"I Know That My Redeemer Lives"

This was definitely a week of miracles. How grateful I am for Heavenly Father's constant role in our lives and how He truly guides this work.

I felt like this was one of those make it or break it weeks. As a companionship we had to do some reflecting about the people we're teaching and their progression. We've been teaching them for so long and me, being the loyal person that I am just want to keep loving them and teaching them and spending time with them no matter how long it takes for them to get baptized and then Sister Madsen brought up how sometimes we're just planting seeds and how other missionaries can pick them up in the future. Ahh...it's a struggle because all of these people just have so much potential! But here's how it all went down...

Tuesday night we had our last appointment with Mike. Actually Robert invited the Elders over and they brought another member so it was quite the party. And the lesson went AWESOME! Actually, it made me feel really inadequate. but it was all good because it made me realize how we all have individual strengths and how we need to each use them to help share the gospel. And some of the things that Bro. Rich said just really clicked with Mike. He was like, "It all makes sense now!" Perfect! So we'll just put that little scene on pause and pick it back up in a month or so ;)

Next was Joe. We were talking to him on the phone on Tuesday and after we got done with our lesson he said how grateful he was that he was sitting on his porch that summer afternoon and that we stopped to talk to him. He said how much we've influenced his life and how he really has seen a change and that this gospel couldn't be wrong because the sisters that he's met are just so Christlike. tears running down my face. Seriously, it was the sweetest thing I've probably heard my whole mission and was the evidence that the atonement is real and that people do change. I am so So SO grateful to be a part of this marvelous work and to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord.

Well we went to go see him on Wednesday and the man bought $80 worth of cigarettes. Are ya kidding me? You're supposed to be getting baptized next week! Plus, you need that money for like food so you don't die. HELP! I pretty much had a heart attack. Well, he said that he would stop after all those ones were gone. I asked him if we could throw them away or if he had the receipt and we could just return them haha! but nope. Then I said, "Maybe we should pray about it." So we said a little prayer even though he didn't really want to because he already knew what Heavenly Father was going to tell him to do and he wasn't ready to do it yet hahaha! oh boy.

But we've pretty much had daily contact with him and he's been improving SO much! He's slowly, but surely quitting and he's just been reading his little heart out and he's committed to keeping all the commandments and when he came to church yesterday he was just so happy! And he bore his testimony about how everyone was telling him not to come, not to learn about the mormons but how he knew that it had to be true because of all the teachings and the people that he's met. And that he was so glad that he didn't listen to any of them. What a strong guy. The Elders were like, "so Joe is uh...pretty solid." Yes he is! And he's come such a long way. So this week we will be doing lots more preparing and the baptism will be on Saturday. Sooo exciting! :)

Also, one of the most spiritual experiences we had this week was with Celsa. She all of a sudden because super busy and could never come to church and we just didn't know what the deal was because her family was so ready to get baptized! Well...almost. Anyways, we finally went over this week and she was the only one home. I didn't really know how to bring up the whole thing but we started with some small talk and then eventually the whole religion thing came up.
Ok side note.That probably sounds ridiculous given the fact that we're m.i.s.s.i.o.n.a.r.i.e.s. But sometimes it's easier said than done to bring up religion. 

So basically it turned out to be the greatest blessing that she was there by herself because she was able to really open up. We were basically going to go in there and tell her how we would have to drop them if they didn't keep their commitments. Little did we know, but her mom had brought in the big guns. Not only did she move in with them, she also invited the prayer group from the catholic church to come over once a week. Apparently we're leading them astray...false. So Celsa wants to keep learning but she wants to do it as a family and she wants her husband to learn more because he wants to, not just because she's asking him to and then all these other things about both of their parents and school for Bella and finding time and so many obstacles in the way of them trying to do the right thing. I just felt awful the whole time! Not only because I have never experienced that but because I wish that Satan didn't work so hard to make life difficult for people. Hermana Madsen and I were able to bear our testimonies though and talk about how we could really help her along the way and how ultimately Heavenly Father will bless her as she has this desire to do the right thing. We were all crying because it's such a hard situation! And it could take years for them to do this! Oh, and she brought up how she had been thinking a lot about how I tried to give them a baptismal date in November...awkward haha! That didn't go over well but obviously it made an impact and I think she knows it's true and that it should've been something that they could have been working towards. And that's where we just trust in the Lord's timing. And where we shouldn't give up on people because she never know what's going to happen. The spirit was definitely present and it pulled us back. How grateful I am for its guidance!

There are many many more things I could say but time is short. To close, I just want to say that I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that He LIVES! I am so grateful for his atoning sacrifice and I know that it is the only way by which we can return to live with our Father in Heaven. I am grateful for the opportunity that we have to change and to become more like Him. I know that he appeared to the Nephites here in America and that the Book of Mormon is true. There really is a power in that book and I know that the spirit testifies of its truth. I am learning so much by serving a mission and know with all my heart that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.

Have a fabulous week! :)

con amor,
Hermana Blackner

"Happy Fall Y'all"

Happy Fall Y'all!

That's my favorite line of the week :)

aaannndddd.....HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY! Everyone l.o.v.e.s. their country down here in the South. 

This week I feel like I got to see it all. Baptism, zone training, appointments that fell through, the ghetto, ministers, old people, young people, awesome progression, baptismal dates, cold and warm weather. It was a good one. 

Over and over and over again I am reminded at how much the gospel blesses lives. Robert got baptized this weekend and even though he wasn't even my convert, it may have been one of the most exciting days of my mission!!! We've been waiting for this day for a long time! And yesterday, he got the priesthood and a temple recommend. so unreal. I am beyond excited for him and his future! As I told him...this is only the beginning. 

People can change. The atonement is real. And ordinances done through the priesthood help us to return to our Father in Heaven. Amen. 

The holiday season is upon us. We went to a shopping center to go contacting this week and every department store had all their Christmas decorations up and some even had Christmas music playing in the background. #waytooearly 

Let us at least enjoy Thanksgiving for a while. GRATITUDE is an important virtue.

BUT. I'm excited for all the festivities because it gives us all the more reason to talk about our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We had an awesome zone training this week. By far, one of the best we've had. We moved around to different rooms in the church for each topic that we discussed. One of the coolest things was about relying on the spirit and testifying about what you do know and how it's ok to say "I don't know" sometimes. Just what I had been praying for and wanting to have some direction in. And it came into good use this week. 

We were teaching Carol and we actually saw her a day later than we were planning on because she was sick. So we go over and she's telling us all about how she has no money and how she's been pawning things and looking for a job. And how stressful it is to try and come up with money and budget and everything else. I just sat there feeling awful! And then all of a sudden it came to me that the owners of our apartment complex had just told us that morning that they were looking for a manager/cleaning lady and other workers who were bilingual and that we could send anyone to the office that was looking for a job. 

It was like an aha! moment. We then got to talk about how the spirit brings things to our remembrance and how the Lord really is in the details of our lives and that if we would've come yesterday we wouldn't have known about the job offer and how things just work out how they are supposed to. How awesome right?

Our ability to listen to the spirit can always be improved, but I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to have the spirit prompt me and how I was able to bless someone else's life. 

I went on an exchange this week with Sister Isaak. We had a blast! One thing I love about being a missionary is all the amazing new friends I've made. We immediately hit it off and enjoyed the whole day talking each other's ears off and teaching the gospel. Things just flowed. We were able to testify, the spirit was present, there was unity, and we had FUN. I learned so much from her and I felt like I was being successful. My strengths were able to shine through and we were able to help each other grow closer to our Savior. My faith was definitely strengthened by her. I was reminded of how much people sacrifice to serve a mission. And how there are people who have these incredible stories and motives and situations that they are dealing with in the personal lives, but they put it all aside to serve the Lord and just trust that he will take care of it all. What a blessing to come in contact with such people and to have them influence my life if only for a day. 

The school teacher came out in me this week as we taught the J's. We talked about Heavenly Father's creations and all that he has blessed us with. Then we made butterflies out of celery, peanut butter, chips, and pretzels. It was a quality activity and Sarah LOVED it! She also told us how much she loves Heavenly Father and church. She really does take it all in and it's so fun to watch her learn. We then read some stories out of her bible storybook and did some coloring. It was the best! 

I told Serena that we missed them at church on Sunday and she said that David has agreed to go to church with them!!!! My heart leaped inside of me for just a minute. And then she continued...as long as it's not the mormon church. Awesome. Well, that made things real awkward. But it's ok, because he's coming around and he's definitely getting baptized someday. It's been a long journey, but there is so much hope for that little family. 

Well, I've been working on this email for way too long so I will close. I know that we are all children of our Heavenly Father and that he has so much in store for us. As we live the gospel and continue to strengthen our faith, we will be happy :) 

Have a great week!

con amor, 

Hermana Blackner

"Embracing the Season"

Well it just keeps getting better!

I think I'm getting to the point where missionary work becomes exhausting though. By the time it hits 9:30, I'm done for.

SOOO many good things happened this week :)

Probably the most exciting thing of this week was Joe. When we went to see him on wednesday he had read 20 chapters in the book of mormon! It's like impossible to get some people to read one verse and this man was goin for dayssss. We reviewed restoration, taught most of plan of salvation, and invited him to be baptized. And guess what...he said YES!!! :) So Joe should be getting baptized on the 17th! I'll bring him back up later.

My favorite analogy of the week is this:

Sooo, we're all like pumpkins. We're all different shapes and sizes and very unique. But Heavenly Father loves us individually and we all have infinite worth. Our purpose here in life is to become more like our Savior so we can return to live with God. So throughout life, Heavenly Father shapes us into who we need to become by taking all the yucky stuff out of us as we repent and change and then he carves us. And it hurts sometimes and it's not always fun, but the end result is incredible! Pumpkins get put on a porch for the world to see with a light inside them. And we can be the same way. As we reach our full potential we become a light unto the world and can be an example to all those around us :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Speaking of which...it was a day to remember.

Last day of the month so that means...
No money.
No miles.

Struggling missionaries.

We had an appointment with a lady that lives probably 6 miles from our house. We asked the zone leaders just to make sure it was safe to ride our bikes today and they said yes so off on our bikes we go! It was quite a blustery fall day and I let Hermana Madsen go first because she had the gps.
Things were going well and it was just your average bike ride. I pretty much remembered how to get there and I knew that we were supposed to take this turn.
So I yelled "HERMANA!" at the top of my lungs but of course she didn't hear me and on down the hill she goes. And I had no choice but to follow her.
When I finally get her attention, she asks if we were going the right way. I was quick to say NO. At this point we're still a good 5 miles from her house and we can either go back up the hill we just came down or we can go around. I was already done at this point and didn't care as long as we got there. We called to tell her we would be a little bit late.

An hour and a half later and feeling like I want to die, we made it.

We had an awesome lesson with her and I really didn't want to ride back and she offered to give us a ride, but we decided to press on. Never again in my life. We finally make it back to our apartment and Deantra comes to pick us up for our next appointment. However she can't stay so we tell her that we'll just walk back. Yup. 3 more miles uphill walking against the wind. so.much.exercise. On our way home we texted the zone leaders and asked them if we could have 20 miles for the day. They immediately responded and said "yeah. go ahead!" Well you coulda offered earlier elders...

We just had one appointment left and then had to come home and do weekly planning anyways. But I suppose there was a reason that we had to do some character building that day :)

Yesterday was probably one of the best sundays by far. We were standing at the door welcoming people to church and in walks Alejandro. It's always a pleasure to see him :) And also JOE! In his white tennis shoes haha! I seriously almost started crying I was so excited! There's just something about seeing people change and keep their commitments that brings so much joy. I can't even handle it. Later on he told us how he got cold feet right before and almost called us to say that he couldn't come. I'm so glad he fought through it and made it.

Right after him, our new friend Mike walked in! This was a complete miracle because we heard he wasn't coming because he had to work. Well he said he figured some things out and was able to make it. It was a huge testimony builder to me that those who have a desire to be there will do whatever they can to make it happen. Mike actually lives with a member of our ward and he's just one of those honest seekers of truth. We had a couple lessons with him this past week and they both went really well. He's been told some interesting things so we're trying to unconfuse him but I'm super excited about his progression!

We had an awesome testimony meeting. So many members bore their testimonies about their conversions and how it totally changed their lives and how the gospel has blessed their families (including Nicholas!) and the spirit was definitely present.

Fall is definitely present here in the south. It seems like this week the trees started to pop in color and with the beautiful sunshine and falling leaves, it's quite a lovely sight. It makes me want to rake a pile and jump in it! Or to step on some and hear them crunch. And I've been enjoying apple cider this week and carmeled apple suckers :) Plus, we got an extra hour of sleep so that was nice!

It was an awesome week and there are good things to come :) The church is true, the book is blue!

con amor,
Hermana Blackner