Sera's real journey officially begins!

Dear Brother and Sister Thomas,

 

We were so delighted to meet your daughter as she arrived in our mission on Monday and to be able to spend time orienting her to this new phase of her service.  On Tuesday morning we had our transfer meeting which included instructions to the missionaries, inspirational talks, some heartfelt testimonies and assignments to their first companion and area of service.  Following the meeting, Sister Thomas and her companion traveled to Evans, Georgia to her first assignment.

 

We know she will prosper here in the days ahead and assure you that we will do everything in our power to help her find joy in her service and success in her labors.  Your weekly emails will do much to support Sister  Thomas as she labors in this wonderful work.  Sister Thomas will be able to email home on Preparation Day which is each Monday.  Just a reminder, when Monday happens to fall on a national holiday, those who use the public libraries will not have access to a computer, therefore, they usually email on Tuesday instead.

 

Your missionary is about to make an eternal difference in the lives of others.  We hope you will be encouraged and comforted by this quote from President Lorenzo Snow.  “There is no mortal man that is so much interested in the success of an elder (sister) when he is preaching the Gospel as the Lord that sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord’s children” (Millenial Star, July 16, 1894, p. 451).

 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all you have done to prepare Sister Thomas to faithfully serve a mission.  We look forward to getting to know her as we serve our Heavenly Father here in the Georgia Macon Mission.

 

Attached please find a photo of Sister Thomas with Sister Cottle and me.  We are extremely pleased to have your daughter here serving with us.

 

With great appreciation and love,

 

Brent T Cottle

President

Georgia Macon Mission

June 26, 2013

I had an opportunity to go back to the temple today and do work for the dead. As a second time back it was still absolutely wonderful <3
I was meant to meet up with a group of Sisters in a missionary group on Facebook, we were supposed to meet at 930 and go to the 10am session, but I got there later than arranged and missed meeting up with them. Nontheless I still went in to get dressed and go through the session, and had plenty of help where it was needed :)
Next week my friend Kim and I are planning on baptisms for the dead, and I would like to go once more for another session next week as well. It's an amazing and peaceful place that I feel blessed to be able to go to, it's so wonderful that there are so many temples so close by for us to go to where I live, and so wonderful that we are building more around the world for others to make it easier for them to go, as well!

I have an uplifting thought that I want to share today. I've been listening to 107.5fm (K-LOVE)... I started listening to it several months back after a good friend of mine in the church recommended it. I've starting to listen to it more and more, and on my way home from the temple today one of my favorite songs started to play. I think it ties in perfectly with D&C 84:88, "...I will go before your face. I will e on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."
The song is "Whom Shall I Fear [God of Angel Armies]" by Chris Tomlin.

Well loves, that's my post for today. Loves all, and keep smiling :)
Love, Sera

June 9, 2013

Well, yesterday was my first temple trip <3

It was such an amazing day!!
I went with Gramma Laura up to the Brigham City temple, we had to be there at 4pm... When I got changed into my temple clothes, before I was taken further on, I got to go into the bride's room with gram (she was my escort) and talk. It was so beautiful <3<3

Then the rest of the time was the most amazing of all, seeing so many family and friends walk in, receiving my endowments, everything that I was able to do and see... The temple is such a gorgeous place and it's so peaceful to go, I'm so happy for the blessed opportunity I had to attend yesterday!! I hope I might be able to go back at least once or twice in the next little while... I leave in just 31 days! WOW it's coming up fast!! Still quite a bit to do, it's going to be a jam packed week this week... Well all, just a short update, keep smiling as always, it's wonderful!! :) Love until next time!

Love, Sera

June 3, 2013

AHHH well I now officially have my first temple recommend!!!
I am so excited!
It was official as of last Wednesday evening, and now I have an appointment THIS SATURDAY to go to the temple!!!
I get to go through Bountiful, which is pretty exciting because that's the one my dad went to as well.. I didn't even know that until after I scheduled my appointment!
I need to call them back and tell them there are a few more guests than I'd originally said... But nontheless, I am very excited and looking forward to this Saturday evening!
It's unbelievable how fast time is moving and how much has been happening! Two of my best friends, who are on missions, can email their friends now. One of them left 5 months ago and the other  one 4 months, and one of my other friends left on her mission 4 months ago too... and now I leave in 37 days!!!
I went today to the distribution center in Layton to get my temple clothes and garments and I'm counting down the days till Saturday... I can't wait!!
Well, that's it for now update wise... Till next time, keep smiling!!! :D

Love, Sera

March 3-March 5, 2013

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
My call!!!
It finally came!!!
I got my call this past Wednesday (4-3). My grampa text me to tell me it came, saying that he hid it like you would hide easter eggs...
I was in Syracuse with my friend Ashley. Going crazy. i was shaking so bad!!!
Then yesterday I had a get together with a bunch of family and friends and opened the call. Mom and the kids were on skype when I opened it.
Lots of more shaking was going on... I had trouble opening my envelope, it was really that bad!!!
HOWEVER, I now know that on July 10th, I will be going to Macan, Georgia!!!
It's a brand new mission, which will make it that much more interesting... hahaha.
Even better, I'm on the East Coast... Which is where the rest of my peeps are xD
I am so so super duper excited about my mission!!!
I have a lot to do over the next three months but it's going to be great, I'm so excited to get out there and share this wonderful gospel with so many others!
Loves all, and remember to keep smiling!!

Till next time, with love,
Sera

March 17, 2013

UPDATE! GET'CHUR UPDATE HERE!
HOT OFF THE PRESS, SERINA THOMAS HAS INTERVIEW WITH STAKE PRESIDENT!! CALL TO COME SHORTLY!!

That's right folks, my interview with my stake president was this morning! I had a wonderful time talking with him, and I am very excited about our conversation!He was (is) such a nice man!

We had a long conversation, and he told me, this Tuesday a member of the 70 will be viewing my papers and picture, placing me to my call... And then this Thursday, President Monson will be looking be looking at that too, and making sure I truly am called where I need to be.

That's right, folks... THIS TUESDAY-THURSDAY!!!!
We're getting so close!!
My call should be here a week from Wednesday, and by that same weekend I will know where it is I'm going, and when!
I CAN NOT WAIT!!!!
I am SO excited to get my call!!!
I'll update you as soon as anything more happens, as per the norm, and remember...
keep smiling! :)


Love always,
Sera

March 12, 2013

NEWS NEWS NEWS!!!!
I got a message from my bishop today, he sent me a number to contact with the stake so I could set up my interview and told me he was going to take my papers to them tomorrow night.
So I called the number.
I'm really super excited....
At first he didn't have his schedule with him, and I called right before institute started, but he said he would call me back.
As it would happen, he called me about 8:30 to set up an appointment.
SO, to all you who are wondering, I have an appointment to meet with the stake pres THIS SUNDAY (That's March 17) at 10:30 A.M. for my missionary interview!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Soon thereafter I should have my call, I'm hoping (if not next week... which would be EXTREMELY AMAZING, and nothing short of wonderful luck,) then the week after!!!!!
It's all getting so amazingly and wonderfully close, I'm so super excited!!!! I can't even convey it to you!!!! :D
As always dears, I will update you when more news comes along, and keep smiling!! :)

Love,
Sera