Monday we saw terry at our shopping store we go to. We are a corn dog with him and sat and talked for a couple minutes. we did another epic game of nerf/ capture the flag. It was a little bit more difficult because summer in here and so many people were at the fort. A lot took pictures of us as if we were re-Enacting what happened there. It was pretty funny! So Tuesday and Wednesday were bit on the down side because sister Heath was sick with the flu and I got some of it because I couldn't eat anything without feeling so sick so we did not go out for two days. It was pretty sad and a bummy two days. We got a ton better on our diet of Gatorade and we were back out by Thursday.
We had to move all the lessons we had when we were sick so we were slammed packed the rest of the week. We met with a way less active named burl and his investigator daughter named Anela. We have been tying to meet with them for over a transfer now so it was a miracle to get a lesson with them. We met at a members and had a pretty good lessons with them. It's just so sad to not see the desire in someone's eyes but I know the power of the Holy Ghost can change anyone. We saw terry for a lesson and a couple other less actives. Friday we were packed with more less active lessons and we did some service. We also got word that one of the senior missionaries in this mission who went home a month ago passed away. His name was elder lambert. He was In change of helping with housing and he went around and took all of our pictures at every event. He and I got personally close and so getting that message was really hard to think about never seeing him again at mission reunions. He was an incredible man so I know why Heavenly Father had to take him back home. Saturday night we went over to the lindstrom's home, the new less active family that moved into our area with Rachel. Rachel---pink haired lady died sister lindstroms hair because it was her birthday and she wanted it purple. I can now put on salon stylist now to my resume of things I have done out on my mission. We also did her sons hair who is also taking the lessons and wants to get baptized. We had an awesome lesson with them about church as we waited for the dye to soak in. As we were eating ice cream and cake Rachel bore strong testimony of how important it is for the lindstrom parents to walk this path with their son and to come back with him (in a nut a shell). She had just made this same decision with her daughter so she had personal experience with this. It's a problem to baptize someone into less activity if their family is not supportive or won't help them in their conversion. Rachel also has children on the autistic spectrum and so are both of the lindstrom boys. They made plans to meet Rachel's kids and to set up a play date.
Rachel's testimony got them to come to church on Sunday. It was so cool to see them there because it's been about 13 years since they have come to church. Sister lindstrom has more family in our area that is less active as well that we are trying to reach out to and I know this is our way in. We had 4 investigators at church and 5 less active families. We saw many miracles and had many opportunities to open our mouths and testify of Jesus Christ. I really am not sure why we are not finding people who are open to listening to our message but I know no effort goes wasted in the gospel. I know we will be blessed for our efforts and these blessings can go anywhere where they are most needed. It's so awesome to think that because I know I have received so much help from others dedication and sacrifice. This gospel is all about lifting each other up and finding the one that needs "saving." I have defiantly been the one. Although I feel like every member in our ward is struggling and every way I turn people need us or we hear more sad or upsetting news I can be strengthened by the atonement and feel peace knowing that our savior will make up for those wounds if we choose him. What we have control of in our life is what we need to focus on and I have a strong testimony of that! Have a wonderful week!! Sorry this is so jumbled! Love you all. The gospel is true.
1. Don't mind my creepy face but this is elder lambert---> 2.tribute to this amazing man 3. The Oregon beach
Monday: we had a fun day! We had breakfast over at sister Mckee's house. I made them all green smoothies and she made us and the hermanas Mexican breakfast burritos and we just had a blast cleaning the cars. Then we went bowling with the district and I actually came in second place. I was way surprised I still remembered how to bowl and that it was fun!! It was all the spirit though because I have no talent in bowling. My job with the spirit was to humble the poor elders' and their pride. We also go to see one of our investigators named Halden. The jehova witnesses came and knocked while we were there so we are really not to sure what his motives are and how ready he is ready to accept the gospel at this time.
Tuesday: we had our last zone conference with president Taylor. Lots of missionaries were there and a lot gave their parting testimonies (a ritual in which we do when a missionary is going to leave). So many are going home with president it's pretty crazy. Lots is going to change here in a couple weeks! Zone conference had a somber feeling about it. The spirit was there but I didn't leave with the same fire I usually do. There was lots said that helped and will keep helping me and I was really grateful for that! I also got some chastising revelation there that will make my mom laugh but seriously answer some prayers. President Anderson, the 1st Councelor of president Taylor is SO smart and knows what I need to hear every time he gets up to speak.
The first thing that came out of his mouth was," do you know why you get bugged?" And "do you know why you get bugged by your companion?"
If anyone knows me I get bugged and irritated so easily by the smallest and most insignificant things. My mom always told me I had this problem and that I needed to fix it but I didn't know where the source of the problem was so I didn't know where to start to fix it.
Well he nailed it on the head when he said, " it's because they are breaking your rules, the rules you have in your head that they don't know about...ya they are breaking those rules without even knowing." I was dying. Such a simple non gospel topic helped me in bounds and leaps to figuring out my "problem" haha I defiantly had to pick up my jaw as I was humbled and so excited to receive this awesome revelation. At the end of zone conference we got to hug president and sister Taylor. It was sad to think that will be the last time I get to see them out here on the mission, but president did say we needed to go skiing in sun valley together and I am defiantly going to hold him to that!! Terry had his interview and he passed!!!!! He will be getting baptized this Saturday!!!!
Wednesday: we saw Rachel who is reading the children's Book of Mormon.
She is just loving it and has so many questions and things to say about it. She was a bum about it for the longest time because she thought the Book of Mormon was dumb and not interesting. I had to apply my patience there so I wouldn't get frustrated because I feel so strongly towards the Book of Mormon because it is my iron rod in life along with prayer and family. I know Rachel will have her turn to get to know the Book of Mormon and start to understand its power, importance and significance in our lives. I know I had my many years of famine in the dessert as I put the Book of Mormon on the back burner in my life. I have learned from my teenage stupidity mistake and now have such a string testimony of the sustenance it has within its binding. We saw terry for our weekly lesson and he was still game for baptism. He has a really cool experience with a dream he had. He was in the baptismal font and a shark came up and tried to eat him, but before he could and hand stopped it and told him that he was his and that he want going to hurt him. We told terry that the dream was a sure sign God was and is protecting you and that he loves you because you are his. He is such a stud! We also met a less active family who has sadly fallen away from the church. It is so sad because they have three kids that could use the gospel and the fellowship and love it has to offer. We are trying along with sister McKee to get them involved in scouting and other things that could bring their family back into the gospel. I saw this mother this week as we passed her work and she was outside smoking. It broke my heart because she is not only denying herself the blessing because of her choices, but also her children and family.
Thursday: we went over to the Brown's for some service and man did we clean and organize the kids rooms until they were sparkling. We did some service at the food bank and then we went to a members home and had dessert and a lesson before we even had dinner. They have the most amazing berries over here and they made us blackberry cobbler and it was to die for!! Then we had dinner with the Simmons who is in the bishop brick. Their daughter just left on a mission to chile. It was fun to hear all her stories at the MTC. I am so grateful I am past that part because I didn't like the feeling of not knowing what I was doing. It feels so much better having some experience under my belt.
Friday: we went and saw the warn family. We had a great discussion on the commandments and how important it is to keep them. We talked about how the commandments are not restrictions but guidelines or a road map in getting back to God. I love helping people see the importance and simplicity of the commandments. They are to keep us safe, filled with the spirit and blessed. What a wonderful father we have. We did service in seaside and had a blast and then we went and had dinner with the brown family and her husband actually sat with us and we had a wonderful conversation with him. We challenged their family to come to church with week AS A FAMILY. Sister brown said she was teaching in relief society so there was a good chance they would all be there.
Saturday: was a really good good day! Terry to baptized and sister Okerlund and all her other companions that taught him were able to come up and see the baptism. It was a really cool spirit there that was felt and it was fun to see so many show up and support terry and show their love for him. We saw some other less actives that night and finished our weekly planning.
Sunday: THE WHOLE BROWN FAMILY CAME TO CHRUCH! It was a miracle.
Brother brown didn't pay attention and was a big distraction but he was there. We also had 5 other less active families there and two investigators so it was a good turn out. We saw the Gilbert family after CHRUCH and had an awesome lesson of the priesthood and the commandment honoring the father and thy mother while tying all into father day. I loved reflecting about my father today and I loved thinking about what that commandment means. Honor means respecting and not judging, not resenting and loving in the highest form. I love that word because it means we see them as imperfect people but with a divine role that God has given to them because he trust them and knows they can succeed. My father had definitely succeeded in his role in being my dad, role model, provider, teacher and protector. He is not a perfect man, but he will always been seen in my eyes as worthy of his calling. He is the hardest worker in our family and he loves his children and is so patient with me despite how dumb I am and how annoying I can be. He taught me the most important life lessons: the gospel should be at the center of our lives, to love my mother and how to be a self sufficient human being in society. He has taught me so much and I know I was placed in his care because he was the right fit for me and the dad that would help me see my potential and help me reach my destiny. It was so hard to be away from him, but I know I am showing him the honor I have for him as I serve my Heavenly Father. I love his gospel and I love my family. I hope you all have a wonderful week! I challenge y'all to make sure your parents know that you love them and show your Heavenly Father you do to by following his commandments and loving all his children! I love you all!
Monday was an epic day because we drive down to sea side and had lunch at a beach restaurant and then went and played soccer on the beach. It was a blast but it was so windy so I felt so gross afterwards. We went and bought sea side sweats because our entire zone has them and duh we can't be left out haha the weather was perfect and it is so hard to get use to seeing the beach on my mission because beach=vacation in my mind. I feel like I am with my family in Newport because it's just like it! It's so fun to have an awesome element out here to entertain us on Mondays!
Tuesday I had exchanges with our new sister training leader. Her name is sister reeves. She actually came out with me and we went out on the first day together so it was SO much fun to catch up and work hard and laugh the entire time. It was something I needed and I was so grateful for it. I was her first exchange as an STL so we had a great time seeing some less actives and practically spending all day with sister McKee. We saw some miracles and reached out to some more less actives that are now on our teaching pool list!! Whooohooo! One of the less actives we met was a guy who is a cancer survivor. He had cancer in his tongue and he basically is a walking miracle. He is a musician and played some of the stuff he wrote for us. It is so fun to meet such incredible/inspiring children of God that truly touch and shape me.
Wednesday we had zone conference and spent the day learning and feeling the spirit. We got a lot of new missionaries in this zone so I am super excited and I know we are going to have a awesome transfer!
We learned about diligence and work ethic and about humility and patience. You never can learn everything because I learned so much as we dove in deep with the spirit.
Thursday we did some service at the cemetery and then had a lesson with terry. We had more service at the food bank and then we had Mexican at a way awesome restaurant with our members. It was super yummy!! Then we had lessons with some less actives and had our missionary correlation meeting. It was a good day but not too much happened that was you know exciting or spectacular so sorry for the boring paragraph....
Friday we go to see the warns(: we had an awesome lesson on the gospel of Jesus Christ. They had lots of questions and they really opened up.
We are praying everyday that they will find the desire to go back to church so that we can help them get to the temple. the weather was so bipolar today. It would pour and then stop and then pour even harder.
Sister McKee drove us to a baptism in Gresham!!! The crazy weather passed us but as we were driving we caught up to it and it was actually kinda scary to drive in. Sister McKee wasnt worried thought.
I got to see sister Staker!!! and all my Powell butte peeps!! The baptism was so amazing and the spirit was so sweet there. I know that the gospel changes people for the better and I could see it in laitu's countenance. I was so honored to have started teaching her and to have been able to whiteness her hard work and the spirit working within her. Her husband was the only one that didn't get baptized, but we are all praying that he will make the decision to so they all can be sealed in the temple on a year from now! And we just need to talk about the clouds!!! Crazy weather does make for some amazing clouds.
The drive home was a sight to see. This area is defiantly the garden of Eden. I wish I could have captured it but beauty can never be captured by man because it is created through the eyes that created beauty. Y'all will just have to make a trip up here I guess lol.
Saturday we had our weekly planning and it was a great planning session. We really organized our time and set up a lot of lessons. We came into an area that was teaching very few people and through the lord and our hard work we have tripled the efforts and we are seeing so many people. We got to see a less active lady and then the Andersen family because her husband is back home from the hospital. We had a wonderful talk and a great discussion on life and what we can learn from after our trials.
Sunday we had three less active families there and 4 investigators there. We had three benches full of peeps and it was so much fun! We had a lot of kids we had to entertain but it was really humbling to see so many of the people we were teaching. I had the opportunity to sit in primary again. After church we had lessons every hour on the hour so we were running around, but having a blast. We met with one of the less actives who came to church and as we sat down he asked what we were going to talk about. We asked him if there was anything he would like to discuss and he said keeping the sabbath day holy. Sister Heath and I were stunned because that's what we had planned our lesson on and he had no idea that was what we were going to talk about. The spirit is so awesome! We had a great discussion about this very important commandment. So overall it was a great week and we had a lot of fun! I hope y'all have a wonderful week and thanks for all the love and support(:
