LAST ONE

18 months has FLOWN!! Its mixed feelings all the way around. Sister Rees always says, "It's a happy/sad!" and my response is always "No it's JUST. SAD!" Both wards were surprised yesterday to hear that I was going home, but I couldn't ask for a better last area!

Sister Rees and I have seen miracles the last couple of days!! In our conversation over MyPlan about goals, I reflected a lot on the goals I have set for my mission and for this last transfer. I thought about this past weeks goal to find  3 new investigators and have 2 at sacrament meeting. Things at that point weren't looking like we were going to meet our goals. But we had faith and patience. On Friday morning, I ended my studies and prayed fervently that we would be able to share the message of the Restoration and the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with someone that day. During district meeting, Elder Mouser asked us to all write down a goal that we had for the rest of the transfer. The goal I wrote down was "We will find someone that will have a desire to be taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ." At that point, I didn't care if they were in our area or not. I just wanted to meet someone that had the desire to learn and draw nearer to Christ. Everyone else that we've found since being here has dropped us. After district meeting, we decided to go tracting and contact some referrals on a street where a sweet old lady of our ward lives. Everyone loves her and so we thought we'd talk to all her neighbors! Sister Rees and I both felt inspired to knock on a certain green house. Unlike any other house that I've tracted to, a man named Jerry invited us in with his girlfriend. As we talked with him, we talked, taught, and testified of the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. He agreed to read it! It was a wonderful experience. My prayers were heard and answered. One new investigator.

On Sunday, the Moore couple came to church with some of the Self Reliance Missionaries. During the second hour, we taught them the first part of the Restoration. They are in a tough situation. Lost their house over the winter, she is living in a women's homeless shelter, he is living in his truck, and the custody of their 8 kids is on the line. Their hearts were humble and prepared. They had a desire to learn. With tear filled eyes, I taught and testified that the Heavenly Father loves them and their family and living the gospel will bless their family so abundantly. They have a long road ahead. But as they embrace the Restored Gospel, they can find greater happiness in this life. Sister Moore and I had this connection. I don't know how to describe it other than I felt a little bit like Ammon teaching King Lamoni. The Spirit helped me to speak to her needs. It happened multiple times. She said "Everything that you just said, was a question in my mind an hour ago during sacrament meeting." and "I think you're the first person that really understands my relationship with God." Wow. It was a powerful experience. We are meeting again with them tonight. Those were investigators two and three. AND our two at sacrament meeting. What a wonderful end to a week of hard work and perseverance.

I know that Christ lives! Because of a simple heartfelt prayer, a prophet of God was called again to Restore His Gospel! The appearance of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to Joseph Smith changed the course of the world forever!! I am so grateful to have been able to share that message of a loving Heavenly Father that has restored original truths today! The Book of Mormon IS evidence of that Restoration, and because of it I know that Christ lives!! I have worn His name over my heart for the last 18 months and I will continue to represent Him because His name has been engraved on my heart. I will praise Him forever! And I will give glory to God for sending His Son. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

EXTRA LOVE
xoxo
Sister Boyce

WHAT A WEEK

Hi All!! Just around the corner from my last email and then I'll be able to talk to all of you in real time! Hope you enjoy this weeks :)

happy days ahead,
Sister Boyce

(Sister Boyce sent an audio which I have not uploaded here - but enjoy the picture she also sent! Also, she will be home in 1 week and 1 day from today - so if you want to send her one last note in the mail or email now is the time to do it! Thank you for supporting Sister Boyce. We love her and are proud of her. We are so thankful for all of you too! We know she has such a good support system! We love you all.  - Carly)

^^THIS IS CARL <3

recap of the week 2!!! - audio

SUPER LOVE MY COMPANION!! So there's that.

Have a wonderful week!!
xoxo
Sister Boyce

(Sister Boyce sent an audio that I haven't been able to upload here - but enjoy the pictures below!)

^^All the sisters at MLC!! (so many more than necessary.) hahaha but I LOVE THEM! I have been companions with many of them :) 

^^CAPITOL

^^super love these missionaries. District FAMILY

change - the only constant and the purpose and life

Here's what you get for today!! Some exciting news!
Love you all! Thanks for making me the person I am today :)

Happy Days Ahead
xoxo


NOTE FROM HER SISTER, CARLY: Sister Boyce emailed an audio recording and I can't figure out how to attach it! The exciting news is that last week during the world wide missionary broadcast new changes were announced to their schedule (they get two extra hours on p-day, they can go to bed earlier at 9:30 if they want, plus a host of other things), and they have new key indicators (4 instead of 9 - the new ones are 1 baptized and confirmed, 2 baptismal date set, 3 people that attended sacrament meeting, 4 new investigators).

Thanks for supporting Sister Boyce! She is so thankful for you all!

foothills and luxury heights

This area. I'm dying!! ITS SO BEAUTIFUL!! most of our area is actually in the foothills. one ward is just a small community up in the valley of the foothills where everything is perfect and nothing ever goes wrong. Its exhausting trying to be perfect hahahaa but look up Hidden springs on Google earth. the houses are MANSIONS!! but the members are amazing. So ready and willing to help. Boise 13th ward is WAY different. You still have some that are stupid rich, but it ranges all the way down to the three homeless shelters in our ward. this area is going to be AMAZING!! not much work going on currently, but no better time to tap into that potential than with a whitewash. we are ready and excited! Sister Rees is DARLING! two redheads taking over Boise!! We are going to light it on FIRE! Our mantra for this transfer is "Let's make it happen!" We can do whatever we want in this area. We create the culture and the we know that there are many miracles to be seen in the next couple of weeks. :) She is from Las Vegas (so was my trainer the first six weeks.. :) ) and has been out for six months. She spent all 6 in Jerome, so this is big city living again for her! She also attended BYU for a year after me, so i know ill be seeing her again:)

Our house is TINY!! hahahahaa we guessed about 15x20... This is Sister Rees laying on our floor. She's about 5 foot 2 so you can kinda see what its like based on her size hahahaa

Last night we met one of our investigators for the first time. His name is Carl Alexander and he lives at the Mission (men's homeless shelter). He is AWESOME! The sisters set a date with him for Feb 18. He really recognizes the Spirit. He has a pretty rough past, but is finding himself as he finds the Savior. We took what we learned in district meeting and applied it in our lesson with him. We read Alma 7 and it was a POWERFUL lesson. I really do believe that because of my time here, my nature has changed and I have become more like Christ. It comes easier now, because He has become a bigger part of who I am, to represent Him at all times. For that, I will be forever grateful.

happy days ahead
xoxo

TRANSFER TO BOISE 2

I am being transferred for my last transfer to BOISE 2!! It covers part of downtown Boise, and I'm STOKED!! My new companion will be Sister Rees. I will train her as a new STL and we will be whitewashing! I am seriously going to miss this area that I have grown to love so much with my two Poly companions that have made this transfer so much fun. :) But I know this is what the Lord wants for me!

LOVE YOU LOTS!!
xoxo

Crazy weather here in Boise!

WEVE BEEN STUCK INSIDE FOR THE PAST LIKE TWO DAYS BECAUSE OF THE CRAZY WEATHER!!

I am ready to be out and about, preaching the good word. All day Wednesday we walked. and fell. and walked some more hahahaa and we had a PARTY doing it!! Saturday and Sunday when we had to walk more, we were not as enthused. But still in good spirits. No one wanted to have us hahaa but we pushed out lots of cars and shoveled mountains of snow. Gotta love Boise Central!

I'll send some pictures next week!
xoxo

"The Spirit breaks down any language barriers"

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! For us to be safe, on New Years and Halloween we had to be in our apartment by 6:30. So since my companion, Sister Tokia, doesn't know how to cook hahahaa she wants me to teach her some things. We spent the night planning, updating area books, doing progress records, and then baking pumpkin muffins :) We are actually now in a trio with Sister Fanga'iuiha from Honolulu, Hawaii for the rest of the transfer because her companion went home.... two polys. it's been SUCH a party hahaa and we laugh literally all day long!! im like the most palangi companion ever so we make quite the team hahahaa we are covering 5 wards and its been MADNESS. but i love it :)

Also, you are all going to have to forgive me.... I am still trying to catch up on Birthday emails. AND ITS JANUARY. So please, bear with me if you haven't heard back.

This week, I really have learned that the Spirit breaks down any language barriers. We attended the Spanish Elders baptism on Saturday. And even though I could only understand about a third of what was being said, the spirit was super strong. And it brought to my remembrance many words that I had forgotten. By two companions don't speak a lick (oh my gosh. that's an Idaho phrase for ya...) of Spanish, but they both said they felt the Spirit super strongly too.

Then on Sunday, we went to see our favorite Burmese family <3 and the Spirit testified to me that they are learning and progressing. They read what we left with them and believe that it is true!!

I LOVE THIS WORK!!
happy days ahead :)

xoxo
Sister Boyce