Well actually it's
Thousand Oaks, but I like to think it is the same thing :) I loved
Pismo Beach, but it is nice to be back down in the southern part of my Mission. Pismo Beach reminded me of my Hawaiian home and Thousand Oaks
reminds me of my Pennsylvania home, so I get the best of both worlds.
The area we live in is called the Canejo Valley (cone-eh-ho) which means
bunny in Spanish. So we live in rabbit valley, thus supporting my
hundred acre wood theory :)
Goodbye and Hello!
We
had transfer meeting this last Tuesday. We had a big group return home after serving their mission
(about 20 missionaries). Sister Clark was one of them and she bore a
really beautiful testimony. (All the missionaries have to when they go home) I know I mentioned it before, but I
am going to miss her even though I am so excited for her to start a new
adventure at home. I hope she is enjoying the snow in Utah ;)
I love my new
companion. She is Sister Boring and as she likes to say no she does not live up to her name:) I think she
is one of the most exciting and happy sisters I have met here. She is so
funny and we laugh all the time. Throughout the day we practice our
Irish and Scottish accents while we work, so it's a lot of good fun :)
We
are also blessed to live with two other Sisters, Sister Brown and Sister Currie. They
are both from the Payson area of Utah. Oh and Sister Boring is also from
Utah (Logan area) but guess where she grew up? Honolulu Hawaii!! We've
bonded over our love for Hawaii, the Laie LDS temple, and the Polynesian
Cultural Center :)
Thousand Oaks 4th Ward
The Ward here is great. I am so thankful. We meet in the giant Stake Center Building. I went there
once for a Zone Conference when I was in Simi Valley. Remember the
church on Mormon Way street? It's that one:) I'll have to take more pictures of
it for you to show you how huge it is. For one thing it has two chapels
and an upstairs and a downstairs. It's very cool.
The Ward was so welcoming
to me for my first Sunday yesterday. They are very sweet and kind. The brother who gave the
opening prayer even prayed for Sister Boring and I by name and blessed
our families for our service :) I felt loved and right at home. The set up
is very similar to Cranberry Ward. Plus there were two Disney Nemo references
made during Sunday School and Relief Society which made my day :)
One was in Sunday
School: Talking about Adam and Eve and how if they stayed in the garden
nothing would have happened and they would have lived there forever.
"I'm not going to let anything happen to him" "You can't not let
anything happen to him or else nothing would happen!"
Relief
Society: Talking about gaining a testimony that the church is true. You
have to do more than just believe what others say. "How do you know?"
"I don't know. I just know, you know?"
*Forgive me if the quotes aren't exact. I blame it on missionary brain :) I can't remember movies as well as I used to... but still see how much good we can learn from all sorts of sources:)
Every Member a Missionary
We
have started going to the members home's and teaching them the
missionary lessons. It is important and helpful for them to know and
understand the things we teach to our investigators.
We have received a
lot of positive feedback from the members about it. After we teach they
have more excitement to share what they know with their friends. We have
been explaining how easy it is to share a simple testimony and to
invite others to learn more. We've told them that even though we do this
everyday, we aren't perfect and we also are scared at times to share
the gospel. (although we do our best to hide it!) But as we rely on the
Spirit our mouths are filled and the Lord guides us in what we should
do. We will all draw closer to each other and to the Lord as we do so.
I
really love the push to work more with the members! I know that as we do this,
'the work will continue to hasten.'
Now is the Time
I was reading Elder Ballard's talk
this morning 'Put Your Trust in the Lord.' In his talk he quoted
President Monson who said "Now is the time for members and missionaries
to come together and labor in the Lord's vineyard to bring souls unto
Him. He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude
of ways, and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to
fulfill His work". I know that it is inspired that we work more with
the members. It is a team effort!
Elder Ballard also said "When
members view the work of salvation as their responsibility alone, it can
be intimidating. When they view it as an invitation to follow the Lord
in bringing souls unto Him to be taught by the full-time Elders and Sisters, it is inspiring, invigorating, and uplifting!"
Doesn't
that just make you excited?! I invite all of you who are reading this
to share you beliefs with someone this week. As you do so, your own
testimony will be strengthen. And don't worry about what you say. If you
are a more shy person like I am when I am not around familiar people, remember this that Elder Ballard said:
"You don't
have to be an outgoing person or an eloquent, persuasive teacher. If
you have an abiding love and hope within you, the Lord has promised if
you 'lift up your voices unto this people and speak the thoughts that He
shall put into your hearts you shall not be confounded before men. And
it shall be given you in the very moment what ye shall say'"
I am pretty shy with people I do not know well, so if I can do it, you can do it!:)
Love you all lots!
Sister Karissa :)
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