A "White" Christmas

Actually, I keep forgetting about Christmas. I did it with thanksgiving, too. But really, my whole world has been so focused on the 21st of December that it feels like my Christmas has already come and gone, because the biggest miracle of my entire mission was Saturday and Sunday. Taking from my letter to president:
"A month ago, we had met our investigator K. We committed her to baptism on the 21st of December. Two days ago, she and her two sons were baptized, as well as the Elders' investigator B. We had fasted and prayed for a white Christmas, and here we are, on December 21st, with an amazing array of white. It was a really sweet and special experience for me. I think it was made even better because the baptismal service was a joint effort; it wasn't just one companionship's investigators, it was both of us."

I had been really frazzled this week--we had been doing service and I was focused on Saturday and our bishop's wife was supposed to have her baby on Friday (which she did and we saw her and it was super hard not to hold that adorable newborn. The one time I was not fond of mission rules.) So we were running from place to place trying to be everywhere everyone needed us at once. I was pretending to be calm but the only one I seemed to be fooling was myself :) But on Wednesday I got a really sweet blessing from our district leader, and it really calmed me down. Then Saturday came around and I was stressed up until the point of the actual ordinances, and then the Spirit was so strong I almost started crying. It was super powerful.

Oh yeah! Another reason I was frazzled was because the Christmas program was yesterday and I was pretty much in charge of it with one of the members. Really, it was "The Missionaries and the second counselor of the stake presidency put on Christmas!" But it turned out pretty well.

Other than that, we worked, cleaned, painted, cleaned, cleaned, cleaned....but we got our bishop's house done and they are moved in. Finally. Sheesh, that house has been going for about 2 years, and when we got there they didn't have any walls. It is a 19 room house, and I helped paint 9 rooms and singlehandedly painted 4.

This is going to be a pretty short letter, because I'm seeing y'all on Wednesday at 11:30. But if the Elders get back in time, I will upload pictures from the baptism and send them out. 

Sister Steele Out!

Holy Cow! It's December!

Holy cow, it's December! That's hard to believe. Sorry this will be a shorter letter, I only have about 10 minutes to write it.

Thanksgiving was good this week; we went to a member's sister's house and ate. It was weird not being home for thanksgiving but then we left and went to work on our bishop's house for the rest of the day and the whole day after that, so I was a bit too tired to think about it after that. We're helping paint and clean throughout this week, so they can be in by Saturday, so that they can be in when their fifth child is born the week after! They're a crazy fun loving family who I love dearly. 

I don't know if I told you last week, but we found an amazing new investigator, K. She was seriously an answer to prayers and continues to be so. I'm going to put some of my letter to President in from this week and last--as of right now it looks like we're going to have a white christmas! (Not snow...:) )
"There were so many little miracles this week, along with the big miracle of our newest investigator, K. She was a media referral and while not counting my chickens before they hatch, she is seriously golden. We've seen her 3 times this week and she's been reading and she came to church with her sons, who are also interested in the church. We have never seen someone so solid so quickly. It's cool, though because that morning we had been discussing discouragement and talking about each of our investigators, when I sort of exasperatedly asked if we could just find one person who was honestly seeking the truth and willing to act on it. And what happens that day? K clicks on a link on mormon.org and asks for a missionary visit. We meet her. We commit her to baptism. And all she wants is God's true church. So I think Heavenly Father just got sick of me complaining and was like "Here! Now be grateful, it's almost thanksgiving!" I really need to work on not complaining."
"The investigator I told you about last week just gets better and better--all of her children want to be baptized as well. A conversation we had on Saturday really showed me how the Lord prepares people to recieve the gospel. K said that she had seen or at least contacted the sisters in Nachitoches (I have no idea if that's spelled right) a while back, and they had piqued her interest, but lost contact until she foundmormon.org 2 weeks ago. She realized, during the lesson, that the Lord knew her and her needs, and that this really was the right thing for her to be doing. She seriously is an answer to our prayers in every possible way. She's a beacon of hope when all of our other investigators seem to be faltering. Her little family is my reason for joy this Christmas season. And I think I understand a little more the verses in D&C 18--"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" That joy is more than happiness. It's a light that fills your whole soul and makes you want to work a lot harder to find that joy again. I am so grateful to the Lord for giving us that miracle. Every time we teach them, I know a little better how much Heavenly Father loves His children."

This work is true. It's amazing. And I have seen the truth of it touch others lives. I really do feel JOY at this time of the year--moreso since I've been out on my mission. I would like to challenge all of you to find out what joy really means. go to the scriptures. It's in there. Joy is so much more than happiness. It's enduring.

Finally, one little thought:
It's Christmastime, one of the best times of year to give and receive hope. When the nights outside get longer, darker , and colder, people turn inside to find the Light of Christ--the light that shortens any night, casts out any darkness and warms any soul. For He is the light we find when we look within. By bringing that light out, through smiling, through singing, and through serving, it brings a little more hope and a little more happiness to a world that is so very dark. It's all the little things that bring hope, both to others and myself.

Love you!!!

Sister Steele

It. Is. Cold.

Okay, it's not terrible, but it's a lot colder than I expected it to be in Louisiana (even though I'm writing from Mississippi)! It's currently 36 at 11:49 AM and it's pouring rain. I'm currently wearing my favorite pair of mittens (which everyone is super jealous of) and typing on the library computer. I'm keeping pretty warm most of the time--the blanket came and it's super soft and warm so I'm grateful for that.

On a side note, the ward mission leader's family looked up my blog last night when we were at dinner...and you haven't updated it since September! :P Sheesh, doesn't your life revolve around me?

But it's been a crazy week here in Vidalia. We had exchanges on Tuesday, which means that Sister Jones went down to Pineville with the senior sister training leader (sort of like a zone leader for sisters) and I stayed in Vidalia with...sister Lindstrom! It was interesting to work with her again, and hard to believe the MTC was only 4 months ago. So much has changed since then, and it's a lot more than memorizing scriptures and attempting to teach. It's been cool to see how both of us have changed in the last little bit. Exchanges are only 24 hours, so I got sister Jones back and we rushed off to see a new investigator who lives on the very edge of our area. Like, the left side of the road is ours and the right side of the road is the Alec elders, and he just happened to be on the left. How we're going to get back out there...good question. It's 45 minutes away. But it was a good lesson and he invited us to come back. 

Thursday was awesome! We had an appointment in Ferriday, which is about 12 miles from our house (and we don't have enough miles on our truck to use it right now--we get an allotment of miles each month and we're almost out because we had to go to Baton Rouge and Alexandria this month), so we set out biking out there. We got out and our appointment fell through, so we biked a little further and saw one of our members we never get to see because she is really, really busy. When we were getting ready to get biking back, we got a text from Headquarters in Salt Lake--someone had been on mormon.org and requested a missionary visit (this is known as a media referral in case I mention it again), So we biked back 8 miles to her house, had an AMAZING lesson and committed her to baptism on the 21 of next month! She seriously is an answer to so many prayers. We've had three lessons with her in 4 days, she came to church and is reading from the Book of Mormon! Really truly, she is a miracle. We have never had an investigator this solid before. But, we were leaving her house, and the investigator whose lesson fell through texted us and asked if we could see her in an hour, and we prayed and felt like we should, so we biked back the 6 miles to her house and she bailed again. But it was okay because we got to talk to some people we wouldn't have otherwise. Then we biked the 10 miles to our house and ended up totalling about 35 miles in one day. It was a party. 

That night we had fried catfish at a member's home. It was surprisingly good.

Friday we biked over the bridge in the pouring rain and worked at our bishop's house for 4 and a half hours, then biked over to interviews with President Wall, which are always good. He didn't give me a clear answer on if I am training or not, though, so I won't know for a few more weeks ;). We had the ward thanksgiving dinner on Fridayand Elder R confiscated the front wheel of Sis Jones' bike so we wouldn't bike the bridge at night.

Saturday was relatively uneventful...we had another lesson with K, our new investigator, which was awesome because our recent convert B came with us. It was really good because we went over Law of Chastity stuff...which is a little easier if we're not the ones explaining it. 

But Sunday we went to church and K and her two sons were there, and the elders' investigator R was there too! And having 2 investigators at sacrament (we had one come late, but she missed sacrament) was amazing! far better than we're used to. Both of them are committed to the 21st. We had dinner at the E family's and K came too, and it was just a big party with a lovely spiritual center.

As for this week...I feel bad to say that I've been way too busy to miss anyone too much. But I'm sure I'll be thinking of you on Thursday. We're going with a member to her sister's (who's not a member) for thanksgiving (the same member fed us the catfish this week). Then it's Christmastime, which will probably be a little harder. But things are just almost too crazy to be homesick right now. And I don't even want to think about Christmas! The 21st will be my Christmas, hopefully.

So...as for how much we're biking, it depends on the week. Not as much as the Elders, but we're doing maybe (normally) 30 a week? usually a little less. But the next little bit will be more, because next month we've got Zone training in Alexandria, transfers in Baton Rouge and the mission's Christmas devotional in Lafeyette. So that number will jump next month!

Aside from that, I can't think of anything to email the family about! Love you all. Happy Thanksgiving and know I am grateful for each of you!!  I'm sad I'm missing the holidays with y'all, but know I'm taken care of. I know what I'm doing is where God wants me right now, and I'd  rather be here than anywhere else! I have seen the Book of Mormon and the confirming power of the Holy Ghost change lives, bring hope, and strengthen peoples resolve to do what's right. Most of all, I've seen it in myself. But this is God's work and I am honored that He would call me to labor in a little corner of His vineyard. So even though it'll be a change, know I'm doing well :)

Love you much!

Sister Steele

Stream of Consciousness Email

Sept 29, 2013

I really am sorry about the quality of my emails for the past little
bit--it's really crazy at computer time and most of the time I have to
spend sending a letter to President Wall. I'm not meaning to neglect
y'all, but between reading all the emails, writing to President,
writing to our stake president as he's requested us to, and writing to
you, I don't ever have much time to really think of details to put in.
I feel bad for being upset with my missionary friends for not writing
me back, because preperation day is just as busy as every other day,
and it's the only day we can write emails or letters. (if I didn't
have a lawn to mow, I would be fine!)
I hope the pictures came in useful--it's the only way I could think of
sending them with captions. Life of a missionary is crazy and I really
do wish I had more time.
Poor Teddy boy :( I miss our puppies and the kitties too. Last night
we were at a less-active member's home and they have TONS of animals.
I was petting one of the kittens hanging out by the house and she
stretched and was holding on to my skirt as I petted her, but then she
lost her balance and was holding on ONLY by my skirt. At least you
guys know I'm a sucker for animals.
Also funny--lizard roundup has begun again for the first time in a few
years. I rescued a tiny one from the shower, and we constantly have to
keep them and the toads out of our house. My companion thought I had
actually gone insane when she heard me talking in the shower. It was
after a really long day, so it was understandable.
This week was not quite what we had been expecting: we had received
promptings that we needed to go tracting (going door to door asking if
people want to hear the gospel--sort of what you think of when you
think of missionaries), but that's not the most effective way of
working. But on our side of the river, there are only three members
and two less-active members within a 5 or 6 mile radius. So we thought
we were going to have a lot of investigator lessons this week.
Instead, we ended up somehow only teaching three, but we taught 12
less-active members this week, which never happens. Our goal, which in
our entire time together and in Sister Jones' entire mission, is to
teach 20 lessons per week...this week, unbelievably, we taught 21. I
have no idea how we did it.
So, to respond to your emails, Dad's questions first:
A transfer is a six-week period of time where we are in one spot, or
area. Every six weeks, any of us could potentially be moved somewhere
else, though usually we stay for more than a transfer. Every six weeks
new missionaries come into the mission, and old missionaries leave. So
my email headings are T2 W2, meaning transfer 2, week 2. sisters have
12 transfers in a mission. Last transfer meeting (on the Wednesday of
Week 1) Elder Adkins got transferred and we got Elder Virgin as
district leader, or the guy who's sort of in charge of the
missionaries in our area. Sister Jones and I are hoping we get to stay
together through next transfer (T3) because she goes home at the end
of it and that means I get to stay in Vidalia for at least another 6
weeks after that. I don't know if I've grown taller in the heat :) but
I know my hair has grown about an inch and a half since July. The
closest temple is the Louisiana Baton Rouge temple, and we're about 2
hours away. We got to go last week, and it was much needed. I sent
some pictures of the district home in the box. I think the closest
temple aside from that is...Jackson? Not sure. I just know our temple
here is the LA-BAT. There definitely aren't any in the neighborhood,
no :) And as for the football scores, I don't know but I sure hope so!
I only know when LSU is playing and caught a glimpse of the LSU-Kent
State game. Mark sends me the USU scores though every week (and last
week he sent me the Utah Gymnastics Schedule.)
As for fire ants....I apparently taste really good to all kinds of
bugs because I get bitten like no other, Just on my legs, though. I
don't normally have issues with my arms. And I haven't gotten chiggers
or red bugs yet though, which is a blessing.

I'm trying to include details! I really am! The mission website isn't
loading so I can't email president right now, which is why you're so
lucky :).

Katie, I'm sorry about New Zealand :( But I hope you get to go to
Poland! That would be awesome. did I tell you I saw Emily King from
Alta in the MTC? If not, she says hello. She's going to Poland (well
she's already there.)
It's been rainy here, but no snow thank goodness. I had enough snow
last year to last me for this winter.
I don't know where this email is going...it's sort of stream of
consciousness, but you should expect that of me. The bishop here is
moving into a really cool antebellum home in downtown Natchez, so
we've been helping them clean it and paint. The missionaries have been
helping for the past year or so, because it was seriously
terrifying--they bought it for $50,000 and sold the stuff that the
people left in it (they were hoarders) for $40,000. But we've been
helping with drywall and painting and insulation and so on and so
forth. So finish the remodeling at home before I get back, so I don't
have to help :)
Louisiana is very flat. Mississippi is very not. But I have now biked
accross the Mississippi river and across a state line! I thought I
was going to die, yet here I am.
Carrie, Kalo looks good in his pictures, and you definitely look good
on him. Glad my nephew pony is doing better :) So does Kalo just sort
of hang out with the old farts and Ellie now? I feel like he would get
bored. But I hope eventually when I'm not allergic to most things
anymore I will get to come with you and go trail riding or something.

As for the work, especially with investigators...well, it's been a
challenge this week. We have one investigator who for some reason just
lit on fire this week, reading and praying and generally being
awesome, but other than that...we don't really have much progress. The
people are great, but one of our two solid investigators we gave to
the elders and the other no longer wants to speak with us. We don't
know what happened. But this week will be full of finding.
Well...I don't know really what else to say. Pray, read the scriptures
(I just got to Alma 11 this morning. If you need a good chapter to
read, go read either Alma 5 (page 217), Alma 32 (page 288) or Ether 12
(page 508)). 

Work hard, play hard and I love y'all so much!!
Sister Steele :)

Pictures from the Mission Field of Louisiana (finally!) and letter of Sept 17th

This is Sister Jones (from Homer, Alaska) and Sister Steele at the end of a service project helping a ward member paint her shop.

 Sister Jones on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River.  They cross this river once or twice a day.  They have even biked across the bridge over this river!

The cemetery and the missionaries.  Apparently the missionary zombie appocalypse!  This is where the missionaries learned to use a machete.

 Ask the missionaries- they know the answer to this one!

Apparently vine swinging is part of what the elders will do to find investigators!

A beautiful Vidalia, Louisiana sunset

Sister Jones and Sister Steele

The bridge over the Mississippi River crossing from Vidalia, Louisiana to Natchez, Mississippi

The Natchez district missionaries at the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple.

September 17, 2013

I made it through my first transfer! It's kind of strange to think I've been out for 6 weeks, and yet it's strange to think it's only been six weeks. I'm probably just going to copy and paste my letter to president, so I'll get your questions answered first.

1. Can you send the photo of us at Newport, the second most recent family photo? And just family pictures, printed because I can't print at the library. That's all I really desire.

2. The photos are getting shipped today, they should be there this week. They're labeled and everything, and there's a digital copy of the T1 photos. Sorry it took so long, last Monday was crazy.

3. The rolls were very much appreciated. They're delicious and taste like home, and no ants got in.

4. Sorry LSU beat Kent State, Dad.

5. Strange things you learn in the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission:

How to find moths in food (not our food)

Did you know you can sew an arm back on if it's been cut off, and still have movement in your fingers? (Not my arm, nor anyone else in the mission. Just one of our contacts)

Also, we can't really proselyte on Saturday evenings because the football game is on. Especially when it's LSU.

I don't even really remember this week. It was a huge blur. I know we somehow taught a lot of people and no one came to sacrament meeting, but other than that...I don't know what happened.

We were watching the "Daily Bread" Mormon messages [Go watch it!!] that just came out, and it really impressed me with both that one and "Patterns of Light" how much conversion and testimony are gradual things. Sure, you gain a witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, but that testimony comes gradually, bit by bit like a sunrise, until you reach the end and the Lord confirms that yes, what you are reading is true. I don't have any profound thoughts or anything like that, no giant witnesses of this church. But I do know that every time I read the scriptures and strive to be obedient to them, every time I try and listen to the Spirit and discern the needs of others, my love of the Lord increases and my desire to follow Him and share His gospel grows. I guess that's what it means to be converted--with a plant, carbon dioxide isn't converted into energy immediately, or all at once. It's a process of a little bit of a time.

When Sister Jones instructed in district meeting this week, she challenged each of us to find a commandment we weren't living as strictly as we could, and try to live it more fully. That's one of the ways we have been trying to turn up the volume. A lot of the things we do aren't necessarily "commandments" so to speak, but are things we could live a little better, such as being patient. I guess the Christlike attributes. No, I'm not perfect in the commandments yet either, and we are trying to be more punctual in our appointments, but by looking at the underlying attribute in the law or commandment and trying to develop that, it works to help me keep those commandments more fully, and keeping those commandments more fully helps me develop those attributes. So that's I guess an around the bush way of saying yes, I am trying to be obedient.

I am grateful for the opportunity I had to serve in this little district. We're sad to see Elder Adkins go, but it's the Lord's will. I'm grateful I get to spend another amazing transfer with Sister Jones and Elder Ryan, and whoever Elder Ryan's new companion is. It's hard in such a small district not to be unified.

This last week, we started teaching two people who are, in my eyes, prepared by the Lord to hear His message. One of them, M, was sitting outside when we were trying to find a less-active member, and told us that they didn't live there any more. Sister E went over and started talking to her, and we sang I am a Child of God for her. We started teaching her last week, and she's totally open and understanding of what we say! We invited her to be baptized yesterday, and she said yes, though we didn't pick a date yet because she needs to gain a confirmation still. The second woman, T, we are actually giving to the Elders because she's in Natchez, but we were looking for another investigator who no longer seems to want to see us, and she was helping us try and find her. But we taught the restoration and the word of wisdom to her, she said she needed to stop drinking/smoking, and when we came back for the return appointment she wasn't smoking or drinking, even if it was just for that point it was progress. But we were going to recap the restoration when she started asking questions about the plan of salvation, which she didn't even know about yet. But she had had some events in her life that the entire plan totally made sense to her and she accepted it wholeheartedly. I don't know where she will go from there, but those two investigators are the most solid ones we have right now. And it's a miracle we found them--the Lord put them in our path.
I had an amusing "likening" moment earlier this week with Alma 26.
"And now do you remember, my [friends] that we said unto our brethren in the land of [Salt Lake City], we go up to the land of [Louisiana/Mississippi] to preach to our brethren, the [Southerners], and they laughed us to scorn?
"For they said unto us: Do ye suppose that ye can bring the [Baptists] to the knowledge of the truth? Do ye suppose that you can convince the [Catholics] of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers, as stiffnecked a people as they are...
"But behold, my beloved brethren, we came into the [South] not with  the intent to destroy our brethren, but with the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their souls.
"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren....and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."
It's been interesting, because that experience has actually happened. I would tell people back home that I would be serving in the Louisiana Baton Rouge mission, and they would just laugh and say "I'm sorry." But I knew the Lord has called me here, and while we don't have "success" in the way the church sees it (ie baptisms or numbers), we are finding people to teach and learning to love the Lord and His people. That, in my opinion, is success.

Love you love you love you! Hope everything is well!! Write me letters!

Sister Steele

A muddled brain in week 5

My brain always seems to be muddled when I write my emails, so sorry about that. It's like, I go forward and know what I want to say when I leave my house, and then get to the library, read the 10 emails I have in my inbox and the stuff from President, and then sit down to start writing y'all and have no idea what I wanted to say. But I shall write as my brain dictates, so you're all used to it.

In case I didn't say it before, I do say y'all now. It's kind of amusing and sad at the same time. But it's so much easier to say than you guys or anything and now saying anything else just sounds weird.

Second, happy anniversary, parentals!! I hope you had an awesome day. This time last year, we were in Slovakia still! Crazy how life can change in a year.

Third, I know today's a hard day and home is in my thoughts today. It's hard to believe that it's been 5 years since that horrible day when you checked me out of school and the world came crashing down. But if I thought life had changed a lot in 1 year, look how much it's changed in 5. I never thought I'd be the person I am today 5 years ago. I had no idea who I was going to be or what I would be doing, but the Lord really has a better plan for me than I do, because I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Let Nana know she's in my thoughts and prayers today, as are all of you all the time.

Fourth, I don't have time to upload photos but you will have them by later this week I promise. I'm going to get them printed at walmart in half an hour and have them sent home for you. That way you can see all of my crazy life.

Let's see. Dad, it's a really good thing you knew CPR, and thanks for jumping into action. I'm sorry to hear about the tragedy in Bulgaria, and Steve makes some good points about precautions the team should make. That's never a fun outcome, especially on vacation. Hope you're doing alright. I got the postcard from Budapest last week, though! Thanks for following through with that one :) Their mail system did pretty well, since it said it was postmarked on the 26th and I think I got it on the 4th or 5th. I was impressed, anyways. Have fun in San Diego this week.

Mama, the ensigns/new eras would be great! And that photo looks amazing :) I can't print anything here, so I will trade you pictures!

I'm going to send a letter to Landon, so what is the Monsen's physical address, do you know? I'm so proud of him for being baptized. I can't think of anything else I need right now, so just keep on being awesome.

Transfers are next week (wow, I've been out a transfer. Crazy.) but I'm hoping President just lets us be. We have interviews with him this week, so I might just slip in some hints that none of us want to be transferred. If it's going to be anyone, it'll probably be Elder Adkins, since he's been in Natchez for 7 months now. I hope not, because he's hilarious and the four of us have a lot of work to do, but if so, I know he'll be great wherever he goes.

Carrie, good luck at the state fair! You'll be awesome and Mr. Pony looks good :) I'm glad most of the pony drama is over, and that things are looking up for you. Also congrats on Daisy, too! Any word on that technical writing job you mentioned a while ago?

Katie--good luck!! You'll be an awesome student teacher and I'm sure everything will work out for the best. Also, I never hear from you :( you should send an email this week, silly. Everyone else does.

 

Okay, I have to hurry because I still need to write president. But the theme this week was obedience, or rather, that obedience brings blessings. We have been really focusing on having the faith to find people to teach, and being obedient (not that we were being disobedient, but just trying to be obedient with exactness, like the Army of Helaman.). The first half of the week was a bit disappointing, though we were doing alright--we actually got two referrals on Monday night from an amazing lady in our ward who is getting ready to start her fifth round of chemo for breast cancer. Her attitude about everything is amazing. But we went to zone training on Friday and had a lot of ideas we'd had the day before during weekly planning confirmed, and got home from Alexandria and went to work. In two days, because we were going to the Lord more and striving to do everything we can to find people, we have two new investigators and ended up getting about 5 referrals this week, more than we've gotten the entire transfer! It was really amazing to see the Lord's hand working in my life. Mom, if you have to edit this to make it understandable to anyone who hasn't served a mission, I won't be offended. But we sat down last night and sort of had a second weekly planning, though a shorter one, focusing on goals for each person we are working with. I am so excited for this week.

But I have to go, but I'll send pictures this week! Love everyone, stay strong and humble, remember who you are and what you stand for! I know this gospel is true and it will bless the lives of everyone it touches. I know that this is where Heavenly Father wants me to be and I invite EVERYONE to come unto Christ! If anyone wants to learn more, please feel free to write me. Love you love you love you!

Cass

 

PS--funny things you learn in the Louisiana Baton Rouge mission:

How to file a police report.

How to replace a doorknob.

 

Don't have time for the full story, but we are watching a members house/dog while she's gone and we thought the washer had been stolen because her washroom was open and something was gone and boxes were all moved around, so we called the police, filed a report and changed the lock on her doorknob, and then got ahold of her brother only for him to tell us he borrowed her generator that had boxes stacked on top of it so it looked like a washer, and the washer was still there we just couldn't see it. Yup. It was an interesting day, but we got a new investigator for the elders and a referral out of it!

<3

Labor Day Letter

Hope everything is going well this week! It'll be a little different labor day thanks to the lack of a pool, but are you still having the party? Let everyone know I miss them.

Sorry for the jumbled email last week--I ended up writing a really long letter to President and had less than 10 minutes to write y'all (yes. I say y'all. I've been in the South too long.). But my brain is also a little fuzzy this week, but I will still attempt to write a coherent email.

But first things first, this week's round of "Strange things you learn in the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission!"

Ants die if you put them in the freezer.

Also, there's a multi-millionaire bull rider who lives in our district. I didn't even know that there were such things as multi-millionaire bull riders. No, I'm not going to go ask him to start me out on the little bulls. :) We'll leave him to the elders.

 

This week was an interesting week, though not quite as finding focused as last week. This one was more service focused--we did about 25 hours of service, which if you calculate out that we leave the house at 11 and get back in at 9, its over 2 full days worth of service. We painted and cleaned and did a whole lot of dishes and are watching our landlady's dog while she's away with her son and daughter in law for their third child. The dog's name is Mia, and she's tiny enough that half the time I accidentally call her Molly. I think she's a chiuaua? Not sure.

 

Um, let's see. We have possibly another new investigator this week, we have to go back on Wednesday to see her. She's super sweet and lives about 10 miles away from us, so the amazing new bike seat will be greatly appreciated.

Speaking of which, mother dearest, I did only ask to know how much they cost, silly. You didn't have to go get one :)

 

I am almost done with 1 Nephi, I have one or two more days and I'll be done. It's week 5--I've been out for almost a transfer in the field. It feels so much longer. Transfers are week 7, but we have zone training in Alexandria this week and then exchanges with the sister training leaders next Tuesday. For those of you who don't know mission lingo, exchanges are where you switch companions for a day with a leader so that they can evaluate your effectiveness.

 

Um...I don't know much else to say--Oh, I had to lead in sacrament this week. that was fun. And I think sister Jones and I are either speaking or doing a musical number this coming Sunday, which will also be fun.

 

Love you much!

Sister Steele

PS the care package was gratefully received--however it came while we were out so ants got into one of the cookie packages. No worries, however, because ants freeze and die if you put them in the freezer for like 10 minutes :) I made cookies today since we are using a member family's business computers. We got lunch at their house because they're amazing and dinner at another member family house today, so no I'm not going hungry. Also! If you want to make our standard cookie recipe in as low an elevation as we are, I had to add an extra half cup of flour to get it to stiffen enough to bake well. I don't know why, but it did work so I'll take it.

<3