Stacie's email July 13, 2015

My dear loved ones, 

First off, happy happy birthday to my sweet little Grace Athena!! And happy birthday to Mom and Heather in this coming week! I hope everyone was able to have a great time at the Townley Family Reunion this weekend, I expect lots of pictures, especially of the cute new babies! (Please!!!) 

​Heavenly Father humbles me and reminds me of His role in my life every so often. It amazes me how patient he is with me, despite all of my weaknesses. The other day, for example, I was feeling ​really good about the progress that my investigators are making, and feeling pretty successful about the week in general. On this particular afternoon, I found myself lacking motivation to go find and talk to people because I felt like the work we were doing was already pretty successful, and we had enough people to teach right now anyway. Pretty dense, right? Well, Heavenly Father decided that I needed a little correction and found a very gentle and loving way to remind me that this is His work, not mine (I need several reminders, it seems!). 

We lost our phone. As we were driving, we realized that we needed to check to see if our investigator had called us back, and it was just gone. We tore apart the car. We looked in every possible crack and corner, in every bag, under every rug of that car and it was no where to be found! Then we looked again, and again, and again. We must have looked for 20 minutes for our phone that we were sure was in there with us just a few minutes earlier. 

While we were looking, a lady walked by the car. She was talking on the phone, looking troubled and stressed and angry. I would have kept looking for that phone-we needed to talk to our investigator- but my companion suggested us take a break and talk to the woman, and continue to look for the phone when we finished. As we talked to the woman, Yessenia, we found out that she was in desperate need of some emotional help, and was trying to contact someone, anyone, to listen to her as she cried. She was so grateful that we talked to her about Christ and the healing powers of the Atonement, and gave her some sort of hope in her seemingly hopeless life. She invited us to come to her home to teach her more. 

When we got back to the car after talking to her, we found our phone sitting there in the passenger seat. "We have every reason to rejoice and little reason to fear. If we follow the promptings of the Spirit, we will be safe, whatever the future holds. We will be shown what to do."This quote by Elder Packer is so true. The Lord sees all things, He knows what needs to be done and He knows how to do it. How short-sighted it is when we think we know better than He! There is a lot of room for growth, and I'm grateful for this time I have to serve the Lord and to learn how to listen to the Spirit and act on promptings! 

This week is full. We have been busy, busy, busy planning Hector and Patty's baptism! We are determined to make it so special for them, they are so special to us :) 

My spirit just comes alive when I see the Lord hard at work in the lives of people that I love. What a privilege it is to participate in the work of Salvation! 

Just a side note, Hector was so touched by the song "Grande Eres Tu", or "How Great Thou Art" in English, that he memorized the song on the organ and played it for us the other night. It was so beautiful, and so touching. I'll send pictures next week of the baptism! 

Con todo mi corazón, 

Hermana Townley 

Stacie's email and pictures July 6, 2015

 Hector y Patty :) we have fun weekly planning

Dear family,

I am just filled with gratitude and JOY because of the experiences that I have on a daily basis, but especially lately. I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers. He is merciful, he is good, and he loves us more than we can even imagine. I hope you were all able to feel of that love this week and thank him for everything that he has given you!  I'm sorry I wasn't able to write last week! I will do my best to catch you up on what's going on. 

So we have been working really closely with a family, Hector and Patty and their children and grandchildren, who are going through some extreme financial problems and can't pay tithing, otherwise they are progressing flawlessly and desire more than anything to be baptized into our church. The way we met them was pretty miraculous, and it seems like Heavenly Father is really reaching out to them in obvious ways. With this in mind, my companion and I have spent at least 6 hours this month planning for them together and trying to plan lessons perfectly to help them have more faith. On top of that, we have made it a priority to really pray with faith on their behalf, and fast for them too. I feel as if I have put most, if not all, my spiritual energy toward them and to be able to understand Heavenly Father's will for them as far as their lessons and commitments go. 

Last week, we felt inspired to teach them about the eternal blessings of the temple and obedience to the commandments that is required to obtain those blessings. It was a beautiful lesson, and they said that they wanted to make the temple their goal as a family. So we promised we would get them a picture of a temple to remind them every day what to work toward. 

Well, we didn't see them at all the rest of the week. When we came by for our next lesson, they told us that they were busy with family in town. When we called them a couple days later to see how they were doing, they told us that the hail (yes, we had ping-pong ball-sized hail this week in 102 degree weather) had completely destroyed the roof of their house, and they wouldn't be able to take the lessons until they figured all of their finances out. They were also staying at the hotel because of the situation with the house.  At this point, my companion and I were crushed and really discouraged. 

A couple days later on Saturday, we were desperate to have some sort of contact with them, but we didn't want to bother them or stress them out more than they already were, so we decided (or were prompted) to drop off a picture of the Gila Valley Temple on their door with a note and a scripture. We also decided this Sunday to do a special 36 hour fast for them in hopes that something miraculous happens to strengthen their faith despite their new financial problems. Well, the next day in Sacrament meeting, we pulled them aside and explained that this Sunday was special and will be a time of fasting and sharing testimonies. We told them that they were both welcome to participate and share their testimonies too if they felt inspired. Halfway through the meeting, I noticed Hector getting restless in his seat, then he got up and started sharing his experience with the missionaries knocking on his door and just feeling drawn to them for some reason. After a while (he talks ALOT), he started sharing an experience that he had had the night before after he received the picture of the temple. He said that he had a dream, that the Angel Moroni on the top of the temple was talking with him and asking him to come inside and that he had something very special to tell him. He was there with all of his family, and was happy to go into the temple and see what was inside. After he told about his dream, he told the whole congregation that he knows that this is the true Church of Christ, and that he can't wait for the day when he and his wife will be able to enter into the temple and receive those special blessings. My companion and I just cried the whole time. 

We had a lesson with them after church, and they will be getting baptized on the 18th of July! What a miracle. 

Fasting works, prayer works! It is all real and so powerful! Please take some time this week to thank Heavenly Father for his tender mercies. Please pray to see miracles! They will come in abundance! 

Love, Hermana Townley

Pictures from Sister Townley - June 22, 2015

 Nogales Rocks

Stacie's email June 22, 2015

Buenos Dias a todos!

I feel the love of Heavenly Father in so many ways, it is so powerful and undeniable. I am so grateful to Him and I know that He is involved in every single aspect of our lives. This Father's Day was a special one to me. As I reflected about my own earthly father, and the unconditional love that he's always shown to me, I was able to also reflect about love that I feel showered upon me from my Heavenly Father every day. We are His children, and He loves us more that we can even comprehend. I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day! And happy birthday to my dear Weston, and my lovely sister Allison! 

I've been pondering a lot this week about the difference between our physical needs and spiritual needs. This week I was confronted with a unique challenge, one that kinda tested my faith a bit. Last Tuesday, we hit a high of 109 degrees (I think), and my companion and I were out doing service all morning, then went straight to walking around and contacting people. I experienced for the first time in my life an unquenchable thirst. I must have drank 5 bottles of water in just a few hours, which meant a lot of bathroom breaks and a lot of opportunities to refill on the water (I had made a promise to Heavenly Father to take care of my body and keep it hydrated the best I could so I could perform my best during proselyting hours). The more I drank, it seemed, the more thirsty I would get. We decided at about 4:30 before dinner to stop by the Patriarch's home to visit his wife who just had a stroke. During the visit, I began to get really shaking and nauseated. I had to sit down when I started getting light headed. I drank some more water, and then threw up. My companion thinks I had a little bit of heat exhaustion. 

I decided to take it easy for the rest of that night. As I rested, I felt a prompting from the Spirit to open my scriptures. I turned to John 4 and read "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." 

This has caused me much pondering and questioning this week. I think about the way I feel when I am physically thirsty: desperate, dry, unwell, exhaustion.  Then I picture my spirit experiencing an even greater thirst when I don't constantly seek after the very source of everlasting life, the fountain of living waters, or Jesus Christ. We've all experienced how it feels to finally drink a nice, cold glass of water after a long day's work in the hot sun. Refreshing, rejuvenating, RELIEF!  Our spirits experience a similar thing, on a much, much greater scale; the relief and refreshment that comes through repentance through Jesus Christ, which allows us eternal life. 

I've talked a lot about the Romeros from Rio Rico... I heard some wonderful news this week that they have experienced a change of heart and have decided to follow Jesus Christ and be baptized on July 11th! I cannot explain with words the JOY that I feel knowing that they are being led by an infinitely loving Heavenly Father, and they are listening to Him! 

It's a wonderful invitation to ALL from a loving Brother, to come to Him, and enjoy the blessings of Eternal Life.  I pray everyday for all of my family and loved ones to accept this invitation and to feel that thirst-quenching relief that can only come through Jesus Christ. 

With love, Hermana Townley

Stacie's email and pics June 16th, 2015

La familia Astrain

Hermana Hopkins

The Alvarez family

La familia Arias

Me and Andrea Arias

Me and Lesli Arias

Grandma Duke :)

Hermana Hopkin's house! :)

Dear family, 

I have to be brief today. We are just busy, busy, busy, and there is always more to do! I hope you are all doing well and using every moment of your weeks to strengthen your relationship with our wonderful Father in Heaven. 

I love my new area! I'm serving now in a very small Spanish branch right in downtown Tucson. We have the University of Arizona in our area, too, and we live about 5 minutes away from campus. It's getting really warm here too! I checked the temperature last night after the sun went down about 8:00, and it was still 102 degrees! I always forget to check during the day, but it feels about 110 sometimes. The heat is pretty debilitating to our work, it just exhausts us! We did service this week at about 3 in the afternoon for a whole hour (without shade or water to drink) cleaning out an investigator's pool, and we felt like we were just going to pass out. I feel like the Lord really helps us and keeps us strong in times like that. Somehow I'm able to just keep going. 

I think I'm getting better with my Spanish speaking. Sometimes we just get too busy to do keep our assigned time for language study, so I have really started trying to study at every other opportunity to compensate (during meals, in the car, when I say personal prayers, etc). Although I don't feel like my language studies are as effective as they should be, I've noticed that Heavenly Father blesses me constantly throughout the day so that I'm able to communicate with both members and investigators. 

In general, my testimony in obedience has increased significantly this week. My companion and I have made it a goal to do our best to be exactly obedient with the mission rules, even the ones I don't understand or don't feel are as important, and the Lord is pouring out His blessings on this area. He really is! It's amazing how He works with such unqualified people and still makes wonderful things happen. 

I will try to be more detailed in my next letter. I love you all :) 

Love, Hermana Townley

Stacie's email June 9, 2015 and pictures!

 Ruth and Manuel Romero

 La Familia Hernandez

 Karla

 Adrian and the Barnetts

 Hermana Millet

Hi everyone! 

First of all, Happy birthday to my darling Brenna Mae, and Tyler! 

This week was a pretty hectic one! I spent a lot of the week saying goodbyes to members that I've gotten really close to. It was really hard, harder than I expected. After serving with them for so long, they start to really feel like family! Saying goodbye also meant bearing a very heart felt last testimony to all of my investigators. I had a really wonderful experience with Ruth Romero when I did this. As soon as I started opening up about my own testimony, the Spirit was really able to touch her, and she began to confide in us in a way she never had before. She told us all of the reasons she was holding back on progressing in the Gospel, and I felt as if her heart was beginning to soften. It's amazing how the Spirit works, it's a truly amazing feeling to see the change in people because they feel the Spirit. Testimony is so powerful. It is an immediate tool that the Lord has given us to invite the Spirit in and create miracles. All we have to do is open our mouths, and let the Spirit do the rest. 

I've learned a lot these past few weeks what it means to really love people. By no means, I am not the best at it. But there is a certain type of love that inevitably comes when you see people in their most vulnerable states, and use the Gospel to serve them and give them hope. It's a type of love that is not obtainable from men, only through God. It's a gift from God that I am able to love these people in the way that I do. It is a type of love that just elevates, and then hurts when you are separated from them. 

I have been reassigned to serve in the South Tucson Sonora Branch with Hermana Lund. This area is very different than my last one. I'm in the heart of the city, and it is so crowded! The area is pretty poor too, so it will be a whole different type of missionary work that I'll be doing. Also, my new companion is younger than me in the mission. Lots of new challenges, lots of growth! It will be a great transfer! 

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer so far! I miss you! 

Love, Hermana Townley

Stacie's email June 1, 2015

Dear family,

Happy Birthday to my superhero nephew. Ammon! and to my lovely sister Carissa! I can't even believe it's June already, time is always flying.

This week was busy and unpredictable! Nothing ever goes according to plan, but that's just a reminder that Heavenly Father is the one in charge, and I just need to be flexible with whatever He has planned for me and the people that I'm teaching right now. We are blessed tremendously! On top of finding 2 more families to teach, we've had a few old investigators call us and ask to take the missionary lessons again, and we've had referrals pouring in! We also have 4 people in our ward preparing for baptism by the end of this month, and we are really close to reactivating 2 other families in our ward (which is just as exciting and amazing as baptizing them). It's gotten to the point that our schedule struggles to fit everybody in! The Lord loves these people, I feel that so much as I teach them! He is so merciful to them, and missionary work is the most exciting thing to ever be involved in. I feel incredibly blessed to witness the changes that the Gospel brings in other peoples' lives. Prayers are being answered and miracles are happening!

I have had the opportunity also to get involved in many different service projects as of late. It is always a privilege to help people and to see their gratitude and appreciation whenever there is a load lifted off their shoulders.

With the passing of L. Tom Perry and Francis, the lady in our ward, I have just been so grateful this week for the knowledge of God's merciful Plan of Salvation! One of my favorite quotes from L. Tom Perry is this, "We can't predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond a shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come." He was truly a disciple of Christ and lived what he taught! We will miss him dearly!

I love you all and pray for you daily! 

Love, Hermana Townley

p.s. Next week is transfer week, wish me luck! I'll talk to you all next Tuesday :)