The Week of Spring!!!!!!!

April 13, 2015

It was sad to leave Morgantown. Especially since we found a super awesome family my last night there........of course. But change is good. Especially this one. I feel home again! I don't know what happened in Morgantown. I've never felt so out of place. Normally I can force my way into people's hearts and make them love me, but I felt like such a dunder there. Bleh. That's over now.

Welcome to Teays Valley! It's like, flat here. It's so weird!!!!!!!!!! But I love it. The trees are turning green, the flowers are blooming so beautifully, the weather was perfect for 2 days (now it's hitting 90's), there are 7-elevens here (SLURPEES), Sister Campbell is pretty chill, we found 3 investigators in 15 minutes, and I get to drive every day!

Logan got baptized last week and was confirmed this week during Sacrament meeting. He's an awkward duck, but aren't we all? I'm amazed at his understanding and the knowledge he has about the church. The people here are so prepared. It's ridiculous.

Dennis is a 75 year old sweetie who also has amazing depth and understanding of the Gospel. He wants to be a Sunday School teacher after he's baptized. He's on date for May 3rd! I'm blown away by his understanding as well.

Pam is in her 40's and also getting baptized on May 3rd. She is ready and loves everything we have to teach her. She's working on quitting smoking and drinking coffee. She is a sweetheart, but we didn't find her a ride in time for church this week.................that hurt. We asked and asked but no one would or couldn't for various reasons. It was super frustrating. We haven't had a chance to talk to her about it yet but we'll be teaching her tomorrow.

Sis is in her 50's and has done hard prison time. She's pretty cool, she thinks so anyways ;). She's working on quitting smoking and drinking coffee as well. Well, she was. She kept saying, "It's just never going to happen." She spent a solid 45 minutes talking about prison and how she can't quit. 

I had no idea what to say. And I could tell Sister Campbell didn't either. So I sat there and prayed and prayed to know what to say or do. Finally I just asked her what she wants. And she started going on about not smoking and changing her life and yada yada. So I whipped out my favorite 1 Corinthians 10:13 about how God NEVER gives us temptations we can't over come and always gives us a way to overcome our temptations. 

She said, "But,..." and I felt this overwhelming prompting to chew her out. So that's what I did. 

"I would never say this unless I felt like Heavenly Father absolutely needed you to hear this." And then I went off about how God is calling her and she is running out of chances. There are no exceptions to God's promises. She needs to get her act together and stop procrastinating. We expect her to change and do it now. And maybe we just haven't found what will help her the best to quit smoking. 

She was very quiet and then looked up and said, "I LIKE YOU!" She's going to do great. And if not I'll kick her in the butt. I have never done anything like that before. I think that must be what Elder Holland feels like all the time. It was terrifying but pretty cool. I wish I could accurately describe what it was really like. 

She started talking about how she wanted to get a new keyboard and start playing gospel music again and what not and it hit me! She needs music to help her quit smoking! So I ran out to the car and gave her all my CD's....................that hurt my soul to do, but I promised her that if she turned it on every time she got a craving and sang as loud as possible the cravings would leave. So that was cool. It was just crazy. And awesome.

We got 4 new investigators this week and we're really excited about all of them. China and Tammy are in their 20's and Marilyn and Pam (it seems like everyone's name is Pam here!) are late 50's. We're excited to start teaching them all. We got to briefly talk about the Book of Mormon and the message we have to share and I think the coolest experience was when we were talking to Marilyn and she shared about how her Grandma was a Mormon but she never knew much about it. Guys, people on the other side of the veil are so involved in missionary work. I know she told us that so that we would know her Grandma was there and going to be there til she figures out that this is Christ's one and only true church on the earth today. I'm stoked.

This morning we got to go help a member remodel a house they're going to be renting and we'll get to help them every P-day morning for a few weeks at least. Today we ripped out counters and removed lots of wall-paper. I love doing that stuff!

-Sister Packard

Best:

1. President Salisbury shared at the transfer meeting that his Grandson was born earlier that morning and immediately developed pneumonia and wasn't doing well. He and Sister Salisbury were very emotional and asked for all of our prayers. Little baby Emerson is doing much better now and hopefully will be leaving the hospital soon.

2. The flowers are so pretty!

3. SLURPEES. Do I really need to say anything more?

4. There is a "Somewhere In Time" antique store here :) 

    Michelle, ya jelly?????? (worst movie ever. "REEECHARD!")

5. They have sidewalks here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you know how strange that is for the WVCM (West Virginia Charleston Mission)? I'm making Sister Campbell walk everywhere because I LOVE it so much.

6. MOMMY WE GET TO SKYPE IN A FEW WEEKS! (I'm hoping to talk to each sibling for a minute or 2 individually and then spend the rest of the time talking to Mom. It's hard with all of us on at the same time to hear everyone and stuff. But I want to see all of you.)

Worst:

1. I'm out of money. Mom I'm so sorry. I promise that next transfer I will not spend a DIME on my home card.

2. All my colored undershirts are worn out and not wearable anymore. So if anyone wants to, I'd be so happy to find a package with Down East Wonder Tees that are assorted colors. Size medium cuz I've gotten fat :)

3. I'm almost 22.............I've started telling people I'm 22 to get used to it. UGH.

4. My remaining transfers are May 21, July 2, August 13, September 24, November 5, then I come home December 18th. Weird huh.....

Write me! Send me things! Emily, and T I need family pictures from you guys so I can print them out and carry them with me! You guys are the only ones I don't have recent pictures of. T I can't use the picture from the blessing because it's too grainy to print :(

107 Arbaugh Dr #6

Hurricane, WV 25526

P.S. Its pronounced hur-eh-kin........welcome to West Virginia.