Poor Bunny! March 26, 2012

Hey y'all!

Well, things are going great here in the deep south of Deep Run, NC. We had a pretty eventful week with lots of tender mercies, miracles, etc. The weather is still gorgeous. It is sunshiny wonderful during the day and then it rains at night to wash all the pollen away! Yesterday was quite the light show. We had a huge thunderstorm come through with TONS of lightening. It sure was pretty! Lots of rain came with it too. No tornadoes thankfully. :)

We had a busy preparation day last week. We had dinner with the Orr family last week. Sis. Orr's brother just passed away. We had a good lesson with them after dinner and I think it strengthened them both. We also discovered, by way of Sis. Orr, that there is a fantastic website (mormonchannel.org) that streams some mighty fine church/sunday music.

Tuesday we met with a lady named Irma. She has multiple sclerosis and is homebound. Her husband was baptized in the church as a kid, but was not raised in the church. We had a good lesson with her. Her dog tried attacking Sis. Matthews. I was scared to death. I wanted to whack that dog on the head with my Book of Mormon. Irma told the dog to go sit in the corner and it did. It glared at Sis. Matthews the whole time. It was rather disturbing. I do not like poodles. After our lesson with Irma we came back home to pick up Nanny Mae to go to a lesson with us. We went and visited Jean. We met with Jean about a month ago and gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon. She was very interested in the Book of Mormon because of how clearly it explained the Plan of Salvation. When we got there, we found out that she had read/listened to the Book of Mormon all the way up to Alma 32 (whoa!!) She said that she had enjoyed it and loved how much more detail it added to the Plan of Salvation. It was a neat experience. The next step is church and knowing that the Book of Mormon is true. She is amazing!

Wednesday we had district meeting in Woodington. It was a funny district meeting. We talked about the characteristics of Nephi (see 1 Nephi 3:7; 16:1; 16:28; 7:17-18; 4:20; 18:3; 2 Nephi 1:27-28; 4:20-21) We then read D&C 33:7-8, 9-15 and proceeded to discuss how Nephi's characteristics are characteristics we should develop and that we shouldn't be afraid to open our mouths and share the gospel with everyone. That led to a conversation of how we can share the gospel with everyone. We talked about service opportunities and how a good majority of people don't like you to serve them (southern culture...they like to serve you) and E. Garrett gave a reenactment of what might happen if you try to serve an old lady who doesn't what help sweeping her floor, painting her fence, etc. He said we shouldn't cause hip replacements over service opportunities. lol.
We met with Clara afterward and talked about qualifications for baptism. She is definitely prepared. We are just trying to make sure all the loose ends are tied off by the time it gets here. She is doing great though! Her daughter, Itzel was hilarious. Clara has a pet rabbit that stays in the house. Sis. Matthews asked about the bunny and Itzel immediately went and fetched the rabbit. As she came into the room she was holding the rabbit by it's ears. Clara rescued the bunny and put it back. We asked Itzel what the bunny's name was. She said, "Poor Bunny." I would have to agree. We also met with Greg that night and had a good lesson about having faith in Jesus Christ. It was so fun! We went through the Bible (Greg has never read from the Bible in his life...pretty crazy to imagine that when you live in these parts of the world!) and read stories about his miracles and talked about the Atonement and then we watched Finding Faith in Christ. Greg believes it is true. It is neat to see his faith buidling as he and Miranda read together. They have also been praying together. Hooray! I love how the gospel works in people's lives.

On Thursday the ward threw a baby shower for Clara. It was so neat to see so many of the ward members come out to support her. We had a good time while we were there and I know it really helped Clara out a lot. She has changed so much since we first started teaching her. She wouldn't set foot in the church unless she knew we were going to be there. Now, it's like a slice of cake!

Friday we did service at the library and watched one of CES firesides whilst putting books away. It was the one from last year given by Elder Scott. He has a great sense of humor. He said it was a "stupid idea to take a girl on a date to the movies." We got a good laugh from that and then went on our merry way teaching the gospel! We were able to contact a referral and a less active family who are also recent converts. It makes me so sad when recent converts drop off the face of the planet. I wish I knew how to make sure that didn't happen. However, missionary work is an agency-based enterprise system and people can choose how they will run the course of their lives. I always pray they will come around though. This sister and her children have returned to their Pentecostal holiness church though. They said the "Mormons were a nice experience, but it was just so new and different that they couldn't do it." We talked to her about the Book of Mormon and she liked it, but that she was going to stick with her bible.(sigh)

Saturday we went out to the farthest corner of our boundaries to contact some referrals, but then discovered we were en route to Jacksonville...which is definitely not in our boundaries. We will be giving those referrals to the J-ville sisters. :) However, on our way back, we contacted a former investigator named Lisa and had a good lesson with her. We found her when I first got to Deep Run, but then Christmas happened and she couldn't meet with us. However, she texted us a few weeks ago and asked when we were going to be back in the area. We leaped on that opportunity and were able to meet with her! She actually read the introduction to the Book of Mormon that we had left for her to read last time. We reviewed that with her and invited her to read the Book of Mormon. She is stellar. Her sister is a member. The hurdle for her is going to be coming to church. As Sister Voyles says, "Just come to church!"

We went to Woodington yesterday. Sis. Tyndall gave a great lesson in Gospel Principles on service. I love service.
Nathan and Greg both came to church in Albertson! Yay! We had a lesson with Nathan in the evening and he had a really good, positive experience at church. We taught the Law of Chastity...with his girlfriend...and his girlfriend's parents. Bro. C related a story to us about when he went in for his first temple recommend interview (he is a convert). They asked if he was a chaste individual to which he replied, "No. I'm married." lol. Oh goodness...that was a good icebreaker for that lesson. Nathan has been reading a praying! He is pretty sure about his decision, but just wants to make sure. He actually asked us about fasting because he had been listening to a john by the way (or however that spelled) CD on the way to church with Kaela ( his girlfriend). I guess they had talked about fasting. He is going to fast for an answer! So, it was a great week.

oh, We also got to watch the YW broadcast. Favorite quote from Pres. Monson, "life is hard by the yard, but by the inch it's a sinch!" The YW were counseled to seek Heavenly guidance one day at a time. Good stuff. Mmm!

Well, I'd better be off! I love you all! The power of fasting is real. I know we can receive Heavenly direction if we are seeking for it diligently because the "Holy Ghost will tell us all things we should do." (2 Nephi 32:5)

Love you x infinity2!

Sister J