Week 9 - August 31

Hello all my wonderful people! 

Please email me about your lives! I love you all! 

Anywho, I have also officially been a missionary for three months! Time is the fastest yet slowest thing ever on the mission. But I love it, and I love how every day brings something new.

Here are a few things I wanted to highlight from this week:

- ZOCOOO (zone conference)

- Drew the refferal

- Briggs the salesbro

Zone conference:

We were lucky enough to have Elder De Fao of the Seventy and his wife come and speak to us. Their messages along with the Galland's were so powerful and revelatory. At one point in the meeting I just got so emotional realizing I was called to serve an assignment to this mission. Not necessarily Alabama, but to the Galland's. I've only been out here for a couple months, but they have seriously changed my life forever. And I say that with my whole heart. The way they live their lives, the way they receive revelation, and the way they have the Doctrine of Christ embodied in them is inspiring. The light of Jesus Christ RADIATES through them. I will forever be grateful for their examples and for helping me become more like my Savior. God KNEW I needed the Galland's in my life to deepen my own conversion to Jesus Christ. I wish you all could meet them and be in their presence.

Drew:

This guy put in a request to meet with missionaries because he actually wrote a whole college essay about our church a while ago! So, when he saw the 'meet with missionaries' ad, he wanted to basically interview us, but it actually turned into a lesson and he is now super interested after feeling the spirit with us. He is practically already a member, though, because he read up to Mosiah in the Book of Mormon before even meeting us and even knew about Dallin H. Oaks haha. He said that when he read the Book of Mormon last year he noticed how peaceful and happy he felt, and we testified to him that it is the spirit! Hopefully he will continue to want that spirit in his life, and he will get baptized! 

Briggs: 

He is from Colorado but is in Birmingham right now doing summer sales for another month. God perfectly placed him in our path because he passed us on his little scooter thing as we were outside leaving a member meal. We started chatting and he asked us a few questions about our religion and where we are from. I told him how I was from St. George and he mentioned how he actually has a friend from there that is a member! (If anyone knows a Collin Mills, lemme know) Anywho after we talked for a bit, he leaves and then five minutes later he comes back down the street and says "Wait, I have a question!" He had his friend Cooper on the phone because he was so curious about our church now and knew he was a member. That question turned into many other questions, and we ended up chatting at our car for like 30 minutes. The spirit was so strong and we taught him basically every Gospel principle. By the end of it, he was like "Bro, Collin, should I get baptized?" Collin said he would take him to church this Sunday in Birmingham so we will see what happens! If anyone ever finds out if a Briggs from Colorado gets baptized, let me know!!! This all just goes to show how God is in the details of missionary work. He placed us all at that place at the right time. What are the chances we are at that member's home at that time and he is in Northport on that day in that neighborhood? And the fact that his friend and I are both from St. George? And the fact that we met one of his sale buddies earlier that day? That conversation would have never happened if all those things weren't perfectly positioned. God is so cool!

As of right now we are still working on finding friends to teach and baptize! Most of the elect people we find are either outside our area,YSA, or we have to take them off baptism date haha. Our most progressing friend right now its Ken though; everyone pray for him! 

Just know I am praying for you all, and I hope all of your hopes and dreams come true and you have the best week evaaaa. 

And I guess I'll leave ya'll with a little quote before I sign off..."When nothing is expected and everything is appreciated, life becomes magical." Gary B. Sabin 

Go have a magical week! 

S️ister Ekins

 

Week 12 - August 24

Got asked out by an old man?

Wow! What is good everyoneeee?! I will tell ya what's good...it's my favorite little bro's bday this week! Everyone, go wish him a Happy Birthday on Wednesday; and if you get to see him, give him a big hug for me! I sure do miss him. #loveyoupookie

Oh, and shoutout to all my college friends starting school soon!! I miss ya'll and hope you have the best semester! Don't have too much fun without me ;)

Not going to lie it felt like the adversary was working hard on us this week! We got hit with migraines, a nail in our tire, and a lot of our friends ghosting us. Oh, and the heat. They call the month of August "Devils Front Porch," and I can see why. But hey, we still managed to have lots of fun and find joy and laughter throughout the week.

Some silly little sayings this week:

︎ Explained how there are two parts to baptism in a zoom lesson, and I accidentally said there's two "farts" to baptism. Sister Henry and I could nottt stop laughing--our poor friend was probably so confused. 

︎ Talked to an old fella in the Lowe's parking lot and he goes, "Since we will be the same age in Heaven, will you go out with me?? Ya know...I'll be younger and you'll be older?" Um helloooo?? Safe to say that was my first and hopefully last time being asked out by an old man.

Some things that made my week:

︎ God knew how much Sister Henry and I have been talking about how we miss Just Dance and last pday we were able to do Just Dance. It was probably the best day of my life and my prayers were definitely answered.

︎ Late night laugh attack with comp

︎ Circle K Slurpee run after knocking doors

︎ Taught an unplanned-for lesson sitting on ground of someone's front porch while sweating our butts off in the hot sun. Yet the spirit was so strong.

︎ Didn't know how we would get four friends again to church, but God pulled through, and sure enough four friends made it to church! #5weekstreak

︎ Ran into our Taco Bell miracle friend Keonna at work and was able to get back in contact with her so the elders can start teaching her!!

️To leave you all with a little spiritual thought, here is a thought from earlier this week...

Often times we think that we just have to endure this life and get through the suffering, because one day when this life is over we will finally rest and have eternal life or eternal joy. But that is simply not how our Heavenly Father wants us to live. 

"Our Heavenly Father’s plan for us is happiness now and joy forever in His presence." -Elder Mutombo 

Part of the Father's plan is to feel that joy right now!!! We can begin to live heaven right now. As crazy and wicked and difficult as the world is, when you dedicate your life to God and Jesus Christ, the world all of a sudden shifts. You see everything and everyone through a different lense. You feel joy!! Just as your Heavenly Father intended for you to feel. 

I invite you all to learn more about your Heavenly Father so that you can begin to feel this happiness he has to offer you, right now.

Thanks for all your thoughts prayers and emails. I love you all more than you know!!!

Sister Ekins

Week 11 - August 17

"It's so hot! But at least it makes you wanna not go to hell, right?!"

Wowza! The Alabama heat is getting real ya'll.  102° with humidity is NO JOKE, I feel like I'm walking in a sauna all day. May or may not be getting heat exhaustion but hey the work must go on! Somehow the lord gives you the strength to keep going!

#nevercomplainingaboutstgeorgesummersagain

Weekly updates:

- Sister Henry got her tooth fixed YAY

- It's officially back to school for the university so Northport/Tuscaloosa is coming back to life 

- Put our friend Mia on date! We met her the day before at a gas station, and she did a church tour with us the next day.  Sister Galland told us that the second someone is feeling the spirit, you can invite them to be baptized, and that's exactly what we did! It's so cool watching the spirit work in people's lives. And, watching how the gospel clicks for them! The gospel really is for all of God's children.

- Got kicked out of our favorite Piggly Wiggly.  (most of finding our new people is either from Circle K or Piggly Wiggly haha)

- 4 new friends came to church again for the fourth week in a row!!!! We are praying one of these days we can get 10 people to church! Maybe next week??

- Finally put Johnny on date! 

Other things that made my week:

- Sister Henry painted me the most beautiful picture of a yellow butterfly. 

- Brother Gundyyyyy. He has joined a couple of our lessons this week, and he is just the funniest guy. He sure makes us laugh a whole lot and brightens our day. He reminds me a little of my Grandpa Doug. 

- Got to see Sister Bouchy on Facetime through one of our members!!!  (She was in my district last transfer, and I miss her so much!)

Miracle time!

Yesterday, Sister Henry and I went to go visit a referral named Debbie from one of our sweet members. Turns out Debbie has four daughters living with her that were all baptized a year ago but haven't been active! We introduced ourselves to all of them, but since they aren't in our area we told them the elders would have to teach her and her daughters. So, we texted the elders right then and there if they were busy and literally 30 seconds they pulled up!!!! They were at a gas station down the road and we texted them right as they walked out so they zoomed on over. We said "Hi" to the elders and then left them to it. Twenty minutes later we get a message that they put Debbie on baptism date!!! Wahoooo! Now that is a miracle! 

Just a reminder that God is in the details! His hand and his angels are working in your life right now! Choose to look for that! Those coincidences...are not coincidences, they are miracles! And when you choose to recognize that you will begin to see God in your life. He is real and loves you all. 

And so do I 

Sister Ekins ♡♡♡

Week 10 - August 10

Home is where the spirit is 

Hey ya'll!!!  I been fixin' to tell you all about this week!! (Sorry, just trying to lock in my inner southern lol!) 

Hearing the way people talk down here is so much fun, except when they are missing so much teeth you can't understand a word they're saying. But seriously I love the people here, and would not be mad if I came home with a little southern accent.

Speaking of teeth...I may have gotten in a fight with my comp and knocked her tooth out...Just kiddingggg!!! Sister Henry is actually a champ. She randomly had her front tooth just fall out on Saturday, and she still put in the effort to make it to our lesson 20 minutes later and then proselyte the rest of the night. Ya, kinda crazy. We are not really sure how that happened buuuut...pray for her that she can get a new tooth out here on the mish! Today for pday we are going to be on the hunt for a good dentist.

Some sad news of the week is that we had to take our two friends off date. One of them possibly because...well...let's hope and pray he is still alive. In all serisousness, he is either ghosting us reallllll good, or he actually might have passed away from some health problems #prayersupforbobby

Some other news of the week...my family is moving! Only after two months of me leaving they realized how much empty space they have now with me gone lol. So next December I'll be coming home to a different house! Don't worry though, for all my friends back home, we are still staying in the ward.

Yesterday at church was amazing. Not only Sacrament Meeting, but the Lord helped bring four friends to church for the third week in a row! Miracles!

Something that was talked about in the meeting that has been on my mind recently is this: No matter where you go in the world, you can always feel at home because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

No matter how different the culture, people, food or places are...there is one thing that never changes, and that is the Gospel. As I have been out on my mission for a couple of months now, I've been pondering how is it that I feel at home even though I am far away from everything that I know to be home. I have realized that I feel at home because I have the Holy Ghost with me. The Spirit is what helps me feel at home no matter where I am because it witnesses of my Heavenly Father and Savior. They are my true and divine home. How comforting to know that as we are baptized we can receive this gift of the Holy Ghost, and always feel at home no matter where we are or what circumstance we are in!!! I invite you all to do everything you can to invite the Holy Ghost more in your life, so you can feel at home, as well as feel comfort, peace, and guidance more abundantly in your life! 

I love you all!!!! So much!!!!!

Sister Ekins