Success, hull! (yet another old family joke)

So, no one we're working with really wants to meet with us this week cause of Thanksgiving. 

Our solution?

Make appointments with members!

This proved to be harder than it sounds. 

First phone call: 

Me: "How are you doing?" 

Member: "Oh....I could be better." 

Me: "Well you could be worse, too!" *I pull the phone away from me and turn to Sister H and ask, "Why did I say that? WHY did I say that?!" 

Second phone call: 

Member: "Hello?" 

Sister H: "Hi, it's the Stimpsons!" 

*please insert uncontrollable laughter here*

Member: "......what?" 

Sister H: "Um.....It's...........the Sisters.........." 

Third Phone call:

Sister H: "We're going to be in your area on Thanksevening---" 

*uncontrollable laughter*

It was a struggle, guys. 

It was a struggle. 

I don't quite know what to say about this week. It was incredible!

First of all, Sister H and I took Sister C's bed and put the mattress under Sister H's mattress, and the box spring under my mattress, so our beds are super tall. It's like the best thing ever! I feel like Princess and the Pea!

Our new convert family is doing amazing :) We were able to set their cousin with a baptismal date. Just in the short amount of time they've been baptized I've seen all of them grow so much!

The granddaughter of one of my previous converts is also doing really well. She's getting baptized in a few weeks and is telling everyone about it!

Guys, sometimes I wish I had a video camera following me around all the time, so that on weeks when the work has been amazing, you all can see how wonderful it is cause so much happened and I have such limited time to write about it!

Sister H and I laugh at a lot of stupid things. I keep trying to type out the situations, but they're just not appreciated as much if you're not there. 

Life’s good. I'm craving some serious guacamole. 

Gaa! This email is lame. 

Love you all!

Hurrah for Israel!

Sister Stimpson

Here we go!

So I got a letter from Sister L this week! Now, Sister L got transferred to the ward just 30 minutes south of Saratoga. One of our investigators, got baptized about 3 weeks ago. 

Sister L said she and her companion were walking down the street, when a car pulls up beside them and rolls down the window. Who should be inside, but our former investigator!

"Uhhisisterlit'sme! iknowyoumightnotrecognizeme......ijustgotnewglasses!" 

Sister L walked up and said hello, and thought to herself, "Oh, like I'd ever not recognize you." 

"So.....I'm a Mormon, now!" he declared proudly (and quickly, I'm assuming. I'd just figure I'd type it out so that it's readable.), "I got the Aaronic Priesthood last Sunday! My mom came. She came to my baptism, too. I think she secretly wants to be a Mormon." 

I seriously hope someday I can see him again. That guy is so great. 

We have had such a good week. 

First of all, Sister H, Sister C and I visited our investigator family every day this week, whether for a lesson, or just to check up to see how they're doing. No surprise there, but the week leading up to their baptism was stressful for all of them.

However, through the various trials they were facing, they all turned to the Lord in prayer or in scripture reading. 

Their baptism came, and it was seriously the best and most spiritual baptism I've experienced so far. The room was PACKED. So much so that we ran out of chairs and had to go get some from the Primary room. 

The mom bore her testimony, talking about how she knew the Book of Mormon was the work of God, and how the church had become her family, especially since her family had all abandoned her.

It was SO cool seeing each of them get baptized! Afterwards, we were talking to all of them. 

"How do you feel?" I asked the oldest son, who started out by being the most hesitant to join, and then became the most solid one. 

"Fine. Well. I'm a lot happier now." 

The next oldest son could NOT stop smiling from ear to ear. 

The daughter was mostly embarrassed that she had to be dunked twice. 

"That just means you're extra special!" said the mom. 

It was such a spiritual experience, and I really feel SO blessed to be able to be here back in Owego for it!

Our week ended, however, with a sad bit of news. After nearly 2 months of being sick, Sister C had to go home for medical release. She should be back soon, but let me tell you, I don't like this whole "sending sick companions home" thing. 

I have no doubt that she'll be back in a few weeks, however. And this way, she can come back in full force. 

Speaking of coming back, SISTER N IS COMING BACK TO THE MISSION FIELD SOON! I am SO excited and will get to see her before I come home. 

Man. The Lord is so good to us. 

I love you all! 

Hurrah for Israel!

Sista' Stimpson

November

So, Tuesday morning, Sister H, Sister C and I walked into district meeting. We waved to the man mowing the lawn, who I actually remember from last year. We walk inside to see the assistants, Elder G and Elder E standing there along with the zone leaders, Elder B and Elder S. I served with both Elder G and E in Elmira, so when I saw them I smiled and said, "My friends!!! Wait, why are you guys here?"

Turns out the assistants were spending the day with the zone leaders. 

 District meeting started, and for part of it, we broke up into groups. Sister H and I were in a group with Elder G. We flip open to the scriptures we're supposed to be reading, all while I'm telling Elder G something, he stands up mid-sentence and walks out with Elder E and Elder S. 

Sister H and I looked at each other, shrugged, then turned back to what we were supposed to be doing. However, the two of us seem to get really giggly around each other, so we weren't getting much done. 

Then, Elder G walked back in with the two other elders. 

 "The lawn mower outside caught on fire." 

"WHAT?" everyone in the room says. 

"Nothing. We'll talk about it after the meeting." 

 Elder G sat back down in our group. 

"OH. Elder G you smell AWFUL." I said, covering my nose. 

"What?"

"You smell like a campfire!" 

"Aw MAN!" he said, after smelling his suitcoat. "Now I'm gonna smell the rest of the day." 

"Hey, at least it was for an honorable cause." 

"No, it really wasn't." 

"You saved a man's lawn mower! I'd say that's honorable! And it could be worse. You could smell like pot." 
"I'm not sure if that's any worse.' 
"You could smell like hoarder?" 

"Oh man, we helped a hoarder move yesterday and I smelt SO bad." 

The three of the elders that helped literally smelled the whole room up. 

I found it downright hilarious. 

 We saw the zone leaders on Sunday, too for.............OUR INVESTIGATOR FAMILY'S BAPTISMAL INTERVIEWS!

So, normally the ward waits until after the interviews to announce about the baptism, BUT the interviews weren't until after church on Sunday, and the baptism is on Saturday.

On Sunday, Bishop came up to us and said, "Have they had their interviews yet?"

"Noooooope. It's tonight." 

"Should we announce it anyway?" 

"Yuuuuuuuuup." 

So then come the interviews and I find that I'm a nervous WRECK. They have no reason not to be baptized, but I was still nervous. 

The two youngest were interviewed first.  The first one came out, and Elder S gave a thumbs up, meaning he had passed. 

I breathed a sigh of relief and whispered to Sister C and Sister H, "OKAY. We have at least ONE baptism guys! ONE BAPTISM!" 

The next one came out soon after, and Elder B also gave a thumbs up, saying he had passed. 

"TWO baptisms! Okay, we are doing GREAT!" Sister H whispered back. 

One by one they each came out, and they each had passed. By the end, EVERYONE was smiling and SO excited! We are now prepping everything for the baptism! WISH. US. LUCK. 

 It has been an absolute blast serving in Owego as a trio. Sister H and I are waaaaaaaaaaay too much alike. We have too much fun together, so it's a good thing Sister C is there to keep us in line. 

 Anyway, I love you all! Wish I had more time to write, but alas, I must go. 

 Hurrah for Israel!

 Sister Stimpson

owegonnahavefun

First of all, my nail has now completely fallen off. And it's disgusting. Now I have this wrinkly, stub of a finger nail that's so gross that it's fascinating to look at. 

Anyway. 

It is such a privilege being back in Owego! Miracles happen everywhere and every day in the mission field, but I swear Owego is just the gold mine for miracles. 

I might also be partially biased because by the end of my mission I will have spent about 9-10 months here. 

Yay for coming back to the area you started your mission in!!

Let's just take a second and talk about how amazing our investigator family is. Yesterday at church, it was testimony meeting. The mom stood up and bore her testimony about how she knows this is the church of God, and how much this gospel has changed her life, and how the ward has basically become her family. She talked about how she went from having nothing, to having a family and hope. 

My companions and I all smiled at each other, and I turned to the district leader, who is serving in our ward and also would be in charge of doing the family’s baptismal interviews - and said, "So....does that count as her baptismal interview?" 

"No." 

"Dang it." 

Their baptism is still on schedule!

Now, once upon a time, we were working with a less active woman. Sister R and I tried and TRIED to get her to come to church, but she just WOULDN'T! Sisters have been meeting with her since, and we met with her this Saturday. 

She said yes to our invitation to church. 

"Okay, that means you'll have to wake up on time," we said. 

"I will!" 

"Okay. We'll call you in the morning." 

Sure enough, we called her, she answered and then.......SHE CAME TO CHURCH!

Miracles do happen, folks. Over a year in the making, and she finally came to church! 

Happy day. All is well.

Halloween was a lot of fun. We and the Elders in the ward spent it at the Bishop’s house. We had gotten permission from President to watch the Saratov Approach. 

So let's talk about how we got permission for that. 

President Wirthlin and the assistants came to our apartment to drop off a dresser for us so that I can actually unpack my suitcases and have somewhere to put everything since being emergency transferred. 

Yay for trios!

After President left, Sister C and Sister H and I were standing there and saying, "I swear there was something we wanted to ask President...oh! We need to ask him for permission to watch that movie!" 

"AH! HE'S LEAVING!" I yell, and I run full speed towards the door....and....

BAM. Completely biff it on our yoga mat. COMPLETELY. I fell, and slid towards the door. Still laying on the ground, I throw the door open and yell, "PRESIDEEEEEEEEEENT!" 

I stand up, and President runs back, with fear and panic in his eyes. 

I smile sheepishly, realizing that I probably sounded WAAAY more dramatic than I needed to be. I was just trying to be heard!

"Hey, buddy....so.....we were wondering if for Halloween we could---." 

His face completely relaxed, and if the man could roll his eyes, I'm pretty sure he would've as he said, "Yes." 

"What?" 

"The Elders already called about it. I approved it." 

And he walked away. 

"Okay....um.....THANKS!" 

My bum, arm, and back were sore for days after that fall. 

Worth it.

Our ward also had a Halloween party. I saw a less active member there that Sister R and I had worked with a year ago, but that the Elders are now working with. 

"You've been here forever!" he said when he saw me. 

"No I left and I came back--" I tried to explain, but before I fully could, he walked away and said to the Elders, "That sister's been here forever!" 

"Yeah she got transferred back--."
but before they could fully explain things, he walked away to his car and left the party.

The elders and I looked at each other, and shrugged. 

.....it's weird that things are coming to a close. 

I don't like it. 

I like being a missionary. 

Hurrah for Israel!

Sister Stimpson