It has been another week and we celebrated Halloween! This week has been unusual, but fun never the less. :)
We started off the week by helping my companion buy winter clothes. People from Arizona need lots of layers to stay warm. It was all very needed. We had a great dinner appointment with a new family and practiced some of my rusty Spanish skills. We also check up on the Paces, and our new favorite thing is to read the Book of Mormon while dressed as a Nephite. We normally are covered in scarves and I don't look too bad in a head dress. Keeps my head warm for sure.
Tuesday we had district meetings and we met together as all of the missionaries and we discussed our goals. My companion then started to get a tickle in her throat and kept complaining about how tired she was. We gave her some cough drops and kept up with our appointments. Our German investigator has read our assigned chapters in the Book of Mormon. She like our lesson about the Plan of Salvation and she believes that the Church is a good thing. She is struggling still with knowing that there is a God. She contradicts herself all of the time in lessons about reasons why she doesn't believe or what she wants as proof. Basically, she wants a face-to-face experience or a phone call from God. Unfortunately, that really won't happen. We discussed about how we receive revelation and the Holy Ghost, but she won't believe in that until she believes in a God. Discussions with her go round and round and get no where. It basically comes down to that leap of faith and choosing to believe. She has gone from saying that God doesn't exist to saying that if He does or doesn't. Small win. We will see what this next week has in store.
Finding members is seriously the BEST WAY to go when teaching. Most new converts have a connection to the Church, even if they know it or not. I am actually excited for when I do go to a home and can be a member missionary. Talking to friends about the Church is so much easier than just random people and it means more to me now.
The next day, my companion cam down with a cold, but she wasn't so bad that we had to stay inside all day. We decided to go to work, but we had some problems. It was the 28th and we had ran out of driving mileage allowance for the month. So, we could drive to Ft Drum once and back and walk everywhere else. We live so far away that if you drive anywhere, you're stuck there until the end of the day. Just as we left, we got the lake effect winter winds and a huge rainstorm. The wind gusts were up to 55 mph and the temperature was around 40 :( It was really a cold wet rain. We drove to the Post anyway, bundled up and started walking and trying to connect with some of our RC/LA Folk. Oh my goodness... we were out for an hour and nobody was home and we just couldn't take the rain or cold anymore. We were soaked and our umbrella was of no use with the wind. My skirt kept flying up to eye level (not a good thing). We ran back and decided that with our health, we couldn't be out in the storm. So we got creative. We went to Subway, tried our clothes in the car while we planned and then went to a library and had Facebook lessons with as many people as we could. At least we were dry and not out in the storm. We did the best that we could. Thankfully, we had just bought some hot cocoa. Many of our less actives are doing great like 2 to 3 families have given up coffee and alcohol so that they can qualify for temple ordinances. Woop Woop!
The next day we woke up and my companion was sicker than yesterday, but not enough to stay home. We got a ride out to the Post and did some service. We saw three families and then went home early in the afternoon because we could only do so much... and as a companionship, you act as one entity. When one is down... both are down, because everything is equal and we both have to have the Spirit to do what is necessary for the day. Thankfully, a member family had 17 Miracles and the other Pioneer movies we could watch, because I know that we would be home bound the next few days. (I am so glad we got the movies!) The next morning, we woke up and took a sick day. I was untouched by her cold and still am healthy. I took the time to clean and organize and 'mother/nurse' my companion. I have quickly come to learn that I have strong mothering instincts when it comes to taking care of people that I love. "Here is a cough drop. Keep your feet covered. Drink lots of fluids. Sleep with your head elevated. Here is some chicken soup." I enjoyed it... my companion did not. Ha Ha too bad. :)
Friday came around and we watched every missionary approved movie ever invented. Some are better than others. Anything between 1975 and 2003 was so cheesy, but funny. Everyone's hair and clothes were so bad. :( What was society thinking anyway??
We did however still attend the Ward Trunk or Treat. That was fun. The whole Ward showed up and it was huge!! We set up and passed out candy and had chili. We tried to dress up as each other and wear each other's name badges as our costumes. (dressing up like the Elders is a huge no-no, so we were limited). We quickly switched back because it was so weird not wearing our own name tags, it just felt wrong. Ha Ha.
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| Cameron's Baptism |
Halloween was Cameron's baptism. Yea!! Woop! We set things up and filled the font, waited and had the service. It was great. Half the ward came and it was a good baptism and Happy Halloween. We then were kidnapped by a member who got us new Drum Passes and took us shopping. We helped her shop at Sam's Club and Bed Bath and Beyond. I haven't been in a Sams Club in a year and it was great to be in one. She also bought us a rotisserie chicken (which is a family favorite) and I was in Heaven. So good! We then went home and my companion passed out. I watched movies. I made dinner and carved a pumpkin. His name is Ricky and Sister Branch drew him and I carved him.
Sunday was Church and we felt good enough to go out and actually teach some members who are slowly progressing. I am sure that they will be baptized soon. They both prayed for the first time on Sunday. Woop Woop!
Today we got the call from President and he changed our move date. He wants us all moved out and settled in by this Saturday up in Evans Mills and we will be gone most of Friday for MLC. We basically got our week planned now. This Saturday is transfer calls, and I have a feeling that my time in Carthage Ward is coming to and end (and with President trying to get us moved before transfers, it's just one more indicator). But you never know what the Lord has planned!
The Gospel is Awesome!!
