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

1/23/17 Great Week

HEY YALL! 

Had a good week this week. In fact for some reason I've been in such a good mood that I've been singing the past 48 hours. Just hymns that come into my mind! 

Why was it so good? ill tell you

-Found 3 new investigators.

- Went on exchange with the Sister Training Leader Leader. (they are like the AP SISTERS) and it happened to be SISTER POND, my trainer:) so we had a good ole time together! I love her so much!

-Had a movie night with this part member family. they are warming up to us more. and are more receptive to the gospel so that's really good:)

-On Saturday however, Sis Bisch was sick unexpectedly. so she slept all day and I did more studies and some major deep cleaning on our apartment. Cleaning is a good stress reliever for me so it all worked out. also called a bunch of former investigators in our area book to see if we could teach them again. they said no. but that's okay. there is still a bunch more to call:)

-Sunday we had a great day at church. We went to the young women's this time and that was a blessing in itself. 

-But my favorite was that night. We visited this member and his family. They are going through some changes in their life and we were able to bring them comfort and testify of good things to come. I love this family even more than before. and this morning he texted us saying how grateful they were for us and that we can go to them anytime and for anything. I was touched and felt at home with them:)

-OH! Got a wonderful package from my mom!! thanks so much! came at good timing too! LOVE IT!

Thanks so much yall! I love the Gospel and I love the people here who do everything they can to live the gospel:) 

Have a great week!

Sister Pollard

Pictures:

Sister Pond and I being companions again! love her so much!

Drove past an abandoned house, so of course we pulled over and took pictures:)

1-16-17 Roller Coaster

Hey Yall!

This week has been a roller coaster. ups and downs, and some throwing up. (luckily not on my part).

We were driving to see someone, and we were turning left in an intersection when a car broke down in the middle of the intersection. Luckily they were off to the side, and before we could help we were forced to turn, so we prayed that someone would help her. Well the person we wanted to see wasn't available, so we back through that intersection to visit someone else. The car broken down somehow made its way to an open parking lot. We thought "good! she is safe" then we be like "and she is trapped.......maybe they could use some company!" We made our way through the parking lot to her. offered our help but she reassured us that help is on the way. So we took out a Book of Mormon, explained who we were and gave her the book. She gladly took it, telling us that she has been wanting to learn more about the Mormon Church! that was pretty cool!! 

On Tuesday we were on exchanges. I took a sister and worked in Joplin while my companion worked in another area. We had an amazing time! we talked with so many people. Taught the most lessons we have ever taught in the area. WOO HOO! 

But the coolest thing happened. Wednesday morning. First off, this sister confessed to me that she knows the church is true, she knows the power in the Book of Mormon but her faith isn't dominant well I gave her my comforting words and council to what I know. But really what she needed is an experience. Blessings of Wednesday morning.....we went to do service, and doing service on a Wednesday was definitely led by the Lord. But we were folding clothes with this woman I've never met, D....... we strike up conversation and of course the church came up. We told her a lot in brief sentence and really took hold of her attention. We then offered her a Book of Mormon. she said she would glad to have one. We gave her one just before we left. We said a prayer with her, and in the prayer the spirit prompted us, "Read Moroni 10:3-5 with her." I'm thinking "I'm hungry, its cold. shes got the book. we will read it next time." but when the prayer was over, the prompting came again "Read Moroni 10:3-5 with her." I couldn't avoid it that time. We read the scripture with her, her eyes filled with tears and she began to cry. We asked her what she thought she said "I've been lost." then we asked her how she felt and she said while holding up the Book of Mormon "BLESSED." she then goes on to say that she has strayed from Gods path and "this" (the book) is her way back. tears filled my eyes and my companions. We talked and hugged with D........a little more. She is beautiful. on our way out my companion turned to me and said "that was so cool. I have never seen anything like that before. I feel the spirit and it is too big for me. its true." The Lords hand was in all of this. and now that special sister has a dominant faith:)

We had some other great experiences. Even with members! Building their faith to share the gospel. One member shared the concern that she doesn't know how to take rejection, and the fact that we are out being rejected everyday is admirable. The thought came to our mind and we shared with her why we could take so much rejection and still push forward "Every morning, at 8 am. We kneel down to pray. Then, EVERY MORNING, we read the Book of Mormon. That Book is a powerful book. and if you read it every day, with a sincere study and pondering, you will not fear or be discouraged by rejection. because you know it is true."  

We did lots of walking this week too! My legs ache a little. We had a couple of ice storms but no damage. and ate good food. 

last thing:

About the picture. In may of 2011 Joplin got hit with a tornado. It did more damage then any other tornado I believe. Even to this day people are still recovering from it. Well while they were rebuilding Joplin they placed these giant metal butterflies all around to symbolize the new birth or Joplin. they are really stunning and bring hope to the people here:)

Love you all soo much! Thank you for the many prayers. I'm learning so much on my mission more than I though I would. I feel very blessed. and humbled. continue to read the Book of Mormon!

Love

Sister Pollard