Dear
Family & Friend:
We
survived our first full week in the Walnut Hills West area! And a huge
accomplishment is that we are not getting lost near as often, despite the fact
that most of the subdivisions are new enough they aren't on my GPS. But
this week was full of miracles!
- Had a wonderful
dinner with the Rundall family where Sister Rundall invited us to come to
mutual on Wednesday with the Laurels.
- Dropped by and met
Ken, a person that the Elders had been working with! He is from Kenya and
has done very well professionally and despite being busy he allowed us to come
and share a message with him! He had started the Book of Mormon, but
hasn't read for a little bit, so we invited him to begin reading again.
He has a wonderful faith in Jesus Christ and understands that the greatest
thing we can do in our lives is to follow Him!
- We were able to do
service and help mow an older gentleman's lawn, which the elders had been doing
this summer.
- We have continued to
meet many members and others that the Elders before us have met!
- We went side walk
chalk finding for Sister Chirinos' first time!
- We met the most
amazing couple ever! The Stout's! Sister Stout is battling brain
cancer and isn't expected to live much longer, but her testimony and the
experiences she shared with us were so inspiring and their home emulated the
Spirit that is in the temples. Sister Chirinos said it best when we were
there she said "Sister Stout, if you were the only person that we met on
our missions, then our mission would be worth it!"
- We had dinner with
the Wadsworth's. She is the Relief Society President and was good
friends/roommates with one of the Heather Thompson's sisters!
- We went to mutual
and were with the Laurels! We decorated notebooks in preparation for
General Conference! There were two non members there including, Olivia
who lives right across the hall from the Elders! She fit in so well and
it is fun, because we are working together on helping Olivia. Like the
Elders are focusing more on Olivia's dad, because they can relate better with
him, and Sister Chirinos and I get to work with Olivia! We are so
excited!
- We had an
appointment with Margarita, who she and her husband are not members, but almost
all of their kids are! We were the first set of sister missionaries they
have ever had in the many years of missionaries going over there, and Margarita
asked while we were there if we could come back each week and help her
read/teach the Book of Mormon to her daughters!
- Friday we
had a shortened zone conference here in Des Moines! I cannot adequately
describe how much I love President and Sister Jensen and how grateful I am for
the opportunity to be serving in the Iowa Des Moines Mission under them!
They truly are inspired in their work and in their trainings! President
Jensen trained on our mission vision and it was really neat he taught about the
importance of always looking to the scriptures and to the prophets and apostles
for direction! Sister Jensen trained on the revelation that takes place
during transfers and how President Jensen receives a spiritual confirmation for
every companionship.
- Friday night
we went to contact a former that lived in a town home. They were a family
of 6 kids. We knocked on the door and a man answers and says
"Sisters! Come on in! Have you had dinner yet?" We
asked if there was a female present before we went in and then the kids
introduced themselves. And Sister Chirinos and I weren't sure what was
taking place finally I asked "Are you members?" And they
started laughing. . . . Umm ya, the Pokuk family, who are in our ward, now live
where a former once lived! Haha, anyways it was a pleasant surprise that
allowed us to get to know the family and have dinner with them!
- That evening we continued
to contact potentials and we went to meet Rene, who it said loved missionaries
and wanted them to call Bingo at the Community Center. It was after 8:00
pm when we knocked on her door, so it was already getting dark out. She
answered the door and asked who we were and what we wanted. We introduced
ourselves and said how the Elders had met her, and that we would be happy to
help out with BINGO. She proceeds, in a very professional way, that here
were her business hours and we could stop by there and she would tell us more
about helping with BINGO. We gave her our card and then we talked just
briefly. She then says we should go get coffee sometime. We
mentioned that we didn't drink coffee, but would love to go get hot chocolate
or something of that sort. Then we continued on with our evening.
- When we got back to
our apartment that night we noticed that we had a voicemail from Rene saying
that she was free for lunch tomorrow!!!!
-Saturday morning
we went and helped the Stringham's in the mission office, since the Shelley's
are in Utah right now. And then we headed to lunch with Rene! She
was so excited that we were girls and we had a wonderful visit over
lunch. She introduced us to the owners of the little bistro where we ate,
and the owners when they found out that we were Mormon's they got really
excited and said "we would love for you to come and visit with us!"
Rene then proceeded to show us a few different places here in
Grimes and introduced us to several more people!
- Sunday was
a beautiful day as well and we had a wonderful time at church! Our ward
mission leader passes around a calendar for the Young Women/Relief Society to
come out with us and we have 5 different laurels that are coming out with us in
the next two weeks! And one laurel who is really excited to serve a
mission said "Sisters I only have two nights that I can even come with
you, Wednesday and Saturday." We thought that she
would have signed up for like one of the days. . . nope, she signed up to come
out with us for the next two Wednesdays and Saturdays!
- We had both a lunch
appointment and a dinner appointment! One was with an active family and
the other was with a less active couple that we met last Sunday and they
invited us for dinner!
- Sunday evening
we had been in Dallas Center and then felt like we should come and try a former
and a less active in Grimes. The former wasn't home, so we tried the less
active. He answered the door and we talked briefly with him, then his
almost 3 year old son said "Are you going to come in?" Haha, oh
how we love little kids! So his parents let us in! Kylie (the wife)
is not a member, and Tommy hasn't been to church in quite a while, but
they are such an adorable family and we very welcoming to us sharing a message,
leaving a Book of Mormon and offering to bring a children's Book of Mormon the
next time we come! Also, it was really cute because as we were trying to
keep their son focused and were showing him the pictures at the front of the
Book of Mormon, Kylie said in regards to who Jesus Christ is "He is the
greatest Super hero ever!" and little Jackson got way excited!
But it was neat how parents truly are the best teachers and know how to relate
to their children so that they will understand!
I love you all and
love the opportunity I have to be serving a mission here in Iowa! To help
others to strengthen their relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ!
Love, Sister Call
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