Hey y'all

Hello family! Sounds like everyone had a good week! Thank you for all the emails and pictures. I love all of them. 

It's been freezing here all week as you can see from the picture, the rain hasn't stopped. Yesterday we spoke in church and it went so good. Mom and Dad, you'd be so proud. I got up and spoke for over ten minutes without every word written out before hand. It was a good sacrament meeting all about missionary work. I love the ward I'm serving in. The members are seriously the BEST. It feels like I'm in my home ward and like I've been a part of this ward for years. They are so loving and so kind and SO helpful. 

We are finding success in most areas around here. The Savior's Peace and Blessing that I told you about a couple weeks ago really works miracles with door contacting. It amazes me every single day. My testimony is strengthened every time we get to share it with someone. We had a good long discussion with an Irish man who "used to be Catholic" and he was fascinated that we were missionaries by choice. For the first five minutes we were speaking he didn't realize that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meant that we were Mormon too and he looked at me so intently and said, You look like a Mormon. And I said well then it's a good thing that I am! He was eating up everything we were teaching to him. He's nervous to have us come back because of how he thinks his wife will react but I see good potential in him. So we're going to keep trying. 

Our other investigator is GOLD. At our lesson with her this week she told us she knew everything we've been teaching her is true and she has such a good heart. We committed her to baptism and tried to commit her to a specific date. She has a few major road blocks in her way but we are praying for that desire to be baptized to outweigh the other things she's dealing with. But she knows it. You can tell by just looking at her and listening to her talk. It'll just take a little time. 

We had a family with really good potential that had been taught by Elders in the past and they had all asked us to contact them again and I was so excited about it and had such a good feeling about it. We stopped by their house and their son who is probably Harrison's age was so excited that we were there but his parents weren't home so we took down their numbers and called them later and they told us they had "decided to take their faith another way." I don't think I've ever been more heart broken in my life. I cried when I got off the phone with them just because I knew what their family could have. I KNEW how much happiness was going to come into their lives and their home. It killed me and to see how excited their teenage son was about seeing the missionaries again just broke my heart. BUT we will keep them on our radar and keep praying for them. They'll come around eventually. I know it. 

We heard the big news about all the new missions on Friday afternoon from our Bishop and we got a call from President Craven about it on Friday night. Some of the new missions change our boundaries but President Craven told us not to stress about it until July. I told my companion that if they put me in a different mission with a different mission president, I'd make a scene, haha:) So kudos to Kate for handling that change like a champ. I couldn't handle it. But it is such an exciting announcement! The work is HASTENING. and this change is clear evidence of that. I love this work. I love being a missionary during this crazy and exciting time. I LOVE it. I love putting on a name tag everyday and telling people that I am a representative of Jesus Christ. My testimony and knowledge of that grows every time I say it. I love this gospel and I love my Heavenly Father. I know he loves each ones of us SO much and wants each one of us to be happy. I know my family is forever and I couldn't be more grateful for that. I love you. I'm praying for you. you are in my thoughts and prayers every minute of everyday. 

Love always, 

Sister Webber 

Good thing she found out where she needs to go.....

It's Cold Here

FAMILY! 

Hello everyone! Sounds like everyone had a good week! I'm glad the sweet sixteen was a success. Quinc, I thought about you all day on Friday wishing I could be there eating Panda with you. Know that I love you and that you are the best 16 year old in the world. 

and my sweet ANGELA. Congratulations girl!!! I was thinking about you ALL DAY on Wednesday and I wanted to check my email so bad. I'm so excited for you!! Also, thank you for the V-day goods and the 18 1D Valentines. You're the best my dear.

Also, TIANA EMILY. You better email me this very second. CONGRATULATIONS. I'm so excited for you and I LOVE YOU! 

This week was good!

Valentine's day was good. One of the recent converts in the ward, took us out to dinner so that was the best. We had a few meetings which surprisingly are my favorite thing. Wednesday we had Zone Conference in Winston-Salem and of course President and Sister Craven were there and on Thursday there was a Training meeting for all new missionaries in Charlotte so I got double dose of President and Sister Craven this week and it was THE BEST. I could listen to them speak all day long like I'm sure I've already told you. But both meetings were really good! I learned lots and practiced role playing a lot of good things. I leave those meetings thinking, YES. Commit everyone to baptism! (PS mom and dad...at that meeting they said in the future we are going to need bikes somewhat soon...they gave us an estimated price for the "whole package" let me know what you think is best. It won't be before April I know that...But the package that the mission office and the bike store has put together is $500.-I died about that too. don't worry. but they just told us to give our parents a heads up....let me know what you need me to do or what you think will be good. the ones they have a really good bikes though and they work with skirts. we test road them)

Anyway. This week our investigators all decided to be suuuuper flakey together and ALL of them bailed on all of our appointments. So that was a big let down. We were really looking forward to meeting with all of them but now we are trying to get back in contact with all of them before that fire burns out. But we are working with a lot of less active members and part member families right now. One of the sweet ladies we've been meeting with hasn't been to church since she got baptized at 8 and honestly doesn't know a THING about the church. When members of the ward found out that we've been meeting with her they were amazed. Apparently no one's been able to get in with her in decades. But without fail every time we go to her house she has something for us and is so excited to see us. The spirit is always so strong in our lessons and her desire to know it for herself increases every time we see her. Her husband, who isn't a member, and hasn't ever been there when we have, has actually read the Book of Mormon so we are really going to try to meet with him too and figure out what he needs. 

This ward is seriously the best and they are so encouraging. Our ward mission leader called us yesterday after church and told us all the things people were saying about us in Priesthood. Neither of us knew anything about this area prior to coming here and according to him we are opening doors that no one could open before and connecting with people who have shut everyone in the ward out. They are all convinced sister missionaries have a special touch which makes me get even more fired up about this work. These people are progressing and there are people in this area that are READY for the gospel and they themselves don't even realize it. There have been multiple people who we have tracted in to and have said that they KNOW us from somewhere and are convinced we have visited them before. One lady even told us she had a dream about us and in my head I'm thinking, Is that not a big enough sign that you should listen to what we are saying to you?! But we will just keep working with them:) They are the elect, they just need to notice that for themselves. 

I have to speak in church next week...you know how excited I am about that..haha but I am getting better at getting up in front of a crowd. You'd be proud of me dad:) Yesterday Sister Stafford (the one who emailed you mom, is JUST like Beth. You'd love her. she's the best)  invited us in to come and talk to the YW about choices and how we have been blessed for making good choices and it was so good. We had such a captive audience and they are such a great group of girls. 

Anyway! I love this work. I love this gospel and I KNOW that it is true. I know the Lord is preparing people to hear the gospel. I know the Book of Mormon IS the word of God. I find so much knowledge and insight from reading the words of that book. I know families can be forever and I LOVE my family. I pray for you all everyday. I love you so much. Thank you for everything. 

See you soon! 

Love, 

Sister Webber

Also, thank you to the Sunday night dinner group for the letters and thank you mom for the punkin bread. I scarfed that down!!

Funny story: We were at Walmart last week and this ooooold cute black lady pulled me aside and said, "Where are you from" and I said "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" and she said, so you're Mormon. I said yes and then she said, "so you're rich." and I said..uhh no. I'm not. and she asked how old I was and I told her and she said, oh you've got time. you will be rich. all mormons are rich. and when you get rich just remember me okay? I started laughing and was like, okay ahaha. these people are killer. 

p.s. this picture is for all of you that think I am here sun tanning everyday. it snowed ALL DAY on saturday and it even stuck to the ground near our apartment. It is FREEZING here. all. the. time. 

From the land of Colfax

Hello family!

It sounds like you are all doing wonderful! I'm glad the play and basketball are all going well (for the most part:) Sounds like it's all keeping you all very busy! 

This week was a good one for the most part! As you know I'm living in Greensboro and serving in the Colfax ward. (pronounced Call-fax) This week we met with one of the investigators we inherited from the Elders who were here before. Her name is Vickie, she runs a hot dog stand and she's hilarious. She has such a good heart and she knows the church is true and reads more than I do out of the Book of Mormon everyday. She has a few road blocks keeping her from getting baptized and the fact that the Elders she was comfortable with are now gone is putting her back a little bit too. But she is progressing and she really is such a good person who KNOWS it. 

While we were out tracting on our car fast day last week we tracted into a lady named Brenda who is such a sweetheart and she said she could feel the spirit when we came into her home and she invited us back. We went back a few days later with a member of the ward and we were having a great lesson and the spirit was so strong until her husband came home from work and the minute he heard me say Joseph Smith he flipped a lid. I was getting a little nervous but everyone else remained calmed so I tried to play it cool. He told us to leave and that he didn't want any part of what we had to share but his wife sure did. She was not happy that he interrupted. We ended up staying another half hour or so and his heart was a little softened but he was still mad. I want to go back sometime and follow up with her. She wants it but her husband is just in the way right now.

On Tuesday (our car fast days) we got back from our dinner appointment and it was dark and freezing outside  but we still had like an hour and a half until nightly planning and I just said, we need to go.  Our apartment is not anywhere near a neighborhood so we walked a good way until we found some houses and we knocked on a lady's door who let us come in a pray with her. She said she could feel the spirit and that she had researched some things about our church and was kind of curious about what we had to share. We are meeting with her later this week so I'll let you know how things go with her. We're a little nervous though because she said she'd have to check with her fiance..so we'll just have to see. 

One day last week we were out tracting and ended up talking for a while with a man who is Muslim. We went back and forth on our beliefs for a little while and he said he didn't need to read the Book of Mormon because everything he needed to know about God was in the Koran (sp?) which he had in his hand. He kept offering it to us and we kept offering him a Book of Mormon. We said a prayer with him and he said, you know what if you read this (and he handed me a book that said "a brief english guide to understanding Islam") I'll read your book. And I said, done. So we exchanged and left after talking for a little while longer.  Who knew at the end of a street of all baptist people, a muslim guy would be the only one to take a copy of the Book of Mormon. 

Saturday we got to go down to Charlotte to have a mission wide meeting with Elder NELSON. It was wonderful. He and Elder Giddons of the Seventy spoke to us. It was a great meeting. The spirit was so strong and it is clear that he is a prophet called of God. No question about it. It was so fun to be there with everyone and we all got to shake his hand and meet him briefly. It was such a neat experience. 

After the meeting President Craven pulled me aside and said he wanted to meet with me. I'll give more details about it in a letter home but it was such a good interview. He and his wife are called of God and I know that there is a reason I'm in this mission at this time serving with them. 

Well family, I LOVE you. Send me letters because I want to hear from you. Checking the mail at the end of the day is something I look forward to and I haven't gotten a hand written letter from a single person in the family. So get going you kids. Also, I know the Academy Awards are coming up and I'm real sad I'm missing it. But have fun. Even you, dad. :) Thank you for all the love and support you give me and for the prayers. It means more to me than you'll ever know.

Quince, good luck with your last week of basketball. Play harder than you ever had. Foul out. It's the best way to go;) Also, HAPPY SIXTEENTH BIRTHDAY THIS FRIDAY. I'm so sad I can't be there for the big boy girl party but know that I am thinking about you and hopefully my present has already gotten there. I LOVE you birthday girl. 

Bud: write me. NOW. 

J: I'll try to get you a hand written letter this week. Thank you for the email. Be tough girlfriend. I love you so much. 

Katie baby: Alma 17: 2-5. I love you. I'm praying for you.

Mom and dad: you're the best. I love and appreciate you more everyday. I'm praying for you. Mom, I'm thinking about you a lot this week. I'll be praying for you. I know it's not an easy week. 

Angela Marie Brown: email me THE MINUTE you open your call. Seriously. I'm SO EXCITED for you girl. AHHH I'll be thinking about you all week. Every minute on Wednesday. 

I hope you all have a happy valentine's day this week! 

I love you all! I hope you all have a great week! The church is true. The Book of Mormon is true. I can't say that enough. I know with everything that I am that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Earth. I'm so grateful that he did. I'm happy to be a missionary, as rough as it is some days. I'm happy I'm here and I know this is where I'm supposed to be. 

Love, 

Sister Webber

p.s. southern word of the week: druggist aka a pharmacist.

Ex: I went down and talked to muh ma's druggist and said her pills were makin her sick. (I had to cover my mouth to not laugh). These people are the best. 

Hey Y'all

FAMILY!!

Hello!! I don't have a ton of time because I got on and there were five million emails I had to read through so this email might be a little scattered but I'm going to try to tell you as much as I can. 

The flight here was great. It took forever for us to take off because of the weather but we made it to Detroit with time to spare before our next flight. I sat next to five other missionaries on the flight so I didn't get to preach the good word from my seat, but that's okay. Our layover was maybe a half hour and we got on another plane to Charlotte which only lasted about a little over an hour. My heart was racing during the whole second flight. So much anticipation and not knowing what to expect was killing me. We landed and walked towards baggage claim and the famous elevator scene occurred with President and Sister Craven at the bottom to greet us. They are wonderful. Sister Craven ran to us ready for hugs. She was so excited. We all gathered and got our luggage and loaded it all into a big trailer and got in two fifteen passenger vans that took us to the mission home. the mission home is beautiful. We had a classic southern dinner there that night and talked a bunch about Charlotte. Everyone was so tired because we had been up since two o clock in the morning so they let us go to bed at 9. All the sisters stayed at the mission home and the elders got split up to stay with other Elders in the mission.

Tuesday we had a training all day at the mission office (the Hilliard building in Charlotte) which was great. We learned a lot of good things and President and Sister Craven both spoke to us. They are the greatest. I feel right at home with them and I love being around them. Tuesday night four of the sisters got transferred out to their new areas and the rest of us went back to the mission home. 

Wednesday we drove an hour to the building in Statesville where they do transfers. All of the assistants did some more training there and I ran into Aubrie Butler's roommate Sister Kurtz!! She had been told I was coming so she knew who I was before I even said anything. I also saw two other Elders from high school that I didn't know were in this mission! I ran into another friend at transfers as well who is a Spanish speaking Elder in Charlotte, Drew Gordon. It was so good to see all of them. Nice to have familiar faces. 

My companions name is Sister Strand. She's from Simi Valley, California. She's been out since October 2011 so she's just about done. We are in the Colfax ward. (pronounced Call-fax, say it wrong and they will bite your head off here) (Kirby from the Colony's home ward, small world. seriously) This ward hasn't had sister missionaries in like 30 years. So everyone was calling us Wednesday night to tell us all about the ward. 

Thursday we went out and met with some members and less-actives. Made another connection with a member of the ward, Nadine Kawai (freshman roommate/best friend) her aunt and uncle are actually in this ward as well. 

We get fed just about every night by ward members which is the best. Seriously. I would die because I just eat PB&J because I'm too lazy to make anything else. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we knocked on doors a good part of the day a visited a ton of less-active members. Everyone in North Carolina knows how to TALK. Even people we don't know that let us into their house, we end up staying for like an hour because they just don't stop. 

There was a neat experience we had on Saturday while tracting. In our mission they offer the Savior's peace and blessing at doors (it gets you into a lot more houses and really brings the spirit into their home. It is really powerful (Luke 10: 5-6) <-I think that's right) anyway. This cute old lady let us in and we gave the prayer and she was in tears by the end. The spirit was so strong and she kept thanking us and hugging us. I didn't want to leave. Poor thing was so lonely and has been alone for years. She said she thinks we believe all the same things so she didn't want to hear another lesson from us. But I want to come back sometime and visit her again. She's a sweet heart. 

Everyone here is Baptist and when we share a message with them they just say, yeah we believe all the same things...if only people heard the things I think in my head..I'm always just like, no. we don't just listen to us. Most people are really nice though which softens the rejection most days:) 

Saturday night one of the ward mission leaders invited us to the Pine Wood Derby so we could meet some of the ward members. Sister missionaries around here are like celebrities. Same went for church on Sunday. It was like no one had seen a sister misisonary before. It was fun though. I said the opening prayer in sacrament meeting and when I was walking back to my seat a kid yelled, "is that a girl missionary!?" Yes. it's me. It's funny. They had us get up and share something in sacrament meeting and in sunday school and in Relief Society. I was like, y'all are going to get sick of us real quick if we get up every 15 minutes. But it's great to be so appreciated. 

This is a wonderful place. I can't wait for everything to go green. It's going to be beautiful. The people are so great and I could sit and talk with them all day. But We have people to teach! So many people to teach. It's a great work that's going on here with so many great missionaries. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a missionary. This is not easy in any way shape or form but I know that as these people turn towards the Lord and I can see them change their lives, it'll all be worth it. 

Thank you for all the love and support. I can't thank y'all enough. This would be so much harder if I didn't have such wonderful people in my life. I say that every week but it's because I MEAN it. 

Garner fam in AZ-thank you for the kind note! You're great and i miss all of you!

Curly-write me letters:) I have limited time on the computer so i can't read all your emails:) I LOVE YOU. 

tian and chy-i miss you babes. I hope everything is well. 

J-Reading: thank you for that wonderful letter. You're the best at em. I'll write you back asap. promise:) 

I love you all!! and I'm praying for every single one of you!! I hope everything is going well. Keep a prayer in your heart always and the Lord will always be there for you. I know that. I know that with my whole heart. Cry unto him for all your support. I can't say it enough. 

This gospel changes lives. It is the true church. I know that for a fact. 

Love and miss you all more everyday. 

Love, 

Sister Webber.