Serving in Paradise!

Hey everyone!

This week was kind of eventful.

Tuesday we saw Larry.  Got him to agree to take the lessons while we were building his fence. Haha.  We are excited for that!  He is the one who was in the mule cart we were driving a couple weeks ago.  He and his wife are just awesome.  After that we visited some other people in the ward.

Wednesday we got to teach seminary again.  It was fun as always!  We met an inactive couple who have tons of horses. So we got to play with them a little while we talked to the couple.  They are so nice.  We tried to visit with the other Larry.  Larry the barber.  He wasn't home, he was out moving cattle.  But his wife was home, and she fed us dinner.  Then we went home a little early to clean up from brushing horses and went to bed a little early so I could drive in the morning to zone conference.

Thursday we had to wake up at 3:30 so we could drive 4 hours to Ontario for Zone Conference.  I have to admit, I don't remember a lot of it.  haha.  I do remember that it was fun, and really good to see other missionaries;)  but I was so exhausted.  It felt like my first day in the mission field all over again =P That took up the whole day.  got home at 8:30 and crashed.

Friday we decided to ride bikes for some reason.  It was a little rainy.  Wasn't my idea. haha =)  But it was fun to ride around Enterprise.  I can't think of anything exciting that happened on Friday.  Sorry.

Saturday was fun though.  Haha.  We went branding again.  At a big branding, invite only.  Even President and Sister Cannon were invited, and came!  That was fun.  They didn't make it to the actual branding, but they made it to the feast.  The feast was intense.  Crab legs and steak.  First time I've ever had crab legs.  They were good!  It was fun to see the Cannons in chaps and a cowboy hat ;)  After the branding we went to a ward social up in the mountains at a member's cabin.  I brought magic bars =)  When we got up there and saw people, it was just like I belonged and I was seeing all my lifelong friends.  It was a great feeling.  I just absolutely love everyone here.  If I had a choice I'd stay here the rest of my mission.  Haha.  Hopefully that comment doesn't jinx me =P  

Sundays are always fun.  Exhausting, but fun.  Again, I had the feeling that I belong here and I've known these people for a long time.  It's fantastic.  Sunday was a little hectic because we are trying to put the music fireside together.  Only a week left.  I think we have everything mostly ready.  Just gotta get programs printed, then I have to practice and practice and practice the piano so I can accompany people.  Should be great.

Today we went hiking!  It was so fun.  Brother Butler took us up to some waterfalls.  Very pretty hike.  I'm a little tired and sore now.  Haha.  Also today we really cleaned our house.  Opened all the windows all day cuz its getting a little musty with no one living there but us in the basement.  We went through some cupboards and threw out more bad food, vacuumed, tidied up the laundry room.  Ah man, it looks and feels so much better!  

Hey 'yall

so I feel like a rancher this week.  Haha =) We did lots of stuff outside.

Monday we emailed late so I pretty much explained that day last week.

Tuesday we went to district meeting in La Grande.  That was fun.  We had lunch outside in the church parking lot.  The elders brought some tables and chairs out there and we ate while the people mowed the lawn around us.  It was pretty funny.  Then we went and helped a less active lady weed her flower bed.  That took 5 hours and we had to quit, go to dinner, then come back and finish because we took out all her bulbs and hadn't put them back in when dinner time came along.  She lost her legs because she was stranded in the mountains with a broken knee for 7 days in the winter.  So she has two prosthetic legs.  She is an amazing lady.  But has a hard time getting around and doing yard and house work.  I don't blame her!  It was a little odd to be sitting in the grass with her, with her legs 2 feet behind us.  Haha.  

The Road to La Grange--an hour long canyon drive

Wednesday we got to teach Larry again.  He is going to get baptized eventually, I know it! He is just scared to change his ways.  Understandable.  He is the type of person that puts 110% into everything.  So even though he wants to get baptized he doesn't want to make the commitment until he knows for sure that he can keep that commitment.  He is awesome.  =)  Just wish he would see that we don't have to be perfect to keep the commitment, we just have to try our best to keep it.  I met a McCalliter today.  I'm going to ask her if she is related to John D. T. or someone on that line.  That would be cool =)

Thursday night we went to a pancake dinner at the church.  It was a fundraiser for the young women girls camp.  Lots of pancakes! Then they had a pancake auction.  That was fun!  The people were very generous for some of those desserts.  Brother Nash (the one calling the auction) bid $52 for a chocolate cake then gave it to us.  We got to eat a fifty dollar cake.  Haha! First and last time for everything ;)  It was to die for though.  SO good!

Friday we met with Ranzie for breakfast and taught her the last lesson.  She is ready to get baptized now!  We are just waiting for her work schedule so she can set a specific date.  We are so excited for her!  After that we went and helped with lunch at a senior center thing.  They have it a couple times a week.  It's a big social thing for the seniors.  I got to play the piano as they were all coming in while Sister Leavitt and Duncan served them drinks.  It was fun!

Saturday felt like it came way too fast!  I couldn't believe it.  We went branding on Saturday.  For reals =)  haha!  It was great.  We didn't get totally involved.  But we did get to help.  Sister Leavitt prepared the tags on the tagger, Sister Duncan tagged their ears, and I held the bloody knife from.... uh .... ya.  I held the bloody knife.  Haha.  It was gross.  

After we went home and showered we got ready for the baptism.  It was awesome!  There were so many people there that we couldn't see inside the font.  Which was sad, but good!  When we walked out all dressed in his white shirt and tie he was just glowing.  He is going to be a great member.

Sunday was Nathan's confirmation.  That was good too.  He got a lot of promises in his blessing.  I absolutely love being able to see the changes in people so quickly =)  Me and Sister Leavitt got to say the prayers in sacrament meeting.  After church we went to the linger longer.  I love that they have a linger longer for everyone here.  After that was kind of a hard night.  Sister Duncan kind of had heat stroke from being in the sun so much on Saturday so we left her with Sister Hunter so we could go visit some people.  We saw a bunch of people that we needed to participate in the fireside coming up.  So that was better than just going home.

Today we went shopping then went home and relaxed the rest of the day.  I made magic bars! =)  I have been craving them so bad!  But the ingredients for that are more expensive almost than a whole week long of healthy food.  It was totally worth it though cuz I didn't have to buy anything else.  We were going to go hiking, but it was a little chilly and kind of rainy.  So we hung out at home then came to Wallowa to email at the bishop's.  This is most likely where we will be emailing from now on up here.  Just fyi.  So I won't be emailing till 4 my time 5 yours.  There are too many of us for the family history center, so president told us to email here.  

That was my week.  I found another cool thing in the bible dictionary again. If you look up earnest it says  "...the Lord gives us His Holy Spirit in this life as a foretaste of the joy of eternal life."  I love how it says that!  Every time we feel the spirit it's like we are getting a little glimpse of eternity.  =)  Cool huh?

I hope you all have a great week!  Keep smiling

Love,

Sister Radmall

Mascot dubbed "Chadwick"

Transfers

I didn't get transfered!!! yay!  And I still have my 2 companions.  So now my streak of being in a trio every other transfer has broken.  It just blows my mind that at the end of this transfer I will be halfway done.   No!! Not ready yet!  haha.

This last week was fun.  But the last week of the transfer always goes by the slowest.

I don't know if you like me going through my week.  It might get a little boring.  But I don't know what else to say.  Haha.  So if you have any suggestions to make my emails more interesting, let me know!  Until then I'll just go through the highlights of my week.

On Monday.....Okay so I can't really remember what we did on Monday.  I don't have my old planner so I can't look.  Obviously there was nothing too

special.  haha!!

Tuesday we.... this is embarrassing.  Haha.  Missions mess with memory. I think we visited a bunch of people, in Joseph.

Wednesday I remember going to Larry's house.  At least I think that was last week... haha!  We taught him for 2 hours.  Good legit gospel discussions.  He has a lot of questions.  Even though we want to answer all his questions we also want him to feel the spirit.  So we are working on that.  He gave us free bikes though! We are super stoked about that =)  Brand new even.  Really nice bikes.  Now I just have to find a new helmet so I can ride it.

Thursday we taught seminary.  That was fun!! I really enjoyed that.  I could teach some kind of class when I got home.  It would be fun.  Hard, but fun.  Maybe I shouldn't say that.  I might jinx myself.  After that we visited some more people. Invited them to our fireside.  

Friday we went to Baker City for Zone Meeting.  That was fun.  Always a long day when that happens, but it's fun.  We had to leave home at 6:30 to get to La Grande at 8 so they could drive us to Baker by 9.  Long drive.  What we learned at zone meeting applied very much so to our baptism coming up.  It was cool how we as a companionship were worrying about it, then we talked about it in zone meeting.  It was inspired =)

Saturday was fun.  We went to Wallowa (30min drive) to do some service.  The lady we were going to do service for was leaving so we went to another lady's house to help her.  She had us drive back to Enterprise with her to buy flowers with her so we could plant them.  But by the time we got back to Wallowa it was raining.  So we didn't plant.  Just bought them.  haha. Then we went to the bishop's house to help his wife and another lady in the ward make flowers for mother's day.  They weren't real flowers.  They were denim flowers.  Super cute!  I'm wearing one in my hair right now.  That took us 5 hours. So long!  But they really needed help.  Then we drove home.

Sunday was so crazy!!  We had to talk to everyone it seemed like.  We had to ask the bishop a bunch of questions, talk to a couple people to be in the The Living Christ, ask questions to other people, print out fliers and give them to people, and teach a primary class. It was crazy to run around trying to find everyone, and also keep track of each other.  It was fun to be busy though.  Then we got to call home!! I loved that =)  There wasn't enough time, never is.  But it was so fun to see everyone's personalities.  It different when it's in an email or letter.  I loved talking to my awesome family =)  Happy Mother's day to all the mothers!  You are fantastic.

So during study this week I looked up a bunch of scriptures about weakness.  And I found a lot of good ones.  I marked practically all of them.  Everyone go to the Topical Guide and look up weakness.  Notice that it references you to 'Strength'.  Weakness is not a bad thing.  Our weakness, once we figure out what they are, become our strengths if we want them to be.  God has promised us that.  "then will I make weak things become strong unto them." Ether 12:27.

I challenge you to look up at least 3 of the scriptures listed under weakness.  Or cross reference from D&C 1:23.  It's awesome =)

I hope you all have a great week!! 

Love, Sister Radmall

Week 5 of Transfer

Week 5 of the transfer always gets me off gaurd. It comes too fast!  I don't like the idea that there is a possiblitly that I can leave Enterprise.  I'm not ready to leave.  So... hopefully I won't!!

We are putting together another "The Living Christ" Fireside.  June 1st.  So excited!  I can't leave until that is over.  Haha.

This week... Monday we drove to Nampa again.  This time I drove.  It was fun.  A very pretty drive.  We hung out in Nampa... I may have already put this in last week's email huh?  Oh well.  haha.  We had dinner with the Minors.  So much fun.  I love that family!

Tuesday was sister's conference.  It was so fun!  Sister Cannon and the sister training leaders gave us some training.  About the area book and other things.  Then someone spoke to us about health.  It was really good.  Made me think about what I've been eating.  I've just been eating all the cheap snacks that are easy to grab and eat.  But it really isn't healthy.  So I am working on budgeting enough that I can buy more healthy stuff that I don't have to eat as much of.  And I also made exercise goals that should get me back in shape.  haha.  Every morining I've been making yummy smoothies.  I got some protien powder I'm going to start putting in them.  I put spinach and frozen fruit and fresh fruit and yogurt.  It's pretty much a cup full of energy =)  And super easy!  Lvoe it.  I had one today.  I feel like I could go forever!  .... sorry, kinda off track.  Sister's conference... yup, it was great.  We got to play with playdough.  haha.  We had some games that had to do with unity.  And we talked a lot about companionship unity.  I loved it!  I wish I had my journal so I could write down some quotes.  The only one that is coming to mind is one Sister Cannon said about health and food.... "If you can't pronounce what's in it, don't buy it."  haha=)

Wednesday we slept over in La Grande then had district meeting.  It was good as always.  For the skill check we did a shooting game kinda thing.  We discovered that almost all of the elders in my district are super competitive.  Not quite as fun.  Oh well.  It was funny.  Then we met with our investigator, Ranzie.  She is finally getting married!! So now she can get baptized =)  So excited for her!  Then we had dinner with the bishop and his wife.. They are the best.  I love them! Such a great new bishop.  Later we went to mutual and talked with the girls a bunch.  We are finally making friends with them =)  That was our goal in going to mutual.

Thursday we planned a bunch as usual then went to Joseph to visit people.  We stopped at one of our investigators house, Larry, and everytime we go there it's hard to get away.  They are talkers.  It was fun though.  He has a lot of deep questions we are trying to get out of him.  Haha.  He thinks the gospel is a lot more complicated than it really is.  We are trying to show that to him.  He will get it someday!  We also had a lesson with our other investigator, Nathan.  He wants to be baptized!  That was cool.  He had no interest in us when we first got here, but then all the sudden he decided he wanted to get baptized.  He is 15 and really improving his life.  It's awesome.

Friday was my 7th month mark! I really can hardly believe it! Crazy =)  I have less than a year.... and it's going by TOO fast!  We weeded a lot on friday.  We all got sunburned.  I didn't get it bad.  But Sister Duncan got a bad burn.  She isn't as used to the high elevation sun since she lives at sealevel in Alaska.  It was fun to weed and see live plants after a long winter =)  It's finally getting warm here!  Most days anyway.

Saturday was interesting.  We went to a plowing bee.  People from all over the state come to Joseph for a plowing bee where they bring their mules and horses, hook them up to a plow, and plow.... for fun, for two days.  It's kinda funny how much they love it.  It was fun to watch for a bit though.  We are trying to get the person in charge of it to take the lessons.  So we are making friends with him.  He likes us.... next step! =)  I got to drive a cart.  That was fun.  I had never driven mules before.  They really are stubborn... and really smart.  After we drove we got to brush them.  I may be weird... but it was really fun to brush a horse!!  well... a mule.  I miss it.  Hadn't done it for 7 months!  I have been craving it.  haha.  So I really enjoyed brushing them =)  It was stake conference so we went to that Saturday night.  It was broadcast, so we didnt' have to drive to La Grande.  It was nice.  But it was funny because whenever there was a musical number we couldn't hear them.  We could only see their lips move.  And we couldn't hear the music when we sang, so we were all laging behind on the hymns. haha.

Sunday was stake conference again.  It was good.  President and Sister Cannon both spoke.  They were great!  After that we went to Nathan's and his foster mom gave us lunch, then we commited him to a couple things to help him prepare for his baptism.  Then we ran around trying to find a member that would help us make flyers for the fireside.  Finally got it done, and printed and we tracted around a little bit handing them out.  I love having something centered on Christ because sometimes people are surprised that we believe in Christ.  And they like to come to see if we really do =)  It's a great way to share the gospel.

That was my week.  The weeks just get faster and faster as I got along.  I love being here.  It's great! =)   A mission is so fulfililng.  And such hard work.  It is making me grow in ways I didn't think I could grow. I am learing how to be more patient.  More loving.  More everything.  I am so glad I chose to have the opportunity to help others by sharing the gospel, and to help myself by sharing the gospel =)

Have a great week

Love, Sister Radmall