Week Two

Hello again!

This week was pretty slow... Main highlights, Sister Short and I met with Jackie again. She loves what we teach, but she doesn't know if she wants to drive a half an hour to go to church, when there's another church right down the street, but we are working on it! She came last week, which was awesome.

Our other investigators - Roy and Rita - are also doing great. They are on date to be baptized on February 24th, and we are all just so excited for them! They haven't missed a day of church in about three months (Besides when it got cancelled because of weather), and they have been loving it. 

One of our main focuses though is trying to reactivate members. Out of the 200 members, only about 80 go. The area is so big though, so it's hard for people who live way out there to make it to church. But with Christ, they can all feel His Spirit and come. I am merely a messenger to tell of that Spirit.

Probably the funniest part of this week... Sister Short and I got a call from someone who said that he wanted to meet us for lunch. We were wary - had never met the guy before- but we said a prayer and headed over to the Mexican Restaurant down the road. He shows up - seems nice - and then we tell him that we are new, and don't really know the parts of the area that he is looking for. He then realizes that he left his wallet, and went to go get it. Sister Short and I thought that he meant in his car, but then he left. 45 minutes later, he came back. Turns out, he drove to a town 20 minutes away, where the hotel was, just to get his wallet. But while we were still there, Sister Short and I thought that he had dined and dashed, so that was interesting.

Sister Short and I had a fun time in New York!!

(JK, Iowa just likes to put small famous landmarks on the side of the road)

Osceola, Iowa

This week has been insane!! On Wednesday morning, we reported to the travel office at 6:50 am with all of our luggage. We rode on a bus to the Provo frontrunner station, and rode that to Salt Lake, where we had about 2 minutes to grab all of our bags and hurry up the stairs to another bus, which then took us to the airport. Flew from Salt Lake to Denver, then from there to Des Moines, where we were met by the amazing President and Sister Badger. They are super nice and sweet, and they had amazing food, even better than the MTC. Sister Tobias and I were the only new sisters in Iowa, and there were six elders that flew with us, and we stayed the night at the mission home before heading to Iowa City early Thursday morning. There I met my super awesome trainer, Sister Short, from Draper, Utah. (yes, she is a little short). Then we drove three hours to my first area - Osceola, Iowa (Pronounced O-C-O-la). We are pinkwashing the area-basically, there hasn't been sister missionaries in Osceola in 30 years, so both of us are new to the place, so it has been an adventure. The elders before definitely had a sense of humor and put pictures of Christ everywhere. Why is that funny? So on all the walls, on the fridge, in the fridge, in cupboards, on the couches, tapped to the bed, and in the shower. Yes, in the shower.

Friday, we had our first district meeting. Played a few games and ate food, so that was awesome. Then, Sister Short and I went knocking. We knocked for about an hour in the cold (Iowa is FREEZING), and got mostly 'no thank you', but there was one house that looked like a house straight out of Christmas movie, and the person there listened and took a Book of Mormon. First Investigator! Yay! Saturday, we taught a nice couple named Roy and Rita. They had been receiving lessons from the elders before, and they are on track to be baptized in February. We got a referral from one of the families, and her name is Jackie. She has been awesome! She listened to the first lesson and completely ate it up, then surprised us by showing up to church on Sunday. She said that she has never felt so good as she did since her friend told her she set up appointments with the missionaries.

This morning was probably the best though. The elders before had left a few things behind, and Sister Short and I had a lot of fun with it...

It's the full thing, by the way. We went out and played basketball for a little, but it was awkward because the suits were way too big.

A Text from the Mission President

Sister Girvin made it to Iowa! We’re so excited to have her here with us. We love her already!

Love, Pres and Sister Badger

Last week at the MTC!

Where to start... on Tuesday evening, Elder David A. Bednar came and spoke to us. Most likely one of the coolest experiences of my life. You’ve gotta love Mormon celebrities.

On Wednesday, I got to host again. We sent off the last of our old friends, but no fear. We got some new ones. 

(Sisters Tobias, Pankey, Westerman, me, and Zuagg. Elders Brinsek, Johnson, Simpson, and Taylor)

On Thursday we switched teachers, but our old one wanted a photo...

(Elders Webb, Vance, Damms, Fredericksen, Fuller, and LoCascio. Sisters Tobias, Westerman, me, Miller (teacher), Jensen, and Fitisemanu)

On Friday, we had a zone Sister party. One thing that everyone sends to people in the MTC... food (not complaining. It’s come in handy many times) but we had a bit much, so we piled together and tried to eat it all before bed.

Saturday. We have a lot of free study time in the morning and afternoon where we helped sisters Fitisemanu and Jensen pack for their leave on Monday. Then, We spent the rest of the day taking time to really get to know our district, which has become more family than friends. Then, Monday morning, they left. But, from what I hear so far, they are loving it! Warm weather (they went to Hawaii), so they aren’t too sad to be gone. Tomorrow morning, the rest of us leave. The MTC has been my home for a month now, but I’m so excited to go and serve the Lord in Iowa. 

Yes, I’ll miss the mountains. But as Elder Fuller says, we aren’t on a mission to see mountains. We’re here to serve the Lord. (He’s also from Utah going to Iowa) Now is the time to find who still needs the fullness of gospel. The time to find all those who are struggling, and need to know that Christ is there for them. And I can’t wait to find those people, and to invite them to come unto Christ. 

Sister Girvin

Changing

Hi all!

It been a good week at the MTC! Got to host last week, and my district must have done amazing because we got asked to host again tomorrow. 

My companions and I got to teach an actual investigator! There’s a program called TRCs, and while 90% of them are members, we found out that one of the sisters we were teaching really wasn’t one. She’s moving back home, but we asked the front desk to request some missionaries in that area to go visit her. 

Both districts from the past 3 weeks have left within this last week, and so we are left alone with new missionaries. We have a picture of our original zone, who I’ll always treasure and miss. Gladly, some of the ones left will be in Iowa with me, so no fear!

Before the district left, we had a singing concert in the cafeteria. It was pretty great, until an elder told us we weren’t allowed to sing in there :) it was all good though.Last story... Some of the apostles are coming to the MTC today for a conference, then one will be staying for our Tuesday devotional. The halls were all cleaned and done up, and these giant vases for the flowers were brought out. But they looked like trophies, soooo.....

Elder Vance with his ‘trophy’

Elder Locascio....

Our trio (elders took these photos :) sorry about the bleariness)

Our fun in the elevator... (long story)

One more week in the MTC! Can’t wait to go serve the people of Iowa!

Sister Girvin

Week 2 at the MTC

January 2, 2018

Hi everyone!

This week was great! Learned and grew so much thanks to my amazing
district and zone. My favorite part of the day is probably gym... we
are the zone that makes other zones feel good about themselves. But,
we probably have more fun playing competitive 4-square and REALLY
bad volleyball. It’s great.

We started teaching ‘investigators’. People employed by the church,
but really only 10% are actually investigators, and I have no idea if
any of mine are legit, but that’s part of the fun I guess. I think it
would be awesome to play one of them.

We didn’t do anything for New Years, but for the Sunday devotional on
New Years Eve Lexi Walker came and sang to us, so that was cute and
super spiritual. I’d encourage all who haven’t heard any of her songs
to look her up.

We also got to watch a talk from Elder Bednar on Sunday called the
Character of Christ. It was the Christmas devotional talk given back
in 2011 at the MTC. It really makes you completely want to change your
lifestyle. If you haven't seen it, DO IT!! It’s a must see.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Sister Girvin