Making History

Hello Family and Friends!

 

This week was the first ever Oregon Portland Mission Sisters Conference. In attendance were all forty sisters in the mission. They informed us that last year, there were only twelve sisters in the entire mission. We were taught by President and Sister Morby, the Assistants, and the Training Sisters. We were spiritually and physically fed. Sister Porter and I, along with four other sisters sang the hymn "You Can Make the Pathway Bright" for a musical number. After the conference we had a clothing exchange! :) It's nice to not be one of the newest missionaries anymore. Though I learned that some of the sisters I came out with began training last transfer (after being out only six weeks!) I consider myself fortunate for not having to train yet. It's inevitable that I'll have to train in September though because there are 42 incoming missionaries and only 20 outgoing missionaries. President will need many trainers. And we learned that there will be numerous 'white-washes'.

 

The zoo was so fun! It was great to rub shoulders with some great members of our ward as well as see the many animals. It is a big zoo! We didn't get to see everything, even in the four hours we were there! We also helped with a funeral this week. It was interesting because the woman who died was a member of the former rLDS church (Community of Christ church?) while her husband was a very active member of our church. There were many nonmembers there and some great talks about the Plan of Salvation.

 

This work has been fairly slow this week. All of our investigators have been too busy to meet :( Rhonda, Jeff, and Nicholas requested a break from the whole world so we're going to get in contact with them today to set up a lesson this week and follow up on their commitment. Dennis has been swarmed, unfortunately, with visitors so he feels like he's being recruited. We're going to work to convey to him our love and support and concern for him as a person. We helped at the Family History Fair and taught the Bull Mountain Sisters how to do a church tour. We were able to talk to a return missionary there and hear lots of great tips on how to be an effective missionary. (He was definitely in the right place at the right time!) He shared with us the following: "If you don't taste the adversary working against you, you're not working hard enough. You have to experience a portion of what Joseph Smith went through when Satan bound his tongue. Satan only surrounds those he's trying to capture. Wicked people are targeted by only one or two because they are already walking down to Hell." It reminds me of a scripture in 1 Peter 5:8. We need to continually press forward against the opposition.

Well, I love you all!

Until next week,

Love,

Sister King

Quick Note

Hello family and friends!

 

I apologize in advance for the short e-mail; we're headed to the zoo today!! (With four member families in our ward) And Sister Porter has a dentist appointment in less than an hour (mine is next week). So, buckle up and here we go! What a great week it has been! We were finally able to have a church tour with Rhonda, Jeff, and Nicholas! :) One of the ward members offered to bring them a meal and we thought that was a great idea! Rhonda has been telling us that they've eaten out a lot recently because she doesn't feel like cooking. We made dinner with a member that lives down the street from them. She delivered it with us and then had to go to a meeting. We stayed and ate and talked with them. Some questions about teh Restoration came up and we again offered a church tour. They agreed and we went right then and there! (They live really close to the church so we walked) The spirit was SO strong!! I felit it the entire time. Afterwards we invited them to church. However, Rhonda had a terrible migraine so they weren't able to come yesterday :( Soon for sure though! Another member family from the ward delievered dinner to them on Friday. They Facebook stalked her on Saturday and saw a long descriptive post describing her gratefulness! :) It was so sweet to hear. At the church tour we also invited them to pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true.

 

This week we had zone meeting (it's once a month and it replaces district meeting). We also had zone and district sports (usually both once a week). Sometimes I feel like the majority of my time is spent in meetings, but they're always superb and very motivating! I got your letters!! Thank you so much!! :) Sister Porter appreciated hers too! We probably won't have time for letter writing today, so next week for sure :) Saturday we had our monthly breakfast with President Doty (the Stake President). All the missionaries from the Tualatin Stake/Zone gathered, ate, and discussed the work. It was great to be with the Stake Presidency! We talked a lot about area books and how the work is hindered when meticulous records aren't kept. We don't want anyone to fall through the cracks!

 

Well, I need to go e-mail President now. Hopefully this e-mail will satiate your craving until next week. I love everything about living this gospel! Just as the scripture says in 3 Nephi 14:20 "By their fruits ye shall know them". Tasting of the sweetness of this gospel is one way you can know that it is true. Everything good comes from God and I am surrounded by good :) I love you and am so grateful for each one of you! Keep on keeping on :)

 

Love,

 

Sister King

Be Grateful

Dear family and friends,

 

This week has been fabulous! On Tuesday we visited Rhonda, Jeff, and Nicholas and thoroughly explained the Plan of Salvation. Now they have all the pieces to the puzzle rather than the scattered few we shared with them after Rhonda's mother died. We also discussed Alma 22. She brought up some questions she had after reading it and we were able to explain more fully the background as well as the context. The whole family continues to read the Book of Mormon. Rhonda talked about how we're all at different stages on the pathway of life. We invited her to read about Lehi's dream in 1 Nephi 8. All of their questions started to lead into the Restoration but we had already been at their house for awhile so we invited them to a church tour and they accepted this time! It was scheduled for Friday. However, when we showed up to the church with a member, no one was there :( We were sad until we found a note taped to the door from them! They couldn't find our number to tell us that something had come up. They gave a legitimate excuse. We'll have the church tour this week for sure. We're planning to go to their house tonight to teach them what Family Home Evening is :)

We also had a great teaching appointment with one of our investigator Lisa. We brought a member from our ward with us--he's a convert and was able to relate really well to her and her situation. Because of his 'wise yet harmless' (Alma 18:22) questions, we were able to obtain some much needed information on her and where her family stands towards the church. We invited her to pray specifically for a question she wants answered. We'll keep praying for her and especially her husband. He is not open at all to the church. It's very sad because he has such a great relationship with Jesus Christ!

This week I was attacked by a large dog! We were at a less active members house (outside) and his dog came charging at us! I took the hit and he nearly knocked me over! He was pretty harmless though, thankfully :) I walked away with saliva on me is all, haha. It felt like a bad dream. He lives near the Relief Society president. Speaking of her, she and her presidency put together a 72-hour kit for us! How sweet :) I know that'll make you happy, mom ;) We're kind of spoiled up here! Brother Aanderud (the ward mission leader in Cedar Creek ward) encouraged us to make an appointment at his dental practice :) Many of his patients are mormon and he always gives missionaries free teeth cleaning :) There's also a chiropractor in our ward so he adjusts our necks and backs when we have dinner at their house. Okay, I'll stop bragging now. ;) I just wanted to express my gratitude for the ward and area I'm in.

 

This week we got a new phone! Our old one was pretty beat up and was glitching frequently; it would send blank messages to people randomly! We're also due for a new car pretty soon because ours has almost hit 50,000 miles.

 

We had a great ward council meeting yesterday! Our ward is really coming together regarding missionary work. I love our ward mission leader and his family. He is really diligent and puts a lot of time into his calling. Hopefully we get some more ward missionaries soon though, recently many have been released. I am so grateful to be a missionary! I wish I would have brought my study journal with me to the library :( It has all the neat insights I've learned this week. What I do remember though is the portion of the talk on faith from the Ensign that grandma sent me last week; it was phenomenal! It really made me want to study faith more in depth. We also had a wonderful lesson in Relief Society yesterday on Faith, Hope, and Charity. The teacher talked about how they are the foundational elements of a celestial character. We truly are to walk by faith here on earth, and we hang on to that hope of the gospel--that abiding trust in God. I know that when I lack faith, I bind His hands and He is no longer able to help me. If I exercise even a tiny portion, He can work with it and produce miracles. Even though I stand in the way sometimes, even I can't stop this wonderful work from progressing :) I believe, hope, and know that this church is true!

 

Love you all!

 

Love,
Sister King

 

Tender Mercies

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Our hard work paid off this week! By diligently striving to meet our goals, we were able to witness miracles!! Teaching opportunities skyrocketed this week! The potentials we've been working on (Rhonda, Jeff and Nicholas) have finally become investigators! :) We stopped by their house Tuesday but only Nicholas was home. Afterwards, however, we realized we were there for him that night. We talked with him on his porch for nearly a half and hour about the gospel! I don't know many twelve year olds who would enjoy that. Sometimes it's even hard for the young people in the ward to make conversation with us. Anyway, he asked for his own copy of the Book of Mormon!! He wants to read it but hasn't really had a chance because his parents are usually reading it! :) Later in the week on Friday night, we stopped by again and were able to have a lesson about the Plan of Salvation with the whole family! Unfortunately Rhonda's mother passed away on Thursday night. We were able to offer hope and peace through the spirit. It was a wonderful lesson. They are definitely an elect family. They are also excited to come to the upcoming stake Family History Fair! Rhonda started crying when we explained that families can be together forever. The spirit was so strong when we talked about being sealed for time and all eternity. We're going back tomorrow to teach the first lesson. We still haven't had an opportunity to give them a church tour since they've been busy taking care of her mom, but we hope to do it this week for sure. That way, they'll most likely come to church on Sunday :)

 

We also have another new investigator! His name is Dennis; he lives with a family in our ward. He's a single man in his late forties, early fifties. His mother passed away last year and he recently recovered from a motorcycle accident. We briefly explained the Plan of Salvation and faith. We invited him to read Alma 32. Towards the end he asked one of the common questions: "How do you know which church is true when they all claim to have the fullness?" We didn't want to overload him, we have a habit of doing that :P So we told him we'd answer his question next time as long as he's read that chapter with an open mind. We'll teach him the first lesson some time this week.

We're also trying to contact all of the part-member families in the ward. We're excited to work more closely with the ward after our phenomenal sacrament meeting on missionary work with President Doty (Stake President). We're going to put our best efforts into 'rescuing' (his topic for the meeting). Elder Risenmay from the quorum of the seventy also spoke. His talk was about reaching out to the one. One by one as Christ would.

Today is transfers. Two members of our district as well as one of our Zone leaders are being moved. It'll be interesting to see who joins our district.

I try not to think about how my time with Sister Porter is winding down. We're really starting to be one in thought, teaching, and action. Each day we try to be all the places we've said we would be, all the while heeding the promptings of the spirit. We've discovered that we're complete opposites in nearly everything :) Though together, we balance each other out.

 

My prayers are becoming longer and longer each day as I reach Heavenward for help, pray for the people in my area, and express gratitude for the miracles I'm witnessing. I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, who makes it possible for me to be perfected in Him. I've recently learned more about grace. Just as it says in 2 Nephi 25:23, "it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do". Because Christ suffered for us, the grace is already there so we're doing all we can do to become like Him. It's not the opposite: after all we can do, we are saved by grace. We need the grace daily as we beg for forgiveness. I hope that made sense. I find that the more I feel the spirit, the harder it is to articulate my thoughts; it's hard to put feelings into words. It's something I'll keep working at so I can convey my testimony and the feelings of my heart. I know that this is the true church; it's reaffirmed to me every day. I am so grateful to be a missionary. I love you all :) Thank you for your letters and support!

 

Love,

Sister King 

Robinhood Festival Report

Hello Family and Friends!!

What a busy week we've had! We spent a lot of time preparing for the Robinhood festival. Leave it to the sisters to get everything together :) Don't worry though; it all balanced out because the elders helped more at the actual festival. Unfortunately our original prime booth location was given to a different vendor so we got a less appealing spot. The sun beat down upon us both days and it wasn't very trafficated. But we made the best of it :) We still got about thirty addresses! Furthermore, we had some really great converstations with people! While the booth was less busy, the elders rounded up some children and sent them our way. They also proselyted and got into a couple of interesting discussions. At one point, an atheist came to our booth and talked to us for awhile. To me it fit the definition of Bible Bashing so I mostly just watched the elders talk to the man. It was a good experience to have though! I bought a Robinhood festival t-shirt for $5 :) I wish I would have taken more pictures, but we were pretty busy. 

Saturday we were able to go to the endowment session of our recent convert!! It was a great session and I loved being there with so many missionaries :) (Many sister missionaries who had previously taught the L's were able to go) While we were at the temple, the elders took care of the parade and booth. We went to Applebee's after the temple and at the end of our meal, the mother of Sister L snatched the bill and paid for our group of nine!! Speaking of generous benefactors, when we were at Taco Bell for district lunch, a man who happened to be there paid for all the missionaries! He has several grandson's on missions. Speaking of food, this week at a members house we had salmon; it was delicious! I know, I know; I don't usually like seafood. But it tasted divine. I'm glad my taste buds are changing!

Last Monday our Zone leader called us to set up some assignments for district meeting the following day. After that, he informed us that everyone would be wearing green to the meeting. I was excited to have a picture like that of our district and Sister Porter was excited because her favorite color is green. Well, when we showed up to district meeting, we were the only ones wearing green...Our Zone leader chuckled and said "Greenie joke!!" We shook our heads and laughed. For the rest of the day everyone asked us why we were matching.

Yesterday we were able to teach a friend of one of our investigators! She had many questions and through them, we taught the Restoration. It was a great lesson and the spirit was so strong! We gave her a Book of Mormon and encouraged her to read it and come to church. She is very excited! She absorbed and believed everything we said! However, she actually lives in Beaverton so she's agreed to allow us to send the missionaries in her area to her. After leaving that appointment, we were driving down the narrow street about to turn left when a car came zooming around the corner. Sister Porter swerved to the right to avoid the head-on collision. The eighteen-year-old side swiped our car so we parked and exchanged information. We are so blessed to be unharmed and to have missed the parked car to the right of us. We called our 'Vehicle Coordination Car Czar' and followed his instructions of what to do. Today we took it to an approved auto body shop (which is one reason why my e-mail is later than normal) for an estimate. The minor scratches and dent on the side are going to be $1,680 to fix! I was astounded at the cost. Who knows though? Maybe this will turn into a missionary opportunity :) Afterall, we have her number and we know where she lives ;) haha.

Well, I think that's just about it in my neck of the woods :) We're looking forward to a full week of appointments as we strive to meet the goals we've set.This week we have really been focusing on the Book of Mormon. If someone's testimony is weak, it can almost always be tied back to the Book of Mormon. I love reflecting on the last two paragraphs of the Introduction. If you haven't read that lately, go read it! It's so powerful! And just as it says, I have truly come to know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is a prophet because he brought forth this wonderful book through the power of God--only a prophet could do that. Also, that The Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been restored in its fullness, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah. I love reading the Book of Mormon everyday; I need the strength it provides. And I can say with a resounding YES! that it IS true. 

Love,

Sister King

Why are we the only ones wearing green? Oh yeah... it's because I'm the "Greenie".

Recent converts became an Eternal Family!

Missionary Life

Family and Friends,

 

Unfortunately this week Sister Porter was sick Tues-Thurs. I stayed busy by reading and studying the gospel through the Ensign, my missionary resource book (with talks, tips, and rules in it), the scriptures, and anything else I could find around our apartment. It was very uplifting but by the end I was very restless and ready to jump back into the work. We were able to meet with one of our investigators on Friday (Desiree). We read Ether 12 together along with a member from the ward she's in and had a great discussion on faith. We were also able to meet with our bishop and discuss the missionary work in the Woodhaven ward. We also had a lesson with a family who is preparing to be sealed in the temple. They receive their endowments this weekend and I really hope we'll be able to attend the session. We went to a going away party for one of our investigators. We're sad to see her go but hope we can send the missionaries to her new home. We have one last lesson set up with her this week. Saturday we had exchanges! I loved learning from Sister Mears! I hope I can remember all the wonderful insights I've gained from spending a day with her.

 

At the request of many, I will describe more the area in which I'm serving. The city of Sherwood has a population of 18,000. The homes here have so much character and are on the high end scale of quality. There are three wards in Sherwood: Sherwood (District leader and his companion), Cedar Creek (Elders), and Woodhaven (us, the only sisters in our district). Our three companionships, the Hedges Creek elders (the ward Desiree is in), and the zone leaders (over a YSA ward) make up our district. The companionships from Sherwood are putting together the booth for Robinhood festival. As you may know, Robinhood lives in Sherwood forrest and Mt. Hood is nearby--hence, Robinhood festival :) Every summer they have a Maid Marian (spelling?) pageant (similar to Miss Springville) and many of the streets are named after Robinhood characters or other things from the movie. 

 

There are so many trees here! There's practically a forrest in my backyard. There are sections of trees that no one is allowed by law to cut down. You basically feel like you're in a forrest anywhere you go. Since my area is so small, there are no businesses that we can go to. No stores, fast food places, gas stations, etc. It's all residential. You have to get permission to leave your area, with the exception of P-day. The funny thing is that we don't even live in our area :) We live in the Cedar Creek ward boundaries. The reason being that the sisters used to be over two wards; both the Woodhaven and Cedar Creek wards. We foresee getting roommates in the future because many wards will have two sets of missionaries by the time the summer is over. But who knows? For now, we have a one-room apartment. I'll send pictures soon, I keep forgetting to take some. 

 

Each morning we wake up at 6:15 (mission rules) to have a sacred grove experience. We find a place to pray vocally (kind of hard in a one-room apartment) to our Father in Heaven. We begin exercising at 6:30 and usually do an ab workout since leaving takes too much time. Once a week we play basketball with the Elders. From 7-8 we get ready for the day. Somehow I manage to take a shower, get dressed, blow dry and straighten my hair, do my make-up and eat breakfast all in that hour! From 8-9 is personal study and from 9-10 is companionship study. As we diligently study we prayerfully consider our investigators and I've already seen countless times applying what I've learned that morning to their individual situation. It's a neat thing to experience! It's a win win type thing; we both benefit :) From 10-11 is training since I'm a new missionary. We have a book that breaks it down into 12 week segments. It's a great tool that we have :) I can't imagine what Sister Taylor is going through! That would be scary to have to both be new and training at the same time. We eat lunch at 11 since we're already at our apartment and leave for the day afterwards. Sometimes when we eat really fast, we go take a nap for the remaining time :) We proselyte until dinner, eat dinner and share a message, and then go back out again. We return to our apartment at 9, usually and then we daily plan for the next day. We close with a prayer (I say it on even days and she says it on odd days according to our birthday :)) and then get ready for bed. And it's true what they say; the days drag and the weeks fly! But really, it all goes pretty fast. I can't believe it's almost been one transfer! It feels like the weeks go fast when we hit P-day but looking back it seems like the last one was forever ago. Time is warped when you're a missionary :)

 

There are SO many dogs in Oregon!! Nearly everyone has one! We call it the Oregon doorbell :) The worst part is when they lick your face, I can handle everything else. My skirt often gets covered in dog hair :P Oh well :) Random fact: Whenever my companion sneezes it's in sets of 9 or more! Can you believe that? I've never seen such a thing. It rarely happens when she's driving, thank goodness :)

 

I know this was forever ago, but I don't think I thanked you for the greenie package! I enjoyed it so much :) Haha you answered my question in your e-mail as to where all the green M&Ms came from :) Speaking of sugar...I've decided to not eat sugar. Don't die of shock ;) It's almost been a week since my companion and I made the resolution. I already feel so much better! We'll see how long this lasts :) What helps the most is not having it around our apartment. We buy lots of fruits and vegetables. I realize some members will insist on dessert so I'll have to eat it to be polite ;) But I have heard that if you eat sugar, it's best to eat it with a meal rather than by itself. Anyone else want to join in this challenge? ;) Alison also sent me a greenie note, but hers had a different kind of green in it :) Money!! Shoutout to Aunt Alison :) Love you!!

 

Well, I think that's just about all for now. If you have any specific questions about the area that I didn't cover, feel free to ask! I try to find time to answer them ;)

Love you all!

 

Love,

 

Sister King

Holiday Week

Dear Family and Friends,

 

The work this week was rather slow with it being the 4th of July. Members were out of town as well as many of our potentials and investigators. We were still able to keep busy visiting less-actives though. We're getting excited for the ward picnic in the park this week and have challenged many members to visit specific potentials/investigators as well as other friends they know. We were able to remember to ask for referrals and are reaping the rewards from that. We're continuing to plan and prepare for the Robinhood festival and have faith that our efforts will pay off in the finding aspect. We had a great fast Sunday with many meetings. Our stress level is a little bit lower now that the ward is more on board with us. The ward mission leader is contacting active families this week to find us opportunities to refine our teaching skills since the work is slow right now. We look forward to a busy week ahead of us!

 

For the 4th of July my companion and I went to a barbeque with a family in our ward. We played Monopoly Mega with some nonmembers. Afterwards, we went to Mormon Lane (A street with numerous members living on it) to watch fireworks. It was fun but also weird to take a break from the work and sit around talking for such a long time. While holidays are good, my companion and I are happy to be immersed in the work again.   

I've been learning a lot about agency recently and have strived harder to choose to give away all my stress, worries, negative emotions, and inadequacies to Christ. I am so grateful for the enabling power of the Atonement. The fact that it IS the most important thing is reinforced every day. If you think about it, we're really here to learn how to control our agency. Every choice we make impacts who we are becoming. When we neglect to read our scriptures because we didn't 'have time,' we are choosing not to make time. I challenge/urge/exhort/invite/encourage you to read your scriptures more dilligently, especially the Book of Mormon. For district meeting we memorized the last two paragraphs of the introduction. So powerful. I love the Book of Mormon. My companion and I were talking about it the other day and she said: "Praying to know if the Book of Mormon is true is like asking someone if their biography is correct." I thought that was a neat way to look at it.

I love you all!

 

Until next week,

Sister King