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.  :)