1st week in Louisiana!

Sister Cornia with President and Sister Hansen

This week has been insane! I flew to Louisiana on Tuesday and holy cow the air is so thick. Today it got up to 113 degrees!! I was assigned to work in the Leesville mission (a small city really close to Texas), and couldn't love it anymore! There are a million trees here that are just beautiful. My companion/trainer is Sister Tomblin and I love her! She is super sweet and we get along so well. 

When I first came into the apartment there was a huge cockroach waiting to welcome me, agh it was nasty!!

My welcome present to Louisiana 

(we named him roachy) 

We ran out of bug spray so then we just put a cup over it. The bugs here are so massive. The other day we had a water bug on the ceiling and that was an adventure full of screams, then today there was seriously the biggest spider I have ever seen and it started jumping towards me! I about lost it. The only thing that is getting me through the thick air and big bugs is the Lord. Prayer has been a huge strength me on the mission. I am so grateful that we are able to have communication with our Heavenly Father. I know that he answers prayers and that he strengthens us if we come unto him. I know this because I have tried my faith by coming unto him...I promise that if you do this you will come to know the same thing. This is the most foreign place I have ever been but I am not alone.  

This week I had the opportunity to meet with a recent convert a couple times. Her name is Tina and she is from Ghana. She has the most amazing testimony and she hands out Book of Mormons in her thrift shop store! It is so great. Even though a small act of kindness doesn't sound like a big deal, could change someone's life! I am learning that more and more while I am here. 

My companion got a guitar from an elder who finished his mission and couldn't take it home, so now we have a guitar to play and I also just got a ukulele! Music is so amazing and I am so happy that God provided a way for me to still play music..there is no such thing as coincidences! 

This Saturday we also had a Luau with the Ward! It was so cool :) There were Samoans who danced and provided some of their culture. There was a nasty looking pig that was cooked (I took a picture) and it was funny cause the Ward members did the Haka after the Samoans. It was an awesome experience! The ward is the closest thing we have to family here so it is always fun getting to know members.

​The Haka

Ward members try the Haka

Selfie with this cutie aka sister tomblin

At the Luau with Sister Truchard,
Sister Tomblin, and Sister K.

I am grateful for y'alls support! I won't be sending a group email every week but my blog should have a post weekly, just so your inboxes aren't spammed :)

My address is:  411 Eissman Rd, apt 35 Leesville, LA 71446 so feel free to write or email me anytime to let me know how y'all are doing. I love Louisiana and this gospel! :)

Love, Sister Cornia

Last week in the MTC - I'm going to Louisiana!

Classic MTC picture

This week at the MTC completely flew by! I blinked and it was already Monday again. Now I understand what it means to get lost in the Lord's work. I am extremely grateful for my district and zone at the MTC, because we are all still adjusting to being away from our families..so in a way we are able to be each other's family and that is really great.

Tomorrow I leave for Baton Rouge, Louisiana at 3:30am!!! That day is probably going to be super long because right when we get there we will be put to work! A little bit more than half of my zone is going to be traveling together and I am very excited to be on my way.

The experience at the MTC was a bit vigorous at times, but I know it was essential for my adjustment and for me to learn the things I did. Going out into the field makes everything seem more real and it is crazy to think I can have the impact on changing someone's life.

I have never been more grateful for the Holy Ghost in my entire life! Before my mission it was so easy to take the Gift of the Holy Ghost for granted, but that is why it is so important to remember it is a gift. The gift of the Holy Ghost doesn't always have to be this super powerful feeling, it is simply a feeling of peace. I am so grateful that I was able to experience that for the majority of my life, and finally at the age of 19, I am able to recognize that blessing in my life. There are so many philosophies in life for happiness, but really the true key to happiness is this church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I have learned so much and love sharing it will y'all, and I am beyond excited to share it with the people of Louisiana. It is crazy because I already love them and have never met any of them in my life. I know that God loves us and that Christ loves us. This week I want to extend an invitation for you guys to recognize the gift of the Holy Ghost in your lives, and if you don't know what that is, I invite you to ask and find out for yourself the truth of the Holy Ghost. I love y'all so much and really appreciate the love and support.

Love,

Sister Cornia




My amazing district!!!
On the right is our Branch President
(President Gines) and his wife (Sister Gines).

 

But first let me take a selfie, with my
zone only half way in it 

 



Me and Sister Stanley!
(Friend from Herriman High)

Our awesome zone! The

missionaries in this

picture are going to

Louisiana, Montana,

and Illinois!



My first week at the MTC!

It has been such a crazy good experience here at the MTC! It is definitely no vacation though, but when you are busy you get stuff done (:

I have two companions (Sister Meek going to Montana and Sister Fristoe going to Louisiana as well). They are from Texas and Mapleton, Utah! Having a tri-companionship has been difficult at times, but I know that it was no mistake we are with each other.

It has been funny because I saw some friends from college here! The MTC is probably the friendliest place on earth, every missionary here is full of the light of Christ and I love it (:

I have learned a lot while being here and after only one week I feel like a different person (but in a good way). We learned one of the first nights you are here that it's impossible to grow when you are in your comfort zone and that is completely applicable! I have had hard times and enlightening times but in the end I know that this is where I need to be.

I am so excited to serve the people of Louisiana! I fly out on July 21st and holy cow it is coming so fast and I have no idea how I can learn so much in that little time but it definitely takes one step at a time. One thing that I have realized while being here (on the spiritual side) is that every principle in the Gospel proves the love that God has for us. I want to testify that our Heavenly Father loves us so much and he would do anything to have us live with him again. I am grateful for my savior Jesus Christ. Without him we could not return to our heavenly home. I am grateful to have the opportunity to share the light and truth in Baton Rouge, and know that through the Holy Ghost, I be an instrument in the Lord's hands. I encourage y'all to read the Book of Mormon (even if you already had a confirmation that it is true), and pray to our Heavenly Father, asking with a sincere heart, if the words you are reading are true. I know that if you do this, you will feel an overwhelming love of God, and that you will find these things to be true. I love the religion and thank you all for you love and support (:


Love,
Sister Cornia


So the first couple pictures are of my district group when we went to the Provo Temple! The Elders in the picture are Elder Floyd, Elder Bennett, Elder Mayer, Elder Jensen, Elder Rich, and Elder Burgess (along with my companions). Some other pictures were just around the MTC campus! And the last picture is with my friend Elder Hill from Utah State (: