So on Wednesday we had our last interviews with President Killpack as this is his last transfer before they finish their mission! In the beginning of July we will get our new President, President Passey (I think that is how you spell it). President Killpack is such an amazing person. The advice and input he has for everything are just so incredible. It is really a testimony to us of how in-tune he is with the spirit.
On Wednesday we also tried something new... biking! We were running a little low on miles this month and since the bike sisters cant be biking (the sister who broke her ankle is one of the bike sisters) we borrowed their bikes and just stayed in town all day. It was HARD! It was the first time I had been on a bike in about two years and to top it off I was wearing the wrong kind of skirt to be biking in. Plus, it was windy. Boy was I frustrated. Holding the handlebars with one hand and holding your skirt down with the other is not much fun. I was starting to just get completely fed up, and then I decided to sing hymns. It completely changed my mind set. I was focusing on singing and my mind was able to clear up and I was able to find a way to bike that kept my skirt down pretty decently. What a change! That simple change of mindset made such a difference and I was able to go from fuming and hating what we were doing, to having a blast! By the end of the day, I was pretty sore, but it had been totally worth it. We biked again on Friday and that time I wore a better skirt, so it was even more fun. Hermana Blackford and I decided that we are going to try biking more, because it is honestly so much more fun and successful. We are able to stop and talk to people and also be a church billboard at the same time haha. Plus, it is an awesome workout! But for when there are those crazy hot days, we are so thankful for our car!
On Tuesday we had "the day" and I stayed here in the zone and Sister Zealley came to spend the day here. Our focus for the day was finding, so we spent a lot of time trying to contact potentials and formers, but we weren't able to have much luck. We had one more hour left before we needed to head back to New Mexico and we went to visit a part member family (the Perez family). The mom has not been to church for about 11 years and she has a 17 year old son and 9 year old daughter. The son is not interested at all, but the little girl (Paola) loves us and loves listening to the lessons. On Tuesday we taught them the restoration using cups (which is just a way to explain it in more simple terms for younger kids). When we shared the first vision we invited them both to close their eyes and picture the story in their head. When we finished, we let the spirit soak in for a bit and let them just think about what they were feeling. Paola said she felt "different" and was smiling ear to ear and I didn't know at the time, but after we left, sister Zealley told me that after we finished sharing the first vision, Hermana Perez was wiping tears from her eyes. Honestly, I love teaching the first lesson so much. It is one of the most special things we have to share and you can never deny the spirit you feel. We invited Hermana Perez to pray about baptism for Paola. A few days later we went back and taught a lesson about church and just talked with Hermana Perez about why she hadn't come in so long. She kind of beat around the bush and didn't really give us a specific reason other than she didn't feel like she needed to. We explained to her the blessings that come from church attendance and how it will help their family. We invited them to come just once more and to feel the blessings and happiness that come for it and committed them to come on Sunday. They weren't able to come, so we are going to visit them this week and see what happened. But we are really hoping that we will be able to strengthen our relationship with them and find out what is really holding them back.
The Hirsch family is doing so good! The older daughter (Massiel) moved to Phoenix for the summer which is a bummer, but the mom and younger daughter (maciel and Esmerelda) and both going to be here still. We had a lesson on Wednesday night about faith and used Alma 32. We asked her how she thought she could strengthen her faith and she said "well... probably go to church." Then she told us that her and Massiel had been talking about how they both needed to go to church with us. They have never said no when we invite them, but she works at the hospital and has to work on Sunday mornings. We asked her if there was any possibility she could change her schedule and she said "yeah. I can probably do that". So on Friday we went back to visit with Hermana Larson and she still hadn't figured out if she could switch her schedule, but she was so excited to come. She called Hermana Larson on Saturday and asked for a ride! Woohoo!! We were so stoked! But then Sunday morning, an hour before church, she got called in and wasn't able to come. DARN! We are hoping that she can change her schedule earlier this week so that she will be able to come this Sunday. We are so excited though to see the excitement they have to learn!
We went to visit a less active sister who has a son out on a mission and is having some problems with family here. We stopped by and she was the only one home. Right as we sat down she said "did my mom send you?" (her mom is a member of the branch). We told her no, that we had just been thinking about her and wanted to stop by and she told us "every time something happens, you stop by". She then went on to tell us some things that had been happening with the family and we were able to try and help her out. It is hard because we have never been moms so we are not exactly sure what we could do or say, but anytime she said something and we had no idea what to say, something would come. Every time. It was such a testimony to me of how Heavenly Father not only knows his children, but that he is always watching out for us and that when we are having a hard time, he is always there to help us, or send someone that can help us.
Sunday night was the night of transfer calls... and we are both staying! Woohoo! My curse is finally broken! We are so excited to stay together! But there were a ton of other changes. 4 missionaries are leaving from our zone so it will be totally different! We are excited to meet all these new people, but sad to say goodbye to others. Actually, Hermana Smyth is coming here and she will be companions with sister Allred! How crazy! It is going to be a good transfer for sure! We have a lot of good coming and have been working a lot with our Branch Presidency to set up home teaching and visiting teaching for the less actives so we will have more help pretty soon from the branch.
Crazy story, the Primary President just up and changed to an English ward... so we are the temporary primary presidents in the branch! We don't teach classes because we cant be alone with the kids (missionary rule), but we run singing and sharing time. This will be an interesting next two weeks haha.
Can't believe that this Friday I hit 7 months... it is just crazy how fast the time goes. Honestly... people tried to tell me and I never listened. Now I know!
Well, I think that just about wraps up this week. Again, we are so excited to stay together! We have a lot of work ahead of us and we know we will see success as we help these people learn and grow! Cant wait to tell you all about it!
Love you lots! Happy late memorial day!
Hermana Lundquist