August 9, 2010 Last post...come what may and love it:)

Family-

Well I bet you thought the time would never come- but here it is! The very last e-mail that I will be writing to you as a missionary! I know I still don't leave for a long time, but I guess I don't have a preparation day next week. So! Here it goes! I don't have anything too terribly interesting to write you. How do you follow up seeing an apostle? :) We went to Springfield, IL last week with the Ludwig's. That was a lot of fun! We were able to see the Lincoln Museum and Presidential Library and Tomb and the old capital building. It was actually really funny to kind of get a view of how we must look to people when we give tours or annouce movies or any of the things we do here. I loved it though. Mostly I loved being with all the sisters I have grown to love so much since we started our missions together! I'm trying to think of what has even been going on! Things have slowed down quite a bit since Pageant is over. We have the BYU International Folk Dance team here now. We received almost DOUBLE the amount of referrals we did last year. So! Call Center is BUSY BUSY BUSY! They'll be calling on those cards for the next 5 years- haha:) I don't say that as though I don't like calling. I really love calling now. It has been a mighty change of heart you know. Although I will say I may never want to talk on the phone again:) Funny! I am funny. OH! I know. I lost my voice. Well, it is starting to come back now. Everyone just calls me Elder Picard because I speak so low and raspy sounding. I will say, losing one's voice as a Visitor's Center sister is NOT a great idea. But! It is what it is. So I tried to make myself as useful as possible. I filed a whole bunch of cards in the Call Center. Due to my time as a library assistant (NERD) in middle school I am VERY proficient at alphabetical order and I have been able to employ those skills as of late. I also used some of my paper cutting skills to cut the 102831902832028 programs for Sacrament meeting. Then I was shredding a whole bunch of our old referral cards that have already been entered and the missionaries sent. I was SO efficient that I actually burned out the shredder. So while everyone else was calling I was downstairs with scissors shredding the rest of the stack. I think S/Barry just about peed her pants when she saw me she was laughing so hard. Well- I had a job and it needed to be completed. So! That is what I have been doing.

I love being a missionary. More than being a missionary- I love the gospel. I think that is why missionaries say they "love being a missionary" so often. We probably do, but at the same time probably for the first time in our lives we are really experiencing the joy that only comes for the gospel of Jesus Christ and particularly in sharing it with others. I love my Savior so much! I am so glad that He allows me to represent Him and share the gospel. I love reading the Book of Mormon. You all know of my affinity for reading, and that has now all been transferred to reading the Book of Mormon in particular. I could read it all day every day. It makes me feel so good. It brings peace to my soul. I love my Heavenly Father. I cannot even believe how much He blesses me! I tell all the visitors that come if there is one thing they need to remember about Sister Picard it's that I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I love bearing my testimony so frequently and I hope to be able to find ways to do that for the rest of my life. I think that has been one of the blessings of serving a VC mission. I have had the opportunity to really figure out better how to incorporate missionary work into everyday life. I can really talk to anyone about anything and bring it all back to the Savior. So! Moral of the story- serving at the VC really isn't too bad:) I'm glad that God knew how much I would love being a missionary and that He let me come. I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for being the family.... of my life! :)

Sister Picard

August 2, 2010

Family!

Well- I have about two seconds to write to you. We don't have a preparation day this week because all of the 2nd summer sisters are going with President and Sister Ludwig to Springfield to go see the Presidential Library this week. Should be neat. However, I lose out on my day of rest:) Alas!

Most important things first. Pageant is over! We were able to receive SO many referrals this year it was amazing! I love it. I'm tired. It was great. Love it. Actually that wasn't the most important thing. The most important thing is that Elder Neal L. Anderson from the Quorom of the Twelve was here this past week. He was filming for the new Special Witnesses of Christ and reorganizing the Pageant Presidency. It was actually kind of funny what happened one day. We had just gotten off shift and had to go greet and we were early so I thought, "I want to go see the river!" So I drove to the river and there was a big film crew and everything down there. Ha. I must be really in tune, just drawn to where apostles are! :) I was able to listen to him speak on several different occassions. The best was we had a special meeting with him at the mission home. I could really spend forever writing about that, but I have approximately 2 seconds left. Sum up- I need to get married! Also- this is something I think was so important. Elder Anderson is a great guy and everything, but I never really felt anything different around him generally speaking. However, as soon as he started testifying of Jesus Christ the Spirit that filled the room was so tangible you could have cut it with a knife. It was INCREDIBLE! I was thinking afterwards, really Elder Anderson is a regular guy with a great responsibility. As soon as he started to doing what is unique to his calling and testifying as a special witness of Christ, wow, it was amazing. I will never ever ever be able to deny him being an Apostle of the Lord. And! I will never be able to deny that Christ is our Savior and that He lives. What a great experience! I'll tell you more about it later. :)

Well! I love you a lot! I'll try to write more next week! LOVE LOVE LOVE! Be good- do work :)

Sister Picard

July 26, 2010

Family-

Well, so much has been going on lately! Pageant is just crazy time around Nauvoo. It is SO fun though! I love feeling busy and that I have a purpose.

My most favorite thing that happened this week really doesn't have a whole lot to do with me. Each night at the Pageant all of the sisters, some of the elders from the Des Moines mission and the Pageant family cast are out actively seeking referrals from EVERYONE! This year has been incredible in the amount of referrals we have seen. Each night there is a cast meeting and some of the sisters are assigned to attend. I was able to go on Saturday. The night prior to that we had an INSANE night with referrals. We smashed the previous record. Almost doubled it. It was all thanks to these 3 young men. One of them got up to speak about it and the first words out of his mouth brought the Spirit so strong! I had visions of him as a missionary training everyone:) It made me miss my little brother! He and two of his friends had set a goal to get 500 referrals on Friday night. He spoke to us on the importance of setting goals. I was there at the missionary kiosk that night as they were getting referrals. When it was time for us to go they were begging us to stay because they only needed a few more. They ended up staying out till 12:30 that night. When all was said and done they had gathered 523 referrals. That is a miracle. A complete miracle. It was all according to the faith of those young men. I still can't get over it. They were all real referrals too, not just random names written down. Oh it just made me so happy to be a missionary! And so grateful to be a member of the Church!

Bishop Keith B. McMullin spoke to us and I don't remember if I wrote to you about that. We have had a LOT of General Authorities coming through lately. It's that time of year:) But a few of the times he addressed us have been my favorite so far this summer. He gave one talk just to the young missionaries here. I had been having a difficult time coming to terms with the fact that I will be going home (if you can imagine) and everything he said addressed every concern I might have had. It's amazing what the Spirit can do! Even if his words weren't a perfect fit for my situation, what the Spirit spoke to me was. I LOVE IT! I love church. I love Jesus Christ! My most favorite thing is to testify of Him. All the time.

On a lighter note! I was working at the VC on Friday and had just come in for my shift and guess who I see walking through the front door? BECCA ANDERSON! Well- not Anderson anymore, and her husband! I flipped! It was definitely a blessing for me. Such a tender mercy to be able to see her. It made me feel good about life. And that not everyone has forgotten that I exist. And she was so cute and happy! It still makes me happy. Oh man. I am currently smiling because of it:) Also- a few of the sisters from last year including my favorite favorite trainer S/Brinkerhoff are here. That has also helped me to be happy! Heavenly Father is just blessing me a lot lately. He must love me I think:)

Last little tid bit to show you that I am still Sister Picard. So we have a lost and found here in the VC. For several weeks we had this little toy dalmation that barks and moves and wags its tail. So I finally decided no one was coming to claim him. So I did. For the VC. He is our official dog. His name is Pork Chop. Or Chop Chop. Choppy. Porky. Chop Su-i (no idea how to spell that) or whatever else you like to call him. I call him tension relief. :) And everyone probably thinks I'm crazy. But! What else is new! He makes us all laugh.

Well I love you! So does Jesus Christ! I am learning that more and more each day:) Be good. Do work:)

Sister Picard

july 19, 2010

Family!

So- my life is just crazy crazy crazy right now! Pageant is in full swing. Long nights and busy days! It's fun thought. It keeps my mind occupied and time is just flying. I had a lot of really neat experiences this past week. Now that it is actually time to write them down, I kind of forget everything. It is raining like crazy outside right now. So that is also distracting me. I love the rain. It's pretty much like a monsoon. Oh I know! It has been really hot and humid out here lately. Good news is, I got a little tan when I've been outside greeting for Pageant things. Bad news is I think I sweated out about 0298403984234092384 gallons in the meantime. I was serving in the VC and I saw this guy named Josh I had worked with in the Ath Dept so that was exciting. Then he said, "Do you want to meet my wife?" and I said, "Sure!" and come to find out she was the girl who had taken my job. So! Moral of the story is! My going on a mission helped them to final eternal wedded bliss. Thank you thank you:) Referrals have been amazing this year! I don't know what is in the water, but we have been just raking them in! People that are coming to the Pageant are so prepared! Before the Pageant we go out and try to get referrals from the visitors. Sometimes there are so many people it is hard to know who to talk to. I was in the Pre-Show and I said a little prayer to Heavenly Father asking Him to please help me know who to talk to. I then saw this couple and went over to talk to them. Turns out that they were non-members from the area and they self-referred! I love it. I also have really enjoyed being able to start making calls on Pageant referrals. Not that I don't love the other kind too, but Pageant referrals are just the BEST! My companion, Sister Pulleyn, is great. I am in the big room now so there are six of us living in one room. Don't worry, we have lots of room unity. The other morning two of the companionships walk out to go to preparation meeting and we were all wearing green shirts. We got lots of weird looks, but we were definitely unified:) I love being a missionary! I think it's great. I love my life! I was able to serve at Carthage yesterday. It's kind of bittersweet because I wasn't able to serve there at all this summer, only on Sundays. So I miss the Spirit that is SO present there. The tours there are the best. I feel like it isn't Sister Picard speaking at all there. Truth be told, I am kind of lame by myself. I can feel the Spirit testifying through me while I am there though. I think that is why I love it there so much. It has been a real privilege to be able to serve the Lord in a place that is so special to so many people. It is very humbling. I mean that sincerely- I hope I don't sound like I am just saying that to say it. Well! I need to get to gettin! Sorry- I'll write longer..... sometime. I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be good. Life is good.

Sister Picard

PS- Explanation of the title of my e-mail. People make fun of me all the time because my shoes are falling apart. And my tights are falling apart. And my knee highs have holes in them. And my clothes are all thrashed. So- sometimes I just want to say that line. That's all :)

July 12, 2010 dad's birthday

Family-

Well, what is even going on in my life? I will just tell you. First of all, this is way crazy but we had transfers yesterday. This is officially the last transfer of my MISSION!?!?!?!??! Weird. I am staying in Nauvoo. My companion is Sister Pulleyn. She is the 18th and final companion I will have. Crazy huh? I'll have more companions than months on my mission:) I still have Monday Preparation Day which is nice. I switched rooms in the house and also bathrooms. I really don't know why I am telling you all of this because it's not that interesting. Maybe you think that I am sad about never going out to Carthage this summer, but I will tell you that I am perfectly okay with that. I had my turn last summer. They just need my sparkling personality here in Nauvoo I suppose:) Things have gotten pretty crazy around here let me just tell you. Pageant began last week. It rained and rained and rained some more. On Monday night they had a dress rehearsal. I was actually greeting for a show called Rendezvous and was standing outside when the down pour hit. It all happened so fast. I was sopping wet by the time someone offered me an umbrella. So, I came to terms with getting rained on. Then we had to walk up to Pageant. It really was as though someone had dumped a bucket on my head. I mean a bucket of water. Ha. Then it rained on Tuesday night a little bit. Then it really rained on Wednesday night. So, we got used to the rain. They still had Pageant though! Wow, I am writing really boring sentences I am sorry. What else happened? Oh I know! I was serving in the VC on Saturday and in walks the Woodbury's from Moscow! How crazy huh?! It was fun to be able to talk to them for a minute. I can't remember if it was last week or the week before but we had just arrived at the VC for our shift and a film had just gotten out and this man comes out of the theatre and looks at me and says, "Does the name Applonie mean anything to you?" And I kind of looked at him weird then he said, "Sara!" And came over and gave me a big hug. I guess my face was pretty classic. You have to remember, I have had a 3 foot personal bubble for the past year and a half and someone getting inside of that freaked me out. I really didn't know how to respond. It was Uncle Stan's BFF Matt Black. I thought you might think that was funny. Well here is a neat story for you. I was in the VC the other day and these people walked in and I offered to give them a tour. Turns out that they are non-members from... NEW JERSEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's riiiiiiight. Guess what else? They totally self-referred! So Heavenly Father answers my prayers. I told Him I would try to get as many NJ referrals as possible and He helps to make it happen. I also have given a lot of tours to Spanish speakers. It pretty much breaks my heart and then I go cry afterwards because I'm so sad that I can't speak Spanish. But I try to always bear my testimony in Spanish. So I'm doing what I can. It's so neat though that no matter what language you are doing it in, bearing testimony of Jesus Christ always brings the Spirit. I am so glad that I get to be a missionary. I am so glad that Heavenly Father loves me so much to let me be a missionary. I love knowing that I can never trust too much in the Lord. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to be happy. That really does mean that whatever does happen to us in this life is really honestly truthfully for our good. So, I don't have any reason to worry or get anxious, because I know that everything is going to be okay. I really like that feeling. Well! I love you all so much! Keep praying for me- I need to finish up you know- Picard style. Leave it all on the floor right?:) LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sister Picard

July 5, 2010 when you're here, we're here (nauvoo pageant)

Family-

Well let me just think about what has been going on this past week. Oh first of all before I forget- I want to get Rachelley's new address. I keep thinking she will e-mail it and then she doesn't. So I haven't been sending letters because I don't want them to go to Ireland and her be in Scotland or something crazy like that. So! What has been going on in my life? Not a whole lot out of the ordinary. Pageant is starting tomorrow so that means we will start to get busy busy busy. I like it though. I like having a purpose. I am very excited for all the opportunities to get referrals!!!!!!! I'm excited to meet all the neat families and people that will come. I am not so excited to get eaten alive by chiggers, but! it is what it is. Let me try to think of funny things that have happened. Well- my pioneer dress. It's the same purple behemoth that I had last year. I think it's probably about 40 years old. Which means that it was first a YPM stage dress, then a YPM outdoor dress, then a YPM site dress, then! a YSM (me) dress. So- it's been through the ringer. Consequently it is now falling apart. There are holes in it everywhere. One of the sleeves is literally falling off. I tried to tape it back on, not effective. But- I don't want to go and get another dress from the sewing room because they are all ugly. So- I'd rather be in my hole-y dress than in an ugly one. These kids were making fun of me the other day, that was pretty great:) We were waiting to get picked up the other day. I was working at the Cultural Hall and the Band Wagon had come to do their concert. I always like to go and pet the horses (I'm Native right?:) ) and it was the calmest team, their names are Jim and John. Then one of the teamsters said, "I betcha you wouldn't kiss that there horse," or something very teamster-ish sounding. Then I said, "Watch me." So then I kissed Jim on the nose. And someone happened to take a picture at that moment. So, if you hear of me kissing on my mission, I'm just kissing a stinky old horse named Jim. I know a great experience I had. I was serving at the Cultural Hall and when we open the sites in the morning we have to clean. So I volunteered to clean the third floor. So I went up and was mopping the whole place and it was great because a) I got to be alone and b) I was just singing the whole time I was cleaning. Not to say that I am a great singer, it was just really fun to sing the hymns just by myself. If you can imagine, it gets a little crazy being around 1203948102948120498124 other sisters all the time. So I considered it a tender mercy. I know that God loves me. The greatest thing about that is that He loves everyone else just the same. One of the best things that I get to do is to help everyone else feel that love that God has for them. I am really so excited for Pageant and the great spirit that will be here in Nauvoo. It's tiring and crazy, but it's also so rewarding. I love sharing the gospel, and I know I will get to share it quite often in the next few weeks. If you think of anyone that you want to share the Pageant CD with, PLEASE let me know. It's a great referral because hey, everyone likes free music and it isn't quite as intimidating as a Book of Mormon or whatever else we usually send. So! Let everyone know- because now is the BEST time to refer. I'm especially going to try to get lots of NJ referrals:) I don't know how- but I will!!!!! Well I love you mucho mucho. Can't even wait to see you. Keep being good- and doing work in the most gospel oriented way possible:)

Sister Picard

June 28, 2010 fam fam

Family-

So this week was pretty great. Things are definitely starting to pick up around here. Vocal Point came this last week which was perfect for all the screaming young women on the youth tours. It was the commemoration of the Martyrdom yesterday. I was able to work at the Jail (we do temporary transfers on Sundays) and give a tour which was great. There was also a program that took place at the jail. The YPM's sang and the band played and then we tried to sing. It was great:) I gave a talk in church yesterday. I used a Holland quote that Rachelley gave me- she's such a good example to me! I wish I was half the missionary that I know she is. I've been trying to practice basic Spanish with Sister Cordoba for Pageant. I have so much respect for Elder Picard and his Spanish skills. Learning a language would have been muy dificil! But! I know he is just rocking it:) I'm so glad he's on a mission with me. I'm glad Rachelle is too. It's good to have good examples. It's been raining a lot still. Yeah- you know my e-mail is lame when all I can think to say is that it has been raining a lot. Oh! I know a funny story, then I'll finish up. So! We are only allowed to watch the YPM's show once this summer and S/Feltwell, Morgan, Schetselaar and I went last week. Do you think I will be weird when I get home? Let me just tell you the extent. So- this nice little play is called High Hopes and Riverboats. It's a musical about the history of Nauvoo. Last summer, I enjoyed it as nice wholesome entertainment. I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO awkwarded out this year. Every time anyone held anyone else's hand, or any of the lovey dovey stuff. Nope. I was not about that. I couldn't even watch. Then afterwards I went and told all of them how awkward it was for me. I think they thought I was weird. I think I'm weird. But- it is what it is. One of the Elders just got off of his real mission and came right here to perform. I asked him how in the world he was able to do it. I guess when they were on stage the director would tell him to like hold a girls hand or whatever and it would take like 5 minutes before he could do it. He said it was even more awkward because everyone was watching him. Oh yes- to be a missionary:) Well. I love you. Sorry I'm not more entertaining. I'll try and do something super duper exciting this week. I love the gospel. I LOVE teaching. I make my companion roleplay the lessons with me because I miss teaching them so much and it'll prepare her for the field. There is nothing ever ever EVER that will bring anyone more happiness than sharing the gospel. I love it:) I LOVE YOU! Be good- do work:)

Sister Picard