From Sydney

Last week is over and the new week started terrival! hahaha. Man. Yesterday, Sister Fui wanted me to talk to a woman in our ward who isn't a member but her husband and children are, and ask if we could visit her, and something was stopping me. I just couldn't do it. But Sister Fui keeps pressuring me to do things, I need to be bolder, so I just walked up to her as she was talking with the Bishops wife and like someone with terrets, yelled:

Can we meet with you?

And the Bishops wife was like:

Sure!

And I was like:

 Uhhhhh....Can we meet with both of you on? On different days? Sometime this week?

And you could tell that this woman did not want to meet with us. But Sister Fui came and continued the conversation (Thank goodness, because I am not smooth whatsoever), and the only day we could visit her was on Monday-our PDay, so we already met with her! It went loverly. Let's just say she is upset that her boys were baptized, and she really wants nothing to do with the church (except to come with her boys to support them somewhat). And I seriously felt the Spirit tell not to say anything church related. It was the weirdest thing. And Sister Fui went with the game plan and it really backfired. I felt so bad for her, because the Spirit was seriously telling me that it wasn't her time, and I was being silent and only talked to the lady when it wasn't gospel related. I just kept thinking: Let her come to us. But yeaaaahhh. All a learning experience, right? Timing is everything. And her dad gave her antimormon things to read when she was younger, so it happens!

 

But the week before went pretty well! I fasted alot this week for new investigators, and it went awesomly! We got a hold of our old investigator, Judy! We knocked on her door and she let us in like we were best friends! She was so nice to us, but it was like a repeat of the last lesson (look at previous emails for information because seriously same exact thing). And we thought she wasn't going to invite us back, but she told us "when you girls come back next week". We were so shocked! And she said she would read and fast. Nice.

 

We also have an appointment with a former investigator named Carolyn. Let's just say Book Keeping does not mean keeping books! Que embarrasing my friends.

 

And then there is this woman in our ward that hasn't been baptized but goes to church who really wants to meet with us (even though the way she ran from us on Sunday shows otherwise). But we are going to meet with her Friday.

 

And we went contacting, and a lot of creepy people kept coming up to us and asking things about me. I had my scripture case ready to swing upwards, just incase. Haha. This guy named Tye wanted to meet with us, and he was just totes weird. We are sicking the Elders on him:)

 

Fasting really does work.We are slowly but surely getting people to teach. I have learned on my mission, that the Lord does give us miracles, but we have to work. We have to believe too that it is possible.

 

I wish I had more to write you! That was the only thrilling stuff that happened.

 

I guess I just want y'all to know that I know Heavenly Father loves us. I know he has a plan for us. I know that he leads our descions if we seek His help, and that he shapes us. I don't know what kind of person I will be after my mission, but I know I will be shaped for the better. And hopefully I become a better teacher and companion quick! I want to support Sister Fui the best I can. I am imperfect, but I know that through Preach My Gospel and Studying the sciptures, the Savior will supply the knowledge I need to be a better companion and teacher. I love being a missionary! It's hard sometimes, but it is so rewarding. I love y'all! Hope you are reading your scriptures and talking to everyone!

 

Love,

Sister Powell

From Alex

Hello People that I love :)

I didnt get to email... Im still in the good USA. hahaha It made me sad not to email because the only thing I like about Pdays is emailing. Laundry can die... Its when I do laundry that I wish I was a witch. Id be of age now so I could do alll the magic I want. Bt atlas. I am a muggle. hahaha

 

Its been a week fulll of lookups. We had the oppurtunity to go to south Jamaica this last week. In the words of Carrie "It was FABULOUS!" haha We met a nice lady though who lived in a members old apartment named Alison. She was so nice and made the trip so worth it :) I love that I have the privildge to meet so many of Gods Children.

 

We also ran into a guy this week that I met on the bus with Sister Hererra. We sat next to a guy who had a beard like Brad Pitts (His name is anothony) Well I didnt have a lot of time to talk to him so I gave him a pass a long card. I thought Id never see him again BUT! we did :) We were eating in the Jamacain Market when guess who sat by us :) Anothony! It was so exciting.

 

I went on exchanges this week with a sister named Sister Lee. I love her so much! And learned so much from her. She has such an amazing spirit and is such an example to me. One thing I learded from her is that I promised God that I would serve a mission in the Premortal Life. SHe also taught me to pray more. This is Gods work so I should always have him involved. We had an appt with a guy named nick. Who is so ready to get baptised. The Lord has prepared him his whole life. It was an awesome experience.

 

Sister Sandberg was there as well! I love seeing my MTC district randomly :) It makes me happy! She is from San Hose where Sydney is at!! So she was telling me all about the area :) It made me happy.

 

It was a good. week. I cant believe that I am on the last week of this transfer. Its so crazy! Who knows where I will be next week :) I love you all so much!

 

Some quotes I loved from personal study this week are these :)

 

"You are here at this time not by chance but as part of an eternal plan--- desugned, agreed upon, and implemented before the earth was ever created."

 

"Life is hard, but with God it is possible"

 

Remember to trust in the Lord.

 

Sister Powell

From Sydney

So. Apparantly nothing happened Monday. Actually, I am positive nothing happened monday. Haha. And that is the way of life it appears.

 

Tuesday, we recieved a new INVESTIGATOR!!! YAYA!!! I have already talked about her, and I probably already mentioned her in my other emails, but her name is Miranda. Her mom is a member, and she had to wait till she was 18 to join. She has had several baptism dates, but talking to her, it seems like missionaries just thought she was an easy baptism. She wants to be baptized, but she has never read the Book of Mormon, except in seminary, she goes to church to please her mom, and she has never really had a spiritual experience. So, Sister Fui and I are going to help her become converted. Miranda is so awesome, and Sister Fui and I just love our only investigator so much. And yes, I said only.

 

I have no idea what happened on Wednesday, I forgot to bring my journal with me. I do know that we visited a lot of old people. Haha. OH! We visited with Clara Schueler once again, and we sang to her. She is 98 and has seen a lot (even though she is blind now). But it is so cool to ask her questions. We also visited with Betty Ryan, who is 94, and who is still driving around. She is so funny, and wants to feed us at every resturant in Livermore. I am not complaining.

 

We have also been to so many funerals this week. I love them though, even though they are so sad. They are so pretty and they are all about the atonement and the plan of salvation, and how God is loving. I love how peaceful the gospel is. And I have yet to see the parents, or the wife,cry at funerals. They know that they will see their family again.

 

Thursday was a good day. We had interviews with President Watkins and we had to say some talks to Sister Watkins. They are so amazing. Being around them makes me realize how the Lord really does call His servants. They have such a hard job, but they love so much. And not only that, they have personal things to worry about. They are the most selfless people I have ever met. In my interview with President Watkins, he kept asking me over and over if there was anyting he could do for me. He is super funny too. Apparantly he loves Louisiana Food and Motorcycles. Haha.

 

Friday was a sad day. We went to teach Joe, once an investigator, about he Plan of Salvation. He lives in a love triangle. His wife and her boyfriend live together. I love them, but it really is hard for the spirit to dwell in a situation like that. It is the first time in my mission, other than in spanish, I honestly had nothing to say. Worst, we were there way too long. Sister Fui said she didn't feel the spirit leave at an hour, but he was gone. I kept trying to make us leave, but nope. And, of course the boyfriend and wife had to start arguing. It twas terrible. And then he said goodbye. And he believes in the gospel, he just doesn't want to change.

 

I learned in that lesson, that I needed to change too. I need to be so obedient. It doesn't matter if I am being the only one obedient. We are having such a hard time finding people to teach, but I believe it is only when we are obedient in everything that we will find people to teach. I also learned I really need to know preach my gospel. So I am going to study that bugger like my life depends on it. I love the scripture in Alma 17:2-3 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer and fasting; therefore they the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.

 

I have fasted so much. I need to work on my knowledge and praying though. Sometimes I get frustrated when I pray in Portuguese.

 

I have felt the spirit on my mission. I recognize times when the spirit has taught through me. It's the most amazing experience. I have also seen times where I have been prompted to visit someone. Like this week, I was prompted to visit Sister Lloyd, she didn't answer the door even though she was there, but I found out later that her dad died that day. I was prompted to go there, but it is up to people to open the door, and it is up to me to be perfectly obedient and a worthy instrument.

 

I love being here in Livermore, California. I love the people I am serving, my uno investigator, and I love my Mission President. I especially love Sister Fui. She is an amazing missionary who is helping me learn so much. She is awesome! I love her and her jokes. We have so much fun even though we annoy the snot out of each other. Haha.

 

President Watkins told me Brazil is going to be my mission, and I am going to get there eventually. But he said I am where the Lord needs me. Sometimes I just wish that the Lord would just send me to Brazil, but I do know at this time, this is where I am needed. I love this Mission. I love y'all!

 

Read your scriptures and pray always! The Lord loves you!

 

Love,

 

Sister Powell