April 15th 2024

Monday: Peach days put a missionary and alcohol 

Today was the solar Eclipse!! our proselyting got moved to 1-4 and consisted of just finding.

We got with the sisters and hit downtown Cuyahoga Falls and came upon a huge celebration.

It was about 4 streets long and jam packed with people. The amount of alcohol was crazy, mixed with some cigarettes, weed, and cigars. 

A wonderful experience. It felt like our summer peach days back home. We split up and absolutely invited every single soul.

It was a humbling and growing experience. Despite a lot of rejection, we did meet a few gems.

At about 3:15 we all met in the middle and watched the eclipse. It was wild.

The temperature dropped a ton and it got so dark. We were able to see the stars! It was a total eclipse where we were.

After we got some Canes that had a free toast day! Canes is a real addiction. We then proceeded to play pickleball from

4:40- 8:40. 

Tuesday: Hawaii? 

Today was deliciously warm. We played pickleball for our exercise. We are addicts.

Wore a little jumper and my sorta sandle like shoes(mission appropriate of course) it felt like I was leaving the apartment

to go to the beach or some type of Hawaii hike with the humidity and birds chirping.

We had a blast doing some sniping today. We kept driving around a neighborhood because each time we went to leave

I kept passing someone and having to flip around for them. We probably circled one neighborhood 7 or so times.

We ended up in an all black apartment complex. It was so tender, there were probably about 20ish kids from about 1-15

outside and all the moms. It was a jackpot for finding because of the warmth, everyone was outside.

A Lil cool story, we were on a main busy street and I passed a lady and was like welp we’re whipping back around

at this point Sister J was not so happy cuz I had done this about idk maybe 13 or so times.

Well guess what…. I stop the car in the middle of the main road block off cars and the lady ended up being deaf

and Sister Jordan got to sign to her! She was so interested and she lit up when she saw we could communicate back

with her. Did I cause a whole scene on the street?… maybe but the Lords work is more important. I suppose maybe

I needed to be a tool in testing everyone's patience. Sometimes I laugh so hard because I know pre-mission me would

be honking and yelling up a storm in the car if someone stopped traffic to yap with someone.

Oh the mission does wonders in all aspects of life. Before this we were at the gas station and I made Sister Jordan

invite some ladies as we filled up. Lol. Oym to the max am I right? We went to visit a friend and when we entered the

house it was pure chaos and filled with a very angry tension. Our friend shared with us that she had something super

terrible happen to her. The best way to sum it all up I suppose is we watched one conference talk and just bore

testimony and immediately the whole atmosphere changed. They all stopped talking, were attentive, in tears, and

the spirit was engulfing the house. This was the biggest difference I have seen in a positive way from no spirit to

strong spirit in the house. I always get a little emotional when it's that powerful. We ended the day at the institute,

and the senior missionaries Sister and Brother Hartman gave me the cutest little gift and note just cuz. So tender.

A wonderful day. 

Wednesday: Nepali + spiritual tears 

Today I went with Sister Burtenshaw for training visits. A real treat. We basically yapped for a good 20 minutes of our

personal study, but all about Spiritual things. We then whipped on over to district council where I gave the first

training. It was a real tender moment. I focused on our purpose and what a successful missionary was.

For part of my training I told everyone the spiritual gifts I've seen in them this transfer. It was so tender.

Anywho I was crying, Sister Burtenshaw was crying, even got Elder Tholen the spiritual giant himself to cry.

It was a very spiritual moment all together. I am so grateful for these precious moments that allow us missionaries

to feel the spirit strongly all together. After, I got to zoom into the funeral back home. It was so tender to see all

my family in pink. I know grandma Carroll must have loved it. It was a tender moment to hear my family singing

about how we can be together forever and seeing the tender tears fall from their faces. I contemplated the reality of

the power behind faith and knowledge. Death is incredibly hard, but with faith and knowledge the sting is taken away.

The tears are of us missing them, but knowing we will see them again. How fortunate are we to know our life

continues on, that the grave has no victory. My heart rejoices knowing she is with her husband and watching over me.

God's plan truly is fabulous. After this we had our final district lunch at Chipotle. Always a blast.

We then did some language study and headed out for knocking. We met a new friend and he let us in.

My first opportunity in a Nepali house!! It was precious, he just thanked us for coming and told us his whole life story!

About half way through, his 4 year old takes off his pants and just runs around naked for the next 20ish minutes.

I was internally fighting back laughter. It was a wonderful day and Sister Burtenshaw is the queen of my life.

She is everything and more. We opened pbz together and rejoiced. I was right, I was staying and Sister Jacobson was

coming to me!!! I had told Sis J that in our email on Monday and then I told sis B that earlier today.

We're going to destroy, AND Elder Edman is still my zone leader, going to hit 9 months of him being my ZL.

Heart a little shattered about some other people leaving, but nonetheless I am just pumped. 

Thursday: Humility and Dementia

Really I laid while Sister Jordan packed ( listen I'm not awful she just had nothing, and didn't need help) we knocked

an entire complex of apartments and found 0 people… humbling.. met a guy who LOVES reptiles. He owns two

pythons and some lizards, very passionate about it. Thought it was a sign considering I had a python nightmare the

other night. It was like godzilla, but a python, and a zoo. That had me thinking I was suppose to baptize this man.

Judith was a real treat. Book of Mormon study was humbling with one member, one friend. I remember the good ol

days when 11 people would come… 

We taught Arlene who probably has dementia. By taught I mean they had me figure out the zoom, and teach them to

use the gospel library. 

Friday: A little piece of Heaven 

Throwing up, peeing the whole way to transfers. Was I a bit too excited to have Sister Jacobson…..

Anywho we got a drinky and that gave me an intense amount of energy that as soon as I got to transfers I had to yap

with literally everyone and their companion. Sister Heaton got attacked by me. About licked her whole face up.

Sis Hoyt comes in hot for those forehead kisses. Sister Haslam was a real surprise, she came for choir practice.

Did I get a bit emotional…Of course we put the Elders to work, they can't stand there, they need to move our car for us.

Ya know man duties. Anywho when I got in the car with Sister Jacobson I was like ummm who are you and what's

going on. A literal dream. Never felt more peaceful, more happier, more at home. Felt a bit like returning home,

or entering the Celestial Kingdom. Hallelujah praise God he knew I needed this. Sister could not go one more

transfer without this. President found us and told us basically this is rare and a surprise, but the spirit very strongly

told him this was meant to be. Mmmhmmm hmmmmhmm. Got home unpacked a lil, ate, taught Arlene again-

Teaching with sis J was an absolute treat. Feeling the spirit constantly with her is so calming. Such a drastic change. 

Saturday: Do you have a gun in that bag + testify in all circumstances 

Basically a super fast summary it was a great day. Lots of finding and stop bys. Knocked an all black complex,

and some lady really did not like that we were white people with no gun in the neighborhood. We got to talk with

Antwan and he is locked and loaded for his baptism this Saturday. Hallelujah!! We just had a blast together. 

Sunday: 70s?? 

We met with a cute member right off the bat… Who turned out to be really creepy. He started talking about his

no, no square, and how it shows he's a Jew….. Anywho moving on. Church hurt my soul a little. We had one friend,

but hey we're here for the one. He was so cute, showed up all fancy dancy. After we enjoyed the YSA and tried to

talk to soo many members. Always a bit humbling in the YSA when they don't carry the convo and you begin

grabbing for straws. Really builds character. We did some personal study after, and then did a ton of yellow stop bys,

and some Swahili kids hit us up for our number. Flirt to convert am I right? Jk.

Today was sooo warm it was a delight. We finally got in contact with Antwan and he is doing phenomenal!

Dropped a ton of friends today. Got inspiration to go to the church, so we pull up and there's a Nepali lady with her

way little kid. So we call the Sisters and find out she's been there for hours and has no ride home. So then it becomes

a whole thing where we get the Nepali Elders, find out she doesn't want to go home, then call members to come get

her and let her stay at their house. Poor kid was starving. Anywho we had a lil devotional and that about sums up

the day. How dare I forget, we stopped by a yellow dot and this older lady comes out, and I'm thinking Oh dear

she's gonna yellmmmm… bad Sister Hoyt, don't assume… Beverly was a queen who was so interested.

Hit my knees with repentance.