Hello!

It's so great to get your email! I am looking forward to the package, that should be great :) 

 I got a card from Kaycee this week, it was probably the highlight of my week! Thank you so much Kaycee, I loved it :)

So yesterday it was lovely, 80 degrees nearly! or at least 70 ;) Then today is stormy, super windy and rainy. At least it's our p-day so we won't be out in it much! Also another funny sidenote...I was ready to go this morning, and looked in the mirror right before we prayed. I am wearing a black dress, black tights, black shoes, and a black wool coat, with a black purse. I swear, I look like I am in mourning or something! Haha just a funny sidenote about my day ;)

Oh man, it sounds like you had quite the dramatic evening! Goodness, life sounds crazy. I'm glad you were just laughing though, that is the only way to get through it I have come to realize! Oh Matthew. Haha this remindes me of that country song that says "you're going to miss this, you're going to want this back, you're going to wish these days hadn't gone by so fast! It may not seem so now, but you're going to miss this" Haha someday you might miss these crazy days! Maybe not, who knows ;)

Lilacs?! Holy Moly, I sure miss those plants! I don't know if they have them here, and I just haven't seen them yet, or if they don't grow here....the trees are all blooming though, and they look gorgeous! It was a very long winter, but spring is finally here. Everything is so green and splendid, which fact I am very grateful for! It's funny in life how sometimes you think the winters will never ever end, but eventually they do, making the springs that much more enjoyable and appreciated! Summer will go well, it will fly by I'm sure! Isn't it crazy how May is almost gone already! I'm telling you, time flys by. Somedays are super long, but as a whole, time is crazy! I liked your quote a lot, it is a very accurate one. Isn't it funny how sometimes we are so unwilling to ask for help, but we need it so bad! It seems to be a matter of humbling ourselves. Haha I'm glad you got all the letters and pictures, I realized I hadn't sent any in a while, and thought I should! Haha we had some good times, me and Sister Amis!

It has been a crazy week here in Austin, we have 5 solid people planning on being baptized in June, which is a lot. There is a lot of things to remember and to keep track of, but we're doing our best! We aren't doing very much tracting anymore, because we have so many lessons to teach, we're doing good to fit them all in! I am so grateful though to be busy, It is a miracle to see so many people come into the gospel. It blesses their lives so much. We teach so many people who don't speak english which is a very humbling situation. We are always told that we need to teach by the Spirit, but I don't think that really clicked until now. My words really don't matter. It's the Spirit that testifies to those I come into contact with that what I am saying is true. It is the Spirit that is able to soften and change hearts. Some of the most spiritual lessons I have had have been in the past couple of weeks where we can't communicate with the words that we speak, but really have to rely on the Spirit. 

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week, and that you find time to laugh, and dance a little bit ;)

I love and miss you all!

Love, Sister Christina Trickler

We got to skype with Christian yesterday and she seems to be doing fabulous!  Her letter was understandably short this morning.

Good luck with school for the youngins! I sure hope they do well, I pray for them all! You know what you said about taking a village to raise a child, is so true. Holy Cow. I am so grateful for all of those people who helped raise me, even if they didn't realize it. I wouldn't be here without them! I think of even Teresa, who kept me playing hymns even though i didn't have much interest at the time, or Connie my swim coach who made me realize that it was alright to not be the fastest swimmer, I have so much more worth than just as a swimmer. Isn't it funny how much of a difference those little things can make? The little things people say to you, or have you do? I'm a lucky girl :)

 Megan, the one who we skyped at last night has a book that has 4 main things that we should do in our lives...they made me think.

1. Don't make assumptions

2. Do your best- and your best will be different every day ;)

3. Don't take things personally

4. Always be true- be honest and trustworthy

I love those 4 things, and am trying to do better at all of them!

I hope and pray you have a great week!

Love,

Sister Christina Trickler

Hello!!!!

It is so great to hear from you :) Don't worry, I am doing a bit better than last week....if you couldn't tell by the email or lack there of, it was a hard one on me! But life is good once again. (more on that later)

SKYPE!!!! In less than a week!!! I am more than excited, just sayin!! We are going to be able to skype Sunday afternoon, I will be on at 4:20 if that works, for 40 minutes. :)

This week. Thanks so much for the prayers, they were appreciated. It was one of the hardest weeks of my mission, but one of the most amazing at the same time. There is a scripture that you should read and think about. Lamentations 1:14. It describes my situation perfectly. I was placed into a situation that I could not deal with on my own, and so in essence I was forced to turn to the Lord. And holy moly, the Atonement is real. Okay, let me just tell you the story. So....Sister Amis was my best friend. Like it was crazy rediculous how close we were. We had so much fun, and got work done. We found out a week and a half before she actually left that she was leaving up to the cities. We weren't suppose to know, but due to some interesting choices of our leaders, we found out. I knew she was leaving and I was leading out Austin. It was a hard week, this sounds cheesy, but we seriously felt like our hearts were breaking! I am not a crier, and I cried a river I swear. Gajeebies. Anywho, she left, one of the hardest goodbyes ever. And I got my new companion. Sister Callister is really great, it was still hard for me though. Wednesday we  got to our apartment just in time for dinner. I didn't feel like eating ( big surprise ;)) so, I didn't. I was feeling quite overwhelmed, and finally went into the bathroom, knelt on the floor and just talked to Heaveny Father. I told Him that I couldn't do this. That was...hurting for lack of a better word. I didn't have the strength to be completely in charge of an area, and to get work done without my best friend. It was a very heartfelt prayer...and Heavenly Father Healed me. I don't know how it worked, but it did. I got up, and while I still miss Sister Amis, it is doable. I received some revelation on why Sister Callister needs to be here right now, and why I need to have her as my companion. It was an amazing experience for me. All that we are asked to do, is to turn to the Savior and ask for help. He will heal us. Can I repeat, He will heal us, of whatever we may be struggling with. Holy Moly. The church is true, the book is blue, and moroni is always on the ball!! I am so excited right now, just telling you about all this. We are truly given trials to strengthen us!

Back to your email ;) If you just happen to have some dried plums hanging around the house...I never would turn them down. ;) And you're sure my buddy can't fit in a box?!?

I am so glad you were able to go running! I haven't in over a week, Sister Amis and I weren't sleeping before she left, and now i'm still catching up! but this week, we will go, that's for sure! And running in the rain is nice, not as good as dancing, but hey, we do what we can! :) Christmas music: yes please! And Canning, I actually miss it! I asked Sister Register if she canned, and she said she does  a lot in the fall...so hopefully (fingers crossed) I will be able to help her with some of it! That would make my day, no joke.

I'm glad the boys are working...do they have a mission fund? It might be a good idea to start one of those...It is possible to earn it all the summer before you leave, but that can lead to long hours!

May day! Haha oh my goodnes...I just have to tell you, Sister Amis and I may or may have not done some pole dancing just in honor of the day! (don't worry, it was completely missionary approved ;) ) Gotta love it. I'm so glad that Jackie had a better experience than I did, and i'm sure she looked mighty fine in her dress! Takes after her older sister, what can I say! ;) She will have to show me her prom dress if she has it on Sunday, good luck with that! Go lace up if possible, just sayin :)

3 hour long meeting?! Good luck with that one! I hope it goes well. I would highly advise a lemonade...that has been my beverage of choice lately! Either that or apple juice :)

Good for you, keep playing the piano! I had a funny conversation with Sister Register yesterday about the piano, and how when the millenium comes we won't really need to talk. I said I hope we can still sing! And she said yes, and play trumpets....but the piano probably won't be there! This lead to a fun discussion about the physics of pianos vs. trumpets and how all of the pictures just have trumpets! Don't worry, i'm still finding time to be silly, and have....discussions with people!

The book of Jude sounds fasinating. I'll have to spend some time in it this week. I have been reading in exodus, and it is so interesting. It's amazing how our questions can be answered through unrelated passages of scripture. This morning I read about Moses, and how he needed Aaron to speak for him. Isn't it amazing that Moses was humble enough to know that he needed help, and that he was able to rely on Aaron? And it is always good to remember that our leaders aren't perfect. They are men called of God, and they are doing well, but they aren't perfect! Speaking of the who, think about why the commandment to be perfect was given. It's a thought provoking subject.

And...drumroll please....Story of the week! Aww yeah. So pretty much, we have super neat investigator that I don't know if i've told you about. His name is Doug. He is in a little town leroy which is about 50 minutes away from Austin. He came there for a fresh start. He was an atheist, but really wanted to learn more about Christ, so he began coming to church with his friend out in Leroy. We met him 4 weeks ago I believe, and he asked if we could meet. Of course were said yes, and we have been meeting with him twice ever since. His faith is incredible. He reads everything we ask him to, and more! He tells us that he doesn't understand lots of what we teach him, but he has a feeling that he can't deny, that it is true! The Holy Ghost is real. He has wanted to stop smoking for a while, and we talked about the word of wisdom a week and a day ago. He said he would prepare himself, and start on sunday. Well, the roads were too bad for him to drive into church on sunday so we didn't get to see him until Saturday. Due to transfers and all that jazz. We got there, sat down and he looked at me and said "well, I've quit smoking" I'm pretty sure my jaw dropped to the floor! I was so excited. I can't even explain it! He stopped on thursday, and only has had one cigarette since then! (and that was on Thursday night I believe). How amazing!!!!!! Holy Moly, I was amazed, and thrilled. It was such a spiritual experience. Did I  mention that the Atonement is real, and that it heals us. It gives us strength that we do not have on our own. It is the means by which we change and come better. It is personal, and for each of us. The Savior is standing with his hand outstretched, all we need to do is to reach up and grab it. We all need Him, and His Atonement for something in our lives right now. So lets use it.

I love you all so much! And miss you. I hope and pray all is going well, please let me know if there is anything I can do. :)

Have a lovely week, see you in 6 days!

Love,

Sister Christina Trickler

p.s. I absolutly love that scripture, thanks so so much! :)

And don't forget to smile :)

Hey, so the news of the day...Sister Amis is getting transfered. :( Crazy. If there is one thing that is consistant in life it would have to be change, and you know my feelings on change.My new companion is Sister Callister. Haha anywho, to respond to your letter. The rain isn't bad when it is warm, but sometimes it's just straight-up cold. We rode bikes the majority of this past week due to a lack of miles, so that was exciting. It was really nice when it was warm, and wasn't even too bad when it was raining until we stopped to visit someone and we were soaking wet! It's funny being in Minnesota, everyone can tell i'm from Utah when I say thanks for the moisture in my prayers. They have so much water, and don't want any more! I have never seen this much rain in my life, I do quite enjoy the lightning and thunder though. We don't have snow, and everything is starting to get so green! Speaking of the which, my plants are so tall now! I need to plant more flowers today, but I have 6 tomatoe plants....what in the world am I going to do with all of them.

What kind of running shoes? That's super exciting. I love wearing mine :)

Good luck with Mayday...I sure hope it's a more positive experience for you then it was for me a couple  of years ago! You'll have to take pictures, and embarrass Jackie for me!

I hope Soccer continues to go well, and that is great for Jake that he's the Deacon's quorum president! I hope it goes well, i'm sure it will. He's a great kid (except he hasn't written me in ages ;) ) That can be a lot of responsibility, but responsibility isn't always a bad thing.

That is an interesting thought about worthiness. I think a lot of us are a lot harder on ourselves then we need to be. I think we all let the Spirit pass by us more often then we need to.

This week has been busy, we have two people solidly committed for baptism in June, and had 9 people to church on sunday, all who didn't speak English as their first language! It's crazy here in Austin. Sorry for the short email today, we have tons to do, i'll add something in a bit if I have time. I hope you all have a great week!

Love,
Sister Christina Trickler

Hello!!

With the amount of rain we have been getting here, I think that there will be nothing but flowers next month! It is really crazy..I think the grass is greener from all the water than it ever was back at home! It is also very humid....which is a struggle for me, but take what you get, right? :) It sounds like you had an enjoyable trip with Mike and Tricia, I'm glad you were able to go party with them! Haha and I can just see all of you road-trippin in a huge van, that could be quite entertaining! (us girl cousins might have to borrow it when I get home ;) ) And I am slightly jealous that you went to Zions! I seriously need to go there someday, let's take a girls trip so you can make it to the top! Random sidenote: We have an investigator named Serious, and so I think of her every time I say that word!

Good for Jake...he takes after his sister ;) Really though, that sounds like fun! Easter here was sort of...unique. Actually, it's a funny story. So we went to church, then after that we had Easter Lunch with our friend Megan and her non-member parents. It was good, but I wasn't really hungry. I ate way too much anyways due to social pressures ;) Then we went to visit our african friend. She was working on a school assignment, so we helped her then were planning on sharing a scripture about Easter with her. She told us we needed to wait just a minute, then proceeded to make a 8 egg omlet (with the works) on top of a huge plate of fries! She then gave it to Sister Amis and I to share. We were so full that we could barely eat another bite, but it is really offensive to African's when you don't eat there food. So...I said a prayer and got an Easter Miracle! I said, Heavenly Father, I don't know if or how I can do this! That is so much food. Please help us somehow. Just after that, a couple of her kids came over, and they thankfully helped us finish! After that we drove directly to Sister Registers house for Easter dinner. Oh my goodness, I thought I would burst! Her food was really good, but I was really really full! So it was an adventure, I don't think I need to eat for the next week or so! Haha food is one of the funniest things on a mission.

Other than the food though, I really really enjoyed being out here on a mission during the Easter season. IT was sad to me to see how many people had no idea what the real meaning of Easter was. Being able to teach them was a really neat experience. Sister Amis and I had a very neat experience on Thursday night talking to one of our members about her mission, and some amazing miracles she saw, that left me with no doubt in my mind that the Savior does live. That he died and rose again on the third day. I've never known that strongly in my life. It is amazing, I could never deny it. This gospel is so true! Last night we ran into someone on the street who was a highly educated agnostic. He told us that we didn't know what we were talking about, and used science to prove us wrong. It was an interesting experience for me, having thought a lot of those thoughts before, but having found the truth for myself. I felt so lucky to have that chance to stand up and say that faith doesn't make logical sense, but it is real. That I can't prove that God or Jesus Christ exist, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that they exist. I know that I have a purpose, and that I am more than just a collection of cells! I am more than the product of evolution. All in all, it was an Easter I won't forget anytime soon!!

I hope you get doing better...being sick is absolutely no fun! And On my goodness....I loved the package!!! I just finished the goldfish :) I haven't done anything with the eggs yet....they have a purpose, I'm just figuring out what that purpose is! :) Thanks again so much. It was fun, because Sister Amis also got a package, so we waited until Friday morning to open them, it felt like Christmas :) We went on a run in the rain, got back, and got to open them while we streched out our old legs! :)

Sounds like life is busy busy busy! Busy is good, but hard. Good luck, I hope there is lots of laughs! Oh man, I want my buddy too lots of times. I get to see you all soon though, that will be so good! :) Thank you thank you for sending shirts, I have a grand total of...2 short sleeve shirts, so things are going to get real interesting here soon ;) That's alright though, I would rather be hot than freeze to death!

I loved your thought on Atonement. Isn't it interesting how it means so much to us at different points in our lifes! It's almost like the meaning changes. It's a really beautiful thing. We are so blessed to have the knowledge we have, I am seeing the importance of sharing that knowledge more and more every day! Don't worry, Sister Amis and I have way too many reasons to laugh every day, I love you lots too and miss you all!

Love,
Sister Christina Trickler

p.s. I didn't tell you the funniest story of all! So this week, we were visiting a less active sister who speaks zero english. She is from Laos. Her daughter was there, and opened the door with a bottle of beer in her hand. We knew it was going to be an adventure! She welcomed us in, and talked and talked and talked. It was about time for us to go, and she asked us if we wanted any soup. We said no thanks, we had just eaten, but she insisted. So rather than offend, we said sure. She gave sister Amis a bowl of soup that was rather large and asked if I wanted some. I said if I could just have a spoon and share with Sister Amis, that would be great. She said sure, and handed me a spoon, and a huge bowl of soup...oh dear, language barrier! Haha it looked good, she said it was completely homemade, it had noodles, pork, and some brown stuff with broth. We started to eat it and it was alright, then Sister Amis made the fatal mistake of asking what the brown stuff was. She thought it was tofu or something, but the sister told us that it was dried pigs blood! WE WERE EATING BLOOD!!!!! oh my goodness, I couldn't do it! That was why my soup was getting browner and browner by the minute, the blood was re-hydrating! Holy Cow, it was a rough one. Luckily she asked us if we wanted to talk some home and we said yes, so I poured my bowl into the container and took it home. I felt like a weird taste was in my mouth the rest of the night! Haha so, yes it was a crazy adventurous food week, I had no room to complain at home! Love you all lots!