Hola family!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I am going to apologize for no pictures this week. Sister Stowers was having a rough week, so we spent most of the afternoon last Monday inside and didn't get to the beach until it was dark, but it was great! It was so peaceful and amazing being there. Today the other sisters in our zone are coming down for a special Christmas p-day. We will definitely take pictures and I promise to send them home next week.

I'm going to call at 7:00pm or around there, hopefully if my companions don't take the phones first. President said we could talk for 40-60 minutes. I'm excited to call. I didn't realize how much I am looking forward to talking with my own family until yesterday in church. I'm glad I have you as my family and you brought us up well to be somewhat normal and to realize the big picture of things.

We had an exciting week with several great investigators and potentials lined up for this week. There are some really great people here. I love it! Missionary work is awesome! We are spending Christmas Eve with one of our new investigators from the past week, and I can tell it will be amazing. He really is great. Here is a little snipet from my letter to President Summerhays this week:

Branda dropped her baptismal date because she didn't come to Church yesterday. We were a little worried about her, but we stopped by her house early last week and she told us she had been busy and had been hoping that we would come by. She still wants to be baptized. We had a really good lesson with her this week about the plan of salvation and she wants to know what the qualifications for each kingdom is specifically so that she knows what she needs to do in order to go to the Celestial Kingdom. My heart rejoiced when I heard her say that.

Manuel we met tracting. He was surprised to see us when we came back because he has been burnt by priests and other churches, but we taught him a good lesson one and he said that several times he felt like we were piercing his heart. He called us later that night and asked about the reading assignments we left for him. He also told us he would be at church with his kids and they came! He was worried and a little scared, but he told us he really enjoyed it. We are going to spend Christmas Eve with him helping him learn more. After Church he said he need all the information we could give him so that he could learn it all. Manuel is great!

One of the other new investigators we found is named Jason. He said that he had gone to Church in Chipley for about a year and was about to move out to Utah for a job, but instead came to Destin. He said his friends have joked about he he is going to become a member. We have a lesson with him tonight. And, we are planning on setting a baptismal date so he will be a member.

Sister Reeves came to church again, and we had a really good lesson with her. We taught lesson three and were somewhat worried because she had pretty emphatically told us she didn't want to be baptized. As we were teaching she didn't say anything about not getting baptized, and she she wants to understand more. I think that things are working slowly as we keep going over and sharing more with her.

I wish I could write all about it in these emails home, but I feel like Moroni in Ether 12. It is so hard to put it all into words, especially in emails. I can't wait to share everything when I get home. I'm sorry there isn't more to this email.

I love you all! To everyone I won't get to talk to on Christmas, I love you and hope you have a great Christmas. Before we all know it I won't have to write emails home and can call and share everything with you personally.

Love, Joanna

Hi Family,

It sounds like things are good at home. I was wondering if you had gotten the Christmas tree yet. I'm not surprised that y'all are waiting for Janet to come home to get it. I guess that I'll call later in the day more towards the evening or later in the evening. My companions will probably both call earlier in the day.

I got the letter and also a package from Joseph and Tracy this week. It was nice to finally get some mail. My companions and I haven't made the Christmas tree yet, but I'm sure we will before Christmas. Sister Hartman's mom sent us a 12 days of Christmas countdown and we have been enjoying that with our very tiny Christmas tree.

Things here are alright. There really isn't anything spectacular happening. We have some pretty good investigators and had some interesting lessons with them. We have been teaching a Romanian lady and her family. They are Seventh-day Adventists. It has been pretty interesting to say the least. We also met a man named Syd who was very interested in our message. When we went to teach him, he said he wanted to know how we came to know that the Book of Mormon and Jospeh Smith are true. He was so fascinated by what we each told him, and by everything (things about serving a mission etc.) and he asked us to tell him how everything about the Church came to be. It was great!

Oh, I need my birth certificate. In Florida they have this law that you have to have a Florida driver's license. So, since I'm the driver, I need to get one. Maybe you can include that in the Christmas package.I think I have everything else that I need to get it. If not, I'll let you know.

I can't wait until I can go to the temple again. I miss it. Maybe we can do that the day after I get home. It's just a thought.

Well, I can't think of anything else for this week. Hopefully, next week I'll have more exciting things to write and some pictures, too. There are some other sisters in the zone and we were thinking that maybe next Monday we would get together. We haven't planned anything. I'll also let you know for sure what time I'll be calling home. Don't worry. I'm really looking forward to it, so I'll make sure y'all are home.

I love you! Thanks for all of your prayers and your support. I really appreciate it.

Love, Joanna

Hello Family!

SO, this might be pretty short because I don't know how much time the library here allows us to email, but luckily I get to write this week. Being here in Destin h as been good. I'm glad I'm here. It is a great place. The branch is great. It is about the size of Mt. Vernon, so I feel right at home. It is really hard to think that I have to spend Christmas here. I don't know how I'll survive :).

Let's see about things here. Thanksgiving was good. It wasn't like Thanksgivings at home, but it was good. We have been having some good success. We have already found and committed someone to baptism. She is awesome! She ran into elders 3 years ago and wasn't ready then, but since then she has become super prepared and told us in our very first lesson that she knows it is true! She loved Church yesterday and is looking forward to coming back. She is great! We have also taught a Romanian lady and her husband, two sons and their wives. It is crazy because there is a little bit of a language barrier, but hopefully we'll get somewhere.

We had Zone Conference this week. It was good. The zone is a lot different than in Tallahassee. The sister I was supposed to train back in August is in the zone and so we had a good time talking about Andalusia. She ended up serving there, so we could swap stories. WE are hopefully going to plan a Christmas p-day to spend with the other sisters and also do exchanges if we can work it all out.

Here is our address again just so that you have it for sure:
200 Sandestin Lane #616
Miramar Beach, FL 32550

There is a set of Spanish elders in our branch, too. We had a branch Christmas party this week. It was fun. Because our first Sunday was the Sunday after Thanksgiving we didn't get to meet all of the members because they were out of town, but we did at the party. There are a lot of tall skinny blondes who look like they are 25 (but they aren't). I was joing with my companions that I'm the only one with dark hair and I don't fit in. They did a Christmas around the world thing, and the food was decent. I like being here in Destin. It is nice to be back in a family branch with real people. And, they appreciate us and ask for our help with things.

So, Sister Hartman is great! She is from Flagstaff, AZ and is the youngest of 7. She is the only girl, and is actually a twin. She has been out 7 1/2 months and has spent the whole time in Panama City Beach. She was supposed to train, but her companion didn't make it out of the MTC. Because of that we are also covering Panama City Beach. It is going to be interesting to see how things work out with it. It takes some effort to cover both. We do have a really good investigator there as well. He ordered the lamb of God video and as we taught him the first lesson he started crying in the middle of it. It was pretty amazing. He even went to Church in PCB without us being there.

I might write you a letter with more in it later today. We'll see. I need to write to President before the time runs out. If I get more time and I think of anything else, I'll write you another email.

I love you! Thanks for your love and support!
Love, Joanna

Dear Fam,

Well, transfers were this past week and we are in Destin. It has been an interesting week, but a good one at that. We are actually in a threesome. Sister Hartman from the Panama City Beach area came over to join us because her trainee didn't come from the MTC. She is great! She is an excellent asset to the companionship.

Because of the transfers, we didn't know anything about the area and the library closed at 5:00pm and we didn't know that. So, you get a handwritten letter this week. Our address is:

200 Sandestin Ln.
Apt. 616
Miramar Beach, FL 32550

Destin is pretty ritzy. There is no other area like this in the mission. The lower class neighborhoods look like our neighborhood. Where we live (Sandestin) is pretty much one huge resort. It's crazy! I really like it here. They have a branch that is about to become a ward. They are great! We got to speak this last Sunday in Sacrament Meeting. On Thanksgiving, we played in the Branch Turkey Bowl. We won! Then we had 2 Thanksgiving dinners. They have been so welcoming.

We have Zone Conference again this Friday. Yipee! President Summerhays and I had a pretty interesting conversation as we were driving for transfers. We talked about my future and what I should do with myself when I go home. It was really interesting. He promised me that he would pay for me to spend 3 days and 2 nights in Andalusia (after the mission) because I am not going to be going back while I'm out. He is great!

We had had some really great success while we've been here. Today when we were grocery shopping, we ran into a part-member who is going to be an investigator, a new investigator, and then a contact. And, that was all on p-day! We have spent a fair amount of time lost and wandering around finding people, but sometimes that is what it takes.

The beaches are gorgeous! We haven't gone to them, but we are practically surrounded by them. I'll take lots of pictures for sure. On Christmas, the Branch President and his family take the missionaries to the beach to open their presents.

I feel so much better being here than in Tallahassee. It was a trial being there, but i know that I learned so much being there. Without it, I don't think I would have learned what the Lord needed me to learn for my future. I've spent a lot of time thinking about it and it was one of those necessary hard things. But, as always, the Lord blesses us after we go through these trials. And He is always there with us as we are going through all the experiences we face.

I was studying about being well-favored and favored of the Lord. It was pretty interesting to study about. Christ, of course, was the most well-favored and it intrigued me about how He did it. Philipians 2 and Hebrews 5 talk about it. I don't have my notes with me right now, but it was pretty interesting. When we are obedient and righteous, we gain Heavenly Father's favor.

How were things at home last week? Did you enjoy Thanksgiving? How is Dad's job? How is everyone? I've been out of the loop for this week and I guess I'll still be for another week. It lets me be more focused on the work :).

I love you! I am so lucky to have such a great family like you. Because of the Scoresby family, I am who I am and I have learned and developed qualities and characteristics (like hard work and obedience) which are so important. Thanks for teaching me so well. I love you!

I'm sorry this is so random and sloppy. Next week, we should be good to go for emails so I can write a more normal email home.

I hope that all is well! I love you! Love, Joanna

Dear Family,

It must have been the computer that was having problems because I opened the email again and it worked fine. Thanks for always sending me an email. You are the only one that I can count on for an email every week.

I'm getting transferred! It is exciting. Sister Stowers and I are both beig transferred together and we are opening a new sisters area. We are going to Destin, which should be fun. They have a very strong and active relief society, and the elders that are there right now say that it is definitely a sisters' area. Since both Sister Stowers and I are being transferred from campus, we might not be transferring with everyone else. President wants our investigators to be able to make the transition and not get lost. So, we might hang around here in Tallahassee to get the investigators turned over to the new sisters. Hopefully, by next weekend we will be in Destin. We will definitely be having p-day on Monday again so that will be when I write next. I'm so excited! We might end up eating McDonalds for Thanksgiving, but that is alright. The senior couple at the Institute has spoiled us with a Thanksgiving dinner yesterday and they are making a special dinner for us Monday night. I'm really going to miss them. They really made this place not as bad as it could have been.

We had an alright week this week. We had Zone Conference on Tuesday which is always the best part of the week. It was amazing again. We talked about obedience and the importance of obedience. President Summerhays said that when we choose to not be obedient we are signing up for a miserable life and also signing up to receive no blessings. I had never thought of it like that before. We also talked about prayer. President also wants us to be more expressive in sharing our love with others, so we did this really fun activity where we went around the room saying why we love each other. It was great fun, kind of awkward having elders tell you that they love you, but it was fun. And, it was a good experience as well. I asked President what I should do with my life, and he said I was qualified to do anything. He said that we would talk about it in the future.

We also were able to set another baptismal date with one of our investigators. She is great, and I'm sad that we'll be leaving her. In our last lesson she said that she knew that being baptized into the Church was what she needed to do, she just wanted to make sure she knew and understood what she would be doing. She makes me happy everytime that we get to meet with her. The new sisters won't actually be teaching her. Instead, one of the sets of elders will be. It is a better match personality wise. She said that she was going to be sad if we left and that she felt comfortable with us. hearing investigators say things like that is the hardest thing to hear when you are getting transferred, but that is what happens. It is a good thing people are converted to the gospel not to the missioanries!

Our toilet has been having problems lately. When we came home from Zone Conference this week, we had a really messy problem that they didn't fix until the next day. It was a little miserable there for 24 hours until they got it fixed. But, I'm grateful that we have good living conditions. There really is nothing to complain about.

Thanks for sending those talks! I really appreciate them. We didn't get to go to the CES Fireside where Elder Holland spoke, but everyone kept saying that it was really good. I'm glad that I could read it. As I was reading it I couldn't help but liken it unto myself, and it made the talk so much more meaningful. Everyone should read it. It is good.

The weather here has been freezing! The lows a couple of nights this week were in the 20s. I was so surprised! It isn't supposed to be this cold in Florida. I've learned how to do some nice layering jobs to stay warm during the day. The hardest part is that from about midcalf down to the toes you can only where so many pairs of nylons/tights. But, I can be a little cold to share to gospel with everyone around me.

There is a baptism tonight for one of the sets of elders. The young man who is getting baptized is amazing! He saw the elders talking to his friend on campus and joined them and started telling his friend that what the missionaries were teaching was true. He is really on fire and actually is thinking about going on a mission. The elders have taken him to some of their teaching appointments and they said that he was awesome.

I aksed Sister Summerhays about being reimbursed. The $94 dollars was probably for the first visit. I paid for the second visit with my debit card, so it will probably just be put into my account, but how do I get access to that $94 dollars on my credit card? Will it just hang out there if I don't use it? Maybe, there is someway to transfer it over to my bank account. It probably needs money in there.

So, I have been thinking about Christmas a little bit lately and have started compiling a Christmas list. Here is what I have so far:
-a new watch. mine has been under several surgeries and it is about out of commission.
-some tights. they have to be solid colors and no texture. I think black and maybe a nude/brown would be great.
-possible some leggings to keep warm. this might not be necessary because it might be warmer in Destin. and this cold spell might be just a crazy Florida weather thing.
-my gray Old Navy bag that I've had forever. The bag I am using is also almost out of commission. I guess since it spent 18 months in Argentina and then the past 14 months here that would be why. That other bag is somewhere in the bin that has all my bags. I think maybe it is in a purple bin of my stuff. I'm not really sure where anything is.

Well, I can't think of anything else to write about. We are having lunch with the ward mission leader and his fiancee, and then we get to start the fun packing process. I think it should be a little easier this time, since I haven't had 10 1/2 months to accumulate things :) I feel that I have been very good while I have been here in Tallahassee.

Well, I love you all! I hope that you have a great Thanksgiving!
Love, Joanna

Dear Family,

It is so great to write to you! Like Sarah's last email, this has been a long week, and I am glad that it is Saturday.

We had Lindsay's baptism last night. It was good and there was a good turn out from the ward. Here are some pictures from it. Her friends from Jacksonville came. There were four investigators that also came, which was a really good thing. The investigator that we are teaching was really glad that she came. She is amazing! She is going to get baptized soon. She gives the best prayers and even this week she prayed that she would be given the strength to take the steps that she knows that she needs to take.

We are having our Zone Conference this Tuesday. I am really looking forward to it. Last Sunday, we walked into the Church building to make some copies for our weekly coordination meeting and President Summerhays greeted us at the door. It was great! He wanted to talk to us about transfers and what was going to happen. He said he isn't sure, but there is a possibilty that I'll be transfered. I'll let you know what is happening next week. Because of that, I don't have any idea what will be happening with Thanksgiving. Transfers are two days before Thanksgiving so it is up in the air. It'll be good though. We are having district meeting that morning, so I'll at least be going to district meeting :)

So, Mom and Dad, I had a horrible dream last night about both of you. For some reason I was driving to someone's house to visit them. All of a sudden I was at the house on the corner of Beckley and Upper Fredricktown road by the 10 bridge. Y'all pulled up and I went to hug you and both of you pulled out cigarettes and started smoking them. I was horrified! And, then I woke up relieved. But, it must have been a crazy night for dreams because then later I dreamt that two of the Elders here and Sister Stowers were all being sent home. My mind is working too hard when I sleep!

I don't really know what else to tell you. Things haven't been too exciting here. Just the normal missionary stuff. Oh, this Sunday is the third Sunday so I better find something great for you to share. Yeah I can't think of anything. I hope the last couple of emails have something a little more beneficial in them. If not tell the ward that I am doing great and that missionary work is precisely that--work. It might not be happy and exciting, but we have to do it. Whatever you want.

I just looked at those pictures I sent, and I look like a sister missionary.
Yesterday while we were at the Ronald McDonald House we put the lights on their Christmas trees. I couldn't believe it. here I was putting lights on Christmas trees and it isn't even Thanksgiving yet. They have a Florida themed tree. I'm excited to see what it looks like. Someone asked me today if I would move back to Tallahassee. I said "No, I like cold weather."

Well, I guess that is it. Hopefully, next week will be a little more exciting. I love you all!

Love, Joanna

Dear Family,

Well, this week was alright. We met some really neat people that hopefully we can get back in contact with to teach. Our investigators are doing well. During our lesson with one of them this week, he told us that earlier in the week he had a dream. In that dream his grandfather came to him and told him that the Book of Mormon was true. He told us that that was the answer that he needed, so he is working towards being baptized in December. Lindsay's baptism for today got pushed back until next weekend. Other than that nothing new is happening.

Today is a big football game. We ran into a lady from somewhere in Eastern Europe that we had talked to before, and had a good conversation with her. The only thing is she can't make time to meet with us. It is sad to think that people aren't willing to make that time themselves. It is something we all have to do. I've realized that since I've been out. Time management is important and also making sure that we use our time wisely to do the important things in life like studying the scriptures and praying.

I wish we could have gone to the CES fireside. We didn't have any investigators go, so we couldn't go.

I don't know what else to write about. We'll probably be here for a while yet. Oh, here are the pictures.The first on is me and Melanie. She cut my hair. She is great and she helps us with a lot of stuff. She joined the Church almost three years ago. The other picture is with that house of girls. The are great! They are probably some of my favorite people here. They all are really good about helping us. The picture isn't too great, but you get the gist of it.

I just remembered something else I wanted to ask you about. Could you send me some recipes? The ones that I would really love to have are blonde brownies, banana bread, and baked apple donuts. I taught the Institute couple how to make German pancakes and they love them! They have even varied it up some and put cheese and jalapeno peppers in it.


I can't think of anything else to write. The work is great, and the Church is true! I love you all!

Love, Joanna

Dear Family,

I had a nice long email written, but then I accidently deleted it. I hate it when that happens. I can't even remember what I wrote. Sorry this one won't be as long. I'll probably write a letter today with some of the other stuff in it.

We had a good week. We had our special Zone Conference with Elder Mask. It was excellent. We also had really good lessons. We stayed safe last night with Halloween, because we were to be inside by 7:00.

Thanks for the package. I love the sweater. I looked at that sweater at Target and really wanted to buy it, but I didn't. Thank you! I cut my hair short last Saturday. I would send pictures, but this computer doesn't want to read them off of my card. I'll send them next week.

It sounds like exciting things are happening for Dad and Ben. Soon I'll have to worry about that, but for now I'll just enjoying worry about missionary work. Being able to do missionary work is great! I have loved being on my mission even though there were difficult times. I have never felt more joy and happiness. I don't think we ever understand the effect we have until much later on. I was reminded of that this week at our Zone Conference and then also in a letter I received.

Our investigators are doing really well. Lindsay is getting baptized next Saturday. She is moving to Jacksonville at the end of the semester, which is sad, but something she needs to do. Zach also said he would get baptized which is really exciting. He has such a great desire to do what is right and to make changes. It is really strange because all of our investigators act like members. No one at church really knows they are investigators unless we tell them so.

Well, I think I will write anything else I have to share with you in the letter I actually write. I love you! Thank you for all the love and support. It means so much to know that I have a family who is supporting me in what I am doing.

Love, Joanna

Hola Familia!

Can you believe that it is already time to write again? This week seems to have flown by. I guess each one seems to go by faster and faster.

I bet it was fun to have Joseph, Tracy, and Afton visiting. Maybe I'll get the snail mail pictures in the mail today. That would be really exciting!

It sounds like you had a great Stake Conference. And, I'm excited to hear that Elder Christofferson went to Sarah's mission. We are having Elder Clate W. Mask, Jr. come to our mission this next week. We are meeting with him on Monday. It was a little bit of a surprise because they only told us this past week at our Zone Conference. It will be really great! I'm looking forward to it.

Our Zone Conference was really great this week. I really needed it. Even though we did a lot of role playing, President Summerhays talked about preparing for our futures. He also talked about the importance of prayer and how it is through prayer that we can align our actions and our productivity with our goals. We at times have these goals that we want to reach and the result of our efforts don't match. It is through prayer (and real sincere prayer like Elder Bednar has talked about in the past two conferences) that our efforts will match our goals. That was really good, but the best part was of course my interview with President. We had a pretty lengthy discussion about the importance of the experiences we have at certain times in our lives, and then we had a pretty good talk about the area and the future of the mission sister-wise. Apparently, three are coming this next transfer and only one is going home, so either there will be threesomes or a new area will open up. It is pretty interesting to see how much President trusts us. I'm so glad that he was called to be the mission president. I don't think I could have served under any other one.

Our investigators are doing so well! Lindsay and Melanie are both set for their baptisms. We had a really good time with Melanie last week at dinner. She has such a strong testimony. Her boyfriend's dad told us he had been wondering what the missionaries would think when here Melanie showed up regularly attending church and going to all the activities and institute class and everything. He also is very impressed about how strong of a testimony she has. She is a great girl! They took pictures so maybe we'll get to send them home.

We also have two really strong investigators. We were teaching one this week and he told us that right before we had knocked on his door he had been praying to God that he would send him a more direct sign that the feelings he had been having were true. He came to church last week and he said that it was after going to church that he realized that we were the answer to his prayers! He also told us that the Book of Mormon felt heavy like how a fishing pole feels heavy when it is going to be a good fishing day and it is going to catch fish. We were really excited when we heard that. He has some really good spiritual gifts and is really in tune with the Spirit. He should be coming to Church again tomorrow.

Our other new investigator is Zack. He was friends with members growing up, and even went to church, Wednesday night activities, and early morning seminary! His family started getting more active in their church when he was a teenager and they told him that he had to stop going. When we met him on campus he told us that his mom isn't paying the bills anymore and he can do what he wants. When we met with him this past week he told us that he felt like he had done too much wrong in his life and didn't know if God would want to listen to his prayers. We bore testimony about how God will always answer our prayers. He told us he knew it was time for him to get his life back in line with God. It was really great!

We have also been able to find more investigators this week. It has been a pretty good week, except yesterday it rained all day long! It makes it pretty hard to work, but we were still able to acheive some things.

Oh, last Sunday while we were waiting for Church to start I saw Brother Garr and Sister Garr. They stopped and talked. Sister Garr was like "Oh, you're our Sister Allred's daughter? We loved our Sister Allred! She was great!" She said she had to give me a hug. They both wanted me to say hi again to everyone in the family. It was exciting to see them.

There is going to be an article in the Deseret News about the Institute program here sometime next week I believe. You should see what it says. I'm not sure what day, but the institute director said it should be next week. We were talking one day this week and he told me that I have a great spirit about me. A lot of people have told me that while I have been on my mission. It is interesting that other people see that when you don't necessarily see it.

I love you all! I hope that you have a great week! Thanks for the love and support!
Love, Joanna

Hello family!
We are a little later today with our emailing, because we decided to spend the morning part of the day sleeping. It was so nice! By the time that y'all get this Joseph, Tracy, and Afton will probably be there. I'm sure it will be a fun weekend.
We had a pretty good week this week. We worked really hard this week, and it has paid off. The work is progressing. Finally! It still has its moments when it isn't quite as fun and slow, but we have people we are teaching and are coming along nicely. Lindsay and Melanie are both working towards their baptisms and don't have any concerns. I really love teaching them both. They have the greatest spirit about them. We had dinner with Lindsay this week, and we are having dinner with Melanie and her boyfriend and his dad tonight. They introduced her to the Church.
Oh, I'm still here in Tallahassee, just in case you were wondering. Sister Stowers and I will be together for another six glorious weeks here in our favorite area! We were both secretly hoping that we would be transferred, but apparently we haven't learned that things aren't always the way we want them to be. So, I'm going to smile and enjoy every minute of these next six weeks. At least I will try and smile. We'll see.

So, remember how I said the weather was nice and it was cooler? Yeah, well, I forgot that it is Florida and it is back to hot weather. It isn't humid which is good, and it isn't super hot which is good, but it is still hot and it's October! That was a really long run-on sentence, but I wish the weather would be like real weather.

Yes, Brother garr is here this weekend. We snuck in last night and I got to talk to him for just a coupl of minutes. We took the attached picture, as proof that he really was here. He remembered who I was and told all the people that were standing around us that I was his student and that my mom was a missionary when he was in Palmyra. He wanted me to say hi to everyone he knows. He asked if there were any of us still at BYU. I told him about all the girls, since he doesn't know Ben and Joseph. I was really excited to see him. He is going to be around until early Monday morning and is even going to Church in the same building we have Church, but I probably won't see him again.

The dermatologist visit hopefully was useful, but we'll see. He told me that he wouldn't be surprised if it took six months for things to get completely better. Six months? I'll be home in six months! He gave me another prescription, and now I get to sleep with gloves on so that the ointment will absorb better into my skin. Yeah, we'll see how it works. It doesn't seem to be working like the other stuff. Oh well. I guess it is something that I'll have to deal with my whole life. Luckily, we had a recently returned hermana take us to the doctor. She told us fun mission stories and it was really good. She served in Rosario Argentina. Sister Summerhays is going to get me refunded for the visits. It should be about $140 that I'll be getting back.

Don't worry about my credit card. I don't need it. My new debit card will be coming in January though and I will need that one. But, that is in January so we won't have to worry about it. I had to buy some new shoes last week. The brown ones that I wear all the time have holes in the bottoms. We do so much walking. And, it was time for new ones. Whenever it would rain, the water would soak up into my shoes and I would end us walking around in wet shoes for the rest of the day. The shoe salesman we talked to was from Lima. He was really nice and told us the Mormons he always met were nice.

I heard that BYU lost. I was sad. A less-active here doesn't like BYU so he was really excited. Oh well. I'll have to take a picture of some graffiti that proves that even Florida State knows that BYU is better.

I was wondering if you could do something for me. I need some addresses of people. The first is my old roommate Lisa. She got married and is now Lisa Sledge. She is still going to school at BYU so she is on the directory. The other is Kent's. I know he is living in Springville, but I need his actual address.

I bet Stake Conference will be really good. It seems like we never had General Authorities come to Stake Conference when we were young. Maybe it's just that I don't remember it. I remember his talk from Conference last April and it was good.

Well, I think that is it. We are having Zone Conference again this week. I'm excited, as always. I'd love to see pictures from this weekend, especially of Afton. The last pictures I have are of her at three months, and if I am going to be her favorite aunt then I should be kept updated on her. :)

I love you all! Thank you for all of the love, support, and prayers.
Love, Joanna

Hello family!
We are a little later today with our emailing, because we decided to spend the morning part of the day sleeping. It was so nice! By the time that y'all get this Joseph, Tracy, and Afton will probably be there. I'm sure it will be a fun weekend.
We had a pretty good week this week. We worked really hard this week, and it has paid off. The work is progressing. Finally! It still has its moments when it isn't quite as fun and slow, but we have people we are teaching and are coming along nicely. Lindsay and Melanie are both working towards their baptisms and don't have any concerns. I really love teaching them both. They have the greatest spirit about them. We had dinner with Lindsay this week, and we are having dinner with Melanie and her boyfriend and his dad tonight. They introduced her to the Church.
Oh, I'm still here in Tallahassee, just in case you were wondering. Sister Stowers and I will be together for another six glorious weeks here in our favorite area! We were both secretly hoping that we would be transferred, but apparently we haven't learned that things aren't always the way we want them to be. So, I'm going to smile and enjoy every minute of these next six weeks. At least I will try and smile. We'll see.

So, remember how I said the weather was nice and it was cooler? Yeah, well, I forgot that it is Florida and it is back to hot weather. It isn't humid which is good, and it isn't super hot which is good, but it is still hot and it's October! That was a really long run-on sentence, but I wish the weather would be like real weather.

Yes, Brother garr is here this weekend. We snuck in last night and I got to talk to him for just a coupl of minutes. We took the attached picture, as proof that he really was here. He remembered who I was and told all the people that were standing around us that I was his student and that my mom was a missionary when he was in Palmyra. He wanted me to say hi to everyone he knows. He asked if there were any of us still at BYU. I told him about all the girls, since he doesn't know Ben and Joseph. I was really excited to see him. He is going to be around until early Monday morning and is even going to Church in the same building we have Church, but I probably won't see him again.

The dermatologist visit hopefully was useful, but we'll see. He told me that he wouldn't be surprised if it took six months for things to get completely better. Six months? I'll be home in six months! He gave me another prescription, and now I get to sleep with gloves on so that the ointment will absorb better into my skin. Yeah, we'll see how it works. It doesn't seem to be working like the other stuff. Oh well. I guess it is something that I'll have to deal with my whole life. Luckily, we had a recently returned hermana take us to the doctor. She told us fun mission stories and it was really good. She served in Rosario Argentina. Sister Summerhays is going to get me refunded for the visits. It should be about $140 that I'll be getting back.

Don't worry about my credit card. I don't need it. My new debit card will be coming in January though and I will need that one. But, that is in January so we won't have to worry about it. I had to buy some new shoes last week. The brown ones that I wear all the time have holes in the bottoms. We do so much walking. And, it was time for new ones. Whenever it would rain, the water would soak up into my shoes and I would end us walking around in wet shoes for the rest of the day. The shoe salesman we talked to was from Lima. He was really nice and told us the Mormons he always met were nice.

I heard that BYU lost. I was sad. A less-active here doesn't like BYU so he was really excited. Oh well. I'll have to take a picture of some graffiti that proves that even Florida State knows that BYU is better.

I was wondering if you could do something for me. I need some addresses of people. The first is my old roommate Lisa. She got married and is now Lisa Sledge. She is still going to school at BYU so she is on the directory. The other is Kent's. I know he is living in Springville, but I need his actual address.

I bet Stake Conference will be really good. It seems like we never had General Authorities come to Stake Conference when we were young. Maybe it's just that I don't remember it. I remember his talk from Conference last April and it was good.

Well, I think that is it. We are having Zone Conference again this week. I'm excited, as always. I'd love to see pictures from this weekend, especially of Afton. The last pictures I have are of her at three months, and if I am going to be her favorite aunt then I should be kept updated on her. :)

I love you all! Thank you for all of the love, support, and prayers.
Love, Joanna

Dear Family,

What a great day it is today! After the rain that we had earlier this week, we have had a couple of really beautiful days. I can't believe Dad was at the airport this week. We weren't sitting at a table due to the rain. Instead, we had two really good lessons with both of the girls that have baptismal dates. The thunderstorm hampered our evening of proselyting, so we had to find something to do inside. We made cookies for some of our investigators and the couple at the Institute.

Other exciting news of this past week is that we had a really good lesson with a man named Adam and his girlfriend, Madison, who we met earlier in the week while we were tracting. Madison told Adam that the Mormons were coming, and he was there wanting to talk to us. He says he can't belive in God because he has seen too many people suffer and die, and a loving God wouldn't allow that to happen. He told us he didn't have faith and he wished he could have any sort of faith in anything. I haven't met anyone who openly said that they couldn't belive in a God yet, so it was a really good experience. We were originally going to teach Madison about the Restoration, but it definitely was not what they needed right then. The Spirit really was strong in our lesson as we talked about how we can have faith and develop that faith. We read with Adam from the Book of Mormon Alma 32:27 and Alma 22:16-18. He said that if he could find the truth and be so sure about it as we were then he would do what it said.

It was just the lesson I needed, as well. The teaching pool isn't nearly as large as it was back in Andalusia and it has been hard adjusting to it. And, being there for so long I got to see the fruits of our work. We haven't had the visible results that come from a long time of toil, but we are slowly seeing the results of our work. Everyone tells us that we are doing such a great job and it is showing. Sometimes it is hard to see everything that you've done when you are right there in it, but taking a step back it is easier to see. This morning Sister Stowers and I both were led to study about patience (neither of us had planned to study patience last night, but we were lead by the Spirit to study it), and it helped me have a better outlook on things here.

This next week is transfers. I don't know what is going to happen at all. I guess we'll all find out next week! It would be sad to leave Tallahassee right when we are getting things happening, but whatever the Lord needs me to do I will do it. I would really miss Sister Stowers as well. I have loved serving with her and being her trainer. Plus, she doesn't want me to leave her here on campus with a companion that doesn't know where anything is.

Brother Garr is coming this next weekend. I will try to see him and even get a picture with him if I can. I am really excited to see him. I hope he remembers who I am.

I am going back to the Dermatologist on Monday. Hopefully, he can figure out what is wrong. I will be getting reimbursed for both visits. Sister Summerhays will send everything in after this visit, hopefully Monday when I give her the print out.

So, I forgot to write this. One of the recent converts here in Tallahassee is getting married May 1 in Manti. She really wants me to be there for it and to be her escort as she goes through the temple. I was really honored when she asked me because I didn't teach her or anything. I've continued to fellowship her and be her friend. So, I just thought I'd let you know. And, can you tell Sarah happy birthday for me? I sent her a letter last week, but she won't get it before her birthday. Thanks!

Well, I guess that is it. I love you all! Thanks for your love and support! Love, Joanna

Dear Family,

Happy Monday Morning! After Conference this weekend, I feel so uplifted and ready to face the challenges that come with serving the Lord, especially here on campus. Hearing the words of counsel from the prophets and apostles was a great comfort and strength, especially after the trial of being here in Tallahassee.

This week was alright. After last weeks email about how it has cooled down, it decided to get hot again. But, there is still some coolness in the air. It isn't nearly as humid as it used to be, which I am definitely grateful for.

On Friday the LDSSA had a lecture on campus called "Understanding Mormonism". President Summerhays and one of his counselors came and spoke at it. Two of our investigators came to it. It was pretty good. One of them, who we have had a hard time setting appointments with and actually getting to teach her instead of answering her questions, really impressed President Summerhays. He said that she really is searching and has really good potential. We are teaching her this week. She said that she had a lot of questions, but we are going to make sure that we can teach her an actual lessons and then get to her questions.

Lindsay got into an accident this week, and so we had to drop one of our lessons with her. It was really sad, but she seemed to be alright, just a little shaken up.

This week we started a new finding method. It all started out of a simple little thing. On campus they have been pushing really hard to get everyone registered to vote. This past week they had a table set up along one of the main sidewalks. One evening we saw it and decided that we would sit at the table because it would be something new. And, it worked. We had a pros Book of Mormon and two pamphlets on the table. More people talked to us then than usually do in a day. And, we found a new investigator from it! He said he knows he needs to get baptized but hasn't done it yet. We are meeting with him this week. I am so excited about it! Because of the success that we had, we decided to use the same method the next night and ended up having really great conversations with three people. It was the highlight of my week!

So, Ben and Shannon finally announced they were having a baby publicly. I am so excited for it. I'm more excited because the due date is the week before I come home!

I'm glad to hear that things are good at home and with everyone. Thank you for your love and support. Knowing that I have family who is supporting me makes the hard days easy to get through. I love you all!

Love, Joanna

Hello family and friends!

I can't believe it is time to write again this week as well! When I look back over the week and month, I realize that even though the days sometime seem to go by so slowly, they really go by quite fast.

This week was a normal missionary week. We had our Zone Conference yesterday. It was really good. I really needed it, too. Sister Stowers did a great job with her training. I love serving with her. We get along really well.

At our Zone Conference, we talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon in the conversion process of our investigators and also in our own personal conversion to help us stay holding on to the iron rod after our missions. I can always tell when I don't have a good study of the Book of Mormon. Missing out on learning about the truths of the gospel and of the Savior can really affect how the day goes. I love the Book of Mormon! It is the truth!

The excema on my finger isn't getting fixed with the stuff the doctor gave me, so I'm going to be going back in sooner than planned. I hope this doesn't end up being a huge ordeal.

I got a letter this week from the Murrays. I loved it and the pictures they sent from their trip to Nauvoo. It is strange thinking that there are sisters serving in Mount Vernon, though. I very vaguely remember there being sisters when I was really young.

I also really enjoyed my birthday package from Joseph and Tracy. I was thinking it was a happy one year thing (because that is my mission birthday). It really made my day. I wasn't expecting it at all, and it was a really happy surprise! I also got the hot cross bun recipe, and I think Sister Bowcutt will really appreciate it.

I went on my first splits this week. Sister Stowers went Visiting teaching with her companion and I went tracting with a ward missionary. It was fun! She really enjoyed tracting! We have some great ward missionaries to work with. The members are the key to successful missionary work. Sarah pointed that out in her email. When members don't have missionaries around they realize the importance of helping the missionaries and appreciate the work they do so much more. I would love to open another area again!

Lindsay, our investigator, is really excited about getting baptized. We met with her right before her institute class on Tuesday night and she said, "Can I tell people that I'm getting baptized?" We said, "Of course, tell everyone!" She is going to be here this weekend, so she gets to come to church here instead of in Jacksonville. She is excited to see what it is like.

I'm excited for the Relief Society broadcast tonight. I didn't get to see it last year because I was in the MTC, and I really missed it. President Summerhays gave us special permission to watch it.

The weather here is beautiful! There is a little bit of a chill (okay, it's only between 60 and 65, but here that is a chill) in the mornings when we go out to exercise. Then during the day we don't sweat buckets of sweat any more. In fact, we hardly sweat at all! It is so nice! I am really excited about this weather.

Well, I think that is about it. I don't have anymore pictures to send, but I'll probably take some later today for next week. I love you all!

Love, Joanna

Dear Family,

Well, this week was pretty good. We did more tracting which seemed a little more effective than just the normal contacting on campus. We also had some really great lessons with our investigators and the recent converts we are working with. It has been nice to be able to work and see some success from what we are doing.

Last night while we were on campus, these two men came up to us. They were doing something with computers, and wanted to let us know about it. Since we don't really use computers, we had to tell them no, but they were happy about our honesty. Then one of them told us that we looked pure. He said that purity isn't the most common thing seen on campus, and it was good to see it. It was one of the more pleasant interactions that we had yesterday.

One day we also talked to a guy who was wearing a Wisconsin shirt. It was a way for us to start talking to him, and it turns out that his grandparents live in Wausau. He said he really likes Wisconsin. He wasn't too interested in learning more about the gospel though.

Our investigators are really great! They both are member referrals, which tend to be the best type of referrals. Lindsay is a freshman here and is so eager to learn what her friends have in their lives that makes them different. We had a lesson with her on Monday and on Wednesday and after our lesson Wednesday, she asked if we could meet the next day! It was so exciting to hear her enthusiasm. The only problem is that she goes home every weekend and can't come to our ward. She goes to Church and everything, just not here. She did say that she would be staying in Tallahassee next weekend, so she will be here next Sunday.

Our other investigator, Colleen, has been out of town and we couldn't get a hold of her. We thought something was wrong, but on Thursday her friend told us that she was planning on being at Church on Sunday.

It seems like there are quite a few freshmen girls that we are working with/in the ward. There are four of them, and it is so much fun being with them and working with them as well. I think that because Janet is a freshman, too, I feel like they are my little sisters. It is fun.

Sister Stowers is doing great! I love serving with her. She has made a lot of progress in these last couple of weeks. Next week we have zone conference and so she will have her training as part of zone conference. She'll be fine. We have worked hard. It is great to be in a companionship where we are equally yoked together.

I'm excited for zone conference! Y'all know how much I love it. We are focusing on using the Book of Mormon more. It will be excellent.

So, remember how excited I was to go shopping last week? Well, it was very similar to all those shopping trips that we used to take to Mansfield that ended up being somewhat miserable for everyone. It was kind of funny. But, while we were at Target I saw this really cute pair of shoes that I wanted. They were fuschia/magenta moccasins. I really wanted to buy them, but I didn't. I just couldn't bring myself to buy them, since I'll never get to wear them. But, they made me really happy.

Did you ever find the hot cross bun recipe? I really need it for the senior couple at the Institute. She has been really nice to me (and actually has told me that she spoils me), and she really wanted the recipe. If you could email it sometime that would be great! She said she hasn't been able to find it anywhere, and the way she described her mother's recipe sounded just like the ones you make.

I got the family letters this week. It is nice to read them. Here are some pictures of campus. The first one is of the Westcott Building. I believe it is the administration building. The second one is of my favorite fountain. I really like the girls that are playing in the water there.

Today FSU plays Wake Forest. It is a late game. Hopefully, we won't be awakened by drunk fans coming home from the game.

I think that is it for the week. I love you all and am grateful for all y'all's support!

Love, Joanna

Hi Everyone!

We are having p-day on Saturday due to the football game. It is hard to teach people when they are drunk. We are also going to go to the mall this afternoon, so I am excited. I probably buy something, because I haven't been to the mall and really gone shopping for such a long time! I'm excited.

It sounds like everything is good at home. It looks like to trip to MV was fun, even if it was short. I really liked the pictures, too. I got the pictures you sent from the trip to BYU. It looks like it was a lot of fun.

Sister Stowers is doing well. She is over her cold for the most part. Sister Leafa left on Tuesday, so now Sister Stowers and I can focus hard on her training. She is doing great! At least, it seems like she is farther along than I was when I came out.

It was sad to say goodbye to Sister Leafa. She was the 6th companion I sent home. Why does it seem like I get all the sisters who are going home? At least, I won't be companions with the next two sisters who goes home, and then it will be my turn.

It is hard to believe that I've been out a year! Even though April seems so far away, I know that it is coming really quickly. Soon this semester of school is going to be over. It is also strange that I am back to measuring time by semesters. I thought I was done with that when I graduated... :)

We really haven't had that much rain lately. I was wishing for at least a good rainstorm, but it hasn't happened. Hurricane Ike has caused a gas shortage here. Prices went up about 20 cents yesterday and a lot of the pumps are out of gas now. It's a good thing we don't have to drive.

I guess that is really it for this week. Things are still a little slow, but we are working hard and have seen some good results from our work. I guess I will really get to learn some patience. I know that eventually the work will pick up to what I am used to having.

I am also sending pictures. The first is from the Ronald McDOnald House, the second is our companionship for a week, the third is by the driveway of a Baptist church in our neighborhood, and the fourth is self-explanatory.

I hope y'all have a great week! I love you and am grateful for all of your love and support!

Love, Joanna

Dear Family,
Well, we are having p-day on Monday as you can tell. It has been a really interesting week since I last wrote to you. I'll try and get everything in this email.

Can you believe that on Friday I will have been out a year? It is so strange to think about that!

Last Sunday we had a really good lesson with Colleen, a friend of several members. It was amazing. She is ready for the gospel. We ended up setting a baptismal date yesterday when we taught her the second time. Monday, President Smmerhays called us to tell us about transfers. When I last wrote, I didn't know what was going to happen, but he told me that I would be training! My new companion's name is Sister Stowers. I'll write more about her later. President also told me about Andalusia. He went and did a baptismal interview for a family that got baptized on the 30th. I loved hearing all about it. He even went and saw Donnie and Melissa. Tuesday was pretty non-eventful. Wednesday was transfer day. Transfers take place at the other chapel in town (which is right next door to the mission home). So, we went there and I met Sister Stowers. She had gotten sick in the MTC, so she had a doctor's appointment that morning. Sister Summerhays decided that she would just take us to the appointment and then drop us off. So, we got to spend a few hours at the mission home relaxing :) At transfers I also found out that Sister Leafa would be coming here for her last week. Because they only have one flight a week to Samoa, she got to extend a week. Then we spent a few hours with Sister Summerhays that afternoon as we ran some errands. We had a lesson that afternoon, and then we waited for Sister Leafa to get here. Sister Stowers took a nap to help her feel better. Then we had another lesson. Thursday was a normal day. Friday we met a girl on campus who came up to us and wanted to know what we believed. It was a good conversation and we will be teaching her again this week. Then we went and did service at the Ronald McDonald House. I was going to send pictures, but I didn't bring my camera cord. I'll send some next week. We also spent some time talking to people on campus. It was a good day. Saturday was the first FSU game. We worked like a normal proselyting day. It was alright. Most people were really into the game, but we did have a little success. Sunday was good. Colleen came to church again. So, it was a good week.

Sister Leafa goes home tomorrow. It is kind of sad to see her go. It has been great having her here. But, it will be good to just have Sister Stowers and I. We need to focus on her training. She has a brain tumor and has had several surgeries and treatments to remove it, but it hasn't worked. We'll see what happens with everything.

Well, I have a little more time than I thought I would have. So, I will write a little bit more. Things are going to be interesting this transfer. I think that I am going to get to practice a lot of patience. Sister Stowers really has a great desire to work and be out on a mission. She said that last November she went to the doctor to get her prescription, and he told her that her tumor was back. I don't know if it is going to have an impact on her being here. Sister Summerhays wanted me to call and talk to her, but I haven't gotten to yet. Sister Leafa said that when she was coming here with President Summerhays, he mentioned something about Sister Stowers and her possibly going home. I think it has them both really worried. But, she is a good companion. She is from Draper, UT. There are 6 kids in her family as well, and she is the 4th. There will be three kids in her family on a mission at one time. She went to SLCC to try and take two classes, but decided that school wasn't for her. She had a pretty hard MTC experience, so she is a little unsure of herself. President Summerhays said that she looked "fragile", and I'm afraid I'm going to break her by working hard. You'll understand when I send pictures.

It is strange sending Sister Leafa home. I thought I wouldn't have to send anymore companions home, but she will be the sixth one that I send home. I'm still sick of seeing all my companions leave. Maybe one day I'll eventually get to go home.

Oh, you asked when my release date is. For the time being it is April 2. I'm pretty sure President really wants me to stick around as long as I can. He has told me that I am a really important part of this mission, and I have done a lot for it. Do you remember when I was set apart, and I was told that I would be a "shining star" in the mission? I somewhat doubted it, but it happened, and I didn't even realize it. All I did was decide that I was going to work hard and allow the Lord to use me and work with me to get His work accomplished. I think that is why President wants to keep me around as long as he can. He knows that I will work.

How did Janet enjoy her first week at BYU? She didn't write to me and tell me herself, so I figured you could tell me Mom. I can't believe that Rachel is old enough to get baptized. That means that Hannah Driggs is also old enough to get baptized. Everyone is growing up too fast. Brother Garr is going to be here October 17th and 18th. I'll probably still be in Tallahassee. I have a return appointment with the dermatologist on the 17th.

I guess that really is it for this week. We need to be going anyway. I love you all!

Oh, we might get a hurricane this weekend. And, i couldn't open that address list you sent last week.
I love y'all!
Joanna

Dear Family and friends,

It sounds like it was a pretty fun week going out to BYU. I'm a little sad that I missed out on all the fun, but we had a pretty good week here, too.

Because of Tropical Storm Fay the Saturday sessions of conference were cancelled, so they just had the Sunday morning session. It was really good. Elder Johnson gave an amazing talk and told the Stake that there is only one thing wrong--there aren't enough members. He told them they all need to go out and invite their friends to learn more. It was so good! Of course, President Summerhays loved what he said. After conference we talked with President and Sister Summerhays a little bit. The ward had a meet and greet to get to know people. We saw some people that we'll be working with in the ward which was really good. After that, the institute director invited us over for dinner that night with his family. It felt like I was back at home, only he has young kids. We even played a couple rounds of scum. Because school started this week. we worked extra hard to find people to teach. Everyday they had lunch at the institute, which was really nice for us because we didn't have to walk all the way home. Wednesday was Zone Conference. It was amazing as always. I'll write more about it later. But, we set specific goals of how many new investigators we were going to find on Thursday, so we spent Thursday doing lots of finding. We met our goal and finally have some people to teach. Friday, they have a little forum at the institute and President Summerhays spoke, so we spent our lunch there and then went to the Rondald McDonald House. We had dinner with the Institute people because one of the elders is going homme next week. It was good. Then today was p-day.

So, Zone Conference. I love Zone Conference, and I am going to dread the day when I don't get to go to them anymore. President Summerhays is a great mission president, and I know that I needed to come when he was here. We had a pretty interesting interview. He does them throughout the day so I meet with him before anything started. We had a good talk, and then he told me he wanted to talk with me after, as well. He said he didn't know what was going to happen with transfers next week, but he did know that I am going to stay here. After zone conference, we talked again. It was really good. I feel so much better about the direction that things are headed here. I was really feeling like this was the worst place ever, but now I know that it is going to become an amazing area. He told me a little bit more about transfers and why he didn't know what was exactly happening. He wants this work to move forward more than it has in the 8 previous years, and he has found that changing our culture to one of excellence will move the work forward. He said that he wants me to train, but if neither of the new sisters coming out are a suitable match then I might be getting Sister Hancock, who I was going to train in Geneva. He, of course, said that he didn't know so we'll find out next week what happens. We had a really good talk about Andalusia and why I got to go to such an amazing place for my first area. He had to go do a baptismal interview there yesterday, and I tried really hard to talk him into letting me go along with him and Sister Summerhays, but it didn't work out. He did tell me that I won't end my mission here on campus. Sister Summerhays and I had a really good talk, too. If I'm not training this next transfer, then I get to spend the whole day with Sister Summerhays. I would absolutely love it if I got to spend all day with her. It is a secret wish of all the sisters to get to do that. We'll see if it happens.

So, I forgot last week to write about my dermatologist appointment. It was fine. He said I have excema and gave me a prescription. I had to pay for the visit with my personal credit card because they said they didn't accept the missionary insurance. Sister Summerhays said that they (the insurance) are going to reimburse me for it. So, just so that you don't think I made a hundred dollar purchase on my credit card, that is what happened. The prescription seems to be working. I go back in two months for a check up.

I can't believe that you got to meet Devri! I haven't heard from her for a while, but I knew things were fine with her. She was a good companion and trainer. BYU is such a small world. It sounds like everything else was fun, too. Can we do all of those things when we go out in April? I can't believe Janet is now a real BYU student. One day this week, one of the elders asked if I had a sister at BYU and I said no, but then I remembered that Janet is there! My little sister is all grown up!

Thanks for getting that stuff for me. I'm excited to see all the fun pictures that you took during the week while you were having all sorts of fun. I got a letter from Sarah this week and it was really good. Sas, there is a letter in the mail for you. Keep working hard.

Well, I better go. I can't think of too much else to write. I love you!

Love, Joanna

Dear Family and Friends,
I hope this letter is much appreciated because we walked through wind and rains to get to the library so that we could check our email today. Things with Hurricane Faye are not too bad. I actually thought it was a tropical storm, though. All it is is a lot of wind and rain. The power went off at our dinner appointment last night, so we could only eat the stuff that didn't need to be cooked. It was a little like that Christmas Eve several years ago. It also blinked off for a couple of minutes this morning, during our study, but it came back on. So, my first experience with a tropical storm hasn't been too bad. We weren't really able to work outside yesterday, but we made do with stuff inside and then our service at the Ronald McDonald house in the afternoon.
We are getting ready for the start of school on Monday. We have come up with a plan that will help get the word out early. Most of the other missionaries from the Tallahassee area are going to help us out during the day. The Institute director and the senior couple at the Institute have also been a big help. Other than that we still haven't found anyone to really teach and none of the potential investigators have really made contact with us. So, the work is still slow.
I wish I could go with everyone to the temple. That is one of the things that I really miss. I wish we had a temple so that we could go. Soon enough I'll be able to go again. I got both family letters this week in the mail and also a letter from Grandma, Sarah, and a friend on a mission in California. I was really happy to get some mail. So much has happened in the extended families this summer. I feel like I have missed out on a lot of stuff. Oh well! It happens when you are on a mission.
I do have a couple of things to ask/tell you about. Can I get the recipe for Hot Cross Buns? The senior sister at the Institute was talking about them and said she can't find a recipe for any like the ones her grandma or mom used to make. When she started describing them, it sounded a lot like yours. So, she wanted me to ask you for the recipe.
Also, I was talking to the secretary at the Institute this week. She was asking about Lynn Scoresby and things. I thought maybe I would ask her if she knew Brother Garr. She said that he actually hired her for the job and she got all excited when I told her I knew him. She said that in September or October they are having a Stake CES week and he is coming to be the keynote speaker! I'm excited about it! I hope that I am still here so that I can see him.
We are having Stake Conference this weekend. We are getting a new stake presidency so there are two general authorities coming. We know that one is Elder Kenneth Johnson, who spoke at general conference, but we don't know who the other one is. We only get to go to the Sunday session, though. It will be interesting to see the changes. I haven't been at a stake conference when the stake presidency was changed since I was little. We also have our zone conference this next week.
I finally got a letter from Sarah this week. I really enjoyed it, and am writing her back today. I only need stamps though, and I don't know when I'll be able to get some. Hopefully, some day this week we can at least drop in somewhere so I can get some. We'll also have to find some time to go to the grocery store, too. Those are a few things that do kind of hamper preparation day.
I think that is about it for the week. I'm excited to hear about taking Janet to BYU. Seeing the freshman here and thinking that Janet is going to be one of them is strange. She seems a lot more mature then them. Maybe because she is my sister.
I love you all! Thanks for the letters and support. Liie Sarah said, I know Heavenly Father is blessing you for having us both out at the same time.
Love, Joanna

Hi Family!

It sounds like things are still maintaining their current course at home and with everyone. It is hard to believe that school is about to start again and that I'm almost at my year mark. Time sure has flown by.

I am feeling much better this week. Sister Benfield found out the results of her CT Scan and they still couldn't find anything. So, President Summerhays, along with the missionary department, her parents, and her stake president, decided she needed to go home. She left Wednesday morning really early. Now it is just Sister Wilcox and me. Things have been much better. We have actually gotten to work this week. President Summerhays and I talked this week and he asked me what I could advise him on in regards to the situation here. I was a little shocked to hear it, but I guess that means he trusts that I'll be honest with him.

It has rained a lot this week. It makes it a little difficult because we aren't allowed to proselyte in the buildings on FSU, so when it rains we have to find somewhere dry to sit it out. In fact it is raining today.

The ward is pretty good I guess. It is a student/single ward so people are a little more focused on other things than missionary work. We do have a good ward mission leader, and we have been doing this thing with the members to invite them to invite their friends and other people to things. It is good, and they are pretty responsive to it. Tomorrow we are going to a regular ward sacrament meeting because some of the other elders have an investigator they are giving to us. She is going to be a freshman this year, so she falls into our ward. I am really excited about it. She sounds like she really has a desire to learn and know if it is true. Other than that, our prospects are few as of now. I have faith that we'll find people though.

I have heard about the Olympics. Most of what I have heard is that Michael Phelps is amazing at swimming, Canada has no medals, and the Chinese gymnastics team has some underage competitors. That's about it. I have heard a lot about politics, though. I really don't care much about it, so I usually tune it out.

I did get Shannon's graduation announcement in the mail yesterday. it was my first mail at our new place. The address is the same, but it is Fifield Ln. not Fifield Dr. I was pretty excited to get it. I had remembered a few days earlier that she was going to be graduating. We went to graduation here last Saturday. It was kind of boring, and didn't compare to BYU's graduation. Congratulations Shannon!

School starts here on the 25th. I'm not surprised that it is one of the top party schools. It seems like it would be. The city schools start on Monday. It will be good for it to start. A lot of the people in the ward are gone for the summer. I'm looking forward to when they come back.

I heard about the lean-to on the shed from Uncle Paul a long time ago. Their family wrote me a letter in February, I think, and he told me about it. I'm excited to see the finished project when I get home. At least it will be a nice dry place to keep it. And, I'm sure that everyone else will enjoy carrying in dry fire wood.

I talked to the sisters in Andalusia this week and things are really progressing there. They have 5 baptisms planned for a little later this month. It is so exciting. I also got to talk to one of the members i was really close with. I miss Andalusia, but I know I am supposed to be here and am staying focused on the work here in the Tallahassee 5th Ward.

Well, I guess that is it for today. I feel confident about this next week. We'll have a lot to do.

I love you all! Thank you for your prayers and support!
Love, Joanna

Hi Family and Friends,

It is so good to hear about home and what's been going on. I did get the package with the shirts in it and I'm actually wearing one right now. They are perfect! Thanks! I'm glad BYU has such a good ranking. All we hear about here is FSU, and it is pretty boring for me. The pictures are both from back in Andalusia. The first is Brenda and her family. The second is my district last transfer.

We moved this week! We have a pretty nice apartment. It actually is a duplex on a pretty quiet street. It is a little bit farther from campus, but that's alright. There is an institute across the street from campus. It is near one of the two church buildings in town. It is a lot smaller than I thought it would be. I guess since I only remember the Salt Lake and Orem institute buildings (and they are massive) the one here would feel small. It is good though. I remember that Brother Garr was here, but I can't remember how long ago he said it was, though. Because we moved, we also had to clean the other apartment and get it ready to close. The senior couple who handles the apartments came to make sure everything was alright.

Thursday we went to the hospital for Sister Benfield to have a cat scan. It took forever. She will probably go home this week. She says she wants to go home so she can do other things. It is sad to think that. In a week, I have to go to the dermatologist for a problem I'm having with the skin on one of my fingers. I wouldn't have worried about it, but Sister Summerhays says I need to get it taken care of right away. I wouldn't have gone because it will waste proselyting time. I hate not being about to proselyte like I want to.

We are teaching a 10 year old girl of a member family. They specifically wanted sisters to teach her. It is fun. Other than here, we aren't really teaching anyone. There is such a direct correlation between obedience and dilligence and how many people you have to teach. I really like being here in Tallahassee, but when the people you work with don't want to keep the rules and actually work during proselyting hours, it is hard for the Lord to want to bless you. It is really frustrating. I'm already ready for some changes, and I've only been here for a couple of weeks.

We have been working here in the mission to create a culture that will foster hard work and allow the Lord to bless us. I spent a lot of time studying how I can help create that culture and truly give the Lord my will. Yesterday while I was studying, I came across a scripture in D&C 64:33-34. I love what the Lord says in those verses. We can't be weary or lazy in doing what the Lord asks us to do because whatever it is that we do, that builds a foundation for the future. If we are lazy in our building, we are not going to have a strong foundation. If we are steadfast in what we are doing, we will have a strong and steady foundation that will last through all the trials and difficulties that will shake our testimony. If we are willing to truly give the Lord our heart and our willing mind and obey because we want to, THEN we will reap our reward. The footnotes to Joshua 22:5, Mormon 9:27 and D&C 97:8-9 help us know how we can really give ourselves up. For the first little bit of my mission, I was really hesitant and cautious to give my heart completely to the Lord and do His work. I was scared and nervous, but eventually something clicked that made it so easy for me to hand the Lord everything that I had. As I did that, I saw the blessings that the Lord promised. There are amazing miracles happening in Andalusia. We were finding people who were ready and prepared to hear the gospel and be baptized so that they could go to the temple. It was great. And it wasn't just in Andalusia. In our entire zone we were having so many great miracles. In two weeks, we had 8 baptisms. Everyone had a pretty large teaching pool with lots of good people who were really progressing. It was great. It felt like that is what Zion will be. Then I came to Tallahassee. That culture doesn't exist. It is trying to be established, but everyone wants to have a good time and have fun. Nobody really wants to work. Nobody wants to be exactly obedient like we are supposed to be. It is not the type of mission I want to serve. One of the assistants told me while we were moving that there is nowhere else in the mission like in the Dothan Zone. None of the other zones have really given up that desire to change and freely given up everything to do the Lord's work and focus on that. When we don't give the Lord everything freely, it doesn't work as well. We can reap a reward, but it isn't the greatest reward that the Lord wants to give us. It is frustrating to have to serve with people who aren't willing to do that. In Luke it says, "For with God all things are possible." And it is. It is just hard when you have disobedient companions who don't want to work hard, because blessings are predicated on obedience.

Sorry about that tirade, but being with my companions here in Tallahassee has been pretty miserable. I'm not very happy because we don't have any thing to do. We hardly ever teach, all we do is wander around saying hi to people and asking them if they are interested in religion or sit in the institute with nothing to do. I hate it. I want to work!

I should probably go. I love you all!
Love, Joanna

Dear Family and Friends,
Well, this week has been pretty good. Things are pretty slow because it is summer and finals are this next week. But, we talked to some pretty interesting people. I met a man from Pakistan who seemed interested, but we wouldn't teach him because he is a male and over the age of 30. We, along with the elders, have talked to this girl named Janelle who has started reading the Book of Mormon and has also watched the Restoration. She loves them both and is pretty interested. She is married, though, so neither sets of us will be teaching her. We also taught a 17 year old girl this week. I'm not sure if we will teach her because she is 17 and still in high school. That is one of the toughest things here. We are to focus on the singles ward age range of people, so we are to particularly look for 18-30 year old female singles. It makes it hard to even want to talk to anyone else becuase we won't be teaching them, but we have to.
Here are some of the neat things about here on Campus. We do service at the Ronald McDonald house every week. It is really cool. It is like running a bed and breakfast for people who have children in the hospital here. They are really nice and they have had missionaries doing service there for quite a while. They really like us, too. The fun things about doing service there is that we get to ride our bikes there. For the second time on my mission I got to ride my bike. I was really out of shape, but there is a trick to bike riding and I'm going to learn it. It was so much fun to ride a bike again. We were wearing pants becuase we were going to do service, so there was no skirt involved.
Another fun thing is they have squirrels all over campus. I don't think I have ever seen so many. One thing that is kind of a fun game to play is tag with the squirrels. It is hard, but I tagged my first squirrel this last week. One of the elders has been trying for 7 weeks and hasn't gotten it, so that was a pretty exciting thing for us missionaries. Don't worry though. I won't get rabies. I don't plan on tagging any more.
Did you know that at FSU you can major in Circus? I didn't either, but you can. I think Janet should come to FSU instead of going to BYU and do the circus. They put shows on, and I hear they even have a big tent during the year. Maybe I'll get the chance to go and see them practice sometime while I am here. I'll let you know.
So, we haven't moved yet because of a switch up, but hopefully this week we will be moving into a different apartment than originally planned. It is a lot nicer and it has a washer and dryer. The place we are at now doesn't so we have to pay. But, next week we will have a washer and dryer! I am so excited. Our address will be:
105 Fifield Dr.
Tallahassee, FL 32304
It is going to be so nice to move because I still haven't unpacked most of my stuff, just what I need to survive on.
I think that is about all. Hopefully, this next week there will be a little more excitment. If not, I'll find some more cool information about FSU to share with y'all. I love you!
Love, Joanna

Dear Family and Friends,

This is probably a surprise email since it is coming on Saturday. It has been quite an interesting week to say the least. I know when I wrote last week I told you I was going to Geneva and would be training, but that has all changed. In fact it changed that night. President Summerhays called me and told me that I wouldn't be going to Geneva, but I would be going to Tallahassee instead. It was so crazy Monday. At the time I was glad to not have to go to Geneva and train, but in some ways it would have been really nice to do that. The Sister I would have trained met Nikki at the Distribution Center in Salt Lake, so I'm sure we would have been great friends because of that :) But, I am here in Tallahassee as one of the campus missionaries!

We cover Florida State University, Florida A&M, and Tallahassee Community College. There are three sets of missionaries in the Student/Singles Ward. We are the only Sisters. I am also once again in a trio. I don't know why I can't get out of them. My companions are Sister Benfield from Las Vegas and Sister Wilcox from Provo. I am older than both of them and I have been out longer than both of them as well. They have been serving together two transfers, and Sister Benfield trained Sister Wilcox. It will be interesting to see how things go this next transfer. Sister Benfield has been having some stomach problems/pains that no one can figure out what is wrong.

After leaving Andalusia it is a huge change coming to Tallahassee. I haven't seen so many people, cars, and cement for 10 months-since I flew into Tallahassee last October. It has been a huge shock. The way we do missionary work is also very different. Everything is different here. The one thing that is the same, though, is that I am a missionary, and I get to bring souls to Christ.
There are several good things about being here. It is like we actually get a weekend because our preparation day is on Saturday. That means that I got two preparation days this week. Not many people get that one. Also, President and Sister Summerhays live about 15 minutes away. It just makes me feel more at ease having them so close. They are usually gone a lot of the time, but yesterday Sister Summerhays told me that it is good to be within closer proximity with them. I like that :) But, I got to have Zone Conference for the second time this week! I know I didn't really talk about it on Monday, but it was really good. In my other Zone Conference we role played and talked about how sometimes it takes desperation to receive inspiration. We also had a visit from the Stake President and he shared a message with us. This Zone Conference we had yesterday we role played as well, but then we talked about patterns and how we are developing a pattern for our lives now on our missions. President Summerhays told us that rarely do missionaries change the pattern they have set for themselves after they leave the mission. We also talked about the enabling power of the Atonement, and had the chance to share our testimonies on that. One thing that our mission is doing is embracing a new culture where we remember. We have established a 'title of liberty' for the mission and we talked about that and what it means to us. It was really interesting to see the difference between different areas of the mission.

The thing I like best about Zone Conference is our interviews with President Summerhays. I wish you could meet him. He is great and he really has his heart completely immersed in this work. But, since this was my second interview with him this month, I was extra excited. We talked about the change that happened this week, and why I was here in Tallahassee a little bit. We also talked about going through hard times and facing adversity. Much to my dismay President Summerhays reminded me that we have trials all of our lives. I was hoping once I got home from my mission they would all go away :) But, he said that what I am doing and going through right now will help me in callings and with my children. I know it will, but it is probably going to be unpleasant for a little while. Oh well. Whatever the Lord wants and needs me to do I will do it. After all of this discussion, President Summerhays paused for a moment and then asked about the family. He especially asked if things were good at home. I told him I was pretty sure they were (because they still are right?). Then we talked about what we were. He said that what I was doing would be an honor to the family and you are getting great blessings from it. I hope that you are. He also said that I reflect the goodness of the family and that I have a good heart. It is amazing how the Lord helps him know what to say in interviews. He finished by telling me that I would feel the Lord enfold me in the arms of his love which is the scripture I have on my plaque. The Lord knew that I needed to hear that so I could have the strength and courage to go one with the work, especially here with things being new and very much different (in ALL aspects of the work).

I guess things are pretty slow here. I have yet to meet any of our investigators (or potential investigators), and I don't feel like we have really gotten the chance to work. It is hard going from at least 30 lessons a week to none (or so it seems so far. We have an interfaith discussion that will probably be ineffective this afternoon). But, I know that we can find success. I know I'm going to have to work hard to get it, but it will happen.

I'll write more about campus and the ward and things later. This email is pretty long, so next Saturday I'll write some more. We are moving either this next week or the next. I don't know what the new address is yet, but you can still send me mail at the mission office address. In case you forgot it is 1535 Killearn Center Blvd, St. C-4, Tallahassee, Florida 32309.
I love you all! I hope things are good at home and with everyone.

Love, Joanna