We were in a lesson with Katy this week, and told her we'd take some time to answer her questions about the Book of Mormon (since she's reading it cover to cover.....whaaaaaat:). She immediately whipped out her Mickey Mouse notebook with, "Alright.....let's see......ok first
question: What's a 'seraphim'???'"
o_O
Well THAT escalated quickly......
yea........didn't see that one coming but apparently I was actually paying attention in seminary three years ago when we covered 2 Nephi 16 cause we pulled out an answer from somewhere, and Katy was satisfied. John 14:26.....it's a real thing.
"Ok.....next question: What's the 'Millennial Day'??"
Geez laweez girllll.
Luckily, her 15 year-old fellowshipper (member) came to the
rescue after we’d tried to explain that it was related to Christ’ 2ndComing,
a thousand years, no Satan, and all that jazz by saying,
“Basically, Katy….not to be a downer….but you’re
probably not even going to be alive for it so…..it’s not really that
important.”
She’s gotta point.
hahaha! Every lesson with them is sporadic, hyper,
tangent-crazed, hysterical, and somehow way deep into doctrine……and weLOVE it;)
teaching teenagers is a joy <3 and katy is reading her scriptures and
attending seminary daily, coming to church, and actively forging her testimony!
It’s incredible to watch!!
Later this week, we were at the library, messaging our
investigators and blogging away, when the lady across the counter from me leans
over and says, “I thought you’d just like to know that there’s a guy
here who’s stalking you.”
I’m sorry…..what???
She continues to go on to describe him, telling me that he just
left the computer area, but that for the entire time since we got there, he’d
been spying on me from across the room. I’m officially freaked out
now. And then she has to go and say…..“I have two
daughters…..so I know a stalker when I see one…..watch your back.”
*nervous laughs silence blink
blink “ok thanks” *
……..honestly I had NO idea what to say or do….so instead we just
wrapped up quick and then played “Where in the library is Carmen
Sandiego?” trying to avoid a guy in “a blue hoodie with dark hair
and black eyes”…..
We haven’t spotted him yet….but we’re staying on the lookout for
suspicious characters. Ah……#sismishlife
We got a referral a week or so ago that we’ve been trying to
contact via phone for a while now, and we finally decided to stop by. The
background info indicated that the referral’s dad had referred him. So we hit
the road determined to find this referral and we ended up driving for about 10
minutes until we finally reached the address:
A GRAVEYARD
Now that’s just mean.
I was just waiting for some candid camera crew to come running
out of the bushes and for us to turn into the next youtube episode…..BUT….they
didn’t. Darn it. Instead, I turned to sis Carroll with, “Maybe we
should’ve contacted him sooner???”hahaha! Guess he’ll end up as a family
history referral;)
This week, I swear, the e.n.t.i.r.e. ward and all of our
investigators have decided to move. Ok not really….but one after another we
keep being told that everyone and their dog needs help packing, moving, and
unpacking. We’re LOVING the opportunities to serve and have become experts in
tape gunning and dish wrapping;) Luckily….most of the people moving are just
relocating in the area, but there are some (namely James!!) that are
moving for good and it’s gonna be SO hard to say goodbye.
I hate goodbyes:/
Anyways…..we also got the chance as a district to caravan to
different members and investigators houses this week to offer to rake their
leaves and mow their lawns. We got to help out an investigator of ours who’s
recently been through some family tragedies and it was b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l. to
see the difference that we made in her life! Ah! It’s indescribable the
satisfaction that we get to enjoy as missionaries as we get to go out and make
a difference in people’s lives EVERY DAY. #cantcompare #thepowerisreal
The other service we got involved in this week was at a
community recycling event. We get there, pull on gloves and reflective vests,
and then get stationed at a table where a woman instructs us, “Ok…..so we need
you two girls to count all the wine corks that get donated.”
Uhhhhhhh……can we do that???
Apparently we didn’t have a choice. So as the cars started
rolling in and donations started getting dropped off, we went to town tallying
every. single. cork. that got donated.
get on our level
By the end of the day, we had over 1,600 corks we’d individually
counted….and our hands smelled NASTY. What was weird was seeing these little
old ladies handing over bags and boxes FULL of corks. Grandma…….easy
does it;) haha! We enjoyed getting the community image though, and at
the end, the event coordinator spilled her life history about how she dated a
Mormon in HS, and how she went to his farewell, and how they never actually
ended up together, but he’s “still very Mormon and very married.”
Yep….sounds about right…..that’s how we do it:)
AND speaking of Mormons…….. on Wednesday we got a special
pre-screening of
-------- MEET THE MORMONS! -------
I can honestly say it’s the >BEST< movie I’ve seen in the past year….oh wait…..it’s the <only> movie I’ve seen in the past year…..hahaha.
SOML. It's probably the only time missionaries have been allowed to watch a legit showing-in-theaters movie.......YOLO. watching it somehow felt slightly (very slightly:) wrong but oh so good...
And it was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!
……basically…..
I’m part of the THE
coolest church EVER.
We got to watch it as a zone and you could totally tell by who
laughed at the South Park reference who actually got it;) haha! By the end, I
was BAWLING though!! AH!! Moms are legit. So are missionaries<3.
Sitting there watching this full-length movie produced by the church and being
shown across the country….I couldn’t help but sit back amazed. ALL of it was
incredible, so well done, and honestly informative. It was a strong reminder to
me that the God of Israel leads this church.
It’s not the prophet.
It’s not
elected leaders.
It’s not highly-educated individuals.
It’s not Joseph Smith.
It’s not any earthly person.
God himself leads this church.
He directs it’s affairs through those He inspires and calls, and He is the One who
is hastening His work to find those who will receive Him.
I get to be a part of that!
I was struck by the simpleness of each of the “Mormon’s”
testimony…..we’re just ordinary people trying to follow the example of Jesus
Christ, to be more like Him, and we’re just “perfect in one thing:
trying to be perfect.”
That’s all God expects of us. And with the restored gospel of
Jesus Christ available on the earth today, we can come closer to reaching that
potential than by any other way! I’m BEYOND grateful for that knowledge! For
the path that I’ve found through the teachings and doctrines of Christ, I will
FOREVER be grateful!
Onward and upward,
Sister Anna Parker
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| hecka nasty......yea me too #nomakeup #ijustwannashower |
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| we figured he'd eventually die in there if we taped the top off.......YES.....we are whimps. #suchgirls |
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| ally wanted to match me on Sunday so she went and bought my exact same outfit online.......freaking. love. that. girl:) #practicallysisters #lovemyinvestigators |
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