June 15

Hello everyone!

It's been another hot, humid, fabulous week in Baytown, TX. Sister Mapa and I love being companions and are learning and growing so much as we serve together. (for clarification from last week's email- Sister Mapa and I will be serving together for at least 6 more weeks, not 2.) This email is late due to a fabulous event yesterday known as "Sisters Service Day".

All of the sister missionaries in the Texas Houston East mission gathered together yesterday to serve and learn and have fun during our preparation day. We started with a service project, sorting food from a food drive in the hot sun. There was a lot to sort and we had fun helping out. We then came back to the Atascocita church building. We spent an hour with President Moldenhauer and the 4 elders serving as Assistants to the President and Training Assistants having a training lesson/discussion meeting. If you want to make 4 elders adorably intimidated and nervous- stick them in a room with 25 sister missionaries and ask them to teach. It was an awesome meeting and very fun times :) We enjoyed lunch together and were provided with supplies to do manicures, pedicures, and make-overs for each other. We also had some crafts available and a sister missionary clothing exchange. There were 3 hairstylists from the local congregations that came and volunteered their time to give us free haircuts as well. I got a trim, and Sister Map chopped of several inches which she loves but is still getting used to! The gathering was closed with a wonderful talk given by a sweet sister and member of the Kingwood congregation. She is a returned missionary and mother of 4 children. She shared her thoughts on what she learned from her mission that has helped her throughout her life. It was a fabulous day! (yay for me remembering to share some details whether you find them interesting or not!)

Other recent highlights of my missionary service include:

I was asked to be a photographer for the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. R.V.- 2 of the elders' investigators that have 2 sweet children and plan be baptized soon. The wedding was last weekend. Elder Lauritzen and our Relief Society president pretty much put the whole event together. They asked for my help and I was happy to use the nice camera of a local member and use my photography skills to serve this sweet couple! It was awesome :) The wedding was beautiful and Mr. and Mrs. RV were so grateful for all the help and support!

This Sunday a wonderful less-active member of our ward attended church for the first time in a long time. Sister M and her 3 little boys all had a wonderful time at church. Sister M was apprehensive about coming when her boys didn't have church clothes. Her amazing Visting Teacher, Sister C, was able to provide some financial help and all 3 boys (ages 5, 3, & 2) showed up in adorable new church clothes with cute little ties and shoes and everything. It was a very sweet experience to see them all there looking so handsome and ready to learn.

The work is still amazing here in Baytown and I love teaching and serving God's children. I love this work with all my heart and am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you all so much for your love and support! I love you all and hope and pray all is well with you!

*~Sister Pilmer~*