8/22/16 The field is ready for harvest

HEY HEY HEY!

Sis Rish and I said our goodbyes and had our cries. But Sis Friel is my new companion and she is wonderful! is always happy and laughing and that makes things real good. She has been out 14 months and I'm ready to learn soooo much from her!

Lots of tender  mercies and good stuff....

When we first got into the area we were teaching bout 9 lessons a week (which is low for this mission) it was crazy one week we are at 7 total lessons. Then the next week and the next 5 weeks we doubled it,  hitting between 14-17 lessons! Like it was a miracle and members are crazy cool in helping us. We were having a bout 60 people at church a week and now (probably due to school starting) we are pushing 90+ which is exciting! Hopefully now we can get our own builing instead of meeting in another church hahaha. It's all good actually.

Other cool miracles?

Our returning member told us he wants to work toward the priesthood. Had the word of wisdom lesson and he gave us his cigarettes and wants us to do the stop smoking workshop with him tomorrow! Soooo cool! I love that kid.

We got a few more referrals and we are so excited for this specific one. We called her, but she texted us later and said she would be happy to meet on Wednesday at 7. Like woa! She just wants to sit down with us:) it usually takes us a little more nagging and persist-ency to get someone to agree that we are not trying to curse them.

What else?

One of our other returning members is trying to find a testimony and truth in the Book of Mormon but wouldn't read it! Ugh! Until last week:) he needed some comfort and some hope and understanding, so we gave him about 3 chapters from the Book of Mormon and all he had to choose was to read one. Next day at institute, we were talking about something and he commented saying "That sounds a lot like what is taught in Mosiah 4" HE READ IT HE READ IT! I nearly fell out of my chair because of how happy I was:)

This week we will be on the University of Tulsa campus with a booth for the activities fair for the students, im really really excited:) and things are going great!

I've made it a goal to complete the Book of Mormon and New Testament by my birthday. and so far....I'm glad that my birthday is in December haha.

Oh i just remembered!!!!!!

Sis Friel and I are making dinner in the apartment. and we get this knock on our door. 'Strange, no one knows we live here' I thought it was a package or a pizza, but no, its this guy who is about 25 in street clothes inviting us to bible study! I was all "WHAT?! yes!" but the more we talked with him some strange things came up. He knows about the book of Mormon but has never read it or prayed about it. Well we sat down and opened the scriptures and kinda did our own bible study right there. The main thing that he told us is that Christ has already come. He came in 1948 and we are waiting for something else. My first reaction was "Oh man! I missed it!!" Of course we know that Christ has not returned yet. We know that the time is close so we need to repent now and prepare the way for him. Buy anywho it was a way interesting 30 minute discussion and kinda some passive aggressive bible bashing and he was very hesitant about giving us the address to the church where they study the bible. but we got it:) Haven't gone yet.  But it was a really cool experience but saddens me when people are deceived. and I know many think that I am deceived.

People think that I've fallen for the false prophets, and that I have lost my faith or I'm in a cult or possessed by the devil, and in the moments when you're.....rejected because of your belief you tend to question it. You ask for another confirmation so that you know again what it true, or you ask how to help them know what is true. "Spiritual Questions needs Spiritual Answers from God." I think of 1 Nephi chapter 15: 11. It talks about how when we need answers from God (ex. is the Book of Mormon true? Is Joseph Smith your prophet? Is there a God that loves me? Does my life have purpose? Can I live with my family again? and more) Then you need to have faith in your Savior. you can show that faith by keeping his commandments (If you don't know the commandments ask the missionaries) and believe that you will receive answers. Because you will. He will answer you because he loves you and out of everyone on this earth He does not want you to be deceived or lost.

I know what is true, not everything, but I know the power in prayer. God will answer prayers. I know that he loves ALL his children. I know that Joseph Smith saw and talked with God and His Son and he lived his life as a Man of God and was His prophet. I know the Book of Mormon to be another Testament of Christ. Even though I grew up in a Christian home, I did not come to know Christ to be my Savior until I read the Book of Mormon. I love church. it is a church when I partake of the sacrament when I ponder and hold all these things in my heart.

T

his is my testimony and my faith and what keeps me going in my life. Christ Lives. My Redeemer, Savior, and Friend Lives. I pray that you too might come to know that truth and feel that joy and hope and peace that comes from such a belief:)

In His name, Jesus Christ, Amen

Sister Pollard

8/1/16 Two sticks of Joseph

Wow so much has happened this week and I have sooo much to do so this will probably be short....ish....it be better if I sent a letter home with all the cool stories....I might do that

BUT

Wednesday-had interviews with Mission President and visited with his wife. Got a lot of good advice and help and.....we probably be riding the bus now:) soooo excited.

Thursday-Friday I want on exchanges with my sister training leader, Sister Benites, who Is incredible! We had a great time teaching together and talking. I really enjoyed it.

Saturday we got 2 new investigators who are just the cutest couple!!! I adore them soo much and we are seeing them again this Thursday I'm so excited.

Sunday was a good day as always

And today we went bowling with the elders and a couple of our members took us out to eat!

Honestly this has been a great week. It started off real rough and I mean....REALLY ROUGH. But I couldn't even tell you what happened, but things are going great! The branch is improving. members are getting involved, we have more investigators. and more people to teach.

I'll just tell you one of my favorite experiences....

It's about this kid, we are going to call him Jack even though that isn't his real name. Jack moved to Oklahoma not too long ago, but he and his mom have been less active for a few years now. His dad isn't a member and he lives in another state. We go see Jack and get the scoop on where he is at spiritually. He is a wonderful guy, who has "forgotten" his testimony. Well that morning during studies I was reading 1 Nephi 1, when Lehi prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem. I thought "if Jerusalem was destroyed, where in the bible does it talk about it?" And so my search began, and of course it is there (2 kings 25) and I was really really really excited, so we showed that to Jack. The spirit was there, Jacks testimony was brought back to remembrance and now he is coming back, getting his mom and called his dad and told him about the Book of Mormon. I had a lovely chat with him on Sunday about all of it. He got a new Book of Mormon (since he lost his) and is eager to learn more. Really intelligent kid, and is trying hard to share the gospel with his family.

Anywho! I love the Book of Mormon and the Bible. I have been on a real Bible kick this week and I couldn't tell you everything but I will tell you that the Bible is very very important. But without the Book of Mormon, it is confusing. Thank goodness for modern day revelation as well.

Love you all! probably write mom and dad a letter soon:)

Love

sister Pollard

7/25/16 Someone Proposed to Me!

This week was great!

Tuesday we taught this Less active she is 19 and is struggling, feeling wanted and loved. Really she started losing hope in God, in life, and in herself, which breaks my heart. We showed her the Like a Broken Vessel video and within second tears where streaming down her face because those feelings describe what she has been feeling perfectly. But near the end of the video it talks about gaining hope. So her tears turned into tears of joy, knowing that there is a way. We then talked for a bit and shed a few more tears. and by the end of our conversation her whole countenance changed. She had a light about her. One of faith and hope, she started believing that there is a God and is ready to make the changes to come closer to her savior. I love her soo much! She just needed to know that she isn't given up on:) most of us needs to be reminded of that.

Sister Rish either pulled a muscle in her foot or spranged her ankle so that has beeen fun adjusting to haha. She also had her 20th birthday on July 21 so we celebrated:) and there are now 2 cakes and icecream in our house.....oh vay.

Friday we were doing service for the Methodist church. We do this every Friday. we make this food orders and deliver them to certain people. We then leave a message with them and if they are interested send their info to the elders as referrals. It is a great resource. So we are on our last delivery, and we walk up to the apartment door (passing other doors) to get the lady to sign the paper, as we are passing these other doors this older man (40ish) opens his door and walks out in his underwear! And tries to talk to us but we had a hard time understanding him. Then we felt the feeling "keep walking." so we just headed on, got the lady to sign then walked back to the car to get the food. and AGAIN this older man comes out and stares at us, no big deal I tell myself. just grab the pepper spray from the car and we will be good. We get the food, haul it up to the ladies house and he just stands outside his door watching and smiling at us (clearly he was not all there in his mind). We had a lovely discussion with the lady about the Book of Mormon and on our way back to our car to leave the man interferes into my path and shows me this ring (it looks like a copper diy ring) I, trying to be polite, say "oh that's pretty." He then gets down on one knee and holds the ring up to me.....I stuck out my hand and firmly said "No." and walked away.  That is not at all how I wanted to be proposed to (by a man in his boxers who I don't know with a copper ring) and I was hoping that my first proposal I would say yes....oh well. we had a good laugh about it. 

Friday Night and Saturday was our YSA Conference. We were able to go and meet lots of new people:):):) which always makes me happy and stressed out but its all good haha, and it was enjoyable. We didn't stay for the whole thing, we left taught a few lessons all that good stuff. 

Sunday we visited with this cute girl who just moved into her dads. She was very hesitant about coming to the conference but she came, but she has been struggling for  a little bit. We pulled up to her apartment and her dad came out, ready to head to church when he saw us. He stopped and talked to us thanking us for visiting his daughter he walked away but then turned around back to us and with tears in his eyes, he told us that he knew that we were inspired to help his daughter. It was such a tender moment, we had a lovely talk with her and got to know her better. She shared with us her fav scripture from the Book of Mormon. it was great talking with her. and it was great seeing her fathers faith. He has such great faith. 

With that I want to share with you one of my favorite things. It is when I see people being touched by the spirit. When they are moved by the spirit of God. I can't begin to explain to you my love and desire for the spirit, and how important it is. But whenever I see someone, whos heart is warm, or tears fill their eyes, I am reminded of whos work I am doing, and who is in control, which is the most comforting thing ever. I love this gospel. I love the spirit. I thank My Lord for giving us such a precious gift. In the Name of my Lord and my Savior Jesus Christ Amen

Sister Pollard