Well, not much has happened this week except for christmas. I was
overloaded with presents this year and I was not expecting it at all.
:) Thankyou Ralph family for sending me all the great things such a
blanket, hot chocolate mugs, hot cocoa, candy.... That was a pleasent
surprise. I got to talk to you all on saturday and that was just the
best ever! my stomach was in knots because I was so excited. I just
miss you all like crazy. I am sorry that I started crying right before
I hung up the phone. I was just emotional at that time. Maybe because
I didn't want to stop talking. Oh well, I will talk to you in no time.
Only five months til I talk to you again. This time maybe on scype if
anyone has it around here. I am excited for all the great news that I
recieved this past weekend and can't wait for this next year and all
the great things that will happen. :) I don't really have anything
else to say so I am going to get going. I love you all. Have a great
week.
Amanda
Our Wonderful Life Together
Monday, December 27, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
December 20, 2010
Well, I have gone through the week and I have survived!!! I am a survivor! It was really crazy this week. We got an ice storm on wednesday and when we woke up, the roads and our hill were ice. We decided not to go anywhere that morning and afternoon and we did our planning a day early. we went out that night though and we were blessed to get a new investigator. I hope we will be able to see her again. We witnessed a miracle this week. We went to a members house and stayed for a while. I thought I parked it a good enough spot but when we got in the car and I stepped on the gas, I was going nowhere! I had my foot all the way down on the gas pedal but didn't go because I was on ice. I put it in reverse and I went somewhere and then I went forward and again went nowhere. I stopped and prayed that we would get out. I put the car in reverse and somehow someway, the car hit the ice just right and the car traveled sideways until it straightened itself out. I was amazed. Then I put it in gear and went on our way. i was so happy to not get stuck. So now, when we know that we will not get up a hill or out of someplace, we park on top of the hill and walk down even if it takes a while.
Here in Beattyville, the roads are nothing but curves. There is not one straight road besides the highway. And everyone lives on top of a hill or in a holler. A holler is when you are down a hill and around a mountain. Mostly just at the very very bottom of a hill. It is kind of frustrating in the winter. We want to go to so many places but we can't because we will get stuck. Oh how I wish we had four wheel drive. That would be great.
My companion is a great worker. She has such a strong testimony and she is just great. She has lots of great ideas. :)
I have to get going but I love you all. I can't wait to talk to y'all on saturday. WOOHOO!!!!!!
Love sister ralph
Here in Beattyville, the roads are nothing but curves. There is not one straight road besides the highway. And everyone lives on top of a hill or in a holler. A holler is when you are down a hill and around a mountain. Mostly just at the very very bottom of a hill. It is kind of frustrating in the winter. We want to go to so many places but we can't because we will get stuck. Oh how I wish we had four wheel drive. That would be great.
My companion is a great worker. She has such a strong testimony and she is just great. She has lots of great ideas. :)
I have to get going but I love you all. I can't wait to talk to y'all on saturday. WOOHOO!!!!!!
Love sister ralph
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
December 13, 2010
Wow. what a week it has been. I forgot my journal at home so I am going to try to remember all that has happened this week.
Tuesday was a strange day. We woke up at 5:00am and getting ready to leave for Louisville for transfer meeting. My suitcases were packed to the brim. I was afraid that my zippers were going to burst. I still did not get everything in because I got extra winter clothes and my bedding I did not even pack the first time. It was interesting. We left at 7:00 and I was not ready to leave. I loved Tell City so much. My stomach was hurting. But we got to Louisville safely and we waited for the news of who our partners were going to be. I had a hunch on who and where I was going to serve. I was thinking that I would be with sister tanner OR I would be in Beattyville with the new sister that came out the transfer earlier. We waited and President called my name and Sister Goodman's name and where we were going to serve. My stomach jumped and had butterflies in it. I could not believe it. I was going to beattyville and I was going to be doing followup training with Sister Goodman who has been out for one transfer. I was a little more than...nervous. Then we waited for all the other places to be named. I got to see Sister Graham again and I sure did miss her. It was a joyous experience. After it ended, I met my companion, look at a sheet of paper to tell who was driving and who the Senior Companion was (I am the driver and SC) and then I hugged my dear Sister Moyes goodbye. I definatley did not want to say goodbye to her at all. Sister Goodman and I went to the mission office to get mail that we had then I loaded all my stuff in the back of another Senior Couples car and we were off.
Sister goodman is a great missionary. She has the 'greenie' attitude that I have lost and she is wonderful. When we got to Beattyville, we started to tract and then visit with people. I met the Snowdens and that was a hoot. <--- that word is a word that is commonly used by people around here. The Snowdens make dinner for us and I was surprised when I got there. They don't eat with us. I guess they eat before hand. The just sat at the table watching us eat. They told me I was a way to proper eater. I felt like it too. Then we went into the living room and had conversation with them. They told me they were going to train me how to talk southern language. It was funny. I am excited to learn. I am going to come back a changed person. :) haha.
Driving was a fun experience. I have not driven for 6 months and i definatly had to get used to it. Sister goodman, bless her heart, is NOT good at giving directions or remembering where to go at all. I was praying that we would get to our destinations. We have been lucky so far this week. I have been able to remember where places were and also remember people's names. It has been a blessing. If I could describe sister goodman in one word it would be...worriesome. It almost drives me crazy how much she worries but it okay. I have been able to get to know her well. One thing that bugs me a little bit is that she talks sososososososososososos much. I can be reading and I will only be able to get one paragraph read because she is talking to me the whole time. I don't know how she does it. I feel a little bad because sometimes I don't even really listen. That is bad of me. I have to write in my journal now during personal study in the morning because I find myself rushing through the details because I am trying to listen to my companion. I prayed for a non-quiet one and I sure did get it. man. :)
The second day here, we lost our phone. Sister goodman puts it in her pocket and sometimes it falls out of her pocket. when that happens, I usually see it but not this time. We got out of an appointment and she realized she lost the phone. I was just saying in my head, "For real?" then I took a breath and then we went back to see if it was at the appointments house. it was not though. So throughout the rest of the night we retracted our footsteps and we still couldnot find it. I had faith that we would find it though. I called one of the mission office people to tell them about the phone and they seemed alittle bit frustrated at us because it was a newer phone. After we hung up (we were using the Lloyds phone who are the Senior Couple) I had a thought to have them call our phone and I would go check outside their house. So he did and while I was looking for it I hear a strange ringing in the distace and voila, there it was. I found it. Phew. So it is all good and I am in charge of the phone now. :)
Um, it is cold! It is alot colder her than Tell City. It is the coldest place in the mission I believe. The most hick and the most cold. Wonderful. This morning was very very fun. We got up to go exercise. I decided to make a snowman and a snowangle and I cleared off all the snow off the car. Then we went in and we were going to go back out but then I decided that we really needed to shovel the drive off. We had about 8 inches of snow. So, I get dressed in jeans, three shirts, two socks, leggings, and boots and I go borrow a shovel from a neighbor. I then start shoveling the long drive for my first time ever. It was not so bad except for the part that it was cold, the drive was long, and the driveyway was on a hill. So it was...horrible. I am not going to like it I don't think. I need some pointers on how to drive in snow. So, if you could tell me that would be great. Especially because everywhere around this area is hilly and curvy. There is no flat places.
We have 10 investigators. We got 5 this week which was very cool. I met most of them. we only get 1400 miles on the car so we have to be careful with the miles. That will be hard because everywhere is really far.
Some phrases I hear alot is honey and "that just tickles me to death." Some people say both those in one sentence. "Honey, that just tickled me to death." haha. We only have 25 members but that is alot compared to how much the had a year ago. They only had 8 people a year ago. Can you imagine that? only 8 people in the ward/branch? I am so used to wards and this is different. I am going to be teaching someone how to play the piano. I am the piano player now. Lucky me. And the best part is that they have an ORGAN! that was so cool.
I have to get going soon. But, I have lots more to tell y'all. I hope you have a great week. I love you.
Sister Ralph
Tuesday was a strange day. We woke up at 5:00am and getting ready to leave for Louisville for transfer meeting. My suitcases were packed to the brim. I was afraid that my zippers were going to burst. I still did not get everything in because I got extra winter clothes and my bedding I did not even pack the first time. It was interesting. We left at 7:00 and I was not ready to leave. I loved Tell City so much. My stomach was hurting. But we got to Louisville safely and we waited for the news of who our partners were going to be. I had a hunch on who and where I was going to serve. I was thinking that I would be with sister tanner OR I would be in Beattyville with the new sister that came out the transfer earlier. We waited and President called my name and Sister Goodman's name and where we were going to serve. My stomach jumped and had butterflies in it. I could not believe it. I was going to beattyville and I was going to be doing followup training with Sister Goodman who has been out for one transfer. I was a little more than...nervous. Then we waited for all the other places to be named. I got to see Sister Graham again and I sure did miss her. It was a joyous experience. After it ended, I met my companion, look at a sheet of paper to tell who was driving and who the Senior Companion was (I am the driver and SC) and then I hugged my dear Sister Moyes goodbye. I definatley did not want to say goodbye to her at all. Sister Goodman and I went to the mission office to get mail that we had then I loaded all my stuff in the back of another Senior Couples car and we were off.
Sister goodman is a great missionary. She has the 'greenie' attitude that I have lost and she is wonderful. When we got to Beattyville, we started to tract and then visit with people. I met the Snowdens and that was a hoot. <--- that word is a word that is commonly used by people around here. The Snowdens make dinner for us and I was surprised when I got there. They don't eat with us. I guess they eat before hand. The just sat at the table watching us eat. They told me I was a way to proper eater. I felt like it too. Then we went into the living room and had conversation with them. They told me they were going to train me how to talk southern language. It was funny. I am excited to learn. I am going to come back a changed person. :) haha.
Driving was a fun experience. I have not driven for 6 months and i definatly had to get used to it. Sister goodman, bless her heart, is NOT good at giving directions or remembering where to go at all. I was praying that we would get to our destinations. We have been lucky so far this week. I have been able to remember where places were and also remember people's names. It has been a blessing. If I could describe sister goodman in one word it would be...worriesome. It almost drives me crazy how much she worries but it okay. I have been able to get to know her well. One thing that bugs me a little bit is that she talks sososososososososososos much. I can be reading and I will only be able to get one paragraph read because she is talking to me the whole time. I don't know how she does it. I feel a little bad because sometimes I don't even really listen. That is bad of me. I have to write in my journal now during personal study in the morning because I find myself rushing through the details because I am trying to listen to my companion. I prayed for a non-quiet one and I sure did get it. man. :)
The second day here, we lost our phone. Sister goodman puts it in her pocket and sometimes it falls out of her pocket. when that happens, I usually see it but not this time. We got out of an appointment and she realized she lost the phone. I was just saying in my head, "For real?" then I took a breath and then we went back to see if it was at the appointments house. it was not though. So throughout the rest of the night we retracted our footsteps and we still couldnot find it. I had faith that we would find it though. I called one of the mission office people to tell them about the phone and they seemed alittle bit frustrated at us because it was a newer phone. After we hung up (we were using the Lloyds phone who are the Senior Couple) I had a thought to have them call our phone and I would go check outside their house. So he did and while I was looking for it I hear a strange ringing in the distace and voila, there it was. I found it. Phew. So it is all good and I am in charge of the phone now. :)
Um, it is cold! It is alot colder her than Tell City. It is the coldest place in the mission I believe. The most hick and the most cold. Wonderful. This morning was very very fun. We got up to go exercise. I decided to make a snowman and a snowangle and I cleared off all the snow off the car. Then we went in and we were going to go back out but then I decided that we really needed to shovel the drive off. We had about 8 inches of snow. So, I get dressed in jeans, three shirts, two socks, leggings, and boots and I go borrow a shovel from a neighbor. I then start shoveling the long drive for my first time ever. It was not so bad except for the part that it was cold, the drive was long, and the driveyway was on a hill. So it was...horrible. I am not going to like it I don't think. I need some pointers on how to drive in snow. So, if you could tell me that would be great. Especially because everywhere around this area is hilly and curvy. There is no flat places.
We have 10 investigators. We got 5 this week which was very cool. I met most of them. we only get 1400 miles on the car so we have to be careful with the miles. That will be hard because everywhere is really far.
Some phrases I hear alot is honey and "that just tickles me to death." Some people say both those in one sentence. "Honey, that just tickled me to death." haha. We only have 25 members but that is alot compared to how much the had a year ago. They only had 8 people a year ago. Can you imagine that? only 8 people in the ward/branch? I am so used to wards and this is different. I am going to be teaching someone how to play the piano. I am the piano player now. Lucky me. And the best part is that they have an ORGAN! that was so cool.
I have to get going soon. But, I have lots more to tell y'all. I hope you have a great week. I love you.
Sister Ralph
Monday, December 6, 2010
December 6, 2010
Well, this week was good. Monday night we got an investigator!!! We were tracking an area and we felt good about this area. We talked to a guy named Jesse and he was super nice. He wanted to learn more but did not give us a certain time to come back so he is not a 'gator yet. Then that same street Melanee answered the door. She invited us to come back on friday so she was an investigator. The only bad thing is, is she did not show up for her appointment. :( That was pretty sad. But a miracle happened on tuesday! A couple months ago we knocked on a lady's door named Amy. She was somewhat interested and we told her we would come by another time soon since she was really busy at that time. Amy works as a home care assistants person. Well, on tuesday we felt really good about 23rd street. We start to tract it and guess what? We knocked on the very house Amy works at! This is not coincidence. We talked for about 40 min. We talked a little about young womans and how it helps build the values in the young women. She has a fifteen year old daughter. She started crying. She felt the spirit so strong and we are excited to start teaching her some more. She is going to love it. Then on saturday, we were going out and we were knocking on doors of the former investigators. We knocked on one and the person didn't live there anymore. But we did meet Jeff, the now owner of the house. He was really nice. He wanted to learn more right then but we were not allowed to go into his house. So we set up a time for the next day. We were so excited. ANOTHER INVESTIGATOR...almost. unfortunately, he did not show up to his appointment either. Bummer. Oh well, we still have high hopes. Saturday night we got transfer news. it turns out, I am leaving Tell City and entering a new world on tuesday. I have no idea where I am going but I will send word soon. I am excited for a new area but not at the same time. I love Tell City and love everyone here. I love my companion and don't want to leave but it will be what God wants. I think one of the worst part is that i am leaving two weeks before christmas. Oh well. I am exctied to be with new people. Mom, Sister Jewell told me to tell you that I am a good daughter and that I work hard. I think Sister Jewell and her family is who I am going to miss the most. It will be hard but worth it. :) I am going to be sending another box home but this time is just full of random things that I didn't really need to carry around with me.
On sunday something of a miracle happened. We were getting ready for the Christmas Broadcast. We were giong to try to get the TV up on the stage area. The TV was on one of those stands and we were going to be buff enough to lift all of that metal up 6 inches onto the stage. Well, it did not work as well as we thought it would go. We lift up the stand, and we can't lift it up all the way, we were just to short. all of a sudden the stand tv is tilting and was going to fall all the way to the ground! Something happened where the TV went back to the starting position. But then it started to tilt forward again as we try to get the TV on the stage. While all this was happening I was just thinking about "oh no. The broadcast won't be able to be shown if the TV fall to the ground. What are we going to do if it falls? Oh no, maybe I should grab on to the TV. Hey, that would be a smart idea!" So I let go of the stand and grab the top of the tv to keep it from falling. Quickly sister Moyes goes in front of the tv to keep it from falling and we get the TV on the stage. Phew. That was a very funny, very great miracle. I can't believe the TV didn't fall. I can't believe that the DVD player stayed on the stand. My goodness. Afterwards, my thumb and finger was killing me. I was laughing so hard of the experience and crying because of the pain. I didn't know what to do. My thumb got squished by the TV and I thought it might have been broken. Luckily it was not. It is fine now. I learned my lesson. Do it with three people and taller people next time. :)
I have to get going. Very very busy packing, visiting people day to day. I love you all. Have fun this week. :) Jaden, What going on in your life? I want to know. :) You are all the best! Sister Amanda Ralph
On sunday something of a miracle happened. We were getting ready for the Christmas Broadcast. We were giong to try to get the TV up on the stage area. The TV was on one of those stands and we were going to be buff enough to lift all of that metal up 6 inches onto the stage. Well, it did not work as well as we thought it would go. We lift up the stand, and we can't lift it up all the way, we were just to short. all of a sudden the stand tv is tilting and was going to fall all the way to the ground! Something happened where the TV went back to the starting position. But then it started to tilt forward again as we try to get the TV on the stage. While all this was happening I was just thinking about "oh no. The broadcast won't be able to be shown if the TV fall to the ground. What are we going to do if it falls? Oh no, maybe I should grab on to the TV. Hey, that would be a smart idea!" So I let go of the stand and grab the top of the tv to keep it from falling. Quickly sister Moyes goes in front of the tv to keep it from falling and we get the TV on the stage. Phew. That was a very funny, very great miracle. I can't believe the TV didn't fall. I can't believe that the DVD player stayed on the stand. My goodness. Afterwards, my thumb and finger was killing me. I was laughing so hard of the experience and crying because of the pain. I didn't know what to do. My thumb got squished by the TV and I thought it might have been broken. Luckily it was not. It is fine now. I learned my lesson. Do it with three people and taller people next time. :)
I have to get going. Very very busy packing, visiting people day to day. I love you all. Have fun this week. :) Jaden, What going on in your life? I want to know. :) You are all the best! Sister Amanda Ralph
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
November 29, 2010
Well, this week has been pretty good. It was so weird to not have thanksgiving with any of you. I am very very happy that you did service that day. It brought great excitement to my heart to hear that you served Sis. Quershi (SP). :) Thankyou very much for doing that. I am sure she appreciated it as well. For thanksgiving we went to Sister Skeens house. Over in the south we call grandma Mamaw. So we call sister skeen mamaw. She is such a sweet lady and she is always first in inviting us to her little-big family parties. It was fun going there. We spent two hours there conversing with people and eating all the yummy delicious food. Then we left and we still had to plan for the week so we did that. We took a nap though and that was different. I didn't mean to sleep so long but I slept for an hour. That turkey did it for me. :) I love that family so much and I am going to miss them alot.
Yes I do have transfers coming up. I don't know if I will be transfered or not but secretely, I hope that I do get transfered. I love Tell City a whole bunch and I love my companion to death but I am ready for a change. I will have been in this area for 5 months on thursday. Time has gone by so fast. I have a feeling though that something big is going to happen to one of the sister areas. We have three sisters leaving for home this transfer. One sister due to medical and two sisters because their time is up. We only have 1 new sister coming in. This worries us because there is no way that all the sister areas can be covered. So we are thinking that one area will either have to be closed or elders will have to be placed into the area. We are thinking that maybe our area will have to change. There could be elders moved back since it has been three years since there have been elders. OR the area may close because we have not had very many lessons lately and we have not had a lot of investigators. I hope the area does not close though. I wish I knew what was going to happen.
On saturday I got to go to the temple. I was very excited to go. One of the families sister moyes taught and baptized was going to the temple for the first time. It was so exciting to see them. It was such a great experience for myself to really feel of the love of God even more and to see the family get sealed for time and all eternity. They have 6 children and it was neat to see all of them gathered around the alter. It made me want to remember what it was like to be with you, mom and dad, when you went to the temple. It was exciting. After the temple we went to eat lunch with some of the ward members and they were so funny. Then we went to this candy shop and got some red hots that are so so so good. I have never tasted so good of red hots in my life. This store was like the See's candy shop but it seemed better. :)
Saturday night, one of the people the Foote's were teaching was getting baptized. We went to that and it was a great experience for him. He is going to be a great member. We did a little tracting that night and went to bed a little early. We were so tired after having to wake up at 5:00 in the morning to get ready to go to the temple.
That is pretty much all that happened this week. It was such a good weekend. A much needed time to go to the temple. I feel so much peace there. I know what I am doing is what God wants me to do. No matter how hard it may be, I will accomplish what I need to do. I have been gone for 6 months on thursday and it is just the beginning. One more year of learning and I am excited for that. :) I love you all and I can't wait to hear your voices soon. Tell me what time you all will be together. Does jaden work on christmas? You all have a great week a head. You are the bestest ever!
Love, Sister Amanda Ralph
Yes I do have transfers coming up. I don't know if I will be transfered or not but secretely, I hope that I do get transfered. I love Tell City a whole bunch and I love my companion to death but I am ready for a change. I will have been in this area for 5 months on thursday. Time has gone by so fast. I have a feeling though that something big is going to happen to one of the sister areas. We have three sisters leaving for home this transfer. One sister due to medical and two sisters because their time is up. We only have 1 new sister coming in. This worries us because there is no way that all the sister areas can be covered. So we are thinking that one area will either have to be closed or elders will have to be placed into the area. We are thinking that maybe our area will have to change. There could be elders moved back since it has been three years since there have been elders. OR the area may close because we have not had very many lessons lately and we have not had a lot of investigators. I hope the area does not close though. I wish I knew what was going to happen.
On saturday I got to go to the temple. I was very excited to go. One of the families sister moyes taught and baptized was going to the temple for the first time. It was so exciting to see them. It was such a great experience for myself to really feel of the love of God even more and to see the family get sealed for time and all eternity. They have 6 children and it was neat to see all of them gathered around the alter. It made me want to remember what it was like to be with you, mom and dad, when you went to the temple. It was exciting. After the temple we went to eat lunch with some of the ward members and they were so funny. Then we went to this candy shop and got some red hots that are so so so good. I have never tasted so good of red hots in my life. This store was like the See's candy shop but it seemed better. :)
Saturday night, one of the people the Foote's were teaching was getting baptized. We went to that and it was a great experience for him. He is going to be a great member. We did a little tracting that night and went to bed a little early. We were so tired after having to wake up at 5:00 in the morning to get ready to go to the temple.
That is pretty much all that happened this week. It was such a good weekend. A much needed time to go to the temple. I feel so much peace there. I know what I am doing is what God wants me to do. No matter how hard it may be, I will accomplish what I need to do. I have been gone for 6 months on thursday and it is just the beginning. One more year of learning and I am excited for that. :) I love you all and I can't wait to hear your voices soon. Tell me what time you all will be together. Does jaden work on christmas? You all have a great week a head. You are the bestest ever!
Love, Sister Amanda Ralph
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