Train your dog to be a lover not a fighter

Hi ya'll! 

This is gonna be short because I can only type with one hand right now. I'm sure you all know by now through Facebook that I was attacked by a pitbull on Friday. I got 32 stitches and I'm okay. A little shooken up, but it'll be okay. The ward down here is amazing and all these woman are like my mom.

So besides that we have been seeing miracles in our area! We found the Hispanics and they are ready to learn! Also, Monday night we taught a family who is so ready for the gospel! We are hoping to set them with a baptismal date next time we teach them. We got 12 new investigators this week! This area has only been getting 2 at the most each week. This area was going to get closed but then the mission president felt inspired to send two spanish speaking sisters down here to pick up the area. And it worked! Only with the help from the Lord could we have been able to find all of these people who are prepared for the gospel. Also, I have never gotten so many referrals before. Members are constantly giving us names of people to go teach. It is so great.

On Saturday we had pig pickin. Ha. I am definitely in the south. That is a picture of the pig they cut up and grilled.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support! I really need them. Well, I love you all! Have a great week.

Hermana Reed

Your Receive No Witness Until After the Trial of Your Faith

Hey ya'll,

This week has been pretty crazy. Yesterday we finally got to see the ward members at church! It was good to put faces with names. This ward is so good to their missionaries. The meal calender is full and we've been getting fed every night! Sometimes twice a day. And the Relief Society passed around a sign up sheet for members to come out with us for a few hours. So at least twice a week we have members coming with us to appointments and visiting less actives for about 3 or 4 hours. It is really cool. 

Spring is in the air! Literally. It rains pollen over here. Everything is caked in green. After it rains it looks like there is yellow chalk everywhere but it's just pollen. On Thursday we had a crazy thunder and lightning storm! In the ten seconds it took us to run to our car our hair was dripping wet and our clothes were soaked. It was kind of exciting though. 

It is so fun being the first Sister Missionaries in this ward! We get to surprise the less actives and the young women and the relief society sisters are really excited to be able to come out with us. On Wednesday we had an experience with a family who just wanted to degrade our beliefs. We were responding to a referral we had received and decided to take one of the YW with us because the referral said it was a male. When we got there it turned out to be a teenager who had been requested by one of his friends as a joke. They let us in though and the grandpa shot down everything we taught as we talked about the Restoration. He wanted to know where the proof was. I was getting so frustrated that my hands started to shake. We kept our cool though and at the end I just bore testimony to them that I know what I am teaching is true and I the reason I am on a mission. As I bore testimony to them the Spirit testified to me. And although they couldn't see it my faith was strengthened because it was challenged. It reminded me of one of Elder Holland's talk where he said defend your beliefs with kindness and compassion, but defend them. Never be afraid to bear your testimony, especially to those who are critical. I know this gospel is true and I am so grateful to be out here on my mission.

I love you all!

Hermana Reed

New Adventures Await

Hey y'all!

Well, I'm in North Carolina now and their thick Southern accents are getting to me. It's so hard to say yall! So we are focusing on the English work down here for now because there is a lot to do. We are the only missionaries in our ward and they have never had Sister missionaries before so they are all freaking out. We've gotten questions like "SO what are the rules with Sister Missionaries?" Well, pretty much the same as the Elders. We don't understand what the big deal is, but even the bishop told my mission president he doesn't know what to do with us. So we have a mix of emotions from the ward members with us being here, but for the most part they are excited to finally have sister missionaries. These members have been so kind. Every time we call them to ask a question or to check up they ask us is we have dinner that night. We are getting fed every. night! 

So we are focusing on the English work for now and boy, is it difficult. Teaching in English is not the same as teaching in Spanish. It's a different culture and different religious background. We are putting all of our in trust in the Lord because we have no clue how to talk to these people. Hopefully we'll be able to teach a few Hispanics as well, but we don't know where to find them here.

My new address is:

1002 Amelia Station Way #202

Clayton, NC 27520

General Conference was great! I hope you all had a chance to watch it. And I hope you had a great Easter. I am so grateful for my Savior and for His Atonement and His example. The words that come to my mind are from the hymn I Know That My Redeemer Lives. 

He lives to comfort me when faint.

He lives to hear my soul's complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears.

He lives to wipe away my tears.

He lives to calm my troubled heart.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

I love my Savior and I know that he is there for us every step our mortal journey. If you haven't seen the website or the video because of him you should look it up. It's on HeLives.mormon.org

I love you all!

Hermana Reed

#becausehelives