God Bless

ALMA 26:11-12
11 I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever. 

This scripture is SO TRUE. And really describes my week

We had a super busy week with a ton of teaching appointments!!

We taught it to Tony and his friends and they all said they would get baptized if they came to know it was true except for his roommate Ericia who Said she was already baptized when she lived in Michigan about 20 years ago but we are still trying to find her records. They didn't come to church on Sunday like they said they would though, so we will see what was up with that in our lesson this week.

We also got to teach This couple who we found tracting on my second or third day. They said they were looking for a church to go to because the one they were going to before told them not to come back because their daughter who has autism was disruptive sometimes. But we told them they were more than welcome to come! They seem super prepared and I am really exited to go back!

Some of my favorite lessons we had were with some less active members. They already know that it is true!! We just have to help them remember what they are missing out on!!

We had a really busy week though and had a lot of really good lessons. We were blessed. Another good thing that happened was I got to meet our investigator Teriona! She wants to be baptized she just has to get her mom's approval. She and her cousin Sarquasha who is already a member are the sweetest. Unfortunately the only contact we get with Teriona is through one of the members who she stays with sometimes so we don't get to see much of her but she definitely will be baptized one day! Overall we are seeing a lot of success here in Freeport!

I still have no idea how I got so lucky to get called here. And basically I feel really humbled this week because I know that the success we are seeing has almost nothing to do with me. I have been super tired because I've had a cold the past few days. So there were times were I had literally had no energy and my head was hurting so sometimes its just hard to function and I did things like loose the phone. And then when I was looking for the phone I lost the keys. (dont worry after we found the keys we eventually found the phone lying in the street...) And  then I completely lost my voice so I didn't even know if I started talking the people we talked to would even hear me. It took me a while to realize this but the lesson I learned this week is that God will make you an instrument in his hands if you have faith. Its like that story of the old violin where they were auctioning it off and no one wanted to buy it until and old man went up and played beautiful music with it. I really did feel like that old violin this week. But when I had faith and trusted that if I opened my mouth God would help the people hear what they needed to they would things worked out! But with out his help I'm just an old violin that  cant do much. Even though I felt so weak this week, I truly did feel strengthened and we just got to keep on having faith and God can help us do great things!

ALMA 29:9
I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

Super grateful for an amazing trainer who helps me laugh even when I'm sick and tired and make a lot of mistakes. 

God is good! we have hard weeks but recognize tender mercies and you will realize how much God loves you and it will make things muy bien!!!  A great tender mercy for me this week was the sunsets. Illinois skies are gorgeous. especially out here in the country.

Love you All,
Sister Hannah Corbett

Killin' It

Sorry. I didn't think I'd be the missionary who wrote long emails. But this one's good.

Well we were super excited to teach this referral we got from a member that I told you about last week, but an hour before we were supposed to come over she cancelled on us because she found some anti literature. It was sad and really hard on the member that gave us the referral. But she is amazing and we just have to keep on trying.

We had been trying to contact this media referral we got for a really long time but he was NEVER home and we called and he didn't answer. And so we emailed him and he didn't reply. So we called again! and he didn't answer. So we called Again! and he finally answered!!!! We dropped of his Bible that he requested the next night. AND craziness happened......

So we start talking to Tony and he says that he's looking for a new church to go to! So that already made us super happy. Then his roommate comes over and joins the conversation and starts talking to us about whatever but eventually we bring it back to the church and the Book of Mormon. And she starts talking about what the Book of Mormon says and starts talking about the spirit world and in my head I'm thinking she's going to start Bible bashing us right there, but instead she says "And the other churches we've been goin to don't teach this! and they need to learn it!" My mouth dropped. We asked her if she wanted a Book of Mormon and she said yes! like she actually truly wanted one! She had met with Missionaries about 20 years ago and already read half of the book and had all the missionary pamphlets! WE WERE SO GLAD WE DIDN'T DROP TONY.
Seriously so happy. 

And Freeport is rubbing off on us because we wrote a rap:

As we stood there at her door
She was eager to say shore
Cuz she met with elders before
All the way back in ninty-four.

We asked them if they wanted to come to church on Sunday and they said THEY DID. They just needed a ride. So we got them one!

BUT THEN

Tony texted us and told us they found their own ride and that they were going to bring two of their friends with them! AND THEY DID. So we had four investigators at church! It was so cool to see how excited all the members were to have them there. Everyone wanted to meet them and get to know them. After Church Amber (that amazing Ward Missionary I told you about last week who feeds us every week)she keeps texting us and asking us a bunch of questions about Tony's friend That he brought named Tim. We were a little confused why she kept texting us. But we found out that Tim is Amber's UNCLE. Apparently she doesn't have much contact with her dad or her dad's side of the family but she is so excited that he came to church and is going to be an amazing fellowshiper. She is the only member in her family besides her husband and her grandson. But she is so strong and always stands up for what she believes in around her family. We are pretty sure he really liked church too because he was crying. So he either really liked it or he really didn't and I can't wait to find out which one. Haha

But yeah. This week has been really great. We've had a couple doors slammed in our faces but It was worth it because when you do get through to people and get to help them with anything but especially help them come closer to Christ, It's the greatest. Plus someone's got to plant those seeds.  

Another cool thing about Freeport is that it's where the Lincoln-Douglas Debate took place so there are a ton of Paintings and Sculptures of Abraham Lincoln which makes me feel right at home. 

ALSO, I have seen 24 deer in the past 2 weeks.

We were driving home from eating dinner at a members house and there's this deer........and it runs into the road. We honestly thought the car going the other direction was going to hit it! It didn't.

....but we did.
-caution this is nasty-
It all happened so fast and Sister Madsen was freaking out and we hit it and went over it and then she swerved and we didn't know what happened or where it was or anything so I was going to get out and see where it was. It was for sure dead though so Sister Madsen wouldn't let me! But if it was still under the car I was worried we would hear something nasty. So we compromised like a good companionship would and We just turned up the music really loud so we couldn't hear anything. SO with Josh Groban singing Ave Maria playing almost as loud as it will go Sister Madsen puts both hands on the wheel, her foot on the gas, and we were eventually back on the road. It was crazy and we cried a little. But good thing we know about the plan of salvation. And that we have a red car. 

Well Mission life is great and I love this Church and I love Freeport.

Love,
Sister Corbett

FREEPORT ILLINOIS

I honestly don't know where to start so much has happened since last P-day.......................

The MTC was great and I will miss my district a lot. We really grew so close.

I think we forgot what how to function in the outside world. We fell down the escalator on our way to the airport........... there was an Hermana that is also in Chicago and she fell backwards and Sister Prisbrey SAVED HER. But then their luggage was all messed up. but we were like "Okay, that was close. we will wait until we get to the top and we will be fine." But then we get to the top and everything starts jamming up and we jump over all the luggage to get out of the way and sister young rides the moving handrail to the top. but more and more luggage and missionaries are getting more stuck on this escalator. So we start moving all the luggage out of the way and eventually we save the day!
...and all the elders behind us were fine....It was crazy. And then we have to pull our luggage accross this super rocky pathway that would not let the wheels on our luggage work and the wind was so strong so we were pulling this luggage through the wind trying to keep our skirts from flying up at the same time and I felt like a pioneer pulling her handcart. we made it though. And eventually we were on our plane on our way to CHICAGO. 

I placed my first Book of Mormon that night (It was seriously the longest day of my life). His name was Abraham and he was Muslim and had never heard of Mormons or Utah and was super fascinated by the idea of modern prophets. I hope he reads it..... 

The next day was also super long. We went to the Naperville stake center and we were all assigned to our trainers. President Griffin likes to make things as suspenseful as possible. But soon SISTER MADSEN walked up and pointed to a small town in North-western Illinois called Freeport. President Griffin asked what she knew about Freeport. She had already served there for a transfer so she said that in Freeport there is a lot of corn and a lot of gangs. They recently baptized four kids (La'shay, Malichi, Roshea, and Keynora) and that she loves it. Then, President Griffin said that I would be her companion!! I was so pumped!!!
Sister Madsen is great. Her name is Hannah. My name is Hannah. She went to Utah State. I went to Utah State. She has brown hair. I have brown hair. She's really cool. I'm really cool. Haha

After the meeting we got a ride from our Ward Mission leader and the sweetest and sassiest lady Sister Ensign who was the first member out here in Freeport and has done so much to help build the church here. I was so out of it and so tired so they were talking to us but I could not stay awake so I was asleep for the first hour of that car ride and Sister Madsen just talked for me. But then we got something to eat and I was able to stay awake for the next hour. 

Lets be honest, this first week has been a little rough. It was hard because I don't know anyone. How could I plan or know who to talk to or where to go when I have never metanyone in Illinois before?? We had kinda a slow week.We didn't teach any investigators. We almost got a lesson with one of our investigators named Tarrone (Street Name: Jameal). He is super nice and I want to teach him so bad because he reads the book of Mormon but just won't come to church...but he hard core dodged us. But I believe in big and powerful change and we WILL have success here in Freeport.

Church yesterday was amazing though. It was good to meet more people and hear their testimonies. I love the members here. They are so many that are such amazing member missionaries. Sister Duede. I love her. She just gave us a referral on Saturday and we will teach her on THURSDAY. I am so excited I will tell you how that goes next Monday. Another good member missionary is Amber. She was baptized about a year ago. She met with the missionaries and then told her husband "Well, you better go find a white shirt because we're going to church on Sunday". Ever since she has called all the sisters her "her girls" and feeds us every week. We are so blessed here in Freeport. The kids that they have just baptized are the funniest sweetest kids. We were talking to some people before the meeting started and out of the blue someone comes up and just gives me the biggest hug ever. I was super shocked but it was Roshae she was like "Welcome to Freeport Sister Corbett!" and then she bore her testimony and said "Thank you for coming to Illinois Sister Corbett"  I just about died. They are the cutest and I can't wait to get to know them better. That testimony meeting was the best though. The spirit was so strong. These members are basically all converts and as their shared their testimonies I have never felt so strongly that this truly is the one and only true church. THE CHURCH IS TRUE.

I am so excited to be here in Freeport and to get out and serve these people and get to know them better. I have already heard so many amazing stories about Freeport because people here are the best. Some are a little crazy and there are some streets we just don't tract or walk down but I love it here. The highschool mascot here is A PRETZEL. I'm not kidding there is seriously a giant pretzel painted on their football field. And I don't think anyone realizes it's weird because everyone wears shirts and has signs in their yard and they all just have so much Pretzel Pride. 

I LOVE YOU ALL, 

Sister Hannah Corbett