May 28, 2013

Hello all!

I have been called back to the Visitors' Center. President Vellinga called and told me Wednesday night. He called and asked to talk to me alone...that never means good things. I'll miss it here, but it was a great experience and I learned a lot. He wouldn't tell me where I was going, just back. The other 3 sisters that I live with were all called to train. So while they were at a meeting all day, I got to be with Sister Larson again! It was awesome. It felt good to be back in Cleveland.

We met some really awesome people this week. We went on exchanges this week and it was a really good experience. I learned a lot from Sister Chapman. We found Jeff, who has decided that while the Baptist church has lot of truth, it's not all true. So we asked the simple question of "What if we told you that truth in it's fullness had been restored on the earth once more." He was open to it, so we laid out the restoration for him on his porch. He has a family and believe it or not...a car! That's unusual. We also met Caden and Linda Fisher. Caden is 14 and Linda is his grandma. We found them while stopping by a referral. Linda ordered a Book of Mormon last year while Mitt Romney was running for president, and likes what she has read. She asked about the 3 kingdoms of Glory, and we told her about another book of scripture that contained revelations that would explain in greater detail, what we knew about life after this. She wants it, she's hungry for knowledge. Caden has gone to a christian school his whole life and wants to know about how the indians relate to a "White god." Apparently they covered the Book of Mormon in 5 minutes in class once and it peaked his interest, but left a lot of missing holes. He has also decided that he wants to serve a mission. Come join the ranks. He is awesome. I'm sad I won't gt to see any of them progress but that's okay. The work is still true.

Now there's Tom. Tom has tried twice to give us back the Book of Mormon, he says it's just too much, and he can't afford it if there is even a small chance that this is wrong. We have been praying for his heart to be softened, and when we met with him on Thursday, we could feel/see the spirit working with him. The Lord answered our prayers. He told us he would keep reading, and really try to get his answer.

Life in Ohio is great! I hope you all had a fabulous memorial day! Ours was a little different. We had District Meeting and then did a LOT of paper work. It sounds like you are all keeping busy. It's almost June! The Plan of Salvation is legit! I love that lesson. Especially when you get to the part about the Atonement! The gospel is true.

I love you all!

More next week after transfers!

Love,

Sister Hillman

May 20, 2013

Dearest Family,

Transfers are coming. My last one. :( I don't if I am leaving Massillon for sure, president can't decide. I hate not knowing. It's been a super stressful week, but a really fun one as well. I keep giving the two new sisters a hard time a bout training, they are both scared to death to train. It's pretty humorous. Training isn't half bad. A lot of our appointments fell through this week. But we had a lesson with Tom. He is solid. He read 1 Nephi and stopped because he is having issues with a modern day prophet, he doesn't want to be led astray. He told us to come back in a few years when he was ready, so we said get real, we're not getting off your door step(of course in a very loving way) and we talked a little longer about how we can come to know a living prophet has been called and WHY God would call one on the earth today! We invited him to the missionary musical fireside. The spirit was really strong. The theme was prophets who testify of Jesus Christ. Fitting for him we thought. He knows it's true, he said he would finish reading the Book of Mormon and asked us to pray for him that he could come to know! He asked what else he would have to do to be baptized, I think he thinks we have a secret agenda, so we laid down the law and hit him with the Law of Chastity, Word of Wisdom, and Tithing lessons. He says it only makes sense. He is my new bald best friend. He is just playing hard to get...grrrrr. Thank goodness for the spirit.

 

The Padillas are doing great, we taught them The gospel of Jesus Christ, in the Spanish Pamphlet. I'm getting better :) I can now say Fei en JesuCristo es importante :) I said I could say it not spell it! They have great questions and are getting it, we just are having a struggle getting them to come to church. Sometimes, I'm not patient.

 We too had a Relief society activity that was a Garden Party. We learned all sorts of Gardening tips, and of course the reason I go to these things, we had delicious food. It was at the Kremers. They live in the Country part of our area in Canal Fulton. It's where I want to live. It's delightful!

 

I love you. Got to run!

Love,

Sister Hillman

May 13, 2013

Dear Family,

It was great to see everyone yesterday...well most of you! The kids are so grown up. I hope they remember me when I come home. Our family is getting bigger!

Life is sooo good! I can't believe next time I talk to you it will be in person. Weird, weird, and weird!

I have decided to make these last two months the best of my mission and pretend that it's really the beginning. I'm going to try to give my all. I don't want it to end, but I know that it has to. I'll give my all so I don't have regrets.

The Gospel is true. It changes lives. That is one of the greatest blessings of my missions, seeing people come unto Christ and use the atonement to become his. To see people's lights grow bright. His church is on the Earth once more, it was restored through Joseph Smith, a prophet who translated the Book of Mormon so that we could have the fullness of joy, and have a road map back to Heavenly Father. It testifies of Jesus Christ. It makes so much more sense to me, and I realize now that everything else seems menial. We have a prophet on the Earth today who leads and guides us and will help us to avoid pitfalls that plagues the world today. He testifies of Jesus Christ. I know that Christ lives, he can give us peace, hope and comfort. Our Heavenly Father has a plan for us, and we get a wonderful opportunity to learn, grow and improve daily because of that plan. He is there and he listens. He knows and loves us. The only way to find happiness here and in the life to come is to follow Him. The Gospel IS true!

I love you all. Thanks for all you do! Life is great!

Love,

Sister Hillman