Happiness Is a Warm Puppy?

Well it's getting cold.

We should be getting snow any day now.

I'm wearing big brown second hand boots with my super cute outfit.

Is it cute with the boots?

Probably not.

Is it a fashion disaster?

Probably.

Could I qualify to be put on What Not to Wear?

Maybe.

But guess what.

It's cold.

Sister Taylor is having a harder time with the cold than I am.

She's having a hard time adjusting from dry cold to humid cold.

To me it's just cold since I haven't experienced much cold.

Yesterday she exclaimed "you are NOT from California! You're from somewhere weird!"

 

So this week was interesting.

It was the end of the month.

Do you know what that means?

No miles.

We decided to walk to District Meeting.

Bad idea.

We didn't leave soon enough, so we were running late.
The other Sisters had to pick us up. 

On Thursday we walked all day in the rain.

Happy Halloween to us!

But guess what!
We taught a lesson to this awesome guy selling pumpkins outside the YMCA.

IT WAS AWESOME!!!

How did the rest of Halloween go?

Let me give you a play by play:

We continued to walk to the church after our lesson.

We had decided earlier that we would eat lunch at the church.

We just had to heat up our food in the oven for a bit.

When we got to the church it was being cleaned.

Well, we couldn't eat our lunch there.

We called a less active who lives close by and luckily she came and got us and we heated up or frozen pizza in her oven and ate there.

Now, our boots, socks and tights were drenched.

We made lots of phone calls trying to set up appointments for the upcoming week while we waited for everything to dry.

None of it dried.

We walked to our dinner appointment wet.

Luckily it was warm!
Unfortunately, Sister Taylor's umbrella broke.

We got to our dinner appointment looking like wet dogs.

Sister Tenney gave us her hair dryer and we sat on her floor drying each other’s feet.

We had a delicious dinner and then went home because we had to be in by 6.

It was a great Halloween! 

I told you briefly about the less active we see every week.

Let me tell you more.

When we come in we get attacked by giant puppy.

We talk in the entryway for 5-10 minutes while still getting attacked by giant puppy.

We ease our way to the couch while being attacked by giant puppy.

We say opening prayer while being attacked by giant puppy.

We teach lesson while getting attacked by giant puppy.

Somehow, some way, the Spirit manages to be there.

We say closing prayer and giant puppy manages to stay calm.

We say "amen" and get attacked by giant puppy.

We hug and say goodbyes while being attacked by giant puppy.

We leave while being attacked by giant puppy.

Somehow we make it out without any major fatalities, but we are well coated with slobber and hair.

It's awesome! 

Sister Taylor and I had a big heart to heart the other day. It was great!
We needed it. 

Then we got to go to the happiest house.

The Daley family is awesome!

They're so sweet and happy and the Spirit is so strong there.

It felt like being home. :) 

In the reading in Mosiah there is a very common theme.

It's pretty common throughout the whole Book of Mormon, but it has really stuck out to me in Mosiah. 

Here it is:
If you are faithful and obedient, you're blessed. If you aren't faithful and obedient, you aren't blessed. 

I also loved Mosiah 16:6-8 

 6 And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come ^aas though they had already come, there could have been no redemption.

 7 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no ^asting, there could have been no resurrection.

 8 But there is a ^aresurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of ^bdeath is swallowed up in Christ.

It basically says that without the Atonement, life would be pointless.

SO TRUE!!! 

 9 He is the ^alight and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death. 

17:9-10 

9 Now Abinadi said unto him: I say unto you, I will ^anot recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands.

 10 Yea, and I will ^asuffer even until death, and I will not recall my words, and they shall stand as a ^btestimony against you. And if ye slay me ye will shed ^cinnocent blood, and this shall also stand as a testimony against you at the last day.

SLAM DOWN!

Abinidi stands up for what he believes and won't back down.

We all need to be this way!

Cross reference that with Romans 1:16

 

Well I love you all!

Have a great week! 

Love,

Sister Heywood

PS. I hit 5 months tomorrow!
Can you believe I've been a missionary for 5 months?

I can't. 

Mosiah 21: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/21

Mosiah 22: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/22

Mosiah 23: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/23

Mosiah 24: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/24

Mosiah 25: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/25

LOADS OF FUN!

Oh, hello! I didn't see you there. 

Here are some funny things I haven't told you yet.

-I spend every Thursday night with a crazy dog.

Really we're there to see a less-active, but the dog gets in the way.

The problem is she's so darn cute!

You can't say no.

Well, until she scratches you and you end up with a scar on your arm. 

-People here love their animals.

Everyone has a sign on their door saying to save their animals if there is a fire.

EVERYONE! 

-We're kind of teaching this lady who told us yesterday to "be careful with our prophet. Beware that he might lead you away from Christ like [someone I won't mention]".

Yup.

We told her "actually, the whole purpose of our prophet is to point to Christ and he directs us to Christ. And twice a year we get to hear him speak about how we can grow closer to Christ."

Her: Oh

Yup, we slapped her in the face.

We did it out of pride which was bad, but she deserved it right?

Maybe not.

Oh well. 

Guess what. 

This week was great, as usual! 

New investigators

General authorities

Halloween Parties

Exchanges 

LOADS OF FUN! 

We found one of our new investigators when we went to see a former investigator.

He wasn't home, but his fiancé was.

At first we left without saying much.

I was the one that cut things off before we could teach.

Of course I beat myself up and told Sister Taylor I was never talking again!

Well, we got in the car and said, let's just go back and invite her to the ward Halloween party.

We went back.

She let us in!

We taught her and her cute little daughter.

We invited her to be baptized.

She said "Well, I was baptized when I was younger..."

I start to think, oh shoot, ok now how am I going to explain to her that she needs to be baptized by the proper authority?

Then she says, "but I'd love to again!"

WHAT?!!!

I did a little jig in my brain. :)

Yup. She's getting baptized!

November 30th is the date! WHAT?!

This hasn't ever happened to me out here before.

The Spirit is amazing.

We had an investigator family come to the Halloween party.

Get this!
They know two families in the ward and actually baby sit for one of them.

Connections!
Oh, it's meant to be! 

We got to go to a conference with Elder Carlson (http://www.lds.org/church/leader/bruce-a-carlson). 

He is so cool!
He talked about being a consecrated missionary.

How can all of you be consecrated missionaries and followers of Christ?

Think about it and make a list.

I have given up all of my time, talents and efforts to be here. 

I thought a lot about why I came on a mission.

I realized that the reason I gave people was a lie.

Not that I tried to lie, but I did. Especially to myself. 

Why did I come on a mission?
I have no idea.

I didn't want to serve a mission.

I did not want to at all.

It's too hard.

I didn't see myself as a missionary.

Why would I want to do that? 

That's an awful reason to come on a mission. I know.

BUT there are great reasons why I have stayed.

I love the people.

I love the Lord.

I love my brothers and sisters and I want to bring them home with me.

I am so grateful to be a missionary.

I'm grateful for the efforts from family, friends and most importantly that God put into pushing me to come.

I can't imagine myself anywhere else.

I don't know who I would be without this experience.

When I entered the MTC I was terrified, but it felt right.

All those feelings of not wanting to be a missionary went away.

I need to be here, therefore I will give my all and I will do it with a smile. :D 

Exchanges were good.

They were hard at first.

I had a super off day.

I couldn't feel the Spirit as I was teaching and I was frazzled and didn't know what to do.

It was weird.

I haven't been without the Spirit in a long time.

Especially when I teach.

I didn't like that. 

Later though, we followed the spirit and were able to answer someone's prayers.

We planned to see Jennifer then Sister Anderson.

Well, we debated and debated on what to do when we were leaving.

We decided to choose.

We chose Jennifer.

It felt right.

We drove there.

Got there.

Parked.

Started to pray.

Got the feeling, nope, this isn't it.

Sister Mickelsen backed me out.

On the way to Sister Anderson's I almost turned around.

I almost did when we got to her house too.

We almost went back to see Jennifer.

We didn't.

We went inside.

Sister Anderson said she had been praying that we would come over.

HOW COOL??!!!
She's goin' through a rough patch.

We told her to get out of it that she had to come back to church and read her scriptures and pray.

She said "I know."

It was awesome!
Then she didn't come to church the next day.

I was so sad.

We're going to show her some tough love soon. 

My favorite part of the reading this week was Chapter 14:4-8 

4 Surely he has ^aborne our ^bgriefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

 5 But he was ^awounded for our ^btransgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are ^chealed.

 6 All we, like ^asheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.

 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he ^aopened not his mouth; he is brought as a ^blamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth.

 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people was he stricken. 

Christ knows everything we're going through.

He's suffered everything we have.

He died for us all.

He loves us.

I am so grateful for that love and that it allows me to return home. 

I know this church is true.

I know the Book of Mormon is true. 

 

I love you all.

Have a great week. 

Love,

Sister Heywood 

PS. I went to seminary this morning. I almost miss waking up early and singing with groggy voices.  

Reading:

Mosiah 15: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/15

Mosiah 16: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/16

Mosiah 17: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/17

Mosiah 18: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/18

Mosiah 19: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/19

Mosiah 20: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/20

                                 
                                                Fall in Michigan!

 

                    
                                                      Sister Taylor

 

                    
Well, we didn't think it was possible for there to be a missionary out there
that was smaller than and looked younger than Emma.  We thought wrong!

                            
Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Cowell for the warm fuzzy socks!!!!

God Must Really Like Me

Michigan Fact:

Everyone has a million cars.

No joke.

We'll go to a house and see five cars.

Yay! They're home.

Knock, knock, knock.

............No answer.

Knock, knock, knock a second time.

.................................No answer.

No one home.

5 Cars outside and NO ONE HOME! 

Anyway, it's been a minute since I've written!

How are all of you doin?

This was a great week!

-5 new investigators

-Boots

-Food

It's been great!

Last Monday we went to a less active's home like we do every Monday.

His wife isn't a member, but she sits out when we teach him.

So, we taught her the Restoration and let him help.

Our District Leader challenged us to invite her to be baptized.

We said "Ok" but I was thinking "yah right, not happening."

We hung up the phone and I thought "shoot. We have to invite her to baptized."

So, we taught a great lesson, 100% led by the Spirit and extended the invitation.

What did she say?

DRUM ROLL!!!!!!

Not yes.

Not no.

But "not at this time."
Not YET!

We were excited. :)

Then her husband read her this:

1 Corinthians 12-16:

12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

 13 And the woman which hath an ^ahusband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

 14 ^aFor the unbelieving ^bhusband is ^csanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is ^dsanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us ^ato peace.

 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt ^asave thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? 

It was pretty cool. 

We had a clothing drive this week.

Salvation Army had a ton of 100 pound bails and people got to come shop for free.

It was awesome!

We got to help people and teach people.

We even got to take some stuff too!

They were going to take it away at the end, so they were like, take stuff!

All the missionaries were like YAY!!! 

I got 2 pairs of snow boots.

Lots of beanies and scarves, and a couple skirts.

I was so grateful.

I don't need to buy boots now.

And someone in the ward is going to give me a coat that is too small for them.

I was so worried about buying all my winter stuff and now I don't have to buy everything!

All I have to worry about is tights and maybe a pair of mittens.

I am so thankful! 

At the clothing drive, we met the coolest lady.

She's coming to church this week and wants to bring her friends with her.

SO COOL!

She loved how warm she felt when she walked into the building and how nice everyone was.

She said she's never felt that way at a church before, and she's been to a lot of churches. 

I'm going to share my reading insights now and finish this e-mail with something else. 

I LOVED Mosiah 7.

ERMERGERSH!!!!! So good.

That's the only chapter I'm going to talk about. 

First off:

Verse 19 (Trust in God):

 19 Therefore, lift up your heads, and rejoice, and put your ^atrust in ^bGod, in that God who was the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; and also, that God who ^cbrought the children of ^dIsrael out of the land of Egypt, and caused that they should walk through the ^eRed Sea on dry ground, and fed them with ^fmanna that they might not perish in the wilderness; and many more things did he do for them. 

Then it talks about being in bondage:

 20 And again, that same God has brought our fathers ^aout of the land of Jerusalem, and has kept and preserved his people even until now; and behold, it is ^bbecause of our iniquities and abominations that he has brought us into bondage. 

 24 Yea, I say unto you, great are the reasons which we have to ^amourn; for behold how many of our brethren have been slain, and their blood has been spilt in vain, and all because of iniquity.

 25 For if this people had not fallen into transgression the Lord would not have suffered that this great evil should come upon them. But behold, they would not hearken unto his words; but there arose contentions among them, even so much that they did shed blood among themselves.

 29 For behold, the Lord hath said: I will not ^asuccor my people in the day of their transgression; but I will hedge up their ways that they prosper not; and their doings shall be as a ^bstumbling block before them.

 30 And again, he saith: If my people shall sow ^afilthiness they shall ^breap the ^cchaff thereof in the whirlwind; and the effect thereof is poison.

 31 And again he saith: If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the ^aeast wind, which bringeth immediate destruction.

When we choose the wrong, we are in bondage.

Not physically, but spiritually.

When we're in that position it may feel like there is no way out, but there is!

You can get out of bondage and the coolest thing is that God wants to help you.

When we turn away from God we put ourselves in bondage.

God's hand is still outstretched and we ignore it.

Stop ignoring and hold on.  

 33 But if ye will ^aturn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all ^bdiligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage. 

Choose the right. Keep the commandments.

Your Heavenly Father will release you from bondage. 

So, we talked to our Atheist friend again last night.

When we got to his house he said "Oh! Do you want to battle?"

We were like, “No!”

We told him we could answer his questions as best as we could, but we weren't going to "battle" him.

It actually turned out well.

No, we couldn’t answer all his questions.

No, he doesn't believe in God yet.

BUT I think we're softening his heart.

He likes us. We're real. We aren't these crazy Jesus girls trying to prove him wrong.

We're very real with him about what we think and stuff and I think he appreciates that.

Sister Taylor and I decided that for him we're what a Christian is "supposed" to be; friendly and warm. 

One interesting thing is he asked how we can know God is real just based on feelings.

Well, we told him that God is evident in all things.

In the leaves, in our families, in the beauty of the earth and the universe.

Things he sees in his telescope are evidence that God is real and that God loves us.

Our friend said that was an interesting perspective and he'd never heard that before.

He said "God must really like me then."

"Yah, He loves you a lot."

I think we're making a break through.

Next time we see him, we're going to invite him to take the discussions. :) 

I KNOW 100% God loves us all so much.

It is evident in EVERY good thing.

We as humans are evidence of God's love and existence. 

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=2738091800001 

Love you all! 

The Church is true!

Love,

Sister Heywood 

Reading:

Mosiah 11: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/11

Mosiah 12: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/12

Mosiah 13: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/13

Mosiah 14: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/14