Memories in Sulphur! God's country.‏ Week 20

Well, the news is out. I'm getting sent to...*drumrooll** Mustang!! With (here's the kicker) a TRIO! Sister Bishop and Sister Downing. Bam. They've been together for two transfers now but they're both going home next transfer! So I'll be leading out the area. The Zone Leaders are telling me I'll train...we'll see. *cough cough**

JAN STOPPED SMOKING!! on the 17th! Goodness, I can't believe it! Well, no. I take that back. I CAN believe it because compared to all the other times she tried to quit over the past 40 years she never asked for Heavenly Father's help. Well, with only HIS help and prayers from so many people, she did it. :) We have a goal for Jimmy to get baptized on the 19th of July. He still hasn't quite smoking, but we have faith! We tried to push for them both to get baptized together, but Jan's not having it. She wants to get baptized NOW. haha OKAY Jan! She's great. Hopefully I'll be able to come back for her Baptism Sunday. We're scared that I might be in the middle of church in Mustang and we can't skip THAT. It's okay. I have faith.

Saying goodbye to the Pauls Valley Branch has been difficult. I tried not to make it a big deal last week, but once the word got out, within minutes the whole branch knew. Needless to say, our dinner calendar has been pretty full! Both Trinidad (a young man going to his mission in Guatemala on Tuesday) spoke in church yesterday. It was pretty emotional, not going to lie. There were tears and lot's of pictures. We were over at the Tinney's last night for dinner (They always make sure to have a 'departing meal' with the missionaries leaving. It was a blast, as usual. We had fun all taking our guesses where Sister Call was going. (The Elders knew because they're our zone leaders) Welp, turns out Sister Call's guess was the right one! Ha. Funny. But anyways, Brother Tinney is a big cowboy with the biggest drawl you'll ever hear. No tears coming from him, you know? Well, he gave the closing prayer and got really choked up. That was it. People were pretty much crying left and right. We took pictures and passed around the hugs (Brother Tinney might or might now have snuck me a big hug). Words can't describe how grateful I am for the members I have been privileged to serve out here. (I'm getting choked up right now and Hermana J's giving me a weird face) They appreciate and take care of us so much. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before, but almost everyone in the Branch have been converts or less-actives. It's because of missionary efforts (both from the missionaries and the help of the other branch members) that people are there (and growing! 4 baptisms in the past month!). So they hold a special place in their hearts for us and it's extremely humbling. Pauls Valley Branch is truly our little miracle Branch down here in the south. I am honored to have been given the time to serve them and have my testimony increased by hearing their incredible conversion stories/testimonies and simply seeing the way they humbly go about life, serving everyone they can.

I've really come to know of how our Heavenly Father truly has a plan for every one of us. He knew that I needed Sulphur, the members, Hermana Johnson, the Elrods and Tonya. (not to mention all the crazy people and adventures in between) I honestly just need to thank Him more because there is just SO much he blesses us with every single day. 

So yes. I will miss Sulphur. But, I trust Him so much and know that what He wants is the perfect thing for me. So bring it on Mustang and trio! I'm ready :)

I love y'all. Keep the faith and know that God loves you.

Love, peace, chicken grease!

Sister Call 

Week 19: O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A! Where the wind...la dee da‏

Yes yes, found out people DO know and listen to that song down here.

This week was SO miracle filled. Our Investigator pool has always been really large down here but it's really hit us this week that we need to have more faith when it comes to dropping them. They're all incredible people and I love them, but they're not progressing. And SO..our pool went from about 25 to about 7 solid investigators during weekly planning on Thursday. We just can't waste our time out here. Of course planting seeds is a good thing, but we know baptism is a GREAT thing. President keeps telling us "My missionaries, last time I checked, the field was white. Not yellow and a month short of being cut." The mission has been really focusing on baptisms with our goal of 60+ this month and then President issuing a challenge to finish the Book of Mormon by September first, marking anything and everything that has to do with Baptism. I'm LOVING it. We're out here to bring souls to Christ and we know that that is through Covenants, starting with Baptism. President has so much faith in us, and there has been a visible change in the mission and numbers once the baptismal goal was issued.

Well anyways. Because our pool is low, we've been going out an finding this past week. A lot. It's getting rather toasty, but we just pack up the water bottles and head out. We went on exchanges with the STL's  (This is Mom, so STL's might be SUPER TRAINER LEADERS?- don't recognize this acronym!!!) on Tuesday and 'hit up' Wynnewood (one of our little towns). Sister Hamm and I ditched the car and just started walking. Oh boy, pretty EVERY Wynnewood'er was out on their porch that night. Pretty sure we didn't even have to knock a single door. We just talked to everyone. We handed out Book of Mormons like hot pockets and there were a handful of people who were interested. Cha-ching! Baptisms might come out of it or they might not *shrugg*. It felt REALLY good to just go out and 'work'. We found throughout the rest of the week but Saturday was the goldmine peoples. We took a recent convert of about 8 months, Sister Bow (Patty J) with us back to Wynnewood. We knocked doors and to everyone she gave the most powerful testimony, "Sir, I don't care who you are or where you go. If you're looking for the truth, here. (She'd grab a Book of Mormon out of my hand) It's right there." Oh sure it got a tad awkward at times, but hey! Our testimonies were certainly built! Patty's incredible. She would be driving us around and just randomly pull into the driveway with people just getting home, getting out of their car. We would awkwardly wave at them, our eyes rather wide. "Patty, what are we doing. This is rather strange". "Girls! They look like they need the gospel"! ..she sure put us into our places. Welp, we'd then go up and talk to them. *Miracle** We knocked on the door of a relative of a member in the ward, Charles Amos. So we taught him a little bit and oh yeah are we going back. So bottom line, we saw so many miracles that day. So many people were interested, one lady saying that she's been looking for a church for a while and that "She'll definitely come to church. Check it out."  !!!!

I'm loving being out here. It is such a blessing. Hermana Johnson is great, and I'm seriously learning so much from her. We learn and make mistakes together. Laugh about it, then make more mistakes, but HEY! Slowly improving. Love her.

The Elrods are great. Jimmy might not be getting baptized on the 27th. It's kind of sad. He just doesn't quite have the desire like Jan does right now. But SHE certainly does. We almost want her to wait for Jimmy so they can get baptized together, but she doesn't. Just wants to "Get her done." 

I love y'all. Have a FABulous, blessed week, looking for all of the tender mercies that He sends our way. Daily.

Love,

Sister Call 

This is Trinidad going on a mission in a week to Guatemala! He's in the branch and we're homies. He's actually drawing me a picture of Christ before He leaves!  Mom here- WHAT IS A HOMIE!!!!!!! Is my daughter using SLANG??? Looks like she is having fun.

Week 18-Sickles for Harvestin'? Naah. More like COMBINES (like..the tractor)‏

Good Mormon! (I think I'm funny)

How is everyone today? Oh goodness, this week has been fun. FIRST off though *drumroooll* The Elrods came to church and actually came INSIDE this time!! The spirit was so strong during testimony meeting and members where crying. I know Jan and Jimmy felt it. The members are SO great about fellowshipping too. Everyone was coming up to them and introducing themselves. Jan actually calls us her 'Angels' and says that we can never 'move away' (get transferred) or else she's going to call President herself...so I guess that's that. :) Their baptismal date is the 27th and transfers are on the 24th. President will approve miles though for either one of us to come down for it though. Please pray for them. They need to stop the cigarettes SOON (in about a week) if the 27th is going to happen. The coffee and Tea are just about in the bag, but they're still struggling with the smoking. We KNOW though that we are meant to baptize someone this transfer, (President had revelation that we WILL receive 60+ baptisms this month) and we have prayed really hard about it and the Elrods are the ones. We know they can do it but..a little extra prayers never hurt. :)

Hermana J and I are trying to be better at OYM'ing anyone and everyone. Gah. I thought I was brave before the mission. Guess not. It's a lot easier said than done though, trying to think up something to start a conversation then something else to keep it rolling and THEN slide the testifying of the gospels truths in there. It's scary but an adventure every time. I'm coming to love it more everyday. 

We're going to the temple next month I just realized. Only really exciting! :)

We had to drop Charles Baptismal Date. We stop by and we know he's there but..no answer. Darn it Charles. We really need to start finding more seeing as we're going to have to start dropping more investigators probably. :/ We need to keep that investigator pool up though!

I love you all SOOO much. Ford, I'm so proud of you! Really. Goodness. The week before graduation is so stressful. And MOM, congrats on the play! Heavenly Father sees all of your efforts to do better every day. He also knows all the times you keep falling short. *side note** He never gets frustrated. Just wants to help all the more. Let him. Let that Enabling power of the Atonement into your lives. I love you. Very much.

Sister Call

Week 17- Mission Craziness

Oh my goodness. I only had an hour on here again and lot's of emails from people (which I love. Just crazy :D) 

This week was miracle filled. I want to be able to tell you about everything! BAW. The highlights will have to do.

So yesterday the Elrods promised us they would come to church! Well, church passed, no Elrods. We were pretty disappointing seeing as they can't miss another Sunday if their baptism is still happening on the 27th. We got a call from Jan Elrod around three yesterday afternoon and she has a story. Well, they drove all the way up to Pauls Valley, got lost (they don't have cell phones so they couldn't call us) eventually asked for directions at a gas station, and then finally made it to our little building halfway through second hour. Well, by then they were too embarrassed to come in so they turned right back around and went home.

.....

ELRODS!! Ya need to just laugh. Well, atleast we know they'll be there next week. :) They are still cutting down the cigarettes and coffee. We're getting there. *fingers crossed combined with a TON of faith**

Hey Hey! We kind of only sort of built a barb-wire fence on Saturday. No big deal. It was for a family in the Branch, the Kids. I'll try to send some pictures. Only received a few battle wounds. That stuff is gnarly. Bleh. 

 I love you ALL. Praying for you. Every day. Remember; The Lord IS aware. And loves you.

Sister Call  

Hi, this is the Mother making a comment. AAHHH  Michael and I have raised Suburbia children, of which I am a little sad, but thus you have it.  Our children resist farm smells, are awkward around farm animals and have no clue what  barbed wire is or what a post hole digger is.  Well, Priscilla got a taste of fencing and seems that it fascinated her, thus all the pictures.  

I am thinking of long summer days and my brother Daniel re-fencing ours and Grandpa's fields.  :)  Good memories.

Priscilla and ......daughter of the Farmer?

Tis Elder Hightower, our new Elder. He's crazy. But we love him..pretty sure. (WE're all working on the fence there still)
Mom-I think that is Hermana Johnson & our Sister Call!