The One with the Ticket and the Tow-truck

Week 17 (Dec 13th-19th)


I'm running short on time this week, so I'll try to make this brief and make up for it in a surplus of photos. This week went much better. The transition is getting easier with time; even though Sister Carter and my comp unity is still a work in progress. We're working on doing our role playing lessons in companion study every morning to improve teaching in harmony. I'm having a hard time talking too much in lessons, and Sister Carter doesn't want to interrupt me, so I end up dominating the lesson. But that's my goal for this week!

I became the designated driver as Sister Carter and I had quite a bit of car trouble this week. Sister Carter got a pricey ticket for passing a school bus with its stop sign out and flashing, and so we got permission for me to be the driver for a bit. Less than 24 hours later we were driving in a rural area and I tried to whip around on the road, only to catch both bumpers on the top of the sides on the road, leaving the tires essentially suspended in the air. We bottomed out. So we called our vehicle coordinator,Elder Creamer, and waited for roadside assistance for a while. On the bright side, we got to finish fleshing out our weekly planning! Hidden blessings. The car ended up being fine! I thought for sure we were going to lose one or both of the bumpers but the guy who came to save us managed to get creative and get us out without damaging anything. The front bumper is just a smidge misaligned, but it's not a big deal. So blessed.

On Sunday they forgot to assign someone to give the lesson in relief society and as they began to panic I volunteered to give it. So I got up and taught the lesson on the spot. I hadn't read any of the material beforehand and I just went for it. I mean the lesson was chapter 24 of the teachings of Howard W. Hunter titled "Following The Example of Jesus Christ", so I figured it wouldn't be that hard to improvise. Thankfully the Spirit was there and all the women participated a lot and it went amazing. Afterward everyone was so impressed and praising me like I was a rockstar, and I was just like, "Uh that wasn't me that was the spirit ok" so that was awesome.

We're excited for Christmas! We have plans set in place for dinner and a member who is letting us use their wifi to skype our families! We received glorious Christmas news that we will be given unlimited time to talk to our family! It's a Christmas miracle! We are blessed beyond compare here in Belleview and we wish the same to each of you.

Merry Christmas!

-Sister Olivia Petty🎄

Searching for people to teach in Ocklawaha, Florida 12.17.16

Sister Carter and I with Amy's daughter, Sophia, who is preparing for baptism! 12.15.16

Sister Carter and I with Amy's daughter, Sophia, who is preparing for baptism! 12.15.16

The car stuck in a rut of a road in Weirsdale 12.17.16

The One with Sister Carter

Week 16 (Dec 6th-12th)


Growth and change are not synonymous with comfort. This week was... one with a lot of opportunities for growth and change. I am continuing to adjust to these changes, but it's not easy. It was kind of a rough week, honestly. But we're working on it, Sister Carter and I.

This was my first week with my new companion, Sister Carter. She's from Farmington, Utah and she is nice! She is very fun and creative and she has the prettiest handwriting. I really like her style and the way she's done up her side of the room is simply adorable. Personally, we get along together well and have a grand old time. However as a missionary companionship it hasn't been as easy.

Sister Carter has been out on her mission for almost 5 months. This is her second area, and I am her third companion. She hasn't been out that much longer than I have, which concerned both of us, as neither of us feel confident enough to be on our own without a more seasoned missionary. We've had a few clashes; we're both used to doing things one way. And they're not often the same way. We're getting by, but it's felt like an uphill battle. Sister Carter especially has felt distressed, due to not being familiar with the area, not knowing the people, and leaving her beloved investigators in her previous area. She has come from an area where there were 5 people on date for baptism into one with zero. It's been hard for her.

A major help in making her feel at home here Belleview was the ward Christmas party on Saturday night! Most of the ward members were in attendance and were elated to meet her. The party was a smashing success with lots of food, photos and festive activities; my favorite of which was the adult coloring pages and the water colored pencils available. We also got a perfect photograph for the Christmas card. I was even able to find a Christmas sweater. Leave it to me to find the only 'ugly' Christmas sweater in Florida. It was joyous.

Amy is keeping as solid as ever and we're planning on starting some family history to find names to take to the temple soon ☺️ Lillian came to church and stayed for first and second hour! We were so glad, she hasn't been feeling well and it was a blessing to have her there. She's been throwing us curveballs as she began reading Doctrine and Covenants and somehow managed to find the 1st Official Declaration; the manifesto ending plural marriage and was very confused about that. But we're studying and learning more about it together. She's awesome; she is so going to get baptized, it's literally just a matter of time.

I hope you've all been enjoying the season and tidings of holiday joy all around. Thank you all for the well wishes and support you send me! It's always appreciated and often it is needed. Keep praying for us as we tackle this next week.

Don't eat the yellow snow,

-Sister Olivia Petty❄️

Sister Carter, Sister Rytting, Sister Phelps, and I. Sister Rytting is Sister Phelps' new companion, and I actually went to high school with her. Sister Rytting also trained Sister Carter for her first 6 weeks, so we're both standing next to our first mission field companions. Small world. 12.6.16

Sister Carter and I at Bishop Lifferth's house 12.8.16

Merry Christmas from the Belleview Sisters 12.10.16

The One with Amy's Baptism

Week 15 (Nov 29th-Dec 5th)


We did it, fam! Amy is now a baptized and confirmed member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! She is so happy, and we are too. The service was lovely and heartfelt, with many kind and caring ward members in attendance to show support and fellowship. It was almost perfect. almost.

After all was said and done, refreshments packed away, chairs folded and stored, font drained, Sister Phelps and I were exhausted and worn from a job well done. Back at the apartment after a well earned moment of rest, a thought occurred.
"...Did Brother Hunter say Amy's middle name when he baptized her?" Sister Phelps asked. When we realized that he did not in fact state her middle name, we questioned wether or not this meant what we thought it meant. We called our mission president only to have our fears assured.
"It has to be the full legal name, you'll have to do the baptism again."

After a few phone calls and tears (on my part), we had re-orchestrated the baptism to happen early before church so Amy could still be confirmed during sacrament meeting. It was quite the roller coaster but with the wards help and Heavenly Father watching over us we pulled it off. However part of that roller coaster was Amy pulling our legs and making our hearts stop. There we are with the font almost full at the crack of dawn and we get a text from her saying, "I'm not coming, sorry." when we asked what she meant she said "just kidding I'm here hahaha".
So the moment before she entered the font I said "Oh the water is freezing cold, by the way!" and she looked up at me terrified and then when she set foot in the warm water she whipped around and pinched me in the leg. It was funny. I felt a little bad, but she totally deserved it. We love her.

She was baptized again, this time her full name was said loud and clear. To be fair, her full name is a little hard. Amy is just a short nickname for a long family name from the Philippines, and Brother Hunter is Idaho born and bred, so it kind of made sense that Amy forgot to tell him her middle name; seeing as after she told him her full first name he audibly said, "Oh gosh."

At sacrament Amy was confirmed and after she came down off the stand I gave her a huge hug and she whispered in my ear, "Did he say my name right? Are we good?" to which I replied, "Yeah he did it perfect, we're good." 😊

At the program on Saturday her daughters sang "When I Am Baptized" and there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Bishop Lifferth even asked if they'd also sing it as part of the prelude for sacrament on Sunday, and they eventually said yes. They were understandably afraid of singing in front of the ward at first, but they did it and it was adorable.

Lillian was even there for sacrament to see the confirmation and the girls' song! She was super sick last week, so we were glad to see her back again. She's awesome. She's even feeding us dinner tonight, which she does regularly, but tonight will be a little different because it's a special goodbye dinner for Sister Phelps.

That's right, Sister Phelps is transferring out of Belleview and headed to a suburb of Orlando called Olympia. I'm sad to see her go, we were really hoping against reason to spend Christmas here together. But we are just grateful for the good times we had here together and we know that she's needed where she's called. Sister Phelps is even going to be a Sister Training Leader! That's amazing and I'm so proud of her and I will miss her dearly.

As for Belleview, I'm here for another transfer! I'm so grateful to stay apart of this ward family for Christmas and the days in between. My new companion is coming from Daytona tomorrow, her name is Sister Carter and I don't know anything about her other than she's nice. I trust that that's true but I'll let you know next week for sure.

I hope you've all been lighting the world and I love hearing from you guys, so don't forget to write. Also it is now okay to mail things to the mission office again. I thought it was going to be a bigger deal than it ended up being so feel free to send things there again. But for the next six weeks at least it will get to me faster here in Lady Lake! So send holiday tidings to: 423 Hwy 466 #5203 Lady Lake, FL 32159.

Be of good cheer,

-Sister Olivia Petty🛁

An accurate photo representation of how the baptism went overall 12.3.16

The gang including Rupert, the Hunter's son, and Elder Crockett 12.3.16

Sophia, Amy and Chloe 12.3.16

A sign we drive pass on our way to district meeting that we enjoy 11.30.16

The One where we Light the World

Week 14 (Nov. 22nd-28th)


Thanksgiving was plentiful; turkey was had, pies consumed, and many thanks given. I hope it was the same for each of you! We were super blessed to be fed delicious food by the Richard family in our ward, and as an added bonus I got to color with one of their grandchildren while Sister Phelps helped Sister Richard with the dishes (I'm usually more useful, I promise).

Sister Phelps and I were able to pay our gratitude forward by volunteering at a small food bank in our area. Although it wasn't on the actual day of Thanksgiving, they were so relieved to have us there on Saturday; as a portion of their usual volunteers were gone for the holiday. At the end of our shift, one of the volunteers asked "Did you have fun?" to which we responded with an enthusiastic yes. He said "No seriously, you can be honest." and we told him we were! He said "Wow I must be doing it wrong then."
We genuinely had fun, we love serving.

We're actually super stoked because this is a new ongoing service opportunity we found in our area (we found it on JustServe.org which is run by the church and is incredibly cool by the way, you should look it up). We can go every week for 2-4 hours and stock shelves with cans and various food items, put together boxes for the recipients, etc. It's an emergency food shelter, meaning those in the community who are in desperate need may come and apply to receive a food order of a set amount of items once a month. It's always so busy, it breaks our hearts. So we love being able to do something to help.

And we'll continue getting new ideas of different ways to help others thanks to this years Christmas initiative that the church just released! It's called Light The World and it's brilliant! Everyday in December leading up to Christmas there will be ideas on Mormon.org on how to be the light of the world, like Jesus. "25 ways in 25 days." If you haven't seen the video yet go look it up right now! (Well after you're done reading this email) I challenge all of you to participate in this awesome initiative and try one of the suggestions on Mormon.org every day until Christmas. It really is so easy and so clever. Do it. please.

We have a new investigator that I am still kind of in awe about. Her name is Ingrid and we met her while she was out walking her dogs. I told her that her dogs were cute and she thanked us and we introduced ourselves.
"Sisters? Do you ever make house calls and come and just visit and talk with people? Because I get pretty lonely and I'd love some sisterhood." Our jaws hit the ground. Uh yes Ingrid, yes we do. We exchanged information and that's when she told us that she was actually blind. that's right. Almost completely blind since birth. No wonder she didn't turn the other way and keep walking when we talked to her, she couldn't see our name tags...

She said she's been living in the neighborhood for 15+ years and so she knows every nook and cranny and is able to walk her dogs around. She told us that she can see enough to tell shapes, but that to her we were just like blurs and that she wouldn't be able to recognize us. It's still kind of hard to tell what she can and can't make out. But when we first met with her it was like she was reading from a script of the most perfect things to say as an investigator. She told us how much she wants to learn and how she was like "an open vessel", that she'd eagerly read anything we send her (her computer reads aloud text so we email her things), and that she was a total beginner and a clean slate.
There are a few foreseeable bumps in the road ahead, a major one being that she has leukemia, meaning she has a severely low immune system and therefor wouldn't really be able to go to church, and she's living with a guy that we are honestly not sure if he is or isn't a boyfriend or just a friend, but apparently he's totally closed off from talking about religion. so. not totally smooth sailing ahead but we'll cross those bridges when we come to them.

In other major news Amy is getting baptized this Saturday! 🎉 She is so ready and so excited! We are too! It will be such an uplifting experience and a happy distraction from the pending transfers call we will be getting that day. We find out this Saturday who will be staying and who will be going on Tuesday the 6th. Sister Phelps and I are actually really hoping and praying that we will both stay here together in Belleview for at least one more transfer. Although it is unlikely, you never know. So by this time next week we will know our fate. We're just so blessed to both be here for Amy's baptism. Such a high note to end my 12 weeks training on. Yay!


Don't forget to light the world,

-Sister Olivia Petty 💡

and now, a small photo series of us with Amy and her daughters Chloe & Sophia; wherein there were no photos where everyone looked good so just pretend one of these do. 11.27.16

Sister Phelps and I with our ward mission leader Brother D'Agostino (he even has a Boston accent) 11.25.16

The One with my First Zone Conference

Week 13 (Nov. 15th-21st)


50 years is a long time to be alive, not that long mind you, but it's still quite a feat. Although I'm not going to accomplish that anytime soon, I know someone who has. Happy 50th birthday to my mom! Her birthday was on the 16th, and at a dinner with our investigator Lillian, I noticed some pirouette cookies and said, "Aww my mom loves these... It's her birthday today." To which Lillian responded, "Well then we have to call her and say happy birthday!" My heart leapt at the idea, but I quickly told her we weren't allowed to talk to our families on the telephone (other than Mother's Day and Christmas of course).
"I never said you would talk to her, I will." She said. We decided that was kosher and I then gave her my home phone number. When there was no one picked up, she called my dads cell phone. When my dad answered, Lillian told him to make sure my mom has a happy birthday, and that Sister Petty is doing good work and Sister Phelps is doing a great job with me. I was so touched and grateful for Lillian's thoughtfulness. She then turned to Sister Phelps and said, "so when is your moms birthday?"

Speaking of absolutely amazing investigators, Amy had her baptismal interview last night! And she passed with flying colors 😊 Amy and her daughters were at church yesterday, and the girls even got speaking parts in the upcoming primary program! They are so excited! Chloe (the 9yr old) is even memorizing the articles of faith already! They amaze me constantly and I am so happy for their family to receive the blessings that the restored gospel brings in this life, and the life to come. I'm so excited! Ah!

More exciting news: Sister Missionaries of the Florida Orlando Mission are now authorized to wear pants! Apparently the Zika virus is becoming more prevalent in the southern and central Florida areas, and so we now have the option to wear pants during usual missionary activities. We still wear skirts and dresses to church and other meetings, but we can choose to wear pants when we're out tracting or riding bikes! Sister Phelps and I went to go buy some pants today, the mission will reimburse a certain amount of money for them so that's pretty nifty. We're both not too sure how we feel about it yet- we're just so used to the skirts and dresses and our wardrobes have been carefully crafted around them. But after Zone Conference, we warmed up to the idea. Especially when we're out walking the backwoods of Umatilla.

In fact, because of this huge change, we had a general authority of the seventy come to my very first Zone conference! Elder Schwitzer talked to us sisters more about why we are now taking this step of mosquito protection and prevention. When the final decision was presented to President Monson he said, "Of course. We want to do everything we can to keep our sisters safe." After hearing about that, Sister Phelps and I were sold.

The rest of Zone conference was fantastic! I loved the discussions given, feeling the Spirit, and seeing so many missionaries; including a lot of members of my former district at the MTC. We got to have a sneak peak at the video for the new Christmas initiative #LightTheWorld! It's launching the day after thanksgiving on lds.org and you seriously need to check it out, it's awesome.
At the end of conference there was also car checks and flu shots. I was actually glad to get the shot, because I actually haven't had one since 2003, even though I was supposed to get one before I came out 😬

We're stoked for thanksgiving this week, we're having dinner at the Richard's house who are (secretly my favorite) members of the ward. We're also going to visit Lillian and we're really looking forward to spending some time with her.

I'm thankful to be an ambassador of the Lord, and to be serving His children here in the Belleview South area. I'm thankful for my loving earthly parents, who celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary yesterday, and I'm grateful for my younger sisters, all of whom I miss and love very much. I'm grateful for such a kind and caring companion, for a loving ward, and most importantly for my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
(I'm also pretty thankful for our car, during car checks I found out it's probably the nicest one in the whole mission. #blessed)

Stay Humble,

-Sister Olivia Petty 🦃

outside of the Lake Mary chapel after Zone Conference 11.18.16

Me with a bird of unusual size in Lake Mary 11.18.16

exchanges 11.15.16

The One with My 21st Birthday

Week 11 (Nov 1st- Nov 7th)


Talking to strangers is one of those things that they told you not to do in elementary school, but now it's something I do every day. Sometimes I forget that that's what I'm supposed to be doing, like for a brief moment on Saturday. I was helping Sister Phelps back out of a parking spot at a seedy gas station in Ocklawaha, when a young man called out to me from inside his parked car, and asked where we were from. For half a second I almost said "California and Utah" but luckily I was able to figure out what he meant before I actually spoke. "We're from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!" He nodded and I almost got into the car, thinking that was the end of the conversation. almost.
I approached him and gave him a pass a long card with our information and said we had church tomorrow at 10am.
"If I come to church will I get to marry someone as pretty as you?" He asked.
"Probably." I responded, shrugging.
 He didn't come to church, but I got his name and number. Which in retrospect probably threw him off and explains his question.

But the good news: Not only did Amy and her daughters make it to church on Sunday, but so did Lillian! Two investigators! Two! For all three hours! It was a big deal and many thank you prayers were said.

I had a birthday. We shouted hooray. I'm one year older and wiser, too. It was a happy birthday to me. Thanks for all the well wishes, and a special thank you to those who participated in my birthday challenge and bore their testimony to others!
Sister Phelps was very kind to me throughout the day and humored me as we had an impromptu birthday photoshoot. It was a grand old time, with cake, party hats and the like. I was very blessed with a very happy birthday. And I'm so glad that I was able to spend it here in Florida as a missionary.

I apologize for the brevity this week, you know how it is.
Remember to drink 8 cups of water a day,

-Sister Olivia Petty 🎉

Sister Phelps and with a crane in the background 11.1.16

Birthday celebrations 11.4.16

The One with the Rottweilers

Week 10 (Oct 25-Oct 31)


21 years ago this Friday, November 4th, a missionary was born. and her name was Sister Petty. No, not the two in the MTC, the one in Florida. Me. For my birthday wish I would like each of you to share your testimony. Any way you please; wether that be in fast & testimony meeting, online, or to a friend or family member. Bearing your testimony strengthens it and it blesses others. Go forth and testify!

For doing relatively the same things each week, I end up with completely unique circumstances everyday. Most of the time I'll find myself in the middle of an unusual situation and not even know how I got there. One such event took place this week in Umatilla (where most strange things tend to happen), when Sister Phelps and I sought out a less active member that I had noticed on the outermost edge of our boundary. We researched further and found a blank teaching record. Seeing as we had an overabundance of miles left (we are allotted a certain amount each month), we set an appointment to go on a journey there and back again.

The less active member cautioned us over the phone that she had dogs. We didn't really think anything of it because everyone and their dog has a dog here. But what we weren't expecting were 9 Rottweilers. She breeds them. and shows them. Professionally. She has been doing so for 30+ years. 😳
It was absolutely astounding. We helped her feed them all (we followed her and watched), but there were only 2 that we actually met and that were in the house. Cindy was the sweetest, Melanie was a bit much. Have you ever had a rottweiler try to crawl in your lap?
It was an overall interesting experience, but I liked it because she liked the way I was loud & clear and made eye contact with the dogs. She said I had a "good way about [me]", and that I must be a great missionary. ☺️

Amy didn't make it to church this week, which we were massively bummed about. But there to pick us up was our favorite and most solid investigator: Lillian. She's been visiting with sister missionaries for a few months; she feeds us, she loves us, she uplifts us. She was even invited to be baptized, but she wasn't ready and not entirely sure it'd ever be for her, but she keeps meeting with us so that's saying something. She always does her reading, she always has insightful questions and she is so powerfully compelled to always learn more about Christ. She even tells us about events that could be finding opportunities for us it's like she's already a member.

Lillian hadn't come to church before because she has back problems, so sitting on the hard chairs for a few hours was pretty brutal on her. But she did it! She even came on the Sunday that the ward has a "linger longer" potluck and everyone was so amazingly kind to her it was glorious.

I couldn't dress up for Halloween, but if I could I had a brilliant idea: sister missionaries as nuns. Sound of music convent style. It'd be hilarious. We get confused as nuns all the time anyway so might as well.

Stay spooky,

-Sister Olivia Petty 🎃

It's near impossible to tell, but I'm pointing to some ducks and geese for reasons I can't remember 10.25.16

a beautiful stray cat that I fell in love with 10.25.16

Golf cart of the week 10.27.16

The One with the Sheriff

Week 9 (Oct 18th - Oct 24th)


The mission field is gaining two new Sister Petty's! Last Sunday my sisters Kate and Jane had a joint mission farewell and I'm so proud of them. I wish I was able to be there, but I did get audio of their talks and they were as amazing as expected. Jane entered the MTC last Wednesday and Kate is next up this Wednesday! Phoenix and Chicago are about to be blessed. and Anna had an exciting life event as well this last Tuesday as she turned 16! Happy Birthday Anna, I know that you will be blessed this year and learn and grow so much. Stay strong and don't forget to write.
I know that my family will be, and has been, blessed because of me and my sisters missionary service. As we devote ourselves to the Lord and His work our family will be taken care of by Him and others that He has placed in our lives. I am eternally grateful for all who have kept my family in their thoughts and prayers this last week, and especially to those who lent a helping hand when and where they could. It comforts me to know that my family is so well watched over while I'm gone. Thank you all so much.

It's starting to cool down here and feel much less like an oven in the ocean and it is so lovely. Even though it is still vastly different than I'm used to, I'm enjoying the autumnal seasonal shift. This week marks the end of my very first transfer cycle (6 weeks), and Sister Phelps and I are staying here in Belleview. We weren't expecting to be moved since I am still in my 12 week training period and it's highly unlikely for a trainer and a trainee to be moved or separated during the first two transfers. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but hey. I'm feeling blessed to stay in this wonderful ward with my tender hearted trainer and companion.

This week I felt personally persecuted for my beliefs for the first time. And it didn't even actually happen first hand, I wasn't even there. A devout catholic investigator, Mary (one of the many who have expressed they won't be baptized), was chastised on our behalf and I am fuming. When we called Mary this week we went on a rapid emotional roller coaster, as she opened with "I'm so glad you called!" followed directly by "I have had a horrible experience!"
Turns out that while we were chatting with her on her doorstep last week a Villages security truck rolled by. So they went to Mary's house and asked if two young woman had been soliciting there. She said no, that we were just there talking to her about Jesus and we weren't bugging her at all. Now that would have been okay if it was just that but no. The next day the Sheriff shows up at her door. Harassing her about us asking if we were going door to door asking for money and whatnot and she was just telling him that we weren't asking for money or anything and we didn't even knock on her door, she was in her driveway and her neighbor referred her. But that's aside the point that we weren't doing anything wrong. We literally have a license with us specifically saying that we are totally kosher to do what we do and that we are not solicitors at all.

What I'm most upset about is that our investigator got the third degree because of us. Now she doesn't want us to come see her anymore. Granted it's mostly because she doesn't want us to get in trouble, but still. What a horrible impression to leave. And so now we have to be super careful whenever we go into The Villages that we don't look like we're scoping the place out or walking around. Pretty much now we're just going in if we have a confirmed appointment with someone. Which is truly miserable because we were just getting excited about finding there and now we have to put that on hold until that's all figured out. Best case scenario at this point is that we convert the sheriff so we won't have problems like this anymore.

Fortunately we have the fruits from the finding we did do in the villages before we were on the run from the law. We met this couple Wanda and Roy and they are unworldly nice. The first time we went over to their house after contacting them they invited us in and gave us water and cookies. Then Wanda came out with a pile of clothes to give us to go give to people who may need it in our ward but that we "could pick out the best ones first". And then they asked if we knew anyone that wanted a full mattress set. I have to say that I've had a lot of unusual experiences since I've been on my mission, but nothing as unexpected as that. They are great and we really think that they could be baptized once we put in a little work. Prayers.

Speaking of prayers, did you know that they work? Because they do. Just in case you were wondering. Amy came to church on Sunday! Her and her daughters came and stayed all three hours and she loved it! We are so so grateful and saying as many thank you prayers as we said pleading prayers. A fantastic family in our ward, the Hunters, brought them. They are seriously a missionaries dream. Amy was even referred to us by Sister Hunter and she has been the best at inviting us for meals and lessons with Amy and offering rides so she can make it to church and everything. Also good news (we think), It turns out her sister isn't actually against Amy going to church or anything, the reason her sister is preventing Amy from coming to church is that Sunday's are her only day off work and so she schedules all the family events then that Amy and her daughters go to. So the problem is much easier to solve than originally expected. We're going to see what we can do to get her coming regularly. She's on track to be baptized and she's absolutely stellar.

In other news I had my second round of exchanges with my sister training leaders, this time I went to Apopka (about an hour away) with Sister Quist and shadowed her for the day. It was educational in a lot of aspects, and I made a new goal of having purposeful personal study each morning by beginning with a specific question so that as I study I can find the answer through the spirit either in the scriptures or other missionary study materials. It's been really cool seeing how specific questions get specific answers. Try it sometime. That's this weeks challenge, tell me how you do.


Wash behind your ears and chew with your mouth closed,

-Sister Olivia Petty 🍂

Sister Phelps and I with a member in our ward, Jennifer 10.18.16

District meeting feat. our zone leaders and APs, Elder Johnson's last, so we took a photo commemorating his mission "death"10.19.20

Candid of Sister Quist while on exchanges in Apopka 10.20.16

Retro golf cart 10.24.16

The One with the Sugar Sand

Week 8 (Oct 11th-Oct 17th)


Sometimes you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, but other times you are stuck between sand and an awkward place. Hazarding an uneven dirt road in our posh two wheel drive Altima, looking for a former investigator who may or may not be dead, Sister Phelps and I soon found ourselves in such a place.

It was soon made known unto us that we were stuck in fine sugar sand in the middle of nowhere Weirsdale. After a short bout of disbelief, we prayed that someone would come our way and help us out. We then proceeded to have a backward Good Samaritan experience where one passed by, and then two came and helped. First a man stopped and tried to help us figure out what to do and he stayed with us the whole time. Then a blessed couple with a truck saw we needed help and turned around home (they all lived down the street) and came back with a chain and pulled us out. We're hoping to go back there (though not driving on that particular road) and find and thank everyone who helped us, because we're hoping perhaps that it was "God dropping a pin" as we say in our district.
(side note: the former was not dead by the way, just 87, hard of hearing and uninterested.)

Another pin that was dropped had happened earlier in the week, which made the sugar sand experience all the more traumatic. On Tuesday we were navigating our way to a retirement home for a craft class we were teaching, when we felt we were circling around and needed to briefly pull over and figure out where we were going. After turning into an elementary school parking lot, we found ourselves following the one way drop off lane, where many cars were parked, waiting for school to get out. As soon as we realized what we had gotten ourselves into, we tried quickly to back out, but there were already cars parked in line behind us. Then we kind of sat there dumbfounded at the situation we were in. We now had to wait parked in the bus line until school got out and the cars started moving. So we prayed.
While we prayed I remembered a story that my seminary teacher always told us about how he was waiting for hours in a car to cross the border into Romania, and how he got out of the car and approached the guy in front of him and ended up giving him a Book of Mormon.

I did not like that I remembered that story. I did not want to remember that story. But I did. So I got out of the car and went up to the one next to us, and asked the woman what time the school was getting out. I told her our story and she thought it was really funny. because it was. She told me she was waiting to pick her grandkids up from school and I asked her what she usually did while she waited. She said text. I asked her if she ever read. She said yes. I asked her if I could give her my favorite book. She said yes. I pulled it out and said it was the Book of Mormon. I asked her if she had ever heard of it. She said yes. I asked her if she would at least read the introduction, and told her that hearing about the book from the book is so much better. She said she would.
She was so unbelievably good natured about the whole thing. She knew exactly what I was doing, I wasn't being suave at all. She could tell I was nervous and awkward, but she let me do my thing and she played along and heard me out. And if nothing else comes from that experience at least I have that.

When we weren't stuck we were doing solid work this week. Amy is doing amazing, we had a lesson on repentance and she learned a lot and I think she is really starting to grasp on and apply what she's learning. The only problem is that she hasn't been coming to church because her living situation right now is delicate. Amy and her daughters live with her older sister while Amy is working to obtain citizenship. But her sister is a devout catholic who doesn't even know she's meeting with the missionaries, let alone planning on baptism. Her sister knows that she's not really into Catholicism anymore, but we're afraid she won't react well to Amy coming to church and it might affect her living situation which would be bad. But we need her to come to church. She can't get baptized if she doesn't come to church. So we're going to have a gentle heart-to-heart chat about it this week. Praying that it goes well.

Almost everyone else we are trying to teach at the moment has told us that they wouldn't convert religions or be baptized. Which is a definite obstacle to overcome when you want them to be baptized. It's caused me a lot of heartache this week. We're having a hard time finding people to teach who actually want to be taught. I just keep reading the section in chapter 1 of preach my gospel called "being a successful missionary" and it's been comforting me a lot. I knew before I came on my mission that I wouldn't be having people lining up at the font ready to be baptized, but actually going through it is harder than I thought. I'd feel better if we were having more effective lessons with people who will keep commitments and come closer to Christ. We're doing our best and taking it one step at a time. Helaman 10:3-5 has helped me a lot:
"3 And it came to pass as he was thus pondering--being much cast down because of the wickedness of the people of the Nephites, their secret works of darkness, and their murderings, and their plunderings, and all manner of iniquities--and it came to pass as he was thus pondering in his heart, behold, a voice came unto him saying:
4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.
5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will"

 I know the Lord has great plans for this area and He has prepared people in it, and I'm just trying my hardest to be worthy to have the spirit with me always so I can hear the still small voice guiding me to where those people are.

Until next time,

-Sister Olivia Petty🚗

Our feet after getting home from the sand experience 10.12.16

Some stranger things vibes 10.12.16

Magoo, a ward members cat that is actually fatter than mine 10.11.16

Sister Phelps and I at Fiesta Bowling for my first district p-day 10.17.16

The One with Hurricane Matthew

Week 7 (Oct 4th-10th)

In the eye of a hurricane I was not, I'd call it more of an ear or maybe even a chin of a hurricane. That is to say, it was very mild and slightly disappointing where I was at. Earlier in the week we were told that as of Thursday there would be no more proselyting and the entire mission would be total lockdown. We're talking no leaving the apartment, filling the tub with water, having emergency bags packed, stocked on food, water, flashlights, batteries, the whole thing. Sister Phelps was so proactive, we stocked all of our emergency supplies and moved our mattresses into my bathroom. Heck, we even had our bicycle helmets in there 'just in case'.

Thursday was the "first day" that Matthew was expected in our area. It was just an average, grey, albeit blustery day outside. But we were sure the hurricane would really begin sweeping through our area later that night, so we holed up in our bathroom and said our prayers (which is normal for us because we're missionaries, but not the sleeping on the bathroom floor part).
In the morning, we cautiously pried the door open, half expecting our windows shattered and half the greenery in Florida in our living room. but nothing. What a disappointment. I was told category four, 140+ mph winds, nothing. we even still had power and running water.
Friday was windier and rainier, which made us feel a little better that we could have literally survived in our bedroom/bathroom shelter for a week.

However we did get to build a stellar blanket fort, which I would have preferred to survive in anyway. We set up the iPad and Bluetooth speaker and watched gospel library videos while dipping into our 'emergency essentials' (fruit by the foot and juice boxes). We even watched my fave Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration. That's the third time I've watched it since I've been on my mission.
Side note: the movie is superb, but only the theatrical release I have discovered. I don't necessarily dislike the DVD release, but it is severely lacking in comparison. watch the theatrical release on lds.org next family home evening. 10/10 recommend.

Saturday was bright and sunshiny and clear skied. Driving through Lady Lake and The Villages you'd have never guessed that an actual hurricane passed through. We had hoped to find service opportunities, but aside from the occasional palm frond, everyone's yard was as pristine as ever. But we carried on and did some real, foot to pavement, good old fashioned door to door knocking. and it was amazing. We had so many positive experiences and some strong new potential investigators. Even the most brusk exchange was relatively pleasant; a woman who knew who we were and what we do and was not interested, but commended us for our hard work and sacrifice to leave home, and gave us advice on how best to teach people in the area.

On Tuesday before all the hurricane madness I had my very first round of exchanges! It was an absolutely remarkable experience. One of my sister training leaders, Sister Prows, came to teach in Belleview with me while Sister Phelps went with our other STL, Sister Quist, to Apopka for the day. Well, a little more than a day, 24 hours actually. It felt like a real and proper sleepover. I got to know and love Sister Prows and she taught me so much about spiritual sensitivity. Since starting my mission I'd been discouraged about having to feel the spirit to make decisions at the drop of a hat. I simply couldn't just suddenly feel the spirit like turning on and off a faucet. But with her help I was able to learn more about discerning what thoughts and feelings are impressions from the spirit. It was a marvelous day and I look forward to future exchanges ☺️

Sunday was the day I got to feel like a true blue missionary. while wearing bright yellow. Our ward had the opportunity of going down closer to the coast in Daytona where the hurricane really left its mark.
Early Sunday morning we met at the Deland stake center to receive a work order, instructions, a tee shirt and a brief sacrament service. Partaking of the sacrament while in my workout pants and Mormon helping hands shirt was unusual, but the spirit was astounding. The group sang one verse of I Am a Child of God a capella, and being in that darkened chapel with no power or air conditioning, with this group of people who had traveled from so far just to serve those in need was so humbling. Even both of the Florida Area Seventies were there.
It was truly an honor to don my missionary name tag and a pair of work gloves and labor in the sun for my fellow men. I kept thinking of Mosiah 2:17, "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God".

I challenge you to look for ways to serve those around you, or someone far away, by praying for opportunities to serve. Serving others is serving your Father in Heaven, and it will help you, and others, grow closer to Him and our Savior.

Remember to floss your teeth and never cut the red wire,

-Sister Olivia Petty 🌪

a little frog I found while doing hurricane cleanup 10.9.16

Sister Phelps and I standing in front of a street in Daytona (that we had just helped finished cleaning; we forgot to take a before picture) that was struck during Hurricane Matthew 10.9.16

We (Sister Phelps) got featured in an article about the community service program we do. 10.5.16

Our hardcore blanket fort 10.6.16

The One with Cobbler

Week 6 (Sep 27th-Oct 3rd)

Raise your hand if you think that conference was the jam. the correct answer is your hand should be in the air. There were so many amazing talks on topics that were great for me to hear not only as a member, but as a missionary. I'd be interested in hearing what some of your favorites were!

This week the Lord blessed me with two very special tender mercies. The first of which were in the boondocks of Umatilla. It was rainy, which made the greenery pop and even the trashiest of trailers look quaint and whimsical. However it also made the dirt roads there precariously muddy, which Sister Phelps deftly maneuvered while I stared out the window, gushing over the picturesque scenes. Bless patient companions.

When we found who we were looking for (a members inactive daughter), she was uninterested in meeting with us or coming back to church. We began to discuss meeting with her just to help spiritually uplift her in her life, when a lovely calico cat came into my view. "IS THAT YOUR CAT." I left four cats at home. and two dogs. and two rabbits. But I see dogs every five minutes, I love it, but I haven't seen any cats. and I was desperate for cat cuddles.
The woman we were talking to didn't even jump when I yelled my question, she just looked and said, "Yeah, that's Peaches."
"Can I pet her?" I asked reverently as I was already on my knees beckoning the cat toward me. By the time she said I could I already had the cat in my lap.
"You should see my other cat, she's the real lover." she said, then she called out to the direction of her house, "COBBLER!"
"She comes when she's called?!" I asked excitedly
"Yeah she's a funny one." She said as her fiancé came around the corner, holding a cat in his arms like a baby, belly up. I start making happy squealing noises I'm not proud of making in front of strangers, but then when she put the cat in my arms everything became still, and it was just Cobbler and me. Cobbler was so chill and sleepily putting while I held her like a baby in my arms. I told the woman she had to let us come back so I could at least see her cats again. She laughed, but she also didn't say no so I'm going to keep that in mind.

The second was at the door of a less active before a scheduled lesson, there was an old couch sitting in the driveway and while we were waiting for him to answer the door I gazed over and saw two kittens. tiny. adorable. kittens. I spend the entire lesson with one in my arms at all times. The kittens were so small that when they purred their entire bodies shook. Our less active said he didn't even know where the kittens came from, and said I could probably just take them. It took every single thing I had in me to say no. Missionaries aren't allowed pets for fairly obvious reasons. That was the biggest trial of faith while on my mission thus far.

It was just a reminder for me that the Lord is so mindful of each of us that he even gives tender mercies like cat cuddles and kittens to a quirky sister missionary in belleview florida.

This week we provided a lot of service, doing some yard work and making more hats (I'm up to 6!). We also had a lot of meetings all over the place which meant that we didn't have as much time to go finding this week as we would have wanted. But we still had some great lessons, including one with Amy, and a lot of member meals. At the end of a member meal/lesson with a couple in the ward, the Gallups, Sister Gallup brought out some peach cobbler from Publix (a grocery store that's like Harmon's). Sister Gallup was saying how Publix has a really great bakery and was excited for me to try something from it. When she started serving up the cobbler, she started looking at it funny and poking it with the knife. We realized that most of the crust in the cobbler was super doughy. like it was dough. She was so embarrassed because she had just been singing praises about he bakery. Brother Gallup and I didn't especially care and had some anyway, but Sister Gallup and Sister Phelps didn't want any.
It wasn't bad.

A cool experience we had this week happened a little after dark, and a little too late for sister missionaries to be going door to door in the rain. After no luck, we made our way to a house I had my eye on the last time we were in the neighborhood. It was simply adorable in every way and I said I wanted to go there just because it was so cute. When we made our way to the door, a man answered and invited us to come in out of the rain. We were pleasantly surprised and happy to oblige. He went and fetched his wife and she came out and identified us almost immediately. "Oh you're missionary girls! We had some missionary girls come a year or two ago, don't y'all have a prophet?" Sister Phelps and I were taken aback and answered yes, and asked her more about her previous experience with missionaries. We were surprised that we had no idea missionaries had been there before. They are Jack and Brenda Rowe, and after we left with a good discussion about faith in Jesus Christ and a prayer, I checked the area book once we got back to the car and started driving home.
Apparently the missionaries had gone once a year, around the same time, the last two years. They were pretty invested in the faith they have with their church, even though they never attend. "Visited twice by missionaries in the last two years and 'coincidentally' found by us? That's it Sister Phelps, we're baptizing them." I declared.
So the Rowe's don't know it yet, but they're getting baptized.

I hope you all had a lovely conference weekend surround by family + the spirit. and even if you couldn't be with your family like me, knowing that they love you and you'll all be together forever anyway.
My challenge for you this week is to apply Elder Ronald A. Rasband's talk and record a spiritual experience that you've had. Either recently or an important one you've had in the past.

Drink your milk + respect your elders,

-Sister Olivia Petty✨

Lovely green road 9.29.16

a selfie for fun 10.2.16

The One with Florida

Week 4 (Sep 12th-18th 2016) & Week 5 (Sep 18th-26th)

Are you sitting comfortably? Let's begin.

Here I am in Flori-dada. My flight was a snap and everything was smooth sailing. then there we were, bright eyed bushy tailed greenies fresh from the 801, in the city beautiful: Orlando. We met our Mission President and his wife and were able to find them and all our luggage easily. No mishaps or delays; the Lord blesses His missionaries. President and Sister Clark are the sweetest and they are new to the mission too, so they'll be here for the entirety of my mission which is massively comforting.
We all had dinner at the mission home and shared a quick devotional before sleeping either there, a hotel, or (if you were a sister like unto myself) the resident ward mission leaders home for the night. Then when the morning came, we met at the church for the real and official transfers meeting, where we'd be meeting our trainers and learning where our very first area would be. and get our iPads which I was particularly jazzed about.

I'm now serving in the Leesburg Zone of the Florida Orlando Mission, in the Belleview South Area. but my apartment is in a little place called Lady Lake (there are a lot of names to remember. there are like 5 towns in my area but it's only half of the ward I'm serving in its bizarre). I then met my new companion and trainer, Sister Phelps. She is the sweetest and most humble thing with two legs and a name tag. She's from Grass Valley California and is a bomb missionary. Don't worry fam, I'm in good hands. Between Sister Phelps, my district, the ward, and the Lord I feel very safe secure and welcome.

It is so green here. It was the first thing I noticed as the clouds parted while the plane was descending. That and water. Lakes. Ponds. Puddles of unusual size. so many small bodies of water dotted everywhere. My top three favorite things about Florida nature is 1. Lizards. 2. Spanish Moss. 3. Banana trees.
You should see me when I see a lizard. They are everywhere; they are tiny and adorable and super fast, so I haven't caught one to love and cherish yet. But if I talked to people on the street the way I do to any given lizard, my success as a missionary would deplete pretty quickly:
"HI! YOUR NAME IS CYNTHIA AND I LOVE YOU."

But the thing I truly love about Florida (the area I'm in, at least) is the bizarre culture.
Before I came to Florida the most golf carts I'd ever seen in one place at one time was maybe about three. now it's like 50. There are more gold carts than people. and the people that drive them are sunkissed retirees with small immaculately groomed dogs in their laps. It's magnificent.
The location where this is most prevalent is a whimsical place called The Villages. Oh my goodness it's amazing. Candy colored houses with a golf cart in every driveway and various lawn furniture in front of each screened porch. I've heard so many many great descriptors for it, but my favorites include "Disney world for the elderly", "maze of old people" and place where "no matter how wealthy you are you will still do anything for a free hot dog". Please look this place up. It is glorious. and sometimes when we drive by a pristine house with a plastic dalmatian and fire hydrant I just laugh because I still can't believe this place is real.

AND THE PEOPLE. okay. let's put it this way; it's like college kids that never grew up. They all party and go out drinking at 6pm at night, and the people who aren't dating around are newlyweds. 55+ and a newlywed. It still trips me out when I will be thinking that here this couple has been married for 40-50 years and then they mention their two year wedding anniversary is coming up.
One of the sisters in my mission wrote that she's serving in a YSA ward now. and I was like. you know what. I am too. but an OSA ward. (old single adults)

Okay, okay, I'm done. I love it so much, it's so quirky and always keeping me on my toes. I really do love it here and the people. I never thought that my problem would be getting investigators to stop talking, but here I am. People love chatting here and so it's hard sometimes to get a quick lesson or a thought in before we're almost running late to our next appointment.

One of my favorite parts of the week is when we go and do our community service at the local library, we loom hats for pediatric cancer patients and we get to meet and talk to the sweetest people. It's a nice relaxing break without having to actually stop serving.
Not that I necessarily need a break; good news friends, I am in a full car area! That means no cycling for me for the next 6-12 weeks at least! So many blessings and tender mercies. It is so hot and so humid. and it rains a lot, but not as much as I expected because apparently the summer is winding down to a close. I forget that it's technically autumn until I go into a grocery store and see Halloween merchandise. It's hard to get in that mindset when you're surrounded by palm trees.

I'm told I'm in the best ward in the mission and I absolutely believe it. The members are amazing. They fellowship investigators, less actives, and recent converts like its nobodies business and they feed us almost every night. Belleview is a blessed ward. Sister Phelps and I even got a chance to teach primary sharing time yesterday about how you can be a missionary now.

The work has been slow, but steady. I knew coming in that a lot of people don't really follow through, but I wasn't expecting it to be so much so often. We have so many potential and progressing investigators that were doing so amazing but then fall off the face of the planet and never call or text us back again. We go to their houses and no one will answer, even if we did have a set appointment. It can be frustrating, but it makes the lessons that happen so worthwhile. A bit of vocab I had to learn is the term 'Snowbird'. It means a resident that leaves Florida for the summer but comes back in the winter months. I'm told that they should be coming back soon and we'll have a lot more people to talk to then. I'm pumped for that.
However I do have an investigator on date(!!!), her name is Amy and her and her two young daughters (ages 6 & 8) just came to America from the Philippines and have seen God's hand blessing their lives. She had a few lessons with the sisters before I got here, but was having a really hard time grasping and understanding the plan of salvation. So Sister Phelps and I brought this cute little visual of it, with cards to put in order to explain how the plan works. It all clicked and she finally got it. When we asked her to pray to know if it is true she said "oh I already know it is true" but said she would anyway.
Our lesson after that we reviewed the restoration (she had a hard time understanding the priesthood), and she asked amazing insightful questions that showed she was really listening and thinking about it; taking it all in. At the end of the lesson we asked her if she would be baptized in mid November. She said yes. I was screaming on the inside I was so happy. She's not totally confident about it yet, it's not like she's going to be jumping in the font, but we set up the date and told her it wasn't set in stone, just a goal to work towards as we teach her more. I'm so excited for her! She is so ready, the Lord has been preparing her for a long time.

The women's session of general conference was also this past weekend! It was amazing and I highly and totally recommend watching or listening to it if you haven't had the chance yet. If you don't have a lot of time, be sure you get around to Sister Carole M. Stephens and Elder Dieter F. Utchdorf's. All of the talks were superb, but those two were especially striking to me.

This week as you prepare for conference, try to prayerfully consider a question to ask God to help answer through His Prophet and Apostles. Anything that may be pressing your mind or heart, or just a simple affirmation you need, Heavenly Father will help you hear what you need to by the spirit.

Be good,

-Sister Olivia Petty

Phelps and I with ornaments we made in addition to our hats last week 9.20.16

Enjoying the blessings of a full car area 9.19.16

My first hat! (and the name tag Bobbi made for me bc I wanted one even though I am always wearing a name tag already) 9.21.16

Golf carts parked in the square early on a Friday evening 9.16.16