Why me?

You gotta love Hospital murals

you know your a redneck when..

Snow days...

Snow days are service days:)

Awesome people make us amazing Valentines Dinners

Look who I found... Elder Holdaway he worked for Uncle Brian's Pizza Factory

And... Mrs. Person she was my choir teacher in St. George
~Small World

Mini MTC

What is everybody doing with their lives right now? Plz send pics!

I've gotta say Olivia and Madi are probably the best descriptive journalists I've got on my email list. Thanks for the pictures and stories. #vicariousliving

I never ACTUALLY know what to talk about in these letters. So much goes on in our day to day lives, and after a week I forget half of the stories I want to tell you guys, or the things I learn. But I have a few stories I found particularly thought provoking to tell you about.

We have a District prayer list.  On our prayer list we asked our district to pray that we would find some "finding opportunities" and meet somebody new that was ready and prepared to hear the gospel. As we went about our week Sister Eddy knocked on a guys door.  He welcomed them right in. He had just recently found God in his life and moved across the country to turn his life around. He was reading his AA book when they knocked on his door and he thought it was a complete miracle.

Our first lesson we met at Great Harvest Bread and we were talking about the difference between missionaries and members and how members are just "normal people."  And these two ladies leaned over and said, "Hey, Sisters... we heard your conversation and we are members and normal. Hi."

It was super funny. We have been meeting with him about two or three times a week which is awesome.  He is a great guy and we are really excited about that miracle and the progress he is making. At church on Sunday it was completely full. So many people were there.  We actually just had sacrament meeting and then canceled the rest of church because of "freezing rain." So everyone went home. We did not have church last week either because it was cancelled. But hey there was a good turn out which was sweet and another miracle in itself.

So the first interesting and slightly thought provoking conversation I had this week was with this missionary mom. She was talking about how much she wants her missionary son to marry a returned missionary girl because all the Sisters she has met are so mature and carry themselves confidently, professionally and act grown up. (And on and on about Sister Missionaries) I was thinking about it...  and my thoughts were lol'ing because I totally know there are some awesome girls who are great wives and mothers who have not served missions (like my mom for example) but I also totally get it.  I have seen guys that come home from missions and are on this super awesome mature spiritual rockstar level and they date girls who are incredibly immature college kids that expect way too much and give way too little. I was raising my hand like hey, hey, yeah that WAS me.  Right BEFORE my mission. 

I don't know if it is accurate or not but I just felt like she was this concerned mom because she didn't want her son to marry a difficult bride to be. I think that literally every adult I have ever made contact with is super grateful that I left home to serve a mission and is hoping and praying I don't return the same kid I was before I left. So that concern was amusing to me.  I hope I can reach all you "mature" people's expectations when I get back. 

*plz accept me*

I am so far beyond imperfect.
But I have definitely learned a lot.
And changed a lot.
And I do feel like it will benefit many aspects of my life.
Especially considering the whole growing up, being a wife and a mother aspect of my life.

Amen missionary moms. Amen.

This week we went on Double Exchanges. Back to back with Sister Kelly and Sister Malufau. We also had a Technology meeting with a member of The Quorum of the Seventy. The Missionary Leadership Council (MLC) is getting new iPads this week.  Soon the whole mission will as well. We will be off of Facebook for probably a month as we reboot and reset our technology. Everyone has to buy new iPads.  However if you go home from your mission before AUGUST twenty third of this year you don't have to buy one. Those who buy them take them home with them. But I don't need to buy one so don't pay the extra four hundred parents. It was an interesting meeting. He mentioned the whole age change thing, and said that the reason for the age change was...

"Not to increase statistics But to save this generation."

I found that very thought provoking as well. I feel like my mission sure did "save" me from lots of things. Thank goodness for it.

Another interesting experience I have thought lots about was when we knocked on this ladies door this week and she just talked and talked about all the things we do wrong for an hour. It is SO HARD being patient and humble and kind towards people. I feel like because I wear this badge that literally says Jesus Christ's name on it I have to do everything in my power to control my temper. 
So that was fun. 

I don't get it though. Because she said she was "christian" but she was tearing down everything she knew about "Mormons" which most of it was not very accurate. But idk.... 
I know people are not perfect BUT I think if we are claiming to be christian we should be a little bit more kinder than that. I listened to most of what she had to say.  Her opinions about scripture and the godhead and what not. Everyone is entitled to their own belief system. But then she said something to the effect of...

~What we (Mormon missionaries) are doing isn't going to help anybody. We simply need to preach God, not all the other "Mormon" stuff. It's not going to help anybody, trust me. I know.~

At which point I was thoroughly offended and called her out. AH. you can have your own opinion on your religious beliefs, but unless you have served a full time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints you have NO SAY and your opinion is completely irrelevant as to what does and does not help people.

Why?

Because I've seen lives changed

Because of this Gospel.
I have seen people turn their entire lives around.
I have seen people in their darkest hour.
Their bitterest moments.
Their rock bottoms.
And pit falls. 

And I have watched The Gospel of Jesus Christ completely change them.

And I mean THE Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
THE Restoration of the Gospel, the Plan of Salvation, the Commandments, the Laws and the Ordinances. The lessons we teach and are taught. I mean the things THIS church is teaching people completely changes them. I have seen that.

And for somebody to say it's not working
Somebody who really has never experienced what it's like to be a 
"Mormon missionary" first hand...
For one door to have this opinion that we are not doing anything 

...was pretty messed up, that's all.

But everyone is entitled to their opinions, don't worry I'm not mad.
I'm just really grateful for the gospel in my life
I'm really grateful for the miracles I have seen
I'm really grateful for learning experiences
I'm grateful to be serving a full time mission because man,
I GET IT.

 After we walked away from that door we saw a man walking down the street and felt like we should talk to him. We thought after a long conversation like the previous one that this would be a super huge miracle golden guy ready to hear the gospel. I think we got five words out before he said "NANANANA I'M COLD LADIES GOODBYE."

I think I may have started laughing at how childish that was and how crazy that night had been! It seemed like one person after the next made it more and more apparent that it was us against the world. Rough life right?

On our way home that night we were slightly discouraged and just ready for bed. Kind of wondering why all the harsh words and opposition tonight man? Couldn't we see at least one little miracle? As we were walking up the stairwell I saw a badge sitting on the railing right next to our apartment door. It was Sister Eddy's missionary name tag. 

I wondered what person found it
Picked it up out of the snow
Brought it to our door
Set it nicely on the stairwell
And went their separate way without leaving any trace behind


Who takes their time to do that?
Such a simple thing.
But it was pretty cool.

And I thought about all the people we had met that night.

The ones that really put themselves out there and made their beliefs very apparent
By keeping us out in the cold and ignoring us and talking over us and telling us were wasting our time and putting us down and discouraging us.

And then the one who we will probably never know that took a little time out of their day to show a little act of kindness and charity. Making someones life a little bit easier and not asking for any credit or reward. Just leaving a name tag by a door.

I don't know.  It is a very opposite end of the spectrum of ideas but it meant a lot to me.

And I know which kind of person I want to become.

The third thought I had this week...was about us as individuals. On Saturday night President Riggs called a last minute MLC meeting in Centerville at 9:15 PM! We knew it must be important for that to happen because Centerville is forty minutes away and nine fifteen is bedtime! So we went to this meeting for a couple of hours and didn't get home until almost midnight (which is exciting and rare in this whole Sister missionary life thing we got going on)

But it was pretty cool.

When we got there, we went on a church tour. We only talked about two things. We stopped at one picture on the wall and talked about the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in this dispensation through the Prophet Joseph smith. Then we stopped at another picture on the wall talked about Jesus Christ suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane for the sins and temptations and hurts and heartaches of the entire world. Then we went into the chapel and listened to President Riggs talk and express his feelings.

If we back it up a little bit earlier this day... I was talking to my companion about how I don't have her new missionary fire and I lacked a lot of motivation to get up and go. I just didn't have that same energy and vibrance. I thought it was interesting the events that took place in this meeting after that statement.

I thought about a lot of things. One, how cool it was that I got to experience meetings likes these ALL THE TIME. What other group of twenty year old young adults were spending their time late at night on a weekend receiving revelation on how to improve and become more Christlike and feeling the spirit so profoundly. Idk. Missionary work is so... exciting that way. I take that for granted a lot. I just have all these spiritual experiences lined up for me. It's so easy to feel that closeness to God and the spirit.

I also thought about my personal importance. The fact that I was born into a family that taught me the gospel. The fact that I have TONS of knowledge about the gospel and doctrine. And the fact that I have this opportunity to share it with everyone I see all the time for eighteen months. Somebody at the meeting asked the hypothetical question "Why me?" And it's so true.

WHY ME?

Why was I given so much? How am I expected to live my life because of it? I reflected a lot on my own value and importance. I was reminded again and again of the story of Peter, when the Lord made him a great fisherman and then asked him to "leave behind your nets and follow me." (Matt 4) Often times I feel that way, like Peter YA know. I feel like the lord helped me become a pretty decent person before my mission. And I decided to serve. But simply coming out here on a mission isn't enough! He asks us to leave behind our nets. Our nets could be anything! He's asking us to literally, be. All. In. Leaving everything behind to follow him.

And not just as missionaries but as disciples of Christ.  What are our nets? What's holding us back? I reflected on that a lot. Why shouldn't we have motivation? To be a missionary? To fulfill our callings? To go to Church? To pray or to read? What is holding us back? 

As I was listening I heard somebody say something to the effect of
You don't need motivation if you just remember your purpose or your call.
Realize what you have. Realize your purpose. Your potential.
You don't need motivation. 
You need to know who you are.

Who are you?

And that really made me think. As a missionary..
Who am I?
Why am I here?
Why was I prompted to serve a mission?
Why did I decide to?
Why me?

Later President used that scripture in like 22 that says,

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, 

that he may sift you as wheat."

Then asked if we know what sift you as wheat meant. I always thought it meant to like grind you up in a meat lab or something painful like that, obviously my vocabulary stretch is super minimal. But his answer was quite interesting he said sifting you as wheat means to make you...

Ordinary.
Plain. Mediocre. The same. Like everything else. 
Nothing more. Nothing spectacular. Just plain, ordinary.

And I though that was so interesting. That the adversary would use that as a tool.
Mediocrity, being the same, being ordinary, nothing more.
How sad! When we have so much potential. And people settle for that.
When really, we could be achieving so much more,

He then read the next verse..

"But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: 

and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." 

Luke 22:31-32

Again this made me think of our value. Our importance.
Especially the importance of reaching our potential
Of becoming converted,
Not only for ourselves but so we CAN have the power to 
"Strengthen our brethren"
To help others along the way.

I can't help but think how applicable this is to all of our lives, everyday. Not just as missionaries, but as mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, neighbors, primary teachers, bishops, visiting teachers, friends. As members of the Church ls Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

If you ever find yourself asking the same question.
What is my motivation?
Or thinking you don't have any..
FOR ANY REASON

I think this applies to you as well.
Not just me. Not just missionaries.


"You don't need motivation 
if you just remember your purpose 
or your call.
Realize what you have. 
Realize your purpose. 
Your potential.
You don't need motivation. 
You need to know who you are.

Who are you?
Why are you here?
Why you?"


I've found myself reflecting often on that question. Why me?
And I've found great responsibility in that.
Great motivation.
And also great joy.


Just a couple thoughts.
I love you guys!
Happy March!

Sister Stucki 
March 2, 2015
Sent from my iPad

I Am His

To live in Virginia you need to know two things:
1.  When there are clouds in the sky, it will probably rain.
2.  When there are not clouds in the sky, it will still probably rain.

I absolutely LOVE my new companion
She is ALWAYS happy and smiling!

thank you grandma and grandpa (:



Sister Todd - got her "greenie" package...
she is even wearing green:)



Name tags problems...
they spelled my name wrong

Temple Day

Our District

President Riggs

Am I allowed to give a Re-introduction?

Especially for new readers of this blog.
Or for you guys and gals who don't particularly know me...
Or for those of you who ONLY know me as

“Sister Stucki”

As well as for my lovely friends, family and followers who may know
all about me but have just forgotten that I exist because I seemingly
have dropped off the face of the earth for the last ten months....



Here's the brief:

First of all!



I am..... Not a robot.

I am also not a nun.

I do not have five moms

Yes. I'm allowed to dance.

And Yes,
I had a "normal" life before I became a missionary.



My name is Madison Paige Stucki. 

I was born in the south west nestled up corner of Utah, 
in the United States of America. 
I'm the first child of my lovely high school sweetheart parents. 
They are adorable.
My dad is my role model.
My mom is my best friend. 
They are hopelessly in love with each other 
which is disgustingly cute in a way that makes
me want my future relationship to be just like theirs.


Still following me here? K cool.



I have five younger siblings.
Dylan is eighteen.
Ethan is sixteen.
Ty is fourteen.
Makenna is twelve.
Eli is five.
There's eight of us in my family total.
Which always makes for a good time.
Literally.
Always.

While growing up I spent most of my time outdoors. Whether it be out
in the desert exploring, or at the lakes and rivers learning how to
skim board and get my tan on. I love photography and videography,
fashion and design. SUNSHINE and road trips. Baseball caps and knit
sweaters. (basic) I think architecture and Ancient Rome is fascinating. 
I enjoy reading classic novels and listening to hopeless
romantic love songs.

I had a boyfriend all throughout high school and he is my favorite
human on this planet. His name is Spencer.  I refer to him quite a lot.
You know this if you know me at all. Sorry.  Not sorry. 
He's a great guy.

My birthday is in October. I turn twenty this year. I have an
unhealthy obsession with double stuff original Oreos. So if you live
in Virginia and want to make me an ice cream cake next weekend...
(HMU) ...it's my birthday:)



When I turned nineteen I had the unique opportunity to submit
"application papers" to serve a mission for my church. The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. By doing so I left my family,
friends, work, school and LIFE behind for eighteen months to come
here, to the southern suburbs of Washington, D.C. To teach the
Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and serve those around me.

Like I said, it's a unique opportunity, and a unique responsibility. To
be a full time missionary for Jesus Christ. We have a set schedule
(described in previous blog post) and we do this all day everyday with
limited free time or correspondence from home.



However, I'm still me.



Madison Stucki.


......Just with a Sister in front of it for now,



A little bit more responsibility,



A little bit more maturity,



And a lot of work to do :)



In the 1800's (mom: correct me if I'm wrong) a few missionaries were sent
out to Preach the gospel. Some of these missionaries came across
my ancestors in Switzerland.

My ancestors at that time, one of them being John S Stucki.  
Him and his family accepted the gospel. They knew it was true! 
They gave up all that they had to come to the United States to 
gather with the saints at that time. Not long after arriving in the eastern states 
of the USA, they were persecuted and mobbed which led them and many others 
at that time to travel out west, to unknown territory.

Many of these early pioneers traveled out to the Midwest area of the
states. When they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley my family continued 
to travel down south and settled in the Santa Clara, and St George, Utah  
area with many other early saints at that time.

Nearly a century later, I was born in the same town St George, Utah. 
And now reap the blessings of what once was brought to my early family from
the very first missionaries from America.

With knowing this and seeing the blessings that came from the Gospel,
I too decided to serve a mission to share these blessings I've received, 
to all I could reach. 

SIMPLE AS THAT.



Only... I was called to serve here in the Washington, D.C. South mission.
Alongside 100 thousand other full time missionaries currently serving
around the world.

As a missionary we go about Doing Good. Our Primary Purpose is to
invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the Restored
Gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance,
baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.

For these eighteen months that is exactly what I go about 
teaching from experience and from the heart.

However as a missionary, we do not expect those we come across 
and teach to take our word for it or accept all we say without their 
own personal divine witness of the truth. 

In fact as missionaries we simply invite. 

We present the information, issue challenges or commitments 
to strengthen faith and leave the rest to the spirit as the teacher.

The spirit is the teacher.
It is a promise that God will give answers to all 
those who humbly and sincerely ask.

James 1:5 in the New Testament 

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men

liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.."

GOD

answers prayers.

He hears us
He loves us
He wants to help and guide us.
He's given us the tools to receive guidance, direction and answers
to that wisdom that we lack

As missionaries we present the doctrine
and leave it to those we teach to act.
To search.
To ponder.
To pray.
And to know.


We see today there are so many different sects of Christianity.
Religion seems to me to be just another group you can join. Religious
leaders entice a 'target market' of young adults, families, or all
ages by the fun activities, festivities, group meetings and meeting
houses and fun events. And religious affiliations do have great
motives. Most christian churches come from the same source! Each has
pieces and parts of the truth but none seem to completely agree on
what TRUTH IS.

So where do we find it?

In the bible we learn that Jesus Christ came to earth and taught us
the fullness of the gospel. Things such as faith (Matthew 18:20),
repentance or change (Mark 2:17) , baptism (Luke 3:21), he taught us
about the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17) he established his gospel, and
his church and ordained apostles by the power of the priesthood.
(Ephesians 4:11-15).

However, many people were wicked and they disregarded his message.

They didn't want to be told to repent! And change!
Nobody wants to be told that!
But it was true? It's what God expects of us.
But people were upset.
We see all throughout the bible the Pharisees and Sadducees try to
condemn Jesus, try to twist his words or prove him wrong.

And they crucified them. 
Jesus was betrayed and the people were upset.
So they crucified the son of God.

 Jesus foretells this however when he says,
"....deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to
crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again." (Matthew 20:19)

Foretelling also that he would be resurrected, on the third day.
And he was.

And when he was, he told the people he would leave them a comforter
which is the Spirit, which would testify of truth. (John 14)

Not long after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the apostles were
persecuted and killed or died off. Not passing the priesthood
authority, or power of God onto the next generation. And without the
priesthood authority, many simple truths about the organization of the
church and sacred ordinances were lost or changed. Many churches began
to form, breaking off bits and pieces of Christ's original gospel, and
adding to it,  or taking away.

Intentionally?
Who knows.
But none the less, without priesthood authority, the correct
organization of Christs church would not be brought about.

Without revelation, guidance or organization at all, people relied on
human wisdom to interpret the scriptures, principles and ordinances of
Christ's gospel. False ideas and opinions were taught as truths and
different church organizations began to form with disagreements and
separate ideas and opinions.

Much of the knowledge of the true nature of God, our Savior, 
the spirit and the gospel...
Were lost.

And this widespread state of Apostasy led to the emergence of many,
many churches.

Even before the death of the Apostles, many conflicts concerning
doctrine arose. The Roman Empire, which at first had persecuted the
Christians, later adopted Christianity. Important religious questions
were settled by councils. The simple doctrines and ordinances taught
by the Savior were debated and changed to conform to worldly
philosophies. (Hmm, we see this today as well.)

We know that because of these unauthorized changes and lack of the
fullness of the gospel.. a restoration, not a reformation, was required.


To REFORM is to change what already exists;
to RESTORE is to bring back something in its original form.


The Savior’s Apostles foretold this universal apostasy.
They also foretold that the gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church
would be restored to its fullness, once more upon the earth.

"..Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come,
except there come a falling away first...." 2 Thessalonians 2


So?

The fullness of the gospel was not currently upon the earth, pieces
and parts of it? Yes of course. But the whole shabang? Not a chance.
And in the midst of this confusion, 
there was a boy named Joseph Smith.

AHHHH YES
You've probably heard of Joseph Smith right?
The Mormon guy?
Yeah, no. He wasn't Mormon. He was fourteen, and had a big question.
Because when he was living in the east coast of the USA, in New York,

WE HAD RECENTLY GAINED RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WAHOO!

And there were plenty and plenty of preachers, pastors, etc etc taking
advantage of just that. I can vouch for him when I say that out here
on the eastern coast, there is literally a church on every corner. And
not like in Utah where it seems like they are all the same churches. 
There are different denominations, opinions, doctrines, and
teachings ON EVERY CORNER.

Can you imagine?

Being in a family where Mom believes church A
Dad believes church B
Older brother believes church C
And they are all reading the bible...
yet somehow each takes his own opinion of doctrine from the same source.

And as Joseph smith was reading, he read Ephesians 4:5 which says there is
"One lord, one faith, one baptism."
Simply put.

So he went about checking out the different congregations each trying
to persuade him to join. But he wasn't seeking a church that fit
HIM he was seeking for the church of God. The one referred to in
Ephesians, ya know? The ONE true gospel of Christ. Where do we find it?

He continued to study the holy bible. And came across another verse
that struck him more powerfully than anything he had ever read, it's
found in James chapter one verse five and says,

"If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God. 

That giveth to all men liberally and abraideth not."

Meaning, if you have a question, if there's something you don't know,
ask God. And he will give you the answers you need, and he won't be
upset with you asking questions. Because common guys HE LOVES US. 
he wants to help us. HE IS OUR FATHER. LET'S BE REAL. 
Why wouldn't we be allowed to ask questions? 
And why would he not answer them? 

HE IS GOD.
HE IS ALL POWERFUL.
GIMME A REASON WHY HE WOULD SHUT US DOWN?

Look around you and start recognizing answers, blessings, gifts,
signs, they are everywhere.
And I think that's a little bit of what Joseph Smith felt.

So he decided he would go ask God, through sincere, earnest prayer.
For direction. What would it hurt? He went out into the woods, with
faith that he too, would receive an answer. And when he did, he had a
miraculous experience.

In Joseph Smith History, in the Pearl of Great Price (which you can
access here; lds.org) he tells his experience. (If you'd like to read
the full documentary written by Joseph Smith check out the online
website but for lack of time I'll quote a few paragraphs.) he said,

"I saw a pillar of light.



Exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun.


Which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

When the light rested upon me I saw two personages, whose brightness

and glory defy...all description, standing above me... In the air.


One of them, spake unto me, calling me by name and said


THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, HEAR HIM."



From this experience, Joseph Smith learned the fullness of the gospel
was not yet on the earth. That just like in times of old, with
prophets from the Old Testament, people were wicked and disregarded
the prophets teachings and fell into apostasy where priesthood power
was no longer on the earth. After Christs death this had happened
again. And now was the time the gospel would be restored to the earth,
in its fullness like it was before.

Joseph Smith?
Was just a man.
Like any other good man we see today.
Trying to do good, trying to be better.
Just like prophets of old, he was called of God, to do a great work.
To be an instrument in the hands of The Lord.

Do I worship Joseph smith? No.
Do I respect him? Absolutely.

He did what perhaps other men couldn't. 
The persecution and reviling against him.. 
STILL HAPPENS TODAY.



Knowing there would be doubt or disbelief or misinformation, we've
been given the Book of Mormon, which was translated from records 
of ancient Americans at the time of Christ. By reading the Book of Mormon 
you will come to know these things are true.

The same way you can receive answers to any of your questions.
By asking God.
Not relying on secular sources
Or human "wisdom"
Or the Internet

If I had a penny for every time I've heard someone 
site "truth" from the Internet.... :l

Guys common.


We all know Wikipedia is the LEAST reliable source for information.
Ask the creator of all things.
Ask god.

And you will know.
That he's there, that he loves you, that he has a path for you.
The whole thing.

That's my challenge to you.
Not to take my word for it...
Or anyone else's

But go figure this stuff out for yourself.
And trust God.

I appreciate you for reading this post, it means the world to me. This
gospel means everything to me. It brings me peace, comfort and the
will to carry on, everyday.


Because I KNOW who I am. 


Why I'm here. 
Where I'm going.


I know what's right, what's wrong.
And I have a choice. 

And god has a plan for me. 


And if I turn to him, he will carry me.




Because,



I am his.








Questions?
I'll try my best to respond within a week
Madison.stucki@myldsmail.net
Or facebook me at Sister-Madison Stucki

I love you guys!
S.Stucki




Sent from my iPad

(October 23, 2014)