My favorite Irish lady! 7-14-14

We finally moved! Hallelujah! We have been trying to move apartments 
since May...funny story, true story, the second we finished loading 
our stuff into the back of a member's truck it started pouring rain! 
We laughed at the thought of trying to dry out our mattresses, books, 
and whatever else was now being soaked by the rain. When we unloaded 
the stuff only some of it was a little damp, but nothing was too bad. 
I don't know if you have experienced a Florida rain storm, but our 
things should have need destroyed! Miracle? I think YES! 
 
I had one of the sweetest experiences of my mission this week. Let me 
back track a bit.... So about two weeks ago we got a call from the 
other missionaries we share the area with. Elder Ronfeldt was the one 
speaking and he says, "sisters, I am about to do something I will 
regret for the rest of my life." "Uhhh okay Ronfeldt? What's up?" He 
told us about a lady named Paula and how he and elder Leavitt felt she 
would be better off being taught by sisters. He told us how much he 
loved this lady and how hard it was to pass her over to us. Before he 
hung up he said, "sisters, I know you take care of all the people you 
teach, but PLEASE take EXTRA care of her." We set up an appointment 
with her for the following night and from the moment we met her we 
definitely understood why he loved her so much and why it was so hard 
for him to pass her off. 
 
Fast forward to yesterday. She came to church for the second time and 
I was amazed by all the things that touched her so deeply. From the 
talks given, songs sung, and even some of the paintings on the wall. 
During one of the hymns she teared up and eventually tears fell freely 
as the song progressed. She apologized and of course we told her she 
had nothing to apologize for and that her heart had been touched by 
the spirit. She said, "He didn't just touch it. He grabbed it!" I was 
so grateful that not only was she feeling the spirit, but she 
recognized it! 
 
In between classes she needed to walk around a bit so we decided to 
show her the baptismal font. (That is were baptisms take place inside 
the chapel. It is kind of like a giant bathtub. Haha) We opened the 
doors and as she leaned over the glass she asked what else she needed 
to do to be baptized. We told her we would continue teaching her so 
she could better understand what the church is all about. She looked 
at me and said, "oh Hunny, I already know what this church is all 
about. I have seen it in the members." I gave her a big hug and she 
continued, "You have no idea how long I have searched for a place 
where I belong. I finally feel like I am home." Tears filled her eyes 
as she threw her arms around my neck. She thanked us for coming into 
her life and said she feels we have brought her something she didn't 
know she was looking for. I realized how much I take for granted. I am 
so use to feeling the happiness the gospel brings and the peace the 
spirit offers. It was an amazing experience to see someone 
experiencing it all for the first time and really soaking it in. 
 
I couldn't be happier right now. Not just because things are going so 
well, but because I really feel like I am changing. I LOVE this gospel 
and I am understanding more each day what it means to LIVE it! I love 
my family and I am so grateful for all the support I get from you 
guys. I hope you have an amazing week! 
 
 
Love always, 
 
Sister Upshaw 

Chelsea's new address:

8449 Gardens Cir.

Apt. #1

Sarasota, FL  34243

They are now allowed on the beach

But they still can't go in the water

I think they are a little excited about being able to go on the beach

They went to the dentist because Sis. Skeem thought she chipped a tooth.

The dentist gave them both free cleanings, because he likes what the 

Missionaries do.  Chelsea thought that was "sweet"!!  Plus, they got

these cool t-shirts.

                                                    Your guess is as good as mine on these

Moving Day

She wants to bring this little boy home with her, too.

Christmas in July! 7-7-14

 Hello hello mi familia! I hope your celebration of America's Birthday was 
> stupendous! Ours was pretty good. We got to know the entire Bradenton 
> police force pretty well. Haha they had this Fourth of July event that we 
> went to go see and try to talk to people there and the member that came 
> with us knew all of the cops because her husband is a sergeant. It was a 
> blast, but we had to leave pretty much right as the fireworks started so we 
> could get home on time. We tried to get permission to be out later and 
> this is the response we got, "woah woah woah! Sisters! That's borderline 
> APOSTATE!" Haha our ZLs are weirdos. ;P 
> 
> 
> Speaking of weirdos... All of the people here, including the 
> missionaries I serve around, think I NEVER EAT and that when I do eat, 
> I eat "delicately". Can we just take that in for a second? I have 
> heard a lot of different words people have used to describe my eating 
> habits, but delicate has never been one of them. They clearly aren't 
> paying close enough attention at the dinner table... My whole life I 
> have been told I eat too much too fast!  Clearly I belong in the 
> south! These people know how to eat! Another fun fact... The mission 
> doctor thinks I may be lactose intolerant. You know how I have been 
> saying I haven't really been feeling well? I started keeping track of 
> when it happened and what the symptoms were and it kind of seemed like 
> it was mostly happening after I had a glass of milk. After an hour or 
> two I would be fine again. So he told me to cut out dairy for two 
> weeks.... That has been a struggle because I typically go through a 
> gallon of milk a week. I thought it was crazy when he suggested that! 
> I have never had an issue in the past! Apparently turning 20 means 
> everything about life changes too? I do have to say though, I haven't 
> felt sick all week... 
> 
> Ahhhh man, happy July everyone! I can't believe the year is half over! 
> Oh hey it's July 7th...happy 11 month birthday to me! One of the 
> elders that was in the MTC with me is now in my ward here, (well we 
> have been serving in this ward together since March) but anyway... He 
> always tells me the stats on our missions. It's kind of fun because I 
> feel like I  have a limited understanding of how time works out here. 
> I mean I am not positive, but I am pretty sure every once in a while 
> we have a few weeks that are shorter than a day and days that are 
> longer than weeks. If that doesn't make sense... Well then I'm not 
> surprised so.... Moving on. 
> 
> A few weeks ago we went to the hospital to visit a member. She is One 
> sweet lady, but was pretty out of it and didn't feel much like 
> talking. We decided to sing her a few hymns and she just lit up. 
> Sister Skeem and I both love a song called "Master the tempest is 
> Raging" so we saved that one for last. If you have never heard it 
> before you should look it up because it is so powerful! It is a 
> desperate call for the savior to calm the trials in our lives, yet 
> there is still so much trust that all things are in His control. This 
> sister asked us to sing it 3 times in a row. I am sure the entire 
> facility wanted to kick us out, but she closed her eyes and soaked in 
> every word! I've never seen music touch someone so deeply and trust 
> me, it wasn't our singing that touched her. Haha a few weeks after 
> that we went to see her in the nursing home where she is now. As soon 
> as she saw us she asked us to sing that song. After we finished we 
> asked if there was another song we could sing. She thought for a 
> moment, "well with Christmas just around the corner how about a 
> Christmas song?" I couldn't help but smile. We didn't bother to 
> correct her. So we sat and sang Christmas songs... In July. 
> 
> I thought about that a lot this week. Her frail frame and her soft 
> voice saying, "Christmas is just around the corner." It brought a 
> smile to her face as she said it. I thought about what the Christmas 
> season should bring; joy, excitement, and a closeness to our Savior. 
> With those things in mind we should always be preparing for that 
> holiday season. We should be close to our savior year round. That is 
> sort of my new motto whenever I feel down, "Christmas is just around 
> the corner!" It cheers me right up! I love the people here and I am 
> excited to be staying in the area for at least one more transfer! 
> 
> Oh ya, I forgot to mention transfers are this week and I am staying! 
> Whoo I have never had a comp longer than 2 transfers (I guess I scare 
> them off?) so this is kind of monumental for me! Haha I love you mucho 
> have an amazing week! 
> 
> Love, Sister Upshaw 
> 
> P.S. Welcome home Dyliedoo! (In two days) It is super weird/ exciting 
> to think that two years ago Dylan and Randy were on missions while 
> Kels and I were at home and now it's reversed! Who would have guessed? 

Sarasota Missionaries

She is trying to find a way to bring this dog home with her

 Chelsea has always been the jokester in our home.  It's nice to see that

she still finds ways to "entertain" herself.

My week in a very large nutshell... 6-30-14

 For those of you that get Chelsea's letters from me by email, I have been 

told that the whole message didn't come through.  So, here is the 

whole thing. 

This week was AWESOME! We have been having a pretty hard time in this 
> area lately and it has kind of been numbing me out. We noticed that 
> because we didn't have that many people to teach we had gotten pretty 
> lax in everything we were doing. This week we fixed that! We were more 
> diligent and worked harder and had a phenomenal week! We met all of 
> our goals and then some AND one of my favorite people decided this 
> week that she wants to be baptized! She is such a sweet girl and has 
> such a powerful testimony of gods love. I learn from Inita every time 
> we meet with her. Here are some other highlights from my week.... 
> 
> Happy part of my week: 
> 
> Tiwi has been unplugged! Okay so I don't remember if I told ya'll 
> about Tiwi... I think I have? Anyway, basically it is a little box 
> mounted on our windshield that records and reports anytime we speed, 
> make an aggressive maneuver, or do anything in the car Tiwi deems 
> "unsafe". Well... Last week our Tiwi was malfunctioning. It kept 
> saying this random phrase that we had never heard before, but we 
> really don't know what it was saying. It sounded like gibberish! I, 
> for one, am convinced Satan dwells within that little black box, but 
> the mission office seemed to think the box was just defective. They 
> gave us permission to unplug it until someone could come down and fix 
> it. Well they came down and just broke it even more! So we have been 
> driving without a Tiwi for 2 weeks and I am so dang happy! I swear I 
> actually drive better without it nagging me! It's like how Dad drives 
> better when Mom isn't in the car ;P (just kidding Mom! #loveyou) 
> 
> Sad part of my week: 
> 
> We went to firehouse subs for lunch on Thursday and everyone was glued 
> to the t.v. Sis Skeem goes, "I think Germany and U.S. Are playing" it 
> was the World Cup! Ahhh I almost cried! It was such a struggle to not 
> watch that beautiful game! She thought it was hilarious and took like 
> 7 years to finish eating! Haha that night a Colombian family we taught 
> who is obsessed with the World Cup (they have they're priorities 
> straight) told us ALL about the game. Literally I am surrounded by 
> people who don't care at all about soccer... My sweet Colombian family 
> are the only ones that have it together! Haha Florida needs to get 
> there priorities straight! 
> 
> Scary part of my week: 
> 
> Ahhhh we went out with a member and her driving was HORRIFYING! like 
> worse than my sister! (We all know which one) we were driving down a 
> dirt road going really fast and then someone PASSED us! I was like, 
> "wow! I am surprised he passed you! You are already going 60!" I think 
> I might have offended her because she immediately slowed down and said 
> she hoped she wasn't driving too roughly. I wanted to scream, YES YOU 
> ARE, WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE! Instead I assured her she was driving just 
> fine. Haha my comp was busting up in the back seat. She said she could 
> see the genuine fear in my eyes. lol The struggle is real! 
> 
> Obnoxious, yet still glorious, part of the week: 
> 
> Thursday night around 3 AM I wake up to a ridiculously loud siren and 
> blue flashing lights. The fire alarm was going off in our building. I 
> jump up and look outside and all of our neighbors are vacating. I go 
> back inside wake up Sis. Skeem who was still begging me to turn it 
> off... Haha So there we were at 3AM with all of our neighbors chillin' 
> in our PJs. We stood there for a solid 30 minutes while waiting for 
> the fire department. Meanwhile we got to know some of our neighbors 
> pretty well! Actually some of them who wouldn't even look at us before 
> are friendly now. Clearly we all bonded over our love for being awoken 
> suddenly at 3AM by a fire alarm when there isn't actually a fire... 
> Blessings come in unexpected ways right? 
> 
> TOTALLY MIND BLOWINGLY AWESOME PART OF MY WEEK: 
> 
> I got a picture from Sister Peterson last week. Two of my favorite 
> families were baptized back in Gibsonia! Is that cool or what?! I am 
> sooooooo happy! Two Sundays ago, the Prentices met with Bishop and 
   said they want to be baptized! When I was teaching them, they tried 
   dropping us twice, but because the member that referred them became 
   really good friends with 
> them, they stayed involved in church activities and always had a 
> connection to the gospel. I have such a testimony of fellowshipping! 
> Never give up! also the parkers was the very first family I found on my 
> mission! They are the greatest! When we met them that night she 
> was hesitant to let us in, but we said a prayer with her and her family and 
> she admitted to us that when we pulled up she had just finished saying a 
> prayer to know what it is that she and her family needed in their life (she 
> had felt like something was missing) I am so grateful for the spirit and 
> the miracles He works in people's hearts! 
> 
> 
> I love you all! The gospel is growing and so much good is happening! 
> 
> -Sister Upshaw 

They have an hour drive to District Meeting every week. This is what they do

(Sis. Skeem is very talented.  She makes up the little songs they do)

Sorry! Only pics this week... 6-23-14

This is part of her weekly report to her Mission President.  She sent lots  of

pictures this week.



I love this area! I love the people we teach, the missionaries here
are incredible, and these members have to be some of the most
inspiring saints I have ever met. I really mean that. I love it here!
However the last few weeks our lessons have dropped to about 12
lessons a week, and over half of those are less active visits. I feel
like we are doing great things here, but I definitely don't feel like
it is good enough.

I'm sorry my weekly letters have been so terrible. On another note in
my studies I have been reading about the motives of various people in
the Book of Mormon as they chose to do things. Like captain Moroni and
the title of liberty, or Lehi leaving Jerusalem, Alma and the sons of
Mosiah preaching to the Lamanites. All of them were motivated by Love
for their families and God. Really they all did what they did because
the had charity. That's the Christlike attribute I want to develop on
my mission. I always thought I had that one down, but I'm realizing
more and more that I am farther from the mark than I thought.


Love,



 -Sister Upshaw

The Elders attacked their car with pass along cards

Cleaned out their kitchen and found lots of dishes that don't  belong to them

This is for Bro. & Sis Dover (because she loves you)

FHE with a family in their area

They do visits in a nursing home

Lunch Elder & Sis. Clark

Sis. Calder her Mission BFF

Her Florida family (she says she just loves this family)  Sis. Evans passed away recently