Going to Chicagoooooo!! 5/16/2014

HEY!

Today we are taking Pday to go to the temple in Chicago with Bishop and Sister Neilson and the elders!

 

So this email will be short.

 

Basically this week went by SUPER fast.

 

We tried to go on a hike on Monday but it POURED. Like, we had to pull over because we couldnt see the lights of the car in front of us, it was raining so hard. It rained and rained and rained. And then it stopped. And then we thought it was over and so we biked over to the library across town. And then in poured. And poured.

And we were soaked to the bone.

So we had a lesson in the library, soaking wet. We literally had to wring out our skirts and they were still dripping. That was the coldest lesson of my whole life. But. It was an awesome lesson because it was with Deidre and we planned out her baptismal service<3

And so, with no other option but to face the rain that was STILL coming down in buckets, we rode home. In a Wisconsin thunderstorm. Laughing all the way.

#missionlife

 

Tuesday was an awesome day because Tuesdays = District Training Meeting!

We had a lesson with Deidre on the law of chastity right before that went swimmingly. No awkwardness at all. Love that girl.

And then she came to district meeting with us! And the Zone Leaders were visiting. And she did role plays with us. And she's totally converted. And I love her.

#bestfriends

District meeting was AWESOME because we talked about becoming more consecrated missionaries and talking to EVERYONE. With was awesome because that was the goal that I set for myself during zone conference.

We then contacted some peeps and had GREAT success. We met an HQ referral who is SO GOLDEN its ridiculous. And we stopped by a former investigator and I just about died. Died of joy, that is. Toni is someone that I was meant to find. I walked into her house and I KNEW that I knew her. Like. Whoa. One of those missionary moments that you just look into someones eyes and your spirits recognize each other. Its crazy. And the best<3 I'm really excited to teach her more.

#morebestfriends

We had the best dinner with the Buchanans. They are precious people.

 

Wednesday we had a super busy day. We had the following appointments:

Nancy @ 12

Sister Gardner @ 1

Karen and Mark @ 2:30

James @ 4

Sister Browning @ 5

Mikayla @ 6:15

BOM class @ 7

That was fun. Lots of fun people and lessons and missionary things.

A miracle happened at Mikayla's lesson. She is usually very quiet and not very interested. She comes with a member to mutual activities and agreed to take the lessons, but she's not really interested in doctrine, so to say. We have been praying and praying on how to help her feel comfortable with us so that she CAN progress. We were going to read a section from Strength for Youth and then play some bball with her to losen her up, but instead she blew us away.

She came with questions! Written down in a study journal!
She had read the Book of Mormon!!

We had a GREAT discussion and read the Book of Mormon together and laughed and felt the Spirit and we have NO IDEA how that happened, but we are soooo thankful nonetheless. #missionmiracles

 

Yesterday I learned how to spin yarn from wool! I made yarn. That was cool. We weekly planned, which was fun because we got to plan Deidre's baptism! And we went to a less active little girls soccer game and I realized that all I want to do with my life is be that mom that is the loudest on the sidelines. I literally am turning into my mother... (:

We had a quick lesson with Jeff outside because we couldnt find a member to come with us :/

 

And now today we are going to Chicago to go to the temple and I'm so excited!

The rest of this week is super busy. Saturday is ridiculously packed full of things to do. And Sunday is Ward Conference and President Cutler is coming to our ward so we are doing our best to have our investigators all attend. And we have a lot of appointments after.

 

And then Monday wont be pday for us since we are taking it this week, and we dont get pday until next Tuesdaybecause of Memorial Day. So I will have a LOT to write about next time!

Until then<3

Happy Mother's Day!

 It feels weird emailing since I just got to skype my family yesterday.

This week we are going to the temple in Chicago on Friday, so we have to use Friday as our pday for next week. So I get to email again, too.

 

I can't even remember what happened this week. #missionprobs

 

I FINALLY got to snuggle a kitten!!!! Actually. I got to snuggle THREE kittens and a ferret. My family can tell you that story, cause its a good one.

We had FHE with the Cook fambam and Deidre and watched JSPOTR (Jospeh Smith Prophet of the Restoration, for those who don't know mission lingo) and it was so good.

 

Tuesday was a crazy day because we biked ALLLLLL DAY LONG in true missionary fashion. And no one we had apps with was home, so that was laaaaaaaaaame. But we found other people to talk to and got flowers from cute little girls and a HQ referall. And we pretty much fell over with exhaustion and slept our faces off that night. 

Elders fixing my bike when my brakes went out.  Sister Jardine: "How many white shirts does it take to fix a bike?"  hahaha

The bruises on my legs take talent to obtain.  Seriously......I don't even know where they come from.  

Wednesday was SO fun. We met with Sister Pike and she taught/helped Sister Jardine and Elkington how to mend some of their clothes that needed mending. I didnt bring anything, so I just played with her deaf dog, Darby. Best ever.

The Spanish elders are the greatest and sent us on a scavenger hunt all over town during our lunch hour. They bought us pizza and sent us to the library, Traxler Park, the church for different clues, and then the last clue made us wait until Book of Mormon class that night for the rest of the clues.

So we saw Theresa and Nancy and Karen and Mark and tried to see Jody and then had a lesson with Mikayla at the church in the mean time. Then they stole our keys and moved our car and hid brownies in it. hahaha. They are clever.

 

Thursday was Zone Conference in Madtown. And much to mostly everyones dismay, the rumors of us getting Ipads and internet proselyting did not come true. But it was a great meeting! I love missionary meetings. Especially ZC's because they are combined and so I got to see all of my Mad-West Zone (I just got transferred to the Mad-East Zone, btw) friends like Sister Lybbert and the Parkinsons and Sister Asper and Elder Dickey and Elder Steiner and Elder Stevenson and all of those cool cats.

We talked a lot about families. We studied the doctrine of the Abrahamic covenant and why and how it is going to bless all the families of the earth and what our part as missionaries is in order to do that. We talked about why the earth would be "utterly wasted at His coming" if the hearts of the children weren't turned to the fathers. UHM. LIGHTBULB! The whole point of living on earth is to be in families and to learn and make and keep covenants and be sealed in the temple. If we don't do this and help our ancestors do this, the earth is utterly wasted. Those are strrroooonnngggg words, friends.

We are feeling a HUGE push on family history. Not only as missionaries and from our mission President, but from General Authorities and church leaders. We have been trying to use family history as a way to contact and find people. We have been invited to use family history as a way to introduce the church and the doctrines in the Book of Mormon. (And guess what?! It TOTALLY works. The Spirit of Elijah is on FIRE in Janesville. Everyone we've used this method of contacting on has given us a phone number and been interested in learning more. 

Say whaaaaaaa? Thats huge.)

We had a lesson with Jeff and we totally love him. He has so many good questions of the soul and we feel like we just can't teach him fast enough! haha.

 

We found a lake that we didn't know existed in our area.  hahahaha.  Only in Wisconsin.....

Friday we went to breakfast with Deidre at a place called the Citrus Cafe and I died and went to heaven. BEST FOOD EVER. Literally. We had a lesson about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of Wisdom in the library and it was great. She is getting baptized on the 24th! She's awesome and SO prepared. Like.... Stephanie prepared.

We tried to meet with Angie and I was so excited to play with kittens again, but she didnt answer :/ There were a bunch of people outside at her neighbors house and I KNEW we had to talk to them (i've been working on talking to everyone I see) but I had no idea what to say. Its always so awkward to talk to people when they just saw you knock on the door next to them and I kinda dread it everytime. But I said "Heavenly Father, please help me talk to these people" and literally the second later, we were having a conversation and I dont even remember what I said but I do know that God is good(:

 

Saturday was another busy day. We had breakfast at Bishops. Oh my goodness. I cannot even describe the amount of food there. Like... crepes, three different kinds of quiche, stuffed french toast, muffins, sausage, eggs, bacon, three different kinds of cinnamon rolls, fruit, donuts, ect. A bunch of families and the other 4 elders and recent converts Harvey and Jacob came and it was a blast and a half.

We got a call from some lady from the West Allis ward who was in town with nothing to do and asked if she could come out with us. We thought it was weird, but we met her at Culvers and she came to our appointments with us. She just got baptized last month! She has a spirit that is so strong. She testified and shared her experience with people and helped us knock on doors and it was so great. She helped us clean the Primus's house and I love her. #trueconversion She is coming out with us every other Saturday and we are stoked. #memberpresentlessons!

 

Sunday was literally a day of just calling home and going to church. We sang "Armies of Helaman" with the primary for mothers day. It was cute. We did some planning and took a lunch hour nap and then went to the Cook's for dinner and skype time! YAY! It was another blast and a half and I love my family.

<3 <3 <3

 

Its crazy. I literally feel like it was Christmas like...yesterday. Like, no joke. And so I'm really scared because the next phone call home will be my last and then I go home a month after. SCARY. Someone tell time to stop moving so fast. I'm going to tape my eyelids open so that I stop blinking. Its a serious problem. I can't go home. Ever. I have so much work to do!

Gotta share the gospel with everyone! 

 

 

Share the gospel with someone you love!
Check out familysearch.org

Watch mormon.org/elaine if you like the Neon Trees. Or babies. Or Jesus. Or cool people with cool lives.

 

 Stay fresh, friends!

The elders have found a new hobby, writing on our car windows when we least expect it.

I Cant Think of A Title For This Email Because Too Many Great Things Happened 5/5/2014

Janesville is on FIRE.

Not literally, don't freak out.

 

I literally cant write about everything we did, so I'll point out some highlights of the week.

 

Monday was awesome because Mondays are always awesome. Pdays are very necessary by the time they roll back around. We emailed and got some groceries with the little money we had left and then went to the church and played ball and some hilarious game called Snake Oil with the Elders. Sooooooo funny.

Right after, we had a FHE activity with the "empty nesters" and singles in the ward. We had supper and a lesson. It was so fun and soooo good. We were really surprised that a less active sister came and even brought her husband who has been very against the church. They had a great time! We had a couple other LA's come and our investigator named Jacqueline came and brought her son!

 

Tuesday we had District Meeting and I was so happy to be in a normal district again. haha. Where it's spiritual and we learn how to do better work and yet we can laugh and be ourselves and be comfortable in our skin. It was great. 

We saw another LA sister and read the BOM with her. She has awesome stories about family history work and I just want to do genealogy all day long. But. I have to remind myself that I am focusing on the living side of the work of salvation right now.

We go to an Isaiah class on Tuesday nights and Jacqueline came and brought a friend! We learned a ton from Isaiah and they both said that they would love to come back! Score!

And. We didnt get any doors slammed on us either!

 

Wednesday we had a great day. So busy. We had a lesson with two new investigators who are friends with a member of the ward. They are so cute. They are 13 and 14 and we all felt the Spirit so strong and they are really open to the message of the Restoration. So. That was AWESOME. We also have a BOM class and we have an open discussion about a chapter or an Article of Faith and that is always really cool. We are working on getting more investigators to it.

 

Thursday we had a lesson with another less active sister, Sister Pike. We knit with her while we read from PMG and its so fun. Apparently I love to knit. Who knew?

We had dinner with Sister Tucker and allllllllmost got her less active daughter to come and join us. We always have fun there. We had a "weird talent" talent show. hahaha. It was the best. But we helped Sister Tucker (who is a recent convert) set up a mormon.org profile and she wrote out her testimony and shared it with us and it was the sweetest thing ever.

Then we went to that spanish bible study with the spanish elders but it was lame because the pastor guy obviously didnt want us there and didnt let us comment or talk at all. So. We wont be going back there. :/

We also got another investigator named Jeff who was a referral from a member family. So legit.

 

Friday was so awesome because we set a baptism date with Diedre and she agreed! The Spirit was so strong. She will be baptized on May 24th! We had the lesson at the Cooks home with Sister Cook and it was perrrrrrfect. So good.

 Sister Cook then took us out to lunch and we had a mini correlation with her about the sisters that we visit. (Shes the RS pres, btw)

We had a lesson with Roger, who totally dropped us and it was sad but okay because he wasnt progressing at all anyway. But the lesson was really good and Sister Hoffman was an AWESOME member to bring with us and it was good overall. The Spirit was definitely there.
Then we had dinner with the Halloways who are SO cool and have 6 kids who are THE cutest! I really like the Halloways. Like a lot. My family is going to be cute and happy  like them one day. Or else. haha

 

Saturday was a great day too. Lots of appointments. Jacqueline LOVES to bible bash, but she is also progressing and wants to learn and I feel like I've been sent here for her. She trusts me. She gave me this pretty cross from Israel and that just showed me that she felt my testimony. I hope we can keep helping her progress in her faith. She has a ton of it. Now she just needs to have faith in the BOM and Joseph Smith too.

We found 3 new investigators while trying to contact a referral. That was legit. We also rode bikes for the first time since I got here and it was fun except janesville has a lot of hills and so it sucks half of the time.

Oh. And it was Elder Jordan's birthday and we made RIDICULOUS cupcakes and then hid them all over their apartment while they were in Clinton for the day. Like....ridiculous. haha. But it was fun and it made his day. Birthdays are so fun.

 

Sunday was great. Its weird having a huge building. And pews. And people. And other missionaries. And a huge primary. And full-length classes. It was just so different from PDC. But obviously, it was the same because the church is the same no matter where you are. The people are so NICE here. They put me on the spot and made me bear my testimony though :P Although I was planning on it anyway. haha. Testimonies were SO good. Diedre came! And Sister Gardner came, which was a MIRACLE because she hasnt been to church in yeeeaaarrrsssss. We planned a musical number with the Primary for mothers day. Bro Halloway asked me to come in and talk to the 6 and 7 year olds about Christ being our spiritual physician. That was fun. I love little kids. I love TEACHING little kids. They are the best.

We had dinner at Bishops house with their family and the Elders. Holy fun. So much good food. We played soccer with the little kids in the grass. The weather was perfect. We celebrated like 5 birthdays and ate cake and I made a dog friend. Oh. And we played tag. Lots of tag.

We followed the Elders home and found the CUTEST little creek and a bridge and it was beautiful.

 

This morning we cleaned Sister Halloways kitchen as a barter for her to cut our hair. I got mine cut to the shortest layer so that it isnt A-line anymore. It seems short, but its all good. It had been 10 months since I had a haircut anyway.

 

 

That's our week! Busy busy!

"How'd you get to be part of the 3-headed angel?" 4/28/2014

Howdy!

This week has been CA-RAZY.

 

I started the week in Prairie Du Chien and ended it off in Janesville. In order to get here, I spent Tuesday night in Milwaukee. Hung out at the Milwaukee transfer point for a bit and got to see some of my very favorite people, liiiiiiiiiiike my mission momma Sister Proffit before she went HOME. (Thats crazy) And I missed one of my other favorite persons and I'm still pretty sad about it. I then went from Milwaukee to Oshkosh and saw some of my other favorite people like Sister Begay and Elder Smith and Elder Hadlock and Sister Reese. And then I got in a car and met my new comps in Madtown and then drove to Janesville to drop off my stuff and then go to work. That was a long day.

 

I slept on an air mattress my first night here, and then the Bishop brought us a bed. We had to rearrange the room to fit three beds, but we did it and it works.

 

I'm in a TRIO and it has been a blast. Sister Jardine was in the MTC with me, so it has been really really cool to serve with her and celebrate our HALFWAY MARK together! (uhm, thats crazy too.) Sister Elkington is a newbie. She is finishing up the last 6 weeks of training and so I now get a step-daughter! Yay! Her and I have the exact same color hair and everyone asks if we are sisters. Which sometimes gets confusing because we ARE Sisters. haha Basically we just have a ton of fun and teach a lot of people about the gospel. And it has been SO MUCH DANG DARN FUN.

 

We are so busy here. The work is so different than PDC because the amount of people is almost literally exponentially larger. We like...actually have APPOINTMENTS. Its fun.

 

I feel like I live in Washington. Its been raining since I got here and its supposed to rain all week. April showers bring May flowers, right?

 

We visit a lot of less active sisters. They are really cool. I relearned how to knit.

Oh! Good story:

We were visiting a less active sister at her apartment building and her neighbor kept looking at us and hanging around being odd. She finally invited us into her apartment for a bible study. She was hispanic and spoke very little english and we could hear people singing in spanish inside. But. We weren't going to pass up an opportunity to be in someones house and share a little bit of the gospel, so in we went. hahahaha. My poor little companions didnt understand anything. The pastor guy would translate on occasion, but I mostly helped them understand what was going on. The lesson they were on was about faith in Jesus Christ. It was actually really good! I felt the Spirit because they were talking about truth. I even read and they all clapped and cheered for me! haha. They were surprised by my spanish, and so was I! We got to comment and share a verse from the Book of Mormon and it was a SUPER fun time. When the study was done, they ushered us down into an appartment downstairs where they gave us SOOOO much food. Tostadas and rice and beans and TAMALES. I felt like I was right at home the whole time. It was so fun. They invited us back and so next week we are bringing the Spanish elders. PARTY.

But literally. I'm thankful for that experience because it reminded me of all my hispanic family gatherings and I just felt at home and that I was supposed to be there at that moment. It was waaaaaaaay fun and cool.

 

Friday was a super busy day. We saw a lot of people and did a lot of fun things. I still havent figured out the layout of Janesville, so I still feel a little lost, but I'm getting there. Thankfully I dont have to drive.

 

Saturday we got to go to the evening session of Stake Conference and it wa SO good. Elder Clarkson from the 70 was there and it was all about hastening the work of salvation and it was just soooooooooooooo good. And I got to see Sister Lybbert and Sister Asper and the Parkinsons and a lot of my mission friends and President and Sister Cutler and people from PDC! <3

 

Sunday we went to Stake Conference again which was really good! Our investigator named James came and it was so good! Then we all went to a member 8 yr old baptism and we had two investigators come to that! It was really fun! The title of this is from a quote from a recent convert named Harvey. He is hilarious. He just got baptized a month ago and I would have NEVER guessed he was that recent of a convert.

 

Janesville is awesome. I have met SO many people that I feel that I am meant to share my experiences with and I immediately felt at home and ready to work. Its great. I hope to do great things here with the help and guidance and strength of the Lord! <3

Goodbye Prairie of Dogs :'( 4/21/2014

Transfer info is in! Actually, President Cutler called yesterday.

 

*drumroll please*

 

 I'm being transferred to Janesville and I'll be in a trio!

 

I'll be with Sister Jardine who what in my MTC district, which is way cool. And she's finishing training Sister Elkington. So. It's gonna be a party.

Its going to be SO different. Janesville is a huge ward. I'll be back in a ward with three sets of missionaries! YAY. There are Spanish elders in the ward, so maybe I'll get to use un pocito espanol, eh?  Janesville is smack-dab in the middle of Madison and Milwaukee and close to Illinois. Three and a half hours away from PDC.

 

This week was eventful. We worked hard and tried to see all the people we could before I leave, but a lot of people decided not to answer their doors. haha. Winter sucks because its too cold for people to open the door to talk but then when the weather is nice everyone leaves to go fishin and hiking and boating and town is empty. Well, in PDC at least.

 

I really don't have a whole lot to say. Transfers just are crazy. Every time. You all need to watch  the scene in Tangled where she gets out of the tower and one second is like, "THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE" and then the next shes like crying and freaking out the next. That is missionary life to the T. ESPECIALLY around transfers. hahaha. Talk about emotional roller coaster.

 

I have a ton of pictures this week because I've been getting pictures with all of my peeps. Well, most of them so far.

 

We had a lesson with Derald and Anita that ended with me in tears and them in tears and it was sad and happy and I'm going to miss them. My best friend Vera at the nursing home was SO mad when I told her I was moving that sheliterally tried to throw her walker across the room. haha.

 

We had a pretty low-key Easter. We didn't have any plans and then we practically had to ask for a place to go and then everyone at church was inviting us over and we were sad that we had already made plans. But not really because we had Easter with Mindy Wentz and I love her and I've spent Thanksgiving, Christmas, my birthday, and now Easter with them.

 

We got an AWESOME headquarters referral from the Elders in Iowa for a girl named Sarah and I LOVE HER. She is awesome and so prepared and looking for truth and we taught her twice this week and I'm so sad I don't get to spend more time with her.

 

We saw the Steibers and watched the Restoration video and chatted and had dinner and it was great. We are going over right after emailing to play basketball and eat official Wisconsin brats before I leave. PARTYYY. Then I have to pack and clean and then we are going to party with the Lafaves one last time. And by party I mean have dinner and a lesson, of course(:

 

I get to serve in all the places with quaint names: Appleton, Prairie du Chien, Janesville. haha.

I'm excited. I LOVE Prairie but I've been here for an official 1/3 of my mission and I am ready to see who else God has in store for me. I will miss the baptisms of my friends here, but that's okay. I decided that that is a part of my trial of this area. Its not about number of baptisms anyway. Its about people and souls and salvation and love. And I think that I have done pretty well on loving the people here, if I am allowed to say so. I know that I did my best. I know that my best was different every day. Sometimes our best is better on some days than others, but that's okay. God is good.

The Girl Who Gets The Flu in Spring 4/14/2014

Heyyyyyyyy! Remember how last week I had bronchitis and I wasn't feelin very well and we stayed inside for a couple days so I didn't have much to write about??? Well. This week is going to sound VERY familiar to you.

 

Good news: I got over bronchitis!

 

We had district meeting in Richland Center like always. We had Taco Bell with the Elders before and it was great. We pretty much did accountability for two hours. haha.

 

Then we saw the Steibers! We had a lesson at a park and it was so good and so fun! They are really strong and they know that this is the path they need to take, but their kids aren't exactly thrilled about it and they don't want to force them into religion but they also want it to be a family decision. So we had a really awesome talk about the Book of Mormon and how awesome the stories inside of it are. We talked about Alma and the sons of Mosiah and how they were best friends and didn't see each other for 4 years and randomly met in the middle of nowhere and they were STILL righteous and all on missions. We talked about Nephi and Lehi and how the prison walls crashed onto all the "bad guys". We are really trying to get the kids excited about the Book of Mormon so that they can really feel the Spirit and feel better about switching churches. We are also trying to explain that its normal for kids to not want to go to church, I mean come on, how many times did we all fake sick or throw a fit cause we didn't want to go? They really want their baptism to be a family thing and so we are trying to get them there but also trying to get the parents to see that if they get baptized first, their kids will follow and then Marc can baptize all of his kids. How much more family centered can that get? So. Lotsssss of progress. Still need some time there.

 

Then we went on exchanges! I got to go to Madison again FINALLLLLY. It was so fun. I love Madison.  I got to see my friend John Smith who I taught waaaaaaay back six months ago on exchanges when he was investigator and NOW hes a recent convert and he remembered me! I love John Smith, he's the awesomest old black guy ever. We had a super crazy awesome lesson where he was talking about his friend didn't believe in god but believed in spirits and he wanted to know how to help him recieve the gospel and then he was on Alma 18 in his reading. WHAAAAAAA? no coincidences. Crazy!

 

 Bad news: We also taught a family that had just gotten over the flu. And so the day after when I'm all nice and settled in my apartment and all of the sudden I feel DISGUSTING and create a barf bucket, my thoughts first turn to the reeeeeaaallly rare hamburger I had to eat at dinner the night before. And then when I get at high fever and chills and body aches I remember exchanges and I go, "awwwwww man!" and then I was sick in bed with the legit flu for the rest of the week. Like. We didn't even go to church yesterday because there was no way I could have handled that prettily. BUT. Gods power is real and thankfully the priesthood has been restored and I got a blessing and I feel much better now. Yay!(:

 

The Lafaves aren't going to make their baptismal date because they didn't stop smoking :/ But I know that I did my best and gave them everything they needed to stop and that I can't control agency. They will get baptized. Very soon probably. And I will be transferred and I will be sad, but that's okay because I know I gave it my best and I know God knows I gave it my best. So. Its a happy story because their baptism will be even sweeter now that they have had to work SO hard to overcome addiction.

 

So. That's literally all of the events of this week. Oh wait. I DID go out on a limb and was really bold with Derald and straight up asked him why he isn't going to marry anita and made him talk about feelings and promise to pray about it. So. That was AWESOME. They are going to get married and then she is going to be baptized and everyone will cry tears of joy. Cause that's what goes on here in the mission field.

 

Lataaaaa(:

 

Oh! Watch/read/look at this! http://easter.mormon.org/ And link it to your fb and show your friends!

Three Weeks Left in the Prairie of Dogs! 4/7/2014

So, we had interviews this week and President Cutler made it VERY clear that my time in Prairie Du Chien is at it's end. So. Now i get to sit and wait in suspense for 3 weeks until I get to know WHERE I'm being transferred to. Any guesses? I'm thinking Milwaukee. But Mindy thinks I'm going to Kenosha, Bro Wentz thinks I'm going to Steven's Point, Sister Parkinson thinks I'm going to Green Bay... Its totally up in the air.

 

This week was a slow week. I was really sick with brochitis for awhile. And well, it was busy at the same time. We had Zone Training Meeting in Madison on Tuesday. I was sick in bed all day Wednesday. Thursday was weekly planning day. Friday we had district meeting and interviews with President Cutler in Richland Center, and Saturday and Sunday was General Conference. So, we were busy, but we didnt get to teach a lot of lessons or contact many people. But this week is wide open and I feel 100% better, so this week will be much better.

 

I really dont have a lot to report on this week. General Conference is always so good. I love it. We got to watch some of it at the church, some of it at the Oates home, and the last session at the Lafaves house. They have not smoked for 2 days now and are on track for baptism on the 19th!! Right before I leave! Keep praying for them to have the strength! We had 3 nonmembers go to the priesthood session of General Conference! So exciting!

Zone training was also great! We talked about how the Spirit changes hearts. I realized something really really cool as part of my preparation for the meeting and the meeting itself. Okay, there are currently 3 examples (that I can find so far) of people in the Book of Mormon who had a change of heart that specifically say something along the lines of "O Lord, have mercy". 1) The people of King Benjamin in Mosiah 4:2-3 2) Alma the Younger in Alma 26:11-27. 3) King Lamoni in Alma 18. So I've been studying mercy and how it applies to the Atonement and how only through it that hearts can be changed. Isnt it cool that three examples of that are shown in such beautiful description???? I love the Book of Mormon. These people understood the Atonement, understood that they couldnt do it on their own, and were willing to repent through faith in Christ. Its so powerful!

 

Anyway. This week should be a lot more fruitful. I'm excited.

 

Oh! The pelicans have arrived on Grenmore lake! They are ginormous and God is so smart! I love His creations!

March 31, 2014

Heeeeeyaaaa!

 

I literally cant believe how fast time is flying. I'm afraid I'm going to blink and be home already. *note to self: don't blink!*

 

This week was great! Dalton is doing so well! He cant go to school for a month and there is still a chance he might lose his finger, but he came to church on Sunday! I was literally the happiest girl on the planet when I saw him! I think I literally ran to him and he gave me the biggest smile ever and a big hug. Do I love being a missionary? YES. Do I love my friends? YEEESSSSS.

 

Oh. That reminds me that God is so awesome. The Spirit is so so so so so awesome. With God and the Spirit, hearts can LITERALLY be changed. John and Tiffany are soooooooooo close to baptism. I can hear the water running now. They suddenly have realized that smoking tastes disgusting. They don't WANT to smoke any more. Do you realize how much of a miracle that is?! They have cut down from literally a pack a day to MAAAAAYBE like 4 a day. AND they are just doing it out of habit. They are soooooooo close. They are making the changes in their lives that will bless their family for eternity! How exciting is that?!

 

Okay. I'm a little excited, if you cant tell.

 

I realized this week that God wants me to be a foster parent. He's been whispering it to me for a while now and I finally decided to listen this week. I was writing a letter on Monday and was talking about my goals and dreams and I wrote, "I just want to change the world - even if its just one persons world". Whoa. That was powerful....and I wrote it. And then as this week has gone by and I've talked with people about families and heard their experiences in foster homes or just someone that they trusted and people in the church that helped shape their lives, and then the Womens Broadcast on Saturday....I just finally listened. So, that's quite a few years away...but I was thankful that I decided to listen.

 

Oh. And we also witnessed a miracle. Once upon a time, Sister Butler dropped a lid to her face wash in the shower and it fit PERFECTLY inside the drain and broke the shower. Typical, right? So. Sister Lybbert and Sister Butler put their creative minds to work. We used wire hangers and knives and forks and fire and boiling water and just about everything we could think of to get this plastic lid to move or melt or come out. We finally got it to at least let the water pass through slowly. The Parkinsons let us use their drain snake and with a LOT of elbow grease, we got it out! This story sounds really lame, but trust me...it was the best moment of anyones life.

 

I also got to snuggle a lot of cats this week. Like....a lot. I EVEN got us inside a ladies house because I asked if she knew anyone with a kitten because I just really want to cuddle a kitten. She was like, "no.... But you can come pet my cats!" Right after she was telling us to go away and that she wasn't interested. And then we had a lovely one hour chat about life and the gospel! All because I asked for a kitten. God works in mysterious ways. You never know what will work. So fun.

 

We had dinner with the Stouts and I feel like I haven't laughed that hard in my whole life. Brother Stout was talking about how his students say HE has an accent and that he tries to tell them that THEY are the ones with the funny accent. He was Wiscansin people say bag like "beg" and he was at the grocery store one day when the lady asked him if he'd like a "beg" for his purchases. He was like, "NO, I don't want to beg for my purchases! This lady doesn't know how business works!"  and realized that she was asking if he wanted a BAAAAG. Maybe you had to be there, and know the accent, but it was hilarious. I think enchiladas came out of my nose.

 

We saw Crystal and I love her. Tabitha Steiber loves being Mormon. Another family just on the brink of entering the waters of baptism. You know people are solid when they defend the Mormons and then invited her friend to talk to the missionaries! Score! And the Womens Broadcast was AWESOME even though we only got to see half of it cause the satellite at the church suuuucks. We went to Sister Fitzners and it was way more fun there anyway.

 

Yesterday I touched the Mississippi. Because it finally thawed out. It KINDA feels like Spring!! YAY. We taught the 5th Sunday lesson and it was sooooo fun and awesome and I love PDC.

I Love Mormons. And soon to be Mormons. 3/24/2014

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!

 

I don't understand how it is the end of March. But. That happens at the end of every month for a missionary.

 

This week has been good! Lots of stories.

 

Monday we tried to go ice fishing again. We took out our poles that we are borrowing from Derald and bought some wax worms and drove out to Grenmore Lake. There was like a whole town of ice shantys and people sittin' on their fishin buckets out there. BUT IT WAS FREEZING. It was so windy and cold, so we didn't stay very long. Everyone was having poor luck with the fish biting, so we talked to some nice people and pet a wolf dog and went on our merry way. PS. I want a wolf dog.

 

Tuesday we had district meeting in Richland Center and finally got to eat Taco Bell! We don't understand how little bitty Richland Center gets a Taco Bell, and Prairie Du Chien doesn't. But. All week long we wait until we get to go to Taco Bell before district meeting and eat chalupas and Baja blast mountain dew freezes. But that's really not that important, I digress. DTM was good. Talked about the sacrament and how we can make it more meaningful in our own lives in order to help our investigators.

After DTM, the Parkinsons (the senior couple in PDC) dropped sister Lybbert and I off at the doctors. They did some more blood work and referred me to the UW hospital in Madison to see a rheumatologist. So, I foresee another trip to Mad-town soon!  

After that, we helped the Stout family move. SO FUN. I love love LOVE the members in Prairie Du Chien. Best team ever. We got to ride in the back of a lot of trucks and trailors since we couldn't ride with the brethren. And at one point we didn't fit, so we had to run to their new house. Good thing they moved down two blocks. haha. It was great because their friends, the Gallaghers were there and we have been PRAYING and WAITING for an opportunity to invite them to learn more or anyyyything. Sister Lybbert and Nate Gallager get along GREAT because he is a cop and she wants to go into law enforcement. Soooooo that's a score!

 

Wednesday we helped Sister Stout organize boxes into the correct rooms in their new house. I got to organize the game closet, which I thought was very impressive. Not to toot my own horn or anything. The little kids that were home were so cute! "Missionaries! Missionaries! I miss you! I need you!", "Hey, Sister Missionary!" So precious. Sister Stout is also a pro Mormon mother and has all her emergency preparedness stuff figured out and boxes and boxes of journals and family history and I just want to be her. She is a great example!

Oh! We had dinner and a lesson with Derald and Anita and we had a great time! We watched some Mormon messages and had a great talk about what they had read in 2nd Nephi! They finished 2 Nephi!!!!!!! (: Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

 

Thursday was an awesome day. We weekly planned really quick and then went to a Relief Society Activity at the church. We had two investigators come and it was SO FUN. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time! We had dinner and a white elephant gift exchange and had a couple really spiritual moments, but it was really good for the women that came to see us "Mormons" just enjoying time out with other women. Oh! And I did Sister Lybberts hair so beautifully! I gave her highlights on Monday or something like that. They look AWESOME. All those hours watching people do hair at Chace paid off. :P

The weather was beautiful too! We spent our lunch hour outside waiting for the mail and eating oranges and talking to our neighbors. It felt great.

 

Friday was a crazy day. Well. A crazy night. We were at Pizza Hut with the Parkinsons during our dinner hour and we got a text from John Lafave. He told us Dalton had broken his finger and was being rushed to UW hospital for surgery and asked us to pray that he would be able to keep it. We were like WHHAAAAAAAAT? We RUSHED to the hospital and met them just in time. They were getting Dalton onto the gurney and into the ambulance to rush to Madison. He was pale and still in shock, but was so Dalton-y. I love that kid. HE LITERALLY CUT HIS FINGER OFF. Obviously, it was an accident, but scary! So we saw them off and then called all the missionaries in Madison to see who was closest to the hospital and if they could have ward members meet them there and give Dalton a blessing before surgery. It was really late and they were rushing him right into surgery to try to save his finger, so we got the University Elders to agree to give him a blessing in the morning. We then went to Sister Oates' house to meet Tiffany there because she was dropping off her little boys and we knew she would be freaking out. So we helped out there and let Tiffany cry on our shoulders and told her to drive safe.

 

Good news = the surgery went well. It took 6 hours and he lost part of his finger because the bone was so crushed, but they were able to save a blood vessel strong enough to support the rest of the finger and so for right now, he should be able to keep it. The Elders and Mad1 sisters have both visited him and say that he smiling and happy and still excited to get baptized! They are amazed at how strong the Lafaves are!

 

So all weekend we were helping the ward members who were watching the little Lafave boys and we got to see Dalton's pinewood derby car race for him (he cut his finger off at the registration meeting for the race the night before) and see the Gallagers again go tracting and all that fun stuff.

 

So that was our week in a nutshell! Hoping for a speedy recovery for Dalton. And hoping to meet with the Steibers again (they came to church again!) and all that great stuff.

 

have a great week!