Elder Bowen and Crashing Family Reunions

Aloha Friends and Family!!!

This week has been eventful. Here's what happened. 

1.  Elder Bowen

This past week we were blessed to have a few meetings with Elder Bowen to be trained on a few things. It was like drinking from a fire hose the whole time he spoke to us! He has the mannerisms of Elder Holland. VERY bold, but not overbearing. He talked about how we sometimes set false limitations for ourselves. He gave us an analogy of fleas. When you catch fleas and put them in a jar they will jump out. However, if you put a lid on the jar, they will try to jump out for a little bit, but then will start to jump just below the lid. You can take the lid off and the fleas will still only jump to right before where the lid was. Even with the lid off, they will not jump out because of the false limitation they have. He said how we are sometimes the fleas. We settle where we are at and set false limitations for how many lessons we can teach, who we can contact, etc. He challenged us to stop setting false limitations and to start jumping out of the jar. He gave us a challenge to do 6 things that he said will change our missions/lives. 

1. Arise at 6:30 daily (Arise is different then waking up)

2. Plan effectively for 30 minutes daily

3. Do at least 30 testifying contacts a day. (Testify every time you contact someone so they can feel the spirit)

4. Teach 30 lessons a week

5. Be Urgent

6 Have quiet dignity

(Also, playing the violin for him went well. It was such a blessing to do.)

 I'm excited to work on these to better myself and my mission. I love growth. It's so uncomfortable and stretching. Yet, I find that through it I rise taller and am able to see more of the light.

2. Sickness

Unfortunately, I was sick for a few days this week. However, Sister Fox was a true gem and helped me out. If any of you have been sick as a missionary you know how it is. You feel like dying but you also feel like you need to get out and teach people. I was able to receive a blessing. I know that because of that, and faith, I was able to go to the lessons we had. 

3. Tracting in the Rain

We had a lot of rain yesterday. It was awesome! I used to hate the rain. But, Tennessee and Kentucky have changed me. I now love it! I especially love knocking on doors in the rain, soaking wet. More people let you in, and listen. Also, this one couple even gave us some hot chocolate. It is so great to be able to share the gospel to everyone! 

4. Interesting People

The Professor, the Biker and the Heretic...

Sister Fox and I have been working on contacting/testifying to more people. Well, in doing so we've run into some great people. We met a professor who has met missionaries before but it content with where he is at now. We went to the gas station and saw this biker smoking by the garbage. Naturally, Sister Fox and I got out with a Book of Mormon and started talking to him. He said his bike was his church. However, he asked us why there were so many churches and we were able to talk to him about the Apostasy and a little bit about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. Unfortunately, he decided he would still stick with his bike as his church... 

And, the Heretic. When we were tracting we knocked into this guys house. We talked with him for a minute and he said he was a heretic. I was like, what is that? Anyway, he said that we could come back and talk to his parents. So, we're going to do that. I love the people here!!! They're so awesome! Also, the members took good care of me for my b-day! 

5. Crashing the Reunion

We decided to go to a park in town and contact people. Well, we showed up and all these people were actually wanting to talk to us. We were like, sweet! Well, then they started asking who we were related to. That's when we realized we were in the middle of a family reunion. Haha. So, we embraced it and talked to everyone that was there. (There were more gingers there, than at my family reunions. haha. ) It was great to share our beliefs with the family there. Sadly, they were all very content with their religions. We answered a lot of questions but weren't able to find and people to continue to teach. But, all is well!

It's been a great week! We have been talking to EVERYONE and it's been so great! This week has flown by. Also, my P-day is Monday next week instead of Wednesday. 

My challenge for y'all this week is to break down all of the false limitations you have set for yourself. Jump out of the jar. Have faith and jump higher and higher. Don't be the flea stuck in the jar. Heavenly Father has a lot in store for you. Don't allow yourself to be content with where you are now. Jump higher. I know as you do this, you will be more confident and reach higher than you previously thought you could. 

I sure love y'all! Hope y'all are doing well. Also, 2 hour church and a new Come Follow Me! We're so blessed to have a prophet today. Let's embrace these revelations and get to work! :) Fear not! Go forward with faith!

Love ya!

Sister Stone

1. Elder Bowen (Where's Waldo?/Sister Stone)

2.and 3. My district before transfers this Tuesday...

4. I found my car!!! Well...close. 

5. A weird bug on my windshield. Haha. There's a lot of weird bugs here.