Extreme Weather Conditions

As a mom, I wasn't prepared to send my girl into life-threatening tornadoes right off the bat. But she pulled through and didn't lose any of her enthusiasm. Here's an excerpt from her latest letter:

Wednesday was my  first tracting day. I realized why missionaries love to do it because you could spend hours walking around, not really teaching anyone. It was good though and taught me a lot. That was the first day that the weather started. One lady we were talking to while tracting told us there was a tornado warning. Now a tornado warning means that it could happen and a tornado watch means the sirens are going off and to take cover. We never actually got to a tornado watch so I have not heard the sirens or went into a shelter. It did start raining really hard with lightning for about three nights. At those points we had to go back to the Fabians. Brother Fabian was a little more cautious and found us an underground shelter with their next door neighbors but it never got to that point. We just had to stay in the house.

Tonight we have the groundbreaking for the new chapel in Skiatook. We are very excited but it won't actually be ready for  months. We are trying as hard as we can though to fill it up when it is ready to be used. We are in a very small branch right now but we are trying to help it grow. The members are so nice and we often have more than one offer for dinner. There are many less active here as well and we are meeting with them to bring them back so the branch can grow that way as well. There are some recent converts here as well and they are all amazing. They have great conversion stories and love taking them with us to lessons with investigators. Almost everyone in the branch is a convert whether recently or when they were in their twenties and so on.

I also don't know if I told you about the scorpian we conquered or the tarantula. Apparently bugs are common things to be found in houses around here and their is not much to be done. We found a scorpian that we had to brush into a dust pan and put outside. Yes it did take both of us since we were freaked out and didn't want to be stung. We also found a tarantula on the drive outside the house. Potato bugs are like I said ants in utah. I will send a picture that may be a little difficult to see but all of the black things are potato bugs.

We have been prefectly safe in every situation whether insect or weather so don't worry.

Life in the MTC

As expected, Natalie loved the MTC. She has made some choice relationships already, and loves her district. Here's an excerpt from one of her letters:

I am loving it more each day at the MTC. Through many devotionals and classes, I have learned to not just pray but have sincere pray with faith. It really works to sit there and pray for answers. As companions we had a fast starting sunday night going into monday morning. Some of the teaching that we practice is at the TRC. They have members, nonmembers, and less active people who are all actors and have volunteered to let us practice on them. We were given a girl who was known to be difficult to teach so we thought we would fast together for extra strength and to know what to say to her. Well we didn't even get in the door. It was a big lesson though and even though the purpose of the fast did not work, it helped in a lot of aspects at least for me. I was able to really come closer to Christ and be humbled. We were able to come back a few days later and we got in but confused her and not able to commit her to anything. She did help us learn what we needed to work on though. I think that we learn a lot more when a teaching practice goes bad. I love it though and appreciate this time we do have to learn. 

To the MTC

Natalie entered the MTC this afternoon. She received a beautiful blessing last night, at the hands of a member of our (new) stake presidency, President Duffin.

Each family member (we were just missing Daniel and his family) was asked to share something with her. The Spirit was so strong, and tears were heavy. Natalie was given some cautions (take care of herself) and instructions (talk about her family often, use them as an example of an eternal family) and advice (don't shy away from sharing your testimony). Each word felt inspired.

 Today her parents (me being Mom) and her little brother Brandon took her back to Provo (she noted that the two weeks since she's been home from Provo feel like forever). We stopped at IHOP for a yummy breakfast (and yes, the missionary eats free). Then made a quick stop at Sister Missionary Mall to try on a skirt. (Didn't fit, still looking).

Then we drove through the MTC, stopped long enough for a quick hug from each of us, and then a kind lady said they'd need to take her away. And off we went.

There was a long line of young people waiving cheerily as we drove off, which seemed like the wrong emotion since I had just started sobbing. For the first time, I might add. I've been a rock -- right up to that moment. But I have a strong belief that Natalie is doing just the right thing at just the right time. And I believe that the message she has to share will change countless lives for the better. We love you Natalie!

A brand-new missionary - lots of tears after a beautiful blessing

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The last meal - at IHOP just before going to the MTC

MTC Greeting Party

Quick Goodbyes

Off to work!

Called to Serve

Our dear Natalie leaves for the MTC in Provo, Utah on May 8th to prepare to serve the the Lord in the Tulsa, Oklahoma Mission. We've got a ton to do in the next week and a half. She's mostly been focused on school - with finals at BYU just ending last Thursday. But despite a lack of physical preparations - like a good pair of walking shoes and a heavy-duty skirt - I'm confident that she's as spiritually prepared as a young person could be. I have been a slacker with my other blogs lately, but I hope I'll have the peace of mind I'll need to keep her experiences posted here - both for family and friends and also for those curious about the LDS mission experience.