Hey everybody!

  We had an awesome week! At the beginning we had exchanges. I FINALLY left my area and stayed a day in Felicita with Sister Edgecomb. It was a lot of fun. While I was there I crashed my bike. It was pretty crazy. I flew over my handlebars and landed flat on the ground in the street. Now I have bruises all over my legs. My elbow was scraped up too. Luckily, I wasn't hurt too bad.

  That night I came back to Twin Oaks Valley and Sister Bradley and I met with Ashley. We set a baptism date for Friday and she was BAPTIZED! It was one of the coolest experiences. I have seen her grow so much in such a short amount of time. She has more hope now and a foundation she can raise her firecracker daughter Alexis.

  So we met with Ashley a lot to help her prepare for baptism. Of course we saw Pat. I promise we do other stuff, I just like to talk about Pat. She still isn't feeling up to par so we asked if some frozen yogurt would make her feel better. (It would) She LOVES frozen yogurt so we ran over there(it is really close) and we got her some. Inside the shop I called her to see what kind she would want and it was funny to hear her oohs and ahs on the phone when I told her the flavors.

  On Thursday Ashley was interviewed after our District meeting, then we had a luau at a ward member's house. It was a lot of fun. They have a SUPER nice yard and it was kind of hard to watch everyone swim. BUT, Alexis and Ashley were there and Alexis let me throw her in the pool.

  FRIDAY was the baptism. The Eshnauers, a really cool couple and our dinner appointment that day, took us through a drive through and to the stake center so we could fill the font and set up for the baptism. It was so cool. So many ward members came and helped out. Sister Skouson and Sister Grow gave awesome talks for the baptism and Ashley loved the whole thing. Brother Skouson baptized her. It is hard to describe all of what happened and to make it eloquent, sorry.

  We also watched Meet the Mormons with Ashley, some Woodland Village people, and another investigator at Woodland Village's movie theater. Kyle is amazing and she let us on short notice. 

  I hope you are all well! I love and miss you all!

 Patsy and Sister Bradley, two of my favorite humans.

 Friend's Yogurt!!!

 We scare Pat sometimes

 Keep it together.

 Brother Skouson!!!!

 That night

 Do I have to title all of these?

 Hugs

 I'm Alexis' favorite...

...or not.

LOVE Sister Dickenson

Hey Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  
Exciting things are happening. We are teaching this girl named Ashley who has been to church twice so far. She is SUPER cool. She is 24 and she has a daughter. She is really funny and is accepting and learning a lot. Sister Bradley and I taught Sunday School yesterday. We aren't lazy, I promise! But we showed a video about the restoration after we taught a little before. People had amazing comments. It was really cool. It had been awhile since I watched the video, and I love seeing how Joseph's humble prayer was answered.
   Samantha, the bishop's daughter who just returned from her mission gave her talk yesterday. It was really good so I wrote it all down so I could give it as my homecoming talk. Except I will change the word Chile for California. Just kidding.

Here are pictures of us and Pat ( she made an instagram account!!!! and she wanted to take a picture with us!) I am holding Molly, her cat.
   Then there is a picture of me and Vella. They both live in the same retirement community. It is really nice. They are both so cool and I love them and will miss them a whole bunch!

   My companion and I have been biking more, and I love it!!! I love my bike so much. Hopefully I can devise a plan of how to keep it after my mission so I won't ever have to drive!! Just kidding. 

   It has been a crazy week but some cool and sad things happened. Some cool things. Brother Birch, who is one of the most Christ-like people I have ever met had us over for dinner with his family. At the end of our stay he said that they have seen A LOT of missionaries but we are the best he has seen. I don't know if that is true, but Bro Birch is a stand up guy and it meant a lot coming from him. Also, Dorris, someone else we are teaching said that we are beautiful (don't be surprised but we don't get that very often, I think it is because  I intimidate them with my intense biking skills). Dorris also said that when her 10 year old says when she sees us on our bikes that we are angels. That was pretty sweet.

  Sad news, my favorite guy, Jack Fletcher, is permanently in the hospital for a sort of hospice care. I am sad I won't be able to see him again, but so blessed to know him. Some of the qualities he has that I love is his optimism and charity. He loves everyone! When we would walk in all gross and sweaty from riding up a GIANT hill to get to his house he'd say how lovely we looked that day (even though he is blind) and he never complained about his situation. He was always so grateful that we were there and love to here us sing. He'd tell us all these crazy stories from serving in WWII, growing up in Arizona, going blind, and his conversion. He worried about us on bikes and offered to tell our mission president that we need motorcycles or convertibles. He fed us lunch and graced us with his personality and laugh.

  I love and miss you all!! I leave you with something I learned this week; Love and service are closely related (they're first cousins). When we love we serve and when we serve we love.

LOTS OF LOVE,

Sister Emily Dickenson

"Holes" by Robbie Pierce

I had been in that hole for a very long time

In the dark and the damp, in the cold and the slime.

The shaft was above me; I could see it quite clear

But there's no way I ever could reach it from here.

Nor could I remember the world way up there

So I lost all my hope and gave in to despair.

I knew nothing but darkness, the floor, and the walls

Then off in the distance I heard someone call:

"Get up! Get ready! There's nothing the matter.

Take rocks and old sticks and build up a fine ladder."

This had never occurred to me-had not crossed my mind.

But I started to stack all the stones I could find.

When I ran out of stones, then old sticks were my goal,

For one way or another I'd get out of that hole.

So I soon had a ladder that was sturdy and tall

And I thought, "I'll soon leave this place once and for all."

I climbed up my ladder. It was no easy chore,

For from lifting those boulders, my shoulders were sore.

I climbed on up the ladder, but soon had to stop

For my ladder stopped short-some ten feet from the top.

I climbed back down my ladder and started to cry

I'd done all I could do. I gave my best try.

And in spite of my work, in this hole I must die.

And all I could do was sit and think, "Why?"

Was my ladder too short? Or my hole much too deep

Then from way upon high came a voice, "Do not weep."

And then faith, hope, and love entered into my chest

As the voice said to me that I'd done my best.

He said, "You've worked very hard, and your labor's been rough,

But the ladder you've built is at last tall enough.

Do not despair. You have reason to hope

Just climb up your ladder; I'll throw down my rope."

I climbed up the ladder, then climbed up the cord.

When I got to the top, there stood the Lord.

I couldn't be happier; my struggle was done.

I blinked from the brightness that came from the Son.

I fell to the ground. His feet did I kiss

I cried, "What can I do to repay thee for this?"

Then He looked all about Him. There were holes in the ground

They had people inside, and were seen all around

There were thousands of holes that were damp, dark, and deep

Then the Lord turned to me and He said, "Feed my sheep."

Then He went on His way to help other lost souls,

And I got right to work, calling down to the holes:

"Get up! Get ready! There's nothing the matter.

Take rocks and old sticks and build up a fine ladder."

It was my turn to spread the good word.

The most glorious message that man ever heard.

That there's one who is willing to save one and all

And we've got to be ready when He gives the call.

He'll pull us all out of the hole that we're in

And save all our souls from death and from sin.

So do not lose faith; there is reason to hope

Just build up your ladder; He'll throw down His rope.

I didn't take this picture (From lds.org)

The 4th of July

  I had a good 4th of July. We had to be in at 8 pm so we didn't see any fire works. I am glad the family fed the missionaries because we didn't have any one sign up to feed us but of course the Skousons found out and invited us over. So it was just us and them. We took pictures with them and Pat. They are the coolest!

  So our bike tire is still broken, but TODAY we will fix it. So we have been walking this past week. I really prefer biking. We are a lot more effective that way.

  Fast and testimony meeting was awesome yesterday. There were some good testimonies borne. Rick of course came. He is cool. AND we sung some cool songs. Like one of my favorites 'There is a Green Hill Far Away'. It makes me wish I was more involved in our home ward. (Not that I wasn't but there is a lot that goes on I was oblivious to, like missionary work!)

  Last P-day was a ton of fun. We met as a zone at our stake building and played Basketball, volleyball, and scatter ball. I haven't really played basketball before so the Elders taught me how to play. I was pretty tired afterwards, we played for 4 hours. (Some of us played that long, others were writing letters home, but who does that!?!)

  We are trying to find people to teach and I am super stoked. We have a couple potentials that we have appointments with which is really exciting.

 

  I wish I could tell you all the crazy cool stuff that happens each day. But I am way too lazy. Just kidding, I don't have enough time because there is too much crazy cool stuff! For example, yesterday we had dinner with a family at 5 who live right by the church so we went to visit a nice old lady, Betty, who does not come to church. So we walk up to the REALLY nice retirement community (Woodland Village San Marcos, look it up) and the doors are locked. BUT lo and behold, someone came to let us in. AND it was Betty!!!  Sister Bradley does this tradition where every night we tell each other where we saw the hand of God and something we loved about our companion. (It is always really easy for her to think of something about me..) Just kidding. But maybe I should write those down in my journal or something. MAYBE you all should TOO!!!!!!!!!!

YAYAYAYA

 We do not play around when we bike. At least I don't.

 My 2nd Transfer District Super cool missionaries

 Me and Sister Flint

 THE SAN DIEGO TEMPLE!

 Jack Fletcher!! He hasn't been feeling all that well but he was so happy to take a picture. He is such a cool guy, and I wish you could hear his stories.

 JUST KIDDING! We do have fun biking! (We were waiting for the zone leaders to drop something off, so we are not wasting time playing with the self timer of the camera.)

 Pat Vincent and Sister Bradley

 Pat Vincent and ME!

The Skousons!!! They graciously fed us for 4th of July and we had Icees with ice cream in them. They were pretty good.

I loved Elder Holland's talk "Where Justice Love and Mercy Meet, I printed it off and I reread it a lot.

Look up Alma 26:12.

 MTC District

 Me and Sis Moser

 1st District In Escondido Zone

 Elder Spencer, me, Elder Mardesich

 Best district EVER (i drew it for the district for transfers)

 District Activity, hiking

 P-Day before transfers

Call Home on Mother's Day

So there is this old man in our ward and he is the coolest guy ever. He has an amazing love for everyone and is a highlight of my week.  His name is Jack Fletcher. He served in WWII and has some crazy stories. He is blind and grew up in Arizona. We asked him to pray for our investigator Rick. He loves when we come over and he has a lot of health problems but his mind is sharp. We usually just share a little message with him but the last two times we decided to sing to him. We sang Savior Redeemer of my Soul (he lives in this house on this hill where this lady takes care of a couple of old people) and the next time we walked in he immediately asked us if we had another song for him, we sang I Know that my Redeemer Lives. He told us that his favorite song is How Great Thou Art. SO I told my companion Sister Flint that we should get our district to come with us and sing it next time, So later today at 2 we are going over and singing it to him. Before we left Jack asked if we were going to sing How Great Thou Art and I told him we were already planning on it and he was so excited. He warned us that he would probably cry and I told him that it was okay and we would cry too. He said we will have a cry fest or something like that. He doesn't know we are bringing more people with us