February 26, 2013

Hello! I guess I'm a day late, but not a dollar short!... :)

What a crazy first week in Lubbock this has been! We had a "snow storm" come in Sunday night, and since the roads were slick, and people in Texas don't know how to drive in snow they kept our cars parked all day. Therefore I am writing today! (Really the snow wasn't anything compared to Utah or Rexburg, but they closed down Texas Tech for it too!! Crazy life!)  And that's where I am today! On campus writing you. (Campus here is like 10 times bigger than ENMU in Portales! So funny!)  But we had quite the adventure and companion bonding yesterday. I absolutely love Sister R. She is from Sandy and is super quirky and fun! This is going to be a good transfer. So anyhow yesterday we decided that since we were stuck inside that we would order a pizza from Pizza Hut. Well we called at 12:15, and about an hour later we called back and they said that it would be there in 15-20 minutes. Well after calling back every hour after that and hearing the same reply I called at 4 and they handed the phone to the manager who then says that it appears that we never even made an order!!! I was pretty upset at this point because, well, I was STARVING!  And so she was not helpful at all, and directed us to another pizza hut and they said that they were so confused as to why that other pizza hut would even say that our pizza was coming! When all was said and done we ordered a new pizza from Dominos and we were laughing because Sister R is just hilarious about it all, and it was so very ridiculous! 

But I did write 12 letters yesterday! Crazy life!

Well I left New Mexico with a pending baptism on this past Saturday and walked into here with another baptism! And both the investigators here and there got baptized! Hooray! I still miss New Mexico a lot alot.  Remember how we would have like 7 people at church each week. Well, things are not quite as majestic here. We don't have as large as teaching pool, and we had not one investigator at church on Sunday. I think this area is going to be a big growing experience for me. But I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord. :)

But the ward is quite amazing here! They are so missionary minded and have like 15 ward missionaries, and with visiting and home teaching they are now going to keep track of all non- member friends they have in their homes each month! The ward mission leader took care of everything at the baptism- which was so crazy to me because of the small ward/town and everything we had to do ourselves in New Mexico! It is like day and night! But it is also a stark contrast in teaching here too. New Mexico people are just very laid back, and here it is different, and harder to get people to talk to us. But it will be good. I'm excited to get used to it here.

Also mom, I think meeting up with non-member family is totally acceptable. Give me their info and I'll get a hold of them!!Um with wedding stuff, I expect so many pictures that everyone gets plum sick of it. I want it to be like I was there I can imagine it so well. And when is Cam going through the temple.

Oh and Dad we did not hear about all those areas opening up! Anything crazy like China or anything! I wonder if with more missionaries coming here they will divide ours one day too.I think that's all. My heart was broken yesterday when I couldn't email y'all and now I feel like I ran out of things to say! I hate that! Well until next week! I love you all! Kiss kiss!

love amanda

February 18, 2012

Happy BIRTHDAY- BIRTHDAY BOY MITCHIE!

And Happy Valentines Day family! MAMA: thank you so much for the flowers! Such a wonderful surprise! I was just telling Sister N the day before that I am a cheesy girl and love flowers and then the next day you get us some!! Yay! They sit on our desks and we love them!

And as some of you have already know: I'M BEING TRANSFERRED!!  It is the ward surrounding the temple and I am very excited to be able to see the temple regularly! Yay! I felt like I was going to be transferred so that was not a surprise, and I feel in a lot of ways the way that I felt when I left for my mission. That I am so sad to go, and leave all these people I love, but that I know that it is right, and so it makes it so much easier. I haven't cried (yet), I haven't said goodbye to a few people yet (including S, and A and E), and so I'm wearing my waterproof mascara. :) But I feel good about the work I did here, and know that one day I will be back, which makes it so much easier. It's not goodbye, it's see you later! And so I'm ready and off to a new adventure in Lubbock. We leave here Wednesday.

OH, my new companion is going to be Sister R. She was trained by Sister N, and came out a transfer after I did. She is from Sandy, and I have only heard good things. I am very excited to serve with her she sounds like a lot of fun! :)

Last week did I tell you we were going to see the snake that eats the bunnies that we held that one week. It is a diamond back rattle snake and lives on campus. It has a huge long rattle, and the snake right next to it was also a rattle (a smaller different snake though) and it was very jumpy and rattled the whole time we were there. I guess that sometimes it strikes at the glass too, it is so jumpy! But the museum lady was talking to us about the snakes and pulled out the king snake (non poisonous). It is a constrictor snake and wrapped all along her arm! So crazy! I was very brave and even touched it! (far away from it's head of course) and it was very soft which was so weird! Yuck! But it was a fun adventure anyway!

We have a baptism coming up here on Saturday. I will be missing it but I am so excited for her. C is dating a member and is from California, but has lots of member friends! We had told her that specific prayers get specific answers so we told her to pray about Feb 23rd for her baptism, because up till this point she had just been praying for when. So then early on this past week she got in her car and a new song by Rascal Flatts called Changed came on. And it's about baptism: and she knew the 23rd was the right day! Yay!! She is adorable, and we will keep in contact, and it is just important that she is getting baptized. Not who is there, so I'm glad that she is so awesome! We had a stress moment with the baptismal font, they have been repainting our whole building and we got a call Friday saying they just redid the font, and that it wouldn't be able to be used till MONDAY!! We had a freak out, because this was all a issue when Will was being baptized 3 weeks ago, and then they still hadn't done it and now it was messing up our plans! And C had received and answer that the 23rd was the right day!! So we called around and found out that we are actually ok to have it Saturday! Oh the craziness though and what an answer to prayers!

Oh we had the most interesting stake conference yesterday. It was a regional one, so all of Oklahoma, Texas, and NM, got the same broadcast from Salt Lake. President Eyring and Elder Scott talked and it was very nice. It reminded me a lot of general conference. I guess they do that in these other states every few years. Who knew! Not me. :)

I honestly feel like I know more about this town than I do Pleasant Grove: living, breathing, and eating for six months, only these streets and people. (no i don't eat people, but I'm pretty sure I've had food from every restaurant here: it's not hard, there's only like 10!) So I'm really gonna miss it, and miss that I know how to get everywhere without a map. But this gospel, is not a gospel of comfort. We are here on earth to learn, stretch, and grow. So here I go!

I feel like I have so much more to say, and I'm sure next week's email will be huge, but times up and I don't have any stories that I can think of. So I love you all, and will send you my address as soon as I know it. Will you be sure to let the blog people know I am transferred! :) Love you all lots and miss you much!
xoxoxoxo Sister P.

pictures: diamond back, then other rattler, and sister oswald too

                                                                      
                                                                         Diamond back 

                                                                         Other rattler

                                       

                                                                     with Sister O.

February 11, 2013

Hello from W I N D Y Portales. We almost blew away on Friday. OK, not really, but it is always an adventure in a skirt!! 

I have a new beauty tip, especially as everyone is getting ready for the wedding! So I was commenting on a member's beautiful eye lashes and she told me that she was looking on pintrest and it said that if you put Vaseline on your eye lashes every night before bed your eye lashes will be more full and long. She said it is because our eye lashes get so dry from mascara and because they are always out in the sun. So I have been trying it, and after about 4 days I saw a difference!!! So I'm a believer and have been putting vaseline on my eye lashes every night and am super pleased with the results. :) 

MOM: President emailed us this week and said that on blogs we shouldn't put people's names or "personal" stories, because they have been getting back to people and "ruining trust".  I'm pretty sure none of my investigator would even bat an eye about it all, but from now on I guess names need to be changed, or I guess stories need to be left out.... :(

Transfer calls are on Saturday so I will find out what the plan is! I have a feeling it is my time to go, but we will see.... And if I do get transferred cross your fingers that it is to a bigger city! I would love to do some actual shopping! I know I'm really sick of my wardrobe when I start dreaming of clothes shopping!! I had a dream that a Downeast came to town and I was jumping for joy! :)

So update on C. We send out inspirational scriptures or quotes sometimes to our investigators. Well as I was getting one together for one investigator I felt like I should include C in the text. Well, God works in mysterious ways and he texted back and said that he was glad we had sent the text because after like a whole 2 transfers he has decided he wants to meet with missionaries again!!! YAYAY!! 

God is directing His work out here, and throughout each day we are able to see His hand leading and guiding us to the people He is preparing! We had this week some neighbors of a member give US a call to have US come teach THEM!  How often does it happen that random people out of the blue call the missionaries to come over?! And then have a most wonderful lesson, and they tell us they know THIS GOSPEL is what their family is missing! Love this work! 

Happy Valentines week this week to everyone! I love you all lots! Xoxoxooxoxoooxo! Love your missionary Amanda!

February 4, 2013

                                   


Hello Family!

Dear Braden: I tried sending you a birthday card this past week and I didn't put enough postage on it, so they sent it back to me and so today I put it in the mail again. So it is coming little birthday boy! Sister N loves Batman and she was super impressed when I showed her those pictures from that party! She wanted that Batman cake! Yep, my family is cool! xoxox

Well we had a baptism this week! Saturday W was baptized and it was a wonderful baptism. The Spirit was there, as well as lots of family so it was very very nice! We made him cupcakes while the font was filling, because when he quit smoking we made him cupcakes to celebrate! So, of course, he needed cupcakes at his baptism too! The only hitch of the night was when he was being baptized he hit his head on the way down! As soon as they started Sister N turns to me and says "he's gonna hit his head!" And then she covered her eyes! And sure enough he did!!! But afterwords we asked him how his head was and he said he didn't even feel it! That's the Spirit protecting him!! Oh and I forgot our other drama! Our church building is being repainted (even that pokie carpet stuff on the walls) and when we showed up to fill up the font, the font was all taped off!!! We had got there just in time; they were about to paint the font!! What a disaster that would have been!

And onto other news: we had bike day Thursday (and I bought a basket this past p-day, so now I have this lovely basket so I don't have to have a sweaty/heavy backpack on my back!!! yay!) And we road like the 2 miles to the college to go contacting, and on our way a member drove past and wanted to talk to us. So for the time all of that took (a total of about 2ish hours) we came home for lunch and I WAS SUNBURNED! My nose and cheeks were red! Not sunburned enough to hurt, but my freckles came out and I was shocked! It is January people!! January! And I have to start wearing sunscreen! Welcome to New Mexico!

I saw all the pictures of the house, and it looks SO BEAUTIFUL! I teared up a little bit when I looked at the living room and the picture collection on the wall. To see pictures of everyone, made me miss you all! I think the realness of the wedding has finally hit me, and it makes me really really wish I could be there. :( But I know the Lord will provide and will help me as I face this hurtle. I don't understand why things have to happen the way they do, but I have faith that in the end it will all be as it should. I love you guys!

Hey mom, or anyone. We have a member family here who are planning on moving to go to school in Provo in the fall. They have 2 kids and are looking for a place to live. She asked me if I knew of anywhere and I told her I would ask you all to keep your eyes out. They are awesome and I love them :)

Also we get transfer calls on the 16th. :/ that will be interesting.

I'm attaching pictures of bunnies! Love you all! xoxoxo
-your missionary

                                                                         Sister O

                                                                           Sister G

From last sunday visiting a less active. He wanted to show us his goats. Sister N almost touched one and when I tried they all ran away and a dog began to jump on me. This is classic missionary: Dogs, babies, and boyfriends. The three biggest trouble causers when we are feeling the Spirit. I have been thrown up on, had things thrown at my head (a pen, a sippy cup, and a pencil) and boyfriends never want their girlfriends to progress!! gah! :)