OKAY,
CRAZIEST WEEK OF MY WHOLE MISSION!!
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The Assisters Sister King and Sister Holmstead December 2016 |
The only way to describe
the madness is to say that Sister Holmstead and I are essentially APs, we are
called “the assisters” as we finish out our missions! We are technically
assigned to Bakersfield 5th (the APs ward), work wherever we want, go on
exchanges with whomever we want, have unlimited miles, access to all
missionaries, and go to church in Berkshire, my old ward! AND, Holmstead and I
came out together and we're headed home together!!
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The Assisters Sister King and Sister Holmstead December 2016
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The week starts off with
our departing dinner and evening with the mission president and wife. It was
way nice because while everyone ELSE there was freaking out because they were
going home the next day, we just renewed our fire to go out and CONQUER THE
WORLD our final 2 weeks! It was a really nice evening and we were reflecting on
what we've all learned during our missions. As if I could casually write it
down... BUT, I will say that I have come to feel the hope that springs from
faith in the Savior. All the problems of life seem so small when I remember
that all things are done with the wisdom of Him who created us, and all the
trials we experience here will be but a small moment.
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Button Willow, 25 miles outside of Bakersfield "demon dogs" December 2016 |
Okay, so we start off
working in the Snow ward for a few days. I served there for a transfer at the
start of my mission so it was so fun to be back!! We were able to find some
cool people to teach and we were in a trio with Sister Carter! One of the
missionaries serving there is sick so while she was prepping to go home we were
with the missionary who will replace her. It was SO FUN to see all the people I
got to work with, and it was awesome to get to introduce them to their new
missionary :D So part of the Snow ward is this little town called Buttonwillow
like 25 miles outside of Bakersfield. It’s about 5 streets, 1000 people, one
school, 2 stores and a few truck stops. We went there to tract a bit (and met
some AWESOME people!). We ended up at the
public library, and we talked with the librarian who invited us to come carol there
a few days later!! When we go back, all the kids there were NOT having it, but
the adults seemed to enjoy it! While we were leaving, thinking nothing of the
situation, we talked with the librarian again and described our roles as
missionaries a bit more. She said she was interested in our message and wanted
to learn more! So caroling DOES bring miracles!
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Button Willow, 25 miles outside of Bakersfield December 2016 |
We visited a less active
member and a part member family I worked with when I was there a year ago. They
had no interest in coming to church but still loved the missionaries, so we
decided to go see them again. HOWEVER, when we were talking with them, one of
them who is not even a member, she started reeeally opening up, more than
before. When we were leaving she told us to not give up on her, that she really
does want to know if this church is true and she’s ready to discuss some of the
things holding her back!! WHAT?! It’s so cool to see how her heart has softened
over time!
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Berkshire, CA
Sisters Holmstead and King
December 2016
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Also, for zone training
meeting, the zone leaders gave us an overview of the role play for the meeting
and asked US to run it and lead a discussion. So, even though we're just
floaters, we still had to present a training, it shall never end, haha. But
afterwards we worked in an area that has been struggling in finding people to
teach. It was a miracle. On one street we got 4 referrals, 2 potential
investigators, met the kindest old man who has a strong testimony of missionary
work and this one door we knocked on had a kid who SCREAMED, said he didn’t
have time to talk right then but gave us his number and begged us to come back
:D Also, one 4 year old gave me 5 pieces
of candy for being a "good listener."
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Baptism, Berkshire Ward December 2016 |
On Saturday i got to go
out with one of my trainees and we explored the farms on the outskirts of Bakersfield.
Afterwards I got to go to a baptismal service for Berkshire and 3 people got
baptized!! Afterwards we visited a family I had taught when I served there
before and it was hilarious!! the 7 year old is getting ready to be baptized
and his 2 sisters just turn to him and go "hey, you need an attitude check
before you can get baptized. If you don’t shape up, you’ll be OUR age when you
get baptized!" I was dying. They’re so funny. I also got to see another
girl the elders worked with but whom I was close with. She has been struggling
and had made some mistakes since her baptism, but we were able to testify of
God’s love and the power of repentance. I know that God knows every part of
ourselves that we don’t want to show anyone else, and loves us still. I know
that he’s been in every dark place we have and he is willing to lift us out of
our hard times. I am so grateful for this gospel and the power Christ gives us
to change!
This week shall be full
of MORE MIRACLES, I cannot wait, we are ending this adventure on the highest of
notes :D I. LOVE. THE. LORD. And all of
you. Have a great week!
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