GOOOOOD AFTERNOON FOLKS!!! It's 112% chance of rain out here in Manassas, Virginia. Fall time is just around the corner....! We got a good looking week ahead of us! There were lots of gnarly events that happened this past week, lots of laughs and tears. Most of the tears from laughing so hard. HAHA! :)
On Monday we went shopping and emailed, and lent the elders our car because they are on bikes. So we hung out at home a little bit and I cleaned the kitchen. Wrote a letter, and emails, made myself some food! Quite productive, I know! :)
Then, GET THIS. Sister Bennett and I got ROLFED. Yeah. That's right. ROLFED. Anyone ever heard of that?? Haha I hadn't either until like two weeks ago!! Serena, Jim's wife, is a Rolfer. A Rolfer is almost like a massage therapist, but not really. "They are even better" Serena says!! They work with the connective tissue in your body and helps with realignment and stuff like that. She works from home, so we walked a mile or so to her house because we had no car and it was blazing outside, not super bad but i was sweating bullets. Actually I was pretty proud of ourselves haha! Anyway, we got there and she worked on each of us for an hour or so and man. I felt like a new woman afterwards!! It felt super good! My back and neck have been tight and knotty lately so she really helped with that and gave me some tips for alignment and to help my back not be so tense. And fun fact, my right shoulder is lower than my left! Ha! Because of my side shoulder bag. So I'll be switching back and forth. Then we had dinner with the Hafley fam that night, they are stinkin fun and cute. They gave us a referral! And afterwards, we went and checked on a NI we've been trying to get ahold of. His name is Herman. He is Amazing. And so prepared!! Here's his lesson report: We were able to catch Herman!! He. Is. AWESOME. SO SO SOLID. He shared his tragic story of his daughter passing and how it's been a tough year. We shared the POS pamphlet and how we can be with our families forever. We talked about how we lived with God before coming to earth and that we came to earth to follow His plan. He said it made sense! We invited him to be baptized once he feels that it's true and that the priesthood authority has been restored and he said he would think about it. We left him with a restoration and POS pamphlet. We also talked about temples and how we can perform ordinances inside such as baptisms and sealing our families forever. He said he has seen it and it's beautiful. He also mentioned how he's read almost the whole Book of Mormon and we invited him to continue to read it. He mentioned how he has been looking for a church home to go to and he was really glad we stopped by!" Seriously I wanted to cry I was so grateful for him and the spirit that was there and just how miraculous that lesson went. I was praying and pleading God would help us know what to say and do and He was absolutely leading that lesson. I can testify of that.
You would not even believe what happened Tuesday. It's so funny. But to begin with, we had an awesome district meeting and talked about how we can help people make and keep commitments. Elder Lucas brought his grandma's homemade cookies she sent him so that was super nice :) then we had lunch! We had a lesson with Sarah, and Sister Clark was able to come with us! Sarah was mowing the lawn so she told us to come back next Tuesday... So we said sure but we taught her a few plan of salvation principles right there anyway. Hah she said she hadn't thought about baptism because she's been so busy... SOO that was a bummer. BUT we are still workin with her. :) then we had an unplanned member lesson right down the street with a woman named Dot. Sweetest lady, lost her husband 7 years ago. We taught the plan of salvation to her right there and she agreed with a lot of what we were saying. Long story short, she is searching for truth and just doesn't realize it! Later we had dinner with Sister Donanvan who offered to come to the next lesson with Sarah!! SUWEET! The members are so amazing, I LOVE THEM! Then we had to go to urgent care for Sister Bennett's throat, no worries, nothing wrong with my leg again ;) but here's where the funny part is: on our way home, we had another run in with the cops in town. ;) AHAHA it was so funny I couldn't even handle it. Sister Bennet slammed on her brakes cuz the light turned red. There was an undercover cop right off to the side of the intersection. He got out of his car pointed at us, and pointed to pull over. His face was super stern. I was like "ya GOTTA BE KIDDIN ME," I was stressed and I wasn't even the one drivin! Haha Me and the cops lately, sheesh! Haha jk. He turned out to be super nice, she got a warning for speeding, and we were on our way. Serena came to a lesson that fell through, but we found out she wants to feed the missionaries on Thanksgiving and I SO WISH and hope and pray I will still be here! It was a fun day :)
Wednesday we had exchanges! We had a lesson before exchanges with Sister Posey and her sister who is wanting to build her faith again and come back to church! It was awesome!! Then we had lunch with our STLs, they made us lunch, they're a bunch of chefs! Seriously, they make us super good food on exchanges. I was with Sista Bray again!! :) I love HER!! She is so so funny. I am non stop laughing with her. She's the one from England! She feels like my older sister. She's like Rachael's age too, so it works out :) We had one FUNNY exchange!! To start off, Sister Bennet and I saw a car that was on fire at a gas station. Ya don't see that everyday. It was pretty scary! Then when I was with sister Bray for exchanges we did service tracting! Where ya go see if anyone needs service done! Neither one of us had done that before. It was awesome, we met a sweet lady named Teresa. We sang her a song and left her with a Book of Mormon even though she said she didn't think she'd read it. Haha That didn't stop us! We also met a kind English women named Myra, and she and Sista Bray just hit it off! They were crackin English folk jokes and I just stood there. We went to go have a lesson with one of their investigators, Kierra, but realized we were still in our service clothes... No where to change... So we changed in our car. I think that's the 4th time I've done that on my mission haha! We had dinner with the most hilarious elderly couple at an Italian pizza place. I had no idea what they were talking about the whole time, I was so lost so I just nodded and laughed. Sister Bray did the same hahaha. We went finding and right before we left to go home, we saw this lady watering her plants. In the dark nonetheless?! Turns out, she is the SWEETEST lady ever! Her name is Elizabeth. So cute and sooo CHRISTLIKE! She just beamed, she is so prepared. She told us she had a feeling she should go water her plants and so she did.. Then she met us! We talked about faith, God, temples, the Savior, eternal families.... I'm super jealous she's in the STLs area. She is amazing. Right before we went home we had to get gas, but only on one condition Sister Bray said: we have to hand out a pass along card. Pssh easy! Get out of the car, get gas, and all the meanwhile we are just chatting it up with the people in the Shell gas station! Some smiled, some gave weird looks and some were simply not interested at all haha. But we met this awesome guy from Sierra Leone and he was driving a sweet black Jaguar! Had an awesome conversation with him, then a lady and her daughter walked up to us and asked for directions. Before we all departed ways, sister bray said we should say a prayer together! WHATTA good example. So we stood in a circle. held hands. Bowed our heads. And prayed :) right there in the Shell gas station. #LivingOnAPrayeratShell Sister Bray said haha :) one of the coolest experiences ever. I love exchanges! And I love being a missionary :)
Thursday we had interviews!! I love President Huntsman. He is so inspired. He told me very wise and uplifting things. He told me I am a strong missionary. He also helped remind me that we all have weaknesses and struggles. And that the Lord gives them to us so we maybe humble and rely on Him. We must be patient with each other and with ourselves to overcome our weakness. All the meanwhile, we should LOVE them. :) President is so wise. He also feels like a dad. Haha All the sisters just want to give him a hug! So interviews were good :) we also saw a huge brown newfoundland Ma! Oh my lands. I was gonna die it was so cute. And then that night, get this: we had a super solid and amazing lesson with Herman and two members came! It was amazing, he almost accepted the baptismal date for October 29th. He said he would think about it. He is really seeking for truth and a church home to go to! He asked how he can know which out of all these things from different churches are true. Perfect question to ask :) We shared Moroni 10:3-5... And that's all I'm going to say about that :) Haha he's going to read and pray! Pray that he will receive his answer and have the desire to be baptized. He's so close I can feel it! But after the lesson, here's the funny part. I go to get in the car and I completely roll my ankle in this random hole in the grass. I nearly fall over and Sister Bennett's face was pure worrisome! Haha then noteven a half an hour later, we are walking up to this door to knock on it and I roll the SAME ankle again and shooting numbness runs up my leg again hahah. I was like," ARE YA KIDDING ME." I am my mother's daughter. Sister Bennett was so concerned! Don't worry sista, I'm just super uncoordinated. I so WISH that we could wear go pros on our heads. That would be one funny video to watch. Hahaha.
Friday we planned all day. Planning takes so long sometimes. But it really helps the rest of the week to go better!! Then we had dinner with the Heiner family. It was so funny, one of the little 5 yr old boys was like "I get two days off of school!" And his sister said "uh no you don't Bracken..." And he's was like "yes I do, I don't go to school for TWO days!" His sister "that's the weekend." Hahaha I was laughing so hard. It was hilarious. Then they have a 2 year old who would let out a scream of pure terror whenever he saw Sister Bennett. Hahah poor Sista B!! Then we went findin the rest of the evening. Not much success, definitely a trial of my faith. But it's helping me to grow :)
Saturday we served Serena by helping her make sticky buns and rolls for a dinner she was attending that evening. We helped move some things in her house too! Funnest service ever! Then we had lunch with her and Jim and had a really good lesson with them. Jim is opening up more and elaborates on his answers. It's so cool to see his progress! I know the Lord is working on Him. I know he will get there :) I just love those people so much, they are so funny and humble and kind. We had to do some more planning and we had a solid night! We went finding and talked with a few girls. We found a door mat that said "go away." Aww, so kind! haha. Welp, that didn't stop us from knocking! It just made me knock louder hahah. We stopped by and dropped off a thank you note to a member and did lesson reports. We also contacted a super sweet and nice referral! So kind, but not really interested right now.We also made Sister Bennett's first time ever handshake! Can you believe that? She's never made a handshake. WHAAATTT. So we had to of course :) and we filmed it. No worries :)
Sunday was just glorious! One: I curled my hair and I haven't done that in ages! So that was fun. I think I've only curled my hair 3 times on my mish. When we got to the church and got wifi I saw THE EMAIL. THE ONE I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR, FOR AGES. MY sista got engaged!?! 😭😱😍 OH I WAS SO HAPPY! I was freaking out I couldn't even handle it haha, ask Sister Bennett, she witnessed it haha. I AM SOOOO HAPPY for Rach and Eric!! Still kinda bummed I won't be there for the wedding buuut.... Whatevs. I already knew that before I left so nothin new there :) love you two love birds! Well, church was really good! Some members that don't get to come as often due to health restrictions were able to come! That was a huge miracle. In sacrament meeting, a returned sister missionary spoke and shared stories from her mission and how grateful she was for her mission. It made me have even greater gratitude for the sacred calling I have as a missionary and how much it has truly blessed my life. I cannot believe I will have been out for 6 months in a few weeks. That blows my mind! I remember the first day in the field like it was yesterday. CRAZY!! It's true that missions really do fly. I am not quite sure how that happens. Still trying to figure that one out...! Haha, but they are seriously amazing. I am changed forever because of the millions of things I've learned and the changes God has allowed me to go through in this short amount of time. God works miracles, it's true :) we also got 3 referrals from a member and were able to contact 3 referrals all in one evening! Wahoo!! :)
Week after week, the Holy Ghost reaffirms to me that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are real. They are there! I know they live and we can return to them someday. I know they love us with an infinite love. I know they are cheering us on each day. What better cheerleaders could we ever ask for? :) I love you all so stinkin much. Stay happy and keep on servin' yourhearts away! And as I like to say, "GO KILL IT OUT THERE!" Have a FAB WEEK! :)
XOXOXO
Sister Hymas :)
2 Nephi 25:26- Preach it Folks!! Share your testimonies of Christ! We all need Christ. :)
Some random pics from Sydney for the week:
"Scooby Doo"
So Sydney
Not sure about this one...
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