Monday, November 9, 2026

Week 18 - November 9

 "I thought you were homeschooling her"

Yeah, two guys asked if I was homeschooling my companion the other day at Barnes and Noble haha.

Nope, we were just trying to make a baptismal plan for our girl...RANI! 😇🌊🤍

Rani is getting baptized on the 17th! 

What an angel and miracle she is. We have been teaching her all the lessons through video and text because that is how busy she is with work. As of now she is on track to get baptized, but she still needs the prayers!!! She is such a spiritually intune person and is still praying to get the confirmation that this is God's will for her. But wow, I wish you all could meet her. I am so inspired each day from the faith she has! 

Imagine being abandoned by your family members because you believe in God and Jesus Christ. Imagine choosing to leave behind even your husband for it. That is how converted Rani is to Jesus Christ. She about lit up when we asked her if the 17th works, because that is the number of the day she was born on, and the day her daughter passed away. Her daughter was our age when she passed. I have full confidence her daughter has now accepted the gospel and is working as an angel in her mother's life along side us. God is in the details.

TOP 7 THINGS TO SUM UP THE WEEK: 
☆ Sister Caraway and I gave a referral training in front of the entire mission! 🎥
☆ Saw my mom, Sister Henry! 🥰
☆ Met the COOLEST dude named John who is here for school from Colorado. He had so many questions about our church and he came on Sunday! 🎣
☆ Ran into the sisters' friend, Joy, who used to be on baptism date. 🫶
☆ Weekly lessons with Yorel. the previous sisters found her while knocking, and she used to be a member! She is slowly coming back to the church and is trying to get her two sons to come. Seeing how the Gospel is blessing her life has been incredible to watch. 💓
☆ Had some funny member meals with the Matthews and the Lays. I love the ward members. 🫂
☆ Our mission is locking in apparently--no more Messenger and no more music in the car. 😿

There were definitely some hard parts to this week. I think God is trying to teach me patience and stillness. I also experienced a few crashouts you could say. But I noticed as I immediately decided to submit myself to the work, God delivered! So many people were put in our path! Just remember when you hit rock bottom, that means something good is coming. He always delivers!





THOUGHT:

I absolutely love talking with people. Which is not something you would hear me say growing up. But now, I find so much purpose and joy in it! When I am not talking to people, I feel so down! So here is your reminder, if you need some purpose and fulfillment in your life, go talk to people! A family member, a friend, or heck, a stranger at a gas station. The moment you forget yourself and look for the need of someone else, I promise you will begin to feel so much joy!!! Crazy how God has turned my least favorite thing into my favorite thing - talking with people. Even if half the time I'm getting rejected lol. But my point is, I know he can do the same for you: turn something that you don't enjoy doing to something you do, as you work on it!

Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

Monday, November 2, 2026

Week 17 - Nov. 1

 How is it already November???

Howdy! Hope you all had a happy Halloween!!! Send me a pic of your costumes...here was mine! 🎀💚


Besides my comp and I dressing up as "Wicked," here are some other fun things that happened!


⭐️ took a flic in front of the iconic Alabama sign that I have been dreaming of seeing my whole mission
⭐️ tried the Circle K Dr. Pepper hotdog (don't recommend)
⭐️ met with Sister Galland to plan and film a fun Christmas project for the mission
⭐️ Pilates in the morning with the Alabaster sisters
⭐️ one last ice cream run with the Stansfields!
⭐️ dinner with my young women's leader old young women's leader...full circle moment and kinda fun...I get to serve in the area she grew up in
⭐️ got bashed by a lady at Panera Bread yayyy

Updates on our friends: We met some cool people this week but we still need people to teach! We do talk with Rani every day and she is absolutely amazing. She is still trying to get confirmation that baptism is right for her; pray for her and also for her crazy busy work schedule that she won't have to work on Sundays!

🤍🤍🤍

Miracle of the week was meeting our friend Tracy! We were at the library on Thursday and this lady kept sticking out to me every time we walked past her. So we go up to her and introduce ourselves as missionaries for Jesus Christ. Immediately the realization hit and she starts crying! She knew right away God sent us to her. Because of her faith and recognizing we were put in her path for a reason, she agreed to do a church tour and come to church! She lives 40 minutes away but still came to the church both days! All because she recognized the miracle of God's hand earlier in her week and then that day when she met us. I was inspired by the faith that she had that we were put in her path for a reason. Pray for her! Oh, and she loved church by the way. Sad news is that we are gonna have to pass her off to the Bessemer Elders because she lives in their area. I am so grateful for that experience though and that I have the opportunity to be an earthly angel for God's children here in Alabama! It's not often that all of them recognize that God sent us to them, but when they do, oh how special it is.

Before I sign off, I want to leave you with some banger talks that Sister Caraway and I listened to this week. They are SO GOOD. 🗣

- If you need some entertainment and want to learn more about the plan of salvation...this one will change your life. Most entertaining thing I did all week was listen to this: 'Life is a Football Game' by Troy Dunn
- If you are looking to slow down and find peace...this one is also a banger: https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/patrick-kearon/peace-and-rest-even-now/

I hope you all have an amazing week! Also if you send me something on Messenger and I don't respond, well it's because we are no longer using it. If you wanna chat, shoot me an email or download Google Chats. 😛





Love you guys!!!
Sister Ekins ♡♡♡

Week 18 - November 9

  "I thought you were homeschooling her" Yeah, two guys asked if I was homeschooling my companion the other day at Barnes and Nobl...