Week 10: I'll Be Not-Murdered for Christmas

Nine days ’til Christmas!!!

I’m sure many of you out there are in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. And I am too. But it turns out that Christmastime is different as a missionary. Who knew, right?

Hermana Petersen and I tried hard to take a cute comp picture haha

Hermana Petersen is really good about member work, so we’ve been calling inactive members. We’ve also driven out to their houses so that we (from a safe distance) can give them Light the World calendars and just see how they’re doing. This week, we drove up to Mt. Pleasant, which is just outside Columbia and in our area. It’s a cute place, unless you stray a bit too far. What do I mean, you ask? Well, I’m glad to answer. Hermana Petersen and I were hitting up these members’ houses, leaving calendars. Mt. Pleasant (and a lot of Tennessee in general) is pretty spread out, and it goes from civilization to … not … extremely fast. So Hermana Petersen and I were going to one member home, on the outskirts of town. The numbers on the houses weren’t clear, and we were basically driving on backroads. We were going along, then realized we’d passed the house, but the road was so narrow that we couldn’t just turn around. So we went a little farther down, and we suddenly saw this house that straight-up belongs in a horror movie, and then it was just trees and spookily lit woods. Luckily, no one got murdered that night, but something has happened there.

The other hermanas insist that it's prettier in the other seasons, but I love Tennessee right now!

We’ve been teaching a lot of member lessons in general this December, which has been super fun! The members in the Columbia ward are so amazing, and their testimonies shine so brightly over phone and Zoom calls. It’s absolutely insane. I love getting the opportunity to love them.

Here’s the whole district! Back row, left to right: Elder Nelson, Elder French, Elder Parkin, Elder Myers. Front, left to right: Hermana Harris, Hermana Newton (who’s she), Hermana Likes, Hermana Petersen (you already know!).

Love was a big theme at our district council this week. We were discussing how missionary work changing with the pandemic has been a blessing, and Elder Parkin (our amazing district leader) talked about how important it is to love the people as a missionary. He had us read from John 15, which says:

17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Elder Parkin had originally been serving in Malaysia and was reassigned to Tennessee. The adjustment was initially really hard for him, but you can just tell that he loves the people he’s serving. That’s true for everyone in our district.

Columbia’s city hall, which has been made world-famous by the “Hannah Montana” movie.

It’s true that you need to love the people, but I think when we say that, it’s sometimes not understood what that group is. Loving the people is loving the born-again Christian who yells at you on the phone and tells you that he won’t read “Joe Smith’s new Bible.” It’s loving the cashier at Kroger and the widow in your ward. Love goes to every single member of your district and to your companion. It’s praying for all of those people, and everyone else in Tennessee, every night.

Elder Myers brought this sign to our little photo shoot. Apparently we were supposed to bring “Christmas.”

In Mosiah 2, King Benjamin teaches his people:

17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

I think I’m finally starting to understand that.

— Just happy to be here,

Hermana Newton

Week 9: Lil Men

Happy Wednesday!

A lot of milestones have happened and are happening this week! I’ve officially been serving for two months, and tomorrow will mark halfway through the transfer. I’m already 25% of the way through training! Ack!

Hermana Petersen being the cutest while I’m just happy to be there.

I know I am still so very green, but I’ve gotten a real appreciation and understanding for missionary work this past week, now that I’m (mostly) over the shock of being in the field. It’s easier to just soak in everything that’s going on and focus on enjoying this part of life. Hermana Petersen has made the focus of the week “Embrace,” and while it’s mostly a joke, I’ve really enjoyed that idea of being happy in the moment. It reminds me of Elder Uchtdorf’s “Three Sisters” talk from the October 2017 General Women’s session of conference. It’s so important to appreciate the life you have right now, and not wish for something better.

Hermanas Likes and Harris got Christmas decorations for us! They’re so fun, and we’re happy to get into the Christmas spirit.

Also: I’m part of a rap group now? Hermana Likes’ initials are LIL, and for those of you who don’t know, mine are MEN. Therefore, our ultimate duo is Lil Men, and we will be coming out with a spiritual single shortly!

We moved to recording our phone tracting on Google Sheets, but here’s all of the paper Hermana Petersen has used.

Something that has defined my week is reading Saints during my free time. They’re these narrative histories that my mom is working on with the Church History Department, and I just finished Volume One! They are the best, and they especially contextualize the Doctrine and Covenants for me. This week,  I was reminded heavily of Section 84. It has this especially poignant verse:

 79 Behold, I send you out to prove the world, and the laborer is worthy of his hire.

I have *so many* sticky notes to help me focus on what matters, and this one is a favorite.

I love this scripture so much. It was one of many that encouraged me to serve a mission, so it’s extra special to run into it while I’m here, doing what it asks. I’ve always struggled with feeling like I’m enough, and I remember reading this and being assured that no matter my doubts, Heavenly Father would support me, wherever I was sent. And the same is true for each and every one of you beautiful people!

Even though I’m a servant of the Lord, I’m known to be Extra now and again.

Bonus spiritual goodness: Elder Uchtdorf’s talk “He Will Place You on His Shoulders and Carry You Home” from April 2016!

— I love you,

Hermana Newton

Week 8: Christmastime Is Here! 🎄

Hello, everyone!

I can’t believe that I've landed on another P-Day*! Time does not make sense when you’re on a mission. All and no time has passed. I can feel myself learning and changing so much, and I haven’t even been out in the field two weeks yet! My two-month anniversary is on Monday, though. I’m sure the next 16 months are going to flash before my eyes.

I didn’t think the weather would be eventful here, but it snowed!!! Just in time for December.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I loved making my #GiveThanks posts and pondering all the things I had to be grateful for, and hearing other people find gratitude within their lives was so special. I hope all of us will continue having that spirit of gladness, because it was such a beautiful, warm feeling to experience.

 

We also got fed by the Rosses, who are a wonderful family in the Columbia ward. I felt very welcomed by them, and that moment was probably my favorite one in my first week in Tennessee. It was the real beginning of me feeling Christlike love for the people that I’m serving!

Because of the fast-approaching winter on Monday, we made hot chocolate and watched “The Christ Child” while I fixed a tear on one of my skirts.

And just as soon as Thanksgiving was over, we missionaries got to start focusing on the Light the World initiative! It is so great to be part of such a joyful work after 2020 has been so hard for people. Offering hope to everyone is so important.

The best part of Tennessee (besides our wonderful members of course haha) is still the sunsets. I took this while we were filling up the gas tank on Thanksgiving.

Light is one of my favorite concepts discussed in the scriptures. Light is central to the story of the brother of Jared and his people, the Jaredites, in The Book of Mormon. The Jaredites had been commanded to cross the ocean to arrive in a new land. They prepared these boats for their journey, but the brother of Jared realized that they wouldn’t have a source of light in these barges. So he asked the Lord what to do, and the Lord told him to come up with a solution. In turn, the brother of Jared provided stones that the Lord touched and gave light to. In Ether 6, it says:

3 And thus the Lord caused stones to shine in darkness, to give light unto men, women, and children, that they might not cross the great waters in darkness.

 

We’re often asked what the light is in our lives. And people will say things like service, love, and the Gospel. Which are all good things! But when I think of light, I think of part of the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 5:

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

Isn’t Hermana Petersen gorgeous? So lucky to have her as my trainer.

Everyone, we are the light! When we allow ourselves to be touched by God, that light cannot be hid! As this Christmas season begins, I hope you’ll all keep that in mind, and know that your brightness makes a difference to someone.

— Keep being lights!

Hermana Newton

 

* Preparation day is the one day a week designated for non-missionary tasks such as laundry and errands.

Week 7: Doc, Doc, Shoe

 Hey, y’all!

Here’s me pointing at a map and having no clue what serving in Columbia means!

I’m writing this from the bustling city of Columbia, Tennessee. It’s about an hour south of Nashville, and I still can’t really believe that I’m here! Air travel really is a miracle that I can’t quite wrap my head around. But here I am, for at least two transfers! Columbia is the hometown of James K. Polk AND a location for the “Hannah Montana” movie, so it’s really cemented itself as a national treasure.

I do own a pair of Timberlands, which sort of makes up for my lack of Docs, according to Hermana Petersen, because they’re cousins.

So, was anyone going to tell me that all the sister missionaries wear Docs now? I guess it’s the hottest new trend, because all of the hermanas I live with (Yay everyone I serve with is serving a Spanish-speaking mission!) own at least one pair, and when I showed up, they were not prepared for my lack thereof.

Hermana Petersen is a strong woman. Do not mess with her.

My companion and trainer is named Hermana Petersen, and she’s *amazing*. She’s from Washington, and she has seven siblings, so we’re balancing out the stereotypes of members here. She does everything so well and with so much heart, and I feel so loved and watched over by her, which I’m sure my mom will be very grateful for as she’s reading this.

Speaking of gratitude! The prophet’s message on Friday was amazing! I’ve watched it a few times, and I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t make me tear up for 100% of those instances. President Nelson’s kindness, intelligence, and empathy have given the encouragement that I and countless others have needed.

There are horses next to the church??? Super fun to meet them.

Honesty hour: Missions are hard. I feel kind of embarrassed stating this as if it’s a surprise, but this week has really been me digesting that fact. I’ve always understood that it’s challenging, but it is a whole different kind of difficult that I’ve never had to face before. I’ve been thinking about that verse in Malachi 3 that’s in Handel’s “Messiah”:

2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire …
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

I haven’t even done it a full week yet, but what I have found myself met with the refiner’s fire already. It can definitely be intense, and sometimes it leaves me feeling weaker before I become stronger, but I can’t wait to see the gold and silver that come from it.

Tennessee sunsets are already the best thing ever!

So much love to all of you reading this, wherever you may be, and whatever fire is refining you. I hope that you’ll all stay safe and well this Thanksgiving, and shoot me an email if you get the chance! I’d love to hear what’s happening in your lovely lives.

— Thankful for you,

Hermana Newton

Week 6: At the Eleventh Hour

Hey, everyone!

I know this letter isn’t super late, but since it’s nighttime and I try to send these midafternoon, it feels especially tardy. Also, winter in Utah means that it gets dark fast. Is Tennessee particularly mountainous? I didn’t think it was, but if I’m wrong, I’d love to be informed on the actual geographical layout.

This is me trying to keep it together on the day of the second talent show (and also when I received my patriarchal blessing), which was the last time everyone saw each other. :’)

Pleasantries aside, I can’t believe I’m getting on a plane tomorrow! At first, our flight plans said we’d be leaving Wednesday. As in today. But the Tennessee Nashville Mission has transfers on Thursdays, so they changed our tickets. I’ll be leaving at the lucky time of 11:11 a.m. I know that saying your wish is bad luck, but let’s just say mine will be themed around flights.

I also can’t believe the CCM is over! I thought it was going to be stressful and hard and scary. It was definitely the first two, but it was not scary at all, especially at the end. I’ve grown to love my district so so much. They’re all such amazing disciples of Christ. I even found myself appreciating gym, specifically Elder Miklich keeping us from doing burpees on the last day! That was truly a gift he gave us.

Besides gym, everyone provided such amazing spiritual thoughts and experiences that entire week. Hermana Volk and I got the opportunity to lead a Book of Mormon read on Saturday, our final day of classes. A Book of Mormon read is basically when one companionship leads a discussion about a piece of scripture. It was such a powerful testament to me, and I definitely cried a lot haha. I read from Moroni 10:32-33:

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

I was killing it in the fashion department this week, but here’s a picture of me pouting over the fact that my pictures weren’t capturing how 🔥 my outfits were.

 

For a lot of my life, I’ve struggled with this principle of the gospel. It is so hard to be perfect, and I’ve often put on this burden of needing to never make a mistake. So when I inevitably fall short, it’s crushing. Something I’ve been learning, and something that’s been especially clear to me with this experience in the CCM, is how important it is to accept the mercy of Christ. Perfection is not achieved by sheer will. It’s achieved by supplication. Patience. Mercy. In Spanish, the verb for “to try” is “intentar.” When we have the intent to change, to become better, that’s when we can truly repent and be perfected in Christ.

I don’t know if it is, but this email is feeling long, so I’ll bullet-point everything else from the week!

• I got my patriarchal blessing! It was an amazing, wonderful, loving experience. I’m so grateful I was able to do it.

Here's a #CandidLook at everyone during the talent show. S/o to Hermana Palmer for being especially “Brady Bunch”!

• We had another talent show! I sang “Beauty and the Beast” and Jonah was awesome enough to accompany me. He’s the best little brother. Highlights include Hermana Reichner’s turtle, Elder Young’s moonwalking, and Hermana Roe’s recorder. In truth, everything shared was the best.

• Hermano Cervantes wrote a song for the district! It’s super catchy, and I’ll definitely be bragging about it when I’m out on the field.

• My mom finally trimmed my bangs, so I won’t be arriving in Tennessee looking like the latter part of “Lady and the Tramp.”

Again, I absolutely love all of you! To quote the amazing Mister Rogers:

You make each day a special day. You know how, by just your being you. There’s only one person in this whole world like you. And people can like you exactly as you are.

I got dressed, then looked up at my wall and realized I was matching my Guatemala flag. Had to capture the moment! <3

Keep on being you,

Hermana Newton

Week 5: *Now* Is the Winter

Happy Wednesday, everybody!

For those of you who haven’t been keeping track at home, I’ve started Week 6 of the online CCM. Which happens to be the final week. There’s still a lot to learn, and there’s definitely much, much more Spanish to be spoken in the coming months (and the rest of my life, I guess), but this part of the mission has treated me so well! I love my district and my teachers, and it’s going to be hard to say goodbye. More on that in my next letter, I’m assuming.

But the good news is that the Tennessee Nashville Mission is ready to welcome me with open arms! I still don’t have my flight plans. Maybe I’ll have to run all the way there instead, like Forrest Gump. But I’ll definitely be going there, and I was able to talk with President and Sister Weaver on Sunday! They were both very kind during our video call, and I’m excited to meet them and everyone else next week.

It feels like Christmas!

Before my interview, I decided to look up the temperature in Tennessee, and it was 79 degrees! This was especially insane to me, since it was snowing here at the time. Suffice it to say that I’m going to be having a holiday season unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I know some people don’t like the snow, but I think it’s magical, and I’ll be treasuring it up while I can before I fly out to the South and learn how to deal with humidity.

A few fun things happened this week! Hermano Rivera told us the story of how he and his wife met, then his wife came and told us the story of how they met, and we also got to see their baby, Ariel. She is adorable. I can’t believe I won’t be able to hold a baby for the next 17 months. At some point we’ll get the reward of learning how the Riveras got engaged! 

My favorite development is when Hermana McCauley gives out devotional assignments at the end of Hermano Cervantes’ class. She gives the person their assignment, and then says something she appreciates about them, and then everyone else in the chat includes what they appreciate as well! Hermana McCauley gave me an assignment for Thursday’s devotional, and I felt such an outpouring of love and friendship from everyone. Our district is literally the best.

We had our last workshop with Hermano Alarcón on Friday, and even though we were sad to say goodbye, it was awesome. In his words, he deserved all the “spiritual cookies”! The topic of the workshop was working with members, which is one of the biggest things we can do now during the pandemic. One of the activities we did was to look through our friend list on Facebook and send someone an uplifting message. The scripture I found and sent to one of my friends was in Alma 34, but it was so good, I decided to share it with everyone!

41 But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.

It is so easy to get caught up in the stress of everything. I should know. I’m one of the most high-strung people I've ever met. But I also hold a lot of optimism, and a similar firm hope to the one that’s described in this verse. And being hopeful can sometimes be discouraging. It includes you having to come face-to-face with a lot of pessimism that can make it hard to truly believe that it will all turn out all right in the end. But Heavenly Father blesses us with reprieve, and guarantees that good will prevail. And I know it will, because it has before. If you don’t see the end in sight, be patient. It’s something that’s been promised to you.

— Stay cool warm,

Hermana Newton

Week 4: I Want to Ride My Bicycle

Hi, everyone!

This has been such a fun week! I ended up writing 26 pages in my journal this time around, which is a pretty substantial increase. At the beginning of my online CCM experience, I was showing my dad how much I’d written in my journal already, and he joked that I would fill up the entire thing before I left Utah. I don’t think that will happen exactly, but this journal is about two-thirds of the way full. Looks like I’ll have to hit up some good stationery stores in Tennessee!

Speaking of Tennessee, I heard from TNM (that’s what the cool kids are calling the Tennessee Nashville Mission) right after I finished my weekly email last week, and I learned that there are bikes in my mission! I’m not exactly sure how riding a bike in a skirt is supposed to work, but I’m sure my trainer will have some tips.*

I got new glasses! You’ve heard of “two heads are better than one.” Get ready for “two pairs are better than one”!

And no, I still don’t have my flight plans. I’ve been able to connect with some other missionaries headed for Nashville, and Hermana Gomez (resident cool girl of district 8E) is also reassigned there, so at least I know that all of us have no clue what the future holds together. What’s also nice about Hermana Gomez being around is that she was able to warn me before the TNM called on Sunday to schedule an interview with the mission president! So that’s fun.

I’m sure you’re all wondering about gym (I’m sure me complaining about it is the highlight of your week), but this week I have good news! Our instructor’s WiFi wasn’t working, so we had to watch a video he’d previously recorded. The routine was much less intense, and I actually felt happy after working out. The blessings given to us by the Lord.

My Phoebe costume (with a helpful “Magic School Bus” background so it’s clear who I am).

Halloween was super fun! Before I started my mission, I put some thought into what I could possibly dress up as, because Halloween costumes are very important to me. I ended up going as Phoebe from “The Magic School Bus,” which was a costume nobody could guess but would make everyone go “Ohhhhh” once I told them who it was. Gotta love a collective “Ohhhh” moment.

An inside look at Elder Young’s “exclusive” birthday festivities.

But the highlight of the week was definitely Elder Young’s birthday on Tuesday. We celebrated by playing “Las Mañanitas” in Hermano Rivera’s class, and Hermana McCauley put together a video of everyone in the district saying their favorite thing about Elder Young! Our district is so close, and they’re really all the best . I hope that we’ll be able to have a little reunion after we finish our missions.

What? A “Happy New Year” hat? This is clearly a “Happy B-Day” hat of the highest quality.

I also had a great time representing the district during a meeting some of the CCM teachers were having. The hermanas I met were very nice and complimented my Spanish, which I don’t think I necessarily earned, but I was happy to accept their kindness.

This week, I learned something very cool, which was that one of the elders we have our weekly workshops with, Elder Murdock, sang on the 2020 Youth Album! I have to be real with you guys, I’ve never really liked the Youth Album songs. I can appreciate the sentiment, but if I’m having a spiritual moment with music, it’s more often while listening to the Tabernacle Choir. How grandmotherly of me, I know. But now that I’m a missionary and can only listen to certain types of songs, I’ve given this genre a second chance. I’ll be honest: I don’t like every song. But there are some that will definitely be on my mission playlist, including this song. Give it a listen, and see if you can find songs this week that help you feel the Spirit where you might not have expected it!

An especially important scripture to me this week is found in 3 Nephi, when Christ appears before the Nephites. It says:

14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

I know it’s easy to feel stressed and overwhelmed right now, and I know it’s easy for that to devolve into feeling hopeless. And it’s OK to be scared. It’s OK to not know everything. It’s OK for things to not make sense. Something I’ve been learning (and trying to accept for myself) is that being brave isn’t being foolhardy. It’s living and fighting what you believe, and continually working toward becoming the person you want to be. And something that I’ve felt testified to me again and again is the reality of Christ. How we can come unto him and know for ourselves of his life and his love. I hope we can all be partakers of the gift that knowledge is.

So much love,

Hermana Newton

* The dress code for sister missionaries includes trousers now.