Happy New Year 12/29/14

https://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/members-and-missionaries?lang=eng

Dear FAmiy and Friends, 

So above is a link to a video I just watched on hastening the work, its awesome. hope you enjoy!

Can't believe christmas is done and gone with. It feels like forever ago though! It was good to see ya'lls smiling faces and hear your voices. Especially little Ivy's giggles and cute smile. Can't wait to meet her and Harper, and even play with little ADri! They'll soon know their favorite AUnt lexie:)

We had a wonderful christmas here in Loganville, one I'll never forget.  I'll never forget the wonderful studies I had christmas morning and the power of the spirit I felt, as I reflected, pondered and studied on the life of our savior and the infinite atonement he performed in our behalf. It meant so much to me to spend this christmas as a missionary, thinking of my Savior, and serving others, and more importantly being filled with that spirit. 

The spirit of Christmas still stays strong after christmas too! We were tracting over the weekend and still showing everyone 'He is the Gift' and we've found a couple new investigators. Most of our other investigators were busy over the Holiday break, and the members too. It was a little hard to work with progressing or current investigators this week. One because they were busy, but also because the members were busy. We actually had to cancel a couple of lessons because we could not find a team up to save our lives! We could find plenty of men in the ward who were willing to come with us, but the sisters in the ward were too busy. Therefore we had to cancel our lesson because our investigators are male, and we needed another women there to teach. It would make sense though to have a brother from the ward to help fellowship them, but we still couldn't teach without a woman there. So we've been trying to focus on having lessons in members homes or have couples come with us, but again, the women were extra busy this week. We actually stood up in Relief Society yesterday and explained to the sisters that they seem to overlook the team up calendar but go straight to the dinner calendar. We actually want the team up calendar to be filled, more than the dinner calendar! We openly asked for someone to come with us to a lesson at 4 that day, saying we couldn't go unless we had someone. Luckily someone signed up. I understand with the holidays people are busy, but so are we and the missionary work still moves forward and doesn't take a break. We're in need of new ward missionaries soon. One couple is leaving on their mission this week, and the rest are RM's going back to school. So i'm excited to see who will be called to that.

For our ward mission plan, we're having each family create their own family mission plan. So we're following up with each of the families, telling them to create one for the new year and we're excited to hear the different ways they'll be anxiously engaged in the work. We've already heard some great plans from some of the families, and hopefully after relief society yesterday, they'll make it a priority to come out with us or have us in their home for lessons:) 

We had a little surprise yesterday! In church yesterday, I saw Craig and Linda Thomas and they came up and gave me the biggest hug, I didn't know i was that close to home!! We later had dinner with their son's family that night, and it was good to catch up with them. Definitely weird to see people from home. They said I was definitely a missionary and I've grown and changed so much. Ha I kept calling every one at home bro this and Sis that.. even when I know them by their first name or mr. and mrs. I'm such a missionary. I may be awkward when I get home.

This transfer is surely flying by... i'm trying to enjoy every day here in Monroe ward, I love this area so so much! Many of the members asked if I would stay till the end of my mission, but that would mean Sister tanner and I go home together. I wish I could!

So funny story... The other night i knelt down to say my prayers before bed, and I prayed for the longest time. Well as I was climbing in my bed, i had a hand reach up from under my bed and grab my foot!!!! talk about jumping out of my pants, and literally being scared to death!! I may or may not have let a choice word slip, and then I hear my companion laughing hysterically and rolling on the floor. I love sister tanner to death, but she was not on my good side that night. oh the joys of companionships:)

I love you all dearly!! Happy new year, remember to focus your resolutions on coming closer to christ and how you can give a gift back to him. WE heard an excellent talk yesterday on tying new years resolutions with repentance. great time to reflect. I know what my gift to christ is!! 

Love, Sister Hulme

A fun visit from Craig and Linda Thomas.  Their son, Bart, lives in the mission.

​My favorite people in Monroe.. in Georgia!! I'll greatly miss the Warrens. Independance Missouri is very lucky to receive these 2 missionaries!! They have meant the world to me, they're basically family. I love and will miss them sooo much! ...Mom we're making a trip to missouri this next year:) 

White Christmas 12/22/14

Dear Family and Friends,

Where did this week go?! We had so much going on, and I can't believe its monday again, but I've been in need of a preparation day, THings just need to slow down. 

So many wonderful things have happened this week, I wish every week were like this past week. From the temple, to the mission christmas party, to the christmas devotional we put on, and michael's baptism, and the ward christmas party. We hardly had time for proselyting in our area really. Our main focus this week was Michael. And I can't even express how proud and happy I am for that man. I can't wait for the day when my family can meet him. Ha I promised him that I would bring my future husband here to  meet him. Cause he tells us all the time that we deserve nothing but the best, because we are beautiful daughters of God. I just love that man:) 

So yes, Michael's baptism was a success!!We had a moderately good turn out from the ward, and Michael was so grateful for the support from the members. He's truly gained a new family and he's so excited for his new start and new life. He's kind of a big guy, and we had Bishop Carter perform his baptism, but they had a hard time getting him all the way under that water. It went from standing to kneeling, to finally sitting in the font, and the third time it worked! Bishop said Michael bore the sweetest testimony to him as they got ready afterwards. Michael stood up at the end of his baptism and bore his testimony, which i'll never forget it. We gave him a journal to write his experience in, and a frame with The Living Christ in it. He was so grateful for he journal, he said it was the greatest gift he could ever receive. Saturday when we met with him, we explained the gift of the Holy Ghost again, and he expressed how excited he is and he's waited his whole life for this moment. When we showed up to church on sunday, he looked as sharp as ever, Bishop had given him a suit and tie, and he looked like a completely different person from the day I met him. His confirmation blessing was beautiful, we wrote down what was said and plan on giving that to him, so he'll have a copy of what was said. After his blessing, he walked back to where he was sitting, right in front of us, and said to us smilling, "I'll never forget this day." :)  In gospel principles he offered to say the closing prayer, and bore his testimony again, thanking everyone for helping him make this change in his life, and wished everyone a Merry Christmas. That man brings such a smile to my face, and tears to my eyes. It is such a joy bringing others unto Christ! What better way to celebrate christmas than by having a white christmas!! He also mentioned to us that SIster Ngo called him yesterday and was so happy to hear that he was baptized, they talked for the longest time and had a good lesson with him. If anything, she came to georgia to find and help Michael. How I miss her!!

When we went to the temple thursday morning, I reflected on all that we've been through with Michael, and the amount of opposition we've faced with him. It was the day before his baptism, and we couldn't see him all day, so I was dying to call him as soon as we got out of the temple. But as I was in the temple, I again, realized the need for the opposition for Michael. Because of the great opposition, he has become even more converted to the gospel and this church, it has made him trust and rely on our Savior even more. And I became so grateful for it, because we now have a greater capacity to experience joy and happiness for Michael. I'm so grateful that I had the wonderful opportunity to go to the temple, to remember the covenants I made with my Heavenly Father there before I left on my mission. It was a big time of reflection, realizing I probably won't be able to go inside again until I leave for home. I realized what more I want out of my mission, and the time I have left. There's room for me to grow still and improve, so I must use the time wisely and act. 

I sure am so excited to talk to ya'll on thursday!! I'll call just a little before lunch your time, so that's a little bit after lunch my time. sorry its not a specific time, just whenever we finish eating:) Can't believe this is my last phone call home. Seems like yesterday i was calling last christmas. 

Have a very merry christmas. and I hope you watch this! Please think of how you will discover, embrace, and share the gift of christ. And Think of a gift you will give back to christ for the new year and this christmas. 

Love ya'll!! 

The original companionship.. Sisters Debry, Anderson, and Hulme

Best reunion ever!  Sister Motuliki and Sister Hulme

Michael's baptism

Transfers and an exciting new week 12/15/14

Dear Family and Friends,

So I have to begin with a short little story... yesterday after sacrament, Sister Tanner and I went to use the restroom, and when I turned around to flush the toilet, my name tag took a tragic fall, just as the toilet was flushing away, and is now forever gone!!! I'm sure my reaction was priceless, but I squeeled and yelled to sister tanner, "SIster, my name tag's gone!! like gone!" haha Luckily I had another name tag on my jacket and I put that on my shirt, but i'm down to one name tag, I'll have to order another one... benefits of being a missionary, you can have as many nametags as you want:) 

It's been another successful week!! Our prayers have been heard and answered with Michael. He's been progressing so well this past week, he didn't ditch out on any lessons, and he made it to church. I'm always keeping a prayer in my heart for him. Every lesson is always so powerful, last night was another amazing lesson. We shared with him a mormon message "The Refiner's Fire" which he bore the strongest testimony afterwards on how he's grateful on the trials given to him, because its brought him to where he is today. We then read the story on the Anti -Nephi -Lehis and talked about what weapons of war we need to bury. He was all smiles at the end and kept saying how he loved the story! He literally soaks in the spirit and others around him can only feel the power of the spirit. People like him testify to me that this is truly a marvelous work. He and many others are looking forward to his baptism the 19th. I think the greatest thing on my mission that has brought me the greatest joy is seeing the atonement of Christ change and transform others. It's such a gratifying work.

We've been seeing other amazing miracles this past week. We found  a few new investigators by sharing the "He is the Gift". One woman is a stay at home mom, and she told us how she was an alcoholic last week, but has realized that she needs to get back on the path towards Christ. Only problem is she has no way of communication, but we just have to drop by. Luckily she lives right by the church. We're trying to keep the wheel turning in missionary work, and balancing finding and teaching, so after Michael is baptized we have other people to work with too. It's always so hard when it goes so great, and then after a baptism, you're on the finding stage again. So that balance is vital! We've been teaching a lot lately, and I absolutely love it, yet we have to find as we teach and teach as we find. 

I am loving my new companion!! Sister tanner is from New Plymouth, Idaho, by boise:) She's been out as long as I have, so we're like 2 oldie moldies. I only wish I was dying with her here in Monroe. Pretty much everyone that came out with me is in their last areas, except me... who knows where I'll go!! We just heard some sad news the other day,, there aren't as many sisters now in the mission as when I came out. Alot of the big wave has gone home or will with my group, so they've had to shut down some areas where sisters were. They had to take the sisters out of Sandy plains and replace them with elders. So sad!! I actually asked President if I could train my last 3 months, mainly because I love the 12 week program and I wanted to end my mission on that, but there aren't any sisters coming in next transfer:( There's gonna be some major changes in the mission next year when we all go home! I hope there're another wave coming out. We need it to stay constant!!

I love ya'll so much! This week will be great, temple, mission christmas party and devotional, and Michael's baptism. And next week, skype!!!! 

talk to ya'll in 10 days!! 

Love SIster hulme

A Flair for the Dramatic 12/8/14

Dear Family and Friends,

This week is transfers.... Sis ngo is going back to temple square wednesday morning:( I want to jump in her suitcase so bad! I'm going to miss her so much. I've loved this transfer with her. Here's my special request, for any of you that go to temple square to see the lights, let me know and I'll have you or her hunt each other down! You need to meet her!!! So please make the special trip to go, just to meet her:) Its almost like seeing me... since she's the most recent who's seen me! 

My new companion is SIster Tanner, she's from Idaho and she came out with me. THat's all I know about her. Should be fun!!! When president called last night to release me from being Sister Training Leader, I asked who my new companion was but he told me i had to wait till the morning to hear from the Assistants! He thought he was pretty funny, I couldn't sleep all night! and the assistants took forever to call. FInally i just asked the zone leaders and they spillled the beans before the assistants called. 

Each week is literally an adventure with Michael! We had to push his baptismal date to next weekend, so we're planning on the 19th. It has been such a roller coaster ride with him, and I really have no idea what to expect with him. I have never stressed this much over an investigator, or one person's salvation, which has caused me to pray and fast more fervently than I ever have before. Sometimes I wonder what did I ever do to have this trial in my life? I know I have been sent to help this man specifically to come unto Christ, yet I still ponder as to why we go through so much opposition, in every way possible, with Michael. He has shown the greatest desire to be committed. But I've learned after such a crazy week, that yes, amidst the miracles, there will ALWAYS be opposition. I've always thought that my trials or the trials we go through are to prepare us for something great in the future. But this week I learned that sometimes the opposition is just needed so we will know the joy and the happiness. Because of the great joy and happiness Michael brings to us, we must also experience the same amount of sorrow and pain for him. That is being a disciple of Christ. Just like when Christ prayed for us in the Garden of Gethsemane, he went through the greatest amount of pain and sorrow for us, just for us to experience the greatest joy in our lives. But my goodness, it sure has given me quite the headache, migraine more like!! Yet there's always something in me telling me to keep the faith, and keep working with Michael. 

So this last week, we kept telling Michael that we need to meet with him everyday, like we already were, and he needed to come to church that following sunday, in order to be baptized on the 13th. He was all committed, and things were going great. Well Michael began ditching his lesson appts later on in the week, and we knew this wasn't like him. We couldn't get ahold of him, and it was driving me crazy! We talked to his niece, who lives with him, and she told us she didn't know where Michael was. Finally right before church Michael called us and he was in Jefferson. We told him we would have to push his baptismal date to another day since he couldn't come to church and we couldn't meet with him. He told us to just listen and he would explain everything. His niece had taken advantage of him and stole money and other stuff from him, and he had to leave and get away from her. So while he's been gone the past 2 days, we've actually asked the jefferson elders if they could visit him and his family, and read with him, just to keep him spiritually fed. I hope thats ok. It gives the elders a way to meet his family. Michael told us to not worry, our efforts with him are not wasted, but he's still committed. So I just told him he just needs to communicate with us if he's gone! I've noticed Heavenly Father has a flare for the dramatic, and he definitely is a fourth watch God. I remember hearing a great talk on that. 

I love you all so very much! have a blessed week, and i'll talk to some of you in 17 days;) ( who's counting?) 

Love, SIster Hulme

The Scars That Never Healed 12/1/14

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has shown that in the midst of miracles, there is always an opposition. Yet, when on the Lord's side, that opposition can be defeated, but nobody said it was ever going to be easy!
Our investigator, Michael chandler, went home for thanksgiving in Jefferson with family and friends. We inoculated michael and told him that Satan knows his weaknesses and will do anything in his power to stop michael from progressing towards baptism. Each time we visit michael we have to inoculate him and strengthen him. Well Michael told us saturday night that he felt so ashamed of himself, and he doesn't know if he'll ever be forgiven because he doesn't know if he can get over this weakness of his. During thanksgiving when he was with family and friends, he had a relapse with some drugs, the first time in several months. He said after he did so, he regretted whole-heartedly his decision, and wanted so badly to be clean again. What broke my heart the most is the sorrow and pain you could see in his face, and he told us that he's been contemplating on suicide, wishing he could just end 49 years of misery. I've had many challenges and heartbreaking times on my mission, but Michael's words broke my heart the most. He explained that his past has left scars in his life that will never be healed. In the meantime, I was an emotional wreck and I was praying fervently with more power than I ever have for what the lord would have us missionaries say and do to help Michael in this very moment. And when he commented on the scars in his life, it hit me like a light-bulb. We all have scars in our life that can never be healed by us, but there is one person who has scars in his hands and feet who has chosen to keep his scars, just to prove and show that ours can be healed through his miraculous atonement. Those weaknesses of our can and will be transformed into strengths through His atonement. It all just depends on our faith in ourselves and Him. I also share with Michael my blessing I received when I was set apart. In it, they said that I would reach out to the lonely and comfort those that stand in need of comfort. I know I was sent here for Michael, he is that one who is lonely that I have been called and sent to. I've never seen such a desire from anyone, to be clean from their mistakes and to have a new life, greater than Michael's. There is a reason why we have to visit him daily, and we have to devote alot of time and attention to him, he needs the strength. Those 2 days we didn't see him last week and he wasn't in a safe environment was dangerous for him. I am so grateful for the atonement. At the end of his lesson, it was a transformation in him. He was his normal self, eager and excited for December 13th, and he gained back his determination to stay strong and have faith in himself, and more importantly in his Savior. 
When we got home that night, I broke down again, and explained to sister Ngo that being a disciple of Christ is by far the hardest thing I've done. There is a cost and burden to being a disciple, but I will gladly bear His cross. Because even when we feel that extreme sorrow and that depth of humility, we will have a greater capacity to feel just as much joy and gladness. The atonement is that powerful to transform us. Moments like this on my mission are definitely worth it!
Also, yesterday our ward had sacrament meeting and the third hour combined focus soully on missionary work. We had our ward sustain the new ward mission plan, and you could just feel the spirit of excitement for missionary work! I have loved serving in Monroe and laying the foundations for this great work. It has brought so much joy to see the changes here. I would gladly serve in an area that needs building up again;) Its hard work, and it takes time, but its worth it. And whoever comes here this next transfer can not be a slacker and must be a hard working missionary, because this ward deserves no less! They're getting excited about missionary work, and the missionary needs to be excited too. 

WE had a great thanksgiving too! I almost forgot to mention it haha. We ended up having 4 dinners, but sis ngo and I only ate samples at each meal, we tried to pace ourselves. It didn't work, we were still stuffed. 

I hope ya'll enjoyed your thanksgiving too, now we're transitioning to christmas and i'm so excited! My favorite time of year. Happy holidays and remember who loves you most!

After the Thanksgiving feast

A witness of Him 11/24/14

Hello Ya'll!!!

If only every week were like this week! It has been such a joy to do missionary work this past week, and we've seen so many incredible miracles. The biggest miracle of all is Michael Chandler, our golden investigator)
I mentioned michael last week in my letter, he is the one who finished the first vision before i did! This past week, we met with him almost every single day, each visit I came out feeling so much joy and there was nothing that could make me happier. A few times this week, we had our ward missionaries come with us to his lesson, and they have taken him right under their wing and have shown him so much love! The greatest miracle I wanted to share today though, was from our visit we had with michael on wednesday night. 
We had just taught Michael the plan of salvation, and the day before we had just committed Michael to be baptized december 13th. He always bears such sincere testimony on how he has the greatest desire to change and to come closer to christ, and he is soo eager for his baptism. Well, Michael was telling us how he just loves the Book of mormon, and how he looks forward to reading his scriptures everyday. He explained that he can't even read a newspaper, and understand it fully, but when he reads the book of mormon, or the bible, the spirit works through him and he can read every word and he understands it perfectly, because its home to him, its familiar! As he was telling us this, I just listened in amazement, because i noticed he struggled a little bit when he would read out loud. And right before we left, I noticed on his fridge he had written himself a note, in a writing that was barely legible like a kids, "God loves you, keep believing." And I know that God surely does love Michael, because I have seen a dramatic change in him. He has grown so much and I love to see the spirit speak through him, and work through him every day. 
Saturday night, michael txted us and said he was going to jefferson to be with family so we mentioned he could go to church in Commerce. We decided to fast and pray for michael as a companionship that he would go to church, because we wanted him to go to church sooo badly!! Well sunday morning, I decided to call michael and see if he was going to church in Commerce, but he said he was home in loganville! He woke up thinking of what he needed to do that day and the thought came to him to go to church, and then we called! At church, he talked to everyone, everyone talked to him, and he bore his testimony in gospel principles on how he feels at home here, and he's waited 49 years for this, and he can't wait for his new beginning on December 13th. Each time he bears testimony, i have to fight back the tears, and i can only smile:) I know, and have gained the strongest testimony of fasting and prayer, and i know that when we put that faith to action, miracles like this can happen. 
AFter our lesson with michael on wednesday, i expressed so much gratitude to my Heavenly Father in my prayers before goin to bed that night. And as I was praying I thought of the wonderful miracle michael is, and how I've seen the spirit work throug him. I thought of how that spirit was so real, so alive, and so powerful, it must come from some one or some source who is just as alive. I've always known that my savior lives, but that night, I will never deny the witness and the answer I received that my Savior, REALLY LIVES!! It almost hit me like a wall, and I felt as the prophets in the scriptures who say "my heart was full of gladness" and it makes you want to rejoice! I've always loved to hear prophets and apostles bear witness that they know christ lives, that they truly are a witness. I've always desired to have that strong witness myself, to know Him, to see His face. But the witness I received wednesday night, is one i'll never forget. I know Heavenly Father knows my desires, and He wants me to have that witness too, so he sent his spirit to testify to me, and I've seen it through Michael. 
I'm so grateful to be a disciple, a representative, a witness of Christ, and I'm grateful for the power of the spirit in this work. 
May you have a wonderful thanksgiving!
Love, SIster Hulme

A Marvelous Work! 11/17/14

Dear Family and Friends,

I am so grateful to be involved in such a marvelous work. It has taken several weeks of much fasting and praying, and my patience was tested for sure! But I can not stop reflecting on the amazing miracles we've seen this past week. Things are definitely looking up, and again I'm so grateful to be working and engaged in a marvelous work. 
On Thursday we received a couple referrals from the Grayson elders, and they actually live right around the block from us, right next door to each other. One named William, the other Michael. We were able to meet with Michael first, and he explained to us that he and his niece have been looking for a church. He also explained to us his desire to change his life, and I've never heard anyone express such a great desire to be clean, to truly feel that atonement in their life. We went back the following morning with our recent convert April Pratt, who shared her story and opened up on the atonement. We as missionaries really didn't need to say much, but April and Michael were able to share with each other their experiences and how to feel the redeeming love of Christ and be changed through Him. The spirit was increasingly strong, and you could see Michael soaking in every word we said, even from the scriptures. He committed to come to church, but on sunday he didn't come because of family matters that came up. So we went by sunday afternoon, and in the lesson we were able to commit him to baptism:) Even when we shared with him the first vision of Joseph smith, I was ending with the words "THis is my beloved Son; Hear Him" And i didn't even have to finish because Michael said the last 2 words on the spot. It was as if the spirit was speaking through him. Oh what joy we felt in that room, and Michael again expressed his great desire to change and to become clean through Christ again. He actually wants us to meet with him everyday of the week, he wants us to make him first in our schedule! We told him we'll do whatever it takes to help him make that change he so desires. In the little time that I've known Michael, I have grown such a love for him and I'm so grateful for the miracle we've had of meeting him. 
We have some other new investigators who we are teaching now, and we're asking for all the help we can get from the ward. There are so many people just around us who are prepared and are searching, they just don't know it yet, but we're reaching out to them. Even if we're pulling this ward together and laying the foundations to build them up in missionary work, the lord is preparing people all around us and this work is calling for our help now. I'm only going to continue to fast and pray, because its been a long time in the making, a long time since we've had elect people to work with. And this time i'm inoculating them with all my might because i don't want to lose them, i don't want to go through that heart break again. SIster ngo and I are loving the amount of teaching we're doing, and we feel things coming together and looking up! Oh how grateful I am to be doing such a marvelous work. The other day i was reading in 2 Nephi 26 and I couldn't help but notice how many times it  said "believe in Christ" and "Look forward with a steadfastness in Christ". I pondered about what those words mean. ANd for me, I've been doing alot of reflecting and alot of looking back on my mission so far. Not that that is a bad thing. But it has been consuming my mind. When really i need to be looking forward to the great work ahead and to keep my shoulder to the wheel. THen when all is said and done, I can look back and see the fruits of my labors. ANd it will bring  the greatest joy! 

I love each of you so much, and i hope ya'll have another blessed week, stay warm! I'm freezing in georgia, but thats because i've become acclimated here and I'm not used to the cold. Enjoy the snow at home!

Love, SIster Hulme

Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you... 11/10/14

Hello family and friends!

I have so much to share with ya'll, alot on what I've learned this past week and the amazing miracles and changes being made in the Monroe ward!

So as i shared last week, we have a  new ward mission leader, Brother rucker. His family recently moved into the  ward a few weeks ago, and it was a heaven sent. He's just who we needed as a new WML! Well last week we had correlation with him, for the first time i've been here in Monroe! He told us to keep communication with him throughout the week, and share with him any ideas we get for the ward mission plan. Well we came up with plenty of ideas. But it dawned on me, that we needed to just be there in ward council when they discuss the missionary work and talk about the mission plan. So immediately i called bro Rucker and Bishop carter and asked if the missionaries could join ward council. So us and the elders communicated on what we wanted to share with the ward, and we shared that previously with the WML, so we could be prepared for ward council. And ward council turned out to be one of the best i've been too! And it's all because we have a great bishop, WML, and other auxillary leaders who are just the ones for their calling! I love working with these leaders and helping them change and progress in missionary work! Bro. Rucker basically cracked the whip and told them as plain as it could be that we are receiving little to none help in missionary work, mostly because we haven't had a plan or a leader to help us. But i shared with them that the key in all of this was communication, and just doing the work. We may come up with the greatest plan and everything on what we need to do, but its just following through and doing it that matters and will make the change. 

We also held a correlation meeting after church, and we now have 2 new ward missionaries, another couple in the ward, making it 4 ward missionaries. BIshop told us he's also calling part time ward missionaries from each of the auxillary presidencies. Which will help tremendously!!! along with an assistant WML. My mind has just been blown at the changes finally being made in the Monroe ward, but trust me when i say its taken alot of prayers and fasting, and work! Our bishop came up to us afterwards and apologized for the lack of help we've been receiving as missionaries from the ward. But he's been putting everything together in place and he wants to make sure that all these plans and changes stick. He doesn't want to have to build it back up again. So basically we're laying a FIRM foundation for a great work:) We told him that we'll patiently wait and work with the ward, even if they don't work with us, cause that's why we're here, to assist and help them. I have loved seeing the changes in Monroe. I am now the missionary who has been in the ward the longest, so I've seen it grow and progress little by little. THis ward really has so much potential and some of the greatest families and people i know. I love this ward so much, and it will be a sad day when i have to transfer out, but that won't be till after christmas:) 

Also, this past week, in our meetings the theme has been to "sanctify yourself" THis last week i've really focused my studies on what it means to truly sanctify yourself, and i thought it meant to sacrifice, and give all the the lord. But what it truly means to sanctify yourself means to consecrate, to make sacred or holy, and over all, to be clean. President bennion shared with us a scripture from D&C 88:73-74. The time to hasten the work is now, and we must assemble, organize, prepare, SANCTIFY, and purify ourselves. I learned that we are justified through christ, and our sins are paid by our savior, but to be sanctified is to be truly transformed and spiritually changed through the atonement of CHrist, It is us consecrating our actions and our hearts to God and his work, making them sacred and holy. When we sanctify ourselves we are endowed with power. AT Mission leadership council they really focused on that, reminding us that we are endowed from on high, we are a symbol and a beacon of the temple, an instrument in God's hands, and he has empowered us. I love how much they focus on the covenants we made! So i've learned to bring down the power:)

I love ya'll and miss everyone so much! I hope you have a blessed week, and remember who loves you most!

SIster Hulme xoxox

Week of Transfers 11/3/2014

Hey everyone!

This week has felt extremely long, mainly because it was transfers. I really miss Sister George, its weird not seeing her face popping up around the apartment, or even having her drive. I basically haven't driven in a year and i'm a little rusty. But sister Ngo doesn't have a license so I'm designated driver. Yikes. 

So SIs, Ngo is such a cutie!! I absolutely love her. She's fluent in almost any language and every time i turn around she's talking to someone in their native tongue. I just stand there and smile:) She's just the companion I've been needing right now. She's a very devoted obedient missionary, and she carries the spirit so strongly with her! She'll only be here for 6 weeks then she's back to temple square to finish her mission. So i'll probably be here in Loganville for 3 more months. Which i'm happy with, i love this area!! the members here are family to me:)

We had an awesome halloween! WEdnesday night our ward had a trunk or treat on this member's ranch and there was a bonfire too. I just love this season:) Sis, Ngo was able to meet alot of the members,  but when sunday came she didn't recognize any of them because they weren't in costume:) On friday we had dinner at our bishops and got to spend the evening with them and a few other families, one being our investigator Dana who is sister Carter's friend. She's met with missionaries before and asks sister Carter alot of questions,  but we still don't know how interested she is. But she's nice and still listens! Her family is strong southern baptist, so its cool that she lets us teach her. We got to hand out candy for a little bit too, but we had to leave by 7:30 to be home early. President wanted us in early on Halloween night, but  we got permission from him to be at our bishops. 

 Our other investigator is David, we tracted into him in a trailer park. I've been dying to tract trailer parks, and now I finally have a few in the area I'm in! We taught him on his porch, but this last week we had a return appt with him, which turned out to be on of the most spiritual lessons I've had on my mission. Our team up was a member who recently returned from her mission a month ago. She loves coming out with us, and after the lesson she told us that he's just golden! It's been a long time it seems since we've had someone promising to work with, but things are looking up, and we're continually praying for our progressing investigators. 
We also had correlation with our WML for the first time I've been here yesterday!! He's brainstorming some ideas for a ward mission plan, in which the ward council is going to try putting one together next sunday. So he's asking us for ideas and what we want to see in the ward. We're still going to need patience though, this is all going to take time before we start to see any changes in the ward. 

So, things are slowly but surely looking up!! yesterday we had a mission fast for our progressing investigators. I'm praying for them constantly because I'm ready to work with someone promising. 

I hope to hear from ya'll soon! remember who loves you most! and have a blessed week:)Love, SIster Hulme

Love Georgia in the fall!!

Sister Ngo and I

Sporting the glasses mom sent in the Halloween package.  :)

Transfer week 10/27/14

Hey ya'll!

I have so much to say, mainly about transfers. But This transfers is a little crazy!

So... Sister George is going to Johns Creek with Sister motuliki, my greenie!!! AND  she is going to train a sister from taiwan, who will be speaking some chinese here!!! Ha,, sister george is excited yet so nervous! It will be good for sister motuliki too, because she'll also be going through the twelve week program again for new missionaries, since sister george is training the other sister, and she needs to do more language study. SIster george is one lucky sister!!! Haha, last night we talked and we discussed how the holidays are going to be very interesting for them, trying ot explain halloween, daylight savings, thanksgiving.. haha she's ending on a grand adventure! She's going to do amazing:) Johns Creek is by Alpharetta Georgia and is packed with rich people! and a lot of international people. SIster George never thought she'd be a minority:) 

As for me:)... My new companion is SIster Ngo (pronounced "no") from the phillipines. She's actually a sister from temple square and she's just here for 3 months, and is on her second transfer. So we'll only have one transfer together. Also.. It will just be me in the companionship who is a sister training leader, i will be over my area, and fort yargo area in our zone. AS for the other sister training leader in the zone, SIster Debry!! is going to commerce, an area that is right in the middle of our zone, and she'll be the sister training leader there over her area and cleveland. So president is splitting the sister training leaders up. and i think he'll eventually move the sister training leaders to the commerce area. The STL have been in Monroe/Loganville for about a year now, but we're at the very bottom of our zone and we have to travel almost 2 hours to get to some of our sisters for exchanges. If he moves the STL to commerce, that will be right in the middle of the zone and will be much easier for commuting for exchanges. Basically its just all craziness and its exciting stuff! This transfer kind of threw me off though, cause I just thought that i would be STL here for 6 months. 3 months with SIster George and 3 months with another sister. But no! now i don't know what the future holds! i just better be here for christmas, thats all! i'd hate to get transfered right before christmas, which is when the next transfer ends. 

It's exciting to see all these foreign missionaries come to the mission, speaking their language! its definitely part of the hastening of the work. Atlanta is sooo international and we need those missionaries! We have a few members in our ward actually who are from the phillipines, so i know they'll love sister ngo:)

Also more exciting news... We now have a ward mission leader!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know, its so sad to think we didn't have one. Technically, we did. He just didn't fulfill his calling and is really old actually, so he was having a hard time catching the new wave of the work. Bless his heart. But our bishop has been praying and pondering for a very long time on who to call for a WML, we've given him names and suggestions. But nothing has seemed to fit. WEll, we just had a family recently move into the ward, the Ruckers, and brother Rucker was called as our new WML.  He's a very... stiff kind of guy. WE talked to him briefly yesterday and he said he would call us and arrange a meeting and tell us what he has in mind. ANd he doesn't smile alot. But hey, i'll take it, i'm so happy we actually have a WML now and we'll actually have correlation, and get some  work going. I've gained the strongest testimony of church organization, and working with the leaders in the ward on my mission. We all need to use our callings in unity together in one purpose, and this ward is slowly coming to that point. I have met and grown to love so many familes in this ward and some people who are just fabulous members. But this ward really struggles in missionary work and working in unity. ANd i feel Brother Rucker wants to change that, and so do i! So our plan.. well my plan.. this week is to meet with him first hand with the new sister and the elders also, talk about ward mission plan (if we have one) and see what he would like from us. Also.. i still don't know very many of hte members in the area, so SIster Ngo and i are going to visit alot of them this week, so we can put a face to every name. WE just have our usual like 6 families who always feed us and our 3 members that we can always rely on for team ups, but i want to broaden the range and get more of the ward involved. Thinking about all of what needs to be done makes me so excited yet a little stressed for all the work that needs to be done. THis morning i was thinking of all of it, and my mind reverted to the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 64:33-34 "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.  Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and the obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days." We have to lay the foundation before we build the church here. I also learned this week that we are called to establish the church in our areas. And what it means to establish the church, to lift where you stand, just as christ established His church when he was here. Thats something ya'll can think about:) 

So, because sister George is training, we had to go to the trainers meeting, and i saw Sister Dunn there!!! we ran and slammed into each other cause we were so excited! Ahh i've missed that girl:) it was good to catch up with her. She's going home in 3 days, weird!!! Some of the members from Collins hill were taking her out to lunch that day, so i got to see them at t he mission office too. It was a joyous reunion. 

Most of this week consisted of SIster george saying goodbye to everyone, especially our converts. She's done alot of hard work here. Its always so hard to see us connect and get attached wiht members and then we have to leave them. its like us leaving our family all over again! SIster george has been really stressed this week, i sat her down on wednesday and asked her to just let everything out and tell me whats going on. I tried to give her the best words of comfort that i could, and told her to not worry, if she's faithful, everything will be ok:) She's just never been stressed on her mission, so this is like her last final test before she goes home.But she's going to do great!:) I have loved every moment being her companion, and I've gained a great friend. Some of my closest friends are from my mission!! 

I hope ya'll have a fabulous week, i love ya, take care.. pray Sister Ngo and I can build up this area!! Love ya'll!

Love, SIster Hulme

Update on Sister Hulme 10/20/14

Hello ya'll!

I'm just really grateful its monday. This week was a long week, and sister George and i were ready for monday! Sometimes you really do need that day of rest to collect yourself and get ready for a new week. 

We've been doing alot of tracting. Alot! and i will say that i admire those who do pest control or security systems after their mission, cause i don't know if i'll be able to knock on another door again when its over! don't get me wrong.. i love having the opportunity everyday to share a message of Christ, and invite others to come unto him. But i don't know if i'll ever grow to love tracting. We're trying to work through the members, but they just can't think of anybody for us to teach. We're praying for them to get out more and find more missionary opportunities. 

We're trying to think of creative ways to contact and get new investigators. Saturday there was a fall festival and we contacted there for a few hours. I wish we had a booth of our own there! Haha, so when we were in the middle of contacting someone, this woman representing Mary Kay comes up to us and tells us to sign up for this drawing and hands us the paper. Well we did so thinking eh.. we won't get it. Well they called our number yesterday and asked for aLexis! haha i had won the drawing for a free facial!! i told them i wouldn't be able to do it cause i don't have time as a missionary. but it was a good laugh:) 

So.. i do have a cool miracle to share:) 

Last night, we had our dinner in Monroe, and we decided to just spend the day there to do work, to save us on miles. Well after dinner, we were driving to follow up with one of our former investigators who we haven't seen in awhile, but Sis. George felt prompted that we needed to swing by the Hernandez family's home. It was about 7:30 and it was dark, so we just kept a little prayer in our heart that they would let us in or at least talk to us. We haven't been able to talk to them since they dropped us, but the neighbors who are members still keep in contact with them and told us we needed to stop by. We said a prayer together before we went to the door, just trying to sum up the courage and thinking of what we need to say and do. We waited and waited at the door for awhile. We knew they were home, we could see lights on and hear them. Finally we decided to leave and when we were getting in the car, we saw Juan looking at us through the window. Now we just felt awkward! Well, Juan came down and answered the door, but you could tell that he was confused and didn't know who we were. So we ran back to the door and said "Hi its the sisters!" And he just stepped to the side and motioned for us to come in:) I got so excited and my heart was racing, yet i felt so much peace and relief because God answered our prayer! And it was soooo good to see them, we've missed them so much! We only visited for a half hour but we just asked them how they were doing and told them we wanted to say hi. Finds out, Juan's family convinced them we were forcing them to be baptized, and they thought they now couldn't come to church because they weren't members. We told them they are always welcome at our church, members or not, and its up to them if they come. So they promised us they would come next sunday, especially because its Sister George's last sunday here. They also had watched all of general conference at the neighbors home and they said they enjoyed it, especially because it was directed to nonmembers too! So it was a little miracle that we were able to visit them last night and it meant so much to us! It took courage on our part, but we're glad that communication is still open between us and we know they feel our love. 

Thank you for keeping the Hernandez family in your prayers! they really need it. THat family means so much to me and i hope we can continue to visit them. 

I love ya'll so much! take care and have a great week! 

Love,

Sister Hulme

Cute little Helen, Georgia.  It was raining buckets the day we went.

A day late... 10/14/14

Hey ya'll! 

Sorry, yesterday was columbus day and the libraries were closed. So they switched our pday to today. And we're actually up in Cleveland right now because we're going to Helen for the day with the sisters from our zone. Even though its down pouring outside, i'm excited! I've heard its a cute little german town with good chocolate. And i'm in heaven right now because i'm wearing jeans haha, cause we're allowed to do that.. we might be going on a hike there too. My body has forgotten what its like to wear jeans. 

Anyway!! This week has been long.. the days have been long.. but when i look back the week kind of flew by. We've been doing alot of exchanges lately to fit them in before the transfer ends. And those just make the week fly by. But we have to do alot of driving on our part, and it kills our miles. So between exchanges, we've been doing alooootttt of finding. And let me tell ya, when they said at conference that persecution on Joseph smith would just get harder and worse, trust me, we've been seeing that. Ha quick story.. we tracted into this man who said he knew all about our church and John Weslee.. we looked at each other and looked at him puzzled.. Sister george caught on and asked "you mean joseph smith?" he was like "oh yeah! thats what i meant!" and he just went off. I told sister george she shouldn't have even mentioned the name joseph smith and we should've gone forward like we didn't know what he was talking about! I thought though.. if you can't even get the name right, your sources must be wrong. I don't think you really know everything about our church like you said you did. And that's just a taste of what we deal with everyday. I also thought of what persecution other missionaries get in their mission.. probably not alot about joseph smith outside of the states. BUt especially in the south, people hear different things and rumors spread like crazy. And we get to put up with the persecution. But its all worth it:) I can definitely say i have a testimony of Joseph SMith, and i know he's a prophet of God! With his one question he had about which church is true, and the answer he recieved.. it also answered millions of other's questions at that time and in the future. And i love the simple evidence of all this truth.. the Book of Mormon, read it, ponder it, pray about it. I've just started reading it over again, and this time i'm really focusing on the doctrine, or the gospel of christ. I've noticed in just the first book of nephi how much pertains to the gospel, and how much it witnesses of Christ! I just love it:)

We did have one cool miracle on saturday! We had dinner with the bishop's family, the Carters, and Sister CArter, whom i just love and adore, texted us and asked if we had any investigators or people in mind that we wanted to invite to dinner. Well we've been focusing on a recent convert, EMily, who is a 15 year old and is very shy, she needs alot of love and attention from the ward. So we asked Sister Carter to text Emily and invite her. Well, we rode with SIster carter to Emily's house to pick her up. Emily also has 3 other siblings who are around her same age. And Sister Carter was not slow to act as a missionary, and invited all her siblings to come to dinner too! We had to really convince them to come, but once one of them said yes, the rest followed suit and wanted to come! It was a little tricky though because we were just driving SIster Carter's little chevy cruz car, and we had to REALLY squeeze in for all of us to fit! We didn't really think ahead, but we were willing to sacrifice for this missionary opportunity.:) haha sister George and i had to squeeze in the front seat. We became really close friends by the end of that car ride. Haha! Sister george couldn't resist and said , "I haven't had this much action in 15 months!" SIster Carter overheard and just laughed. goodness, my companion sometimes. Don't worry, we took the back roads to the Bishop's home.. and we made it safely.. obviously! We had so much fun that evening! We played a big game of kickball, had a great cookout, and roasted some smores over a fire. We taught the gospel of JEsus Christ to them after dinner, and everyone had great input! Emily said on sunday that they had such a fun time and her siblings wanted to do it again. We are so grateful for BIshop Carter's family who were so outgoing and willing to have them over. WE wouldn't have been able to do it without them and their help, especially sister Carter, who was quick to invite emily's family over, let alone all squish in the car! We just love members like them:) Sister Carter is another member who is my long lost friend that i have just grown to love! SHe's from idaho, so she understands sister george and i:) 

BIG BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT TO THE BEST MOM IN THE WORLD!!!  I hope you have a wonderful birthday tomorrow mom:) thanks for all you've done for me and all you do now:) 

Also, for those who would like to go to Sis. Dunn's homecoming it is november 9th at 1 oclock.. she lives in the woodruff ward in logan. SHe'll email me the address when she gets home. she would love to meet ya'll and i think it would be awesome for you to go and support her. tell her hi! 

well have a great week! 

Love sister Hulme

General Conference and One Year Mark 10/6/14

Dear family and friends,

It was soo great to hear from some of you! I wish i had more time on my hands to email all of ya'll. 

Conference went by way too fast! It was crazy for me to think the whole time that it was a year ago that I was watching conference in the MTC. And each time that president monson says "God be with you till we meet again in 6 months time" my stomach lurches in thinking how fast that time flies. 6 months and i'll be packing the bags to come home! ugh. truly the anticipation just kills me, and i almost get anxiety thinking of all i need to do in 6 months. Only 6 months left to truly serve with all my heart might mind and strength. But when i remember the commission i've been called to, i just feel peace and comfort, knowing that i'm fulfilling fathers will, and i've been called to the greatest work. I'm just going to enjoy the time i'm in now and make the most of it. Because I have 6 months left to finish a mission i'll remember for eternity. 

This week was much better than last week. Thanks for your prayers and your love:) On wednesday we had interviews and we had a little zone conference and watched Meet the Mormons. We no longer get to go to it with our investigators at a theatre, but we got to watch it early instead! Hhaha president had a bootleg copy:) OMG its so good! you have to make it a priority to go! and when you do, please be a good member and bring a friend:) that's what its for. i'm excited for the world to see it on netflix and so forth. Interviews with president were good. Except he just asked me about my family and what my plans were after the mission. BTW mom he gave me permission to apply for byu-i. i told him i didn't want to think about that stuff yet, but he told me that its ok to keep it in mind, just as long as it doesn't consume my mind! still don't want to think about it. 

We also had an awesome Mission leadership council meeting on friday. It was really focused on how we can balance between tracting and working with the members. Since tracting is still effective in the south, we will be the last mission to get ipads pretty much. But one thing i've really learned on my mission is how to work with the different leaderships in the church and the roles of each. ha i had no idea what a ward mission leader was or how important that calling is! But i'm grateful for the chance as a missionary to serve and assist them in their calling. Our ward is struggling with some of this stuff though, so its a working progress. and as SIster Training Leaders we were asked to give a training on this at the next zone meeting this week! Kind of hard when your own ward won't exemplify it. SIster George and I decided we're laying the foundation for future missionaries who will be doing great things with the monroe ward! 

And to make the week even better, we had a baptism on friday. Anel Sisic finally got baptized! He is the man from bosnia and was a muslim. He was part of  a part member family, and was taking discussions from missionaries for about 1.5 years. Well since we've been here he's made sooo much progress and its been so cool to see. HAha we had to book it out of Mission leadership council to get back in time to set up for his baptism. When he showed up, he was so excited and it was so fun to see!:) haha he was extra picky about his water, he wanted it to be as clean as ever if he was going to be purified in it. So he made us get out any little bug or crump in the water, and a few times i almost fell in! We also made him this special  baptism certificate.. we called it his splash pass:) he was overjoyed to get it:) there was as little joke behind that. 

So the biggest thing i learned from conference was from the talk on decisions. When president brought it up in interviews about my plan after the mission, my mind has kind of been boggled by what i should do. But I went to conference with questions in mind. And i learned that when making decisions, we have to consider our options, with the end in mind.. having an eternal perspective. and you most definitely have to understand who you are, what your divine purpose is, and where you want to go. And when seeking answers for these decisions, trust that its all in god's timing. He'll give you the answer when you are prepared to recieve it. Sometimes you have to set it aside because you have to learn and grow until god will give you the answer. THis weekend, i learned that I'm still growing and reaching my potential, and my focus is my mission. Everything else will come in its time when God sees best for me. I'm so grateful for the counsel from prophets, apostles, and leaders, cause its direct counsel from God. I hope each of you took something from conference and will strive to follow their counsel. 

Thanks again for your prayers, love, support, and for being the best family ever! Love you so much!

Love Sister Hulme

The previous sisters, Anel, and Sister George and Lexie.

They are all standing in front of the picture in which Anel says "Christ is playing Hide and Seek."

Disappointment 9/29/14

Dear family and friends,

I honestly don't really know where to start with this one, other than this week was literally the hardest week of my mission. I cannot express how grateful I am for a new week! 

So last monday, right after we got done emailing, the Hernandez family txted us and informed us that they no longer wanted to investigate the church or be baptized. They had spent the weekend with their family over in Athens, and their family convinced them that they shouldn't be baptized. They feel they shouldn't abandon their family traditions or religion (catholic). But I know they fear the rejection they would get from their family if they did convert. The way it sounded, they really didn't want to stop investigating, but their family pressured them into it. It's so sad to see how Satan knows exactly how to hold one back from their potential and salvation, by hitting them where it would affect them most, their family. We really want to try and visit them one last time, just to say that we tried and did all that we could. We want to try and bring a hispanic couple who are from the spanish branch and are converts to the church so they can share their story and provide encouragement. So hopefully we can do that this week, I miss the Hernandez family already so much!!:(

So we've been trying to pick ourselves up all week since then. We went home and immediately said a prayer of gratitude to Heavenly Father for the experiences we've had with the Hernandez, and also for blessing us with the investigators we are working with. We told ourselves to look up,we had 2 more baptisms to look forward to.... or so we thought. 

We moved forward by preparing everything for Nikki's baptism. We had her interview and everything went great. Well friday morning in the middle of our personal study we recieved a txt from Nikki, explaining that she sadly had to cancel her baptism. I was the first to read it and look at the phone, and immediately i wanted to just crawl into a hole and cry. My heart was just crushed! Why was this all happening at once?! Well she explained to us that she had this long intervention with her mom and grandma the night before and had told them that she was going to be baptized. Well i feared she was keeping this secret from them, knowing she had a baptist background. She told us she didn't know of the 'formalities in the baptist church' and she was going to meet with the elders in the baptist church starting sunday. (we had our recent convert april who was a baptist tell us there are no elders for the baptist church):P. She thanked us for teaching her so much and the love we've shown towards her, but that she would keep in contact with us. I cried... and i prayed from the bottom of my heart all day friday. I seriously began to question if i had any motivation in me to move forward. I was tired, emotionally, spiritually, i was just exhausted,  To be honest i almost wanted to give up... but we didn't. 

 Well we still didn't feel right in just leaving it at that, but we had no idea how to approach all this. We finally decided to have our bishop's wife, Amy carter, to come with us and we would just drop in and try to discuss with Nikki what these 'formalities' were. Before we knocked on her door, SIster Carter suggested that each of us take turns saying a prayer, which gave us each a peace of mind and comfort, and moreover courage! We were a little fearful for what would happen, but knew that we needed to do this. SIster Carter, took our hands and said, 'I just want you SIsters to know that no matter what happens, i'm grateful to spend time with ya'll and you are still great missionaries!" ha well that did help a little!! So when we knocked on her door, she answered really fast surprisingly, but she was in the middle of a conference call for work. So we left her a little note saying to just call us when she had time and we could sit down with her and talk, and that we love her:) So we went to at nearby  bench and sat down, and she soon txted us. AGain, she said she feels our love and appreciates all we've done for her, but she's going through too much change and she needs to slow things down. So we just invited her to watch the womens broadcast online after she was done with work and let us know what her thoughts were. She said she would, so i hope she's really pondering and praying about things. I fasted with so much heart and prayer for her and the hernandez yesterday. We are now leaving everything in God's hands, and know that he has a plan. 

We had a good long therapy session with Sister Carter afterwards, and we learned a great important lesson. I know the Lord is hastening His work. To often, i tend to think that means more and more people are going to be baptized. But little do we know of what God's plan really is. What i've experienced on my mission i will never forget. I will never forget the power of the spirit and how i felt when i was teaching these people. I will never forget nor doubt the love i felt for these people and for this gospel as i taught and shared with them simple truths of God's plan. WE must never measure success in the baptisms or think that our purpose as missionaries is to baptize. The Lord clearly states that he has called us to declare and proclaim his gospel. As disciples of christ we are to preach His gospel. My pupose is to teach, and to invite. I cannot control their agency and whether or not they want to enter the waters of baptism. And if they do, what a blessing that is to them and for me to be a part of that. Baptism is only the first step we take into eternal life. The Lord wants to hasten his work by having a more choice and converted people in His church. He has more servants, or missionaries, out there in the world becoming more converted to His gospel, and he'll do whatever it takes. My whole mission has been a conversion process, our life is conversion process. I'm learning on my mission how to become perfect in Christ, and truly what that means. Salvation is not easy, it wasn't easy for him, it shoudln't be easy for us. We have to go through some kind of gethsemane in order to come closer to Him. I am grateful for the chance and opportunity everyday to preach His gospel, and to know myself that it is true, without a shadow of a doubt. I love to teach, and to treasure up the words of Christ. And I cannot tell you how excited i am to be a member missionary when i get home:) That's also part of the hastening,, so there will be more RM who will do missionary work in their home areas. God is a smart guy. 

I love you all so very much. ANd i thank you for your prayers and support. I hope you all are striving to gain a testimony of this gospel yourself and to share it with others. 

On a fun note.. i was asked to give the quote at district meeting on tuesday and I quoted The Living Christ haha.. took up about 7 minutes. Hey they challenged us i n the womens conference to memorize it and sister george and i already have!  I extend the challenge to ya'll:) 

I hope everyone of you enjoy conference. I'm looking forward to every second of it:) I know there is something in there to uplift SIster George and I! Take lots of good notes!

Love,

SIster Hulme

Update from Georgia 9/22/14

Hey ya'll!

It's been another great week in Loganville. I wish I had some awesome stories or cool miracles to share with you. It's still exciting here though! With this week and next week our ward will have a total of 7 baptisms! We'll be having one with our investigator Nikki this Friday, the elders investigator Deonte will be baptized on Saturday, and a girl named Autumn they're teaching will be baptized on Sunday. So one each day of the weekend! I think I'm more excited for next weekend. The Hernandez family is getting baptized on October 4th after general conference. I have grown to love that family so much! We're getting so stoked for that day! 
We're also very excited for Anel SIsic's baptism on October 3rd. This will probably be one of the most memorial baptisms on my mission. He's taken discussions from missionaries for a very long time now, and its been really cool to see him really progress the past few months and see the spirit change him. Not gonna lie, we had our doubts if this would really happen, but we're holding onto our faith and hope, and know that it will:)

So we had a good discussion with our bishop, who showed us this fun object lesson this last week. With the number of baptisms growing steadily all over the world, and especially in our ward, we're all seeing that retention is now very vital. He took us outside in the church parking lot and showed us this object lesson one evening. he had this string that was 2600 inches long. and stretched over the whole length of the parking lot. Each inch represented the number of times we go to church in the span of 50 years. He had us estimate or guess how long the average person investigates the church. We agreed over the time of about 2-3 months. Well during that time we are trying to welcome them into the church and fellowship them as much as we can. But it seems after they're baptized or stop investigating, members kind of forget about them and the fellowship stops. Well on the string, the 2-3 month period compared to the 50 years was nothing! But he mentioned that if we continue to fellowship and focus on the retention in their first year of being a member, using the new member progress report, its shown that 90% more will stay strong in the church. I don't know how accurate that is, but I will believe it! The main goal we want all to have is the temple, and we're helping each other reach that goal. The new member progress report focuses on getting recent converts to the temple, and the members have to help them get there. I LOVE how the Lord is hastening His work and my perspective on the work has changed. I'm focusing more on having an eternal perspective, keeping the temple in my sights, and helping others have that perspective as well.  I hope each of you have that same perspective and focus on getting your family or others to the temple:) The blessings this work brings are infinite and so grand. God is just showing forth His love and His great plan for us through these blessings. 

We also have been practicing teaching lessons to active members now. President  Bennion shared with us a message from Pres. Boyd K. Packer a few weeks ago about missionary work. Truly, we as missionaries are called to teach. That is our calling and we have to abide by it. There's the finding, the baptizing and fellowshipping, and the teaching, all are parts of missionary work. We're called to proclaim the gospel, to treasure up the knowledge and the words of Christ, and our most important duty is to teach. Therefore, President Bennion is having us teach one of the 5 lessons in preach my gospel to the members at our dinner appts, and the members are to role play with us! Well if any of you have served a mission, you'll always remember role playing and how much you love it. I have grown to really love role playing to be honest, its effective:) So the members are to act as one of their non member friends, or as an investigator, as we teach them the lesson. This will help them for one, understand and grow in the knowledge of the gospel, feeding their testimonies, and two, to know how what they need to do to share the gospel with their friends or family. They can receive revelation as to what step they need to take next to help their friend or what they need to say. So for the past week we've been doing this with the members, and they haven't been able to think of any of their friends as we share our lesson. But last night, we had spent quite a bit of time at our bishop's home talking about missionary work, (since we basically don't have a ward mission leader), and before we left we shared one of the lessons. They chose to listen to the first discussion, the restoration. That family is seriously my favorite! they have 6 kids all under the age of 13, and they took the role playing seriously! even bishop and his wife! they pounded us with questions and even stumped us with some! After the lesson though, the bishop looked at us and said, "thank you for being great missionaries, you sisters have helped our ward tremendously, and i just want to compliment you both on being amazing missionaries. We've had good missionaries in the past, and not so good, the ward knows who the good missionaries are. But you both are great missionaries, and we 're so grateful for your service." I'm not trying to brag, really! But you don't know how much that meant to Sister George and I! AS a missionary you just sometimes feel like another missionary in the ward to the members. But to hear that from the bishop meant so much to us! We know that he really trusts us, and really that we can trust him! So it was really nice to hear that from a member, let alone the bishop. I love the Carter family so much! He and his wife are actually both from Idaho and went to ricks college, so i naturally like them alot:) he's probably my favorite bishop i've served with, (not including my bishops from home:) ). 

I hope everyone has another blessed week! 

Love, Sister Hulme