Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
Its been a winter
wonderland here in Oregon..you know what happens when it snows!? Alll the
Oregonians go crazy and cancel church and school! But that hasen't stopped these
two missionaries! We have been walking everywhere since thursday! It is super
nice i love getting my warm clothes on and cute scarfs that i havent really worn
and do the Lords work! :) While we walk around, I for some reason love to break
the icicles off of everything...i just love it, idk why! haha We had some pretty
great things happen this week. Some interesting things also. Only in Oregon.
:)
Leah and Bonnie! We went over to there home for a visit and they
had us for dinner too, it was such an amazing time. We sat and visited with
Bonnie while Leah finished dinner, she wouldn't let us help. She just said to
make ourselves feel at home. After awhile Leah came in and sat down with us and
I found out she moved to Mesa az for her senior year and went to the old Mesa
high. She was the last graduating class before the fire. I asked if she
remembered my grandpa who was the track coach and drivers ed teacher but she
didn't recall. We talked about different places in Mesa..like about red mtn,
superstition springs inn?, main st. She lived not to far from the temple.She
then had us come see her room and upstairs it was her sanctuary she had her
library and everything was decorated so beautifully and quaint I didn't know how
to describe it...even the bathroom. I was Drooling over it and that says
something cause it was JUST the bathroom..the rest of the house was wonderful! I
was taking pictures in my brain so I can remember the colors and style to
decorate my own home someday! Haha She then had us play on her piano I guess I
should have said this early but her and Bonnie are Episcopalian and she plays
the piano in her church she is AMAZING she has arranged and adds in her own
spice into other songs! And they sing together. So first I played brightly beams
our fathers mercy and totally butchered it haha sis Chappell can play a lot
better then me so she played some hymns we were being silly and played stuff
like "Joseph's smith first prayer" while they were in the other room. But then
we played some hymns we both know and as I was singing Leah came in and started
to sing with me and as she sang harmony because I only sing soprano...it was
wonderful and I really love music! Then dinner was ready and we sat down to eat
I said the prayer and she had made this wonderful soup for us and cornbread
biscuits. We had such a fun time conversing I think...I can't remember
everything said but I will tell about the few I thought were really
significant:
First of, my Grandpa Heywood passed away a year ago
on Feb.5th (im putting this all together now) And we were at Leah & Bonnies
the night before on the 4th! I dont think just happened, it was for a reason:) i
love my Grandpa Heywood and miss him dearly! For my family who is reading this
we have him to thank for the tradition of FHE and how close we all are! My
favorite memory of him was when he would say the prayer at family nights and it
was as if he was speaking right to Heavenly Father in the room or park or
wherever we were. The cousins and i would always giggle but it was an example to
me of how to speak to our Father in heaven. He is our friend and He would much
rather have us speak to him like that then in a repetative way. I miss giving
him kisses and hugs! I feel my grandparents out here on the mission and it helps
me to keep going at times:)
Leah and Bonnie were so nice and said
that we are always welcome and that we are like daughters to them. Which meant a
lot and we talked a lot about the difference betweeen our churches and the
association she had with members growing up...some of them not so good! It made
sis Chappell and i think about how different it would be for leah if she had
better association with members of the church. It makes me think how important
it is to be an example and to be Christlike to everyone around us because you
never know what it will affect. We were able to clear up a lot of things for her
and explain the Restoration of Gospel and even though she is happy to be where
she is at, she expressed how she is not oppossed to furthering her knowledge. It
was interesting how as she talked about the things that her church is lacking at
this time. We talked about what our church is doing at this time when the world
is going down hill. Esp. with the youth and the "Come Follow Me" program. I have
heard of some statistics that the church had come up with im not sure of the
details but essentially it talks about how many people would get baptized if
they knew the full blessings of the Gospel and what the church
provides....right?! What if they knew. Thats why it is our job collectively. The
Holy Ghost was there that night and thats always the best feeling.
It
started to snow Wed night and we were at Sis Robins and we made some cookies
from scratch!! ;) She wanted us to do this with her cause she wanted to be part
of the work in her own way, which was awesome! So we were able to take some
yummmy cookies and it was an easier way of getting into doors haha! It is also
good to be oer there cause her daughter who is la lives next door to her...we
have been able to meet there family and she said she would pay me to come cut
her boys hair and of course i said yes but that it would be a service! Im
excited to get in the homes of those who have lost the way a little bit with my
hair cutting skills :)
Thursday we had our district meeting and it
was really snowwy but it was powder so it was pretty safe! We had an appt. at
Les Schwab for our alignment and so the sweet home sisters picked us up and
drove us to the church! We had awesome tech training meeting from our ZL and the
Tech elders for our ipads..it was much needed. After we go to pick up our car
and we pull into the lot and our car is in the same spot and had snow and
icicles all over it and we walk in and our keys were in the same spot they were
when we left not only that but right on the front desk where anyone can pick
them up and take our car haha Cant miss them....huge Oregon duck lanyard! haha
We were able to get some things done in the mean time and when we got back to
B-ville we did some service for a potential. And then we had dinner with Shawna
and Skip! And then a lesson! Then we were able to go see Gina a LA who loves to
have us over....i love her! Anyways you all are probably bored...i feel like im
rambling.
We were able to finally get into another La Kathy Norris!
She is so sweet and has been through so much. We brought her some cookies and
the cool thing about it was that we walked all the way there! She addressed some
concerns...which was really cool. She talked about how she wasnt sure if it was
fair to the members that she was going to church and didnt have a strong
testimony of everything! And of course we explained to her that she is not the
only one...not only that! There isn't one person that doesnt have to always be
strengething there testimony of each aspect of the Gospel. The Gospel of Jesus
Christ is a Gospel of change. I told her that Heavenly Father is happy she is
there and that is what its about, not the members. She also expressed that she
loves the people.This moment is the highlight of my week. It was perfect and the
Lords hand was definitley in it! We asked her if she wanted to have the lessons
and that we could help her learn more of the basics and she agreed :) I love
her.
Elliot and Olivia are not progressing too much but i told them that i
would quit these 3 things if they quit smoking (weening ourselves off) 1. Eating
chocolate everyday 2. Popping my knuckles and everthing i pop in my body haha
3. Picking at my face. And they thought that was really cool. So i have
been working on it,,,it hasen't been easy! But Im excited to do this with them!
I got the idea from my dad when he quit drinking pepsi with his mom quiting
smoking!
Since church was canceld, as a district we had our own little meeting
via conference call! haha it was fun..i said the prayer, there were talks and
i bore my testimony, its wierd how you can have the Holy Ghost testify to you
during a conf,.call. It was awesome. I love my district.
There are
many other wonderful things that happened this week but dont have time to talk
about it all! haha but i love you all! Im so happy to have a knowledge of the
restored gospel. Im so blessed. I love life and im thankful for all the members
in this branch. They have been so sweet and thoughtful during this snowy time
and making sure that we are taken care of! "All is well, All is
well!"
Love love love Siesta Heywood! Happy 7 months to me! haha The
sweet home sisters just reminded me!
/video/mormon-messages?v=1101417650001
p.s. I also scheduled our mission prez to speak to the branch Easter
Sunday, April 20th! i hope i am here for it! Transfers are this saturday, We
think we are both staying! :) Cross your fingers!
