Rain, Rain, go Away! (June 24)

 So it pretty much rained all week! It rained so much that some homes got flooded. On Tuesday we had to help a family whose basement was totally flooded move everything upstairs. I feel so bad for them! Being from Arizona I never knew it could rain so much! hahah

    On Wednesday we got to help out at their Kids Marathon where kids from all over run a little "marathon" and get a medal and prizes. Such a fun idea! Sister Gonzalez and I were in charge of handing out the prizes which got a little crazy since everyone wanted everything! lol Love doing some service :) That night we had our ward missionary night. There we had a bunch of booths set up all to do with missionary work! One was a scripture chase, writing letters to missionaries, roleplaying, a tie tying contest, and pin the tag on the missionary! It was super fun teaching everyone how to be a missionary :)

    We have a district finding activity everyday and this week we walked around main street and sang hymns to everyone! While we were walking we heard a knock on the window and it was Wyatt! We haven't seen him in awhile and we got to talk to him and see how he was doing. Then we ran into our investigator Ana Lee and met her husband Marcos! Seeing two investigators within minutes of each other, talk about a tender mercy! We got to sing to both of them and help them feel of the spirit :) or at least I hope they felt it! haha We have our first lesson with Ana Lee on Friday! Super excited :)

    We had the coolest experience. We were sitting in our car because everyone we tried to see weren't home and we just didn't know what to do. So we started to read Preach my Gospel for ideas and read something that reminded us of something the seminary teacher, Brother Scott had told us. We prayed and asked Heavenly Father who and how many people He had prepared for us instead of telling Him how many we were going to find because this is His work and we are just the instrument. After the prayer we just felt the spirit so strong. It was amazing. All pumped with the spirit we go to turn the car on and start our work and our car wouldn't start!! Stupid satan! haha we ended up having to walk that day... :) But I know without a doubt that Heavenly Father answers prayers!

    I hope everyone is having a great day! When in doubt, pray! Heavenly Father is always there for you. But it's up to you to let Him help you!! I love you all so much. :)

Love,

Sister O'Dell

Lucas and his motorcycle! Sister O'Dell said she just had to get a picture with it!

This sister missionary that Sister O'Dell and Sister Gonzalez made for pin the tag on the missionary game!

Sister O'Dell and Sister Gonzalez

"Without God, I can't! Without me, God can't!" (June 17)

 I'm not being transferred!! I'm staying in Cardston with my amazing companion, Sister Gonzalez!! In fact, my whole district is staying!! I am so happy and so surprised. I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for me for this next transfer!!

    Sadly, Wyatt didn't get baptized on Saturday because he is 15 and needed his mom's permission and his mom wouldn't give it. On Wednesday my whole district fasted for Wyatt. It meant a lot to sister Gonzalez and I that our district would sacrifice for Wyatt. During our district training meeting Elder Gordan asked what was one thing we learned this transfer and it made me really think. I realized, especially with this whole situation with Wyatt is that I have to trust and have faith in my Heavenly Father. My dad gives me a inspirational quote every week and it was "Without God, I can't! Without me, God can't!" And that is so true. I can't do anything without Heavenly Father and my Savior but they can't help me or bless me if I'm not doing my part and doing all that I can do. I'm at peace knowing we did our part, now we just have to be patient and have faith that everything will work out with Wyatt in the end.

    School is almost ending here in Cardston and so this week was our last week being able to help with seminary. So sad! I just absolutely love seminary and being able to meet so many amazing youth. They had a seminary barbeque and we got to help at that and during the party it started to rain! And it's been raining ever since haha Yesterday it started to randomly hail really bad and now today it's pouring with rain!! There's even a flood warning for the rest of the week! Yay...! hahah

    We went to the Chinook with is a retirement home and went to room to room getting to know all of the elderly and singing them hymns. It was so fun to get to know them and hear their stories and hear them try and sing along with us! They're just so cute!

    I hope everyone is having a great week. :) Keep smiling and praying! Love you all. :)

Love,

Sister O'Dell

Lots of beautiful pictures of Waterton, the place the missionaries in Sister O'Dell's district visited on P-Day!

Sister Gonzalez and Sister O'Dell at the seminary building!!

Brother Scott, the seminary teacher.

The first meal Sister O'Dell made since going on her mission!! The members sure do love the missionaries!

The Peace family.

Sister O'Dell and Susan.

Baptism (June 10)

 After many prayers and fasting and meeting with Wyatt all week, he has finally said yes! He wants to be baptized!!! :) He is going to be baptized this Saturday!! It's been so amazing seeing the change in Wyatt as we give him the discussions and follows the commitments we give him. He's been opening up so much to us and wants to change his life and follow Christ. Nothing is better than that!! So this is pretty much the highlight of my week. :)

    On Thursday we went on splits with Leavitt ward and after our lesson we got to see llamas! haha the laurel we were with has llamas! Crazy! Then Saturday sister Gonzalez and I got to help at their Stake Achievement days. We were in charge of the journal making station which was so fun. I loved being able to do a craft, it's something I haven't done in forever! We also got to learn how to make skirts this week and helped make meals for people. I love service and learning new things! :)

    I love this gospel so much. I feel so blessed to be out here serving the Lord and being an instrument in His hands. I hope all of you remember how much Heavenly Father and our Savior love each and everyone of you. I also love you all! Have a great week. :)

Love,

Sister O'Dell

Preaching to the llamas of Canada!!

Cardston is the town that Sister O'Dell is serving in!

The Gospel is True!! (June 2)

 Last Monday for P-Day was probably one of my favorite P-Days. We roasted hotdogs and smores and had a bonfire and then went hiking! I love being in Cardston and having the mountains and all the land around me. It makes me appreciate and love all that Heavenly Father created for us to enjoy!

    On Wednesday was the first day of working at the visitors center! Sadly we didn't get many people that came because it was raining, but it was still such a cool experience. Even though we weren't in the temple, just being in the visitors center you could feel the spirit so strongly there. Then on Thursday we had our Zone Conference in Lethbridge with two other zones. Elder Jones was in one of those zones and I got to see him! It was awesome seeing a familiar face from back home. :) President Nicholas gave us some training which was great! He is such an amazing and loving president. I am so grateful for him and his wife who love and care for us so much. Then after our conference we went to walmart to get a few things since we don't have a walmart in Cardston. I never thought that this would happen but I didn't like being in walmart! It was too crazy and too many people haha I love my small town of Cardston. :)

    Friday we went branding again!!! We got to help round up all the cows and separate the calfs from their moms so we could brand them. This time we didn't have to wrestle them down because they have this shoot that we put them in that holds them down. Sister Gonzalez and I got to give them shots and actually brand the family logo onto them! I felt so bad burning them and giving them pain! haha and we even castrated them ourselves!!! So gross!!!! But hey, this is probably the only time we will do this, I hope! lol

    Saturday night Sister Gonzalez and I spoke at stake conference. According to everyone we did a good job! haha Since the topic was missionary work and we are missionaries we talked together! It's amazing how in-tune sister gonzalez and I are with the spirit and together! So grateful for my amazing companion and for my other companion, the Holy Ghost!

    Last night we taught Wyatt, our investigator and pretty much committed him to be baptized on June 14!! :) We have our next lesson with him on Tuesday where he is going to give us a definite answer, but he seems to want to be baptized :) I am so excited for Wyatt!! I just love sharing the gospel and seeing people come unto Christ. There is nothing better than that!!

    I hope everyone has a great week. :) I love you all!! Share the gospel any chance you get and love everyone. :)

Love,

Sister O'Dell

Sister O'Dell and her district on P-Day!

Sister O'Dell and Elder Jones! Both from Queen Creek and serving in Canada!

Going out to brand and round up the cows!

Rounding up cows!

The cutest baby cow ever!

Sister O'Dell says shes a model for Canada now;)

Model status!

Sister O'Dell and Sister Rose at the Cardston temple!

Sister Gonzalez looks shocked to be castrating a cow!

So does Sister O'Dell!!

Gettin' the job done!

She did it!

Sister O'Dell branding cows!

More branding!

Sister O'Dell and a goat!

And another pic!