The Tennessean

Lets first start off with a joke.

Okay, so it's a little lame.  But I hope it brought a smile to your face!

Last week, Sister Jensen and I had the opportunity to meet with Bob Smietana, The Religion Reporter for the Tennessean.  It was a great opportunity for us to bear our testimonies of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ! 

I felt blessed that we were able to meet with Bob.  As he talked with us, J and I felt the spirit strongly testify to us that what we were out here doing was right, and that the gospel was true. 

Bob asked us about our families.  He wanted to know how the Gospel has blessed my family at home.  In my head I thought, "How has it not blessed my family!"  My parents are so great.  As I spoke with Bob, I kept thinking about how grateful I was to have the family I have.  They have been wonderful examples to me of love and patience.  I am so grateful for their attitudes about the gospel.  My family has a lot of faith.  I'm so grateful for their support out here in the jungles of Nashville!

Bob also inquired about our favorite scripture.  Immediately I thought of 3 Nephi 22:7-8.  I love this scripture.  To hear why, watch this video. 

Every day we have opportunities at our feet to share the gospel.  Go out today and share your faith!

Stop Drop and Sleep.

Falling asleep seems to be a talent of mine and J's lately.  We have been running from place to place, trying to find people who would like to come to Institute (which is like a bible study for us youngins, ages 18-30) and church with us.  When we get ready for bed each night, it seems to only take us a few brief minutes to fall asleep.

Yesterday we drove down to Murfreesboro with our friend A. Kaye.  She was so sweet to take us!  On the drive back, I made a comment to J.  She voluntarily sat in the back seat.  But when she didn't respond to my comment, I looked behind me to see her fast asleep.  Poor thing! 

We've both learned a lot from each other as we've been working together.  J relates so well to other people.  I love working with her.  Tonight we have the opportunity to go to Institute to learn more about the Old Testament. 

Anyone that would like to come to our Bible Study classes on the Old Testament is welcome!  We study every Wednesday night with Brother H.  It starts at 7:00 in Nashville. 

4304 Hillsboro Pike

Nashville, TN

A Bite about Elephants

How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time. 

The next few posts are going to be about my current elephant.  The overwhelming assigment of serving in the Young Single Adult Branch in Nashville.  We have a lot to do-but we're on our way. 

Eating the Elephant; One Bite at a Time.

I woke up yesterday feeling like I bite off more than I could chew.  I've been called to serve in the Nashville Young Single Adult Branch. 

And I have no idea what I'm doing.

I'm serving with J (Sister Jensen)who, by the way, is great.  So far we're getting along great!  But to illustrate our situation, let me explain what we have experienced the past few days.  They have been overwhelming.  I keep telling myself, in order to eat an elephant, you have to do it one bite at a time.  The first bite happened yesterday.

Currently, we don't have anywhere to live.  We've been sleeping on the floor of an apartment of some new sister missionaries in the area.  We picked up a couple of sleeping pads so that we wouldn't have to sleep directly on the floor.  After the first couple of nights, I was in the kitchen getting someting to eat, when something odd caught my eye. 

A dead cockroach. 

Yep, that's right.  I've been sleeping on the floor with cockroaches.  *We were relieved to find out later, that the cockroach had been there for a few weeks already.  Maybe our apartment isn't cockroach infested afterall...?  I sure hope so. 

Not much of our time is spent at our apartment. The time we spend in the roach-house is usually only when we are konked out asleep, or studying. The majority of our time is spent in the car or in appointments.  We had a great time yesterday planning with the Elders.  We were even able to secure a giant map of the mission!  That's a tender mercy if I've ever seen one!  I will be sure to post pictures soon. 

When we arrived at the mission office to pick up our giant map (which we named "Alejandro"), we were told that we may not be moving into our own apartment until the first of November.  The first thing that J said was, "We need to get organized."   Wise, wise words...

Last night we snagged some on sale hangers at Walmart and handed them over to the two other sisters we are living with.  Things are slowly becoming more and more organized.  We found some spare shelves to stack our shoes, some drawers for our clothes, and a corner for our suitcases. 

After our mad dash of cleaning last night, we pulled out our mats, and went to bed.  As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out.  It was hard to get up in the morning!  But obedient missionaries always get up at 6:30.  So, I got up.  However, I may have fallen asleep during my morning prayer on my knees...

When I woke up I felt so much better.  Regardless of how tired I was, I felt better, because there was order in my life.  J and I felt like we could hardly function in this new assignment until we had some of our personal things organized.  Now that things are put away in their proper place, J and I can actually think.  

Not only is it important that we keep things clean and organized, but we must keep our spiritual selves clean and organized. 

When I sin, I feel like I have peanut butter smashed on my soul.  When I don't take care of it right away, it starts to decay, mold, stick, and make me feel gross. 

Folks, lets get clean & organized! 

Just as J and I took necessary steps to clean up the roach-house, we have to take the necessary steps to clean up our "inner vessels".  We will feel so much better knowing that we've put those mistakes away, and can focus on more important things. 

A Blurp About Missionaries

Earlier today I had an opportunity to gather with over 140 missionaries for a special conference.  The Concluding speaker of today's meeting was Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Disciple and Apostle of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  He came with his wife, Katherine Christofferson to speak to us about our missionary service. 

Before the meeting began, I was reunited with some of my closest friends. 

We've been friends through the good times, and of course--The bad!  In the mission field we face many challenges. 

There are missionaries here who have lost family members.  Because our Missionary service requires us to give all our energy to the Lord, they are unable to fly home to attend the funeral service of their loved ones.  They mourn here for a short time and continue on. 

There are missionaries that I was able to shake hands with, who have suffered severe medical infirmities.  Because of their faith, however, they continue to work everyday for hours on end to bring the gospel to others.  The Atonement and Sacrifice of Christ helps each of us to press forward. 



Photo Courtesy of Kate Lifferth



Here I stood with a hundred and forty valiant missionaries, who put their lives on hold to serve our Heavenly Father.  We are His army.  We are all enlisted.  I love each of these missionaries.  They are my friends!  They are the only family I have out here!

Okay.... so maybe we're only 19-25 year old kids. 

Maybe we struggle a little bit. 

And maybe, Just maybe we're NOT perfect.

But the purpose that we serve IS perfect!

Some missionaries have never lived away from home before.  Some still battle feelings of homesickness.  Some fiercly fight depression among other difficulties.  For some of us, this is the furthest we've been away from home. 

But this is where we feel at home, serving our Father in Heaven, and His Son, Jesus Christ.  



A Little Secret About Happiness

Last Saturday, Sister McCall and I went to a local park to meet up with some of the youth from the Church of Jesus Christ.  They are amazing! 

We were invited to have a picnic dinner with them and play some games.  Some of their friends came to join our picnic party.  It was a great opportunity for each member of our Youth to express their love and devotion to their Savior and His gospel to their friends who came.  It was a casual setting, but the spirit was there and I know they all had a great experience. 

These crazy kiddos rock.  Seriously.  Look at them--Don't they look so happy?!

Here's their secret:

They are great missionaries, and they live the standards the Lord has given them EVERY DAY!  They dress modestly, avoid harmful substances, attend church weekly, they follow dating guidelines that will lead them to an eternal marriage, and they get up early each morning to attend bible study classes called "Seminary" each morning before school.

This year they are studying the Old Testament.  What a great way for them to start each day.  We love the youth.  They love sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with their friends, because they know what a blessing it is to live the lifestyle the Lord wants them to live. 

Seminary has been a blessing to these Youth.  To learn more about seminary, and how it helps the Youth of the World, watch the video below.  Click here to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ and it's youth programs.

 

B is for Bacon

This is my brother, Ian.  On his tenth birthday, I found the ultimate present:  Bacon Bandaids.  They were pretty stellar.  I took this picture, and as I was looking at it, I realized that some days, you wake up feeling like you have bacon on your forehead.  You can smell it.  You can feel it.  You can even see it in the mirror.  But you can't eat it unless you physically peel it off!

Sometimes I know exactly what I want.  I can tell people what I want.  I can feel good about my decision to get it.  Often times it is even within reach.  But if I don't work towards what I want-I will never get it!

As a missionary, I set a lot of goals.  There are a lot of things I want to do.  Here's a mini version of my "wishlist":

I have learned that I have to set small goals.  I have to learn to deal with current trials so that I might be able to accept the bigger ones.  I need to be willing to share my talents and abilities to bless the lives of others.  I must be willing to love the Lord with all my heart.  I must be willing to be patient with my future family.

To eat the bacon, I have to prepare my muscles.  I need to lift my hands and arms.  I must feel the bacon on my forehead.  I have to peel it off.  I have to open my mouth.  I have to put the bacon in my mouth! 

Dear friends--don't wait!  EAT THE BACON!  Set small goals so you can enjoy the eternal blessings of juicy-bacon-goal setting! 

My Favorite Piece of Plastic

I love teaching.  I am pretty positive that those I teach don't learn nearly as much as I do!  Every time I teach, I'm filled with this warm feeling that just makes me feel beautiful.  It reminds me of my calling-being a disciple of Jesus Christ. 

Every morning before I leave the house, I pick up a small, black, plastic rectangle.  My name is carved in white on the front.  I place it next to my heart and clip it on.  Every time, I stand up a little straighter.  Why?  Because I get to put on a name tag, that bears my name with My Saviors.  Jesus Christ.  He is with me during every moment of every day.

"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face.  I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." 

(Doctrine and Covenants 84: 88)

I only get to wear this tag for 10 more months!  And then I'm back to living an ordinary, regular life.  I will still have incredible experiences-and I will do my best to continue to be a missionary.  But there is something so sacred about being set apart as a full time missionary for Heavenly Father.  Some days I feel like a super hero with my name tag.  Maybe that's why I love it so much!  


I know that the Lord will help me every day, as long as I continue to be His disciple.