How is everyone?? I hope all is well and all of you are
enjoying the wonderful summertime. Everything is super amazing here in
Louisville. Kentucky is such a beautiful place! The green things grow
spontaneously from all the water in the air so no one ever waters
anything. Some people don't even know what sprinklers are! :) the only
bad thing about that is the bugs also grow spontaneously, so they eat
us alive! our area is pretty big and we are the only strictly bike
area sisters in the mission so we have gotten super good at riding the
buses everywhere and we've made super good friends with some of the
bus drivers. Hopefully we can teach them one of these days ;) I can't
help but love this place with all of my heart and the people are
absolutely amazing. I might even end up moving here one day, but that
is a conversation for another day :)
One quick funny highlight to explain the subject of the email. We were
walking down the street one day and saw a father with his two
daughters (5 yrs old and baby age) in the driveway. We walked up and
said hello and the 5 yr old ran right up to us and started asking us
all these questions about who we were (she reminded me of myself
haha). We told her that we were here to share about Jesus Christ. She
told us she loved Jesus and then started climbing on her tree while we
talked to her dad. When we found out he wasn't interested, we said
goodbye and started walking away. As we were walking, we heard her
yell at us "see ya later Jesus girls!". Me and sister I had a nice
long laugh about that one :)
The work is progressing slowly but surely here in the Highlands, which
is the official name for our area. It is a very different experience
whitewashing an area but I am super grateful to have sister Israelsen
here with me so we can figure it out together. We are teaching Terry
about commandments and he is working super hard to get work off so
that he can come to church. He is so solid! Every time we teach him he
just says over and over, "I know this is true and I am gonna join this
church as soon as I can!". We had to move his date back because of his
work schedule but we really do feel such a strong spirit with him and
we know that if he continues to read the BOM and keep his commitments,
he will be baptized! He is such an amazing example to his family as
well. When we first started coming over, none of them would talk to us
much but last time we came over his mom and dad were talking with us
and we were even able to invite his mom to sit in on a lesson. It is
so amazing how the Lord works in providing the truth for His children.
We had such an amazing miracle story on Saturday that has definitely
strengthened my testimony in spiritual promptings and being worthy of
the spirit. We had an appointment with a recent convert that fell
through so we decided to contact on the street she lived on and maybe
visit some less actives. After unsuccessfully trying to visit some
people, we decided to visit one of our investigators who lived nearby.
On our way over, I felt like we should turn around. Not knowing why,
we turned around and ended up bumping into one of the less actives we
had just tried to visit who we have been working hard with to try to
get her back to church. We were able to teach her and it was awesome!
The story just gets better from there, though. We had an appointment
with a new investigator that night that we were so excited about.
After visiting with the less active lady, we went to get our bikes and
look up his address so we could head over. To our dismay, his address
was wrong!! The house number didn't exist on the street listed. We
tried to call him but his phone got disconnected. We were devastated,
especially since he had called us a couple days before and confirmed
with us. It was hot and we were so sweaty and we were both very
tempted to just go home and chalk it up as another fallen through
appointment. Then all of a sudden, I remembered a story that president
had told us that week about sisters who had gone through the same
situation and ended up finding their appointment. So, acting on faith
since it was near impossible to find him without his address, we went
to the street listed and decided to talk to people and ask if anyone
knew him. We started talking to this Hispanic family who could hardly
understand us and quickly figured out that they didn't know who this
guy was. Then, I heard these people walking behind me. I turned around
and saw two guys. I quickly stopped them and said "Hi! Quick question.
Do you know this guy that we are looking for??". Looking at me in
disbelief he said "that's me!!". He actually lived 15 minutes away in
a completely different neighborhood and had decided to go to the store
with his roommate when we didn't show. We ended up teaching him and
his roommate in front of some random ladies house on a road that he
didn't even live on and helped to clear up major misconceptions he had
because of the church. What a miracle! If things hadn't happened the
way they did leading up to that moment when we met him and if we
hadn't followed the promptings that we did, we never would have found
him! I know that Heavenly Father directs His work. He is in charge of
the details and as long as we are living righteously and worthily, He
will guide us to those who are searching for the truth. I know that as
we trust in the Lord, He will lead us to those who's hearts are
prepared to know the truth. Such an amazing experience to bring light
and hope into a hot, humid afternoon.
I am so grateful for this chance I get to serve a mission. Never have
I felt more joy and peace then now as I serve my Savior and declare
the truth of the things I know to be truth to my brothers and sisters
here. I love this gospel with all of my heart and I know that it is
true. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet. He restored the gospel
and translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God. The
Book of Mormon is true. It will give you strength and answers in any
situation as you pray in faith, seek for inspiration, and ponder on
what the spirit testifies to you. As you apply those promptings, you
will grow closer the the Savior and develop a strong desire to follow
Him and surrender your will to His. I know He loves each and every one
of us just as our Heavenly Father does. He understands us perfectly
and knows how to help us through each and every hardship and I know
that He will come to you and stand by you as you do the same for him.
I love this gospel and I love all of you!
Thank you all for your prayers and support. You all mean more to me
than you know. Keep your head up and remember to laugh and eat otter
pops if things are hard or you are too sweaty for it to be normal and
people are repulsed by you. (that's what I do) :)
Hurrah for Israel!
Much love,
Sister Dorian
enjoying the wonderful summertime. Everything is super amazing here in
Louisville. Kentucky is such a beautiful place! The green things grow
spontaneously from all the water in the air so no one ever waters
anything. Some people don't even know what sprinklers are! :) the only
bad thing about that is the bugs also grow spontaneously, so they eat
us alive! our area is pretty big and we are the only strictly bike
area sisters in the mission so we have gotten super good at riding the
buses everywhere and we've made super good friends with some of the
bus drivers. Hopefully we can teach them one of these days ;) I can't
help but love this place with all of my heart and the people are
absolutely amazing. I might even end up moving here one day, but that
is a conversation for another day :)
One quick funny highlight to explain the subject of the email. We were
walking down the street one day and saw a father with his two
daughters (5 yrs old and baby age) in the driveway. We walked up and
said hello and the 5 yr old ran right up to us and started asking us
all these questions about who we were (she reminded me of myself
haha). We told her that we were here to share about Jesus Christ. She
told us she loved Jesus and then started climbing on her tree while we
talked to her dad. When we found out he wasn't interested, we said
goodbye and started walking away. As we were walking, we heard her
yell at us "see ya later Jesus girls!". Me and sister I had a nice
long laugh about that one :)
The work is progressing slowly but surely here in the Highlands, which
is the official name for our area. It is a very different experience
whitewashing an area but I am super grateful to have sister Israelsen
here with me so we can figure it out together. We are teaching Terry
about commandments and he is working super hard to get work off so
that he can come to church. He is so solid! Every time we teach him he
just says over and over, "I know this is true and I am gonna join this
church as soon as I can!". We had to move his date back because of his
work schedule but we really do feel such a strong spirit with him and
we know that if he continues to read the BOM and keep his commitments,
he will be baptized! He is such an amazing example to his family as
well. When we first started coming over, none of them would talk to us
much but last time we came over his mom and dad were talking with us
and we were even able to invite his mom to sit in on a lesson. It is
so amazing how the Lord works in providing the truth for His children.
We had such an amazing miracle story on Saturday that has definitely
strengthened my testimony in spiritual promptings and being worthy of
the spirit. We had an appointment with a recent convert that fell
through so we decided to contact on the street she lived on and maybe
visit some less actives. After unsuccessfully trying to visit some
people, we decided to visit one of our investigators who lived nearby.
On our way over, I felt like we should turn around. Not knowing why,
we turned around and ended up bumping into one of the less actives we
had just tried to visit who we have been working hard with to try to
get her back to church. We were able to teach her and it was awesome!
The story just gets better from there, though. We had an appointment
with a new investigator that night that we were so excited about.
After visiting with the less active lady, we went to get our bikes and
look up his address so we could head over. To our dismay, his address
was wrong!! The house number didn't exist on the street listed. We
tried to call him but his phone got disconnected. We were devastated,
especially since he had called us a couple days before and confirmed
with us. It was hot and we were so sweaty and we were both very
tempted to just go home and chalk it up as another fallen through
appointment. Then all of a sudden, I remembered a story that president
had told us that week about sisters who had gone through the same
situation and ended up finding their appointment. So, acting on faith
since it was near impossible to find him without his address, we went
to the street listed and decided to talk to people and ask if anyone
knew him. We started talking to this Hispanic family who could hardly
understand us and quickly figured out that they didn't know who this
guy was. Then, I heard these people walking behind me. I turned around
and saw two guys. I quickly stopped them and said "Hi! Quick question.
Do you know this guy that we are looking for??". Looking at me in
disbelief he said "that's me!!". He actually lived 15 minutes away in
a completely different neighborhood and had decided to go to the store
with his roommate when we didn't show. We ended up teaching him and
his roommate in front of some random ladies house on a road that he
didn't even live on and helped to clear up major misconceptions he had
because of the church. What a miracle! If things hadn't happened the
way they did leading up to that moment when we met him and if we
hadn't followed the promptings that we did, we never would have found
him! I know that Heavenly Father directs His work. He is in charge of
the details and as long as we are living righteously and worthily, He
will guide us to those who are searching for the truth. I know that as
we trust in the Lord, He will lead us to those who's hearts are
prepared to know the truth. Such an amazing experience to bring light
and hope into a hot, humid afternoon.
I am so grateful for this chance I get to serve a mission. Never have
I felt more joy and peace then now as I serve my Savior and declare
the truth of the things I know to be truth to my brothers and sisters
here. I love this gospel with all of my heart and I know that it is
true. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet. He restored the gospel
and translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God. The
Book of Mormon is true. It will give you strength and answers in any
situation as you pray in faith, seek for inspiration, and ponder on
what the spirit testifies to you. As you apply those promptings, you
will grow closer the the Savior and develop a strong desire to follow
Him and surrender your will to His. I know He loves each and every one
of us just as our Heavenly Father does. He understands us perfectly
and knows how to help us through each and every hardship and I know
that He will come to you and stand by you as you do the same for him.
I love this gospel and I love all of you!
Thank you all for your prayers and support. You all mean more to me
than you know. Keep your head up and remember to laugh and eat otter
pops if things are hard or you are too sweaty for it to be normal and
people are repulsed by you. (that's what I do) :)
Hurrah for Israel!
Much love,
Sister Dorian
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