07-04-2016

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Only the best holiday ever. GOD BLESS THE USA WHOOOOOOOOOOOO

This week was transfers so I got my new companion. Her name is Sister
Morrison! She is awesome! I love her so much. We click like 2 peas in
a pod. It's super cool because Great Grandma Hancey lived next door to
her grandma Morrison. She is from Toole Utah and went to Snow College
before her mission where she studied music. I'm like hello Beethoven.
Her voice is like an angel. During companionship study when we sing a
hymn together, I won't sing sometimes and pretend the noise of her
voice is coming out of mine haha it has been the best 5 days with her.
I am so excited for this transfer.

Because this week was the last week of the transfer we had no money
for food and our food rations were very limited. Poor sister Morrison
probably thinks I'm trying to starve her. In the morning I was like we
have rice which we will need to cook, some eggs that are old jam, and
hot chocolate sooo what sounds best ... haha we finally went grocery
shopping earlier this morning and sister Morrison has never looked
happier haha

When we drove back from Santa Rosa on Tuesday, the Hermanas were at
our house with signs and decorations to welcome the new bee. It is so
crazy how fast time has flown by, I swear I was in Sister Morrisons
shoes just last week But it's been 5 months since I've flown into
cali!! How does time fly by so fast? I say it in every email but it's
worth repeating, being on a mission is truly the most rewarding thing
I have ever done.

Our investigator Rick was very sad to see my last companion leave but
when we showed up to our lesson he had a bouquet of hand picked
flowers with a welcome sister Morrison written on a napkin haha I
can't get enough of this guy. He doesn't have a bad bone in his body.
Everyday he sees me he goes "sister Thurgood when are we going to go
snowboarding? I tell him after my mission and he says ," the day I go
snowboarding is the day I die so I guess we can have my funeral in
Colorado while I'm there haha". He always keeps us laughing. We had an
awesome lesson with Rick on Friday night and the spirit was so strong.
He said that he is going to think about setting a baptism date to work
towards. I have never felt so happy. We brought a member with us to
the lesson and she shared a personal experience. She started to cry,
Rick with tears in his eyes grabs her hand and then with his other
hand grabbed a tissue to dab the tears from her face. It was one of
the tenderest moments on my mission. It made me realize that we are
all children of God. We are all brothers and sisters and we are all
just walking each other home, home to the heavens.

Even better is Rick came to church again. The best part about Rick is
he loves the savior so much and wants to tell everyone. When he was
taught earlier by missionaries he came to church one Sunday and saw
that people were giving talks and thought it was free game and walks
up and sits down to give his talk next hahaha when he came this week
we told him it was fast and testimony meeting and so he could actually
go up and bear his testimony if he would like.

During the whole testimony meeting I felt that I should go up to bear
my testimony but I didn't want to. Part way during the meeting Rick
turns to me and goes sister Thurgood, there is something I need to
hear from you. Will you go up and bear your testimony?" I agreed and
walked up. It was a very special testimony. I felt that it was just me
and Rick in the room. I don't know what I needed to say but somehow
the Holy Ghost helped me know what to say to touch Rick. He cried
through my testimony and I couldn't help but get chocked up. When you
feel the spirit, you know. It is quiet but so powerful that your soul
can't help but be enveloped by the love of God. Every Time I feel the
spirit I am testified over again and again that God is real and that
this is his church and that he never gives up on anyone and most
importantly that we are NEVER forgotten.

This week was work work work. Which I love. I was so grateful to do
the work that brings me such

A Hispanic family invited all the missionaires over for a Fourth of
July bbq today. They don't speak any English but let's be honest I'm
practically bilingual so I just translated for the other missionaires
haha just kidding

The mission is great. I see miracles daily. I love that I get to be an
instrument in the lords hand to bring forth his mighty work.

Love always xoxo

Godspeed always

Sister Thurgood