This week was a slower week for us. We focused on how to work in Lake Nona, meeting the members who live there, and we continue to try to figure out how to help each other with our similar weaknesses. In this companionship, we both agree on what we don't like to do, so neither of us have the desire to push each other to do it. Sometimes, maybe it's a good thing, but sometimes, it isn't. So, we're trying to figure things out. Sigh...
We were able to go to a baptism for the ASL North Sisters. It was an investigator that I had helped teach. It was a great baptism. I helped sign interpret and voice interpret. If the need arises, I jump to it. I love to interpret. I want to help, but sometimes I worry I am helping too much. The baptism was great, though! It was the third baptism in Oviedo, so the work is really progressing up north! In our area, it's slow. My fear is because of three recent converts almost a year old and they are all less-active. If we can't retain them, how can the Lord trust us with more? They have a willingness, but they lack in fellowship and rides. We're trying to figure it out. It's hard.
But, President has been putting a lot of trust in me and has been asking me about the area and how things are going. I was able to write up a few pages with information on the area and my opinion on a few matters. It seems like new changes are on the horizon. The ASL Motto is "The Lord's Program", but I'm tempted to add another motto: "Changes are on the Horizon" because there is always something new. But change is good!
Also, I'm still tempted to get a GPS. But it'd be nice to be able to have it update by satellite, not computer because I can't just hook up to a computer for map updates. We're surviving, but it'd help to know how long it takes to get places and to find streets that aren't on our car map. So, if someone has an old GPS they don't use, I wouldn't complain getting that. But again, I can live without.
Well, gotta go! :-)
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Focus on Members
So, trying to make a list in my planner of what I did during the week causes me to need to bullet my comments:
And that's an overview of this past week! All is well here in the ASL program. We've still got a lot to learn, but we're getting better. We're trying to open up more and get out of our comfort shells, and we're allowing the Lord to truly guide us.
Sis. Coleman: We were able to visit with Sis. Coleman and her daughter on Friday. It was an interesting situation because we had traveled to Windermere that morning to visit with leadership over there. So when she called, we were at another Sisters' apartments. But she had already visited them before, so she was willing to make the trip to the depths of the Lakes of Windermere to come visit us. It was a lot of fun! One term I have heard on my mission is "the Mormon Mafia" meaning that we are so united wherever we go, if you are a member, you feel included instantly. Again and again we see proof of that. I noticed it when I use to tour around the world and be welcomed in host families to spend a night or two, or when we'd go to church. I think it is amazing how members truly understand the principle of unity and love. Just this morning, I made a comment to my companion on how our understanding of tithing and fast offerings is an example of how well we are coming to live the law of consecration. At the beginning of the church, the Saints were poor and somehow were able to build both the Kirtland and Nauvoo temple in beautiful splendor. I don't know if they'd ever comprehend the growth of the church today in how we have so many saved funds to help so many people worldwide that are in need. It's phenomenal! And it's all because of each member paying a simple 10% and a fast offering equivalent of two meals.
Exchanges: We went on exchanges with the Waterford Lakes sisters on Wednesday. Sis. Snyder and Sis. Schow stayed in Waterford, while Sis. Higginson and I worked in our area. We started the day with all four of us serving a member in Waterford Lakes. She had a huge collection of baby and young children clothes that she wanted to donate to Good Will, but she wanted to write down and inventory everything first. She has an IRS approved program that gives prices to everything donated to better estimate for taxes. She says most of the prices are what we'd never expect for clothes and items, and it gives a lot more taxes back. So, I may consider in the future to start inventorying my donations to help with taxes :-D Then, Sis. Higginson and I traveled to Lake Nona to look over the area and try to contact a few people. We quickly learned our maps are too out of date - so now we are considering a GPS - and most of the places are gated, even some are guarded. It reminded me of Boca! Oh the memories! Then, I taught ASL class and Sis. Higginson LOVED it! It wasn't too bad of a class. I still have no confidence in teaching, but I am learning, slowly...
We had a good experience trying to help an investigator fix his car by calling and driving around, getting a hold of another investigator who owns a shop, and trying to see how we can help and serve him. It still hasn't been fixed, but we are working and seeing how we can serve him. As soon as that car is fixed, he can get to his new job and be able to drive to church!!!
Our biggest focus is the members. We continue to try to visit and find ideas to help support them. Especially in Lake Nona and in Deaf work, there is little success except through the members. We are learning a lot on how to work with members through the new mission focus on member work. We'll see what we can do to help the members become better member missionaries. I was really impressed with the Ensign being full of member missionary articles. Even the Brethren are focusing on member missionary work. We were told that the door to tracting is closing. The only way to truly find success in conversion and retention will be through the members. I am learning so much on my mission on what kind of member I want to be afterwards.
As we continue to focus on meeting with leaders, we are having some great success! It's amazing how a simple 15 minutes with leadership, both RS Presidents and Ward Mission Leaders, can bring some great insight and ideas to helping the missionary work and ASL work move forward. I'm excited to see what will develop in the upcoming months from these simple visits. I hope soon to be able to understand our role with our High Counselor and Stake Leadership. But slow and steady wins the race.
We've heard about the new changes in Mormon.org, and I read a bit about it in the Ensign. I think it is amazing! I am so excited for how this will really help the members and non-members! Wow! Our new focus is to invite all the members to go onto Mormon.org and create a profile! I wish I'd be able to do it, but I'll wait until after my mission or until the Mission President grants approval.
So, President Hall, as many know, use to be a Football Coach; so many comments we receive from him are typically football analogies. It's a good thing I started learning about football in college (which funny enough, I did to get to know some of the boys I hung out with. HA!) But now, I've got to study up more because I'm starting to notice some of his analogies and comments are going over my head. I recognize them as football analogies (sometimes), but it's not quite clicking in my understanding. I'll get there! :-D
And that's an overview of this past week! All is well here in the ASL program. We've still got a lot to learn, but we're getting better. We're trying to open up more and get out of our comfort shells, and we're allowing the Lord to truly guide us.
Monday, August 23, 2010
RE: Some questions for you . . .
First off, answering the list of questions:
Where is your companion from? What are some of her interests, talents, and character traits?
We are exactly the same... okay, not exactly the same, but we have a lot of the same interests and weaknesses :-D We both are use to our companions taking the lead in the past. Sis. Snyder is from Pleasant Grove, Utah. She is a graphic designer with the dream to go to Japan and study on anime graphics. She also loves to write fantasy stories.
What is your new apartment like?
Right now, we are living in a 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath house with a garage and backyard. We are renting it from a member for a time until we can find the right place to have a central ASL apt. It's going great! We really love it!
Do you strictly do ASL missionary work? (Most ASL missionaries I know about spend a lot of their time doing regular missionary work to English-speaking investigators and with English-assigned companions since their contact with deaf and HH is limited. How does that work with you? Is there enough work to keep you busy with ASL-related activities all week -- especially now that you are not having to drive so much?)
We still drive a lot, because it is 24 miles to Ocoee or Waterford Lakes where we work often with investigators. But our focus areas, Kissimmee especially, is only 14 miles away; so it's a lot better on miles. We do a lot of work with the ASL area - mainly because it takes us an hour to drive to our investigators - but we do have hour blocks here and there with little to do, so it would be nice to have hearing work. Therefore, we have just been assigned an English area to work. It is the Lake Nona area (I call it the Narcoossee Rd area). We'll start working there, but it is full of gated communities and No Soliciting areas. Too bad Sis. Snyder and I believe in obey and honoring all laws - which includes not sneaking into gated communities and not leaving a sour taste in people's mouths because they think we are soliciting. It'll be fun! But amazing members live over there, and this Zone Conference will be focused on receiving member referrals.
What did you do fun for p-day last week? What will you do today?
Hmm... fun? What's that? There isn't any time to have fun on p-day! Also, there aren’t a lot of activities that asks for no money. Eventually we will go to Gatorland and Holy Land Experience. I just don't want to use my money. We spend most of our time waiting to get on the computer to email, then shopping, then laundry and letter-writing. There isn't a lot of time for fun. Our district leader tried to commit us to having fun, but he knew he couldn't accomplish that; so he didn't try too hard. Just having a huge house to ourselves is fun!
Who are some of the elders in your district? DL? ZL?
So, I guess it's time I sent home some pictures, huh? I can get a Zone picture with everyone's name. Maybe I'll try to do that today. My district leader is Elder Wilks and he's awesome. The Zone Leaders are Elder Dahle and Elder Dyer. They are really great as well!
Are you eating well and sleeping well?
Sis. Campbell [senior missionary in the office] use to get after me for not eating well, so she made me promise I'd start eating breakfast. That was the start. Then, a few weeks ago, some of the Elders in our zone wanted to go on a colon cleanser by only eating fresh fruits and nuts (but one Elder was allergic to all tree nuts), so we had fun making fun of them for a week. Then, Sis. Lovejoy told us about a great healthy diet that works for her and her mom, so we got a copy and now have a protein, carb and raw vegetables for meals, and protein or fruit for snacks. We've been eating really well this past week. And shopping is a lot of fun as we check nutritional labels and serving sizes. No worries. Sis. Campbell keeps checking up on me making sure I'm eating well. With sleeping, eh, it's the typical. I don't ever feel rested, but I'm able to get up and function through the day, so it's well enough.
How are your shoes holding up? Do you need new ones?
Hmm... shoes? I only have one pair of sandals that I wear every day. I bought them in May and they are becoming a sad sight, but still comfortable and functional. On Sundays, I still wear the black or brown ones I came out with and they seem to be just fine. I just need to polish them ...
So, I've mentioned the diet and the house and the new English area. Now, I want to mention if you could ask Grandpa how we are related to the Ellsworths who started the Church ranch here in Florida. I'm constantly hearing about the Ellsworth Ranch and the Ellsworth Ward, and I thought I should at least know the family connection.
Also, I was actually going to try harder at emailing better from now on, but this week was question answering - which made it so much easier! I don't think I've written anything worthwhile in my emails for the last six months! So, I'll start making a list of what I want to write each week and work harder at that! :-D
Well, time is gone this week! Loves!
Where is your companion from? What are some of her interests, talents, and character traits?
We are exactly the same... okay, not exactly the same, but we have a lot of the same interests and weaknesses :-D We both are use to our companions taking the lead in the past. Sis. Snyder is from Pleasant Grove, Utah. She is a graphic designer with the dream to go to Japan and study on anime graphics. She also loves to write fantasy stories.
What is your new apartment like?
Right now, we are living in a 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath house with a garage and backyard. We are renting it from a member for a time until we can find the right place to have a central ASL apt. It's going great! We really love it!
Do you strictly do ASL missionary work? (Most ASL missionaries I know about spend a lot of their time doing regular missionary work to English-speaking investigators and with English-assigned companions since their contact with deaf and HH is limited. How does that work with you? Is there enough work to keep you busy with ASL-related activities all week -- especially now that you are not having to drive so much?)
We still drive a lot, because it is 24 miles to Ocoee or Waterford Lakes where we work often with investigators. But our focus areas, Kissimmee especially, is only 14 miles away; so it's a lot better on miles. We do a lot of work with the ASL area - mainly because it takes us an hour to drive to our investigators - but we do have hour blocks here and there with little to do, so it would be nice to have hearing work. Therefore, we have just been assigned an English area to work. It is the Lake Nona area (I call it the Narcoossee Rd area). We'll start working there, but it is full of gated communities and No Soliciting areas. Too bad Sis. Snyder and I believe in obey and honoring all laws - which includes not sneaking into gated communities and not leaving a sour taste in people's mouths because they think we are soliciting. It'll be fun! But amazing members live over there, and this Zone Conference will be focused on receiving member referrals.
What did you do fun for p-day last week? What will you do today?
Hmm... fun? What's that? There isn't any time to have fun on p-day! Also, there aren’t a lot of activities that asks for no money. Eventually we will go to Gatorland and Holy Land Experience. I just don't want to use my money. We spend most of our time waiting to get on the computer to email, then shopping, then laundry and letter-writing. There isn't a lot of time for fun. Our district leader tried to commit us to having fun, but he knew he couldn't accomplish that; so he didn't try too hard. Just having a huge house to ourselves is fun!
Who are some of the elders in your district? DL? ZL?
So, I guess it's time I sent home some pictures, huh? I can get a Zone picture with everyone's name. Maybe I'll try to do that today. My district leader is Elder Wilks and he's awesome. The Zone Leaders are Elder Dahle and Elder Dyer. They are really great as well!
Are you eating well and sleeping well?
Sis. Campbell [senior missionary in the office] use to get after me for not eating well, so she made me promise I'd start eating breakfast. That was the start. Then, a few weeks ago, some of the Elders in our zone wanted to go on a colon cleanser by only eating fresh fruits and nuts (but one Elder was allergic to all tree nuts), so we had fun making fun of them for a week. Then, Sis. Lovejoy told us about a great healthy diet that works for her and her mom, so we got a copy and now have a protein, carb and raw vegetables for meals, and protein or fruit for snacks. We've been eating really well this past week. And shopping is a lot of fun as we check nutritional labels and serving sizes. No worries. Sis. Campbell keeps checking up on me making sure I'm eating well. With sleeping, eh, it's the typical. I don't ever feel rested, but I'm able to get up and function through the day, so it's well enough.
How are your shoes holding up? Do you need new ones?
Hmm... shoes? I only have one pair of sandals that I wear every day. I bought them in May and they are becoming a sad sight, but still comfortable and functional. On Sundays, I still wear the black or brown ones I came out with and they seem to be just fine. I just need to polish them ...
So, I've mentioned the diet and the house and the new English area. Now, I want to mention if you could ask Grandpa how we are related to the Ellsworths who started the Church ranch here in Florida. I'm constantly hearing about the Ellsworth Ranch and the Ellsworth Ward, and I thought I should at least know the family connection.
Also, I was actually going to try harder at emailing better from now on, but this week was question answering - which made it so much easier! I don't think I've written anything worthwhile in my emails for the last six months! So, I'll start making a list of what I want to write each week and work harder at that! :-D
Well, time is gone this week! Loves!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
New Transfer
Well, a new transfer has begun! Sis. Snyder and I are companions for the Hunters Creek ASL unit. We work over the Orlando South and Hunters Creek stake; and our focus last week was to contact Ward leaderships to inform each ward that there are ASL missionaries over the stake, and to see if there is anything we can do for them or anything they can do for us. So, the work in numbers was slow this week, but we are building the foundation of a strong program in the future. We will need a lot more patience because next month there will be a change in Stake Presidents in the OS stake. So, we are trying to figure things out. Planning has been a bit rocky trying to feel out the area. But all is well.
I'm back in the role of teacher - although I have stated many times before that I will never be a teacher. Every morning, we watch a chapter from the Book of Mormon in ASL. We also are able to watch a DVD of signed hymns and I have the gloss (written ASL grammar) written down for the Articles of Faith in ASL that we can review. And throughout the day, we discuss different vocab words. It seems to be going well. I'm still teaching the lessons right now, but she is constantly learning more and more each day.
That's been the focus of the week: meeting leadership and teaching sign language. All is well! We have an interview with Pres. Hall today with both ASL companionships to discuss more about the program. We look forward to seeing how that will go. There is so much that needs to be done. It's a constant struggle, but the Lord continues to bless us each step of the way.
Lots of love!
I'm back in the role of teacher - although I have stated many times before that I will never be a teacher. Every morning, we watch a chapter from the Book of Mormon in ASL. We also are able to watch a DVD of signed hymns and I have the gloss (written ASL grammar) written down for the Articles of Faith in ASL that we can review. And throughout the day, we discuss different vocab words. It seems to be going well. I'm still teaching the lessons right now, but she is constantly learning more and more each day.
That's been the focus of the week: meeting leadership and teaching sign language. All is well! We have an interview with Pres. Hall today with both ASL companionships to discuss more about the program. We look forward to seeing how that will go. There is so much that needs to be done. It's a constant struggle, but the Lord continues to bless us each step of the way.
Lots of love!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Questions? Answers . . .
• How is your three-some working out?
We are doing great in the three-some. All is well. This is my third three-some. I'm use to it by now.
• Do you get to attend the temple during this transfer?
We probably won't go to the temple for another month. We try to plan to go on the Deaf Temple Days and it wasn't as organized this month so we will probably wait til Sept.
• How are you spending your p-day today?
P-day is the typical day. We do morning study, go shopping (we just found a posh Target nearby that we now shop at. It is cheaper than Winn-Dixie and it has upper-level parking so we have fun there. We go to the office to email our family so we typically spend a bit talking with the office couples and picking up mail from Sat. and Mon. Then we write letters to family and friends if there is time. Today, I am also packing.
• Who is the driver? Do you have the same car (the one that was giving you problems)?
Sis. Homer and I alternate driving every week, starting Sunday. I just finished my week of driving. We do still drive KAX, although last week for three days we had the assistant's car as KAX was having a bumper replaced. Also, it needed a new wheel alignment and two new rear tires. Then, while driving on the freeway, the inner lining on the hubcap came loose and was flapping around so we learned that our jack doesn’t work - but we had scissors to just cut the lining off. Good ol' KAX is the Lemon Car of the Fleet! But all is well.
So, we had transfer calls on Saturday. I will be moving to a house near the Hunter's Creek Chapel and start training an "English" Sister how to become an ASL Sister. Her name is Sis. Snyder and she is the same "mission age" as I am. She's had one ASL class in High School, so we'll be doing a lot of teaching during language study the next few weeks. Sis. Homer was ready for interpreting church by week six, so with the Spirit helping us with the Gift of Languages, all will be well! Sis. Homer and Sis. Lovejoy are staying in the apartment and will be working with the Oviedo ward in the Orlando stake boundaries. I will be working the Orlando South and Hunter's Creek boundaries.
A great up I had this week was helping with the Orlando Stake Road Show. It is where each ward has 24 hours to take an assigned topic, scripture, list of props, random quotes, and such to create a 15 min production for the youth to perform. It was awesome! That experience for me just adds to my desire to become a performance interpreter. I love it! There are so many times on my mission that I wish I could have training on how to interpret (specifically voice) but it makes me excited for the future and what I dream of accomplishing. But we learned that new MTC training with the ASL program is to have no missionaries ever interpret. It is the member's responsibility. So now we are trying to help the members take over. Unfortunately, there is only one experienced interpreter in Hunter's Creek so we will have to continue teaching and training others as we continue interpreting. It will be a fun transfer.
Yep, that's all I’ve got right now. Loves!
We are doing great in the three-some. All is well. This is my third three-some. I'm use to it by now.
• Do you get to attend the temple during this transfer?
We probably won't go to the temple for another month. We try to plan to go on the Deaf Temple Days and it wasn't as organized this month so we will probably wait til Sept.
• How are you spending your p-day today?
P-day is the typical day. We do morning study, go shopping (we just found a posh Target nearby that we now shop at. It is cheaper than Winn-Dixie and it has upper-level parking so we have fun there. We go to the office to email our family so we typically spend a bit talking with the office couples and picking up mail from Sat. and Mon. Then we write letters to family and friends if there is time. Today, I am also packing.
• Who is the driver? Do you have the same car (the one that was giving you problems)?
Sis. Homer and I alternate driving every week, starting Sunday. I just finished my week of driving. We do still drive KAX, although last week for three days we had the assistant's car as KAX was having a bumper replaced. Also, it needed a new wheel alignment and two new rear tires. Then, while driving on the freeway, the inner lining on the hubcap came loose and was flapping around so we learned that our jack doesn’t work - but we had scissors to just cut the lining off. Good ol' KAX is the Lemon Car of the Fleet! But all is well.
So, we had transfer calls on Saturday. I will be moving to a house near the Hunter's Creek Chapel and start training an "English" Sister how to become an ASL Sister. Her name is Sis. Snyder and she is the same "mission age" as I am. She's had one ASL class in High School, so we'll be doing a lot of teaching during language study the next few weeks. Sis. Homer was ready for interpreting church by week six, so with the Spirit helping us with the Gift of Languages, all will be well! Sis. Homer and Sis. Lovejoy are staying in the apartment and will be working with the Oviedo ward in the Orlando stake boundaries. I will be working the Orlando South and Hunter's Creek boundaries.
A great up I had this week was helping with the Orlando Stake Road Show. It is where each ward has 24 hours to take an assigned topic, scripture, list of props, random quotes, and such to create a 15 min production for the youth to perform. It was awesome! That experience for me just adds to my desire to become a performance interpreter. I love it! There are so many times on my mission that I wish I could have training on how to interpret (specifically voice) but it makes me excited for the future and what I dream of accomplishing. But we learned that new MTC training with the ASL program is to have no missionaries ever interpret. It is the member's responsibility. So now we are trying to help the members take over. Unfortunately, there is only one experienced interpreter in Hunter's Creek so we will have to continue teaching and training others as we continue interpreting. It will be a fun transfer.
Yep, that's all I’ve got right now. Loves!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Sorry it's Short :-D
Seriously, what a story about Dad! That would make me so frustrated! I guess I still have to learn more about patience and charity. But while I was reading about the experience, one of my first thoughts was - well I guess the Lord has something greater planned for Dad - so I guess I'm learning about hope and trust. It's still surprising to think that Dad will now be a 2nd grade teacher! Times are always changing around us.
I wish I could write a long email, but I really have no idea what to write. We continue to do the work, but this week was slow on lessons. We did pick up three new investigators, so the work is progressing well. We also are working with President Hall to discuss the needs of the ASL program for the Orlando mission. He's contacting Headquarters to learn more about ASL programs in different missions. He has a great desire to help the program grow so as he continues to learn about the ASL program, he will start to impement it in our program. We just have to continue with patience as he learns more about the mission. We all are working and learning together! It's been a very "educational" week for the ASL program. We also are working on better contacting and communicating with our Stake and Ward leaderships. It's been a challenge for us, but hopefully it will start to get better in the next few weeks. It's hard with the summertime having most of the leadership out on vacation, and many calling changes continue to occur in the ward and stake levels. So, it's always an adventure.
Right now, we are clueless about what is going to happen at transfers. We know where the ASL program is going to progress, but the when it will occur, we are uncertain. President wants to understand the program and the Church's standing before making changes, so who knows what next week will bring. Yay for surprises!
For the things I need, there really isn't much. I would like Jeff and Sherry's new address if they haven't already sent it to me. Besides that, I'm doing just fine. Loves!
I wish I could write a long email, but I really have no idea what to write. We continue to do the work, but this week was slow on lessons. We did pick up three new investigators, so the work is progressing well. We also are working with President Hall to discuss the needs of the ASL program for the Orlando mission. He's contacting Headquarters to learn more about ASL programs in different missions. He has a great desire to help the program grow so as he continues to learn about the ASL program, he will start to impement it in our program. We just have to continue with patience as he learns more about the mission. We all are working and learning together! It's been a very "educational" week for the ASL program. We also are working on better contacting and communicating with our Stake and Ward leaderships. It's been a challenge for us, but hopefully it will start to get better in the next few weeks. It's hard with the summertime having most of the leadership out on vacation, and many calling changes continue to occur in the ward and stake levels. So, it's always an adventure.
Right now, we are clueless about what is going to happen at transfers. We know where the ASL program is going to progress, but the when it will occur, we are uncertain. President wants to understand the program and the Church's standing before making changes, so who knows what next week will bring. Yay for surprises!
For the things I need, there really isn't much. I would like Jeff and Sherry's new address if they haven't already sent it to me. Besides that, I'm doing just fine. Loves!
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