Week #81 - BEGIN with the END in Mind!

Hey y'all!  (. . . for the last time from Texas!)

This is such a bittersweet email for me because it's my last one as a missionary! The last 18 months of my life have truly been some of the best. I have grown so much and have learned to truly rely on the Savior. My full-time mission may be ending, but being a disciple of Christ is a life-long journey. I have met some the BEST people in the world here in Texas and a piece of my heart will always be here.

This week has truly been one to remember! On Tuesday, we had ZONE Conference! I was able sing with Sister Selee, Elder Okelberry and Elder Misa! We sang "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" and Elder Taylor played the piano. It was so wonderful sharing our talents and truly feeling the spirit SO STRONG! I was able to give my "Dying Testimony" and I bore it all on how the Savior heals us.

I just love being a missionary!  We set a baptismal date with MICHAEL JACKSON THIS WEEK AND CONLEY CAME TO CHURCH!  Best week EVER!

I want to end my email with a bunch of pictures and the story of a beautiful Convert, Mary Cromo.  Mary had requested a Bible on the internet when the ad for a Free Bible came up. She was very surprised to have two missionaries show up on her door step a day later!  The Elders had a hard delivering her Bible because of the three pit bulls right outside...but they got it to her and were able to give her a Book of Mormon! She wasn't sure how to respond because she was very involved in a church, but accepted the gift.

A couple weeks later, she heard another knock on the door and it was the Elders again! They asked if she had read the Book of Mormon, but she hadn't...they read it with her and left her with a promise. If she would read it with a sincere heart and ask to know that it is true with real intent, she would receive her answer!

Mary went through some ups and downs with her family, church family, and friends, but she was beginning to see the truth. Then, one Sunday, she decided to come to church at the LDS church! She felt the spirit so strong and knew it must be true.

Then, Sister Selee and I came into the picture.  Mary was baptized a couple weeks later and has never been happier!  This was in August 2015 and this past weekend, I was able to witness the most precious and spiritual thing of my life. Mary Cromo was able to go through the Temple to receive her Endowment. All of her missionaries were able to be there and it was the most joyous reunion I have ever had! Seeing beautiful Mary Cromo in all white again made my heart and soul so happy!

My first day in Houston, Texas, President Mortensen took us to the Houston Temple grounds and told us to always "Begin with the end in Mind!"  Baptism is the key and getting to the Temple is another step closer to receiving eternal life. I am so thrilled for Mary and for all that she has become and done in this life. She is my inspiration and truly has helped ME in so many ways.

I want to bear my testimony that I KNOW God has a plan for each of us!

He loves us so dearly because we are His children. He has given us the restored truths to help us get back to Him! I love the Book of Mormon and know it truly is the Word of God!

I love each and everyone of y'all and I am excited for the next chapter of my life!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday season! :)

See y'all in two!
(Two days that is...)

Love,
Sister Pinster

Here are the pics!

Dying photo featuring Bear Creek Zone

I love Katy!

It was Elder Misa's BDay and we threw a party!

His mom sent us all LAVA-LAVAS (from New Zealand)
It was the best!
LOVE the Katy North District!

TEXAS COUCHES!

Mary Cromo at the temple with the Caldwell crew

Mary's baptism and then 1 year later at Mary's temple endowment

HOUSTON TEMPLE
Sister Selee and Sister Pinster 

BEST FRIENDS!

BEAT IT! Michael Jackson is getting baptized on Christmas Eve1

Conley and Sister P

Saying goodbye to Paris

SEE Y'ALL SOON!
My companion (Sister Dummer) is so talented!

Week #80 - I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!

Hey y'all!!

So this week has been so so fun! We were able to go to the Temple and it was super great!

So many Miracles ... We have officially started teaching a former investigator who has come to church a couple times and is already well fellowshipped!  His name is Michael Jackson and he is super prepared!  And he's a REDHEAD! We should be setting a baptismal date with him tomorrow! He believes in the Book of Mormon and in the church and feels like NOW is his time to be a part of it! It's been a wonderful week and he is super excited! :)

We are so excited for this area and I'm so excited for this last week!

I can't believe it's been 18 months already ... and I have loved every minute of it! :)

Love y'all and enjoy the pics!

Love,
Sister Pinster

 GO CARTING AND LAZER TAGGING!

Temple Trip with the District

Car Ride to the Temple

Cutest little boy EVER!

Almost Fall Time!  We are loving it!

On Exchanges, and met the cutest Hispanic man!  :)

MOD PIZZA ... YUM!

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD!
with Cindy and Sister Selee

JUMPING PHOTO with my best friend!

JUMPING PIC WITH THE BEST SISTERS!
BCZ - Bear Creek Zone

Week #79 - 18 Months and Still Going STRONG!

Hello y'all!

So yesterday marked 18 months from the day I left Oregon to travel to the MTC!  What an amazing and incredible 18 months it has been! I have grown sooo much and I have truly learned how to rely on the Savior. I love this gospel and I LOVE sharing it others!  I want to thank y'all for the wonderful examples y'all have set for me and I love y'all so so much! :)

This week has been a crazy one!  It was MLC on Tuesday, I was sick the rest of the week, ZONE Meeting on Friday, Exchanges for the weekend, an African Bday Party on Saturday and church!  Crazy busy!
 

MLC was soooo fun and bittersweet because it was my last one but I loved it so much. BEAR CREEK is killing it and President M gave our ZONE shout-outs throughout the whole thing.  Unity is what we have been focusing this last transfer and I've never felt so united as a ZONE!
 

We have a goal as a mission of getting 600 baptisms in the Year 2016 and we are so close right now!  Our zone has committed to get 23 more in the next 2 months and we are ALL IN TO GET IT!

I gave a training at ZONE Meeting about Diligence and Finding JOY in the Journey! (I even made handouts...) I love being a missionary and I LOVE my Bear CREEK ZONE!

Life is soooo good and miracles are happening in Katy!  Sister Dummer is my favorite and she is just so sweet and talented!

I have a lot of pics this week tooooo! :)

But have a great week y'all!

The FAB 3 at our last MLC
(Mission Leadership Conf)

Look who's an STL now!  My Baby!!!

Some of my fav blondes

FIND JOY IN THE JOURNEY

Serious Faces

These are my people ... These are MY people!

BCZ LEADERSHIP pic ... no caption needed

Leadership Handout

Week #78 - HAPPY HALLOWEEEEEN ☠️ 🎃 👻

The sisters in my zone all decided to dress up as Princesses and had a
little mini photo shoot ... so please enjoy! :)

Can you guess who we are?

Merida/Brave - Pinster
Rapunzel - Selee
Pocahontas - Fisi
Snow White - Ray
Mulan - Dummer
Red Riding Hood - Thomas

Present and Previous Companions

BE BRAVE

Week #77 - WHAT THE BOM CAN DO! HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!

Hey y'all!

Okay first off, I want to apologize for my really short email last week!  We were so busy and we just did not have time, but today we do! :)

So this week was truly amazing and it all goes back to the truthfulness and converting power of the Book of Mormon.  We had an amazing district meeting ALL about the BOM and we all committed to use it with every Finding approach possible!  And in return, our district found 20 new investigators!  And here in Katy 1st, 7 of those are ours!  We gave out over 10 BOMs in just 3 days!  We have started teaching a couple new families and we are SO excited to see teach them to gospel!  :)

Okay story time!

So Friday night, we out knocking some doors to share the restored gospel with more of God's children.  One lady yelled at us and told us to leave the neighbor.  We just let it slide because we have a duty to share the gospel.  So we go to the next house and guess who pulls up ... THE COPS!  Yes this is the THIRD TIME I have had the cops called on me now as a missionary!  He was nice but I invited him to learn and he was not having it.  He told us we were no longer "allowed" to knock doors in Katy ... yeah right!  It was getting dark so we called it a night but he had to check our ids and EVERYTHING!  Haha my comp is an amazing artist and drew an AMAZING sketch of the situation. :) 

And my face is SO accurate too!  I was not having it with his sass.  Haha :)   Ordained Criminals!

Sister Selee and Sister Pinster ... and a bunch of Elders!

We went on exchanges twice this week ... once for a training and I got to be with Sister Selee!!  It was the last time we would see Elder Moon (AP) and he trained us all on how to better plan!  Sooo good! :)  I also got to be with Sis Fisi as well this weekend!  We did some finding and played volleyball with the wards!  It was so fun!  I love her and her accent.  She's from New Zealand and is loving Texas!  

Sister Pinster with President and Sister Mortensen

We also had a great time last night at a Fireside performed by the mission.  It was in College Station so we were able to drive up there and Sister Harris and I sang a duet!  The spirit was sooo strong there and it was so fun seeing everyone! :) 

I just want y'all to know how TRUE the gospel is!  Christ's Church is RESTORED and we truly can have eternal happiness!  I know the Book of Mormon changes lives and brings us closer to God while helping us understand His plan.  I love serving the gospel 24/7 and sharing the good news of eternal families! 

I hope y'all have a fun week and enjoy the weather!  It's Fall Y'all! 

Love, 

Sister Pinster 

Week #76 - LOVIN' KATY 1ST!!!

HEY Y'ALL!

SO I GOT TRANSFERRED AND I LOVE KATY 1ST!

My New Address:

Sister Taylor Pinster

22631 Colonial Parkway, Apt. 11306

Katy, TX  77449

My new comp - Sister Dummer!   :)

Two of my favorite elders who are officially home now!

LOVE THE SISTERS!  Selee, Ray, Dummer & Pinster

Check out the sign  . . . only in Texas!

"How would it make you feel to have a perfect, resurrected body, Jim?"

P-DAAAAAY WITH THE ZONE

ANYWAY, I LOVE IT HERE AND I LOVE THE GOSPEL!

LOVE,
SISTER TAYLOR

Week #75 - TRANSFERS and Only 6 Weeks Left!

Howdy!

Well ... I AM BEING TRANSFERRED FOR THE LAST 6 Weeks OF MY MISSION!  I'm not sure to Where yet, but it is happening!  I have enjoyed Madisonville and Crockett soooo much and I'm sad to leave, but also SUPER excited for 6 more weeks of new adventures!

This week has been so sooo great!

Saturday night, we were out tracting by the church and knocked into Mary Thompson, the lady who lives right across from the church! She is SO prepared! She has been waiting to come to our church but has been looking for an excuse. Haha she was telling us she misses the traditional churches with classy dress and soft music...well we were singing a duet on Sunday and that was the perfect excuse for her to come! AND SHE DID COME! She has been searching for her true identity and we were able to help her understand she is a daughter of God! She loved it and the spirit was so strong!  She is excited to come back to church and the members just adopted her and she feels like family! :)

We are still good for Brad and Elliot getting baptized soon and we are so excited for them!

We went to another Football game on Friday and we have officially started teaching the family we sat with!! Great bonding time and they introduced us to ALL their friends as "Their missionaries from Coach Grubbs church" haha it was great but now we know a lot of the town! :)

Exchanges were super fun as well and today is Sister Harris's Bday for we were out in College Station and went bowling! And I got 3 strikes and 3 spares! Not too bad for not having bowled for about 3 years! Haha :)

I think that is all for the week but I'm excited to see what new adventures await!

Love y'all so much! Have a great one!

Zone Meeting with my favorites!
Hermana Sheirbon and I have matching Portland Oregon Temple Recommend Holders!

Sister Foster!  Cutest 86-year-old ever!

Saying goodbye to the Self Family

After one of our Family History classes with the Murders

 Bro. Caleb and Anna Lee

Football Game with Hermana Bettridge!

Friday Night Lights!

Exchanges last week with my fav Hermana

BOWLING

OUT TO LUNCH for Sister Harris' BDay!