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

1-2-17 Happy New Year!

HEY YALL!

I have a lot to say....and wont say it all. 

I'll share a couple and will write a letter home.

1. I dont know if yall remember Sharon and Jason. On my very first day ever in the mission field in good ol Branson Missouri, I knocked on my first door with a message to share with whomever is on the other side. It so happened to be Sharon and Jason. We shared a message, we helped them with their move, we read the Book of Mormon with them, they came to church, then moved to Springfield. We told the Elders about them and put our trust in the Lord that all will go well. 

WELL crazy update:

Remember Sister Hadley-shes my MTC companion. and Sister Martin-shes a previous companion. Well they are companions and they found SHARON AND JASON AND ARE TEACHING THEM!!! I guess the Elders never found them.. but that's okay. i was so happy. plus Sharon and Jason still remember me and Sister Pond. Soo crazy. love them lots. I know God is placing missionaries in Sharon and Jason lives because they are prepared and they need the truth. just like the rest of us. Sharon and Jason are super humble as well. so it works out:)

2. I beat this Elder at chess last p-day. hehehe that was fun! 

3. Okay!! So we were at this recent converts house for dinner, and they have a 9 year old son who is interested int the piano. The father wants him to play sooo bad, during dinner, brother F..... (the dad) asked if any of us could play piano. I said I could, and he said "after dinner I need to pick your brain apart so that my son can play." well I sat down with T........ (the 9 year old boy) and heard him play piano.....not too good. And the book he had was too difficult and confusing, so I taught him the notes. I taught him where the notes are on the piano and I taught him a portion of the basics. T....... is smart and caught on, and could play right! woo woo. it took about 20-30 minutes. His dad was soo astonished! He started pleading me to teach his son piano lessons. Promising me money and food, and clothes and a cannon and a castle (get the reference mom and Jo and Rayna??) Anywho, I reassured him that all those things are unnecessary and inappropriate. But that I  would be happy to do it. I would just need to get permission. So I go about asking my zone leaders, and they said no for certain reasons. I told brother  F....... and at church we saw him and we was so heartbroken, and said that T......... is heartbroken. I felt sooo bad. Then he went talking to the zone leaders and the zone leaders tried to explain but brother F........ is determined. So Zone leaders are asking. But if all else fails, they did say that if I do it on p-day, that would be okay.....I want to do it soo bad. but once I leave the area.....I cant teach T........ anymore. so praying about it. But T......... did call me his Piano Mama. cutest thing ever

4. Gave a talk in church yesterday at the last minute. was suppose to be a 5-10 min on the 1st vision....ya I gave a 20-30 min sermon......hahha it was great! I love speaking too much. 

I'll write a letter home about some  great things:) love yall so much!!

hope you sent some worthy New Year Resolutions! I'll share mine in a letter!

sorry to keep this.....this hahah

Love ya! Love the Lord!

Sister Pollard