tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58199182724550593062024-02-18T19:47:00.878-08:00Callie's Mission BlogSister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-87733352940314116332013-02-18T15:43:00.002-08:002013-02-18T15:49:36.821-08:00I'm coming home...<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As my last email home, I wanted to include the lyrics to one of my favorite missionary songs. </span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Mostly because it perfectly explains how I am feeling today. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<u>THE HARDEST THING I EVER LOVED TO DO</u></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
"The hardest thing I ever had to do</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
was letting go of everything I ever knew.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
19 years of dreams left in my room</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
as I buttoned up the jacket of my suit.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
The hardest words I've ever loved to say,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
was goodbye to my Mom and walk away.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Choking on my tie and on my tears,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
as I walked down the hall into those years.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
And the sweetest song I've ever loved to sing</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
filled the MTC on angels wings,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
and the chorus filled my soul 5,000 strong, </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
and I wished it would just go on and on.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
The firmest hand I ever loved to shake,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
was my trainer's with that big grin on his face.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
He grabbed my bag and put his arm 'round me, and whispered </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
"I'm gonna work those Mr. Mac's right off your feet!"</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
And the hardest words I ever anguished for</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
came just before some lady slammed the door.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
And my trainer left me hangin' out to dry,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
as a minute of painful silence rode right by.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
But the hardest tears I ever loved to cry,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
fell as I opened up my mouth and testified.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Between the tiny walls of a strangers living room</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
the spirit told their hearts my words were true.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
And the most wonderful sound I've ever heard</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
is the sound of water running in the church!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
As someone I've come to love got dressed in white,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
my eyes saw their first glimpse of heaven's light.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
The hardest thing I've ever come to see</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
is a man down on his knees in agony.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
A drop of blood falls down on olives leaves,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
and for a moment, He suffers there for me.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
The hardest thing I ever loved to do</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
is getting on this plane, and commin' home to you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
In a million ways completely torn apart,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
as a lands so far away still owns my heart.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
In the most sincere prayer I've ever prayed,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
I thank my God for each and every day</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
for the blessing of the man I've come to be </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
as I walk up and kiss my Momma's cheek."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
I am so blessed to have this mission. Something I didn't know about missions before I came on one was how it expanded me as a person. Sure, I knew that I would come home with a stronger testimony, maybe some awesome close companion friends. But I never thought about other ways it would stretch me. I've learned to be a better cook. I completely changed my style of fashion. I learned medical tips. I increased my knowledge of myself and my personality. I learned much more about what I want for my future family. I suffered heartbreaks because of having Charity. I learned to get along with others, despite our differences. I've learned to keep myself accountable to my mistakes and repent. I learned to love unconditionally. I have learned to be flexible when things don't go as planned! I learned to let other people serve me, and many more things I'm sure I don't even realize.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
I've added up a few totals for my whole mission. I do not say all of this to boast, but rather to give praise to my Heavenly Father for all of these experiences!!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Ive taught a total of 436 lessons to nonmembers</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Ive taught a total of 142 lessons to less active members</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
I've added a total of 72 new investigators</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
I was blessed to see NINE baptisms happen</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
but I come home with ONE Savior, ONE testimony, ONE thankful heart, and NO regrets.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Signing off and getting on the airplane,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Sister Wilson<br />
<br />
Yang and Sia's baptism. Happened last night. :) Both Deaf. Sia is so flippin' short!! hahah I'm a monster!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9TKPMFp9D4JNJQieVtN-kNk0tY6jFfNUegodcY2QA_9eYuPRv2236g1vEiLNsJV-6lmPuAlwWwzxfQfvSzRwpbOz0rKOfshP6nfyVncrg0fyqSInT6-8KztRBVcLLvYWSL4qzsYVqos/s1600/wilson+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9TKPMFp9D4JNJQieVtN-kNk0tY6jFfNUegodcY2QA_9eYuPRv2236g1vEiLNsJV-6lmPuAlwWwzxfQfvSzRwpbOz0rKOfshP6nfyVncrg0fyqSInT6-8KztRBVcLLvYWSL4qzsYVqos/s200/wilson+012.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHeQoQFExNCVQVlCSTDhHNbkKkBbBJZqXSgZtPh0MPSYSwRWrRPtrJO10GlJqMDqi3uiZnjgRPBg2OhkehzphByn6TnXRiJofZqwS9oeoTZ-17qPdlIbcWjlL2XMtTxJ41ij8U3GLnGQo/s1600/wilson+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHeQoQFExNCVQVlCSTDhHNbkKkBbBJZqXSgZtPh0MPSYSwRWrRPtrJO10GlJqMDqi3uiZnjgRPBg2OhkehzphByn6TnXRiJofZqwS9oeoTZ-17qPdlIbcWjlL2XMtTxJ41ij8U3GLnGQo/s200/wilson+015.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
<br />
This is Dominick's marriage to Mickey and then her baptism.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMa8igVaYskT7oIQ6JKnl9XK1kg9KcklEigKxiY1tg9H5ll7lTqtyIjGaP6eYo7C850tnI6sphLdOPsQF3jNUmVx3AVIvIHkc1ac9cxSoMdLWdFAULeBasEpXNWaD62nOtwtP4Iig8Xus/s1600/wilson+006.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMa8igVaYskT7oIQ6JKnl9XK1kg9KcklEigKxiY1tg9H5ll7lTqtyIjGaP6eYo7C850tnI6sphLdOPsQF3jNUmVx3AVIvIHkc1ac9cxSoMdLWdFAULeBasEpXNWaD62nOtwtP4Iig8Xus/s200/wilson+006.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkFeLHxh4evu8s9VPxjM3A6ZsNtqg3zFcCQFM4UTkcbXz3cHVplN7olw92v7Uci7CtEjDtMrI7e_lXAYOMqFJsKXjWdftdOOmyzEIicGmcNviT4QYr1p5MSeRkUVOaoZErnnMdRfQg2s/s1600/wilson+001.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkFeLHxh4evu8s9VPxjM3A6ZsNtqg3zFcCQFM4UTkcbXz3cHVplN7olw92v7Uci7CtEjDtMrI7e_lXAYOMqFJsKXjWdftdOOmyzEIicGmcNviT4QYr1p5MSeRkUVOaoZErnnMdRfQg2s/s200/wilson+001.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5C3rNrWY6Rd9gbzQgLIS1oRxuQDzbS2FBw52PyOqSdzUBXejVf0eBCWAoDUnUxnopge-31uiyb4Xjh_BC5r9RFw56n68_e9V30SOeBWfDxhXOyBJUpFfkdc7ALXtFG08TPt9nyQk138/s1600/wilson+008.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5C3rNrWY6Rd9gbzQgLIS1oRxuQDzbS2FBw52PyOqSdzUBXejVf0eBCWAoDUnUxnopge-31uiyb4Xjh_BC5r9RFw56n68_e9V30SOeBWfDxhXOyBJUpFfkdc7ALXtFG08TPt9nyQk138/s200/wilson+008.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-89559601380934028812013-02-11T21:03:00.001-08:002013-02-11T21:43:44.776-08:00my final days....I got my final piece of "trunky mail." Its 2
pages of goals that I need to fill out about coming home. (Dating,
career, school, work, how I will accomplish them all) Its been....blegh
to fill out. I'm being forced to think about and accept that I'm coming
home, and I need to start making plans for my future so I dont get stuck in
post-mission depression. I think I have a few ideas...I have my departing
interview this week with President and I have to take that paper and discuss my
future with him, so...we'll see how that goes! AAHH! DEPARTING
INTERVIEW! HOW DID I GET HERE??!!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
One of the deaf guys we taught last week said "I cant
tell if you're Deaf or hearing!" What a compliment to me. I
hope my ASL has really improved since I've come here. There are some Deaf
people that I couldn't understand at the beginning of my mission that I
can now understand when they sign back to me. Here's to a better ASL
future! Its a blessing to me that I can use this skill for the rest of my
life. (Why does all the family have to speak Spanish?? eh??
I'm a black sheep.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This week we had a Valentines Day dinner for the branch.
It was small, like all our activities, but fun. We drove and picked
up Kelly Brown (my recent convert) and got her out of the house. She's
feeling better since her hospitalization last week and it was great to help her
get out of the house. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78IMvBAYQyJ2W1deytvJslQ4D4I4aW9UUbq-6YwAx-dNzJJcQ7wc8C5iLzaW9fcKGyC0LrwXHt6ApsU-2PsTdPktiNXie7HspKkvWiLWxaN1kcHYuQMTynESs_eg9Fr3WnU4y8Ui6Rg8/s1600/wilson+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78IMvBAYQyJ2W1deytvJslQ4D4I4aW9UUbq-6YwAx-dNzJJcQ7wc8C5iLzaW9fcKGyC0LrwXHt6ApsU-2PsTdPktiNXie7HspKkvWiLWxaN1kcHYuQMTynESs_eg9Fr3WnU4y8Ui6Rg8/s200/wilson+011.jpg" width="200" /></a>My favorite thing of this week was the Sacrament meeting
benediction (given by brenda): "Dear Heavenly Father, we will miss
Sister Wilson. We love Sister Wilson. We hope she keeps contact.
With the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The end. I love you all! I should be able to
write next week...but I'm not sure. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
SEE YOU ALL IN EIGHT DAYS!!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictN-9XNCWIV6Q1IjFn_0j9CB01ZA429o_S-wZrs1hxh12bTLI1jvlL85nqV0L1MKsbh2i0foacSS0L_wStrUkKXg7MZm8PVJaoo0mp0AmKYRkKBEhypLtfiH9gZLPoDJvWbn1opCiy2c/s1600/wilson+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictN-9XNCWIV6Q1IjFn_0j9CB01ZA429o_S-wZrs1hxh12bTLI1jvlL85nqV0L1MKsbh2i0foacSS0L_wStrUkKXg7MZm8PVJaoo0mp0AmKYRkKBEhypLtfiH9gZLPoDJvWbn1opCiy2c/s200/wilson+003.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
PS.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This is the gold plates that we made out of cardboard!!
I love making stuff and spray painting it. We need to get better
rings to hold it together but our Deafies LOVED it and really understood the
gold plates! yay for inspiration! The other picture is all of my
mission planners. Wow. <o:p></o:p></div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span>Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-20924177197861328952013-02-05T21:44:00.000-08:002013-02-11T21:46:45.697-08:002 Weeks!<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hello all! </span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60jqvysvRAF7xcXcb8SP75rPSn739yO77YEaA5ZEbAqh44tK8sq9NjukHUIqWr20yAy5Xu3SB5rgapbKMV9SE2xQCzKhFISNCGIo8oPd_u0oJxDjHIQxM0yQIEH-mauFbyoXLKmRIICw/s1600/Wilson+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60jqvysvRAF7xcXcb8SP75rPSn739yO77YEaA5ZEbAqh44tK8sq9NjukHUIqWr20yAy5Xu3SB5rgapbKMV9SE2xQCzKhFISNCGIo8oPd_u0oJxDjHIQxM0yQIEH-mauFbyoXLKmRIICw/s200/Wilson+006.jpg" width="150" /></a>Wow, I cant believe I only have 2 more weeks. Time flew by really fast these past 6 months. It was a great week, though. I'm fighting off the thoughts of coming home...but they still happen. :) Yesterday was my technical 18-month mark. gah. We went to one of our less actives to visit and finally caught her at home. She opened the door, signed "go home." and shut it. You'd think that this wouldn't bother me anymore. Rejection. But it does. It still hurts. I love these people and they won't accept the gospel or blessings into their lives. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
I've been teaching one of our Deaf investigators, Molly, for basically my whole mission. She told us the other day that the J-Dubs stopped by. They found her. My heart hurts. She's going to their church on Sunday, but she really trusts us, which is good. We will continue to teach right doctrine and correct any confusing information she may be given and thats all we can do! I was released from my calling of being the exchange sister. That was sad, but I loved it while it lasted. We have too many new sister missionaries to be trained. Everybody is in trios. We had 13 new sisters come in last week and we only have 7 English sisters who can train them. So they each got 2. Wowza. Its wonderful. The mission field should be about half and half now with elders and sisters. This is wonderful news to those of you who understand how amazing Sister missionaries are! haha.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMH0iED884lIgPv2Eq7Wh-z0m0qzAeYEgrl6OD2ZYSI7Y0w6QhEIx2ILdEJ28zsYyZA3iH7Aq_oeK5NxSMEUAkMbAQJI6gL_Sowa5N6UnxDKB5_hOdoGCLq4o82Y41zx7jRZDgdlyTeA/s1600/Wilson+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMH0iED884lIgPv2Eq7Wh-z0m0qzAeYEgrl6OD2ZYSI7Y0w6QhEIx2ILdEJ28zsYyZA3iH7Aq_oeK5NxSMEUAkMbAQJI6gL_Sowa5N6UnxDKB5_hOdoGCLq4o82Y41zx7jRZDgdlyTeA/s200/Wilson+001.jpg" width="200" /></a>Its been a balmy 72 degrees here in Cali. But honestly, I will enjoy playing in the snow for a bit when I get home. Keep it there a little longer for me, okay?? Elder L. Tom Perry spoke to Northern California yesterday for a big "stake conference." It was awesome. We had it piped in with ASL for the branch. My favorite thing he said was about the new age-change for missionaries. "It caused an EARTHQUAKE at church headquarters!! Instead of the usual 2 apostles needed to do missionary assignments, we've needed 6." WOW! 6 apostles just for assigning out our mission calls! Thats so cool. Mom and Dad will get one of those soon. (right Dad?? *wink wink*)</div>
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I've been a bit teary as of late. One day, we were in the car and we started joyfully singing "Called To Serve" and I started crying. yeah...dont think that song will ever be the same. I ate dinner with my recent convert, Anne, and her best friend, Linda, who I am also very close to. We went out to eat at a Mexican restaurant and near the end of it, Linda looked at me and started crying. She thanked me for coming on a mission so that I could be the right missionary to baptize her best friend into the church. That moment alone made my whole mission worth it. </div>
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I have lost all my desires to do evil.</div>
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Love,</div>
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Sister Wink</div>
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p.s. My birthday is in the Old Testament. It was the assigned day that they appointed to kill all the Jews! (Esther 3:13) I laughed during personal study.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-81094290244367806832013-01-29T13:31:00.002-08:002013-01-29T18:24:44.199-08:00Trunky day!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzQ7wAEHQRGdZORGtAMPI1Mq0_TO5YWh6BsfuqFNaWPYtBTgJZqKdRjAYpRrlMgFwZuYDlrmrxc0ywWfBo4-EP6obJlWxS2ihetyXfTH4nZfHIIcNfE6iyFrGXT63qckwQgVitWK5szE/s1600/trunky+day+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzQ7wAEHQRGdZORGtAMPI1Mq0_TO5YWh6BsfuqFNaWPYtBTgJZqKdRjAYpRrlMgFwZuYDlrmrxc0ywWfBo4-EP6obJlWxS2ihetyXfTH4nZfHIIcNfE6iyFrGXT63qckwQgVitWK5szE/s200/trunky+day+2.jpg" width="150" /></a>Here are a few pictures from my Trunky Day! All the
departing missionaries get together and do what they call a "Trunky
Day" where we go to the temple and spend all day doing trunky things.
(except at the end, I got to go back to work for 4 weeks but they all got
on a plane the next day. hee heee) The temple was wonderful.
I sat in the celestial room for about 20 minutes with my eyes closed as I
talked silently with Heavenly Father. I havent been able to do that for a
looooong time. I've really missed it. Since it was Trunky Day, I
thought it would be alright to reminisce and remember the scripture
that helped me decide to actually serve. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrNjNj8uoIzuPbz0vfkRlfN2ULUW8eH8CKd7UkC5Qgd52mSzdUXHoX2jGWrcT66ZpcicZ3KWqrc4PCrJzJA5agjkVBw0F6c7klSVhB9Tl6rWh05VOpjut7hPqkn-VaEK9dZOjvmFw36A/s1600/trunky+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrNjNj8uoIzuPbz0vfkRlfN2ULUW8eH8CKd7UkC5Qgd52mSzdUXHoX2jGWrcT66ZpcicZ3KWqrc4PCrJzJA5agjkVBw0F6c7klSVhB9Tl6rWh05VOpjut7hPqkn-VaEK9dZOjvmFw36A/s200/trunky+day.jpg" width="200" /></a>D&C 4:3 "Therefore; if ye have desires to
serve God ye are called to the work." <o:p></o:p></div>
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I then decided to read my favorite scripture, the one I put
on my missionary plaque: <o:p></o:p></div>
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Mosiah 2: "I say unto you that if ye should serve him
who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day,
by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own
will, and even supporting you from one moment to another--I say, if ye should
serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable
servants." <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtp_9sczA0SnNh4nVBNVU-KALTgiOnjBTv7JZX67QrVrnhfiigO4wLY2xHuGEUWVCzxuyKFevM0ubqAWhtHAadW_1L72DhbROvANoa1ABqLGvnmwhjAVNqXP6gSj0gbWiYfevpDfqrhA/s1600/sister+sellers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtp_9sczA0SnNh4nVBNVU-KALTgiOnjBTv7JZX67QrVrnhfiigO4wLY2xHuGEUWVCzxuyKFevM0ubqAWhtHAadW_1L72DhbROvANoa1ABqLGvnmwhjAVNqXP6gSj0gbWiYfevpDfqrhA/s200/sister+sellers.jpg" width="200" /></a>Then, I decided to read the whole chapter because I love it
so much. I was again touched by verse 17: "And behold, I tell
you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are
in the service of your fellowbeings ye are only in the service of your
God." This mission hasnt been a service of my fellowbeings, its has
been my service to the Lord. After the temple, they gave us 2 hours of
FREE TIME. uhhh.....I dont know what to do with free time. bad
idea. But I ended up just chatting to sister Sellers. She's been
with me since the MTC. We've been through a lot together. Soon
after free time ended, we had a dinner and a testimony meeting. It was a
wonderful day. </div>
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Especially since everyone else had to end their missions,
but mine kept going. I think its the only reason I made it through was
because I could say "yeah...but I'm not done. I'm not done yet.
I still have 4 weeks!" <o:p></o:p></div>
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It was a really great week!! Remember our Ukranian
Deaf investigator?? Well, we gave her a Russian Book of Mormon and went
to visit again. SHE'S IN JACOB!!!! She can read it just fine!!
I was soooo happy. Deaf people rarely get to the point where they
can actually READ the book of mormon here, and she loves it. Now, we have
the name of a guy who speaks Russian and we're going to take him to our lessons
with her to communicate better. <o:p></o:p></div>
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DOMINICK IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!! (after she gets
married to her boyfriend who she lives with) But I get to go to both the
marriage and the baptism on Valentines day! This will be the best
Valentines Day I've ever had!! I'm soo excited for her. I taught
her for 3 transfers in Stockton. Baptisms are my favorite.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
We had another Deaf branch fast and testimony meeting.
I guarentee there are no other testimony meetings like the ones in the
Sacramento Deaf branch. We have everyone come up and give travel logs and
whatever else they want to say. (We're working on it!) My favorite
testimony came from Stuart, a severely mentally handicapped Deaf man who sneaks
into the nursery and steals the snacks when nobody knows where he went.
He stood up in front and said "Jesus. Jesus Christ. You
friend, church church church, church, church, I love you. Amen."
He's going straight to the Celestial Kingdom. <o:p></o:p><br />
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We added a new investigator this week, her name is Laura.
She's Deaf and shes also schizophrenic. She called us one
night on our VP and she was very concerned that her Dad was going to hell
because he killed a cat. We explained forgiveness and that her Father, in
his anger, could be forgiven of Heavenly Father. Oh, how the gospel
brings peace to people who dont understand such simple concepts like Heavenly Father's
love. The church is true!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4pUisIQeLruQy0ew_zlt9ChawzE6BaktX8D3VW3UaKUvk2r5sNvvpdRjy8kTHZocsGKRmmJ9o0uT2oj9xPOQ1yskHYzWcsGn3h1ZDnz0sy3v8F6fCmvrTv9f8n_-i_ujyayRhYqjXcE/s1600/akers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4pUisIQeLruQy0ew_zlt9ChawzE6BaktX8D3VW3UaKUvk2r5sNvvpdRjy8kTHZocsGKRmmJ9o0uT2oj9xPOQ1yskHYzWcsGn3h1ZDnz0sy3v8F6fCmvrTv9f8n_-i_ujyayRhYqjXcE/s320/akers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Time is passing by quickly! AAAAHHH!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Love,<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Wilson<o:p></o:p><br />
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Randomness:<o:p></o:p></div>
*I got asked if I was a nun again. pah.<o:p></o:p><br />
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*I'm reading the Old Testament cover to cover and I
officially reached the halfway mark. lets hope I can actually accomplish
this goal of mine. halfway mark took FOREVER to get to...<o:p></o:p></div>
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*So, I forgot to tell you a crazy story from last week!
As were driving in the car, I pulled into the suicide lane ready to turn
left. There weren't any cars coming, but there were 2 men crossing the
street, so I had to wait. They noticed that I couldn't turn until they
crossed the street, so they started jogging to get across a little quicker.
I thought it was a very nice gesture, so I gave them the Utah
"thank-you" wave. Well, apparently, the Utah
"thank-you" wave means "Take me, I'm YOURS!" in California.
I drove down the street and they both turned around and started following
my car, waving and smiling at me!! I was confused for a second, until I
realized that they thought I had flagged them down! They thought I was
hitting on them! I started screaming because I didn't know what to do!
"Sister Acker!! They're following us! They're following
us, Sister!! What do we do?!?" I didn't want them to follow us
into the apartment complex! Then, I realized that they were on foot and I
was in a car. And I could drive away really quickly with no harm done.
So I did. Oh my. No more "thank you" waves will
come from THIS arm for the next month!!<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-54798927488244282372013-01-23T21:34:00.000-08:002013-02-11T21:39:49.211-08:00I Love Sacramento!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEenMNup6mrP_fiyg5qKyGNF29vIKU6D2oNROHHACyCqU45jMfMwxW0iG6fAWaWurl1iCFEnm6ShUesdpyuh98AFRHtYcswxuiRhTqCVLsM5gN8Kmyhp45fBiRofdYcKD2qz4L2MA6Zg/s1600/wilsonpic+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEenMNup6mrP_fiyg5qKyGNF29vIKU6D2oNROHHACyCqU45jMfMwxW0iG6fAWaWurl1iCFEnm6ShUesdpyuh98AFRHtYcswxuiRhTqCVLsM5gN8Kmyhp45fBiRofdYcKD2qz4L2MA6Zg/s1600/wilsonpic+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>What a great week!! Sister Acker and I have been truckin along and I'm doing really well at NOT being trunky! :) She's keeping me hard at work! The weather has been really nice, in the 50's to 60's all week, I walk around without my coat most the time. This January has been really warm and dry, but I'm not complaining especially since I keep hearing about Utah being in the single digits! Whoo cold! Brrrrr! We went to breakfast this morning with the zone, here's a picture of me and my comp!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEenMNup6mrP_fiyg5qKyGNF29vIKU6D2oNROHHACyCqU45jMfMwxW0iG6fAWaWurl1iCFEnm6ShUesdpyuh98AFRHtYcswxuiRhTqCVLsM5gN8Kmyhp45fBiRofdYcKD2qz4L2MA6Zg/s1600/wilsonpic+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEenMNup6mrP_fiyg5qKyGNF29vIKU6D2oNROHHACyCqU45jMfMwxW0iG6fAWaWurl1iCFEnm6ShUesdpyuh98AFRHtYcswxuiRhTqCVLsM5gN8Kmyhp45fBiRofdYcKD2qz4L2MA6Zg/s200/wilsonpic+003.jpg" width="200" /></a>I woke up the other day with a bad migraine and during our morning workout, I started to go blind. I blame my mother's genetics for getting migraines. I chugged a mountain dew for breakfast and went back to bed. It knocked me out for the whole day. But I was up and running again the next day and back to normal. Wow, I feel like I've been sick a lot this past transfer! Then, on Sunday, our branch president was sick. And he has no counselors Which meant that nobody had the authority to run a Sacrament Meeting. hahaha. We all sat there for a long time while until the stake president finally answered his phone and approved another man to hold the meeting. I hope the branch can get more priesthood soon. <br />
<br />
As for my recent convert, Kelly Brown (The paralyzed one), she was driving along a road the other night in her wheelchair and didn't quite catch the curb. She fell of the side of the curb into the road, and if that weren't enough, into a DITCH. It was dark, and she had a 5 year old girl with her who was holding a flashlight. Kelly obviously couldnt do anything to stop herself and her 200 pound wheelchair from falling into the ditch, and she hit her head against the cement wall. The little girl with the flashlight, Crissa, waved it in circles and circles and yelled for help until a car pulled over and called 911. We went to visit Kelly in the hospital and she got a blessing from elder Hudnor and Walter Price. She was happy to see us, and she was smiling, but she has bleeding in between her skull and her brain, and might need surgery. We'll see. (*sidenote* THEY DIDNT PROVIDE AN INTERPRETER FOR HER IN THE ICU. Frustrated sister wilson!)<br />
<br />
On a more positive note, I get to go to the temple tomorrow!! (because I'm going home. Its my departing temple trip with all the other people who are going home) The whole day is just going to the temple, eating with the mission president and his wife, and chillin' with all the other people who go home. Except, they all leave on Thursday, and I stay another 4 weeks. :) I'm actually really happy that I wont be sobbing yet. I can thoroughly enjoy this last party and remain emotionally in tact because I still have a month. haha. <br />
<br />
I love you all, thanks for the encouragement of helping me endure to the end, it helps. Don't stop writing me!<br />
<br />
Love, Sister Wink<br />
<br />
Bunches of random stuff:<br />
*We were allowed to have a facebook presence for the deaf branch. We already have 8 Deaf friends. YAY!<br />
*Its a little chilly, so the other day I decided to wear fuzzy socks under my black nylons. I looked slightly like I had cankles, but I didnt care because my feet were warm. Yeah....its time to come home and start caring about how I look again....<br />
*Our investigator, Paula, had her window busted through with a rock. yay for drunk men.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFobma20HgnEiLqn7G1wzbSlDY9rZnQYVgy5Mlio9VPWbypmBDQuQni3IVS-qC5c6iCBHv8VosuusMLG2B_ebLmytHLMD3dDRKUsr4qUtBnucDdlDJfLZC5FolI5ZIwJPyDkoxNGYMTA/s1600/wilsonpic+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFobma20HgnEiLqn7G1wzbSlDY9rZnQYVgy5Mlio9VPWbypmBDQuQni3IVS-qC5c6iCBHv8VosuusMLG2B_ebLmytHLMD3dDRKUsr4qUtBnucDdlDJfLZC5FolI5ZIwJPyDkoxNGYMTA/s200/wilsonpic+001.jpg" width="200" /></a>*We finally got our fireplace to work and burned a fire one morning. No smoke billowed into our apartment because we remembered to open the flue.<br />
*Story: the other day, we were sitting at an "enter" gate and waiting for another car to let us go into an apartment complex. There was another car in front of us waiting as well. One other car came out the "exit" gate and the car in front of us thought he could make it through, but as he floored it, he didn't quite clear the bar on the side and dented the whole side of his passenger door. Ouch. Probably no less than $1,000 worth of damage. 30 seconds later, another car let us in. I'm glad for the Christlike attribute of patience! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-38126067798670701682013-01-18T15:59:00.003-08:002013-01-18T23:18:17.237-08:00Transfers!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9GW0IWSkq8zEL_rt-Ni5T1_gB7VV5zwUxXzj92tTxTGPxW5pKAJ6suO4S6eY2Cd0EVgX3y1uK99r-5Plgjrr29GU361O-iI38kstJndMwA1zEg7wgZJkhciaaFizf8pb0IhzMHyHswU/s1600/wilsonpic+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9GW0IWSkq8zEL_rt-Ni5T1_gB7VV5zwUxXzj92tTxTGPxW5pKAJ6suO4S6eY2Cd0EVgX3y1uK99r-5Plgjrr29GU361O-iI38kstJndMwA1zEg7wgZJkhciaaFizf8pb0IhzMHyHswU/s200/wilsonpic+009.jpg" width="200" /></a>So....as it turns out the closer I get to the end...the less
I seem to have to say in my emails. I dont know why. We had a CRAZY
surprise this week!! Sister Oliphant was emergency transferred away from
me. :( boooo. But I got Sister Acker as my new companion!!!
She's been in Stockton, and now she joined me in the deaf branch!
Sister Acker is from West Jordan, UT. She's the youngest in her
family, too, and we love each other. She wants to be an interpreter after
her mission, and her sign is really good. So, she will kill me off
through these last few weeks I have. *gasp* Sister Acker is a bit
more shy than I am used to my companions being, but shes very sweet and she is
excited to work with our little deaf branch. Sister Oliphant and Sister
Sellers are now in a trio with the new MTC baby, Sister Repman! (Sister
Repman was born deaf, but she has a cochlear implant.)<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiDmnw0rirHPUb6vWK8WeGiNqH2REe0Ye0lP-eoCf9Rjdp03fv3b9kPXB3uLOGjKhOuY7FIMCGRJHFU-rMiQi5o9DNl5vl_nI43GPiZ5m_jPYjzAAErEehLtozk3XRAoK8XR1e5S_5ow/s1600/wilsonpic+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiDmnw0rirHPUb6vWK8WeGiNqH2REe0Ye0lP-eoCf9Rjdp03fv3b9kPXB3uLOGjKhOuY7FIMCGRJHFU-rMiQi5o9DNl5vl_nI43GPiZ5m_jPYjzAAErEehLtozk3XRAoK8XR1e5S_5ow/s200/wilsonpic+003.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCbNk3MElbCtIqUfq3G0idvG7nktBLXJ0rH1cpsUkIJ5vo9srSs7ynZrZRCTTk-aDuH9zXuvd2Y8jSLqcGYXlrX3QrhtGvpvA2GxUemgTxZhOAHYFR1BeaYGNi_INV_Cw_0Q5EQQV-0o/s1600/wilsonpic+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCbNk3MElbCtIqUfq3G0idvG7nktBLXJ0rH1cpsUkIJ5vo9srSs7ynZrZRCTTk-aDuH9zXuvd2Y8jSLqcGYXlrX3QrhtGvpvA2GxUemgTxZhOAHYFR1BeaYGNi_INV_Cw_0Q5EQQV-0o/s200/wilsonpic+004.jpg" width="200" /></a>I did exchanges this week with another Islander from
Kiribati, Sister Angimarau. She demanded that she braided my hair for the
day, so I let her. Pretty cool, eh? I told her I liked French
braids and she responded with "no Russian!!" So, apparently,
this is the way they braid in Russia. Other than that, this week was
pretty uneventful. We taught the gospel, which is still AMAZINGLY AWESOME
to do, and we bore testimony! yay! We currently have 5 Deaf
investigators, but its so hard to get them to be able to come to church!!
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnY4VTjZGV6Uwte5Vzw9opUnLLu8xIUHJJmrvZ0LHIZPlufcHHNaMGbZ54CtE9nUe5IHNmQxlscSl65XXQ5mlc4om5z5MevvWbG8Oz4kYA4cftlRqFUumdMD5yrRsY5W3Iu6aA7Egz6k/s1600/wilsonpic+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnY4VTjZGV6Uwte5Vzw9opUnLLu8xIUHJJmrvZ0LHIZPlufcHHNaMGbZ54CtE9nUe5IHNmQxlscSl65XXQ5mlc4om5z5MevvWbG8Oz4kYA4cftlRqFUumdMD5yrRsY5W3Iu6aA7Egz6k/s200/wilsonpic+008.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvXig6J63BlZpb-kU-Ix2ppXD8SVzkB6KLrzlRU3Pnpabqw68olosYfmidI5lD4uZPUuNIWziugDqcXK28gJhJXza2DGjp4v0Tael8kgbkb0U6Hf6Ktm7zccwYc7YySsxSuB7bxGTlbY/s1600/wilsonpic+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvXig6J63BlZpb-kU-Ix2ppXD8SVzkB6KLrzlRU3Pnpabqw68olosYfmidI5lD4uZPUuNIWziugDqcXK28gJhJXza2DGjp4v0Tael8kgbkb0U6Hf6Ktm7zccwYc7YySsxSuB7bxGTlbY/s200/wilsonpic+002.jpg" width="150" /></a>This is a picture of all the ASL sisters together and my
beautiful roommates who just teach in English. I love all these
friendships I've been able to make on the mission. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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Love, <o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Wink<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-12792466460288039122013-01-07T12:19:00.002-08:002013-01-07T13:00:19.253-08:00No bones and sicknessHello loved ones! A few crazy stories from this week:<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
-A few days ago, we were sitting on the floor and looking at
the Deaf people on our wall that we could visit. I saw a piece of lint on
the ground and a few other large pieces of garbage and figured I'd pick them up
and throw them away. I picked up the black piece of lint and realized it
was exceedingly wet. Instinctively, I dropped it right away and watched
it wither and die because it was really a spider. Yup. I popped
open a spider with my two fingers. He died. I shuddered for the next
hour and scrubbed my hands with soap and water.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7yYfpDeZ8KmhuFLlj8i0NZG37WgJkUu1sw6juwxbKeZlSlKodJfA0-7KbSexZgRTukRuoSA3ZRSU0zu3g_L3X3yBAWcwcqoEiAXmUPIIaIhwNLCWA9SWUdh3KdtOwT2QwNpOcQUHJ6g/s1600/wilsonpic+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7yYfpDeZ8KmhuFLlj8i0NZG37WgJkUu1sw6juwxbKeZlSlKodJfA0-7KbSexZgRTukRuoSA3ZRSU0zu3g_L3X3yBAWcwcqoEiAXmUPIIaIhwNLCWA9SWUdh3KdtOwT2QwNpOcQUHJ6g/s200/wilsonpic+006.jpg" width="200" /></a>-That same day, we left our apartment and saw a SNAKE!
I took pictures to show you, he was red and tiny and cute. He wasnt
moving very fast because it was cold outside...<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
-The elders play this RIDICULOUS game called
"no bones." One elder will walk up to another one and poke him
with his finger and say "NO BONES!" Instantly, the other elder
has to fall to the ground as if his body has no bones. The game usually
breaks out with the office elders and AP's. Its very entertaining to
watch because they will fall on top of each other without mercy. They
tell us stories of how they play it at home in their apartment and when one
elder is boneless, the other ones will do crazy stuff to him like rub
toothpaste on his face and shove stuff in his mouth and he cant do anything
about it because he has no bones. You can only get bones if someone pokes
you again and says "bones." So on New Years eve, because the
sisters were all in jeans for our zone activity, a crazy epic game of no bones
broke out and all of us were falling to the floor. Oh elders.
Normally, they avoid the sisters like we have leprosy, but we had a
great time that night, within mission boundaries of course! Little do
they know that without bones, you would be DEAF. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mTsznWVUmljZZPwqxC4GnGyJaR0JOG6xcCGWTOGMyhPXznFiouDkRgsVMEyVu9LSQA2N9leiyrlRscrTHZ2zHkOFKS80g-cgip_fD79J964zR2AF2URSr-HlwRgSLfr7WogsaHSYuTk/s1600/wilsonpic+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mTsznWVUmljZZPwqxC4GnGyJaR0JOG6xcCGWTOGMyhPXznFiouDkRgsVMEyVu9LSQA2N9leiyrlRscrTHZ2zHkOFKS80g-cgip_fD79J964zR2AF2URSr-HlwRgSLfr7WogsaHSYuTk/s200/wilsonpic+011.jpg" width="150" /></a>-All the sister missionaries in our zone were sick this
week. All 6 of us. There's a really bad cold-bug going around all
the missionaries and even our mission nurse has it. I stayed in for 2
days coughing and sleeping a lot. Bleagh. Sister O and I did
facials because one of the senior sisters gave us this expensive mud-clay stuff
and said it was good for our skin. I feel the same. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7THX5h9CiOTn05cc5G4jrTqdRGolUxzai80aHrhAG_q_p6NcW-x0-CBAv-mTtEBPeIsJB9uy92ULQ3QIK6HsylrtNS5sPL4a4pETC1hPCaemULGMWX1lA_x7hysAfsGELJwag6S_uHU/s1600/wilsonpic+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7THX5h9CiOTn05cc5G4jrTqdRGolUxzai80aHrhAG_q_p6NcW-x0-CBAv-mTtEBPeIsJB9uy92ULQ3QIK6HsylrtNS5sPL4a4pETC1hPCaemULGMWX1lA_x7hysAfsGELJwag6S_uHU/s200/wilsonpic+001.jpg" width="200" /></a>I did exchanges with Sister Vaughan (picture). She
knows Marci and Aaron so its funny because we always talk about them when we
see each other. She's a fairly young missionary here, and it's fun to see her
grow and develop as a new missionary. Its fun to do exchanges with
different sister missionaries in our mission, I love it!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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That was basically my week. Not much else. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Love,<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Wilson<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
P.S. for those who don't know, I officially fly home on
February 19th. So you can continue to write/email me until then.<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span>Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-79949346468686577652013-01-07T12:17:00.002-08:002013-01-07T12:26:52.533-08:00Merry Christmas part 2Hello peoples of mostly Utah!! Where did the time go??
It kinda hit me yesterday that I basically only have one transfer left.
I freaked out a little. Moving on...<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Christmas Eve: We had a zone activity that night and did a
white elephant exchange with the elders. It was fun, then we came home
and pulled our 4 mattresses into the front room and made a fort out of sheets
that we then slept under!! Christmas morning we woke up and immediately
started a fire in our fireplace (yes we had approval!) because we thought a
fire on Christmas morning would be fun! One problem with starting a fire
in your wood-burning fireplace on Christmas morning: you need to remember to
open the flue. Smoke came billowing into our living room but we couldn't
open the flue because our hands would get burned!! So, we set off the
smoke alarm at 6:30am and opened all the doors and froze to death until the
fire finally died and stopped smoking with the help of some water. It was
a grand adventure. Then we opened our packages from home and washed our
bedding because it smelled like smoke. (the smell of smoke doesnt really
bother me anymore, though, I'm kinda around it a lot as a missionary!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Christmas Day: After we got ready, we went to eat Christmas
breakfast with one of the senior sisters! Obviously, the best part of my
day was skyping with the family!! The rest of our day was pretty chill.
We did nothing except write letters and talk. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This week was pretty chill as well, we were able to add a
new hearing investigator because she doesnt want elders. Thats always fun
to teach in English again. She's a sweet black lady named Johnnie with 3
children. There was yet ANOTHER lady down south that didnt want to be
taught by elders named Lorie, so we picked her up too! So...we are
teaching two people in English!! Yay for English! Except I cant
speak it very well anymore...I say things backwards sometimes. So, we get
to teach them, but obviously, they dont come to the deaf branch, they go to
their own hearing wards. Should be some bapamatisms commin up soon for
us!! Kathy the used-to-be Wiccan is doing very well since her baptism.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
New Years Eve: We started with rootbeer floats because sister
Oliphant got to break her LAST years resolution of no soda. So we chugged
soda and then we were exactly obedient and in bed by 10:30 with the light off.
But we may have stayed up until midnight talking on purpose, just because
it was new years eve. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Not much else to say! I miss you all! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sister Wilson<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-39739167052314887022012-12-24T17:56:00.001-08:002012-12-24T22:26:25.316-08:00Merry Christmas!Happy Christmas from Cali!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Honestly, missionary work has slowed down because of the
holidays. People tell us to come back "after the holidays" or
that they're busy until January. okay. During the end of the world
on Friday, the 21st, I was in the temple. Talk about the best place to be
for the apocalypse, right?? We had a temple conference with all the
missionaries and got to do an endowment session, it was amazing. I miss
the temple so much. I want to go all the time when I come home. We
live so close to the temples there and don't visit them often enough. Now
that I <i>cant</i> go as often as I'd like to, I wish I had gone more when
I had the chance! Santa Clause came on Saturday and passed out all of our
packages from home. Or...I mean from him. He came early. :)
I have had enough patience to let them sit under the tree though I've
been very tempted to open them. I'm being a good girl! <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qW1fEchIgu5ZXal_8mzW2Mmcx2b-1bPPIckBq-alvm-MIoKk429JQc0jx3SwZmKWQMltN4hY3rFPgD-VKgIRlMir8yjRMtgPBRh7p7xCqaTyz_S0n0vz0PKOPQRpqg51pI9hrpFK6Tc/s1600/christmas+in+carmichael.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qW1fEchIgu5ZXal_8mzW2Mmcx2b-1bPPIckBq-alvm-MIoKk429JQc0jx3SwZmKWQMltN4hY3rFPgD-VKgIRlMir8yjRMtgPBRh7p7xCqaTyz_S0n0vz0PKOPQRpqg51pI9hrpFK6Tc/s320/christmas+in+carmichael.jpg" width="320" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Well, there isn't much to say today. And I will see
you all tomorrow....so....here's a random fact: Sister Hudnor (the Deaf
branch senior missionary) lived in Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. Literally.
And she said the whole tv show is real. Its really his house, he
really lives there, they film it all in his neighborhood, and they visit the
surrounding factories to see how stuff is made. I was amazed and very
excited to learn that. Sister Hudnor is so much more cool now. </div>
<br /><o:p></o:p>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
My mother sent me two text messages on my phone this week.
I about had a heart attack. (I have ideas about who gave her my
phone number, but receiving texts from home is NOT a good idea for me! I
love you, Mom, but dont make me trunky!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I was reflecting on my mission the other day and I am so
blessed and grateful to have come on one. I'm glad Heavenly Father waited
patiently for me to agree to serve. I love being a missionary! I
will see you all tomorrow around 1pm!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
Love,<o:p></o:p><br />
Sister Wilson<o:p></o:p>Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-13153093918462761612012-12-18T14:10:00.004-08:002012-12-18T20:52:10.680-08:00my birthday week<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70LRYb3fGQ-AB-c_n9R43Advg-2BszSbjxGsVl5ufvEB2BVVrZova6DCvcRa_0nnc354a-If6x1NVLX7w8OSrdZ8Yg0WgKIaXnRCrJLC_ar-oitSDCsmY0vXIX1akPEIkvDhi13GrTMk/s1600/my+birthday+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70LRYb3fGQ-AB-c_n9R43Advg-2BszSbjxGsVl5ufvEB2BVVrZova6DCvcRa_0nnc354a-If6x1NVLX7w8OSrdZ8Yg0WgKIaXnRCrJLC_ar-oitSDCsmY0vXIX1akPEIkvDhi13GrTMk/s320/my+birthday+banner.jpg" width="320" /></a>My birthday was great! as great as a birthday can be
on a mission, anyway! This amazing friend of ours, Marsha, made us
cupcakes and she gave me my favorite gift: a phone call telling me where RYLEE
IS GOING ON HER MISSION!! I'm sooo happy for my niece, Rylee!!
Houston Texas mission already has 2 of my friends and now it will have my
niece. I'm not sure, however, how I feel about missing her completely.
She enters the MTC 8 days before I get home. erg. Maybe
they'll let me chat with her for an hour. Or I'll just walk in with my
name tag on and meet her. I was hoping we could talk for hours before she
left, but I guess not! I also got tons of great presents and packages
from home on the birthday, thanks all of you!! Sister Oliphant made a
banner and hung it over my desk!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We had a Deaf branch ASL Christmas dinner last Friday.
We had 34 Deaf nonmembers there!! Holy cow! Most of them are
just friends of our members or they heard about free food or whatever, but we
were so happy to have all of them come. The dinner went really well and
hopefully they were touched enough to be more curious about our church!
Our Deaf investigator Leon came, and he missed his bus home, so he sat
outside at the bus stop after the Christmas party until midnight. It was freezing
cold, too. We didnt know until the next morning but we felt bad!
Hopefully he will come to church soon. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I spoke in Sacrament meeting with a 3 minute warning.
Our branch president doesnt really prepare people to give talks, we just
all have to be ready each Sunday. Its kind of annoying, but I did it
anyway. He just said "give a talk. and relate it to
Christmas." okay. So I did. Yay for impromptu talks.
Speaking of Sunday in the Deaf branch, here are my two favorite quotes
from our Sunday School lesson on the Milennium: <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
"I dont care when Jesus comes, I'll already be
dead."<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
"When the morning of the first resurrection happens,
all the Deaf people wont hear the rooster crow, so we'll all sleep in!"<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZxkuas2c2lOiBKniN4nvyQSVTydvST4aphAc6AItTlyEDdeiywvmwAA-Sn6acTGxj7qN_0BYMLyGmj4Pg-NyB8BnDQOOBUy8LH7ijQXgqihAZoGdw4MK6iUKKxfEIDynvxO8ZuKVmT0/s1600/Sister+O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZxkuas2c2lOiBKniN4nvyQSVTydvST4aphAc6AItTlyEDdeiywvmwAA-Sn6acTGxj7qN_0BYMLyGmj4Pg-NyB8BnDQOOBUy8LH7ijQXgqihAZoGdw4MK6iUKKxfEIDynvxO8ZuKVmT0/s320/Sister+O.jpg" width="320" /></a>Sister Oliphant and I have discovered that we attended a
party together in March of 2011. haha. Oh Provo is so small.
Even though she's from Wisconsin, she's spent the last 3 years in Utah
county at BYU so we really feel that Utah is our home. She knows people
that I know and understands Utah county. We talk about Provo all the
time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We have a stinky Deaf investigator. She has 13 animals
that live with her. One night, we went to go contact her and we couldn't
even approach the door because we almost threw up. She loves animals so much
that she takes in all the strays. She's only 20 years old. Instead
of being obsessed with animals, I wish that she could instead see how important
Heavenly Father is in her life! We'll keep working with her, but it's
hard to even be in her apartment. I heard that on the Hoarders tv show,
the people put Vicks Vapo Rub under their noses and it helps them stand the
stench. Maybe we'll try that next time we go. She's really nice,
though! You know whats funny? She told us the other day that she
has a "Deaf nose!" She doesnt smell anything, so its hard to
control your stink if you have no idea you're stinky! Poor girl.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
So...I may have mentioned the socials that we have here, but
I'm not sure I explained them well enough, so I am going to do so again.
ASL missionaries have discovered that we can meet tons of Deaf people in
concentrated places, like Deaf socials! Starbucks is probably our best
one. So what do we do? Go into Starbucks (I hate the smell of
coffee.) and seriously just chat with people. We invite all the ASL
students to come to the branch and count it for a school assignment. We
try even HARDER, though, to meet Deaf people there and it's probably the most
success we have in one night. There's a pizza social twice a month,
icecream once a month, and other random ones. Its really fun to just go
and show people that Mormons arent that weird. Its not a great place to
pray with people, but we always teach when we can and do our best to explain
why we sign so well and what we do with our ASL. This way, we aren't
attacking Deaf people at their doors. (Some of them flip out.
"How did you know I lived here!?? How do you know I'm Deaf?!?")
So...yeah. We chill at Starbucks all the time. No biggie.<br />
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXiACrV6YrEyEu5ZxSEEgO66Nil5o7Bs0LNDatVTkw7S_Ze7gsvfYOhC6BbGPb0fWk9K0ozbbrS-SQ1tWR6H7jS_xI0v_-1vdjm5JLbWCUZiPZWfBNaIhdPhtMYaVUBdOCG6OyiUbLps/s1600/kathy+the+2nd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXiACrV6YrEyEu5ZxSEEgO66Nil5o7Bs0LNDatVTkw7S_Ze7gsvfYOhC6BbGPb0fWk9K0ozbbrS-SQ1tWR6H7jS_xI0v_-1vdjm5JLbWCUZiPZWfBNaIhdPhtMYaVUBdOCG6OyiUbLps/s200/kathy+the+2nd.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6QbU-g3qEfj3Iub6txm-D_jl6VV6yzCWyUMjL5WymsiZ8ynIMXSRNXDOG34cZNz1m2Qpy7jMOLgQAVHMhx94uwLCX4y0OUXh7M2iuQ8Xl_pBkst1jplq9OYGjqPDkF8VDM8ZRE25pv4/s1600/deaf+doorbell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6QbU-g3qEfj3Iub6txm-D_jl6VV6yzCWyUMjL5WymsiZ8ynIMXSRNXDOG34cZNz1m2Qpy7jMOLgQAVHMhx94uwLCX4y0OUXh7M2iuQ8Xl_pBkst1jplq9OYGjqPDkF8VDM8ZRE25pv4/s200/deaf+doorbell.jpg" width="150" /></a>This is Kathy, one of our Deaf investigators. And this
is an example of a "Deaf Doorbell" that the mission is always looking
for. The wire attaches to a light inside that blinks when you push it
instead of making sound. We have one other investigator who uses Ukranian
sign language. I dont know Ukranian sign language. She doesnt know
ASL. Its interesting to communicate with her. We're trying to teach
her, but all she does is sign back all these weird signs that we dont know what
they mean and she speaks in Russian. So....I kinda wish I could speak
Russian. Oh well, pictures will have to do! <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
To end, I call all of you who have procrastinated writing me
to repentance using Alma 60:6 "and now behold, we desire to know the
cause of this exceedingly great neglect; yea, we desire to know the cause of
your thoughtless state."<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I love you all! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sister Wilson<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-20768484617360275102012-12-11T16:05:00.002-08:002012-12-12T15:20:07.168-08:00Kathy gets baptized!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiae0WDVkCRmolAUD8jqrx0wweuqehzSpkzkVjHd8OKQKglSsgF6WcbfC7VYCS22yFHo5utpnnI_yWXTk2hb4qxfnd2YN6bn_oKazIdwgYnlwVVzeh3G1cBKQuyf9D2JogH5_QT-jx1Gk/s1600/Picture+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiae0WDVkCRmolAUD8jqrx0wweuqehzSpkzkVjHd8OKQKglSsgF6WcbfC7VYCS22yFHo5utpnnI_yWXTk2hb4qxfnd2YN6bn_oKazIdwgYnlwVVzeh3G1cBKQuyf9D2JogH5_QT-jx1Gk/s1600/Picture+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjIt-tPlpni_7vs9NMoErKt1rJ2kz3h1tCgAb7UvCBjkrvuRsuagaqxYPyjX0CF6vUASUVb-7QtcNLK9Q2-xjotHXofw-xj6Bxh1BzbA7PhSLz6ZuP1CTyjPdGlD6SVMU8s9M1nkai7I/s1600/Picture+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjIt-tPlpni_7vs9NMoErKt1rJ2kz3h1tCgAb7UvCBjkrvuRsuagaqxYPyjX0CF6vUASUVb-7QtcNLK9Q2-xjotHXofw-xj6Bxh1BzbA7PhSLz6ZuP1CTyjPdGlD6SVMU8s9M1nkai7I/s200/Picture+013.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
WOW! What a week!! Kathy got BAPAMATIZED!!!!
She was glowing like a glow worm. Only out of her face. It
was amazing. We got there about 15 minutes until the baptism started and
looked at the font. It had 2 inches of water in it. The plug wasn't
working. So what did we do?? (yay for women of the church!)
We set up an assembly line. We grabbed all of the kitchen pitchers
and ran back and forth from the kitchen sinks to the font dumping in as much
water as we could. We even filled up the mop bucket and a garbage can
with water to dump it in as fast as we could! We even flooded the mop
closet with a few inches of water because the garbage can had a hole in the
bottom! But you know what? None of us cared. We were so
happy. The baptism started about 20 minutes late but I was completely at
peace. Kathy cried through the whole thing. She got into the font,
gasped because it was so COLD, and then she covered her face in her hands as
tears streamed down. The spirit was so strong. I love baptisms.
I love Kathy. From praying to candles to Mormon. amazing!!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tycgzwmVczsIPscHphckFDh9dGP1DAzVkjiyfSFE5x0C8VLRgEWc2PXXoi34OycwmL4LFyI9bhnugInnurEdZpFkHbfZAk9JeD35N4tDgjy8eMRWS-qNCj_Cla-5imRwmUwqWV9oA4E/s1600/Picture+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tycgzwmVczsIPscHphckFDh9dGP1DAzVkjiyfSFE5x0C8VLRgEWc2PXXoi34OycwmL4LFyI9bhnugInnurEdZpFkHbfZAk9JeD35N4tDgjy8eMRWS-qNCj_Cla-5imRwmUwqWV9oA4E/s200/Picture+016.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiae0WDVkCRmolAUD8jqrx0wweuqehzSpkzkVjHd8OKQKglSsgF6WcbfC7VYCS22yFHo5utpnnI_yWXTk2hb4qxfnd2YN6bn_oKazIdwgYnlwVVzeh3G1cBKQuyf9D2JogH5_QT-jx1Gk/s1600/Picture+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiae0WDVkCRmolAUD8jqrx0wweuqehzSpkzkVjHd8OKQKglSsgF6WcbfC7VYCS22yFHo5utpnnI_yWXTk2hb4qxfnd2YN6bn_oKazIdwgYnlwVVzeh3G1cBKQuyf9D2JogH5_QT-jx1Gk/s200/Picture+015.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Other news...I got my flight plans in the mail.
ergheabfft. Its exciting yet sickening. Y know what's great
about full Deaf work? I never have to silence my cell phone. Never.
(Unless we have a meeting with other missionaries) During Sacrament
meeting, people burp and groan and make all these noises and its no big deal.
Hope it doesn't rub off on me for when I come home! Something else
randomly funny about Sacrament meeting...because there are so few people, they
tear the sacrament bread into GINORMOUS chunks. I literally had to take
two separate bites last week because I couldnt make it with only one.
Sister Oliphant and I have a hard time praying in English now. When
one of us is too tired to sign our prayer, we decide to do it in English, but
what we've discovered is that we always end up staring at the person who is
praying. I can't close my eyes during prayers!! Weird. <br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnyR4gPotLXBNQERYN28ZhjwSS4FfiOxRYHx49AYMqxeVFJDEiROrpQFxO-edXYLon7xPTztkV19D3PDc_jUD3IixYYWuBEMZfMyvPGKv8UEvz59s_rviP9OaR4HmKTTbQAObEiYkUyo/s1600/Picture+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnyR4gPotLXBNQERYN28ZhjwSS4FfiOxRYHx49AYMqxeVFJDEiROrpQFxO-edXYLon7xPTztkV19D3PDc_jUD3IixYYWuBEMZfMyvPGKv8UEvz59s_rviP9OaR4HmKTTbQAObEiYkUyo/s200/Picture+007.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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The Hudnors (senior couple) are doing amazing things.
Sister Hudnor can carry a basic conversation in ASL and she is the new RS
2nd councelor. She only uses sign when we are at church or in our RS
meetings. Its so amazing how much those two help us. They drive us
everywhere, they feed us all the time, they can both pray in ASL now. The
Lord loves this Deaf branch.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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I love you all! The church is true! (still!)
Oh, and its transfers. I'm staying. I'll probably end my
mission here. Also, I am now deeply in love with all Thrift Stores.
Why doesnt Utah have more Thrift Stores?!? Goodwill is the greatest
buys I've ever found in my LIFE! Seriously, DI....your stuff is kinda
crappy. These Thrift Stores down here are awesomely filled with treasures
and sales. I love it!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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oh yeah! I almost forgot its my birthday in 2 days!
For "our" birthday (Sister Oliphant's is on the 12th, I'm the
13th) one of the sister missionaries who works in the office took us out to
this restaurant called the Elephant Bar. It was really fun, and they
brought both of us free dessert with candles to blow out. Wow. Cant
believe I'm already 26! I'm closer to 30 than I am 20! strange.
We have one Deaf investigator, Molly, who is Hmong. She wanted to serve
us Asian cake for our birthday. Just if any of you were wondering, Asian
cake tastes the same as American cake. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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Love,<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Wilson<o:p></o:p>Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-16589979998833621012012-12-03T13:30:00.002-08:002012-12-03T13:30:19.539-08:00Christmas Lights
Oooh I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!! The lights are going up
everywhere and you know whats funny? People here hang up snowflakes.
Even though there's no snow. Whats with that? (Doesnt that
just tell all of us that deep down, we know that Christmas should always have
snow?) My birthday is coming again, weird. It doesn't even feel
like my birthday. I can't believe I'll be 26!! Sister Oliphant's birthday
is on December 12th, day before mine! We'll be sure to have a birthday
party between the two of us! <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We went to the mall last week to return something and upon
leaving the main hallway we hear "sisters!! Sisters!" I
turn around to see a jolly Santa Clause. He waves his hand at us,
signaling that we should come talk to him and I shook my head no. I'm
sure all of you remember how uncomfortable I am around people in full-body
costumes. Ooooh no, I'm NOT going over there for Santa to make fun of the
Mormons and make me sit on his lap. Nope. But then, he was so
insistant "sisters, come here!!" I didnt want to offend, and
there were people all over the mall watching us, so we walked towards him and
he met us half way. He chatted with us and asked us how we were....he
looked a little too "glowy" so I asked him if he was LDS. We
laughed at his reply all night: "Didn't you know Santa was a member of the
CHURCH??" haha. So there you go. Santa is real, and he's
Mormon. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This week, we had elder Porter of the Seventy come and train
us as a mission. It was really great, and I remembered that even just
walking around with the spirit can sometimes touch people, when we don't even
say anything! We got to interpret for Sister Sellers, so we got to go to
the meeting with elder Porter twice, which was cool. I double felt the
spirit. haha. We also had some crazy flooding lately down here.
The water has been pretty deep, and yesterday, there were a few wards who
cancelled church because people needed to go home and take care of their
houses. The sisters we live with put on their jeans after sacrament
meeting and went to go clear off tree branches and dry up all the water.
We're expecting more flooding this week, so we'll see how that goes!! exciting
stuff!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>Kathy is getting baptized this Saturday. I'm pretty
sure her conversion story is the craziest one I have for my whole mission.
I know I'll be friends with her for the rest of my life. She was
fired from her job last week, and isnt sure why she's having so many trials,
but we all know why. Darn satan. BUT! She is going forward
with faith and getting baptized!! (This is her 5th baptism, but the only
one with authority!) Dianne, on the other hand, is supposed to get baptized
on December 9th. Her family is extremely opposed to the LDS church, and
they have given her a ton of crap about us. They threatened Sister
Sellers, and told us never to come back. Some kind of crazy fight
happened, and Dianne ended up stabbing her sister and some other guy.
Well....she went to jail. So....we'll see when this baptism
happens. She only stayed in for a week, but I'm pretty sure she might
need to postpone for a while. At least she has a testimony to stand up
for the church, but I'm not sure stabbing people is the best thing to do.
(The sister and the other guy are okay, I think they went to the
hospital. Just lots of blood.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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I love you all!! Christmas is the best time ever!
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>Sister Wink<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-41446165549947941032012-11-26T16:52:00.001-08:002012-11-26T16:52:09.086-08:00Thanksgiving Feast....
Kidding, we didnt get a Thanksgiving feast. It was
wonderful, though, and I loved being in my pajamas all day and writing a
million letters. Not much else has happened since I emailed on
Thanksgiving, except we set up the Christmas tree. (I still have the one
Mom sent me from last year) <o:p></o:p><br />
We have a new Deaf investigator....who is a cross dresser.
kinda. But she is wonderful and HUNGRY for truth about God.
The darn J-dubs snagged her for a few years, so she's really deep into
their doctrine, but shes still willing to meet with us and she likes Mormons.
Come to find out, she was taught by ASL elders in San Diego, both of
which were my MTC teachers!! Other than that, the Deaf branch is
basically the same. Really small numbers on Sundays, and crazy Sunday
School lessons. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3eVA-h7y3WAJN2TigjEZ_3l1GwXqLQ6onhOqGD67M2LTgBKrJ7WxLM7szKBc9ytgsd6knozPxu4cppM2UXRJStBy6SpGcni9R-1jdVeUJKjl7dDeolQuiR7YpsHHuKfCHe00vStIlGE/s1600/Picture+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3eVA-h7y3WAJN2TigjEZ_3l1GwXqLQ6onhOqGD67M2LTgBKrJ7WxLM7szKBc9ytgsd6knozPxu4cppM2UXRJStBy6SpGcni9R-1jdVeUJKjl7dDeolQuiR7YpsHHuKfCHe00vStIlGE/s320/Picture+002.jpg" width="320" /></a>I've recently started doodling pictures on the letters I
send people...missionary work is now in the marrow of my bones I guess. Also, a
picture of my Christmas tree on the kitchen table and our Deaf map. The
map covers the wall from floor to ceiling, and all the little stickies are
Deafies in the area. I love having a ginormous area and lots of miles,
its a blessing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_Y2jtLoYDhUJvOenbN_GkPMnADCG3G6TGjLbJ-EZfiY_ug_HzDGwThlQ4xCUrWI8_xwvIrIZM47G2fL19FJkMGCRsq9-m6HW9fnnXD_30P_0jKeSrWLeg9vCxXMDybgG3smFwV7QX4M/s1600/Picture+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_Y2jtLoYDhUJvOenbN_GkPMnADCG3G6TGjLbJ-EZfiY_ug_HzDGwThlQ4xCUrWI8_xwvIrIZM47G2fL19FJkMGCRsq9-m6HW9fnnXD_30P_0jKeSrWLeg9vCxXMDybgG3smFwV7QX4M/s400/Picture+006.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I love you all! The church is true!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sister Wilson<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span>Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-43526477882811015932012-11-23T20:56:00.000-08:002012-11-23T21:57:06.458-08:00Turkey dayHappy Turkey Day!!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
You know what I am doing today?? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
We made it our goal to not leave our apartment. Other than for
emailing. We are literally going to sit on the couch all day long and
write letters. Don't cry that I am not having Thanksgiving dinner, in
fact, we had literally 13 different invitations, we just turned them all down.
We bought pie, so we're good. :) Ironically, I've read
several scriptures about Thanksgiving this week during personal study...as is
my duty, I will share them with all ya'll.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
D&C 78:19 "And he who receiveth all things with
thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be
added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
2 Corinthians 9:11-12 "Being enriched in every thing to
all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the
administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but
is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God."<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for all things
unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Colossians 3:15 "and let the peace of God rule in your
hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This week was great. Kathy (the Wiccan who lives in
Stockton) is getting baptized on December 8th and I am SOOO HAPPY. I went
on my first exchanges as the exchange sister this week...the member dropped me
off in Folsom with Sister Vaughan and sister Agavale. Normally, I'm
supposed to stay the night with them, watch them plan, watch them do the
morning schedule, go out and work in their area all day and then I write up a
transfer report and give it to the mission president. Here's what happened
instead: I got there and we planned, chatted and went to bed. I tossed
and turned all night with hot flashes, woke up at 5 am to worship the porcelain
throne for a few hours. The Sister woke up and watched me run to and from
the bathroom until sister Oliphant came and picked me up to go back home.
Some exchange THAT was! It was more like a sleepover...except it
wasnt a fun one for me. Pretty sure I had food poisoning. I slept
on the floor next to the vacuum when I came home. For the next
two days, I was super dehydrated and we didn't do any missionary work, and I
lost 2 pounds. Then, when I felt better on Wednesday, we got our new car
and went out and today is Thursday. Thats been my week thus far.
hah. BUT! I am much MUCH better. and I'll be eating pie
today, so I'm sure to gain those two lost pounds right back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeP9kzkP2cQYd1zcxluVUARsyAbrmalz1fTiNUDKOT03QtyJBoyYhcjOLoGnoD4uBEu8StrZXOrnLSq21BTwz-qr5o22__4G5S2eG0iLG5n1SN-pK2_T_Wu-v2MfmzrPkVIrP0A5jNnbo/s1600/food+posion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeP9kzkP2cQYd1zcxluVUARsyAbrmalz1fTiNUDKOT03QtyJBoyYhcjOLoGnoD4uBEu8StrZXOrnLSq21BTwz-qr5o22__4G5S2eG0iLG5n1SN-pK2_T_Wu-v2MfmzrPkVIrP0A5jNnbo/s400/food+posion.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I havent been too serious today, have I? Im kind of in
a hyper/jolly-type mood right now. On a more serious note I noticed
something about myself...I am still afraid to knock on strangers doors.
This has puzzled me for quite some time. I felt like that fear
should leave me on my mission. That I would be great and confident and
happy even if people hated me. nope. It still hurts and I still
cringe. And I am still afraid of strangers. HOWEVER! Upon
further pondering the topic I realized that although I am afraid of people, I
fear my God <b><i>more </i></b>than I fear them. Thats why I do it
anyway. So, although I still so far from being a perfect missionary, I
know that Heavenly Father can see my sacrifices for Him and He knows that I
love Him <b><i>more</i></b>. I love Him <b><i>more </i></b>than myself, <b><i>more
</i></b>than my fears, <b><i>more</i></b> than everything. Thats why I am
here, thats why I go out every day and do what I do. I love being a
missionary!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
(I love you all too!) love, Sister Wilson<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Random otherness:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQuaa2X4PIQHNxnFchdiIkV0mX-fhzzOMAbV9ZfDsRUwcpLy0MalB9Ws4EQyi6Iao0FQ68WtorwBIrIQnHOPrzgY2sbJnpu_8R5nVakj_WY8fIlXmAOlyIyViNSUhTgDOQEMetwstLHo/s1600/love+our+new+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQuaa2X4PIQHNxnFchdiIkV0mX-fhzzOMAbV9ZfDsRUwcpLy0MalB9Ws4EQyi6Iao0FQ68WtorwBIrIQnHOPrzgY2sbJnpu_8R5nVakj_WY8fIlXmAOlyIyViNSUhTgDOQEMetwstLHo/s200/love+our+new+car.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hIxxuAvVlyFN8YqWLHcfqqBjlZxS3CtjzLgaYqLUAeJ2ERKOpE8DG6W1rK2_nA9gyFvomwdqK3ENVqa0s1XRiCCVvyK9xhIjUSgAIH2ERw_b4gJMPCXLfs15vTg7_N8tAk2YW1nTlCo/s1600/new+car!+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hIxxuAvVlyFN8YqWLHcfqqBjlZxS3CtjzLgaYqLUAeJ2ERKOpE8DG6W1rK2_nA9gyFvomwdqK3ENVqa0s1XRiCCVvyK9xhIjUSgAIH2ERw_b4gJMPCXLfs15vTg7_N8tAk2YW1nTlCo/s400/new+car!+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
*We got a new car. brand spankin' 2013 Chevy
Cruz. ooooh man. its fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
*Our mission gets 19 new sister missions in January.
Thats like.....16 more than we've ever had come in at once...good thing
I'm outta here by the time all of this gets crazy! haha<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-53465104883536405022012-11-12T12:12:00.001-08:002012-11-13T09:27:01.359-08:00it's getting colder...It got cold. and rainy. Now is the point that I
stop caring about what I look like and simply throw on whatever will keep me
warm and pull my hair into a bun because it doesnt stay nice and straight.
yay!! <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Not much to say today, just that everybody tells us "I
voted for Mitt!" and we just smile and say "thats great!
Our church is neutral." However, be it known to the world that
I DID vote using an absentee ballot (thanks mom!) like the good American citizen
should. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Elder Bassett of the Seventy is in town. He's visiting
all the stake presidents with our mission president to talk about my new
favorite topic: MISSIONARY WORK. All the Stake presidents are basically
getting a chastisement and kick in the pants. We are going to have 1 set
of missionaries to EVERY ward, so there needs to be a LOT more people to teach
or all these 18 and 19 year old missionaries who are on fire will be very sad!
So, he is holding these special meetings every week and they asked me to
sing in a special musical number (in a trio with Elder Walker and Elder Tilley)
for the meeting. So...I'm traveling the mission to sing for a Seventy!
Its kind of fun! We did our first one last week and I got to hear
all about how the 12 apostles think about missionary work and its so exciting.
The field is truly white and I know that the world is being prepared for
Jesus to come again!! We have 2 more meetings to go to this week to sing
for him and probably 6 more after that! I'm also busy doing exchanges
with other sister's companionships and my own deaf work! Busy busy!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I need to explain our car situation, just for fun.
Because I got transferred back to Carmichael, I'm back in the old 2010
Corolla. It has 53,000 miles on it. SO! We are going to get a
new one soon! Yay for my second new car on the mission! We have an
allotment of 1, 675 miles a month and we struggle to stay under that. We
usually drive an average of 50-70 a day. I withdrew myself from being the
driver so Sister Oliphant could continue to drive when I left her to do
exchanges with other sisters. So....I'm back to being the
rediculous-looking backer-upper. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I love you all, the church is STILL true. muah!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sister Wink<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-30969162529602254082012-11-05T11:20:00.004-08:002012-11-05T11:29:20.064-08:00Oh the deaf branch....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pnEpXxALdzJDhQePAZdy2xuVO60sHcNrH3NjNeJEzBqbaakx1P3uxXviO0HoVfWPYUbxgBn-OFZHrE8qK5GAujc2zoA0QYBB1-KDIh23NurnRw-EwVTBBJAIfFJzur0uYo96WNTMvmI/s1600/Picture+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pnEpXxALdzJDhQePAZdy2xuVO60sHcNrH3NjNeJEzBqbaakx1P3uxXviO0HoVfWPYUbxgBn-OFZHrE8qK5GAujc2zoA0QYBB1-KDIh23NurnRw-EwVTBBJAIfFJzur0uYo96WNTMvmI/s200/Picture+005.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6ye9dx-sJE3WgsnCz7kpNn3V3BcQ8378Y1Cxb5KXJmRfMFV7A7DyzVLx4NgQ2o_adEPL7e0vKByCyhMwBdHmFSZyzaqvv7IbffqCURMo2fXy3tb7LfXdveAqrYinv_EDJIAGkdL7Nug/s1600/Picture+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6ye9dx-sJE3WgsnCz7kpNn3V3BcQ8378Y1Cxb5KXJmRfMFV7A7DyzVLx4NgQ2o_adEPL7e0vKByCyhMwBdHmFSZyzaqvv7IbffqCURMo2fXy3tb7LfXdveAqrYinv_EDJIAGkdL7Nug/s200/Picture+012.jpg" width="200" /></a>Most importantly: daylight savings is Heavenly Father's greatest gift to missionaries. Alright, it may be ranked 2nd next to a baptism, but it was really quite amazing. I've been waiting for 6 months just to sleep in one more hour. It was another "interesting" week in the branch. Sister Oliphant and I have basically re-vamped everything that was being previously done here...the area needs a good kick in the pants. Halloween was fun, we watched a movie about the Life of President Monson. Sister Oliphant and I got a good laugh at dressing up and taking pictures of us being elders. Some of the elders thought it was funny.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8C89UGulbtniKs0QKH4cmhhymZEuKvru128m_Mnrvd_lSTXx3Axd4k7jRegt0M2vedhRHdyW_GM9Qf8gQ-EmZsJwBKRBmXR5kDKTUR_1jQi60R65GQBjdSyI4VBwB5snIMnAROz0bPbk/s1600/Picture+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8C89UGulbtniKs0QKH4cmhhymZEuKvru128m_Mnrvd_lSTXx3Axd4k7jRegt0M2vedhRHdyW_GM9Qf8gQ-EmZsJwBKRBmXR5kDKTUR_1jQi60R65GQBjdSyI4VBwB5snIMnAROz0bPbk/s320/Picture+013.jpg" width="320" /></a>I had a meeting on Friday that lasted from 9am until 4pm. Its the first time the exchange sisters have been invited to the Zone Leader council with the AP's and the President. I LOVED it. So...there we were in a group of all the leadership of the mission and the three coordinating sisters got to have our input shared and valued. We changed a few rules and discussed how we can best help the sisters of the mission. (Did I mention last week that with the new increase of missionaries, Salt Lake asked us to increase from a cap of 193 missionaries to 250 by this summer? 30 of those should be sisters!!) We will have 50 sister missionaries by summer, thats exactly double what we have now. So, part of my new calling is to prepare the sisters to be able to handle more sisters and to teach them proper principles of locking their hearts and going to the right source (me) with their troubles instead of to President or the elders. It should be amazing. With the new calling, however, the more I recognize how many darn weaknesses I have. I have so much to repent of and improve about myself. Being a missionary does that to you....its a good thing. This assignment is given to me because I need to grow and do better.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TZ7a-IEjZBRH-99819q7ErgwkvNsnAcAaY-5xLYU0yl1s54KbnrGbUXCyTA6UjcU34Li5B63ahij1eQGfovkuM0Ru1E9wGyOi_RuzGxBxLZlYgTUQA5ocEc8GLAqz-kcnRl3H4Zos3I/s1600/Picture+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TZ7a-IEjZBRH-99819q7ErgwkvNsnAcAaY-5xLYU0yl1s54KbnrGbUXCyTA6UjcU34Li5B63ahij1eQGfovkuM0Ru1E9wGyOi_RuzGxBxLZlYgTUQA5ocEc8GLAqz-kcnRl3H4Zos3I/s200/Picture+009.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">sister oliphant and I met a deaf lady <br />with a bird that likes kisses.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDByCLPkvjnRRgzCxIAsVfdaMu3dveiX9S4a9aXdCF-oP79_bkGngPMDTw1YsBf7TapV4VZf3C-NEJtMj_DviGmoe9xuNFYYKkLgOL6DoJVvcXncyu1Hg-WFKSkvLyDYs0rqFCAjEf6k/s1600/Picture+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDByCLPkvjnRRgzCxIAsVfdaMu3dveiX9S4a9aXdCF-oP79_bkGngPMDTw1YsBf7TapV4VZf3C-NEJtMj_DviGmoe9xuNFYYKkLgOL6DoJVvcXncyu1Hg-WFKSkvLyDYs0rqFCAjEf6k/s200/Picture+001.jpg" width="200" /></a>On a much happy note, Mike, my recent convert from last December called us on the phone the other day. "Is Sister Wilson there?? I need help! Sister Wilson?!?" He sounded panicked. I got on the phone and said "whats up, Mike? Do you need something?" He goes "Do you KNOW what today is?!" My brain was blank....uhhh....Sister Williams wedding? no....thats not until Saturday...what happens on November 1st?? I just answered with a "no?" He laughs and says "Today is the exact day I met you and Sister Williams!! It was one YEAR ago!" My heart jumped with joy. "Well, Mike, happy anniversary!" hahaha. He's so amazing. Mike was so great to call and remind me that I was able to help make a difference in his life a year ago. He kind of realized that it wasn't strange that I had forgotten the exact day we met, but he said "oh...I guess my baptism day is kind of the more important one we celebrate, huh?" Recent. Converts. Make. Me. So. Happy.<br />
<br />
I love being here. Deaf work is hard, but its so specialized that the Lord knew I could handle it. I'm blessed to be here.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Sister WinkUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-64605389637291160792012-11-01T15:08:00.001-07:002012-11-02T15:20:44.259-07:00new calling...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uvgiZ5sOinuMSe62yk1PQBEKEejIl1nlKC5QD1Om81z8LEf1B7j3dJDPVWD8kBTJpOemJ_qDYHx_3QmWfPULwI-aeSWZwIxjgoWREFWkkguPdQfcHj6LSQCf4yxC4z9ZlmNNtiJg_ts/s1600/Pictures+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uvgiZ5sOinuMSe62yk1PQBEKEejIl1nlKC5QD1Om81z8LEf1B7j3dJDPVWD8kBTJpOemJ_qDYHx_3QmWfPULwI-aeSWZwIxjgoWREFWkkguPdQfcHj6LSQCf4yxC4z9ZlmNNtiJg_ts/s320/Pictures+007.jpg" width="240" /></a>Carmichael is wonderful, but our little Deaf branch is
suffering! Just a few updates:<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
*We are now allowed to go into the Roseville mission to find
Deafies. They don't have ASL sisters, and half our members in the branch
live in Roseville anyway. Its fun to cross mission borders when nobody
else can. I feel like I can break rules on purpose. BUT! Its
just open for a trial period to see how it goes....fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
*Sister Larson is flying home and I am going to miss serving
with my COUSIN! She's amazing. BYE SISTER LARSON! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
*I decided to be an elder for Halloween, here's a sneak
preview of my new nametag.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvji9G_s2W1RlHmWyDCtmvejBo2vJI1OsHvUeJQv4pqlT_hODuT31wYLQ4thKc-k55eln8d7y59hA3IKPWsMIvW8hpBzXqSLIE2IF-R8kXbnshaY-S5xT7Q8NqsxfnTES-jzDLCdzx1Ic/s1600/Pictures+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvji9G_s2W1RlHmWyDCtmvejBo2vJI1OsHvUeJQv4pqlT_hODuT31wYLQ4thKc-k55eln8d7y59hA3IKPWsMIvW8hpBzXqSLIE2IF-R8kXbnshaY-S5xT7Q8NqsxfnTES-jzDLCdzx1Ic/s320/Pictures+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
*Sister Williams, my trainer, is getting MARRIED this
weekend and I am so sad I cant go. But I publicly congratulate her.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We have a new senior couple in the Deaf branch, here's a
picture of them! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYGSsBzstl2S0cHfEkEQrsBe6s9l6gMGSbhkEb1AND_RwJehyphenhyphenwyBYyorcQNuaAhOHzqd-wVasuDv5KRlzzMp7ZF0NeRrSXVWK-pxAAh1pmwtcysKfwysvvMBCpDqMiSz1ZRLyy8PwXA8/s1600/Pictures+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYGSsBzstl2S0cHfEkEQrsBe6s9l6gMGSbhkEb1AND_RwJehyphenhyphenwyBYyorcQNuaAhOHzqd-wVasuDv5KRlzzMp7ZF0NeRrSXVWK-pxAAh1pmwtcysKfwysvvMBCpDqMiSz1ZRLyy8PwXA8/s320/Pictures+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The Hudnors are the answer to many-a-prayer for the
branch. There is so little priesthood leaders that we don't have a 1st or
2nd councelor in the bishopric. Or a financial clerk. I'm pretty
sure elder Hudnor is going to help out a lot. They don't sign, so we do a
lot more interpreting, but we are happy to have their support! Sunday was
the most exhausting day I've ever had. We got to church and there wasn't
anyone to teach any of the classes. They asked if I would teach Relief
Society, but I declined because we aren't supposed to be teaching classes.
Sister Hudnor ended up teaching in English and I signed for her (Which
was probably more work than just teaching it myself...) Then, the Sunday
school teachers didn't show up, so we ended up winging it for Sunday school.
I taught about the holy ghost. For Sacrament, the speakers on the
printed program simply said "missionaries." We didn't know.
So then we all stood up and gave talks for the Sacrament meeting.
When I wasn't voicing so the Hudnors could understand the signs, I was
signing so the Deafies could understand. I seriously don't know what this
branch would do without us. Actually, I do. It would fall apart.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Because we dont really have counselors for the branch
president, he ends up counseling with the missionary team. Which....honestly....isn't
very appropriate. Its hard, but we are all just doing everything we can to keep
the branch together. Its probably on the risk of closing down soon, its
too tiny. We only had 9 at sacrament on Sunday. It might be better
if the branch shut down and combined with another ward...that way they could be
trained in the way things are supposed to be. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I also sent pictures of our"weekly
planning." <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyG8gzO8cT50WFWoSapdB38ScVNuu8Y9LvoM6Ik5Y1zOdfatysS3CoqWf-IhI-252afTq2uqQbSbGm8o9RiKcrEaHzONcQPRMXcvSAGItrJ1LDHsCe5jqXhwbS7KNGPZ_kZUXmZqB7ic8/s1600/Pictures+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyG8gzO8cT50WFWoSapdB38ScVNuu8Y9LvoM6Ik5Y1zOdfatysS3CoqWf-IhI-252afTq2uqQbSbGm8o9RiKcrEaHzONcQPRMXcvSAGItrJ1LDHsCe5jqXhwbS7KNGPZ_kZUXmZqB7ic8/s320/Pictures+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Weekly planning is every Friday morning for like 5 hours.
You sit and schedule every minute of every day and pray about your
investigators to see what they need to be taught. Make phone calls, call
dinner appointments and such. You can tell by the look on my face how
much I love it. The other picture is the Folsom bridge! (Folsom is
where all the rich people live. There's only like 3 Deaf people out
there)<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Also, President called me the other night...Drum Roll
please.....BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR........COORDINATING SISTER!!!! I'm the
new Coordinating sister for the north half of the mission. They also call
us "exchange sisters." I'm basically like a Sister Zone-leader.
So, I go to all the zone leader training and other
leadership training. I get to go on exchanges with some of the other
sisters and provide some counsel for them!! I'm really excited,
and it should be fun to end my mission this way. Sister Oliphant has to
find another companion for the day and I go sleep in other apartments and watch
the companionships and I report back to president how they are doing! I
feel under-qualified for the position, and I was honestly hoping I never had to
deal with the stress, but when the Lord calls...too bad for me! haha.
It will be great. I am thankful for the chance to shake things up a
bit and get to work with many many sister missionaries in their areas!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I love all of you!!! The church is true! Go read
your scriptures!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Love, Sister Wink<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-17390175824176216652012-10-22T15:44:00.000-07:002012-10-22T15:44:45.222-07:00Carmichael again!
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
SURPRISE FROM HEAVENLY FATHER!! I have been
transferred to Carmichael back in the Deaf branch, 2 weeks before transfers!!
The new Sign Language sister came from the MTC and sister sellers is
training her in Stockton, so they kicked me out!! My heart broke a little.
or a lot. but guess what else??? KATHY IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!
SHE CONVERTED FROM WICCAN TO MORMONISM! December 1st is her baptism
date and I am sooo excited for her!! She feels the gospel and even though
we haven't been able to teach her everything, she FEELS like its true. I
love the Holy Ghost. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Dianne, on the other hand...has been postponed in her
baptism. It will happen soon, but we just dont know when. Her
family came into town and freaked out that she was going to be baptized Mormon.
She told them she liked us but they are purposely staying another week to
make sure she DOESNT get baptized. So, we'll just wait til after they
leave back to Louisiana and we'll baptize her!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sister Larson, Sister Oliphant and I are in a trio until
Sister Larson flies home next week. boooo. We carved pumpkins today
as a district. Mine was supposed to be the angel moroni....We had a tour
at the temple last weekend and it was interesting. Kathy came up from
Stockton so I was able to see her again. Its only been 4 days and I miss
her already so much. We interpreted the tour for the Deafies and the
spirit was felt. I miss the temple.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>I finished the D&C and then I whipped through the Pearl
of Great Price. The only book I havent read on my mission is the Old
Testament. I might put that one off until after my mission, and take it
as an institute class. The Deaf branch gets a new senior couple tomorrow
to help us. YAY! Im actually really excited. Hopefully they
can help our little branch. Last Sunday, we only had 10 Deafies...its
threatening to be shut down. We're trying to be positive, but its hard to
have so little support in a group that needs a TON of help. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I love all of you!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Love,<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sister Wilson<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-58162744291491594902012-10-18T12:37:00.004-07:002012-10-18T12:37:41.366-07:00baptism!
I love being a missionary. I am beginning to feel an
overall sadness that my mission will soon be over and I'll never be able to be
the same again. I have learned some amazing things here, thats for sure.
Things I will cherish for the rest of my life. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
DIANNE IS GETTING BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY!!!!! She came
back into town this week and she called us. We were on the road and the
interpreter told us (for Dianne) that she was considering suicide. She got
robbed AGAIN and she was going to be kicked out of her apartment and be
homeless. She said she would prefer death than living on the streets
again. (Shes done it before.) Dianne did years and years of
hard-core drugs. Then, she did 13 years of prison to pay for it, but she
has been clean 7 years and never wants to go back. We drove STRAIGHT to
her apartment to talk to her. She just sat there and cried.
"Wilson, Wilson, I missed you. I miss you so much, I love you."
She basically has no family because they all cut her off because of her
addictions and the rest of them live in Louisiana. I just held her as she
cried and cried. She said she wants to be baptized and we talked about
suicide and explained that its not a better option. I had some crackers
in the car and I gave them all to her because she only had one can of soup
left. Lucky for us, bishop approved her for some church funds, and so
everything should work out for her financially. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We had to make sure that she wasn't just taking advantage of
the church's money, but she promised the bishop that she would never again
ask for help, it was just this one time. She is so excited to get
baptized, its all she talks about. We explained the sacrament to her and
she said "I know! Thats why I didnt take it on sunday because I get
to take it AFTER I am baptized!" Her brain surgery was a success and
her seizures have stopped! The only problem is...we cant get her stitches
wet. Problem solved: she is going to wear a swimming cap. I am so
excited. My 3rd Deaf baptism!! She loves church and she keeps
telling us "I will NEVER miss another Sunday! I missed 3 months! I
love Jesus!" <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Kathy is still doing well, she knows now that Heavenly
Father loves her and she is asking questions about baptism. The church is
true!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Love, Sister Wink<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
P.S. I cut sister sellers hair. Hmm....maybe I
should start doing this more often, eh? (it was just a perfectly straight
line and then some higher layers for her) With her curly hair, you dont
even have to cut straight because it doesnt matter. It was still fun,
though. <o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-34778407329467062692012-10-08T20:31:00.001-07:002012-10-08T20:31:25.598-07:00Conference news
Yes, I DID freak out at the new missionary ages. Its
so exciting. Especially since it will mean MORE SISTER
MISSIONARIES!!!! YA! You know whats amazing about conference?
Its always about whatever is going on in your life. For me, it was all
about missionary work. Everything related to my life and the wards
participating in missionary work. Then, sister Sellers looked at me and
said "gosh! This whole conference is about Family!"
haha. I am thankful that the Holy Ghost can whisper to each of us the
exact words we need to hear! Its just like the Book of Mormon.
Every time you read, it applies to your life and you learn something new!<br />
<br />
This week was basically amazing. We added 3 new Deaf investigators, two
of which are a married couple who dont use ASL, but rather, Spanish sign.
Its going to be interesting to teach them! We had 2 days last week in the
100's but now its cooled down much to around 75-80, which is sooo much
better. I love it.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
In the spirit of Halloween, I have a scary story: We were
sitting during companionship study when our doorbell rang. I heard men's
voices and we were confused who was at our door. We live across from a
kind of freaky park, so we are cautious who we open the door for and who
watches us. Sister Sellers looked through the peephole and she whispered
"they covered the peephole!" uhhh....NOT. ANSWERING. So,
a few seconds later, they knock on the door again. Sister Estrada ran to
another room to see if she could see who it was out her bedroom window, but she
couldnt see. Then, the knocking turned into POUNDING on the door!!
My heart was racing and I was so scared I just kept saying "dont open the
door! Dont open it!" Sister Sellers opened the door.
There, we see 3 elders standing innocently with a stack of ASL cards for
us. I was so mad. I yelled at them. "DONT YOU EVER DO
THAT TO SISTER MISSIONARIES IN STOCKTON!!" augheaghh.
Elders. They laughed and appologized, apparently they didnt mean to scare
us, they were just teasing by covering the peephole because they thought it
would be funny. We all had a good laugh. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I have another halloween story. We went to see some
Deaf people who live in Galt, CA. (Galt is the very tip top of my area,
about 30 minutes in the car) It was the first time I've ever been to
Galt, and Ive been here for 4 transfers. Come to find out, Galt is all
farmland. There is nothin out there, and its so dark and far from the
city lights. So we went one night to find these two deaf
people. They first one was a confused hearing lady, not sure why
we had her name because shes not deaf, and the second one was a struggle
to find. There was a road where we were supposed to find the 2nd Deafie,
but we had to drive by again and again because there were literally NO houses
on the road. The GPS took us to a random place in a field with
nothing. We drove up to a dirt road thinking that maybe it would take us
to the house if we followed it, but it dead-ended at a field of hay. Upon
driving back to the paved road, we realized that we drove OVER the foundation
of a used-to-exist house. There it was, a cement slab where a house was
long before. Weird. Needless to say, we assumed that the Deafie had
moved and we took the name off our map. That night was a waste of time,
but it reminded me of Halloween because there were creepy fields and it was
pitch black. Then, there was a random mystery house that
disappeared. hmmm....<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I got chased by dogs for the first time on Friday. I
got out of the car to knock a specific door, and there were these two scroungy
dogs waiting for me, growling. One of them had a limp and they were
probably filled with immense amounts of disease. They barked and barked
and I was sure to keep my face to them. When we walked down the sidewalk,
they started chasing us and I didnt know what else to do other than RUN!
(which, I later realized, is the dumbest possible thing to do) Good thing
they were both little tiny, so I outran them and made it to the door. I
guess I needed to have this happen at least once on my mission, right?
;) <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This email is all super random...oh, and I saw my first-ever
real live prostitute.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Kathy is doing well. She watched conference on
Saturday morning with us and cried. I think she'll be baptized.
Still waiting for Lynda, she needs about a month to recover from some personal
stuff, but she does want to be baptized as well! Dan has to wait until
January, he's been in and out of the hospital. We are so overdue on a
baptism its rediculous!! I will see baptisms happen soon!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This
morning I had a struggle. We woke up early to go grocery shopping and as
I stood at the ATM to withdraw money, a homeless lady approached me and asked
if I'd watched the news the night before. I answered that no, I
hadn't. She seemed bothered because Im sure that was her usual opening
line to her explain how she needs money. I told her I dont watch the
news, then I told her it was depressing. "Dont you care about
starving children? Do you donate money??" she asked. I
explained that I donate through my church, yes. She then made a bad
decision to then offend me and say a few blankity-blanks about church. I
would like to now make a comment to all the homeless people who read my
blog: IF YOU WANT SOMEONE TO GIVE YOU MONEY, DONT OFFEND THEM BEFORE YOU
ASK. I just started ignoring her as she asked me more questions and I
simply didn't answer. She continued "Do I have to go to <em>church</em>
to get money?!" I thought for a moment, realizing that only those
who obey commandments will get the blessings. She obviously isnt obeying
the commandments. So, I told her "yes. you need to come to church to
get money." She just yelled at me. "GO TO CHURCH!!!"
Then she left. Thanks, I think I will. Church makes me a lot
more happy than you are, right now. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I was quite offended by that woman and it was at the
beginning of my day. Sister sellers was confused at what happened, but I
didnt want to talk about it, I was so frustrated and offended. I prayed
in my heart to Heavenly Father for peace and comfort. He whispered to me
"Its okay, she's just mad at Me." Then, I read D&C 95:6 and
12. Its funny, because D&C 95 is basically a boring yet necessary section
about how to build the churches and what dimensions they need to be. Yet,
the spirit spoke to me as I read the verses. "They who are not
chosen have sinned a very greivous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at
noon-day" Verse 12: "If you keep not my commandments, the love
of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in
darkness." Its sad that the woman was walking in darkness. And
though I was troubled for a time, Heavenly Father gave me peace and joy again
soon thereafter. I love the gospel. I was a bit afraid to leave the
store for fear she would be waiting for me outside but she was gone. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I love you all. I love conference. I love my
Savior. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sister Wilson<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-45752027102263410622012-10-01T19:28:00.001-07:002012-10-01T19:28:23.828-07:00oh wow
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe2vLqO_yghaAE3R9tjq92gQWF6d2gxAHUFc1rF3QbYSEQc6O6OdBK73R3zOXAFeRD_dkY58J9FI2e1G6IpWmhLkoKoKQXs95_h_tpMvxY7pZLJiUvl7GKSf1ZWU60JmFnbHDnpiqFu0/s1600/DeleteMe+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe2vLqO_yghaAE3R9tjq92gQWF6d2gxAHUFc1rF3QbYSEQc6O6OdBK73R3zOXAFeRD_dkY58J9FI2e1G6IpWmhLkoKoKQXs95_h_tpMvxY7pZLJiUvl7GKSf1ZWU60JmFnbHDnpiqFu0/s320/DeleteMe+004.jpg" width="240" /></a>Its been a Cah-ray-zee time here in Stockton. But
good. I got my "depressing mail" this week in the mail and I
was shocked. (Missionaries call "depressing mail" the one that
says when you go home. The next one to come has my flight information and
everything.) I got the first of 3 to come. Boooo.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWO8jrj52ey2a9ZYbeCjSNtIN6JsmGT6JHyHkWiVXfwUseHeMNRjZ_LC18r4c0b7YmZdeL5GxoUGX7q7R49MZLTwFq8yCzR4BsfQ3CEomEjP2VPj0nmrQqRyVm6CeiYR2ReINEmmvoBY/s1600/DeleteMe+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWO8jrj52ey2a9ZYbeCjSNtIN6JsmGT6JHyHkWiVXfwUseHeMNRjZ_LC18r4c0b7YmZdeL5GxoUGX7q7R49MZLTwFq8yCzR4BsfQ3CEomEjP2VPj0nmrQqRyVm6CeiYR2ReINEmmvoBY/s320/DeleteMe+001.jpg" width="320" /></a>Dan was in the hospital so we havent taught him for like a
month! He called us and we asked if he needed anything. His
reply? "Tithing slips. I cant go to church, but I HAVE to
tithe!!" Talk about true conversion!! I cant wait to baptize
him in January. He's so ready. Lynda is still struggling with
smoking, but I know deep inside that she WILL be baptized. She
will. She wants it so bad. <o:p></o:p></div>
Now I wish to talk (more) about Kathy. I have never
seen anyone change themselves and their faith so quickly. She has gone
from praying to some goddess of the night to praying to Heavenly Father who she
didnt even believe in 2 months ago. She LOVES the Book of Mormon and she
loves church. She hasnt stepped foot into any kind of church for 16
years. We went to teach her the other night and she shared an amazing
story. Kathy said that every time we are set to teach her, or she is
scheduled to come to church with us, she gets sick. EVERY. TIME.
She says its quite strange but we just told her its satan. (and no,
satan, I dont capitzalize the first letter, even if it is a name.)
Anyway, so she said that day when we were coming to teach her, she woke up with
a terrrible headache. She was considering calling us and cancelling, but
she prayed (to God) that He would help her headache go away. She got out
of bed and by the time she took 5 steps to the bathroom, her headache was
gone. A small miracle, but it made us so happy! She is beginning
to see God answer her prayers!! Kathy came to Womens conference and she
felt the spirit. I love that woman so much. I love EVERYONE so
much. Part of being a missionary, I guess! Guess what
else?! Kathy just set up a scholarship called the "Kathy's
Just-Because-You-Deserve-It scholarship that pays for all of your college
books. She decided that Sister Sellers was her first recipiant of the
scholarship and she is now in the process of writing a contract that will stand
up in a court of law to prove that she really means it! Too bad I'm
graduated, eh? haha. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxxBQJ6ojBEIXbvSmn7bWhpFhLhdxRLQ_ti4Kn49ezXdKSmLYfLLQZWOaRad3oZ2WSMngdz2orVmYzC_EMaomnDIB4Dx6qYJMpLRwR3XmcQ4METrOhSXrNzovpXhKVpOofqkRP_F9etc/s1600/DeleteMe+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxxBQJ6ojBEIXbvSmn7bWhpFhLhdxRLQ_ti4Kn49ezXdKSmLYfLLQZWOaRad3oZ2WSMngdz2orVmYzC_EMaomnDIB4Dx6qYJMpLRwR3XmcQ4METrOhSXrNzovpXhKVpOofqkRP_F9etc/s320/DeleteMe+002.jpg" width="320" /></a>Womens Conference was AMAZING beyond all reason. I sat
by Kathy and I clang to every word, hoping she felt it. She did.
She does every time. During the intermediate song when all of us stood
and sang, I was listening to the loud woman behind me. She had a pretty
voice, and she slid on her notes up and down, just like Mom does
sometimes. The spirit overwhelmed me and I cried because I realized that
at that exact moment, my Mother was in Utah, listening to the same broadcast,
and singing the same song. The spirit reminded me that Mom always went to
Womens conference. Mom always taught me right things and showed me good
examples. I have a mother who loves me, unlike Kathy had. I had a bout
of missing my Mom, but yet I felt joy and thankfulness in my heart. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I have begun to read the D&C cover to cover, just
because I never have. I'm on 78 right now. WOW! I realized
the other day how important that little book of scripture is! I can now
proudly say that I have a testimony of the Doctrine and Covenants. It
took me 78 sections to get it, but I have one. Joseph Smith needed all
the help he could get from Heaven to organize this church and preach the
gospel. Its so amazing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I love you all! Go share your testimony with someone!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sister Wink<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Random:<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sister Seller's hearing aid has a bluetooth that connects to
our car when someone calls us on the phone. She can kind of hear
them. Cool. We also play "name that tune" because she's
memorized some of the hymns so she can recognize some of the words when we
listen to the CD in the car. Who'd a thunk I would be playing "name
that tune" with a Deafie, eh? haha. She has lost more hearing
recently, even more than she lost in the MTC, so now she only hears 20%. <o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-74299123798674695212012-09-28T12:30:00.002-07:002012-09-28T12:30:22.201-07:00hola!
Its been a cah-RAY-zee week!! First off, the day after
transfers, sister Sellers and I got approval to go to Sacramento (1 hour north)
to do a BOOTH for our church with the other ASL sisters!!! It was really
fun for the 4 of us to work together. There was an ASL convention at the
capitol building, which turned out to kind of be a protest, but we got approval
to go so...I dont feel bad. The Deaf people were all taking a stand
because California is trying to take out all foreign languages from the school system,
and ASL will be first to go.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ChK1h_8xDJgat3M86TL8XIDEOKtt4_XyNi-aXeZ-UKUs8V2CknxTjJz3bO35OGbneAw_SYnJmI-q2r7tCRrtWWkvSMQMMhSspUB8_I9ARyOt7aX9rJQ2YvXX79HPcTpEr5fvVWmGXyI/s1600/DSCN0800%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ChK1h_8xDJgat3M86TL8XIDEOKtt4_XyNi-aXeZ-UKUs8V2CknxTjJz3bO35OGbneAw_SYnJmI-q2r7tCRrtWWkvSMQMMhSspUB8_I9ARyOt7aX9rJQ2YvXX79HPcTpEr5fvVWmGXyI/s320/DSCN0800%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwaNAdzITkNnHAeFKUe5tZHFzCb0rrHr4ojwU2NEjrLjeZ18kHtn-mQ8VUe63gQI2nl0E_fqGV-kA2ru9mvdQjhC6URNq5mnLWoDpY4F8nNT5jx5pR7va0f8R4KgCSk1wSim1CXr2Ulc/s1600/DSCN0802%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwaNAdzITkNnHAeFKUe5tZHFzCb0rrHr4ojwU2NEjrLjeZ18kHtn-mQ8VUe63gQI2nl0E_fqGV-kA2ru9mvdQjhC6URNq5mnLWoDpY4F8nNT5jx5pR7va0f8R4KgCSk1wSim1CXr2Ulc/s200/DSCN0802%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBchgiBC5dOOjnaYRh9fG_TEnnXIbrh3Yiu2hLtOJHA5vHUOVEDqwuJX9UROIZbJWhLTTYrZwv4KAE7eSj-JJ8BnnvXO1emXzaNETCX9QxfEhIHEppIkHon5AwiuP8T46-jdc-iqLIS0/s1600/DSCN0801%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBchgiBC5dOOjnaYRh9fG_TEnnXIbrh3Yiu2hLtOJHA5vHUOVEDqwuJX9UROIZbJWhLTTYrZwv4KAE7eSj-JJ8BnnvXO1emXzaNETCX9QxfEhIHEppIkHon5AwiuP8T46-jdc-iqLIS0/s320/DSCN0801%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a> Anyway, we spent the day on the front lawn
of the capitol talking to Deafies about the gospel. I had a bunch of UVU
flashbacks and my fire against hearing people came back. I started to
remind myself again about how passionate I am when it comes to Audism. I
love Deaf people so much and I have such strong opinions about the politics of
it all, I had to calm myself down a few times. haha. Its a good
thing we refrain from things like that in the mission. My favorite quote
that I saw said "Stop noise pollution, use ASL." <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We cant seem to contact Lynda. She was supposed to get
baptized on Saturday but she still hasnt quit smoking. The last
time we taught her, she went to a member's home with us for a FHE. These
members live in a fancy part of Stockton, and to get inside, you have to
go through a special toll-booth to get a parking pass. Lynda
accidentally drove her car through one of those crossing-arm things to get in
and broke it off completely. The members later told us that they were
going to have to pay $500 because she was their guest, and they DIDNT tell
her. Lynda asked over and over if she had to pay for it, but they just
kept saying "oh no, Lynda, its fine. Really. You wont have to
pay a thing!" But what they didnt tell her was that even though SHE
didnt have to pay, they DID. Talk about sacrifice. I was so
overwhelmed with love for that couple I wanted to cry. They did it all
for her. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We had a ward party on Saturday night. The whole thing
was basically organized by our mission team. We had the idea of having a
dinner and a movie night, and we watched 17 miracles, it was really fun.
The whole night was a terrible mess. Come to find out, there were 2
baptisms scheduled during our activity (even though we reserved the building)
but dont get me wrong, I am NOT going to stop convert baptisms! They were
in the other room, while we had the cultural hall. Brother Kroff, our
bishopric member, set up his projector and we had the big screen set up with
popcorn and licorice. We even stole the couches and soft chairs from the
foyers. Our only problem was people. Nobody came. The
elders quorum was supposed to set up at 4:30. None of them came. We
did it all ourselves, all the round tables and chairs, tablecloths...ect.
We picked up the couches and hauled them in and set up more chairs. I was
really disappointed in our ward. I love this ward a lot, but the members
are struggling to be missionary-minded.</div>
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My one success from the night was
our beloved Kathy. Kathy came late, but she was able to watch the whole
movie. Afterwards, we asked her what she thought and she replied simply
"I cant imagine being in love with someone THAT much like that pioneer
couple!" Its all about love with Kathy. She wants to be
loved. She was amazed that they were able to be sealed together in the
temple a hundred years after they both died. She wants to see the
temple. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I interpreted for 3 hours at church yesterday. 3 hours
of interpreting will always cause a 3 hour nap aftewards. Its amazing how
exhausting it is. I couldnt even think straight, and by the time we got
home I ate lunch and fell over. It doesnt help that I have a cold,
too. Nevertheless, its been a good week. Me and Sister Sellers did
our best to be happy and make it through all these crazy days. We have
been sooo busy we didnt even have time to think! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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these are my cool tan lines.....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JXyG_ADaHHrsfOYXeL14YWpNaBh2MmdSrNgolCmRe3ZjQrR3LEueja3UK8Cvnfe35_AkULz69ATFxlCasJdEwYxLrNH8ImeeyPqJ1VKl3RmLGHrBCdGwQhTU97BCTGQGlNqFsIfzD4Y/s1600/DSCN0818%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JXyG_ADaHHrsfOYXeL14YWpNaBh2MmdSrNgolCmRe3ZjQrR3LEueja3UK8Cvnfe35_AkULz69ATFxlCasJdEwYxLrNH8ImeeyPqJ1VKl3RmLGHrBCdGwQhTU97BCTGQGlNqFsIfzD4Y/s320/DSCN0818%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Love all of you!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sister Wilson<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-13942371625109357642012-09-19T14:14:00.002-07:002012-09-19T14:14:50.430-07:00transfers
I'm staying here in my beloved town of Stockton!! I
love it here! BUT! I get a new companion. My MTC companion,
Sister Sellers (shes the Deaf one)! Its going to be a
really....interesting transfer. Especially since she is going to be
teaching all the hearing investigators we have, but maybe she can help the Deaf
work pick up down here! I am very sad my baby Sister Oliphant is leaving
me and going up to the Deaf branch, but I know it will be great for her.
I'm just a little stressed about having to interpret EVERYTHING we do.
Now I will have to sign all the hymns I sing, all of my companionship
studies and all the district meetings. I have to sign
the correlations we have with the ward and
the Wednesday night meetings. I'm going to be signing all the
time. Which will be good for me, but really stressful. Hopefully I
can just keep getting better and better at ASL I guess! <o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p> </o:p>You know what's crazy about Deaf people? Lots of them
dont understand anything about the gospel of Jesus Christ. They don't
understand how to pray. Most of them think that because Heavenly Father
is "hearing," He doesn't know ASL, so He cant understand them!
We have to explain over and over that God knows and understands ALL
languages, even ASL. Its hard for them to comprehend since they can't SEE
Him watching their sign language. Most of the time we dont even get to
the Restoration lessons because they mean nothing unless these people
understand who God is and what He set up for the commandments and prayer.
Some Deaf people don't even know that Jesus was born of Mary, a virgin.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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I sang a musical number on Sunday. The whole 3rd row
clapped for me at the end. oops. Dominick, Mickey, Zina, and one of
the less actives were all on that row. I think the black people want to
change our quiet LDS culture and spice our services up a bit. It was
definitely funny and I laughed for 10 minutes after I sat down. I think
it will be the only time I'll get applause during a sacrament musical number!
We went to the temple today. Its the first time Ive been since
December and I really miss it. I think that's what I'll do when I get
home. I'll just go to the temple every day and catch up for lost time.
(lost time that is not really "lost" by any means! Totally
worth it!!) We took pictures of the four roommates for this transfer, so
I'll send those. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rYqQtGfgH40Pb_tgEHjM8ymxl6jOioBOVmeBiAxTPRCpT4Goibch15xIGEnjV-rh7bPNIXRFv8YwP-7_wy_euHk6_Egjs13AxTlVtTBgToYT34lSh7xM-GVReVHEIFP8v3sVgV8IrlI/s1600/oldest+BOM1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rYqQtGfgH40Pb_tgEHjM8ymxl6jOioBOVmeBiAxTPRCpT4Goibch15xIGEnjV-rh7bPNIXRFv8YwP-7_wy_euHk6_Egjs13AxTlVtTBgToYT34lSh7xM-GVReVHEIFP8v3sVgV8IrlI/s200/oldest+BOM1.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lpTts5kN8PgBaEYRj2J2e1yV_bcKGFPlXZ3FVvvNAdyuRW-3OXSlqEbOFRI7wVpZsw4WkTRqLFmEUTYTxCniLKR2BdVV_fqg-45wR40nBz1rhiVfYIpmmtQV_pOTGLirKXNdJDSkFVE/s1600/oldest+BOM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lpTts5kN8PgBaEYRj2J2e1yV_bcKGFPlXZ3FVvvNAdyuRW-3OXSlqEbOFRI7wVpZsw4WkTRqLFmEUTYTxCniLKR2BdVV_fqg-45wR40nBz1rhiVfYIpmmtQV_pOTGLirKXNdJDSkFVE/s200/oldest+BOM.jpg" width="200" /></a>Ooooh!!! One of our less actives owns a Book of Mormon
that was a 3rd publication! Its from 1891!!! I got to hold it and
take a picture of my favorite scripture! Soo cool. Speaking about
the Book of Mormon, Kathy is really enjoying reading from it! She's
slowly progressing and she can recognize the peace and joy that comes from
reading and learning with us! Apparently, Wiccans and Mormons believe a
lot of the same things! (wierd?) but she agrees to most everything we
teach and says "well yeah, I already knew that!" Its amazing
just to watch the gospel take root in her and to have it make sense. She
told us last week that she has basically never had anybody love her before. Not
even her own Mother. In fact, on her Mom's death-bed letter, her first
sentence was "Sorry I never loved you..." Kathy thinks that we
have a "glow" about us and she says our auras are bright. Man,
I wish I could see auras. Its trippy to think about, though, but hey!
Whatever floats her boat and keeps her learning, I'm fine with it.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Love you all!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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Sister Wilson<o:p></o:p></div>
<o:p> </o:p><br />
We taught a super drunk guy named Craig last week. He
hasnt been sober for 30 years so we're gonna see if we can get him to come to
the addict recovery class the church offers. Drunk people are really
funny. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7P5mMNQMRcJAeAs2q76KlYJhC68osPRdoGpF487UgYUDKdj-11exsaqh3qFeFmP_VFZvrTf92YsRbuPsypO-2k6xLaWPsVKP4Y-TfdrBllRVLD6fKvgoW3Cd6T-LEwXmp0qKHbYw9YW4/s1600/pictures+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7P5mMNQMRcJAeAs2q76KlYJhC68osPRdoGpF487UgYUDKdj-11exsaqh3qFeFmP_VFZvrTf92YsRbuPsypO-2k6xLaWPsVKP4Y-TfdrBllRVLD6fKvgoW3Cd6T-LEwXmp0qKHbYw9YW4/s320/pictures+024.jpg" width="320" /></a>this is Ylang. He is our deaf investigator and is learning how to pray.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1mdUTMMmBTbVMzDtKjXKom2SMYB3Kqhwtt-tKODe7Yw7tMgfyz5BkF4r2mP2PUloyB_pPr33TH7ItuSZBrDlv4I98zj-1NcWVQBIuk6XjfVgoq_cLE9tBi4aGM0B2Gjv9lT3iPXfdlo/s1600/pictures+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1mdUTMMmBTbVMzDtKjXKom2SMYB3Kqhwtt-tKODe7Yw7tMgfyz5BkF4r2mP2PUloyB_pPr33TH7ItuSZBrDlv4I98zj-1NcWVQBIuk6XjfVgoq_cLE9tBi4aGM0B2Gjv9lT3iPXfdlo/s320/pictures+028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is temple day with my roomies (sister missionaries)<br />
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Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-69758903694463396422012-09-11T14:37:00.000-07:002012-09-20T22:26:55.587-07:00holaSo, the mission nurse decided I might benefit from some
physical therapy since I dont have chiropractic here. Lucky for me, alls
I have to pay is a $10 co-pay. We'll see if it helps the back!
According to the therapist, I have some "weakness." (Whatever
that means...) So, my back muscles are really weak and so are my leg
muscles. I'm doing special exercizes to work on strengthening.
joy. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS281_utaFZC-NGbHCAomWdx1QRpUZrRVv0_J-nkI5HuvK1NeEMxwyaJm-bwwsXVRib0bFYdXyPgqrYJignjOP56MIcqU4lhiqfQoBFF8VKE5clnkukNPn0QUzEdbLDxKchT7wxglUzgo/s1600/DSCN0719%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS281_utaFZC-NGbHCAomWdx1QRpUZrRVv0_J-nkI5HuvK1NeEMxwyaJm-bwwsXVRib0bFYdXyPgqrYJignjOP56MIcqU4lhiqfQoBFF8VKE5clnkukNPn0QUzEdbLDxKchT7wxglUzgo/s320/DSCN0719%5B1%5D.jpg" width="240" /></a>This is a picture of my favorite street in Stockton, lined
with palm trees. So Cali. Sister Landon told me the other day that
I only have 3 transfers left, I about keeled over. When it's put into
transfers, it seems so soon!! I hope all of you are bored with nothing to
do when I come home so I can stay busy with friends and family lest I go
crazy!! No more spanish speaking this week. But we did have some
other crazy stuff. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRPmvcLgco2Dco83R4eqYDcDX4rHuT332UHvHihnFCA6o-mFedkRUUTUCbykbAeW3j47VnC_c90niyJ75Y4SF_SSX9LNC__FiEDbAw1e1VPhRM5OQYmNpD9LAWh-AVhcczZsiqP24-rs/s1600/DSCN0713%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRPmvcLgco2Dco83R4eqYDcDX4rHuT332UHvHihnFCA6o-mFedkRUUTUCbykbAeW3j47VnC_c90niyJ75Y4SF_SSX9LNC__FiEDbAw1e1VPhRM5OQYmNpD9LAWh-AVhcczZsiqP24-rs/s320/DSCN0713%5B1%5D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<o:p></o:p> </div>
Crazy stuff: We had two stray tabby cats rip into our
garbage out back last night. One of them had her head stuck in an
empty can of Campbell's soup so we named her Campbell. It took a
good minute to get it off her, but she let us. We made the mistake of
feeding them some extra chicken we had in the fridge and some warm milk and now
they won't leave. hmmm....so...we kind of have two cats. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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Other crazy stuff: Remember how Dianne had her uncle and her
daughter die last week? Her Nephew was murdered on Friday. Three
deaths in her family within a 2-week period of time. She was crying on
the VP and my heart just breaks for her. I cant wait to teach the plan of
salvation again to remind her where these people are. She still says she
wants to be baptized, but I just hope she can come back soon. She's
flying away to attend her nephew's funeral and then she will be back in two
weeks. <o:p></o:p></div>
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More other crazy stuff: we found a less-active Deaf who
should be coming to our ward, too! Except, he's homosexual!
BUT...he was baptized knowing nothing about what was taught. He was
really young and nobody signed to him, so he just did what his family
did. Hopefully we can teach him more truth about the church and the
Lord. He has a boyfriend, so it will be interesting to deal with this
issue since I never have on my mission. Good thing the gospel is for
everybody!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our investigators are doing well! Lynda is still going
strong and she really wants to be baptized, so we hope she can keep away from
the cigarettes until then! Zina gave a talk in church for the first time
ever in her life and the bishop had to move the podium up and down and up and
down to tell her to stop talking. We all laughed pretty hard.
Kathy, the Wiccan, actually <em>really</em> enjoyed church. She was
too scared to do more than 1 hour, but I saw her tear up sitting next to
me. I KNOW she felt the holy ghost. She texted us that night and
said that she was moved by the talks and that next week she'll come for two
hours. I love being a missionary. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sister Wink<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819918272455059306.post-36211850099548650072012-09-04T15:40:00.000-07:002012-09-04T15:45:38.175-07:00I love SeptemberI love September, its my favorite month. Except in
California its too hot, so REALLY I'll love October here. This week had
ups and downs like they all do. The downs: We went to stop in on our
investigators, Dominick and Mickey. He was really upset because we
"just showed up" and didn't set up an appointment. We knew why
when we got blasted by the smell of Marijuana. The strange thing is,
we've <em>always</em> "just stopped by" and its never been a problem
for them, they are flaky with appointments anyway. I'm pretty sure he
didn't want us to know he was doing illegal drugs because he knows its wrong
even though we haven't taught the Word of Wisdom yet. I now totally
understand the Word of Wisdom. You really CANT feel the spirit when
there's drugs or any kind of substance being abused. Its so offencive to
God for us to abuse our bodies. It wasn't even worth it for me and Sister
Oliphant to try to teach anything, because I just felt so gross and dead when
we sat down on the couch. We stayed for a few minutes and tried to calm
Mickey down before we left. I had a headache for the rest of the day.
Anyone know if you can experience 2nd-hand Marijuana damage? Would it be
like 2nd-hand smoke? They didn't come to church yesterday, either... <o:p></o:p><br />
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My light and joy: Lynda. She's set to be baptized on
September 22nd. She's been WITHOUT CIGARETTES FOR 4 DAYS!!!!! She's
doing SO well and she cant wait to be baptized! Lynda told us last week
in one of our lessons that she's so excited to pay her tithing. She did
it on Sunday, even though she doesn't have enough to make ends meet. She
said "I will NOT be ashamed to be a Mormon! THIS is what I
believe!!" She's soooo converted and she has so much faith. I
love it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Kathy, the Wicca, showed us last week how she prays.
She doesn't pray, really. She "casts." To the Goddess of
the Night, Diana. She sets up 2 candles, one of them white and the other
one red. The white one was Diana and the red one was the Great-horned
God. She didn't light them, she just knelt down on the floor and
prayed. So okay, we need to teach a little more about Heavenly Father,
but she is truly curious about our beliefs! Actually, even though that
prayer-cast was to the wrong God, it was one of the most beautiful prayers I
have ever heard on my mission. So sincere. Kathy plead for Diana to
help her become a better Kathy, she also asked Diana if she should keep
learning from us missionaries. By the end of the cast, she was
crying. Its strange, but the Holy Ghost was <strong><i>so strong</i></strong><em> </em>during the whole
lesson and her prayer.<strong> </strong>She's just a bit confused on some
basic truths, but she has such a good heart and I feel a lot of peace in
her home. I think she is mistaking the holy ghost for a goddess.
She talks a lot about feeling peace and hours of meditation, trying to get
answers. Its close to what we encourage all people to do as they invite
the spirit. So, Kathy is basically praying to the Holy Ghost.
haha. She is coming to Relief Society this Thursday and church on Sunday,
so we'll see how she likes it! (you know what else? I found the goddess
Diana in the bible this morning while I was reading...crazy....If anyone is
curious, just read Acts 19. She's also in the bible dictionary! )<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPEd0KFH8xyGRwpzyjY7lhhak_L0h0QP3xmfabTPd81UMTsLZ7f6DwRVVZsuNJ2lCYTwucYgK0T92S6dWn0hcODqlhgn5Q8A-3b8KEzKYB4T7T334gLMCas5c5qHhGjrPR8zRSmR7hPs/s1600/DSCN0699%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPEd0KFH8xyGRwpzyjY7lhhak_L0h0QP3xmfabTPd81UMTsLZ7f6DwRVVZsuNJ2lCYTwucYgK0T92S6dWn0hcODqlhgn5Q8A-3b8KEzKYB4T7T334gLMCas5c5qHhGjrPR8zRSmR7hPs/s320/DSCN0699%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a>This week, because Sister Landon is the new coordinating
sister, I got to do some work in espanol! 3 whole days! And guess
what?! I said a whole prayer in Spanish! Granted, it was a simple
one, but a prayer nonetheless. I am amazed how much I was able to
remember from 7th grade Spanish class, I can understand about 30% of what the
Mexicans said. Pretty good for being terrible at Spanish. I
think the Lord blessed me with the ability to understand. Anyway, it was
cool. We also did some service for a thrift store, I will send a picture
of the before. There is no after picture, its still a mess every time we
sort through stuff. But who bought a <em><b>real</b></em> cashmiere
sweater for $2.14? yup. Me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Deafie Dianne called last night with the most sad news I've
ever heard. Her uncle died last week. Then, her daughter died on
Saturday, so she is taking custody of her grandchildren. (Dianne is 54,
so I think her daughter was in her 20's.) Lani, our deaf member, called
her on the VP and they talked and Lani later told me that she still wants to be
baptized once she feels better. Its just this whole crazy brain surgery
thing, takes forever to heal from. And now this. She has to raise
children again...I don't think they know ASL either. I was so sad to hear
that but I know the gospel can bless her and her current situation.
Hopefully she can be baptized in September or October! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I love all of you! Keep up the testimonies!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Love,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sister Wilson<o:p></o:p></div>
Sister Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02279782740612667321noreply@blogger.com0