i like yall

So the story from this week comes from this cute little redheaded lady. 

 

 

 

This is Marilyn Eissler. She is the Green's, that we live with, granddaughter! The Greens daughter, Josette's daughter. She is a cute, smart, 9 year old. 

Her mom has been a bit less active in the past couple years which is why Marilyn hasn't been baptized yet. 

 

As a result of some things, Josette, previously living in Pineville, now had to move to Alexandria probably less than 2 miles away from us!! woohoo! so convenient.

 

Josette and us also became friends because she was at the Greens alot during the move and the girls and her even lived here for a couple weeks. 

 

The result means that we got lots of good influences going and examples and Josette agreed to let Marilyn take the missionary lessons and prepare to be baptized. 

 

Its been almost 2 months of lots of complications and frustrations and spirit filled times and blessings and crazy lessons and golden lessons and ups and downs but Marilyn is going to be baptized this Friday night!! 

 

We had a lot of family drama and concerns to work through but overall I had a really eye opening, wonderful experience teaching Marilyn the lessons and the importance of baptism and church and scriptures and prayer. 

 

Marilyn has been a champion and so adorable this whole time though! 

She has wanted to be baptized for a long time coming. 

When she found out that we were going to start teaching her the lessons she was SO EXCITED. 

Every time we saw her she wanted to have a lesson. Always asking when the next lesson was. 

Whenever we would teach her she would start reading the pamphlet right in front of us, she would get her school notebook out and take notes.

She would sneak her stack of pamphlets out the door to school and read them and share them with her friends.

Always the first one ready to go on Sunday morning for church. 

Sister Green gave her a paper packet of a Preparation for Baptism packet and Marilyn brought that with her everywhere. Her mom told us that when they went to the pediatrician, Marilyn brought the packet and made friends with another girl in the waiting room. The next thing she knew she turned back around and Marilyn and her new friend were laying on their stomachs together underneath the waiting room chairs pouring over the baptism packet. Marilyn was just chattering away about the things she learned and how excited she is for her baptism. 

​

We are so lucky to get to learn from Marilyn and her example of her sincere love of God and church. She can feel the difference when her family goes to church and when they don't. She is making her decision of choosing church and Christ.

We are so happy for her!

 

Tune in next week for some fun baptism pictures of our sweet Marilyn!

 

To continue the party this week, my companion Sista Fristoe turned 21 on Wednesday! We were super pumped about that so we definitely had to do a birthday/celebrate/cameras back picture sesh. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cutie pants 21 year old companion

 

our cutie pants Meshak the cat who loves to cuddle and purr and meow but hates taking pictures.....

 

She may have gone a little crazy with the 21......

 

jokes we just have a good time :)

 

LOVE YALL!

xoxoxoxoxo

sister sades

peektures

Hey yall! 

This week has been crazy busy but then again not..

so this will definitely be a picture letter.

 

This week started with a GREAT zone meeting! I love our zone so much. Its truly a temple like feel in the chapel with these missionaries. I love love love them!

Here is a picture of our zone sisters! They are SO incredible. 

 

 

 Straight from the zone meeting we went on exchanges and I went to the promised land of Opelousas which was so cool and I really would love to serve there. We met many cool people and saw many miracles. 

​Of course we had so much fun I forgot to take pictures....

Right after we got back from that one we left for exchanges with the Leesville sisters! I was with a bff Sister Allred and it was a wonderful time. I learn so much from her every time :)

 

 

 

Then we are already to Friday and Saturday! And we had our normal day to day adventures like 

Finding gems in the ghetto

 

 

 Going to new restaurants

 

 

And hanging out with our bff Brandon aka Real Life aka Mormon 4 lyfe (those are his street names)

 

 

We helped volunteer at a cool thing and got to take pictures next to this Alexandria Trolley. More pics to come

 

 

 

Then our two adorable outside cats love us so so much that the left us this present outside our door. 

CAUTION: PARENTAL DIGRESSION ADVISED

Thanks David and Meshak. #atleastitwasdead?

 

 

Then came Sunday aka Sept 18 aka my 20th birthday!!!

It was a wonderful day :) we went to 6 hours of church and Pineville ward had a ward potluck for me after as well as the stake people that were there for ward conference and they all sang to me! that part is actual true. I <3 pineville.

 

Then Bishop Stock had us over for a 2nd lunch and we had candles in cream puffs and I got sang to again.

 

 

 Then we went to the Hornbecks aka our mission parents (besides the Greens) and had a birthday party there with all my favorite people. and I got sang to again.

 

 Then we had a little birthday at home with the Greens on Monday night ( bc they were out of town for Sunday) and I got sang to again.

 

 

It was a fabulous birthday and I felt very loved aand thought of :)

 

 Other good news on Monday my camera came back all fixed and good as new!!!!! It was truly the best birthday present ever and a Christmas miracle. :')

First picture taken of Pop in his natural habitat

 Also..... Sunday night I went to bed feeling real sick. We had to stay home all Monday because I had a 100-103 fever all day long. ew. not fun. 

slept alot and watched Ephraim's Rescue for the first time!

  

Transfer news is that the whole district is almost the exact same! Sister Fristoe and I are staying and we are only loosing one elder... Elder Hardick. 

 

 

He is a true friend and we are really going to miss him a lot 

 

 This was also from the party at the Greens

 

 

 

 The elders came over to surprise me for our little party bc I was sick. They didn't want to get too close but they are sweet :)

 

 

These are the mission fam :)

 

 

But thats about the summation of my week! 

Zone meetings, exchanges, regular adventures, birthday wonders, transfers, sickness.... its de best :) 

Truly do love this life! 

(update on sickness. I probably have strep so thats cool) 

But anyways. Super happy I'm staying another with Fristoe and in Alexandria. 

Super duper love these wards and friends here. Love what I'm learning and love the people I get to learn from. 

LOVE YALL!!!

sister sades

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kaliesha and the power of God

:)

This is a story about Kaliesha and member missionaries.

One of my first weeks in Alec, sista P-fleg was prompted to go visit a member in our ward. She has lots and lots of really hard medical problems and a stressful life which makes it so she can't make it to church hardly ever. So less active in the church attendance but totally active in the testimony! 

But this time we went to go visit Sister Rankin was completely lead by the Spirit. 

 

Sister Rankin had an awful day and was just feeling really overwhelmed. She was so grateful we came over because she really needed someone to talk to and some Spirit in her day. It was a really cool visit with her :)

After we had visited and helped and shared some scripture, we were saying our goodbyes. As we were leaving, Sister Rankin told us how grateful she was for our visit and that she wanted to have us over for lunch the next week! Totally not unusual. We were excited and set up a time for the upcoming week. 

 

Skip to the lunch date. 

We show up to the lunch date and its all normal and we're chatting and getting set up ready to sit down and start lunch. 

Then there's a knock and Sister Rankins neighbor came in and just sat down with us!

 

Moral of the story... Sister Rankin set us up a surprise lesson with her neighbor! 

What the what? It was very surprising but awesome :)) go sister rankin

 

Meet Kaliesha:

Kaliesha is Sister Rankin's neighbor. She is in her 30's and has 3 kids. She lives with her mom while she is going through alot of medical problems and can't work. She has seizures and just had back surgery or something so she is 

She is really good friends with Sister Rankin, she is basically a mother figure to Kaliesha. Sister Rankin takes these opportunities to just be straight up with Kaliesha and lets her know what really works. And its God. She loves to say, "once you've tried your way, the worlds way, and everybody else's way, and you've found out that all that doesn't work... Its time for you to try God's way." 

Sister Rankin recognized that experiences in Kaliesha's life had been preparing her to turn to God and accept His way. And she was right! Kaliesha has really great desire to make changes in her life, to start to follow God and what His plan is for her, and to really set an example for her kids and get them involved in good, wholesome things. 

When we first met her she seemed very weighed down and just obviously struggling. We had a great first lesson with her about who God is and what that means for her, that He really is her Father in Heaven and He loves her so much and is aware of her. We talked about yoking ourselves with Christ and that He can lift our burdens. She was crying and it was a powerful and exciting lesson.

 

Our next lesson with her was the next week and we were on exchanges. Sister Manuma and I taught Kaliesha about the Restoration. We explained more about the Book of Mormon and what it means for her and her family. Kaliesha was still obviously weighted and troubled but she did feel the Spirit. Sister Manuma said a wonderful closing prayer really asking Heavenly Father to bless Kaliesha.

 

But then it was deep into summertime and the Rankins went out of town and things got busy with everyone and we could never get together. 

 

Many weeks went by.... 2 transfers and a new companion later. I still thought about Kaliesha and we went to go visit the Rankins about 2 weeks ago. It was a good visit but not to much was said about Kaliesha. 

 

But then..... Last Sunday Sister Rankin and Kaliesha just walked into Sacrament meeting! I was SO excited to see her there! Right after Sacrament meeting, I jumped right up to go talk to them. We have a quick conversation because they had to get back to their kids at home. 

 

But in our quick conversation I learned a few things.

1. Kaliesha's health is doing alot better so she can start working again. She is really trying to look for a job so she can get on her feet, get her own place with her kids, get a phone, and transportation.

2. Kaliesha was definitely brighter and happier. MUCH brighter. Smiling, happier, eyes bright. It was amazing.

3. She has been reading the Book of Mormon close to every night or every other night with her kids. 

4. She wants to be baptized. 

5. and she wants her kids to come to church and learn and be baptized. 

6. We set up a time to have a lesson together on Wednesday. 

 

wat. come again.

Yes ma'am Kaliesha's time is here.

Wednesday we had an amazing lesson. 

We re-taught the Restoration and this time she was able to really listen, understand, and soak it in. You could see that it was clicking and understanding. She had great participation as well as Sister Rankin. It is so cool to have Sister Rankin there because Kaliesha really respects her input and listens to her experiences. 

We talked alot about how the gospel will bless her family and help her be an example for her kids. 

She is so ready for this and was just glowing. Even more bright and happy than Sunday. 

And I told her so. 

That I noticed she was brighter and glowing and more happy than I had ever seen her. Both her and Sister Rankin agreed with me. and Kaliesha shared with me something that floored me.

She says, "I am alot different. You remember the last time we meet and it was you and the girl with the black hair?"

Me: "Yes! Me and Sister Manuma!"

Kaliesha: "Yea well ever since she prayed for me, I haven't had a single seizure. Not since that very day."

 

Wow. 

What. 

Yall. 

God is so real. He loves us. He just wants to help us so bad. He wants to give us blessings. 

He is just waiting for us. 

 

Kaliesha is praying for what day she wants to get baptized as well as her kids and so are we. She is incredible and beautiful and so prepared. 

 

So grateful for this area and this companion and this mission. 

I love being a missionary and being blessed to be apart of this work just so I can see God's miracles working.

in other but most especially in me. 

God loves us :)

and I love us. 

LOVE 

xoxoxoxxo

sister sades

 

In other news.... Its lovebug season.​ also known as a more inappropriate name as the flying fornicators 



The season where these annoying bugs mate constantly and swarm everything. 



And they are just kind of dumb and useless. They don't do anything expect fly
 around together and bump into you and get hit by cars

So the front of everyones cars right now are just covered in black from lovebugs

ew ew ew. they are gross and just plain aggravating. #southprobs

We got to go serve at a sweet ring ceremony and got this cute family picture :)

 

tragedies and blessings all in one

This week has been cool to hear the testimonies of others and how they have changed and grown in the last little while. 

We have had a lot of travel and meetings this week but it has been just inspiring to hear the testimonies of everyone there. 

 

Wednesday we had MLC in Baton Rouge so Sister Fristoe and I had the opportunity to just drive down to the mission home and see a tiny bit of the destruction of the neighborhoods and businesses and hear stories from the missionaries that are serving in the areas that were affected.

 

Yall the devastation is crazy. 

The death toll of this was beyond low for the destruction it caused. Thousands of homes destroyed and thousands and thousands of people homeless and left with absolutely nothing. Thousands of people with anywhere between 4-6 feet of water in their home that just came up. No warning whatsoever. Just alot alot of rain that never stopped. 

 

This is a huge tragedy. But also a huge blessing!

Remember the race issues and crazy shootings not to long ago?

All that is forgotten and replaced with insane amounts of love and charity.

Neighbors helping neighbors, donations collected and distributed, and we are all in this together no matter what class or race. 

And also... the city is swarmed with yellow shirts!

also this is one of the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen

 

So many Mormons in Louisiana right now!! 

Thousands of people from allll over the country have come to Louisiana to help with disaster clean up with yellow Mormon Helping Hands shirts on. 

 

Here is an amazing article about whats up in LA last weekend

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormon-helping-hands-flooded-homes-louisiana

Why I love these videos:

1. i love louisiana. Where the governor and mayor talks and recognizes God. (and quoted "I am a Child of God")

2.an accurate description of the God fearing Louisiana people that we work with in our wards and on the daily in the world.

3. "be good" everyone says that here :)

4. I know some people in these videos and its fun to see them helping out

 

These are special sacred times right now that are going on in BR. Members from our ward have gone to help out and its amazing to see the difference in them when they come back. Every single person who has talked about helping with the clean up has gotten emotional when they talk about it. 

every single person. 

 

They talk about the people that they go and meet to help with their house. The members talk about especially that homeowners are so so grateful for everything and recognize God's hand in all of it. The clean up crew literally demolishes and rips out their lives that they have been living for however many years and throws in on the side of the road.

And they are still grateful. 

And they still praise God. 

 

These are incredible, amazing humble people and I wish I could go help in Baton Rouge so badly but the church is so true and so organized and are truly disciples and examples of Christ to the state of Louisiana.

 

Lives are changing in Louisiana right now. Including mine. 

I'm so grateful for the example these members are to me and the time I have to reflect and thank God for the blessings that I have.

 

Love yall mucho

try to focus on what really matters in life

grateful and prayerful

xoxoxoxoxo

sister sades

 

ps something cool is that the Governor of Louisiana made August 28th the state of Louisiana's Mormon Helping Hands day. 

woot woot :))

een

 

also this is one of the most beautiful pictures I have ever s

the MLC crowd :) love love love them

 

 

fave seesters

sister lanning and sister toner

 

fave homies

 

i love temeca

A couple weeks ago we had an amazing experience.

 

Pre story: We had district meeting with the missionaries in the areas around us, Pineville and Alexandria elders, us, Marksville senior couple and elders. In district meeting we were talking about the people that we were working with and the Pineville elders brought up a lady named Jamika, and the Marksville senior couple thought they said Temeca because she was from Marksville. 

Thats it. Thats all that happened. 

 

Saturday afternoon Bishop called Sister Fristoe and asked her to give a talk the next day. #thanksbishop #lifeofamissionary

While she was preparing her talk that night, I needed to update our area book aka the records that we keep of every person we ever talk to and get their information from. 

I am updating and looking at things in the area book... And I see this name and it says "Temeca - 318-----" with her phone number. It also has a mini description that says she is from Marksville and moved to Alexandria and works at Chili's. 

So I'm thinking, Hey we were talking about Temeca the other day. I wonder if its the same one. Its probably not but I'll call her anyway. 

I call her. She answers. Lets see if I can describe this phone call.

Her: Hello?

Me: Hi this is the Sister Missionaries, how are you?

Her: Heyyyy! I am so glad you called! I have really been thinking about yall and wanted to see yall again.

Me: wait. what. really? Okay when can we meet up with you??

Her: Can you come tomorrow at 4? I work at Chili's and I get off at 4. Can you do that?

Me: Yes yes yes that works great for us!

Her: Good. Oh and make sure you call me before you come to make sure I'm getting home because I reeeeally want to meet with yall tomorrow. 

Me: Wow okay we can do that!

Her: Oh man you should see my face right now I have a grin from ear to ear. I am so happy you called. I have really been thinking about yall. 

 

and then we just said how exited we were to meet each other and said goodbye see ya tomorrow. 

 

LIKE WHAT. When does this ever happen?? never. 

Best phone call of my life.

 

So its tomorrow and we are PUMPED to go see Temeca. I was looking forward to it the whole day. We call her at 4, she was just getting off and was excited to see us still!! A whole day later!

 

We go over to her house and we sit down and talk. 

And this is one of the most spiritual lessons of my mission. It was incredible. 

 

Her story briefly goes along the lines that she is 36 and lived in Marksville until recently. Her dad died in December and so her mom and her had to move to Alec in January to try to support themselves. She was meeting with the missionaries and going to church in Marksville and when she moved the sisters tried to keep up with her but Temeca was working crazy shifts, all day every single day at Chili's so they never had time to meet up. 

The sisters wrote her name and number in the area book and left it alone for other sisters to follow up on when she was ready. 

 

And thats exactly what happened! 

 

Her side of the story:

She is going through a rough time since her dad died. She has been in the wrong sort of crowd and when her dad died she had to grow up real fast because now she needed to help support herself and fully support her mom. When she first moved to Alec she was overwhelmed and working so much and was just trying to figure everything out. Its several months later and she has been adjusting and really wanting to make changes to come closer to God. 

The night we called her, she was just laying in bed really sad a depressed and having a really really hard day at work but also thinking about how she wants to change and doesn't know what to do. Basically just feeling lost. 

The last thing she wanted was to have the phone ring and talk to anyone. 

But the phone rang and when she looked to see who it was and saw it was us, her first reaction was, "seriously I cant right now.".

But then something touched her that said, "no. This is exactly what you need."

So she listened and answered the phone. 

 

isn't that amazing? wow. 

So after she told us her version we talked to her about how God is aware of each of us and knows what we need way more than we do. Temeca has a huge desire to come to Christ and to change her whole life to do the things God wants for her. It was not the time back in January, but we know by Temeca's desire and new focus that it is definitely her time now.

The Spirit was so strong during this lesson. I felt very impressed just to tell her how happy her Heavenly Father is that she is choosing to do things that are bringing her closer to Him. That her Heavenly Father is so. proud. of her.  The whole time we were talking Temeca was just crying and crying. 

 

One of my absolutely favorite things about being a missionary is these moments. Because I am an authorized and set apart messenger of God and representative of Jesus Christ, sometimes I get to feel just a little portion of what God feels for the people we meet and talk to. 

I had so much love for Temeca while we were talking that I knew it was Heavenly Fathers love for Temeca that he was letting me feel and told me to tell her about it. 

I can't even explain how great and special this experience was! I know God has great plans for Temeca and I know Temeca will listen!

 

Something else cool is that ever since Temeca opened that door the first time, I feel like we connected. I feel so comfortable around her and it just feels like she's my best friend already! I'm excited to see where this relationship goes :) i <3 temeca

 

Anyways. Since then we have met with her only a couple of times because guess what!

She just found out that she's expecting her first baby! what what! and guess what. her body does NOT like being pregnant. 

She is so so so sick that she can't get up, she can't go to work, she can't move! and this is bad. She had to sell her car to pay her light bill that was due this week. prayers that she gets better!

 

But she is really excited and we are excited for her. We talked about how this could be a blessing in disguise because this baby now fuels her to be even better. She is going to have someone to take care of now, and be an example for. Also she recognized that this will help her stop smoking and be clean for the pregnancy. 

 

So there ya go. 

Blessings.

God knows what we need. :)

Temeca is set to be baptized on October 1st 2016

I love Temeca so much and I know God is aware of her completely. 

I love being a missionary and being on God's team.

xoxoxoxox

ILOVEYALL

sister sades

 

srry no pictures :(   (my camera broke)

truly converted‏

 WOOHOOOO!!! 

BRANDON GOT BAPTIZED!

happiest. weekend. ever.

This week was crazy awesome and rewarding for everyone.

This week was the final countdown until Brandon's baptism on Saturday. And when I say Satan doesn't want Brandon to get baptized, he did NOT want Brandon to be baptized. 

 

This week we worked really hard with Brandon to help him stay focused on his baptism. It was so worth it and so rewarding!!!

 

Every night this past week we had a lesson with Brandon at a members home. It was a challenge bc

1. Members schedules. (our schedule revolved around these lessons and Brandon has no schedule yet.)

2. Brandon doesn't have a car so they would have to pick him up and take him home. 

But truly if you want something righteous to happen... GOD WILL HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN.

 

Sunday: church! great day at church! We didn't get to see him bc all the rain came down and the floods came up but we got to call him.

 

Monday: Brandon has been racked with these awful Satan dreams. Monday morning he woke up from one and he was just so exhausted from them, he also woke up with a crazy strong craving to smoke. 

Luckily, Brandon is who he is and the first thing he does is pray and then text us to call him because he is struggling. Super grateful that he has learned that the first reaction isn't to react but to pray and get help. 

Brandon came to p-day at the church and played sports with the missionaries all day long, had the best time in the world and then an amazing family in the ward had offered to do dinner and FHE in their home Monday. So even though it was literally downpouring we got to go have a wonderful lesson with them.

Brandon told us all day about how much fun he was having. He said he had the best day ever! He loves being around missionaries and members. He really feels the Spirit. And when he feels the Spirit he gets really happy, excited, and just laughs. all. the. time. He never stops giggling. 

So a rough start turned into a super fun, wholesome day!

Brandon modeling for his baptism program picture

 

Tuesday: We had a lesson with the Greens! We watched the Joseph Smith movie and the Spirit was SO strong after. The Greens really connected with Brandon with them being converts and knowing what he's going through and how it has changed them. Beyond grateful for them. 

 

Wendesday: We had a lesson at the church with our 2nd counselor Brother Rougeau. It was wonderful. Then we had another lesson to get to but Brandon has a huge interest in learning his heritage and family history! The family history library was open so we let him go search out his family. He was SO pumped. Then the men in the church play basketball at the church at 8 so he had the best time hanging out and being crazy with all the guys :)

 

Thursday: We had a lesson with a less active in our ward and Brandon. We went over the baptismal interview questions and told Brandon he didn't need to answer the questions to us but he just needed to think about his own testimony and what it means to him. But Brandon being Brandon, always wanting to share his testimony, not even knowing that the member was less active, tells us that he wants to answer the questions for us. Brandon told us his testimony of all the things that he knows to be true. What an awesome experience. 

 

Friday: Devon Jones in our ward is just stellar. He is a convert of about 4 years or so from California. His wife was less active in her teen years and they were living together in California. They came out to live in Louisiana where their family was and got activated and baptized. THEY ARE INCREDIBLE. 

Our district leader interviewed Brandon and so everything was set for the baptism the next day! After the interview we had a lesson with Devon and Brandon about the Priesthood. WOW. just wow. Brandon had connected with Devon his very first Sunday because Devon teaches Gospel Principles class. It was incredible. Brandon is so ready.

A picture I got from this week. lesson going through the baptismal interview questions!

 

Saturday: We did normal missionary stuff and then headed to the church real early to clean out the font of all the gross in it and cockroaches and whatever else crawls up the drains. 

Up until today we had been in constant communication with Brandon every day. Constant. As in he loves to talk. So we would talk several times a day and text and things. But of course this was our bad. 

When we were cleaning the church it was the late afternoon and we hadn't talked to Brandon yet. We texted him to remind him of something and he texts us back that he is really upset and angry and to call him. 

What? Brandon is one of the happiest people I know. He is never upset. Except when we told him that 29 was too old to go on a mission and he would have to get special permission to go.

But we called him and pretty much what happened was that he was talking to his mom about his baptism and she just anti-ed him. Really questioned his decision and told him how terrible it was and (his mom is raising his son) that she would never let his son learn about his church and just a bunch of fighting words. 

Brandon was distraught. He was so upset that he didn't want to go through with his baptism because he wouldn't be in the right mindset if he did. But we listened and listened and then it was our turn. We told him how far he has come, how Satan has affected him from the beginning and how this is exactly what Satan wanted. Because really. Brandon has come SO FAR. Then we sang I Need Thee Every Hour for him with my uke and he just cried and said he was ready to go through with it. 

What. A. Champ. 

Its not easy being anti-ed ever even when its someone you don't even know. I can't imagine some one you really care about. But his ride picked him up 10 minutes later and he was all good and feeling the Spirit again! 

We took alot of really fun pictures and Brandon got Sister Fristoe and I some hilarious t-shirts from wal-mart. It was so funny! :) 

But the baptism service was incredible. So perfect for Brandon. Everything that was said was perfect for him and meant for him to hear without the people even knowing thats what he needed. Devon Jones baptized him and everyone that we had a lesson with him came to the baptism, plus others in the ward that just came to support. 

 

 

 

 

 

And guess what else. 

THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE THERE!! 

Every single seat in that room was full. Every. Seat. Wow. If there was any more people it would be standing room. 

This ward is incredible! So supportive and loving. Brandon is also incredible because he just loves the attention and makes everybody feel like his best friend. He is so good to just talking to people and hugging everyone he sees!

Everyone felt the love and it was so so so good :)

 

Sunday: Brandon got confirmed!! It was so special. It felt very complete and he was welcomed into the ward and I don't think there was one person in our tiny congregation who wasn't smiling :) 

Brandon just wants to be a missionary so bad we just have to laugh. After church we go talk to people and Brandon just follows right behind us introducing himself and making everyone his best friend and hugging everyone. Its so funny. I love it. 

After church he went out with the elders all day long! He has been waiting for this day forever! He went and watched as they gave the sacrament to a member in the hospital, then he went out for the rest of the day with the Pineville elders with a car and they had an amazing lesson with one of Brandon's best friends! wow. wow wow wow. 

 

All in all... Brandon was so ready for his baptism and he was truly converted and has a huge desire to continue becoming converted. We didn't do anything. He was so prepared. :) 

It was a real special occasion and I feel very very blessed and humbled to be apart of it. and I got to gain a new best friend from it! (sista p-fleg and I had convinced Brandon to move to Idaho next summer to be around more mormons and find a good sister to marry.... and he's taking it seriously and its going to happen!! so watch out world!!)

 

Talking to Brandon this morning I told him that my letter was going to be all about him and asked him if he had anything to say to my wonderful family.

This is what happened and this was pretty accurately word for word minus all the laughing in between. I felt like this was a pretty accurate attempt to describe exactly what he is like as well. :)

 

Brandon says "I want you to tell them that you're so awesome. And yall did a great job teaching me. Tell them that I say heyyyyyy and I cant wait to meet them. And yall did a great job raising up you and that it shows by the way you're teaching me the lessons and I really learned. and you had a lot of help with your companions. And I cant wait to come down there and see all the great things your city has to offer. and one of my favorite things that I want to do when I get down there is go on a hike. Oh and tell them, this is funny like a little humor, and I'm going to teach Belnap to ice skate. and tell them I can't wait to give them the biggest hug ever. Cuz I'm going to give your dad and your mom a big hug so they need to get ready for it. Tell them I cannot wait to go to the temple down there and how I'm going to feel and how its going to make me feel."

I know right. Crying as well :')

Anyways. 

That pretty much sums up this week here in Alexandria. just so blessed to be here. :)

Life is so good and God blesses us and knows us beyond comprehension, even the littlest stuff that we don't even realize. 

The gospel is so true and it changes lives.

I love and am humbled to be a small part of it. 

Just living that wonderful life and seeing those good days

I love yall so much!

God is so good and so is our Savior and his Atonement

LOVES LOVE LOVE

sister sades

 ps. An update to my knowledge on the flood and Baton Rouge situation, all the missionaries are safe. I think 2 missionary apartments got water in them but all is well. The devastation is real in Baton Rouge and Denham Springs area (my old zone) so all the missionaries in those areas have turned into service missionaries. We are the out-in-the-boonies zone about 2.5 hours away from Baton Rouge so we don't get to go help or anything. All of the surrounding stakes (texas, arkansas, tennessee, mississippi, northern and southern la) are being pulled in to help and some are asked to spend the next 3 weekends down there. They are saying that this flood devastation is worse than Katrina. yikes. prayers always for those families.

 

  

we caught alot of things this week!

 

this dude was chilling in our bathroom

 

 

 

 

 

 

wet wet wet but not drowning

Wowie wow wow. 

Craziness is running all over louisiana this week. 

 

The week really started with transfers! I'm taking over Alexandria with a new companion, Sister Fristoe. Sister Fristoe is from Amarillo, TX and she went to BYU provo for a year before the mish. Her birthday is on the 21st, only a couple days after mine so we get to celebrate our birthdays together!!!! We are super pumped for that. She has been on her mission for 13 months, she's super chill and nice so I'm excited to learn alot from her!

 

This weekend it started by raining buckets and buckets and pouring and having a crazy southern lightning storm x1000 

We were just leaving an appointment and it started raining and pouring on us. We got caught in the worst storm anyone had ever seen. It was insaaaane. 

Our windshield wipers were going the fastest they possibly could and we still couldn't see anything. There was lightning all around our car and we saw lightning hit in the field right to the side of us! IT WAS CRAZY AND SCARY AND AWESOME. 

but as a result of all of this crazy non stop rain Baton Rouge and Denham Springs are totally underwater! its crazy. 

But the Lord takes care of his missionaries. All the missionaries are safe! Trapped in their apartment or staying at a members house but all safe. 

 

Update on other things: BRANDON IS GETTING BAPTIZED ON SATURDAYYYYYYYYYYYYY

I am so pumped and he is so ready. More stories to come next week. 

 

So blessed and so loved. God is so good to us in this area.

 

love yallll so much! 

sister sades