He sent pictures of some HUGE turtles that were in some less active members's yard. HOLY COW!! I'M SOOOO JEALOUS!!! Most people who know me know that turtles are my favorite and have been since my mom and dad brought one home from Missouri for my birthday one year! Every time we'd go to Missouri to visit I'd go turtle hunting and find as many turtles as I could!! When I got older my mom and dad would always bring me back a statue, figurine, or some sort of stuffed turtle when they'd go on their yearly trip to Mexico. For my birthday after my dad died, my mom brought me a figurine that my dad had picked out for me when they were in Mexico the day before he died so it holds a special place in my heart (sorry got a little off the subject) Anyway!! WHO KNEW THEY HAD GINORMOUS TURTLES IN CALIFORNIA!!! I'm seriously so jealous right now... Do you think I could get him to bring one home for me??? I could send an extra suitcase ;) hahaha.
Honestly I'm not trying to focus on the turtles lol, but he has to know I'm freaking out right now ;)
He's doing great :) Super proud Momma right here!!!
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| So long story short. We went to teach a less active member and then all of a sudden there's these huge massive turtles in their front yard! You never know what to find in California |
This week has been filled with meetings, work, and some other interesting things. The good thing is that the work is still progressing in Lindsey. We love our investigators they're so awesome. They're basically dry Mormons haha but sooner or later they'll be baptized! So not to many crazy things have happened this week except for some exchanges and a couple meetings like zone conference and stake conference.
Stake conference out here is huge! It was kind of cool because I got to go back to the old chapel/stake center in Porterville where I served before. Like I said before I got to see some old faces too. I saw the branch president that I served with in Porterville. I asked him "Do you remember when Elder Tesimale and I served together?" His face lit up and he says to me "You returned!!" It was pretty exciting for me. Zone Conference was one of the best meetings I've been to thus far. We had a member from the quorum of 70 come and speak to us. His name was Elder Brent H. Nielson. He's a very inspired guy and knows quite a bit about missionary work. Him and I talked for a little bit about the area I'm in so that he could get a feel of how every missionary is doing in their area. He came in and gave us some tips and things on how we can better ourselves as missionaries and then in turn help our investigators. There's so many things he said that could apply to all of us. But one thing that he said that really stood out to me was the biggest thing he wants a missionary to gain from his mission is to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, from beginning to end. And then to look back and see our success and see that our labors were good. He shared Alma 26: 26-31 and in those scriptures it talks about how they were mocked, spit upon, and endured every manner of affliction, but in the end they were joyful because they did everything into bringing at least one soul unto Christ. He shared many things that enlightened us. I wish I could right them all. He really was an awesome guy.
As far as our investigators are doing, they're doing really good :) Teresa and Martin are still working on being married, but Martin is just being a little stubborn and doesn't think he needs to. He's working on quitting smoking and drugs and other things like that too. But what it all comes down to is their progress in reading and praying which is so simple but yet seems so hard for them! They haven't been reading and praying as often as we want them to. So straight Elder Moody and I said if you don't read and pray about marriage you're never going to know if you need to get married or not. I'm sure they know that. We've taught them all the lessons and everything. But we show our love for them by going by and following up on their commitments. Hopefully they'll realize as often as we've went by their house, they will know we mean business haha... We have 3 other progressing investigators right now. Hunter is one of them and he came to church for the first time yesterday!! YES! He's 14 years old and is playing football right now. He's got a date for November 1st that he'll be baptized. So keep him in your prayers that he'll keep progressing because he's super solid! Our other one is Charlie and he came to church too! (I don't know what it was about yesterday, but a lot of our investigators and the sisters investigators came to church). The church here in Lindsey is set up exactly like Whiterocks. Our bishop was getting excited when we had to open up the curtains. Anyway... Charlie is an investigator that I just met. I guess he was talking to the missionaries 2 weeks ago and then he kind of fell away. But some things have happened to him since then and now he really wants to get back on track, so a couple nights ago he found us and told us he wants to talk again... The other investigator is Sandra. She's been off drugs for a year so God has her in a good spot. She's been reading and everything too. She just needs to come to church like the others and she's set!... Of course we talk to less actives and recent converts but if anything they're all progressing :) Two people we're talking to are trying to get to the temple and there are a whole bunch that we're working with. Just know that they're all doing good and to keep praying for them!
That's kind of weird that T.J. was in an area for a whole year. I know a kid that I worked with at Vivint that said he stayed in an area for 19 months!! He was going to die! Tell him I love and miss him. I haven't heard from him in forever. I remember when him, Bradyn and I were little and we would go and do the craziest little things. But that didn't change when we grew up anyway haha. Tell Tommy thanks and that I send my love to him and to everyone else as well... Tell the team to keep their heads. They're doing really good this season and they're tearing it up. Can't win them all can you? As much as I hated losing I always learned something better from it. They're going to tear it up with Grantsville though, I'm excited to hear what happens then!
Yes I did get to see Elder Nye and it was one of the most exciting moments I've had. We've caught up on lots of things. I guess that Levi Nielsen (one of my roommates in college) was his roommate too. He's serving as my district leader right now and he's doing awesome. He's definitely changed since the last time we were companions but it's been good to catch up with him.
Tell Grandma I got her letter I'll be writing her shortly today.
Well that's all I have folks! I want to end with Mathew 16:25 "and whoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it" I've found that when we serve with all our heart, might, mind, and strength we are truly converted. There are some who will give their might and their strength only and benefit little from it. When we truly give ourselves Jesus Christ will do something for us in return and give us himself.
Love you all
P.S. could you send me a book called "Barron's foreign language guides Spanish verbs 3rd edition" please? Thanks :) love you
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