Week 16 It's Trio time again!

WEEK 17  3/24/14

This week has been crazy! But in a good way. I feel like I say every week has been crazy, but it really has been!  hahahaha

MONDAY:

Well we all had the shock of transfers coming up.  Who was leaving and who was staying.  Sister Payton really thought she was leaving, but she is still here.  Sister Mortenson feels like they didn't know where to put her so she was stuck in a trio with us. And guess what?  Sister Mortenson is from Cameron Park   CA and my institute teacher Brother Watkins is her home teacher from home! He totally told me about her once and I was all "yeah I doubt we will ever be companions" but we totally are! Super funny!

                                                        Me,  Sister Payton and Sister Mortenson

So is the life of transfers.  We had a good preparation day though. The Elders had a BBQ at the institute building and we all went. It was good food. I don't know how they afforded it considering we are all broke.  One of the Elders had a hotdog competition with one of the Sisters. The Sister won and he threw up a little. Who would have thought? Actually, I would have because she is always hungry

At the Elder's BBQ

TUESDAY

The hunt for a third bed is ON!  That's mainly what we did. Rearrange our apartment so there could be a study spot for a third person and room for a bed for a third person.  We learned that moving is NOT my forte'.   I dropped couches, bed's, you name it. And it was always on accident.  Call me sister butterfingers if you must.

 We saw Sister Noble who is going through the temple for the first time tomorrow (she joined the church last year) and her desire is so great! We are so proud of her. I can tell she is super scared though.

WEDNESDAY

TRANSFERS.  ‘NUFF SAID.  It was a day full of driving to Topeka, wandering around Topeka to help a Sister we were with till her companion came on the bus and then we went back to Lawrence. Talk about fun.  Then we moved more couches (we got rid of our nasty couch and swapped with the couch in the Spanish Elders-who are living in what used to be the first ward Sister's apartment)  Once again, I am awful at moving.  Oops.  Then we got Sister Mortenson’s mattresses!  Not a bed yet, but it was a start!   We taught a less active and her boyfriend that night. Sister Payton decided she was going to pull out all the stops because, why not.  She challenged the less active's non member boyfriend to read the Book of Mormon, learn more about our church and come to church.  He said he would. And on Sunday, HE CAME TO CHURCH.  We haven't had an investigator at church since James got baptized. So that was SUPER exciting!

THURSDAY

We got Sister Mortenson a REAL bed! She was so excited she kept going "guys, I have a bed!" It was cute.  We taught our eternigator(eternal investigator) Anthony, and after I challenged him to get baptized, he started Bible Bashing.  That was fun.  We have started teaching Khammy again and she agreed that she wants to get baptized Easter weekend.  Also, since there are no longer Sister's in the first ward and we are the Sister's of Lawrence, we can actually say she is our investigator. So that's good.

FRIDAY

We went around seeing people Sister Mortenson taught in first ward.  She said goodbye to her investigator Robin (now that was weird!)  Because she also likes elders.  Sister Mortenson had a hard time saying goodbye, and who can blame her.  We then taught Khammy some more.  She is progressing great! She kicked her boyfriend out!  So no more puking at the thought of the law of chastity! I hope! Even though her boyfriend moved out  he still wants to be taught. I am nervous it is because we are girls. So we are going to give him to the elders as soon as possible.  Things like that make me nervous.   

That night, after diner, we tried contacting a investigator who then pretended she wasn't home. BUT, on the bright side, I saw a complex to our right and though "we should go knock on some of their doors" I mean, why not?  Which we don't usually do.  But, I dragged Sister Payton and Mortenson over there with me and we each picked a door.  No one was at my door. No one was at Sister Mortenson's door.  But a guy came right out at Sister Payton's door and he actually was just great!  Said that the great apostasy makes sense, the first vision makes sense, and why could that NOT happen?  I mean, how golden is he?  We are meeting him again tonight.   I hope he agrees to get baptized.  

SATURDAY

Zone training. In Topeka.   Later that night I went on splits with the wife of one of the men in the temple presidency (they are in our ward) and the Sister's went to go teach a investigator.  (Because four of us would be intimidating.)  Sister Karpowitz and I went to go teach the less active who pretended to be sobbing in the background a few weeks ago. She came right out this time!   And so did her husband and we had a really good lesson and she said she would come to church the next day and it was so great!  Unfortunately, she did not come the next day. I was so bummed.

SUNDAY

Ward council at 7 am again. Awful.  But glad we went.  A less active we have been trying to get a hold of came to church! I was so happy!  At university ward Joe and Kendra came (the less active and her boyfriend) and someone the Elders have been teaching came, it was just a good week!  We then skipped lunch (because with six hours of church we have no time for lunch) and went and taught Khammy.  Then we went and contacted referrals.  None of them really panned out, but oh well. You never know.  At dinner, it was a huge party at a university ward member's house and a less active who hates church was there. I was the one in charge of asking them to think of someone to share the gospel with. He was the one who talked about a friend he wants to share the gospel with.  That was the last person I was expecting to say something.  So that was great.  Khammy then also wanted to feed us dinner, and we went to her house after and I ended up frying Asian food (she never says what country in Asia she is from, just that she is Asian) on a fryer on the floor with newspaper on the floor as our table. Super classy.  But fun.  Sister Payton taught her 9 year old son who said he wants to get baptized.

         here we are with Khammy cooking on the floor!

                 Our quick hot dogs outside the Elders apt.

FUN STORY FOR THE WEEK

We were teaching Khammy, and she found out that I HATE spicy food, so clearly she thinks it would be funny to have me eat her super spicy fajita's!  So, she had me eat her fajitas.  Let me tell you, that thing was HOT. I thought I was going to DIE.  And then her son went and put hot sauce on it to boot! I was sure I was going to be like in those cartoons when someone eats something spicy and they breathe flames.  I was so sure!  But, I ATE IT!  Khammy adopted me in as her fellow Asian after that.  So I feel proud of myself.

That was this week.  I know that miracles HAPPEN.  Sometimes, we get down on ourselves, sometimes we feel like Heavenly Father expects too much of us, and it just is not going to happen. Let's be real.  But then, we see proof. Then, we see that he really is there and that he has our back.  Never forget.  He is real, and He loves us.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Sister Robyn Cramer

Week 15 I'm a normal missionary! 3/17/14

Happy Saint Patrick's day to my family and friends!

 (Maybe I forgot to wear green! hahaha. oops)

SO, transfers are this week. And Sister Payton and I both felt like we were staying, but something was still happening. SURE ENOUGH we are in a TRIO. Her name is Sister Mortenson and she was serving in Lawrence 1st ward. Now she is in 2nd ward and University Ward with us. 

 Not sure how I feel about it. I have been in a trio and I HATED IT. Plus Sister Mortenson is super shy and hates to talk. So this should be fun. Hopefully we can make her less shy?  We don't know where we are going to all sleep...are we moving? We don't even know!  They usually only put Sisters in trios if one of them is a trouble Sister...so...I don't think it's me and I am pretty sure it's not Sister Payton. Should be fun. haha.

But hey, I AM STAYING IN LAWRENCE!

I still can't wrap my head around all of this. Seriously.  We are getting Spanish Elders in Lawrence as well. Except they are in First Ward. And they kicked the Sisters out of First Ward - probably because they were so shy. I dunno.  

We don't move till Wednesday, they just tell us on Monday. But they didn't send out the transfer email till after we logged on! We almost died.  But I am happy to still be in Lawrence. In a trio- it’s crazy. How will we fit three beds in our room? I don’t know.  

Another frustrating thing?  It seems our investigators are not really listening. We find them no problem, but we can't really KEEP them. It’s problematic. On the bright side, we can now count Khammy because they are white washing the first ward and Spanish Elders are moving in!  (Khammy isn't actually OUR investigator. She lives in 1st ward. We kept trying to pass her off to the 1st ward sisters (because we taught her when we were in a trio with sister tap) but the Sisters there never speak and she doesn't like them. So we gave up and kept teaching her. But since it was their ward they counted her as their investigator on date and counted the lessons they taught.  But now they have only Elders. Who can't teach her because she thinks they are all cute.)

 So the Sisters in First Ward are going bye bye and Sister Mortenson is moving in with us. Oh boy.  The funny part is our district leader used to joke he was adopting the First Ward Sisters into our district because if he is going to be the district leader of all Sisters, might as well be over all the Sisters in Lawrence!  Now he really is.  All Elders in one district and five sets of  Sisters, our District Leader and his trainee. Ha-ha guess we should not have joked about that.

We have got some sun. It is either sunny of rainy. I GOT A TAN!  You can't tell unless you know me.  I told sister Payton that my legs are so white they reflect the sun.  She didn't believe me till she saw it happen. hahahaha.  

Okay! on to the week!

 MONDAY!

We went Jay hawk hunting. Jay hawk is the mascot for KU and there are like 30 all over Lawrence. So we took pics with a few and went to the top of a really tall hotel. Expect good pics.

                  

                                                                  Go Jay Hawks!

The Oread Hotel

                                                          On top of the Oread hotel

TUSEDAY

Weirdo day. I decided we were going to go on campus more! So we did, we rode the bus to campus. Talked to people at the Union (it's like the hang out place) and then hopped on the bus to go see Khammy! Problem? We got on the RIGHT bus going in the WRONG direction!   So, there we were, sitting on the bus and eventually everyone got off.   I was just like, what? Then the bus driver turned to us and was all "are you ladies on the wrong bus?" so we told him we were on the right bus, just going the wrong direction! so he was all "oh okay, well I am taking my brake now and then we will turn around and you can eventually get off where you need to go" and we were just like "oh, okay" So, he pulled over and got off and had a smoking break while we just sat there, in an empty bus. 

                                                               Us on the EMPTY BUS!

 Then, when the bus got rolling again we were joking how funny it would be if some of the Elders ended up on the same bus as us.   JUST as we said that, I looked up at the next bus stop, and lo and behold there were the 2^nd Ward Elders waiting to hop on! So then, there we were the Elders, the bus driver and us. On a bus. HAHAHA! We finally got to where we wanted to go, an hour later than desired and taught Khammy and her boyfriend. He wants to learn more! So that's awesome!  New investigator for the university Elders! (Because he is in his 20s)  Later that night we went out with the University Ward mission leader (Clay) and his wife (Morgan) and tried some less actives. One was a less active couple who tried to turn their lights off to tell us they were not there. Except then they turned them back on.   If you are going to ignore us, do it smartly! Goodness.  We then taught a Native American who is less active and believes in spiritual rituals that help him feel like he is surrounded by his ancestors.  Interesting, but okay.

WEDNESDAY

We had District Meeting...a day late because the Zone Leaders cancelled it and then didn't.   It was weird.   We ate lunch with Sister Frederickson a sweet old lady in our ward and then went to go teach Khammy the law of chastity.  She got sick from the idea of keeping the law of chastity and puked while we were there. Right after she gave us food. But we had to eat the food to be polite, while she was in the other room puking.  We haven't heard from her since.  I know she knows that she should keep it, but she is scared to keep it.  #lifeofasismish

 Then we went on splits and Sister Payton taught a girl in Spanish!  Good for her! Using her Spanish speaking name tag!  Except that she kind of really didn't.  What really happened is they teamed up with Tomas, a Mexican in the university ward and he spoke in Spanish. But she said she understood everything!  I went with Sister Mortenson to help her teach one of her less-actives in the first ward. And then I ended up teaching the whole lesson because she wouldn't. I was so frustrated because it wasn't even my ward!   Little did I know that we are now going to be in a trio together. #karma

That night we (Sister Payton and I again) went on team ups to Parry (a tiny town in our ward) and taught a less active/part member family. I had been warned they have lice there frequently and was convince I had lice. No worries, I didn't get lice. Thank goodness! But their kids are so cute and hungry for the gospel! it was great!

THURSDAY

We rode the bus again.  We went to campus and teamed up with Leo (from Brazil. (He has the most awesome accent) and went to go contact a lady that the Elders referred us to.  The story was that when they knocked on the door she was wearing only a blanket. So they called her Blanket Lady.  So they sent us to go teach her.  However, when we went, we found out it was a house full of college boys! Gotta love college towns.  So we talked to him and he said he wanted to learn more, so we sent the University Ward Elders (a different set than the ones who originally went there) to go teach him. We hope it pans out.  Also, a bug flew into my eye and it hurt SO bad! Sister Payton was grossed out when she saw a bug’s body on my eye, but I just wanted it OFF my eye.  I got it out. Like an hour later.

FRIDAY

We went on a team up with Sister Clement. SHE IS SO FUNNY! We were trying to find this woman the RS president told us to teach, but we couldn't. And Sister Clement pointed at a door and was all "Sisters, that apartment needs the gospel and we need to bring it to them!" so we did. And they let us right in. They are an Indian (from India Indian) couple so I can't spell their names. We taught the restoration and they seemed like they really want to come to church. So they will, after their trip. Because they are in Colorado right now for spring break.  

SATURDAY

We were in meeting, I had my end of training call and we planned. So not much there. dang

SUNDAY

We got a new ward mission leader in 2nd Ward!   That’s exciting because the last one was...yeah. So that should be good! Super excited because last week in ward council I was like "man this guy is on top of the ball!" (He was the Sunday School president) and now he is the ward mission leader. So that should be great!

So JAMES CAME TO CHURCH YESTERDAY! maybe he spoke in Sunday School about how he knows Jesus is there for him and how grateful he is for that. When he started getting taught he was atheist!  Maybe we were SO PROUD! We sat there beaming with pride like proud mamas. But we were on the first row and the only people who saw were the elders who were teaching the lesson. They might have snickered.   Thattt's all. still so proud of James! And he said we were his fave missionaries! whhaaaat! so cool. We made him promise he will meet with the elders though. Hahaha

BUT IT WAS SO GREAT!

Also, he might have taught me how to punch better. Because we do Kempo as part of our morning exercise sometimes.  And everyone makes fun of how I punch. So, I had my convert who is an MMA fighter teach me how to punch better. I don't think I improved much. But it was worth a try.  He also might have touched my arm to help me position better and I might have almost died because it's against the rules. But he doesn't know better. And so you know Kempo is a kind of fight/boxing we do for exercise, We also do p90x. Sort of. We have it on paper. And pick what we want to do. But Kempo is one of the routines we do.

Not much else going on here. In a trio. That will start on Wednesday. It is spring break so it will be a ghost town. I am now a "normal" missionary. So that's fun.

I know that Heavenly Father is there for us. This last week we have taught a lot about the plan of salvation and I am so grateful that I know I did not just appear here. I am here for a reason and if I let him, Heavenly Father will be there every step of the way.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Love,

Sister Robyn Cramer

I got close to Someone Amazing! 3-10-14

Hello to all my family and friends!

GUESS WHO WE MET!  READ TO THE END AND FIND OUT.

So this week has been crazy! BUT GREAT!

Monday: We drove to Topeka for Zone Prep day!  Which I wasn't really in a social mood at ALL so I didn't really like it-especially when we played dodge ball.  Until someone nailed me in the ear super hard. (they hit me on accident) then I just sat on the stage. But Sister Payton did enjoy it. Then we drove back to Lawrence afterwards and taught at the University ward's FHE. It was funny because their activity was improve. comedy and I sort of did that in college. So it was funny to see them try to do it.

Tuesday:  So this week, as part of the 12 week training program was my first week I was in CHARGE. I did not like it. At all.  But we tried formers(former investigators)  in the university ward and that didn't really work out well. So then we went to a trailer park in second ward and walked all over it trying to find less actives and formers.  There was a nice old man in bathrobe who is less active and told us to come back the next day. Needless to say he did not answer the door the next day but we know he was home.  There was this funny old lady shoveling snow off her driveway and we talked to her. She is super funny and said we can come back!  So that was great.

Wednesday: We had interviews with president Bell.  According to  Sister Payton I had the shortest interview of all time.  But the night before she was like "don't say more than yes or no to if you are obedient and questions like that because that's all he is looking for. And then when he asks if you have anything to talk with him about remember he is a busy man so don't bother him with all your problems" So it came off like I should barely talk to him and not tell him anything unless it is dire! So when he asked me about stuff I told him I am not much of a sharer and I was fine.  So our interview was maybe two minutes. maybe.  It's funny because she was like "I didn't mean that! I talked to him about all sorts of things!" hahaha. oh well.  But, on Wednesday we went back to teach our super Christian university investigator and she was sleeping! (she works nights).  BUT, her room mate let us in and we taught her the restoration as well! She said she would like to learn more so we will teach her when we come back this week to teach her room mate.  We then went on team ups with this sweet old lady in our ward who was TERRIFIED to do missionary work with us. So we had all these appointments lined up so she would have a great experience and they ALL fell through.  Instead we ended up teaching a pagan the plan of salvation outside his house while he smoked.  The best part? Our sweet terrified sister LOVED IT.  So she wants to come on team ups with us again! The pagan was not interested.

 James, our recent baptism  is...gaaaaaaah! We passed him over to the elders and I thought they were trying to meet with them until I told them yesterday he is super important and they were like "why?   He is already baptized!" And i was just like "EXACTLY!!   TAKE CARE OF HIM!" Gah sometimes I have to remind myself they are only 18.  Hopefully they take better care of him because I know he knows this is true, but he doesn't understand its full importance. not yet. he needs them.

Thursday:  OH GOODNESS THAT WAS CRAZY.  We taught a less active who we work with on Thursdays every week and she made us lunch.  BUT, lunch wasn't ready by the time we had to leave to go serve the homeless!  So we just talked with her while she cooked and then had to go feed the homeless.  Then we had a team up with a less active and of course, no one was home.  So that was fun. We found out that a less active family moved so we taught the new resident there who is catholic.  THEN, we had a team up with Sister Richie.  We were going to go see the less active family we had been forewarned to NOT go see, but went anyways a week ago and set an appointment with her.  Right before we left for the appointment she texted us saying she didn't feel well and not to come.  But, we went anyways.  Her son answered the door and he said she wasn't feeling well, but he let us in. So, we taught him. And it was so great because Sister Richie was able to relate with him and talk with him.  Because she is a convert and joined when she was about his age. So she asked questions like if he believes in God, if it has been on his mind and so on. I can tell he really needed it and I hope we were able to light a fire in his heart. Towards the gospel.  The best part was his mom heard us and I guess was trying to get us to leave and progressively as we stayed there was quietly sobbing to all out WAILING, but we just kept teaching her son.  So hopefully, next time she won't duck out on us.  We then went to an appointment with an investigator with Sister Richie and they weren't there, but we taught her family who was there. New investigator!  And that night we were on a street and checked in on some potentials.  They let us in and we taught them, but there was a weird vibe we are not sure about.  Our best guess is that she said she was honorably discharged from the army so maybe PTSD? Because she just randomly laughed throughout the lesson and cried but she said it wasn't at us, and we could tell it wasn't. it was..I dunno. Something else.  So we were invited back but we are apprehensive to go back.

FRIDAY! GUESS WHO EVERYONE IN THE MISSION DROVE DOWN TO WICHITA TO HEAR FROM! (we weren't allowed to tell anyone but I have known for a month) GUESS! 

                                              On the bus to Wichita to see........

ELDER BEDNAR!

IT WAS SO GREAT! I didn't get to shake his hand, but he walked past my pew! So 6 feet away from him! I count it as meeting him. But we had to study three talks on faith he gave in the past before coming and then for THREE HOURS we had a Q and A with him about the talks and just anything.  I did not ask him any question, so I have not spoken with an apostle but he said some great stuff! He is so BLUNT but we needed it!  I just loved it.  I will give you all a challenge he gave us.  Whenever anyone asked about the atonement or faith this was his response : go get a cheap, brand new Book of Mormon. go through and read it and mark up any time the Lord gives someone strength. Or someone is compelled to ask the Lord for strength.  Learn from it. and see how it can apply to you.  When you finish, go get another book of Mormon and repeat. get a book case and throughout your life fill it with these Book of Mormons on how the Lord strengthens us.

SO DO IT!   DO IT!  He said we need to stop depending on ourselves and DEPEND ON HEAVEN! And a ton of other things. it was great. he was so honest and just...REAL. I loved it.  So that was Friday. down in Wichita.

                         Me and Sister Parry at the conference to see Elder Bednar!

Saturday.

We just had tons of meetings. and we went out with the RS president. but we had no success with her. she is awesome though.  And Mom I think you and her could be Besties!

Sunday: SEVEN HOURS OF CHURCH! We had to be there at 7 am for Ward Correlation on daylight savings.  I might have showered with my eyes closed. The elders may have been late because one of them feel asleep in the shower.

BUT we had the BEST LESSON EVER with Khammy. she is so great! we decided to stop handing her over to the first ward sisters and we are all just going to teach her. SO GREAT! can't even explain it. We could just see that she felt the Lord's love and she said over and over again she wants to get baptized because she wants a fresh start. she wants all the darkness inside of her gone.  So, we committed her to baptism, keeping the law of chastity and keeping the Word of Wisdom, which previously she said she doesn't think she could do. It's so great!

SO THAT'S MY WEEK!  8 member present lessons, 5 new investigators and ELDER BEDNAR! Miracles happen! PS: next week is transfers and from what was said in interviews there is a really good chance I am leaving Lawrence.  So a heads up if anyone was going to send something. maybe send it to the mission office first.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Sister Robyn Cramer

Week # 13 March is Roaring! 3/3/14

Hello Family and friends!  How time flies by in Kansas.  Maybe it is the wind!

I am glad you are getting storms in California! We had one too. It was FRIGID! But we have kept warm.  They say we are going to have the coldest March in Kansas history. oh boy.  Maybe this is preparing me for some day when I have to move to Alaska.  

               If you have already seen this pic.  sorry.  But really this is the weather!

We have found one more lady to teach and a lot more less actives and the RS is warming up to us!   The president likes me because I am a recreation management major and she works for parks and rec. So that's good. We taught them in RS yesterday about how to use the pamphlets. That was fun :-)

This week has been crazy! In a good kind of way.  But crazy!

On Prep day Monday we played basket ball and I actually enjoyed it! Also, I went to Salvation Army and bought three new skirts, so that was nice.  I love thrift stores.

On Tuesday: CRAZINESS! We went to go teach this girl who the elders tracted into, and the spirit was SUPER STRONG and she is SO PREPARED. But the problem is, she is super hardcore Christian, and when we started reading the promise on the introduction page of the Book of Mormon, she got uncomfortable, wouldn't even read it out loud, and Sister Payton had to. When we asked why, she said she didn't want to read that bold of a promise without knowing for her self. And then proceeded to ask super hard nit picky questions that we don't even know how we answered, but we did.  I so hope she will read and pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true, she really  is so prepared!  We teach her again tomorrow.  Then Tuesday night, MIRACLE! So we had a referral to go see this girl Rachel, but when we got there, we thought it might actually be a member's house that we had just told the elders to go see. So, Sister Payton told me that we would be doing a door approach and it was all me.   So, there I was, knocking on the door, and there I was in the middle of saying "Hi, we are the missionaries" when she just went "oh hey!" to Sister Payton and let us in!   I was so confused!   So, while her back was turned I asked Sister Payton what was up, and was told it was a former investigator who didn't want to be taught again till April!  So, we had a referral to someone completely different and were sent to a former investigators house whose address we never had because we taught her on campus. Well, I mean Sister Payton did before I came here.  It was crazy! CRAZY AWESOME!

Wednesday we went to Sister's Conference. Sister Payton calls it Sister's Therapy Session.  This is basically what it is. WE GOT TO WEAR PANTS ALL DAY! wikki wikki whaaaaat. So great.  They did exercise with us. Did I tell you we learned to hula at Sister’s Conference? I was awful at it. But it was fun!

 We were taught nutrition (which is a joke as a missionary because we don't have control over our dinners and sometimes lunch) and then we had a talk about depression. They finished by telling us we need 9-10 hours of sleep a night. Once again a joke because we get a maximum of 8 a night. Clearly the speakers have never served a mission.   Then we all sat in a circle and talked about our woes and had other sisters give us solutions. I can see why some Sisters need Sister’s Conference, but I thought it was weird. A lot of them cried.

On Thursday

, we taught the less active family with the RS president again.  It was crazy and her kids kept trying to rip my Book of Mormon. Oh well.  We then taught several of our giant group of Less actives and I think it went very well. I love one of them tons, I think we could be besties in real life.  I told her that too. :)

Friday was exchanges!  I stayed here and Sister Payton went to Topeka.  It was the worst day to have exchanges because we had NO appointments and she doesn't have driving privileges and neither do I until I pass off all of my lessons. (Almost there though) so we walked. a lot. And knocked on a lot of doors. but it was fun because she is a delight! The STL I was with told me I am the quirkiest sister she knows. I will take that in stride. she actually asked me if I have always been this bubbly.  I thought that was funny.  

On Saturday we did a lot! We drove out to this little town named LeCompton and taught this sweet old lady who never gets visit taught. She gave us all scarves she made. They look store bought.  Then that night we went out with the bishops wife and were able to contact two less active women who no one has been able to do much with, but they let us in! So that's great! And one of them people warned us NOT to go there, but we kept feeling we just HAD to go.  And so far, so good.

Yesterday we were snowed in again. So not much to report, unfortunately. This week was great and the Lord provides.  One thing I have realized while I am out here is the importance of reading scriptures.  It is something I had such a struggle with before my mission, but I know that it really blesses your life and can help you to know more of what it is Heavenly Father wants you to know. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Sister Robyn Cramer

Week 12 2-24-14

First to all my family and friends,  You can have all of our crazy weather! I don't want it! We had a rain storm on Thursday, which was like the rainstorms NorCal is supposed to have.  And my umbrella got blown inside out.  Sister Payton says I should ask you for a rain jacket because it saves her life. I dunno, I think she got more wet then me. Now that I am done ranting..... 

This last week has been crazy! But then again, every week is crazy if you are doing things right!

Preparation day was boring as usual because all we do is play volley ball and I find it boring. I am not good at it so if I play they try not to send the ball to me to be sent off in some weird direction.   But all the other missionaries like doing it, so I just take a nap on the stage of the church while they play volley ball. And sleep is always good. 

We passed off two male investigators to the Elders last week, and I think it has been going well, and they gave us a female investigator so that was great.  On Tuesday we had District meetings switch to Tuesdays and the Zone leaders came up to Lawrence for it.  I think part of that might be because our district leader used to be a zone leader so his old companion who is still a zone leader misses him.  On Wednesday it was CRAZY!  We did service at Salvation Army again, and once again Dennis the homeless man called me his baby and hugged and kissed me (on the cheek) so much I smelt like him by the end of it.  It was awkward and all the Sister missionaries were too scared if they were to intervene he would suddenly start hugging them.  Luckily the Elders went and stood on either side of him while we were serving and he forgot about me.  Then on Wednesday night we were looking for a team up to go teach a new investigator and we asked about 20 people thinking no one could last minute.  Instead, four people said yes.  So, we went on splits and were able to teach a lot of people within only about an hour!

                                      A carfull on Prep Day

On Thursday we met with our RS president that Sister Payton worries hates her and talked about ways to best help our ward and I think we all became good friends.  Except they have a pet snake and Sister Payton hates snakes so she was scared the entire time.  

On Friday we went on a team up with the RS president to go teach an investigator, but she wasn't there, so we went to go find this family the first ward Sisters told us about that were less active and had just moved into our ward.  All we did was knock on the door, she opened it, saw our name tags and without saying a word ushered us inside her house!  Their family hasn't been to church in a long time, but they seem really receptive to members so we are hopeful and the RS president just invited us over to her house this Thursday, which actually worked. :-)

Friday night we were over at the Italian family's house, and we parked in their driveway, but the husband had to leave for work halfway through, and we had him go outside to check if our car was in the way for him to get out of the garage, and he said it was fine.  But, we went inside and he and his wife were totally in an argument!  At first I thought "oh man, Italian sounds super angry" because they were talking in Italian so we "wouldn't know" they were arguing.  But then half way through I realized they were in a fight. About apple juice.  Awkward to say the least.

So, when he left to go to his work thing, he slammed the door and drove away. Or so we thought. He came back in a minute later and said he hit our car!  We thought it was just a ding so we were all like "oh it's no big deal, don't worry about it" the whole night to his wife who is the sweetest little lady ever! But when we went outside, the bumped of the car was practically falling off!  Luckily, on Saturday we were able to have the elders bend it back into shape and it doesn't really look so bad anymore.

Saturday was sister Payton's 21st bday! Super exciting!  She opened presents from her aunt, and most of them were wrapped boxes of pasta! hahaha!  We found a less active no one knew about and taught her, went to lunch with a member for Sister Payton's bday and it was super good Mexican food! The restraint people who sang happy birthday, put whipped cream on her nose! hahahahaha.  So great.  And the Elders made sister Payton "prison cake" that they learned from an investigator who learned it in prison. hahahaha!  It's basically mashed up Oreos and Mountain Dew that you then warm up in the microwave.

                               Out to lunch for Sister Payton's Birthday!  

On Sunday a less active we have been trying to reach out to with no avail said she woke up that morning with an urge to come to church.  So she did. It was great!

So, that was our week full of less actives and flaky investigators, but it could of been worse!  I know that as you go through trials, if you read the Book of Mormon it will give you peace and a comfort of mind!

Love,

sister Robyn Cramer

Week #11 2-17-14

Week 11 2-17-14

To start off the letter light, I will share the Sister Cramer-isms of the week:

I have made an unintentional habit of sitting on pastries.  Two weeks ago a sat on sister Payton's Cupcake that I left in my seat in the car (I was holding it while she drove) and then on valentine's day I sat on my purple frosted sugar cookie and had purple frosting all over my rear for the rest of the day.  At least it was on my coat and not my skirt I suppose.  and so you know, the things I sit on are not leaving too big of messes on my rear. So no big deal. I wiped the frosting off of my coat so it's no problem. 

It was SUPER cold when we went tracting on V-day and our poor little toesies lost all feeling! So, when we went in our car to call our district leader in excitement that we actually found a new investigator, my feet were so cold I put my mittens on them.  It TOTALLY WORKED THOUGH!  Sister Payton was laughing for forever and wrote about it in her thankful journal. which makes me smile.

Sister Payton says that she doesn't pay attention to her backer (the person who is watching her back up) while she is backing, so I have challenged myself to see what dance moves I can get away with while I am the one backing the car, without her noticing.  So far,  I have done the Macarena 3 times and the YMCA once. muwhahaha.

NOW FOR THE GOOD STUFF:

So, we realized last week that all of our investigators went down the dump. We used to have plenty, and suddenly we had none.  And our new district leader told us to go tracting, which I was okay with because I need practice, but sister Payton HATES it with a passion.  So, coming to do so was a slow and hesitant crawl.  Not to mention, we had zone training on Thursday where a BUNCH of new rules were instigated including that sister missionaries are not allowed to teach men, even if we have another woman with us and elders are not allowed to teach women even with another man with them.  Which put a damper on our spirits because most people who want to talk to us are...men.  And Kansas just has a bunch of crazy cat ladies.  BUT WE PRESS FORWARD IN OBEDIENCE! 

 And this week, when we started out with no investigators and no hope to make any success, we now have 3 new investigators! granted, two of them are boys and we are meeting with both of them tonight with the elders present to hand them off, but it is a start.  Another is this woman Loraine who we tracted into, sort of. We were tracting and she was outside smoking and Sister Payton made fast friends with her, so she actually seeming interested in the plan of salvation and was really excited to learn more.  It is so great!  And then, when we were super worried last night we wouldn't meet standard of teaching 3 lessons with a member with us for that week (our weeks span from Monday to Sunday before we report) right after dinner a former investigator who we had been trying to contact and he was always busy texted us we could come see him right then.  SO we hopped in the car and found a member right away (which NEVER happens) and sped over to the hotel to teach him.  So yes, we taught a boy in a hotel. But he works at the front desk and we had a girl with us. Not as sketchy as it sounds.

He is super funny but we are worried the elders will hate him because the elders we have in our ward are very bull headed and argue a LOT.  During correlation this past week they got in a 30 minute argument with our ward mission leader about how they don't want to do what he asks them do to, when it is a duty our mission president told all the ward mission leader that missionaries are happy to do! (helping with home teaching) and this investigator likes to ask a lot of strange questions, but if you humor him it totally works!  Like he told us he thinks God is an alien. So we asked him what he considers an alien to be, and he said not of this world. So then we agreed.  But it's just stuff like that we are worried they will just start arguing with him. I dunno, we will see.

The funny story for this week:

On Valentine’s Day, we naturally had no dinner because this week we were being fed by the university ward.  And I would hope all the students had a date!  Also,  our dinner apts. cancelled almost every night this past week. aughh.  So, we hadn't had dinner but we showed up to this dinner that the scouts put on every year on V-day for the couples so they can save up for scout camp. Super smart if you ask me.  And we just showed up for service and to help with dishes.  But they found out we hadn't had dinner, and has us eat at the dinner.  In the gym where there were tables set for two, and it was a candle lit dinner.  It was super funny, us and all the couples. Except our whole district was there.  We kept giggling while we ate salad.  The little scouts were so cute though! they were our waiters, and got Sister Payton’s chair for her (I wouldn't let them take mine, I am too stubborn) and were super polite!  I thought it was great, just weird. The food was good though.

One more funny story I almost forgot!    On V-day! So I guess  the elders have fight club where they wrestle or something, I dunno, I think it's weird, every morning from 6-7. And we wanted to hear attack them for valentines day! SO, we called them and told them we decided we needed to feel equal to them and the sisters of Lawrence were going to have a fight club too! Elder Chun giggled forever and said he imagined me in ninja turtle getup fighting them. Which is appropriate. But we told them that, and said we needed to know exactly how long they were fighting so we could match them.

But we never intended to do that. We just wanted to know how long it was so we could heart attack them!  It still makes me laugh when I think about what they imagined.  So there we were, in all black outside their apartment at 6:30 in the morning, putting hearts on their door, and we could hear EVERYTHING that was going on! Including grunting, people calling time and when an elder was thrown against the wall and the whole wall shook while Sister Payton was standing next to it! We think they heard us too. because then they called the other sisters (who were outside the complex putting hearts on their car) and we could hear the voice mail they left, which was talking about how they didn't think we were doing fight club! But in a song. So I freaked out, finished with the hearts and DASHED out of there. Unfortunately, I didn't notice the blinds were open and they saw us (they live in the basement) running past. Sister Payton made eye contact with them. oops

So, I guess that's it for this week.  I know that as we pray with real intent, heavenly father answers prayers! and he loves all of us very much

love, Sister Robyn Cramer