Happy Halloween!
I got the package last week, THANK YOU!! I've already gotten a couple of compliments on the cool scarves ;) Plus they're nice and warm. Tonight, we'll be joining the branch president's family for dinner and FHE, so that should be fantastic. Maybe we'll take some Halloween napkins that an old lady gave to us, ha ha! I saw them in her apartment and I asked where she got them, but then she gave them to me, he he, oops!
It's kind of hard to believe that this is Elder McGavin's last week. He spoke in church yesterday and invited a lot of people to come, and come they did! He had about 7-8 investigators at church! AND, the attendance at sacrament meeting was numbered at 98!!! Nearly every seat was filled! I think the turnout excited everyone there. In addition, more good news is that we FINALLY HAVE A BRANCH MISSION LEADER NOW!!!!! YAY!!!! He's actually an American who's moved here with his wife for school and they'll be here for 2 years. They're both groovy people! We try to teach his wife Estonian almost every week too. The members have their temple week happening now, and one of the members in our area should be going for his endowment, I believe!! He's really excited and we challenged him to give away a Liahona soon. Hopefully his time at the temple will get him even more excited to share that :)
As far as investigators go, meh, it's not really going anywhere at the moment, so we're working on finding some new folks to teach. Been contacting some former investigators too. We have yet to hear about anything for transfers yet, so we'll probably find out tonight. Well, it'd have to be that way so that arrangements can be made for whoever is training to go down to Riga on Wednesday. Sis. Lamar really wants to train, and I think she should too :) I'd love to still be with her next transfer so then it'll be like 3 generations of sister missionaries! It's amazing what some time, patience, love, understanding and honesty will do for a relationship. Last night, Sis. Lamar and I both agreed that had we split up as companions after our 2nd transfer, we still would dislike each other, he he. Now we're great friends! And that's what makes the work more fun, (and bearable too!)
Yesterday I also got DearElder letter from Bishop Andrews. He told me of some missionary efforts going on in our own ward, plus something about a Phoenix area mormon.org media blitz. That sounds nifty. What does that entail, exactly? Everybody's just making profiles? Mass Facebook, Twitter posts?
Thanks for your testimony, Mom. I've thought a lot about my dear parents recently, and how fortunate and blessed I am to have you. Thank you for everything.
Lots of love,
Courtney
P.S. do I have any holds preventing me from registering yet? Sometimes they want you to meet with an advisor before, and then they'll release the hold
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
October 24, 2011
The trees are so colorful now and there are leaves all over the ground. I love Fall~
We've been going through a huge pile of former investigator sheets and some Elders dumped on us, so that'll keep us busy for a long time. Last night, we found out that 2 of them we had listed had been dead for a few years. Well, that takes care of that! Now future missionaries don't have to worry about whether or not to contact them! One of our recent investigators met with missionaries one time 3 years ago, but then dropped out of contact. Heino, creates dentures and is very believing, and he has some interesting ideas and views about religion. Some of his ideas are spot on with us, but I foresee some struggles with the Word of Wisdom. I wouldn't say he's addicted to these substances, but he doesn't see why God only revealed this 200 years ago to Joseph Smith when civilizations have been using tobacco and alcohol even for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, etc. Well, we'll see how that turns out at our next appointment this week~ His poor wife has some sort of leg problems so she can't get around well, but she sat in quietly as we chatted. She's not really sure what she believes, but she seemed sweet and listened quietly.
We dropped some cookies off to people last week, and we even stopped by to see Keili whom we taught over the summer. We talked for a good while and she seems to be doing ok, just really really busy with work. She did mention how she's recently thought that she should come to church and surprise us sometime ;) I think she was glad that we came, so maybe sometime we can teach her again before I go.
Sis. Lamar and I are supposed to be working with one of the Family History experts in the branch to put on a Family History night that we can advertise in the paper. The only downside is that we don't really know how to coordinate this, plus our specialist has been out of town for a few weeks, so we haven't made any progress. We were thinking of doing it at the end of November, so hopefully we can still churn this out. Ideas, anyone?
Mom, you're obviously not a hindrance to cramping my e-mail time. It's usually me responding to Stacey or Shauna, and then plus my companion's lack of patience, ha ha! ;P OH AND GOOD NEWS FOR DAD!! I finally found out where that piano factory is that you told me to look for! I have yet to see it with my own eyes, but I know which area it's in, and the address, Kungla 41. Funny thing is that I found this out while visiting with a member. I mentioned that you were a piano tuner and she said we worked for that factory as a secretary! Fancy that! ;D I haven't gotten the package yet, but I assume that I'll be able to pick it up after District Meeting tomorrow. Or maybe even today, if I bug Elder McGavin for the mail key. He's going home next week! So is Elder Lane (from our stake!) That's weird. People here are starting to freak out that I'm not far behind too. I can't believe it's already been 6 months in Tallinn. I don't think I want to leave now :P This transfer is actually 7 weeks long, so the new transfer starts in the middle of next week. Sis. Lamar is starting to worry about having to train or move. The wait to find out is killing her, ha ha! I love Pärnu, but I would like to see Tallinn's Old Town at Christmas time. Plus, I'm just finally starting to get to know some of the members better here. Pluuuuuus, I'm feeling too lazy to pack up my stuff just yet ;) Well, that's it for now!! Thanks for all of the love and prayers. And thanks in advance for the package too!
Much love,
Courtney
We've been going through a huge pile of former investigator sheets and some Elders dumped on us, so that'll keep us busy for a long time. Last night, we found out that 2 of them we had listed had been dead for a few years. Well, that takes care of that! Now future missionaries don't have to worry about whether or not to contact them! One of our recent investigators met with missionaries one time 3 years ago, but then dropped out of contact. Heino, creates dentures and is very believing, and he has some interesting ideas and views about religion. Some of his ideas are spot on with us, but I foresee some struggles with the Word of Wisdom. I wouldn't say he's addicted to these substances, but he doesn't see why God only revealed this 200 years ago to Joseph Smith when civilizations have been using tobacco and alcohol even for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, etc. Well, we'll see how that turns out at our next appointment this week~ His poor wife has some sort of leg problems so she can't get around well, but she sat in quietly as we chatted. She's not really sure what she believes, but she seemed sweet and listened quietly.
We dropped some cookies off to people last week, and we even stopped by to see Keili whom we taught over the summer. We talked for a good while and she seems to be doing ok, just really really busy with work. She did mention how she's recently thought that she should come to church and surprise us sometime ;) I think she was glad that we came, so maybe sometime we can teach her again before I go.
Sis. Lamar and I are supposed to be working with one of the Family History experts in the branch to put on a Family History night that we can advertise in the paper. The only downside is that we don't really know how to coordinate this, plus our specialist has been out of town for a few weeks, so we haven't made any progress. We were thinking of doing it at the end of November, so hopefully we can still churn this out. Ideas, anyone?
Mom, you're obviously not a hindrance to cramping my e-mail time. It's usually me responding to Stacey or Shauna, and then plus my companion's lack of patience, ha ha! ;P OH AND GOOD NEWS FOR DAD!! I finally found out where that piano factory is that you told me to look for! I have yet to see it with my own eyes, but I know which area it's in, and the address, Kungla 41. Funny thing is that I found this out while visiting with a member. I mentioned that you were a piano tuner and she said we worked for that factory as a secretary! Fancy that! ;D I haven't gotten the package yet, but I assume that I'll be able to pick it up after District Meeting tomorrow. Or maybe even today, if I bug Elder McGavin for the mail key. He's going home next week! So is Elder Lane (from our stake!) That's weird. People here are starting to freak out that I'm not far behind too. I can't believe it's already been 6 months in Tallinn. I don't think I want to leave now :P This transfer is actually 7 weeks long, so the new transfer starts in the middle of next week. Sis. Lamar is starting to worry about having to train or move. The wait to find out is killing her, ha ha! I love Pärnu, but I would like to see Tallinn's Old Town at Christmas time. Plus, I'm just finally starting to get to know some of the members better here. Pluuuuuus, I'm feeling too lazy to pack up my stuff just yet ;) Well, that's it for now!! Thanks for all of the love and prayers. And thanks in advance for the package too!
Much love,
Courtney
Monday, October 17, 2011
October 17, 2011
Hiya fam!
Sorry there's not going to be very much to talk about this week, because really, it's all quite a blur. Sort of a roller coaster of events and emotions, but things are looking on the upside now. We lost a promising new investigator, but thankfully the love of our members has filled that hole in our hearts, and then some. Zone conference was also really grand and we watched some more General Conference, although we've still not watched 2-3 sessions. We're taking the slow route, I guess, ha ha. I guess it gives more time for contemplation, reflection, etc.
Back on Friday, we went to a member's little summer house outside of Tallinn and we spent the entire day gathering apples (mostly off the ground, ha ha) and making fresh apple juice! It looked a little sketchy with all the floaties and whatnot, but it tasted soooooo gooooooood~ We took a bottle of fresh juice home and then she boiled the rest and brought some more too us the day after. Now we have a nice collection of apples, apple juice, jam, and pickles from 2 members in our refrigerator. I guess we're gotta make a lot of apple crisp this week!
We had a good lesson last night with Anne and taught her about the Sabbath. Thank goodness we had a member there too, that was a big help. I hope we can get our hands on the triples in Estonian before I'm gone. I don't know how, but we're talking about it as a district. I'm tempted about the idea of pigeon rolling. Our porch on our apartment is infested with them, although we're trying some funny ways to keep them away. Well, that's all I got! Love you lots, and I'm looking forward to that package! ;)
Love,
Courtney
Sorry there's not going to be very much to talk about this week, because really, it's all quite a blur. Sort of a roller coaster of events and emotions, but things are looking on the upside now. We lost a promising new investigator, but thankfully the love of our members has filled that hole in our hearts, and then some. Zone conference was also really grand and we watched some more General Conference, although we've still not watched 2-3 sessions. We're taking the slow route, I guess, ha ha. I guess it gives more time for contemplation, reflection, etc.
Back on Friday, we went to a member's little summer house outside of Tallinn and we spent the entire day gathering apples (mostly off the ground, ha ha) and making fresh apple juice! It looked a little sketchy with all the floaties and whatnot, but it tasted soooooo gooooooood~ We took a bottle of fresh juice home and then she boiled the rest and brought some more too us the day after. Now we have a nice collection of apples, apple juice, jam, and pickles from 2 members in our refrigerator. I guess we're gotta make a lot of apple crisp this week!
We had a good lesson last night with Anne and taught her about the Sabbath. Thank goodness we had a member there too, that was a big help. I hope we can get our hands on the triples in Estonian before I'm gone. I don't know how, but we're talking about it as a district. I'm tempted about the idea of pigeon rolling. Our porch on our apartment is infested with them, although we're trying some funny ways to keep them away. Well, that's all I got! Love you lots, and I'm looking forward to that package! ;)
Love,
Courtney
Monday, October 10, 2011
October 10, 2011
It's nice to hear everyone's busy, yet happy! I just got that little package from the ward YW today, but have yet to open it. It says there's candy inside. *fist pump* YES. Today's P-day has been a little different, but nice and chill. The Pärnu district came up to Tallinn a day early for Zone Conference tomorrow. Sis. Nef needed to buy a coat so, that was the main reason. We swapped companions and I shopped with Sis. Nef, but she found her coat so quickly so we had a lot of down time while the other missionaries played sports. Today's weather is not quite as lovely as in AZ! It's overcast, misty, and windy and last I checked it was 8 celcius (about 45-46F) Already a tad nippy! I like the cold air on my cheeks, though :) The trees are really pretty with their fall colors now.
Last week, we got together as a district (there's 8 of us) to watch General Conference DVDS that the mission sent to us. The DVDs were mis-formatted, or something, so it didn't work there, but instead, we crashed at the Perrys' place to watch conference on their laptop. That was a brilliant idea, because after we started to watch it, they snuck out to go get us some food to eat, and even more interesting was that they bought some chicken from a stand near a mall, and we had just listened to Elder Cornish's talk where he mentioned fried chicken! Yay~ We missionaries were all a little taken aback, yet really thankful because we didn't expect them to spoil us that much. Sis. Perry said Elder Perry nearly cried when he got to the cash register and saw the total, ha ha ha! This week, we will be watching conference on the big screen at the Nõmme Elders' place ;)
Yesterday, a dear sweet old sister pulled Sis. Lamar and I into the church's kitchen to give us some handknit socks/booties. There's super cute and colorful! She said it's starting to get cold, so she thought of us. We thanked her greatly, but she just said that she was simply fulfilling the Lord's will :) Also this past week, I tried a cake recipe that a member gave us. Turned out better than I thought, although the berries we used were sour, so we don't dare share it with others :P We thought we'd make it for the baptism which occurred on Saturday, but Sis. Lamar insisted we just take some snicker doodles instead. That's usually what we bake since they're easy and yield a lot.
There were some other things I intended to include in today's e-mail.... but alas, I've seemed to have left my planner at home xP We didn't really teach any of our regular investigators this week, but every day, we've been adding new potentials to the list. Not much has been progressing on the side of Less-Active work recently, but we're still trying! Hopefully we'll get some inspiration on how to help that more at tomorrow's zone conference. Oh yeah, and big news for Estonia! After years and years, the D&C is finally available in Estonian!!!! The members are all so excited :D It probably could have been finished earlier, but they were also working on a new translation of the Book of Mormon too. The triple combination's haven't made it here yet, but it's on the internet now to read and order. I want to get my hands on a copy, a.s.a.p.
Well, that's all from me! I hope you're all happy and healthy! Thanks for the lovin'~
Love,
Courtney
P.S. Haven't sent the letter off yet because I need something from my mission president. Tomorrow is zone conference, so hopefully I'll get something tomorrow. Where do I send my letter to? E-mail to you and then you send it? Oh, and I need my Student ID #, not my username.
Last week, we got together as a district (there's 8 of us) to watch General Conference DVDS that the mission sent to us. The DVDs were mis-formatted, or something, so it didn't work there, but instead, we crashed at the Perrys' place to watch conference on their laptop. That was a brilliant idea, because after we started to watch it, they snuck out to go get us some food to eat, and even more interesting was that they bought some chicken from a stand near a mall, and we had just listened to Elder Cornish's talk where he mentioned fried chicken! Yay~ We missionaries were all a little taken aback, yet really thankful because we didn't expect them to spoil us that much. Sis. Perry said Elder Perry nearly cried when he got to the cash register and saw the total, ha ha ha! This week, we will be watching conference on the big screen at the Nõmme Elders' place ;)
Yesterday, a dear sweet old sister pulled Sis. Lamar and I into the church's kitchen to give us some handknit socks/booties. There's super cute and colorful! She said it's starting to get cold, so she thought of us. We thanked her greatly, but she just said that she was simply fulfilling the Lord's will :) Also this past week, I tried a cake recipe that a member gave us. Turned out better than I thought, although the berries we used were sour, so we don't dare share it with others :P We thought we'd make it for the baptism which occurred on Saturday, but Sis. Lamar insisted we just take some snicker doodles instead. That's usually what we bake since they're easy and yield a lot.
There were some other things I intended to include in today's e-mail.... but alas, I've seemed to have left my planner at home xP We didn't really teach any of our regular investigators this week, but every day, we've been adding new potentials to the list. Not much has been progressing on the side of Less-Active work recently, but we're still trying! Hopefully we'll get some inspiration on how to help that more at tomorrow's zone conference. Oh yeah, and big news for Estonia! After years and years, the D&C is finally available in Estonian!!!! The members are all so excited :D It probably could have been finished earlier, but they were also working on a new translation of the Book of Mormon too. The triple combination's haven't made it here yet, but it's on the internet now to read and order. I want to get my hands on a copy, a.s.a.p.
Well, that's all from me! I hope you're all happy and healthy! Thanks for the lovin'~
Love,
Courtney
P.S. Haven't sent the letter off yet because I need something from my mission president. Tomorrow is zone conference, so hopefully I'll get something tomorrow. Where do I send my letter to? E-mail to you and then you send it? Oh, and I need my Student ID #, not my username.
Monday, October 3, 2011
October 3, 2011
Conference was spectacular! President Monson seems to get a little goofier as time goes on, ha ha! And so many temple announcements too! That rumor I heard of a temple in Paris came true ;) France and Italy better bank in on the tourism that will be coming when the temples there have their Open Houses! Our Conference schedule went a little something like this: Saturday, RS broadcast 5-7pm, Sat. Morn. Session 7-9pm (live). Sunday, Priesthood 12-2pm, Sat. Aft. Session 3-5, and then Sunday's morning session 7-9pm(live). This time, we were blessed to have audio devices so we could listen in English (I listened half-English, half-Estonian. Kind of depended on who was translating, :). We will still, however, watch conference in the next 2-3 district meetings. I was really impressed how much emphasis was put on the youth using technology to further the work of the Lord. There was also a lot of emphasis on using scriptures too. I basically summed up Elder Scott's talk to be "Scriptures are our friends!" :D In between sessions on Sunday, we missionaries put together our own pot luck for the members. Thank goodness we made so much food, because they ate ALL OF IT. They were all so very thankful and so we felt good that we could share and serve them.
I'm not really sure what else to report on since General Conference outshines everything else we did this week, he he. We had some interesting teaching opportunities this week that have Sis. Lamar and I really trying to improve our teaching to people's needs and understanding. We knocked into a young mom 2 weeks ago, and met with her last week. She invited her brother to come sit in on the lesson too, but I hope we'll have another chance to teach the both of them. I guess everything's sort of just tootin' along now. Plus now I'm pressured to finish this e-mail by my companion because I took too much time doing other work on the compy. Oops, lol. So, I apologize you have to suffer this week with a lame e-mail. Hopefully some other noteworthy and miraculous things will happen this week as we apply what we've learned from conference! Thanks for all the prayers and support!
Hugs and kisses,
Courtney
I'm not really sure what else to report on since General Conference outshines everything else we did this week, he he. We had some interesting teaching opportunities this week that have Sis. Lamar and I really trying to improve our teaching to people's needs and understanding. We knocked into a young mom 2 weeks ago, and met with her last week. She invited her brother to come sit in on the lesson too, but I hope we'll have another chance to teach the both of them. I guess everything's sort of just tootin' along now. Plus now I'm pressured to finish this e-mail by my companion because I took too much time doing other work on the compy. Oops, lol. So, I apologize you have to suffer this week with a lame e-mail. Hopefully some other noteworthy and miraculous things will happen this week as we apply what we've learned from conference! Thanks for all the prayers and support!
Hugs and kisses,
Courtney
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