Letter #72

Sent:

Mon 7/28/14 1:17 PM

Hi Mom!

I'm so happy that everything went well with Stacie and Courtlynn! She is so stinkin' cute and I can't wait to hold her when I get home!!!!!!! I know i've said it a million and one times but I am just dying out here not being able to hold babies! There are so many of them no matter what ward I serve in and it just kills me!
This past week was a bit slow, it seems that everyone has left town on vacation- investigators and members, which means we did lots and lots and lots of door knocking. It also seemed like everyone in the area was either in a bad mood or just plain rude. There were so many people who tried so hard to completely tear us and our testimonies down but it's interesting because instead it strengthened my testimony and only made me feel sorry for them because they are just so lost and confused. You can see it in their eyes and hear it in their voice as they talk. There was one man in particular, that made my heart swell with sadness because of the hardness of his heart. It's really hard to see so many of our brothers and sisters be so unhappy in this life and take it out on everyone and everything. I love my calling as a missionary more than anything, especially when Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ let me see people through their eyes for a brief moment. I immediately gain a love for each person that I meet (even if they are not the most pleasant) and have such a great desire for them to experience and enjoy all of the blessings that I have- which is so many. I seriously cannot even believe how blessed I am. Sometimes I wonder what I've done to receive so many blessings in my life.

On Monday, we had dinner and F.H.E. with a family in our ward that lives right on the river! They have a huge house and the cutest little kids. It was a fun time :) We also met with the same less active lady and her mom again (the ones that are so negative). We decided to make them positive/optimistic signs to put up in their house and challenged them to read the signs out loud every time the walk by them. They said they would so we will follow up with them on that tonight. Another less active couple we are working with has really been struggling lately. The husband has Dimensia and Louibodies Disease. The wife said that when they went to the doctor this week, he told them that he probably won't make it too much longer. She has had a break down almost every time we've gone to visit them and her daughter won't even talk to anyone. It's the saddest thing. She wants to take him to the coast one last time because it's his favorite place to be but they are having a hard time finding some tires so that they can go. If you could keep them in your prayers that would be greatly appreciated.

On a brighter note, we got to go to the temple this past week!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was very very much needed. I wish I could just go every single day. It's so amazing the peace it brings into your heart, a peace I know that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. I wish I could go every day... the Grants Pass Zone went the same day we did and I saw Gloria, a lady that I got close to while serving in the Redwood ward! It was such a tender mercy! I was able to reminisce with her and talk about Roberta and a few of my other favorite people! We found out a few weeks ago that we are now allowed to go through the temple with those recent converts that we have worked with in the past! So hopefully I will be able to go through with Roberta and Larry before I come home! :D

We finally met with Gary and Kellie! I just love them so much and want them to get baptized SOOO bad! They are investigators that we've been trying to meet with for forever but their work schedules are nuts. Gary works six 12 hour shifts everyday except Sunday and that's the day Kellie works. So it's been super hard to find them at home but they are just the greatest and truly sincere in learning about the church. They actually remind me A LOT of Ryan and Kelli. Like a lot, a lot! So, we were driving down the road the other day and saw a lady sitting on her front porch wave to us. We waved, smiled, and kept driving. I felt impressed that we needed to go talk to her, so I turned around and drove back and we went and talked to her. She said that she waves at everyone but hardly anybody ever waves back and that there's definitely not been anybody that's come to talk to her. She started talking about all these different religions and when she got to "mormons" she said, "...and their just insane." Haha! It makes me laugh everytime when people don't realize that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the "Mormons" are the same people. We told her about The Book of Mormon and how it's a record of the people on the American continent and their dealings with Jesus Christ and that really intrigued her. It does most people! Anyway, that's been my week. Not too many new things going on. We're just trying to find new people to teach and trying to help the ward get excited about doing missionary work. OH! One last thing! We were asked to fill in for the Primary Chorister at church yesterday, so we got to do singing time with the Junior and Senior Primary and also the Nursery kids. It was so much fun! I'm not going to lie though... it's a lot of work to try and keep their attention and to make sure that they are not bored out of their minds. Lol!  I was quite impressed with a few of them.

I am planning on writing you a letter today about some things.... I think Heavenly Father is really trying to help me learn all that I can in these next few weeks before I come home cause it's been kind of rough past 2 weeks. Anyways, I love you so much and hope that you are doing well. Have fun with your new grand baby!

Love,

 

Lyndsie



We hand picked blackberries and made our first blackberry pie together!

Silly, Silly



Despite having a slightly charcoaled exterior and not having a recipe,
it was quite delicious!

 
                P.S. I may be sending a package or two home this week of some of my stuff.


I didn't realize just how many scarfs I've accumulated...... :)

P.S.S.Will you let Trevor know that I love him and thank him for the necklace :) I love it so so so so much and wear it everyday! I hope that I will be able to see him again before I go home...