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