HI! I am clear in the middle uh nowhere.
The internet stopped working earlier so I just finished this!
This weeks craziness:
- I ran a red light yesterday. Totally didn't even notice, I think I thought it was a stop sign or something. But I broke the law on my mission. WHOOPS.- We have a full time car, which is good and bad. We cover all of Ohio county in Kentucky.
- Almost half the branch is related. I haven't met all of them either because it was stake conference in Hopkinsville yesterday. I'm also speaking this week so that's fun. First time on the mish!
- Our apartment is soooo nice. Nice as in clean and well taken care of. It's crazy, but I love it.
- Mom asked me about my iPad. I take it with me to my new area, and then we sync our area books when we get here so it has all the info for Hartford instead of Lebanon.
- This was my first week without having training hour so it's a little weird, but I love it! Quality pros time at 10am here for some reason.
- I think I'm addicted to DQ. And a guy in our ward owns the one here 😁
- I love Sister Clark. She's super weird, but she's super sweet and is game with all of my crazy finding ideas and hard work.
- I forgot to tell you about Nashville last week. We went with Kathy and the Hermanas to the temple so Kathy could see it and walk around. Then we went to downtown Nashville and I was totally in culture shock. It was so worldly there! It was killing me. It was such a weird moment. I had a little glimpse of what it was like to be in the world and it was soo so I don't even know but I didn't like it. When I get home we should just go camping for days and days and preach the gospel to fellow campers. That would ease me in pretty good. Or I could just stay on my mission forever. That's definitely preferred. Anyways, we walked down Broadway and went to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner and had ice cream at a cute little shop. It was super fun. We also got stopped by a Mormon family from Minnesota because they could see we were missionaries. I love the camaraderie between Mormons. They were such a good family! One of the sons had a mission call waiting for him in the mail when they get back!
-I SAW TABATHA YESTERDAY!! Ah it was the best. She took the sisters in CV2 to stake conference. It was so happy. I was so stoked to see her. They're actually moving to California soon! San Diego area. I'll visit them post mish for sure. She is just so happy and she LOVES being a member. Jada is preparing to get baptized too! Tab has to move to Alabama before she moves to California (long story) but she said she's already found a church because she wasn't going to move there unless they had an LDS church for her to go to :) She has a calling in the ward and everything! She's so cute. It makes me so happy. Experiencing someones conversion "unto The Lord", as Alma frequently puts it, with them is like nothing else. She is just GLOWING with the spirit. And she said Mat goes to church every week with her and he's coming closer to his faith! Which is AWESOME.
As for the wonderful area of the Hartford branch! --
We found lots and lots of new investigators this week!! The phrase "teach when you find, find when you teach" from PMG is definitely one of my strengths. Remember when I said in my farewell talk that I was most nervous about not finding people to teach? That's like my
specialty now haha that sounds super prideful, don't get me wrong, I've got LOTS to work on. Heavenly Father TRULY makes our weaknesses strengths though. I have a LOT to work on as a missionary, but it is really cool to see the changes in myself and my comps as we all strive to be
better. We are seeing the progress in some investigators here that were kind of dormant before. I was surprised at how many of these people had been SEEN (slash missionaries just hung out at their house) by missionaries, but not TAUGHT. Crazy crazy. This area has only been open for sisters for about 6 months. It had senior couples before us. There hasn't been a baptism here for 5 years, but we will definitely have one! These people are awesome and so prepared!
We taught lots of awesome people this week but here are some highlights:
1. Katherine and Jared! They were potentials so we went to see them and they were home! We taught the restoration and it was super awesome. The spirit was strong and they are so eager to learn. They said they would be baptized when they know it is true! She doesn't have a huge religious background like a lot of people here do, but she has this great desire to learn more. She is super family centered and that is awesome. And they're married! Woo!
2. Martha Wolf is a GEM she hadn't ever been taught by missionaries so we went over and taught her the Restoration as well. She loved it and you could just see her getting more and more interested as we talked and asked her questions. She said she would be baptized if she received an answer as well!
3. Maria is active in her Christian church but she has a strong testimony of the truth of our church because she can see it in the kids she works with. It's amazing how the examples of this branch have helped so much in this work here. EVERYONE knows the Canty's and the Pieper's.
4. Lara Bailey is awesome and we had a really spiritual lesson with her yesterday. She is having a really hard time and we taught the atonement and a short Plan of Salvation lesson and it was great.
5. Knocking has been super successful lately. We have found lots of people ready to hear the gospel! Jamie was one who was super happy about us coming and she referred us to her family to knock as well. We have a return appointment for this week so we will see how it goes!
She's great though and her grandma was actually Mormon, but died 2 years ago. She wants to learn about it because of her grandmas great example.
It's been an awesome awesome week! Good things to come :)
I was reading this talk yesterday called "Of Things That Matter Most" and President Uchdorf stated some really awesome life lessons. I copied and pasted some of my favorite things to share with y'all:
"The wise understand and apply the lessons of tree rings and air turbulence. They resist the temptation to get caught up in the frantic rush of everyday life. They follow the advice “There is more to life than increasing its speed.”1 In short, they focus on the things that matter most.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, in a recent general conference, taught, “We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.”2
----
Amidst the multitude of voices and choices, the humble Man of Galilee stands with hands outstretched, waiting. His is a simple message: “Come, follow me.”5 And He does not speak with a powerful megaphone but with a still, small voice.6 It is so easy for the basic gospel message to get lost amidst the deluge of information that hits us from all sides.
----
So What Are the Basics?
As we turn to our Heavenly Father and seek His wisdom regarding the things that matter most, we learn over and over again the importance of four key relationships: with our God, with our families, with our fellowman, and with ourselves. As we evaluate our own lives with a willing mind, we will see where we have drifted from the more excellent way. The eyes of our understanding will be opened, and we will recognize what needs to be done to purify our heart and refocus our life.
First, our relationship with God is most sacred and vital. We are His spirit children. He is our Father. He desires our happiness. As we seek Him, as we learn of His Son, Jesus Christ, as we open our hearts to the influence of the Holy Spirit, our lives become more stable and secure. We experience greater peace, joy, and fulfillment as we give our best to live according to God’s eternal plan and keep His commandments.
We improve our relationship with our Heavenly Father by learning of Him, by communing with Him, by repenting of our sins, and by actively following Jesus Christ, for “no man cometh unto the Father, but by [Christ].”10 To strengthen our relationship with God, we need some
meaningful time alone with Him. Quietly focusing on daily personal prayer and scripture study, always aiming to be worthy of a current temple recommend--these will be some wise investments of our time and efforts to draw closer to our Heavenly Father. Let us heed the invitation in Psalms: “Be still, and know that I am God.”11
Our second key relationship is with our families. Since “no other success can compensate for failure”12 here, we must place high priority on our families. We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home. We talk with, rather than about, each other. We learn from each other, and we appreciate our differences as well as our commonalities. We establish a divine bond with each other as we approach God together through family prayer, gospel study, and Sunday worship.
The third key relationship we have is with our fellowman. We build this relationship one person at a time--by being sensitive to the needs of others, serving them, and giving of our time and talents. I was deeply impressed by one sister who was burdened with the challenges of age and illness but decided that although she couldn’t do much, she could listen. And so each week she watched for people who looked troubled or discouraged, and she spent time with them, listening. What a blessing she was in the lives of so many people.
The fourth key relationship is with ourselves. It may seem odd to think of having a relationship with ourselves, but we do. Some people can’t get along with themselves. They criticize and belittle themselves all day long until they begin to hate themselves. May I suggest that you reduce the rush and take a little extra time to get to know yourself better. Walk in nature, watch a sunrise, enjoy God’s creations, ponder the truths of the restored gospel, and find out what they mean for you personally. Learn to see yourself as Heavenly Father sees you--as His precious daughter or son with divine potential."
Isn't that so good? Feel free to email me any good studies y'all have had or any good quotes! I'm all ears!
My address is:
PO BOX 242
Hartford, KY 42347
We improve our relationship with our Heavenly Father by learning of Him, by communing with Him, by repenting of our sins, and by actively following Jesus Christ, for “no man cometh unto the Father, but by [Christ].”10 To strengthen our relationship with God, we need some
meaningful time alone with Him. Quietly focusing on daily personal prayer and scripture study, always aiming to be worthy of a current temple recommend--these will be some wise investments of our time and efforts to draw closer to our Heavenly Father. Let us heed the invitation in Psalms: “Be still, and know that I am God.”11
Our second key relationship is with our families. Since “no other success can compensate for failure”12 here, we must place high priority on our families. We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home. We talk with, rather than about, each other. We learn from each other, and we appreciate our differences as well as our commonalities. We establish a divine bond with each other as we approach God together through family prayer, gospel study, and Sunday worship.
The third key relationship we have is with our fellowman. We build this relationship one person at a time--by being sensitive to the needs of others, serving them, and giving of our time and talents. I was deeply impressed by one sister who was burdened with the challenges of age and illness but decided that although she couldn’t do much, she could listen. And so each week she watched for people who looked troubled or discouraged, and she spent time with them, listening. What a blessing she was in the lives of so many people.
The fourth key relationship is with ourselves. It may seem odd to think of having a relationship with ourselves, but we do. Some people can’t get along with themselves. They criticize and belittle themselves all day long until they begin to hate themselves. May I suggest that you reduce the rush and take a little extra time to get to know yourself better. Walk in nature, watch a sunrise, enjoy God’s creations, ponder the truths of the restored gospel, and find out what they mean for you personally. Learn to see yourself as Heavenly Father sees you--as His precious daughter or son with divine potential."
Isn't that so good? Feel free to email me any good studies y'all have had or any good quotes! I'm all ears!
My address is:
PO BOX 242
Hartford, KY 42347
Or for care packages (I think, but it's probably best to use the PO Box for everything):
1312 Clay St Apartment 1A
Hartford, KY 42347
1312 Clay St Apartment 1A
Hartford, KY 42347
And the mission home (if its close to been 6 weeks):
105 Westpark Dr Ste 190
Brentwood, TN 37027
If anyone wants to send me dried mangos, I would love ya even more than I already do! ;) I don't know why I've been craving those lately. Ha!
If anyone wants to send me dried mangos, I would love ya even more than I already do! ;) I don't know why I've been craving those lately. Ha!
We're fixin to leave so I better go! Love y'all! Choose the right!
Sister Boren
ALSO- HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MA AND PA!! Y'all are the greatest parents in the whole world and I am so grateful for your examples of love. Thank you for always staying together through the thick and thin, you are both amazing. I am so grateful for eternal marriage and the sealing ordinance in the temple so we can be together forever and ever, because I don't think I can handle anything short of that. I love you both to the moon and back!
Boren Street in Springfield, TN! I was there on exchanges! Neat huh! There's also a Peggy St in Madison too :) But I didn't get a pic of it
MY MISSION SISTERS AND MAMA GIBSON
Nashville on Broadway
Music City fo sho. Random people playing on their guitars/banjos all over this town.
These two pictures seem so worldly, but we are working so hard out here! I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve in the TNM. Best mission ever. Best work ever. This is truly the Lords work and we are seeing miracles every day, however large or small they may be! Choose the right y'all. Blessings will come.
Sister Boren
Also, sorry for the billion emails.
