It started out as another bum week.
"...All our lessons last week canceled. We went from having 8 lessons planned to 2 lessons actually working out. Now that's a huge bummer and not only that, but we had one of our key families we were teaching, the ones that were actually making progress, drop us. We were really quite upset about that, actually and just not happy campers. It happens in missionary work but we were just kind of struggling. But then Sunday came along. We gave talks in church, which luckily got changed to missionary work instead of the priesthood (thank havens) and that went SO well! We didn't really care what we said, we just wanted our enthusiasms for missionary work to come across and that is exactly what happened. We had them all riled up and just excited for missionary work! and that was our goal! :D So we were super happy about that!! THEN [a couple of investigators they have been working with] stayed for 2 hours of church instead of just one (tender mercy) and we had a great lesson on the Holy Ghost, so THAT made us super excited. Then when we were getting in our car to go to our other ward, the family that dropped us this week was walking into church!! We had only seen them come to church once since we started teaching them and they came walking in on their own!! So now we were just feeling like we were on top of the world! :D but it gets better... :)
K! So here is the best part!
We go to the Mac 1st ward and we walk in, normal day, yeah, cool. But we challenged one of the families that we were teaching in that ward to come to church and sit with us that day since we sit by ourselves. We were expecting mom and maybe a kid. We find a bench and we turn around and who should walk in BUT THE WHOLE FAMILY! Not only the mom but the three kids and DAD! Now a little background on dad - dad has been completely against the church for a very long time. They said that he would never step foot on church property, but there he was, actually in church, with his kids!! It was amazing!! Truly a miracle! to see that family, on the brink of just being lost, to actually being in the church, enjoying it and stay all of sacrament, with the little kids not putting up a fuss or getting impatient or anything, it was amazing. We sat and colored with the kids and what-not and mom and dad sat there, held hands and listened. Truly a highlight of my week. It didn't matter anything that had happened before - the lessons that fell through, the family that dropped us, or the run in with the Johova Witnesses [they had a very degraeding encoutner with them earlier in the week] that moment right there made it all worth it. We have dinner with them tomorrow... she wrote when she signed up "if my husband will allow it" and we're good to go for tomorrow for dinner! We are SO excited to be in that home.... It was the best moment of my week!!!
...I had a quick interview with the president this morning and guess who's training next month?! This person! President talked to me and he's like 'We need you to train and Sister Peart to train next transfer. How do you feel about back to back training? First you're the trainee and now you're the trainer." And I was like.."Well President, sound good!" So it looks like Sister Peart and I are being separated (sad face) next month, but I get a greenie and start training!! How crazy is that?! I'm SO excited!! Scared..I mean it's like I'm training a new missionary, it sets them off for the rest of their mission and I don't really know how much I know..but hey, if the Lord thinks I can do it, then, okay!
K! So here's another piece of exciting news!
So you heard they opened 58 new missions right? Well one of the those missions was the SALEM OREGON mission!!
Which means.. the Portland Oregon mission will be split!!! Which means that the current area I'm serving in will, in July, be put in the Salem Oregon mission. WHICH also means that I may or may not be in the Portland mission in 6 months.
Now, this isn't to say that I'm for sure switching missions but it is a possibility. In six months time the area I'm in now won't even be in my mission anymore! which is sad. I love these people!! but the Lord has other plans too.. so how cool is that! It's a bitter sweet thing, my mission is changing! and it's going to affect me one way or another. I'll be kicked into the city or I'll be switched to another mission, ha! I've been so excited to tell you!"
Sister Maxfield
excerpts from Erin's e-mails 02/26/2013
"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Chirst, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life." 3 Nephi 5:13
A missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Oregon Portland Mission 2012-2013
Washington Vancouver Mission 2013-2014
Oregon Portland Mission 2012-2013
Washington Vancouver Mission 2013-2014
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Well, it's been another week here in Oregon.
"The works been progressing, slowly but progressing. We had a few lessons last week but we also had a handful fall through because of the flu that has been going around. Yeah, it's nuts up here too, but I will get to that in a minute. :P
...One funny story this week. Last week we were asked to speak in sacrament meeting this coming Sunday and the topic was the priesthood authority. We were like..'okay' (since that was the topic for that week's meeting too). So we agreed and spent most of the week preparing for it, or at least attempting to prepare for it. We kind of struggled but we made it and had our talks all ready to go. Sunday comes around and we walk into church and just as a joke we go up to the first councilor and we were like 'So..we're speaking today, right?' and he looks at us and was like 'no' and we were like.. 'what???'..and he's like 'Yeah, we had a mix up and you guys are going to speak next week.' We sat and stared at him wide eyed, we weren't expecting that at all, we were just joking. So we picked our jaws up off the floor and took our seats in the congregation. So the speakers get up and give their talks. The first speaker had the same topic we did and pretty much gave our exact talks. Same with the second. We're still speaking next week, same topic. Who knows where we're going to go with it or what we're going to speak on! But hey, we'll figure something out :)
So I've been sick this week. I started getting what's been being passed around. But luckily my comp loves me and we came in a little early one night, filled me full of drugs, vitamins and sent me to bed. I slept great until about 3 that morning when I got up and couldn't get back to sleep. My comp woke up with me and we sat there and chatted. And for whatever reason, I was SO full of energy! I told her bedtime stories, we sat there and laughed and talked, I even gave her a puppet show! So full of energy. Luckily, she got smart, drugged me up again, and we went back to sleep. Luckily I felt better about three days later. It didn't take me out as it has others. Prayer and drugs, the key to all health :) but no worries, I'm all better now and continue rolling!"
Sister Maxfield
"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ... I have been called of him to declare His word among His people that they might have everlasting life" 3 Nephi 5:13
excerpts from Erin's e-mail 02/19/2013
...One funny story this week. Last week we were asked to speak in sacrament meeting this coming Sunday and the topic was the priesthood authority. We were like..'okay' (since that was the topic for that week's meeting too). So we agreed and spent most of the week preparing for it, or at least attempting to prepare for it. We kind of struggled but we made it and had our talks all ready to go. Sunday comes around and we walk into church and just as a joke we go up to the first councilor and we were like 'So..we're speaking today, right?' and he looks at us and was like 'no' and we were like.. 'what???'..and he's like 'Yeah, we had a mix up and you guys are going to speak next week.' We sat and stared at him wide eyed, we weren't expecting that at all, we were just joking. So we picked our jaws up off the floor and took our seats in the congregation. So the speakers get up and give their talks. The first speaker had the same topic we did and pretty much gave our exact talks. Same with the second. We're still speaking next week, same topic. Who knows where we're going to go with it or what we're going to speak on! But hey, we'll figure something out :)
So I've been sick this week. I started getting what's been being passed around. But luckily my comp loves me and we came in a little early one night, filled me full of drugs, vitamins and sent me to bed. I slept great until about 3 that morning when I got up and couldn't get back to sleep. My comp woke up with me and we sat there and chatted. And for whatever reason, I was SO full of energy! I told her bedtime stories, we sat there and laughed and talked, I even gave her a puppet show! So full of energy. Luckily, she got smart, drugged me up again, and we went back to sleep. Luckily I felt better about three days later. It didn't take me out as it has others. Prayer and drugs, the key to all health :) but no worries, I'm all better now and continue rolling!"
Sister Maxfield
"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ... I have been called of him to declare His word among His people that they might have everlasting life" 3 Nephi 5:13
excerpts from Erin's e-mail 02/19/2013
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Kisses, chickens, all enfolded in the gospel :)
"...Thank-you for all your prayers. They've truly been answered. This week was a much much better week. We've been in much better moods and the work has progressed forward.
Josh & Kelly are doing great. [this is a couple they have been teaching] I love those guys!! We have a lesson this week and we're focusing it all on the atonement. So we've been studying a lot on that. We've been studying in Alma 36 about the forgiveness the Lord showed Alma, then helped him become this amazing missionary and prophet. It's incredible. If the Lord is willing to do that for him, we can't even imagine what He could do for us. He simply asks us to repent and come unto him and he'll take care of the rest. What better news can we receive?? So we have a great lesson planned for them, I'm really excited! ...
We've also been working with another family.... They've been SO fun to be with. It's a part member family. The mother's a member but the rest of the family isn't. The mother was inactive for a long time, to the point she wanted nothing to do with the church, but then decided one day she wanted to come back, and did! We went to her home a few weeks later, she let us in and we've been teaching them ever since. The husband isn't a member and has no interest in the gospel but whenever we're over teaching them, the husband sits in the the kitchen and listens to the lesson. We're praying that his heart softens and he has the desire to join his family. They have the cutest kids. One sure has a hard time when you're trying to read the kids a story from the Friend and the 3 year old boy is trying to snuggle with you! It was the cutest thing!! I love going over there. We've been teaching through the kids and the Spirit that's been there has been so strong every time. So we're praying for them. We're also starting to teach another part member family.... the father's a member, mother and kids aren't. We stopped by this week to get to know them and the father was so happy we were there. We were talking to him later and he sat and expressed how grateful he was that the Sisters were there in his home and he was hoping and praying the somehow the gospel would touch his wife and kids and they would have the desire to be baptized. So we're starting to work with them a little. So we have that on the horizon! :D This work is incredible!!
So this week for my 1 month birthday (I've been in Portland for a whole month now!!!) we went to the local Asian buffet, with the other elders in the zone, for lunch. While there, my comp and I came up with a brilliant idea!! We decided that we would pick a name out of a hat and whosoever's name you had, you had to make a plate for them! hahahaha! oh boy, oh boy, oh, boy! They were NASTY!! Think about it...it's an Asian buffet with all the nasty sea food and Asian grossness that exists out in the world and it was all there compiled onto one plate, yuck!!! I built my plate so I put all the soupy stuff at the bottom so whatever else went on top marinated in the juice :) The face that the elder was making while eating my plate was priceless!! It was so fun! And although I suffered much pain and affliction while trying to eat my plate, I made it through the bonds of crab salad, spicy shrimp, gray squeaky blobs and fried bananas to the land of freedom! (an empty plate) It was a struggle, but I kept it down! :) That's something a mother can be proud of :)
We also received a surprise package in the mail this week from Sis. Peart's family. We opened it up and inside was two squished rubber chickens!! :D I never knew how much fun rubber chickens could be! We've named them Lewis and Moe. And oh the joy that filled our souls. They came hiking with us yesterday for p-day...got stuck in a tree, thrown in the river, filled with water...tied into a knot...used as swords and weapons...twisted together to form a hat...filled us full of hours of entertainment. Too funny! Who knew, rubber chickens! hahaha! :P
Well, that's about all I had for this week...NO WAIT! So, I told you about the 3 year old that was snuggling with me. Well, the other night we were at another family's home for dinner; there was the parents and their little 4 year old. We played and chatted and when it came time for us to go we tried leaving and the little boy was SO sad that we were leaving!! We were finally able to get out of the door and the little boy was like 'Wait!!' and he ran down the driveway, gave me a huge hug and then kissed me on the cheek!! ...it truely warmed up the cobwebs of my heart! :) Highlight of my week!! :) "
Sister Maxfield
p.s. go study Alma 36, truely is one of my favorite scriptures!
- excerpts from Erin's e-mail 02/12/2013
Josh & Kelly are doing great. [this is a couple they have been teaching] I love those guys!! We have a lesson this week and we're focusing it all on the atonement. So we've been studying a lot on that. We've been studying in Alma 36 about the forgiveness the Lord showed Alma, then helped him become this amazing missionary and prophet. It's incredible. If the Lord is willing to do that for him, we can't even imagine what He could do for us. He simply asks us to repent and come unto him and he'll take care of the rest. What better news can we receive?? So we have a great lesson planned for them, I'm really excited! ...
We've also been working with another family.... They've been SO fun to be with. It's a part member family. The mother's a member but the rest of the family isn't. The mother was inactive for a long time, to the point she wanted nothing to do with the church, but then decided one day she wanted to come back, and did! We went to her home a few weeks later, she let us in and we've been teaching them ever since. The husband isn't a member and has no interest in the gospel but whenever we're over teaching them, the husband sits in the the kitchen and listens to the lesson. We're praying that his heart softens and he has the desire to join his family. They have the cutest kids. One sure has a hard time when you're trying to read the kids a story from the Friend and the 3 year old boy is trying to snuggle with you! It was the cutest thing!! I love going over there. We've been teaching through the kids and the Spirit that's been there has been so strong every time. So we're praying for them. We're also starting to teach another part member family.... the father's a member, mother and kids aren't. We stopped by this week to get to know them and the father was so happy we were there. We were talking to him later and he sat and expressed how grateful he was that the Sisters were there in his home and he was hoping and praying the somehow the gospel would touch his wife and kids and they would have the desire to be baptized. So we're starting to work with them a little. So we have that on the horizon! :D This work is incredible!!
So this week for my 1 month birthday (I've been in Portland for a whole month now!!!) we went to the local Asian buffet, with the other elders in the zone, for lunch. While there, my comp and I came up with a brilliant idea!! We decided that we would pick a name out of a hat and whosoever's name you had, you had to make a plate for them! hahahaha! oh boy, oh boy, oh, boy! They were NASTY!! Think about it...it's an Asian buffet with all the nasty sea food and Asian grossness that exists out in the world and it was all there compiled onto one plate, yuck!!! I built my plate so I put all the soupy stuff at the bottom so whatever else went on top marinated in the juice :) The face that the elder was making while eating my plate was priceless!! It was so fun! And although I suffered much pain and affliction while trying to eat my plate, I made it through the bonds of crab salad, spicy shrimp, gray squeaky blobs and fried bananas to the land of freedom! (an empty plate) It was a struggle, but I kept it down! :) That's something a mother can be proud of :)
We also received a surprise package in the mail this week from Sis. Peart's family. We opened it up and inside was two squished rubber chickens!! :D I never knew how much fun rubber chickens could be! We've named them Lewis and Moe. And oh the joy that filled our souls. They came hiking with us yesterday for p-day...got stuck in a tree, thrown in the river, filled with water...tied into a knot...used as swords and weapons...twisted together to form a hat...filled us full of hours of entertainment. Too funny! Who knew, rubber chickens! hahaha! :P
Well, that's about all I had for this week...NO WAIT! So, I told you about the 3 year old that was snuggling with me. Well, the other night we were at another family's home for dinner; there was the parents and their little 4 year old. We played and chatted and when it came time for us to go we tried leaving and the little boy was SO sad that we were leaving!! We were finally able to get out of the door and the little boy was like 'Wait!!' and he ran down the driveway, gave me a huge hug and then kissed me on the cheek!! ...it truely warmed up the cobwebs of my heart! :) Highlight of my week!! :) "
Sister Maxfield
p.s. go study Alma 36, truely is one of my favorite scriptures!
- excerpts from Erin's e-mail 02/12/2013
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Well, this week has honestly been kind of a doozie week.
"Sunday night we had 8 lessons on the calendar, planned and ready to go. By the time next Sunday came around I think we had 2 of the 8 lessons. All others canceled on us. We even had to cancel a few of our dinner appointments because of 'too many lessons' and then dinner time came around and then no lessons; we ate on our own, which is honestly fine. I don't mind but it's just been kind of a doozie week. Tracking didn't prove to be much success either. It was like there was a sign over our heads that said, 'Don't listen to them, shut the door, be mean, let them know you're an anti, etc.' So tracting wasn't so great either. We did hand out two Book of Mormons though so I guess all wasn't lost but still, kind of a doozie week. It happens. We have lessons planned once again for this week and we'll continue on in the work! Onward and upward, right?! :)
...We've decided this place is like the Twilight Zone, where one minute things are one way and then the next it's something different. Everyone has a different story as to something that happened. It's just funny to be here. I won't lie though, I love it. We're constantly laughing at the odd or peculiar things that go on around here. Like a cauliflower farm? which stinks, by the way. Who grows cauliflower?? This place does. Huge barns that look like giants sat on them. Kind of creepy the way the fog rolls in and random people out there, three legged dogs and people with different colored eyes. I love it though - I'm pretty sure I talk about this town every week so far, but every week I find some other reason to love it here! They have a huge alpaca farm down here too! hahaha! It is so random. But that's okay.
...That's about all. We're praying that this week to come goes better than the week we had. That's the mission though, not everything is candy and rainbows. Sometimes you get brussel sprouts and rain (which we really have had a lot of)...they're still good but it could be better hahaha!..."
"p.s.s. So funny story real quick. We had FHE with the Gilliats (love that family!! They're so sweet!!! :D) and for FHE we sang an opening song and they decided that at the same time everyone would just sing their favorite primary song. And so at the count of 1..2..3 everyone bursted out in 'Give Said the Little Stream', 'I Am a Child of God', 'I Hope They Call Me on a Mission', and of course I bursted out in 'Once There Was a Snowman' . It was great! ...try that sometime! Everyone sing all at the same time so everyone gets the song they want to sing! Bingo! :D "
excerpts from Erin's e-mail 02/05/2013
...We've decided this place is like the Twilight Zone, where one minute things are one way and then the next it's something different. Everyone has a different story as to something that happened. It's just funny to be here. I won't lie though, I love it. We're constantly laughing at the odd or peculiar things that go on around here. Like a cauliflower farm? which stinks, by the way. Who grows cauliflower?? This place does. Huge barns that look like giants sat on them. Kind of creepy the way the fog rolls in and random people out there, three legged dogs and people with different colored eyes. I love it though - I'm pretty sure I talk about this town every week so far, but every week I find some other reason to love it here! They have a huge alpaca farm down here too! hahaha! It is so random. But that's okay.
...That's about all. We're praying that this week to come goes better than the week we had. That's the mission though, not everything is candy and rainbows. Sometimes you get brussel sprouts and rain (which we really have had a lot of)...they're still good but it could be better hahaha!..."
"p.s.s. So funny story real quick. We had FHE with the Gilliats (love that family!! They're so sweet!!! :D) and for FHE we sang an opening song and they decided that at the same time everyone would just sing their favorite primary song. And so at the count of 1..2..3 everyone bursted out in 'Give Said the Little Stream', 'I Am a Child of God', 'I Hope They Call Me on a Mission', and of course I bursted out in 'Once There Was a Snowman' . It was great! ...try that sometime! Everyone sing all at the same time so everyone gets the song they want to sing! Bingo! :D "
excerpts from Erin's e-mail 02/05/2013
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