WEEK TWELVE! Kinda Uneventful But Working On It!!

Heyo! 

    So this week was not as eventful as some past weeks, but we are working on it! 

Monday was fairly uneventful, except that we did take Sister Mart to get her ears pierced, which was really exciting! She was super happy, and it was really fun to go with her and help her pick out earrings and stuff. That night we had a Family Home Evening with Jacob at The Martineaus, and it was so much fun! We got so into our conversation and talking that we kind of forgot to have a lesson until the very end, so I just shared a brief scripture and testimony about the blessings of missionary work and the importance of developing the desire to share the gospel with anyone and everyone! Now that Jacob is getting baptized on Saturday he is in a unique position to share the gospel, and his testimony, with tons of people. He is an amazing person, I just cannot wait to see what a blessing he is going to be in the Lakeland Ward as a baptized member. I am overjoyed that I have been able to be even just a small part of Jacob's journey to baptism. 

   Tuesday we had district meeting and we talked about using The Book of Mormon more consistently in our teaching, and this is something I REALLY need to work on. Sometimes I get so focused on proving that we use The Bible, and and that The Bible supports what we teach, that I forget to use the BoM, but if we never use The Book of Mormon while teaching, how are our investigators supposed to understand how important it is to us, and just how much we need it? I am committing to using The Book of Mormon more and better in my teaching, starting by really focusing on memorizing Book of Mormon scriptures for each of the lesson points because if the first scripture that pops into my head when discussing a certain topic is from The Book of Mormon, I will be more likely to use it consistently. 

  We role played resolving concerns with the Book of Mormon, and it went really well both times we taught. Role Playing is another thing I really want to get better at. Man, sometimes I just feel like I have so many things to get better at, I feel bad for the people I am teaching right now. But I really do want to improve at role play because I feel like it helps me work through the MANY things I need to improve on as a missionary, I just need to get better at doing it consistently. 

    Following district meeting there was some strife within our companionship. We just communicate so differently that it has lead to problems, and  Tuesday afternoon was kind of the culmination of all of that tension. I feel really upset with myself for once again allowing personal issues keep us from the work, but there were some things we really needed to work through, so ultimately it was good, and I think we will be a stronger companionship and we will both be better missionaries because of it. 

  Wednesday was the start of our blitz with the STLs, who were with us most of Wednesday, spent the night with us, and were with us part of Thursday as well. I was with Sister Mathison during the blitz, who I love so much. We got in contact with a less active recent convert named Markell, and it went well. He's working a lot, and that is keeping him from church, but his biggest issue is commitment. He has a hard time taking things seriously consistently, but I know he has a testimony, and I know that if he can remember what it feels like to have the blessings of church attendance in his life again, he will come back. We also visited Sister Wilson and saw her off for her trip to Nashville the next morning, she is finally getting her service dog! She was so excited she was just BEAMING, and I don't think she stopped smiling the whole time we were over there. I just love her so so so much, and I will really miss her these two weeks she's in Nashville. 

  While I was with Sister Mathison, we talked a lot about what it feels like to sometimes think you don't fit into the sister missionary stereotype, and how it can sometimes be discouraging to feel different, but that if God wanted only one type of missionary, he would have only called one type of person. I know that so much of what makes Sister Mathison a great STL is unique to who she is as a person, and likewise I know that so much of my potential as a missionary is specific to who I am, and the different gifts I have been afforded by my Heavenly Father. The important thing isn't to try and fit your specific gifts into an imaginary box of what you think you should be, but to utilize your talents to the fullest extent they can be used, and to never shy away from those things that make you unique because often times that is the very thing that helps you connect with someone in a way that no one else could. I am working hard to embrace and accept my differences, while still working on my weaknesses, and doing my best to become the servant He envisions me being. 

  The other big fun thing that happened this week is that on Saturday we had a Ward Pioneer Day activity, and it was way fun!  A few people brought non-member friends and we then had the opportunity to meet and talk with them briefly about what we do as missionaries, and the Gospel in general. Unfortunately this did not result in any return appointments, but they responded positively to us, and they have our number, so hopefully one day they'll be ready :) The whole thing was a blast though, there was tons of great food, a stick pull competition, and a presentation of the history of the church in the Memphis area. It was so cool to hear the history of the area and really reflect on the fruits of missionary labors. It gives me hope. 

   We also met with Sister Gonzales this week, who is as fun, but as stubborn as ever. I hope her heart is continuing to be softened as we work with her on the Book of Mormon. 

  Sunday both Jacob and Laura (Without Bruno!) were at church, and we were able to spend time with both of them. I am really committed to finding out this week what it is that's holding Laura back from baptism, I know she feels good at church, and she comes consistently, I often wonder if it's just fear of taking the leap. I am going to ask her this week, and commit to do all I can to get her to baptism. 

  This week was kind of emotional, and there were times when I was disappointed with myself and the work we were doing, but all I can do is repent and do better the next week, and that is what I plan on doing! Thank you all (There may come a day when my courage to say y'all won't fail, but it is not this day!) so much for your support and your love and your prayers. I hope that the next week brings blessings and missionary opportunities! 

Love, 

Sister Hannah Thomas 

ARLM 

WEEK ELEVEN - FIRST I WAS SAD AND THEN I WAS SICK

Dear Friends and Family,

Okay, so as the title suggests, this week was a struggle, but I will get to that later. Monday we went to the Memphis Zoo and it was super, super, hecka fun. It was Sister M's birthday so we went with the Bartlett sisters and a ward member, S. and we had cupcakes and presents, and I made chicken salad, and we all just had a grand old time. It was probably the first time since I've been on my mission that I got lost in the moment a little bit, let myself go, and completely enjoyed myself without thinking about home or being far away or anything like that. That evening we ate with the J’s, who are the cutest family ever. We were able to commit each of the kids to handing out a pass along card to someone that they knew, and they were all so excited. 

As good as Monday was, Tuesday was bad. I found something out relating to my personal life that really upset me, and I found myself too sad to do the work. We came back to the apartment and I cried in my bed for an hour straight. I was upset about the thing I had found out, but I was even more upset with myself for allowing it to keep me so down. I never wanted to be the missionary that let some dumb thing at home distract them from the people around them who desperately need the gospel, but on Tuesday that's exactly who I was. We didn't have a dinner appointment that night so Sister M. took me to McDonalds knowing that if one thing could cheer me up, it would be McDonalds fries. McDonalds worked like a charm, but not because of the fries (well, not COMPLETELY because of the fries). While we were there I got onto the wifi to check my email and found one from my Mom. 

Jennifer K. Thomas is the single greatest blessing that I have been afforded in this life. I had an email from her telling me that for some reason I had been on her mind all day, and that she just wanted to remind me that she loved me, and how proud she was of me. I broke down right there in the McDonalds, and I'm sure I was embarrassing my companion, but I didn't care. I am so thankful for a mother who listens to the Spirit. I read the email at least six times, and after French fries and an email from Hennifer I felt exponentially better. 

Wednesday I asked the Elders in our district for a blessing, and it really helped me as I continued to deal with some issues. The blessing was exactly the comfort I needed to know that I can handle the things placed before me because I am here to do the Lord's work, and He will always give me the strength to do it. That day we also had an apartment check and I had a call to repentance about my lack of a 72 hr. kit. Next P-Day project, yay! 

That night the STL's came and stayed with us because we had zone conference the next morning. I know they were guided by the Spirit to be with us, because having them there to talk to was just added comfort and strength for me.

Thursday's Zone conference was a really enjoyable experience. We were introduced the Area Book Planner app that we will be using from now on, and they also taught us how to upload all the info from our paper copies onto the app. I, as a somewhat technologically challenged individual, will really miss paper teaching records, but I am praying for the desire and ability to utilize this new tool to the fullest extent possible. (I just need to figure out how to use the dang thing :) 

I was so thankful for the instruction we received from the APs and the Wakolo's, my mission president and his wife. Much of it was a call to repentance for me. I have a long way to go when it comes to diligence and consistency in many areas as a missionary. To have leaders who consistently push us to be better missionaries is a blessing to me, because it helps me know they love me and the people of this area. 

That night we saw J. and had a big come to Jesus with him. We explained that we cannot continue to meet with him if we do not see that he really is making an effort to read the Book of Mormon, and gain a testimony. He is just so stuck on the anti-Mormon stuff that he has been exposed to, and he is having a hard time giving the Book of Mormon the chance it deserves. Sometimes I wish I could just shake him and tell him how much better life could be if he would just accept the gospel. Obviously that would be inappropriate, though. During the lesson he told me that I yelled at him, and that made him not want to read the Book of Mormon, so I left the lesson really upset and discouraged about my own abilities as a teacher.

Thankfully, though, Ja. still agreed to read something from the Book of Mormon that we gave him, so we went home and prayed fervently for what God would have us tell Ja. to read. We received the answer to have him read Mosiah, Alma, and Heleman, and to have him study them alongside Titus and Ephesians from the New Testament. We told Ja. this and he promised us he would pray about it and tell us Monday if he would read it. I pray that he will be able to accept the reading and allow the Holy Ghost to work in his heart.

We also had a lesson with Jb. this week, and we laid out all his plans for baptism. He picked speakers, someone to confirm him, the two witnesses, etc. He is so excited and ready for baptism and we are so excited and happy for him. He is totally firm in his decision. We told him that these next couple of weeks would probably be a little difficult because Satan works really hard on people who are working so hard to follow God, and Jb. said "Well too bad! I've decided to do this because God told me that he wants me to, that this is the right thing to do, and NOTHING is going to stop me now!" I am in awe of his faith! He is already beginning to see the blessings of his righteousness though. This weekend he quit his awful job that caused him to work crazy hours and sometimes miss church, and found a job working as a mechanic, which is what he loves! This new job will allow him to work far less, and he will always have weekends off. The Lord really does work miracles every single day, and I am so blessed to be witnessing so many of them on a daily basis.

Saturday we didn't have a single appointment, and we spent almost the entire day finding. I was kind of upset about it initially, but the day went by far quicker than I expected, and it was a good day because we spent almost all of it walking around in 100+ degree weather, but we had a legitimately good time, and I was reminded once again that I can do this. I was called here, and I am equipped to handle it. 

Unfortunately Sunday I woke up sick and threw up all morning. Because I was so sick, we had to miss church and basically spent the whole day inside. I am pretty upset that I caused us to miss so much proselyting time, but it was better than someone opening their door and me throwing up all over their front porch! The great news is though that apparently both Jb. and the T's were at church!

I realize that every week on my mission is not going to be easy. That sometimes I will have really hard ones, but even with all the difficult things that happened this week, I can look back and see multiple miracles. Sometimes it is when things get the most difficult that you can see the hand of God the clearest. I also have a powerful testimony of ministering Angels. I would not have made it through this week without them. I am so thankful for this gospel, I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to share my testimony every day, for my call as a missionary, and for the people in Lakeland, Tennessee that have been prepared for me. I am thankful for calls to repentance, and companions who love you even when you don't always get along. This week has been a trial, but it is also the week that I have seen my testimony grow more than at any other time of my mission so far. I am so thankful for this renewed faith in God's plans.

Love,

Sister Hannah Kathryn Thomas

The first pic is when I was really tired one night and I only took my scarf halfway off and then had to stop because I was too tired to finish taking it off.

 This one is me with the hugging pole, a weird tradition among us and the Bartlett sisters.

 This one is me with my new cat best friend that we met while street contacting.

 This last one is a selfie from when I was sick.

WEEK TEN – INTERESTING WEEK

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was interesting, Monday we did what we almost always do, we hung out with the Bartlett Sisters, hahaha. That night we ate with the D’s, but our dinner appointment was brief because we had an appointment with J. and A. at The M's home. It went well, but I am struggling with them, J. in particular, because I am unsure of his actual dedication to learn. He came to church, he always wants to meet with us, but he only wants us to answer his questions and doesn't really let us teach him. All his questions are about deep doctrine and anti-things that he has read, but he doesn't understand that he is trying to learn multi variable calculus without knowing basic algebra. We have tried to teach him the concept of line upon line, precept upon precept, but he feels like because he is well versed in the Bible he doesn't need to read the Book of Mormon. I am really struggling with how we can help him to understand the Book of Mormon, and that if he knows that it is the literal word of God, then nothing else matters. I just don't know how to do it; I pray about it a lot. I just hope I can help him understand how much more there is for him to learn, and how much more joy there is for him to feel. 

Tuesday we spent some time with Sister W., who continues to improve health wise, but who is still struggling emotionally with the operation. She really is having a hard time with the things she can't do that she wants to. We help her out by sending emails and mailing her bills, etc., but she still gets very emotional whenever we are over there. She's really excited about getting her dog on the 24th though, and I pray and pray that it goes well! If you guys could pray for her too it would be much appreciated; she needs it! 

Wednesday we had zone meeting and we talked a lot about baptism and how we need to help our investigators understand what a blessing it truly is. Speaking of the importance of baptism, J. set an official date for August 1st!! It IS happening, J. IS getting baptized, and I am so thankful that Heavenly Father has blessed me so much by allowing me to be even a small part of his journey to baptism! He is so solid, I just love that man and I cannot wait until I get to watch Brother M. baptize him. Honestly, how did I get so lucky?? 

After zone meeting we met with J. and M. again. We issued them the challenge to read the Book of Mormon in 30 days, they said they were willing to try. I am hoping that they will do so with an open heart and mind so that they may know the truthfulness of it. While we were there M's mom came over and invited us over to her house to teach her a brief lesson!  We did and we are going to see her again  next Thursday. 

On Thursday we spent some time with Sister L., stopped in to visit some people, and tried to catch some former investigators. Sister L. is such an amazing woman. Her testimony is SO strong, and she has such an earnest desire to serve others. Every time we go out with her, I am just in awe of her consistent love and charity towards her fellow man. She's who I want to be when I grow up! We also completed our Area Book training that day, and soon enough, our whole area book and planner will be on the iPad! It's going to be a really useful tool, but I will kind of miss the paper copies for sure. Writing out a teaching record is just more fun. It will be such a blessing to have easy access to everything though, and it will be much more organized. 

Friday we knocked doors for a long time, and while tracting in the Tennessee summer heat is not exactly my idea of fun, it was a really productive day. We met and set up return appointments with two families, and also met an awesome lady named K. and her son C. She invited us in from the doorstep, let us teach her the restoration, and told us she could feel the Spirit so strong with us. We invited her to church and she promised to try her hardest to be there! 

She did not make it unfortunately, and Sunday was kind of a disappointment since we didn't have a single investigator at church, when last week we had 5! I am trying my hardest not to be disappointed in us, but I feel like recently we have been handed miracle after miracle, but somehow we mess it up, and the people don't progress. Now that we've had 5 investigators at church I'm not sure I'll ever be satisfied with 1 or 2 again, but I know that the key to consistent success is hard work, and if I want to continue to perform on that level as a missionary, I just have to work that much harder. 

On a positive note, we spent Sunday evening with the H’s and B. & L. came! We got to teach a lesson about the importance of the Sabbath, which was particularly applicable considering they missed church this Sunday. The lesson went really well, they responded positively to it, and we had such a fun time talking with them and the H’s. Everyone got along so well! I can tell that Heavenly Father is preparing B. for reactivation, and that if we will just be kind, loving, and consistent with him we will be able to get him there. And if B. is reactivated and coming to church consistently, then our chances of teaching L. and helping her towards baptism are exponentially higher! 

I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have to be a missionary here in the Lakeland Ward, I know that I have been prepared to teach these people by a Heavenly Father who loves me, and them, very much. I am striving to become a better teacher, and to develop patience for when things don't go my way. I hope that as I work to develop those skills this week I can be consistent in my application. I continue to work towards exact obedience, but like always, I have a long way to go. I am getting there though. I am improving slowly but surely. My biggest hope for this week is that when Heavenly Father hands me miracles, as he has so consistently done, I will be prepared to do with them what He would have me do, and to love His children, and serve them as He would. 

I love you all so much. Your prayers and words of friendship, kindness, and encouragement lift and support me. Thank you all so much for what you do. 

Love, Sister Hannah Thomas

At the Memphis Zoo on P-day with S., a ward member, and Sister Bryce

WEEK NINE – INVESTIGATORS/LESS ACTIVES AT CHURCH!

Dear Friends and Family,

This week was interesting! Monday we mostly just hung out with the Bartlett sisters and then we got haircuts from Sister M. I continue to be so thankful for both of them. Sister M's constant willingness to serve us is astonishing, and the friendship of the Bartlett sisters is a huge blessing. Sister B. and I in particular have grown very close, I admire her strength and ability and obedience so much. She is who I look to when I think about the sort of missionary I want to be.

Tuesday we spent a lot of time teaching with SB. We were trying to contact a less active named M. who is 16, he got baptized two years ago and was very active for the first year, but since then he has fallen out of activity almost completely. He weren't able to see him, but we did teach a brief lesson with his sister, and she invited us back! We also saw J. while with SB. He had come home from work due to heat exhaustion. We brought him Gatorade and cookies and talked to him for a little while. He continues to be totally set on baptism, but his work schedule is making it difficult to set a date. His job is the worst! They treat him really poorly and he works all the time. Please pray that he will be able to set a date and also that he will be able to find a new job.

We also saw Sister W. that day post-surgery. She had her operation in the morning, but was back home by noon. Her voice is awesome now! You can totally hear her and she is so happy to have it back. She is in a lot of pain though. Her surgery involved them removing fat from her stomach and injecting it into her vocal cord, so her stomach has been in a lot of pain since Tuesday. She also has been experiencing a lot of soreness and has found herself having a hard time keeping food down. As the week has progressed though she has been feeling better and better each day. Because she had surgery this week and she lives alone we stopped by to visit her every day just to check up and make sure she was okay. We ended up running a lot of different errands for her like mailing bills, writing emails, and picking up her dentures from the dentist's office! We also were able to just sit, talk with her, and share words of comfort. She is such an amazing lady and really fun to talk to! 

Other significant events this week included Transfer Meeting, which happened Wednesday. We were not transferred, but we attended the meeting because it doubled as the 40th birthday party for the Arkansas Little Rock mission. It was a really fun meeting, but it was sad to see a lot of missionaries who I really enjoy, get transferred to far away areas. Such is the mission life I suppose. The great news is that my whole district is staying another transfer, so the Bartlett sisters will be with us for at least another 6 weeks! We also got cupcakes at the end of the meeting, so that was good. 

We spent the 4th with our investigator, J. He had a block party and introduced us to all of his neighbors! It was really fun. 

We also met three guys this week named J., A., and M., who we have seen and taught every single day since we met them on Thursday, how awesome is that? They are friends and all live on the same street. J. is a Baptist and has been exposed to a lot of anti-Mormon literature at some point, but told us he knows a lot of it isn't true and that he wants to learn about us from the source. I am not sure A. has any strong religious beliefs, and M. is Messianic Jewish, and very solid on his beliefs, but they all want us to keep teaching them, and, they all came to church on Sunday!!!! And so did J.!!! And a less active member and his non-member wife!!!!! Gospel Principles was FULL that day. It felt so good to see so many people being led to the gospel. Heavenly Father is so amazing at blessing us with people who are prepared to hear the gospel.

It is such a blessing to be serving here and to be able to witness the Lord's work being done. As I continue to strive to be a better missionary I have to continue to work on exact obedience. This week I did not do as well as I had hoped the week before, so I am recommitting myself to that, particularly in relation to exercise and bedtime. I also am working hard at personalizing my lessons to all those that we teach so that our planning session consists of more than "should we teach the restoration?" "Yeah sounds good".

I hope that I am continuing to improve and I am working hard to do so. I love this church. I love this gospel. I love our general authorities and am deeply saddened at the loss of President Packer. I am so thankful for my opportunity to serve, and I love you all.

Sister Thomas

 Hannah & Her Comp With a New Member

Hannah on the 4th 

And I got this wonderful birthday surprise!