Transfers... again? already?

Hey y'all! It's been a good week! It was a really long week, too. Transfers are this Wednesday and Sister Stolworthy will be leaving. :( I will get a new companion- again. I have had SO many companions it's crazy. I love them all! Some kind of change has happened to me every six weeks since the beginning of April, which isn't normal... It keeps me on my toes, though!

I'm not even sure what to tell you about this week. To be honest, I'm never really sure what you want to know... We went on exchanges. That was fun. We started teaching a guy from Jamaica. He called the elders a couple weeks ago and said he wants to get baptized. They started teaching him, but then realized he lives in our area. So, now we teach him! He is super cool and very prepared.

Brother Chester (a recent convert we have been working with who is from Guiana) is getting the priesthood next Sunday! So, that is exciting. He told us when he first met the missionaries he couldn't move his feet while they were talking to him. And he couldn't stop thinking about it when they left. He has had to exercise his faith a lot since he got baptized and every single time everything has worked out. 

There was a ward trunk-or-treat on Friday. That was fun! Also we had stake conference this week. Oh! Miracle of the week: I saw Amanda. I don't know if you remember her, but she is a lady I taught in Georgetown who got baptized. She moved to Conway while I was still in Georgetown. Conway is only a half hour from Myrtle Beach and we are in the same stake. So, I got to see her at stake conference. It was so good to see her and see that she is active. The ward over there is taking great care of her and she even found out one of her distant cousins is a member and in the same ward as her! I have missed her. I love her so much! I was really grateful it all worked out so perfectly like it did. Heavenly Father definitely had a hand in it all. 

That was pretty much my week. We started saying goodbye to people for Sister Stolworthy last night. It's always hard to say goodbye to people you love. I didn't realize how often it happens on a mission. Warning to all who serve missions: you will love the people if you work hard. And it will be hard to say goodbye to them. However, it is worth it. I'd say that love is the biggest thing I have learned about on my mission thus far. I've learned how to love better, what love really is, and the value of love. I love to love! It sounds so cheesy, but it is true. When you are constantly thinking of how to help those around you, you can't help but love them. 

 

I hope y'all have a good, safe week! 

Love, Sister Broadbent

Simplicity‏

This week... I have to remember what happened! 

Monday we had a sports night. All the missionaries in the district got together and invited a bunch of people to come play sports with us. It was a non-threatening way for members to invite their friends to come meet the missionaries. We had a really good turnout, and it was a lot of fun! It reminded me of Greenville. :)

We had a great lesson with a less active member- Dave. He is a big man. He is struggling with his son who is getting into things that aren't safe. We shared Jefferey R Holland's talk "Like a Broken Vessel" with him. We talked and encouraged him. He cried while we were there. He came to church and Book of Mormon class this week without us even reminding him. He is a good guy who is going through a hard time. Perhaps, y'all could pray for him?

We set up an appointment for another less active to go to the family history center and get help with that. She is super into genealogy. She loved it! It got her very excited to come back and work on it more. Whilst there Sister Stolworthy found out that her ancestors were imprisoned for "cohabitation." Haha! You know that picture with all the guys in stripes at the jail? One of them is her great+ grandfather. :)   

I also got attacked by a giant golden retriever named Happy. It just latched onto my leg... No need to fret! I am okay. :) It gave us a good opportunity to talk to its owner.

I feel like I am finally remembering how to be a missionary again! Still working on regaining it back and learning how to do the work better. But it's getting better!

I was reading in Alma chapter 5 this week and found these great verses- 45 and 46. This is when Alma the younger starts teaching the wicked people. In the previous chapter he says that pure testimony can break down barriers. I have learned that when people, and even ourselves, ask questions we may not know the answer to the best thing to do is to say what you do know. Answers don't have to be complex because the Gospel is simple. Pure, simple testimony will bring the spirit stronger than anything else. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that he knows me and the circumstances I am in. He desires for me to gain happiness. He is waiting for me to come unto him. And I know he desires the same for you and He is waiting for you. May we all open the door and let Him in. 

Have a good week! 

Love, Sister Broadbent 

Come out of your shell and let Jesus in... cut the chains that bind to the adversary. :)  I  love ya!

What even happened this week?‏

Honestly, I'm not really sure what even happened this week... It all just blurs together. Thank goodness for planners!

It seems as though I am in a stretching part of my mission right now. Things just seem to be harder. But I am grateful for those stretching moments. They help me to grow and become better. 

We had interviews with President Turner this week, so we drove to Florence- about an hour and a halfish. We are on the outskirts here in Myrtle Beach! 

We saw Sam- a less active member who got baptized a while ago in Georgetown. Did I tell y'all that Georgetown is just thirty minutes south of Myrtle Beach? Lots of people are from there/ have family there. It's a cool connection to have with them. I actually know where things are down there/ different people. Anyway, we went to see Sam with another member, Sharell. They were perfect for each other. Then, Sam came to Book of Mormon class the next day! She hasn't stepped foot inside a church in at least 3 years! That was big.

We met two super awesome people this week- Rick and Tina. They just moved out of a bad part of town, so they could get away from the drugs and other things. They are trying to get back on their feet and do the right things. They are on date to be baptized for November 22. Tina is so sweet and very interested.

This week I learned even more that Satan don't kick no dead dog. Terrible grammar, I know, but you won't remember it otherwise. When we try to change and follow Jesus Christ more, it may seem like everything is falling apart. When people say it is hard to be good, it is true. And that is because Satan sees our desire to be good and to do good, so he is going to do everything he can to stop us from trying. When we are already doing bad he doesn't have to worry about making it worse for us because he already has got us in a trap. So, when you are trying to be better, but it feels like the world is crashing down around you, keep pushing. Know that Jesus Christ won't give up on you. It may be hard now, but giving up can only give momentary happiness through worldly things. If you will keep trying, keep pushing to become more like Jesus Christ you will gain the kind of happiness that lasts for eternity.

Have a good week! Don't give up the fight! You can do it!

Love, Sister Broadbent

The life of a sister missionary.‏

Hey y'all! Another week has gone by here in Myrtle Beach. We have been pretty busy it feels like. We are dropping most of our investigators this week, though. So we will be on the prowl for new ones that are willing to put in their end of the work!

Just a few random stories...

Brother Didio is a less active member we are working with. He is great. He came to a session of conference, too! PS BTW they broadcast conference to the different chapels. So that's where we went to watch it. Anyway, Bro Didio is doing really good. He hasn't smoked in a week! He relapsed a bit, but he is going to try again. He said conference made him feel stronger to quit.

Tiffany Lopez. She is a nine year old girl whose mother is a member. We are teaching her and she pretty much knows it all. So, that's cool. I like teaching kids a lot because it seems like they understand the message better. And it is really good practice to learn how to teach more simply.

Now, General Conference. It was fantastic. I'm not sure if I can pinpoint my favorite talk because there were so many good ones. It answered many questions I have been having lately. It was the most powerful conference I have had on my mission. It is somewhat weird to me that I have had three conferences on my mission now. Weird... I think the thing that stood out to me the most this conference is that Heavenly Father is so very aware of each individual. He is aware of my strugglings just as much as he is aware of yours.. His only desire is to have us gain immortality and eternal life. However, He will not make us do something we ourselves do not desire. It is our choice. It has ALWAYS been our choice. He is there to listen and to answer our questions. Often times when we feel we aren't receiving answers it is because our hearts are closed to his counsel. And it is our choice to open our hearts or not. Of course, it takes time and is hard work to learn to rely on the Lord and to not let our hearts harden. But if we are consistent and try the best we can, it will happen.  I advise you to not get discouraged when it may not happen as quickly as you feel it should. It is a life-long journey.

Have a great week! Watch conference again. Study and ponder the talks that can be found online on lds.org. They will further bless you and you will gain a greater understanding of your purpose in this life. 

Love ya! 

Sister Broadbent

This week in the life of Sister Broadbent...

We got caught in a rain storm,

got a little wet... :)

Hey, y'all! I hope this message finds you in good spirits. I have been in Myrtle Beach a little over a week now, and I love it! It has been so good to be able to get out and teach again. Even though I feel like I need to go through training again... It has been very rainy this past week. It seems like it went straight from summer into winter! It will probably stay rainy where it is hurricane season and we are right by the ocean. I have seen the ocean, haven't gone to it yet. I have been blessed in the areas I have served. They are all so very different in so many ways, but I am grateful for them all. 

I hope y'all got to watch the women’s broadcast that was on Saturday. It was fantastic. If you didn't get a chance to watch it, you can find it on lds.org. I highly recommend it.

This week me met a man named Mike Link. He is great. He reads the things we give him, multiple times. When he reads he says he has a settled feeling about it all. He says, "The more I learn, the more it makes sense." He is scheduled to get baptized the beginning of November. So, we will work towards that. Sister Stolworthy found him right before I got here. He is married and they have 7 kids.

We also met the sweetest lady. She just recently went to the temple and moved here from Conway. She is so sweet. She is feeding us three times this month, but she can't really afford it. I'm not sure what we will do. She came to church on Sunday and looked so happy to be there. I am excited to get to work with her. 

Me and Sister Stolworthy

I have been thinking a lot about my mission thus far lately, and all the different, crazy experiences I have had. I hit my year mark this week. I can't believe I have been a missionary that long. It feels so much shorter, yet so much longer at the same time. I have learned that we can never truly plan what is going to happen in our lives. Life is unpredictable and it can turn completely around in just a few minutes; sometimes because of our choices, and sometimes because of others' choices. It is extremely important that no matter the changes that may occur- rapidly or slowly- that we define and remember who our foundation is upon. When we build our foundation on Jesus Christ, like it says in Heleman 5:12, we can withstand the unpredictability that is life. We can stay strong and grow from the experiences in our lives if we center them on the Savior, Jesus Christ. In some instances it is much easier said than done, but in ALL instances it is the best option. 

Be good. Be strong. Be obedient. Be happy. 

Have a great week!

Love, Sister Broadbent :)