Week 47-New Years Y'all. New Years

So sorry mom, I totally didn't allow myself enough time to write a long email because of he hem, all that talking with the Lani. 'Twas wonderful though!

This week went pretty fabulously though. The Rodriguez family are still progressing wonderfully. They might or might now have rescued us in the snow yesterday. Our cars were grounded and so we were out walking in the snow (yes, SNOW) okay okay. More like Ice with a little sprinkling of white stuff on the top. As they were driving us back Brother Rodriguez might or might not have purposefully spun a few doughnuts...he hem. Let's just say this here missionaries heart hadn't thumped that hard for a while. 'Twas scary. And obedient? *cough* he hem. eeehh. 

Christmas was wonderful. We spent it with a few families and I honestly felt right at home. I mean, with all of the kids crawling around you, pulling your hair and yes, perhaps planting a huge slobbery wet kiss on your cheek, and then the parents just being laughing bystanders as you try to fight them off, yes. Was one wonderful day. 

President surprised all of us on Thursday when he walked right into the middle of District Meeting. Poor Elder Moore, he's already pretty white (it's okay. He accepts it) and his face turned completely chalk pale.(He's our District leader by the way so he was doing the training)  Did one swell job though! Fun fact. I've actually served with Elder Moore for almost 8 months out of my mission! He was in my very first district.

So mom and dad..we might or might not have taken Communion on christmas eve night.

All is well though! No worries, the church is still true. An Investigator invited us and the elders to a Christmas Eve candlelit ceremony Thursday night at her Methodist church. Hey! We love church swaps! So we went and oh boy, 'twas quite the experience! All the way from the choirs 100 year old looking robes, to holding apostate candles, (no fire for us, remember?), and then standing in-line to eat of some pretty good tasting french bread and grape juice. It was actually a pretty comical sight I can imagine, 4 awkward LDS missionaries all nervous in line, looking around, wondering if this is sacrilegious or not..Glad we went though! It was really a beautiful service. Like that there Methodist church. Truly some of the nicest preachers we've run into have been Methodist :)

We actually went on exchanges for the first half of this week with a couple of companionship's and so not too much has happened this week but hey! Good thing the Atonement is real! 'Twill have much more to report on next week, to be sure.

Love you all, sorry I didn't send any pics this week. The computer's being slightly dumb.

Sister Call 

Week 46-Christmas Season; An unspeakable Gift

2 Corinthians 9:15- "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift"

My heart is pretty full right now. The Savior being born into this world really was the beginning of all hope. I encourage all of us this week to take a step back and think on just what a savior being born has done for us in our lives and will continue to do.

The Rodriguez's came to church again yesterday. What a beautiful family. They are members already! Speaking up in class, volunteering to help the Elders Quorum to deliver meals to needy families, meeting with Bishop to discuss goals..BAH! How did we get so blessed??

*iiiity bitty plot twist though* Turns out that they're actually not married right now and that her actual husband is lost somewhere in New Mexico but they need to find him and get divorced before they can get married...

talk about a MISSIONARY NIGHTMARE OF A PICKLE.

So yeah. That happened. No worries though. The Lord's aware of their situation and their desires to get this figured out so that they can get baptized. Sister Cox and I have complete faith! (D&C 123:17)

I want to let you know that I am so grateful to be out here. Everyone says it, but I am! I've never been so constantly happy in all my life, just doing my best to help others come closer to their Savior along with myself. "After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel" I can whole heartedly second Joseph Smith. This gospel changes lives and we are all enlisted in this great work! I love serving His children and through them, my Savior every day.

I challenge all of you to do just a little more of that during this Christmas Season. Just remember the cheesy but wonderful phrase "The Reason for the Season" and I can promise you that you will find more happiness in your life because, true, He's sure not going to change your circumstances, but He's going to change your heart which is what really matters.

I love you all! It's not about the presents, but that little baby in the stable.

Sister Call

And Merry Christmas!!

Week 45-MIRACLES

I am so blessed to be able to serve here in Lawton. Okay, I'm not telling you all this too be prideful or to make you scared, just to show you how the Lord works. So Lawton is (apparently) the fourth most dangerous city in the US, with just terrible things happening here every night (*shrug* as missionaries though we just live in our own bubbles so not too aware anyways) but yet..I've never met such wonderful, prepared people along miracles in any of my other areas. Never judge anyone or anything. His wonderful children are everywhere.

So last night we probably experienced the greatest miracle so far on our missions together, Sister Cox and I. This family, the Rodriguez's, showed up at 2nd wards Christmas party Saturday night. It turns out that they took the lessons years ago in Utah and weren't prepared at the time. They have now though come to know that it is true and that the need it in their lives. Turns out they actually live in our area and so we had a lesson with them last night. It's a wonderful couple with 3 children who are above 8. We shared the Restoration and the spirit was pretty amazing. Sister Rodriguez was in tears when we talked about baptism, telling them that they could have the Spirit with them ALWAYS. She stated that their family needed that in their lives and would absolutely love to get baptized. All eyes then turned to Brother Rodriguez. He looked around at everyone, kind of questioning, and then finally picked up on the silence. He turned to his wife "Oh you know that I've been ready for a long time. We're going into that font together"! Neither Sister Cox or I could honestly cry, we were just so speechless. Everyone, 

THE RODRIGUEZ FAMILY IS GETTING BAPTIZED JANUARY 9TH!!.

I know that I'm still not comprehending that this is even happening. 

We are then seeing a wonderful member referral whom we're teaching in the MEMBERS home. (missionary dream right there). 

A really tender moment happened the other night. We were with an Investigator Steven and his girlfriend, Jessica who's a less active. (hopefully I've told you about them before) We were teaching them the Plan of Salvation and at the end of it Sister Cox and I were testifying of it and the Book of Mormon for he is going to get dropped if he doesn't start reading it soon. I looked at him, holding that book, and all of a sudden the spirit testified to me so strongly of that book. I was literally overcome and just broke down. I told him that that book is true and that it changes me everyday and that I know that it can do the same for him. 

That's what I would like to finish on. I love the Book of Mormon. I love how it looks, smells, and feels as I'm holding it as we walk streets. I love the feeling that I get without fail when I open the pages. I know that it is right and it is true. I would like to invite you all AND myself to not take it for granted (like I know we all do) and open it more throughout the week to really find answers and comfort. They're there, I can honestly tell you that. It will truly "Bring you closer to God than any other book" and so that's all that needs to be said. Open it, read, and strengthen your testimony of the Savior and become a better individual yourself through it! I'm sorry that's pretty long, but it's true.

I love you all! Rather nervous/excited to talk to you in less than 2 weeks.. but mainly excited :)

Sister Call

Pic 1) Oh you know. Just a selfie of us and President at Transfers

2) Joseph and us (thank you for praying for him by the way. We know it's helping) Sister Chandler, Priscilla and Joseph

3) Sister Cox and I 'back in the saddle again'

Week 44-This here mission is SO much more than "OK." Please.‏

First off, I'd just like to point out that I'm pretty sure that I'm losing my sense of fashion. I'm sitting here in an old, rather ratty grey skirt, with an old funkily patterned navy blue shirt and some odd brown hipster shoes, with my hair in a braid with half of the hair falling out. I asked Sister Chandler if I looked slightly Amish. The hesitation before the elongated "Well, nooooo" was answer enough. *siiigh* Darn it. Guess the best part is the nametag. Hey. It's enough for me! :)

Aaaaaanyways. The work of Salvation continues! Not too big of a plot-twist, I'm sure. It's the best!

He hem. Before we begin, a few memorable moments that absolutely HAVE to get in the journal tonight or I'm going to forget. So Sister Sorensen (who's getting trained right now) and I went on exchanges on Wednesday. It was my first time leading out our area in an exchange. *gulp* Lawton is HUGE with not too much rhyme or reason really to the street numbering. My sense of direction suffers. But the day began with us out finding. We have some handy dandy "A Savior is Born" cards that leads to the video that we're handing out like crazy! There were two older gentleman outside and we walked up to them holding out a card and asking "Would you like to see a wonderful video that talks about the true meaning of Christmas"? They both stared us down for a minute or two while we've got our smiles plastered on our faces and Sister Call's arm begins to shake from holding out the card to them for so long. They finally opened their mouths "Oh, WE know about the REAL meaning of Christmas." Oooookay then. Roughest bunch of Jehovah's witnesses I've ran into so far. Oh boy, one was actually a former member of the church too! (#missionarynightmare) They get going at it and well, let's just say they didn't accept the card. We skedaddled out of there needless to say. We then got so lost getting to our next appointment that Sister Sorenson piped up, "Sister Call, I think you're driving on the wrong side of the road.." !!!! So that happened. We then went to a bible study that our investigator was supposed to be at at the Calvary Baptist Church. (the idea was to do a church swap) Sooooo uncomfortable!! Ooooh boy, we walk in and right from the get go we get the weirdest looks. Sister Sorenson and I just decided to apply the Madagascar Penguin's suggestion and "Just smile and wave." We left after just a few minutes of some bible thumpin' because our investigator, Joey, never showed up. (we didn't have his number to call him. it's a weird situation) But anyways, as we were walking out Sister Sorenson points out something behind us. I look back around and there's this lady who had followed us outside who was trying her best to flatten herself against the wall so we wouldn't see her, staring at us. HA!! Well what can I say, we are pretty scary. The best part of the exchange though was when dear Sister Sorenson committed two of our investigators to baptism, Juan and Julianne. (two younger boys from a part member family) All in all, one wonderful exchange!

The work is going wonderfully here, I am telling you. We have some great investigators and ward members. SO many of them came to the Ward Christmas Party on Saturday night and it was an absolutely HIT. Fellowhshipping opportunities are the absolute bees-knees. There is one in particular, Joseph. He's an investigator who'e about 30. He has SUCH a sincere desire to come to know his Savior and become baptized! His mother is completely in-active so he doesn't get too much support from her. He's trying to overcome some addictions with alcohol and drugs. He's also on probation up until march which is when his baptismal date is. We have a lot of faith in him. The ward's doing wonderful about fellowshipping him and giving him the support that he needs. Please send prayers his way, along with prayers for your own missionary efforts. If you have the desire and are willing to share, Heavenly Father will CERTAINLY place those prepared in your path. 

Last though before we're done here. Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (pretty sure Sister Burton shared this in the Christmas Devotional last night) I absolutely love that. Believing in Christ and living this Gospel allows a peace into our lives that can't be experienced anywhere else. I love you all, and please share that peace with others.

Sister Call

PS. This here is one of my best friends, Sister Chandler. I'm sure going to miss her. She's a hard worker and I was very privileged to be able to serve with her.

Mom here- Sister Chandler is finishing her mission and goes home Wednesday.  I asked Priscilla who will be her new Companion.  

Her response:

I shall be getting my dearly beloved....*drumrooolllll** MTC COMPANION!! SISTER COX!!! Oh goodness, it's goign to be so crazy to be back again. hopefully we've both changed and we'll STAY with those good changes, and not fall back into the companionship before (which wasn't bad at ALL. Haha we just honestly had no idea what we were even doing) 

More about Sister Cox: I asked Priscilla if Sister Cox is a Sister Trainer and where she is in the mission....

Her response: No, I will be training her.

She is up north actually. She shotgun trained Ponca City (this means she opened an area with a new missionary) so President trusts her a lot. I really am excited. She's a consecrated missionary if I ever saw one. We actually haven't really seen each other in a long time, but I'm excited.

I know she's hard some more difficult companions I feel like, but I'm honestly not sure

That's  our wonderful missionary, how we love her!!!

Week 43-Oklahoma's got the best Football Teams!! (Song from The Best Two Years) AMEN!

I'm so sorry, we're only able to be on the computer today for about and hour but hey. Just want to let y'all know just how true this church is. It canNOT be more true. PLEASE get on to christmas.mormon.org and watch "A Savior is Born" THEN share it on facebook along with any and every wonderful person that you see on the street! (dare you) Then see who likes it on facebook and see if they want to know more about the church. Sorry this is so short.

I love you all and the work is hastening!

Sister Call

She was here and gone... here is our brief exchange: 

 Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2015 11:19:56 -0600
Subject: Re:
From: priscilla.call@myldsmail.net
To: crazycalls@msn.com

No ma'am, although apparently most members in the ward talking to them later about it had fried turkey. The two homes we went to just had normal. BUT DELICIOUS normal!! We had two meals and oooh boy, 'twas delicious.

 I asked her if she ate fried turkey

 Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2015 11:26:21 -0600
Subject: Re:
From: priscilla.call@myldsmail.net
To: crazycalls@msn.com

yes ma'am. Sister Chandler is wanting to go the 'Holy Land'...yep. So apparently we're really close to the Witicha mountains (super big hills) and in them the people of Lawton have re-created Jerusalem and Bethlehem and during Easter time they put on shows there..? Anyways, it sounds super neat. I'll make sure to send pics next week!

On Mon, Nov 30, 2015 at 11:22 AM, Samatha CALL <crazycalls@msn.com> wrote:

How are you doing?  Plans for today?  

XXXOOO

---

Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2015 11:35:21 -0600
Subject: Re:
From: priscilla.call@myldsmail.net
To: crazycalls@msn.com

No, no christmas show I believe. Don't know why though..

Yes, the Elders are coming. No news on transfers. they're next week on wednesday so we will get the call of who's going to be my new companion on Sunday night.

No musical number. It's super wierd, but I actually don't have a companion during church on Sunday. I go to our ward while she goes on base to FT Sill to teach investigators since that's their only time throughout the week for the basic trainees. So yeah. It's super weird. I know I could always get together with a member and do one..perhaps I'll do that

On Mon, Nov 30, 2015 at 11:28 AM, Samatha CALL <crazycalls@msn.com> wrote:
Do they put on shows at Christmas time, also?

Interesting?  Are the Elders going?  Any updates on transfers, it's next week, right? 

Musical numbers before The Comp leaves?

XXXOOO

No, the senior companion always goes. That means that starting in two weeks I'll go. The baptismal rate there is WONDERFUL though because they're all already obeying the word of wisdom, law of chastity, and pretty much everything else. And so it works out pretty well :)

Yes, we did. Altus sisters. I actually went with Sister Caudill, a sister that was in the MTC with me. CRAZY! It was actually kind of weird, but everything went well and we had fun and worked HARD.

On Mon, Nov 30, 2015 at 11:41 AM, Samatha CALL <crazycalls@msn.com> wrote:
Do you take turns going to the FT? 

Did you do exchanges this week?

XXXOOO

---

Week 42-Oh Blessings. They're..abundless? (Is that even a word)

This week was only MUY FANTASTICO! Oh man. So Lawton is amazing with so much potential.

Fun fact: We met the Call Bizaro family this week. They had a 12 passenger white van WITH the slidey door and..*drumroooll** WASHINGTON LICENSE PLATES. We had to knock. 'Twas a must. Turns out they were a family with 8 children. They were fairly nice. Claimed we weren't christians, (*siigh* darn) but were kind. But anyways! Just had to share.

SO MANY MILAGROS! (pretty sure that's miracles in spanish. he hem) So we were at Sister Trevino's house, a less active, for a short visit and we've been trying to get her grandchildren to take the lessons because none of them are baptized. Well, we hadn't even brought them up yet and she randomly asks can "Can Y'all come over tomorrow around 4? I'm going to have some grandchildren over and you need to teach them." KA-CHOOGA. We're in! We did and it was wonderful. We spoke about baptismal a great deal during it, and they want to do it! The oldest, Juan, who is 11 is amazing. Turns out he's read half of the Book of Mormon already! GAH!

We also had this family come to church yesterday. She's (Jessica) a less active and he's (Steven) not a member. We were setting up a time to come and see them along with his nieces who he says are interested and Steven pipes up "Why not just come over to my parent's house down the road and have it there? I'm sure they would all like it!" (There's about 5 people that live in that house by the way) Sister Chandler looked at each other for a second and blinked a few times. "Uh, of course"! Goodness, love it when they're not even a member yet and they're already a missionary.

Another neat miracle: I actually just got logged out of my email for about 20 minutes and so I can't remember what I was going to share. Sure it was going to be good though...darn.

Anyways. I can't tell you how much of a difference is felt when Members love and support us, especially when it comes to their own missionary work. It is wonderful here in Lawton :)

Thank you all SO much for all of your efforts in sharing this message. I'm sorry, I need to go big time, but I love you! And so does your Heavenly Father!

Sister Call

Pic 1) to prove that we ARE serving in Lawton 1st SOUTH. This place is a tad sketchy, but I love it! 

Pic 2) Sister Chandler sure gets a kick out of scaring me with these suckers. Hm. Not quite sure how much I appreciate it but ah well... (just kidding. She is an absolute hoot)

Week 41

Oh goodness, I can't believe it Ford! I mean, the midwest/south are only the best...but I'm sure that place has it's perks as well.

This week has been a tad trying, but I'm happy because that's where that whole growth thing comes in. We had our first couple of exchanges and because of it, we weren't in our area too much this week. I know that the Lord's going to take care of it though as long as we put in our effort in taking care of these wonderful sisters we're over. It also has not been the easiest when it comes to exchanges. These sisters are dealing with some real problems out here that I can't possibly even begin to understand! It's a good thing that their Savior does though and how comforting that is. We must just constantly be focusing on Christ. 

Linda is not too interested anymore, so that's been rather rough but the Lord blessed us with such an incredible miracle! Her name is Ciara and she is ONE incredible woman! She is a young mother of two young boys. He husband works at a flower shop (so cute) and she has SUCH an incredible desire to do what her Heavenly Father wants her to do. She recognizes the spirit in her life and how it is over when we come to her house, but she wants to keep it with her always! So golden I tell you! She knows that what the spirit is telling her through us is of God, but she's real nervous to getting baptized. Her family is not too supportive. Her husband will follow her wherever she goes, but is still not strongly into religion in the first place. And then the rest of her family are all Presbyterian and believe that we are, well, let's just say not the true church. (he he) She is going to be needing a great deal of faith, support, fellowship from the ward, and trust in her Savior and the Spirit right now. It's going to be rough but she knows that she wants this in her life. Please PLEASE pray for her. 

So enough about me. How are YOUR missionary efforts coming? Have you been able to listen to "The Missionary Next Door"? Sister Chandler and I are working with the young men and women leaders to be able to have a combined activity where we discuss and listen to it with them! So much potential, not only with the youth, but everyone!! Oh goodness, it's my prayer that everyone comes to realize just how important this work is. The Work of Salvation in fact! (Just ponder that for a minute)  I hope everyone not only recognizes their potential of sharing this gospel, but just how easy and fun it is! We are ALL commanded to open our mouths and share this wonderful news with others who just don't have it yet. "People in this world are crying, knowingly and unknowingly for something. We have what they need" - President Worthlin Please share :)

I love you all muy much. This work is incredible and I'm absolutely LOVING being a part of it.

Remember how much your Father in Heaven loves you, and Go Forth With Faith!

-Sister Call

2) Tracting adventures, that's for sure.

3) Nothin' like eatin' some "PEcans" from the road/trees during tracting fun. (oklahoma's famous for it's PEcans)

Week 40-Lawson? No Sister Call. Lawton

So I rather have one bad memory problem. Last night we were getting the sisters numbers from the District leaders and I wrote "Lawson" instead of "Lawton" on the paper. Sister Chandler just looked at me..and kept looking. "Do you know where you're at Sister Call"? response: "Lawson.." check the paper "Yep, Lawson!" She keeps staring at me. I do yet another double take "...Lawton" *insert cheezy grimace**

So not even sure if that story made sense, but my stay in Lawson so far has been crazy so I thought that story pertained.

First off, the okie talkers are REAL. Right when I though I had it in the bag from my last areas, we met with this recent convert last night whom we didn't get a word in edgewise for an HOUR with. Seriously. *sigh* We will do better.

Other than that, tis downright wonderful! We tried a potential the other night who was sleeping but his mother answered. She let us in and we invited her to baptism. It was voondabar I tell you!

We then had some investigators at sacrament meeting, including this young man named Joseph. He is SO prepared and is more than ready for baptism. He has a baptismal date for March though..when his parole gets over. It's really hard seeing him want it so badly and have to wait, but yet truly inspiring. Here's a man that has changed a great deal just in the past few months through the Savior. It's been quite the struggle. His main problem was being addicted to drugs and alcohol. It's amazing to see him really use the Atonement in his life. The Elders were able to give him a Priesthood blessing after Stake conference and it was wonderful. He's going to get baptized. He certainly is an inspiration to me.

We also had an incredible experience in a lesson. It was with this 50 year old lady, Georgene Muncy, that we knocked into last week. She told us to our face that she wasn't interested in becoming a "Mormon" but that we could certainly come back. Now we wouldn't usually with that kind of a response, but the spirit told us that she had a lot of potential. We went back and the first thing that came out of her mouth was "I'm not about to turn Mormon, remember." (Muahaha Georgene. Just you wait and see) Well we began. And the spirit was so powerful right from the get go and especially at the first vision (Sister Call was in tears. I know that's hard to believe). We then invited her to Baptism and her response had completely different. She told us that when the spirit tells her these things are true, she is certainly getting baptized. !! Talk about the spirit's incredible power humbling hearts!
I love you all so much! Please PLEASE make sure to check your own missionary efforts. Truly think about what this gospel means and has done for you personally in your lives. Most of the time we just take it for granted because, hey, that's just how we live our lives. There are SO many out there without those blessings though. So please. Do your part and what you promised to do even before this life and help out in the work of Salvation.I challenge everyone TODAY (hey. It's family home evening, right?) to sit down and listen to "The missionary next door" by Diane...something. You should hopefully (fingers crossed) find it on youtube or lds.org. Listen to it and then set realistic goals that you and your family will do. We're all brothers and Sisters folks. So share it with others and don't fear. Remember D&C 33 and Nike swoosh, Just Do It! The Lord is on your side so what are you afraid of? 

 Love you so,Sister CallSis Call's Nike scripture for you reading pleasure - Moroni 9:6

I get to see this every morning. Blessed :)

    

Week 39-And on to Lawton..‏

LAWTON! 

Goodness, so I don't have a lot of time, but can I just say...SO HAPPY TO BE BACK IN THE SOUTH.

The city's amazing and a lot of lessons were learned up there, but there's nothing like the humility of these people down here. Lawton is considered the 'Hood' of Oklahoma. Everyone is crazy, whether good or bad. We live right next to the hospital and go to sleep listening to Sirens all night. It's a blast! We've seen SO many miracles just within the past couple days since I got here. Oh goodness. We knock doors and people just let us right in. !! Lawton's an interesting area because we cover Ft Sill, a HUGE army base here in Lawton. One missionary from each companionship goes every Sunday on base (you have to get a pass) to teach lessons. The baptismal rate is high because they're already living all of the laws and ordinances, the soldiers. It leaves the other companion to go to church in our ward without a companion! (it's a long complicated story but everything works out) It's pretty neat, not going to lie. 

One amazing miracle; we knocked into a woman named Lynda and her boyfriend (not living together. phew) on Friday night. We taught them the Restoration and all went well. We invited her to church giving her all the information and such. Welp..we should have had more faith in her. I was sitting in Gospel Principles 2nd hour when a member opens the door and motions for me to come out. She tells me that there's this lady at the front asking for us. Stumped, I run over and *drumrooll* LYNDA! It was amazing. She especially appreciated Relief Socitey. It was a great lesson and she was crying throughout it. OH boy. I can't believe how incredible God is. Taking care of every one of His children. We just need to make sure we're doing our part and He'll work through us.

I love you all so! Sorry I didn't have much time this week.

Sister Call

Pic 1) We had to be in by 6 Halloween night but that didn't stop us from putting out our own bowl of 'goodies' for the taking ;)

Pic 2) Proof that I'm in the hood. A black Joseph and Mary. Love it. 

Pic 3) A four inch spider that's decided our front porch is his. We have to fight him every time we go through our front door

Week 38-The Lord qualifies who He calls

So sorry if my titles has been one before..one of my bigger struggles on the mission. Coming up with new email titles *siigh**

So we have certainly been seeing so many miracles here in Mustang 1st East. It's rather sad because our area is simply so, how do I say this, 'Prime' right now. There are SO many great investigators, less-actives, and missionary minded members here now, that it's going to be hard to leave. But I certainly know that the Lord has blessed us in our efforts here to make this area stronger. I'm just so grateful for the growing experiences he's given me here. I only pray every day that I can more better learn things from them every time they come around (*cough cough* every day). And I hope that sentence made sense too. I just want to make sure that I'm getting everything I can out of this mission opportunity for it's such a gold-mine of growing opportunities. I can so easily get stressed out here about SO many things that I know that I could be doing better on and am even more frustrated that I haven't done so already! But BUT.. something that our District Leader, Elder Keller, told Sister Franklin and I the other day is how we need to just be making sure that we're a little better missionary today than we were yesterday. And that is where the true progress is going to be made. Our Father wants us to enjoy the work out here! And He knows that we don't learn best when we're constantly putting ourselves down and focusing on every little thing making it so that we can't really even focus on a single thing! Anyways, I know that's true. I've started another journal that I right in every night of my progression. On just a few simple things that I did that day that I know helped me take a little step forward in being who He needs me to be. Tis a grand idea I must say :)

Well, sorry about that. That was a lot. But here's the good stuff :D

So there's a family in the ward, the Stotts, who have been working with this family in the City for a few weeks now. They're friends and they invited them to a church tour Saturday night. It went SO well. All of the kids (from the two families combined there were about 10 of them. BIG FAMILIES FOR THE WIN) played in the nursery together while we took the adults around. When we got to the Chapel at then end, the Spirit was so powerful. Brother Stott has an amazing voice and he actually sung the first verse to "A poor Wayfaring Man of grief." It was wonderful. Music is so beautiful, and can be so powerful. They are VERY interested in the church and we'll probably have some missionaries in the city teach them but it sure was a privilege being able to work with them for a minute. 

There was this Less Active that we visited the other night and while we were talking to him a woman came walking out and her face completely lit up! Turns out that she'd been baptized a few years ago and became inactive a little after then moved to Mustang. The main reason she doesn't go now is because she doesn't know anyone. Well, guess who's going to change that! She's coming to church next week! And kicker, she wasn't even on our records.

Love you all, 

Sister Call

PS. I'll be going to Lawton to be an STL down there. Going back to the SOUTH. YES! Love you!   

p.p.s - The mother's comment- STL is a Sister Trainer Leader. Lani was one of these...kind of like Zone Leaders for the sisters.....we did not have these in Paraguay ... we only had 15-20 sisters in the mission...back in the good 'ole 80's.

Week 37-"Why I Believe"‏

What a great week.

*siigh* what did we do. Goodness, where to start. First off, we were able to go and do Baptisms at the Temple with one of my Recent Converts, Jan Elrod!! Hermana Johnson and I were both called up a few days before by the Sulphur Sisters telling us that Jan wanted us to be there. One quick call for permission to President and we were a go! It was a beautiful experience. Seeing her with that big smile on her face in that white jump suit was one of those great times that things come into perspective for you as a missionary and you remember why you're out here. 

We were then able to have a GREAT lessons on Temples with Drew the other day. She's incredible. She really wants her mom to get baptized but she's in stage four of Alzhiemers and so that probably wouldn't be the best idea. We had a member with us who had done her own mother's work a few years before and as she testified of her own experience the spirit was really incredible. Drew has such a testimony of the temple and knows that she'll be able to do the work for her own mother when the time comes.

We had a rather, dare I say, 'sketchy' experience on Saturday night that quickly turned into one amazing miracle. We were out with the Stake President's wife Sister Bellows (who is an absolute champ and has 'no fear') at a trailer park that no other members dared to take us too (it's pretty far out and fine...rather scary) looking for some less actives. We were trying to find some people and oh boy, was this place rather run down. Well, finally we gave in and went to the 'front office' (Just this rather dinky place with a rickety door) to ask if any of these people lived there. The lady there was pretty nice and told us they didn't. Here's the miracle. We began talking to her and turns out that she and her husband had been taking the discussion in..Mississippi? a few years back. They were pretty interested in having us back. HUZZAH!! WHO KNEW! Well, WE didn't..but the Lord did. :) I have such a testimony of the care that he has for his children. He's certainly going to take care of all of them. We need to make sure that we're worthy to allow him to trust and work through us.

In other words, AP Steed called us Saturday night and Sister Franklin's training. I'm SO proud of her. Really. She will do incredible. But alas, that does mean that I'll be leaving. 

Love you all, have an INCREDIBLE week!

Sister Call

Not sure what this is!

Not sure who these folks are...I will ask next week.

Week 36-Most beautiful sound; Water running in the Baptismal Font

Helloooo familia!

This past week has been a complete blur. One amazing blur.

Drew Overton was baptized on Saturday and it was one of the most powerful experiences of my mission yet. She is good friends with Kevin Pletcher the tall one in the right shirt to her left. He's a less active but who's entire family is VERY strong in the church. His brother, Jason, on the far left with his wife and daughter actually are in the Pauls Valley Branch Presidency in my last area. Brother Pletcher called me a "Greenbean" at the pulpit when he announced me to speak my very first Sunday out in the field! (*siigh** aah Brother Pletcher). And then their parents are the ones to the right of Drew. THEY live in Ardmore and every one of these wonderful people drove all the way up to Mustang to attend her Baptism. Brother Pletcher, the father, baptized her.

Sister Franklin and I sang 'Come unto Christ' at the beginning and things got fairly emotional. Everyone headed into the cultural hall (where the font is. odd, I know) while Sister Franklin and I walked into the bathroom with her. She completely burst into tears and just held onto us for a few moments, shaking slightly. Drew lost a 2 week old son about 30 years ago because her ex husband abused her all through the pregnancy. She's blamed herself for it all these years though. It's been a very hard road for her. While she was in the bathroom though, she just kept saying through her tears how this huge weight that had been on her shoulders and heart for years now was literally being lifted and how she just couldn't believe it had taken her this long to find the church. Sister Franklin and I stood there, crying ourselves. There wasn't too much to be said. The burning in our hearts but yet complete peace in that bathroom was all that was needed. 

The next morning Brother Tucker, one of our amazing ward missionaries, gave her the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was beautiful. Drew and Kevin came in a tad late (a tad stressful for us..as you can imagine :) ) so we weren't able to sit with them. Well there was 5 minutes left for testimony meeting and Sister Franklin and I see this little blonde head come bobbing through the crowd, from the back of the chapel up to the pulpit. We both couldn't help but smile. Drew came up and she was shaking so it was pretty hard for her to unfold the wrinkled piece of paper she'd written her testimony on, but she did. She then bore the sweetest, simplest, but most powerful testimony I've heard in a long time, finishing with "In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen." 

As I sit here, telling you all this, those powerful emotions are coming back. I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for giving me this opportunity to see people change through the Gospel. It confirms to me every day just how true it is for the effects are real and powerful. The Savior and his gospel are real and true. And I'm SO grateful to have it in my life. I pray every day for more courage and diligence to be able to allow others to have it in theirs as well. Please strive your best to do the same. It is the most important work that we can do in this life for as we share it, we become more converted and like our Savior ourselves.

I love you all so much. And thank you for the examples that you have been to me throughout my whole life. 

Love one another, enjoy life, and Keep the Faith!

Love,

Sister Call

In our e-mail exchanges, she commented that she is so happy and grateful.  What a blessing are missions!

Week 35-"When you feel his LOVE, you'll never be the same"

Sister Franklin flying while we wear matching'ish socks

I love that song, Come unto Christ. Sister Franklin and I are singing at Drew's Baptism on Saturday and instead of singing the "I like to look for rainbows" song, we're thinking Come Unto Christ, we'll see.

The Lord is in charge out here, that's all that I can say. We met with this lady on Friday named Melodie. She is an aunt (we think) to this less active who used to live there. It's a long story, but let's just say that it's really random and a MIRACLE that she was there.

It was a really sweet experience actually. Her life seems to just be falling apart with the death of her daughter, having to take care of her daughters children, AND working. She told us that all she wants in her life right now is to be able to feel the love that she believes He has for her. Sister Franklin and I got choked up, and were able to testify to her that we know that it is through this gospel that we will come to realize just how much our Father in Heaven loves us and wants us home. And it has the way to do that. We taught her about the Book of Mormon, promising that it's through those pages that we will feel that love. In her exact words she said "Oh girls, you don't have to tell me twice. I believe ya." 

It's humbling to realize that Heavenly Father has entrusted us with these wonderful children that he's been preparing for this time. We need to make sure to live worthy of his trust though through obedience and diligence. Just remember "Worthiness is a direction, not a destiny" -President

Drew is getting baptized on Saturday!! Ooooh goodness, we seriously can't believe it. I've never come to love some one so quickly. She is amazing and SO prepared. We called her yesterday, seeing how it was going with not drinking her morning coffee. She laughed and told us "Well, I made it out of habit this morning and I swear I was just about to drink it when I remembered. Oops! Poured it down the drain right away. Promise" :) (inserted the smiley face because I know she would have) PHEW! She finished up the phone conversation by telling us that she'd read everything already and was "Wanting something else." Sister Franklin and I just smiled and gave her Alma 32. SO GOLDEN.

So pretty much, there's just too many miracles to tell y'all. Yep, that's pretty much where I'm at. I know that my subject is true though. It's feeling that love, that pure, perfect, endless love that He has for us all is what changes lives. For when we know how much He loves us, then we WANT to serve and follow him. I've come to realize that that's my biggest motivation when times get rough out here. No, I don't serve or talk to every individual I meet because I love them right away, but because I love my Savior. And I know that's what He is asking me to do. After all that He's done for me, I think I can make these sacrifices here and there for which I end up just getting blessed by doing ANYways! We can never repay him.

How I love my Savior. And that love is increasing every day. Nothing but a blessing I tell you. :)

Love y'all. Keep the Faith and continue trying to see everyone as your Heavenly Father does.

Sister Call

And incredible family called the Webbs that moved to Texas this week that lived in our apt complex. She came out with us some. She's amazing

1) So once upon a time we went to Devon Tower

2) Then we REALLY got to Devon Tower 

3) Sister Franklin was real excited

4) and THEN..we ate at a truly posh restaurant

These are the sisters at the zone at Devon Tower today beneath an elegant painting

Week 34-Okla-HOME-a‏

This is sure one incredible place to serve a mission.

I mean, please just feel free to take a look at that sunset. (not Elder Barker). That's my night EVERY night. Last night Sister Franklin and I counted about 7 colors in the sky. I love this place.

Miracle time=Best time. So. We went to dinner at the Stott's house the other night. They didn't have dinner quite ready for us and so we asked  if they had any neighbors that they felt we should go and visit. Sister Stott (who served her Spanish speaking mission in California) said that they've been working on these neighbors, Trystan and Mark, just a few houses down for a while now. She finally told Sister Stott that she'd had enough and didn't want to talk about it anymore. Sooo Sister Stott thought we might as well give it a try and "knock" into them. Well we began talking to them (they're husband and wife by the way, in their 20's) and she was SO open. We had such a great talk with them and we set an appointment for tomorrow actually (wow) to have a lesson at the Stott's home. !!!!!!

Probably the best part was coming back to the Stott's house and the looks on their faces. Miracles happen everyone! We have no idea how Heavenly Father works but we know that he DOES and all that he expects us to do is our part and he'll take care of the rest. They wouldn't have been so willing and excited if Sister Stott hadn't have been talking about it and inviting them. Trysten even texted Sister Stott last night, telling her how excited she is for the visit.

!!!!!

We don't have any other progressing investigators besides Drew right now, but more will come this week. Trysten and Mark tomorrow, and then 2 friends of some youth in the ward. It's going to happen.

I love you all. Keep the faith and have one Fabulous week.

Sister Call

PS. Anyone want to know what an Oklahoma City zoo looks like? Well..like this. An investigator, Margie, took us. It was preeetty fun. Especially getting a button after I fed the giraffes.

..

but especially when we got a sincere referral named Bobby. He's awesome and he's definitely getting baptized. The missionaries in his area will take care of him :)

A member, two transfers ago, took Sister Downing, Bishop and I to the temple to take pictures. Her name's Sister Webb. Love her :) PS. Don't look at my chubb pretty please. The grease is getting real out here..

PS. That's Sister Tucker in the white shirt and black skirt behind us. She, besides my mom, holds the most respect that I can have for a woman. Please tell me to tell you about her story when I get home. It's one worth telling. (hint. Elder Bednar actually mentioned it in a talk)

love you. so much.

Week 33-Oh you know, just another AMAZING WEEK in the life..‏

This week has been fairly fabulous y'all!

Drew is only getting, oh, I don't know BAPTIZED? Goodness, I know I told everyone that last week buuuut here. here we go. NEW news. We're moving it up to the 10th because she's just too prepared to wait! 

I'm going to calm my horses though because I have a really funny story to share with all you loved ones.

So once upon a time (last night) we were able to go to a recent converts/less active's house last night that we've been trying to get into ever since I got here. We had a member take us out (Sister Tucker who's a champ AND a ward missionary who takes her calling very seriously) and it was quite a drive. We got there and Sister Franklin was able to experience her first "Okie" home. It was a super tiny trailer that had cockroaches running up and down the walls and then 11 cats inside...

So my dear companion is allergic to cats. She was such a trouper and didn't even say anything. We watched Finding Faith in Christ with them and it was a pretty great experience. So yeah, I thought she was doing just swell...until Sister Tucker dropped us off at our apartment at 9. I was walking ahead of her to unlock the apartment when all of a sudden I heard a gasp and huge inhale. I whipped (yes, whipped) around and saw my companion all puffy faced, eyes bugging out, sucking on an inhaler. My companion was dying. (not really) I ran over to her as she began making these weird noises. Turns out she was trying to laugh but couldn't breathe. It all turned out wonderful though once she actually got her breath. We were laughing pretty hard at just the image that she was right there..and even now as I'm typing this I'm realizing that it's not that funny. Scary actually. But hey. My companion's a trooper AND it's the little things as a missionary.

We have been so blessed with the investigators that we have down here. Ronnie and Jay are SO much fun to teach (just need to figure out how he's going to get baptized since he actually lives in Texas) and then having the opportunity to see Drew change and grow in her testimony of this gospel and her Savior. She came to church again on Sunday and everyone in the Ward is just growing to love her. She's the sweetest little old woman. 

I've been thinking a lot about faith the past few weeks and how we really need to be continuing to grow our testimonies because if we aren't we might not notice it at first but all of a sudden one day, bam. We're going to realize how much we've lost. In the Bible Dictionary it says "Miracles do not produce faith but strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ." So, perhaps some doubt will come our way and when they do 1) take Elder Utchdorf's advice and "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith" and then 2) continue to LIVE this gospel and be obedient. Testimony only comes through taking action and following Christ's example, not just by reading about it and believing that it's just some good stuff. 

I encourage and implore all of you to continue to take action and really increase that faith every DAY, and then turn outwards and share that faith. It's only going to help them and in turn come back and bless you ten fold. 

Love you family..and everyone else who hopefully reads this. Keep the faith and LIVE this gospel because it's only here to HELP.

Sister Call  

Water towers are a thing down south and it's an unwritten missionary requirement to get a picture next to the one in each of your areas..I swear

A huge...cricket? Found underneath our backpacks *gulp*

Sister Franklin and I ridin' in style

Week 32-Most Important thing:The Gospel (said in uncle Dan's voice)‏

Title sentence is what it's all about. The gospel is the most important thing in not only this life but for the rest of eternity.

We were so blessed this week. We received FIVE new investigators who are SO solid. Ronnie and his 18 year old nephew Jay, (they're black) Drew a wonderful 60 year old woman who looks 30 that has a baptismal date for october 17th, Margie a 60 year old lady who has terminal cancer that moved here from hawaii for the cheap treatments, and then Debbie a mom who goes to life church and just wants the best for her children and knows that it's through Christ.

I want to tell you ALL about them, there's just hardly anytime :/ 

Ronnie came to church yesterday and was agreeing with his "Mm hmms and AMENS" all over the place. And then dear Drew came with her great big 20 pound bible that she can't not hold to her chest all the time, and then sweet Margie. She's not sure how she feels about there being one true church on the earth but she'll get there. You should have seen her face when we told her that we could tell her this is true till we're blue in the face but that at the end of the day she was going to get her answer from him. She was smiling from ear to ear, nodding her head right vigorously "mm hmm, that's right. that's sure right." 

Sister Franklin and I are GREAT. I really do love her. Sure, we might not have been the bestest of buds in high school, but we're truly great friends out here because we both have the same desire to give the Lord all we've got out here because we know this church is true and we love our Savior.

I love you all so much. Keep remembering how much the gospel has blessed you in your life, and realize how much it will bless others.

Love you! And keep the faith and be happy,  

 

Here is our string of e-mails this morning:  (might want to start at the bottom)

 

I asked her about transfers

Our entire district is staying the same which is nice. no chiggars or nothin'. tis a blessing.

Thanks for the weekly update email mom, I really appreciate. Sorry about the whole college/kid thing, but isn't it nice to really 

know that families are only for, I don't know, forever! :D I'm SO grateful for you guys. Oh my goodness :)

On Mon, Sep 14, 2015 at 1:01 PM, Samatha CALL <crazycalls@msn.com> wrote:
We will start praying for her!!!

How wonderful for Hrn. Johnson.  I am sure she is excited to work with you again!  Are the Elders being transfered?

Any chiggars?  Is it getting colder?  We had a heat wave over the weekend, but now it is colder.

XXXXOOO

---

Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:52:55 -0500
Subject: Re:
From: priscilla.call@myldsmail.net
To: crazycalls@msn.com

Hermana Ryan (becky- she is from Spokane) is great and hermana Johnson's (previous companion) actually going to be our stl (Sister Trainer Leader) next transfer! The ward is split and the elders have the west side while we have the east

Her baptismal date is on october 17th but we're probably going to move it up!

On Mon, Sep 14, 2015 at 12:42 PM, Samatha CALL <crazycalls@msn.com> wrote:
Are you taking the Elders somewhere today?  Are the Elders working with your Ward or a different ward?  Different areas, right?

XXXOOO

Do you ever hear from Hannah?  How is Hermana Becky doing? Hermana Johnson?

---

Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:38:24 -0500
Subject: Re:
From: priscilla.call@myldsmail.net
To: crazycalls@msn.com

No, we've got a set lesson though. We were actually going to go and have lunch at an investigators but that fell through. All good though, all good :D

On Mon, Sep 14, 2015 at 12:28 PM, Samatha CALL <crazycalls@msn.com> wrote: YEAH!!!  When is Drew's baptism date?

What are you doing today?  Service?

XXXOOO

---

Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:27:19 -0500
Subject: Re:
From: priscilla.call@myldsmail.net
To: crazycalls@msn.com

WE'RE BOTH STAYING HERE!! SO grateful. I'm especially grateful because the Lord is blessing us and we're seeing such visible results, the work is picking up! Nothing but grateful :)

On Mon, Sep 14, 2015 at 12:11 PM, Samatha CALL <crazycalls@msn.com> wrote:
Double Wow!  The support of members, YEAH?

Any news with transfers?  What are you doing today?

XXXOOO

---

Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:06:17 -0500
Subject: Re:
From: priscilla.call@myldsmail.net
To: crazycalls@msn.com

young old? I meant old, oops.

On Mon, Sep 14, 2015 at 12:05 PM, Priscilla Call <priscilla.call@myldsmail.net> wrote:

She sure did. thought it started at 10 instead of nine so showed up a bit late...oops. And then another investigator that came, Ronnie, who's black, loved it as well. We were getting "Mm Amens!" out of him for the whole three hours. Felt good. And the ward is SO good at fellowshipping and making them feel comfortable. We ask this young older member, brother tucker who is a ward missionary to specifically be on the look out for Ronnie. He stood in the foyer for 20 minutes against the wall just staring at the doors until ronnie showed up. Brother Tucker is so funny! Love him and Sister Tucker :)

On Mon, Sep 14, 2015 at 12:00 PM, Samatha CALL <crazycalls@msn.com> wrote:
wow wow wow wow !!!!!

Drew?  When's the baptism? Did she come to church?

What about transfers?

XXXOOO

---

Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2015 11:41:15 -0500
Subject: Re:
From: priscilla.call@myldsmail.net
To: crazycalls@msn.com

Good good good! Just had the most incredible day yesterday.3 investigators at sacrament and 5 new SOLID investigators this week. SO EXCITED! THE WORK IS PROGESSING. WE EVEN SET A BAPTISMAL DATE FOR DREW (A WOMAN) ON THE FIRST LESSON!!