Transfer News: I will be finishing my mission here in the good old Temple View Zone. Sister Ulziiduuren is getting transferred, though. I'll miss her. She's been a lot of fun, but I am so happy I get to stay in this area. I love being here.
To start off my email, I was reading in the scriptures and I'm pretty sure my thought from it was an inspired question. Okay, maybe not, but I still enjoyed it, and I'm going to share it in honor of Wednesday Addams Day (which a few years ago, I decreed was the Wednesday BEFORE Halloween each year, and that is coming up in two days-- y'all better celebrate). Anyway, I was reading, and in the scriptures it said the phrase, "the human family of Adam". Upon reading that, I immediately thought, "Does that mean we are all part of [the] Ad[d]am's Family? (Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week. Try the veal.)
Okay, after my pretty awful joke, I hope everyone is still reading because we had a really good week. At church, I kept seeing one sister walk in and every time I see her, my brain thinks, "That looks like Sarah Judd". (For those of you who are not familiar with Sarah Judd, she was a few years older than me, was always a great example, and her dad, who was in the Stake Presidency when I was in late-elementary, early-junior high, gave talks that I really enjoyed at Stake Conference.) Well, this Sunday, the girl who looks like Sarah Judd spoke in Church. She introduced herself and Sarah and then her last name, and gave a really good talk. My wheels were already turning trying to figure out if it could actually be Sarah Judd, and then she told a story about her mission, in which she referred to herself as "Sister Judd". So, Family, there is a reason that she looks like Sarah Judd. It's because she IS Sarah Judd!! I get to go over to her house on Friday to have dinner with them. I love small world moments.
I also became a professional sign holder. We got to help at a service, which was actually a tailgate party that the Seminary by Campo Verde High School was putting on before a football game. They wanted missionaries to come (in pants, I might add--joyous day) and talk to the people who showed up. It was really fun. Sister Ulziiduuren and I got to hold a sign and try to get passing by cars to come enjoy the free food. Then I spent the last half hour of it as the official D.J. because someone asked me to. But the good news was that all the music I could pick from was on LDS.org. We also had a Trunk or Treat, and once again, we got to be the sign holders. Except this time, Sister Ulziiduuren was to direct people to where they could park and I was in charge of keeping people from going to where they could not park (unless their car was going to be involved in the Trunk or Treat). I feel like I have developed a new skill now that will really bless me for the rest of my life.
At the Tailgate Party Service, a member that was there said something really nice about me. I was talking to someone and I got the typical "How long have you been out/How long do you have left?" question. Someone else told him that I had six weeks left (to which I had to correct him and say it was 6-1/2 because I still got lots of time). The first person asked me if I was getting trunky, and before I could even respond, the second person said, "No, she is a solid missionary. We had her over for dinner the other night and we tried to make her trunky, but she is just rock solid." It made me feel really good and I'm so happy that others see me as a missionary who is focused on her purpose.
As fun as being a sign holder was, the lessons we had were better. We did a church tour with Laura and her two kids. It was a lot of fun. We showed Aalyra the Young Women's room since she will be going to Young Women's next year. We told her that the room was for her and she had a pretty blown away facial expression. My favorite part of the tour was showing them the baptistry. Whenever we plan for it, it never feels like it will be a notable part because it's like "here is the baptismal font--normally it has more water in it, but you can pretend" *crickets chirp in the background*. At least that is how I always imagine it--but the Spirit always ends up being so strong. We were having an awesome moment showing them the baptistry . . .until, over the speaker from the chapel, someone decided it was a good idea to beatbox into the microphone . . . Aalyra and Anthonee were pretty amused to see Sister Ulziiduuren and I running to the volume panel to turn it off. (And it actually was pretty funny).
After that, we were thankfully able to bring it back, and have an awesome conversation. We had planned to talk about following the Prophet, and I wasn't sure why I felt inspired to do that until Aalyra opened up about some questions she had after her dad showed her anti-Mormon videos about Joseph Smith. I was just amazed at how strong she is because it was visibly concerning to her, but she decided to ask her mom and us and try to find answers. It led into a great discussion about how the Holy Ghost speaks to us. I feel like the Lord really inspired us to teach that on that specific week so we could help Aalyra. We also got to take them on a tour around the temple grounds (it's a nice perk when your church building is in the temple parking lot), and show them the waiting room inside the temple. They were pretty excited that "they got to go inside the temple", but the most special moment was seeing the three of them sitting there and imagining them being sealed as an eternal family. It was a blessing for me to see that.
We also had a couple of lessons with Charles this week! I'm really excited for him. All he really needs to do is come to church, which he says that he will do as soon as he can buy a suit. I was on exchanges with Sister Donaldson for one of his lessons. He's been reading the Book of Mormon, but it hasn't been sticking with him, so Sister Donaldson, being on top of it, taught about paying attention to the feelings we have as we read and knowing when they come from the Holy Ghost. We talked about the First Vision and showed him the 20-minute video called "The Restoration". We talked about how knowing the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was called as a prophet go hand in hand and invited him to pray about if Joseph Smith was a prophet. He said he would, and we were able to set a new baptismal date for November 25.
A few days later, we had a return appointment with Charles. We followed up on his prayer, and he had done it! And . . . then he got on the internet and had a few questions. (I mean, I would too if the Book of Mormon Musical had been a point of reference.) He had questions about Race and the Priesthood and Women and the Priesthood. I was pretty sure that this was the end of the rope and Charles would not want to meet with us anymore, but we trusted God and just tried to find out what He needed Charles to know. We first told him that the Book of Mormon Musical was not doctrine, and he was quite relieved to hear that. He made a comment that we were kind of in the same boat as him and asked why we are okay with not holding the Priesthood. I had to stop and think about it, to be honest, because my first impulse is always to try to make a case out of it with research and statistics and a complete bibliography in MLA format (because that's the only format I know how to do). I felt really blessed because in that moment, as I gave the Holy Ghost a chance to speak, what came out was very much not my complete case study with research and statistics and a complete bibliography in MLA format. Instead, I got to bear my testimony about how God loves His children and that even though I don't know all the answers, I know that He wants what is best for me. I know that the men He has called to serve us are good men that love and cherish their wives and that Jesus Christ truly is the Head of this Church. We continued to have an awesome discussion. Sister Ulziiduuren showed him "A Book of Mormon Story", and we got to show him the Gospel Topic Essay about Race and the Priesthood and The Family: A Proclamation to the World.
At the end, Charles said that when he had been praying before we got there that we would be able to answer his questions and said that he really trusts our answers. It is such a blessing to teach Charles, and I feel so lucky to be working with so many people who are ready to receive this message. I am gaining a stronger testimony that this is the Lord's work and that He is leading it. It's so special to have those opportunities to teach people that are ready. There's nothing else quite like it. I know those moments come because this is the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ again restored to the earth. It's the best I could ask for, and I love it! I love you, Family!
Sister Emily
1001 N Burk Street
Gilbert, AZ
85234
This is us holding a sign at the tailgate party.
This is us with our signs at the Trunk or Treat.
Y'all, it's another familiar face!
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