Trampolines, Ticks, Baptisms and Picking Up Sticks! (Rhymmingg)

WOO WHAT A WEEK!! Holy MIRACLES!! Seriously, it's been amazing! From trampolines to ticks, to pouring rain and an amazing baptism... Sister Lang and I have had quite an interesting week:)

Monday was a super awesome p day!! It was a beautiful sunshiney day! We were going to try and catch a squirrel, because Sis Lang really wants to and I told her I've caught one before, so she is really wanting to catch one. haha Well, we didn't get to. But one day we will! :)

However, we got permission from President Huntsman to go to a trampoline place called Flight! It was SO FUN! So me, Sister Lang, the hermanas, and Caleigh from the ward, all went. It was a blast! We had a ton of fun! Best workout ever too! Holy moly I've never sweat so much in my life! haha It was so hot inside I was like drenched almost, it was gross. TMI ha sorry But afterwards, we went and tried to visit some people, but no one answered or they were sick. But we had the opportunity to meet some awesome kind people while street contacting. We met a really nice guy who is in a motorized wheelchair. He was paralyzed when he was 20, from his legs down. He asked what Jesus Christ has done for us, and I bore my testimony on the Atonement and explained that a little bit. I shared Alma 7:11-12 and I think he enjoyed that. He can't read so that's a bummer, but we said a prayer with him and he was off on his way. It was a tender mercy to be able to meet such a nice man who was so willing to learn about Christ. 

We had an awesome lesson with Amber! She shared her conversion story with Sister Lichtey, a member, who came with us. Her story is amazing. It breaks my heart to hear one part, but she has such a strong witness of Christ and His Atonement. It's so real. And her testimony is stronger than strong! We are so happy and excited for her baptism!! Today, the Lord has really been teaching me how He is preparing all men to hear the gospel. In His own time and own way. They have the choice to accept or reject it. It is so amazing and such a blessing to be able to hear the other side of some stories and realize that if a certain event didn't happen, that person probably wouldn't be where they are now. I'm so grateful for the things that I've been given in my life that helped prepare me to really convert to the Lord and His gospel. He is real, and His gospel is true.

Tuesday we picked up a bunch of tools for service, made brownies for district meeting, it was Elder Jones last one! We dropped off some chocolate to an investigator. We went and saw Athina, and Alec was there. Sister Lang pretty much told him that we come to teach and help Athina because she wants to learn, and he needs to respect that because we respect him, haha and I think he got it. We will see!

On Wednesday, Diane set a baptism date!!! June 11th!!! WOOOOOOOOHOOOO!!!!! So SO SOO PUMPED FOR HER!!!! I love her to death!! She seriously is so pure hearted, and teaches me so much about being humble and kind and Christlike. She is the cutest!! We taught Amber the Ten Commandments and then practiced singing for Amber's baptism. Two members sang with us. We sang "How Great Thou Art." I was so nervous! Okay and my voice is like not the same, I can't sing as high as I used to. I'm like going through puberty like a teenage boy HAHA for reals Kyle was right! Lately I'm learning so much about being humble. Being submissive to learn what the Lord wants me to. Being willing to accept your weaknesses then turning to Christ and His help to turn those weaknesses into strengths. I cannot at ALL do this work without Him. I literally don't know what I'm doing every day and it stresses me out sometimes or makes me frustrated with myself. But I think the Lord wants me to learn patience with myself as well. Patience is a virtue.

Thursday we had our zone service project at a non members home. She has like the coolest old semi-mansion home ever. Anyway, there was like 22 missionaries over at her house full on cleaning her whole huge yard. We fixed it up real nice, it looked awesome! It was super fun! We came across a huge black scary snake and of course the elders had to catch it and throw it in the forest. Two missionaries almost got bit by it. haha Found some frogs and had a frog race. And oh my, TICKS! There were ticks everywhere, and there were some in our car that came outta nowhere while I was driving! It was almost a catastrophe. So I hope and pray that I don't get a tick. Cuz they are everywhere out here! I don't want Lyme disease! Ain't nobody got time for that! There was a missionary who got it before. It makes me nervous! We had exchanges the rest of the day. My first exchange! With Sister Alcantra from Peru! She's super cute and fun! We had a member dinner, and finally got to have a lesson with Jignasha! We taught her the restoration and invited her to baptism. She said she would read the Book of Mormon and learn more. We had a grand evening!! P.S. We found out that our investigator, Adama, the one that moved, she has already been baptized! Yeah crazy I know! It's a long story haha but yeah fun fact!

Friday was planning!! Tried to catch a lizard. Appointments fell through, but we had a lesson with Agartha and her kids about the Ten Commandments. Awesome dayyy! And shout out to my home girl Rach! Happiest of birthdays to you Rachie!! 

Saturday, in the morning, we got to visit a potential investigator, Cheyenne. She's got a cute little family, I want them to get SEALED! We didn't stay for long, but dropped off a Book of Mormon and restoration pamphlet and set up time to meet next week! 

Then It was Amber's BAPTISMMMM! YEAAAHH! It was WONDERFUL!! It was such an awesome time.

I think she really had a great experience. Sis Lang, me and two ladies from the ward sang "How Great Thou Art." And my voice sounded completely UGLAY but it's all good. Sis Lang has an UH-MAZING voice! She puts all other singers to shame! So I hope no one noticed the dying cow noise coming out of my mouth hahah. All in all, the song made Amber cry so I think she liked it. Diane, who is on date for June 11th, came to the baptism!! After it was over, she leaned over and told me YEP I'm gonna do it. I was like YUSSSSS! She is awesome! I love her!! She gave Sis Lang and I a card that says how much she loves and appreciates us. She thinks we're such good people and just wanted to say that she's grateful there are still good people in the world. LOVE. HER!! Like who does that?! Only sweet Diane!! Then we had dinner with the Hales, drank some Gossners milk, SO GOOD! They have a daughter named Caleigh, who went to Utah State so she brought some back and was kind enough to share with us! Then we headed out to see our potential, Florence. We were able to have a lesson with her and her daughter Sandra!! Taught the restoration, and they accepted the invite to pray about baptism and read the Book of Mormon. Heavenly Father is literally pouring miracles and blessings upon us. EVERY DAY. All of our successes are because of him!! It is seriously a miracle that we just had a baptism, and two other people on date. When we are obedient to Him and try our best, He blesses us like no other. Today was an AWESOME DAY. I am so so grateful to be a missionary. I am SO happy. So so happy. :)

Sunday it rained like CRAZY. Seriously it was like the seven seas got dumped on us out here in Virginia! hahah HOLY MOLY it was so beautiful though! Amber got confirmed in church and we got to visit some less active members. The spirit was so strong when she got confirmed. Diane came to church again with her son! I love her guts, she is the cutest lady. And then we had a super good dinner with some members, the Richardsens. They are a young couple with two young kids, and they
both went to Utah State! WOO! Haha it was way fun! It was a super good day. Sundays are the best. I love sacrament meeting. The chance that we have each week to focus on the Savior and the sacrifice that He made for us, is just priceless to me.

I love my Savior. I know that He lives. I know that He loves us. TRULY LOVES us. I hope we remember, especially in difficult times, that Jesus Christ knows what we go through and how we feel. I know that Christ knows how I feel. I know that He knows what it feels like to be rejected, yelled at, made fun of, or mocked. I also know that Christ knows all of our happiness and joys. For He is the one that has felt the worst pain and the greatest joy. There are no words to describe how grateful I am for my Savior. "...Oh sweet the joy this sentence gives. I know that my redeemer lives."

Sending so much love,

Sister Hymas :)