There will be no more posts on this blog :( If you would like to receive Sister Sam's emails, send me your address @ pete13golf@aol.com.

It is raining today in N.C. but the thunderstorms out here are absolutely beautiful! All is well here in Fayetteville since the Hurricane...we keep hearing that the coast is not in very good shape. Please keep them in your prayers! Sister Felton and I have been busy busy busy. Things are starting to pick up ever since school started out here. It is nice to be constantly going. Idol time never does anyone any good. :) We have training this Thursday, a baptism Thursday evening. Friday is a "Sisters day" We are headed up to Raleigh to the temple with all the other sisters in the mission and then we are going back to the temple for another session that evening. One of the people that Sister Felton taught is going through, so we get to be there for that. We are both really excited! Everything is going really well out here! The heat is breaking every now and then..so that is really nice as well. I hope you all have a wonderful and beautiful week! Be safe! Thank you for all the love and support! Sister Oliverson p.s. Utah State......I saw the score to the game against auburn........way to go! I was proud all the way from N.C. You almost had em.

Hello Hello!! We are all safe and well here in Fayetteville. We haven't heard much about the coast other than it is sort of bad. We were advised to stay inside on Saturday so that is what we did. But the only thing that happened on Saturday was the wind was blowing pretty hard and the clouds were moving really fast. But other than that nada. They did move all of the missionaries in from the coast around Thursday of last week so everyone is doing great and we are all safe and sound. We kept hearing that New York and Boston were going to get hammered though. I really hope there wasn't to much damage. BUT we are all safe here. We had yet another great week last week. We are having a baptism on September 8th. So we are very happy about that. It is so exciting to see the love and excitement that people have for the gospel and to see that they are truly committed to the covenants they will be making with our Heavenly Father. I was reading in Alma 57 this morning about the Stripling Warriors. In verses 26 and 27about the faith and trust that these YOUNG men put in God and knowing that everything will be just fine. As Sister Felton and I were discussing it this morning it really is amazing to think that fifty thousand young men and women have so much faith in our Heavenly Father and put forth that courage to serve and help bless the lives of others. This work is truly amazing and I am so thankful everyday to be one of those Young ones out serving and to be called of God. Please have a great and safe week y'all! Sister Oliverson p.s. banana pudding is absolutely legit. Y'all are sure missin out! :)

President Keller has been in contact with Sister Sam's mission president and all is well and she is safe in North Carolina.

Hello Hello Hello! I just read about the crazy happening around town! I am so sorry for all the things that have happened! My prayers are with you all! Continue to be strong and faithful. The Lord will take care of it. In the N.C. news.............well we were out tracting in a new subdivision area. We knocked on the last door. The woman invited us in, I was silently rejoicing. :) We introduced ourselves........and then....come to find out, the woman was a realtor. She was in the middle of an appointment and we just happened to interrupt it. ha ha But they were very polite in saying no thank you. So I have officially made it into one house. Even if it was a model home. :) Other exciting news. We have been working with an investigator who has accepted to be baptized. :) We are all so so excited! They are so excited to come to church EVERY Sunday and to be involved. The Gospel is absolutely amazing and the spirit that was felt as we were teaching was beautiful as well. When the spirit witnesses to you there is no denying. Feeling the spirit is one of the most amazing things ever. It is something that is so hard to describe, but it is something that you want to share with everyone. Its contagious! :) It was a great week last week, the time is flying by but we are making the most of it! I hope you all have a great week! Please be safe and oh ya...all you school starters. Good Luck! Love, Sister Oliverson p.s. I am having my first real "Southern meal" tomorrow night. :) Sister Felton and I are sort of excited.

Hello Fellow Utahans and Potato People! The potato joke is getting super old out hear.....but everyone always thinks it is super funny. :) I just politely smile and chuckle at our how many times I heard the joke and how funny and clever they think they are. :) I'm chuckling now. :) We had a wonderful and marvelous week! We are finding new people and working hard. But....that satan thing...likes to get in the way. We had a baptismal date for someone...they have to be living the Word of Wisdom for two weeks....she was doing a great job and living it....and then....satan happened. He knows our weaknesses and knows exactly what to do to bring us down. BUT!!!!!! We can overcome him and the temptations. We just have to put our Faith and Trust in the lord and know that everything will be ok and know that the worldly things in this life aren't worth it! Remember the Eternal Perspective this wonderful Gospel brings! Don't ever forget that we all have a purpose. Before we came, while we are here and after we pass away. Everything happens for a reason! And our Heavenly Father does not give us more that we can handle. :) Everybody just needs some love....along with Satan. I hope that everyone who starts school in a week from today has a great day!!!! Don't forget to support the Football team and great people that run the program! Good luck!! I am rooting for you in N.C. Love you all and have a great week!!! Sister Sammo p.s. I spoke in church yesterday............and yes mom I finished my talk the night before. :)

Hello Everyone!!! So we had a marvelous week last week. We are staying as busy as possible. Transfers are tomorrow....and both Sister Felton and I are staying here in Fayetteville. It was such a relief, waiting for that phone call from the District Leader about if you are staying or leaving..it sort of nerve racking. But we are both staying and I am so relieved. I love Sister Felton and all that she has taught and how patient she is with a greenie like me. I am so happy that we get to work together for another 6 weeks...and that I get to kill her. (not a very nice term....but it just means she is going home after this transfer.) ha ha Mission lingo.... No more random questions as of late....but people really love to play the name game out here. So that is super funny to hear all of their guesses of what our first name is and what we look like. Suzy, Susan, Katherine are just of the few. But its all in good fun....and to be honest I sort of forget that I have a first name sometimes. I hope that is normal too. :) It really was such a great week last week though. The opportunity that we have to study each morning is so amazing. I have been reading a talk from the Ensign every morning and one of the ones I read last week was all about the atonement. It is from the April 2011, morning General Conference session. The name and speaker are slipping my mind right now. But it was such a good talk! It referenced Alma 7, talking of Christ how he CHOSE to suffer for our sins. The word Chose really hit me...like it said in the talk...he did Choose...he chose willingly. He was perfect....and he didn't have to suffer for any of us..but he did. He did because he loves each and everyone of us. And he wanted to be able to have mercy for us and what we have experienced, what we are experiencing and what we will experience. I have always been grateful for the Atonement in my life, but I have come to realize just how personal it really is. And the love that our brother Jesus Christ has for each and everyone of us. To him I am eternally grateful. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to be testifying of the truths of this amazing gospel to the people of N.C. and to be learning the things that I am. This really is a once in a lifetime experience, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I hope everyone is doing well and please have a great and safe week! I love you all and thank you once again for all the love and support. Sister Oliverson p.s. Read Alma 34.....and pray to our Heavenly Father in and for EVERYTHING.

Hello Hello Hello!!! How is everyone??? How was the rodeo festivities?? I hope you all had a great and safe weekend. I missed the rodeo burgers...but don't fret...there is a great little place in Spring Lake called Army City. Oh deary...seriously delightful. And their cheeseburgers are a lot better than the rodeo ones. Sorry..but its the truth! :) How is everything feeling now that the summer is almost over? Well...things are fabulous here in Fayetteville. I have been taking lots of pics..so I will try to send some soon. But it really is beautiful out here. Absolutely hot...but beautiful. How is the weather back west? Still hot? I was thinking the other day, that the boys should have two-a-days for football out here. They would get a real nice workout. :) Sister Felton and I have a real nice tan line on the top of our feet! We took a picture the other day after we had walked around for a couple hours. We will have to take another picture at the end of the summer and compare. If the heat ever ends here. We are staying really busy with lessons and meeting people. We were actually walking the other day and walked past a man with a Harley. Dad....I told him you had one and you didn't ever take it out. Just on rare occasions. He just laughed and said he know why you don't. :) We met with a young lady the other night who was really interested. We left her a Book of Mormon and she said she would read from it...she is moving back to Wilmington for school...but don't worry there are missionaries there. Anyway, we had to get going for curfew, but she said "so are you two like nuns? " We both chuckled and said well....no we aren't. We don't date or anything while we are serving but we will go back to that sort of madness when we are done. :) (once again the story is a lot funnier in person, but o well.) Another young investigator we are working with is super excited and really wants to know. She has a bunch of questions, which is AWESOME! Anyway the first day we met her...she asked us if we wore makeup. I simply replied after chuckling with...I don't leave the house without mascara on. :) And last week we met with her and she said something about us not being able to cut our hair. But the real question is where do people come up with this stuff? Ha Ha anyway the people out here are amazing...just a little bit funny sometimes. There are so many people that need to hear the gospel and that are prepared as well to hear it. Sister Felton and I are working hard to find the ones who are prepared and talk to everyone we see on the way. Be safe and have a great week everyone!! I love you all...and thank you so much for all the love and support! Sister Oliverson

Hello All! So first of all...we had four...yes 4 of the less active members that we are currently working with come to churhc yesterday!! Oh man, it was amazing to see four people sitting in sacrament meeting and to see their desire to come back and renew those covenants was such a wonderful sight. I just know they will keep progressing and feel even more the love that our Heavenly Father has for them. Last Tuesday we were walking around Spring Lske...there really isn't a lake...so I am not real sure why it is called that. It was super duper hot, we were walking around meeting new members of the ward and sweating. Now, when I say sweating...I mean SWEATING. I had to keep asking Sister Felton if my face was red...but she said it wasn't. So...there we were walking and sweating...we came to the last house before our ride was coming to get us. Now...in this humidity the sweat just sorta sticks, so if you try to wipe the sweat from your brow...it doesn't work because the rest of your skin is wet. Sorry for the gross picture...but it needs to be described. We got to the door...the member opens the door, takes a look at both of us and yells for her husband to get some water. So we were obviously a site to see, but they were kind and gave us water and a paper towel to wipe our faces! I was reading in Alma 10 this morning about Amulek and the angel that appeared to him, telling him that he should stop from his journey and go back to feed this man of God. Alma and Amulek did. I absolutely love the scriptures and how applicable they are. It is amazing to see and be reminded of the faith and trust that we need to put in our Heavenly Father and follow his teachings. I have to get going...but I sure hope everyone is doing great. Please be safe! Love, Sister Oliverson

Hello, Hello, Hello!!! Well...The NC mission is pretty much amazing! The heat is still here...we are still bathing in anti-itch cream and have to bandage our mosquito bites every morning. But I guess it is just the shield of armor in a sense :) The other night we came home and the woman we live with was baking a german chocolate cake at 8:45 at night. Man-o-man, that woman just goes and goes, especially for a ninety-one year old! We just absolutely love her! Anyway, the cake intoxicated the whole house...needless to say, we had our nightly planning in the kitchen next to the delicious cake. The driveways we run in the mornings are really not doing us much good :) So pretty much everyone out here really struggles with my last name. Every time they look at my name tag they have to take a second look and sound it out. But it is sorta funny. We were at a lady's house a couple of weeks ago and she called me Sister Olliperson. I didn't correct her because it was just to funny. Even though they cannot say my name, they are really great people. The members are amazing and they are all so grateful and humble, they are amazing. We had a sone conference last Friday and we learned a lot. President and Sister Cotterell are truly amazing and inspired people. We talked a lot about planning and setting goals and how important it is to teach BOLDLY and SIMPLY. I also learned that even though we have to report our weekly number, they are still just numbers and as long as I am working my hardest and do all that I can do...that is all the Lord expects. It was such a testimony builder to be reminded of that and to remember that I am not perfect, and even if someone doesn't accept the gospel right away, we are still planting seeds for them. Thank you so much for all the love and support from everyone! The gospel is true and this is the only true church. I am so grateful to be a part of it and to be spreading the word and be a representative of Jesus Christ. I love you all, please be safe! Love, Sister Oliverson

Sister Sam, Sister Felton and Sister Bateman

Tuesday July 5, 2011

Hello All!! I am in N.C. :) I have been here for officially one week and it has been great! My new companion is Sister Felton and she is from Vernal, UT. She has some relatives in the p-town. Mark Holt is her first cousin. Somehow everyone always knows someone from Preston.:) She is fifteen months old...so she will be passing away in September, but we should be companions for that long...Wahoo! So, we are in the 1st and 4th wards and man o man the ward boundaries out here are seriously huge! I am not real sure which is north...but hopefully I will figure it out. But church was great and I just introduced myself right along with Napoleon Dynamite. Everyone always seems to love that. THE WEATHER. The weather is good. It is super hot...and we are constantly sweating...but my skin is sure soft. We live with a 91 year old non-member. She is super sweet and watches Glenn Beck all the time!:) We have already seen so many miracles! Last Tuesday we were out contacting and ran into a couple, they invited us back to their house to give them a lesson...eek and as we were teaching one of their friends came in and asked if we were having church and if we accepted sinners. So we said, "oh course!!":) Anyway, three new investigors and Sunday evening an investigator prayed with us. That was the most amazing thing ever! To see an investigator keep those commitments and talk with our Heavenly Father is so awesome! I quoted the first vision for the first time...got a little tongue tied and choked up in the middle, but the spirit was there and so strong. This work is amazing and I am so grateful to be a part of it. I hope all is well and you all had a great and safe holiday. Have a great safe week! Sister Oliverson

Sister Sam's mission address

We received an email from The mission president's wife, she is there safe and sound, she will be serving in Fayetteville. Here is her address: Sister Samantha Jo Oliverson North Carolina Raleigh Mission 6508 Falls of Neuse Ste 100 Raleigh, NC 27615-6845

Sister Sam update from mom

Some of you may know that Bruce's sister and her husband are headed to Nashville Tennessee this wekk to serve as mission presidents. They have spent the past wekk at the Provo MTC and were able to visit with Sister Sam and her companions. RaNae was able to call after the visit and informed us that Sam is doing very well, she is happy and looks and sounds good and has a great relationship with her companions. Today (Sunday) RaNae called again and told us that as they were leaving a young woman approached them, asked if they were the new mission presidents going to Tennessee and asked if they were Sam's aunt and uncle. She told them that they should know and call us and let us know what a great job Sam is doing, that she has trully caught the spirit of missionary work and that she is going to be a great missionary. The young lady has been Sam's trainer in the MTC and she was so impressed with her and how well she has done. Sister Sam's is off to North Carolina tomorrow...another adventure begins.

Hello All! The time is ticking already...but thank you so so much for all the letters and taking the time to think of me! A lot has happened in the very short two weeks I have been here...and some days are definitely better than others. But things are good. My companion and I are literally inseparable. I just got called as the new coordinating sister yesterday and we had to be separated for only two hours...I felt like I missed out on so much! But the new calling will be good. A little intimidating, but good. We fly out next Monday (June27) and we have to be at the office at 3:00 a.m. We fly out at 6:00 a.m. I am going to try and call...we will see how it goes. Just a fun few facts for y'all. Sister Johnson's birthday was on Monday...we shared a scripture in her honor, John 1:14, we changed the "his" to "her." We counted how many stairs we walk up and down the other day, it was around 879...buns or thighs of steel !:) The ankles are getting better. Sister Wixom came last Tuesday...she talked about primary stuff and said that the elders are cool...but the sisters are the shizam. The elders are like whole new men! they have grown up so much...but don't worry, they still make farting noises...so they aren't that mature. Their girlfriends really do spray their letters...hilarious. The new missionaries came on Wednesday...more will be here in two days, somewhere around 500 new missionaries. Oh, and the presidency will be here! So exciting! I met a sister the other day who is going to Independence Mo, I told her to watch for Kenz and tell her Sammit said hello. An elder in our district wrote on the board the other day and spelled the word prophet like this, "profit." I am so excited to be here and the miracles are already happening. We are trying to be obedient! But we will be better! My time is short...but thank you so much again for everything! The gospel is true...and I am in awe of it's wonders more and more everyday! Watch for letters! Love you all! Sister Oliverson

Hey!!! I am alive...and doing pretty good. It is definitely an adjustment...but it is good. The MTC president said to send a letter telling our parents we are alive and well. I have two companions and they are both from Utah. There are 12 missionaries in our district and we are all going to NC. We only have a half hour on the computer, so I am typing fastly! I hope that you read on my letter that I will be home on December 24th...so I expect the fancy tree! :) I really hope you guys are doing great! I sure do miss you guys...but this is where I am supposed to be and the Lord is blessing me already! BTW the Provo Temple is absolutely beautiful! Sorry this email is so short...but I really am doing good. My feet are super swollen...but it is sorta funny. They do have diet coke here!! Love love love you guys!!! Stay safe! Sister Sam Write back soon!

ps. this is my MTC address:

Sister Samantha Jo Oliverson MTC Mailbox # 83 NC-RAL 0627 2005 N 900 E Provo, UT 84604-1793

I just wanted to send a huge Thank you to everyone! Thank you for all the support, words of encouragement, extremely kind and thoughtful deeds and the love that has surrounded me these past months. I am so excited to spread the word and bring the blessings of the gospel into peoples lives. Thanks again for everything!

Much Love