This week has been a week of miracles! I've met so many cool people. There's sister Musselmann who told us right when we walked in the door that we were not to get up and do anything and no arguing, either. SHE was going to serve US! Because that's what she wanted to do. There's also these awesome people we talked to on the street. Claire was a sweet old lady who just cried about how much she loved Jesus. We gave her a pamphlet but she didn't want to make a return appointment because she believed in "Chance happenings!" and she didn't like to plan her day. Sweet and funny lady :)
Then there was a guy named JJ, who was out in his driveway and told us to "come on over and pull up a chair. Stay a while!" He told us how he was a recovering alcoholic, but that he found his wife and he found God and that now everyday he thanks the Lord for all his blessings. It was really cool how grateful he was for everything. I felt blessed to be able to talk to him. He had a Book of Mormon, and "couldn't find anything wrong with it". Yet he didn't really want to come to church. I challenged him to read Enos, and then we told him to call us if he or his wife needed any help with anything.
I also got to meet these two women in the ward. One is Sister Pfiel. She is a sweet lady who just talked about her late husband and how much she loves and misses him, and how she talks to him and wonders if he could hear her. She also told a story of how her grand daughter's husband was saved by a man, who disappeared later and how he saw a picture of the grandpa and said "That's the man who saved me!" It was really cool, and she just had a wonderful love for him and a wonderful testimony of the Plan of Salvation. It was really cool. Then we met with a less active, Yolanda, who has tons of health problems. She's Filipino, and she almost died a number of times. She told us how she wanted to come back to church, but was worried that her health wouldn't allow her. BUT we encouraged her and SHE CAME! I was so happy!
We also got to meet with investigators whom we had tried to meet with for weeks, but they were never there. They were alwasy gone, or busy. BUT this week we FINALLY got a hold of them. We read the Book of Mormon with Jennifer, who is on date for September 26th! She was nervous to be baptized in September, because she knows she has to get married first (because she's living with her boyfriend, a less active member), but she wanted time to plan it. I explained about the temple, and how she could make her sealing the big thing and she seemed much more open to it! Hopefully, we'll be able to see them married AND her baptized (It'll be a maraige-tism!)
We also met with Jessica, who is such a sweet girl! Holy cow, I just love her. We had tried to see her, but she's moving to Hawaii soon, and she's doing midterms for school right now AND her husband's deployed so she's doing it on her own. SO it was hard to contact her, but we FINALLY did, and before we even asked, she said she was coming to church! YAY. then yesterday, she told us "I couldn't stop reading the book of Mormon. It was 1 AM and I finally told myself to go to sleep!" She's just awesome! AND this week Houston, her husband, comes home so we get to teach HIM, too! I can't wait.
Also: we met two new investigators! Mike, and Matt. Mike seemed...mildly interested. He has a Book of Mormon, but he seemed really willing to know more and we have an appointment for Thursday! Hopefully that pans out and goes well. It was really funny, cause the first thing he asked us is if we celebrate holidays :'D THEN: we knocked on Matt's door, and he came to the door with his hand dripping with blood cause he had cut himself cutting onions. I though he was going to turn us away, but he didn't! We were about to leave, so I said the usual parting line: "Well, if you ever have questions about what we believe..." and he cut me off and said "Well, what DO you believe?" so we stayed there and gave him a mini restoration lesson, and he expressed that he was looking for a church, and that he wants his kids baptized. We assured him that kids are welcome in our church and told him about primary and nursery, and invited him to church. He didn't come, but it was really last minute (we knocked on his door Saturday evening). BUT he invited us back on Tuesday, and I am so excited! He's so cool.
I have just seen the hand of the Lord, and everyone I talk to I have felt the Love of heavenly Father for them. I just LOVE everyone here, and it's the coolest thing. I have also been really blessed because, I miss you guys like CRAZY, but I haven't been too sad. I love you all so so much! I am so grateful for all of you. You are all awesome.
OH! one last story. So, I got a "welcome to Washington" from some blackberries (that grow over EVERYTHING) that snagged my foot, and then a dog (everyone has dogs and cats here! IT's so fun! For me, at least :p) started running and his rope leash rubbed against the back of my ankle so now I have a bad rope scrape/burn. But I'm okay. It's just a memory, right ;)
Anyway...Momma AND Daddy, I love you so so much. You are the best. I am so grateful for you! thanks for your example and your spirit!
Love you all!
Sister Kramer
**NEWSLETTER**
WASHINGTON TACOMA MISSION
August
2015
Sister
Blatter and I find that it’s such a joy to be serving the Lord in the
Washington, Tacoma mission. We’ve been
busy as we’ve gathered together as missionaries for different events. We had a
very successful Fourth of July picnic on July 6th in Bremerton with
the north conference for an afternoon of food and games. We didn’t get too wet with the water balloon
toss. We had 3 “Why I Believe” firesides
in July with our first one in Olympia on the 12th and concluding with one in
Lakewood on the 26th. We also
held a Spanish fireside in Lacey on the 19th where Sis. Blatter
bravely bore her testimony in Spanish.
All of them were filled with the spirit of new members bearing strong
testimonies of how they were searching for something more in their lives and
listening to the wonderful music of our missionaries was a treat as usual.
Our zone conferences were centered
on the theme of making better use of the pamphlets by listening to our
investigators and testifying in shorter more powerful messages. Additionally, using the same teachings with
our members to inspire them to invite others to be taught. We received great
instruction on more effectively using the key indicators to assist our
“seekers” in making and keeping commitments.
Lastly, President reminded us to use the Book of Mormon in everything we
do. This includes our morning studies to proclaiming its divinity to members
and investigators alike. We are to
“sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out His elect unto the New
Jerusalem” (Moses 7:62.)
July also brought a huge transfer
as 18 of our beloved missionaries departed for the next stage of their lives
and we welcomed 24 new excited and eager faithful sons and daughters of our
Heavenly Father. Again it was a busy day
full of love and so many intense emotions.
On Friday, August 14th
we had the blessing of having our Area Seventy, Elder Lawrence P. Blunck,
instruct us at Mission Leadership Council on how to be more effective
missionaries and how to find more people to teach. We were all edified and
appreciated his taking a day to be with us.
This training will be carried to the entire mission at our monthly zone
meetings.
We’re now into one of our favorite
times of the mission with the opportunity to interview every missionary. The smiles and righteous desires of the
missionaries are contagious. We love
them and admire their consecrated service.
We feel so very blessed to be able to share in His work and to serve
with them.
We love you!
President & Sister
Blatter
New Missionaries
August 23rd brought forth another batch of spirit
filled missionaries. We are ecstatic to put them to work in the best mission in
the whole world, the Wa-Tac!
L to R: E. Clark, E. Alvarez, E. Stewart, E. Hathaway,
E. Osmun, E. Johnson, E. Chacon, E. Slack, E. Cluff, E. Woodbrey, E. Meredith,
President and Sister Blatter, E. Enosa, S. Lee, E. Martinez, S. Kramer, E.
Nelson, E. Marble, E. Quinton, E. Turley, S. Hughes, E. Briggs, E. Clark, S.
Stirling, E. Rogers
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