Here it is the end of the month, and HOLY CRAP August has been a busy month! I moved out, Carter came home from his mission (nice to have ya back, kid!), Ben moved to Happy Valley (not the happiest part, of course... He is a Utah boy!), and tonight we're going to be getting together to watch Ben open his mission call. Yup... It's been QUITE the month!
So today I was in the math building at school to drop something off, and since nature was calling, I walked into the old bathroom. Now, a little background - my previous 3 semesters at WSU, I spent almost ALL my time in that math building, because I was studying with friends and just trying to make it through all my math classes. So this bathroom was used quite frequently by me during those 3 semesters. However, as I walked into the bathroom, the first (and probably only...) memory that came to mind was one of my "I know that God knows and loves me!" moments. Please allow me to elaborate.
It was my first semester taking math classes at the college level since my senior year of high school, and one of my classes was Calc 2. I was SUPER nervous about taking all these math classes, but had felt like it was what I was supposed to be doing. However, after I took the first test in my calc class, I realized pretty dang quick that it was going to be a heck of a lot harder than I could've ever imagined! I took my first test, and although I had felt good about it, the next class period my score was in the range of a nice F. Never before in my life had I ever gotten an F before! So then I started freaking out, wondering if math really was what God intended for me to do, or if I should just take the easy way out and do PE. After talking to a few people, I decided to take the class until our 2nd test had been given. If I failed that 2nd test, then I would have to drop the class and find some other subject that I would want to teach.
The days leading up to that test, I worked harder than I'd had to do for the previous 3 semesters I'd already been in college. It was like getting ready for the AP tests all over again! haha. But I worked hard, and came in feeling confident about that test - until I opened it and realized that I had no idea what most of it was talking about. And that was that - pure and utter defeat in the face of adversity. Obviously this wasn't what I should be doing, I'm not smart enough for this kind of stuff, and gosh dangit I'd be a FAR better PE coach than math teacher anyways. Then, suddenly, I got a little burst of energy, and decided to just do the best I could on the test. So I did. But don't worry, the bathroom part IS coming in soon...
The next class period, I came early. I sat at the back of the room (my usual seat), and fretted about having to switch all my plans around. I was nervous, I was anxious, and my hands wouldn't stop shaking or sweating. Finally, I decided that I needed to say another prayer to Heavenly Father, asking Him to direct me in what He wanted me to do, and to do so through my score of this test. I walked into that old, stinky bathroom, and I went into my own personal stall and said a very intense, faith-filled prayer. Then I went out to see what the rest of my life was going to consist of.
Long story short, a few minutes later I returned to that bathroom with tears in my eyes so that I could say another prayer to my Heavenly Father, but this time full of gratitude. Now Heavenly Father had truly affirmed what He wanted from me. That test was my highest scoring test that I EVER got on a math test at Weber. The Holy Ghost testified to me, through that experience, that this was EXACTLY what my loving Father in Heaven had in mind for me, and to keep working hard... He would be helping me through the entire group of courses that I'd be taking in the math core. And after 3 semesters of hell that I had to endure in the math core, I can testify today that He kept His promise. He was there with me every step of the way, and I'm so grateful for it!
This is just one of many hundreds of stories I could tell about knowing and feeling God's love for me. Maybe you could tell about one of yours on your blog? Or at least write it down in your journal. These experiences happen to strengthen and help our testimonies continue to grow and flourish, and they need to be written down so we don't forget them!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Why do YOU work out?
So I made my brother get out of bed early this morning to go to the gym with me and help me with a few new exercises to help my workouts be more productive. It was a HARD WORKOUT (I still can't go down stairs without my legs buckling...), and a great experience (the kid has no idea that a guy his size can carry A LOT more weight than a flabby girl my size...), and I definitely feel like we bonded :)
I've gone to the gym quite a bit this summer (that means like once, twice, or maybe, MAYBE 3 times a week... but hey, that's good for me!), and I was thinking today, why do I do that? Why do I go to the gym? Then the answer came loud and clear to me... I go to the gym so that I can eat.
I know everyone is different, and everyone has their own reasons for doing things. Working out is just another one of those things. People have their excuses for not going to the gym just as much as they do for going. I thought it was funny, as I was thinking about this, that most people's response to this question would probably be something like "Because I wanna look hot in my swimsuit" or "Because I wanna lose weight," or the best answer of all, "Because I feel good after I work out." Now, I'm not demeaning any of these responses - on the contrary, each of these answers is totally and completely applicable to the person saying it. So why am I different?
Well, let's start with the fact that I LOVE LOVE LOVE food! I just love eating... It's one of those things that I will do until I'm sick. I mean, I've gotten better the last few years at not over-eating, but it still happens. And probably always will. So, in order to still feel good about myself and at least feel like I'm trying to "look good" in that swimsuit, I am given 2 choices: 1) Don't eat as much, or 2) Work out as much as you can. Would I EVER choose choice #1? NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS. Therefore, I work out. Not a lot, mind you, but enough to feel like I'm at least trying to control myself.
Oh, by the way... I ate Indonesian food tonight, and it was DELICIOUS! Haha... That's why I wanted to have an extra good workout this morning - I knew I'd be overeating later that night. Gotta love it! :P
I've gone to the gym quite a bit this summer (that means like once, twice, or maybe, MAYBE 3 times a week... but hey, that's good for me!), and I was thinking today, why do I do that? Why do I go to the gym? Then the answer came loud and clear to me... I go to the gym so that I can eat.
I know everyone is different, and everyone has their own reasons for doing things. Working out is just another one of those things. People have their excuses for not going to the gym just as much as they do for going. I thought it was funny, as I was thinking about this, that most people's response to this question would probably be something like "Because I wanna look hot in my swimsuit" or "Because I wanna lose weight," or the best answer of all, "Because I feel good after I work out." Now, I'm not demeaning any of these responses - on the contrary, each of these answers is totally and completely applicable to the person saying it. So why am I different?
Well, let's start with the fact that I LOVE LOVE LOVE food! I just love eating... It's one of those things that I will do until I'm sick. I mean, I've gotten better the last few years at not over-eating, but it still happens. And probably always will. So, in order to still feel good about myself and at least feel like I'm trying to "look good" in that swimsuit, I am given 2 choices: 1) Don't eat as much, or 2) Work out as much as you can. Would I EVER choose choice #1? NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS. Therefore, I work out. Not a lot, mind you, but enough to feel like I'm at least trying to control myself.
Oh, by the way... I ate Indonesian food tonight, and it was DELICIOUS! Haha... That's why I wanted to have an extra good workout this morning - I knew I'd be overeating later that night. Gotta love it! :P
Sunday, July 31, 2011
A good day at church
So WOW! The blogger in me is definitely coming out, because since Friday I've been thinking about what to write next on here, and how to formulate it perfectly so it's entertaining and interesting to read. Man alive... This whole blogging thing could have been a very, VERY bad idea :)
So this last month has been a not-so-easy month for me (for reasons not needed to be discussed, just believe me), but as I've been trying to have a better attitude this last week about life, God's plan for me, and being optimistic, positive, faithful and hopeful, I walked into church today. A usual activity for a nice, Sunday afternoon, but today was a little different. Because I felt like every single lesson was FORMULATED just for ME. Have you ever had that feeling? I've had one, MAYBE two lessons out of the three, but this was the first time it was all three.
Relief Society: So Bro. Moritsen taught the lesson today, and he used Elder Neal A. Maxwell's talk, "Lest Ye Be Wearied and Faint in Your Minds" which was FANTASTIC! My mom actually sent me this great quote from that talk about 3 months into my mission about how we HAVE to go through the bad things in life to know what Christ went through and be worthy to live with Him and Heavenly Father... Anyways, it was a quote that helped me MANY TIMES during my mission. So it was a lesson about what we need to do to get through all those difficult times, and it was EXACTLY what I needed after being a bit of a pessimist this last month. So now I'm going to be better at being positive, and looking for the good in things!
Sunday School: Here we talked about having a meaningful scripture study... not just reading to say you've read it, but to actually STUDY what you're reading. This is something I'm REALLY not that good at (never have been... even on the mission...), cuz I'm good at reading, pondering a bit, then moving on. I don't use a lot of footnotes cuz I don't think many of them apply like you hope they will (especially in explaining words I don't understand...), BUT I was chastised today, and I'm going to do better! I need to start spending more time and attention on the scriptures. One quote that stuck out to me was about how scripture study will increase your faith and drive to become better ... something that I need a lot. I mean, I have a drive to BECOME better, but then I face temptation, and fall. Horribly. So scripture study will help me resist those temptations and soar higher! I felt the truthfulness of that statement as I read and pondered it, and I know this is something that I need to do for myself.
Sacrament: So this was a GREAT topic, however 3 different talks about it made the meeting a little long. BUT the topic was on controlling our anger, which would then help us control everything else better. I must admit, my anger for the last few weeks has been pretty high... Almost to the point of boiling actually, a few times. But, again... We look for opportunities to serve and find the good in people, and that anger will be easier to control.
It was a great day at church! Definitely answers to prayers :)And THAT is how I know I have a loving Heavenly Father who has a plan for me, and is helping me chug along to continue on with it!
So this last month has been a not-so-easy month for me (for reasons not needed to be discussed, just believe me), but as I've been trying to have a better attitude this last week about life, God's plan for me, and being optimistic, positive, faithful and hopeful, I walked into church today. A usual activity for a nice, Sunday afternoon, but today was a little different. Because I felt like every single lesson was FORMULATED just for ME. Have you ever had that feeling? I've had one, MAYBE two lessons out of the three, but this was the first time it was all three.
Relief Society: So Bro. Moritsen taught the lesson today, and he used Elder Neal A. Maxwell's talk, "Lest Ye Be Wearied and Faint in Your Minds" which was FANTASTIC! My mom actually sent me this great quote from that talk about 3 months into my mission about how we HAVE to go through the bad things in life to know what Christ went through and be worthy to live with Him and Heavenly Father... Anyways, it was a quote that helped me MANY TIMES during my mission. So it was a lesson about what we need to do to get through all those difficult times, and it was EXACTLY what I needed after being a bit of a pessimist this last month. So now I'm going to be better at being positive, and looking for the good in things!
Sunday School: Here we talked about having a meaningful scripture study... not just reading to say you've read it, but to actually STUDY what you're reading. This is something I'm REALLY not that good at (never have been... even on the mission...), cuz I'm good at reading, pondering a bit, then moving on. I don't use a lot of footnotes cuz I don't think many of them apply like you hope they will (especially in explaining words I don't understand...), BUT I was chastised today, and I'm going to do better! I need to start spending more time and attention on the scriptures. One quote that stuck out to me was about how scripture study will increase your faith and drive to become better ... something that I need a lot. I mean, I have a drive to BECOME better, but then I face temptation, and fall. Horribly. So scripture study will help me resist those temptations and soar higher! I felt the truthfulness of that statement as I read and pondered it, and I know this is something that I need to do for myself.
Sacrament: So this was a GREAT topic, however 3 different talks about it made the meeting a little long. BUT the topic was on controlling our anger, which would then help us control everything else better. I must admit, my anger for the last few weeks has been pretty high... Almost to the point of boiling actually, a few times. But, again... We look for opportunities to serve and find the good in people, and that anger will be easier to control.
It was a great day at church! Definitely answers to prayers :)And THAT is how I know I have a loving Heavenly Father who has a plan for me, and is helping me chug along to continue on with it!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Random Thoughts to Start....
So I've been home from Indonesia now for almost 5 months. Long time, huh? It's crazy. Since then, though, I've talked to my sister and best friend a few times about blogging, and decided that I should keep up with it for 2 reasons... 1) It might be a good way to write out my thoughts and stay updated with friends and family, and 2) the Prophets have said that we should use technology to share our testimonies and do some good. So, my main focus will be on number 1, but I'm hoping that I'll be able to incorporate number 2 quite a bit. So... Here goes my very own first blog EVER!
MOVING OUT: So I'm moving to Bountiful in 2 weeks, and I hate how much work goes into moving ... Too many things to sign, fill out, and PAY. My poor bank account is already so sad looking, but I know it's only gonna get worse as the year progresses. However, I'm SOOOO excited to be moving in with such great people! My cousin Connie has always been such a great friend to me, and someone that I always wanna be around. It'll be kinda weird to be around her almost 24/7, since we usually only see each other about 2-4 times a year, but it's definitely a change I'm excited for! Emily Richardson has been a good friend since junior high, and we lived together down at Snow when I was down there. She was always a role model for me, because she's such a good person who helps me want to be better ... but in a very down to earth way. And Liz Richardson is Em's little sister, who I coached my first year at Davis, and I totally love to death. I'm gonna be with a bunch of great girls who I'm hoping to learn a lot from.
Summer Classes: So this summer, I had to take a class so that I can graduate by next spring. It's a writing class. With an AWESOME teacher. Sure... I had assignments, I had books to read, I had to go to class almost every week... But the great thing about this summer class was how CHILL the teacher was. He wanted everyone to get an A, and he said everyone would, just as long as we showed up and did all the assignments (notice that there is no ON TIME added at the end of this sentence). So although my dad has gotten on me a few times for not being more motivated with this class, and waiting so long to get my final paper done (which is AWESOME btw if you're interested in WWII and Indonesia....), but that's what great about my class. I don't believe I could've spent my $800 on a better class :)
Fall Classes: And that leads us to the new school year starting in less than a month. CRAZY! I've got a full semester of education classes coming up... and did I mention that I got a SWEET grant and scholarship that is paying for it all? Thank heavens... There's no way I'd be able to pay for school and be able to live away from home without it. Thanks again, Obama!
YouTube video of the week: So I had a friend post this on FB the other day, and it has had me laughing ever since! I wish I was vocal as this little lady about what I want... haha. Then again, if I ever was, I'd probably only get the same response she did. Haha, either way... HILARIOUS.
I should add that I had my mom watch this, and the first thing she said was, "That is awful that the mother is egging this on." Is it bad that I know I'll do stuff like this all the time when I'm a mom?
MOVING OUT: So I'm moving to Bountiful in 2 weeks, and I hate how much work goes into moving ... Too many things to sign, fill out, and PAY. My poor bank account is already so sad looking, but I know it's only gonna get worse as the year progresses. However, I'm SOOOO excited to be moving in with such great people! My cousin Connie has always been such a great friend to me, and someone that I always wanna be around. It'll be kinda weird to be around her almost 24/7, since we usually only see each other about 2-4 times a year, but it's definitely a change I'm excited for! Emily Richardson has been a good friend since junior high, and we lived together down at Snow when I was down there. She was always a role model for me, because she's such a good person who helps me want to be better ... but in a very down to earth way. And Liz Richardson is Em's little sister, who I coached my first year at Davis, and I totally love to death. I'm gonna be with a bunch of great girls who I'm hoping to learn a lot from.
Summer Classes: So this summer, I had to take a class so that I can graduate by next spring. It's a writing class. With an AWESOME teacher. Sure... I had assignments, I had books to read, I had to go to class almost every week... But the great thing about this summer class was how CHILL the teacher was. He wanted everyone to get an A, and he said everyone would, just as long as we showed up and did all the assignments (notice that there is no ON TIME added at the end of this sentence). So although my dad has gotten on me a few times for not being more motivated with this class, and waiting so long to get my final paper done (which is AWESOME btw if you're interested in WWII and Indonesia....), but that's what great about my class. I don't believe I could've spent my $800 on a better class :)
Fall Classes: And that leads us to the new school year starting in less than a month. CRAZY! I've got a full semester of education classes coming up... and did I mention that I got a SWEET grant and scholarship that is paying for it all? Thank heavens... There's no way I'd be able to pay for school and be able to live away from home without it. Thanks again, Obama!
YouTube video of the week: So I had a friend post this on FB the other day, and it has had me laughing ever since! I wish I was vocal as this little lady about what I want... haha. Then again, if I ever was, I'd probably only get the same response she did. Haha, either way... HILARIOUS.
I should add that I had my mom watch this, and the first thing she said was, "That is awful that the mother is egging this on." Is it bad that I know I'll do stuff like this all the time when I'm a mom?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
hee hee....ia, saya pasti agak TRUNKY sekarang.... :P
well...i don't have much time cuz i took it all making sure we're set for next week, but in short, this last week has been pretty good.... we had goals as a district, and last week i said i was sick of us having goals but then never really trying to accomplish them, so this week if we all reached them, i'd take us out for lunch....i can honestly say that we all worked a lot harder this week, and we all reached the goals, and so friday we're going out to eat as a district. YAY!!! we had to get 2 new investigators, 2 lessons with a member, and find a new place or way to proselyte. it was good.
sister indira or effendi has been SOOO great this last week...i see a whole new light in her now that's she's decided to come back to church. she came on sunday, sat with the members, then after church hung around with them and ate lunch together....she's also been trying to help her family get more involved, inviting them to different activities and coming herself (she came to english class on thursday with her youngest son who came to my elementary class). she's so awesome....i seriously have come to love her SOOO much, and wish i could stay here as a regular member just to help her stay strong...but i guess i'll hafta do that from afar.
one of our new investigators was yesterday, and woman and her husband (who actually just happened to come home when we were talking about joseph smith). we had a nice (haha....) conversation about prophets, and the husband agreed to read the book, and decide for himself if the "fruits" of joseph smith prove him to be a prophet of God or not. with so many of our investigators, they don't go anywhere with the gospel (the interest level just IS NOT there...), but i love them all, and they love me too...which makes it hard when i wanna talk about the gospel, and they switch right back to obama....ya. i'm pretty sick of obama. but that's what's hard about leaving... i feel like all i've given them is a few minutes to talk to a bule....but what they really need is KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE RESTORED GOSPEL!!! ya...mom and dad, you'll see what i mean later.
we FINALLY met with vivi again, and i have some worries with her...not exactly with her testimony, just with how things are at home. i know it's hard for her to live with her mother-in-law, and that sometimes makes it hard for her to really want to focus on learning (she wants to learn for herself, not her m-i-l). but mom n dad, you'll meet her yourselves too. her stomach looks like kel's :)
bro paulus was a bit of joke last week. we had a member come with us to discuss the WofW, but as soon as we started talking about it, he came up with all kinds of reasons why that WASN'T something that jesus REQUIRED from us. it was a super hard lesson, especially cuz my comp "lost the spirit" and refused to say anything the whole time, so it was just me trying to help him. i dunno how much longer missionaries can work with him if he has an attitude like that...which i plan on telling him this week.
saturday is homemaking, and i'm gonna teach how to make caramel :) hopefully it goes well. sunday, i'm "allowed" to go to sacrament, but then i hafta go straight to the airport to go to jakarta....and that's that. tuesday you'll be here, and this dream of mine for the last 1 1/2 years will be over....the dream i NEVER thought i'd dream. so many friends, so many experiences, so much joy, so much pain, so much growth....so much a better person. how does God do it? we think this time we give to Him is so much, but by the end, we're the ones begging for more time, for more growth....because we haven't quite become the person we want to ... there's still so much more growth needed! and yet...when all is said and done, we are what we have become, we are what we have allowed Him to shape us to become....and then the real test starts. the test of, "can you keep this up in the REAL world, where you DON'T wear a nametag and carry around the white handbook and have someone checking on your every move?" i remember elder holland talking in the MTC, pounding on the pulpit and into my heart that "YOU CANNOT COME HOME THE SAME PERSON YOU LEFT! IF YOU DO, THEN YOUR MISSION HAS FAILED!" well...i'm not the same person, so i guess that means my mission has been a success. i'm so grateful for it. for anyone pushing aside this opportunity, DON'T. it will be the best decision you'll ever make. there is nothing that will compare to the time you give to the Lord, there is nothing that will compare to the blessings you recieve, and there is NOTHING that will compare to joy you feel. SERVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, MIGHT, MIND AND STRENGTH, AND YOU WILL COME OFF CONQUORER! (is that a scripture? i know the first part is, but i think i made up the last part.... :P).
and that's that. peace out my friends and family.... i'll be seeing ya'll soon. dalam nama Yesus Kristus, AMIN!
~Sister Sara Hewlett
Indonesia Jakarta Mission, 2009-2011
sister indira or effendi has been SOOO great this last week...i see a whole new light in her now that's she's decided to come back to church. she came on sunday, sat with the members, then after church hung around with them and ate lunch together....she's also been trying to help her family get more involved, inviting them to different activities and coming herself (she came to english class on thursday with her youngest son who came to my elementary class). she's so awesome....i seriously have come to love her SOOO much, and wish i could stay here as a regular member just to help her stay strong...but i guess i'll hafta do that from afar.
one of our new investigators was yesterday, and woman and her husband (who actually just happened to come home when we were talking about joseph smith). we had a nice (haha....) conversation about prophets, and the husband agreed to read the book, and decide for himself if the "fruits" of joseph smith prove him to be a prophet of God or not. with so many of our investigators, they don't go anywhere with the gospel (the interest level just IS NOT there...), but i love them all, and they love me too...which makes it hard when i wanna talk about the gospel, and they switch right back to obama....ya. i'm pretty sick of obama. but that's what's hard about leaving... i feel like all i've given them is a few minutes to talk to a bule....but what they really need is KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE RESTORED GOSPEL!!! ya...mom and dad, you'll see what i mean later.
we FINALLY met with vivi again, and i have some worries with her...not exactly with her testimony, just with how things are at home. i know it's hard for her to live with her mother-in-law, and that sometimes makes it hard for her to really want to focus on learning (she wants to learn for herself, not her m-i-l). but mom n dad, you'll meet her yourselves too. her stomach looks like kel's :)
bro paulus was a bit of joke last week. we had a member come with us to discuss the WofW, but as soon as we started talking about it, he came up with all kinds of reasons why that WASN'T something that jesus REQUIRED from us. it was a super hard lesson, especially cuz my comp "lost the spirit" and refused to say anything the whole time, so it was just me trying to help him. i dunno how much longer missionaries can work with him if he has an attitude like that...which i plan on telling him this week.
saturday is homemaking, and i'm gonna teach how to make caramel :) hopefully it goes well. sunday, i'm "allowed" to go to sacrament, but then i hafta go straight to the airport to go to jakarta....and that's that. tuesday you'll be here, and this dream of mine for the last 1 1/2 years will be over....the dream i NEVER thought i'd dream. so many friends, so many experiences, so much joy, so much pain, so much growth....so much a better person. how does God do it? we think this time we give to Him is so much, but by the end, we're the ones begging for more time, for more growth....because we haven't quite become the person we want to ... there's still so much more growth needed! and yet...when all is said and done, we are what we have become, we are what we have allowed Him to shape us to become....and then the real test starts. the test of, "can you keep this up in the REAL world, where you DON'T wear a nametag and carry around the white handbook and have someone checking on your every move?" i remember elder holland talking in the MTC, pounding on the pulpit and into my heart that "YOU CANNOT COME HOME THE SAME PERSON YOU LEFT! IF YOU DO, THEN YOUR MISSION HAS FAILED!" well...i'm not the same person, so i guess that means my mission has been a success. i'm so grateful for it. for anyone pushing aside this opportunity, DON'T. it will be the best decision you'll ever make. there is nothing that will compare to the time you give to the Lord, there is nothing that will compare to the blessings you recieve, and there is NOTHING that will compare to joy you feel. SERVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, MIGHT, MIND AND STRENGTH, AND YOU WILL COME OFF CONQUORER! (is that a scripture? i know the first part is, but i think i made up the last part.... :P).
and that's that. peace out my friends and family.... i'll be seeing ya'll soon. dalam nama Yesus Kristus, AMIN!
~Sister Sara Hewlett
Indonesia Jakarta Mission, 2009-2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
astajin! waktunya hampir habis...
another week has come and gone...and holy crap, time really is just totally flying here. i have moments where i get all trunky and ready to go home asap, but then i meet with investigators or inactive members, and i think, "how can i leave you?" i also went shopping today, and again thought, "how can i leave this place? the prices are just TOO good!" haha...as long as i have an american wage coming into my bank account :P it's been a bit of a roller coaster week.
so i'm really realizing how many problems this world creates for members of the church...well, for people in general, but because of the knowledge we have, i think it means a LOT more to us....ok...so the wording in this is kinda awkward, but hopefully you know what i mean. last week we visited one member whose son dropped out of college and just sits at home all day until his gf calls and picks him up, and he lives off her, and the mom is so stressed cuz they can hardly afford food much less their rent....and yet she has a perfectly capable son who is too lazy to work. her and her husband work hard, but they are VERY humble people, and if you would add in a 3rd income, it would help them a ton. so she was crying about that while we were there, and my heart just broke for her...i wanted to help, but how do you change someone who doesn't wanna be changed? you can't. so we just tried to help her the best we knew how....
then there's another member whose son has ditched school for the last 20 days....each of those days, she thought he was at school, cuz he'd leave for school in his school uniform, then come home around the usual time, and she had no idea til the principal called and started telling erik (the son) that if he kept up like this, he was a shame to Christianity, which made sis Indira just cry harder...now i'm working with him, trying to catch up on his english and math that he's missed so he can graduate his grade this year...and all because he was ashamed (holy crap my english is so bad...its malu in indonesian, but it has so dang many meanings in english i forget which one is best here!) because he didn't have books, but he was too shy to ask his mom for money to buy the books....but now it's all out in the open, and i think it's actually been good cuz it's really waken up his mom, who isn't active, and now she's decided to come back to church. she sent me a text this morning about how she usually wakes up and cooks breakfast and is just go-go-go all morning long, but this morning she woke up, prayed, felt really peaceful, then read from the scriptures which only helped, and then when her husband was getting ready to go to work, she asked him if he wanted to pray first, and he actually wanted to! so they prayed together for the first time in a LONG time. i got her text, and i literally screamed a little, and threw the phone to sari, saying READ IT, READ IT! haha. i was SOOO happy when i heard that. she's been away from the Lord for too long, and now her kids are getting to the age where she's REALLY gonna feel that. and she knows it. so now she's working to change it.
then ANOTHER inactive member has 5 kids under the age of 15, and we went to her house and SHE started crying because she gets no help from them, and she's basically a single mother (her husband is on another island working, and rarely gets time off to come home) with her own bread business that keeps her cooking and delivering ALL day, then she has to pick up and drop off her kids, and she was just EXHAUSTED. i felt so bad. her 2 oldest kids don't have the best of friends, and she never believes anything they say, she tries to help them but she says its just gotten to the point that she's better off not thinking at all, cuz if she thinks she just worries and then she can't take care of the younger 3....ugh. it's just a tough situation, with no help.
so then, the other day we were talking about the members in the branch, and how if they would help visit inactives, show they care, have a little Christlike love, a lot of our problems and worries as missionaries wouldn't be there cuz the members would take care of it. but they don't do ANY visits, so we have to deal with everything, and it's just ridiculous. this week, i actually wanna meet with the branch presidency and district president to discuss how to help us as missionaries....we spend so much time visiting inactives that go no where that sometimes it all just feels like it's for nothing. even if they do come to church once, they don't have any members that befriend them, so then they don't wanna come again. it's just....ya, a sad situation.
bro paulus was in charge of the activity for the priesthood quorum yesterday, and that just added to my frustration with the branch... he had a few people come and talk to him, but for the most part it was me and sari. THEN, before all the food was ready to go, everyone left to go play soccer....literally, EVERYONE, without any explanation. and we were all left wondering what was going on, and i don't think he was too impressed with it at all. not to mention that the new members (bro jon and sis pegi from sis rhondeau) were with the missionaries the whole time as well, cuz they have no friends in the branch either. it's just hard...no one even really TRIES to talk to anyone they don't know. i understand how they feel, but...at the same time, TALK! sometimes i think about getting a Temple here, and i think, if the work keeps going like this, it's NEVER gonna happen. anyone who joins immediately goes inactive, and then what? no progression. so ya...sorry, i've been pretty worked up about this the last few days.
we did get a new investigator this week who seems pretty cool. we're meeting again saturday. i told sari i think that was the best first lesson i'd ever been apart of. it was pretty good, and he had a lot of really good questions. hopefully he keeps the interest :)
anywho...this week i've been reading about Moses in the Old Testament, and it's funny how i've seen all the movies and stuff, but never actually read it all...it comes together a lot better if you read it :)
and that's my week...i love you all so much! ben, clean my car for me...and my room....and make sure my phone is still in good condition. cuz baby.....you're only getting one more email from me :P haha, loves!~
~Sister Sara
so i'm really realizing how many problems this world creates for members of the church...well, for people in general, but because of the knowledge we have, i think it means a LOT more to us....ok...so the wording in this is kinda awkward, but hopefully you know what i mean. last week we visited one member whose son dropped out of college and just sits at home all day until his gf calls and picks him up, and he lives off her, and the mom is so stressed cuz they can hardly afford food much less their rent....and yet she has a perfectly capable son who is too lazy to work. her and her husband work hard, but they are VERY humble people, and if you would add in a 3rd income, it would help them a ton. so she was crying about that while we were there, and my heart just broke for her...i wanted to help, but how do you change someone who doesn't wanna be changed? you can't. so we just tried to help her the best we knew how....
then there's another member whose son has ditched school for the last 20 days....each of those days, she thought he was at school, cuz he'd leave for school in his school uniform, then come home around the usual time, and she had no idea til the principal called and started telling erik (the son) that if he kept up like this, he was a shame to Christianity, which made sis Indira just cry harder...now i'm working with him, trying to catch up on his english and math that he's missed so he can graduate his grade this year...and all because he was ashamed (holy crap my english is so bad...its malu in indonesian, but it has so dang many meanings in english i forget which one is best here!) because he didn't have books, but he was too shy to ask his mom for money to buy the books....but now it's all out in the open, and i think it's actually been good cuz it's really waken up his mom, who isn't active, and now she's decided to come back to church. she sent me a text this morning about how she usually wakes up and cooks breakfast and is just go-go-go all morning long, but this morning she woke up, prayed, felt really peaceful, then read from the scriptures which only helped, and then when her husband was getting ready to go to work, she asked him if he wanted to pray first, and he actually wanted to! so they prayed together for the first time in a LONG time. i got her text, and i literally screamed a little, and threw the phone to sari, saying READ IT, READ IT! haha. i was SOOO happy when i heard that. she's been away from the Lord for too long, and now her kids are getting to the age where she's REALLY gonna feel that. and she knows it. so now she's working to change it.
then ANOTHER inactive member has 5 kids under the age of 15, and we went to her house and SHE started crying because she gets no help from them, and she's basically a single mother (her husband is on another island working, and rarely gets time off to come home) with her own bread business that keeps her cooking and delivering ALL day, then she has to pick up and drop off her kids, and she was just EXHAUSTED. i felt so bad. her 2 oldest kids don't have the best of friends, and she never believes anything they say, she tries to help them but she says its just gotten to the point that she's better off not thinking at all, cuz if she thinks she just worries and then she can't take care of the younger 3....ugh. it's just a tough situation, with no help.
so then, the other day we were talking about the members in the branch, and how if they would help visit inactives, show they care, have a little Christlike love, a lot of our problems and worries as missionaries wouldn't be there cuz the members would take care of it. but they don't do ANY visits, so we have to deal with everything, and it's just ridiculous. this week, i actually wanna meet with the branch presidency and district president to discuss how to help us as missionaries....we spend so much time visiting inactives that go no where that sometimes it all just feels like it's for nothing. even if they do come to church once, they don't have any members that befriend them, so then they don't wanna come again. it's just....ya, a sad situation.
bro paulus was in charge of the activity for the priesthood quorum yesterday, and that just added to my frustration with the branch... he had a few people come and talk to him, but for the most part it was me and sari. THEN, before all the food was ready to go, everyone left to go play soccer....literally, EVERYONE, without any explanation. and we were all left wondering what was going on, and i don't think he was too impressed with it at all. not to mention that the new members (bro jon and sis pegi from sis rhondeau) were with the missionaries the whole time as well, cuz they have no friends in the branch either. it's just hard...no one even really TRIES to talk to anyone they don't know. i understand how they feel, but...at the same time, TALK! sometimes i think about getting a Temple here, and i think, if the work keeps going like this, it's NEVER gonna happen. anyone who joins immediately goes inactive, and then what? no progression. so ya...sorry, i've been pretty worked up about this the last few days.
we did get a new investigator this week who seems pretty cool. we're meeting again saturday. i told sari i think that was the best first lesson i'd ever been apart of. it was pretty good, and he had a lot of really good questions. hopefully he keeps the interest :)
anywho...this week i've been reading about Moses in the Old Testament, and it's funny how i've seen all the movies and stuff, but never actually read it all...it comes together a lot better if you read it :)
and that's my week...i love you all so much! ben, clean my car for me...and my room....and make sure my phone is still in good condition. cuz baby.....you're only getting one more email from me :P haha, loves!~
~Sister Sara
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
waktunya GILA!!! hampir sampai....
holy crap, another week has come and gone...and yet klapten feels like a month ago, haha. we went to klapten, which is in between solo and jogja, and sis sari got to be with her family, even though her immediate family had all already gone home. i think it was good for her, and especially good for her family to see her, to meet me,and to get a TINY feel for what she's doing. she doesn't say much to them,mostly cuz they just don't care and don't really listen, so it was kinda weird for me...oh, and btw, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE A FUNCTIONAL FAMILY AND TO BE SEALED IN THE TEMPLE AND HAVE THE BLESSINGS OF THE GOSPEL IN OUR FAMILY! her family is seriously...quite disfunctional. it's pretty ridiculous. there's absolutely no spiritual foundation, which makes it hard for anything else to become a foundation thats good....cuz there is nothing. but it was good for me to get a feel for her life, and why she is the way she is.
this week has been a lot of cancelled appointments, and mostly dealing with members and their problems (loneliness, school, money, etc)...i'm not gonna lie, it's been a bit of a headache since we got back last saturday....but yesterday we did find a potential investigator, and have an appointment to go back to teach (we accidently met (long story for later), and actually wanted to teach yesterday, but the dad wasn't there, so i opted to wait til he'd be there...but then we were gettin ready to go, he showed up and wanted to know what we had to share with them...it was pretty awesome, but time was a huge problem so we made the return appointment).
mom was asking about the investigators from a few weeks back...2 of them have a mom in hong kong who joined, and they're willing to meet and listen,but it's hard to get them to read....and last week they couldn't meet. another couple looked really awesome in the beginning,but now i feel like they're avoiding us...so we'll see what happens (the wife already told us she'd heard rumors about "the mormons")...the other couple was who we wanted to meet with yesterday, but then ended up with their neighbors (the "accidents" above), and the other lady is super far, and we've tried meeting once but she couldn't, and since we just haven't had the time. we've also been meeting with this one lady who's husband died just a few months ago, but she's muslim and doesn't understand ANYTHING, and so it's just super hard to get anything across....and i also feel like she just wants to meet cuz i'ma bule...so that doesn't help much. we've basically just gotta keep finding people....we're on a bit of a dryspell these last few weeks being outta town, but this week we've gotten a few good leads, so i'm hoping next week will especially pick up.
so what have i learned this week? saya punya keras kepala, dan terlalu keras atau diam dengan orang lain sampai mereka marah sama saya. ugh...kampret. haha. translate that :P ya, basically things are getting harder and harder to focus on...i'm really starting to understand the word "trunky" but i'm still working on being focused...it's just hard with other people kinda pushing me to want to go home faster. lol. no worries,nothing huge, just....ya, that feeling of being ready. and yet i still have a few weeks. connie wrote about this feeling...where you feel guilty cuz you wanna go home so bad,but you know you should still wanna serve....haha, at least i have her and megan's experiences so i know i'm not alone. but i just hafta humble myself, and stay focused. that's what i gotta do.....so that's what i'm gonna do.
anywho, thanks for everything, i love you all, i hope all is well, i pray for you all every day,and know that the Lord will protect you! be safe, loves~
~Sister Sara
ps sorry dad.... i sent the letter but forgot to write, happy bday!
this week has been a lot of cancelled appointments, and mostly dealing with members and their problems (loneliness, school, money, etc)...i'm not gonna lie, it's been a bit of a headache since we got back last saturday....but yesterday we did find a potential investigator, and have an appointment to go back to teach (we accidently met (long story for later), and actually wanted to teach yesterday, but the dad wasn't there, so i opted to wait til he'd be there...but then we were gettin ready to go, he showed up and wanted to know what we had to share with them...it was pretty awesome, but time was a huge problem so we made the return appointment).
mom was asking about the investigators from a few weeks back...2 of them have a mom in hong kong who joined, and they're willing to meet and listen,but it's hard to get them to read....and last week they couldn't meet. another couple looked really awesome in the beginning,but now i feel like they're avoiding us...so we'll see what happens (the wife already told us she'd heard rumors about "the mormons")...the other couple was who we wanted to meet with yesterday, but then ended up with their neighbors (the "accidents" above), and the other lady is super far, and we've tried meeting once but she couldn't, and since we just haven't had the time. we've also been meeting with this one lady who's husband died just a few months ago, but she's muslim and doesn't understand ANYTHING, and so it's just super hard to get anything across....and i also feel like she just wants to meet cuz i'ma bule...so that doesn't help much. we've basically just gotta keep finding people....we're on a bit of a dryspell these last few weeks being outta town, but this week we've gotten a few good leads, so i'm hoping next week will especially pick up.
so what have i learned this week? saya punya keras kepala, dan terlalu keras atau diam dengan orang lain sampai mereka marah sama saya. ugh...kampret. haha. translate that :P ya, basically things are getting harder and harder to focus on...i'm really starting to understand the word "trunky" but i'm still working on being focused...it's just hard with other people kinda pushing me to want to go home faster. lol. no worries,nothing huge, just....ya, that feeling of being ready. and yet i still have a few weeks. connie wrote about this feeling...where you feel guilty cuz you wanna go home so bad,but you know you should still wanna serve....haha, at least i have her and megan's experiences so i know i'm not alone. but i just hafta humble myself, and stay focused. that's what i gotta do.....so that's what i'm gonna do.
anywho, thanks for everything, i love you all, i hope all is well, i pray for you all every day,and know that the Lord will protect you! be safe, loves~
~Sister Sara
ps sorry dad.... i sent the letter but forgot to write, happy bday!
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