This one time....

Dear family and friends

So Sister Shumway has experienced me at my tiredest this week, which
resulted in us lying in bed and me listing off a bunch of crazy
stories from my life, and each one began with this one time...

We have had a fantastic week, I was so tired because we have been
talking to so many people and have just been so busy!!

We have 3 new investigators this week!! Oh I love walking. It makes it
so easy to just go up to people and talk to them. I am loving it!
First few days my feet and my legs were sore, but now I think I'm
getting used to it.

So this one time.... we were walking in an area and looking for people
out and about that we could help. We were walking by this one house
when I felt the spirit tell me to go knock on it... I shrugged it
off... then it told me to go knock on it again... and I ignored it...
then the prompting came a third time. Me and sister Shumway were in
the middle of the road almost completely passed the house when I just
threw my hands in the air and said fine and began back to knock that
houses door. Just as we were about to knock we noticed that she had a
bunch of mulch bags in the front of her house. We told her that we
would love to help her and she said she didn't need help... well
needless to say she was very closed when we began our conversation.
After she declined our offer to serve her we began to teach her about
the Book of Mormon and read a scripture from it to her. We asked her
what she thought and she said that it would require some more
investigation. So we said here ya go, and gave her the book. At the
end of our conversation she not only accepted the Book of Mormon, but
she set up a time for us to come back the next day to help her mulch.
We brought a member and her 3 yr. old daughter and they were perfect
fellowship. We mulched in no time and then she let us teach her the
restoration when the task was completed.
Then last night she even came over to the members house to watch
Joseph Smith Prophet of the restoration. She has not yet read the
book, but says she really wants to.  She is taking it with her on her
vacation to Kentucky, so will everyone PLEASE pray that Denise will
read the Book of Mormon this week, that would be wonderful!!! :)

So this other time....
We met a lady name cynethia. We invited her to an event this saturday
but we couldn't find an invitation. She said that when we found one to
come back and give it to her. So the next day we did. She invited us
in and we began talking about our favorite things about Jesus Christ.
The conversation evolved to her telling us about all these dreams she
has been having about her family that has passed away coming to her
and trying to tell her something... WOW. She is pretty prepared. We
asked her if she wanted to learn more and she said of course... we
tried to set a time to come back. Well that resulted in this awkward
moment when she had sooo much faith that she wouldn't reschedule with
us because she knew we would come back at the right time... ha.

So this other time...
We were knocking doors when I realized that the door had 2 peep holes,
one normal height and one very low. I jokingly said to him, "that's a
small peep hole, is it for small people... ha ha ha" He didn't
laugh... it was awkward, and he wasn't interested. As we were walking
away my comp. said, "that awkward moment when his wife is a midget."
GAH! Don't tell me that!

So this one time I forgot sunscreen and got sunburned very very bad...
It peeled. BUT I think I am actually getting tan!?!?!?

So this one time I had a question. I looked at my companion and said
what do you say to Jesus when he sneezes?
you: bless you
Jesus: no, bless you...

So this one time a lady tried to bible bash... and it was really hard
to not bible bash. Seriously people just because it says in
revelations that nothing is to be added to this book, well I always
want to rebut with ...that same statement is written in Genesis, so
should we just throw away the whole bible? But I contained myself. She
asked some questions and we answered, and then she bore her testimony
to us, then we bore our testimony to her and read moroni 10:3-5 and
asked her to read it and compare it to the bible and find out if some
of the things she has heard are really in the Book of Mormon. She
accepted and took the book!! Man I know the Book of Mormon is true, it
seems that every time we read them something from it they accept the
invitation to read it!! :)

So this one time sister Lambson told us a joke...
Sis L: did you hear about that guy who got his whole left side cut off?
Everyone else: what?
Sis L: yeah he is all right now.
Everyone else: HA HA HA!


So this one time our new members brought not only one but two non
members to church. We talked to them and they want to learn more and
be baptized, so we are going to get their parents permission and begin
to teach them!! :)

GOD IS SOO GOOD!

This was one of the best weeks of my mission. I love being here and am
kind of sad that I am at my half way point because that means this is
going to end sooner rather then later... :( though don't get me wrong,
I still love all of ya'll! :)

Happy Easter week! It is going to be so great!!

Love ya'll!

Love,
Sister Chambers

Sharing is Caring

So it has been pretty interesting sharing our car this week... They
have to pick us up and drop us off... and the other sisters don't know
where anything is so basically I just feel like a chaffer. But in a
good way. I love being able to serve them and  help them learn the
area.
So there area is further away then ours so.... looks like we will be
looking into bikes today and seeing if any members could loan us some
bikes.... I think I'll have the best looking legs by the time I go
home.

We are really looking hard for new investigators to teach... which
means a ton of knocking on doors. But Sister Shumway (my new comp.) is
a champ! The first golden hour we had we were able to find a
potential. He is interested in learning about our views on life after
death. He had a ton of great questions but we didn't have enough time
to address all of them. He even gave us a referral for his roommate,
who we met the next day and he was pretty nice.

Oh Just a little shout out about my comp! She and my trainer were mtc
comps and I think she is just the most awesomest person ever. We
already are having a wonderful time laughing and telling stories and
working super hard. I feel like she pushes me to be a better
missionary in the best way possible. She is so sweet and caring and
just what I need right now!

I have decided that I want to improve myself... like a lot! So to be
able to do this I am picking a goal each day and working my hardest to
accomplish it... The first day was to hand out 10 cards to people... I
got 8! :) Second day was to be bold and tell someone that I know the
Book of Mormon can change their life! Did it, and the man even took a
Book of Mormon, though he was not exactly ready to meet with us... at
least he has the book! Today's goal is to make sure that those who I
talk to I make sure to mention the restoration!

When you come out on a mission you are so excited to share the gospel,
but it seems the longer you are out you begin to loose a little of
that zest. The new missionary in the ward is reminding me of what I
was like... Super bold and ready to tell everyone about the church.
Now I am a little hesitant and sometimes as I see people I let fear
rule and not my faith. So my overall goal for this transfer is to not
let fear make my decisions. So far I feel like I am improving!

Oh CONFERENCE!!!
If you loved conference raise your hand (I'm raising mine!!!!!!)

I loved Elder Hollands talk. It is so true, people not only want a God
who doesn't rock the boat, but they want a God who doesn't even row
it.
I have seen this so much here in the south... there are
non-denominational churches.... WHAT? It shows how people are just
making up things that they want and not really doing the Lords will
which will really make them happy.

I have been pondering on how if we were always only doing the things
that we would like it would be detrimental to us. I like to eat, if I
ate all the time I would be way over weight. I like to sleep, if I
slept all the time, I would be depressed. I like to watch t.v., If I
were to watch t.v. all the time I would be lethargic and I wouldn't be
doing my Heavenly Fathers will.
We really do have to fight against our natural man so that we can
become more like our Savior and return to live with our Heavenly
Father.

There were so many things that I loved, but what about you? What were
your favorite parts?
Oh I also like when Elder Ballard talked about the members studying
preach my gospel and then talking to their missionaries through
letters and e-mails about the things that they are learning and how
much power this would bring to all of us. Also I loved that he called
out everyone to invite people to learn from the missionaries 4 times a
year.... I wan't everyone to pay attention to the fact that he didn't
say everyone except those who live in Utah. Nonmembers do exists there
and its up to you to help them!!! So what's your game plan?

Just like I'm stepping up my game I challenge all of you to step up
yours and let's be tools in the Lords hands so that we can see the
miracles he is waiting to perform!

Well I love ya'll a ton!!

Have the bestest week ever!!

Love,
Sister Chambers

The things I have learned...

Hey Ya'll!
I'm staying here in Mandarin and getting a new companion!!!
I am also in a car share... :/ But I have stewardship over the car!! :)
We will probably all pitch in to get some bikes or something to get around.
I am excited to have another set of sisters in this ward. That makes 6
sisters 2 Elders. 1 crazy ward mission leader.
But as far as this week goes I would like to announce that this was
the best week of mail yet! Thanks to all those who participated.
Cute letters from my nephews, letters from friends, and sistas. LOVED IT!
HINT HINT

Now that we have that out of the way...
 This week we had two trade offs.
One day I went with sister Ashcraft. We stayed in our ward, but worked
in a different area. We met an awesome guy who is a Brazilian ju jitsu
fighter. He also teaches a family in our ward, so he already has built
in fellowship.

I also went to the Hendricks area with Sister Heckle and met some
pretty crazy people. It was neat to say the least.

My big Easter project is picking up momentum! In 17 days we will be
showing the Messiah and having a picture gallery of Jesus Christ. This
week a big sign is being made up, and an announcement is going in the
paper, so hopefully we draw a big crowd!

UM.... I can't think of what else we did.
The past days we have been heart attacking people we love as a way for
sister Toledo to say goodbye. She is going to Georgia.

On Sunday there was a cool fireside where they played memory with
pictures of people currently and when they were on their missions.
That was neat. Also all the youth got to open up fake mission calls.
It was fun to see them all get excited to go out and serve a mission.

Yesterday we met with two investigators. We invited both of them to
come to conference this week. The one from Colombia for some reason
thinks that Jesus will be speaking. She is sweet, but kind of crazy.
She always talks about her fear of the Devil, which is not my cup of
tea, but hey I don't drink tea.
Either way she want's to go to conference so I guess that is a win!

OH!!! MY IPAD got wiped clean... which means all the missionary apps
were removed and then my IPAD was all worldly... yuck. So today I got
a new one. And by new I mean used by a missionary who went home. He
left the pictures of his nephew on here though... we thought it was a
sisters Ipad because the screen saver was a little baby.


This week will be a busy week getting everyone squared away, and
figuring out how to share a car... I'm not really great at sharing,
and The Lord knew that so he is making me work on it. Hopefully I
learn something.

Though these past  2 transfers have been my hardest, I think i have
learned the most about myself, and also other really important lessons
that will help me in life.

1. I have learned how to care for others more, and try to really
understand why they do the things that they do.
2. Patience. Sometimes you have to just let people do the wrong
things, even when you know its wrong. It ends up being the best way
for them to learn.
3. Forgiveness. He is a fool who takes offense when none was meant. He
is an even bigger fool who takes offense when it was meant.
The greater sin is in not forgiving.
4. We have to have the downs to appreciate the ups. This was the
roughest companionship with some of the greatest rewards... Mike and
Nicol!!!
5. Prayer is the best remedy for anything!!!

My testimony is stronger now, and my relationship with my Heavenly
Father is stronger. I don't think I would have traded in these hard
times for anything... they have made me stronger.

Tough things don't last.... Tough people do!

Well there are going to be a lot of changes to get used to this
transfer. My new comp will be sister Shumway, from Cottonwood Heights.
We have a new District leader, zone leader, and assistant to the president.
And a lot of sisters loosing cars... :/

I'm excited. I just know this is going to be good!!!

I love ya'll!
Hope ya have a great conference weekend!


Love,
Sister Chambers