2.20.17 - Fixin' to leave the GANM, here I come y'all!🍑

Hey y'all!! 

Oh my stars! I can't believe this moment is here and it still doesn't feel real. What a week it has been! We have gone on a few exchanges, taught seminary twice, sang in church, spoke in church, taught combined YW, heart attacked, served, found some amazing people and taught some great lessons. I wouldn't change a thing, it has been amazing! 

There truly aren't words to describe the last 18 months of my life but if I picked one, it would be JOY. I am so grateful for this time that I have had to serve my Savior and wear his name. The joy I have felt is indescribable and so rewarding. This has truly been the hardest thing I have ever loved to do. Every experience, memory, soul I've met, lesson I've learned and companion has been a huge blessing in my life! My heart has grown more then I could ever imagine and a big piece will be left here. I will cherish this time forever! If anyone is considering going on a mission I hope and pray that you will go! It is the best thing in the world and will change your life forever! You and your family will be so blessed. 

I know this is the Lord's work and that He lives. One of the biggest take away from my mission is definitely my testimony. I know this church is true and that the priesthood power has been restored. We are so blessed to live in a time where we can know the truth if we will only pray and ask. I know that both the Book of Mormon and the Bible are true. They are the Word of God, and a huge blessing to us. God loves each and everyone of us and has a perfect plan for us. He will do all He can, everything in His power to help us but He will never take away our agency. He sent His son out of love and without Him nothing is possible. His grace is real and I have felt it. His hand is in our lives every moment if we will just look for it. I have seen it. Not only in my life but the life of those around me. I am sad to go, but I am excited for what the Lord has in store for me. I know through Him I can continue to grow and do great things! 

Thank you for all of your prayers, love and support. I couldn't have done it without you. I have felt every prayer and every note or email has meant the world to me! I love y'all! Have a blessed week and I'll see you soon! :) God speed! 

Love,

Sister Hosman

My funeral!! :(  

The District!! 💗

Sister Preparation Day

Exchanges

Beautiful Georgia

2.13.17 Happy Valentine's Day y'all!💗

Hi y'all! 

Well this week has been crazy but so good!! We have been finding a lot. We have been trying to be finding from 6-8pm (prime time) but didn't see much success. But the Lord blessed us for our diligence! On Thursday night we had our miracle for the week. It was dark and getting very cold. We decided on one last street to tract and started down the street. Literally all of the people were from Asia or India and had a harder time speaking English or were Hindu. That's something that has been a road block here in Laurel Springs. And Hindu's don't have faith in Christ, so that's been weird. But we were tracting and got to the last door down the street and we knocked on the door. A man who appeared to be from India opened the door. He immediately said (in his Indian accent), "Oh, come, come inside. Come meet my family!" He walked us into his home and we met his wife and two daughters. One of which was only one month old! She was the cutest baby! The wife pointed to the couch and said in the quietest sweetest voice, "Please, sit." So we were like of course! And we sat down and they all sat down and they started asking us questions! It was crazy. The first question from the wife was "what is baptism?" One of the cutest things was when the 5 year old daughter raised her hand and politely asked, "Um, how do you know all these things about Jesus Christ?" We explained that we learned it from reading and praying and that she could come to know too. We asked her if she did want to know. And she shyly said "yeah.." It was a miracle for us, and exactly what we needed to help us keep our faith to find. We are going to see them again on Friday and are so excited to start teaching them. The Lord is always preparing people for us to find. 

So bronchitis happened this week. Sam got it early in the week and was totally out. He was so so sick that he was passing out and in bed all week. Sister Crowton started the week with a sore throat and progressively through out the week got worse. Saturday when we were at Sam and Jen's and realized that Sister Crowton would not be able to keep going that day, and that Sam really needed some relief we called to have 2 priesthood men come over to give them both a blessing before going to the urgent-care. It was an amazing experience. For the first time all week Sam got out of bed. This was the first time he received a blessing, so Bishop explained the priesthood to him very well and Sister Crowton went first. Then Sam got a blessing. It was such a cool blessing, but abruptly ended. After the Amen Sam quickly got up and said excuse me. He went into his bedroom and we heard a noise. Jen went and looked in the room and saw Sam had passed out. It was so sad. And the Bishop (the one who was giving the blessing) said the spirit told him to end the blessing because Sam was going to pass out. It was crazy. But Sam was okay. They got him in his bed and put a cold cloth on his head. Sam really could feel it. Once he was a little more with it he kept saying "thank you. Thank you!" And Sunday morning he was feeling so much better! He was up and ate some breakfast and was way more happy! The priesthood power is real! 

Andy is doing awesome in DC and attended two wards all on his own last Sunday. He came home for the weekend and we got to have an awesome lesson with him. He was so excited to talk about his missionary (Monica) and you can see he is already very proud of her. We taught him about the Plan of Salvation and the spirit was so strong. He had issues before accepting we existed before this life but has had a change of heart. Andy told us that he knows we did exist and lived with our Heavenly Father before we came to earth. It was so neat. I am so grateful for the knowledge that we have the families can be together forever. :) 

This week I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with two amazing sisters. Sister Hollowell was my MTC companion and it was so fun to be with her again. She has grown so much and I am so proud of her! Sister Foster was actually supposed to come out with both of us but broke her foot the week before. So she came out two transfers later but she is such a wonderful missionary and a great example of obedience. She has a powerful testimony and so much love! I feel so blessed to serve around such fantastic sisters. 

Lately I have been pondering the scripture on my missionary plague. 

Alma 26:12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

I am so grateful for this opportunity I have to serve a mission in GANM. I still can't believe that it has been 18 months and the time is coming to an end just next week. It is the best decision I have ever made. My mission has meant the world to me, and I will cherish this time forever. That is all thanks to God and his great love. He has blessed me with such great experiences and miracles. My love grows for him and for these people every single day. Thank you for all your love and support. If YOU are reading this right now, thank you. For you prayers, love, emails, letters and support! It has made a big difference and truly means so much to me. God has been so good to me and blessed me with the best! I love y'all! ❤️

ExChAnGeS with Sister Hollowell! You know you've been out too long, when you can't stay awake!(; lol  

Exchanges in Coal Mountain! True southern country :) 

The stitches came out!! Wahoo :) Things are looking good y'all! 

2.6.17 - "The Rock" ❤️

Hey y'all! 

The South...where football is a religion. Haha, it was a fun week with the Falcons playing in the super bowl. Everyone was dressed in red and black yesterday, including us! I was sad to hear they lost but still proud of what sounds like a good game! It was another blessed great week here working in the Lord's vineyard... 

Sam and Jenn are doing great! We had a couple wonderful lessons with them this last week. We were able to read with them, as well as teach them about fasting. They both fasted on Sunday with us, but weren't able to come to church. Some family things came up, and they had a rough morning. Both of them are going through some tough things right now, but staying strong. It is so cool because Sam immediately recognized that it was satan trying to stop him from changing his life for the better. We finally got to meet Sams twin boys who are 9 years old! The moment we walked in the door they jumped up in their matching outfits to give us a big huge. It melted our hearts! They are so sweet and it was so neat to watch Sam be such a fantastic father. You could really see and feel the love he had for them. 

Audra's Baptism was amazing!! Wow. Definitely the highlight of the week! The spirit was so strong. And a miracle occurred! Her parents came and her husband! She didn't think they would support her but they came! And we know they felt something. Her husband even teared up. We were able to do a little musical number "Where Can I Turn For Peace" with a pretty arrangement by Sister Dean in the ward here. We were nervous but we knew it would mean a lot to Audra. She is always talking about trying to find peace. It went so well and Audra loved it! 

When we were walking with Audra to the font she was so nervous. And a huge tender mercy happened! 

Back story- Audra has been investigating for a year now and it all started when she went to a birthday party at her daughters friends house. She was nervous to leave her daughter with people she didn't know, so she stayed for a bit. She started to notice really beautiful pictures of Jesus Christ on the walls and asked the woman what religion they were. Of course they were- MORMONS! So that's where the curiosity started. Well, that woman and Audra became good friends and she was a resource for her to turn to when she had questions and such. Back to the baptism-

So we were walking to the font and Audra was really nervous and in rushes this woman because she was running late and didn't want to miss Audra's baptism. When Audra saw her she gave her a huge hug and they were both crying. Audra thanked her and said how grateful she was for her, and if it wasn't for her she wouldn't be here today. I was tearing up too. It was a special moment for all of us. To realize everything we do people notice and we are missionaries just in our actions. You never know when you are planting a seed. 

One of the sweetest parts of the baptism though was when Jake her youngest (4) turned to her after she was baptized and said "Mom are you happy?" And Audra said "Yes Jakey I am very happy." And Jake whispered back "I am too!" It was so neat. We felt it too. It was a really amazing baptismal service! 

I heard this story in Relief society yesterday and haven't stopped thinking about it since. We titled the story- "The Rock".

There was this man who was asked by the Lord to push this rock. So he obeyed. He pushed and pushed and pushed on this rock, but it wouldn't move. Frustrated, he told the Lord, "I can't move this rock!" The Lord said, "Just keep pushing." So he kept trying. He kept pushing on the rock, but still nothing. This man pushed until he could not push any more! Exhausted, he told the Lord, "I can't do it. I can not move this rock." The Lord comforted him and said, "I didn't ask you to move it. I just asked you to push it, and now look how strong you are." 

When you are obedient you know that Heavenly Father is there, no matter what. He has a totally different way of doing math. Sometimes we think A+B=C and that's it. The point is to be obedient not to get the blessings. (although the blessings are amazing) You grow by challenges. That's the only way we grow. That is why we came down here. Put Him first. He will help us. Do the small and simple things. I promise you will feel the difference! More happiness, love, peace and patience will come into your life. That is the fruits of the spirit of the Lord. Have a blessed week, I love y'all! 

Love,

Sister Hosman 

This is Joan! My best friend from the assisted living we volunteer at

Love both of these sisters so much! It has been an incredible 18 months with them. Last MLC

Audra's Baptism

Her family at her baptism

Sam's 9 year old twin boys, and Jenn's son Zac

We still love our Falcon's