Replies

Through this last week, I was able to receive a couple replies from missionaries that I have already written.  It was an exciting thing to come home to.  I got a reply from Jarinn, Alex, and Gubeli.  Those three I had written purposefully.  The fourth one is a guy named Sean, he had gotten my letter from the random letters I sent out to the MTC.

Jarinn is my cousin, so I already knew that he would write me back.  His letter was amazing.  It amazes me with how much missionaries are able to write.  Jarinn even drew me a beautiful picture of himself to keep a smile on my face.  I love this boy and I miss him like crazy! But he won't know that I miss him, because I don't want to be a distraction to the wonderful work he is doing.

Alex was one of the first missionaries I wrote randomly.  His reply was short, but it has helped with preparing myself.  Although it's going to take me a little bit longer to write him back, for he gave me something to read.  It was a talk by Elder Bednar, 'Becoming a Missionary.'  Before I can write him back I need to read it so that there can be a little bit of a conversation about it.

Gubeli was one of the nineteen missionaries that started this whole Missionary Writer thing.  He wrote back, thanking for all the letters that he had received.  I am hoping that the more, him and I write the more interesting and helpful his letters will turn out to be.

Sean, his letter was definitely the longest letter of them all and probably my favorite letter of all time, (so far), his letter was welcoming and very helpful.  He is still in the MTC, but that just means that I will be able to write for his whole mission and be able to learn as he learns.  This is going to be an amazing experience.  He has told me that I am more than welcome to continue to write him, which I'm hoping is going to last for the two full years.


I do not know if I will be able to write the random missionary this week, because I have already written back four missionaries.  I will definitely do a random missionary next week, if I don't have any replies by then.

Weekly Missionary - Turns into Five Missionaries

So last week I made a promise to myself to write a missionary a week, just so I can keep up with getting my voice and hand of support out to all the missionaries of the world.  As I was randomly choosing which missionary I should write, I came across a couple other missionaries that I felt I should write.  So in turn my Daily Missionary, became Five Missionaries.  Which in turn I am completely out with ((:

Keith was the first chosen, then came Kevin, Tyler, Daniel, and Braden.  They were all random names searched up and the name or the picture that popped out the most in my mind was the one I decided to write.

Only one person really knows about me writing random missionaries and he thinks it is a grand idea.  I am hoping that more people will hear about me and will be kind enough to get me names and addresses of those people that are in need of a helping hand.

Recently, I have been putting on every letter, asking the missionary to let me know if there are any missionaries that they know of that are in need of a letter.  I am hoping that I will be able to get some that way too.  I really hope that these missionaries are going to feel the love, support and gratitude that I am sending them through these letters.

Random Letters to Random Missionaries

I sent out the seven letters that I have recently wrote to some missionaries.  Three of them I know personally and the other four are some people that I found on a missionary site.  I am a little nervous about what they will think when they get a random letter from someone they don't know, but I am hoping that they are welcoming to the letter.  Hoping they will reply too.


The most recent update is the fact that I talked to my cousin Carrie about letters to missionaries because she works in the MTC.  She told me that most of them appreciate it and that if I wanted to, I am willing to write little letters and just send them to the MTC and address them to the mailroom for her to hand out to random missionaries.

This way I'm not just picking and choosing different missionaries.  I will truly be getting random letters from random missionaries.  This is going to be amazing.  Although, I will be typing these letters because they are going to say the exact same thing.  After that, if they reply to the letter, they will all be hand written letters because I feel that hand written gives it more importance.

Below is the letter that I will be sending out to them.



Dear Elder/Sister of the Royal Army of God


     I am Chelsea Bastian, I live in Lehi, Utah and I am of 17 years of age.  I know you don't know me at all, never heard of me before, but I would like to let you know that I am grateful for the choice you have made. There is a lot of respect and gratitude in my heart for the noble choice you have made by becoming a missionary.


 I am writing to let you know that I am thankful for the wonderful and glorious work that you have decided to do.  You have chosen to be in the Royal Army of God and that is something to be proud of.  Stand tall and strong, for the power of Satan shall be trying to take you down.
     It is wonderful to know that we have strong and powerful young men and young women that are willing to give up two years of their life for the Lord.  Thank you for spreading the Light of Christ to the dark areas of the world today.

     Random Quote- In times of Trials, the best thing to do is Smile :)

     
     I would love to hear back from you, I am preparing myself for a mission and would like to have some advice or different ways to better myself.  

From,

Your Earthly Stranger and your Heavenly Sister,

Chelsea Bastian

Update - 14 Elder Letters and 12 Sister Letters being sent to the Provo MTC August 7, 2011

Writing a Few More

I was writing my cousin and two of my good friends that are out on missions at this very moment.  Seeing as I haven't written them in a while and I had some free time to write them.  After I had finished those three letters, I felt like I wanted to write more missionaries.  I love the calm feeling I get when I am writing someone that I know is living the gospel fully and truthfully.

I remember a site that was for missionaries to stay connected with their family, (missionsite.net) I went on there and I searched a few names.  My favorite names were the first names to pop into my head.  Alex and William were the first two I searched up.  Picking the first picture that stood out to me.  I hoping that they are okay with receiving a letter from a girl that they don't know.

Next I decided to search up my last name, Bastian, to see if there was anyone out in the field that could be related to me in the long run.  That is how I found Chase.

Three down, but there was still one more name that I needed to search up.  I couldn't get the name out of my head, Sarah.  I searched the name and looked at the different pictures that popped up.  It took a few minutes before I decided what picture to choose.

Ending the day with seven missionaries written.
Travis, Jarinn, Kaeden, Alex, William, Chase, and Sarah.
Bringing my total of missionaries wrote to... 26

I am still willing to write any missionary that is out in the field, to help them feel loved and supported while out in this crazy world

Starting Out

The idea of becoming a Missionary Writer started out at Girls Camp of 2011.  There was about two hours of free time for each day that we were up at camp.  They had plenty of crafts to do, a pamper area, and then a missionary stand.  At first the thought of writing a missionary I didn't know, didn't sound like a good idea.  I thought it would be a little weird writing someone that I didn't know at all.

Till I thought about it a little bit more...

Those missionaries, nineteen in my stake, gave up two years of their lives for the Lord and the least I can do is write them a letter to thank them for the work they are doing.  By writing them a letter, you are helping the work of the Lord be spread.  Without those missionaries out in the field, preaching the word of God to the world, the gospel wouldn't be able to spread.

So the next time we had the free time, I sat at the missionary station and I wrote every single missionary that was in my stake. It took a while to write all nineteen missionaries, my wrist was sore by the end of it, but it was well worth it.

Now I do not know if they are going to respond to my letters or not, but it would be an amazing experience to be able to get to know these missionaries and learn about what they are doing on their mission.  I am looking forward to the missionaries I will continue to write in the future and the letters that I get in return.

The Stable Few

During this Christmas Season,

We tend to forget the reason,

Reasons for cheer, joy, and love.

We should not forget the one that watches above,

For He was born that wonderful day,

And like the Angels we all shall say.

Merry Christmas!

With Good Tidings of Great Joy,

The Savior was born,

Lay cuddled in a manger.

Cattle and Oxen first welcomed Him here.

During this Christmas Season,

We shall not forget the reason.

For we shall be counted.

Standing out of the Inn Crowd,

Believing…

And being some of the Stable few.

God's Place

These trees, there wonderful green trees
This place, with the soft gentle breeze
birds singing the songs of love
The bright blue sky right above
No clouds blocking my view
And now I know too
This is God's place
This wonderful amazing space
Created with His love and care
Created with the love He always shares
His eyes so gentle and kind
So this is my time to shine