Kendyl did not write this week but shared with us this photo.
Friday, November 25, 2016
11/9, 11/14 2016
Im so sorry.....today is pday tomorrrow is transfers, and I wont be able to tell yall what I did this week. There is so much I need to
prepare for. Sister Martin is leaving to Missouri. and I have a lot of
"projects" I have to get done on the computer before my time is up. if I have time after I'll send another email. But if you are on, i will chat!
love you all. and love my new niece already!
things are good. just A LOT going on haha:)
Sister Pollard
This is my daughter! (What missionaries call their trainees) I picked her up early in the morning
with this glitter pink sign! (I had no idea what she looked like so somehow she
needed to find me) and apparently there were a few elders who were jealous and
want their own "pink glittered sign!" hahaha!
She is wonderful! from cache valley Utah and looks A LOT like
Krissi:)
10/31/16 Peace in the scriptures
Kendyl Celebrated my Birthday with a member
Hey Everyone! Happy Halloween!
This week has been member miracle week. We got a lot of
referrals from members and more an more people are coming out with us. And more
and more are fellowshipping our investigators. I have been very very impressed
and moved by them and their sincere genuine desire to serve.
But I choose to share one story that was the perfect way to
end the week, and I've been pondering on it since.
Out here in Centerton there is this family the C's. They
have a friend, R......., who is staying with them temporally right now. Before I
got into the area, Sister Martin had met him but he wasn't that interested in
taking the discussions. Then my 4th week here, we had dinner with the C's and Sis Martin brought up R....., asking how he was doing and so forth. We
left the C's a copy of the Book of Mormon to leave out at their house so
that R..... can read it. A few days (maybe a week) later Sis C..... texted us
and said "Just so you know, R...... has been reading the Book of Mormon.
He has tons of questions. and he is coming to church on Sunday." Sister
Martin and I literally were jumping up and down because of how happy he felt (I did most the jumping...). But what happened next is what touched my heart.
Sunday comes around and R.... came. After the gospel principles class he turned to us and said "Who gave me the Book of
Mormon?" We told him. then he said "When I saw that book, I knelt down
and prayed about it before I even opened it. I haven't heard great things about
the church, but I wanted to know. I told God, if this is true, if this is His,
then to let me feel peace. I opened it. I felt peace. And I havent felt peace in
more than 19 years. But I felt peace. Thank you!" Our conversation carried
on, he is in 1 nephi 18 has lots of question loves church and more that I wish
I could say. I just remember when he said while pointing at his heart "I don't ever want this peace to leave me"
I honestly dont think that my writing gives enough detail
and description of this man. He was very emotional. The spirit told us that
what he said was true. That he hasn't felt peace in years, that he has abandoned God. That he is coming back to his Savior. That he found an undeniable peace
in the Book of Mormon. Why? Because the Book of Mormon has the everlasting
gospel. You will come closer to your Creator as you read the Book of Mormon
with sincerity. God designed it to be that way. and it can be that way for
everyone. This man describe his emotion as "hunger" he is
"hungry for the truth." Tears filled my eyes as I heard his simple
testimony. I love this man. I love him because I saw God's constant and patient
love for him. I saw his potential. Dressed in white. I feel blessed to
have known this man.
other miracles similar to that has happened as well. but i'm
going keep those in my journal for now. I love you all. And if you need peace,
love, guidance, security, joy, hope, faith, READ THE BOOK OF MORMON,
Love
Sister Pollard
10/24/16 The Book of Mormon
Hey Everyone!
For today, I really just want to share two amazing miracles,
in hopes that all may see that God prepares His children to accept the gospel, and that the Book of Mormon has power to overcome all sorts of evil.
Story #1. R.... and K......
There is this returning less
active family in the ward that is striving to come back. Every week we visit
them and give them a lesson. They are great. Well in their apartment complex, a
woman and her 17 year old daughter were kicked out. Our members, being
christlike, took them into their own homes. This woman, R..., I swear has been
a blessing to the members more than she realizes, but the members have also
introduced her to the gospel.
At first R....was not interested, nor her daughter K,,,.
but by the next couple of lesson she started sitting in, but not participating.
Then this pass week, Sis Martin and I went on splits, and Sis Martin saw R.... and the members and R.... confessed that she wants to go to church. They
had a great discussion and helped her over come her fears. Well fast forward, she has the Book of Mormon now and has been reading, has accepted to live the
Word of Wisdom and baptism. No date yet. she is coming to church with us on Sunday. Her daughter is also reading the Book of Mormon and is doing well. This
all happened in a week. Sister Martin and I were baffled. R..... is the most
patient and hopeful person I've ever met.
Story #2 W.....
Theres this former investigator W..... and his wife. Well
you see when the missionaries found him in the past, they weren't obedient. So
they got used to "fun, chilled, disobedient missionaries". But none
the less they love missionaries. She would have been baptized but he isn't a fan
of the church. He tries to give us a hard time about it, and bring up anti Mormon stuff but nothing we haven't heard before. Well, we threw it back at him
and said "W.... what will it take for you to read the Book of
Mormon?" He said sacrastically that if he read it to us we will listen and
the only good time for him is at 5:30 in the morning while he is taking a
smoke. We told him that we will be there the next day at 5:30 to read with him.
he thought we were bluffing. But 5am roles around and we get out of bed and go
see W..... he called us crazy. put put his cigarette out and read alma 32 with
us. His face, his voice, the look in his eyes changed. He didn't read he listened
and stared at his book and us. After we were done he said "Yall are
dedicated." We smiled and told him we were, and that this book is
important. We had a great discussion with him about the chapter, then offered to
come the next day. he said "yes, but we will give you a call cuz you aint
coming at 5:30"
He just needed a little bit more reading I suppose;)
Book of Mormon does have power. Have you felt it?
Love you all!
Sister Pollard
10/17/16 getting in the Christmas mood.
Good Monday Morning to all my loved ones!
This week was a struggle busy week, but not a discouraging or
crying week. haha. First off, my wonderful companion loves Christmas music. So
we have been listing to the same 5 Christmas songs we have haha. I don't mind, it
makes her happy:) But ya we are in the Christmas mood!
We had some good lessons this week and met some interesting
people and did some stupid stuff. We met this former investigator L.... We went
to visit her to see if she wanted to take the lessons again. SHE LOVES THE
MISSIONARIES! She literally praised us for a good 10 minutes before we got a
word out. at first I was touched, then I be like "L..., do you want to
talk about the gospel? After all that's really why we are here." She loves
Joseph Smith and the book of Mormon but is catholic and is happy with that. We
are seeing her again to teach the plan of salvation. we think that will be the
turning point for her. but now we know, if we are having a bad day to go see
L.... she will make us happy!
We have been doing a lot of active member lessons.
Trying to get members to feel the Spirit and flame in missionary work, so that's
good.
We met the young mother name N....who is my new favorite
person. She is our new investigator and she has two small boys and she
desperately needs the gospel and recognizes that:) we are seeing her tomorrow. I
just admire this young mother:)
The spiders out here are ridiculous. I'm not scared of
spiders. I'm okay with killing them. But we had this one who was the size of my
big toe and it ran inside our apartment just as we were leaving for an
appointment. I couldn't bear to think that I'll be sleeping in the same place as
the disgusting spider. So we literally spent 15 minutes screaming and trying to
kill it. We thought that was the worst, but its dad must have found out cuz now
we have-no joke-this spider that could wrap its legs around my foot constantly
outside our door. every morning when we go work out we hide behind each other,
peaking around the door to see if its there. nasty. good thing winter is coming
I'm gonna keep it at that for now:)
Life is good and all is well! more details will be sent in
letters!
love,
Sister Pollard
10/10/16 Keeping the Sabbath day holy.
AH! My companion and I taught sharing time yesterday at church:) it was the best ever! I forgot how much I miss primary and working
with kids:) We talked about prayer. And I used some of my old tricks that I used in singing time when we had too much time. For example we learned all the
kids name be singing the welcome song over and over, and we made it rain, and I loved it and so did the kids:)
I am serving in a young family ward. There are lots of kids
and I can count the grandparents on 1 hand. What is amazing though, is that
this ward is so selfless and welcoming. I've been very impressed.
We rode our bikes this week as well and that took a lot more
energy than I thought I had. Cheyenne, I don't know how you do it. But since our
car is going to be taken away soon, we will keep practicing and building those
leg muscles!
Sis Martin has become a great friend of mine. Truly. I can
talk to her about anything. She pushes me as well, in ways that other
companions haven't so its been a growing experience.
There is a recent convert. Her name is T... she was
baptized in August. Sis Martin and I are doing the new member lessons. She is a
cute mom. has 3 boys and a supportive husband. One day she texted us and said
that she got a job at Walmart (which everyone btw works at here in Walmart
city) and she works on Sundays so that she can be home with the kids on Saturdays. Sis Martin and I were so sad at this because keeping the Sabbath Day
holy is a commandment. We go over for a lesson, determined to talk about the
sabbath day in a loving but firm tone. Before we even start she says
"Lately the commandments have been on my mind. I think about them all the
time. and I know that is because I work on Sundays now. And I know that God has
commanded me not to. I just dont know what to do and I pray all the time to
figure it out." We smile because we saw her sincere desire to keep the
commandments and her concern as a mother. we had a wonderful discussion and
found some solutions for her and her situation.
I bring this up because of a few things. 1. Keeping the
sabbath day holy is and will forever be a commandment. 2. God is aware of you
and your situation, therefore as you seek his council and approach the
situation with faith, divine revelation and sometime intervention will come to
you. 3. I LOVE THE HOLY GHOST! I love how he reminded T...constantly of the
commandments to hep her and build her trust in God. Remember, if it inviteth
one to do good, it is of God.
hmmm
Some really funny stuff happene, and lots of good
experiences and people.
I think my favorite part though, was in a 7 year old (we are
teaching him the lessons because his active parents asked us to) told us
that he prayed about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith and Baptism. we asked
him what his answer was and with a big bright smile he said "I wanna get
baptized." We are seeing them tonight to teach the plan of salvation. But when
he told us with that sweet strong spirit, my heart skipped a beat and I could
just feel Gods infinite love for him. and Feel how proud he is of his
son.
Sister Pollard
10/3/16 New area Centerton Arkansas
HEY EVERYONE!
First off, wasn't General Conference just amazing!? Oooh it
filled me with the Spirit!!
I'm in Centerton Arkansas now. (Close to Bentonville/Close to
mission home) and I'm very impressed. I'm actually serving in a country-ish
area. Its a lot like Kamas Valley but more spread. Lots of fields. Lots of good people. LOTS of dirt roads. cattles, chickens, trees. Everyone I've met is very
self sufficient-which is amazing. I am now driving a truck, and I was terrified
at first. Okay still am. I'ts a small truck but big to me.
My apartment is beautiful! No more rats:) (in case you
didn't know there were rats in my last apartment)
My companion is wonderful! She reminds me a lot of Cheyenne
and Mikee. So I know we will get along just fine:) She just finished training,
so she has only been out 3 months. But she is way mature and sweet and humble
and all that goodness you would want in a companion.
OKAY MISSION STORY TIME!
1. My first dinner here was with the Jones. There are 4 kids
between 3-10ish, they are energetic kids. Well, I had my ukulele in the car so
we ran out to grab it and we sang primary songs with them for our dinner
message then talked about the Book of Mormon. the kids were so focused in and
loved my "little guitar" Sis Jones took a video of it (how
embarrassing) and sent it to Sister Loveland....hopefully it doesn't go too
far. Moral of the Story is, I am soo excited to be in a family ward working
with kids again! I forgotten how much I've missed them.
2. We have this investigator, and she lives with her parents
but her parents are soo against the church, that whenever we go over for a
lesson we have to have the lesson in her barn! It made chuckle, there are pigs,
chickens, goats, bunnies and a giant turkey just around us as we talked aobut
the Word Of Wisdom. it was stinky but I couldn't help but to laugh that I was
teaching someone in a barn.
3. We are teaching this incredible guy! Sis Martin taught
him the restoration before I got here, then when I met him for our lesson he
asks us "I read the introduction to the Book of Mormon. I admire Joseph
Smith. Can I come to church with you this sunday?" My jaw dropped, no one
has ever said that to me. We explained to him general conference, and he got
more excited. We called up these amazing members, then on Sunday, our
investigator and us went to our members home to watch general conference. We
watched the first session then had a BBQ with the bishop! Then watched the second
session. Our investigator stayed for the full thing. He took notes. We
discussed a little bit about it over lunch. I am very impressed. He also texted
us this morning thanking us again. We are seeing him Thursday. I just love how
perfectly God prepares his children.
4. I saw something unusual....we knocked on a members door
and hanging above the door frame is a Ziploc bag filled with water and a
penny inside. I asked Sis what that was about. She said it keep the bugs/flies
away, but she doesn't believe that it works. But this other member swears by
it.....haha really funny, made me chuckle. Who knows maybe it could work!
Well that's my new exciting stories for now:)
the leaves haven't changed color yet. and are truck is
getting sold so soon we will be on bikes most likely.
OH! I pray that you all take something away from General
Conference. something important to you. Something that the Lord needs you to
do. I know I have!
Love
Sister Pollard
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