Abilene

Waking up in Abilene!

Good Morning!

How is everyone? Well transfers happened and I am no longer in Wichita! (finally) It was a bittersweet moment, a lot of people were asking me if I was sad to leave and I really didn't know how to tell them no without making it sound like I hated it. So I just told them it was bittersweet. haha. But I am no companions with the amazing Sister Palmer who is from SLC. She is 23 and is so much fun! We are both opening an area for Sisters called Abilene which is a lot like Hiawatha. But I think Abilene is bigger. Everyone is very friendly and the ward which is in Salina is AMAZING! In the past year they have had 55 baptisms and all of them are still active! I couldn't even tell they were converts because of their testimony of the gospel! We had a lot of people come up to us and introduce themselves, and when we told them that we were living in Abilene they were so excited to have sisters! so that made us feel really good! (:
Its about a 30 minute drive to church and we go to Salina like 4 times a week for meetings and other good stuff!

We have 3 people on date for July 18th, and then yesterday after church the Bishop, who is SO COOL, came up to us and told us that this kid wants to get baptized! WHAAA? Miracle!? His name is Dakota and we met him on Thursday at the Browns house for dinner. He's had a rough past, both his parents passed away due to cancer and now he lives with his "guardians" who are devout, ignorant Catholics. He's like the after thought, which is really sad but he has awesome support from the Browns who are also another cool family. So were gonna start teaching him and go from there. But he's what you would call "Golden". (:

We also met this little lady named Kayla, who let us right in and we were able to invite her to be baptized and she said yes! She is coming to church this sunday and is going to bring her 2 granddaughters! She was telling us that she has watched "Sister Wives" and other shows about Mormons- but we cleared that misconception real fast. But she's really nice! As we were sitting there a cockroach crawled past my foot... and I didn't freak out! but it was gross.. haha

We taught 3 guys in the Library and read from the Book of Mormon, they were so funny, Mike Ernie and Justin. Ernie is probably the one of the more interesting people I've met, he's just OUT THERE. But Mike is cool and keeps them in line. (:

Other than that, the week turned out really good! Its been HOT and humid- but we have seen lots of tender mercies and miracles this week! We even hit standard in 4 days.. SO that was cool! for me anyway. haha

Well I hope you all are enjoying your summer! Can't believe June is almost over! But I'm super stoked for the 4th of July! WOOH! I'm so blessed to be in Abilene and serve here for the next few months or even the year! crazy to think that right? But I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of us and knows what is best! His plan for all of us is perfect. I'm so grateful for the knowledge I've received from being on a mission and from other companions who have taught me so much. I love you all so much! I think you're awesome!  Keep on keeping on! (:

 

<3Sister Williams

heyy!

Hey everyone! sorry I didn't get to email last week- we had a super awesome p-day in Newton with our zone which was kinda messy. We had a chalk war! really crazy and I had sooo much chalk in my hair, my mouth and everywhere else that I didn't know what to do with myself!

I really hate how I can't remember anything really exciting-

I went on exchanges with Sister Seigfried and it was AMAZING! We were walking to their investigators house and there was this guy sitting outside on his porch- so we were walking up to him and he was like "I know you who ya'll are, you're mormons." ha "yeah!"  But he kept asking up questions about the Book of Mormon and he was excited to have one- then his granddaughter was like, "can I come to church?" and we told her "no, sorry" HA just kidding we were like YEA!! and she was really excited too. We met tons of people who took BOMs and invites to church. It was a really neat experience. Its cool, when you expect good things from people, that's usually what you get! and we did get good things! 

Sunday was a nerve racking time because we were asked to give talks in sacrament meeting and I was like.. I can't write a talk.. my grandma, mom and aunt all helped me write my farewell talk.. this is going to be really interesting.. haha so with lots of prayer and slight anxiety of getting informed that Sister Blood and I were the only speakers.. and that our mission president and his wife were attending I was about to pass out or throw up. I don't think I've ever been that nervous since Jr.Miss. But it all turned out great! I had many members come up to me after and give compliments. Its was a nice relief.. 

We also found Mallory and Daren! They are sooo cool, and are now investigating! we had met them a week earlier and so we went back to see them. (they told us to try and catch them because they are usually really busy) And when we went back they let us right in and we were able to testify and the spirit was so strong that Mallory was in tears. It was awesome. 

Other than that, its all been a really good week. We are having Zone Conference tomorrow and are geting Ipads! CRAZY. Also, I have been asked to give a musical number- so I'm pretty excited and really nervous. Anyway! Thanks for all the love, it really means so much to me! Hope you all are having a great day as well! Hope to hear from ya'll soon! "In the service of the Lord it's not where you serve, but HOW"- Elder Dube

LOVE YA~

-Sister WIlliams