Transfer #5, oh and Happy Easter April 21 2014

Well I am officially staying in Clear Lake 2nd and Armand Bayou YSA branch for another 6 weeks! I am very excited and ready for another transfer!! :) Sister Winger and I still have mighty things to do in this part of the Lords Vineyard.

I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter!! Yesterday was a day filled with the spirit and a huge humbling experience for me. In each of the sacrament meetings I attended there were some every heartfelt testimonies shared about our Savior, Jesus Christ. I could feel the love that he has for each of us. 

I know that Christ lived. He came to earth with a divine mission. Yes He came to set up his church and call apostles. Yes he came to heal the sick and perform miracles. Yes He did marvelous things that we get to read about while he was on the earth, but the only real reason He had to come down and be among us is because He had to perform the Atonement. No other person could bear the sins, sicknesses, and suffering of ever living soul. He was the only one that could do it and therefore he was sent to earth to carry out His Fathers will. 

I know that this happened. I can almost see our Savior in the garden of Gethsemane. I know He went there and that He prayed. He asked our Father if there was any other way, but He told Him that we would do it if it was His Fathers will for Him. He prayed and He felt everything I have gone through and everything I am currently going through. He already has felt all my pains and joys. My disappointments and excitements. He went through all that agony and he feels complete empathy for me. He understands and He just wants to lift me out of that so I don't have to go through it. He has a level of charity and long-suffering that I hope to one day understand, and eventually obtain.

He went through all that and was eventually crucified, by the people. He was rejected and despised for the goodness and truth that He brought the the world. 

Then on the 3rd day He took his life again. He lives and because of that truth He has made a way for all of us to live again. I know that we all will be resurrected. We will all live again and come before our God at the judgement bar, BUT if we want to stay there and live with Him forever we need to do something. 

Alma 42:13-16    13 Therefore, according to justice, the ^aplan of ^bredemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would ^ccease to be God.

 14 And thus we see that all mankind were ^afallen, and they were in the grasp of ^bjustice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence.

 15 And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself ^aatoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of ^bmercy, to appease the demands of ^cjustice, that God might be a ^dperfect, just God,and a ^emerciful God also.  

He asks us to repent!! He performed this marvelous all encompassing Atonement and he turns to us and all he asks is that we "confess and forsake" the things that we do wrong. As we change these things we feel better about ourselves and we understand our divine potential as children of God. 

We repent by stopping the things that are wrong and doing things that are right. Therefore that means that when we read our scriptures, go to church, or pray we are repenting. All of the commandments are ways that we have been given that allow us to be happy and access more of what Christ has already done for us. It is just incredible to think about how much love has gone into this plan our Father in Heaven made. 

I know all of this is true. Jesus Christ lives, so we can live better. 

As I have testified and taught about this wonderful plan this week my testimony has multiplied a million times. I know this is true. I challenge all of you to find out if this really happened and if Christ really is reaching out to you. Ask God in your prayers and He will tell you. 

Happy late Easter! ya know.. everyday is a good day to remember Christ. :) Everyday can be Easter! :)

-Sister Earl

and then some super random photos! yay! 

-interesting bumper sticker, sleeping, white board blessings, exchange with sister Susu, emailing...ya. :) 

Summer is coming April 14, 2014

This week the temperature shot up again and reminded me what my fate will be in the coming months. haah I am getting excited for it! (mainly because I feel like I will be more resilient this year.. but who knows?)

 

This was a good week. Sister Winger and I are working hard and making a difference here in Clear Lake and Armand Bayou. I love these people so much. I have been here for 4 transfers and I really just can't imagine leaving anytime soon, but I guess that next week I will find out what God as in mind for me. (transfers come faster and faster every time)

 

We have a new investigator named Lance who is just one of the coolest finding stories yet. We were walking in an apartment complex one afternoon and we saw these guys moving furniture so we stopped and asked, "Hey do ya'll need any help moving in?" They looked at us funny (two girls in skirts) and so I said, "Well we would love to help, but we can also call some other people if you need it." They laughed at us and just said, "Nah, its alright" So like the conversation always goes we eventually got into the conversation of how we were missionaries and that we share a message with everyone about how the gospel that Christ organized when he was on the earth has been brought back in its entirety. Lance was just so excited to hear this!! He was asking questions and getting more excited with each response. He told us how he has studied religion for a long time in and out of school. He finds it fascinating but has never found a church that he believes is true. While we were talking about the Restoration we told him how the priesthood was restored to Joseph Smith. Immediately his eyes got big and he said, "Wait, the priesthood of Aaron?" haha Yes the priesthood power that Aaron was given from God was restored or brought back to the earth. We talked to him about a lot of things and he would always have the knowledge from the bible to back up what we were saying!! He is very prepared!! Then he said, "Alright, when is our next appointment?!"

We will go back over this Thursday! We are very excited about it :)

Well this next week will be really awesome. We are looking forward to helping more people come closer to our Heavenly Father. It is times when I talk to people like Lance that I think, How many other people are only kept from the truth because they don't know where to find it? I know that this church is true. I know that this is the only church that has the power and authority from God to baptized us unto repentance. It is essential for us to know that for ourselves. I know God answers our prayers and that He really cares about us in our individual circumstances. :)

Never give up, your eternity has just begun!! (yes that was very cheesy, but it is so true!) :)

-Sister Earl

Sister Earl's Email April 7 2014

Well even though I know most of you are expecting this comment I am going to say it anyway..

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED GENERAL CONFERENCE!! :)

There was so many wonderful talks and from them I am able to see what direction God wants me to go from here. I love that we were about to spend 2 days learning about truth! Things that completely and totally matter for everyone. It is so amazing how much God loves his children isn't it? 

I had a lot of favorite talks so I don't really think I can pick my first choice, but I can say that right now I am thinking of Elder Ballards talk on the importance of Persistence and Follow-up. I love the invitations that he extended to each of us. He told us about studying Preach My Gospel and the scriptures then having members and missionaries share what they are learning! I can honestly say I would love to talk about things that you have been learning! When we share the things that we learn they benefit others and help ourselves to be more converted to the gospel. It has given me more of a desire to go out and do this wonderful work and it strengthens me everyday. 

I also really loved President Uchtdorfs talk on Gratitude. I am totally convinced that gratitude really can change everything. I have seen how when I choose to be grateful in whatever circumstance I find myself in that I am so much happier and am able to do so much more good with what I have been given. 

Goodness, I could go on forever, but I guess I will stop there. I cannot wait to get a conference ensign and read the talks again! :) hah

We have been seeing more and more miracles every week. Yesterday we realized that we had not found any new investigators this week. We prayed about it and felt like we could find 2 news on Sunday even with conference. To be honest I was not sure what was going to happen, but yesterday we were able to go with a member to  some of his friends and met a couple (Gloria and John) They were very nice and we were able to teach and we got a return appointment! 2 new investigators and these investigators have member friends already who are willing and excited to help them learn the gospel. 

That was a huge miracle. We didn't plan it out, but we were able to be lead because of our faith. :)

With our Heavenly Father nothing is impossible. :) 

I love all ya'll!

-Sister Earl

Miracle boards March 31 2014

Hey ya'll!

What a fantastic week! I can honestly say that the miracles we are seeing just seem to multiply every single day. I feel so much love from my Heavenly Father I can't even begin to express the feelings that I have for this work. I am just bursting at the seams with gratitude and love for all of these people that I get be around and serve. 

God is making me into someone that I never thought I would start to be. I understand more fully who I am as His daughter and who everyone else is as my brothers and sisters. I feel like I still have so much to learn, but I am excited for the experience. :) 

In order to fully thank God for all of the wonderful things that have been going on we have been taking a couple mins at night to write them on one of our huge white boards in our living room. It has been humbling to see the board explode with names and experiences over the past few weeks. We have had to erase them every week in order to have room for all the blessings! I know that God is blessing us with more because we are realizing how His hand is working in our lives. It is just so wonderful to be a part of. 

We were able to have many lessons this week that were complete miracles. Some in which we were teaching and a random member would just show up and start helping us teach! It was amazing to see as we would open our mouths how God would support our efforts and help us to teach with His power and authority. 

We talked to these two guys standing outside one day only to find out 2 very interesting facts. 1)the lst guy named Lancer had a girlfriend who just moved over here that read the Book of Mormon every night. and 2) Jeff really had been searching for a church that he could go to and feel like it was truly the same church that Christ set up. 

You can only imagine how that conversation went. 

Yep. Miracles! 

Another miracle was when we visited with a less active couple who have smoked for years. They told us straight out that they want to go to the temple and that they needed help to stop smoking and go to church. We have been meeting with them for awhile now and we have talked about the temple. We had asked them to pray about if the temple was somewhere that God wanted them to go and gave them some scriptures. They prayed together and said that they really now understood how important it was to live all the commandments. They said they were blessings and they needed more of that in their lives. It was crazy, but so awesome. They told us how grateful they were for our service and I was just so happy for them I could hardly hold it in. 

Then on Sunday I was talking with some members and 3 or 4 times I was told by different people how much they appreciated my service. It really humbled me and made me feel so grateful that they can recognize the effort I am trying to make. I love bringing everyone closer to God. It brings me so much joy to see others be so happy. I can't even explain the feeling I get when I see less actives come to church or go to the temple. Even when investigators start to see how much God really does love them I can't help but be so grateful. This church is so true it is so crazy that more people don't know about it! It makes me happy and I just wish I could tell everyone how much it means to me. 

Next week we have General Conference and I am sooooo excited!! As one of the missionaries in my district explained.. "It is like the Superbowl for Missionaries." YES only.. even better. :)

Make sure and watch as much as you possibly can! It can only bless you. 

I love all ya'll! 

-Sister Earl

PS (the pictures) I mustache you a question.. Wanna be baptized? You are welcome mom! 

The church is true, meu amigo. :) March 24 2014

Hey ya'll! 

As I look back on this week I can't help but feel the tears of gratitude start to build up behind my eyes. So many blessings are being poured out on Sister Winger and I in our area that I can hardly even believe it all happened!!

First of all I just have to share one of my very personal tender mercies of the Lord. The family is very important to God. He puts us in families so that we can learn and become who He knows we can become. Our earthly families help us to picture and internalize our heavenly family. My earthly family means the world to me. I have an absolutely adorable and hilarious set of parents and then a handful of siblings that all have their very unique and important part to play. I am the oldest in my family, but I have learned so much from each of my siblings that I know they each are very important and special to our Heavenly Father.  

Since I have been on my mission I have felt the ties to my family grow stronger. I know that I can be with them forever and I am excited to bring that knowledge and power to others. I find myself thinking of the quote, "Missionaries leave their families for a time so others can be with theirs for eternity." I feel so much appreciation for this truth.

Anyway, despite how much I know that I will see my family again and I get to be with them for eternity.. I still sometimes miss them. :) My brother this past week left the MTC and flew to Mexico to have his 2 year mission. I knew that me coming on a mission would mean that I could not see my brother for about 3 years or so, but I still was a little sad that I couldn't wish him luck in person as we went out to help people. 

Then a couple weeks ago I get an email saying that he was going to be flying to the Houston airport for a layover before he flew to Mexico! I was so excited!! At first my mission president told me that I would not be able to see him, but on Sunday night of last week I got a text message from President Bergeson (the 1st counselor) saying that Sister Liddle was going to take me to the airport to see my brother and that I should call her. I was obviously very confused. My first thought actually was, "Oh my goodness, my dad is working with his cousin to get me to the airport." haha After a quick call to the mission president to confirm that this was happening.. (and it was all good.. Not sure what happened to change it.. but I didn't ask questions :) ) I made plans and got to the airport! 

Sister Liddle who drove McKayla and her companion to the airport to see Jordan.  We love and adore Sister Liddle!!

The fact that I actually got to see him was a complete miracle. The 1st flight that was taking him to Houston got delayed so there was not going to be time to see him... and then it made up for time in the air so we had an opening. haha The airport people told me I was just going to have to wait behind this huge sound proof window and see if I could wave him down to come out of security, talk to me, and then have enough time to got back through security and get to his flight. The only thing I was hanging on to was that I had prayed about going to see him the night before and I felt like everything was going to work out. 

To make an already long story a tad bit shorter we waited behind the huge glass and the second I saw him my companion and I started to jump as high as we possibly could with our arms waving everywhere. He saw us and I got to talk to him for about 15 mins before he needed to go through security and get on the flight to Saltillo. :) It was a miracle. 

I know that God knows how I feel. He knows my desires and the things that worry me. He knew that I would be ok not seeing my brother for 3 years, but He loves me and provided a way for him to come in the airplane to Houston, on a P-day, with leaders and parents that know how to make things work out, and flight times that would make it so my brother would not miss his flight. He knows me and He loves me. I am so filled with gratitude and love! :) 

And THAT was only the beginning of the week!!! :)  

So pretty much my companion is the greatest companion ever. We are working together very well and we are building each other up. We have been working on talking to everyone we see this week and it has made for some very interesting encounters. 

I am not sure if you know this, but I am in Clear Lake Texas which is like 5 or 6 mins from NASA space center. Because of this there are people from ALL OVER the world  everywhere you go (and a lot of them are actually rocket scientists and stuff.. :P ) This week we talked to a guy from Russia who was in Texas because his son worked for NASA. We have talked to people from India, from China, from the Congo, from Brazil (personal favorite :) ) from Mexico, from .. everywhere! I absolutely love it! 

I have the chance to try and use my Portuguese all the time. Most of the time they are Spanish speakers, but they understand most of what I am trying to say. :) 

Culture and people characteristic are fascinating to me. I love Houston. 

On top of getting to talk to a ton of people we have been teaching many more lessons ever since we decided to start making some changes to the way we do missionary work. :) 

Our Father in Heaven is very involved with our lives. He knows us perfectly and personally and He has so much in store. Never doubt your divine heritage. You are children of God! Be happy and know that all knowledge and peace comes from Him. 

-Have a good week ya'll!

Love, Sister Earl

March 18 2014 Rodeo and Transfers

So last week I did not write because I had the wonderful opportunity to do to the Rodeo!!

Sadly the actual bull riding and such didn't happen until 6 so we were only able to go on some rides, try some of the famous fried food, look at the animals, and get souvenirs.

We were able to go to the Rodeo with the other sisters in our district and also Amanda Stortz (Soon to be Y...SA member) drove us! It was so much fun. We parked a little bit away from the park and then took the metro to the entrance. Once you were inside there was food everywhere and tons of fried or barbecued food. The highlight of the day was actually right after I got a little whoozy on one of the rides. Two of the other sisters and I decided to go and look at the cowboy hats and take a little break from the rides. I was sitting down in the shade next to an older couple and their grandson. The conversation started with the wife saying, "So do you work here everyday?" (referring to my name tag) I said, " Oh I don't work here I am actually a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Have you heard of that church? They said. "uh no we don't think so." So I told them about how I was from Washington but here in Texas telling people about how to get closer to their Heavenly Father. They asked a couple questions about how long I had been in Texas and such when the guy said, "Well since this is your first time in Texas at the Rodeo you should get a cowboy hat!"

I said, "I know right! I should get one."

Guy: "No seriously, get yourself a hat, I'll pay for it."

So this very nice gentleman bought me and the other two sisters cowboy hats in exchange for our testimonies and a pass-a-long card. It was pretty awesome.

So on Wednesday I got my new companion Sister Winger! She is from Idaho and is an AWESOME missionary. I really love being with her and I know we are going to do some awesome things this transfer. We already have a baptismal date set for the 26th of April and we are talking to more and more people everyday.

Two of our new investigators this week were a couple that were outside playing with their 2 year old son. We started to talk to them and found out that he had seen a commercial for the Book of Mormon. He asked for one before we even finished telling him about it! They are so cool!

I know that this church is true and that it is the same exact church that Christ organized when he was here. I know that the power and authority to act for God has been brought back and that we need that power if we are to be baptized unto salvation. God speaks to us today through a modern day prophet. He has always worked through his prophets to tell us his plan and he does that today. I know that we have continued revelation given to us to help us and support us in our real life challenges. He loves us! He wants us to know of him!

Sister Earl

We have 2 areas.....might as well add another right? March 3 2014

So as some of you know.. Transfers are coming up next week.

So you will imagine our surprise of getting a call from the assistants to the president last night at 10 20. 

We were told that Sister Wolfgramm needed to pack her bags and be at the mission office at 8 AM the next morning. They informed us that I would be going to back to my area with Sister Pace and Cotton (they are the other sisters serving in the family ward I am over)

I am sad that my Sister Wolf is leaving me.. She is a wonderful missionary and has become a great friend to me. I really wish her the best and know that we will see each other again after the mission. :) 

 

So to make a long story short...for the next week before transfers I will be with them and we will be in charge of 3 areas!! We will have to do some really clear planning and it will be hard.. but I am excited. These Sisters are awesome and I will love getting to know them better. Sister Cotton was another Visa Waiter for Brazil who has decided to stay in Texas. So we can bond on that level. :) 

So this week is going to be one of the most interesting weeks of my mission. :P I am just glad that I get to stay in my area! I am also really excited to see who my new companion is going to be. :) I made President Ashton promise to give me someone who would be a hardworker! :) So get ready for more awesome adventures in the coming months!!

This week we really had miracle after miracle in the work. We decided to go and visit an inactive YSA girl in the Seabrook area and when we got there she was there with one of her friends. They were both very willing to talk to us and then wanted to come to FHE tonight and meet more people!! We are confident that Ashley will come back to church and that her friend Dane will enter the waters of baptism soon. :) Isn't it crazy how God works sometimes?

We also were able to talk to a lot of Less actives in the family ward and one of the less actives brought her non-member husband to church. :)

Things are happening and God is STILL working miracles. 

I am so grateful for all the blessings I have been given. I know God is aware of me. I know He knows my heart. He knows the desires that I have to serve and I pray that I will more fully recognize the ways that He is helping me in my life. 

Never doubt your Father in Heaven. He is real and He is listening to you. :) It is such a wonderful thing and I am so blessed to be able to tell others about it. :) 

Sorry I don't have time to tell you more! Just know that I am doing fantastic and I love you all. :)

Don't forget to smile! 

-Sister Earl