Holy cow I can't believe all of the snow Utah has gotten this past week. Good grief are you all still alive?! We haven't gotten any snow so far. Last year was out of control, it only happens every 20 years or so. Hopefully we will get a little bit of snow close to Christmas. Speaking of Christmas are we going to draw names this year? As far as gifts please don't go crazy. I already have tons of stuff and don't need anything. I have no idea what I want so just get me a stocking and Christmas Eve PJ's.
Yes I am staying in Damascus and sis. Barber is leaving. Yesterday in church I was asked to speak in Sacrament meeting about showing gratitude to Jesus Christ. Looking out over the ward I was getting nervous about transfers. There are so many members I love and would terribly miss. Hopefully I will end my mission here. That would be a dream come true!
Thanksgiving was a lot of fun. We went to the Marsh's home for dinner. They had 2 of their married daughters with their families there so It was a big group. The Marsh's have the missionaries over every year for Thanksgiving so it is a big tradition to have a huge group. Later that night we went home and played games with Sis. Marler and Gina. It was a blast. I just love the Marlers. They are the nicest family and lot of fun to live with. On Sunday Brother Marler came down during our companion study and invited us to come up and have waffles with them. Mom you would never believe it....I actually used a wheat grinder. Yes I know how to help you use a storage can of wheat. I grounded it up into a powder and sis. Marler used it for the waffles. On Saturday we had a blast and a half at Brother Crum's house. Brother Crum's non member wife, Jan, works every year on Thanksgiving so they celebrate it on Saturday and they invite friends from the ward over to lunch. Jan is half Italian so she really knows how to cook. We had a huge spread. there were about 16 people there, all of my favorite families from the ward, Brother and Sis. Suhaka with Bro. Suhaka's older brother and his friend, Mama Mooney and Papa Prince (Alan) and the Wheyforth's. We just laughed the entire time!
The work this week was a little slow because of the holidays. Here is an update on our investigators:
Linda: We were unable to meet with her this week due to Brianna, her youngest getting sick. We had to reschedule it for this week. Even though we were unable to meet with her she came to church with her entire family! Her husband had to work in the morning and Linda didn't think he would come but he did. Her husband ceases to amaze me. He doesn't agree with the doctrine of the church but comes to support Linda. He knows it is important for his family to be together at church.
Mayne family: The Mayne's are a less active family in the ward. Tina who is 17 just got baptized this summer and stopped going to church this fall. Sis. Mayne has a solid testimony but feels like a hypocrite when she comes to church because she know she is making mistakes and not living to the gospel standards. We haven't been able to meet with her for a long time so it was great to visit. We shared a great message on being an example. she told us it is exactly what she needed. She was talking about the same thing to her husband just the day before. The spirit works in mysterious ways sometimes.
Hope all of you stay warm this week!!!
Love, Sis. Bridges
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Regaining Focus...
We had such a great week! I can't believe that Stacia is done. How crazy is that?! Thanks for the update on your stake conference. Sounds like it was a great weekend. I just love stake conference. It sounds nerdy but it is so great to hear the leaders of the stake talk. Thanks for the wallet photos and card. Mom, you asked what I would like -- I would love a copy of the Conference Ensign if you get a chance. I love to keep it near and read the talks over and over. Plus a new Christmas CD would be awesome -- I loved the Hilary Weeks one from last year. It isn't too cold quite yet but it is getting there. The highs are in the mid 40s to the mid 50s with it getting below freezing every night. Burrrr...
We had a specialized Training this week. Pretty much it was a Zone Conference. It was so powerful. The spirit was very strong in the meeting. It has helped me be able to re-gain focus on my purpose as a missionary. I hate to admit it but we have had a couple of hard weeks so my focus has decreased. Sometimes Satan tries his hardest to keep the work from progressing. The meeting helped me understand the need of qualifying for the spirit at ALL times in order to be an effective missionary. Since the meeting i have been more happy and being able to feel the spirit lead us to those who are seeking for the truth. In the meeting we talked about the importance of asking inspired questions and it really does work. The spirit will prompt us to ask the questions we need to extend to our investigators to allow them to make the gospel a greater focus in their life.
The day of the training I woke up with the impression that we needed to visit the Brumbaugh's. All throughout the training I was thinking about them and felt impressed to go see them later that evening. We had plans which caused us to be in another part of the area so I thought we could see them the next day. As we were going through our plans after the training they were falling through. The spirit almost screamed at me to visit the Brumbaugh's. I told Sis. Barber that we needed to go visit them. When we arrived to the Brumbaugh's, Idette answered the door, Idette is Frank's wife. She let us right in and said that she usually isn't home at this time of the day. We sat down and had a great lesson with her. She is definitely interested in the gospel for her family. We had a powerful lesson and were able to use a lot of the teaching techniques we practiced in the training. We were prompted to ask inspired questions which opened Idette right up. The spirit is so powerful and does all of the heavy lifting in the lessons. All we have to do as missionaries is qualify for it.
I love this work! It is magical!! Love you all -- Sister B
We had a specialized Training this week. Pretty much it was a Zone Conference. It was so powerful. The spirit was very strong in the meeting. It has helped me be able to re-gain focus on my purpose as a missionary. I hate to admit it but we have had a couple of hard weeks so my focus has decreased. Sometimes Satan tries his hardest to keep the work from progressing. The meeting helped me understand the need of qualifying for the spirit at ALL times in order to be an effective missionary. Since the meeting i have been more happy and being able to feel the spirit lead us to those who are seeking for the truth. In the meeting we talked about the importance of asking inspired questions and it really does work. The spirit will prompt us to ask the questions we need to extend to our investigators to allow them to make the gospel a greater focus in their life.
The day of the training I woke up with the impression that we needed to visit the Brumbaugh's. All throughout the training I was thinking about them and felt impressed to go see them later that evening. We had plans which caused us to be in another part of the area so I thought we could see them the next day. As we were going through our plans after the training they were falling through. The spirit almost screamed at me to visit the Brumbaugh's. I told Sis. Barber that we needed to go visit them. When we arrived to the Brumbaugh's, Idette answered the door, Idette is Frank's wife. She let us right in and said that she usually isn't home at this time of the day. We sat down and had a great lesson with her. She is definitely interested in the gospel for her family. We had a powerful lesson and were able to use a lot of the teaching techniques we practiced in the training. We were prompted to ask inspired questions which opened Idette right up. The spirit is so powerful and does all of the heavy lifting in the lessons. All we have to do as missionaries is qualify for it.
I love this work! It is magical!! Love you all -- Sister B
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
From baptism to temple
Sister Bridges was able to attend the temple with Jane last week, who also happened to be her first baptism in Petersburg, West Virginia. Jane asked Lerin to be her escort. What a beautiful experience it was for both of them - miracles and blessings of the gospel were evident for both Lerin and Jane on that perfect day in the Washington D.C. temple.
Last weekend another invesigator, Alan was baptized. Lerin said that the ward is being wonderful and helping him to adjust to life as a member of the church. He is happy and the light of Christ is shining inside him.
Last weekend another invesigator, Alan was baptized. Lerin said that the ward is being wonderful and helping him to adjust to life as a member of the church. He is happy and the light of Christ is shining inside him.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Release Date is on the books!
Sister Bridges is getting released on Feb 23rd - her dads birthday! Of course we expected her to come home in January - but she and her President felt otherwise.....sigh. She left on my birthday and is getting released on her dad's birthday~~what fun gifts for us both. Lynn and I are heading out to Maryland to pick her up, so she may not arrive back home until a few days after the 23rd. She is excited for us to meet the many people she has grown to love so much, we are thrilled that we get such an opportunity to watch and observe our cute missionary in the field.
Here is a tidbit from her last letter...
Sorry about not e-mailing yesterday but the libraries were closed around here for Columbus Day. I forgot to mention that to you last week. This week was so much fun! I was on exchanges with Sis. Buchanan from my MTC group from Monday to Thursday while our companions were in a 3 day long leadership training. The leadership training is for all of the DL and ZL but they invite some of the Sisters as well. All the sisters get a chance to participate, which is awesome! While they were gone, it was fun to be in a new area with a good mission friend. We were able to get a lot of good work in and comitted two people for a baptismal within 3 hours of each other. The work in the mission is outstanding. With the baptisms this past weekend we have tied our year mark last year of baptisms. Our goal as a mission is to get 300 baptisms and we are well on our way of accomplishing it.
The most amazing and best part of this week was being with Jane Halterman at the DC temple. What a humbling experience it was to be Jane's escort in the temple. When walking into the temple I felt like I was going home. It was such a peaceful feeling. During the endowment session Jane was fully concentrating. She was eating it all up. She has been prepared for this since day one~when we met over a year ago, I felt like she was just waiting for us and the gospel. It was a wonderful opportunity to see someone get baptized then a year later go through the temple. I have attached some photos of the temple. Sis. Hales and Byers were able to be there as well as Bishop & Sis. Kimble and their daughter in law Lucy Kimble. (By the way parents....I am taking you to Petersburg WV to attend church when you come pick me up in February -- Bishop and Sis Kimble said we could stay at their house!)
On that note -- my release date is Feb 23rd. It is weird to know the exact date -- too much still to do out here! FEB 23rd -- Happy Brithday to Dad!!!! How funny is that?! I will leave on mom's birthday and get home on Dad's! I 'm so sad about Stone. I was hoping he would still be around when I got home. He almost made it through. Glad you were able to see the Morgans! Thanks for the fun packages! Are you trying to fatten me up?! But it was very much appreciated and the Elders in my district loved it as well. We brought some of the candy to district meeting today.
LOVE you all so much ~ Sis. B
Here is a tidbit from her last letter...
Sorry about not e-mailing yesterday but the libraries were closed around here for Columbus Day. I forgot to mention that to you last week. This week was so much fun! I was on exchanges with Sis. Buchanan from my MTC group from Monday to Thursday while our companions were in a 3 day long leadership training. The leadership training is for all of the DL and ZL but they invite some of the Sisters as well. All the sisters get a chance to participate, which is awesome! While they were gone, it was fun to be in a new area with a good mission friend. We were able to get a lot of good work in and comitted two people for a baptismal within 3 hours of each other. The work in the mission is outstanding. With the baptisms this past weekend we have tied our year mark last year of baptisms. Our goal as a mission is to get 300 baptisms and we are well on our way of accomplishing it.
The most amazing and best part of this week was being with Jane Halterman at the DC temple. What a humbling experience it was to be Jane's escort in the temple. When walking into the temple I felt like I was going home. It was such a peaceful feeling. During the endowment session Jane was fully concentrating. She was eating it all up. She has been prepared for this since day one~when we met over a year ago, I felt like she was just waiting for us and the gospel. It was a wonderful opportunity to see someone get baptized then a year later go through the temple. I have attached some photos of the temple. Sis. Hales and Byers were able to be there as well as Bishop & Sis. Kimble and their daughter in law Lucy Kimble. (By the way parents....I am taking you to Petersburg WV to attend church when you come pick me up in February -- Bishop and Sis Kimble said we could stay at their house!)
On that note -- my release date is Feb 23rd. It is weird to know the exact date -- too much still to do out here! FEB 23rd -- Happy Brithday to Dad!!!! How funny is that?! I will leave on mom's birthday and get home on Dad's! I 'm so sad about Stone. I was hoping he would still be around when I got home. He almost made it through. Glad you were able to see the Morgans! Thanks for the fun packages! Are you trying to fatten me up?! But it was very much appreciated and the Elders in my district loved it as well. We brought some of the candy to district meeting today.
LOVE you all so much ~ Sis. B
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The Yangs were baptized!
Talofa Family:
It is true, Brother and Sister Yang got baptized on Sunday!!! Crazy story...two weeks ago on Sunday in between Sunday school and relief society Sis. Yang and Sis. Lin were talking in Chinese to each other. Sis. Yang was inviting us over to a Chinese lunch on Friday and at the end she said that her and her husband wanted to get baptized sometime in September and wanted to know when. Sis. Lin was shocked and leaned over to tell me. I freaked out (as expected) and said NEXT WEEK! We were both blown out of the water. An investigator asking us when they could get baptized. That never happens. Later on Sunday I had to call President to ask if I could go to Gage's funeral and told him about the yangs. He was reacting like a little kid on Christmas Morning.. excited, shocked, giddy and couldn't believe it at first! On Monday after the funeral we went to visit Sis. Yang to give her the baptismal questions. She was so nervous for the interview but she passed with flying colors. During lunch on Friday we asked what caused the change of heart in which she went on to tell us they have been wanting to get baptized for a long time but were worried about the information they have heard from their friends and on the Internet about the church. The more they interacted with the members and came to church they realized everything they had heard was false. The members are actually good people and the doctrines taught in church were true. Their baptism on Sunday was very special. The spirit was extremely strong and there was great support from the ward. The primary room was packed. Mandy, their 14 year old daughter, was touched by the experience as well. She is wanting to get baptized now. We need to work with her a little bit but it will happen before the month ends. What a remarkable experience it is to bring families into the gospel. The Yangs are going to be an eternal family. This gospel changes lives on a continual basis.
Gage McIntyre: 3 weeks ago on Sunday night Gage was riding his bike on a dark road and a car hit him head on causing Gage to fly to the ground and pass out. He was immediately flown to John's Hopkins and put on life support for 3 days. After many tests he was categorized at being brain dead. On Wednesday afternoon he was confirmed dead. I didn't find out about the accident till Wednesday night. I was shocked and speechless. Sis. Hales (who was also trained by Sis. Lindsey and one of my best mission friends) told me the news. Both of us got really close to the McIntyre family while serving on Kent Island. The McIntyre's were my second family. Sis. McIntyre was Mamma McIntyre, Gage was the annoying but incredibly funny little brother and Desiree was my Sister. The McIntyre's did so much for us and were trying to have the missionaries move in with them. We had a lot of fun on Monday nights with FHE and great dinners.
Gage's funeral was such a bitter sweet experience. It was great to see the branch members as well as the McIntyre family but it was under horrible circumstances. during the drive to Annapolis I was pretty composed but the moment we pulled up to the Stake Center and saw the hearse in the parking lot I got a real sick to my stomach type of feeling. I couldn't walk into the chapel for a number of minutes, as I walked into the chapel and saw his casket I lost it. Gage was a huge skate boarder and the way his friends showed their respects was covering his casket in skate boarding stickers. Minutes before the funeral started a group of his friends went up to the casket to put their stickers on. At that moment I started bawling. The funeral service was amazing. the entire chapel was packed with non-members. A lot of Gage's friends showed up as well as extended family. President Robinson, Kent Island Branch President, and President McConckie, Annapolis Stake President who happens to be the Nephew of Bruce R. McConckie, spoke. There was such a peaceful feeling in the room. President McConckie is a very powerful speaker who has a close relationship with the McIntyres. He spoke on the resurrection and brought up a good point I would like to share. He referred to the story of Christ raising Lazarus from the dead. He said this miracle is something we were all praying would happen to Gage; he would suddenly wake up from his "sleep." But it didn't happen, instead Gage is with our Heavenly Father smiling down on us. Pres. McConckie said that when Lazarus was raised from the dead he was still subject to all kinds of diseases, bruises, scares, and uncertainties which we are surrounded with every minute of every day. Gage is never going to be surrounded by this. When Gage, and all of us, raise again from the dead, or in other words resurrected we will be perfect in every form. NOTHING will happen to us.
The week I found out about Gage's death, and things going on at home made the week hard for me. We worked anyways, it was comforting to me to know that the work much go on. The Lord blessed us with a Celestial week last week. We got amazing numbers in Member Present lessons as well as Investigators at Sacrament Meeting. We worked our hind ends off and it brought in lots of miracles. The week ended with the wonderful baptism. The Lord does provide when you continue on in righteous pursuits. We were able to find another family to teach as well as got a solid member referral.
The Udalls who live in the ward invited us over for dinner to meet their former next-door neighbor Karen. Karen is a single mom of an adorable 5 year old daughter who now lives in Pennsylvania. Karen had ordered a BOM off of the TV when she was a kid but her mom forbid her to read it. Sis. Udall built a good friendship with Karen and talked about the church with her. Karen even came to a ward activity in the summer and enjoyed herself. We had a great lesson on the BOM and she committed to read it. She was excited to have a copy of her own. Right now she doesn't go to a church but was raised catholic. She has great spirit about her. We had to rush off to another appointment so the lesson was brief but it seemed to touch her. After we left Karen watched the Restoration DVD with the Udalls and was very touched by it. She wants to continue to meet with us.
We also found another Chinese couple to teach. Kind of a funny story...Last friday was Chinese day. We had a lunch scheduled with Sis. Yang and dinner with the Cheung family ( who are obviously Chinese). Before lunch we had planned to check on a former investigator who was from China, named Han. We had called Han a couple of times but never were able to set up an appointment. We decided to stop by and he happened to be home. We had a great lesson with him. He is lost and is going through a hard time financially. He is an unemployed accountant but is able to get little side jobs from different individuals. His wife is going to nursing school and their son is in his last year in high school. He has a lot of respect for the church and enjoys the missionary visits. He seems a little uncommitted but we were able to have a good meeting with him. On Friday during companionship studies we got a media referral on our cell phone from a woman who requested a BOM while visiting temple square and guess were she is from.....CHINA! How funny is that?! On Chinese day we get a media referral from a Chinese woman! We were only able to meet her husband. He is extremely nice and is in his last year of graduate school in getting is MBA. They will be moving back to china when the school year is over. He was excited for us to meet his wife, who still is out of town visiting the west coast.
With all of this great work going on the Lord has said my work is done. I am getting transferred on Wednesday. Just as everything is picking up and the work is on FIRE I get whipped out of the area. Oh well. I'm at peace right now in knowing that the Yangs got baptized. Nothing else matters. I'm excited to see were I will be going. If I have time on Wednesday I will write a quick e-mail with my new address.
Love you all~
It is true, Brother and Sister Yang got baptized on Sunday!!! Crazy story...two weeks ago on Sunday in between Sunday school and relief society Sis. Yang and Sis. Lin were talking in Chinese to each other. Sis. Yang was inviting us over to a Chinese lunch on Friday and at the end she said that her and her husband wanted to get baptized sometime in September and wanted to know when. Sis. Lin was shocked and leaned over to tell me. I freaked out (as expected) and said NEXT WEEK! We were both blown out of the water. An investigator asking us when they could get baptized. That never happens. Later on Sunday I had to call President to ask if I could go to Gage's funeral and told him about the yangs. He was reacting like a little kid on Christmas Morning.. excited, shocked, giddy and couldn't believe it at first! On Monday after the funeral we went to visit Sis. Yang to give her the baptismal questions. She was so nervous for the interview but she passed with flying colors. During lunch on Friday we asked what caused the change of heart in which she went on to tell us they have been wanting to get baptized for a long time but were worried about the information they have heard from their friends and on the Internet about the church. The more they interacted with the members and came to church they realized everything they had heard was false. The members are actually good people and the doctrines taught in church were true. Their baptism on Sunday was very special. The spirit was extremely strong and there was great support from the ward. The primary room was packed. Mandy, their 14 year old daughter, was touched by the experience as well. She is wanting to get baptized now. We need to work with her a little bit but it will happen before the month ends. What a remarkable experience it is to bring families into the gospel. The Yangs are going to be an eternal family. This gospel changes lives on a continual basis.
Gage's funeral was such a bitter sweet experience. It was great to see the branch members as well as the McIntyre family but it was under horrible circumstances. during the drive to Annapolis I was pretty composed but the moment we pulled up to the Stake Center and saw the hearse in the parking lot I got a real sick to my stomach type of feeling. I couldn't walk into the chapel for a number of minutes, as I walked into the chapel and saw his casket I lost it. Gage was a huge skate boarder and the way his friends showed their respects was covering his casket in skate boarding stickers. Minutes before the funeral started a group of his friends went up to the casket to put their stickers on. At that moment I started bawling. The funeral service was amazing. the entire chapel was packed with non-members. A lot of Gage's friends showed up as well as extended family. President Robinson, Kent Island Branch President, and President McConckie, Annapolis Stake President who happens to be the Nephew of Bruce R. McConckie, spoke. There was such a peaceful feeling in the room. President McConckie is a very powerful speaker who has a close relationship with the McIntyres. He spoke on the resurrection and brought up a good point I would like to share. He referred to the story of Christ raising Lazarus from the dead. He said this miracle is something we were all praying would happen to Gage; he would suddenly wake up from his "sleep." But it didn't happen, instead Gage is with our Heavenly Father smiling down on us. Pres. McConckie said that when Lazarus was raised from the dead he was still subject to all kinds of diseases, bruises, scares, and uncertainties which we are surrounded with every minute of every day. Gage is never going to be surrounded by this. When Gage, and all of us, raise again from the dead, or in other words resurrected we will be perfect in every form. NOTHING will happen to us.
The week I found out about Gage's death, and things going on at home made the week hard for me. We worked anyways, it was comforting to me to know that the work much go on. The Lord blessed us with a Celestial week last week. We got amazing numbers in Member Present lessons as well as Investigators at Sacrament Meeting. We worked our hind ends off and it brought in lots of miracles. The week ended with the wonderful baptism. The Lord does provide when you continue on in righteous pursuits. We were able to find another family to teach as well as got a solid member referral.
The Udalls who live in the ward invited us over for dinner to meet their former next-door neighbor Karen. Karen is a single mom of an adorable 5 year old daughter who now lives in Pennsylvania. Karen had ordered a BOM off of the TV when she was a kid but her mom forbid her to read it. Sis. Udall built a good friendship with Karen and talked about the church with her. Karen even came to a ward activity in the summer and enjoyed herself. We had a great lesson on the BOM and she committed to read it. She was excited to have a copy of her own. Right now she doesn't go to a church but was raised catholic. She has great spirit about her. We had to rush off to another appointment so the lesson was brief but it seemed to touch her. After we left Karen watched the Restoration DVD with the Udalls and was very touched by it. She wants to continue to meet with us.
We also found another Chinese couple to teach. Kind of a funny story...Last friday was Chinese day. We had a lunch scheduled with Sis. Yang and dinner with the Cheung family ( who are obviously Chinese). Before lunch we had planned to check on a former investigator who was from China, named Han. We had called Han a couple of times but never were able to set up an appointment. We decided to stop by and he happened to be home. We had a great lesson with him. He is lost and is going through a hard time financially. He is an unemployed accountant but is able to get little side jobs from different individuals. His wife is going to nursing school and their son is in his last year in high school. He has a lot of respect for the church and enjoys the missionary visits. He seems a little uncommitted but we were able to have a good meeting with him. On Friday during companionship studies we got a media referral on our cell phone from a woman who requested a BOM while visiting temple square and guess were she is from.....CHINA! How funny is that?! On Chinese day we get a media referral from a Chinese woman! We were only able to meet her husband. He is extremely nice and is in his last year of graduate school in getting is MBA. They will be moving back to china when the school year is over. He was excited for us to meet his wife, who still is out of town visiting the west coast.
With all of this great work going on the Lord has said my work is done. I am getting transferred on Wednesday. Just as everything is picking up and the work is on FIRE I get whipped out of the area. Oh well. I'm at peace right now in knowing that the Yangs got baptized. Nothing else matters. I'm excited to see were I will be going. If I have time on Wednesday I will write a quick e-mail with my new address.
Love you all~
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Mormon Night at Camden Yard and Ace of Cakes!
August 22. 2010
This week was so much fun! It was a blast to spend the day with Sis. Baice on exchanges. She is having a hard time right now with her companion so it was great to be able to talk. Mormon Night at Camden Yards was so much fun! This was the first time in a year that we were able to just hang out with a whole bunch of missionaries and not get in trouble for it! The only time I watched the game was the final two plays other than that I had no clue what was going on. So many of my friends from the mission were there, some I haven't seen in about a year or so. Jane Halterman from Petersburg was there as well. We talked for a long time. In 7 weeks she is going to to the Temple. How exciting!!! I can't wait for that day. It is going to be very special.
Here is a low down of our progressing investigators:
Karl Roberson and Carrie Backert: Early last week Karl got involved in a hit and run accident while riding his bike to work. The SUV which hit Karl drove away immediately after the accident. Karl flew 40 ft over his handle bars causing him to now be in a neck brace with a bruised and swollen face. This accident humbled both of them. Carrie really wants to get baptized. She appreciates how the members have reached out to both of them in their time of need. We had such a great lesson with them. Ever since meeting with them the first time I have been confused on how to bring up the law of Chasity and the best way to explain the need for them to get married or live separately in order for Carrie to get baptized. While in Petersburg we handled this situation the wrong way which caused our investigator to get offended. Recently in some training President Belliston suggested to use the Family Proclamation to teach the law of Chasity; something I have never thought of doing. It worked!!! The lesson was extremely spiritual. While explaining that the Bishop could marry them and in a year they could be sealed in the temple the spirit entered into the room. I felt a confirmation that marriage is going to happen for them. They agreed to pray and weigh out both options then give us an answer at our next appointment. Karl has an interview scheduled with the Bishop for next week to discuss marriage and his living situation. While at church Carrie was more at ease and really enjoyed herself.
Yang Family: They are still not on date for baptism. Last night we were able to have a FHE lesson with them at the Cheung home. It was so much fun! They really enjoyed themselves. Our focus with them is to build their faith. We have completed all of the commandments and are in need of helping them realize blessings from following the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have to be patient with them, something you all know I struggle with thanks to the genes past down from Mom and Dad (I still love ya!). It is hard because as a missionary we want the results to happen fast, before we leave an area or during the transfer to say we got a baptism, but everything with the Lord has to be on His timetable, not ours. The Yangs have been prepared from day one. They enjoy everything about the church and haven't missed one single Sunday for over 2 months. We now have to get them to read and pray daily. To help them recognize answers to their prayers.
Last week we knocked into a Burmese family!!! They are letting us come back tonight! I'm so excited!!!!! This area is booming with families. In my other areas I haven't had the opportunity to teach so many families. It is tons of fun!!!! The church is so true!
Last night we had a dinner appointment with a new family who moved into the ward. They have been in the Inner Harbor ward for two years and ended up moving just outside the ward boundaries and into our ward. They are great! It was fun to get to know them better. Their row home is the cutest! Amber you would love it! It is right in downtown Baltimore and is green on the outside. Mom guess what happens to be only a block away from them.....CHARM CITY CAKES! During dinner I mentioned my goal of finding Charm City Cakes to take a picture for mom and they said it is only a block away. So after dinner we went on a walk with them to take pictures. It is in a stone building with all of the windows covered in black paper. Nothing too unusual. The members LOVE Ace of Cakes so it was fun for them to move into the neighborhood!
Love you all!
This week was so much fun! It was a blast to spend the day with Sis. Baice on exchanges. She is having a hard time right now with her companion so it was great to be able to talk. Mormon Night at Camden Yards was so much fun! This was the first time in a year that we were able to just hang out with a whole bunch of missionaries and not get in trouble for it! The only time I watched the game was the final two plays other than that I had no clue what was going on. So many of my friends from the mission were there, some I haven't seen in about a year or so. Jane Halterman from Petersburg was there as well. We talked for a long time. In 7 weeks she is going to to the Temple. How exciting!!! I can't wait for that day. It is going to be very special.
Here is a low down of our progressing investigators:
Karl Roberson and Carrie Backert: Early last week Karl got involved in a hit and run accident while riding his bike to work. The SUV which hit Karl drove away immediately after the accident. Karl flew 40 ft over his handle bars causing him to now be in a neck brace with a bruised and swollen face. This accident humbled both of them. Carrie really wants to get baptized. She appreciates how the members have reached out to both of them in their time of need. We had such a great lesson with them. Ever since meeting with them the first time I have been confused on how to bring up the law of Chasity and the best way to explain the need for them to get married or live separately in order for Carrie to get baptized. While in Petersburg we handled this situation the wrong way which caused our investigator to get offended. Recently in some training President Belliston suggested to use the Family Proclamation to teach the law of Chasity; something I have never thought of doing. It worked!!! The lesson was extremely spiritual. While explaining that the Bishop could marry them and in a year they could be sealed in the temple the spirit entered into the room. I felt a confirmation that marriage is going to happen for them. They agreed to pray and weigh out both options then give us an answer at our next appointment. Karl has an interview scheduled with the Bishop for next week to discuss marriage and his living situation. While at church Carrie was more at ease and really enjoyed herself.
Yang Family: They are still not on date for baptism. Last night we were able to have a FHE lesson with them at the Cheung home. It was so much fun! They really enjoyed themselves. Our focus with them is to build their faith. We have completed all of the commandments and are in need of helping them realize blessings from following the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have to be patient with them, something you all know I struggle with thanks to the genes past down from Mom and Dad (I still love ya!). It is hard because as a missionary we want the results to happen fast, before we leave an area or during the transfer to say we got a baptism, but everything with the Lord has to be on His timetable, not ours. The Yangs have been prepared from day one. They enjoy everything about the church and haven't missed one single Sunday for over 2 months. We now have to get them to read and pray daily. To help them recognize answers to their prayers.
Last week we knocked into a Burmese family!!! They are letting us come back tonight! I'm so excited!!!!! This area is booming with families. In my other areas I haven't had the opportunity to teach so many families. It is tons of fun!!!! The church is so true!
Last night we had a dinner appointment with a new family who moved into the ward. They have been in the Inner Harbor ward for two years and ended up moving just outside the ward boundaries and into our ward. They are great! It was fun to get to know them better. Their row home is the cutest! Amber you would love it! It is right in downtown Baltimore and is green on the outside. Mom guess what happens to be only a block away from them.....CHARM CITY CAKES! During dinner I mentioned my goal of finding Charm City Cakes to take a picture for mom and they said it is only a block away. So after dinner we went on a walk with them to take pictures. It is in a stone building with all of the windows covered in black paper. Nothing too unusual. The members LOVE Ace of Cakes so it was fun for them to move into the neighborhood!
Love you all!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Ace of Cakes!
Sister Bridges finally found "Charm City Cakes" -- TLC's Ace of Cakes place! I told her that was one of her goals when she received her call to Baltimore!
MORMON NIGHT at Camden Yards -- "Go Orioles!"
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