Shocking TP Day

So I will explain the reasoning behind the unusual title of the email.
First, I will start with the TP Day. It stands for Temple Preparation
Day (aka today). I am emailing today instead of yesterday because it
was finally time to go to the temple again. It was absolutely amazing
as usual. I love the way I feel when I am in the temple and I am so
excited for the day when I can be sealed for time and eternity to my
future husband in the House of the Lord. But aside from that topic
since it won't happen till 12-13-14; Lets move on for now to the
"shocking" part of the email title.

Yesterday was a fun/interesting day. Let's start at the beginning.
During our study time in the morning one of our appointments for the
day texts and asks us if we could push back our appt time from 12:30pm
to later in the evening. We offered 5:30 and she agreed. We finished
studying then went to District Meeting. It was great! We played a form
of Jeopardy to test our missionary knowledge...I was not so good at
the beginning but ended up in second place (stinking elders) ;) After
that we went to District lunch and then we went home and changed
clothes because another one of our appts for the day texted us during
our meeting and said that she wasn't going to be able to meet because
she was doing yard work but knew that we would want to help because we
would be able to wear pants. We said that we would absolutely come and
help. We got there and ended up helping for 2 hours. I got an ugly
scratch on my ankle to prove to me that I should wear jeans instead of
basketball shorts, haha!

After that we went to a normal member visit where we teach The
Doctrine of Christ, show a short movie (The Robles Family) and then
ask for referrals. Well, when we got there the husband and the wife
were there who we were expecting to be there but the husbands brother
and sister were both there too. As we were doing introductions, the
husband says after everyone is silent that they are all less active.
It kind of threw us off guard because we had met this couple at
church. We ended up being there quite a bit longer than expected as we
tried to help the whole family with the brother and sister not even
being in our ward. It ended well and then we ran to dinner and then
off to the 5:30 appt.

This is where it gets shocking if you are not already shocked enough.
We go into Sherry's house and she has a couch right by her front door
that she it needing to get put into  a bedroom down the hallway. We
offer to do it because she is a very very sick lady and we knew that
if we didn't do it then she would try to do it by herself which would
be even worse. We take the bedroom door off its hinges and then
proceed to push, shove, lift, pull and tug this couch into the room.
We finally get it in and then Sherry says, she is too hot and that she
is going to have a seizure. Unfortunately, this is not and uncommon
feeling for Sherry. Sis. McMurtrey and I have know idea what to do so
we ask her what she needs. She took a pill, drank some water, we sat
outside to cool off with a cold wet cloth on her head and face. She
says that she is going to be okay and foolishly we believed her. We
went back inside and she sat down on the couch we just moved while we
attempted to put the door back on the hinges. Next thing you know I
turn around and look at her and she is in the middle of a seizure! I
tell Sis. McMurtrey and luckily and amazingly Sherry is still alert
enough to tell us what to do to help her. We got her oxygen machine
and I was trying to plug it into a super messed up outlet in the wall.
As I do so I get electrocuted. Well Sherry needs her machine, so I
tried again and I get shocked again. Then she says to try another one
on the other side of the room. Duh, Sister Brox! We get that all going
and get her a shot that gave herself in the stomach and the whole time
I am freaking out in the inside and just praying for her to please
just be okay. Finally, after about 20 minutes she is talking to us
pretty normally and telling us how sorry she is and how glad she was
that is wasn't that bad of a seizure. We told her to stop apologizing
and to just relax. Relaxing is not something that Sherry is good at.
haha! We were able to read an Ensign article with her so that she
would have to stay sitting down for a while. Then we put the door on
its hinges and I once again tried to plug something into the stupid
outlet and I get zapped for the third time and I quit! We got her
house put together enough so that she could rest for the remainder of
the evening and we headed to our next appointment.

I thought the craziness was over but once again I was wrong. We got to
our family home evening appt and we go in thinking that everyone was
home but it turned out to be just the two teenage daughters because
the mom had gone for a run. We were standing in the kitchen getting
ready to make cookies and half waiting for mom to get there already.
When one of the girls decided to sit on the counter. No big deal,
right? Wrong! She is facing away from the edge and has crossed her
legs in front of her and next thing you know she is falling backwards
off of the counter onto the tile kitchen floor. I about had a
heart attack! Thankfully and miraculously she was ok, and we could all
laugh about it. The rest of the night went over well. And then I could
not sleep well last night because my allergies are KILLING ME!!!!! I
guess it got so bad because of all the yard work we did yesterday.
ugh!

Well, I hope you liked all the excitement! I gotta get going so that I
can email President before I run out of time! I love you all, I hope
you have an amazing week! Happy Easter! Happy Birthday Sara!

I can't believe I forgot to tell you....

.....We had Sister's conference this week! It was sooo good, as usual! It was on Friday and I have been looking forward to it since last sister's training in September. I am sure you can all remember me talking about that. Anyway, I was most excited to see Sister Mecham. She has been serving here in the Tri-Cities since this last transfer (Feb 28th) but I haven't been able to see her because she is in West Richland and I am here in the center of Kennewick two totally different zones. Anyway, I had been looking forward to seeing that cute thing all week, and Sister McMurtrey had been looking forward to seeing all of her MTC friends. We got to the stake center and dropped our stuff off in the Relief Society room and gave hugs to the following, Sisters: Greer (in charge of everything), Cockerham (in charge of phones and such), Bodmer (in charge of mail and such), and Stapelton (in charge of ?? but she is the 1st counselors wife). Then we went into the gym where everyone was eating breakfast already. I hugged someone ( I don't remember who) then searched for Sister Mecham. I went and gave her a hug from behind as she sat at the table. She jumped up real fast and said that she was going to cry. haha! Surprise Surprise, but she didn't...Anyways, we all sat down and ate breakfast and talked forever but not long enough. It was so good to see her and to hear about how much she is loving the Tri-Cities. It makes me happy that she is happy and that she is progressing in becoming the missionary she wants to be. She has always been amazing and I am excited to hear about all that success she has. It is so weird that I only have her and Sister McMurtrey as companions in the mission. I don't like it! I miss people so much after they go home. :*( I was talking about all this to Sis. McMurtrey and how much I look forward to hearing about her and how much good she is going to do here in the mission and she doesn't believe me.

I think we all feel that way as new missionaries. We never think we are very good until we get away from our trainers, then we begin to realize that we actually do know what we are doing (for the most part). I know I felt that way when I left Sister Chatwin. She was always talking about how I came "pre-trained" and I never believed her. Now that I have trained twice, I can see it in these two wonderful daughters of God. They did come pre-trained. All I had to do was show them the way and then they are off and doing it and making miracles happen though their faith. It is amazing to see the "Hastening of the Work" that is happening right now. There are more people who are being prepared to hear the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because we have more people to find we need more workers, aka missionaries! And because of modern revelation, we are getting those much needed workers out in the field faster and sooner than ever before. We need those workers to be pre-trained! The people that they come in contact with need them to be pre-trained! How grateful I am for the programs in the church that get us trained to do this work. We start young and progress through primary, youth programs, seminary, institute, relief society (and priesthood meetings). We have to start young because Satan is tricky and He starts with the young ones. I am so thankful for you Mother and Daddy! Thank you for raising me right and for teaching and showing me THE way. I am thankful that I am prepared and trained to do what I do now. If I wasn't ready then this would be a lot more difficult than it already is, but not impossible. Nothing is impossible with the Lord on our side!

With all that being said, right after sister's conference and picture taking in front of the temple, we had our investigator's Tammy's baptismal interview with President Stapelton. We were running late and I am sure she was flustered about it and it was scheduled pretty last minute. I am thankful for it all coming together though. We watched the kids with Sister Stapelton in the gym while she was being interviewed. I had a scary feeling because I was worried that she might not be ready to be baptized. When they came back in the gym and said that she was all ready to go. I was so relieved. The date has been set (April 6th) the building is reserved and this amazing daughter of God it ready! It is so wonderful to be a missionary and to be able to see our Heavenly Father's children as they prepare to make covenants with Him. I know that she is ready for this next part of her life. To start over with a clean slate and the opportunity to raise her kids the way she wants to. They will be able to serve missions and bring souls, just like their mother, unto Christ. I will keep you posted on her progress as we continue to teach this wonderful family.

We continue to knock on doors and search for more people who are ready. The ward it trying to help and that is wonderful! This week was a great one! I love weeks like this last week! I hope you had a great St. Patrick's day! I know I did! Yesterday was one of the best Sundays I have had in the mission so far. I was spiritually fed all day! It was awesome! I hope you all have a great week! I love you all so much! I can't wait to see you and give you hugs! :)

Testimony

Hello Everybody!

 

I was reading in the March Ensign this morning during my personal study and I read an article that talks about a family that decided to start sharing their testimonies as a part of their family home evening. It had a quote in the article by Elder David A. Bednar which said, “Feeling the power, the edification, and the constancy of testimony from a spouse, a parent, or a child is a rich blessing. Such testimony fortifies faith and provides direction. Such testimony generates light in a world that grows increasingly dark.” I love this quote and for some reason it really stuck out to me that while I am sharing my testimony everyday with those around me I have not taken the opportunity to share my entire testimony to those of you back home.I would like to start my letter this week with my testimony of the restored gospel.

 

I know that the entire gospel is centered on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is my personal exemplar, savior, and advocate with the Father. He came to this earth and taught His gospel and showed us THE way that we can be reunited with our Heavenly Father. Even though He was despised, rejected and crucified. He was also loved, cherished, and resurrected. I will never understand or comprehend all that He was able to endure. I can only be grateful and show my love and gratitude by being obedient. As the scripture says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

I am so grateful that even though the fullness of the gospel was taken from the earth again after the death of Christ's disciples, Heavenly Father reached out yet again in love and understanding and restored His church, His priesthood, and His words through another prophet. I admire Joseph Smith for his obedience. It couldn't have been easy. It would have been so easy to take back what he said; but then again, no it wouldn't have been easy, because he knew it was TRUE! Just as I know it is true. That is why the Holy Spirit is such a wonderful blessing. It is through him that we know all truth, for the Spirit of the Lord can not lie. I wouldn't trade anything for how happy this knowledge makes me.

I am so happy to be a missionary. Even when things get hard all I have to do it fall on my knees at the feet of my Savior and I know that He will help me. He loves me and I love Him. The power of prayer is real. I often time feel like Enos, where I feel like praying all day and all night. I roll out of bed in the morning and I could go on forever just thanking my Father for the bountiful gifts He has given me. I scan through hundreds of faces and places asking for His hand to be present in their lives and I know that it is worth every second.

 

I am forever grateful for the plan of happiness. The knowledge it gives me and the answers to the questions that so many people have. I feel like I know everything but I know that I don't. I have access to realms of eternal knowledge though the scriptures, living prophets and prayer.

To be worthy to enter the Temple will forever be a goal of mine. I never want to lose or take advantage of the opportunity to worthily hold a temple recommend. The peace and joy of that holy place I hope will always fill my heart. I look forward to the day when I will be sealed to my husband for time and all eternity. Knowing that I have my family forever keeps me going on days when I just want to give up.

I am so happy and grateful for all of these things and more. My testimony could fill a book I am sure. I will close it for now and I hope this has helped at least one of you receive more "light" as the quote in the beginning says. I know that I would not make it through a single say without my testimony and I am so grateful, eternally grateful, for the blessings in my life that my faith brings. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I hope I didn't lose too many readers in the midst of that. :) I got excited... This week has been a good one. We taught a few people and met quite a few more. I love being able to work hard. This week seemed to go by really fast. Well they are all picking up speed as we go. Yesterday was ward conference and that was really good. We had ward council before hand and we were able to talk about some of the families in the ward that need help. One family that we were talking about, everyone seemed to know about them and the problems they were facing. They talked about how they have tried to help and no one seemed to have success. I asked if the missionaries had ever tried going over and they all said, "No." So the idea clicked in their heads to send us over there to see what we can do. I am excited to be able to go over and get to know this family and hopefully show the ward that you can never give up. I know that the Lord loves all of His sheep and He will provide a way for this family to come back into the fold. I love this gospel. I love that it has a doctrine of unity. We are a family! And we should treat each other the way God wants His children to be treated. I know that I didn't always understand this principal before and I was often mean and unloving to some. I am grateful for this lesson on charity. And if that lesson is the only thing that I take away from my mission, then so be it, It will benefit me for the remainder of my earth life and beyond.

I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week! (Please write me, it will make everyone's week better!) Thanks for everything! :)

Announcements

Hello Everyone! How is everyone doing? Well I hope that everyone is
aware of the new and exciting things happening here in the WKM! If you
are not then I am about to talk about them.

We got a voicemail from President a few nights ago and he was telling
us about the recent issue of the church news where 58 new missions
have been announced in the world and that 3 of them were here in the
Pacific Northwest. 1. Salem OR 2. Federal Way WA and 3. Vancouver WA!

Since the one in Vancouver is half of our mission, it will be split
somehow, plus with the other missions around us. Things are gonna be
changing! Along with the new missions and the new boundaries, the new
mission presidents have been called and the new President for the WKM
is President Ware. and from what President Greer has said, they are
very nice and he and his wife are excited to serve. There has also
already been called the new mission pres for the Vancouver mission and
I can't remember his name. I look forward to serving my last transfer
on my mission with either one of these new presidents.

Also in the news for me, is that even though I have shared this info
with some and not all I will share it now. I have decided for myself
that I will not come home till the Aug transfer, which means Aug 13th.
There was a lot of prayer and pondering that went into this decision
for myself. The only thing that will change this day of arrival home
will be the Lord. I haven't had the phone call from the mission office
telling me when I am going home because it is still way to early for
that. I was thinking and panicking about my homecoming far too in
advance. Please put this subject far from you minds as that is what I
am trying to do.

With all of the changes happening at the very end of my mission I am
grateful that I will be here to help the new President in what ever
way that I can. I know that it will be a stressful time and that even
though I would love to finish my mission with President and Sister
Greer, I know that the Lord needs me here. The work is hastening and I
am right smack dab in the middle of it. I don't want to miss a second
of it and I don't want to quit early because its the easier thing to
do. Being on a mission is so hard and so rewarding. I don't even know
where the days go half of the time and the other half of the time it
seems like 9 o'clock will never get here.
I can't believe that transfers are this week already too. Because
Sister McMurtrey is still new we are still doing our 12 week training.
We are together for the next 6 weeks and for that I am excited. We are
getting along better and better everyday and she is helping me to grow
just as much as I am helping her.

Last week  on p-day when we were sitting in our room writing letters
the members that we live with came and knocked on our door and then
told us that they had backing into our car. They said that they had
already called the mission office and that they would get it fixed. We
said ok, and finished writing letters. When we went out to leave we
saw the big dent with some scratches in dent. It was right in the
passenger side back door. It made me so sad! We had to take it to the
mission office and they took it to get an estimate on it. We have been
driving around with a dented mission car and its not my fault! haha!
We are getting it fixed this next week and hopefully they have a spare
car for us to drive while that happens.

We are moving out of the Vance's house tomorrow to another members
home and I am very excited. I love the Vance's but we are in a very
very tiny amount of space and I don't like that! As far as we know the
new house we will live in has a basement that we get to have to
ourselves. But not as big of a basement as the Combs' in the mansion.

So other than all that we have been finding and teaching as many
people as we can. We were tracting some apartments the other night and
it was almost 8 and we knocked on 12 doors with only 2 answering. The
first one was nice but not interested. The second door that opened
said "Don't bother me right now!!!" Then slammed the door in our
faces. It was awesome to see the look on Sis. McMurtrey's face. She
was so shocked and she looked like she was about to cry. I would
rather someone slam the door in my face then to hear my testimony and
then shut the door on my face and reject all the Spirit had told them
was true.
Anyways, I am just about out of time! I love you all and I hope you
have a wonderful week!

Hey! Hey! Hey!

Hello Family! and Friends!

I hope you had a wonderful President's Day. I am so grateful for our
founding fathers and their willingness to come to this great land and
set up the constitution so that we could have religious freedom and
the opportunity to worship however we like. It was all so perfect to
be able to set the stage for the restoration of the gospel. Heavenly
Father is brilliant and I am in awe all the time with the things I see
that He has had His hand in for the bettering of our lives. For
Example:

A couple weeks ago we went tracting on a street that had a couple
members on it, which we didn't know that at the time. We were not
having any success and then we knocked on Jen's door. She lived right
next door to an active family in the ward. We introduced ourselves and
she told us that her grandparents are members in Pendleton and that
she had lots of questions about it. We were able to visit a little bit
longer and asked if we could share our message with her and answer her
questions. She was in a hurry to do something or go somewhere so we
found out when a better time to come back would be and we said we
would see her then. We gave her a Book of Mormon and invited her to
read it and that we would talk about it when we came back. Fast
forward to the time she said we could come back and we knocked on her
door. She opened and you could tell that she was just about to walk
out. She said that she still really wanted to meet with us but not
that day. So we set up another appointment for a week later, and that
was that.

Fast Forward again to this morning at our appointment. We knocked on
the door and she let us in, we all sat down and did a little bit of
get to know you stuff and then we started how to begin teaching
points. We told her to feel free to ask questions and then the tidal
wave came...she started throwing questions at us left and right.
Awesome questions like why do we pray and why are there so many kids
in Mormon families and what makes our church different from the others
and why are there so many and how can I make myself better and why are
we here and more! I was so excited!!! We were able to answer some of
her questions and we were able to testify that as she continued to
meet with us all of those questions will be answered. She was so
excited that we wanted to come back. We have another appointment with
her and we invited her to a ward dinner this Friday night so that she
can start to make more friends in the area that have young families
like hers. She is a very family focused and we left her with a copy
of the Proclamation to the World on the Family to read. She told us
that when she first moved here, from Portland, the non-LDS neighbors
warned her about all the Mormons in the neighborhood and how you could
tell that they were Mormon was because they have so many kids. She has
4 and she thought, "well good then I will fit right in." She is
honestly a seeker of truth, for some reason I didn't think that I
would ever find one. But now I have and I thank Heavenly Father so
much for letting me see this miracle.

I know that was a long story but I am so excited to be able to help
Jen and to be able to help her be less confused and to come to the
knowledge that she is a daughter of God and that He loves her. And
that all her questions have answers!

I love this Gospel and I love that it can answer all the questions
that we can have in this life. I love THE Doctrine of Christ! I hope
you have a wonderful week! Love you!

P.S. Zone Conference was awesome! It was super sad because I think I
only have one left before I go home (maybe two). We learned even more
about the Doctrine of Christ and about Preach My Gospel and how
important those wonderful gifts are in our work! Awesome! :)

Mother thanks for the Valentines package! It was perfect!

Happy Valentine's Day

Oh goodness...I am so tired! Haha! Well, I am always tired so that is
not saying much. Things are finally starting to pick up here in the
Kennewick Park Ward. We have been tracting ALOT! More than I have my
entire mission thus far. I made new records for myself and this week
looks to be the same. We have been able to find people who are seeking
the truth and that have questions about the church.

For example, we were tracting a street and we started on one side and
worked our way down. We came to a house where there was a guy sitting
in his car smoking. The window was down just a crack and he wasn't
about to go anywhere (the car wasn't even on). We walked up expecting
this situation to turn out the way it had so far that day like almost
every other day with everyone saying that they had their own church
and that they weren't interested in what we have to share and then
shutting the door in our faces. We of course are used to this response
even though we know that what we have to offer is more than just any
church, we are not selling our religion or our church, we are simply
sharing a message about our Savior Jesus Christ whom you should WANT
to learn more about if you are honestly seeking to follow him.

But anyway, back to my story, we walk up and wave and say something
like hey how are you doing today. Mike looks up at us and you can tell
that he is not having a good day. He says he is okay, so we introduce
ourselves and tell him that we are there to share a message about
Jesus Christ. We asked him what role religion has played in his life
and he told us that he was raised 7th day Adventist but that he
doesn't really like to go there anymore. He told us that his parents
were very strong in their beliefs and that he just doesn't feel like
it is right for him. We were able to tell him that everyone has to
find out what is right for them. He expressed his concern about how he
was taught to fear God and that everything seemed to be so doom and
gloom. We were able to bare simple testimonies on how we know that God
is our loving Heavenly Father and that He wants the best for us, His
children. Mike seemed to perk up a little as we continued to visit
with him. We were able to give him a copy of the Book of Mormon with a
promise that as he reads it and prays about it, he will be able to see
the love of God more in his life. He accepted it and said he would
read it and pray. We set up a time that we could come over later in
the week to share with him how it was that we got the Book of Mormon.
He seemed excited and told us to come back on Saturday at 10:30
because his parents wouldn't be home. We asked him if he was in his
car because his parents were home and he said yes. We said a prayer
with Mike and we left and continued down the street. We could tell
that Mike is going through some really hard stuff in his life right
now and that we were meant to talk to him outside instead of knocking
on his door just to be turned away by his mom or dad.

So lets jump from that day to Saturday. We have found a wonderful
sister to join us to go to Mike's house (by the way all of us were in
purple) and we go and knock on his door. No one answers and we are so
disappointed. :( We left a sticky note on his door with our phone
number to give us a call so that we could go visit him again. We left
and thanked Sister Madison for coming with us and we went our separate
ways.

Two hours later: We decided to go by again to see if the note was gone
and to visit one of Mike's neighbors. We saw the note was gone and
that Mike was in his car again. We talked to his neighbor and then
went to talk to Mike again. He apologized for not answering earlier,
he had over slept and that his parents were home. So knowing that his
mom was inside we asked if we could go inside. We went in and started
talking more about what he believes and the Book of Mormon and how it
gives us hope for a better life. He was way into it and his mom came
in. She listened for a few minutes and we could tell that something
was about to happen. She started to yell at us (for about 10 or so
minutes) and tell us how wrong we are and that we needed to leave. So
we said that everyone has the opportunity to learn for themselves and
that Mike had told us that he would be interested in learning more.
She told us that he was not and that we were not welcome in her home.
We got up and told Mike that if he had any questions to please call us
or text and we would be happy to meet with him somewhere else. He said
okay and we left.

Sunday after church we had a text from Mike apologizing for his moms
actions and asking if we could meet at the park by his house. We told
him that it was alright and that we had some friends (the Madisons)
that we could go to their house to meet. We set up a time on Tuesday
and we will see how that goes. Mike is such a nice guy. He is 28 and
you can tell that he wants to get out from under his parents thumb but
he just doesn't know how. I am so excited to be able to help show him
the way.

He is just one of the many people that we are trying to go back to
teach. I know that the Lord puts us on the path we need to be on in
order to find His children that are prepared and if we don't listen
then He will help them find us. I have a few more funny stories but I
am almost out of time so I will have to leave you in suspense. We have
zone conference tomorrow and I am super excited about that!  :) I love
you all and I hope you all have a very happy valentines day!