My Heart is in Texas: June 2014

Monday, June 30, 2014

"I don't know about you... But I'm feeling 22!"

Thank you all for the birthday wishes! Sister Huber wanted to sing Taylor Swift's song 22, but then we both can't remember the words... that's missionary life for you!

A lot of short but memorable experiences this week...

Taught Kristin about family history work and she was immediately HOOKED... Her mom passed away 2 years ago and we were talking about being able to submit her name so that her mom could be baptized in the temple. We were also able to take Isaaclyn with us.

Watched a conference talk with Viet that President Monson gave. Before the lesson he was telling us that he might have to work another weekend because his boss asked him to work. He said he hadn't given a final answer and asked us what he should do. We told him it was his decision. After the talk the first words out of his mouth were, "I realized while watching this that I need to go to church. I'm going to call my boss tomorrow and let him know." It was awesome! I love the spirit!

Taught a new investigator who sadly is married and so the spanish elders will teach him now BUT we taught him the Restoration and afterwards he was soooo happy! He felt so good and was expressing to us how he felt and knew that he needed to go to our church. The spirit is our best friend! He has accepted to be baptized!

We were able to go to the temple with President and Sister Pingree! I will miss them so much and love the example that they always and will continue to set for me. While in the temple, I realized how much my family has grown and how excited I am to be able to be with everyone in heaven again! I want to be the best person I can be so that we can all be together forever! AND a session with just all missionaries=AMAZING + MINDBLOWN!

So... the question is... are you gonna walk or ride?

Had the most creative Restoration teaching Broc relating it to what he likes to do, longboarding...

The wheels= Jesus Christ and his apostles

The board = Jesus Christ teachings

The tools to put it all together = the Priesthood

When the Apostasy happened we needed someone to restore the Church but only if he had the proper tools. And so that is when Joseph Smith was called as a prophet and restored the church and another book of scripture known as the Book of Mormon. The new wheels = A prophet and the Book of Mormon.

We can choose to ride the longboard to our destination and make it easier on ourselves, or we can choose to walk and hope to get there in time.

Broc really enjoyed it and it was short, simple, and to the point! He has accepted to be baptized!

I love this gospel and the happiness I receive from living it and the confidence I have in knowing I am a daughter of God!

Love-

Sister Loo

The Restoration & Longboarding

With Sis. King at the Houston Temple

Houston Temple (photo cred = Sis King)

Sis Huber capturing the roach in our appartment

With Pres. & Sis. Pingree. Going to miss them so much!

Sis. Heaps. We are both staying here in Texas.

Helping Mike's brother paint his house with Isaaclyn.

Cupcakes!!!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy birthday crew!

Monday, June 23, 2014

Change of Heart

You know...

You know missionary work is going great when... A recent convert KP and investigator Viet become best friends and decide to start a business together in the future. And when they start calling each other their "little" and "big" brother.

You know your in Texas when... You invite someone to read Moroni's promise at the end of a restoration lesson and he reads, "Behold, I would exhort you that when Y'ALL shall read these things..."

The spirit broke the Southern Baptist

So remember Mike? Our southern baptist friend who had so many questions and we had to provide answers from the bible?

Well we hadn't been able to get a hold of him and he wasn't responding to any of our texts for about 2 weeks... we decided to just text him and remind him about church and he responds...

"Yes I will and baptize me :) ... I want what you all have... And I see that we all believe the same thing..."

I nearly fell over... We are teaching 3 Mike's right now and I thought... Wait. Is this the right mike? I swear this isn't him.

Sister Huber just looked shocked and said, "Wait, are we being punk'd?"

It still hasn't settled in. I was soooo happy!

The next day at church we talked to him about it and told him that we thought we were being punk'd. He got a huge laugh out of that.

He said he just needed time to sit and meditate about it. As he looked back on our meetings, he realized that we both came to the same conclusions and that we all believed the same thing. Sister Huber and I just couldn't stop smiling.

I asked him if he talked to his parents about it and he said, "well that's going to take a bit of time. You can't just spring that on Southern Baptists." I knew that Grandma Loo would be proud and told him that my grandma was a southern baptist and all her family still is but that she is now a wonderful member of the church. He thought that was cool and said, "Well then you totally understand then." :)

We are going to schedule a baptismal date with him this week for the beginning of July!

The spirit teaches.

Teaching by the spirit is so important. The spirit is what converts people, not us.

We were teaching Benjamin this week at the temple. We planned to teach the Restoration and about halfway through the Apostasy I could tell that he just wasn't in it. The spirit just wasn't there. So I stopped and I said to him, "Benjamin, what's up? You seem like you are distracted and worried."

He said as a tear ran down his face, "I just can't stop thinking about getting a job. I'm so worried."

So we opened up our scriptures and read... we asked him a question and sat there for what seemed like an hour waiting for a response. But when he did respond it was so powerful. I realized that I don't have to talk all the time. It is during those quiet moments that the spirit will testify. It's not awkward like I think it is going to be.

He offered the closing prayer and it was so wonderful. And two days later, he got a job.

As soon as we really found out his needs were is when the spirit was able to be there. We were able to show him how when we are struggling and worried if we open up our scriptures and pray, we will receive comfort and strength. That was the lesson we needed to teach that day. I am so thankful for the spirit.

"I always know when I am speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost because I always learn something from what I've said." - Boyd K. Packer

Love y'all!

Sister Loo

The "snow cone" church as Danielle calls it

We had an impromptu game night for an investigator

who asked if there was an activity Wednesday night.

And without hesitation, we said "of course!"

And there wasn't a game night... so we planned one! My team won!

Face mask fun!

Monday, June 16, 2014

I'm gonna be a Texas girl now, Y'all!

Sister Huber and I are staying together for another transfer and I am so excited! I look forward to the many miracles and blessing that come from another transfer together!

The decision... Texas or still wait for a VISA?

So this last week President Pingree asked me to decide if I wanted to stay in Texas or wait for my Visa. Apparently when a missionary reaches the halfway mark the church wants to get an answer.

In my mind it made sense to just wait. Right? There's no harm in waiting. There were so many things passing through my mind. I have loved being here in Texas and have met so many wonderful people as a result. But then why did I get assigned to Brazil in the first place?

I prayed and prayed. I kept getting the answer to stay here in Texas but I kept fighting it. I wanted to go to Brazil and learn Portuguese! That has always been a life dream for me and to be able to travel.

But as I kept thinking and praying, I realized that these were worldly desires, something that Heavenly Father doesn't feel necessary for me to learn at this time. I put aside my pride and my desires and decided to submit to his will. As I did so and as I received a priesthood blessing I felt comfort and peace in the decision to stay in Texas. I know that this is the right thing for me to do. I guess I'll just have to learn this "southern" language some more. :)

Best Restoration Lesson

This past week we met with Joseph. Our ward mission leader James had met him selling pest control door to door and the topic of religion came up, as it does in most conversations here. Well James invited him to church and he was able to come last week and again this week too!

We set up a lesson with him and took a recent returned missionary with us as well. I love taking RM's to lessons because they know what to talk about and we are able to teach in unity. We even gave her a couple parts to teach as well.

We talked about the Restoration and it was such a good lesson. His cousin Mike, was even able to join us. It was probably the best I've been able to teach on the mission because I know it wasn't me teaching, but it was the spirit. We taught, followed with questions of understanding, and they understood the complete need for a Restoration. It was amazing!

Later in the week he texted asking us about Thomas S. Monson and where he could read more about the revelations that he has received lately. He love the enthusiasm and organization of the church!

6 Book of Mormons

On Wednesday, Sister Huber and I had an unusual block of time that we didn't have anything scheduled. Unusual because we have been VERY busy lately going from appointment to appointment.

We weren't too excited about the huge chunk of time and so that night during planning we decided that we needed to make a goal so that we could use the time wisely and not just waste it away with silly tasks. So we decided to pass out 6 Book of Mormons during that time.

We started off in one of the "golden" apartment complex's in our area. We were knocking doors and I just didn't feel like it was working. So I told Sister Huber, lets go walk to a different section... And on the way there. Bam! A YSA ready to hear a message! One down, 5 to go.

We walk to an area. It doesn't feel right so we turn around and start towards a building with 1 bedroom apartments and in the hallway we see a lady and ask if we can share an uplifting message. She said Yes!

So I shared Mosiah 24:14-15 about how Christ is able to lift us up in all things and how trials are a way for us to be patient and learn. She loved it! She told us that she had been going to a church where her Uncle was the pastor, but when he died it changed (makes me think of the apostasy). She doesn't like big churches because she likes fellowship of small churches and the pastor knowing her name. So we talked about home teaching and visiting teaching and how our church is worldwide but we meet in small congregations so we can take care of each other. I didn't even get the chance to finish explaining when she interrupted me, "Where is your church?" Its unfortunate because she isn't a YSA, but she is excited to learn more from the sisters in the home ward. Two down, 4 to go.

We decided to try a different apartment complex and walk around. We see some guys outside, at first I thought they were old but Sister Huber just kept walking towards them. Its a good thing she did because as we walk around the corner... we see 3 YSA's sitting there!!!! And we share a message! 5 down, 1 to go.

We kept walking and there was another YSA and so we stopped to talk to her and shared a message! It was a miracle! 6 Book of Mormons and lessons passed out in 2 1/2 hours! I know that because we had set this goal, Heavenly Father provided a way for it to be fulfilled. We were able to invite so many people to hear a message and learn more about the Savior as a result.

Temple with "the boys"

We were able to go to the temple yesterday with KP, David, and Viet. It was KP and Viet's first time at the temple and David's first time since being baptized. It was so great and the spirit was so strong!

Before we left, KP offered a prayer and you could really feel the spirit of his testimony through it. He has grown so much!

Keep the Sabbath Day Holy

Viet was able to get a new job and he doesn't work on Sunday! Thank you so much for all the prayers! Unfortunately with the new job he won't be able to come to FHE and Institute which he was really bummed about, but he is able to come to church starting in July!

He was so cute when he was telling us about it. He said that he wanted to apply for a different job but he found out that he would have to work on Sundays and so he didn't apply. I told him that Heavenly Father would bless him for keeping the commandments and I know he really will! I am so excited for him to come to church! He is just progressing so much and he will be bringing a friend to FHE and Institute as well this week.

Danielle's Baptism

Danielle was baptized on Saturday and her boyfriend, who is serving a mission in Honduras, family was able to be there. She also invited 3 friends to come and they are excited to come to more "events" with Danielle! Her parents and sister were able to be there too. She is going to set such a good example for them.

The spirit was so strong during her baptism. The strongest I have ever felt. I think it was because she knew the covenants she was making with Heavenly Father and understood what they mean. She has such a strong testimony.

Well again another font plug problem... We got to the building and apparently there had been a baptism earlier that day. They had a new plug installed earlier in the week and it was draining so slow. We didn't know what was wrong with it. And then it kept leaking. So I had to hike up my skirt and get in the font to figure out the plug! Well nothing worked, it still leaks so we just had to roll with it. By the time she got in the font to be baptized, the water was pretty low but it worked out just fine and no one seemed to notice the drain noises.

Love y'all!

Sister Loo