in which sister proffit eats frozen custard and then eats it hardcore on frozen ground ;)

oh HELLO family!! i feel like i just emailed you! :) :) so first of all...... SORRY about the literal world's craziest/psycho-est email of all time last week hahaha.......... literally, so crazy and i'm sorry. also i'm starting to have a problem with the world literally aka elder goodale makes fun of me by pinching all of his fingers together and shaking them emphatically in the air and saying "LIT TER ALL Y" ........ aka a pretty good impersonation of me. but whatever. it's fine :) :) :) fun fact: i developed the world's worst migraine my life shortly after sending off that email hahaha so whatever that's supposed to mean....... i recovered pretty quickly though :) :)

so i realized that i forgot to tell you like a bunch of things. one of which is that we reached our goal for friends baptized exactly this year!!! (well last year.) :) so that was a miracle -- literally -- because this is what happened. (sis blood and i are both obsessed with mission stats and stuff so we noticed.) :) the week before the year ended we were 5 away from our goal and had 6 people set to be baptized before the year ended. the next week we had reached our goal exactly. but what few people noticed (but sister blood and i did) is that TWO of those friends with dates had DROPPED their dates, making one less than our goal........ and that our friend in winnebago and literally miraculously had a baptism. that wasn't scheduled the monday before. how did this happen, you ask??????? FAITH AND PRAYERS, my friends!!!!!! we finally heard the whole story (or parts of the story) on tuesday........ apparently some friend down in iowa or something had been taught all the lessons and wanted to be baptized but hadn't yet...... so he came up to wisconsin to visit some friends and decided that he wanted to be baptized asap. soooooo....... he was! haha. crazy right???????????? and i mean it's not like it even matters that the wisconsin milwaukee mission gets their goal exACTly and not plus or minus one.......... but it was just SO NICE and MIRACULOUS of the Lord :) :) :) :) :) so we loved that :) :) :) and of course we loved that our friend in winnebago got to have that happen because we love him AND he's training so it's cool :) :) hurrah for miracles!! they happen every day :) :) 

also elder proffit 1.0 -- i ate schwarma in chicago. i forgot to tell you that. #avengersreference #itwasdelicious

I also need to tell you about my recently discovered favorite scripture (i have so many.) MOSIAH 18:26. first of all i need to tell you that i'm pretty sure the Lord just put Mosiah 18 in there so that it could be every missionary's favorite. IT IS SO GOOD. but just listen to this part -- (i'm changing it just a tiny bit):

"And the [missionaries] were not to depend upon the people for their support; but for their labor they were to receive the agrace of God, that they might wax strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God, that they might teach with power and authority from God."

let me talk about this for just a second. i've read this a kabillion times but never really cared or noticed. until recently. my friends, why is a mission so hard? why does it have to be this way?? (elder holland gave a really good talk about this btw.) because of this: when we do things that are impossibly hard, we receive the grace of God. and when we receive the grace of God, we're having a personal experience with the Atonement. and that means that I have a personal strong witness that it is Real. that Jesus Christ is real, and that He is with us in our infirmities. I know this, because I'm living it. and this allows me to teach with power and authority from God. :) :) So i'm grateful that life is hard. I'm grateful because it allows me to know that my Savior is real, and that He loves me, and that He's with me. I hope that there is power in my testimony because of that. I'm not just saying this stuff...... I'm living it. and I get to share it. and I know it's true. and it's the greatest thing of my life :) :) :) :) :) #SOHAPPY

in other news, we got to teach this week!! hooray!!!!! haha :) :) :) we got to teach my lovely new friend O, who is 18 and getting baptized on February 8th :) :) we taught the commandments with a fun new game that i made up in the car haha (i'll send you a copy........ side note: i think i've lost my sense of fun haha. because now i'm like, i know! for fun, we can read our scriptures and talk about the blessings that come from keeping the commandments!! that'll be a blast!!!! hahaha but seriously........ #sofun #missionlyfe) ;) anyways it was a ball, obvi, and i loved it and i felt the Spirit and i got to TESTIFY which is obviously my favorite :) :) yeahh!!!  :) :) also i would like to point out that she first was introduced to the gospel because her neighbors had Bishop's Youth Discussion in their house aka great idea right?? :) :) :)

also i would just like to point out that it is 34 degrees today and the people behind me in the library are saying "we're in the Bahamas! hand me a pina colada!" hahahahahaha #wisconsin #loveit #itseriouslydoesfeelsowarmthough :) :) 

speaking of warm, it was 20 degrees on thursday and i was 0% cold. it felt like it was room temperature. i'm confused but okay with it. hooraaaaay for above 0 temperatures!! haha :) :)

speaking of delicious, peppermint frozen custard <3 here is a thing that is true: if you tell people that you like peppermint....... and are really, really excited about it.......... (because when am i not....)....... they will buy it for you. all the time. bringing you joy to your joy and peppermint to your mouth and happiness all around :) :) :) seriously though, nicest friends ever bought me a PINT of peppermint frozen custard as a surprise, JUST BECAUSE they are so nice :) :) :) :) :) love them :) :)

and once again, an entire paragraph of my letter home is about food.......... hahaha. #rememberwhenigotafreedoorcountycherrypie #anditwasthemostexcitingthingofmylife? #becauseido :) :) :) :) :)

in other news, saturday we got to do missionary work!! hooray!! even though it was SO ICY and probably more dangerous than the cold of monday & tuesday haha. we met a new friend and talked to her for a while, then asked if we could leave her with a prayer..... she said yes and closed her eyes, we asked if there was anyone or anything she wanted us to pray for particularly, she talked about her friend and started moving her hands around while she talked about her and the energies of the universe and how God is everywhere.................. and then she opened her eyes and said "thank you so much! see you again!" ......... hahaha we were like uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh is that a prayer?????????? it reminded me of my friend M that we talked to in Green Bay.... when we asked her if we could say a prayer, she said, "You know what? Our conversation was a prayer. The Creator has heard our words!" okay, yes, but.... haha. Sister Erickson: "I think sometimes he likes us to fold our arms and say "Dear Heavenly Father" at the beginning........" hahaha love her :) :) anyways. adventures in missionary land!!

on a more serious/spiritual note though.... we had the most AMAZING lessons in Church yesterday, seriously, Spirit was so strong. in Gospel Principles we talked about why God sent us here in families (great question!!!!!!!!!!) and then in Relief Society we talked about everything we know about God because of the Restoration.......... and HOOOLYYYYYY COOOWWWWWW it was so so good. Seriously. Wanna get pumped up to share the gospel?????? take a second and think about / talk about everything you know about Heavenly Father. that we ONLY know because of the Restoration of the fulness of His restored Gospel. I mean........ seriously. WOW. too, too good. seriously though, you should do that for a family home evening or something :) :) :) it got me pumped up!! let's tell the world!! :) :) :) #planofHAPPINESS

also on saturday, i was backing sister blood and the car spun on the ice. not like in a circle, just like it would not go in reverse. so i laughed a lot even though we were stuck haha. we got out of it. but then as i got in the car i slipped, said to myself in my head "oh, i'm slipping, i should catch myself," and then DIDN'T and ATE IT so hardcore on the frozen ground hahahaha owwwwwwwwww ;) but i'm actually fine. just a big baby hahaha. we laughed a lot. and i have a pretty good bruise. and the worst part was probably trying to get up again because the ground was frozen and hard and salty and cold. but i survived ;) #woo #gome #penguin #slidingfordays #helpivefallenandicantgetup ;)

also i need to inform you that i no longer recognize any of our family members. i got a christmas card from the Linfords and said, out loud, "WHERE is the BABY???" before realizing that the boy i thought was eli was actually flint......... weird. also i got some pictures from gramma from new years & Christmas and i recognize none of the children haha. #old #gonesolong. :) :) 

in other news, i love r and h w. (r? r?? R WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HEWE!!!") because they are like 60 and still sooooo in love and they tease and are funny but are also soooooo nice and loving always and i just ADORE them and they make you feel so so good when you're home and they bring the missionary spirit to US haha. aaaaaand i just love them and am so grateful to be here in kettle moraine, so what else is new. :) :) :)

well family, i think that's about it for this week! i also decided that next november for national novel-writers month it should be a breeze since apparently i write a novel home every week haha ;) seriously. if you've made it this far...... congratulations. for you, a prize. this really nifty footnote thing that i found this morning. :) 

2 Nephi 9:20 "O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it." footnote a by "holiness" takes you down to THIS hidden gem -- "heb. quodesh -- committed, consecrated." whaaaaaaaattttttttt??? yes. because i've been studying for a long time about how to become more committed & consecrated (see the letter from the first presidency at the beginning of PMG.) apparently, holiness & knowledge are related to it. but i haven't figured out how still. gotta keep on studying. CAN I JUST SAY ONE MORE TIME THAT PREACH MY GOSPEL IS THE GREATEST BOOK EVER OBVIOUSLY APART FROM THE HOLY SCRIPTURES BUT SERIOUSLY IT IS SO GREAT. everyone should read it! and if you have any amazing insights, share them please :) :) :)

LOVE YOU SO MUCH FAMILY. so grateful God sent us here in families :) :) We are here in families because GOD KNOWS that it is in family life that we have the greatest potential for maximum joy. God lives in a family. We are part of His family. His family is the source of His joy. My family is the source of mine. :) :) :) So so so eternally grateful for God's plan for families, and for the Restoration of His gospel that let's us know God's purpose for families :) :)

I love you so so much!! I love this gospel forever!! I love mission life!!!!!!! so excited for you Jacob :) :) :) 

love you all!!! Xoxoxoxoxoxoxox  sister cece proffit :) :) :)

 

i MEANT to say that peppermint frozen custard brings joy to your SOUL, and i meant to relate it to the gospel aka if you are excited about things people take notice :) :) but i forgot. obviously. haha :) :) 

" make you feel so so good when you're IN THEIR home" haha struggles J

in which the temperatur​es drop to an unholy degree, preach my gospel is rediscover​ed, and all of sister proffit's dreams come true

OH HEY THERE FAMILY <3 <3  first of all....... i went to the temple today which is why this is so late and also I LOVE THE TEMPLE and also i have no time. so sorry about all the craziness. also, we have mostly recovered from the car accident and are so ready to get out there & work again :) :) THANK YOU so much for all the prayers, we needed 'em & we felt 'em :) :) y'all are the greatest :)

in other news........ this might just end up being a list of things i wrote down to tell you about. #notimeforeloquence #PMG199brighamyoungquote ;)

here is something that is nice: asking the missionaries, sincerely, how they're doing. brother bonner last week just asked me simply, "sister proffit, how are you doing?" and it meant so much to me........ because i'm here to focus on other people and i love that, but it's not very often that people actually stop to ask us how we're doing and then really listen & want to know. so it's nice when it happens. :) :) 

we got to teach a little bit almost all of the days and that was such a tender mercy, we were so grateful :) :) that's what i'm here to do! and it kind of drives me crazy when i can't haha. :) also, promised blessing that i've seen realized in my life: the missionary call letter promises that "as your devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs, the Lord will bless you with increased knowledge and testimony of the Restoration and of the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ." and can i just say YES, TRUE??!!!!!!!!!!! because yes, true. seriously. i thought i had a testimony before. i thought i knew the gospel. but man, it is like ridiculous these days. NOT that i know everything......... actually i'm feeling more & more like i have SO much more to learn......... but i just KNOW that it's true. i just know it. and that knowledge is growing stronger & stronger & i love it :) :) :) :) :) :) :) IT'S JUST ALL SO GREAT I TELL YA. oh yah :) :) :) can we just talk forever about the plan of salvation and the restoration of truth and the plan of joy and happiness and family lovin?????? okay, deal, we will :) :) :)

also, i am now the backer. what? yes. but actually i'm glad. even though it was obscenely cold all week haha. :) :) 

OH favorite scriptures of the week!! -- Mosiah 4:17, 24, & 27. not just about money. also about the gospel! and for a few days, we gave not because we literally couldn't. but when we could give, we gave. sister blood read that to me and it brought me a lot of comfort because i was feeling g u i l t y y y y and l a a a a m e e e e. the Lord knows our hearts, i tell ya. :) :) 

tuesday was district meeting, and it was great. i was sufficiently humbled and taught and decided that i love this district (even though i still love & miss my old one). quotes:

sister martin, talking about how she used to just be obedient cause she was a generally obedient person, not because she understood why. "which is fine, but not good enough for the celestial kingdom..." hahaha <3 <3 (she's the cute blonde next to me in the stripey shirt in the burrito lunch picture <3 i was her STL in green bay!) :) 

elder pobanz, talking about miracles from the week: "we were just like.... Heavenly Fatherrrrrr!!!!" (i WISH that i could communicate to you the exact inflection he gave it hahaha. so much gratitude. so good. so hilarious. i loved it.) :) :) :)

also fact from preach my gospel: the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ help answer     the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ help answer any question and fill any need. :) :) (p. 108 aka the greatest page <3 <3) see also how to begin teaching, bullets 2 & 3. because pmg totally uses htbt. because it is obviously the greatest

I STILL HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN AND IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i've been TEARING APART preach my gospel this week, a page at a time, and it's killing me. HOW DID I NEVER KNOW/UNDERSTAND ANY OF THIS???????????? seriously. i've only been a full-time missionary for what, a year now??????? #embarrassing. luckily God is ridiculously merciful and gracious. I think that's the #1 thing I've learned/felt about my Heavenly Father. HE LOVES ME SO MUCH AND HE'S ALWAYS TRYING TO HELP ME AND GIVE ME A BILLION CHANCES EVEN THOUGH I'M NEVER GOOD ENOUGH. it's okay! He loves me :) :) also we made snow angels on a frozen lake and it was fun :) :) 

wednesday we quoted david after dentist a lot......... "why is this happening to me??" "is this gonna be forever????" literally love sister blood because even though we are D Y I N G we are also laughing so so hard. we just love it. even though it's death haha. also best quote, lying in silent death on the couches..... "literally, OWWWW." hahahahahaa. <3 sis blood :)

so basically we spent all day listening to my new favorite song, "my kindness shall not depart from thee" by jonny vance (LOOK IT UP!!!!!!!!!) and studying preach my gospel until my head split in two. then resting and repeating. :) so these are the things i learned. jk i can't tell you all of them in an email. but WHO KNEW that PMG & the Book of Mormon had the answers to ALL of my questions??????????????? and WHY WAS I NEVER READING THIS BEFORE????????????????????? literally so mad at my former self. everyone, take heed. study pmg & the Book of Mormon daily. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. <3 <3 <3  literally, the gospel of Jesus Christ is so great. can everybody please just photo-copy PMG p.108 and tape it to their brains. <3 <3 the purpose of my purpose: alma 26:3-4, alma 5:7,9; alma 26:13,15. why i do what i do. PMG p.1 asks some personal questions that require personal answers, not general ones. every missionary needs to find their own answers. these scriptures are part of mine. <3 literally overusing the word literally, hearts, and smiley faces. #dontcare #alsoprobablyoverusinghashtegs :) :) #thatwasanintentionalmisspelling #wisconsinaccent ;)

so let's talk about a miracle that happened real quick. thursday = day of death (again.) but we had a lesson with our new friends that night and we didn't want to miss it. but we also didn't want to die. but we decided to show our faith. so we went. even though we hadn't been able to confirm and it was freezing cold & far away & we wanted to die. [mostly, i wanted to go home and sister blood was like "well i guess we have to go" and i was like stop being so diligent and such a good example to me. except i was grateful about it because i love her <3] AND THEN THEY WERE HOME AND IT WAS SUCH A GOOD LESSON <3 <3 <3 literally so good. the teenagers even stayed!!!!!!! teenagers never stay!!!!!!!! and i got to teach and testify of Christ which is my favorite thing EVERRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! literally ever. <3 <3 <3 also, it's a family, so WOO-HOO. questions they asked: "do you have a youth group?" "is there a dress code for church?" stop it. no. stop showing such real intent and sincerity. go hide in your room with your iphone or something typical. <3 <3 <3 :) :) I JUST LOVE TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS SO MUCH. and i love when people ask about what we do and why. 

here is why, my friends. THIS HAS MADE ME SO SO HAPPY. it's brought me so much peace. i just want this for everybody!!!!!!! and i know that it's true. i know it. :) :) :) it can bring you happiness, too :) :)

things that are true:  "His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come."

everyone should know this. :) :) so anyways, i loved it. also the mom said the closing prayer which literally NEVER happens even though we ask them every time........ adults who have never prayed before hate praying in front of people. but she did it. and it was great :) :) :) also it was approximately -50. this is not a joke. but we were fine :) 

i also need you to know that i was dying up until the moment we walked into their house. and then completely fine throughout the lesson, so excited to be sharing the Book of Mormon: another testament of Jesus Christ that nothing else even mattered, just helping my friends................ and then immediately DYING once we left their house.

if you think i'm exaggerating, you are wrong.  miracles, my friends <3 <3

okay. now let me tell you more things that i loved from this friday:

- always having a Book of Mormon within arms reach for literally over a year now. always. love it. :) :)

- "when repeated throughout life these principles [of the gospel of Jesus Christ] become an increasingly rewarding pattern of living" YES TRUE preach my gospel i love you <3 <3

other things: i was (again) dying because when i study for too long my head starts to fall apart but i can't STOP studying because it's all just SO DANG GOOD so i'm trying to answer the questions on pmg p.2 and whining "these qutestions are reaaaalllyyyy harrrrdddddddddd.........." hint: they are not that hard hahaha. #timetotakeabreak. :)

also, missionary work = making friends & helping friends. making it, obviously, the greatest thing ever :) :)

i wish there was a way to always be a missionary and see my family again. i'm torn between my two greatest loves: being a missionary and my family.

speaking of which, we've been making a list of the greatest loves of all time (gospel excluded for the sake of keeping it fun and not sacreligious) ;) top of the list: obviously texas for texas. jason derulo for his own name is also on there. feel free to submit your own ideas ;) 

also on friday sister blood and i got REAL friendship bracelets from our new friend who has a rainbow loom. apparently that's a big thing these days. we felt super legit & cool. ;) also on friday it was -15 at 8:49am. without the windchill. :)

also please know that the promise in the missionary call letter -- that greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children -- is SO SO TRUE. 

also on saturday we heard that it was going to be -61 on monday. (with the windchill.) coincidentally, this is the temperature at which santa's beard freezes. also i was telling someone that once and i accidentally said satan's beard #oopsie.

also i love my nametag. i will probably never take it off because a) all of my outfits look stupid without a little black rectangle in the corner, and b) i love it way too much. I love that it says Jesus Christ in nice bold letters. i met a friend at Goodwill who came up to me, looking at my nametag, because all she could see from where she was was "Jesus Christ" and, being Christian, she wanted to talk to me about it. :) :) :) :) :) sooooooo obviously we did haha. and when she left she asked my name and i was like yes, please only notice Christ's name and never mine. it reminded me of PMG p.123. in case you can't tell this has been a week of preach my gospel LOVIN hahah. :) :) 

sunday i was devastated in my soul because someone talked about the special spirit that missionaries have when they testify and i just never want to lose this <3 <3 <3 please never. i'm begging for a way not to have to let it go. 

seriously. send me your ideas.

also sunday we knocked on a door and they were like "..... you should be somewhere not outside." we know haha. we were freezing. (-21) :) :) then we went to dinner, and during the lesson i made a comment and then one of the elders said "yes, just like sister proffit said..." and the little kid interrupted with "WHO is sister PROFFIT???" and then we all laughed.  I LOVE MISSIONARY LIFE. 

last sentence in the actual text of preach my gospel. who knew it was the greatest thing ever?????? not me! (p. 221)

monday i played volleytennis for the first time in my life. and even though i dislike playing sports.................. it was fun. i was terrible. it was still fun hahaha. 

also it was legit-ly colder than alaska. they told us not to go outside but i did and it wasn't even that cold. i was disappointed. :) i tried to throw water out the window to watch it freeze but it did NOT freeze, thus all the hype was for nothing. haha. :) :)

tuesday we AGAIN talked about the special spirit that only missionaries have and my soul began to cry.

but, good news! elder phelps is my zone leader and i love him! from the mtc! i haven't talked to him in over a year and literally (so overusing that word) the best part of ZTM was hearing his testimony and seeing how much he's grown spiritually since the MTC. it made me think about how much i must've changed....... i haven't been able to see it as much since i'm, you know, with me all the time.......... it was cool to see him a year apart and be like dang. missionaries are awesome. :) :) love feeling the Spirit. back in elkhorn where i had my first ZTM 13 months ago!!! craaaazzzzyyyyy :) :) 

also i had a moment of pure happiness again. followed by a moment of why in the world am i so happy here hahaha. driving in the frozen car through the frozen tundra, -13 outside with the sunshine at 8:30, wearing a skirt and a parka, being a missionary, literally just SO. SO. HAPPY. i love it here. whoddathunk?????? :) :) :)

also i ate a giant burrito at a hole-in-the-wall mexican place in ELKHORN, wisconsin. #missionlyfe :) :) and i loved it.

tuesday night my dreams came true and we had dinner with the members we played volleytennis with (i had to redeem myself because when they asked what i liked to do [since obviously it was not play sports] i said "read books in the attic by myself" and they were like uhhh.... haha. whoopsie!) and the assisants and the sister training leaders. and it was just so lovely to see all my friends again in one place and i loved it :) :) :) 

AND TODAY MY ULTIMATE DREAM CAME TRUE AND I WENT TO THE TEMPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! literally. so. so. good. :) :) :) :) :) :) :) and now i am out of time. haha. but just know that i LOVE THAT PLACE and i was literally gasping for joy. so. much. happiness.  i love you all, mi familia. you are my greatest friends :) :) this gospel has blessed me so so much. i love being out here. i'm not even cold ;) LOVE YOUR GUTS  xoxoxoxoxox  sister cecelia proffit

OH i forgot to mention my favorite quote!! "it's warming up out there!" "oh yah? is it zero yet??":) :) :) :) :)#wisconsin

this is me quoting sister blood because i have no more time "We were inside a lot this week between the cold and feeling like we were dying... Here's some quotes from Sister Proffit and I to sum up our week: "Why is this happening to me? Is this gonna be forever?" "Literally owww." "I'd rather be in a coma right now." "I keep having mini seizures. I blink twice, and then I don't know where I am." "I feel like I'm climbing Mt. Everest." "I am literally on FIRE right now!" "These lights are giving me a migraine. I'm not sure what they're made of, but I think pain." Yes, we're a little bit dramatic. Oops. Even though we were dying a lot, we were at least able to entertain ourselves. We're both pretty much better now, so we're excited to finally be real missionaries tomorrow!!"    guess which ones i said. #dramaqueen  "So everyone in Wisconsin was FREAKING OUT about how cold it was going to be on Monday and Tuesday. Seriously everyone was like we're going inside and not coming back out until it gets warmer. Even President Cutler, who LOVES tracting more than anything else, told us to not go tracting or go street contacting and to stay inside as much as possible unless we had appointments. And all of our appointments cancelled because they didn't want to open their doors. Ever. And then it wasn't even that bad! I mean yes, it was like -30 with the windchill, but when we were out it did not even feel as cold as we were expecting it too. Everyone was like you'll get frostbite if you're outside for more than four minutes. False. It was not that deadly. But sadly I now think that it's warm when it's above zero.... RIDICULOUS! When Sister Proffit was backing me, she was like "everything inside of my nose is frozen." hahaha. So cold! But you get used to it."

  accurate. :)honestly i was expecting my arm to turn into a popsicle and fall off and shatter if i stuck it out the window with all the hype we were getting. and when that did not happen, i was most disappointed.

:) stay warm! we checked the snohomish weather and saw that it's raining & 40.......... haha. :) :) :)

in which sister blood and I take our friendship to the next level and get matching friendship bracelets. From the hospital :)

okay so first of all, WE'RE FINE :)

second of all, it was so delightful to see you all on Christmas! you are so cute :) our Christmas was pretty quiet, we just visited some friends, ate some food, did some studies, talked to family. it was lovely :) we got to watch gimli narrate the Christmas story with the mormon tabernacle choir at the home of my friends who love harley davidsons and motab. hahaha. :) :) and we got to watch luke II & i love that movie :) and i got pens and chapstick! which when i was 14 i thought was super lame and now that i'm 22 i think is the best ever hahah. also sister blood and i are looking forward to celebrating 2nd Christmas on January 25th. it should be lovely :) :) also THANK YOU for all the letters & mail!! y'all are delightful :) :)

thennnnnnn the day AFTER Christmas...... we were going with our friend sister b to visit our new friend angie, whennnnnnn we got rear-ended. pretty hard. they told the cops they were going 20mph which doesn't sound that fast but it knocked my glasses off my face and i was confused about why everything was blurry haha. and it was very loud. BAM. and it hurt a little bit but mostly i was just like "crap.... that's gonna hurt later...."

soooooooo then the cops came......... and an ambulance came............ and the first call sis blood made was to cancel our appointment hahah, and then to sister bonners husband, and then to the district leader. who said to call president. at this point the ambulance people were trying to move sister bonner without hurting her (she was fine, just shaken up and so they had her in a neck brace stretcher thing) and they were trying to get us to sign these forms that said we were refusing medical something something and i was like uhhhhhhh.... but anyways we were out in the cold and, funny story, i left my coat in our car in the walgreens parking lot......... remember how dad is always like "WEAR BOOTS AND BRING A COAT WHAT IF WE GET IN A CAR CRASH" and we're like "dad. we will never get in a car crash" ?? welllllll we did. and i didn't have my coat haha. but, tender mercy, it wasn't even that cold. it was probably like 20-something hahah. also, another tender: some EMT guy just HAPPENED to be walking by right after it happened and he called 911 & everything for us. yay :) okay so it's cold so the nice cop lady is like, "do you want to sit in my car?" and we're like "sure!" and i forgot that, since she's a cop, her car is a cop car.......... so by the way those seats are SO UNCOMFORTABLE and made of hard unflexible plastic with very little legroom. also....... we called president from the back of a cop car. with pagan music blaring. sis blood: "he's going to think we've gone apostate" hahahhaa :) :) so he didn't answer so we left a message. and thennnnnn did you know that cop car doors lock automatically?? even if you're not a criminal and you just want to get out to check on your friend?? so we banged on the windows a bit and they let us out and then we were like "hey can we ride with her to the hosptial?" and they said sure, but there was only 1 seat in front and 1 seat in back so i could still hear sis blood but i couldn't see her and i'm pretty sure i hurt my neck worse trying to keep her in eyesight hahaha. #missionrules #missionsrule ;)

so then gabe the ambulance driver guy was like "arrrrrrrrre you gonna sign that release??" and i was like "uhhhhh we're missionaries...." and he was like "??" and i was like "our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ......" haha jk, jk..... he was a little confused but he understood so sis blood called elder thoreson (assistant to the president) and he was not that helpful but she was like "don't we have to go to the hospital?" "oh yeah!! yeah, you have to. go to the hospital." haha #elders ;) sooooooooo we got to ride in an ambulance to a hospital. but not as patients. so that was nice. and i got to talk to gabe the ambulance driver the whole time about who we are and what we do. and it was super weird not having sister blood right there so i kept mentioning her all the time haha. "so how old are you?" "i'm 22 and sister blood is 21." etc etc. haha. it was good though. i love talking about what i do :) :) also my friend the cop lady knows some mormons in brookfield and called sis bonner later to see how we were doing and to say thank you for being so cooperative. yay, missionary moments! haha ;)

so car crash to ambulance to hospital. they check us in and give us our fancy new friendship bracelets..... they're like "so we'll take you one at a time..." and we're like "orrrrrrrrr we could stay together??" haha. they think we're the weirdest best friends of all time probably. s'all good :) :) sooooo they ask us our medical history...... both of us forget to mention that we've had concussions in the past............ the nice nurse lady is like "do you feel safe at home?" "yes." "so you don't want to hurt yourself or anyone else?" "yes. i mean no. i mean.... what??" ........... wrong answer haha. but i passed anyways ;) aaaaaand then the took us into seperate hospital rooms but they were only seperated by a curtain so we could still hear each other. and they were like "okay what hurts?" sis blood: my head kinda. me: my neck kinda. them: YOUR NECK HURTS?????? GET THIS GIRL IN A NECK BRACE ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! me: uhhhhhhhhhhh... all better????? them: nope. neck brace. now. and don't bend over or move or do anything. me: ugggghhhhh. sis blood: hahahahahaa. also, they put it on "no neck" setting. #rude ;) soooooo they talk to sis blood first and are like "so worst case scenario you have a brain bleed but i am 100% confident that you don't and if you were my wife i would say don't have a CAT scan." her: ... okay then. then they come to me are are like "okay worst case scenario you are paralyzed" and i hear sis blood BURST out laughing through the curtain hahaha. because clearly i was not paralyzed. and she is a supportive loving companion ;) sooooo they ordered an x-ray. and then we waited for a long time and took pictures and videos. and then i had an x-ray. and then we waited a long time and took pictures and videos. and thennnnnnnn they informed me that my neck was NOT broken and that we could go home. hallelujah. haha.

and so home we went! brother b drove us home. he is so nice! he's called us a few times to check up on us. and he and brother r came over with sister r to give us each a blessing. and that was lovely as well :)

sooooo then we laid on the couches for a long time. because we're pretty sure we both have concussions haha our headaches just got worse and worse........ and everyone said we would hurt worse the next day and we did............ so we accomplished basically nothing because every time we try to do things we die.......... so that's been unpleasant haha. also, thursday night we set an alarm for 12:30, 2:30, and 4:30am so that we could make sure we were still alive. "are you in a coma?" "no. are you?" "no." "k." "k." hahah. :) :)

friday was interviews with president & sister cutler! which was interesting since we were both waaayyy out of it....... haha. they'd ask what i was learning in my studies and i was like "uhhhhhh........." ;) but it was okay. i remembered a few things ;) president cutler said some really nice things and even got a little emotional..... just about how i've been a blessing to every area i've served in an few missionaries can say that and how he felt strongly impressed that it was time for kettle moraine to "feel the power of sister proffit." :) and he told sister blood that i'm the best in the mission at working with members........? haha. not sure what that means but thanks :) :)

also, sister cutler showed me alma 31:38 and yes, true <3 like literally just so true. and perfect for this week. "And the Lord provided for them ...and He also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ." literally about me <3 <3 sis blood and i have just been laughing and happy this week, even though our heads are killing us and we haven't been able to like DO anything....... s'all good. He's got this. :) :)

so saturday we got out of bed at 10:30am and then dragged our bodies to the couches and then laid there until 10:30pm. great day haha. we tried to weekly plan but could only think OR talk. not both. k i l l e r  h e a d a c h e. also neck & back aches. i learned some great things though. #1 - Ramses from Prince of Egypt is voiced by Voldemort. yes, this is true.

also, apparently i asked sister blood "WHY IS THERE A HUGE CHUNK MISSING OUT OF CANADA?????" one too many times hahahaha. the hudson bay looked bigger than i remembered from my position on the couch. (it faces a map of the world. i'm learning lots there too. #geography) :)

and then we watched the testaments. and realized that the character we related most to was Helam of Moriancum. after he gets hit by a tree. and he's laying down mumbling, "take me to the land bountiful...... that i may die....... near the temple of our God......." ;) hahaha.

also, i'm going to the chicago temple on jan. 8th. YAY :) :) :) :) :) so no letter until then. so don't worry :)

Sunday was lovely....... we were still dying but there was no way we were missing church haha so we went and kettle moraine had the BEST ward council of my mission..... 30 minutes for the missionaries, and then they just went around and talked about families that had been on their minds and made plans and it was great. also president cutler was right......... brother b is the best ward mission leader in the mission. i love all my wmls forever but brother b is exceptional and good :) :) :)

concussion-land at church was kind of a bummer haha everything was so bright and loud...... and i was having a really hard time focusing and remembering people's names....... but it was still good to be there :) :) mom -- there was a really nice piano-organ duet of angels we have heard on high. arranged by todd smith & don hustad. i asked for you :) we can play it together soon!

also someone brought a live hedgehog to church. i got to pet it. <3

and hey! miracle and tender mercy! randomly my new friend megan came to church and i didn't know her until i met her (obviously........ #concussion) but i mean i met her for the first time at church and now we're friends. because she wants to start coming back to church, yay!! so we had a new friend at church even though we weren't able to do any work this week, and why?? because Heavenly Father still loves us, that's why :) :) :) and i kept introducing her thus: "this is my friend whose name i forget," "m." "that's right. this is my friend m." haha. #concussion. ;)

soooooooooo it's been a weird one. but thanks for the prayers!! haha I know the Lord has been keeping us safe :) so grateful we weren't hurt worse. grateful we're starting to feel better. grateful for the Lord's tender mercies. honestly it's been hard being inside all the time & not being able to do any work. we're still laughing and happy and okay, but i've been going a little crazy and feeling frustrated and upset that NO ONE is tending this corner of the Lord's vineyard!!! it's been abandoned by his servants!!! i'm not doing my job!!!!!! :( :( buuuuuttttttttt it's okay. it will be okay. we are getting better and determined to do great work this week. so pray that we are able to do so :) pray that we heal up just perfectly fine, and that we find the balance between taking care of ourselves and taking care of His sheep :) :)

i'm so grateful for all of you! i'm grateful for the temple <3 and for the protection i have because of what happens there. i'm grateful for my Savior. I know that He lives. I know that our Heavenly Father lives. MERRY CHRISTMAS and happy new year, family.

scripture of my life: alma 26:1. I had no idea the blessings the Lord would give me when I started 2013.

We have no idea the blessings that are in store for us in 2014 -- blessings that the Lord is ready and anxious to give :) :)

I love Him and I love you. Hooray for forever families!!!!!


xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox


all my love --------

sister cece :) :)

finnaheck and the american gerbil society

i know, i know, the title of this email should be something much more Christmas-y.... but that's what this week has been haha finnaheck! (my new favorite word, courtesy of my new friend & district leader elder stafford)

so this week has been cray.

long story short: i am happy. SO happy. and standing all amazed and the love Jesus offers me. 

long story long begins now.

sooooooooo i basically didn't eat or sleep at all the week of transfers (#anxiety #weightloss #woo!) but it's fine, i'm feeling much much better now hahaha (i think i have a problem.......)

oh also, can we make a new rule? it's called never mention ever ever ever me coming home. as far as everyone is concerned i am going to be a missionary in wisconsin forever. okay? okay. :) :) :)

because EVERYONE here is asking me how long i've been out and i hate it hahaha. i'm going to start lying....... "a couple months....... or so.........." :) :) :)

but anyways. that's okay.

notes from monday: this mormon message http://www.mormonchannel.org/christmas-videos?v=2919740155001 reminds me of my brothers and dad. also, did you catch that the guy in the car is the same guy that cuts him off?? and the subtle gold, frank, & myrrh? :) :) LOVE it :) :)

here is something that is true: this scripture. D&C 24:12. i am confused about how i am not exhausted and dead. i do this FULL-TIME ALL THE TIME. p-day is not a day off hahaha it is a day of craziness. i give (or at least am trying to give) my WHOLE SELF to this. how am i not dying????????? because the Lord keeps His promises. that's how. :) :) :)

seriously though, it's a miracle.

also d&c 84:80.

HEY wanna know something cool?? :) :)

so i was reading in the Book of Mormon about Samuel the Lamanite, and how he makes all these cool promises, and then later on when Jesus comes He's like "hey didn't samuel make you this really cool promise?" "yeah" "and didn't you see it come true?" "well, yeah" "so how come you didn't write it down?" 

funniest verse in the Book of Mormon: "And it came to pass that Nephi remembered that this thing had not been written."

beautiful. way to go Nephi ;)

but then i was thinking about it and realizing.... woah. the Lord has made me SO many amazing promises!! and i've seen so many of them fulfilled!!! so this week i've been writing down the promises the Lord has made to me in the scriptures and then how i've seen them be fulfilled and holy WHAT the Lord is amazing and merciful and gracious and good and I love Him :) :) :) :) :)

so that's been lovely.

what else?

oh. i'm planning on going to nauvoo june 2014 to see my greatest friend sister c go to the temple to be sealed to her husband there, so anyone who wants to join me, feel free. :)

i seriously want that to happen. write it down. :)

in other news, our apartment in kettle is a MANSION. we have two bathrooms (TWO BATHROOMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and i feel like nobody is appreciating what a miracle this is. but it is. a miracle. i love it hahaha. and it's like huge and fancy and we have a real live Christmas tree so i love it :) :) 

also..... transfers are hard. moving was hard. really hard. i really love appleton forever <3 and it's been weird not knowing ANYONE or where ANYTHING is, because i've been in the fox valley for almost a YEAR and i knew everyone and where everything was. so that's been weird and hard because i am prideful hahaha. but i'm adjusting. and i'm finding out God's plan for me here. and I love kettle moraine and i love sister blood so that's good :)

FINNAHECK. we have had a great week. 5 new investigators in 3 days. and saturday morning we had 5 other lessons in the 3 hours before lunch. aka best of my mission, probs. and the greatest part was we were laughing and happy the entire time :) :) like even knocking on strangers doors i was happy, and i feel about tracting about the same way nephi felt about cutting off laban's head. (:))

so that's been lovely. also my new friend k asked me on wednesday why i know the Book of Mormon is true and i loved that. I love to feel the Spirit. I love, love, love it. I love to answer questions, i love to help people to come to know their Savior more!!!!

THIS IS THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS EVER. it doesn't even feel like Christmas hardly because i'm not with family and i haven't been shopping or napping or watching the muppet's Christmas carol but THIS IS THE GREATEST. this is Christmas. this is the Spirit of Christ! and i can never never never get enough of it :) :)

oh, so you're probably wondering about the american gerbil society.

apparently this is a thing that exists. and something we heard aaaaallllllllllllll about at our dinner appointment on friday hahahha i might never stop laughing about it. i might never stop laughing for the rest of my mission. idk. probably the rest of my life actually. i just am SO DANG HAPPY. it is ze best. :) :) :) missions are hilarious. everyone should serve one :) :) :)

friday was teaching and spiriting and falling on ice and almost dying in the freezing rain.... literally so sketch hahahaha i was STRUGGLIN so hardcore..... do you even know what freezing rain is???? it is not safe for sister missionaries hahaha. first of all, our car was all ice over so we couldn't even get in, and then we broke in, and then we could see so we waited, but then that night it was raining and freezing and the windshield wipers were making the most ANNOYING noise that i COULD NOT HANDLE and then i couldn't see because there was ICE on the windshield so we had the heater going but then my FACE was on fire and i COULDN'T HANDLE that so i'm strugglin to take my scarf off and stay on the road AND tell sister blood a hilarious story and long story short it is a miracle we are alive.

jk. please don't worry about me hahaha we're fine :) :) :) just missionary struggles hahaha.

oh speaking of which, did i tell you about that one time when there was freezing ice everywhere and i was trying to go and declare the restored gospel/good news of Jesus Christ but there was ice everywhere so i could not make it up the sidewalk at all?? literally sliding like a penguin hahaha goooooooood times :) :) :)

aahhh. have i mentioned how much i LOVE THIS MISSIONARY LIFE?????????? because, i do :) :) :) and, i saw my friends elder scott & elder schvanveldt! from mission leadership land & gb :) :) love them. love all the elders in the whole world. the wisconsin milwaukee mission is the best in the land, probably. :) :) :)

also, i love sister blood and am grateful for her <3 we are like instant best friends because we get each other on so many things. and she makes me laugh constantly and she makes me want to work harder and be better. and, go figure, the work is great when you're laughing and happy! it's easier to teach and testify about the gospel plan of happiness when you're living it and you're SO SO SO SO HAPPY. :) :) 

so yes. i am happy. i am a witness with my whole life and soul that following the Savior Jesus Christ IS the way to peace and joy NOW, and in eternity. please let there never ever ever be any question that I KNOW He lives. I know that the baby born in Bethlehem IS the Savior, the promised Messiah, the Light and Life and Hope of the world. I know it. I'm trying to give my whole life to declaring that He lives and that He IS what He declared Himself to be. :) and I love Him <3

FINNA. HECK. FAMILY. i love this mission life. somehow on saturday we used a million miles and ended up in Merton......... i don't even know. i think it's in our area somewhere. my gps led us astray. it was fine. i sent home a picture haha. :) :) 

happy, laughing, every day of my life. if you pictured me this past week laughing and driving and sliding on ice, ding ding ding!! you were correct :) :) :) also if you pictured me eating a delicious panini thing that i made up on saturday for lunch, you are doubly-correct. and also a tiny bit creepy. :) :)

sunday............ there was no church. 

let me repeat: THEY CANCELED CHURCH. #devastated.

So, a while back we were having a training on the importance of back-up plans and how we should make back-up plans for every activity, even the ones we think are super solid like baptisms and stuff, blablablah......

well. i apparently need to repent. because i have never made a back-up plan for CHURCH hahaha but apparently when it snows almost a foot in 3 hours, even the wisconsin-ites cancel church. aaaaaaaaand the ward mission leader called us and was like "you should probably stay inside all day" and we were like seriously? and he was like seriously. sooooooooo we did. we did all the productive things we could think of (dear future and current elders: PLEASE use your best handwriting in the area book always) and then we watched church movies that did not strengthen my testimony they were so weird hahaha. and then we made transfer guesses for the rest of Sister Blood's mission. it was fun times and i laughed so hard i cried (shocker.) :) :) goooooooooood times inside! snowww dayzzzzzzz!

but anyways.

it was a marvelous time.

i miss appleland.

i love kettle moraine.

i live in a town called oconomowoc.

i love it unnaturally much.

the church is true, my brothers and sisters. Jesus Christ really is who He says He is. He really can take our burdens upon Him, give us strength, sanctify & redeem us and make us Whole <3 <3

I. LOVE. HIM.

i give my whole life as a witness that He lives and loves us.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FAMILY. 

this Gospel is the plan of Happiness. I know that it is. I. am. so. happy. and I know that it is because of Jesus Christ :) :)

Merry Christmas :) talk to you wednesday <3 <3

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxox

SISTER CECE PROFFIT 

ps good reading = D&C 76:5-10, 19-24, 40-42. also this:

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Ephesians 1:10).

Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

“I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:3–4).

Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).

We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—“built upon the foundation of . . . apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20).

We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.

 

http://jesuschrist.lds.org/SonOfGod/eng/testimonies-of-him/articles/the-living-christ-the-testimony-of-the-apostles-of-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints

 

i meant COULDN'T see in the freezing rain. i am dumb.

can everyone please ignore all the horrible horrible typos in this? the delafield public library is nice but this keyboard is not my friend. and i forget how to grammar and spell. #missionlife #tooold #ohwell :)