Wednesday, August 14, 2013

From Alex

This week was quite the week! I have so much I need to work on. I want to be the best I can possibly be. We had a trainer trainee meeting this week. It was way awesome. President Calderwood (the mission president) is such an inspired man. His testimony makes mine stronger.
 
We got our air condition after trainer meeting! Wonderful moment :) It is so hot it NYC! But im sure its is cool compared to Brazil. We had another miracle walk into the church this week. Her name is Amaris. We gave her a church tour. She is so sad. I just wwant to give her all my knowledge so she can be happy. Hopefully we can teach her.
 
Sister Gonzalez had he departing missionary temple trip this week. So I went on an exchange with Sister Mortenson and Sister Price. It was awesome! We had a music sweep and it was cool being in an area with homes! Mine only has apartments. I love homes :)
 
We had service this week and sister Mann was there! I love her so much. SHe makes me happy :) It made my week seeing her.
 
We had ward conference yesterday. The stake pres is so bold it is fantastic. He basically told the ward "Get over yourselves." hahaha
 
We also did ward look ups this week. Yesterday we walked so much. No one lives where they say they live. It is fantastic. At least we are getting the ward directory ready for those that will come in next.
 
I read a cool talk about using the atonement in everything we do. When we testify, give a talk, or teach it should all be geared back to the Atonement. This is because everyone on earth once had a testimony of Jesus Christ. When we speak of the Savior we trigger a memory and they are drawn to it.
 
Well I love you so much! You are all so amazing.
 
Mary-Catherine, Whitney, and Elaine. Yall should all write me and telll me how things are! I love you all!
 
Sister Powell

From Sydney

So this week has been a week of trying and trying and pretty much failing. Hhaha
 
It's been awesome though. I have found that failure isn't as bad as it used to be. And I really didn't fail, I tried pretty dang hard and just reached something else. Right? I don't not what, but something or the other. And now I am rambling.
 
First off in this lovely email, I want to start of a list of things I have learned on my mission. There have been many things and I have decided I am going to compile a list of things that I have learned:
 
1- 90% of the things I want to do, is not the Lord's will.
2- Turning my heart towards the Lord's will really hurts.
3- Turning your will to the Lord's brings a lot of blessings.
4- Miracles really do exist.
5- This is clearly not my mission- every moment of my mission is the Lord's.
6- Don't allow someone who is on a new lifestyle to buy fast food (your money will be gone)
7- I still hate hot dogs
8- I am allergic to an unknown substance
9- I think it might be nuts or soy -I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER THOUGH!!!
10- (This number I will emit from my families eyes. Sssshhoorrry!)
11- Never answer the phone to your Mission President unprofessionally. Not pro. YIKES!
12- I look like a Victoria Secret Model
13- I am the weakest person I know. I need to rely on the Lord always. He is my strength!
14- Don't make best friends with the Bishop. Or anyone. I also shouldn't wear my hair down. Girls hate me for things that I really don't understand.
15- I am super forgetful
16- I need to watch what I say.
17- I should be on TLC helping Hoarders
18- Never help a Hoarder move.
19- Heavenly Father qualifies and helps his missionaries do everything especially love automatically.
20- Jesus Christ is central to everything.
21- I am pretty sure our family was on the focus 15
22- I am the female version of Lehi.
23- I need the Spirit every moment
24- I know my Savior is my best friend.
25- Old Ladies love the song Count Your Many Blessings
26- Sister Fuimanono takes forever in the Bathroom. She shouldn't eat otterpops.
27- Mary Catherine Zachary should marry a Samoan- they are exactly like her and hate dogs.
28- Perfect obedience is vital
 
I stopped my list right there, but there is a whole lot more.
 
Last week we were with a Sister Training Leader. Sister Johnson was so funny. We found this man who promised us he would come to church. He promised he said. So I am going to watch out for him. Everyone we visited that day, did not answer, except for Clara Shueler who is 98 and can't go anywhere and Betty Ryan who is 94 and also can't go anywhere. I really do love old ladies though. They are so cute!
 
Tuesday we helped a hoarder named Cheryl Gray move. We have been helping her for a couple weeks, but I was getting sick of her keeping everything. I went in my acting mode and I pretended I knew how to reason with a hoarder.
 
"Cheryl, I know it is sad, but you have to get rid of this."
"Cheryl, you are moving to a smaller place, you have to give 70 percent of your stuff. I know it is sad, but you need to."
"Okay, out of all these ear rings, you can only keep one. I know, I know, but these would sale really nicely at a garage sale."
"No one uses those anymore, I don't even think they make batteries for those."
"Girlfriend, that isn't even in style anymore."
 
By the time it was over, she was all excited about getting rid of things. It was a party!
 
Wednesday was Zone Training Meeting, and I had to bare my testimony. I have born my testimony so many times. I love it, but dang, people need to stop picking on me;) We visited so many people on Wednesday, and no one answered us.  And Cheryl fired us cause we knew to much about her and she wanted to live her own life. Man. Failure! We tried so hard, that we were so emotionally drained.
 
Thursday, we went and visited all these people that Salt Lake threw at us and they all moved or never existed. And we got a new investigator! I probably described him before, but his name is Joe and he has this issue that he just doesn't want to change. I keep praying and fasting for him. I read in the Book of Mormon about Amulek and Alma. Amulek was this man that was all set in his ways even though he knew the gospel, and then an angel appeared to him. And he changed. Joe needs one of those experiences. His wife told us: good luck! Better ones than you have tried and failed.
She obviosly does not know Sister Powell and Sister Fui and the power of having the Spirit as your companion!!! WOOHOO!.
 
Friday we yelled at an old woman. Well, sort of. She just couldn't hear us and she was really far away. The whole neighborhood could hear us except for her. Haha. And then an old lady slammed the door in our faces. It's alright, they all are a tiny bit crazy.
 
Sunday we went on splits with this young married girl named Sister Light. It was so funny because everyone we visited wasn't there. Go figure. Haha. Story of our LIVES!
 
We went contacting that day and I was just so fearless. I was just walking through huge crowds offering mormon.org cards to everyone. They all take the card thinking I am twelve. It's really funny. And they all look at me strangely. But it's best to embrace the awkward.
 
Sister Omdahls husband finally passed after having no food for 22 days. She has handled it so well. She had been feeling so alone and hurt, but after her husband died, she said she was surrounded by peace and she was happy, because she knew he was in a better place. I love that we know the Plan of Happiness. Heavenly Father isn't hiding his plan or purpose for us. He loves us so much and lets us know that we can be with our familes again and we will see them! I love Him so much. I love our purpose!
 
I love y'all so much and I pray for you always! I hope y'all have an awesome week. Don't forget to pray and read your scriptures!
 
Love,
 
Sister Powell

From Alex

What a week!! So good/sad/all other emotions. haha Its amazing the different emotions you can feel during one week of your mission. I GOT YOU PACKAGE!! Horrah for packages :) It made me so so so so so so so so happy!! Thank you everryone so much!
 
We had an awesome adventure this week of trying to find Carmelles home. We might have been lost... haha BUT we found her apartment.. BUT she wasnt home so we heart attacked her door and she contacted us again! YAY!
 
We went to sheharas home this week. It was good! Her 80 year old grandma is in love with me. She kissed my hand for a good minute and said was an angel :) It was so cute! haha I gave the workshop at ZTM this week. It was about enduring to the end. I think it went well. It didnt go at all as planned but hopefully I said something good.
 
Sister Hererra got her visa this week :( (for me) :) (for her) haha Im going to miss her so much! She was my angel her in Jamaica. But I know that these next three weeks with Sister Gonzalez are going to be amazing. I know it.
 
We taught a lady named Angela this week. It was amazing. The spirit was so strong. SHe is really sad but I know that the Gospel will bring her the happiness that she needs.
 
I had a President interview this week. It was amazing. I know why I am here in Jamaica, NY. I can do what the Lord needs me to do. For now this is where the Lord called me. We are called as missionaries and only assigned to areas.
 
I did exchanges with Sister Chipman this week. It was such a good day! I learned so much from her! We went and saw a lady named Millicent. She is 87 and Im pretty sure she is not all there. She was so sweet though! She blessed my me and my children and their children and their children because we gave her a BOM. She started crying because she was so happy. She is in a care center and is so loving. She kept on squeezing my arms and saying "Eat more! You look so young!" haha
 
Its been a hot week. We had to take our air condition unit out. So basically we are on the top floor with no air condition dying... lol its fun though!!! We had a water fight! hahaha
 
 
I have learned a lot this week. On thing I have learned is that Obedience should always be done with an obedient heart or you will never change. I read an awesome talk called the fourth missionary. Here are some quotes :)
 
 
"Every challenge you face, every hard thing you confront, every bad thing that happenes to you, every unfairness, every conflict, every sadness, tragedy, every disappointment and heartache, every temptation and every opposition happens for one purpose: to give you opportunity to repond by applying in your life the teachings of Jesus. As you do you are changed to become like Him"
 
Something cool that he said is That you make who you are and only you can change you.
 
I am so happy :) I want to be who the Lord wants me to be!
I love you guys so so much! Stay strong and know God loves you!
Love Sister Powell