5-20-13

Annie’s Letter

SO this week was full of excitement! We found 7 new investigators! Which is the most I have found in one week on my mission so we're super excited! 2 are going to be baptized on June 15. They are both former investigators who are now super prepared to learn about the gospel! One is Seanace.(Shaun a see) She has been having some health problems but really felt the spirit and wants it more in her life. She has a member friend (who referred her to the Elders a while ago) but who isn't necessarily the best fellowshipper, but we took another member, the only young mother in the ward, and they hit it off really well. So hopefully that will keep going well! She was committed to come to church but then on Sunday she didn't feel well (she had been in the hospital) but she decided that she really did need to be there, so she found her own ride and came! It was awesome. The other one is James. He is a 17 year old boy who just became a daddy 5 months ago. Since then he has reevaluated his life and decided that he doesn't want his son to have the same life that he has had so he is working hard to rise about. He is doing really well in school (he was about to flunk out before and now gets As and Bs) he works hard, and is just really sincere about changing his life around. He was also at church yesterday despite some insanity...Satan tries hard. But he just can't win. Anyway, James came to church and loved it. He is becoming friends with Jamarcus (who is not black even though his name is) which is great because Jamarcus is in Priest Quorum now but will be going to Elders Quorum soon so James can just transition with him. Also, James was inviting people at church to his baptism! That's the best! We also had an awesome Sister's Training at the mission home. There were SO MANY sisters there. We will probably never be able to have sisters training at the mission home again. Which is sad, cuz it's awesome to be there but it's awesome how many sisters we have! I think there are around 45. Next transfer 17 will come in and none will go home! Although, before the next transfer 2 go home. The exuberant Sister Blackham and Sister Finefeuiaki. Yes. My trainer is going home. SHE HAD ONLY BEEN OUT 4 MONTHS WHEN SHE GOT ME! Oh my cow. Time flies. I will be sad when she leaves. :-( I won't see her again on the mission actually because she is doing a mission tour of all the sister areas except the areas with STLs. So bummer for me! So after Sisters Training we had  a 24 hour exchange. We had the 3 sisters from Marion in Mt. Vernon and it was awesome! I wasa out with Sister Brisco (who is a visa waiter, going to Denmark). We went to Kathleen and Mama Daisey's. We knew they were crazy but we had NO IDEA!!! So... we're sitting there chatting with mama daisy (kathleen wasn't there) and sister Brisco is in the middle of the lesson, it was super awesome, the spirit was strong and then... Mama daisy stopped responding. Her eyes started darting back and forth super quick and then they rolled into the back of her head! Then she fell backwards (she was kneeling on the floor) and then started choking. So Sister Brisco called the squad (if you say ambulance out here, no one will know what you're talking about). We turned her onto her side because we thought she was seizing. And then all the sudden, she was fine. She rolled over and started playing with a little table. Unscrewed the leg and was playing  with it. It was weird. So we said "mama daisy?" no answer. "harriett?" no answer. Changed personalities. SO we said a prayer cuz we didn't know what to do! But as soon as she changed, the spirit was SO gone! So we prayed and it was just "GET OUT NOW! Don't let her see you." So we went outside so we could keep an eye on her but she couldn't see us. Then the squad came, we explained what happened and then we left. ya... we won't be going back to that house. But later Kathleen called sister arnell and was freaking out... so sister arnell went over with sister shelley and sister bergloff and did some service, mama daisy just sat in a corner and looked at cards...weird. anyway, sister Arnell said it was super weird... ya. so that's all over with now :-) Later that night, Sister Brisco and I found James so that was good. Oh, and James is a DEAD RINGER for my friend Chay. Seriously, they could be twins. Also, we discovered some delicious cookies this week. They're like caramel wafers. Really good. MIcKi (a member) has a job where she gets a bunch of stuff form convenience stores for free! So we got all the caramel wafer cookies...they're so dang good! It's dangerous. haha.

Well, I'm really sad to hear about Amy. She was so amazing. And so good for Shane. I didn't know they had had another baby! I feel so bad for Shane and the kids. They have already been through so much. :-( That's just such a hard thing. It makes me SO grateful for the gospel. The Plan of Salvation is just the coolest thing ever. Well, I hope you all have a great week! Megan, I hope you're not too sick all the time. :-( Landon, keep working hard! Natalie, don't stress. It's gonna be okay. Jon CONGRATS ON TAKING STATE! Rachel, enjoy your last bit of school! It's out on Friday here! Everyone is super stoked. Justin, smile. Mom and Dad, thanks for all you do! Good luck with the new house! Have fun with it! You guys are the best parents ever. Give Shane and the kids my love. Talk to ya'll later!
Annie