Chapter 38: Transfers

Hello Everyone!

We got transfer calls for this week and....... I'm being transferred! Again! But let me tell you more about everything that happened leading up to the call first :)

So we are walking around our area on a beautiful Easter evening ( used too many miles last week so we had to walk to make up for all our trips to the basin) and we met some wonderful people. We knocked on this one door and right after we introduce ourselves the invite us in! So cool! So we go in and they sit us down at the bar stools by the island where all these people are just sitting around socializing. G_____ cuts each of us a slice of cake and they proceed to ask us questions about our missions. Such a cool group of people! We got to share the Prince of Peace initiative with them and they were all really excited about it! Then they sent us home with a bag full of goodies :). That surely doesn't happen everyday but it was such a tender mercy after no one being home! We get to stop by one more house and as we are walking the phone starts ringing. It's President. We both knew this was coming but didn't want it to. He tells us that he wants to talk with both of us. "Sister Tobler" he says, "the Lord would like to me to extend you the calling of a Sister Training Leader. Can you do that?" You can bet my heart just about dropped out of my chest. Of course I accepted but I'll be honest, I have never been so scared in my entire life I think. He then proceeded to call Sister Calder to be a Trainer!!! I am so excited for her and I know that she is going to be amazing. My heart is a little broken to be leaving my baby but I am excited for the opportunity to continue to grow. So on Wednesday I'll be off to Richland to be a STL with Sister Cram. I've never met her but have heard wonderful things (She's from Hawaii!!!). This is an amazing work and only God could be at the head of it all :). I would have messed it up a long time ago if He wasn't :).

So the rest of the week... We did SO much service. I haven't worn jeans so much in a long time! It started with moving river rock for one of the sisters investigators, led to packing food boxes, then mucking out some horse pens and washing windows. What is so cool to me is that there are so many opportunities to talk about the gospel when serving and it truly does soften hearts. Turns out, the lady who we mucked stalls for has had lots of interactions with the church! In her own words " I was an honorary Mormon growing up. Planned all their dances, had a CTR ring and everything". We love her so much :) She's so funny and we love that we have the chance to go back and continue to help and serve her. Service works wonders in helping to plant seeds and help the work move forward.

One final fun thing from the week. We got to go and dye Easter eggs with this less active lady we've been working with! SO FUN! Sister R_____ may be one of my most favorite ladies here. And its been especially neat to see the progress that she has made. We were told that she is just super hard on herself and doesn't feel worthy to be at church around so many "perfect" people. Now she has been to church a handful of times and she is attending an institute class every week. I love watching people progress in the gospel and make changes in their lives all because of their love of the Savior. Its all for Him.

I love being a missionary. There are literally too many miracles to write out. So many tender mercies. I wouldn't be able to stay out here if it weren't for God and all His guidance. I love y'all! Till next week! Wish me luck!

Sister Tobler

Look at all the fun this week!

Chapter 37: Gifts From Above

Hey Ya'll!

This week was just jam packed with miracles. I seriously don't even know where to start with it all! I'll just try to hit the highlights :).

1. So we finally were able to get in with this referral we got a few weeks ago. The W_____ :). They are so cute :) just this super old couple ( he just turned 87!) and the last few times they have been super nice but told us they were too busy to chat. We were driving around the Basin, super late at night ( as usual) and we decided that we had time for one more visit. We drove up to this one house as as we were about to get out of the car we got this strong prompting not to knock on it. No clue why, but we obeyed and started back down the drive way. With 10 min of the night left we decided to go and try by them once more. They let us right in! And they said that they have lots of questions and would love to learn more about what we believe! Such a tender mercy! We are so excited to see them again this week :)

2. We got to meet with M____ again this week and I'll be honest, we were lost on how to help her. She has taken the discussions so many times and knows so much that we didn't even know where to begin with her. We visit for a bit and she opens up about some of her trials in life and how she loved that the chapter we left with her helped her to feel so much peace. She's going to read the next one. and the next one. and maybe even the whole book ( as she put it :)). And she just told us straight out her questions and said that one she has a few answers, she would gladly join the church! Woohoo!!!! I love her so much :)

3. One more tender mercy. I don't know if you remember, but months ago we were trying to contact this former investigator, C_____. She was being taught by some sisters back in the fall but once transfers happened, she totally fell off the map. I had just about given up on her but late last night ( around * o'clock of course) we were driving past her house and when we are about 3 houses past it seriously felt like the Spirit just yelled "STOP!". Of course, who am I to ignore a prompting like that. I swerve to the side of the road and Sister Calder looks at me like I'm absolutely insane. " We have to stop at Charity's" I say and we jump out and start running up her long drive way. Guess who is out watering her lawn. C_____! Such a miracle. Its hard to explain in writing just how miraculous this was. Here's the lady that works usually 12 hour shifts just out watering her plants. We had a great chat with her and got to know her so when we asked if she had any time with week she didn't even hesitate to say she had work off on Wednesday and would love to have us come over. Yay!!!!!!!! So SO excited! God is just pouring out His spirit on these areas, areas that literally every missionary think are dead. There is so much work going on it is hard to keep up! I love it!

This week I had set the goal to develop the gift of discernment. I'll admit, it seemed a little lofty when I set it, but it felt really good at the same time. I really just wanted to be able to receive those spiritual promptings like other get but I didn't know if it would work. My whole mission I have felt like " you know, other missionaries have experiences like that, but I don't. I'm just too logical for that." but I was determined. I want this gift and gosh darn it, Heavenly Father wants to bless me if I do my part. It has been so cool to see the miracles that have come as I have done all I can do to be worthy of those prompting and direction. By no means am I perfect at it yet, and I don't think I'll ever be, BUT God knows that I'm trying and that's enough for Him. I love this gospel. I love having the constant companionship of the spirit! I love following promptings that "logically" make absolutely no sense, but they result in some of the greatest blessing. I love my Savior and getting to serve Him all my days until He says, " The work is done". Until then, I'll give Him my all, gladly.

Love y'all! Till next week!

Sister Tobler

Sister Calder and Sister Tobler bought some super sour lemonade from some cute little kids.

Chapter 36: General Conference!!!

Hello Everyone!!!

Can I just start out by saying how much I love conference? I think it just keeps getting shorter and shorter the older I get! I still can't believe it's over! I look forward to when the General Conference Ensign comes in the mail so I can go back and reread them all again :). Perhaps what made it even better was this.... C___ WATCHED ALL OF CONFERENCE!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!! So SO happy! I mean, that's a lot of time to give up for someone who isn't a member of the church ( I mean gosh, it's a long time if you are a member) and she just loved it. So many of the talks were directed specifically at those people who aren't members of the church which was so neat! And I don't know about y'all, but I received so much personal revelation. Woohoo!!!!

In other events this week, we found a new investigator out in the Basin!! Double Woohoo!!! Her name in M___ and she is such a sweet little ol' lady :). She took missionary lessons years ago and when we went back to see if she would be interested she welcomed us right it! Ended up having a wonderful visit about how Christ heals us not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually is we come unto Him ( 3 Nephi 17). I already love her so much and I know that God is preparing her to one day be ready to receive the fullness of the gospel and we are here to help and love and support her there :). I love being a missionary. 

We have been just running around all week trying to see everyone! There are so many people here who just need to feel of Gods love for them and the gospel will help them to feel that. The gospel is the answer to just about everything :). And I love that this time in my life can be dedicated to Him. I'm sure that I say that every week but it's just cause it's so true!!! I love this gospel with all my heart. 

Love you all!!!

Sister Tobler

P.s. funny thing, sometimes when you go to contact referrals in the Basin, dogs jmpt on your car, and chase you away. Gotta love bein' in the country :)