August 9th Email!

HELLOOOOOO

Well, I've officially hit my 5 month mark, and I'm still in Grand Island! =) I have a new comp! Her name is Sister Mortensen! I knew her in the Trail Center, and She is just the sweetest! She's very sweet, and kind, and fun, and bubbly. I love her to death. She's senior companion, but I was a little overwhelmed the first few days, because I had to lead (that's the way it goes when you are turning over an area). BUT, now it's going really well!

My birthday is tomorrow, and that's so weird! I feel like I just had my birthday! Thank you for all of the birthday love =).... Sister Hall made sure to tell EVERYONE before she went home, so that she could make sure I had a good one without her there. She's the best =)... My District Leader/Zone leaders are also super awesome, and make sure to remind me every day that my birthday is coming up... so even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to forget about it! =) NOM is the best.

So I've got some really great investigators in this town! Michelle Scott is amazing. She's getting baptized in September. Every time we teach her, she ends up bearing her testimony like crazy. She's so on top of it. She's also serving in the ward as best she can without having an official calling. She comments in relief society, and she's spot on every time. I just love her. Ann Johnson... Also amazing. She told sister Mortensen and I how much she feels she has changed. Her family is noticing these changes too, and she said they are confused because she talks a lot now, and she finds ways to laugh about tough situations. I am so proud of her. She also testifies a lot, and I love it! =) I told her how neat it is to see the change in her from when I first met her. She asked if I felt any responsibility for that change, and I said "No, I just showed up when I needed to...." and She said, "well, you should.".... I thought that was cool. Although I really didn't do anything but listen to the spirit, it's cool to hear that she loves me. I remember when I thought she was annoyed when we came over... now she is happy and excited. Oh, I just love her.

I've felt so much love this past week. Both from others and for others. It's so important to have that love in order to progress as a missionary. I truly love these people, and I love knowing that I'm right where I need to be.

That's about all for now, but keep me posted on your lives. I love you all!

Sister Bonelli

August 2nd Email

Transfer #3 is coming to an end.... WEIRD. Sister Hall is going home on Thursday... so I'm "killing her off".... I'm going to miss her! She's taught me so much. Love her! There are lots of things that could happen... Most likely someone will come in and I will still be junior companion, but I will be turning over the area, so that is stressful... or I could possibly become senior... who knows.... either way I'm mildly freaking out!

So this week... of course, it was awesome... Since I've been in G.I, I have given 2 talks, taught relief society, taught YW, and yesterday I taught ELDER'S QUORUM... What do I look like? A Scriptorian? Of course, thankfully, YW and EQ were a joint thing with sister hall, so it wasn't so bad... and YW was fun... we had to teach them all about fellowship. When I taught relief society, I taught them about Elder Andersen's talk "tell me the stories of jesus"... Imagine, a sister missionary (obviously not a parent) teaching a bunch of middle aged/elderly women about how to teach their children... Funny. I enjoyed it though! =)

ANN JOHNSON! Oh my, I love her. She is so great. She set a date! we invited her to be baptized on August 21st, and she said "that's cool!".... She's doing so well. Who would have thought? I just pulled her name out of a pile of formers! She said she has felt so much peace since meeting with us. She prayed with us the other day, and she (who just got over her anger issues with God) told God she loved him. AMAZING.

We work with a lot of Elderly less-actives in the area, and the other day Sis. Hall and I did Hymn Carolling and taught them on saturday. It was so much fun. It is so rewarding to see their faces! We went to See Walley and Dale, and Dale rejected us at first, so we went to sing to Walley, who loved it... then we went back out to see Dale, and we said "you change your mind yet?"... and He said, "yeah I guess...".... so we sang to him, and he totally loved it, whether or not he will admit it... and then he started singing "The Lord's Prayer" out of the blue... It was great.

I don't remember if I mentioned it last week, but QIQI (my etern-igator from Winter Quarters) got baptized! Oh my goodness! I am still in shock. I'm so proud of her. I wish I could have been there!

Anyway, pray for me that I don't have any panic attacks this coming week with transfers.... I'm excited/nervous/sad-sis-hall-is-leaving/worried that randomly they will decide to white-wash the area again. Who knows? Anyway, it will be grand! Love you all! wre me letters!

Sister Bonelli

July 26th Email

Well, it's official... I've seen my first cicada/locust. No one really knows exactly what they're called... but they are HUGE. All bugs in Nebraska are jumbo sized, but cicadas are GIGANTIC. They really don't hurt you, but they are just scary. I'd send a picture, but that would involve me having to get close to one, and I refuse....

Anyway, back to the important stuff.... We had a baptism on saturday! Doreen Cunningham! It was great! She said she got out of the water and said she just made a deep sigh, that's how great she felt. The spirit is awesome! =)

I can't remember if I've mentioned Ann Johnson before, but she's awesome! She was taught on and off by elders, and we just picked her name out of a bunch of formers from the area book. We had been trying to get in and teach her for weeks, and finally a few weeks ago, she let us in. We have had some amazing experiences just teaching her. She has had issues with God because of tragedies in her life, and hasn't walked into a church (except for her dad's funeral) in years. She finally decided to go to church, and she went with us yesterday! She was totally scared, but she did it. She also is soft set. She said she would be baptized if she knew it was true. That's not usually a HUGE deal, but I've never heard anyone respond so sincerely to a soft set. Usually people just say yes and shrug it off. But she was so amazing. I'm excited to see her progress.

We're sad because Bambi and her kids still haven't gone to church yet, and they are very hard to get ahold of. We're in the process of trying to decide what to do to help them. UGH, they just have so much potential. We did teach the kids The Plan of Salvation the other day, which was awesome. They taught it back to us, no problem. I felt pretty dumb, since I didn't get it at all when I was their age! haha.

I've fallen in love with the Pyper family, the Nesslain family, and the Cunningham family. They are the best. The Pypers are a big musical family, so naturally I love them... but the mom is just the sweetest lady, and I really click with them in a lot of other ways. The nesslains are just this big powerhouse family and they have no idea how amazing they are. The spirit just eminates from them! The cunninghams are just the cunninghams, and you can't help but love them!

I am starting to be afraid for the rest of my mission. Miracles just keep falling into my lap, and I have no idea what I did to deserve it. Grand Island is just blossoming, and I feel like all I did was just show up. It just goes to show that missionaries just sort of show up and provide people with info/testimony, and the Lord takes care of the rest. Because REALLY, lets face it... I'm not the sharpest tool in the box... ;)

Anyway, I'm in love with this funny little town. I can't wait to see what other miracle await us. Pray for me. I pray for all of you! =) write me letters! ;)

Sister Bonelli

P.s.... if anyone has heard from my brother.... tell him to let me know if he's alive, I miss that boy!

July 19th Email

WHOA... What a week.

Wednesday was "Mission Training"... which is basically zone conference, but they are doing a new system for training missionaries, and we're doing it 4 times in 2 months... so I guess it's different.... ANYWAY, it was amazing! We drove in the transfer van all the way to Lincoln for ours. Sister Hall and I sat in the van for 2 hours with a ba-gillion elders. It was actually fun, believe it or not. =)... BUT training was amazing. We got to do some really neat activities. The assistants did a training where they had us pick 20 names from our ward roster to go visit. Then, we had to separate from each other, and pick 5 names on our own, and pray about them, and then come back together with each of our 5 names. They promised us that if we had sincerely prayed and followed the spirit, there would be 2-3 names in common from our lists. So we separated, and I really tried to focus on which names stood out to me, and which names I just picked for random reasons. I felt good about the ones I had, and we came back together, and we had 3 names that were the same. HOLY CANOLI. It was amazing. President did a major training on inspired questions and pausing and pondering. He really stressed the importance of listening to investigators during lessons and waiting for guidance from the spirit to discern their needs. It was really helpful, and the next day we had some cool experiences with the people we're working with. Also, Sister Hall and I sang "Come Thou Fount".... that was fun =)

After training, we went to a park in Lincoln for our zone activity! It was lots of fun! it was disgustingly humid, and I felt really ugly, but I loved it. President and Sister Kunz came and provided a bbq picnic for us. It was nice. President played football with the elders and sister kunz had girl-talk with us sisters. I just love them. After zone activity we hopped back into the transfer van and headed back to Grand Island. As we started driving it started POURING RAIN. CRAZY. Then the sky started to turn green.... which is an indicator that there could be a tornado coming. It was insane. I was excited... I've never seen a tornado... BUT as we continued driving the rain and green sky went away.... BUT, whenever there is a crazy storm, the sky always ends up looking INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL. All of a sudden there were swooshy, billowy clouds, and Orange and pink stripes everywhere in the sky. Aw man... I will never forget how pretty it was. Don't worry, I'll send pictures.

We set Bambi for baptism, but she hasn't attended church yet, and she has to attend 2 times. She missed yesterday. She was set for 7/31, but it looks like we have to push it back a bit. I think I mentioned the Cunningham family last week. They are this super sweet/humble/awesome, yet slightly complicated family. Brother Cunningham has suddenly found himself a new wife, and she wants to be baptized. Her name is Dorreen. She's the sweetest. I just love the Cunninghams.

I'm starting to feel the exhaust of missionary work. I guess when you go full-pros it wears on you. It's a good kind of exhaustion though, so I'll take it!

There is just something really special about Grand Island. It can be a bit dramatic at times, being a smaller town... but there is a spirit here that I just love. People are really humble and kind. I have felt the spirit more often in a short period of time than I ever have. It's amazing. The people are starting to understand that Heavenly Father has prepared them for big changes. It's about to explode and we are sooooo excited to be here for this! =D

I love you all! write me letters! ;)

Sister Bonelli

Picture Post

Pat's Baptism


New Companion Sister Hall

Must be P-Day with Sister Hall

New District

Grand Island!!


More with Sister Hall

July 12th Email

Hi everyone!

We had a baptism on Saturday of Pat Summers. I think I mentioned her before. She's 80 years old, and has been investigating for years. She has put it off because she is afraid of going under water. WELL, she did it! She fought it... but she did it. We watched her, and as Brother Clark tried to lay her in the water she fought him, and we sat there all tensed up, squinting our eyes. BUT, she got under, and it all worked out! It was kind of funny... She is very outspoken, and as soon as she stepped in the water she said "I hate warm water!".... She always says what's on her mind. She has lots of cool stories about her life and growing up. She always likes to tell us how strong she is for an 80 year old, and she'll grab our arms and pull us to the ground. She always forgets that she has already told us, so we usually expect her to do it again the next time. She also gives us bags of cookies every time she comes, because she forgets that she's already given us a whole bag full the day before. It's really cute. We always end up giving the cookies to the elders at district meeting... there are just so many of them.

We've had some neat experiences this last week. The spirit has been really strong. There's a less active family we're working with named the Hornbachers. It's a 60 something man and his 11 year old daughter Anna. She's AMAZING. She got baptized not long ago, and she just has an amazing testimony. Brother Hornbacher joined the church years ago, but he struggles with a few things. He's a professional gambler... He has such a desire to know how to change and to make his life better. We met with them yesterday and we brought Brother Bo Nesslain from the ward, and it was just amazing. It was one of those times where you knew that everything turned out just the way it was supposed to. Brother Hornbacher is starting to accept that he needs to repent so that he can fight off the temptations that he deals with. Oh man. it was neat.

Speaking of Bo Nesslain.... Love him. The nesslain family is amazing. We'll be Bffs when I go home.

I had to give a talk in church yesterday... which I was not happy about, but it ended up being a good experience... and we get to give talks next sunday in the 2nd ward...

Still working with Bambi, Rochelle and Rashawn. They're amazing. They've been reading and praying and doing so well. Bambi said that she hasn't slept through the night in forever.... but since she's been meeting with us she has been sleeping throught the night. and BOYD.... He said that since he got back from Iraq in 2007, he has had a nightmare every night.... but he hasn't had a nightmare since the day he met us. HOLY CANOLI! The spirit is so amazing. Our teaching pool is finally starting to be where it needs to be! so we're excited!

We're working with the Cunningham family right now. They are so interesting but I just love them. The cunninghams are members. James and his children Tyler and Jamie who are adults, and Tyler's fiancee michelle, and Jamie's boyfriend Roger. Michelle wants to be baptized and Roger is a wiccan, but said he would learn more. Their whole dynamic is strange, but they are some of the most humble people. We go over to teach them and they are just so kind and loving. I love being around them. Brother cunningham says the sweetest prayers... He just uses "thou" for everything. I love them!

Grand Island sometimes seems like a soap opera. Or like One Tree Hill. It can be a little dramatic sometimes but in a funny way... Small Towns have that tendency I guess.

I'm officially being eaten alive by Mosquitoes... If I don't return home... it's probably because I've come down with Malaria!..... Ok it's not that serious, but It is really annoying... I think my mission call meant to say "you have been called to serve in the Amazon during the summer and Alaska in the winter...."... It's awesome though... at least I can get a tan! =)

We get to see 2 recent converts named Walley Adams and Dale Harvey at an old folks home in town. I love visiting them! They are just so humble and sweet and enthusiastic about the gospel. Walley sometimes calls us to tell us when he's mad about things like having to get a hearing aid. Dale is just a sweetheart. He's a Vietnam vet, and he's always got neat stories. I've come to really love elderly people. I love hearing their stories and their history. Sometimes when I was in the Trail center and it was a slow day, I would listen to the Senior couple's stories and I just loved it.

hmmm... I think that's all I've got for now... I didn't bring my journal so I don't remember everything I was going to write about. Everything is going really well though, and I just love it out here! I love you all! keep in touch! =)

Sister Bonelli

Email from July 6th

Greetings From Hickville!!

Hello everyone! =)

It's official, I've been sent to the hick town! Everyone keeps asking me if I'm "Eye-Talian"... There are cornfields everywhere, and bails of hay, too. It's insane. Last week is the one week out of the year where everyone is allowed to purchase and set off fireworks, so all day, EVERY DAY, until the 4th, Grand Island was like a war zone. We fell asleep to the fireworks every night. The house we live in was the worst one... they set off more fireworks than anyone in the city. It was insane!

Along with our 2 wards, we actually cover a little branch called Aurora, about 30 minutes away. They come and pick us up once a week and we take care of things in their area that one day. We went on saturday for the first time, and I got to see a LEGIT small town. It was so interesting... So Stars Hollow-ish. I loved it though.

Things are starting to pick up here in GI. We basically started from scratch, with the exception of a 2 baptismal sets... but it's starting to look upward. Sister Hall is super organized, so I am thankful for that. We have a few really amazing investigators now and we're starting to have more appointments instead of lots of finding time. Yesterday we taught a cute little family--The smiths. It's a single mom, Bambi, and her 2 kids, Rochelle and Rashawn. They are amazing. We randomly knocked on her door last week while looking for a former, and Rochelle answered and said we could come back. It was one of those things where we didn't think they were really interested but we went back anyway. I'm so thankful we did, because it was one of the most spiritual experiences of my mission so far. Sister hall gave the First Vision and it was like the spirit knocked us upside the head. Bambi said she felt warm, and that she felt good about it. This was just yesterday, so we soft-set them, but I know they will be baptized. It was so amazing.

Also, we met a guy named Boyd the other day. He is a war vet, who feels a lot of guilt about the wars he's fought in. He said he would be baptized if he can feel peace, because he's never felt peace. We are teaching him soon and we are excited! He's going to be amazing.

Anyway, we're still working really hard to build up the area, but It's progressively getting better and we're loving it! I wasn't too sure about GI at first, I have to admit... I really miss Omaha, but I love it now, and I'm so glad I'm here. I love Sister Hall too... she's the best! =)

I love all of you... You amaze me! Keep me posted by writing me letters! ;).... Also... will you pray for missionary experiences? ---that's a commitment! =) Love you!

sister Bonelli