This week was probably the fastest week of my
mission. SO MUCH HAPPENED! This just might be an information overload, but I
hope you enjoy and I hope I remember everything...
So, on Tuesday we had
Zone Training. Sister Hokafonu and I gave an instruction on the importance of
Preach My Gospel and how we can better use it in our studies. It was super fun
and definitely a call to repentance for me. I've literally been given the
"How to:" guide to missionary work and I need to study it more. We
then went to Buffalo Wild Wings (it's basically tradition here...) with the
Jones Falls sisters and started our exchange! I went to Jones Falls with Sister
Hubenthal, a fellow Roy, Utah missionary! We live, like, two streets away from
each other. And didn't even know each other ha-ha. But she's an awesome
missionary. She couldn't wait to tell everyone we were both from Roy on our
exchanges ha-ha.
On Wednesday we exchanged
back with the Jones falls sisters and went on another exchange with the Alameda
Hermana’s. I got to throw it back with my MTC companion Sister Hart! She came
with me to the Peake! Oh, and that exchange was MUCH much needed. I think I
needed it more than she did. It's interesting, because usually we don't do
exchanges with the same sisters twice in a row, but both Sister Hokafonu and I
felt like we needed to be together again, and Sister Hokafonu needed to be with
her companion, Sister Sears. So we did and God totally directed the entire
thing. That's exactly what needed to happen. On that exchange we were all able
to get help that we needed from each other. Big decisions were made, and stress
levels were decreased. It's the best. On that exchange we had a busy day
teaching our investigators Connie, Michelle (who flat out recognized the Spirit
as we were teaching and said that God was telling her she needed to get
baptized again, by proper authority this time, and she needed the gift of the
Holy Ghost. Holy Cow, amazing lesson), Tearra and our Recent Convert Sandra,
who was super sick, but wanted us to teach a lesson anyway, and Jaunea, a new investigator
who got to understand more about Prophets in our lesson! We had a full
day and Lily took us out to Panera for dinner and then to dessert at Coldstone.
She's the best. She had her 26th birthday yesterday! Happy Birthday Lily!
On Thursday Sister
Hokafonu and I were finally companions again. We got to have lunch at Golden
Corral with the Empty Nesters in our ward. Yum. Food is the way to my heart.
And we had an amazing dinner with the amazing Wood family again. They are
seriously the best. An answer to prayers. It was funny, in the middle of dinner
their little boy wanted to show us a toy, so his parents said yes and next
thing we hear is a big box of cars coming crashing down the stairs.... we all
laughed so hard lol. We just hear "Uh oh" a few times at the top of
the stairs. He was too scared to come down until his parents said it was okay! ha-ha.
So funny. I love kids ;)
We also got to get in
with the Jones family and all of the committed to living the Word of Wisdom and
it was an amazing lesson! Their two kids put on our name tags and said they
wanted to be missionaries :) I'll attach a picture of that one :)
On Friday we had our last
exchange of the transfer with the Ellicott City sisters. Sister Bullock, a
newer missionary, got to experience Baltimore for her first time with me :)
She's such a sweet heart. The first time I met her was at the Sisters
Specialized Training a couple of months ago when she was brand new. We were all
telling the person in front of us the first thing that came to our head about
why we loved them, and it couldn't be a physical thing like, "I love your
hair," it had to be deeper. I stood in front of her and the first thing
she said to me was, "When I look at you I see Christ..." Oh my
goodness, best compliment ever. I seriously wanted to cry. I don't know how
true that was, but it just goes to show how amazing this sister is. Seriously.
She's the best. We had a great exchange! We got hit on a couple of times and a
lady stopped traffic in her car, honked at us, and yelled, "Whatchu doin'
in the hood? Get outta da hood!" then drove away looking at us like we
were crazy. It was hilarious! We even found a new investigator named Marilyn!
She was in my GPS as an active member... turns out she was actually a potential
investigator... that was an awkward conversation, but we taught her the
restoration and it was amazing! So many blessings in Baltimore :) We then
had to exchange back that night instead of the next morning because we got
permission to go to the PHILADELPHIA TEMPLE OPEN HOUSE on Saturday morning with
our investigator Sis. Hackman!!!! WOOT WOOT!! Sis. Hokafonu had to drive home
because I had a migraine... and she got lost, which made us late, but it was an
adventure.
Saturday we woke up early
to make it to the church to go to the open house with the rest of the ward on
the bus! We got special permission to go because Sis. Hokafonu was in the
Pennsylvania Pittsburg mission before and she was promised she could go, and
President wanted to honor that promise. So off we went and it was AMAZING! The
Spirit was so strong and our investigator had so many questions answered. I
truly think that was exactly what she needed to make the decision to get
baptized. We're hoping to hear from her soon! So GOOD! We got pictures :) There
were people handing out anti-Mormon stuff on the sides, which is sad, but we
just ignored them. Some members grabbed some stuff thinking it was good, but
when they found out it was anti, they gave it to us to get rid of it ha-ha. So
Sister Hokafonu and I did more anti-Mormon destruction lol. We have a video.
It's hilarious. Hopefully I'll be able to send it.
Yesterday we had
Call-outs and I found out that both Sister Hokafonu and I will be staying in
Baltimore together! Sis. Hokafonu will be finishing her mission this transfer,
so I get round 2 of "My Plan". We also found out that Elder Oaks will
be visiting our mission on September 17th :) That'll be fun!!! We also got to
feed more goats and pick up a new investigator on Sunday! Her name's Carol and
she's super prepared! After the prayer, she recognized the Spirit and the light
in our faces and said she wanted that for herself! SO GOOD!
So, that's the
information overload for the week. Well, for the most part. This week I also
had a really good conversation with my mission President about my release date.
We decided that it would be better for me to be going home closer to my 18
month mark, which would be in the November transfer. I've been praying a lot
about it, and, long story short, God told me that I needed to go home in
November to prepare for school and a few other reasons that are unknown to me.
SO, I will now be going home on Thanksgiving. If you want more details about my
decision and such, please just talk to me. I'm not expecting everyone to support
this decision, but I do hope that any questions will be asked directly to me. I
know that this is what God wants me to do and that's all that matters. So, I'll
likely be ending my mission here in Baltimore. I have 2 transfers left and I
will be making them the best transfers of my mission! I'm so grateful God has a
plan that is individually tailored to everyone. He knows us and He is aware of
each of us. I love Him and I know He answers prayers.
Here's to the best
transfer yet! Hurrah for Israel!
Shout out to my Little
Sister for starting College today! Also, shout out for my niece Ali for turning
6! Happy Birthday!
Quote of the Week:
"God doesn't care nearly as much about where you have been as He does
about where you are and with His help, where you are willing to go." Elder
Holland
Scripture of the Week:
Alma 57:21-27
Pictures:
Jones falls sisters,
sisters Hubenthal and Haertell; gross pickled pigs Hna Hart and I found on
exchanges, a watermelon we ate, B'more Rat, the Hermanas; MD hat Sis. Hart gave
me :). Baltimore building. Sister Bullock and I. Philadelphia. Temple pics!
Cool bridge in Philly. A huge box of Poky thanks to the Mason family. Destroyed
anti material. And the Streater fam.
Love,
Sister Humphrey
PS
I forgot to mention something HUGE! So, over a
year ago I started teaching a man named Chris, my very first investigator. He
was going to be baptized while I was teaching him, but he still had to overcome
an obstacle. A year later and he's finally baptized! Chris got baptized on
August 27th and hopefully I'll be able to send you all some pictures when I get
them. I didn't get to go, but I did get to hear about it :) SO COOL! Miracles
are everywhere :)
Love,
Sister Humphrey
