Thanksgiving Week

Us with our APs, ZLs, and our DL at interviews

December 2, 2013

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving! 

It was real cold this week, and we biked and biked in it. Thank goodness I brought a pair of tights. 

The week was good for us, we taught Tameka with Sister Clark which was SO good! She came and for her first time ever we didn't get porched! She seemed to be cursed from the beginning, even when she went out with the Sister's who were here in March, no one was ever there, and trust me, we've tried with her many times before! Anyways we taught the second half of the Plan of Salvation and it was just what she needed. Also her and Sister Clark were able to connect so well because they both had miscarriages in the third trimester. It was very spiritual, Tameka is committed, but she's taking her time with it. Even though we had asked and talked a little about how praying about it all was going I felt like we needed to follow up more so we asked about the answers/feelings she had. She said she got her answer that she needed to join the church but is having a hard time leaving hers behind because she has been going there for so many years. We were shocked! First of all, she hasn't even come to church yet! We are praying really hard for her to have the strength she needs. 

I don't even know where to start with Thanksgiving. First of all, they go all out! Like I always thought we went all out, until I experienced it Southern style. On top of all the usual there's more casseroles, a whole ham, mac and cheese is normal, there's ever type of vegetable that can absorb butter, and sooo many desserts. It was everything I dreamed it would be. After round one we went over to the Clarks and threw a football a little bit, explored their property, met there whole family, and then had room for MORE! It was really fun. We also went to the Taylor's but at that point there was no more room for anything. Same with Chris and Rebecca, I was so glad to go there, even though it was a holiday we were able to teach a legit lesson. Rebecca is a sponge! We ended up not teaching very much but just relating the importance of the gospel, and it wasn't just us, she was relating it to herself, it was so cool! She was like- so it's choose this path and receive blessings and eternal life, or go this way and... It was so cool. She was connecting all the things that have happened to her in the last couple years with how they prepared her for this path, for her family. Also she went into labor the next morning! Sad we won't be able to really teach them for a while and she won't be able to come to church but we got the basis in. She knows she wants it so that's all that matters right now. Christopher actually came to sacrament meeting anyways, still wants it so bad for his family.

Friday was a really interesting day, we tried fried turkey, and it was really good! Much less dry than your average turkey. But the interesting part was the Stake President came to our lesson with us. Johnny is from Mexico and married into a big mormon family. He sees how it blesses them, knows it's true, but is still nervous. I thought it was going to be a really chill thing and he would just talk to the investigator in Spanish a lot and make him more comfortable, but as soon as we got in all the attention was on him and it was our first time really teaching him and it was terrible. But President swooped in and got down to business, and just testified of all the blessings that come from the gospel and how the Lord is going to bless him and make loopholes for him. He even set him with a date to work towards. It was so perfect because of how similar everything he went through when he was converted was. Ended up being super spiritual and Johnny actually came to Gospel Principles on Sunday and the lesson was on eternal families, which we know he wants so badly. Hope he can pray sincerely and find the answer that is already there waiting for him. 

One thing that wasn't good that happened this week was Courtney got very offended by a ward member, who came into her home and was so racist and judgmental I can't even believe it. It felt like old times when we came just in time, just hours after we felt like we should go visit her and even when we left she was still a little heated about it. I was so scared forSunday, luckily she still came and even got up and bore her testimony again, and it was better than the first time, which I didn't think was possible. Also Trynitee went and did baptisms for the dead and wore a skirt instead of jeans for the first time on Sunday. Superstars over here. 

Anywayssss sorry this email has been so full of just information. I need to get better at condensing and only telling the really good stories. But I do have one thing I forgot to write about last week, or maybe was just too embarrassed. Everyone drives on lawns here, it's just normal to park in them, and turn around in them and Sister White was doing a U-turn and we went in someones lawn and there happened to be a mud pit/sinkhole under all the grass. We sunk like all the way down to the license plate, it was horrible. So yeah I'm still an idiot, grateful for Southern hospitality and the fact that everyone in the neighborhood had a giant truck so one was nice enough to pull us out, and then the peoples whose lawn it was even hosed our car off. 

I can't believe Christmas is so soon and that I get to talk to you guys so soon! Every time I look at the date I can't believe it's another day closer. Email me questions so that I have things to say. Miss you guys and even though the South was real good to me, it doesn't beat being home for Thanksgiving.
Also Happy Birthday Ben!!!! Hope it was good and that you and Tash had a fantastic Kenyan celebration. It was probably one of your first years ever without score cake, I miss it too.

Love you!!

Sister Stevens