New-ness

Finally ready to write this big long letter. Are you ready for all that has happened this week? Let's begin.

We drove to Jackson last Tuesday. Sister Cottrell's Dad was flying in Wednesday and they would be touring Mississippi for a few days before flying out together on Friday. It was fun to spend time with the McDonough's. We slept over at the mission home. President made us waffles. And then we had to leave. Sister Boehula and I drove straight from Jackson to Bossier for District Meeting. It was a sad day because suddenly we were down our biggest talker.

Then Saturday we received a phone call that the Lord is taking Sister Boehula away from me too! She left this morning for Petal, MS. Sound familiar? I served there! And Sister Cottrell served there. We talked about it a lot. I know she'll do great things for Petal. I immediately felt like she was perfect for the area!!! I'm so excited for her. She's been in the Shreveport area for the last 6 months, so she is finally serving in Mississippi.

I'm leading Minden with a Sister Walker at my side. I've met her briefly in the past and heard a lot about her from past companions but I don't really know much about her besides that. Get ready to learn some things next week. :)

Besides that:

1. I have become the new driver. I love driving but the Jeep is not what I will choose when I get home. There are a lot of blind spots for a tall person like me and it feels like a bumpier ride than my other mission vehicles.

2. Passed out 3 Book of Mormons on Thursday. It was an amazing work day. We tracted A LOT. We met a lot of people. It was hot. We walked so much my feet still are recovering. But I felt so happy.

3. ...And actually not much else has really happened.

Wow, this letter got a little sad. I'll send some pictures to make it better :)

My last transfer!! I'll see everyone in 6 weeks! Let the countdown begin.

Love, Sister Lara

 Playing Apples to Apples Pictures last Monday.

 My new T-shirt we found at Walmart. President loved it. "Where the heck is Minden, LA?"

 Crossing the Mississippi River again. That makes 5 times on my mission so far.

 The Mission Office is in a church building in Brandon, MS. We met the President and his wife here before we all went out to dinner.

 The Last Photo.

 Smiling while tracting.

 Have I mentioned how much I love Louisiana skies?

 I love the South for this reason. There are scriptures everywhere!!!

 A member had a birthday so we made him a pop-up card and cupcake (in the container).

I like this shirt. Look how long my hair is getting!

The last picture of the Bossier District with one of our new zone leaders Elder Jones (sticking his tongue out). Ignore the elder on the left, photo-bombed!

"The Missionary Next Door"

Wow, so this week hasn't been the greatest for the work, but there has been a lot of spiritual uplift-ment.

Tuesday we had exchanging and Sister Giddins joined Sister Boehula and I in Minden and Sister Cottrell went with Sister Gidddins' companion to Shreveport. Sister Giddins used to serve in Minden before they moved the STLs to Shreveport so she was excited to see people she knew and loved. I think they were almost more excited to see her. We all taught very well together and Sister Boehula showed more openness (it's so much fun to hear her talk and share her thoughts and experiences).

Friday was Zone Conference so besides having to wake up at 5:00am so that we could make sure we were ready to arrive by 7am at the Brownlee Building. Our car didn't win a BOSH award for cleanest car but it was definitely the best Zone Conference on my mission. A good thing considering it was my last. Yep. No more. And that means I bore my testimony as one of the "departing missionaries". I testified of joy and said a few words in Bislama (Sister Boehula's native language). It was such an amazing day.

And our investigator called and dropped us.

WELCOME TO THE MISSION FIELD.

A mission is a roller coaster of emotions and that phone call really hurt because she had been taught for so long with so many missionaries. We visited her Sunday to get the in person explanation and she said she just felt like she was rushing into it. I can understand that it can be a scary thing. We were asking her to change practically everything in her life. So we just reassured her of our love and understanding and asked that we be allowed to continue visiting her and invited her to continue attending church. She said she would like that.

Then this weekend was Stake Conference. Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Blooth of the Area Seventy and President Jones and his wife from the Dallas Temple and of course President and Sister McDonough came. It was another overwhelming spiritual experience. I was kept on the edge of my seat as we were taught. Of course based on the visitors titles most of the meeting was about Missionary Work and the Temple. I was surprised just how much our spiritual happiness of today and our spiritual happiness to come depend on whether or not we share the gospel today. And we don't have to do that much. Sister White shared a talk with us called the "The Missionary Next Door" by Diane Holcher (I think it was an EFY class) but she teaches that Member Missionary Work is mostly the "social conversion." Just invite people and friends to learn about you, come to church, attend a Relief Society activity, play Priesthood Basketball. Not that hard. Its the missionaries job to help them with the "Spiritual conversion". That's the hard part--will you pay tithing? keep the law of chastity? give up coffee?

I can't wait to be a member missionary.

Sister Cottrell leaves this week for home. Saturday we receive transfer calls. We'll see if it'll just be me and Sister Boehula my last transfer, if someone new will join us, or if she or I will be moving to a new area. I think we might train. Sister Cottrell thinks it'll just be the 2 of us. Sister Boehula has no assumptions. And transfers will be next Tuesday so don't expect any emails till then.

I Love Y'all! Happy Birthday to Everyone!

-Sister Stewart

 While visiting a less active she had a new roommate. This little guy was so sweet but he was terrified of the kids and decided he would only be quite on my neck. I didn't mind.

 Thursday morning weekly planning session. A moment when we don't have to look our best.

 While we waited for their mom, Sister Cottrell and I read "igloo" with these 2 little girls. Ain't they cute?

 O the fun.

 The Bossier District. The tall guy with no eyebrows (Elder Anderson) just got called to be Assistant to the President so he'll be leaving us this week too.

 I got to go on base! Barksdale Air force Base. (please ignore the messy hair, it's a bad pic)

$0.72

Finally finished all the email I had to respond to... and now its time for the long family letter! Well let's review some of those amazing, funny, insane, and mysterious things from the Life of Sister Lara Stewart. Let's see....

1. Ate dinner with a Catholic man. And now I understand more of the Catholic religion. He was such a nice man but not opened to anything we had to share. One day.

2. We saw the smallest frog ever. It was so small I couldn't get a good picture of it. To understand its size look down. The size of your pinkie nail (kids, more like your thumb nail probably) was the size this itty-bitty frog was. Can you imagine?

3. To our utter shock, our investigator we've had with a date--smokes! We always knew her home smelled off, but we imagined it was just something strange that she cooked. And then her less active husband who also smokes brought up the Word of Wisdom and at first I thought, "We know she drinks coffee, but if she really desires this, she can give that up easily." And then she said tobacco! Well, tomorrow we'll be starting the church's stop smoking workshop with her. Wish us luck and pray. I know she can do this but its gonna be a struggle.

4. Did you know Alma the Younger wasn't the only son of Alma? Mosiah 27:8 says "Now the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the unbelievers; and also one of the sons of Alma was numbered among them, he being called Alma, after his father..." [emphasis added]. I have been learning so much about these little details of the scriptures. I love it. It's like little mysteries being unfolded!

5. In the space of just 2 days of walking around and tracting and meeting people in Minden and Sibley, and very much with the help of Sister Boehula, and a little help from Sister Cottrell, there have been 26 coins added to my Mission Penny Jar, totaling $0.72. Whoo-who!!

6. My cooking skills may or may not be improving but I have been doing my best to combine what I know about the taste buds with my personal creativity. This week I have discovers summer squash rings and this morning I made German Pancakes.

7. I had an answer to pray last week. Before tracting I prayed we would be able to meet someone we could share the Book of Mormon with and bare our testimonies to. Well only 5 doors later the Lord did not only provide but she came out of her house to meet us!

8. I met Sister Lolley, a less active. As we were sitting on her couch I noticed some pictures and cards on her picture of the temple and got up to look closer. I pointed at one and exclaimed, "That's me!" It was Sister Tebbs' Christmas card. Not gonna lie it was creepy to think a woman had a picture of me up in her house before I ever met her, but it was funny nonetheless.

What a fun week. This week there is a zone conference planned for the Shreveport and Texarkana missionaries and we have stake conference this weekend. Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the 70 and Sunday School General Presidency is coming. Sister Cottrell is ecstatic, she loves his talks. Its sure to be an amazing week.

Also I have reached my last 2 months as a missionary for the Lord. Can you believe it? I can't, it feels weird. I'm one of those "old missionaries" that Greenies stare at and ask "how?" It's certainly going to be interesting. Now when I say see you soon I can mean it.

One thing will always be certain, though, I LOVE Y'ALL!!!!!

-Sister "Lucky" Stewart

 The Catholic man we had dinner with feeds ducks and deer in his front lawn every evening. It was so fun to see these precious creatures.

 I got a laugh from this. "This Shell brought to you by FUELMAN."

 The minuscule frog (that larger speck in the middle).

 $0.72

 At our service project we brought our vacuum to use also and I found these 2 using both to vacuum that small portion of carpet behind the couch. That's what I call teamwork.

 Summer Squash Rings.

 The local Methodist church has stain glass windows. This one is my favorite: the Sermon on the Mount.

We get our eggs from a member. This one was a double yoke!

Oh, the Days of the Week.

Well Family, We have reached the month of August. For me it's a celebration, for the South it's a month of dread. The Summer is always hottest in August. BUT! It started off fantastically with really cool weather and some rain. It was in the 80's Thursday through Saturday and was just heavenly. I even wore my hair down a couple days! Imagine that!

Monday night we worked on our yard. It was too hot to do anything in the day so I switched a bathroom bulb for the dead one on our porch and we got to work, pulling weeds and raking leaves. It was a mess and just because it's black outside does not mean it's cooler. I was sweating a storm, mostly because of all the squatting I was doing putting leaves into bags. It was humid which did not make anything better. I was shocked by the worms though, there were dozens upon dozens of big, fat earth worms all over the place. I saved as many as I could from going into the garbage bags by tossing them to the grassy part to the south of our house.

Tuesday as we were tracting I met a beautiful white cat with light blue eyes. I think he might have been blind because he reacted funny when I extended my hand to him. But he wasn't skittish and I got some pictures for reference (in fact he inspired a painting I finished last week). We also met the sister of one of our members. Her husband offered us water and allowed us in their home for a few minutes (one can only guess when a sweaty red faced girl is standing on your porch). She asked us if he had told us where she lived and explained no, sheer coincidence. She wasn't interested but was friendly enough.

Wednesday was the Independence Day of Vanuatu--Sister Boehula's country. We celebrated with green, yellow, and red (turned out pink) pancakes with chocolate chips (black) to represent her nations colors. I didn't have a recipe or mix so I made it up. I think they were nasty but Sister Cottrell and Sister Boehula said they were just fine. Then we had the whole Zone dress up in the same colors because we had ZDM. Sister Boehula was so touched to see everyone dressed up in her nations colors. She even made flags for people to hold in the picture. It was funny because she cut the poles herself from some bush in the back yard (we now have a broken knife, haha).

A storm blew in Wednesday night that helped cool down Thursday. And Friday we went to the doctor's office (how many times is that now on my mission? too many). Sister Cottrell hasn't been feeling well, the doctor said she'll be fine though and filled out a prescription for her and sent us on our way. Sister Boehula found a pamphlet on managing diabetes which made us all curious about how we could eat healthier. Sister Cottrell asked the doctor so many questions that he eventually turned to me and asked "Is she always like this?" and added on our way out "Watch her." Haha, we just laughed, Sister Cottrell is a talker and it's one of my favorite things about her.

Friday night our ward had a Talent Show! I wasn't planning in participating in anything but brought some of my watercolors I've done on my mission to share. To my surprise I ended up talking about them, it got a lot of people curious and one sister asked me to come over and paint her children. Not sure if I'll do that but if she's okay with it I might take some pictures and paint for her when I get home. It was so much fun to see everyone's talents, a lot of people volunteered right there on the spot to sing a song or involve their family. The little kids were so cute. And to end it all we had ice cream because the Bossier Ward is 3 years old! Happy Birthday!

The work was slow this week. We tracted a lot but found no new investigators. But there are some potentials on the horizon. But we had the opportunity to teach some different people and bare a lot of testimony. I love to bare my testimony even if it's just a simple truth of what we believe, "Jesus is the Christ and the only way to salvation."

To end the week, we met with one of our recent converts, Kenneth. He's been having some trouble with a friend of his and to comfort him we decided to read about charity in Moroni 7 because we have seen him exercising charity towards this friend, even though the friend didn't receive it. As we opened with a prayer and opened our books, Kenneth and Sister Boehula overheard a man playing his guitar and started singing along. And then Kenneth invited the man to join us! It was so cool to see him have the courage to invite someone so out of the blue to learn about the gospel. And the man came and sat and read with us and then Kenneth invited him to church! We were so proud.

I'm doing great and having fun. I'm excited to see what this next week holds. It's crazy how fast the time is flying by. I love it.

And I love you!

Your Sister Missionary,

Sister Lara Stewart

A Postcard Sister Boehula made from our zone picture last Wednesday.

A handful of survivor worms.

Who dat? Sister Boehula!

 A Vanuatu Breakfast.

  What a gentleman. Elder Anderson always makes sure to open the doors for all the sisters.

 I don't remember why I stuck my tongue out but its the first day of August and I'm wearing 3-quarter sleeves and...

... My companions are wearing jackets!

The Merrit's donkey, Charlie. I sacrificed a lot for this picture. The next day I counted over 70 bug bites on my person. Over 30 on each leg and several on my arms. Let's just say I will not be standing in their grass again anytime soon. 

SORE AND HAPPY :)

So I've been a genius this week (full sarcasm). We've had to do a lot of walking since it's been the end of the month and we're short on miles. We save where we can but our area is huge, we're 30 miles from the church (one way), and there is just no way to cover it all! In addition to that it's been hot. Currently is the driest I have been since the rain stopped last weekend. I miss it. Then add to that my heavy scripture bag with my quad and full water bottle and you can understand why my collar bone is killing me. A mission is tiring work and if you aren't smart your body will break down. I've been doing whatever I can: eating more veggies and meats and less bread, drinking often and a lot, stretching every morning and not saying no to a walk between investigators, wearing sunscreen, and relinquishing my need to carry everything--but I am still sore.

I just remind myself, "Soon you will have accomplished the mission and won't have to walk 3 miles to share the gospel, but can do it in other ways." And that is my goal for being a RM (returned missionary). Just because my mission ends does not mean my testimony is gone or that I can't share the gospel. I know this church is true and Christ died for me and just as he told his disciples, I have a calling to "feed [his] sheep." Sister Cottrell and I have this conversation often since she goes home next month and I'm following right after her. But none of it holds us back. Instead We are pushing forward!

This week has been amazing for the work. We tracted and found 6 new investigators through baring simple testimony, using the pictures in the pamphlets we hand out, and inviting people to let Christ a little more into their lives. Yesterday, through the genius of Sister Cottrell, we had a recent convert come with us to a potential investigator lesson. The spirit was felt and you could see the message of the Restoration strength in every person in that room. And that's what the gospel does. It strengthens you and bids you to come follow Christ. Therein lies happiness.

Other things that have happened:

1. I sang "Daughter of Deity" in sacrament meeting yesterday. I was accompanied by Sister Curran, the ward music specialist. I bore a short testimony before and explained that it was a song very precious to me because it was from my home. I was nervous but many people were impressed and told me so, which helped me to learn more of the faces of the ward and remind them that there are missionaries outside of Bossier City.

2. Miranda Sparish came up to me and asked where I live in Arizona. And then surprised me by saying she trained Sister Alysha Leavitt in Salt Lake City South mission before Alysha got her visa for Argentina. I was shocked by the connection....

3. ...Overhearing that I was from Mesa, AZ several other members came up and told me they had graduated from Mountain View and Mesa High. Brother Miller said he graduated from Mountain View in 2007 just 2 years before me. How close we were. It's funny what people God puts in our paths.

4. I got to eat lots of watermelon this week. I am definitely getting my fill before the end of the summer.

5. After some hot tracting, we stopped by Dairy Queen to use the rest room and cool off in their a/c. As a thank you to my companions, I offered to buy them small shakes and when I got the receipt, I was shocked. We had made happy hour by all of 59 seconds. Thank you to that cashier that saved me $6!

I pray each of you is doing well and is happy and healthy. Kids are you ready for school? Moms are you ready for all the August birthdays? Whoo-hooo AUGUST!!!

LOVE Y'ALL.

SISTER LARA STEWART

 Saw this ride on our way in Walmart last week. I love the Hello Kitty on the hood.

 The Goletz'. He taught us how to cut watermelon in a way to easily get out seeds.

 These are called running ducks. See the long legs? The Curran's keep these strange creatures with a variety of chickens and roosters.

 Sometimes we tract through jungle...

...Sometimes to well kept homes. 

 And sometimes we have brain freezes.

 I love Louisiana skies.

 Thanks Dad for the straw!

 We had to borrow a rake from the Merrits to rake the leave in our yard. Who gave them a weapon?

 My happy dinner. Omelet and quinoa. Early on in my mission, Mom sent me an article that said both of these foods help happiness levels.

The tan lines. 

The Sun is Shinning in Minden, LA

WOW WHAT A WEEK!!! IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE!!!

First off my companions--SO COOL! Sister Boehula is from Vanuatu (off the coast of Australia and Fiji. She's really quiet but giggles often and says profound things in lessons. English is her 2nd language so she sometimes doesn't understand what I say (I like using big words) so Sister Cottrell sometimes has to interpret. Sister Cottrell is so nice, I don't think it's possible to not smile around her. Everyone loves her, plus she out going so it helps to get people talking. We stood on the porch of one man who opened the door and said he was atheist (1st shock being in the South) for an hour, just talking about his family, work, and the good morals he lives his life around. It was so neat.

The fun events of the week:

1. Tracted in the rain. My shoes got soaked, but I was so happy! We met a Pentecostal woman who tried to bash us and say we didn't believe in baptism. I laughed and cried with her saying "Oh no, you've been talking to the wrong missionaries," and began praising Jesus Christ and explaining how we follow him very similarly to how she does, through prayer and the prompting of this Holy Spirit. By the end of the 10 minute conversation we were all happy laughing and we left with good will in each other's hearts and I even got a pat on the back from the woman. I liked her.

2. Because of our tracting, Sister Boehula's canvas shoes were holding in water rather than resisting it. As we entered the home of our evening appointment, she left them on the porch outside and when we left they were gone. The dog's guilty expression was priceless. Brother Rhodes tried to look around the trailer for them but they were gone. Sister Boehula had to walk through Walmart with just her socks on (which luckily she had left in the car). And as soon has the receipt was printed she slipped them on her feet.

3. I've been eating a lot of squash, cucumbers, and zucchini. When I arrived there was a bowl of them on the counter beginning to go bad. Sister Boehula isn't too fond of much of the American food she's surrounded by so she doesn't eat them and Sister Cottrell says it's too much work. Krystal from Bogalusa taught me how to make super yummy summer squash so I've made that, a mixture of everything, and last night eggplant chips. Not bad. I really want some kale chips now. Yummy.

4. I got to see several friends from my transfers in Brownlee and I was so happy and they were shocked to see me. Judy jabbed Dennis, her husband, when he sat down in sacrament and said "Did you see Sister Stewart?" and he was like "What?" he looked forward and pointed at me shocked. When we talked after, Judy insisted we meet up at Sweet Frog and Dennis was still flabbergasted. I've missed this place so much!

So my health is good because a few restless nights. My box spring was broken on one side so it is noisy. It kept waking me up every time I moved. Finally I just turned it around so the noisy part was at my feet and I've been sleeping great since. Wish us luck this week that we'll be able to reset all our investigators with baptismal dates. We have 5 and we are working hard to keep them progressing.

This week I've been in Mosiah with my Book of Mormon readings. And what it says in Mosiah 3:11 about the Atonement of Christ and how it is for all really stood out to me. The scripture says: "For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned." No matter who you are, where you are born, or if you ever learned the truth of the gospel of Christ, His Atonement is for you and you will be blessed. I love the mercy of a loving Heavenly Father!

It's been a wet week but the sun is shinning now, so put on some sunglasses and let's get going!

Love you all!

Keep happy, healthy and well.

Love, Sister "Aunt Lara" Stewart

 While tracting a nice lady gave us cups of water. It was a little awkward walking back to our car with them but we were certainly grateful!

 Tracting near our house, Sister Boehula suddenly said "Fish." Sister Cottrell and I were confused until we looked down and saw that the gutter for several feet was covered with these guys. Don't know why, but... interesting.

Blurry picture but you can see all the colors in my bowl. Yummy, and lots of fiber with the kidney beans. Also I love these earring, metal roses. Unfortunately I can't sleep on them so I have to switch them out at night.  

 Sister Boehula's new Shoes.

 Only in the South.

 The Bossier District. (We were instructed to wear blue by the Bossier Sisters).

 Always practicing. This was the 2nd sketch, the first one was better.

We live by a big pond with lots of ducks and geese. They like to lay in the road so you really have to watch where you're going. 

Meet the Minden Abode (it doesn't have a name yet). I forgot a pic of the house so I googled it.

 The Laundry and Study rooms were added on.

 I'm the only one who studies in here but there's lots of furniture.

 My desk.

 Sister Crottell's and my bedroom leads to the study room.

 This is Sister Boehula's bedroom, but I have a closet in here and half the dresser.

 My closet.

Say hi. Sister Cottrell is studying away. 

 To the right is the living room.

 Walk in from the carport to the Kitchen.

it  I think was supposed to be a mud room or play room or whatever, we use it for our laundry and bike storage.

Our little hallway connects the kitchen to the living room to the bathroom to the 2 bed rooms.