2/18/14

Sounds like you guys have been busy this week! I'm glad Sarah is starting to be able to get through it. Hopefully she can continue to do better! 

 

I'm excited to hear from Rex! I haven't gotten a letter yet. Looking forward to that!

 

This has been a crazy busy week for us! But such a good one! Sis. Bakker and I are doing so well! I am so grateful for her! I have always enjoyed being a missionary and doing what we do, but this transfer I truly am LOVING what we are doing together. I love it!!! We met with our investigator, Jim, on Monday last week and he set a baptismal date for March 28th! He is doing so well!!! He believes everything and is so solid so far. It kind of worries me that we don't have any concerns with him yet, I'm not used to that! We also taught him on Friday the Plan of Salvation. He really liked that! It's cool when they get it and they know that it's true, it just makes sense. He came to church too!!! He loved it! We had Branch Conference and so they talked a lot about the Temple and covenants, so we have a lot of explaining and a lot of answering questions to do. He seemed like he handled it all pretty well though. He loved our little Branch building, he said it was beautiful!

 

Tuesday we had Zone Conference which was fantastic! I love getting to see the Vellingas and all the other missionaries on this side of the mission. Being so far out away from EVERYONE else out here in St. Marys is hard, so it's nice when we get to be with everyone else. Sis. Vellinga asked me what I thought about Sis. Lemmon going to Massillon. I told her I was SO excited for her! I know that that will be such a great area for her! She agreed, she said, "we needed to get her somewhere where she could be a missionary." haha! St. Marys is a tough area, but serving here has taught me so many things about myself and about my Father in Heaven's knowledge of me. I'm grateful to still be here.

 

Wednesday we went around looking for service opportunities in the community. We got a few people to call us back, so hopefully we'll get a lot busier here soon! We also received a Headquarter Referral (meaning someone referred their friend on Mormon.org to the missionaries for a visit). So we stopped by and tried to find Brittney but she was at work. Thursday we stopped by again and finally met Brittney! She is so cute! 23 years old and is bubbly and fun! She's hardcore, lots of black makeup and loves metal, but she was interested in our message. She lost a son 2 years ago and when we told her we share a message about being together with our families after this life she wanted us to come back when she had more time. So we scheduled for Friday!

 

Jill has been having a rough week so we called her on Thursday and she told us that she had almost admitted herself to the pych ward again. She was really having a rough time! So we had a lesson with her over the phone and tried to calm her down and prayed with her. We set up a time for her to come to the church with us to clean with the Jensons. That seemed to help her a lot, just getting out of her apartment and getting her mind off of the death of her ex-husband.

 

Friday we saw Brittney. She had forgotten that it was Valentines day and had called to reschedule, but we didn't have our phone. So when we got there she had rose petals everywhere and wine out and yah, it was akward. But we went in and showed her this video:  http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=1094400252001 She seemed to like it and we set up another appointment for us to come back at a better time. :)

 

We also stopped by Jill's Friday night. I had never seen her like that. She was so irritable and manic. I didn't really know what to do. The spirit definitely wasn't there, so we said a prayer together which kind of helped. Her son, Josh, was there too. He's 21 and less-active as well. But he seems like a good kid. He went to get Jill and him some dinner and came back and handed us a bag. We asked him what it was and he said, "it's chick food". He went and got both of us salads! hahaha! We had a good laugh about that one. I've never been called a "chick" yet on my mission. Don't worry, Sis. Bakker and I set him straight. But we talked to Jill and tried to see what we could do. She had run out of her meds and so I think that had the most to do with everything that she was struggling with. So we asked her if she wanted a blessing and we made some arrangements so that on Saturday she could get one.

 

Saturday was good. We met Elder and Sis. Jenson at the church with Jill and Bro. Roode, a member of the branch. We talked with her for a little bit and then they gave her a blessing. We stopped by her place that night and she seemed to be doing SO MUCH better. The power of the priesthood is incredible! I was so happy to see that she had some peace and was calm.

 

Sunday was Branch Conference. Our little chapel was full! It was awesome! We had all the stake leaders there, so it filled up pretty fast. There were some really great talks given! We have a great Stake President, he's wonderful. We went to the Felver's for lunch! We love them! They made us pizza and wings! SO GOOD!!! He's such a fantastic cook! Then we went to our dinner appointment. (I had to stuff food in my mouth and force myself to swallow it, I was so full!!!) We had met this women, she is the accountant for the food pantry we do service at, Annette. She is so sweet and was impressed with us and so she invited us over for dinner with her family! It was great! Homemade lasagna and chocolate mouse for dessert. SO GOOD! She was really sweet and invited us to come to mass with them this Saturday and we invited them to come to church with us too! So we are going to a Mass on Saturday... should be interesting. I'm excited! Then we went back to the Felvers. They made icecream for us and we needed to share a message with them still. When we left Dane set some goals for himself - start coming to church more regularly and start doing family scripture study again. He is so amazing. He has such a powerful testimony of the church. He just needs a little nudge. I told them I knew that they would be back to the temple in a year. They will! I know it. They are so ready! They just have to do a little more work and they're there! It's not out of reach for them. I'm so grateful for the blessings the temple brings into our lives. I hope they do what they know they need to to get back.

 

Yesterday was a great preparation day. We just kind of hung out and went and saw some sights in our area. Lots of fun!

 

This morning we got a text from our zone leaders, they wanted us to stay in because of the weather. Apparently it was supposed to get bad out, but it was just fine where we are. So then about 2 hours later they said we could go back out to work. Whatever... so today we are teaching Brittney and the Beougher family and then the branch president just called and invited us to dinner. So I think we're going to have a good day today.

 

I can't believe how things have just exploded here in St. Marys. Things are getting so busy and we are getting investigators popping out of the woodwork and we have a progressing investigator with a date!!! I feel like all of Sis. Lemmon and I's hard work is finally starting to pay off! I feel like every morning I get up and can't wait to see what miracles we'll witness that day. I love getting to see the hand of the Lord everyday as we diligently work and put our faith and trust in Him. It's something that I'm still working on, I have a hard time trusting Him completely, but I know it's going to be the best in the long run.

 

The cookies were so great!!!! thank you so much! The Jensons loved them too! They took a picture of the package and kept your sweet letters in their journal. They showed it to me last night. They felt so special, it definitely made their day. thanks so much mom and dad for doing that.

 

I hope you guys are all doing well this week! I love and miss each of you SO SO SO SO much!

 

Rex - I hope you are loving your first area and that you have an awesome trainer! I can't wait to hear all about it!

 

Rachel

Recent Pictures

2/10/14

I am so happy to hear about you guys!!! It sounds like the family is all doing well and that you're all happy. Hopefully Sarah can get healthy now! Steph sent me pics of Mike in the hospital - poor thing! Even when he's sick he still looks adorable. Rex didn't mention anything about his companion in my email, he seems to be doing awesome! I'll have to send you our conversation - HE IS SUCH A STUD!!!! You'll be so proud!

So this is what I said to him:

 

REX! I love you so much! I hope you're having a good week! I love that you made that Commitment to keep a journal! That is awesome!!! Study journals are the best too! I'm glad you have one of those too! I found a scripture that I wanted to share with you! IT'S ABOUT US!!!! Alma 17: 12-13 STOP AND READ IT NOW BEFORE YOU READ THE REST OF THIS!!!  That is what we are doing Rex! We are only separated from each other and the other people we love because we know that the work we are doing, this season of harvest, is GREAT. And it is only a season. This month I will have been on my mission for a year and it feels like I blinked. There are a lot of things that I still need to change about myself and there's a lot that I need to work on. Start your mission off right - become a consecrated missionary. There is a talk by Elder Callister called Becoming a Consecrated Missionary. It was a devotional talk at the Provo MTC so I don't know if you'll have access to that. But if you can get it GET IT! I will try to send you a copy of it. I also sent some talks home to mom to send to you. One of them is called "The Fourth Missionary" Which I wish I would have had when I first started my mission - it is incredible and helps you have a vision of the missionary that you want to become. So when you get them READ THEM DILLIGENTLY OVER AND OVER AGAIN.  Rex I love you so much and I am so proud of all that you have accomplished. You are incredible and I know that our Heavenly Father is so proud of you. I asked Mom to send me her patriarchal blessing to read and in it it talks about how she will have elect spirits for children. Rex I know that you are an elect Son of God and that He has called you to His work.

 

Keep up the great work Rex! Don't forget that if life was hard for our perfect Elder Brother, it's not going to be easy for us either. But He will be there to help us every step of the way.

LOVE YOU!!!!

 

And this was his reply:

 

Rachy B!!!!! You are the literal best!!! I miss you so much and you just have the best spirit!! You're totally right this is only for a season. And we will be together at the Burg again faster than I'll know it. It is so crazy to think that I've already been out for two fast Sundays. And that I gave my testimony in Portuguese this past week. And carzier still to think that you've been out for a YEAR!!!!! Oh my goodness Rachel time has seriously flown by!!! I want you to read Alma 26!!! Verses 11, 12, 14, 16, and finally 36!!! This is our work!! And this will be our joy!!! To help others to come unto Christ!! I know this is the true church and that we are supposed to be here. I forget the title to the talk but its by Elder Holland. He talks about how the mission wasn't supposed to be easy because the salvation of man was not a cheap experience. And that when our missions are difficult that we are standing shoulder to shoulder with Cristo. This is going to be amazing and I can't wait to see you again. But not before our work is done in our mission and we are released as missionaries. I don't want to wait for that time but I do at the same time!!!!! Love you Big Sis!!! You are the best!! Pray for Sarah this week. She really needs it.

 

So he sounds like he's doing good! I'm excited for him to get out into the field! I need his address for his mission. I don't know if everyone's preparation day is Monday across the world, you'll have to check, some missions do it on a different day.

 

I am so excited for Keith and the Chapman's! That is so awesome! they are the best family! I hope Emma makes it out to BYU-I with me. I have some companions that have heard all about her and they want her to be our roommate. So she needs to get on that application! Yes, there is stuff you can do to help me get set up with that. I need to get my FAFSA filled out and I can't do that so if you could that would be fantastic. and then you might have to sign me up for classes come June or something. Find out when registration is for Fall 2014 on BYUI.edu and let me know if it's June or July because if it's July I might be able to wait till I get home... We'll see....

 

This has been a really good week! So our new investigator, Jim, IS GOLDEN!!!! He is so incredible! He's about to set a baptismal date - we're super excited about it.

 

Sis. Lemmon left. GUESS WHERE SHE WENT!!!! MASSILLON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Y.E.S.!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited for her! She gets to go to my home away from home!!! I couldn't believe it! I am so happy. She is going to love it and will be so well taken care of out there.

 

So my new companion is Sis. Bakker (pronounced bawker). At first I was a little nervous. We have met before and I didn't always get good vibes, she's kind of in your face. But I am really excited now. She is a super hard worker and knows what her purpose is. She's what the branch needs. She's great and I think this transfer is going to be great! It's already been a lot of fun and we get along pretty well. We both have pretty strong personalities, as long as we both just go with the flow I think we'll be alright. ha!

 

The weather has been terrible so the Felver's didn't come to church yesterday, but they will. It's going to happen - no doubts in my mind. They delayed church 2 hours, so we had it at noon, and they only had Sacrament meeting. So we didn't really get to do much. But it was a really good day.

We have some pretty awesome potential investigators that we have appointments with this week that I'm pretty excited about. One is this lady, Annette. she's the accountant for the food pantry we do service at every week. She seems awesome and really likes how at 21 we have our "heads on straight" is what she said. She has a 22 and 25 year old daughter and she wants to have us over for dinner to meet them both and share with them why we're like this. haha! She seems great! So we'll see what happens.

 

Tomorrow is Zone Conference and I'm pretty excited about it. I love getting to see other missionaries and Pres. and Sis. Vellinga! It's going to be great! And then we have an appointment tonight with Jim. and we have some other great appointments set up for this week. It's going to be a wonderful week!!!!

 

I love being a missionary. I love having a companion who isn't brand new and knows what's going on. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE TRAINING! But it's nice to get a break. It's already been wonderful. Sis. Bakker is such a blessing.

 

Hopefully this week is good for you guys and everyone stays healthy or gets healthy and everyone's happy!

 

I love and miss you all!!!!!

2/3/14

Goodness, it sounds like it was a rough week for you guys. I'm so sorry to hear about Sarah. I hope things start getting figured out soon. Poor thing. I did hear about the game from the members... lame...

 

I love getting emails from Rex. He sounds like he's doing so great. I sent him this scripture reference that I know was put in the Book of Mormon for us - Alma 17:12-13 - you gotta read it!

 

I LOVED THE PACKAGE!!! I needed a blanket! So I'm glad you sent that too! everything was delightful! Thank you! You know what I like! haha! I'm so glad you heard from the Jensons! That's hilarious! I didn't even know they had our address! ha! They are some of the most incredible people. I love them! You should definitely send them something! They would LOVE that!

 

I can not believe that this month marks my year mark! It is crazy. It has flown by. I feel like the end of my mission is coming up so fast and it makes me sad! It's going to be weird not being a missionary, not wearing this badge is going to kill me! I love what I'm doing here and the things that I'm learning! I'm not ready for it to end! So I'm going to work super hard these next 5 months and get in everything that I can before the end!

 

Well our week has been a good one! We got a new investigator yesterday who accepted the invitation to be baptized! We were pretty stoked! It was great. it was the first time sis. Lemmon invited someone to be baptized, so she had a great time! We also got to go over and see the Flevers! Our favorite people! It was a ton of fun! They have 12 goats and tons of chickens and stuff so we got to go out and have fun with all of that last night. And Dane let me hold some of his guns. That was fun too! hahaha! Don't worry - I'm sending pictures!

 

So transfers - Sis. Lemmon is being sent away and I'm staying here. It's bittersweet. I wanted to leave and move to a new area, but I'm excited I get to continue working with our new investigator and stay with the Felvers and all the other awesome people here. So it should be great. I'm nervous about a new companion. I don't know how to do anything other than have a greenie, so this is going to be an adjustment. We'll see...

 

There hasn't really  been anything else that has been going on. It's been kind of slow with the ARCTIC FREEZING COLD WEATHER! supposedly we're supposed to get like 20 inches by the end of the week... We'll see if that actually happens.

 

Well you guys are all in my prayers! I miss and love all of you!

 

I'm sorry this one is short mom - I just don't have a lot to report this week. But I still love you!!!!!

Also I was wondering if for my birthday I could get a new watch? the one I have now busted - I'll send you a picture. I just want a nice one that is a fun color - like mint green. But classy. Talk to Emma, she'll know what I'm talking about. But that was something that I needed that I thought would be easy for a birthday present.

1/27/14

So it has been an alright week. Sis. Lemmon and I have both been sick, so we weren't able to really go out and do too much. But we did find 3 new investigators!!!!! Heck yah! So that was exciting!

 

We had some great lessons with the less-actives we're working with. Dane and his family are doing great! They are so awesome! Mom - he wants to have a cook off with you when  you come. ha! He made a pretty great cheesecake Friday night. I told him yours was pretty mean too. He didn't like that too much. haha! So he told me to tell you to start preparing now. He's the best.

 

We also met with Jill Shepherd - the dead guy lady. Her habits in regard to hygiene aren't the best, and she's making us dinner tonight. So we're a little nervous - pray we don't contract some awful disease. She is starting to remember things. But she is starting to think that we don't have anything to do but spend time with her, which is dangerous. We have to help her become self-reliant and make sure that she doesn't become converted to us instead of the Savior. She gets upset when we don't spend more than an hour with her at a time or when we don't talk to her everyday. So we're struggling with the clinginess.... but we're making it work. I don't think she understands that we expect her to do stuff - she has to stop smoking and start keeping the other commandments. She's fine coming to church and sitting in her chair all day reading, but the other things that are harder she's not too interested in. It should be interesting tonight.

 

Church was cancelled yesterday so we weren't able to get some other lessactives to church. I was pretty bummed about that. It was going to be one sister's first time back in a few years. But she should be able to come next week. I really hope so.

 

Our new investigators are pretty cool. One is an older lady, Betty. She lives around the corner from us. She's so sweet! We've shoveled her drive and taken her some cookies and stuff, but she's never had us in for a lesson or anything. But her husband has been in the hospital for the past month and she's having a really hard time, so she said we could come back and share some scrips with her and pray with her. She's adorable. But I feel so bad for her, she's really having a hard time right now.

Jenee and her son Nick are our other new investigators. She's met with missionaries in the past and her son is 13 and is somewhat familiar with our beliefs. She has great faith in Christ and wants to come closer to Him. She has lots of questions about our beliefs and so we set up a time to be able to come back and talk with her more about things. I'm pretty excited - she seems awesome!

I got a call from Pres. Vellinga this week. Rick called him!!!! Rick told him to tell me that he is coming back and that he is getting sealed to his wife!!!! It was exactly what I needed to hear! I was so proud to hear that Rick is going to make the changes he needs to to be able to go to the Temple. I hope that he does, and that he stays strong and is able to overcome whatever he is going through! I hope his kids are doing well too, he didn't say anything about them. I miss the Rohrers so much. They are the best family! I can't wait to see them again.

 

Other than that not much has happened this week. I did get an awesome email from Rex. He's so awesome! He makes me so happy! ha!

 

Transfers are next week. I have no idea what's going to happen. I don't know if I'm training or not again. I don't know if I can again. I'm pretty burnt out. I feel like I need to be with an experienced missionary for at least 1 transfer before I train again. I want to stay here in St. Marys, but at the same time I feel like I need to leave. It's hard. I don't know what to expect. I know that the Lord will send me where He needs me and where I will learn what I need to. I'm so grateful He's got it all figured out.

 

How are you all doing? How's Sarah doing? How are Cory and Steph and the kiddos? How is your calling going?

 

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Sis. Chapman

1/21/14

You guys all sound great!!!

 

I'm so sad to hear that Sarah's nerve block didn't work. Dang! I was hoping she would be able to start feeling better. This has been going on for over a year now! Man... You're in my prayers Sarah! I'm glad to hear Reida's doing better! Can't believe that woman is 102... wow.

 

Branson sounds like a good idea. Sorry, I didn't get to that in my last letter. That will be fun! I just really hope I'm not a freak when I get home. Warn Maggie and Emma that I might be a freak. Let me know how the games went! I want to know who's playing in the big game! I hope that work for you goes well - hopefully you can have a nice little party for yourself after the week and hectic-ness ends!I don't know about leaving early... I'm already kind of leaving my mission early and I don't know if I want to leave earlier than that. I know President would let me, but I don't know if I want to... Let me think about it and talk to O'D, but I don't think we will.

 

So this week was great and terrible all at the same time. ha!

 

Monday night nothing too exciting going on. Tuesday we met a less active that no one in the branch knows. She's really nice, but not too interested in coming back. We helped Jill get moved! THANK GOODNESS! She's still moving bits and pieces. because they filed for bankruptcy the bank has the house and said that she could live in it 1-3 years. so she's taking her time. We also had dinner at a member's house! That was the first one since Christmas! So it was nice. I had my interview with President Vellinga. It was so great! I loved it. He asked me how my family was doing and so I got to tell him about Rex being out on a mission and how you guys are all doing and how Sarah ruined my car, he was very sympathetic. He said he wished he could have video taped what I said and sent it to you guys. He told me to write it down in my journal instead. ha! He's the best.

 

Wednesday we helped a less active dedicate her apartment, that went really well. Patricia Coffin is her name. She's a fun lady! Thursday afternoon we met our Sister Training Leaders for exchanges. I got to go to Bowling Green BIKE area... But it was snowing so we got to ride around town in the MINI VAN. good times as a missionary.... But SIS. O'DRISCOLL is in Bowling Green also! So I got to see her! That was so wonderful!!!! It's what I needed. I had a good time there. Friday was the terrible part of the week. That morning we went and taught this guy at the library, Melvin. He was a complete jerk to me. So rude, offensive, and disrespectful. I wanted to leave after being there for 5 minutes, but Sis. Mitchell kept us there for 20 minutes... I was so happy when that was over. My Darlene side was coming out. haha! Then we went back and got my stuff and I had to say goodbye to Sis. O'D, that was hard. So I got home and was already kind of emotionally unstable and then read a letter from Sis. Trussel back in Massillon letting me know about some things going on back there. Leilani tried to commit suicide and they still never see Rick. So then I kind of lost it and ended up having a minor emotional breakdown. I had to call Sis. Vellinga and let her know that I wasn't going to be able to work to efficiently and she told me to go take a hot bath and go to bed. I was so grateful for that. That is exactly what I needed. So this weekend was a little rough. But I got ahold of myself by Saturday and am fine now. It's just hard because I don't know what's happening back in Massillon, Sis. Trussel didn't give me any details so I don't know how everyone is doing. So President is having interviews out there on Thursday and is going to see what he can find out for me. I LOVE THE VELLINGAS. They are incredible people. They were meant to be my president. Sometimes I hate being a missionary. You invest so much in these people that you work with. They become your family and are so important to you. You work SO hard to help them and to bring them closer to Christ. But none of that matters. Because they all have their own agency. I hate it! But that's what this life is all about - choices. That is why we are here, to CHOOSE to go back to live with Heavenly Father again. Life is hard, but the gospel makes it a little easier. How blessed we are to know that!

Saturday we had dinner with this new family that we found last week. They had us over for dinner! How sweet! It was really good too! They made Chipotle burritos. delightful. Lucas seems interested but Lynne said that converting really isn't something she's interested in. But it went really well! Lucas' first question was, "why are Mormons on average more successful than everyone else?" ha! Loved it! He knows we're special people. When Lynne said she wouldn't convert Lucas said, "I don't know, I might drink the cool-aid." haha! They are funny  people. We like them a lot! We'll see what happens with them.

 

Sunday was great too! Church was great. I love the branch, they are fantastic! Then we went over to Dane and Robin's for dinner, they family who we are bringing back to church that loves to feed us. They didn't make it to church, family stuff, but Dane really regretted it. He said that the Sunday he came to church was wonderful. He said it was the best Sunday he's had in a long time. He started getting emotional too as he was talking about it. He has such a solid testimony and he knows that's where he needs to be. He talked about the 2 sister missionaries that converted him a little bit. I asked him what they would say if they were here. He said they would be disappointed. So I told him he needed to change that. I asked him if he was going to come back, if this was something he was going to do. He said, "I think so, yah, it's going to happen."

 

ALKEIURHAUIWFBNELUIHAWEIJURIAWUERHALEIUWH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HECK YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

That was such an awesome moment. But he is TERRIFIED to do this. He's so scared to let go. He tells us that the only person he can trust is himself, he can't trust God. So we're going to have to help him see that that really is the only person that he can trust. I don't know how you help someone see that, but we're going to try. I'm just happy that he's making the choices right now to get back to the Temple. SO HAPPY! So we're having a lot of success with them - thankfully.

 

Yesterday Sis. Lemmon and I both woke up with colds... great. So we both carry a box of Kleenex with us wherever we go. that's fun. We slept a lot yesterday which was fantastic. We went over to Jill's for a lesson with her last night. Her new apartment is great! We love not being at her other house! She realizes the difference too! She hates going back over there, she can't feel the spirit. How cool is that? She realized that all on her own! She's reading the BOM and all the pamphlets we've left with her. She's doing so well.

 

Well that's pretty much my week. Not too much else going on here, just trying to stay healthy and busy. Tonight we are going to a member's for dinner and then are going to be planning and doing things at home the rest of the night.

 

I hope everyone is doing  great and that all is well back home! I love you all and miss all of you!

 

-Rachel

1/13/14

I hope the nerve block goes well today and that she gets to feeling better!

Anyway... I'm sad to hear about Grandma Reida. I hope that she's doing okay and that Grandma is alright. They're all in  my prayers.

 

This week has been so good! So the beginning of the week we were out and weren't able to really do anything. Wednesday and Thursday we had some lessons with a less-active who is coming back who's ex-husband was dead down in the basement the first time we went over. (Have I told you about that?) Her name is Jill Shepherd - she hates it when I call her Sis. Shepherd! haha! Reminds me of you mom! So Jill is the one that lives in the nasty disgusting terrible house. She is moving though!!! We can't wait for that! So we went over Wed. and had a lesson about recognizing all of the blessings that have come from her coming back to church and being obedient to the commandments - reminds me of Mosiah 2:41! Then we went over Thursday morning with the Jensons and helped her start packing up her kitchen. She gets the keys to her new apartment tomorrow! Thursday we also saw a less-active named Tammy Longsworth (She's the one that reminds me of Tammy Martin a little bit!) I love this lady! She's great. We met her son, Luke, who a few years ago would let the elders come over at 2 in the morning and play video games and got the elders sent home... But he was nice. He is in the navy, works at Starbucks, does some modeling on the side, and is going to school for Marine Biology... this kid is all over the place. But he's nice. We also saw another less-active that we had never met before -  Patricia Coffin. She is one interesting lady. But I really like her. I'll have to tell you some stories that we have heard about her later, they're kind of long... But she's fun. We're going back this week to help her dedicate her home.

 

Friday we had a Zone Training Meeting which was just phenomenal!!!! I loved it. And it came at a perfect time too. I have been thinking for a while now, I'm getting to comfortable with where I'm at. I'm not growing as much as I want and there are changes that I need to make. and then WHAM that's what our meeting was all about! It was pretty exciting. Have you read the first residency message for this month's ensign? DO IT! It's so good! So Friday night Sis. Lemmon and I decided to start making some changes and that we were going to be better! So as we are planning that night for our Saturday decided to try going to Wapakoneta, a town that is kind of far away from us. we decided to try to go see the Felvers (the family that lives on that farm who are AWESOME and he cooks really good food and is the hillbilly) It was really just a last minute decision. We felt pretty good about it. We were just going to stop by,  not call ahead of time.

 

So Saturday we leave St. Marys around 12:30 and get to the Felver's at about 1. we knock on the door and Robin (sis. Felver) let's us in and is kind of laughing and so is Dane (bro. Felver). We don't really know what's going on but we come in and they sit us down and we start talking. Apparently Dane woke up that morning saying, "I better get to work in the kitchen, I know those sisters are going to be on their way." HE KNEW WE WERE COMING!!! It was the coolest thing! We didn't call ahead or make an appointment in advance, but he knew that we would be there. It was awesome! But we got there a little earlier than what he was expecting so he fed us some food and then said come back over for dinner and I'll feed  you the good stuff. We were perfectly fine with that... So we headed to another member's house that we hadn't met yet and got to meet her! Deb Rupert is too sweet! Her husband answered the door and let us in. She comes around the corner asking, "Now what can I do for you ladies?" and then she saw our name tags and grabbed both of us and brought us in for a huge bear hug! She had heard about the new sisters and was wondering when they were going to come by and meet her. She was too sweet! It was a lot of fun getting to know her. She's sweet. Then we had about 10 minutes before we were supposed to be over at the Felvers for dinner. So we decided to just knock on one door. So I had Sis. Lemmon pick out a house and she saw one with some lights on so we pulled over, prayed, and then went up and knocked on the door. This young-looking guy answered the door and asked us what he could do for us and we told him who we were and he said, "come on in!" well we couldn't because his wife wasn't home yet, but he kept talking to us on his doorstep. We asked him if he knew anything about the church and he said he was a huge Glenn Beck fan, he's his hero! So I asked him if ever wondered what Glenn Beck believed in and he said yah, so I asked him if there was a time we could come back when his wife was home and share our message with him and he said, "I'm down!" IT WAS AWESOME!!! and then his wife pulled up and we got to talk to her for a little bit. SUCH A CUTE COUPLE! Lucas and Lynne. Lynne wasn't as excited as he was. They both teach a couple bible study classes at their church and are pretty deeply rooted, she wanted to make sure we understood that. But she said we could come back and talk to  him. It was a miracle! It really was - I think that's the first person that I have tracted into that has said we could  come back and teach them. IT WAS GREAT! then the even bigger miracle happened as we went back to the Felver's for dinner. So we eat dinner - pulled pork with home made bbq sauce and home made mac and chees and roasted chicken and oh my goodness so much food!!! And then after we're done eating Robin starts clearing the table and Dane starts opening up to us about the church and why he's stayed away and just lays everything out. He has such a strong testimony! He knows it's true. But he struggles with the Word of Wisdom and doesn't want to really let go of his addictions. He said that once he puts his mind to something though that's it, he's made up his mind. And that that was what was holding him back. I asked him if he was scared to make those changes. And he looked me dead in the eyes and said no one has ever asked  me that, yes, it terrifies me. And then Sis. Lemmon and I went on to bear testimony and talk about these things with him and it was just one of those moments where we didn't know what we were going to say, but we opened our mouths and they were filled by the Lord. I love it when I know I'm being an instrument in His hands! IT WAS AWESOME!!!! We told he knows he needs to be at church tomorrow. I told him that he has to stop living in the shadow of the man that he could be (thank you Pres. Uchtdorf - "You Can Do It Now") That made him stop and think. He walked away for a second and we asked Robin if we were being too bold and she said no, if you were elders you would be. haha! funny! But he kept telling us we were making him sweat and that he was "this close" to coming back. He was wrestling with the spirit the whole time. haha! So we left feeling great and we had faith that in the morning they would all be at church.

So Sunday we prayed all morning. We had branch council before church and when they found out the Dane was coming everyone got so excited! IT WAS SO COOL!!!! After the meeting we go sit down and say hi to everyone from the branch and then with 1 minute to spear in walks in Dane Felver. IT WAS AN EVEN BIGGER MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!!! That made my whole week. I was so happy to see him there. He was going to go home after sacrament and then we invited him to come to gospel principles with us and it didn't take much to get him to come. and then he was going to go home after that and then someone invited him to go to priesthood. He stayed for all 3 hours. I knew the Lord had heard all of the prayers offered for him and his family. ah! I loved it!

 

So that was my week! It was awesome.

 

Sis. Lemmon is doing better. She still gets into these moods where she thinks she needs to go home and then I slap her (not really) and tell her that if she goes home she won't have experiences like we did with Dane Felver. She has to stay. and then she says "you're right" and stays. She just has to do some growing up and getting adjusted and then she'll be fine! She's a great missionary. I love her.

Sis. Jenson's mom passed away about 2 hours before they got there. But they were able to see their family and be there for the funeral. They said it was depressing having to go back home, they wanted to be back here in Ohio the whole time. that made me feel good. I missed them A TON! But they are doing great and are happy to be back!

 

I have written the Rohrers almost every week since I left Massillon and still haven't heard from them. Hopefully they're doing alright.

I did get an email from Rex. He sounds amazing. I am so happy for him. It makes me think of when I was in the MTC. That was a great time! Loved it. Do you know how long he is supposed to be there for?

 

Tomorrow we have our interviews with Pres. Vellinga! I'm so excited! I love any chance I get to be with him. He's so awesome! I can't wait for you guys to meet him. Love that man!

 

Well that's pretty much it for me. Not much else to report.

 

I love you guys so much! Hope you guys have a good day and that everything works out with Sarah.

 

sister chapman