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

June 21, 2010 the sociable

Family-

So! This is the business. My life is really really good right now. I love being a missionary. I love teaching the people here in Nauvoo. I LOVE reading the Book of Mormon. I love all the fantastic rain storms we get here. Okay funny story for you. So- most of you know I tend to have a fairly "chill" personality. Well- at least I think I do. Maybe you think I don't. But also I may be a lot more chill since I've been a missionary. Actually I know I've chilled out a lot. Ok- sorry. So! We had a pretty big storm the other week and it was like thunder, lightning, maybe a little bit frightening (haha name that song) and then it started hailing or something too I'm not sure but it was past 10:30 and I was in my bed trying to sleep. Then all the sisters in my room started randomly freaking out about life and running around and getting their shoes on? I have no idea what getting shoes on was going to do to save them in case of emergency but whatever. So everyone was running around screaming about this tornado and this is the account from Sister Barry. I guess she walked by my room and saw me and I sat up and looked at everyone (ps I was on the top bunk and definitely had messed up hair) then I just pulled the blanket back over head and laid back down. I figure, "Hey, I'm on a misson. There is absolutely nothing I can do about a tornado. So, let the chips fall.... where they may." Ha. So! We've been having lots of storms lately. In other news! We had our sociable last night. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy that that is over with FOREVER! Sociables over for-EVA! I was roped into singing, but! the good news is that Sister Morgan and I had a duet. I love her so much! We had a lot of MTC companionship unity going on. It was fun, but I'm glad it's over. I had so many awesome families come through the VC this week! I LOVE sweet families! We don't have the privilege of working with a ward so for the week they become my people. It was funny because I had met this one family in the VC and they came to my site the next day so I could give them a tour and I flipped when I saw them and they told the sister I was with that we were BFF's. She asked how I knew them after they left and I said we met in the VC yesterday:) There were two couples that came in from Brazil. I was able to use my sweet Brazilian slangs that Sister Neves would always teach me. They LOVED that. I really appreciated that Heavenly Father loves me enough to have allowed me to be the one to meet them. I don't think it would have meant as much to any of the other sisters but I just loved being with them so much. I love being a missionary. I love to testify of the gospel, even if it's singing on a stage (which is something I definitely did NOT sign up for:)) I love all of you so much!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for being so supportive of me. I love you mucho:) Do work!

Sister Picard

June 13, 2010

Family-

Well- we're just about all flooded around here. It has been raining like CRAZY! I love it though. I think rain is the BEST! You already knew that:) All the crops look like they were planted in a pond or something. I don't mind though. I think it's great.

So! Transfers were yesterday. I'm still in good ol Nauvoo! I'm actually really happy about that because I want to be here for Pageant. This transfer takes us part way through Pageant and then I only have one more transfer! What the what the!? Bleh. That's gross. I think I'll probably just be a missionary forever. It's funny because this is really what feels normal to me now. Waking up, studying, wearing ugly clothes. That's my life and I love it:)

The Young Ambassadors are here in town last week and this week. It's been fun to have them around. They are really phenomenal. We are only able to watch each performance once during the summer so we saw their show last week. It was so fun! They sang Sir Duke and I was dancing in my seat and everyone around me was laughing at me. I love that song. It made me think of the fam. It also made me think of the p-a-r-t-y we're going to have. Just bust a move! :)

One of my favorite things that happened this week actually happened yesterday. On Sundays I serve at the Carthage Visitor's Center. Yesterday a huge tour bus group came in from Utah County. It was a group of recently graduated seminary students. I LOVE YOUTH TOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are my most favorite things in the whole entire world. I would give those all day every day if I could. Well actually that may be kind of tiring if I were to do that because I really pour my whole heart into those tours. I know that I really should and do try my best in every tour but I really REALLY try with the youth tours. I love it because I know that they are all at such an important point in their lives. A lot of them don't really want to be here, but they are because their parents made them. At the same time there are those that truly appreciate the experience. So I feel like I am begging them to feel the Spirit the whole time I'm with them. I will say that the most spiritual experiences I have ever had have been with the youth. Not that other people are incapable of feeling the Spirit, but wow, the youth are just amazing. I tell them that. I also tell them that I can't force their agency. All I can do as a sister missionary is tell them what I know and it's up to them whether or not they are going to get all that Heavenly Father wants them to out of the tour. I also ask them to say a little prayer to soften their hearts, that they will be receptive to any promptings the Spirit might give them. I also tell them that while all the facts that I give them are important and interesting the one thing I want them focusing most on during that whole tour is how they FEEL. If they forget everything that I say I want them to remember how they feel at Carthage Jail or Nauvoo or wherever it is. So- I'm sure they all think I'm a crazy person. The whole tour I spend bearing down in pure testimony of Jesus Christ (I think that's a scripture quote:) ) and then getting really emotional and telling them how the gospel is the best and most correct thing in the whole world and how we will never have more joy than the joy we receive in sharing the gospel and how much Heavenly Father loves them and how important it is to be an example of the believers and on and on and on. I kind of feel or I suppose felt like when Elder Holland gets in his really "fire and brimstone" moments and just kind of goes off. But I was doing that the whole tour. It's fun. And I just tell them that I'm sorry if I seem so overly excited or passionate about the gospel but that if it seems that way, it's because I am. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love bearing my testimony. I am so grateful for the many experiences that God has given me throughout my mission that have helped to solidify all the different aspects of my testimony so that when I say that I know Christ is my Savior I mean it, or when I say I know that Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration I really mean it or when I say that I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God I really really mean it. So- I suppose it's okay to sometimes go through hard things as a missionary- because like I said, every experience I've had has only served to strengthen my resolve that this is the only true Church on the earth and how grateful I am to be a part of it. I love my life. I love being a missionary. I love you!!!!!!!!! I love you very very much and will be so happy when I get to give you all big hugs:) hug hug kiss kiss:) Be good- do work.

Sister Picard

June 7, 2010 my life is good...realllly good :))

Family-

Okay- this week was a particularly good week. Let me tell you something. Mom is always right about everything. I remember when I was little and would be bored or upset or whatever Mom would always say, "Well you are choosing to be bored, so fix it." Or something like that. And then I would get mad at her for saying something so dumb.:) However! Now I am really a believer, and have been for quite some time. We have complete control over our attitudes and outlook on life. This past week I decided everything was going to be AWESOME! And guess what? It was:)

All week long I was trying my very hardest to make everyone that came into the VC or my site know that they were the coolest people in Nauvoo and that there was absolutely nothing else I would rather be doing than talking to them. I made some BFF Beehives from a ward in Indiana. This is the best part of the week. So I gave them a tour at the VC and then I gave them a challenge for when they went to the temple the next day to do baptisms for the dead. The next day they came back to see me (I was serving at the Post Office) and each of them reported to me on the challenge without me even asking! I had asked them to each pick out at least one name while they were doing baptisms and pray for that person and ask specifically that they would accept the gospel. They all came in and told me all the names that they had prayed for! They also said that they had a great experience while they were there. Then they all wrote me little notes. And asked if they could add me on Facebook:) HA! I saw them periodically throughout their time here and it was so fun! We also gave a tour to some RC's from Chicago that was amazing. I love hearing people's conversion stories. Heavenly Father decided to really bless us and I was able to receive three non-member self-referrals in one day last week! It was the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really think a big part of it was that I was trying so hard to be happy about whatever circumstance I was in, even if I didn't want to be in it. I know it's hard to believe, but being a VC sister can be pretty tiring, we have a busy schedule. Oh I have to tell you a funny story. Sister McIntosh and I set a goal to not sit down for an entire shift once and make sure that we were always talking to people. I don't know why but I was wearing heels that day. We had a seven hour shift that day. Standing for that long in high heels- not the smartest idea in the world. But! We did it. And it was fun. I like challenges though- kind of my personality I guess. You couldn't have made me sit down:) In other news, one of the Elders found a baby raccoon. Sister McIntosh named him Melvin. He's a pretty cute little guy. Lots of wildlife here in good ol Nauvoo:) I got to go running the rain this past week with Sister Sorensen. That was my other favorite thing that happened. It was SO good to get pics of Hann's graduation. She looks gorgeous as per usual. Also- I LOVED Buddy and Ben's outfits- I think I will pee my pants when I get to see that video:) Thanks to Baby for the beautiful artwork- she really knows how to draw some master.... pieces:) HA! See- I'm still funny:) I love you all so much. There is nothing better than the gospel of Jesus Christ. Keep being good- Do work. LOVE YOU!

Sister Picard

May 31, 2010 we're glad you're here at sunset by the mississippi!

Family-

Well, let me just think. So! Remember how I said that our air conditioner wasn't working last week? Well- it continued to not work for a little while longer:) Let me just say, I am SO grateful for the modern miracle of air conditioning! After a few days of roasting to death we were finally able to get some swamp coolers. I didn't really know what those were, but now we have some in our house until they can figure out the air conditioning. Whatever they are- I am glad they are there! One night I guess it got up to 96 degrees plus in our house. That is pretty hot. But! It's over now. I have a new appreciation for the pioneers and for people with out air conditioners. Also, the rest of the summer I won't feel hot at all:) So! I don't mean that to sound like complaining- I just thought you'd like to know. Also so that I will remember that great experience for the rest of my life.

So- here is the most exciting thing of my week! Sister Jillian Dennis from my Jersey mission came to visit me this week!!!!!! It was SO good to see her! Although- she came and I gave her a tour of the Wilford Woodruff house so she saw me in my pioneer duds. Oh the humiliation:) It has been great to have her here. Although it does make me really heartsick for Jersey. Alas- it is what it is! Nauvoo is great. We've been able to go to the temple a lot which is a real blessing. We were actually going last week to do some ordinances and then a woman stopped my companion and I and asked if we would please do some work for her ancestors. I said of course we would! (don't worry- I'm pretty sure my companion wanted to as well:) ) We saw that woman later on that night and she was so grateful that we had done that for her. I really appreciated that. Today we went to the temple and did sealings. We were able to be there with a woman who was sealing her grandparents to her father. The Spirit was very strong in the room. I love sealings. Everything about our religion leads to families being together FOREVER. Getting to be a part of a family actually being sealed or connected to each other for all eternity, well that is best feeling in the world to me. The church is so true. I can't imagine anything that would ever make me happier than knowing I get to be with my family forever. I can't imagine any family that fits me better either! I know that I am supposed to be a member of this family and I thank my Heavenly Father for letting me be a Picard every day- and not just because we're so stinkin funny... ;) Ha! Oh I miss you. Things are going well here though. I'm sorry I missed Hann's graduation. I'm sure it went really well. I'm so proud of my little sid! She's a smarty! I also hope that Buddy passed his life guarding class. I can't believe how big he looks in all the pics you sent. It weirds me out, he's such a big kid now! PS- Thank you for the pics! Everyone always loves looking at pics of my family:)

I just thought of something else that was fun this week! There is a shortage of senior missionaries in the church so they sent a lot of missionaries here this summer as "service missionaries" so that they wouldn't have to go to the MTC. The missionary department said they wanted those couples to go through a Preach My Gospel training so the young sisters helped in giving them that. I was able to spend a couple of days this past week training the seniors!!!!!!! It was AWESOME! They all have such amazing testimonies. It is really hard to try and fit PMG into a VC setting, but all the seniors that went through the training really understand it now and are more excited for the work. It also reminded me of how fun it is to testify through the tours. I think that we will see an even more dramatic increase in referrals. You know what that means- more time in the call center! I just hope that I can always be doing whatever it is the God needs me to be doing at that time. I really enjoyed teaching the seniors. It made me think maybe I'll have to go and teach at the MTC or something.... :)

Well! My life is really good- don't worry about me. All of the summer shows started this week so that should be fun. Summer is really here and things have started to pick up. We're staying really busy in the VC and the sites. Sister McIntosh is a great companion and we get a long very well. We're going to Burlington today to go shopping! They have a Target there, it is a BIG deal ok? :) LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be good. I miss you so much, but it's an okay kind of missing I think.:) LOVE YOU!

Sister Picard