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