Missionary Work is Fun!

 

Making French Bread with Sister Beatse

This week has been interesting.  In some ways it feels like it has been a very long week, but in other ways it seems to go by way fast. On Monday afternoon we went over to  Elder and Sister Thomas' to teach their neighbor since they are passing off the people they work with to us.  After that lesson we went over to Sister Beatse and she taught us how to make her delicious french bread!  It was so much fun!  On Tuesday we helped at Hills and Dales, and when we got there, one of the girls that we work with was in the office when we signed in.  She is so outgoing and so she asked how we were and she just calls us "Sisters" since she can't remember our last names.  Anyways so she read my name tag and said "Sister Call"  then Sister Whipple covered her nametag and asked Beth if she knew her name.  In which Beth responded "it's Sister Beautiful"  haha she knows how to win people over!  After Hills and Dales, Sister Hoff (a ward missionary) came and picked us up, as well as Marshallese sister in our ward and we went to teach Jita who came over from the Marshall Islands about 2 months ago.  Jita had been to church with Sister Hoff for the past two weeks and so we were able to go and teach her the restoration.  Jita can understand English fairly well, but has a more difficult time speaking in English, so Sister Rakin (a Marshallese sister) was able to help with the translation.  Jita is so prepared for the gospel and I love it when this is the case because you realize as a missionary your job is fun!  Anyways at the end of the lesson Jita said that she wants to be baptized.  

On Wednesday Sister Hoff, Jita, Sister Whipple, and I went over to our Ward Mission Leader's house to have dinner and to watch the Restoration DVD.  Our ward mission leader, Brother Han loves ping-pong and has a ping-pong coach and everything, so after the video we played ping-pong with Jita for a little bit.  It was so neat to bring an investigator into a members home and build relationships that way!  After dinner, Sister Whipple and I met Elder and Sister Thomas at the home of the Saitos, where we are taking over teaching Aline (also Marshallese).  We hadn't been with the Thomas' the last time they taught her, so we had asked what they were planning on covering.  That morning they had said that they thought they had left them a chapter in 3rd Nephi when Christ is visiting the Americas.  Then when we got to the lesson, they were thinking that they had left them 1 Nephi 8 about the Tree of Life.  So we asked James and Aline what chapter they were supposed to read and they said 1 Nephi 13.  haha well we all scratched our heads because when we turned to see what 1 Nephi 13 was all about it was the chapter about the great and abominable church.  haha Elder and Sister Thomas didn't even try to save it.  We all just laughed and ended up talking about Alma 32.

  

Last District Meeting together.

During the middle of Thursday night the thunder and rain started coming, and it did not stop for over 12 hours!  The thunder in Iowa is crazy! It is the longest rolling thunder I have ever heard, and then the lightning instead of being the loud bolts that go straight down, they end up going parallel in the sky, so it is a quiet lightning storm, but it lights up the entire sky.  Anyways, fall is coming and the weather is starting to get a lot cooler.  I am now starting to pull out the jackets and sweaters.

 

Anyways we had another appointment with Jita on Friday, but we couldn't find anyone to come and translate for us, so we decided to hold off on teaching about the Plan of Salvation.  But Jita had been reading from the Book of Mormon and from the Restoration pamphlet.  And in her broken English she said "I know the Book is true.  It is the number 1 book!"  Her whole face just lights up when we talk about the church!  But sad news is, that she is moving to Spokane, WA this coming Saturday to be with her daughter.  Ughh We are excited for her to be with her daughter, but we are really going to miss being able to teach her.  

 

Conference.  Conference.   Conference!  Did I ever mention that I have been counting down for conference since June.  Umm I loved every moment of it.  All 10 hours of it!  Sister Whipple and I watched all 5 sessions over at Elder and Sister Thomas'.  There were so many amazing talks!  One of my favorites was President Uchtdorf's in the Priesthood Session about getting up after falling down, and how the Savior is our champion so we should allow Him to help us up.  I also loved all of the talks about reaching out to everyone and strengthening all those around you.  In between the Saturday afternoon session and the Priesthood session, Sister Whipple and I went and tried by a few homes, and then as we were walking back towards the Thomas' we saw one of the Less Actives we have been working with, come out and light up a cigarette.  Our hearts just sank.  But we went over to her lovingly and said that we were going over to the Thomas' to watch conference to see if she wanted to come.  To our surprise she put out the cigarette and came with us.  It was one of those moments where we felt like we were at the right place at the right time.  We were able to have wonderful talks with her as we walked to and from the Thomas'!

 

In between the Sunday sessions of conference we had a farewell party/gathering at the church for Elder and Sister Thomas, because they will be heading back home this week :(  The Marshallese members were so wonderful and they made the Thomas' a matching shirt and dress!  The Thomas' have touched so many lives here in Dubuque and I have loved working with them!  

 

Elder and Sister Thomas' farewell

This morning we received a call from President asking if Sister Whipple would train and open a new area, and if I would train here in Dubuque!  I have loved serving with Sister Whipple and am sad to be splitting up, but I am excited to get another sister fresh out of the MTC, because they have so much fire for missionary work as they come out!  

 

I love you all!

 

Sister Call