week 6- fast and furious

First off THANK FOR FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY package!!( mustache pictures to follow)

Answering questions;

We live with a member of the stake presidency. We have a room right off the kitchen  and it is bright and cheery! The house is big and beautiful and they have a little creek thing in the backyard and a pretty deck- Very peaceful and nice- Montana really is beautiful!

 

 

PDAY( preparation day)-  We always wash and clean the car, do laundry, go grocery shopping and email! Then  our zone meets at the church and we play pod ball or volleyball. It's fun! Then At 6:00 back to work!! 

Today we went to sister W (sweet  lady who was just baptized) and she taught us how to cross stitch! 

 

Well it's been one of those weeks where you know Heavenly Father is

trying to teach you something but you just can't figure out what it

is. Haha

S  called us the day before our return appointment and said she doesn’twant anything to do with Mormons.

The other one L, wasn't there and we can't get ahold of her.

C (who was on date from the previous sisters) dropped off,  He was high when he accepted baptism and sadly is battling that demon. 

N, was excited for her baptism in  July and is such an

amazing girl!! has missed her last 3 appointments and stops

responding to texts and calls .She lives with her brother who is extremely anti Mormon and we think he has convinced her we are evil.

 And sweet N, This last week we've really

been getting strong feelings that we need to  push it back for him. He wants so bad to quit his old habits and

move on from his old life but he wants it to happen over night and

things like that rarely happen that fast. Repenting, changing our ways

and turning toward Christ is a process. And in order to do that we

need Christ's help. N is such a strong guy but no matter how

strong we are, we all still need help. We need reminders, we need the

sacrament and we need the atonement. Nathan has a hard time getting

around what others think. He thinks he is being judged by his friends

for becoming Mormon. It's so hard cause we know he knows it's true!

But he just has to find out how much he is willing to fight for it. We

know it's hard and so we're glad we were able to talk to him

God never said it would be easy, He only said it would

be worth it. N just has to make sure he knows for himself how

worth it it really is.

We were pretty down about the whole week and had a tough time.

 Lots of prayers were said. And we really made an effort to focus

on things one step at a time. We did focus on being exactly

obedient, and intensified personal and companionship study time. We

let go of our unrealistic expectations of ourselves and others and

just took things one day at a time, the Lords way. Things started

looking up.

On Friday we got to go meet our new mission president and his wife,

President and sister Wadsworth. They're both so sweet! You could tell they were nervous but they both just jumped in! They seem AMAZING and I can't wait to get to know them better. People keep saying that after how amazing president Mecham is that president Wadsworth has some big shoes to fill. But we know he's bringing his own shoes!! He's so awesome! He reminds me a little of daddy and Wade Buxton! Quiet, a little cautious but HEART OF GOLD. Such strong testimony and desire to do good. He's gonna be amazing. 

I was asked to play the piano for the meeting , which always makes me a little nervous but I guess it went OK. ( I am actually playing the piano a lot  -in primary, Relief society, missionary meetings….it should keep up my piano and I am sure I will get less nervous J )

Fourth of July was a big party and a big miracle. They have a Great

Falls parade every year so we got to take a float of the Salt lake

Temple and be in the parade. The whole zone and a few members all got

together and we passed our pass along cards, candy and The Family: a

Proclamation to the World. It was so fun and we met some awesome

people!

 

Then later in the day we got to meet with C and his wife C.

C is a recent convert in Fort Benton branch who brought her

husband to church last fast and testimony meeting. He got up and bore

his testimony and now he wants to meet with the missionaries! So we

had our first lesson with C on 4th of July. He is amazing.

We were running late to our dinner appointment so we had to call brother Bailey. Half the converts in the ward were introduced to the church by him. He is so willing and ready to give all he has.

We got there and he had a neighbor over for dinner…we talked a lot and he came to

church the next day for Fast and testimony meeting ( fast and furious brother Bailey calls it)

The testimonies that were born were beautiful and

Uplifting. It's so incredible to hear others testify of the gospel in

their lives and hear how they get through crazy times. It's really

Strengthening to know that even though we all go through tough times,

God is ALWAYS there for every one of His children…. Always.

I know that Heavenly Father loves us. God doesn't

do accidents. We are never alone. He is always there, cheering us on,

watching us and praying that we take these times to become better

missionaries, better people and more like Christ. Keep pushing on.

Look for the blessings that you see in your life from Gods hand. I

promise you they're there. I love you all!!

W/<3

Sister Hodgson