Chat-a-lat

Well this week has been interesting. We had VERY little time in our area. Sister Schwanke and I were called to be the trainers for Chat, so we've had to go in several times in the last week to train companionships. Right now, some missionaries are a little stressed about this "new" form of missionary work, but really, it's just exciting! I LOVE doing it! I must admit, it is pretty complicated to try and sort things out, scheduling and such, but we are just trying to explain to the new sisters that this is just exciting, and the same thing that we are always doing, only typing instead! Hopefully over time, it will become second nature. Yesterday I actually chatted with someone from Salem Virginia!! Crazy, right?! We can--and do--chat with people all around the world and yet I talk with someone from my second home. Coincidence? I think not. :)

Because of change in schedule last week, we have extra time in our area this week, which is really nice! We're in our area for 3 1/2 days straight! So we are having a lot of finding this week!

I have to admit, that this past week I have been able to do some of the most fun things of my mission...We work hard, but we play hard too!! Here's some snippets :)

1. Last p-day, we went with the South Euclid Sisters (Sisters Bringhurst and Manwaring--we are the quadruple up!) into Cleveland to walk around Little Italy, enjoy some AMAZING Italian food, and then over to the house that was used in the movie The Christmas Story! Complete with leg lamp and all. haha. I personally am not crazy about the movie, but I remember watching it with the Brooksbys, so I've already written Jared about it. :) Plus it was the fulfillment of Sister Bringhurst's dreams so she was a happy camper! Man, you should have heard her squeal! haha

2. We had another Zoned Out on Monday! That is the big mission wide p-day that they have every year. It was SO fun! We go to the John Johnson home, take a quick tour, and then just play games and other fun activities with the mission. I ended up playing football for 2 1/2 hours...and not being able to walk all the next day. haha. Dad, I miss the days of playing in the front yard where you draw on on your hand where you want me to run, haha. Good times, yet again. Although we were both strangely sentimental as we left. It's weird to repeat significant days of your mission. I remember last Zoned Out like it was yesterday.

There's some fun things for the letter today! I've attached some pictures of each of these events. Hope you all have a good week! Pray for us to find!

Love you all,
Sister Maughan

The Christmas Story house

Me and the Johnsons. Sister Johnson used to babysit my mom when she lived in England!

Ask Jeeves--> Ask Missionaries! :)

Hello family!

Hope you are enjoying the beautiful fall weather! I'm serious,  I'm pretty sure that autumn came just overnight! Literally. But I have to admit, it is absolutely beautiful! It's pretty funny to go to sites though and see all the sisters wearing coats. Sister Schwanke and I are in denial, though, and have decided that we are not wearing coats until at least the first day of October...and we wonder why we get sick? haha.

We have had a really amazing opportunity come up at Kirtland that we are really excited about! We got a call from the Training Sisters this past week asking us to come in early and be trained in a new program called Chat. It has been in a trial run for the last 2 1/2 years, but now they are starting it up in a few visitor centers around the world: London, Kirtland, and one other place, but I can't remember. It's something similar to what Eric and I would do when we would volunteer at the MTC before my mission, but it's even better. Sister Schwanke and I are heading up the program here in Kirtland, so it's still pretty new and we're learning, but we as companions talk to people who chat on mormon.org. We are able to answer their questions, refer them to different videos and different links to help them understand the gospel better, and it truly is amazing. We are reaching a whole new level of people! So far in the test program, they average 1-2 baptisms a week with a 95% activity rate! It's incredible! 


The end goal when we talk to these people is not for them to have the missionaries come to them, but to move at their own pace. But make no mistake, we aren't ask jeeves or anything. This is the incredible part: we are literally teaching them! We teach them principles from Preach My Gospel, we extend commitments, follow up with them, and even have return appointments with them! We literally have investigators! And for those who have served missions, we even have an online area book where we keep track of what we teach them, and what we should do to help them next. 


We have only done it one day, but it is incredible to see the miracles. The spirit is so strong as we chat with these people, and we meet sincere seekers who want to know more. We have 2 investigators already, with return appointments and a desire to read the book of mormon and pray. Sister Schwanke and I were able to talk to 2 people in Brazil, 2 in the UK, and many all around the USA. We talked to a 14 year member who was struggling with her testimony of Joseph Smith; a man with no faith in Christ who is a recovering alcoholic looking for happiness in his life; a recently married woman who has lots of LDS friends but was to afraid to ask them how they made their marriage eternal and why they are so happy; a less active woman in Ohio (!!) who hadn't been to church in 11 years, had requested to not be contacted by the church, but now wanted more than anything to come back but was scared...These are just a few of the people we chatted with one just one day! It is incredible.

It seems like every day someone (or something) is reminding me that I go home next transfer, and as a result I've been able to think about what has already happened in my mission thus far. Especially with the addition of Chat this week, I have been filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the chance that I have to serve in literally the best mission in the world!!! How many people get to say that on their mission they get to:

• proselyte 5 days a week teaching and tracting and baptizing
• give tours of a spiritual and significant church history site, teaching church history, testify of the restoration, our Savior, and a true and living church on the earth and strengthen the faith of others
• call others around the world and invite them to learn more about Christ and how a faith in Him and the Book of Mormon can help us find eternal happiness
• chat online with people with all different backgrounds and allow them a safe place to open up and have their concerns met as they have questions answered about the church
• PLUS, get to serve right near their hometown and therefore get to see family and friends from time to time!?!?

Can you see why I am overwhelmed with gratitude? I love this. I love my mission, and I love all the experiences that I have already had, continue to have and WILL continue to have :)

I love you all sooo much! Thanks for all your love and support! Have a fantastic week!

Sister Maughan

"So, my darling, you shall have a home and a cow"

Dear Family,

This has been a crazy week. After so much sickness last weekend when we both had to stay in, we left the house for the first time to go to Mentor (right next to Kirtland) and tour the only thing Mentor itself is famous for: The home of James A. Garfield! Anyone know who is he? anyone? anyone? 20th President of the United States, but only served 200 days in office before he was martyred. Yup yup. Very exciting. No worries,  I had no idea who he was either until I came here. It was an interesting tour. It was mostly exciting because we were the tour takers not the tour givers! The subject line was written on the wall, something he had told to his wife. I plan on telling my husband that I, too, need that. At least written on my wall.

So we were able to get out and about for a little bit on Tuesday and then we went to sites on Wednesday. As soon as we got to Kirtland, I looked at Sister S and she was sweating and looked so flushed. I felt her forehead and she had a very high fever! Complete with fever rash and all! Finally, after 2 months of being sick consistently, Sister So told Sister S that she needs to stay inside and rest for at least 3 days...the ultimate torture for a missionary. But she was obedient, and was in until Sunday, when we went to church just for sacrament meeting, then to our dinner (with Emily! That's awesome you got to talk to her!) and then rest. Sister S is definitely feeling better, but still is being careful about resting, because her body is still fighting.

With Sister S staying in, I've had different companions each day to go out into the area with me to work. So I have had 3 different companions this week. There was a pretty big possibility that one of us would get transferred, so I thought that I would have 4 companions in one week, but it turns out S and I are staying together for a third transfer! This will be 7 1/2 months (at least) in Mayfield! Whew! Should be good though :)

One of my temporary companions and I had an awesome experience on Friday night. We got to take one of our recent converts over to the Cleveland Stake Center and hear from Cheryl Esplin of the Primary General Presidency and Barbara Thompson of the the Relief Society General Presidency! It was FANTASTIC! They were so nice and absolutely hilarious! Most of all, the Spirit was so strong. They are incredible women who are so inspired. It was a perfect meeting for our recent convert with us. Everything that they said, especially Sister Thompson, was just perfect for her. She talked about family, and the temple, and how to become holy women. It was phenomenal and to hear Chris talking on the way home, she was incredibly moved by the things that were said and that she felt. It was a huge tender mercy for us to be able to go. At the end, when we got to meet them, Chris gave them both a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek :)

Well, I love you all lots and lots, and I hope that you have a great week.

Much love,
Sister Mayfield

I mean, Sister Maughan

Transfer of sickness continued....

Hello Family!

 

Well, I feel like I just very very recently talked to you, so there's not a whole lot to give an update on. I appreciate all of the updates on Sister Bentley. It breaks my heart. She, her family, and Sister Love and her family have been the focus of many many prayers here in the Ohio Cleveland Mission. Thanks for keeping me updated. Truly.

So our transfer of sickness has definitely continued. In fact, today is the first day that we will be doing missionary work since Friday. We were stuck inside ALL weekend! All in all, I think we are on the mend for the most part now. Which is good, because I can't handle this for the last 3 months as a missionary.

 

I've learned an important lesson this week that I want to share. We had an interesting week with one of our investigators. She was found just before I got here, and so I have been teaching her regularly for 6 months now. I love her. I feel very close to her. She LOVES the gospel, she loves coming to church, she loves the Book of Mormon, and she has such a testimony. Before we had even taught her the Word of Wisdom, she heard about it at church, and gave up coffee before we had even asked. But she's not baptized, and is now no longer progressing. She refuses to live the law of chastity. That's it. She is willing to live every commandment, keep every commitment, except one. Granted, it's a big one, but the principle is still the same. This week, we had to drop her, because she flat out refuses to live the commandment. We can't progress if we aren't willing to completely follow Christ's example, in everything. It breaks my heart and has been difficult for me to think about not teaching her anymore. But I keep thinking how happy we are if we just are obedient to the commandments...ALL of them! It's not to restrict us, but it really is what brings us true happiness. When we teach someone who knows that they are living wrong, they are miserable. The guilt that she felt would make our lessons start out a bit awkward, because she knew she was wrong and she wasn't happy. It makes me think of Mosiah 2:41. Just consider the blessed and happy state of those who live the commandments, and then choose to be obedient to them all! So many blessings await when we do.

 

Anyway, I hope that everyone has a better week than they had this last week, I love you all.

 

Sister Maughan