 | |
| Sisters Oliphant, Wilson, Marroquin, Landon at the Sacramento Temple |
So before I begin with this week I didnt have a chance to finish last week. So this is carry over from my last week in Stockton.
Sister
C. introduced us to her neighbor who is a complete drunk. Oh my
goodness he is hilarious. I could not break a smile on my face the
entire time hahaa. But yeah although he said he has not been sober for I
think 8 years, literally, he has one of the most profound testimony of Jesus Christ I have heard yet from an investigator. We stopped by his
home and visited with him for a bit and he practically taught us about
the atonement. He knows the only way out of this whole mess is though Jesus Christ. It was sad though because I think he thought he was too
trapped to get out. We told the addiction recovery instructor about him
and invited him to come on Tuesday nights. The gospel can change lives
if we only allow it.
I keep having funny dreams. I dont know if its
apostate to have mission inappropriate dreams or not but I can't help but
think they are just tender mercies from the lord. I mean I really can't
help what I dream about right. haha A few I had at the MTC were about
escaping the MTC and trying to get back in undetected. It was like a
Jason Bourne action movie with hired secret agents to do the job for us. I had another about someone in particular (I wont mention names)
kidnapping me from the MTC. Anyway its fun
because in the morning we seem to have fun unrealistic stories to share
from our dreams and while they dont make sense they are our source of
entertainment. Anyways....
Sister Wilson sang a beautiful musical number on
Sunday. She sang "Savior Redeemer of My Soul" #113. But the Joseph Smith
version. Look it up. Its jaw dropping awesome. (Also its in 17 miracles.
Have you seen that movie? you NEED to!) Well anyways we had a little
posse of people sitting by us, well me cause she was singing on the
stand. This posse included all our friends aka people we were
encouraging to come to church (recent converts, less actives, and
investigators). Well anyways the song was beautiful, Sister Wilson has a
gorgeous voice. Well as she finished the crowd erupted with applause!
bahaha Okay maybe not the whole sacrament meeting, but at least the little posse I
was sitting with. Oh my goodness hilarious. No one knew what to do, especially
me. Turns out a few in the back rows joined in too. Luckily I caught
Sister Wilson's face before she came to sit down with us. Priceless.
bahahahahaha
Sign language is rough. Every time we teach it feels
like my first week in the field all over again. Mostly because we dont
teach in asl like ever and I am super rusty at it already in just the 6
weeks since the MTC. (Don't worry I've already warmed up in Carmichael.)
Good luck to Elvera. Hopefully Riverside doesn't have
as many dogs as Sacramento, but oh my goodness I have never been covered
so much in dog hair in my life. EVERYONE has dogs here.
Okay quick Lynda story. bahaha This one is good too. So Lynda was
invited over to FHE at the Robisons home. We were invited over as well.
Well in Stockton everyone lives in gated communities. Doesn't matter how
rich or poor you are, there are fences around everything. The poor areas
the gates are easy to get past, the rich ones, more difficult. Well the
Robisons lets just say are well off, so they have a gate keeper even. We
pull up to the little booth with the gate keeper man and say who we are
here to see etc. Meanwhile on the right side of us is a separate lane
for residents to beep themselves in, while we wait for the guy to call
the Robisons to make sure they are expecting us etc. Well as he is doing
his gate keeping job we hear a big crunch on our right side. We look
over and there is Lynda, who had just broke the wood gate/stick thing
that comes down! Apparently she thought she could just tail gate
someone in! So the little thing came down right on the hood of her GIANT SUV and snapped into 4 pieces. We just looked over in horror and
awkwardly didn't know what to do. bahaha Anyways Lynda didnt really know
what to do so she just followed us into the park/neighborhood. Later,
security came to the Robisons home and without Lynda knowing, the
Robisons were so great. They told the officer they would pay for the
entire thing and not to tell Lynda about it. For all we know it cost up
to $500 to replace the gate. The Robisons are true examples of those who
love as Christ and sacrifice.
Lori is doing well! She is less active and this week
we had the most inspired lesson. lLri has set a goal to receive her
temple recommend. So excited for her! She's also planning on getting her
patriarchal blessing as soon as she can too!!!
I have a pic of Barb and Guyla to show you. haha
They are our friends who live at the trailer park next to Dan. Dan will
be baptized in Jan. I'll tell you more when I get the pic, but this is
to remind me.
Okay back up to
CARMICHAEL!!------------------------------------------------------------
This
week was stake conference so it wasnt normal asl branch style. Instead
we took turns, Sister Larson and I interpreting for both sessions. That
was fun. Okay and yeah the Lord blessed me the entire time. I don't know
how I did it but I think those from the deaf branch hopefully got
something out of the whole thing. The asl is coming quite along. We
taught in asl all week and for some reason its not as stressful as I
thought. I'm catching most of it and for some reason I feel pretty
comfortable teaching too. The MTC is all coming back! lol. Thank heavens
for the MTC. Literally.
But this week, on Thursday, my first full day up here
we had a booth at the ASL celebration on the capitol grounds in down
town Sacramento. We got 12 referals!!! 10 of which are deaf! It should be a
busy transfer contacting them all :] So very excited! I came at the just
the right time! The Lord has blessed up with much work to do. Also
quite a few hearing people flocked to me at the booth and I found Nathan!! Well more like Nathan found us!!!! He's read the Book of Mormon,
knows its the word of God, and wants the gospel in his life. I was in
shock the whole time as we chatted. He's never met with the missionaries
before. Because I'm an asl sister we had to pass him off the the YSA elders
because he's hearing. I was so privileged to still have taught him his first
lesson! Do when he is baptized I'll still be able to go! He's awesome and
will get wet! The Elders already told me they met with him and he's
progressing!!! Woo hoo!!!! Miracles baby!
I love Sister Larson! My step mom as I call her.
Sister Wilson is my mom. Don't worry mama mie you cannot be replaced,
its a missionary lingo thing. Sister Larson is actually very mother
like, very gentle and loving. She is the perfect balance to me who is a
little more rough around the edges. Sister Larson went to the MTC with
only 2 years of asl under her and bless her soul she has improved so
much I'm sure! She's so much better at comprehension that me. Half the
time I'm still clueless to deafies when they just start going. My brain
doesn't work that fast yet.
I shattered a glass cup all over my kitchen
yesterday. That was a pain cleaning up. Took an hour. A thousand
little pieces and I didnt want glass in anyone's foot. Missionary apartments
are quite the habitation. I always move in and have the desire to
organize. There is always so much stuff left behind.
Did I mention we have a gym!!! At our complex! Aww
its the best! Also the members don't feed us as much so maybe between
less giant meals from the members, not dessert everynight, and a gym I'll
take off all this weight I've put on. I've never weighed this much
before. Oh my goodness I do not like it and miss running. Praying for a
running companion at some point on my mission.
Saturday we ran a 5k actaully at a deaf event. We go
to alot of those. Its how we tract. Congrats to Stu and Terrill on
their way awesome PRs. I won't tell you how long it took us to finish it.
But yeah I can't complain none-the-less. How many missionaries get to run
5ks on their mission- not on a p-day!
HAPPY B'DAY STU!!!!! HOOO WOO!! You are super old now, but yeah happy b'day. Hope your day is magical! ... and you hit your
under 20 min PR soon!
Did i mention its
FALL!!! Its nothing compared to a Wisconsin fall but the trees are
changing colors and there are crunchy leaves everywhere. I probably look
drunk when I walk cause I'm always trying to crunch all the leaves as we
walk around. Its so much fun :]
Well yep that's the mission. Life is still good. And its all thanks for Heavenly Father and you for getting me here. Thanks.
Love,
Sister Elephant
ps Thats my name here.
No comments:
Post a Comment