A Tennessee Christmas

First Christmas away from home.  We got to talk to her on Thursday and it was great!  She is happy and working hard and learning that loving the people is more important than anything else you can do on a mission.  She inspires us every time we hear from her, and she looks radiant!  Even though we miss her at the holidays of course, we're so happy she is enjoying her mission and serving the Lord who's life we celebrate each year. Here are some excerpts from her last email:

We had our Christmas Zone Conference this past week which was AWESOME! Those trainings are the best! The spirit is always so strong and I am re-motivated and recommitted to the work when I leave. Also..... we got to watch Frozen!!! It was hilarious to watch it with missionaries who had never seen it before. 

Can I just say that Oak Ridge is soooooo musical!!! We had several youth in the High School Orchestra concert so we went to that and then we were invited to go to the Methodist Christmas Noel and then our own ward's Christmas program was spectacular! Music has the ability to quickly bring the spirit into a setting, and Christmas music all about Jesus Christ has such a powerful effect. 

One of our investigators, Leslie, was in the hospital this week, so we went and visited her She is an older lady who has a great knowledge of the Bible, but is very confused on how to interpret it. She is being "carried to and fro with every wind of doctrine." We stopped by to share a brief thought with her and she really loved the idea of "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass." It was something that she really wanted to apply in her life, and her prayer was so genuine as she asked Heavenly Father to help her to do and see the small and simple things. It was an example to me that when we learn something new, we should strive to act on it and involve Heavenly Father in the process. He can make our weaknesses become strengths.

We had our Ward Christmas Brunch with a pancake bar! yum :) The primary kids did a short reenactment of the nativity. Can I just say I love little kids! They are so fun, innocent, and smart!

We also had a great lesson with Connie. She hasn't come to church yet, so we took her to the church for a lesson and gave her a tour. She stopped at the picture of the first presidency and said, "Wow.... what a powerful picture." Our last lesson with her was about prophets and so it was perfect that she connected with that picture and we were able to remind her what we taught her and testify of a living prophet.

Have a great week!! and FELIZ NAVIDAD!!

1st Transfer! Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Here She Comes!

 I forgot to post last week :(  So here are 2 weeks worth of letters:

I don't quite know about how to write about this past week. The first part of the week flew by and the second half is going slower... but all is well! :)

The first half of the week consisted of many goodbyes, which are hopefully just see-you-laters. I'm not one to cry, but I lost a few tears as I parted with the people I have come to love. One of the hardest goodbyes was to my trainer, companion and best friend. We really worked at our companionship and we became close the past 4 months.

Although it was hard, I have no doubt that I am supposed to be in my new area and with my new companion. My new companion's name is Sister Price. and guess what?? She is from Syracuse! We plotted our houses and we are only 15 minutes away. She went to Clearfield High and I am excited to work with her.

The ward here in Oak Ridge is made up of a lot of people from Utah who are here working. The streets are alphabetical which is convenient for missionaries who don't have a GPS! :) We for sure know Sister Price is leaving next transfer (which is a bummer. It'll be hard to bond in only 3 weeks.) so I'll have to learn my way around pretty quickly. Also, I live in a mansion! If you want to see, google earth 120 Wolf Creek Way. Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830. (which, if you want, you can send mail here for the next little bit instead of the mission home. Either way.) We live with a non-member: sweet, old Maxine who has diabetes and still eats pie every night. But we love her. It's good for us to be with her to help her with some of the things she can't do for herself and it's a blessing for us to be here as well. (She is the mother of a former bishop of that ward and she called us as soon as Rachel got there to let us know she was safe, so nice:)

A lovely Christmas sweater from Maxine!  I've always thought she looked good in red!

It's been a little hard the past couple of days with it being the first time I have ever transferred. I have not been in an area where my companion knows more about the streets, people and ward than I do. I am now starting all over with the hints I give people to help remember my last name:) (I think Trumpets works...:) Side Note: I love having a unique last name. Seriously, it's awesome. 

The people here are wonderful. I can't wait to get to know them better!

Love you all!! Happy December!!

And I noticed this morning that as of today, I am 19 and 1/2 years old! today's my half birthday!! ha! woot woot!

From Yesterday (Dec. 15th):

One of the highlights of this week was the half-mission conference with Elder Redlund of the Seventy. It was incredible!! A whole day of spiritual feasting! He had us read 3 talks by Elder Bednar before we came, in preparation for his words. It seemed like a main focus was prayer which was so perfect because my goal for this transfer was to improve my personal prayers. It was also a tender mercy that the Dalton district and everyone I have served with came to the same session I did! It was exactly what I needed to see them again and be able to talk, laugh and speak Spanish! ha! Seeing them did the opposite of what I thought it would. It gave me a jump start out of being sad about leaving my last area. :)

I have gotten to know Brother and Sister Huddleston here, who have been investigating the church for 2 years now. Because I was new, I began really digging for the deep concern of why they are not committing to be baptized. A few things surfaced that were not known before this which provided a great place to start. They could both be incredible members and I know that as soon as they commit, they will just accelerate in their testimonies and really in all aspects of their lives. They seem similar to a few other people I have worked with in the past, and I feel like I may be able to do some good for them.

We were able to be in a parade with the ward this weekend. Yes, it was cold, but it was a great opportunity to hand out pass-along cards! I have never seen people s ho happy to get a card! "a free movie about Christ? awesome!" or "what a beautiful picture of Christ. Thank you so much!" We'll see what good it did in the next little bit. It was also great to develop a relationship with the youth in the ward. I saw such success from in it my last ward and know that the youth of the church are incredible and have great potential.

On Sunday we went to the addiction recovery class with a less-active member and it was really neat. It is a program that will even help me to overcome my weaknesses.

We went to our first ward council yesterday and so far it doesn't feel like we are trusted or used very much. I have recently had this kick on working with the leadership of the ward and getting a vision for missionary work from our key-holders, so I have been studying that. It seems like it was divine guidance because I am probably going to have to use my excitement, experience, and new knowledge in that area here in the ward.

I love you all! Have a Merry Christmas! Don't get too wrapped up in the holidays that you forget to read your scriptures and pray. I have been studying the conference talks too which are such powerful words from our leaders.

Con Amor, Hermana Trommlitz

Maybe that could be a new pronunciation!

Thanksgiving Temple Trip

Wow!! Sooo cool! 

With this week being thanksgiving, I have reflected on how much I truly have to be grateful for. The Lord is so merciful to us!

Some crazy news for the week.... I'm getting transferred. I never knew it would be so hard to leave this area, but I am really struggling thinking about all the people I am going to miss here. One of the hardest things is the fact that I didn't expect it at all. I had great visions for this area and was really excited about the potential of all the people we were working with. I don't know where I am going yet, and won't know until Wednesday. I know that the Lord's plan is always better than what we might want and I am trying to look forward with optimism, but for now I am still really sad. I am ready for growth and I know that is what this change will bring.

Not sure what all this means, but looks fun :)  I had to laugh at the elder in the back on the left wearing Rachel's       "cheetah-themed" Santa hat! Guess I sent those for a reason! 

Before I knew I was being transferred I was asked to sub for the youth speaker and speak in sacrament meeting. So inspired. I was so grateful to speak my last Sunday here.

White shirt, tie, temple recommend in hand...so prepared for the gospel!

Joseph went to the temple this past week and loved it!! He was so excited the days leading up to it and when he was there he said he felt the spirit very strongly. He said it is one thing to talk about the temple, but a completely other thing to actually go inside. He is so right. The temple is the Lord's house and a place where one can feel the spirit unlike anywhere else.

The ward is really working well with Joseph. Yesterday was our last ward council and you can see the ward really feeling the responsibility of helping him stay strong in the church and become more converted to Jesus Christ. I am excited for him and for the ward. I think that seeing Joseph be baptized has excited the ward about missionary work.

This past week we were introduced to the "He is the Gift" initiative and are very excited about it!! If you haven't seen the video yet, go, RIGHT NOW, to christmas.mormon.org and watch it and then go share it on your facebook and everywhere else! It is a touching video which helps us to focus on the Savior this season. The church is putting a HUGE emphasis on it right now, so catch the vision and share this video with everyone. It is a really easy way to share the gospel and about Jesus Christ.

Another push lately has been for families to have their own mission plans and I encourage all that read this to do the same. It helps to keep a focus and a goal for missionary work. It also unifies the family on missionary efforts and gets everyone involved in the hastening of the work.

Look at that... 2 FHE's for ya! :) Mission plan and He is the Gift :)

I watched the video this morning.  It is wonderful!  As is everything the church puts out.  I'm excited to share it with everyone!  In our ward, our bishop has also invited us to council in our families about our personal and family preparedness, so we have 3 family home evenings ready to go for us!  YEA!!  

I love you all!! I am so grateful to be a missionary. I love this gospel and I love Jesus Christ. I love having the opportunity to share my testimony with everyone I meet. Happy December everyone!!

Missionary Christmas Tree :)

From Mormon.org to Baptism!

We've been following the ups and downs of Joseph, her first investigator that she's been privileged to teach from start to finish.  We've been praying for him and hoping he would come unto Christ by being baptized into His church.  Here is her email from this week:

 Joseph was baptized!! It was absolutely incredible. The spirit was so strong and simply got stronger and stronger as the service went on. The best part, beside the actual ordinance, was when Joseph bore his testimony. It was simple, but powerful. And coming from Joseph who has doubted the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith and modern-day prophets, it was huge. He was honest and sincere and made several people in the room cry! His parents were able to come and support him and his friend (who Joseph gave a Book of Mormon to earlier) came as well. There were many ward members who came to support him and he was happier than I have ever seen him before.

Sunday was equally as incredible. He was confirmed a member of the church and received the Holy Ghost. Then during the 3rd hour, he received the Aaronic priesthood! (We were able to sit in for that!) and then after church, he was interviewed and received a temple recommend!!!! :) :) :) And what perfect timing the Lord has, because the ward has a temple trip planned for adults and youth this coming Saturday! He is really excited to do baptisms for the dead. I am really excited to teach him family history this week :) :)

Even before he was baptized, we had kinda teased Joseph with the idea of going on a mission. We asked him after his baptism and he said the would really like to go, but will probably finish his degree first. We'll see what the Lord has in store for him, but he would be an incredible missionary. 

 I feel so blessed to be on a mission, serving here in Dalton, Georgia. I thank my Heavenly Father that I had the opportunity to be a part of Joseph's conversion. This church is truly Jesus Christ's church restored on the earth. This knowledge has brought direction and joy into my life. "My life has a purpose, my life has a plan..." 

I don't know how to read her words without crying every week.  It is such a blessing to be able to be a small part of everything she does in her missionary labors.  I hope our family can have at least one missionary out at all times for the next 20 years!!!  (I have 3 more of my own future missionaries and 11 nieces and nephews spanning age 4 months-17 years!) Go Elders and Sisters!!  

"Frozen" and CITH Festival of Trees :) 

  

       

The Rewards of Serving

  I decided to put out her whole email this week because it is short, but awesome!  Things are fantastic there in Dalton and the work is moving forward!  

Hola!

JOSEPH IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!!!! We went from him nearly dropping us last Sunday, to setting a baptismal date for November 22nd! Ever since he has set that date, he has been so happy and seriously a changed person. He said that after we dropped him off after stake conference last Sunday, he sat in his car and pleaded with the Lord whether or not it was worth it to continue meeting with us. He said he started noticing all the benefits he has received from studying with us - specifically improving his character, and he remembered Mosiah 5:2-5 and D&C 11:12-14 and felt that was how he felt like Heavenly Father chose to answer his question about whether or not to continue. So in his words he said, "I'm just going to go with the spirit on this one." He is recognizing and acknowledging the spirit.

And then, get this, the day after, he gives a Book of Mormon to his friend. What a missionary. We seriously hope he goes on a mission. He would be an incredible missionary.

We are beginning to teach the friend of a youth in the ward. He comes to church, mutual and even early morning seminary with his friend! We are also starting to teach Haley who is the friend of another youth who also comes to church and mutual. These youth are simply bringing their friends to the things they love and participate in. Not only will us teaching their friends be great for their friends, but also for the youth. Those lessons are powerful, and the principles taught in them are true and the spirit testifies of that. It is the gospel right down to the basics which we all need to start from and build upon. It helps us all to be reminded of the simple things. The stronger our testimony of the foundation is, the better we can build upon it.

I also want to testify the priesthood of God has been restored on the earth. It is powerful and truly is God's power. We had the opportunity to meet a new couple who just moved into the ward. They were at the hospital where they needed a blessing. It was their first night in their new house and didn't know anyone or anything about the ward. They somehow got the number of the missionaries and so we and the elders went to meet them. They said they had been less-active for the past little while, but yesterday (Sunday) they came to church. It was wonderful.

Hermana Horrocks and I sang in church. They haven't had any musical numbers since we have been in the ward, so we took initiative and prepared one!

Anyways, what a week!! I love you all! :) :) Stay warm!!

Love,

Hermana Trommlitz

It's Official...

We'll start with the news that is bursting to get out. MY MISSION PRESIDENT CHANGED MY CALL TO SPANISH-SPEAKING!! Last Friday was our zone meeting and President Griffin came to do Hna Horrocks' departing interview. :( When he was done, he came out and said, "Sister Trommlitz, could I talk to you for a minute?" and pulled me into the room. I sat down and he asked, "How would you feel about becoming a Spanish-speaking missionary?" I smiled and said that I would like that. He said he would order my tags and materials and that this new call would enable me to continue to study Spanish each day and he could now put me with Spanish-speaking companions and in Spanish-speaking wards and area. So my study of Spanish has now gone from casual and no pressure, to a whole new level of responsibility! But I am really excited. I have learned a lot by being with a Spanish-speaking companion and associating with the Spanish-speaking ward. It's wild! 

 

On Tuesday we pretty much set up a whole library for an elementary school. It was a real test of my alphabetical skills :)as we organized books! It was so fun to see all the books I read as a kid and it felt great knowing that I was a part in helping kids learn to read! woo!

A couple of P-days ago, I had talked to a guy in Wal-Mart who wanted to learn more about our message, and we were finally able to meet with him this past week. We met him and his wife. A sister from the ward came with us and having her as a team-up was so inspired because her husband in a retired Vietnam veteran and so was this new investigator. They were able to connect on that level and develop a friendship. We taught the restoration and then left. The next day we get a text from the ward sister saying that the wife had called her and asked when and where church was. It was stake conference the next Sunday, so they said they would wait a week and come the next Sunday. It shows how important members are in developing friendships with investigators.

A brother in the ward also called us and told us about a friend he had invited to meet with the missionaries. His wife has recently passed away. We went over with the ward member and taught the restoration to which he kept saying that we had so much more knowledge and he wanted to know it. The ward member set him up with listening to the Book of Mormon because he is old and has a hard time reading fine print. Another example of how great members in the area are and the big effect they can have on the success of the Lord's hastening of the work of Salvation.

Winter and Watchful Teenagers

It sure got cold this week and it is totally a different kind of cold! No snow :( but the humidity makes it cut right through you! But I love winter clothes, so there is always something to be happy about! Even if there isn't snow ;)

 The "Hayless" Hayride

We have had a lot of success and see future success through the youth of the ward.

We had received a referral from mormon.org from Thelma who had requested a Book of Mormon. We went to deliver it and a teenage girl opens the door in nothing but a towel! "Are you Thelma" we ask. She says yes, so we explain who we are and excuse her to get dressed. She comes back out and apologizes. She had just gotten out of the shower and thought it was her parents coming home and couldn't get in.

She said she knew one of the youth in the ward and that was why she requested the Book of Mormon. She didn't want her parents to know she was "interested in it" so we weren't able to teach her, but we hope to work through the youth to be able to teach her. As we are driving home, we get a text from one of the yw who was going to go out with us that day, but got sick. She asked if we had visited a Thelma. When we told her yes, she said, "That's my best friend!" If she hadn't been sick, she would have been with us when we met her! Bummer, but she knows two of the youth in the ward!

We also have a few youth who are bringing their boyfriends to mutual. One is interested in being taught and the family is part less active which would be awesome to teach him in their home! Another ym brings a friend to church, mutual and even early morning seminary! We talked to him on Sunday and he is willing to be taught the lessons in his friend's home.

When we first came to the ward, we tried to create friendships with the youth by attending yw on Sunday and mutual on Wednesday. By gaining their friendship and trust, they are now more willing to introduce us to their friends. 

Having the great privilege and opportunity to work with the youth in own ward, I know exactly of what she's speaking.  We have many youth in our ward who are sharing the gospel with their friends every day through word, testimony and action.  The Gospel is certainly rolling forth throughout all the earth.  Youth ...saved for the last days...

And a good reminder for us all:

Yesterday, I had prayed and asked the Lord to show me what I needed to do to become a better servant for Him. Revelation through church attendance works! We had a whole lesson on gratitude and I felt strongly that I need to be more grateful. Hma Horrocks and I made little turkeys that we are going to put on the door. One for each day saying what we are thankful for :) But during this next month, especially in prep for Thanksgiving, take a little time to slow down and be grateful for all the Lord gives us. As members of the church, we are incredibly blessed.