Caught off guard!

To Larry, Curly & Mo,

Here you go... a picture of Sis. Bell and I with one of our investigators, Ray. His girlfriend, Sandra, is taking the picture and he put his arms around us before we could stop him and she took the picture... notice how we both look uncomfortable? He's a funny guy and really misses the Elders because he used to hug them all the time. They are the ones with all the funny concerns, but we love them to death. We even got to walk their dog the other day. It was so fun. Love you all!

~Melissa

Feeling the Spirit

To my silly family:

I just don't know what I'm going to do with my family when I get home...I don't even know if I'll fit in anymore... everyone's so busy and important. The pictures you sent cracked me up! Especially Dad wearing those silly glasses. And Stetson is just SO cute! I'm glad Mylie had a good birthday; I don't think I'll recognize her at all; she's grown up so much! I agree with Rick when he said it sounds like Ethan is becoming more like Calvin all the time :) What a funny kid.

It's been another crazy week in Gretna. Oh and by the way, did I ever tell you that this town is so big it even has one stop light? And of course, I church on every corner. So it that respect, it's a lot like what Rick said Honduras was like. It's the same thing, people just don't understand why our church is really any different, it's only when they understand authority that it seems to click. But guess what? We're having a baptism!! Woohoo! It's scheduled for this Saturday as of now, but I think we might end up pushing it back a week just to make sure he's ready. His wife joined the church last year and he's been coming with her most of the time, so it was really just a matter of time. But it was the neatest experience. We were meeting with them and I was getting a little frustrated actually, because it didn't seem like any real teaching was going on. They were just talking with a question or comment every now and then from us. (That's actually a pretty common problem out here, boy do people just love to talk). They didn't seem to be really going anywhere with all their talking, but something just kept telling me to listen to him. So I tried really hard to stay focused on what he was really saying and encourage him when he spoke of his feelings about the gospel. Eventually he basically was bearing his testimony to us about how he knew it was true and he knew what he needed to do. And at one point you just knew the Holy Ghost was speaking to him confirming what he said was true. Then we basically said to him, well, what are you waiting for, and he responded "I don't know - I'm waiting for you!" And we replied that we were just waiting for him to make up his mind. And if that's the case, let's set a date! And he did. So awesome. The Spirit is so real.

The influence of the adversary is also real as we found this week as well. And one of his biggest tools is confusion. We were really disappointed when we went back to see some of our investigators this week that we thought were progressing so well, only to find that they had been confused and we had to explain a lot of things over again that they had understood before but the adversary has been working on them....arrgggghhh (shaking fist). The spirit of contention and confusion really is of the devil. The spirit speaks in plainness and peace. You know what some of the weird concerns I've encountered recently are? We were teaching the plan of salvation, but we didn't get very far, because they started insisting that Adam and Eve weren't the only people on the earth, they were just the only ones in the garden - otherwise who did their kids marry? They also insist that angels have wings and got confused when we referred to Moroni as an angel, but she understood when we explained he was a resurrected being.... people are so funny. And just for the record - I looked up every single instance where the word angel is mentioned in the Bible and never once does it say anything at all about angels having wings. Just goes to show how powerful false traditions are.

I better get going but I just love my family so much and I want you to know that!

~Melissa

P.S. Did you know that Ron Carter died (author of Prelude to Glory Series)? Somebody just told me that, but I guess he died sometime last Fall. I guess he never got to writing those books on the Mexican colonies that he was planning.... I was looking forward to those.

Valentines & Fairies

Howdy Ho, Ranger Joe!

OK, so my accent probably isn't as bad as I made it sound... but, great-time-a-day, ya’ll'd just be tickled if ya’ll knowed what I et this week - chicken livers! I must say they ain’t my favorite. There's a little restaurant here in Gretna that everyone says is just soooo good, and one day a member took us there for lunch. It's real down home southern cookin' buffet style. All sorts of stuff like fried chicken (and fried chicken livers), stewed tomatoes, pinto beans, corn bread, mashed potatoes just oozing with butter... and of course you can't forget the souse meat. I wasn't brave enough to try that - basically it's all the parts of the pig that they didn't use all boiled down and added vinegar to and let congeal.... at least that's what I was told....

Anyway, it's been a really good week. We have a few investigators that are really making progress. One of the couples finally came to church for the first time, and they had such a good experience, and even though they've apparently been taught a lot by the Elders (but of course we didn't know that because the Elders that served here didn't quite ever get the pen to the paper in keeping records....arggghh....) they seem to be really understanding the gospel and it's finally starting to click for them. Of course they have some ridiculous concerns about things like angels having wings. They said, "It says so in the Bible and there's nothing you can say to convince me otherwise." But I've never had investigators before with such questions as they do and still are so willing to keep listening and learning. It was just amazing at church, though; everything that was said in sacrament meeting was just so perfect for them to hear. And then they participated and everything in Sunday School, Relief Society, and Priesthood, and everyone was so welcoming to them. Of course, they might have felt so comfortable in the classes because we were the ones teaching. We taught both the Gospel Principles class and the Relief Society lesson. We got a call at 6:45 in the morning asking us to teach the Relief Society lesson.... I love when that happens... but really I don't get all that nervous to teach anymore, but still speaking in church is a little different. I'm so impressed at Rick talking for 20 minutes in church all in Spanish!

I can't believe how fast I've been able to get to know and love somebody on my mission. It's crazy to think I've only known these investigators for 2 and a half weeks, but it feels like months! We also have an investigator that is from Ireland, I can't remember if I've told you about her, but she is just amazing as well. I can't believe I've only know her for that long either. She's someone I want to keep in contact with forever. So I might be picking up a wee bit of an Irish accent as well to go right along with my Southern.

I had a good Valentine’s day; it's so funny how everyone gives us food for any occasion they can think of. So we're well taken care of. I think I'll have to give up on trying to lose any weight before I come home; even our investigators feed us all the time here! But it was so funny, so Sis. Bell and I decided to buy the cheesiest little elementary school Valentine cards to send to people, so we got some with fairies and Tinkerbelle that came with stickers, and we decided to give them to the Elders in our district, too. I've never seen anyone so excited to get little Valentine cards; they crack me up. They promptly put the fairy stickers on the back of their nametags...

We were talking to one of our investigators husband who is just the nicest guy and knows everyone, and he was telling us that we may not know it, but everyone knows who we are in town and even the surrounding towns and are talking about us. I guess news travels fast when anyone new comes into town here, especially because we're two, young pretty girls, according to the man we were talking to. It was pretty funny. I don't even feel like we've talked to too many people. But of course, they know us.

Well, I'm getting kicked off the computer, so I have to end. But I love you all and thanks for the pictures and the news. I have the best family ever!

~Melissa

Losing My Grammar

Hey, how you?

You know, as much as I hate to admit it, I think it will take awhile for my grammar to recover from being in Virginia, I really do find myself saying phrases from around here before I catch myself. I don't think I talk "TV" anymore...

But I guess you want my address before I forget again. Sorry...

P.O. Box 933
Gretna, VA 24557

So, it's been a pretty busy week, I think we've finally met most of the investigators the Elders left. And I almost have the Branch members down, but everyone's related, so it's hard to remember all the connections. You definitely never want to say anything about anyone else, because it will certainly get back to them in a couple hours. There is this one lady in the branch that wanted us to come and meet her neighbors. She was so bold, it was awesome. And because she was there, these people actually let us in and listened to us and invited us back. Now that's member missionary work!

We also had a Zone Conference on Thursday. And guess what? It was up in Buena Vista and Gay and Larry skipped their lunch to come over to the church building to see me! I felt so loved. I've kept in touch with them, and they are doing so well. I can't believe it was over a year now that they were baptized and now they're preparing to go to the temple! They're teaching in Primary and are very active. That just makes me so happy. Everyone loves them. Gay kept hugging me and didn't want to leave or let me go. I just love them. That was the highlight of my week.

And of course Zone Conference is always uplifting. One of the Elders from my MTC district is now my District Leader and that's a lot of fun. As funny as it might sound, I was just overwhelmed by the love I felt at Zone Conference for all the Elders and Sisters I've served with and my Mission President, and I realized that that's a taste of the love that my Heavenly Father's has for me. He loves me so much He let me have this opportunity to learn to love more than I ever have before. Heavenly Father's the best.

Well, I guess I don't really have much else to say except I love you all! And I love hearing all the funny stories and interesting happenings of my family. Happy Valentine’s Day!

~Melissa

Gretna

Hello Everybodee!

I have to admit, my new area, even though it's not all that far from some of my other areas, is really different. The culture is much more like I'm really in the South than before. Gretna is a very small town, and I can walk to almost everywhere in it pretty easily. Of course, our area's a lot bigger than just Gretna. And apparently, because Gretna is so small and only has a few police officers, they have a pretty bad drug problem. And the stereotype of "the other side of the tracks" is a reality here. But no worries, we have lots of people looking out for us. And there's only a branch here. My first time in a branch. There's about 40 people that come on Sundays and they're almost all old. They laugh about that themselves. They're almost all 50 and above. Absolutely no youth, so they don't have to worry about callings like YM/YW leaders. And only a small primary. Needless to say, it's very reverent during the passing of the sacrament. But the members are awesome. And they have a lot of time to do missionary work with us! I still get fed all the time and they already have an exchange schedule going to go visiting with us. They are a crack up. And the Elders that we took over for actually left us with some really good investigators who are close to baptism, and the house didn't smell near as bad as the last one. Of course, the first thing I had to do was clean and rearrange everything’ I still just don't understand Elders' sense of organization.

My companion’s name is Sister (Heather) Bell. She's from southern California and is really into the performing arts. She's a great missionary already. I probably learn more from my companions than they do from me. I just fill her in on the little things like the how of keeping paperwork, and things like that. Oh, we actually live in our own little house that we have all to ourselves, so no people that live above us that yell at their kids or smoke so you can smell it through the vents.

I've been studying a lot about faith recently, and I just don't know if I can ever really have the faith like the people in the scriptures. But I've been trying. And there really are a lot of little miracles that happen every day if you just recognize them. For instance, we had tried to meet this investigator, but had never been able to find her home. Then later on we decide to go tracting on this certain street, and at the last minute decided just to walk there instead of driving, and on the way back, we were passing this parking lot, and someone calls out to us. It was the investigator that we had tried to find earlier. She just happened to be in that parking lot and happened to see us and think to herself that we looked like missionaries and thought she'd stop us to see if we were the new ones the Elders told her were coming. It's just amazing to me, how Heavenly Father really does know every little thing and can make things work out exactly how they should be if we just trust Him. And it was funny, because we had completely forgotten about it being Super Bowl Sunday that night; no wonder no one answered their doors.... but we were at the right place at the right time to meet this investigator. Cool, huh?

Well, I'll try to take some pictures for you so I can send them next week. Love you all!

~Melissa

My Birthday!

Silly Mommy, always worrying needlessly. You're little package was perfect! My companions were jealous of my present :) And we loved the music video - they pretty much think I have the coolest family ever (well, at least a really funny one, anyway). I mean who else makes such amazing works of cinematography? I had them really wanting to see "The Power of the Tag" after telling them about it. I just laughed and laughed while we were watching your latest film. Of course, I had to explain the importance of tumbleweeds to one's happiness to them. My favorite part was the girls trying to roll Jeff around and Mylie running away from being steamrolled.

I didn't need any package to open for my birthday, because my companions take such good care of me. They made me breakfast and a little foam birthday crown to wear around the house, and a tres leches cake with kiwi and peaches. Then at the end of the day, they made some excuse about having to stop by the Cueva's house (the Honduran family in the ward) and they had a little surprise party for me! Sis. Cueva made me some cake and the kids all sang happy birthday to me. So we were probably all celebrating at the same time. You all are so silly, I'm glad you had so much fun having a party for me!

So, I don't know if you've heard of this before, but the tradition in Central America is, after you blow out the candles, everyone starts chanting "Mordida! Mordida!" (which I guess means "bite it!") and you have to try to bite the cake before someone smooshes your face in it. Of course, what usually happens is a face fully of frosting and everyone thinks this is really funny. And that's what happened to me - I even got cake and frosting up my nose! (I'll send you the picture when I can get it from Sis. Daw). Then my companions had managed to buy me a couple presents without me noticing while we were at the store and I opened them after I cleaned out my nostrils. I don't know how they did it, they are so sneaky - it's hard to do anything without your companions noticing! They are the best companions ever. Then after returning home we played a couple of rousing games of speed scrabble while drinking pina coladas until we got....the call.

I pretty much already knew I was getting moved, but President called and confirmed it and told me I was going to Gretna, VA. No West Virginia for me, since I'll more than likely stay in Gretna the rest of my mission since I'll be training again. I've been doubled into most of my areas! I actually kind of like it though, because you and your companion learn everything and meet everyone together. I'm not sure of the address yet, but I'll get that to you next week. Sis. Martineau and Sis. Daw were expecting to go back to just the two of them and were complaining that it would be lonely now, but then they found out that they're getting another companion. I guess one more sister is going home early due to health problems.

The only thing about my birthday that was a bummer is that we found out that our investigator family from Honduras that we've been so excited about (and who always sing for us) are suddenly moving to Richmond because of their work. In fact, they left today. They said they'd let us know when they knew where they were living and that they'd look up the missionaries, but it was still a bummer for us. Crazy things always happen when people are trying to do what's right, it seems. We had another investigator go to the hospital this week. But I admit, I didn't get too attached to many of the people here because I knew I wouldn't be here very long.

I will miss my companions though - and all our little musical moments :) One day we decided to do our nightly planning session all in song. I've always thought it would be fun if life was really a musical and randomly people would burst into song and choreographed dance numbers. Here it began to be a reality :) Don't worry about going off on all the educational stuff you are doing, mom, it sounds so neat and it makes me really miss it and want to be a part of it too. And I'm really jealous that Dad is taking the concealed weapons class without me! Oh well :) Well, I got to get going. Love you all!

~Daughter of a Newt

Journals

Showing off our neat-o-cool slippers we got for Christmas from the Baggerlys - the couple who fed us Christmas breakfast. Aren't they so cute? The Baggerlys just thought they were so funny.

Hello!

That's no fun that Dad has to work a graveyard shift, but at least he has a place to sleep quietly so he won't turn back into a newt :) That's great that your class went so well. It's nice to have that confirmation to know that, yes, what you are doing is right. It makes it so much easier, because you're not wasting any time doubting and you have that conviction to keep you going even when things go bad. I've had that same experience on my mission. Sometimes I've wondered if it was what I was really supposed to do. But I've had so many little confirmations that I can look back to and give me the reassurance that I need to keep going. That's another good reason to keep a journal. If you don't write down all those little things that happen that are answers to prayer, you most likely won't remember a lot of them and then you won't have that extra help / boost when you need it. I've been really trying to do better on my mission with that. Sometimes I've slacked, but as a whole, I've been better than I ever have in my life at keeping a journal and it really is amazing the difference it makes. Even just on my mission, those times that I have kept a journal, I not only remember that time better even without going back and reading about it, but those times seem so much more meaningful - just because I took the time to make it meaningful and write it down. Same thing with writing down the things that you learn. I've been reading the Old Testament again; it's just crazy, but something really stuck out to me the other day. It's been said that it seems like God in the Old Testament is really harsh, but really, when you think about it, the Old Testament is really a testimony of just how merciful God is. The people in the Old Testament were constantly breaking their promises and covenants and not doing the things they were commanded to do - and yet, every time God gives them another chance. He might let some bad things happen for a little while, but He always delivers them, no matter how bad they've been, when they just stop and remember Him and ask for help. If that's not merciful, I don't know what is. It gives me hope in my own life. That no matter what, He'll be there; I just have to remember that He is.

But anyway, yeah, I got that form too - we call them your "Trunky Papers". So yep, I’ll be coming home on April 23! Oh, don't feel bad like you made me pick the earlier release date - I was already planning on it. Coming home at the end of April just makes so much more sense. That way if I want to do anything for the summer, it will be perfect timing. Yeah, I've kicked the idea around of going with Brian to Chicago. I thought it might be a nice way to transition coming home. Because really, talking to Brian, it sounds like I'd still be keeping basically the missionary schedule and doing kind of the same thing :) And I'll probably need to make some money before I can do anything else... But I don't know if I will, I don't know if I'd really be able to handle it. And will anyone want to buy security systems if the economy is so bad? Well, actually, maybe they will since there is usually more crime when the economy is bad....

Anyway, I really don't know what I want to do when I come home. I want to move on with my life, but I don't know what the next step is. I'll be back where I was right before I left. Except this time Heavenly Father can't surprise me by telling me that what I'm supposed to do next is go on a mission... But I'm glad I did.

This past week has been kind of slow, and very cold, but still very good. We've still got quite a few investigators that we're teaching and that are progressing, but a lot of them are Spanish speaking, so I haven't really gotten to know any of them very well. We met a lady at the nursing home that we volunteer at that is 101 and still pretty mentally sharp. We had so much fun talking to her. She's this cute little old black woman with her southern accent telling us all about her life and how she's so lonely cause all her people are gone but she's got the Lord and that makes everything good. She really liked to hear us sing to her. I want to be that fun when I'm old.

Also, Sister Martineau and Sister Daw were so impressed with my spoon making skills that they wanted me to teach them too... So they've been having fun. I told them how I first started carving on my mission as a stress reliever when I was frustrated with my companion or just the mission in general and they thought that was a good idea and that they might steal my relaxation technique :) Well, I better get going. I sure love you all!

~Melissa