Week Nine - Hi!

ALOHA!

So the other day I wore a flower in my hair, a shell necklace thing that I borrowed from another sister missionary, and my tag that has an America flag (because I'm Filipino and can only speak English...) So I pretty much looked like I was from Hawaii and so whenever I greeted guest I said "Aloha!' But I would end up laughing and thoroughly embarrassing myself that Sister Fisher pretty much said "Sister... I think you are freaking out the guest." So I had to stop...mah bad.

Another funny story....

So yesterday was transfer conference. We had to be at the Tabernacle at 6:50am to get our new companions, zones, assignments, and whether we are moving or not. I'm staying with Sister Fisher again this transfer and we are still in the Beehive House but our p-days changed to Tuesdays to Wednesdays. So guess what... I'm emailing you tomorrow too! :) So since we had to be on the square so early in the morning we didn't have time to eat breakfast so after transfer Conference Sister Fisher and I were going to get something to eat at City Creek (the mall next to the Square). So as we were waiting to cross the street, I saw a gentlemen with his wife, and another man that could be their 20+ year old son. When I saw the family walking I turned to Sister Fisher and said "Hahah Sister Fisher look! Doesn't that guy look like Mitt Romney?" And she glances over and said " Uhmm Sister Opeda, that is Mitt Romney" Then I said " WHATTT!?! asufuiebhjasduiwebh OH MAH GOODNESS YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT IS MITT ROMNEY!" Ha we both couldn't believe that saw him. He was going to the Deseret Book Company. I bet he is writing a book. We also both acknowledged that his son is pretty attractive. I'm actually not sure if he is, but from far away we could tell that he dresses really nice. HA

So later that day we went to Kneaders for lunch. We actually ran out of food, but no worries--we are going shopping today. Nanay and Tatay, I have a Filipino sister who doesn't know how to make adobo...guess who is going to teach her... I AM! I know, you're so proud. So anyways while we are waiting for our food to be done a black man walks into Kneaders, he looks to be about 24, and he looks so familiar! I couldn't remember where I recognized him from. I knew that it wasn't from school and it wasn't from Las Vegas either. Then finally I remembered watching a "I'm a Mormon" video the other day of a black kid who was homeless, and met missionaries then got baptized. So then I turned to Sister Fisher and said "Hahah Hey look Sister Fisher, that kid looks like Paris from the I'm a Mormon videos." then she said "Uhmmm Sister Opeda, that is Paris from I'm a Mormon." So I was obviously staring and looking like a complete idiot and I really wanted to know if it was him. So I went up to him and I asked. Turns out homeboy is Paris from I'm a Mormon! We ended up chatting and asking him how he got on to I'm a Mormon and how he does firesides for the youth in some peoples ward. It was cool. Two celebrities in one day!
Here is his I'm a Mormon video if you haven't seen it yet: http://mormon.org/paris/

So this week has been insane. We are trying to prepare for General Conference so we are constantly calling our member referrals and updating our online areabook so no one gets lost when Conference comes. Since transfer conference was yesterday there are a lot of sisters that are going outbound so they have to transfer all of their investigators to all the sisters that are going to be staying. So that added to the pile of people that we need to call and teach. Its the best when you are so tired and you keep on working as hard as you can and people ask a question about the gospel and all of a sudden something comes out of your mouth and you had no idea what was just said. That is when you know that the spirit is with you helping you teaching to your investigators.

So Sister Fisher and I have this investigator named Stephen and he is from Tennessee. Sister Fisher met him the week before we became companions. Stephen is so great! He was in SLC to audition for a grad program at the U and decided to stop at Temple Square for a tour. So anyways this whole transfer we have been calling him twice a week and teaching him the lessons over the phone. He met with the missionaries in his local area, was reading the Book of Mormon, even bought himself a quad with his name engraved on it. And he was on date to get baptized on Saturday. Stephen is so golden! He would tell us "I don't know why it says the Book of Mormon is ANOTHER testament of Christ. It should say IT IS the testament of Christ, because it teaches more about Jesus than the Bible does!" He got into the grad program at the U and he was getting ready to be baptized. A couple of days before his baptism he got a call from his parents saying that they wouldn't come to his baptism and that he is a grown man and he can make his own choices. His parents aren't at all supportive to his decision and when we talked to him, you could tell that he was heart broken, because he really wanted to have his family support him on this. When we talked to him we tried to encourage him that he was making the right decision and we told him that he should pray for comfort and strength. Anyways its been almost a week since the last time we talked to him...and we think that he backed out. Sister Fisher and I were in the slumps these last couple of days because we are so worried about him. We don't know what happened and he won't return our calls. It is just heart breaking because we know that he is making the right decision and he is a great guy, but Satan is just ridiculous and doesn't want him to be happy. We just hope and pray that he is still continuing reading and praying everyday.

So another one of my investigators Nathan is just a whole other story. Nathan is a less active member and he has so many issues!  He knows that there is a God, but he doesn't believe that he cares at all for him. Last time that we talked on the phone it was a really hard time emotionally to talk to him because he was so pessimistic. His heart is so hard and I have no idea how to help him. He needs to build his faith in Jesus Christ and know that the Atonement covers all of his sins. Not even that--but the Atonement can replace all the guilt and shame that he is holding on to, with joy and peace. He can find comfort in his Savior but he doesn't want to do anything about it. Sister Fisher says that I should drop him in the next week if he is not progressing because his heart is so hard. But I don't know if I can, because he is so lost right now and I know this can help him. Sister Fisher always says "We might drop him, but the Lord won't" Which is true, I guess I need the faith to drop. Ahh the hardest part of missionary work.

Family, I love you. I hope and pray that you are all doing okay. I saw Ryan the other day. That is a whole other story, but he told me that everyone is doing great! That was a tender mercy from the Lord And Krista you're going to New Jersey?! Say What?! Send me a shirt? haha jk. I hope you are all trying your best to keep the commandments
  
Mosiah 7:33 But if ye will ^aturn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all ^bdiligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.
All the love,

Sister Opeda

P.S. Ill send pictures tomorrow!
P.S.S. Send me pictures please!