Sister Nicky Jamison: Singin in the rain!

This week has been full of rain, cake, and awesome people!

Last Monday, we had dinner with the Brills at Buffalo Wild Wings and they filled us in on the happenings of the Olympics. Boy, normally it's really easy to ask people to turn off their TVs when we go into their home to begin a lesson, but when we walk in and the Olympics are on, it takes a wee bit more will power. :) On Tuesday, we visited with Susan who shared her yummy fresh fruit with us as we talked about the message from the First Presidency in the August Ensign about how even when our circumstances aren't ideal, we can still secure the blessing of eternal life through our personal choices. Later, we went over to help Kaylee Highsmith finish a summer assignment for her 8th grade English class... it was an all-too familiar situation. :) We helped her create a comic strip for the book "Matilda" and it was fun! The next time we went over, her Grandma thanked us with chocolate and coconut cake.

On Wednesday we had an awesome lesson with Rod continuing the Plan of Salvation. He said he believes everything we teach him because he feels good, and when he prays about what he learns, he recognizes God's affirming answer through the warm, peaceful feelings of the Holy Ghost. He said he's been praying for help to get Sundays off, too! But he said he's not quite ready to set a date for baptism, but that he'll know when he's ready. So that's what we're praying for now. Also, he said he had heard that Mormons don't smoke, but he said that won't be a problem, he's already planning on quitting. Yay Rod! That evening, we taught a lesson to Jim and Vicki at the Davis family's home. We taught about following the prophet, and the Davis's were perfect examples! We invited Jim and Vicki to read President Thomas S. Monson's talk from April 2016 General Conference, "Choices." Then yesterday, when we taught them again, it was a perfect segue into our lesson about agency and the blessings of choosing to follow Jesus Christ by keeping the commandments. Jake Green came with us and contributed a lot to the lesson with personal experiences. The Spirit was so present at that lesson!

On Thursday, we had Chinese takeout with the Ayers family, and boy had I been craving Chinese food. Later, Sister Stephens and I were walking to visit Sister Bates since it was too dark to bike. It was pouring, so we had our umbrellas and I had my rain boots on, so of course we started splashing and dancing around and singing "Singing in the Rain." It was so fun! We were soaking wet and happy when we went home. :)

On Friday, we tried to see a bunch of people, and most weren't home, but we did get to visit with a former investigator named Courtney. She's really kind and has a cute little girl, and said we could come over again soon. We tried a house where a less active member supposedly lived, but the lady that answered said her family had just moved in. Her name was Olla, and we talked for a little bit and she invited us to come over next week to talk more. We had dinner with the awesome Defritas family- they're a young couple with two daughters, nine and six. We had tasty Asian salad mixed with spaghetti noodles and peanut sauce, and super amazing chocolate cake for dessert. Later that evening, we went to see if Melissa was home, and her whole street was inundated in at least two or three inches of water! But too late, we were already on the street and had to turn around (it's a culdesac), so we slowly drove through the river! You could see the reflection of all the houses and cars and street lights in the water! It was crazy!! :) Melissa's car wasn't there, so we went to help Roy do his family history so he has lots of names to take to the temple in September! We were able to find a lot of his family members' names on familysearch.org! At one point, he called up his sister to ask about a grandparent's birthday, and explaining himself to her, he said, "I'm tryin to get the members to heaven!" It was hilarious! Roy's the best!

At church, I conducted the music in sacrament meeting again for Sister Jex. Elder Simpson gave a great talk since he's going home on Wednesday. Sister Stephens and I taught the 16-18 year old youth Sunday school class about the doctrine of Family History, and it was fun! Though weird, because I feel like I'm practically their age. After church, we had our lesson with Jim and Vicki and Jake. Then we taught Melissa! We hadn't been able to teach her for a couple weeks because she was so busy, but she's doing great! We talked about 1 Nephi 1 and how the Spirit, which we are filled with as we read the Book of Mormon, can teach us all things and bring all things to our remembrance. She liked that, since she's studying for a test in her nursing class on Tuesday. Then we taught Akeria since Roderick wasn't feeling well. She's liking school, and we helped her start working on the Faith in God program for primary aged girls. Later, we finally got to see Gloria! She told us that her back has been hurting her like crazy, and a thought popped into my head, "ask her if she'd like a priesthood blessing." So I asked, and she said yes, she'd like one. So the elders will be giving her one later today. It's great how the Holy Ghost works!

In Moroni 7: 13 we read "But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God." We don't need to know whether a thought to do good comes from God through the Spirit, or if it is a thought from ourselves. As Elder Bednar frankly put it, "Quit worryin about it!" If it's a thought to do good and be good, it's coming from God, whether we recognize that or not. When we follow through on those thoughts to do good, even if they're as little as, Oh, I should call that person; I wonder how So and So's doing; I probably shouldn't say that; I should be more patient; I should thank that person... etc.- when we act on those, our capacity to recognize the Spirit will increase, as well as our capacity to recognize God in our lives every day.

OH YEAH! One more thing. Sister Libby Mcsheehy gave me a violin that was sitting at her house doing nothing! It needs new strings and new bow hair, but it's awesome!! She said she'll replace whatever needs to be fixed on it, and then she's giving it to me! Apparently missionaries in the Florida Tallahassee Mission are allowed to have instruments that can be played in sacrament meeting. So I don't know why I was told to not bring my viola, but it's okay. :) Cause I have an instrument now!

Morning run on the beach