Let's get this party started!!!

ALOOOOOOOOOOOOHA FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!!!

 

Welcome to this new transfer!! I'm so PUMPED for it! I think it's going to be the best one yet. Sis. Adair has gone the way of all the earth, and I'm going to miss her a lot. My new companion is Sister McKenzie, and she is AMAZING. Like one of the most top-notch missionaries here. She's from Utah (shocker) and she's been out about 6 months. She's such a good missionary, though. I think that I'm going to learn more from her than she ever will from me. 

 

We had a really good week! We were able to see Comesha and Elijah. The young women's presidency came with us because they wanted to visit with Comesha's daughter. She wasn't there, though, because she caught wind of the event and you really have to take her by surprise if you want to see her. We had a really good visit with Comesha and Elijah, though, and it made me happy to see the ward take a more active role in fellowshipping that family.

 

We also got out on our bikes again because we want to redouble our efforts to talk to EVERYONE. In the effort we were able to meet some cool people and some not so cool people and we were also able to get in with a less active family that I've been trying to see my whole time here. AND we were able to have somewhat of a lesson! It was awesome! They're in trouble, though, because they didn't come to church. Silly people making silly choices...

 

We also went to go see Mimi and Tati, and as we read some of the Book of Mormon with them Tati mentioned out of the blue that she had been having some problems not drinking tea. So we took all of her tea bags and ripped them up so she wouldn't have that temptation anymore. It was cool, though, because we hadn't even mentioned the word of wisdom to her or asked if she was drinking tea, we just invited the Spirit by reading the scriptures and the Spirit led her to repent. I love the gospel! And being a missionary! It is simply the best.

 

Last night we had our correlation meeting with our 2 assistant Ward Mission Leaders (the WML was out of town)and a member of the Elder's Quorum Presidency came to present their part of the ward mission plan. (Basically, our ward mission plan outlines the goals of the mission as well as Elder Ballard's call to invite friends to meet with the missionaries once a quarter and each auxiliary is in charge of setting goals and making plans to help the ward achieve these overarching goals) All of the goals that he presented were so inspired and reflected a desire and enthusiasm on behalf of the members to do missionary work. We all just got really excited and I realized that we were finally building on a foundation of member trust that missionaries in the past had created and that we would see the fruits of their labors. It was inspiring to see the members excited to do missionary work and taking ownership of the work of salvation! When Elder Bradley D. Foster was here, he explained that there were three phases of missionary work:

 

1. the missionaries do it all

2. the members help the missionaries

3. the missionaries help the members

 

I'd say that the Village ward has been in phase 2, but I can see the transition into phase 3 starting to happen. THIS is when the Lord is hastening His work. THIS is the time to invite all to come unto Christ. What an exciting time to serve the Lord! There's honestly nowhere I'd rather be than in this small part of Oklahoma City giving my heart, might, mind and strength to my God. There truly is nothing better than to lose oneself in the service of others, because as Elder Neal A. Maxwell said:

 

Consecration is the only surrender which is also a victory. It brings release from the raucous, overpopulated cell block of selfishness and emancipation from the dark prison of pride.

 

And as the Savior said:

 

Remember the words which I have spoken. For behold, ye are they whom I have chosen to minister‍ unto this people. Therefore I say unto you, take‍ no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

 Behold the fowls‍ of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies‍ of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin;

And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you, if ye are not of little faith.

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek‍ ye first the kingdom‍ of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
I love you all! Thank you so much for your good examples and your prayers and your encouragement. It means more that you will ever know.
~Hermana Bethani Holloway
Pictures:
1. Sis. McKenzie and me (please try to ignore the elder in the background)
2. Reunited with my hija! (I'd forgotten how short she is...)
3. Helping Tati live the word of wisdom :)