Area: Montpelier/Cokeville
Companion: Sister Parker
Hello my family! :) This week truly has been so amazing! I have loved every minute of it! This past week is the kind of week that I have been longing for for such a long time! I truly have felt the spirit so strong and I am so grateful for every experience that I have has this past week! I want to start with something funny that happened yesterday in church. It was really funny... We went into the chapel and there were about twenty men in there just standing around and looking at the ceiling. We werent really sure what was going on. We ask them and they tell us that there was a bird in the chapel and that they were trying to get it out. Well, they were trying to throw a tissue box at it to try and get it out. Needless to say, it was not working too well. Haha. Well the bird ended up staying in the chapel for both sacrament meetings and it stayed perfectly still in one place the whole time. When before sacrament it was going crazy and flying all over the place. It was priceless and it was so funny. I think that the best part of it all though was seeing all of the older men trying to get the bird out of the chapel. Haha :) Well, also during sacrament, on a more spiritual note, we were in the Montpelier 4th ward and the speaker got done about ten minutes early. So, the Bishop had asked us to come up and share our testimonies. I had a pretty strong feeling that we were going to be asked. Well, the speakers were talking about being prepared, and so I thought that I would go off of what they were talking about. So, I talked about how I prepared myself for a mission, which was not done very well might I add. But I talked about how discouraged I was after I got my call and about how I was having doubts. But the things that saved me and helped me go on a mission was scripture study, prayer, and going to church. Without these things, I dont think that I would have been strong enough to go on a mission. And these things not only prepared me for my mission but they will also prepare me for my future. For not only after my mission but also when I have my future family. There was an Elder from the 70 that talked at our stake conference that said, there are no less active people, there are people who do not understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. And that is so true. If we study and know the gospel of Jesus Christ then there should be no reason for us to go inactive or to turn away from the church. I loved that. And something that really hit me yesterday that I shared as well was how much of a privileged it is to serve a mission and to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to represent Jesus Christ and to wear His name next to my heart. And how sad it is that we only have 18-24 months to wear that name tag. My time to wear my name tag is almost up. When I come home, my time is over... Unless I serve a couples mission! :) But, just because the name tag is off does not mean that I can no longer be a missionary. I still am a member missionary and I am so excited to be able to do that! :)
So.... Want to hear some very way super duper exciting news?! We set a baptismal date on Saturday! I was so happy! I was pretty much screaming in the car. And for those that know me super well, I am sure that you can picture that! Haha But, we have a new investigator, her name is Kelsey and she is 9 years old. We met her on Thursday and we just got to know her and talked a little about why we were seeing her and about what we were going to teach her. It was a good visit and we set up another appointment for that coming Saturday. So, we saw her Saturday and we taught her the restoration and we invited her to be baptized on the 19th of July! She said yes and she was super excited and her mom also agreed to that day! :) YAY!!!!! I was so happy! :) That was a miracle right there! Oh the joys that come to missionaries when they set a baptismal date. And the best part is, she has been going to church! :)
Well, we met with one of our less actives. And his name is Edward. I am pretty sure that I have talked about him in the past. But, he is about 29 and he has a 7 year old son that will be 8 next year and he wants to prepare himself to baptize his son. So, we have been meeting with him. This past week we were able to teach him and we talked about testimonies and what they are. We also played testimony tower. And for those who do not know what testimony tower is, its just basically jenga with a gospel name. :) But, it was good and it was very spiritual. I love lessons with Edward because the spirit is always so strong. At the end of the lesson, I have the impression that I needed to say something about him preparing himself also to go to the temple so that he can do baptisms for the dead. He said that he was actually thinking about that just the day before and that he was wanting to go back to the temple because he went when he was just about 12 years old. He always loved the feeling of the temple. So, now he is not only working on towards getting to baptize his son but also working towards going to the temple again! :) YAY! :)
We talked with our neighbor again, Chandler and she is doing good. We have not been able to meet with her because they have been out of town a lot camping and all that fun stuff. But, we saw her with her friend on the street one day and we stopped and talked to them and we actually asked her friend if we could teach Chandler in her home and she said yes! Well, she was only 9 so we wanted to check with her mom. So, on Sunday, (yesterday) we saw her and her mom in church, the dad is actually not a member. So, we went to her and asked her if we could teach Chandler in her home and she said that she was hardly every home and that she was not sure if it would work out. But, if they happened to be home, she would not mind us coming over. Well, after sacrament meeting, she came back up to us and said that her daughter was super excited about having Chandler taught in their home and then she said that whatever time we wanted to teach Chandler in the home, she would be sure to be there! AHHH! Kids have so much power in the missionary work! :) That was a miracle right there as well! :)
So, Saturday, we received a call from a member and he said that he has a guy that is working for him (he is Peruvian) and he was wanting to go to church on Sunday. And he was asking us if we could translate for him... I had to laugh. Well, we ended up finding a translator and he was able to come to church and know what was being said, and we also set up an appointment for that night. So, last night, we taught Armando about the Book of Mormon and about Joseph Smith and the restoration of the church. He loved what he heard and he said that he wants to meet 2-3 times a week and that as we meet with him he wants to get baptized! I am pretty sure that is what you call a golden investigator! :) Another miracle! :)
Yesterday, I feel that everything happened on Sunday. Well, it is the sabbath day, so, maybe that is why! :) Well, we met with this lady named Sister Mary Wells. She is a sweet heart. This was our first time meeting with her. Her husband passed away just a year ago and she has been having a really hard time. We were talking with her and she shared how she wanted to go to the temple to be sealed to him. And she said that now is the time. I wish that I could explain the spirit that was felt at that time. It was so amazing. The spirit in her home was so strong and I told her that and she appreciated it very much. I think that I have found the reason that I am in this area. I hate to admit to it, because every time that I do, I get transferred. But her and I had such a connection and I knew exactly what to say and when to say it. The spirit was working through me so much and that feeling was so powerful. Our conversation was happening as if it were just her and I in the room along with her husband that had passed away and I could definitely feel him in the room. I told her that feeling the spirit as I did at that moment was the whole reason I am on the mission. To know that others can feel of that same spirit and to feel of the joys. I cried when she asked me how long I had left and told her I had 3 1/2 months and that I did not want that time to end. I could have visited with her for hours but our time was short and we needed to get to another appointment. :( But, I look forward to our next visit with her.
I am sorry, but I dont have much more time. We have a shortened p-day today. Only two hours. Not a whole lot of time. Friday will be an all day p-day though. I hope that we get to email! :) But, I am loving my companion! She is such a great worker. Her foot has been hurting pretty bad this past week though. So we havent been able to do a whole lot of walking. But, thats okay because we were able to make up for that! Mom wanted me to say what my high and low was for the week... Well, I have shared a lot of highs with you and the good part is, there are no lows! YAY! :) She also asked about the weather and it is so super nice! She asked if we have been running, and my answer to that is no. I would love to go running but my companion does not like to run :( Which makes me super sad. Also, my companion likes to talk a lot... more than me. Can you imagine that? Haha Sometimes a little too much! Haha
Well, my time is out. I love you all so so much! I hope that you all have a wonderful week! :) I look forward to seeing you all in just 3 1/2 months!
Love,
Sister Ashley Halbison
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