Week 50: First MLC and BRANDON

Odds and Ends

●I got to have a sleepover with my previous comp, Sister Bradshaw!!!!

●I got to go on exchanges with Sister Osborne, who used to be my STL! EEE!

●This man was literally so intoxicated he was parking and almost T-boned us.

●So THIS is a story. I forgot to put it in my email for last week. Sister Hoyal is healthy and actually drinks water, and she had to pee. So we stopped at a gas station, and Sister Mickelson and I are standing in an isle. Then we hear from behind us "Are you from the church?" We turn around and see this employee who was dressed very interestingly. He was wearing a white shirt and black tie with interesting pants, and a letter man jacket with a baseball hat and a 'manager' name tag. Don't ask me why, he was the only person working so I don't know why there's a need for a manager. So Sister Mickelson is a QUEEN and offers him a Book of Mormon, which he declines. So then I ask if he'd at least take our number and reach out if he has questions! He said yes. So I wrote our number on a Jesus passalong card. He was standing alarmingly close. Then we see light reflecting off his tag. Then I saw it. He was literally popping his pecks at us! We quickly said goodbye and got outa there. But THE STORY ISN'T OVER. Our friend Maria has been coming to church, and she is just so cute! After the 5th Sunday lesson, she starts telling me about this convenience store by her house that she goes to all the time. The worker and her have conversations here and there. Then in her story it goes like this:

Worker: "I met a girl..."

Maria: "Oh you did?!"

Worker: "Yeah she gave me a picture."

Maria: "Oh let's see it!"

***she assumes that it's a picture of the girl...

***he pulls out a JESUS PASSALONG CARD

Maria: "I know who you got that from!"

Worker: "No you don't!"

Maria: "Were there 3 of them?"

Worker "Uh...yeah..."

Fast forward to Maria talking to me. She pats my leg and says "it was YOU wasn't it?" Oh boy my face turned bright red. Not going back there again...

●(from last week) Fabio tried putting our friend Jonathan on date for baptism, and straight up asked him "Brother Jon, let's pick a date. Can I pick a date for you?" We love Fabio so much!

●Jonathan said I can never be forgiven for being 5 minutes late to his lesson, it literally brought me to tears at church. He was like "why you gotta be so soft hearted?" But he literally is teasing... seriously sassy man!

●A man definitely answered in his undies...

●Had my first MLC! It was long but I learned so much! I never realized so much consideration happens for all the missionaries! I'm excited to be a bigger part of it!

●My comps made me birthday tacos and a birthday banner! So sweet!

●Brandon confirmed for our appointment and Sister Hoyal said "Let's goooo Brandon!" Sister Osborne and me died laughing haha!

●We love it when loud mariachi music is playing and you know someone is inside but no one can hear, so no one answers the door...

●President and Sister Monson called me and wished me a happy birthday 🥹❤️

●Sister Hoyal shot Sister Mickelson with her water pick while we were practicing door approaches at home. Haha!

Miracles

★We fasted for President Monson and Sister Monson's family. Sister Monson hasn't been in the mission almost for a whole transfer! It was so special to be able to do that for them.

★At Sonic, I was with Sister Osborne because we had just recently exchanged!

The man at the register started asking questions, first if we offer financial aid. We told him no, but we had a great conversation and we were able to get his information to start having visits! Then his coworker came over literally on her toes and was so excited to hear we were from the church! We gave her our number too! Talk about being where we need to be at the right time! Finding in Sonic! Who would've thought!

★In the MIDDLE of the week, we got a text from Sister Nebeker, and her and her little family just moved in. She texted us and asked us if we had any open dinner appointments or any lessons she could come to. Seriously our hearts melted! We didn't have any lessons in that ward she could help with, so they had us over for dinner. Then I found out Brother Nebeker served in the same mission as my uncle Cody! I love this family to bits and pieces!

★Brandon is SO AMAZING! He's already on Chapter 11 of the Book of Mormon after 3 days, and we found out his mom Belinda is a member! We had a lesson and it was so powerful that we invited him to be baptized! His goal is February 25th. We are so happy he wants to follow Jesus! Then we had another lesson later in the week. And BRANDON GAVE US HIS CIGARETTES!!! Literally, I told everyone that was my favorite birthday present!

★I sang Comfort in Christ again! This time with Sister Petersen at MLC with Sister Kennison playing the piano. Holy I love that song! And Sister Petersen "died" this transfer (she's going home) so it was awesome to do that together. We had been planning on it since Conway when I was only 4 months out! Dream come true.

Spiritual Thought

Preach My Gospel is the missionary teaching booklet we use to help better prepare to teach our friends. And I've loved it recently! I got a new copy and started going through it, making notes of ways I like to teach things. It's been so fun! In Preach My Gospel it talks about how the Book of Mormon and the Spirit are the most powerful tools in conversion! I have seen this really bless the lives of so many, and at this time, specifically Brandon. I know as we read the Book of Mormon we have given God more of an opportunity to lead us as we submit to His will. I'm so grateful for the Spirit the scriptures offer to all who read. NOW GO READ YOUR SCRIPTURES YALL!!!!🤪

Birthdays

February 5th...This day is the day I gained a best friend for life. Blake and I decided to take our Earthly journey together, and growing up I got to take my best friend with me everywhere! Then we grew up, got baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, made friends, Blake finally grew taller than me at age 16, we got our licenses, got out first jobs, we graduated, we got our mission calls, and now we are HERE. One in South Carolina, one in Mexico. Both serving the Lord as missionaries for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And how wonderful it is! We are 20 years old, our first birthday apart. Blake is the person who has seen me change the most in my life, as well as been the person to most change my life (other than Jesus). Blake is muy intelligente, muy chido, y muy importante a me. (***had to do some Español for my favorite élder). We have a long while apart still, but we are growing closer and closer everyday through Jesus Christ! I love you so much Blake, forever grateful for you! Have the bestest day! Happy birthday twinner! ❤️

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