15

May 12, 2014

I so loved talking with you all on Mother's Day!!

On Saturday we helped an investigator with a horse show. A lot of time in the sun. It was nice to be in that farm- like environment.

I met Jacob, an investigator. He is so solid. He just needs a baptism date. He committed to pray about a specific baptism date. He's 19, and so hilarious. very open. His family comes from a tough background. But he has standards and he stands up for them. Hopefully he'll be baptized in June. :)

I also met Tori. The sisters have been answering her questions. It sounded like she had chosen a different direction. but the family she's friends with invited her for dinner when we were there. as we were leaving she told us she'd love to meet up again for lesson and lunch. So it's hopeful!

We have 15 investigators.

We went to the temple on Wednesday. it was a rush! we had planned on waking up at 5:15 so we could leave at 6:15with our ride. well, the alarm didn't go off. sister coleman flew out of bed at 6:08. we got ready really really fast and out we went. and we got there on time. :) I sure love the temple.

well, that's all I've got. love you all!

Sister Cornelsen

"I Need You Somewhere Else"

May 5, 2014

Oh my. we had so many appointments cancel this week, and yet, we did a lot of good work. I'm starting to see an appointment falling through as Heavenly Father saying "I need you somewhere else". it's kinda cool.

We got a referral to meet with an excommunicated member who's going through a lot right now. he's in his 60's. we met him at the church with Bishop Larson. It was a really good experience. he wants to keep having spiritual experiences and ease his way back into coming to church. I see so much potential in him.

We're working with the children in a part member family's. They want to be baptized so badly, but the mom is scared to ask their father for permission to be baptized. Sister coleman and I were talking about it last night. 

I feel that the mom is scared it will work... they'll get baptized and then what? She doesn't yet have true faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love receiving inspiration about the people so we know how to help them. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out.

We've started teaching someone who is a member of the RLDS church, or now know as Community of Christ. This is very very unique. Hahahahh. Thankfully, our ward mission leader, Brother Pedroza and his wife are there because they have sharp minds. The interesting thing is he doesn't see the importance of switching to a different restoration church. he believes that one day all of the break offs of the restoration movement will come back together, so what's the point of getting baptized into a different church? his baptism will still be efficacious. crazy!!! It blew my mind. So we don't have to help him get a testimony of the book of Mormon - he already believes it! I think we'll have to talk about receiving revelation, and pray that as he strengthens that communication with God, his perspective will grow. He's been coming to our church because he doesn't like some of the changes being made in CoC, and his mom is telling him to go to the Mormon church. He's concerned about raising his son. So very interesting. He's a descendent of Joseph Smith. And I believe there's a prophecy about Joseph's seed coming back to the church. 

We also started teaching Veronica. Her husband is a less active member. We just dropped by and she happened to be there. She was willing to hear our beliefs, so we taught her the first lesson. She said she will consider baptism as she keeps learning. exciting!

Lots of good stuff happened this week.  I am SO looking forward to talking with everyone on Mother's Day!

LOVE YOU!!!

Sister Cornelsen

Photos!

 The Rock Family

Our area is quite literally at the end of vegas. 

we get a gorgeous view of the sunset. :) 

there's the desert!

DENA GOT HER PATRIARCHAL BLESSING!!!!!!!! so proud of her. :) 

I think we were kindred friends in the pre earth life. :)

(Yes, my Mom is having challenges with rotating images… don't know why, it's so simple!)

Me with the Jennings Family - Cheyenne Ridge Ward Mission Leader

 Sister Coleman & Sister Cornelsen (me)

Prep Day Exercise

Be Careful… there's a Clown in the Refrigerator….

Log Cabin, Darth Vader, Creepy Clown and Headless Doll?

Hey everyone!

 

Log Cabin Ward doesn't really have log cabins, actually. 

it's interesting the diversity in the ward. there's shacks, people with horses, middle class, and upper middle class where they rent bouncy houses or a 1 year old birthday party. so it's just very interesting. it's a good ward. 

We live with our ward mission leader, Brother Pedroza and his wife and 2 daughters. one is 17 and the other is 8. They are all SO FUNNY! They own this creepy clown statue and a 34" darth vader figurine and a headless doll. we are currently having a little war of placing them in surprising places to scare each other. Great for laughs. This morning we put the clown in the fridge. and then darth vader was buckled into the passenger seat of bro pedroza's car. he scared sis coleman by putting it right outside the front door so it fell in when she opened the door and she literally screamed. now the clown is placed strategically so when he pulls into the garage a clown or the headless doll will be staring at him (so creepy) and we got some help from his daughter, Carolyn, to put vader in the master shower... with shampoo in his hand. oh it's so funny. that's not even the half of it all.

 

My companion Sister Coleman is great. She's 19. from Idaho. a runner. her favorite color is orange.  She is super optimistic. almost always has a smile. social butterfly. we got a lot of work done this week. and it's just gonna keep getting better.

 

There's a part member family that they've been workin with. the 12 year old son, Camdyn and 8 year old, Abby, are getting baptized 24 May 2014. Camdyn is surprisingly articulate and smart. I asked him what he knew about Adam and Eve and I was blown away by his answers.

 

The Tribbetts have been investigating for a couple years. They believe it all. but want to be more consistent before they get baptized. so we're gonna help with that. they're a younger couple. 2 little boys. I really enjoyed getting to know them. If you've heard about the huge ferris wheel that was built on the strip, Ryan built it.

 

Ibrum is a 17 year old boy who has had a very rough past. A family in the ward took him in. and he's done a 180. actually, do you remember Garrett Chase? I taught him in meadows? well he's now married to Tricia who took Ibrum in. Garrett is in this ward! It was really fun catching up. Ibrum is so solid. He has to wait til probation is over to be baptized. and I see so much potential. I can't imagine who he was... because all I see is so much good. his baptism is going to be really special when it does happen.

 

There are a lot of Part-member families in the ward. We're starting to work with them. And the start has been good. I'm looking forward to it.

 

Saturday was a great day. Brad Wilcox spoke to all of us missionaries. He talked about why we have to serve and be good people, when lots of other people aren't serving missions. He brought it back to the 12 tribes of Israel and the birthright. Most members of the church are descendents of Joseph, Ephraim or Manassah, and it is our birthright. Birthright means that we are given a double portion of blessings/inheritance and responsibility. We've been given much and so we must give to take care of our Father's kingdom.

 

Right after he spoke, I went on an exchange with sister kellar to go to Courtney's Baptism. :) The Spirit was very strong during the ordinance. I hope she will continue on. (kinda follow in Amy's footsteps because that's who she reminds me of. :)  )

 

I'm gonna try to get some pictures out. I love you all! I'm doing well. til next week!

 

Sister Cornelsen

Transfers and Sore Feet

April 21, 2014

I'm being transferred!!!!! gahhh!!!!! what is this?!?!!? I have to adjust??!!

I'm going to the Tule Springs Stake in the Log Cabin Ward. 

I'm stinkin gonna miss Cheyenne Ridge Ward. It's grown a lot. It's such a great ward now. It's amazing how a ward changes when they start to see and feel that excitement about missionary work. I think the Gibson's baptism has really got people excited to do their own missionary work. Saturday morning the Young women, some elders, and 2 members of the bishopric, and us, went out and invited people to our Easter services. we covered A LOT of houses... at least 500. my feet hurt. but it was a really good experience. Bishop talked with a Baptist reverend that actually came to church with his family!!! So Bishop is pretty excited to do this again sometime this year.

 

It was really hard to say goodbye to the Rocks. Cried several times. it's just good that i'll be coming back to see them. :) They talked with bishop about working towards the temple!!! :D and they have a goal and they know what needs to happen. I'm SUPER excited for them. :D

 

So I'm gonna be with Sister Coleman in the Log Cabin Ward. She just finished her training so she's been out 12 weeks. She has so much excitement about the work and always has a smile on her face. I'm excited to be companions with her. I don't really know much about the ward. I know it's on the outer edge of town again. but I think even more new... possibly. we'll see.

 

The Hess's came to church for the first time in this ward. I was excited about that. :) we actually had quite a few people at church. part member families, investigators, and less active families. it was wonderful!

 

I sang Amazing Grace. Elder Carson has a master musician mind. I told him I was thinking about singing it. and he was all down for helping. I told him i'd find some music and he goes "oh we don't need music! we'll create something!" so we created a mix of Amazing Grace and In Christ Alone. He never wrote a single thing down. It was all in his head. I had they lyrics written down and some notes written on it. Every time we ran through it in practice, I felt like I did something wrong. but I feel like the actual performance went extremely well.

 

Anywho, I love you lots! and I'll tell you all about my new ward next week!

 

Love,

Sister Cornelsen

 

PS. i'm sure gonna miss Sister Kellar.