We found two new investigators! They were both really good lessons too. Other than that, our week has been kind of empty. A lot of finding, tracting, contacting etc. It would be easy to get discouraged here in Liberty Lake because of the people’s general reaction of missionaries on their doorstep, but that’s ok, the gospel is still true.
We have some investigators who keep telling us that they don’t want to be baptized. Which is fine. We aren’t here to force people to do anything, but then as we leave they ask us when we’re going to see them again. We’ve explained what we do over and over again. We teach and invite people to receive a confirmation for themselves. If they don’t want to know, that’s as far as we go. And they STILL want to meet with us. They don’t want to change, but they don’t want us to stop coming over. They love how they feel when they are with the missionaries. They love it. And they don’t want it to go way. Which makes it hard, because we love them, but we have got to move on. We have got to go talk to people who really want to know.
Sister Salisbury is SO fun! She is such a light! The Wards miss Sister Bruner but are loving Sister Salisbury. She is ready to work. She is a little shy and very quiet but it’s so good! She’s not that quiet with me. She talks A LOT to me, which is so fun. It’s been awesome to get to know her. Again, because of our differences, it doubles the amount of people we can teach.
We had zone conference this week and it was awesome. As we went over the verse in D&C 18 that says, “And if it so be that you should labor all thy days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save one soul unto me, how great will be your joy with him in the kingdom of my father!” My mind was drawn to a line that has never stuck out to me before. I have always been fixated on the promise, “How great will be your joy” and never really the predication of that promise, “in the kingdom of my Father”. “In the kingdom of my Father” implies obedience, hard work and faithfulness. For any of this to matter (on our mission and in our lives) we have GOT to live up to those covenants.. It made me think about a family in the Liberty Lake ward that was just sealed in the temple. They stand as a testimony that just because missionaries are completely disobedient doesn’t mean they won't see baptisms. A testimony that the equation of F+HW+O equals success, not baptisms. They were converted by the truth and baptized by missionaries that had broken their covenants. The Smith family, with their recent sealing, are able to partake in that joy that that verse in D&C is referring too. And as they live faithfully, they will continue to feel that joy in the “Kingdom of [His} Father”. As for the missionaries though, unless there is repentance, unless they use the atonement in their lives, and fix the things they’ve broken, that blessing is not theirs. In order to share in the Smith’s joy they must be in “the Kingdom of [His] Father”, and in order to be there, they must be obedient and faithful to the Lord’s will here on earth.
I know this gospel is true and it fills me with so much joy and hope to see Eric excel so much. He is filled with so much light. He spoke in stake conference on Sunday. It was awesome. He did so well. He shared his experience in gaining a testimony of the gospel. Who he is now compared to who he was before he had a testimony. I couldn’t find a specific thing to write down from his talk but I compiled it all into one main point that I feel like I have really grown on and continue to grow on. I AM WHO I WANTED TO BE, NOT WHO I EXPECTED TO BE. THAT IS THE RESULT OF PERSONAL REVELATION. As we grow closer to God and seek the revelation He has for us, we get to be the person we want to be, not the person we ever expected to be.
The other experience I had was late at night as Sister Salisbury and I were biking. My bike has a flat tire so I am using a bike that doesn’t have a light on it right now. I ride in front and Sister Salisbury rides behind. Her light is very dim, but it is there. It’s the only thing that lets me know she’s right behind me, the only thing that helps me regulate my speed. It reminded me of the gospel. It is it’s light that helps us regulate our lives, that helps us stay close to God and helps us progress and grow. When that light is gone it is dark and cold and we are alone.
I am so grateful to have the guiding light of the gospel in my life. I am thankful to have the priesthood in my life and to have the knowledge that there is a living Prophet on the earth today.
Sister Bailey.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Wake up tired, go to bed exhausted
We’re expecting to see a lot of miracles in Liberty Lake. (Because a lot of miracles are needed)
We’re teaching a family now. I’ve never taught a family. They’re fantastic. The daughter is 12 and is a real strength to the lessons. We’re teaching 6 people and each one has incredibly unique needs and concerns.
We’re teaching a family now. I’ve never taught a family. They’re fantastic. The daughter is 12 and is a real strength to the lessons. We’re teaching 6 people and each one has incredibly unique needs and concerns.
It really is only through the Lord that we are able to do this work. We wake up tired and go to bed exhausted. There is plenty of work to be done. It’s been a little hard but it will be okay. The work is going forward and we’re going to do our best to help it. We’re doing a lot of finding activities, a lot of contacting.
That less active woman we tracted into that came to church, came to church again this past Sunday and will be at our dinner tonight. She is wonderful. She attentively listened and took notes on the talks that were given and when I asked her to stay longer her response was “I’m not quite ready for that yet” YET. She is working very hard to come back. She’s is so ready it is amazing to see how the Lord prepares people for this work. At the last dinner we shared with her she was telling us of how she had re-connected with a high school friend who was a member of the church over the Christmas break. They had talked a lot about the church and their testimonies and a couple days after her friend left the sisters knocked on her door. It was then she decided to come back to church.
Sister Salisbury is so fun and we get along great.. She loves her family. She loves the gospel and I love teaching with her. We talk about the gospel most the day. I am excited to see what I can learn from her over the next 6 weeks.
We taught Eric his last missionary lesson on Sunday. It was bitter sweet. He’s speaking in Stake conference next Sunday on personal revelation. He is going to do great. I am so excited.
I love the gospel. I love to share it. Things get hard sometimes. Sometimes it feels like everything is falling through our fingers, but that is when miracles happen. I am praying for eyes to see the wisdom in the Lord and if not to see it, then to feel it.
(Mosiah 2:20-21)
Sister Bailey
God Bless
That less active woman we tracted into that came to church, came to church again this past Sunday and will be at our dinner tonight. She is wonderful. She attentively listened and took notes on the talks that were given and when I asked her to stay longer her response was “I’m not quite ready for that yet” YET. She is working very hard to come back. She’s is so ready it is amazing to see how the Lord prepares people for this work. At the last dinner we shared with her she was telling us of how she had re-connected with a high school friend who was a member of the church over the Christmas break. They had talked a lot about the church and their testimonies and a couple days after her friend left the sisters knocked on her door. It was then she decided to come back to church.
Sister Salisbury is so fun and we get along great.. She loves her family. She loves the gospel and I love teaching with her. We talk about the gospel most the day. I am excited to see what I can learn from her over the next 6 weeks.
We taught Eric his last missionary lesson on Sunday. It was bitter sweet. He’s speaking in Stake conference next Sunday on personal revelation. He is going to do great. I am so excited.
I love the gospel. I love to share it. Things get hard sometimes. Sometimes it feels like everything is falling through our fingers, but that is when miracles happen. I am praying for eyes to see the wisdom in the Lord and if not to see it, then to feel it.
(Mosiah 2:20-21)
Sister Bailey
God Bless
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Transfers
Transfers.
I’m pleasantly surprised to say that I am staying in Liberty Lake. I really felt like I was going to get the boot. It really did a number on me this week too. I spent a lot of time trying to come to terms with it. Sister Bruner and I are parting ways. She is headed to Hayden Lake to be with Sister Adams who is heading to Mongolia in about three weeks, so that will kind of be a weird set up. She’ll get a new companion mid-transfer and at this point the source of that new companion is not really clear because we have an even number of sisters in the mission now. She’s very excited to move on from Liberty Lake. She spent 7 ½ months in her first area and, ever since, doesn’t like being in one place for too long. She will be missed by the members as well as myself. I’m excited to fall in love with Sister Salisbury. Sister Bruner was companions with her once and loves her. I’ve met her twice. She seems really sweet.
We’ve been “on the edge” of stellar investigators for a while now. It’s a little disheartening actually. But we have some appointments with some of them this week so hopefully things will begin to look up.
The investigator that we gave to the elders is still really progressing in the gospel. Her daughter Brittany is also. It’s so good to hear that she’s been able to make it to the lessons. Her (Brittany’s) schedule never let her make it when we were teaching.
Good things are happening in Liberty Lake.
Eric is still the best. Whenever he interacts with us I really feel the joy of missionary work. I’m never very prepared for it and it’s overwhelming every time.
We had a little miracle this past week. A couple showed up to church that we had met in the parking lot of an apartment complex just as they were moving in. They were exhausted and we offered to call in the troops for them. As we made calls to the Bishop, the Elder’s quorum president, and some other strong members we found out that the woman is a member of the church! She’s not been very active for about three years and is ready to come back. Her fiance is not a member. It was SO good to see them in church! They are some of the best people I’ve met! They are so welcoming and so open. We’re hoping to tech them so that they can be sealed in the temple for eternity! Another small miracle was that she was very nervous about seeing a family in our ward who use to be her in-laws. She saw them at church and it was absolutely wonderful. It was such a good reunion and there was so much love. We’re going to see them later this week and are looking forward to the visit.
The Fentons were also in church this Sunday. Brother Fenton has been opening up to us and they’ve been talking about wanting to be sealed in the temple!!!
I love missionary work. I love to see the light. I love to see the joy shine through people's faces amidst adversity. I love everything about this work. I love it. My testimony is strengthened everyday. We’ve hit some hard spots and had some struggles here in Liberty Lake, but I feel like it’s because we’re on the verge of something good. The really good things in life generally come after we can’t stand the heat or pressure any longer. As much as the adversary pokes and prods I know that this work is completely in the Lord’s hands and, after all, He knows exactly how much we can take. As we turn to him all the trials, all the heat, and all the pressure will make us better. It’s when we try to take things into our own hands that we then get burned.
God be with you.
Sister Bailey
I’m pleasantly surprised to say that I am staying in Liberty Lake. I really felt like I was going to get the boot. It really did a number on me this week too. I spent a lot of time trying to come to terms with it. Sister Bruner and I are parting ways. She is headed to Hayden Lake to be with Sister Adams who is heading to Mongolia in about three weeks, so that will kind of be a weird set up. She’ll get a new companion mid-transfer and at this point the source of that new companion is not really clear because we have an even number of sisters in the mission now. She’s very excited to move on from Liberty Lake. She spent 7 ½ months in her first area and, ever since, doesn’t like being in one place for too long. She will be missed by the members as well as myself. I’m excited to fall in love with Sister Salisbury. Sister Bruner was companions with her once and loves her. I’ve met her twice. She seems really sweet.
We’ve been “on the edge” of stellar investigators for a while now. It’s a little disheartening actually. But we have some appointments with some of them this week so hopefully things will begin to look up.
The investigator that we gave to the elders is still really progressing in the gospel. Her daughter Brittany is also. It’s so good to hear that she’s been able to make it to the lessons. Her (Brittany’s) schedule never let her make it when we were teaching.
Good things are happening in Liberty Lake.
Eric is still the best. Whenever he interacts with us I really feel the joy of missionary work. I’m never very prepared for it and it’s overwhelming every time.
We had a little miracle this past week. A couple showed up to church that we had met in the parking lot of an apartment complex just as they were moving in. They were exhausted and we offered to call in the troops for them. As we made calls to the Bishop, the Elder’s quorum president, and some other strong members we found out that the woman is a member of the church! She’s not been very active for about three years and is ready to come back. Her fiance is not a member. It was SO good to see them in church! They are some of the best people I’ve met! They are so welcoming and so open. We’re hoping to tech them so that they can be sealed in the temple for eternity! Another small miracle was that she was very nervous about seeing a family in our ward who use to be her in-laws. She saw them at church and it was absolutely wonderful. It was such a good reunion and there was so much love. We’re going to see them later this week and are looking forward to the visit.
The Fentons were also in church this Sunday. Brother Fenton has been opening up to us and they’ve been talking about wanting to be sealed in the temple!!!
I love missionary work. I love to see the light. I love to see the joy shine through people's faces amidst adversity. I love everything about this work. I love it. My testimony is strengthened everyday. We’ve hit some hard spots and had some struggles here in Liberty Lake, but I feel like it’s because we’re on the verge of something good. The really good things in life generally come after we can’t stand the heat or pressure any longer. As much as the adversary pokes and prods I know that this work is completely in the Lord’s hands and, after all, He knows exactly how much we can take. As we turn to him all the trials, all the heat, and all the pressure will make us better. It’s when we try to take things into our own hands that we then get burned.
God be with you.
Sister Bailey
Moroni 7
"Have miracles ceased? I say unto you nay! Niether have angels ceased to administer among men."
Monday, January 4, 2010
Joy to the World
We taught Eric about family history and he was like, “Yeah, I’m already talking to my Dad about doing the work for my grandpa”. Sometimes I don’t even know why we’re teaching that kid. He’s so amazing. He has such a strong testimony of the gospel. He has been so ready from the very start. This Sunday he passed the sacrament for the first time. He also got up and bore his testimony of the gospel with out being called up. HE loved it. He said it was the best part of his Sunday.
Sam is gone.
The investigator that we gave to the elders still comes to our ward. The elders just told us this morning that she and her daughter are now on date for the 30th (to be baptized)!!! We’re so excited.
One miracle that happened this past week was that we tracted into a member who has lived here for about a year. She was baptized a number of years ago and graduated from BYU-I. We talked with her about church and how much we’d love to see her there. We closed our visit with a very powerful prayer that Sister Bruner offered and then walked away not thinking anything more about it. On Sunday I got tapped on the shoulder and I turned around to see Bethany (the member) standing there!!! She smiled and said “I made it!” I gave her a huge hug and told her how happy I was to see her! She sat with me in sacrament and then stayed to meet with the bishop. During sacrament she was reading her scriptures and really pondering. The meeting was amazing. It felt so catered to her. I hope to see her again.
This past Sunday I had so many moments where I could really feel the joy of missionary work. Really feel it. When Eric bore his testimony. When he smiled at me as he sat back down. When Bethany was sitting next to me. As I listened to all the testimonies born. As Scott, our other investigator, who insists on sitting up front turned in his seat before the meeting and gave me a huge smile followed by a thumbs up. As we walked through the halls and greeted the members we passed. Yesterday was filled with so much joy. D&C 18:15-16
We love it here.
Sister Bailey
Miracles happen Everyday. I wish I could write it all down. There’s not enough time.
Sam is gone.
The investigator that we gave to the elders still comes to our ward. The elders just told us this morning that she and her daughter are now on date for the 30th (to be baptized)!!! We’re so excited.
One miracle that happened this past week was that we tracted into a member who has lived here for about a year. She was baptized a number of years ago and graduated from BYU-I. We talked with her about church and how much we’d love to see her there. We closed our visit with a very powerful prayer that Sister Bruner offered and then walked away not thinking anything more about it. On Sunday I got tapped on the shoulder and I turned around to see Bethany (the member) standing there!!! She smiled and said “I made it!” I gave her a huge hug and told her how happy I was to see her! She sat with me in sacrament and then stayed to meet with the bishop. During sacrament she was reading her scriptures and really pondering. The meeting was amazing. It felt so catered to her. I hope to see her again.
This past Sunday I had so many moments where I could really feel the joy of missionary work. Really feel it. When Eric bore his testimony. When he smiled at me as he sat back down. When Bethany was sitting next to me. As I listened to all the testimonies born. As Scott, our other investigator, who insists on sitting up front turned in his seat before the meeting and gave me a huge smile followed by a thumbs up. As we walked through the halls and greeted the members we passed. Yesterday was filled with so much joy. D&C 18:15-16
We love it here.
Sister Bailey
Miracles happen Everyday. I wish I could write it all down. There’s not enough time.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
If ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, can ye feel so now?
My family is Awesome.
There is also someone else who is awesome. They have earned the nick name “Journal Phantom” from Sister Bruner and I. It all started when I received a package from Staples shortly before Christmas. I figured it was from my family and saved it until Christmas. It was from someone who knows me well because there was a very nice leather bound journal inside. It was not from my family. Since I won't be able to send them a thank you card for it I have decided to thank them here in my weekly e-mail, since it will be posted for the public. Thank you so much. It meant a lot to me.
Eric was able to go on the youth temple trip. He loved it and is trying to find a way to go again as soon as he can! I can’t blame him. I miss being able to go to the temple when ever I want. I’d live there if I could! The spirit is so strong within those walls. He also helped prepare the sacrament on Sunday for the first time. I love it. He loves it! He really is one of those one-in-a-million people who has gained a testimony and never looked back. There is nothing stopping him. He is how every baptism should be. He is so stellar. We taught him about priesthood and gave him a True to the Faith book so that he can continue reading and studying on his own when the recent convert lessons are over. He loved it. He absolutely loves the gospel.
Sam is heading to Louisiana to go to school. He has a testimony. He knows Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and he knows that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. He doesn’t want to be baptized right now. It was hard. I think he will make it though. God willing he will make it. He has promised to write and to find LDS services to attend while at school as well as meet the elders there. He is a great kid.
The investigator that we gave to the elders still comes to our ward and from what she says and the elders say she is doing GREAT!!! She is amazing. She’s reading the Book of Mormon cover to cover as well as all her assignments that she’s given by the missionaries and then after reading she goes back and marks all the verses she like and writes what she’s thinking.
We finally got in to teach a family that we’ve been trying to teach since we got here. They love the missionaries. They are feeding us on Wednesday and are already familiar with the spirit. They are newly weds and are excited to learn more about the gospel. We are excited to teach them.
Things are wonderful and Christmas was great. I absolutely LOVED talking to my family on Christmas and was ecstatic that they were all together when I called. We were also able to go visit people in the area that were having a hard time or were spending Christmas alone and share little thoughts with them. We loved it. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day.
We love it here.
Prayer is the best. I know that God answers prayers. In his own way and in His own time, but he answers. It is one of the greatest expressions of love I know of. I love Him. He loves me. He loves each of you. I hope all your Christmases were wonderful. There is much in the world to be rejoicing about.
Luke 2:13-14.
Sister Bailey
There is also someone else who is awesome. They have earned the nick name “Journal Phantom” from Sister Bruner and I. It all started when I received a package from Staples shortly before Christmas. I figured it was from my family and saved it until Christmas. It was from someone who knows me well because there was a very nice leather bound journal inside. It was not from my family. Since I won't be able to send them a thank you card for it I have decided to thank them here in my weekly e-mail, since it will be posted for the public. Thank you so much. It meant a lot to me.
Eric was able to go on the youth temple trip. He loved it and is trying to find a way to go again as soon as he can! I can’t blame him. I miss being able to go to the temple when ever I want. I’d live there if I could! The spirit is so strong within those walls. He also helped prepare the sacrament on Sunday for the first time. I love it. He loves it! He really is one of those one-in-a-million people who has gained a testimony and never looked back. There is nothing stopping him. He is how every baptism should be. He is so stellar. We taught him about priesthood and gave him a True to the Faith book so that he can continue reading and studying on his own when the recent convert lessons are over. He loved it. He absolutely loves the gospel.
Sam is heading to Louisiana to go to school. He has a testimony. He knows Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and he knows that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. He doesn’t want to be baptized right now. It was hard. I think he will make it though. God willing he will make it. He has promised to write and to find LDS services to attend while at school as well as meet the elders there. He is a great kid.
The investigator that we gave to the elders still comes to our ward and from what she says and the elders say she is doing GREAT!!! She is amazing. She’s reading the Book of Mormon cover to cover as well as all her assignments that she’s given by the missionaries and then after reading she goes back and marks all the verses she like and writes what she’s thinking.
We finally got in to teach a family that we’ve been trying to teach since we got here. They love the missionaries. They are feeding us on Wednesday and are already familiar with the spirit. They are newly weds and are excited to learn more about the gospel. We are excited to teach them.
Things are wonderful and Christmas was great. I absolutely LOVED talking to my family on Christmas and was ecstatic that they were all together when I called. We were also able to go visit people in the area that were having a hard time or were spending Christmas alone and share little thoughts with them. We loved it. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day.
We love it here.
Prayer is the best. I know that God answers prayers. In his own way and in His own time, but he answers. It is one of the greatest expressions of love I know of. I love Him. He loves me. He loves each of you. I hope all your Christmases were wonderful. There is much in the world to be rejoicing about.
Luke 2:13-14.
Sister Bailey
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Merry Christmas!!!
It is almost Christmas time and Liberty Lake is warm. Very warm. The mid to upper forties! Sister Bruner and I still find ourselves bundling up though because layers mean that we stay dryer longer. And dryer equals warmer. We are both VERY grateful for the packages we’ve received from our families. Christmas time is a wonderful time of year. Everyone wants to give. I hope that in all our giving we can remember what the birth of that little babe in those humble beginnings meant for each of us. It was the first day of the rest of eternity. He truly lived up to His potential so that we could live up to ours. Let it not go to waste.
Eric is still amazing but no longer can be considered an investigator. He is now a full-blown member and is attending some of our lessons with other investigators to help us teach! And he is absolutely elated about it! Sam is struggling a bit as his baptismal date approaches. We don’t want to rush it. If he doesn’t get baptized here I believe he will in Louisiana. He just needs more time. I have had a lot of peace about it. I don’t know what will happen, but we’ve been fasting and praying about him and with him and I have peace about the situation. That so typifies of the gospel in general. It doesn’t fix problems, it doesn’t promise that things will turn out the way them seem they should, but there is peace. A peace you can find nowhere else and a peace that lingers. It will stay with you as long as you let it.
We gave up one of our investigators to the Elders in the other ward because that’s where she lives. She’s amazing. It was very hard. I hope to see her all in white before I leave. The members are still amazing and Sister Bruner and I are on the edge of a lot of stellar investigators. We just have to get in and teach! We love it here. A member brought us a fruit basket the other night and it was a total Godsend!!! We almost never get fresh fruits and veggies.
Things are continually looking up for Sister Bruner and I.
OH yeah! Something really exciting happened and I totally forgot to write about it last preparation day! I don’t remember it all that well so it wont be as good, but it will still be worth it. Basically, wolves almost ate my district leader. It was dark (which means it could have been anywhere from 4:00pm to 9:00pm because it gets dark that early here) and Elder Bertoch and Elder Howell had to walk to a member’s home for an appointment…or to drop something off I can’t remember. They don’t have a car so they decided to take the short cut and walk through the wheat field by their house to get to the development on the other side. They kept hearing noises and the noises kept getting closer, but they had no lights so all they could see was the wheat in front of their faces. They said the noises sounded like a hurt animal. This gave them the willies and they stopped to look around. Elder Bertoch said he saw three sets of glowing amber eyes not too far off in the distance, kind of up on a hill. When he asked Elder Howell if he saw them he said no and they kept walking. As they reached the end of the field Elder Bertoch said he got the distinct impression that something was watching them and looked over his shoulder just to calm his nerves. This time, “about a stone’s throw away”, He saw those Amber eyes moving through the wheat but this time the eyes were connected to big black figures in the wheat. He told Elder Howell to turn around and whispered, “You see those right?” Elder Howell responded quickly with, “of course I do!” and at the same time the figures stopped moving. The elders than made a plan. One faced the fence and one faced the creatures in the dark and they shuffled back to back over to the fence. Once they had it unlocked and opened they took off for the road. They re-told this story to the member once arriving safely at their house and she and her husband just said “Yeah, they were probably wolves”.
So there you have it. My District leader and his companion were almost eaten by wolves in a wheat field in the middle of the dark. It was pretty exciting. He told us on my birthday and it was awesome! He called us later that week to tell us that on the way home one night they decided to avoid the field due to their previous experience and take the (still dark) service road. As they approached it they heard the distinct call of a wolf coming from somewhere up the road. They prayed and one of the members randomly drove by and picked them up. God loves His missionaries.
I love all of you. I will be thinking of you a lot as Sister Bruner and I visit families on Christmas and share the Christmas story with them. I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year! Thank you for your love and support. If I haven’t written you back yet know that I will. Things are just crazy.
Sister Bailey
Mormon 9:27
Give Him your whole heart this year.
Eric is still amazing but no longer can be considered an investigator. He is now a full-blown member and is attending some of our lessons with other investigators to help us teach! And he is absolutely elated about it! Sam is struggling a bit as his baptismal date approaches. We don’t want to rush it. If he doesn’t get baptized here I believe he will in Louisiana. He just needs more time. I have had a lot of peace about it. I don’t know what will happen, but we’ve been fasting and praying about him and with him and I have peace about the situation. That so typifies of the gospel in general. It doesn’t fix problems, it doesn’t promise that things will turn out the way them seem they should, but there is peace. A peace you can find nowhere else and a peace that lingers. It will stay with you as long as you let it.
We gave up one of our investigators to the Elders in the other ward because that’s where she lives. She’s amazing. It was very hard. I hope to see her all in white before I leave. The members are still amazing and Sister Bruner and I are on the edge of a lot of stellar investigators. We just have to get in and teach! We love it here. A member brought us a fruit basket the other night and it was a total Godsend!!! We almost never get fresh fruits and veggies.
Things are continually looking up for Sister Bruner and I.
OH yeah! Something really exciting happened and I totally forgot to write about it last preparation day! I don’t remember it all that well so it wont be as good, but it will still be worth it. Basically, wolves almost ate my district leader. It was dark (which means it could have been anywhere from 4:00pm to 9:00pm because it gets dark that early here) and Elder Bertoch and Elder Howell had to walk to a member’s home for an appointment…or to drop something off I can’t remember. They don’t have a car so they decided to take the short cut and walk through the wheat field by their house to get to the development on the other side. They kept hearing noises and the noises kept getting closer, but they had no lights so all they could see was the wheat in front of their faces. They said the noises sounded like a hurt animal. This gave them the willies and they stopped to look around. Elder Bertoch said he saw three sets of glowing amber eyes not too far off in the distance, kind of up on a hill. When he asked Elder Howell if he saw them he said no and they kept walking. As they reached the end of the field Elder Bertoch said he got the distinct impression that something was watching them and looked over his shoulder just to calm his nerves. This time, “about a stone’s throw away”, He saw those Amber eyes moving through the wheat but this time the eyes were connected to big black figures in the wheat. He told Elder Howell to turn around and whispered, “You see those right?” Elder Howell responded quickly with, “of course I do!” and at the same time the figures stopped moving. The elders than made a plan. One faced the fence and one faced the creatures in the dark and they shuffled back to back over to the fence. Once they had it unlocked and opened they took off for the road. They re-told this story to the member once arriving safely at their house and she and her husband just said “Yeah, they were probably wolves”.
So there you have it. My District leader and his companion were almost eaten by wolves in a wheat field in the middle of the dark. It was pretty exciting. He told us on my birthday and it was awesome! He called us later that week to tell us that on the way home one night they decided to avoid the field due to their previous experience and take the (still dark) service road. As they approached it they heard the distinct call of a wolf coming from somewhere up the road. They prayed and one of the members randomly drove by and picked them up. God loves His missionaries.
I love all of you. I will be thinking of you a lot as Sister Bruner and I visit families on Christmas and share the Christmas story with them. I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year! Thank you for your love and support. If I haven’t written you back yet know that I will. Things are just crazy.
Sister Bailey
Mormon 9:27
Give Him your whole heart this year.
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