It's Like a Mullet for Glasses

One of the members, Amanda Wright, commented on my purple glasses. I said that my lovely mother who only wants the best for me thought they were a little unprofessional (but because she is the best mom in the world still bought them for me). She said that if you looked at them straight on you couldn't really tell, but when they were tilted and the light hit them they were purple. Hence the mullet comment, business in the front, party in the back. Amanda is full of great such statements that bring joy to my day.

Monday we went bowling and I got two strikes in a row!! (we just won't talk about the rest of the game...) We also went over to Melissa Mae's with Jacqueline, the RS Pres, and had another break through. We also found out she is moving and set up a time to help her pack and then to move.

Tuesday we had a great district meeting. It was different than Elder Rasmussen did it, but Elder Mahan is a great district leader in his own way. We had three lessons set up and all of them weren't home. We tracted instead and were able to find Shawna. She was so excited and so thankful that we would give her a Book of Mormon and invite her to church.

Wednesday we were going to go to FAMU but I was sick. I was so sick to the point of being incapacitated all day. It was miserable! Through lots of prayer and determination, I did make it out the door for a lesson in the evening, but I knew I wouldn't make it the twenty minute walk there. I went out with trust and a member, Samantha Thompson, drove by and picked us up because she left class early. It was an answer to prayer! The lesson wasn't there, but Sam was able to take us to the church where we helped Sister Campbell with another quilt.

Thursday I felt fantastic! It was great! We got to go down to TCC and talked to several people, a few of which stopped and talked to us because they knew members. You are always setting an example and being watched. Living your life according to the teachings of the gospel is missionary work in and of itself (that doesn't mean you don't have to talk to people though...) Afterward we went to Melissa's with Krissie & Carly to help pack. We got it all done pretty quickly and then watched Legacy. It was a great chance to talk about Priesthood Blessings when Eliza was healed. Melissa didn't realize all the persecution the early saints went through. It helped her put her trials in perspective.

Friday I had a migraine. This migraine is still my friend. I asked for a blessing and it was powerful, but I was told that I had something to learn from this and that this trial would take time. Heavenly Father let me know that He loves me and is proud of me. He appreciates my faith and calling on the Priesthood, but I have something to learn. I wish I knew what that something was. I did get a lovely Easter package that helped to brighten my day :) Thanks Mom!

Saturday morning we helped Melissa move. It was a great chance to help soften her heart and her mother's as well. She was so thankful that so many people showed up to help. (us, Krissie, Carly, TCC & FSU Elders, David Graham and Jason Roberts) I guess I've always taken it for granted growing up in the church that people help each other move. That evening Carly invited us over to dye Easter eggs. I think that is the first time missionaries have been in her home and it was good to meet her mom & dad. Plus, it was a lot of fun.

Easter Sunday! It was wonderful! Fast & Testimony Meeting was powerful. We had several members bear testimony of the help that we as missionaries have given them. It was great to see Madison so strong, to see France recognize that she knows the truth and that she is reading from the Book of Mormon, to see those that have always been active are uplifted by coming to lessons with us. It was a great boost and reminded me that I am doing good out here despite all my weaknesses. The Lord is able to use someone as weak as me to do His work. After church Elizabeth Keller & Dave Polk fed us Easter dinner. It was delicious! Dave also had us take a lot of food from his pantry, which was yet another answer to prayer as our food supply is getting scarce. It is a little rough on the budget when you are fed by members very often, but the Lord provides a way.

I love you all and hope you had a wonderful Easter. I love the chance to reflect on the knowledge that HE LIVES! Because He lives we will all live again (with perfected bodies too! Cold & migraine free!). I love the chance I have to dedicate all of my time and energy to sharing this with people.

Key Indicators

We have started approaching goals in a new way. Each week we report our numbers on Sunday, but then Monday we report our goals for the current week. We also track our key indicator numbers each day on a little white board. All of this is at the request of President Summerhays. Whenever we talk about goals we say 'people represented by key indicators' and we apply that to make our goals more meaningful each day. We have our key indicators color coordinated and each time we have a lesson with a member present we write that person's name in green, or when we find a new investigator - they go on the board in orange. It makes each day exciting as we get to rejoice that we met Kaley or that we had a lesson with Erin. It has added a better understanding as to the purpose of goals. It may not be exciting to ya'll, but Sister Wilcox and I love it!

Monday all our plans fell through, but we did have time to make lots of phone calls and contact some hard to reach people.

Tuesday we had an amazing district meeting! Our district has been struggling with unity since I got here, well even before that, but we got down to the root of it and each committed to make the changes necessary within ourselves. It was great to realize what I contributed to the problem, how I needed to change, and to accept responsibility for it. I was no longer blaming other people, but changing the one person I could, myself. What made it even more exciting is that everyone did it together (that also made it easier).

Wednesday we got another referral (we got the first one on Monday). Hooray for meaningful fasts! We also got to teach two lessons to less-actives and were able to help encourage one to ask for a blessing for an upcoming root canal. (Which went perfectly and she came to church!)

Thursday we spent most of the day at TCC and were able to teach an amazing lesson to James (it was amazing because of him and the Spirit, not us by any stretch of the imagination). He is a very spiritual person and excited to learn more. We meet with him again this Thursday.

Friday morning we got yet another referral! We went to the Ronald McDonald House with Amanda and Dan and were able to talk to them about what they believed and share a first lesson with them. They are great people with a lot of love. Both agreed to read the Book of Mormon and they liked the doctrines we shared with them.

Saturday we had a great lesson with Farah and were able to plan her baptism. She is so excited! I think Sister Wilcox and I are equally excited! This is the first person that we started teaching that we also get to see enter the waters of baptism. I can hardly wait for this Friday.

Sunday we had an amazing time at church. Farah really seems to feel at home there and is looking forward to Friday more each day. We met a friend of Kacie Bunch's, Kaley, who is interested in learning more. We also received a referral for a girlfriend of someone in the ward.

We are super busy, but we wouldn't have it any other way.Today we had a lesson with Farah and she also had her baptismal interview. We also had another lesson with Erin and she is coming to church on Sunday. I'm excited to write both their names one the whiteboard tonight as they represent the key indicators!

I love you all! Tallahassee is beautiful, the people are wonderful, and the work is going forth at a pace I can only keep up with through the strength of the Lord.

Dallas- you still owe me cookies. I think interest is beginning to develop...

Erek- you win the email game this week, I'm not sure what that entails, but congratulations. (besides mom, who wins every week)