May 27th 2009

Ok, I have a lot to write and not a whole lot of time to do it.So, Sister Kohlman, the lady we taught when we had 1st ward got baptized on May 9th!!! I was so excited to hear that. We had been working with her since I came here. So that was SUPER exciting. Also we had Scott's baptism on the 23rd. We moved it up a week and it turned out AMAZING!! The whole relief society room was packed with people. Members, both from first and second ward, less actives, him non member family. It was so great. Me and Rebecca Walker spoke and then we had a testimony meeting after the baptism ordinance and one of his little sisters got up and bore her testimony and thanked us all for being there for him and being such a great support. He has 2 little sisters and one of them wants to be taught and baptized! It was just such an amazing day.On Monday, we drove out to West Virginia and Blue Grass to contact a headquarter referral and we met a less active who is very sick with cancer. They asked me to say a prayer and of course I did. The spirit was so strong and by the time I was finished we were all crying. They lady with cancer is so sweet but has a lot of problems. She was so touched that we came to see her. I felt so drained after that for some reason. The spirit was seriously so unbelievably strong.Last Thursday was a really neat experience as well! (Sorry I'm bouncing around dates a bit) We had a lesson with Scott at the church and while we were waiting for him, there was a lady, Nancy, that came up to us and was looking for a meeting that was being held at the chaple for those who have lost their spouses. She had just lost hers in February and as she was asking she just started to cry. I gave her some words of comfort and let her know that there is a way for her to see him again and ultimately be with him FOREVER! She was just in aww as we spoke and testified and invited us to come by the next day and teach her more. So we went back on Friday and shared more with her and she just loved it all. I'm not sure how dedicated she is to commit but I have high hopes for her. She's an older lady. We went to her house again yesterday and provided her some service. She needed help cleaning her house and putting away his things. She gave me a bran new cell phone through verizon- which my parents use the service- so now I can have it when I get home. SCORE!We are also teaching the Armstrong family. I know I have talked about them before. She's a member but questions it all and he's a non member. They have happily accepted to meet with us once a week. He's so solid and seems so intregred when we teach. They both always have great questions and we're hoping to set him for baptism within the next month and help strengthen her testimony.ALSO Garol, are recent convert Angie's husband, is now taking the lessons and is considering being baptized! The miracles just keep coming! Angies ultimate goal is to get sealed to Garol in the temple. She's such a great example and support for him. He comes to church every week and attended Scott's baptism.There's a really cool book fair that they have around here a few times a year and Angie took us to it, BAD IDEA, but yet a good experience. As a missionary I can't read anything but I got like 9 books for 25 bucks. My Mom's probably gonna kill me :) I'll be sending them home though. What a deal though! Some of them were like 6 bucks which were regular 25! That's my kind of shopping!We also met with a less active family on Sunday which was sweet! We've been trying to meet with her forever! Sister Conis. She was married to the Conis' son that is active in the ward but they got divorced like 5 years ago. They both served missions and are now both inactive. Its so sad to see. But we're hoping to baptize her 8 year old boy Urie. He comes to church with his grandparents (the Conis')Well my time is about up. Sorry I couldn't write more!I'm loving every second of my mission and am growing in ways I didn't know was possible. I love my Savior and my Father in Heaven!
-Sister Orawiec