Dear mom, Can you believe I've been out for 5 months? Crazy. It doesn't feel like it. It just feels like I've been a greenie forever.. I was going to send benson something for his birthday, but I figured it would be unfair, and also he never emails me anyways. And tell Jacques to check his Facebook messages. Shelly batt has been so disappointed when she told him happy birthday for me on Christmas, and never got a reply. This week was really good, and had some interesting highlights in in. One of them was when we waited for the bus to show up for about an hour. (I've decided I'm in this area to teach me patience, because waiting for busses sometimes is ridiculous), but there is one bus driver we have started watching for because he always sees us and laughs, probably because we show up in the most random places... It's good to know you can make someone's day. 😊 Monday, emailed, sister Francis was sick, so we just ended up staying at our flat sleeping. Tuesday, stopped by some investigators, learned some new busses to get us places (always useful), had a lunch with just bishops wife, (the most words she's ever spoken to us, she is really opening up.) and that night we literally waited in the cold for a bus to come for an hour. I was so mad, but, like I said, I'm also learning patience from it. Wednesday, we spent the morning in sedgley, and then went to Wolverhampton to see our wonderful Romanian friends. 😊 we couldn't get a member to come with us so we ended up having the lesson on the doorstep. In the rain. Thankfully it wasn't raining too much, and it's mission life anyways. Thursday was district meeting In Stourbridge and then some district finding afterwards. We were late getting back, and so we had to reschedule a less active, and do some finding in our own area. It was so funny- sister Francis met someone from Tanzania, and they just started off in Swahili for about ten minutes. And he knows her uncle! What are the chances? After that, we went to go to an appointment and teach with brother nettleton, she wasn't home, but we checked her sister's house and were able to get her number so we can confirm for future appointments. Then bro nettleton (with sister nettleton) took us to bilston to meet a new investigator who is going to be baptised soon! It is such a big miracle. Also, the fact that the nettleton so we're willing to wait for us as well and then take us to the Rs dinner that night, too. They were a huge blessing that night. Friday, we had flat inspection so we stayed close to home in the morning, we were able to go see the less active we cancelled on Thursday, but we could seem to get anywhere else on time. We were an hour late to our next meeting, those busses again, and by the time we got there, he wasn't home. 😭 but we did get to our last one ok that night. Saturday, sister Francis wasn't feeling too well still, and so we had a bit of a break in the morning, then we went back to see our Romanian friends again. And weekly planning. Sunday, we finally had someone come to church! It made me so happy to actually have people decide to come. 😊😄 That was my week. It's was good. I love the blessings the gospel brings everyone. And although it won't take away your trails, the gospel is there to help you get them. I love you all!! Sister Wadsworth Umm, I don't even know about sallie Mae. I don't have an account with them so I wouldn't know what to do about that. Sent from my iPad On 22 Feb 2016, at 06:18, kelly wadsworth wrote: Dear Rachel and Chelsey, Another week. They go by so fast, yet each day seems to go soooooo slowly! Chelsey has been gone almost 2 weeks, and Rachel has been out for 5 months. Wow! Once again, it has been a crazy week, but this time, it was a different kind of crazy. With Monday being a holiday, we got off to a slow start. Jacques spent the day with Camden, Dad was home, but not feeling too spritely, the rest of us got Natty moved into her room. You both are officially moved out of that bedroom. I will try to get a picture of it, but Natty has gone to bed, so maybe next week. Tuesday felt like Monday. But other than that, it was just a normal day. Dad was officially sick, and spent the day in bed. This nasty flu/cold just keeps going around and around. As soon as it has gone through all of us, it starts over again. Wednesday was Ally's Haitian dinner/fundraiser for her YW project. I made about 25 lbs of rice and beans, Lauralynn made the meat, Marie made cakes, and the RS did potato salad. There are probably more people who made things, but I'm not sure who they all are. There were a lot of people there. Not quite Christmas party size, but definately ward party-ish in size. She made over $800 minus what she needs to repay for the food. All of it will go to Foyer de Sion. It was a really neat project. We brought home a lot of rice, and gave away a lot too. But better too much than not enough. That was also Benson's birthday. I forgot to tell him "happy birthday" in the morning, I remembered as soon as I got back from taking him to the bus. I know he hates when people sing to him, but I felt bad. I did make him brownies for the dinner. (What a birthday party, right?) So he got a real Haitian dinner and brownies. We had his family party Thursday night. He got a protein shake mixer and track shoes. He was happy. Dad left for work on Friday. Jacques went to Zion's with Jordan Povis, Justin Barton, and Jason Neighbor. They hiked Angel's Landing, and another hike. They didn't get home til Sunday morning. I will put a picture on of that. It was really quiet Saturday. I didn't feel good, so not a lot got done. It was so quiet. Ally did homework all day, Benson did whatever he does, and natty read and played with Pants. We are so unexciting. Today was Stake Conference. So was last night, but I stayed home. It was really good. Pres Mathews spoke (about farm equipment) and we had a visiting Seventy. Elder Schwiizer(?). We sat in our usual Frehner section. Kennen got engaged this weekend. He will be getting married in June up in Provo. That's about all the news that I know. Girls lost their game, so they won't be going to state. Teh mud has pretty much dried up. It is getting warm. Rachel, what address did you give Sallie Mae (student loan)? You should need to start paying those soon. What else do you both need me to do? Chelsey, I have made a blog to put all your letters and pictures on. It is: chelseyinchina2016.blogspot.com Any thing you don't want me to post, send in a seperate email. There have been a lot of people who wanted me to do the same thing I did with Rachel's. Well, I'd better get to bed. I have a lot of diapers to change tomorrow. I love you both. Work hard, say your prayers, and don't forget to write home. Loveyou!!! Mom

Hi everyone!
This week was another good but also really hard week. It started off
on Monday night by us rushing off to harborne as soon as we were done
emailing. We had exchange this Tuesday and it's being done differently
now, where we just both go and work in the stl's area for the day. So
sister schollars and I had a lot of fun getting lost (she's been there
for about 6 days) and figuring out which busses would take us where.
Yup, that was Tuesday.
Wednesday was another long bus ride to harborne for zone meeting, and
afterwards we went to see Caroline, a recent convert who just had a
baby to do some service for her, we had to go back the next day to
finish that because we had to rush to our dinner appointment with the
Perkins family, and now I think they just laugh when we text them
saying we are running late...again.
Thursday we had a district meeting in woodsetten, so no long bus ride
for us this time, and afterwards we did some district finding in
Dudley. Then we rushed off to met someone on the other side of our
area (planning effectively does not really work here in woodsetten..)
and we were so busy trying to get everywhere and see everyone that we
didn't have time for dinner that night.
Friday we went to Wombourne and saw both Lucy and Yvonne, though not
at the same time. And I absolutely loved that sister Hayward, who we
took with us last week, came while we were there to drop off some
ensigns for Yvonne to read. Too bad she couldn't stay though.. But I'm
starting to have a testimony of member present less active visits..
Because since we have started trying to make these happen, these
members are remembering these people they have met and are wondering
about them, and thinking about them, and praying for them which is so
good!! I love it. I also love the challenge that we now have to visit
two members everyday, whether less active or not. We were able to meet
Allen as well, and to teach him, even though it meant eating lunch on
the bus to see him, but we were able to eat dinner that night at
least.
Saturday was probably my favourite day because it was just as crazy as
Thursday and Friday and I absolutely loved it. We were in
Wolverhampton all day, and were able to teach some new people!! With a
member!! It was great, we tracted for a long time in that area as
well, and by the time we went to see Diana, my feet were frozen
because we had been in the cold for a long time.
Sunday was the only possible time we had to do our weekly planning, so
we did that after church and our dinner with the nettletons. Sister
Francis wasn't feeling too good that day so after church and our
dinner we just went home and planned. Church was really good, we
almost had someone actually show up this week, but they didn't. It
would have been so nice for that to happen because president and
sister Leppard decided to visit woodsetten ward this Sunday, and of
course we were also teaching relief society too. I tried not to feel
too bad that we didn't even have anyone we work with come to church
because we do try very hard to have people come, and that they have
their agency and it's actually starting to frustrate me, because they
should use it to come to church!! Haha and actually I completely
forgot about Valentine's Day until they mentioned it in sacrament
meeting, and I suddenly realised why sister Francis had decided to
wear something red... Oops. #inarelationshipwithchrist
All in all, it was a really good week, I love being able to look back
and to see how hard we have worked and to be satisfied with my efforts
and to be ready to teach repentance and (hopefully soon) baptise
converts for this week. I love the gospel, I love that it makes people
happy, it makes me happy, and I love being here serving others. It's
the best. And also, tell benson happy birthday for me on Wednesday!!
🎁🎂
Love you all!!
Sister Wadsworth 😊
1) so close but not quite!!

2) exchanges/ sleepover

3) double decker couch!! Jk, it's a bus.

Feb 8, 2016

I have absolutely no clue what I want for my birthday. Maybe you could feed the missionaries and take a picture and sent it to me. I'm sure there is popcorn here somewhere, I'm just not looking for it anymore. Haha. I love that quote or what ever it is, because it always seems like I'm walking up a hill, and in the rain. 😊 love you mom!


Sent from my iPad

On 8 Feb 2016, at 05:38, Kelly <mkwads@yahoo.com> wrote:

Well, it turned out we did get a snow day. The school called at 5 am and told everyone to stay home.  Natty spent most of the day outside, but the rest of us hunkered down in the house.  The roads were all plowed by Tuesday, but around our house was still pretty bad.  We ended up getting stuck 3 times.  All of them right here at home.  I would get the little kids settled, then go out and shovel snow for a while. Then come in and start over.  I was pretty sore by the end of that day.
Wednesday we were back to a normal schedule. Thursday I got a call from Marie Bleak.  She is going to work down in Panaca, and so Canon will be coming back.  Back when school started I was afraid this would be my last year cuz all I had was Keldyn.  Now I am up to 5 boys and picking up 2 girls after school.
Basketball is almost over.  They lost on Fri and on Saturday, they won!!!  Benson is doing so awesome.  It is fun to watch him. He got hurt on Sat, I was afraid when the coach started looking for me in the crowd, but he just wanted to give Benson some ibuprofen.  Whew.  They only have two games left. As much as I hate sitting on the bleachers, I will miss watching the games.
Saturday, Teri brought her adopted grandkids out to go sledding.  The snow was still deep, but not very good for sledding.  Porter came inside to warm up and play, then decided he wanted to stay.  He didn't even care when they drove away.  I took him home when we went to the game. It was pretty funny.
Chelsey is leaving tomorrow night.  I'm not sure if I am ready for this, but she is.  We will drive her to Vegas, leave her at the airport, I don't think we will even be able to see her get on the plane like we did with you.
Now about you.  Are you transferred?  Or did you stay?  Tell us all about it.  Ally wants to know what you want for your birthday.  So do I.  Do you need anything desperately? Microwave popcorn doesn't count.  Do they have microwave popcorn over there?
That's about it. We love you so much.  I am glad you have this opportunity to serve a mission.  You are growing from this experience, but so are we.  The thought just popped into my head: what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.  Marie bore her testimony today and shared a quote that was something like, you know you are on the right path if it is all uphill.  I guess if you need that advice I should say good luck, too.
Good luck. Love you.
Mom

Hi everyone!!
Sorry this week is kind of lame because I don't have a lot of time for
individual emails today. But at least now you'll (hopefully) get that
novel you've been begging me for. 😊 haha
This week was pretty good. Sister Francis and I are still together,
and still in woodsetten. Actually, it's been a lot like last week was.
Except now this is a new transfer, but it really doesn't feel like it.
Woodsetten is still the same, we still have pretty crazy dinner
appointments with the bishop, but fortunately his wife is starting to
open up to us, so that means we get about two more sentences than
we've gotten before.. #awkwardsilencesaremissionlife and I forgot to
mention that the da before, bishop finally showed me some of his
animals, which were really cool. But I forgot to take pictures of it,
sorry. Hmm.. Tuesday we worked in bilston and taught this really old
(probably crazy) lady.. #missionlife and we had someone come to youth
activities that we invited him to!! He was more trying to sell his
project than anything else, but he came!!
Wednesday sister Francis and I walked down to lower gornal to see some
new less actives we had found, and it was basically a lot of walking..
Then we went and explores more of Dudley area and we taught someone!!
Yay!! Haha unfortunately, she said she was going to be out of town
this week though so we couldn't get a return  appointment, but it was
really good. She basically said that she had gotten into a
disagreement with her pastor about the trinity/godhead and that she
believed in the godhead.
Thursday, we had district meeting and got to see Evelyn again. It's
been a few weeks since we have been able to see her, since she was
stressed out of her mind with uni work, and we had planned to do some
service with her, but actually it was so sad that they had to leave
basically right after we left to go visit some friends/relatives whose
mom had passed away. I was so sad because I had been looking forward
to doing some service for somebody all week, and then we couldn't.
Haha I just love service opportunities, they are probably my most
favourite thing, because what better way to tell someone you love them
than to serve them? And they make people happy. But most English
people are too proud to let me do anything for them... ☹️😭
Friday we went to see bonnie, and we took sister Hayward with us. It
was so good because 1) we didn't have to ride the bus for about two
hours, and 2) Bonnie and sis Hayward finally got to meet. I just love
both of them, and we have been really trying to get some of our less
actives to know more members by visiting them with members. 😀 it was
good, and bonnie told us that she didn't have to have her really big
surgery after all. And that she had had the smaller operation at the
beginning of the week. Priesthood blessing work!! Hopefully, she will
get better soon so that sis Hayward can give her a lift to church.
Saturday, was very wet. It poured all day. We were able to stay inside
that morning and so our weekly planning, but that night we tracted a
street full of Romanians, and got soaked. Haha, I hope I never forget
that day. The first door we knocked on, they let us in because it was
raining, and we offered to teach them English. #findingideas that was
crazy. But we are going back next week and in the day time!! And we
were finally able to teach wilson's neighbour, who he had given a Book
of Mormon. Yay for member missionary moments!!
Sunday was really good. Still don't have any investigators choosing to
come to church though. 😩😭 maybe one day we will actually hold a
gospel principles class again.. After church (and dinner) went to see
Caroline, a less active/recent convert, who just had a baby. 😊😍😄
and that was really good. That was my week.
And today, we didn't do anything too exciting, but we haven't been
able to email until now because there was someone working alone here
and we are not allowed to be alone in a building with him
#obedientmissionaries
I guess I should also share the biggest thing this week has taught me,
which was how much I really love being able to make others happy. It
just makes me smile, and gives me so much joy knowing that I am
showing love to one or more of Heavenly Father's children, who he
really loves and knows, just like he knows me. It's the best. Love you
all!! Enjoy the novel, and have a good week! Xxxx ❤️❤️❤️
Sister Wadsworth 😊

 Dear mom,
Unfortunately, that was the only snow we've gotten. I'm so jealous of the ten inches you have!! That's a lot. People keep telling me about the crazy weather America is having, but honestly I don't know anything about it besides that. They also keep saying that it has been a really mild winter this year and there is usually ice and slush by now. I think I bring warm weather with me because this happened to me last year in Idaho too....
This week has been pretty good. We worked a lot, and rode the bus a lot and knocked a few doors. Sister Francis and I get along really well. After we get through some awkward situations, we have a good laugh over it. 😄
Our week was really busy the first half, and trying to get everywhere on time was the hardest part, but after Wednesday, we kind of started picking an area and working in that, or working our way home from there. And we met with a few more less active members this week and added them to the list of people to visit. So we have a ton of less actives, but not really any investigators despite our finding efforts. But it will happen!!
Thursday we got into a sticky situation, that was pretty funny, but also really cold. We hold a volleyball night every Thursday, but for the past few weeks there haven't been any sisters showing up to play, mostly youth and bishop and/or brother batt. So with sister Lee, we had counted the members of the bishopric there to be able to go in and play, but with sister Francis, she wanted a sister there- so we waited and pray d someone would show up, but we ended up calling sister squires and begging her to come watch. And she was an Angel and rescued us. So you can laugh at us freezing cold outside the church wondering how to hold our own event..
My money is miraculously holding out besides the fact that we love to go shopping on pday.. And for the msf money (grocery money) I have actually been having a lot left over, so it's been paying for my buss passes as well. I am still in the same flat, but transfers are this Wednesday, so I'll let you know next week if I am still in the area.
Also, Natty can't turn twelve until I get home.
I think I did file taxes last year, maybe..
Haha I think you are so amazing mom, and I want to be like you when I grow up. 😊 haha there's a new youth song called we are a family, and it's just my favourite thing ever right now.
I love you all so much! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😍😘
Love,
Sister Wadsworth 😊

Sent from my iPad

On 1 Feb 2016, at 06:39, kelly wadsworth <mkwads@yahoo.com> wrote:

Dear Rachel,
You can tell it is Sunday night at our house because everyone (sort of) is frantically typing a letter to you.
So it is Sunday night and it has been snowing for about 24 hours.  We have 10 inches here in Dry Valley, and we got stuck trying to get up Grandma's hill.  It's a snow day for us tomorrow even if they don't call one for  the schools.  I think they will, though, there is just too much snow to run buses and drive.  Yeah, snow!!
So, news from home.  Hmmmm.  It was really muddy on Monday,, and by Thursday it had mostly dried up.  Now with all this snow, we will start all over again.
Jacques and I got 2 of the lights fixed on the van.  I feel like I can drive past the highway patrol or sheriff's cars without getting pulled over.  Now if we can just get the headlight fixed, I will be set.  Then we can start working on tires.
The boys lost both of their games this weekend.  The first on to Calvary Chapel by not too much, but the Meadows game was brutal.  Almost 50 points.  Benson got to play quite a bit, and did pretty good.  He even made his free throws.
Jacques and Ally went to FFA zone in Logandale on Wednesday.  They had to be in Panaca by 6 am.  I'm glad Jesse and Derek are willing to help us out on days like that.  I owe them some cookies after wrestling is over.
Thursday was pretty hectic.  I had Tracie Poulsen's 2 youngest girls along with all 4 of my regular boys.  It was a busy day.  Then Friday, we had Taryn and Ashton.  Natty took care of them most of the day.  Ally helped too, but you know how Natty gets stuck with alll the kids when she is here.  They love her.
I think we have established by now that we are pretty boring here at home, so it is up to you to let us experience you mission vicariously.  Are you still in the same flat?  How are you and Sister Francis getting along? How is your money holding out?  Have you had to buy anything but groceries?
Dad is staying busy up in Ely.  He has a lot more snow than we do.
Natty got to go to her first YW last Wednesday.  They were doing a project to get ready for New Beginnings.  I can't believe she will be 12 soon.  It's a good thing I have all my extra kiddos, since you guys insisted on growing up.
OH. Your taxes.  do you want me to file yours for you?  Did you file them last year?  I don't remember if you did or if we just claimed you.  If you did, I need your turbotax password and username.  Send them in a seperate email.  Also, you need to start paying your sallie mae loans soon.  Did you give them your email?  What is that and what is your password for that?
Well, keep up the good work.  You are awesome!  thank you for being such a good example to all of us.  I want to be like you when I grow up!
Love you!!!!!!
Mom