"Oh that I were an ANGEL and could have the wish of my HEART"

...that I might go forth and speak

with the trump of God,

with a voice to shake the earth,

and cry repentance

unto every people!

Alma 29:1

1/21/08 We tract all day. Its pretty fun.

At first I didn't feel comfortable talking

so my companion would. She's super

patient with me.

(Audiotape) Gave a talk in Church today.

Still not comfortable doing that.

Sister Duncan said it was good.

3/10 I got asked to speak in Church

on Sunday... I do not like talking but it

was actually OK. I'm starting to feel

more comfortable on the stand.

3/17 Man, on our way to Church

the lady who teaches gospel essentials

called because she was sick and asked

if we'd teach. We can't say no.

So we taught Sunday School on the

millenium, Relief Society on repentance,

then a man named Robert Vigliotti got

baptized and OF COURSE wanted the

missionaries to speak at it.

So, yeah, we sure were tired when we

got home.

"Have a wonderful time at the Easter Pageant..."

Thanks for the Easter Pageant pics! {of 2008 practice}

I SO wish I could some how be in it

as well as be here, but no can do :(

{Hilary has been a cast member every year but once since 1999}

1st Transfer--Cape Cod, Massachusetts

"Welp, Cape Cod it is! Can you believe it?"

You always said you wanna come to the cape! :)

Well, it's beautiful here! I'm in a little village (isn't that cute?)

by a bay...it's tiny but cute. It's awesome when it's the

sunset over the Cape Cod Canal.

The people here are awesome! It's really booming out

here right now! A lot of potential & hard work! It's gonna

be GREAT! My companions name is Sister Susan Bingham.

She's from Jerome, Idaho. Really neat! It's awesome how

much we've grown together already. She liked her last city

but LOVES Cape Cod! I'm gonna feel the same, I already do!

The Ward here is AWESOME!

They come to appointments w/us, give us referrals, & feed us

every night. There have been a lot of baptisms b/c of the ward &

their desire to do missionary work! It's great! The youth are

amazing! There's this girl named Jennifer T. who talks to her

friends about our church, then has us over to teach them,

then they get baptized, it's awesome! She's awesome.

But things are going great! I know the Lord needs me here &

I'm excited to find out why! I love being a missionary!

This is going to be the area

I "forget myself and

go to work!" :)

Can't wait!

We are teaching a wonderful family...

(transcribed from audiotape)

"After President Hinckley's funeral, Sister Duncan and I were tracting

and we started talking to some young girls on the street. They asked

what we do and we told them that we teach families about Jesus Christ.

They got excited and all said 'Come to my house, come to my house!'

One of the older girls wanted us to come over right then and when we

did we could hear her Mother say to her, 'I am not interested.' But the

youngest girl, Danielle Buckley, said 'Please come meet my Dad',

so we went to meet him but he wasn't home.

Danielle Buckley and me

Later in the week, Sister Duncan and I were having a companion planning

day. We needed to set our goal for how many people we would have

ready for baptism by 3/2. We weren't teaching any investigators at this

time. We prayed together and decided to put our hands behind our

backs and indicate a number and then bring them out in front at the

same time. We did this and we both had the number 2. We were so

excited that we got the same number that we were jumping up and

down and hugging. However, when we sat back down, Sister Duncan

said 'I really wanted to say 4 but I thought that was too many since we

aren't teaching anyone right now.' I said, me too, I really was thinking

4. So we prayed individually this time and we both felt like the number

of baptisms we would have by 3/2 was four.

A few days later we saw Danielle Buckley on the street

and she again invited us to her home to meet her Dad.

(letter 2/11)

His name is Sean Buckley and he is a single Dad with 6 kids. We invited them

to Church and they came. They LOVED church--they are all so sweet. The Dad

seems excited about the whole thing. We teach him tomorrow for the first time.

(audio tape)

Today we taught the Buckleys about tithing. I was very nervous about it

because they have a large family and things are tight for them.

But when we started talking about it, Sean said 'Tithing. That's one-tenth.

I would be happy to pay tithing because I think it shows Heavenly Father

that you really believe in Him.'

We were talking at District meeting that all people really know

the truth, and if they will listen to the Spirit, it will tell them

when truth is being retaught to them. Sean is really just being

reminded of the truths he already knows.

(letter 2/18) That family I told you about is getting baptized March 2nd.

I am so happy for them!

They are so humble!

(letter 2/27) Well I guess you already got the e-mail that I am being

transferred. I'm really sad because the Buckley's baptism is this

Sunday. We called them and they invited us over for good-byes.

Man it was hard! Sean hugged me when we came in and asked

if he could offer a prayer with us and his prayer was so sweet!

He simply thanked the Lord for sending Sister Duncan and I

to him and for preparing him to find the truth...

I just love that family so much!"

saying good-bye to the Buckleys

Dylan-11, Rachel-6, Danielle-9, Nick-5, Ryan-13, Hayley-5
with Sister Worthen and Sister Duncan

3/2/08 Sean, Ryan, Dylan, and Danielle Buckley at their

baptism--with Sister Duncan and Elders doing the baptisms

yes, that would be FOUR--

the same as Sisters Worthen and Duncan's GOAL!

(Thanks to Sister Duncan for sending the pictures
and for being a wonderful trainer/companion)

Arizona Girl in the Snow!

This was Sunday 2/10. We were tracting & all of a sudden

a huge wind of snow came along. NO GOOD! I had a short-

sleeved shirt on and knee high tights. I was FREEZING! But I

learned a lesson--that is never trust Massachusetts weather--

always be over prepared!

Sister Duncan and I are ready to play in the snow this time!
Hey! This is fun!
Gotta make a snow angel!
I'M SERIOUSLY FREEZING HERE!

My New Apartment in Revere

"This is my apartment in Revere--yes the town is

named after Paul Revere--mine is the right door.

It goes straight upstairs as soon as you walk

in and we are on the whole top floor.

The landlords live on the bottom floor."

You find really cool door knockers here. haha
They kiss everytime you knock.

Hilary and Flat Stanley Make it to BOSTON!!!

1st trip into the city

Hilary and Flat Stanley check out the Atlantic Ocean

for Brig Foster's kindergarten class

Sisters Worthen and Duncan

getting a history lesson on P-day

Sister Duncan--My trainer/companion

"Because we believe
that a missionary's first
companion is extremely
important, we have
assigned one of our most
faithful and dedicated



missionaries, Sister Kelsie
Duncan, to be your
daughter's companion."
(President England)

"My companion/trainer is Sis. Duncan from Springville,
Utah. She's awesome. We get along great! We work
really hard. We tract all day. It's pretty fun. @ first I
didn't feel comfortable talking so she would, then she
had me do it. She's super patient with me. Which is
so nice for me! :) (Sister Worthen)

"Sister Worthen arrived safely, a little tired..."

"We want you to know that all is well in the Massachusetts

Boston Mission! Sister Hilary Worthen arrived safely, a

little tired, but full of excitement and anticipation. How

thrilled we are to have her here with us. Enclosed is a

picture of your great missionary, Sister Worthen,

Sister England and me. We count it among our

choicest blessings to share this time with your daughter

as personal representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We will do our best to build upon the wonderful

foundation that you have already laid. She will bless

the lives of many here in New England as she brings souls

unto Christ through dedication, sacrifice and love."

Sincerely,

President Edward C. England

MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON MISSION

Boston Bound for Real!

" It was fun to be able to talk to the family today! I really miss

everyone! But I know this is where I need to be right now. Our

family is awesome...Well I'm on the plane now and on the navigation

screen in front of me it says we're just flying over Lake Michigan. It

also says the weather is -14 degrees outside sometimes it goes up to

-20 degrees. Crazy! Who knew it could get that cold cuz I sure didn't!

Man this is going to be fun! Really!I'm gonna have a blast!

I can't wait to get to know Boston! I read through my patriarchal

blessing when I got on the plane and I was comforted with the feeling

that Boston is where I need to go and that I will bring the Gospel

to the people there. I love my patriarchal blessing.

I'm pretty tired and I better take a quick nap before our plane lands...

I can't wait to tell you how Boston is! (besides the 4 ft. snow :( ) ha"

About the MTC...and other important truths...

"I was having a bit of a hard time in the MTC the first

couple days because to be honest it is REALLY hard!

& humbling @ the same time. Like, you're literally

pleading

w/the Lord to have the Spirit w/you & to get
what people are throwing @ you (literally throwing).
It's hard to take everything all @ once,

they kinda just slam it in your face. But b/c
Heavenly Father loves me & hears my prayers,

I'm doing alot better!
I am beginning to actually believe in myself! :)
It's a great feeling."

"Mom I could not be any happier!
It feels so good to know

the Lord will provide

when you're not so sure of certain things!

But I've seen that all my life...

just here, the adversary
only comes in when you let it. Like we live in a bubble.
It's so nice!" :)

Read D&C 84:87-88, John 14:16-18, and Matthew 14:22-36

"He not only is there,

but is w/His arm stretched out for us to grab!
I really am learning so much!"

January 14, 2008

Two days before leaving the MTC the doctors removed a
plantars wart from the bottom of Sister Worthen's foot.

The MTC thinks of everything!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

January 9, 2007--Last P-day in MTC

"Dad this picture reminded me of you:

at BYU--your favorite school

wearing your warm-up pants that

Boyd also took on his mission

in the snow--I remember you telling

me that you loved the snow so much

you would sleep with the window

open even on snowy nights."

Santa will find you at the MTC!

"Thanks so much for the Christmas package! I LOVED it! :) Those toe & hand warmers will come to get alot of use, I know. ha...We don't have any classes today because of Christmas...

I just got back from a devotional & Elder L. Tom Perry spoke along with his wife & daughter& her family. It was really good."

"I love my stocking"

MTC District

"I'm being treated like a princess up here in the

MTC.

All the Elders open all our doors, get up out of

their chairs anytime Sisters enter a classroom

or the eating table

and stay standing until we sit down.

It shows so much respect it's amazing!

I (heart) it!"

Elders Olsen, Royer, Sisters Perry, Liston, and Worthen,

Elders Lloyd, Andreason, Bateman and Jerren

in front of Provo Temple

January 9,2007

"We got to go to the Temple as a zone for the first time

because it's been closed since we got here. The Spirit

was so strong, and it's like I got rejuvenated for Boston!

I can't wait to go!"

My MTC Companions (yes, that is a plural)

12/19/07

"My companions are Sister Perry from Washington

and Sister Liston from Sandy, Utah.

They're great!"Sisters Liston, Perry and Worthen
12/24/07
Why isn't the Sister from Arizona wearing a coat?

Visiting Sister Liston at Sick Bay "One less companion for 2 1/2 days!

"get this, we have companion inventory every week where we say things that are bothering us as well as wut they like about me & one of them was, i kid you not!...but she liked how organized i was! I immediately thought of you! and my room...haha i knew you would (heart) that!"

This really CRAZY girl...

(Mom's words) Oops...I said I wasn't going to add anymore...

but I forgot about this Sister. She was a Canadian going

to Florida and was sitting next to us in the meeting they

have before the missionaries and their families go their

separate ways.

It is a BITTERSWEET time and very EMOTIONAL.

But this friendly gal was ready to get started

and after Hil and I had one last hug, she grabbed

onto Hil's arm and said 'Let's go!' and they got in

the missionary line and I walked out the door.

Hilary's words: "This is Sister Smith,

the girl I met before I left you.

I am so grateful for her!

She was an answer to my prayers!"

December 19, 2007--Entering the MTC--At Last!!!

Hilary had a relatively short time between her call and reporting to the MTC--about 6 1/2 weeks. She had lots to do to get ready and no real semblance of understanding the real "COLD" she was preparing for. She talked to people who "knew" New England, made lots of lists and checked things off; got her necessary shots, made purchases according to the instructions sent from Salt Lake, received her Temple Endowments, spoke in Church and and had an open house for friends and relatives, wrapped things up at Hair-do, celebrated Christmas early and had a memorable setting apart by Stake President Russell Thornock. Then she packed and said her good-byes. She had accomplished all she needed to do in Salt Lake and had made the last two trips to Target for things she needed.

Sister Worthen was asked to report at 12:30. It was raining and cold.

She was exhausted but excited.

THE TIME HAD COME!

Sister Worthen signs in

Gets Instructions

Gets her Missionary badge--A Mother's Dream!!!

And one last hug.....So Proud of You!!!

The last picture we took was the one by the international Christmas tree at the top of this blog. We were then asked to put our cameras away as we proceeded to her first meeting.

This will be the last post in my words. From now on I will be sharing only Hil's thoughts and pictures as she sends them to the family. To all who read this and care about Sister Worthen, we love you and thank you with all our hearts for the love and support you have shown to her. We are so grateful that she has an opportunity to serve the Lord and represent our family in this glorius work. (Posted by Mom)

One Last Person to See

Uncle Dic and Aunt Jennifer are wonderful hosts and know how to give missionaries a proper send-off! They made their wonderful homemade waffles for breakfast as we prepared to take Hilary to Provo and she loved it. Dic and Jennifer are also a wealth of information about the mission field, what to take, where to get it, how to send stuff--they know all the tricks. Thanks to the Johnsons for making us feel so welcome and seeing Hilary off with lots of love.

Before she entered the MTC there was one more person Hilary really wanted to see. Bekah Parker has been such a wonderful friend and role model to Hilary for the past 8 or so years. For those of you who don't know Bekah, she is one of those people who could still smile and find things to be positive about as she battled cancer, had chemo, lost her hair etc. etc. Her amazing attitude about life and the Gospel are nothing short of inspiring. Yes, a good dose of "Bekah" was what Hilary and I needed as she prepared to enter the MTC.

(at Bekah's office at the Creamery)
And of course, she didn't disappoint!
Uplifting, Positive, Encouraging, Interested, Caring Bekah

We love you!