1-27-2014

Whew!

How time flies. 8 months out! Pretty crazy. I'm starting to get to that phase where I'm considered old and experienced like I've been at this for a long time. Ha. I still feel like a newbie, and recognize that there's a lot that I need to learn and do to become an effective missionary. But! I'm working on it. And doing what I can in the process. So, first...

AN UPDATE:

Pretty good week this week! I've been in Clearview almost 4 months now, with the same companion, and it's starting to feel like I've never lived anything else. Transfers is 2 weeks away, and I'm not sure if I'm going to stay for a grand total of 6 months or get booted...but whatever happens with the area, I feel a fresh pair of eyes will be helpful. We've been working very hard here, and have had some success and some dead ends...but nothing like some new blood to get things pumping again.

BUT! One thing we did do to help get things pumping again is this 'Mormonism 101' activity at the library. It went pretty well! It was slated to be an educational look at the Mormon church, and that's what we tried to make it. We did a video at the beginning and end ( see http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormon-introduction-videos ), then did a powerpoint presentation on some facts and figures about the church, then a panel/Q&A type thing at the end. The Panel was my favorite part; we got 4 members of the ward and President Bonham to sit on it, introduce themselves, and then take questions (everything from what the church's view on homosexuality was to what happened to youth who made bad choices). Then afterwards people got to mingle and snack on some cookies we brought in. It was good! A new finding approach, and something that I think works well in a community concerned about education/being knowledgeable. We do wish we'd gotten a few more walk ins, etc...but we got some part member families in, and the whole thing was worth it just for them. (See picture of me and the poster below)

A PROFILE:

Name: Sarah Mardorf

Age: 4

Accessory of Choice: Rumpled Tiger t-shirt she got from her grandma.

Memorable Quote: Asking the missionaries "Will you be my church girls?" Also, when her mother was getting upset about not being able to come to church with us yesterday due to a planned visit to grandma's, she said "Mom. It's going to be alright. We are not going to Grandma's today. We are going to church, we're going to sit on the chairs, and it's going to be fine." Too bad a 4 year old didn't have much sway in the matter. :P

Personality trait of mention: No fear in introducing herself to new friends at church; when she and her mom came last week, Sarah spent all of sacrament meeting sitting two pews ahead with another family she'd befriended.

A SPIRITUAL THOUGHT:

Hrrmm...in the middle of the war chapters right now, so it's hard to pull out a definite one. But! This one will suit for now:

Alma 50:22

"And those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered at all times, whilst thousands of their wicked brethren have been consigned to bondage, or to perish by the sword, or to dwindle in unbelief, and mingle with the Lamanites."

At closer examination, I really like this verse. Firstly because it says that those who 'kept the commandments of God' were delivered at all times. That basically means that if you're living a certain way--for members the way you committed to live when you were baptized--you will be protected and 'delivered' at all times. You have security; a guarantee, basically, that whatever happens to you, you're going to be alright. You will avoid being 'consigned to bondage' (which in the modern day can be physical, spiritual or intellectual), and you will be protected in both body and spirit. We recently heard a talk about a family in our ward who was the victims of armed robbery (years ago). They were tied and gagged, and at the mercy of these men who certainly didn't mean them well. However, both the Mom and Dad described feeling a great deal of peace, the feeling that 'everything will be alright,' rather than the panic that is typical to these kinds of circumstances. I know that keeping the commandments affords us that sense of security, that feeling that as long as we are keeping our promises to God, he will keep his promises to us (including that we will be blessed, prospered, and watched after). 

A PICTURE:

That's me with our Mormonism 101 Poster. :) Sorry I can't flip it. ALRIGHT! I love you guys! Hope you have a splendid week, and don't forget to throw a prayer up there for your missionaries in the field!

Sister Hale