MOM!!
hello! How are things going in UTAH? Well it ended up snowing..... and snowing.... and snowing some more. And it's dang cold. I don't know how many inches. But we are down to the single digits and I think that winter is here to stay! Yesterday we had stake conference and our inspired stake president said that the theme of this winter is: EMBRACE WINTER! so it's 11 degrees outside. I'm wearing 2 layers of tights, wool socks, and 3 shirts and I will embrace winter!!! woot woot!
I don't need any cold medicine. i just need to take my vitamin d and then life will be fine.
We are spending thanksgiving with the Jacksons. Well hopefully, as long as I don't get transferred. Transfers are the day before thanksgiving. so pray that I can stay longer! Also, we are running a 5k with some of the ladies in the ward! woot woot! I am so stoked! It's started to get a little too cold to go out running, but luckily the Jacksons have a treadmill that we can use. so I'm not getting too out of shape.
This week was really good. Well it's just been an interesting time all around actually. First of all Rose and her family have a relative straight from Africa living with them. So they are under quarantine because they might all have ebola. But they didn't tell us that until we were already in their home talking with them. So I might have ebola. hahahahah I'm not joking. But it probably won't happen. And I hand sanitized right after. so fingers crossed.
Also, things have been super crazy with our investigators! Last week everything was up in the air, but this week we got it straightened out! Shaharrah (13, African American) is getting baptized Dec 13th. Marcos was supposed to get baptized this week, but won't be able to cause his work has been increasing his hours and now he hasn't been able to come to church for the last few weeks. But he's reading from the book of mormon and will get there soon! And then we found a family, we are teaching the dad (musa) and his daughter (maria, 8) and then he has a little 1 year old son named eli who is completely crazy! but I love him. They are supposed to get baptized on Dec 20th. so hopefully that happens too!
Ahh I love medicine lake. Well, I just love being a missionary. It has been SO good! It seems that no matter how hard things get or how cold it is, there are always tender mercies from God. He is very involved in every detail of our lives. And I am so thankful for this restored Gospel that teaches us these truths and helps us to make changes in our life so we can return to him again.
Love, Sister TERRY
Monday, November 17, 2014
Saturday, November 15, 2014
November 10, 2014
Well first off, the reason why I am writing so late.... IT IS SNOWING! So president grounded our cars. It's a lot like being actually grounded. aka NO FUN. But we did get some much needed cleaning in. Anyways, it's the first snowfall of the winter and it's about 4 inches in and weather reports say that we're supposed to get 12 to 15 inches!! WOOO WINTER!
It's been getting a lot colder lately, and made me realize that I might not ever see the sun again until I am home! :( Summer went by way too fast, but luckily with one winter under my belt I figure that another one won't break me down. We pulled out our winter coats, hats and gloves today. And I said GOODBYE to all my short sleeve shirts. But at least it makes no shave November the easiest thing ever. no one will ever know. :p
We went on quite a few exchanges this week with sisters! I can't believe this transfer is already half way over, it's so interesting to see how easy it is to get things done when both sister smith and I are here together, and then it seems that things get real crazy when one of us is gone. Lately I've been thinking that President is going to have me stay here for another transfer so I stay here during exchanges to (hopefully) teach the sisters how to teach better...? haha it's an adventure, that is for sure. but a fun one! I feel so lucky to work with these sisters, and it's such a blessing to get to know them all!
UMMMMM well, it's kinda just been the same ol same old. Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lately, all the little children whose parents we are teaching are sick. SO that means that Sister Terry got sick. again. I'm pretty sure I have the worst immune system EVER.
I've been learning a lot about humility. Which is for the best since I've been avoiding working on that Christ-like attribute for... several years. It's been amazing to see how quickly contention seeps in when we are being prideful. And how the spirit literally can not be with us when that happens. It's been such a blessing to work alongside Sister Smith! she has taught me so much about being humble, and teachable. I am so lucky to work with her!
Have a fantastic day!
Love, Sister TERRY
It's been getting a lot colder lately, and made me realize that I might not ever see the sun again until I am home! :( Summer went by way too fast, but luckily with one winter under my belt I figure that another one won't break me down. We pulled out our winter coats, hats and gloves today. And I said GOODBYE to all my short sleeve shirts. But at least it makes no shave November the easiest thing ever. no one will ever know. :p
We went on quite a few exchanges this week with sisters! I can't believe this transfer is already half way over, it's so interesting to see how easy it is to get things done when both sister smith and I are here together, and then it seems that things get real crazy when one of us is gone. Lately I've been thinking that President is going to have me stay here for another transfer so I stay here during exchanges to (hopefully) teach the sisters how to teach better...? haha it's an adventure, that is for sure. but a fun one! I feel so lucky to work with these sisters, and it's such a blessing to get to know them all!
UMMMMM well, it's kinda just been the same ol same old. Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lately, all the little children whose parents we are teaching are sick. SO that means that Sister Terry got sick. again. I'm pretty sure I have the worst immune system EVER.
I've been learning a lot about humility. Which is for the best since I've been avoiding working on that Christ-like attribute for... several years. It's been amazing to see how quickly contention seeps in when we are being prideful. And how the spirit literally can not be with us when that happens. It's been such a blessing to work alongside Sister Smith! she has taught me so much about being humble, and teachable. I am so lucky to work with her!
Have a fantastic day!
Love, Sister TERRY
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
November 3, 2014
For Halloween. Well we taught people of course! We just set up appointments with people. And also, Africans don't celebrate Halloween. Basically they feel like you are worshiping Satan if you do. and even though a lot of them are Christian they are super superstitious and don't like to mess around with that kind of stuff.
This week was rad. Elder Carlson of the 70 came and talked to the entire mission. It was really awesome what he said. He talked about prayer, and how we need to focus more. Something he challenged us to do was to spend 10 minutes just thinking about either the savior or our mom. (I did the first one, sorry mom.) But it was WAY cool! He talked about how focus doesn't come naturally to us. But, as always I just like to prove people wrong. so I did it twice. But the important part was that I learned SO much during it. I realized how much knowledge I had been taking in but never really interpreting or applying to my life, so just by thinking of Christ and his life I came to understand him so much greater.
He also talked about how the commandment be ye therefore perfect is a step by step process. And in order to become more like the savior, we have to do things (ordinances) to become better. and how we can't be pushing people up the hill to the celestial kingdom, but we can help pull them along. That means that we have to be at a higher place then they are. Ahh it was so great. I learned so much. After that we had an MLC with him where he talked to us about leading the way Christ leads. And basically taught us about the come follow me program. which is uber cool.
This is one of my favorite things he said. Someone asked him, "How do you handle the tired, exhausting work?"
He said, "I don't get tired. I'll go for a bike ride. This stuff is better than flying a jet or driving a Porsche. And I've done both." Haha isn't that so great??
One of my favorite miracles this week happened on Monday. We were out knocking on doors, and as we were standing on a door step a lady approached. Awkward enough, it was her home that we were knocking on, she invited us in for a little bit and we got to know her. As we started talking about God, she mentioned her past experience with it. She shared how she used to believe in God, and when things got really bad the only thing that prevented her from committing suicide was that she didn't want to go to Hell. But as soon as she realized that God doesn't exist she tried to commit suicide but failed. She then shared her experiences in rejecting God and how it has affected her life. It was so cool to testify of God as our Heavenly Father, and we shared the video "Sitting on the Bench." Honestly, it was one greatest times in my mission and understanding that our responsibility isn't just to share the restoration to everyone. Instead, to bring people closer to the Savior.
THIS WEEK HAS BEEN THE BEST WEEK EVER!!! my goodness, I wish that I could just write everything that happened. Haha but that would take AGES!
But one of the coolest parts was on Sunday. On Saturday one of the African couples in the ward got sealed in the temple. Oh my goodness, we have been preparing them forever, and their home teachers, and visiting teachers and the bishop and everyone else. As well as the senior couple who used to work in the ward. They came back to visit them and the place was PACKED with Africans. Which made testimony meeting the best thing ever. First, the man who got sealed got up and bore his testimony about joining the church 15 years ago and thinking that baptism is the end. That he made it. and he said, "Those of you who are investigators, or recent converts. Baptism is not the end. The blessings of the temple can be yours. You are not done. Keep working to get to the temple." Okay, first off, when Africans talk it's the voice of Mufasa ringing in your ears. And instead of it being all tender where they bear their testimony and shed a few tears, they yell into the microphone and wave their arms around. It's the most beautiful thing ever. Kinda like Elder Holland in his prime. But with even more enthusiasm.
Another quote from brother Mentoe, another African, "The scientists may go, the doctors may go, but only God can save us from this deadly disease." -talking about ebola.
"Time is an Enemy. it waits for no man." Ahh I am so blessed to be here. I have no idea how I will survive being back in Utah with no Africans.
have a Blessed week! This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Love, Sister TERRY
This week was rad. Elder Carlson of the 70 came and talked to the entire mission. It was really awesome what he said. He talked about prayer, and how we need to focus more. Something he challenged us to do was to spend 10 minutes just thinking about either the savior or our mom. (I did the first one, sorry mom.) But it was WAY cool! He talked about how focus doesn't come naturally to us. But, as always I just like to prove people wrong. so I did it twice. But the important part was that I learned SO much during it. I realized how much knowledge I had been taking in but never really interpreting or applying to my life, so just by thinking of Christ and his life I came to understand him so much greater.
He also talked about how the commandment be ye therefore perfect is a step by step process. And in order to become more like the savior, we have to do things (ordinances) to become better. and how we can't be pushing people up the hill to the celestial kingdom, but we can help pull them along. That means that we have to be at a higher place then they are. Ahh it was so great. I learned so much. After that we had an MLC with him where he talked to us about leading the way Christ leads. And basically taught us about the come follow me program. which is uber cool.
This is one of my favorite things he said. Someone asked him, "How do you handle the tired, exhausting work?"
He said, "I don't get tired. I'll go for a bike ride. This stuff is better than flying a jet or driving a Porsche. And I've done both." Haha isn't that so great??
One of my favorite miracles this week happened on Monday. We were out knocking on doors, and as we were standing on a door step a lady approached. Awkward enough, it was her home that we were knocking on, she invited us in for a little bit and we got to know her. As we started talking about God, she mentioned her past experience with it. She shared how she used to believe in God, and when things got really bad the only thing that prevented her from committing suicide was that she didn't want to go to Hell. But as soon as she realized that God doesn't exist she tried to commit suicide but failed. She then shared her experiences in rejecting God and how it has affected her life. It was so cool to testify of God as our Heavenly Father, and we shared the video "Sitting on the Bench." Honestly, it was one greatest times in my mission and understanding that our responsibility isn't just to share the restoration to everyone. Instead, to bring people closer to the Savior.
THIS WEEK HAS BEEN THE BEST WEEK EVER!!! my goodness, I wish that I could just write everything that happened. Haha but that would take AGES!
But one of the coolest parts was on Sunday. On Saturday one of the African couples in the ward got sealed in the temple. Oh my goodness, we have been preparing them forever, and their home teachers, and visiting teachers and the bishop and everyone else. As well as the senior couple who used to work in the ward. They came back to visit them and the place was PACKED with Africans. Which made testimony meeting the best thing ever. First, the man who got sealed got up and bore his testimony about joining the church 15 years ago and thinking that baptism is the end. That he made it. and he said, "Those of you who are investigators, or recent converts. Baptism is not the end. The blessings of the temple can be yours. You are not done. Keep working to get to the temple." Okay, first off, when Africans talk it's the voice of Mufasa ringing in your ears. And instead of it being all tender where they bear their testimony and shed a few tears, they yell into the microphone and wave their arms around. It's the most beautiful thing ever. Kinda like Elder Holland in his prime. But with even more enthusiasm.
Another quote from brother Mentoe, another African, "The scientists may go, the doctors may go, but only God can save us from this deadly disease." -talking about ebola.
"Time is an Enemy. it waits for no man." Ahh I am so blessed to be here. I have no idea how I will survive being back in Utah with no Africans.
have a Blessed week! This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Love, Sister TERRY
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