3/20/17 Faith as a mustard seed.

So this next picture is at 3rd Thursday. Every 3rd Thursday from like March-Nov. Main Street in Joplin becomes the hot spot. All different vendors come and sell their stuff. Like a farmers market or a mini fair....I guess. Anywho, we brought our own booth! And we found some success in it! The elders ran the booth and sister berry and I went out and directed people to our booth hehe, or at least we tried. Then we ran the booth while we waited for other missionaries to come and take it over. It was fun and a good time to do it!

We are teaching these kids. They are ages 8,7, and 6. 2 boys and 1 girl. Their grandmother is inactive but wants us to teach her grand kids about Jesus. The kids parents are not interested but they sure do like us. Anywho, we teach about 2 at a time every weekend. But this last week was a little different. the 6 year old girl was there but wanted to go home. The dad was there helping his mom (the grandmother who just had surgery). Well he calls up his other son the 7 year old and asks if he wants to be with the missionaries. 5 minutes later this little 7 year old runs into the house panting from running so hard. We really didn't think he listened or cared.  But we had a great lesson with just him, talked about faith and the seed in Alma 32. And he remembered everything! His sister came back with her dad to pick him up and he is telling his little sister everything he knows about faith and this seed and was really excited. It was adorable. We are hoping the parents will be interested soon so that we can focus on the whole family:) They are a wonderful family.

We really did have a great week! And the work is moving forward:) all is well! I'm excited to be in Joplin for 1 more transfer:) God is good!

Love,

Sister Pollard

3/15/17 Keeping your covenants

Hey Yall! 

For this email I want to focus on a message not on my week, but I will give you an update on transfers. I am STAYING in Joplin. My address is the same. and yes I did get those pre-trunky papers (papers about going home) and yes I did try to convince my greenie that they were for her. 

I had a heartbreaking experience this week. one that I can not go into details about. But this is something that I have witness multiple times on my mission, everywhere I go, both with members and nonmembers. It attacks all of us. And it is something that should be talked about. 

Elder Holland says it best

May the joy of our fidelity to the highest and best within us be ours as we keep our love and our marriages, our society and our souls, as

pure as they were meant to be.

In todays world, evil and wickedness attacks us everywhere and all the time. With the use of Instant Media, social media, movies, music, books, billboards, and acquaintances it is easier now to be unfaithful to a loved one, a spouse. 

BUT PLEASE!! Do NOT fall in the traps of the one that wishes to destroy you! He is good at what he does, and if you want to have all that your Creator has for you stay away from lustful, pornographic, degrading content. You are worth more than that, and so is your family. I have witnessed many marriages fall apart, trust walls being built, and children being abandon due to unfaithfulness. 

It would not be fair of me to only speak of these horrifying things if there wasn't a way out, and there is. Jesus Christ and His atonement, and only Him, can be the one to mend, heal, strengthen, and purify those in such tragic situations. Turn to Him. RUN to Him, and repent and forgive. 

I have a story from the Book of Mormon that I think explains it best. 

In Alma we read of the Strippling Warriors. 2000 young men going to war and all surviving when statistically none should have. We are taught and shown that it is because of the teachings of the their mothers about faith and God. I wish to add, it is also because of the covenants which their fathers have kept. 

The young men's fathers were skilled in war. They fought long and hard throughout their lives and many had lost their lives. Through a series of events, they covenanted (promised ) with God that they will no longer pick up their weapons and battle. Years later they find themselves in a situation where war was needed. Yet due to the Fathers keeping their covenant not to battle, and due to the mothers teaching the sons, the Fathers sent their sons to battle praying that their boys would be brought home safe.

Let us make and keep our covenants/promise with God. Stay away from anything that will tempt you to break such a sacred promise. and God will protect you and your family as you do so. Let us teach our children the importance of fidelity and the difference between love and lust.  

Elder Holland gave a beautiful talk on this that I encourage all to read "Place no more for the enemy in my soul." 

I believe in Miracles. I believe in more than 2nd chances. I believe in repentance. I believe in forgiveness. I believe in marriage and children. and I believe in covenants. 

I am grateful for my parents and grandparents for teaching me the importance and power of keeping covenants. let us be one with Christ. 

In the name of the Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ Amen

Sister P.

3/6/17 Gratitude

Oh my what did I do this week? hmmm....I'm pressed for time as well so this will be short and sweet. 

1. the pics I set are from an old abandoned water park (this water park was real intense) and is now owned by a member and he let us play flour ball throughout the whole park! It was fun and yes we did win:) Shauna this park would be PERFECT for photos:) you would love it! I could have spent hours there!

2. Looking at last week, we did exchanges on Tuesday. I took this sweet sister who is on her second transfer now and she told me that she never done her own tract approach. I was shocked, I guess her companion always talks to the people. So we did tracting and she finally did her first tract approach and it went great! I was super proud of her:)

3. On Thursday we visited this returning less active, she asked for a priesthood blessing so we brought 2 members with us. I took notes during her blessing,  she is going through a lot and we wanted to have her keep that blessing close and read it often. Well I wrote the entire blessing out before we left her home and gave it to her. As I was writing the blessing I got this feeling of gratitude. there was my gratitude and someone elses gratitude. I was grateful for this opportunity to read and write such a beautiful divine given blessing. It was perfect, and my imperfect eyes were beholding it. I got this second wave of gratitude from an angel you could say, or the spirit of God, really, someone out there was happy the work we were doing with this beautiful woman and this blessing would carry her through. The next day she went to court, and before her trial she read and reread her blessing, found great comfort and won the case. She came to church and she is relying on her Lord. 

That's all I'm gonna share for now though many more beautiful things did happen!

Love yall!

Sister Pollard  

2/27/17 1 hour means 1 hour keep your promises/covenants

Hey Everyone! 

This last week was as great as the previous one:) but in all honesty The mission is just full of "Good Times" 

Some Bomb Highlights

We will start with tracting. I was convinced that tracting was not effective in this area. so I didn't do it. Well after much prayer, and turning of my heart, and desperation, and due to training I decided that tracting is important. But it needed to be inspired obviously. So we made this goal one day, to tract this street for 1 hour. we knock doors, we talk to people. Some good, some better, some don't answer. Nothing crazy. We simmer down to having 6 minutes left. I was ready to say, "We did good, lets get on our bikes and carry on" and then I had a thought "1 hour means 1 hour, not 54 minutes." I'm glad I listened to that prompting. My companion and I knock on the next door, and a lady wanting to learn more about our church answers the door. We talk to her for 30 minutes, She took a Book of Mormon, and we are seeing her again this Thursday. 1 hour means 1 hour. I later thought to myself about that. 6 minutes is not that much time or worth to us, but to the King, that has infinite time, He treasures those 6 minutes. So I remind myself. This isn't my time, this is His time. 1 hour means 1 hour. 

On Friday we had our Ward Missionary Game Night:) We started this last month, and at least once month we have a game night for ward members to bring their friends too.  We play volleyball on the court, and all sorts of board games and card games on the stage. Well in January we had a good turnout. So we had our hopes high:) Throughout February we told everyone about game night and encouraged everyone to come. As it got closer and closer, we got more and more nervous; we were just praying that it would be a success. And yes, yes it was! More members came then before, and the youth brought friends! SUCCESS! Volley ball was a big hit. the food was simple and good. everyone had a game to play or a friend to talk to and the children were rolling in the hallways:) That was Friday. This weekend, we had Stake Conference, so after the games were played and the volleyball net was taken down, everyone helped setting up chairs for the conference. Like a....little mini service project. Anywho it was a big hit. and now sis berry and I are talking about mixing things up with game night, like have it be a Pajama party, or basketball, or like a dance type of deal. dunno...we got a good month to think about it:)

Stake Conference was great! In the Book of Mormon, Nephi talks about how the spirit of the Lord took him on a high mountain? (1Nephi 11:1) That's how I felt. The adult session was spectacular. there was a talk on temples, a recent convert spoke, then the member of the seventy talked about missionary work and charity. Side note: President Loveland has encouraged the mission to "set dates" with the members, this date is the date in which they will have someone prepared to learn about the gospel in their home. So we have been doing that since around Christmas, well this general authority (i forgot his name. we will call him Elder) said that he hated that challenge. When Elder said that, President Lovelands face was in shock. I swear he was gonna have a heart attack. But then Elder went on to say how the challenge is hard and difficult, (which it can be) but then he talked about the goodness that comes from it. and how good it will do for the members and missionaries, so in the long run he supported it:) and it was good for the member to hear that.

Some big take aaways from the conference I'd like to share are:

-We can choose to serve others, share the gospel, and keep the commandments because we love the Savior. But better, we serve others, share the gospel, and keep the commandments because we love as the Savior loves. That's Charity.

-GO TO THE TEMPLE REGULARLY! and dont let anything keep you from it:)

-The Book of Mormon gives us the opportunity to have an experience with Diety

The Coolest thing though was during the talks of the converts. I could not help but think of those that I helped enter into the waters of baptism. and I got an email today from an investigator from a previous area inviting me to her baptism. I thought of them and their strong testimonies and how they truly have brought me that joy that can only be felt as you "bring many souls" to Christ.

That's all I will leave with ya'll today:) Thanks for the prayer. I do feel them. I hope you feel mine for you as well. Thanks for the support and testimonies:)

I love my Savior. I will serve Him and build His kingdom to the best of my ability, with where I am and with what I got. I pray that you will too!

Love

Sister Pollard

2/20/17 Clicken Heels

HEY YA'LL!

Have you ever been so happy that you clicked your heels?? Or you feel so lucky that you click your heels like a little grinning leprechaun? No joke....we have been heel clickin for this whole week. 

Im not going into too much depth with it all, but lets just say we have had high spirits intense lessons and members doing more missionary work. We have walked into some pretty dangerous streets, did some good ole tracting, lot more bike riding. and better preparing:)

So heres some crazy thing.....we went to see a member that lived on Kathrine Rd. Shortly after we left, we got a media referral for someone living also on Kathrine Rd. no biggie. But then it happens again. We found ourself on Pennsylvania rd (not a safe street). After we left we decided that, that place wont be the best to be at night. Well an hour or so later we get another media referral for someone that lives on Pennsylvania rd. Lucikly they wanted to meet in the day. So now I'm thinking "hmmm anytime we step on a Rd. that we have previously stepped on, somehow we get a media referral. COMPANION! WE ARE WALKING EVERYWHERE!" hahaha we shall see how that goes!

Sad Story:( remember V........? I haven't said much about her. Well we go to her house, no answer "weird" we thought she is always home. There was this odd feeling there too, well we keep trying. one day we stopped by and it looked like someone took a hammer to her railing. So then we got really nervous for her. Then she finally returned our calls. Saying that she has moved,  and that's all we know. Weird, we thought, so now the hunt is on! Trying to find where she moved and if her and her girls are okay. Crazy. 

Ive learned a lot this week. but this thought keeps coming to my mind so I'll share it with ya'll. One of the things I've learned is the importance in my conduct and example. Especially for my trainee. She watches me closely, taking note of every word and every move. This past week I feel like I've often found myself in situations that are to test my leadership conduct. When it came to investigators criticizing us, talking to all different types of people, my response to inappropriate language thrown at us on the street, how well I read my scriptures, saying the right thing at the right time, when instructing the zone,  remembering the basics and so on and so forth. But here's the truth to it all. I don't know how to do any of that. But in all situations and more I feel a greater more divine spirit beside me. Teaching me the right ways, speaking the right words. Everything that I do and will do cannot be done right without my Savior. He is the Master of it all. And I feel so blessed to be one of His students. 

I honestly just want to testify of my Savior. Yes wonderful things have been happening, it's not because of me. God Lives. And God So loved you that He gave His Only Begotten Son for you. Jesus Christ gives me truth, strength, peace, comfort, joy. This world is going to be beaten by it's own destruction. But we are not of the world. We do not follow the ways of the world. We follow ETERNAL truths and principles that will bring us peace and joy in this life, eternal life in the one to come. And this is only possible and the only way through Jesus Christ Himself. 

In His Beloved Name, Amen

Sister Pollard

2/13/17 #blessingsofmembers

Hey yall! 

I hope you ya'll had a good week like I did:):):):)

First off thanks for the letters from Kyla and Krissi!

So some bomb stuff went down and I did a lot better job remembering them:)

Monday: we had dinner with these great members! They invited a less active over to join us as well:) then after dinner they put on the movie "The Testaments" for us all to watch. It was really sweet of them. #blessingsofmembers

After that we visited our investigator V........ We really stressed the importance of the Book of Mormon. We then had her write down a question that she wanted answered from God. We read the Book of Mormon for her to find that answer:) It was really neat! I know that asking questions then reading The Book of Mormon for answers really does work. Two things could happen 1. You receive your answer 2. You receive the comfort and peace of not having an answer:) "All things work out for good for those who love God"

Tuesday: This day I went to Bentonville to do Exchanges with the AP Sisters, and I was so happy for it to be with SISTER HADLEY! My MTC companion. we had a good time:)

Wednesday: We had dinner with this really really cute old couple who are still in love with one another. They live in this humble home and went "all out" for us. All I could think was "they are doing things right." #examplesofmembers

Thursday: BOMB! dinner (again). Get this, a great missionary minded member signed up to feed us dinner. But something came up and they couldnt feed us. Well she talks to the less active family and asks them if they would feed us and she would buy the food. It worked out great! She bought Olive Garden and we got to get to know this less active family that we have been trying to get a hold of for a long time! WELL we now have FHE with the family tonight too:) #blessingsofmembers

 Friday: was a brain dead day. hahahahaha 

Saturday: WE BIKED TODAY! LIKE A LOT! We were teaching these cute kids about God. Well one of them was so amazed that God knows everything and he has power to do anything. His little 8 year old mind had a hard time grasping that:) 

Sunday: this was a good day, a day always needed, but a sad day because V......... didn't come to church! We were devastated and went to her house afterwards. She claims that her alarm never went off and she slept till 8:30:( After we talked for awhile, she brought up baptism. ya, so cool, she is quitting smoking now and planning on going to addiction recovery program. This Sunday she will make it to church. we can see her true desire. She is incredible. words can't even describe how proud I am of her even though she hasn't made it to church yet. She has come a long ways from when we first met her:) all is well. 

TODAY! we took some pictures on main street in Joplin. and I got my haircut. I decided I like it shorter:) not a pixie but maybe soon, trying something new:) 

IT was a good week and I love being a missionary. I have a great companion. she is sweet and funny and we are buds. I hope yall have a great valentines day tomorrow! and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SIENNA! 

Love,

Sister Pollard

2-1-17 Game Night

Crazy times happening in Joplin....where does one begin?

So we had this stellar worldwide missionary broadcast. Talked a lot of good stuff about teaching the gospel. Then they made changes to our schedule. Nothing to drastic, we still get up at 6:30 and go to bed at 10:30 but the order of things are different and the missionary chooses more of what they do with their time. it's kinda nice:)

On Thursday my companion got real sick again. so did a lot of deep cleaning again and studies.

Friday we had our very first WARD GAME NIGHT! We played volley ball and board/card games at the church. it's a missionary opportunity so everyone invited to bring someone. But it was the first time so not a lot of nonmembers were there but there were a lot of members there showing their support! It was a success, we decided to do it 1 month until we see more progression in it. it was fun:) my volleyball skills are improving!

So Saturday we saw some less active families in hopes of helping them coming to church the next day. AND IT WORKED. 3 Less actives families came! (2 of which hasn't been in years) you should have seen the look on bishops face! He was shocked, it was really amazing. Since it was the 5th Sunday we focused on missionary work, and our ward mission leader told us to bring 150 copies of the Book of Mormon. after running around collecting all that we can from other missionaries, we finally made it to 150 by Sunday. it was a great lesson got people really excited about missionary work:)

We have this great investigating family. Mom and 2 girls, love them soo much! They were gonna come to church but they forgot to set their alarm and slept in! (church starts at 8:30). I guess this Sunday we will be giving them a wake up call! haha 

Did exchanges on Wednesday.....we biked 11 miles. oooph! We can do that here, because we have 60-70 degree weather:) haha it's beautiful!

In all honesty the big news going on right now is on transfers. 

Sister Bisch, my companion, left for home today for health concerns. I am training again so I will get my new companion tomorrow! As of now I just hang out with Sister Pond again:)

Its been a really a chaotic week with getting things collected with Sister Bisch and her going home. but I think it will be best for her. 

Well Ill tell you more about Joplin next week! Gonna be finding more people to teach!

Love yall!

LIFE IS GOOD!

Sister Pollard