Week 38: my revival+having a child...WUT?

What a week. Here's what happening. We had texted a former person taught and asked if he would be interested in meeting with us again. He said sure meet me at this church at this time on this day. And we were like SWEET someone wants to talk to us. so we show up on the day he said too and he had invited us to a PENTACOSTAL REVIVAL. Shady little guy. We thought we were just going to have a nice bible study with him but he had invited us to the revival and it was too late to turn around because everyone was already talking to us and so we took a seat. They had a big hottub in the back warming up for people who wanted to get baptized. (Lowkey just wanted to jump in for the hottub effect) And it was just SO WHACKY. Experience of a lifetime, but never going back. We got a call from President yesterday. And I will be training a brand new missionary. I'm gunna be a mother (mission lingo for those who do not know, im a momma and my new comp will be my baby) cant wait to show her what IL has to offer!!! CORN FIELDS! WALMART! SLEEPING ANIMALS! OH MY! SHE IS GUNNA LOVE IT. =) But really i am so excited a new perspective is just what Chatham/Springfield needs!!! Miracles are on the horizon stay tuned. My week like my good old friend sister anne butt was Meh as well. Lots of knocking lots of people not being home. But as i was reading in Mosiah 7:33 "But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage". Not that missionary work is bondage... but well ya know, let me be honest, sometimes you just reach the point of not wanting to knock on doors anymore. But I know that as i continue to do his will, he will deliver me out of my trials or give me the strength i need to complete all that he asks. I know thats true because WOW have i experienced it. He knows us. He knows how to help us. He knows what is best for us, even when we dont know what is best for ourselves. Im grateful for trials because i am growing so much!!!! Sorry not much to report on. I promise ill be more exciting next week. All my love + some more, <3 sis folk

pics!!!! 1. I made a cake for all of our month marks. Pretty impressive if u ask me 2. Me and sis dunyon :) 3. Me and my girl sis beal LOVE HER. 4. Found the Church's exhibit under the arch 5. What a VIEW 6,7. THE ARCH 8. PDay!

 

Week 37: awesome possum

Well fans what a week. I'm going to the one tourist attraction the Missouri St. Louis Mission has to offer THE ARCH. so ill keep it short. Here is a quick spiritual thought: Jacoh 7:5 "And he had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken." I LOVE this verse. Sherem wants to shake Jacob from what he believes. But Jacob knows what is true and what he believes because of experience and feelings he has had. I have come to see this on my mission, many people try to fight with us and try to tell us that we are wrong. But I cannot be shaken because I cannot deny all the feelings I have had the last 9 months and 20 years. And like Elder Holland says "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith".  I know it can be the same for all of you. The world will tell you its not "cool, fun, easy, trendy" to live the gospel. Its hard to live the gospel but it makes living life easy. Do something this week to make it so you "cannot be shaken" in your faith. I hope that made sense. Luckily i can call my family and tell them what i mean. You guys can figure it out HAHA. ALL MY LOVE PLUS SOME MORE. <3 sis folk  p.s. Good news- found a possum

Week 36: girl scouts-1 missionaries-0

W et
I cy
N o one outside
T racting
E veryone thinks we are crazy
R eally cold but really GOOD

Winter in Illinois as a missionary =) This week was full of MIRACLES !!!! We had a prompting on Tuesday to go tracting at a certain apartment complex and so we did and we were able to find 3 new people to teach! One of them is name Michele and she is so prepared. She is now on date to be baptized on March 30th !!!! All the rejection for the one person who wants to follow Christ is SO worth it. Church got canceled again so I haven't had relief society since December and wow I miss it !! Our cars also got grounded yesterday because of ice and snow so that means a lot of walking in the cold but that also means = more character. Im all about that character building. The girl scouts are out here knocking doors with us. I swapped one a box of samoas for a Book of Mormon. (She lucked out cuz mine wasnt free and isnt going to give me salvation. But thats okay.) For some reason people dont think the girl scouts are crazy for selling cookies in the cold but if its us sharing the gosple they think we escaped the nut house. I cannot even count how many times someone answered the door this week and said "you picked a cold day to do this" Us: "ya we do this everyday, thanks for telling us its cold we didnt know" Jk we just smile and wave boys. Just finished reading 2 Nephi this morning. I absolutely love the doctrine of Christ and how throughout the book you can see when they break the doctrine and become prideful and they think they can do everything by themselves. My FAVE part is when Nephi testifies in the last couple of chapters. It is so powerful. Verse 30 is an all time fave. "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" As we focus on Christ and live his doctrine we will find true JOY and everything else will fall into place. I invite you to do sacrifice something this week that will bring you closer to Christ, to more fully put Him and his doctrine first in your life. I know you will see miracles and blessings if you do. (study 2 Nephi 31-33 for extra bonus points). I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! sis folk =) Ps. Tell Elsa i want summer back

Week 35: abe lincoln town

hi everyone. Sometimes its -40 and then two days later its 59 degrees. THATS ONE BIG QUESTION MARK FOR ME. how does that happen?????? But for all wondering i survived the arctic blast and i am so grateful for pants. #blessedsistermissionarylife. this week was similar to last, knock doors all day every day and the blessing pay off on sunday. we started teaching 3 new people yesterday and i am SO excited. the work is moving along here in Springfield and Sister Folkman is learning patience. Recently realized one of my favorite things about being a missionary is how much i get to testify of the Savior and his gospel. On hundreds of doorsteps i get to proclaim what i love so much about this gospel. I get to share the book that has changed my life with complete strangers. WOW now thats cool. And even cooler i dont even care if they dont want to listen! (Of course thats ideal) but i get to grow closer to my Savior either way! I was studying a talk from Elder Holland this week and he said "the more we are suffering the closer we are to our Savior because he suffered it all." Or something like that. It was pretty profound. Im out here learning all kinds of amazing things. #gome #teamjesus. GOOD READS: •we were walking up to a house and through the window a man shouts "go away my dog with bite you!!" Gotta love it. •we knock on a lady's door and she says to come in. we go in and she is all old and we ask her name and she says "what are you doing in my house if you dont know my name?" well 1. You invited us in 2. Missionary life we go into lots of houses where we dont know their names hahahah. Also Springfield is Abe Lincolns home town and everyone loves him here. So i was on exchanges with Sister Wencel this week and we took some dope pics ill attach below. All is good in the hood. Keep praying, keep slaying. Much love. sis folk :)) p.s. my trainer goes home this transfer! So that is crazy! It means im getting old in the mission!