Week 31- Pink Pajamas Penguins on the Bottom

Hello hello!

Okay! So Monday! We didn't really do anything, just relaxed. That night we were going to teach R but she canceled on us and now we can't get ahold of her and she didn't come to church. So everyone please pray for her.

Tuesday was awesome, we taught P with Sister E and then we were going to play volleyball and we were sure no one would come, but lots of people actually showed up, and it was awesome. I got a lot better! I'm not injuring people anymore.

Wednesday we went to serve at a horse rescue place and then went on exchanges with the STLs, Sister Fowkes (who was half-trained by my half-sister which makes her my half-niece) came with me and Sister Haws went to Summerville for the day. We taught the S Family and made S a bouquet because she was struggling. We had to take her off date because of her struggles, so please pray for her.

Thursday was really fun! The assistants brought us new mattresses in the morning before Mepkin, and they came to Mepkin with the zone leaders and the elders. We did a lot of stuff and I got to drive one of the new big Gators. We also got to show the visitors around. Sister Fowkes is Jasmine ;) it was quite fun. Then we went to the old folks home and sang there for awhile. Then we went and had dinner and contacted some bible referrals and went to Book of Mormon class.

Friday we weekly planned and then we went out to find people. We met this really nice lady named A and she became a new investigator. Then we taught S and she told us a little bit about what's going on. She's mostly okay now, just facing some big doubts. Please, y'all. She needs your prayers.

Saturday we cleaned the church, practiced my song .We get 1 hour of media time every week and so I got to see a little bit of the Pioneer Day concert.See concert here! It was so good. And my daddy looks great. The subject of today's email comes from the song "Circle of Life". That's what the chanty part the choir sings sounds like at the beginning.

Sunday we had church and I sang and everyone told me it was good so that was nice. The talks were on love in the home. It was nice. The lessons were on service. Service brings us great joy!

I love you! 

Don't let the muggles get you down!

-Sister Pew

Week 30-College, Corn and CATastrophe

Howdy y'all!

This week was so wild. So many crazy things happened.

Monday: We went fishing and caught some fish! Also, a cat got into our apartment and I have become SEVERELY allergic to cats and Sister Haws is afraid of them so we couldn't get her out, so we called the elders and they became little cat wranglers for a second and we were so proud. We were going to go to a baseball game that night but our ride bailed because she "heard thunder" lololol so we taught R her first new member lesson and visited a new member of the ward named Sister C. She was awesome and served her mission in the Phillipines and told us all about it. I am living a good life here in the States #blessed 

Tuesday we had DDM and it was pretty fun. Our district is cuuuute. Then we went to an old folks home and performed music. We also taught P and we brought Brother E who has decided to make him his son basically and taking him hunting and fishing and bring him under his wing.  That night we had a Relief Society activity and R came with her friend and V brought her roommate. Also, they gave us the best barbecue we'd ever had and we learned about America and the military from some guys in our ward who served in the Army - one for 9 years and one for 25. Also, they let us take the leftover barbecue. SO GOOD. We gave some to the elders.

Wednesday we went finding and met this guy named M. He was way chill and said we could come back and teach him and his wife. <3 We also had a lesson with P which she cancelled and then we taught S the Word of Wisdom (which she has been living since before she's met with the missionaries!!! who even is this woman. She's amazing.) That night, we were making some calls and planning some stuff when there was a knock at our door. No one ever knocks at the missionaries' door, so we were really intrigued. We opened the door to find the elders outside. They performed a truly ridiculous improvised song and then left. We were very confused and they told us later that they were really proud of it and just wanted to show someone. And we were the closest. Serving around elders is like having children. Sometimes you are so proud, and other times you are so confused. But it was pretty funny. Also, Sister Haws received some pretty powerful revelation that she needs to go to school and study nursing, but she has a hard time reading and doesn't know how to apply for college. But guess who totally is great at reading and has applied for the very school Sister Haws is applying to? Me. It's funny how Heavenly Father works. So, Sister Haws and I started reading lessons, and her college application process with permission from President. He was so excited for her.

Thursday was Mepkin again, and Sister Haws got some corn. We also went to the really lame family history booth and talked about ways to make it not super lame. And then that night was Book of Mormon class which was fun.

Friday things got reaaaaaal crazy and they just kept being crazy for the rest of the week. So we went to do weekly planning and Sister Haws put her corn on the stove to cook it. Around lunchtime it still wasn't done, so we continued weekly planning and then Sister R showed up at 2 to take us out finding. So we went to visit the Bs, a super nice family, and we had a nice visit with them. We were headed off to the next family we were to visit, when we passed a corn field. Now, you've got to understand that Sister Haws loves corn so much that every time we pass a corn field, she goes, "*gasp* Corn!" So we pass this corn field and Sister Haws gasps and says, "Corn!" and then goes, "OH MY GOSH SISTER I LEFT THE STOVE ON!" And I was like, "Sister R, we're gonna need to put this car in reverse." So we high tail it back to our apartment, book it up the stairs, and Sister Haws is like, "I can smell the corn burning" as she's trying to unlock the door. And when we opened the door, there was black smoke everywhere. We had to air out our apartment. And IT STILL SMELLS LIKE BURNT CORN. But, our apartment didn't burn to the ground! So that is a definite plus. I'd rather have a musty burnt corn smelling apartment than be homeless. After that we went back to the old folks home and saw a member who lives there. 

Saturday we had the old folks home again, but we were way better prepared to sing this time. Also, we have permission and are encouraged at this particular nursing home to sing songs that are not necessarily gospel-related, and their favorite genre over there is MOTOWN MUSIC so if any of y'all have any Motown hits that you like that we could learn to play for them, that'd be swell (please include the chords if you actually send me ideas) (also please don't send any of the super romantic ones, because we are still missionaries). Then, we went to R's.  Then we went to U's for dinner and played her some music. About half an hour after we got there my eyes started itching and getting swollen. And then we remembered Ursula has a cat. And by the end of the night, I was dying.

BUT, we ended up at Ursula's house again after church yesterday (which P and S came to, by the way). BECAUSE SHE LET US TEACH HER THE RESTORATION. And she promised to read the Book of Mormon, and pray about it. Ugh we just love her so much. After that we went to see a family, the Ws, who are amazing and want to have us over to teach their neighbors and also cook Sister Haws some Ethiopian food because Sister W is from Trinidad and a lot of their foods are oddly similar...it's cool, though, because then I might get to try Ethiopian food and we might get to teach the Ws' Jamaican neighbors which would be awesome.

*Sigh*. I have been out seven months. I can't. What is this. I am not okay with this. Everything needs to STOP RIGHT NOW thanks.

I love y'all!

Don't let the muggles get you down!

-Sister Pew

A lady and her baby that they are teaching

Singing for her supper.

After eating the fish they caught and cooked and ate, she said they were delicious!

Week 29-God Bless the newest Mormon

Hello loved ones!

In answer to the many inquiries, I am doing good health-wise. There were no more significant incidents that happened. So that's good. #prayerworks

Last Monday we played soccer and basketball! It was fun but really hot. Then we had a lesson and follow-up interview with R, who was super pumped to be baptized. She is my favorite person.

Tuesday was America Day. If you've ever been to a very redneck part of the world, you know that Independence Day is a ridiculously big deal. As in, people are STILL shooting off fireworks. (Rednecks also like to blow stuff up.) So, we proselyted until 6 pm and got to see C again! It was actually really cool because we went over there and she BEGGED us to teach her (which was heartbreakingly cute) and then her grouchy looking great-grandma came out and said we couldn't. But then Sister Haws just started talking to her. As we took an interest in her, she totally softened right up. Her name is F and she said we could come back! So that's awesome and we're totally going to do that tomorrow. Anyways, after 6 we had to be back in our apartment for lock-down, so we ordered the elders a pizza anonymously (they totally knew it was from us, but it was still REALLY funny) and read "More Than the Tattooed Mormon" which R lent to us. Then the mission nurse called me and we had a conversation that caused me unnecessary panic because she asked me if all my pain was gone and made it sound like I'd probably need an operation, so here I am thinking, "HOLY COW I MIGHT HAVE TO GO HOME SKJDBSJDYFUSYGEBURBSE" and that was not okay.

So the next morning we headed back to the emergency room to get the results from the CT scan and send them to the mission doctor. After he had a look at those, he told me that I actually don't need to get surgery, I just need to take some pills. Which I have been doing. That was a relief, because I love being a missionary. After this whole ordeal, U came and took us out to lunch at Burger King, where she enjoyed watching this really awkward lady spill all over herself. That night we taught the S family and got to know them better.

Thursday we went to Mepkin and Heidi (Sister Haws) got to drive the Gator. We weeded some flowerbeds. We also did the family history booth and this time we brought a soccer ball to try and draw more interest. We did talk to more people. We have lots of cool ideas. Do you? Anyone got any thoughts on how to get people interested in family history? PLEASE let me know what ya think. Then we had Book of Mormon class and R didn't show up and we were like NOOOOOOOOOOOOO what the heck!?!?!?! and so we called her. All was well, but it was still scary. 

Friday we had Zone Conference! Y'all, President Innes is so freakin' funny. I am so excited that he's the mission president. He and his wife took a lot of time to see how I was doing and it was really nice but it was even better what he said his focus is going to be when he addressed us. He said his priorities are 1) the Lord, 2) His family, and 3) our conversion. He told us he is here to invite us to come unto Christ. His job is not to make missionaries out of us; we're already missionaries. His job is to make disciples of us. Gosh, he's just so cool. Also he might let the members start feeding us again, which would be very bad for my waistline. That night we taught S, and her little boy is so cute! We put her on date for August 4th! She swanned on by without even freaking out. It was so awesome! She is the cutest. Also, I got the package that Granny sent, so thank you so much to my lovely Granny Davis because that was the most helpful package I have ever received. Particularly the dress. That is the perfect dress for missionaries in the South. (Pictures attached:))

Saturday was the BAPTISM WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO. R got baptized, y'all! She was so excited to be a "Mormon". I sang for her. Bishop baptized her. She said she felt lighter, like she did the right thing! AND her nonmember friends and husband showed up! It was so fun! There were lots of people in the ward who were there to support her. This ward is the best ever. I'll be sending lots of pictures of the baptism, do not worry.Yesterday,  S came to church with her member boyfriend for all 3 hours, and R received the gift of  the Holy Ghost! It was just a beautiful day! Y'all, the church is true and God loves us all so much. We taught Gospel Principles on sacrifice and it was a good topic to study if anyone wants to do that.

Also, guess who went fishin' today and caught 4 fish?

I love y'all!

Don't let the muggles get you down!

-Sister Pew

R's baptism, with a friend

R's baptism, with her husband

Selfie

Sister Haws ready to fish

 R's baptism, with Sister Haws and Sister Pew

Sister Pew cool fisherwoman

Both sisters caught fish!

Wearing mens boots 

Week 28: The Sister Soldiers

Hello! God bless America! Happy anniversary to my lovely parents! They are the greatest!

So. This week. Was literally crazy. There's no way I can tell you everything, but let's get into it.

Monday: We went to see R, and we planned her whole baptism. It's really happening folks. It really is. Keep praying for her! Satan works hardest on you when you're doing the right thing.

Tuesday we had DDM and it was great. Then we went to see P and put him on date to be baptized on August 5th. Never did I ever think P would agree to be baptized. Here we are.

Wednesday we went to see a member in a rest home and accidentally offered to come by and perform once a week. Elder W, the new elder in town, plays the guitar "like the wind blows" (which is how Elder W described it) and so he's going to come play while I sing. Hahaha. Then we went to see the S Family. J is officially 9 so she has to be taught all the missionary discussions before she gets baptized. We basically had her teach us the Plan of Salvation and she did a great job. Then Sister C took us out "stalking" (which is finding, but she calls it stalking lol) and then took us to Chick Fil A which is where you got that picture of me.

Thursday we went to Mepkin and then we went out finding and then we went to the family history booth and then we went to teach a MEMBER REFERRAL and her name is S and she has the cutest baby named B who is in love with Sister Haws and it was so cute. We went over the Plan of Salvation because the North Charleston missionaries had already taught her the Restoration. She said it made a lot of sense and agreed to come to church! Pray for her and her baby.

Friday we weekly planned, we helped the elders move into our apartment complex, and then we went out to the middle of nowhere to find people to teach. Not much luck but still fun. 

Saturday we went finding with Sister A. She's very nice and took us down many muddy roads which was kinda fun. We got to see B and B for the first time in literally 5ever. Then we went to a little kid named K's baptism. Then we went to the annual 4th of July party at Sister M's house. There were many nonmembers there and we had lots of fun. The little kids and the missionaries united to play capture the flag and do a singing competition and it was so fun.

This is where things get so crazy. Saturday night I went to bed feeling kind of sick. I woke up at about midnight with intense abdominal pain. I tried for about an hour and a half to get rid of it, but nothing was making a dent. So I woke up my companion and we called the elders (who, tender mercies, had literally JUST MOVED into our apartment complex on Friday) and had them give me a blessing. At 1:30 in the morning. It was very sweet to hear them running up the stairs. So anyway, they gave me a blessing and immediately after the blessing I felt like we needed to go to the emergency room. So we did! And that is the story of the first (maybe second) time I have ever gone to the emergency room. They did some blood tests and a CT scan and figured out the problem, which I won't share (but I will it was an ovarian cyst), but suffice it to say it's very painful but not dangerous. They gave me some pain medication and sent me on my merry way at about 5 AM. 

Now, there were many blessings that came from this. The xray technician who gave me the CT scan was actually a less active member, and I was able to invite him back to church and point out what any normal person could recognize as a sign from God. I never go the the emergency room. But God needed me to meet that cute man. He politely refused, but I think that the Spirit touched his heart as we spoke. Also, one of my nurses was incredibly sweet and wanted to retire to work with the American Red Cross. I explained how our church does lots of work with them and she was very impressed. She told us we give her hope for the young people of the world, which was very nice of her.

The next day was church. We had to go because S was going to be there and she needed friends. So we went. And we also taught gospel principles running on 2-3 hours of sleep. It was probably not the greatest lesson anyone has ever given, but the fact that we were standing was really a miracle. And then we went home and went to bed until we had to go teach R. He's doing okay. Keep praying for him. Also, we received "how is Sister Pew doing" phone calls from the zone leaders and our new mission president, President Innes. He seems absolutely terrific and I am so excited to meet him in person.

I am feeling much better today. I'm mostly just tired -- it was such an ordeal, my goodness. But the Lord takes care of us. R thought she wouldn't make it to church and showed up anyway. S came to sacrament meeting. Everyone is so kind and concerned. Don't worry, everyone! Life is good. It is always good with God.

ER 

Stay safe! I love you!

Don't let the muggles get you down!

-Sister Pew

Note from Sister Pew's mom: I talked with the mission nurse on Friday, she called to let me know Sister Pew is doing well and they have her on medication to shrink the cyst.I feel like it was a tender mercy. 

Here are some videos she sent this week first is the ER visit and the second is of her new companion

https://youtu.be/BrBPG7N0AEU

https://youtu.be/LIx0UZeEUBQ

Week 27: Sister Poo

Hey y'all!

Literally this week was the most insane week of my whole entire freakin mission. So much craziness. So many weird things. 

This week for some reason a billion people wanted to express their verbal appreciation for me. Here are some highlights:

"You know, I thank God for you, Sister Pew." -R

"If I was a few years younger I'd marry you in a heartbeat." -R (...creepy? Yeah, maybe a lil bit--he's an older man)

"Sister Pew, just so you know, you are my favorite

sister missionary." -O, the cutest seven year old on the planet.

It's nice to be appreciated.

Monday: Monday we spent getting ready for our new companion. I got my hair cut also, and for Elder D's last p-day in the corner and Elder K's last p-day EVER we made tacos for the elders. They enjoyed them and we enjoyed them and it was all a very good time. That night we went over to R's and talked to her about baptism (again). She's a little nervous but said she was just going to go ahead and join the church, so we scheduled her baptismal interview for Thursday so Elder W could help her feel like she's ready.

Tuesday we went to see S and R. R said she doesn't feel like this is her time yet. Whatever man! But she says it's still a goal of hers to get baptized, so there is lots of hope. S also expressed for the first time how much R means to him and I think that meant a lot to her. Then we went home and did some more transfer stuff, and then we went over and taught P. He is so nice. Afterwards, we went out to eat at a Mexican restaurant called Cinco de Mayo. It was actually pretty good. I was surprised. 

Wednesday was transfers! Sister Kniffen and I were able to see Sister Goettsche, Sister Roberts (Sister Kniffen's trainee who was companions with Sister Goettsche), Sister Cordon, Sister Janke, Elder M, Elder D, Elder K, and all of our friends basically. It was sad to say goodbye to Elder D and Elder K. Elder D and I made a bet that if I never train or become an STL on my mission, he has to buy me a ticket to Disneyland so I can go with my friends, but if I do, I have to buy him a ticket to Disneyland. So please pray for me to win the bet because I don't have that kind of money. LOL. But anyways, the new companion's name is Sister Haws! She is from Rexburg Idaho, but she is actually from Ethiopia. This is not a joke. She was baptized when she was 14 and moved to America after being adopted. She is so cool. She half-trained Sister Janke (one of my two MTC companions_. She has only been literate (and speaking English) for six years, but she does such a good job. Except when she can't pronounce my name, and she calls me Sister Poo. It's actually so freakin funny. I just laugh every time. She's super mischievous but a super hard working missionary. She's been out a year. I'm worried she might make me run (because Ethiopia). The new elder is Elder W from Panguitch! He's super nice and kind of sounds like the rednecks that sit behind us at BYU football games, but smarter. And less old. That night we went finding and taught this lady named M sort of on accident, but we got a return appointment which is always good. 

Thursday is when things get crazy. So we went to Mepkin like normal, and the family history booth like normal. And then it started POURING RAIN on us. Literally we were soaked. And then, President called us. And he was like "so one of the sister missionaries tore her achilles tendon and has to go home for surgery, so we have to ET Sister Kniffen to the YSA ward in Charleston so Sister Mock can train her new missionary." And we were like...what? They told us to be prepared for Sister Kniffen to leave on Saturday. It was super weird. Also, upsetting. But she's still in our district, so all is well. That night R had her baptismal interview, which she passed, but she asked for her baptism to be pushed back a week. Please continue to pray for her. She just needs confidence. 

Friday we weekly planned. Y'all. Sister Haws can read minds. It must be some African voodoo or something. Because she totally told me everything I was feeling and everything Sister Kniffen was feeling and we worked out all the stress from Sister Kniffen having to leave us. It was awesome! And then we went finding with Sister C who is amazing. She took us out to the boonies and we found this cute lady named D and she was awesome. She totally told us we could come back so that was awesome.

Saturday we dropped off Sister Kniffen at the YSA sisters' apartment. It was very sad. Good thing Sister Haws is awesome. We went intense finding that afternoon. We met this little girl named C who gave us cupcakes and begged us to come back the next day, which we did but she wasn't home. We also got yelled at by this lady who told us not to solicit and when we told her we weren't selling anything she said "I DON'T WANT YOU ON MY LAWN" and we were like, okay lady just tryna give you some salvation here but that's fine. Sister Haws doesn't even get mad at those people. I am not that Christlike. #prayforcharity

Sunday was awesome! The sacrament, you guys. And the Sabbath day. It's just a good feeling. R came and stayed all 3 hours even though she was in lots of pain from her fibromyalgia. And there was a potluck afterwards that she came to as well. After church we went to see R. He was doing poorly. Please pray for the poor man. He needs help. But he did make us laugh a fair bit, and Sister Haws made him laugh a fair bit, and it was good. Laughter is good for stress, folks. 

Today I was mowing Brother D's lawn and I stepped in my first ant bed. If you didn't know, there are tiny little Satan ants all over South Carolina that make big nests and sometimes they're so well disguised that you can't even see them until you feel the ants biting you. They are called South Carolina fire ants and I was bitten a good 15 times. They itch. But you aren't serving a mission here unless you've stepped in one. So, I'm officially initiated! :)

Don't let the muggles get you down!

-Sister Poo

Sidenote Sister Pew wrote in a separate email that  loves Sister Haws and says they can share clothes so that is super fun for them.

Threesome before Sister Kniffen left

Sister Haws and Sister Pew a picture texted to us