August 30

We didn't have a letter on August 27th, so we were extra glad to get today's!

Hello Family and Friends!

I hope you have all had a fabulous week, and have felt the love of our Heavenly Father in your life. This is transfer Monday, and I'm still here in LaPorte for another 6 weeks at least, but I have a new fabulous companion. Her name is Sister Hatch. She is from Sandy, UT and has been serving here in Texas for a grand total of 6 weeks so far. I'm excited to work with her and get to know her better. I love being a missionary!!!

We have enjoyed some really sweet moments this past week when members unexpectedly helped us out. Last Monday Sis. Frazier and I were in Kingwood so I could go to the dentist. We stopped at Fuddruckers for food after my appt. While waiting for our food to be ready, the manager came by and excitedly introduced himself as a member of the church. He was then shocked to realize we'd paid full price and refunded my ticket and told Sis. Frazier and I to split the cash. He informed us that missionaries always eat half price in his restaraunt and gave us a free order of sweet potato fries. We felt loved :) While walking down our street in LaPorte, on our way to visit a potiential investigator, a stranger pulled over in a pick-up truck and handed us cold bottles of Gatorade. Apparently he's a member in Baytown that attends the Singles' branch in Pine Trails and he just felt sorry for us walking in the heat. We don't mind the heat so much (though it is VERY HOT AND HUMID), but we were also very grateful for the cold drinks and kindness. Service is the best, both on the giving and recieving ends. Go do something small and unexpected for someone today!! Smile at everyone!

I love you all so much!!! Be good and smile lots!

*~Sister Pilmer~*

From the management: I'm so grateful to hear of people taking such good care of my sister!

Aug 16

Howdy from La Porte! It's another wonderful day, and the most wonderful part is that I'm still a missionary! This work is the best thing ever and while it is often challenging, frustrating, and exhausted- I still love it with all my heart! It is just so rewarding and full of miracles!

I discovered a really great quote this week that I wanted to share with y'all. President Spencer W. Kimball said, "We become more substantive as we serve others- indeed, it is easier to 'find' ourselves because there is so much more of us to find!" I love that and know it can apply to everyone, not just missionaries. There are opportunities for each of us to serve our brothers and sisters each and every day- usually in small, but meaningful ways. No effort to serve goes wasted. The Lord will magnify your efforts to serve Him by serving His children. (Mosiah 2:17)

Sister Frazier and I are still working hard and learning much from one another. I really appreciate her example, and am happy to be serving with her here in La Porte. This week a woman in our apt. complex, Miss T, approached us in a state of fear and morning. She has experienced the untimely death of a loved one and needed love, support, and the truth of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Since we've had the opportunity to teach her, it has become clear that the Lord has prepared her to accept this truth at this time. I've grown to love her so much, and want so badly for her to continue to progress and understand the peace and joy of our message. We are praying hard for her and the other people we are teaching. The Lord is with us as we walk forward in faith.

A couple of people have mentioned or questioned the use of initials instead of names for most people I email about. In the event that others may be wondering, I will clarify. Because Amanda is posting this to a blog for the whole world to see (and I know there are readers down in this neck of the woods)- I only use initials for confidentiality purposes. If any of you ever have specific questions about specific experiences or people- feel free to ask. I love talking about it!

I love you all and hope all is FABULOUS for you! Send mail- it's my fave! Be good!

August 9

Hello all!

It's been another fantabulous week here in LaPorte. Sister Frazier and I have been privileged to be instruments in the Lord's hands time and time again, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity. It's still crazy hot and humid and I get eaten by mosquitoes regularly, but it's all so very worth it. I've learned that when I truly know that I'm doing the Lord's will, not much else matters. I'm working hard to be a worthy, willing, diligent, faithful servant of the Lord.

We commited a new investigator to baptism on Saturday. When we told her about Joseph Smith's first vision- she actually giggled out of excitement. She was actually giddy! Miss M is a fabulous little old woman (she's probably in her 80's), and she's excited to be baptized on Sept. 10th. We are prayerful that as she continues to learn and understand, that her faith will continue to grow and she will be prepared to take that step.

One of my favorite lessons this week was to another new investigator on Friday. Mr. J is in his early 20's and as we taught him he really seemed to understand the message of the Restoration. We feel that he understands what he needs to do in order to gain a testimony of it for himself. It's amazing what can happen as the Spirit testifies of the truth we teach. I love it so much, and I don't think I'll ever get used to having these powerful experiences. I'm amazed how often they happen.

I love you all so very much! I also love mail- so I shamelessly encourage you to send some my way ;) I'm so happy and I love sharing the true message of the restored gospel and seeing it change lives. It's awesome! Make good choices and remember who you are and what you stand for!

*~Sister Pilmer~*

August 2

Howdy from La Porte, TX!

It's been a fabulous week here and I'm so in love w/ being a missionary! I feel so blessed to serve the Lord in this way at this time. The ward members here are fabulous and enthused about the work and that rocks :) A lot of our investigators have slowed down in the progression recently (which is slightly lame) or been baptized and become members recently (which is awesome), and our teaching pool is not as large and active as we would like. We decided the remedy this by tracting our little missionary hearts out in the heat and humidity this week. 104 quality gospel conversations later, we have many solid potential investigators that we are very optimistic about.

Thursday night we had a lesson w/ Miss A.C. and it turned out to be very effective. She ended up emotionally describing some of her fears about coming to church and the letdowns she's experienced in the past. It was a relief to understand her feelings better and be able to bear testimony about those things that are most important for her to understand. The spirit was very strong, and even better than that- she actually made it to church for the first time this Sunday. Good times :)

One of my favorite experiences while tracting this week was meet Mr. J.B. (we met a lot of amazing people this week!) The words and images of the tattoos on his body tell a story of a very rough past. He's already turned his life around immensely and let go of so much. He was such a genuine person to talk to and was genuinely interested in our message. We really hope we're going to be able to teach him again and help him come closer to Christ.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is true and changes lives for the better! The Book of Mormon truly is a testament of our Savior and reading and applying its teachings will bring so much happiness. I love my Heavenly Father his son Jesus Christ w/ all my heart. Keep being awesome everyone and remember that I love you!!!!

*~Sister Pilmer~*