Happy Thanksgiving

Mommy,

Yes Sister Mckee right now is in the waiting period. President said that the next 24-48 hours will tell us how she will be. I imagine you got the same information we got. She had a heart attack and a blod clot in her brain. Our whole mission has been fasting and praying for her. My President and his wife our amazing. He has been finding referrals while he has been in the hospital. He told us the best thing we could do for Sister Mckee is work hard, find and baptize. So that's exactly what I plan on doing.

I want you to know that everyday I have to fight to be a good missionary. I thought that when I came on a mission it would just happen, I would eat, think, breathe, dream about missionary work and only missionary work. But that isnt the case. I have to work hard to focus. I find my mind wandering to home or my future, those aren't nessicary bad things to think about, but at this time in my life I am to be completely dedicated to this work. When I accepted my call I commited to, "leave all other personal affairs behind and fully commit myself to the work." But it hasnt just come. I am learning how to do it and I get better everyday. This week I had two pretty tough moments, Thanksgiving and Friday. The Lord is blessing me so much, I never have hard days, just hard hours. My heart was heavy, I really missed my family, so my companion and I prayed hard for help. It was her big holiday away from home as well. We had Thanksgiving Lunch together and ofcourse to carry on the tradition I made a paper indian hat with feathers for me and I made her a pilgrim hat. As we studied and had a fun lunch my spirit was lifted. The cool thing is is my heart is only ever heavy in the mornings. When Ileave my apartment and start working it is easier to focus on the people and then I get sooooo happy. I love what I am doing and desire to give it everything I have.

President Mckee asked that we spend only 2 hours eating Thanksgiving dinner with members (we had 6 invitations! and still have 4 plates of leftovers in the fridge) and then spend the rest of the day going from members house and giving a 10 min message on gratitude. We were running low on miles so we decided to park our car at one members home and then walk to another it was only 1.8 miles but it took us 45 minutes there and 45 minutes back haha. But it was good for us, we dont actually walk very much. We ate at the Riggans home ( they feed us every Thursday they are awesome and have the craziest stories, we get on the weirdest subjects with them, they are fascinating I love them so much) he made like this turkey loaf thing that was apparently like the Spam version of turkey but it was AMAZINGly delicious! Then we went to the Welch's, and they fed us leftovers, which her yummy too. Alot of the members we tried to visit werent home but we were able to contact a sister that hadnt been to church in a few weeks and she happily welcomed us in and she made it to church on Sunday! We also visited a family the Waldroups who have 6 kids, 3 of them were born with severe handicaps, and 1 was born with a more mild case. They are the most patient loving parents. The spirit was so strong in their home, I said the prayer and cried during the whole thing, but its okay cause Sister Waldroup cried too. I know I will tell my children about this Thanksgiving. I am sorry to hear yours was so crummy, I take it you are feeling better I hope? I am glad the other kids made it to Joannes though.

Man the Lord has great things in store for us doesn't He! This week was slower in some areas. Our two baptisms date we have to put on hold because we havent got a hold of either of them for 2 weeks. I realized I have been here for a month and I was worried I haven't done that much. I know that sometimes the Lord puts us through times of Famine, because a miracle is right around the corner. But other times as missionary's I assume that the work is slow because we are not doing our part. So I was wondering which case it was. Obviously there is always more that I can do but am I doing something wrong or is the Lord testing my patience, So I prayed about it. I think i am still in the midst of getting my answer, it keeps coming. I know the answer to this question. The best is yet to be. Miracles are about to happen, and miracles are happening. Of course I need to change something, he wants to me to grow and to change and to try new methods of finding and strive and struggle to figure out how to be the best missionary I can be. But in the process He is there. He is always there.

I love being a part of this mission. I love wearing this name tag. I love being different. I love that I can help people have the same thing that I have. I love that the Lord has allowed me to be one of his missionary's.

I think I really need to find a way to work with the youth. I have felt this since the beginning of my mission and it continues to manifest itself to me. This week we went to go visit a potential investigator, it was quite out of our way. Before we knocked on his door a 14 year old girl walked past us. We gave her a book of Mormon and prayed with her, she said her mom was sleeping so we couldn't come over today but she gave us her phone number and told us to call this week. She continued walking and went into her apartment which was at the end of the street. We went up to Kayan's door but unfortunately he wasn't home. I felt prompted to knock on his neighbor's door, so we did. No answer. So we knocked again, still no answer. This seems to happen quite frequently, I think Heavenly Father is seeing if I follow through on my promptings, but ofcourse He knows what He is doing. We decided to make our way back to our car and go to plan C when our new friend comes out of her house holding a bunny. She yelled to us to come see her pet. We talked to her for probably another ten minutes, she really opened up to us and told us about her rabbit, how she is a cheerleader, about her family, how her best friend past away from cancer last year and she knew she was in heaven and she knew she would see her again. I was sitting there amazed it was like we were her best friend. I love what the spirit does through me. I dont even do anything I just sit there and people feel something and they start opening up like we have been best friends forever. I LOVE IT! Her mom came out as were leaving and she wasn't up for talking to anyone at the time. We are going to set up an appointment this week. I have high hopes, high expectations!

I know that God is close and His hand is in our lives. I know He has the map. I know He is proud of us when we trust in Him.

I dont know whats going to happen this week but I know that great things are in the works. I know that the best is yet to come. Sometime I think I am supposed to have seen all these miracles by now umm HELLO I have only been here for four weeks, If I was supposed to have accomplished everything the Lord wants me to accomplish on my mission by now he would have called me to do a 2 month mission. But He didnt He has called me to labor among the people of Tenneseee for the next 17 months. I know that a great work is about to come forth among the Children of men. I know the Lord has great things in store for us His children as we trust in Him. I know that he knows me. I got to give my first talk in church on Sunday! IT was on faith in Christ, I loved being able to testify of Christ. I stated that I didnt just believe in Christ but I believe Christ, I know my Redeemer lives and I also Know My Redeemer! I really do. I am coming to know Him more and more everyday. He lives!

Mom I love you so much. I have to run now but I hope you know that I love you so much. I love MAddie and am so proud of her desire to do whats right. I miss her a lot and the Lord is shaping me so that when I come home I can be a better sister for her and example. Gentry just gets more and more amazing it sounds like. I hope blake is doing good I love him! and keltzie I love her so much I dont have time to write her this week but tell her I love her! and mitch and holly! And dad I love my dad so much.

Love you so much!

Sister Oldham