July 5, 2011 (Letter)

Hello Mom and Dad

How are you guys doing?  Dearelder.com will be the best way to send letters because I will get it that day that you sent it.  With emails it is hard because it’s only on Tuesdays and only for 30 minutes.  I was so happy to get a dearelder letter today [Symbol].  I miss everyone back home so much.  That is so to hear that Bethany had the opportunity to go through the temple.  I am so excited that she is getting married.  I know that she will be great wife and a mom.  Tell her congratulations from me!  That is also cool that you got to see a picture of Suzanna at the temple with her family.  I am so happy for them and I know they will be blessed.

It makes me so happy to hear that your lesson on the Path to Happiness went well and that you had a good feeling come from it.  I would love to hear more about your lesson and read it and enjoy the feelings that you have felt.  I love you so much and love that you are sending me lessons you teach.  I know that they can touch me and help me while doing the Lord’s work.  You are such a great example to me.  I am so glad that things are going well and I hope to send you some pictures soon.  When I got here we found out that we wouldn’t be able to do a session in the Provo Temple because it’s closed until the 29th.  I was so bummed.  We are able to be on temple grounds on Sundays.  MTC is amazing and I love it here.

I love you guys so much and want you to know that I love this gospel.  I love my Savior and thank Him every day for what he has done for me.  I have a testimony of prayer and how powerful it is in our life and how it impacts us when we communicate with our Heavenly Father.  It blesses me so much and I know that our Heavenly Father will help us if we ask.  I have seen that a lot especially in the last 5 days.  I am so grateful for my family and that no matter where we are, we are blessed and protected.  I am so grateful to serve a mission and to share my testimony with others. 

Love Sister Bickley

July 5, 2011 (Email)

Hey Mom and Dad,

It is so great to hear from you.  That was a great story [The Prison and the Dandelion].  Attitude does make a big difference and it has in my life as a missionary while at the MTC.  I had a spiritual experience that strengthen my testimony this week and how I could be a better missionary and a better companion.  Elder Cecil O Samuleson said, “Just as we should not lower the standards that the Lord has established for the conduct of his servants, we are also not authorized to raise them…be sure that you do not have higher standards for yourself and others than the Lord has established.”  I was struggling and wasn’t sure what to do and so I asked my District Leader Elder Densley and his companion for a blessing of comfort and strength and this quote was definitely true in the blessing.  I felt the Lords presence with me and knew that everything would be okay if I just have faith.  My testimony has grown so much in the few days and I have found ways to be a successful missionary.  I feel so blessed right now to do the Lord’s work and share my testimony with others. 

I can’t wait to see what the kids have drawn and I’m so glad that things are going well.  We only have 30 minutes to email but I wanted to send you a letter.  Tell everyone that I say hi and that I am thinking of them and I miss them all.  I love you guys so much and want to thank you for all the support you have given me.  Hope to hear from you again soon.  Thanks and talk to you soon.

Love Sister Bickley

Training & Learning

July 2, 2011

Hello Family,

How are you guys doing?  Hope all is going well.  I know that I just wrote you guys but I wanted to tell you more.  I was chosen to be one of the senior companions in my district which was cool and today I saw a sister missionary that I went to Kindergarten with.  It was so cool because I recognized her from somewhere and she recognized me so we started talking and realized that’s where we knew each other.  It was funny, but exciting at the same time. HAHA.  I grow each day and the spirit is much stronger as we become better missionaries.  Role play is hard for me, but right now it has been great and helpful.  I have learned things that will help me to teach the people rather than teaching a lesson more.  President Harold B. Lee said, “The most important of the Lords work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own homes.”  I feel that to be true here at the MTC.  Working with your companions and your district and learning from one another helps us become better missionaries and have more confidence in ourselves.  The classes maybe long, but what we are learning here at the MTC is going to benefit us when we are officially in the field.  Without the training that we receive here we would definitely struggle and our experiences probably wouldn’t be as wonderful as we hoped.  We are so blessed with great people that care about us and want to teach us the best way possible.  I love it here so much and I’m glad that I chose to serve a mission.  I want you to know that I love you guys so much and that I know that this gospel is true with all my heart.  I know that Joseph Smith restored this gospel to its fullest.  I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet today who leads and guides us.  I have a testimony of the atonement and how great of a blessing it is in our lives that we have the opportunity to repent and be forgiven of our sins.  I know that the scriptures are true and that if we take the time to ponder and study them we will blessed and receive revelation.  They have helped me a lot while being here at the MTC.  I have a strong testimony of missionary work and know that this is where I need to be right now.  I hope that I can bring others unto Christ and allow them to receive the blessings.  I love my Savior so much and I love you guys lots.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Love Sister Bickley

Walking on Clouds...

June 30, 2011

Hello Mom,

Just wanted to let you know how things are going so far.  The first day at the MTC was overwhelming, but amazing at the same time.  The spirit is so strong here and the other Sisters and Elders are really nice.  The activities we did were a big eye opener to me and gave me some tips on how I could be a better missionary and how to approach certain situations.  Being here is like “walking on clouds.”  The spirit is so powerful and I’m learning so much.  I get the chills just being here and knowing that I am doing the Lord’s work and that he loves me.  Inviting others to come unto Christ is not easy at times, but I know that my Savior is by me every step of the way and I can feel his presence in everything I do.  I have 2 other companions and I love them.  They are great people.  Sister Mairgoa is from Salt Lake and Sister Loonsbury is from California.  We are having a great time and they are great examples to me.  The MTC is the best place that anyone could be in.  I am so blessed to have this opportunity to do the Lord’s work.  I hope all is going well back home.  Love you guys and miss ya lots.  Tell everyone that I say hi and that I love them.

Love,

Sister Bickley