Last 30 Days as a Missionary in DC South

We are going to a Memorial Day breakfast and then hiking in Great Falls so I won't actually be on until this after noon at maybe one or two my time. But here's this:

ONE MONTH LEFT



😍 
(heart face emoticon)

I've literally got thirty days starting tomorrow. 
I'm so stoked guys.
June 26th is gonna be a party. 
Let's get Swig drinks 
and climb the Red Rock mountains
Or something.
I can't wait to be in St. George.
I stinking love that place.

*heart emoji*

This week we went fishing with Josh! And guess how many fish I caught? Fourteen! I have a new talent. Basically everything in our trio is a competition. So I'm the new fishing master. Sister Eaton dominates at Uno and Stewart dominates at.... Corn hole. Don't ask we had a BBQ with our neighbors and they are super into that game. It was Lolz.

There are a ton of ticks out right now. Honestly my biggest goal in life is to come home without contriving Lyme's disease in the last four weeks of my mission. 

Also the humidity is making my skin do crazy things. I hope it adjusts back quickly to the dry heat and doesn't like... Dry up and fall off. #issues

This week we have done a TON of finding new investigators. A TON OF IT. We have met some pretty cool people we are going to start teaching. One cool thing about a trio though is when we go tracking we will bring Caleigh  (a laurel) with us and my companions will go tract and me and Caleigh will go tract. So we are covering way more ground in the same amount of time and meeting way more people. Our goal is to have 8-10 PROGRESSING investigators by the end of the transfer, and two more baptisms here in Fort Belvoir. It's also beneficial because Caleigh wants to go on a mission so it's like pre-mission training with Stucki ;) 

It's a pretty sweet idea.
Win win all around.

We have started teaching B's 16 year old sister.  She is praying about baptism and wants to be baptized at the end of June. She is a cool girl. B of course is at the lessons and she's a Rock star. She already has her scripture mastery down and just spouts out scriptures during the lesson. It's sweet! I didn't even ever memorize those things. I'm incredibly impressed with her growth and testimony of the gospel already. It hasn't even been a month since she's been baptized. It's incredible! She's an amazing example to her sister.  They are the cutest. We are excited to have them both in laurels. They make up 2 of the 3 laurels in the laurel class. Wahoo.

Josh is doing really good too. He's working towards doing family history and going to do baptisms for ancestors at the temple. He also REALLY wants a calling (especially in Boy Scouts) all he talks about is serving in the church so hopefully Bishop gets that done soon because he's stoked about it. He would rock Boy Scouts too. He's such a boy. 

We had a sweet lesson about the gospel of Jesus Christ at the S. home with him. We each prepared a topic (faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, enduring to the end) to share with everyone for the lesson. We asked Josh to prepare to share about the Holy Ghost. He came with a notebook and scriptures and everything. Scriptures I NEVER SHARED  with him.  Go figure. He is awesome. He bore powerful testimony of the spirit in his life and how it changed him. He talked about how when he wasn't following Gods law, he didn't feel the spirit and began to doubt Gods existence, but God didn't forget him and eventually he made his way back. It was sweet.  He started to tear up a bit. Dang. 

There's hardly anything more cool than seeing a recent convert preach it.
I love this whole "missionary" thing, where else do you get to be a part of this stuff?
If you know where, Sign me up for it.

We are keeping super busy here. Thank goodness. We are doing tons and tons of less active work as well. There's probably like six hundred names on our ward list but at church on Sunday there's maybe 250 people. So that just gives you a little ratio of how much work we have to do. 
Fort Belvoir is a busy busy place.

For Memorial Day we are having a breakfast at the church at eight thirty in the morning and everyone is invited. After Sister Eaton, B. C. I.& I are going to Great Falls to go hiking. It's a beautiful hike in the McLean area with huge waterfalls. I will send pictures next week. We are stoked. Sister Stewart is going to the temple with some other people. It's nice having a trio because it's easy to split up with other Sisters and Etc.

Other than that it's pretty lame. Haha.
I've never been a fan of working in threes.
Even in elementary school.
*Barf*

ANYHOW

I came across this grand old scripture in Jacob this week. It says:

"Seek not to council the Lord, but to take council from his hands."

Jacob 4:10

So often, especially in my personal prayers, I tend to focus more on what I want and need and think and believe rather than aligning my will with Gods will. He probably Lolz at me all the time because in reality he has the best plan. 

Kind of like this whole serving a mission thing, it wasn't my plan at all. But it was definitely the best plan. And each of the areas I've served in, were definitely Gods plan not mine. But I'm so grateful because each of the areas I have served in and each of the individuals I have served with have helped me grow and learn something new and something different.

Things I would never have learned had I not come out here and served. I'm really grateful for Gods infinite wisdom and council. It's hard to recognize it sometimes when we are so caught up in our own plans and what we think will benefit us right now. But ultimately, he has the greater plan.

And sometimes it hurts a lot to give up hopes, dreams, aspirations, good ideas, what we thought was the path for us. Whether that be relationships, career paths, living locations, time, schooling, hobbies, etc. Because sometimes we think our plan looks so perfect and makes us so happy. I know I thought that about my life plans a couple years back.


But ultimately Gods plan will bring us the most happiness.  We just need to learn to trust him. I'm Grateful I took a second to pause and think and took a leap of faith to come on my mission. I look back now and see a whole different path I could have traveled had I not heeded Gods council rather than my own. And it's rather scary to think about.

More often than not our plans our superficial and only bring us temporary joy and satisfaction. But when we look deep within or down the road there are roadblocks and bumps and it all gets stifled.  

I'm grateful for a loving God who has a plan.
I'm learning more and more everyday to heed his council rather than my own.
To really trust him.

I'm a pretty stinking lucky woman.
Or pretty stinking blessed.
Or both.

Love you guys!

Sister Stucki 
May 25, 2015
Sent from my iPad

The Quiet Moments

The Quiet Moments 

Anxiety. Anxiety. Anxiety.

The Tuesday before transfer day is full of anxiety. Especially this time around because it has been known in my head as the unpredictable transfer, my entire mission. I have served in each of my areas for three transfers, each time I spend two transfers with one companion, then one with the other for the pass off. Which left me with this obscure, last transfer, in which I've been curiously hesitant to approach. And then... It got here. The LAST one.


We finally got transfer calls Tuesday night at ten thirty. 
And the news is..
WE ARE BOTH STAYING IN FORT BELVOIR



*jaw drop*


But get this. Thursday we went to transfer meeting because Sister Training Leaders always go, and they were calling out transfer outlines and all of the sudden president was like "Sister Eaton will travel to Fort Belvoir to Sister Stucki and Sister Stewart." We jumped up and were like... 

SAY WHAT NOW????


Yup, I'm finishing my mission in the Fort. With Sister Stewart AND Sister Eaton, in a trio. This will be my fourth transfer here, which will total six months of Fort Belvoir. That is the longest I have ever been in an area.  I really thought I was going to get booted. But... I'm staying here! And with TWO companions!

In which case, we have to get our butts to work and get this place on fire!


*surprise* 


It's going to be a sick transfer. It was fun talking to all the Elders that are going home with me about how this is our last transfer, and real transfer meeting. They are all a TRUNKY mess. It's crazy. So many big changes coming. It's President Riggs last transfer too.  President Huntsman gets here a couple days after this next transfer meeting.

Hermana Blair Bliss (from Desert Hills) is now in our mission! Woohoo another St Georgey. She's gonna kill it. Oh, and she's being trained in my zone. Hollz to the max. She's getting trained in the best zone in the mission, and the one with the very most work too. Lucky girl.

It's just been a crazy week. When we came home from transfers and everything else Thursday night we had a lot of rearranging to do. Basically we just have one giant bed now because our Apartment is small and we tried to fit three twin beds into a room... I'm in the middle so no matter which way I sleep I see faces. *smh* It's cool though. It makes up for all the slumber parities mom wouldn't let me have when I was twelve. Lolz. 

(Mom- I got the package thanks a ton! The necklaces are super cute. Did you get the Instagram thing figured out? Thanks for calling my bank account thing too. I don't remember how to do anything, I swear.)

We had a sweet lesson with Josh this week. He had surgery so we went to visit him with Sister Eaton so she could meet him. We sat on his back porch with all the beautiful green trees on a beautiful eighty degree evening. We talked for a little and read a great chapter from the Book of Mormon about the little things, reading, praying, Etc. He shared his whole story about changing his life around and coming to Virginia and learning about the gospel and Gods hand in his life. We talked about so many of the cool experiences and miracles he has had just over the past few months. It was sweet. He was stoked to share all about it. At the end he prayed before we left and it was the sweetest prayer, just full of gratitude and happiness and love. Even though he had a pretty ridiculously painful surgery just barely. 

And then the moment I've personally been waiting for forever. He totally teared up and cried at the end. I think it just hit him, and everybody, just how much he's changed, just how far he's come, and just how big of a blessing it's been for all of us to be a part of it. Dang. It was sweet. It was powerful too. I'm gonna miss that guy when I leave. I'm going to miss all these stories when I leave too. Fortunately Fort Belvoir is in good hands.


....Gods hands :)


We're working hard on finding new people to teach, and working with all of our recent converts and less active members. There's tons and tons of people to teach so we're keeping incredibly busy. It was cool because the other day Sister Stewart and I were on our way to a lesson and Stewart said a prayer and basically told God we would talk to every single person we saw, but to just put a prepared person there for us to start teaching.

My face though.
I was like girl don't make promises like that to God.

And she was just like get over it.

So on our way to the lesson we talked to every single person we saw. And nobody was interested. We taught our lesson and as we were walking out to go home we heard some bodies footsteps above us in the apartment complex and looked at each other. So one of us went up one side of the stairs the other went up the other side and we sneak attacked this person.

With love though because we don't really attack people.
And it was this lady walking her dog at like nine at night, she looked busy but we stopped her and talked to her and she was so cool. She told us she's actively seeking for religion right now because she's always been spiritual but has never really been a part of any church and at this time in her life she wants that to be a priority and she's seriously interested.

Bingo.

God is good.
Of course he would make it the last person.
We gotta keep our promises to gain blessings right?
He really does try us in all things,
But it was a sweet miracle that he showed us.


It reminds me of a scripture in Mosiah 2:41

"... I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state 

of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, 

they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; 

and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, 

that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness."

When we keep promises and commandments and covenants made with God he blesses us in all things. Both temporal and spiritual. We receive so many blessings. And what a wonderful thing that is! That God cares about every aspect of our lives and wants us to be

HAPPY

who knew,
God is so great.


And I am so grateful.

And if you want a good scriptural read look up Mosiah chapter two
And read King Benjamin's sermon before he dies,
It is like two pages.
It's in the Book of Mormon.

Look it up it will make you happy.
*promise* 



So anyway.
here I am. 
6 weeks left to go.
The final transfer.


It seems not long ago I was thrift shopping with my mom, I can't quite remember what for. But I was intrigued by the supply of books this place had each under a dollar in price. I remember sorting through them trying to find my favorite classic historical fiction novels and came across this book titled 

"What I wish I knew before my mission." 

I couldn't put it down, so I bought it. And I remember the look my mom gave me with one eyebrow raised like "what the heck?" 

I remember six months later laying in my bed, door shut, lights off. The moonlight was again shining in my panel window but this time it was different than other nights because the Electronic lights of my phone, iPod, laptop etc. Were not there to distract me. A few hours previous I was set apart as a full time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And in six hours I was supposed to drive up to Provo, Utah to get dropped off at the curb for the next year and a half. I guess that night was pretty full of anxiety as well, as I thought to myself... 

"What on earth am I getting myself into?"

Fourteen days after that I found myself sitting across from "President Riggs" in the mission home located in Burke, Virginia. I had only seen pictures of the Riggs family.

...and Burke Virginia. 

But now it was real life. I was having a one on one conversation with my Mission President who told me he was excited to labor with me in doing the Lords work and to 

"Hit the ground running." 

I remember trudging through the knee high snow in my worn out combat boots that definitely weren't constructed for the winter weather in Manassas. Being so cold you couldn't feel your toes, all the way up to your knee caps, even though you were wearing five pairs of socks. I would think to myself that my trainer was insane and that there was no way I could go through another day of this "finding people to teach" thing. 

But somehow, something, woke me up each morning 

with a fresh start, a brand new day.

I had a lot of time to think while driving in the car through the forests of Loudon County. The trees hanging over each side of the windy bends in the streets were nothing like what I would consider the great outdoors back at home. But slowly I came to love the adventure we found while meeting new friends and watching the seasons change. I began to learn responsibility, leadership, discipline, consecration and the definition of hard work. 

I remember staring out the sliding glass doors watching the once beautiful vibrant green trees change to shades or orange and red and brown. I spent What seemed like forever watching leaves fall one by one from the giant tree branches down to the bottom floor of the apartment complexes in Springfield Terrace. I remember fervent pleas and prayers for guidance and direction and help and commitment, I truly learned what it meant when the scriptures told us to rely on the Lord, to pray always, to endure. 

The Relief Society room seemed perfectly placed where the backseat corner had a perfect view of the Potomac river, only yards away from the church doors. As I sat there and stared at the water ripple I could vividly recall every moment of serenity I spent so close to the waters edge. The breeze of the wind biking down the side of the water, the exciting joy of a baptism at the break of the river, the sound of the water lapping as you sit and talk about life in Fort Belvoir. 

It's the quiet moments of life I can't seem to ever forget. The moments where you're alone and can entertain large thoughts, big changes, future plans, questions for God. It's the quiet moments that enlarge your soul, open your mind and provide the means to dream. It's been the quiet moments of my life where I've felt the presence of God so strong, inviting me to keep going, keep trying, to not give up. Because there's so much in store. There's always so much in store. For all of us all the time.

I've learned that no matter what place you are at in life it's important to: 

1. Take time to think, take the time to council with God, 

to listen to his direction and 

2. To endure, to keep going, to push forward and press on.

Only six more weeks, it seems like a dream, but I'm excited to keep going, keep working, and soon step into the next phase of my life. It's exciting, and kind of stressful, but I'm excited and I feel good about the places I've been and the places God has prepared next for me.


I don't really know who is reading this or why but I just hope you know how much God loves you, and I, and everyone of us. And that these things are real, this gospel is true. And there's seriously no work greater than the work of God. So get involved, be a part of it, become who God needs you to become. You'll never experience more happiness.


Sister Madison Paige Stucki
5-18-15
Sent from my iPad

Everything Is One Big Encompassing Word

Mom

Hahaha sooooo 
My friend Shawdae gave me a dread lock this week.
Yes let me repeat that statement. 
Her name is "Shawdae"
She gave me a dread lock.
CLASSIC Mt Vernon experience.

Also did you know bed bugs are a real thing? And I have them?
My legs have been eaten alive, it looks like I have leprosy. 

Don't worry we bought mattress covers and I got a new mattress because Sister Stewart stabbed mine with a knife in search of bed bugs *smh* I guess we have to capture one as evidence to give to our land owners so they will spray our apartment. We have caught like six. 

<side note: I'm so stoked to sleep in my own clean bed at home. Hopefully I don't bring diseases home with me. Like I still live in America why am I not living in luxury hulloooo. Jk>

For preparation day this week our zone played sand volleyball at Fort Hunt.
It got me so stoked for summer time.
We get transfer calls tomorrow and I literally have no idea if I'll get transferred or not
Because I only have one more transfer. But hold mail. Because....
#shenandoah.
I could go back there, there's still a chance for me. 

I really would rather just stay I think. It would be easier. But it is what it is.
And I'll take it. Either way I'll be home in six weeks. Hahaha.

Our mission is doing this countdown thing with goals and Blah blah blah that
President put together. But it's funny because the countdown is counting down
to the day the Riggs leave and we have a full mission conference which is also
The day I leave. So basically our entire mission has a TRUNKY countdown for
me. Lolz. Forty five days left.

That's practically nothing.

This past week we had MLC, a half mission conference, and we went to the temple with BARBARA and the young women. So there was a lot of driving involved. Yippee. I saw Sister Wathen again at the DC Visitor Center we went to high school together, she's also in our stake. 

Sunday confirmations
We're awesome and extraordinary.

Honestly like....

I'm so grateful for Fort Belvoir. Fort Belvoir literally opened my eyes to a whole new world. A whole new paradigm. I've been so incredibly blessed here to meet some amazing people. Both the people we teach and people I work with. I also feel like I've come to know God better here in Fort Belvoir. 

There have been so many instances where I have had to simply align my will with Gods will and rely on him for blessings and miracles. And he has definitely provided for us. I never knew you could be so happy in such stressful situations. But truly you can when you turn your life over to the Lord and rely on him. 

I've learned that
TRUE FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST 
IS NOT PUTTING UP BARRIERS 
FOR WHAT HE CAN 
AND CAN NOT DO.


In Mission Leadership Council we were reading in Alma 26. And I love the verses that say

"I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; 

but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, 

and I will rejoice in my God.

I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; 

therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, 

for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles 

we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."

Everything I have
Everything I am
Everything is one big encompassing word.
And I owe everything to God!

We all do. We are all blessed in different and unique ways and those blessings come from God.


President was practice teaching and the question arose about God not being able to fix this girls problems and change her life. So President lifted up his hand and said, "this is my fingernail. Who made it?" She said well, God. And then he said this, is my hand. Who made it? God. Could you make this? No she said. I think these are pretty miraculous creations. And if God can create us, why would he not be able to change us?

It's so powerful knowing that our God can do anything
Do you really believe that?
Because I would think that if everyone knew that,
That God can do ANYTHING
We would all be on his side. We would all be devoting our lives to God.

So what is stopping us?
Everything we have and everything we are is from God.
Everything we struggle with and everything we need, can be helped by God.

President ended MLC with his testimony and it was pretty powerful at the end he said something to the effect of 

"Things are going to be okay and things are going to work out in Gods timing. 

Just give yourself to God and you will be blessed. It won't be easier.

But you will be blessed. Sometimes trials are blessings. 

Embrace them and allow God to teach you." ~President 

As much as I dislike eight hour meetings
I kind of love eight hour meetings.

Well.


I wish I had some great uplifting thought to share with you all right now but all I can think about is my homecoming talk that I've been writing and it's a secret so blah. My mind is blank. I can't BELIEVE MY MISSION IS COMING TO AN END. 

I CANT BELIEVE I ONLY HAVE ONE TRANSFER. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S ALREADY BEEN EIGHTEEN MONTHS. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH WE WERE ABLE TO FIT INTO EIGHTEEN MONTHS. I CAN'T BELIEVE I CAN ACTUALLY WEAR PANTS IN GROCERY STORES AND DRIVE A CAR BY MYSELF IN SIX WEEKS. 

basically the world is ending.

I'm going to miss Josh and Barbara and Sister Sammy Stewart if I leave this place guys.

I think all my concerns I already voiced to you on skype so
I hope you all have a lovely day.

Love you! love you! love you!


Sister Stucki 
May 11, 2015