ohai yo

Michelle taught us that in Japanese. We have too much fun. Its funniest when you say it in a Asian accent and throw your arms in the air! Be like, "Ohai yo!!!" (Arms extended) ;)

In President's email today, he said to not assume things. I liked that because man, I need to work on not doing that! Like Elder Golden said, To Assume is to make an Ass out of me and you. Its so true! Haha Really though it totally does! When we assume things, jump to conclusions, we don't let ourselves be open to understanding, and stop progression. I hardly ever see the full picture anyways so how could I make the right judgement about others when its not possible for me to make a correct assumption, point is, I can't, so I must not assume. 

We did a lot of service this week, which was great because we have trust with members and non members! Its amazing what trusting in one another can do. Its been harder trying to contact referrals through members but already I've seen why its way better to do it that way. A new family moved in to the Kelsers old home. We went by to help them move in, then we asked their neighbors (all members of the ward) to go and introduce themselves. The Summers jumped on it! The family said that they lived in Portland for 5 years or so, and only met their neighbor once because he needed to get on their roof. They've never had such a grand welcome from the community before. I believe because we and the ward correlated on who and when we should visit this family, it all worked great. They feel welcomed, want to come to activities, socialize, and they already love it here! So awesome! Now our next step is to introduce the gospel to them with the members by their side. Its amazing how much easier the work is when missionaries and members work together. :) Not only does it build our testimonies, and trust with the members, but I believe it builds theirs as well. 

I am so grateful for Sister Owsley. Sister Kennedy went home this week and that brought me down... Don't bring me down, don't bring me down. (Beatles song there) ;) But Sister Owsley was super positive and loving. Something I loved was how we both went out to work and didn't dwell on it, and because we were so busy working we didn't have time to be sad. I think Heavenly Father used her to help me keep going and not dwell on something I have no control over. 

We gave a talk yesterday in the Leslie ward. I was stressed out because nothing was coming to my mind as I was trying to prepare for it... so in preparation I studied as much as I could about the subject I felt that Heavenly Father wanted me to speak about and what would you know, just like He always promises, I studied & did my part, and He brought to my mind what I needed to say. I love being an instrument in His hands to bless His children. I am grateful for giving talks because they stretch me out of my comfort zone but make me rely on the Lord. Something I want to improve on is Leaning On Him! I think I too often place everything upon myself and don't go to Him for strength. There is no way I can do anything with out Him, yet stubborn me, I always try to do it by myself... then go to him. I need to get better at leaning on him from the beginning! Using the enabling power of the atonement every day & in every aspect of my life.

President Curtis wrote me this, he is the best President! "Remember that agency thing that allow investigators to turn down the blessings of the gospel also allows members to decide to serve or not (missions as well as other callings) and also to decide how fully they will serve. We not only should not feel responsible for another person's decision, we should be careful not to judge their decision since we can't understand what they feel and understand."

I love my mission and I am learning to love in ways that I didn't know I could. I am coming to be okay with not being able to understand everyone but knowing that the Savior does. He does understand everything, He understands me, you, and knows us better than ourselves. Even though I may not understand others decisions, I am learning I don't have to and its not important that I do, its only important that I help others know that He understands them perfectly and with a perfect love. I know He loves us.

Scripture of the Day 1 Nephi 20:22 "... there is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked." 

Sister Coats

PS: Sister Owsley and I went on a hike and saw a Moose! I real living breathing moose! We wanted to follow it closely but then got scared, screamed, and kept following it! Haha But thankfully while we were hiking to the top of the mountain, not following the trail, probably going to the top in the most difficult way possible, we didn't see any moose there... we saw the moose after our hike, in our car so if it did come right at us it have to go through our new car in whom we named, Blanco. :) We felt proud for being mountain women haha Other Things that happened this week, almost hit a deer,  we helped pound in posts (thats a lot harder than it looks), we raked a trillion leaves, made dinner for Fay (forgot to defrost it so we jacked up the heat and every time we went by the timer we'd push it up a few minutes then Fay would walk by and be like, "I swear it was just at 35 minutes, 10 minutes ago!" Sister Owsley and I busted up) we went to Gravity Hill, we got the giggles so bad in sacrament it was hilarious because it was in front of everyone since we had to talk... so yeah, it was very professional haha ;) Driving on dirt roads is surprisingly a blast! Don't tell but I got some major air going down this one road, our seat belts even locked up haha it was great! 

Blanco

Summers!

Beautiful Leslie