I believe in Miracles!

Hello Family, Friends, and Sea Creatures!!

 

What a week!!! Full of revelation and miracles. First off, I went to leadership in Windermere and got to do splits with my best friend, SISTER STALEY! We had so much fun! It was so nice to see the miracles in her area. So because of that, Sister Durr got to come here from Daytona to be with her grandbaby, Sister Kerns, and they saw LOTS of miracles! They picked up 6 new investigators and taught a lot of people. Which was a good thing because one of our top investigators dropped us. BUT the Lord provides, doesn't He? The crazy thing was Saturday I was fighting with myself because I couldn't understand what the Lord wanted us, specifically, to learn. Bless Sister Kerns' heart. She is so positive and seems to always be uplifting ME!

 

We were able to get into contact with.....JASON!!! Remember him? He had a baptism date when I got here. Well he disappeared and now he is back and we are seeing him tonight. We also have an appointment in half a hour (yes on prep-day) with a former as well. All these came from thanks to the area book! I have a testimony of that so much! This week is going to be crazy! I am going to Deltona tonight for exchanges and Thursday we have interviews with President and Stake Zone Conference and Friday hopefully a temple tour with Beverly.

 

I had more to write but I am just so happy. It seems whenever I start to doubt and get confused even a little bit the Lord shows me the way. He helps me understand my purpose more and more. He gives me the strength and I get more and more strength from the Atonement of Christ. I am stuill behind on writing letters...but I will catch up...maybe!!

 

Well I love you all!!!

 

BTW I hit my 10 month mark on Saturday! Its the last week of the transfer, Sister Durr goes home in 6 weeks. It was so weird to see her on Thursday and think it might be the last time I see her. WOW!! Time sure does fly when you are doing the Lord's work!

 

love always.

Sister Ploth.

 

 

picture 1: Missionaries that have all served in EUSTIS that were at leadership

picture 2: Sister Kerns and I got FOM spray paint shirts!!

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

Happy 300 days!!

This will have to be quick! We went to a flea market with the Famularos (Kendal, ask Matt and Josh if that name is fimilar, Bro Famularo said he knew who your brother was from the mission!) this morning and still have to shop and everything else. So sorry everyone I owe letters to, one week pushed back again! Life of a missionary!

 

 I really love Eustis! Right now we are working on finding and where the best places for us to find. So far we have talked to some great people. Saturday night we went to stop by the Chandlers, when we saw these two black ladies sitting in a garage port so we went and talked to them. One went into the house, to avoid us but Barabra stayed out to talked to us. She was a neat lady! From Pennslyvania, she was down visiting her sister. She told us that Sunday was the five year anniversary of her husband's death. Shen then told us about her faith in Jesus Christ and also about her experiences. How she was an ex crack dealer, one of the biggest, she has 5 kids, homeless, has to go to court and be a witness for a murder and all these other things. But she was so cool. She had a lot of experiences. We were able to talk a little about the gospel but not much since she was also drinking but I felt so much love for her. We blessed her and as I prayed I felt God' love. I love blessing people. We do it for investigators and members but we dont contact people much and if we do the spirit isnt always there to bless them but it was there that night. She held on to our hands and I felt so warm. After she embraced us both and tears were rolling down her face. Again, it was confirmed to me that the atonement covers ALL LIFE and EVERYONE needs the restored Gospel. No matter what. People CAN have a change of heart. Look at alma for example. Everyday I love the people of Florida more and more!

 

Keep us in your prayers! We are working hard!

 

love always,

sister ploth.

 

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

Happy 4th of July!!

Hello All!  Happy 4th of July but also HAPPY CHRISTMAS! Sister Kerns and I have decided to celebrate Christmas in July. We drove over listening to GLEE Christmas. Very fun! And we we get to stay out late to watch fireworks!! woot woot!!!

 

So right now the system is down to email President so looks like my time is dedicated to this and coming over I was thinking, "Hmmm, I dont have much to say" but I will pray that it will be good.

 

This week was great! We hit 19 lessons, again. It seems like we are stuck doing 19 every week. haaha. But we are trying. We had a LOT of exchanges with members which was such a blessing. About 6! Wow! So we could have made our goal with 5 lessons with a member present, if people didnt cancel/not show up. I wonder how funny it would be if we were like a doctor's office and charge people for no shows. I would one rich Sister!

 

We have started teaching Beverly's daughter. We arent sure if she is interested but she is open. It was Beverly's Birthday so we made a cake. Oh man, she was grateful but it looked like a hot mess (picture attached) . We were only able to meet with her once this week. Its getting to be crunch time since her baptism is in one week. keep her in your prayers! She only has a few more lessons! The Bishop made a comment about how she seems happier and her countenance is changing. That was awesome to hear.

 

We might be dropping someone this week. ): I wont say who but its really hard. Sister Kerns and i have two different opinions but I know that the Lord will provide if we are obedient and we CREATE miracles for Him.

 

On Friday we went to Windermere (right across from the Temple!) for trainers follow up. In Sister Kerns' words "To make sure neither of us are dead" hahaha. It was really good and just what I needed. This whole time I had been so concerned for myself, if I was training well, if I was helping the area, if I was showing faith. I was so consumed with myself that I wasnt focused on Sister Kerns. I had to repent. I realized that these 12 weeks are for HER to grow and have spiritual experiences. President Hall and the APs told us to imagine our new missionaries in a 1 1/2 years. Well Sister Kerns will be home, so I thought about where she would be in 9 months. Well she would be 9 months! Wow! I want her to be the best so I need to lift her. So my goal this week is to entriely focus on her and not myself or even the area. I want her to grow. Now I dont know how many have picked this up but I love John 15:13 Greater ^alove hath no man than this, that a man lay down his ^blife for his ^cfriends.

And I was reading in this months Ensign and a lady quoted it and said that it meant to her laying down her concerns and needs to her husband. Or in my case, laying aside me for Sister Kerns. I truly love her and I am so grateful for the time I have to be with her. She was taught me so much in these 4 weeks. my weaknesses are her strengths!

We are going on exchanges with the Deltona Sisters this week! Sister Kaaa will be coming here! 3rd time exchanging with that sister and I love every minute of it!

 

Wow I wrote more than I thought I had to say! Well I hope you all have a great week!!! Keep the Faith and remember to share the gospel!

 

love always,

Sister Ploth.

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened to you

Hello everyone!!! It is beautiful in the Tropical Storm of Sunny Florida!! So rainy it makes me feel like I am at home!!

 

Okay, so the subject of this email is "Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened to you". Recently our district leader, Elder Gubler, gave us a talk by Elder Holland titled "Urgency". I have been out almost 10 months (gag me!) and this was for me. The Lord rebuked me. In this talk Elder Holland mentions that this phrase is the most repeated phrase in the standard works. WOW! I knew this, didnt I? Joseph Smith followed this example and we ask people to follow it, then why the heck havent I been? Well Brothers and Sisters, I want you all to know that I repented and I now know that if you ASK God, He will give it to you. Now some of you might be thinking, "Well I dont get what I ask for!" The cool thing is the Lord answers in 3 ways, never no: 1. Yes. 2. Not right now. or 3. I have something better for you.  We have an eternal, loving Father who loves us. If we ask, liberally (freely), He wont upbraided (slap our hands).

 

So with all that......ASK GOD AND HE WILL GIVE YOU!! Need a job? Ask Him to lead you! Want help overcoming an addiction? ASK HIM! Need help understanding His Gospel? ASK HIM!! Need help loving others?? ASK!!!! Want to feel His love?? ASK ASK ASK!!!

 

As a missionary, all I want to do is fullfill my purpose and teach the restored Gospel. I want to invtie people to His church and helpt hem to be baptized and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. My desires are righteous but I was missing part of the equation. I didnt ask Him. This is His work so He needs to be apart of it.

 

Moral of the story? Ask and then act. Heavenly Father will never lead you astray!

 

Well this week was great! We are working hard!! I love this work! I am so blessed. The things I have learned on my mission i could never learn anywhere else. I know I have a Heavenly Father who loves me, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ and Christ did more for me than I can ever give back. I know of this because I have felt the spirit in my life.

 

One last invite.....if you have a testimony of the BOM write it down and send it to me! Sister Kerns and I are putting testimonies in BOMs to give away! Its way cool!!

 

Well i love you all!!

sister ploth.

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

Hellooooo!!!!

Hello Everyone! So transfer 7 and week 1 done! This past week I hit my 9 month! Wow! So cool!! I really love this work!!

 

Okay, training...how fun! Sister Kerns is great! She was ready to hit the ground running and knock doors. I think she was a little disappointed when we didnt. haha. But we eventually did and she loved it! She also invited Beverly to be baptized on July 14th. She was stumbling over her words, I was praying so hard for her, and then Beverly says, "Well what is it Sister Kerns?? SPIT IT OUT!!" haha. So funny but she accepted and we are excited. We planned out the next 3 weeks for her last night, filled with some amazing spiritual experience! Keep her in your prayers!!

 

Friday something way cool happend! We were at the library mormon.orging and a guy walks up to us and says, "I was a missionary once! Here have dinner on me!" And gave us $10! I have heard of stuff like that happening , but never saw it. It was way cool!

 

Hmmm what else can I share? This week I really liked Doctorine and Covenants 62:3   Nevertheless, ye are ^ablessed, for the ^btestimony which ye have borne is ^crecorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you, and your ^dsins are forgiven you.

 

So after reading that I immediatly wrote down my testimony. Of course I want it to be recorded in Heaven!! I want you all to know that I have a LIVING Testimony of this Gospel. Awhile ago SIster Hamm wrote me and I often find myself reflecting back that this Gospel is ALIVE. Christ is Alive. Repentance is a real principle. Faith is the first principle of the Gospel, and repentance is the second. Without those two things I am nothing.

 

We taught the Relief Society lesson this Sunday, it was chapter 12 of President George A. Smith and it was called  "An Enthusiastic Desire to Share the Gospel" What a perfect lesson for the missionaries to teach. As Sister Kerns and I went over it, I imagined the Plan of Salvation and how we lived with Heavenly Father as a FAMILY, we come down as a FAMILY (different families, but still we are all spirit brothers and sisters), and we want to return as a FAMILY. I often find myself really understanding this work. I am 9 months out and just begining to understand my purpose. In some ways, I dont want to go home. I want to serve, love, and share what I know to be true everyday of my life! The people of the Orlando, Florida area are children of God and they need Him. I loved what Sister Kerns said early this week as she was looking at out area map..."We are responsilbe for all these people in this area" And we are! I will leave with my favorite paragraph from the lesson, that made me cry but its what every missionary feel!

 

 

My Heavenly Father … has called me to go to many parts of the earth, and more than a million miles have been traversed since I was called into the ministry. I have traveled in many lands and climes, and wherever I have gone I have found good people, sons and daughters of the living God who are waiting for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and there are thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of them, who would be accepting the truth if they only knew what we know.¹⁰

 

 

Well until next time, Brothers and Sisters, all my love, Sister Ploth.

 

Pictures:

Pic 1: Picking Sister Kerns up!

Pic 2: I finished my journal last night!!!

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

I'm expecting a baby....

GIRL!!! Yes, you read that right! This transfer I will be training!! Her name is Sister Kerns.

 

I got the call last Wednesday. Sister Staley and I were so sad to be leaving one another. I love her so much and we beleive its because we got along so well. But the Lord is trusting me with one His servants. We had a trainers' meeting on Friday and listening to a talk by Elder Holland that basically says the way you train your new missionary is the way she will be for the rest of her life! No pressure, right?? I am really excited because I loved Sister Durr and I want to pass down her legacy..haha. The sad thing is, my unrealistic side is comong out, you know what I am talking about Mom. (: I want everything to be PERFECT! I have even tried to figure out how I can make her breakfast....haha. Sister Staley brought me back down to earth, Thank goodness. So today will be filled with goodbyes and  packing. She gets into Orlando around 4pm and I get her tomorrow at about 10am. Defiantly keep us in your prayers!!

 

Another funny thing...this week is my 9 month mark, so Sister Staley made trhe comment, "Well of course you are expecting...you are at 9months!" hahaha.

 

This week was great! We still cant find a lot of our investigators...so weird. But the ones we have are doing well. Sister Pam Smith came out with us to teach Bob. She is a recent convert and her husband was just baptized a week ago and she is so excited about the Gospel. They are a great couple! I love Sister Smith.

 

Gene and Pug are doing well,. they are our Florida Grandparents we teach. Gene is straight out of a John Wayne movie. Pug  came to church. She is so sweet. Pug is just a nickname. dont worry. They are from North Carolina.

 

We have had some crazy rain here! Last night lots of lightning. Pretty but scary!

 

Wel this transfer has been awesome and I am excited to start this new one with my Baby Girl!! haha. Def keep us in your prayers!! Ya'll are in mine!!

 

The Atonement is real! Repentance is a true principle. Obedience to the Lord's commandments helps us progress!! I have a testimony of all this! I love my mission and I love the Gospel!!

 

Keep the Faith!!

love, Sister Ploth.

 

 

Picture Attatched: Last transfer District...Jumping shot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

1/2 way!

Hello all!!! Week 6..oh my heck!! Coming up on 9 months so that means I am half way there...or am I just starting? You be the judge!!

Well, Brothers and Sisters, Heavenly Father is a loving Heavenly Father. I have learned so much this week. Specifically, its not always Satan "trying to get you" BUT Heavenly Father seeing if you are going to be obedient. We had so much cancelled appointments and back ups blow up. We could have quit and stopped working BUT we didnt! We found work. We served, we taught, we tempted to find. And the week was bittersweet. This week I gained a testimony of the hymns! THey are powerful. So much doctorine and principles taught in them. Lately I have been humming "Come Come Ye Saints"   How grateful I am for the hymns. We have even been able to sing to some members. What an experience. i invite you all to read the Preface in the front of the hymn book. Lots of promises and direction from the Lord. (I am running out of time!! ack!!)

Hmmmm...what else?? I had an amazing letter in my head. I want you all to know how great I know this work is. This week we had no investigators at church but we had 5 less actives we are teaching come!! WOW!! What a tender mercy!!

I hope you all have a great week!! Thanks for all the letters. I really felt the love this week!!

love always, Sister Ploth.

Come, come, ye saints, no toil nor labor fear;
But with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear,
Grace shall be as your day.
Tis better far for us to strive
Our useless cares from us to drive;
Do this, and joy your hearts will swell -
All is well! All is well!

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?
'Tis not so; all is right.
Why should we think to earn a great reward
If we now shun the fight?
Gird up your loins; fresh courage take.
Our God will never us forsake;
And soon we'll have this tale to tell-
All is well! All is well!

We'll find the place which God for us prepared,
Far away, in the West,
Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;
There the saints, will be blessed.
We'll make the air, with music ring,
Shout praises to our God and King;
Above the rest these words we'll tell -
All is well! All is well!

And should we die before our journey's through,
Happy day! All is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;
With the just we shall dwell!
But if our lives are spared again
To see the Saints their rest obtain,
Oh, how we'll make this chorus swell-
All is well! All is well!

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.