Week #51

Aloha all!!

So first to explain my title. Well last week, we were coming home from Costco and were laden with wonderful food and Sister Allred was unlocking the door and started screaming and trying to do a Hi-Yah!  kick at the wall. There was a huge black cockroach, 2 1/2 inches long. She went inside and I started to try and find something (stick-like) to get it to come out from the ledge so I could kill it. She came out with windex and started spraying it. It had some effect because it started running like crazy. And all the while she's screaming at me "GET IT, GET IT!!!" But I'm too busy laughing and trying not to pee my pants and get sprayed by windex, I guess that she missed my pleas of her to stop spraying so I could squish it. So it's true, everything can be cured with windex. (NAME THAT MOVIE!!!) The less exciting news is that we have a bunch of cockroaches in the apt, we'll have to get sprayed (it isn't me, I swear!!) but it's still not anywhere near as bad as the apt I had in Temple Square. It's very nice, they're spoiled here! :D And she got the idea of the windex from my killing flies antics. I get a spray bottle filled with water and run after the flies and spray them till they drop to the ground and get them with tissue paper and put them in the toilet. It's pretty funny to watch because it looks like I'm running around chasing nothing with alot of animation of course, being me. :) She's threatening to record it, so maybe we'll have it for your enjoyment sometime.

Next, we had exchanges this week. That means that we trade companions for a 24 hours and learn from each other. It was exactly what I needed. My new comp, Sister Moore, was an angel. She had such a great attitude about Temple Square and had alot of respect and interest in it. She is a great missionary, and I truly feel like I gained a great friend. That's where "Kristie" comes in. We were teaching one of their investigators, Henry. He is a sweet, sweet man. He couldn't remember my name, and I guess in his confusion (he's a little old) started calling me Kristie. He is so humble and has a very earnest desire to learn. He's set to get baptized November 17th, and he was very disappointed I wouldn't be there. We taught him the night I was there, and again in the morning. I truly gained a new friend that I love dearly.

Sister Kate comes from when we went and  visited a referral. Part of our area in an Indian Reservation, and it's pretty sketchy, but love it! We were visting a family there, and she had forgotten our appointment and so we were standing in her kitchen trying to teach her as she was getting dinner ready per her insistence. It was interesting asking about her religious beliefs while watching cockroaches crawl over everything, including her sleeping two year old daughter who had simply wilted in a kitchen chair. One of her six kids, Patricia, asked my name and drew my comp and I lots of pictures with narrations of things like "You're pretty and nice." and "Jesus loves you." We were sent away with these drawings and feeling like a million bucks. :D

Thank you to all that made me feel special on my birthday. It truly was the best birthday ever!!!! We went to a vetrans day parade and passed out flyers contacting people for a fireside we're planning this weekend. So excited!!! We also recruited the Elders to help, and we went to Carls Jr afterwards and they used their connections with manager to get me cheesecake and ice cream for my birthday. I think I may be the first to ever get that service from a fast food restaruarnt!! :D

Yesterday we had an amazing Stake Conference. It was a broadcast from SLC, and it had Elder Holland in it. He had some interesting thoughts. He said that we as members, need to act like the members we want around our sons and daughters on missions. He said that the standard has been raised for the new missionaries with the age change, and that it was time for the members to step up as well. He illustrated this with "We must not expect these young people to open doors that we ourselves would not open for them." Let us step up. Now, more than ever, the world is watching us. It is our duty as members of the original Christian church to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ and help people build their faith in him. For those reading this, and are not members yourselves, I entreat you to learn of it yourselves and ask your Father in Heaven if it is true: I know that it is.

I had some ideas for the holiday season, but in sense of time, here's an excerpt from Preach My Gospel, pg 220

Members should use every honorable means to find people who are willing to listen
to the message of the Restoration. They should emphasize finding fathers, mothers, and
children who will come into the Church as families. Following are some suggestions to
consider in developing a mission plan.
• Pray that the Lord will prepare the hearts of specific people to hear the gospel. Pray
also to be sensitive to those whom He is preparing (see Alma 6:6). “It will be a great
day,” taught President Gordon B. Hinckley, “when our people not only pray for the
missionaries throughout the world, but ask the Lord to help them to assist the
missionaries who are laboring in their own ward” (“Missionary Service,” First Worldwide
Leadership Training Meeting, Jan. 2003, 19).
• Be aware of opportunities to reach out to others. Be neighborly and reach out in love to
all people.
• Ask friends and neighbors to serve alongside members in such things as providing
community service, providing meals to those in need, teaching miniclasses in Relief
Society enrichment meetings, helping with ward activities, helping people move,
working in Scouting, and helping with family history or welfare projects.
• Invite nonmember relatives, friends, and neighbors to baptisms, confirmations, and
priesthood ordinations.
• Invite nonmembers to assist in special events, such as a breakfast on a national holiday.
• Make ward meetings, activities, firesides, and open houses of such quality and interest
that members feel eager to invite acquaintances to attend.
• Invite people to family home evenings.
• Visit people who are experiencing changes in their lives, such as marriages, births, or
deaths.
• Visit and help people who are moving into the neighborhood. Share information about
the community, neighborhood, and the Church.
• Take every opportunity to talk about the gospel. Discuss such topics as the Savior, the
Book of Mormon, the Bible, the purpose of life, the family, and family history.
• Encourage youth to befriend other youth and invite them to Church meetings and
activities.
• Work with part-member families.
• Plan spiritually uplifting sacrament meetings.

I love you all. I know this church is true. I love my Savior and am so, so grateful for His love and guidance. Thank you for your love and support.
Love,
Sister Lake