Good Old Fashioned Missionary Work!

Summerville has the strangest weather I’ve ever experienced.  This week we’ve had severe thunderstorms and then cloudless days…days that are 20 degrees and then the next day will be in the 70’s…It’s messin’ with me!

This week has been a good one.  You know those weeks that just are not super remarkable…?  That was this week.  Noting super duper special happened, just a week full of good, old-fashioned missionary work!  J

 

Some People we’ve been seeing this week:

DeeDee – DeeDee is a 40-something year old woman from Detroit.  She came to Summerville to be able to take better care of her health (She has lost almost 200 lbs since she’s been here!) and, when we knocked into her she had just finished reading the entire Bible in 90 days.  She’d been on such a spiritual high, that when she saw us at the door, she let us right in…without a single word from us!  J  She has a church that she is strong in, but is open to change if that’s what God wants for her.  She’s such a neat lady to teach!  Right now she’s on baptism to February 8^th J

Larsel – pronounced “Lar-Cell”.  Larsel grew up on the “streets” without any “instructions” from a mom or dad. (Have I told you yet? Southern people have this tendency to replace their T’s with C’s.  Why? No clue.  But it’s cute!) We were walking by  his apartment on our way to visit a less-active sister, when Larsel yells “hey! What’re y’all sellin?”  We love when people ask us that. J  We told him about the Book of Mormon, and told him we’d give him a copy for free. He was so excited!  We assigned him alma 36 and  set up a time to come back, and then went on to our Less Active appointment.  Well the appointment fell through, so we jumped across a nearby river/ditch type thing, on our way to check up on a few leads.  No sooner then we’d crossed, Larsel comes bolting out of his front door, and literally chased us down, waving the Book of Mormon in the air.  “I read it! I just sat down and read the chapter!  This Alma guy is just like me!!!”  He was shouting…really loud.  J I’ve never seen someone so excited about the Book of Mormon before!

The Brimley Family – Not an investigator or anything, just a really, really great family.  They’ve fed us 4 times this week!  J  I love families like that!

So by way of random news – Sister Lamb dyed my hair!  We had bought the hair color for a recent convert to do on a p-day, but during planning on Friday night, Sister Lamb looked up and was like “hey…wanna dye your hair?”  So….we did.  And it turned out ….exactly the same color as it was…hahaha!   J

So, we’re having another Big Lift!  We drove down to Columbia for a “Lift – Crew” Meeting.  We drove 2.5 hours, had a 20 min meeting, and then drove back…haha!  It was a really good meeting though.  President talked to us quite a bit about pride.  He told us that pride is the root of every human relationship problem.  And you know what?  It’s true!  Just kind of interesting…

Church this Sunday was NUTS!!!  There was a pipe that burst in the building that Summerville 2^nd & 3^rd Ward meet in, so their meetings got cancelled, and they came to our ward.  Remember when President Riggs was Bishop in AZ and our ward went back to the stage in the cultural hall?  Yeah, that was us on Sunday.  It was cool to see all those missionaries (6 companionships) with their investigators though.  Every companionship had at least one investigator, and we topped it out at 3 J  There was a neat spirit there with all those investigators J

On Monday (this was last week, but noteworthy none the less J) we went to a place called “Perfectly Frank’s”  It was on the Food Network…and they have the funniest Hot Dogs you’ve ever seen!  A few favorites: 

The Anne Frank = A turkey dog w/Swiss cheese, slaw, and spicy mustard. 

The Aretha Franklyn = Hot dog w/pulled pork, bbq sauce, slaw & crispy onions (I had this one…YUM!)

Frankie “Elvis” = Hot dog with melted peanut butter, grilled bananas, bacon, and honey J  Funny place!

A note to Jessica Kleinman (if she still reads these?) – You should check out the Lower Lights…they sound like Mumford & Sons and the Liminers, and they do church music.  You’d like them.  Favorite song = be Thou My Vision…look it up!  Also you should write me!  J

Welp I hope y’all have a blessed week!

Love,

Sister Derrick

 

Cute Sisters!

 

 

 Bryndee and Sister Lamb's area...3 times larger than they though.

 

A clever sign she saw.

 

Season 7, Grand Fanale!

My week…well, my week was pretty good.  I think there’s this funny phenomenon as a missionary where you sit down to review your week and you can’t remember a single…solitary…thing that happened!  That’s me right now.  So in no particular order…my week:

We started teaching Brad this week!  Brad is a 21 year old guy with a really really troubled past.  He’s been wanting to change his life for quite some time but never could seem to break the cycle he was in.  Well we’ve taught him twice this week (restoration & plan of salvation) and he’s on date to be baptized for the 25^th.  I have never seen someone so excited to be baptized…he has caught the fire of the Gospel!  He’s even doing more missionary work that the members down here!  So far he’s brought a friend to church, invited the lady down the street to hear the missionary lessons, and he even committed someone to be baptized for us!  God is sure blessing us and we’re doing our very best to deserve it!  J

One night we were knocking in a neighborhood chuck-full of DNC’s (do not contact…scary stuff!) we were doing our very best to avoid the people who were mean, and knocked right into a miracle instead J  We were walking and there was a guy outside taking a  break from his football game, and smoking up a storm.  We started talking to him and it turns out he had just been thinking about how he needed to find a good church to join for the New Year.  Perfect!  We just happen to have a really fantastic one off of Bacons Bridge Road!  J  We gave him a BOM. explained what it was, and are super excited to go back J

I got to teach Mission Prep last night…oh my heavens…teenage boys start out as such awkward teachers!  It was hilarious!  But we taught a pretty good lesson, if I do say so myself!  J

Kitt bought us an ASL Book of Mormon!  It’s on DVD, and has people sighing…way neat!  J  My goal is to be able to sign my testimony by the end of next month…wish me luck!

I got to go on exchanges with Sister Warden on Monday!  Remember her, who lived with me in Simpsonville?  She was so fun to work with!  President Holm always talks aout how we should work with urgency, bordering on emergency and Sister Warden has mastered that!  She’s got more energy and drive than anyone I’ve ever met!  J

MLC this week!  They announced tons of meetings coming up (miles are gonna be fun this month!) including another big lift, and no more strangers, and specialized training by President/Sister Holms (I Pads?  Who knows…)  Here is a sublist of President Holm’s quotes:

             1.  “We have finite number of clean slates”

2. “You show me a person who strives to do the Father’s will and I’ll show you someone who's celestial material"

3. “The new day has nothing to do with the past day”

4.  “Honesty is the only answer, 100% of the time, no matter the consequences”

President talked a lot about the Savior, and how almost everything we have recorded of him happened with a span of 3 years.  Three years and yet the things that occurred were so important, the world changed its calendar according to his life.  Crazy!

The Brethren have also asked us to double the # of baptisms.  Whoa!  The work is hastening, guys.  Israel is being gathered.

I got to give a training @ our Zone meeting.  20 minutes on being a “fire in the belly” missionary.  I know my family is dying at the thought of me standing in front of people and running my mouth for 20 minutes. ..It’s hard enough getting me to talk for 5.  But I actually do it about twice a month.  It’s good stuff.  It was a cool training to plan for.  As I researched what I was going to say I realized that almost every time the scriptures refer to “fire’ they’re referring to the Holy Ghost.  Ex : The baptism of water and fire…God descending in a pillar of fire…the spirit of God like a fire is burning…I could go on.  There’s a reason that people describe the Holy Spirit as warm!  Being a “fire in the belly” missionary is simply having the spirit with you.  That’s what gets you excited and pumped…that’s what gives you the miracles.  Cool training to give.  J

Welp there’s my week.  It was pretty good one.  Hope y’all enjoyed your New-Year’s celebrations, and I see ya next week!

Y’all have a blessed week,

Sister Derrick

Bryndee's Christmas Letter...Finally!

Bryndee ran out of time to email us a letter so she sent one to us through "snail mail".  It got misplaced in our neighbor's mailbox and they didn't check their mail for a week...So 2 weeks after Christmas it is finally here and it is a good one!  Enjoy!

Merry Christmas Everyone!  And a Happy New Year too!  I had the great privilege of waking up to Sister Robinson every morning jumping up and down on the bed singing “it’s Christmassssss Eve’s  Eve!!! In her froggy morning voice.  It was wonderful!  J

So I started the week with an exchange with Sister Eames of Moncks Corner.  It was probably my favorite exchange ever; with maybe a tight exception for Sister Mumford J She was so fun to work with! 

Tuesday was DDM and Christmas Eve!!! We got to spend the first part of the night with the Wright Family.  My goodness, they were so fun!  They had a son who acted just like Porter, and a daughter who looks like Kymber, and acts like Torie.  Oh my gosh, I felt so at home there! J  We also got to go visit the Brimley’s for dessert.  They read us the Gullah version of The Night Before Christmas (Gullah = the language the African-American slaves spoke…Google it, its way cool!) They also gave us chocolate covered popcorn/pretzels/potato chips…surprisingly delicious. That night Sister Wallen and Dillion got to sleep over at our house so they wouldn’t be alone on Christmas…fun!

Then……Christmas!!! Sister Robinson.  She is so funny!  She stayed up all night because she was so excited.  So at about 4:00 in the morning she got up and watercolored us all pictures of the Temple for ChristmasJ Anyway, we woke up at 6:30 opened presents.  A big shout out to my family, Grandma Rosie, Grandma Sharon, The Julian family, and Momma Belyea J Thanks so much!  We then ate crepes…yum!!!! 

After breakfast I got to enjoy my favorite part of Christmas:  We got to spend 2 ½ hours in persona study time.  My goodness, that may have been the best 2 ½ hours of my mission.  I read Jesus the Christ.  In my studies I read the account of the Last Supper and the Atonement.  Aside from a few cool cool insights into the Temple a few things hit me really powerfully.  One thing I loved happens right before Christ makes it to Gethsemane…he says one last prayer with his 11 remaining Apostles.  The prayer (in Sister Derrick’s words and terms…) goes something like this…”heavenly Father, these are the 11 I have chosen to carry on with what I have started here.  They are not perfect, but they’ve got good hearts, and I have faith that they can do amazing things.  Heavenly Father, please bless them with the spirit, and the ability to do what they need to.”  This prayer reminds me quite a bit of the one offered by the Brother of Jared in Ether 2&3…”Lord, here are these 16 stones.  I got them as smooth and white as I could on my own.  I’ve done all I can…Could you make them do what you need done?”  And then…there’s us.  Sometimes I feel like Christ says “Heavenly Father, here are these missionaries.  They aren’t much to look at, and sometimes they’re immature or headstrong…but they’ve got willing hearts and ready hands.  Please help them do what you need them to.”  The cool thing about this parallel is what God made of those 11 Apostles, and those 16 stones.  He made them amazing.  So, look what he can make of little weak, imperfect me?  How cool, right?!?

After study, we took a nap (our Christmas present from President HolmJ) We hung out with Elena, our recent convert, Skyped with my family J, and ate honey baked ham (oh my Heavens…where has that stuff been all my life!  YUM!!!  We also went to see a revolution-era fort made out of oyster shells…kinda cool!!!

All in all it was a really good Christmas!!! J

On Saturday, we had our exchange with the coordinating sisters, and Holy Hanna…there were so many miracles!  Even with Christmas Eve/ Christmas, and the horrible numbers that came with that.  We still hit 21 lessons and a new investigator (that’s quite a few…J)  We ran out of miles so we walked all day but we worked really, really hard and were blessed for it! J

Welp, that’s my week!  It was completely wonderful, and full of the Savior.  I hope y’all really felt His love this Christmas season. 

Y’all have a blessed week!

Love ,

Sister Derrick

Merry Christmas Week!

This week in brief summary:  

Monday: Folly Beach with Elena. So. Fun.... I got to see the ocean! We also went and saw the spray paint wall in Charleston. Basically, this boat company let people spray paint all over the back of their building. I'm pretty sure that I took more pictures Monday than I have my whole mission. Also saw the angel oak. (Oldest tree in the world, older than Jesus, and it looks like lord of the rings. so. fun!)

 

Sister Lamb, Elena, and Bryndee at Folly Beach!

Bryndee enjoying the pier at Folly Beach.

 



Bryndee at the spray paint wall.

 



 

Just a small part of the spray paint wall in Charelston, SC.

 

Angel Oak...amazing!

 

Sister Lamb and Bryndee in front of the Angel Oak.

Tuesday: Exchanges with S. Howton from Sacramento, CA. She is such a fantastic Missionary!! It was so fun teaching with her, and learning from her too. We got to put someone on date together.... It was great :) The kid we put on date is named Westley. He's 19ish and looking for the truth about God. He was raised a Baptist, and has been going to a Methodist church, but wasn’t totally happy. We went to go see him, and he was totally open and interested. We taught him about Joseph Smith, and he felt like he could totally relate. He is just honestly searching for the truth. I love teaching people like that :) We also did quite a bit of knocking, and met a fashion photographer! Cool guy! 

Wednesday: LOOOOOONG day. Lots of knocking. Knocked in the ghetto for a little bit (or, as ghetto as Summerville gets... not very :)) and taught Kitt. 

Thursday: Christmas Zone Conference!!! SO FUN! There were trainings (we got to give one on teaching simply) Skits (Funniest one was star wars themed.... Luke I am your home teacher.... This is not the Bible you're looking for... The Methodists strike back... etc. :)) 

Musical numbers (the Spanish elders did Feliz Navidad with huge sombreros and danced.... funniest thing ever.) and we got to watch Ephraim’s Rescue. Oh my heavens, that’s an inspiring movie. Loved it.

 

Friday: Weird day. I felt so off, because I'd had pretty much nothing but candy to eat all week (the only downer about this ward.... I've had 1 member meal :( oh well!) We saw almost all of our recent converts in one day, so that was pretty cool.  

Saturday: Sister Lamb’s birthday! The Armstrong’s surprised her with a birthday cake and fun stuff of the sort. They're such a fun family! They let us play around on the 3D printer that Bro. Armstrong built.... something I thought dad would appreciate :) anyways, they called Sis. Lamb’s family and let them sing happy birthday to her, and then hung up right after :) she cried. It was fantastic :) 

Sunday: Christmas Sunday. We had an amazing choir sing, and we got to sing like 12 hymns. It was so cool to watch Kitt participate by signing the hymns. I wish I could get a video. It was a great day, full of the Christmas spirit.  

Well, there's my week. I swear, someday I'm going to have time to write an actual, full length letter.... and spell check it too! 

Hope y’all have a blessed Christmas! 

Sister Derrick

Life Spent In God's Service!

First, I wanted to tell y’all about a scary dream I had. I dreamt that I was home, and Porter (my 17 year old brother, for those who don't know) had decided that he no longer believed the teachings of the church. He had decided that he was going over to the Jehovah's Witness faith. Now, I have no beef with the Jehovah's witnesses... In fact, I really respect them for their devotion to their beliefs. But it was the most horrible feeling, because I know, beyond doubt, that this is the only church with God's authority. In my dream, there was no telling porter that. He was so hard hearted.... I just wanted to shake him!

I woke up way freaked out. As I've been thinking about it, I had a kindof lightbulb moment. That intensity of feeling is what I should be feeling with every person I see. It still shakes me up, just thinking about it... and it’s given me new perspective on the way I see people.

Yesterday, I read a really cool article about Neal A Maxwell. When he was serving in WWII (I think?) He was crouched in a foxhole with warfare going on around him. He prayed to heavenly father that if he would spare his life, that life would be spent in Gods service. Elder Maxwell lived, and he kept his promise... even through 8 years of leukemia. He was such a cool example of selfless service.

I got to write for Kitt (our ASL investigator, also my favorite to teach right now) in sacrament meeting yesterday. It was a powerful experience. Kitt has been struggling with the decision to live the law of chastity, and the decision to be baptized. The first talk was Elena’s, on her conversion story. she talked about being scientologist, and watching South Park, and how South Park made fun of a lot of different religions, but no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t make the Mormon religion seem dumb. She talked about taking the lessons, and how the decision to be baptized was the best one she ever made. Then, a RM spoke on conversion, and constantly and consistently making good choices to be more like our Savior, even when it’s hard. Both talks were custom written for Kitt, it seemed like. I could literally feel the spirit pouring out of my pen. Neatest feeling ever.

Also.... try writing out sacrament meeting sometime. My hand is seriously SO. TIRED. :)

Cool experience last night: Sis. Lamb was a little bit burnt out (it was her first 3 exchange week... poor dear...) and was having a rough time getting up and going. It didn't help that we were struggling with where to go, as all our plans fell through. We prayed to know where God wanted us. Then, lacking the inspiration as to where exactly, but feeling an urgency to go, we went from lead to lead, each time getting a no from the Spirit. It was a little bit frustrating. We finally decided that we were going to go knock a street while we tried to figure out where we were needed. Now, it was 8:15 at night, pitch black, and this is usually not a good time to go knocking in the neighborhood where we went, because there are lots of families with small children that get out of bed when they hear the knock on the door. These people tend to get really irritated at us. But last night, as we knocked, every door that opened (and there were quite a few!) we were able to start a good conversation and were invited back to teach. We ended up with more solid contacts and return appointments in that 45 min. than we had all day! I love how when we get up and do something, even when it’s hard and discouraging, God rewards our efforts and diligence with miracles :)

Hope y’all have a blessed week!

Sister Derrick

 

What a fun treat we received in a package today.  Oh how I miss  her sketches!

 

 

Season 7, Episode 2 (I have no Idea what that means!)

I only have about 15 min. left of my hour to email, so I’ll be quick:

We had a baptism this weekend. Paula is someone that Sister Lamb and her previous companion had knocked into, who was very, very prepared. That woman has faced more adversity in getting baptized than anyone i have ever met. She had her Interview with President Stubbs on Wednesday, and we were so worried that her husband wouldn't let her go. We got to the church to meet her and found her sitting on a chair in the hallway. She looked up, saw us, and burst into tears. We pulled her into a classroom and she told us that there had been a very scary situation involving guns and alcohol at home, and she was so worried about her family. We were able to read from the book of Mormon with her, and pull the elders into the room to give her a priesthood blessing. I have never felt such a strong spirit as I did in that little classroom. She told us the next day that she had never even thought to call off or postpone her baptism; even with everything Satan had thrown at her... she just knew that it was what God wanted her to do and that she was going to be blessed. I look up to that woman so much.  I loved getting to watch her make covenants with her Heavenly Father. She is super excited to get to go to the temple and do the same for her mother and father. She bore her testimony afterward and said she felt "tickly from the inside out" :) way cute!

Sister Lamb, Paula, and Bryndee

Today, for dinner, we are going to the birthday party of one of our recent converts. It’s FHE themed :) I'm way excited :)

We got to give a training in ztm last Thursday. I've got to say, I've gotten a lot more confident in my public speaking skills. It’s cool to look back in my journal and see how much I've grown in that aspect since I first came out :) It still freaks me out, but.... I'm starting to get used to it I guess :)

Miracle! We got a call from one of our ward members this week: "hey, I heard you were looking for someone to translate sacrament meeting into ASL.... my daughter is less active, but she said that she would help y'all, if you were interested?"

So now we've got a potential baptism and re-activation, all in one! We're super excited!

Welp, I hope your week is blessed, and you're sharing the gospel like crazy!!!

Sister Derrick

 

Probabally the most creative "mission tree" I have ever seen. 



Happy Hump Day!

I can't believe it's been 9 months already!