A few short weeks ago, I posted a poll about craw fish.
The poll asked the question: "Would you eat a craw fish boil?" and then it gave options including, basically, a yes, a no, a maybe, and an already have.
I feel as though I've given an appropriate amount of time for answers to trickle in sooooo, here are the results... Drum roll, please?
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Would you eat a craw fish boil?
a. Yes! It looks tasty! --------------------------- 38%
b. No way! Gross... ----------------------------- 25%
c. Maybe? -------------------------------------- 18.5%
d. I have before, and I loved it! ------------------ 18.5%
So there you have it! It looks like, despite how the craw fish looks, most of you would say 'yes' to a craw fish boil!
...I guess you all know who to contact next June for a craw-fish-eating-get-together! haha *hint: It's Collette.*
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Turtles
Last Sunday, Mother's Day, we were able to get together to talk with Sister Barclay via Skype Video Calling! Technology these days is really amazing. Not all of us could be in Cedar for the call, so we hooked it up so we could video call our other sister, Becca, and her little family on another phone so she could see and hear Collette just like the rest of us! We were even able to take a screen-shot-mother-daughters picture while holding up Becca on the other phone haha AND Collette got to meet her newest nephew, Lucas, who was born in February.
It was wonderful to see and hear Sister Barclay as she told us about her missionary life. We also got to talk to Sister Carpenter for a moment and she really is as sweet as Collette makes her sound! What a fun pair they are.
We touched base with her on the people she has been telling us about teaching and we got to hear her beautiful testimony of the gospel. She definitely spreads her love for the gospel through that infectious smile of hers! She had us all laughing and smiling... especially when they told us about the elders finding a turtle and taking it to the sisters' apartment! Cole told us that the turtle wandered around for a good few days and they absolutely loved it! haha
Now, as if you didn't already know how inspiring that girl is, I've shared below, her letter to us from this week. I've highlighted a few things I thought were uplifting, but really, I think there are many things she said in this letter, that we could all benefit from. She is amazing!
"Hey y'all! How is everyone??
This week has been so crazy; let me tell ya all about it! Monday (5/11): Normally on P-days Sister Carpenter makes me sweat, so this P-day I made her a deal that if she makes me sweat, I was going to make her shop! It was so fun; we took all of P-day to ourselves! We went to Plato's Closet and Ross! We had lunch and unlimited ice cream! It was so fun! And, secretly, I think she loved it! She got so many cute new clothes! We just have too much fun!
Then we went to the Harris'... they are so cool; they have traveled all over! Then she sent my mom a picture of us, because she loved when members did that for her missionaries! We also had FHE with Josh and Daisy and Family! It went really well! We talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ and through our faith, we Repent and become like our savior. It was kind of crazy because everyone seemed a little distracted, but overall it went really well and they are progressing so good! They are the best! We love them so much!!!
Tuesday (5/12): We met with Lauren, who is a less active member who is really struggling. She lost her job and is now moving back to California with no money and no plans really... it is so hard to see this. We wish we could just keep her here to keep teaching her, but she is going through a lot and needs to figure out what she wants. She has just been giving us the answers she thinks we want to hear, she has given up on everything, and is just lost. I've seen so much of that here! But when we finally got to the lesson we talked about how Heavenly father has a plan for her, and that it is never a too late to come back, to repent, and to come unto the Savior. We told her that Heavenly Father is very aware of everything we do in our lives. He will never leave us! Even when you feel like He has, He is always right there waiting for you to turn to him. The Lord will make us bend, but he will never let us break. Life is not always going to be easy, but only through the atonement can we get through hard things. The atonement is for our sad face days! We need to remember that Jesus Christ loves us and doesn't expect us to be perfect, but he wants us to try our best and turn to him.
Wednesday (5/13): Such a crazy day! Lesson learned: if you have a full day planned and one of your lessons goes over 10 minutes, you are late to everything that follows! Needless to say, I did a lot of running that day. LITERALLY! We cleaned a hoarder's house! It was pretty horrible; piles all the way to the ceiling and cat hair balls everywhere... dirty clothes and papers EVERYWHERE!!
Tuesday (5/12): We met with Lauren, who is a less active member who is really struggling. She lost her job and is now moving back to California with no money and no plans really... it is so hard to see this. We wish we could just keep her here to keep teaching her, but she is going through a lot and needs to figure out what she wants. She has just been giving us the answers she thinks we want to hear, she has given up on everything, and is just lost. I've seen so much of that here! But when we finally got to the lesson we talked about how Heavenly father has a plan for her, and that it is never a too late to come back, to repent, and to come unto the Savior. We told her that Heavenly Father is very aware of everything we do in our lives. He will never leave us! Even when you feel like He has, He is always right there waiting for you to turn to him. The Lord will make us bend, but he will never let us break. Life is not always going to be easy, but only through the atonement can we get through hard things. The atonement is for our sad face days! We need to remember that Jesus Christ loves us and doesn't expect us to be perfect, but he wants us to try our best and turn to him.
Wednesday (5/13): Such a crazy day! Lesson learned: if you have a full day planned and one of your lessons goes over 10 minutes, you are late to everything that follows! Needless to say, I did a lot of running that day. LITERALLY! We cleaned a hoarder's house! It was pretty horrible; piles all the way to the ceiling and cat hair balls everywhere... dirty clothes and papers EVERYWHERE!!
We also had a lesson in a tree, with Haley, a Free Speech Alley contact. She's so cool! She works at the observatory and she took us to the park nearby to have a lesson in a tree that grew over a creek!
Then we ran back to campus for Andrew! He's also a Free Speech Alley contact, who is super cool and progressing extremely well! We introduced the Book of Mormon very quickly and he committed to read it!
Then the best part of my day... we got to go to the temple for Ginger Jensen [interruption from Liz: We know Ginger from Cedar City (Collette's home town) and now she is living in Baton Rouge! How cool that Collette was able to experience that with her!] She is so beautiful! That was my first time in the Baton Rouge Temple and let me tell you, it was so beautiful; very small, but I could feel the spirit so strong. I could feel Heavenly Father and I just felt so peaceful and could feel that I was suppose to be there! It is such an amazing feeling as we do work for others:)
Thursday (5/14): Exchanges! I was with Sister Ochs (you say it like 'Oaks', it's German or something)! It was so fun; I got to take over LSU for a day and a half! Let me tell you, it was hard, but everyone thinks I'm going to be a trainer soon, so I needed to stay! I'd be a pretty crazy trainer; that poor missionary! haha Jk
Thursday (5/14): Exchanges! I was with Sister Ochs (you say it like 'Oaks', it's German or something)! It was so fun; I got to take over LSU for a day and a half! Let me tell you, it was hard, but everyone thinks I'm going to be a trainer soon, so I needed to stay! I'd be a pretty crazy trainer; that poor missionary! haha Jk
We had coordination with the other missionaries in our ward, Elder Lehr and Elder Richardson, and the ward mission leader, Brother Tucker, at his new business Area 51, the trampoline place!
Then we made our way back to campus to meet Allison, Lauren's roommate. With her we talked about the Atonement. Sister Ochs drew her a picture and talked about how because Jesus Christ atoned for our sins, we can cross the bridge and not fall into sin or death. Christ made the atonement possible. She really loved it; the spirit was so strong!
Friday (5/15): Still on exchanges, we went and saw Phil; he's my favorite! He took us to lunch and we talked about his perception of God and how he loves him so much and he'll always answer prayers! We are really making progress with Phil!
Friday (5/15): Still on exchanges, we went and saw Phil; he's my favorite! He took us to lunch and we talked about his perception of God and how he loves him so much and he'll always answer prayers! We are really making progress with Phil!
We also met with Chelsea. We got to know her and she told us all about her wedding plans, that aren't going to happen for another 2 years because until she finishes school, she's not getting married. That's a really long time, but shes really excited!
I held another turtle we found at the Institute building it was a lot bigger than the last one! I'm in Turtle Heaven over here!
Saturday (5/16): We went to a roller derby for Andrew! It was quite the experience! But it was really fun! Right before we went there, we went to Pastimes to check up on Daisy. Little did we know, it was a restaurant, and she worked in the bar part. We had calzones and po-boys... and prayed in a bar! It was so weird! But Daisy was doing really good!!
Saturday (5/16): We went to a roller derby for Andrew! It was quite the experience! But it was really fun! Right before we went there, we went to Pastimes to check up on Daisy. Little did we know, it was a restaurant, and she worked in the bar part. We had calzones and po-boys... and prayed in a bar! It was so weird! But Daisy was doing really good!!
Being a missionary is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and sometimes I really struggle being here. Every day comes with challenges and some days you just don't want to get up at 6:30am to get ready and hit the books, and sometimes you feel like you are not being successful or doing any good, and you lose your way, and you just feel Satan is throwing everything your way, but I have learned so much and my testimony of the Gospel is never shaking! I have learned that no matter how many times you fall, Heavenly Father is always right there picking you up and loving you perfectly, even when you are feeling like the smallest person on this whole earth.
Heavenly Father called me, SISTER BARCLAY, to be me; to come with my weaknesses and strengths and help others find their way! I love my Savior; I know he lives and hears my prayers. I know this church is true and that families can be together forever. I know that because of the Atonement, we can cross those bridges and get back to our Heavenly Father, so don't give up when life gets hard! Pray and COME UNTO THE SAVIOR and trust in him!
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Craw Fish Poll
Ok so, this week, Collette sent us some pictures of her "first craw fish boil!!!!!!!" We, her sisters, think those look absolutely horrifying... I mean, I love me some lobster... but you'd better believe I make my husband pick out the meat for me since I'm not going anywhere near that bug-like shell haha
That being said, we decided that we'd post a little poll this week for everyone to participate in! PLEASE vote! I'm interested in seeing what you all think AND comment if you've eaten some craw fish before!
Thanks "all y'all!"
That being said, we decided that we'd post a little poll this week for everyone to participate in! PLEASE vote! I'm interested in seeing what you all think AND comment if you've eaten some craw fish before!
Thanks "all y'all!"
Fill out my online form.
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Sunday, May 3, 2015
Words to Her Mama
I know we're supposed to hear from Sister Barclay tomorrow, but I'm a bit behind on things, so I still thought you'd all love to hear a few things she was able to send my mom this past week and see some pictures! It sounds like Sister Barclay has been pretty sick AND they've had to endure tornado weather (yikes!) so be sure to send prayers her way and as always, she would love to hear from you via "snail mail"! Check the write me tab and send her and Sister Carpenter some L-O-V-E!
Email to Mom:
"So guess what? I have been sick for the past couple of days and I just can't get over it! ...I'm feeling a little better today, but I'm still coughing! Dang, being sick on a mission is awful! But on the brightside, me and Sister Carpenter are probably the closest we have ever been; she was so great to take care of me and my sickness! She's so wonderful!
Anywho... I have been learning a lot about testimonies... and it's so cool to hear all different kids of testimonies and what people here in the South believe. Also, it's been fun having different companions with a different set of instructions... It's more powerful to tell truths and what you know and believe rather than a 'thanksimony'. A testimony is probably the most effective tool we have in sharing the gospel! I've seen it so many times where we could be lost in a lesson with no words to say and once we open our mouths and start testifying, that spirit almost illuminates the whole room and it is the most powerful lesson ever! How cool! Even something as simple as a testimony can bring the spirit so strong! It's so awesome to be sitting on the front row watching testimonies grow!
...So I'm gonna freak you out for a second. Hopefully not too bad, but yesterday, we had THREE tornadoes hit! We were in lock-down all morning; it was soooooo scary! It was raining so hard and a bunch of trees fell over. Also, the lightning was crazy! haha Me and Sister Carpenter took cover in the bathroom! It was so scary!
It's been such a crazy transfer! I'm staying at LSU with Sister Carpenter for another transfer! Can you believe I've almost been out for five months now!? Wow! I can't even... time is flying by!
...Louisiana is pretty crazy, but I'm loving it! It's really fun and crazy, but I feel like I'm finally finding my place in this mission! I have made so many friends and experienced the coolest things. I feel so much closer to my Heavenly Father than ever before! A mission is really the hardest thing I've ever done, but at the end of every day, it has all been worth it! I love this gospel so much!"
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| Showing her Louisiana State University Pride! |
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| Love that LSU! |
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| "This is Dallin; He helped us fix our car! Dang, he's so tall!" |
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| Sister, Sister! |
Email to Mom:
"So guess what? I have been sick for the past couple of days and I just can't get over it! ...I'm feeling a little better today, but I'm still coughing! Dang, being sick on a mission is awful! But on the brightside, me and Sister Carpenter are probably the closest we have ever been; she was so great to take care of me and my sickness! She's so wonderful!
Anywho... I have been learning a lot about testimonies... and it's so cool to hear all different kids of testimonies and what people here in the South believe. Also, it's been fun having different companions with a different set of instructions... It's more powerful to tell truths and what you know and believe rather than a 'thanksimony'. A testimony is probably the most effective tool we have in sharing the gospel! I've seen it so many times where we could be lost in a lesson with no words to say and once we open our mouths and start testifying, that spirit almost illuminates the whole room and it is the most powerful lesson ever! How cool! Even something as simple as a testimony can bring the spirit so strong! It's so awesome to be sitting on the front row watching testimonies grow!
...So I'm gonna freak you out for a second. Hopefully not too bad, but yesterday, we had THREE tornadoes hit! We were in lock-down all morning; it was soooooo scary! It was raining so hard and a bunch of trees fell over. Also, the lightning was crazy! haha Me and Sister Carpenter took cover in the bathroom! It was so scary!
It's been such a crazy transfer! I'm staying at LSU with Sister Carpenter for another transfer! Can you believe I've almost been out for five months now!? Wow! I can't even... time is flying by!
...Louisiana is pretty crazy, but I'm loving it! It's really fun and crazy, but I feel like I'm finally finding my place in this mission! I have made so many friends and experienced the coolest things. I feel so much closer to my Heavenly Father than ever before! A mission is really the hardest thing I've ever done, but at the end of every day, it has all been worth it! I love this gospel so much!"
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Lessons From the Porch
Apparently, Sister Barclay's computer wasn't letting her do photo uploads so those will be on next week... maybe... but my dad got an email this week that he thought he'd share. So without further ramblings from this sister of Sister Barclay, here ya go:
Email to dad:
"It (this last week) has been so crazy...I don't even know where to begin! We locked ourselves out of our car and our apartment; we had to have the office elders come unlock it for us... three hours later! But we still managed to teach two lessons from our porch! haha! They went so good.
Sister Carpenter was helping this guy we were supposed to teach with directions to our house, so she left me to teaching Arielle, who makes me really nervous because she is very logical and likes to question everything. Which is good, but it makes me nervous... but I just went with it and I was just feeling the spirit so strong and I just bore my testimony with my whole heart to her about this gospel. It was one of the most spiritual moments of my whole mission thus far! We talked about the Atonement and how only through the gospel and Jesus Christ can we be clean and forgiven. She started crying and the spirit was so strong! I know that the Lord has been speaking through my words! I know that the Atonement is real and Christ really did die for us, because he loves us! This gospel can truly bless lives!
AND that guy getting directions showed up. He's in the military... he's a lil' guy but tough. He's been investigating the church for almost a year! He's been struggling with a little bit of depression, so I've been having him send us one thing he is grateful for everyday and it has really been working. He has received so many blessings! I told him that that was the Lord's hand in his life and he got the biggest smile on his face! My ultimate goal with him is to make him happy and I think it's working. Every day I ask him if he's smiling! haha I think I was called to Baton Rouge to make others happy! I love to smile! He didn't know who the current prophet was so we showed him a video that mom sent me from the stake challenge on the attitude of gratitude with President Monson and I think he really liked it!
So the next crazy thing that happened... Sister Carpenter's GPS broke so we got soooo lost! We were 30 minutes late for a dinner appointment and missed correlation meeting because we were so lost that we had to stop at a Lowe's to ask someone where we were! We are space cases lately!
So I'm in two wards, ya know? So for the Baton Rouge 2nd Ward, we found the cutest lil' family! Josh and Daisy and their two kids! They are the best! They are really progressing and they are so excited to learn more and find out for themselves! Josh is awesome. He's such a great dad and he does all he can to provide for his family even when nothing seems to be going right. He wants to come unto Christ and he has said that when we left his house last week, he could feel the spirit drift away and he wanted that good feeling in his house all the time... he's just not sure how to get it! He's a little nervous about coming to church with us, but he'll come around! Man, we are so excited for this family! We love teaching them! I'll keep ya updated!
Also, I'm pretty sure my name tag just says 'Feed me' on it! Everyone keeps feeding us; I think I've gained like 15 pounds since being here! hahahaha I can't even! Louisiana food is just too amazing!!"
And that's all for this week! Isn't she great? We absolutely love our missionary mail days! Hopefully next week, I can add some pictures! AND let's all pray that they don't get lost or locked out again... haha
Email to dad:
"It (this last week) has been so crazy...I don't even know where to begin! We locked ourselves out of our car and our apartment; we had to have the office elders come unlock it for us... three hours later! But we still managed to teach two lessons from our porch! haha! They went so good.
Sister Carpenter was helping this guy we were supposed to teach with directions to our house, so she left me to teaching Arielle, who makes me really nervous because she is very logical and likes to question everything. Which is good, but it makes me nervous... but I just went with it and I was just feeling the spirit so strong and I just bore my testimony with my whole heart to her about this gospel. It was one of the most spiritual moments of my whole mission thus far! We talked about the Atonement and how only through the gospel and Jesus Christ can we be clean and forgiven. She started crying and the spirit was so strong! I know that the Lord has been speaking through my words! I know that the Atonement is real and Christ really did die for us, because he loves us! This gospel can truly bless lives!
AND that guy getting directions showed up. He's in the military... he's a lil' guy but tough. He's been investigating the church for almost a year! He's been struggling with a little bit of depression, so I've been having him send us one thing he is grateful for everyday and it has really been working. He has received so many blessings! I told him that that was the Lord's hand in his life and he got the biggest smile on his face! My ultimate goal with him is to make him happy and I think it's working. Every day I ask him if he's smiling! haha I think I was called to Baton Rouge to make others happy! I love to smile! He didn't know who the current prophet was so we showed him a video that mom sent me from the stake challenge on the attitude of gratitude with President Monson and I think he really liked it!
So the next crazy thing that happened... Sister Carpenter's GPS broke so we got soooo lost! We were 30 minutes late for a dinner appointment and missed correlation meeting because we were so lost that we had to stop at a Lowe's to ask someone where we were! We are space cases lately!
So I'm in two wards, ya know? So for the Baton Rouge 2nd Ward, we found the cutest lil' family! Josh and Daisy and their two kids! They are the best! They are really progressing and they are so excited to learn more and find out for themselves! Josh is awesome. He's such a great dad and he does all he can to provide for his family even when nothing seems to be going right. He wants to come unto Christ and he has said that when we left his house last week, he could feel the spirit drift away and he wanted that good feeling in his house all the time... he's just not sure how to get it! He's a little nervous about coming to church with us, but he'll come around! Man, we are so excited for this family! We love teaching them! I'll keep ya updated!
Also, I'm pretty sure my name tag just says 'Feed me' on it! Everyone keeps feeding us; I think I've gained like 15 pounds since being here! hahahaha I can't even! Louisiana food is just too amazing!!"
And that's all for this week! Isn't she great? We absolutely love our missionary mail days! Hopefully next week, I can add some pictures! AND let's all pray that they don't get lost or locked out again... haha
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Louisiana Life
Sorry that the blog has been pretty much MIA the last two weeks! I'm getting behind! BUT the good news is that that means I'm sharing a letter we got from her this week, plus pictures from this week AND last week! We sure love our missionary!
Don't forget to keep sending those letters! Her new address for Baton Rouge can be found in her "Write Me!" tab at the top of the page. Thanks for loving and supporting Sister Barclay, wherever you are reading from!
"Hey y'all!!! It has been a pretty fantastic week... here's a few things I wanted to share!
Don't forget to keep sending those letters! Her new address for Baton Rouge can be found in her "Write Me!" tab at the top of the page. Thanks for loving and supporting Sister Barclay, wherever you are reading from!
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| I am standing in the same area that Fat Amy from Pitch Perfect said, "Mmm... Betta not!" |
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| That's Mike the Tiger! He's the real deal! |
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| Hanging out with Sister Carpenter |
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| Sister Barclay and Sister Carpenter riding their bikes! |
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| Free Speech Alley with Sister King! Aren't we cute? |
"Hey y'all!!! It has been a pretty fantastic week... here's a few things I wanted to share!
We have a couple new people we have been meeting with, so it's been keeping us real busy! We were looking through the Baton Rouge 2nd Ward roster and came across a woman's name, and I just felt like we should go see her, so we headed to her house and it turns out she is deaf. She is very less active because no one is able to interpret for her, but she was so welcoming and luckily, Sister Carpenter could communicate because she knows how to do Sign Language! We had such an amazing time with her, even though I couldn't speak to her Sister Carpenter could. SIGN LANGUAGE IS BEAUTIFUL, and prayers in sign language even better! But we found some other deaf people in some other wards and we brought them with us to help interpret and talk with her! It went so good, we taught the restoration of the gospel and she loved it! We are so excited, and I love that sister Carpenter is so happy and excited every time we get to have a lesson with her. The spirit in those lessons just make my heart want to jump out of my chest! I love it and I am learning to sign! How cool!
So we have been working with a less active member named Lauren, she is so beautiful! I love her! Her roommate has been sitting in on the lessons with us and she has finally started to really investigate the church for herself. We introduced her to the Book of Mormon and she wanted to read the whole thing; she is so curious and wants to learn!!! We have a lesson with her tonight, so fingers crossed all went good; I'll keep y'all posted!
People in Louisiana are hoarders!!! haha I helped a family spring clean their house! Junk, Junk, everywhere! Haha I can't even! MOM YOU WOULD OF DIED! I'm so serious, piles of stuff everywhere! We didn't even make a dent! And things that were ripped or torn, she duct taped it and wouldn't get rid of it! People are so funny 'round here! For real!
It's so cool, here in baton rouge you could go from a real sketchy, dangerous part of town, straight to mansions and beautiful homes! The houses here are so cool! We got to teach a lesson to an active family in a mansion! Dang! It was beautiful!
I love my YSA ward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So we contacted this guy washing his dog, and we talked about families being together forever and he told us that family was so important to him, being a dad is so important, he said we could come back and talk to him and his wife! So we went yesterday and he told us when we met him, he was having a really rough time and didn't know where to turn to and that it was an answer to his prayers that we came to him. We ended up teaching his whole family and a few of the neighborhood kids and their cousin the restoration and they loved it; they all want to get baptized! We have 6 new investigators! Man, the gospel is REAL!!!!
Also, it's getting super hot and humid here; it's so gross! I feel like I'm drowning!
I know that this gospel is the pathway to a greater happiness, and it brings so many blessings! I know that only through my Father in Heaven, all things are possible and that because of him we can do anything! I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet and that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet on the earth today! I know the Atonement is real, and we can start over and change through it! I love this gospel and I'm so glad I get the chance to share that!
I love all y'all and each y'all! Have a beautiful and blessed week!
Love, Sister Barclay"
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| The fraternities and sororities are so big here! They have giant houses and people deliver food and clean for them! It's like the movies! |
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| YSA activity! |
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| A glimpse of Baton Rouge |
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Spring Attire
Today my mom sent me a text she received from the Sister Lauper in the mission office in Baton Rouge. It's a cute picture of Collette and another sister missionary! Thought we'd share. Happy Easter!
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| "These two beautiful sisters came into the office today. They're on their way to LSU for Free Speech Alley. I thought you'd like to see them in their Spring attire :)" -Sister Lauper |
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