Chips, Grapes, and Cheese Pizza

 Sister OG-Will's letter 5-31-21

Hello everyone!! I hope your weeks were amazing:))

I'm in a new area now, which means that once again everyone is losing their mind over my last name hahaha. What I love about this area is that these people don't even try to get it right. I pronounce it for them, they look at my tag, they look back at me, they look at my tag again, and then they ask if they can just call me by my first name. We've hit a healthy compromise and now they just call me "Sister OG-Will" (Sister Ainsworth's proudest name creation😂)

Sister Ainsworth is my new comp and I. Love. Her. I've seriously been blessed my whole mission with stellar companions. She's hardworking, BFFs with basically everyone, and she can belt like nobody else - it's a party all the time!

This week was kind of a crazy blur. We planned transfer logistics (how missionaries will get to and from each area when they switch places), said goodbye to the finishing missionaries, and welcomed the new ones in. 

One kinda funny thing is an Elder coming into the mission was kind of picking around at his food. We asked him if he was okay, and he said he was find, he just didn't like cheese that much. We asked him about a bunch of possible different foods we could give him instead and he didn't like any of them. Finally we asked him if there was anything he DID like - he had to have a top 10 foods list at least. After pondering about it for a longgg time, he came up with 3 entire options - chips, grapes, and cheese pizza. (Don't ask me how that works with hating cheese...I'm confused too). Anyway, apparently that's all he ever ate before his mission. I was laughing about it a little bit, becase although he was extrememly lucky to be called to Boise, Idaho, I was pretty certain that odds are low he will get fed pizza, chips, and grapes for dinner. 

Shortly after this conversation we left for our dinner appointment. A sweet lady let us in and told us that they have a family tradition where every Friday night they enjoy the same meal all together. I was excited to see what it might be! We walked around the corner into the kitchen to see a wonderful layout of - you guessed it - chips, grapes, and cheese pizza. 

I though that was a pretty funny coincidence, but I didn't think about it much at all...until our dinner for the next night was dropped off.  

Chips, grapes, and cheese pizza. Now this was getting weird.

The next night I forgot all about it, until dinner time rolled around and we had *drum roll please* 

Chips, grapes, and cheese pizza. 

I was kicking myself for even THINKING about teasing that elder about it- Nampa is on a roll, and obviously God has a sense of humor.😂Apparently he'll be better off than I thought hahaha.

A highlight of the week was that on Wednesday we were asked to give a 10 minute training for the incoming missionaries. As we went into a room to plan altogether and to pray, I felt such a strong feeling of peace and of love wash over me. It was the strongest I've felt the spirit in the long time. In that moment, I gained a deeper understanding of what I've always known - God loves His missionaries!!

Although that's a super obvious truth😂 it hit me a little harder this week. 

Before I came on a mission, I thought that I would only be talking to people who didn't know much about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But here it's been cool to have my focus expand to include those who are doing the actual teaching. 

He loves and prioritizes us all!  He won't let anyone slip through the cracks. It's been really fun for me to see that more than ever this past week!

Love you all!

-Sister Gwilliam

Pics

- the Quad-panionship😎

-Sister Knudsen♡

-Puppies!!!

-Me and Sister Ainsworth

Parker's Grad Week

It's been a busy week, and we haven't even seen this kid that much.  He's hard to pin down because the count down is on.  He's trying to fit in as much friend time as possible and when we do see him, we need to fit in family time plus getting grad and mission stuff in order.  Whew!  It's a lot. 

Parker is Mr. Social.  His past two weeks have been packed with one graduation party after another.  In between grad parties are group pictures, golfing with friends and the last week of school.  We haven't even been able to fit in a graduation dinner with the family.  FOR REAL.  

On Sunday, we barely squeezed in a remote Seminary graduation before he was off to his best friends' grad party.  (Boo...wish it weren't on Sunday)  We talked about Monday night for a family dinner, but a mom of one of his friends wanted to do group cap and gown photos.  Tuesday evening he had his Reagan Elementary reunion.  Wednesday he had another grad party.  Thursday Aubrey had a group of friends to over for a last day of school party and swim at Gram and Gramps.  Friday was out because his girlfriend, Bethani, was possibly switching her grad party to that evening.  I mentioned Saturday lunch.  He had grad practice from 8:30-??? and then had to be back at Ratliff by 6:30.  We decided to just enjoy our family Florida trip next week and call it good.

It's also been hard to know what to get for Park for graduation.  There isn't really anything to get him besides mission stuff...which we are purchasing and purchasing and purchasing...but it's not really fun to call those purchases his grad gift.  He and Tanner were very clear that they did NOT want a t-shirt blanket.  (I thought they were so cool.  I loved putting together Brinley's and sending it in to get made.  Both boys said, "save your money."  😏) We also did a few small gifts for Bryn's dorm room and a friend trip/traveling Broadway show.   Anyway...what to do for Park.  With only a month and a half before the MTC, we don't have time to squeeze in any additional trips.  It's tricky.

Well, Brian and I talked and then I brought it up to Parker.  After a few different suggestions we all decided cash.  Park perked up the most at that option.  The money will be nice to have in his account when he comes home in two years.  He is also going on a trip to California w/ Brian to see Grandma and Grandpa Gwilliam before he ships out.  He is looking forward to seeing them.

We still have so many little things to do: purchase glasses, get new retainers, finish up his needed shots, buy random things (luggage, socks, crocks, temple clothes and more).  I got all of  his Visa info into the church this week.  Big weight off my shoulders with that one.  We are really hoping he will be able to go on the Vore family vacation to the Dominican Republic the week before his mission.  It all depends with how quickly his Visa gets processed and if we get his passport back in time.  Stressful I tell you.

Our boy is eighteen and a half, graduating TONIGHT and going to Africa on a two year mission.  I'm Ghanna miss him.  Sniff sniff.

A few pictures from his week:

Grandpa to the rescue on this one.  Park picked up his yearbook yesterday only to discover his Senior picture was missing.  Bummer.  Then he went to grad practice this morning and his picture did not flash up on the big screen.  I'm not an overly sentimental person, but these two things made me sad for my boy.

Grandpa snapped this picture w/ his fancy camera, lights, background and of course expertise.  Then he changed Parker's blue bow tie to black, made the background gray and "unblemished" Park's face.  He did this all in a 30 minute time span so we could get it sent to a Permian principal for the slide show.  Hope it is on the big screen tonight.

Pictures from Monday night's friend photo shoot.

They were suppossed to wear their college shirts under.  Cole and Harper convinced him just to bring his Ghana flag.  He whipped it out for this picture.  Luckily lots of other picts were taken so he didn't steal the spotlight always.

The boys hopped up on the fence and climbed onto the band director's air bridge thingy.  Park thought that was pretty cool.

Reagan Reunion

Park with his 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Carrol.  Brinley had her back in the day and this is Charlotte's teacher this year!

Park wanted to wear these lovely overalls to a grad party last week.  It was a big group party with all of his best friends.  Bethani was mortified.  He teased her about the possibility for two weeks.  He was even going to go as far as picking her up for the party while wearing them and then having clothes to change in to.  He's a smart boy though and decided, at the last minute, not to push the joke that far.  

The Permian Powder Puff game was a little more than a week ago.  Back in the day, at the end of my Sophomore year, I was in the kudzu band.  Tanner was a member of the kudzu band this year.  This is Parker's first year to attend because he has always had football practice which interfered.  He and a few of his friends were the coaches.  It was hilarious hearing him talk about the practices and games.  The girls weren't very good.  They all wanted to be QB.  Very few could catch.  Parker would just groan and shake his head each night.  He said he NEVER would be able to coach his future daughters' teams.

He was impressed with Bethani's skills.  She is athletic and was a great receiver. (Plus she is really pretty and his girlfriend.)  I thought the back of her shirt was super cute.

Tonight is graduation.  More Parker posts to come.  (I do have three other children...promise...just want to get these big things down in the books.)

Letter from Bryn's Mission President

 28 May 2021

 

Dear Sister Gwilliam,

 

 

 

Congratulations on your assignment to serve as a Sister Training Leader Trainer in the Idaho Boise Mission.  Your faithfulness and contributions as a missionary have been exemplary and invaluable to us and your fellow missionaries. This assignment is a further expression of the Lord's trust and confidence in you to bless, lead, and strengthen those to whom you have been called to serve. Please know of my great admiration for you, and that this assignment has come with much thought and prayer.

As a Sister Training Leader Trainer, you must show absolute loyalty to the Lord and to your Mission Leaders. I know you will continue to keep all mission rules and encourage the same from all of those within your stewardship.  You will work hand in hand with local leaders to develop trust and confidence.

In your role as Sister Training Leader Trainer you also have the responsibility to lead your fellow missionaries towards excellence in all areas of missionary work.  You set the cadence, the tempo, for those you lead. Your charity and outreach to every missionary within your stewardship will bless them immensely. Setting expectations and maintaining accountability will produce results that support the goals and vision of the entire mission. Remember that numerical goals are only important because they represent real friends and family who are progressing along the covenant path to come unto Christ through acts of faith.

 

Use companion exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders to lift and to build your sisters to new levels of commitment and growth as they experience the miracles that are possible. 

 

“Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made.

 

Knowing that service is what gives our Father in Heaven fulfillment, and knowing that we want to be where He is and as He is, why must we be commanded to serve one another? Oh, for the glorious day when these things all come naturally because of the purity of our hearts. In that day there will be no need for a commandment because we will have experienced for ourselves that we are truly happy only when we are engaged in unselfish service.”— Pres. Marion G. Romney

 

 

 

Love and Blessings,

President Nygaard

The AMWAAW Gang😎

Sister Gwilliam's letter on May 24, 2021

This past 2 weeks were weeks of MIRACLES. I have a testimony more than ever that God knows us perfectly. 

Last Wednesday, I was up in Emmett for exchanges (where you switch companions for a day). I was really struggling in how to help my temporary companion and myself with some questions we had. That night, I prayed for a long time that Heavenly Father would somehow help me to answer this sister's concerns at least. I had no idea how to help her, and as the exchange went on, I got more worried that I wouldn't be able to.

The next morning, several of our appointments fell through, so we ended up going to share a last-minute message with a lady in the congregation. After our message, she asked if we would have time to meet with her mother-in-law as well, and that's how we met Ellamae!

The only way I could describe Ellamae, is if Russell M. Nelson (the prophet of our church), was a woman😂 She just glowed with love and with a testimony of Christ. 

We sat down with Ellamae, and proceeded with the most powerful lesson I have ever be a part of- and I didn't teach one word of it! It was all Ellamae. She bore her testimony on how real and good God is. She told us how she has been changed through His son. She looked my companion in the eyes and answered every single concern she had brought up to me the day before.  

Nothing she said was unusually eloquent, but she spoke with the spirit, and it at the end of the visit, we all had tears in our eyes.

In that moment I was reminded again - God knows us!! He knew I couldn't answer those concerns, so He led us to someone who could. It was a powerful experience for both of us.

Each week I realize more and more how much God is aware of us, and how often His answers to prayers come from other people. 

Me and Sister Maycock have been working more this week on following the "first prompting," so we can be a "prayer-answering-tool" in His hands. We're far from perfect, but when we get a thought to do something good or kind, we are doing our best not to push it away- and so many miracles have come!!

I think what makes this miracle even cooler is the timing of it all. When I first got to Star I remember being so overwhelmed with all the new responsibilities. I started to get worried that I would be too busy or stressed to see any miracles or really help anyone. 

This week I saw miracle after miracle. It was like Heavenly Father was reminding me that no matter how overwhelmed I feel, He is there to fill in the gaps and make my efforts enough. Which is good because this week we got transfer news! I will be moving to Nampa to be a part of the "team" that helps President Nygaard. My normal missionary work will change a little bit (I'll work more directly with helping missionaries)  - a week ago I would've been stressed out of my mind to have that change.😂 But this week of miracles made it okay. I'm excited to see new miracles in my new assignment!

I have a firm testimony that God knows us perfectly. And He is more than willing to prepare us for wherever we need to go!

I love you all and hope you have the best weeks:))

Pics-

-Lunch with Laura

-Matching PJ'S from Laura:,)

-Mission Conference!

-Chance's baptism

-AMWAAW Gang😎 (A Marvelous Work and a Wonder District )

May 3-8, 2021

Tanner is on "make dinner" on Sundays.  We hear a lot of whining, and Brian and I do most of the work.  (I'm sure he would say exactly the opposite...but he's not the one writing this blog, so I am going to tell it how it really is!)

He made pancakes and needed to pull up a chair.  The funny part was a picture from the year popped up on my phone, and he was sitting in a chair stirring some food.  Crazy kid.

I found this package of cheese in the trunk of the van.  Sadly it got left when we brought in groceries last week.  Aubrey has an aversion to greasy cheese.  She won't pack cheese in her lunch because it gets greasy.  The boys love to make a big deal about her and greasy cheese.  When I came upon this it was too good to pass up.  I left it in her room on her desk with a sweet little note!  She came out rolling her eyes and laughing.  Gotta love greasy cheese!

Bryn went fishing on p-day and caught two fish!  She was so excited.  When the kids were young and we would go to the lake house, she would sit on the dock for hours fishing.  She would never catch anything.  It was so sad.  Parker, who wasn't nearly so patient, would catch something within the first twenty minutes. She called us this p-day and all of the other missionaries seemed to be catching fish.  She wasn't.  I was sure happy for her when she told us later she had caught two. 

My business is popping!  The items in the boxes are Yardzee sets.  They are a lot of work and not worth the profit.  Brian said, "raise the prices."  I wasn't sure they would sell if I listed higher.  I decided to pay Aub to work.  She wants to make money.  I also raised the prices by $4.  Between that combination I think it makes it worth it.  (The other items are mostly wood garland strands.)

Aub wanted to stop by Gram and Gramp's one day after school.  Grandpa had told her he would make her one of the specialty drinks she likes.  They always share their good snacks too.  She played some cards with Gram and made a drink with Grandpa while I relaxed in the massage chair.  I love that we live so close.  I probably stop by just about everyday.

Park fell asleep on the couch, and I thought it was kind of funny how he looked naked under that blanket.  He did have a pair of shorts on though.

Aub Daub made the Permian High School volleyball team!  I am so proud of her.  It is a little bitter sweet still because her best friend, Breena, did not make the team.  BUMMER.  

Parker's girlfriend, Bethani, brought her these fun cookies.  Isn't that sweet?!  She was on the Permian v-ball team the past four years.

Phil and Sister Gill

Bryn Bryn's letter from May 10, 2021

We've been teaching the kids in the Grey family for a couple of weeks now and it's kinda my favorite. 

Chance is 9 years old and is very diligent about taking notes. He is always making us bracelets or coloring pictures for us - he's getting baptized this next week!

5 year old Reese can't pronounce my name, so he calls me "Sister Gill" which is almost as cute as Sister Guacamole so I'm okay with it. 

He also calls Sister Maycock "Phil" because he thinks it's hilarious (which it kinda is😂😂) So we're Phil and Sister Gill - kinda the ultimate dynamic duo.

Sophie is 7 and she is always very excited to know the answers to our questions.

We talked about modesty and respecting our bodies this past week, and she politely raised her hand and asked if she could give an example.

Sophie: "Sister Gwilliam can I hug you?"

Me: Yes!!! 

Sophie: "...You were supposed to say no"

Me: "oh...I mean, no"

She proceeded to hug me anyway and then explain how that wasn't very nice of her to hug without permission. Then she gave a "good example" where she only hugged me when I gave her permission to hug me. 

They're pretty much my favorite humans right now😆 they are so excited to learn!

We invited them to read the scriptures on their own this past week, and Chance brought his Book of Mormon to school and read it in his free time all morning.

Sophie found her dad's Holy Bible this week and asked us to show her which chapter talked about Jesus being born - when we showed her she ran to her mom and said "Look!! This Book has my very favorite story!"

There's a quote I read this week that reminds me of the Grey kids

"We could remember that Jesus found special joy and happiness in children and said all of us should be more like them - guiltless and pure, quick to laugh and to love and to forgive, slow to remember any offense"

I want to be more like the Grey kids. 

Giving gifts more freely, even if they are just homemade ones that I'm self conscious about.

Making my very favorite stories and experiences the ones with Jesus in them.

Finding ways to laugh, even when it gets hard...even if that means calling Sister Maycock "Phil" from now on;)

We have so much to learn from little kids!! 

I heard this week that the average child laughs 300 times a day

The average adult laughs 15 times a day 

Yikes😂

Life may be short, but it's way too long to not be laughing at LEAST 16 times a day

My invitation this week is to find a way to be more like a child this week - laugh more, judge less, and make life fun!!

Love you all!

-Sister Gill

Pictures!!

-I caught two fish😎

-ice cream with the district

-I LOVE SISTER HYATT!!! We got to be comps again for a 24 hour exchange and it was a party🥳 

-The Temple♡