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Showing posts with label Joseph Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joseph Smith. Show all posts

Monday, March 16, 2015

Week 23: Exhausted, Happy Servants of the Lord

Um. Hi :)


I hope everyone had a good week! Mine was exhausting. Sister Morris and I hit a wall of exhaustion this week, but don't you worry, we kept working :)

Monday was a typical Pday. The evening was good though because we set up an appointment with the man in the elevator who wanted us to teach him, and we also set up an appointment with a former investigator. 

District meeting was on Tuesday- it was zone training so the zone leaders taught the whole time. We learned that on March 28th a new Mormon message called, "Because He Lives" will be coming out; it's supposedly really good, so we are excited to see and share it!! We were also informed that we will not meet together as a zone anymore. Sad day :/ I guess we are one of the few missions who still do that, so from now on we will meet with only our district. Which isn't a bad thing! It's just not AS fun :) 

Later in the evening we had dinner with a member, a lesson with a recent convert, and a lesson with an investigator named A! We watched the Joseph smith video and the spirit was really strong! I love that even after we receive one witness that the church is true, we can continue to be reminded by the power of the Holy Ghost :) 

In the middle of the night I woke up to sister Morris praying out loud saying, "dear Heavenly..." And then she looked at me, and continued to pray but in her head. I'm not sure if she was awake or asleep... hahah you know you're a missionary when... ;) 

Wednesday was our last day to Facebook! I didn't post anything though. We went to a place called A.F.A.C (Arlington food assistance center) where we helped organize food on shelves for families that have low income, and can't afford a lot of food, come to get a few items they may be in need of. It was so fun! We go once a week and everyone there is so kind :) we even got T-Shirts! 

In the evening we had dinner with a member and checked on some formers. Funny story. One of the former investigators was named D. We happened to be in the neighborhood so we thought we would just check on him. When the door opened I asked if D was there, and he was... But not the same D described in our area book! What are the odds that a different D would live there?! I didn't feel good about asking to teach him, so we just gave him a Mormon.org card and explained what was on the website. We then cleared our iPads because we would be getting new ones the next day.

When Thursday rolled around we did indeed get new iPads. They look the same, but they're a little better! Apple has been so kind to actually give us iPads with the restrictions and apps and programs that we need as missionaries! The church is working with Apple! Too cool :)
 
In the afternoon we had lunch with victor; the guy from the elevator. We taught him the restoration and gave him a Book of Mormon; he wants to meet with us again so we have an appointment for next Thursday :) In the evening we had a member lesson, dinner with a member, and we checked up on a recent convert who hasn't been able to come to church because of her job, but we talked to her and she is looking for a new one so she can come!! We haven't been able to get ahold of her for the whole transfer, and before that, so it was a blessing that we were able to catch her! Friday morning after studies we went back to M's house because she needed help with English for an English class. 

I also got a much needed package full of my favorite fattening things from some of my favorite people :) you know who you are ;) 

Weekly planning was good, and in the evening we met with K! We haven't seen her for about 2 weeks, and in the middle of our lesson she so randomly says, "I wanna be baptized in like May or June. Can we do it soon?" Um.. Yes K!? haha she's so awesome :) so we are shooting for the beginning of May. She is still struggling with the word of wisdom but progressing!! :) please continue to keep her in your prayers :) 

Oh my gosh Saturday was nuts. We had a lesson with a member at 10am at a breakfast place, but she was 30 minutes late, so we were there forever! It was so awesome though because she was baptized in 2013 on my birthday!!? And told us her story :) her name is Y. She's the sweetest thing from Africa :) after that we went home for lunch but ended up sleeping the entire lunch hour because we were beat! We had a lesson at 2 with a reassignment whom we'd never met before, but the address brought us to a cigar and tobacco shop.... So we decided not to go in... :) Haha we called the number we had though and left a message! 

On the way home the light for the "low tire pressure" went off, so we stopped to fill our tires with air. In skirts. So fun :) I'm grateful for my smart sister who made sure I knew how to do that, because my companion didn't! 

The evening was full of checking on formers and sharing the gospel!! My favorite thing ever to do!! :) we have a few return appointments so we are excited :) I also got a call that day saying that C's baptism has been moved to the 22nd of March instead of the 21st due to a youth event taking up the stake center Saturday evening. She is so excited :) I AM SO EXCITED!!! :) I miss Centreville, so it will be good to see everyone again :) including sister Lewis!! Dear goodness next week the email will be so good! ;) haha '

Church on Sunday was good. It was ward conference and during 3rd hour it was a combined Q&A, which consisted of questions centered on marriage and dating. That was fun :) We had an investigator come to church so that was awesome! As well as a dinner appointment with a recent convert who is getting married to an agnostic. She's the coolest :) her testimony is super strong and he is very relaxed/supportive of her beliefs. We were able to share a message and part of me wonders what he thought. Maybe one day he will want to know more :) Mothers Day in England was on Sunday, so sister Morris got to skype her family and their accent is SO thick!! I LOVED it!! :) 

Sister Morris has been working so hard mentally all transfer that she shut down Sunday evening. She was pretty sick :/ so we went home early in order for her body to rest. She hasn't been sleeping either so that doesn't help. If you could keep my sweet British companion in your prayers, that would be WONDERFUL!! :) she works really hard and deserves a little extra divine help to rest :) 

Something I've really begun to appreciate is the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the gospel. I've been really studying the Book of Mormon in depth vs. just reading over the chapters and oh what a difference it's made! Weird, huh? ;) 

I am so grateful for the people who followed the council of the lord to write an account of the events that took place, and then buried those accounts in the ground so that they could be preserved for our day. I find it so neat to be able to relate and liken the scriptures to my life! 

Something I've noticed as I study, too, is that the organization of the church is the exact same as it was even before Christ came! God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It's proven throughout the Book of Mormon :) I truly love that book with everything I am! 

We invite all men everywhere to read and pray about it, so you can know for yourself of the truthfulness of the things which we speak :) 

I'm beyond grateful for a loving father in heaven who provides us with modern day direction and council from a living prophet. My heart is full yet again :) it always will be because this gospel is true folks!! The Holy Ghost bears witness of that to me every single day! :) Its pretty great to be able to know that for myself :)
**Shout out to my boy Caden for turning 15 on Tuesday!!! You're getting so old, and so tall!! I hope you have a most wonderful birthday :) I love you! :) 

Have a fabulous week! 

Make good choices. 

Share the gospel. 

Endure to the end. 

Be happy :) 

Sister Chandler

Monday, November 17, 2014

Week Six: Frozen

Hello! :)
Sister Lewis and I were waiting for the elders because we went on another blitz, but while we waited, 
we sang along to the music in the car and made a video. So here are some screen shots of that video :) 

How is everyone?

I can't believe it SNOWED over there!!? What?!? It's still fall over here. Cold, but not snowing. I can picture my mother sitting by the heater in socks, a hoodie, and still eating her crushed ice :) hahah that's my mama!! :) 

My week was pretty good! We haven't been allowed to do any activities with the elders for a few months, but they okayed it again so on Monday sister Lewis and I played ultimate frisbe with our zone! That was so fun!! Much needed :) 

That same night we watched the restoration video with C! She made my favorite brownies with ice cream so it was a good night :) after watching that video, my heart was overwhelmed with gratitude for Joseph Smith. He went through so much torture and persecution for the sake of the gospel. Did you know Joseph Smith only had the education of a 3rd grader? Often people here think he wrote the Book of Mormon, but there is no way on earth he could have done so! The Book of Mormon is a record of ancient writings from prophets in the Americas. The language on those plates was ancient Egyptian! Joseph Smith didn't write the Book of Mormon. He translated it by the power of God :) If you haven't watched that video in some time, I recommend doing so! 



The next day we got with some elders in our district and chalked the plan of salvation!! While doing so, a man pulled up to me and asked what we were doing. I told him we were simply, "chalking the plan of salvation!" :) he was like, "why are you doing this? We have kids that walk here after school to get home, and this will just cause questions. Can't you just go to houses instead of this? People live around here and you don't need to do this". I was at a loss for words and felt alone. I hate contention and forgot that there were 3 other missionaries standing along the side walk with me. Thankfully Elder McDonald had my back and helped me out. We weren't doing anything wrong. The man didn't even know what it is that we were drawing! Nor did he have an interest in learning. Sometimes I think if people would just listen, then they wouldn't be offended. He left and we kept on chalkin :) the truthfulness of the gospel WILL be spread throughout the world somehow, if not on the sidewalk of a neighborhood :) 

This week in the mail I received letters from the activity day girls in my home Ward!! Here were a couple of my favorites:
"I hope you're making friends over there"
"Have a fun time on your trip!"
"I hope you don't get too cold. Good thing your spirit is so warm." Hahah that was my personal favorite ;) 

Our house was FREEZING on Friday! It was cold outside and couldn't figure out why it was so cold in our apartment. So for studies we just put long fuzzy socks on with a long sleeve shirt and our skirts and wrapped up in blankets. Then I got cookies in a package from my grandma!! Woohoo!! :) anyway, I went to see if the heat was on and turns out the AC was on.... Nice. No wonder we were freezing! hahaha whoops :) 

We went tracting Saturday night. One guy opened the door and said, "elders!" Hahah nope :) try again ;) it was so cold. My toes were frozen and my lips became numb, so forming words quickly became difficult, but we kept going! and we were happy :) 

Sister Lewis sang at a fireside last night where new members tell their stories and share their testimonies. That was so wonderful!! I was grateful to be able to hear those :)

I ate a hen for dinner at a member's home, and it looked like they do on tv! It was good :)

I am thankful for all of my many many blessings! Thanks for keeping me in the loop :) 

Love,
Sister Chandler