Mission Journal

February 24, 2012 – Friday

A cold north wind blew in today.  It’s our turn to clean the chapel and we noticed the funeral home across the street had burned.  As we were getting out of the car a man approached us wanting our opinion of the burned funeral home.  He was a news man just trying to get a story.  Because we were cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming and such, we went down in our jeans!  We shouldn’t leave the apartment without being dressed like a missionary – goes to show you.

We tried to visit JD, she hasn’t let us over in almost a month now.  We finally got an appointment tomorrow at noon.

Sister Oakley is giving a talk Sunday, so I came in here to blog while she prepared for her talk, let you know next time how that turned out.

February 23, 2012 – Thursday

Wow – the temperature got up to 71ᵒ, it was wonderful.  We were asked to come over to DT’s house about noon today.  When we got there and she so skillfully put us off to another time, so we’ll try again.

At 4:30 pm we met with CH and his grandmother.  We talked to him about choices, the full lesson as stated on the 22^nd, then asked him to wright down reasons he would want to be baptized, and reasons he would not want to be baptized.  He wrote down several good reasons to be baptized, but couldn’t come up with a reason not to.  But still, he is having trouble quitting the tobacco habit, so we’ll keep you informed.

February 22, 2012 – Wednesday

In Clarksville we have our zone meeting on the day after transfers.  There we meet the new people who are in our zone.  Clarksville is about one hour and forty-five minutes away, so it was another long day in the car.  The new missionary we brought home from transfers wants to be a photographer when he gets off his mission and showed me some things about our camera we didn’t know we had.  The meeting in Clarksville was very spiritual.  The new zone leader taught us that  . . .

Salvation comes from choices –

                                                                 we choose eternal life.

                                     If we choose Jesus Christ,

We have the power to choose,

TC called as we were on the way home.  He’s the new member that moved into the branch last week.  He is living with his adopted sister and they asked if we would come over after we got back to Hartford.  When we got there they told us that they have been talking with their neighbor and gave them a Book of Mormon, and wanted to know if we would like it if they invited us and the neighbor over at the same time. J

February 21, 2012 – Tuesday

This is transfer day for the young missionaries.  Every six weeks they have a chance of being transferred to a different area.  That keeps things fresh and gives the missionaries experience.  We drove to Nashville with the Leitchfield missionaries and one of them is being transferred to a different area.  It was all we could do to put his baggage in the car with the four of us.  We talked about CH on the way down and they gave us a few ideas that might help the next time we see him.  At the transfer meeting we met the new missionaries who just came in, and were able to say good bye to those going home.  Then at 4:00 pm we were able to go to the Temple!  It was a long day and we didn’t get home till about 8:30 pm, but it was a good day.

February 20, 2012 – Monday

Even though it’s P-day it was busy for us.  At 2:00 pm we went to TV’s house.  We had to explain to him that if he wanted to bless the sacrament that he had to get to church on time.  Sister Oakley told him and his father-in-law both that they were expected to help Sister V with getting the children ready for church.  Also, that the Stake President said that he would have to say the sacrament in English.  That was disappointing to TV, but the lesson went well.

Next we went to SC’s house to teach the lesson on The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Their children were out playing soccer and didn’t want to come in, but were made to by their mother, SC was sick – but still went out and put out three fires in the area, and Sister C was upset with everyone it seemed.  But we trudged on anyway, and my teaching was very sub-par.  We’ll have to do better next time, if they let us have a next time.

Finally, we went to CH’s house and gave a follow up lesson, and when I asked who he wanted on the baptism program, he said he wasn’t ready to be baptized yet.  He said his grandmother and mother had talked him out of baptism. L  By the time we got home, I wished that we had just left it P-day and not left the apartment. But I know that all things are led by the Lord and it will be OK, we just have to continue in faith.

February 19, 2012 – Sunday

We had received a voice mail from ES saying she had to go to a funeral today.  She didn’t say what time, but she wasn’t at church and we didn’t find her at home either.  Hope she’s OK.

We went to CH’s house this evening and gave him the lesson on the commandments.  He’s only seventeen years old, and he’s been dipping tobacco for over five years, it’s going to be hard for him to quit, but with the Lord, everything is possible.  Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

February 18, 2012 – Saturday

D&C 84

74 Verily, verily, I say unto you, they who believe not on your words, and are not baptized in water in my name, for the remission of their sins, that they may receive the Holy Ghost, shall be damned, and shall not come into my Father’s kingdom where my Father and I am.

 75 And this revelation unto you, and commandment, is in force from this very hour upon all the world, and the gospel is unto all who have not received it.

February 17, 2012 – Friday

Wow – chasing leads is hard work and we’re getting nowhere.  I wish we had some referrals from the members.  I know this work is important, I wish the people we are trying to help knew how important it is to them, but that’s why we’re here isn’t it?

We went to CH’s house this evening.  He forgot we were coming and went to his friend’s house to jam with his guitar. L

February 16, 2012 – Thursday

We had no one scheduled to teach, so we followed old leads in Beaver Dam.  Several of the people have moved away, and one man met us at the door and told us to go away.  Finally, we met a family who said they are between churches and want us to come back. J  Right now they are all sick, including their baby, so we’ll try them again next week.

February 15, 2012 – Wednesday

We traveled to Leitchfield for district training.  Sister Oakley gave training on prayer – she said, prayer is Heart to God communication.   No one can separate us from communicating with God.  God is reachable anywhere and anytime and possesses all knowledge.  Fasting is a strong evidence of our sincerity and we should pray as if God is with us.  Pray morning and night and with a prayer in our heart at all times.  Become 100% reliant on the Lord.

This evening we had a valentine’s party at the church building.  It was a good turnout.  A new couple has moved into our branch and we got to know them a little better.

February 14, 2012 – Tuesday

We taught CH the lesson about The Gospel of Jesus Christ this evening.  He’s a bright young man and I can see and feel that he believes in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We have hopes for him.

February 13, 2012 – Monday

This is P-day, the day for shopping, cleaning and so on.  We don’t have a lot of shopping to do for now, just keep up with milk and bread and so on.

We promised T that we would give him the Gospel Essentials class at his house since he has to work on Sunday right after the Sacrament meeting.  Also, President Wiles said it would be OK if T said the sacrament prayer in Spanish, so we took him a white shirt that’s too small for me and asked if he would be ready to give the sacrament prayer next Sunday. J