Monday, July 18, 2016

7/18/16 TORNADO!!

Oh goodness even when I write down things I forget the most terrifying experience!

THERE WAS A TORNADO!!

Well sorta.......

Okay it is Thursday morning,it's around 11 am and we are at the library doing weekly planning. We are in a private room discussing such and such matters when this worker walked in and he said "are you aware that the tornado sirens are going off and we are all taking cover?" My companion and I were like "........uh......no" so we walk out where everyone was near the front doors close to the bathrooms (where we should be) and there is this massive storm going on outside. It's pouring rain like no other, and the wind was tearing through the sky and the sky was turning color to green (big sign of tornado) and of course the sirens are going off and everyone is on their phone watching the weather and seeing where the tornado will be at. Lightning is flashing and the drums are louder than ever. It was a scene!   The doors are opening and closing due to the wind, and rain starts crawling in through the windows and doors! It was that awful of a storm.

But no tornado in Tulsa. There was a tornado in two cities close to us where we visit often but tornado was safe. However, there was damage from the wind. Trees had fallen over, fences had broken apart, electricity was out for hours. but no one was killed (I think) and it was an exciting scene. Biggest lightning storm so far that's for sure!


Just thought I would throw that in there:)

7-18-16 Cursed

HEY YALL

a lot of cool and unusual things happened this week an I'm doing a lot better at remembering them (aka I have a list).

Tuesday we did service at this place called kids against hunger. It is a great service organization but the guy Marshall, is my favorite. He reminds me of grandpa pollard who just won't retire because he loves work too much. haha but he shared some of his most spiritual experiences with us and the good that the Lord is using him for. He is one of the most faithful persons I have met. One who lives what he believes. I love the reminder that the Lord works and inspire all people to do good. and Marshal has over 80 years of experiences to tell you about it.

Thursday we went to institute. Well I should first explain-the building that the YSA members meet is behind a Presbyterian church. as in-we are renting a part of their church for our meetings, and we hold institute there. Well we were walking to up to the door and saw this old man sleeping at the Presbyterian back door. "Strange but not unusual" I thought. However something told me that we will talk to him, but we weren't THAT comfortable to awake him. Well after institute was over we were just about to head out when the old man walked into the door and wanted to learn about the church. After some discussion and prayer we set up an appointment to meet him tomorrow with the elders and left him with the Book of Mormon. Now this old man has no teeth....so it was very difficult to even understand him. The next day we show up (the elders were running late) and luckily the old man was there, but he was mad. Again I have no idea what he said to us but he did not like the Book of Mormon. Since I didn't understand him I asked "I'm sorry sir, what's wrong?" and he got on his bike with all of his stuff and starting speaking so fast and quoting bible verses and I'm pretty sure he cursed us. At least I felt like he was. Sister Rish said he was praying for protection from us. Either way it was weird because he just hopped on this bike and started peddling away and yelling bible verses. Then we tried to explain all that happened to the elders and they totally missed out. It was weird guys, just weird, and I don't even know why he was upset! Moral of the story-keep your teeth. it makes things easier for everyone. To do this don't do drugs, don't drink, and don't smoke.

Saturday was me favorite day! We went to this elderly 'home' to do service. and they had a piano. The elder people weren't doing anything,  actually they just finished a movie when we got there so we rummaged through some stuff and we found a hymn piano book. "Surely this will lift their spirits" I sat on the piano and started playing some hymns. This woman began belting and I mean belting out the lyrics to songs. After that she told me anything I can play she can sing. So I played all the hymns that I knew plus some out of that hymn book and sure enough she knew the words. I sang along with her of course but I couldn't sing as loud as her. She wasn't the only one! A few more elderly women joined us in song. This one adorable woman rolled her little wheel chair up to the piano to ask me the next time I will be here because she wanted to make sure she was here to hear the music again. Then I took a request from her and we sang "God be with you till we meet again." I was so impressed by these women...oh the men? ya they fell asleep. hahaha  the woman that sang so loud-she even got on the piano with me and played "this little light of mine" because I couldn't play it since I had no music for it! but she played it so well from memory I was impressed. we played and sang for 2 hours!! but it sure flew by. we sang:
Sweet hour of prayer
how great thou art
nearer my god to the
amazing grace

and a couple of other ones I cant remember.

Sunday. church starts at 2 so we met with our less active at 11 and this kid is super cool. His name is Josh. Josh is actually striving to come back to church. He's making long strides. Well we wanted this lesson to be a little bit more fun, so we bought ice cream. and we talked about keeping the Sabbath day holy. haha no need to get into detail but it was fun:)

The week was pretty good:)


Love you all!

Monday, July 11, 2016

7/11/16 Ukulele?

Guys.....I bought a ukulele!

First song I learned was a primary song "When I Am Baptized." and now when my companion is having a bad day I just pull out the ukulele and serenade her. It's really funny we think. and she has it recorded and ya...enough with that.

Our YSA branch is cooking!! Well...really water is boiling!! That is super super good:) and we started to plead for the Lords mercy on this branch and somehow a light turned on that hasn't been on in a long time. It is hard to explain but you can feel a stronger spirit. There is enthusiasm, t's not where we want it at yet. but its getting brighter.

It's hard to stay busy in a YSA, because everyone is either at work or at school until the evening, sooo for the past 3 weeks we have been searching and calling so many places to fill our time with service in the morning and afternoon. WE DID IT! we have service everyday this week. This way we can soften hearts and teach people when the spirit prompts. We are doing service with 5 different companies. Bueno, and we also are seeing and working with more family members from the wards. gaining parents trust so that they will encourage their child to go to YSA.

Really the lord has given us so many tender mercies, and I just want to be a better person because I am so grateful for that.

Oh and my companion and I are staying in Tulsa! So address is the same:)

Love you and thanks for the prayers:)


Love sister Pollard

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

7-4-16 Idle hands are the devils workshop

In case you didn't know, I HIT MY 6 MONTH MARK! typically elders would burn a tie at this 'big' event but I, loving my clothes too much, decided that burning clothes was not an option. So today we are celebrating with manicures:) and then I'm gonna buy a banjo. so all happiness I need.

This week was probably good:) We started the 40 day fast and we are super excited about how many members are participating!
 For family home evening this week we played ultimate Frisbee. I, of course, just had to play (regardless the skirt and flats). And of course, I being my competitive self, got way into it and aggressive and came out with a hurt shoulder. I'M OKAY!! haha it was just funny.

Downtown here there is like 3 blocks filled with taco trucks. pretty legit. And our investigator wanted to get lunch with us so we went and had taco truck food with her which was pretty good:) and she is just the cutest doll.

We were looking for this new move in girl the other day, and we went to her apartment and saw two guys and a girl and a cute baby outside at the door next tp the one we wanted to knock on. We passed by them and started talking to them and one of the guys really wanted to talk to us about Christ. Really Cool! To bring it short, he has forgotten Gods love for him and has felt outcasted by other churches because he has tattoos. We assured him that God still loves him and that his suffering will end if he follows Jesus Christ. Super cool and something he needed to hear. We then invited them all to church with us, but they didn't come. BUT! we have his number and will stop by this week again:)

Ultimately the week was good. Got some rain. taught more lessons this week more than before so that's cool. 

OH! So last night we were talking to this very active member, and he said "Satan Loves boredom and isolation." and that just rang true! When we are bored or when we feel isolated that is when we take down our guard and Satan attacks us. Always be going somewhere and doing something with your life that is good,  and remember that God put millions of people on this earth for a reason. Don't isolate yourself. There is good in the world.

Probably one of the most important thing I've learned  that I feel the need to share is that it is very easy to be deceived, and it breaks my heart. There are so many people out here that don't know good from evil anymore. They don't know what truth is. They get so caught up in what they WANT to believe and not what they NEED to believe. I plead with you, if you don't know something, but you think it might be important to know, ask God. That is one reason why we have prayers. Missionaries, leaders, family members, friends can help but you must, for your salvation, YOU MUST humble yourself, ask God, put trust in Him and make the necessary changes. I know it is easier said then done. I know doing what is right today is a lot more difficult then to do what is wrong. but the ultimate reward of righteousness is "peace in this world, and eternal like in the world to come." What else does one need? Again, I urge you, pray, trust, believe, have faith. 

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is what changes a person.-living that Gospel. And that Gospel is found in the Book of Mormon, in the Bible, In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. I know this. I love this. I fight for this. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. He amazes me:) and I look forward to the day when He comes again. 

I leave these things with you In His beloved name, Jesus Christ Amen.


Sister Pollard