September 29, 2014

Hey! Thanks so much for all of the emails and pictures! Brit your wedding will be great- I'm excited for you :) 
Well, I made it to Canyon and it is really good so far! Since I am serving in a YSA and on a college campus, we are crazy busy and always on the go! The work is very fast-paced and I really love that about my new area. My new companions are Sister Affleck and Sister Bresnahan... getting adjusted to a trio again is super weird, but we are working well together! We started off the week by doing some service for an investigator and she fed us a GIANT pizza! Everything really is bigger in Texas! I'll attach a picture :) Our apartment is not equipped for 3 people... it is teeny tiny- so we only had 2 beds and 2 desks, so we had to do some major re-arranging to fit more furniture in. Well, in the process of moving things around, we lost our phone and didn't find it for another 7 hours! haha it was rough! We met a guy named W who is from Cameroon and we taught him the Restoration and then took him on a church tour! He was soooo into it! We took him into the chapel and the spirit was so strong there that he didn't want to leave! Later in the week, we helped Sister Dale sort out her yarn collection... haha she has a giant tool shed behind her home chock full of yarn!  
We were able to go to the Fish's home and watch the General Women's Broadcast. Did y'all watch it!? So good! It got me so pumped for General Conference this week! I am so excited and ready!! AHHH! Oh, by the way, the Fish's are the new Branch President and his wife... they are so awesome! President Fish reminds me a lot of Uncle Brent mixed with Cory Steidley! haha 
Yesterday was our first Sunday attending the YSA Branch...  I'll write you and tell you more about it! Jade will die laughing at some of my experiences! I think our branch should be featured on the next "singles ward" movie! hahahaha 
We had a member who has been praying for a missionary opportunity come up and she met a guy named H in the park and invited him to church- even though she didn't ever think he would show. Well- he came! And LOVED it! We met with him after church and taught him the Restoration and who Joseph Smith was and where the Book of Mormon came from and committed him to baptism for the 18th of October... so we are excited! That just goes to show that you never know who God is preparing to receive the gospel, so don't be afraid to share it with others and invite them to learn more! I know that this church is true. I LOVE my Savior, Jesus Christ and I am learning more about him and why he has such an impact on each and every one of our lives. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve him through serving other people and to see these wonderful people become more converted to Christ. I love this work! I hope y'all have a great week :) 

Love, 

Sister Evans 

September 22, 2014

Hey y'all! Thanks so much for all of the emails! I love reading through all of them! Well... I am being transferred to CANYON YSA! It's the campus of West Texas A&M University right outside of Amarillo! I will be serving in a trio with Sister Bresnahan and Sister Affleck. I'm really excited to be serving in a YSA branch! It will be very different from what I am used to, but it will be great! This past week we did lots of service at the fair! We helped out at the 4-H booth and I got to be one of the taste- testing judges for all of the treats! I was pumped! I got to pick the winning brownie, chocolate chip cookie, no-bake oatmeal cookie, and cupcake! I pretty much died and went to heaven :) It was the greatest service project of life! Sister Christensen and I were given a turkey from a ward member, so we cooked it this week... and we made potatoes and homemade gravy! My wife skills are coming right along, Mom! We have been having a difficult time finding solid people to teach lately, so we have been working with a lot of former investigators and less actives. As we were coming out of a less active's home and walking down the street, a member jumped out of his car and invited us on the spot to come over to his home and have dinner with his family! Talk about southern hospitality! People are so great here. I'm so grateful to have served here in Lubbock... hopefully I will be back! The ward that I have been serving in is so awesome... lots of converts who have such strong testimonies! I have come to love this area and the people! But more than anything else, I have come to LOVE the scriptures.. not only the Book of Mormon, but the Bible too!! I can't believe I never fully understood how much power comes from reading and applying the words of Christ!  Mark 2:17 - "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick." Everyone needs Christ in their lives! I love this this gospel so much! Never take it for granted! 

I love you all! Have a great week :) 

Love, Sister Evans 

P.S. We went to the temple this week with a recent convert to do baptisms! The spirit was so strong there! I love the temple! Thanks mom for the rain boots... it has been raining cats and dogs! 

thanks so much for the box!!!

turk and tatoes!

September 15, 2014

Hello! Thank you so much for all of the emails :) I feel loved! This week flew by (as usual!) but we started off the week with an awesome Zone Training. It's amazing how much I have learned from other 19-22 year olds! We did some yard work for an older lady in our ward who isn't in very good shape... she appreciated our help SO much, that she insisted that she took us out to get a cheeseburger at the local drive inn! It reminded me a lot of Malad's Drive Inn :) We have had some crazy COLD weather this week! I'm used to dying of heat and this week we jumped to the 40's and 50's! On Bike Day we biked over to a member's house for dinner... on the way back, I was leading the way (since I've been here longer and know the area a little bit better than Sister Christensen does) and I looked back to make sure she was still following and I watched her FLY over the handle bars... and then splat on the sidewalk! It was so scary and hilarious at the same time! I'm just so glad that she didn't get hurt! I think it just hurt her pride a little because we were on a very busy street, so I'm sure a lot of people saw it happen! As we like to say, "Yikes... Yikes on Bikes!" The next day we got to defend our beliefs as we had a lesson with a "dye in the wool" Church of Christ member. She wanted the facts!! For example, "If the records were written on golden tablets, the words could have easily been distorted because the gold isn't durable to last that many years...." and "Where are the plates now?" God has them. "That's not possible- why wouldn't he leave them in the ground for us to discover ourselves?" Anywho... you get the gist! The struggle is real! This past weekend, the Lubbock Stake was SPLIT! Yay- what everyone here has been waiting for!! Now there are two stakes- so that's super exciting! It has been a great week! I have been out for 3 months now, so that means that I am done with all of my training! Transfer calls will be here this weekend... so we'll see where the Lord needs me next!! Lately, I have been thinking a lot about the growth that we are making each day. The gospel of Jesus Christ is all about progression! We are always trying to do better and be better individuals and disciples of Christ. I love this quote from Harold B. Lee- "The purpose of the church is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." We are here to work hard! I love this work- it's not easy.. at all... but I am happy to be here! I love you all! I hope y'all have a great week :) 

Love, 

Sister Evans 

P.S. This is a pic of my "3 month mark" celebratory pancake dinner that Sis Chris made me! Maybe she's just pumped to be done training me, too :) haha 

September 8, 2014

Hey, y'all! How's everyone doing? I am doing great! The weather is starting to cool off a tiny bit... so now I am just surviving the 90's... not too bad hahaha! 
We found 3 new investigators this week! So here's a little bit about them: Earlier this week, we felt prompted to go to a certain area, so we did and we met the coolest 85 year old man named L.H.! He is pretty great! He was baptist his whole life, but 20 years ago he decided to up and leave his church because he just felt like he didn't need to go anymore. We were able to teach him a couple times this week. Then we we met a funny old guy named James who wants to learn more about the Book of Mormon and gain more knowledge. He is hilarious... mainly because he doesn't have any teeth, so it's pretty difficult to understand what he is trying to say! But he likes me because I laugh at his jokes and apparently have "pretty blue eyes and nice, white teeth!" We also taught a guy named W this week who attends "E-Life" or "Experience Life" which is a big party church here, but we talked about how important families are to God and now he wants his fiancé to start taking the lessons, too! So we are excited about all of our new gators! 

We did a lot of service this week. We are loving the new "10 hours of service per week" rule!! We also taught Frances this week and the spirit was really strong even though her 4 year old was being distracting and throwing a tantrum! Haha I've learned a lot of patience with screaming children since I've been out here :) I suppose that will be helpful somewhere down the road when I have kiddos of my own! 

On Saturday it rained, and rained, and rained! Not too fun! We were at a loss as to what to do, so we said a prayer and were led and guided to a Less Active's home (Sister M.). She let us right in and told us that she has been on an up and down roller-coaster ride of inactivity in the church, but she said that she wants our help with making the transition of coming back! So great! :) Yesterday at church, we had 4 baby blessings (all-time record for one Sacrament Meeting!) and then dinner with the Borba Family. They are originally from Brazil, but just moved from Utah. He is the 1st Counselor in the Bishopbric. They are a great family! Mom, have y'all had the missionaries over lately? You should! :) The Church is true! I love you all! Have a great week!

Love, 

Sister Evans 

P.S. This is how grumpy we were after getting rained on ALL DAY LONG! haha! 

September 1, 2014

Hey everyone! WOW! What a week! We started off the week by meeting a great family, the Rivera's. They don't have much of a religious background... rare 'round these parts!...so they are very receptive and open to learning about our Christian beliefs! We had a lesson with one of our recent converts, Logan... he gave the most sincere closing prayer and it was so awesome to see how much people change in such a short amount of time! He used to smoke like 6 packs a day and now he is clean! We met a couple from Cedar City, UT at the Waterin' Hole (the place we fill up our water jugs for the week... Lubbock water is worse than Pocatello's! Believe it or not...) They are a part-member family and bought our water for us and then told us that they would love to have us over for dinner soon! We felt like missionaries serving in Utah!! It was awesome! He is SUU's former football coach. BTW... football is a BIG DEAL here in Texas! haha! 

This week we had Zone Conference and it was awesome!! President Heap re-issued a bunch of mission rules, so we are all super excited! Now we can eat with members anytime and anywhere (missionaries used to be limited to 3 meals per week, only eating with the same family once a month!), 10 hours of service per week vs. 3 hours, AND we get to go to the temple once per transfer!!!!! AHHH! So pumped! Members and missionaries are starting to work closer with one another around here! So... we started putting the new rules into action and we have done a lot of service this past week! We helped build and put up a fence and raked and bagged leaves for some members. On Thursday, we got hit with a crazy hail storm that made everything a giant mess, so we are glad we got to do some service! It has been a great week. I love serving here in Lubbock! It is a great place, full of great people! I KNOW the church is true and if we will fully live the gospel and keep the commandments, we will be happy! I have seen that this week! I love this church with all of my heart! It is Christ's church and I feel so blessed to be a member of it. Everyone deserves to find this happiness in their lives... so share it with them!!! I dare ya ;) 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! 

Love, 
Sister Evans 

Elder Colter Hulet... we went to High School together

Giant Hail.. no biggie

ok... funny story: Sister Christensen's mom thought it would be nice to send a new shirt in her "Year Mark Box"... she sent the exact shirt that she already had! Haha!! And I have a 

matching shirt... what are the odds?

August 25, 2014

Hey! So Mom... I guess I forgot to tell you about my companion! Her name is Sister Christensen and is from Provo! She is so great, she is 21 and has been out for a year this week! She is a hard worker, and we work really well together! She wants me to teach her how to do the splits, a body roll, and a cheerleader rally (wave) hahahaha!  Anyways...gosh this week was so great! We started off the week with a very weak teaching pool... it was kind of sad! BUT... we had exchanges on Tuesday and WOW! Sister Clark, one of the STL's, came here to my area and went out with me. We were AMAZED by the miracles that happened that day! We usually contact around 8-10 people (on a good day!) on the streets and we contacted 23 solid people! Then, we found 4 new investigators! These people are so prepared for the gospel in their lives, it's so great! One of our new investigator's names is Kathy. She is probably in her 50's and has a cute little grandbaby...but anyways, I felt prompted that we needed to knock on her door and she let us right in and we were able to briefly teach her about the Book of Mormon! She told us that she knows there is something more out there and is searching for truth. She said that she thinks us showing up on her doorstep at the perfect time was a sign from God and an answer to her prayers! AHH! So awesome! She loves how "wholesome" the Latter- Day Saints are and is so open and ready to receive the gospel in her life! We also got to meet with Mary this week. She is awesome, but she relies heavily on what her pastor says and of course he is going to continue discouraging her to meet with us and "converting to Mormonism." Keep her in your prayers that she will pray and receive an answer for herself, please! As we were leaving her house, we got dumped on with a giant rain storm! When it rains here... it pours!! Mom... I might need my umbrella sometime sooner than later :) haha! OH! Highlight of the week: we had a "morning-side" with the women from the General Primary, Young Women's, and Relief Society Presidencies! (Sister Stephens, Stevens, and Oscarson spoke) It was SO good and the spirit was seriously so strong! We did some service for Logan this week and helped him paint his trailer... I'll tell you about him later! That's about it for this week! We have Zone Training this week, so I'm really looking forward to that! It's going to be a great week! I love y'all! Have an awesome week! 

Love, 

Sister Evans 

This was taken right before Sister Christensen changed into a black skirt and a green belt.. we were accidentally really matchy match! 

Service... Calls For Da Splits!

A "Redneck" Paintbrush

Texas bird bath!

My comp has been braiding my hair! 

August 18, 2014

Hey everyone! Sounds like everyone is doing great and the summer is drawing near! This week I picked up my new companion, Sister Christensen... I love her!! We get along so well.. she's a hoot! She has a strong work ethic, so I know this is going to be a great transfer!  This week we met a lady named Mary who is a caregiver for an older couple with Alzheimers, named CT and Sis! They are hilarious! Mary is an awesome woman who has strong faith in Jesus Christ... when we met her, she was wearing a t-shirt that said "Jesus and I Are Tighter Than Skinny Jeans!"  Hahahaha! I was dying. We are planning to teach her more this week! We also got to do service for an 80 year old lady named Shirley who looks like she is 60! I'm not even kidding. She is one of the classiest women I have ever met. She opened up to us and we were able to share a little bit more of our beliefs with her. We met with Bishop Cluff Wednesday night to correlate our missionary efforts and ended up being asked to speak in church! So with 3 1/2 days to figure out a talk, I spoke on Sunday about how we are able to receive answers to our questions through studying the scriptures. It went really well, but we were bummed that Ken didn't show up to church, because what we spoke about was EXACTLY what he needed to hear! He called us this morning and dropped us... ahhhh!! Dang it! 

But..... here's the good news!!! On September 13th, 14th, or 15th, (I don't know exactly what day..cause I don't own a calendar haha!!) a member of the 70, Michael Utay? is coming here to re-organize the stake! Lubbock is finally being split into 2 stakes! Oh Happy Day!!! Today we had a conference call and our ZL's announced our new mission goal... to bring 625 souls unto Christ this year! That's 125 more than they did last year! We have lots of work to do, but we are all working really hard here in the TLM! Sister Christensen and I are working really hard here in the Caprock West area... I love this work and serving here! I hope you are all doing well! I love and miss y'all!!! 

Have a great week :) 

Love, 

Sister Evans

This is Sister Doncouse- she and her hubby and kids moved here from Pocatello last year. We have been doing family history with her on Thursday nights and we went to Bahama Bucks afterwards- softest shaved ice in the world! Pretty good snow cone and I don't even like snow cones!! haha

​

August 11, 2014

 Hey everyone! How's it goin?! I'm doing good! This week was a quick one.. I can't remember much of what we even did! haha! We got transfer calls Saturday night, and I am staying here in this area and my new companion will be Sister Christensen! I met her when I was in my last area and I really like her, so I'm excited! Hopefully she will be my final trainer!! 3 trainers... kind of unheard of! Oh well! We had dinner at a member's home this week and their kids are so cute! We were teaching them about missionary work and I shared my story with them about when I was little, I taught all of the daycare kids "Follow The Prophet" on the bus ride to dance class. They loved that story and kept asking if I have any more stories about when I was little! haha! So President and Sister Heap and their daughter, Emily surprised us Saturday morning at 6:30am by showing up to Morning Sports to play ultimate frisbee with us! It was so fun! Not everyone can say they've played frisbee with their Mission President! Later that day, we had a lesson with Ken who is probably in his late 70's. He is so prepared and we committed him to baptism on August 30th! He lost his wife a few years ago, so we taught him the Plan of Salvation and explained to him that he will have the opportunity to live with his wife for eternity! He loved it! It was a good week! I know that the church is true and that Heavenly Father is so very aware of each and every one of us! He knows of our needs, wants, and desires... he knows us better than we know ourselves!! I feel so blessed to be able to teach people about the gospel every single day! I love it here. I hope everyone is doing well! Read your scriptures and say your prayers DAILY! Love you all!

Love, Sister Shelby Jane Evans 

August 4, 2014

Hello everyone! Well Mom... 2 fast Sundays down.. 16 to go! You can do this! haha. Thank you SO much for printing out yours, dad's, and Harrison's emails and for sending them to me! You da' best! Oh, and thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Evans for the letter... and Tom Bakes for the funny postcard- always something to look forward to! Well, transfer calls will be here at the end of the week... I'm probably staying here, but at this rate (I've already been moved once!) ...who knows where I'll be! haha! Here's my week in a nutshell:

Tuesday- we had an interesting district meeting... we did a lot of role playing and it was super funny because the elders here are SO DANG AWKWARD hahaha! 

Wednesday- We taught Betty who is an older lady.. she is hard of hearing, so she only heard about 1/2 of what we said. Then, we taught a guy named Kris who is an interesting fella.. he usually is drunk when we teach him, but this week he was sober and he was able to feel the spirit so much stronger! 

Thursday- Bike Day! We met an older lady who was weeding her lawn who is a member of the "Church of Christ" haha basically, she proceeded to tell us that she refuses to read a book that a man wrote because she only reads the Bible- the word of God... ahh the struggle of everyday life here! I wasn't backing down to her- we all know I can be a little fiesty-in a loving way, of course- but I had testimony throwdown!  We had a pancake dinner at a members home and then we spent the evening helping some of our recent converts with their family history! Genealogy is so cool! Who said it's for grandmas only!? I always thought so...  

Friday- We did service and then had a lesson with a recent convert- the Hess family came with us. Mom.. Ask Brad and Wendy or Cody (YAY! Welcome Home!) if they know Devin and Jordan Hess? They are from Idaho Falls area.. 

Saturday- Happy 21st Birthday to my sweetheart! It was a slow day for us.. all of our appointments fell through, but we met some great people on the streets! 

Sunday- We visited some members who are Poly's.. they are awesome! We taught them the restoration. Also, I met some members at church named the Petersons from Blackfoot..Her name is Jessica Smith- Peterson.. She said she knows all of my Rigby cousins and helped coach Madie! 

I want to share a little bit from my studies this past week- about prayer/faith! In order to exercise our faith, we must live our religion! God should ALWAYS be at the top of our priorities list. Since I've been here, I have seen SO many people get caught up in their day-to-day lives, that they forget about and don't make time for God. Ouch! Talk about forgetting the source where all of your blessings come from! 

Faith is an action word that REQUIRES action.. not just saying you will do it! In order to increase our faith, we must learn more about and become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. This all comes through obeying his commandments and turning to him for help through Prayer! Prayer is one of the easiest, but most difficult things to do! Right!? But I've learned that through prayer, our will can be brought in correspondence with Heavenly Father's. This past week, I made it a goal to say more meaningful prayers... and WOW! What a difference it has made! I feel so blessed to have been raised in this gospel. I know that it is true, and am so grateful that my sweet mom and dad have raised myself and my siblings in a home centered on Jesus Christ! Thank you! Madie, Kyal, all of my cousins and Harrison's brothers and sisters- Pay attention in Seminary and Church! That's my word of advice :) I love you all! Have a great week! 

Love, Sister Evans

 

July 28, 2014

Hello! How is everyone!? I'm doing great! Thank you family for the "Greenie Box!" I loved it :) Macey- Sister Tooley and I wore our green twinner bracelets to church... so cute! This week has seriously flown by! Is flown even a word?? Anywho- you get what I'm sayin! There is no way it can possibly be Monday already! 

My week was good! On Tuesday we had Zone Training and it was awesome! Wednesday I had my first exchanges! I went to the College Park Area with Sister Barlow and taught college students- people my own age! I loved it! Thursday was bike day... oh how I love biking in the scorching hot sun! 105 degrees? ehhh. no biggie! We taught a couple named Alfred and Belinda. It was an awesome lesson! Then we had a big Pioneer- Day Celebration with the ward- so fun! Later on, we were walking in a neighborhood and walked past Brother Kinghorn and his wife (We are related somehow... G-MA, does the name Clive Kinghorn sound familiar? Apparently we are related to Alexander Kinghorn somewhere down the line) We stopped and talked to them and went inside to have a little lesson. We heard Brother Kinghorn yell from the garage so we ran out to check on him. He is a little bit older and is on a bunch of meds that make him dizzy and off balance.. he fell and couldn't get up. It was so sad! We helped him up and he is doing ok... I KNOW that Heavenly Father puts us exactly where we are needed! Later in the week we went to Alfred and Belinda's to invite them to church... we found out that he is a preacher at a church down the street... awkward! The most awkward thing about it!? We had previously told him that no other church on the earth has the Priesthood Authority and their preacher doesn't have any authority... hahaha then we taught a lady named Lynn who is a little bit funny! She held my hands through the lesson because she thought I looked sad! WEIRD! Anywho we committed her to baptism... then we got a call today and she dropped us :( story of my life... haha! Anyways, it has been a very eventful week! Hope you are all doing well!! Write me! LOVE Y'ALL! 

Sister Evans

July 21, 2014

Hi everyone! It sounds like everyone is doing pretty good! Here was my week in a nutshell:

Monday- I got a letter from Aunt Lisa and Harrison. I was SO happy... letters make missionaries happy... please keep the mail comin'! 

Tuesday- We had interviews with President Heap. That man is a STUD! I'm seriously SO lucky to be serving under the direction of President Heap! He shared some scriptures with me out of D&C 21 and said he is really proud of how hard I'm working with Sister Tooley... so I think that's good news! Sister Heap made us cookies.. she is such a sweetheart! I love them both! 

Wednesday- it was 98 degrees with 90% humidity... It was... enjoyable! haha we had a lesson with a guy named K. We taught him about the restoration and he had a LOT of good questions! He was a little bit drunk, but hey... we will keep working with him! He's great

Thursday- Lovely Bike Day! We got to do service for a young mom who is a less active and is fixin' to have twins. She is literally about to pop, so we helped her clean (like deeeeeeep clean) and prepare the house!  She even came to church on Sunday! Later that day, we met an 83 year old man who was weeding his lawn while his 11- yr old granddaughter, Legend, rode her bike. Legend told me that her grandpa LOVES to read books, so I pulled out a Book of Mormon from my bag and said, "Here! I've got an AWESOME book for you, Sir!" He agreed to read it. 

Friday- We did our usual 4 hours of weekly planning and then I got a call from Sister Heap letting me know that my sweet great-grandma Louise passed away. I was a little bit bummed cause I didn't go see her before I left, but I snapped out of it quickly and realized that she is seriously the happiest woman in the world! I feel so lucky that I am able to teach people every single day about the PERFECT PLAN OF HAPPINESS and I KNOW I will see her again someday! Oh what joy and comfort this gospel brings! 

Saturday- We played basketball for morning sports. I got a call from the zone leaders later that day asking me to say a prayer at zone training- then they told me that I put a whole new twist on the game of basketball... apparently they've never seen dancing and basketball mixed! Pique, Pique, Bend, Shoot, SWISH! MVP of the game! hahaha just kidding. All of our appointments and back-up plans fell through that day so we found ourselves walking around in 102 degree- weather trying to find people to talk to! We got a call at 11:30pm from one of our less actives who committed to come to church the next day, saying that she couldn't come anymore. 

Sunday- Church was great! One of the elders' investigators was baptized this week, so he was confirmed in Sacrament Meeting and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost! It was 108 degrees that day.. we found a $10 bill in a guy's front yard so we knocked on his door to return it- he told us to keep it, so we are going to make homemade oreos for tomorrow's zone training! 

As you can see, I had a pretty great week! It flew by! Please keep the people we are working with in your prayers! I LOVE this gospel. I can't believe this has been right in front of me my whole life and I have never taken full-advantage of it! I love being a missionary- this is definitely the most challenging but rewarding thing I have ever done!! I love you all. Have a great week! 

Love,

Sister Evans :) 

July 14, 2014

Hello! Thanks for all of the emails! Sounds like everyone is doing great! This week was.... interesting! haha! We met a cute 17 year old girl named Amanda- I can't remember if I already told you about her, but she is awesome! We committed her to baptism on July 26th! So exciting! We met a non-member named Dana this week... she LOVES the sister missionaries! She loves us so much that she bought us 3 dozen Krispy Kremes.... Oh dear! It's safe to say I ate a whole dozen on my own hahaha... just kidding Mom! We had morning sports a few times this week and we played Ultimate Frisbee.. I made the winning catch! Who knew I was so coordinated?! Thursday, we had a "Meet and Greet with President and Sister Heap!" THEY ARE SO AWESOME! President gave us some really good counsel and he knows each and every one of us by name already... impressive! Sister Heap gets so excited every time she sees me and says "Hey Sister Evans- My Facebook friend!" She is the funniest human I have ever met! I LOVE her. Haha! Anyways, they fed us lunch at this get- together and President Heap asked if he could pull me aside and talk to me... I was freaking out. I kept wondering... Am I in trouble? I've only been here 2 weeks... what did I do wrong!? Am I not doing a good job? Maybe my pencil skirt is too tight? Did he notice the bling on my left ring finger? Ahhhh crap... he hates me! Anyways... I asked him if I was in trouble and he said "No- just the opposite" - One of the sisters had to go home because of medical problems, so he received a prompting that I was the one who needed to be moved out of the trio and into a new area serving with Sister Tooley. I agreed that I would go and do whatever the Lord needed me to do!  It's super weird to be transferred half way through a transfer! President told me to be packed and ready to go by Saturday... ok no problem! I got back to the apartment and got a call from the AP's saying I needed to be ready in less than 2 hours and that I was moving that day. It's safe to say that I've never packed faster in my life! Anywho- my new area is the "Caprock West" area and is only 5 minutes away from where I was. I'm serving with Sister Tooley- from Highland, Utah and she has been out for a year- 10 1/2 months in this area alone! She knows the area and the people like the back of her hand! I've already learned A LOT from her and I know that this is exactly where I need to be! We celebrated my "1 month mark" with Blue Bell ice cream :) I'm doing great and loving my new area so far! Love you all! Have a great week! XOXO - Sister Evans 

Here is my new address: 

4714 Elgin Ave. Apartment 18i 

Lubbock, TX

79423 

P.S.Only in Texas:
EVERYONE has a red/ aqua door

10+ dogs

a leaf blower... to blow the dirt from one side of the sidewalk to the other

everyone says "Have a Blessed Day" and "Be safe out there"

Red stoplights are optional... just a suggestion that you might want to stop! hahahaha

... I love Texas.

yep... those are my observations for the week.. Just cause Jade is a gas prices goo-roo here they are: Regular $3.35, diesel: $3.65

July 7, 2014

Hello everyone! I'm doing great! It's been a weird week for missionary work due to everyone being out of town for the 4th of July! ...but oh well!! 

Monday- P-DAY (A.K.A.) the best day of life! We went to a member's home for FHE and that was really fun because they have young kids!

Tuesday- We had District Meeting and District Lunch at Rosa's... basically Cafe Rio on steroids! So good! Then while we were proselyting, we found a cute 17 year old girl named Amanda! She is soooo prepared to receive the gospel! So we are working with her and she is great! 

Wednesday- We were knocking some houses near our apartment and found a lady named Louise... she hated us and told us that our religion is a CULT and was so so so mean hahaha... she'll accept the gospel some day... just not today haha! Later that night, we knocked into a family who was so nice! They love Glenn Beck and want us to come back! 

Thursday- bike day... well it quickly turned into "walking day" Sister Affleck flicked a rock off of her bike tire and it started deflating!! So we have to go get her tire fixed today! We walked an hour to each appointment and an hour back.. safe to say I had blisters on the bottoms of both feet! But on the bright side... CONGRATS TO UNCLE CRAIG AND AUNT LISA FOR GETTING SEALED!! That was the highlight of my day and I wasn't even physically there! Mom- remind me to tell you about our law of chastity lesson that day.. too inappropriate to email it! hahahahahaha 

Friday- The 4th of July! We went to the mission home and had a get- together with a lot of the missionaries and the new mission president and his wife!! They are SO awesome!!! We went home and were having companionship prayer by our back- sliding glass door (that's where our study area is) and the other neighbors were playing beer pong watching us pray haha!! It was weird. 

Saturday- We proselyted... all day! We met an older lady who lost her hubby a month ago so we testified to her about the Plan of Salvation and it made her cry. She has been attending her Baptist church for 60+ years now, but said we can come back anytime. 

Sunday- church was awesome. Our Relief Society lesson was sooo good about overcoming trials and coming together as women in the church to help lighten each other's loads. All I could think about during that lesson was that Madelin Smith would probably give a lesson like this lesson in her ward. It was so good. 

Anyways- This week was great! I love you all and hope you are doing great! Thank you Tonya Blaser for sending me a letter this week! It was just what I needed to hear! I love you all! Please send me your addresses :) 

Love, Sister Evans

June 30, 2014

Hi everyone! I made it to Texas! I am in a trio companionship (the only one in the mission!!) and so far it's great! Sister Bearnson from Bountiful, UT is training me and Sister Affleck (my MTC comp)! We are serving in Lubbock and the people here are pretty awesome! I love how religious everyone is! There are definitely some great people and some not-so-kind people! But that's ok... I'm sure that is the case everywhere in the world! Anyways... I am doing good! I'm pretty much melting in the sun... but it's cool! Whatever! On Thursdays we are required to ride bikes. I am pretty sure we rode about 15 miles last Thursday and it was no easy- breezy bike ride! We rode out to the boondocks in 98 degree heat and then went to do some service! Dad never let me used to help out with painting... but I can finally say that I have painted for the first time ever! I had my first baptism so that was exciting! It was a 14- year old boy named Bishop! He got baptized on Saturday and we taught the Restoration while he was changing his clothes so that went really good! Last night we went to visit a lady who lost her hubby an couple of months ago who is lonely, but the neighbors who are members (the Voorhies) took her under their wing. She invited us right in and we got to know her really well. We even helped her prepare dinner and then ate with her and the Voorhies family! So that was awesome and totally an answer to our prayers! We have been working so hard to find new investigators and she wants us to come back and teach her more about eternal families! So we are really excited! I am doing great! Just melting in the sun and loving life!! Couldn't ask for much more than that! I love you all! Have a great week! 

June 20, 2014

HELLO FAMILY! How's everyone doing!? I'm doing great. I went to the temple today and ran into Coach Young! That was so crazy! I love the MTC! I fly out at like 8:30 Monday morning so I have to leave here at like 4:30am!! YIKES! So be expecting a call from me early Monday morning! Holy Cow I have learned so much in this short amount of time that I have been here! This week Sheri Dew came to speak at a devotional and WOW it was so good! She talked about grace and then M. Russell Ballard came to speak at the devotional on Sunday... WOAH! There's no doubt that he is a man of God! So so so powerful! I wrote a lot in my journal! I wish I could write ALL about it... but that would take me forever and I only get an hour on the computers! Umm... my Branch President is a stud. Harrison would think he was the greatest person on the earth! His name is President Laney and he is a scriptural whiz!! Anyways, I have to go! Love you all!! -Sister Evans 

June 13, 2014

Hi family!! WOAH! I don't even know where to start! I love it here. I really do! Harrison was right when he said 9 months ago that I would absolutely love the MTC! I am serving in a trio companionship with Sister Affleck and Sister Heaton. I feel like I was most likely asked to come a week early because there may not be any sisters headed to Lubbock that are coming next week! Who knows! Well so far everything is going great! I get along really well with Sister Affleck and Sister Heaton keeps me on my toes! hahaha. I'm sure you can figure out what I mean! So anyways, I am enjoying it here. The food is awesome- I've had a gourmet salad everyday haha! But anyways... I LOVE YOU ALL! I have already grown so much closer to my Savior and I have found my purpose as a missionary! There is so much to learn! Today we were able to teach a really powerful lesson with one of our "investigators." (Our teacher (Bro. Clancy) is playing along by the name of Pete who we later found our that is Brother Clancy's dad who isn't a member) Hopefully that makes sense! haha! Well I'm having fun and I'll talk to you next Friday! 

Love, 

Sister Evans