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