The Terminators

September 29, 2014

Well let me tell you about my week!

The dream team is back!!! Me and Elder Jolley are reunited and we're taking Tempe over!! Our ward mission leader has no clue what to do with us.. He really likes us though and he's trying to think of a nickname for us. All he's got right now is the Terminators but he's trying to think of something else because he doesn't think that's a good term to use for missionaries :D

Remember the lady with the beard I told you about two weeks ago? I took Elder Jolley over there this week and we had such a funny experience! First thing that happened was Elder Jolley offered his chair to S. S said, "shut the h*** up and sit down." (S is the king of first impressions. He's actually a really sweet guy!) Later, Elder Jolley asked him, "what's the most important thing to you in the world?" S turned to me and made me answer for him. I know S well enough to confidently answer "Money". S got a big smile on his face and said to me, "I like this guy." And then he came over and shook my hand. He and Mr. Crabs would get a long really great!! Later in the evening he told us he needs to raise 15 million dollars to uncover Noah's Ark which is buried under mount Arait apparently. At another point I asked them if they were sealed together. S got ticked and said, "No, and don't you ever bring it up again. My father keeps bugging me about. As soon as he stops asking when we're going to get sealed is the day I'm going to get sealed! Well I brought it up again at the end just to bug him and all he could do was laugh. I like S and Betty :)

I don't know if I told you but we also have a car now!! It's a 2014 corolla and it's pretty sweet! The weather is also cooling off which is amazing! I'm done with my last summer!!!!

My testimony of following the spirit grew this week. I believe it prompts us a lot more than we recognize. After giving a priesthood blessing to an investigator who has gout in his knee, there was a really powerful spirit so we invited him to be baptized. He said yes! The only problem is that was pretty much our first lesson with him and he was leaving town next Friday and won't be back until thanksgiving. He's been to church twice now so he just needs to be taught the lessons and have an interview. We explained why it's better to do it sooner than to delay and he made the decision that he wants to do it on Thursday. WOOT!!!

Last Monday morning I received a call from my mission president asking me to clear my schedule for the evening and he wanted me to come to the mission home. When I got there, the newly arriving missionaries were there getting situated. President Toone had prepared an evening devotional and he wanted me to participate but didn't tell me how. A few other missionaries from the mission came in a little later and then we started. When Elder Christofferson came there was a musical performance sung by 8 missionaries to the song "My Savior Will Supply My Need." President had brought them all in to sing it again for the new missionaries. He then asked a Sister missionary with only 1 transfer left to speak for a few minutes about beginning our missions with the end in mind. Another sister who has 2 transfers left also spoke. Elder Bressler, a newly called assistant was then asked to speak about accepting leadership assignments. As the final speaker, President Toone asked me to speak about dealing with unexpected challenges on the mission. I was very open about Mom's situation. The point I wanted to get across was that we can make the decision that we will never let our faith be shaken by challenges and that no matter what comes our way we will turn to God. I was grateful for the opportunity to share and it helped me to cement my own resolve to turn to God no matter what may come.

I love you all so much!! Have a great week!

Love Elder Janis