3/10/14: Forgotten Missionaries

Hey all!

We waited, dying, for TWO HOURS for the transfer text and finally texted our STLs about it. It had come on time, and we were FORGOTTEN! The ZLs still haven't sent it to us. It's okay, cause the STLs forwarded it, but now I want to take revenge on our ZLs. How dare they forget our precious Sturgeon Bay! Kinda funny though.

We taught Nick for the first time and he was at Alma 6. If you haven't read it recently, read the last verse of Alma 5. When he said "I am at Alma 6" I was like 'eeexcellent...'

Then we asked him if he had any questions and he was like "I was just wondering about the process for getting baptized." So we set a date.

The BoM converts all by itself. I'm telling you. The most important thing we can get investigators to do is read it!! Then the Spirit does the rest of it for us :)

I finished knitting a new scripture bag. Which was great, because I've been a little too caught up with it the past few weeks and now I don't have to worry about it anymore. Yay for reconsecration. I'm not planning any more projects any time soon. It's a cute bag :)

Tangent

(I was reading a newsletter from some Deseret or other and was like "I need to get off my mission so I can read all these books!" There were ones by Monson, Holland, Eyring, Packer, and Perry that I really want to read. And Callister and Brad Wilcox. Also, The Saratov Approach? Gotta see that. And Ephraim's Rescue. And like everything else. But don't worry, I'm still obsessed with being a missionary!!)

We had Zone Training this week and there are some elders I really want to destroy. But the meeting was really good, and it was fun to see everyone :) I feel so isolated out here, geez!

Transfer board has some unexpected changes, but for the most part it was expected. No news in Sturg.

We had a lesson with Elizabeth and she was like, "I'm 90% there on baptism." But saying it out loud seemed to fill the ten percent left, because then she was just begging us to pick a date. It was a miracle. I'm kinda holding back--because I have a pretty intense fear of baptizing unworthy people and determined that I would never be part of any such abomination--but she really is trying, and preparing herself, and understands a lot. I think she'll get baptized on the 22nd. Probably. but we'll see how I feel about it as she gets closer. Scarring memories from West Allis tell me it might all be a ploy.

Sam is doing sooo great! He and Crystal missed church, which, after our powerhouse lesson on baptism, was pretty concerning. We went over after church and laid down the law on true conversion.
I don't know if this is a normal thing, or a good thing, but I just ask people what I'm thinking if they're the type of person I know can handle it. In this case some of those questions were: "Do you think the commitment to come to church every Sunday for the rest of your life is too great?" "Why aren't you living with your family?" and "Self-reliance is a huge part of the Lord's church. Everyone there is so helpful and friendly because you are in need right now, but one day, it is expected that you will provide for yourself and you'll do your part to help whoever is in need. Do you understand that?"

And then Sam is like "I'm so ready for this!" because he gets it and wants to be better. I love people who know that high expectations are a given in the life of a disciple of Christ. Cause they are!!

I got to go on an exchange back to GB2 on Friday with Sister Newton!! It was the best thing ever. I can't believe how blessed I was to serve with her for almost three whole transfers. And our area is doing so well and so much has happened since I left! So much good stuff. It's awesome. But now Sister Newton is getting transferred. I can't hardly even imagine our district without her. It's weird.

Homemade strawberry jam.

Senior couples=the best. Sister Baker taught us everything about motherhood we ever need to know. It was ridiculous, but awesome.

Ever onward!

Sister Neal