spirit! I am so grateful that I got to hear from these 2 wonderful men and their wives speak and be inspired and uplifted by there messages.

I am so grateful for this gospel. I am grateful for the Saviors atonement, and for the Plan of Happiness. I know that this church is directed by men called by God to help spread the good news of the gospel. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be in the San Diego service mission and to be doing the Lords work by serving other. 

<3

Sister Owsley

Pictures:

1. Temple...beautiful 

2. Habitat beginning of the day (that is why there are no tools in the tool belt DAD)

3. Habitat end of the day - with my 2 new (pink) accessories 

6 Months

Okay I am sorry to anyone who I was talking to 3 months ago saying how my mission felt like forever long. Because wow was I wrong! It is so crazy to think that it was already been 6 months! But what an amazing 6 months it has been!!!

Saturday the 15th I got to up to Camp Wildwood with one of my companions Sister Vargas! That day there were no campers there so we got to start working on a project of building shade awnings! One by the rock climbing wall and one on a tent camping site. We were joined up at the Camp by some new service missionaries, and we all got to pitch in from deciding where to position them to drilling holes and mixing cement. By the end of the day we got all the posts put up and in the ground held up by cement!

Monday the 17th at Interfaith I was in charge of the toy room, and I was pretty excited about that. The whole day I was organizing and receiving donations! But towards the end of the day while taking a short break in my supervisor’s office a case manager walked in and told us a short story of this woman she was talking with right then. She had just had her 2^ndchild a few days prior and was looking to get into a program that helps to provide dippers and baby necessities, but her wallet had just gotten stolen. After hearing that, my supervisor (who is awesome BTW) says I don’t care that she has no form of ID, get that women what she needs and…. We are also going to give her a Christmas. The Case managers eyes lit up and told us that we had to meet this woman so we did and got some information on her 2 kids. She said that her oldest girl loves My Little Pony stuff and then my eyes were the ones that lit up! Earlier that day we had received a donation and one of the toys was a large pack of my little ponies. When we showed it to the mother her eyes were tearing up. I am sure the person who donated that was inspired to get that gift so that this woman’s little girl could get what she wanted for Christmas!

Tuesday at Habitat for Humanity I did a lot of cleaning and organizing (HA I guess it was the theme for the week) around the job site. And more exciting news 3 families were all moved in, and the 4^thfamily was planning on moving in the next day… all before Christmas!!!

Wednesday was a great day at the Family History center! We had a little Christmas party, but we were also working and as I was trying to find some names to take to the temple I came across my Great Grandpas Sister and was researching her and their family. And I just felt so much joy as I was looking through records finding stuff out about her. It was truly a great experience and I cannot wait to get some time and keep searching for information!

Thursday the 20th was a great day at the temple and … was the day I hit my 6-month mark, YAY!

A few weeks ago I got called to be a Sister Training leader. With this assignment I get to go to new missionaries setting aparts. The mission is growing and I have been to a handful already, each one has been so amazing. Just by meeting these new missionaries for the first time I am amazed by there enthusiasm and excitement to serve in this mission and the light of Christ that shines through through them!

These past few weeks have been filled with so many miracles and tender mercies. I am so grateful for all the things I am learning through others on this mission, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and has a Happy New year full of, goal setting and service!

<3

Sister Owsley

PICTURES:

1-2 Camp Wildwood 

3 Temple Lights

4 These are all paintings that the amazing Sister Lee made us at FHC of us with our name tags (and look at the larger picture of all of us that is the Anderson's) SO CUTE

Wonderful

These past 2 weeks have been Wonderful!

Interfaith - Last week I got to help decorate the Nutrition Center for Christmas! It was a blast putting up the tree and hanging ornaments from the ceiling. I also went and served there on Friday. Friday was one of the 3 days that donors that Adopted a Family got to come and drop off the presents. I helped out in the process by helping unload stuff, then marking and packing the gifts in red and green bags, It was so awesome to see the generosity of so many people and organizations. This past Monday I got to organize all the gift/donations that came in that were not for a specific family, just for whoever needs them. I spent the whole day organizing, but being the crazy OCD kinda person that I am came in real handy ;)

Habitat for Humanity - Last week I helped put in headers (for framing). And this week I got to do touch up work because... 3/4 Homeowners hopefully are moving in as I speak!!! The final walk through was Wednesday so I've been crossing my fingers and praying that all went well and they get to move in (especially before the holidays)

Temple - Has been so amazing and busy! Since it is getting closer to Christmas I can definitely tell that there have been more visitors. But also the Christmas lights are beautiful and so fun to go and see at night. It is a great way to go and feel close to the Savior as we celebrate his birth this holiday season.

Family History  - I have loved working on the new project Salt Lake gave us to work on. The "Yes or No" project that helps them put more records into their system. And this week we did something a little different, we went and served! We went and visited 2 people and caroled to them!

Institute - We had an amazing class this week on the Plan of Salvation and D&C 76 I learn something new everyday in that class and am grateful for Brother Peterson and the awesome teacher he is as well as all the preparation!

Mission Conference - Camp Wildwood was on a little bit of a hold this week as we had Mission Conference! This conference was a Temple mission conference. So we met at a nearby Stake center and were taught by some of our mission leaders, we then all got assignments as to what part of the temple we would be in. I absolutely LOVED it. Being in the temple with the missionaries and feeling their love was empowering and I loved being able to worship inside the temple with them!

Setting Apart - I got to attend a new sisters setting apart, Sister Branson's. I am so excited to have her in the mission. She is such a ray of sunshine and is so fun to talk to! She loves the gospel and you can tell by her smile that she is SO excited to serve in this mission.

I am so grateful to be able to serve in this mission. I have seen so much these past 2 week how aware our Heavenly Father is of everyone of His Children. And how serving blesses so many lives!

<3

Sister Owsley

1. Hot chocolate on a rainy day before our temple shift!

2. Adopt a Family donations

3. Mission conference

4. Post mission conference gingerbread house competition 5. Welcoming Sister Barnson to the mission 6. Interfaith- organizing gifts 7. Whole mission a our mission conference last Saturday!

That is really confusing

Hello wonderful family and friends! I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with love of family/ friends and food... lots of food

Sorry it has been so long since an email has gone out... the holiday just messed up my whole schedule!

The week of thanksgiving was such a fun week. The spirit of giving and service was in the air and it has not stopped since! 

At interfaith these past couple of weeks I have gotten to work on the Adopt a Family program that they have. It has been such a blast helping match families with donors as well as see so many people come and donate toys, clothes and blankets to give to those who need them. 

Habitat for Humanity has been fun as well! One week I painted shade awnings that are over the front doors, and this past week I got to help do some more framing as well as move sandbags (I have a new appreciation for all the people who put the bags on the side of the freeway while they are doing construction... man was I sore the next day).

The temple has been such a treat to be in, and serve in. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving all my cousins were here and they all got to come and do baptisms for the dead while I was serving and it was do cool to be there with my extended Family as well and be there when my dad, brother and cousin did the work for my Great Grandpa.

Serving at the Zip Line in Camp Wildwood has been amazing and yesterday being up in the Birds Nest as we call it, in the crisp morning air with a little sprinkle was so cool (and cold).

I got to have one special assignment this past Thursday where some other missionaries and I got to go to the Habitat office and decorate for Christmas! It was tons of fun and such a great experience. The only people that volunteered to help was us missionaries and one other lady. She was putting in her hours because she is a Habitat Home owner (each adult homeowner has to put in so many hours as a down payment on there homes). She told us her story of how she was born in Iraq and the many different countries she has lived in, and trials she has faced, like losing both of her twins after they were born. It was so cool to be able to see her strength of how far she has come from listening to her story.

Lastly I just wanted to say HAPPY DECEMBER I have always loved Christmas time, but there is something about this year and truly feeling the spirit of giving that has already made this holiday season so much better. I invite all of you to participate in the spirit of giving by serving! Whether it is by following the Light the World Calendar or serving in your own way, I know and testify that you will be able to feel the Saviors love for you in a new way, and you will feel peace and joy this Christmas season!

<3

Sister Owsley

p.s. Totally forgot to explain the subject. Before our Thanksgiving Family Reunion I was riding in the Car with my little cousin Hattie who is 6 years old. I had just gotten home from an assignment and had my badge on. She was asking me how I was a missionary and was still at home. After 3-4 minutes of me expelling it to her in the easiest way I could she looks at me and says "That is really confusing" haha I just started dying, but agreed lol

PICTURES :)

1. Painting at Habitat

2-3. Decorating at Habitat

4.Temple with Cousins

Announcement

This week has been one of very few but amazing service assignments!

Last Saturday was a short day at Camp Wildwood. I yet again got to help out with the zip line (and may or may not have brought an extra helper see pic) It was all going smoothly until a young man from a YSA (young single adult) ward that was up there decided to go upside-down on the zip line (which is a huge no no since we only have 1/2 harnesses and it is not safe). The rules are that if someone does that in your group then the zip line gets shut down and no one else from your group is allowed to go down. Sadly he had to learn that his actions has consequences and so we shut the zip line down and ended it for the day.

Due to Veterans Day I did not have assignments Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday was a beautiful day at the temple and we had a great Institute class that night.

This week we had Family History on Thursday and were excused from all of our other assignments. We got to have 2 men visiting from the Service mission department in Salt Lake. They came to observe and learn about what we do in Family History and the new project we were given to work on! I also got to be in a little meeting with them where they asked us questions and we gave some feedback on how to make Service missions more successful. 

During the beginning devotional for Family History, Elder Bramwell (My mission leader) announced to us what we have all been waiting to hear, that the First Presidency will be sending out a letter to church leadership announcing Service missions TOMORROW! Oh was my heart so happy. We have been told for so long that it was going to be announced "in a few short weeks", but hearing that it was happening, and on Friday seeing the announcement was so exciting and I cannot wait to see how it will bless so many others!

If you missed the announcement here is the link to the article on it!

https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-changes-recommendation-process-young-missionaries

Have a great Thanksgiving ya'll!

Sister Owsley

Pics:

1. Brought my brother to help out at Wildwood :)

2 & 3. Family History with our visitors Brother Chandler and Brother Williams 

I built a shed

Hello Friends and Family! I hope everyone had a great week.

Monday at Interfaith I put in all the volunteer hours into our database, let me tell ya there are a lot of volunteers and this took me the entire day, but I definitely felt accomplished when I was done. 

Today (Friday) I got to go to a NCPC (North County Philanthropy Council) Volunteer Award luncheon. This sweet family that has been volunteering at interfaith for around 12 years working in the Soup Kitchen received the award. There were probably about 98 different organizations that gave out awards. It was such a cool event to go to and you just feel so good leaving the luncheon knowing how many people are doing so much good in the community.

Tuesday at Habitat for Humanity I helped build a shed. It was awesome I helped with some framing, put up the plywood, built some shelves and started on the door!

Wednesday I may or may not have spent the day at the 2nd happiest place on earth, but don't worry because I spent Thursday at the #1 Happiest Place on Earth! :)

I have loved taking part in The prophets challenge that he gave to all the women at General Conference to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year and mark verses about Jesus Christ. While doing this I came upon Alma 5:61 which talks about how Christ is our Shepherd, and we are His Sheep. As we listen to His guidance through the Holy Ghost, He will always protect us... from any ravenous wolf. I encourage you all to go back through your notes or through talks from this past general conference to remind yourself what you can be doing to follow the prophets council!

<3

Sister Owsley

Pictures:

1. The shed

2. Me with on the "Spirit of Giving" interfaith Newsletter with a donor who with her company prepared 100 sack lunches for the homeless

3. & 4. Photo booth pictures from the NCPC luncheon