4/14/14
HELLLLLLO FAMILY! Wow this is going to be a long email...I can feel it.
Man so much is happening. I'm so pumped! First of
all...thanks for the birthday posts and shoutouts and stuff! Means a lot to me!
(I'm glad I still have people that haven't forgotten me) haha. No but really!
Thanks again....
AND THANKS FAMILY FOR THE PACKAGES!!!! I opened my birthday package and
I wish you could have seen my face. I have not been so happy to receive CLOTHES
in my entire life! I tried all of them on and they fit well so don't worry
about exchanging cause they all worked! YAY! So thanks a million!
My birthday was great! Last Monday we went to Dairy Queen and then went
bowling. And guess who won both games? That's right! That was pretty fun...we were like the only people in the bowling alley. Then on Tuesday (my real birthday), we went and had
lunch at the Elders Quorum President's house. It was very nice of them! Then we
went and saw (investigator) at the hospital. That was something that was good...but at
the same time it's really depressing. He is pretty much giving up and he's
just in a lot of physical pain and it's really sad when you know that he's
probably not going to live for much longer. We did some dropbys that day and
then we went to the (member family's) for dinner. Oh man oh man they had decorations
and everything! The CAFE RIO SALAD SHE MADE
WAS AMAZING!!!!! I looooooooooved it. My craving has been satisfied! It was a few members and (investigator). After dinner and cake...we got to watch the Testaments
with everybody. So it was great! I forgot to mention my sweet comp gave me a cake too! So all in all it was a good day!
  Cakes! |
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Party! |
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Gifts! |
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Bday Fun! |
This past week I've learned two important lessons: One is that I'm so
grateful for cars. And two, I'm so grateful for the missionaries who served
long ago who didn't have cars and I respect them. Like really though. So...long
story short the sisters that served here previous to us ran into a sign and ruined the bumper. BUT...the car place couldn't get the car in
until 2 months later...So WE have to pay
the price! It's been FIVE DAYS! It was going to be two days but because we
drove in the car for a few extra months more damage took place and so they had
to order even more parts! This city is not like
Toronto where you can just hop on a bus...We have two
options: hitch a ride from a member or walk. It's been quite the experience
walking...like we keep feeling like those old time missionaries who just walked
everywhere. On the upside...the weather has been GORGEOUS! Like I love
it...it's PERFECT and SUNNY and AWESOME so no complaints. I can't believe
spring is here and the snow is finally gone! It's sometimes too good to be
true! Anyways then we get to talk to more people than ever before...and it's always
fun to do that! We've met some good people and it's been fun! Last Saturday we
couldn't get a ride from anyone so we walked 1 1/2 hrs from our home to
downtown which was pretty exciting. So you weren't the only ones hiking this weekend
family! I have a nice big blister on my heel that's pretty nasty. My comp's pretty grossed out about it but I don't care. I need to duct tape it!
haha.
BUT...despite the fact we didn't have a car....we had MIRACLES!!!!! We
had THREE investigators at church this past Sunday! YAY! The first two were two new investigators..... One was a teenage girl. It may take some time but that's okay! She is so cool! I love teaching her because it
reminds me of young women's and how much I loved it! We need to help these teenagers receive testimonies of
their own! I'm excited! Three teenage girls came to
church yesterday and they seemed to like it.
Then...(investigator) came to church. So on my birthday we had appointments fall
through so we were doing dropbys. We decided to drop by formers...My comp asked me what name stood out and his did. So we went and saw him. He
opens the door...tells us he's considering coming back to the Church and
learning again and told us to come back on Friday. SO...we did...He is awesome! He really wants to
find the "true church" He's visited a lot of different churches and
he wants to find truth. He does have a smoking problem so that's going to be
fun. But he has intent...and I LOVE it when we meet people who are searching! He used to be an alcoholic but he's overcome that. But he is such a nice guy! Has a baptism date!
Then....(wait for it...) (investigator) CAME TO CHURCH!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
We have tried so hard to get her to church...and she came yesterday! WE WERE SO
HAPPY! And she was too! She's so excited for her baptism...she's
starting to invite friends and everything! Ah I'm so excited for her! Now for
the hard part...helping her quit smoking... She knows already she needs to
stop...so now we need to help her. But God's going to help her I know He is.
I had a really cool experience yesterday. All week we hadn't been able
to get a hold of (investigator). We were nervous that we would have to drop her. But
we finally reached her last Saturday and we saw her on Sunday.
Since it was SUPPOSED to be a short visit we planned on just sharing an Easter
Message. At the end...I bore testimony that one day we all would see the
resurrected Lord...and then I started to get a little emotional... then she was starting to get emotional. Then she opened up to us about problems she was
having...fears she was feeling...and just how hopeless everything seemed. When
you see people struggling, it just breaks your heart! But my comp and I
talked to her and related to her that there IS hope. It was cool because
although I can't compare it to her experiences...I was reminded of on the first
part of my mission where - I am going to be honest here - I felt despair and
hopelessness. I felt unworthy...ugly and unloved...BUT I was able to get over
it.. .and I remember words that my mission president and his wife said to me to help
me get over it. And two days before we saw (this investigator), I was looking at my old
journal AND FOUND notes that I had taken about overcoming the negative thoughts
that the adversary wants us to think and believe. It was cool because I could
give her words of comfort and advice that I learned when I felt hopeless...
That answered one of the questions I have had my entire mission of why it was
SO hard in the beginning of my mission for me? Why did I have to struggle so
much? One of the reasons might be because I could help people like her have
hope and I would understand at least a little bit where they were coming from.
It was so amazing...and it was a great lesson to me that the hard times are
necessary for they shape us into people that can influence and help others.
I'm so excited for Easter this Sunday! My thoughts and prayers are that you will focus
on Christ and your personal relationship with Him. I know that He lives. I've
come to know Him more on my mission and I hope I can continue to get to know
Him more. I'm so grateful for the miracle of His sacrifice and Resurrection. I
love the atonement....I know it's real and everlasting.
AHHH! I don't have time to write you what I wanted to about what I
learned in PMG (Preach My Gospel) but I'll direct you to a quote... It's on pg
156 it's under "Talk with Everyone" and the sentences start with
"As" and then it ends with "recognize opportunities." I
know that if we LOOK and PRAY for opportunities to serve and teach gospel
truths those opportunities will be given to us. It's easy to get frazzled
running everywhere from day to day life. But if we stop and prayerfully look
for missionary moments and service opportunities they WILL be given to us. It
all starts with prayer my friends! Well I love you! And I love it here! I love
this gospel so much and I am so grateful for it! Have a good week!
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