The Door.

This week, our investigators have been progressing more. I think that I have been getting better at getting my "foot in the door" not literally, but getting people thinking about why they need the full gospel into their lives. It takes time for them to be spiritually ready to make that commitment and make some major life changes to be closer to the Lord. A lot of people tell us that they already have the Bible, and that is it, and they don't need anything else (like in 2 Nephi 29...read it because it somewhat describes part of my mission). So, I have been working on getting past that and expanding their knowledge so that they can know more. Honestly, everyone wants to know more, but its a matter of whether or not they are willing to accept it and more forward. 

When I first got here, they made a new rule that you cannot drive until after your first transfer (6 weeks) and you get your Tiwi card. So I have finally gotten my Tiwi card, and now I can chauffeur my companion around! 

We have meet several people with scriptural names this week, Alma, Moses, Isaiah, and a few others. It's pretty cool! 

Love all of you!! 

Sister Toomey

Referrals

It has been a pretty good week.

We there was a crazy lightening storm a few nights, and there was a flash of lightening almost every second for like ten minutes straight. The tornado warning sirens were going off and we didn't get the call for lockdown until after the worst had stopped.

I figured out a new way to get referrals, and it works on most people, but they have to have a sense of humor. Idk why, but for some reason, I thought that I was suppose to be super serious, non-jokester person, and there is a time and a place for being like that, but I have figured out that at least here in my area of Louisiana, that everyone here loves to laugh. Sister Crane made someone laugh, and after we asked him if there was anyone who he thought would be interested in our message, he referred his own wife! I thought it was pretty awesome. So I have been trying to make people laugh ever since, to show that we really are human and are not just "recruiting" people to increase our numbers. So, out referrals have skyrocketed in the past few day, and this will definitely help us find people who are ready to change their life and commit to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I finally got to go into the Baton Rouge temple!! It was beautiful!!

Sister Toomey

2016May23- crazy lightening storm

2016May23- Baton Rouge Temple

2016May23-Sister Crane & I

Chalk

I dodged a bullet and I get to spend another transfer (6 weeks) in Luling in Sister Crane! I love this area!! Yesterday, we bought chalk and went to the park underneath the bridge. On a busy side walk we wrote, "Where am I from?...Why am I here?...Where am I going?...Mormon.org...and our phone number" in hopes that it gets people thinking about these questions of the soul. If any of you want to know the answers to these questions, please email me!

We had 3 of our investigators come to church this week! When the walked in, I nearly jumped out of my seat out of pure joy and happiness!!!!!

We got attacked by terminates!!! I had never seen so many in my life. They came out at night, as we were right next to the Mississippi river and near swamps. They swarmed like bees around a hive! Luckily they don't bite. We had to run through it to get back to the car. The locals say that they only last about 3 weeks, but the worst is over.

President Hinkley once said, "get on your knees and pray, then get on your feet and work." I know that I you truly ask God for help, then the Savior, who created all things, will help you if you put in your full effort and really work toward it.

Love Y'all1

Sister Toomey

2016May17- Park Chalk Contacting

2016May17- The Bridge to New Orleans at twilight

2016May17- The Bridge to New Orleans at twilight (2)

2016May17- Found an old car (maybe it was a go-kart) while tracting

2016May17- My District

The Pepper Palace Challenge

This has been an exciting week! 

It started on P-Day and we went to downtown New Orleans and went to the Pepper Palace, which is literally a store dedicated to hot sauce. Every missionary in the New Orleans zone has to take try the hottest of all sauces. I tried the smallest amount possible on a tortilla chip and my mouth only burned for 1-2 minutes thank you to the chip that absorbed the heat. Then we went to the French Market across the street and had fun. 

The STL's (Sister Training Leaders) were sick, so I was an STL for a day and got to go to MLC (Missionary Leadership Conference) which is only for leaders in the mission so that we can spread the council from the Mission President (who got some from a Seventy) to the rest of the missionaries in the Zone. It was really exciting. I've been working on my "Celestial timing" by waking up a little earlier than 6:30am (FYI, this is only necessary for young missionaries, and is NOT a requirement for baptism). It's a work in progress, but it is so worth it!

We have been working on getting more Member-present lessons. and it is fun, and it makes the lesson even better every time because we will only be there for so long, before it is just them and the members. 

We had 13 COCKROACHES magically appear in our apartment. My companion joking tells everyone that I am the "Cockroach Wrangler" because I would rather catch them than let crawl under my bed. The first one we caught was about 3 inches long and looked more like a small mouse that wouldn't die. We spent the next 2 hours catching the other 12 cockroaches. We were later told that whenever it rains (this was after the near-flooding) that the sewers get high and the cockroaches crawl up the pipes, and then through our bathtub drain. So we started to cover our drains and I have only seen 2 roaches since and Sister Crane kills them. 

We went to a Baptist "Bible Study" this week with an investigator. It was very interesting, but I learned that other missionaries from other faith are 'spreading the word'  like us. Even though they do not have the full gospel, they are still acting on the truth that they do know and sometimes they don't learn the full gospel because they are happy where they are and do not know of the happiness that they could have if they could have if they pondered and prayed with a sincere heart and really wanted to know the truth. 

I got to Skype my Mommy on Mommy's Day! It was exciting to see her and Hannah! It made me want to work even harder so that families can be together FOREVER! and I want everyone to have that same opportunity that I have been given to be with my family forever :) to find out more, please go to  https://www.mormon.org/values/family or email me :)

Love Y'all!
Sister Toomey

 

 

Hurricane Season: Lock Down

I find that life is full of ups and downs, but it makes the ups more enjoyable and then it makes you appreciate it even more. 

This week has been crazy! But I love how our work is slowly paying off. We were on Lock down for 2 days. I thought it was just flash floods and really bad lightening. We were in church and we thought that lightening hit our small building, but it didn't luckily. I later found out that there were tornado warnings. We were out with a member visiting people, and as we were driving, it felt like were were in a car wash. I never knew the reason for the highest setting on windshield wipers until now. I also found out that Luling is below sea level and people can only build houses here because of the wonderful pumps that pump out all of the water. 

Despite all that, the people here are amazing! We found K, and later this week, committed him to BAPTISM! I am stoked! 

Pictures: Just a friendly reminder for all y'all. "Thou Shalt Not Kill." These signs are everywhere. Also, notice Mary. Mary statues are everywhere, and it means that they are Catholic. 

A beautiful lake that was formed after the rainstorm. 

Sister Toomey

2016May2- reminder for all y'all. Thou Shalt Not Kill. These signs are everywhere. Also, notice Mary statues

2016May2- beautiful lake that was formed after the rainstorm