March 9 2015

Hey Family & Friends,

It has been quite a week! We had Zone Conference on Tuesday in Kenosha and it went pretty well. The Zone leaders, APs, and STLs had great trainings. President Cutler trained on the Plan of Salvation and it was so fun to go into dept. The Plan of Salvation is always my favorite topic to talk about and discuss. I love talking about families and eternity with people. I have such a strong testimony about that so it is a little easier and I feel more comfortable talking about it and sharing my testimony about it. On March 21st we will be gathering as a whole entire mission to Milwaukee for a special conference with an Apostle and one of the seventy. We are all so excited and none of us know who it is going to be yet. It is going to be awesome and I hear that Apostles are what brings the iPads....haha but that isn't what is important here. So missionaries from the Yopee, which is the upper peninsula of Michigan, all the way down to Platteville, Janesville, Lake Geneva, and Kenosha will all gather at the Milwaukee South Stake center to come hear an Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints speak to us! Its pretty exciting :) but with that comes less miles for everyone! We had a huge cut on our milage so that everyone can make it to this awesome conference. We went from 1350 to 975 haha so we are doing our best to use the members for rides. So far it hasn't been too bad, but its only the beginning of the month. Pray for us :)

We were able to get back in contact with one of our investigators, Brittney, on Friday and it was awesome! She is so sweet and so ready. Remi dropped us this last week so we are sad about that but not trying to dwell on it too much! there are plenty of other people out there who are ready to jump in the font!

I am sorry this is so short this week!

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Remember that transfers are the 25th of March so dont send anything to the apartment after about the 14th of March! love you all!

Love Sister Emily Sarah Eaton

March 2 2015 Frozen Lake Geneva

Hello Family and Friends!

It was a pretty crazy week like always I guess. Remi decided to kind of disappear again and he just seems to want to be distant. Sometimes we have to give them their space and let them think about things though. So that is rough. He isn't going to be able to make his baptismal date, but that is ok. He isn't ready and he needs to build a better belief of God anyway. The last time we met with him it was kind of contentious and he started to just debate with us about dumb stuff that really doesn't matter. The spirit wasn't there so we just needed to take a breather. 

This last week I went on exchanges again. I went to Kenosha with Sister Wilson. She is from Southern California. It was pretty fun, but I don't usually look forward to exchanges. We were able to see a lot of cool people though, especially a lot of black people. That's Kenosha :) Everyone we talked to was nice though. I got to see Sister Fort who actually was found by Sister Barnes (My trainer) when she was being trained in Kenosha. Sister Fort is so sweet and really loves when I visit her when I am on exchanges. She just got her Patriarchal blessing and it was so awesome to see how happy she was about it. She has been a member for about a year and a half now i think. Her testimony is so strong!

Sister Wood hit her year mark this last Thursday. She has grown into such a great missionary. She really can't believe she has 6 months left! She will get home a week after Cody does! Crazy! We went tracting that day and I tried my best to have a good attitude about it. It didn't go too bad. People were pretty nice. We were able to pray with a few people so that was good. I kept telling myself that I need to just go out and do it because tracting is where you get all the crazy weird stories that you get to tell everyone! So I need to get a few more of those stories. But of course bring others unto Christ first. :) 

Friday, we were able to see Stephanie again and she was in a really good happy mood. She ended up coming to church and really is starting to enjoy it and is seeing the need for all of this in her life and kids lives. She wants to start on quitting smoking and we are going to help her in any way we can. Pray for Stephanie. 

We also went to Lake Geneva to see a less active named John. He is 17 and has been less active pretty much since he got baptized at 8. Its sad. We will go visit him at Starbucks from time to time. It is a tradition to go and walk to Lake Geneva in the winter because it is so frozen and solid that cars will drive up and down it. So we decided to go do that and it was pretty fun. We didn't go out very far. It was cool to see Lake Geneva from a different perspective.
I can't believe it is already March! Next month I will hit my year mark. crazy right?! I hope you all have a wonderful week and enjoy that awesome weather in Utah! Love you all <3

Love Sister Emily Sarah Eaton

Feb 23 2015 God's Love

Hello Family and Friends

I hope this week has gone well for everyone! Remi decided to disappear this last week, but we got back in contact with him and we will be meeting with him tonight. Hopefully we can resolve more of his concerns. He is almost finished with the Book of Mormon so that is pretty cool! He enjoys it, but there is always something he tends to disagree with. Sometimes we are able to fix it though. 

Friday was pretty crazy. On Fridays we go out with a member, Susan Claeys, and she drives us around Burlington to go see less actives and investigators. She is such a great fellow shipper for everyone. Her smile is seriously brighter than the sun! I told her she and my mom would be great friends because they have similar interests and they both are super super positive all the time!

In Burlington we visit a lady named Stephanie. She was a member, but she got her name removed when she was a teenager. Now after many years of drugs and alcohol she has a desire to change her life around and come back to church. She loves when we all come over and we will often talk about the Atonement with her. I always try my best to bear my testimony about the Atonement and help her know that it is so real! I don't bring tears to her eyes, but I know she hears what I am saying. She went through a lot this past week and we were able to be there for her just at the perfect time. Stephanie has been having a lot of issues with her 13 year old daughter, Lexie, and it has been a huge strain on her. Lexie has been hanging out with the wrong crowd and ended up running away last Monday or Tuesday. They were able to find her within 2 hours, but she had gotten into a lot of things a 13 year old should not get into. When we got there on Friday we talked to Stephanie and had heard the whole story. She said Lexie was up in her room and wouldn't talk to her. We offered to go up stairs and try and talk to her. I was a little hesitant because I didn't know what I would say, but then I thought "Duh! you were 13 once!"

We went upstairs and found Lexie watching TV in her bed. She paused her show and we started telling her that she is loved so much and that her mom is only trying to protect her...As I was standing there I realized all this talk sounded quite familiar. I had heard it all as a teenager growing up. Lexie just stared at us blankly like a 13 year old does. I was worried that nothing was getting through to her and that she just letting it brush off her shoulder. I still hadn't said anything yet, but I knew I needed to. I had felt the things she was feeling. I had wanted to runaway at her age. I could almost completely feel what she was feeling. On top of that, I could feel the strong love slipping into my heart that Heavenly Father has for her. It seriously hit me like a ton of bricks and I couldn't hold my tears in. Things started to get quiet and Sister Wood and Susan were about to start leaving, but then I stopped them. I told Lexie that I knew what she was feeling. I couldn't completely relate, but I had gone through those rebellious stages as well. I told her that she can't hold things in. She needed to talk things out and that her mom was there to listen. I wasn't sure if any of this was getting to her but I figured it was worth a shot. That love that Heavenly Father had for her just wasn't leaving so I needed to let her know. When I ended we all gave her a big hug and told her she is loved. I might never find out if any of that did anything, but I know that Heavenly Father loves that family so much as does he love all of his children. Stephanie ended up surprising us by coming to church this last week! She hasn't been for a really long time and it was so good to see her there. She got a priesthood blessing from the bishop and we hope she will she that she is blessed. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week. 

Love Sister Emily Sarah Eaton

Feb 16 2015 Trial and Error

Hey Family and Friends,

Haha what a false alarm! So I ended up NOT getting transferred and I must admit that I am very happy about it. It was quite a crazy night last Monday and President Cutler had called us a few times and decided that Sister Wood and I must stay in Elkhorn together this transfer. I figure this will be my last transfer here in Elkhorn though :( but now I will be more prepared for it. I definitely want to make the best of this last transfer! We are really shooting for a baptism and I think my faith has been the strongest on my mission. You need lots of faith when you are teaching an Atheist. I also think this is the most I have ever prayed as well and I can really see the miracles it brings. It was also so awesome to have one of our less actives, Liz, tell us she hates missing church now. She is really trying hard to find a better job instead of working nights at McDonalds. We are praying for her a lot as well. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day! Sister Wood and I both love Valentine's Day and we had a mission to be super busy that day because it is hard for both of us as we are away from the significant others in our lives :p Sooo...In the morning we went to a little cafe in Elkhorn for breakfast and it was soo good. I got bacon AND ham :) then we decided to "heart attack" our investigators and members in our ward. This is when you put paper hearts all over their front door and run! It was quite tricky as it was about 2 degrees outside and people were home during the day, but we made it work. We only actually rang the door bell of a few homes since with some homes we knew we wouldn't be able to get away with it with the ice and all. It was super fun though and we could not stop laughing. There were a few homes were it was hard to be quite about since the snow was so crunchy. I think only one little head saw us through their window. haha but we had a blast and it was a great way to spend our Valentine's Day.

The rest of the week went well. A lot of members and investigators were happy to see that Sister Wood and I were both still here. It was a confusing week, but I am so grateful to still be here. I really feel that I am meant to be here a little longer and baptize someone! I am excited to see what this transfer brings. We also have an awesome new district leader. Elder Oviatt was my DL in Green Bay as well and I am just so excited because he is a really awesome teacher, but he makes things fun as well. 

As far as my mail situation...Please continue to send letters and packages to my apartment address.

188 Lewis St. #6 Elkhorn, WI 53121

March 25th is the next transfer so please don't send any letters and packages 3 days before that in case I get transferred. That following Monday I will send out my new address.

Thank you everyone for all you do! I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Love Sister Emily Sarah Eaton

Feb 9 2015

Hey family and friends!

Guess what?! The unthinkable is happening! I am being TRANSFERRED! I was totally shocked! I was supposed to stay another transfer lol oh well. I will be transferring to Sun Prairie and my new companion is Sister Cosgrove. She was MTC companions with Sister Wood so I have heard a few things about her already. I am nervous as usual, but so glad I am not going too far north :p I will be by the capital which will be cool though! I am stressing with packing of course though. 

I am super sad to leave though because I have really liked the Elkhorn ward and I love this area. I will really miss Lake Geneva especially haha it is a cute little resort town. There is so much happening here, its crazy! We were able to set a baptismal date with Remi for March 21st! Sadly, I won't be able to go to it, but I wish him well and told him to keep up what he is doing and never stop reading the Book of Mormon. He is doing so well and I would hate for him to go a stray. I know everything is in God's timing so things will happen when they are suppose to. I keep telling myself that I am needed in my new area for a reason. I am doing better now. Thank you for all your prayers and support. It really does help me and means a lot. 

There has been a lot of good byes and on Saturday when I found out that I was being transferred, I couldn't stop crying. I just knew I would miss this place and I was bummed to leave because so much was happening here, but I know things will be ok. 

Sorry I don't have much to say today. I will have lots of news next week! For now just enjoy all my pictures! Love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Love Sister Emily Sarah Eaton

Mailing Change

Hey everyone!

Just some few changes on the Wisconsin Milwaukee Mission's mail...Please let all family and friends know. thanks!

Currently my address is

188 Lewis St. #6

Elkhorn, WI

53121

Good News!!  J  As of February 1^st, 2015, there will be a new policy in place effecting your mail delivery.

Mail should now be sent directly TO THE MISSIONARY, not to the Mission Office.

Email your family and friends on preparation day to let them know of the policy change and give them your CURRENT address.  Letters should be sent USPS First Class Mail and packages should be sent USPS Priority Mail.  Letters and packages sent this way may be forwarded at no additional cost to  a missionary, should the need arise.  (Standard B, Standard Post, Parcel Post, Parcel Select, and Media Mail cannot be forwarded).

Packages or letters sent FED EX or UPS cannot be forwarded. 

It is also the MISSIONARY’S responsibility to let  family and friends know of upcoming TRANSFER DATES  so mail will not be sent to an inaccurate address. I am hoping this new policy will ensure you getting your mail more quickly.

We love you!! Keep up the Good Work!!

Feb 2, 2015

Hey Family and Friends!

Sorry about last week how I had to cut it short! That was very awful of me and I hope none of you worried! Ok so to continue briefly from last week...I was able to get a blessing and it was so awesome! I have been doing better since. There are still the struggles and challenges of a mission of course, but I am able to face them better. So I am grateful for that.

We have 2 investigators that are really doing awesome! Remi, our Atheist, is starting to really love the Book of Mormon and he really loves watching the Mormon Channel on Youtube that we told him about. He feels he can relate to the people in the certain situations and he said he even teared up a little bit. haha He is doing awesome! Please continue to pray for him. He is enjoying church and is planning on coming now. 

Last Friday we met Brittney. She is 20 years old and lives in Burlington and she is just so sweet! She has a big heart and really puts her trust in God. She was a referral from the elders in Platteville. They ended up baptizing her cousin so she became interested as she had sat in the lessons with her and gone to some church. She is so ready for the Gospel and I am so excited. We have already been able to teach her about where the Book of Mormon comes from, the Restoration, and the Plan of Salvation. It went so well and she asked us to come back. We are excited for her and hope to get her a baptismal date soon!

We are so pumped for Remi and Brittney! Please keep them in your prayers!

Last night was super crazy! Sister Wood and I ended up getting stuck in the snow on our way to a members home for dinner. It was a way bad blizzard yesterday that church was even cancelled! But even though people are told to stay inside, missionary work still goes on. I really struggle with this because a lot of members will tell us not to come over anymore because it is too dangerous outside, but our mission president doesn't say anything about it so we still have to go and do something. I was getting frustrated as the members kept dropping plans and they would tell us to stay home and I had to tell them that we can't. Since they dropped the plans we had to find something else to do...I would rather be in a members home than be in the cold. 

Anyway...so we were stupid and took a back road...I just typed the address in the GPS so I didnt know if it was going to be a back road or not. Long story short, we got stuck in the middle of no where and our car was in 2 feet deep snow. Some members finally found us and took us back to their house and they went back and pulled our car out...it was pretty crazy and i felt so bad. They kept telling us not to use back roads when it snowed...how was i suppose to know. oh well. the good thing is we got out. So ya it has been a really wild 24 hours. Hope you all are doing well. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love Sister Emily Sarah Eaton