World's Longest Letter

This week has been super busy. So beware… this letter will be super long.

Monday- We had a member lesson with the Titus family. Brother Titus is on some super cool special assignment in North Africa so Sister Titus said that we can come and teach them the Restoration for Family Home Evening. It was awesome. Sister Titus is Sister Mangum, from Centerville 2^nd Ward, sister so I just love going over there. Then we went to Empty Nester’s Family Home Evening in Brother Lee’s basement. There were a lot of non-members. He has a weird, and expensive, obsession with anything Coca Cola. He says that he loves their advertisements. His basement is a replica of a vintage diner. There are soda fountains and coca cola ads and vintage music players. It is actually super cool. Sorry we couldn’t take pictures.

Tuesday- We got two new additions to our district: Elder Payne, new missionary, and Elder Oliverson (one of my favorite Spanish missionaries). We had dinner with Brother Larson (weekly tradition) he is so old and so cute. We went to a Mexican Restaurant. I had a “specialized pizza” with Sprite in a HUGE pitcher. We taught two member families the Restoration with great results. They gave us referrals!

Wednesday- was a day of service. We served at Alternative House and then we helped a sister in the ward clean out her old apartment. She is so wonderful. We then had our first lesson of the week with an investigator. It was awesome. We had the lesson with Glen at the church with Bishop. Bishop bore powerful testimony of the Atonement, which Glen struggles with, it was so amazing.

Thursday- we did service at the Taylor’s and it was so much fun. We did charades and the cute old ladies just laughed the entire time. I did as much Michael Jackson moves as I good in a dress and they still did not get it! Then we had our second lesson of the week with a woman named Mulu. She is from Ethiopia and speaks little English but she is a great friend of the Hubner’s in the ward and wanted to learn about their religion. She is so humble and so teachable. I love her so much. Then… miracle! We felt prompted to go to Great Falls thirty minutes from where our next appointment was. We tried to excuse the revelation and head toward our appointment. Well, we got a phone call and our appointment cancelled! So we headed to Great Falls and then decided to check on a former who Sister Titus had told us to visit two days ago. She was home with two of her friends. One of her friends I knew from SVU (beside the point) and we were able to share a great message with them. During the lesson one of friends gave us a piece a paper. After we left we read the letter which said: “I am so happy that you stopped by. If we were here she may not have answered the door. I am not sure that she will be honest with you about her concerns. Here they are….” Heavenly Father knows us and is in this work.

Friday- During our dinner appointment the Roberts told us to visit a less-active down the street. We have checked on them a million times (exasperation) but no one has ever answered the door. We decided after dinner to check on them again. Well, Sister Bradshaw was home! She told us that she is not usually ever home during that time but for some reason she got off of work and had no errands to run. She told us about the trials in her life. She feels guilt for a lot of things that she has done that has left negative consequences. She knows that church will bless her; however, she just cannot walk into church as a sinner. We taught her the Grace and Atonement of Christ. It was so amazing. She made the commitment to come to church on May 4^th and meet Bishop Richardson.

Saturday- was a super busy day. We had breakfast at a counselor in the Stake Presidency, Brother Stuart, with the zone. It was great. There were three young men who just finished the Stake mission preparation class. They asked a few questions and the leaders each bore powerful testimony. If that wasn’t a spiritual high an hour late we had a “Leaders Launch” with Elder and Sister Ritchie. This is their eighth mission. They talked to us about the importance of being like Moroni:

1.       Get up early

2.       Go to work

3.       Get my education (get training)

4.       Find my oil (what is my talent)

5.       Make my mark (use my talent to make a difference)

6.       Get prepared to serve

It was so amazing. I learned so much. Something that he said more than once was:, “Go get life” and “Get ready to get used by the Lord.” Then we had a lesson with a recent convert, Brother Coovert, who has special needs but knows so much and has a testimony of the gospel. Right before our lesson we went to seven eleven to get a slurpee and a non-member who has friends that are members of the church paid for our drink. It was so cool. We then had dinner with less-actives, the Turner’s, and shared a great message with them about the love that Heavenly Father has for us (the dinner was at a restaurant so we were bummed that we couldn’t teach them more as it was loud inside). We had a lesson with a recent convert, Sister Farerro, about family history work. We committed her to a date where she will find an ancestor and take their name to the temple to do the work for them. It was so awesome.

I found pleasure in that we had a TON of less-actives and non-members show up for sacrament. The Bazzarone’s only son is leaving for his mission and he is the first one in their ENTIRE family to go (Brother Bazzarone is a convert and Sister Bazzarone’s entire family is less-active or non-member). Some big names showed up to our church including: Ambassador Korologos, Todd Thatcher (musician), and… Bryce Harper (baseball player). It was awesome and the Turner’s (less active family that we had dinner with) came to church. At the same time the Dayton’s daughter was getting a baby blessing so more nonmembers came. It was overwhelming but so amazing. That night at 8:30pm we checked on a potential investigator named Brendi. Her son is David who we have not got a hold of in over a month. We got a hold of her a few days ago but she was not home for our appointment that we had set-up. We checked on her and she was home! She was in a lot of trouble so we called our ward mission leader, our employment specialist, our Bishop, and then we turned to a ward missionary and she got to work and called the Spanish Ward and they helped.

Spiritual:

On Saturday after the Leaders Launch I felt so overwhelmed. I tend to be a perfectionist so when things are not going the way that I want them to I tend to get overwhelmed. Well, after the meeting there was so much that I wanted to be better at and do better at that I felt imperfect, inadequate, and self- defeated. I was struggling mostly with being a convert. Many people would say that being a convert is great when you are a missionary because you can relate to them. Well, not in Great Falls! These people are so over my head. They make six figures, are super busy, and use big words. The members not only do that but they can quote every prophet and they know every Mormon history fact in the book. I JUST DON”T FIT IN. I hate feeling different. When we go to dinners with members they ask where you from are and I tell them and they get this look on their face like I am from a third world country. So when Brother Ritchie and the Stake Presidency taught us I felt so inadequate. I just felt that I could not accomplish what they want me to. Well, Heavenly Father is so great! During my personal study Sunday morning I said the world’s longest, weeping prayer and he answered me. I felt that I needed to read Alma 55 (about wars) yet it answered. I read it with different eyes:

Heavenly Father does not delight in my sadness, frustration, anger but he delights in my Salvation. I am armed with angels (both on Earth and from within the veil). He wants me to cast my sorrows, pains, anger, and any bad thought at His feet. I am now numbered with His righteous children and will be strength to them as I keep His commandments. I must remember the Lord in all of my afflictions.

It was so touching and was just what I needed. He is so aware of us.

Love,

Sister Diamond Evans

Alma 38:5

Sharon, Glenn, Kayla, Members, and Converstion

This week we have been working really hard; however, we have not had any lessons with investigators. It has been heartbreaking especially since we have been doing our best and are being obedient to all of the mission rules. Our investigator, Sharon, dropped us. When a door closes another door opens. Glenn, who is a married to a less-active member, came to church yesterday! It was wonderful because we have been praying fervently for what to do to help him in gaining a desire to truly know Christ and let Him help. The talks in sacrament were amazing! They were all about Jesus Christ and how the Atonement can transform us. Afterwards Glenn said that he wants to bring his wife to church! It is so great. His wife is amazing and has a very strong testimony but she is not making church a priority. I cannot wait for them to change for the better and be married for time and all eternity.

On Saturday we got into contact with a potential investigator that we have been trying to meet since we got into the area. Her name is Kayla. It was so great. We were at the end of the night and were praying for inspiration on where we needed to go (we had exhausted all of our backups) and we felt that we needed to try her. When we got there she said that she didn’t have any time to talk to us because she was getting ready to leave to help her parents. We asked her if everything was okay and she said that she is having a difficult time adjusting to the American culture. Her teenage daughters have become rebellious. We said that if she had ten minutes we could share some scriptures that would be of benefit to her and her family. She said that she really needed to go but could offer us five minutes! It was wonderful! We just read some of 1 Nephi 1:1-12 with her (emphasizing verses 1, 3, 8, and 12) and comparing it to her family and her children. We taught her about the Spirit and how having it could truly bless her with learning how to help her children without distancing them from her. It was so amazing. Her parents called her so she had to leave without us getting a chance to pray with her but she gave us a day and time for a return appointment. This is great because we are learning how to teach simply, clearly, and effectively and Kayla said that these lessons will have to be short (like 10-15 minutes). This is going to be a great adventure!

Because we have not had teaching appointments with investigators and Sister Hansen still needs to be trained we came up with the bright idea, thanks to the ‘Finding Ideas’ in the front of our planner, to teach the members! This transfer has been dedicated to teaching the members the missionary lessons. We put a little spin on it and have the members ‘role play’ as anyone that they have been thinking about sharing the gospel with. At first, it’s awkward but by the end of the lesson the family is into it and actually receives revelation! No referrals have come from it yet but the members have been able to share something with each of these people that they role play as. The members have also become excited about missionary work. We look forward to following up next week and teach even more and start reaping the rewards of our labor.

Heavenly Father has really blessed me this week. Although, our numbers have been low and we haven’t had a “real lesson” this week. We have been able to strengthen people and prepare them to make covenants with God and help the members get excited about this work.

In my personal study I have been studying the Restoration and Endure to the End. I came across ‘Conversion’ in the Bible Dictionary. I have been deciphering it and focusing on two parts:

“Denotes changing one’s views, in a conscious acceptance of the will of God” and “Complete conversion comes after many trials and much testing.” I have mainly focused on ‘acceptance’ and ‘many.’ I am definitely NOT converted yet. I have not given up my will. Why do we do that? Why is it so hard to just let go? I am working on that and I am sure that I will have to continue working on it FOREVER. Conversion does not come until we have MANY trials. I don’t know how many is many but I am sure that I haven’t reached it yet.

Sharon, Meetings, Angert's Lesson, and Sister Hansen

This week has been a super crazy week. The time has just flown by. On Monday we had a lesson with an investigator named Sharon and we were able to put her on date for baptism. It is hard though because her fiancé, who she lives with, does not like the church at all. Each time we try to talk to him he leaves the house. They live next door to a family in the ward and the fiancé has told the member multiple times that he is not interest but Sharon wants this so much. We are praying about what the next step should be. I know that it will all work out the way that it should.

Then on Tuesday we had zone training and I learned a lot about how we can be better. Thursday was Return and Report and I got to see Sister Jeppsen and Sister Russell (who are also training new sister missionaries). It was so wonderful to see how much we all have grown and how our trainees are so perfect for each of us. Sister Jeppsen’s trainee is so nice, kind, gentle and loves pictures just like Sister Jeppsen. Sister Russell’s companion is super sarcastic just like Sister Russell and my companion is just crazy… just like me!

On Friday we had Sisters Training with Sister Riggs. The theme was ‘Be of Good Cheer’ which I actually noticed that I have been on cloud nine lately. It has been great, do not get me wrong training is difficult; however, I have been able to deal with the challenges. Sister Jeppsen and President Riggs counseled me to change my outlook (instead of being ‘Negative Nancy’ to be ‘Positive Pauli’) and it has worked! I have been able to really change and it has been so helpful. Especially since our area is not YET booming with investigators my excitement for tracting, street contacting, and talking to everyone has allowed for my companion to begin doing the same. I am so grateful for the advice of President Riggs and Sister Jeppsen.

Spiritual Experience:

Thursday night we had a lesson with the Angert’s (part member family) at a member’s home. Glenn has a difficult time with allowing Christ to help him with trials. He thinks that he can do everything on his own, that he does not need help form God or Christ. I felt the need to read Moroni 6:2 with them. Brother Stuart said something profound. He expounded on what “broken heart” means. He compared it to a broken horse. He said that when a horse is being broken in, at first he fights, and fights, he throws his owner off of him, he yells/ neighs, he doesn’t allow for his owner or anyone to come near him. In short, he doesn’t trust that the owner can help him; he doesn’t believe that anyone could care for him. But eventually he slowly allows for his owner to come closer, and closer, and closer, then he lets his owner ride him, and then he lets the owner guide him. We are like the horse only when we trust Christ do we let him guide us. Our broken heart is the sum of us finally allowing Christ lead and trains us. A ‘contrite spirit’ is our willingness to finally submit and let him ‘Mount Up.’ This is my paraphrasing but it was great.

Also in that same lesson, Sister Angert bore her testimony of the Atonement. She compared it to a time when she was younger and she had a beautiful necklace that her father had given her. When she took a shower and went to put her necklace back on it slipped out of her hands and into the sink. She remembered seeing her father take off the ‘U-Bend’ tube and put it back on. She tried to do it too but she could not get it back on and water started spurting, she kept trying but it just made it worse. She, defeated, went downstairs and told her father. He asked her why she didn’t just come down and tell him. She said, what any child would,: “I thought that I could do it.” He went upstairs fixed it, hugged her (because she was sad and scared and didn’t want him to be upset) and said that he would always help her. That is what Christ is to us. We break things (fall short) all of the time; then we come to Him and say: “I thought I could do it, I thought I could handle it, but I made it worse, I keep trying but I keep slipping, I need your help, you know what to do”; and He comes and fixes it, He hugs us and says: “I will always help you, you are not lost, you are not forgotten.” It was such an amazing testimony.

With the impending transfers here are some things that I have learned from Sister Hansen:

1.       She is so great with members. She loves to get to know them and find something that she can help them with. It has been great to make the member visits personal for each member.

2.       She does not sweat the small stuff. Of course it is important to get to appointments on time. However, when things do not go the right way she is okay.

3.       Her attitude: ‘Life is Great, so laugh.’ We have been able to laugh about things. Missionary work is work but it is okay to laugh. We laugh so much.

4.       She is not afraid to lead. Of course, I have to tell her: “Let’s go talk to that person.” But she then can walk confidently right up to the person and get to know them and bear her testimony of whatever they need.

5.       I have learned from her that we are not perfect but we can strive for perfection. I am just so hard on myself so much that it hinders me. I get so upset when things do not go right but she talks to me and asks what did I say or do wrong and okay let’s fix it and then move on.

I am so grateful for this companionship. I have been so blessed.

Love,

Sister Diamond Evans

Revelation, Exchanges, and General Conference

This week has flown by super-fast. In anticipation of General Conference, I had been studying about revelation. I have learned so much from that topic. It is so great to know that I can receive personal revelation on what I need to do in my life.

On Thursday/ Friday we went on missionary splits. I stayed in Great Falls and Sister Stedman came with me. Sister Hansen went to Herndon with Sister Stones. I had been praying the entire week that Sister Hansen would have a wonderful time and also gain a testimony of tracting. We have been tracting here in Great Falls; however, not much success has happened and she had become so discouraged and hated tracting. On Friday when we exchanged back she was so excited to tract! She had seen many miracles from it. The rest of the week we tracted more; however, no investigators came from it but I am so happy that she has learned to like it and not be afraid to do it. Sister Stedman is great. She teaches so well and enjoys getting to know people. She is good at teaching the Restoration in a minute and talks to everyone about it.

Saturday and Sunday was General Conference! It was so wonderful to hear and see the prophet, apostles, and other leaders of our church. I received so much revelation. I am learning how to become a better missionary and daughter of Heavenly Father. I loved Sister Dalton's talk (on doing my part); Elder Ellis talk (on Christ); President Uchtdorf’s talk (on the Light of Christ); President Monson’s talk (on obedience- a topic that President Riggs’ has been emphasizing) and Elder Holland’s talk (on Faith). General Conference is so amazing. I am excited to continue to go over my notes in preparation of receiving the ensign.

Miracle: On Saturday night we had fifteen minutes left before we needed to be home. We decided to start heading towards home but then felt very strongly that we needed to go to our 8:30 backup. It was on the way but it would take 10 minutes to get there. The impression came again to go. We checked on a potential investigator. The person that we went to see was not there but his mother was. We taught her the Restoration and she asked if we could come back. I am so grateful for the Spirit prompting us to go. I am grateful for the prophet and apostles teaching us to LISTEN for and to the Spirit.

Love,

Sister Diamond Evans

1 Nephi 22:2 and Mosiah 3:13

Empty City, Crazy Lunch, and General Conference

This week has been a super slow week. Due to Spring Break there were not many members or investigators home. We called nearly every member and individual in the ward directory and area book to set up appointments and no one was home. However Tuesday night at 8:30pm we felt inspired to go to a particular former’s home. We met Barbara an older woman who the missionaries had a difficult time getting a hold of. She invited us in and ten minutes later her husband walks in. He didn’t want to have a lesson but he wanted to “get to know us” it was wonderful because it allowed for us to bear our testimonies of many different things (how the spirit guided us to particular universities; how the we were comforted when family members dies; Heavenly Father answers prayers; how I was lead to the church, etc.). Afterwards the husband excused himself to finish a project and Barbara opened up to us about how she wants to join the church but not without her family. She said that whenever the missionaries would come over her husband didn’t want to listen; he never would sit in on the lesson. However, recently his mother has become older and ill and he has been questioning things. Our roundabout way of sharing the gospel helped him to not be intimated and feel like we really cared about him as a person (which he never felt with the elders or previous sisters) and she said that he would never ask the questions that he did, with us, with any of the other missionaries.

On Wednesday we did service at Alternative House. We are stocking and revamping their shelving in the basement. We are so excited to continue to work and finish this project. There is so much that needs to be done. They have no system down there, I cannot wait for Christine to see the transformation that we are doing for her. On Thursday we volunteered at Sister Taylor’s senior home that she runs in her basement. It was awesome. We made up camp songs and sung Christian songs as well. It was so awesome. Joan has the most beautiful voice. She is from England.

On Easter Sunday we had Easter Lunch with another Taylor family, Brother Taylor’s parents, and the Cannons in the ward. It was hilarious. I felt so out of place. The Taylor’s are descents of the prophet John Taylor and they are also descendants of George Q. Cannon (great pioneer who helped found Deseret Industries/ Newspaper) who is Brother Cannon’s grandfather. They spent the entire time talking about church history. It was awkward because obviously I had nothing to contribute then Brother Cannon asked the Taylors (senior) to talk about their family and oh my goodness they are super well established. Brother Taylor senior is a physician and also represents the Iranian government for the church and his children are all well established as well (daughter married to a Harvard graduate senator and her son is only 16 but has already been accepted to Harvard; oldest son is a pediatric neurosurgeon and worked with one of the apostles; Brother Taylor in our ward is a lawyer and works for a congressman; etc.). Brother Cannon I am sure I told you his story; he worked on Capitol Hill as some awesome person.  It was awkward because then they ask about me. I spent the entire time trying to figure out who George Q. Cannon was and what that had to do with President Taylor which I had, at the time, been assuming was the President of the United States so I was completely out of the loop. Of course nothing of what I said was anything as brilliant as what they were saying. Well, I am a convert so no church history there and no one in my family have ever been close to anyone that spectacular.

We did have a huge and great Easter Dinner with a less-active family, fully active family, recent convert, and nonmember. It was awesome.

I am so grateful now for the chance that we have next week to see the prophet of the church. I am so excited for General Conference. It will be amazing. I have begun writing down questions that I want to be answered. I know that President Thomas Spencer Monson is the prophet and that he is the mouth piece of the Lord. I cannot wait to hear his voice.

Love,

Sister Diamond Evans

3 Nephi 11: 10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.