Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Making Your Time Sacred 2/17/15

Hey ya'll!
We had a crazy ice storm last night, no worries we're safe and sound. There's a plus when you live with members. You always have food storage, and they have generator for back up while everyone else is out of power:) All night we could hear the trees cracking and falling becasue of the ice. EVERYTHING is completely frozen.  Luckily the roads are all clear. We had to turn in early because everyone was ordering us home. There was alot we needed to get done inside our apartment anyways so it was needed. 
We've seen some cool miracles this week that seem so little, but really mean so much to us and the Lord. I felt zone conference was great, and it was good for me to relearn from other missionaries about the importance of planning and the baptismal invitation. One thing that really struck me during zone conference, and also from mission leadership council, is to make your time sacred. Even the planning we do at night. As time goes by on my mission, it just becomes a reality of how precious it is, and we can make every second sacred. So that's been my goal this past week, and for now on. 
I have to share a fun experience we had with one of the Laurel age young women in our ward, from Monday evening. Her name is Madi Hill, her mom is one of the seminary teachers. We've decided to join seminary every monday morning to get to know the youth more, and this year is really focused on missionary work, and we love to help the youth learn what they can about missionary work. Can i just add, the youth here are amazing, i love working with them! They all have amazing testimonies and share stories of sharing the gospel with their friends. Well we invited madi hill to come out with us monday evening to follow-up with a few people and do some tracting. This girl is FULL of energy and loves missionary work! She basically guided us in our tracting. We were in a neighborhood of townhomes and she was running all over the place, in no specific order, just to people she saw or a home with a light on! We all caught the energy and excitement and we knocked on this older woman's door and she invited us in first thing. Madi was more than excited to invite her to read from the Book of mormon and pray about it, and left her the copy she was holding. When we got back in the car, Madi expressed how happy she felt and she loved inviting her to read and pray. The rising generation has amazing youth and I'm so excited to see the work hasten through so many of them. 
We went on exchange with the Sugar Hill sisters after zone conference. Sister Smith is such a great missionary, and she taught me alot by her example. We had a dinner that evening with a part member couple who Sis Childs and I have been visiting, The Swifts. She has a few horses and she loves to talk horses with me. She actually got online and checked out Scotts website and she wants to ask him a few questions. So you might get a customer from Georgia, Scott! The husband has taken discussions multiple times but I'm not sure if he's ever read from the book of mormon. We decided to try practice teaching from the pamphlet to them, and I was amazed at how well Bro. swift ( the nonmember) was listening, he asked a few questions. At the end we committed them to read from the book of mormon, but we didn't get a real response or a firm yes from him. His wife said yes, and proceeded to tell us that we were late for our next appt. It was almost that missed opportunity, I felt, to ask just him. But I've been praying since that we'll have another opportunity come and we can invite him again. Maybe they'll let us practice the lessons more with them:)
We have another investigator, Jean, who has been meeting with the Sisters for about a year now. She told us first thing when we sat down that she believes the Book of Mormon is true. It totally caught us off guard, I wasn't expecting her to just say it so plain and boldly! She was smiling and we were so happy for her. So we proceeded to ask if she had a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and she said, if i believe in the book of mormon then i must believe in he prophet joseph smith! So we proceeded to invite her to be baptized, but then she said she has already been baptized and she isn't sure if she wants to be part of the mormon church. I explained if she believes joseph smith to be a prophet then he also restored Christ's church and the priesthood authority is restored. In short, she said she would be baptized if she saw the priesthood power was necessary.Not sure where she didn't grasp that as we were teaching her how the priesthood power is restored. I feel like we need to go over all the restoration of the Gospel again. She won't come to church until her husband will come with her. So we're praying for his heart to be softened. We would love to have them at a member's home for dinner, so we're arranging that this week. It's slow progression, but its progress:)
Things have been a little better this week for Sister Childs. I mentioned getting a priesthood blessing from one of the members. She agreed with the idea, and sunday evening we had one of the men in the ward give her a blessing. I think its just been hard for her to come to the realization that she's going home soon. She's mentioned lately that she's been feeling high anxiety levels, and it seems when things get pushy in the work or stressful, she can't focus. I feel at times we could be so much more diligent and serving with our might, but i don't want to push her anxiety levels to high. Sometimes you have to find a balance with your comp. I find though when i make things exciting and spontaneous, she's more outgoing and will catch the spirit. But the blessing helped and I've been praying for her. I feel like sometimes we're where we are just for our companion. 
I hope all is well with ya'll. pretty sure the weather is nicer in idaho than it is here. Last monday we found this western store and i went in and found a little kid rope. it's kind of crappy, but sister childs loves for me to practice roping her foot haha. I remember being "that one" that was always the roping dummy as a kid, the price of growing up with brothers! Love each of them to death:)

take care, and god bless! Love, Sister Hulme


God sent us two hearts on Valentine's Day


Monday, February 9, 2015

Good things come to those who wait…. 2/9/15

Hey ya'll!!
So i'm actually sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting for my mission president to email or call us because a little bird told me that Hans is in Atlanta right now!! well i emailed my mission president and asked if it was ok if hans came to us if he wanted to see me. If it happens by some miracle, that would be awesome! If not, i'll see him in 2 months:) 
So I've just kept telling myself all week, "Good things come to those who patiently wait, and are anxiously engaged." And they do! As we've been patiently and persistently trying with so many potentials, nothing seems to stick. But during our correlation meeting thursday night, we received a referral from a member in the ward. They have a neice named Ginger who is 11 and has been coming to church with them for a few months now, and she's just decided that she wants to be baptized! Once we heard this, Sis Childs and I just looked at each other and knew that God is aware that we are working so hard. He has provided a way or someone we can help get ready for baptism. And in the meantime we will still find others who are prepared and ready. We met Ginger on sunday, and she is the sweetest girl, we're very excited to work with her. 
Things have been a little harder this week, mainly for Sister Childs. I'm so very grateful to have her as a companion, i know we're here to help each other. She's just been realizing that her time to go home is sooner than we think. We sat down together and shared our major stresses and then thought of our strengths, talents, or gifts from god he's given us to overcome these stresses. We were able to point out most of them through our patriarchal blessings. It was so helpful for both of us. We also went on exchange with the sharon spring sisters. Ha, we're pretty sure the exchange was more for us, those sisters are amazing! They both helped us in so many ways. Sis Childs and I also discussed how our Lord is a fourth-watch god and he comes in the very hour that is needed most. (Story from Mark 6:45-51) He is watching us as we are toiling in rowing and he is aware of us and our needs. We've even seen this week how our Savior is a fourth-watch God, which I'm so grateful for. 
So we had this fun musical fireside that our ward put together, a little last minute, last night at a member's home. We had our ward missionaries put together a little program about the love of CHrist and serving others, and in between the narration, we had musical numbers. Some by us missionaries, and others by members in the ward. We invited as many people as we could, particularly one family who's son is on a mission in Salt Lake, but they aren't members. We were so happy when we saw them walk through the door, if anything it was for them. We had many others come, a part member couple, Ginger, and a few members. The spirit was so powerful, tears and smiles were shared, and everyone felt that love of Christ that evening. Music really does invite a special spirit, i'm so grateful for it. 
Each day i'm meeting more and more members here in Coal Mtn. ward, and Ive really missed Monroe ward because i just felt like i haven't found that family or members that haven't clicked yet. Well this last week I finally found them. There is an older couple here by the name of Swift. They live in basically my dream home, but on the cutes t little farm, got a few horses. Her husband isn't into religion and isn't a member, but we've been going over and helping her with her family history. She told me i can come over any day and help out in the barn with the horses. If she didn't live so far away i would be there everyday! Ha her husband is a spittin image of Robert Duvall, and they're so much fun!! We've also connected with this family, their oldest daughter is 16 and wants to come out with us, even if its tracting:) But the mom is the seminary teacher, so we decided every monday morning we are going to attend seminary, yep at 6 am!! the youth here are sooo much fun!! I love working with them. They share the coolest stories of how they share the gospel with their friends and they truly know the doctrine! I was learning so much this morning! there are lot of youth in this ward, so i want to connect with them and work with them. Even if we don't teach their friends, we get them pumped for their missions:) BTW, mom, i have this  vision of transforming our basement into a place where youth can hang out and we can do fun firesides or missionary events. i'm stoked:) 

K, love ya'll, we're getting booted out, got a lot to do today!! 



Monday, February 2, 2015

The Gospel of Jesus Christ 2/2/2015



Hello family!!
THis week has gone by so fast, yet it feels like forever ago that i last emailed ya'll! 
It's been such a great week. We had ana amazing mission leadership council meeting with the church headquarters visitors. They helped us with our 2 biggest weaknesses. Extending baptismal invitations by the end of hte first lesson and effective planning. I think here in the south we've become so casual and comfortable with the people and the culture, that we've slightly forgotten one of hte greatest things of our calling, that is to invite others to come unto christ through the restored gospel, through.. baptism!! WE hear so often and so much, I've been saved, or i've been baptized. yet they'll gain a testimony of the book of mormon, but they don't want to be committed to one denomination. i guess we're not hitting on the greatest thing of all. the way to partake of the atonement of christ through the priesthood power. So SIs childs and I have taken the commitment to invite 1 soul every day to partake in the next ordinance in their life. whether that be baptism or the sacrament, or the temple. it is the way to come unto christ. And since we've taken this commitment, or challenge, we've seen so much opposition and so much rejection. but w'ere going to faithfully persevere. 
We're teaching one person named marion, he's 67 and retired.Referral from mormon.org  ANd he talks and talks and talks and talks. I had to ask 5 time in a row if he would get baptized because he kept interrupting me. Tests my patience in every way!!! finally i gave him the hand signal to shoosh and asked quietly and sincerely if he would be baptized by the priesthood authority of god. he said he doesn't see the priesthood necessary. so i asked when he finds that it is necessary would he ever. he said yes,.... but we would still have to prove it.. through  the bible. ugh. we convert with the book of mormon, and he'll soon find out. The lesson was in one of the members home, and one time marion said what if he proves us wrong. so the member finally asked if his purpose is to find the truth or to prove us wrong. he said to find the proof, but we'll see. the lesson with him always starts out great , but then by the end, it changes almost dramatically, and we have to try hard to take control. so we're really fasting and praying that we'll know what direction to take with marion and if he's truly elect. 
We're on the search for new investigators still, this last weekend was really hard for sis childs and I. We kind of broke down on saturday and agreed that we need to decide what more we need to consecrate if we really want to find the elect. We're both at the end of our missions and we want to end with a bang of course. But we're just trying to find what purpose we both have here together in this area and what the lord needs us to do. sometimes it just takes faith, patience, and perseverence. 
So i was asked to bear my testimony this sunday, since i was the new missionary in the ward. AS I was pondering during the sacrament on what to bear my testimony on, i thought of the great importance of the first principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And the importance of the ordinances and covenants we make in life. I thought of how we truly partake of the atonement of christ. And really how we have the FULNESS of the gospel, we know how to partake of the atonement of christ, and the power to do so. AND its purely selfish of us to not invite others to come unto christ and partake of his atonement also. As I watched the young men  pass the sacrament, I thought of how theyre giving each of us the opportunity to renew covenants with god, and partake of the atonement of Christ. All this is centered on the atonement which is simply, the gospel of Christ. It is through this great power and process, step by step, that we can be changed and transformed through the atonement of Christ. ANd because of all this, my heart is full of love and gratitude for my savior. 
So with this testimony, I sincerely fasted for the month of february that we will find tha one soul to bring unto christ through this restored gospel. Its a perfect time really to fully consecrate to the lord, and to wholly confine myself to His will. this is my greatest desire and I know as Sis childs and I do this we will find that purpose we have here together. IM just gonna embrace that there's always trials and tribulations, but that will increase our capacity to experience joy. there are good things to come to those who are anxiously engaged in a good cause and patiently wait. I sure do love the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I hope each of you have a great and wonderful week! please remember to always keep your covenants, and look forward to the time when we can renew those, the sacrament:)
love and miss ya'll!1
Love, SIs Hulme xoxox