Idaho Falls
Companion: Sister Dearden
As you can probably tell by the email subject... We have been raking leaves... a lot of them! It was pretty cool, well this happened last week.. Sister Dearden and I will go to peoples houses and we will rake their leaves for them without them knowing. And we decided to rake our neighbors leaves and they didnt come outside or anything! So, we thought we had gotten away with them not knowing who raked their leaves. But, the next day she comes out and she sees us and she starts to talk to us and she said that there were two girls who were raking their leaves yesterday and she asked if it was us. We told her that it was and she then said that she was making us hot coco to bring out to us! Wanna know the cool part?? She isnt a member and she talked to Bishop Rocknak (who we live with) and she said that it was really sweet of us! Her heart is softening! We just need to work on her husband because bishop told us that she would be more than willing to listen to the discussions... Its just her husband that is keeping her from taking the lessons. And we also raked our neighbors across the streets leaves. They are members. And the wife is very active, but her husband doesnt really want anything to do with the church. So, we tried to be sneaky and rake their leaves when they were gone. So we went undercover and waited until he left and we ran over there with our rakes and started working on their yard as fast as we could so they wouldnt catch us! But... the wife came home and she was very grateful and she was telling us how her husband doesnt rake the leaves because he has a really bad back. So, I was grateful that we were able to do that for them. And we are planning on going back this week to rake up the rest of the leaves! I am really enjoying raking leaves because I have never done it before. And after we rake the leaves... WE JUMP IN THEM!!!! SO MUCH FUN! Haha
I will tell you about some people that we are working with. I told mom that I would switch up the email a little bit this week. So.. We will see how this goes. Lol. We have four people with baptism dates! Nothing new is going on with Sonny. We have tried to see him but he is never home. Everyone is excited that Sonny has a date. And they know that what he needs in his life right now is the gospel. And I am so happy that we have the chance to work with him. I just hope that we can see him here soon and that he will be sober. He really wants the gospel in his life and he really wants to make it to the celestial kingdom and he knows that the only way that he can make it there is though baptism. And we just need him to remember that when he thinks that he needs to drink. His wife is a member and they are having some problems. But we promised him that if he does the things that we ask him to do that things with his wife would work out. And that he would be blessed for doing the right things. He wont see those blessings until he decides to change his life and show Heavenly Father that he is willing to.
Marcos and Tre! They are awesome! We havent been able to catch Marcos at home or his wife. But his kids are usually home and we talk to them. They love the missionaries and they love it when we come over and they are so cute!! :) They always come outside and look at our bikes whenever we stop by. We have an appointment with them tonight! Something cool about that family.. The mom is a member but she hasnt always been open to the missionaries. And she is talking with us and she is letting us come over and she sits in the lessons with us. She is really opening up to us and that is super good! :) We are just working on getting them to church right now and getting them to read the Book of Mormon.
Then there is a new investigator that we just picked up last night. Her name is Taylor. She is a sweetheart. Her parents are members and her sister is as well. She is 14. We have been setting up appointments with this family since the day that we got here and they have kept canceling. So, last night we had a feeling that we needed to stop by and set up an appointment. Little did we know that they would invite us in. The mom was sick and the dad didnt come out. So we just sat and talked with the girls. They love the missionaries and they are excited that we are sisters. They have never met sister missionaries before. And I am thinking that the fact that we are sisters is a good thing and that they will open up to us! :)
We are working with a less active and her name is Gabby. She is wanting to come back to church and so we are meeting with her and getting her back into the church. It is hard though because she is wanting to stop smoking but she doesnt really do anything to help her stop. And when we ask her to read something from the Book Of Mormon she doesnt do it. We are thinking that she is wanting to change but she doesnt think she has to do anything to change because she thinks that Heavenly Father will do it for her. She received a priesthood blessing to help her stop smoking.. Which is great! But it comes to a point where you need to work at something before you completely rely on the Lord. The way I look at it is... In missionary work.. you need the Lords help. It wouldnt be possible without his help. But, if we pray and pray for help and just sit in our room all day... What is that going to do for us? We need to do our part. This applies to anything. We are judged by our works. And it is hard to get people to see that. I love Gabby, but there is only so much we can do for her. So we are thinking that we might drop her this week if she doesnt keep her commitments.
We are working with a couple of eight year olds that are not baptized yet and the parents are wanting their kids to take the lessons before they are baptized. I think that the parents are benefiting more from the lessons than the kids are. Which is good! The parents are wanting to be active as well. And we are wanting to get the dads active so that they can baptize their kids.
There is a lot of potential here in the Eagle Rock stake and they are so excited to have two sets of missionaries in the stake now. We are so excited to be here and I can not wait to see the work take off. All of the members are starting to get more missionary minded and that is so good! :)
Well, Sister Dearden and I have been sick the past couple of days. It was a good thing that we were sick at the same time so that we werent out of work longer than two days. We went out for some of the days but had to come home early some days. :/ The food this past week has not been good at all. YUCK! Sister Dearden got food poisoning.. NOT FUN and we arent sure what was wrong with me. Haha But Sister Dearden is on an all liquids diet and I am on a no fat diet... We will be losing a lot of weight this coming week. haha But fun story... Sister Dearden and I came in early on Saturday night because she wasnt feeling well. And while we were home, we received a call from someone in the Pioneer ward bishop brick and he asked us if we would be will to speak in church the next day. We said we could. And we were happy because we were in the rest of the night and we had time to work on our talks.. Little did we know that we would be going to the doctors that night. So, we didnt get home from the doctors until 9:30and we had no time to work on our talks. So, Sunday morning we woke up got ready and prepared our talks while we were getting ready. When we got to church, I was worried that my talk wasnt good enough. So, I said a prayer to myself and asked Heavenly Father if what I had prepared was what I needed to share. And I had a thought in my mind say... "Let My spirit be with you" It was such a comforting feeling. And I know that what I had prepared was what the people in the Pioneer ward needed to hear. The spirit was so strong. And I truly felt Heavenly Father speaking to the people rather than myself. I would have to say that that moment right there is when I relied on the spirit the most in my mission. And the feeling that I had was amazing. Something I could not explain. I am so grateful for that experience! My talk went really well and there were quit a few people that were crying! THEY FELT THE SPIRIT TOO! It wasnt just me that felt it! (And yes Kelli, since they cried, it was real!)
I would like to share something with you guys that I read this week in my personal study! This is in Alma 24. And I have shred this story with you all before but I wanted to expound on it a little more... I actually found this kinda funny, in a way. Lol But when the Anti-Nephi-Lehies do not attack the Lamanites, some of the Lamanites become converted because of the steadfastness and keeping the promise that they had made with Heavenly Father. And in verse 26-27 "And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they were saved. 27. And there was not a wicked man slain among them, but there were more than a thousand brought to the knowledge of the truth; thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people." If you dont remember the story... I suggest you read Alma 24! Lol It is so good. But a cross reference that I put with it is 2 Nephi 2:21 which basically says, The days of the children are prolonged according to the will of God. That they might repent while in the flesh. The Lamanites had some repenting to do! That is why they were not killed! (<----That was the funny part!) But because of the example that the Anti-Nephi-Lehies set, thousands of Lamanites were converted! All we need to do is set an example! Be the person that God would want you to be and people will see that example and they will want to know why you are the way you are! Missionary work can be done just by the example you set. If you think you are not being watched.. Think again. When people know you are a member of the church they will watch and see how you act. Are your actions showing that you are a member of Christs only and true church?
I want you all to know that I know that this is the only and true church here on this earth. I have a strong testimony of this gospel and I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have been given to share my testimony with others. I love you all and I hope that you have a wonderful week! And I hope that you enjoyed the change of email! :)
Love,
Sister Ashley Halbison
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