Kennesaw, Georgia - Week 7

Hello dear family,
I'll just start describing my week from last Monday night because I
have no idea where else to even begin.
Monday evening: we had dinner with Sister Shaw. One of the best parts
about now  being with a family ward is that we get to visit with
all the widows! They're hilarious! I'm pretty sure one of the widows is the
only one who remembers the premortal existence. She says she uses her
memory of it all the time to share the gospel with her neighbors! She
claims that she's not good at anything because she didn't work on any
talents in the pre-mortal existence. She's a hoot.
Tuesday: in the morning we visited someone the elders, who used to be
in the area, taught. He was actually on date for baptism! However, he
decided that after reading Revelations that the BOM could not possibly
be true and canceled his baptism and never met with the elders again.
4 months later, we sisters get the Elder's phone (we each have a phone
in our tripanionship. It's like we're APs! Haha) and we are able to
get an appointment with him! Turns out that he only let us over
because, in his own words "I'm just a super nice guy." Either way,
we've arranged to start having weekly bible study with him.  We then
had district meeting because we are now in phase 2 of the iPads! Which
means we get the area book ap! More on that in a bit.
That afternoon we had to go to Atlanta for a doctor's appointment for
Sister Patterson. Then we had dinner with someone from Big Shanty!
Then institute! Haha I promise my week got way more interesting...
Because on Wednesday we took a surprise trip to Lilburn! This week we
had my 4 week follow-up meeting! (Can you believe I've been in Georgia
for 4 weeks?!) We woke up at 5:30 am and drove all the way to the
mission office. We thought we'd done pretty well on time because we
were the first missionary car there and we were about a half hour
early! We walked into the mission office, when the mission secretary
asked us what we were doing... "We're here for the follow-up meeting!"
Only to be informed that the follow up meeting was actually on
Thursday.
We had just wasted 200 miles, and a full morning. Self-disappointment
is an understatement.
We wallowed with the Senior missionaries for a bit, looked for my
package, and even got to see the companion ship board! Fun fact, for
the Big Shanty area, there's just one picture. Me. Just a greenie-
baby all alone taking over Big Shanty. The greenie-baby who tells her
companions that the follow-up meeting is on Wednesday, when it is
actually on Thursday. Yup.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
That afternoon we visited a less active widow. She's from New York, is
Italian, and speaks with the New York accent. She's a hoot! She told
me I looked like someone on the T.V. (We've actually decided that 5
people have told me that now....) Sometimes, I have no way to even
summarize some of the things these women tell us... She told us about
her neighbors: the adulterer, the squatter, and the drug dealers. She
gave us much needed diet cokes and I got her to commit to coming to
church!
We had dinner with the Bishop's family from the family ward and
visited with a recent convert that night.
Thursday: we went to the follow up meeting for real! I got to see
Hermana Ray! It was great. So with the area books, because we're the
first missionaries in the mission to have iPads, we have to transfer
all the information from the past 2 years in our area books to the
iPad. President Bennion told us that I'm the only missionary with
access to the Big Shanty lds tools, area book, and key indicators.
When he told us that I basically have to handle Big Shanty on my own,
it was quite comical because we just stared at him, unable to form any
sort of response other than "uh, oh, okay...." As we sat down.
That afternoon we met with some recent converts from Big Shanty as
well as with some investigators.
Sunday: Sister Hanks actually spoke in the Kennesaw ward, some of the members 
less active neighbors came for the first time in years! As
did one of their investigators! Their investigator is actually married
to a woman in the ward. His hold up is that he doesn't believe that
God would allow anyone to be baptized wrong... And he was already
baptized. Hiss mother even told him to just get baptized because she's
been baptized 8 times!
I love my area.
We actually had 2 investigators come to Big Shanty! It was great. It
was actually Branch conference, so the branch and stake president
spoke. Their talks were perfect!
Being a missionary is still a blast! My district leader just called me
and told me to take the mission stress test because last night I
sounded stressed when I had to give him the big shanty numbers... Haha
sometimes I feel like being a missionary is best summarized with this
photo:

I love you all,

Madeleine

Changes... Kennesaw, Georgia Week 6 YSA and Family Ward

Hello!
Here is a timeline of what exactly happened last weekend:
Friday: One of our sister missionaries decided to go home (good thing).
A missionary from our apartment building is told (by President Bennion) that she would join Sister
Stenquist and me. We would be a trio until the end of the transfer
(which is July 7) and we would combine areas. (Kennesaw ward + big
shanty YSA branch)
Sunday: The Missionary from our apartment building is again told that she would join me and sister Stenquist.
Monday at 12: President Bennion calls asking for Sister Stenquist. He
tells her that he is having an emergency transfer: she is moving. And
she needed to be there by 9 pm.
We also needed to drop off the missionary that is going home at the mission home so she
could go home. So we did that and said goodbye.
That night, Sister Stenquist switched places with Sister Patterson.
Sister Patterson is the third companion in our tripanionship (so it's
me, Sister Hanks (from the building), and Sister Patterson)
On July 7: Sister Hanks will be transferred somewhere else; Sister
Patterson will get a new companion and take over the Kennesaw ward; I
will get a new companion/train or and take over Big Shanty.
Although I really have no idea what's going to happen on July 7
because President Bennion could change his
mind at any time.
But currently, here's our status:
Sister Hanks: my trainer #2/ senior companion to sis. Patterson/
junior companion to me
Sister Patterson: junior companion to sis hanks (because she'll take
over her area) but also, my trainer #3
Me: baby (aka this is my first transfer) and senior companion to sis
hanks and sis Patterson in big shanty.
All of this blew my mind all last week

The first few days were really hard. I'm not going to lie. It was so
weird being the one staying, when I've always been the one who moves
away. IT WAS AWFUL!!! I miss Sister Stenquist so much! It was so sad.
We got to see her today though because they did a "Sister's Pday"
which is where all the sisters in the zone get together and just hang
out. Today was called "Princess picnic Pday!" and we were asked to 
make "bite sized pb&j". Haha us, 
the one companionship that doesn't eat bread.
So that was us last night. Thankfully we volunteer at a food panty
(did I ever tell you that it's actually called the Joe Smith memorial
food pantry? It's named after the first pastor at the church the food
pantry is at. Cool though, huh?)
And so we were able to get free pb&j and bread.
So we don't eat bread. Also, we have a no sugar competition going on
with our "gluten free" elders. It's by team: elders vs. sisters. 1 pt
for every dessert your team turns down and 5 pts for every day
everyone on your team doesn't eat dessert. It's been great!
Since all the changes, I've missed my running buddy! It's ok
though, because I workout while I wait while everyone else gets
dressed. We do go on a 5 minute jog. Which I'm happy to do because I
remember when that was all I could handle too.
Anyways, back to the sister's Pday. I got to see sister Stenquist! It
was so much fun! And her trainer was there too! We took a 3 generation
photo, which I'll send from my camera.

So here was my week in recap:
Monday: chaos
Tuesday: it just felt like Sister Stenquist had died. I had to
constantly remind myself that she was 30 min away. I was thinking
though that maybe Heavenly Father did it this way to help us
sympathize more with the sisters who were close to sister Barnard and
Sis Beckstrom. Sis Stenquist's new companion actually came out with
Sis Beckstrom and was trained by Sis Barnard.
We had the elders move our furniture around because we had to fit in
another bed and desk. That helped A LOT! Because everything was
reminding me of sis Stenquist.
Wednesday: we got to work! We had our first lesson together and it was
great! Sister Patterson is so spiritual and smart! I swear she knows
everything. She's awesome! And she's so kind and loving! I feel so
lucky that she'll get to stay!
Thursday: work! I love work. It's the best therapy.
 We met a lady from the ward. She is a devoted member, but her husband is
another religion. He's had all the lessons, and he knows the Book of
Mormon is true, but he doesn't fully understand the restoration
because he doesn't understand why he should be baptized again.
He talks to his mom all the time, and they even
called his mother in law who said "I've been baptized 8 times! It's
just a little dunking! Just do it!" Haha he still doesn't understand.
Friday: district meeting! The zone leaders randomly came... We are officially 
the only district with more Spanish
missionaries than English! But they were able to bring me an English
name tag! It will just be nice so I don't have to explain to
everyone why my name tag is in Spanish... Though I do like it for
contacting and when we are working... Especially because I can explain
that God's message is for everyone and that we are actually a worldwide
church. (A lot of people have just thought it was a western thing). I
will probably just wear my English one to meetings or when we meet
with members.
Saturday: we volunteered at the food pantry again! I love it. It
reminds me so much of San Antonio!  There are these two women who
volunteer with us that remind me of May Essex and
Kathleen Arias. One of them sang this little jingle "you got to pray,
pray, just to make it through your day" and then one of her kids left
a piece of trash on the ground so she said to him, "this is Jesus'
house! Do you think Jesus wants a messy house?! Pick it up!". It was
great.
We also had a miracle that day! We were having our first lesson
with this kid from the Ivory Coast, and we invited a ward member, who is also
from Africa. Well he got lost, but while lost, he ran into this kid,
made friends with him, and brought him to our lesson! A new
investigator for big shanty! The lesson went great! The nice thing
about YSA is that there are minimal distractions for lessons. We met
in the club house, so there's no kids, no dogs- it's the perfect
environment for the spirit to teach!  Silence is golden on missions.
Sunday was a little chaotic again because  we had to juggle attending
both the Kennesaw Ward and Big Shanty. Sis Hanks went on splits to go
to the Kennesaw ward because the ward mission leader never found a
replacement for gospel doctrine, and Sis Patterson and I went to big
shanty. Which isn't ideal because Sis Patterson really should be
spending time with the Kennesaw Ward, but it's all good! I had to play
the piano for sacrament meeting yesterday. Then I was asked to speak
on the 12th for our "come and see" church meeting!
After church we had dinner at a member's home. They are this cute
elderly couple. They're in their 70s. They live in the cutest ranch
style home! It literally felt like stepping back in time. Especially
when they fed us pork and beans, and then had us go pick vegetables
out of their garden! Haha

I still love being a missionary! It's been crazy, because at dinner on
Friday, Sister Hanks and I found an Ensign, and we immediately opened
it up to an article titled "No Transfer". It was perfect. It was about
a missionary that really wanted to be transfered, but wasn't. She then
received the spiritual reassurance that her work still wasn't done and
Heavenly Father needed her there. While it's the opposite scenario for
Sister Stenquist and Sister Hanks and Sister Patterson, it was still
perfect. Heavenly Father is always very aware of us and is with us.
Whenever we feel like He has abandoned us, it's because we have closed
him out. I've been thinking that the Holy Ghost is really like your
very own personal gps. When you start to get off on the wrong path, it
will tell you to turn around, much like the Holy Ghost warns us of
danger. Eventually we just turn the gps off because we don't want to
listen to it tell us to turn around or recalculate anymore, and that's
when we lose the gift of the Holy Ghost. It's up to us to turn
the gps back on and plug in our address to the celestial kingdom just
like how it's up to us to become worthy for the gift of the Holy Ghost
anymore.
I love you all so much! I love hearing from you. This work is awesome
because I just get to talk about Jesus all day.  I know that this
is His church. I know that Joseph Smith was called as a prophet of God
to restore it back on earth. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know
that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. It's because of Him and
His atonement, that we can return to live with our loving Heavenly
Father. It's by His grace that we can do hard things. I know that it
is the hard things that help us change to become like Him.
Moroni 10:32
"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves
of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all
ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then
is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect
in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can
in nowise deny the power of God."
I love you!
Sister Wallis

 Lemonade with umbrellas while the A/C gets fixed!

 

PB&J's for the Sister's PDay...

3 Generation of Trainers photo

Kennesaw, Georgia Week 5

So this past week was great! We got 2 new investigators! And we have

two progressing! It's awesome!

Can I just write about dinners in the YSA (Young Single Adult Branch)? The food people feed us 

is so great and so are the people! 

I love YSA so much! 

We walked a lot this week- IT IS HOT.

I forgot what real heat feels like. I honestly forget while I'm

walking, that I'm still in the U.S. I often like to pretend that I'm

in Cayman or somewhere else. Haha

Another cool thing: so every once in while, during church or even a

lesson sometimes! I will forget that I'm on a mission and will

literally re-decide to serve a mission. It just cracks me up because I

will just be listening and I will question myself, "should I serve a

mission?" And then re-decide/ get a re-confirmation that "yes,

Madeleine, you should serve a mission. A mission is the right thing

for you. It will be a good thing." And then I get all excited that I'm

going to serve a mission and then BAM! I remember that I'm on one! HAHA

So I've been a missionary for one month and so far any expectation I

had about my mission has been blown out of the water!

I still love being a missionary though don't worry.

Someone finally clarified what was going on. So a new sister is coming

in and for the next three weeks we will be a trio (me, newbie, and

sister hanks) and then I am taking over the area and will train

someone else because the newbie will take over Sister Hank's area... This surprises me and any expectation I ever had are blown away.

I am absolutely heartbroken about losing Sister Stenquist, my current companion. 

She is amazing. She was a direct answer my prayers in the MTC. I love her.

She's being sent to be with a sister who came out with Sister

Beckstrom and was trained by Sister Barnard. (Sister Beckstrom and Barnard are the two missionaries who were in the car accident.  Sister Beckstrom is still in the hospital and Sister Barnard, sadly didn't survive the accident). Sister Stenquist needs prayers too.

I know that somehow Heavenly Father has a grand plan. While I am so

heartbroken, I am so grateful for the time I had with Sister Stenquist. I know that this other missionary

needs Sister Stenquist's sweet spirit. Heavenly Father is

watching over all his children- which sometimes requires sacrifices

from others. Alma 24:14

 And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations.

I know that I'm where the Lord needs and wants me. While it's tough,

especially with days like today, I know that the He knows and loves

me. I know that He answers our prayers. I am so grateful for the

opportunity I have to be out here, doing his work.

This morning I read 2 Nephi 32:3, which reads "Angels speak by the

power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ".

And I just think that is so cool. It makes sense, but how cool is it

that we can have the same power as Angels! When we are worthy of the

Holy Ghost, it qualifies us for Heavenly Father's work. He is able use

us as mortal Angels! I just think that is something very special to

remember.

I love you!!!

Sister Wallis

Kennesaw/Big Shanty Week 4

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the prayers and support! I love
being a missionary, so much! And we got 4 new investigators this week!
Sister Stenquist (my companion) told me that's more, well for the past
five weeks they haven't had any!
Because our area has/had been struggling, we decided to do "A month of
consecration" which was by President Wolfert, and basically you just
try extra hard to be exactly obedient and then there's a list of
things we pray for three times a day. One of the thing we pray for is
"faith and courage to talk to everyone". Well, when we go tracting,
we just go to he Kennesaw State University and stop people and try to
talk them! During a week day, well the first day we were out we talked
to 18 people! But it's tougher on the weekends because not as many
kids have classes. However, I started counting how many people we
could have been talking to, but weren't and I realized that we could
easily talk to around 10 people on a weekend in just 2 hours, like we do
on a weekday. I asked my companion about why we never talked to
groups, or people sitting, because I really have no idea what I'm
doing, and she just said I don't know. We then passed 5 kids playing on a field and I
thought "if we just go up and give them cards, that's 5 birds in one
stone". As we kept on walking, I also thought about how we were doing
this month of consecration to have some miracles for the Big Shanty area, and
we were praying for the "faith and courage to talk to everyone" but
we weren't really trying.... So I told my companion that I wanted to
go give cards to that group. She said ok, because she's awesome, but
we didn't have any cards with our numbers on them yet, so we sat on the
curb to write our numbers on some pass-a-long cards and then she
wanted to pray. When we stood up to go back to the group, these two
different kids literally walked to us! We talked to them, and I wound
up giving away my first Book of Mormon of my mission, and we got a
return appointment with them! That's 2 new investigators! We then went
back to the group on the field. The number of people had grown, and
some one was explaining directions to a game so a lot of people were
ignoring us (I also realized too, that telling someone that Jesus has
restored His gospel here on earth is worth interrupting someone if the
spirit wants you to do it). But then this kid from the group literally
came to us and was asking us all these questions! It was awesome! The
next day, Sunday, we had a our first lesson with a former potential
investigator. Investigator #3! And we talked to 8 people on campus!
That almost doubles last week's number for Sunday!
So Sister Stenquist and I are kind of on cloud nine. Especially since
today is her Birthday. We had lunch with Donna, who is the lady from
the food pantry. (She uses her husbands email account, and is just
sweet as can be!)
This week was kind of hectic; on Tuesday I had my first Zone meeting
where we got our mini iPads! And I finally met Caleb Bacon!
On Wednesday we had a lesson with a former investigator! Investigator
number 4! We had a lot of clearing up to do with her- the lesson was
really just "How to begin teaching" from preach my gospel, but it was
needed.
On Thursday we helped pack bags at the food pantry and we had a lesson
with our struggling recent convert. My companion said it was the best
lesson we've had with him, we were able to show him the "hope in God's
light" Mormon message and were able to get him to commit to fasting
yesterday.
Friday we got to go to the temple! It was awesome!
I'm so glad you waited to know what model iPad we got, because I had
no idea we were getting  minis, and I felt so bad. Is there any more
information on the model you need?
Also, about the iPads, so I can read emails during the week, but I
just can't reply until Monday. I love getting your emails! And I love
mail!  I loved the package and I got the calendar! I use to think
that you shouldn't send emails or mail because it "was distracting".
Um no. We like to know that people from home still remember us! It
actually helps me focus better! And if I don't reply one week, it's
just because I ran out of time. I still loved the mail!  And I still
love you!

I have honestly loved being a missionary. It's hard work, and it's
stressful, but it's also very rewarding. One thing I've learned so far
is how much the mission is a refining process for me as a missionary,
and how much of what we are teaching really applies to me. I feel like
I am no more calling the people of Georgia to repentance than I am
calling myself to repentance. This gospel is really about change;
Heavenly Father isn't just asking me to help others change, He's
asking me to change too. We aren't just challenging others to change
through the atonement, we are challenging ourselves to really use the
atonement. I have never been on my knees more, or have I pleaded more
with our Heavenly Father. When He calls His missionaries to the work,
He knows what He's asking of us. Because of the Atonement, He knows
exactly what we feel. He doesn't expect us to do this work alone. In 1st
Nephi 3:7, I think it's often mistaken that Heavenly Father expects us
to do everything He asks of us on our own. I know that I forget that
what 1 Nephi 3:7 really says is "He shall prepare a way for them that
they may accomplish the thing which He commandeth them." That is what 
the Atonement is about. Heavenly Father doesn't expect us to do it all on our
own- in fact, I don't think He wants us too, because He knows that the
reality is, we can't do it all on our own!
 I am so grateful for this gospel and to have the atonement! It has
truly given me pure joy and it is so wonderful to have the opportunity
to commit my time to sharing that!
I love you all so much! And I miss you! I love hearing from you! It
makes my day!
Love,
Sister Wallis

Hello from Big Shanty! Week 3

Hello friends from the Big Shanty YSA (Young Single Adult) Branch at Kennesaw University!

I don't know where to start. 

Thank you to everyone for the prayers and support with the accident. We, well Sister Stenquist was teaching me how to do weekly planning when we received the call. We were both shocked. Purely shocked. There are a lot of sisters who are grieving. Sister Beckstrom has only been out for 3 months, so everyone that came out with her is struggling. Thank you!

At times like these, I always wish the world would stop turning. That time would stop. But it doesn't. The world continues to revolve and orbit, and time does not slow down. There is still work to be done. We are so blessed to know the plan of Salvation; to know that there is more to this life;  That we have a loving Heavenly Father, who loves each of us so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to Atone and die for us. Because of Jesus Christ, we will all live again. And not only will we all live again, but we have the opportunity to return to live with our loving Heavenly Father and our families. Because Christ atoned for us, He knows us each personally. He has felt and endured everything that we must endure. We must always remember to turn to Him, because He is the only one who truly understands. This is the message I am here to share with people, who also struggle, who may have also had to endure the trials of losing loved ones, but do not have the comfort of this message. I know that I am sharing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that it is true. 

In the MTC there is a great talk you can watch on Sunday nights by Elder Bednar. It is called "The Character of Christ".

http://www2.byui.edu/presentations/transcripts/religionsymposium/2003_01_25_Bednar.htm

It is all about how the character of Christ is to turn outwards. To remove the focus from ourselves and do as Christ did, and focus on others. He shared a story about how a mother, who was serving as the relief society president, lost her daughter in a car accident. There were many incidences of this women showing the Character of Christ, but the one that sticks out in particular was that on the morning of her daughter's funeral, a member from the ward called her and just ripped at her because she had a cold and the relief society had not delivered a meal to her. On her way to the funeral, this mother dropped off a meal at this member's home. We get to choose to either be the mother, or the member. It is a constant effort to chose to emulate the Character of Christ and Turn out, but I know that we are better in the long run we do it.  

I LOVE GEORGIA!!!!! They let you see the sky here!!!!

The MTC is like living inside the rock of Gibraltar. 

It is like celestial prison. 

Being a Missionary is the closest I will ever come to being 

a nun

an assassin (we just want broken hearts and contrite spirits though...)

and a professional stalker

It's amazing.

Can I just say I LOVE MY COMPANION!!!! Her name is Sister Stenquist.

We are like the same person. We even picked the same scripture for our plaques! and we both feel awkward about our scripture!!!

I seriously love her so much. She is so kind and patient, and a neat freak too, and a really hard worker! We just click. We're great friends. Thank you to everyone who prayed for me. Those prayers have been answered without fail so far!

SO this mission is not at all like what I ever expected. I'm pretty sure I was expecting to come to a third world country because I am continuously amazed at our nice plumbing, dish washer, and Walmarts. As far as I'm concerned, I'm living it up! (but seriously, I just wish there was a way I could mail food to Zoe...) (mom note- Zoe is from our ward and serving in the Philippines).

We do not have a car. We share one with sisters at our apartment that are in the family ward for this area. Well, I'm pretty sure it's their car, but our branch covers the entire stake, so we have to use it sometimes, like last night when we went to dinner at a member's home that was 45 minutes away. 

They are letting me use a bike a sister left. It's Yellow, and interesting looking... but it was the smallest bike they had available. All the bikes were like 16" and larger.... Supposedly all the sisters that just left were very tall...

We have not used the bikes yet though because the sister left the lock on the bike without a code, and we are currently trying to access that. 

So we've walked. A lot. 

That's ok. In fact, it's great! I'm a proud supporter of walking and anything that involves caloric burn.

Our branch...

Our branch is very small... We make up about 10% of the attendance, which would mean that about 20 people show up to church. 

Also, we have no investigators. So pray for those to come our way. 

There are a lot of less/in actives, so when it started flashflood raining yesterday, we called everyone on the ward directory. Three people said they'd call us later this week. We will for sure be calling them later this week. 

The people in our branch our amazing. So while we don't have any investigators, we do have recent converts that we work with. 

My first Sunday yesterday was fun! The branch meets in a rented office building. So it is not actually dedicated! The branch president, (who is actually from Ohio and said he know's papa. His last name is Murdock) had be bare my testimony. I just laughed. and was relieved that I knew that I actually was supposed to bare my testimony! (Mom note- Tyler served in East LA, Spanish speaking. His first Sunday his companions tricked him into baring his testimony.  Saying that the Branch President had asked him to come up and do that. However, he had only introduced him. This is why she said this.) We then taught gospel principles and that was great- the members were really involved. For the third hour, one the Branch presidency did a lesson on member missionary work! It was awesome! and some people were even telling us that they were going to invite their friends to meet with us!

I love you all so much and wish I could hug each of you! Thank you for your prayers! Know that I pray for you too!!!

Love,

Hermana/Sister  Madeleine Wallis