So, yesterday was quite an adventure! An announcement was made in the Hunters Creek Ward about the ASL program. The Stake has decided to close the Deaf unit in the ward and have the members attend the Deaf unit in Oviedo. It is a lot stronger up there and there is more activity and support. So, two weeks before transfers, all the ASL Sisters are curious at what to do. There are many changes coming. We're a bit nervous...but we put it all in the Lord's hands. We'll see what happens.
Ummm... so all our thoughts are on the shocking announcement and trying to calm down the members. I think it was a needed change to get the members up and willing to act. It's a huge challenge and it throws a lot of things into confusion, but if we trust in the Lord, it will work out all right.
We are continuing to improve and set goals for ourselves. It's a constant growth, little by little. Our work in the Lake Nona area is slow but we are spending a lot of time there and have met a lot of different people. But as of yet, none are interested in learning more about the gospel. That area really is fully dependent on the members. Without their help, we really don't think anything will happen in that area since it full of "No Trespassing" neighborhoods. Little by little .... That’s my theme.
Sorry it's so short. My mind is totally distracted with the upcoming changes. Take care. I'll make sure to have more to say next week. Loves!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Little by Little
All is going well. We've been improving in numbers each week this transfer and as a companionship we are improving in the goals we have set. I still get frustrated with myself when I know we should have done more that day but let our weaknesses get in the way. Something I have really enjoyed this week is my ability to learn a lot more from the meetings that I attend. I'm really trying to focus on getting more out of the talks and lessons. There is something to be learned as long as we are open to the spirit. Also, it has helped to have my mind focused on not just writing what I hear the speaker or teacher say, but write down the random thoughts that pop into my head during their talk. Those random thoughts can be spiritual promptings of how to help myself and help others improve in the gospel. It's given me a new perspective on how I listen. It's helped a lot. I really enjoyed Sacrament Meeting yesterday where the talks were focused on conference and they stated things I had not thought about. I love having the opportunity to open my mind more and see more perspectives, and that only comes from discussions with others. That's one reason why we can't be satisfied with being personally religious. We need to go to church not only to renew our covenants through the sacrament, but also to learn and gain inspiration from those around us. As we listen to others, and we have an open mind and hear to the spirit, it's amazing how we are more enlightened to understanding the basic principles of the gospel. You learn something new every day.
Saturday was a really fun day for us! We hadn't tried to do a lot of ASL work in a while, so we decided to contact all the referrals we've received in the last two weeks - which surprisingly has been a lot! We called up one of our Deaf members and we spent the whole day together driving from city to city, from referral to referral, and although we tried to visit eleven people and only say two, I see it as a great success. I loved it! It was a full day of silence. We signed the whole time. It was also really good for Sis. Snyder to learn more of the language. Plus, any questions or confusion I had with signs, I was able to ask about them and get it cleared up. I learned a lot and already have applied it to my signing. Little by little, I am growing.
I'm not sure what else to write. We continue onward every day. We progress and grow, even when we have those darn bumps in the road. FYI: Pres. Hall has asked me if I want to return home in Jan or March. My ministerial certificate expires in Feb, so I'd have to ask for an extension to stay until March; but if I do, it would be my exact 18-month mark. I'm suppose to pray on it, and so will Pres. Hall. I'm not sure what has been decided yet, but it will probably be March 9. We'll see...
Saturday was a really fun day for us! We hadn't tried to do a lot of ASL work in a while, so we decided to contact all the referrals we've received in the last two weeks - which surprisingly has been a lot! We called up one of our Deaf members and we spent the whole day together driving from city to city, from referral to referral, and although we tried to visit eleven people and only say two, I see it as a great success. I loved it! It was a full day of silence. We signed the whole time. It was also really good for Sis. Snyder to learn more of the language. Plus, any questions or confusion I had with signs, I was able to ask about them and get it cleared up. I learned a lot and already have applied it to my signing. Little by little, I am growing.
I'm not sure what else to write. We continue onward every day. We progress and grow, even when we have those darn bumps in the road. FYI: Pres. Hall has asked me if I want to return home in Jan or March. My ministerial certificate expires in Feb, so I'd have to ask for an extension to stay until March; but if I do, it would be my exact 18-month mark. I'm suppose to pray on it, and so will Pres. Hall. I'm not sure what has been decided yet, but it will probably be March 9. We'll see...
Monday, October 4, 2010
Mighty Change of Heart
Do I use my bike? Why do you ask? I do feel a bit bad about the whole thing. Spending so much on a bike, then really not using it as much as it should be used. I've been tempted to sell my bike to another Sister, but it has my name on it! I really like the bike! But, to answer the question: we are able to use our bike every once in a while, typically about twice a month. When we use to live in Conway, we would bike to downtown almost once a week (15 miles roundtrip). This transfer, we sometimes put the bikes on the back of our car, drive to Lake Nona, then do some bike tracting (for two hours or so) because the houses are so far apart. But most of the time, it does sit in the garage. I use to want to ship the bike home after my mission, but now I'm thinking I'll just sell it to a Sister for half price.
This week went a lot better. I feel like we are improving. The work is still slow and our numbers are low, but I am learning a lot about myself! I think that is the biggest teaching that I am to learn from these last two transfers. It's an opportunity to review myself and make goals to improve and grow. It's interesting how I can know the doctrine, having learned it since I was young, but then have an "Aaha!" moment and actually understand how it personally applies to my life. I'm learning to have a lot more "Aaha" moments and trying to make sure I write them all down. One thing I learned was how to give my full will to God. I never understood how to do it, but it starts in my mind. I need to make the commitment to put aside my wishes, hopes, desires and give everything to God. I am learning how to make my wishes, hopes, desires to become in line with God's. I'm learning the purpose of this life. Of course, I knew what it was, but it's finally becoming internalized within me. I'm actually being able to make it click in my mind. I just hope I will be able to apply it to my future life. There is so much I want to do, but I fear the stresses of the world will push them down. It takes a lot of work, but I am excited for the opportunity to use my agency and make my goals become a reality. I love how the mission is a time to help us form who we want to become and prepare for the future.
General Conference was a great opportunity! In my journal, I wrote down the speaker, what they said, then my own notes and thoughts as they spoke. Also, I happen to have a sketch drawing of each of the speakers. In the middle of last week, I've decided to stop hiding all my talents under the bushel, so I threw the bushel away and I've set a new goal to be more willing to develop my piano skills, drawing skills, and whatever else I can think of. Of course, that applies more to after the mission, but I thought I'd help myself focus on the speakers by sketching them while I was listening. It was a unique experience. I still have a lot more to learn from conference, for I had asked to be given inspiration for the right questions to ask. Why? Once, I was told that we need to ask for the right questions, not the right answers, for revelation comes from the questions that we ask. And so, my notes are full of many questions that came to my mind. Now, I will need to sit down and start trying to answer those questions, and let the spirit guide my writing. It was great because many of the goals I had recently set for myself were addressed in conference and I felt it was the spirit confirming the decisions I was making for my life.
So, now that I'm growing personally, I need to work on how to apply that to the work. We have improved this week compared to the last few weeks, but we must continue forth step by step. It still feels like a struggle for me because my whole purpose to come on a mission was to learn about myself and prepare for the future. Sadly, it was never about bringing others to the church. I always have the desire to help and strengthen friends, but the more doors we knock on, the more people use their agency to reject the gospel, the more I am discouraged with people's stubborn unwillingness to learn. I prefer to be a member missionary where I can be a good example and help my friends learn, than to everyday face people again and again who reject the gospel and are satisfied with where they are in life. But, ever onward. That's life.
This week went a lot better. I feel like we are improving. The work is still slow and our numbers are low, but I am learning a lot about myself! I think that is the biggest teaching that I am to learn from these last two transfers. It's an opportunity to review myself and make goals to improve and grow. It's interesting how I can know the doctrine, having learned it since I was young, but then have an "Aaha!" moment and actually understand how it personally applies to my life. I'm learning to have a lot more "Aaha" moments and trying to make sure I write them all down. One thing I learned was how to give my full will to God. I never understood how to do it, but it starts in my mind. I need to make the commitment to put aside my wishes, hopes, desires and give everything to God. I am learning how to make my wishes, hopes, desires to become in line with God's. I'm learning the purpose of this life. Of course, I knew what it was, but it's finally becoming internalized within me. I'm actually being able to make it click in my mind. I just hope I will be able to apply it to my future life. There is so much I want to do, but I fear the stresses of the world will push them down. It takes a lot of work, but I am excited for the opportunity to use my agency and make my goals become a reality. I love how the mission is a time to help us form who we want to become and prepare for the future.
General Conference was a great opportunity! In my journal, I wrote down the speaker, what they said, then my own notes and thoughts as they spoke. Also, I happen to have a sketch drawing of each of the speakers. In the middle of last week, I've decided to stop hiding all my talents under the bushel, so I threw the bushel away and I've set a new goal to be more willing to develop my piano skills, drawing skills, and whatever else I can think of. Of course, that applies more to after the mission, but I thought I'd help myself focus on the speakers by sketching them while I was listening. It was a unique experience. I still have a lot more to learn from conference, for I had asked to be given inspiration for the right questions to ask. Why? Once, I was told that we need to ask for the right questions, not the right answers, for revelation comes from the questions that we ask. And so, my notes are full of many questions that came to my mind. Now, I will need to sit down and start trying to answer those questions, and let the spirit guide my writing. It was great because many of the goals I had recently set for myself were addressed in conference and I felt it was the spirit confirming the decisions I was making for my life.
So, now that I'm growing personally, I need to work on how to apply that to the work. We have improved this week compared to the last few weeks, but we must continue forth step by step. It still feels like a struggle for me because my whole purpose to come on a mission was to learn about myself and prepare for the future. Sadly, it was never about bringing others to the church. I always have the desire to help and strengthen friends, but the more doors we knock on, the more people use their agency to reject the gospel, the more I am discouraged with people's stubborn unwillingness to learn. I prefer to be a member missionary where I can be a good example and help my friends learn, than to everyday face people again and again who reject the gospel and are satisfied with where they are in life. But, ever onward. That's life.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Musical Chairs!
This has been a great week! Well, it has been a great weekend! The work is slow with us right now; we're still trying to figure out the best way to do missionary work in our area. But I've been learning a lot as I have recommitted myself to reading "Preach My Gospel" (focusing on prayer), and improving my scripture study (focusing on "heart" and "goodness"). Our numbers this week have been the best since we began our companionship together, so that shows our improvement, and I'm noticing a better focus on missionary work as I change my perspective and focus. I've still gotten discouraged this week, but this weekend really brought me up again. For the Broadcast, we had been invited a few months ago to attend the Orlando South RS Meeting to be able to meet more of the leadership. Their meeting started at 5:30pm, with the broadcast at 8pm. We came early because we knew they were preparing dinner so we decided to offer some helping hands. The Stake Relief Society President wanted me to tell you, Mom, that she is grateful for everything you've taught me. We were such a great help, they called us their "two angels". It was just simple things like putting food on the tables, serving drinks, cleaning up, etc. It was a lot of fun! Also, they had an amazing program as a member had written a script about the stories of Book of Mormon women. It was beautiful! I love scriptural adaptations! It brings the stories alive! I also really enjoyed the broadcast. It gave me a lot of great ideas (which I've also been learning on my mission) about how to become a better visiting teacher. In college, I was awful at it. I was always busy, anti-social, and didn't fully understand the meaning of it; but as a missionary working with members, I began to understand the importance of visiting teaching and I can't wait for the opportunity to become a visiting teacher.
Sunday was amazing! It was our Fast and Testimony meeting and we had committed our members who attend ASL class to try and interpret a testimony. So, we did "musical chairs" switching interpreters for each testimony. Instead of me typically being the only person interpreting, we had seven people changing in and out. It was so much fun! They did so well! They may have felt nervous, but it was great! I even learned from their way of interpreting.
This week was really good for me. I had my ups, I had my downs, but I have learned more about what areas the Lord has helped me grow in. I have great church leaders and missionary leaders teaching me a lot and also helping me grow. So, we are ever onward and upward!
Sunday was amazing! It was our Fast and Testimony meeting and we had committed our members who attend ASL class to try and interpret a testimony. So, we did "musical chairs" switching interpreters for each testimony. Instead of me typically being the only person interpreting, we had seven people changing in and out. It was so much fun! They did so well! They may have felt nervous, but it was great! I even learned from their way of interpreting.
This week was really good for me. I had my ups, I had my downs, but I have learned more about what areas the Lord has helped me grow in. I have great church leaders and missionary leaders teaching me a lot and also helping me grow. So, we are ever onward and upward!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Re: A Reminder to Answer these Questions . . .
Sorry about being unable to access my email account. Two weeks ago, we tried to get on my account on a non-P-day for office stuff. I forgot my password, and my account got locked; and I was trying to figure out how to fix that. Then when I tried to email on Monday, I couldn't access my account. So I changed my password, and after ten minutes or so I finally figured out how. Sorry. I did get the original email.
I received the package and thank you! Don't worry about a GPS. We'll survive. I've got the Orlando area memorized in my head anyways. I just need to figure out how to find the new streets that are constantly being built in Lake Nona. I'll start asking members and office couples to print off google maps for us. I also got the letter on Wed. That was a surprise, getting to me so quickly, but it came at great timing. I was in the office waiting to talk to Pres. so I was able to read through your letter before sitting down with him. All is well.
We are still living at our rented house. It's a lot of fun. It will be hard to move to a small apt after spending over six weeks in a mansion of a house. We keep it clean and organized. For the transfer, there are no changes for the ASL program. The work has turned very slow for Hunters Creek due to some difficulties that have arisen, but we are working through it. We'll see what this new transfer will bring. I think things will start getting a lot better. Sis. Snyder and I have been together for a whole transfer, we've become really great friends, so now we can use our strengths to help the work greatly progress! We are excited!
The greatest news for this past week was our opportunity to attend a Sign Language Media Expo. We were able to learn about more resources available to the Deaf; we met one of our members there and ran into many people that we knew. It was a lot of fun! I've become more social, because when I'd typically sit and watch people, I was able to get up a few times, approach people, and start conversations. We also have heard of two more Deaf events for this upcoming week. I hope this will help Sis. Snyder with her signing communication skills. It can get overwhelming, and watching so much signing can lead to headaches when trying to learn the language; but she is getting better. I remember being in her shoes. She will improve, especially the more we are able to interact with the Deaf.
Life is going well. I had a hard first half of the week trying to understand myself and figure things out, but as I put my trust in the Lord and put Him first, I know He is always there to bless and guide me.
I received the package and thank you! Don't worry about a GPS. We'll survive. I've got the Orlando area memorized in my head anyways. I just need to figure out how to find the new streets that are constantly being built in Lake Nona. I'll start asking members and office couples to print off google maps for us. I also got the letter on Wed. That was a surprise, getting to me so quickly, but it came at great timing. I was in the office waiting to talk to Pres. so I was able to read through your letter before sitting down with him. All is well.
We are still living at our rented house. It's a lot of fun. It will be hard to move to a small apt after spending over six weeks in a mansion of a house. We keep it clean and organized. For the transfer, there are no changes for the ASL program. The work has turned very slow for Hunters Creek due to some difficulties that have arisen, but we are working through it. We'll see what this new transfer will bring. I think things will start getting a lot better. Sis. Snyder and I have been together for a whole transfer, we've become really great friends, so now we can use our strengths to help the work greatly progress! We are excited!
The greatest news for this past week was our opportunity to attend a Sign Language Media Expo. We were able to learn about more resources available to the Deaf; we met one of our members there and ran into many people that we knew. It was a lot of fun! I've become more social, because when I'd typically sit and watch people, I was able to get up a few times, approach people, and start conversations. We also have heard of two more Deaf events for this upcoming week. I hope this will help Sis. Snyder with her signing communication skills. It can get overwhelming, and watching so much signing can lead to headaches when trying to learn the language; but she is getting better. I remember being in her shoes. She will improve, especially the more we are able to interact with the Deaf.
Life is going well. I had a hard first half of the week trying to understand myself and figure things out, but as I put my trust in the Lord and put Him first, I know He is always there to bless and guide me.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Trudging Forward
We have had some great opportunities to get to know the members more in the ward and stake. There were several activities planned for the Relief Society Sisters, and we were blessed to take part in a few of them. There is so much we learn on our mission, I'm curious how much I will be able to apply later on in life. Our first focus with members, that is mission wide, is to invite everyone to look at mormon.org and create a profile. I know I've already touched on it before, but I think it is an amazing resource! I wish I could get on and create my own profile! It is a wonderful advancement on the Church's part in technology to really help people feel comfortable and more willing to learn about the Church. They don't have to read page after page of doctrine, but they can read bits and pieces of other people's lives and how the Gospel and Jesus Christ has blessed them. Props to Allison, who already has her profile on mormon.org - it's nice to have the name search field :-D Even though members are typically friends with members, so member missionary work really is hard to do, this is an opportunity to do member missionary work. We can be an example online. We can show how the gospel blesses our lives by what we write on our blog, on facebook, other networks, and also by adding to the profiles found on mormon.org. This site was updated not only to help investigators learn of the church, but also to help members know how easy it is to share the gospel in simple terms and also to feel like they are taking part by having their profile accessible with their testimony written for all to see. I hope I'll be able to find more of my family and friends on mormon.org soon :-)
From one of the events we attended this week, I heard an amazing analogy. The speaker was talking about a rope, a strong, thick, sturdy rope. We could hold it in our hands, look at it, and say it is the strongest rope we have ever seen and it could never break. It is firm, it is strong, and there is no doubt it could hold up in any situation. But when the need arises and we have to be dangled off a ledge by that rope, we start to reconsider how strong that rope really is. We begin to look deeper into how the rope was put together and if it really can withstand the weight we are putting on it. She compare this to the gospel. When times are easy, and we have the gospel in our lives, we see that it is strong, it is true, and it can carry us through anything; but when a huge struggle hits us, we begin to look more closely at the gospel and if it really can sustain us through that time. The speaker said that she believes one of the main parts of that "gospel" rope is prayer. We can try to overcome a trial without it, but if we will truly succeed and have the strength necessary, we must rely on prayer and communication with our Heavenly Father. I really liked that analogy.
The work is slow right now, but I fear it may have to do with the way we are working. I really don't like to take the reins and have full control over what we do, where we go, and how things need to be done. There is just so much to learn, so much to do. Every night, I still end my journal entree with a "tender mercy" and I've also added "something I've learned" that day. I truly love the members and I love to sign. I'll continue forth. I'll put it in the Lord's hands. We do make great progress with the leadership and the members, but I wish I knew how to touch the hearts of the people and our investigators. But, ever onward...
From one of the events we attended this week, I heard an amazing analogy. The speaker was talking about a rope, a strong, thick, sturdy rope. We could hold it in our hands, look at it, and say it is the strongest rope we have ever seen and it could never break. It is firm, it is strong, and there is no doubt it could hold up in any situation. But when the need arises and we have to be dangled off a ledge by that rope, we start to reconsider how strong that rope really is. We begin to look deeper into how the rope was put together and if it really can withstand the weight we are putting on it. She compare this to the gospel. When times are easy, and we have the gospel in our lives, we see that it is strong, it is true, and it can carry us through anything; but when a huge struggle hits us, we begin to look more closely at the gospel and if it really can sustain us through that time. The speaker said that she believes one of the main parts of that "gospel" rope is prayer. We can try to overcome a trial without it, but if we will truly succeed and have the strength necessary, we must rely on prayer and communication with our Heavenly Father. I really liked that analogy.
The work is slow right now, but I fear it may have to do with the way we are working. I really don't like to take the reins and have full control over what we do, where we go, and how things need to be done. There is just so much to learn, so much to do. Every night, I still end my journal entree with a "tender mercy" and I've also added "something I've learned" that day. I truly love the members and I love to sign. I'll continue forth. I'll put it in the Lord's hands. We do make great progress with the leadership and the members, but I wish I knew how to touch the hearts of the people and our investigators. But, ever onward...
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