the bed bugs bite the dust!

September 26, 2016

Happiest Birthday to my cute sister Cate! 26 is going to look so good on you!:)

This week has been great. Thankfully no signs of bed bugs yet! Everyone cross ya fingers ;) 

We were able to meet with a HQ referral this week, Leona, who actually referred herself online! She is so excited to keep learning more & is very open so we are excited to keep working with her! :) 

We were able to visit Annie with Sister Gasser & Sister Wheeler! It was great for Annie to meet someone else in the ward that she could relate to. She's been very sick lately & hasn't been able to come to church yet, so please keep her in your prayers!:) 

We also were able to visit with the Prieto's twice & had a fun missionary activity with them!! Selmira is continuing to prepare for her baptism & is so excited:)

We went out to get ice cream with Cathy & Katie this week since they got in a car accident, but thankfully they weren't hurt! Cathy is still struggling with having to find somewhere to live so she's decided to wait until May when they get married to be baptized:( It breaks our heart, but it is her choice for right now.

We met with Chavandra this week to teach her about the Book of Mormon & than she came to church again, Sunday! :) She is still so open to learning & has such a willing heart! We are excited to continue to help her progress to her baptism on October 22nd. 

Sister James came out with us to teach Hawa, who is from Rwanda & we were able to read 3rd Nephi 17 with Jennifer. Her brother's been in the hospital with pneumonia & she has been very worried. We read that with her & we were able to talk more about the love & healing power of the Atonement!:) 

The womens broadcast of general conference was SO GOOD. I recommend everyone watch it whether or not you are a female! haha. It was amazing. Everything that was talked about, Sister Giles & I have been talking about lately. Really having a strong testimony of the Restoration. Having continued faith & not comparing ourselves to others but showing kindness to everyone. I loved the fervent testimonies of having that solid testimony of the doctrine of Christ too:) 

Oh man- the weeks just keep flying & I am loving it here in Hagerstown!:) So happy that the weather is starting to cool off, too:) 

I was reading in 1st Nephi a few days ago about how Laman & Lemuel don't understand the words their Father is speaking.  "For he truly spake many great things unto them, which were hard to be understood, save a man should inquire of the Lord; and they being hard in their hearts, therefore they did not look unto the Lord as they ought." They say they don't understand because they didn't inquire of the Lord. Nephi says, "Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you."

I just want you all to know that I do know with a surety that the restoration of the gospel is real. That Joseph Smith was a prophet of God & that this gospel on the earth is the same gospel that Christ taught perfectly when He was here. & if we truly want to know, God will tell us. We can only know of these spiritual truths through prayer. Love you guys so much. Thank you for the love & support:) 

Xoxo Sister Stolworthy

b-b-baby got bed bugz

September 20, 2016

Hey guys! This week was so great! :) We got to hear from an apostle! We also got bed bugs! Hahaha.

The reason I didn't email yesterday was because when we were nightly planning Saturday night we saw a bug scurry across the floor. We thought it was a tick but we showed it to the elders & they said it was a bed bug...We took off our sheets & mattresses & they were EVERYWHERE. There were even blood stains on our sheets from where they had bit us (sorry if that's too much info haha.) There was a hive thing of them in one of our mattresses. So the elders came & wrapped up everything & took it all out to the landfill & the pest control man came. Sunday night we slept in a Motel 8 & last night we slept at Sister Wheeler's house on her couch. We took all of our laundry, bags, everything to a laundromat & were there all day yesterday cleaning & drying everything haha. Elder Wright brought us up 2 boxsprings & mattresses so the elders kept them for us while we finished cleaning out our entire apartment, car, & suitcases. It took a really long time but we pray pray pray they won't be coming back & that they are gone. Please pray the little buggers stay away! Haha. It's been an interesting experience to say the least.... but anyway... :) 

Saturday was amazing!!!!:) We got to hear from Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the 12 apostles!!! :) We had a special conference with him, Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the seventy, and Elder Calderwood of the area seventy! Holy cow, it was an amazing experience & I learned so much:) When Elder Oaks shook Elder Stolworthy's hand he said, "Stolworthy? Didn't I just shake a Sisters hand with that last name? I played football against a Stolworthy once."  

It was really cool because Elder Calderwood said he felt prompted to change his thoughts at the last minute. He talked about how in D&C 93 we read about how Christ learned precept by precept, line by line, grace by grace. We shouldn't get down on ourselves but we should do all we can to try to improve everyday. He said that by the time we step on the airplane we can know we were the best missionary we could have been. He said the same thing about when we stand before God after this life. It was a beautiful talk. 

Elder Robbins spoke about how Chapter 6 in Preach My Gospel on the Christlike attributes is really the most important about who we will become after our mission. He said, "Repentance isn't the back-up plan. Repentance is the plan." He said that although missions are tough, they prepare us for everything we will face after we get home. He also spoke a lot about how we choose love & he gave some examples of that. He said it is a behavior & that the most important things in the kingdom of God aren't measured & can't be tracked. He also spoke a lot about marriage too haha & that the experiences & companions we have will help us if we choose to be like Christ:) 

Elder Oaks gave us some really good points:) He said...

• Don't measure your success as a missionary based on the exercise of other's agency.
• Convert people to the gospel not the church- & that includes yourself.
• Don't assume too much in your calling & teaching.
• Leaving commitments is the most important thing- yet neglected a lot by missionaries

Elder Oaks is really funny:) He talked about marriage too haha, and also about revelation & the importance of always recognizing it & acting upon it. He told us that when he looked into our eyes individually that he knew that we knew who we were as missionaries, which I thought was really neat. He even did a little Q&A at the end. My favorite quote from him was, "Keep on keepin' on!" & that's exactly what we need to do. Sister Olsen and I were given a very special opportunity to sing a musical number of Be Still My Soul right before he spoke. Before we sang Elder Oaks had us all stand up & stretch. Elder Robbins came up to the mic & said, "Elder Oaks is making a Y with his arms by the way, not a U." It was so funny:) 

Oh man- I'm just so grateful for the counsel from our inspired church leaders & for the preparation that proceeds revelation. I'm also grateful we got to go on exchanges with the martinsburg sisters this week! I got to stay in martinsburg with sister pickett this time:) We also had Chavandra, Jennifer, Selmera, Emmanuel, & Arianna at church this week which was awesome! I've never seen that many investigators at church my whole mission. Chavandra is on date for Oct. 22nd & loved church!! :) & Jennifer & her brother want to get baptized. After we left their house last week Jennifer's brother said, "I want to join that church." It has been a really great week of miracles:) 

So sorry for the long email...so much happened! I love you guys so much. I hope you have a wonderful week. I'm just so thankful to be a missionary. I know I say that every week but I truly am. It has changed my life forever. I love you guys. Remember that this gospel is here to astonish & change the world!:) Love you love you.

 Xo Sister Stolworthy

when the spirit speaks the debate is over:)

September 13, 2016

Hey everyone!:) The reason we're emailing today is because Elder Robert C. Gay of the Seventy came & had a conference with us yesterday. It was so good!:) He shared a lot of powerful things with us. Powerful testimonies of always obeying the voice of the spirit & how the Lord will take care of us when we put Him first. We learned a lot of things & it was cool to see how the knowledge he shared with us was specifically for our work in the Lord's vineyard. He shared many spiritual experiences that just confirmed to me the truthfulness of the restored gospel here on the earth. I feel so lucky to have served a mission because I've learned so much about the different ways the spirit works & of the importance it is in our lives. I think if I shared everything that I have learned on my mission it would take up hundreds of pages haha. 

One particular experience he shared was about when he was called to be a mission president in Africa. He told Elder Ballard that they didn't think it was a right time in their life. A lot of their children were overcoming incredibly hard trials & he and his wife wanted to be with all of them as they helped them continue on the path. Elder Ballard told him, "Elder Gay, don't worry about it. You are not their Savior, He is." He spoke a lot about how when we put the Lord first we will always be taken care of. 

We weren't able to meet with Annie this week- but we were able to have some fun experiences teaching the Prieto family. We also were able to meet with Michelle, our investigator in the hospital. She has sickle cell anemia & so the elders were able to get a blessing. It was a powerful experience for her & she is excited to join the church:) We also were able to meet with a girl named Chavandra, that we met while walking up stairs to visit a potential. She just graduated college & was living alone. She said she would definitely be interested in learning more so we went back & taught her. She wants to be baptized!:) We also had a miracle because we were able to visit our investigator Brandi & teach her husband, Travis. They came to church a few weeks ago but didn't understand it because the talks were on patriarchal blessings & they wanted to find a church that better fit their needs. So we went over with Sister Wheeler & addressed their concerns & taught Travis about the plan of salvation. It really makes sense to them. So cool:) 

Friday we went on exchanges with the Hedgesville Sisters & I stayed here with Sister Slack:) It was a lot of fun & we were able to have ice cream with Cathy before she left for her vacation. Please keep her in your prayers as she decides about what to do with her boyfriend living situation. Saturday we taught a lady named Samantha who was from Ghana & her kids. She said she likes our church because it's closer to her house hahaha. Soon she will come to realize that there are a lot more blessings than just that! ;) Haha. 

Something that Elder Gay said that stuck out to me was that people try to answer their own questions instead of relying on the Lord. That's something that I see every day as a missionary. He said that the power of Godliness is made manifest in the ordinances of salvation & that this power can astonish the world. & he also said many other great things haha:) Well I love you guys. I want to leave you with the question that he asked us. "Do we really trust the Lord to solve our problems?" Elder Romney said "I don't worry. I just do my best & I let the Lord take care of it." I love you guys so much- the church is true:) 

Xo Sister Stolworthy 

i'm all out of nothin'

September 6, 2016

Hey everyone:) Happy Labor Day! This week the weather started to cool down which is awesome!! Haha- it also means less mosquitoes! Still mosquitoes, but less haha:)

Annie is still doing great. That was really cool that her daughter posted that picture of her online. Please, please keep praying that she will be able to stop smoking & that she will be able to put all of her trust in the Lord. We were also able to visit with Cathy one last time before she heads out of town. Cathy is so solid & prepared:) She & Katie drove up 3 hours to the Philly temple open house & they were 20 minutes late so they missed it:( We are still trying to figure things out with her living situation so that she doesn't have to wait until May when she's married to be baptized. We are continuing to teach the Prieto family so that all of the kids can be baptized on the same day. It's kind of a confusing & messy situation so much can't be said- but their mom Tina is amazing and we love getting to go over & teach them as a family. Yesterday we did a FHE with sidewalk chalk about the Restoration:)

Saturday we went over to the Depps home, they are a part-member family in the ward. We started to teach their 9 year old daughter Jessica & she wants to be baptized:) It's so great because her other children want to start coming back to church as well. It was also Sister Wheeler's surprise party that day! Haha:) Sister Wheeler is the best. She turned 81 yesterday & I could say so much about her but you'll have to meet her for yourself haha. She is an amazing lady. 

Oh man- Hagerstown is so great. & the people are so great. I just have such a strong testimony of charity & the pure love of Christ. It is so real. He can truly heal us, and He can truly heal others. He also gives us the sweet privilege of helping him heal those around us. I love you guys so much. Keep having a great week:) 

Xo Sister Stolworthy

Goodbye Hagersbush/Antietam district

Macharsky girls on exchanges last transfer:)

transfer #12

August 29, 2016

Hey family!:) Transfers are this week & I am staying with Sister Giles in Hagerstown! We are so excited:) I can't believe another transfer has already come & gone.

Marisol was baptized Saturday! It was down by Antietam Creek at the Johnsons home in Antietam ward. It was so beautiful & I used a whole bottle of bug spray haha & it was great:)

Ahh a week of miracles:) Our investigator Annie is on date for October 15th! She is amazing. Her life story is incredible...so her daughter Jessica is a member out in Utah. She is the only member in her family & her son is serving a mission right now. Annie, for the first time her whole life, really wants to change her life & be baptized. The spirit was so strong when we talked about repentance & forgiveness. The fact that she can be completely clean is a precious & amazing thing to her. It was cool getting to talk to her sweet daughter about it as well.

Funny of the week to me: A returned missionary recently home who went out street contacting with Sister Giles said, "Wow, people in America are really rude. I don't know how you talk to people here." I don't know why that was so funny to both of us haha- but we love Maryland with our whole heart:)

We said goodbye to Julia this week & she went up to Salisbury for school. I can't believe school is already in again. We were also able to see Brenda with Sister Verdier. Sister Verdier is the coolest- she has come out with us 3 times. 2 of the times were because she signs & speaks french! Haha- so cool:) 

We were able to visit with Josephine from Uganda, the one who just had her baby. Sister James came out with us. She doesn't believe in Joseph Smith or that God would reach out to His children again. She said that if God wanted to her to know something He would tell her & that she doesn't have to ask. It was so heartbreaking. So sad to see when people aren't willing to even ask. I've seen on my mission that agency is a dear thing to the Lord & to our Heavenly Father. Sister Giles & I have seen a lot of appointments fall through & a lot of people choosing not to continue meet with us. It is so hard- but I know the Lord's hand is apparent everyday. & that there truly are miracles because this is truly His work. It is a blessing & a treasure to get to wear his name on my chest. Love you guys so much. Have a great week & good luck with school:) Love you Xo Sister Stolworthy

Zone Training with Martinsburg:)

Sister Christiansen popped in for a visit:)

thunder thunder

August 22, 2016

Hey guys!:) It has been so hut & muggy with these thunderstorms. Last week I got a weird bug bite on my legs.... I think it was a spider. Probably because we were down in West Virginia on exchanges with the Hedgesville Sisters! Haha. West Virginia has a mind of it's own:) 

We were able to teach Katie Smith's friend, Cathy, twice this week!:) She's on date for September 24th. She has a really good understanding of the Book of Mormon & has a deep desire to follow Christ. She was also able to come to church yesterday:)

Tuesday was exchanges!:) I was in Hedgesville with Sister Slack who came out 4 weeks ago! It was fun & we were able to pick up 3 new investigators which was really cool. Sister Slack is from Cedar City & is I think the oldest one in her family to serve a mission. It was a blast being with her:) 

Wednesday we taught Annie again with Sister Wheeler about the Plan of Salvation. She had never been taught it before. She kept saying "This just seems like it's so familiar to me." We also were able to teach Julia that evening about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She heads up to Salisbury for school this week so we are saying goodbye to her tomorrow. We already informed the Elders up there that an amazing person was coming who is so prepared for the gospel of Jesus Christ!:) They think Salisbury will get sisters again after the Philadelphia Temple open house.

Thursday we taught Marisol her last lesson before her baptism this Saturday!:) We also taught the Brickers caretaker, Eileen, about the Restoration. She said she wants to get baptized!:) We also volunteered at the soup kitchen for salvation army & made a lot of friends with some amazing people!!:)

Friday we were able to teach Brandi & her family about the Plan of Salvation & they came to church Sunday!! :) It was so great! Sadly, Wayne & Sandra dropped us:( We think they were antied because they called & said that Wayne's sister wants them to attend her church & be baptized there so they can't meet with us anymore. It is really sad- but we love them & pray for them. They were so solid. Sunday was great- we were able to sing in church with a couple of the elders haha! We also saw Cathy & Annie again. 

The longer that I'm out on my mission the more I realize the importance of charity in everything that we do. Not just as a missionary- but in everything. Everything we do for the Lord's kingdom should be with love and out of love. If not then we aren't doing it how Christ would & there really isn't a point. I'm grateful for the love of the Savior. I couldn't do anything by myself- it's only with the Savior that it's possible... I am eternally grateful for His sacrifice which was out of love. 

I hope you guys have an incredible week & remember the words of Elder Bednar. "I will not shrink"!! :) Love you:) Xo Sister Stolworthy 

PS - If you ever give a talk in sacrament meeting- remember that there can be nonmembers in the audience & they probably have no idea what you are talking about when you say things like "patriarchal" & "melchizedek" hahah. simplicity & explanation is best ;) 

Matching gap skirts! Haha:)

Mosquito Mosquito

August 15, 2016


Hey guys:) It has been so warm this week! I don't think I will ever get use to humidity hahah. In other news- mosquitos still love my blood so I look like I have chicken pox all over my legs! Haha. 

Oh man- this week was so great! I can't believe the elders coming out now graduated high school in 2016. I feel like a grandma.

We had a couple lessons with Marisol this week who is getting baptized on the 27th. Seriously- so much faith in a 9 year old. She is amazing!:) 

We taught Shanese this week about the Book of Mormon. We taught Skylar about the sacrament & she came to mutual:) We also were able to see Peter & Josephine in the hospital right after they had their baby- it was really cool. We taught Brandi on Wednesday & Friday this week. We taught her about the Book of Mormon & the Restoration. She has 5 kids & 2 of them are at home with her when we teach. Her 7 week old baby Naomi & Her son Walker. She has a really good understanding & is progressing:) We also taught Annie this week with Sister Wheeler. Annie's daughter is a member & Annie finally wants to be taught & eventually be baptized. We also taught Brenda twice this week about prayer & the Holy Ghost. She wants to get a blessing since Sister Hendricks bore powerful testimony of the priesthood:) 

Wednesday was splits & we were able to see Danielle & Sister Kerrigan. 

Friday we went on exchanges with the Martinsburg sisters! Woot woot:) Sister Udall came here with me & Sister Giles went to Martinsburg with Sister Pickett! We were able to teach Brenda, see Sister Miley a less-active & also teach the Harrasts friend Julia again. The lesson with Julia was so powerful. We finished up the plan of salvation & talked about Moroni 7. It has been so cool to see the spirit working in her. She wants the happiness & peace that God brings to come to everyone. She is amazing! Saturday we were able to teach Wayne & Sandra with Bishop Roberts. They both want to be baptized on the same day!:) They both have the same desire to recommit themselves to God. 

Yesterday we were able to visit with Katie Smith's friend Kathy in the ward who has decided she wants to be baptized. She was taught in the past but says her desire has grown! So we taught her about the Book of Mormon & hopefully tonight will get to see her at dinner with the Gasser family:) There have been so many miracles this week. I have a strong testimony of the spirit & of the temple. We talked in relief society yesterday about how there is a reason we constantly renew our temple recommends. We are continually growing, progress, & improving. I love that in the gospel we are never done. I love you guys so much & I admire your strong testimonies of the gospel despite the continual challenges that are around us each day. Love you love you:) Xo Sister Stolworthy 

PS - I forgot to mention that on exchanges 2 weeks ago I met Emily Stolworthy's old roommate from BYU-I so that was pretty cool:)