Of Turkeys, Robin Hood & Snot, November 29, 2010

Alright turkeys, let's talk about the week.

 

 

We have a new woman to teach named Roberta that we contacted Monday and then taught Tuesday. She has questions about the trinity so that is going to be the next thing that we cover. She has a one month old little girl that has the prettiest black skin and curly black hair. I can hardly stand to be in the same room with her and not hold her. She dressed her up on Tuesday for our appointment. Oh my word, they're both beautiful.

 

We went on Wednesday to visit Cameron who is dying of Leukemia. She was told two weeks ago that she has two weeks to two months left. She is incredible. She is so intellectual and intelligent. She joined the Church last spring and understands it intellectually but desires so badly to understand it in her heart. I am so humbled and touched by having this amazing woman with a colorful life looking to me with so much innocence wondering how she can feel Christ more fully in her heart. I love being with her and it is hard to know that she is so fragile. She isn't supposed to have contact but she always says she'll risk it to give us a hug. What a tender time to be here.

 

That night we helped set up the Church for the Thanksgiving dinner. We went with the Howards and the elders to put up chairs and tables and decorate. You can imagine that I loved using my party skills for something.  

 

Thanksgiving:

We got up and got ready and then cooked a turkey. That's right, we were responsible for one of the dinner turkeys. Then we didn't have appointments and they had told us not to go tracting or impose on family time so we just got to spend some extra time getting ready and preparing for the day. It was really nice to take some time and do my hair differently just for fun. It felt like such a luxury. When we got to the Church we got put on turkey carving duty. Our cambodian brother came up to help me and had that meat just gliding off the bird. I will never carve again.

The dinner was nice and there were a lot of people that came. None of our investigators made it sadly because we had been planning on several but we were able to enjoy being with the Kinderman children (the ones that I love that throw food and are crazy little boys). After we stayed until the bitter end and helped clean up and then just sat around with Sister Sasser and Sister Jeffrey for a bit and talked. It felt really good to have some time to relax. 

 

Friday we had District meeting and then planning. That night we got to eat dinner with the Coulters who feel like people from home. She is from Idaho and it's obvious. I really enjoyed being with them and I think I really needed the time to talk with her as we helped clean up. After that we were able to teach Nick and Anthony again which went well. We got there with Sister Howard before their mom got there so we were able to get to know Anthony better and let him play a little Smoke on the Water with his Gibson Les Paul. We had a strong Plan of Salvation lesson and I think that he is really taking to our teachings. I'm excited about their future.

 

Saturday night was awesome. I was so happy and having so much fun in our lessons. We got to teach Paul and Angela an incredible Plan of Salvation lesson. As we taught and as Paul asked questions he just kept saying, "see, and that makes so much sense!" I love those when you can hardly feed them information fast enough and when their questions just lead right in to the next thing. Their little girl Holly was running around being hilarious the whole time and we definitely made friends that night. I need to get a picture with them to show you. At one point I was sitting on my chair and Holly came up and put her hands on my thighs and then reared back with a sneeze and shot snot onto my skirt. Mmmm...

After their lesson we went with Sister Allen the Relief Society president to teach Stephanie and her kids. I got the "job" which I would spell j o Y of playing with Joryn during the lesson. He is adorable and I love him. When I try to whisper something to him he gets really close and pushes his ear up against my mouth. He is four and amazing. We were playing and then I would chime into the lesson and then at the end we were looking for the pieces of the lesson that he had taken and hid on my lap and he couldn't find them so he lifted up my skirt and looked for them! Oh children.

Our next lesson was with Michael and Mandy who I love so much. We have to give them to the Elders this week and I am so sad. We have a joke about sneaking up on them when they are out on the balcony smoking and so this time we went around the other way so that we could actually scare them. They weren't out there but me being me it sounded like a good idea to scale the balcony. So I pulled a Robin Hood and climbed up. I was teetering back and forth and realize I was right in Michael's view but by some miracle he didn't see me. We both make it up and then I walk up to the door and about give him a heart attack when he does finally realize I was there. It was so funny. So now we come and go over the balcony. I know, such a lady. But that is what I love about them, they warmed up to us because we have just been so ourselves and Mandy said last night, "you're the reason that he has taken to it because with the last missionaries he didn't want anything to do with it but we like you." (While she was saying this I was thinking that the Book of Mormon, the Spirit, and the timing are the difference but you don't argue with someone who wants to get baptized). Anyway, it feels so good to just feel totally like myself and to see that my personality has been used for good. They nicknamed me Blondie the Super Pirate. Too long to explain. 

 

Yesterday at Church my little friend Grace came and sat by me to tell me about her first time to the temple on Friday with her family. She is the one who made a missionary doll when we came over for lunch. She had on a skirt and a matching pin that she had made herself. She is adorable. I love her so much. 

 

Last night we were able to teach Mandy and Michael again, I have so much fun with them and with Sister Speakman, Mandy's mom. I am going to miss them so much! I don't want them to move. 

 

I am so grateful to you family for all the of the happy memories that I have with you. I am so blessed to have something wonderful to think about in my hard moments. I have been having to conjure up a lot of those great memories in order to fire my patronus and I'm lucky that I have such a wealth to draw from. You all mean more to me than you know. I was having a hard time the other day so I pulled out your videos from back when I was in the MTC (see why I need to keep things) and it really helped to see you all. Even if you were really different then. Can you believe that it has been so long? I really can't. I love you so much. Thank you for making my birthday special from afar.  

Thank you all for your birthday cards and wishes!

Jennifer loved each and every one of them.

She is very good about writing back as soon as time permits.

She misses you very much.

Our family appreciates your support.

She is sorely missed, especially this time of year!

Go Sister Rowe!!!!

Jenny is still able to do this from

a standing backbend.  

Of course, she challenged the zone to join her. The video is hilarious.

Jennifer loves the New England Fall!!

"Turning a Corner in Your Life" November 22, 2010

"Life's tough and then you die"

 

That is what President said to me when he saw me at Zone conference on Thursday. True. It actually helped. This life is so so short. And like Reba said, nothing stays wrong too long. I am grateful for two inspired people who can give me that assurance.

 

Exchange:

Wednesday night I went to Drexel Hill with Sister Beckwith and Sister Langi. It was so fun to be with them and to teach their investigators. We taught Audra who got baptized yesterday I believe and it was such a sweet experience. She was nervous but I am sure that everything worked out. It was really good to be with Sister Beckwith and to talk to her. She is a hard worker and I am grateful for the lessons I gained from watching her teach and do missionary work. It was good to see a familiar face and know that she cares about me.

 

Zone Conference:

Elder Ellis came to our mission and he conducted an early zone conference last week. His wife also spoke and I learned so much from both of them. He talked about "the Spirit" "God" and "You" and talked about what each one does. It was a really interesting lesson and the Spirit taught me the things that I really needed to know during the day. I loved Sister Ellis' message as well and seeing a picture of nine of their kids who are grown and have families. I think their boy/girl ratio is split 4 to 5 and all 8 of their kids who have reached mission age served missions. Several went to the same mission and two were there at the same time. Crazy. 

The other highlight of zone conference was of course getting to see Sister Pallas. She had been my angel, I have been so grateful to talk to or see her right when I most need it. She cheered me up and charged me like a battery. I love her so much. Maybe you should all join in a fast that me and her can serve together the rest of our missions. I think it's a good idea. But that's probably why it won't be happening.

 

I was so grateful to get the Ensign this week. I read over some of the talks that I had most liked at conference and realized as I usually do that I didn't learn from the speakers but from the Spirit because my notes have nothing to do with what they talked about. I still love Elder Christofferson's talk though, so good. I could just sit and read talks all day every day. I have a hard time putting the Ensign down. Did you notice how many pictures in there were of missionaries? I thought that was neat and kind of wiped my forehead with relief about President Monson calling for missionaries. It is easier to be one now than it will be when I get home. Elder Ellis talked about being a "returned missionary" instead of an "ex-missionary." He talked about coming home and continuing to set goals for yourself and to live up to the standards that you lived and taught for your time as a missionary. He said to keep teaching the Gospel and growing. I thought that he had some great points.

 

 

So the Saturday before last we set a goal of how many people we were going to ask for referrals and then spent the whole day really pushing hard for them. We didn't get any that day but set a goal to do it the next day. On Monday we got a call from the Spanish Elders that they had a family for us to go see. I am in love with them already. They have had some really interesting things happen in their life over the past few weeks since meeting the Elders that have prepared them to hear the Gospel. Angela wouldn't even talk about God before but now she is totally open to learning. When we told Paul what the Book of Mormon was and who it was about he just drank it in and believed it all. I can hardly wait to meet with them again and see where they're at in their learning. They have two adorable little girls who are really friendly and talkative. The seven-year-old sang the entire 12 days of Christmas to us. It was the cutest thing.

The next night we were out with Sister Fischer teaching a family in the ward and we got our first media referral in this area! We went over there that night and watched, "Finding Faith in Christ" with them. That one might not pan out that well seeing as our appointment fell through on Saturday with them and when we called to say we were on our way and would they be there yesterday Oliver asked us if we'd get him a cheeseburger and fries. We went by the Spirit and pondered on whether we should go or not and decided that we didn't feel right about it without a ward member and we hadn't been able to find someone. Interesting.

 

We have been listening to a fireside by Sherry Dew and Wendy Watson Nelson this last week that I really really liked. Something that resonated with me from Sherri is that she said "we usually know enough about the Gospel to feel the guilt but not the joy." I have pondered on that since I heard it and I'm still trying to put all my thoughts together on it. I think it's true though, I think that we know that we need to repent and do better and we know all of the commandments and whether or not we are keeping them but we don't always use it to change us so that we can experience the joy that comes from earned patience, hope, and faith. That is just my take on it.

Wendy Watson Nelson talked about turning a corner in our lives. She said that when you turn the corner you really can't see what is behind you. You can't see the past and you've left it behind. That is a powerful visual and one that I've tried to apply in my life this week. I think that turning a corner is a sign of true forgiveness and growth. I realize that sometimes I walk back and peek around the corner but that it is important that we don't. It is important that we make our decisions and move forward with them. It was inspired that we listen to those talks this week.

Photoshopping Fall, by Jenny

Isn't she lovely?  

The apparating dog November 15, 2010

We had quite the week this week. I guess I'll do it by days to keep it simple.

 

Monday:

We taught Stephanie who is still planning on getting baptized on December 12. Which means that we are planning a wedding between now and then. She talked to Bishop McNeil yesterday about getting married and she wants a small wedding so hopefully that will come together before her baptism. Her kids are so darling. Madison is really smart and asks such mature questions. I am so impressed with her.

 

Tuesday:

We met with Paul who is a less active return missionary that I talked about last week. He has had the crazy life but he really wants to get back into coming to Church. He has been there the last two weeks in a row and we have met with him three times in the last two weeks. And every time that we do he makes us Cambodian food which is so good. he loves to cook and so he brings us each a bag of boxed up food with a water bottle and some candy because we always have to meet somewhere else so there is a female there. It has been great working with him and seeing him talk about his mission. He served in Salt Lake where we was well fed and taken care of so he really has a desire to help us out.

That night we had dinner with a less active and her daughter. I guess you could say dinner and a movie because after we watched the Restoration which I love. I could watch that movie every day and not get sick of it.

 

Wednesday:

We had some good appointments on Wednesday with some active members who just had boy girl twins and then some less active members who we were finally able to meet with. Earlier that day we were out tracting and I just felt this force coming up behind me all suddenly. I didn't know what exactly I felt but I just knew that there was something there and I turned around to see this huge black dog sprinting at me. I gasped and kind of staggered sideways and then it was gone. Seriously I can not tell you where it went because it was just gone. It was like it vaporized. I thought of the Twilight preview where the guy is running and he turns into a wolf or something. It was like it was barreling along and just apparated. Sister Elsey saw it and I know it was truly there but we didn't see it run off into any backyard, down the street, anything. It was the weirdest and scariest thing. I was shaky for about the next 20 minutes as we continued to knock doors. I guess Heavenly Father protects his servants even if it means vaporizing black dogs.

 

Thursday:

We had District Meeting and guess who is in my district? Sister Sasser! I was so excited to see her. I have to find out her secret because her hair has grown so much. It is so good to be with her again, I really missed her. After DM we had a sisters meeting in Sewell. That's right, I got to go back to my old stomping grounds. It was an out of body experience because I felt like I was in a bubble. The fact that all of those people were so near wasn't real to me. I couldn't feel their closeness which I suppose was Heavenly Father protecting my heart because I was nervous to go back and get really nostalgic. Anyway, we got together with half the sisters to talk about sisterly things. It was a short meeting and I'm sure that there could have been a lot more said but it was fun to be together anyway. I got to talk to some sisters that I didn't really know. One of them really reminded me of Sam and she scrunches her nose when she laughs so you can imagine that I was pretty drawn to her. That night we had another good meeting with Bill and Marsha Geary. They hadn't kept up their prayers as well but they committed to doing better this week.

 

Friday:

We went to dinner with a family that has four little kids and then Paul the LA was there with his little boy. It was crazy. Food was flying, chicken bones were everywhere, rice was all over me and the floor. It was insane but so much fun. We took our seats and Gus (who happens to be my favorite) came and sat next to me and said that he wanted to sit by his favorite sister missionary. So cute! He then gave me the lemongrass out of his soup and said that I could have anything of his that I wanted. I can't even describe how much I enjoyed myself. Even when he touched me with his greasy chicken hands and kept spilling rice on my skirt. The three little boys were collecting everyone's chicken bones and talking about how they were going to put a dinosaur together with them. Gus kept whispering things to me and I was in heaven. But seriously it was so loud, there was food moving around rapidly the whole time, and it took a while to clean up the table and the floor. The boys are so wild but so cute. 

 

Saturday:

We went and helped Bill Geary take his roof off. We didn't actually get on top of the house but we picked up the roof off the ground and put it in the dumpster. After all the wood and shingles were up I got the special job of lugging around a huge magnet to pick up all of the nails with. But that was after I Home Aloned myself and got a nail in each shoe. Yeah, really. No puncture wounds, don't worry. It was hard physical labor and it felt amazing. I was so excited to actually be sore from something. The whole day was a gong show really. Bill has a John Deere in his backyard and he was under the category of hardly working while everyone else was on the roof hacking away. It was hysterical. He would just be off doing something that really shouldn't have taken that long and then he would resurface, yell at someone and then go off on his tractor. I was drinking in every detail and wishing that I had a live feed on my nametag so that ya'll could have been watching. The best part was when he got his tractor all lined up to the front of the house so that they could slide off the roof into it instead of us having to pick it up and carry it, and then they went to shove it off and it totally missed the tractor. It was so hard not to laugh out loud. The day ended in cheesesteaks and chips. It was a blast. I love Bill, and I love knowing what a softy he really is. 

That night we went to visit some members who are in some really hard circumstances. We were able to get into a good conversation with their daughter who is a very less active member and her husband. I guess the missionaries had taught him before and offended him but they told us that they want to bring God back into their life and strengthen their marriage. The committed to read Alma 32 and because they only can meet on weekends when they are up from their house staying at her parents (the members in our ward) we scheduled a follow up for Sunday. We had a great lesson with Michael and he is really interested in understanding the Church so that he can become a member. I am really excited for them. They committed to reading the Book of Mormon together every day this week and I can't wait to see how it goes. They are tender hearts underneath their shell and it will be really fun to see their growth. 

We also got to go teach Stephanie and her kids that night. Let me just tell you I love her little boy. I don't think I really knew how to interact with kids that well until my mission but I love having them in my face and making pig noises back at them etc. They are the best, I can't wait to have my own. I am probably going to kidnap Sawyer and keep him for myself. 

 

Sunday:

Church which was excellent. We had a missionary speak that is leaving for Australia tomorrow. It is so different here. There were five extra people in the audience to hear him speak. There is nothing to the fanfare of a Salt Lake missionary departure. He is definitely ready and he will love being a missionary. I am excited for him. For dinner yesterday we had homemade pizza with the relief society president and her husband. She is the cutest lady. I really really like her and its nice to see another side of her when we're not at Church. After that we tried to stop by some people and ended up knocking doors. It was an interesting night with some tough responses but I just have to walk away and laugh a little bit. Sigh...

 

  

Out standing in her field? Perhaps?

This week November 8, 2010

The best news of this week is that yesterday we were teaching Stephanie for the first time since we have been trying to get in touch with her for a month and it hasn't worked out. She told us that she can feel the adversary, that something comes up every time that we are supposed to meet but that she knew yesterday that she had to go to Church and she had to meet with us. She said that she has already prayed about Joseph Smith and when we asked if she would be baptized she said absolutely that is what she has been hoping for. Wow. It was incredible and when she was talking about her life I cried because it was so moving. She has been so prepared and her 10 year old Madison sat in the whole time and also wants to get baptized. She asked the deeepest questions, it was such a cool lesson. We are teaching them again tonight and we set a baptismal date for December 12. Yay!

 

We also met with Chris and Sarah and he said that he is really excited and really interested. I hope that we can keep our appointment tomorrow and hopefully give them a baptism date as well. We had a rough week last week and lost some of our investigators. It was tough but I know that Heavenly Father certainly made up for it yesterday. We are being so blessed to witness these miracles.

 

Here's a crazy story: we went with Sister Howard to visit some less actives the other night and went to a man's house for a visit. We walked in and I noticed the picture on their entry way table of a beautiful girl and a guy in an embrace. I didn't look too closely and we went in and sat down for our visit. On our way out I looked closer and realized that I knew the girl. It was Yashoda and she is engaged to Steve Clark's(the LA) son.  Crazy. I told him how I knew her and talked about good ol' West High, it was the craziest thing. Who thought I would meet her father-in-law to be?

 

The other night we had to come in early because Sister Elsey wasn't feeling well. One of the Sisters in the ward had used her credit at work to pay for our flu shots so I decided to take the opportunity to bake her something. It was so therapeutic, I turned on some violin, baked, and felt so much better. Thank heavens for tender mercies. The night before that when we came home early I got to talk to Sister Pallas! It was so good to hear her voice and I really needed it at the time. It was such a testimony to me that the Lord is so aware of me because I had known that I would get to talk to her then but events transpired that day that made it so needed at the time. I am so grateful for Heavenly Father taking care of me.

 

Only Halloween costume allowed

Malloween November 1, 2010

This week was weird as I anticipated the first major holiday. To be honest, it doesn't feel like a holiday when you aren't with your family. Not that we ever do anything together on Halloween but it just isn't the holidays when you're not doing the usual with your kin. We had some tough tracting yesterday but some nice appointments in the evening even if I did think I was going to burst. One man answered the door and we told him what Church we were from and he said, "I don't even care, I am a practicing _____, and I don't even care." Yikes. There were several experiences this week where I left the situation with my stomach just kind of squirmy. But after each one God blessed us and lifted us so that's that.

 

Last Monday we went to the Church and played volleyball with the Elders. It was really fun and felt so good to do something active with other people. I was pretty lame at playing but that is ok. The Elders aren't allowed to get competitive so they are pretty nice about things. After volleyball Sister Soolefai and I played ninja with some Elders which is coming to be one of my favorite games. One of the Elders smacked his companion in the back of the head on accident. I'm probably not supposed to think that's funny.

 

This week was a terrible week for missing my brother. We taught teenage boys all week and I saw a glimpse of the sweetness in them that I see in Chris and let's just say I REALLY love my little brother. I seriously was barely holding it together and I think I talked about Chris way too much to people but I just couldn't help it ok? He's too great of a boy to keep it quiet. I am grateful to know about legos and stuff because I never thought about needing to connect with teenage boys as a missionary but I suppose since the Elders aren't in the ward we are their role models for missionaries. I love you Christobald.

 

One night while we were tracting this week we noticed that this orange cat was following us. It would follow us up to the porch and then when the person answered it would run back to the curb and wait. Then it would jog along behind us to the next house and work it's way tentatively up  the walk until the next person would open the door and scare it back to the sidewalk. His name was Mittens.

 

We went over for lunch on Friday to the most darling family in existence. We walk in and they have hymns playing, beautiful salad on the table, and the girl had dressed up her American Girl doll as a missionary. Tag, scriptures in hand, and all. They are the biggest tenderhearts in the world and when we left they walked out on the curb and waved to us as we drove away. You can imagine that I felt a connection to them for their sentimentality. We saw them at the trunk or treat Friday night and Grace was so excited to show us her costume and to tell her brother that we had switched our nametags after her suggestion that we dress up as each other.

 

We taught Olivia again this week and her little brothers participated even more this time. She is cute and her mom has such a strong testimony she just has a hard time acting on it. But I really liked what her mom shared with us. She was talking about Star Wars when Luke is wearing the helmet and trying to learn how to use the force. She said that when we are on earth we are veiled so we have to walk by faith and learn how to use the force or connect with the Spirit to guide us through our lives. I am definitely still learning how to use the force.

 

 We weren't able to teach Chris and Sarah this week but we finally got an appointment with them for tomorrow! I am so excited. We tried to get in touch with them all last week but couldn't and then they called us Saturday wanting to know what time the trunk or treat started but it was on Friday. You know me and that about killed me but I was so happy that they wanted to go. I can hardly wait to see them tomorrow. Chris said that they have been reading but they just have had family in town and have been too busy to meet with us. But I am so excited that they have been reading from the Book of Mormon because they weren't consistently before but he really wants this and is moving things ahead quickly on his own.

 

 This ward remains incredible and I am so grateful for our leadership. We got to go into the young men and young women combined class yesterday which was surreal. I just still feel like it's a joke when they say that i'm one of the missionaries. When they point at me and talk about how I'm going to get up and talk as one of the missionaries I just think, "wait, what? me?!" I don't know why it is still surreal but I have a hard time believing it. I got up in sacrament yesterday too as a mini speaker to give a brief testimony. I am really excited to be in this ward and I hope that we can connect with the young women because we know them the least. I would have thought the sisters were rockstars if they were in my ward but I don't know if they are enthused with us or not. I want to focus more efforts on friendshipping them and helping them share the Gospel.

 

Dino Wars!!

Southern Belles and Justin Beiber October 25,2010

This week I have been thinking about some of the ways that I have changed and I think I shall share some. I like to report things in list format so we'll give that a shot shall we?

 

I am:

 

more patient

more on time (I didn't say on time, I just said More)

more able to declutter and throw things away

less finicky

less germophoby

more glamorous - as in I do my hair and makeup Every day

more forgiving - I let things roll off easier

less self-conscious

more of a cook

more content

not picky about eating anything

 

 

This week was full of a lot of cancelled appointments but it led to good things and we were able to meet a lot of new people. Did you know that people pretty much have a vent sesh to the missionaries? I don't know what it is about us but for some reason people want to dish to us. We're not allowed to counsel or give advice which makes it difficult sometimes to be in certain situations. That happened a little bit this week and I can't imagine being someone's priesthood leader. It would be a tough job.

 

We met the sweetest less active this week named Mary. She lived in Georgia when she was younger so I pulled the Loree card and talked about Homminy and grits. She has a huge dog and three cats and she couldn't be cuter. She has a nephew on a mission right now and I can't wait to go visit her again. I hope that we can get her out and involve her in activities because she is a sweetheart. When we got to her house she had on ET and I would like to congratulate Justin Beiber on selling his 50 million albums or whatever this year. Rock on hot stuff.

 

We had another good lesson with Bill Geary who is just a big softy inside and we are going to pull that softness out and get his testimony rolling. His wife is so talented and I wish that things had gone differently for her in the past because I don't remember if I told you but when she was young and married to her first husband they lost a child and the ward did nothing. I want to get her out becuase she is always working on some great project and she could head some great relief society activities. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and were able to back it up with the Bible which impressed Bill so I know that he will think on it this week and that the Spirit is converting him.

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOh my gosh. I almost forgot to tell you about the highlight of the week.

Wizarding:

So after district meeting and before planning Sister Elsey and I were coming into the Relief Society room where we do our planning and she asked if I could go from standing into a backbend. I said yes and proceeded to do it. She thought it was so cool and then I heard the Elders coming so I tried to get up and staggered into the wall. It was apparent that something had been going on when they did pass so we told them and asked if they could do it. Next thing you know the camera is out and our district leader is trying to do it. The first time he pretty much just fell forward on his knees. The second time he got his arms down but had his legs so awkward and was up on the tips of his toes looking like a goon. We were laughing so hard. Next Sister Elsey tried and tried and kept collapsing. Then Elder Larson takes a few trys and does it. We all feel accomplished and go back to planning.

An hour later the Sisters walk by and come in to say hi. We show them the videos and of course they have to see if they can do it. Sister Jeffrey has no fear but also no arm strength so she goes flying back over and over again just pounding her head into the carpet. Sister Soolifai won't try it when we're looking but every time we turn our attention away we see her practicing and then she screams and falls. For some reason during the whole thing Sister Jeffrey says something about wizarding and we decide to call it that. We move to the hall and try other tricks on the wall etc etc. Funniest day ever. Who knew what my freaky back tricks could do to a group of restless missionaries.

 

Friday we were able to meet the neatest woman. Cameron was baptized about a year ago and she is in her sixties trying to deal with cancer. She is hard of hearing but the smartest woman and talks with a lot of sophistication but sweetness. She was telling us about her life and it was fascinating. I loved being with her and learning about her perspective and point of view. She told us how she loves violent movies but don't worry she doesn't watch them on Sundays. You just wouldn't believe anything about this woman from looking at her. She told us that she has a lot of understanding of the Gospel in her mind but wants us to help her have understanding in her heart. The humility and childlike way that she said that to us just made me want to bawl. She couldn't be more adorable. I loved her so much.

 

Later that night we were able to teach Olivia whose mom is a member but she goes through spurts of activity. Olivia is nine and wants to get baptized. Her and her little brothers were such cute kids and we had a really good lesson with them. Her level of understanding really impresses me and we were able to get her mom to participate and ask questions which was really good. Her mom also said before we even suggested it that she would read the Book of Mormon with her.

 

Saturday we ate dinner with the Schroeders and they ordered in subs. I am going to miss those things. I don't know that they can ever be replicated on the west coast. I had eggplant parmesan which is absolutely incredible. Next time we are going to have ice cream that is made the day of from the cow's milk that live on the farm behind the store. We didn't have time for them to get it but you can imagine I am looking forward to that day.

That night we went to the Catchpole's home and they have three cute kids. The two year old is so outgoing and smiley and has a perfect set of teeth. It was a fun lesson and we didn't know how to read the dad but when we went into the kitchen for cookies after he was being hilarious. I love dry humor. I hope that my husband does too.

 

Yesterday was the Primary program so you know I loved that. The most epic part of the whole meeting was of course during the sunbeams. Their teacher made the mistake of wearing a scarf and when she was bending over to hold the microphone in front of a little boy's face so that he could say his part her scarf covered his whole face and she had no idea. She was waiting for him to talk and he was trying to find his way out of her scarf. It was hysterical. The pattern continued down the row and she pulled off one little girls flower out of her hair because her scarf was so unruly. SoOOOOOOO funny.

 

We were invited to come into primary later to talk about missionary work and we stayed between sr and jr primaries. The teacher asked one little boy what to do when you're in trouble and he was like, "I know what to do when you're in trouble, RUN!"

 

Last night we went over to a family's for dinner and she's from idaho and made tater tot casserole. I don't know if I'd had that before the MTC but I have to say that I love it. Sometimes my judgment is tainted because when things are made with love they taste uncannily delicious but I really like it. Kind of like Sister Howard's french toast, it is good but I think the love in it makes it that much better.

 

Fall in Delaware

Heather, who is Heather?? October 18, 2010

Did you know that there is no sales tax here?

 

This was a really good week. We were able to get out even more and teach a lot. I love my ward so much. I wouldn't even know where to start with telling you how great the people here are. They are incredible. Missionary work functions exactly the way that it is supposed to here and I am so grateful for that. I feel like I am just trying to keep up. Today we were going to have Sister Howard take us to Wal-Mart and instead she just went down in the basement and grabbed us a milk, eggs, and fabric softener. Not quite but everything we needed she just handed to us. She is great. We went to the mall to get a blazer for Sister Elsey and the next thing we know Sister Howard is there in the middle of the store in her mother of the bride gown. She cracks me up, everything that she does is funny. She also promised that if I get married in the temple she will come out and do my wedding cake for free. She is working on her cleopatra costume this week for her cat's costume contest.

 

 We had dinner last week with a crazy bunch of boys and their sweet mom. It was so fun and they were so good during the lesson. The oldest two collect coins so I am keeping an eye out for any cool ones that I can give him. Sister Elsey told him about one that she might have at home and he said, "you can give it to me if you want, ok?" He has really dark dark brown eyes and just kills me.

 

We were working on meeting the ward stil this week and I met Dayna Weist's cousin Peggy Sacher. She was a hoot and was telling us all about the Philly temple and the Ogden temple renovations. Have you seen how different it will be? Anyway, tell Dayna that because I thought it was pretty neat. You can also tell her that we will have her active in no time. Later that day we got to visit a 90 year old member in her rest home and she was as cute as could be. She had a southern accent and she was so adorable.

 

I don't even know what I've been doing all week but I know that we taught a lot of people and got some really good referrals.

 

Let me tell you about Sister Taber. She is 60 and comes out teaching with us a lot. Her husband died unexpectedly four years ago and she was really grief stricken. People kept telling her to go on a mission but she resisted. Finally when she found out that a friend was in Manhatten she went there and serve as a temple worker. She gets all of her stuff together and heads out in September from her home in California. In March she gets a call from a man that she had known for many years who said that his wife had died and he felt that he was supposed to marry her. He asked if he could fly out to California to see her and she said, I'm actually up in New York. So he said, even better I'll be there next weekend. He goes up to see her and see if he can whisk her away and they had to call Salt Lake because she was the first senior sister to ever ask to leave to get married. They let her and she ended up moving to Delaware and is still trying to unpack all of her stuff. She is incredible. Her wardrobe is absolutely amazing and she is such a lady. Mom would love her, I can't wait for you to meet her. Her and Brother Taber are two of my favorite people here.

 

We talked about developing our talents in Church yesterday and how we are forged the same way as metal. We talked about how sometimes Heavenly Father increases the heat and pressure so that we can become more refined. I feel that way right now but I am grateful to know that Heavenly Father is aware of me and doing what He can with me. It is hard to submit myself but I think that my desires and awareness have changed and though sometimes it is hard to give up pieces of myself that I am so used to, I know that I will be happier when I do. I know that the Lord's wisdom and purposes are so much greater than ours and that He uses us for good even more than we know.

 

Last night we were visiting with some members and when I introduced myself to the dad there was a lot of noise going on and then we all sat down to talk and get to know each other. At the end of the lesson I asked him who he would like to say the closing prayer and he said, why don't you go ahead Heather. I just looked at him and he said, "didn't you say that's what your name was?" I kind of looked at my companion and back at him wondering if it was a joke and said, "what? no, that's not my name so I don't know why I would have said that." He said, "didn't you say when you introduced yourself that your name was Sister Heather Rowe?" At this point I'm thinking, whether I did or whether I didn't say so it still isn't my name. It was ridiculous and I think the whole room felt really awkward but probably him most of all. OH man.

Half way there cupcake!

Dela-Where????

I don't have a whole lot to tell you because we are doing a lot of the nitty gritty and trying to get my companion over being really sick. But we are finally going out on time so I am able to calm down a little bit. I figure as long as I'm ready to go on time and trying to do everything I can that Heavenly Father understands our situation.

We were able to meet two of our other investigators as well as teach Chris and Sarah again. Alright mom, time to start the flow chart so you can follow along.
Erin and Jessy- Chinese couple (unmarried) that is here at UDEL. Jessy is doing her masters and Erin is PHD in physics. They are obviously very smart. Their retention blows my mind and I guess that the elders were teaching them about Christ before we came so now we are helping them through the Book of Mormon. It is a good challenge for me to teach them in a different way and I am really enjoying it.

Chris and Sarah- Living with his mom who is a member but has no memory of joining or attending the Church. They are unmarried and have two kids. They came to Stake conference yesterday which was so good and said that they will be coming the two of them next week and then bringing the kids the next week. That is awesome. To show long term interest is such a big deal. I was so so excited and they are just glowing. President and Sister met them and they wan to come teaching with us sometime so I look forward to that.

Facts about the University of Delaware:
Strong Chemical Engineering program
Turn out Olympic ice skaters
Serve a large Asian population
Are the fightin' blue hens. Isn't that illegal?

So our housing isn't official student housing. there are just students that live there. But there are also families and there has been no noise even on the weekends so I am grateful for that.

The weather has gotten nicer and I feel like we are getting an actual fall which is nice. It is beautiful here and I am trying to enjoy every minute of the East coast fall. We had the best apple cider of my life last night and maybe next week we are going to carve pumpkins with the sisters. The fall feeling just surrounds you here and I wish I could go to a corn maze or bake a pie. I never remember just how much I adore fall until it comes again every year. I am drinking a harvest spice steamer right now and trying to live up the fall as much as one can being a missionary.
We have a great ward. we were able to meet a lot more people this week and i am so enchanted by them. I don't know why I just fall in love with people so fast. Everybody wants to help us and we have so many willing, sweet people. I didn't realize the difference in Delaware people from Jersey people but now that I'm thinking about it there is one. I am going to love it here and I hope that I can continue to savor every minute.

Here's a new one: we were tracting and this man went off on the fact that the Bible says that women can't minister to men and told us that he was saving our souls by not letting us teach him. I haven't heard that one before but it's always nice when people care enough about your soul to wish for it to be saved.

I was going through my bag this week cleaning it out and I found a note from Liz (Dan's mom and the recent convert in my last area) and she had written me the sweetest things. I started bawling because I had no idea it was in there and it was so sweet of her to say those things. I can't tell you how happy it made me. I don't know how to write to everyone in my last area like I want to. My writing pool just became huge. I miss those people but at the same time there is so much to focus on and worry about here that I don't really think that much about it. Heavenly Father provides, whether it is through bed bugs or what, He will help us overcome things.

We were asked to go to the Provident Living meeting last night and it was interesting to be there, I learned a lot. We talked about how we are given grace and mercy and expected to do something with it. We talked about the picture of the Savior when he is at the door that doesn't have a doorknob because we are on the other side and have to open it. I think that idea is cool because I have always known about the Savior but I haven't always realized that it's up to me to let Him in and to use the Atonement. I am grateful now to understand the incremental changes that we make to ourselves through the Atonement whether it be growing our faith, learning to be more patient, learning how to not be defensive, learning to have charity, or learning out to exercise our agency for good, we are always changing whether we are proactively working at it or not. Like Mom says, "if you're not with me you're against me." If you're not choosing something proactive you are still choosing complacency and therefore choosing to slow or stop your progression. We talked a lot last night about stopping progression. Brother Flint explained that to be damned means that your progression is stopped. The same way that a dam stops waters flow or progress down a stream is the way that our spirituality can be damned by stopping our progress. We don't talk about eternal progression very much but it is a really important idea and principle to strive for.

Anyway, I don't know, I have been thinking a lot. Surprise. I am always thinking too much but it's been a good week and I've learned a lot and I'm grateful that we been able to go out and work more finally.

Welcome to our family little Sawyer!

Jennifer is now an Aunt.  

Sawyer Jaron Mathis

September 30 6'7''

Best friends for life!

It had to come in handy somewhere!!!!

October 4 BEDBUGS???

So this is what I know about Delaware:

 

It has rained every day

It smells like I don't know what when you step outside

They close the schools for rain because it causes "flooding" (puddles)

 UDEL has the coolest college town and I want to go here so I can be a part of it

 

I don't even know how to organize the last week so I am probably just going to talk. But I will start with the things that we found in our apartment. I may have mentioned a few last week but since then we have discovered the following, all alive:

a squirrel

crickets

bed bugs

 

Do you know what bed bugs actually are? Because they are not just a children's rhyme. I woke up Tuesday morning and went in the bathroom to shower and noticed a red speck on my clothes when I undressed. I looked closer and realized it was a bug. I went and showed it to Sister Elsey and asked what it was before flicking it outside. I carried on like normal and when I got out of the shower and back into our room it occurred to me that maybe there were more bugs in my bed. I pull the sheets back and my bed is moving. Tiny orange and red bugs. The red ones mean they are full of your blood. They were covering everything and I'd had a suitcase touching my bed all night. So I rip open my binder that tells us how to deal with those things and it basically tells you that they live forever and spread from one thing to the next and it can take weeks to get rid of them. I call Sister Schaefermeyer and ask for permission to wash our sheets during break and told her that we had a problem. I pull my sheets off and they are lining the underneath of my mattress and they were in my suitcase, etc. The next thing we know the service elders are at our door with two steam machines, plastic mattress covers, and bottles of permethrin. One thing escalated to the next and as they kept turning things over they kept finding more. They finally called the office and told them this was a major infestation and problem. From there things progressed until they literally called Salt Lake. I really do try to keep a low profile but it just doesn't work. The mattress covers helped and I have been spraying permethrin like a crazy woman so I haven't woken up to any since and they will probably be replacing our carpet one of these days.

The squirrel in the ceiling is another story. He has chewed a hole in the ceiling so there is a piece of cardboard over it to keep him up there. Our apartment was abandoned with food in it for 9 weeks and I know that Sister Schaefermeyer had no clue and the office elders didn't think about it. Things are getting better. The water runs clear now and the droppings are mostly cleaned up. I had the foolishness to come here wondering if I'd get any good stories since I've had it so good apartment wise and Heavenly Father delivered. When it's one thing after another it just becomes hysterical instead of bad. You just can't believe that things keep going and going.

 

The ward:

Since the missionaries have been gone the ward has been teaching our investigators and the Bishop has a goal to have 12 ward missionaries. That is epic. The ward members have been a riot so far and I am completely enchanted with the area. It is so perfectly fall here and I love walking into people's homes and seeing their sweet families. I can not wait to be a mom. I am going to be so up in Sawyer's grill that Alli will have to ask me to stop. Mom close your eyes. I could see myself living out here on the east coast. I probably won't but I really love it here. Maybe a condo out here for part of the year?

One of the Sisters in the ward loves the missionaries and was kind enough to take us to WalMart because there are no stores in our area. This area is about a fourth of my last area and there is nothing in it. Except the possum park mall. Which isn't a mall it has a chinese restaurant and nail place. Anyway, she is a hoot. She reminds me somewhat of Aunt Kris only pink. She wore pink jean capris with a pink denim jacket to WalMart today and when we got inside she said, "Alright, you have my number, see ya" She called when she was done shopping and said, "no rush, I'll just sit here and put my makeup on." When we see her again she has purple eyeliner on the bottom and gold eyeliner on the top, a new pink and white diamond ring, and a necklace of shimmery hot pink stars. She is So funny. Her husband is a major explainer with Napolean glasses and you get more than you ever ask for once he starts talking. She rolls her eyes and puts her head down on the table and when he looks over at her she says, "I love you Mr. Howard" he says, "yes, madame" and keeps talking. It is a movie, I swear it can't be real.  She was telling us about the area today and she said that you know where everything is in relation to "the mothership" which is Joanns. I love it here!!!!! She was also telling us about a ward member who used to be in charge of the floral arrangements for the chapel as well as being the chorister and she would match them to her outfit! She did the same thing when she was a relief society teacher.

 

Cute story of the week:

We were staying in the building between conference yesterday and this little boy stopped this little girl and said, "Emma, do you know how to tie shoes?"

She said yes and knelt down to start tying them.

Little boy, "I try to look really nice for church."

She keeps tying and finishes.

"You're really good at tying shoes."

He then followed her around for the rest of the day. I'm pretty sure he knows how to tie his shoes.

 

Transfer! Living in student housing at the University of Delaware

I don't know where to begin for the last week but you really realize who your true friends are when it comes to goodbyes. And that worked out pretty well for me. I felt famous yesterday out in the foyer taking pictures with everyone and I'm grateful that it hasn't sunk in that I am away from them. I am a steel hearted chick these days and I know that the Lord is blessing me. I opened my heart up to a Lot of people and so He has presented me with something that will keep my mind really busy. I can't wait to go to bed exhausted every night and feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. I'll have some idea. But it's going to take some time especially without Church this week to get to know everyone. I feel totally confident that the Lord will qualify me for this and that I am totally good in His hands. It will also be fun to continue to transform our apartment and tackle the wet dog smell that probably has something to do with the fact that they had a humidifier in their apartment. For real people?! A HUMDIFIER?! I can tell that I am going to have plenty of good stories and that really excites me. I want to feel like I earn my blessings. The Elders left us quite the weight set so I'm going to be totally ripped by the end of this transfer too. 

Yesterday at Church Dan got confirmed which was so neat. We had dinner with his family and the Bishop's family and he was just glowing. I saw so much more light in his eyes and there was plenty there to begin with. He was also ordained and while we were teaching him last week he asked a question about going on a mission! I am so happy for him. We had straight appointments from Thursday to Sunday so I haven't even been tracting since Wednesday because we have been so booked. That was nice and incredible that they all held but I didn't get to make the rounds quite like I might have otherwise. But at Church I was able to talk to everyone that I wanted to pretty much and to get a lot of pictures. It was easier to say goodbye to the people in the branch because half of them are coming out to BYU next fall. I am going to take a dance class with one of the girls and definitely going to hang out with some others. 

Vicki is one of the YSA's and she wanted to be the last one to see me so we went over last night and she was so sad. She was like, "I think I'm gonna die" which made me feel good but I know that she'll be ok and that I'll be able to write her and stay close with her. There are so many people that will forever have a place in my heart and I hope that ya'll have the patience to hear about each one of them when I get home. 
Lucy is the one that mom sent the high school musical shirts to and I don't know what I even did but she loves me. Before I gave her the shirts. She followed me around at Church on Sunday and kept saying "can't you just stay!?" She is a doll. I love her and I am going to write her on her mission. Her mom served in sweden and is determined that all of her children will be serving missions. Lucy is totally on board. 

It was so neat this week to see the way that so many things came full circle. The first people I saw and the last people I saw were the Downings. I was able to have a last everything with pretty much everyone that I wanted to. I am so grateful for how merciful and loving the Lord is with my heart. He takes such good care of me. I will send some pictures along but I really don't know how to articulate or do justice to the week.


 When we all got to transfer meeting I tried to keep my inordinate amount of stuff as a secret. Then I find out that since we're doubling in we both have our luggage and we both have way too much. Luckily the sisters live close by and they were dropping off their third companion and staying together so we could put stuff in their car. We wouldn't have been able to do it without that. But I can't believe how much stuff I have. I don't even know what it is. It's not all clothes it's like detergent and scrapbook paper and extra mascaras and lip chaps. Embarrassing. But since I knew I couldn't sully my reputation with that Elder I used his sad heart to my benefit and had him haul my stuff over to our new car. (Which took about a half hour to find anyone who knew what car we were using). The best way to describe him is that he kind of looks like Bowser and so needless to say he was thrilled at the opportunity to "lift" something. I'm sad that all of the Cherry Hill missionaries are spreading out and going home because I knew them so well and I am going to miss the closeness but I have loved my new friends too so I will just have to see the old ones when we are all back in Idaho and Utah. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't know that I'd be so close to them. 

We went and saw Donna on Saturday and she went to hug me and started sobbing on my shoulder. She said it was so hard and she had been trying her hardest not to cry but she couldn't do it anymore. She bought me six boxes of treats and said that every Saturday of the transfer since I wouldn't be seeing her I could unwrap a new box and think of her. She also said the closing prayer and cried saying, "thank you heavenly father for giving me this chance to feel what it's like to be a mother." Oh my gosh. Don't even go there, it was the sweetest and saddest at the same time. I am so grateful for her. 

I love you so so so so much. thank you for everything and please send me anything this week. Letter wise. But soon please, I need to feel that someone knows where I am. 

September 20: A baptism and a reunion

Oh my goodness. Last week may have been one of my favorite weeks of my mission. It was so so incredible. Which is going to make it really hard to get transferred. But I'm not going to be a baby about it, I am going to take it gracefully and peacefully. I have enjoyed this area beyond words and I love the people here. I want to get to the telling about Dan's baptism so here it is folks:

 

Well, we planned the baptism and I baked some cookies and cupcakes and then it all just came together seamlessly. Everybody did their job and they did it well. I was so happy with everything that went on. His family was all able to be there including his sister who is really struggling with substance and domestic abuse. She wept through the whole thing. I was so glad that she was there. Krystal looked so good and was really excited and happy for him. We had Sean Miller (leaving for the Scottland Ireland mission, Mandarin chinese speaking in 3 weeks) teach the Restoration while Dan was changing. There was a little bit of time left over before Dan came back so Ete bore his testimony and invited anyone else who wanted to to do the same. Dan's grandma who is not a member of the church stood up and said that she was so grateful that Liz and Dan have been so welcomed and loved as they have each chosen to join the church. She was talking about how proud she was of Dan when he walked in and it was so sweet. Then his friends mom stood up and said a few words as well about how much she admired him and his good decisions. We had a good talk about baptism and the Holy Ghost and then a welcoming into Elders Quorum. Seriously everything was perfect. I was kind of on pins and needles hoping that things would go right and everything was better than my plans. I swear at baptisms the Spirit is so strong that the room gets kind of hazy. I felt that way at Sister Nieves baptism and I felt it again yesterday. The presence is so strong that you truly can feel it, hear it, and see it. We were able to have some good mingling afterward and make came to church And the baptism! Really, I couldn't have asked Heavenly Father to bless us with anything more than He did.

 

Oh yeah, and I went to Philly last week. I will admit, I was enjoying myself and trying to look up at the buildings but I was pretty fixed on Sister Pallas. We were so excited to see each other and catch up and just be together. I will see Philly when I come back for the temple dedication. I got a picture of myself in front of the skyline, the Love park, the Rocky statue, and Gooey Louie's. Is that good enough? There were a lot of missionaries there that day so we would run into some and then into others so I was also getting to know new Elders from the Philly mission. Needless to say I didn't take in That much of Philly but I was really ok with it. We were going to go to Pat's for a cheesesteak but instead we went to Gooey Louie's and I made friends with the guy working there. My comp asked him if he knew how big the small cheesesteaks were. He said yes. She got flustered and moved on. I stepped up and said, will you show me with your hands how big the small cheesesteak is? And after that we were friends. And that was a Good cheesesteak. It's a good thing I love terrible food so that I can appreciate it. Oh and um, I'm going to culinary school in Philly.

 

We got to teach Liz again this week and her husband Steve sat in again. He also came to the ward talent show on Saturday night and made some friends as well as the baptism yesterday. People have welcomed him so warmly and for that I am really grateful. Guess who else came to the talent show.... Donna! We invited her to church but she was having an open house to try and sell her home. We are making progress with her and she has been consistently reading the Book of Mormon. She came and loved the talent show and observed that there was no indication of anyone's profession or status. She said that even though it isn't supposed to be that way at Church that it usually is and that's why she stopped going and decided to just worship in her home. I can't wait until she can go to Church itself and feel the Spirit. We invited her to the broadcast on Saturday night and we are waiting to see if she can come. But she was darling. they had a cupcake contest and guess who they chose as the judges. That's right, yours truly. You know what that means? I had to taste all of them. Pictures to follow. It was such a neat night though. I had no idea how well these people could sing and dance. I can't use strong or sweet enough words to tell you about it but just know that it warmed my heart beyond reason to see these people who I have spent five months loving go up and glow with pride at being able to display their talents. Not only that but to have the audience be so warm and loving just pushed me over.

 

On Wednesday night we had dinner with Kristine and Jakob Randles who is the cutest little boy in the world. (Until Alli delivers of course). He is six and he always comes running in from playing with his friends and throws his arms around us. Then he says something like, "I'm going to go play with my friends but you're welcome to go inside and have a seat." He said the prayer and some of the highlights I remember are, "I hope Halloween comes tomorrow" "thank you for the ladies being here" "please bless my friends that they can have safety." So cute.

 

Thursday we had zone training in Cherry Hill and I was thinking about the possibility that it might be the last time I go up there. That blew my mind. We were able to come back after and have Dan's interview. He was nervous and he got there fifteen minutes early because he wanted to be sure that everything worked out. He is so committed. He called us about a half hour after the baptism last night and left us a message thanking us for everything and telling us how much he appreciated our help and how he was looking forward to meeting this week. Yesterday he just kept coming up and asking us, "when are you going to teach me about the temple, I have a lot of questions?" "are we allowed to do this or not?" He is just soaking it all in.

 

Friday we met with the Grays again and were able to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sister Bradley was there who I love. It was a good lesson but they haven't been able to come to Church. I hope that they can watch conference on the computer. Bob just doesn't feel well with all of the radiation and treatment. But they are still really receptive and asking a lot of questions and I feel that they are really keeping their heart open to learning and receiving an answer.

 

That's pretty much it for events of last week. I have been doing a lot of thinking and I have grown in a lot of ways. I have thought a lot about the concept that perception is reality. For other people who only know about us what they perceive, it becomes their truth. But I know that I don't want to be judged for one day or interaction of my life. I want people to look deeper and know what my heart is really like. It has been a struggle for me to not be able to open my heart and show people all of the good intentions and kind things inside. I want to tell everyone what specifically I love about them and how much watching their lives has meant to me. I want to tell people every time that I mess up that I meant to do better and that I am disappointed with myself. I want to tell them that I am trying and that I know I can do better. I think that I used to feel like I should but now I know I don't have to. I know that the only reality of me that matters is the one that God knows. If I am doing things right by Him then I am bound to be doing somewhat right by others as well. I am grateful that I know that no matter who loves me, bugs me, is bugged by me, thinks I'm dumb, says things that could offend me, etc that I don't have to take accept any of those judgments. I can certainly grow from criticism and help when it is given but I don't have to let anyone come between me and my relationship and belief in Christ and in God. I don't have to run around trying to please any person, only my Savior. Sometimes we know these things but we have to feel them and etch them into our souls before we believe them. So I'm probably telling you things that you already know but alas, sometimes I need things pounded into me before I get it.

Dan's baptism

Treats for baptism

A day in Philly with Sister Pallas

September 13: Progress

This week I am most looking forward to Dan's baptism on Sunday. At church yesterday we told him that he could ask someone to baptize him and he asked Bro. Tarasevich who is the biggest crier in the world while also being an extremely gelled hair, football playing dude. Anyway, it was the cutest exchange and everything about the baptism is bound to be darling. He also has a lot of family and friends that will be in attendance so hopefully they can feel the Spirit and have a desire to learn more. That's how Dan got here, he attended his mom Liz's baptism. Crystal is coming along and I think that feeling the immense amount of the Spirit will help her too.

 

We were able to teach the Grays again this week and this time Ruth really opened up and asked a lot of questions. They are really friendly and I am so glad that their son was able to wait for them to be prepared and then to get us involved. We will be teaching them again this week and hopefully they will be able to attend Church soon. They have been so friendly to the members that we have brought along and I think that they are really getting a good feeling about the whole thing. They will need some time but Ruth told us last time that she is praying to have an open heart and to be able to receive the things that she is supposed to receive. What more could we ask for? And we didn't even ask her to do that. She also made us cookies when we came and is really trying to be respectful and call us "The sisters."

 

We were also able to go see Sandy (Vicki the YSA's mom we've been working with). She is the sweetest. I am so grateful that we've been able to teach her. She is going to come to the Relief Society broadcast which will be a good way to see people and get pulled back into the fold. they are having a fancy dinner and then the broadcast at the stake center and I'm really excited to go. We are hoping that Maddie and Crystal will also be able to be there. Liz is planning on it so Crystal should be able to go with her. I can't tell you how excited I am for conference. I don't want it to come because I don't want it to be over. That's how I feel about everything lately. I don't want anything to come because it just goes by so fast.

 

The Caseys left yesterday for New Mexico. We had a dinner with them at Sister McNaughton's on Thursday and it made me sad to say goodbye. But I think it will be better for their Church activity to be over there. They are such cute girls and I will definitely write them and keep encouraging them.

 

We were able to teach Liz last week! She came to sacrament the week before and then came to all of church yesterday. She really is back! I'm so excited. We were able to take the Bradleys with us who are her home teacher and visiting teaching companion. It was a good lesson and her husband sat in on the whole thing and participated. He has inched his way into things. He used to just walk through. Then he would sit for a minute. Then he would sit for a while. And this time he came right in and planted himself. Usually when he talks it isn't about the Gospel but this time we had a good discussion and he said that since we challenged him to pray a few months ago he has! I can't wait to tell Sister Pallas. That whole family is going to be sealed in the Philly temple in no time.

 

 Church was awesome as usual yesterday. I will miss it so bad when I don't get to go twice every week. I have loved it. I have been listening to a lot of talks on my iPod and they all tell us how to serve better and more fully. Being a missionary has changed the way that I will conduct my life in the future and the amount of service that I will be willing to give. I have seen people magnify their callings so fully. Though I had great examples at home it is also neat to see people's whose stakes cover half of a state and whose wards are 45 minutes wide. I have learned to just accept the idea that nothing is too much for the Lord. Nothing that we give won't be given back to us an hundredfold and even if it wasn't it would still be worth it to live with our families and God and Jesus Christ. I have obviously never been so aware of the Atonement and the blessings of it. I have to keep this desire to serve throughout my life and to give above and beyond in any calling that I'm given. There was a talk yesterday about "many are called and few are chosen." I really enjoyed the speakers thoughts and he said that someone who is a bishop would look at their role as "critically important" but that someone who is a teacher of children also has a role that is "critically important" to arm those children with tools and a testimony to succeed in the Gospel. There just truly is nothing more important than the Lord's work. There is nothing more important that giving of ourselves and loving people. Everybody says that their mission changed their life because it really does have the power to do that. It has the power to set you on the course that you need to be on and to inspire you to endure with every ounce of faith and effort that you can give. I am grateful for it and careful to not with away one minute of it. Every bit of it has been for my experience and my good. 

Jenny & Sister Sasser

September 7:

I don't like not having enough time but alas. I don't. All of the thoughts that I wanted to share today were personalish ones for you guys. Like the fact that Sister Pallas' dad found a picture of dad. And I listened to Christmas music this week and liked it.

 

News:

Dan wants to get baptized! We have an appointment with him at 4:30 today and we are going to set a date. It will probably be in two weeks. Oh my gosh. So excited. He and Crystal stayed through all of church this week and he got his answer during elders quorum. He came up to us after Church and was like, "Oh, there you are. I was going to call you. I wanted to tell you... I want to get baptized. Is that ok?" Oh my gosh! We spent the whole week trying to figure out how we were going to extend a baptismal commitment Again and then their appointments fell through twice. But then that happened. I couldn't believe it. I am so excited.

 

We are getting four new sisters. The Australian sister finally made it and some Polynesian sisters from the islands. That means they will be opening up new areas. I have been in my area for a while. Hmmm.

 

We had a zone unity day yesterday and all went down to Vineland to eat lunch together and play sports. It was fun and Sister Pallas called me to talk about meeting up in Philly next week and I got a long chat with her which was So good. I miss her every day. I can't wait for next week. I made a bunny cake with the bunny cake pan that Sister Nieves bought me and took it down to celebrate Sister Sasser's birthday. It turned out looking like a chef so we called it chef bunny. then one of the elders kept insisting that I look like a bunny and asking for everyone's opinion. Awesome.

 

We met with the Grays last week and I am so excited, they are darling and receptive and we are going back again tomorrow. they are the sweetest people and they remind me partially of con and Marlynn.

 

We were talking to a guy this week and he was like, "I respect what ya'll are doing, I mean I don't have any hate shame on your game, I just don't always know when I'm going to be here for you to come back."

 

I heard a story this week about some Elders who would challenge each other to throw in certain words while on people's doorstep. Obscure ones that don't generally come up in a door approach. Example:

 

"Hi there, we are from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, how are you doing today?"

 

"Fine, thanks."

 

"Good, I am Elder Rowe and this is Elder Mathis, what is your name?"

 

"Steve."

 

"I'm sorry, did you say Rameumpton?"

 

I was on the floor. Isn't that hysterical? Oh my gosh, so so so funny.

 

 I don't really know what else to say from among all that I could say. I have been wiped out though and I look forward to constant cooler weather. It has been really nice here and there though. Breaking out the sweaters. The Casey's are moving on Saturday to New Mexico. Going to miss them but better for their membership that they go there.

 

I am grateful because I feel really close to the Schaefermeyers. I have gone to them for more counsel and really feel how loving and wonderful they are. we had zone conference last week which was amazing. An Elder played the ukelele and sang while another played the piano for "If you could hie to Kolob" and it overwhelmed me with the Spirit. It was the closest I've ever felt to being in the temple without being in the temple. I just had this wave wash over me of understanding eternal perspective. I felt so deeply the brevity of this life and especially of my mission. I can't believe how quickly time is going and I can't imagine spending eternity around all of those people that I love so much. This world is so small and trouble Always go away. Things can seem so world ending at the moment but they always pass. Something new comes along but our capacity to deal with things and turn ourselves over to the Lord grows if we will let it. I have learned to step out of things and know that I will feel better when I wake up the next day or if not the next week. Nothing here truly lasts that long in the eternal scheme of things.

 

I was asked to get up and bear my testimony during ZC and it was really good for me to admit the things that I have been working on and give up trying to be perfect. I was able to talk about how we can't always choose for ourselves how we need to be better. If we will ask the Lord He will tell us and He will also provide the experiences that will get us there. I am so grateful for my understanding and I can't believe how much more I will get to learn in the coming months of my missionary service. Can you believe it will be 8 months next week? Me either.