Two baptisms coming up!

Wow!  What a whirlwind week.  If every week is like this one, my mission is going to fly by!  P.S. . . nine months on Thursday!  How crazy is that?  You all need to enjoy the next nine months because you're not getting rid of me again!  Without breaking the law . . .  or the commandments, anyway.

We had a great week here.  We now have one investigator on date for August 11 and another on conditional date for August 4th.  We are so excited! Watching people progress and gain their own testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel has been so amazing!

We had six member-present lessons this week, two of which were with our bishop.  He is getting excited about missionary work.  He's seen us bringing investigators to church and now he's felt the spirit of missionary work while out teaching with us.  We're excited to keep the work moving along!

Here are a few awesome moments from the week:

1. We caught a bunny!  At home we have seagulls everywhere, in Powell it was geese, here it's bunnies.  They look like the bunnies in the Harry Potter 3 game, when you're performing the Lapiforus charm.  By the way, you know you've been on the mission a long time when you look at HP and it stands for High Priests and not Harry Potter.  I never would have thought that day could come! :)

 2.  We invited G. to the RS activity next month.  She put it on her calendar.  Yesterday she brought us some eggs that she'd gotten from a lady at work.  We also got some fresh milk from the B. family yesterday.  It's yummilicious!  I'm so spoiled here that it will be hard to transfer anywhere else!

3. We served lunch at the senior center, which was fun.  There was a country group singing karaoke, and the old people were really enjoying themselves.  I served the macaroni and potato salad, and did a very good job (if I do say so myself).

4. We found two new investigators, F. and E.  They are originally from Mexico, but they have lived in the U.S. for 15 years now.  We taught them the first two lessons, and Bishop came with us the second time.  He got to brush up on his Spanish.  Mine is extremely rusty, so now I know what it's like for foreign-speaking missionaries, their first day in the field!  It was definitely an adventure.  We're going to be handing them over to the Spanish Elders, though; they need someone who can help them understand the gospel completely.

5. We taught the Plan of Salvation to both M. and J., and both times I used my nifty Plan of Salvation puzzle.

6. M. is really starting to get it!  He says he is "leaning" towards accepting the gospel as true.  The Plan of Salvation really answered a lot of his questions.  We are so excited!  I love seeing the light come into people's eyes as they have that "I get it now" moment.

7. Favorite Sister T. quote of the week: "And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free . . . that's in the hymn book, right?"

The old "run-away-when-they-see-us-coming" trick!

Hello everyone!  We had a super awesome week!  Heavenly Father blesses us so much.  We've been trying so hard to be exactly obedient and are really seeing the blessings. We found a super prepared guy from 2-2-5ing; he had a lot of questions that no one has ever been able to answer.  The Plan of Salvation answered all of them!  That was especially cool because it was on the 4th of July and it was super hot and humid and we didn't think anyone would be home, but we went anyway because we knew we should!

We went to visit one of our investigators and her son-in-law was there.  We taught him on the spot and he agreed to read the Book of Mormon.  He was very excited to hear that there are prophets on the earth today!

We found two other investigators this week through a member referral, and she brought them to church!  This was especially cool because we'd actually visited these particular investigators a few weeks ago and hadn't thought it had gone very well.  We are really excited to teach them again on Tuesday!

M. is officially progressing!  He is a very nice older gentleman.  He really wants to know the truth and is now dedicated enough to read and pray.  We had a chapel tour with him on Saturday with our ward mission leader and his wife, and it went really well.  He came to church yesterday -- YES!  We followed up with him and he said he enjoyed it and wants to have the same conviction that we all have, but he hasn't gotten an answer yet.  We're going to teach him more about the Spirit for our next lesson, and figure out how the Spirit has worked with him in the past.  He is reading and praying, though, which is really exciting.

Sister T. is doing really well.  I am so proud of her.  She's gaining confidence and together we are earning the trust of the ward.  Yesterday the gospel principles teacher was sick and so Sister T. and I taught an impromptu lesson with two investigators.  She did so well!  I have a lot to learn from her!

Sister T. told me last night that I have quiet dignity.  I tried not to laugh out loud!  What do you think of that, family and friends?  I told her you would all find that extremely hilarious!  She may change her views when she meets other sister missionaries, but we shall see.  I have definitely toned it down since coming out here (not too much, though -- don't worry)!

Sister T. loves huevos rancheros!  I finally found a brand of canned beans out here to substitute for the ranch-style beans that they have back home.  (For some reason I expected them to have Western Family brands out here.  Why would they have Western Family in the east?  I suppose that's one official blond moment that's happened lately.)

Well family, I've got to run!  I hope you're staying safe -- I love you!

Nunchuck skills . . . computer hacking skills . . . tree dodging skills . . .

Hey family!  What a week it has been!  Let me tell you a little about it!  First off, the crazy storms out here have been exciting.  On Friday we were downtown visiting a recent convert when we turned onto Luck Avenue.  The name is actually very important!  There are tall trees all along the road there and, as we were driving down it, it started raining like a banshee!  And the wind was worse.  Trees suddenly started blowing over, right and left!  The trunks just snapped -- couldn't take the pressure.

I watched this happening for a split second and then I immediately felt that we needed to get out of there.  I started looking around for the best way out, and a tree fell super close to us in front, blocking the way forward.  Then I looked back and saw a tree fall and block the road behind us.  I honestly felt like Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Rings, when Saruman closes one door after another as he tries to escape!  I saw a side street that we'd already passed and decided to try that route, when I noticed a tree starting to fall right beside us.  I quickly reversed, trying to avoid it -- which was good because if I hadn't, it would have fallen on the windshield and that would have been a lot worse than the small dent on the hood.  We went back to take pictures of the street later in the day, just in case we needed them for insurance or something -- and because it was crazy to see power poles splintered and traffic lights broken on the ground.  I will attach some pictures!  I hope my driving privileges won't be revoked since the accident was beyond my control -- I'll keep you posted on that.  The power in a lot of Ohio is out; some people have gas-powered generators to keep their fridges, etc. running, but most people aren't that fortunate!  Home Depot and Lowes were completely out of generators and almost out of flashlights!  Gas stations are closing down pumps because they're out of gas.  Cool experience, though, right?

Other highlights of the week:

Sacrament meeting at the B's house yesterday.  The church didn't have power so there was a small meeting at the B's for family . . . and the missionaries!  It was really cool to see the sacrament being blessed and passed in the home by worthy priesthood holders who were fathers, husbands and sons.  There was a testimony meeting afterward and it was all about missionary work.  All in the room were either converts or children of converts.  The Spirit was awesome!  All of them were tracted into, by the way.  I think Heavenly Father knows I need a boost with tracting.  Sometimes it seems so painfully less effective.  But if families like the B's are found through tracting, I can definitely keep going!

Found two new investigators.  Technically three, but one dropped us the next day, which was rough because she was super cool!  One was a referral from a member for his boss.  An investigator canceled so we visited the referral.  Talked with the wife and it was a great conversation!  We were able to teach the Restoration as well as about Temples, and a lot about repentance.  We were walking on sunshine that night!  We're going back this week to meet the husband.  Our second investigator was found 2-2-5ing another member referral.  The referral contact didn't go well -- he was not happy to see us.  But we knocked on his neighbors' doors, anyway.  Found a really cool girl a little older than us, and we taught her the Restoration; she agreed to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it.  We'll be teaching her the Plan of Salvation this week and we'll definitely bring a member fellowshipper along.  We're excited to see how they all progress!

Lions and Tigers and Bears . . . oh my!

Hello everyone!  It's been a crazy one this week!  I'm just lovin' it out here, though!

Sister T. and I are doing very well; our prospective (mini) missionary, Sister S., went home on Friday, but we had many fantastic times while she was here.  We were able to find two new investigators this week, and both have had member-present lessons!  Yahooo!  Interesting stories from the week:

1. Everyone shoots everything around here!  Seriously -- everyone has a gun and uses it to shoot vermin on their property.  Funny side story: Sister T. told Bishop's family when we were over for dinner that she used to sit on her porch (in Idaho) and shoot raccoons, and then sell their pelts.  Well, the story worked its way through the ward and, by the time ward council came around on Sunday, it had inflated to the point where Sister T. had shot 50 raccoons in one night!  Hilarious!

2. We spoke in church yesterday.  No time to prepare . . . again!  Thank goodness the Spirit helps us out!  We talked about Christlike attributes and they made Sister T. speak last.  She was nervous as all get-out, but she did awesome.  I'm telling you, she came pre-trained!

3.  When you get a moment, look up the news story about Zanesville and the loose wild animals from a while ago.  It put Zanesville on the map.  Some old eccentric guy collected tons of wild animals like Bengal tigers and bears.  Unfortunately he got super depressed and killed himself, but before he did he let the animals loose.  They ended up all over the town!  Can you imagine knocking doors and looking around to see a Bengal tiger walking down the street?  I don't think pepper spray would be too effective there, although it works really well on bears, I hear!

4. One of our new investigators is M, an older gentleman.  On Wednesday night Brother B. came with us to teach him.  He is super passionate about the godhead being separate personages, but he has a hard time with the Book of Mormon.  So read it and pray!  We did tell him that, actually.  And Brother B. was an excellent teacher, sharing his experiences and testimony with a lot of power.  I had forgotten to bring a paperback copy of the Book of Mormon to leave with M., but Sister T. being as amazing as she is didn't miss a beat.  She gave him her quad, told him to begin reading that night, and we would return with a paperback copy soon.  How awesome is she?

5. D. is our other new investigator.  We found her through a nonmember referral.  She allowed us to leave a blessing on her home, and then she said she wanted to come to our church.  We gave her a chapel tour on Saturday and it went really well!  We had a member there and the Spirit was very strong.  We arranged for someone to pick her up for church on Sunday but then she didn't answer the door.  Sad times!  We will contact her again this week and find out what happened.

6. We had interviews with President this week and the first thing he said was that he missed seeing me in Powell!  I told him I missed seeing them, too.  He says with my abilities I should be getting 2-3 referrals a day.  The sad bit is that I had just told him proudly that we'd gotten 3 last week . . . and we lead the zone in referrals!  Looks like I've got some work/improving to do!  He also talked to me a lot about being bold and fearless.  It's weird how I've become less bold about certain things since coming out on the mission.  And it's something I've been working on a lot!  It reminds me of what Elder Zwick said when he was here: "There is no end . . . just endure."  Sometimes it's at such a fast pace, though, that I can barely catch my breath!

7. President told me that B. went to scout camp!  I jumped up and down and was super giddy.  I hope he had a great time.  Apparently he took C. along, as well.  Hoorah!

The people here are wonderful and I'm loving it.  Different challenges than in Powell, but that's just how it is!  Sister T. and I are ready for whatever Zanesville has to throw at us . . . except perhaps Bengal tigers!  Gotta run!

Happy Father's Day!

This is the only Father's Day that I will miss!  Hooray!  I'm beginning to panic a little bit -- tomorrow is my 8 month anniversary.  That's almost half of my mission gone!  Ahhh!  Come back time!  I guess I'll just have to live it up!  In a share-the-gospel kind of way, obviously. . .

It has been a difficult week, but definitely a building one.  This is a new area and we are still figuring out how to best work with the people.  I'm also trying to get used to how big our area is!  It's huge compared to Powell.  Working geographically is as important as ever, and we're still trying to figure out where everybody lives, etc.  BUT we have gotten lost fewer times this week, and I know where I am 75% (50%?) of the time now.  I am appreciating these small miracles.

We found an investigator named H.  He's an older gentleman.  He has a desire to know for himself whether the Book of Mormon is true and is reading and praying about it.  He has an open heart and a lot of good questions.  We're excited to visit him again!

Top moments this week:
We were washing the dishes at a member's house; he is moving and wanted us to help.  The sink was clogged so it kept filling up with water while we worked.  I would periodically empty the sink with a bucket, dumping the water outside.  Well, Sister T. being the genius farm girl that she is said, "How about a siphon?  It's just like IVing a cow!"  We found a small hose, used the same bucket, and voila!  It was such a great moment!

Visited an investigator the Elders left for us, named R.  We visited her twice this week.  The first time we talked for a while, left a blessing on her home, etc.  The second time her daughter was there, too.  We were about to leave when R. told us we couldn't go without saying a blessing.  I guess she really felt the Spirit!  She was very firm that she get another one!  She's adorable, and so well-meaning and open-hearted.

Our ward mission leader is so cool!  His whole family is.  And when I say his whole family, I mean his whole family.  There are so many of them that they have a bus to take them around places.  Well, they also use this bus to pick up investigators for church on Sunday.  The investigator that we went to pick up didn't answer their door, but the front window was open.  I wanted to crawl through it and say cheerily, "Time for church!"  But who knows, maybe something crazy happened that kept her from coming.  Our ward mission leader's dad is in the ward (we call him Grandpa), and apparently when he goes home teaching, he's done things like crawling through open windows!  His philosophy is: We made an appointment and I'm keeping that appointment!  Looks like we need to start taking Grandpa with us on the Sunday morning bus route! :)

Transfer News

Alright family!  It seems that I'm literally in step with Elder Bham -- I was transferred, too!  I'm in farm country!  We've spent a good part of the last couple of days lost because my GPS doesn't do too well on the back roads.

Even bigger news, I'm training a brand spankin' new missionary from the MTC.  Her name is Sister T.  I will attach a picture of the two of us with Sister K. and her new companion, Sister F., who is also straight from the MTC.  There were only two new sisters and we got them both!  So, no worries -- just doubling into an area that I have no idea about and I'm training as well.  I don't need to tell any of you that I'm stressed because you all know me too well!

Sister T. is fantastic, though!  We are both loving it here.  She especially loves the rural aspect because she's from Geneva, Idaho, and grew up on a dairy farm.  In fact, our ward mission leader's wife offered to give us fresh milk from their cow every week -- before she even knew that Sister T. grew up on a dairy farm.  This was very good because Sister T. is not a huge fan of store-bought milk.  I'm kind of excited "to get hooked" on fresh milk myself!

A few notes about my previous area -- it is on fire!  Members have been inviting their friends to church!  The day before I left, a member invited her neighbor to the play group that the women in the ward do together, and it turns out the neighbor is looking for a church . . .!!  Well, the member called to tell us all about it -- she was so excited.  She's a returned missionary and is thrilled to be sharing the gospel again.  We invited her to ask her friend if she'd like a chapel tour.  Turns out she'd been thinking of asking us about a chapel tour, but she wasn't sure if we did that in our mission or not.  Yay for the Spirit!  I also heard that the members found two interested families last week.  I have such mixed feelings about this; I want to be there to see all this happen . . . but I'm just going to have to help it happen here, too!

Waxed a car for the first time today . . . yep!

It's ironic that Mom titled her email with the line from Willow: "You are not in charge here, shortie . . . I am!" because yesterday we got a mini missionary!  Her name is A.C.  She recently graduated from high school and will be here with Sister K. and me until Friday.  It will be interesting if one of us gets transferred on Thursday!  Transfer calls are tomorrow night at 10:30!  Should be great.  I tend to follow E. Bham when it comes to transfers, which means I'm probably getting transferred.  Change is hard; you make deep friendships with everyone out here, but if I do get transferred I will just make some more! :)

Things are seriously picking up here in Powell.  Yesterday was the first day of the 40-day fast and there were a lot of members who got up and bore their testimonies, and mentioned experiences that they'd had because we had challenged them to do something.  The Spirit was so strong!  We also got nine member referrals this week!  With the Lord's sense of humor, now that the members are on fire, I'm going to get transferred.  Alas!  Ear wax!

We made commissary bags for the primary kids this past week, and President and Sister Nilsen talked with both senior and junior primaries about missionary work.  I think the kids were most excited for the m&ms (missionary moments) in the bags, but hopefully they will enjoy the other things, too!

I laminated my "Don't Eat Pete" board.  This really was a highlight of my week, because now when kids drool chocolate all over it, I can wipe it off!  My old one was getting absolutely disgusting so I made a new one. :)

Momma K. made bratwurst pizza . . . just saying it was delicious . . .!

We had quite a few great member lessons where we taught about the difference between spiritual and social conversion, and helped them understand how easy it is to help our friends receive a social conversion.  It has been going really well.

We taught L. twice this week in Sister W's home.  It was great to teach with Sister W's son D, who returned from his mission about six months ago.  We don't get to see Elders in real teaching situations, and D. was super good.  I have so much progress to make!  I was glad to observe a style that is different from the one that Sister K. and I have developed.

Sister C., our mini missionary, was supposed to arrive this morning but she was ready last night so she came then.  The very first gospel conversation she got to experience as a set-apart mini missionary was with a former investigator that we felt like we should visit.  He was a bit anti, but not in an angry way.  Most anti people are angry but there are some who have just intellectually dug themselves into a little confusing pit that they can't get out of.  Why?  Because we can't rely on our minds/intelligence to teach us truth.  We need the Spirit for that.  But all in all, I think that Sister C.'s experience has been good so far! :)

Wish me luck with transfers this week!