Have I mentioned that is snows here?
Well this week was a definite roller
coaster....Holy cow, so much to
say and tell so I'll try to make it
make sense! But sorry if I'm not
successful....
This week started off busy from the
get go! We had practically ZERO
time on preparation day to email because
we went to President
Bingham's house to make corn bags!
They're like rice bags, but from
field corn.
Now we put them in the microwave
every night or morning to keep
warm during studies and stuff. We
put them in our bed each night so
we're toasty warm...it's awesome:
Well here goes the busy week....it
started off on a high!
we decided to tract a little bit and we met a girl named K
She's having a tough time right now
and was very open to our message.
She is a young mom and she's definitely been through a lot but she
has so
much faith in Christ. She is really
searching for truth and peace right now. Love when
People feel stronger and loved.
Tuesday we also had an awesome
lesson with C
She's awesome and so ready for change. We've been working on the Book of
Mormon with her and she's been reading so much more! Also, she
finally said the closing prayer!!
She was a bit nervous about Prayer
so she finally pinky promised that she
would do it the next
time...we had photo evidence....and
she did (if you know Rebecca you know she likes PINKY Promises)! It was the sweetest
prayer. In it she thanked the Lord
for the gospel and she prayed for specific answers to
her specific
questions and she said she felt the
Spirit!!
It's the little things,
right?:)
Did I tell you it snows in Montana?
-SOOO....fun fact! We have
a metal roof....we came home this
week to THIS. The gutter and all the
perpendicular-snow-stopper-things
on the roof came crashing down!
Apparently with the snow melting and
refreezing it got super thick and
icy and heavy and took down the snow
stopper things with it! It crashed
all over the deck...luckily the
Welches were coming in town the next
day to grab a few things so they
came by and took it the rest of the
way off....
Picture 2-the next day we come in
and AGAIN find ALL THE SNOW FROM THE ROOF came crashing down....all of
it. It took down a little part
of the fence with it....eek! The
Welches were very cool about it and
were like "it would have
happened anyway...good thing you were here to
see it!" Needless to say, we
spent a lot of time shoveling
snow....haha
Wednesday morning was uplifting and
beautiful!! We had the opportunity
to be part of the worldwide
missionary conference. It was awesome! Our
zone met at the stake center in the
high council room and streamed it
in to watch live. It was so
incredible! They haven't had something
like this in a decade so that was
amazing to be a part of. There was a
huge emphasis placed on the doctrine
of Christ. Remembering the
basics! A lot was shared about Christ
and repentance. Repenting is one
of the GREATEST BLESSINGS WERE
BLESSED WITH! Great Conference!
So Wednesday afternoon is when
things started taking a
dip....we were supposed to have
dinner with the Hatch family, the
SWEETEST couple ever....well the morning
of, Brother Hatch called and
said Sister Hatch isn't feeling well
and we might have to reschedule
dinner. She slipped on the ice and
fell and needed to rest. The next
day, we find out that it was a
really bad fall...she was going in to
surgery for her head/brain injury.
She and brother Hatch went up to
Great Falls to the hospital and they
put her in an induced coma. The
surgery went okay but she had a
stroke right after and sweet Sister
Hatch passed away this week. She was
an amazing woman and will be very
missed! She was so lively and fun
and always had a beautiful,
energetic smile. Brother Hatch is
one of the strongest men I know. And
such a missionary. Such examples to me and the friendliest, kindest
people you'll ever meet. They are
an amazing family and we really are
going to miss Sister Hatch. It was
a tough one. On top of that, sweet
Sister Rasmussen's grandma passed
away the same day that Sister Hatch
did. I have learned great lessons
of strength this week. I've learned
the importance of remembering the
plan of salvation and taking every
opportunity given us by the Lord to
build our testimonies. ---
--Anyway, I can just testify that
the atonement is real!
Not only for sins and mistakes but
for strength and lifting. I've seen
it in my life and so many others
that are having trials placed before
them right now. The Lord loves us
all and gives us opportunities to
turn to Him in love and prayer.
Thank goodness for this gospel that
lifts and strengthens us. We have
definitely been needing it this last
little bit.
Well the end of the week things
started to head back up again!
Saturday was a blessing. No it was a
miracle! The power of prayer is
real. --I don't remember if I told
you this or not....but just in
case, here we go--Our zone is
starting a new thing called the M&M
Initiative. Basically the main points are we read Alma 8:10 and talk about praying
in faith and "wrestling with God". We share stories and
experiences ……….Then we read Alma 16:16 and talk
about the Lord pouring out His Spirit to
prepare the hearts and minds of the people…we see the miracles Daily!
Our Sweet Friend M has been
searching and asking and now has set a date and committed
to make covenants with our Father in
Heaven.
I know without a doubt it was because of
prayers. Prayers for hearts
and minds to be prepared! Prayers
for M specifically! Prayers
for the Spirit! Wow this work is
amazing.
I love Montana! I love the people
here and the pure joy that
comes from watching prayers be
answered. Life is a roller coaster--non
stop ups and downs and turn
arounds...but the Lord lets these ups and
downs and all arounds happen so we
can tighten our seat belts and tie
ourselves to the Lord and His
gospel.
Love you lots!!
W/<3
Sister Hodgson
Also....I'm so sorry but one last
story...haha it's kinda a silly one
but it freaked Sister Rasmussen and
I out! Haha so we were going to
find another family and we were in a
creepier part of town....it was
late at night, one of our last stops
and fun fact about
Montana--street lights aren't a thing.
So it's super super dark
outside, were walking to this creepy
apartment complex and it's a
completely silent night. Then for
some reason I felt like I should
turn around and look behind us....I
did, and I saw this big ugly black
dog just standing there staring at
us. It didn't make any noise, it
didn't move, it just stood there
staring from about 3 feet away. We
didn't hear it come up or anything!
All I really said was "oh" under
my breath and Sister Rasmussen
looked behind and saw it too. We got
the creepiest feeling so we turned
and started walking away. We look
like 4 steps then I turned back to
see if it was following us and it
was GONE! Haha no sound at ALL! Just
disappeared. Never saw it again.
Haha all I could think of was that
it was "the grim" from Harry
Potter. Hahaha anyway missions are
the best thing ever. LOVE YOU!!!
Thanks for the package and the blue sweaters !!
