Hello!

 It is great to hear from you this lovely gray monday! This week is transfers, we got news that we are both staying, so that is good. We have a lot of things happening right now, and.......I should be able to go to the temple within the next month or so!!! I am more than thrilled :)

It sounds like you had a busy sunday, those are great though. It is good to be busy, it keeps us out of trouble! ;) Man that is crazy that you are already working on music for the christmas program. It still feels like so far away!! I am sure it will be here before we know it though. Man, good for Matthew, that time isn't to shabby! He's not varsity, is he? I can not for the life remember what times were for our varsity boys.  I heard that Jackie had a blast, good for her. I think that she needed a pick-me-up. I think we all need one of those sometimes ;) Scratch that, I know we do! And good that Jake is having fun, good coaches are great. We were asked to write a talk on becoming a consecrated missionary this past week. I haven't done it yet, but as I was thinking about the topic this morning, a quote came to mind from Coach Wright. (XC) He always told us to give 100% of what we had. It changes everyday, but as long as we truly give it our all, that is enough. I believe that applies to every situation in life. As long as we give it our all, we will go to bed satisfied with what we did. We aren't perfect, and some days we are able to give more than other days, but that is alright. We are only human, to quote Christina Perry I believe ;). Moral of that story, things that coaches say can stick with us for a long time. That, and he always told us that if we died running he would pay for our funeral. Haha that was great :)

That sounds like a really neat project you are involved in. It sounds like there is a great need. We certainly have been given so much, it is great to have the opportunity to give something back to the world. 

Adoption: Good for the family. I'll be there in spirit.

That is really neat that Elder Nelson is coming to stake conference, I am sure that it will be a great experience. Where is conference going to be held? Conferences are great. I believe that our Stake one will be held next month, which means that I will still be here for it! They are a good opportunity to get a spiritual uplift :) Thanks for the letter from Blake! It was great to hear that he is doing well. I am sure that he is having many grand adventures! Vitamin D works wonders! Here in our mission we are all told to take it as well, starting now in preparation for the winter. I didn't last year, but am seriously considering it this year! Haha I remember one day my first companion took some Vitamin D, she was so happy that day! It really works wonders :)

Fall is beautiful, the trees are very pretty here! It is a little cold, but that is alright. We are starting to get creative with the layers, so it is alright! Change is not in my future until at least the day before Thanksgiving ;) I have to admit that I am dreading winter. Just because I know how cold it can get. It isn't bad once we are in it, it is just the anticipation that gets me sometimes! It is beautiful, and once the snow falls it will be lighter at night, which would be much appreciated!

That is a great experience with your knitting group. Did you just start it? That is the best way to do missionary work. Our mission president always use to talk about Social conversion. How people need to be socially converted to the gospel as well as spiritually. I had a hard time with that one for a while, because I don't think I ever have been socially converted to the gospel, but I have seen how important it is that people have friends in the church. Christ like love can change the world. And it does, all the time. Keep it up!

So, last week I realized that I had so many miracles that were happening but I was always so tired that by the time Monday came around I forgot all of them! This week I wrote them down though...so I thought I would share a few!

(and I just copied this down from my journal (fyi)

10/7

Today I saw a super cool miracle. So, lately I've been struggling wanting to make calls, who knows why. This morning though, I was excited to call! I decided to call Sister S. (for no real reason.) I did, and she was in tears on the phone. I couldn't really understand what she was saying. I asked if she wanted us to come over and do anything, she said no. I told her that we loved her, and she ended the call. I felt like we still needed to see her today though. We had plans to be in a completely different part of our area, but we decided we would go rake her leaves anyways. We didn't want it to be a big deal, just to let her know that we cared. So, this afternoon we went over and started to rake. (in the wind ;)) We made progress though, and after 20 minutes or so, Sister S. Came outside and told us to come in, with tears streaming down her face. We did, and she gave us huge hugs saying that she had been praying for someone to help her this morning, then right after we called her. She was praying for help, then we showed up at her house. Trust me, it wasn't coincidence. How neat is that? As we were talking to her, I received another witness that not only does God exist, but He loves each of us, and answers our prayers. It was a great experience.

10/9

Alright. yesterday's miracle : Sister Huang lost her watch when we were doing service, raking leaves for Sister S. We didn't have time to go back and search Tuesday, and forgot Wed. Afternoon. We went and ate dinner, then we were going to Stop by a potential who lived by Walmart, so we parked in the Walmart parking lot, and I had to use the restroom, so we ran inside. We needed our jackets, so we came back to the car. After putting on our jackets, sister Huang said that we needed to pray! I was in a rather silly mood, so i hopped in the backseat to say a prayer, she got in as well. AS soon as we said amen, she opened her eyes, and saw her watch on the ground! Keep in mind that we never sit in the back seats!

Moral of the story: Miracles exist every day, it is just a matter of realizing it, and recognizing them!

I hope you all have a lovely week!!

Love,

Sister Christina Trickler

Hello!! It is great to hear from you, as always :) It sounds like things are going well at home, busy but well! It is sort of strange to have a year without canning....it just isn't quite the same! This last week I came to the realization that I am just not a fan of spaghetti sauce that you buy at the store. This week I decided to buy the ingredients and just make it myself. I definitely took delicious sauce for granted! That and jam ;) 

It is sort of crazy to hear that Matthew is doing xc and Jackie has all-state choir. I feel like I was just there! Time really moves too quickly sometimes I think. I am glad that Jacob has a good coach, that makes a huge difference. I know that I had coaches that really influenced me, in a positive way.  And good luck with parent teacher conferences. You might need to go get ice cream or something afterwards! It is interesting how we all have different struggles in life. I never struggled with school, but definitely had some other struggles some of my sibilings haven't had. There is a reason though, we are all able to help each other. It's interesting, I have had 6 companions now, and they are all very different, and all have different struggles. Most of the time their struggles are different then mine, which is a blessing. They are able to help me, and I am able to help them! At least on occasion ;)

Conference was quite a delightful experience. The longer I am out, the more I realize that my life is going to be much different than I imagined when I get home. It is a strange feeling. Conference gave me hope in the future though. In a strange sort of way, I am excited to face the next adventure a head (in a little while ;) ) This could be my last conference on the mission, we'll see. There seemed to be a lot of talks on prophets in general conference, I think we are going to have to rely on them more and more in the near future. It will be great though :) Also, just a random sidenote...I didn't know most of the songs that the choir sang, it was sort of strange!

Haha I am glad you got your hair cut, but that does sound short! Mine is very long....I can't wait until I can cut it! I am hoping to donate it, so I need a little bit more length. But this winter might drive me to cut it, It is cold enough now that I need to dry it every day, and that takes a while lately! It has been in the 40's pretty consistantly the past week. 40's with rain and wind....winter is here! Thank you so much for the sweaters, they came at just the right time. I might have to buy some tights, but we'll see. I am hoping that I won't need to, but I think I just am in denial that the cold weather is coming. Snow was predicted this week, but we didn't get any....maybe this next week if we are lucky ;) 

Today we had a zone p-day which was really fun. We played capture the flag, and did a relay.....and....played ultimate frisbee for a little while. I admit my participation in that one was pretty limited, what can I say, I am just terrified when a crowd of people (especially tall elders) run towards me! It was good though to be with other missionaries, and to remember that we are not alone! We are going to have a mission conference later this month, which I am looking forward to. I got here last year just a few weeks after the mission conference, so I haven't had the opportunity to experience one yet!

As mentioned before, conference was really great! Here are a couple of my thoughts, I thought I would share :)

1. Stay in the boat!!!

2. God will not make us to be something we are not, we must have free agency. We can choose who we want to become.

3. Christ died not to save everyone, but to offer repentance to all.

4. Loving others is probably our gratest challenge in this world right now.

5. Accept trials, setbacks, and surprises as part of this moral experience.

And of course

6. Follow the example of Jesus Christ. Walk as He walks, not where He walked.

There are just a couple of things I loved....general conference is great :) I hope and pray that you all have a lovely week!! Just keep going, one step at a time :)

Love,

Sister Christina Trickler

Hello!!!

Time does seem to fly (at least for the most part :) ) The weather has been absolutly gorgeous here this past week, I am so grateful! Not too hot, but warm enough that only a cardigan was needed at night! Yay for Brennen!!!! He is going to do great :) Except I will miss seeing him :( I have a feeling it might be a while before all the extended family is in one place again....good thing we got the picture before I left! That is so exciting that Sara is on her way here! She is going to love it! She will probably leave Wed. the 1st of October, and then be here for transfers! It is crazy that they are just two weeks away, this one has gone so quickly!

!

Yes though, the temple was a major theme of the conference, to me I also learned a lot about obedience. I saw many areas in my missionary work where I could step it up! Sometimes I fall into the trap of just obeying rules because that is what I am told to do, not necessarily because it is what I want to do, or because I want to follow the Savior. The letter of the law verses the spirit of the law.

I am so excited for conference too!!!!!!!! It is definitely one of my favorite weekends on the mission. It is great just to soak up all the hope and spirit, and everything else good for 8 hours! :) The best pick me up, seeing how there isn't a Jamba Juice nearby ;) Good luck with the quilt, if you end up doing it. This week we were able to do some service for a sister in our ward. She is in the process of cleaning out her basment, and we were in charge of cleaning her sewing room. It was great fun! I don't think I have ever seen anyone with that much material though! I have decided that when I come back to visit I will have to stop by her house, and do a little shopping ;)

I hope the job goes well for Dad...that sounds rather stressful. 

It sounds like everyone else is busy, busy is good though! I hope school is going well for everyone?

Today we had district p-day, so all the missionaries in the Andover and Anoka ward got together. We went and played mini golf, laser tag, and ate at noodles! It was great fun. Out of the 8 of us, another Elder and I were battling for 1st place in mini golf the whole time, he got a hole in 1 the last hole, so beat me by two, but it was still fun ;) It reminded me of when we went and played mini golf in Providence, that is a great memory! We will have to do that again when I get home! 

This week we had a neat experience. We have been biking a lot lately, and had biked to an appointment with a less-active sister. We had to park a few blocks away, and just walked the rest of the way. We had a good appointment with this sister, then headed back to our bikes. On the way we met an elderly man who was in the process of mowing his leaves. We got talking, and told him we were missionaries and such. Somehow he got talking about the history of Israel. He was a Palestinian, and had immigrated here to the US after earning his degree in Baghdad. He told us all about the Jews and that whole history. It was something that I remember talking about in my international relations class at USU, but it was really neat to hear it from his perspective! Anyways, the next morning, I was reading in the Old Testament about the Palestinians and the Jews, and the history way back then. It was cool to see the connection, and how history repeats itself. Anyways it was great fun :)

Also, we had a cool experience at the women's conference. We got a ride from a Sister in our ward and her two daughters, who we are pretty close to. Her oldest daughter is 21, and has some severe disabilities. Her other daughter just turned 16. It was neat to be there at the conference and to be reminded that God loves us all equaly. We are all his daughters and that is never going to change! It doesn't matter what we do, or what we say...he loves us just the same. I am so grateful for that knowledge that we have!

Well, I hope you all enjoy conference, I am sure that it will be great! Have a lovely week!

Love,

Sister Christina Trickler

I received a text and picture of Christina from a dear sister in her ward yesterday.  I am so grateful for that act of service and her willingness to help Christina feel loved on her birthday.  i

Hello!!

It was great to get your letter :) Thank you so much for the package and such, it was great! Also, the dessert and flowers made my day! I'll get to that in a minute though ;) Haha I am getting quite old I suppose....It is funny to be one of the older missionaries, but still youngest age wise. Also, I can not believe it is the end of September. Where did time go?! 

So, before I respond to the rest of your letter, I have a marvelous story! This past couple of weeks, I have sort of just felt tired, and had gotten into a rut of sorts. Yesterday we had what is called president's fireside. This fireside is held in Bloomington, which is an hour away from us. Four or Five recent converts share their conversion story, and missionaries bring investigators to listen. You have to have an investigator and a ride from a member to come. It is at 7 o clock, which puts us getting home about 9:30. I have never been to this dealio because I always lived too far away in my other areas. Yesterday we really wanted to go though, so we made plans for one of our investigators to come and for a member to give us a ride. At about 3, the elders texted us, and said that the girl who we were going to take, and her dad could not come. The dad was too tired, and the girl was at a friends house, we didn't know when she would get home. We called everyone we could think of and no one was able to come. Finally at 4:55 (after a lot of prayers!!) Our friend got home, and we got in contact with her! She was still able to go! The only problem now was that the member couldn't take us anymore, so we had to get a ride, and we had dinner at 5. We were making calls, and I was driving to our dinner. We pulled up, and the Sister who you had give me a hug, and dessert, pulled in right behind us! She came up to the door, and gave me a card and brownies :) She asked how our day was going, and I said that it had been rather stressful. She asked why we didn't just ask her to take us and our friend! She was willing, and we made it to the fireside. It was a huge blessing! At the fireside, we had an incredibly spiritual experience! It was so neat. The stories were fantastic, and there was a couple of musical numbers that were amazing. I was definitely re-energized, and excited to do missionary work again :) After it ended, I stood up, and guess who I saw in the back? Sister Amis!!!!!! Oh my goodness, it was so exciting!! We were able to talk for 15 minutes or so, it was so great :) I can't even explain how fantastic it was! It had been nearly 5 months since we had seen each other! It was great :) Overall, a wonderful night, a birthday miracle. Moral of that story, Heavenly Father loves us, and is going to help us out when we need it. We need to do all we can, but miracles do happen. Just not always in our timing, or in the way we think they should happen! It was so great :)

Alright, back to your letter. I am glad you had a little rain, we seem to have a heavy storm twice a week on average, today is a beautiful day though :) We have taken lots of pictures of the leaves, it is great! I did enjoy canning, it was simple, I just washed and cut tomatoes to be blended up, but good to do something with my hands! The recipe was really good, I would just add a little spice though. But there again, I have quite a fondness for spicy foods! 

That is neat that you were able to attend the temple dedication, it is true...there are lots of temples being  built and dedicated. It is really neat :) I think that I will be able to go to the temple next month with my companion, I am rather excited....it has been far too long! I know I have said this before, but I didn't realize how much I took the temple for granted when I was in Utah, before my mission. I could go whenever I wanted, and did a lot during my year at USU....I am excited to continue going when I get back! It is such a peaceful place, away from the world.

Oh no. Jacob is getting you into Frisbee?! Haha oh dear, this could be a problem. I am thoroughly impressed that you can flick at all....I never could do that, and so just gave up :) I was doing good if I could get it to the person, but usually just make people run for it ;) Haha I would definitely love to watch you play...but I don't know that you will get me to join. I am not a huge fan of sports involving people running at me....no bueno! I think it all goes back to the time that Camilla and I were at a football game, and nearly got trampled by High School Football players, people running at me, just scares me! Haha how about we join a Softball team or something instead? I think I could do that one! It is crazy to hear that Evan is home, a lot of people are coming home in the next little while. So crazy! That is alright though, all in due time. 

Good luck with your math homework, I hope that it went well! It sounds like things are going well at home, I hope they continue that way. Also, Jackie mentioned you weren't a fan of my dress...A sister left it in Austin, and all my African friends loved it, so I have dubbed it my African Dress. It is great :) Haha thanks again for the letters and such, I greatly appreciate them!

Have a lovely week,

Love,

Sister Christina Trickler

Also, one other thought....I am so so so so so so so so excited for General Women's conference!! It is so cool that all of us will be watching it at the same time, I can't wait to hear your thoughts on it! Have fun :) 

Haha hello! I don't know if you meant to send a letter....but if you did it didn't send! I trust that everything is going well at home! As for things here, they are good. It froze for the first time this week, we were able to see our breath running. It has come way too fast! We are into the season of tights, and fall jackets. That is alright though, there is a time for every season, right?

Well, this week has been good...we have been busy, meeting people, and such. The usual missionary life :) This past Saturday we had an interesting experience. We had 3 appointments scheduled, and 4 or 5 stop-bys lined up. Before noon all of them had canceled on us. It was just crazy! We decided to do some knocking, and some different stopbys. It was sort of a long afternoon, but that evening we decided to stop by a less active sister that we had never heard of. She opened the door and said "I am not going to come back to church, but you can come in!" Haha alrighty then. We did just that. We ended up talking to her for 45 minutes. It turns out that her phone just broke, and she was dying to hear from someone! She was almost in tears, and said that we had made her day! It was a really great visit. It reminded me of the story in the bible where Jesus leaves the 99 and goes for the 1. Sometimes in life we are led to the 1, no one else needed us that day but that sister. Even though it was sort of a long one, it was a success because were able to see the one! Miracles surely do happen! Other than that...nothing too exciting, just the same as usual! We are getting quite excited for general conference, it is seriously one of my favorite parts of the year! And, I am learning Chinese! Haha very slowly, but surely. My companion is a patient one, which is quite the blessing! 

Today I was looking through quotes that I had to decorate my planner with, and I found this one. "The gospel teaches us to be happy, to have faith rather than fear, to find hope and overcome despair, to leave darkness and turn towards the lights of the everlasting Gospel" By: President Body K. Packer. Isn't that a great one? I love the hope that is found in this gospel. It is hope that isn't found in a lot of other places. We are so blessed to know that there is hope, that things can and will get better. That because of the Atonement we can change! Change is real. I have seen it over and over again both in my life and in the lives of those who I come in contact with. The Lord wants to help us! He wants us to become better, and to eventually become perfect. It sure can seem like a long road sometimes, but it is a beautiful one.

Well, I sure hope that you all have a great week, and find some reason to laugh!!!

Love,

Sister Christina Trickler