Week 26: Hello Oakville!

With Sister Richardson at transfers

Sorry for the abrupt cut off last week! I did not expect to get booted off the computer. But hey, what can you do? I guess I could try to type faster... or something. Maybe try to have less eventful weeks? :)

This week was busy busy busy as well. Let's see... Last Monday, we had a dinner with members (we have a dinner calendar here!). It's definitely a different culture in the city than down in Poplar Bluff. Not better, not worse, just different! 

Tuesday, we had a busy day. We had a lesson with a new investigator, who is actually a former investigator that we picked up again. She is Bosnian. There's apparently a fairly large Bosnian population in St Louis, which I didn't know at all. I've learned that I cannot speak Bosnian one bit, that you take your shoes off at the door, and they like to feed you. For example, on Tuesday, she fed us a GIANT PIECE OF CAKE at 10 in the morning. Oh my goodness. It was a homemade Bosnian cake, absolutely delicious, but holy cow. I cannot eat that much sweet that early, I thought I was going to be ill. The communication barrier is pretty big, but we're going to hopefully look for ways to overcome that. No more cake though, I hope. Or if we have cake, let's make it in the afternoon.  Hoo boy.

Wednesday, we went and did service at a place called Feed My People. It was really good. We helped do things like organize food donations, mark cans, bag cabbage... Tiring, but really good. We taught another investigator this day, and a member came with us. We love it when members come with us, because it shows that there are real people who go to our church that can be their friends. It's not all wide-eyed, young missionaries!

We had a really great lesson with a member Wednesday night, with some really amazing fruits. We shared a message with her, about the Restoration, God's love, and the blessing of the gospel with families, and then challenged her to share it with someone she knows. Well, she decided to go share it with her cousin, who's not a member and who's in hospice. On Sunday, she shared the experience in Relief Society. She went and shared it, and they had a really powerful experience. Then she asked her cousin if she could do her work for her in the temple after she passed away, and her cousin said yes! It was a great example of missionary work.

Thursday, we had district meeting. Sister Esterholdt gave a good training on  recognizing the Spirit. 

We had a lesson with "Julie"! Julie has a pretty amazing story. She called the missionaries, and asked them to bring her the Book of Mormon, copies of the pamphlets, and a Book of Mormon study guide. Wow, that doesn't happen much. But she's great. She's already read to 3 Nephi 11, and she loves it. Sadly, she didn't make it to church this week... That's our next step with her. 

On Friday, we visited a less active member who survived, in the last year, neck surgery, which led to a heart attack and a stroke, another stroke, shingles, and breast cancer. Yep. That was a lot to go through in a year!

So I've decided to never get old. That's the plan, at least :)

Saturday was surprisingly busy. Usually Saturdays are a little slow, but not this week! We had a good lesson with our recent convert. And Sunday, my first Sunday in the new ward! Other than last week's stake conference, that is.

We had a lesson with an 81 year old woman who is a piece of living history, let me tell you. She is also a fantastic storyteller.

Oakville is a great area, with a lot of good stuff going on. It's part of St Louis, but it's more suburb than real city. Has real stores though, so that's different! We have a Target! And I'm getting better at driving, that's for sure. It was really that transition time that was the hardest. The ward is great, from what I've seen so far. Our ward mission leader is very involved and excited about the work, which is great.

We live in another apartment complex, which has a gym! Hooray! We've been working out there, and I have realized just how out of shape I am. Holy moly, this is what happens when you haven't lifted weights in six months. Not good, trust me. But I'm getting there, I'm getting there...

This week, in my personal study, I finished Isaiah! I've been working my way through the Bible, and I slowed down quite a bit at Isaiah, because I wanted to understand as I read. Obviously, I didn't understand everything, but I did love Chapter 53 again: "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed." What a beautiful reminder of the strength and power and relief we receive through the Atonement of Jesus Christ! 

I love you all! Hope that your week is nice and restful :)

Sister Barret