Warm Hugs From Junction - Feb. 23, 2015

So this was SUCH a long week!

To start off Sister Moffat and I spend most of Tuesday Saying goodbye to people. It was SO hard. I seriously loved Rolling Hills Wichita and am going to miss the ward more than anything. They were like family. It was interesting because Sister Moffat and I felt like we had a hard time getting the work done that was expected from our leaders, and staying focused and other things. But as we were leaving and saying goodbye it was apparent that we left an impact on the people there. The Lord was inspired in putting us together, not for the reasons we thought, but for some much greater. I've never felt more like I was leaving home than I did with this last area. The gospel of Jesus Christ isn't about numbers. It's about reaching out and touching peoples lives. I love being a missionary. 

Ok so Junction is FANTASTIC!! I tell ya! I am LOVING IT! The members here are hilarious. So Junction city is a military town, and I'm having to learn all the lingo. It's way fun. We get to go "on base" all the time. I just think that sounds cool. It's not really as cool as it sounds, but it sounds cool. We cover a Ward and a branch. It really is like 2 wards, but they keep one as a branch in case all the men deploy and there aren't any priesthood holders left. So it gets confusing sometimes. Plus we're back to 6 HOURS OF CHURCH! But it's more like 8 because of meetings. We're basically there from 7am-5pmwith a lunch break. I'm a full time church goer. 

So funny story. We were getting Subway for lunch and just as we were leaving this Hispanic man mumbled something outside of the door way. I said HELLO!! :D how are you? He mumbled some more in spanish and I felt like he was about to ask for the food in my hands. ehh.... Sorry I don't know Spanish. he says, I'm not speaking spanish. Some more mumbled words and says wait I don't know English. He was Higher than the stars. He could barely stand. He walked closer to me and asked my name as he gave me a hug. "ahhh... Ah I'm sister herrin, and those Boys inside the store speak Spanish! BYE!" That's right referrals for the Elders. They're meeting with him later this week. You're welcome.

Other funny story, one of the Elders has a crippled arm and he likes to show it off. Well we lead  them through this maize of a trailer park to another referral that we had for them. We park outside and watch them walk up to the door to see if they'll get in. PLOT TWIST. Giant scary dog on sitting in front of the door. He was not happy with our Elders. The one Elder reached out is little gimpy arm and tried to soothe the dog but it was not having it! He was like here take this one! I don't use it anyways! Oh man it was so funny! We were dying!!!! I don't know, maybe you just had to have been there. 

We have a lot of great people to teach and I am so excited to GET TO WORK! We have a lot to do here but I pray every day that the Lord can lead us to those who are ready. I hope you all have a great week and stay out of trouble!!! :) 

Love,

Sister Herrin

My dear sweet Belinda. So hard to say goodbye! But it really is just a see you later. I swear as soon as I buy my own house I'm going to make sure that I have an extra room for this lady right here. Mom she says to not mind her make up, cuz she had been crying :) she's so funny

I'm going to Junk Town Feb. 16, 2015

Hi. It's me. Sister Herrin. And.... I'm being transferred to Junction City Kansas. Wooooo. I'm so excited that I just can't hide it. Junction City's right under Manhattan so I'll be dying in the Manhattan Zone. I'm basically being transferred to my death. Missionary death folks, it's ok.

Also there getting rid of Sisters in Rolling Hills. So Sister Moffat and I are both leaving, and there won't be anyone to take care of our lady investigators. Only sinky Elders. How did they do it back in the day without as many sisters? We're losing more and more sisters each transfer and they're having to close down a lot of areas because of it. Members are SO sad :( And Belinda... It's going to be SOOO hard to leave that lady :(  I guess you could say sister Moffat and I are a little sad about the whole thing. She gets to go to Topeka. I'm kind of jealous. 

I'm going to miss this girl.

Serisous. Sister Moffat and I are like sisters. The other day we went to a chili cook off with some members who's a professor at friends university and one of the college girls asks, Are you guys sisters? I'm like YES WE"RE SISTERS!!! Have you seen sisters like us before? Then Sister Moffat chimes in, Oh we're not related. And the girl was like oh, well you look like you could be. So close.

Also last night we were playing a card game and laughing so hard. There was some dumping of water and use of an ironing board and lets just say things got a little silly. And the neighbors upstairs were not happy. :) 

My new companion is going to be sister palmer. I have no idea who she is so this will be fun :)

But we had such a good week!!! MIRACLE WEEK!!! This one lady that we've been trying to contact for weeks named sherry was finally home and we got to talking about family history work. We were like yeah our church is way into that stuff! We even have a family history center that we can visit sometime with you! She was like ok I'll go change and tell my husband where I'm going! We like, yeah ok great! (do we have keys to it? quick call the elders!) But it all worked out and we got her an account and set her right up!!! We hope that the elders continue working with that family. The husband has been taught all the lessons and is in the middle of Mosiah. He really likes the church and believes it's true, he just has social anxiety and won't come without his wife. So he straight up told us that sherry was the key to getting the family there. And they're taking sisters out. So yeah.... It's ok. The Lord knows that family and will do what's best for them :)

We're having dinner with Belinda tonight. And tomorrow we're going to make the rounds to say goodbye to everyone. We LOVE the members of this ward. This is my ward family. 

I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for letting me come to Kansas to meet so many wonderful people. I have seen Christ in the people here. He loves his children and will bless the lives of those who love him and keep his commandments. Let us all continue to be faithful and let him shine through our own countenance. I love you all!!! :)

-Sister Herrin 

Bet you weren't expecting This - Feb. 9, 2015

So we had a good week! Well depending on who you ask but I thought it was alright :) I know I've been a slacking in letters but I'm running out of things to say! Every single person in my family sent me an email today. THAT NEVER HAPPENS! So I was pretty busy so say the least. I LOVE my family! 

We met a really nice Catholic family this week :) Chirs, Yamina, and Emanuel :) All under the age of 13. We still haven't talked to the parents and I'm kind of scared to. 

hmmmm.

 I found this way funny picture from June. It was early. And I was showing off my chubby face to the sisters. Aren't you glad we're friends? it's a gem.

Blessed Underwear - 2/2/2015

Hi! So yeah this week ROCKED!!!! We had a super awesome training from our AP's who helped to give a new perspective to things. They got us way pumped for the work. I had a pretty great interview with Prez and basically he made me feel a heap a lot better. So Life is good! God is good! :) 

We still haven't found any solid new investigators. All the people that we are finding are turning out to be pretty flakey and it's hard to help them see how awesome the gospel is. But we had a SUPER awesome lesson with Belinda :) She asked us about "The blessed underwear" :) we were like, yeah? Who told you about that Belinda? haha! She said that there was a girl at work who asked her about being a Mormon and then told her about some Elders who would go over to her house everyday to hide out and watch TV. Well they told this lady about garments I guess and then she asked Belinda about it. Well you know what our girl did? She went straight to us :) We told her all about them and she almost started to cry. She thinks they sound so special! And they are! We have a temple trip on the 20th of February (2 days after next transfers. pray that I'll stay) and we're prepping Belinda for it. She says she feels so unworthy because she just doesn't KNOW a whole lot about the church still. We stressed the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel (faith, repentance, Baptism, Holy Ghost, Endure to the End) and said, Belinda all our lives we try to be faithful to and remember these 5 things. You understand them and got them down! Because really she does, she amazes us everyday!!! She felt a lot better and we just can not wait so see that lady in the temple!!! She is so special to me :)

Alright I'm out of time again but really that's the best part of the week. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!! I love KANSAS! and I LOVE JESUS!!!!

 

Have a good week!!!

-Sister Herrin

January Slums - Jan. 26, 2014

This week has been SO slow. Like last week was FOREVER ago! I don't even really know what to tell about. We biked our little booties off. Then we walked a TON. The end ok love you bye!

Just kidding. We had some cool stuff happen. Like, I ALMOST GOT RAN OVER! There was no side walk. We were biking on a 4 lane road. The left lane was completely open! But no, the car had to be in my lane! I swear he was so close to me that the side mirror brushed my elbow! Thank heavens for people who pray for the missionaries!

So there's this cat that loves me. Her name is Miss Cat and her Indian name is "Peaks through Flowers" Every time we go over to Phyllis Henderson's house Miss Cat falls asleep on me. She won't got to Sister Moffat... I tell you, the aminals love me!

Ok really I don't know what else to say! We didn't have any investigators at church and it was a hard week for finding. But it's Monday! It's a brand new week! So we're gonna work and work and pray and work :) We're making a sticker chart to help us be more focused and remember all the things we need to do. $LifeSkills. $Cash tags are the new #hash tags. Our Zone thinks they're so cool :)

Ok have a good week!!!!!!!!!

Love Sister Herrin

Do it Anyways!

HEEELLLLLLOOOOOO! HI! Happy Martin King Day! WE HAD SUCH A GOOD WEEK!!!! It wasn't perfect by any means because we aren't in any way perfect, but THE LORD LOVES US!!!! 

So miracle. I have such a hard time feeling excited about knocking on doors. Seriously stresses me out to the max. Mom remember that Old lady I gave an Avon ad to that yelled at me when I was like not even 5? but I do it because I love the Lord. Anywho I'm making excuses in my head of other things we could be doing and Sister Moffat's just like ok lets go try this former investigator! I let her lead it :) And guess what? This really nice lady answered and was super cute and nice and wanted us to come back again! Her name is Andrea and she's like in her late 20's? She lives in the ghetto but doesn't act like it. She has two of those silver arm crutches and seems to be disabled but she's very open! It was so funny the change that I felt! I get so worked up about nothing all the time and I know it's not a big deal, but I could never do this work without the Lord. 

Then. We went with the sister training leaders and we thrashed our area. So we just took different streets and basically tracted them. I was pretty darn not excited but it ended up being another Miracle!!! We found 2 new investigators! One was a family that we invited to be baptized at the end of January! Pretty much a great day!

Friday was rough because the family that we had just found called us and said that they weren't interested and didn't want us to come by again :( The rest of the day was a bunch of rejection and snarky not so nice folks. I was like, ok Lord I know what you're doing here. And of course at the end of the day we were getting into the car and a lady was like hey how was your day? and We just started talking like we were besties and she told us she really needed a good influence in her life. NATASHA! So the Lord will provide my friends! ENDURE TO THE END!

OK I'm out of time but I love you beauties all so much and hope you have a great week!!!

Love,
Sister Herrin

So I've been slacking on my pictures and this was from a few weeks ago, but it's a family Photo! Me, My Mama, my two babies and my Grandbaby! haha! Missions are the best!!!

I still need to write Prez 1/12/15

Well I've got 10 minutes. What a LONG P-DAY! It really is the busiest day of our week! And I feel so pulled between getting necessary stuff done, Jamming out with some Elders who drive 45 minutes just to jam, bonding with our zone playing sports, and spending time emailing :) Really it's just because I STILL don't know how to manage time. I promise that is the ONE thing that I still haven't gotten better at :) But I learned from our relief society president that our brain connectors and frontal lobe thingys don't fully develop until we're twenty five! Be patient with me until then :)

We had a pretty good week. Well the beginning was pretty rough but Saturday and Sunday were miracles. We have no one to teach now that Belinda is baptized. And Sister Moffat and I are very similar in the sense that organizing and planning are really not our strong suits. So we wasted a lot of time. Still trying though! And by the end of the week the Lord blessed us as he always does. Sometimes I feel like he tries to test us and say "Ok sisters, I trust you and am going to see if you trust me...." then we're just like, wah no please we're babies! Then he's like, "Ok fine, here you go... we'll try next week." hahaha! I don't know :) BUT.

Miracle. Belinda's granddaughter Mariah came with her to church yesterday! It was SUCH a good meeting! Belinda just LOVES church. I'm telling you, I wish you could just meet her and know how incredible this lady is. LOVE HER! But Mariah really seemed to like it and we're hoping to start working with her again :)

Ok That's all I got! But I love you all so much and really appreciate everything! Sorry I don't have time to personally respond to anyone :( But that doesn't mean I hate you I promise! 

Love,
Sister Herrin

For the Sake of Salvation

This is Belinda Lee Basinski :) Isn't she so beautiful! I'm telling you she came up out of that water just glowing! I love her so much!!! Sisters for LIFE!

So twas the night before new years eve and I really thought we had everything ready for the next day. But as it would be, I'm the WORST planner/ organizer ever. I'm telling you. Baptism morning we get a call telling us that the Sister who was making the baptism programs was sick and was not going to make it. No prob. I can make a baptismal program EASY. Ok just kidding never ask me to do that again. Luckily one of the Elders was pretty dang tech savy so he took care of it for us after much yelling frustration and tears. I was basically running around the church building like a chicken with it's head cut off. I was no help. "The sister giving the talk on the Holy Ghost isn't responding to our phone calls, I totally forgot to ask someone to play the piano, Belinda's name is spelled wrong on the programs!" So grateful for chill Elders and experienced members. Wah! :) Belinda was like, why is it that everything is so unorganized with me? I was like, honey, it's me. I'm a hot mess in general!!! hahaha! It's a good thing we're such good friends :) But I'm telling you folks, this was the most spiritual baptism I've ever been too. Just because Belinda was so prepared and so committed to the covenant she knew she was making with God. We were all crying!

She was confirmed a member yesterday and took the Sacrament for the 1st time as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints :) It was so spiritual and she is such an example to me :) I know that Heavenly Father sent me to the Rolling Hills ward of Wichita to teach this sweet lady :) I'm not lying when I say friends for life :)

Look! She's even got her "quad!" She loves that thing so much and I'm so grateful for it! 

I am so underserving. Like all the time. But the Lord loves me anyways and sees fit to bless me 10 fold. I'm really really set on rededicating myself this transfer. I've only got 3 left and I need to make the most of it! 

Well I've been on too long and my zone leader just scolded me :) heh. But I love you all so much and hope you have a great week!!!!

The After Christmas Party - one-eyed-licked-dog 12/29/2014

 LOVE MY FAMILY! Gosh it was so nice to see them all! It was funny because the members whose house I was Skyping at were like: "Wow it sounded like you were having a party in there!" I know. I laugh really loud. I was just too happy to care!!!! So good! Christmas is the BEST! But it'll be my last in Kansas. WEIRD!

So I know you're all wondering, "Sister Herrin, why haven't you talked about Belinda getting baptized yesterday?" Well my friends, it's because it didn't happen. I know. This always happens to me! BUT She is STILL GETTING BAPTIZED! Yes! And in December to help with our mission goal! Which reminds me I still need to tell President Bell. Whoops. He's cool :) So we scheduled Belinda's baptism for Sunday at 4:30 because it would be right after meetings and before dinner. Reasonable right? Well we called Belinda to confirm and it turns out that she thought she was getting baptized in the Morning before church at 8am! What? She was driving Mariah to Oklahoma City right sacrament! So we couldn't get approval from the bishop to do it that early and It was Mariah's Christmas present to go to Oklahoma so we moved the date. No big :) She's off work Wednesday the 31st so we're doing it at 2pm! We've talked to everyone, it's more organized and life is great!!! :) So it's still on!!! 

Other cool story, we saw Belinda after we pushed the date back and gave her a late Christmas present, early baptism present :) We got her a quad scripture set! And I gave her one of the Plan of Salvation Puzzles that Judy sent me! She just cried she loved them so much!!! She was SO excited to read it all and to learn all about the scriptures! SO EXCITED! She wants us to write our testimonies in the front of her scriptures at her baptism :) She's just like, I can't wait to be a Mormon! I'm telling you this woman is a walking miracle!!!! I love her so much!!! We're going to take lots pictures :)

Well I'm out of time AGAIN! 

BUT I love you all and so enjoyed Christmas! Thank you thank you thank you!!! 

Promise more for next week!!!

-Sister Herrin

Murry Christmas 12-22-2014

YAAAAAY!!!! It's 3 days 'til Christmas and boy am I STOKED!!! Really I am all set! We have our beautiful tree (notice the 'He is the Gift' cards) that we got from a member. We made sure to use ALL of the decorations that he gave us. We have our stockings (courtesy of Sister Baby Girl Moffat's Grandma) And I have SWEATER!!! Thank you Grandma Herrin! BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!!!!! Sister Moffat and I made card and everything so if I have your address you should be getting one! If not send me your address! :) along with a letter? yes? :) See how sneaky I am?

We had our mission Christmas party this week and Sister Barlocker, Sister Wheadon and I sang Mary did you Know? It was a HIT! Except we weren't super unified and the Sister playing the piano was a little choppy. But the spirit was still felt! Christmas music means so much to me this time of year. There's nothing that brings the spirit in faster than music centered on Christ.

After we had a slide show of baby pictures and had to guess which missionary it belonged to. Seeing as how there were only 2 other Red heads besides me, it wasn't too hard to guess which one was mine. We had a real good time :)

Biggest highlight this week is definitely Belinda in general. She is such an example of faith to us! She has had a hard time with money and is in a lot of debt. When we taught her the Law of Tithing she was really apprehensive. But with lots of faith and lots of prayer she committed to live it after she's baptized. Well Saturday we get a call from her telling us about how she really needed some food for her little family and she needed to make about 20 dollars that day to have money for gas to get to church as well. Her Husband Bill told her to pray for help. So on her way to work she was a praying away that somehow all of her needs would be met. She made 40$ in tips that afternoon! Business has been slow for her lately and she had been averaging about 7-15$ per afternoon. MIRACLE!!! The Lord answered her prayer! Bill even said "Belinda, just imagine the blessings you'll get after you start paying tithing!" It was such a testimony to Belinda to let her know that the Lord will take care of her. We love her SO much! and Bill and Mariah will come around soon. We just know it :) Belinda is now on date for the 28th of December! We are so so SO excited for her!

But besides Belinda we don't have anyone else that we're teaching. Finding has been really hard for us. I'm just not a very good finder in general. I'm 14 months out and I'm still afraid of talking to strangers. I think I need to study the Atonement more. But I'm working on it. I have A LOT to improve on still and satan is really trying to slow down our work.

HE"S THE WORST!

We are working with a lot of less actives and members. We have the BEST ward! I love Rolling Hills! The other day we were helping our member Sister Cluff put together Christmas presents for her kids. She is a single mother, has a full time job, two kids still at home, is going to school online, and she goes on teamups with us all the time. She's Belinda's Best friend and really reminds me so much of Mom :) So we thought we could give back and help her out a bit :) We made paper roses out of money, and I got to use my flower arranging skills and make them into bouquets  :) I forgot how to make a bow though. SO EMBARRASSING. But they turned out alright :)

Well now I'm just rambling! We are so excited for Christmas and everyone that we're working with!!! Thank you all so much for all you do and I hope you have a VERY Merry Christmas. Remember that He is the Gift. He is the why. He is the way, the light of the world :) 

SO GRATEFUL.

Love, Sister Herrin

Merry Almost Christmas 12-8-14

Wow guys. I am SO excited for Christmas! Let me tell you. Really I'm super super super excited. We have Christmas lights, and a small Christmas tree, and stockings and the whole shabam!!!! CHRISTMAS!!!! So yeah :) Check out He is the Gift at christmas.mormon.org :) So presh!

We had a stake Nativity thing and it was SO wonderful! We helped usher and ate lots of cookies! (I'm telling you, no self control) There were so many non members there and we got to meet a lot of different people :) No new investigators but still lots of fun.

I got a little sick Wednesday and had to stay in :( Still haven't gotten my flu shot (sorry prez bell)

But I've been commanded to do so and will do so :) Random: Sister Moffat's favorite word to type is onion. try it sometime. onion onion onion onion! Yeah we get along REALLY well. We're the same person. haha! Serious. Alright let me rant real quick. I LOVE Sister Moffat! I have been so blessed to have gotten along really well with all my companions! But we are so alike! Sometimes it's hard because we don't really balance each other out as well, but hey we sure have a good time! 

Well guess what? Belinda Quit smoking Saturday! We have had some really great lessons with her this week! I am so grateful for her and love her example of faith! She just says that she doesn't understand a lot but she believes it! She is really getting more than she gives herself credit for. So PRAY FOR HER! :) But sad news, Mariah (the granddaughter) doesn't want to learn anymore. :( But we're not giving up on her!!! She'll come back around I just know it!

Well fam and friends I love you so much!!! Thanks for all your prayers. I am so grateful to be the Lord's missionary and I love my Savior with all my heart!

Keep it real!

Love,

-Sister Herrin

Turkey Bowls 12-1/2014

HAPPY THANKS DAY! Do I have a story for YOU! So Thursday morning we set out to play some turkey bowl football and on our way a stay dog named Jasmine followed us. She was super sweet, and took a real liking to us. Too bad I can't afford dog food. And it's against the rules... But anyways we played a few games with a bunch of really competitive grown men and their kids. Sister Moffat and I had a fun time! The sister's from the neighboring ward joined us half way through. Just when things were getting good one of the Sisters dove wrong and landed on her knee funny. Sister Bradshaw's one of the toughest missionaries I know and boy you knew it was serious when she was moaning in pain. One of the members with us is a doctor and he said her ACL is probably torn! YIKES. So we hopped in another members car to get crutches and ice. I told her all my best stories to help distract her from the pain. So long story short the auburn hills sisters stayed the whole Thanksgiving weekend with us because we live on the ground floor and they're on the third. We'd had maybe too much fun together... :) But She's going to her doctor tomorrow to get a final verdict. REALLY hoping she doesn't have to go home!

But besides that we had a GREAT week! Turkey was real good! Pie was REAAAL good :) I've officially gained 30lbs. ANYTHING FOR THE LORD!!! But really no more sweets I have no self control. 

Also I'm out of time. I know. I'm the worst. BUT. There's an Elder who just moved into the zone who likes to write music and we're going to have a Christmas album in no time. Sooo that's what happed today. 

Ok seriously I have to go but I love you all! Belinda and Mariah are doing SO great! I stink at finding new investigators without Sister Forsgren. We have a really neat Ex communicated lady that we're working with who is SO cute! She should be getting re-baptized soon :) and I STILL don't know how to get around town. 

OK THATS IT!

LOVE YOU!