May Have Been the Craziest Week of My Mission

Alexis and Michael finally did it!

Got to start the week off with an exchange with sister Dutton! It was a lot of fun. We got to go see a lot of people she wanted to say goodbye to. And it was just fun to be companions for a day. She got her trunky mail (plane ticket) that day too. So i still got to be there when she opened it. That was hard.. 

Wednesday is when all the craziness started to happen. Sister Dobbins and I got up and went running that morning. When we got back i pulled my water bottle out of the fridge and it wasn't even that cold. I said something about it to sister dobbins and then went and got in the shower not thinking much about it. When i got out and went to eat breakfast I find that sister Dobbins has taken everything out of our freezer and is whipping it out.. I ask her what she is doing.. Well our fridge and freezer when out.. I started to help her clean it out and put it all into plastic bags. Thankfully one of our members, Bobbi Jean, lives right around the corner from us. So we gave her a call and she was nice enough to let us leave our food in her fridge and freezer until it was fixed. The most annoying part of it all.. We went into the office about a week and a half ago because i didn't feel like our freezer was keeping things as cold as it should have. When we came home they left a little work notice saying that our freezer was just too full.... If they would have just fixed it then everything would have been fine. Thankfully though, it was all fixed by the end of the day and we could go back to get our food from Bobbi Jean's. She is the best!

Because of the whole fridge thing, we missed our studies and then had to go straight to district meeting. It was our last one of the transfer and sister Dutton's last one ever.. that was weird.

District Meeting

Elder Clyde (Headed home soon) and Elder Beckstrom

Elder Creeger is our Zone Leader and will be heading home soon.  :(

After district meeting we went to talk to Heather and answer any questions she had. Well we get there and there is obviously something wrong. Cody wasn't suppose to be home and was, and we are pretty sure that they had just been arguing. Heather ended up not being able to stay and so we stayed and talked with Cody. He is really studying the scriptures and receiving so many answers from the spirit. I love teaching him  He wanted us to come back the next day to talk with him and Heather about the stop smoking workshop but we had MLC and didn't know if we would have time.

Thursday and Friday were both really good days. At MLC we talked about being a unified servant and how we become more unified with Christ as we become more converted. It was a great lesson. I can't wait to study more about it this week. Then while i was studying on Saturday I was in Moshiah 28:3. All about how the sons of Mosiah were so converted they had the desire to share the gospel with everyone.  Thursday night all the sisters got to stay at the mission home and that was blast! We all stayed up talking way too late but it was so much fun to catch up with everyone. 

Carving pumpkins at MLC

Friday was another good day of MLC. At the beginning of the meeting each zone goes around and we talk about numbers. Well in the middle of it we got a call from Cody. We didn't answer but I felt like we needed to go call them back. So we went to call them back and ended up talking with Heather. Well, Heather and Cody had been living in Cody's sisters house. Her name is Nola. She really doesn't like the church and has been trying to convince Cody to stop listening to us the whole time. And Heather had agreed with Nola up till this point. Well, Heather wanted to know why Cody was so into this religion and so started studying for herself.  And she got an answer!! As we were talking to her on the phone she told us that she now understood why the church had so much opposition. She knew it was true and that Cody was trying to do what was right. Well because of all this, Nola was kicking them out of the house. 

Friday evening after MLC we got a call from Cody asking if we could meet them somewhere in the area. He had to go pack the van of their stuff and Heather isn't allowed at the house anymore. Well, Bobbi Jean lives right around the corner from Nola. So we called an asked her if it would be okay if we came by. She of course said yes and we got to teach Heather with Bobbi Jean. She was so great and just reassured Heather that everything would be okay, she just needed to do whatever she needed to to take care of her own family first. It was a great lesson. 

When Cody was finished he came back to get Heather and then drove to Ethel Mississippi. That is where Heather's grandpa lives and so they will be staying with him until they figure out where to go next. The sad part is that Ethel is an hour and a half away :( 

After saying goodbye to them we went over and taught Carl! He is doing awesome. He has cut back on smoking and is really trying to do better. We taught him the rest of the plan of salvation and it was a powerful message. I always love teaching that lesson! It answers so many peoples questions and brings them so much hope. We think it really touch Carl. 

Saturday was yet another crazy day! That morning Heather and Cody came back down to Richland to get the rest of their stuff. We met them at the park across from our apartment and hung out with Heather and their two boys while Cody loaded the rest of their stuff. It was so fun to play at the park! They have a four year old boy, Caden, and a 2 year old boy, Jeremiah. It was a blast and really made me miss Tess!  When Cody came back with all their stuff we said goodbye again. They said we will see them again but we aren't sure when. 

Saturday night was Alexis and Michael's baptism! It was so good, lots of people came to support them. Carl even came! It was good for him to see what it would be like. He said he really enjoyed it. I got to give the talk on baptism. I always love being able to participate in the program. They were both just so excited! I know this is something they have both been waiting for and now they finally have it. That is what makes the hard days of a mission worth it! 

Sunday was a great way to end the week. We had to tract for three hours straight.. that wasn't fun. But we got a new investigator and were able to talk to some really great people. Carl came to church again! I really think he enjoys the atmosphere of it all. He has never been around something like this before and it brings him a lot of comfort. We ended the day teaching him a lesson. We answered some of his questions and he wanted to know how to be more organized. haha so we showed him our planners and gave him some helpful hints. OH! and i have a favor to ask everyone who reads this. What are some good things for Carl to do so he isn't bored and won't want to smoke? 

We also heard from Cody and Heather. They were not able to go to church but studied the scriptures together. They are still receiving a lot of anti from friends and family so please keep them in your prayers! 

I love this gospel and the wonderful blessings it brings to our lives! Your Heavenly Father is always there to comfort you! 

Have a fabulous week!

Love, Sister Erika Kelly