I called Sister Cosper this morning to ask a few questions. Then... She informed me that Jan has a baptism date for Sept 24th!!!! Apparently Sister Ram and Cosper went over on Saturday and Jan told them that she read Sister Ellsworth's good bye note to her. In the note Sister Ellsworth simply stated that she knew the church was true. When she read that... She felt the spirit really strong and knew that Sister Ellsworth wouldn't lie. So... Sister Cosper and Ram asked Jan to exercise her faith and set a baptismal date. She accepted and now is planing to be baptized on Sept 24th!!! Yesterday they showed Jan where she would be baptized and Jan felt the spirit again that this was something she needs to do. She is nervous for having the baptismal date so soon (originally it was the first weekend in Oct, but they had to move it up to the last weekend in Sept!) but... She keeps saying WHEN I get baptize, what is expected of me/ what do I need to do before I get baptize? This is a HUGE miracle! This isn't the Jan I met back in July. Her heart is totally softened and now wants to join the church!
Sadly I won't be able to go to the baptism because it isn't in my area`anymore, but I much rather Jan be baptize without me there than not get baptized at all! I'm sooooo happy and excited!
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| Sister Routt and I!!! |
I feel like it has been 2 weeks since last time I wrote! It must have been because of changing areas and getting a new companion. But... Boy! Since I moved areas the days are just ripping by! I am now serving in the Broadneck Ward in Annapolis, Maryland! My new companion and I have been keeping ourselves busy which is a tender mercy because we are white washing the area. My new companion is Sister Routt! She is from Orem, UT and is planing to go to UVU after her mission! We were in the Silver Spring Zone for the same amount of time! She has been on her mission for 5 months now and has only served in White Oak before being with me. ALL of her 3 companions are home from their mission. She keeps getting companions on their last transfer! It looks like I too will be finishing my mission with her too! I'm so excited! We are having a blast so far!
Last Monday we had a fun goodbye party for Sister Ellsworth! We played poor man cranium.... Look it up! It's so fun! All you need is a pen, paper, and a bag of some sort!
On Tuesday we made a TON of errands! It was really fun doing last minute things for Sister Ellsworth's last day in the mission. Sister Cosper was called to be the new Sister Training Leader with Sister Ram! So... They had to leave early to pick up the new missionaries!
Wednesday was a crazy morning! We all were running around getting packed up and getting ready to say our goodbyes to Sister Ellsworth. It was so sad saying goodbye! We lingered in the parking lot until we were the last ones to leave! Sister Johnson had to pull Sister Ellsworth away from us! Once she was gone, Sister Routt and I headed on our way to our new area!
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| Transfer Day! |
Thursday was a fun day! Sister Routt and I decided to make some cookies for some members and investigators to say hi. That worked out really well! Haha. Fun fact... You can buy everything you need to make cookies at Dollar Tree! They even had eggs! The cookies let us meet some awesome people in the area! One of which was the bishop's family! They have the cutest kids ever! I'm looking foreword to working with them more. The bishop's wife even invited us to go to her son's baptism last Saturday! We of course had to go to 5 Below and pick up a little something for him to say congrats. The baptism was so fun! I got to meet a lady afterwards that knows ASL and wants us to come over so she can polish her skills more! She was telling me funny stories about when she taught her oldest son how to sign when he was a baby. He would make up excuses of not going to sleep. He would sign that the tree was scary (he didn't even have a window in his room!) or the wall was scary. Haha. I'm looking forward to teaching ASL with my kids one day! The lady's husband did a fantastic job speaking on baptism. He's in the Army and related his talk on baptism to joining the Army. It was quite interesting to see the similarities between the two. Then he gave the little boy an Army hat with his last name on it! It was so cute!
Friday was a big day! We went to meet Marilyn who is a potential investigator. She is a self referral who wants to learn more about the church because her daughter became a member a little bit ago. When she opened her door, we asked if we could do anything for her. She said,"Yes! There is something I need help with!" Marilyn got in a car accident a few weeks ago that should have killed her! She is now in a neck brace for a few more weeks. Because of the brace, she hasn't been able to sleep very well. So Sister Routt and I helped move her furniture around up stairs to put a recliner in her room to sleep in! That was a fun adventure! I was proud that we were able to accomplish the task! We then got to talk with Marilyn for awhile and she told us all about these crazy sailing experiences she has had. The following day we went back to do a little shopping for her since she is without a car. When we got back, we met Marilyn's friend that goes to the same church as her! They are both sweet ladies! We got to teach the 1st half of the lesson with Marilyn and I'm looking foreword in meeting with her this week!
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| Saying goodbye to Sister Ellsworth! |
Stake Conference was a really good! Robert C. Gay came to speak with us as well. He did a fantastic job! He told amazing stories on Saturday night and Sunday morning. My favorite story was on Saturday night about his family! When he and his wife got a call to serve as mission president in Ghana, majority of his kids weren't on the right path. He tried to tell the Leaders that they had the wrong man since his children were struggling or had struggled with the gospel. He and his wife were then promised in a blessing being set apart that their family would be blessed if they did all they could as mission president. So they served to the best of their abilities. While gone, 5 out of the 6 kids got married in the temple! The oldest son still had his heart harden to the church, but brought his nonmember girlfriend to Ghana to meet his parents. Elder Gay took the opportunity and invited the APs to their family home evening. The missionaries then extended every invitation in all the lessons you could give! His son was not happy with his dad! Well... A few months`after Elder Gay and his wife got home from their mission, he gets a call from his son. He asked if his girlfriend could be taught the lessons! Elder Gay asked to clarify what he meant and his son explained,"The missionaries gave her the stupid Book of Mormon and started reading it! She now wants to be baptized!" So... Short time later, his son came back to the church and got married to his now wife!
After church on Sunday we met another awesome family (we have been so blessed to be fed every night so far)! The mom ended up giving us a lot of food to take home with us! Including a almost 7 pound chicken that we will be making tonight to make chicken tacos! Wish us luck! Then we went to check up on members and potential investigators! I have found another favorite family! They are the Boyce's. They are so funny and sweet! We had a really fun visit with them. The Boyce's have grown children now and enjoying the grandparent life! I'm so excited to visit with them again!
Today has been a relaxing P day! Tonight we will check up on 2 of our neighbors who might be interested in learning about the gospel! Wish us luck! Oh... Fun fact... I'm living in an actual house right now! It's so cute and small! We even live in an neighborhood! It's so funny that I really do miss living in a neighborhood! It has been a fun change from living in an apartment for the last 15 months!
I hope you all are doing swell and happy! I'm doing great and look foreword to what this week brings!
Love,
Sister Parker
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| The chicken is in. Repeat... The chicken is in! |
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