Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Week 36 Pictures




Week 36: New investigator and Interviews‏

Dear Family!

How are ya'll doing? Things are going great here in Clinton, MS. The work is good, Just still working on finding people to teach, always finding. This week we had interviews on Wednesday with the Mission president. Would you believe it if i told you we were leading the mission in other lessons taught? I know I couldn't either! Sister Hawkes and I have been working really hard and are loving serving together. Things are going well...just still trying to find people to teach. That is the key having someone in every area of the teaching process..we just keep praying.

President also told us to by some pepper spray for when we go into Jackson..apparently it is pretty dangerous there..We are working on bring a member with us for when we go there. One of the Elders said we should get a gun..I told him only if it were hot pink and we could rhinestone it. ha..yes, so no gun for us.

This week we had a great experience with one of our new investigators. We were felt inspired to knock on her door ( the missionaries had met with her about a year ago, So we thought we would try her again). She was very welcoming and invited us in for a discussion. We shared with her the Restoration of the gospel, Talking a lot about prophets and the priesthood restored. This was one of the greatest lessons I think I have been blessed to be apart of as of my whole mission. She really understood and just like it say in Doctrine and Covenants 50:21-22 "..he that preacheth and he that recieveth, understand and one another, and both are edified and rejoice together."  It was a great moment when after the first vision was recited, and the spirit was very strong, she sat pondering and then said.."that really leaves me with a lot to ponder." As we were getting ready to leave she told us that she is going to read and study every and ask a lot of questions. We told her that we hope she does! As she was looking through the restoration pamphlet before we left she read aloud, to herself, again the first vision. The spirit filled the room as it had when we had recited it. I know that that experience Joseph Smith had did happen and that he was called of God to restore this gospel to the earth. ( oh ..You would've laughed..we were really bold with her when we first met her and I asked her if she could "cut the TV off"..haha I about died that I said it..but i did!)

Our new friend is having a lot of health problems ( she is in her 70s) So we told her that the elders could come the next day ( which was Wednesday) and give her a blessing of healing. After explaining to her about the priesthood and faith, she accepted the invitation and said that she would love it. " Never block your blessins!" She said.
That next day the elders came and gave her a blessing. Following the blessing she told us that she really felt peace and enjoyed it. I am grateful for the priesthood in my life and righteous men who are worthy to hold it.  We are going to try to meet with, we will call her Lucy, Lucy tonight.

Soo Two days ago we were trying to see this potential, and the house of the potential ended up being the residence of a less active lady that we didn't know anything about! Her name is on our records, we just didn't know anything about her. It was crazy! So we go and meet with her, come to find out she has been less active for about 18 or so years and is now attending another church. Long Long story short she chose to take offense and because of it she didn't feel they were "growing" in our church. So they left the church. She loves the missionaries and has fond memories of the missionaries who taught her back when she first joined the church. It was just really sad to us how now she will not except the doctrines of the restored gospel. One thing i have come to learn though is you can tell, very quickly, the state of a persons heart. When I say this I mean it is getting easier to discern how open someone is to "giving place to a portion of the word" (Alma 32:26-28) This sweet sisters heart was so hard to the things we have to share that saying anything at all was pointless. We let her offer the closing prayer and went on our way.


Yesterday I spoke in church about using and incorporating the spirit in missionary work. We must not forget that we are all missionaries and we have all been called to a great work! Eventually everyone will hear the gospel ( in the spirit world) So ya'll should give the missionaries names of your friends now that they can teach, give your friends a head start on hearing the word. It cant hurt and I know the missionaries will appreciate it. lol. ( I didn't say that in my talk..but I wanted to tell you family..lol) Yes..the spirit is the third member of the godhead and he testifies of truth.

One thing I learned the other day from my studies in Preach my gospel, is that we are always teaching. Our actions speak volumes of our character and people are always watching us, especially as members of the church. Thank you for your great examples to me.
I love ya'll so much and hope you have a wonderful week!
oh..PS.. I am really really behind of my letter writing because of exchanges

Love ya'll!

Sister Urie

Southernisms: I have heard this one a lot this week..she was" Pleased as a peach." or...I was just "pleased as a peach!"

Tracting tips: we found one penny..it was in the mud.
Scripture: Alma 32:41 " But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life."

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Week 35 Pictures



 Eating a pork skins with Louisiana hot sauce

  she pours the hot sauce in the bag and shakes it up..
one drop obviously is not enough!
Looks like Cotton!
The wire is from the 1860's..haha crazy.
Earl art shop! This is way out in the country of Mississippi in Bovina,MS.
This man has found different things off the side of the road and such and has been working on making a house that people can come through and tour. There are random holes in the walls and floor. Most holes in the ceiling he says are going to be skylights.
We were surprised no one was home!
Look its a cactus, just like home!
Everyone should read the scriptures!

Week 35? wow! Earl Art shop..You're a member? " Its hard for most humans to comprehend this..."‏

Dear Family!!

A big hello from the state of Mississippi. We had a great week this week. It has been a real adventure trying to find more people to teach, but we keep trying potentials and praying that we will find the "elect". As a result of this our prayers have been answered in different ways then I would expect. For instance we have been trying to teach this lady that only speaks Spanish. So we went over the other day and there were a lot of kids at the house. Young children. we thought this was strange because we were sure the lady only has 1 son. We asked the kids to go get there mom so we could talk with her. They run and get there mom and who should come to the door but not the woman we met with before. This woman was very friendly and warm to us though and invited us in. We told her we were here to see her friend ( who we found out was not home) After talking with her we also learned ( she speaks Spanish and English by the way) that she is a member of the church! She was baptized in Arizona about eight years ago and is now living in Jackson. we will call her Maria, Maria did not even know there was a ward in Clinton. We invited Maria to invite her nonmember friend she is living with to church and for her to come to church also. She said she would and upon telling her daughter they were coming to church, her eight year old, not yet baptized daughter was dancing around the house saying how excited she was to come to church!! great right! This is what we thought, we were so excited to see them Sunday..They did not come. Next week they will come, i just know it. 

Right after we saw this family we were walking out to our car..this is in Jackson mind you..the "hood" if you will... and three of these kids around the age of 18-23ish are standing across the road said "can i have yo numba?can i have yo numba?". Yes just like out of the  you tube video. we told him to go on mormon.org and he said he would do it.
This week I learned many things.. one of the most important things I learned was that I have been saying Clinton all wrong. So! We were at a members house and they asked if I liked it here in Clintn and I said that I loved it here in "Clintin".  They all made so much fun of me. Saying that I need to say it right. Its "Clinn" just in case ya'll were wondering.

Can you believe I will be turning eight in two days. The time is flying and I feel like i have so much left to learn..I feel so blessed to be on a mission and serving the Lord. This work is true and I just wish everyone would study it out in there minds and ask God if it is true.


So more stories about people were teaching.. We are still teaching that family with 4 kids and the Mom and dad. We met with the mom on Friday. We read with her from the book of mormon and shared with her the plan of salvation. I really hope that she takes the time to study it out for herself. It is one of those situations where I know she felt the spirit..it is just up to her to study it out and find out for herself if the things we are sharing are true. In spite of our imperfections as teachers the message we are sharing is true and those who are honest seekers will know of its truth.


Sunday we had tornado watch out! Crazy! We found out about it from one of our recent converts that works at a weather station. Yes..missionaries really are clueless about everything in the world..politics, weather, media, everything! So if there are missionaries in your area and you know it is going to rain buckets or there is going to be a severe heat warning..please please inform them! Sunday we also got a new bishop. We are no longer in limbo. I am excited to be able to work with the new bishop and help further the work of the ward.


We were tracting this week and ran into this house where the boy, about age 19 wanted to tell us how much we didn't know. We asked him if he had heard of our church before. He said yes..ya'll are mormon right? we said yes..but that is a nick name we are Christians..to that he responded..I thought ya'll just said you were Mormon. We said we did..We went on to explain to him that we believe in Jesus Christ and that the God head is three separate beings. To the which he responded " no, no.. this is hard for most humans to comprehend.. but they are all one." You know..I just wish that people would do some research because they sound very uneducated when they think that for one we are not christian and for two how confused they are about the god head. But you know..to each his own.


So I am sorry this is so jumbled.. It is hard to remember stories sometimes..and the weeks feel like days and the days feel like weeks.. But the last story is about the adventure we went on today.. we went to Earl art shop! This is way out in the country of Mississippi in Bovina, MS. This man has found different things off the side of the road and such and has been working on making a house that people can come through and tour. There are random holes in the walls and floor. Most holes in the ceiling he says are going to be skylights. too funny. More pictures to come next week :)


As always..I hope ya'll have a great week. I love you and appreciate your support. This mission is really changing me and helping me grow. I know that this gospel is true and I pray everyday that I can be worthy of this sacred work I have been called too. Y'all are the best and please know that my prayers are with ya'll.

Be Good!
love, Sister Urie
p.s: I really hope this weeks email makes sense. I will work on my stories for next week. We are going to find more people to teach i just know it! :)

Tracting Tips: two cents

Scouthernism: Church sign: " The Gates of hell shall not prevail in 2012"
Scripture: Moroni 10:3-4: You must first ponder it in your hearts and study it out in your minds..THEN pray about it!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Week 34 Pictures

Our Apartment

silver fire hydrant


Burrrrrr 38 degrees



Week 34 - New area, Spanish Investigator, Salsa, "Makin faith"

Dear Family!
There is so much I have to tell you. We had such a great week in Clinton, MS. I love my new area, the ward is great and I love my companion. Things have been a little bit chilly, yet we are pushing through and forward. This week we contacted many referrals and saw many less active and active members. The ward I am currently serving in consists of two main families and everyone is pretty much either a branch off of them or "grafted in". ( yes, we are going to make a family tree to put on our wall today so we can get it all straight.) Part of me really misses my old area, but I know this is normal. It has been fun trying to figure things out here and learning the area.
Ya'll have asked how Clinton is different from Slidell?.. Slidell is mostly a Catholic community where as Clinton is SOUTHERN BAPTIST. There are a few what are called "red zones" in our area, of place that we are not allowed to go due to crime and such. No worries Mom and Dad I feel very safe here. eh..the fire hydrants are sliver..not sure why. it is my goal to find that out this week. Also Slidell was really flat where as Clinton has a lot of hills and such. Both have great wards and people, and both have one or two families that make up the whole ward. yes I do love the south.
So..There were some crazy experiences that happened this week that I have to share with you..Now I am going to start by saying that missionary work..is unpredictable.
First story..This isn't very exciting, but I did find it interesting that we pulled up to one potentials house to see if she had read the copy of the book of mormon we had loaned her. Before we could even knock on the door this boy comes out ( about 11 years of age) and tells us his mom is not interested. As he starts to go back inside we as him if he could go ask her what she thought of the book we loaned her. Unsure of what we meant he went back inside and came back with the copy of the book of mormon we had loaned her..he handed it to us and said " she read it and isn't interested." ( side note..no one who has read the book of mormon and sincerely read and prayed about it would just hand it back! ..anyways) So we took the book back and it smells so much of cigarette smoke that we will not be able to give it to anyone unless we somehow air it out. lol
Second story..The Fire Hydrants are silver!!..this is different..i think it has something to do with the college. this is a college town and we are not to procolite anywhere near the college. (which really isn't a problem for the sisters because it is in the elders area.)
Third story.. Soo We got a media referral for a lady who lives in Jackson and on Saturday we went to contact her. Come to find out she speaks about as much English as I do Spanish, yet she understands a lot of English. Her son speaks both English and Spanish and was interpreting for us. (about age 13)..It was perfect timing that we contacted her because she is moving in a few days. So we were able to volunteer to help her clean her new house. Also when we were sharing with her the message of the restoration and sharing the story of Joseph Smith and the first vision the spirit was so strong! She posed the question to us.." why did the Lord pick Joseph Smith to restore his church." this question has caused me to ponder and I have come to this conclusion.. " Why did the Lord pick Abraham? Why Issac? Why Noah? Why Samuel? Why Nephi and Lehi?" We read in Doctrine and Covenants 121:34-36 That "Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness."
This is my conclusion thus far..More pondering still yet to do.
Fourth Story: I found a place that has semi good salsa. It is hard to find good salsa down here. now the reason this is such an awesome story is because we went and ate Mexican food right after teaching the Spanish lady. super awesome! :)
Fifth Story: So we got invited to go to a pentecostal church...and we went! It was actually really a neat experience. The people were very friendly and the music was nice. It was sad for me to see that they were confused on where their authority comes from. I know that there was a great apostasy, A period of time where Gods power was taken off the earth. Which is why there was a need for a restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not a reformation. Joseph Smith was the one called to be the first prophet of the restoration and I know that the priesthood has been restored again to the earth by a Loving God through a living prophet. This is his kingdom once again established on the earth. Oh how I love this Gospel.
The lady that invited us we met in the bathroom of McCallisters. Hopefully one day she'll come to church with us too. I think she will find it a much different and peaceful experience. I loved this opportunity and was grateful for the truth and knowledge that we do have as members of the Church of Jesus Christ in these later days.
Sixth story: We finally got a hold of this family that sister hawkes has been trying to teach forever. The husband and wife are currently separated, but we were able to catch both of them home and shared the first lesson with them. Whenever we would share a scripture or when we recited the first vision the wife would say " that really got to me..that was really sweet." at the end she broke down and cried. They would be a family of 4 with 3 of the kids baptisable age. We are going back to see them tonight. The wife grew up southern baptist but, both her and her husband said, they are very open and interested in learning more. The dad said the closing prayer! which was also great. In the prayer he thanked God for bringing us to his house and asked Heavenly father to help them to keep an open mind. I pray that they are sincere and will really pray to know if what we are sharing is true.
Well anyways. The work is good. Things are great. I love my new companion and my new area. Hope you enjoy the pictures..there are quite a few this week. Any questions or anything i can do for ya'll please let me know. also please let me know if there is anyone I can pray for.
Ya'll are the best and I love ya lots!
The church of Jesus Christ is just what it says it is..Jesus Christ Church! I love this gospel and I know that living by the principles in the book of mormon will bring much great peace into our lives!
Be good ya'll!
love, Sister Urie
Southernism: We were talking with this man and he was telling us how he went huntin. He asked if we wanted to see pictures of his hogs. We said sure! So as he was showing us pictures he said we could not judge him. I said as long as your going to eat it, no worries. He proceed to ask us if we came from families that hunt? We both told him no..with his southern drawl he said.." So ya'll are city folk!" haha..good times.

Tracting Tips: 5 cents!! were in the money! :)
Scripture: 4 Nephi 11:15-18 "but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God." I love this story.." There could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God."

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Week 33 Pictures




Sisters from Picayune and District Leaders

Sister V and I with the Slidel Spanish Elders

Gumbo from McCalasters

Here is a shrimp

Here is Sister Urie Cleaning the Shrimp

Here is a yummy shrimp
Stuffed crab and shrimp

Our Baptism on Sunday


Sister Hawks, Sister Harding, Sister Linton and I having lunch

Saying goodbye to Sister Linton at the Airport.