7-24-13

Annie’s Letter

That's right ladies and gentlemen, I will be staying in lovely Mt. Vernon for the next 6 weeks! All 6 of the missionaries here will be staying! I'm excited that I get to stay here! I love it! Especially the people. We went out this morning to see the Amish(that's why I'm emailing so late) and I was so sad that I might be leaving. But then I found out that I'm not and I'm so happy! I'm a little apprehensive because I have been struggling a little bit with Sis. Nalls but Sister Arnell has been my sanity...but Sister Arnell and Sister Meredith are moving the the apartment in Fredricktown so it's just going to be me and Sister Nalls. So...good thing I have been studying patience and humility like crazy! I don't even know what to tell you has gone on since I emailed last... I don't even know! We went to Reynoldsburg on exchanges and found some good people and got to work with the sisters there, WENT TO MARYSVILLE on exchanges! That was actually a really funny thing... so Marysville was going to come here on exchanges, but then there was a specialized training on Monday and Tuesday so we decided we would just go to Marysville and go to their training on Monday instead of ours on Tuesday. Then Saturday night (the exchanges was for sunday/monday) they called and told us they had bedbugs. YUCK! So we talked to the assistants and decided the best course of action would be to go to Marysville on Sunday and then come back to Mt. Vernon on Sunday night instead of sleeping there. because we did NOT want bedbugs! So on Sunday we went and had dinner with the Skaggs and it was SO great to see them! And I got to see a couple of other members at the church or while we were out and about, asking for referrals and such. It was nice to get to see them! It was definitely different though. I love Marysvile, but it is not my area any more. The Skaggs wanted to know if I had bought a plane ticket yet to come back to Ohio after my mission. :-) So I can watch the avengers with them! I told them I'd work on it. So mom, dad...when do you want to come to OHIO!? We then had our specialized training yesterday in Reynoldsburg which was really good. I love training, they just pump me up!

The last few days I have been feeling an ever increasing sense of urgency! I have less than 3 months left, there is NO time to waste! I have really come to understand how precious this time is, that it is not my time, but the Lord's time and that I have to do everything I can to help these people! The Lord has definitely been strengthening me as I have been humbling myself. We were able to see some miracles occur because of this.

We were at Roselyn's house. She is very stubborn and hasn't been reading because she wants to get everything else in order first so she can focus on reading. So we talked about the importance of reading and were just super straight with her. We read Ether 12:27 and told her that she needed to humble herself a little more. To re prioritize...read first and then everything else will fall into place. We told her that if the savior was here, He would ask her to do the exact same things we are doing, would she put it off if He asked her. Anyway, we finally got her to commit. We had Kyle and Maria with us and they are going through a very had challenge right now, and they shared that with Roselyn and how the gospel has blessed them and given them comfort through this trail. The spirit was SO strong, it was one of the most spiritual lessons I have had in my entire mission.

We then went to an appointment with another man, MIke, and he came to the door and told us that he didn't want to read anymore. That it couldn't be true becasue of Revelation "don't add or take away..." So we talked to him for a while and just told him that he had something very precious in his house, something that could change his entire life... and he was choosing not to even look at it and that was heartbreaking. It is amazing how the spirit really does just allow the words to flow when we are willing to just open our mouths and SAY THEM! Love it!

Well, I hope all is well. Tomorrow starts the big day! Endownments...sealing...ring ceremony...reception... I know it will all be beautiful. I expect pictures asap! Please. :-) Don't stress out. Just like Landon said, even if it doesn't go perfect it is the covenants that you are making that are important. Just enjoy your day. :-) Tell Greg congrats too!

It's been super hot here as well. Not 111 but definitely upper 90s and swelteringly humid. Today is super cool though. We walked outside and it was cold! 67 degrees! We weren't quite sure what to do! I'm glad Rach had fun at UREA! So exciting that Beaudee is kicking! I love that name by the way! I think it's cute :-)

The Judds have been out for about a month and a half. They are from Syracuse, UT. They are so sweet, I just love them! All the senior couples here in the OCM are just incredible! I don't know what we would do without them! this mission would just crumble!

Well, I guess that's really all for this week. I'll be thinking about ya'll! Love ya tonz!

Annie