Monday, September 27, 2010
Yay! Photos!
Oh Happy Day! Melissa (aka Sister Maughan) sent home a CD of photos. And, as an added bonus, the photo of her at the Visitors' Center totally matches the blog header. Melissa, you rock! *Ü*
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Happy Early Birthday, Benett!
I'm starting to find that it's more difficult than expected to find different subject headings each week. But since little Bennett Wilson turns one this week, he gets the privilege of being in my subject line! he better appreciate it ;)
It's beautiful here in Chardon right now. The last few days it's been warm and breezy and the leaves are just beginning to change. It's gorgeous. Of course, I can only imagine it's pretty similar to New York since you are, ya know, like 6 hours away? haha. It's starting to warm back up though, it's supposed to be in the 80s this week, I believe. Not exactly fall, but as long as it's not winter, I'll take it!
Missionary work is going pretty well here too! We really are beginning to see miracles. All of our leaders, including President Sorensen, have even told us that things are improving and they are very pleased. It's still very small baby steps, but we need to start somewhere. First miracle: Brother Hartman. He is an non-member father in a semi-less-active-but-reactivating family. For 12 years missionaries have been visiting with him, and for the most part, he has been very hostile and definitely not interested. But in the last two weeks, he has REALLY opened up! He is the one who invited us over for dinners, and when we get there, he has been cooking all afternoon, has set the table all beautifully and has dinner hot right when we arrive. We've been able to teach him several lessons and he's come to church...twice!! That's huge for him. We called on Saturday night to remind him of church and his wife told us that HE reminded HER of church the next day! awesome. We still have a long way to go, but the fact that he is open enough to let us come and teach and he'll tell us his concerns--well, that's huge.
Second miracle: David. He's an investigator that Sister Lee and I found in the beginning of August. We didn't hear from him for a month, though we left him with a BOM and committed him to read the intro. We finally got to teach him the second lesson on Saturday, and as we are discussing the Plan of Salvation, I say something like "we all know that at some point, everyone will die" and he responded "well, that's not actually true." I was shocked and thinking to myself, WHAT?! Death is not like some 'crazy mormon doctrine', but he piped in and said "There were those three men in the Book of Mormon who asked Christ to stay on this earth to teach until they were brought to an immortal state." !!!!!!!!! Whoa! haha. Definitely was not expecting that one. He was really receptive, so we'll see what happens. He's a great guy.
Okay, to answer your questions. When we are not on tour at sites, we are working up in the referral center. When we give tours, at the end we ask people to fill out comment cards and on the back we ask (borderline plead) them to put the name of a friend or family member who needs the gospel. Then, in the referral center, we call those referrals and offer them a Finding Faith in Christ DVD or a BOM or something. So if there are no tours, we spend 10 hours a day on the phones. woot woot! haha. But really, it's effective (687 accepted last month), and I've had some of the most AMAZING experiences on phones.
So it sounds like things are going so well for you all! Dad said you all had a great time in Yellowstone, I LOVED Yellowstone when I was there last summer, so I'm mostly very jealous. And Eric's off fighting a fire for two weeks, eh? I'm excited to hear about his biking trip across the country! Man, such exciting lives you all live! Mom, I hope you had a good experience on exchanges with the sisters! It's neat that you get to experience a taste of mission life right when I am. You best keep going out with them...we love having members come with us!
Well, this letter is getting lengthy. But I love you all, thanks for keeping me updated on everyone. Eric, stay safe, Scott, write your mother, and Craig, stop growing. Love you so much!
Sister Maughan
p.s. New York family--keep your eye on the mail for some pic-chaaas!
It's beautiful here in Chardon right now. The last few days it's been warm and breezy and the leaves are just beginning to change. It's gorgeous. Of course, I can only imagine it's pretty similar to New York since you are, ya know, like 6 hours away? haha. It's starting to warm back up though, it's supposed to be in the 80s this week, I believe. Not exactly fall, but as long as it's not winter, I'll take it!
Missionary work is going pretty well here too! We really are beginning to see miracles. All of our leaders, including President Sorensen, have even told us that things are improving and they are very pleased. It's still very small baby steps, but we need to start somewhere. First miracle: Brother Hartman. He is an non-member father in a semi-less-active-but-reactivating family. For 12 years missionaries have been visiting with him, and for the most part, he has been very hostile and definitely not interested. But in the last two weeks, he has REALLY opened up! He is the one who invited us over for dinners, and when we get there, he has been cooking all afternoon, has set the table all beautifully and has dinner hot right when we arrive. We've been able to teach him several lessons and he's come to church...twice!! That's huge for him. We called on Saturday night to remind him of church and his wife told us that HE reminded HER of church the next day! awesome. We still have a long way to go, but the fact that he is open enough to let us come and teach and he'll tell us his concerns--well, that's huge.
Second miracle: David. He's an investigator that Sister Lee and I found in the beginning of August. We didn't hear from him for a month, though we left him with a BOM and committed him to read the intro. We finally got to teach him the second lesson on Saturday, and as we are discussing the Plan of Salvation, I say something like "we all know that at some point, everyone will die" and he responded "well, that's not actually true." I was shocked and thinking to myself, WHAT?! Death is not like some 'crazy mormon doctrine', but he piped in and said "There were those three men in the Book of Mormon who asked Christ to stay on this earth to teach until they were brought to an immortal state." !!!!!!!!! Whoa! haha. Definitely was not expecting that one. He was really receptive, so we'll see what happens. He's a great guy.
Okay, to answer your questions. When we are not on tour at sites, we are working up in the referral center. When we give tours, at the end we ask people to fill out comment cards and on the back we ask (borderline plead) them to put the name of a friend or family member who needs the gospel. Then, in the referral center, we call those referrals and offer them a Finding Faith in Christ DVD or a BOM or something. So if there are no tours, we spend 10 hours a day on the phones. woot woot! haha. But really, it's effective (687 accepted last month), and I've had some of the most AMAZING experiences on phones.
So it sounds like things are going so well for you all! Dad said you all had a great time in Yellowstone, I LOVED Yellowstone when I was there last summer, so I'm mostly very jealous. And Eric's off fighting a fire for two weeks, eh? I'm excited to hear about his biking trip across the country! Man, such exciting lives you all live! Mom, I hope you had a good experience on exchanges with the sisters! It's neat that you get to experience a taste of mission life right when I am. You best keep going out with them...we love having members come with us!
Well, this letter is getting lengthy. But I love you all, thanks for keeping me updated on everyone. Eric, stay safe, Scott, write your mother, and Craig, stop growing. Love you so much!
Sister Maughan
p.s. New York family--keep your eye on the mail for some pic-chaaas!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Don't blink or you'll miss something
Well another week gone. It's been a good week. Things with Sister Debenham are going fine. We have a lot of fun together, work hard, and we're beginning to have some success. Slowly. And by that I mean people are willing to make appointments and keep appointments with us, haha. It's amazing. Small little miracles are beginning to happen. Some of our biggest focuses right now are on a part member family, and a couple of investigators that are finally calling us back and making appointments. It's the little things that get us excited.
Well the subject line is in relation to April. Last email I told you she was coming in the next day. Well, she left yesterday. haha. It's really unfair actually. Her visa apparently came one day after she did! Sister Reed (the other visa waiter who was going to Spain) was here two full months before she left! Everyone was shocked--and I mean everyone! President wasn't too thrilled by it either haha. But it was really great to get to see her. April was really torn about leaving. REALLY torn. She was thrilled to be able to come to Kirtland, and had planned on being here quite a while...not less than a week. We talked for a little bit about it and the reasoning, and the best we can come up with is that the Lord really has a reason for everything, even though we have no idea why. It's definitely too much of a "coincidence" to be one. I told her that I think she was sent here for me, because I really needed a pick-me-up and that was exactly what I needed. Although I would not have objected to her staying longer :) But we did get to see each other for a few hours (and yes, a picture haha) but now she is in Spain.
Okay, to answer some questions. The Chardon Branch is not very big, but they love to say they are the best branch in the whole world. There are no elders serving in the branch, but there are two sets of sisters and two sets of senior couples. I LOVE the Chardon West sisters that are serving in our branch. One of them is named Sister Krista Carter. We have a LOT in common. It's pretty freakish. She's even in the nursing program at BYU! She goes home at the end of next transfer, and I'm sad about that because she's probably the one I've grown closest to here on my mission, second only to Sister Hansen. But she'll actually graduate a semester after me because she only did her first semester before going on her mission. The other sister is a greenie. Her name is Sister Lyman, and she is from North Carolina. Actually, she is very good friends with Bethany Daniel and they were even roommates Freshman year! "It's a small world after all..."
Alright, brothers. You need to take a look at the picture Mom sent me of you three with G&G Watson. HOLY COW! Scott--I'm not surprised someone came up to you on campus and said you had to be related to Eric. I'm just surprised they didn't think you were his twin! Goodness!! It's like looking in a mirror! Well, not ME looking in a mirror, more like you in a mirror. haha. And Craig, did you grow again?! Already?! come on boy! It's only been 3 months since I've seen you, STOP IT! just kidding :)
Well family, I love you so much. I hope things continue to go well. Thanks so much for supporting me and praying for me and writing me and thinking of me often. I have the best family of anyone I know :) :) :)
LOVE YOU,
Sister Maughan
Well the subject line is in relation to April. Last email I told you she was coming in the next day. Well, she left yesterday. haha. It's really unfair actually. Her visa apparently came one day after she did! Sister Reed (the other visa waiter who was going to Spain) was here two full months before she left! Everyone was shocked--and I mean everyone! President wasn't too thrilled by it either haha. But it was really great to get to see her. April was really torn about leaving. REALLY torn. She was thrilled to be able to come to Kirtland, and had planned on being here quite a while...not less than a week. We talked for a little bit about it and the reasoning, and the best we can come up with is that the Lord really has a reason for everything, even though we have no idea why. It's definitely too much of a "coincidence" to be one. I told her that I think she was sent here for me, because I really needed a pick-me-up and that was exactly what I needed. Although I would not have objected to her staying longer :) But we did get to see each other for a few hours (and yes, a picture haha) but now she is in Spain.
Okay, to answer some questions. The Chardon Branch is not very big, but they love to say they are the best branch in the whole world. There are no elders serving in the branch, but there are two sets of sisters and two sets of senior couples. I LOVE the Chardon West sisters that are serving in our branch. One of them is named Sister Krista Carter. We have a LOT in common. It's pretty freakish. She's even in the nursing program at BYU! She goes home at the end of next transfer, and I'm sad about that because she's probably the one I've grown closest to here on my mission, second only to Sister Hansen. But she'll actually graduate a semester after me because she only did her first semester before going on her mission. The other sister is a greenie. Her name is Sister Lyman, and she is from North Carolina. Actually, she is very good friends with Bethany Daniel and they were even roommates Freshman year! "It's a small world after all..."
Alright, brothers. You need to take a look at the picture Mom sent me of you three with G&G Watson. HOLY COW! Scott--I'm not surprised someone came up to you on campus and said you had to be related to Eric. I'm just surprised they didn't think you were his twin! Goodness!! It's like looking in a mirror! Well, not ME looking in a mirror, more like you in a mirror. haha. And Craig, did you grow again?! Already?! come on boy! It's only been 3 months since I've seen you, STOP IT! just kidding :)
Well family, I love you so much. I hope things continue to go well. Thanks so much for supporting me and praying for me and writing me and thinking of me often. I have the best family of anyone I know :) :) :)
LOVE YOU,
Sister Maughan
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Put on the big girl panties--I'm a big girl now.
Well, transfers went pretty well. I think it's pretty safe to say I am no longer a greenie since I suddenly find myself senior companion. Yup. You read that right. Sister Debenham, the one who was is the MTC with me, is my new companion. So we are greenie-breaking each other and I have been made senior companion. What the heck!? I feel the need to remind you that this is my second transfer! It's scary, definitely. I was hoping for a companion who would have a lot of experience because I still have a lot of training that needs to happen, but now that's not going to happen. Everyone is SHOCKED about this. Really. Jaws drop when missionaries and members learn that we are together after only 6 weeks on the mission. Heavenly Father has quite a sense of humor apparently. I can't lie, I've never had anxiety before, but I feel my anxiety level through the roof some days. I'm a bit overwhelmed with this amazing responsibility, but this is testing my patience, diligence and most of all faith. I have to believe that President believes that I can do this, and more importantly that the Lord believes I can do this. There is a reason and I just need to find out what that is. This transfer is going to be quite the growth opportunity, no matter what happens. I just hope I don't crash and burn. I'm not sure I've ever prayed so much in my life haha.
On the missionary front, our schedule has changed so now we are only at Kirtland on Mondays and Fridays and the rest of the days are in our area. There's definitely good and bad things about that. But right now we are in finding mode in the area because it's struggling so much.
Okay, on the happy side of the email, I have something CRAZY to tell you. You may have already heard this, I'm not sure, but I'm going to tell you anyway. I was driving home from church Sunday when Sister Park called us from sites. Sister Debenham answered and when Sister Park asked to speak specifically to me, I pulled over to talk. We are getting a new visa waiter today, just like Sister Reed who was waiting for her visa to go to Spain. APRIL MCMURRAY IS COMING TO KIRTLAND!!!!! I know I put that in bold, so you probably read that first, but isn't that crazy?!?!?!? I have three best friends and one of them is coming on her mission to serve in my mission!!!! I'm so excited I'm bouncing off the walls. It's the pick-me-up I need. She gets here today, but I won't see her until Friday when we are at sites. The funny thing is, when I heard about Sister Reed, I wrote April and told her that I think she should come to Kirtland too haha. Man, I rock. just kidding. It's crazy though. Everyone is talking about it and is really so excited. I have no idea how long she'll be here for, but Sis. Reed was here for 2 months. I'd be okay with that ha. I hope you didn't find out from anyone else. If you did, that's okay, but I only found out on Sunday. I don't know when they assigned her to Kirtland, but it was probably a while ago. I hope she's excited too. This is definitely not a coincidence.
I hope things are going well. I'm sure you're all real busy with school, work, and such so know that I am thinking about you. Love you all so much. Miss you.
Sister Maughan
On the missionary front, our schedule has changed so now we are only at Kirtland on Mondays and Fridays and the rest of the days are in our area. There's definitely good and bad things about that. But right now we are in finding mode in the area because it's struggling so much.
Okay, on the happy side of the email, I have something CRAZY to tell you. You may have already heard this, I'm not sure, but I'm going to tell you anyway. I was driving home from church Sunday when Sister Park called us from sites. Sister Debenham answered and when Sister Park asked to speak specifically to me, I pulled over to talk. We are getting a new visa waiter today, just like Sister Reed who was waiting for her visa to go to Spain. APRIL MCMURRAY IS COMING TO KIRTLAND!!!!! I know I put that in bold, so you probably read that first, but isn't that crazy?!?!?!? I have three best friends and one of them is coming on her mission to serve in my mission!!!! I'm so excited I'm bouncing off the walls. It's the pick-me-up I need. She gets here today, but I won't see her until Friday when we are at sites. The funny thing is, when I heard about Sister Reed, I wrote April and told her that I think she should come to Kirtland too haha. Man, I rock. just kidding. It's crazy though. Everyone is talking about it and is really so excited. I have no idea how long she'll be here for, but Sis. Reed was here for 2 months. I'd be okay with that ha. I hope you didn't find out from anyone else. If you did, that's okay, but I only found out on Sunday. I don't know when they assigned her to Kirtland, but it was probably a while ago. I hope she's excited too. This is definitely not a coincidence.
I hope things are going well. I'm sure you're all real busy with school, work, and such so know that I am thinking about you. Love you all so much. Miss you.
Sister Maughan
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