Going to a differentchurch!!

So recently I was informed by my mother/blogger that the blog post that got the most hits was the one titled "I got a boyfriend!" Thus, I have been trying to come up with more "shocking" titles to increase my readership.

 

We actually did go to a different church this week. Someone that the elders are teaching invited them to a "revival" for their church (the Choctaw Church of God) so we tagged along. It was a good experience, and gave me a new perspective on everyone that we're teaching. It's always important to know where people are coming from so that you can better teach to their needs!

 

But anyways, this week was FANTASTIC as usual. We had to move Odessa and Tana's baptismal date again, but they are FOR SURE getting baptized on July 19th!!!! It'll be a great late birthday present :). And Odessa went to Young Women during church for the first time and LOVED it. Now we just need the rest of the family to get on board and stay for all of church.

 

We also did my favorite thing this week:

 

 

 

Drive through farmland as the sun goes down! I'm so grateful for being in an area that covers quite a bit of the middle of nowhere but is still a short drive from the city. Only in Oklahoma!

 

The Easteps also committed hardcore to come to church this week! They're an old couple that hasn't gone in a long time, and they told us that the only reason why they haven't gone is because their laze. Lame excuse. We have a good enough relationship now that we were able to tell them that we would not leave their house until they agreed to come to church. And it worked! They had already promised their daughter that they'd go to the Baptist church with her yesterday, but this Sunday they'll be there!

 

Another highlight: we got a media referral! That almost never happens! But a guy went on mormon.org and requested a Book of Mormon so we brought it to him and we're going to go back and teach him this week. So share those links to church websites! They work!

 

Finally, we were going to go with a member to go visit a recent convert who lives in the boonies, but they cancelled so we decided to go visit some other less active people that live way out in the boonies (basically in Norman). After that we went to visit an old member couple for a little bit, and they were so nice and gave us a bag of potatoes from their garden and wild sand plum jelly that they'd made themselves. It was awesome! Missionaries get so spoiled it's not even funny.

 

But anyways. I've been thinking and studying a lot about member missionary work lately, and especially this talk by Elder Ballard from last conference. Here are some parts that I like:

 

I’m a great believer in the principle of follow-up. As it says in the missionary guide Preach My Gospel, “extending an invitation without following up is like beginning a journey without finishing it or buying a ticket to a concert without going into the theater. Without the completed action, the commitment is hollow.”²  

Preach My Gospel teaches everyone not only how to invite but also how to follow up on our invitations. The purpose of missionary work is defined as inviting “others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.”³

Inviting is certainly part of the process. But notice that there is much more to missionary work for members than simply extending invitations to people to listen to the missionaries. It also includes follow-up with the missionaries in the cultivation of faith, the motivation to repentance, the preparation for making covenants, and enduring to the end...

In the spirit of Peter’s example, may I suggest that we can all be more consistently involved in missionary work by replacing our fear with real faith,inviting someone at least once a quarter—or four times every year—to be taught by the full-time missionaries. They are prepared to teach by the Spirit, with sincere and heartfelt inspiration from the Lord. Together we can follow up on our invitations, take others by the hand, lift them up, and walk with them on their spiritual journey.

To help you in this process, I invite all members, regardless of your current calling or level of activity in the Church, to obtain a copy of Preach My Gospel. It is available through our distribution centers and also online. The online version can be read or downloaded at no cost. It is a guidebook for missionary work—which means it is a guidebook for all of us. Read it, study it, and then apply what you learn to help you understand how to bring souls to Christ through invitation and follow-up. As President Thomas S. Monson has said, “Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him.”⁵

I don't want to bore you with excessive citations, but the moral of the story is that prophets and apostles have said it over and over and over again: the best way to grow the kingdom of God is through the members and missionaries working together. The members will take the lead in finding and fellowshipping, and the missionaries will take the lead on teaching and preparing for baptism. There is no better feeling than watching someone you love and have prepared enter the waters of baptism, and Heavenly Father wants us all to feel that way. So keep up the good work and serve and love and find those that the Lord has prepared for you!
I love you all! Have a wonderful week and keep smiling because LIFE IS SO GOOD!!!
Con much carino,
Hermana Holloway

HALFWAY!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

ALOOOOOOHA!!!!

 

Another transfer down! Number 6 is in the history books! As such we switched over to the new planners yesterday... and I left my old planner at home. So I'll try to remember what we did last week, but mostly I have no idea.

 

We got a new elder for the Choctaw ward! (we have one set of elders and a set of sisters, not sure if I specified that...) His name is Elder Rodriguez, he's Hispanic, has a Mexican accent, and quotes Nacho Libre all the time. Pretty much the best. Also I have someone that I can speak Spanish with!

 

Also I just realized that MY HALFWAY MARK IS THIS WEDNESDAY WHERE ON EARTH DID THE TIME GO!?!?!? I can't believe I'm about do start on my downhill, and everyone says that the second half goes by so much faster. Basically I don't know how to feel about it, but I'll just keep chugging along like always. Missionary work is distracting enough :).

 

Anyways, we had a super awesome miracle lesson with the Batesons last week. We just talked about families and why their families are important to them and why God gives us families and the Spirit was so strong! Then we asked them if they would start to prepare themselves to be sealed in the temple, and while they didn't give us a straight answer, both parents started tearing up so we know that they'll be thinking about it! It was amazing!

 

We also had a good lesson with Sis. Pruett, who's been inactive for about 20 years. We just read Alma 32 (here is a link to this awesome discussion on faith https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/32?lang=eng) with her and her grandson (who is a super smart 9-year-old) and it really brought the Spirit and (I think) the feelings that she used to feel when she was active in the church and a desire to feel that again. It was a huge testimony builder to me that we are not the teachers, and only if the Spirit is there can we do anything!

 

Sis. Collett is still doing really well! We hung out with her last Monday (the only day we're allowed to hang out) and just talked. We're basically besties. She keeps her freezer full of popsicles just for us. It's a good relationship.

 

And yesterday was Father's day! The primary children sang, the dads got candy, and we had a Thanksgiving-style dinner with one of our member families. I think that that would be a good tradition to start. Thanksgiving is too good for just once a year right?

 

We're looking forward to a transfer of miracles! Last transfer was a lot of figuring things out, building relationships, and being patient. Now we're ready to baptize and add more people to the Choctaw ward! Something that our zone leaders has emphasized a lot is this scripture (Moroni 7:33):

 

And Christ hath said: If‍ ye will have faith‍ in me ye shall have power to dowhatsoever thing is expedient‍ in me.

 

What does that mean? Well in a nutshell it's telling us that if we have faith, if we truly believe in Christ and His divine help, then we will have POWERto do His will, or what is expedient in Him. They have said over and over that it is expedient in Christ, it is His will, that we baptize in this zone! So we are ready and excited to do so.

 

Well that was my week. I hope all y'all have a great one this week and always remember to SMILE and BE HAPPY! Because life is amazing.

 

Love,

 

Hermana Holloway

 

PS: I only took one picture this week, but it's of a really cool stripey orange moth, so that should be worth like 5 pictures right? Right.

I don't know WHY I am so happy :)

Dear everyone,

 

So funny story, I responded to all my emails, wrote to President Walkenhorst, and then started writing a letter while waiting for everyone else to finish when I realized that I hadn't even sent out my main email! Good thing that I remembered or y'all would've gotten nothing.

 

Anyways this week was super fantastic. There are LOTS AND LOTS of good things going on over here in Choctaw! We had an awesome lesson with the Jones family, and Odessa and Tana came to church with their family totally unexpectedly! We have a lesson planned for them tonight and we're going to commit them to GO TO THE TEMPLE so that they can be sealed and be a family forever and ever and ever.

 

We've also been going over to Sis. Collett's house a lot. She's just amazing. I just love going over there and ministering to her and in turn have my faith and testimony built. That's why we NEED each other as members of the church. Because we grow in more ways when we gather together than when we just remain separate.

 

Yesterday was transfer calls again. I'm staying here for another 6 weeks and another Spanish elder is getting transferred to this ward. So this ward will be half Spanish missionaries :). We're taking over! Por lo menos tendria alguien con quien pueda hablar espanol!

 

So yeah. I have two overwhelming feelings from this week: exhaustion and pure happiness. This week totally kicked my fanny, but I am truly finding that there is no greater joy than the work of the Lord I know I've quoted this a few times, but I think that I understand it better now than I did before:

 

Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men  that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and myjoy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all‍ wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful‍ Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch‍ ofthe tree of Israel, and has been lost‍ from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers‍ in astrange land.

Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful‍ of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen. -Alma 26:35-37

Sorry I don't have anything more exciting to say. I love you all and I'm grateful for your constant love and support as well as your efforts to do missionary work.
Love,
Hermana Holloway
PS: District Picture! Only Sis. Chevalier (2nd from left on top row) is leaving. Pres. W. doesn't really believe in moving people around very much.

PPS: here's the talk for the week. It's about TRUTH. Watch/listen/read and enjoy!

I got a BOYFRIEND!!!

Aloha everybody!!

 

So this week was FABULOUS, especially because we weren't stuck inside. I can't believe that it's June already!! In 2 weeks I'll hit 9 months!!! That's halfway!! Then next month I turn double decades!!!AAAAAAA!!! (July 12th BTW, in case you were wondering ;)) Anyways, here's what happened:

 

MONDAY: We had a pretty good Memorial Day/P-Day.... Wait I wrote about this last week. Next!

TUESDAY: We did service for Sis. Collett, who is pretty much my favorite. She also has this dog:

 

 

who is also my favorite. Then later on we had a lesson with Odessa and Tana, and it was a little rough. For some reason the Spirit was just not there. We really want their mom to get active because otherwise they'll most likely get baptized and then go inactive again, and we don't want that to happen. But mom just doesn't understand why it's important! So it's a bit of a hurdle, but nothing we can't get through with the power of God!

 

WEDNESDAY: Today we went on exchanges with our lovely sister training leaders!!! Back in March I went on exchanges with Hna. Dupape, and I got a chance to go on exchanges with her again. It was kinda fun to see how we've both grown since then. Plus we're both Spanish Hermanas in English areas so we were able to talk about our feelings and how there is a light at the end of the tunnel (I miss Spanish a bit... English is great but not the same). It was pretty much the best exchange ever. We tracted a lot, but we met some really cool people and even tracted into an RM who's going to the single's branch! It was funny, she opened the door and just said "I'm Mormon!!!" and then we freaked out. THEN I met my boyfriend! His name is Alex and he's VERY social and 4 years old. Here's how the conversation went:

 

I have 2 girlfriends.

-Alex

Oh that's cool. (not really paying attention to his incessant blabbering)

-Us

Say, "who's that?"

-Alex

Who's that?

-Us

You guys!!!

-Alex

 

It was the cutest. Of course, we had to get a picture with our boyfriend:

 

Then that evening we met with Sarah, a less active they're teaching who's slowly coming back. She just quit smoking. They actually had an appointment for the next day, but during comp study Hna. Dupape felt like we should drop in. Then we did a real play for her during comp study (like a role play but you pray before so that you can receive revelation for the person's actually concerns) and Hna. D said that the first thought that came to mind (she was Sarah and I was the missionary) was "I'm so glad you're here". THEN when we got to her house, the first thing she said was "I'm so glad you're here". REVELATION IS REAL PEOPLE!! It turns out that she had had a cigarette that day and was in need of some support. It was super cool.

 

THURSDAY: We tracted into members again today! Two days in a row! It was pretty crazy because I could tell it was an old guy (I'm kind of afraid of old people... too many bad experiences) but when we knocked on the door he invited us right in. I was SO surprised! But then it turns out that he's a member... not as surprised anymore. It was funny though. Then we visited this awesome part-member family with a girl who's preparing to serve a mission. They've never really let missionaries over in the past, but the dad let us set up an appointment for Tuesday. We're really excited!

 

FRIDAY: District meeting! Then we went to Tasty Burger! (hole in the wall burger joint... AKA the bomb.com) Then we did more service for Sis. Collett and she fed us. Then we went to teach an investigator... except he just talked the whole time. Okie talker probs. Still not sure if he's actually interested or just likes to talk.

 

SATURDAY: It was the last day of the month and we still had about 150 miles left, so we went to the Southern border of our area and tried to contact some people. We didn't have much luck but it was fun to explore the boonies a bit. Then we had to pick up the elders and drive to the boonies AGAIN. All told, we used about 128 miles that day.

 

SUNDAY: It was a pretty slow day at church. Nobody came. Darn summer vacation. But we were able to go out with a member after and find some more less actives which was fun. And yesterday marks a week until transfer calls!! Crazy!!

 

 This week during my studies I found an interesting Book of Mormon/Bible connection:

1 John 3:2-3 says: "Beloved, now are we the sons‍ of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like‍ him; for we shall see‍ him as he is. And every man that hath this hope‍ in him purifieth‍ himself, even as he is pure."

And then Moroni 7:48 says: "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray‍ unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers‍ of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be‍ like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified‍ even as he is pure."

They both basically say the same thing, that we have the potential to be like God. Moroni just goes into a bit more detail, though, and says that the way that we are able to become like God and be purified is to seek to have charity. Charity is the ultimate attribute of Jesus Christ, and if we have it we will become like Him.

 

I love the scriptures! And I love all of you. Just remember, if you really love a missionary... send them mail!!

 

~Hermana Holloway

 

PS apparently there are parts of my area that are considered part of the City of Norman. So close yet so far!

Missionary fun and what happens when your companion gets sick

ALOHA EVERYBODY!!!

 

Honestly, this week is a bit of a blur! I don't even know what happened!!

 

Well on Monday we had a really awesome P-Day with the whole zone and then after we had a Specialized Training Meeting with the Zone Leaders. I feel so blessed because I feel like I've had the opportunity to be trained by some of the best missionaries in this mission, and maybe even the whole world! Our ZLs right now are just phenomenal and they gave an amazing training on how to communicate better with investigators, which was perfect because I really needed the social skills!

 

So Sis. P and I got super pumped up to go out and baptize the world and then... she got sick. From Tuesday through Saturday. It was pretty miserable for her (well both of us really) but I still think the Lord was trying to teach me something. I was freaking out a little bit because of the appointments that we had to cancel and whatnot, but over and over again this thought kept coming to my mind "Be still and know that I am God". I've been trying to increasingly put things into the Lord's hands, which is a little difficult for someone like me who just wants to pridefully control everything, but based on all of my experiences from my mission the Lord micromanages this work. He delegates some things to us, but by and large He is in control. It's like it says in 1 Corinthinas 3:6-7: "I haveplanted, Apollos watered; but God gave‍ the increase. So then neither is hethat planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth theincrease." Our job is to work as hard as we can, then step back and let God give the increase.

 

And now, to break up the text, I will insert a picture from a sunset this week:

 

 

Anyways, on Sunday Sis. P wasn't feeling 100% better yet, but we went to church anyways because we were both speaking. The bishop wanted us to give a talk on missionary work, and while I was preparing I found this scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 33:

 

"7 Yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, that the field is white already to harvest; wherefore, thrust in your sickles, and reap with all your might, mind, and strength.8 Open your mouths and they shall be filled, and you shall become even as Nephi of old, who journeyed from Jerusalem in the wilderness.
9 Yea, open your mouths and spare not, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs, for lo, I am with you.
10 Yea, open your mouths and they shall be filled, saying: Repent, repent, and prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
There's a couple of things that I loved about that: first, the Lord tells us that if we open our mouths to talk about the gospel we'll be like Nephi. How cool is that?!? Second, in verse 9 the Lord says, "I am with you". I definitely feel the presence of the Lord most when I do missionary work, because it's literally the Lord's work.
Then later on Sunday we visisted this less active/part member family. The mom speaks English, but the dad only speaks Spanish. Score!!! So we went over there and I spoke to him in Spanish and he wants us to come over and teach his whole family!! Basically I'm really excited because I think he's the ONLY Spanish speaking person in all of Choctaw!
And then yesterday we had a lovely Memorial Day. The elders got together a bunch of investigators and youth and we played sports at the church (my face got in the way of an elder's soccer ball at one point but other than that it was fun. Don't worry I'm not all mangled now.) then we just chilled and played ping pong and went to a barbeque at a member's house and visited with the less active couple that came to church a couple of weeks ago! So even though last week was a little rough and we weren't able to do much, this week is going to be AMAZING!!
I love you all! Sorry I don't have more pictures, but I don't think pictures of my sick companion and me would be very appealing.
Con carino,
Sister Holloway
PS: Here's the video for the week! Enjoy!

Getting lost, baptisms, service and seeking Spanish speakers in Harrah

Aloha everybody!

 

This week was CRAZY. (But I'm pretty sure I have that disclaimer every week...) Here are some of the highlights:

 

#1: We got lost in the city! Again! (I basically don't have very much experience driving to the city/on the freeway so every time we go to the city it's a nightmare. One of these days I will get it!) On Wednesday we had to go to Moore (home base for the mission) for a new missionary meeting. Because we were already going to be in OKC we decided that right after the meeting we'd go to the bike shop because Sis. Peterson's bike ended up being to big for her (she's a wee one, just 4'10"!) and there were very kindly going to let us trade it in. Well, we got to Moore and realized that we'd forgotten her bike at home. Fail. So we talked to President and he generously granted us miles to go home, get the bike, and go to the bike shop. We successfully accomplished this, it just took a long time. At least we saw more of OKC and I got some freeway driving experience! :)

 

#2: We set baptismal dates for the girls that we're teaching! June 21st! The only issue with that is that we don't want them to get baptized and then go inactive because their mom isn't super active right now. So next lesson we're going to put the beef on the table and let her know how important it is for her to support the girls with her example. Odessa and Tana are so excited though. When we asked when they wanted to get baptized they just said "as soon as possible!"

 

#3: We were able to go with the Elder's Quorum to help Sis. Collett get her stuff moved in! And then she came to church and stayed all 3 hours! She really appreciated the help, and I get the feeling that we're going to be over there quite a bit because she signed up to feed us twice, still needs service in her house, and is willing to teach us how to quilt and crochet on P-Day! She's pretty much the best.

 

#4: THERE'S A GUATEMALAN MAN THAT'S MARRIED TO A MEMBER OF THE WARD!!!! I still haven't met him, but I LOVE GUATEMALANS and he's someone that I can speak Spanish to! Plus he hasn't be baptized yet, so it's something to work on!

 

Other than that... we're going to be focusing on finding new investigators this week and hopefully the investigators that we do have stop cancelling on us! Silly flaky people :).

 

I was reading in the gospel of Luke (chapter 12) today and there was a parable there that really grabbed my attention:

 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich manbrought forth plentifully:

 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no roomwhere to bestow my fruits?

 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; andthere will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years;take thine ease, eat, drink, and‍ be merry.

 20 But God said unto him, Thou‍ fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

 21 So is‍ he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

I kind of take this as a warning for myself personally. I have had a lot of spiritual experiences and rendered a lot of service to my God. However, by no stretch of the imagination am I "done" with service. Even though I was baptized, graduated from seminary, received the ordinances of the temple, and successfully completed 8 months of missionary service I still have a LONG way to go. Progression should never stop. Spiritual progression especially should never stop. I think that complacency is the most powerful tool the Adversary has to try to stop the work of the Lord. Even if he can't get good people to do bad things, if he can stop good people from doing good things then he has won. "Therefore, fear not, little flock; dogood; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, theycannot prevail." (D&C 6:34)
Love you all! Have a lovely week!!
~Sister Holloway

So I've been kind of a fail at taking pictures lately, but this is an ok picture of a really beautiful moonrise that we saw as we were driving home one night this week. Harrah is gorgeous!

Adventures in Englishland!!

Aloha!

 

This week was a great week! Well it wasn't all great... The other day we were out knocking a bit and we came upon this house--Well to preface a little bit, I am determined to find the Hispanics in the area. They have to be here!--Anyways this house had a flag on it that said "mi casa su casa". Of course my Spanish senses started tingling and I got really excited and made a beeline for the house. I knocked on the door.... white guy. (He also wasn't interested) Oh well. I'm still positive that there are Hispanics out here!

 

But here are our super amazing miracles from the week:

 

#1: On Thursday, we went and visited this couple that hasn't come to church for about 20 years. Usually we aren't this up front, but we asked them "what's been holding you back from coming to church?" Well the wife was surprised but happy that we asked and she brought up some concerns which we were able to resolve then bore testimony about the blessings of coming to church. It was a powerful spiritual experience, but the best part is that THEY CAME TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Milagro!!!

 

#2: On the same day as the fake Hispanic guy we had just eaten dinner, our somewhat appointment fell through, and we didn't know what to do and didn't really want to tract anymore. So as we were sitting in the car trying to decide we get a text from a lady in the ward who gave us the name of this other lady, Sister Colett, and told us to go visit her ASAP. Well we didn't have anything better to do so we go over to her house, and she is so happy to see us. It turns out that she's a member who was going to the Shawnee ward (one town east) even after she moved to Harrah, but her bishop had recommended that she go to the Choctaw ward because it was close and whatnot. Well her records never got switched over so she ended up getting lost for a little bit until she met one of the members at the dollar store! We talked with her for a while and got the elder's quorum to come help her move some stuff and her records should be in our ward soon! It was a wonderful experience in ministering and being able to feel Christ's love for this wonderful sister who had wandered off a bit and needed some love.

 

We have been trying to find investigators (of course) but for now we're teaching a couple of people that the elders were teaching and this part member family who has 2 daughters and a husband who are nonmembers. So far the daughters are on board with getting baptized, but the husband is not as enthusiastic. We still feel strongly that it will happen for him though!

 

Ok, ready for some spiritual food? One benefit of training is we get an hour a week so Sis. Peterson can do her online training and I can watch random videos and stuff on lds.org. It's pretty much the best. Here's some that I found this week:

 

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/come-unto-christ-2014-theme-song?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/because-of-him?lang=eng

 

They both remind me of what my purpose really is out here. It's to help people come unto Christ. That's all there is to it. Jesus Christ is my Savior, my Leader, my Teacher, and my Friend. Ultimately, my desire is that all will come unto Him and experience the same joy that He has given me in my life. That is my purpose.

 

In the words of Ammon, the great missionary:

 

"Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never weremen that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea,and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has allpower, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things,and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repentand believe on his name.

 Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light,my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea,blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, whoare a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in astrange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has beenmindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.

 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoeverland they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels ofmercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving;yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."

~Hermana Holloway