Chapter 18: Happy Thanksgiving

Hello Everyone!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving! I hope you all ate way too much and enjoyed time with family! For those of you who don't know, my family has a tradition of going hiking on Thanksgiving and eating turkey sandwiches ( ya I know, we're a little odd that way :)) so that meant that this Thanksgiving was among the few "traditional" dinners I have ever had. Lets just say that I have never eaten so much in my life I think. We literally left feeling in pain from so much food! Who would have thought that would be a problem! And we "only" went to one dinner. I can't even imagine those poor elders who thought they could handle two... big mistake. Anyways, it was super fun to get to continue to bond with the ward members out here and hear some of their fun stories. I love the C_______ family. We got to head over a little early and help Sister C_____ with the dinner and setting the table. They really are our ward family and it's amazing how we all take care of each other in the church. I don't think I fully realized that until now. 

Anyways, it's been a pretty good week :). Sadly many of our investigators got sick this week so we have been praying our guts out that they start feeling better and also that we will find new people to teach. I have faith that God is preparing people to receive the gospel in every area because if He wasn't, He wouldn't have missionaries go knock everyone's door trying to find them. I know that God will lead us to someone so long as we exercise our faith and do our best.

We started working with this less active girl in the YSA branch named C____ this week. She has been nearly impossible to get a hold of but but by the grace of God ( and some funny timing) we were finally able to meet her. She hasn't been out to church in a long time, almost since she was baptized, but she knows that it's true. Life just kinda got in the way. When we asked her if we could come back she totally agreed and said she would try her hardest to get to church, even if it was just the family ward near her home. Amazing how God has a hand in all of our lives. 

We are also starting to officially work with a less active in Candy Mountain. She has had missionaries just "stop by" for years but we got to the root of some of her concerns and offered to come by weekly, read with her, and send her encouraging texts throughout the week and she was super excited. Since we last met with her she has read a chapter in the Book of Mormon every day and is saying her prays. Anyone who has a desire to come closer to God can and WILL if they put forth the effort, and the missionaries are there to help! We love to serve how ever we can so if that means that we are needed to help you study the scriptures once a week to help strengthen your wavering testimony, we"ll do it in a heart beat. Everyone needs to be nourished by the good word of God. Non member, less active, member, EVERYONE. 

Let me tell you about one more amazing person I have gotten to know better in the last week. Her name is Sister H______ ( pronounced Hershey ( yes like the candy bar (YUM!!!))). She is the Branch Presidents wife out in the YSA and has been such a support to us. Nealy all our plans ( and back up plans sadly) fell through one night so we gave her a call and asked if she would be willing to go our with us to try and find some of the less active YSA in the branch. She came to our rescue and drove us all around Richland and West Richland to try and find these people. Most of them had either moved or gave us fake addresses but she served with a smile on her face and knew that even though we only found one person that night, it was worth it. If ye shall bring one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy in the kingdom of my father. I love her. Also, funny little tidbit, she calls herself our "branch mom" and loves A&W root beer floats ( yes we made an 8:45pm run :)) but above all that, she loves God and serving his children. She is such an example to me to Christlike service. 

I love this work so much, even when it's not the easiest. I know that God has these areas in His hand and that He is very aware of all our struggles. Here's an invitation for ya... Hug a missionary :) Let them know that they are doing so well and that you know that not only are their parent back home are proud of them, but that their Heavenly Father is too. It means a lot :). 

I love you all!!!!! Till next week!

Sister Tobler

One of her "few" traditional Thanksgiving dinners.

Lindsey and Sister Evans with their cute turkeys.