4-25-16 The power of Prayer

a lot of cool things happen and a lot is going to happen. not really sure where to begin. 

Sister Richards and i started volunteering at an animal shelter!! woohoo and Sister Richards loves cats. so she climbed into this giant cat playground thingy and the cats just flocked to her. I attempted cleaning the cat cages but ended up sneezing real bad and it got hard for me to breath so i played with the dogs haha.

We did some tracting in beautiful weather so took photos.

And then we have this adorable couple!  The Elders were teaching them for a while but since they are in our boundaries we are now teaching them! (btw they have a son who we are teaching with too) woohoo. well to keep this sweet and short our first lesson with them really talked about prayer. Then we ended with a kneeling prayer, then invited their family to kneel every night together and say a prayer.  This was on a Tuesdayish. that Friday Arthur (the dad) had to go to the hospital for some heart problems. we saw them Saturday to cheer them up and shared a message. well they told us that, "pre-sisters" they were fighting a lot and daily. But since they have met with us, they haven't fought yet. I loved what Sister Richards pointed out. She told them "It's not because you are meeting with us, it is because you are saying your prayers together as a family daily." BOOM! BEST COMPANION! AMAZING TRUTH! 

Many cool other stories but due to time that's all for now:)

I guess all i have left to say is that having a sincere heartfelt prayer is the best thing anyone can do for themselves. I encourage everyone, when you say your prayers picture talking to your heavenly father, this changed how I said my prayers and I feel his presence more because of it. love you and I love the work. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I am his servant. and Forever I will be. 

:Love you!

Sister Pollard

4-18-16 The Power of Hymns

I could say a whole lot about what happened this week but I'm just gonna narrow it down to a few highlights

1. new companion! Her name is Sister Richards! Really pretty and smart girl. So grateful she is my companion:)

2. I drove into another small ditch last night.......

3.Before the mission, I was the primary chorister where we learned the song He Sent His Son in sign language (thank you Cheyenne Housel for inspiring me with that). We met a deaf woman and have been trying to teach her. She understands a little just by reading our lips but when it came to taking the Book of Mormon from us she wouldn't. That just didn't sit right with me. So I began to sign the song He Sent His Son to her. (Surprisingly remembering all the signs) and then held the Book of Mormon to her and said "That is what the Book of Mormon is all about." She took the Book of Mormon and I thought I saw tears in her eyes. Then begin signing "Thank you. Thank you" over and over again. There is only so  much we can do as missionaries. But the Spirit really can testify to someone of the truth we speak even if it is on simple childlike terms. 

3. Friday night our appointments fell through and suddenly no member was able to come out with us. I was a mess trying to find someone or place to got and teach. We head to this apartment complex looking for a less active unable to find him. It was dark and I couldn't see anything.  Sister Richards said "there is a person there maybe we can ask her for help."  Instantly I saw the person she was talking about and we drive up to her and before thinking I rolled down the window and started talking to her. Too make a long story short, she is a 26 mother expecting her first in May. She recently had a death in the family and has just been struggling. We talked with her and got to know her and she is an incredible woman. She bragged about her husband being a preacher too!. Then we asked if we could sing a hymn with her. She called to her husband and asked him to join us, he came out (super friendly and cool guy!) and we sang How great thou art and said a prayer. It was funny she introduced us to him as "God fearing 19 year old girls!" haha. anywho we invited them to church and they said they would try to make it. But on Sunday morning, we find out that she was vomiting all night and well just expecting a baby and the symptoms with that. But that night we went to visit with them. It was a a great visit and got to know them a lot better! He considers himself to be a truth seeker and is so willing to read the Book of Mormon and looking on our websites which is great! his desire to learn is incredible. We sang Come thou Fount with them before we leave and he tells us how grateful he is for us, because he hasn't heard his wife sing in over a year until last night. (and they are both so inloved and in tuned with music).  Friday night was where we needed to be. Lost and willing to talk to anyone. (Sis Richards tells me that she doesn't even remember telling me that there was someone we could ask. But she did. the spirit really guide both of us to find her.) and to make this long story short and shorter-i love hymns. it was through songs that we were able to touch these 2 women's hearts and soften a mans. that is how powerful music is. and I'm grateful that I was raised in such a musical home:)

well we are going out for a hike now! pics to come next week:)

love you all!! and thanks for the prayers:)

Sister Pollard

4-11-16 Become as little child

A lot of cool things. A lot of sad things. and Just stuff in between

1. Transfer calls! Sister Pond is leaving but I am staying in Branson Missouri! However I am split training and really nervous about that, but it will be fun!

2. A random guy walked into the church yesterday during 3rd hour, had lots of questions, wants to learn more, willing to meet with us.....what???? Ya a great miracle, really excited. 

There is a scripture (more than one really) that talks about 'becoming as a little child' and Christ taught this to everyone. Sometimes I don't even know what that means or what that looks like. I understand children, the are so humble and submissive, and pure. Adults are not always like that. 

But I witnessed a child, being that incredible example that Christ wants us all to be. 

We me this family (mother and 4 children). Some might call this a broken home. We taught a few principals to this family, watched their faith grow, witnessed major fights and words that should not be said around children. I fell in love with these kids and my heart aches for them. We gave the mother a Book of Mormon and testified to her that the gospel of Christ can heal families. Her 10 year old son wants that. While Sister Pond was giving the mother an invitation to church and reading, I felt the spirit prompt me saying "give the Book of Mormon to him." (him meaning the son). I thought for the moment but the spirit was persistent. I quickly got up and sat next to the son and testified to him that if he reads the Book of Mormon he will grow mighty and strong and his family will be healed. He said he would read it. I told him it will be hard, but that we would be there to help him understand, he was happy. I returned back to the mother and before we said the prayer with her, I looked at the son and he had already begun reading the Book of Mormon. Never have I seen an investigator so excited and wanting something than seeing that young child . He did not want to wait. He wanted it. The spirit told me, leave your number. I wrote down our number and left it on their coffee table before we left. As we were walking out the door, the son looks at us with hopeful eyes and said "Will you be coming back tomorrow?" Tears filled my eyes and i said "maybe, we will try"

All things are well, but there is opposition in all things. The next day after inviting the family to church, they were happy, but an hour later the mother texted us and said she wants nothing to do with the church because she doesn't believe in John Smith. Since there are a lot of anti Mormon stuff here people get Joseph Smiths name wrong, and she was attacked and fell for it.  Hearing this I dropped to my knees and prayed for the son. He has his own Book of Mormon and our number. Rule is we can't teach him without permission from the mother, but I have faith in him because he is like a child, he knows what he wants and he will search diligently to find it. We are gonna try to continue to talk with them and clarify some things but in the meantime we just have to have faith that the Lord is going to rescue them. In fact, I know He will.

There is so much more I could say about this past week, but in few simple words I'll just say that 

this is the Lords work. He is building His Kingdom, miracles and tender mercies are everywhere because the Lord is so involved and loving in the lives of His children. Invite the spirit into your lives to help fully see and feel Gods love for you. You can do this by reading the Book of Mormon and praying. The basics, the simple acts. 

Love you all and thanks for the letters and emails and prayers!!

Love

Sister Pollard

3-21-16 opening gates and hearts no walls this week

I am so excited to tell you about contacting that referral we have gotten three times! Sister Pond and I went out there last night with a ysa member Hannah,  and after we knocked and waited for an answer, no one came, so we decided that tracting/contacting was the best decision because we knew that we were suppose to be in that area. After we left the front porch and began walking down the street, a car started coming towards us. They stopped and found out that they are neighbors to the woman we wanted to meet, and they were just dropping off her son!  So we began talking to her son Erik. He reads the Book of Mormon every night, and is in 3 Nephi. He does a lot of reading online about the church from lds/mormon.org. He knows that it is true, however his mother is fighting cancer at the hospital right now so he really doesn't want visitors. He just wants to focus on his mom, to make a long story short, Erik is a really nice guy searching for truth and holding fast to it. We are looking forward to meeting and talking with him again. He is alone right now, but he is strong, and we will stay in contact with him. It is just so amazing and God really makes things happen, if we were there earlier or later we probably would have missed our window, but just as President Maynes stated that all must play their role in the story and listen to the promptings of the spirit then the story begins to unfold. This story is not over yet, it is only the beginning. and Sister Pond and I are so excited about really becoming more pure in heart for the spirit so that every story unfolds just as God wanted!

Last night after we met with Erik we made a plan to find this other referral, Nichole. We have tried finding her in the past but came across a locked gate and no house in sight, so we left. But last night we came across the same gate and the sun was just setting so our daylight was very limited. We are out in the middle of nowhere and unsure if we should go through this gate. When in doubt, say a prayer. After we prayed about going through the gate or not, we received a confirmation to open the gate and drive on. Without delay, I got out of the car and opened the gate then closed it once we passed through. We drove about 300 ft until we saw a little house luckily with lights on. To complete this part of the story lets just say, if we hadn't prayed about "what should we do" we probably wouldn't get that solid confirmation to go through the gate, and if that hadn't happened we wouldn't have met our new investigator Nichole who is eager to take the lessons and loved meeting with us. 

I just think that it is so amazing how much freedom God gives us in His work. Yet, when we do His will, and plead for His direction, then we are lead right where we needed to the ears that need to hear of the gospel at that moment.

Other cool news: saw president Maynes yesterday!! he spoke to our stake and I talked to him a little bit after. he didn't notice me at first but it didn't take him to long to remember me. The conference was amazing! All about establishing Zion, and in order to do that we need to first establish it in our homes. I hope you all are doing it that cuz super important. haha

other big news, WE JUST BOUGHT OUR BIKES! I got a cute basket and bell to go along with it. Thanks for your help mom but I got it all here!! pictures of that next week!

3-14-16 Climbing walls this time literally

Highlights for the week

1. went on exchanges and when we left the apartment after lunch my companion, Sister Peterson, locked the keys inside the apartment and the car was locked. All of our stuff was in the car so we literally had nothing to get back inside the apartment to get the keys to go to our next appointment. Well, That was my first day I attempted to climb a wall (like Samuel the Lamanite) to get the the balcony and sliding door on the 2nd level, but i was way too short, I attempted though! We ended up begging an old lady to give us a plastic card and we carded the door to get it.

2. We had 4 investigators at church! We are really happy about that:)

3.Elder Renlund and President Maynes are coming to our stake to talk to this area on Sunday!! We are sooo excited.

Nothing to crazy or exciting happened this week, and days are starting to blur for me so .... happy face in the end!

It has been raining a lot and it feels so good! Not freezing but not boiling water!

Our investigators are doing well. and we are finding more to teach and are teaching skills are improving. The ward here is really great too. 

I made cookies during lunch!

Sister Pond and i made skirts last week with SisterBbarber and Sister Pond got stuck in here skirt. She made it a little to short so now it is my skirt actually haha

and we had a craft day with the relief society and so Sister Smith and I are trying to stick vinyl on a board but we are really just two impatient women trying to perform a patient delicate task. She's an incredible woman really:) 

There is a couple of exciting events that happened this week that I thought I should share.

1. Nancy (Name Changed)

We started teaching Nancy when i got here, so about 2 months. She is 45ish and was excommunicated from the church when she was 16. Shes been through a lot and put herself in a lot of awful situations and addictions, but she is ready to throw it all away and come back to the church. We've had our ups and downs with her-or so we thought. Her lessons have been great, we really connect and she feels the spirit and understands. Asks lots of questions but keeps every commitment we extend to her. Well she had an interview with the bishop about her standing with baptism. Through him was found out some things about her that we did not know. Next thing we know she is distancing her self from us and our lessons are not as spiritual. We are afraid that she no longer wants, to be baptized. For a week and half we lost contact with her,  and then a miracle happened. The sisters from our ward get together once a month and have a lunch bunch. They went to a restaurant where Nancy works. We told one of the Sisters, Sister Stapelton, that our investigator works there and to be looking for her. Cute short blonde name Nancy. Now this lunch bunch on average gets 8 women to gob but for some reason on this special lunch 18 women went to this restaurant. and Nancy was their waitress. Sister Stapelton recognized the name and description and after Nancy took their order she quickly spread the word of who she is and all the ladies got really excited.  At the end of the meal Nancy was receiver 18 loving motherly hugs from these women who didn't even know her. 2 nights later we knock on Nancy's door. She let us in and we find out that she has quit smoking and is still reading the Book of Mormon. In the church that Sunday she was there and sat next to us. but right after sacrament I lost her, but she was among her new fan club from lunch. She is still progressing and repenting. and I too repented for doubting and losing faith in her. I love the sisters her and I love Nancy so much!

2. The Anderson family

The Anderson family is a less active family with a son unable to be baptized (due to child support). sister Anderson is a strong woman but is breaking inside because her son is struggling with cancer and her husband is struggling with another illness and he no longer leaves his room but for doctor appointments. We visit with her and her son but never brother Anderson. Well one day I thought, why don't I just call his cell phone? So i did, he answered and we made an appointment to see HIM. I made that very clear. We went over the next night to visit, but he was still locked in the bedroom. I told sister Anderson that we would love to have him in on the lesson. He slowly but surely came out and we had a wonderful discussion. we found out that he hasn't read the Book of Mormon in over 2 years. So I told him that the next time we come, we will read the Book of Mormon together for 15 minutes. He agreed. Two nights later we show up on their door and there in their house is the Anderson family, each holding their own Book of Mormon waiting for us to read. Sister Anderson was happy that her family is finally coming together again and Brother Anderson looked like he just drank a glass of light, so refreshed and so happy. The son, Matt participated but we could tell he was worried with his next doctor appointment, but there is so much joy that comes from reading the Book of Mormon as a family, and it brings light. The Anderson family is witnessing that again:)

i love the Book of Mormon and I encourage all to read it daily with their family:)

Love you!

3-7-2016 working with "walls"

 I've been really thinking about being more creative yet effective in lessons. using object lessons or activities that apply to the principal we are teaching. I just feel like stepping out side of the box and use everything we have. 
Well today I was reading in Helaman about Samuel the Lamanite and how when the people wouldn't let him inside the city walls, he climbed to the top and delivered the message. I stopped and thought "HOW CREATIVE!" I wonder if I had that much faith and desire to climb up the wall and cry repentance, I want to have that much love for the lord and people to do that. Well we have our own "walls" and I'm trying to be more creative in getting over/through/around the walls that people put up. I'm still trying to figure it out, but it has been fun thinking of the ideas and putting it to the test. Ill let you know when something great comes from it!

Love you all thanks for the support!

I have to leave now to go sew a skirt so no pics this week but keep reading your scriptures!!! I cant stress that enough!

love you

Sister Pollard

went on a dog hunt.

great story. new investigator from it. oh and ya...awful yet great picture with it. 

2-29-16 Shout out to Mom and Dad!

I've met some really great people here and good families. But I've also met some broken people and broken families.  This one family has been on my mind. I don't want to go into detail about them, but all I can say is that I love the daughter, and it's a shame to see how she is treated in the home. (There are some things that I wish I hadn't known) but nevertheless I know that God will take care of her. Anywho i was thinking about them before I went to church yesterday. Just exactly how we could handle this situation. 

The opening song for sacrament was Families can be Together forever. We started singing and you could just hear the childrens voices conquer everyone elses. They sang their hearts out, and when I heard their voices, the spirit touched my heart, the words became more meaningful and I cried. I haven't fully cried out here yet (i might any minute haha), but that moment tears would not stop streaming down my face. Flashes of home came through my mind especially of my mom. The investigator we brought saw me cry all over the hymn book and she started to cry!! We were a mess then we started laughing at ourselves. Anywhoo, it is so so comforting to know that I was raised in a loving home because of the gospel. Thank you mom for being so good to  me. for teaching me oh so many things I can t even begin to list. it is because of you that I love my Lord,

The choir then sang Love is Spoken Here, and it was insta choir meaning anyone join. We had a large group come up (including sister pond and I) and it made me think of my father. I began to cry again-up there in front of the ward. Thank you dad for being a worthy priesthood holder for teaching me and providing and protecting me. it is because of you that I'm strong and capable of stretching myself.

I'm really one of the lucky ones with the greatest parents. I know I'm not the only one.

MOM and DAD THANK YOU!! I love you so much!

Sister Pollard