Okay so not literally. But pretty close.
There is a hurricane/tropical storm/depression forming in the gulf, which is causing torrential downpour in the coastal areas. And it is only going to get worse.
So excited for so much rain!
Yesterday it rained so hard that the roads flooded and the stoplights all were flashing yellow. We had planned to go out to Vancleave and visit some people. Nope. Didn't happen. Since most of the roads where we needed to go are dirt, and would have become mud, we reevaluated. Then were told to go home and remain there until it was safe. So we made cookies in mugs and watched the Testaments. And I finished the Book of Mormon for the second time, reading it in one month. It was incredible. It is so marked up, highlighted, and color tabbed. I am so happy! Now onto reading "Jesus The Christ"
This week has been pretty great, not just weather wise. Here ya go...
Monday: Got to email y'all, so obvious plus. And we got to visit Brittni Bass, a very less active young mother. She is struggling right now. Her daughter got taken away by DCFS and she is fighting to get her back. Her new car just got totaled. She can only work part time at Walmart, so she is looking for another job.
Needless to say, she needs love. We went to visit her with Sister Scaturo, the Relief Society 2nd counselor. It was a good visit.
Then we went to meet with Jennifer Schoeller, a referral from the D'Iberville Elders. She claimed she was a member, but no one could find her records. Not even Salt Lake. So we were supposed to teach her like an investigator and she had a date in September. All was good. We had a plan to teach her as such...then we looked at the ward directory. And found her. She is listed a less active member. Sister Scaturo said she thought the name sound familiar. So Jennifer's records have been in OS Ward!
Tuesday: Exchanges with STLs. I stayed with Sister Bennett in OS. We walked to all of our appointments, half of what we usually do on bikes. Turns out we travel long distances
in one day. The totals from Fitbit.. drumroll.... 22,968 steps = 10 miles. That means we normally bike around 20 miles. A DAY! Missionary WERK!
I need to find a way for my Fitbit to track how far we bike. 'cause it ain't doing it right now.
Wednesday: District Meeting! Talked about sacrifice and how we as missionaries can learn about and teach it. My favorite note from the meeting,
"You are leaving the foundation for future missionaries and for the Kingdom of God. What are you willing to sacrifice for that?"
Then we went to help Sister Shillcox with her house. She is pregnant and very sick right now. She can't get up from the couch she is so sick. So we go over and help clean her house. I clean the kitchen and living room. Dishes, floors, fridge, laundry room, anything that she needs. Then Steady does the bathroom and hallway and other odd jobs. Then we talk and discuss gospel things.
Off to Jennifer's to talk about how we got the Book of Mormon in a discussion we call "Why Mormons are Called Mormons." Look it up. It is a video by Lanny Owens. It is a great everyday missionary discussion you can teach to anyone. It was a great lesson and we got to learn more about Jennifer. Also she has an ADORABLE puppy she adopted from the shelter. So obviously it was instantly 10x better!
We had dinner at the Scaturo's. Sister Scaturo's nonmember husband just got back from active duty as a CB in the military. He is still adjusting back to normal life at home. He is very rough and tough. But I like 'im. He's 'ight. It was a good dinner of chicken and green beans. Delicious!
We got the car, so that made the day even better! It would have been EVEN better if the Elders had left us more miles, but we are making do with the 160 miles we have for 7 days. Nevermind the fact they used 361 of our 1000 miles
in one week alone. Elders....
Thursday: Visited with Sister Thelma Thomas. Wonderful woman. She had a stroke a year ago, leaving her paralyzed on her right side. She is doing what she can to get some of the feeling back, but the doctors aren't optimistic about anything coming back. We visit her and invite her to church since she hasn't been since she had her daughter, 34 years ago. Her daugher Ashley got baptized a couple of years ago though, so that's good!
We had planned to see Sister Salterelli, another less active. She has had breast cancer 4 times now, among other medical problems. It just returned for the fifth time.
Y'all cancer is... well it sucks. I feel like sometimes I am surrounded by its destruction.
Needless to say, Sister Salterelli wasn't up to meet with us, so we prayed about who to see instead, since our backups weren't feeling right. We both thought of the Mclains. So we headed there. It was definitely divine inspiration. Kim, their daughter, was struggling with stuff. Then Sister Mclain came home from work as a CNA at a rehabilitation/nursing home with sad news. One of her patients, a 36 year old man whose body had started attacking itself last year, and was in kidney failure since he was refusing dialysis, had passed away the prior morning. She had the day off, so she wasn't there when he passed, meaning that he was all alone. She broke down and was so sad. Her daughter Kim ran to her, and in the most Christlike manner I have seen, comforted her Mom as if it her daughter. She said things like "He is so glad he had you as his nurse. He is looking down from a better place and is so happy."
It was very touching. They both have gone through a lot together that has made them very close. When Sister Mclain got married to Brother Mclain, it was a welcome change from the past abuse and darkness.
They fed us dinner and we got to talk about how they were doing, and their plans for getting sealed on September 10th!!
Friday: Weekly Planning! Lots of optimistic plans made for this area! Now to execute them!
Then off to the Haley's! Love Tony and Rose! They are the cutest elderly couple. They got married, then divorced, but still lived together. One of the Sisters convinced them to get married again, so they did. They are so cute! Brother Haley watches out for us and makes us aware of weather warnings, such as the one that occurred
on Sunday. He told us if the roads were flooded, we did NOT have to drive through them! Hahaha
Love them!
We had dinner at the Beecher's. Sister Beecher broke her hip last year and hasn't been able to walk since. She is in a wheelchair and kind of grumpy about life. Her son David has disablilties, but it only makes him more fun! He made us pizza. Well Pizza Hut made us pizza, but David it put it in the oven and warmed it up from the night before, so he can take whatever credit he would like.
Most of the dinner was full of the two of them arguing over whether Maine was a suitable place to live. It is not in Sister Beecher's opinion, but David thinks it would be cool. Made for some interesting dinner entertainment.
Then we went to meet a referral from Brother Underwood. His son. Very less active, with a nonmember wife, so we were excited to teach them and bring them to church. We set up an appointment for this Thursday so we shall see how that goes.
The highlight of the day, seeing Abraham Lincoln (Brother Wilson) He is so funny! He wants to have another child. At 78. Like HIS own child. His daughter told him that wasn't going to work, but he wants another little baby, so we discussed what he could do instead. Adoption was suggested. He agreed that adopting a orphan child from one of the Native American tribes in Idaho, where they used to live, was a good idea.
I suggested a puppy. He said he would like that.
I suggested a cute lab or collie. He agreed.
Then he decided he wanted a macaw instead. He used to have one named Paco that thought he was its mate. And he wants another one like it. Another thing that won't really work out how he wants it.
I'm still firm that a puppy would be the best idea. AND it means I could play with it so....
I'm not biased at all.
Saturday: Service with Miss Gail. She has offered her house up for a place to stay when I come back to visit. So kind. Love her so much!
Quick lunch before heading to the library for the Family History class. So fun! I am learning more as I teach people how to use Family Search. Highlight from the class:
Older woman asks for help finding her convict great uncle. He was a serial killer that escaped prison in the 30s or 40s. When he escaped, he began using an Italian man's name to keep from being caught. That has greatly complicated finding him and doing his family history work. Long story short, we couldn't find him, but the woman looked over at me and looked at my eyelashes. She gets all sassy and says, "Girl! I am so jealous of your eyelashes!" Then looking at Sister Rose says, "It took me 20 years to get over the resentment and envy of my husband's new wife. How long do you think it will take me to get over the envy of her eyelashes?!"
I died.
Dinner at Shunta Thomas'. Baked BBQ chicken, cornbread, steamed cabbage with bacon and salt pork, macaroni and cheese (it's used as a side dish down here), and homemade apple cobbler. DELICIOUS!!
Next she said she is going to make us chitlins. Look it up. They aren't actually that bad.
We watched Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration and discussed it. Shunta and her children are converts of only a couple of years, so we have been helping them get up to speed on the doctrine and history. It was such a good lesson! I could feel my testimony getting stronger as I watched and then talked about the video.
Sunday: Church with Stephanie Tyzner, a less active, and Dianna Vega, a recent convert. It was so good. We, all the missionaries from OS and Biloxi Wards, sang for the farewell of Allan Zieber. It was so cool! We sang "As Sisters in Zion/We Will Bring The World His Truth" and oh my, it was powerful! I proudly belted the last part where we all join in and sing "We are as the armies of Helaman. We have been taught in our youth and we will be the Lord's missionaries to bring the world His truth!" Goosebumps.
Everyone was crying as we sang. It was so amazing!
I love being a missionary y'all!!!
Dianna gave me a wood carved feather pen from Mexico. So kind of her since she only met me that day, but she is just that kind. Love her!
Lunch, the out to appointments. Only to turn around due to state of emergency rain.
Rain let up around 4:30, just in time for us to head to our dinner appointment at the Mallyas. Wonderful family. Sister Mallya is from Jamaica and served her mission there with her husband, who is from India. Their youngest daughter, Arya, gave me a bow she made out of ribbon and beads!
We went to visit Mi'kala Mims, a recent convert that has become less active. She was sick, but I got a picture of the flaming cross in her neighbor's yard. Yep. Not sure everyone in the area is happy about that one.
This week was awesome! It's all about attitude! The area is still struggling, but we found 3 new investigators, now we just need them to answer our calls and texts!
Like my planner says, "We are the architects of our own happiness." So I shall make my own happiness!
(that's apple cider btw.)
