Fall Fest

This past week, we have been working hard to keep our investigators progressing. We have been teaching M, and we taught him the Plan of Salvation. We figured that it would be a more spiritual environment to teach him at the church, so we drove our car to his house. Parked it. Then walked to the church with him. We carried our little 2x3' white board and drew on it like a time line. It helped him to really understand it. Now we just need to figure out how to use the white board for the Addiction Recovery Program. He also came to church for the 4th time! We still have a ways to go, but I am really excited to be apart of it! I hope that I don't  get transferred next week. Also, I wont be emailing until Tuesday. 

Yesterday, was the annual Primary Program, and we had 63 people at church!!!!!! The branch almost doubled! and we had to bless the sacrament twice to give it to everyone. It was the best problem ever! One of the members, brought their non-member niece with them, and even though she didn't even know any of the songs, she still joined all of the little kids on the stand and sung with them. They had poser-board with the words written on it for the kids :) I love those good-ole days 

On Saturday, we had  the branch's annual Fall Fest consisting of a hog roast cajan style, a hay ride pulled by a tractor, gumbo, lots of other southern food, and games, and we had investigators come with their friends, and it was awesome! 

And now, I am sitting in Southeaster University's Library with my district emailing y'all. 

This past week, has just been great! and I hope that everyone has a Happy Halloween! also, know that missionaries are not allowed to go tracting on Halloween night. There have been people who dress up as missionaries and rob people. So know, that it is not them. 

Two days ago, it dropped from the 90's to the 60's and I am freezing! The humidity really does make things cold! I will miss the heat. Luckily, I get to stay out for 2 summers and only 1 winter!! I hope that everyone stays safe this week!

Love you! 

Sister Toomey

Godly Qualities

Hello Everyone!

This week, we have had a lot of progressing investigators, which is VERY exciting!! We had 2 investigators come to church this week!! 1 of them wasn't at the church when we first got there, so we walked to his house, and told him to do it for the Lord and we came back feeling somewhat accomplished, but still a little sad, and he told us that he might come later. I don't like maybes. You are either there or you aren't. There is literally no inbetween when it comes to church attendance. So, Sacrament ended, then we went on to teach Gospel Principles (Sunday School) and he still wasn't there. Then we got a text from Elder Moody, who was on his way out to another branch, also stopped at his house unplanned, told him to go to church, and lo and behold, he came to church in the middle of Gospel Principles, and it was so exciting! He also stayed for Priesthood meeting! 

Also, this week, my companion has been sick, so for the past few days, we have been going out is to see people with appointments. Also,  because I refuse to sit around and do nothing, I have been reading old Ensigns (church magazines/we have a stack about a cubit(18") high). I read Our Search for Happiness by M. Russel Ballard and he said that God wants us to develop every godly quality. That hit me. Every. Godly. Quality. I did not know that was a thing. But it makes a lot of sense of why our loving Heavenly Father even put us here on this earth. Without being here on the earth, then we could had never progressed, and become the person who we originally wanted to be like, God. And while we are here on this earth, we need to get ourselves together and with God's help, then we can have every, godly, quality. So, I have taken this opportune moment, to figure out what God wants me to do by praying, pondering, and reading my Patriarchal blessing. It's really nice not having any distractions, and thus far, it looks like I am outlining a research paper. 

I love everyone of you!
Sister Toomey

This was definately one of the most sketchy Bible refferals that I have ever gotten in my life. Nobody was there.

The Family Proclamation

So, we had 2 investigators T and A, who were taught by the previous Elders about 3 months ago, get legally MARRIED a few days ago! It was the best. There was miscommunication/direction, and we were not able to find the Baptist Church where it was held, but I am so glad that they took that step. Together they have 5 of  the cutest and nicest kids ever! Hours before the ceremony, we went over with Elder Moody, who is also a Sealer and gave they marriage advice and council. Since I didn't really have anything, Elder Moody and I both brought the Family Proclaimation to the World unplanned and we went over a few parts of it:

WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

WE DECLARE the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

WE WARN that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

WE CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng

I want to challenge all y'all to print it out (you can use the link  above to get a nice format) and hang it somewhere where your family can easily read it often/a high traffic area in your home because I know that it will bless your lives even more than you can imagine. I had it on my fridge when I was in college, and I would read it when I wasn't studying my books. And at my Mom's house, it was hanging up at the bottom of the stairs. In my current apartment, they are just kind of hanging up everywhere, including the bathroom. It was the best. 

A lot of extremely awesome things happened  this week including M! He came to church this sunday and everyone absolutly loved him! I am so excited, we are going to  start the 12-step addiction recovery program with him. The link to a website is below. I heard that the key is to write out all of the answers to the questions on their own. 

https://addictionrecovery.lds.org/?lang=eng

I feel so blessed to be here right now! Y'all take care! I love you!

Sister Toomey

 

an out door baptismal font at one of many Baptist Churchs

We found a target while we were with other sisters and we were a little excited about the costumes! Comp Unity!

These are some awesome members in our branch, and we spent most of a day finding members in her quadrant of the branch! Shout-out to her cute boys to being so great! I also had the best shrimp/chinese food of my life with them this week!

 

General Conference

Hello! This week we have gotten a lot of Bible referrals from https://www.mormon.org/ and if you want one, please click on the little links at the bottom. You can even get a Book of Mormon and missionaries if you request  and someone like me, will come to your door and personally give it to you. This week, wow. I now have some very interesting stories from some of those referrals that I will share when I come home. 

General Conference was awesome!! Sister Scott and I went to a different place for every session! First, we went to an older lady/members house, and she fed us a delicous lunch. She had enough food for 2 elders and it was great. Then we taught the Restoration to a member who goes to another branch's house's best friend's daughter. And it was awesome and Sister Scott lead it. Then we watched the next session at the member's home, so basically we stayed right where we were, but the member's best friend's daughter has to leave, and we watched general conference with lots of other family and friends coming and going and coming again, and it was pretty cool for them to hear a few words of the modern day prophets. Then the next day, our morning conference plans fell through, so we went down to the Hammond Stake center and watched conference with other missionaries in the area and it was pretty sweet. The members there hooked them up with lots of food, and it was delicious. Then we went over to another member's home, and had spaghetti made by a real italian. 

But I just loved to hear the words of the modern-day prophet, and I am so grateful to have one to listen to along with the apostles. I can testify to you that they know what is coming, and I know that they are there to help guide us back to our Heavenly Father. I noticed that they spoke a lot a about the Plan of Salvation, the restoration of the gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and other laws and ordinances of the gospel. I think that they talked about just about everything that we, as missionaries talk about. If I had a investigator record sheet, I probably could had checked just about everything off of it. And you know what? Those basics of the gospel are important. I know that there is a reason why they were talked about because they need to often be re-emphesized to remind everyone of what is important, so that we can build up our faith in Jesus Christ. 

Sister Toomey