We Needa Make It To The Sun! W46

Hello friends!!! Can I just say how grateful I am for each of you? Best support group out there. This week was an incredible week of teaching. We also got to watch Bridget's baptism! Sister Ebert taught her, and we got to see her make her first covenant. So special! Also, my mom met Sister Shumway (fav member from first area) in real life! So, they took a pic together! So cool to see my fam + mission together. 

Okay first off, I needa give a shout out to Elder Caleb Campbell (who goes home today)! We found the sweetest Swahili family out here in Owensboro, believe it or not. He translated for us, and we were able to give them a Book of Mormon in their native language. Him and his companion called in from Tanzania and took their own personal time to teach the Restoration! It was so cool to feel the same spirit when the restoration is taught in Swahili or English.

We taught the most lessons I have ever taught in one week. It felt so good to have so many chances to testify and tell what I know to be true. I'll tell you about a few of my experiences this week!

Tamara + Dawn! We met with Tamara at a park, and she asked if she could bring her daughter. We were a little nervous at first because we didn't know if her daughter liked us. Well, we were wrong! It was such a spirit filled lesson. We just sat there while the sun was setting teaching about the Book of Mormon + the gospel of Jesus Christ. The whole time they were saying, "that's neat!" When we talked about baptism, they both looked at each other and said, "We want to be re-baptized!" They expressed how they didn't truly understand baptism because they were infants when they were baptized. We told them we can help them with that! I wish I could relive that lesson again and again. 

Ciera + Britta! This was definitely my favorite lesson I've ever had on my mission. That's saying a lot because I've had some incredible experience so far. Ciera has been progressing so much and has the strongest desire to learn out of anyone I've taught. At church she was following along with her Book of Mormon and asking questions about the Lamanites. Yesterday we went to her boujee house and sat in the backyard while playing with chalk with Britta (her 2-year-old daughter). She asked about the Tree of Life story in the Book of Mormon, and she talked about how she's been in the mist of darkness her whole life. She said she also feels so calm and peaceful at church and that's how she knows it true. We taught the Plan of Salvation, and she was just in awe the whole time. Everything just made sense to her, and she kept saying how she wished she would've known this sooner. She looked at Britta and said in her cute southern accent, "Britta! We are here (earth life) and we are going to end up in the stars (telestial kingdom), we need to figure out how we can make it to the sun (Celestial kingdom)!" She told us after this lesson she wasn't in the mist anymore because it's so clear. She also hyped us up and said how lucky we are to know this and it's so funny that some 19 year olds are teaching a grown woman about her purpose here on earth. Ciera has grown up Baptist and been taught out of fear her whole life. We taught about baptisms for the dead and she said that brought her so much peace knowing that all the people before her would have a chance. It was the coolest feeling ever to help her realize the truth. I cannot thank Heavenly Father enough for letting me teach someone as prepared as Ciera. 

So many other lessons I wish I could tell y'all about every single one. We went to a few Karen parties this week and had the most incredible food. I think everyone in the community recognizes us because we are always the only white people. They are so accepting and love that we are trying to learn their language. Update: me + my comp are now running the new mission page. Just when I thought I was done with social media, President gives us a call. Also, our new friend Ryan came to church and loved it. He texted us and said, "Do you think I can come back next week?" Before our lesson this week he texted us, "I'm ready to learn more about Jesus, our Lord and Savior." 

Pictures- 

1. Bridget's baptism 

2. Swahili fam

3. Them reading the BoM 

4. Karen kids love my tag 

5. Bridget's baptism pt. 2

6. Sis Shumway + my mom 

7. Ken + Linda @ temple 

8. My friend Nelson + his green kia soul 

9. Brink + Jonas

10. Chalk with Britta