God is good

Yesterday was a hard day at church. It seems these days that only the “rocks” are left. We were a bit sad. But, at the end of the night we had an appointment with a less-active-recent-convert. She had stopped coming to church just before she hit her ‘year mark’ in January. We were really worried about her and concerned. She had been doing well, but doubted her testimony. She wanted to take a step back to re-evaluate. It was strange b/c, although Sister Clark and I were concerned, we felt a sense of peace and just weren't too worried. We hadn't been able to see her for months. She excitedly told us about her experiences she had been having. She had realized there were changes that she had gone through, returning to her old life, but realized she reacted differently to situations - with more self-confidence, with more desire to do good. She said that after leaving the church for a bit, it was easier, but not happy. The same thoughts kept popping up in her head, randomly. She said at first she thought it was coincidence, but then compared it to science - "if it happens enough times it becomes fact". We called her once when she was thinking about us; she called some members when they were thinking about her. Her Ensign kept falling out of a huge stack of newspapers and magazines. Hmmm.

"I'll see you next Sunday,” she said.

Wow. I love you!
God is good.

Madie

how do you pronounce Evesham?

"eve-shum. or some say eve-uh-shum. i (and most) say...eve-shum"

My brain is hanging upside down.....

Ello!
So Sister Rose is here! She is 4’11’’, which is one of my favorite things about her. That and the fact that she is hardworking, willing to be obedient, and wanting to do the best for the area! We both have a really good feeling about her being here. I think she will do great things! And we will do great things together. We set a companionship vision for the transfer and we have a lot of goals that we are working towards. We have about 15 new and other investigators - ones that we have taught once or twice and who are semi progressing. It’s sort of a task to try and figure out who we should focus on and who we can help them progress! Sometimes it overloads the brain, but oh well. My brain is hanging upside down from trying to figure everything out and also having to remember everything b/c Sister Rose is new to the area and she doesn't know where everything or who everyone is. Crazy. But the area looks ten hundred times better than it did when we first got here so blessings from heaven.

I felt the spirit strongly today when I read Helaman 5:11. Repentance is a miracle and a blessing. The savior's atonement is a miracle. Ministering angels are with us.

The
word
of
Christ
will point
to
you
a straight
course
to
eternal
bliss.

Alma
37:44

Lots of love!
safe!
cheers!
Madie uh er or Sister Pope

transfers :( and :)

So transfers came again! Time to say goodbye! Sister Clark has been banished to Wales! I am staying in Evesham and my new companion is Sister Rose from Utah! She came out a few months ago; I am her follow up trainer. Pretty spiffy eh? Sister Clark will be greatly missed. After 6 months together it will be like losing my left leg.

I am, however, very grateful to stay in Evesham b/c I really love it. It's the first place on my mission where I feel like I fit. We had the cutest goodbye with the Barnes family. The kids usually just beat us up most of the time that we are there, so during the lesson, it was so sweet when little Maddi just came up and snuggled with Sister Clark. Adorable. Sister Clark shed some tears and all the kids wrote her adorable notes. She will be greatly missed. Everyone loves her!!!!

The still small voice

We often ask people how they feel when they pray, read the Book of Mormon, or come to Church. It is almost always a "warm feeling." A Filipino man put his hand on his heart and made an expanding motion. I've seen several others do the same. Sally said she had a "sparkly" feeling. The spirit speaks to all of us in ways that we will understand and recognize. Sometimes we aren't quite sure what the feeling is, and sometimes we fail to connect it with our circumstances! It's not enough to feel the spirit; you must also be able to recognize it. The still small voice will always be still and small. We attune ourselves to it, not the other way around.

lock your doors!!!

Dark night - we pull over and park at the top of a hill in a little pull out place. All our plans have fallen through, and we didn't know where to go, so I offer up a prayer. I finish and while the two of us are sitting there in pondering silence, our back door suddenly starts opening! and someone starts to get in! Extreme panic is really the only way to describe the state of my mind and I can hardly control myself well enough to assess the situation. The assailant/old woman stops, looks at us and says, "Oh! You’re not my ride." She begins to back out, and shuts the door, before we can even say anything. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Never do that to me again! We told the elders about it, "Did you teach her? Wow, God answered your prayer and you didn't even bother!"

Pfump!

The favorite part of my day was when we were all standing in this less active lady’s kitchen. She’s refilling her candle lighter with lighter fluid and spilling it everywhere... well, she lights that baby up and pfump! Her hand and the lighter go up in flames! She drops the lighter and the floor goes up in flames where she spilt the fluid. After moments of extreme panic, she drops a towel on the flame, and all is well. No one got hurt. It was hilarious! I had just been complaining to sister Clark that it had been sort of a boring day. Not so! The Lord hears and answers prayers.

I love you all! Keep the faith! I know this is the true church. I know the Book of Mormon is true. It has made me happy!

xo
Madie