I made it through my first month! 17 left, not a very big number at all!
It’s been a great week: 21 lessons and 11 Book of Mormons. The hardest part has been getting around to see everyone. You really don't have very much time on a mission. There are so many less actives and investigators to see. Plus the fact that we have studies till 10a and training till 11a (which gets changed according to the day), plus eating and meetings and travel, we really only have 5-6 hours a day to see people.
One of my favorites is an older woman named Leslie, she's very expressional. Sister Cox and Sister Johnson have taken up a lot of her sayings and motions because we love her personality and attitude. When she has just read for us, she throws herself back on her chair and heaves (which we do whenever we are talking about investigators when they are so close to the truth and still won't except it).
During one lesson before I arrived, Leslie told them about her clubbing days when she would be out on the dance floor "Just doing [her] thing". (Every time we are happy about our accomplishments we pull our arms in, snap, and sway side to side singing "Just doin' my thang.") And then on our last visit, every time we made a comment that made her think, she would raise her arms and go "whoo!" (She is now Sister Johnson's personal favorite). It was really funny though, because she knows that we are called of God, because she walked out of her house when we arrived at our appointment, said we couldn't come in because she was moving and her house (which wasn't a mess) was messy. We just stood there smiling at her and she started walking away. She turned and waved us in, "Well come on," and we taught a lesson.
It’s sad talking to less actives because 75% of the time, they became less active because they were offended by what another member said! How cruel we are! That is the natural man and we must be rid of him! The other percent has to do with either moving to a new area, the church is far away so gas is an issue, or loss of interest or faith, the smallest percentage.
It’s so much fun hearing every one's names and experiences. Yesterday at a lunch with the Dean family, Brother Dean told us all about his relationship he made with a man named Joseph Smith while visiting the Community of Christ in Independence, Missouri. The man was a real descendant of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Brother Dean said he was mad that while his branch of the church kept breaking into pieces, ours (we're the Brighamite branch) just keeps getting stronger. And he was mad that his daughters became LDS. His grandson was the first descendant to serve a mission since Joseph's passing (I think). It was really cool to hear that history.
Something funny that happened to us this week is that as we were driving through Blanchard to get to an investigators house, we were stopped by a train. The train was only going like 5-10 miles an hour and had at least 100 coal cars on it. We waited and finally it finished and we were able to drive on. Only, we went about 3 miles and then were stopped again by the same train that had just gone around a bend and back the other direction! So we spent half an hour waiting for one train pretty much. Luckily we had our cameras handy to entertain us through our wait.
Since its P-Day we got haircuts. The woman was recommended to us by a ward member, and she used the salon where she worked to give us the cuts: a hotel! It was pretty nice. Then afterwards we went to the Boardwalk, Shreveport's outdoor mall. It was fun, but I had some poor customer service. And the worst part was that I saw an owl mirror, totally cute! It was a big and little owl looking into a 10 inch mirror that was framed in wood logs, $25. Let me just say how good my companions are because they helped me put the mirror back and walk out of that store... But it was so cute. The photo of downtown Shreveport was taken from the parking lot. I just wish I had taken a picture of the floating casino (that's how their casinos are here, big steam boats that are permanently docked), Dad you would have laughed seeing how it was a giant boat stuck between 2 bridges it would never be able to travel under.
My apartment is the top-left and yes it is the north western building in the Grand Oaks Apartments, next to the dumpster :). It’s nice because the back and side windows face out towards the woods when were studying and over the parking lot so we have the street lamp outside for a night light. I love our apartment, though it could definitely use a wider shower. The best part is that as you drive in, you drive through a tree lined drive way. I'll try to get a picture of it to show you. I'm not sure exactly about how Mother's Day is going to work out, but I'll let you know when I find out. There's a good chance I can Skype though. Dad, what's your Skype address again?
I was wrong that my area is 80 miles wide, it’s 80 square miles. It reaches from the river west of Bossier (pronounced Bow-sure) City then to the West edge of our district, and from Bossier City to a little north of Oil City. My sisters want to buy cowboy boots, we'll see when and if we can do that... I'm not sure on boots and shoes so scrap that idea till one of the pairs I have fall apart. I'm worried a little about shirts, but should be good until the real summer days come (today has been the hottest so far, but we had a nice cool breeze). I have been thinking though I forgot my black belt, it’s still hanging in the right side of my closet towards the door.
That's all I really have to say. This week I'll try to write down more, including more spiritual experiences. I have a problem in that I can't remember what I say when the Spirit is really talking through me so it’s hard for me tell you those things, Mom, sorry.
I love everyone. Remember to "Stand in a Holy Place” :) (Matt 25:15, look it up in a book not digital!) That was my personal study on Friday and Saturday, the second coming. Remember to be an example and don't leave your religion at the door (Jeffery R. Holland).
Love,
Sister Stewart
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