We went to the zoo this morning, so I wore jeans for the first time in ages. Also, we can wear dress slacks. Still not sure how I feel about that.
The highlight of this week was that Lexie got baptized on Saturday! It was amazing. She was so excited, and her mom was just thrilled! Baptisms are the greatest. The Spirit is so strong! And of course, the week right before a baptism is crazy. Lexie's whole family was sick early in the week, and we got sick in the middle of the week (it wasn't bad, just exhausted). But everything works out in the Lord's work!
And now I have to run off to help get some last minute packages to the other sisters in our zone, but I hope you take the time tonight and tomorrow to remember Jesus Christ and His life and the miracle it is!
Love you, bye!
Sister Cate
Monday, January 21, 2019
Week 41 (12/17/18): I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...
President Mackay asked all of us to pray for a white Christmas- for someone to be dressed in white! And Lexie is getting baptized on Satuday!! I'm so excited! It has been so cool to see her change, even though she's only 9. The gospel of Jesus Christ truly does bless everyone!
Also, we got another flat tire. For those counting, that is the third one I've had with this car (I've had this car my entire mission.) But it was kind of a tender mercy that it happened when it did, because we had to drive up to Modesto, about 1.5 hours away, and so if it hadn't gone flat when it did, it might have happened while we were driving to Modesto, which at 75mph would have been bad. So we got the spare on and took it in the next morning, got a ride to Modesto with the senior couple, and picked it up when we got back. It worked out so well. God was definitely looking out for us!
Really cool story- a couple months ago, we visited a less active family and they shared with us that he had a court case coming up where his ex was trying to raise his child support, and it was already over $1000 a month. Well, I was prompted to extend the promise that if they would come back to church, the court case would go well and his child support would not go up. Fast forward to last week, the house they're renting had a couple water pipes burst, and they still haven't been fixed, so they're looking into buying their own. But last year, because his child support was so high, they were only able to qualify for a certain amount for a loan. However, they had the court case this week, and his child support went from over $1000 to $300, which is a huge miracle in and of itself, and also now they'll qualify for a bigger loan so they can actually get their own home. It was such a testimony builder for me! God really does fulfill his promises. And it's amazing to be an authorized representative of Jesus Christ and to be able to make promises that come from God!
To be perfectly honest, when I first got the prompting, I was really surprised, but it came again, so I extended the promise to them. Can you imagine if I hadn't listened to it? I definitely learned that whenever the Spirit tells you to do something, you do it! In the same vein, last night, Sister Smith said we needed to visit another less active family. I've tried to talk to them for a long time, without luck, but we went, and the dad got home right after we got there and we were able to talk to him for a long time and figure out how to get his daughters, who are recent converts, to church! Huge miracle!
If this hadn't already gotten so long, I'd tell you all about how much I love Jacob 5, but I'll let you read it for yourself. I found an article that really helps explain it, so I'd suggest using that to help you understand it. I have such a testimony of this chapter!
Have a great week, and don't forget to invite people to the special Sacrament meeting on the 23rd!
Love you, bye!
Sister Cate
Week 40 (12/10/18): "I'm trying really hard not to break the reindeer's neck."
How to describe this past week? I have texted a ridiculous amount of people, we've had more set appointments than ever, and Sister Walker and Sister Smith laugh a lot (usually at night because they're overtired).
One of the most exciting things has been that I've actually been kind of understanding Isaiah! Where I'm at, Isaiah has been passing on a message to King Ahaz, king of Judah. The background is that the kingdoms of Syria and Ephraim formed an alliance to fight against Assyria, and they want the kingdom of Judah to join the alliance. Initially, King Ahaz says no. So Syria and Ephraim decide to force Judah to join by threatening to attack them if they don't join the alliance. Isaiah tells King Ahaz that the Lord says not to join the alliance, but to trust God. Multiple times. Yet what does King Ahaz do? He joins the alliance. And Assyria destroys the kingdom of Judah, getting all the way to Jerusalem. By then, Judah had a new king, Hezekiah, who trusts in God. And then overnight, 185,000 Assyrian soldiers are killed by an angel of the Lord. So, as Sister Smith put it, "The moral of the story is that if you trust in the Lord, an angel will kill your enemies."
Have a great week and trust in God!
Love you, bye!
Sister Cate
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Week 39 (12//3/18): "Everything is mucho gusto."
So this week has been crazy! I feel like I say that every week, but it's always true. The biggest news is that we are now in a trio. Sister Walker was Sister Howard's companion before me, so now we have had all the possible combinations of me, Sister Howard, Sister Grammer, and Sister Walker (Sister Grammer and Sister Walker became companions when Sister Howard and I first did, and Sister Howard and Sister Grammer are companions now.) So that's fun. She is a totally different missionary than me, but she brings a whole different dynamic to Chowchilla. It's been good.
Other big news is that I hit 9 months this week. That was weird. Mom sent me a super sweet (pun not intended) package. Pictures are included below. We used to do this for Father's Day when we were little, so it really meant a lot.
We were in the Merced Christmas parade, and that was so fun! We took mini candy canes and tied them with ribbon to Light the World cards. We made somewhere around 800. So that was fun! I don't know if we have pictures of the parade or not... But it was fun!
Being a missionary at Christmas is the best! Everyone is willing to talk to you about Jesus Christ! I am so looking forward to the 23rd! Invitation Sunday is going to be amazing! Being able to help others come closer to Jesus Christ is the best thing I could be doing right now.
Love you, bye!
Sister Cate
 |
| Sister Smith, Sister Walker, and I |
 |
| Sister Smith and I at the temple for transfer hub |
 |
| Light the World cards in progress |
 |
| Package from home |
 |
| Reheating frozen soup |
Week 38 (11/26/18): "It's a snail minefield!"
This week has been a rollercoaster. We got transfer calls, but we got a call from the assistants that we couldn't pick up, and they haven't called us back, so I'll wait to say anything until then. Because who knows what they want. We've seen so many miracles. We have quite a few people who we've met with once who we really think will get baptized, which is amazing! The work here in Chowchilla is picking up, and everyone is feeling it! And our new bishopric is really pushing Invitation Sunday, so that's huge!
We got a ton of rain, which was amazing! And all the snails came out again, which was fun. But avoiding them at night is a challenge! But it was so good to get rain again.
I love seeing how Heavenly Father has a plan, and how we are led to those who are prepared to receive the gospel every day!
Love you, bye!
Sister Cate
Week 37 (11/19/18): "I don't care if He's purple! He's your Savior!"
This week has been absolutely nuts. Between the smoke from the fires, starting the 5-7pm finding time and getting a new bishopric (which meant losing our ward mission leader) and figuring out how to work with the assigned counselors in the Elders Quorum and Relief Society, it has been a little overwhelming, but also really good. We have seen so many miracles from the 5-7 finding time, including being able to meet with a couple less active part member families for the first time. And we've met lots of amazing people. Everyone here in Chowchilla is feeling that the work is hastening.
I have learned so much from Sister Smith. Sometimes I feel like she's training me. She is so good at focusing on our purpose, and is so optomistic. We laugh so much, and we work together so well. Can she just stay here in Chowchilla with me forever?
I can't believe this transfer is already almost over, but I am so grateful to be here in Chowchilla with Sister Smith. This really is the best place ever!
Sister Cate
Week 35 (11/12/18): "It's a form of mass hysteria."
That quote is kind of a good summary of this week. We had zone conference this week, and SO MANY CHANGES! We're setting aside 5-7pm for finding new people to teach every day from now on, eating dinner from 4-5 in our apartment, and eating with members only on Saturday and Sunday. It's really a higher and holier way of doing missionary work. This was tested in a couple missions, and they saw convert baptisms double!! That's exactly what Chowchilla needs! I am so excited!!!
In other news, we get a new bishop next week, and my ear infection has progressed to a double ear infection. Good news though is that it's not really hurting as much anymore. And we've been able to do missionary work mostly like normal, so that's what's really important.
Sister Smith has been so patient with me as I've been in pain. Seriously, I don't handle pain super well. It makes me want to stay in bed and do family history all day, but we've gone about missionary work mostly like normal. And she's been such a source of strength for me. She really helps me better understand our baptismal covenant to bear one another's burdens. She is such an amazing example, and the ward loves her. And so do I. She is so good at extending commitments and helping people to change. I am learning so much from her!
Anyways, there will be so many miracles to tell you about next week!
Love you, bye!
Sister Cate
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)