Today we had a tornado warning during our personal studies. So, Sister Castagno and I grabbed our helmets, 72 hr. kit, and my mattress and hopped in the tub. The tornado touched down in Amory but no one's hurt. Lots of trees are down, we're safe at a members house. We'll stay here to wait out the storm.
We got transfer calls on Saturday, I'm leaving to follow up train a sister.
Know that we're safe and well. I love you all and will update you soon.
Sister Michaela Mason
Monday, May 25, 2015
Last Week of the Transfer
Hey Ya'll
The title says it all, this is the last week of the transfer, and seeing that tomorrow is my 6 month mark I'm probably heading out. But, we'll get the call this Saturday and find out, so no promises yet!
We had a lot of pretty cool things happen this week. Yesterday we had some investigators come to church! A family we've been teaching, Lesley, her husband Ricky, and their two grandbabies Makenzie and Payton. From what they said they really enjoyed it! We'll be visiting them this week, so we'll talk more about it then. On Wednesday we visited a First Baptist church. A guy named Tim has been visiting with us and invited us to go. It was just a youth activity, they had some hamburgers and hot dogs and they had a christian rock singer performing there. It was cool, this church is still the only true church on earth. I think he tried to convince us otherwise as we were leaving, he told me "You know, thanks so much for coming and just remember...Mormons make great Baptists." Haha, ain't gonna happ'n cap'n.
We've been teaching a man named Thomas, he's agnostic, but really interested in our church. He's visited a lot of the churches around here, but because he knows they're all teaching false doctrine he has decided not to really believe in anything. One visit he had his kids over, so we got to talk to his 13 year old son and Sister Castagno and Thomas got into a debate of who could run faster. So, we settled it and decided to have a race. We walked to the end of the block and saw some street kids and invited them to join our race. Their names are Andrew and Logan. After we had the race, that Sister Castagno won, we had a lesson about prophets, and Andrew and Logan joined us! We asked each of them what they look for in a prophet. Thomas said that if he believed in prophets he'd want someone who doesn't get payed to preach the good word. We told them all that we in fact have a modern day prophet today and that we don't believe in payed ministry. When we visited Thomas again he told us that he'd looked up our prophet and asked some questions more about our church! Life sure isn't easy, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, but serving a mission down here in the south! We continue to keep moving the herd roughly west, and I will strive to be the steadfast disciple Heavenly Father wants me to be. All is well in Zion!
Love ya'll!
Sister Michaela Mason
The title says it all, this is the last week of the transfer, and seeing that tomorrow is my 6 month mark I'm probably heading out. But, we'll get the call this Saturday and find out, so no promises yet!
We had a lot of pretty cool things happen this week. Yesterday we had some investigators come to church! A family we've been teaching, Lesley, her husband Ricky, and their two grandbabies Makenzie and Payton. From what they said they really enjoyed it! We'll be visiting them this week, so we'll talk more about it then. On Wednesday we visited a First Baptist church. A guy named Tim has been visiting with us and invited us to go. It was just a youth activity, they had some hamburgers and hot dogs and they had a christian rock singer performing there. It was cool, this church is still the only true church on earth. I think he tried to convince us otherwise as we were leaving, he told me "You know, thanks so much for coming and just remember...Mormons make great Baptists." Haha, ain't gonna happ'n cap'n.
We've been teaching a man named Thomas, he's agnostic, but really interested in our church. He's visited a lot of the churches around here, but because he knows they're all teaching false doctrine he has decided not to really believe in anything. One visit he had his kids over, so we got to talk to his 13 year old son and Sister Castagno and Thomas got into a debate of who could run faster. So, we settled it and decided to have a race. We walked to the end of the block and saw some street kids and invited them to join our race. Their names are Andrew and Logan. After we had the race, that Sister Castagno won, we had a lesson about prophets, and Andrew and Logan joined us! We asked each of them what they look for in a prophet. Thomas said that if he believed in prophets he'd want someone who doesn't get payed to preach the good word. We told them all that we in fact have a modern day prophet today and that we don't believe in payed ministry. When we visited Thomas again he told us that he'd looked up our prophet and asked some questions more about our church! Life sure isn't easy, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, but serving a mission down here in the south! We continue to keep moving the herd roughly west, and I will strive to be the steadfast disciple Heavenly Father wants me to be. All is well in Zion!
Love ya'll!
Sister Michaela Mason
Twas Mothers Day and the Magnolias are Bloomin'
Hey Ya'll
Hope ya'll had a great mothers day and gave your moms a big hug and kiss! I got to skype my family, which was the best thing ever!! So good to see ya'll and hear ya'lls voices! My oh my has the time gone by, and everybody's growing up so fast!
Aside from that, this week was just wonderful. The weather's heating up, and the humidity isn't my kind of fun, but the work keep moving right along.
We had a really fun Zone Activity this past Monday. We played Volleyball and ate popsicles at a park in Tupelo.
Tuesday we worked at the Food Pantry, we do every Tuesday. But Sister Castagno and I have gained a lot of trust from these guys that work there. They had us in the back lifting, throwing and stocking heavy boxes of food- you know, doing actually work instead of just the easy things. It's so fun! They call me Mason and, because they can't pronounce Sister Castagno's name, they call her Sister Red.
We met a guy out tracting a couple of weeks ago named Tim. He attends the First Baptist church. The first time we met him we helped mulch his flower beds, talked about our beliefs and he promised that he would read the Book of Mormon. Well, we visited him a couple of days ago and he had done way more research than just the Book of Mormon. We had a "friendly bible bash" with him about our beliefs. He can't get past Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon because he believes its all only in the Bible. We asked him if he'd prayed about the Book of Mormon, he said no, so we told him "Well there's your problem. You're not going to know if something's true unless you ask God yourself!" So, after a long talk he agreed to read more of the Book of Mormon and pray about it to know if it's true or not. Before we left he informed us that he was actually going to be teaching Sunday school at his church that Sunday and that he was talking about us. We asked him what he was going to say and he said "Are you sure you want to know?" Obviously. He looked at us and said "Why can't we be more like you." That was kind of a punch to the gut. I thought it was so interesting that here was this 44 year old man who has been deeply rooted in the Baptist church all of his life having a deep religious discussion with two 19 year old girls. Wouldn't that stand out to anyone as a testimony that this church is true! People fight against this church with us, when they wouldn't with anyone else of any other faith.
I know that this church is true with all of my heart. I know that the Book of Mormon is the truest of all books in the world and that Joseph Smith did see our Heavenly Father and His son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is His restored Gospel on the earth. I know this to be true and I won't back down on my faith.
I want to thank all of those who are standing up for Christ's church today and everyday. Thank you for the prayers and the love you send my way. I love you all so much. I'm grateful the Savior provided a way for us to be together through the eternities. All is well in Zion.
Love, Sister Michaela Mason
Hope ya'll had a great mothers day and gave your moms a big hug and kiss! I got to skype my family, which was the best thing ever!! So good to see ya'll and hear ya'lls voices! My oh my has the time gone by, and everybody's growing up so fast!
Aside from that, this week was just wonderful. The weather's heating up, and the humidity isn't my kind of fun, but the work keep moving right along.
We had a really fun Zone Activity this past Monday. We played Volleyball and ate popsicles at a park in Tupelo.
Tuesday we worked at the Food Pantry, we do every Tuesday. But Sister Castagno and I have gained a lot of trust from these guys that work there. They had us in the back lifting, throwing and stocking heavy boxes of food- you know, doing actually work instead of just the easy things. It's so fun! They call me Mason and, because they can't pronounce Sister Castagno's name, they call her Sister Red.
We met a guy out tracting a couple of weeks ago named Tim. He attends the First Baptist church. The first time we met him we helped mulch his flower beds, talked about our beliefs and he promised that he would read the Book of Mormon. Well, we visited him a couple of days ago and he had done way more research than just the Book of Mormon. We had a "friendly bible bash" with him about our beliefs. He can't get past Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon because he believes its all only in the Bible. We asked him if he'd prayed about the Book of Mormon, he said no, so we told him "Well there's your problem. You're not going to know if something's true unless you ask God yourself!" So, after a long talk he agreed to read more of the Book of Mormon and pray about it to know if it's true or not. Before we left he informed us that he was actually going to be teaching Sunday school at his church that Sunday and that he was talking about us. We asked him what he was going to say and he said "Are you sure you want to know?" Obviously. He looked at us and said "Why can't we be more like you." That was kind of a punch to the gut. I thought it was so interesting that here was this 44 year old man who has been deeply rooted in the Baptist church all of his life having a deep religious discussion with two 19 year old girls. Wouldn't that stand out to anyone as a testimony that this church is true! People fight against this church with us, when they wouldn't with anyone else of any other faith.
I know that this church is true with all of my heart. I know that the Book of Mormon is the truest of all books in the world and that Joseph Smith did see our Heavenly Father and His son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is His restored Gospel on the earth. I know this to be true and I won't back down on my faith.
I want to thank all of those who are standing up for Christ's church today and everyday. Thank you for the prayers and the love you send my way. I love you all so much. I'm grateful the Savior provided a way for us to be together through the eternities. All is well in Zion.
Love, Sister Michaela Mason
Amorynites
Goodness Ya'll,
The days are just going by like mad! Welcome to the month of May! Thank heavens everyone's been telling us that what we've been having down here is unusual weather, because it's been very nice. Not too hot, and not much humidity. Just what I like.
This past week was great! We had interviews on Tuesday with President Hanks, and it was his birthday that day! So that was special!
We went to a high school band concert on Thursday for a bit to support an investigator. It was so cool to step back into a high school and be surrounded by teenagers. Sometimes I miss High School, but not enough to make me dwell on it too much. But it was fun, and they sounded really good.
Friday Sister Bond, one of our dearest friends and members in our ward took us out to lunch at Subway. She is amazing!
We tracted into a family not that long ago. Theirs Lesley, the grandma, Ricky, the grandpa, and their daughter Ashley and her kids live with them as well. We visited with them this past week and taught them the Plan of Salvation. It went really well, and I just knew that they know it's true! It's just going to take some time for them to admit it. But I know this family will come to church and be baptized! As well on Thursday, Sister Castagno and I ran into some people that we learned a lot from. One of them was a guy named Drake at Walmart. We'd just left a kind of heated bash with some people we'd asked to hear a message. We'd seen Drake previous to that and just said hi, but he ended up coming to us and said "I saw you back there and something hit me really hard. When I saw ya'll, I could feel that you're anointed in God." He went on to tell us that the power we hold is big and dangerous and that what we do every day is so important. It was so interesting to hear him try to speak with us with such power, but because he didn't have the gift of the Holy Ghost, or the Priesthood it was just him. But, we know that God sent him our way for a reason, he wants the truth, and he doesn't even know it! Hopefully we'll see him again so we can teach him.
We also ran into a Pentecostal preacher while tracting. We caught him at a busy time, but he asked us to come back, so we did. He talked to us for almost an hour about all these crazy miracles God has performed for him, how he's talked with God and angels etc. It was the same thing as Drake. Although this man may have actually seen and had those experiences, because he didn't hold that proper authority, it was just blah. He was trying to testify to us, and we know that he is a man of great faith in God, but he doesn't hold the Priesthood. It was such a testimony builder for me. The Priesthood power is the key thing that separates our church from everyone else's.
Saturday we rode our bikes all over town, I was pretty sore by the end of the day. But we tracted around the nicer neighborhoods and met some really awesome people. One man was out in his yard working on his flower beds, so we asked him if he needed help. He instantly knew that we were Mormons, and struck up a conversation with us. His name's Tim, he's a banker, and very intellectual of other beliefs, but doesn't know a lot about the LDS church. He told us that he'd started reading the Book of Mormon online, but never finished it. We knew that trying to talk to him about our church in spiritual matters wasn't going to go anywhere as of right now. So, we finally convinced him to let us help him mulch his flower beds. Let me tell ya, service softens stony souls for sure because we committed him to reading the Book of Mormon and we'll be seeing him again soon.
We met another guy named Kem, saw him working on a garden in his backyard and did the same thing as Tim, we asked if he needed help. He said we could, but we before we could get our hands in the dirt, we talked about our beliefs for a bit. He kept asking us really vague questions that didn't necessarily pertain to the Gospel, but we just kept testifying to him that we know this church is true. His only problem was Joseph Smith, and that if his name isn't mentioned in the Bible, he is not a prophet of God. I told him that we didn't come over to but heads with him, but to simply invite him to hear what we know to be true, that this message brings everlasting peace and happiness, and we want to share with all who will listen. That kind of shut him up enough for us to help him plant some peppers and tomatoes, which gave us the opportunity to talk with him as friends, get to know him better etc.
Lee didn't come to church again, so we'll try this week to get him there. And! This Sunday is Mother's Day! Whoo hoo! Can't wait to skype you family and see all ya'lls faces! Oh, funny story. When we were talking with Tim he asked where we were from, when I told him I was from Utah he asked if I was from Southern Utah because I, unbeknownst to me, I have a bit of a twang in my accent! The South is growing on me and I didn't even know it! So, you'll have to let me know Mom and Dad if I sound any different when we talk on Sunday.
I hope ya'll have a fabulous week! Ya'll are constantly in my thoughts and prayers!
Love, Sister Michaela Mason
The days are just going by like mad! Welcome to the month of May! Thank heavens everyone's been telling us that what we've been having down here is unusual weather, because it's been very nice. Not too hot, and not much humidity. Just what I like.
This past week was great! We had interviews on Tuesday with President Hanks, and it was his birthday that day! So that was special!
We went to a high school band concert on Thursday for a bit to support an investigator. It was so cool to step back into a high school and be surrounded by teenagers. Sometimes I miss High School, but not enough to make me dwell on it too much. But it was fun, and they sounded really good.
Friday Sister Bond, one of our dearest friends and members in our ward took us out to lunch at Subway. She is amazing!
We tracted into a family not that long ago. Theirs Lesley, the grandma, Ricky, the grandpa, and their daughter Ashley and her kids live with them as well. We visited with them this past week and taught them the Plan of Salvation. It went really well, and I just knew that they know it's true! It's just going to take some time for them to admit it. But I know this family will come to church and be baptized! As well on Thursday, Sister Castagno and I ran into some people that we learned a lot from. One of them was a guy named Drake at Walmart. We'd just left a kind of heated bash with some people we'd asked to hear a message. We'd seen Drake previous to that and just said hi, but he ended up coming to us and said "I saw you back there and something hit me really hard. When I saw ya'll, I could feel that you're anointed in God." He went on to tell us that the power we hold is big and dangerous and that what we do every day is so important. It was so interesting to hear him try to speak with us with such power, but because he didn't have the gift of the Holy Ghost, or the Priesthood it was just him. But, we know that God sent him our way for a reason, he wants the truth, and he doesn't even know it! Hopefully we'll see him again so we can teach him.
We also ran into a Pentecostal preacher while tracting. We caught him at a busy time, but he asked us to come back, so we did. He talked to us for almost an hour about all these crazy miracles God has performed for him, how he's talked with God and angels etc. It was the same thing as Drake. Although this man may have actually seen and had those experiences, because he didn't hold that proper authority, it was just blah. He was trying to testify to us, and we know that he is a man of great faith in God, but he doesn't hold the Priesthood. It was such a testimony builder for me. The Priesthood power is the key thing that separates our church from everyone else's.
Saturday we rode our bikes all over town, I was pretty sore by the end of the day. But we tracted around the nicer neighborhoods and met some really awesome people. One man was out in his yard working on his flower beds, so we asked him if he needed help. He instantly knew that we were Mormons, and struck up a conversation with us. His name's Tim, he's a banker, and very intellectual of other beliefs, but doesn't know a lot about the LDS church. He told us that he'd started reading the Book of Mormon online, but never finished it. We knew that trying to talk to him about our church in spiritual matters wasn't going to go anywhere as of right now. So, we finally convinced him to let us help him mulch his flower beds. Let me tell ya, service softens stony souls for sure because we committed him to reading the Book of Mormon and we'll be seeing him again soon.
We met another guy named Kem, saw him working on a garden in his backyard and did the same thing as Tim, we asked if he needed help. He said we could, but we before we could get our hands in the dirt, we talked about our beliefs for a bit. He kept asking us really vague questions that didn't necessarily pertain to the Gospel, but we just kept testifying to him that we know this church is true. His only problem was Joseph Smith, and that if his name isn't mentioned in the Bible, he is not a prophet of God. I told him that we didn't come over to but heads with him, but to simply invite him to hear what we know to be true, that this message brings everlasting peace and happiness, and we want to share with all who will listen. That kind of shut him up enough for us to help him plant some peppers and tomatoes, which gave us the opportunity to talk with him as friends, get to know him better etc.
Lee didn't come to church again, so we'll try this week to get him there. And! This Sunday is Mother's Day! Whoo hoo! Can't wait to skype you family and see all ya'lls faces! Oh, funny story. When we were talking with Tim he asked where we were from, when I told him I was from Utah he asked if I was from Southern Utah because I, unbeknownst to me, I have a bit of a twang in my accent! The South is growing on me and I didn't even know it! So, you'll have to let me know Mom and Dad if I sound any different when we talk on Sunday.
I hope ya'll have a fabulous week! Ya'll are constantly in my thoughts and prayers!
Love, Sister Michaela Mason
Bless This Mess
Hey Ya'll!
Another week come and gone, and I can't keep track of the days anymore.
Mothers Day is coming up and I am so incredibly excited to skype home!
This past week was busy, eventful, all the normal missionary adjectives. Tomorrow is President Hanks birthday! Woot woot! We get interviews with him tomorrow too, it'll be wonderful to sit down and chat with him.
We went on exchanges this past week, I went out to Tup-Town with the amazing Sister Crandall. While we were out there we stopped at a Texaco to fill up their car with gas. We saw the Diesel button, not knowing what it was we decided to fill up on that. For those of you who are as dumb and pull blonde moments like us, Diesel is strictly for 18 wheelers. The nozel wouldn't fit into the gas tank, but we tried to pump gas in anyway and gas came shooting out at us. Luckily not very much got into our car and none of it got onto us. Blessings! Sister Crandall spent the remainder of our night store contacting at the mall. The last people we talked to was a group of black teenage boys. One of them, named Kuleek (unique Kuleek is how he introduced himself), had dreadlocks- super cool, had never been baptized before. Down in the South that's a rare thing. So, we talked to him about the importance of baptism and asked if he'd like to be baptized. His friends informed us that he drank. His defense was that everybody has at least had something to drink before. We told him that as Mormons we don't drink. He was completely floored that we don't drink, do drugs, etc. He told us "Ya'll are the strangest girls I've ever met in my life." Thank you Kuleek.
On Saturday Sister Castagno and I were re-united! We went store contacting at Walmart and ran into Michelle Bond, a member at our church in Tupelo. She took us out to lunch at El Rey! She's awesome.
Yesterday after church the Voyles took us all over Smithville, Fulton, and Tremont to meet with part members and less actives. One less active was a 101 year old lady named Sister Shakleford. As we were introducing ourselves to her she thought that Brother Voyles, a 65 year old man, was my husband. Ha! That was fun to try and resolve. But we got to see so many wonderful saints and try and bring them back into the fold or invite their spouses to hear the messages that we have to share. It was just a blessed week. We continue to try and bring souls closer to Christ daily. I hope that ya'll know I love you!
Love, Sister Michaela Mason
Another week come and gone, and I can't keep track of the days anymore.
Mothers Day is coming up and I am so incredibly excited to skype home!
This past week was busy, eventful, all the normal missionary adjectives. Tomorrow is President Hanks birthday! Woot woot! We get interviews with him tomorrow too, it'll be wonderful to sit down and chat with him.
We went on exchanges this past week, I went out to Tup-Town with the amazing Sister Crandall. While we were out there we stopped at a Texaco to fill up their car with gas. We saw the Diesel button, not knowing what it was we decided to fill up on that. For those of you who are as dumb and pull blonde moments like us, Diesel is strictly for 18 wheelers. The nozel wouldn't fit into the gas tank, but we tried to pump gas in anyway and gas came shooting out at us. Luckily not very much got into our car and none of it got onto us. Blessings! Sister Crandall spent the remainder of our night store contacting at the mall. The last people we talked to was a group of black teenage boys. One of them, named Kuleek (unique Kuleek is how he introduced himself), had dreadlocks- super cool, had never been baptized before. Down in the South that's a rare thing. So, we talked to him about the importance of baptism and asked if he'd like to be baptized. His friends informed us that he drank. His defense was that everybody has at least had something to drink before. We told him that as Mormons we don't drink. He was completely floored that we don't drink, do drugs, etc. He told us "Ya'll are the strangest girls I've ever met in my life." Thank you Kuleek.
On Saturday Sister Castagno and I were re-united! We went store contacting at Walmart and ran into Michelle Bond, a member at our church in Tupelo. She took us out to lunch at El Rey! She's awesome.
Yesterday after church the Voyles took us all over Smithville, Fulton, and Tremont to meet with part members and less actives. One less active was a 101 year old lady named Sister Shakleford. As we were introducing ourselves to her she thought that Brother Voyles, a 65 year old man, was my husband. Ha! That was fun to try and resolve. But we got to see so many wonderful saints and try and bring them back into the fold or invite their spouses to hear the messages that we have to share. It was just a blessed week. We continue to try and bring souls closer to Christ daily. I hope that ya'll know I love you!
Love, Sister Michaela Mason
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