(Hna. Deb's parents leave tomorrow to drive from Colorado to Missouri to pick her up from her mission. Mom says, "It is a very blessed Christmas.")
So, cool stuff... I got a referral from a member a while ago for a Baptist minister that likes the Book of Mormon, he finally agreed to come in to the visitor center and President van Komen said he would meet him here. Inter-faith relations has been Presidents' specialty his whole life. So the earliest Pastor Lynn Ridenhour could come is this Friday evening. And that was good, umm, so you don't mind taking the tour twice do you? Love you. Thanks. See you Friday!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Hi,
We found two new investigators this week. Jose and Glenda. I had found their names on a sticky note cleaning the apartment. They weren't in potentials, so I called not knowing anything about them. We went over. They had been committed for baptism at one point, but stopped coming to church when a man, not a member of the church, but whose kids do attend church, tried to kill him. I found his teaching record and he still has many of the same concerns as he once had. But he said whether he joins
our church or not, even if he had slammed the door in the face of Sister Rounds and Hernandez, we have done what Heavenly Father wants us to do and worked out our salvation.
That's similar to what President Van Komen told me in interviews this week. He said, “Sister, what makes a successful mission?” and I thought he was asking about the mission of Independence, MO. So I said, “Baptisms and reactivation.” And apparently he meant like, “What makes MY mission successful?” So blonde. Anyway, he said, “It's the conviction of your testimony. If I see you in twenty years and you are still active...you had successful mission.” I thought that was great, because
this is my last email. And looking back and judging old emails, won't tell me if my emails were successful. We're to look forward and outward, not back. And when I said that, I felt more emboldened and in control.
Climbing a mountain, it doesn't make any sense to feel bad that 2 hours ago, I wasn't at the altitude or as far as I am now or that I didn't take a better way. But praying for strength to make up for any lost time and to enjoy and the journey ahead does. God doesn't ask us to climb mountains because He needs us to, it's because we need to.
I've learned a lot from my sisters here and Sister Stowell says, “The Gospel is Joy.” That's profound and true. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation. I know that faith in the Savior Jesus Christ and in His atonement will bring us happiness. I know that relying on His grace will bring us a peace. Through Him we are made clean and whole. That is why the Church is true, because the keys to that atonement and that cleansing power are
restored.
I love you. Thank you.
Hermana Deb
We found two new investigators this week. Jose and Glenda. I had found their names on a sticky note cleaning the apartment. They weren't in potentials, so I called not knowing anything about them. We went over. They had been committed for baptism at one point, but stopped coming to church when a man, not a member of the church, but whose kids do attend church, tried to kill him. I found his teaching record and he still has many of the same concerns as he once had. But he said whether he joins
our church or not, even if he had slammed the door in the face of Sister Rounds and Hernandez, we have done what Heavenly Father wants us to do and worked out our salvation.
That's similar to what President Van Komen told me in interviews this week. He said, “Sister, what makes a successful mission?” and I thought he was asking about the mission of Independence, MO. So I said, “Baptisms and reactivation.” And apparently he meant like, “What makes MY mission successful?” So blonde. Anyway, he said, “It's the conviction of your testimony. If I see you in twenty years and you are still active...you had successful mission.” I thought that was great, because
this is my last email. And looking back and judging old emails, won't tell me if my emails were successful. We're to look forward and outward, not back. And when I said that, I felt more emboldened and in control.
Climbing a mountain, it doesn't make any sense to feel bad that 2 hours ago, I wasn't at the altitude or as far as I am now or that I didn't take a better way. But praying for strength to make up for any lost time and to enjoy and the journey ahead does. God doesn't ask us to climb mountains because He needs us to, it's because we need to.
I've learned a lot from my sisters here and Sister Stowell says, “The Gospel is Joy.” That's profound and true. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation. I know that faith in the Savior Jesus Christ and in His atonement will bring us happiness. I know that relying on His grace will bring us a peace. Through Him we are made clean and whole. That is why the Church is true, because the keys to that atonement and that cleansing power are
restored.
I love you. Thank you.
Hermana Deb
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Hello family of Hna. Deb,
Your daughter had Thanksgiving dinner with us along with the elders and our friends. We enjoyed having them and the spirit they bring into our home. Afterwards we sat around and talked about the scriptures and they sang a couple of songs for us. We took pictures and video during one of the songs and combined the pictures and video into one that you can watch on the internet. I told your daughter if she gave us your email address we would send you the link so that you can watch your daughter singing for us. You will probably need a DSL or cable connection so if you don't let us know and we can send it to you on a CD. Your daughter is a wonderful person and missionary, and we love her.
You can watch the video by clicking on the link below or pasting it in your web browser. We have also made the video down-loadable from there if you want to put it on your own computer. There are also pictures on there that we took when they were here for a Young Women's activity, and another time when they were here for a dinner appointment.When you get to the website just scroll down to the bottom and you will see the video and pictures.
Click here for pictures.
Click here for video.
Happy Holidays,
Scott and Laura
Your daughter had Thanksgiving dinner with us along with the elders and our friends. We enjoyed having them and the spirit they bring into our home. Afterwards we sat around and talked about the scriptures and they sang a couple of songs for us. We took pictures and video during one of the songs and combined the pictures and video into one that you can watch on the internet. I told your daughter if she gave us your email address we would send you the link so that you can watch your daughter singing for us. You will probably need a DSL or cable connection so if you don't let us know and we can send it to you on a CD. Your daughter is a wonderful person and missionary, and we love her.
You can watch the video by clicking on the link below or pasting it in your web browser. We have also made the video down-loadable from there if you want to put it on your own computer. There are also pictures on there that we took when they were here for a Young Women's activity, and another time when they were here for a dinner appointment.When you get to the website just scroll down to the bottom and you will see the video and pictures.
Click here for pictures.
Click here for video.
Happy Holidays,
Scott and Laura
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Subject: turkey turkey bang bang!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!
It's been a fun one. We go to Sister Hamilton's house every pday anyway to do laundry, so she signed up to feed us and the elders with another Utah couple away from their kids this Christmas season. They said we could be their kids. They are really wonderful people. I was on the couch writing letters and listening to their Christmas music and they had pictures floating across their tv screen. They were one of the families that happened to be at Far West when Elder Holland went through here. I couldn't think of another family that deserved that photo op more. I made a blanket out of sheets with Sister Hamilton last pday. I pretty proud of my sewing skills. We'r'e tying it next week. She also volunteered to let you stay in their guest level, Mom and Dad. It's the basement, BUT it opens out to ground level (like the Badureks) and they have a little kitchenette and a queen size bed and a twin down
there...so, not too bad. :-P I gave her your number.
Yesterday was a good day. The elders asked us to take their investigator on tour and it was very spiritual. He's the husband of an inactive RLDS lady. He has a Baptist background, but when I asked him how he felt at the end, he said, "I wasn't raised being taught about Joseph Smith or anything, but when you talk about Jesus Christ you're speaking my language. One thing I can say for you all is that you're spiritual people. No denying that. I always feel the Holy Spirit really strong
whenever the elders come by. I compliment ya'll for that. You've said it a million times. I need to pray. I believe in the power of prayer. I'm gonna do that." Sister Fife pointed out that the Spirit testifies that what's being said is true. Hopefully he puts two and two together. It was good working with the elders in our ward. I think we all feel more unified now.
We had a meeting with Bishop that evening talking about the need for more unity working with the 35 families we were given to visit and it went really well. He gave us a lot of free reign to get the ball rolling ourselves, "because Bishop said so." So it was good, because I didn't feel like we put too much more on his plate and as we were talking he thought of a few more assignments for us. I feel a lot better and directed now. It feels good.
I was pulled out of that meeting a little early to take the Riverview elders Spanish speaking tour. It was a lady I had tried to visit about 5 times! The sister-in-law of the ward mission leader, but she never showed much interest and he didn't give us access to teach her. I wondered what changed. When I was in Riverview she had a pretty big tummy, now she's a lot skinnier and her husband and she came in a
carrying a tiny little brown baby, so cute! Things change. It was sort of a lengthy tour. If you knew Elder Jones. You'd know why. But it was great and he comitted to start meeting with the Elders, too. I'm really excited for their little family. She's totally ready---has all the answers and he's---coming along.
Anyway, I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Do some service. Make some memories. We're going to go to the rest home and the hospital tonight to see Kathy and some shut ins. It'll be great. "A man filled with the love of God will not be content to bless his family alone." -- Joseph Smith movie.
Happy Holidays! I love you all!
With Love,
Hermana Deb
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!
It's been a fun one. We go to Sister Hamilton's house every pday anyway to do laundry, so she signed up to feed us and the elders with another Utah couple away from their kids this Christmas season. They said we could be their kids. They are really wonderful people. I was on the couch writing letters and listening to their Christmas music and they had pictures floating across their tv screen. They were one of the families that happened to be at Far West when Elder Holland went through here. I couldn't think of another family that deserved that photo op more. I made a blanket out of sheets with Sister Hamilton last pday. I pretty proud of my sewing skills. We'r'e tying it next week. She also volunteered to let you stay in their guest level, Mom and Dad. It's the basement, BUT it opens out to ground level (like the Badureks) and they have a little kitchenette and a queen size bed and a twin down
there...so, not too bad. :-P I gave her your number.
Yesterday was a good day. The elders asked us to take their investigator on tour and it was very spiritual. He's the husband of an inactive RLDS lady. He has a Baptist background, but when I asked him how he felt at the end, he said, "I wasn't raised being taught about Joseph Smith or anything, but when you talk about Jesus Christ you're speaking my language. One thing I can say for you all is that you're spiritual people. No denying that. I always feel the Holy Spirit really strong
whenever the elders come by. I compliment ya'll for that. You've said it a million times. I need to pray. I believe in the power of prayer. I'm gonna do that." Sister Fife pointed out that the Spirit testifies that what's being said is true. Hopefully he puts two and two together. It was good working with the elders in our ward. I think we all feel more unified now.
We had a meeting with Bishop that evening talking about the need for more unity working with the 35 families we were given to visit and it went really well. He gave us a lot of free reign to get the ball rolling ourselves, "because Bishop said so." So it was good, because I didn't feel like we put too much more on his plate and as we were talking he thought of a few more assignments for us. I feel a lot better and directed now. It feels good.
I was pulled out of that meeting a little early to take the Riverview elders Spanish speaking tour. It was a lady I had tried to visit about 5 times! The sister-in-law of the ward mission leader, but she never showed much interest and he didn't give us access to teach her. I wondered what changed. When I was in Riverview she had a pretty big tummy, now she's a lot skinnier and her husband and she came in a
carrying a tiny little brown baby, so cute! Things change. It was sort of a lengthy tour. If you knew Elder Jones. You'd know why. But it was great and he comitted to start meeting with the Elders, too. I'm really excited for their little family. She's totally ready---has all the answers and he's---coming along.
Anyway, I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Do some service. Make some memories. We're going to go to the rest home and the hospital tonight to see Kathy and some shut ins. It'll be great. "A man filled with the love of God will not be content to bless his family alone." -- Joseph Smith movie.
Happy Holidays! I love you all!
With Love,
Hermana Deb
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Dear Familia,
The Church is getting cooler. So Elder Perry came awhile ago and decided to make some policy changes on missionary work in this mission and put the responsibility moreso in the hands of the members. I was in Riverview at the time and the members were already struggling filling basic callings, so we didn't apply it there. But the work in this ward has been down for the last 6 months and we don't have much to do and there's a huge work force and really solid people have callings ike, “Beehive secretary” and “Activities co-coordinator”. So we should be clicking along like no one's business. But coordination meeting's been so-so and the ward mission plan is complicated and we don't have the complete list of less actives were supposed to visit and most people don't seem to care about those names anyway. They don't even have visiting teachers seeing them, yet they're sending us to replace member fellowship instead of enhancing it and preparing them to return to church. So anyway...lots of changes that need to be made and we have a brief meeting with Bishop tonight and my companion has done a lot of work making a presentation on reintroducing what Elder Perry taught, so it's going to be great.
The general idea is that the leaders of the auxiliaries (Relief Society, Elders Quorum, Youth, etc), will each choose five families that are sort of coming to church or ready to come back or have some open nonmember relatives. And then they, along with the ward missionaries will go see them and then we'll have lessons with each family in the homes of the auxiliary leaders. And the best part is that the ward mission leader will schedule, fill out the reports in the Area Book and report to the Bishop on those lessons for us. So we literally, just teach. So that way the
members always know what's happening and decide themselves how the missionary work is going to go. It's so neat. I really feel like this is the baby step to when there won't be a need for missionaries in the US stakes. I think that's the eventual goal.
Funny story. We were real nice last week and gave the elders our car and let them use our miles on a frosty Friday. We got teamups most of the day, but in the evening we rode their bikes to go check in on their investigator Kathy. We had a good lesson with her and had forgotten that we had left the bikes locked in a well lit place on a lamp post, because the elders were going to swing by and get them in a couple minutes. The elders called and said they'd get them in the morning. We leave the lesson and the there's the lampost...where's the bikes? The Assistants
live in the some complex as the investigator. We asked if the elders in our ward had come for their bikes and they said they hadn't seen them! Argh! So we lost two pretty nice mtn bikes. Sister Fife calls our elders crying and Elder Gallegos says, “Well, I guess some one else needed them more. It's okay sisters.” The next morning we drag the two bikes and helmets from main house shed up the stairs into our apartment and I start guesstimating repairs on the nicer one, but I felt bad replacing Elder Whiting's specialized with a Huffy. So I call the Assistants that
afternoon and ask for permission to look on Craigslist.com. Elder Gallacher says, “Oh, the elders bike weren't stolen, Elder Seethaller put them in our apartment. He's tall. He just lifted them over the lamp post. I thought he told you.” Oh man...if you hear about the homicide of a freakishly tall assistant to the President, eat this email.
So that investigator was baptized Saturday and we had a big part in that. Kathy Swain is in her 60s and has survived everything to be survived. She is an amazing woman at just 5 ft in height. She put off cancer surgery to be baptized this weekend. Just an amazing person. It's been a privilege to meet her.
Times out.
Love you!
Hna Deb
The Church is getting cooler. So Elder Perry came awhile ago and decided to make some policy changes on missionary work in this mission and put the responsibility moreso in the hands of the members. I was in Riverview at the time and the members were already struggling filling basic callings, so we didn't apply it there. But the work in this ward has been down for the last 6 months and we don't have much to do and there's a huge work force and really solid people have callings ike, “Beehive secretary” and “Activities co-coordinator”. So we should be clicking along like no one's business. But coordination meeting's been so-so and the ward mission plan is complicated and we don't have the complete list of less actives were supposed to visit and most people don't seem to care about those names anyway. They don't even have visiting teachers seeing them, yet they're sending us to replace member fellowship instead of enhancing it and preparing them to return to church. So anyway...lots of changes that need to be made and we have a brief meeting with Bishop tonight and my companion has done a lot of work making a presentation on reintroducing what Elder Perry taught, so it's going to be great.
The general idea is that the leaders of the auxiliaries (Relief Society, Elders Quorum, Youth, etc), will each choose five families that are sort of coming to church or ready to come back or have some open nonmember relatives. And then they, along with the ward missionaries will go see them and then we'll have lessons with each family in the homes of the auxiliary leaders. And the best part is that the ward mission leader will schedule, fill out the reports in the Area Book and report to the Bishop on those lessons for us. So we literally, just teach. So that way the
members always know what's happening and decide themselves how the missionary work is going to go. It's so neat. I really feel like this is the baby step to when there won't be a need for missionaries in the US stakes. I think that's the eventual goal.
Funny story. We were real nice last week and gave the elders our car and let them use our miles on a frosty Friday. We got teamups most of the day, but in the evening we rode their bikes to go check in on their investigator Kathy. We had a good lesson with her and had forgotten that we had left the bikes locked in a well lit place on a lamp post, because the elders were going to swing by and get them in a couple minutes. The elders called and said they'd get them in the morning. We leave the lesson and the there's the lampost...where's the bikes? The Assistants
live in the some complex as the investigator. We asked if the elders in our ward had come for their bikes and they said they hadn't seen them! Argh! So we lost two pretty nice mtn bikes. Sister Fife calls our elders crying and Elder Gallegos says, “Well, I guess some one else needed them more. It's okay sisters.” The next morning we drag the two bikes and helmets from main house shed up the stairs into our apartment and I start guesstimating repairs on the nicer one, but I felt bad replacing Elder Whiting's specialized with a Huffy. So I call the Assistants that
afternoon and ask for permission to look on Craigslist.com. Elder Gallacher says, “Oh, the elders bike weren't stolen, Elder Seethaller put them in our apartment. He's tall. He just lifted them over the lamp post. I thought he told you.” Oh man...if you hear about the homicide of a freakishly tall assistant to the President, eat this email.
So that investigator was baptized Saturday and we had a big part in that. Kathy Swain is in her 60s and has survived everything to be survived. She is an amazing woman at just 5 ft in height. She put off cancer surgery to be baptized this weekend. Just an amazing person. It's been a privilege to meet her.
Times out.
Love you!
Hna Deb
Friday, November 14, 2008
[Note from Missionary Mom (Rexene). Deb will be in CS about the 19th of December for a few days. We will be in Utah by the 23rd. Reply back with your holiday plan - I know she would like to see as many of you as she can].
Hola,
Well. Once again. Busy p-day in which we had to do other thing other than p-day things. My comp from Cali needed to get winter clothes so we went to the mall. Weird. Kohls was okay, but Old Navy and some other 'hip' places we did not fit in very well. I finally got my bajillon dollar knee brace and it's really good. It's like wearing braces on your knee. Maybe that's why it's called a knee brace. There's like a little rubber thing that pushes up against one side of the knee cap while I walk and attempts to shove it where it's supposed to be. Like a tooth! Cool, huh?
The Lord always really blesses us on exchanges. We didn't have a single appointment scheduled, but driving to see a recent convert we pulled over and did some random service for people raking leaves for two hours in the rain. My kinda fun. :-) Really. Then we saw this recent convert that dissappeared after her baptism for about 6 months. Her son had strep, so she was at home and we got to talk to her and get a new phone number. She still hasn't signed her baptismal form. There's a year limit on getting that turned in.
Then I remembered a member referral a little kid had given us at a dinner appointment, so we went and she was sick too! Yea! So she was home from work and invited us in to teach lesson one. And we're going to teach her tomorrow. That takes so much preparation for people to just let us in like that. Especially white people. I always wonder how the Lord's hand has been in their life and they probably haven't even seen it. I guess the same goes for my own life, though.
I'm glad Dad's surviving. Zone Conference and church on Sunday was mostly about trials. Strong kind people are strong and kind for a reason. The Van Komens, our mission president and wife, have been through a lot. They're still going through a lot. I wonder sometimes what I'm going to have placed in my path to be a strong, kind, and wise person, too. Kind of worries me...anywho.
Love you all. I'm excited about going to Nauvoo in a few weeks. Mom, I've never traveled or booked anything around here, so I say go cheap...send me the address and I can tell you if it's in the ghetto or not. Beyond that I'm not much help. Sorry. Keep me updated. Happy Thanksgiving! We're eating at Sister Hamilton's and she's attempting to teach me how to sew next p-day. Con muchisimo amor.
Love,
Hermana Deb
Hola,
Well. Once again. Busy p-day in which we had to do other thing other than p-day things. My comp from Cali needed to get winter clothes so we went to the mall. Weird. Kohls was okay, but Old Navy and some other 'hip' places we did not fit in very well. I finally got my bajillon dollar knee brace and it's really good. It's like wearing braces on your knee. Maybe that's why it's called a knee brace. There's like a little rubber thing that pushes up against one side of the knee cap while I walk and attempts to shove it where it's supposed to be. Like a tooth! Cool, huh?
The Lord always really blesses us on exchanges. We didn't have a single appointment scheduled, but driving to see a recent convert we pulled over and did some random service for people raking leaves for two hours in the rain. My kinda fun. :-) Really. Then we saw this recent convert that dissappeared after her baptism for about 6 months. Her son had strep, so she was at home and we got to talk to her and get a new phone number. She still hasn't signed her baptismal form. There's a year limit on getting that turned in.
Then I remembered a member referral a little kid had given us at a dinner appointment, so we went and she was sick too! Yea! So she was home from work and invited us in to teach lesson one. And we're going to teach her tomorrow. That takes so much preparation for people to just let us in like that. Especially white people. I always wonder how the Lord's hand has been in their life and they probably haven't even seen it. I guess the same goes for my own life, though.
I'm glad Dad's surviving. Zone Conference and church on Sunday was mostly about trials. Strong kind people are strong and kind for a reason. The Van Komens, our mission president and wife, have been through a lot. They're still going through a lot. I wonder sometimes what I'm going to have placed in my path to be a strong, kind, and wise person, too. Kind of worries me...anywho.
Love you all. I'm excited about going to Nauvoo in a few weeks. Mom, I've never traveled or booked anything around here, so I say go cheap...send me the address and I can tell you if it's in the ghetto or not. Beyond that I'm not much help. Sorry. Keep me updated. Happy Thanksgiving! We're eating at Sister Hamilton's and she's attempting to teach me how to sew next p-day. Con muchisimo amor.
Love,
Hermana Deb
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