February 7, 2011

Hi There.

I don't really know how I feel about this being the last email. It is quite a weird thing. Maybe I'll email next week just to do it! jk.....I'm done.

We got to see the M.s yesterday because Bishop M.'s dad died and they left last night to go to Arizona for the funeral so they called us over for last night. We just went and talked for a little bit and I got my picture with them. Then we left. We had an awesome lesson afterwards with our friend J. (the recently through the temple S.'s mother).

Sunday was just awesome in a lot of respects.....we had a giant stake conference thing that was broadcast from Salt Lake. It was broadcast live and covered Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico, if not more....It was awesome. I. and G. came, P. came, and so did S.! It was so amazing! Plus we got to hear the prophet speak. Yay for that! Plus, afterwards, we had 40 minutes until our lunch appt so I asked S. if she had time for a lesson. We were able to teach her the plan of salvation at the church with Sister M.. It was so amazing. Her son just had a baby (you know what I mean) and little E. is the highlight of S.'s life. We personalized it to that and it was a pretty spiritual experience. I was super happy. We asked her to be baptized and she said yes. Yay! It was a huge step that she came to church.

This week is filled up already. We have our last dinners and our investigators are all planned in too. I've decided to be open with the fact that I'm going home so people don't freak out. Plus if they know and I blow it off then I don't get trunky jokes....at least not from members. The missionaries are having their fun....but their day will come. It always does....hahahaha

We are going to have a Zone P-day today so everyone is coming to play at the K. chapel....

So....this week was super random. Mostly because it was so so cold! The cars were completely iced over last Friday. I've never experienced that and I don't like it....we weren't allowed to drive or walk or do anything for a while. It was icy and apparently people don't know how to drive in adverse conditions. The news was apparently telling everyone to stay inside too..... Well, the elders had us meet them at the church for their appt because we had keys so we walked there, then we walked to our lunch appt because they gave us permission to do so...It was freezing but we survived.

I. gave me a coat that was much warmer than the one that I'd been wearing. Friday.....again....freezing! Saturday, it started out like it was going to be cold because it was icy. Well, it ended up being 60 and then Sunday it was up to 70....it was so weird. I hear it is getting cold in the middle of the week but for now it feels so good! I'm a fan of the 70s.....Not much hotter, not much colder, but the 70s are where it is at!

Hmmmm...Well, I'm not gonna lie, I don't really know what to say. Things have been going well and we've been experiencing many miracles. The Lord is truly blessing the people here. It is an awesome experience to feel the Spirit work through you to help other people. I truly feel blessed to be part of this great work.

So a great scripture I read recently is Mosiah 9: 17-18. In this chapter Zeniff is telling Ammon and his people how they got into the predicament they were in and recounting the history of his people since they left Zarahemla. Anyway, they talk about how they went in the strength of the Lord because of their prayers.... it says:

"Yea, in the strength of the Lord did we go forth to battle against the Lamanites; for I and my people did cry mightily to the Lord that he would deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, for we were awakened to a remembrance of the deliverance of our fathers. And God did hear our cries and did answer our prayers; and we did go forth in his might;...."

With the Lord we can do all things. As missionaries we go forth in his might as we strive to be obedient to the rules and commandments, as we earnestly pray for the Spirit and as we go out and work hard! I've truly felt the Spirit so strong. I love being able to teach, and in return, learn so much about the gospel. It is basically the best thing ever. I'm going to miss this.....but....I will be able to continue as a member missionary. There are many things I can continue to do.

Sorry this is so scattered! I don't really know what to say and I'm just rambling on I guess. Basically, I love being a missionary. I love the gospel and know that by consistently being what I want to become, I can become it. I know that by doing the little things in the gospel (reading scriptures, going to church, praying) I can stay on the path and be where and who Heavenly Father wants me to be.

I love ya'll and I'll see you later!

Jackie