She's arrived in the mission field!

Changes & PORTUGAL!!!

3/27/12
This past Tuesday was truly incredible. I felt close to my Savior the whole day- at the temple and with my companions. I was able to feel the Holy Ghost so clearly throughout the day. It was amazing. My companion Irma Wilde and I had a feeling that someone very special was coming for the Devotional. We both guessed Elder Bednar or President Uchtdorf. Not too far- Elder Oaks came that night! His talk was astounding. He ended fifteen minutes early but he made such an impression. He is such a powerful man. His wife spoke first and said that there are no coincidences and Elder Oaks is meant to be here to talk to us tonight- she said President Monson asked him too speak. He talked about the sacrament. I felt like I was truly prepared for this talk. I have been learning and hearing so much about the sacrament since I have been here. It means SOOO much more to me now. Elder Oaks didn't even want to repeat the prayers because they are too sacred. He said a missionary can have the spirit because they appropriately renewed covenants. We need to participate every week and truly, humbly and sincerely prepare ourselves throughout the entire week. When we sin, we need to repent immediately. Change your thoughts and actions for good. I have a testimony of the importance and sacredness of the Sacrament. I LOVE it and I am SOOO excited for it every week! I also prepare myself with questions and thoughts for Sunday and they are ALWAYS answered or addressed. I promise that if you prepare, the Lord will do His part and bless you immensely. He wants to help us in all the ways He can. It is funny how hard it is sometimes to open the door to Him. I am trying to always have it open with constant prayers and thinking of the Savior as much as possible. I have a testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that He lives. I know that He died for us. I know that we can be forgiven! This gospel makes me SO happy!!! We have so much amazing knowledge that we can share. Lets not hold back. Let's try to do our best every day.- Remember Demand Excellence! :)

During the fireside I was able to be a tool in the Lord's hand and it was such a sweet experience. As I was listening to Elder Oaks I wondered if the Holy Ghost was trying to tell me something so I kind of asked/listened and I felt that I needed to talk to Sister Patterson in the residence hall that night. I wrote the impression down in my journal. During the closing hymn of the meeting Sister Patterson (who was sitting behind me) leaned forward and asked if she could talk to me that night. I showed her the impression I wrote down and was able to testify that the Lord is aware of her and loves her so much. We both felt the Holy Ghost so strongly and it was so touching to see the Love of God fill her. I am so grateful that I could witness that. I know that when we trust in the promptings of the HOly Ghost we are blessed and we are able to participate in miracles.

I am SOO excited about Lauren's baptismal date!!! Abby, I really believe that one of the reasons we were supposed to move to London is so that you could help Lauren and be a friend to her and feel welcome in the ward. She is truly golden. Stay in contact with her! I love hearing about all your missionary experiences!!! I was really touched about the friends from China that were at our house on Sunday that you met in ROME! It is so crazy how the Lord puts people in our path that we are able to help. That was not a coincidence to meet them. I am so grateful for our family- how you all shine the light and love of Christ. I fasted last Sunday to help me be able to testify with the Holy Ghost and be comforted about going to Portugal and to feel ready. My prayers and fasting have definitely been answered. I am SOOOO EXCITED FOR PORTUGAL!!!! AHHHHH!!!!! I know it is going to be totally crazy and overwhelming at first but I say bring it on. I can't believe I am leaving already. I have changed so much here at the MTC. I truly love it here. Usually for the Firesides and Devotionals I have a question or something I know I need to work on that I pray about and ask for guidance from the Holy Ghost during the talks/lessons. This past Sunday nothing came to mind- I know I needed lots of help but I couldn't pin down with what exactly. So I told Heavenly Father I don't know what I need to hear, but please help me to hear it and apply it. It was INCREDIBLE!!! I felt like that talk was specifically for me. Brother Steinagel talked about being HAPPY. If we are not happy and having fun, we are not doing it right. This is a gospel of happiness. I have every reason to be happy! I just get bogged down by my mistakes and I feel anxious and a huge responsibility (which I do have) and sometimes hopelessness and lack of faith that I will ever be able to live up to what the Lord wants me too. But I know that these are thoughts of the adversary. I testify that with the Lord we can do ANYTHING!!! He is on our side! Do we really understand that we are literal children of Heavenly Father? We talked about that a bit in class this week- with Irmao Fife. I invite you all to ponder on that this week. There is true power in understanding who you are. You are all so special to me and I love you with all my heart.

I am so excited for the wedding!!! It is coming SOOO soon! What a great idea to have family members share stories at the luncheon! I will write mine by hand and send it to Grandma before I leave today! Oh the stories I could tell..... :) I love you so much Ali and Brandon! Any news on the Baby Ben and Jackie?! I LOVED your letters and packages this week!!! -I can't explain how much they meant to me. I felt so much love and support. I literally felt your prayers of love and support- really I did. Thank you- fromt he bottom of my heart! Dad- your e-mail last week really really helped me. It answered my prayers. I am so jealous that President Phi8llips is your home teacher! Tell me what he teaches you every month- what a powerful man!

It was so hard saying goodbye to everyone! The Branch Presidency, my teachers, the half of my zone going to Cape Verde. Irma Rojo got her re-assignment to Carlsbad California!!! She was SOO excited! She left at 5:00 this morning. I have learned so much from her and Irma Wilde. I love them so much and am so grateful for their examples! The computer keeps freezing, but I just keep typing even though I can't see what I am writing- sorry for the typos!

I truly love being a missionary. I am on the Lord's errand. This is His work. I am so grateful for this privilege to be apart of it. I know that Heavenly Father loves you. I know without a doubt that Jesus Christ lives! The Book of Mormon is truly so powerful- Alma 36 and Mosiah 4 really stood out to me this week. Eu amo voces!!!! I loved talking to Dad and jack on Sunday with my international call! I am so proud of you all! Jack- good job in Track! I am so excited that you are doing it! I love your humility! Abs- have fun in Greece!!! what an opportunity of a lifetime! Ali- take some deep breaths- you are getting MARRIED!!!!! I am so excited for you and can't wait to here all about it. Grandma told me about your going away outfit- sounds great! You always look so beautiful! Ben and Jackie- thank you so much for your letters and words of wisdom. I truly look up to you both. You always say what I need to here. I hold on to your advice for dear life. It is my dream to live in VA with you and the rest of our siblings! Mom and Dad, you always lift me up. Thank you for who you are and what you have helped me to become. Thank you for your examples. Thank you for teaching me to love everyone no matter what.

Change. What a great work. I am changed from this MTC experience. I plan to change forever from what I have learned and what i will learn. I am so excited for Portugal. I am praying for you. I love you. HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!

Irma Tingey

ALSO haha I totally forgot to mention General Conference!!! Make sure you PREPARE!!! I know that Thomas S. Monson is the true prophet of God. We will hear from the Lord's mouthpiece. Enjoy it and get everyone you can to come listen to the prophet's voice!!! ALSO!!! Make a mormon.org profile and share it with people!!! It is such a powerful tool and I know miracles will happen!!!

Sister Elizabeth Tingey

Portugal, here I come!!!

Portugal, here I come!!! 3/20/12

Doctrine and Covenants 68: 6: "Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord and with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come."

2 Nephi 10:23- "Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves- to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life."

Choose to be happy. The Lord is on our side!

Oi Familia!!! I appreciate your efforts in helping me be prepared for the field in which I will probably only get letters on P-days, but I am at the MTC for another week and can still receive dearelders- I would LOVE to hear from you!!! Also, how much money do I have in my account? I bought some things (backpack, scripture covers...) and I forgot to write them down so I don't know exactly how much I have on my card.

WOWZA. This week has been INSANE and AWESOME!!!! Because I am from London, I am counted as an international missionary. So I was blessed with the privilege to go with all the other international missionaries to take a trip to Salt Lake City! We did a session in the Temple, had a tour with some temple square sisters (saw one sister who i knew in the MTC - that was weird to see her in the field), and then we did a tour of welfare square. We had 3 sisters and 4 elders from Korea, a sister and an elder from Ghana, an elder from Germany, an elder who is in my zone named Elder Hailei (High-lay) from Ethiopia- first missionary from that country!, and a sister from Somoa and some elders from Tonga, and an Elder from Manchester. It was SO fun to be with them!!!! These wonderful missionaries are going to be leaders of the church in their countries. I felt so privileged to be with them. I sat with Elder Hailei on the bus and he was so excited. He recorded pretty much the entire bus ride there and back. The spirit was so strong in the temple with these amazing missionaries.

My companionship had a tough go this week. Sister Rojo fell ill and it was really hard to be stuck in the residence hall. We weren't sure after a while if she was really that sick or not, but I have had some amazing experiences with this situation. I learned about humility, courage, and patience. I so wish I had more time to go into detail, but I simply don't have enough. The Lord really strengthened me to do what is right. I got this idea from another sister, but we made a list of "100 coises eu amo sobre Irma..." (100 things I love about Sister...) we wrote a lists of 100 things for each comp. that we loved and read it to each other yesterday- SUCH a good experience.

This week has been extremely rough for me. But I have felt so much love from my God and Savior. I am learning so much about myself and what I need to do to be a consecrated missionary- we MUST trust in the Lord completely and always, sempre, put Him FIRST. I need to stop worrying and get to work. I am SOOOO STOKED FOR PORTUGAL!!!! My flight from SLC leaves at 4:50 (please do not meet me at the airport!) I just tell you in case I have time to call. I arrive in Paris at 11:15, and then leave for Lisbon at 1:20 and arrive at 2:50!!!! I think I am allowed 10 mins. in the airport to call home! AND because I am an "international missionary" I get to call home for 2 mins before I leave- I think on Sunday. I will try to do it before it gets too late in London! It is so surreal that I am actually leaving to go preach the gospel to Heavenly Father's children FOR REAL!!!! I have LOVED the MTC and I will miss it and the friends I have made. It has a very special place in my heart. The spirit is unreal here. I have grown a TON. But I am ready. I want to give my entire soul to this work. I can't hold anything back. -Thank you mom for your last words to me on the curb "Give it your all. Hold nothing back." I am trying my best.

This week I am going to picture the Savior next to me in all that I do. I know I will grow closer to Him and rely on Him more and strive more to act like Him. Irma Wilde does that and I am excited to try it.

Be careful what you pray for. I prayed that I would be able to know how to better serve those around me. And I only tell you this because I want to share this amazing experience that i have had this week. Last Sunday I was called to be the coordinating sister. When President Crosby asked me if I would accept, I must have not hid the shock very well and prob. looked pale because he asked if I would be alright and if I was sure I could handle it. I assured him that I can do it. I was COMPLETLEY overwhelmed on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. I was completely humbled and again, overwhelmed. But this week I have felt the trust of the Lord in me. I have done my best to listen to the Holy Ghost and I have been able to have so many experiences already to be a tool in His hands. I have learned SO much how to better serve and get to know the sisters around me. I treasure the lessons I have learned through this calling. Even though it has been really difficult, I am so extremely grateful for this calling and what I have learned and felt. I have gained more confidence in what I can do with the Lord on my side. I know it was an answer to my pray- but I will definitely be more careful about what I pray for in the future! :) This is the Lord's work. Not Thomas S. Monson's, not mine, not yours, the Lord's. We need to give everything we can to assist Him- to be worthy to be a tool in His hand. This work brings so much joy. Even though my investigators are "fake" I feel so much love for them. I have felt the Holy Ghost speak through me. This church is true. Jesus Christ lives. He loves you so much. I love you so much also. I love being a missionary. I love Portuguese.

Eu sei que essa igreja es verdadeiro. Eu sei que, sem duvidas, Jesus Cristo vive. Deus quer voces voltar para ele. Eu amo sendo uma missionaria! Eu amo falando Portuguese! Eu amo o Livro de Mormon. EU AMO VOCES!!!!! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!

Irma Tingey

Exigir Excellence

3/13/12

Wow. What a week! I love you all SOOO much!!! It is so sweet to hear about Jacob! Thank you so much for your letters! I am SOOO excited for Shelby Clawson! Do you have her address? Also, if it is not too late do you think you could change my plaque scripture to Hel. 5:12? I thought that might be a better message for people to see when they open up the new church building in the Hyde Park ward. We got SIX new sisters in our zone this week and 2 new Elders going to PORTUGAL!!! So exciting!!! One of them asked if I knew the Edens in the Hyde Park Ward. I can't remember names that well, are there some Edens that you know in your ward? Also, is it okay if you give Wells Fargo a heads up that I am going to Portugal the 27th? Thank you so much for taking care of my Mum, even though I am so far away! Irma Rojo had to do her FBI clearance last week and so because of that she has to be re-assigned for 4-6 weeks somewhere in the U.S. She was a very good sport- kind of exciting to get a whole new mission call! We won't know till next Thursday where she will be going. The travel office said that me and Irma Wilde should be fine- they haven't heard anything so no news is good news. Don Love told me that he had received my FBI clearance over Christmas break so I should be good to go. I don't think I will know for sure until a couple days before. And DAD!!! You will be in Salt Lake on the 27th?!?! Nossa!!! Unfortunately in the MTC pamphlet it says we shouldn't meet anyone at the airport or any other location. Bummer! But that will be neat to think that we are so close! And I do know that I can call in the airport so we will def. have to set that up- with the London crowd too!!!

This week I have been thinking a lot about how I can become a more consecrated missionary. What can I lay on the altar of sacrifice? What do I need to give up- what is stopping me from becoming closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? Through pondering and scripture study and pray I have received some answers, but still working on it. :) To keep moving forward, to punch through the hard times, to sacrifice and ACT, I have to keep demanding excellence of myself. (Exigir Excellence!) in what ways in your own life have you tried to demand excellence? it is helpful to look to others for examples and get ideas of how I can become better- how to make that extra step. The scriptures gives us so many amazing examples! This week during one personal study I started reading Alma 17. I only got to verse 3 through the entire hour! Those verses have SO much! They tell us how those missionaries were diligent and what they demanded of themselves. Also, as a branch we are each memorizing the "7 habits of a daily missionary" in Portuguese- it is in Preach my Gospel- in chapter 6, the second paragraph of diligence. I LOVE Preach my Gospel. Def. study out of it if you haven't already!!! Pg. 97- talking about relying on the spirit really spoke to me yesterday.

Although, I have learned that I can't be so hard on myself. Well, honestly I am still learning- still working on it. It is really hard for me. Brother Fife, my professor talked to be about it yesterday. Satan has been really working on me lately, and i have let him. The Lord can't work with us if we are lying on the ground- we have to get back up and be happy! It is hard to balance making myself be better, still being positive but just realizing that I have lots to work on. I know I have so much responsibility to teach people, but being extremely hard on myself won't help much.

This week Elder Firouzi left for Brazil- he got his visa! It was sad to say goodbye and even more sad thinking about saying goodbye to our branch and friends here at the MTC in a couple of weeks and then even MORE sad realizing every six weeks I have to say goodbye to so many people that I will love. "Until we meet again at Jesus' feet" After Elder Firouzi left, I guess our district felt like we can have a new, fresh start with demanding excellence. We made some new awesome goals to be more diligent. We bring a mini Book of Mormon to meals and after we are done we just sit and read. It has really brought us closer together as a District and really made a difference in our knowledge of the Book of Mormon. We are trying to use every minute that we have. i am also trying to get up 10 minutes earlier to read the Book of Mormon- When we sacrifice just a little bit, the Lord blesses us SO much. I testify of that.

This week my District and I get to be Hosts for the in-coming missionaries! So exciting!!! i am SOOO excited for PORTUGAL!!! AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! i can't believe it! I am getting so excited and super nervous. But Heavenly Father has really comforted me. For a little bit I was freaking out- trying to set expectations of myself of how better I can be by the time I leave for Portugal but the Lord reminded me that I am doing what I need to be doing already and I need to learn line upon line precept upon precept.

Eu quiero testificar de Jesus Cristo. Ele VIVE!!! Ele amo tudo mundo. Eu amo Jesus Cristo muito. Eu sei que essa igreja es verdadeira. Eu sei que o Livro de Mormon es muito podersos, forca, e verdadeiro. Eu sei que a dom do lingua es real. Eu sou muito grato para evangelho restaurado. Eu nao posso negar que eu sei que isso coisas es verdade. EU AMO VOCES!!!! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!

with all the love in my heart,

Irma Tingey

Eu amo Voces!

FAMILY!!!! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY SO MUCH!!!!! AAAHHHH!H!!!! I am so happy. :) 3-6-12

First of all, I want to apologize for last letter. When i mentioned what Elder Firouzi said, i wanted to show it as an example of how RIDICULOUS he is sometimes and i thought it was hilarious. That is all. I promise my relationship with the Elders is professional. Also, I mentioned Irma Rojo telling us about her ghetto High School because it truly humbles me to think of all that i have received and it makes me work harder because I know that because so much is given to me, SOOO much is required.

I also forgot to mention last week that none other than Elder Wilson came to speak for the Tuesday night devotional!! I was able to say Hi to them afterwards! His talked changed my mission. It was all about the Livro de Mormon- to use it in every single lesson, to be able to back up every single principle, to memorize scriptures, to read it with investigators. I testify of the power of the Book of Mormon. I promise that if you read it every day you will grow closer to Jesus Christ in a way that no other book can. Continue working on your conversion throughout your whole life. Do the Moroni 10:3-5 challenge every so often. Keep your testimony burning brightly. Feed the flames.

My ultimate dream came true this week. I was here when Elder Holland came and spoke at the MTC!!!!!!! IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!!! Because I learned so much and this talk changed me even more and I have been thinking about it every single day since he gave it, here are some notes:

-They (quorum of 12 and Prophet) expect A LOT out of us and they don't apologize

-Pull your socks up to your armpits and start running :)

-Change FOREVER. You owe it to yourself, the church, family and the Lord. Don't you dare come back the same.

-Not EVER supposed to go back to who I was. EVER.

-I want to be someone that when others look at me, they KNOW that I know.

-Every waking hour of your life- devote yourself to the Kingdom of God, to the Lord's work

-Don't idle on first gear, be in over drive

-B.O.M. + Spirit = unstoppable, most powerful tool

-B.O.M- book of revelation about revelation

-Make the best mission, I Elizabeth can make it

-Messenger worthy of the message

-Formula= do it, be it

-Before every lesson, make sure you are clean

-Walking shoulder to shoulder with apostles- same job, just different keys

-"Live it, love it, believe it, or why on earth are you here?"

-What can you sacrifice on the altar to become closer to God?

INCREDIBLE.

I think I talked about this a little bit last week, but my testimony has grown so much about the Dia de Senhor. Day of the Lord, Sabbath Day. I know that if we prepare for the Sacrament - we repent and if we prepare for church with questions specifico, we will be blessed and stre3nghtened and our questions WILL be answered. During a workshop we were told that if we were going to have a PPI with the Lord right now, what would we ask? We then had quiet time for 20 mins to write down our impressions. The Lord answered my question. And my comp pointed out that if we have questions like that, why don't we just ask all the time like we just did? This past Sunday I asked the Lord "how can I better learn how to listen to the Holy Ghost?" Low and behold there was a film of Elder Bednar that night we could watch entitled "how we can know if it is us or the Holy Ghost." ANSWER. Elder Bednar said QUITE WORRYING ABOUT IT. If we are a good boy or a good girl, if we keep the commandments, honor our covenants and do what we are supposed to do, the Lord will use us. He gave examples of things that he had done that he didn't realize was the Holy Ghost, he just did and they turned out to be huge blessings. Pretty much the Lord was telling me to take a chill pill. And I am so grateful and I can already tell a difference in my teaching. I am going to prepare all week for the Sabbath for the rest of my life. I LOVE it. I am so grateful for it. I urge you to experiment, try it out, do the same.

Yesterday I had a really special experience. We practice teaching each other in class all the time. Yesterday the teacher took out our comps/pesquisadores and gave them a really hard situation/problem. Irma Wilde's problem was the same as her sister's- alcohol. Every single thing I said was from the Holy Ghost. I was filled with the Spirit, scriptures popped in my head, words in Portuguese, My eyes were locked on hers and there was so much intensity. The whole time I kept thinking "I CANNOT lose her". Afterward Irma Wilde was really touched and said that those same things need to be said to her sister. It was such a blessing and i am so grateful that I can be a tool in the Lord's hand. It was ALL the Spirit during that lesson.

I love my companions. I absolutely LOVE Portuguese. I love you all. I LOVE as escrituras, i am so grateful for fasting and I know it works. You CAN change through Jesus Christ.

"Life begins when you step out of your comfort zone."

Scripture Plaque: 3 Nephi 5:13

Thank you SOO much for all of your support. I love all of your letters- they really mean SO much. EU AMO VOCES!!!! LOVE YOU LOVE YOU LOVE YOU!!!!