Monday, July 30, 2012
Week 62 - Can we say HOT?!
Dear Family,
Well...Would you believe it if I told you it was another GREAT WEEK
in Flowood,MS? Believe it because it was. The only thing that could
have made it better would have been a little less heat, for it was a
very hot humid week. Other wise it was great. It never ceases to amaze
me that when we give more then our all and work just a little bit
harder, that is when the blessings come. This was made evident to me one
night this week.
It was late and almost time to call it a night, when my companion
suggested that we try to see this one man that we haven't been able to
contact and were pretty certain had moved. After flipping through our
planners and not knowing his exact address we just went to try a few
doors. (Couldn't hurt right)..So I ran up three flights of stairs and we
knocked on the first door we thought might could be his. And would you
believe it..it was him! Out of breathe we asked all about how he was
doing, how his reading of the book of Mormon was going..and just why his
phone wasn't working ( he dropped it in the pool..) He is very
interested in learning more, I hope not too open ( those are the ones
that are the most closed to the message and truth). Also..It is a bit
frustrating because he will not make any commitments. He did say he
would be baptized when he knows its true, but would not commit to a date
( he is kind of set for the 8th of September.) This man is 23 yrs old.
Its frustrating because I do not like teaching single men..but what can
we do when there is no having anyone teach outside their area. I will
pray he doesn't find either of us attractive. lol
hmm Story time..
We met a new friend at wal mart and she said she was interested in
learning more about the church..genuinely interested... or so we
thought. We drove to her house at the appointed time and she lived in a
gated community ( which she neglected to tell us the gate code) As we
were pulling up someone was leaving.. would you guess who was driving
away?..yes! our new friend who we were coming to see!..She looked over
and saw us and held her little puppy up to hide her face from us as she
drove away. pathetic. I was hoping it wasn't her that did that..so we
went to her house any way..knocked on the door. No answer. I have little
respect for people who waste our time, the lord's time..and do not tell
us straight up that they are not interested. We left her a sticky note
and told her we were sorry we missed her. haha lady! her names in the
area book now and one day someone will get in to teach her..lol ..but
yeah I thought it was really funny that she held her dog up to get away
from us. Gotta love the things people will do.
Do y'all remember that new family I was telling ya about? Well..we
saw them twice this week. Finally left them with the saviors peace and
blessing. They are interested and said they would come to church..but
have not made the steps to do so. It is sad because they are so
wishy washy and require a lot of attention. We felt a family home evening
with a family in the ward would help..but this week is a no go. We
should be seeing them on Tuesday and I will have more to report on their
progress next week. Great family, with great changes ahead that will
bring even greater blessings.
Next friend were teaching..Do y'all remember that one guy I told ya
about that we loaned him a copy of the Book of Mormon..went back and he
had read 15 or so chapters?..well were still teaching him and now
hopefully his son, who is back in town for school to start. He wasn't
able to make it to our appointment this week..so we stopped by and
discussed something with him. We had a great gospel of Jesus Christ
lesson and focused on faith and the holy ghost. He wants these things for
himself still before he gets his son too involved. Another concern of
ours with them is His son is going to their neighbors church, because
they are youth ministers there. Frustrating because it is hard to see
friends that you come to love going to a church that does not have the
full truth, the fullness of the gospel. He is continuing to read and
study things on his new app he put on his phone..the gospel
library.lol. A word of caution. If you ever suggest this app to a
friend..be ware that they could come into a lot of anti.
We visited again with our amazing investigator who has been coming
to church faithfully for 8 weeks in a row. This week she is taking law
exams and is very busy so we are going to see her on Friday after her
tests to celebrate with her..Then the following day she is going out of
town for 3 weeks to visit family..upon her return she is going to be
baptized on *drum roll please...* August 25th!! She felt good about this
date and it was actually very strange. As she was about to write the
date on her calendar her dog started barking like crazy. There is so
much opposition in regards to her baptism..I just know that great things
lie in store for her family and her with the gospel and Satan is so
opposed to her progressing. We both know she will make it for this date
though and are very excited for her!
Last thing.. Sunday, yesterday, we taught sharing time. It was so
much fun. I love being in primary and sadly we do not get to go into
primary very often as missionaries. We taught about choosing the right
and how we need to follow the savior's example. (1 Timothy 4:12) I will
send in another email a picture of our CTR shield we made. All the kids
sang "I'm trying to be like Jesus" after our sharing time. It went
really well and they asked us to do another one soon. ( Lots of people
are out of town. So we are filler for a lot of things..like playing the
piano in sacrament meeting! eek! Ive been practicing..)
Well That was this week.
I want y'all to know that I know with all my heart that we have a
loving Heavenly Father who is mindful of our needs and concerns. He is
just waiting for us to talk with him in prayer and ask for the things we
need. I know that as we have faith in our Savior Jesus Christ that
miracles will come as we are willing to change and do our part.
Everything works out for a reason and "all things have been done in the
wisdom of him who knoweth all things." (2ne 2:24)
Life is great..bring on another great week in Flowood, MS. ( Transfers next week so expect my email on Tuesday. :) )
Love ya,
Sister Urie.
Tracting Tips: uno penny. it was so hot tracting this week..and we've been getting speratic rain showers. Gotta love the south!
Southernism: Not really a southernism..but we were teaching sharing
time and we asked the little ones "what Jesus Christ did that made him a
good example.." and one of the little girls said.." Heavenly father
killed him."...(what do you say to that..?!) so I responded.." oh..yes
Jesus died for us. Good answer." lol.
Scripture: 2 Nephi 4:15-16 "My soul delighteth in the scriptures... and my heart pondereth them continually..."
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Week 61: Interviews and our great new family!
Dear Family,
Heelloooo! Greetings from Flowood, MS and it was another great week. Humid and very rainy yet again..but GREAT. I am learning so much ( as i know I say every week)..yet it is true.
It is amazing how plain and simple the gospel truly is and what a blessing we have to share it with the world. I was reading in the bible dictionary about dispensations ( a dispensation being a period of time when the gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth) ..and it says that every dispensation the gospel of Jesus Christ is taught a new so that we do not have to rely on the previous dispensation for knowledge about the plan of salvation. love that! it is so true. I was looking at a pamphlet about the 'plan of salvation' from a different church and it said..3 easy steps!... Now please do not think I'm tearing down other churches..i tell you about this other pamphlet because it really brought this to light for me! It is true..So many are so confused about what the plan of salvation really is. I am referring to the questions of "where did we come from? Why am i here on earth? Where am i going after I die?" These questions are all answered with the message we share. This is because there is and has been a restoration of all things. We do not need anymore to rely on previous knowledge about the plan of salvation. The way we can know this is true(That the gospel has been taught a new) is by reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. This is the "convincing evidence" that the gospel is true..
So i will get off my soap box..but these are some things i have been thinking about this week..
This week we found a wonderful new family. We were trying to contact some less active members of the ward...We tracted into them..knocked on the door and used the saviors peace and blessings door approach. and when we asked "may we come in and leave this blessing" he said.. "yeah come on in!"..best finding tool ever. the family is very receptive and loves us sharing more with them about the book of mormon. They also have so many cute kids. Forever family! We are leaving the blessing this week because when we did the approach not all the kids were home. So we set up a time to leave the blessin. The husband said.."yall can come by every day and bless us!" haha.
So life is great..I love my companion..I love the work..I love the Lord. and I am so grateful to be on a mission.
The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored again to the earth and I know this because I know the book of Mormon is the word of God. Therefor Joseph Smith, the first prophet of this last dispensation is a true prophet.
How great is this work and how great is my calling!
Hope yall have a wonderful week and that the wedding goes well. I will be praying for yall. Shout out to my sister!
Love yall.Peace and blessins!
Sister Urie
Scripture: 1 Nephi 22:2 question..how does God speak to the prophet?
Southernism: Conversation in the south around lunch time... "Jeweet?" (did you eat?) "nawu?" ( no you?)
Tracting Tips: 10 cents! ..i think...
Heelloooo! Greetings from Flowood, MS and it was another great week. Humid and very rainy yet again..but GREAT. I am learning so much ( as i know I say every week)..yet it is true.
It is amazing how plain and simple the gospel truly is and what a blessing we have to share it with the world. I was reading in the bible dictionary about dispensations ( a dispensation being a period of time when the gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth) ..and it says that every dispensation the gospel of Jesus Christ is taught a new so that we do not have to rely on the previous dispensation for knowledge about the plan of salvation. love that! it is so true. I was looking at a pamphlet about the 'plan of salvation' from a different church and it said..3 easy steps!... Now please do not think I'm tearing down other churches..i tell you about this other pamphlet because it really brought this to light for me! It is true..So many are so confused about what the plan of salvation really is. I am referring to the questions of "where did we come from? Why am i here on earth? Where am i going after I die?" These questions are all answered with the message we share. This is because there is and has been a restoration of all things. We do not need anymore to rely on previous knowledge about the plan of salvation. The way we can know this is true(That the gospel has been taught a new) is by reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. This is the "convincing evidence" that the gospel is true..
So i will get off my soap box..but these are some things i have been thinking about this week..
This week we found a wonderful new family. We were trying to contact some less active members of the ward...We tracted into them..knocked on the door and used the saviors peace and blessings door approach. and when we asked "may we come in and leave this blessing" he said.. "yeah come on in!"..best finding tool ever. the family is very receptive and loves us sharing more with them about the book of mormon. They also have so many cute kids. Forever family! We are leaving the blessing this week because when we did the approach not all the kids were home. So we set up a time to leave the blessin. The husband said.."yall can come by every day and bless us!" haha.
So life is great..I love my companion..I love the work..I love the Lord. and I am so grateful to be on a mission.
The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored again to the earth and I know this because I know the book of Mormon is the word of God. Therefor Joseph Smith, the first prophet of this last dispensation is a true prophet.
How great is this work and how great is my calling!
Hope yall have a wonderful week and that the wedding goes well. I will be praying for yall. Shout out to my sister!
Love yall.Peace and blessins!
Sister Urie
Scripture: 1 Nephi 22:2 question..how does God speak to the prophet?
Southernism: Conversation in the south around lunch time... "Jeweet?" (did you eat?) "nawu?" ( no you?)
Tracting Tips: 10 cents! ..i think...
Monday, July 16, 2012
Week 60!! Lots of rain, Amazing member present lessons (again) and another funeral.
Dear Family!!
HELLOOO from FlOWOOD MISSISSIPPI!! AND it was another great week!
Can I just say that I love yall so much and am so grateful for your
support and prayers. Well..were in the home stretch..and I just wanted
you to know how much I love being a missionary. Everyday I am learning
something new and repenting and changing. Also I love teaching and feel
so grateful that the Lord is blessing us with so many new teaching
opportunities each day.
As I have told ya in previous weeks we are really working hard to
build back up the repore that was non-existent between the ward and
missionaries before we got here. This week we had 3 (almost 4) set
exchanges with members and we almost had members present with us at
every lesson. phew! Its caused me to reflect a lot on how members, a
lot of the time, have anxiety about sharing there friends with the
missionaries..well lately I've been thinking about how missionaries have
fears about sharing there investigators with the members! (believe it or
not!) two way street..The more I think about how when we visit the
members (not because we have a meal appointment..) to see how they're
doing, how we can serve them and share a quick scripture.. the more they
come to trust us and want to share their friends with us..in turn we
are sharing with them the lessons and we come to trust them as teachers.
I love this process because this is where our best referrals come from.
I remember in one of my other areas we had such a good relationship
with the members in that ward we didn't have time enough to see all the
referrals we were getting from people. So..my thought for you this week
is if the missionaries have not come by to just share a scripture with
you (aside from you feeding them..but feeding the missionaries is a
good thing too!lol) or set an appointment to leave the saviors peace and
blessing or teach you..tell them to come by! When we all trust
each other and are on the same page the work goes so well!
...So Stories this week...
We have had some wonderful lessons. The first lessons that were
great happened to be with our investigator that was supposed to be
baptized this Saturday..sadly she will not be..but that's alright! She is
still honestly seeking to know if these things are true. We had an
amazing lesson with her last night and two of the ladies from the ward.
Our focus for the lesson was on the commandment of enduring to the end.
The women shared there wonderful experiences of how they came to know
the church was true and how they received answers to their prayers. It
was apparent that the spirit was very strong and you could tell that her
( our investigators) heart was softened even more. Before we left we
left the saviors peace and blessings with her. She enjoyed this also and
it brought her peace. I had this feeling that the lesson we had with
her last night was going to make or break her continuing to learn more
and I feel she is not discouraged and knows that her answer still will
come. It has been a real struggle for her because she has been focusing
so much on this and learning and researching more about the gospel then
on her school work. Question of the soul..How can I find balance in my
life? It really is a process and I cannot wait to tell you how this week
goes with her. Hopefully she will have a spiritual experience as she
attends someones baptism this weekend.
next. So I told you about the guy we tracted into right? The one
that wanted to give the book back because he didn't think we celebrated
Birthdays?..Well we are teaching him now and he is progressing really
well! We went back to see him last week and he had read "about 15
chapters.." no big deal right? ha..that just doesn't happen everyday down
here. Our return appointment was set for this Thursday at the church.
Some background on our investigator, he is divorced with a 15 year old
son. First he wants to learn for him, then he wants to share it with his
son. Grew up southern baptist and is now going to a nondenominational
church.
Thursday comes and we met him at the church with the Miles (
senior office couple). After a church tour we shared with him the
restoration and tried to help him understand the need for a restoration
and how the authority has been restored to the earth by God through a
living prophet. So.. He has great questions and really wanted to know
how he could know these things were true for himself. We are meeting
with him this coming Wednesday. Yesterday we got a text from him that
said he had downloaded the scripture apps to his phone and had even read
some of Doctrine and Covenants. Can you say amazing! ha..ya..amazing!!
Blessings are falling down from heaven here in Flowood daily..
Speaking of falling down from heaven..It has been raining so much here
the past week. It is supposed to last through this week too. It is
difficult because with a new area you tract a lot..but It has been a
blessing that we have been able to focus on our investigators and helping them progress. Everything is coming together. :)
There was another funeral this week for a sweet sister in the ward.
The service was held this last Saturday. One thing I really liked that
they talked a lot about at this service was making sure to take time for
the one and loving and serving the way the savior would. ( I was
supposed to play at it ..but the fiddle broke.everything works out for a
reason.)
Oh..here is a bummer..one of our favorite investigators ( we blessed
there home a few weeks back. it was a really nice couple?) well we went
for our scheduled appointment and she had the books and materials we had
given her in a bag on her door with a note saying that "they would no
longer be studying with us." I was very saddened by this..but I know
they are in the area book and one day someone will pick them up and they
will be receptive. Its all about the Lords timing.
Well..Seems that our week sounds boring..but it was great I
promise! There is so much good happening here and the Lords hand is in
this work. We have been so blessed with amazing members and
investigators and I know none of it would be possible if it were not for
his help.
I know we have a loving Heavenly Father who is so aware of our
lives and our needs. If we keep the commandments we will have his holy
spirit to be with us. I love that we have the Holy Ghost..even more I
love that he blesses us with the gift of the holy ghost that we can
receive after we are baptized by proper authority. Jesus Christ's Church
has been restored again to the earth!! If everyone would just give it a
chance and ready and pray about the book of Mormon their lives would be
blessed. It has been confirmed to my mind and my heart, by the power of
the holy Ghost that it is true and right and good.
I love yall so much and hope you have a wonderful week. keep on keepin on and enjoy to the end
love, Sister Urie
Scripture:"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." -Moroni 10:3-5
Southernism: So we went to eat a cracker barrel..and I'm always
looking and listening for people from out west..well I heard this family
that didn't really have a thick accent. Turns out they were from Texas. (
ill take it.west enough..haha) It was a grandpa and all his older
teenage grand kids taking them to the beach. After he found out we were
mormon..he said..isn't that Mitt Romney s church. To which I always say.."
Yeah I think hes a member of our church.." He then told us that he would be
voting for him..and asked me if i would be to. ( were not really
supposed to talk about politics.) so I said.."you bet I will be voting
(voting in general) so I can complain" .. everyone wants us to say that
we'll vote for him..its kinda funny. but no politics for us! hehe..:)
Tracting Tips: 10 cents!..I think. It rained a lot...
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Week 59: Rain..Wonderful Lessons..Humidity..4th of July!..more rain.. Even more great lessons!
Dear Family!
What a great week to be alive and serving as a missionary for The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints! You know..it was a great
great week in Flowood MS. So many wonderful things happening. Lots of
Rain and humidity, but I have grown to love it! yes..rumor is true I
have still been wearing my cardigans and have a nice subtle tan
line..ha! ..but besides that we have found so many elect already this
week and better yet this transfer..which can you believe is half way
over?! Yikes! Well..Since time just keeps getting shorter and shorter
ill cut right to the good stuff..
First off I would like to proudly announce that after weeks of
trying to get around Flowood ( with just me and Lady Garmin..excuse
me..sister Garmin..lol) That I can almost get around all by myself
without the GPS! Yes..we can go to the church, most stores and
subdivisions, and the library all without the GPS.oh and home on good
days! lol. Things are getting more familiar and the area is really
starting to take off.
Which leads into what I wanted to tell yall next!
Which leads into what I wanted to tell yall next!
We are finding so many wonderful people to teach! I don't know if I
told yall..but last leadership training president Tucker asked us if we
really had found all the elect in our area last transfer..This question
really struck me and made me want to do all I can to say that I did
everything I could and If someone didn't come unto Christ it wasn't
because we didn't find them or invite them...SO! we have been harvesting
like crazy.. ( hence the awesome tan lines).. One such family we have
found as a result of the harvesting is a couple in their 50's. All their
kids are married and grown out of the house. They couldn't let us in
when we did the initial door approach because they were busy, but set up
a time to have us back. When we went back we used 'how to begin
teaching' really well and didn't try to shove everything at them at once (
which is something I think a lot of missionaries..including myself..
try to do) We left the saviors peace and blessing, invited them to
continue to read and pray about the book of mormon, come to church and
set up a return appointment. They weren't able to come to church this
week but will be attending next week. We are meeting with them on
Thursday and I will tell ya more about them next week..
Next! i want to tell you about the Most AMAZING OTHER LESSON
EVER!...so.. Sister Mokalake really wanted a 'black forest cake'. They
apparently don't sell them here in the states but have them all over the
place in South Africa..The way it was described to me it is a lot like
that one cake that Nick made..? The one with the angel food cake stuff
then the whip topping stuff and fruit layered in it..? Not a very good
description please forgive..but non the less..We had a few minutes
before we had to be somewhere..So we stopped in at this bakery in town
to see if they sold the cake. No such luck..one of the girls was really
nice though and said she could put whip cream on the side of their
chocolate bunt cake with berries on top..we said sure. So She got one
and it looked really good..so i got one! When the lady handed it to me
she said " I did it and it looks like mickey mouse!" to which i
replied.." How did you know i love Disney?!" ha.. I proceed to tell her
that i worked at Disney world and yeah..she loved us.. ( not the end of
the story..) So then we sit down to eat our cake..and I asked one of
the guys that worked their to take our picture. He took it and then
comes over to the table and says "No way..your from the church?!"...
What do you say to that? haha..ehh yes way? ha.. Well that is kind of
along the lines of what we said. anyway..to make a long story much
shorter..Heavenly Father blessed us with an amazing other lesson right
then and there..we at cake and the man went..called his wife and then he
came back..pulled up a chair..and we taught him the restoration..It was
amazing..all while we ate our cake. Yes life is good and Flowood is
golden..haha
Well I bet you are wondering about our amazing investigator that I
tell you about every week?...Well she came to church again this
week..yep! That makes 5 week in a row. Amazing!.. She has really been
seeking to know if all of this is true and what Heavenly Father truly
wants for her. Her answer has not come though and she was getting really
discouraged. Later she told us she came to church praying that some
sign or something would tell her what she was supposed to do. We also
asked her to pray about the date of the 21st of July for baptism. Which
she did. She is so prayerful and so sincere it is wonderful. We met with
her on Sunday night and had two of the guys that are here for the
summer selling security come with us..(they all served missions and are
great teachers) They bore great testimony and the spirit was so strong
in our meeting with her. She committed to the 21st and even for a
specific time which i went and wrote on her calendar. ( we always are
writing stuff on her calendar..lol) I know that the Lord knows she is
ready and that is why we are in her life right and that is why he
blessed her with the gospel..i have been reflecting again and again on
the experience we had before we were to teach her the first time. There
was so much opposition and we almost did not go to the appointment and
was going to reschedule..but because we went She truly was prepared and
we have been able to help her see the blessings of the restored gospel
in her life. How great is this work?!I am so excited for her!!..Some
funny things she said that I wanted to share with you were...first we
were talking about Adam and Eve and she said " He set them up for
failure!!" ..and then the second..when we were talking about her
baptismal date..we kept saying " have you prayed about your date?" and
to her that sounded like.. a date..like a date date..where someone takes
you out.. too funny. :)
Another really fun thing is on the 4th of July some wonderful
members from the Madison ward had a bunch of us over for a 4th of July
BBQ. It was so nice to be in someones home for a holiday and so sweet of
them to have us over. What a great family with an amazing spirit and
story.
Oh! and we have a new mission president and wife. President and
Sister McDonough. They are wonderful. I would say that they are so sweet
and nice. President McDonough is a spiritual giant and a great man.
They are both very kid and loving.I am excited to know them better.
Though for a short while it will be good. Interviews are either this
week or next..So then I'll have more to tell ya! Maybe even some more
pictures..haha. :)
There are probably more stories..but I cannot think of them right now.
Things are going great with the ward. Not perfect..but a slow and
consistent progress is being made to build a better repore with the ward
members. We can see the improvement daily..as a result we know more and
more referrals will come as we continue to build that trust. Things are
going great and I feel so grateful to serve here at this time. One
blessing is so many of the wonderful relief society sisters have agreed
to come with us on exchanges this week! We are so thrilled and excited.
It is such a blessing and a help to have members with us at every
lesson. There is something so special about the testimony of one who
belongs to the church. Go teach with the missionaries! You will be
blessed. :)
Well that's it for me this week.. I hope that yall have a wonderful week!!
Love, Sister Urie
Tracting Tips: about 27 cents. We tract a lot..but people here must
really value their money because its sure not on the streets!
Southernism: ..this is one yall've heard before..but you know you've
been in the south to long when it looks like its about to rain and you
say.." Looks like its fixin to storm.." yep true story..
Scripture:
Doctrine and Covenants 123:16-17
You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept work ways with the wind and the waves.Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.
Doctrine and Covenants 123:16-17
You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept work ways with the wind and the waves.Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
We got an Email from a family in Jackson
Mississippi today.
Hello all,
This
email is going to missionaries and families. We had the great
privilege today to have many of the missionaries in the Jackson area,
along with their new mission president, President and Sister McDonough,
in our home for a 4th of July bar-b-que. We had a wonderful time and
always look forward to having these wonderful missionaries around us.
They are all such wonderful examples to my family and their dedicated
service and sacrifice to help out here in Jackson is so greatly
appreciated. For those families who allowed your missionary to be with
us this July 4th, THANK YOU!!!!
Attached is a picture of the group so that you can share the day with us too!
Jon, Janeal, Michael, Brandon, and Hallie Steadman
Madison, Mississippi
Monday, July 2, 2012
Week 58: "Are you speaking French?", New mission president and It's hotter than a Mississippi Summer!!
Dear Family,
How are yall doing this week? I hope great! Things are going great
here. Sister Mokalake and I stayed together for another transfer and I
love serving with her so much. She is a very hard worker and we have
been teaching many people.
This week the phrase "It's hotter than a Mississippi Summer" has taken on a whole new meaning. We went to visit a member and they informed us that on Friday it was 117 deg. and On Saturday in was only 110 deg. HA! Yes I am still wearing my cardigans..yes I am starting to get a funny tan line..and yes it is very hot! We tract a lot in this area, one because it is a new area and two..because it we need to find people to teach! We are really working hard on building a repore with the ward members. Right now they are still stuck in the old ways of the way they worked with the missionaries before..Lots of prayer and fasting is going to go into this one that's for sure. Things are going great though and the ward is really supportive and nice. ( If yall have any ideas on some good ways to work with the ward or any good finding activities..please send them my way!)
This week the phrase "It's hotter than a Mississippi Summer" has taken on a whole new meaning. We went to visit a member and they informed us that on Friday it was 117 deg. and On Saturday in was only 110 deg. HA! Yes I am still wearing my cardigans..yes I am starting to get a funny tan line..and yes it is very hot! We tract a lot in this area, one because it is a new area and two..because it we need to find people to teach! We are really working hard on building a repore with the ward members. Right now they are still stuck in the old ways of the way they worked with the missionaries before..Lots of prayer and fasting is going to go into this one that's for sure. Things are going great though and the ward is really supportive and nice. ( If yall have any ideas on some good ways to work with the ward or any good finding activities..please send them my way!)
Sad news.. This week the Tuckers left. It was really sad to see
them go..but it helps to know that I will see them again soon. We got to
help Sister Tucker a lot this week with some last minute cleaning she
needed to get done at the mission home. They are so great and I am
really going to miss them... SO as you may have guessed..(obviously)..
We have a new mission president..President and Sister McDonough. I have
yet to meet them, but I know I already love them. Rumor has it they are
really nice. This transfer is interviews and they will be coming around
to every mission apartment to meet us. I cannot wait. More info to
come!
This week I received a package from Sister Platts Mom! It was so
sweet. All with stuff from England. ( and a new umbrella! Answer to
prayer.) I miss Sister Platt..It was so sweet of her mom to send me
something. Sister Platts Mom..If you are reading this..THANK YOU!
So as far as stories this week..the first is when we were teaching
one of our investigators. After sharing with her the first lesson we
extended the baptismal invite..the conversation went something like
this..
"When you come to know that these things are true..will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be Baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God?" -me
"When you come to know that these things are true..will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be Baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God?" -me
"...whoa wait..are you speaking french?!" -investigator
bahaha..yeah that did happen. You just can't make this stuff up! (
needless to say she was still confused about what the 'priesthood
authority' was.)
..next story..so church on Sunday. we had a high counsel man
speaker and we knew he was going to go over..since I was leading the
music..for the intermediate hymn we decided to just sing one verse of
'if you could hie to kolob' ...BIG MISTAKE.. I indicated to the
congregation that we would only be singing one verse..apparently not
everyone saw me. after the first verse I cut them off and went to sit
down..people kept singing even without the piano.. the presiding
bishopric member looks at me puzzled and says that we sing all the
verses. hm ok! haha.. so we keep going..ALL of the verses of 'if you
could hie to kolob"..I was about to sing..there is no end to this
song!.. yep you cant make this stuff up.. Best Sunday ever. haha
Next story..so we are at lunch with our investigator..and she
says.." OH! What is Zion?!..we keep singing about this Zion.." it was
pretty cute..ha
Last story.. So remember that funeral I told you about that we went
to last week?.. well he was in the army ( I'm pretty sure) So they had
his vetran buddies on their motorcycles lead the funeral procession..it
was intense! Cars down here do not stop for cops, ambulences or small
children. It was crazy to see all these cars stop for a funeral
procession...even the cops stopped! We were the very last car in the
line. It was an experience let me tell you. One of the Vetran guys had a
viking hat on.. ( not important..but i though it was cool..lol) It was
great to see the turn out of so many of his friends and we were able to
mingle with many of them..I had so many Plan of salvation pamphlets
ready to give out!..but it didnt happen..Bold but not overbearing.
Well..That is pretty much it for crazy stories this week. Everyone
here in Flowood has been really nice and offered us water. ( We must
look really pathetic.) Things are going great and I am learning so much.
The work is true and the gospel has been restored to the earth again!
We are so blessed to have the religious freedoms we do. I am so grateful
for leaders of this country who have fought so valiantly for this
freedom..I am also grateful for pioneers and pioneer ancestors who did
so much so we could have the gospel in our lives. This is the True
Church of Jesus Christ! don't believe me? read the book!
Love yall so much and hope ya have a great week,
Sister Urie
Southernism: She was talking about her children and raising
them practically by herself.." Sometimes I feel like I need to send them
to someone like Medea!" -This is what was said during a testimony in
Sacrament meeting. I thought it was really classic. :)
Tracting Tips: 3 cents. For as much as we tract we sure haven't been getting very many tips!
Scripture: Exodus 32:26-29 "whose on the lords side?"
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