My Last Post for 18 months

So this is my last post for 18 months. I will be headed to Utah to see family and Friends on Friday July 16th and then my parents and 2 younger sibs will drop me off at the MTC on Wed the 21st. Im so excited to be going but nervous at the same time. Its going to be hard to say good bye.

Yesterday was a good day. I gave my talk in sacrament and it went so well. I'm glad its over but it went well. It was a hard sacrament meetin cuz it was my last one for a while and the spirit was so strong. After Church I went home and we got dinner ready and then ate w/ my family. My aunt and uncle were here w/ their kids from Tucson it was nice to see them. We also had our wonderful family friends the Allreds over for dinner..it was so hard to say good bye to them. They left this mornin for Safford AZ where they just moved back. She got a good job offer at the elementary school so they moved back. it was so hard but i know i will see them again when I get back.

Saturday was a good day as well. I had an open house/good bye party. There was a great turn out and it was good to see everyone.

Well so long for 18 months...Have a great day! :)

Time is quickly runnin out

So Yesterday was 1 month til I report to the MTC! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Im no where near ready to leave. I still need to do so much. Im so excited to be going but so stressed and so nervous. TIme is diminishing and im not sure where it all has gone. Im tryin to finish up all my shoppin before I leave and w/ out gettin too frustrated, which I might add is harder than you think.

SO an Update:
On June 12th I went through the San Diego Temple and took out my Endowment and it was a wonderful experience. I loved it so much. My absolute favorite part was seeing my Parents and 2 really good family firneds all dressed in white waitin for me in the Celestial room. It was so great! The entire experience was amazing.

Now Im just finishin up my todo list. It will eventually get done. I hope.

Talk "Farewell"

Im speaking in church on July 11th. It should be good...dk what im speakin on yet but I will know soon then I will start preparin my talk so that i don't stress over it. SO if anyone wants to come feel free. Church starts at 11, any questions feel free to ask.

6 or 7 weeks til departure

I will be serving the wonderful people of Spokane Washington. I will report to the MTC in Provo on July 21st. I am so excited!

ADDRESSES

Sister Stacie Winterton
Washington Spokane Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E
Provo, Ut 84604

Sister Stacie WInterton
Washington Spokane Mission
820 S Pines Rd. Ste 101
Spokane Valley,WA 99206-5420

ITS ALMOST HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO THIS WEEK IS THE WEEK!!!! ON FRIDAY MAY 28TH MY MISSION CALL SHOULD BE HERE!!!!! ITS GONNA BE A GREAT WEEK!!! I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE WHERE I WILL BE GOING TO SERVE!!!

My last few days in Thatcher

So today I will finish pakin and will see the stake pres again. Last night I saw him but I wasn't wearin Sunday clothes.. He needed to add my shot record to the computer so he said "how about you come back tomorrow at 630 and wear missionary clothes" So I will be goin back at 630 and I will push the submit button myself. I'm so excited. Then tomorrow I WILL GRADUATE!!!!! Then dad will be here and I will be movin out.

There Is A God

I love this music video and song. It really makes you stop and think. There is really a God and each and every day there is evidence of His creations and all the wonderful things on this earth. I am truly thankful for the life i have on this earth and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. We are all here for a reason and have a purpose on this earth. Life is a journey and we need to enjoy it and live it to the fullest. How much proof do we need? Well there is proof all over the place. The moon, stars, sun, flowers, etc..they are every where. Just because science can't prove it doesn't mean that God doesn't exist. I believe w/ all my heart that there is a God. I have seen His hand in my life so many times to count not to believe. So just look around and enjoy all the wonderful things and blessings that you have been givin, then stop and think about your life. There is a God!

COMING SOON....

So I have been waitin a long time for this day. On Wed May 12th at 6:30pm I will be meetin w/ the Stake Pres! Then my papers can be sent to SLC!!!!! YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO IM SO EXCITED!!! So w/ in 2 weeks I could have my call!!!!!!!!!!

On A Spiritual HIGH

Today has been an amazing day to add to Sunday! This morning I was able and had the wonderful privilege of going through The Gila Valley Temple open house. Oh my goodness there are no words to describe to you how I felt. It was so wonderful. I loved every moment of it. Seeing all the Sister missionaries there made me so so so happy inside and I'm sure that it showed on the outside as well. As I went through the tour I could just tell of the conviction and testimonies that Brother and Sister Kempton have. They bore a strong testimony of the temple and I could just see it in them that what they were sayin was true and it touched me so much. The temple is am amazing place and I can't wait til I am able to enter w/ my mom and dad. It will be the greatest moment of my life at this point. It is so beautiful. The first instruction room was amazing. The walls were painted to portray this Amazing and Beautiful valley. The man who painted it spent 3 weeks here in the Gila Valley sketching and then he painted. It is so beautiful and real. There is such a peace in the temple its amazing. The celestial room and the Sealing room were amazing. I loved looking in the mirror and thinking about my life and it was awesome. There is no beginning and there is no end... I love that so much.

Tonight in Mission Prep Brother Palmer showed a video to us about missionaries and their testimonies of the amazing work of the Lord. After the movie was over he opened it up for us all to share our testimonies. It was a great class. The spirit was so strong and there wasn't a dry eye in the room. As a class we became a family. We became so close. We laughed alot and learned alot from this wonderful man who loves the gospel and loves us enough to share it w/ us. It was an awesome last class of the year. I am going to miss that class so much but I know that I have grown so much from the day I walked in the room and sat down unsure about what I was doing. This gospel is so true and the greatest blessing in my life. I'm so thankful for the Atonement in my life and for my big Brother and Savior Jesus Christ. For the Love that He has for each and every one of us that He died for each and every one of us. He is so Patient w/ me and has NEVER given up on me and I know He will NEVER EVER give up on me. I'm going to Truly miss this wonderful Valley and all the amazing people that I have met here and grown to love w/ all my heart when I leave and move on in my life and serve the Lord and His Children. I am ready to serve who ever I come in contact w/ and help them to know and feel the joy, happiness and love that I have and feel.

I LOVE SUNDAYS!

Today in Sacrament Meeting the spirit was so strong. It was a program that one of the girls in our ward put together on the life of Joseph Smith. It was so amazing. Great talks and musical numbers. I have always know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God but this mornin in church it hit me real hard and testified to me that he was a True and Living Prophet of God. His wife Emma is such an incredible woman as well. She is my hero. She endured alot and was always right by Joseph the entire time...if Joseph was hurtin so was she. They shared the most unconditional love anyone could ever have in there life. Thinkin and Ponderin their lives really makes you stop and think about your own life. My trial a so small compared to what they went through and endured. I love that so much...no matter how hard it got Joseph never ever gave up or denied his testimony of Christ. He was a strong man spiritually. So when you think that your life is hard and rough.....even though it may be, think about Joseph and Emma who gave up so much for what they believed in. The suffered so much so that we can have the restored gospel back on this earth today and so that we could have the Book of Mormon. Remember all that they did and your problems will seem so small. Joseph went through so much but he never stopped serving or loving. When we get into a rut and can't get out or our road is bumpy forget your self and serve others. Service always help to stop thinkin about your self. Never stop loving or serving.

Tonight in Mission Prep we all split up into companionships and we went to an apartment complex and we knocked on doors telling everyone about the temple and inviting them to go. We gave them a card w/ info on it about the temple. I was in a companionship of 3. We talked to 4 people. One girl was out side feedin her cute little turtle and we invited her to go to the open house of the temple and she told us that she had already been through it. She enjoyed it. I'm not sure if she was a member or not. The next place we went to we talk to a guy and a girl. The girl seem interested and the guy im not sure, he was too busy playin the WII to pay attention. We left a card w/ them and invited them out. Idk what will happen but whether or not anything comes of it we planted a tiny seed and tried. The next place we knocked and someone peeked out the window and never opened the door. We left them a card on the door. The last house we went to I talked to the lady who lived there and I asked her if she had seen the temple and she said no and I'm not interested. I told her ok and thanks and to have a great day and she said it back. I had my first rejection and I know there will be many more. She was nice about it so it makes it a lot easier. I love this gospel w/ all of my heart and soul and glad that I am able to have so many opportunities. I'm thankful for my parents and for raising me in the church. I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve a mission soon and I'm so excited. This gospel in my life brings so many blessings into my life. Sundays are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

These Days

Life is goin well and Im happy. School is goin well and i love it. School is almost over and that is even better!!! I will graduate May 14th and am soooo stoked!!! Im gettin really antsy for my papers to be sent. I need to see the stake pres then my papers will be sent. I can't wait. I will most Likely be home in Yuma when I get my call! Im ready to move home. It will be wonderful to be w/ my family and spend time w/ them before i leave. I will miss this lil town but its time to move on and have other adventures. Well thats all for now. :D

One Step Closer

I just got my wisdom teeth out on Thursday and am in recovery. Im still hurtin but definately not like I was. A lil swollen and bruised but recovering very well. Now Im just waitin for the Executive Secratary to call me and make an appointment to see the Stake Pres. Im so excited! Then as soon as I see the Stake Pres, he can send my papers to SLC!!! :D

I was on my way home from Yuma on Sunday and I was thinkin about things and I was thinkin about how I have been so blessed w/ a great family. All of the sudden words to a poem came to me.

FAMILY

A Family is a mom and a dad who loves you so much that they would do anything and sacrifice everything for you.
A Family is brothers and sisters to fight w/, to talk to, to love each other.
A Family is loving grandparents who spoil you w/ ice cream and treats.
A Family is aunts and uncles who support you in everything you do, they help in anyway they can to make life possible.
A Family are people who love you w/ unconditional love.
A Family is not necessarily two parents and lots of kids, its anyone who will love you and take care of you.
A Family is love and sacrifice.
A Family is something Heavenly Father blesses you w/.
A Family is a wonderful blessin I have been given in my life.
A Family is love and sacrifice.
A Family is havin good times and makin memories together.
A Family is helpin each other out and sharin your love w/ them.
A Family is a support system full of love.
A Family is always there for you no matter what, they will always love you.
A Family sacrifices so much for you to give you a good life and make it a lil easier.
A Family laughs together.
A Family sings and goofs around to make other family members smile and laugh.
A Family who prays together stays together.
A Family talks to one another and enjoys time together.
A Family is not perfect.
A Family is FOREVER.
A Family is full of love and sacrifice.

Easter Weekend

"On My Way Home"

As I sit here my thoughts turn to you.
My heart is so full of emotion and confusion my thoughts turn to you.
When I have questions and am frustrated my thoughts turn to you.
As I sit here lookin at the stars my thoughts turn to you.
As I ponder and figure things out my thoughts turn to you.
When I start questioning thing and askin myself why my thoughts turn to you.
As I sit here talkin to you, you help my thoughts turn to you.
As I turn my thoughts to you I feel peace and my confusion and frustration leaves.
As my thoughts are turned to you I’m at peace w/ my life and my surroundings.
As I sit here tryin to process I smile when my thoughts turn to you.
As I stare down this long road my thoughts turn to you and then the long road becomes a journey or adventure.
As I sit here my thoughts turn to you.

As I was on my way home last night from Yuma
I was thinkin about a lot of things and it was overwhelming to me. Then this
poem popped into my head. I didn't have paper or anything to write w/ so I
pulled out my phone and recorded my thoughts. I have been thinkin a lot lately
about life and such and how I need not take it for granted because Idk how long I have left or how long someone else has left. So sit back and ask your self, How often to
I share my love w/ others? How often do I say I love you? How often do you
express gratitude or show that you appreciate someone? Just ask your self
these questions and improve if you need to. I know that I need too. I believe
that there is ALWAYS room for improvement.

Pre-Mission Conference!!!

Last night I went to a Pre-Mission Conference and I loved it so much! As I walked in I was givin an envelope w/ my call in it...I was so excited and nervous...it wasn't even a real call but I was pretendin that it was. I opened it and I was called to the Chinese speakin mission. I was excited. I wrote Sister Winterton on my mission tag and proudly put it on. It just felt so natural to have it on. I loved it so much. We did an opening, we had a musical number that was so amazin, prayer and then they told us how the night would work. My first work shop was called Member Involvement. It was taught by the full time missionaries that work w/ the College wards. It was so great because they had Kyle Fink come in who was baptized about a month and a half ago. She was there to answer questions and things on how members helped her. They were tellin us that we have responsibilities as members of the church which are:
WORKING WITH THE MEMBERS:
Finding:
They have Non-Member Friends
Gain Trust
Be Examples
Teaching:
Experiences
Testimony
Retention:
Friends in the ward
Trust:
WORK-DO IT!!!
Contact
Tract
Share the gospel w/ members
Spirit
Invite:
INVITE-EXCITEMENT!!!!

As missionaries sometimes we have to knock on doors in order to find investigators and we need to get the wards/members excited and once they are excited then missionary work will continue. As members we need to find investigators for the missionaries to make their job easier and if the members find people to teach its better because then they will have support and fellow ship. Missionaries are in an area up to about 6 months and can't continue to help the new member active. A member will most likely live in an area the rest of their lives. Its up to us as member missionaries to help the Full time missionaries. WE CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!

The next work shop was on Conversion Process. They had a man come in that was not always a member and he told us his conversion story. He started out as a devout Catholic then not believin in God and then he married and LDS woman. It took him 6 yrs to become a member. He would let the Elders talk to him but then would ask questions they had to look up and then he never saw them again...he knew this would happen and he loved sendin then on wild goose chases.LOL. He then told us some Sisters showed up and he tried the same thing w/ them and they always returned w/ the answers in the scriptures as well as from the apostles. Because of these wonderful Sisters he joined the church. The help of his wife, and supporting 2 step sons on a mission helped his testimony of the church. its amazing to me how things work when its time and in the Lords time. He sang us a song he wrote for his wife one Christmas. This song is called "I finally found the one" he said that he finally found the one...his wife but also he found Christ. It was such a great and heart warming song and his testimony was amazing. I love this gospel. He said something that touched to so much "We can not change anyone but we can help them find them selves" -Dr. Tom Sullivan-
It was so cool and touched me. I believe that we can not make a person join the church but help plant that seed and help them find out who they are and who they can become. It was an amazin testimony.
Some one asked an question on how we as missionaries could introduce the gospel to investigators and he told us "Share testimony and then listen to them and really listen to them"
I loved this because we can't just teach and then hope they get it, we need to let them know how strongly we believe in the gospel and then let them talk to us and let them tell us how they feel.

It was such a great conference. The last work shop I went to was called Game ON! 3 Return Missionaries taught it and explained to us what a missionary did on a daily basis. They would let us ask questions and they each would answer w/ the experiences that they had. I loved some things that they said
"Never get discouraged" -Cheston Thatcher-
"The Spirit will come if you are ready and willing" -Sean Crockett-
They gave really good advice about nasty foods...."tell your self that you like it and you will like it" -All 3 boys-
They told us to Prepare Spiritually, Pray, Read Scriptures, and Build a testimony. As we do these things out Testimony will be stronger.

IDK if I have a favorite work shop because they all were so amazing. Im getting so EXCITED for the day that I am able to open my Mission call and when I can actually can go out and serve the people and the Lord!

SO EXCITED!!!

I just submitted my papers to my Bishop. I need a Hep A shot and my wisdom teeth pulled then I can see my Stake President. After I see my Stake President my papers will be sent to SLC!!!! Im so excited and can't wait!!!!! I will get my teeth pulled on April 8th and hopefully a shot soon. :)

Update

Its been a long time since I have posted so it may be a little long but I will try to update Ya'll on my life up to this point. SORRY SO LONG! Here goes:

So I have decided to serve a mission for the LDS church and I am so EXCITED and can't wait! I was tryin to figure out my life and was depressed all the time so one day I was thinkin and decided that I was goin to see the Bishop and start my papers. I am now almost finished w/ my paper work. I need to be cleard by the doctor still but until my blood preassure becomes normal he won't clear me. I will see him again monday hopefully and hopefully all will be good. I then need to get my wisdom teeth out and then I can continue the process by seeing my Bishop for an interview and then seeing the Stake President. Then I will move home for the summer and get ready some more and hang w/ the fam for a while til I leave. My papers will hopefully be submitted to SLC in like September if not before. So I am hopin to get a job to help pay the rest of my mission. My mom and dad are gonna pay $100 a month plus pay my student loans while Im gone. My Gma is gonna help w $100 a month as well, and this amazing family in my home ward back in Yuma are gonna help me as well w/ $100 a month startin the day I enter the MTC. I am so thankful for all the support that I have recieved during all of this. Thanks Everyone!

During the 3 day weekend for Veterans Day, Wendy (My roommate) and I took an adventure to Prtales New Mexico where Wendy is from. We left that Friday Afternoon at like noon. We were havin fun singin lud and talkin. All of the sudden we saw some rubber fly and we had to pull over. A little background.....Portales is an 8 hout drive, and when the tire blew we were in the passing lane. Anyways we pulled over on the wrong side of the road as far off the free way as we could. We got out and the tire was shreaded. Here we are two girls not knowin what to do. We jacked up the car and took the tire off...but to out dissmay the donut tire didn't have enough air to drive on...we really didn't know what to do know. Wendy called her dad and he told us to hitch hike to the nearest town to fill up the tire. We were a little scared, we had never hitched hiked before. So I tried to flagg someone down while Wendy tried to get someone we knew to come help us. I finally got someone to stop but by the time she could turn around to cross traffic she just took off. Now we were back to the begginnin. Finally an nice guy in a beautiful truck pulled over and came to help us. We later found out he was a Boarder Patrol Man off duty. He took us to the town over the hill and we got our tire filled up w/ air. Now this man couldn't stay cause he was headed the wrong way to take us back and he had to head to camp...some kind of trainin. So we waited for the Sherriff that was there at the towin place gettin his oil changed. Well we waited like an hour for a ride. The sherriff finally called a New Mexico State Police to come and take us back to the car. Now this was an experience all of its own. I got to ride in the back of a State Police car and I didn't break the law.....how amny people can say they have done that. Well this man was a good man and had interestin stories. He knew where Thatcher or EAC was. He had buddies there and went there him self. He told us that he hung out w/ all the LDS kids and had read the Book of Mormon like 3 or 4 times and believed it but didn't want to give up his coffee and didn't want to get married. He wanted to stay single for ever. It was an interestin conversation. He said he knew he needed to be married in the temple but didn't want to. I think that one day he will beocme a member when the Lord knows he is ready. It was a cool experience. Well it doesn't stop there. The officer put the tire on for us and we had to go back into town for a new tire. We eventually found a place that had a tire. Wendy went to go pay for it and couldn't find her card.....the whole time we were laughin and tellin each other it could be so much worse.....but by the time we finally found the tire and my mom and dad payed for it we were hungry and tired so we weren't laughin anymore. I was glad that I grabbed the Discover card in case of an emergancy. We finally got back on the road and had fun. Singin real loud and laghin. we made it to Portales about 11 that night. We arrived about 2 or 3 hours later than we wanted but we learned alot from this experience. We learned that there are good people out there that are willing to help us. And that in a rough or buppy part of life we can laugh and make it seem better than it is at the time. Well we had a lot of fun w/ Wndy's family and helped her mom out alot. We had to leave Lex there (Wendy's puppy) so we made here a pen so that she could be in it durin the day til someone could train her and play w/ her. It was so fun. We enjoyed no school for a while. It was so fun!

Lately I have been thinkin alot bout my mission and all kinds of things. I realized that I was so excited bout serving the Lord that I FORGOTT bout the blessins before I go on my mission. I forgott that I will enter the Tempe before I will ever go out into the mission feild. So I change my way of thinkin alot. I have started not only preparin for my mission but preparin my self to enter the Lord's house. I can't wait til I can make those covanentst w/ the Lord and recieve the WONDERFUL and AMAZIN blessins that are waitin for me in the Temple. Also I have been thinkin about Service and Sacrifice alot. I prepared a lesson for Sunday on those two wonderful topics. I have been thinkin that if it weren't for these two Amazin principles of the gospel I wouldn't be where I am today. I asked my mom if she could help me w/ an experience from her life and I was not prepared for what she shared w/ me. I will share it w/ you....I cried the entire time I read it. She basically shared her testimony w/ me and that was so wonderful and what I needed. Its kinda long so bare w/ me. A little background my dad has a disease called Seriousis and its deadly and that is what my mom is sharin in this email.

As far as a story there are many, and they seem to have always been helping someone who is extremely ill or has a disability. And sometimes just the regular take a dinner or clean someones house. But mainly the terminally ill or disability. I think they have all helped me get to this point in time with your dad. He can't do some of the things he used to do and he gets warn out very easlily these days. First of all I have always been afraid of people with terminal illnesses. Not the people persay just the illness. The illness scares me in sense because of what it can or is doing to them, and I get all emotional to watch them go through what they are going through and I stay away or shy away. Not a good thing to do. I guess it all started when Sister Hammond was my visiting teacher, she was the greatest lady. I learned alot from her, She was diagnosed with ALS She taught me not to be afraid, and that was the time too that grandpa was diagnosed. That was the most devastating time in my life and in others as well. She helped me through that. Soeven though she was my visiitng teacher I would go over and help her clean her turtles, hlep her sort beads,cause she was making watches and braclets at that time. She taught me not to be afraid, I always thought I was a compassionate person but, I was not.She taught me how to love the disease and not to be afraid of it. Going on the trips I took with grandpa and doing a service for him was the greatest of all. I learned alot about the man who was a stranger to me. I learned that even the strongest of a man can become weak physically, but strong spiritually, I learned things about myself, how grandpa and I hold the steering wheel the same as we drive, how he loves family, grandpa was always about family, that is why it is so important to me to have my family around because you don't know how long you have with them and to cherish evey moment together. My cousin Byron in colorado who has ms taught me many things also. He taught me to laugh at my self, he would screw up things all the time cause he didn't at the time move well at all could barely feed himself and if he missed his mouth he would laugh and say this time will be the one, he told me to laugh at the mistakes I make because we can always fix them, and it is not the end of the world. Then their is your dad, he can't open water bottles or candy bars, cause his hands won't let him, he gets tired really easy and can't do like he did. I have learned not to take things for granid, and to just go with the flow of things. I still take things for grandid but then I stop and think about things. I have learned and benefitted greatly for know these people in my life that have taught me to love and to live and love life to the fullest, and to always thank my Father in Heaven for the life that I have and for the people that has loved me to the fullest. I always wondered why I always had had the visiting teachers that would seem to get the terminal illnesses, or be put in a situation where I had to be with or watch someone who is terminally ill. It is so I can understand what your dad and other people are going through. Could this disease kill your dad? Yes, could it put him in a wheel chair Yes, The things I have learned will hopefully make me a stronger person so if that happens with your dad I will be able to face the things head on and be ok.

My mom is a great woman for sure. She is the greatest example to me about Service and Sacrifice. Well other than My Savior Jesus Christ of course. She has taught me so much and I am thankful for her in all the she does. I am thankful that she shared so many personal things and special experiences w/ me. This helped me prepare my lesson so much. I am thankful for all that people do for me and my family.

Another Awesome Expereince. On February 20th I was able to go to a baptism of this amazin girl. She started investigatin the church when a friend invited her to attend Mission Prep w/ him. She loved it the first day and told him she wanted to go on a mission. He simply told her well you have to be a member first and she said "well get those missionaries over here right now" thats how it all started and now she is a member. As I sat there at her baptism I had this HUGE rush of PEACE, JOY, LOVE, and EXCITEMENT to go on my mission and be able to help change other people's lives like this amazing girl. It was so wonderful, I loved it.

Thats about it for now. I am just workin hard in school and lovin every minute of it. I am still currently servin as the 1st Councelor in the Relief Society and love every minute of it and love those I serve and serve w/.

The Blessings of Sunday

Today I taught the lesson in Relief Society and it turned out great. I was havin a rough day yesterday and last week and when LoraLynn asked me to teach I told her I would and then thought later "What am I doing? I can't do this" Well i know that things happen for a reason. There was a reason that I was asked to teach the lesson. It helped me tremendously and I am thankful for the opportunity. I also received a blessing today and am Thankful for the power of the Priesthood. It is a miraculous gift that I have been able to receive. Brother Phillips gave me the blessing and not knowing the specific reasons gave me an amazing blessing that helped me alot and gave me reassurance that everything will be ok. It has been a rough few months but I know that I can take it and will be ok. With Faith anything is possible. I am glad to have the knowledge that I do!