October 19, 2015

Wow, what a week!

I had to say goodbye to Sister Liebelt on Tuesday and that was just extremely hard. But I know she's going to be an amazing Sister Training Leader in Palmdale and will continue to hasten the work!

My new companion is fresh outta the MTC and she's AMAZING! Her name is Sister Brenna Wheeler and she's from Alaska, although her family lives in Florida now! She's very grateful she went to the beautiful and cool area of Bishop and not Bakes. We're all grateful, actually. But she went to BYU for 3 years before coming out, so she's already 21, 2 years older than I am. And I'm "training" her. HA. She came pre-trained, she's already a pro! I just love her, she's so loving and kind and hard-working and has such passion of this work and for the gospel. Heavenly Father continually pours His blessings upon us.  Sister Wheeler sounds just like Kylie though. We were driving back from Bakersfield and I was looking at the road and I legit thought it was Ky next to me, madness.

Elder Thunhorst, Elder Vakalahi, Sister King, Sister Wheeler,
Bakersfield, CA, October 2015

Sister Wheeler, Sister King, Sister Liebelt, 
Bakersfield, CA, October 2015

DDAAANG!! That’s madness about the mudslides.  Yeah, we got texts warning us about flash flooding and mudslides, we knew the highway was shut down, but I didn’t know it was THAT bad!!  There’s no flooding in Bishop, it's been super nice because it’s been raining in the mornings, but it’s all dry by the afternoon.

I’m in Mammoth today, we had the most EPIC snowball fight that lasted the whole hike, it was warm enough so that we weren’t cold but there was still snow. So good.

Elder Vakalahi, Elder Thunhorst,
Sister Wheeler, Sister King
Mammoth Lake, CA, October 2015

Sister King, Sister Wheeler,
Mammoth Lake, CA, October 2015

Sister Wheeler, Sister King
Mammoth Lake, CA, October 2015

Sister King, Sister Wheeler
Mammoth Lake, CA, October 2015

Mammoth Lake, CA, October 2015

We picked up 2 new investigators this week, and we've been trying to get them for a while! One is Isaiah and he has a wife and young daughter. He came to the lesson with a list of questions he had and took notes, I felt like a teacher giving a lecture. But he was super into it! The other one is Mike and he's just the coolest guy. He's seen us walking around and asked us about what we're doing. He says he's been looking for a church and accepted a Book of Mormon and has been reading it for the last little bit! We finally got the chance to sit down with him this week and he said what strikes him the most is the passion and fire we have for this gospel. I guess it doesn't come to my mind that often, but sometimes we get loud and excited during lessons because IT'S JUST SO DANG COOL! This gospel isn't just true but it is so stinking interesting. Not only that, but we've been talking to a few former investigators of ours and they said they want to start meeting with us again and learning more. It's so amazing to see the Spirit work in others’ lives, and I'm so lucky to have this opportunity to help others draw closer to Christ!

Every year, the city of Bishop throws a Trunk or Treat and has the missionaries help out and judge the cars and costumes! It was so much fun, and we got to see a lot of people in the community and I felt like Leslie Knope (from Parks and Rec), trying to make sure everything runs smoothly.  

 Elder Thunhorst, Elder Vakalahi,
Sister Wheeler, Sister King
Trunk or Treat Judges, Bishop, CA, October 2015

Sister Wheeler, Sister King
Trunk or Treat Judges,
Bishop, CA, October 2015

 Leslie Knope, Assistant Director,
Pawnee Indiana Parks and Recreation Department,
Sister Allie King's inspiration for the Trunk or Treat judging 

We visited a TON of less actives this week, but I'd say my favorite would be Betty, who happens to be the sassiest old woman in the world. She lives in the care center right now and was making all these faces and sly comments under her breathe, her body aged but her mind is still as sharp as ever!

One of the biggest things I've learned this week is how crucial it is to have a firm understanding of the Plan of Salvation, because THAT is what shapes our actions. Elder Hale (I believe it was him) had an amazing article on that in the Ensign and it fits so well with missionary work! We're going out helping people understand who they are, why they're here and where they're going so that they can have the ability to choose accordingly and see the blessings that can come in this life and the life to come! How grateful I am for a loving Heavenly Father and a merciful Savior who gave everything for us. I'm sooo excited for this coming week to see what other miracles the Lord has in store for us! WE HAVE DOUBLE GREENIE FIRE!!

Sister Allie King