pumkin kick

Hi Mom, 

Things are good here.  A little update on the weather, (just incase you were wondering)... It's getting pretty chilly here in Tennessee and I'm kind of dreading the cold weather but the leaves are really pretty and colorful so that's good news. Sister Ison and I are on a pumpkin kick and for some reason, random members decided to give us a whole bunch of pumpkins so we decided we're going to try and experiment and make all kind of yummy pumpkin food. We're excited.

So unfortunately, I really don't have much to say this week. Every single appointment we had this week fell through which was kind of discouraging. We both made a goal to just use every minute of our time doing something or talking to someone and I can truly say that we tried. Although our numbers didn't show much success, I can honestly say I was fully committed this week and tried my best. We asked every single person we came in contact with for referrals and surprisingly, we didn't get hardly any on our own efforts, however the Lord still blessed us. We had a few members from the other ward randomly call us saying they had a friend they wanted us to teach, the missionaries in other wards gave us a few referrals and we even got two media referrals which has only happened once on my mission thus far! We're hoping to have a busier week this week, being able to teach some of the referrals. The Lord really does work in mysterious ways and I know that he has so many other blessings in store for me as I continue to be diligent and work. The work presses onward and I know that there are people being prepared everywhere and I am excited to just go out and find them!

I hope things are going well for you in sunny southern Utah and that you are enjoying the nice heat for me! I tell you this every week, but I love you so much and am so grateful for your endless support!  Talk to you soon

Love,

Sister Thiriot

Living in the Ghetto

October 14 th 

So I guess I should give you a little update on everything.  I'm got transferred a city called Elizabethton which is about 20 minutes from the border of Virgina!  (So in answer to your question mom, it's about 2 and a half hours from Oak Ridge.)  so we basically have "outer darkness" as sister Ison calls it  Oh, so by the way, my companions name is Sister Ison, and she's 23.  It's actually Sister Weights MTC companion, so that's kind of fun.  She's really laid-back and wants to work hard so we get along great  We live in the ghetto and sleep with all kinds of bugs every night and there is mold growing everywhere.  I know that as I am diligent and rely on the Lord, he will bless me.   

I am seriously just so grateful to be out here serving.  I'm grateful for the challenges that with the Lord, I am am able to overcome and well, I'm even grateful for our crappy, smelly apartment! (and that is saying a lot)  There is nothing that has brought me such joy than being on the Lords errand. 

Moving on--last letter from oakridge

Meet my second family the Valdez’s!  I can't wait for you to meet them someday! They're so cute.  They asked me what I was wearing so they could all match me and we could take a family picture.  I'm sure going to miss them!!!

 Sister weight & Dani matching.

So... get ready for the big news.  Sister Weight and I are getting split up this Wednesday.  I knew it was coming, but I still try to deny it.  I've been so blessed to be able to train her these past 3 months.  I'll be leaving Oak Ridge, Tennessee which has been my home for the past 6 months.  I haven't exactly accepted the fact that I'm leaving only because it still feels surreal to me, however I know it will be a good opportunity for new learning experiences! 

On a happier note, if you go outside at night when it's really dark and shine a flashlight in the grass, as long as you are doing it at the right angle, you can see a whole bunch of spider eyes!  Not really sure how it works exactly, but a member was SO excited to show us.   If you're not too busy this week or get bored, you should try it. 

This week was crazy with Zone Meeting, General conference.   With all the trainings and spiritual upliftment, I feel kind of like I've been trying to drink out of a fire hydrant but I have learned a lot nonetheless.  I love watching general conference as a missionary because it is such a refresher and so motivating to just get out and work! 

We had a really spiritual experiences with of our less actives named Maryann.  She became a member about three years ago in the Philippians and moved here with her husband (who is very much less active and against the church) and their 4 month old baby.  When Maryann moved here, she explained how she wanted to get back into church so we started visiting her.  Eventually she started ignoring our calls, avoiding us and stopped coming to church so we decided to give her space.  Last week, she texted us and told us she wanted to come over again.  We had originally planned to simply read the Book of Mormon with her, but when we got inside, I had a prompting to show her the finding faith in Christ video and we just so happened to have one with us!  After we watched it, Sister Weight and I bore our testimonies about how much Christ loves each one of us and how he has been through everything we have been through, currently going through, and will ever go through.  When we finished, Maryann was in tears and told us how touched she was and how it reminds her of how much she loves her little boy and wants him to know of Christ’s love for him.  She also explained how every time she is about to invite us over, either something gets in the way or she really just doesn't want us too come over and she ends up putting it off.  She said how grateful she was that she let us come over and was excited to make another appointment. 

A highlight of my week is that I found out a girl I taught is getting baptized!!!  Her name is Anna and I met her at chick-fil-la.  We were able to teach her about four times and then we found out she wasn't even in our area anymore, so we passed her off to the sisters that are working in her area.  Every time we taught her, she brought up how happy she was to have been "saved" a year ago and how much she loved her preacher and when we invited her to church, she would always say how she had to talk to her preacher.  When we brought up baptism, she didn't even acknowledge it.  I'm ashamed to say it, but eventually I started losing faith that anything would come out of it.  One month later from the time we passed her off to the other sisters, she texts us that she will be getting baptized on October 15!  We were sooo excited!   I'm grateful that Heavenly Father reminded me that miracles really can and WILL happen through the power of the Holy Ghost.