Almost Heaven

Hello from almost heaven west virginia !! It feels like HOME. The trees and the humidity and sacadas. I LOVE it. Flying over all the trees everyone kept saying it looks like fields of broccoli hahahahha. I'm so glad I got here before they all change to fall colors. I guess it usually starts around next week. Everyone's super huge into Halloween here and the houses are adorable (I'm obsessed). 
I am in an area called Teays Valley. It is one of the nicer parts of west virginia and it is pretty civilized. The people are so nice here and have the cutest accents. My mission president and his wife (the newmans) are brand new as well. They got here two weeks ago! They are so sweet and show so much christlike love. My trainer (sister glenn) is an angel! She is flip training me which means she just barely got done being trained so we are both learning together. But she is awesome and I have already learned so much from her! Before I got here, I actually had no idea how little members there are. Everyone is baptist or presbyterian or catholic. Everyone LOVES God and they are all super religious and so they "dont need another religion cause they already have one" or most of them just make up excuses that they are busy and can't talk. Sister Glenn said it is a miracle to find someone to teach. BUT just in the 4 days I have been here, we are already teaching 5 people! Sister Glenn said people have been listening way more so that's SO COOL. God really does prepare people to receive our message! I see his hand in our work every day. 
General conference was also AMAZING! centered around the JOY that the gospel of jesus christ can bring! "joy has little to do with the circumstances of our lives, and EVERYTHING to do with the focus of our lives". As long as we are FOCUSING on jesus christ, serving him and others, then we will find true joy. 

Some favorite quotes -
"Consecrating your life to the lord will give you spiritual strength that will AMAZE you" 
"Be the source of love and care that you are hoping to receive from others!" 
"Christ is the master healer" 

One last thing I wanted to share - Before I left the MTC we had a departing devotional and there was a kid that spoke who really touched my heart. He was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. His whole life he wanted to serve a mission, but due to health reasons he obviously cant serve for 2 years, and so they let him come to the MTC and serve a 1 week mission. He cried over the pulpet for 20 min. inviting us to serve with all of our hearts, might, minds, and strength even HARDER than before, for the people who can't serve. He said that through it all, he never felt scared once and that is through PEACE IN CHRIST. He told us that he went bull riding, rocky mountain climbing, and skydiving all in one summer. He ended with the phrase "give 'em heaven!" It made me realize how LUCKY I am to have this opportunity to serve and to LIVE and BREATHE.