Date
January 8, 2019
Area
Sikeston, MO
Companion
Sister Carroll
what am I, dumb or stupid???
Most exciting thing this week: We had this Bible referral so we drove out to where she lived and parked in front of her house in the grass. In my defense before I even get into this story, 1. everyone in MO just parks in the grass, literally EVERYONE and 2. the ground looked TOTALLY DRY. We taught her the Restoration and left with a return appointment for next week. We go to leave and our car literally got stuck SO DEEP in the mud - LIKE BAD. #statesideprobs This CRAZY OLD (like 84, okay) landlord lady comes out YELLINGGGG at us, calling us 3 year olds and then called the Sheriff on us to which sis carroll and I said, whatever. Long story short, the sheriff was a HUGE MIRACLE- he called a towing truck then PAID that money for us, talked to the mean old lady and told her not to worry about the insurance and that he was going to cover it AND THEN he texted us later that night to make sure we made it home safe and I say, "wow I have a finger without a ring on it after my mission if you're wondering." We need more good people like that in this world. Craziest part about all of this - the referral still loves us and still wants us to come back even though we D E S T R O Y E D her yard - blessings of tithing.
HERE'S THE MOST EXCITING NEWS OF ALL: Nancy (my first baptism) messaged me this week and told me that SHE'S GOING THROUGH THE TEMPLE IN APRIL SO I GET TO GO. I am sooooo excited and happy for her. She has had THE HARDEST time giving up smoking and other issues, so honestly, wasn't sure if she was going to be able to make it BUT HERE SHE IS. I am SO excited and April couldn't come soon enough!!! LOVE HER.
We started the new Come Follow Me program this week which I LOVE. We went over to our Bishops home (fav people in Sikeston) and literally I realized how much I don't know about the Bible and how awesome it is going to be to study it this way. Things I learned: 1. Elisabeth was John the Baptist's mom?? - honestly had never phased me before 2. Christ was a descendant of King David who is the same David in the Goliath story, shook to my core. I went home that night and said to myself, Heavenly Father works with imperfect people and it doesn't matter how much I know or don't know for Him to help me be a good missionary.
We had dinner at a lady's home who is OBSESSED with Essential Oils so I was telling her what kinds I take. Sister Carroll a couple of weeks ago noticed that it said external use only and I literally drink them straight all of the time (moms fault, she's the one that taught me). I was asking this lady what she thought about it and she said, "well, it might be poisoning you" and I said, well good - still taking them internally, oops.
On New Year's Day we went and visited a couple we are currently teaching that live in the GHETTO which is literally 1 mile away from our house. They were asking us if we heard all of the many gun shots and fireworks going off at midnight HAHA. Thank heavens the Holy Ghost is with us and helps us sleep through LOTS of guns.
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT- I have been thinking back to the beginning of my mission and have been trying to think of all of the small & big miracles I have seen throughout the (almost) full year that I've been out. What has been so neat about doing this is that I'm very aware of how much God blesses each of His children. I talk a lot about how much I literally LOVE my mission and I wish I could put into greater words how I truly feel but this verse has so much more meaning now that I can relate, for real:
Alma 26:16 Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.
If I had the choice to extend for 10 more years I'd take it in 2 seconds. I am grateful for each experience I have had on my mission and something that I realized this week is that I can continue to feel this great joy the rest of my life. I know that I feel this way because I have focused on reaching outwards and serving others and I know that that feeling won't go away once I'm home. We are all called to be missionaries and literally just like the rap mission song we listen to each pday, my missionary name tag is written on my heart forever.
LOVE YOU ALL
sis b
pic 1: PANTSSS
pic 2: slowly digging myself into a ditch :)))
pic 3 & 4: tracting in the COLDDD- Mo weather must be from Sikeston bc it's on drugs. It's 60's at the beginning of the week and 30 by the end
pic 5: FB pros
pic 6: in front of a haunted house