April 11

Howdy from Woodville, TX where we are approaching summer weather very quickly! 

 

Monday was a fairly normal preparation day.  We cleaned and ran errands and such.  Right as we finished our grocery shopping, we were immersed in a downpour/hailstorm.  It didn't last that long, but long enough to drench us and our groceries in the parking lot.  Fun adventures :)  That night we had dinner w/ Bro. and Sis. M* and B* O* and family who fed us some delicious grilled chicken, homegrown corn, potato salad, rolls, and Reeses PB cookies for dessert. We also stopped by S* F*'s home, she is 17 and has lots of challenges, but has a solid head on her shoulders and we are excited to be teaching her.

 

Tuesday we had a lesson w/ recent convert Bro. J* J* in the morning, and we also stopped by for a visit and lesson w/ F* and D*- two fabulous sisters.  Then we rode down to Beaumont w/ Sis. D* and Sis. K*.  They dropped us off at Dr. Stovall's office and went to take care of some other things and then picked us up when we were finished.  Dr. Stovall drew some more blood and asked me some questions and told me to just keep up the good work.  Nothing new, which is fine w/ me since I haven't had an episode in a couple of months now.  The D*s fed us pasta that night and the K*s joined us too.  We also went up to Crosby hill to visit Bro and Sis S*. 

 

Wednesday morning we had interviews w/ President Moldenhauer.  He is a humble, inspired man and interviews w/ him are always and uplifting, spiritual experience.  The Jasper elders had interviews here in Woodville too, so we all went to Subway for lunch after.  They also came over after that to help us dedicate our apt.  Then Sis. Bouwhuis and I hopped on our bikes and rode down to the library to spend an hour on mormon.org.  We rode our bikes home and met Bro. C* B* at our apts. We drove up to Warren to visit Bro. and Sis. E* and L* W*.  Bro. B* followed us in his car and visited them w/ us.  It was a powerful visit, led by the Spirit, and I was grateful to feel the Holy Ghost work through us.  As we drove back from the W*s we passed a couple of zebras in a field... we took pictures :)  We stopped by a gas station to use the restroom and ran into Sis. D* P* there and had a good visit w/ her.  We ate dinner at a little bitty country place called the BBQ-pit.  It was inexpensive and delicious and a fun experience.  Our appt. fell through up in Ivanhoe so we decided to go tracting.  We tracted into a young man named Kevin who happens to work at Subway... we'd just talked w/ him earlier that day!  He's so cool and definitely open to seeking out truth.  We had a lesson w/ him on his doorstep and are excited to continue teaching him.  We'll be taking him on a church tour tomorrow night.  We stopped by and visited the Young Womens activity at the church for a few minutes, and then went to the nursing home for our weekly visits w/ Sis. D* M* and Sis. Y* W*.  

 

     Thursday morning we attended the ladies' class at the Agape church in Colmesneil.  That's the church our friends who took us to lunch last week attend.  Everyone there was so welcoming and excited to have us there, and it was a wonderful fellowshipping opportunity.  After lunch we biked over to Bro. J* apt. and had a lesson w/ him, and then biked around to visit a handful of other potential investigators.  In the afternoon we went back to our apt. to weekly plan.... it went well once we got past our massive giggle fits.  Sis. Bouwhuis and I have so much fun together.  The G*s fed us dinner that night- pork ribs, potato salad, and baked beans w/ banana nut cake for dessert.  We had a spiritual lesson w/ them about acting upon the counsel and guidance we received from General Conference.

 

     Friday we had a wonderful zone meeting down in Beaumont.  We carpooled down there w/ the Fred and Silsbee elders in the Fred truck.  We went to lunch at New York Pizza and Pasta which was delightful.  When we got back to Woodville, we biked over to visit L* B* and then biked up to contact a referral given to us by Sis. M* O*.  The referral, her old highschool teacher was very kind and gave us his phone # so we could set an appt. to come back and share a message w/ him and his family.  We had dinner w/ the O*s that night and M* was excited hear that.  They fed us Pizza Hut pizza and yummy salad for dinner.  We had a great lesson w/ them about doing things the Lord's way.  Then we went over to visit Grampy K* O* and share that same message w/ him.  

 

    Saturday morning M* came and picked us up and we went down to the church and had a church tour w/ her.  She's so awesome and excited as she's preparing to serve a mission.  We all had a great spiritual experience during the tour and M* has committed to inviting a whole bunch of her friends to come on a tour as well.  We went over to a local bluegrass jam after that and enjoyed bbq brisket and great music.  We were invited by Bro and Sis T* and C* L*.  Sis. L* played in the jam and that was cool.  We had several good contacts while were there so it was an effective missionary opportunity, yummy lunch, and was even topped off by some homemade strawberry ice cream.  We stopped by and helped out w/ the birthday party of one of our investigators that afternoon, and then went up to dinner w/ M* family.  They fed us cowboy stew for dinner w/ banana pudding from dessert. (pudding made from scratch is definitely a new favorite!)  We had a really effective visit w/ them.  Once again I was just so grateful for the guidance and power of the Holy Ghost

. 

     Sunday we had church which was fantastic as usual, and a branch council meeting after that which went well.  We had a really effective afternoon, visiting and setting up appts. and church tours w/ potential investigators.  We had an especially awesome visit/lesson w/ J* and A* who we met here at the library a couple of weeks ago.  We are SO excited about teaching them and their awesome family.  The K*s had us over for dinner- french dip sandwiches, coleslaw, chips and butterscotch cookies for dessert.  We showed them how to navigate mormon.org to create their own profiles.  We also went over to visit and teach Sis. F* C*.  It was a really great day.  I've really loved this whole week.  We've been working hard and having fun, and feeling the Lord's hand in this work.  Being a missionary is the greatest thing ever!!!  I love you all so very much! 

 

*~Sister Pilmer~*

April 4

Howdy from Woodville, TX home of the Tyler County Dogwood Festival!

Our week started off great, getting Sis. B* settled and everything.  Monday night C* M* came to dinner w/ us at the home of Bro. and Sis. C* and M* B* and family.  They fed us yummy breakfast for dinner (including farm fresh eggs).  After dinner we enjoyed trying our hand at goat-milking and baby goat bottle feeding.  I need some more practice at the milking, but bottle feeding went pretty smoothly.  We had so much fun.  It was also great to spend some time w/ C* who left for Utah on Thursday, and goes into the MTC this Wednesday.  We had a great lesson on hope w/ the B* family, then headed to the D*'s so they could meet Sis. B* and we could have a visit and lesson w/ them. 

Tuesday morning we volunteered over at Heritage Village.  This week we weeded some flower beds, and then enjoyed lunch at the Pickett House.   We went to visit a potential investagitor we've had a hard time getting a hold of, and we were grateful to find her home.  Not only did we have a great lesson w/ her (L* B*) we also taught her friend L* too.  It was powerfully spiritual experience.  We visited a few more people include the W*s- a part-member family down in Doucette.  The M*s had us over for dinner- fried deer meat, purple-hull peas, rolls, pear pie w/ bluebell ice cream for dessert.

Wednesday we made our regular visits at the nursing home and then stopped by the library to spend our weekly hour on mormon.org- a.k.a. the coolest website ever.  We had a really awesome lunch at a place called "Behind the Red Door- Tea Room".  Sis. Lundgren and I met a woman named B* S* at Walmart a couple weeks ago and helped her out in the photo dept. She thought we were so sweet and fabulous that she wanted to feed us.  We ended up having lunch w/ her friend and her pastor- Sister J*.  We had a delightful lunch answering lots of questions and eating amazing food in a fun atmosphere.  That afternoon we went to a return appt. we set up w/ a man named D* L*.  We had an awesome lesson w/ him about the restoration and he agreed to prepare for baptism on the 30th of April.  He's really cool- keep him in your prayers :)  That night we had dinner w/ M* and B* O* family- salad, chicken spaghetti, and chocolate/strawberry cake for dessert. 

Thursday we had a really effective weekly planning session.  After finishing that up and eating a quick lunch we went to try some potential investigators and such.  We had a lesson that afternoon w/ A* L* (recent convert) about revelation and spiritually preparing for General Conference.  We also stopped by the Anders home for a visit and lesson before heading to dinner at the G*.  They fed us pasta, chicken, garlic bread, salad, and german chocolate cake. 

Friday we had district meeting out in Jasper.  Sis. Bouwhuis had a horrible headache by the time we ate lunch and got back to Woodville and I wasn't feeling well myself, so we ended up having to take a good chunk of time to rest.  The D*s had us over for burgers that night and we also stopped by Walmart to visit some people we knew would be there. 

Saturday we watched the first session of General Conference w/ the M* and B* O* family. I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE- IT'S THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!  We then went back down to Woodville for the Tyler County Dogwood Festival celebration!  There was a sweet parade and lots of booths, and we spent time visiting and contacting people.  It's pretty much the most exciting thing that happens in Woodville and we had a great time enjoying it and using it as a missionary tool.  We had dinner w/ the M* family out in Crosby Hill.  They fed us pork roast... from their own pig, home grown corn and purple hull peas, w/ sweet potato pie for dessert.  We then went over to the D*s and watched the second session of conference they recorded.  (We were at the Dogwood Festival during that time.) 

Sunday we watched the first session of Conference w/ the L* family and A*.  We joined them for their weekly "Sunday Spaghetti" before going to an appt. w/ a potential investigator.  They ended up not being there, and neither was anyone else we tried.  Then we went to watch the second session w/ the K*s who fed us pulled pork sandwiches for dinner afterwards.  It was a wonderful week filled w/ lots of little miracles. I so love Woodville, and I love being a missionary, and I love the gospel of Jesus Christ!!   I also love all of you!!!!

*~Sister Pilmer~*

March 29

Howdy from Woodville, TX where I'm delighted to be serving for the next 6 weeks! Transfers were yesterday, and Sis. Lundgren was transferred to Kingwood to serve in the 2nd Ward in a trio w/ Sis. Singleton and Sis. Brooks.  My new companion is Sis. (Courtney) Bouwhuis from Holladay, UT.  She's been out here in TX for about 6 months now.   Before coming on her mission she was attending UVU studying secondary education.  After the mission she intends to complete that degree and get a masters so she can be a principal.  She is fabulous and I'm delighted to be serving w/ her!  I'm going to miss Sis. Lundgren very much, but I know she's going to thoroughly enjoy her new companions and new area. 

 

Last Monday we had a really fun p-day.  We went up to Jasper for a district p-day.  We went and hiked down a creek (ankle-deep) and played in some mud and collected petrified wood.  (this activity was approved by our leadership)  The creek is out in the woods on the property of one of the church members in Jasper.  We also had took a picnic lunch out there purchased from Novrozsky's.  It's a burger/sandwich/yuminess place found only w/in the boundaries of our mission.  We ordered different burgers and shared- hickory burger, hickory chicken burger, fried egg burger, and last but not least peanut butter bacon burger.  The food was fun and delicious and we had so much fun playing in the woods!  That night Bro. and Sis. T* and C* L* had us over for dinner and fed us Texas Hash.  We went over to visit the C* family after that and had a great visit and lesson w/ them about the steps of the Gospel. 

 

Tuesday we went to Heritage Village to give service which was sweeping out a lot of the buildings.  Then we enjoyed lunch at the Pickett House before heading up to the nursing home of our weekly visit.  We went tracting and tried to visit several people that afternoon.  In the evening we enjoyed dinner w/ Bro and Sis. E* W* and L* O*.  They fed us pork chops w/ lots of delicious sides followed by brownies for dessert.  We also took a walk w/ Sis. O* down to "Grampy" K* O*'s home to bring him some food and visit. Then we went back to their home and had a great lesson about the blessings of listening to the prophet and such. After that we went to visit Bro. and Sis. M* and B* O* and had a great visit w/ them. 

 

Wednesday we got up bright and early and went to the Houston Temple for an endowment session!!!  I love it so much there :)  We rode down w/ the M* family and attended the session w/ C* M* who just received her endowments last Friday in preparation to leave on her mission.  We love Carrie so much, and it was such a great experience to share that w/ her.  We went to Pancho's Mexican buffet on the way home which is a rather magically delicious Mexican restaurant.  That evening we went to the M* home for dinner which included yummy homemade granola bars.  It was a really uplifting effective dinner appt.  After dinner we stopped by "Papa" and Sis. S*s home and had a great little lesson w/ them. 

 

Thursday we did weekly planning in the morning, and then went to visit several people.  We got in contact w/ a less-active member that afternoon who told us that she wants to start coming back to church and that 9 yr. old daughter wants us to teach her the lessons and be baptized.  We're pretty excited for them :)  We had dinner w/ the G* family that night and they fed us some great stir fry w/ banana pudding for dessert.

 

Friday we had adventures w/ our car not working, so C* had to come rescue us and take us to our appt. at the church at 9 a.m..  We were a little late, but it worked out.  We had district meeting after that, and then went to lunch at Elijah's Cafe.  The elders then helped us evaluate and test out our car issues (while on the phone w/ our vehicle coordinator).  We already needed to an oil change that day, so we took it in and also had them do some diagnostic testing.  Our car is drivable, but still having some issues.  Elder Tolman (vehicle coordinator) is helping us get it figured out.  That afternoon we spent some time at F* and D*'s and then came to the library to spend some time on mormon.org.  We went tracting out by a lake in Colmesneil and got eaten alive by mosquitoes.  The S*s fed us smoked ribs for dinner and we had a really good visit w/ Sis. S*. 

 

Saturday morning we did some service cleaning at Heritage Village.  We then headed down by the county courthouse for the Western Weekend portion of the Tyler County Dogwood Festival.  We watched an awesome horse parade, had delicious BBQ sandwiches and were able to contact and talk w/ lots of people in the community.  It was GREAT :)  That evening we had dinner w/ Bro and Sis M* and B* O* who fed us awesome taco salad (after we petted and visited E* and M* O*'s horses).  We headed to the L* home after that to join the Young Women in our branch in watching the general Young Women broadcast.  It was so very wonderful.  We got the call that night notifying us that Sis. Lundgren would be transferred Monday. 

 

Sunday we had a branch council meeting before church.  Church was super great, particularly because C* and her family spoke in Sacrament Mtg.  She leaves for Utah on Thursday and goes into the Missionary Training Center on April 6th.  We had a branch pot luck dinner following our meetings and it was lots of fun and lots of good food.  It was a good opportunity for Sis. Lundgren to give hugs and visit before leaving too.  We spent some time in the afternoon allowing her to pack, and we visited lots of investigators and such so she could say goodbye.  Sis. S* O* fed us homemade shrimp etouffe for dinner.  It was an EXCELLENT week!!!

 

I love you all!  Write lots :) 

 

*~Sister Pilmer~*