Dear Family and Friends,
I love you all so much. Thank you so much for the emails and letters,
I love it!
This week was a little bit rough, but Fanny came to church on Sunday!
That was really exciting. And even better, her granddaughter's
visiting teacher brought her! Her granddaughter doesn't want to
continue in the church anymore, so we are hoping and praying that
Fanny's faith will remind her of how she felt when she decided to get
baptized.
On Tuesday night we went to an English class to try to find new
investigators. Supposedly the week before, the whole room had been
filled, but this time there were only 2 that showed up. Maybe this
week there will be more. The teacher also a less active, so it's good
to work with him.
On Wednesday, we went and tried to translate at an elementary school
for parent teacher conferences. That was fun!
We have been working hard to try to contact a bunch of our potentials
to find new people to teach. I honestly love contacting and tracking.
People are so interesting! I really love the ones who will just talk
with you and share with you what they believe. Because then, all we
have to do is listen. I feel like most people know and believe in the
gospel of Jesus Christ, they just don't know it, because every person
on this planet accepted the Lord's plan at some point, to be here. So
I feel like our job as we listen is to help the recognize the gospel
truths they already believe in, and then build on that. On Saturday,
we tracked into this guy who was telling us all about how the whole
media is trying to get rid of Christianity, and all the owners of the
big networks like
Comcast etc, are anti-Christians. So we just listened to him, and then
when he was finished we talked about how as we are growing nearer to
the Savior's coming, how satan's influence also grows stronger, and
how the Book of Mormon talks about everything he was talking about. So
we then invited him to read 2nd Nephi, and because we had taken the
time to listen to him,
He was totally excited to go look up 2 Nephi!
On Saturday we got to go to the Women's broadcast. It was very fun. We
had a member from the English Ward drive us, because our Spanish
branch was having a big surprise party for one of the members....
#spanishproblems but it was still fun to go to the conference, and we
We're so grateful to be there.
I play piano for opening exercises (they have their meetings
backwards and so they start with a prayer and a song all together) and
have played for sacrament as well as they want me to play for the
primary program.
We ride our bikes in areas where we have a lot of people we work with,
and when we aren't going far from home. It's really nice especially
when we are at the end of the month and low on miles :)
My companion does have a bike and she rides it every morning with me
while I run. It's a really good workout!
I love you all so much! I am so grateful to be a part of the Lord's
work. It's really amazing.
It has brought me so close to my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love Him so
much and am so grateful for all that He has done for me. I know that
He lives. I know that through Him, the Lord strengthens us to be able
to endure whatever this life throws at us. That is how we are changed
to become better, so that one day we may return to live with Him.
I am so grateful for this time now that I have to completely devote
myself to helping others come unto Christ.
I love you!!!
Love,
Hermana Wallis
Monday, September 28, 2015
Monday, September 21, 2015
Birthday- Week 18, Norcross, GA- Spanish Speaking
So, sometimes a week as a missionary feels like a whole year. Just so
much happens!
On Tuesday I got to have an exchange with another Hermana. She is from
Ecuador. She is just one transfer younger than me, so she is just
finishing up training. She is very logical and level headed, and
reminds me of me. Haha she only spoke to me in Spanish, and told me
that my Spanish is pretty good, I just need to work on rolling my Rs,
so she gave me a bunch of rung twisters she told me to practice every
day. She was asking me about what the hardest part of Spanish is for
me, and I told her understanding people, but I didn't have a problem
understanding her. I told her it must have been the gift of tongues,
and a blessing from our Heavenly Father for us to be friends. She
replied by saying it's because Ecuador doesn't have an accent so she's
easy to understand. Then, when we were driving to exchange back on
Wednesday, I was thanking her for the exchange and telling her what a
great missionary she was. (Because, really, she is awesome! And just
knows her purpose and testifies!) She replied by telling me "you are a
pretty good missionary, you're problem is just uh language." I just
have to laugh. She had also told me that she thinks it's best to
proselyte in your native language because you are better able to
express yourself. I replied by telling her that it's very humbling to
serve in a different language and I've learned that the truths of
the gospel are plain and simple, and that's all you really need to
share. I just had to laugh because if the language was what made or
break a missionary, I don't think we would have missionaries all over the
world. On Thursday we got Hermana Martinez' driving permit!!! I don't know how
I'm going to teach her how to drive. On Friday we had some extra time
before we exchanged again with Hermana Abram, so I taught her how to
park in the church parking lot. Then I had her drive to another church
parking lot, literally across the street. The whole thing was
hilarious because she was just screaming the whole time while I was
yelling at her to go and actually move the car! It brought back a few
memories....
I have been doing a Deep Atonement study dad sent
me, and something that stuck out to me was that the Savior had to go
through His whole ministry and the atonement, alone. Yes He had
friends, but the whole atonement, he went through alone. D&C 133:50.
And his voice shall be heard: I have trodden the wine-press alone, and have brought judgment upon all people; and none were with me...
And throughout his ministry, there were times when the apostles kind
of failed him. Such as in Mark 4:37-40.
everything perfectly. But I think that if there is anything in
particular that he of all, especially feels, it's loneliness. I am so
grateful to have a Savior who suffered for me alone, so that I
wouldn't have to. I know that because he knows me and my needs
perfectly, he has given me the companions I have had, as well as the
leaders. I believe that having Hermana Abram as a friend and leader is
just a demonstration of how the lord works though his servants.
I had a wonderful birthday. Thank you for all of the birthday wishes
and cards. I loved it all so much. It was one of the best birthdays
I've ever had.
Unfortunately, we are short on time today so I won't be able to email
anyone personally. Know that I love you, I love hearing from you, and
I am so grateful for you and for your emails.
I love you!!!!
Hermana Wallis
much happens!
On Tuesday I got to have an exchange with another Hermana. She is from
Ecuador. She is just one transfer younger than me, so she is just
finishing up training. She is very logical and level headed, and
reminds me of me. Haha she only spoke to me in Spanish, and told me
that my Spanish is pretty good, I just need to work on rolling my Rs,
so she gave me a bunch of rung twisters she told me to practice every
day. She was asking me about what the hardest part of Spanish is for
me, and I told her understanding people, but I didn't have a problem
understanding her. I told her it must have been the gift of tongues,
and a blessing from our Heavenly Father for us to be friends. She
replied by saying it's because Ecuador doesn't have an accent so she's
easy to understand. Then, when we were driving to exchange back on
Wednesday, I was thanking her for the exchange and telling her what a
great missionary she was. (Because, really, she is awesome! And just
knows her purpose and testifies!) She replied by telling me "you are a
pretty good missionary, you're problem is just uh language." I just
have to laugh. She had also told me that she thinks it's best to
proselyte in your native language because you are better able to
express yourself. I replied by telling her that it's very humbling to
serve in a different language and I've learned that the truths of
the gospel are plain and simple, and that's all you really need to
share. I just had to laugh because if the language was what made or
break a missionary, I don't think we would have missionaries all over the
world. On Thursday we got Hermana Martinez' driving permit!!! I don't know how
I'm going to teach her how to drive. On Friday we had some extra time
before we exchanged again with Hermana Abram, so I taught her how to
park in the church parking lot. Then I had her drive to another church
parking lot, literally across the street. The whole thing was
hilarious because she was just screaming the whole time while I was
yelling at her to go and actually move the car! It brought back a few
memories....
I have been doing a Deep Atonement study dad sent
me, and something that stuck out to me was that the Savior had to go
through His whole ministry and the atonement, alone. Yes He had
friends, but the whole atonement, he went through alone. D&C 133:50.
And his voice shall be heard: I have trodden the wine-press alone, and have brought judgment upon all people; and none were with me...
And throughout his ministry, there were times when the apostles kind
of failed him. Such as in Mark 4:37-40.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
The savior felt and suffered everything that we feel. He understandseverything perfectly. But I think that if there is anything in
particular that he of all, especially feels, it's loneliness. I am so
grateful to have a Savior who suffered for me alone, so that I
wouldn't have to. I know that because he knows me and my needs
perfectly, he has given me the companions I have had, as well as the
leaders. I believe that having Hermana Abram as a friend and leader is
just a demonstration of how the lord works though his servants.
I had a wonderful birthday. Thank you for all of the birthday wishes
and cards. I loved it all so much. It was one of the best birthdays
I've ever had.
Unfortunately, we are short on time today so I won't be able to email
anyone personally. Know that I love you, I love hearing from you, and
I am so grateful for you and for your emails.
I love you!!!!
Hermana Wallis
Monday, September 14, 2015
Birthday Week & Week 17- Norcross, Georgia Spanish
So when I think of this week, I don't even know where to begin....
After preparation day (because apparently calling it P day makes it
sound like you're talking about pee), on Wednesday we has zone
meeting. We we talked about planning, and obedience a lot. We are
getting the okay to get Facebook soon, so they are really cracking
down on obedience. (The preparation/ p day was a part of it...) It was
fun though because I got to see Sister Robinson! I love her
so much.
After zone meeting we had exchanges. I got to go to Cumorah with
Sister Greenman! Sister Greenman is on her second transfer and
hilarious. She is from Utah, and knows Spanish because her parents
both served in Argentina, and they spoke Spanish with their kids at
home. She is so excited about everything and we saw so many miracles
together! It was a lot of fun.
Then on Friday we had interviews! I got to meet with President and
Sister Bennion. They had asked us to study Alma 32 before hand in
preparation. It's funny. I never really understood the whole "faith is
like a little seed..." Until my mission. It all makes sense now. You
just have to nurture what you've got and keep on almost "faking it
until you make it", and one day you know.
Sister Kafu said that when she was 16, for new beginnings they gave
all the girls a flower and they were supposed to bring it back in a
year at the next new beginnings in a year. (Which honestly impressed
me that they could plan that far in advance...) so she kept her flower
alive and it grew a little bit, but when she went back in a year,
everyone had these huge flowers in these big pots! She was talking to
one of the moms and she said, "you have to move the flower into a
bigger pot for it to grow!"
It reminds me a lot of where Hermana Martinez and I are now. We are
definitely being stretched. But we are also growing a lot.
It's hard sometimes because we are both these kind of "babies" on the
mission. I love her and am so happy to have her for
a friend!
The area is very suburbany. It's weird being Spanish. When you're
English you feel responsible for everyone in you're area, but when
your Spanish, you don't feel that kind of responsibility. (English: I
am responsible for everyone here; Spanish: I am responsible for some
of the people here). That's not to say we don't talk to everyone, but
anyone we do get in with, if they're not Spanish, we have to refer to
English. Which is kind of sad.
Also, it makes Spanish feel like it's this secret area within the
area. Very weird.
The area where we live is very pretty. It's very green. We work a lot
in Duluth though. And our work is mainly in apartment complexes.
The branch is very supportive of us!
We love the people we work with a lot. Recently we've been trying to
focus more on serving them, and it's working! We are actually seeing
sincere spiritual growth! The Lord has also done a very good job at
reminding us that this is His work. It is not our work. It's His area,
and His work, and it's a privilege He's allowing us to be a part of
it.
I am so grateful He is allowing me to be a part of it. There's no
where else I'd rather be.
On Thursday, Hna. Martinez said to me, "I love being a missionary!
It's so much fun! You just get to go talk with everyone about the best
person ever!" I wanted to leap with joy when I heard those words come
out of her mouth! I am just so excited she's found the joy in the
work.
I love you! I love hearing from you!!! Thanks for the Birthday wishes!
Love,
Hermana Wallis
And then we got this letter... Which sort of sounds like an "SNL skit!" Her words, not mom's... But I (mom) can't stop laughing...
After preparation day (because apparently calling it P day makes it
sound like you're talking about pee), on Wednesday we has zone
meeting. We we talked about planning, and obedience a lot. We are
getting the okay to get Facebook soon, so they are really cracking
down on obedience. (The preparation/ p day was a part of it...) It was
fun though because I got to see Sister Robinson! I love her
so much.
After zone meeting we had exchanges. I got to go to Cumorah with
Sister Greenman! Sister Greenman is on her second transfer and
hilarious. She is from Utah, and knows Spanish because her parents
both served in Argentina, and they spoke Spanish with their kids at
home. She is so excited about everything and we saw so many miracles
together! It was a lot of fun.
Then on Friday we had interviews! I got to meet with President and
Sister Bennion. They had asked us to study Alma 32 before hand in
preparation. It's funny. I never really understood the whole "faith is
like a little seed..." Until my mission. It all makes sense now. You
just have to nurture what you've got and keep on almost "faking it
until you make it", and one day you know.
Sister Kafu said that when she was 16, for new beginnings they gave
all the girls a flower and they were supposed to bring it back in a
year at the next new beginnings in a year. (Which honestly impressed
me that they could plan that far in advance...) so she kept her flower
alive and it grew a little bit, but when she went back in a year,
everyone had these huge flowers in these big pots! She was talking to
one of the moms and she said, "you have to move the flower into a
bigger pot for it to grow!"
It reminds me a lot of where Hermana Martinez and I are now. We are
definitely being stretched. But we are also growing a lot.
It's hard sometimes because we are both these kind of "babies" on the
mission. I love her and am so happy to have her for
a friend!
The area is very suburbany. It's weird being Spanish. When you're
English you feel responsible for everyone in you're area, but when
your Spanish, you don't feel that kind of responsibility. (English: I
am responsible for everyone here; Spanish: I am responsible for some
of the people here). That's not to say we don't talk to everyone, but
anyone we do get in with, if they're not Spanish, we have to refer to
English. Which is kind of sad.
Also, it makes Spanish feel like it's this secret area within the
area. Very weird.
The area where we live is very pretty. It's very green. We work a lot
in Duluth though. And our work is mainly in apartment complexes.
The branch is very supportive of us!
We love the people we work with a lot. Recently we've been trying to
focus more on serving them, and it's working! We are actually seeing
sincere spiritual growth! The Lord has also done a very good job at
reminding us that this is His work. It is not our work. It's His area,
and His work, and it's a privilege He's allowing us to be a part of
it.
I am so grateful He is allowing me to be a part of it. There's no
where else I'd rather be.
On Thursday, Hna. Martinez said to me, "I love being a missionary!
It's so much fun! You just get to go talk with everyone about the best
person ever!" I wanted to leap with joy when I heard those words come
out of her mouth! I am just so excited she's found the joy in the
work.
I love you! I love hearing from you!!! Thanks for the Birthday wishes!
Love,
Hermana Wallis
And then we got this letter... Which sort of sounds like an "SNL skit!" Her words, not mom's... But I (mom) can't stop laughing...
Here's just what a mess I am. You just have to laugh. Because I've already cried.
So, last Sunday, after I testified that Joseph Smith is our
Savior (whoops- language error!) in fast and testimony meeting, we came home to do language
study. I opened my iPad to discover that the screen was totally
cracked.
Yup.
So I called Elder Dixon (senior missionary in charge of iPads), after asking other missionaries who shattered or lost their iPads as to what to do and that's what you're supposed
to do. He said to call the Apple Store and set up an appointment and
they can swap my iPad out for me.
Here's what the conversation with Apple went like:
Apple machine does his intro, and I can't really tell if it's a real
person or not because he asked what our problem is!
"Hi. We are missionaries from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints. I cracked my iPad and would like to make an appointment to get
a new one..."
"Many problems can be solved over the phone..." And Yadadada ....
"I'd you'd like to talk to a real person, please stay on the line!"
What. You mean I haven't been talking to a real person?
"What is your serial number? To find your serial number..."
Is this the real person? Because you sound exactly the same.
I'm also panicking because I no longer have the box the iPad came in,
and I'm looking at the case wondering how I even got the iPad in the
case. I'm pretty sure one of my trainers must have done it for me.
After struggling to get the iPad out of the case and then finding the
serial number...
"I see you are having trouble. Let me have you talk to a real person."
Really!?!
Real person has a very thick Mexican accent, but is very positive and upbeat.
"Helloooo. This is Apple. Am I Speaking with La-shaunda?"
"No. We are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday
Saints. I cracked my iPad, and would like to schedule an appointment
to get a new one."
"Okey. What is your first and last name?"
"Madeleine Wallis"
"Ok Madeleine, your last name is Wallis? Can you spell that out for me?"
Where are their manners?! You can't just call me by my first name!
"Actually can you just call me Sister Wallis?"
Uh errr confusion. And I spell out "W A L L I S"
"Okey Madeleine..."
"Can you please call me Sister Wallis?"
"Uh Sister?"
"Yes."
"You're first name is Sister?"
I give up.
"Yes."
"Okeyyy Sister.... What seems to be the problem?"
"We are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints. That's why I asked you to call me sister... And my iPad is
cracked, so can I please make an appointment to come exchange it?"
"Okey... What's your email address? Can you give me an email address?"
"Yes! It is 244....278....635@mormon.org"
"Okey... Let me just clarify. It is 244 278 635 @ and can you spell
the rest of that for me?"
"Mormon. m-o-r-m-o-n"
"Mormon?!"
"Yep."
"Okey... Dot com?"
"No. Dot org..."
"Okey. So we have appointments for tomorrow at 6:50, 7:50, 8:30, and 8:40"
"Let me check real quick... Can we take 6:50?"
"I'm sorry, the only appointments we have for tomorrow are at 7:50, 8:30 and..."
Just remembering that we should probably wait until preparation day to
do this....
"Do you actually have times on Monday?"
"Mondey? Uh sureee... What's your email again?"
Same thing again.
"Okey we have appointments for 12:40..."
"Great! Let's do that!"
I am not letting someone else get my time this time.
"Okey Sister. We have your appointment confirmed for Monday at 12:40.
Anything else we can do for you?"
"Just check out Mormon.org and have a great day!!!"
Yup. It felt like an SNL skit. And my companion was dying laughing the
whole time.
Then today we went to the Apple Store. To fix it. They can't. Elder Dixon just told me to keep the cracked iPad.
So I have to keep my cracked iPad.
Savior (whoops- language error!) in fast and testimony meeting, we came home to do language
study. I opened my iPad to discover that the screen was totally
cracked.
Yup.
So I called Elder Dixon (senior missionary in charge of iPads), after asking other missionaries who shattered or lost their iPads as to what to do and that's what you're supposed
to do. He said to call the Apple Store and set up an appointment and
they can swap my iPad out for me.
Here's what the conversation with Apple went like:
Apple machine does his intro, and I can't really tell if it's a real
person or not because he asked what our problem is!
"Hi. We are missionaries from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints. I cracked my iPad and would like to make an appointment to get
a new one..."
"Many problems can be solved over the phone..." And Yadadada ....
"I'd you'd like to talk to a real person, please stay on the line!"
What. You mean I haven't been talking to a real person?
"What is your serial number? To find your serial number..."
Is this the real person? Because you sound exactly the same.
I'm also panicking because I no longer have the box the iPad came in,
and I'm looking at the case wondering how I even got the iPad in the
case. I'm pretty sure one of my trainers must have done it for me.
After struggling to get the iPad out of the case and then finding the
serial number...
"I see you are having trouble. Let me have you talk to a real person."
Really!?!
Real person has a very thick Mexican accent, but is very positive and upbeat.
"Helloooo. This is Apple. Am I Speaking with La-shaunda?"
"No. We are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday
Saints. I cracked my iPad, and would like to schedule an appointment
to get a new one."
"Okey. What is your first and last name?"
"Madeleine Wallis"
"Ok Madeleine, your last name is Wallis? Can you spell that out for me?"
Where are their manners?! You can't just call me by my first name!
"Actually can you just call me Sister Wallis?"
Uh errr confusion. And I spell out "W A L L I S"
"Okey Madeleine..."
"Can you please call me Sister Wallis?"
"Uh Sister?"
"Yes."
"You're first name is Sister?"
I give up.
"Yes."
"Okeyyy Sister.... What seems to be the problem?"
"We are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints. That's why I asked you to call me sister... And my iPad is
cracked, so can I please make an appointment to come exchange it?"
"Okey... What's your email address? Can you give me an email address?"
"Yes! It is 244....278....635@mormon.org"
"Okey... Let me just clarify. It is 244 278 635 @ and can you spell
the rest of that for me?"
"Mormon. m-o-r-m-o-n"
"Mormon?!"
"Yep."
"Okey... Dot com?"
"No. Dot org..."
"Okey. So we have appointments for tomorrow at 6:50, 7:50, 8:30, and 8:40"
"Let me check real quick... Can we take 6:50?"
"I'm sorry, the only appointments we have for tomorrow are at 7:50, 8:30 and..."
Just remembering that we should probably wait until preparation day to
do this....
"Do you actually have times on Monday?"
"Mondey? Uh sureee... What's your email again?"
Same thing again.
"Okey we have appointments for 12:40..."
"Great! Let's do that!"
I am not letting someone else get my time this time.
"Okey Sister. We have your appointment confirmed for Monday at 12:40.
Anything else we can do for you?"
"Just check out Mormon.org and have a great day!!!"
Yup. It felt like an SNL skit. And my companion was dying laughing the
whole time.
Then today we went to the Apple Store. To fix it. They can't. Elder Dixon just told me to keep the cracked iPad.
So I have to keep my cracked iPad.
I love you so much.
Love,
Sister Wallis
Sent from my iPad
Love,
Sister Wallis
Sent from my iPad
A plant in need of repotting...
This missionary loves American Girl!
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Week 16, Norcross, GA - Spanish Speaking
Dear Family,
Due to yesterday being a holiday, my Pday was swapped for today. That
is why no emails were sent. This is a fairly common practice and can
be expected any time a holiday takes place on a Monday. (More people
are home and therefore available to teach). I apologize for any stress
this may have caused as we did not know if our Pday would be swapped
until Friday.
Anyways, I hope you all had a great holiday! We sure did!
We went to go try to have a lesson with a new investigator. We didn't
know if he'd be there, because he didn't know if he'd have work or
not, so we just talked to everyone around and got 2 new investigators
in the morning! Then we went to go check on 2 less active families,
and BOTH were home and we were able to teach BOTH of them! Then we
walked to our branch's activity at a park. We walked because we wanted
to save miles- it was on the opposite end/border of where we work
mostly, and we live right in the middle. Well, neither of us thought
through that we would be walking to our area border, and maps told us
it was only 2 miles at first....(pretty sure it was more like 4) So we
walked for a looooong time. Haha it was good though! Me: endorphins are
the magical happy drug.....
After the activity (which was really a barbecue combined with the
other Spanish ward in our stake) we walked home. On our way home, a
member from the English Ward stopped and gave us a ride! Then I had
language study, and we went to go visit our investigators.
So we have 2 investigators on date.
I knew Mario's baptism was this
Saturday (an investigator I taught in Kennesaw/Big Shanty, who I put
on date the day before transfers! So my first baptism basically!) and
I just knew I needed to go. (And I needed to see sister Kafu!!!)
Thursday: I woke up knowing I needed to fast. I just had to go to that
baptism. And to go to the baptism, we have to have a ride and bring a
non-member. So we made arrangements for Fanny,
our investigator on date, to come and we started calling everyone
who didn't work on Saturdays to see if they could give us a ride.
Fanny: from Colombia, is the grandmother of a recent convert. We love
her so much. She's probably in her late 60s-70s. She's hilarious. She
just says "Sí. Exactamente." To everything we teach her! And then when
we checked up on her Word of Wisdom commitment she told us that she already feels
God has given her more wisdom! Haha she is so sweet and is so excited
to be baptized!
After we visited Fanny, I knew we had to do something for Yulisa to
show that we really care for HER and not just about if she gets
baptized or not. But that we care about her as a person. Because I
don't baptize numbers. If an investigator I taught is getting
baptized, it's because they sincerely are coming unto Christ because
they want to live His gospel and have complete access to His
atonement.
I just kept on imagining us giving her a box of Oreos with a nice note
written on a sticky note on it. So that's what we did. I bought a box
of Oreos and wrote her a note. So that the whole family knew these
were Yulisa's and no one else's!
We left it on the porch and prayed it wouldn't get stolen.
That night though, Fanny's granddaughter called us to tell us Fanny
had come down with a fever and wouldn't be able to make it to the
baptism.
I could've died, but I honestly knew that Pedro and Yulisa were the
ones Heavenly Father wanted to come to the baptism. So Pedro called to
cancel, but I asked him if they still wanted to come and he said "Of
Course!"
Heavenly Father answers fasts!
Saturday!
Nothing is more relieving than to finally be fulfilling the plans
you've made. I remember when I was trying to backpack Europe.
Honestly, nothing was more relieving than FINALLY being on the train
to Barcelona, and on our way to Paris.
That's what it felt like to finally be on our way to that baptism.
It was amazing. Miss Donna even came! (I hope it was a good experience
for her!) I got to see Sister Kafu, Sister Castleton, Sister
Patterson, and Sister Kafoa! Also, president came! (I almost pointed
out to him that the only missionary there that I hadn't been companions
with yet was Sister Kafoa. But still, half of my companions were all
in the same room. Pretty hilarious if you ask me!)
And Yulisa and Pedro felt the spirit so strongly!
Sunday: Fanny doesn't come to church. Which is a problem, because she
had to come in order to be baptized this week. Yulisa does come
though! Also, I accidentally bore my testimony in Spanish that Joseph Smith is our Savior. (Whoops, a prophet
of God, not the Savior...) No
language missionary gets a free card.
Yesterday: while at Yulisa and Pedro's we successfully got through a
whole lesson! And the spirit was so strong! The whole house was happy
and just full of the spirit. They both said that they felt so happy at
the baptism and could feel the spirit when Mario was baptized.
Honestly, that was a miracle. No fighting, no contention. It just felt
good!
Then Fanny called us! We were honestly very worried about how we were
going to break the news to her that her baptism would have to be
postponed. Miracle! She postponed her own baptism!
*wow*
I honestly feel like Spanish is this gold mine. It's crazy.
I love you and am so sorry this caused to much stress! I will send
more later today.
Love,
Hermana Wallis
Due to yesterday being a holiday, my Pday was swapped for today. That
is why no emails were sent. This is a fairly common practice and can
be expected any time a holiday takes place on a Monday. (More people
are home and therefore available to teach). I apologize for any stress
this may have caused as we did not know if our Pday would be swapped
until Friday.
Anyways, I hope you all had a great holiday! We sure did!
We went to go try to have a lesson with a new investigator. We didn't
know if he'd be there, because he didn't know if he'd have work or
not, so we just talked to everyone around and got 2 new investigators
in the morning! Then we went to go check on 2 less active families,
and BOTH were home and we were able to teach BOTH of them! Then we
walked to our branch's activity at a park. We walked because we wanted
to save miles- it was on the opposite end/border of where we work
mostly, and we live right in the middle. Well, neither of us thought
through that we would be walking to our area border, and maps told us
it was only 2 miles at first....(pretty sure it was more like 4) So we
walked for a looooong time. Haha it was good though! Me: endorphins are
the magical happy drug.....
After the activity (which was really a barbecue combined with the
other Spanish ward in our stake) we walked home. On our way home, a
member from the English Ward stopped and gave us a ride! Then I had
language study, and we went to go visit our investigators.
So we have 2 investigators on date.
I knew Mario's baptism was this
Saturday (an investigator I taught in Kennesaw/Big Shanty, who I put
on date the day before transfers! So my first baptism basically!) and
I just knew I needed to go. (And I needed to see sister Kafu!!!)
Thursday: I woke up knowing I needed to fast. I just had to go to that
baptism. And to go to the baptism, we have to have a ride and bring a
non-member. So we made arrangements for Fanny,
our investigator on date, to come and we started calling everyone
who didn't work on Saturdays to see if they could give us a ride.
Fanny: from Colombia, is the grandmother of a recent convert. We love
her so much. She's probably in her late 60s-70s. She's hilarious. She
just says "Sí. Exactamente." To everything we teach her! And then when
we checked up on her Word of Wisdom commitment she told us that she already feels
God has given her more wisdom! Haha she is so sweet and is so excited
to be baptized!
After we visited Fanny, I knew we had to do something for Yulisa to
show that we really care for HER and not just about if she gets
baptized or not. But that we care about her as a person. Because I
don't baptize numbers. If an investigator I taught is getting
baptized, it's because they sincerely are coming unto Christ because
they want to live His gospel and have complete access to His
atonement.
I just kept on imagining us giving her a box of Oreos with a nice note
written on a sticky note on it. So that's what we did. I bought a box
of Oreos and wrote her a note. So that the whole family knew these
were Yulisa's and no one else's!
We left it on the porch and prayed it wouldn't get stolen.
That night though, Fanny's granddaughter called us to tell us Fanny
had come down with a fever and wouldn't be able to make it to the
baptism.
I could've died, but I honestly knew that Pedro and Yulisa were the
ones Heavenly Father wanted to come to the baptism. So Pedro called to
cancel, but I asked him if they still wanted to come and he said "Of
Course!"
Heavenly Father answers fasts!
Saturday!
Nothing is more relieving than to finally be fulfilling the plans
you've made. I remember when I was trying to backpack Europe.
Honestly, nothing was more relieving than FINALLY being on the train
to Barcelona, and on our way to Paris.
That's what it felt like to finally be on our way to that baptism.
It was amazing. Miss Donna even came! (I hope it was a good experience
for her!) I got to see Sister Kafu, Sister Castleton, Sister
Patterson, and Sister Kafoa! Also, president came! (I almost pointed
out to him that the only missionary there that I hadn't been companions
with yet was Sister Kafoa. But still, half of my companions were all
in the same room. Pretty hilarious if you ask me!)
And Yulisa and Pedro felt the spirit so strongly!
Sunday: Fanny doesn't come to church. Which is a problem, because she
had to come in order to be baptized this week. Yulisa does come
though! Also, I accidentally bore my testimony in Spanish that Joseph Smith is our Savior. (Whoops, a prophet
of God, not the Savior...) No
language missionary gets a free card.
Yesterday: while at Yulisa and Pedro's we successfully got through a
whole lesson! And the spirit was so strong! The whole house was happy
and just full of the spirit. They both said that they felt so happy at
the baptism and could feel the spirit when Mario was baptized.
Honestly, that was a miracle. No fighting, no contention. It just felt
good!
Then Fanny called us! We were honestly very worried about how we were
going to break the news to her that her baptism would have to be
postponed. Miracle! She postponed her own baptism!
*wow*
I honestly feel like Spanish is this gold mine. It's crazy.
I love you and am so sorry this caused to much stress! I will send
more later today.
Love,
Hermana Wallis
With Sister Kafu
My new bike
With Sister Martinez, my current companion
With Sister Kafoa (the only missionary pictured that hasn't been my companion), Sister Patterson, Sister Castleton and Sister Kafu
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)