Week 53 I'm going to call you Jams...

FRIENDS AND FAMILY, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, CHILDREN OF GOD, 

It was honestly one of the weirdest weeks of my mission thus far, Sebastopol is wild. 

My new area consists of pretty much everything. We have the beach, vineyards, redwoods, and everything in between. We cover about 9 little towns and our area is HUGE. I have probably only seen like 10% of it so far, if that. IT IS BEAUTIFUL THOUGH. We live in the cutest little cottage you could imagine called "Hannah's house" it is a party.

I AM OBSESSED WITH MY NEW COMPS. It is SO fun all being in the same point in our missions and we have dedicated this transfer to learning from each other and helping each other out so no one is carrying more weight than the others. So far it has been fantastic and one of the most equal trios I have been in, not to mention that my comps are hilarious. I swear we are ALWAYS laughing about something. It is so great to not only work hard but to also have a good time while doing it. 

We aren't teaching a ton of people yet, due to COVID a lot of the people we were teaching we haven't been able to contact but we are excited to change that. God is SO good and we were able to find 2 new people this week. One is a woman named Michael who has the sweetest heart and loves the missionaries. She gave us apple juice and asked about tithing. It was the oddest first lesson topic but the spirit was so strong and she wants to come to church, so that rocked. 

We had zone conference this week and it was SO good. Sadly, it was our last one with the Meserveys so it was very bitter sweet. My new mission president and wife get here on the 29th and it doesn't seem real yet. The Meserveys said so many good things, Sister Meservey shared a quote that I loved: 

"Be the living expression of God's kindness"

The world is crazy right now, a study was done that said that America is sadder right now than they have been in 50 years, that is so rough. It has gotta change, the only way to do so is little by little. So that is my challenge and invitation to you this week, be a LIVING EXPRESSION of God's kindness. Be kinder than you need to be, put a smile on peoples faces, do service, get out there and do good. God needs your help. 

Thats about all I got for you this week, stay safe out there. 

Mucho love,

Sister Tams 

Other/Funny Stuff:

-I saw a bunch of my FAVORITE people at transfers including Sister Moala, she couldn't stop picking me up and hugging me...missed that crazy Tongan. LOVE HER. 

-We got a referral for this guy named Kameron and he is crazy, he got us shook a little bit but at the end in our car Sister Powell suggested that we read a little bit from the Book of Mormon and as we did the spirit just filled the car and we all felt so much better. 

-They don't have room for 3 beds up in here so I am sleeping on a mattress on the floor, turns out to be a perk though bc it gets hot and heat rises. So I am typically cool enough to sleep. 

-We teach this guy named Kross in Mississippi over messenger who is getting baptized this weekend and he gives all the missionaries he talks to nicknames, he misheard me when I told him my name and decided it was funny so my name is now Jams. I am going to be honest, I don't mind it one bit. 

-I got to see Sis Schmutz and Conor at Zone Conference and it was oh so good, missionaries are the best. 

-It is very hard to do but I think Sister Bunker actually has more clothes than me, it is honestly the best bc I fit into all of them, we love sharing. 

-I may be in a music video coming out here pretty soon...

-We taught at Zone Conference about being "Normal and Natural" and I was trying so hard not to be awkward and stiff standing in front of 30 missionaries and my APs...they said we did good though, so hopefully they aren't liars. 

-I got burnt and now I have a farmers tan...

-Life is good, send me snail mail. 1122 Furgensen Rd. Sebastopol, CA 94572 

Sis Schmutz and Conor