October 26, 2015

Howdy Y'all!

Hello!! How's erry'thing going?! YAY for a new sweet baby girl in our family! Way to go Brittnie and Stettsen! I can't wait to meet her :) 

Well, we had a really good week here! We started off the week by heading out to our outlying towns, Ropesville and Sundown, for the first time! We had lots of success meeting some former-investigators who have been more and more prepared for the gospel over time! It's so neat to see! We took a member out with us, Sister Robinson, and she really clicked with the sweet people, so that's exciting for these individuals to have someone they already know and feel comfortable around before they come to church! 

We did a lot of service this week, too! President Heap has asked us to get at least 10 hours of service a week and for the 1st time in forever we're actually reaching and exceeding that service goal! We helped clean/ detail a member's kitchen (she just broke her wrist and isn't able to do much.) I feel so bad for her- she's got a full arm cast just like I had in high school! We also cleaned closets and carpets for another member, and got to paint some shelves white for the temple and church bathrooms! 

I had my last Zone Conference this past week and it was so powerful! The Assistants to the President instructed on normal and natural ways for both members and missionaries to share the gospel. I love the phrase that we can use in any conversation when talking literally about anything! It's "... that's what I love about my church!..." and then you carry on with your conversation! I've used it all week and every single time, they stop and say, "Wait, what church do you go to and where is it located?" I love it!! 

President Heap instructed about Sabbath Day observance at church and also the Book of Mormon! We are so lucky to have the Heap's! President Heap is a master teacher- all those years of teaching Institute have helped him be so spiritually knowledgeable and a powerful teacher! I can't wait for y'all to meet them someday! My testimony of the Book of Mormon has increased so much this week and I am so grateful for that sacred record! We must never treat it casually or lightly- God has revealed this book for our DAILY use! We absolutely NEED it's pure doctrine to survive the toils and strife of today's world. I love this book. It is so special to me! I hope and pray that each of y'all can have a testimony of it for yourselves! 

I love y'all so much! Have a good week :) Love, Sister Evans

[OH! And HAPPY HALLOWEEEEEEN!]

 That's a pirate ship in someone's driveway! Texans ;)

Took Sister Johnson to the top of El Templo!

TEXAS-Beautiful, right?

President Heap's Sweet BOM Display for Instruction

(he made these when he was teaching seminary. He had his students write their testimonies of the gospel in a hieroglyphic code)

October 19, 2015

Hello!

From the emails I've read, it sounds like y'all are doing well! Thanks for all the updates! I'm also doing great! 

We have had a week full of service, working with returning less actives, and searching for new people to teach! We started off the week with meeting a new family in our ward, the G family. They are trying to be more actively involved at church and were sealed in the temple last December! I love seeing others have such a strong desire to come back and be even stronger than ever before! We also visited another less active lady this week- her name is P and she almost bit my head off for calling her by her full name and not just "P" haha! Yikes! Sorry :) She's a hoot though! Then we had a brief little "mini" exchange with some of the other sisters that are serving outside of Lubbock- they came for district meeting and then we all had to wait to go to lunch because Sisters Carroll and Udall had a lesson, so we went contacting for an hour with the other sisters until they were done with their lesson! 

We helped a sweet 78 yr. old lady named Frances this week with moving her stuff out of her apartment so that they can re-do the tile and carpet. That sweet lady has got some serious spunk!! She used to be a baptist preacher and is the funniest woman ever! 

It sounds like y'all got the video of me riding on a little kid roller coaster - that was at the Zant's home! They are a super fun family! We were asked by a member to come and stain a fence this week for a non-member family next door! We had a great time :) Hey Dad, now I am an "experienced stainer!" I can help you with the deck next time! haha. 

This week is going to be great! My last zone conference is this Wednesday- nuts! We are also traveling to our outlying towns to meet some former investigators in Ropesville and Sundown. Those are some nice Texas town names, huh?! I love Texas so much! This is the greatest place to ever serve! I love what I have been called to do! I love everything that I am learning about the gospel, myself, and others. I absolutely love being able to share my testimony each day! I love y'all and will talk to ya next week! 

Love, Sister Evans 

I forgot to share my "ponderize" scripture last week... 2 Nephi 9:18

This week's.... Mosiah 2:22

And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.

Package from the Fam!

God Bless Texas!

October 12, 2015

Hello! 

Thanks so much for the emails and THANK YOU Harrison for the package and flowers this week! I got a kick out of everybody wearing our Halloween vest haha! Too funny :) 

Well, I picked up Sister Johnson this week! She is awesome and is from Payson, UT. She has been out for 7 months and has been serving in Childress, TX the whole time. This week we were given tons of service opportunities! It was great! We moved a really sweet Polynesian family this week out of our ward.. in return, they gave us every ounce of their food! SO NICE! 

We had a really neat experience this week as we prayed about where we needed to be the following day at a certain hour- we received inspiration to be on Jayson Ave.. as we walked, talked, and knocked that area, we met one of the neatest men ever! His name is R and he lives right off of Jayson- talk about inspired! R and his wife B and their 4 daughters have been searching for God recently and we showed up on their doorstep! I am grateful for the promptings from the Holy Ghost! 

We served this week on the temple grounds, wiping down all the granite. We have a beautiful temple here! We just got our Moroni replaced, because the hail damaged his head and took the gold off of him! He's 11 1/2 ft tall! That's taller than 2 of me stacked on top of each other!!  

We were invited back over to the Stake President's home last night- their family had a get-together with lots of friends, mostly all non-members and wanted the missionaries to be familiar faces to them :) I love the Kimball family! It is so neat being able to see so many members get excited about missionary work! This truly is the Lord's work and I am so grateful to be a part of it! I hope y'all have a great week!

Love, 

Sister Evans 

My new companion Sister Johnson :)

 Anyone Up for a Halloween Cupcake?  You know I'm in!

 Thank you Kenzie for the Fall Package!

 This is my 1st trainer-Sister Bearnson-she just made it home!

Conference flowers from Harrison :)

Package from the Family

October 5, 2015

Hello! 
Happy rainy Monday! It's good to hear from y'all. It's been a great week- we started off the week by doing some service at the food bank with lots of other missionaries! We got a lot accomplished- many hands make light work! Not sure who said that... but it's true! We had a "Death Day" Party at Freddy's (ice cream) for Sister Manning because she goes home in like 2 days! Sister Carroll, Udall, and Beesley joined us :) I have great friends. General Conference was SO good!! I loved every second of it!! My poor companion got hit with the flu on Sunday, so we missed the morning session, but we will definitely watch it soon! What were some of y'all's favorite talks? These were a few of mine: (so far!- can't wait to watch the Sun. Morning session!)

-Elder Durrant- "ponderize" a scripture and save money each week

-Elder Uchtdorf- Simplifying our Discipleship

-Elder Cook- "Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion"

-Elder Hales- debt, education, dating/marriage ...probably one of my VERY favorites! 

-Elder Holland- the divine role of mothers- LOVE!

Ah! So good! I'm grateful for the Holy Ghost that is able to speak to us directly and teach us individually. Heavenly Father knows us so perfectly! My testimony has been strengthened a lot this weekend and I am so grateful that I was able to listen to the words of the Lord's chosen prophets and apostles. What were some of your thoughts from this conference weekend? 

This week I will be taking Sister Manning to the mission office and she will be flying back home on Wednesday. I will be picking up my new companion, Sister Johnson! She is a sweet girl- I have served a little bit around her when I was in Canyon/Amarillo and Dalhart. She is great! More deets to come... :) 

Well, I love y'all! I hope you have a great week!

Happy Fall Y'all.

Love, 

Sister Evans 

[ We went to Freebirds Burrito Co. and it's tradition to make a "foil creation" after you eat.. so I kept the tradition alive and made a CTR ring! haha ]

 Texas Cotton Fields