Oct 8

Another week has flown by!! This is getting unreal on how fast time is flying here on the mission. I am finding more than ever that we have the longest days and shortest weeks... even shortest transfers! Transfers are next week, which is super crazy! I still remember last transfers! Anyway, I am loving it here... at least trying to. Life as a missionary is crazy. We had an interesting week:

We have one progressing investigator, he is from China. He is incredible! He loves to learn and has been pretty solid so far. We have had only 2 lessons with him so far, but we know that he is accepting of the message we have to share. His name is Yan Wang, he has no American name (most of the Chinese people here that we talk to choose an American name), and he is married with a son. So far it has been only just him at the lessons, but we are hoping to have his wife join us! Unfortunately every time we meet she is always busy with work or studying/school. But it will happen!

We are also working with a returning less active member, Chet. He is overcoming smoking and drinking. It has been a long struggle for him, and he keeps on relapsing. But he is willing and we are going to try something new. The problem is that he gets trials in his life and that is his way out. So we are going to have him "bury his weapons of war" and do the 13 step program with him (which if he dedicated to it, it has been proven to work with in a week or two). We are going to talk about the Anti-Nephi-lehi's in the book of Mormon and how they buried all of their weapons and promised to never take up their arms of war again. Then we are going to watch him dig a big hole somewhere and bury all of it. I have faith that doing all of this will work!

Had another fun filled Monday night! We had a dinner appointment right before, and it was crazy! It was with our Relief Society President and her family, so she took the time to tell us all of the sisters we should go visit and different things like that. It was most helpful!

We then went over to the FHE, after spending 5 or so minutes looking for parking. We met up with another sweet lady we were working with, they happened to park near us. Her name is Wendy Yeomans, and she is less active physically, but is spiritually active. She has a lot of phobias....so coming out of her house is hard. We are privileged to be able to walk with her twice a week, and share a message. She is so great! She has a bit of a short-term memory loss; so reading scriptures is something she does, but doesn't remember what she read the day before! She is wonderful and seemed to have fun last night! Yes!!! (her husband who is also less active came too!!!!)

This week has been crazy for me. I have been sick and am slowly recovering. I am trying to do the work at the same time, but when you don't feel 100% it is hard to give a 100%.

Conference was AMAZING!!!!!!!! I absolutely loved it! and I cannot wait to be able to read all of the talks in the Ensign next month :D I feel so rejuvenated from it and am excited to improve and do the work. I absolutely loved all of the Sunday Morning session, and Holland, Bednar, and pretty much every talk given. How amazing it was!

I have noticed how stressed and discouraged I have gotten lately. This area we are in is different. We don't have a lot of lessons planned each week, so we are doing our best. I am trying to stay faithful and to be optimistic, but with being sick this past week it has been hard. Being on and off sick with the same thing since August has been a trial. I know that there is something that I am supposed to learn from it, but I haven't figured it out yet. Maybe to have more fun? To be more patient? to be hopeful and to continue to be happy all the time? I try to be optimistic about everything, but lately that has been a little difficult. Anyone have any advice?

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!!!

love, sister shelby twitchell

p.s. we have made a game out of the work. for every person that we pass that we don't share the gospel with, we have to do some sort of leg workout while holding the 45lb weight in our apartment. Each person= 10. and when we get up to 50, each person we do we get to deduct. Wow!! I am sore.. we have done 80 two nights in a row. I am learning to be more bold in contacting!

Does anyone have any ideas about how to make missionary work fun?

Love you all!!!!

sister shelby twitchell