Monday, August 29, 2011
Dear Family,
We had some really exciting things go on this week:)) We had our zone conference and Elder Robbins, from the seventy, was there and he is an amazing man. President Collins and him have been friends for a long time I guess and the two of them together in a room, it's just a powerhouse. He has amazing insight and I walked out feeling so motivated to do the things that he helped us with. He told us to do something in our personal study that will help our testimonies of music grow. He asked us to go to the front our hymnals and find all the blessings and promises that come with music. I did it yesterday and it's amazing how much music can really penetrate deep in our hearts. I have started to try and memorize my favorite hymn, 'Abide with me, Tis Eventide' and study the scriptures associated with that hymn during my breaks. The song means even more to me now. We also had a fun service opportunity, we got to volunteer with the special olympics!!! My whole zone came and we had a blast interacting with these families and their children. It was so fun, because we got to cheer them on in their softball games, and then Sister Sneed and I and two other sisters helped give out awards. That was the best, because they were so excited to get a medal and we would have little ceremonies to give them their medals. I was handing out medals to one of the teams and this girl just started crying because she was so happy and so I gave her a hug and she just continued to cry but it was a really sweet moment.
We had a little tender mercy happen yesterday at church. Sister Sneed and I have been asking for referrals and helping the members do missionary work at our dinner appointments and yesterday a girl that we had dinner with a couple of days ago, brought a friend to church and we were so excited. Her friend is interested and really enjoyed church, and he wants to meet with us and it was a little miracle that I really needed. The branch is doing so awesome at helping us out and they want to do what they can for us and the vibe in the branch is so different, and I love it!!!!
Sister Sneed and I have been spending a lot of time on campus lately and have had some success with that, but we want to get on campus more and more. We got some good ideas from Elder Ketch, because he and his companion came to have companionship study with us. (It's a new thing that President is doing with new trainers) We were able to practice some different ways to approach and what to say to people and so we are going to try it out:)
The weather is beautiful right now and I can smell Fall in the air and I can't wait. Everybody I talk to just raves about Fall here in Indiana so I'm excited. Thank you so much for the birthday package, it made my heart smile!!! I love you all and you are in my prayers every day:)
Monday, August 22, 2011
Dear Family & Friends,
Interviews definitely were an answer to my prayers and I'm just trying to take everything a day at a time. I love being able to talk with Sister Collins and with President. I felt so much more confident in my work and in myself afterwards. Sister Sneed is doing well and I am so proud of the desire that she has to be a good missionary and fulfill her purpose. We have had some great experiences, especially the last few days in our finding. We have been thinking of new ways to talk to people and share the message of the Restoration. Sister Sneed and I have been having fun together too, our companionship is continuing to be more unified and I just love her. We have some great potentials that are starting school this week and we are excited to get on campus a lot this week. We have been able to work well with our branch mission leader who really wants to help us as in any way that he can. The encouragement and support from him has really helped us.
Oh my goodness, Alvin's baptism was wonderful. I was a little sad that not a lot of people from the branch came, but the spirit was there and he was so happy. As soon as he came back up out of the water, he said "I feel good." It was also so awesome to see one of my recent converts baptize him:) Chris was a bit nervous, since it was his first time, but he told us afterwards that it felt good to be able to do that. Alvin is continuing to open up especially to the members, and we are encouraging the members to reach out to him as well. I am so proud of him and the path that lays ahead of him is going to be great if he continues to keep these promises that he has made to his Heavenly Father, he can only go up from here.
Sister Sneed and I are working really hard to help those that we are teaching to progress and to build our teaching pool. At our last district meeting, Elder McAllister trained on finding joy in our missionary work. It was so good for Sister Sneed and I because we went out tracting afterwards and applied those things that he taught us and we were enthusiastic and talked to EVERYONE we came in contact with and for the most part MOST people were friendly and welcoming. We were able to see the blessings from that because we were able to get a lot of potentials and be invited into a few apartments and testify with the spirit.
It was so fun to celebrate my birthday out here!!!!! We went to the church like we normally do for p-day to play games and stuff with the elders in our zone, and it was so sweet because they bought me two cakes. One of them said 'Happy Birthday Sister Lamb' and the other one said 'Don't be Sheepish' That one really made me laugh:))) That night the YSA suprised me at FHE with my favorite kind of pie and other delicious sweets. I also got a card and some letters all bunched together that a lot of people from the mission and the branch had signed, it was so sweet. President and Sister Collins called me that night and it was good to talk with them, Sister Collins, is a hoot, everytime she sees me or talks to me she always asks how is my little lamby. Sister Sneed was really sweet too and bought me two boxes of Mike and Ikes:)
Loves, Hugs, & Kisses,
Sister Lamb
Monday, August 15, 2011
Dear Family & Friends,
Oh happy day it's finally starting to cool down!!!! It's been absolutely beautfiul here and I cannot wait for the fall to be here, I keep hearing wonderful things about it so I'm excited. It was sister collins birthday yesterday and so last night at why I believe we got excited together since our birthdays our next to each other. I told everyone that it is my 16th birthday and then when we walked out of the church to our car, some people left cute little notes all over say happy sweet 16, oh it was a little moment that made me smile. The branch members a couple of weeks ago threw me a little b-day party cuz they didn't know if I was leaving and they made me my favorite pie in the whole world, razzleberry! It was so stinkin sweet of all of them. I'm so happy I get to continue to be a part of this branch.
Well it's been an eventful week, that's an understatement! We had transfer meeting on Wednesday, and before that the trainers got together for a meeting with President Collins. Holy Moly!!!!!!!!!!! There is a whole new training program that we are doing now and so we are the first set of trainers to implement it and my head wants to explode. Elder Ketch and I were just sitting in the meeting like where in the world do we start. Poor Elder Ketch though, he is training, got double transferred, and president called a third assistant to be more in the field and working with the other trainers, yep that would also be Elder Ketch, so he definitely has a full plate! He called me the other night to see how things were going and we just laughed because we are both just wondering how to not be so scatterbrained. My new companion is Sister Sneed and she is from Modesto California. She is such a sweetheart and very shy, so yeah we are working on confidence and I've just kind of thrown her into the work and she is doing a good job and there is still so much to learn but it's coming. I love her tons and I'm excited to see her continually come out of her shell. I just keep reminding myself that the Lord will make me equal to the task.
We have an exciting week this week, we have a baptism!!! Alvin is doing great and I'm so happy for him and for the changes that he has made in his life. It's been a tender mercy from the Lord to be able to see him from the first day we knocked on his door to now. I'm even more excited because one of my recent converts, Chris, is going to baptize him!!!!!! I know I'm going to be crying the entire time. He came to Why I Believe last night and he told that it has been a great day, when he said that it just made my heart smile. It's been amazing how the spirit has spoken to me so differently this week than it has before. I know that is a way that Heavenly Father is showing me that he is aware of me. In my personal study, I was studying for our investigator, Kellie, and I was reading in 2 Nephi 2:6-8 and I can't even describe the overwhelming feeling that I had. I felt my Heavenly Fathers love so strong and I want to be with Him again, and because of my Savior I can, there was so much love and gratitude for my Savior. It was a really special moment for me.
President shared an amazing story with us at transfers, about an Elder that went home this past transfer. His dad had been less active and recently got a temple reccommend and last friday his whole family got to go to the temple to be sealed for time and all eternity. It was awesome, I think everybody was in tears, because this elder was such a faithful servant his whole mission and Heavenly Father was rewarding him for that service. My excitement for missionary work just keeps increasing and oh I just love this work so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well we are off to go and hang out with some of the elders at the church, I have learned my lesson though and that is not to play football with them out in the parking lot, my body doesn't need any more bruises. Yeah last week I was just a hot mess, I don't know why they wanted me to play, I had no idea what I was doing, clearly. My district leader challenged me last night to a ping pong tournament and so we are trying to make it as hardcore, well he is mostly because he broke his ankle and can't do much, so he is trying to make ping pong as manly as possible. It should be entertaining:)
Love,
Sister Lamb
Oh happy day it's finally starting to cool down!!!! It's been absolutely beautfiul here and I cannot wait for the fall to be here, I keep hearing wonderful things about it so I'm excited. It was sister collins birthday yesterday and so last night at why I believe we got excited together since our birthdays our next to each other. I told everyone that it is my 16th birthday and then when we walked out of the church to our car, some people left cute little notes all over say happy sweet 16, oh it was a little moment that made me smile. The branch members a couple of weeks ago threw me a little b-day party cuz they didn't know if I was leaving and they made me my favorite pie in the whole world, razzleberry! It was so stinkin sweet of all of them. I'm so happy I get to continue to be a part of this branch.
Well it's been an eventful week, that's an understatement! We had transfer meeting on Wednesday, and before that the trainers got together for a meeting with President Collins. Holy Moly!!!!!!!!!!! There is a whole new training program that we are doing now and so we are the first set of trainers to implement it and my head wants to explode. Elder Ketch and I were just sitting in the meeting like where in the world do we start. Poor Elder Ketch though, he is training, got double transferred, and president called a third assistant to be more in the field and working with the other trainers, yep that would also be Elder Ketch, so he definitely has a full plate! He called me the other night to see how things were going and we just laughed because we are both just wondering how to not be so scatterbrained. My new companion is Sister Sneed and she is from Modesto California. She is such a sweetheart and very shy, so yeah we are working on confidence and I've just kind of thrown her into the work and she is doing a good job and there is still so much to learn but it's coming. I love her tons and I'm excited to see her continually come out of her shell. I just keep reminding myself that the Lord will make me equal to the task.
We have an exciting week this week, we have a baptism!!! Alvin is doing great and I'm so happy for him and for the changes that he has made in his life. It's been a tender mercy from the Lord to be able to see him from the first day we knocked on his door to now. I'm even more excited because one of my recent converts, Chris, is going to baptize him!!!!!! I know I'm going to be crying the entire time. He came to Why I Believe last night and he told that it has been a great day, when he said that it just made my heart smile. It's been amazing how the spirit has spoken to me so differently this week than it has before. I know that is a way that Heavenly Father is showing me that he is aware of me. In my personal study, I was studying for our investigator, Kellie, and I was reading in 2 Nephi 2:6-8 and I can't even describe the overwhelming feeling that I had. I felt my Heavenly Fathers love so strong and I want to be with Him again, and because of my Savior I can, there was so much love and gratitude for my Savior. It was a really special moment for me.
President shared an amazing story with us at transfers, about an Elder that went home this past transfer. His dad had been less active and recently got a temple reccommend and last friday his whole family got to go to the temple to be sealed for time and all eternity. It was awesome, I think everybody was in tears, because this elder was such a faithful servant his whole mission and Heavenly Father was rewarding him for that service. My excitement for missionary work just keeps increasing and oh I just love this work so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well we are off to go and hang out with some of the elders at the church, I have learned my lesson though and that is not to play football with them out in the parking lot, my body doesn't need any more bruises. Yeah last week I was just a hot mess, I don't know why they wanted me to play, I had no idea what I was doing, clearly. My district leader challenged me last night to a ping pong tournament and so we are trying to make it as hardcore, well he is mostly because he broke his ankle and can't do much, so he is trying to make ping pong as manly as possible. It should be entertaining:)
Love,
Sister Lamb
Monday, August 8, 2011
Dearest Family & Friends,
I received a lovely phone call from President Collins this morning, and I'm training!!!!!! I'm staying in Indy YSA which I'm so grateful for and there is a lot of work to do here so I'm excited. It will be cool because this is where I was trained so hopefully she will love it just as much as I do. I have been praying for her a lot already and I know I'm just going to love her. We have our transfer meeting on Wednesday so I will get to meet her then. I'm sad that Sister Lambson is going though, these past 2 transfers have been so much fun and I have learned sooooo much! I know the Lord is in His work and that our companionships are inspired. I thought for sure I would be leaving but the Lord has different plans:)
It's been an overwhelming week but it was all worth it on Sunday. I was a bit stressed this week because I wasn't sure how we were going to meet our goals, we had a full week planned and I was so excited for it but tons of our appointments fell through. I know that we did everything that we were supposed to and we worked really hard. Sister Lambson and I were tracting and I asked if she felt that she gave her all this week, and we both feel that we did our very best. I know we can always improve but we did work hard and even though we weren't able to fulfill our goals we did see miracles. I love fasting and we were able to see immediate blessing from fasting yesterday all day. Everytime something good would happen I would tell Sister Lambson that it's a fasting miracle! We were finally able to see Kellie Earheart and after that lesson I knew that this is what missionary work is all about. I love when I receive those confirmations from the spirit. She has let the spirit truly enter her heart now and I saw that change in her countenance. She has been struggling with the principle of modern day prophets, and we asked her if she has prayed to know if Joseph Smith was a true prophet. She hasn't and we emphasized that relationship with her Heavenly Father that she needs to have so that she can pray to know and receive that revelation and witness. It finally clicked with her and she said the prayer at the end of the lesson and it was beautiful, I couldn't stop crying (big suprise) but one thing that she said that really hit me was, she knows she is ready to receive her answer. Oh it was the sweetest moment. Then another miracle happened that just floored me, we had been working with Lynn and she dropped us about three weeks ago but it didn't end badly or anything. When we were meeting with her we would bring a member of the branch, Katelynn, with us and they reallly clicked and she called Lynn yesterday and picked her up for church. I was so happy to see her and to see the spirit work through Katelynn to have the courage to invite her to church. During fast and testimony meeting, Brother Rhoades got up and bore his testimony and of course I started crying again, because it was so sweet and pure and he bore testimony of the simple principle that the Lord is aware of each of us. I know someone in the branch needed to hear that and I was so proud of him.
We had a couple of very interesting lessons this week, but one in particular was with a older man named Bill. We were trying to contact a referral and they weren't home so we tracted in their neighborhood and found Bill. He invited us to sit outside on his porch and of course he talked for quite awhile but he has pretty much lost his faith and feels that he has chosen his destiny and there is no changing that. He has such a sad outlook on life and believes that he is going to hell and it doesn't matter. I asked him what he felt his purpose was and he held up a beer can, it was just heartbreaking how hard this man's heart is. It started getting a bit contentious towards the end and I knew we needed to leave. As I was fasting yesterday, I was saying a prayer and praying specifically for the things that I wanted to fast for, and after I closed my prayer I just stayed on my knees to just listen. The spirit definitely had a lot to say to me but one thing that I know we need to do is to go and see Bill again. I thought the Spirit was crazy for a minute, we can't go back there, but I know we need to.
Alvin Smith is doing so well and I know that can be ready for baptism on August 20. He was in Chicago this weekend but we kept in contact with him and he is reading and we had asked him to write down his testimony and I'm so excited to hear that this week when we meet with him. He has such a desire to live the commandments, and asks really great questions about them and he is just making sure that he is living them correctly and the best that he can. He is so great and has some of the best fellowshippers in the branch and so I know that will help him remain faithful. He has come a long way and I can't wait to see what great things he can accomplish because he is so humble. I love that about him.
On p-day last week our district had a bbq and we then went and played sand volleyball and Elder McAllister jumped and landed on the ball and next thing we know we hear a crack and his ankle was the size of the volleyball. He was in so much pain, poor guy was trying to be such a man but you could tell he probably just wanted to cry. Elder Nash gave him a blessing and right now as far as we know it's not broken but oh his ankle is super ugly and fat still. Oh my goodness so we had our district meeting last week and it was the funniest district meeting ever!!!!!!!!!!! Elder McAllister was just off or something and it made Sister Lambson and I get the giggles then everyone else joined in and it just went downhill after that. We then went to role play and Sister Lambson and I were with Elder Knight and Elder McAllister and it was just a train wreck because we couldn't take each other seriously and we were trying so hard:) It was needed I think and we just had a great time taking pictures afterwards, we tried to imitate the cover of the childrens songbook, but we have issues trying to set 8 cameras on self timer and so we got some gems:)
We have been walking soooooo much and luckily the last couple of days haven't been that hot but the humidity makes it a bit more intense. I have gotten significantly tanner, I have some pretty sweet tan lines especially on my ankles that Elder Ketch enjoys teasing me about! A member of the branch took us to P.F. Changs and it was weird thinking I"m going to spend my birthday out here, but I'm excited that I will be in the city and it's on a preparation day, so I'm sure I will spend my birthday playing dodge ball and getting slammed in the face or something:) I still can't believe it is August!!!! I love you all and thinking about you all the timDearest Family & Friends,
I received a lovely phone call from President Collins this morning, and I'm training!!!!!! I'm staying in Indy YSA which I'm so grateful for and there is a lot of work to do here so I'm excited. It will be cool because this is where I was trained so hopefully she will love it just as much as I do. I have been praying for her a lot already and I know I'm just going to love her. We have our transfer meeting on Wednesday so I will get to meet her then. I'm sad that Sister Lambson is going though, these past 2 transfers have been so much fun and I have learned sooooo much! I know the Lord is in His work and that our companionships are inspired. I thought for sure I would be leaving but the Lord has different plans:)
It's been an overwhelming week but it was all worth it on Sunday. I was a bit stressed this week because I wasn't sure how we were going to meet our goals, we had a full week planned and I was so excited for it but tons of our appointments fell through. I know that we did everything that we were supposed to and we worked really hard. Sister Lambson and I were tracting and I asked if she felt that she gave her all this week, and we both feel that we did our very best. I know we can always improve but we did work hard and even though we weren't able to fulfill our goals we did see miracles. I love fasting and we were able to see immediate blessing from fasting yesterday all day. Everytime something good would happen I would tell Sister Lambson that it's a fasting miracle! We were finally able to see Kellie Earheart and after that lesson I knew that this is what missionary work is all about. I love when I receive those confirmations from the spirit. She has let the spirit truly enter her heart now and I saw that change in her countenance. She has been struggling with the principle of modern day prophets, and we asked her if she has prayed to know if Joseph Smith was a true prophet. She hasn't and we emphasized that relationship with her Heavenly Father that she needs to have so that she can pray to know and receive that revelation and witness. It finally clicked with her and she said the prayer at the end of the lesson and it was beautiful, I couldn't stop crying (big suprise) but one thing that she said that really hit me was, she knows she is ready to receive her answer. Oh it was the sweetest moment. Then another miracle happened that just floored me, we had been working with Lynn and she dropped us about three weeks ago but it didn't end badly or anything. When we were meeting with her we would bring a member of the branch, Katelynn, with us and they reallly clicked and she called Lynn yesterday and picked her up for church. I was so happy to see her and to see the spirit work through Katelynn to have the courage to invite her to church. During fast and testimony meeting, Brother Rhoades got up and bore his testimony and of course I started crying again, because it was so sweet and pure and he bore testimony of the simple principle that the Lord is aware of each of us. I know someone in the branch needed to hear that and I was so proud of him.
We had a couple of very interesting lessons this week, but one in particular was with a older man named Bill. We were trying to contact a referral and they weren't home so we tracted in their neighborhood and found Bill. He invited us to sit outside on his porch and of course he talked for quite awhile but he has pretty much lost his faith and feels that he has chosen his destiny and there is no changing that. He has such a sad outlook on life and believes that he is going to hell and it doesn't matter. I asked him what he felt his purpose was and he held up a beer can, it was just heartbreaking how hard this man's heart is. It started getting a bit contentious towards the end and I knew we needed to leave. As I was fasting yesterday, I was saying a prayer and praying specifically for the things that I wanted to fast for, and after I closed my prayer I just stayed on my knees to just listen. The spirit definitely had a lot to say to me but one thing that I know we need to do is to go and see Bill again. I thought the Spirit was crazy for a minute, we can't go back there, but I know we need to.
Alvin Smith is doing so well and I know that can be ready for baptism on August 20. He was in Chicago this weekend but we kept in contact with him and he is reading and we had asked him to write down his testimony and I'm so excited to hear that this week when we meet with him. He has such a desire to live the commandments, and asks really great questions about them and he is just making sure that he is living them correctly and the best that he can. He is so great and has some of the best fellowshippers in the branch and so I know that will help him remain faithful. He has come a long way and I can't wait to see what great things he can accomplish because he is so humble. I love that about him.
On p-day last week our district had a bbq and we then went and played sand volleyball and Elder McAllister jumped and landed on the ball and next thing we know we hear a crack and his ankle was the size of the volleyball. He was in so much pain, poor guy was trying to be such a man but you could tell he probably just wanted to cry. Elder Nash gave him a blessing and right now as far as we know it's not broken but oh his ankle is super ugly and fat still. Oh my goodness so we had our district meeting last week and it was the funniest district meeting ever!!!!!!!!!!! Elder McAllister was just off or something and it made Sister Lambson and I get the giggles then everyone else joined in and it just went downhill after that. We then went to role play and Sister Lambson and I were with Elder Knight and Elder McAllister and it was just a train wreck because we couldn't take each other seriously and we were trying so hard:) It was needed I think and we just had a great time taking pictures afterwards, we tried to imitate the cover of the childrens songbook, but we have issues trying to set 8 cameras on self timer and so we got some gems:)
We have been walking soooooo much and luckily the last couple of days haven't been that hot but the humidity makes it a bit more intense. I have gotten significantly tanner, I have some pretty sweet tan lines especially on my ankles that Elder Ketch enjoys teasing me about! A member of the branch took us to P.F. Changs and it was weird thinking I"m going to spend my birthday out here, but I'm excited that I will be in the city and it's on a preparation day, so I'm sure I will spend my birthday playing dodge ball and getting slammed in the face or something:) I still can't believe it is August!!!! I love you all and thinking about you all the time.
Love,
Sister Lamb
I received a lovely phone call from President Collins this morning, and I'm training!!!!!! I'm staying in Indy YSA which I'm so grateful for and there is a lot of work to do here so I'm excited. It will be cool because this is where I was trained so hopefully she will love it just as much as I do. I have been praying for her a lot already and I know I'm just going to love her. We have our transfer meeting on Wednesday so I will get to meet her then. I'm sad that Sister Lambson is going though, these past 2 transfers have been so much fun and I have learned sooooo much! I know the Lord is in His work and that our companionships are inspired. I thought for sure I would be leaving but the Lord has different plans:)
It's been an overwhelming week but it was all worth it on Sunday. I was a bit stressed this week because I wasn't sure how we were going to meet our goals, we had a full week planned and I was so excited for it but tons of our appointments fell through. I know that we did everything that we were supposed to and we worked really hard. Sister Lambson and I were tracting and I asked if she felt that she gave her all this week, and we both feel that we did our very best. I know we can always improve but we did work hard and even though we weren't able to fulfill our goals we did see miracles. I love fasting and we were able to see immediate blessing from fasting yesterday all day. Everytime something good would happen I would tell Sister Lambson that it's a fasting miracle! We were finally able to see Kellie Earheart and after that lesson I knew that this is what missionary work is all about. I love when I receive those confirmations from the spirit. She has let the spirit truly enter her heart now and I saw that change in her countenance. She has been struggling with the principle of modern day prophets, and we asked her if she has prayed to know if Joseph Smith was a true prophet. She hasn't and we emphasized that relationship with her Heavenly Father that she needs to have so that she can pray to know and receive that revelation and witness. It finally clicked with her and she said the prayer at the end of the lesson and it was beautiful, I couldn't stop crying (big suprise) but one thing that she said that really hit me was, she knows she is ready to receive her answer. Oh it was the sweetest moment. Then another miracle happened that just floored me, we had been working with Lynn and she dropped us about three weeks ago but it didn't end badly or anything. When we were meeting with her we would bring a member of the branch, Katelynn, with us and they reallly clicked and she called Lynn yesterday and picked her up for church. I was so happy to see her and to see the spirit work through Katelynn to have the courage to invite her to church. During fast and testimony meeting, Brother Rhoades got up and bore his testimony and of course I started crying again, because it was so sweet and pure and he bore testimony of the simple principle that the Lord is aware of each of us. I know someone in the branch needed to hear that and I was so proud of him.
We had a couple of very interesting lessons this week, but one in particular was with a older man named Bill. We were trying to contact a referral and they weren't home so we tracted in their neighborhood and found Bill. He invited us to sit outside on his porch and of course he talked for quite awhile but he has pretty much lost his faith and feels that he has chosen his destiny and there is no changing that. He has such a sad outlook on life and believes that he is going to hell and it doesn't matter. I asked him what he felt his purpose was and he held up a beer can, it was just heartbreaking how hard this man's heart is. It started getting a bit contentious towards the end and I knew we needed to leave. As I was fasting yesterday, I was saying a prayer and praying specifically for the things that I wanted to fast for, and after I closed my prayer I just stayed on my knees to just listen. The spirit definitely had a lot to say to me but one thing that I know we need to do is to go and see Bill again. I thought the Spirit was crazy for a minute, we can't go back there, but I know we need to.
Alvin Smith is doing so well and I know that can be ready for baptism on August 20. He was in Chicago this weekend but we kept in contact with him and he is reading and we had asked him to write down his testimony and I'm so excited to hear that this week when we meet with him. He has such a desire to live the commandments, and asks really great questions about them and he is just making sure that he is living them correctly and the best that he can. He is so great and has some of the best fellowshippers in the branch and so I know that will help him remain faithful. He has come a long way and I can't wait to see what great things he can accomplish because he is so humble. I love that about him.
On p-day last week our district had a bbq and we then went and played sand volleyball and Elder McAllister jumped and landed on the ball and next thing we know we hear a crack and his ankle was the size of the volleyball. He was in so much pain, poor guy was trying to be such a man but you could tell he probably just wanted to cry. Elder Nash gave him a blessing and right now as far as we know it's not broken but oh his ankle is super ugly and fat still. Oh my goodness so we had our district meeting last week and it was the funniest district meeting ever!!!!!!!!!!! Elder McAllister was just off or something and it made Sister Lambson and I get the giggles then everyone else joined in and it just went downhill after that. We then went to role play and Sister Lambson and I were with Elder Knight and Elder McAllister and it was just a train wreck because we couldn't take each other seriously and we were trying so hard:) It was needed I think and we just had a great time taking pictures afterwards, we tried to imitate the cover of the childrens songbook, but we have issues trying to set 8 cameras on self timer and so we got some gems:)
We have been walking soooooo much and luckily the last couple of days haven't been that hot but the humidity makes it a bit more intense. I have gotten significantly tanner, I have some pretty sweet tan lines especially on my ankles that Elder Ketch enjoys teasing me about! A member of the branch took us to P.F. Changs and it was weird thinking I"m going to spend my birthday out here, but I'm excited that I will be in the city and it's on a preparation day, so I'm sure I will spend my birthday playing dodge ball and getting slammed in the face or something:) I still can't believe it is August!!!! I love you all and thinking about you all the timDearest Family & Friends,
I received a lovely phone call from President Collins this morning, and I'm training!!!!!! I'm staying in Indy YSA which I'm so grateful for and there is a lot of work to do here so I'm excited. It will be cool because this is where I was trained so hopefully she will love it just as much as I do. I have been praying for her a lot already and I know I'm just going to love her. We have our transfer meeting on Wednesday so I will get to meet her then. I'm sad that Sister Lambson is going though, these past 2 transfers have been so much fun and I have learned sooooo much! I know the Lord is in His work and that our companionships are inspired. I thought for sure I would be leaving but the Lord has different plans:)
It's been an overwhelming week but it was all worth it on Sunday. I was a bit stressed this week because I wasn't sure how we were going to meet our goals, we had a full week planned and I was so excited for it but tons of our appointments fell through. I know that we did everything that we were supposed to and we worked really hard. Sister Lambson and I were tracting and I asked if she felt that she gave her all this week, and we both feel that we did our very best. I know we can always improve but we did work hard and even though we weren't able to fulfill our goals we did see miracles. I love fasting and we were able to see immediate blessing from fasting yesterday all day. Everytime something good would happen I would tell Sister Lambson that it's a fasting miracle! We were finally able to see Kellie Earheart and after that lesson I knew that this is what missionary work is all about. I love when I receive those confirmations from the spirit. She has let the spirit truly enter her heart now and I saw that change in her countenance. She has been struggling with the principle of modern day prophets, and we asked her if she has prayed to know if Joseph Smith was a true prophet. She hasn't and we emphasized that relationship with her Heavenly Father that she needs to have so that she can pray to know and receive that revelation and witness. It finally clicked with her and she said the prayer at the end of the lesson and it was beautiful, I couldn't stop crying (big suprise) but one thing that she said that really hit me was, she knows she is ready to receive her answer. Oh it was the sweetest moment. Then another miracle happened that just floored me, we had been working with Lynn and she dropped us about three weeks ago but it didn't end badly or anything. When we were meeting with her we would bring a member of the branch, Katelynn, with us and they reallly clicked and she called Lynn yesterday and picked her up for church. I was so happy to see her and to see the spirit work through Katelynn to have the courage to invite her to church. During fast and testimony meeting, Brother Rhoades got up and bore his testimony and of course I started crying again, because it was so sweet and pure and he bore testimony of the simple principle that the Lord is aware of each of us. I know someone in the branch needed to hear that and I was so proud of him.
We had a couple of very interesting lessons this week, but one in particular was with a older man named Bill. We were trying to contact a referral and they weren't home so we tracted in their neighborhood and found Bill. He invited us to sit outside on his porch and of course he talked for quite awhile but he has pretty much lost his faith and feels that he has chosen his destiny and there is no changing that. He has such a sad outlook on life and believes that he is going to hell and it doesn't matter. I asked him what he felt his purpose was and he held up a beer can, it was just heartbreaking how hard this man's heart is. It started getting a bit contentious towards the end and I knew we needed to leave. As I was fasting yesterday, I was saying a prayer and praying specifically for the things that I wanted to fast for, and after I closed my prayer I just stayed on my knees to just listen. The spirit definitely had a lot to say to me but one thing that I know we need to do is to go and see Bill again. I thought the Spirit was crazy for a minute, we can't go back there, but I know we need to.
Alvin Smith is doing so well and I know that can be ready for baptism on August 20. He was in Chicago this weekend but we kept in contact with him and he is reading and we had asked him to write down his testimony and I'm so excited to hear that this week when we meet with him. He has such a desire to live the commandments, and asks really great questions about them and he is just making sure that he is living them correctly and the best that he can. He is so great and has some of the best fellowshippers in the branch and so I know that will help him remain faithful. He has come a long way and I can't wait to see what great things he can accomplish because he is so humble. I love that about him.
On p-day last week our district had a bbq and we then went and played sand volleyball and Elder McAllister jumped and landed on the ball and next thing we know we hear a crack and his ankle was the size of the volleyball. He was in so much pain, poor guy was trying to be such a man but you could tell he probably just wanted to cry. Elder Nash gave him a blessing and right now as far as we know it's not broken but oh his ankle is super ugly and fat still. Oh my goodness so we had our district meeting last week and it was the funniest district meeting ever!!!!!!!!!!! Elder McAllister was just off or something and it made Sister Lambson and I get the giggles then everyone else joined in and it just went downhill after that. We then went to role play and Sister Lambson and I were with Elder Knight and Elder McAllister and it was just a train wreck because we couldn't take each other seriously and we were trying so hard:) It was needed I think and we just had a great time taking pictures afterwards, we tried to imitate the cover of the childrens songbook, but we have issues trying to set 8 cameras on self timer and so we got some gems:)
We have been walking soooooo much and luckily the last couple of days haven't been that hot but the humidity makes it a bit more intense. I have gotten significantly tanner, I have some pretty sweet tan lines especially on my ankles that Elder Ketch enjoys teasing me about! A member of the branch took us to P.F. Changs and it was weird thinking I"m going to spend my birthday out here, but I'm excited that I will be in the city and it's on a preparation day, so I'm sure I will spend my birthday playing dodge ball and getting slammed in the face or something:) I still can't believe it is August!!!! I love you all and thinking about you all the time.
Love,
Sister Lamb
Monday, August 1, 2011
Dear Family & Friends,
I have learned so much this week and I have really been able to be even more sensitive to the Spirit. My heart is so full right now. I was grateful that as a zone we were able to fast yesterday to receive revelation on how to achieve our zone baptism goal of ten. It is very high but as we met as a district and the zone leaders, I was able to recognize how the spirit speaks to me and that we are setting a goal that has been inspired of God. I felt like our companionship unity as well as our district unity has been strengthned because of this. I know there is a lot we need to change and step it up to achieve this goal, but I think that is what the Lord needs us to do. I love the principle of fasting and the power that comes from it as I fast with a specific purpose. As I have fasted this week, I also fasted for Alvin Smith and that we will do all that we need to prepare him for baptism on August 20. He is doing really well and is coming to church and I know he has felt the spirit and I hope we can continue to help him realize his potential and how he can continue to be a wonderful member of the church.
The sisters training was an answer to my prayers, it truly was. The things that were taught and the spirit that was felt is helping me to be a little better and just keep improving and rely on the Lord. It was so wonderful to be in the mission home with all of my sisters, oh it brings me so much joy to be around them and their testimonies are amazing. On Tuesday we received training all day by President and Sister Collins and the assistants to the President. We also got to have a little sisters council where we discussed lots of stuff on our mind to help be more effective. I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father to be a part of this work, but more importantly to be a part of this mission. I know that I wasn't supposed to serve anywhere else. Thank you for being the person that you are that I look up to so much as well as sister Collins, I love being surrounded by all these good influences because it makes me happy, simple as that:) We didn't get to sleep till....well...it was late, but it was so fun. Sister Collins almost came down and joined us but she didn't, but she kept coming down and telling us to have pillow fights. Oh she cracks me up. It was so cute on Monday night when we all got there we started the meeting, and four of the sisters sang a song, and it was hilarious because they were doing so well at first, and then Sister Elmer cracked up then Sister Williams, Sister Little was trying so hard to keep going and then Sister Sanders just laughed with them, then we all started laughing, oh it was a great way to start this day off:))) The poor assistants they looked like they were about to die being surrounded by girls all night and all day. They were good sports though:)
I had an amazing exchange with Sister Elmer, oh my heavens she is one amazing woman of God. I couldn't stop telling her that the whole day. Just all the things she said were so inspired and I learned so much from her. I was so happy that we finally had the opportunity to serve around one another because I have always looked up to her from day one. We had some great teaching appointments and I was glad that we got to teach together, she really taught how to apply the fundamentals to our teaching. I have been working so hard this past week to understand the fundamentals and get more out of them. I feel like I'm just at the surface and I want to learn more, I want to get the most out of them. Sister Elmer was able to help me do that and I just have to keep plugging along at them. She is amazing and I hope we can serve together sometime, because I just love her dearly.
Sister Lambson and I are doing well, our companionship unity is amazing and we are able to be open and honest with one another and as we have done that I have noticed that all aspects of our missionary work are affected. I'm so grateful for her, oh my goodness I'm crying right now, in the library, anyway, she is such a sweet person, I don't know how else to describe her. We are kind of preparing at this point that we will most likely be seperated and I know that whoever her next companion is will love her, not as much as I do, but she will be loved by her companion and by the people she will serve. I'm jealous of how everybody just loves her within seconds of meeting her. She is powerful and I know that is a gift from the spirit and will serve her well. I have been thinking about my setting apart blessing and one thing that my stake president said was that I will be eternal friends with my companions, I believe that with all my companions that I have had so far. I thank my Heavenly Father for that everyday.
Our district is having a BBQ today so I made some yummy chip dip so I'm excited for that, I love my district so much!!!! We are just a bunch of goofs but we drop anything to help one another! I love you all dearly and I'm thinking about you everyday!!!!!
Love,
Sister Lamb
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