The Wait is Over

The week of transfers is always interesting.  The waiting for the unknown about kills you.  But I am so grateful to be staying in Dubuque for at least another transfer, and I am praying that I will stay through the holidays!  Well as you know we found out our transfer doctrine on Monday.  Tuesday ended up being a pretty good day.  We went and volunteered at Hills and Dales which was Sister Whipple's last time.  The people we get to work with in Day Hab are so wonderful.  We were coloring Halloween pictures so two of the girls colored a picture for Sister Whipple and wrote a little note on the back since they were going to miss her.  After Hills and Dales we were supposed to go teach Jita. We went over with Sister Hoff (ward missionary), but when we got there, no one was home.  But we were able to go and visit with a less active.  That afternoon we had our last apartment clean check from Elder and Sister Thomas.  I was in denial for the week that they were actually going to be leaving to head back home.  Later, Tuesday afternoon I realized that I was scared once again for transfers, and especially for the unknown.  So Sister Whipple and I went over to the Thomas' apartment so that I could receive a Priesthood blessing from Elder Thomas. I cannot describe how thankful I am for the Priesthood power on the Earth today, and for the ability to receive a Priesthood blessing.  How wonderful it is to know that we have a Father in Heaven that loves us and is very aware of our circumstances.  He wants to help us and will bless us with the strength and ability to accomplish all that He asks of us.

RS Activity  L-R  Sisters Saito, Jally, Hoff, Thora, Whipple, Call

Tuesday evening there was a Relief Society activity on missionary work. A couple of days earlier we had invited Thora to come to the activity and she said "I promise to be there." Now when she promises something, she is going to keep that promise. And when we showed up at the church, Thora was there!  She wants to be a part of the church, and is currently trying to rearrange her work schedule or find another job so that she doesn't have to work on Sunday's, because she said she doesn't want to be baptized unless she can come to church each Sunday. Anyways, Sister Whipple and I were so excited that she came and even though the entire activity was on sharing the gospel, she said that she enjoyed it!  Sister Whipple and I had a part in the program that night and role played with two of the members the Restoration lesson. We were nervous wondering how it would turn out, but it ended up being the most spiritual role play that I have been a part of, since being at the MTC.  



Wednesday we had a district goodbye at the Thomas' apartment. Later that evening we went with the Thomas' over to James and Aline's home and taught them about the tree of life. James and Aline are planning on getting married in December, and then Aline can get baptized two weeks later!! 



Hannah's Mission Posterity:  Sisters Whipple, Farnsworth, Call & Pierce

We had quite a few changes that took place within our district at transfers.  Elder and Sister Thomas as well as Elder Tripp went home,  Sister Monroe was transferred and so now Sister Oman is companions with Sister Farnsworth from Texas. Sister Whipple opened up Lamoni, Iowa and is companions with a Nauvoo Visitor Center missionary who I had met the last day that I worked pageant (July 17th) which was her first day in Nauvoo.  Elder Dragon is training Elder Broadbent from Ogden, UT, and I am training Sister Pierce from Roy, UT.  Sister Pierce is great and we should be able to work wonderfully together.  She went to Weber State for 3 years studying Social Work.  

Sister Call & Jita

On Friday we ended up being able to go and teach Jita the Plan of Salvation.  She is so wonderful and cannot wait to be baptized. The only sad part is that on Saturday she moved to Spokane, WA to be closer to more of her kids, so we won't be able to work with her anymore :(  Also, there was a baptism for someone the 1st ward elders had been teaching.  On Saturday we had  a great lesson with Edmond and Yolanda.

Okay, so I have decided that I need to stay in Dubuque through the Holidays.  I love the Beytien's and other ward members that I work with!  I now call Sister Beatse "Grandma Beatse".  We were invited for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, a Christmas Musical program, and several other holiday activities that the members are already staking claims on.  So I will be extremely sad if I don't get to spend the holidays here.

I am loving being a missionary and being able to share my testimony with others!  The gospel is the way to happiness!

Love you all!

Sister Call

 

Our garage door was "heart attacked"

 

The letter to Hannah's MOM and Hannah has a lot of good advice for her that needs to be shared:

 

Mom,

You will be an amazing Relief Society President!  I cannot even imagine all the work that a relief society president does, but I do know how much they can impact the lives of others!  Just remember that everyone is a child of God and try to see them as God sees them.  You have a great presidency and it should be fun working with them!  You are working with some of my favorite people in the ward.
 

We are not getting another senior couple.  IN fact I think our mission is only getting one new senior couple in the next while. There hasn't been the increase in senior couples like there has in younger missionaries.  But I wish that there was because they help out so much!  I already miss the Thomas' so much, and am forever grateful for being able to serve the 3 months with them.   The mission now has 290 missionaries and has opened 53 new areas in the last 4 months.  We had 37 brand new missionaries come in this past week. with only 8 leaving.  

I was reading in 3 Nephi 19 the other week and I had never realized how much  the multitudes and Christ prayed when Christ was visiting the people of the Americas.  And how Christ said that never had such faith been demonstrated among all of the people.  How wonderful it is to be able to communicate with our Father in Heaven.

Love you lots and will be praying for you in your new calling!

Love, Sister Call