Oct 27th

​My dream home is in Lousiana!

​Looks like our lesson got a little out of hand?

#badgirlbadgirlwhatchagondowhatchagondowhentheycomeforyou

#thatwasalonghashtag

#CookietheCop

a Change of Heart...a Change of Soul (Oct 20th)

​Hello my loves!

 

Where to even begin? I had the most amazing week! I had the opportunity for my very first Zone Conference, to share it with Elder Zwick and his wife from the Seventy. These two incredible people really had an impact on my attitude, my goals, and my outlook on life. I wish I could explain how strong you could feel the Spirit's presense there, but in times like these, words can't describe the feelings. Safe to say, it was a great day.

 

Today, I'd like to talk to you about Sister Zwick's talk she gave to all of us. A talk given, that hit my heart so deep, I thought it would break. A talk about the importance of having a continual process of changing one's heart...or better yet, a change of one's soul. Our desires, our commitments and our way of living, should reflect that of the Savior's, always. Especially as a missionary, God has given me a front row seat of watching the ones that I love, change for the better. Sitting three pues back and listening to this wonderful lady speak the very words my soul needed to hear and putting me on the right path, I didn't realize the amount of change that I would eventually see in the ones I teach later that week. I'll share a few examples...

 

This past Saturday, Jennifer Hardy...the biggest sweetheart I know, was baptized. The Hardy family has been one of the greatest examples to me of changing yourself for the better. After both parents returned home from their mission in Brazil, they were then married and after a while, became less active. The dad fell back into old bad habits, the mom felt depressed, lonely and regretful of many things and not knowing what to do anymore. This family had been through many rough patches, low points and needed hope in their lives again. After their 11 year old daughter became friends with a mormon girl in class, she came to them wanting the lessons. That's when the process truly began. Six weeks of teaching, Sister Zemp and I witnessed at first, small miracles and baby steps until one day, there was major adjustments in these wonderful people's countance that made the biggest impact on us every time we left their home. Why were major differences? Because the desire to change was there. The baptism day came, and the sweetest tender mercies came along with it. Sister and Brother Hardy sat next to each other as they watched Jennifer go into the font. At the moment Jennifer grabbed her Grandpa's arm, was the second Brother Hardy shyly reached over and put his hand on his wive's. Brother Hardy was asked by his daughter to give a talk on the Holy Ghost. For the first time in Jennifer's life, she saw her Dad cry. In that moment, the Spirit melted everyones heart. Later on, Sister Hardy mentioned to me, that while Jennifer was getting ready after being baptized, that the smile she had was biggest she had ever seen her daughter's face. To you, these examples might not mean much, but to me...I consider these some of my most treasured memories on my mission that I will never forget.

 

As a representative of Jesus Christ and a simple girl that loves you personally, I testify to you that the Atonement is real, change is necessary and it is all up to us if we allow the miracles and blessings that come along with it, to let it work in our lives..only IF we allow it. God has given us this time to prove ourselves worthy and grow spiritually strong. Don't make the mistake like me, of not taking FULL and complete advantage of this amazing gift. I have seen the effects that it has in my life and those I care so much about, I know that its the only way to be truly happy.

 

I pray, that as we use the Atonement in our lives, as we STRIVE to fix and improve our weaknesses continually, that we will have a change of soul that God will be proud of. When the day comes, I hope we all can honestly profess to our loving Heavenly Father, "I did my very best..."

 

In process of change,

 

Sister Huffaker

Me, Jennifer and Sister Zemp on her big day:)

​The Gibson's bought us GOLF umbrellas...long story. Lets just say we are SO grateful!

Oh...and we're matching!

Oct 13th

​First time eating GUMBO

SOOOOO GOOD as you can tell from Shilo;)

​My real companion, Aubrey:)

​Shilo Kopp came over without saying a word:

-took my shoes off

-reclined my chair

-tucked me in with two blanket

-gave me that stuffed animal

-than told me to relax

Missionary work is hard

Improving and Refining His Children (Oct 5)

​Oh what a wonderful week it has been! Conference was nothing short of AMAZING! God loves His children and He shows it by giving us prophets...how amazing that blessing is:) I hope you all took something out of it that you needed. I know I have!

 

Story of the Week:

 

Thursdays are a day we like to call, "Thirsty Thursdays" here. It's a day we ride our bikes to save miles and also to be able to stop and talk to more people. This Thursday, we were out the door carrying our bikes down the fight of stairs and pedeling down the road. When I realize that my back tire is completely flat due to running over a piece of metal last Thursday. I knew I should have put the green stuff in my tires (sorry dad, you're always right!) We turn around, carry our bikes back upstairs and drive to the Kopp's house. We decide to tract and walk to our appointments today. This paticular day, I thought that I would branch out to my more typical "ugly but comfortable" sister missionary shoes and within five minutes of walking, I began forming blisters. Our appointments were 5 miles away, which means getting there would make us walk on the busy highway and have to cross it at some point. With blistering and bleeding feet on my mind, the sun pounding on us from above and having my companion being impatient walking ahead of me and saying, "we're running late", I decide it was better to take my shoes off and walk on the hot pavement. Ha! People like their alcohol here and don't believe in being "green", so there's broken glass everywhere! Trust me, I know what you're thinking, BUT it was way better walking barefoot on glass then it was wearing those shoes! A good 3 miles away I started becoming weary...I decided to say a simple prayer asking, "Heavenly Father, please send a breeze so I can keep going." I know God hears and answers prayers, within 5 seconds a car pulls off to the side of the street and President Huston asks if we want a ride. I was beyond the point of being grateful. We made it to the appointment to find out no one was there. We then decide to walk home (2miles away) to change my shoes. By this point me and Sister Zemp were mostly silent, there was a bit of contention in the air. She wanted to walk faster and I was doing my best under the circumstances. We arrive at our house, change shoes and start walking back towards the Kopp's house while stopping to also tract the houses. The rain clouds come in and a Southern Storm hits! We're 3 miles away from the Kopps and its POURING. When I say pouring I mean, we could have swam there. After all of the events of the day, we hit our breaking point and all we could do was laugh! We made up and then received a worried call from Sister Kopp who later came to pick us up. As we drive to her house, a gorgeous rainbow appears and it hit me like a ton of bricks, "I am so blessed."

 

In that moment I rethought about my "horrible day". I decided right then and there that this was a day of building character, a day that God had given me to learn and grow from trials. I had the choice to look at it with a negative perspective or an opportunity to count my blessings. I'm so grateful that He gave me a second chance to repent and rethink about the tender mercies I received that day. I know I was taken care of. God gives us trials to improve ourselves and be changed to become more like Him. I look at my feet now and see an opportunity to grow instead of seeing misfortune thats come upon me. I'm in no way perfect, I fall short all the time and sometimes I complain, but I can say that I'm trying to be better...I believe thats enough for Him and accepts my short comings.

 

I know we all have our own "blisters", "glass in the road" and "heat of the day" moments, but I promise that when you find the good in the situation, that is when God is improving and refining you. Don't forget that He loves you and has prepared ways to help you grow and learn, they are disguised as hardtimes. I pray we can take those situations and find the good in them.

 

Love you more than I can say,

 

Sister Huffaker

Nothin like a Southern Storm selfie!

​3 SECONDS after it started raining!