March 2, 2010

This week has been crazy! We had a very humbling experience to say in the least. The week started off pretty good then Wednesday hit and everything went downhill. We had four appointments set up for Wednesday and all of them were no-shows. The appointments we set up just two day prior were cancelled due to health issues. Even our meal appointment had to cancel. For 3 days in a row we visited over 15 people and they were either not home or not interested in learning more about the gospel. The funny thing is that I studied about the Christlike attribute of Patience this week. I guess the Lord was wanting to test my patience. I apologized to Sis. Vaughan about that. She was funny and told me not to study that topic again!

Even though we had a tough week we were still able to keep in good spirits. Sis. Vaughan is fantastic! I love her so much! We are working well together. A positive of the week is that Bill's baptism in getting closer and closer. This Sunday we will be teaching him his last lesson and his baptism in on the 13th. He is so excited and we are too! This past week he has been sharing the gospel with his family. He is going to be a great member of the church.

Sorry this letter is so short but there is not much to talk about this week. Next letter will be very detailed because we already have lots of appointments lined up. The Lord was just testing us on how committed we are to sharing the gospel.

You asked about Kent Island and how far we are from Annapolis. We are about 10 miles west of Annapolis and the Naval Academy. We are in the Annapolis stake and the Annapolis district so every Tuesday we cross the Bay Bridge (a 4 mile long bridge that leads to and from the Island) to go to district meeting and most of the time we get together as a district or a zone on P-days. It is great to get together with the Elders to play on Mondays! Also one other cool thing is that the Navy football coach is a member of the church.

There is another fun thing that happened this week. Every Monday we go to FHE at the McIntyre's house. They are so much fun! Last week we had a carnival. They decorated the house and each member of the family was in charge of a game. They have had a rough family situation with Sis. McIntyre almost ready to divorce her husband who is not a member and not supportive of the church. A year ago they were less active and now they are fully re-activated and enjoying the blessings of the gospel. Sis. McIntyre is preparing to enter the temple this summer with her oldest daughter Desiree who is preparing for a mission.

The gospel truly does bless our families. How grateful I am for the blessings of the gospel. I love all of you so much!
Love,
Sis. Bridges

Snow, Snow and more SNOW!

What a crazy couple of weeks. Sorry about last week. All of the libraries were closed due to the snow and then I never had a chance to e-mail the rest of the week.

Monday morning was supposed to be call-outs. Call-outs are when we find out about transfers, who is going and who is staying. We had a good feeling that Sis. Byers was leaving but I was a nervous wreck all day. Due to the snow, call-outs didn't happen till monday evening. Then monday night at 9:15 we found out that there was going to be an emergency transfer meeting the next morning at 9. Sis. Byers didn't have time to say goodbye to anyone. It was sad for her. Then at 10:15 monday night President Belliston called me and extended the call to serve as a trainer. I accepted the call then FREAKED OUT. Training at 6 months is nuts! I had a feeling that it would happen but never thought it would REALLY happen this soon. So Transfers were Tuesday morning and the greenies flight got cancelled and re-scheduled for thursday.

President Belliston let Sis. Lindsey and I spend a few days together before she headed back home to STG. Due to the huge snow storm that was coming our way tuesday evening and all of Wednesday President didn't want the both of us to be stranded in Kent Island so he had us stay at the mission home. I was so excited but the only problem was I didn't have a change of clothes. So all week I had to borrow Sis. Lindsey's clothes. It was tons of fun to be stranded at the mission home for a few days but at the same time it was hard. I was there with 4 missionaries who were going home.....which was great for the morale...NOT! I felt like my mission was over and I was flying home with them, it was weird! President and Sis. Belliston kept on asking me if I was okay then I would give some funny remark back. I just LOVE both of them dearly. Although, it was very weird to see President in sweats!

Tuesday evening we went to Baltimore City. We went to the famous Lexington Market and had some crab cakes. I LOVE seafood (what is up with that?)!!! Wednesday we were stranded all day inside. The snow kept on coming and coming. It was INSANE! The snow was well above my waist. We would jump off the deck and land in it. One of the Elders was doing back flips off of the deck and landing in the snow.

Friday I finally got paired up with my new "daughter"....SISTER VAUGHAN. She is so cute! She is from Great Falls, Montana and is a twin! She has a twin brother. We are getting a long so well. She just turned 22 in the MTC and is going to be a nurse. She is completely fearless. Knocking doesn't bother her. We have had some good times already. I can't wait to see what we can accomplish this transfer. I love her already!~! Yeah!

Just to let all of you know it is snowing right now again. I am starting to get a little sick of the snow. Oh well!!!!

I would like to thank all of you for the cute love notes that were found in my Valentine's package from home!!! It was so great to hear from so many friends and family!!! Thanks so much for the continued support. Serving a mission has been the best decision I have made thus far in my life. It is such blessing to be the Lord's representative.

Love you all, Sis. B

Transfer and Christmas in West Virginia

Washington D.C. Temple

SNOWED IN -- Shoveling for our neighbors

Sister Lindsay (my companion), Sister Kimble (Bishop's wife in Petersburg) and Sister Bridges

A new convert from Petersburg, WV

One of our favorite members from Petersburg

Christmas Eve with the Schreve Family

The PHONE CALL HOME!

Lerin is in her new area on Kent Island in the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland.  The city is Stevensville and it is an area with a small branch of members. 

First Transfer!

Sister Bridges was transfered out to a new area this past week.  She had a hard time leaving Petersburg because she loved her companion, the members and the investigators and the small town feel.  Here is part of her latest letter about her new circumstance.

My new area is KENT ISLAND!!!! Yes I'm on a legit Island in the Chesapeake Bay! It is so cool! My new comp is Sister Byers from Enoch, UT. She came out a transfer after me so now I'm suddenly a Senior Companion.... SCARY! There is a Branch here of about 50 active members. Sacrament meeting was so powerful yesterday. The spirit was so strong. The members are AMAZING!

Sis. Byers is very quiet and kind of awkward in a way so it is going to be interesting in the least to work together. I know the Lord has placed me here for a reason. Maybe it is to get me ready to train. I have already had to rely on the Lord more than ever. It has been hard for me to be so far away from Sis. Lindsey and be in a new area. Adapting to change is not one of my best features. We live with some members which I think will be such a blessing considering my companion is going to be difficult.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Latest Letter

Hola Family:
Oh my goodness we have so much SNOW! It is insane! It starting snowing on Friday night and didn't stop till Saturday night. We have over 2 ft. of snow in Petersburg!

Saturday was such a fun day. Obviously we couldn't drive our car so we had to cancel our appointments. It was kind of sad cause there was a couple in our ward that was going to be sealed on Saturday so there was a huge group from the ward that was going to go with them to the temple in DC, but it was cancelled as well. We lined up to take about 10 Burmese people with us too to visit the temple. Hopefully we can take them soon! Saturday morning we had some planning to do which took about 2 hours then we had lunch and got on our jeans and boots and shoveled the walks in our complex. There are a ton of elderly people that live in the apartments who couldn't shovel so we did their walks. It was a Blast!!!! We were out in the blizzard for 3 hours. It was a great opportunity to meet all of our neighbors. We had to help one of our neighbors dig out her car which took about an hour or so. There is a member that lives in the complex so we went and visited her to make sure she was surviving the storm! At her house we watched the weather channel to see when it would stop snowing and the forcasters said that it was snowing 2-3 inches an hour! The roads were a mess and there were over 1500 accidents in DC! We ate chili and hot chocolate at her house and visited for a while. The best thing is that she loves puzzles and gave us one to work on while we were snowed in. I got to do a Christmas puzzle!!! Which reminds me Mom have you started your puzzle yet????


This week was CRAZY! On Monday we went to VA to get me some boots which was perfect timing! Tuesday was just a regular day then on Wednesday we went on exchanges with the sisters in McConelsburg, PA. It was a long exchange. We didn't switch back till Friday. It was scary taking over the area for a day without Sis. Lindsey but everything turned out just fine. We were able to visit lots of Less Actives and teach an English lesson. We almost have some of the Bermese people ready for baptism. We haven't extended an invitation yet but we will very soon.

As for the phone call on Christmas......I will call you from the Bishops house at about 8:30 your time. Sorry that is so early for you Lex but it will be good for you to get up early on Christmas!!! Just so you know you will most likely not get my presents till after Christmas. Our cars are "grounded" because of the icy roads so we will not be able to get to the post office. I have the box ready to send and we were planning on doing it on Saturday BUT we were stranded!!!! Mom and Lex there is a special gift for both of you but it isn't ready yet. I am having it made at Wal-Mart and it is taking a VERY long time to get back to the store for pick-up. You may just get a New Years gift!

Can't wait to talk to ya'll on Christmas! Lex I may be crying as well. I'm kind of a softy now. Dad I know you will be nervous AND THAT'S FINE!!!!!

Love you all and MERRY CHRISTMAS friends and family!!!


Sis. Bridges

It's about time....

I have been wanting to create a blog for Lerin since before she left in August. FINALLY I have decided to do it. She has been in a small town in West Virginia the entire five months and she loves the people and atmosphere in Petersburg. She and her companion (Sister Erika Lindsay...also from Saint George -- small world) have been blessed to have stayed together through three transfers. They have loved working together and have seen many miracles as they have served in this area. Petersburg hasn't had full time missionaries for three years since their arrival and the amazing little ward has kept them busy teaching and teaching.

"Jane" was Lerin's first baptism. She is a wonderful woman who she loves so much. She is a chicken farmer!

Sister Bridges and Sister Lindsay have been teaching English and the gospel to a big group of Burmese and African immigrants in the area. They are humble and are realizing that God is real and that He loves them. Several are close to committing to baptism.

Having fun during P-Day on a member's farm!