No growing in the comfort zone

The leaves are BEAUTIFUL!  I send you a pic of the leaves here.  You'd DIE at how florescent and colorful the leaves turn. Unfortunately, they have all fallen off now and it's even snowing right now! Burrrrrrrrrrrrr

 Way to go on the speech contest!  You are so brave.  I could never do that; Although, I'm practicing a lot of leadership and public speaking skills out here and I don't think it's gotten much easier but as president always says, "no growing in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growing zone" so I guess that is a good thing that I still don't love it.  

I really have found the greatest joy in doing missionary work, it's incredible.

November 11

  I never know how to start these things off, so I'll just jump right in.

So we were car-less for three days this week because our car was in the shop and it seemed nearly impossible to get around this massive area without it. It felt like we taught very few lessons but we tried to use the most of our time and thanks to some awesome willing members, they took us around a few times as well.  On the bright side, we had a killer weekly planning session so this next week should be good! 

A little background on a lady we have been working with, Sandi Smith, (picture attached below).  Her daughter was actually baptized two transfers ago before I got here and when her daughter was being taught she figured that it was time to get reactivated and go back to church.  After attending a few weeks, the bishop pulled her aside and told her that she had actually been excommunicated.  She was DEVASTATED.   Since then, she decided that she was going to do everything she could to invite the spirit until she had it with her permanently because she knew that it was clearly missing in her life.  She was constantly playing mormon tab., conference talks, or reading the scriptures. Ever since I got here, in her words, she was "starving for the gift of the holy ghost" and was counting down the days until she was able to be re-baptized! Saturday she was finally able to do so and it was probably the most spiritual baptismal service I've ever been too!  She was more than prepared to once again make those covenants with her father in Heaven and was so relived after receiving the gift of the holy ghost, knowing that she would never have to go without ever again.   I guess that's just another thing that I've taken for granted my entire life. 

Update on the 6 Sugg children.  So I know I mentioned previously that the kids are all begging to be baptized but they're parents aren't very supportive.  The first time we went to go find these kids, we knocked on their door and the mother came out and told us she wanted nothing to do with the church and wouldn't let us in but said that we could teach them once a week at their grandmothers house.  Since then, we've been able to teach them three times, and we decided we needed to go talk to her again so that we don't feel like we're being secretive about things and ask her for permission for the kids to be baptize.  We we're pretty nervous about going to talk to her again just because we were scared for the turn out but we had been praying so hard all week that her heart may be softened. Last night, when we knocked on her door, she instantly invited us in with open arms.  She told us that she was so grateful that we were working with her children and agreed to let them be baptized but wants to wait 2 months to make sure this is what they really want and aren't just jumping on their excitement.  Fast forward to an hour later, we were walking out the door and she hugged us, and said, "Please just don't give up on me girls."  She invited us to come teach HER in her home when her abusive boyfriend is gone.  Miracles happen, just sayin'.

It's been such a blast teaching these little kids.  There is just something special about the innocence they have.  We showed up Saturday to teach them, and when we walked in the room, they were all sitting on the couch with their copies of the bible and book of Mormon already opened!  They're always so excited to learn and love coming to church!  Cute little Maygen (the 11 year old) told us how when she gets scared at night or during storms, she puts her scriptures under her pillow because she knows that it is the closest that she can get to her Heavenly Father and Jesus.  My testimony is always solidified each time I hear the testimonies of these sweet children.  I feel so blessed to be able to teach them these simple gospel principles that I know will have such a big effect on the remainder of their lives. 

Welll fam, I love you and I'm so grateful for all your support.  I was reading a talk from April general conference and I read a talk about how missions are a family affair.  Although at times I feel like I sacrifice to be here, I know that you too sacrifice for me to be here.  I'm so lucky!!!!

Love,
Sister Thiriot

Hey, so I thought you'd get a kick out of this.  It's a redneck "trailer home"  Only in Tennessee!!! No need in upgrading... they literally built a house on to their trailer