Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Week 8

HELLO AND HAPPY LATE EASTER TO EVERYONE FROM THE LAND OF POTATOES! I kind of had my like 3rd or 4th potato this week, but it was potato salad so I don't know if that really counts! Haha it was dang good though, I'll say that much.
Welp, I had a legit rejection this week for the first time. I've gotten like a lot of nice rejections where people will be like "Oh. No thanks, I have my own religion but good luck" Or "Oh, we're not interested" But this time we knocked on this door I felt prompted to go to and when we knocked this kid was like, "What do you mean the missionaries?" and then the dad yelled "Go away." Sister Thomas and I didn't know if that was to us or not so we knocked again and he like screamed, "GO AWAY!" So that was kinda sad haha 
Sister Thomas and I gave talks on Sunday for Easter. We both talked about the atonement and I focused on the garden of Gethsemane and how we can each lean on our Savior for comfort and peace.She focused on the resurrection. It was beautiful and we got lots of compliments.
We were able to teach Tim Worley twice this week. His wife Kristen is a member and she loves having us over to feed us. We taught him the Word of Wisdom and he said he would stop chewing by the time Kristen has the baby in September. We are working for sooner but Sister Thomas and I are super STOKED for him and his progression so far. He got the kids to church yesterday all by himself because Kristen had to work. He loved the Easter theme during Sacrament Meeting and loved our talks. We had dinner at their house last night and we watched The Testaments after for the lesson. The spirit was so strong and he open up to us about how he hadn't been reading the Book of Mormon but that he wanted to start up again. He loves coming to church and learning about Christ in the Gospel Principles class. I cannot wait to see his progression and see his testimony of our Savior and the Book of Mormon grow. 

 I'm almost out of time But I love you all and I'm really sorry this email is short this week. It's been a good one!



Week 7

What's up y'all?? Well this week has been a really fun one! 
So funny story to explain one of my pictures. About 2 weeks ago we went to go visit a family that just moved here from Kansas and have never met missionaries before so we were super excited about that because that is EXTREMELY rare here in Meridian. We were getting ready to go to their house and then the son who's 19 walks outside to get into the car and then the whole family starts coming out! I panicked and didn't know what to do so I hid and then Sister Thomas had to hide too. So long story short we were hiding in our car for a solid 10 minutes and told our ward mission leader cause we thought it was funny. BUT he didn't really think it was that funny so he told us we would have to walk one day this week so we decided Saturday and it was SO FUN! It was a gorgeous day and we met a lot of people. We walked home after dinner and had way too much fun taking pictures haha 
SO more about the family from before. They're the Jackson's and to be completely honest they're black. Haha their kids names are Darrian, Jacary, Tony, and Mckya. They are awesome. haha We showed them the #HALLELUJAH video and they wanted us to come back. We explained that we are just awkward because they totally saw us in front of their house but don't worry, we worked it all out and they love us now.
Winnie and her husband got priesthood blessing this weekend and we taught her husband the 1st lesson. They said they would come to church next week to hear us speak and to come for Easter. He is really interested and fascinated with the gospel.
Welp, that's about it for this week! Hope you all have an amazing Easter and remember our savior Jesus Christ is the reason we celebrate this holiday. 

LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Sister Stone

Pic 1: We had a lot of fun the other day taking pictures before we went to bed
Pic 2: We also had a lot of fun taking pictures when we were walking home the other day
Pic 3: I went on exchanges twice this week, once with Sister Peterson
Pic 4: and once with Sister Carling

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Week 6

Why do missionaries have such big bladders?
Because they only have one "p-day" HAHAHA
Kristen and Tim Worley, (the part member family I told you about a few weeks about) told us this joke and Tim was just dying! He told me I should write it in my email so I am doing it for him. S/O to you Tim. Tim is really progressing. He came to all 3 hours of church last week and he is reading the BOM on his own now. We are keeping him in our prayers and continuing to teach him. 
So on Saturday Jen Terry got baptized! I didn't teach Jen at all so that's why you haven't heard about her yet. She has been taking the lessons for like a year and a half and her husband was a less active member but now they are both coming!! She is 6 months pregnant and is just the cutest! haha She's had a lot of baptismal dates over the past few months but they had to get married because they were living together but we got everything all figured out and the baptism was just perfect!! I sang "I heard Him Come" and Jen's step mom (who's really less active) cried the whole time so that was good at least I know I sang that song for a reason and someone was really touched by the spirit.
Remember Winnie? The investigator we took to the Meridian Temple a few weeks ago? Anyways, we went to visit her and she had a picture of Moroni (or "Moronee" as she calls him) on her door and a note telling us she was at the store but really wanted to see us so she asked us to come back a little later. So presh! She is such an amazing example to me. She is reading faster in the BOM than I am! haha Awesome lady! 
Welp, that's about all the time I have for this week. Love you all so much and keep the faith! God loves us all and wants the best for us. OH! And everyone go share #Hallelujah video on Facebook or Instagram. It is so good! Sister Thomas and I have been able to get into a lot of peoples homes with sharing that video. We even got a new investigator from it! :) 

Have a good week,
SIster Summer Stone

Week 5

What is up party people?
It sounds like it's been a crazy past few weeks. Colton looks like he grew 6 inches already, and CONGRATS KATELYN AND MARCUS! I can't wait to have a little nephew to squeeze when I get home! Chandler, keep going on lots of dates haha and Carli, just keep being beautiful because you look great haha. Mom and dad, go shred some pow pow for me this weekend up in all the fresh new snow at Northstar. 

So this has been a pretty long week. We didn't have Pday on Monday because we got to go to the temple this morning (picture) and so today was our Pday this week instead! The Boise temple is beautiful. It's really tiny but SO pretty. Loved being able to go and ponder and pray about our investigators.

We went to the Relief Society 174th Birthday Party for our 2 wards and got 2 solid dinners. I had my first Idaho baked potato and we got to take like 20 balloons that were left over. Try to picture me at 8:50 at night trying to get into the car with 20 balloons and the wind was probably blowing like 30 mph. Yup picture it, it was quite the site haha. 

OH ALSO, I got to ride on this kids hover board in our ward! (Picture) It was sooo awesome lol haven't ridden on one in like a sold 2 months. It played music and I had way too much fun on it. Sister Thomas had never even seen one before. She was surprised at how BOMB I was at it haha. jk... not really! 

Anyways, hope you all have had a good rest of your week. Keep the faith and remember God loves all of his children. I know that there is a reason I am here on my mission and I know that there are people I will teach here that need to hear my message. I know Joseph Smith really did see our Heavenly Father and our Savior when he was 14 and I know that he was able to translate the BOM by the power of the Spirit. I know this gospel is true and I know that the Book of Mormon is a true book. I know that the stories we read and study about truly did happen and I know that if we read and study from the Book of Mormon daily, we will be truly blessed! 

Love you all,
Sister Summer Stone 

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Week 4

Ok before you freak out mom, the fire didn't hurt anyone haha. It's actually a really funny story.
So the other day we went to this old ladies house for dinner and she wanted to toast some bread in the oven so she did and then like a minute later the oven was smoking and she opened the door to the oven and there were flames coming out of the oven and she pulls it out and just starts blowing on it with no effort at all. Meanwhile, the fire alarm starts going off and she just stayed totally calm. After she got the fire out she just opened the doors so the fire alarm would stop going off. Sister Thomas and I, in shock, asked if it happened often and she just said, "uh, yeah sometimes" 
WHAT? DO YOU OFTEN HAVE BRIGHT ORANGE FLAMES COMING OUT OF YOUR OVEN? haha it was quite the experience. To find out later, her 2 grandsons that are in their 20's were sleeping in the other room and didn't even come out to check on us or to see if she was okay. It was great. haha
Last Monday we went to a park in our area for our Pday activity and this little boy named George played sports with us and he was more athletic than all of us combined (picture). It was so funny watching him run around trying to get to the ball before us. Also, I fell on my face twice within like 30 minutes trying to kick the soccer ball (shout out to my athletic skills) so I got a big scab and bruise on my knee and everyone we saw would be like, "Oh no! Sister Stone, what happened to your knee?" and I'd have to explain how gosh darn athletic I am like 3 times a day. So great haha. 
We went to the Meridian Temple this week with one of our investigators Winnie (picture). They said it will be done sometime next year. She is the greatest! She told us the other day that she wants to get baptized and she wants her husband who lives in Boise to get baptized too so they can eventually be sealed. We told the Elders that live in his area and they're going to go see him. She has some other stuff we have to get figured out before we can set a date for her to be baptized but I'm so proud and excited for her. Can't wait to see her grow and learn.

Anyways, Meridian is amazing and the wards here are fantastic. I mentioned a while ago that we cover 2 wards which kind of makes it tiring and difficult to go to 6 hours of church on Sunday but the members and the ward mission leaders are fantastic. The Bishops are great and I can't wait to see the success we have with the members helping with our investigators. We had stake conference this past Sunday and the talks were amazing. There were a lot of converts who spoke and shared their experiences. Really great people here.

I want to extend a challenge to all of you at home. Get a blank Book of Mormon from Deseret Book or from the missionaries and I want you all to pray BEFORE and AFTER you read. Mark it up as much as you want and write down impressions you have when the spirit tells you something and testifies of Christ.

Love you all, keep the faith!
Sister Summer Stone