Tales of 3 baptisms, two talks, and a bedsheet

This has been a really weird week--a great one, but a weird one! This week Sister Devenport was sick for a while, so we had to stay in a few days, and by association I also got a little sick, so we didn't have a lot of time in our area, but somehow we still managed to have a fantastic baptism, and achieve all of the mission's standards of excellence---aka the goals that the mission has that we will accomplish each week. We really didn't have a lot of time in our area between Kirtland on Tuesday, sickness, district meeting, zone conference, and president interviews, but it's just cool to see how things work out. 

This weekend, as a zone we had six baptisms and 3 confirmations! Our district was 3 of those baptisms and three confirmations! It was such an amazing weekend. Saturday was kind of a crazy day because we had a zone development meeting in the morning, then went straight to Alliance for the elders baptism there. They baptized two sisters--Angela and Kizzy. They had a wayyy stressful time getting ready for the baptism! Angela is 450+ pounds so they didn't have any baptismal clothes that fit her, so all week they have been shopping for something for her to wear. Final product: a white bedsheet sewn onto a white sweater! haha. It looked great, considering what it was. I'll have to attach a picture. The baptism was really great. I had taken them on tour of Kirtland and had actually met Kizzy at the beginning of December when I first got to Ravenna, so Kizzy asked me to speak at her baptism. Seriously, every time I get asked to speak at someone's baptism I just feel so touched. It's awesome to be a part of her baptism, and also Mitchell's because he also asked me to speak. Which leads me to his baptism...

It was perfect! Such an amazing baptism! There was a fantastic turnout from the ward, and Mitchell's family even came and loved it. There really just aren't words to describe how great that baptism was (or how different it was from Dylan's! hahaha) It was one of those moments where I was like "yeah, this is why I am on a mission" :) I'm attaching some pictures of Sister D2 and I with Mitchell and Jason. I can't remember if I told you that they are ADDICTED to weight lifting (Jason is a body builder and is competing this spring) and so that's why we have the muscle picture. It basically describes the relationship we have with them. Good times ;)

Okay, here's the miracle of the week. When I was with Sister Bringhurst at the end of December, we had to set a monthly goal for baptisms and baptismal dates that we would have by the end of January. We prayed about it, and we both felt that in January we would have one baptism and three baptismal dates. Well, about halfway through the month, we realized that we were going to achieve that goal, but at the same time, Sister Devenport and I both felt strongly that we needed to stop teaching one of our investigators who had a baptismal date, aka "drop" her. There was talk that maybe we should wait and drop her in February, but that didn't feel right to me. So we dropped that investigator this week, and found ourselves Sunday morning with 1 baptism and 2 dates, just one date shy of our monthly vision.  But I really felt okay about it and that something would work out. Well, it did. Tabi came to church yesterday for the last time before she begins her trial run at other churches, and we set a baptismal date for her in April! April 6th is the day! It was really awesome to see that happen. But seriously fam, April 6th is two transfers from now, so start praying! haha.

Eric! I'm glad that you had such an awesome birthday! I can't believe you are 24 now, you are such an old guy. haha. Just kidding, you know I love you. But speaking of old guys...Dad! HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY TOMORROW!! That's so awesome! Mom told me the dinner that you guys decided to have at your party on Sunday before the Super Bowl, and I just laughed because I knew that that was exactly what you would have. It wouldn't be your birthday without spice cake and penuche frosting :) Eat a piece for me! I love you!!

Sorry my letters have been so stinking long recently! Just think about it as a longer conversation with your favorite daughter/sister in the whole wide world :) But sadly, this conversation is coming to a close, because it's also Sister Devenport's birthday tomorrow, so we are having a birthday party for her as a district. I hope things are going great for you all! I love you so much! Have a good week!

Love,

Sister Maughan

Many are cold, but few are frozen

Hello!

Right now Mom is trying to convince me that it is colder in New York than it is here in Ohio, but don't kid yourself. It's SO COLD HERE! It was entertaining to get in the car and drive to correlation meeting Saturday morning and to see that it was -5 degrees (without the intense wind) and then to see our reactions. Everytime it would go down a degree, I would scream and Sister Devenport would get all happy and giddy. Ohhhh Miss Alaska. She doesn't ever think it is cold...Sigh. I've just accepted the fact that my toes will be frozen until they defrost in April.

Other than the cold, things are going really well in Ravenna! Actually things are going great, even with the cold. It can be fun, from time to time. Everyday I am more and more amazed by how fantastic Sister Devenport is, and she lies and says the same thing about me, so we are having an awesome time in our companionship and finding lots of good things happening. I'm sorry I wasn't very clear about when Mitchell's baptism is. I meant that it is this weekend. He'll be getting baptized this Saturday. It's an exciting thing. Tonight we are going to be making all the final decisions and teaching the last lesson. I'm really excited for Mitchell! He is such a solid kid.

I also have an update on Tabi! I think I told you last week that we were having an FHE with her at her boyfriends house. Well, we had a complete lesson plan about the Book of Mormon and gaining a testimony, but while we were in there, I felt REALLY strongly that that is not what we needed to talk about, but we needed to talk about receiving revelation and I needed to share a personal experience. So, I told her about how I learned that we need to do our part to receive answers to prayers. We need to be diligent in praying and asking for what we need, and then really study it out. That's all fine and dandy, but the Lord gave us our agency for a reason. We need to use that agency to make a decision, and then move with faith and act on that decision. Once Heavenly Father sees that we have real intent and a sincere heart, then often our answer is received. That's what I have found and I know that it is true. She really took it to heart, we could all see the change in her. 

Sooooo... that's exactly what she did! We met with her yesterday and she said that she had decided that this is right, and she wants to be baptized! I seriously almost cried. Unfortunately, we still have barriers with her parents. I don't think I've mentioned this before, but her mom doesn't want her to be baptized before she is 18 next February. We all had fasted for her about this before that her mom's heart would be softened, and it worked. When Tabi got the courage to tell her mom that she wanted to be baptized, her mom said that before she could decide for sure, she needed to go to 4 weeks of a different church, and then 4 weeks of yet another church, and then she will give permission. I know that that means it's still a long ways away, but it really is a miracle! Its a huge step! So this week, Tabi is praying about setting a baptismal date in April, and we'll try and keep meeting with her as much as we can, and hopefully find a way for her to at least come to sacrament meeting. But I guess this means we all need to start praying that Sister Maughan will stay in Ravenna until April!! You think I'm kidding.... :)

In other good missionary news, we had a part member family (who is progressing like CRAZY!) come to church on Sunday...there was 9 of them and all of the 7 kids are under the age of 11. It was so funny to march in there with all the kids and fill up an entire pew. They were also the most well behaved kids I think I've ever seen in church. And one of the talks was on family and it was sweet because during the talk the dad leaned forward across all the kids to the mom who was sitting next to me (8 people over haha) and whispered "I love you!". All together now: awwwwww! tender! It was a sweet moment.

Well, we are going bowling today (three cheers for bowling in a skirt!) so it's almost time to head out. I hope things are going well for everyone! Stay warm and I love you all!

Love,

Sister Maughan

Happy MLKJ Day!

Greetings from Alliance, OH! I got transferred! just kidding, we are just down here for Martin Luther King day and for district p-day! we love getting together as a district so it is a lot of fun. Of course, that means I literally never have time to write any letters on p-day, so that's a sad thing, but it's okay. At least we get to email!

This was a pretty good week in Ravenna. Pretty crazy, but pretty good. Probably the most exciting thing is that we set a baptismal date for Mitchell, he is getting baptized next Friday night! He is a 15 year old kid, who is really so awesome. He's been coming to church for about a month and a half with his friend Jason, and he has loved it. He is really excited to be baptized, and thankfully his parents are on board as well. We committed him to bring his family to church next sunday, so hopefully they will be willing to come. I'm really looking forward to his baptism. He's such a good kid. There are good people in this world, did ya know that?! Although there are some crazies, like this week we met a 55 year old who tried to convince us she couldn't come to church because she "thinks" she is pregnant with twins due this month. uhh... haha

As for Tabi, we weren't able to meet with her this week. We had an appointment to meet with her after church on Sunday, but she came with her boyfriend down to the Alliance Ward and so we didn't get to meet with her. But we are having an FHE with her tonight, and so we are looking forward to that. From what I can tell, she keeps going back and forward on her decision, but that's okay, because this is really important and she needs to feel confident--and not pressured--when she makes her decision. I'll keep you updated! 

Sister Devenport and I continue to have an awesome time together as a companionship! an AWESOME time. Last night we went up to Kirtland for Elder and Sister Butterfield's open house. They leave this week :( That's really sad, but I'm sure they are more than ready to go home. It would be very exhausting to be sites director for 3 years. They've done so much good though, and they had a very nice, well attended reception. But we had a VERY fun car ride up to Kirtland and back. It made me feel like I was back home taking a car ride with my girls :) We went with Katie Ridinger, who is in the Rootstown Ward, and Stephanie Morgan, who just got baptized at the end of October and is the most SOLID person of all time, and Julie Wells, who is just like Stephanie, or she got baptized at the beginning of December. Needless to say it was a fun car ride with my girls :) 

So it sounds like you are getting hit with a lot of snow there in the New York! We haven't gotten too much snow the last few weeks, but definitely a few inches. However, they just released a study that said Cleveland is the second snowiest big city second only to Denver. For real!? And they've only got us beat by 1 inch exactly. Unbelievable. It's also been rated the worst city in winter. AND Chardon is in the top 5 snowiest cities of any size in the US....so glad I've left! haha. So sorry, you're not going to get any sympathy from this Ohioan... haha

okay, well I have nothing else super excited to report, so I guess I'll attach pictures and be off. Love you so much! Have a fantastic week, and Eric, HAPPY 24TH BIRTHDAY! Love you. 

Love,
Sister Maughan

I'm Not Nearly as Cool Anymore...

Mi Familia!

Big surprises at transfers this past week! I mentioned that I knew who my companion was going to be because she was told that she was getting transferred out of the zone but would still be going to Kirtland.There is only one area left that fills that category: Ravenna! Turns out though, there were last minute changes. That sister ended up actually staying in Kirtland zone and my new companion was told she was being transferred a day later than everyone else. Definitely some last minute changes. I wonder why. Sooo...wanna know who my new companion is? Drum roll please. ::drum rolllllllll:: SISTER KATIE DEVENPORT! Which probably means nothing to you at the moment. haha. Sister Devenport was ALSO in the MTC with me. Let me recap for you. That means that only for one transfer have I had a companion who is older than me in the mission, and that was my trainer. It also means that of the 9 sisters that came out to the mission with me, I have now been companions with FOUR of them! Holy schnikes! It's definitely a record. I don't know what it is about me haha. But I love Sis. Devenport so much! We are having an amazing time together, and we're doing lots of good work, already. Let me tell you about her: She studied at BYU for 2 1/2 years and is studying civil engineering. She comes from a large family with 12 kids, 5 of which are adopted. Four of them were just adopted in December and are Native Alaskans, which makes sense because she is from Alaska. Sigh. Being from New York is not nearly as cool anymore. Let me give you an idea of our conversations nowadays:

 

Ohioan: Where are you from Sister Maughan?

SM: New York

Ohioan: Whoa! That's way cool!....Wait, you're not far from home, are you?!

SM: sigh....No.... (thanks for the reminder)

Ohioan: Well neat. Sister Devenport where are you from?

SD: (in Alaskan accent) Alaska

Ohioan: (eyes bulge out of sockets) WHOA!! ALASKA!!! THAT'S AWESOME! Do you know Sarah Palin? Do you have polar bears for pets? Guess this snow doesn't bother you?! Wait, does that mean we actually have TWO missionaries not from Utah?!

 

I love my life. haha. I hate Sarah Palin jokes though. haha. Just saying. But seriously, we are having an amazing time. I love that girl and even though I didn't even know she was a possibility for a companion, I'm so glad things have worked out that way. Oh also, Dad, she has the same birthday as you which is pretty cool. It also means that since I have been on a mission, I have had every single one of my companions on their birthday. 4 for 4. crazy.

 

So I got to see some miracles this week. Small ones, but tender mercies nonetheless. Dad sent me a letter telling me that Scott and Eric played at Chelsea Mair's wedding reception (she got married?!) and sent a picture of them. I was thinking about you, Scott, and how much I love playing the Pachabel meets U2 duet with you on the cello and so I was wishing that I could play it or hear it. And then, while I was reading Dad's awesome letter up in my room (did I mention how much I love your letters Dad?!), I heard my companion start to play that exact song downstairs on the piano! She had found the music and starting playing it without even knowing the significance of it! That was really neat. It's only the piano version though, so it combines the piano and cello parts so it just makes me think of my family :) Just a sweet tender mercy.

 

Another miracle from the week: Yesterday we had a lesson with Tabitha, a 16 year old girl who has been meeting with missionaries for a year. She goes to seminary every morning and goes to church every Sunday but still is not positive if it is completely true. So while we were meeting with her, I really felt inspired to promise her some awesome blessings. President Sorensen spoke to the youth in our ward last night and I promised her that if she would find a way to come to the fireside, that she would have a personal life changing experience and something would touch her and change her life forever and help her gain a testimony and know this is truth. It's kinda nerve-racking to make those kinds of promises, but amazing to know that as a missionary I have that power, authority and right to promise those blessings. Well, she showed up last night. The fireside was question and answer, and the questions were written by the youth last week and sent to Pres. Sorensen. One of the questions was "What if I don't have a testimony?". Bingo! President Sorensen opened up the Book of Mormon and asked for a volunteer to read some things--the only time the whole night that he did that. He said "Who would like to read for me? How about a sister....(no one raised their hands) What about you? What's your name?" It was Tabi :) He had her read from the intro and then bore powerful testimony. It's really hard to describe in words what happened, but I can tell you it was life changing. Afterwards, he talked with Tabi personally. I don't know what her thought was about the whole thing, and if she recognized that this was fulfilling what I had promised her, but I'll follow up and let you know what happens!

 

Well sorry this email is so long, there is just so much to say! But needless to say it's been a good week. I love being a missionary, I love Ravenna, and I love Ohio! Love you all, too! :)

 

Love, Sister Maughan

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I don't even know where to begin! My emotions are everywhere and my thoughts are everywhere and I just feel like there is so much to say. Let me sum it up in bulletpoints:

 

-OH MY GOSH CAMILLE IS ENGAGED! That is so amazing! I'm so happy for her!

-We've come to yet another transfer. Sister Bringhurst is leaving Ravenna :,( She's been here 6 months so I know that she is ready to go, but we're both sad.

-I'm 95% positive who my next companion is going to be. Basically everyone in the Kirtland zone and my zone know who it is going to be. It's going to be sweeeeet.

-Abby sent me the most amazing card yesterday. She re-wrote the 12 days of Christmas and changed it to "In the 12 years of friendship..." It was SO cute! I miss her!

-This is a huge transfer. Almost every companionship is changing. They are opening up new areas to sisters  and closing others, AND this coming transfer we are getting 2 new sisters, but no one is leaving [except the Butterfields at the end of this month :( ]

-Guess who is training the two new sisters? Sister Hansen (my MTC comp) and Sister Alicia Webb (my friend from freshman year)! I am so excited for both of them! They will be amazing. 

-We had district meeting last week and it was probably the most intense meeting ever haha. At the meeting we had the 4 companionships in our district, plus the zone leaders, the three assistants to the president, and then President Sorensen himself! There was almost as much leadership as there was normal participants haha. President took us out to Burger King after. That was quite a sight!

-On New Years Day we got to go to a baptism. It was a really special experience, because it was a woman named Margot who I took on tour! I was really honored because she asked me to speak at her baptism. I was so touched. At the baptism, she told me why she had chosen to be baptized on Jan 1 at noon. When we took her on tour, I had said that Willard Richards had been baptized in the Stoney Brook Creek at midnight on December 31st so that he could start off his new year as a new man. Sooooo when Margot was deciding to be baptized, she remembered that and wanted to do that same thing.Only  midnight wasn't possible (silly mission curfew haha) so she did noon instead. It was such an awesome experience and it's cool to see the direct impact Kirtland had on someone's life.

 

Well, I'm going to see if I can fight with this computer and see if it will let me attach pictures. I love you! Have an awesome first full week of 2011!

 

Love,

Sister Maughan

Thanks, Waddingtons!