Late Night Phone Calls, Albuquerque, NM

Week 5 of transfer 2 has come to a close! only one more - and this is the week in which our fates for the next month and a half will be determined - training calls will come on Wednesday with other calls coming between Wednesday and Sunday. I have no idea what to expect - Sister Smith could easily be training again. Y'all will know next week- don't you just love the suspense? I know I don't.

This has been quite a good week though - we had a some great opportunities to serve- we went and weeded at the home a part member family - or I guess couple is the right way to say it. The y are an older couple- grandama and granpa age- He is a member and comes every week while she is an active member in her church (community of Christ maybe??) They were married later in life after they had both been married previously- and the crazy thing is they knew each other really well when they were married before. It is actually a really cool story - but the point is, when they got married they made an agreement that they cannot try to convert each other - Brother Stoleworthy (the husband) said to us though that just becasue he can't say anything doesn't mean the sisters can't! so that is what we are going to do - work on her slowly - first by serving them so she can see the good in the church! This last week we went and weeded. this coming week we will probably go iron for her. She is a big time quilter and has some incredible ones! I will maybe take some pictures so you can see em mom. But he was so funny when we went to weed - he told us we could only weed for him if he could supply us with gloves and knee pads and screw drivers to dig out the weeds. He even threw in the hat as bonus! I chuckeled at the gloves becasue who weeds with gloves? but I was sure thankful for them becasue the weeds we were pulling had stickers on em! They werent your typical goat-heads - they are what they call here sand burrs. and they are horrid! they just look like crab grass but have about 8 little stickers on the ends. Keni do you know what I talk of? so the gloves were a good thing - except they were huge!

The other exciting news for the week is Brian! He was at church last week - I told y'all about that I hope - if not - he was at church last week - before we even taught him a lesson! We were able though to teach him the restoration this last week though and it went so well! We were ouside on his porch/courtyard thing becasue he is just a single guy - ye know - following those rules to keep us safe and avoid all appearance of evil - but it was a nice day - slightly overcast. We recited to him the first vision and when we finished we asked how he was feeling and he looked up to the sky and said something along the lines of it being so powerful that he was shaking - then he pointed out that as we were sharing it the sun came out. It was real cool. He is really excited to be learning more. We committed him to read the bnook of mormon and to pray about it to know if it is true - and the we commitetd him to baptism. and he said Yes! Yahoo! and he came to church again yesterday! this time only for sacrament though- but he came at 9:00 to the right ward. oh we are excited! Yesterday night (last night maybe..ugh my language skills are dashed) he gave us a call becasue he had been reading and had some questions - mind you this was at 9:40. Sister Smith and I had just finished planning and were ready to get ready for bed. and Brian likes to talk. We discussed his reading in the book of Enos - he did not want to start in the beginnning so he picked Enos. but he loves it so I won't say anything! anyway we just chatted about it and had a good discussion on the phhone. I was slightly bummed at first becasue this call was taking away my time to lay on my bed in my clothes for 10-15 minutes that I do every night just becasue I am too lazy/tired to change yet - but then I was so excited that he was reading and wanted things to be clarified right away that he couldn't wait until we see him on tuesday so I got over myself real quick. We are real excited about Brian needless to say!

Also we are so excited about Bobbie! She has been on date for the 14th of September - but that is gonig to change to probably October which is a bummer but it is not becasue she isn't ready - it is becasue she wants her family to be there. They were just here last week and she is going to see them this weekend so it might not be until October that they can come back - Momma, I told you I would love for her to meet you but sahe won't be getting north to Utah until late Friday and is leaving on Monday - so you probably won't see her this time around, but I still did give her your phjone number- and she said she would give it to her daughter so you will have to meet her too! But the real exciting thing about Bobbie is that she was at church yesterday and stayed for the full three hours! For the first time! And it was a really good meeting. In Sunday School the lesson was on Honesty and a really good discussion ensued- one in which she participated. She had an experience at work this last week where she hadn't been completely honest and it had just been eating at her and eating at her - and she knew that she needed to correct it. and then she made a cmoment along the lines of " This is how In know that this is the truth becasue Heavenly Father knew that this was the lesson I needed to hear today. He knows just what I need." It was so neat!oh I just love her and am so excited for her to be baptized! then her sweet husband will be and then they will all be sealed together in the temple! 

This letter is long enough now I think - I only told you about three people even! shees I can talk! Tonight I am headed to help a single lady in the ward weed in her backyard - another gal in the area is getting married in her backyard this weekend - I know how that goes -so we arehelping her prep - goodness with all this weeding I am dong, I am giong to need to go find me some good gardening gloves! 

Oh one more thing - we had interviews with Presidentand Sister Miller this week - where they came to our apartments to see how we live and such and I tell you what, they loved my u-state blanket! Go Aggies! and they also loved all my pictures of my sweet family. They thank you for your support - as do I.

I love you all!

Sister Stuart

After this manner we keep the records, Albuquerque, NH

Hello Family!

I like to think I lead a pretty stress free life - Steve would disagree because finals last semester almost killed me- but other than that, I feel like stress rarely effects me. Thanks to Kait, our feshman year, we pretty much mastered the art of not being stressed. I thought. This last week has been one of the most stressful weeks ever. I could hardly focus! We had arranged to do a fireside type thing with the youth and their nonmember frineds -called the Sunday Sit Down with the Sisters - and it really stressed me out. The youth are at such an impressionable time in their lives that I felt like we needed to say just the right thing that would impact them and really help them to feel the spirit and the joy from the gospel. If it just would have ben youth from the ward I know I would have been fine. I know what they believe. I know what they know. I can share insights with them- but to have all their friends with them really was something else. I didn't know how or what to teach. and the other thing is- normal lessons with investigators don't stress me out a single bit because I can talk to them and find out what they believe. this was different. and I was stressed, and I think Sister Smith was sick of me for it. but we had it last night and it went really well! that is what I terll myself at least. I think sometimes I am too hard on myself- but I just always see room to improve that is all. Anyway,  a lot of the youth showed up - but only 4 of em brought friends... we shared a spirital message on the atonement and the strength to overcome all things through Christ and then Bishop shared a little bit about how in the gospel we all can find true joy and that that is really what Heavenly Father wants for eachj and every one of us. He really closed it out nicely. It was a neat experience one that I hope we will be able to do again soon and that I can prepare a little bit more for and so maybe I won't be so stressed.. although, someone did say -prepare less and pray more. maybe that is what I need...

We finally saw Brian again! we went over and chatted in front of his garage again night and invited him to church at nine. He said he would be there! We saved him a seat and waited and waited for him to show up. He didn't :( after church we were heading out the doors to go to our car and who walks in but Brian! only 3 hours late but that is okay! Sacrament meeting in the other ward was just finishing up so we decided to stick around and take Brian to gospel esssentials in the other ward with us and the lesson happened to be on the Lords Law of Health - something Brian does not live.. so I was a little bit nervous. But it was so fantastic! There is a LA member in that ward who goes to GE and he has really led a crazy life in the ghetto with drugs and parties and alcohol and has overcome it all. He is usually pretty quiet in class but yesterday it was almost as if he was teaching! it was so fantastic! the spirit was really strong and Brian felt it! He said that when he walked out of that building he was never going to pick up a cigarette again! We have an appointment with him so we will follow up! but exciting things are going to come! the only bad thing about him going to that class was that he loved it so much he doesn't want to go to any other one- which is great but he needs to come to our ward and meet the people there!

Does this email seem drab and emotionless? I feel like it is.. Sorry about that.

Boibbie's daughter came into town this week! It was so great to see them all together! Bobbie talkes about her a lot so it was good to finally put a face to the name. Jessie (the daughter) had a friend get married yesterday and she was in the ceremony and that was the reason she was here but we were talking with them all after all the rehearsal dinner and all that happened and Jessie expressed to us how sad it was for her. She said that she could feel the spirit at the sacredness of the action of being married and she just wanted asll her friends to feel it too becasue it has made such a difference in her life and she was just so sad that they don't have it and that they can't feel it - then Bobbie piped up - "well your mom does!" Oh it melted my heart! I am so excited about the progress she is making! and she is going to Utah for Labor Day weekend! and I want her to meet you mom and dad! she eventually wants to move to utah and I think she would love Uintah! so keep your eyes peeled for a cute little house for sale - maybe this will give you a chance to buy and rebuild the next door house. you would have awesome neighbors! I am bummed you will be in NH though (no offense Kemp and Joseph - I know you need dads expertise I just want them to meet Bobbie) When do you get back? when do you leave? Mom can I give Bobbie your phone number so she can call you if you are in town when she is there?

This past week I had a full day of meetings and can I tell you - President Miller is the greatest man ever! and his wife is just the best too! I love going to meetings becasue I leave feeling so inspired and energized and ready to take on the world. I can truly tell he has been called of God to lead this mission.

In my studies this morning I learned from Chemish in the Book of Omni that there is beauty in few words.. I should take a lesson from out of his book.. maybe next week.

I love you all! 

Sister Stuart

Albuquerque, NH

I never quite know how to start these emails.. I always have the thought that I have nothing to say but then.. I end up rattling on for ages! I don't quite know how.. so excuse me for the rough start.

Speaking of rough starts - last night we taught a lesson that was a real rough start! There is a 14 year old boy who is part of the scout troop in the ward but is not a member. He really enjoys scouts and actually went on Trek this summer and he also went to scout camp at Phillmont and had fantastic experiences there! About a month ago we ate dinner at a members home who is the scout committee chair and she invited Jonathon and his family over. That night we taught the first lesson- the restoration and it went really well. We left them each with their own copy of the Book of Mormon and challenged them to read and pray about it. Unfortunately, we kind of lost contact with them. But we did not forget about them! We talked to another member family who has a son the same age and who is in scouts with him - he told us he would invite Jonathon and his family over to their house to be taught and they accepted! That was last night. We taught the plan of salvation and went right into it- not the best idea. I think both of us were pretty nervous. It was Sister Smith's first time teaching the Plan of Salvation all the way through and only my second or third.. and on top of that - we didn't even know if this was really a teaching appointment! We were told that the family had said they would come over to 'visit' in the evening.. what does that mean?? So we planned the lesson anyway and it is a good thing we did becasuae we got there and everyone just looked at us like "okay take it away!" It was nerve racking.. so we launched into the lesson! and taught - asking a few questions here and there but not really learning of what their understanding is - which is not something I recommend. After we covered the whole plan in 20 minutes (that is fast..) we laid it out with those pictures you gave me kemp and went over it again briefly with the pictures creating that visual and I think that helped. Then the questions were asked.. so okay - here is all this information we just threw on you that probably all went straight over your head and now we will find out what you know.. but it actually worked out really well and really nicely! I actually do not think it could have worked out better.. but that is definitely not something I will risk again.. Teach for understanding starting form the beginning. But the good news! We invited them to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God and they accepted! And we set a return appointment! Yahoo! they are going to be baptized and then they are going to go to the temple and become a family forever!

Update on Brian- we haven't seen him since. We have set two appointments with him and he has no showed to both. but we are still hopeful! We are dropping by tonight. and we won't give up.

We had exchanges again this last week and this time I left the area! I went down to Los Lunes to the Monzano singles branch and worked there. It is a n area with much more humble circumstances and the people are a lot more willing to talk to you - for 45 minutes on their doorstep! We went to find a less active member - who lives in an area called meadow lake that has a lot of single wide trailers - his was completely ababndoned looking and quite terrifying actually - but Sister Morris (who I was on exchanges with and who is actually my grandma in the mission so it was really cool to be able to spend the day with her and get to know her better ) said we still needed to go try. I was scared. And on the side of the trailer closest to the road it had spray painted on "NO TRESPASSING! GUARD DOGS WILL BITE!!" and y'all know how much I don't do dogs - dangit I am deaf! anyway, We walk around to the front of the trailer (which was on the side). there is a big dumpster in the front and what do ya know - a dog is lurking behind. Okay. Time to run. Sister Morris continues on. and we didn't die. but the house was abandoned and trashed and in a really poor condidtion. That is why we went to the neighbor to ask about him and she is the one who talked to us for ages about all these crazy things happening in her family. She really needs the gospel. as does her family.

That is the real exciting thing about exchanges this time around. not so mind blowing as last transfer - but still real good all the same - oh but the bugs! I was really shocked at how few bugs there are her in new mexico - until I went to Los Lunes and came home with 4 mosquito bites on on ankle! It was horrid. I like my dry area away from the river and therefore the bugs!

Yesterday at church Sister Smith and I went to Young Womens instead of Relief Society and it was so fantastic! I want to go there every week! I remember how I wanted nothing more to be out of young womens and to move on with my life - and now I just want to be back! especially with the new youth curriculum. It is so cool! August is all about marriage and family- and being women, the topic of discussion was on Proverbs 31:10-31 The traits of a virtuous woman. and guess what I learned! She is Gluten Free! in verse 27- She eateth not the bread! Yahoo! It makes me feel so much more empowered to know that being gluten free makes me virtuous! but actually - read that whole section. It is really good. and there are actually real insights to be gleaned from it. That was just my aha moment of the day.

Update on Bobbie - Her daughter who was baptized about a year and a half ago lives with her husband in Layton. Bobbie had expressed to us that she wanted him to baptize her in Utah - we were bummed. But she told us that she is going to be baptized here! and her family will come here! Yahoo!

I am rambling now.. well I have been this whole time actually - but now I think I am out of rambles so I will quit.

I love you all!

Sister Stuart

Lessons I learned from Sonic. Albuquerque, NM

 

Another week has come and flown by! So my first week of training dragged (drug?) on.. I thought it was so incredibly slow. good. but long. but this past week has gone real quick. I swear I was just here at the library emailing y'all! and again I did not make a good list of what I want to share.. so this might be another scatter brained day..

But to begin - the pep talk from Sister Boyle! "When the work is slow and you feel frustrated, just remember that our main goal in this short earth life is to get back to Heavenly Father. But the more celestial goal is to help bring our families, friends, and other home with us too. Keep the faith, work hard, and never lose sight of our earthly goal. It helps to keep everything in perspective. There is no greater work we could be doing! Pearly gates or bust!" Thank you Sister Boyle!

Isn't that the truth though? We truly are in a life saving business! and, as what was re brought to my knowledge this past week in a letter from Amy, we are literally children of the birthright and we have a responsibility to bring the message of the restored gospel to those around us! and you better not be slacking off fam! YOu have missionary work to do too! Remember D&C 4:3 - if you have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work!

And man have I needed that this past week. We have been working on finding new people to teach- We went through the area book and looked up all the past former investigators and potential investigators and have been contacting them and within a week we have been through all but 4 names. and they have not been interested.. bummer. So it gets discoutraging - but then you have these incredible moments that make all the knocking on doors and getting told no thanks or not really or I will never be a mormon or I have already found God worth it!

Last week we had a name on our list, Bryan, to go see. We tried by his house but he had a really stubborn gate that we could not figure out how to open - so we left. His house is right down the street from Bobbie who we are currently teaching. We had about 10 minutes before our appontment with her so we figured hey let us go try to work that gate open and see Bryan! after wiggling and pulling and some pushing we finally got it open! we rang the doorbell and immediatley were welcomed by the blasting of the vocal chords of monster size dogs! I swear they were going to bust the door down and break the windows! I was a bit terrified.. then we here a screen door open behind us and an older, unhappy looking gentleman asks who we are and what do we want. It was strange. and a bit disconcerting. So we try to tell him but then he shuts the door and tries to talk to us through the glass. It was rather uncomfortable. then he disappeared. Then he stuck his face in the window and held up a finger saying one minute. So we waited. and waited. and seriously debated whether we should stay. then behind us, from the garage, comes a younger guy who apologized for the actions of his father and starts chatting with us. This guy is Bryan and we start talking to him anout Christ and Heavenly Father and church and all that good stuff and he explains to us that he takes Christ with him wherever he goes and he hasn't been to church in a long time but really wants to get back so we invited him next week! and he said he would come! and we set up a return appointment for Wednesday! yahoo! there is Bryan for you. after a long weekend of seeing a lot of front doors - his made it all worth it! Only I am a little nervous to go back with those dogs all there....

Our lesson with Bobbie was fantastic too! We have been working her toward baptism although she is feeling some anxiety - we taught on the power of the priesthood last week and invited her to have a priesthood blessing. and she accepted! She had had one in the past before she had a surgery done and she said it was the easiest surgery she had ever had! She said she woke up every morning waiting for the pain that never came! She already has a testimony of the priesthood power! Awesome! Last night she got a bleesing from a brother in the ward and it was so powerful! The spirit was in there so thick you could have cut it with a knife! only you couldn't have cut it because nothing could have broken the spirit that was felt! And her husband was there for it too! He never sits in on the lessons when we come. He always says it is girl time. But he was there last night and I am so happy he was! I really can see them in the temple together and I want it  so badly for them!

Training is going really well. Sister Smith is really great and really excited about the work! I am learning a lot too - like I don't have enough experience to be training yet.. but I was told by a member the other night that what we lack in experience we make up for in enthusiasm! Yahoo! for enthusiasm! But to reallly see how it is going maybe you need to hear from her - she has a blog as well if you want to check it out - it is asitoncewas.blogspot.com

We had dinner at a members home the other evening and she is very into all things natural like oils and such (you will appreciate this momma!) and I felt a scrape on my knee and wondered what it was from andher little 4 year old daughter says to me "oh you want some lavender on that? I have some in my bathroom I can get for you!" HOw perfect is that! I thought of you momma and smiled!

This week I set a goal to take one picture a day just becasue you remember things so much easier when a picture is involved and I know you would all like to see what I am doing.. and guess what! I took one picture! for the week! It was the end of the month and we walked a lot the last few days to make sure we wouldn't go over on miles..we calculated everything out and had 20 for the final day of the month and we were going to make it! in 17! so on the way home, we decided that a celebratory milkshake from Sonic was necessarry - it would only add 1.2 miles to our trip. And becasue I really wanted to celebrate I got an oreo one.. Then we get back to the apartment in 18.5 miles and I am so excited! yahoo! But then when we subtacted the first of the month odometer reading from the end of the month odometer reading we were one mile OVER!!! AHHH!! It was awful! I learned many lessons that night. First - Don't push your limits. You know where the line is. DOn't flirt with it. If I didn't think that oh this 1.2 miles will not make a difference we would have been under our allotted miles! Just go home! The line has been set for a reason. We need to stay as far from it as possible. If we are on the line - Satan has already won.

Second - DOn't be glutinous. I did not need that milkshake. I especially didn't need the wheat in that milshake. and becasue I wanted it- we went over on our miles.

Third - Don't waste time doing pointless things. We left our area 4 minutes early because we got out of our appointment and had the thought that 4 minutes was not enough time to go contact someone else. It was becasue of that extra 4 minutes, the long way home by way of sonic was justified. In that four minutes, we passed a gentleman walking his dogs who we should have talked to. That would have used those minutes then we would have needed to get home and not gone to sonic and not used those miles. Use your time wisely and ALWAYS be finding people to teach!

So what was supposed to be an overjoyed celabratory picture of meeting our miles for the month with my delicious celebratory shake to accompany it turned into a bummer of a picture with the evil cause behind being over miles by one.

And with that I close.. I love you all. Remember the lessons I learned this week. Learn from my experiences.

Love
Sister Stuart