March 25th Post and Pics from Jessica

This week has been pretty good. Last Monday was super crazy and busy. We stopped by an antique shop that was super cool. I didn't find anything that i could use on my mission but had i been home there would have been a ton of cool projects I'd be doing. :)  Monday night we went over to a sweet family's house for dinner. The husband made us a super yummy stew. Can i just tell you that these people are feeding us super good. My missionary 15 is going to be more like missionary 25! After dinner we taught "J" again. I love the guy but he isn't progressing and I'm not sure he is even ready but he continues to let us come back, so we'll see. We've been praying for him a ton in hopes that he will realize the importance of this gospel. But after 4 lessons and no progression we are pretty sure we are going to have to drop him.

Tuesday we went and saw a lady that used to be a potential investigator and taught her the message of the restoration. The lesson went really well but we are pretty sure the only reason she lets us come over is because she likes the company. She is 85 years old and has no family around so she was just happy to see someone. After her we called "S" to confirm her appointment with us and she wanted us to come over early. It was her husband's birthday and she was making him a cake and wanted us to come help. She really is such a sweetheart. She has been through so much and is just trying to do what is right. We had a really nice conversation about Alma 32:27-37 with her and what she can do to increase her faith and help that seed grow. She is really into the book of Mormon and is loving reading it. I love going over there to see her and to help her progress. She is moving slowly but surely. That night for dinner one of the members took us out to eat at a local place called Poppa's. It's actually a restaurant owned by one of the families in our branch. They have pretty good food and we were excited to go there again. That night we went to our landlord's daughters house to visit with her family. The thing about Albany is that EVERYONE is related! So we are finally starting to get every one's family tree's untangled in our brains and keep everyone straight.

Wednesday we were supposed to teach a less active lady about family history but she flaked on us so we spent the morning in Albany visiting people on the roster that we had no clue who they were. :) Then we planned to go to "*" house to help her clean and organize her upstairs. She had a stroke shortly after moving here so her house is pretty much still in boxes. We've been going over once a week and helping her unpack and get things in order. We got about halfway done with one of the rooms upstairs before we had to go to dinner. We went to dinner with a sweet older couple to Poppa's again. It's a good thing that they have a variety of foods to choose from there! That night was the ward relief society dinner we were hoping "C" would come but she ended up having to work and couldn't make it. But it was still lots of fun to be there and better get to know the women in our branch.

Thursday we had a team up with two of the women from the ward...i mean branch. I don't know if I'll ever get used to that. :) We were able to visit some women on their visiting teaching route. One of the women we met has a tracheotomy and had to talk through a device. It was super hard at first to understand her but its amazing what things can strengthen people's testimony of Jesus Christ. She is such a strong women for someone who has gone through so much. We went and taught "J" one more time. We were hoping that hearing these women's stories of their conversion would spark something with him, but it didn't so we are most likely going to drop him as an investigator. We stopped by "C's" again to see how she was doing and so she could meet other women in the brach. She is doing so much better than last week and still reading a ton. It is so rewarding to see someone progress in the gospel. That night we had dinner with a part member family. The wife is a member and she has been through so much. It is

so great to be out here helping bring not only new people to the gospel but to help others return and to help strengthen their testimonies.

Friday we had district meetings in St. Joe. The meeting was really great. we talked about ancient missionaries and how they brought others to Christ and how we can learn from their examples. We also talked about the Christ-like attributes in PMG. After district meeting we went to lunch with some of the Elders and then to Stanberry to track down some former investigators. We didn't find anyone at home but we did talk to one of the formers' son and he seemed pretty interested. We are hoping to go see him again this week and teach him a little more.

Saturday...hmm even though it was a couple of days ago i don't remeber what we did that day. :) That night however we went to a members home and had super yummy lasagna. It would give dad's a run for his money :) After dinner a snow storm came in so we went home early. The senior sisters are both from AZ and don't drive in the snow. So we went back to our apartment and worked on calling unknowns and stuff like that.

Sunday, on saturday night the sisters called us and said that church meetings were canceled becasue of the snow so we stayed in all day. We got a lot of work, and studying done. I found it pretty funny that things would be almost shut down with the tinyest amount of snow on the ground. If that had been Utah no one would have blinked. We were supposed to have dinner with the Poppa family but because we couldn't go anywhere we went upstairs and had dinner with the Smith's. They are such a great couple and have done so much for us. I don't know what we would be doing without them and the senior sisters.

My time is up here but know that i love all of you dearly and i'm loving the work that is going on here!

-Sister Randall

March 17th Letter from her Senior companion March and pictures

Thought you might enjoy seeing a few photos. The City Hall and Community building is in the small town of Gentry. We have two families that live out that direction – one in town and one on a farm outside of town. The photo of Sister "*" (Sister Randall’s companion) was taken last night as we were leaving the "*" home. Brother "*" is the young men’s president and Sister "*" is the Primary president.  She is carrying 2 dozen eggs. They have chickens and goats. The four of us were invited to their home for dinner. A snow storm was predicted and started as we were there. I am sure Sister Randall will let you know about it in her email tomorrow. It was bad enough that all church meetings were cancelled for today.

I enjoy spending time with your daughter. Until they get their car, we are with them every day. As they visit inactive members of the branch, we go into the homes with them. When they are looking for investigators we wait in the car.

It is such a privilege to be on a mission at this time in this area. If the weather will ever turn to spring, they are going to get permission to visit Adam-ondi-Ahman and Far West with us on a P day.

Just want you to know she is well and appears to be adjusting to the very busy schedule of a missionary.

Your sister is the gospel,

Elma  

March 18th Post and pictures from Jessica

Ok so this week i don't have much time to write, but i did send pictures!

Things are going pretty good up here in the small town of Albany. 

The branch out here is really great. Yesterday we had so many more people to church there was hardly any seats left empty. It's so great to see the work of the lord bringing people to church. We have met probably only about 30% of the branch by now but i already feel so much more comfortable and not so new anymore. Things with "*" one of the investigators took a rough turn and she is no longer on date for baptism but we are still working really hard with her to prepare her. She is so eager to be baptized but she has a lot of things she needs to do, and wants to do before she is baptized. She really is a great girl though and it is so nice to work with her and see her progress. We got another investigator Monday night. We went over to the "*" family's for dinner and they had a nonmember friend there. We taught him the first lesson but things were a little crazy with so many people there that night. We met with him again on Friday and taught the first lesson again this time with a little more clarity. We have an appointment with him again tonight to teach him the importance of the Book of Mormon and how he can feel the spirit and learn to recognize it more in his life. He is going to be a tough one to crack but i can't wait for when we finally do.

Sister "*" and I are starting to get along better. As i warm up to her I'm able to ask her more questions and express my feelings better. I still wouldn't call us friends like sister "*" and i were but our relationship is starting to turn good. :)

Albany is wonderful the people here are great. I'm finally starting to warm up to what missionary work really is like. (because it is hard!) I love you guys so much and love hearing from you!

With lots of love,

Sister Randall

Jessica first email from Missouri

I made it! I have been assigned to work in the Albany, MO branch. The town
reminds me a lot of delta, but smaller. My companion here is named Sister
Grange. She has been out for 7 months now and was serving in the
Independence area at the visitors center before coming to Albany with me.
Albany is a newly opened area. It has been super hard starting in a new
area because we are literally starting from scratch. The branch out here is
wonderful though. We thought we would have a really hard time getting
people to sign up for meals but this week we have 6 dinner appointments, so
hopefully I'll be well fed.
You heard from Sister Angle a couple of days ago i think. Anyways she is
here on a service like mission with one of her friends Sister Montierth.
They are both from the Mesa, Gilbert Arizona Area so the cold has been kind
of funny to watch them in. Sister montierth is probably one of the oldest
missionaries in the field (her words not mine) she's 75 this year. Can you
even imagine? They have been absolutely wonderful to work with though.
Because so many new missionaries are coming out they can't keep up with
vehicles so the senior sisters are our wheels until we can get one. We are
hoping to get a truck out here though because many of the streets aren't
paved and are super muddy. There are families that we can't even go and see
until the roads dry up because we will get stuck. :)
Sister Grange and I are living in a members home out here. It is absolutely
wonderful! It's a 3 bedroom, walkout basement apt. (and it has 2 showers
and a washer and dryer!) yay for no laundry mat! There are 2 big Arcadia
doors in the front that look over this huge field that when the sun is
setting is just beautiful. Also we have one in our bedroom as well that we
can look out of. Best little apartment ever, and the couple that owns the
house is wonderful as well. They are a little older (maybe 60's?) the wife
calls us her girls and has been a wonderful landlord :)
When we got her the senior sisters had already done a lot of work we always
tell them that they laid the groundwork for us to come out here. (it's been
2 years since proselyting missionaries have been in the area) When we got
here they took us to meet a young (19 yr old) girl. She has just been
married to a less active member, and is the definition of a golden contact.
we met her for the first time on Friday and talked with her briefly Then we
told her that we would set up a time with her on Sunday at church to meet
with her. She asked then if we could meet Saturday instead! On Saturday we
met with her and taught her the first lesson and I got to invite her to be
baptised (something you do on the first lesson, crazy right!?) She
accepted!! Then i challenged her to be ready by March 30th, So my first
baptism should be in about a month. (I don't know if she'll be ready by
then because she has a smoking problem and her husband isn't super
supportive) But I know that she will be baptised. She has already prayed
about many things that we don't usually challenge investigators to do until
later. I'm super optimistic about her and can't wait to meet with her again
tomorrow.
The youth out here need a lot of help. They only have 3 young men worthy/
ordained to pass the sacrament, and after meeting with the branch president
he really wants us to focus on the YM and get them to serve their missions.
So we are planning a youth mission activity and are planning on going to
their weekly activities to hopefully spark some interest.
Not much else to write about now i guess but I'll be writing more
handwritten letters today sometime after grocery shopping :)
I love you all so very much and miss you dearly. Can't wait to here from
you!
-Sister Randall

first email from Missouri from a Senior sister missionary

Hello,

My name is Sister Elma Angle. I am a senior sister missionary serving in the
Missouri Independence Mission.  I just wanted to let you know that your
daughter has been assigned to work in the town where I am serving. I won't
tell you where she is because she is anxious to update you on Monday which
is her P Day. 

My companion Sister Edna Rae Montierth and I picked her up at the mission
office on Thursday and brought her to our area. The last two days we have
been working closely with her and her companion to acquaint them with our
area and introduce them to people here. I am enjoying feeling of her
enthusiasm for missionary work.

My mission is Women's Auxiliary Specialist which means just about anything
that needs to be done in my assigned area. Currently we are working with
inactive members to help them return to Christ. The one thing that we are
not called to do is teach new investigators. Having Sister Randall here is
exciting to me because she can teach the lessons. My mission is for 18
months. The expectation is that I will stay in the same area for the entire
18 months. I am from Mesa, Arizona and retired from Freescale Semiconductor
on October 17 and reported to the MTC on October 29. 

Thank you for sharing Sister Randall with us. She is a great missionary. We
look forward to having her here for however long President Keyes allows her
to stay. Please know that I am here and will help her in any needs she may
have. 

Probably the last letter from the MTC before she heads out.

Dear Family,

so my time on the computer here is very limited (30 mins) so this letter is going to go to everyone instead of me trying to write separate emails, so if there are a few things you don't understand don't worry its probably because they weren't directed to you :)

This week has been crazy, in a good way. I feel like I have learned so much in so little time. It's incredible the things you can do with the Lord's help. Almost everyday here we have 6 hours of classroom time with our teachers where we learn about the fundamentals of missionary work as well as teach lessons to our teacher pretending to be an investigator. My teachers role has been a man named Joe. Holy Cow is he hard to teach!! Sister Wood and I have really been struggling to figure out what we should be teaching him. He is so hard to get to know. But on the other hand our TRC appointments have been amazing! we got to teach Gabby again and by the end of the lesson she had committed to baptism, prayed out loud with us, and committed to read the Book of Mormon. What a powerful feeling to see someone feel the spirit in their lives. (even if she was just acting you could definitely feel the spirit) The day after we taught Gabby we got to teach a less-active couple to try and get them active in the church again. THis couple was from Midway so it was fun to talk to them about swiss days and all of that fun stuff. But it was so great as we taught them about prayer and why it's so important to see the light of Christ come back into thier eyes. You could tell the sincerity they had when they said they would start praying again and strive to live the commandments. Rachelle, we were teaching them about the importance of going to church to partake of the sacrament and we told them it was to renew our covenants with Heavenly Father that we made at Baptism. They immediatley asked "What covenants?" It reminded me of our conversation about how we don't talk to much about what coveneants we made except for in the sacrament pray. So naturally we showed them D&C 20:76 and 78 :)

Last weeks temple experiance for me was really interesting. It was really neat to be there with so many other missionaries, but at the same time it was my first time going through without someone i really cared about. As I got to the celestial room i just wept at the thought that my feeling alone was the same feelings that many will have because their family's aren't memebers. It really help solidify my purpose.

Sunday meetings here are the best! For relief society Sister Cook from the YW general Presidency came and spoke to us, She is such a great women you can really see the light of Christ radiating from her! SUnday night we had choir practice and i got to see Ryan and Jodi (the children's choir piano player) we were preparing to sing "consider the lillies" for Tuesday's devotional. SUnday night Stephan Allen spoke to us. He is an amazing speaker he really knows how to use humor well but still keep the spirit.

Dad you should be jealous, i get to eat craked wheat for breakfast every morning here! Breakfast is probably the only meal i enjoy at the MTC.  It's so hard not to here you get 30 min of exercise in the morning and then all we do is eat and study or eat and learn so it's really hard to stay slim here!

For our tuesday night devotionaly Elder M. Russel Ballard spoke to us. It was so cool to hear from an apostle and to be in the same room as he spoke. It was interesting to hear and apostle speak without a teleprompter. I felt like it was much more heartflet and by the spirit.

It was really weird here on wednesday as the new missionaries came in. When we met with the people that had been here a week when i got here i didn't think i would ever be where they were and now i feel like i'm there. Like i said before it is amazing what you can accomplish with the Lords blessing.

Well my time is pretty much up. I'm working really hard here and loving it i love the people i've worked with so far and can't wait to get to missouri on Wednesday.  I love you all so very much and am so grateful for the support i get from all of you back home. Keep writting i love it! (except start sending things to the mission home so i get them for sure) I'm writting letters to you all today so look for them in the mail.

With lots of love,

-Sister Randall