March 29, 2010
Hi!
I was totally planning on bringing my camera cord so I could attach pictures, but I forgot yet again. I'm sorry! Next week it will happen! I'll write it in my planner this time so I remember.
It's been a pretty good week. Samantha's confirmation was yesterday and it was sooo amazing! She's officially official and she is so happy about it! We gave her a little baptism book of a whole bunch of pictures and notes/testimonies of people at her baptism and she cried because she loved it so much. I just love this girl. Samantha also went to a palm sunday musical fireside the stake had last night. It was at the stake center which is about 20 minutes away, so we had the guy who baptized her, Greg, take her. hehe, we try to play matchmaker with them because we think they'd be such a cute little couple! :) Plus, to think someday down the road when someone asked them how they met, she could say "He baptized me!" hahaha, I love it. Not only are we missionaries to help people make the covenants of baptism, but we are also missionaries to help people make covenants of eternal marriage ;) YAY!
Erin also went to that musical fireside and loved it to. She is practically a member already, she comes to church every week and she even shares the gospel to people around them. OHH, cool story! Yesterday in Relief Society, they had a "missionary moment" where people told about different experiences they had with sharing the gospel with their friends. There were SOO many people who commented, it took like 15 minutes of relief society time. Everyone does such a good job with sharing the gospel BUT Samantha and Erin both commented on how they shared the gospel with people and are inviting them to meet the missionaries. Cool huh? The recent convert and investigator are the ones who invite people to listen to the message. See, those two girls are awesome. I hope Erin gets baptized when I'm still here (which I'm expecting to be here for at least another 3 months or so).
Still no new investigators though......thank you for your prayers, mom!! We are in desperate need of it! Still. :) We did try another booth at Carnegie Mellon University, but this time we talked about family history. It was actually the most successful booths we had. We mostly talked about family history and invited people to take a free class on learning how to start. We had a good number of people sign up! Now the trick is getting them from family history to learning more about the church. So maybe new investigators will come from that.
This is the last week of the transfer. Last week of being with Sister Westbrook and Droge. I have enjoyed this transfer so much!! I told them yesterday that I appreciate them so much, this has been the most low-stress transfer I've had because they are so easy-going yet want to work hard. But I'm guessing I'll still be with Sister Droge, but another sister too. I guess we'll all find out next week!
I hope you all have a wonderful week! I love you all lots and lots!!!
HAPPY EASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What are you doing for easter by the way? We got invited up to the institute teachers house for the last session of general conference and dinner. yay, a real easter!
And I hope you all enjoy General Conference!!! This should be a super good one, as they always are!
Love you all and miss you all too!
Love, Holly
Sunday, April 18, 2010
week 49- Samantha's Baptism!
March 22, 2010
Hola Famalia!!!
How is everyone doing? It was such a good week and a great day today too. Samantha was baptized last night! Yay!!! Oh my goodness, she is just the best person ever! So spiritual and she has such a great testimony! She's such a cute girl too, I'll send you some pictures next week. But all the boys are flocking over her, haha. And I don't know if it was just because the baptism was on a sunday night or something, but this was the biggest turn out for a baptism I've ever seen! Practically the whole ward was there, plus President and Sister Summerhays and their son and daughter-in-law. Samantha was a little overwhelmed with everyone there, but what can you say. She's kind of a big deal :) But there really was a sweet spirit in the room that I have never felt at a baptism. Samantha is going to be an amazing member of the church! She already knows that she wants to get married in the temple and have her children raised with the gospel. Amazing!!!!
We had two investigators come to the baptism too, and they loved it. Erin and Pritish. Erin is the one who's mom is HIGHLY against the church. This past weekend, she went to a YSA conference in West Virginia and had such a great experience. When people found out she wasn't baptized yet and the reason she wasn't, so many converts came up to her and told her of experiences they have had with their family too, so it gave her a little bit of hope. Plus President Summerhays gave her a copy of "The Living Christ" to share with her mom. I really hope all goes well and she'll be able to have the faith and courage to talk to her mom. And Pritish is set with a baptism date on April 10th and he really, really liked the baptism! At our appointment with him this past week, he told us that he is really excited for his baptism and he even talked to his mom about it. She is encouraging him to move forward with it and she is excited that he is doing this. I love supportive family members!
Just one thing though.....even though we have amazing investigators right now, we have not been able to find any new investigators this whole transfer! I don't know why, we do go out finding a lot! I just don't want this area to be dead and no one to teach once our investigators become recent converts.
I have just one favor to ask of you. Our ward is doing a ward temple trip this next Saturday at the Columbus, OH temple. It's a smaller temple and they require that you bring your own family names to do baptisms. I think we have a lot of people who want to go, so I was wondering if there was any way you could send some names that the ward members could do? If it's too much then that's ok, they can do their own work to get some names.....which may be encouraging them to do family history work! haha. But it is this Saturday, so I dont' know if you could send it out here by then. If not, that's ok. But if so, thats great too. Thank you!!!!!
I hope everyone has a great week! I love you all lots! Keep sharing the gospel with those around you :)
Love, Holly
Hola Famalia!!!
How is everyone doing? It was such a good week and a great day today too. Samantha was baptized last night! Yay!!! Oh my goodness, she is just the best person ever! So spiritual and she has such a great testimony! She's such a cute girl too, I'll send you some pictures next week. But all the boys are flocking over her, haha. And I don't know if it was just because the baptism was on a sunday night or something, but this was the biggest turn out for a baptism I've ever seen! Practically the whole ward was there, plus President and Sister Summerhays and their son and daughter-in-law. Samantha was a little overwhelmed with everyone there, but what can you say. She's kind of a big deal :) But there really was a sweet spirit in the room that I have never felt at a baptism. Samantha is going to be an amazing member of the church! She already knows that she wants to get married in the temple and have her children raised with the gospel. Amazing!!!!
We had two investigators come to the baptism too, and they loved it. Erin and Pritish. Erin is the one who's mom is HIGHLY against the church. This past weekend, she went to a YSA conference in West Virginia and had such a great experience. When people found out she wasn't baptized yet and the reason she wasn't, so many converts came up to her and told her of experiences they have had with their family too, so it gave her a little bit of hope. Plus President Summerhays gave her a copy of "The Living Christ" to share with her mom. I really hope all goes well and she'll be able to have the faith and courage to talk to her mom. And Pritish is set with a baptism date on April 10th and he really, really liked the baptism! At our appointment with him this past week, he told us that he is really excited for his baptism and he even talked to his mom about it. She is encouraging him to move forward with it and she is excited that he is doing this. I love supportive family members!
Just one thing though.....even though we have amazing investigators right now, we have not been able to find any new investigators this whole transfer! I don't know why, we do go out finding a lot! I just don't want this area to be dead and no one to teach once our investigators become recent converts.
I have just one favor to ask of you. Our ward is doing a ward temple trip this next Saturday at the Columbus, OH temple. It's a smaller temple and they require that you bring your own family names to do baptisms. I think we have a lot of people who want to go, so I was wondering if there was any way you could send some names that the ward members could do? If it's too much then that's ok, they can do their own work to get some names.....which may be encouraging them to do family history work! haha. But it is this Saturday, so I dont' know if you could send it out here by then. If not, that's ok. But if so, thats great too. Thank you!!!!!
I hope everyone has a great week! I love you all lots! Keep sharing the gospel with those around you :)
Love, Holly
Sunday, March 21, 2010
week 48 - Spring break
March 15, 2010
Hi again~
Well, last week was spring break, the sun was beautiful and shining (for most of the week) and the students were gone, which made it a little harder to be out street contacting. BUT the students are now all back, we have lots to do this week and the sun is supposed to be shining again later this week. :)
We really have a lot of good things going on here. Our investigator Samantha is set to be baptized this upcoming Sunday night! It's been difficult getting her to church these past couple weeks though. Yesterday she slept in because she forgot to change her clock and didn't make it to our ward. But we called her up to ask what happened and she ended up coming to the ward right after us. Good! She is still on for next week. We would have had to push it back (again) but she is solid and wants this so bad!
I don't remember if I've told you about Pritish, but he's an Indian guy who is doing his masters at Carnegie Mellon. We've met with him a few times and this past week we set him with a baptism date :) We set him for April 10th and he seems pretty excited to do it. He's come to church only once because he's been out of town the past couple weekends, but he always says how badly he wants to come to church again. At our last appointment with him, we was so greatful to be meeting with us because he said he had a really hard week and this appointment was a relief to him. So I am so excited about Pritish too!
We also had zone conference and interviews this week. I love that time of the transfer! In my interview, President Summerhays asked me how the companionship was going and I told him how awesomely we work together. I really love serving with Sister Westbrook and Droge. This is the first transfer where we've all just worked and meshed so well together and I love it. But unfortunately, Sister Westbrook has been here for 9 months and President told me that she will be going to another area next transfer. Then he told me that the Oakland/Shadyside area are going to be split up again and Sister Droge and I will be getting new companions. So I'll probably be going back to the other apartment I was in last transfer. He then told Sister Droge in her interview that she would probably be getting an experienced sister and that a new sister would be coming to the city as well. So I don't know if that means I'm training next transfer or not, but we'll see........scary!
We never know for sure until the very last minute!
Ready for the funny story of the week? It might not be that funny to you guys but I loved this. Our ward mission leader moved out to Utah on Friday, so earlier in the week we put together a little goodbye something for him ;) At institute on Tuesday night, they had a little goodbye party for him, so me and my companions put together a goodbye song, haha, sooooo funny! We used hymns and songs and changed the words to them to tell him how much we've appreciated his help, but the thing was the words were just crazy and out there that we couldn't stop laughing throughout our little performance. Of course, he acted all embarrassed during it, but he thanked us afterward for putting that together for him, haha, he really liked it deep down! Don't worry, we have it on video too and I'll show you it someday. I hope you like it!
Ok, this email is getting long enough! I hope you don't get too bored reading it but know that we are doing a lot of good out here and it's been fun! I love you guys and miss you a lot! Have a great week!
Love, Holly
Hi again~
Well, last week was spring break, the sun was beautiful and shining (for most of the week) and the students were gone, which made it a little harder to be out street contacting. BUT the students are now all back, we have lots to do this week and the sun is supposed to be shining again later this week. :)
We really have a lot of good things going on here. Our investigator Samantha is set to be baptized this upcoming Sunday night! It's been difficult getting her to church these past couple weeks though. Yesterday she slept in because she forgot to change her clock and didn't make it to our ward. But we called her up to ask what happened and she ended up coming to the ward right after us. Good! She is still on for next week. We would have had to push it back (again) but she is solid and wants this so bad!
I don't remember if I've told you about Pritish, but he's an Indian guy who is doing his masters at Carnegie Mellon. We've met with him a few times and this past week we set him with a baptism date :) We set him for April 10th and he seems pretty excited to do it. He's come to church only once because he's been out of town the past couple weekends, but he always says how badly he wants to come to church again. At our last appointment with him, we was so greatful to be meeting with us because he said he had a really hard week and this appointment was a relief to him. So I am so excited about Pritish too!
We also had zone conference and interviews this week. I love that time of the transfer! In my interview, President Summerhays asked me how the companionship was going and I told him how awesomely we work together. I really love serving with Sister Westbrook and Droge. This is the first transfer where we've all just worked and meshed so well together and I love it. But unfortunately, Sister Westbrook has been here for 9 months and President told me that she will be going to another area next transfer. Then he told me that the Oakland/Shadyside area are going to be split up again and Sister Droge and I will be getting new companions. So I'll probably be going back to the other apartment I was in last transfer. He then told Sister Droge in her interview that she would probably be getting an experienced sister and that a new sister would be coming to the city as well. So I don't know if that means I'm training next transfer or not, but we'll see........scary!
We never know for sure until the very last minute!
Ready for the funny story of the week? It might not be that funny to you guys but I loved this. Our ward mission leader moved out to Utah on Friday, so earlier in the week we put together a little goodbye something for him ;) At institute on Tuesday night, they had a little goodbye party for him, so me and my companions put together a goodbye song, haha, sooooo funny! We used hymns and songs and changed the words to them to tell him how much we've appreciated his help, but the thing was the words were just crazy and out there that we couldn't stop laughing throughout our little performance. Of course, he acted all embarrassed during it, but he thanked us afterward for putting that together for him, haha, he really liked it deep down! Don't worry, we have it on video too and I'll show you it someday. I hope you like it!
Ok, this email is getting long enough! I hope you don't get too bored reading it but know that we are doing a lot of good out here and it's been fun! I love you guys and miss you a lot! Have a great week!
Love, Holly
week 47- Springtime and one year since the temple
March 8, 2010
Happy Beautiful Springtime Everybody!
There are some great special occasions this past week! Today is my 11 month mark, crazy, Saturday was also one whole year since I went to the temple, I miss it A LOT! And today is also a special occasion because it is the first time in MONTHS that my ankles are showing!!!!!! hahahahaha, they feel so airy. I'm so used to wearing thermals and socks and wool tights with my long skirts and boots, but today I pulled out a springtime skirt and normal knee high nylons, I love it! The past couple days have been so beautiful and sunny, I don't even have to wear my big coat either. Spring is coming! I hope this stays for the rest of the season! Kelsey was telling me that it's been beautiful over in Boise too. It's about time the winter ends.
Our investigators have been awesome! We've been working with Samantha and she is set to be baptized on the 21st. She is just so amazing too because she was telling us how before we found her out contacting, she was feeling very depressed and felt a void in her life. She'd even walk past the church building and just look at it and wish she could go in (haha, she was too scared to just walk in herself). Then she was telling us that she was talking to one of her friends and her friend asked her, "Can you just go to church and not get baptized?" And Samantha answered "No, this is something I really need to do. Something is just drawing me and pulling me to this" She was also showing her pictures of the temples online and she talked about how badly she wants this. I love amazing people!!!!!!!!
Erin had a small talk with her mom this past week. She brought up that she had used a scripture from the Book of Mormon in one of her Religion and Philosophy class papers. Her mom got very, very upset with her and asked her why she would reference a quote from something that wasn't a real book. But Erin stood up for it and told her mom to go read the Book of Mormon for herself so she can find out that it is a true book. She is so great! She said she wants to use the Family Proclamation in her conversation with her mom this week and tell her how she's been going back to church and meeting with the missionaries again. So again, pleeeeeaaaaaaaaaase pray for her mom's heart to be softened! Erin wants this so bad! I'm definitely praying that all will go well.
Now here is my funny story of the week. Yesterday in sacrament meeting, we were singing the closing hymn and the fire alarm starts going off. The organ kept playing, people kept singing but eventually one by one everyone started fading out and looking around to see if we should be evacuating. haha, Finally the organ stopped after the first verse and one of the bishopric members went to go investigate. To our fun surprise, a kid just pulled the fire alarm, so it was a false alarm. But we all had to stay in the chapel until the alarm was turned off. Oh what fun adventures that happen at church. I just loved how we all kept singing throughout the alarm though, like knowing how protected we are in the chapel, nothing will hurt us. haha. There's the story of the week though. I hope you guys are all having fun and enjoying the beautiful warm spring weather! I certainly am! We are going to the cheesecake factory to celebrate sister droge's 9 month mark! yay! I love you all and can't wait to hear from you next week!!!! I miss you!
Love, Holly
Happy Beautiful Springtime Everybody!
There are some great special occasions this past week! Today is my 11 month mark, crazy, Saturday was also one whole year since I went to the temple, I miss it A LOT! And today is also a special occasion because it is the first time in MONTHS that my ankles are showing!!!!!! hahahahaha, they feel so airy. I'm so used to wearing thermals and socks and wool tights with my long skirts and boots, but today I pulled out a springtime skirt and normal knee high nylons, I love it! The past couple days have been so beautiful and sunny, I don't even have to wear my big coat either. Spring is coming! I hope this stays for the rest of the season! Kelsey was telling me that it's been beautiful over in Boise too. It's about time the winter ends.
Our investigators have been awesome! We've been working with Samantha and she is set to be baptized on the 21st. She is just so amazing too because she was telling us how before we found her out contacting, she was feeling very depressed and felt a void in her life. She'd even walk past the church building and just look at it and wish she could go in (haha, she was too scared to just walk in herself). Then she was telling us that she was talking to one of her friends and her friend asked her, "Can you just go to church and not get baptized?" And Samantha answered "No, this is something I really need to do. Something is just drawing me and pulling me to this" She was also showing her pictures of the temples online and she talked about how badly she wants this. I love amazing people!!!!!!!!
Erin had a small talk with her mom this past week. She brought up that she had used a scripture from the Book of Mormon in one of her Religion and Philosophy class papers. Her mom got very, very upset with her and asked her why she would reference a quote from something that wasn't a real book. But Erin stood up for it and told her mom to go read the Book of Mormon for herself so she can find out that it is a true book. She is so great! She said she wants to use the Family Proclamation in her conversation with her mom this week and tell her how she's been going back to church and meeting with the missionaries again. So again, pleeeeeaaaaaaaaaase pray for her mom's heart to be softened! Erin wants this so bad! I'm definitely praying that all will go well.
Now here is my funny story of the week. Yesterday in sacrament meeting, we were singing the closing hymn and the fire alarm starts going off. The organ kept playing, people kept singing but eventually one by one everyone started fading out and looking around to see if we should be evacuating. haha, Finally the organ stopped after the first verse and one of the bishopric members went to go investigate. To our fun surprise, a kid just pulled the fire alarm, so it was a false alarm. But we all had to stay in the chapel until the alarm was turned off. Oh what fun adventures that happen at church. I just loved how we all kept singing throughout the alarm though, like knowing how protected we are in the chapel, nothing will hurt us. haha. There's the story of the week though. I hope you guys are all having fun and enjoying the beautiful warm spring weather! I certainly am! We are going to the cheesecake factory to celebrate sister droge's 9 month mark! yay! I love you all and can't wait to hear from you next week!!!! I miss you!
Love, Holly
week 46- Prayers are a powerful thing
March 1, 20102
Hi there family!
I guess I should start out right away and tell you that I'll keep praying for Lynn and his health. I hate cancer!!!!! If you need anything more then prayers, please let me know. I don't know what else I can do though. I'm sorry to hear this news. :( Actually my companion and I were just talking a little bit about these things last night, so it's crazy to hear from you guys today about it. Does Lynn have to go back to California for the treatment?
I have come to a realization just how big and important prayers and scripture study are. We always hear how we need to do it everyday and how important it is, but throughout the past couple months, it has been clicking even more and more with me! Praying and scripture study everyday is a HUGE deal! It makes up everything for our spiritual lives. Think about a really good scripture reading you just had, or a prayer answered.....we have more rejuvination and happiness. If we do that everyday, we become so much stronger. It's sooooo coooooooooool!
Let me tell you a little bit about the work going on here. I am liking it more and more! My old area (Shadyside) combined with Oakland to make just one sisters area now. We still cover the singles ward and the campuses and have so much more work now. I love it! With our investigators and their investigators, we are staying super busy. Erin Jonas told her mom this week that she has been hanging out with her mormon friends again. Her mom got a little upset and told her to "be careful around them" haha, so Erin pretty much said, "look mom, they don't drink or do drugs or anything, they are just good examples to me." So her mom was totally ok with it :) Her heart is softening just a little bit! Keep it comin!!! We are working with some other new investigators, Samantha and Levi. Samantha has a baptism date, but things keep coming up that keep her from coming to church. Satan is working hard on her to stop her from coming. She is going to be an amazing member I guess :) And Levi is pretty cool and he feels good when he reads the BOM and after he meets with us. I think it'll take him some more time before he can figure things out though.
We also met with a less-active guy named Brian. He's sooooo cool because he reminds me exactly of RYAN!!!! :) I need a picture with him to send. But he looks very similar and his personality is so similar too! I feel like I'm just visiting with my own brother! It's so fun, hahahaha. Plus when he was in middle school, he played the clarinet. Ryan, did you play the clarinet or was it the oboe? I couldn't remember but something else in common! haha.
We've gotten more snow.........again. Blah. I'm sick of it. But spring is just around the corner and I can NOT wait!!!!
Anyway, I hope you all have a super week! Keep me updated on everything that is going on! Can't wait to hear from you next week. Love you all lots and lots and lots!
Love, Holly
Hi there family!
I guess I should start out right away and tell you that I'll keep praying for Lynn and his health. I hate cancer!!!!! If you need anything more then prayers, please let me know. I don't know what else I can do though. I'm sorry to hear this news. :( Actually my companion and I were just talking a little bit about these things last night, so it's crazy to hear from you guys today about it. Does Lynn have to go back to California for the treatment?
I have come to a realization just how big and important prayers and scripture study are. We always hear how we need to do it everyday and how important it is, but throughout the past couple months, it has been clicking even more and more with me! Praying and scripture study everyday is a HUGE deal! It makes up everything for our spiritual lives. Think about a really good scripture reading you just had, or a prayer answered.....we have more rejuvination and happiness. If we do that everyday, we become so much stronger. It's sooooo coooooooooool!
Let me tell you a little bit about the work going on here. I am liking it more and more! My old area (Shadyside) combined with Oakland to make just one sisters area now. We still cover the singles ward and the campuses and have so much more work now. I love it! With our investigators and their investigators, we are staying super busy. Erin Jonas told her mom this week that she has been hanging out with her mormon friends again. Her mom got a little upset and told her to "be careful around them" haha, so Erin pretty much said, "look mom, they don't drink or do drugs or anything, they are just good examples to me." So her mom was totally ok with it :) Her heart is softening just a little bit! Keep it comin!!! We are working with some other new investigators, Samantha and Levi. Samantha has a baptism date, but things keep coming up that keep her from coming to church. Satan is working hard on her to stop her from coming. She is going to be an amazing member I guess :) And Levi is pretty cool and he feels good when he reads the BOM and after he meets with us. I think it'll take him some more time before he can figure things out though.
We also met with a less-active guy named Brian. He's sooooo cool because he reminds me exactly of RYAN!!!! :) I need a picture with him to send. But he looks very similar and his personality is so similar too! I feel like I'm just visiting with my own brother! It's so fun, hahahaha. Plus when he was in middle school, he played the clarinet. Ryan, did you play the clarinet or was it the oboe? I couldn't remember but something else in common! haha.
We've gotten more snow.........again. Blah. I'm sick of it. But spring is just around the corner and I can NOT wait!!!!
Anyway, I hope you all have a super week! Keep me updated on everything that is going on! Can't wait to hear from you next week. Love you all lots and lots and lots!
Love, Holly
week 45- Yet Another Transfer
February 22, 2010
Hello again!
How is everyone doing?? Alright, well I'm just going to jump into whats been going on this week because it's been a CRAZY week! I told you about how Sister Longmore (the greenie) got transferred last Tuesday and we got two new temple square sisters on Wednesday. The sister we got is from Mongolia and her name is Sister Enkhbold. She is soooooo awesome, I just love her to death! I think the first day was really, really hard for her but after that she has been so much fun. She's been on her mission for about 8 months and didn't speak any english before she came. But now she is very fluent! It's cool how the spirit has been able to help her. But I love her asian accent and how we have to explain what words or phrases mean. It's so fun! haha, example, last night when we were saying our night prayer, Sister Sorensen said, "is it my turn?" and I said "Go for it" Then later on when we were all in bed, Sister Enkhbold asks "Sister LaMont, what does gofer mean?" hahahahha I had to explain what I meant by it but she's such a cute little missionary and her testimony is so strong of the gospel, despite a little language barrier.
We did find out about our transfers yesterday. You ready for this??? I'm staying in Pittsburgh again! BUT I am moving apartments. So here is my new address so you can write me there. 9 Edith Pl Pittsburgh, PA 15213
I'll be serving with Sister Westbrook who was a Harrisburg missionary too and also another temple square sister, her name is Sister Droge (she's from Germany! She's awesome too!) It'll be a good transfer and a lot of things going on now! Sister Sorensen is transferring to Lititz (lucky lucky girl!!!) and Sister Enkhbold is going to Hershey (lucky girl too!)
Now as for some of the people we are working with, we met with Erin Jonas this past week and had a great lesson with her. She's the one who's parents are very very against the church. As we met with her, we told her we are not going to push her to baptism, because we know she already wants it. But we are going to commit her to have little conversations with her parents and of course praying hard core for her parents hearts to be softened. She was pretty happy about that because I think our last meeting, she felt a lot of pressure from us that it made her feel like she didn't want to meet with us anymore. I may have already told you all of this, I don't remember, but please keep praying for Erin! She needs them!
We are meeting with a new investigator named Pritish. He is Hindu and is from India. He's very open minded though and says he has gone to christian churches before and he really enjoys the peace and quiet of it. Good thing he's coming to a singles ward at this time! haha. And since I am moving to the other sisters apartment, I also get to start working with their investigators. They have some pretty awesome people they are working with as well who have a whole lot of potential! Again, it should be a pretty good transfer! :)
I'm sorry if none of this email really makes sense. It's been a crazy week and I'm not really sure how to really explain all that happened. It's one of those, 'if you were here, it might make more sense' kind of things. But one more funny story :) We had zone conference this week and it is our district leaders last transfer...he goes home tomorrow. So he really, really wanted to do a musical number with us sisters. haha, his special talent.....he plays a lime green recorder!!!! :) (He did get permission from the Zone Leaders and President, haha) He started out with the recorder up his sleeve and he pulled it out and started playing Teach Me To Walk. We sang along and it was SOOOO hard to keep a straight face! I couldn't even look at people because I could see everyone giggling. Even President was laughing too. hahaha, that moment will go down in history. And it made this elders heart happy to do it his last transfer! :) *I was reading over that and it makes it sound like Elder Hartshorn is weird. But he's not, he's really cool, he's just funny!*
Ok, I'll stop babbling. I hope you all have a great week and I love you all so much! I love you all so much and miss you!!!!
Love, Holly
Hello again!
How is everyone doing?? Alright, well I'm just going to jump into whats been going on this week because it's been a CRAZY week! I told you about how Sister Longmore (the greenie) got transferred last Tuesday and we got two new temple square sisters on Wednesday. The sister we got is from Mongolia and her name is Sister Enkhbold. She is soooooo awesome, I just love her to death! I think the first day was really, really hard for her but after that she has been so much fun. She's been on her mission for about 8 months and didn't speak any english before she came. But now she is very fluent! It's cool how the spirit has been able to help her. But I love her asian accent and how we have to explain what words or phrases mean. It's so fun! haha, example, last night when we were saying our night prayer, Sister Sorensen said, "is it my turn?" and I said "Go for it" Then later on when we were all in bed, Sister Enkhbold asks "Sister LaMont, what does gofer mean?" hahahahha I had to explain what I meant by it but she's such a cute little missionary and her testimony is so strong of the gospel, despite a little language barrier.
We did find out about our transfers yesterday. You ready for this??? I'm staying in Pittsburgh again! BUT I am moving apartments. So here is my new address so you can write me there. 9 Edith Pl Pittsburgh, PA 15213
I'll be serving with Sister Westbrook who was a Harrisburg missionary too and also another temple square sister, her name is Sister Droge (she's from Germany! She's awesome too!) It'll be a good transfer and a lot of things going on now! Sister Sorensen is transferring to Lititz (lucky lucky girl!!!) and Sister Enkhbold is going to Hershey (lucky girl too!)
Now as for some of the people we are working with, we met with Erin Jonas this past week and had a great lesson with her. She's the one who's parents are very very against the church. As we met with her, we told her we are not going to push her to baptism, because we know she already wants it. But we are going to commit her to have little conversations with her parents and of course praying hard core for her parents hearts to be softened. She was pretty happy about that because I think our last meeting, she felt a lot of pressure from us that it made her feel like she didn't want to meet with us anymore. I may have already told you all of this, I don't remember, but please keep praying for Erin! She needs them!
We are meeting with a new investigator named Pritish. He is Hindu and is from India. He's very open minded though and says he has gone to christian churches before and he really enjoys the peace and quiet of it. Good thing he's coming to a singles ward at this time! haha. And since I am moving to the other sisters apartment, I also get to start working with their investigators. They have some pretty awesome people they are working with as well who have a whole lot of potential! Again, it should be a pretty good transfer! :)
I'm sorry if none of this email really makes sense. It's been a crazy week and I'm not really sure how to really explain all that happened. It's one of those, 'if you were here, it might make more sense' kind of things. But one more funny story :) We had zone conference this week and it is our district leaders last transfer...he goes home tomorrow. So he really, really wanted to do a musical number with us sisters. haha, his special talent.....he plays a lime green recorder!!!! :) (He did get permission from the Zone Leaders and President, haha) He started out with the recorder up his sleeve and he pulled it out and started playing Teach Me To Walk. We sang along and it was SOOOO hard to keep a straight face! I couldn't even look at people because I could see everyone giggling. Even President was laughing too. hahaha, that moment will go down in history. And it made this elders heart happy to do it his last transfer! :) *I was reading over that and it makes it sound like Elder Hartshorn is weird. But he's not, he's really cool, he's just funny!*
Ok, I'll stop babbling. I hope you all have a great week and I love you all so much! I love you all so much and miss you!!!!
Love, Holly
week 44- Happy Valentine's Day!
February 15, 2010
Well, it has been quite another week......of not a whole lot! Jk, we have had a lot of cool things happen, it's just very very difficult to be out contacting people, because the paths to walk down are still covered with snow and the trails are only wide enough for one person. When we have to pass people, one person usually has to go into the snow. It's rough! We did get a little more snow this week, but nothing like the storm we got last week. I would say there is a total of 2 feet of snow and I can NOT wait until it melts! Mom, thank you SO SO SO much for sending me those boots for christmas!!! I had no idea I would be desperately needing them and the ones you got me are awesome! They stay dry even when I am marching in 2 feet of snow, they keep my feet warm, and they don't get disgusting looking from all the dirty snow we walk through. So thank you again so much!
We still continue to do a lot of shoveling and pushing people's cars out from being stuck in the snow. We had a little bit of a funny experience earlier this week. We walked out the back door of our apartment complex and there was this big Dodge Ram that was stuck in the snow. So we went over to ask if we could help, and these 2 guys kind of looked at us in our skirts and nice coats and were like no that's ok. But we helped anyway. We pushed from the back as the guy tried to drive it out and TA-DA!!! The sisters successfully helped them! :) Never underestimate the power of a sister missionary! hahaha. We've been able to do that quite a couple times actually. This one girl told us (before she found out we were missionaries) that we were angels sent from heaven.
The sisters we share the ward with had a baptism this past Saturday! His name is Branden and I guess he has come a LONG way from when they first met him. He was athiest, referred by a member, and said he would learn more but flat out said he was never going to get baptized. He kept coming to appointments, came to church every week, came to institute twice a week and surprise!!!! The gospel changed his life! hahaha, I love how that can happen. He's a cool kid and was very happy at his baptism.
We found out a little bit of new news this week. We have a Temple Square sister out here and their transfers are a week before ours. So she is going home this Wednesday and we are getting two more Temple Square sisters as well. Sis. Sorensen and I are going to be housing one of the sisters for a week, she's from Mongolia. And the other sisters are housing the other one, from Germany. Then, this came as a complete shock and surprise.....President called the other sisters to tell them that one of them (the greenie that just came out 5 weeks ago) is being transferred. That was a huge shock because they are in a threesome, and the other two have been in this area for 9 months! haha, we were for sure one of them would leave. But transfers are always a big surprise. You'll be able to find out the details next week, but I'm pretty sure I'll be staying here next transfer. I will have to change apartments, so you'll have a new address, but I'll be in the same area.
This email is so weird and completely random!! :) But just know that I love all of you and miss all of you!!!! Have an super week and stay happy! Keep having those missionary moments too! I'd love to hear about them.
Love, Holly
Well, it has been quite another week......of not a whole lot! Jk, we have had a lot of cool things happen, it's just very very difficult to be out contacting people, because the paths to walk down are still covered with snow and the trails are only wide enough for one person. When we have to pass people, one person usually has to go into the snow. It's rough! We did get a little more snow this week, but nothing like the storm we got last week. I would say there is a total of 2 feet of snow and I can NOT wait until it melts! Mom, thank you SO SO SO much for sending me those boots for christmas!!! I had no idea I would be desperately needing them and the ones you got me are awesome! They stay dry even when I am marching in 2 feet of snow, they keep my feet warm, and they don't get disgusting looking from all the dirty snow we walk through. So thank you again so much!
We still continue to do a lot of shoveling and pushing people's cars out from being stuck in the snow. We had a little bit of a funny experience earlier this week. We walked out the back door of our apartment complex and there was this big Dodge Ram that was stuck in the snow. So we went over to ask if we could help, and these 2 guys kind of looked at us in our skirts and nice coats and were like no that's ok. But we helped anyway. We pushed from the back as the guy tried to drive it out and TA-DA!!! The sisters successfully helped them! :) Never underestimate the power of a sister missionary! hahaha. We've been able to do that quite a couple times actually. This one girl told us (before she found out we were missionaries) that we were angels sent from heaven.
The sisters we share the ward with had a baptism this past Saturday! His name is Branden and I guess he has come a LONG way from when they first met him. He was athiest, referred by a member, and said he would learn more but flat out said he was never going to get baptized. He kept coming to appointments, came to church every week, came to institute twice a week and surprise!!!! The gospel changed his life! hahaha, I love how that can happen. He's a cool kid and was very happy at his baptism.
We found out a little bit of new news this week. We have a Temple Square sister out here and their transfers are a week before ours. So she is going home this Wednesday and we are getting two more Temple Square sisters as well. Sis. Sorensen and I are going to be housing one of the sisters for a week, she's from Mongolia. And the other sisters are housing the other one, from Germany. Then, this came as a complete shock and surprise.....President called the other sisters to tell them that one of them (the greenie that just came out 5 weeks ago) is being transferred. That was a huge shock because they are in a threesome, and the other two have been in this area for 9 months! haha, we were for sure one of them would leave. But transfers are always a big surprise. You'll be able to find out the details next week, but I'm pretty sure I'll be staying here next transfer. I will have to change apartments, so you'll have a new address, but I'll be in the same area.
This email is so weird and completely random!! :) But just know that I love all of you and miss all of you!!!! Have an super week and stay happy! Keep having those missionary moments too! I'd love to hear about them.
Love, Holly
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