Monday,
February 24, 2014
Thank you for the update-- I really enjoy hearing about
the doings of the family and the ward. It is sometimes really weird to
think that I had a life before of "Mormon-kid partying," 3:30 am
bedtimes, and things like that... I'm not going to lie-- I do miss it, but here,
I actually feel fulfilled. It is really just such a blessing.
So, I don’t really know where to start, other than just
recounting things that happened-- so. Here you go.
MONDAY
of last week- P-DAY. Holy Hannah, that was so fun. We had a GREAT time playing
Volleyball. I really did. I don't know
what it is about the game that I love so much, but I really love volleyball. I
really love team activities and sports [just not assignments in school- I hope
I never see another of those...] I guess I just love feeling needed- and that
is why working as a team is important- you need everyone. I felt really good about myself- I was
complimented a few times on how I played. Ever feel grateful for the people in your life
that helped you learn certain skills? Well,
I have a LONG list people, starting way back in 7th grade that helped me learn
to play- even if it is just for fun. And then the summer before my mission all the people that just laughed with me
as I made a fool of myself. People are
great- I need to remember to be patient with others like they always are with
me. The more I am on my mission the more
I realize how impatient I really am. I
seek to be more patient, not just tolerant, but truly patient.
We were in charge of FHE this week- talk about fun! We decided to play "Mormon Mad Gab"
We had so much fun making up that game! We just made a list of Mormon phrases
that are used a lot, and then made them into Mad Gab phrases, that are hard to
read. Then we had the room split up
into 2 teams and a representative would read the words off of a turned around
chalk board and the people on their team had to guess it. I think I will keep the words we used. It will be a great game to do again sometime
for a church activity. Some of them were
fairly easy, but it was fun non-the-less.
TUESDAY
was great-- as always! It’s my favorite day of the week usually. We have district meetings then and I always
just learn so much. Because we are a
trio between two districts our district leaders decided we would combine our
meeting to save us two more hours each week. I was almost bummed they did that because
district meeting is so fun two sounded appealing :) Haha.
This same evening we had a special miracle! We had received a text message from a referral
we got from Head Quarters that she wanted to learn more; for reals! When we
initially contacted her she did want to meet with us, but something’s were
going on in her family that made it hard to meet. So it had to go to the back burner. We contacted her a few more times, but more of
the "yes, I really want to- but it
may have to wait." To be honest, I didn't see it going too far, and our
contact over the phone was very sparse. But one day, she called us and asked us
if we could meet! AND THEN sent a second text asking if it could be that night!
Of course, we freaked, and rescheduled our whole night to make the lesson
happen. It was BY FAR, thee MOST powerful lesson I have ever set foot in. The
WHOLE thing was guided by the spirit, I didn't have to worry about Preach My Gospel
bullet points, not about "how to begin teaching," nothing. The whole
thing was guided by the spirit and allowed for her to open up, and for pure
doctrine to be taught. She has a special story. She met her current boyfriend
on a dating website, he came to visit her-- they went back to Utah and he gave
her a Temple Square tour. She LOVES the church, has stopped partying, stopped
drinking, and wants to stop using the "F" word. She really is
committed to bettering herself. She is
really young, early 30s. She wants to be married in the
temple it sounds like. She truly just
ate up the things that she was being taught. She says that she keeps the BoM in her purse
so that she can read it, she really is just a ball of light. All it takes is
for them to be invited to learn more. :) We will be meeting with her weekly
which is cool!
For WEDNESDAY
there is less to report, but we did have a great time. Sister Lewis went to the
temple for her 1 year mark and so we took her to home base, at the Mission
office [hour and half away on train] to exchange with another companionship
that was already going to the temple for their one year mark as well, and then
we came back and took a bible to a woman that wanted it for her 10 year old
daughter, we also stood at the door and gave them a restoration pamphlet- they
were very welcoming to us coming back and teaching them a more and studying the
bible with them a little bit- so we plan on doing that this week. It should be
good :) Then that night we got my companions set to go to Staten Island for
their exchanges. Every other transfer they try to do "sister-wide"
exchanges to meet more sisters.
So THURSDAY Lewis
[Spanish missionary] went with Blosil [English missionary] in the English pool
there. Hodgson [English missionary] was with Galitli [Spanish missionary] in
the Spanish pool in Staten. Sounds like they had quite the adventure. They got
lost on the way back to Staten because their GPS broke, and they didn’t have
another, so they got home around 11pm, and were almost out of gas. And one
companionship took the wrong exit and were dumped off in New Jersey. So they
came back as soon as they could. Since everything is so close it is so easy to
get stuck out of your mission, especially if you don’t know how to get back. Technology
though- miracles, it sounds like the iPad saved them both :)
My exchange was fabulous, we were able to teach a woman
that literally taught us the whole restoration lesson and some of the gospel of
Jesus Christ lesson too. She also is a media referral that wanted a bible,
since she already received a Book of Mormon while she was in Trinidad! She is so cool. She
studies so much, and it sounds like has already met with missionaries
informally through anther family member before. So she was excited to see us. She
really is so wise- and just wants the truth. she believes there is only one
true church, she just doesn’t know where it is, and she said that before she
goes to Trinidad again next week she will read lots of the Book of Mormon to
prepare herself to talk to the missionaries there. She really is prepared and
knows that God will give her and answer to her prayers.
I learned a lot on my exchange about some of the things
that need to change, I don't always know how to do that, but I look forward to
more in depth studies and more focused prayers.
Sister Hamblin and Delrie were my companions for the
day-- they are champs! Just so on top of things, are really in tune with the
spirit. I am always amazed with the missionaries we serve around. Future
General Authorities and Auxiliaries.
FRIDAY
was a great day, we went from one end of our area to the other we visited a Spanish speaking woman in the hospital- to be honest, I just show love to them- because 1/2 the
time I don't always know what is going on. Then we literally went to the top of our area
to get to a new move in from the Spanish ward. :) She was so sweet!
Also, I was walking down the street this day, and the
three of us were walking side by side taking up the whole side walk, but then I
moved when I saw this guy coming down the street. But I guess I didn't move out of the way
enough- because he chose to punch me in the bicep. He had Beats headphones on
so when I said "EXCUSE ME?!" really loud he didn’t hear. I was totally fine, only hurt my ego.
SATURDAY We
had a great Stake Auxiliary meeting with all RS, Primary, and YW Auxiliary. IT
was great. All the sister missionaries were invited, and they had a highlight
thread of involving the missionaries far more in all aspects of the church, not
just proselyting. Our calling doesn't just stand over the new converts and investigators.
We are here to spread the gospel to ALL. :) USE US. Want the missionaries to
print your talks for RS? We’ll do it.
SUNDAY we went to 6 hours of church, Correlation meeting and lots of things were going
on- but 30 minutes before church I was asked to speak on the "windows of
heaven" I realized they wanted me to talk on tithing from the conference
talk-- but nothing felt right. So I talked on how the windows of heaven are
open to us as we pray with faith. It
went really well. I didn’t know what I was going to speak on until 10 minutes
before I got up. But I was the closing speaker, so it gave me some time to
complete a few basic trains of thought. The spirit really led that talk-
considering it was the first time I’ve ever spoken for 10-15 minutes on a
non-prepared topic. Haha
FYI: my hair has grown 3 inches in 9 months! :) :) Kind
of fun- though, when I see girls with pixie cuts I want to cut it back. Haha
JaLynn
