Week 10

SIS E IS BEING MOVED!!!!!!!!!!!WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO NWAJHWSUBEHE

I helped packed her up. 

Week 10:

Tuesday- 

We got a call during our personal study from a new convert. She got CPS called on her and her kids were going to be taken away and had dog control or something like that called. she wanted us to come over and help. She has about 12 dogs in a tiny home: the floor, walls, kids, food, furniture, all covered in poop and pee. The kids don't go to school and are living in filth. We knew this was a hard decision but we felt like we couldn't go over. As sad as it is, this needed to happen and she needs help, her kids need help. We felt prompted to call the bishop and her ministering sisters but not go. Everyone we called wanted to help but was also feeling the same way as us. Me and Sister Erickson decided we'd go over tonight to see what happened and help her clean up the house after CPS has come, i don't think we could have but by chance we covered up the mess the children and her would never get the help they need. CPS didn't come today and she cleaned all day, some members went to help. 

We had two service projects today and my hands have a bunch of little blisters. My arms and back are so sore I put my all into the yard work today. We had almost no finding time. We had a Great Bible study with a new person I found on Sunday. We read like 3 verses and he goes "ooo mmmm i like that what but what it mean. What it saying. Hhhhmmmm okay I like that." At the end of the call he prayed and was like okay call tomorrow so we can read again byeeee. He's such a king. After Sister Liu wanted to feed us but had a zoom call so she sent us home with it and I'm so ungrateful but it was so scary looking and was not good so I didn't eat it all. I feel AWFUL. We were able to find a new guy named John today. We are going to see him Saturday morning and then he's coming to the ward party!!! We had our friend Kevin cancel on us today -_- bad Kevin. 

I got told "ya well you don't have outward talents but you have inward ones"…. I'm a Lil confused, was that supposed to be a compliment. My tongue is swollen with how much I have to bite it.

#becomingchristlikeslowly

 #stillgottaRepentformythoughts

Most favorite thing ever. Doug is a roller skater. This 66 year man is busting out moves while skating. It makes me crack up. He invited us to come skating with him for our pday. We didn't have time but he goes every Monday so maybe one day lol. 

Wednesday- 

Today was a whiplash. Had the worst headache all day. Felt really sick and I hurt my back during a service project whoops. I gave a training during district council and I actually feel really good about it. During our finding Block we went to go see our self referrals that never responded. We got to meet Deborah and she said that she wanted to cancel her referral we kept talking with her and invited her to the Halloween ward party. She was like hmmm okay I wanna come to that but yall have to look for me and sit with me and we were like of course!!!! She's a queen.

 Then we met Chris. She was a random lady painting a shed. Basically we told her hi and she was like come look I'm learning to paint. She then talked to us for 25ish minutes about her dad who passed away. This was his house that she was fixing up. His name was Eddie and he was a legend. He literally did everything. She told us to call upon Eddie when we need an angel. She was the most lovely person I've ever met. While she was talking about her dad it made me think of how amazing my parents are. They're also legends. After that we knocked a few houses and then had to leave for our member meal. Sister Rust fed us so much food and all gluten free and dairy free. She made the most divine fried zucchini and fed us lemon bars and coconut macaroons for dessert. She is the kindest lady ever. We also stopped and visited another member. She taught a lesson on Sunday and I could just tell something wasn't right. Long story short she needed that visit. I love this lady with my whole heart. We called a few more people and got two lessons set up out of it. I'm not sure I've ever had a migraine but I imagine what I'm feel is one? My head is pounding and my eyes feel filled with pressure and the back of my head/ neck is killing and lights make it all worse. I made Sister Erickson keep all the lights off and do the calls because looking at a screen was killing. You're welcome for this pointless tangent 

Thursday- 

Sis Hoyt was losing it today. STLs are queens and are doing another training visit for me on Monday. I literally wouldn't survive without them. Today I woke up and aggressively vacuumed since my lovely comp didn't do it Monday and has been reminded kindly all week but has decided to crochet instead. I then repented for being aggressive about vacuuming and being upset over soemthing so silly. I love the atonment. 

We did some studying at the library and went to visit a member. She has been baptized for a year and no one has taught her about the temple. I literally had to control myself because my comp blamed it on her trainer but I was like haven't you been here for 6 months? How come you or no one before you have taught her any of the lessons after she was baptized?? I wonder why so many people have become inactive and then I look at the lack of teaching. I KNOW I'M SO UNCHRISTLIKE RIGHT NOW. I will do better. All I can do is try and help the area. Damage control. Our ward missionaries are taking over the recent convert lessons so that will be so nice. The more people reaching out the better. 

We visited a few cute inactive members and Hyped them up for the Halloween party woohooo!!! We went finding and came upon an awful situation and had to leave oh so quickly and then I prayed for like 30 minutes in my head to feel better. We found a guy who only speaks French and we called up the French speaking sisters and they were able to talk with him and he wants to come to church and the ward party. It was so fun to have this three way conversation. He's the nicest but we need to get permission for the sisters to come to our ward party so he can actually communicate with people. After that we don't know what we will do because he doesn't have a car so hes unable to attend the french ward but our ward doesn't have a French interpretation. Sooo kind of stressful because he's really interested. We then had two lessons. I've been praying all day for patience but I think if I had 5 minutes alone to just decompress I'd be a lot more prepared for the rest of the day. I really need my heart softened. 

Friday- 

Friday morning training was actually so good and so was my mentoring session. We did some role-playing of extending commitments and following up with blessings and the spirit was so strong. Anytime you testify of Jesus Chirst and the spirit goes crazy. We did some amazing weekly planning and text like 20 members to find someone available to come to our lessons with friends. After we did some finding and member stop bys. 

Sooooo get ready for this. We are keeping the French speaking friend and I'm going to learn French. Hahahah pray for me. He's never heard of Jesus Christ and is from South Africa. We are starting from the beginning and I LOVE that. Talking about Jesus Christ always makes me so emotional so I'm pumped for the spirit that will be in our lessons. We had a great meal with a part member family so that means the wife is a member but the husband is not. He slid out a few anti comments and his wife got so mad at him. He's really kind though and I guess I'm the first missionary he has actually liked in a long time so that's some added pressure. He asked me a lot about my family and my time as a missionary so far. He also got really concerned about my safety and told me to call Sister Brown over housing and explain what's going on. Some of our neighbors might be really not good (don't worry mom haha) He also said he has some free rooms if there's ever an emergency and that we are welcome to store any of our luggage at his house to free up some room. He is very nice. I can see how sad it makes his wife though that he's against the church. He still comes to church with her but doesn't believe in Jesus Christ. He is from Iran and has family all over the world. I'm hoping to do some lessons with him if I can get him to open up. 

It was like 7:30 and so dark outside and we went to visit an inactive member and their scary scary dog was outside the garage barking. I felt really cautious about the dog but it disappeared so I made a run for the door. On our way to the car I ran back and told Sister Erickson I would push her down if the dog came at us. Was I joking? ……. No comment

I just realized I was happier today, found more joy in the work due to more patience and charity. What made the change? Possibly my spoken out loud heartfelt prayer this morning that I kind of forgot about?? Hmmm just a thought. I think I was down to only one maybe two impatient thoughts today. 

Saturday: 

We needed a French Book of Mormon asap and one person in our zone had one. So we drove up to Kirtland to meet them and they were also meeting one of the Elders dad there who was on a work trip and they were spending the morning together. How precious is that. Anywho we acquired the Book and zoomed out to go do our studies. Another surprise sis hoyt got sooooooo sick. I haven't had gluten so not sure what the cause was. The work must go on.

 We had a member meal for lunch and it was so lovely. I felt the spirit so strong in our lesson with her and in our invitation for her. We invited her to do something that was out of her comfort zone but I know there is a purpose behind it. She wanted to say the closing prayer and the spirit was so strong sis hoyt had some teary eyes after. After she asked me how I dealt with the social anxiety while being on my mission and without a hesitation I said scriptures. In my head I was immediately like be so for real right now sis Hoyt but honestly and truly I've found so much that has helped me in the scriptures. Experiences, promises, stories that have provided comfort, strength, and solutions. She then gave me the best mom substitute hug. I have cried like 4 times today. The spirit is going crazy. 

Let me get into the rest of the day. We did some finding/ stop bys and I met the most wonderful lady named Denise! She was so funny she was laughing, screaming and dancing. I love her. We are coming back to teach her next week. We called our online friend Lauren and we talked about our divine destiny and how we are daughters of God. She said the most beautiful prayer literally talked about being thankful for prophets and the reminder of how much God loves her and a bunch of other stuff. It was like two minutes long and even though it was over the phone the spirit was so strong. After her prayer I started talking with her about the spirit and I was choking back my tears. That keeps happening out here. I hate it it's so embarrassing but I love all these experiences. 

I cried for a fat minute over everything going on at home and with our friends. Our sweet Keith went back to drugs and that's why he didn't come to the ward party. My heart was so saddened. Then I got a text that my cat died and the tears just kept coming.I really feel like everything that is going on is trying to force me to go home right now. I feel like tangled rn. Running around happy then sobbing, running around happy, then sobbing. This isn't very missionary of me. To get back to the task at hand I then started to think. Satan wants me to go home because he is afraid of the work I am about to do. He knows I'm going to invite everyone and slowly but surely bring people to Jesus Christ. Sooo with that being said. Weak try Satan but I'm gonna continue to do this great work. I'm not out here for me and I love that. These months are for the lord and gathering his people and as I've been out here I know this is what I want to do. I was weak and was thinking about myself and as soon as I shut that up and went back to work I was fine. "Forget yourself and get to work" amen to that. Think celestial is my motto. 

Sunday: 

I decided to fast today and it was a really great Sunday all about ministering! Doug and Keith came to church so that was so amazing!! We got a text from our online friend Lauren today and all she said was hey Sister I just wanted to let you know that I love you and appreciate you. My whole heart melted. I love doing the lords work. 

Monday: 

Literally the best day ever. It was training visits and I sobbed but then we went to work lol. We found 5 new people today. Met a referral for the first time and invited her to be baptized on the first visit. Spirit was so strong and she is so excited to get baptized!!! 

We had an amazing visit with an older lady and she talked our ear off but I love it. She kept saying how small I was and then said at the end I'm gonna call you my small little angel with the big heart. I sobbed be so for real I love this woman. We taught two restoration lessons and the spirit was POWERFUL. I fight tears everytime I say the first vision. Why it gotta be like that. 

We found and taught a lady today that read the Book of Mormon back in 2008 and knew it was true so she came to church but eventually got overwhelmed with life and stopped coming. She is now ready to learn and wants to do missionary visits and come to church. She bore her testimony that she may not know much but she does know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. The spirit again was sooo strong. I felt like I taught so strongly in unity with Sister Thomas and we went ham today. We followed the spirit and miracles happened. I needed this today. Also she had me read something for my personal study and a whole new light came to my brain. I realized things I've never known about myself. What a fantastic day in the service of the lord. I love this work. I want to be doing this. Ohhhh I want to go to Shaker heights so badly. That's where I was today and I just could see myself here with these people. I wish I could take them back to my area with me. Who knows, maybe I'll move here soon. I hope!!!! I pray!!!! This also might be the area that no one's opens doors because we're in cleveland and they just yell through the door it's not safe here for you but I love the thrill. 

Tuesday: 

Happy Halloween? 

Started off with ghost shaped pancakes I made for myself. The only celebrating I will be allowed time for today. We then had an amazing lesson with Lauren over the phone. She is committing to meet with missionaries in her area and go to church!!! So exciting. Shes my companions social media friend so when my comp leaves I wont be able to teach her. Which is such a shame because me and Lauren are besties. 

Then I had 5 minutes for lunch so I just grabbed snacks my mom sent because my comp used our lunch hour to go pick up her package. We're on our way to Walmart When we got a call so we pulled over Into what we thought was a trailer park and did a bible study. A truck drove past us and locked us into the construction site with no exit. We had to call Solons 911 to come and help us. I was full of panic when I realized we had no way out lol. We did not make it to walmart. Spent two hours in the dark in the car waiting for the cops to come and help us. It resolved with us leaving the vehicle and having a member come get us. We finally got home at 9. 

Wednesday: 

Our member drove us back to the vehicle and this angry white woman came and yelled at us and the member went straight into mama bear mode. Telling them that it was dark and that there's no sign designating the area as private property and how the owner drove past us and definitely saw us so it's his fault. The lady was being so ridiculous she was like this is a private business and again we explained how we thought it was a trailer park area. But that her boss drove straight past us and we had our lights on and he locked us in here. Explained we called the cops and they contacted the owner. Anyways the lady was angry over there being a parked car. I wanted to be like girl do you think that's how we wanted to spend our halloween??? Some people need some more Jesus. 

Anywho we moved on to our studies and received a call from our friend! She's currently living with a witch doctor who wants 3 wives and 6 kids and is an angry alcoholic. She has decided God is trying to tell her to get out of this situation and I was like yes yes and yes. We called and had the most profound lesson. I feel bad I talked the whole time and left nothing for my comp but oh well the spirit kept filling my mouth. I'll give yall a snippet of it. She was talking about trying to repent but feeling back she keeps making the same mistakes and she's like I don't want God to think I'm not actually sorry when I keep repenting for the same thing. My response but less poetic: this is why the savior is vital. He knows our hearts and desires. He knows how hard Satan tempts us and he's aware of Satan's tactics. Satan will use the same method of attack over and over again. He finds our weakness and he plays against it but our savior knows what it's like to feel those temptations and to give in. He has already paid for every single mistake. Every sin. It's already covered, already paid for. All you have to do is keep turning to him. Keep repenting and keep striving to do better. It was so lovely and then we talked about Daniel and the way it relates to king Noah and abinadi. God tells King Noah that because of his wickedness he will be slow to hear his cries and answer him. I want to emphasize the choice word of slow. Despite king Noah being raised in the truth he goes on to deny God and make choices contrary to God's commandments BUT God still hears his prayer and still answers. The word God used was slow. He is a just God. 

We had a great lesson with Keith and we took a photo together just in case for transfers. Then we had an amazing lesson with Doug and he gave us candy and we also took a photo with him. Afterwards, we went to an ice cream store as a district to open our transfer news. I was relieved to be staying in Solon and getting a new companion. I am sad that only one of my current stls are staying. 

Excited for this new transfer, it's only 5 weeks. I'm more excited to go see Sister Jacobson on Friday and hug her to death. She can't escape me were definitely sitting together for the little new missionary orientation.