The Allegory of the Olive Tree

Well this week was indeed very exciting.

First off HAPPY LATE ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD! LOVE YOU!!!!!

Tuesday was great and busy. Wednesday I went on splits with Sister Raines in Franklinton. The 4 of us went to Wendy's for lunch and they were so busy that it took of over half an hour for 3 salads and a chicken sandwich. Crazy! And they ran out of root beer :( Thursday we followed Brother Corkren around to make contact with a couple less actives at their work places and eventually ended up at the local mason lodge (typical Papa, he loves being a mason almost as much as he loves being a Mormon). It was so pretty inside and there were some members setting up for a Eastern Star meeting so we were able to learn about that. Eastern Star is the women organization associated with the Masons.

Friday was Interviews with President McDonough in Slidell, LA. The travel was great and when we arrived, the Waveland District was still meeting so we got to hang out with them again. President kinda rushed through my interview and I had to stop him to say I had more to talk about with him. I don't blame him, he must be so stressed. I was able to talk "nerd" with a member from Picayune waiting for institute to start. She works at Petco and loves Pokemon... Needless to say we had a lot to talk about. Then I left my companions and went on exchanges in Diamonhead, MS with Sister Bean and Sister Tebbs stayed with Sister Ray and Eyre.

Saturday was awesome. Sister Bean is awesome. We quickly found out we have a lot in common: 1 of 6 kids, family in Portland (she's from Vancouver, Washington), similar struggles on our mission. She wore me out walking in the morning. And we were kept busy through the day meeting with some awesome investigators that are totally prepared, tracting (there are quite a few Catholics in Diamondhead), and going to a baby shower. Though it was like no baby shower I had been to. It was being held for a less actives' friend and when we walked in all I saw was a bunch of old men and women standing around with beers in hand. We were asked if we were "the dancers". Apparently they had the Pelican Girls coming. It was extremely strange but the food was good.

Later on we went to a member's for dinner with the other missionaries in Waveland. When the husband showed up with the elders I introduced myself and he asked "Do you have a sister named Heather?" I was so taken about that I literally stepped away for a second. I answered dumbfound, "Yes." "Are you from Arizona?" Again dumbfounded I asked, "Are you from Mesa?" He said yes, so cool and collected, and explained he didn't know what stake it was any more but that he grew up east of Lindsey. It was Andy Guyman! Apparently he used to ride to school with Heather and Julie. He'd married and moved to Mississippi to work with Nasa testing rockets at the local unit there. CRAZY CONSEQUENCES!

We drove to Picayune to exchange back after.

Now we get to the truly crazy parts of the week:

1. Sister Eyre bruised her tail bone Thursday night at the Workman's. She was playing with the children as we waited for dinner and to avoid falling on a boy, tripped and fell half on the furniture but mostly on the floor. Unfortunately for her, Bogalusa has a lot of pot holes.

2. Sister Eyre had an allergic reaction while eating the peanuts provided as snacks during the interviews. She's allergic to tree nuts and the container said it may contain traces of it. Unfortunately she can't take Benydryl (been there, done that) and so Sister McDonough said Pepcid AC would work. None of us had money though at the end of the month, so---remember that member from Picayune?--she saved the day as she and I went on splits to go buy some and she paid. She was a life saver.

3. Sister Eyre, on Saturday night as we drove home from Picayune, said she was experiencing shortness of breath. In 20 minutes, no one had answered our phone calls and we were in ER, her breathing having worsened and pains beginning to shoot up her neck. We stayed in the Bogalusa ER waiting for a bed then waiting for blood test results from 9:30pm to 1:30am. Brother Corkren came and stayed with us and the Picayune elders came too. I had to sit outside with them after she finally got a bed. And then they couldn't determine what was wrong, gave her a loratab for the pain, and sent her home. Sound anything like another sister's experience to you? We WILL NOT be going back to their hospital. The next day the members told us the hospital in Franklinton was better. Wish we had known.

4. A less active died on Tuesday and we had her funeral service Saturday. That's my 3rd funeral on my mission. So sad. But it sounds like she was truly loved, the chapel was filled and 3 Books of Mormon and lots of Plan of Salvation pamphlets were taken from the display tables.

5. Tried of our dark bedroom, Sister Eyre and Sister Ray decided to move all the beds into the 3rd bedroom. It was brighter but it seems weird to be sleeping in the smallest room in our house now.

6. We had some active members deliver dinner to our house. They brought us Popeyes... Not what we expected.

7. I just finished Jacob in the Book of Mormon and admitted to be companions that Jacob 5 is my most favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon. They think I'm crazy but I love the history, symbolism, and the call to serve in it. It talks about me! (aka missionaries)

To answer questions:

Sorry Mom, not many fireflies at all. And glad you've seen a opossum. I usually only see dead and half smushed ones on the roadside. But Sister Eyre saw one once on a late drive home and said it looked like something that crawled out of the "pits of hell." She's funny. Mostly we see cats and birds. But there are an occasional other creature of beast but we don't get out to the country much to see them.

And transfers will be July 15th. I'll find out the Saturday before if I'm staying or going. 2 transfers and 3 months left. I wonder what will happen.

I love you all. Happy Summer, Happy Fourth of July, and Happy fireworks!

Love, Sister Stewart

 Got lost on our way to the Workman's.

 We saw this on our way to Slidell. Gotta love how the South loves the bible.

 Waveland and Picayune Districts.

 Strange orange mushrooms found tracting.

 Sister Newman and I.

 Sister Ray's hand after letting Sister Eyre squeeze it. At least Sister Eyre didn't hyperventilate.

 Mandrian and I.

How to hammer a nail without a hammer: a can of yams. 

Let the Holy Spirit Guide

So the craziest day this week was Wednesday. It started off great. DDM was fun, spiritual, and the zone leaders visited so we got to be around a few different missionaries. I brought my lunch trying to save money. However through the rest of the day:

1. We almost ran out of gas.

2. We almost got hit by a backing car that didn't see us. (Our brakes work great, by the way!)

3. We went searching for a former investigator and accidentally went to the wrong house but the spirit directed us to talk to a boy across the street who introduced us to his grandma, who was the investigator we were looking for.

4. We had an investigator come to our Book of Mormon class. The class went great and afterwards when we asked if she wanted a tour of the building she asked for a lesson too. It was so spiritual.

5. We followed that investigator because she didn't have gas but made it to Book of Mormon class anyway and she did in fact run out of gas on her way home. Sister Eyre and I got to push her truck to a gas station a block away and helped her get cash from home and fill up a gallon's worth. It was an interesting night.

6. Then on our way home we were stopped at a DUI check point. They saw we were church people asked if we were Catholic. When we said no, we're Christians, we don't drink, they let us go on with no problem.

After Wednesday, everything wasn't too bad. We had a lot of splits with members and Thursday I was able to meet the sister of some members in Sandhill, MS (I covered the Sandhill Branch when I served in Petal) and found out that her brother, Brother Owen, one of Sandhill's most amazing members, had finally passed away a few months before after being terminally ill for several years. Such a strong man, he will forever live in my memory. We had dinner with one sister and when she got in the car she said, "Well, you have me for another hour. Who do you want to go see?" We were taken by surprise and suggested a less active she had been fellow-shipping. Unfortunately the less active was sick so we couldn't visit, but it was neat to see the members enthusiasm.

In other news my companions got the opportunity to encounter a "bad spirit" when tracting while I was out of splits. It forced them to come home early and really scared to be home that evening. They both said prayers, but didn't feel better so we called our Mission President. Because I didn't feel too concerned he wasn't either. So then I said a prayer, as strong as I could, trying to let the Spirit guide me so that I could overflow the bad out with good and to comfort my companions. Afterward we moved on to a new topic of conversation and ended up all sleeping well.

I'm still hanging in there. We have interviews this week in Slidell, LA. President has asked to hear what our visions are as missionaries. I think mine is to be a solider, standing for truth and righteousness against the adversary.

Love you all!

 Sister Ray's invention. They don't have a real name but they are delicious! Sugar, butter, cinnamon, and flattened canned biscuits. Topped with more cinnamon sugar.

The other week I bit into my apple all the way to the core and seeds fell out. To my surprise the seeds had germinated inside the apple! Since my grass was dying I decided to replace it with these seeds to see if they would grow and it has! It's strange though, I thought the pods were supposed to stay in the ground, this one grew with the leaves.

Last Week was a Doosie

Alright family, most of you already know but last week was not a very easy one and for a couple days I was determined to return home. Well, sorry to whoever was excited for this. I've decided to stay. The Lord needs me in Bogalusa.

It was very confusing from Thursday to Saturday as the decision was thrown in the air like a balloon, threatening to touch the ground but willingly moving to any breeze or light tap that got in the way. Finally me and my companions couldn't take it anymore. We were getting no where together and figured that if I didn't go home I would need to be transferred if anything was going to work. Finally, we called the Mission President. At first he attempted to once more tell us to figure it out , we were "adults," but sometimes even adults need help and so he finally told us some "hard doctrine."

REPENT.

You would think this would made us scared or angry or sad--and for my companions it was sad--but I felt so relieved. I've never understood repentance, though I know I've used it before. I just felt so light being told to repent. Its said so many times in the scriptures but I've usually disregarded it. Afterwards my companions and I decided to separate and do personal studies for a while, then come back together in pairs and just talk on a personal level to each other.

I studied the book of Jonah and understood so much. The spirit was really strong with me as I allowed the Lord to open my eyes. I never thought of his story as one of missionary work, but footnote a on Jonah 1:2 says it. (I've really learned to love the footnotes on my mission, before they seemed to bothersome.--"My scriptures would be so lighter without them"--but I'm learning their importance.) On Jonah 1:3b it directs you to Psalm 139:1-16 and opens your eyes to how much the Lord watches you. I shared Jonah 1:7a with my companions, because in Helaman 12:3 it explains that the Lord chastens with afflictions (see no. 1 below). Also using the Bible Dictionary and a Plan of Salvation pamphlet, I learned that the word repent means "to change" and have a fresh view as God, oneself, and the world and that salvation means deliverance from death and sin. Salvation comes from faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, which is exercised through repentance, obedience and service (aka faith, hope, and charity). I LOVE LEARNING FROM THE SCRIPTURES!!! Don't you?

So, Sister Ray and Eyre talked first and it sounded like most of their discussion wasn't very happy. And then when Sister Ray joined me; she said the room was so light. I think my study in Jonah really helped me. I feel like I finally understand repentance and I came to the realization that gratitude is the best medicine for any heart ache. I felt so much more like myself, or--that is--the person I want to be, as I talked to Sister Ray and we were really able to communicate and better figure out what was wrong, what ideas could be changed and how we were going to make Bogalusa awesome together. Sister Eyre came in half way and just stopped in the doorway. She said the room was so much brighter than the other room she had just left and she said I was the light source. I know it wasn't me but the Spirit that was in me. The rest of the night, I felt so uplifted and even when Sister Ray and Sister Eyre had a disagreement in daily planning, I was able to mediate it and be myself. I apparently looked silly, my eyes wide as I leaned forward, enthusiastically nodding my head as Sister Ray explained why she was upset. It broke the tension as they laughed at me. I felt good, like I had the chance of being funny and like I was actually helping.

The next day we were finishing up some weekly planning business and Sister Ray and I got a little heated. We attempted to continue on but I felt mad with myself because now I didn't feel good, I was still fuming a little, and I didn't think my companions deserved my attitude then. So I excused myself to pray. I decided to test my gratitude discovery and knelt, took a few deep breaths and just opened my heart to what I was grateful for. It didn't take long for me to feel the Spirit and to know that everything would be okay. And when I went back in the other room, I said "It's okay, Sister Stewart is back." And we finished with smiles on our faces ready for our last appointment of the night.

That last appointment was awesome! We were meeting with a recent convert, Cyndi. She had expressed to us that she wanted to better understand her baptismal covenants, befriend other members, and hopefully receive a priesthood blessing. We had our branch mission leader come with us and when we arrived Cyndi had 2 friends over. They sat in on our lesson so it was a member present. I'm not entirely sure what to call our lesson but it was mostly the Restoration, directing it to the friends. It was amazing because we asked for Brother Corkren's testimony and he shared his conversion story and then as we talked Cyndi volunteered her testimony several times and the friends asked questions as we shared scripture. The conversation flowed great and the friends became 2 new investigators because we have an appointment to see them on Tuesday. Before we left, Cyndi asked for her blessing and so we explained that we would like to have reverence in the room for it. The friends didn't necessarily understand and left to go outside and smoke. But Brother Corkren gave an amazing blessing and as we left I heard Cyndi baring her testimony of the amazing experience she just had. She is going to be an awesome member missionary. She still is facing a lot of temptation from bad friends, old cocaine addiction, and smoking, and has relapsed in drinking a few times but she calls us soon after and tells us whenever this happens. Her hope is so strong and our hope for her is even stronger.

I feel overjoyed. It’s time for the bud that is Bogalusa to blossom.

In other news:

1. Sister Ray had to go to Picayune. While going to sit on the couch in the study room she leaned back too far and hit her head really hard on the window sill. Urgent Care said they couldn't do anything for her so she got a priesthood blessing from the elders, took some aspirin and we went home. She's in a slow progression of feeling better, but she'll get there.

2. I've made a new resolve for my mission. It includes more gratitude prayers, joy (Alma 27:17), and peaceful moments in my life. I've decided these are 3 things that Satan cannot mimic so if they are what fill my life than I'll be happy. :)

3. The rain pounded on Tuesday and my companions and I were soaked running from our car to a service appointment.

4. I ironed clothes as a service for 4 hours straight. Yes, she had a lot of clothes.

Ready for a new week? I wonder what amazing thing will happen. I love you all. Tell me what you've learned lately in the scriptures. I want to know where you are studying.

Love,

Lucky Sister Stewart

Ps. If you have any other questions, email me and I will answer them personally.

 After all the rain Tuesday, I found snails in the trees!

 Me and my strange companions.

Made muffins mom sent me. 

Giving talks in Bogalusa take 2

Hello Familia!

Well from what I heard from Mom and Dad this morning the annual family campout went pretty well! Sorry I missed it for the 3rd year in a row. I'm not too fond of this new tradition I seem to be starting. Hopefully I'll be able to get back in joining you in the woods soon.

Meanwhile I'm still in the woods of southern Louisiana.

This week--after the craziness from Tuesday-- I would like to say things calmed down a bit. Truth is again I got to meet new people, investigators and less actives, and I loved it. Apparently I'm starting to become more accustomed to talking openly with people because I chatted up a storm with 2 older woman who were once investigators (now they are more dear friends). And at the end of each visit I bore sure testimony that touched the eyes of both of the women. I loved it and can't wait to go back. But of course something always had to go wrong and Sister Eyre got a bad migraine Saturday that kept her down. But that was okay because it gave me time to work on my talk.

Saturday after Book of Mormon class at the church, the 1st counselor in the Branch Presidency asked if the 3 of us could speak. Again no topic but we worked that out easily. I chose hope based on one of my favorite articles in the Ensign called "The Healing Balm of Hope" from last September's Ensign (https://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/09/the-healing-balm-of-hope?lang=eng&query=teh+healing+balm+of+hope) I also used President Uctdorf's talk from October 2008 "The Infinite Power of Hope." (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/the-infinite-power-of-hope?lang=eng). These are both amazing talks, I suggest reading them. I told about when I graduated high school with no job, no college, and no money, and yet everything worked out the next semester that I could pay for my semester at college and the next year I was blessed with a new job. I ended with my testimony and with a plea from President Monson to find the light in the dark tunnels we each go through and lean on the love of Heavenly Father.

Also, we were almost out of time after I talked (I was #3) so Sister Ray got out of talking again. Last time she was having chest pains. She's starting to feel jipped, so she volunteered for sometime this month.

Now, I don't have many pictures from this week, but that doesn't mean life has been boring:

1. I made peach oatmeal cookies, not bad but it probably would have been better with dried peaches rather than fresh ones.

2. Sister Cooper is in my district now, she's one of the Picayune sisters. Lunch Wednesday was spent catching up.

3. We almost died. So we were driving around Thursday afternoon getting addresses for our records in some spare time and came to a railroad crossing. Without really thinking, Sister Ray crossed over and discovered a train less than 30 yards from us. We all started screaming till we were safe then freaking out over Sister Ray not looking twice (Luckily the train was going super slow). She said she didn't even noticed the railroad signs and that she had never seen a train on those tracks in the 3 months of serving in Bogalusa. So we calmed down and joked in funny voices, "We could have died!"

The next day, or night, we were driving around again, this time to calm Sister Ray's nerves that had been building from the stress of Bogalusa. Again we came to a railroad crossing and sarcastically Sister Ray slowed down to a stop and jokingly looked both ways, commenting on yesterday's adventure. Well wouldn't you know it, there was a train not 300 yards down the way again going slow. This time we were laughing as we sped across the tracks.

4. Found out that dipped cones from McDonalds are great when you need ice cream and chocolate.

And that's Bogalusa folks!

Love ya!

-Sister "Lucky" Stewart

 Apparently, Hattiesburg opened a Jimmy Johns in the 8 months that I have been gone. I wish I could show you Sister Eyre's face when she saw the sign as we drove by to the library. The JJ Gargantuan is awesome!

Mail Box down! Repeat Mail box down!

Storms.

First off, no Mom, Mr. Rogers was my time. I loved that show so much. Especially the train tunnel. Also it was funny when I opened your package on Saturday because the first thing I read was "Is the sun shining?" and we were in the middle of a downpour that had been going non-stop since the day before (and btw it's still cloudy. It's always rainy weather on transfer day). The shorts are a little long but I think they'll be fine, they fit the bill. I think that should be enough to last me for now but keep the measurements just in case. I'm feeling ok, no physical damage to this sister (besides a paper cut).

Again not much has happened in Bogalusa. Sister Eyre has taken on 2 new nick-names: Druggy and Gimpy. "Druggy" because she often has to take her pain medicine which makes her loopy and "Gimpy" well... because she can't use both hands. It was funny on Sunday, Sister Ray was having a bad allergic reaction (she's allergic to cats) and so after church took some Benydryl. Sister Eyre took her pain meds and well, I sat at my desk and read the scriptures. But the conversations those 2 had before they conked out was funny, probably not repeatable but funny to me. However, Benydryl is never being used in our house again except for dire emergencies like Ray's.

We were able to teach some people including several less actives I haven't met yet. We taught one woman who used to be a member and her boyfriend and he is awesome. He said he doesn't really know anything about the Mormons but wants to learn and talks like baptism is already in his future. He's been reading the Book of Mormon and asked several times through our lesson for good places to read that will help him understand more. We told them to read Alma 32 together and continue praying. They want to be married but because of legal complexities they can't for fear of losing disability and insurance money. They aren't sure what to do. Still that desire and understanding is surely something we can work with.

Last week was full of road trips. First one on Tuesday to Hattiesburg for "Gimpy's" first doctor's appointment. Then Wednesday night we drove to Slidell and picked up the sisters there then drove across a huge bridge that made us feel like we were on top of the world to get to Long Beach. We stayed with the sisters there for zone conference the next day in Gulfport. Zone conference was awesome. There were less people I knew but I had a few friends like Elder Spence and Sister Garzand that I got to chat with. I miss my old friends. I wish I could go back to times before. We were planning on stopping by the beach on our way out of town but the sky was super dark by 7pm (the sun sets at 8:30pm) and we received 2 nervous phone calls from Bogalusa member's that there was a bad rain storm. So we took off as soon as we could and ended up getting caught in a HORRIBLE storm, while on the bridge! Luckily we made it off. Slidell was flooded so we took a detour to the sister apartment. I drove because Sister Ray was hyperventilating and we made it safely there. We spent the night and drove home the next day.

Crazy enough for you? Needless to say I am whooped. But my reading is going great in the book of Mormon. I'll be done with 1 Nephi today and last night I actually understood some of the things I read in the first Isaiah chapters! Goes to show that the Lord fulfills his promises, the more we read and study the more we will understand. Can't wait to see what else pops out at me the next time I read.

Praying you are all safe and sound. Love you much. Enjoy the summer!!!

Love, Sister Stewart

Only in the South (please note scripture under the date stamp). 

 Jesus is the Answer Billboard in Slidell, LA.

 ON TOP OF THE WORLD! Crossing the bridge from Slidell, LA to Glufport, MS. With Sister Totter and her cheese puff.

 Kittens love to fall asleep on me.

 Giant Potato, thanks Mom!

 With all the rain from the last 4 days, our yard is now covered with mushrooms!

Since we had to come to Hattiesburg for Sister Eyre's doctor's appointment, we decided to come early for the transfer vans. This will probably be the last time the 3 Wesson girls will see each other as missionaries. Sister Totterer is going to Winsboro, LA and dies in August. Sister Tebbs was just made STL in Diamondhead, MS. And then there's me. I loved this companionship.