"Happy and Blessed are those that Keep the Commandments"

'Ello poppet! Howdy!

It has rained for the last few days. And it feels like it's rained forever! Haha but it's okay. It's super green and beautiful I love it! I'm going to miss all the greenery. VA is truly so beautiful. Also, I took a nap today... and I feel like a MILLION bucks! Wow it felt so good! It was much needed. 😴

We had double exchanges this week! Wow it was a miraculous one! One with sister Goudy, who is a super hard worker and I love her to pieces. We go home together! And the other with sister Morin, who is from Canada and is so hilarious. She is so charitable too, I learned so much from her. When we were planning that morning she was like, "I told Sis Madduma (her companion) you're my girl crush." HAHAH it was funny. Haven't gotten that one yet! I truly just love these sisters here. I love all the missionaries here! I feel very blessed to serve with such fine people.

We had a pretty great week overall, I feel like there's not much to say! I can't remember everything that's happened. But we had an awesome dinner with our investigator Mark! Mark is an older fella. He invited us over for hamburgers and hot dogs and a lesson. It was so great. Mark is so funny. He is the one we met when we met the Ukrainian mechanic. He came out from around the backyard and started talking to us about Lindsey Sterling! Dinner was super good, and when we got there he had snacks set out and a candle lit table. Haha it was so kind. Caleigh came with us. P.S. Caleigh says she is going to come visit you sometime. Maybe she was joking but don't be surprised if she shows up! Side note- for the fist time ever on my mission, we made no bake cookies. And yeah WOW those are my weakness. Let's just say, I ate way too many. Oops.

We started working with another woman named Ebony. The members are so kind and take her to dialysis like three times a week. Ebony has a sincere desire to learn. She loves the church and people. She expressed at our last lesson, "Yeah I'd love to get baptized. I wouldlove to be a member of the church." UH.. OKAY! It was such a miracle. One thing that I really love about missions is everyday is a new and different adventure. Everyday, I meet and talk with so many different people who have come from different walks of life and from ALL OVER THE WORLD! Some have great faith in God and Jesus Christ and others don't believe in anything. Everyday, I learn something new. Sometimes it's about the gospel and sometimes it's about myself. I am forever grateful for the adventures I have been blessed to live out here in Virginia. I am humbled and so grateful to be the Lord's missionary.

Sometimes it's so hard but that's what makes it all so amazing. 😌 I know that Jesus is the Christ and He lives. He restored His gospel onto the earth through a prophet he called, Joseph Smith. I know the Book of Mormon is true. It is another testament of Christ. Study the scriptures and pray daily. By doing so, they create an armor around us that protects from the adversary. The gospel is so simple. We have been commanded to do simple things. And when we keep the commandments, we are blessed. Often times WE make it more complicated than it needs to be. Just keep it simple. I know through God and Jesus Christ, all things are possible.

I love you!Xoxox,
Sister Hymas

"...all I got is wine, and beer. ...And water- that I don't drink." -Mark

Have y'all seen the Easter video for this year? It's pretty amazing and the spirit touches my heart every time! Well, we showed that video to a sweet family. Hahaha you know the part at the end where the music is super intense and it's flashing pictures of Christ saying "He is Lord of Lords, King of Kings... He is Jesus Christ..." well one of the little girls, Elajah, was reading out loud what it was saying. When the part came around that says "HE is Jesus Christ" she threw her arms in the arm and repeated "...He is JESUS CHRIST! Amen amen HALLELUJAH AMEN HALLELUJAH LORD JESUS!!" She was like 8. I loved it! So great. I love that video. 

HAPPY EASTER BTW! Oh it was such a beautiful day. We had stake conference and the Hales fam invited us to an on post potluck. We got to talk with the sweetest lady and her husband. Her name is Christine. She shared with us her story of coming to believe in God and Jesus Christ and she made me cry it was so touching. She also told us that one of her Native American friends, who was an atheist, told her about how Jesus Christ came to visit her people a longtime ago.... I was like what?! No way. So we explained 3 Nephi 11 in the Book of Mormon and invited her to read it. It was so cool! I had never heard of any native Americans saying that before. 

Elder Ronald A. Rasband came to town again! He was here for the wedding of President Huntsman's daughter, because they are like super good pals. So on Saturday evening, Elder and Sister Rasband AND THE John Huntsman and his wife, spoke to the D.C. South missionaries. We were instructed to bring investigators, less actives, returning members, and recent converts. That was such a neat experience. My heart was filled that night. I just happened to sit right smack down in the middle of the pew so I was looking dead straight on at Elder Rasband. I felt like there were times he was glaring into my soul. In a good way. Haha but he spoke about the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. And lemme tell ya, when he testified of the Savior, the spirit was so so strong. I could not help but cry. It was so incredible. We have been truly blessed to have heard from several apostles speak to us in the last few months. It has been a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm so grateful for Christ's restored church, the prophet and the apostles He has called on the earth today. I know they are special witnesses of Him. You can just feel it when they walk into the room.

I went on exchanges with Sister Strong this week! She is such a humble hilarious courageous sister. She is so stinking cute too! We had such a blast. We got to go see Jackie! Remember her? We would do service for her often. We helped pick up sticks in her beautiful pride and prejudice yard and then she fed us oranges, crackers and cheese afterwards. Classic. :) 

We met the funniest guy this week. His name is Mark. Mark is an older guy, and lives in the basement of a family's house. We were out talking to the owner and the mechanic (who happened to be from Ukraine #funfact so we had fun talking with him!). Mark then came outside to smoke and we started talking to him. The first thing he said to us was "do y'all know Lindsey Sterling? Yeah I love her she is awesome!" We talked about the Book of Mormon and set up a return appt. we had our second lesson with him yesterday right there on his back porch. He is one who seems like he's not interested but down inside I'm pretty sure he is interested and just not making a big deal out of it. I had invited him to be baptized on June 13th and he looked at me dead in the eye and said "now look...." and started going off on something that I had no idea if it applied to the invitation, so I asked "so will you?" And he looked at me and said "I can't say yes but I won't say no. I have to read and study about it." GO MARK! We just love him he is awesome. He is one of those people that I just click with. Okay and FUNNIEST THING EVER- when he offered us something to drink, he said "I don't got milk, I don't got juice, all I got is wine, and beer. ...And water- that I don't drink." HAHA I died laughing. 

I had interviews with President on Tuesday. I look up to President Huntsman so much. I have so much love and appreciation for both him and his wife. They have helped me incredibly on my mission just by their love and support they have shown me. There are over 170 missionaries in this mission and they truly know and love each missionary. You should've heard John Huntsman talk about him... talk about the sweetest, touching dad-son moment. I'm so blessed to have President Huntsman as my mission president! There was something I learned from President in interviews from preach my gospel that was completely amazing and I loved it. I have no doubt that president receives revelation for each missionary right in that moment he speaks with them. I felt like what he shared with me was exactly what I needed to hear. It said something along the lines of "Heavenly Father knows our weaknesses and is patient with us.... He blesses us as we strive to keep His commandments." I loved that so much. One, I know we are given weaknesses so we may be humble. Heavenly Father is patient with us and our weaknesses! So why can't I be? I have learned and continue to learn to be patient with others and their weaknesses, but often times I forget to be patient with myself and my own weaknesses. Be kind to yourself! Two, God blesses us as we STRIVE to keep His commandments. Not WHEN or IF but when we STRIVE to keep them. He blesses us for our efforts of trying our best. We aren't going to be perfect; but as we strive to do the best we can to follow Him, we are incredibly blessed. I know these things to be true.

Also, 2 Nephi 25:13, I loved that scripture. Perfect for Easter. Elder Rasband shared that one and testified boldly of it.

I love y'all! SO MUCH.

Xoxox,

Sister Hymas

God is SO Good- All the Time.

HOLA! Come esta?!

One, my Spanglish is pretty good. Not gonna lie. Haha Two, I went on a such a fun exchange with Hermana Fifita this week! We served at the community center, ran into some interesting people, had a run in with the cops (it was a member and he rolled down hiswindow and said hi to us. I thought we were in trouble- but no worries! Haha) and also made an ice cream cake and decorated for sister Millward's birthday during our dinner hour! We surprised her when she got home that night. 

Hermana Fifita is such a hard worker. She is humble and kind. She teaches simply but powerfully. She knows her purpose and is eager to fulfill it. She said some of the sweetestthings to me too. My heart was so touched! At one moment she told me, "Sister, you don't waste the Lord's time." And another moment, "Sister, the way you look at people... you look at them with your heart." She was making me want to cry. These sisters have truly helpedme throughout my mission. I have learned so much from them! Many of the things they say and do for me are answers to my prayers. Love them all so stinkin much.

Also- I got complimented on my eyes and eyelashes like so many times this week! It was crazy! People are so sweet. That's random fact of the week #1. Random fact #2, my Ghanaian name is Akosiua, or Akos, because I was born on Sunday! So cool, huh? I'm pretty much from Ghana. Haha jk, but I wish I could go there one day. #mydream. Also wesaw a bike on fire in front of the 7-11 yesterday. Ya don't see that everyday.

We had MLC this week and that was a hoot! Literally it rained cats and dogs that day. When we were headed home, it was like the ocean was being dumped on us. Literally. We witnessed tall trees falling over onto the highways and into telephone lines. It was intense!

ALSO, not even kidding, more than once, like a ton of times, people hinted at me that I should be a dental hygienist. Well, for those who don't know this, I have actually thought about being a dental hygienist the last month or so... within the last week I had missionaries, my companion, and random people on the street bring up dental hygiene or that I look like one, or I have "dental hygiene eyes" hahaha (sis Millward). SO I may have to look into that!

Huge miracle of my week- Saturday morning I had prayed in my personal prayers specifically that God would lead us to someone who was prepared to receive the gospel and accept a date to be baptized. Well, specific prayers bring specific answers! We saw an older man come out of an apt and walk past some cars and head to the back of the apt building. We hollered at him a few times. "Hello!..... hey!! How are you?!.." no response. We run after him and "HEYYY!" Finally he turns around. He's a humble, kind guy wearing work boots, camo jacket and a hat. He had heard of the Mormons before, he said his sister is one! Hesaid its made her happy. He hasn't always been religious but at this time in his life, he is searching for something. We testified that the gospel of Jesus Christ is what he is looking for and that it offers peace and stability in these crazy times. We introduced the Book ofMormon to him and he said he had read part of it before but it was hard to understand because of a learning disability he has. We told him we could come help him read and understand and that HELPING people is our purpose! We introduced the first vision to him and explained what the priesthood was. He accepted the baptismal invite we gave himand then I felt prompted to invite him to prepare to be baptized on May 20th.... and he gladly accepted. He said, "May 20th...? hmm... yeah... I could commit to that." Tears filled my eyes as he accepted the invitation. It was so cool to see the spirit working on his heart. He was a complete miracle. I walked away from that experience with a stronger testimony that God truly does know each of us. I know He knows me. I know He heard those prayers I offered that morning and He led us right to Woodrow! What an incredible miracle. I remember walking away just in awe of how truly incredible God is. His hand is so evident in our lives!

Folks, God is so good - all the time.

Trust Him. He knows what's best.

Xoxox,Sister Hymas :)

The Sisters Get Serenaded by a Drunk Fella

Hello! :)

NEWS: I got my first two mosquito bites of the season this week. 2 out of One million. Haha I got eaten alive last year so I am just preparing myself for super itchy legs. 

Our investigator

General conference was SO AMAZING I loved it so much!! I had prepared a few questions, one of them being how to better recognize the Spirit. and Elder Rasband just nailed it! I received so many answers by listening to his talk. I was writing so fast I couldn't get it all down haha my hand was cramping super bad . Anyway I am looking forward to reading his talk again! What were your favorite talks? 

We had zone conference this week and Sister Millward and I trained on... baptismal calendars! WOOO! Haha we were struggling to come up with how to go about training on it and such... but President said it was really great and he loved it! So that was totally Heavenly Father! Thank goodness for the Spirit. Zone conference is always such a blast. I love being able to hear from President and Sister Huntsman, APs, zone leaders and such. As part of the conference, we all sang As Sisters in Zion and the Armies of Helaman EFY medley and wow. The Spirit hit me like a brick wall. My heart was overwhelmed with the spirit and I just wanted to cry! It was so powerful sitting in that room with all those missionaries. I am so grateful to serve and be the Lord's missionary. These past 12 months are so special. I just feel like I have gown so much and I couldn't be more grateful. 

1 year gourmet outmeal

It just happened to be my ONE YEAR on Thursday too! Same day as zone conference. Sis Millward is the cutest. I got up and went to get in the shower. I had forgotten my towel so I went back out like 2 min later, and there sis Millward was, hanging up streamers! She flipped around and yelled HAPPY ONE YEAR!! Hahah oops I ruined her surprise so I ran back to the bathroom. Then once i was done i came out again and she yelled happy one year haha. She is the cutest. I love her! She is so charitable and patient. She is a hard worker. She is hilarious. I am learning so much from her!! She also made me super good gourmet oatmeal with cinnamon and fruit in it. I was quite spoiled!! This past year has been an incredible journey and its flying by! Crazy! I just want to work hard and live in the moment. The time we have to serve is so short. I want to cherish every moment.

The work is going well! We got invited to one of our investigator's baby naming party. She is from Ghana and they throw these huge parties. We stopped by for a few minutes and wow! It was quite the party! There was some nice african jams going, there were a million Ghanians smushed into a small apt, a ton of african food and lots of lovin people. I love people from Africa. They are so full of love. They were making us some food but we had to go so we are going back on Tuesday to have a lesson and maybe eat some food. That's what l love about this particular area is all the diversity and different foods you get to eat! It's awesome!

Last night, we were in a sketchier part of town. I had a prompting to run after this guy and his daughter to talk to them. I hollered, "Hey! Do you know anyone else that we could share this message with?" They completely ignore us. As we were turning around, this guy was like "we do!" We turn around and there were these two guys smoking and drinking on their patio. Immediately I got the EH feelin. Haha they asked if we had any pamphlets so we went to go talk to them. They turned out to be super funny. hahah One of them was pretty drunk, and I had asked him a question. Apparently it sounded like i was yellin at him, (i may have said it a little sternly so i prayed for charity in that moment but...) towards the end of our conversation I was bearing my testimony of the gospel, and he thought i looked teary or something because he told me not to cry, and then out of nowhere he started singing to us some christian song! hahahah I was laughing so hard and a little taken back about what all just happened. It was quite the experience I must say! I sure do love meeting people each day. It makes the work so fun. :) We are all SO different, but no matter how different we may be, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. I love it.

I love this work, I know its true. I know Thomas S Monson is God's prophet on the earth today and i am so grateful we had the chance to hear him speak yesterday. I know God loves us and we are His children. I am amazed each day as I recognize His hand in my life and the lives of others. He has one grand, perfect plan for us all. He knows what's best for us. I know Jesus Christ is His Son. I know through Jesus Christ's Atonement, we can repent, change and become the people God knows we can become.

SO much love from VA
xoxoxo
Sister Hymas