Hi my family. We had a really long week. Our first week with the ward as our own. It wasn't our best week, but we kept on. I've learned about myself that productivity slows when I feel a loss of support or an increase in stress. BOTH happened this week. But we're doing okay. I know the Lord has blessed me and Sister Erickson to get along well and survive. We're sort of struggling with that a tiny bit, but I know that God is in control and if we pray to Him we will be alright. I am trying to remember that at the beginning of my mission I had unrealistic and unfair expectations of missionary life and that's a part of the deal. I am trying to be humble and patient which is hard for me cause I tend to react pridefully when someone hurts me. But we are okay, we are alright. Oh my gosh there is a jumping spider on the dest across from me. Ah! It disappeared. Gross.
Family, it is getting hot. I miss yall, I don't want to do this "texas summer" thing again, we have an entire ward to take care of, and only 100 active members out of like 600, my companion is not too happy with me, I'm trying not to stress, we're going to be reorganizing the stake this weekend, our investigators have slowed in their progress and I just don't know what to do. It feels good to say it all. However, I really honestly am grateful for these trials. How else can God teach me certain things? For example, I've always had the problem of talking to anyone and everyone or consulting any source BUT God when I have a problem. That is something I have wanted to overcome for a while. I haven't fully overcome it yet, but I am making progress. My prayers have become sweet and sacred times. That is a huge blessing. And I am working to reinforce the "consider the lilies" attitude I have started to develop. And solidified in my mind is the kind of member I really really want to be when I get home. One that is helpful in any and every way. One who always does her visiting teaching and fulfills her calling. What is more important than this gospel and the church that organizes and carries out the ordinances? Not a thing! So all in all, these things are making me a little low in spirits. But I am learning so it's okay. God has infinite time to listen to me when no one else can or wants to.
This past week, the high light was probably Cassi's baptism in kingwood on Friday. I went really well and Cassi was really happy afterward. It made me miss Kingwood so bad!! I went into the church and I just MISSED being in Kingwood 2. I know I complained about being there for eternity (and it WAS a long loooong time) but I loved it. It feels like home to me. I walked into the gym and I missed pday. I just was nostalgic for it all. But there is a lot of work to be done in our area.
Berenis told us this week she wants to be baptized, but not baptized into the church. Nice. Jonathan is still waiting for his answer, but I think he's getting closer to making a decision. Robert and Angie are both doing well. We are going to be visiting them often cause the ward is not. However there is one man, James Samford, that we have successfully reactivated! And he wants to be a home teacher again!!! YES!! I just want to work with less actives all the time. Elder Clarke said "A reactivation is just as good as a baptism."
One goal I really want to achieve is to talk to everyone. I don't talk to everyone cause I don't know how or what to say and I get scared. But I really want it, so I know that God will help me achieve it. It is for his Kingdom, so He will help me.
We had an hour of power miracle I wanted to tell you about. Our dinner asked us to come at six so we were planning to do hour of power at 7 with them so at least we could still do it. We got on our bikes and saw a man sitting on the sidewalk bawling. We stopped and asked him if we could help, what was wrong etc. He said that his best friend had just forced him to join a gang and he was planning to kill himself, there was nothing to live for. I asked for his name, and he said "Brock". So I said, "Brock, we are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and we know that God sent us to talk to you. We're representatives of Jesus Christ and there is so much for you to live for!" We asked him to come with us to Brother and Sister B's house for dinner, but on the way there he figured he might need to go talk to his mom, so we asked him to meet us at the beach at 7:30. We got to our dinner explained the situation and Brother and Sister B asked if they could come with us to the beach! Kathy Peele, our recent convert, lives with the B's and she came as well. It was a GREAT first lesson and we asked him to be baptized June 30. He said he would prepare for that day! We're meeting with him later today! Coolie miracle huh?
Mom, thanks for your letter! I needed letters this week and yours was wonderful. How is Grandma doing? I just wish there was something I could do for her from here. Do you think she'd like it if I wrote to her? I probably just will - I want to! Jump in, right President Rasband? How is life? Tell me about your life! What is summer going to be like for you?
Dad, thanks for your little e-mail! I will look forward to your letter and your talks. I'm needing some extra uplift lately so that will be nice to read. Did everything go okay? I hope so!
James, how is summer school? Hows the ward? And everything? I need you to date a few people, I will write you a letter and get you in touch with them. thank you very much.
Jonny you are GRADUATING! (... i hope.) I'm so proud of you. How are you going to spend your summer. What are your plans. You really need to write me. See if you can make it to a half a page. You can type it on facebook and then copy paste print. Just do it.
Well my family, please pray for me! I really need it right now. Things are getting difficult. I'm so grateful for the knowledge that the gospel gives me that all will be well. I get to go to the temple tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited I can't stand it! It has been since JANUARY. TOO too too long. It is getting hot which equals I don't want to do squat so please once again, pray for me. I got sunburned at Sylvan beach for pday yesterday. With the spanish. So crazy. LOVE YOU.
Oh! If any of you know where you can find the poem "touch of the master's hand" could you send it to me? thanks!
