Change, Change and More Change

If there is one thing I have learned on my mission it is that change is inevitable. And sometimes it's not very fun.

Look what we found in our back yard in Georgetown...

There were gators in your backyard?!

That is a little creepy, probably not many stray cats or dogs.

hehe... Just kidding! they were at Brook Green Gardens.

I got transferred to Gaston. It's about 30 minutes from West Columbia. My new companion is Sister Christensen. She is from Vernal, Utah. I live in a trailer again. Whoot whoot! There are two other sisters living with us: Sister Canaan and Sister Millett. I'm in the Congaree Ward. There are four sets of missionaries in the ward. Two sets of sisters, a set of elders, and a set of senior sisters. It's really weird to have another set of sisters in the same ward. Something to get used to.

When I went to Brook Green Gardens in Georgetown.

I'm also trying my best to adjust to the area. It's super small town and country, 7 out of 10 people have little to no teeth. I've been trying my best to adjust to my companion. It's been a little rough. Hopefully it gets better.

I've been driving since transfers but we aren't sure who is really senior comp. She has been out longer than me, but I was on the left of the screen at transfers. We haven't asked anyone about it yet. I'm okay with it though. I get to drive!

Sister Seaman told me I had to get a

picture by this street sign...

I'm not that sassy...

That's pretty much what's happened this week. I said goodbye to people in Georgetown and said hello to people in Gaston.  Not very many people have been home, though. Something else I've had to adjust to- going from a branch to a ward. The whole church in Georgetown could fit in the chapel of this new building. I sorta liked it little...

So when change comes and it's kind of hard- pray and read your patriarchal blessing. It really helps. I've been doing a lot of that this week.

I love being a missionary. Even when it's hard. and requires a lot of change. Go to church. Read your scriptures. Say your prayers. Everything will work out. 

Love, Sister Broadbent

We found this sign at the beach,

so we took pictures by it because

 it is awkward.

humina humina humina...

 

So, it was super good to talk to y'all yesterday! I loved seeing your faces and hearing your voices. Y'all are the best.

(Yesterday was Mothers' Day and we were able to skype with Missy.) However, now I'm not exactly sure what to tell you now... Transfers are on Wednesday. We are leaving at 545 in the morning to get to the meeting on time and our member ride wants to take us out to breakfast. That's so early! I'll probably just sleep on the way. It's about a 2 and a half-ish hour drive to Irmo. I'm sad to leave Georgetown, but excited to start a new adventure.

Myrtle Beach SC - this is in Missy's area.

We are going to the beach for pday today. I love the beach! Of course we can't get wet, but we can walk on the sand and find shells. I have a collection of "creepy" shells. Just shells that look kind of weird and have other things growing on them. So hopefully I can add some new ones to my collection.

We were able to find a few new people to teach this past week. Actually people have just been coming up through the wood work and asking for Book of Mormons. It has been pretty neat. We have been having a difficult time getting second lessons in. Either they don't show up or something crazy happens. But we keep on trucking.

My mind is sorta all over the place with transfers and talking to y'all yesterday. I can't seem to remember anything! 

There is a super good scripture in Mosiah 2:41. I'm pretty sure that's the verse. But it is about the blessings and promises of keeping the commandments. I like that it says we will receive both temporal and spiritual blessings through keeping the commandments. 

Sorry, that's all I've got today. I love ya. And I pray y'all have a good week :)

Love, Sister Broadbent

Mosiah 2:41  And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

A week of firsts...‏

A lot of things happened for the first time this week! Let me tell y'all about them.

1. I got to drive!! It was kind of nerve wracking since I haven't driven in a good bit. You should be glad to know that I still remember how. I got to drive because I went on an exchange with a sister who is waiting for her visa to go to Brazil. Visa waiters aren't allowed to drive. I forgot how much I enjoy driving...

2. You know how last week I told you I had never witnessed somebody speak in tongues? Yep, can't say that anymore... That was creepy. We were saying a prayer then he just started "speaking tongues" in the middle of the prayer. I'd be okay if it didn't ever happen again...

3. We caught a frog! There are almost always frogs on the road we live on at night. Especially if it has been humid. So, I caught him in a Tupperware and he planned for the next day with us. Then he escaped from the Tupperware in our house... Luckily we were able to catch him again.

4. We helped two people weed their gardens. We had to basically force them to let us help. People seem to think we can't weed in skirts. Little do they know when you're a sister missionary you perfect pretty much any activity in a skirt. 

5. One of my best friends named Amanda Barnhill moved to Conway... :(

6. We are going to Brookgreen Gardens today. It's a big park with a bunch of awesome sculptures and animals. A nice man in our branch got us tickets. 

We have been searching for service opportunities a lot this week. Knocking hasn't really been working out in regards to finding people. We thought serving others might be a better way. And so far it has worked! It's super neat to see the peoples' attitude change when they realize we just want to help them, that we aren't going to make them be baptized if we pull a weed or two. Then they are nice and more open to conversation. If you are having any problem getting along with anybody, or just aren't sure how to show someone you care, serve them. I know it's cliche. But it really works. Everybody is dealing with some sort of trial/adversity in their life and sometimes all it takes is knowing somebody still cares enough to help. It also makes a difference when they know you aren't expecting anything in return. I just love helping people!

I love y'all. And I hope ya have a good week! Can't wait for mothers day :)

Love, Sister Broadbent

Ain't nobody home... They all workin.‏

That was the common response this week while we were out knocking. People watch us like hawks! They see us and are like, "oooh... look at dem white girls in skirts. Somethins goin on." haha! They always let us know that their neighbors aren't home.

Welcome to the South! these signs are all over.

 These 2 are on an old barn.

It has been a good week! Just some trivial stuff:

A. I found out that lamb is not a good thing for me to eat. And of course we had it three days this week from different people. Not a good idea, Sister Broadbent.

B. We saw a bunch of baby alligators in the pond behind our branch president's house. They are so cute.

C. We went to a Gospel choir concert in a Baptist church. That was super cool. Definitely not something they do out west. All those times we tried to sing gospel songs in choir? yep. We had no idea what we were doing. I got to go to the real thing. It was the coolest.

D. We shared a scripture with a member about slavery... We didn't realize it was about that until we were reading it to her. Then it was super awkward. If you thought that racism was dead, come to South Carolina and you will find it is still alive and kicking.

This week we found four new investigators. It has been super slow the past couple months, but it looks like it is finally picking up. We found a lady named Tina who at first thought we were Jehovahs Witness, so she told us to go away. After we had left and knocked on another house she called us back. She said she wanted to ask us a couple questions. The first one was, "Are you JWs?" the second was about heaven. She said she just really felt like she needed to talk to us for some reason. Little does she know! Anyway, we said a prayer with her and she bust into tears. At first I thought she was going to start speaking in tongues. Thankfully she didn't do that. That is something I have not seen yet and am grateful for it. She was really glad we came back, and said we made her feel a lot better. Thank you Holy Ghost!! We are going back tomorrow to talk with her some more. I have a good feeling about her. We gave her a hug before we left and she was shocked because we are white and she is black. That happens more than you would think. Racism is silly and makes no sense.

Mom, you will like this one. We were talking to this lady, Veera, who when we gave her a pass along card and saw the finding faith in Christ video on the back said she had a copy and wanted to watch it the night before, but couldn't find it. We didn't have a copy in our car, but we went home and got the one you sent me and delivered it to her the next day.

We got to go to the temple this week, too! We went to a sealing of someone that Sister Seaman had taught. It was super awesome. I love the temple. Now I can say I have been to a sealing in the mission field.

I tried boiled peanuts this week- really weird. They taste almost like re-fried beans. I also decided that I like strawberries. Another food update: I like tomatoes on sandwiches. I still hate ketchup, though. So, yep.

Those are the highlights of the week. I love being a missionary. And I can't wait til mothers day in a couple weeks when we can skype. We will figure out logistics soon, and I will let you know ASAP. I love y'all! Have a blessed week.

Sister Broadbent. :)