From August 24, 2009 email: I guess we got a touch of Hurricane Bill on Friday with lots of rain and strong winds. We had to reschedule a few of our appointments because of the weather. I'm about done with this heat and humidity. We spend a lot of the time outside and we are permeated with sweat by the time the day is over! But I hear there is cool weather on the horizon! I can't wait for another fall out here!
We got transfer calls last night and Sister Monson is getting shipped out of Windsor. She's headed down to Fairfield with Sister Baird and Sister Thomas is coming to Windsor. She's the red-headed sister that I did exchanges a few transfers ago. I'm sad that Sister Monson and I don't get to spend much time together, but I'm also excited for a fresh start. We've got lots of good things planned for the area!
We had a frustrating lesson with a recent convert/investigator family this week. The wife was baptized earlier this week, but the husband never made the plunge. He says that he has issues with tithing because he can't afford to pay it right now. They have to get their finances in order before they can donate anything. We tried to explain that huge blessings will come to the whole family when they put forth the faith to pay it. It is that element of faith that they have to put forth. The wife has been paying her tithing, but recommitted to pay it first. It is frustrating when people aren't willing to try out the Lord's promises. We are told that he will "open you the windows of heaven, that there will not be room enough to receive it." Maybe somewhere down the line he will change his mind.
Now I have a question for you all: How did you gain a testimony of tithing and how has the Lord blessed you because of it?
The stake had girls' camp this week which produced some amazing results. A friend of one of the Rice girls in our ward wants to be baptized! She had an amazing experience at camp and already comes to church a lot. We are teaching her (and her parents) tonight so pray that everything goes well! Her parents aren't very supportive of the idea, but her father has give her consent to be baptized. Her mother had at first said she could do whatever she wanted, but took that back when she received some anti-Mormon literature from a friend at work. Ugh! Luckily they are issues that can be addressed easily. She heard that Mormons can't cut their hair...that's strange!
It scares me when I think that I only have 5 months left! I kind of feel like the younger Curtis Richins who just came home from his mission. It has taken me a long time to know how to be a good missionary. Over the past few months, things have just clicked in my mind on why this is so important. I wish I would have realized this the first month of my mission! But I can't change the past so all I can do now is work my hardest in bringing souls to Christ!
From August 17, 2009 email: I was thinking that Tanner [her oldest nephew] had another year before he turned 12, but I thought wrong! I can't believe that he is old enough to be a deacon! Time sure does fly by! I can't wait to see how much those little squirts have grown while I've been out here.
Last Monday we had a ward FHE softball game. Softball just isn't up my alley. I slipped quite a few times and one was particularly funny. And they just happened to get that on video! Then I ended up with a huge bruise on my hand because my first instinct when a ball is flying at me is to stop it and I didn't think about using the glove! Haha...just a few blonde moments there. Hopefully this helped to bridge our relationship with the ward members. We've got to make this ward unified! The mosquitoes came out towards the end of the game and they enjoy biting me! I look like I have chicken pox on my legs. Maybe it's because I'm so sweet! :)
We had an experience this week that helped us to understand that seeds are being planted all over. Thursday evening we were tracting a street because one of our appointments didn't show up. People were quite rude and someone even left us a mini-Bible on our windshield. But of course, at the last house on the street, someone was interested. We set up an appointment with Bryan for the next day and suprisingly enough, he was there. As we start the lesson, he said that he had a friend that was interested in learning more about the church...but she lived in Egypt and was Muslim. Bryan met her in Egypt where he had been teaching elementary school kids. So he hooked up his computer to a microphone and she listened to our lesson and even asked a few questions. She really wanted to learn more, but all we could do was to direct her to the mormon.org website. Hopefully someone will be able to help her out more. It was a neat experience to help plant a seed all the way across the world.
It's interesting how the Spirit lets you know whether someone is ready, or not, to accept the gospel. We sat down with a former investigator to see if his heart had been softened, but we couldn't present a coherant lesson. I had no inspiration whatsoever and I could tell Sister Monson didn't either because she kept turning to me with a bewildered look. Ugh! We got the hint that he wasn't at all willing to change nor could he see the blessing the gospel could be to his life. But then ten minutes later, we had an awesome lesson with Dominick, our 17-year-old investigator. We had exactly what we needed to say put into our mouths. That's just another testimony that this gospel is true!
A few nights ago I was saying me evening prayers before I hopped into bed and I felt this overwhelming sense of peace. I've never felt something like that before. But it was then that I knew that I truly did love my mission. Even though it's so stinkin' hard at times, I love it. There is no greater work out there than to proclaim the gospel. We have what the whole world needs. So let's all get to work!
From August 10, 2009, email: When one door closes, another one opens! I'm sure your release from the branch will bring even greater opportunities! But I am sad that things won't be the same when I get back. Hopefully the new ones can carry on the wonderful tradition of the branch.
After Preparation Day last week, we helped a member family in the ward to paint their kitchen cabinets. Good thing I've had a lot of painting experience in my life!
We're working harder to get to know the members because some of them aren't too supportive of the missionaries. The best way to soften them up is to teach them! We are SO thankful for the members who do come out to appointments with us and feed us. Coming to Windsor from Groton is like going from feast to famine. But I look at this in a good way...I've gained too much weight out here! I'm sure you're all laughing at the pictures I've sent home because I'm not quite the same as before. I sure laughed at Adam & Joel when they plumped up.
Tuesday we went on exchanges with the Rocky Hill sisters. Sister Timothy (from Bear Lake area) came here with Sister Monson and I went to Rocky Hill with Sister Murray (from Rexburg). We had a wonderful time! It's always good to get a change of scenery for a bit. Sister Murray is a wonderful missionary and I very much enjoyed our time together.
Wednesday was Zone Conference and it was probably the best one yet! The general theme of it was "Recognizing the Spirit" from chapter 4 in Preach My Gospel. This is something I've felt like I've struggled with and, of course, the best way to learn is to give a talk! President Pehrson asked me to give a 3-5 minute talk on personal revelation and it went very well! I'm so glad that I have grown so much! I can give a talk and not be too nervous about it! The other missionaries who gave talks did a wonderful job and the Spirit was definitely present. The sad part was I had to say goodbye to Sister Haueter & Sister Glenn. Their time here in the mission was up and it came so quickly!
Saturday night we had a really good lesson with a young kid named Dominique. He had talked to missionaries previously and had received a Book of Mormon. He has lots of good questions about God and Jesus Christ. It sounds like he never had any religion in his life. It blew his mind that Christ came here to atone for our sins and weaknesses. I don't know how anyone could make it through life without a knowledge of the Atonement. Life just seems bleak and pointless without it. He had never prayed before, but had read in our pamphlet how to pray so he tried it out. I see great things in this kid. He is being prepared to one day receive the gospel.
We are seeing many great and small miracles happen in this area. Sister Monson and I decided that we were lacking a bit in faith and were a bit negative about things. So we have made a change in our attitude and amazing things are happening! We're excited to get things rolling here in Windsor Locks!
From August 3, 2009, email: That is SAD news about the branch [Marsh Creek Young Singles that parents have been serving in]! I can't believe it is time for a change already. I'm sure you feel just as I feel when I have to leave an area and start fresh. It's hard to leave, but there are more opportunities to bless the lives of others out there. I hope the new leaders will be as good as the original Marsh Creek Branch presidency.
This week has been a bit slow for appointments because people keep cancelling and ignoring us! We have a lot of investigators down in Windsor, but now that we've moved up to Windsor Locks, we need to focus our efforts here. Not many of our investigators are progressing nor willing to keep commitments so we'll be doing a lot of dropping! We need a fresh start on the area. So we're working hard at finding new investigators!
We taught a couple, the Arnolds, who had visited Temple Square a few weeks back and wanted to learn more about our religion. We had a really good first lesson with them on the Restoration and they wanted to learn more! They were so willing to read & pray about the Book of Mormon that it kinda threw me off. They had previously gone to a Congregational church, but were turned off by the new leadership there. They said that they didn't realize that they were missing something until they had visited Temple Square. He has also had lots of contact with missionaries because he owns a bike shop down in Newington. But we won't be able to meet with them for the next couple of weeks so keep them in your prayers!
Patricia is about our only progressing investigator. She lives in the same apartment complex the Sisters used to live in so that is how the first contact was made. Her family is super opposed to her investigating or getting baptized, but she is willing to follow the example of Jesus Christ. We had a great lesson with her in which she said she would be baptized before her next birthday, which is in November. She even came to church for the first time this Sunday & enjoyed it! Sometimes I wonder about the testimony meetings out here, but it was actually a good one this time around. Most of the youth filed up to give their testimonies about EFY. I'm glad these kids have something like that to attend to strengthen their testimonies of the gospel. We also had a wonderful Relief Society lesson on temples, which included pioneers, past and present. Sister Ouellette gave a PowerPoint presentation on a group of members from Africa who traveled over 300 miles through storms and mud to go to the temple. I know the Spirit touched every heart in the room. The was hardly a dry eye in the room.
We had a short lesson with the Mejias kids on Thursday night and then had a little basketball game against them. It was a blast! It was boys (Jon-13yrs and Myles-12yrs) against Sister Monson, Nya (8yrs), and me. We kept score for a while, but we were having too much fun to care. Imagine it: two sister missionaries out there in their skirts and tracting shoes playing basketball. The boys gave us a compliment by saying we were better than most of the Elders that came over to play. Haha...I wouldn't be surprised if we were... :)
All is well here in Windsor. We are working hard to bring the blessings of the gospel to all. But this time I have as a missionary is coming to an end. I'll be coming home February 10th! I'll get my flight plans sometime soon. I can't believe how fast it has gone by. I'm gonna miss this when I'm done!
We had another musical fireside last night in Woodbridge, but this time I actually participated. It was AMAZING! There were over 300 people in attendance and the musical numbers were so touching. I think all who were there could feel the presence of the Spirit. One Elder sang, "I Stand All Amazed" and couldn't make it through it without choking up. That set the rest of us off. Luckily I didn't let any tears fall, but they were definitely welling up in my eyes! Many in the audience were touched to the point of tears. It was so powerful! I wish you all could have been there to enjoy it. We received a standing ovation (which was kinda strange in the chapel), and I do know that hearts were touched especially mine.
Earlier on Sunday we had the confirmations of two recently baptized members, Myles and Nya. They are part of the Mejias family: the wife was recently activated, the older boy baptized a few months ago, and the husband a non-member. They are such an awesome family. The older son, Jon, remembers having the Elders around a few years back and wants to be just like them. He initiated contact with the missionaries and didn't take long to get baptized. They are such great kids, and I'm so glad to have them a part of our ward. We're hoping to help them make the step towards an eternal family.
We're working on building up our teaching pool here in Windsor Locks as the Sisters before me just baptized most of their progressing investigators. It's tough work, but I love it. There's always a sense of accomplishment after a long day. People are really kind and listen, but most don't see the need for organized religion. We know that there are people out there who will accept it. We've had some good lessons with Orlando, a former investigator that we picked up again last week. He has been through all of the lessons, but doesn't accept that Joseph Smith was the only one called of God at that time. We tried to explain that there were inspired men, but there is just one person on the Earth who is called of God to lead the true church. But he is reading the BOM and praying about it so I know that he will get the answer he is looking for.
The ward is good here, but they aren't as thrilled about member missionary work as was the Groton ward. So we're going to work on that. We're planning to get into their homes and teach them the message of the Restoration to help them remember their testimonies and fuel the desire to share it. We just have a very small portion of the ward in our boundaries and the assistants cover the rest. This transfer we have three assistants because Elder Brand is going home next week. He is the one who put together the muscial fireside and he definitely will be missed by the mission! The assistants love to pull pranks on us Sisters so we're plotting some way to get back at them.....any ideas? :)
I realized that we do have ancestors in the Windsor/Suffield area. Bro. Buck, member in the Hartford ward (who lives in Wethersfield), still lives on a farm that has been in the family for generations. I wonder if we're related. I'll have to catch him in the hallway at church and compare pedigree charts.
Yes, all of my companions except for my trainer have been from Utah. And I will definitely be keeping in touch with them. I've made SO many great friends here on the mission and I plan on continuing those friendships later on. The sisters out here are so great!
I want you all to know that I KNOW that the gospel is the way to happiness in life. I KNOW that the message I carry as a missionary is our hope in life. I KNOW that the true church has been established once again on the earth. I KNOW that we have a living prophet here to guide us. And I KNOW that our trials are given to us for our good. We are being purified just as silver, as Pres. Buck demonstrated a while back in a lesson. I love this gospel...I love being a missionary!
From email of July 20, 2009: Can you believe it's been a year since I entered the MTC? I sure can't! Time has flown by so quickly. It is just hitting me that my time out here is VERY short and I have to make the best of it!
So now I'm in Windsor Locks, CT. It is a totally different area than what I'm used to. It's a poorer area, but the people are definitely humbled! We are so stinkin' busy each day...I've never been busier! We have a pretty large teaching pool, but none who are in the running for baptism yet. The previous Sisters just had 7 people baptized so we've got lots of recent convert lessons to teach. We are going to start working with the ward more closely as they aren't too missionary minded. Hopefully things will start to turn around.
My companion is Sister Monson from Centerville, UT. Joel used to home teach her back in the days of Old Farm [in Logan, UT]. Crazy! We get along really great. We're both a bit shy so we're pushing each other to do better each day. I'll have to write more about our experiences later as I don't have much time left on the computer!
From email of July 13, 2009: Last week I forgot to mention that transfers were coming up. And so...suprise! We're getting doubled out of Groton! It was a big shocker to us. Sister Mortimer is headed to Newport (getting doubled in there) and I'm off to Windsor. I had a feeling that I was going, but I had no idea that it would be both of us. We're spending a lot of today packing and saying goodbye to all the wonderful people here. I'm going to miss it so much! We have Jayde's baptism this Saturday so the Elders will have to be on top of things to get it done!
We got our transfer call last night while we were teaching the Taggarts. They are so awesome! Seth said he didn't want anything less than a temple marriage now so his kids can be sealed to him. We also committed Kelsi to accept nothing less than that...in a few years! We took our departing pictures, some of which are included in the email. Seth's little boys said they wanted us to be their "big sisters" and they attached themselves to us pretty quickly. Its been good for them to be exposed to church because they don't get much of that with their mom in Louisiana.
We had a funny thing happen to us the other day. We were just about to leave for service at Gerts when Sister M. decided she needed to go to the bathroom. I'm sitting on the couch in the other room when I hear "HELP!" Sister M. got locked in the bathroom because the handle was messed up. So after a bit of fussing, we got her out and I thought I got it fixed. But then I get locked in the bathroom and the handle falls completely off! We had to do some more fumbling around until I was out. We were laughing so hard that we were struggling to get out the door. A little comic relief doesn't hurt every once in a while!
