July 29, 2013

Dear Family,                                                                                                               7-29-2013

Aw man poor Aidan! But Grandma really shouldn't worry, I mean it's Aidan he could've broken his bone anywhere and with anyone. I feel bad
for Grandma she had to deal with Aidan screaming. That couldn't have been fun...So there is this family that lives in Le Mars and they have a five year old son that looks
exactly like Aidan.  Every time I go over there I have to do a double take.

Oh man it was a CRAZY week!! So before Sister W left she dared me to do the "Goliath challenge" which is where you go to the Blue Bunny Parlor and they give you this giant bowl and they put 10 big scoops of ice cream in it. Then you have to eat it all in 15 minutes or less. So I did it. In 9 minutes. I really like ice cream. :) I puked when I got home, but I did it and got a free t-shirt. :)  But what was so awesome was that all the members came and supported me and were cheering me on like it was sporting event.  These members are hilarious! Brother R who had attempted to do it a couple of weeks ago was mad that I did it...:) I said goodbye to Sister W on Tuesday. I thought I was going to be all upset and dwelling on it for the rest of the day, but when she left it was just like. Okay, missionary work moves on, let's get back to work. So I was temporary companions with Sister V for 4 days. We were actually in the MTC together and that was SO FUN. We worked together so well and the lessons we taught were amazing.  Although some people we taught were Spanish so that was exciting.  Our favorite zone leader was transferred so that was a bummer. He was famous for saying "Quit milking the duck" another words use time effectively. He is an incredible missionary, I hope one day to have the power that he has when he teaches.  But then Thursday morning I got a call from President Weston.  He said that my new companion was Sister K (who is awesome) and that we were to focus our efforts on Le Mars and northward instead of going to Sioux City and that he wants a branch in Le Mars! So yeah. So that's what we are working towards for the next couple of months. Branch in Le Mars. If you could pray for us that would be much appreciated because it's tough. But it will happen because with God all things are possible. That doesn't mean we sit on our bums and wait for people to come to us it means that we work our bums off and Heavenly Father will bless us with those we are elect. A good quote from President Brigham Young is Pray like it all depends on the Lord then Work like it all depends on you. :) So cool. I love the feeling of working hard and being effective. 
Something that I have struggled this week is being looked down upon from our leaders.  Because we have really low numbers.  We work crazy hard and are being successful missionaries according to Preach my Gospel, but our numbers do not show that.  So sometimes it feels like others are like "Oh those Sister's, they don't know how to work. They're pansies they probably whine all day about having cramps and their hair." And that ticks me off! Because we don't do that! So patience is the Christlike attribute I have been working on this week and I might have to work on it for the rest of my existence...Oh man. Some really cool things have been happening though.  One of our investigators, J, who has just been yacking away forever so we've never really gotten a full lesson in before. But this time she listened! She took a Book of Mormon! She said she would read it. Then her son who was always a little rude to us came in and listened to us!!! And it was basically a question and answer section and then we would teach and then we would give them scriptures so they could figure out answers to their own questions. We still have a long road with them because she won't come to church. Even though last week after we asked her and she denied us she was like "I felt so guilty for not going". Then she didn't go again yesterday. So that was a bummer, but we're making headway! Then we have the G family, they're less active and her husband is not a member.  But we visited them this week and were able to commit her two younger kids S who is 11 and G who is 9 to baptism.  They pretty much asked us if they could be. And they have been coming to church!! Sister G older daughter M has been a atheist and the first time we came over she wasn't super happy that we were there. She wanted to keep arguing but we continued teaching.  But she came to church yesterday and sat next to me and said there has to be some divine guidance. I don't know if it's exactly this church that's true but there is something. How exciting is that??!! I committed her to do personal progress and read the BOM and told her to figure it out. So it will be exciting to see her improvement. 

My birthday was super great.  I loved the packages from you, Grandma, and Sister W. I love the pictures and the GPS is SO GREAT!! I will forever have my favorite granola bars to snack on. Best family ever! :) To be honest it was just another day, like I didn't feel any different. But it was great.  It was fun to get all the letters and stuff from everyone.  The C's were so sweet and they bought my favorite ice cream and cake and made it for me and put 20 candles on it for me.  They also woke me up singing Happy Birthday like super loudly upstairs.  They also got this giant hoodie for me because they know I like to sleep in hoodie's.  So that made me feel really great.  I was so thankful for not getting homesick at all. I thought I would but my thoughts were able to focus on missionary work in Le Mars. These members are so incredible. I hope I never have to leave Le Mars and that I can spend all of my mission here. I LOVE IT HERE!! That's something else I have been working on is loving people, because I can get frustrated with them. So I asked that question in District Mtg and this Elder was like "You've gotta love yourself Sister!" so that was eye opening to me. I have to understand the love God has for me and recognize it before I can tell other people about their Father who loves them too. Crazy right? Oh man, this mission thing is exciting. I love you guys so much. I hope no one else in our family breaks any bones. :) LOVE  YOU!!!

-Love, Sister Curfew