September 27

Howdy everyone!

I'm writing to you on a particularly beautiful day in La Porte, TX! The temperature is incredibly pleasant, the sky is completely clear, and it kind of reminds me of a Utah summer day. Normally if it's not stormy we have lots of giant, fluffy, white clouds, like the kind you'd find painted in a children's book, but today it's just a brilliant, solid blue. I think fall may be my favorite season down here... we'll see :)

Sister Hatch and I have kept plenty busy this week. Unfortunately we have had even more appts. fall through than normal, but we've also seen success and miracles. To update you on D* W*- she has been sick since we last taught her and we have been unable to see her since. This means that she will not be getting baptized on the 30th, but we are prayerful that she is able to feel better and move forward with this soon.

We did have an awesome lesson this week with an really cool girl that we had tracted into last week, L* V*. She's a senior in highschool, so we invited a member of our ward who is also a senior (at a different highschool), S* V8 to come w/ us to the appt. When we got there, her friend K* H* (a junior) also wanted to learn, so we taught them both about the Restoration. The Spirit was so strong, and Sam was a great asset, sharing her own conversion story and sweet testimony. They all hit it off, and we'll be teaching them w/ Sam again this coming week. We're pretty excited about them!

We were able to attend the General Relief Society broadcast this Saturday, and thoroughly enjoyed it. We carpooled with ward members to the Stake Center in Eagle Springs where we enjoyed yummer baked potatoes and BBQ for dinner, followed by the broadcast. We were especially happy that one of our recent converts, Sister C* W*, was able to attend. I got to see several sisters from Baytown again which was delightful. I'm really happy to be serving in the same stake so that we still get to rub shoulders from time to time. We had a pretty intense storm pass over during the broadcast, and therefore missed the middle 2 talks do to satellite difficulties. It was kind of fun to pull out our hymn books and sing together while we waited for the broadcast to come back on. Attending the broadcast always helps me feel close to my mom and sister :)

Being a missionary is still the coolest thing ever. I'm still ridiculously happy, and the church is still true! I love you all so very much!!

*~Sister Pilmer~*

September 20

First off I would just like to announce how much I love you all! That means ALL my family and friends that may read this. I love you SO much and hope all is well with you!

It's been a little strange this week to really realize how quickly I'm closing in on my 1/2 way mark. At the end of this transfer I'll have been out 9 months, with 9 months to go. It's flown by so quickly up to this point and it just amazes me. I so badly want to treasure this time I have as a full-time missionary, and work w/ great faith and diligence to do all I can to serve the Lord at this time.

Last night I attended a stake fireside in Eagle Springs. The Keynote speaker was Elder S. Gifford Nielson (sp?), Area General Authority. President and Sister Moldenhauer also spoke some, and it was an amazing fireside! Elder Nielson spoke a lot about missionary work, but also about our testimonies and priorities. It was powerful stuff, and particularly enjoyable for me as he incorporated a good amount of football (particularly BYU football) stories and details into his incredibly spiritual message. Elder Nielson played for BYU as the QB, preceding his career playing for the Houston Oilers, and then in Sports broadcasting stuff. He's a little (a lot) before my time, but I love my Cougar football, so I still think it's awesome. It was also the highlight of my week to see so many members of the Baytown 2nd ward at the fireside. I knew it was the same stake, but it totally didn't dawn on me that they'd be there until 2 of my favorite little girls came running up to me, exclaiming "Sister Pilmer!" and giving me hugs. I love my current ward, but Baytown definitely has a piece of my heart, and I felt very loved as I was able to reconnect w/ so many members from my last area.

This past Wednesday, the 15th, was Sister Hatch's birthday. I tried hard to help her celebrate and overall it turned out to be a pretty great day. I decorated the apartment which was way easier to accomplish than anticipated, because she was super tired went to bed right after planning Tuesday night. That gave me time to decorate and make a SUPER rad card without interruption. She was happily surprised and some of the decorations are still up indefinitely. I also let her take me running for 1st time. She's a hard core runner and wants to train me, so I accepted. I have a long ways to go before I could be considered a "runner", but I'm trying real hard! Rumor is that I'll eventually enjoy it ;) So far I like everything about it except for the part where I'm actually running. Hahaha!

We visited one of our investigators in the hospital, as she just had hernia surgery. It was a very spiritual visit, and we are praying hard for her full recovery, as well as her ability to progress in the gospel. I took Sister Hatch to Bullrito's for lunch (our favorite!) and our Relief Society President, Sister M* took us out to a really nice Chinese Buffet for dinner. A really awesome (though semi less-active) member of our ward, Sister C* S*, also had us over for a brief celebration that night. She and I had plotted together to surprise Sister Hatch w/ cake and singing and crayon "Happy Birthday" signs made by her adorable kids. Sister Hatch really liked that, and I was pretty happy that I pulled off a fun little surprise. We did some tracting and all that normal good missionary stuff during the day, and we saw lots of tender mercies of the Lord. The best b-day present and miracle though, happened when we recieved a voicemail that said, "Hello, my name is D* W*, and I'm interested in joining your church. My number is ____. Please give me a call." We have since met with D*, taught her about the Restoration and commited her to baptism! (currently aiming for Sept. 30th) We just love her, and she has been so prepared. We are praying so hard for her :)

Being a missionary ROCKS!! I love mail! The church is true! I love my Savior, Jesus Christ, with all my heart and am so grateful for His Atonement. The Book of Mormon is true and powerful! I love you all!!!

*~Sister Pilmer~*

September 13

Howdy from La Porte, home of some of the coolest people I've ever met! I'm so in love w/ being a missionary- it truly the best decision I've ever made. I love my companion, Sister Hatch, and we're doing our best to work hard and accomplish the Lord's will in this area. There are some pretty sweet awesome things that have happened this past week!

*I received a phone call on Saturday from Sister Kinikini and Sister Wallace in Baytown. They excitedly informed me J* and B* M* have decided to be baptized on October 9th, which happens to be Sister M's birthday. Sister Mapa and I were not the first or the last missionaries to teach them, and we knew they would eventually be ready, we just didn't know when. After much prayer, and work, and fasting by many missionaries- it's such an exciting thing! I'm so stoked and really hope I'll get permission to go back and be there for the baptism.

*Yesterday, T* came to Sacrament Mtg. and brought his 2 children. We had just tracted into him the day before and hadn't even taught him yet or anything! He just showed up! The ward lovingly welcomed him, and even though he was unable to stay for the other meetings, he seemed to have a genuinely good experience. We now have his phone number as well as his address and hope to be able to teach him very soon.

*At dinner w/ the E* family last night we were discussing the way the gospel is recieved in this area of the world. Before we knew it, they spontaneously gave us a solid referral to teach their neighbor friends. It was really cool, and we are prayerful that we'll be able to share the gospel w/ them and they'll be receptive to our message and the truth that we have to share.

We experience lots of little and big miracles every day and I'm just so happy to be a part of this great work. I love you all so very much!!

*~Sister Pilmer~*

September 7

Howdy everyone!

It's been another fabulous week here in La Porte, filled with many challenges and also many miracles! This has been my first experience with taking over an area- being the companion that's supposed to know what's going on and where everything is. Something miraculous happened- missionary work kept happening here! I've really felt the strength and guidance of the Lord. He's really helped me to continue to know and accomplish what He requires of me.

I've actually experienced a real, dramatic fulfillment of Ether 12:27 in my life recently. The Lord is often taking my weaknesses and turning them into strengths and helping me become the best version of myself, but it's not always dramatic and obvious. This recent miracle is in regards to my directional and navigational abilities. In my first area, Lake Charles, my trainers Sister Stott and Sister Miller, picked out a shirt for me that said "Don't follow me. I'm lost." I never had any idea where we were going and struggled so hard to remember where people lived, etc. I tried so hard and just STRUGGLED. It was slightly better while in Baytown, but I still felt incredibly inadequate in that department. While Sister Frazier was still here in La Porte, I didn't feel like I was learning the area very well or very quickly, but I guess I was wrong. I actually seem to know where I'm going most of the time! When I'm not quite sure, I can quickly and effectively navigate us with the help of a map. It may not seem like something super important, but I'm so grateful that the Lord is helping me with this weakness, now strength- it's allowing us to hasten His work. The Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is real and powerful. Christ is my rock and my strength and He is helping me to become the version of myself God intended.

Sister Hatch and I have recently been able to get back in with a couple of people Sister Frazier and I found like a month ago. It's been so cool to be able to finally teach them. Miss E and Miss C are both really open to learning and seemed really feel the truthfulness of the message of the Restoration. We are praying in faith that they will truly seek to know if this is true and be willing to act upon their answers from the Lord.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is TRUE and has been restored in its fullness. We have a living prophet on the earth who leads and guides us through direct revelation from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost is amazing and has endless power to help us learn and understand greater light and truth. My gratitude and joy are so full at this time. I just love being a missionary!!!

I love you all!!! Mail is still always welcome!!! Smile!!!!

*~Sister Pilmer~*