Hey!
This has been a wonderful week! Nothing too exciting happened, but it was just good to work and grow!
A bit that I missed last week: Korean fried chicken is INCREDIBLE. SO GOOD. In fact, as I am typing, Sister Lee is sitting behind me with some chicken that we ordered. Something to look forward to!
Funny story of the mission...because it just grows longer and longer...avoiding drunk guys. They love to talk to foreign sisters. We have had a few experiences doing English class proselyting (thank goodness we were with the Elders), and after talking to someone for a moment, realizing that they are sopping drunk and that I need to step away. It is actually kind of funny, even if those situations are SUPER awkward. I am still figuring out how to avoid drunk guy hugs.
We have a few investigators right now. Most of them are connected to English teaching. One is the family that came to church the other week, and we just asked them if they would like to be baptized. They said they would have to think about it of course, but it's something!
The investigator that I have been SUPER excited about is a college student from Sweden. Her name is Linnea. One good thing: I can talk to her in English! It seriously is the greatest thing when we teach her. I have only taught her once, but it was incredible. She is very sincere, and loves what we have taught her so far, which is only some of the first lesson. When I told her about how God loves her, and families can be together forever, she said, "Everything you say is so beautiful! It is like poetry." We told her about prayer, and how God will answer her prayers and wants to communicate with her, and she asked, "That is so wonderful! Can you teach me the right way to pray? I just don't want to do it wrong." Uhhh...YES. Yes we can. Absolutely. When I told her how to pray, she said, "I am getting goosebumps! I love this!" She is INCREDIBLE. As I've taught and even just talked with her, I just love her SO much. I want more than anything for her to keep progressing, to get to know the Savior, to feel this happiness, and to accept the ordinances that she needs to have the fulness of joy. Please pray for her! She was sick last week and wasn't able to meet with us, but I am sure we will meet again soon!
Lately as Sister Lee and I have been doing the 12 Week training program, we have had so many ideas of things we need to do better with our branch and the members. They are quite busy, and we have never had a member with us at a lesson. We need that more than anything. So we have been working on trying to have more activities, and a member missionary program we started called the Bud Program. We teach them the lessons, and have commitments that have to do with studying a principle, marking a Book of Mormon, and sharing that with a friend. Also, last night we had a wonderful activity at the Branch President's house. We had dinner, talked, and watched a Mormon Message. As I sat and looked around, even though I cannot say or understand too much, I just love them all. They are wonderful people! We talked a lot with the Stake President who is a member of our branch about missionary work, and he was really excited about it. He wants to do so much more. He was even pointing at members at one point and speaking to them in low form, throwing out ideas of what they should do. It was hilarious, and awesome. I am excited! I feel like we are on the edge of something.
I've made cookies in our little toaster oven! It has been an adventure. We don't even have measuring cups or spoons, so I have to just estimate. Also, just learning how to bake in the toaster oven has been interesting. They have turned out okay, though! I made some Snicker doodles for the branch activity last night. It is just relaxing to bake. So nice!
I love this. While it is hard, I feel a little happier and more excited each day. It is wonderful to serve the Lord and these people, and also to feel the peace and simple joy that comes from doing what is right. I just love this gospel so much. It means the world to me. While I miss you all, the Lord allows me to feel close to you, and feel like I am serving along with you as I serve with Him. I love Him. I am so happy! Each day is so much fun, and I have a blast with Sister Lee, those we teach, the members, and other missionaries; but it is also so right!
I love you so much! Have a good week!
Sister Stapley
This has been a wonderful week! Nothing too exciting happened, but it was just good to work and grow!
A bit that I missed last week: Korean fried chicken is INCREDIBLE. SO GOOD. In fact, as I am typing, Sister Lee is sitting behind me with some chicken that we ordered. Something to look forward to!
Funny story of the mission...because it just grows longer and longer...avoiding drunk guys. They love to talk to foreign sisters. We have had a few experiences doing English class proselyting (thank goodness we were with the Elders), and after talking to someone for a moment, realizing that they are sopping drunk and that I need to step away. It is actually kind of funny, even if those situations are SUPER awkward. I am still figuring out how to avoid drunk guy hugs.
We have a few investigators right now. Most of them are connected to English teaching. One is the family that came to church the other week, and we just asked them if they would like to be baptized. They said they would have to think about it of course, but it's something!
The investigator that I have been SUPER excited about is a college student from Sweden. Her name is Linnea. One good thing: I can talk to her in English! It seriously is the greatest thing when we teach her. I have only taught her once, but it was incredible. She is very sincere, and loves what we have taught her so far, which is only some of the first lesson. When I told her about how God loves her, and families can be together forever, she said, "Everything you say is so beautiful! It is like poetry." We told her about prayer, and how God will answer her prayers and wants to communicate with her, and she asked, "That is so wonderful! Can you teach me the right way to pray? I just don't want to do it wrong." Uhhh...YES. Yes we can. Absolutely. When I told her how to pray, she said, "I am getting goosebumps! I love this!" She is INCREDIBLE. As I've taught and even just talked with her, I just love her SO much. I want more than anything for her to keep progressing, to get to know the Savior, to feel this happiness, and to accept the ordinances that she needs to have the fulness of joy. Please pray for her! She was sick last week and wasn't able to meet with us, but I am sure we will meet again soon!
Lately as Sister Lee and I have been doing the 12 Week training program, we have had so many ideas of things we need to do better with our branch and the members. They are quite busy, and we have never had a member with us at a lesson. We need that more than anything. So we have been working on trying to have more activities, and a member missionary program we started called the Bud Program. We teach them the lessons, and have commitments that have to do with studying a principle, marking a Book of Mormon, and sharing that with a friend. Also, last night we had a wonderful activity at the Branch President's house. We had dinner, talked, and watched a Mormon Message. As I sat and looked around, even though I cannot say or understand too much, I just love them all. They are wonderful people! We talked a lot with the Stake President who is a member of our branch about missionary work, and he was really excited about it. He wants to do so much more. He was even pointing at members at one point and speaking to them in low form, throwing out ideas of what they should do. It was hilarious, and awesome. I am excited! I feel like we are on the edge of something.
I've made cookies in our little toaster oven! It has been an adventure. We don't even have measuring cups or spoons, so I have to just estimate. Also, just learning how to bake in the toaster oven has been interesting. They have turned out okay, though! I made some Snicker doodles for the branch activity last night. It is just relaxing to bake. So nice!
I love this. While it is hard, I feel a little happier and more excited each day. It is wonderful to serve the Lord and these people, and also to feel the peace and simple joy that comes from doing what is right. I just love this gospel so much. It means the world to me. While I miss you all, the Lord allows me to feel close to you, and feel like I am serving along with you as I serve with Him. I love Him. I am so happy! Each day is so much fun, and I have a blast with Sister Lee, those we teach, the members, and other missionaries; but it is also so right!
I love you so much! Have a good week!
Sister Stapley