So I love that my
first area literally has every single stereotype that everyone said about this
area. No teeth, mystery meat, ridiculously poor people, critters everywhere,
creepers, everyone smokes, bible belt, the accent is THICK (Grandma let me
apologize now for my terrible grammar when I get back), and everyone LOVES
their confederate flags. THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN!
We saw so many animals
this week and Sister Stone almost hit a few as well. Deer, hedgehogs,
beavers (so many beavers, so many), skunks, rabbits, turtles, and possums. No
bears yet.
But you wanna hear
something exciting?!?!?! Last Sunday (22nd) we had an excommunicated member get
re-baptized and her friend came and also brought her 13 year old daughter. We
asked them if they would like to take lessons and they said yes. Tuesday (24th)
we taught them the first lesson. Mom says at the beginning, "I want to
know if it's true. And if it is I'm gonna do it." PERFECT! At the end of the lesson
she says, "It's true. I want to be baptized." WHOOT! She's on date
for July 26th! The daughter said she would think about it but was
interested as well.
Thursday (26th) we
decide they need to hear the Word of Wisdom before anything else. At the end of
the lesson Mom says, "We knew about the smoking and drinking, but when
(excommunicated members name here) told us about the coffee and tea I was gonna
fight her and say no. But I knew right away that it was true. I know that all
of this is true. And (daughter's name here) wants to be baptized on the 26th
with me."
What?!?!?!?! Can it
always be this easy? That would be so nice. She stopped smoking that Sunday
after the baptism. She tried drinking coffee yesterday and it just tasted
disgusting to her. She got a blessing from the Elders and thought it was so
cool. I thought it was so cool. The whole thing is SO COOL! It's such a
testimony builder to see that God really is preparing people all around us and
they just need that little push to get over their personal hills and start
rolling in the Gospel.
The daughter is a
little more timid and we're worried she's just doing it because her Mom is. But
we're working with her and the rest of the family. The Dad and son said they
would wait and see how the Mom and daughter handle it first. The daughter LOVES young womens and hanging out with the girls. She has
had such a rough life and has absolutely NO self-esteem, so hearing about God
loving her and all these girls love her is so good. We owe the girls in this
ward a LOT! And we told them so. We try to do things with them when we can so
they trust us and see what missionaries really do.
For example, Saturday night we
got to go to a members house with them and watch "17 Miracles"
because it's missionary approved and the daughter we're teaching was there. It
was good for Sister Stone and I to be reminded how little is really asked of us
and that we can ask for those Saints to be with us as we do this work. They had
SO much faith. And we could use some of that.
We're trying to meet
and teach new people but tracting is just not really an option here and most
people don't like us. Methodists are the nicest, and some others are nice, but
oh my goodness the Baptists. They go door to door telling people that Mormons
are going to take them to hell and if they're not Baptist they will go to hell.
Does that approach ever work for them? So yeah, the Baptists hate us and give
us death looks. Most other people have that Southern hospitality thing going on
so it's good.
Best:
1. Sister Stone and I
had the best week for numbers anyone has seen in a long time.
2. Mom and daughter on
date and sticking to their commitments with the Word of Wisdom!
3. New Bishop who is
so fired up on missionary work it's a little cray cray, but awesome.
4. 3 less actives and
2 investigators at church.
5. Working with Elders
Lopez and Bingham for Spanish speakers (we have lots in our area, maybe I'll
end up being Spanish speaking after all ;))
6. President and
Sister Salisbury are here!!!
Worst:
1. We almost killed
Bambi and his mom was watching.......(we were going the speed limit).
2. Creepers are creepy
and make me extremely uncomfortable and we have to leave.
3. Hoarders.
4. Cat, dog, snake,
and everything else hoarders. My allergies though.
5. I'm already bored
with all my clothes.
So if anyone is at the
store and sees a cute skirt or dress or shirt with patterns and colors and is
mission appropriate, buy it and send it to me! Don't think about money or
anything like that. The Holy Ghost is prompting you! Just buy it! Or if you
have my measurements (cough cough Michelle) share them with others who can make
clothes and help a Sister out! You will be serving a servant of the Lord and
you will be blessed :)
Love you all!
-Sister Packard
912 Carriage Hill
Drive
Pulaski, VA 24301
(And another PS for the Mom, who lacked the skill/courage to try to put these letters on this blog for a while. Obviously, I have repented)
Excuses excuses ;) We
use the gps to get everywhere. And I'm keeping it safe while we have Sister
Stone's in the car but I will definitely be getting your money's worth out of
it! Mom it's so pretty here! But I do miss Sidney and I wish I could have been
there!!!! It is Pulaski. I need more clothes because I'm
already bored with everything. I want pictures of the family. Real printed out
pictures. Family ones. Group ones. Just pictures. I have a few but they're a
pitiful collection. So a small album thing would be awesome cuz I miss everyone
:) And some sort of anti-acid stuff. I have been having ISSUES with throwing up
and just constantly burping up acid/barf stuff. And it's wrecking me. We tried
calling the mission nurse lady but apparently she's on vacation. Awkward. I
love you! Sorry no pictures this week. The Library doesn't allow that kind of
nonsense.
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