January 13, 2014
Ok so wow. Where to start. I guess with my new companion. Her name is Sister Wood, she is from Vernal and she has been out for 9 months. Sister Wood was originally in the Atlanta, Georgia mission but was then put into the new Macon, Georgia Mission in July. She is pretty awesome and I'm excited to have a transfer with her! Sister Tevi went to Valdosta with Sister Wood's previous companion Sister Jeppson. Sister Wood and I are very alike, so alike that we actually say the same thing at the same time a lot! She has been out longer then me so she has more confidence and skills that I need to work on, which I was really praying for! Tuesday it was actually really cold! Our heater in the apartment couldn't keep up so when we woke up our apartment was down to 62, the poor thing had been going all night. Then our pipes froze even though we had left the faucets dripping all night so we didn't have working water Tuesday morning! We had to go over to the Meachams to get ready so we could go to the transfer meeting. They did get our pipes thawed and none of them had burst or anything so that was really good! People here in Georgia FREAK OUT when it gets cold though. High of 30 low of 14, that’s cold but not too bad so I was just chill with it. However people here were stocking up with things at the store, buying things in bulk, buying all of the toilet paper and bread and stuff it was crazy. You went to the store and all of the shelves were bare because people had freaked out and bought everything. It was so funny. Saturday we had a tornado warning! We got a text from zone leaders telling us to stay inside because President Cottle had told them there was a tornado warning. We didn't think it was anything for a while because it was a little cloudy but pretty clear but then the storm rolled in! It was so crazy! It was pouring rain, seriously like every drop was more like a bucket of rain for a good two hours. There was wind and lightning and thunder and one lightning strike had to be right outside the apartment because the thunder was instantaneous and it shook the apartment! We were at the Meachams coordinating some stuff with them about some of our less actives when we got the text so we were really thankful we could chill at their apartment! It was a crazy storm. I guess a tornado actually touched down for a minute in Hepzibah, which is not too far from here! So that was our exciting Saturday. Mostly I have just been helping Sister Wood learn the area and learn about our people. Most of the people I talked about around Christmas haven't been answering our phone calls so we haven't really seen any of them. The lady who came to the Christmas party with her kids keeps going out of town so we have only had one lesson with her. I really want to teach her again because her and the kids were awesome! Ok so we do have this new investigator that I don't know if I told you about but his name is Cody. We knocked into him last week and Sister Tevi invited him to be baptized on the spot....I think she really just wanted to try doing that before she left Augusta. Anyway he accepted so we have been teaching him this week. We weren't sure how much he was actually understanding so we have been taking it really slow but he has been coming to church and keeping all of his commitments and everything! It's really weird because I don't think we have ever had an investigator who was actually keeping their commitments. Plus he has a car and can drive himself to church. Yay! Anyway Sister Wood and I were worried about how he was really doing and understanding things but yesterday (Sunday) was awesome and totally a breakthrough! We had a really great sacrament meeting, the speakers were awesome and the Elders kind of went with him to Priesthood and talked with him a lot which was awesome. Elder Judson had some really good insight about how we could help him which was great. The ward members have been super friendly and have been doing a really good job making him feel welcome and everything. Then the Lee's invited him over to dinner and we taught another lesson. That was really good because the Lee's are both converts but they have been members for a long time so they are really solid. They both talked about their conversion stories and they can relate really well and know how it feels learning all about our religion. We had some really good conversations last night and during one he said "you know something about this church just catches my attention which I haven't felt in any of the other churches I have been too" and we are like YES! that's the spirit and because it's true! Then he asked "well how do I become a member?" So I guess this is what they mean when they talk about a golden investigator! It's really weird because I feel like he needs to have more questions or concerns or something. I just keep praying that everything continues to go well! We are kind of taking it slow, because he doesn't learn super fast and we just want to make sure he understands everything. It's just so great that we actually have an investigator that is progressing! It has sure been a learning experience though! I have learned a lot about faith this week! Like I said we were really worried because we didn't think he was understanding things and he wasn't asking any questions which also really worried us so I was kind of doubting if he really knew what he was getting into! Then we had the awesome experience yesterday and I was chastised and humbled because Heavenly Father really does know what he is doing and I should just have more faith in him! It's not that I don't have faith because I do, I have lots of faith! Sometimes I just struggle having faith that other people have been prepared and are ready for what we are teaching! Being a missionary is just quite the learning experience! I love it though and I wouldn't take this experience back for anything. Even if I do get really tired of knocking on doors! We are trying to come up with new door approaches but we are scared to try some of them! Some of them are just really bold and seem a little intimidating to use. We are going to be brave though! I have now been reading the Brigham Young teaching manual and the Joseph Fielding Smith manual. It's funny how the teaching manuals of different prophets inspire me in different ways. Joseph Smith just inspired me to become such a better person and to work on developing those Christ like attributes and love and serve everyone! Brigham Young is just very straightforward and just definitely tells it like it is. I love how frank he is about everything and he certainly doesn't fluff anything up but he is also just as awesome and I love his perspective on things! Joseph Fielding Smith just makes me want to learn! I just want to learn everything and know as much as I can because you can just feel how much he loved learning through the things he wrote! I have definitely rediscovered my love for learning out here on my mission!
Mom you asked about what it is like teaching the concept of the Priesthood. That has been something I have thought a lot about out here because the priesthood is such a hard thing to explain. It is hard for people to grasp the concept and it's hard to explain because it is really just something you have to experience. Priesthood is the power and authority to act in God's name and to do the will of God. I like to say that it is the exact same authority that has been given to prophets throughout the bible and Christ also gave it to his apostles so they could continue his ministry when he was gone. It is that same power that they had that they used to heal the sick, to cast out devils and to perform miracles. That is one thing that makes our church different from other churches, that we have the priesthood authority and we use it the same way it has been used throughout the Bible. We use it to give blessings of healing, comfort, and to carry out the will of God here on the earth. Everyone says that as long as you have let Christ into your heart you have been "saved" you are good. No more work. It is all very strange. Sometimes I think it would almost be easier to teach people who didn't know anything about Jesus Christ! There are a lot of myths about Mormons. Mostly that we hate black people. A lot of people are willing to listen to our message and they agree with us but they don't want to change! I read in a book that people just want an undemanding God who doesn't require anything of them and that is definitely true down here! People don't want to think that in order to truly have salvation you have to obey the commandments. Isn’t it great that we know of these principles and ordinances and the need of being obedient!
So change of topic: Here are the
details for our upcoming Ward Activity on January 18. It is going to be the “MMTC – MEMBER MISSIONARY
TRAINING CENTER” based on how we as
missionaries are trained at the MTC.
Ok so for the activity. As they walk in we are going to
give them color coded name tags so they know what group they are in. We are
then going to have an introduction and then they will go to different rooms
according to what their color is. I have been working with some other wards
young women pres about getting some young women to help out in the nursery so
that was a really great idea neighbors back home! We are going to have four
classes. One is on answering gospel questions, that is the one Sister Wood and
I are preparing, Elder Hatch and Elder Judson are doing how to bring a
conversation to gospel topics, Elder Spencer and Elder Eklof are doing how to
invite your friends to church and to listen to the missionaries and Elder Webb
and Elder Newman are doing how to teach when you go out with the missionaries.
Those will probably be about 10-15 minutes each. Then for closing we will all
meet back in the cultural hall, have some closing thoughts then we are having
people bring their favorite cookie for a treat after and while they are eating
we are going to do a little skit we put together about meeting your neighbor,
because A LOT of people out here DON’T KNOW THEIR NEIGHBORS! We hope to
motivate them to be friendly and help your neighbor. I really hope that all
goes well!
About Shae she is doing well, she has gotten two job offers so that
is really good and she is going to go through with the school thing. Kayla is
doing ok. We are still trying to get her to go to young womens. She attends on
Sunday but won’t go to Mutual on the week night. The young women are really
good about being friendly and inviting her and stuff but she is just stubborn.
I might have a talk with her and let her know that you feel a little
uncomfortable because its a new place and new people but think of how the young
women feel when they are trying so hard and you just keep rejecting them, it
doesn't make them feel very good either and pretty soon they are going to stop
trying because no one likes to be rejected repeatedly. Maybe I can get her to
see it from a different perspective.
Georgia is
awesome, my companion is great, this ward is great, my district is great,
things are just wonderful! I miss all of you tons...and yet at the same time I
find myself not missing home at all! It's really weird.
I love you all so much, I am sorry Meredith
continues to have headaches, I’m concerned for her. I love all of your prayers
and support!
Love,
Sister Price
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