April 3, 2011

This week was probably our worst yet for numbers. It was finals week. It feels like its been finals forever but there are so many colleges on different schedules. It will pass though. This week I just want to get out there and find more people. One of my investigators got baptized this week, but not here. His name was r. Not sure if I told you about him. He came to visit his brother in law for a weekend who is a recent convert and I taught him once. That week he moved here to learn about the church. He said he fell in love with the gospel and God wanted him here. Unfortunately he never found a job so he went back to cape coral. He had a really hard time when he got there because he was living in his car and went back to some addictions for a week or two but saturday he was able to get baptized. He'll be a great member. Tomorrow is also transfers and we are all staying. I'm SO excited! Me and sister H have become really good friends and I would have hated not being with her for my last transfer. She is a great example to me and has really helped me to be a better missionary. I am so excited you're getting a tongan sister. that will be so fun. You better tell the sisters I'm going on exchanges with them when I get home! It will be tons of fun. How is kyle doing other than excited about cows? President has asked for the phone call that it only be immediate family. So I hope that doesn't offend anyone. It shouldn't since they'll see me in 6 weeks. I guess I could call or skype...call might be better so I could talk to Cody and Avrey too. I guess it won't really matter. I could do it at 7:30 my time which should be 4:30 your time..... or before your church at like 3 my time or something.....whatever you want

April 25, 2011

Hey! sounds like Easter was lots of fun. I ate spam and top ramen for
dinner haha...so missionary like. BUT it tasted good so who cares. Not
too much is going on here. Its been finals so things are a little
slow. We're just plugging along trying to find people who want to
listen to us. I can't wait to meet little A...if she's anything
like her mother she'll be a real ball of energy and fun to play with.
Hmmm what else do you want to know?
no we don't eat with members. I heard there were tornadoes but thats
it. No details. Its 90 to 100 degrees here.
i got a letter from Jeffrey Dan this week. Sounds like he is lovin the
mission. Do they forward his letters? I would love to get them. So 2
GREAT things  happened this week. The first is that D's mission
papers are in!! and he should leave around the same time I come
visit!!!!  I can't wait to know where he goes. Also When l went way
anti I met with her... not sure if I told you already and she walked
out on me and i've never heard from her again. I called and told
sister B and so she said on the next p-day she would write
her a letter. She wrote it and read it to me and i told her to just
wait a couple days to send it to give her time to cool off. That night
I had a dream that l came back to church and was apologizing and was
really ashamed and in my dream I was frantically looking for sister
B trying to tell her not to send the letter. When I woke up
it was all so real so I called sister b and told her not to
send the letter and I told her that some day L would come back on
her own. I didn't know how long it would be but i have been praying
for her a ton. Yesterday she showed up to church looking for me
apologizing and completely ashamed of everything that had happened-
just like in the dream! WAHOO she's back!
no news on the temple but president Hale is doing good. He came back
this week! we were really excited. We all get to go to transfer
meeting next week to see him.

April 18, 2011

Not much going on here. We did a lot of finding this week because no one would meet with us. I forgot how much finals affect missionary work. One thing did happen this week though. I've realized how much more confident I am in sharing the gospel. We had absolutely no plans and either did the other sisters so sister h and I decided we were going to knock on doors and sing hymns to them. That is something I NEVER would have done before. I refused to sing at all in lessons until president Hale said we would be singing in every lesson. I was terrified but I did it. My companion still barely sings so I basically sing a solo. The funniest was probably when we sang to an 18 year old kid who is an underground street fighter, MMA fighter, and golden glove boxer in the middle of a park. Oh the joys of missionary work! I LOVE IT! Anyway- my companion freaked out about singing to people. She thought it was so weird, but I made her do it anyway. She hated it but someday she'll look back and realize it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. HAHA So fun! No other time in my life would I enjoy such random things.
President is good. In pain but everything went well. It ended up being only a 4 hour surgery and they find out in a few days if the tumor is cancerous

April 11, 2011

Ok so President Hale is doing really good. Lots of miracles. The mission fasted for him and when they went into do the surgery they found that the tumor wasn't on the nerves like they showed. Just to the side instead which is still risky but not as bad. President Hale is amazing. He walked 2 days after the surgery and they think he will be back to the mission before 3 weeks. Crazy! Just so you know I sent him a package from our zone and I sent it through UPS. I figured you would be ok with that. I can't believe all of those people are serving missions and getting married! way too many. Which mission in peru? There are a lot of members here from peru and most of their families are still there. Its crazy how much happens while you're on a mission but it just feels like everything will be the same because you don't see it happening. This week was pretty slow. Every appointment pretty much fell through so we spent a lot of time in the streets. It was still really fun but it sure is getting hot. This week averaged 85 to 90... it wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't still that hot at 9pm. Either way I love it! Looks like I'm really going to have to work when I get home to pay for all this craziness. but once again... I LOVE IT! Aww life is just so great. Its amazing how much I love something that is so hard. How was your birthday celebrations? Tell everyone I love them :)
oh my! I forgot to tell you my bleach story. So last week I was wearing my favorite gray skirt that I pretty much live in and my adorable red shoes and we were at the store buying some things. I was at the cash register paying when I hear a crash and feel liquid all over my legs and feet. I look down and my gray skirt is PINK! AAAAHHH. So the lady at the register is just in shock and staring at me and I'm like "HELLO! can I get a rag my legs are burning!" So this lady totally dropped an entire bottle of bleach all over me and the store people didnt' do ANYTHING. The worst part is that the lady who dropped it just turned around and walked away. Didn't even apologize...clean it up...tell someone... NOTHING. So.. my favorite skirt is ruined and it was a really sad day. Don't worry... no chemical burns or anything either.... i'm just left without an amazing skirt so I might try and find another one this week. HORRIBLE

April 4, 2011

This week has been a really unique one for our mission. Yesterday we had a mission-wide conference call with President Hale. He told us that they have found a tumor on his spinal column. On thursday he will be having a 14+ hour surgery. The doctors have told him that he needs to end his mission but thats not president Hale's way. He has counseled with the 12 and they have given him permission to finish his mission. He has been assured through blessings and prayer that he will make a full recovery. He has found the best neurosurgeon in the country to do it. In that same blessing a specific reference was given to the adversary and his desire in halting the work here but he will not succeed. After the conference call wherever we were we knelt in prayer and as a mission commited to doubling our efforts in all aspects of the work. We were promised by the brethren that this trial would bring immediate blessings to the mission- one of them being a unity here that has never been seen before. We are fasting on wednesday night until sunday for president Hale and any of you that would like to join would be appreciated. We love him so much! it is expected that he will return to the mission in 3 weeks.

Other than that things are going pretty good. We lost several of our investigators who had baptism dates but we aren't giving up. Most of them refused to keep commitments and one of them moved away. But he'll be baptized where he moved to. I love my companion. She has really helped me to reflect on my time in the mission and the changes I have made. She is so incredible and works so hard.

It seems that the time goes faster every day and i'm not sure how I feel about it. It is really bitter sweet as my mission begins to wind down. I have never had greater joy or sorrow than I have had in the service of the Lord. Such a learning experience.

i put we are fasting from wednesday night to sunday but I meant thursday...sorry! I wish I had more to tell you about but I can't think of anything. Conference was great though. I love having our questions answered. Each one was so inspired in the things they shared. They make me think there will be many more trials to come.

I also love the sisters we live with right now. We truly have become the best of friends. I still live with Sister Hopkins and she is training Hermana Mata'u.They make me laugh constantly. We are very unified in our obedience as well which really helps. funny side note- Sister Mata'u is teaching me to hula in the mornings during exercise time and its not going so good. I am so not talented haha.

Sounds like you have been very busy at home. I'm not sure i'll even recognize the place when I get back. You are always in my prayers! I love you!