July 24, 2013 Transfer day!!!

July 24, 2013

Transfer day!!!

Sister Croese and I stayed together, and we're still in DC 2nd YSA! We unfortunately don't live in the District anymore, instead we live 5 minutes from the temple with 1/2 the mission. So that's kind of cool. Oh, and I'm training another Sister!! Yep, 2 trainees at once!! Introducing Sister Jorgenson! She's so cool :) She's actually here until she can get her visa for Brazil, but I still have her for 2 transfers (hopefully)! She's from Virginia, and super sweet! I'm such a blessed missionary! Oh, and I'm also the Visitor Center Area trainer. So really I just help train the sisters in the Visitors Center and help with exchanges... But I'm not a full Visitors Center trainer (thank goodness). So I have a lot on my plate right now! We'll see how this all goes :) But I'm super, super excited and happy! I LOVE being a missionary! It's the best thing ever!

First of all, happy birthday to my wonderful mother!!!! I know I'm super late on that, so please forgive me! But I love you so much! I wish I could've been there to celebrate with you! And you're a business owner??? WHAT!!!!! That's so cool! Congratulations! AH!!!!

Second, congratulations to Cesar and Jessie!!! College graduates!!! Ah! I'm so proud of both of you!! I love you so much! (PS. I may or may not have cried when I saw Jess in her cap and gown...)

This week hasn't been too interesting... Sunday night was the Why I believe fireside where the Cooke's spoke! They both had great talks and they have wonderful testimonies :) I loved listening to them :) Also, they had a missionary chorus sing a medley of missionary themed primary songs, ha, and we may or may not have been in it... (You'll get a video of that soon). We dropped Jeweleon and Antuan because there wasn't any form of progression there :( It's sad to drop people, but sometimes you have to drop them to make room for those that are truly prepared. Amora is great! Still as funny as ever :) We're trying to meet with her soon (like this weekend), so I'll update you next week. Then there is this other girl named Hannah who asked to come to church with some friends. Obviously her friends said yes and they brought her to our ward! She seemed to enjoy church, and we have an appointment with her later this week! Again, look for that next week! Other than that, we just need prayers for our finding efforts, haha. We need investigators!!! But, our recent converts are great! Jocelyn and Jordan are the greatest people ever and I love them so much! I don't want Jocelyn to go back to Idaho :) We did have some sweet thunderstorms this week though! That was cool! I have missed these good summer thunderstorms!

I can't really remember what else is going on... Or has gone on... My brain is still kind of a mess because of this surprise training opportunity thing. Please forgive me :) But! I love you all! Thank you so much for everything!! You are all so great! Have a great week! Remember that the Lord loves you, and so do I!

Love, Sister Bullock

July 17, 2013 We're having a Heatwave!

Good morning :)

This week has been HOT. And really humid. But very awesome at the same time! The Lord has truly blessed us in several ways :) From food, to solid contacts, to straight up miracles. Let's start with food! 

We are being fed SO much by our ward! It's great for our budget... Not so great for our waistlines, haha. But still a huge blessing :) Every dinner we've gone to has sent us home with left overs. We haven't had to buy more than milk and bread for the past 2 p-days. It has been awesome! And, an extra special treat for Sister Croese- We were fed a Dutch dish :) She was so excited! [There is a guy in our ward that served in the Netherlands, so he speaks Dutch with her every chance he gets, and made her Dutch food. She was in Heaven!]

Solid contacts is a bit of a longer story. It all starts with a car... Or the lack of a car. Because our cars are not actually ours, but the missions, we are supposed to take care of them. But there had been 7 accidents in 2 weeks! So the mission president along with the head car guy decided that we needed to have a "car fast". Which meant no use of the car for 2 days! In the middle of the summer. In the middle of a heat wave. It. Was. Awesome. We were able to talk to 175 people in those 2 days because we were out and about with them. We were on metro trains, on the bus, and on the streets (trying to get to places and appointments), so we had so many opportunities to talk to people! One of my favorites was on a bus. This girl was so sweet, haha. She saw the Book of Mormon is Sister Croese's hand and asked, "Are you a Mormon?" Sister Croese, "...Yes" "Can you tell me about it??" '... ... Yes!" Oh my goodness, it was funny. It was shocking to actually have someone want to talk about religion... And actually listen to what we had to say :) It was also fun to watch Sister Croese light up! But, since our area is essentially half the mission, it is not practical or efficient to do this everyday (plus, I don't think my feet could handle it...) Great experience though!

Straight up miracles... There have been a lot of them. But my favorite was from the Visitors Center this week. Heavenly Father sent me an angel! Not but really, he sent me a member who randomly came in, walked past the greeting sister, sat next to me and shared the scripture that I really needed right at that moment (D&C 84:80).[ 80 And any man that shall go and preach this ^agospel of the kingdom, and fail not to continue ^bfaithful in all things, shall not be weary in mind, neither darkened, neither in body, limb, nor joint; and a ^chair of his head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed. And they shall not go hungry, neither athirst.]

It was amazing! I know I'm supposed to be the one doing that for the member, but it was nice to see that Heavenly Father still takes care of those who are charged with the care of others :) Also, Heavenly Father gave us a lot of unexpected people at church this Sunday! It was great! We are teaching them now :) Hooray for investigators!

 Okay... Really it's only one new investigator, but it's still better than what we had! I'll keep you updated on that progress :) 

Also! Another miracle! Aunt Sheree sent me a skirt and a sweater. And they both fit perfectly! And they were just in time because I really didn't want to wear my old clothes anymore, haha. (Thank you Aunt Sheree! I love the skirt! You are a great guesser of size! It's perfect!)

Can I just say how much I love my companion? She's pretty much one of best companions ever :) We get along so well, and think so much alike... In some ways. But she's bringing life back into my mission and I love it! 6 more weeks of awesomeness? Yes, please!

I love life, I love my mission, I love my companion, I love this gospel, but most importantly, I love my Savior. And I know He loves me, too! I'm so grateful for this opportunity to serve- To help others know that they are loved with a love that cannot be produced on this Earth... It's much greater than that! 

I love and miss you all! Thank you for your support! I'll see you soon!

Love, Sister Bullock

Bags full of water balloons for a zone activity

Dinner with Jocelyn

A card Sister Bullock made for Sister Croese's relatives

Letter dated July 10, 2013.....the 4th and more

HI!!!

Because I know you're all dying to hear about the 4th, I'll start with that ;) The 4th was amazing! We went down to the mall at 7am (we didn't do sunrise because the trains didn't run until 7... and we didn't want to walk!) and played soccer and football and Frisbee with some of the sisters. 

Then we went over to the Smithsonian castle (because it was the only open thing that day) and looked around there a bit.

Smithsonian Castle

National Archives  Building

At 10 am, we went and sat outside the National Archives building and listened to some speakers and important people talk, and then they read the Declaration of Independence! That was so cool! Well, for a history nerd like me it was cool. The foreigners in our group kind of didn't care as much as we did... but that's okay. So they mostly stuck together while us 'Mericans celebrated! (missionary style.)

After the reading, we stuck around and held our place so we could see the parade! I had my first hot dog from an street vendor! It was glorious and tasty! And the parade was really fun. I took way too many pictures that  no one will ever want to look at, but that's okay right? :) 

After the parade, Sister Smith, Sister Truman, Sister Croese and I went to Shake Shack and had the most glorious shakes and burgers :) 

All day we talked to members haha. but we did have some opportunities to share the gospel, too! One of them was really funny! We handed him a temple card, and he was like "Oh! I have GOT a story for you! I have got a STORY for you!" And then he told us about this one night he had seen the temple off the Beltway and decided to go see it. So he's like, "So I walked through those big doors, and there's this man behind a desk and he's in all white! EVERYTHING was white! Even his hair!" Haha, we were all laughing so hard! Just the way he was telling us the story was great :)

Then we went and did p-day things that we needed to get done, and Sister Croese really needed to sleep, so I let her do that for awhile. Then we went to the Burnhams apartment! The rumor is that every senior couple that has ever lived in that apartment for the 4th has always had the sisters over for a party and to watch the fireworks. So we went over, had some fun... And then we heard the fireworks... But there was one tree in all the tree line that was taller than the rest and that is where the fireworks were. But, oh well. It was still fun! And that is how the missionaries do DC for the 4th :)

Time is seriously FLYING. I can't believe how fast it's going! This week has been a good one :) We are very blessed! We have been really focusing on being exactly obedient this transfer and we are seeing miracles! We have referrals pouring into our area! And they all seem pretty solid! Jeweleon and Antuan are still pretty cool to talk to, but I don't think that they are ready to progress much. We'll see though. hopefully I'm wrong. Then there is another girl (Amora) that we're really hoping to start teaching this week! We just need to figure out our schedules! She's so fun and so sweet! She's a friend of a girl in the ward. I love working with members!! It's seriously the best way to find good, solid people! 

Sister Croese is still amazing! I love being with her so much! She reminds me to breathe and take a moment to have fun... And I remind her not to sing some certain worldly songs haha. We make a great team. But really, our companionship unity is great! I love teaching with her :) Best companionship ever!

Ps. the heat and humidity really isn't that bad. I think I'll survive. As long as the fireflies stick around. I love catching them every evening with my companion (and whoever else is with us)!

Today has been a pretty good day :) We had zone activity! And our activity today was a giant (seriously it was massive) water balloon fight! We had over 25,000 water balloons! And so I'm trying to dry off as I write this email. I am soaked. Recently I've become good friends with the ASL Elders... So they decided it would be funny to gang us on me and drench me. Mission accomplished, boys. It was so much fun!!

I'm trying to think if I have anything else to say... Mostly just that I love you all and miss you terribly. But I know that this Church is the true Church of Jesus Christ. His gospel has been restored to the Earth in it's fullness. And I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to be out here sharing my testimony with everyone I see. This is the best thing I could be doing right now, and I love it. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! 

Thank you again for all your love and support. I love you, I love you, I love you!

Love, Sister Bullock

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Canada day/ 4th of July week!!!

I can't believe I'm in the capital for the 4th! This is a dream come true!! Have I died and gone to Heaven? Some body pinch my, quick! :)

I'm really excited for the 4th! (If you couldn't tell) And it's Sister Croese's first experience with the 4th! It'll be so fun! We'll spend most of the day tomorrow downtown. It's an all day p-day, so we can take our time :) YAY (today-Wednesday-is not p-day, but because nothing will be open tomorrow, they gave us permission to email today!) So we'll go down there and play with the Sisters (and hopefully not pass out from the heat) and then we'll go to the ward bbq, get the rest of our p-day stuff done and then go to the Burnhams (a senior VC couple) apartment to watch the fireworks. yeah, President Cooke said no mall after 6, but he gave us an extended curfew so we could see the show, so I'm happy :) Tomorrow will be a great day! I hope everyone stays safe (you better!)

Our week has been great! We have had a lot of fun! We found a few potential investigators so hopefully they will start progressing :) Jocelyn and Jordan went to the temple to do baptisms  last Thursday and they both LOVED it! We were so happy and so proud of them! They're both doing well and progressing! They are soaking up the gospel like sponges! :) 

Sister Croese is so great! I love her so much! I really think she came pre-trained and that she was meant to train me! I've learned to just follow all her promptings or ideas, because they usually lead to miracles or learning experiences! Yay! And she's so funny :) We are constantly laughing! There isn't a day that goes by that we don't laugh together! She's so wonderful :) Heavenly Father has been so kind to me in the way of companions! 

Training is so much fun! Sometimes, it doesn't even feel like work. The best part of training is of course my awesome companion! And getting a fresh view of the work through her! The worst part of training... Is there any bad point? I don't know! Maybe it's the fact that I have to correct things sometimes? But that rarely (if ever) happens! I love being a missionary!!

We met President and Sister Cooke (along with Joe and Elizabeth) yesterday! They are such wonderful people! I can just tell that they will be perfect for the mission! I can see already how much President Cooke will really become like the father of our mission :) He's so kind and loving! It'll be really fun to serve with them! Heavenly Father definitely knows what He is doing! :) (Side note: the Walkenhorsts area officially serving in OK now! I wonder how they are doing!)

OH! I forgot to include this funny little fact for you last week :) We discovered a new voice on my GPS. His name is Dave. He is HILARIOUS! He'll give us directions with snide comments or funny remarks, or even songs sometimes! He's the best and we love him so much :) the best way to get around downtown DC without going nuts is to bring Dave with you :) And he gives you a good excuse to just laugh and relax for a second!

Well, time is up. Thank you all so much for everything :) I love you and I miss you all! I know the Lord is with us, and all we need is to rely on Him :) (2 Nephi 4:34)

2Nephi 4:34

34 O Lord, I have ^atrusted in thee, and I will ^btrust in thee forever. I will not put my ^ctrust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his ^dtrust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU!

Love, Sister Bullock

PS. BEING A MISSIONARY IS THE BEST!