We are switching these emails up a little. So last week I was so busy and had no time to write an email which is why nobody received one and I slacked at responding to past emails. Forgive busy Sister Hoyt and know if I didn't respond I love you, I pray for you, and I always read each email I receive.
INVINTATIONS:
I invite all of you, yes ALL to read “Lessons from Liberty Jail”
Set reading goals that will help you A- come to know your Savior and B- Increase your faith ( make them specific
If you struggle with comphrehension please use your rescoures aka BOM and Bible videos, come follow me, and other gospel library tools. Missionaries are a great rescource as well- come pick our brains and lets study together.
Friends who are starting their religion journey. I am able to get permission to do studies with you and teach you AND I would LOVE to if you are interested!!!!!
Pick a Christlike attribute to work on for an entire month
Why these invitations?
It is VITAL to know your Savior and understand his love and doctrine. There is no better way to learn of him than through scriptures and actively pursuing to be like him. Learn of me, Come follow me- these are the invitations the Savior extends to all of us.
Blessings of studying the word of God: 1 Nephi 10:19, 2 nephi 32:3, Mosiah 1: 6-7, Alma 17:2-3, Alma 32: 42-43, Alma 49:30, D&C 90:24, D&C 130:19
We need these blessings each and every single one of us. “ Oh my life is so hard” “ I feel no guidance” “ I don’t feel loved” “I don’t understand why bad things keep happening” “Why me” “Can’t I get a break” “Where are my loved ones who passed” “Can I ever be forgiven” These and many more questions are valid thoughts and concerns. Our answers lie with the Savior and in his doctrine HE established many many years ago. We all have questions we all need support and comfort. Do the work to recieve what you seek.
I am super Hung up on the phrase “ Prove me NOW herewith” - Malachi 3:10
“Prove you herewith” - D&C 98:12
“We will prove them” - Abraham 3:25
In these invintaitons the lord is literally saying follow my commandments and test me. See if I won’t just slam down on you with blessings. Watch me, watch what I will do when you heed my words. Then he invites us to prove oursleves. Show me your devotion, take what I have given you and use it, put it into action. Proceeding to show our purpose on life. We will prove them- we will be tested and tried to see if we will follow him and do what he has asked.
How cool is it to know the Lord always upholds his end of the deal. Come and see the miracles that await. He invites us to take a leap of faith and see what will happen. The outcome is sure, set in stone.
Tuesday-
Not my favorite day but I met and taught Donnie who is awesome! Sadly not in my area we were on training visits. Came home and had some severe repenting to do for my eternal language.
Wednesday-
Me and Sister H had some good talks in the morning while exercising. I had some venting that was much needed followed by some repenting. I hooked us up with my special pancakes and they were delicious. We had a ton of cancellations right off in the beginning but then God filled our scheudle. We got a call from a lady who wasn’t a member about her member husband. He had been in a motorcycle accident and is living in a care home. He is now bed bound and completley nonverbal. When she asked him if he wanted the sisters to come by he shook his head up and down. SO of course we went straight there and spent over an hour reading and talking with him. I think he really enjoyed it. It made me quite sad and really miss my job. President Joe Jackson called to let us know that he might not be able to join us tomorrow( kirtland historic site with a freind) because he would be with Elder Uchtdorf. BRUH. sTAY TUNED. We went to visit a member and she had an eviction notice on her apartment from over two weeks ago…. tried calling, texting, emailing. I got dog poop on my shoes and all over the car. I thought SIS H was tooting … realized my shoes were coated in dog poop. We went on quite the adventure to get it off in time for our member meal. We had a lovely night with Sister Manning. She’s awesome. She fed us SOOO much food. I prayed for strength to finish it and then she brought out dessert… God strengthens us. We saw Doug and had the best sit down. He loved the family proclamation to the world.
Thursday-
Got mcdonalds sprite and mango pineapple smoothies for our trip up to kirtland. We took Micheal on a tour of the historic site with some senior missionaries and one of our ward missionaries, Brother Harber. IT WAS AWESOME. Walking into the school of prophets was unreal. The spirit was so beautifully prominent. The tour took forever but no complaints. Micheal loved it and so did I. Had some dinner with Sister Larsen and she told us some pretty cool miracles. God is so good.
Friday-
Today we went up to Kirtland for interviews. I was praying we’d see Elder Uchtdorf. Sadly we did not. Interviews went great and I was told some cool things. Also was given a hint about transfers. President told us he really wants to keep us together because of the work we are doing and so the only way we'd be separated was if the spirit said differently. Gave a training that went pretty well. Headed home for weekly planning and some contacting.
Saturday-
Only eventful things we called a cute new referall named Cheryl and she is the CUTEST. She says amen every two words and loves Jesus. So excited to teach her. Saw Sister Marsek who's amazing and talked our ear off. I love when we just get to listen, it’s refreshing. Had a member meal with the Cannons, who knows some of my family. Had amazing tacos.
Sunday-
Church was so good. Latonya came and absolutely loved it. Doug also came. The talks were perfect for our friends. Latonya stayed for the baptism after church!!! Had dinner with the Smiths who fed us tri tip. So good. Went to a Why I Believe devotional and our friend Socrates came with Brother Harber.
Monday-
We saw our friend Marie and she was outside and asked us to follow us to her friends house because her abusive roommate was home and he hates religion. So when her friend pulled up he must have said no because he drove off and Marie started getting in our car and we had to awkwardly tell her we can’t give her a ride. Then we went back to her house and she cussed Jim out, flipped him off, and then we went inside to the kitchen. We taught a few things but she mostly just complained forever without taking a breath. It was crazy but I think she really needed it. Found out I have some good Ole skin cancer. I have a mole that is now doubled in size is spotty, a different color, and rough in texture. Now if I paid attention in anatomy I'd call that all the signs of skin cancer.
Tuesday-
HOLY MOLY THE SPIRIT
Started off with a baller arm workout topped with some pancakes made to perfection. I had the most AMAZING personal study of my life. I was crying and found the most perfect things for Doug and Micheal. We had apartment checks and made cookies for the Senior couple and shared a cute message with them. We had a good companion study talking about our friends and what I found in my personal study. We had a good call with Keith. Spat some spiritual bars. Did a bunch of texts with spiritual messages attached. Had a quick lunch so I could start typing up this email. Main part and important part of today. We had a POWERFUL lesson with Doug. Id say our best lesson yet. We got him commited to following the Word of Wisdom and picking a day for baptsim. Had to fight back some tears in the lesson. Jesus Christ was very much with us today. He always is but today was very easy to feel him and our friends recognized it. So grateful for the power of prayer before studies and lessons, and just in general. Well we had a similar lesson with Micheal and basically told him to Choose God this day and shared the Lessons from liberty Jail talk and story with him. It was intensely powerful and we expressed how even though he's in hell from his arm he has to quit smoking NOW. Choose him THIS day. He commited to quitting for real. Brother Harber gave him a blessing and it was miraculous. Micheal had no words and the room was overflowing with peace. We sat there for a good minute before talking. A night to remember.
Doug said “you've gained an inch and I said in height? No in filling out. You were a little thing when I first met you. you have gained weight a little bit. Your clothes look nice on you.” Awkwardly, offensively laughed.
Called me a firecracker
Wednesday-
Let's skip to the main part. I got a blessing right before finding out transfer information and it was beautiful, profound, everything I needed. Well then disaster struck when I opened the email and saw I was getting transferred to Tallmadge to be a SMS(social media specialist) in a ysa ward. Here's the positive and tender mercy I'm close enough I can come up for the baptisms. Bad news I am leaving and won't be in the same zone conference as Sister Heaton so I will not see her and I will be leaving the Kirtland zone. Being in the Kirtland zone has been a blessing. It's every Ohio missionary dream. The spirit is amazing. I perchance sobbed my face off for hours. President really pranked us but I guess the spirit told him we both needed to be with different people and I needed to go. Back to positive sister Thomas my first stl that I loved is once again my STL. My companion is right out of training so I'm sure she'll be a fireball of energy. Now you're thinking wow Sister Hoyt this is real positive of you… should of seen me sobbing saying I can't do this. Perchance I am terrified, nervous, anxious, etc. BUT I however do trust in the lord and am determined to increase that trust and learn to really rely on him. Saddest part I told Brother Mcgovern while he was at band practice and performances I would come sit with his wife(who has dementia) so he wouldn't worry about someone being there that didn't know what to do. I had already planned to do her nails, hair, planned what songs I was going to sing to her. Haha well sister Heaton will have to do it for me. I was excited to have a small piece of home with me out here. I realized I have awful social skills when it comes to YSA aged people (young single adults) I am a lot better with old people but I guess this will be a great learning opportunity. Today we taught Latonya and we had a great lesson. We started with 3 nephi 11 which was a wonderful pick because she was going to ask us about Mark 4 and 10 and all of them went perfectly together. So anywho we had a deep wonderful study. We also had distinct council which was a grand time. Our district leader brought the spirit strongly with what he had prepared.
Thursday:
Awful I had to say goodbye to so many wonderful people. It felt like I was leaving home again. Sappy texts from members and friends make me sob. Sister Heaton was probably terrified that the tears never stopped(she's a supportive queen) she for real is one of My best friends and will be at the airport when I come home. I want to throw up at the idea of not waking up with her and exercising and teaching and napping and etc. We got called the dynamic duo by so many members and that's such a shame it has to end. Anywho I saw lots of members and also taught some lessons. Main ones were my last lesson with Keith Kenny and brother Harber. They always make me laugh so hard. Then we had a great dinner with Doug and The Berretts. They're like a second family at this point. I love them so much and they sent me the sweetest message that made me sobbed… surprised? No. Packed up my whole life and had a struggle getting everything into the car whoops I've been hoarding stuff. Pure chaos trying to pack but sis H made me laugh the whole time and was a super helper.
Friday: liberty jail -
Okay that's a bit of a dramatic name but today was not it. We got us and finished packing and then got an email that transfers were delayed. We'll when it was time to go I needed to pick up a prescription and couldn't find my wallet, so had to go without it hehehe not good… panicked. Anywho the roads were AWFUL. Not plowed at all. Multiple cars stuck. I was drifting like a queen boss woman. After about 30 minutes we got to the plowedish part of the freeway and no longer had to go 30 in a 65. I made Sister H hold my hand the whole way to transfers while I sobbed. The anxiety, doubt, worry, was too much. I realized wow what little faith and then pulled it together. When we arrived the tears started again as soon as President came up to me. Here's how the conversation went…
Him: you're still going to talk to me?
Me: haha yes President you did throw me a surprise. I wasn't prepared for that
Him: I know but I was very prayerful about you and Sister Heaton and I know this is the right decision. You're needed in Tallmadge.
Me: *in tears* okay I needed to hear it from you. Basically blabbering about how I trust but felt like I was leaving home again.
Anywho then I saw my new comp and cried again. I really don't know what's wrong with my emotions lol but I have to be honest. Someone should count how many times I cried in the last three days. Anywho I made some elders move my bags for me into my new car and drove us to my new home. So our car was like half broken. Our area book was a mess. They had referrals not contacted from over a week ago *10 to be exact* I about threw up. Positive side our apartment is huge and I have my own bathroom and it's double the size of my last. Oh forgot we taught a lesson before getting to the apartment. It was fantastic. I'm terrified my new comp is a cutie but her first trainer slept for about 4 hours in the morning and some other not good stuff. Her second comp was so burnt out and also perchance did not teach her or be obedient. So cute Sister Haslam is a bit lost and scared herself. Also found out we are double covering an area. Pure chaos. Basically what this means is were over a normal family ward and then the YSA ward. So we're attending both churches, teaching all age groups, visiting all members from both, attending institute, attending all ysa activities, and on top of that must call all the companions in the zone every week and then have a seperate call with every district leader. I was like okay okay act calm don't scare new comp I got this. No fear but inside I was dying.
Saturday:
I don't even know what happened today. Jumped right into it. Found out some other SMS duties. I now run the Northeast Ohio Christian page. So go follow! I have to make posts every three days. Anywho we taught a fire lesson with a cutie woman outside in the snow for 30 minutes. Taught a full restoration lesson and she ate it up. Loved every minute of it but at the end couldn't feel anything on my body. Talmadge is below 0 most days and they don't plow roads because it snows all day everyday. Besides the point she wants to come to church every week and meet once a week. We then taught a cute 8 year old In a part member family. He's awesome and the cute mom bought us pizza so of course I had to eat it and suffer later because my comp is celiac so we both couldn't say no. Did a ton of calls and some weekly planning. Tried to clean up the area book but that will take all transfer. No tears today though I'm ready to conquer.
Sunday:
Started off with stress cleaning the crazy sisters closet. Went to the family ward sacrament and had two friends come! Then we attended 30 minutes of Sunday school then had to hop over to YSA sacrament meeting, then hopped to a meeting for our family ward coordination halfway through sacrament, then hopped back to YSA Sunday school. Yes I wanted to throw up but handled it like a champ. Perchance I have to fake it for my cute comp who was in tears, stressed out of her mind. We survived, I memorized a few people's names and made good contact with our cute friends. We had an hour long stake meeting where we talk about social media goals and data. So I had to quickly digest everything from the SML( social media leaders) so I could then repeat it all and make up some goals on the spot. The Spirit really helped me out. Then we did some knocking and found 4 beautiful new friends. I have realized I'm pretty convincing when needed. In like two days I've had to improve my question game and somehow overnight I'm improving- again obviously the lords help because he knows I need so much strength this transfer. We had three sync up calls tonight with SMLs, District leaders, and STLs. Pure chaos again. What's cool is Talmadge is a younger ward who loves missionary work. We have super high baptism and convert retention numbers except lately there's been some problems. I'm a little confused why President/ God didn't send two baller experienced missionaries here. We can do this I have to become baller overnight. My poor ghost glass bottle I've had since week one got shattered. Pure sadness.
Moral of the story. I am okay and will probably survive. Might come out crawling after this transfer but there's a ton of work to be done and I will enjoy working hard, learning, and growing. Prayers up for the Talmadge area.
Super hard to say goodby to Sis. Heaton. A forever best friend.
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