February 14, 2011

Phew. I made it through this week and all of its craziness. I don't
even know what happened really. It was alot though. I will go through
my journal of what happened this week. Okay.

Monday: We went to visit Irene Noble. We have been going over everyday
for the past two weeks. She is 93 years old and she had a nasty fall
and got put into this nursing home. She is a member and we have
learned alot from her. We usually go and sing a song to her and then
we teach her a simple lesson. It is pretty funny because she is hard
of hearing and sometime she can hear me and sometimes she cannot. When
she can't hear me, she can hear sis mikami so that is good. And vice
versa with sister mikami. When she can't hear sis mikami, she can hear
me.

Tuesday: It was a surprise day that day. We had an "official" lesson
with Gladys Bellamy that day. She is a new investigator we found about
two weeks ago. We went in the lesson to teach the restoration but she
kept talking and I thought it would not be applicable. So she talks
about her son and his difficulties in life and then she talks about
all the religions and what they always said about heaven and hell. She
got the impression from all the other churches that if you made one
simple mistake then you would go to hell and you would have no chance
to go to heaven. She was very much grieved with this. But guess
what??? We had the answer for her concern. We talked about the spirit
world and read in Alma chapter 40. She totally agreed with us. And I
thought we were not going to get anywhere with her. Silly Amanda. I
need to trust more. But we then transitioned into the restoration a
bit and watched the restoration movie and it went great. She kept
saying that she agreed and she felt more at ease. It was time for us
to ask her. We asked, "Gladys, will you follow the example of Jesus
Christ and be baptized by one holding the priesthood authority of
god?" Immediatly she said, Yes I will. And that was it. She is dead
and determined to be baptized. I love her so much. We are her adopted
grandchildren. She is so funny and so cool and has so so so much
faith. She knows where she is going in the past life now and she has
no more worries. She is happy. Her baptism date is March 12th, 2011. I
am very much excited for it.

Thursday: We made up a song and I will write down the words to the
song. It is inspired by the singing bass. SR= sister Ralph SM= Sister
mikami

SR: Will you take this book of mormon? and read it and believe it?
will you pray to know the truth? of the prophet Joseph smith.
SM: I've took this book of mormon- I've read it and believe it- I've
prayed to know the truth- that he's a man of God
SR: Will you be baptized- and follow the example- of our savior jesus
christ- by the authority of god
SM: Take me to the font- immerse me in the water- take me to the
church- confirm me a member
BOTH: oh i'm so excited- 'bout baptizin' in beattyville- the field is
white and ready- so lets go out and find 'em- in the GKLM

Friday: MY BIRTHDAY!!!! It was a good day. We went to district meeting
that day. it was real fun. We had interviews with President Glende
that day. I brought everyone some cookies and they all wanted one real
bad but I was not going to let them have one until after DM. How rude
am I? haha. We had to drive ourselves down there this time because
Elder and Sister Lloyd wanted to go to the Valentine Dance that night.
So, we are on our way to richmond and I am doing pretty well at
remembering where it is. Until...I get to richmond and then I don't
remember where the church is at. I must have missed a turn or
something. So we get to this street called Main Street and it sure was
the main street because there were
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
many cars!!!!!!! Can I tell you that ever since I have moved to
Kentucky, I have become a country girl and now I can't handle that
many cars without freaking out? Hahaha. But I just laughed my way
through it all. SO, instead of wasting miles, we stopped the car and
we called the Zone Leaders because this was their area. I asked, could
you help me find myself? I am lost. So, they helped me. He told me to
go to the city hall which is on main street and he would come save us.
I turned the wrong direction and so I had to make a u-turn and then I
was going in the right direction and then...i found city hall!!! I was
never so excited to find something. haha. Then we parked the car and
waited for them to take us to the church. So, then after DM we went to
walmart to get some groceries and that was good and dandy but
again...so many people. I really do not know what I am going to do
when I get home and see all the cars. It is going to be crazy. I am
just hoping my last area has a little more cars than Beattyville. We
went home after walmart and that was not as hard to get home. I was
surprised because it was dark. But it went smoothly. Just missed one
turn off and that is it.
The interview with President Glende went well. I passed. I was
told that sister Mikami and I will not be seperated for a long time.
So, I have another transfer with her. Maybe even two more. I am so
excited for that. He said that he is not going to seperate and good
thing. :) President Glende also played Happy Birthday for me on the
piano and all the elders gathered in a half circle to sing to me. I
felt special. I feel like I am 22 however that feels. :)
When I got home we had a funny experience. There was some magical
flowers on the porch as well as a box. We figured they were for me
since it was my birthday. The flowers were from Mom and Bubba.
(Thankyou for them. They are beautiful.) and then I started to open
the box. When I did it didn't make any sense. There was an envelope
that said Kimi on it. (that is sister mikami's first name). I was
thinking, "hmmm, how did she do that. Maybe the letter was for me and
she just put her name on it for me." Sister mikami was thinking, "oh,
how nice. Sister ralph's parents thought of me." Then we both came to
the realization...this package was FOR HER and not for me. hahaha. I
enjoyed opening her box. There were some fun things in the box. There
were these small packets that you can punch and then there is a
balloon that inflates and then it pops out. It is crazy. So that was
funny. :) My birthday was great. I bought Mint Icecream and had that
and on saturday we had brownies. :)

I have been so tired lately. My mind is not functioning all that well
because of two incidents. I totally forgot where Cathy Johnson lived.
I was driving and I just could not remember. And then last night.
Elder Platter (Distict Leader) called to get our numbers for the week.
He asked me a question at the same time I was looking at friday and we
forgot to plan something into our schedule. Well, my brain didn't know
what to do. I was wanted to answer the question at the same time I
wanted to tell Sister Mikami what we forgot to plan. I think I waited
for about 20 seconds to answer his question. I was not a very good
double tasker at that time. haha.

Steve came to church on sunday so guess what that means? HE CAN GET
BAPTIZED THIS WEEKEND!!!! I am so happy for him. It is going to be
great.

I am so excited for the future events that are going on. It is going
to be fun. So, we have three baptisms coming up.
Steve Gay: February 19th
Gladys Bellamy: March 12th
Wanda Prescott: March 19th.

THe kingdom is moving forth. It is great. Teach all that you can and
you will find success. I love being a missionary and learnign alot. It
is the best. I love you all. I hope this week is great for you. Happy
Birthday Tessa and Toby!!!!

Amanda