The ELECT

HI Everyone!

It's me again, can you believe it has already been another week?

Last week was full of exciting new adventures. Sister McGrath and I started at Old Navy, last Monday, and I was able to buy a couple shirts and a cute new owl tote bag. Tuesday, we had several lessons with investigators and our ward missionary, Sister Maranto. She is an amazing missionary. She connected easily with our investigators, and bore testimony as we explained the First Vision. Dinner on Tuesday was at Sister Baker's, around the corner. We let it slip we were having dinner there and Sister Maranto called her up with a quick phone call consisting of "I heard you were feeding the missionaries. I'll be over in a few minutes." Haha! Sister Maranto is Sister Baker's visiting teacher, they are good friends, there was plenty enough food to go around. Then after dinner, we spent the night at the Simpson's in Bossier! I didn't sleep too great, but any time spent with the Simpson's is the best.

Wednesday was the long day. We had Zone Conference, all the way in Monroe, LA. Sister McGrath and I rode carpool with Elder Spence and the Spanish elders in the Bossier Ward. It was squishy in the back seat, but luckily when I switched to the other side of the car on the ride home it wasn't so bad. Elder Kopischke of the Seventy from Germany spoke to us. He was incredible! Think of a cross between President Uchtdorf and Elder Holland. Incredible. He explained that President McDonough holds the toolbox and we missionaries are the tools. But the Lord is the master. He asked, "What kind of tool would you like to be?" We have to trust that we are where we are supposed to be. He encouraged us to ask questions, and to teach only those you receive us and teach them only so much as they are ready for. And stated, "Love is the only way... If you love your investigators, you won't have to worry about how many lessons you teach." But my favorite quote was "This is not about converting everybody, but about converting the ELECT."

We have a really good Ward Mission Leader. He went out with Sister McGrath and I to a new convert's home to teach him the second lesson. It went great, the member, mentioned before as Richard, is really getting it. He's soaking every thing in and then radiating it back out. It's been so fun to watch him grow. Then after our meeting we met our Ward Mission Leader at Dairy Queen down the highway and discussed how the lesson went and things that had been happening in our area including our individual meetings with Elder Kopischke.

There's no new news on Kenny. We have a return appointment scheduled with him on Saturday but he had to cancel. Sister McGrath and I were so sad, we were so excited to meet with him and had a member coming with us and everything. Still he's in our prayers.

The biggest accomplishment for the week: tracting 5 hours, including 2 straight hours Saturday evening. I'm sorry President but I don't like tracting, and I keep feeling like if we are in a lesson, its okay not to tract as much. However, last week our zone leaders challenged us to do at least 5. With a good attitude and a cool breeze it wasn't hard. My bag wasn't heavy, we taught principles, prayed with those who would listen, set a return appointment, and stayed joyful.

Sister McGrath and I are finding fun ways to keep entertained. We dance and sing really loud in the car, taking time to memorize our favorite songs. After planning we had "Angel of Music" stuck in our heads, and sang to each other rather than talking, using its tune as our base. On Saturday, we tracted for 2 hours, so between houses we named everything that started with the letter "M", beginning with McGrath! "All work and no play, makes a minute feel like a day."

Now in our ward, we had a new family move in, last name Bell's. The only problem, we already have Bell's. My solution: Shiny New Bells, Used Bells, and Rusty Bells.

Last Sunday was Stake Conference, President Judkins (previously 1st counselor, now released) spoke and bore testimony of 3 things, and related these 3 things to Star Trek! Everyone was awake to hear how you could relate the Gospel to this syfy television show. I was so intrigued myself, that I drew my district acting out what he said (found in this week's photos). First he compared a wrist communicator to prayer (Sister McGrath) and how a communicator works everywhere as a connection to the ship. Prayer works everywhere, connecting us to our Heavenly Father. The ability to Teleport is the Resurrection. Just as in teleportation the body is disintegrated and put back together somewhere else, the Resurrection is the reuniting of our spiritual bodies with immortal, physical bodies. Then last he considered the phaser, a weapon that can either kill or be "set to stun." This he compared to the Word of God, the scriptures, that as we read can penetrate our hearts. I loved these symbols, and it was fun to dress up my fellow missionaries in the attire.

Movie of the day: "A Mother's Hope" http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=2371781721001

Love you all, Thank you for the love. I've already gotten birthday care packages from Gayle and Kristi and birthday wishes from Grandma. Keep smiling, that's what you make me do every day!!!

Love Lara

 Had to say goodbye to a great friend. Ashlee flew back to China on Tuesday.

Drove to Monroe, Louisiana for a Zone Conference. Carpooled with the Spanish elders from the Bossier District and Elder Spence from my district. Elder Hanzlik took a nap. 

 That was a very squishy car ride.

 Mr. Driver (Elder Spence).

Louisiana is NOT flat. This is Hwy 1 to Mooringsport. Will not be biking this. 

 The skies in Louisiana are gorgeous.

 Sister McGrath is more excited for my birthday than me. Someone finally took my advice and made a paper chain!!!!

I love weird flavors and I LOVE Pringles! (Mild Jalapeno and Cheddar and Xtra Tangy Buffalo Wing Sauce.) 

Package from Kristi! 

Bossier's Angels (Sister Martin, Tebbs, and Cox)

 New Necklaces!

Brownlee in Star Trek mode based off President Judkins talk at Stake Conference.

:)

Dear Peeps in Mesa (and other places too),

Sorry, I didn't get a letter out in the mail last week, it's on its way now.

Fun things in the work:

Black out during in depth less-active lesson: Last Saturday we were teaching an older woman who had been baptized with her husband but doesn't feel like she was told everything and that wasn't right. We were discussing that we believe that we can become like God and the difference between becoming "like god" and becoming "god" when the lights went out. With few windows in her house it was really dark, but luckily she had a Coleman lamp nearby. It was a good thing though because we were about to be late to our dinner appointment after, so since we couldn't read the scriptures, we stopped the lesson there. It was fun listening to the thunder, Louisiana has good lightning storms.

Used my talents to help Sister Madsen with RS activity: Sister Madsen is the weeknight activity coordinator and she needed a lot of help for the activity so we went over to her house on Thursday and helped her make pinwheels, taught her about BINGO random generator cards online, and made and decorated peanut butter rice-cripsies (she was most happy for that because she hates decorating cakes). It was so much fun, though we were there for longer than we really should have been, but I finally got to use my more technical-crafty side.

Then we had some investigators planning on going to that activity which meant that we could go to. There wasn't enough time to return to our area to tract so we went to nearby Brownlee park and did our studies that we had missed that morning. At the park we met so many people that we knew, including the Bishop and his family. It was really fun to see them and to enjoy the nice day as well.

Spirit of Elijah touched me and an investigator: A couple weeks ago we got to meet with a member and their co-worker for breakfast and discussed family history. She filled out a pedigree chart and we gave it to our Family History consultant to fill out. On Saturday, we met with both of them and our consultant showed tips and tricks on how to use Family Search and find old names and records. While sitting their we found a few names and the places that they lived. Seeing the joy on the investigator's face was wonderful and then as we explained baptism for the dead and the Church's viewpoint on the family really brightened her up even more. I only wish I could do my own family history work now, but it'll have to wait :)

Scary house, nice man: Tracting last Saturday, we were about to go up to a cute blue home that was a little decrepit and had rusty cars out front and, from the sounds of it, a large dog inside. Sister McGrath immediately turned around and we started walking away. But we stopped each other, and thought, "What if this is the one?" Quickly we turned back, and walked up to the front door. Nervous like crazy we knocked and indeed there was a large dog which was held back by a man named Kenny. He stuck the door, put the dog away, then opened it again and joined us outside. We talked to him a bit and he said he was interested, we shared with him the Book of Mormon and he said he'd read it. Just goes to show that a scary house does not mean scary people. :)

Found a nature park and Kim: Barred Owl!!! While out and about on Sunday, I discovered a hidden nature park outside of Blanchard. Curious we drove in and parked. We went in the visitor center to ask if they had a bathroom and were met by one of the part time workers there. Almost immediately we struck up a conversation about us as missionaries and our purpose in Louisiana. She was really open to our offer to teach her, but due to a shaky schedule, wouldn't set an appointment for us to come by. Afterwards we took a moment to visit their aviary which included 3 species of owl, including my favorite barred owl! Then Sister McGrath kissed their deer.

Fun Things with fellow missionaries:

Playing signs, Gangham Style: After some quick shopping last Tuesday (Transfer P-Day), we met the other missionaries at the church for games. They were playing "Signs" a game where everyone has a sign and you pass around being "it" by accepting your sign from someone else then signing another's sign and passing it on. The trick is keeping it all secret from the person in the middle who is trying to guess who is "it". At first I had a silly sign that involved lifting the hands and one foot. Unfortunately I couldn't recognize my own sign very well, so I switched to a dance move from my family song "Gangham Style." EVERYONE was signing for me now and we were all cracking up seeing how different individuals signed it. Still I never got put in the middle.

Brightening the day with art: Elder Capron is probably my biggest fan right now with my artwork, little cartoons and such that I due for the missionaries. He's always showing people the planner I made him ("Hobbit" themed) and asking me to show people the other cartoons I've done. It makes me happy to see people's smiles and to see them actually use the planner covers I design for them.

New missionaries to the zone: Though our district didn't change, we did get two new missionaries to the zone. Its fun to meet new missionaries, whether they have already been serving for a year or are fresh as a tomato picked from the vine.

Just fun:

Movie Night: We got a new movie to use for our teaching "Together Forever," so after a long Saturday, we took part of our dinner time to sit on the couch and watch it together. It's a really sweet film, though it was made in the 80's. Big hair, but the gospel was true even then.

Rony's Ribs: Rony is the husband of one of our returning members we visit regularly. We never talk to him very much because when we are over he allows his wife to have time with us. But on Saturday, we not only got to talk with him and his wife, but he fed us some of the ribs he had steamed then grilled. They were really good. Different flavor than Dad's but had a nice kick to them.

Talk of the day: "The First Great Commandment" by Elder Holland. Listened to this as I wrote. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/the-first-great-commandment?lang=eng#watch=video

I hope that is enough great things for you Mom. My goal this week is to write in my journal more, so more things will hopefully flow.

"Kent" is doing well. :) He hasn't been used too much though, I prefer my SAS shoes.

Indeed, I did eat gumbo. The McCabe is the only place I have had it. Brother McCabe makes it spicy with chicken and duck and sausage. It's good. They let us take some home. The last time I was at the McCabe's was before transfers so I told them that if I was leaving I would like to celebrate my birthday with them. Sister McCabe couldn't remember which day I had said was my birthday (she thought I said 20th) so she made me a cake. Its funny because I usually go help with dessert after our spiritual thought, but this time I didn't and then when I finally did, I turned around, she had the cake lit and they were all singing. I was so surprised! And so happy! It totally made this one of the best birthdays ever. But no, I still don't know how to make gumbo, though I could probably figure it out.

I think that is just about all. Love you, family. Take care and Happy Birthday:

Amy, Dallin, Stephanie, Karl, and Ammon!

Kristi, I know what would make a great Christmas gift :)

LOVE, LUCKY LARA

 Sister Simpson and me with our chocolate mustaches from the RS activity, themed "I mustache you a question."

 After a story Elder Simpson told me, I've been collecting pennies and change off the ground. I finally made a jar to keep them in last week. How much to you think I can get in one mission?

 HAHA!!!

 Barred Owl! (it was hard to get the camera to focus behind the bars)

 Sister McGrath kissed a deer!

This 5 inch stick bug was on our car this morning! 

Pictures From Sister Stewart

Rode with the Shreveport Sisters in their van to bowling last Monday.  

I found this folder at Walmart. I "mustache" you a question do you know Jesus? Gotta love the South.  

 Three Generations. My sister, my mom, my grandma, and me.

 Four inch Banana spider, found while tracting. I jumped so hard.

 Found a tree frog at a member's place.

Taking Sister Simpson to a doctor's appointment. Ashlee is there friend from China staying with them.

'O,O'

Yes that is an Owl in the subject bar :)

How has everyone been? Let the month of birthday's commence! I have determined that no matter what happens to me in the mission field this month, I'm going to be happy, so drag out the marde'gra beads, fry up some Twinkies, we're having a fiesta!

Not much news on this last week. Its been hot and humid: 103*, 97*, 98*. And the humidity level has been high so its even worse. Can't wait to be freezing this winter!

On Wednesday nights we have Book of Mormon class, and due to others not being able to teach, Sister McGrath and I volunteered. I had planned to prepare during companionship study, but that fell through, then we planned to prepare after District Meeting lunch, but that ran over. In total we planned 10 minutes, not including our decision on what to teach and individual time studying that morning. Let me say, these classes are truly a sign to me about what it means to teach "by the spirit." I've noticed that I've been able to skim read verses to share from the chapters were in, ask more questions, think of personal experiences, and turn a wayward comment from the members back to the topic at hand. I love teaching this class, I'm going to miss it if they say missionaries can't teach anymore.

Mom - "Come What May and Love it" is actually Sister MCGrath's favorite talk! How funny. Did you know their is a song that says the same, I have it on a CD from Elder Earnshaw. See if you can find it on youtube.

Yes, there are tons of bugs! Too many to know all the different kinds. The church is really bad with roaches, I'm always finding new ones each week. So gross! Our apartment hasn't had too many bugs, mostly spiders. One morning during study, a fly had somehow gotten in our apartment and was stuck in the window behind my desk. Then suddenly its buzzing changed. At first I thought someone was cutting the bushes outside, then realized it was the fly, but as I was lifting up the blinds I saw it had been caught by a huge spider that was living in the hollow in the base pole for the blinds! EEK! As soon as I saw that spider, I dropped the blind and ran to the living room. Sister McGrath (who loves bugs and is always picking them up) killed it for me but I couldn't return to the study room for a while. Ugh, I'm getting the jitters just remembering it.

I watched "The Testaments" for the first time this week. (We have it at home, watch it). I loved the storyline, demonstrating how our faith is measured and tested. I cried to hard when it showed Christ. And when I rewatched it, I cried again.

Transfers are next week. Not sure what I'll be doing till Friday. Tell you on Tuesday the news. Please send all mail to the mission office!

LOVE Y'ALL!

Sister Stewart!

Ps. The Southern is kicking in because I've given up fighting it.

 Car with eyelashes at the library.

 My favorite Pringles.

 This is The Silly Cat (full name). I met him walking in the morning a couple weeks ago and then I met him again this week and went to grab my camera to show you and he followed me home. Super friendly!

Went to town on Saturday with the zone for a missionary's birthday.