Broken locks and ladders

This week has been great. The last two weeks seem to have been going on for a very long time! But it's in a good way! 

Something pretty cool! We had a lesson with one of our investigators that are on date... with the President!  We had the lesson at a member's home, and it was so great. I love when we have amazing members we can use to fellowship with others. Oh my it was a little nerve racking, but it turned out very well. The spirit was strong and we were able to work things out for his baptism.

 Oh this is random but talking about him, it reminded me;  He went to a bacon show! Or something I can't remember what's it's called... But it was all bacon, everything. People are obsessed. It was $100 to get in.

We also got to go and teach another one of our investigators, and it was a good lesson. We got out a little late and as we got to the apartment we couldn't open the door! My companion had to use the restroom real bad, so after 10 minutes of trying we decided to ask one of our neighbors who was out walking in the halls. Sis.Nielson said, "hey we are locked out of our apartment and I really have to use the restroom, so would it be all right if I could use yours?" Well she said, "no, sorry, your can't" haha oh it was so funny, but not at the same time because of how bad she had to go! 

So we called our apartment manager and it's like 10:15 pm.  He was not happy.   He must have thought we were not smart at opening doors, so he came 45 minuets later and tried... He couldn't even get it. Turns out the lock was broken!  We had to drive all the way back home get his drill and that still didn't do the trick. Mean while we were just out side watching his car to make sure he didn't get a ticket because he was parked in the middle of the street. Then he comes out and is like" I have to get my truck" he comes back and has a ladder!!! He tells us he is going to our neighbors house and sticking the ladder from their window to our bathroom window to try and get in! But he says that my companion is going to climb it! Mind you, he is mad, so he is probably serious during this. But then he was like, "Ladies, can you do me a favor? Can you go outside.   You're making me nervous." 

Well yeah! I was nervous! Who does that? Climbing from window to window with a ladder?? 

Anyways I guess that didn't work out, so he went back home, grabbed his electric saw, and came back and sawed at our door. We were outside watching his car again listening to this saw cutting down our door. We finally got in at 12. I loved it, my bed. 

The next day we had a great opportunity to clean the beach! It was super windy and cold, but really fun. I loved being on the beach. :)

But it was a wonderful week full of wonderful opportunities to talk to lots of people and teach. I love being here in the city and I love being a missionary. It's hard work, but you get used to it. 

I hope you all have a great week, and I love and miss you very much. 

Keep on keepin on! 

Love, sister tincher 

In the Big City

So this week has been THE BEST! As you know I am in Chicago! We cover The Loop, Sears Tower, the "bean", the magnificent mile, and everything else touristy haha. I know that everyone is jealoussss! But it's great, because there are people EVERYWHERE!!!! So this means we have so many more opportunities to talk and teach people. 

My new companion is Sister, Nielson she is from Highland/Alpine.  And yes she went to Lone Peak, but I have never met/seen her in my life haha. So it's all good! She is really cool and we will get along great. She has been in the area for six months now, so it's about time she will be leaving. She is teaching me all the train and bus routes in six weeks so I can take over! AH! It's all good.  She said I am getting it down pretty good, so we will see ... Haha it's nerve racking, but I am already loving everyone so it should work out. 

 In this area the ward changes a lot, but it's still great.  We meet in a school house at the moment, but the church has bought some land to build a church... Some time in the future... No one knows... Haha 

We do lots of work with less actives, and we have two investigators. One is on date for the begging of May, but he is almost engaged... So he is going out to Arizona to get baptized! Not here :/ I got to meet him this week. Then at Church I got to meet the other, he is really awesome and quite knowledgeable. He says before he is baptized he is going to read all of the standard works! So... You see, he likes to have his facts. But I got to meet him and he said some quite wonderful and intelligent comments is gospel essentials. There is a less active, who served a mission and is actually starting to come back to church! It's so cool, he came to a dinner appointment with us yesterday. We are trying to get him more acquainted with the ward. And there are a couple recent converts in the ward. I love hearing all their stories of finding the church. They are all incredible and I am looking forward to working with them! 

As you have probably noticed, the church came out with a new video about Christ.  easter.mormon.org   This was for Easter and to help remember that "because of him" ___ where are you today? I loved it, we were in encouraged to share it with as many people as possible. So we did! And it was great, it was strong and powerful. Especially for me because I watched it so much. But has you watch this video, what do you think of for yourself. How has Christ coming here to atone for us, and him living on the earth, dying and coming back to life-- in all his perfection affected you? 

I know that because Christ lives, we can continue to live and the guilt that comes because of our sins can cease to exists helping us continue to grow in our faith in Christ. 

Have a good week!

Love, Sister Tincher

 So the pictures of the food and stuff is what

an old Filipino last made us.., just the two us us to eat!!!!! Oh my

goodness! I was sick from this adventure, I still can't fathom how

this occurred... Hahaha

Transfer Time

Dear Family and Friends.

 

Transfer call came and I am being transferred to Downtown Chicago! (North side.) I am going to miss this area I have been here for so long, but it just flew by. The ward here is absolutely the best. I swear you don't get any better than this ward. I have learned a lot about how ward families should function, as well as hard work. I can't wait to start something new, it's exciting!

 

This week we were able to teach a part member family. It was pretty cool. We called her to set up a time to meet with her, but she was busy with work, and said that she would try and call us to set up an appointment the next day. Well usually when this happens there is a 90% chance they don't call back... well she actually did!

 

We got to meet with her, and it was such a powerful experience. She brought up baptism. The thing is she said that she is looking for a sign, so we asked her what kind of signs she is looking for. She explained to use that we will feel it in our hearts, calmness or peace. then she said I feel this way as we go to church. Then out of the blue she explained "and I think he can give us signs through our dreams." she went on to tell us about an amazing dream she had. I was stunned. She ended it saying, "I know you want me to be baptized, but I am NOT ready!".

 

Here is my thinking. How many times do we get signs in our daily life the we are looking for to guide us to help us make decisions? And have we already receive our answers?

Our Heavenly Father is so merciful he is willing to help us in the ways we ask in order to return to Him, but if we are not humble enough to follow these prompting and sign we are asking for. Then we may need to step back and re think what we are asking and what we are expecting to get. I know with all my heart that God, our Father answers prayers. He is so aware of each and everyone of us and if we ask in righteousness, believing that we will receive then it will be given to us.  

 

So we have been working with a less active for a while, since I have come here... But he has started to come! He is a single guy that loves math and physics and such hahaha. He came to every session of conference, including priesthood!!! And then he came to church this past Sunday! Haha we went by to visit him, and said we would give him some Oreo cookies if he came, haha I think that is what helped him give in ;) But it was fast and testimony meeting and a new member of the church of confirmed with the Holy Ghost! So it was such a good meeting, and it was perfect for him to be at. Now he is coming to a lesson with us tonight. It's way exciting to see and I can't wait to see things progress.

 

Well next time you hear from me I will be in the City of Chicago! I love you and miss you. I hope you have a wonderful week!

 

Keep on Keepin on :)

Love, Sister Tincher

 Sisters and Jen

 Sister Tincher and Sister Bishop

 District and Ward Mission Leader

Conference and Service

Hello Family and Friends!

 

This week as been wonderful, just like every week out here in the mission. First off it was conference! It was great and we were able to have investigators there with us which was wonderful.

So this week we had a couple opportunities to serve there is this one place we got to called Feed My Starving Children. What we do is like fill bags with rice and all this other stuff for third world countries that have starving children. Our whole district goes and every time we try and beat the number of boxes we pack. There is like 36 bags of food in a box. And we packed 32 boxes! Whoo!

 

Yesterday we found out there was this less active in the Hospital. The Elders gave her a blessing and told us to go by and see her. It was really special and good to have that opportunity to visit her. As we sat and talked to her she told us about all the things that have happened to her in her life and all of the injuries she has had... which was a lot! And the things that struck me was how happy she was and the out look on life she had. She was still happy and was not bitter. It made me think about our circumstances and about what a lady from out ward said, "You don't have to look to far to find somebody a lot worse off than you." So true, and so sad. We shared a message with her and emphasized that God knows us, and our strengths. He gives us nothing that we can not handle, yet sometimes I think he gives us things that we almost can't handle, so that we learn to handle them. It's all in the Lords hands, and time. I walked away from that room really understanding the quality of gratitude.

 

Later that day we got to go tracting! We both felt impressed to tract this street so as we started we met a man who said we are welcome to come back (That's a big deal!) Then we came to another house, and this guy comes out and just starts quizin us! Sometimes/most of the time they think they are coming up with these great questions that are stumping us. Its never the case, it's just us trying to figure out how we will answer the questions, you see the Gospel of Jesus Christ has the answers to everything. It's so fortunate. you don't need to look so hard to find the why we are hear, what we are doing, whats going on, where are we going, because through revelation we have been shown these answers and now its up to use to figure out how we can do our best to follow the commandments. We tried to teach this guys, he had some very thought out philosophies, but the truth is,  he is still looking! We gave him a Book of Mormon and a chapter to read, and he just said, "I don't need a book to tell me how to live, I am an observer." Some things have be learned the hard way.

 

I am so thankful that we have living day prophets and apostles who honor the priesthood. I am so thankful that we have  honorable priesthood holders in out church as well. This is why we are able to continue to have His Gospel on the earth. It is only through him and the revelation we receive that allows truth to be here. I love you and I miss you. I have you have a wonderful week and will talk to you soon :)

Love, Sister Tincher

Sisters at the Chicago Temple