Sister Lara Elizabeth Stewart: 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.