Yesterday I spent from 8 am personal study until 5 pm working with
the English Sisters and then went out with my Hermanas for a couple
hours. It was amazing! The Hermanas appointments fell thru and I was
like, "You can teach me if you like, since I'm cancelling
our normal Wednesday visit since I team-up with the English Sisters
again tomorrow." So we went to the park in the trailer park we were in and sat on some
big rocks. There they gave me a short lesson about the 10 commandments. I
remembered 6 on my own! After the lesson they were like, we should go
visit a member family who lives near here. I was
totally up for that. We walked to a nearby member family (branch Relief
Society president and Ward Mission leader) and talked with them for a bit, and
then they invited us in for dinner. Now I don't speak much Spanish but I understand a lot more than I speak. It was so neat listening to the Hermanas talk to the members and realizing that I was understanding about a third of what they were saying. It was also the first time I had ever had
authentic Mexican food, it was delicious!
Then today I literally spent from 8 am to 9 pm with the English
Sisters. We went to district meeting (again!) and I got the opportunity
to role-play with a pair of the Elders and I was able to contribute to
the discussion about missionary work! It was so
awesome! I had an interesting experience during personal study this morning. I had
planned to study lesson 1 in Preach My Gospel but couldn't seem to focus and decided to
study chapter 10 instead. Then in the district meeting we wind up
talking about parts of chapter 10 that I had just studied!!! I
love how the Spirit guides us!
Following the meeting we went home and
ate lunch. Afterwards we went and taught a new convert (the same one we taught last Thursday!), then went to
visit an investigator, tracted, and concluded with dinner and a short lesson with a member
family. Whew am I tired, but in such a good way! I
was so sad tonight when I left the Sisters apartment to go home for the
last time. I know that we will stay in touch, but with my lack of
transportation I do not know when I will next have the opportunity to
work with the missionaries again. The last two weeks,
spent largely in missionary work, have been the best two weeks of my
life and I am so excited for the day when I get to serve a full-time mission of my own.
Oh yeah, that scripture list I got from Sister Callister? I've
memorized 2 in the last 2 days. Acts 20:28-30 and Galatians 1:6-8 I have set a goal to memorize the entire
list (all 82 scriptures) by the end of the summer (Aug 1st). If anyone wants the list, just comment and I'll publish it in my next post.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
Awesome 30th Birthday Surprise
Wow! Nashville was a lot of fun. I didn't get called back for the
show, but it was fun anyway. For those who are wondering what show. I drove to Nashville to attend the open casting call for Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition. It was a really neat experience and even though I didn't get called back, I am glad I went. Saturday I got to see two temples in 4
hours. Stopped by the Nashville temple to take pictures and then stopped
at Birmingham Temple to take pictures as well
before heading home.
I got the most awesome birthday surprise ever on Saturday night, but first let me explain a bit. My cell phone fell and hit the ground as I unloaded the car from my trip to Nashville. I didn't think anything of it until I got into the apartment and tried to make a call. My touchscreen was completely dead! I freaked out, I mean I live alone I can't have no means of emergency contact! I drove to Wal-mart and their cell phone store was closed (this was around 10:30 pm) but something told me to go back to electronics, so I did and fortunately was able to buy a little cheap $20 phone. I went to the car, switched my SIM card over and drove home. Just a few moments after I got home my Dad called. We were talking and then the phone started echoing, like I could hear myself (the way you can if you are talking to someone who is on a phone in the same room) which I just thought was weird. I put down my stuff and went back to my front door to take out my keys and my DAD stepped out from the side of the building! I just stood there staring at him, in shock, for like a good 10-15 seconds (and for those of you who know me, you know its not easy to make me speechless) and then when I finally could talk again I was like "You can't be here, I'm talking to you on the phone!" (not my brightest statement ever..). I thought I was so stressed by my phone breaking the night before my birthday that I had to be hallucinating! Then I stepped forward to give him a hug and just kept repeating "Oh my gosh, you're here!" He flew into town to surprise me for my birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was so awesome. Sunday I got to take him to my ward and introduce him to my church family! Then we went to Alabaster ward for him to meet the English Sisters and lastly, over to Lorna Branch for him to meet the Spanish Sisters. It was so amazing having him with me during Sacrament meeting. I kept glancing over at him, like I couldn't believe he was there. It was literally the first time I had gone to Church with him since I was FOURTEEN! More than half my lifetime ago! This has (hands down) been the best birthday EVER!
Today was such a blast! The Sisters got permission from the Mission President to go to Airwalk on Preparation Day (which is Mondays in our mission). We had so much fun! Sister Robley has absolutely no fear. She was doing all sorts of cool flips and so was Sister Brown. Check out the video below where she and Sister Brown do a synchronized back-flip. They persuaded me to do a back-flip but I chickened out mid air and wound up just going backwards into the pit (and no I am not posting a video of my epic fail.)
I got the most awesome birthday surprise ever on Saturday night, but first let me explain a bit. My cell phone fell and hit the ground as I unloaded the car from my trip to Nashville. I didn't think anything of it until I got into the apartment and tried to make a call. My touchscreen was completely dead! I freaked out, I mean I live alone I can't have no means of emergency contact! I drove to Wal-mart and their cell phone store was closed (this was around 10:30 pm) but something told me to go back to electronics, so I did and fortunately was able to buy a little cheap $20 phone. I went to the car, switched my SIM card over and drove home. Just a few moments after I got home my Dad called. We were talking and then the phone started echoing, like I could hear myself (the way you can if you are talking to someone who is on a phone in the same room) which I just thought was weird. I put down my stuff and went back to my front door to take out my keys and my DAD stepped out from the side of the building! I just stood there staring at him, in shock, for like a good 10-15 seconds (and for those of you who know me, you know its not easy to make me speechless) and then when I finally could talk again I was like "You can't be here, I'm talking to you on the phone!" (not my brightest statement ever..). I thought I was so stressed by my phone breaking the night before my birthday that I had to be hallucinating! Then I stepped forward to give him a hug and just kept repeating "Oh my gosh, you're here!" He flew into town to surprise me for my birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was so awesome. Sunday I got to take him to my ward and introduce him to my church family! Then we went to Alabaster ward for him to meet the English Sisters and lastly, over to Lorna Branch for him to meet the Spanish Sisters. It was so amazing having him with me during Sacrament meeting. I kept glancing over at him, like I couldn't believe he was there. It was literally the first time I had gone to Church with him since I was FOURTEEN! More than half my lifetime ago! This has (hands down) been the best birthday EVER!
Today was such a blast! The Sisters got permission from the Mission President to go to Airwalk on Preparation Day (which is Mondays in our mission). We had so much fun! Sister Robley has absolutely no fear. She was doing all sorts of cool flips and so was Sister Brown. Check out the video below where she and Sister Brown do a synchronized back-flip. They persuaded me to do a back-flip but I chickened out mid air and wound up just going backwards into the pit (and no I am not posting a video of my epic fail.)
Friday, April 12, 2013
Best Week Ever?
OH MY LANTA! I don't even know where to begin. The last week has been the most amazing week of my life.
I've gotten to help the Sisters teach several times and it was awesome! I've been teaming-up with the Sisters daily since last Friday and just wow! Last Friday and Sunday I got to help teach investigators, Saturday I got to help teach a less active and I felt the Spirit at all of the lessons. As I spoke in the lessons, I could feel the Spirit confirming that what I was sharing was true. It was just a further confirmation that what I have been learning about the Gospel is His truth.
Monday and Tuesday, Sister Robley was really sick and had almost no voice, so I really had to help more with the teaching since she couldn't talk. Tuesday was so neat. I literally spent the whole day with the Sisters. I got to their apartment at 8 am and we did personal study and then companionship study. I learned so much about the Spirit Realm during our companionship study, then we went to a new convert’s house that afternoon and I was able to help Sister Brown teach about the Spirit Realm. What I had learned was new to me, but with the Spirit I was able to testify that I KNEW it was true. It has been so awesome being "Sister Cook" for these last few days.
Wednesday was also an all day team-up! I love companionship study!! We had Elder and Sister Callister, the mission's Master Teachers (they are called to teach the missionaries how to teach), over for lunch. Sister Brown made everything from scratch and it was all so delicious. During lunch I mentioned to the Callister's that I am planning on serving a mission once I've lost the necessary weight. Sister Callister then gave me a list of 82 scriptures to memorize (if you want it let me know and I can email it to you). She said if I memorize those and where they can be found (before I go on my mission) that I will be ahead of the curve when I get to the MTC! :) I have already started trying to memorize the first one. She also said I need to work on my language, "cool" and "awesome" are not allowed. :( So Wednesday and Thursday I tried to avoid using those words while out with the Sisters. Wednesday afternoon, we had had plans to go teach 2 people we met while we were tracting Sunday, but neither of them answered their doors when we went and knocked.
Oh my lanta! I almost forgot! Wednesday before the lunch, I was able to attend District Meeting with the Sisters. It felt kind of weird being there (especially with my wards Elders (Olson and Osiemo) sitting across the aisle), but I learned a lot. I hadn't planned on talking at all during the meeting, but Elder Nkambule (District Leader) asked for someone to read something and Sister Brown kept poking me, lol, and then volunteered me to read. It was so great getting to see how missionaries help each other at the meetings, sharing ideas for how to help invite the Spirit into their lessons and ideas on how to help get families more engaged in the Gospel!
Yesterday was wonderful too! I got to take the Hermanas (Schroeppel and Stevens) to an early lunch. We were talking during lunch and Sister Schroeppel mentioned she had been talking to Sister Brown about me and Sister Brown said that I was a great teacher and that I taught like a missionary (this made me smile) and not like a member. I told the Hermanas that I had been trying really hard to follow what it says in Preach My Gospel. To pray for my companions while they were teaching and to pay attention so that when I was prompted to speak, the Spirit would guide my words! Such an amazing experience!
Then I got to take the Sisters (Brown and Robley) to lunch. We talked a lot about the experiences of this past week. We had a planned lesson, but had to reschedule because there was a tornado watch and President Holzapfel told all the missionaries to go back to their apartments and stay there for the rest of the night. At the apartment I got to listen into a mission-wide conference call that the President held, on which he taught about the Gospel of Mark and how the part in 3rd Nephi where Christ appears is really like a 5th Gospel (in additional to the 4 most Christians know, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and pointed out how most people wish we knew more about Christ's life. He tied so many things together between the New Testament Gospel's and the Book of Mormon. He is such a great teacher!
Fortunately about an hour after the conference call, we received a text message indicating the tornado-spawning storm had moved on and we were clear to leave the apartment. So we all hurriedly switched back into skirts (Can you believe I've been in a skirt daily for the last 7 days?) since we'd all changed into jeans/shorts when the order came to stay home for the night. Then we went to the Reid's house (my friend Ashley's family) and taught a lesson about reading the Book of Mormon. Sister Brown had made them a reading chart to read 3 pages a day. She got all of the family to commit to read! How exciting!
Which brings me to today, today I got to take Hermana Coleman and her new companion, Hermana Nyland, out to lunch. I hadn't seen Hermana Coleman since she was transferred the day before Valentines. I was so super excited to see her and tell her all about my growth in the Gospel. I could see that she and her companion were both very happy with the progress I have made since she was transferred in February. After lunch I took them back to their apartment and was getting ready to leave when I noticed they were getting ready to ride and asked if I could give them and their bikes a ride. They weren't sure that we could get the bikes into the car, but I was able to teach them how to remove the front tires of their bikes and with the help of some men working nearby we were able to fit both bikes into the car (though poor Hermana Nyland was a bit squished in the back seat.) When we got to the library (where they were headed) I dropped them off and then taught them how to put the tires back on and test the brakes to make sure they were properly attached. I was grateful for the opportunity to be of service and I know they were grateful to not have to bike those miles (speaking of miles I know I have saved the English Sisters so many!).
I tell you, this last week has made me so happy doing missionary work (though it was more like missionary fun!). I am looking forward, even more now, to that day when I receive MY call to serve and can labor in the Lord's Vineyard full time for a season to help others come to know the peace and happiness that has been mine.
Lol, one last thing before I go. The Sisters know I plan to serve when I become eligible and Sister Robley's family lives in Utah. She invited me to come stay with them in Utah for a few days before I report to the MTC when that day comes. Sister Brown heard her and said she wants me to visit her in Arizona before I go in. I happened to mention this to Sister Schroeppel over lunch and she said I better visit her too and that Sister Robley better not monopolize me while I'm in Utah. I teased her about having first dibs and she was like "Yeah of course, I've known you the longest!" It will be so neat to spend a few days seeing Arizona and Utah before I report to the MTC for my own mission! But that's a ways away. For now I am continuing to study the scriptures and Preach My Gospel, so that I will be as deeply grounded in the Gospel as possible when my call to serve comes!
I've gotten to help the Sisters teach several times and it was awesome! I've been teaming-up with the Sisters daily since last Friday and just wow! Last Friday and Sunday I got to help teach investigators, Saturday I got to help teach a less active and I felt the Spirit at all of the lessons. As I spoke in the lessons, I could feel the Spirit confirming that what I was sharing was true. It was just a further confirmation that what I have been learning about the Gospel is His truth.
Monday and Tuesday, Sister Robley was really sick and had almost no voice, so I really had to help more with the teaching since she couldn't talk. Tuesday was so neat. I literally spent the whole day with the Sisters. I got to their apartment at 8 am and we did personal study and then companionship study. I learned so much about the Spirit Realm during our companionship study, then we went to a new convert’s house that afternoon and I was able to help Sister Brown teach about the Spirit Realm. What I had learned was new to me, but with the Spirit I was able to testify that I KNEW it was true. It has been so awesome being "Sister Cook" for these last few days.
Wednesday was also an all day team-up! I love companionship study!! We had Elder and Sister Callister, the mission's Master Teachers (they are called to teach the missionaries how to teach), over for lunch. Sister Brown made everything from scratch and it was all so delicious. During lunch I mentioned to the Callister's that I am planning on serving a mission once I've lost the necessary weight. Sister Callister then gave me a list of 82 scriptures to memorize (if you want it let me know and I can email it to you). She said if I memorize those and where they can be found (before I go on my mission) that I will be ahead of the curve when I get to the MTC! :) I have already started trying to memorize the first one. She also said I need to work on my language, "cool" and "awesome" are not allowed. :( So Wednesday and Thursday I tried to avoid using those words while out with the Sisters. Wednesday afternoon, we had had plans to go teach 2 people we met while we were tracting Sunday, but neither of them answered their doors when we went and knocked.
Oh my lanta! I almost forgot! Wednesday before the lunch, I was able to attend District Meeting with the Sisters. It felt kind of weird being there (especially with my wards Elders (Olson and Osiemo) sitting across the aisle), but I learned a lot. I hadn't planned on talking at all during the meeting, but Elder Nkambule (District Leader) asked for someone to read something and Sister Brown kept poking me, lol, and then volunteered me to read. It was so great getting to see how missionaries help each other at the meetings, sharing ideas for how to help invite the Spirit into their lessons and ideas on how to help get families more engaged in the Gospel!
Yesterday was wonderful too! I got to take the Hermanas (Schroeppel and Stevens) to an early lunch. We were talking during lunch and Sister Schroeppel mentioned she had been talking to Sister Brown about me and Sister Brown said that I was a great teacher and that I taught like a missionary (this made me smile) and not like a member. I told the Hermanas that I had been trying really hard to follow what it says in Preach My Gospel. To pray for my companions while they were teaching and to pay attention so that when I was prompted to speak, the Spirit would guide my words! Such an amazing experience!
Then I got to take the Sisters (Brown and Robley) to lunch. We talked a lot about the experiences of this past week. We had a planned lesson, but had to reschedule because there was a tornado watch and President Holzapfel told all the missionaries to go back to their apartments and stay there for the rest of the night. At the apartment I got to listen into a mission-wide conference call that the President held, on which he taught about the Gospel of Mark and how the part in 3rd Nephi where Christ appears is really like a 5th Gospel (in additional to the 4 most Christians know, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and pointed out how most people wish we knew more about Christ's life. He tied so many things together between the New Testament Gospel's and the Book of Mormon. He is such a great teacher!
Fortunately about an hour after the conference call, we received a text message indicating the tornado-spawning storm had moved on and we were clear to leave the apartment. So we all hurriedly switched back into skirts (Can you believe I've been in a skirt daily for the last 7 days?) since we'd all changed into jeans/shorts when the order came to stay home for the night. Then we went to the Reid's house (my friend Ashley's family) and taught a lesson about reading the Book of Mormon. Sister Brown had made them a reading chart to read 3 pages a day. She got all of the family to commit to read! How exciting!
Which brings me to today, today I got to take Hermana Coleman and her new companion, Hermana Nyland, out to lunch. I hadn't seen Hermana Coleman since she was transferred the day before Valentines. I was so super excited to see her and tell her all about my growth in the Gospel. I could see that she and her companion were both very happy with the progress I have made since she was transferred in February. After lunch I took them back to their apartment and was getting ready to leave when I noticed they were getting ready to ride and asked if I could give them and their bikes a ride. They weren't sure that we could get the bikes into the car, but I was able to teach them how to remove the front tires of their bikes and with the help of some men working nearby we were able to fit both bikes into the car (though poor Hermana Nyland was a bit squished in the back seat.) When we got to the library (where they were headed) I dropped them off and then taught them how to put the tires back on and test the brakes to make sure they were properly attached. I was grateful for the opportunity to be of service and I know they were grateful to not have to bike those miles (speaking of miles I know I have saved the English Sisters so many!).
I tell you, this last week has made me so happy doing missionary work (though it was more like missionary fun!). I am looking forward, even more now, to that day when I receive MY call to serve and can labor in the Lord's Vineyard full time for a season to help others come to know the peace and happiness that has been mine.
Lol, one last thing before I go. The Sisters know I plan to serve when I become eligible and Sister Robley's family lives in Utah. She invited me to come stay with them in Utah for a few days before I report to the MTC when that day comes. Sister Brown heard her and said she wants me to visit her in Arizona before I go in. I happened to mention this to Sister Schroeppel over lunch and she said I better visit her too and that Sister Robley better not monopolize me while I'm in Utah. I teased her about having first dibs and she was like "Yeah of course, I've known you the longest!" It will be so neat to spend a few days seeing Arizona and Utah before I report to the MTC for my own mission! But that's a ways away. For now I am continuing to study the scriptures and Preach My Gospel, so that I will be as deeply grounded in the Gospel as possible when my call to serve comes!
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Second Time Team-up
I got to go out with the Sisters again last night. We taught a
lesson to an investigator and then went tracting for about an hour. It
was so awesome! The lesson on Saturday was awesome (I am suffering from a
limited vocabulary these last few days, lol).
We had planned to teach about studying the scriptures and prayer but
wound up teaching about the Church. I paid close attention when the
Sisters were talking and was able to share my testimony about how this
is His church and has the same setup in Israel, Ancient
America, and in the modern day.
Sister Brown said I did really well. I’m just applying what I’ve been learning from Preach My Gospel. When your companion (or in my case, temporary companions) is teaching, pay attention and pray for them to know what to say. It was truly an amazing experience. I’ve gotten to help teach 3 times in 3 days and am going with them tonight to teach some people we met tracting last night!
And I am going to spend the next two WHOLE DAYS with the Sisters. On Tuesday and Wednesday I will join them in the morning for scripture study and will work with them the whole day. Then Thursday I take them to lunch after weekly planning is over and spend the rest of the afternoon with them. These recent experiences have really solidified my desire to serve a mission of my own when I am eligible. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention; on Wednesday the Sisters have a district meeting and got permission for me to attend with them. I’m so psyched! By the time I leave for Nashville, I will have gotten to serve and do His work for 7 days straight! Its funny, 4 months ago I’d’ve laughed if someone had told me that I would be so happy and excited to be spending almost my entire birthday vacation working with the missionaries, but I am truly loving doing His work & am more excited about doing His work than I am about going to Nashville this weekend!
My friend didn’t make it to Conference but I sent her the link so she can watch it online at home if she wants to. I’ve watched both Sunday sessions and the Saturday morning session. I’m going to watch the Saturday afternoon session on Thursday morning before I go out with the Sisters. Conference was awesome!!
Sister Brown said I did really well. I’m just applying what I’ve been learning from Preach My Gospel. When your companion (or in my case, temporary companions) is teaching, pay attention and pray for them to know what to say. It was truly an amazing experience. I’ve gotten to help teach 3 times in 3 days and am going with them tonight to teach some people we met tracting last night!
And I am going to spend the next two WHOLE DAYS with the Sisters. On Tuesday and Wednesday I will join them in the morning for scripture study and will work with them the whole day. Then Thursday I take them to lunch after weekly planning is over and spend the rest of the afternoon with them. These recent experiences have really solidified my desire to serve a mission of my own when I am eligible. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention; on Wednesday the Sisters have a district meeting and got permission for me to attend with them. I’m so psyched! By the time I leave for Nashville, I will have gotten to serve and do His work for 7 days straight! Its funny, 4 months ago I’d’ve laughed if someone had told me that I would be so happy and excited to be spending almost my entire birthday vacation working with the missionaries, but I am truly loving doing His work & am more excited about doing His work than I am about going to Nashville this weekend!
My friend didn’t make it to Conference but I sent her the link so she can watch it online at home if she wants to. I’ve watched both Sunday sessions and the Saturday morning session. I’m going to watch the Saturday afternoon session on Thursday morning before I go out with the Sisters. Conference was awesome!!
Saturday, April 6, 2013
First Time Team-up
I went on a team-up with the English sisters after work last
night. It was awesome; I got to go with them to teach an investigator. I
was nervous but think it went well. Sister Brown and Sister Robley
taught about the Restoration and the truthfulness
of the Book of Mormon, then Sister Brown gives me this pointed look and
mentally I’m like, oh I should say something now, and so I sort of bore
my testimony about how through my own personal studies I have come to
KNOW that the Book of Mormon is true and that
she (the investigator) could do the same. Felt kind of weird when the
Sisters referred to me as Sister Cook, but I need to get used to that.
I am going with them to another appointment tonight. Yesterday was kind of spur of the moment, but tonight I will be prepared. I asked them what will they be teaching about and they said they’ll be teaching about reading the scriptures and praying. This is beyond awesome because the very first time I taught the Hermanas my lesson was from Chapter 2 on how to study the scriptures. I am excited to review my lesson notes and scriptures so that I can contribute more confidently tonight.
I’m looking forward to hearing the Conference talks. Both of today’s sessions will be over by the time I get home from work but I am definitely going to both sessions tomorrow. This will be the first time in my life that I actively watch/listen to all 4 regular sessions of General Conference. My appointment with the Sisters tonight isn’t until 7 pm, so I will have time to watch a session after work before I go out with them.
Speaking of missionary work, a couple weeks ago I invited a non-member friend at work to come to Conference with me. She’s going to meet me at the Bessemer Stake center tomorrow for the afternoon session of Conference. I am super psyched for her to go!
I am going with them to another appointment tonight. Yesterday was kind of spur of the moment, but tonight I will be prepared. I asked them what will they be teaching about and they said they’ll be teaching about reading the scriptures and praying. This is beyond awesome because the very first time I taught the Hermanas my lesson was from Chapter 2 on how to study the scriptures. I am excited to review my lesson notes and scriptures so that I can contribute more confidently tonight.
I’m looking forward to hearing the Conference talks. Both of today’s sessions will be over by the time I get home from work but I am definitely going to both sessions tomorrow. This will be the first time in my life that I actively watch/listen to all 4 regular sessions of General Conference. My appointment with the Sisters tonight isn’t until 7 pm, so I will have time to watch a session after work before I go out with them.
Speaking of missionary work, a couple weeks ago I invited a non-member friend at work to come to Conference with me. She’s going to meet me at the Bessemer Stake center tomorrow for the afternoon session of Conference. I am super psyched for her to go!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)