First pics with Sister Hobbs, her companion, from New Zealand.

Sister Plumb and Sister Hobbs, Zhenya's MTC companion from New Zealand.  They both leave for Arcadia, California, Sept. 1st!

2nd letter from the MTC - August 28,2015

Hello Again!

It's been another crazy week in the Missionary Training Center and I can not wait to leave! I mean I love the people here and I will miss them very much, California is calling my name now. 

First off thank you so much to all of you who sent me letters and packages and emails! I appreciate it a ton!

I want to first start off with what happened this Sunday at the MTC. Every Sunday at MTCs only they show Elder Bednars talk "The Character of Christ" It was amazing. It completely changed my perspective on my mission and who I am representing. If there is one thing that I will always remember from that talk was the humility and faithfulness the Savior had. He loved and served those that beat him and used him. Even when he was in pain and agony he turned outward and looked for ways to serve instead of inward on himself. That is how I want to be not just as a missionary but always. I know I am not going to be perfect like him, but I will strive to be everyday while I am out here. I want to help as many people as I can and forget myself. Elder Bednar said, "When we lose ourselves in the service of others we find ourselves." I know that is so true and I can't wait to begin. 

Monday was the half way point of the mission so that was weird, and now today being friday I realize I only have 2 and half days left! so don't send anything else to my MTC address now and I will update you all on my new address in California!

I have been teaching to fake investigators (which means that they are acting as people from there missions for us to teach) and Sister Hobbs and I are doing amazing! We totally teach by the spirit every time and know exactly what the investigators need. The only problem is that we kinda forget that the investigators need to hear the lessons before they get baptize.... but when we teach them the lessons they say it's what they have already believed! So it's great! I know these aren't real investigators and that they are probably going totally easy on us but it is a good confidence builder! haha 

I know that my Savior lives and loves us. He loves us so much that he has restored his gospel and church back to the earth. We need this gospel to help us return back to live with him again. 

Thank you all so much again for your love and support. Wish me luck next week in Arcadia!

Love much, 

Sister Plumb

1st Letter from the Missionary Training Center - August 21, 2015

Hello Everyone and Welcome to my Weekly Report from my Mission:
Well its only been day 2 and a half since my dear parents dropped me off at the MTC. I loved driving down here with them and stopping by the Provo temple before we parted.

I love it here so much!! Everyone was so friendly on my first day and I could feel the spirit so strongly. My companion is amazing!! I love her so much. Her name is Sister Hobbs and she is from New Zealand!! how cool is that?? We have had so much fun making fun of the way we each other talk and we even tried switching accents for a little while. I room with two other Sisters- Sister Minson and Sister Briggs and they are absolutely lovely. On the first day Sister Hobbs and I were up a little later trying to unpack and sister briggs made our beds for us because we didn't have time before lights were supposed to be turned off. That is just one of the many acts of service that have happened while I'm here.

So much has happened in only a few days I don't know how I am going to tell you about a whole week on my mission but I will try my very best :) Yesterday we met our zone and our district and our district presidents and their wives (my district is about 10 people and my zone is made up 40 people who are in different districts) and they were so comforting and full of love. We have a zone prayer outside our building every night and some people share special experiences they have had with their investigators. I love learning about what they are doing right now because it makes me that much more excited to share the gospel. Our Branch President- President Durfey and his wife are so adorable! President Durfey also served in Arcadia which was really cool to hear about. They have assigned Sister Hobbs and I as Sister Training Leaders for our distrcit but we will not start until the next batch of newbees come in.

One principle that I have been learning a ton in just the past few days is love, and loving people like the savior would love them. I am working on seeing people as Christ would see them- all in white, smiling, and ready for baptism. I want to see others for the potential that I know that they already have inside of them. We are all children of a Father in Heaven who loves us and wants us to return and live with him. I am so grateful that I know this and that I have this amazing opprotunity to share this love with my brothers and sisters in Arcadia. I feel like I already know the investigators who I am going to teach there and I know that I already love them.

Hope you all are doing well!

Love lots

Sister Plumb

(P.S. I am so happy I get to sing off as a sister now! Ahh dream come true :)