Wow. What a week. Satan had fun throwing quite a few curveballs... GOOD THING I HAVE A TESTIMONY.
Anyway, it was AWESOME to hear from all 3 members of my familia! What a rare treat haha.
How to recap this week.....?
B is doing great. He's still reading and praying. He received his brain injury from a car accident some 6 or so years ago. He's definitely all there and he does have some issues with memory, but I'll tell you what, he remembers everything about that experience he had a week ago and when he prays before he reads the BoM he says he's able to remember what he read much better... and then he proves it by telling us all about Nephi and Lehi. :)
M and T.... We brought Sis. O to our last appt with them and she was able to share with M how the gospel has blessed her family and her marriage. The commitment we were teaching toward was for the S family to have family prayer. M expressed hesitation--that she'd like to but T wouldn't. I then addressed T and asked him if he would allow it and give his support. He then went off on a tirade about how he has purposely not introduced religion into the home yet because he had religion forced on him and he doesn't think his kids are old enough to choose for themselves and he doesn't intend on introducing religion to them until they are. Let's just say that the Spirit of the Lord ..... is great. Sis. O tried to help him understand the umm.... wrongness? weakness? of that philosophy but he would just interrupt her with his own thoughts. (Poor Sis. O we could tell was struggling for patience.) Then I don't really know how to explain it, but I felt the Holy Ghost and I was able to confound him with things he HAD to acknowledge. It was like in the BoM when they "spoke with power and authority." Believe me they weren't my words--I'm not tooting my own horn. But it was literally a miracle. After we established certain facts that had never before entered into his mind but that he couldn't help but admit, and when he went silent... he consented to allow family prayer in his home. Now we just hope and pray that M has the ambition to put it into practice and that they have "ears to hear and eyes to see" the effects of it.
We had a friend of a person we taught last week call us for an appt. HE was interesting. Loooooooooong story short, he drowned in the mud of anti. I could definitely go on about Mr. K, but I'd rather not. He really tested us this week, but in the end the same invitation stands: we're not here to prove it to you. The only way to know is to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. That's the ONLY WAY. I've been thinking a lot about how in order to gain a testimony of these things and know of their truthfulness, one has to be humble, submissive, sincere and full of faith. And it doesn't come any other way. I'm sure K will come in contact with the Church again--a person like him can't help it. I just pray he'll have the preparation he needs to later accept it.
And yesterday as we were walking around trying to find people to talk to and teach, we passed 2 college-age boys dukin it out in the driveway. As we were almost past them, they called out to us about who we were. We explained we were representatives of Jesus Christ and proceeded to have an interesting conversation with them.... we were even able to teach one about the First Vision and the Restoration, but it was a very short conversation nonetheless because the other one I'm fairly positive was possessed with something (drugs, alcohol, a devil or a combination of the three) and we moved on after giving the one a pamphlet for him to read once he was sober. Pretty sure Sis. T was scared lol but that sort of thing happened every third day in Kansas City, KS. (Not an exaggeration.)
I'm still learning new things like crazy and it's amazing how a little experience and pondering can open your understanding to a multitude of scriptures you've known your whole life. Can't wait for what the next 5 months will bring. (except the snow, wind, sleet, ice and negative temps.... I CAN wait for those.....) My poor little Samoan companion is cold in 50-60 degree weather (which we had this week) and I keep telling her she's going to LOVE the -12 days and that blasted wind....
And HECK YEAH UTAH CREAMED BYU!!!!!!
Well, familia querida, espero que todo este bien y que estan disfrutando los tiempos y autumno. Es corto. :(
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Septiembre 12
Que tal? Gracias por escribirme. Es bueno oirles siempre.
SO! Before I say anything else, I have to tell y'all about what happened yesterday!
So after church and after studies, we went out to proselyte and tried a few people who weren't home, etc. Then we got a disturbing phone call. Then we went to visit a very interesting less active. Then to dinner at the WML's house. We were late bc the LA really likes to talk ha. And because we were late to dinner, we were late leaving (we got there at 6:40 and left at 7:40 instead of 6:30 and 7:30) but that ended up being crucial.
After dinner we went to visit B, one of our investigators. He said, "Guess what I was just doing?? Reading!" and he asked about church (he wasn't there.
) and then asked a bunch of questions about it--all of a sudden he was bent on coming to church for sure this coming week. We started with a prayer and then he just kind of burst out with this experience:
He had sat down to read again (the first time he'd read in the BoM he'd prayed kinda halfway through for understanding and said it had gotten better after that, and that he felt good when he read) and this time he prayed before he started in order to understand and remember (he had a brain injury so it's hard for him to retain info). He said he then reread what he'd read before in 1 Nephi 1-3 and that he thought it was remarkable to he was able to understand and remember everything that time. He then bowed his head to thank the Lord for helping him and at that time he felt chills ("different from being cold chills") down his back and all over coupled with a warmth and extreme sense of peace. He said it was so strong and that he didn't want it to stop. So he just sat there and "enjoyed it" for about 10 minutes. Eventually it ended and he just sat there and thought about it. He wanted to share it with someone but knew anyone he told would think he was crazy. Five minutes later Sister T and I showed up.
It was so neat to hear his experience and be able to say I knew exactly what he was talking about and that it absolutely real. In our previous visits we'd explained baptism and invited him to pray about it and last night we committed him more ardently and set a date to pray about--Oct. 15. He said he would pray about it and was definitely coming to church this week and that if he kept feeling so right about these things he would be baptized. YAY!!! GOOD NIGHT!
He reminded me of my own experience(s) and of the boy I taught in Kansas City, KS-- S, whom I wrote to today--and he gained comfort and assurance knowing he wasn't the only person who'd experienced something like that.
I'm sorry you didn't mention Temple Square to that family too..
When I was in the VC in Independence, a man brought his sister and mom through and I gave them a tour. He was adamant that they go through God's Plan for His Family. He later recounted how he'd visited Salt Lake and his boss had recommended visiting Temple Square. There, he'd gone through God's Plan and remembered feeling something strong in that presentation and thinking, "I need to know if this is true or not..." and from there he met with the missionaries and was baptized. So yeah. Temple Square and Visitors' Centers are inspired and amazing resources.
SO! Before I say anything else, I have to tell y'all about what happened yesterday!
So after church and after studies, we went out to proselyte and tried a few people who weren't home, etc. Then we got a disturbing phone call. Then we went to visit a very interesting less active. Then to dinner at the WML's house. We were late bc the LA really likes to talk ha. And because we were late to dinner, we were late leaving (we got there at 6:40 and left at 7:40 instead of 6:30 and 7:30) but that ended up being crucial.
After dinner we went to visit B, one of our investigators. He said, "Guess what I was just doing?? Reading!" and he asked about church (he wasn't there.
He had sat down to read again (the first time he'd read in the BoM he'd prayed kinda halfway through for understanding and said it had gotten better after that, and that he felt good when he read) and this time he prayed before he started in order to understand and remember (he had a brain injury so it's hard for him to retain info). He said he then reread what he'd read before in 1 Nephi 1-3 and that he thought it was remarkable to he was able to understand and remember everything that time. He then bowed his head to thank the Lord for helping him and at that time he felt chills ("different from being cold chills") down his back and all over coupled with a warmth and extreme sense of peace. He said it was so strong and that he didn't want it to stop. So he just sat there and "enjoyed it" for about 10 minutes. Eventually it ended and he just sat there and thought about it. He wanted to share it with someone but knew anyone he told would think he was crazy. Five minutes later Sister T and I showed up.
It was so neat to hear his experience and be able to say I knew exactly what he was talking about and that it absolutely real. In our previous visits we'd explained baptism and invited him to pray about it and last night we committed him more ardently and set a date to pray about--Oct. 15. He said he would pray about it and was definitely coming to church this week and that if he kept feeling so right about these things he would be baptized. YAY!!! GOOD NIGHT!
He reminded me of my own experience(s) and of the boy I taught in Kansas City, KS-- S, whom I wrote to today--and he gained comfort and assurance knowing he wasn't the only person who'd experienced something like that.
I'm sorry you didn't mention Temple Square to that family too..
When I was in the VC in Independence, a man brought his sister and mom through and I gave them a tour. He was adamant that they go through God's Plan for His Family. He later recounted how he'd visited Salt Lake and his boss had recommended visiting Temple Square. There, he'd gone through God's Plan and remembered feeling something strong in that presentation and thinking, "I need to know if this is true or not..." and from there he met with the missionaries and was baptized. So yeah. Temple Square and Visitors' Centers are inspired and amazing resources.
Well, I'm off to print out some talks. ("The Bitter Cup and the Bloody Baptism" by Holland..... yeah sounds gorey but it's actually not and it's REALLY good)
Know that I love you all and thank you muchly for writing me!
Until next week,
Tengan cuidado,
Los amo.
Know that I love you all and thank you muchly for writing me!
Until next week,
Tengan cuidado,
Los amo.
Septiembre 6
iiFamilia!! Como estan?? Ojala que todo este bien and que esten disfrutando el fin del verano. Estoy muy alegre que ... that it's getting cooler outside. :)
So last night we decided last minute to go to Victoria, KS and try our luck. Everyone seemed to be gone or busy for Labor Day in Hays. We ended up contacting the mother of another of our investigators (didn't know it was her mother when first contacted... not a coincidence) and long story short, it was neat to see once again the Holy Ghost touch someone. When we began talking with her, particularly about the Book of Mormon, she was apathetic and tired. It dawned on me that the sister before probably hadn't even taught her much about it and to expect her to be reading it was silly. I then launched into the Restoration and it turned out to be exactly what she needed. We were able to explain how the Book of Mormon came about, bear testimony of it and other truths and I heard things come out of my mouth I'd never said before about the Book of Mormon. But she felt the Spirit and she had tears when we left her and when Sis. T asked how she felt, she said she wanted to go read right then. Yeah! That's what we like to hear! But the Spirit always inevitably leaves, especially when they don't follow the prompting, so we'll go back and see her soon. And her daughter recently started progressing more as well. She actually did her reading the other day and I'm pretty sure it surprised both her and her husband how the Spirit came back into their home even though we weren't there, because it was evident they had talked about the reading. And T, her hubby, wouldn't admit it at first, but he'd read in Ether... Yay! And they were asking about church... They're on their way. Not there yet because they cancelled our appt today. :( But they can tell we love them and are there for their benefit and not our own.
Can I just say something? I AM SO FAR AWAY FROM PERFECTION AND BEING WORTHY OF LIVING WITH HEAVENLY FATHER. Sorry. Kind of a weird outburst. But I have just been taking a look at myself lately and not censoring anything and I really have a loooooooooooooooooooooooong way to go. I've learned a lot about faith and charity out here.... but I am still just not there at all yet!! Gracious. And it's hard to keep your stamina up out here. Not that that's some sort of secret about mission life. It's always been that way. But it's extremely hard to retain investigators out here. It's every once in a while we meet someone willing to listen to us for more than 4 seconds, rare when we can actually teach them, but when we do it's REALLY good because the Holy Ghost helps us a lot and we've worked on refining our teaching skills, but after the Spirit leaves and they haven't immediately kept the commitment to read, it's 'ya se fue' and very hard to get in to see them again. BUT! We will not lose faith nor lower our expectations. Bah.
Entonces....
Some random facts I discovered this week....
-my knees and the tops of my feet in one particular place are very hard and dry..... that's what I get for praying five million times a day. :)
-I heard that W is still alive, doing well, meeting with missionaries in some unknown part of the country and that he had been going to church faithfully and has daily contact with Bishop S (of Kaw River ward) which makes me extremely happy!!!!!!!
-My companion and I rarely understand each other during prayers. She prays in Samoan and I pray in Spanish.... even though she claims she knows Spanish and calls herself 'Hermana' lol
Have a wonderful week, thank you for your prayers, I'll pray for Texas rain if you pray for Kansas investigators. :)
Agosto 29
Familia querida~
Well, the missionary roller coaster just keeps rollin'...
It's interesting to see the things that change and to see the things that don't change.
Things that I've seen change:
My ability to love people immediately and deeply.
My ability in knowing how to handle people and understand them and practice patience with them.
The way we teach and contact people--it gets smoother and makes more sense.
Things that have not changed:
It's still hard to go up to people I don't know and in those couple of minutes or seconds listen to the Holy Ghost well enough to say the words they individually need that will best help them realize this is something they need--desperately--and something worth following or at least finding out about.
It's amazing how out here you're able to empathize with the Savior like 400X more than you ever could before.
It's hard to bear your soul to people. To open up your heart to them when there's a big possibility they'll cause you heartbreak at some point. But Jesus does it with us daily.
It's hard to stay focused enough to listen to the Spirit in order to know what to say or do. But Jesus did it.
You wish so badly to help people understand the importance and eternal significance of what you're offering them... and so many refuse. Jesus understood and understands so much better than we do the importance of our choices down here, etc. but he's still patient with us and still works tirelessly in order that we always have opportunities to choose the right, to grow, to progress.
It's hard to ensure you always pray mightily and with faith. But Jesus did it.
It's hard to have patience with yourself as you mess up. But Jesus must have felt what it's like for the rest of us who actually make mistakes.
You're right, Mom, when you say I've learned a lot about faith out here. And I have so incredibly far to go, but that it one of the most precious lessons my Father in Heaven has tutored me on out here--what REAL faith is. And faith cannot exceed personal righteousness, as Elder McKonkie asserts, so .... it'll continue to be a big focus. :) I've begun to understand why it is the first principle of the gospel. You can't access anything good and eternally worthwhile without it.
This week was a good one. Of course. I was surprised when it got to the end of the week and we'd reached or exceeded almost all of our weekly goals and had taught as much as we had. We only found 3 new investigators this week but taught like 4 more new people--they just wouldn't commit to a return appt because their schedules are unpredictable. But I really hope that the Lord will provide a way to teach them all again.
Great Bend was... great! haha. We taught a lot of Spanish people (finally!) and also a big Black guy who said he felt something "right here" (pointing to his heart) when I testified to him of the Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith and faith. I told him that was the Holy Ghost confirming what I said to be true. But I think he might've misplaced it because afterward he told me I could start my own church.... mm not exactly what I had in mind. I'm just the servant of the One whose church it is...
Well, I thank you once again for your prayers, for your testimonies, for your faithfulness that I appreciate more every day, your love and support.
The mission continues to challenge, stretch, refine and tutor me.
I love you MUCHISIMO! :)
R. P.~ I finally got your letter. :)
Well, the missionary roller coaster just keeps rollin'...
It's interesting to see the things that change and to see the things that don't change.
Things that I've seen change:
My ability to love people immediately and deeply.
My ability in knowing how to handle people and understand them and practice patience with them.
The way we teach and contact people--it gets smoother and makes more sense.
Things that have not changed:
It's still hard to go up to people I don't know and in those couple of minutes or seconds listen to the Holy Ghost well enough to say the words they individually need that will best help them realize this is something they need--desperately--and something worth following or at least finding out about.
It's amazing how out here you're able to empathize with the Savior like 400X more than you ever could before.
It's hard to bear your soul to people. To open up your heart to them when there's a big possibility they'll cause you heartbreak at some point. But Jesus does it with us daily.
It's hard to stay focused enough to listen to the Spirit in order to know what to say or do. But Jesus did it.
You wish so badly to help people understand the importance and eternal significance of what you're offering them... and so many refuse. Jesus understood and understands so much better than we do the importance of our choices down here, etc. but he's still patient with us and still works tirelessly in order that we always have opportunities to choose the right, to grow, to progress.
It's hard to ensure you always pray mightily and with faith. But Jesus did it.
It's hard to have patience with yourself as you mess up. But Jesus must have felt what it's like for the rest of us who actually make mistakes.
You're right, Mom, when you say I've learned a lot about faith out here. And I have so incredibly far to go, but that it one of the most precious lessons my Father in Heaven has tutored me on out here--what REAL faith is. And faith cannot exceed personal righteousness, as Elder McKonkie asserts, so .... it'll continue to be a big focus. :) I've begun to understand why it is the first principle of the gospel. You can't access anything good and eternally worthwhile without it.
This week was a good one. Of course. I was surprised when it got to the end of the week and we'd reached or exceeded almost all of our weekly goals and had taught as much as we had. We only found 3 new investigators this week but taught like 4 more new people--they just wouldn't commit to a return appt because their schedules are unpredictable. But I really hope that the Lord will provide a way to teach them all again.
Great Bend was... great! haha. We taught a lot of Spanish people (finally!) and also a big Black guy who said he felt something "right here" (pointing to his heart) when I testified to him of the Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith and faith. I told him that was the Holy Ghost confirming what I said to be true. But I think he might've misplaced it because afterward he told me I could start my own church.... mm not exactly what I had in mind. I'm just the servant of the One whose church it is...
Well, I thank you once again for your prayers, for your testimonies, for your faithfulness that I appreciate more every day, your love and support.
The mission continues to challenge, stretch, refine and tutor me.
I love you MUCHISIMO! :)
R. P.~ I finally got your letter. :)
Agosto 22
Oooooooooooooooooooh man,
Those pictures of the mountains just whet my appetite SO much!! Like I told Dad, don't be surprised if you don't see much of me next summer because I spend all my time up THERE!! It was really fun to see the pictures of your hikes and of the girls and swimming and motorcycling. Man, I thought I loved those things BEFORE the mission....
Anyway, glad to know you're all doing well!
The hottest it has been here... no idea to be honest. We don't get a weather report cuz we can't watch the news. But it's probably a good thing. I think the hottest was around 115 walking around Kansas City..... and I got a nice little sister missionary tan line on my feet and neck ha.
We ended up postponing the exchange to Great Bend. The other sisters had to find a house for the new senior couple and they were stressed so we put it to this week. So I'll letchya know when I know how Great Bend is.
So last week was interesting.... We'd worked really hard the week before and made some real progress in new investigators and in the ward and getting the area organized, etc. And that made Satan mad. Really mad. So that he "stirred up the hearts of the people" and long week short, we lost TEN of our people. Both of the people with baptismal dates had family forbid them to meet with us, a couple moved and/or fell off the face of the earth, one got anti'd or something, and one got a guilt trip from his JW wife etc etc. When the last one texted us he couldn't attend anymore, I just hurt inside so bad. My initial response to something going wrong with an investigator is that it's my fault. I'm not teaching them well enough, I didn't give them the right commitment, we didn't bear testimony enough, something. But in all honesty we had made it a big focus to teach by the Spirit as well as identify the Spirit in all of our lessons and ALL of these people's lessons and contacts were powerful. So at least we had that peace. But it was just hard to dig that deep. To be able to go out and bear our souls to people again--which is always hard and takes a lot of faith, but especially when it seemed pointless. But then I determined that that simply wouldn't do. I wasn't going to let Satan win. I was NOT going to lose faith or stop doing everything in my power to give as many people as possible the chance to accept or reject this gospel. So we met with the RS president. And we did service for a less active and contacted every person on her street and were rejected by all of them. But oh well! We're showing the Lord He can trust us and that we love Him and that we're not going to let the adversary get us down because the gospel IS true, independent of the # of people who accept it.
We determined that we should fast. It talks a lot about mighty prayer and fasting in the scriptures to make us strong in spirit and to be able to teach with power and authority of God. We fasted that we would be guided to new investigators--those who are ready and prepared. And that night we found S.
She is solid.
I don't have time to relate the whole story now but I hopefully will in my journal.
And the next day we were able to teach V. And R came to church and told us how she had read the chapters in the BoM that we had assigned her and loved them and read them over and over and that she definitely felt the Holy Ghost in Sunday School (I taught it on Gifts of the Spirit) and we were able to teach Mary too all about Jesus Christ and she said that when we come she feels tingles and that she feels really good after we leave. We're like, "Yeah! That's the Holy Ghost! It's REAL!"
Anyway, God is great. And merciful. And I found a quotation by Pres. Monson that helped me this week too about praying about our assignments in humility and how the very foundation of the philosophy of faith promises us an answer of some sort from the Lord.
Well, Sister T and I are still peachy. She's just great and I love her. Both of her parents passed away in a car wreck about 4-5 years ago so that's why she moved from Samoa to New Zealand, to live with her aunt and uncle. It's so powerful when she testifies of families..... it really touches people and they have no idea she's lost her parents.
I love you and miss you all to pieces. It's crazy to think I only have 4 transfers left. Anyway, get in some more good hikes and take more pictures if you please! I love them! And read Mormon 9:19-28 this week. It really, really struck me this week as I was going through our little trial. And I realized that the times in my life when the Spirit really witnessed to me that certain things were true, it was in complete harmony with verse 25. That it was when the doubt finally left, that He came and confirmed the truth--conFIRMed it.
Those pictures of the mountains just whet my appetite SO much!! Like I told Dad, don't be surprised if you don't see much of me next summer because I spend all my time up THERE!! It was really fun to see the pictures of your hikes and of the girls and swimming and motorcycling. Man, I thought I loved those things BEFORE the mission....
Anyway, glad to know you're all doing well!
The hottest it has been here... no idea to be honest. We don't get a weather report cuz we can't watch the news. But it's probably a good thing. I think the hottest was around 115 walking around Kansas City..... and I got a nice little sister missionary tan line on my feet and neck ha.
We ended up postponing the exchange to Great Bend. The other sisters had to find a house for the new senior couple and they were stressed so we put it to this week. So I'll letchya know when I know how Great Bend is.
So last week was interesting.... We'd worked really hard the week before and made some real progress in new investigators and in the ward and getting the area organized, etc. And that made Satan mad. Really mad. So that he "stirred up the hearts of the people" and long week short, we lost TEN of our people. Both of the people with baptismal dates had family forbid them to meet with us, a couple moved and/or fell off the face of the earth, one got anti'd or something, and one got a guilt trip from his JW wife etc etc. When the last one texted us he couldn't attend anymore, I just hurt inside so bad. My initial response to something going wrong with an investigator is that it's my fault. I'm not teaching them well enough, I didn't give them the right commitment, we didn't bear testimony enough, something. But in all honesty we had made it a big focus to teach by the Spirit as well as identify the Spirit in all of our lessons and ALL of these people's lessons and contacts were powerful. So at least we had that peace. But it was just hard to dig that deep. To be able to go out and bear our souls to people again--which is always hard and takes a lot of faith, but especially when it seemed pointless. But then I determined that that simply wouldn't do. I wasn't going to let Satan win. I was NOT going to lose faith or stop doing everything in my power to give as many people as possible the chance to accept or reject this gospel. So we met with the RS president. And we did service for a less active and contacted every person on her street and were rejected by all of them. But oh well! We're showing the Lord He can trust us and that we love Him and that we're not going to let the adversary get us down because the gospel IS true, independent of the # of people who accept it.
We determined that we should fast. It talks a lot about mighty prayer and fasting in the scriptures to make us strong in spirit and to be able to teach with power and authority of God. We fasted that we would be guided to new investigators--those who are ready and prepared. And that night we found S.
She is solid.
I don't have time to relate the whole story now but I hopefully will in my journal.
And the next day we were able to teach V. And R came to church and told us how she had read the chapters in the BoM that we had assigned her and loved them and read them over and over and that she definitely felt the Holy Ghost in Sunday School (I taught it on Gifts of the Spirit) and we were able to teach Mary too all about Jesus Christ and she said that when we come she feels tingles and that she feels really good after we leave. We're like, "Yeah! That's the Holy Ghost! It's REAL!"
Anyway, God is great. And merciful. And I found a quotation by Pres. Monson that helped me this week too about praying about our assignments in humility and how the very foundation of the philosophy of faith promises us an answer of some sort from the Lord.
Well, Sister T and I are still peachy. She's just great and I love her. Both of her parents passed away in a car wreck about 4-5 years ago so that's why she moved from Samoa to New Zealand, to live with her aunt and uncle. It's so powerful when she testifies of families..... it really touches people and they have no idea she's lost her parents.
I love you and miss you all to pieces. It's crazy to think I only have 4 transfers left. Anyway, get in some more good hikes and take more pictures if you please! I love them! And read Mormon 9:19-28 this week. It really, really struck me this week as I was going through our little trial. And I realized that the times in my life when the Spirit really witnessed to me that certain things were true, it was in complete harmony with verse 25. That it was when the doubt finally left, that He came and confirmed the truth--conFIRMed it.
Agosto 15
Howdy, howdy, howdy.... otra vez. :)
I'm glad the week went well for all of you. Same here!
Things are definitely lookin' up for Hays. I'll be honest, I had a couple days of depression because the work was not where it should've been here when I came in and I always go through it to some degree with a new area. It's exciting, but a LOAD to take on with every new area. But our zone is focusing on finding right now and we were able to find 5 new investigators last week and even more really good potentials. It's interesting how the Lord leads you to people. He led us to S at the library who gave us an address which, when we went to find, wasn't there... but then we found Sa and J... and when we went to see Sa again we found E whom I believe will get baptized.... Missionary work is so full of miracles.
Last week we went to our first district meeting and had some car time with the other sisters because we carpooled. District mtng is 2 hrs away and we have our first exchange tomorrow. I'm going to Great Bend, KS to teach their neglected pile of Spanish investigators!! Our district is awesome, though. There are us 4 sisters and 4 elders (2 actually because 2 are the zone leaders who're part of both districts) and a senior couple. But this week we have interviews with President on Wednesday and trainings by the APs.
We ate dinner with our WML last night and told funny mission stories--he served in Las Vegas. They also told us about some of the past sister missionary experiences the ward has had.... EEK!
To answer your Q about miles and car rides from members, we have a full-time car, yes, but we have a certain alotment of miles we can go every month. But the "car czar" (senior missionary in charge of cars) just called me and said that President told him to give us more miles so we're up to 2000 now. Wahoo! But we try to be smart with our miles and walk as much as we can and carpool and work one area totally before we move on.
Yes, it is a bit cooler out here. But I think it's also just starting to change season. It gets cooler earlier here. It's still pretty hot tho.
I AM learning, growing, feeling good about representing the Savior. It's amazing how the meaning and import of your calling somehow sinks in and helps your perspective. But I know that one way to keep on top as a missionary is to always make sure you're improving your efforts and skills instead of just enduring or outLASTing.
Well, we have a lesson here in a minute so I must bid y'all adieu.
Thank you for your support, for your prayers, for your love, your examples, and your emails and pkgs!
P.S. A German exchange student fell in love with me yesterday and hugged me! ahh!! Gotta watch out for those Europeans!
I'm glad the week went well for all of you. Same here!
Things are definitely lookin' up for Hays. I'll be honest, I had a couple days of depression because the work was not where it should've been here when I came in and I always go through it to some degree with a new area. It's exciting, but a LOAD to take on with every new area. But our zone is focusing on finding right now and we were able to find 5 new investigators last week and even more really good potentials. It's interesting how the Lord leads you to people. He led us to S at the library who gave us an address which, when we went to find, wasn't there... but then we found Sa and J... and when we went to see Sa again we found E whom I believe will get baptized.... Missionary work is so full of miracles.
Last week we went to our first district meeting and had some car time with the other sisters because we carpooled. District mtng is 2 hrs away and we have our first exchange tomorrow. I'm going to Great Bend, KS to teach their neglected pile of Spanish investigators!! Our district is awesome, though. There are us 4 sisters and 4 elders (2 actually because 2 are the zone leaders who're part of both districts) and a senior couple. But this week we have interviews with President on Wednesday and trainings by the APs.
We ate dinner with our WML last night and told funny mission stories--he served in Las Vegas. They also told us about some of the past sister missionary experiences the ward has had.... EEK!
To answer your Q about miles and car rides from members, we have a full-time car, yes, but we have a certain alotment of miles we can go every month. But the "car czar" (senior missionary in charge of cars) just called me and said that President told him to give us more miles so we're up to 2000 now. Wahoo! But we try to be smart with our miles and walk as much as we can and carpool and work one area totally before we move on.
Yes, it is a bit cooler out here. But I think it's also just starting to change season. It gets cooler earlier here. It's still pretty hot tho.
I AM learning, growing, feeling good about representing the Savior. It's amazing how the meaning and import of your calling somehow sinks in and helps your perspective. But I know that one way to keep on top as a missionary is to always make sure you're improving your efforts and skills instead of just enduring or outLASTing.
Well, we have a lesson here in a minute so I must bid y'all adieu.
Thank you for your support, for your prayers, for your love, your examples, and your emails and pkgs!
P.S. A German exchange student fell in love with me yesterday and hugged me! ahh!! Gotta watch out for those Europeans!
Agosto 8
Oooooooooooooooooooooh boy.
Well. . . . . . . . I got transferred. Actually we both did. They closed Kaw River to sisters and we got DTed out (double transferred) so it was crazy getting everything together, dividing our investigators and LAs between the elders and packing and saying goodbye. The bishop was not pleased lol. There are a few of our investigators who'll only meet with sisters so good luck to the elders. Maybe Bishop S can get some women ward missionaries called. So you're probably wondering where Sister V and I ended up? Well Sister V went to jail --the Liberty Jail, that is. Her area is Shoal Creek where the KC temple is being built. Yeehaw. And she's in a tripanionship with the sister leader and a missionary with Asbergers. Kinda tough, but she'll do great.
I . . . . am in Siberia. Ope I mean Hays. I'm actually closer to home than I am to the mission office. It's at the western edge of the mission and our area is enormous. District meetings are 2 hours away. Interviews are 4.5 hours away. And you can imagine how much members like to give us rides...... lol. But it's good. I know I'm here for a reason. I know that there are people in Hays and in our area who are ready to receive the Restored Gospel and that we just have to find them. But the finding here is extremely tricky. In KC we could just walk up to people on the street and start testifying and inviting and it was pretty evident to most people that we had something they wanted. But not here. It's an English area so I'm struggling to keep my Spanish (my companion actually wants to learn Spanish with me! I'll talk about her soon...) Hays is a some-what small town out in the country of Kansas and the other towns in our area are smaller and farther. The ward is tiny, but good. We went over quite a few things yesterday in PEC with the aux. leaders that we can hopefully get up to speed....if the members are willing, that is. Going through the members is probably the most effective way out here I would imagine. We're currently trying to come up with ways to excite the ward, get them on-board, how to serve them and gain their trust, build their faith and stretch them. I feel a little bit like I'm clawing at a brick wall. I'm so ready to go, ready to work, ready to teach, ready to serve.... but there just seems to be a lot of walls we're running into. I was excited to meet the ward and we had an investigator at church--J, who should have a baptismal date by Wednesday. He enjoyed church, and participated a lot. And he's reading!
My companion is Sister T from New Zealand! She actually grew up in Samoa, though, and that's her first language. So that's why it's so funny to speak Spanish with her. A Samoan speaking Spanish.... but she loves it! She's great. She's super different. We're like night and day, but we support each other. I'm only her second companion. Kinda unofficially follow-up-training. This is her 3rd transfer. I love when she testifies to people. She has this strong voice and she just looks 'em straight in the eye and tells em how it is. And her prayers are so sincere too. I'll include a picture hopefully.
So right now we're focused on finding. We need solid investigators. We just contacted a woman whom I contacted way back in Junction City at a member's wedding and whom I gave as a referral to the sisters who were at that time serving here. They lost track of her and we went and found her again and helped her clean her fridge and met her family. :)
Please continue to pray for us to be able to find new investigators and find those who have been prepared to receive this message.
Well. . . . . . . . I got transferred. Actually we both did. They closed Kaw River to sisters and we got DTed out (double transferred) so it was crazy getting everything together, dividing our investigators and LAs between the elders and packing and saying goodbye. The bishop was not pleased lol. There are a few of our investigators who'll only meet with sisters so good luck to the elders. Maybe Bishop S can get some women ward missionaries called. So you're probably wondering where Sister V and I ended up? Well Sister V went to jail --the Liberty Jail, that is. Her area is Shoal Creek where the KC temple is being built. Yeehaw. And she's in a tripanionship with the sister leader and a missionary with Asbergers. Kinda tough, but she'll do great.
I . . . . am in Siberia. Ope I mean Hays. I'm actually closer to home than I am to the mission office. It's at the western edge of the mission and our area is enormous. District meetings are 2 hours away. Interviews are 4.5 hours away. And you can imagine how much members like to give us rides...... lol. But it's good. I know I'm here for a reason. I know that there are people in Hays and in our area who are ready to receive the Restored Gospel and that we just have to find them. But the finding here is extremely tricky. In KC we could just walk up to people on the street and start testifying and inviting and it was pretty evident to most people that we had something they wanted. But not here. It's an English area so I'm struggling to keep my Spanish (my companion actually wants to learn Spanish with me! I'll talk about her soon...) Hays is a some-what small town out in the country of Kansas and the other towns in our area are smaller and farther. The ward is tiny, but good. We went over quite a few things yesterday in PEC with the aux. leaders that we can hopefully get up to speed....if the members are willing, that is. Going through the members is probably the most effective way out here I would imagine. We're currently trying to come up with ways to excite the ward, get them on-board, how to serve them and gain their trust, build their faith and stretch them. I feel a little bit like I'm clawing at a brick wall. I'm so ready to go, ready to work, ready to teach, ready to serve.... but there just seems to be a lot of walls we're running into. I was excited to meet the ward and we had an investigator at church--J, who should have a baptismal date by Wednesday. He enjoyed church, and participated a lot. And he's reading!
My companion is Sister T from New Zealand! She actually grew up in Samoa, though, and that's her first language. So that's why it's so funny to speak Spanish with her. A Samoan speaking Spanish.... but she loves it! She's great. She's super different. We're like night and day, but we support each other. I'm only her second companion. Kinda unofficially follow-up-training. This is her 3rd transfer. I love when she testifies to people. She has this strong voice and she just looks 'em straight in the eye and tells em how it is. And her prayers are so sincere too. I'll include a picture hopefully.
So right now we're focused on finding. We need solid investigators. We just contacted a woman whom I contacted way back in Junction City at a member's wedding and whom I gave as a referral to the sisters who were at that time serving here. They lost track of her and we went and found her again and helped her clean her fridge and met her family. :)
Please continue to pray for us to be able to find new investigators and find those who have been prepared to receive this message.
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