Week #12

Hello Family!!


Yahoo it's been a crazy week! We have been working hard and making
sacrifices. I'll include some of the stories, but I won't be able to get to
all of them. Some are funny, and some uplifting and some will make you pee
your pants. (How's that for an opener?! :D)

We have made a goal as a mission to have two baptisms per comanpionship per
week. As a companionship, we have made the goal of setting the standard
higher for ourselves: three. We have no clue how it's going to happen, but
we're working hard and having faith that the Lord will bless us for our
efforts. His servants, our AP's and Mission President extended this goal,
and we know from 1 Nephi 3:7 and 1 Nephi 17:3 that God will not ask us to do
impossible things. All things are possible with God. Genesis 18:14 Please
keep us in your prayers

Now for....Angela? I don't remember what I changed her name to in the
emails, but I think it was Angela. (No, that's not her real name.) She is
the one that was orphaned as a child and now her adopted parents are giving
her up for adoption. I have tried several times to get ahold of her parents
to ask for permission to teach her...most nervewracking thing I have done on
the mission. I'll take a Troll (pranker) over doing that any day! It's scary
because you have always connected with this child, you love them, you want
to help them. And then you have to ask their parents who may have no
inclination to being prepared as their child has. And you have to show them
you're not a bad person, not using your body language, not  using your
presence, not using your presence, not using any of your basic first
impression elements. All you have is your voice, and pending on that is
someone's happiness and salvation. No pressure. I fasted on Sunday for our
investigators specifically for when I would be trying to reach them again
that night. I got ahold of them! I talked to her father, which was scary
because of the situation and he was rather....prickly, not friendly or kind.
And then, surprise surprise! Turns out her family is actually LDS! WHAT? Her
father said, "I guess Angela doesn't really understand that we are LDS, but
she has been baptized. etc etc. and conversation goes on." I'm still going,
WHAT?! It was a big surprise to me and to Hannah (Amazing 8th grader that
referred her. I have never seen a member missionary like her her age and few
to her equal that are much older than her. She is amazing, I wnat to be like
her when I grow up!)

Which brings us to another story...Josh. I talked to him on Chat with my
companion in the MTC. During the course of our conversation, he not only
said that he wanted to meet with missionaries, but that he wanted to be
baptized! Since then I have been corresponding through email to ask him for
phone number and then that I needed permission from parents again. (Remember
that scary thing?) He got nervous and said he'd like to talk to his parents
first. His mom is not active in the Church, and his father is Roman Catholic
and he's worred about risking his realtionship with him. Well I haven't been
able to get an answer from Josh, so per promptings from the Holy Ghost I
called his house. I heard his voice! Josh answered! I told him I was a
missionary and that I wanted to talk to his parents. I didn't really help
him realize who I was because I didn't want to jepardize that we're supposed
to ask parents first. His mom wasn't home and siad that his dad would be
home in a few hours. We hung up. He called back. He said that his dad was
going to be home and that he'd like to have him call me. Since he called me,
I was allowed to tell him who I was more than just my name. When I told him
I was the missionary that contacted him on chat in November he siad, "Wait,
WHAT?! That was you?!?!"  He was excited. And then we got a call from
another sister. Apparently while we were on a call the Dad called in. He
gave us permission!!! So we're very excited. We took a video of me when I
was still excited but not immediately after it happened. (Pretty sure my
excitement would have broken the camera.) When we found out that his Dad
called, I was so excited I jumped up high saying yes! and ....punched the
ceiling. Sorry ceiling. :D

We are also teaching Madeline, but we think she's fake. Alot of people call
in with pranks and such, this mornign we had someone rap for us! Wished we
had recorded it. We think that Madeline is schizoprenic, (spelt right?) She'
is very nice and genuine, but alot of sisters have her, different names and
addresses and numbers which are all valid, but the exact same distinct
voice. And she talks witht he vocab of a member. And we think we got another
man like that on Chat, too early to tell for sure. We are also teaching
John! He's from Jamica! It's hard to teach him because his accent is
distracting. I love it! I wish I could tell you about everyone we're
teaching, but too many and too little time.

On that note I had a childhood dream be realized! I drove a car through the
car wash with the window open. I have always wanted to do that since I saw
it on a movie as a child but didn't do it for obvious reasons. It was on
accident, and there was no damage done. It was only open for maybe 3
seconds. It was just funny. I had two Koreans and a German try to use not
commonly used English terms to direct me on how to work the Church's car
wash. it was very confusing to have three ESL backseat drivers. And then the
wash started and they all started screaming because water and soap was
coming in. Oh it was hilarious.

I also had a mistake call, I called the wrong number! But I said, "Oh,
sorry... well,....what do you know about The Church of Jesus Christ of
LAtter-Day Saints?" Turns out he is a member! We had a great conversation.
He is a descendant of Brigham Young, so talked to one of his descendants
while in his house! Cool huh! and I got a referral out of it.

I also had another adventure. The grocery store got my milk I bought and
cottage cheese mixed up. And I didn't realize it until after I ate a bowl of
cereal. It was given to me, it was very strong fake banana flavor sos I
didn't taste it. Then looked after and EW!! There are chunks! I got sick,
but it's all good. Antoehr mission story right?

I also had a crazy man experience. A homeless man I have befriended and got
referrals from came on square and I started talking to him. Bad mistake.
Turns out he has been in alot of wars and done alot of bad things, he's a
criminal and been to jail. He started giving me details on what he did and
started laughing, and I told him that wasn't funny. I was bold and testified
of gospel truths, (he's a memeber too!) I badly wanted to pull panic pull
but I didn't becuase I initiated conversation. Don't worry though, I have
been reprimanded more than once I will pull next time. JD a security man
that I have befriended, I met him on my first day said, "That is our job. It
is our job to keep you safe, your Dads are trusting us with that while
you're here. As far as you are concerned, you're ona  date with security for
18 months and we ARE going to get you home by curfew." Love it! :D West Gate
is the best! We get all the crazies.

We also have a mouse. Joy. I found poop in my keyboard and on my desk.The
custiodians came and cleaned twice, but I cleaned after them both times and
foudn more when I was deep cleaning. My comp found out how much that grosses
me out, I got a little excited with my cleaninign. :)

I have a challenge for everyone. We need more people to teach. We can always
take more. Will you trust us, with your friends? I challenge each family to
send us one referral. all we need is a name, any info you can give us and
the phone number. And please, don't be one of those members that says,
"Everyone I know if Mormon." Bogus, I hate that reponse. It's okay if you
don't know of someone to refer, but don't give that excuse because someone
in the grocery store, someone who passes you on the street is not a member.
It can happen if you pray for it. I promise. 2 Nephi 2:5-8.

I love you all. Happy Valentines Day! I'm showing my love a little
differently this year, but remember Moroni 7:45-48.

Love Always and Forever,

Sister Eden Marie