Hooray for Missionary Work!!

Well folks, this week has been pretty eventful.

I got my first basher! Yay! But more on that later. 

On Monday we taught a family home evening lesson, and on Tuesday we served at the Mississippi Food Network again. We drove past the old Jackson Hotel and it's creepy.

Old Jackson Hotel

Wednesday was my first Zone Training Meeting, and our zone is big! But it was a good meeting and I liked getting to meet more missionaries. That night I also ate okra for the first time, in vegetable soup. Apparently you can't have a vegetable soup without okra. 

Zone Training Meeting - Elders are crazy!

Thursday, was a packed day! We were super excited to finally go see a referral we had. But we got there and there was nobody home. So that was great. When we got home though, a member from the ward (Sister Patterson) brought us some chicken and dumplin's and cornbread! So I tried that for the first time too. It mostly just reminds me of poached eggs? Which is weird, but true. It was pretty good and really sweet of her to bring it to us.

Later in the afternoon, we volunteered at the Woods Center where we read with a group of special needs adults. I sat by Matthew and Seth, and Matthew called me his girlfriend a few times, so I had to explain that missionaries don't have boyfriends. Page 33 and all. 

After that we decided to tract! And at our first door I was pleasantly surprised by how inviting Miss Jennifer was! She let us in and we started talking. But Sister Bartsch and I didn't actually get to talk much. We were there for an hour and a half, and heard all sorts of stories, but she was a mild basher, and it was just great. She told us that she asked God once if she should read the Book of Mormon, and an angel basically threw it out of her hands. So to demonstrate this to us she used a Bible and threw it. And Sister Bartsch said, "Whoa, careful! That's a Bible!" And it was great! Love Sister Bartsch! We finally got out and went to another door and he just kind of didn't say anything just shut the door...so we decided to head back home!

Luckily the night ended with a less active family telling us that they have seen lots of miracles this week and they are coming back to church! We are very excited for them! 

Sister Bartsch also lost What Are the Odds that night and ran out in the pouring rain!

Friday was one month of me being a missionary!! Hooray for missionary work!! 

We also taught our Bible study that morning and it went super well! We talked about testimonies. Sister Bartsch and I shared ours and the spirit was very strong. Definitely a good experience! And afterwards we took a selfie! It was their first selfie, and I feel honored I got to take it!

Bible Study Group

On Saturday Sister Bartsch and I were being good people and went to take our garbage out, but I shut the door and we ended up locked on our back porch. We called our elders but they didn't answer. I climbed over to our neighbor's porch, but no one was home. We both tried to climb/jump down but were too chicken and weak. And we had a pizza in the oven. But Heavenly Father was looking out for us and Sister Cruz came and saved us! And the pizza. Brother Cruz took a picture of us stuck up there.

Locked Out

That afternoon we had a real talk with Miss Diane and basically we established that we're here to be more than just her friend and so we dropped her until she can decide if this gospel is something she wants to work towards. Hopefully she will someday have a desire to actually read the Book of Mormon on her own and keep commitments. She's super nice and could really benefit from the gospel. 

Saturday is also movie night, and this week we built a fort! So we ate my enchiladas, and some ice cream while we watched a movie in the fort. It was a great way to end the night!

Basically a masterpiece!!!

Sunday night we had a conversion fireside where converts shared their testimonies and stories. There was a sweet spirit and it was neat to hear how each of them chose to come to Christ. 

I invite each of you to think of your own conversion and maybe to write down your testimonies. I know this church is true and am grateful I have the chance to share it with so many people. 

(Even if they want to bash) ;) 

Love y'all!  

Oh, and look how cute! Elder Eells and I match today! ​