I'm In Another World. (Sep 15)

  I got transferred to the Calgary North area and we cover the Coventry ward. Yes that is only ONE ward! So weird to be over one ward instead of 7! But I love it. :) My companion is Sister Olpin and she goes home next month! She trained Sister Gonzalez, my "mom" in the mission so that makes sister Olpin my "grandma"! hahah I feel like I'm in another world being here in Calgary. It's so big compared to Cardston! haha and there are so many languages and different cultures up here. In Cardston we couldn't really track, or when we did we would just track up members. Here though we went tracking and I felt like a real missionary getting rejected! haha Oh and twice a week we ride bikes so we do a lot of street contacting. I love it! Though I am pretty sure I am going to die one of these days while riding a bike haha.

      We have two investigators right now, Thang and Blessin. Aren't those the coolest names?! haha We have met with Thang a few times this week and we set a baptismal date for him to work towards. :) He has some things to overcome, but I know he can do it! Blessin I've only met once and she isn't too promising...but we shall see how it goes! I've got to learn the area and get to know the people in 5 weeks and  then sister Olpin goes home and i'll get a new companion! Crazy! Please pray for me. :) hahah

Well I hope you all have a super fantastic week! Don't forget to pray and smile. :) Love ya!!

Love,

Sister O'Dell

"Sister Martin just went home:("

Elder Call! Sister O'Dell's zone leader in Cardston. 

Sister O'Dell and her new companion, Sister Oplin.

Sister Hendricks, a Spanish speaking sister in Sister O'Dell's zone.

The big city!

Sister O'Dell is just too cute!

"I finally got my peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks! haha"

Sister Murphy and Elder Gordon!

Sister O'Dell and Sister Oplin

I'm Being Transferred!!! (Sep 9)

 Transfers are tomorrow....and I just got my transfer notice! I'm going to Calgary!!! Not sure what part, I'll know that tomorrow. :) I can't believe that I got to serve in Cardston for 6 months! I love Cardston and I definitely feel like I served my purpose being here and I am pretty excited to see what the Lord has in store for me up in Calgary. :)

    Woke up this morning to snow!!! Holy cow!!!! It's only September 9! This is going to be a long winter....hahah This week we met with a less-active, John, and had invited him last week to read the Book of Mormon which is something he hasn't done in over 15 years. So when we met with him he had a scripture ready to share with us! It was so neat to hear him share that with us and I could just tell he still had a testimony. I told him that I'm being transferred and he was like well you need to come by before you leave so I can share with you another scripture!! haha so cute!! I found out earlier this week that I'm being transferred (usually you only find out the day before) because Sister Murphy got a call to train a new missionary fresh from the MTC!! Whoop Whoop! So I've had time to say goodbye to people. :) With Sister Murphy training we had to go to a training meeting in Calgary so we spent our Friday there! Who knew that's where I'd be going back to in just a few days! hahah

    We finally met with the Freeman's this week! They're a non-member family who have lived in Cardston for a few months now and I've just been saying hi to them and having small talk until the time was right and they invited us in! I love this family so much!!! They're open to knowing more about the gospel and have lot's of questions and I have just loved getting to know them and sharing with them this amazing gospel. I can't wait to hear how they progress! It's all in the Lord's hands!

     I know I say this all the time but I absolutely love being a missionary!!! I have loved getting to know so many people. It amazes me how much I can love these people after such a short time. I am excited to get to know the people in Calgary and to continue to serve the Lord!! Have a great week. :)

Love,

Sister O'Dell

Sister O"Dell and Jolaine.

With Jolaine's daughter, Hailey, at Waterton.

They have too much fun together!

The Peace Family

Sister O'Dell and Sister Murphy went to a luau for dinner!

"The awesome Freeman family!"

"Louis and Tina!! Oh how I love them!!!"

"Yeah we love each other:) haha"

Isabelle, the eight year old Sister O'Dell and Sister Murphy have been teaching. She's getting baptized!

Sister O'Dell said that Debb is the one person that teases her the most!

"Our faces this morning when we saw there was snow."

SNOW!

I Love Being a Missionary:) (Sep 1)

 Well, we have two new investigators!!! They are 13 year old twins, McCarthy and Mckenzie and they are just awesome. They are foster kids and want to be baptized and their mom said yes but the dad has said no...but we just have to trust in the Lord. Those kids are such great examples to me and I can't even imagine going through all that they have.

    We got to work at the visitors center 3 times this week! Such a blessing because it's going to close soon :(

It's so neat getting to talk to people from all over the world about this gospel and get to talk to people going in and out of the temple and see weddings!!! (my favorite ;) haha)

     We meet with so many in-actives every week. A few of them are even progressing and it's just so amazing to see. There is this one woman, Mary, who works two jobs and is going to school and never thought the church was as important as work but has realized that when she puts the gospel first everything falls into place. :) So we are teaching her the discussions and her goal is to go through the temple this time next year! It makes me pretty happy to know that she wants ME there! I really hope I can go!

    This week we met with Shellee, a less-active, and throughout the whole lesson you could just feel the spirit so strongly. We gave her a rock to represent building her foundation on Christ and then watched a Mormon message "Mountains to Climb" which is about having faith even during trials. After the message we asked her what she thought of it and she said that last week during the lesson we had with her we had her pick something to work on and it was faith and she just thought it was so cool that the message we shared with her involved faith. I just love the Holy Ghost!!! I have such a strong testimony of it and how necessary it is to have when you are teaching.

    I just want to bear my testimony that I know without a doubt that this gospel is true. I love my Heavenly Father and Savior so much and I am so grateful for the happiness and the knowledge that this gospel brings me. I love you all so much and I hope you have a great week!!

Love,

Sister O'Dell

Sister O'Dell and Sister Murphy were able to visit with Chelsea this week!

Sister O'Dell with adorable Violet. The elders think Violet looks like Sister O'Dell. What do you think?

Sister O'Dell with the Marples and their son, James.