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!! 

Week 31- I love my Savior

Oh do I love being a missionary...

We are continuing in our efforts with the members this week. Truly, members are where it's at. I look back on the Baptisms that I've been blessed with and they have been through the members. There's COUNTLESS reasons why members are crucial but one of the main reasons is, well, you know people and uh, we don't! All we want is to find these people, teach and baptize them so that they'll return home. Everyone, it is not only our privilege, but our responsibility to share this gospel. Think about the blessings that have come to your life through living this gospel. No really, think. I know we've heard it multiple times, but if we truly care about our friends and family, then what's really stopping us from inviting them to have these blessings in their lives as well? 

Well, we've seen a great many miracles. No investigators still (people keep falling through) but BUT...members are beginning to send the referrals in and they're getting more excited about the work. I KNOW HE IS BLESSING US IN OUR EFFORTS. (Justin dropped us..but that's okay!! Well no, it's not..but you know ) 

We saw a miracle a couple days ago walking into this black guy named Ronnie. He was mowing his lawn. Soooo of course we waltzed up to him to share this beautiful, life changing message of His. He got SO animated talking to us. He kept saying "Maybe this is the place for me" and "Yeah, this feels just so right'. Oooh Ronnie. We talked to him for a good 20 minutes and at the end he promised that he'd be coming to church on sunday and "Who knows, might even get baptized." And you know, even if he doesn't (which he will) I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father for those tender mercies that he shows us out here, not because he has too, but because he just wants to let us know that he's aware. 

Words leave me when it comes to Sister Franklin. She is a blessing in my life and I am so grateful that Heavenly Father put us together this transfer, oh my goodness. Fingers crossed we'll be together next. 

I love you all muy much. I'm really going to try to make my emails longer, promise. We WILL be getting investigators though this week. Keep praying for us and doing your part in missionary work as well! :)

Sister CAll