Monday, February 29, 2016

Pictures!





1st Baptism- check!

Hey everyone!! It is pday again! My one month mark is on Thursday!
That is crazy. It doesn't feel like I've been gone one month. But it
feels like I've been out in the field for more than two weeks. If that
even makes sense lol. I've cried I think only twice this week. One was
when we were in our car and we were listening to a super sad song
about missionary life and it was talking about packing our stuff and
heading to the mtc and saying bye to our family's and of course I
cried and sister Blake had to turn it off lol. I miss the mtc. The
second time I cried was when sister Blake asked how I was doing and
how my stress was. But anyways, I'm doing okay! I love our
investigators and our ward members.
Last Monday was a super chill day. We had to put the car in the shop
in the morning and we did laundry and emailed at a members house and
then pretty much just chilled in our apartment all day until dinner.
Side note, we now have wifi in our apartment! We asked our neighbor
across from us if we could use their wifi and they said yes! Took a
nap and it felt so great. Had dinner with a super cute family.
Tuesday we got to walk in the freezing cold rain and got soaked.. I
couldn't find my umbrella (I did find it later though) and I didn't
wear my big coat. We met some nice people though. One guy said we
could come back in a few hours so we did. He said he didn't think we
would actually come back lol. He told us about his life and his
divorce and everything. He said he might come to church because it is
early. Our church is at 8:30 am like my ward at home! He smoked in his
house right in front of us.. Awkward.
As we were walking, a car stopped and rolled down the window and this
teenager looking boy asked if we were from a church and we said yes
and we gave him a temple pass a long card.
We have some nice members who are willing to give us rides.
Wednesday we had a conference call with all the missionaries in our
mission and the president and his councilors and their wives. They
talked about Christ like attributes and they focused on hope. They
also wanted us to read our patriarchal blessing and write down our
spiritual gifts God gave us. It was cool.
One day we did service at a food bank for three hours. I got to wear
jeans. It felt nice lol. We sorted food and then boxed some items up.
It was fun. I'm pretty sure I did something like that for young
woman's or something.
We met with tom and talked to him about prophets and priesthood
blessings because when he was 17 he got in a car accident and screwed
up his back and every now and then it gives out. He could barely move
and walk. It was sad. He doesn't want to go to the doctor and get it
checked though for some odd reason... Speaking of doctors, I always
have headaches and I've had them when I was home too and my companions
say I should probably get that checked.. But something funny is,
whenever he texts us he always says Blake first then says whatever
then ends with ok Blake. It is hilarious and it freaks sister Blake
out hahaha. We have a signature with all our names on it but he just
always says Blake.
The most important thing that happened though was Saturday we had a
baptism!! Geri was baptized!! It was awesome. There was actually quite
a lot of people there. So before it started the elders were there
showing us how to fill the font and everything and so we filled it
below the drain and turned it off. Then Geris husband goes over and
looks at the water and says "do you think that's enough water for the
baptism?" And sister rash said yes and I said I think it went down..
So we just left it and right before it started, bishop checked the
water and it had drained! And there was barely any water in it at all!
It was crazy. So he re filled it up. It all worked out haha. The
refreshments were awesome. They were all desserts. While she was
changing into her clothes we shared the restoration video. She got
confirmed on Sunday. She was so happy :) And so were we. She had given
us hair flower clips and we all were them on Saturday for her.
Today we have to get our oil changed and go to the store sometime. My
watch broke, it doesn't work at all. I don't know what happened lol
but I need to get a new one. It feels weird without a watch.
One day we ate at friendlys and it was so good. I had a sandwich that
had like bbq chicken nuggets or something on it and cheese and it was
so yummy and for dessert I got a peanut butter cup sundae :)
Also one day we ate at a tai food place and it was also yummy. I ate
these noodles with chicken it it lol. We eat a lot here. Also the
members like to feed us and give us left overs so whenever we don't
have a dinner appointment, we have tons of food at the apartment haha.
The area where I am, the street lights are hanging on like wire, it's
weird but kinda cool at the same time. And also, I think because of
the rain, it's always muddy so sometimes where we walk it's all mushy
and gross. My shoes are all dirty :p
We got our car washed today and that was so awesome. It was so cool
haha. We had to vacuum the inside too, and that was fun. I got to put
gas in the car. That was new to me lol.
I like this area. The weather is kinda bipolar though. Right now it
feels nice and I don't need a jacket but it looks like it's going to
rain. I really like my companions and my district is cool too. We have
district meetings every Thursday. We have two zone meetings or
something this week so that's weird. We are wondering what they are
going to be like.
I hope everyone is doing well. Let me know if you want my address to
send me letters. I would love letters :) Or ask my mom for it lol.
I love you all!
Sister Gronning

Monday, February 22, 2016

Pictures from the field!!







It is finally pday!

IT IS FINALLY MY PDAY!!!
How is everyone doing?! I love reading your emails!!
So after my last pday, Tuesday night we had a devotional from Edward
Dube from the seventy. He talked about missionary work and the
importance of it. He said "open your eyes and see who you can become."
He also mentioned to make the next 18 months the best 18 months of our
lives. Sounds good! We also got to see Jenny Oaks Baker (president
Oaks daughter) one night. She plays the violin and speaks, her
children also played instruments. It was beautiful.
So I've been writing this up as the days go by so, the mtc has been
kinda hard but I love my companion and my district so that helps. I am
learning a lot from the teachers. After the devotional, President and
Sister Facer came into our classrooms and we talked about the
devotional. Then Sister Facer came into our residence rooms and she
asked us how we were doing and my companion just started to cry and
say it was all just so overwhelming and then I started to cry with her
and we talked with Sister Facer and we all just cried. She told us we
should ask the elders to give us s blessing but we didn't do that...
After Sister Facer left I went and hugged my companion and told her I
loved her and we cried more. We finally went to sleep. Wednesday we
got up and exercised, ate breakfast, we went to go teach Lawana on
skype but when we got to the room there was a note on the door saying
she wouldn't be able to meet with us and so we sent her a video
message. That was a little sad. I had a one on one tutoring session on
the Book of Mormon and how to study it. We then had more personal and
companion study time. Then we had classroom instruction, dinner,
planning, studying, we taught Haley and that lesson went pretty good.
Talked to her about the plan of salvation. Then we had more planning
and study time. We also got new roomies. Oh and I also saw Hermana
Flores! She worked at the di with me! So fun. Thursday morning we did
service. Me and Sister Payne took out all of the trash cans on every
floor and every room in the building we were in. Then we ate breakfast
and went to the gym and played volleyball. I had red dots on my arm
from the ball lol. We then had more classroom instruction and went
over how to send the invitation to be baptized. Went to teach Lawana
but she couldn't make it again :( we had some companionship study
after that and then went to lunch. We had another class instruction
and talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then ate dinner and then
more planning and studying. Oh! We taught Lauren, she's basically just
the teacher pretending to be an investigator. But in this case she was
a less active member and wanted us to meet with her. It went good. We
also taught Haley about obedience and the Book of Mormon and she said
she would read and pray about it. Friday we ate breakfast and had a in
field orientation and it was long but good. They did a really funny
play on how a district meeting and meetings with the bishop and stuff
should look like. It was a lot about how the church members should
work with missionaries. Pretty cool. We had pizza for dinner and my
stomach hurt afterwards lol. My family keeps sending me boxes of candy
and chocolates and I couldn't eat all of it. Too much lol. My district
thinks I'm sending packages and letters to myself lol. We taught Haley
and invited her to be baptized! Saturday we ate breakfast then went to
exercise, it should be the other way around because you have to put on
church clothes then gym clothes then church clothes again lol. The
sisters in my district walked the track or whatever then we went and
shooted some hoops with the elders. We had more classroom instructions
and did some role plays. Talked about revelation through prayer and
church attendance. On Sunday we had sacrament and I got picked to say
the first talk. That was fun.... It was on baptism and I didn't know I
was speaking until they said my name so I went up there. My district
also sang a musical number "I believe in Christ." I think it was
pretty good. I got interviewed by brother Facer and it went pretty
well. I can feel his love for missionaries and he is really trying to
help us. I always feel happy afte I am interviewed. We had really good
devotionals on Sunday. Monday was our last day at the mtc. That was a
sad night. The sisters in our district got blessings from the elders
and elder Carter gave my blessing and it was amazing. He said my my
family will be blessed and healthy. He started to tear up when he was
talking. All the sisters went and elder Grantham gave one of the
elders a blessing and that's when the tears came. Everyone was crying.
Even some of the elders. It was hard but the blessings helped. Tuesday
morning we got on a bus at 3:30 am and headed to the airport. We flew
two flights and made it to Philly!! We got off the plane and some
elders and the mission president and his wife were standing there with
a banner and we met them and took pictures. They are nice. We went
straight to the mission home and ate dinner then had a little meeting
with everyone. Had interviews. I cried. I've noticed I am a really
emotional person lol. We slept in the mission home. We got up and went
to the mission office and met my companionS!! I am in a trio!!! I am
serving in Newark Delaware. After that we went to wawas and got
sandwiches and a shake. One of the sisters asked how I was doing and
told me not to be stressed and stuff and of course I started to cry
again. We went to the apartment, the service elders brought me a bed.
The apartment is kinda small but there is 3 of us... Lol. I got to
pick my bed spread out at the mission office and I picked a super cute
pink striped one, it looks like something a little girl would use but
oh well! Haha. We taught a lesson with a member present. Went well, he
is just confused about some stuff. We ate dinner at a members home. We
knocked on two doors and they said we can come back. When we got back
to our apartment we dud some planning oh and before that we went to
the library and got my iPad set up! Yay! One of the sisters asked how
I was feeling and of course I cried again. I don't know what's wrong
with me lol. I've never cried this much before! So I've been asking
the missionaries if they knew Sister Holt and some of them do! I've
met some really nice people. Good dinners. Friday night we got to
heart attack someone's door! Thanks mom for the heart sticky notes!
Friday during the day we did weekly planning and ate chocolate covered
pretzels lol. Saturday we woke up and did more studying and
exercising. A lot of the people we wanted to see were not home. But we
saw a lot of people on the streets and in parking lots. The weather is
amazing here. No snow and no jacket! It's like in the 60's and 50's!
We talked to this guy who was holding his cat, who he takes everywhere
with him apparently. He was super nice and interested and my
companions wanted me to invite him to be baptized and he said yes!! We
have to meet with him and teach him. So awesome. We met with a lady
who had questions about why we have the sabbath day on Sunday. I think
we got her to understand that better. We ate dinner at a members home
and ate ribs and Mac n cheese and potatoes and it was sooo good. I ate
two plates.. Also she fed us carrot cake. Oh so the new missionaries
are actually called goldens here. We heart attacked two more people on
Friday night! It is so much fun. Guess what?! We actually have a
baptism on the 27th! She passed her interview and we are soooo
excited!! Sunday, I am serving in the Newark 3rd ward. I got to say
the closing prayer in sacrament meeting. There was an rm from a
different ward who spoke in Sacrament and he served in Vegas!! The
ward members are friendly. We actually share a ward with a set of
elders, the zone leaders so there are 5 missionaries serving in one
ward. There's quite a bit of trios here. Crazy. OH! So the sisters in
this mission actually get to give the tours in the new temple! I'm so
excited.
My one month mark is actually coming up quick. That's kinda crazy lol.
I hope everyone is doing great!! I love you all.
Love,
Sister Gronning

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

She made it to the field!

Dear Brother and Sister Gronning,
 
I’m delighted to tell you that Sister Gronning arrived safely and is settling in well. She is now with her trainers, Sister Blake and Sister Rash, serving in the Newark 3rd ward in Delaware. I’ve attached a picture of Sister Gronning with President and Sister Anderson, taken last night at the mission home. Also, I’ve attached information about how to send mail to Sister Gronning.
We look forward to seeing your daughter progress here in the mission field!
 
Sister Humpherys
Mission Office Secretary
Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission


Friday, February 12, 2016

Pictures from the MTC!


Cute MTC companions!








Yay! She found Sister Daniella Flores! Her friend from working at the DI.



Tuesday, February 9, 2016

First Pday in the MTC!

Hey everyone! It's Sister Gronning!!
It is Tuesday and finally my pday!
It has already felt like I have been here two weeks haha. Tomorrow is my one week mark and we get new missionaries and I am so excited. I just love missionaries. And now I am one!
I hope everyone is doing great.
I am doing pretty good. Staying busy. We are always studying, planning, teaching, and just learning! it has been fun though. We get to practice teaching investigators and that has been a really great experience. It is fun trying to help people learn about this gospel.
My companion is Sister Payne, she is from Arizona. I love her. We have gotten so close. I absolutely love my district. We are like family. There is 10 of us total. 6 elders and they are Elder Thomas (his brother served in Henderson), Elder Carter, Elder Bishop, Elder Chugg, Elder Grantham, and Elder Pruszynski. They are all going to Tampa, Florida. 4 sisters and they are Sister Payne, me, Sister Walton (I met her at Brick Oven the day I went to the mtc), and Sister Crystal. They are all so funny and awesome. We laugh a lot.
On the second day me and my companion got locked out of our room because we left our keys in the room when we went to shower and our roomies left and locked the door lol. There was some sisters in the hallway and we asked them what do we do and they went and got us a replacement key so we could get in to our room haha. It was funny. Then like two days after that, my companion lost her key. 
We went to the temple today with my district and that was pretty awesome. The provo temple was beautiful inside.
The food is pretty good. Everyday it is something different. I really like the desserts lol. I think it was on the first day I got here, they had BYU creamery ice cream. Sooo good. 
I hope everyone is doing great. I am running out of things to talk about.. lol. Bye :)

Love,
Sister Shellie Gronning:)

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Dropping her off at the Provo MTC

We stopped at the new Provo City Center Temple before taking Sister Gronning to the MTC.  Granny and Pa along with Cody and Lainy were with us.  We were able to walk around outside and take pictures.  Sister G was able to meet Al Fox Carraway who we follow on FB and have been privileged to see speak at a fireside in Vegas. It was a treat to meet her.




Off to the MTC!!