Monday, July 21, 2014

Bug Bites, Miracles, and Transfers

So much to talk about and so little time.

First the miracle and the bug bites. Last Monday, I was emailing Jaqui (my old roommate) about how I had been trying to take Vitamin B pills because it's said that it'll help you not get bitten. I said they worked and then Monday night I got 20+ bites! (On the anniversary of getting my 70+ bites last year, irony?) But they were worth it because we were teaching John, who just moved back to Kernersville to be closer to family and is looking for a church. :) it was a great lesson!

Another miracle that happened this week was as follows:

Sister Mourtisen and I decided to draw the Plan of Salvation on one of the park sidewalks in town. You always hope it'll go better than it does. We talked with one man, but he wasn't interested. We had another appointment we needed to get to so we start walking back to our car (about 2 blocks away). As we're walking to the stop light to cross the street we hear someone yell, "HEY!" But we ignore it. We cross the street and on the other side a woman waves her arms trying to get out attention. She tries to ask us a question, but we can't hear her with the traffic. So she runs across the street and asks, as she's out of breathe, "Are you LDS?" We hesitantly say "yes". She then proceeds to tells us that she went to church in DC, and once or twice here, but here wasn't so welcoming. She also says that she's never seen Sisters in Kernersville. And asks when we can meet, so we set up a time for the next day. At this point we think she's a less active that was lost, but now is found! But as we met the next day, she never got baptized. Her name is Meg and she really has a testimony of the gospel. She knows it's true. I've never seen a non-member with such a strong conviction of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. She also told us that earlier in the week she had had a dream about reading the Book of Mormon in Jacob and when we saw us walking she couldn't ignore the spirit telling her to catch us. It wad the best miracle I've ever seen on my mission! It's what every missionary hopes for! :)

And now for transfers -- yes I am getting transferred. I don't know where I'll found out tomorrow, so I'll tell y'all next week. But Kernersville has been fun. I'm going to miss it. But wherever I go, I'm needed. The gospel is true wherever you are! :)

- Sister Loosle -
  2 Nephi 2:28
Look to the Mediator!

Monday, July 14, 2014

The Gospel, Exchanges, and Free Slurpies!

Hello Hello!

This week has been good, nothing to exciting though. I finally got my bike back on Thursday, which didn't help much because we got the car on Wednesday, but it's nice to have my bike!

In District Meeting we talked about how different things can relate to the gospel. Like mailboxes, grass, a chair, etc. It was really fun! Everyone should try it. You have to figure out how the thing (a bike, a sticky note, etc.) relates to the gospel. And then send me your answers so I can see :)

Sister Wood's birthday was this week, so we celebrated with Lemon Bars at District Meeting! They were super good. We also got a Watermelon Cookout shake. If you are ever in a place where's there's a Cookout, you have to try their shakes! They are so good! The watermelon one is interesting though :P

We went on exchanges this week, I stayed in Kernersville with Sister Nelson. All our appointments fell through, but we got to see some less actives I've never met.

As you can tell from my Facebook post yesterday we talked about the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood. It was a really good lesson. And if you don't understand it, I suggest you read it and study it. It's so simple, but so very needed for salvation!

We also talked about The Lord's Law of Health in Sunday school. I remember last year when we got to that lesson. It was not as good as this time. I remember it was the first Sunday I had an investigator at church and we hadn't taught her the Word of Wisdom yet! Also the Elders had 3 investigators who they had not taught the Word of Wisdom yet either! It was...yeah... You can only imagine!

Love y'all!

- Sister Loosle -
  2 Nephi 2:28
Look to the Mediator!

Monday, July 7, 2014

Can you say "More Bike Problems?"

I think I'm prone to bike problems. But that's why I have a trusty companion who knows all about bikes (until it's something she can't fix :P)

So we started this week by handing off Jordan to the Elders. He's great, but he's our age, so we figured it might be better if the Elders taught him.

July started... Gah! We taught Fern, she's fun! We taught her about the Book of Mormon and helped her to see he difference between The Bible. A lot of people here think that the Book of Mormon is just another version of The Bible. But that's what happens when there X amount of versions of The Bible.

So Wednesday we started Bike week... Get ready because this is going to be an adventure! So we give the elders the car and start heading out for the day. Well my bike starts making weird noises when I'm riding it. So I yell to Sister Mouritsen, who's a bike genius, and we pull into a parking lot. She rides round on it and figures its something she can easily fix. We go back tot eh apartment where her tools are. She tells me that my pedals are loose. Okay... That means nothing to me, but I'll watch you and see if I can help. So she starts taking my pedals off. But we can't get one of them off! (Yes I know one of the you have to turn it the opposite way and it still doesn't work!). So we go to the office and ask the Maintenance man if he can help. He tried, but no go. So we have them search for "Bike Shops" in Kernersville and it's right by our next appointment. So we get the address and switch bikes, because I don't want to ride the broken one. And head off.

Well after teaching the Lunceford's a great lesson on the Book of Mormon and incorporating the Plan of Salvation, we head to the Bike Shop. We get there and it's a Bike Shop, but not a Bicycle Shop. It's a Motor Bike Shop. Turns out Kernersville and no bicycle shops. So we call a member who knows bikes and he comes over to see if he can figure out what's wrong and fix it. Well he didn't bring the right tools so he took Tarzan (that's my bikes name) to his house. Well now we only have one bike and appointments we need to get to, so we ask the Elders if we can barrow one of their bikes. The only problem is that they both have huge mountain bikes (like most elders) and we have smaller girl bikes. But Sister Mouritsen loves mountain bikes, so she rides one and I ride her bike.

Zone Meeting on Thursday was great! We learned about how Jurassic Park relates to the gospel. You see at one point in the movie the people are trapped inside a building completely surrounded by velociraptors and there's no way out. Then out of no where the giant T-Rex comes and scares the velociraptors away. The velociraptors are like our fears. They trap us. He T-Rex is our faith, it scatters our fears. Faith and fear cannot co-exist in the same place.

After Zone Meeting Sister Mouritsen got a flat tire on the Elders bike. I am thoroughly convinced that Satan didn't want us to be out doing missionary work this week! But we prevailed!

Oh I got Adam's package! It was cute! :)

Friday - Happy 4th of July! Well I got to see fireworks last 4th but not this one. All the trees block them. I could hear them though! But we stopped by a gas station because I needed a bathroom break, and if you know me, you know I rarely go into a store without buying candy or something. So I was in line to buy some candy. I put my candy on the counter and the man behind me puts his beers on the counter and says "I'm going to pay for theirs." So my candy got paid for with beer. But nonetheless it was a very kind act and I want to do that someday. We gave him a card, but he didn't seem to interested in wanting to know more.

So Saturdays in my mission are designated "Car Fast Days". Which mean we fast from the car. So we had to give the elders back their bike. So we were walking. I DO NOT like walking. At all. As we headed for our first appointment, Sister McNeill passed us and gave us a ride! Miracle! Then Brother Johnson offered (after we got permission from President of course) to drive us and Tarzan to Greensboro to the bike shop. Well we get there and they tell me I wore out my Bottom Brackets. So now I have to spend money :P but Brother Johnson and Bishop have the tools so all I need is the part! Another Miracle! After dinner we go to Heathers, who's not there. But we knock on Garry's door and he is so ready! We talk with him briefly about the Book of Mormon and Restoration and set a time to come back when his daughters are home. So even though is week was crazy, we still were able to see The Lords hand in our lives.

The Relief Society lesson yesterday was on the article in this months Ensign called, Becoming Perfect in Christ. It was amazing. And I invite everyone to read it. Here's the link!

Sorry for the monologue! Hope y'all's weeks were amazing! And don't forget to look for The Lords hand in your life! It's there, I promise!


- Sister Loosle -
  2 Nephi 2:28
Look to the Mediator!

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

One Year Down

Well as y'all have guessed and some have already emailed me about it, I hit my year mark. It's crazy that I can say, "A year ago I was a missionary." But it's true!

The wonderful thing was that on Thursday (my year mark) we had Zone Conference! It was fantastic! Sister Craven talked about all the "One Line Sermons" she and President Craven have. I've talked about a few before and will probably talk about some more later in mission, life, etc. President talked about being Purpose Driven instead of Activity Driven. When we're purpose driven we always have our purpose in mind and are consistently trying to help other come closer to Christ, when we're activity driven we are just going through the motions.

Also I went a whole year without being really sick, until Saturday! 1 year and 2 days! Although I was sick and took it easy on Saturday we were still able to see 2 less-actives and go to dinner with a member. Then I went to bed early and I was fine by Sunday! :)

This week we started teaching the whole Lunceford family! :) Sister Lunceford's daughter, Annabelle, is staying with them for a few weeks over the summer. We taught all of them (Sister Lunceford, Brother Lunceford <non-member>, Annabelle, and their 3 other kids) the Plan of Salvation. And they each colored their own. Oh and I created my own Plan of Salvation and Gospel of Jesus Christ, they're not the best, but they'll work til the end of my mission.

So we're at the church right now, but I forgot my camera :( So these are pictures from Sister Mouristen's camera. When we come again, I'll hopefully remember it!

Love,
Sister Loosle

When we biked in the rain and got soaked!

At the park having lunch

"Every area can be a Kingston!" - President Monson

Our giant Cupcakes!

Heart Attack Sister Lunceford

Dinosaurs at an Elementary School 

Leighann's Baptism

 Sister Mouritsen's Minion Cupcakes for her Birthday! (I know you're jealous!) We made them! :)