THis week has been a better week. Although chris and katie are not back yet from their "vacation." We went to see chris and katie one night this week and it was horrible. I was very quiet and sister moyes asked lots of questions. We just visited with them. Katie was very 'fake' this time. She was not acting like her normal self at all. She was overly excited about her kids and hardly paid attention to us. We had a good conversation. There were a couple funny things that may not seem funny but they were. The first: When we first got there, we were invited in by the grandma. She was very hospitable. She went to go get chris and katie. That took a long while. Chris walked passed us without saying hi and without looking at us. Then the grandma had us sit down and we started to talk to her. We heard chris and katie talking in the background. I believe they were debating on talking to us or something like that. So that was the first funny thing. The second funny thing happened was at the end. We asked if we could come back. Then Chris and katie go behind a wall and start whispering. I know what they were deciding. They wanted to decide whether to tell us to never come back or invite us to come back. After much debate, and them trying to figure out if they had something to do on each day, they invited us to come back thursday. So that was pretty funny. Then we got a call on thursday morning telling us that they did not want us to come over. they didn't want to waste our gas. So, guess what we did? We sent the Footes. :) They Footes did a good job. They talked to them and got some things sorted out. Chris and Katie gave ALL the books they had to the footes. I was afraid of this. But, they gave back katies quad, chris' book of mormon, all the pamphlets and everything they borrowed from the library and every other thing that we let them keep. It made me sad. We are going to keep them because they will be back. I feel that they are going tocome back. One day soon or perhaps in the future.
So, on another note besides Katie and Chris. We found an investigator last night! She is such a cute lady. I believe she is in her 80's. She is from Thailand and she speaks english and only reads Thai. So need to get a Thai Book of Mormon. I love her name the best. Her name is Buppa Ieaiden. It took me a little while to remember her name. She is searching for somethings and she does not know where to get what she is searching for. She is searching for her feelings again. She wants to feel sad, feel happy. We will get her feelings back. We are going to have to teach real simply. She does not remember very well. She says she has a sickness. She has a sickness of tiredness. I don't think she was joking either. She wants to be able to stay up all day and not have to sleep all the time. I feel bad for her. I am so excited to teach her though. I was very excited when she let us in. She was the first one in weeks that has let us in. She is our only investigator right now. We need more investigators and I hope we find them soon.
We are taking some pictures for a special something and we were going to a members house. In the members backyard there is this pond and there is also a dock. The sun was perfect setting. So, we got our camera out and made our way to the dock. Sister moyes jumps onto the dock and the dock starts moving out to the middle of the pond. Luckily it stopped. It was so scary. I thought she would be stranded in the middle of the pond. But we took the picture and were very careful. You will see this picture soon. :)
I am getting a little overwhelmed with the holiday season. This branch out here is way to dependant on the missionaries. We just found out that we were in charge of the christmas party as well as the christmas program. We were upset at first and that was the first time I actually said no to one of the members. I didn't want to do all of that. We shouldn't do all of that. But then I felt horrible afterwards and the spirit was not with me. I then got a better perspective on it all. We will do the christmas party. But it won't be like they had in the past. There is not going to be any santa clause. It is going to be focused on our Savior Jesus Christ. Just like the season calls for. :)
I have been opened to christmas. And I don't like what christmas has turned out to be for the world. We were talking to a members granddaughter and she said something about getting all these 'things' for her children. Which I am not opposed to getting 'things' for christmas as long as there is a limit to what you get and how much you spend. But, this christmas, it makes me sad to think that all some people think about is getting stuff for their children, some going into debt. Christmas is all about our Savior. Anyway. That is my thought for the day. It may be scrambled but that is okay. I know what I want for christmas.
This want is not a material want. I would like each of you to think about some kind of service you could do for someone around you. To someone who is in need. When you do do the service, will you write about it and send it to me? Anyone can do it. I think if we are more focused on the savior, christmas will be tens times better.
I am going to get going now. This coming week is going to be great. Give thanks for everything you have. :) Sister Amanda Ralph
Our Wonderful Life Together
Monday, November 22, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
November 15, 2010
I just have to say, I am glad to be able to serve the Lord at this time in my life. I am growing lots. I have a year and a month left on my mission and I still have lots to learn still. I am grateful that I am able to serve fulltime and find people to teach. I will now tell you about a very eventful, very long week.
This week has been one of the longest weeks of my life. I don't know if anyone did this but I am going to ask you. When you pray that I have an eventful week, be more specific and pray for only good eventful weeks please. :) This week has gone crazy. Monday night, is what started it all. Sister Moyes has had a stessful couple days in the last couple weeks and monday, she said, "Do you want to color my hair? I usually get something done with my hair when I am stressed." I agreed and so we went to walmart and got some hair dye. Probably not the smartest idea. She wanted to go lighter and so we got a blonde. I went to work and colored her hair. it seemed to be turning out okay. She had LOTS of hair and really thick hair so I didn't know if we were going to run out or not. Luckily we did not. When we washed it, it looked okay. Sister Moyes was starting to freak out though. It did not seem to bad. I blew it dry and I think it turned out to more golden blonde than she was thinking it was going to be. She did not like it. So, tuesday we went to go get it fixed. We went to Danna's and she is interesting. I don't think Danna knows too much about hair color. When I got my hair done with her, my color did not stay very well. So, danna goes to work and her hair. After two hours, it is finished and it looked...bad. It looked better before she touched it. It is starting to grow on us now. Except for the bang part. The bangs are so chunky. There is some brown and blonde in it and it does not look very good at all. When the bangs are pinned back it looks pretty good. So that happened.
Tuesday night was very scary. We were praying and kneeling on the floor and in the middle of the prayer we heard a bang! and the floor moved up and down. 'it scared the snot out of me' (That is what some people here say). I went and sat next to sister moyes. I did not know what to do. So, we called elder foote and he said to do what I didn't want to do. He said to go down in the basement and smell for gas. The furnace probably did something. So, I get my new snow boots on, a jacket, and a flashlight, and I am in my Thumper Pajamas. I then grab a golf club that we have in the apartment. I was so scared and Sis. M was even more scared than me. I told myself, "I have to be brave for my kids one day, might as well practise now." Haha. So I go to the door of the basement, take a deep breath and open the door. Then (keep in mind that is dark) I slowly go down the stairs. My heart is pounding so much. I get halfway down the stairs and I go no furthur. I smell for gas and then I start going up the stairs backwards. I then run out the door and into the apartmnet. Basements get me so scared. I guess I just watched way to many scary movies. :) We ended up calling Brother Hamilton to check it out for us. There seemed to be nothing wrong. When he left, the noise happened again and we decided to leave it alone and get some sleep.
Tuesday, for enrichment, we had some fun things to do. We made some tile things and I will send them home sometime to show you. You just get a real cheap tile, some paper and some mogepoge. However you spell that. Very simple.
Wednesday was a day. It all started with sister Moyes getting pooped on. We were standing in the middle of nowhere. There were no trees around us and she got the nasty bird poop on her arm. Very interesting. The next horrible thing that happened was this. Chris and Katie have been sick with the flu so we have to seen them. We called and got hung up on and we thought that was strange. I called a little while later and they talked to us. Chris was actually talking. In that converstation, was the worst news that anyone could tell me. Chris said, "Yeah, I was going to call you after I got the kids off to school. I wanted to tell you, I don't believe it anymore." I got confused and asked what? He said, "I don't believe anything that you have taught us." I did not believe what he said. I kind of laughed a nervous laugh and said, "You are joking me aren't you?" He said no. I could not believe what he was telling me. AT ALL. We had a conversation about things and I don't remember what all was said but it ended up this way. I told a story and then he was talking after that and all of a sudden, the phone went silent. He totally hung up on me. I didn't know how to take that. I wanted to cry so hard but I couldn't I was just laughing and saying that just did not happen did it? I was very distraught after that. We had to do some service and so we pretended to be happy. I found out later that he hung up on me because he could not stand the sound of my voice. I guess he knew that I was sad and he was about to cry. He knows that he hurt us. They have an appoinment with the Footes today and I hope all goes well. i am hoping that they will come to their senses again. The footes saw chris on thursday and they said he did not look happy. We was chewing tobacco and his eyes were all swollen shut for some reason. He does not seem happy. He is not happy. It feels like someone died. I know they did not die physically. They died spiritually and it hurts so much to think that they are lost. I pray that they will be able to come back.
That is pretty much all that has happened. We have not ben very successful in getting new investigators. We try and it is just not happening. Eventually our obedience will pay off. :) I am praying so hard that things will work out for the better. I know that I am doing the best thing right now and that is, inviting people to come to christ so that they will be able to have a better life. I know that people in different faiths have belief in christ but they are missing something that can greatly influence their life and that is authority. When everything is done in the authority of God, it is better.
I think it is funny. I am really starting to talk like people here. I don't have an accent but I do say funny things that sometimes don't make sense. In other words, my grammer has gone down the drain it seems. It is pretty funny.
That is all that really happened this week. The previous week I remember what happened. There was the funeral for Grace McClure. They found out that it was a drug overdose that killed her but I don't think that is what happened at all. Grace would not do that. So, maybe she just fell asleep and the lord took her. She was such a sweet sweet lady. She will be greatly missed.
I hope you all are doing great. I pray for you. Good luck on school and work and your callings. Youa re all amazing. :) Love Amanda
This week has been one of the longest weeks of my life. I don't know if anyone did this but I am going to ask you. When you pray that I have an eventful week, be more specific and pray for only good eventful weeks please. :) This week has gone crazy. Monday night, is what started it all. Sister Moyes has had a stessful couple days in the last couple weeks and monday, she said, "Do you want to color my hair? I usually get something done with my hair when I am stressed." I agreed and so we went to walmart and got some hair dye. Probably not the smartest idea. She wanted to go lighter and so we got a blonde. I went to work and colored her hair. it seemed to be turning out okay. She had LOTS of hair and really thick hair so I didn't know if we were going to run out or not. Luckily we did not. When we washed it, it looked okay. Sister Moyes was starting to freak out though. It did not seem to bad. I blew it dry and I think it turned out to more golden blonde than she was thinking it was going to be. She did not like it. So, tuesday we went to go get it fixed. We went to Danna's and she is interesting. I don't think Danna knows too much about hair color. When I got my hair done with her, my color did not stay very well. So, danna goes to work and her hair. After two hours, it is finished and it looked...bad. It looked better before she touched it. It is starting to grow on us now. Except for the bang part. The bangs are so chunky. There is some brown and blonde in it and it does not look very good at all. When the bangs are pinned back it looks pretty good. So that happened.
Tuesday night was very scary. We were praying and kneeling on the floor and in the middle of the prayer we heard a bang! and the floor moved up and down. 'it scared the snot out of me' (That is what some people here say). I went and sat next to sister moyes. I did not know what to do. So, we called elder foote and he said to do what I didn't want to do. He said to go down in the basement and smell for gas. The furnace probably did something. So, I get my new snow boots on, a jacket, and a flashlight, and I am in my Thumper Pajamas. I then grab a golf club that we have in the apartment. I was so scared and Sis. M was even more scared than me. I told myself, "I have to be brave for my kids one day, might as well practise now." Haha. So I go to the door of the basement, take a deep breath and open the door. Then (keep in mind that is dark) I slowly go down the stairs. My heart is pounding so much. I get halfway down the stairs and I go no furthur. I smell for gas and then I start going up the stairs backwards. I then run out the door and into the apartmnet. Basements get me so scared. I guess I just watched way to many scary movies. :) We ended up calling Brother Hamilton to check it out for us. There seemed to be nothing wrong. When he left, the noise happened again and we decided to leave it alone and get some sleep.
Tuesday, for enrichment, we had some fun things to do. We made some tile things and I will send them home sometime to show you. You just get a real cheap tile, some paper and some mogepoge. However you spell that. Very simple.
Wednesday was a day. It all started with sister Moyes getting pooped on. We were standing in the middle of nowhere. There were no trees around us and she got the nasty bird poop on her arm. Very interesting. The next horrible thing that happened was this. Chris and Katie have been sick with the flu so we have to seen them. We called and got hung up on and we thought that was strange. I called a little while later and they talked to us. Chris was actually talking. In that converstation, was the worst news that anyone could tell me. Chris said, "Yeah, I was going to call you after I got the kids off to school. I wanted to tell you, I don't believe it anymore." I got confused and asked what? He said, "I don't believe anything that you have taught us." I did not believe what he said. I kind of laughed a nervous laugh and said, "You are joking me aren't you?" He said no. I could not believe what he was telling me. AT ALL. We had a conversation about things and I don't remember what all was said but it ended up this way. I told a story and then he was talking after that and all of a sudden, the phone went silent. He totally hung up on me. I didn't know how to take that. I wanted to cry so hard but I couldn't I was just laughing and saying that just did not happen did it? I was very distraught after that. We had to do some service and so we pretended to be happy. I found out later that he hung up on me because he could not stand the sound of my voice. I guess he knew that I was sad and he was about to cry. He knows that he hurt us. They have an appoinment with the Footes today and I hope all goes well. i am hoping that they will come to their senses again. The footes saw chris on thursday and they said he did not look happy. We was chewing tobacco and his eyes were all swollen shut for some reason. He does not seem happy. He is not happy. It feels like someone died. I know they did not die physically. They died spiritually and it hurts so much to think that they are lost. I pray that they will be able to come back.
That is pretty much all that has happened. We have not ben very successful in getting new investigators. We try and it is just not happening. Eventually our obedience will pay off. :) I am praying so hard that things will work out for the better. I know that I am doing the best thing right now and that is, inviting people to come to christ so that they will be able to have a better life. I know that people in different faiths have belief in christ but they are missing something that can greatly influence their life and that is authority. When everything is done in the authority of God, it is better.
I think it is funny. I am really starting to talk like people here. I don't have an accent but I do say funny things that sometimes don't make sense. In other words, my grammer has gone down the drain it seems. It is pretty funny.
That is all that really happened this week. The previous week I remember what happened. There was the funeral for Grace McClure. They found out that it was a drug overdose that killed her but I don't think that is what happened at all. Grace would not do that. So, maybe she just fell asleep and the lord took her. She was such a sweet sweet lady. She will be greatly missed.
I hope you all are doing great. I pray for you. Good luck on school and work and your callings. Youa re all amazing. :) Love Amanda
Friday, November 12, 2010
November 8, 2010
this week was pretty uneventful. I don't know what to write. I got a package from mom and dad and it was great! I loved the package. There was so much fun stuff in it...chocolate and more chocolate. :) We got a new investigator only thing is, we have not been able to see her again. She was not home when we set up the appoinment. bummer. Hopefully we will find someone soon. :) I actually have to get going now. I know it is a small letter. I love you all very much. My testimony is growing and I hope that you are all reading your scriptures everyday to avoid the grasp of Satan. (not to scare you or anything. haha). I love you all. Have a great week. :) Amanda
Monday, November 1, 2010
November 1, 2010
Phew I survived this week. It has been a pretty crazy week as far as 'almost life threatening' things have happened. I will tell you what happened. On monday, we were on our way to FHE. FHE is 20 min away and in the country. We were rounding a corner and all of sudden, a deer was in the middle of the street! My hearrate increased and I didn't have control of the car so I was praying really fast that sister moyes knew what she was doing. I don't know how she did it. This instance seemed to go so fast yet so slow. I will give you two view points I had. 1) I saw the deer and his head was turned toward us just looking at us. I am sure the deer was thinking, oh no. i am going to get hit. what am I going to do? Then the deer decided, "well maybe I should get out of the street." So at that point, the deer was scrambling to get out of the road. It seemed to have troubles doing that. Almost like he could not get his feet to move very well. 2) while all that was going on I was thinking about us. There was a car behind us and I hoped and prayed he would stop. Sister Moyes she stepped on the brakes really hard and made a screeching sound. It was really loud and (how she did this I know not) she honked her horn. To me, that would not be my first instinct to honk the horn. Later she told me that the spirit overcame her and she did not know how she honked the horn either because that was not her first response. Phew. We were saved. We did not hit the deer. We did smell the burnt rubber of the tires though. :) Later that night, as we were coming home, we almost ran into another deer. It was crazy.
Tuesday, it happened. TORNADO!!!! Okay. So, we got up at 6:30 to go exercise and it was really really hot. It was weird and the clouds looked weird and it was pretty windy. We got in and got ready for the day and at 9:00 our district leader called and said to stay in because there was a tornado warning/watch. I could believe that because shortly after we hung up, there was a HUGE storm. Rain was coming down in sheets. Sheets and sheets of rain was pouring down. It was quite an amazing sight. We had a basement so (we should have been better prepared earlier) we gathered up some blankets, food, first aid kit, flashlights and headed for the basement. When the siren sounded we rushed to the basement. Although I thought it would be so cool if I could go outside and see the tornado. I was not really scared. They siren went of and went back on soon after that. We were cautious and stayed in that morning. When the winds died down and the clouds were not so dark, we went outside and worked. It sure was cold though after all that rain and wind. It was pretty awesome.
Wednesday, we saw a old house and hiked to it. On the way we also saw an old cemetary. While looking at the headstones, we were walking and I looked alittle ahead of me and saw a...snake! (and no mom, it was not a turtle haha). I was scared. Once I saw that snake I darted the other direction. I said, 'Well, no more exploring this area anymore." It scared me.
Sad news though. To me at least. Grace McClure is a member and she was less active for a while and she (when I got here in this area) has been making great strides to make her life better. She has been doing great. She is such a cute lady of 50 years. I saw her on monday and she was just cute and bubbly as ever. Well, yesterday morning at church we heard the most unfortunate news. Grace had passed away two days previously and they just found her body laying in bed that morning at 2:00am. I thought someone was pulling our leg when they said that. She seemed to be okay earlier this week. Something must have happened. They don't know what happened though. An autopsy is being done on her and hopefully we get some news. I don't really understand why it took so long to find her body. She lives with her daughter. Granted they don't have a great relationship at all. So, it is pretty sad. I want to cry but I don't think it has hit me that she has passed away. Not til the funeral I don't think it will really hit me. But I am doing great still. Just a little sad. :)
Sorry to leave on such a sad note. I have to get going though. I love all of you very very much. I will talk to you this week. christmas is just around the corner. :)
Amanda
Tuesday, it happened. TORNADO!!!! Okay. So, we got up at 6:30 to go exercise and it was really really hot. It was weird and the clouds looked weird and it was pretty windy. We got in and got ready for the day and at 9:00 our district leader called and said to stay in because there was a tornado warning/watch. I could believe that because shortly after we hung up, there was a HUGE storm. Rain was coming down in sheets. Sheets and sheets of rain was pouring down. It was quite an amazing sight. We had a basement so (we should have been better prepared earlier) we gathered up some blankets, food, first aid kit, flashlights and headed for the basement. When the siren sounded we rushed to the basement. Although I thought it would be so cool if I could go outside and see the tornado. I was not really scared. They siren went of and went back on soon after that. We were cautious and stayed in that morning. When the winds died down and the clouds were not so dark, we went outside and worked. It sure was cold though after all that rain and wind. It was pretty awesome.
Wednesday, we saw a old house and hiked to it. On the way we also saw an old cemetary. While looking at the headstones, we were walking and I looked alittle ahead of me and saw a...snake! (and no mom, it was not a turtle haha). I was scared. Once I saw that snake I darted the other direction. I said, 'Well, no more exploring this area anymore." It scared me.
Sad news though. To me at least. Grace McClure is a member and she was less active for a while and she (when I got here in this area) has been making great strides to make her life better. She has been doing great. She is such a cute lady of 50 years. I saw her on monday and she was just cute and bubbly as ever. Well, yesterday morning at church we heard the most unfortunate news. Grace had passed away two days previously and they just found her body laying in bed that morning at 2:00am. I thought someone was pulling our leg when they said that. She seemed to be okay earlier this week. Something must have happened. They don't know what happened though. An autopsy is being done on her and hopefully we get some news. I don't really understand why it took so long to find her body. She lives with her daughter. Granted they don't have a great relationship at all. So, it is pretty sad. I want to cry but I don't think it has hit me that she has passed away. Not til the funeral I don't think it will really hit me. But I am doing great still. Just a little sad. :)
Sorry to leave on such a sad note. I have to get going though. I love all of you very very much. I will talk to you this week. christmas is just around the corner. :)
Amanda
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