First Baptism!

Well I am officially done training! And now that I am done training, my trainer has left me to become a Sister Training Leader in Sparks. So hooray. My new companion is Sister Grigley. She is a very good missionary and I can learn a lot from her. So it'll be a good transfer, I hope!

I am still in the Elko 3rd ward! I don't think that I will be here much longer after this transfer. It is funny how members start talking to their extended families about the missionaries. What can I say, we have awesome ward members, who have truly become like family while I am away from my own.

We have a baptism this week!!! Our sweet, little, 9 yr. old investigator, Ryan, has been praying about the Book of Mormon and about baptism. I know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers, it may not be in the way that we expect, or even want, but He does listen! So Ryan told us that Heavenly Father said yes the Book of Mormon is true and that he should be baptized on October 26th. I am speaking at the baptism so I'll let you know how everything goes next week! I am seriously so excited for Ryan! If only all of our investigators could be more like him.

Serving a mission, makes you super emotional, like all the time! I can't ever decide whether I want to laugh or cry. And sometimes I feel like just kicking something. I must be crazy! Speaking of crazy, I now have multiple personality disorder. We role play like everyday so I have to be other people. I just don't know who I am anymore! haha. I hope my hormones/emotions aren't like this when I am married and prego. My poor husband!

I have also become Sister Fellman!!! Seriously the other day we were in the middle of talking with someone, and I caught myself saying something that she would say! I really won't know who I am after these 18 months, cause I will just be a combo of all of my companions! I am like Frankenstein's monster! Just parts of people!! Gah! Well, Happy Halloween to me!

The other day, we were teaching a 75 year old less active named Deeda. We were discussing the plan of salvation and we got to talking about being able to live with our families forever and how the people who have gone before us are around and looking after us, and I just lost it. I started bawling. I could hardly speak, my emotions overwhelmed me so much. I just felt so much emotion and the spirit was just so strong. I think that is one of the best teaching experiences I have had on my mission so far.

Well the next few weeks will be a lot of finding. It seems like we have like zero investigators and after Ryan is baptized this weekend, we will literally have no progression investigators. I pray every night that the hearts of people will be softened and that we will be lead to them!

Seriously mission life is crazy busy and slow all at the same time!! I miss ya'll so much. Can't believe that life still goes on for you all without me! haha! Write ya later!

 

Sister Fish

Still in Elko

The weather is ubber weird. A few weeks ago, it was like winter. Now it has remembered that it is autumn time. Actually yesterday, we had a ton of hail!!! Seriously, I couldn't even see the ground! It was weird! Mostly it has just been cloudy a lot lately and rains whenever it feels like it.

So transfers are this week and the verdict is that I will be staying in Elko for another 6 weeks!! I am also in the same ward which is AWESOME!!! The only downer is that I am getting a new companion! Sister Fellman is headed to sparks to become a Sister Training Leader!!! I will miss her a lot! Changing companions is ubber odd! Hey so random question?! I am trying to remember how to sign "Monster Mash" (the song) could you maybe type up the lyrics and email them to me!? I sure would appreciate it!

That is so funny that you asked about primary, because we actually had to teach the primary about this this last sunday!!! So ideas on how they can share the gospel....

1. be an example

2. don't be afraid to read the book of mormon or like the book of mormon stories books for silent reading at school

3. know your articles of faith so you can tell people who ask, what you believe!

4. invite friends to primary, primary activities, scouts, ward activities, or even family home evening

5. also invite friends to your baptism or your siblings baptism

6. if the gospel is something you love or is important to you and you are asked in class to write on what you love, don't be afraid to write about the gospel and Jesus Christ

7. wear your CTR ring always!!

8. you could even give a friend a pass along card with a picture of christ on it or a book of mormon with your testimony in it as a gift!!

That's really all I can think of right now, but I hope that gets your juices flowing too so you can think of other ways for them to share the gospel!!

Funny story, this morning, one of our investigators predicted my future!! She was a bit tipsy and told sister Fellman and I about the men we are going to marry! It was pretty hilarious!!

Love always!!

Sister Fish

Only in Nevada can you go to a bowling alley on your p-day and just around the corner are the legal brothels!!!!

Last Week in Elko?

To my dearest family and friends....

Well things have been rough to say the least. I have come to understand when everyone tells you that these 18 months will be the hardest of a persons life. A mission just tries you in so many ways, but I know that I will grow and learn so much more than I ever could at home! The Lord blesses us in our righteous endeavors!

I loved conference!!!! Oh my goodness it was so good. I felt like everyone was just speaking directly to me which just reminded me how much the Lord loves each of His children! It is just too hard to pick a favorite talk because each had something that I needed to be reminded of! We watched both sessions on Saturday with members. The morning was with a 60 year old less active. Florence is never afraid to tell you just what she thinks, that's for sure!! And then the afternoon session, we watched at the Halls and they are a sweet old couple in their 80s. Then we watched the Sunday sessions at the stake center. Dressing up for conference was kind of weird, no pjs for us!

It seems like a lot of our investigators or potential investigators are kind of fizzling out on us. No one will return our phone calls or whenever we go over they are "busy" (whether they really are busy is still a mystery). So it has been one of those weeks. Next week, we will put a lot of effort into finding, that'll be fun! We asked our 84 year old potential, Edie if she wanted to learn more, but she just flat out said no. It was heartbreaking, especially since she already knows so much about the church and get this, she watches conference every year!!!!!! Every 6 months, she has conference on the tele!! She said she loves the messages! It was pretty frustrating and sad and sad! We'll keep visiting her though cause we just love her tiny self so stinkin' much!

Then Thursday, we were inside for most of the day cause Sister Fellman's eyes and face were so swollen and puffy. She tried sleeping it off most of the day, while I had to try to find ways to keep myself busy. We think she had an allergic reaction to this new face lotion that she bought because her skin was also red and itchy! Yeah, I hate being in a basement all day. It really makes one grateful for the sunshine!!!

The Relief Society activity for the month was about safety! Brother Hessing, (he's a police officer) came and shared with the women some tips on how to keep safe in parking lots, when out jogging, at night, etc. It was actually pretty interesting! It was super funny though, because every time a scenario was brought up, it involved Walmart. So watch out guys, Walmart is a super sketchy place, at least in Elko! Haha!

Transfer calls are this week! That'll be weird and next transfer, I am no longer being trained, which means the chance of me getting a new companion is higher! Sad thought! Sister Fellman has seriously taught me so much and she is just an awesome missionary! I love her guts!

Not much else happened this week, it's been a slow one!! I hope to hear from ya'll soon and like the apostles told us, don't be afraid to be a missionary even without a badge!!

Love and miss ya'll!!

Sister Fish