43 - This Sabbath Day

Birds Coming Back - Spring Must be Near

First, about the weather, since I haven't mentioned it much recently. It hasn't really snowed or anything, but the temperature has been going up and down and up and down! I always accused Arizona of having bipolar weather, but South Dakota definitely has it too. It was in the 40's one day, then 12 degrees with some wind a day later. The fluctuating weather is really hard on a lot of people. But, the birds seem to think it's okay to start coming back. So hopefully winter won't last too much longer.

Sister Stephens was sick the first bit of this week. But, consequently, I had time to do things- like sit down and reorganize the area.

We have been talking about this with the Elders for awhile and on Saturday we set it in stone. See, we share a ward with the Elders and we have assigned areas that we proselyte in so that when we tract we don't knock on the same doors unknowingly and so we know 'okay, we have jurisdiction over teaching the gospel to this person and they are responsible for that person.' Of course, there are a few exceptions, like when people request specifically to have sisters, so we do teach some singe women in the elders area. BUT! Here's the thing. Our area was the rich part of Sioux Falls. People generally haven't been too receptive when we work in our part of Sioux Falls. And, the Elders usually work the northern part of their area and the middle was being left out, but it is a more humble area, unlike our portion.

The part of the Sioux Fall Area that we are responsible for.

So! We bumped up the dividing line to 33rd street! Before we only went up to 57th street, the colored in crayon areas. So we have more area, more people we have responsibility over! SO while Sister Stephens was sick, I went through the massive stack of the Elders 'former's and organized it and pulled out the people who were now in our area, which was just six records out of the at least seventy that were in there. That's how little they got down past 33rd Street. I'm so glad we changed the area boundaries! We also this week went through the ward list and found tons of less actives to try. I think less active hunting is one of my favorite things to do. I feel like a sneaky gospel detective and I feel like it's clearing up information on the ward list that needs correction. ...It's the editor in me. haha.

Also, other news.

Yes, this is a repeat picture, but this is just to illustrate the fact that, WE HAVE THE CAR 24/7 NOW!!! 

See, this transfer the area in Mitchel was closed, because there's just not enough missionaries coming our to balance out the number of them going home. They had a car up there and there was a space for it here so, ALL of the missionaries here in Sioux Falls have a car full time now!! Blessings!

But about this week.

We had a really sweet lesson with a family who is going to progress in the gospel. They have been feeling under the weather this week, but the mom's sister is a member and they oh man, they are just prepared and really want to know the truth, and their ten year old is so profound, holy cow! When we asked him to say the prayer at the end of the lesson he said, "I've never said anything this important before.. I'm nervous..." AWW! But he did so good! Aw man, he is going to make the best father! So patient and eager to learn the gospel reverent and respectful!

Henry and Elizabeth have been having medical trials lately. Elizabeth had a scare on Thursday that she might have lost the baby. They called us, but we were at dinner, but they got a hold of one of their fellowshippers - members are so awesome - and she took them to the hospital. Henry had just taken medication that prohibits him from being able to drive for two hours- that's why they needed someone to take them. But it seems like things should be okay with Elizabeth and her baby. The results looked okay then, but they will have her do another test soon to confirm she is still pregnant.

Henry and Elizabeth

The day after that craziness happened, we ate dinner with them! How awesome is that! They slaved away in the kitchen, preparing enchilada's for us. 

Henry told us the meal we ate with them that night was the same thing that Elizabeth first cooked him. It was love at first bite, haha.

And their cute baby. :-)

And their little baby is sooooo cute! 

We just love her! 

And she loves us!

We watched the Restoration DVD after dinner and kind of connected the dots. If the restoration is true, then the Book of Mormon is true and vise versa, and the priesthood is here on the earth, and we have a prophet and his words are God's words, and the church is just true! 

And Henry is excited about baptism! The ten percent of tithing is still a bit too high but they will pay as much as they can. We will continue to work on their testimony and commitment to paying tithing. But he has developed a testimony of the priesthood since he had that blessing last week. And we told them that they needed to come to church three Sundays before baptism, and he pulled out his phone, looking at his calendar and said, "if we come these next three Sundays, we could do the 14th.

AH! Just to hear him talk about baptism like, 'yeah, we are going to do this,' and just... Sister Stephens and I weren't sure if they would be baptized before I leave the area and now it looks like that's totally going to happen and just! AAAHH! I'm just so happy!

But of course, we still aren't there yet. But oh man, we love Henry and Elizabeth so much. And the more Sister Stephens and I talk about it, the more we feel we were called to serve here, specifically us two, for them. They feel comfortable around us and we just, we LOVE THEM! And want the best for them and to teach them so well and just, yes. It's awesome!

And then. This Sunday. Heavenly Father. He answers prayers.

I prayed so much that Henry and Elizabeth would come to church, as well as who I will call Sunshine, the deaf less active that I have worked with since I got here to Sioux Falls. She is officially moving, and she hasn't been to church for over a month and she NEEDED to come to church this week, because she moves Saturday!

And SHE CAME! She was able to get up! SHE CAME! Oh man, poor thing, she's so sad about moving- been crying a lot. We pray for her, we love her so much.

AND! MIRACLE!!!! HENRY CAME TO CHURCH WITH THEIR BABY! But Elizabeth didn't because she was having bad morning sickness, and on her birthday too, sad face. So Henry only stayed for sacrament, but it was also super cool because one of his main fellowshippers gave a great talk! How cool is that! OH MAN! They are going to have an easier time coming to church now. I'm so excited!

And, a simple text can be so so important! Another less active who lives in Worthing who hasn't been to church in who knows how long - mostly we think because he just got out of the habit of going - came to church because we texted him asking him if he would be at church! And then he came!

So heavenly Father answered yes to Henry, and Sunshine, but no to Elizabeth, and provided us with a tender mercy! HOW AWESOME!

We took pictures during the potluck with Sunshine. We will miss her, but her ward will take care of her. We sure will try to make sure of that

42 - Happy ValenTransfer Day!

Hope you all had a happy Valentine's Day! 

For us, it was actually transfer call day. Heart break day, how appropriate. But good news! Sister Stephens and I are saying another transfer! I'm very happy. I feel like there's more work for me to do here, and I want to do it with Sister Stephens! Though, I feel like I will be in a different area come April when next transfer hits.

P-day was super fun after emailing last! Our apartment is awesome because we have a community game room thing and President Anderson said we could use it on P-day! 


So the elders in our ward came and played pool and ping pong with us. 

It was super fun! 

Took some good pictures.

Right after our P-day hours we started exchanges. Working out the kinks in transportation and the time to switch back to normal companionships and everything was kind of a mess, but it was a good exchange. 

"Exchanges are not to be used to get away from a companion." It says that in the white handbook, and I agree. But, I do feel that exchanges are to be used as a tool for when you get back with your companion so you can grow closer together.

Sister Dennison is a new Sister Training Leader and its just been a little hard, not knowing the area, and being with a companion who knows what she should do better than she herself knows what she should do. Sister Hawkes has been 'the sister training leader's companion' ever since she's been out really. 

I was with sister Dennison during the exchange and I felt like I was able to help her, to give her someone else to talk to about her struggles. Because it's not fair, the Sister Training Leader doesn't get a Sister Training Leader! So I was able really be there for her that day. It was really neat.

I feel like someday I will be called as a Sister Training Leader. Maybe even in April. Sisters are usually called to fill the position of Sister Training Leader when they have been out on their mission for about a year. So I feel it might happen.

While I was with Sister Dennison, we served at the Butterfly House and some crazy shinanigans were happening!

One of the two turtles was trying to eat a butterfly! Ah! It bit at it like, three times, but didn't quite pull it under. Then the worker guy rescued it by shooing it away with a net. Then the turtle gave an angry death glare for a minute. That turtle is a bully!

And the Butterfly House got a new shipment of moths which is cool.

And we had to put a dead butterfly behind the curtain, where the dead butterflies go. 

So sad. But, it's the circle of life. 

Those blue butterflies, they live about the length of one missionary transfer! Six (to eight) weeks.

Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy (D&C 121:43).

I neglected to mention last week- we went to ward council and we totally got reproved in the best way. This was the first time we had ever gone to ward council and for our little two cents we said basically that we want to work together with the ward to achieve our member present goal. And then one of the brethren told us straight up that it's hard for lots of people to be called last minute, so to call on Sunday night and set up our appointments with people according to the time you set with the members. So that's what we did. We have a missionary assignment list that is on the program that cycles through all the active people in alphabetical order. We called everyone on the list plus more. We were able to have outstanding member involvement, especially on Friday. We had four members set to come teaching with us during the week and they all followed through. It was quite awesome!

Random event to break up the words. 

The Elders totally pawned off a huge bean bag that was actually a bunch of popcorn on us! 

We ended up giving it to the church for the youth dance.

Haha, It was too good not to take crazy pictures with!

So, remember the goal that we had this transfer to find ten new investigators this transfer? Well, we had a solid lesson with this one family that we've been meaning to follow up with, and that bumped our actual investigators found total to a dozen this transfer! How cool is that! The Lord truly does work miracles! 

These investigators are mostly fruits of tracting actually! The only ones who weren't were a previously worked with investigator that moved into our area as well as a family member that was over at a dinner. Four families became investigators, three of which Sister Burt and I found back in December. We are looking at another transfer of similar success, and we are so excited to see where this new investigator family goes!

They are an awesome family, and the mom's sister is actually in our ward! Close connection, and they are seekers of truth, you can tell. There questions were sincere and the member that we brought with us is a convert and holy cow, her being there helped out so much with answering questions and concerns and bearing her testimony! And they have a five year old girl and a ten year old boy, and they boy is super interested! Like, whoa! So awesome! We are so excited to see them again!

Now about Henry and Elizabeth. Did they come to church? 


No. 

But they are so awesome! 

Look at this text that Elizabeth sent us a bit ago! 

She meant to send it to Henry, but accidentally sent it to us. haha.

They have met so many people from the ward, they've met more than a handful. Its been close to ten members that they have met. Satan knows that when they come to church for the first time that things will just fall into place, so he's doing everything that he can to make them not come! First it was the alarm not going off, then church canceling because of the snow, then Henry working and Elizabeth having a sporadic nerve act up, then Henry's back being so injured that they couldn't get ready in time and just... AH!

Conversely, there's Josh. He is awesome and has not missed a day of church since his baptism! Satan works hard! Josh's car broke down just before his baptism, so now he only has a bike. He usually hitches a ride from one of the sisters we work with, but when he can't do that he rides his bike to church. He was riding his bike one night and he ran smack dab into a parked car! The car was black and he didn't see it! He went to the hospital. He had a minor concussion and his thumb was beat up a bit. But holy cow he still came to church five or so days later! So here is someone who is coming to church like a rockstar! Hallelujah!

But man... this week has been rough for Henry and Elizabeth. It started on Tuesday. They got a flat tire and so many other crazy things happened. Long story short, a member tried to help Henry change the tire. Well, it's been really cold outside, and the cold is NOT good on Henry because of the metal in his back. He came into the house and basically collapsed on the brother who had been helping him. So that started it.

On Friday we got a text from Henry saying he was on his way to the hospital. His legs had given out from under him and he had a fall a little ways down the stairs and landed right on his tailbone, a basic source of his grief. Luckily, we were right in the neighborhood and were with a member. 

We got there, and again, luckily the member was a little bit bigger of a women and was able have Henry wrap his arm around her as she helped him more down the stairs. But ultimately, he collapsed again. The pain was too much... and it just breaks your heart when after everything, while Elizabeth was calling the ambulance, to see Henry put his face in his arm and his shoulders shake.. He was crying...

And every new person coming in (which happened about three times), all of them had a double take... saying "wow... what happened?" You KNOW it looks bad when professionals who see this kind of stuff on a regular basis respond like that. Just... yeah, it was quite an emotional time. And we were scheduled to go visiting teaching with a member we hadn't really connected with at all before RIGHT after Henry was taken away. We were so shaken up. It was hard to focus going to that next appointment.

Henry had to go to the hospital twice because this week because of issues with his back. Though, Henry received a priesthood blessing which we were present for, and yesterday they called one of the brothers on their own to ask for a blessing for Elizabeth! (She found out she's pregnant and they don't want to lose the baby, so Elizabeth wanted a blessing.) They have experienced the power of the priesthood now. Their testimonies keep on growing, more than they know.

Oh, and Sister Stephens has been sick. Sad face. But she rocks it.

Hope she feels better soon!

P.S.  The way missionaries park when we are the only ones in the parking lot and we know it.

P.P.S. Look at this crazy truck!

P.P.P.S. This thing was at the library.

41 - Y V Russian? U C, Z Gospel iz True

About the obnoxious title of this entree... So, ever since Sister Stephens and I came home from the long P-day which was spent dealing with getting car details worked out from my little accident of hitting the curb, we literally just spoke to each other in Russian accents for a good hour for the heck of it. 

I think it's because we watched "The Saratov Approach" the day before. 

And after zat, ze Russian, it just never stop!

It's gotten to the point now where it's hard to get out of the Russian accent. One time Sister Stephens started praying like "Dear Heavenly--- ...Dear Heavenly F.." Oh man, so funny! 

And we will be talking in our normal American accent to teach lessons but I was catching weird things like 'l's and 'e's that Sister Stephen's said in a slight Russian accent, and she said she caught the same thing with me! Haha.

Oh, and by the way, some bummer news, because of my accident, I have been black dotted for six months, meaning I can't drive until August. ...Well, I can drive in the last three months of my mission, when I'm in a new mission and everything because of this mission shrinking down and changing the name to the Bismark, North Dakota Mission and everything. 

But, oh well. At least I can like, use the map and phone and stuff instead of having to concentrate on driving.

So this week it was interesting. We did not have very many lessons. All of the less actives that we usually work with were either out of town or recovering from surgery. And there were many instances where we saw people, but we didn't have a lesson, but it was so important just to see them! So it was a good week, and we did in fact have a lesson that was super inspired.

And he saith unto them... it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father (Matthew 20:23).

It was Tuesday, we didn't have the car, and we had lots of time that we were needed to figure out what to do with. Sister Stephens, I'm so grateful for her, said, "let's just go outside and try that former investigator. Heavenly Father will bless us for going out and trying!"

So we did, and it was actually super nice outside! The sun was shining, there was LOTS of snow, but it was pretty warm. It really reminded me of Flagstaff, this walk did. 

It took us about twenty to thirty minutes to walk down this main road to get to the apartment complex the former investigator was at, but we had so much fun trekking through the snow and talking in Russian accents! About half of the sidewalk was cleared and half wasn't, it was pretty crazy. We wrote stuff in the snow at one point and when we got the the apartments...

*In Russian accent* "Why our appointment on other side of snowhill?"

But it was okay. We just walked around. 

And here is the thing. Heavenly Father's hand is so evident in this! We tried this potential first, but she wasn't home, so we left a sticky note. And then, we are going to try this former and we realize, because all the apartments look practically the same, that we left the sticky note on the wrong door! As we walk up the stairs to leave the sticky note on the correct door, we see someone pulling up and it was the former investigator! And he walked into his apartment just below us as we put the sticky note on the correct door!

And then! Well, first off, we were distracted by seeing this.

*In Russian accent* "Is zhat eggshell?.... oh. no. It snow shell."

We thought it was so funny, but anyways, we knocked, and his sister answered! A female! We knew we could now ask to come 'in!' 

If she hadn't answered, we wouldn't have asked because we have to have another female with us all the time when teaching, getting rides, etc. And we got in and taught the plan of salvation! 

And then, whoever it was like, came and picked them up right after the lesson! Holy cow inspired.

It's neat because this former is so genuine. We first contacted him in October and he even said the closing prayer on the doorstep, even though he was a little hesitant. He told us this day that he's not really wanting to continue probably because he's young and he likes to do fun things like drink once a week and he smokes and he's just not really wanting to give that up. 

But we shared the plan of salvation with him anyway and he was really interested in the three kingdoms of glory.

We are giving him a month, that's what he requested, then we will try him back. 

SO INSPIRED this lesson was!

For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith, (2 Nephi 27:23).

Another person we were able to visit-- one of the less actives that we got in with on the Saturday of the 17 miracles week. She is native and, Oh man, she has had such a rough life! Her living situation is not good. Her husband died a few years back, leaving her with three young boys, now ages 3, 7, and 8. She now has a job that treats her better, thank goodness, but she is on her own with no family here to support her, it's super hard to get by on the little food stamp money she has, it's super hard for us to get in with her to check up on her, and just, it's hard! AND her brother (that she hadn't known about until three years ago) was just murdered brutally, thrown into a river after being beaten so bad that he died by drowning....

And she still prays. She still believes in miracles. Even in her situation. Even with not coming to church in years. It's... really amazing. What an example.

Wherefore we would have come unto you... once and again; but Satan hindered us (1 Thessalonians 2:18).

Why does this scripture perfectly describe Henry and Elizabeth! 

They are awesome! But Satan is making it SO HARD for them to come to church! Henry had to work because he's training a new guy and couldn't switch the shift, and Elizabeth had her sporadic nerve in her back, side effect from having an epideral I guess, act up due to the weather, and she's had bad falls before when trying to fight through the pain and so she told us she couldn't come. Satan! Ah!

But they will come. One day.

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne (Revelation 3:21).

Last but not least, Sister Stephens and I both received priesthood blessings this week because of the general stresses of preaching the gospel. In my blessing it was stated, "Your Heavenly Father cares more about your progression than your comfort." I'm so grateful for the priesthood.

Until next week!

P.S. Snow, Snow, Snow!

40 - Winter is Back

Map of the City of Worthing, S.D.

Don't have lots of time to write unfortunately, but the main things that happened:

We went to Worthing again in the middle of the week and finally, it took three times of going, but finally we were there when the City Hall was open! 

And we totally got at map, the official map, which totally looks like a map of a school and it's hilarious to me. 

The member that was with us was cracking up because she was super surprised that they had a map at all.

We finally were able to visit the one less active that lives in Worthing! Yay! 

And he said he'd come to church this next Sunday! Yay!

Then zone conference was also this week on Friday. Two zones of missionaries all meeting together for a day to be spiritually nourished by other missionaries and the Stake President and President and Sister Anderson! Yay! 


And the Sisters in Brookings stayed at our apartment that night, which means Sister Christiansen was able to 'come back home' for a bit, being as this was her first area. 

So that was super cool for her.

It was a little hectic getting out the door, but we did eventually!

And, they sang to me at zone conference because my birthday is between January and the end of March! 

March 1st I'll be 21. 

Weird!

Yea! Driving in the Snow!
Hey, Who Spilled White-Out on the Road???

And then Saturday I drove for the first time in snow that was on the ground, like pretty thick snow, and it was coming down still when I was driving. 

We had an adventure for better or worse.

I don't have lots of time to email today because I actually had to file an incident report before emailing. 

I was pulling out of a parking lot turning left and the turn was too wide and it was dark and I had no idea where the curb on the other side of the main road was and I hit it... pretty hard... 

And what makes matters worse was, we are using a rental car right now, because our car is getting hail damage fixed... 

The hit made the right side of the front bumper pop up... So... That happened. 

We are gonna be figuring out stuff with that today, but, things should work out I hope.

So, yeah, don't drive in thick snow if you don't have a car that's built to do that, especially for your first time driving in it. 

Not good.

So, went to sleep, and woke up to a call from bishop saying church was canceled because of the weather...

Darn it! And Henry and Elizabeth were going to come too! 

Satan really just doesn't want them to come to church! 

By the way, they have hit a slight stumbling block. 

We taught them about tithing on Saturday and it was a good lesson, but Henry doesn't feel right about it. He feels like you are buying blessings. Which, I suppose if you had to have a concern about tithing, that's probably the best one you could have. 

He was set on being baptized, but having to live the law of tithing he joins the church is making him have doubts. But he will come around. They won't be able to be baptized on the 14th, but they will be baptized eventually. 

They are still willing to meet with us and everything. It'll just take some time of getting used to the idea of tithing being something that God has asked us to do.

But yeah, it was pretty windy and snowy. 

I was even able to capture the wind blowing the snow! Look at it, blowing up and to the right! 

It wasn't super cold, but the road conditions were bad, really bad, too much snow for little cars! 

We went outside to see if we could get the car out of the garage and give it to the sisters, but oh man, there was this car that was stuck trying to get out of the parking lot. 

And her car was about as big as ours. 

We were able to help her make it out, but yeah, getting our car out wasn't happening until the plows came through.

The Sisters did actually come and get the car later, but they got very stuck trying to get out onto the main road. It was a good thing that bishop was picking us up at that time and that a random citizen was able to help them. 

The road conditions... yeah, not good.

We ate lunch with the bishop though because he lives pretty close. We had soup! 

And then we watched Saratov Approach with them (because we could) and Sister Stephens had never seen it. Bishop then took us back home... but we realized we left the phone! But we had fun walking back over there.

I wanted to take more pictures, but my camera died. By the way, pictures taken with the camera inside a ziplock bag seem to work! Woo!

So yeah, winter is back. We were teased with nice weather the past couple weeks and now this is the worst we've had it practically. But I am grateful for the time were the weather was nice! It's important to count your blessings.

Until next week!

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