Monday, February 22, 2010

My companion is an amazing songwriter!!

Well, this week has been semi interesting. I've been trying to adjust to having a third companion. Especially one that is rather old....hmmm. It's been an adjustment, but if I've learned anything on my mission, it's how to adjust. Bah. I hate change. But missions are all about change!! Anyways, my compie is a songwriter. She wrote this amazing song. It's taken from Mormon, chapter 6. It's written from Mormon's point of view on how he watches his whole civilization be destroyed because of their wickedness. It also pulls at the heartstrings of anyone who has served a mission. Especially a mission where it's more of a hunting mission *cough* Europe and USA *cough* So here are the lyrics:

"O ye fair ones why,
Have ye turned away to die,
When your Savior stood with arms stretched to recieve you?
O ye fair sons and daughters,
How great has been your slaughter.
Why have ye let that Evil One deceive you,
That the Spirit, at last, was forced to leave you?

As your Captain and your friend,
I am with you till the end.
I have warned you, but my words have only grieved you.
When we stand at judgment day,
What would ye have me say?
I reached out for you,
But I could not retrieve you.
Would you dare to tell me then, "I don't believe you?"

O my soul is rent with pain,
For the anguish of your slain.
But ye are gone and cannot return."

The melody that goes with it is gorgeous. I love it. It is especially good for anyone who's served a mission and been rejected over and over....

We are teaching a couple of people right now. A man who called us up and wanted to meet with us. Not sure how solid he is though. He might just be looking for information. He has an open mind though, and doesn't bash. So that's good. We are also teaching a woman. She's wonderful and has met with missionaries before. So hopefully, we can get her baptized. Just keep them in your prayers.

I'm learning to speak with a Southern accent, which is fun, cuz I know it's gonna drive Maridy absolutely crazy when I come home. Hehehe.

I had an experience the last few days that reaffirmed my testimony on the priesthood. I was really sick on Saturday and Sister Hardman was trying to find someone to give me a blessing. Cuz our DL is an office elder and was at Zone Conference. So we called the bishop and one of his counselors and they gave me a beautiful blessing and I immediately felt better. I love being able to have the priesthood in our lives.

Anyways....Bye for now! Till next week!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Milledgeville....Second Week of Transfer!

I LOVE GEORGIA!!!! Things are really great down here! We had snow a last week...so that was fun. But everybody freaked out cuz they ain't used to it like we are. But it was rather frightening to drive in. Not to mention that a couple of days ago, I almost hit a deer. BAH! But anyways. Our teaching pool is rather dead. We were teaching a man, but he's kinda disappeared. He was just about to be interviewed for baptism as well.
We've been teaching two older black ladies. But we aren't sure how solid they are...so we'll see how things go. Pray for them! We've also been teaching a young man...probably in his late twenties. And he seems open. He was the one to call us and schedule an appointment...(That NEVER happens, by the way) So keep him in your prayers. I challenged him to pray about baptism for March 6. So we'll see what happens.
I love my mission. I'm learning so much and growing each and every day. I'm not the same person that I was when I left. I've grown spiritually and mentally. It's amazing how close you get to your Savior and your Father in Heaven when on a mission. It's wonderful. And being in the south is a different experience just as well. It's almost like a different culture down here. But I love the people of the south. They are so nice and genuine. And, boy, they know their bible. Probably more so than I do! But it's wonderful. Cuz they are close to our Savior and eventually, they will come to accept him and his gospel. The church is true and it is wonderful!!!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Milledgeville, Georgia

GREETINGS FROM MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA!!!!!!!! Fabulous. Only one transfer in Cochran and now I was shipped up north. But thats ok. I don't mind. Not really anyway.
Not a whole lot has been going on. I was homesick for Cochran last week, so that was no bueno. But oh well.
Church has been interesting. People always notice the missionaries. I feel like I'm on display. I now live in an apartment. It's much better than living with members. My new address is:
Sister Katie Hoggard
205 Ivey Drive #20
Milledgeville, Georgia 31061
But I will update this when I have more exciting news. The only real exciting thing that happened this week was that I got chewed out by a man. And got told that we follow a false religion and he chewed us out cuz we pray to God. We don't pray to Jesus and he told us that Mormons aren't allowed to worship Jesus. And that hit me hard so I said 'Sir? Where in our religion does it say that we're not allowed to worship Jesus?' And he totally sidestepped the question and said "I've studied it!" So, we didn't get into it. We just left.
My new companion is Sister Hardman. She's great. I love her a lot.
Not much to say.....so I'll update it later.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Transfer Week

Hey y'all!

So first order of business, I'm leaving Cochran...sad day. I'm really depressed about it. I'm probably going to Ridgeland, South Carolina cuz the sisters there have been together for 3 transfers and that's already way too long. So, send letters to the mission home. But Sister Hatfield got a call from President Bowman this morning saying that she's training again and that she's staying here, so that means I'm leaving. I don't wanna leave Cochran! I love Cochran! I love the people! *sigh* no bueno.

Well, on to happier news! Dixie has committed, and she is sooo baptized on February 13th. Which means that once she is baptized, then she'll reactivate her husband! YAY!!!
Last night, we started teaching a manwho been married to a member for 20 years and says he's been praying for 20 years to find out if the church is true. He's met with several different sets of missionariesand he says he's been waiting for his answer for 20 years. So we told him to start praying with real intent and we promised him that if he would, the Lord would answer him. He also has to promise to the Lord that he will do what He asks.

Some one else also didn't come to church, but we told him that he couldn't be baptized until he was off of parole, but he seemed okay with it. He's on parole for 4 years, and he can be baptized sooner, but it would need him coming to church and living the commandments for 6 months or longer and then he'd need First Presidency's approval. So keep these people in your prayers!

Sister Susan Caddell has mysteriously vanished.

OH! At zone conference, I was talking to this other sister and I told her that I wanted to major in Special Ed and she told me that she could tell just by looking at me that I would be a good special ed teacher cuz I don't get ruffled easily and that I stay calm easily, which is true to a point. But she told me her mom is a special ed teacher. This sister was Sister Hardman. She was really nice. She's a thespian too and an english major....so she and I would probably get along. :)

The church is so true! I love it. Everything about this gospel is incredible. I am so grateful for Joseph Smith. In 1820, a young boy walked into a grove of trees with a simple question, and came out with an answer that changed this entire world. When I tell people that this is a WORLDWIDE church and that I have a little brother that is serving in Argentina and Sister Hatfield has a little brother that is serving in South Korea and I have friends that have served in England, Russia, Brazil, Spain, Albania and all that, they are stunned how worldwide this church truly is. I'm so grateful for this wonderful gospel.