Moving, Goats, Zone Goal, Hives, Oh My!

Dear Friends and Family,

It's been another exciting week. It's never a dull moment when you’re around me to began with. Sorry, that you are left with dull lives while I'm away. Maybe this will let you know how awesome and exciting I am. Just a little reminder of what an awesome person I am.

We found out last Tuesday, that we had to move out of our apartment, to a place that is bigger and better functioning. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :) Our place new place is wonderful!! It's on a tri duplex. Has more storage place and bigger place. We love it and we look forward to making it more homey. 

                                                                      Here's our new address. I expect letters from everyone!! lol

2209 N Elm Street

Miami, Ok 74354

This week we got to meet a "scary" goat. We took our new member Rachel out to visit a less active. When we got there out came this cute little goat that came charging at Sister Bagby. I did what companions do when they see a goat charging at their companion. I laughed. For whatever reason, Sister Bagby was not a fan of that. She tried hiding behind me. I now became the human goat shield. I now had both Rachel, and Sister Bagby, hiding behind me, while I was supposed to be protecting them from the "Scary" goat. The goats eventually let us teach to these little girls about Christ. I now want a goat. :)

This week our Zone had a set a goal of getting 100% member present lessons. That's just 20 lessons with along with church members there with us, when we go out and teach people. At first it seemed impossible. We took it to the Lord and with help from the wonderful members of Miami, we reached our goal. We got 22 members present. The ending results were that as a zone we taught 195 lessons, with the average of 94.1% member present lessons! WOOT! It took LOTS and LOTS of work. Very stressful. We are so happy that our hard work paid off!

I can't even begin to describe all of the miracles we saw this week. I know that the Lord will be there to help us accomplish our goals and if we keep him involved then we can do anything. If it matters to us, then it will matter to him.

I had an interesting thing happen to me on Saturday night at the Ward Christmas party. I had broken out in hives and rashes. On my face, neck, shoulders, I looked beautiful covered in rashes and hives. I knew I was having allergic reaction to something. I have a few ideas on what it could be. Sunday, the hives and gotten worse. I was taken to urgent care and given a steroid shot. 

On the bright side, I looked somewhat better and not such a scary sight any more. I will soon be normal, like I said, never a dull moment with me. I'll be always doing something interesting. I miss you all and hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. :)    

Much love,

Sister Elkins

Exchanges, Camels and Baptisms

Dear fellow tabernacle of clay mold beings (Moroni 9:6, Mosiah 3:5),
 

Greetings from the land of Miami, Oklahoma. My excursion this week has been more than magnificent! We had exchanges this week, I stayed here in Miami, while Sister Bagby went to Joplin. I was with Sister Goody for the exchange. I guess Sister Goody has been knocked on the head by the crazy fairy or something. Because during our delight-some exchange, she said she was going to recommend that I train! I will then be put on a list of names that our Mission President will go over when we get new missionaries. I know that it's not missionary-like to dislike being a trainer and I should WANT to train someone. Sadly, I haven't formulated the desire to want to train.

I believe training is like raising a baby. Expect it's more like someone handing you a 19 something year old and say "Here raise this to all of this to the level of expectations of a missionary". But you only have 6 or 12 weeks to do it!

Then after that training is over, you will ALWAYS be remembered for how that missionary turned out! If they are bad,  they will ask "Who was your trainer?" There's this saying in the mission, that if a missionary isn't doing the things they are supposed to its cause of the trainer. Bad trainer equals bad missionary for however long they serve. 

Of course, this could be all said for being a good trainer too. I just don't think I'm ready for that kind of responsibility. I guess we will see what happens. Good thing that there is no new sister missionaries coming out until maybe in January. 

This week we got invited to another Church’s Christmas festivities. I think you could call it that...basically it's a church that put on this HUGE reenactment of Christ's birth - Just a lot more intense and interesting.

We showed up, and I was ready to experience whatever came at me. First, you get paired into a group of about 10 people or so. Then they take you to their chapel. There, people are rocking out on the stage,                            with drums, guitars, and dancers. While you are watching the performance, you then are taken outside to a tent, where people then say a prayer over you.

Then a man appears who's dressed in robes of Christ's time. He says he's our "Father" that we must travel to Bethlehem to pay the tax. Mind you it was dark out, and I'm now following a man who says he's my "father". We went along these trails where we met other actors who are also headed to Bethlehem to pay the tax.

We even met someone who had camel. I did the only logical thing to do and went up to the camel. I started petting it. It's not very often that you see a camel in Oklahoma! While I was petting the camel Roman soldiers came on horses. They started yelling and saying all kinds of things. For those of who know me well, you'll know that I don't do well when crazy things happen. I just started laughing and not sure what else to do when people dressed as Roman soldiers start yelling at you. I kind of stood out by laughing.

Then we finally got to see the manger scene. All of it was fun. I knew that we stood out with our name tags that said that we are from a different church. I didn't care though. I was so hoping that someone would ask me questions. Nothing. Maybe next time...

Sunday, the most wonderful thing happened! Rachel got baptized!! I wish I could describe to you how wonderful that baptism was! Rachel was beyond excited about getting baptized. She's been counting down for this day to come.

The spirit was so strong from the moment we sang the opening song. Nothing even happened yet, and people already had tears in their eyes!  It was so intense! The room was full of the spirit, I know everyone was feeling it. I know that those who came to baptism, they came to show their love for Rachel. She has became a part of the ward long before she got baptized. How could you not love Rachel! She's so easy to love and her humor. She always gets me going. Then the big moment came. As Rachel stepped into that water, I became overwhelmed with the spirit. I was overflowing with love, joy, and happiness for Rachel. I wanted to jump up and down. Or give her the biggest hug ever! When she came out of that water, she was totally glowing. I knew she was happy. I know that Heavenly Father is proud of Rachel too. What I was feeling is not even a million times as strong as what Heavenly Father feels for Rachel. 

I'm so grateful to be here on my mission. I'm so blessed to have the gospel in my life and to share it with others. My heart has so much love for everyone. Sometimes I think I might burst with this amount of love I have for everyone. I love my Mission!!!!!!!! 

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Dear Family and Friends!

WOAH DOGIES!! It's cold out side!!! If you were here with me right now, you would be bundled up and looking like an Eskimo right now. Not saying that I personally looking like an Eskimo... it's considered unprofessional. BUT if I could I would dress up as an Eskimo!! They got the right idea on how to stay warm. 

This time of year, I think will be the only time I wish I was an Elder!! It's not all that fun to wear dresses in the winter time all day, every day. Good thing it's going to warm up in a day or two! Back to the 70's weather.

This week, we went around and shared a Thanksgiving message to everyone we could possibly think of. We went and visited less actives, members, investigators, and anyone that would listen to us really.

 I loved sharing the message of Thanksgiving. In Alma describes it best. It says "Worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit, and in truth; and that ye live in Thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you." (Alma 34:38) There are so MANY blessings that I'm thankful for. I can't even name them all. I will say this though, I am so deeply grateful for the chance to be on my mission at this time. To be around so many wonderful people. I'm so grateful for the gospel in my life. I'm so grateful for the atonement and my Savior for all that he has done for me.

Then we had a wonderful lesson with Kendra where we made home made pizza and eggnog! It was so good!! Afterwards we did a 1,000 piece puzzle of Christ together. It was a lot of fun. While we where there, Kendra wanted to do this book of Mormon challenge with us. The challenge is you finish the Book of Mormon in 25 days! Starting on December 1, and you'll be finished on Christmas day!! That's only 22 pages a day! No big deal! So, I started today reading my 22 pages. I look forward to doing this Challenge with Kendra and a few others. :) 

Thanksgiving day was awesome! We are not supposed to teach on Thanksgiving day, and to basically take it easy and be with other people. Our first meal of the day was with Bishop Compton and 20 of students from the college. Who were all from the Bahamas. Needless to say it was a bit crowded and made things interesting. It was still fun and we always have fun when we are will Bishop's family. Then we had Thanksgiving with the Chamba family. They fed us some good food too! They fried their turkey and it tasted sooooo good!!!!

Then we started planning the baptism for Rachel!! She will be getting baptized next week!! I'm so excited for her and the chance to be there with her. She will also be doing the Book of Mormon challenge with us. So many good things are going on for Rachel. She is so amazing and has became a dear friend. I'm so blessed to have her in my life!

I want all of you to know that I love you and miss you. I hope you all have a wonderful day and know that TOMORROW IS MY BIRTHDAY!!! I'll be 22 once again! ;) No one needs to know how hold I'll really be. I can't imagine a better way to spend my birthday than serving the Lord. My birthday will be full of epicness and awesomeness all thrown in one day!! WOOT!!! WOOT!! 

Much love,

Sister Elkins