Pumpkin Carving

So you're curious how I related the law of chastity to "Don't Eat Pete"? I thought the parallel was pretty obvious - It's perfectly OK to eat Pete if you do it in the right order and eat the other M&M’s first - in fact that means you won the game! You get to eat ALL the M&Ms (or get all the blessings) if you just do it in the right way. But, if you try to eat Pete too early in the game, you get yelled at and your turn's over. Make sense?

We did end up singing, but just for Relief Society, so it wasn't bad. And we even got to participate in the Primary Program! We got to lead the kids in as they marched onto the stand singing "Called to Serve". Primary programs are always so amusing.

I'm glad your Family Ball turned out so well! Sounds like it was a huge success. Am I actually going to come home to a social family? Amazing. And that dress is a great Savers find. You know, they really should pay us for advertising. But I don't know, Mom, I don't think you are keeping yourself busy enough, do you think you could fit a little more into your schedule?

I'm trying to keep busy, but it's getting harder and harder to get up in the morning with how cold it's getting! They say it's supposed to snow here today. We also got a new car today - you know how they're always switching them out. This one's a '09 Toyota Corolla with 115 miles on it. Crazy. Newest cars I'll ever drive.

Jamie is still planning on getting baptized but it's moved to Nov. 8th because something came up for the 1st. So if I get transferred on the 5th I won't be here for it. But I don't know if I'm leaving or not. So I didn't scare her off with the “Don't Eat Pete” thing :) And we've started teaching this awesome lady. Maybe I told you about her last week, I don't remember, but she called us and wanted us to teach her so she could be baptized. She's already been reading the Book of Mormon and knows the gospel is true and defends it to people, she just wants to know a little more so she can be an official member. Teaching her is so much fun; she is so excited about what she's learning. She just keeps saying over and over again "Wow, this just makes so much sense!" She has been so prepared to hear the gospel and already knows it's not going to necessarily be easy and is willing to do what she needs to do because it's true. The first time we met her she was basically bearing her testimony to us the whole time. She even called us yesterday because she was doing the little homework assignment we gave her and wasn't clear on something and just wants to soak everything in. She's so hungry for it. It's awesome. So I'm sure we'll have a baptism date soon for her. Now why can't everyone be like that? We're teaching her again tonight. Oh, if you remember the lady from Congo I taught while I was in Christiansburg, Sister Hill told me she finally got baptized! I was so excited about that! I just wished I could have been there. Oh well.

And don't worry; I will have a great Halloween. Our ward is having their ward party right on Halloween, because for some odd reason, the community here changes Halloween and has their trick or treating the week before, so last Saturday. I thought it was funny. And I carved my pumpkin and that made me happy and I even roasted the seeds just for fun even though I don't really eat them. I took pictures so I'll attach one. I thought about being all creative and designing my own pumpkin like I normally do, but for lack of time, I replicated the picture you sent me and I was surprised how well it turned out even though I did it really fast and didn't put as much careful effort into it like usual.

My Mission President, President Thornock and his wife made me laugh the other night. Sunday night I got a call from Sis. Thornock and the only reason she called was because she wanted to see if she'd figured out my riddle. We have to write President letters every week just to let him know how we're doing, and I just don't know what to write sometimes, so I write him riddles or jokes every now and then and this time he just couldn't figure it out (what is at the end of time and the beginning of eternity) so they called me and I had to tell Sis. Thornock the answer (which is so simple you feel stupid) so she could hold it over President Thornock. He said he couldn't go on to the rest of his letters until he figured it out. So funny.

Well gotta go. Love you!

~Melissa

Getting Cold!

Some of the pretty trees right outside my house.

Hello Everybodee!

It's turned cold all the sudden! When I went to church on Sunday it was 32 degrees! Ridiculous! I had to break out the winter gear already! The only redeeming aspect of that is that I'll actually have pockets again - I just don't understand why women's clothing is made without pockets!

The other day we got a call from a lady out of the blue who asked a member for our number and just wants to be taught so she can be baptized! So miracles do happen and Heavenly Father really is preparing people to receive the gospel even in Marietta, Ohio. We are meeting with her for the first time tomorrow, so we'll see how it goes. And the girl we've been teaching, Jamie, has set a baptism date for Nov. 1, so that's pretty exciting. We have a lot of fun teaching her - in fact, we taught her the Law of Chastity the other day by playing "Don't Eat Pete" - it worked out pretty well :)

I also learned something interesting this week - mailmen really do read your postcards. You know how I've been sending Rick and you a bunch of random pictures of me as postcards and I've wondered what the mailman thinks, then yesterday we walked into the Red Cross where we volunteer and the mailman walks in behind us to deliver the mail and he says hi and asks us if we got our package today (Sis. Reeves got a Halloween package) and I was a bit surprised that he knew exactly who we were and what mail he delivered today that belonged to us - but I guess I shouldn't have been. I think mailmen know a lot more than we ever realize. Than before he left he told me that he missed all my picture postcards (I haven't sent many out lately) and that he noticed in one I said something to the effect that I bet the mailman is reading this and that yes, he does :) We all had a good laugh. I think I'm going to put a postcard out there for him one of these days. And then of course, invite him to hear our message :)

It sounds like you're having way too much fun at other people's expenses. But I admit, I wish I could have seen Bro. Herr and Dad in the choir. They asked Sis. Reeves and I to sing in Relief Society on Sunday, all by ourselves, go figure. And we are going to help out with the Primary Program next Sunday by leading the kids in as they sing "Called to Serve".

I knew this day would come...when you decided to get an artificial Christmas tree...what will be next? No big Christmas breakfast? See what happens when Rick and I leave? I guess if you feel good about it..... :) Well, I better go, but let me know how your family ball goes! Love you all!

~Melissa

Just Like Mom

I got the little packet with your conversion stories and your little article (which was very good by the way, I like). Thank you so much. I had to laugh, though, when I read the first line of yours, Mom, because whenever Sister Reeves would ask me a question about my life when we first got here, I'd start out with, "I, Sister Johnson, having been born of goodly parents..." or "having dwelt at Phoenix all my days..." You really are my mother, and like I've said before, the older I get the more I realize I'm like you, and the more I don't mind so much :) And I got the package you sent today, too! And I laughed again because we had just got back from the store and I really had a craving for Nilla Wafers. I almost bought them but decided against it, and lo and behold, what was in my package but Nilla Wafers! I don't know if you read the back of the bag of "Pirate's Booty" you sent or not, but it was really quite entertaining. It said that fans of the delicious snack treat call themselves "Booty Heads" so I'm here to admit....I'm a booty head - and so is Sister Reeves.

Well, nothing too exciting to report - I don't have to shower using a bucket or anything cool like that, but the leaves are changing and it's way pretty! I'll have to remember to try to take some good pictures. And we did have our interviews with our Mission President, and he said that I couldn't dress-up for Halloween :( Of course I wouldn't in public, but I thought it'd be fun for the ward party. Sister Reeves and I thought it would be funny to go as Polygamists, but we didn't think too many people out here would get it.

I've been getting Wedding invitations in the mail, lately. First Deanna, then Stephanie Wilden, and now Heather Padilla says she's engaged! I'm not going to have any single friends when I get home!

But anyway, have fun eating your elk. Thank you for everything!

Love you all!

~Melissa

Classic Conference

This was a double conference weekend for me - not only was there General Conference, but we also had Zone conference the Friday before and then a district meeting yesterday. Way too much for my poor brain to retain. But yes, I did get to see all session of Conference, except of course the Priesthood session. I thought maybe since they let me go to PEC then maybe they'd let me go to the Priesthood Session, but no luck...:) It was rather sad, hardly anybody shows up at the church to watch conference, so it was only us and the Bishop and a few other people for most of the sessions - and we don't have a pull down screen at our building, they just put a TV up front and we watch it on that. Of course, a lot of the members that live outside of Marietta have Dish so they could get conference on TV, or on the Internet, but it's sad how many people just take it for granted that they can just watch it or read it later, so they don't bother to watch all, or any of the sessions. Again they were all amazing talks. It seemed to me that they focused even more than usual on warning and counseling on how to get through troubled times and adversity. I guess we should take that as a hint.

Oh, and did you notice how in Elder Perry's talk, where he was talking about Thoreau on Walden Pond, that Thoreau wasn't a hermit while he was living there? You see, I can still live in the middle of nowhere and not be a hermit! I also always take particular notice when classic books are quoted. I liked hearing "The Little Prince" quoted - Mrs. Thompson gave me that book. Speaking of quoting classics - people probably think I'm really weird. You see, we had a lesson last night with our investigator, Ty, at a member’s house and we were teaching about Faith and Baptism and it was such a good lesson, the spirit was really strong and we had lots of good discussion. But I was thinking about our lesson when we were driving home afterward and I realized people probably think I'm rather odd since some of the examples I used when teaching about Faith in Jesus Christ came from Indiana Jones and Plato....

But anyway, I've been getting some practice on the flute again. We (Sis. Reeves and I) were asked to do a special musical number for Zone conference, so we borrowed a flute from a lady in the ward (it's really old, but it works) and we played a little flute duet and sang "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" but to the tune of "Come Thou Fount" - I really liked how it turned out. But our ward mission leader saw us with the flutes one day and he said he'd "whip us up" some flute duets from the hymns for us to play (he teaches music at Marietta College). So I wouldn't be surprised if we get asked to play for sacrament meeting one of these days. We've also been singing a lot lately, go figure, people around here really like us to sing for them - even though neither of us have really great voices, but they blend well, I think, so it turns out OK.

As far as my pumpkin carving ideas...I'm not sure yet, but I was thinking Angel Moroni might be a good one (since I am a Sister of Moroni after all). Oh, and could you refresh my memory on how to cook the pumpkin the easy way? I, of course, need to make pumpkin pies afterwards out of my jack-o-lantern.

We might actually be having a couple of baptismal dates soon, but, nothing for sure yet, but we're praying. Rick thinks he's all cool already baptizing like 5 people and he's been there only a few weeks.... But he's right you know, member referrals have been the ONLY source of success I've seen in my mission. Here in Ohio, there is actually a lot of prejudice against us, but someone pointed out to me that it might have something to do with the people here are the descendants of the people that drove the members of the church out of Ohio.

Oh, we also saw one of the big Sternwheelers that still travel the rivers here and take people on cruises. Apparently they are almost extinct as people are trying to get them put out of commission as unsafe because they are made of wood....go figure. Did you know that Lafayette visited here on his tour of the United States and this town was named after Marie Antoinette? Just another little tidbit of history for you.

Tell Ethan, I'm sorry I forgot to wish him a Happy Birthday last week, and also tell Jeff and Niki Happy Anniversary! I'm out of time, or I'd email them myself. Thank you so much for writing your conversion stories for me! And I do think that's a good idea, so I guess I'll have to get to work on my own.... Love you all!

~Melissa

Sister of Moroni - the Nun

We were trying to take a District picture, but my timer went off before anyone was ready...

Elder Cloyd & Sister Johnson at at Zone Conference -

both from the good ol' Camelview Ward!

I hate to throw another kink in your letter writing routine, Mumzy, but Pres. Thornock decided to change our P-day to Tuesday instead of Wednesday starting next week. He thinks somehow it will help us get more people to church on Sunday (at least that's what my zone leader said)...I don't quite see the connection...but whatever. So now you'll have to write letters to missionaries two days in a row.

I did get to go to the Relief Society Broadcast, and I don't know about you but I couldn't help laughing at the lady who was conducting the choir...she reminded me of what's-her-name in the stake, you know who I'm talking about - and I thought that maybe we were laughing together, at the same time, even though we're miles apart :)

There's a lady here in the ward that I think you'd get along with famously - we were visiting her family and I can't remember why it came up but I started telling her about you and your attitudes about Relief Society and certain traditions and she went off on a rant in agreement with your views about candy at church and people expecting to be brought meals, etc. It was funny - so there are people out there that agree with you :)

You know, I think it's so strange how no matter where I go, I run into people I have a connection with. There's at least three of the members here that have lived in Phoenix and know exact places I talk about. In fact, the former bishop of this ward, Brian Greene, says he went to Arcadia High school and used to always break into the gym of our church building with a comb. He says his brother still lives in the area but is inactive. It really is a small world - especially when you are a member of the church.

Oh and in response to Kyle's comment, yep, that would be Ty. He had a big air show to go to this weekend so he didn't come to church, but he's still meeting with us.

Our other most promising investigator, Jamie, basically asked us yesterday when she could be baptized. And yes, normally that would be cause to jump up and down, but with her I'm not completely convinced she isn't just doing it because her boyfriend is a member and they plan on getting married. But maybe it's one of those cases where she's willing to do all she's asked and the real testimony will come as she goes.

But did you know there's a Buffalo farm here? Maybe I'll have to take a picture for you. And I got called a "Nun" the other day; that made my week. My other favorite thing I've been called is a "Sister of Moroni" by some old skater dude. I hadn't heard that one before. It's really funny, because most people don't recognize us as missionaries right away because we're not the Elders that always are dressed alike. The same guy that asked if we were nuns, after we told him that we were missionaries said, "You mean, like Mormons?" When we replied that, “Yes, that was us”, he then said something like, "Is that their new tactic, so people don't run away right off the bat?" It was rather amusing.

I also had a thought I'd never thought before as I was studying the scriptures the other day. I don't know if you've ever noticed but the curse of Cain was not dark skin, it was basically that the land wouldn't produce for him, and so he had to wander and hunt and beg to survive - the dark skin was just to set him apart. Then I noticed that it sounded like it was the same thing with the Lamanites. So I thought, maybe that's why the Lamanites became a nomadic people who hunted and whatnot - because the land wouldn't produce for them. Anyway, random scriptural thought for the day. I would expand on it more, but I'm out of time on the computer.

Thank you for all you do and the pictures and I'm also very thankful that Dad was not electrocuted. Love you all!

~Melissa