Elder Hayes and many contacts this week

Hey everybody

This week was pretty awesome! I got a new companion named Elder Hayes. He is 3/4 Mexican and Puertorican and he speaks fluent Spanish. On his very first day in the area we contacted a media referral we received last Saturday,and it was perfect because she speaks spanish.. But we set a return appointment for the next day, brought Brother Ayoroa with us who is from Bolivia, and invited her (Audrey) to be baptized! The lesson was really good. She started to tear up a little bit after we invited her. Her brother lives in Champaigne, IL and is getting baptized soon, and much of the family is already baptized. Audrey is a very kind woman. After we taught her the first lesson, she was so kind and said that she prepared some food for us. She made an amazing tasting blackbean burger or something. It tastes like it is made of meat but it has none! It was so good. 

The timing of us meeting Audrey was so amazing. She explained to us that she has been wanting to understand why her family is all of sudden becoming Mormon. She sees they are happy and so she decided to google 'Mormons'. It led her to a webiste (probably Mormon.org) and then she got to reading, was interested, and so she referred herself, requesting for a book of mormon AND missionary visits. She was startled as she received a phone call a few minutes later from church headquarters confirming her request. A few hours later we called her and set up the appointment. She was very grateful how fast God answered her prayer. 

People who are sincerely looking for the truth will find that God will send the missionaries to come to their door, sometimes rather quickly. A few days later Elder Clark and I went to her house to mow her lawn

Audrey came to the first hour of church on Sunday which was great. We had her meet another sister in the ward who speaks spanish. The talks were good too which was relieving. It looks like some good things will be happening with her. Really exciting to see!

Also this week, Elder Hayes and I found out that near our aparment is a melting pot of foreigners! I wish we would have discovered that sooner haha. But we met ANOTHER person from Nigeria (like Dipo and Nimota who we still can't set something up with because of their busy schedules). His name is Netty. As I was talking to a man from The CONGO, (yeah what the heck! What are all these africans doing here??) Netty came from across the street in his red and green traditional clothing to talk to us. As I talked to the man from CONGO whose name is Foreman, Elder Hayes talked to Netty. We set return appointments for both of them! We will hopefully be seeing Foreman on thursday night. But we met with Netty Saturday night! We brought a couple with us that served a mission together in South Africa. As he let us in his home we were pleasantly surprised to see that he had a wife and two kids! Lechi (the wife) and Michael who is 14 and a toddler named Manuel. These people are super cool. The best way I can describe them is a "pure and delightsome people." They are beautiful. They are so friendly and eager to know the Word of God. They are also really educated. Netty is going to school to be an engineer, and Lechi is going back to school to be an optometrist because although she had her own practice in NIgeria, the U.S. doesn't recognize her credentials here for some reason. Michael appears to be reserved but is full of quiet dignity. The baby, Manuel, has the coolest little afro. 

We taught them about the book of Mormon, as we talked about the stick of Judah and stick of Ephraim (Ezekiel) Lechi started to become very interested. We said a kneeling prayer at the end. it was really cool experience. We are going back next week and they offered to feed us!

Last night we met another family from Africa! Florence and Monique, from Togo. They speak french, but pretty good english as well. We talked to them for a while about the Book of Mormon and they were really interested too. Florence was very interested as she asked if she could have her own copy after we gave just one to Monique. Florence is a younger woman in her 20s probably. We also told them we could get them a book of mormon in french, and we also downloaded the gospel library app on their phones so they could listen/read it in french.

We have a return appointment with them next sunday. We will probably bring the Girard-Carrier's with us since they are fluent in French! It is so cool to see how God has brought these people to this area. Of all areas, why Springfield?? is what I keep saying. One reason could be because we have members of the ward who can speak their language and/connect with these people. 

So this week I learned that learning the gospel in your own tongue is pretty important. Also once again that we are in certain places at certain times for a reason. "The tender mercies of the lord do not appear randomly or merely coincidence. It is often the Lord's timing of His tender mercies which help us to both discern and acknowledge them."

First we have Elder Hayes come here who speaks Spanish so he can connect well with Audrey. Then we had Bro and Sister Robison come with us to see Netty's family because they spent time in Africa--about that, I wouldn't have thought to bring them if it weren't for Brother Howard reminding us that they went there. Finally, the G.C.'s will be able to probably help out with Florence and Monique. 

So we got 5 new investigators this week! (I forgot to mention Troy, but I don't have time). Hopefully we can keep this ball rolling! 

Love you all

That seriously some way cool stuff you shared this week! i never realized that we are related to the first wife of Brigham Young. I always assuimed it was his 90th wife or something :) That Blue Angel story is soooo coool. i told my companion. When you get the picture of the painting, send me a picture of it! That's way cool that grandma's maternal line rescued her paternal line. And I like how family history helps us become at one with our ancestors and with the savior. Really cool stuff, Mom!

i also think that is asesome how you realized how much you have improved as a teacher and funny how people are all asking you to teach them! Hebrew is so awesome! Yeah I think I should probably pray for the gift of teaching because teaching people to their needs is hard.

Dear Elder Soutas

How did your transfer week go?  How are things with Elder Hayes?  I've been praying

all week that you will have a good companionship.    Will you be able to teach Filip using

Spanish?  

I had a very busy weekend.  I held a baby shower for Alex yesterday we invited about 30 people and served lunch.  She received some nice presents for the new baby.   We are getting excited to welcome this little one.   I secretly hope she has the baby a little early   Then you could maybe see her when you Skype for Mother's day, but if not we would certainly send a lot of pictures.   Her due date is a month from today exactly!!

Today was another crazy day for me.  First of all I had Ward Council and then BYC.  Then I was asked to speak and give a brief family history story in sacrament meeting.    I will tell you what I said in a minute.  Next I had to teach the Laurel class lesson.  It was on the restoration.  I think it went well.

Maybe you have seen the demonstration I did.  First you take 12 plastic cups and you write the word apostle on each

Then I had them look up scriptures that talk about what was in Christ's Church when he was on the earth.  so that the pyramid represents Christ Church.  Then you pull out a cup or 2 on the bottom representing the apostles being taken from the earth and eventually it falls.   

Then you rebuild it showing pictures from our church history of how every single thing in our church matches the original.  It is the only church on the earth that has apostles, prophets, baptism bt immersion, laying on of hands, bishops, called Saints, church called in Christ' name, the gift of the Holy Ghost, temple  etc.....

We also watched the awesome video about Wilford Woodruffs search for the true church that matched the ancient church found in the Bible.  I thought it was a good lesson filled with the spirit. 

Here is a copy of my talk:

I do have a deep love for family history.  But I have not always 

my mom did all of the geneaology.   I didn’t have to worry about it, 

The truth is when she would get out all of her big journals and start telling stories we would  only half listen and just nod our heads.  

However, a few years ago I just decided to see if there was anything I could do.     I asked my mom a little bit more about these ancestor stories.

  These were the stories she had repeated to us so many times before which we had just vaguely listened to.  Now I repeat these stories and my kids vaguely nod their heads

   

But what I have learned most is that these people have a story and it is part of my story and now I love it :) I'm here today because of these ancestors

I’ve love reading my Great Great Grandmother - Caroline Frances Angell’s journal.  Of how she came across the plains with her sister, MaryAnn.  MaryAnn was Brigham Young’s first wife.    Her Brother was Truman Angell  - architect of the SL Temple.  Our family likes this story because Chris’ grandfather was the resident architect of the Washington DC Temple.   we tell our kids we are a temple building family :)    

Now that was on my mom’s maternal line.    

On her paternal line —-My Mom’s great  great grandfather were William and Eliza Binder who had been in the Martin Handcart Company.     

It has amazed me how stories of my ancestors begin to interconnect.   They cannot just be co-incidences when you are dealing with saving families.

Just this week I found a written thank you to my grandfather William Binder for  carrying their ancestor- Albert Jones —across the freezing water.   This was special to me.  I then continued reading about the rescue party that President Brigham young had sent for the handcart companies:  

I quote:

“the express riders found the company in several inches of snow. Mary Ferguson Scott of the Hodgett wagon company, which was camped near the Martin company, “sprang to her feet and screamed at the top of her voice, ‘I see them coming! I see them coming! Surely they are angels from heaven.’

it then reads:

In fact, as a result of how he looked coming through the snow, express rider Joseph A. (A for Angell, his mother’s maiden name) Young became known to the company as the “blue angel.” 

I stopped reading as I realized that Joseph Angell Young had to be my great great uncle.

Albert Jones described the scene: “The white mule [Joseph Angell Young  was riding] was lost sight of on the white background of snow, and Joseph A. with his big blue soldier’s overcoat, its large cape  rising and falling with the motion of the mule, gave the appearance of a big blue winged angel flying to our rescue. The scene that presented itself on his arrival I shall never forget; women and men surrounded him, weeping and crying aloud; on their knees, holding to the skirts of his coat, as though afraid he would escape from their grasp and fly away.” 35

close quote

I realized that when, Pres Brigham Young in Oct conference that year called men  from the pulpit to go and rescue those stranded… one of these rescuers was his son    Joseph Angell Young.  He was my gg uncle

Incidently I discovered there is a painting made  of Joseph Angell Young’s rescue  called “The Blue Angel”     which I now intend to get a copy of.  It now has great meaning to me.

When i read this account last  Sunday I was amazed……  This meant that my mom’s maternal ancestor line  The Angells

physically rescued my mom’s paternal line. The Binders

I felt the Lord’s hand is in the details of this rescue. 

I wish I had time to tell the 2nd half of this story of how I found the name of an ancestor    It’s a story of   a search  about lockets, and bears, outlaws and  Angell’s.  

 I believe that even if your mom or Aunt Matilda has done all of your family history work then If you do nothing more than learn your family stories-some really crazy stories -It is through these stories that you will get to know your ancestors and you will fall in love with them.  You will feel the link - our SAvior’s binding covenant that links you to them.  The spirit of Elijah is real.  It is strong.   Our Savior’s AT-ONE-MENT - the Covenant of Atonement - binds our families together for all eternity.  

Of this I testify.

So the only other thing I can remember that happened this week, was another tender mercy for me.  

Somehow some of the ladies I take the Greek New Testment class with, found out that I know and am teaching beginning Hebrew.  There are about 5 more ladies now who have asked me to teach them.

I will be teaching them for the summer and it's basically a summer institute class although at this point I have not been certified by BYU, however maybe I will even eventually be able to do that.

Cool huh!  The funny thing is I have never considered myself to be a good teacher.  Before I was called to be YW president I used to pray for the gift of teaching.  That I could become a better teacher.  It's hard for me.  I don't explain things well.  I don't always remember what I want to say.  But after praying for this gift, I have certainly seen and been given opportunities to improve.  The Lord answered my prayer.  Im still not an amazing teacher or anything, but it's kind of crazy how people are asking me to teach them and the best part and to me the tender mercy  - of all the things I would desire to teach it would be Hebrew, "the manner of the Jews - customs etc....and now that's what I'm going to get to do.  

I love my Heavenly Father so much!

I love you too!  I hope you have a wonderful week.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not unto thy own understanding and he will direct thy paths.

Momma