I love you mucho mucho...gobble gobble

Where did my subject line come from you may ask? You guessed it! From a very long voicemail we recieved from our crazy member Rosie who is in a rest home. She called us on Thanksgiving and left like a 3 minute voicemail about how much she loved us and what food she wanted us to bring her and a random song that she sang to us. Pretty sure she was heavily medicated. But she's a hoot and we love her. And we definitely visited her because her son doesn't ever... :(

Anyways.. It was a good week! I was kinda nervous about it because literally everyone we were teaching was out of town or busy because of the Holidays. And so we had a lot of free time.. But somehow the Lord filled it! And it was nice because when people called us asking for help we were able to. I hope that's what I can be like when I get home. Ready to drop anything to help out. So we did a ton of service! And I was well taken care of for Thanksgiving. It wasn't quite like home but it was nice to be able to minister to others instead of to myself. But I still definitely ate a lot of food so don't worry I still treated myself. ;)

Highlights!

~We did lots of "heart attacking" at nights because it is always hard to go finding when it's dark and we couldn't get appointments. So we cut out a ton of hearts and stuck them on the doors of investigators and member families. It was super fun. We did J-, L-, and F- all at the same time and so we'd knock and run then do the next one and knock and run. Fred came out and thought it was hilarious and he watched us do Jan's. They loved it. 

~ While we were teaching M-at the church this guy came up to the windows and started looking inside... it was kinda weird so we went over and asked how we could help him. He said he was looking for a church and we're like " you found the right one!!" We told him a little bit about it and he said that he wanted to come! He didn't. But we have his address so we're going to hunt him down LOL. I've never had that happen so it was good.

~ I was feeling a little discouraged because we hadn't been able to find some people to teach recently but we had a cool story! This teenager we met a few weeks ago messaged us from a passalong card we gave him. He didn't really say what he wanted but he eventually said he'd be open to learning more and we set up an appointment with him and then he brought a friend! They were so cool! Both in high school. They already have a church but they really liked the message we shared and at the end we asked them what it would mean if this church was true and Stephen said "well I guess I would have to be Mormon." So we're super pumped about it. Guess what street Cameron lives on? Latter-day court. Go figure.

~We got to deliver turkeys to some less fortunate families so that was really fun. We went to a former investigator family and a less active member.

~ I'm super grateful that my mom made me learn to play the piano when I was younger because I get enlisted a lot. I have recently been accompanying the ward choir and it's actually a blast. I also acquired a keyboard so I can practice and play some songs after hours. Oh how I missed playing!! One of the little boys in the ward who's like 11 is so cute! He told me "Sister Grant, I think if they gave awards for being the best piano player, it would be you." Awwww. I think he kinda has a crush on me but it's adorable.  

~ We made little Thanksgiving cards and gave it to people in the rest home to brighten their day just a little bit more. They were all very sweet.

~ We had a Thanksgiving breakfast with our district and then had district meeting outside. It's still in the upper 70's here and it's Beautiful!!! Almost a little too hot haha..

~We were able to teach A- this week and he's getting closer to baptism. We talked a ton about eternal families. His wife is a member and she really wants to be sealed in the temple. And that's something he wants too. He's just a little intimidated by all of the responsibility. But he's getting there. 

I wanted to share some things that I'm grateful for today. I mean I could go on for pages but the most important things:

1. The Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is so central to everything in this world and everything that our gospel is about. It has gotten me through many, MANY hard days and helped me overcome weaknesses and I'm eternally grateful for that.

2. My FAMILY because they are amazing and show so much love for me even this far away. I'm especially grateful for eternal families.

3. I'm grateful I chose to serve a proselyting mission instead of a performing arts mission. Even though it would've been amazing to be in Nauvoo, I know I wouldn't have been able to meet all the amazing people I've met here and helped so many in their journey back to Christ. It really sucks some days, but I know that it's worth it. 

4. I'm grateful for technology. I would literally die without it. Some times I think we take it for granted. I can not imagine being a missionary without technology and I give major props to all that are.

5. Florida!!! Ugh this is the promised land. It is literally paradise. Ok the summer was rough but now we're moving into the most beautiful time of the year. I'm so lucky.

Put some South in your mouth!!

Hello everyone!! It's been a week. Yeet. Some days missionary work just gets ya, ya know? Sometimes I forget that we came to earth to experience hard things. But it's a sign of growth, and I probably needed it because Heavenly Father had been spoiling us lately..

Before anyone freaks out and wonders what on earth happened... it wasn't even that bad we just had multiple days in a row where literally EVERYONE and their dog cancelled on us. And we weren't super sure where we were supposed to go and we had some SUPER awkward contacts and no one wanted the gospel... ahh... such is missionary life though. I know poor me. Naw I'm good it was just a little hiccup.

Highlights though!! 

~We did not get yelled at by anyone.. mostly.. this one lady was kinda salty but for a good reason.

~We had some bomb FHE's with members that didn't cancel so that was fun. We're slowly building a children army of cute Primary kids that love us.

~We did the activity for Young Women's. We did "missionary minute-to-win-it" It was a blast and the girls had a good time!

~ We had a good district meeting with a pizza lunch. Props to Elder Bowden for saving the Dominoes his mom sent him.

~ We got J- and L- on date for January 19th!!! That was definitely the biggest highlight!!! they are so cute and funny! L- talks like a smoker and Jan has a New Yorker accent but they're homies and they just love us. I think we've been adopted as their granddaughters. And their friend Fred who introduced us might baptize them if we can help him work up the confidence!

~ We taught M- twice this week and she's coming a long!!! We had some super cool youth come with us to teach and they're getting pumped about missionary work.

~ We went down to the quirkiest restaurant owned by a member in this little town at the very bottom of our area that we never get to called Kenansville. It's only got like one restaurant and maybe 2 gas stations. And a hotel that apparently Elvis stayed at. Go figure. Anyways we ate at the one restaurant owned by the members and she asked if she could "fix us up a plate" And I had the most Southern meal of my life. For appetizers, Fried green tomatoes, swamp cabbage, coleslaw, cheese grits and hush puppies and for the main course: catfish, shrimp, turtle, gator and frog legs!!! I have never eaten a frog before!!! It still looks like a frog. It was insane. It was super tasty though and it was quite the experience.

~We helped out in primary yesterday and I have never seen anyone be so excited to see us! It was the most adorable thing ever. Ugh I love kids. We felt like celebrities. It's just a nametag, people haha.

dog walking paid off!!!

Hello what a week. It just keeps flying by so fast.... I just realized that I've been in Canoe Creek for a month now and it only feels like a week. Super weird... But the Lord is raining down his blessin's on us!!! Our teaching pool has gone from 2-9 since we've been here so it's like quadrupled! Not hard to do when you only have 2 people but still we couldn't be more pleased. And the ward is finally... finally starting to get behind us. So the work is just chugging right a long. Lets talk about some highlights.

~We've been eating dinner with this returning member who likes to have us over a lot. Like she fed us twice last week. She's a little crazy but I really like her. She's one of those people who would probably be in a sit-com. But anyways her husband isn't a member but she said he's been warming up to the church lately. We'd met him once before but didn't push him to anything, just friendly. And on Monday he came out of his office for a break and she turns to him and says "Hey... would you want to take the missionary lessons?" And he just goes "Sure" and boom we're gonna teach him now.

~Tuesday we had a pumpin Zone Conference and got really psyched to be missionaries. I came with a few questions and many of the trainings focused on those exact things which was really cool. I felt like my prayers were answered and God was listening to me. 

~We had our combined ward Trunk-or-Treat and it was a blast. President nixed our Elders costume so we decided to just get some dollar store crowns and be the "daughters of a King" that we are! We even dressed up our trunk... not that you could see it because it was dark. But we passed out candy and pamphlets so hopefully those get passed out to others who need them. Some kids were really excited about the pamphlet just saying.

~Halloween was an interesting day... You'd think it would be a great day to knock because everyone will open the door? Well then they figure out you're not trick-or-treaters and then they get mad at you.. ahhh.... That was awful.

~Thursday we taught J- again and she brought her friend L- with her. They are quite the duo. They both have New York accents and have definitely lived on the wrong side of the tracks but I love them! They are so cute and funny and very humble. They accepted everything we told them and wanted more. The spirit was very strong and they said they could see the light in our eyes. We asked J-n if she had thought more about baptism and L- turns to her and says "J- we should do that!" So they are praying about a date. 

~We also had an ice cream farewell for Elder Gallup! He's going back to the land of potatoes because of a neck injury... :( 

~ We had 5 appointments on Thursday and it was kinda nice to be busy again hahaha.

~So we've been walking our neighbor J-'s dog a few days out of the week when she works late and can't come home to let him out. So we feel kinda like we have a dog! We've become pretty tight with J- and yesterday she texted us and asked if we wanted to come over to talk. So we did and she really opened up to us about some things that she was going through and how she just wanted to find Joy. We went into testifying about how the gospel has brought us joy and we know it could do the same for her. It was so cool because it wasn't just like another contact, like J- is our friend and we wanted her to find happiness because we love her. I almost kinda felt like I wasn't a missionary and like I was just having a conversation and I can see how nerve-wracking it can be. But she told us we could teach her and it was the most rewarding thing ever!!!! It's been a slow process but it was very natural and showed me how sharing the gospel with your friends can be. So we're super stoked to teach her! 

The church is true, the book is blue, God loves you!! (I love you all too more than words can say)

It's a fantastic week in Canoe Creek

I said that last night while accounting and I thought I was a genius so I decided to make it my weekly title... LOLOLOL... I think I'm funny sometimes. But it really has been a great week and the Lord is blessing us so much and I'm eternally grateful. Oh my goodness the church is so true everyone. Wow we were feeling kind of discouraged getting into it but it turned out fantastic. I need to just start trusting the Lord by now. Like, I know he's got everything in control and it will all be fine I just get stressed. But.. God's got this... he doesn't even need me. I'm just here for the ride. This is his work and I just get the wonderful role of being the instrument in his hands. I probably need more faith haha. But don't we all? It's the first principle of the gospel but it's also the most important one.


 Highlights of the Week!

~It's been in the 70's and I'm definitely a Florida girl... because now it's cold.... Every time without fail when we walk outside we're like... ooh it's chilly.

~Sister Casey and I wanted to be Elders for Halloween... But President said no.. Like we can already wear slacks and a tie is like almost a scarf... Yeah but we still dressed up for fun... I think we look good..

~Well Tuesday was not a good day for me but it was a good learning experience. I've been working on using my spiritual gifts and my daily goals on Tuesday was dilligence. I strive to be a hard worker at all times and many of my companions comment on that ability. Well on Tuesday I got sick. I've never been sick on my mission up to this point. But lets just say my stomach was not happy... or the rest of my intestines... I'm not sure if it was food poisoning or what but I felt like crap. And I could not work hard. I ended up getting a fever and was super achy and just not having it. And we like only had dinner plans that day so it was going to be a long day of finding. But you know what? I gave my best. Despite my circumstances I didn't give in. Did I take a nap? yeah twice. Did I eat only mashed potatoes and drink juice? Yes. But I gave it my all. And even though I was sitting on the couch you better believe I phone contacted everyone I could. I updated areabook. I wanted to show God I could. I didn't push myself but I gave Him what I could and said "ok you do the rest" It was a really good day in learning the balance and that it is ok to take care of myself and not to doubt that I know my limits.

~Also on Tuesday we talked to this super awesome lady while she was walking her dog and she just opened up to us about her husband's death 2 months prior. We testified to her of eternal marriage and how families could be together forever. The spirit was so strong and I know she felt it. I felt my grandfathers' spirits testifying through me and it added to my testimony of the Plan of Salvation.

~ On Wednesday we had service at the Education Foundation and I love it because I actually feel useful haha. We packed like 62 backpacks full of school supplies to be shipped off to teachers who have limited resources. It was awesome and I'm so grateful to contribute to the career field that I want to be a part of one day.

~We found this super cool less active mom with 2 non-member kids. She said that she'd been thinking about how the missionaries hadn't been by in a while and then we showed up and she took it as her sign she needed to get back with it. So we're hoping to bring them all back to the church! I've never had kids be so excited when they opened the door. It was adorable.

~Saturday was amazing! Everyone we talked to was so friendly. We were introduced to a former investigator by a member we read the Book of Mormon with everyweek and she showed up and wants to meet again and get baptized! So that was awesome. We weren't sure what would come of our reading the Book of Mormon with him because he's pretty solid already... but it's leading to awesome opportunites.

~We met 3 other families that day who wanted to learn more about our gospel and the Book of Mormon who all had surprising religious backgrounds... (Catholic and Muslim) We just felt like Heavenly Father was opening the floodgates and that the Creek will be overflowing soon.

~Sunday we read this case study about this sister missionary who did some bomb member missionary work in a ward that was struggling and Sister Casey and I just got mega inspired and instead of me normally being overwhelmed by those kinds of things we decided to get to action by messaging a few families and seeing if we could come by and visit them. One family said we could and we talked to them about setting missionary work goals and we made a plan to invite their neighbors over for dinner that we will also casually be at. So we can introduce them in a subtle way. So that was also really exciting because I've never had a family so willing. Afterwards the teenage daughter messaged us and said that she had someone she wanted to share the gospel with, but wasn't sure how and wanted help. So we were just in awe. 

This is a blessed area and even though we kind of have had a trial of our faith, things are picking up and their going to get even better. I'm trying to have faith. Faith is super scary sometimes. I read something super interesting today though.. Just like faith is believing in something you can't see, fear is also believing in something you can't see. And if you have to choose... Faith is much better to have than fear. Plus faith is from God and Fear is from Satan.. so if that enlightens your choice. Plus faith leads to miracles and who doesn't want that?? 2 Timothy 1: 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."