ALOOOO-HAA! How y'all doing this fine October afternoon? :) hallelujah it's finally October!! I LOVE love the fall. Truly is the best time. I light a pumpkin apple spice candle every morning. It's like heaven right there on our table. :)
MONDAY WAS AMAZING!! We went shopping at Aldi AND our groceries didn't fall out of our box or bags hahaha, and we went thrift shoppin! Always so so fun :) I found one skirt. We're going back today because they had a lot of good stuff, like rain boots! So I'm going to try and get some of those. No one likes wet feet haha. But I had a cool experience at the shop! I was just looking around trying to find some dresses, when I saw this lady sitting on her walker just chillin. I started talking to her as I was searching for clothes. She was so kind! She said she was catholic and I explained I was a missionary and what we do as missionaries.... etc. well we had an amazing few minute conversation and lesson, and I gave her our card and a restoration pamphlet and she really was grateful to have it. Her daughter then came over and was kind of cold towards me. As they were walking away the mother asked the daughter if she could keep the pamphlet and that she wanted it. It was so amazing!! I KNOW that God loved her so much. I know that I was meant to meet her. I felt drawn to her and that I should talk to her. Another testimony to me that if you just open your mouth, God gives you the words to say. He will make you an instrument in His hands. Amazing experience. :') Then we emailed and had dinner that night with the Lyman family. They are the sweetest couple. All their kids except one have served or are serving missions, or going on missions and brother Lyman shared heartfelt testimony of missionary work at the end of our visit. He teared up and shared that he finds it remarkable that the Lord calls young men and women to devote a part of their life to go share the gospel all over the world. He said that if it were older adults doing it, they wouldn't be as successful. He said missionaries have a light in their eyes and share the gospel with zeal and power. He said he could see that light in our eyes. He closed with prayer and I just was holding back tears, it was so amazing and kind to hear that from someone. I know that before being a missionary I saw that light and joy from missionaries and desired to be that way. It meant the world to hear that from brother Lyman. We were able to contact a referral and have a few lessons! Then we were able to finally teach one of our new investigators that even sister Bennett had been trying to contact since she's been here! His name is Jose. He works crazy hours so it was a complete miracle we caught him! He happily let us in and we were able to teach the plan of salvation to him and testify of eternal families. Which was something so important to him because his parent passed when he was younger and it was so hard for him. We shared the Book of Mormon invitation in the intro and he really pondered those words. You could tell that the spirit was just working on him so hard! OH MY LANTA it was an UHMAZIMG lesson! I know that God placed us there so that we could meet and teach him the plan of salvation. I can't even begin to describe what an amazing experience it was. I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!! It is THEE best work.
Tuesday was so great. We had district meeting in the elders backyard again! Haha except it was on their deck. It's so sad that our last district meeting is tomorrow. I love this district! We've had lots of fun together. From Tim tam slams to district meeting in the forest... it's been a hoot. :) we had one amazing lesson with Sarah and sister Donovan was able to come!! They are both amazing! Here's Sarah lesson report: Sarah has been pondering about the things we've shared with her, and she has thought about baptism. She says she still wants to change some things and come to a better knowledge of it, but she says she knows it will come and she will be baptized some day. We were able to teach half the plan of salvation and discuss faith in Christ, repentance, and baptism. We shared Alma 34:32-35 and talked about the purpose of life and she said those verses helped her realize she needs to start changing and repenting today because we don't have forever. She shared with us some things she is struggling with and needs to work on changing. She recognizes what she's doing and she wants to change it. We told her that is the first step in the repentance process and that she is already on her way! We invited her to read Alma 5. Sister Donavan was awesome and bore testimony all along the way and helped teach different principles. She also invited Sarah to watch General Conference. We watched the testimony of Thomas S Monson as well. She and Sister Donovan really got along well, and it was just an amazing lesson! The spirit was definitely there and we invited her to prepare for baptism on October 29th. She said she would think about it!!" Later we had another lesson with the girls! Alana and Kendall, and their mother Pam. They are all AMAZING TOO! They are so prepared and don't even know it. Like I keep thinking as they are talking, "get these people a font!" Seriously, we are gonna try and put them on date for November 5th tomorrow. I just love them so much!! Then we had an amazing dinner with sister lodge and her husband. She made us enchiladas! SO GOOD. and get this. Chocolate cake was for dessert!! MY FAVE! Blessings. For real. And then she came out with us to a lesson that fell through, but she is just such a rockstar. I call her Mama Lodge because she literally takes care of us like we are her daughters. This whole Ward shows us so much love they really feel like family. I am so blessed to serve in this Ward. I have learned so many things from the Christlike service and missionary work this Ward does each day. I am so humbled and grateful. P.S. I love looking up at the stars at night. It's like my favorite thing. Do y'all ever do that?? Sorry random, but I just did it haha.
Wednesday. Man it flew to Wednesday! Time is so weird. We were able to go contact a new investigators mother named Joanna. Lemme tell you. THAT FAMILY IS PREPARED! Holy cow, it's not even funny! Cutest family ever too. We met the dad too. They are so kind! When we stopped by, they were fixing their basement because it had just flooded that morning. Isn't that terrible?! And yet, they were still kinder than ever! We are going back next Wednesday to see Joanna again. On our way back to our car, Steve and another gent were in the front yard trying to fix the plumbing and Steve yells, "hey! Say a prayer for me! And when ya come on Wednesday, I'll be at work, but say a prayer then for me too!" Haha he is so nice! I love that family already! I hope and pray with my whole heart and soul that they will accept the gospel. Later we were doing lesson reports and syncing our iPads at the church when all of a sudden president calls us. We both look at each other like: "uhhh...!? President never calls randomly!" Haha so we answer it and he said, "Hello Sisters, I saw you found 5 new investigators last week! I just wanted to call and tell you that is so awesome, I'm so proud of you. That is five more people who have accepted the opportunity to hear about the restored gospel. .... keep up the hard work Sisters, I love you!" OH MY LANDS. Best phone call ever! I love president so much. He is the best. It meant a ton to hear that from him. I know God placed those people in our path. God really is so good. And I also know that I was sent to the DC south mission because I needed to meet President and Sister Huntsman. True fact. They don't send you to a mission, they send you to the mission President you need! I've heard that a lot and I believe it's true. Anyway, then we had a quick porch lesson with Amber because she had a sick child but she is also so prepared too! She has two kids who she wants to learn more about this message. We are so excited to teach them! I LOVE FAMILIES! I've been hoping and praying God would lead us to a family and He indeed has. Multiple families! Then we had dinner with the Hale fam, and did tracting the rest of the evening in a super nice million dollar house court! For real, they were nice houses. And ya know what we did? We knocked those bad boy doors and got rejected on every single one. But just like Uchtdorf said.... "4th floor, last door!" This one lady wasn't interested but we did teach a little lesson and she said she would accept the material we gave her! That was a huge blessing. It's so crazy how each area in the mission is so diverse and different. It could be way nice with million dollar mansions, or low income housing in some sketchier areas. Nonetheless, I've been in both areas and absolutely love it. Truth is, no matter where you are there are prepared people. We are all Gods children. He wants us all back. Also, we went to go check on a potential we found in our area book. We went to her home and knocked, and her son came out. He had a sketchy looking smile, and he stepped out onto the porch. Immediately I didn't have a good feeling and I knew the spirit was tellin me "get outta therr!!" We quickly offered a pamphlet and he invited us to stay and talk on his porch. I was like "Yeah. NOPE!" Jk Hahah I didn't say that out loud but I thought that. All was well, don't worry mom it wasn't super scary. Just kinda creepy. It's just another testimony builder for me of the Holy Ghost and I just am so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost! I'd be dead meat with out Him.
Thursday we had a planning sesh with sister lodge and sister brown (Ward missionaries) for the trunk or treat activity. The Ward mission got put in charge of it! We are gonna make it like a carnival and invite a bunch of non members that will hopefully come! Then we had lunch at sister lodges and she came to a lesson with Alana, Kendall and Pam! Here's there lesson report: "Alana said she read a little bit of the Book of Mormon and tried praying a little bit. We read 1 Nephi 1-2. They seemed to really understand it and Pam even gave insight while she was listening. Alana and Pam were really intent throughout the lesson. We talked about having faith in God even when He asks us to do hard things, like Lehi and his family leaving Jeruselum and everything they own. Pam wondered when the Book of Mormon took place and about the wilderness in Jerusalem. We also invited them to be baptized again, when they come to feel this message is true. Alana said I don't know, maybe! Pam asked how baptism in the Catholic Church compares to baptism in this church, and we retaught the priesthood authority. We invited them to pray and read the Book of Mormon, read plan of salvation pamphlet, and watch general conference. Sister lodge was awesome, she explained different parts in the Book of Mormon like when Lehi leaves Jerusalem and she shared her testimony and part of her conversion. We shared Moroni 10:3-5 and talked about if they sincerely desire to know if the message we share is true, they can read and ponder the things they read, and if they have pray with a sincere heart, with real intent and having faith in Christ, they will receive an answer by the power of the Holy Ghost." Sorry sometimes I'm just lazy to type out how the lesson went, so I just copy and paste the lesson report. It's like you were there huh?! It works right? ;) haha. Then we had super good cafe rio style dinner at the Buongiovanni fam bam household. Then we went tracting! Only one fellow answered the door and talked to us. Haha its so weird because the houses we were tracting had two doors. TWO DOORS. In two different spots on the front of the house. Like uhhh.... Confusing right? So we would go up to knock on what we think was the main door, and if they didn't answer we almost went and knocked on the other one but then realized it was covered in cobwebs... haha so I guess it's just the style of the house or somethin! Oh we also had companionship study with our STLs= SUPER FUN!! Haha I love those sisters. They are such great examples of hardworking missionaries as well as loving everyone like Christ would. We also took "sassy" pictures so enjoy ;)
Friday my morning thoughts were: HAPPY 6 MONTHS TO MEEE! Then quickly became, "wow. 1/3 of my mission is over." Bittersweet feelings. Tears filled my eyes as I heard sister Bennett share a story she read about a return missionary in comp study. And an overwhelming feeling of gratitude just filled my heart. I am truly so grateful to have these 18 months to serve as the Lords missionary. It's the greatest things I have ever had the opportunity to do! We planned all day Friday and had a few less active lessons! One with the cutest woman! Her name is sister Cooper. (Lesson report: She is the sweetest lady ever! So kind and has a lot of faith. We got to know her a little bit and then talked about general conference. We watched the general conference video with Jeffrey R. Holland testifying that if they teach by the spirit and we listen by the spirit, one of the leaders will touch on our circumstance. We will have received a little epistle of heaven and revelation sent right to us. She thought it was good and she she said she was somewhat excited. We invited her to prepare a question and listen for an answer during conference and she shared that for her, she looking for inspiration to come back to church. Not so much a question, but inspiration. She hasn't gone for so long because she has been busy with work and she said she would make excuses to why she wouldn't go on Sundays. She said now, after watching conference she doesn't have the desire to come back. But she said she does have hope. We bore testimony that there is always a way to come back, especially if she has hope. We also bore testimony of Gods love for her and her family and how we are all His children. He wants us to be happy so He asks us to do certain things, like come to church to partake of the Sacrament and read the scriptures, prayer... She really wants to come back for her kids. She wants them to have a solid foundation. It's especially hard to get them ready in the morning on Sundays and that her husband and mother in law aren't members. We invited her to come the Sunday after conference and she said she wouldn't make any promises, but she would try. SWEETEST WOMAN EVER!! Love her!) then we had dinner with the Beefelt fam and happily went tracting in their neighborhood. We met their sweet neighbors, Robert and Tammy! They were such genuine people with a strong faith in Christ. We invited everyone to watch general conference! And all the while we just got poured on! And of course I forgot to bring my raincoat. Smooth sister Hymas. Good thing we had two umbrellas in the car. It was super fun :) I love the rain.
Saturday we got to watch CONFERENCEEE!!! We watched the first session at the stake center and afterward a woman in one of the Spanish wards, made food for all the missionaries so we ate her delicious food! Then went finding and then went to the Buongiovannis for the second session. Then we had dinner and went and saw Sister benge!! But okay, It's so crazy that 6 months ago, I was watching general conference in the MTC! So weird! I was so jealous of the missionaries who got to sing in the second session! UH so jealous. They sang BEAUTIFULLY! Especially Joseph smiths first prayer. Oh my lands. Straight teary eyed Sista Hymas over here! Haha. What did y'all like about conference?! Tell me everything :) I loved all the talks. I can't pick a favorite! Saturday I really loved the talk about Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration. Honestly, I didn't have a super strong testimony of Joseph Smith being a prophet, before my mission. I believed He was, but I don't think I really knew if he was. I don't think I ever had the strong confirmation he was. However, it is so true that when you go out each day sharing your testimony of what you believe to be true, it does grow! It does become stronger. I prayed sincerely throughout my mission, especially in the beginning, that Heavenly Father would help strengthen my testimony of Joseph Smith being the prophet of Restoration. Welp, He sure did!! I have had strong confirmations by the Holy Ghost that Joseph Smith was indeed the prophet of the Restoration. My heart swells each time I read or hear the first vision. My heart and eyes burn as tears fill my eyes. I can testify with my whole heart, that Jospeh Smith was a prophet. He was the prophet of the restoration. He saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. He translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God. And just like Craig C. Christensen said in his talk, if you struggle to know if he was a prophet or are questioning your testimony of him being a prophet, look at the fruits that came because of His willingness to do what the Lord had asked of Him: The Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored. Christ's original church was restored. We now have the Book of Mormon and can receive the blessings of the temple and so much more all because Jospeh Smith was willing to be an instrument in Gods hands. I know he was a prophet. It is true that his "name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues" but no matter what, the Lords work goes forth. And because of this, "MILLIONS shall know Brother Joseph again." Amen and and amen.
Sunday we had a thanksgiving feast for lunch basically! It was pot roast, vegetables, mashed potatoes, rolls, salad... ya know, all the goods. We had it with Jim and Serena and then watched the first session with them afterwards. So so fun! I love those people. And guess what. They are moving to California like January or something. Sad day. :( then we went finding in between sessions and then went to the Clarks for the second session! LOVE THAT FAMILY. They for real crack me up hard core. They remind me of our fam! Love them! We had dinner with them too after conference- And guess what we had for dinner: the same thing as lunch! hahaha pot roast, mashed potatoes, vegetables and salad. #genconfmeals! (And this is how you gain weight on your mission my friends. Eating two thanksgiving feasts a day. Haha the members just really love us to feed us this amazing food! #sograteful) Then brother Clark is like an amazing chef and he made these gluten and lactose free (because he knows I'm lactose intolerant; so kind, love them :')) coconut bars and OH MY. THEY ARE GOODDDD. They taste like almond joys!! I'm getting the recipe from him, also I'm starting to collect recipes from members so by the end of my mission I can have all the recipes of food I loved on the mission! :) and then I won't bug you for recipes MA! And then I can say "look, told ya I can cook!" Haha :) anyway, conference was simply amazing. I'm bummed we all didn't get to hear from elder holland. But I'll probably still read the talk he gave in priesthood haha. I just LOVE the gospel! I love being a missionary. I just have no words to describe the gratitude I have for this special time in my life to draw nearer to God each day and become who He needs me to be. It's priceless to me.
I truly have loved my mission so far. 6 months came and went like a Virginian summer storm! I am so grateful to be here. I am humbled each day to have this opportunity to be an instrument in God's hands in bringing the restored gospel to those who do not have it, that they may too have "JOY." P.s. Loved that talk by Russell M. Nelson, that was another one of my favorites :) It's amazing that as we are trying our best each day to rely on the Savior, obey God's commandments, and do everything we can to share the Gospel with others, we become more converted to the Lord and His gospel ourselves. It's quite brilliant that God made it that way. 😊
I love you people so much. I cannot express my gratitude for all the emails, letters, packages, love, prayers and support you all send to me. It makes ALL the difference. Love you so much! Thank you thank you THANK YOU for everything. ðŸ˜
LOVEE
Sister Hymas (or Hymns, Hymus, Humus, Heinz, Heyman or Hyman... all the names I'm pretty sure I've heard people call me haha. Whatever you prefer ;))
Quotes/scriptures of the week!
- "...the purpose of faith is not to change God’s will but to empower us to act on God’s will." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf (LOVED LOVED LOVEEDDD HIS TALK!)
- "We testify to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, that God not only lives, but that He speaks." -Holland. AMEN TO THAT.
- Alma 22:18- "... and I will give away all my sins to know thee..." I think that is the most beautiful line in the scriptures. Love it!
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