Letter #35

HeY FAmiLY. Wuz up? not much here. Sounds like you'll had a greeat week. I had a good one too. We have been busy knockin and talkin. We walked for 18 hours and my feet got lil swollen. HAHA... Today the weather is pretty rainy and we just washed our car. GO FIGURe. We just got done bowling with the Elders. I sent you guys some pics. The one is of the car is where the Elders pranked us and the other one is at bowling today. It was pretty fun. This week should be pretty good too. We should be havin a blasty.
We are workin hard to build this area. It is comin up strong. We found a couple of great people tracting and one guy even came to church. He is a big smoker and when he came in and sat down a member started to cough really loud and walked out. I then saw him walk to another seat. I think it was cuz the smell of smoke from this guy was so strong. lol.. I don't think John (the investigator) noticed too much. We are teachin machines here.
Hows the FAM doin? Do ya'll have plans for the summer time? It's really hot here. I forgot how hot summers were here in TN till this weekend. Whooo eee I got hot. I was just so wet all day saturday. It was fun.
I had an experience with some recent converts in our ward. It really pushed my buttons. I really love them though. One of them started to talk about President Griffin and how he wasn't very friendly person. I really stood up for President. I really love him and I won't sit there and listen to gossip. I kindly just said I love President Griffin and he is a man of god and I respect him fully. We then just changed the subject. I think it really shocked the lady I said this though. I know she will respect me though for it.
We taught a neat lady named Paula yesterday. She is really prepared. She is reading from the Book of Mormon and everything. She just hasn't been passed her front bush in like 10 years. (She is very un sociaL). We told her that if she reads from the Bookf of Mormon than it will help her get over her anxiety. She was thrilled. She wants to overcome this really badly.
Tonight we have an appointment with a lady named Hailie. She is a younger gal and she has like 1 lil baby. She says she really wants to get into church so we will see how it goes.
I loved Alvin's pics. They were so HOT! An elder walked by my comp while I was lookin at them and he was like.. "wow"... HAHA.. Alvin u got the looks!!
You guys can write me some snail mail. I need some. But things are just goin great here in Grove Park. I hope you'll have a great WEEK!!!! Talk to ya'll soon.

Love
chelz

Letter #34

Hey Ya'LL.. How u doin??? No flooding here yet..... We had our ward go do baptisms for the dead in Nashville.. and they didn't get home till way late cuz of all the flooding.. It was bad.. It has killed 9 people in Nasvhille.. Nashville is about 2 1/2 hours away from me here in Knoxville. We have been gettin some rain but not like bad. Our AC is broke....So I been just one sticky mess wit my hair in a bun. Its startin to get really humid here. Sister Bernard is gettin transferred and Sister Nygren and I will be here in Grove Park for 6 more weeks. Sister Bernard was pretty upset about it. She cried all during church. I felt really bad for her cuz I know how it is to be transferred and have to pack your bags. It stinks.
I found out that another guy I taught in Kentucky just got baptized. His name is Mike and he is 18 years old. Cool huh?? I jumped for joy when I found out. He was referred to us by a member. Members sure are the KEY! Courtney Stirling is getting baptized on May 7th here in Grove Park. She is almost 18 years old. She gave her testimony in sacrament yesterday and it was awesome. She has a reallly great conversion story. She has some really good fellowshippers too. Her boyfriend is on a mission in Argentina.....
My shoes are gettin worn out.. so that is a good sign huh???? This has been the fastest year of my life... I have learned so many things I never could have in Idaho. Its pretty amazin...I really am just gonna live every day up... We went on an exchange on tuesday with the Sister from West Knoxville area. That was pretty fun. The sister I was with used to date Kendall Horman... She says that his mullet was so sexy.. sick!
Poor Easty still has the mud butt. I know how he feels. I never been so sick than I have on the mission with that kinda stuff. Some food is just gross... I try and stay with fresh fruits and vegetables.. cuz thats all I can handle.
We were at some Recent converts house yetserday and they are a great couple that was baptized in Feb. The lady reminds me of Grandma PUPHAL. She is so funny and loving. She was havin a really hard time. Cuz she went to the nashville temple for the first time and wanted to have this big spiritual experience and she didn't feel nothin. She was very sad. She thought she wasn't worthy enough to go to the temple. We had to really help her and read scriptures with her to lift her back up. We then watched the movie Legacy with her and she was so much better after that. PS - How is grandma Puphal doin??
So yes... U will u guys write me some snail mail??? I sure need some this last part of the mish... I been thinkin a lot what I was doin at this time last year.. and I was PACKED and ready to Go!!! crazy huh?? President won't let me extend for 2 years.. so that is outa the question... I have been tryin to ponder and write down all the things I have learned over this past year.. I have been writin down all the lessons I've learned... I will send ya'll a copy of my thoughts... Did u get the post card I sent you guys????
So yesterday we were teachin these 21 year old guys.. and there stupid cat kept comin over and meowin at me.. and I got so scared.... I kept tryin to push it with my scriptures.. and finally the guy was like are u alergic to cats I can get him out???....> So of course I tell people I am allergic to cats...It works everytime.. So I honestly one time told a family I was diabetic.. cuz they kept offering and pushin me to eat a brownie and ice cream!!!! LOL.. I repented after that.. Members sure do push you 2 do things.. hHAHA.. jk...
Well I'll talk to ya'll sunday!!!!! Tell the apontes to be there.. I gotta talk to easty too!!

Love
CHelz

Letter #33

(PLEASE FORGIVE MY {SISTER} FOR NOT UPDATING RECENTLY... I {sister} will Repent)

Hey Fam. How is goin? It good here. I am jus sittin here in the Lib writin online. This week has been a good one. I have had to learn how to be patient with my comp, I learned a lot though. Somedays I feel like a mommy makin her do things. BUT when its got to get done its GOT 2 get DONE. I hope Easty's mud butt is doin better. I tend to get it a lot down here in the south where they cook that southern cookin. bLAH! : ) One year from yesterday I gave my farwell talk. Crazy huh?? It went by super fast. I was so different back then. ha ha.. We had interviews with President this las week. He made me feel so good. The first thing he told me was how proud he was of me and how highly he thought of me and he said that I was doing great things. He said that I should never worry about what he thought of me cuz it was always great. I sure do love President Griffin. He is a little intimating @ first, but such a great man.
We tracted a lot, had a lot of doors slammed. It wasn't too bad. Whenever I get rejected I tell myself "YOU ARE A SEXY BEAST"........ that boosts my confidence a lot . ya know? I noticed that we were never praying and asking Heavenly Father where we should go tracting. So I thought that maybe we weren't tracting where he wanted us to and thats why we weren't enjoying the tracting. So we started to pray where to go and it was so much more happenin. Yesterday we talked to a couple of people and I met 2 people who said they reminded me of their grandaughter. LOL. . My companions are very discouraged with the work. I tell myself to NOT get discouraged cuz that will break you as a missionary. I have 2 tell my one companion to do things like (add up mileage, call people, what to say in lessons, what we're gonna teach, and who to talk to at church)....cuz she just thinks she can't and won't do it unless I push her.... She got way mad at me yesterday for tellin her that she needed to get the job done cuz we receive blessings as we are obedient even in the little things (like keeping track of our miles) . . . ..It is weird, but hey I love her.
I been havin like a 1 year crisis or somethin. HAHA.... I noticed I set all these goals ya know at the begginning of my mission and I was like CRAP what if I don't accomplish these and reach my fullest potential... THen I told myself these goals I set are LIFE LONG GOALS.. and even though I won't have a tag in 7 months.. I will still be a member missionary. THAT MADE ME FEEL BETTER.. I then ya know hear all these missionaries saying how they are goin to this college and that college and seeing all there friends again... I kinda think man.. all my friends are not even there when I get home and they all are poppin out babies... and I have to go be a grown-up.... I just try not to talk about it.. haha...lol..
THings are REALLY REALLY good though. Man I am just so comfortable with bein a missionary. I felt like this is what I have been born to do. ha ha. The people here live in these huge million dollar houses. They are like really lonely though so thats good. We met a lady named Margie that loves Glen Beck and Mitt Romney. She thinks she is already a mormon. She is a hypocondrach though and she is on pills. She lives in a way HUGE HUGE house that is super nice... She lives a lone so when we go talk to her at her house she just TALKS UP A STORM. She says thats what happens when u live a lone.. u want to talk a lot. lol..... she read us this really nasty letter about me and my companions that her sister wrote her. It was about how we are a cult and not true christians. I about cried. I couldn't believe she read it to us... I then just bore my testimony that we are not a cult and that we are christains.
There are so many stupid mis conceptions about our church. Members here in the south have it ROUGH...
Well fam I hope that that one BYUI teachers husband is doin good. What a tragedy. I am glad that I don't hear about these tragedys on a missions. I feel like I in a nother WORLD.. lol....LOVE IT...
Well have a great week. I'll talk to all ya'll on mothers day. That is the last time I will ahve to talk to ya'll on the phone.. then You'll JUSt see me!whoa
Love
chelz

Letter #32

Hey Family. How ya all doin? It sounds like you all had a good time in sin City. I should have had u meet one of my companions who lives in Vegas. Her name is Sara Hales. She lives right by the Temple. She got home in January. I wished I could have gone to vegas, but I'm glad I am in TN. Were ya'll there for a Basketball Tournament right? I couldn't quite remember.
Well I am serving in Knoxville (the city). I am in the Grove Park Ward. It is the biggest ward I have been in as of yet on my mission. It isn't quite as big as Labelle 1st ward. I am in a 3-some. We sleep in a little room with 3 beds crammed in it. It gets a little muggy, but usually I am so tired I just hit the bed and don't wake up intil 6:30 AM. I have almost been out for 11 months!
I feel like I am gettin more more confident with bein a missionary and the routine. I LOVED training and that was where I learned to be happy on the mission. That really boosted the confidence, cuz I had to be the big girl.
It is already in the 80's here and I am sweatin 24/7. We get a lot of good member referrals here in the Grove Park Ward. We knocked doors for 18 hours and 30 minutes this las week. I got a little dehydrated (you know what that means). I was on the golden throne for a couple days. I am kinda over that sickness though. I have been tryin to drink more water cuz I hear u can get kidney stones if u dont drink enough water. We tracted in a ghetto trailor park and there was some guys playin some bball so I told the comps that we should play with them.. We played a game of lightenin with them and then said they had to come to church with us. They rejected. It was funny cuz they all had ciggarettes in their mouths while they were playin basketball with us.. HA HA. No wonder they suck cuz they can't BREATHe!
We had a man that was commited for baptism, but now he is not. His girlfriend got really mad at us for teaching him. One day she stormed in the room while we were teachin him and oh my goodness guess what lesson we were teachin LAW OF CHASTITY. She was very upset at me.. LOL... She thought that I was tellin her boyfried that if he slept with girls before marriage that he wasn't worthy to be with god.. (she was just pickin at everythin)... We tried to meet all her concerns. She was fumin though. LOL... The next week we went back to continue to make daily contact with this man who was commited and we showed up at his house and he was drunk. It was horrible. I knew being the senior companion that we shouldn't be there, so I told him that the only way to be happy is to stop drinking and smoking and then I told him when he wants to be baptized to call us. He then called us when we left and I said to him "Don't call us ever again if you're drunk, we are here to help you draw closer to christ, but you won't learn by the spirit if you're drunk"... He said okay and said I won't call u when I'm drunk anymore. We haven't heard from him since.
We also met a guy named CARLOS tracting!! He needs a good member to fellowship him that speaks spanish. He is so awesome. He comes from El Salvador and he wants to know christ better. He has a big accent, but he still speaks english. He is gonna be baptized soon.
I found out from the Blacks (whitley city senior couple).. that 2 people that I taught in Whitley City are commited to be baptized the end of this month! WOOT!!! I really miss my home in Kentucky and it's been hard to be away cuz we had to much success there. I know that more success is to come here though.
I love ya'll so much. I get to talk to ya'll in 1 month! Then after that I'll see ya'll in person! No more phone calls.. woot woot... How is kass doin?? I know since she has a boyfriend her emailing me will probably stop. Keep writin me and emailin me! I promise I will write back. My correspondance with the outside world has basically stopped.. lol.. I don't even write my friends at home anymore. I write my friends on the mission. lol
Well I'll talk to ya'll soon! I love you all so much

Chelz

Letter #31

hey family. I am in a new area in Grove Park, Tennessee. It is right by down town knoxville. I am with Sister Bernarnd who is from Utah and then Sister Nygren who is from Rexburg, idaho. It is really weird bein in a threesom. I am tryin to figure out how much I like it. The ward is super supportive here and the members are great. It reminds me a lot of Utah.
I had a really hard time leaving my home in Whitley. I don't think I cried has hard as I have since I left Idaho. I said bye to all my friends in Whitley and we all cried together before I left. It was super sad.
I know I will learn to love this area in time. It's hard when you build your area so much and then get pulled right away from it.
People say your 11 to 12 month mark is hard and boy that is the truth right there. I think it's just the new area maybe... We have a guy commited to be baptized on April 3rd. For conference we are goin to the church to watch it so that will be good.
Have fun in vegas!! soak up the hot rays of sun..

Love
chelz

Letter #30

Hey Family! Thanks for the great emails. I sure do love hearing from all ya'll. I will be moving on Wednesday. We don't find out where we are going until the Transfer meeting. I am pretty sad and I know I'll be homesick for KY. BUT I am also way excited to be goin somewhere different. It will be a great expereince and I have my time in KY to fall back on and realize how much I have grown. My companion started to cry when we found out. She said "Sister Furniss you're the bestest friend I've ever had". I was totally in shock cuz I never ever thought she thought that. I guess you don't know who you touch. I am really worred about her getting a new companion cuz her people skills aren't exactly there. We have been role playing a lot and I have been having her show me how to get places and stuff and we did it Saturday night and she didn't know how to get somewhere so she just sat there and cried. I told her she has to COMMUNICATE with everyone. I know that sounds weird comin from me but I guess I done changed in that aspect. My name is Chatty Kathy. HAHA
Ya I was just really ill. My chest was just a burnin and our mail man said that when u get bronchitis here it stays a lot longer and is 10 times worse cuz of the humidity. IT SURE IS. I never felt to sick in all my live long life. I just layed on the couch for 3 days in my underwear. HAHA GROSS
The 3 children who were commited for baptism aren't gonna be baptized anytime soon. I asked the mother if we could teach the children and she said no.. HOW HEART BREAKING.. Ya we experienced a lot of dissapointment this week. BUT ya live and ya learn.
We are getting ready to commit a 16 year old girl named Tadabee and a 23 year old girl named Wendy. They both want to be baptized. Usually on average we teach about 25 other lessons and 5 less active lessons and a couple active. It's pretty good for this area where it is all country and the houses are miles apart.
I will be 1 year old in 6 weeks! Man I can't believe it's been a year and I need to start figurin out what I'm gonna be doin. That stinks.
Today I have been packing my stuff and doin laundry and my companion has been cleanin.
I had a very bad experience tracting saturday morning. Well it wasn't bad.. it was just weird.. I was wearing some little stud earings with white little diamond on it.. and we go up to this old country house and this guy is out there screamin "YOU GIRLS MORMON".. I was like okay bean let's go talk to this nut... So we went over there and he touches my earing and starts to tell me that I shouldn't be wearing jewelry cuz I am beuatiful the way I am and blah and he was yelling it.... he then says who tells you you can have earrings.. I then explained we have a prophet on the earth who told us 1 earring hole is appropriate in one ear.. and he said.. "WELL WHAT MAKES HIM A PROPHET" and I told him.. and he says.. "WELL IM A PROPHET"... and then he goes.. "YOURE WRONG!!!!!!! u are goin to HELL".... he then points to his daughters who are in jean skirts and have hair down to there ankles and says my daughters and wife wear skirts all the time and never cut there hair and can't wear makeup......I of course was gettin mad at the man for attacking me like that and tellin me that my religion is goin to hell.. SO I started to yell back.. I never got so mad at all my life... I told him he was a son of god and we all are his children and everyone is equal no matter what.. and he kept yellin at me so I just said have a nice day and pulled my companion with me and we walked off.. HE THEN kept yellin... He wasn't very nice man. But I prayed for him after we left his house... I know that I shouldn't have sat there and bashed bible scriptures with him.. but I was in the moment.. I repented for that I promise....
Anyway.. it was a learnin experience and my companion was just laughin at me for like a day cuz she said she never saw that side of me.. ha ha..
HOw are the children??? I miss you all al ot.. I still don't know what day I'm comin home.. but I'll let ya'll know soon.....
LOVE YA ALL!

chelz

Letter #29

hey everyone.. how u doin?? I was so glad to get all of your emails and I have been recieving your letters.. THey have been great! Thank ya'll so much. I got Tate's letter today. Tell him THANK YOU.. I will write him back soon. What have all ya'll been up to lately??
I have been sicker than a dog this week. I have been in bed like all week. Remember when I was younger and I would get really bad bronchitis?? Yeah I got it.. And it has sucked a big bum. I have hated bein sick. I called Sister Griffin and President and President was gonna prescribe me some medication (cuz hes a throat doctor).. but he told me I should just wait it out and see what happens and my fever eventually broke and then I started feelin better. I still have a big cough, but I am feelin loads better. Prayer work and Heavenly Father Loves me! Bein sick on your mission is the absolute worst. I feel so much better though. So don't worry.
So 1 year ago I got my mission call. How does that work? That went by way too fastlY. I was sick in bed on my 1 year from the mission call mark. WHOA weird.
So I sent some pictures home to all ya'll I hope you guys got them. They were prety funny. I will keep sendin loads of pictures for you guys. I like takin pics in the dirty south.
I went to Interview last Tuesday and I sat down with President Griffin and he told me so many encouraging things. He really is a man called of God. He first off told me what a great job I have done IN Whitley City and that he was very pleased of me and my efforts. He then told me that he will be "manuevering me out" and I will be transferred in 1 week (transfers are the 24th)..... He told me that it was time and he wanted me to experience other areas of the mission. My hear really did hurt, but I am realizing that I am need else where. I will always have my heart in KY though... PS did you know KENTUCKY IS LIKE DOIN AWESOME IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL?????? DID YA'LL WATCH THEM PLAY TN AND KY??? MY NEIGHBOR KEPT CALLIN US AND INFORMIN US OF THE STATS.. HAHAHA.
I will let ya'll know where I end up goinn.. I know that I have changed so much bein a trainer and it's been a great expereince here in Whitley City.
The branch is under a lot of fighting and contention again. Seems like the missionaries are always the middle people and the blame. I don't let it get 2 me though. I have never had so many people mad at me before and yell at me. Man it's weird. I just try and do my best though. KY is really struggling with keeping it together. It's so stressfull.
The 3 commitments with the children we had are kinda struggling right now. The mom got offended at the Branch Presidency and walked out of church. Her kids were all crying cuz they didn't want to leave church. The mother is struggling herself. One of her biggest things is she notices that the Bishops wife never goes to sacrament.. Only her other meetings...That really bothers this lady that were teachin....
I am so grateful that Mom you always supported Dad as the bishop 100 percent. I am thankful you always made a point to be in sacrament with us kids always.... I realized that the Bishops wife is almost important as the Bishop. She doesn't hold any keys.. But her support means so much to the ward and people are always watchin. : )
I got an accent just so you all know.. HA HA HA... So just be prepared this mothers day. jk.. I am thinkin about burnin my coat cuz its got a lot of germs on it and so many animals have put their paws on it.. ha ha
I talk way too much in the lessons.. I tell my companion to hit me when I talk too much... She just laughs..
It's gonna be really tough to leave my family in KY, but I know I'll be back someday to see them. When we gonna go family???? hint hint hint.......
Well I better go.. I love you'ns... Keep writin and I will too...
Love
cheLz
~Sister Furniss ~