The Story of Us: May 2016

May 31, 2016

Week 65 - Miracles & Coconuts

There were so many miracles this week!

Julie - Sister Udall said there was this woman she talked to before I came who is really prepared and interested. She didnt have a appartment number, just the building and she thought her name was Jessica. Well we set out to find her by ringing all the doors and asking for Jessica. Well thankfully the Lord stepped in and when we set out to find her she was out side already! We got her number and gave her a Book of Mormon. She is looking to give up her addictions and is also interested in the churches addiction recover program! I am excited to meet up with her again!

Nickhelle - We talked to her on her way into her house and she gave us her number and took a Book of Mormon!

Faith - She showed up at church! She woke up at 3am earlier that week and really felt she just needed to find a church! WHAT? So cool! Sadly we dont get to teach her as she is in a different ward boundries but it was amazing to see how she has been prepared! We gave her a Book of Mormon and she said she knew there was more scripture!

Steve - A guy who walked up to us and said he has a Book of Mormon and wanted to know what it was all about!

We had a memorial day BBQ with the other missionaries! Played some great sports! I am super sore from saturday when Sister Udall and I had a sit up contest. We also had a BBQ with the Galarzas! Some members who got baptized about a year ago! They gave us a coconut drink in a coconut cup! Lots of fun this week!

We also had an amazing Zone conference this past week and then today we had a great Zone training! (the difference is ZC happens every 3 months and President runs it and ZT is every month and the Zone Leaders run it) Both left me with lots of inspiration and ideas on how I can better help others and how I have been helping others as I have been serving! I love it here!

I love you all! Go share what you believe and bless others lives :)

Sister Nakata

May 23, 2016

Week 64 - FLASHBACK

Hello family and loved ones!

This week on Tuesday I had the incredible opportunity to go back to my first area on an exchange with the lovely Sister Humphrey!

We got to Odenton and she said "we're on our own for dinner tonight!" and I was like no way! And I called up Sister Dorman and asked her to feed us! (I am not usually THAT missionary, but it was a special occasion! Plus I missed Sister Dorman) It was very funny when Sister Humphrey prayed over the food and thanking that the Dormans invited us over! After the prayer Sister Dorman was like "I'm pretty sure someone invited themselves!" And I rightfully raised my hand! Haha super funny!

I also got to see Stephanie Marcil! She was the first person I taught and baptized! It was so cool to hear her talk about how the last year of her life being a member of the church has brought happiness and what a difference the missionaries have made in her life!

I found out a dear sister who was overcoming cancer passed away :( That was sad. But I also go to teach Kaitlyn! A 10 year old I taught last year! She and her mom (a returning less active sister) are ready for her to be baptized! And this weekend she did! She became a member of the church and she was washed clean of her past mistakes and took the name of Christ upon her!

Then we went to see Theresa and her wonderful 8 children! Theresa I was introduced to at a request from her LDS cousin to have us help clean her house. After a while we started teaching her the lessons and by the time I left Odenton she was not ready to make to covenant of baptism. And over the past year there have been so much going on with her and her kids lives. But fast forward a year and she has found herself and two of her daughters ready to be baptized! When I got to hug Theresa again I cried! It was incredible to be back in her house and sharing my testimony with her! They are scheduled to be baptized June 4th! I am so happy for the work Sister Humphrey and her companion Sister Suda are doing here in Odenton! I was able to see how the Lord has prepared these sisters to be the ones teaching the people here right now! I also learned the deep love I have for these people. I want to keep that for all the people that I teach.

This week we also saw a less active sister, Sister Kuhn, who felt she was baptized a little too quickly. (14 years ago she was taught and baptized after 3 weeks) So we offered to teach her the lessons over again so she can feel more sure about her decision.

I had blackened fish twice this week! Once at the Marasco's, he is an AMAZING cook has been on the food network and all, he made mahi mahi! It was so good! And then the Giroux family fed us Salmon!

All in all a wonderful week! I learned a lot about our role as missionaries and how we do leave an impact!

Love you all

Sister Nakata

May 16, 2016

Week 63 - Put Put - Hold to the Rod

Hey Friends!

This week started off great on Monday night with a family dinner with the Walz and then a lesson with our investigator, Fran. And then a lesson with the spanish sisters and the Spanish Branch President's sister. We had found them and set up a time, since they speak spanish though we brought along the Hermana's and they picked them up as investigators :)

On Tuesday we found a new investigator, Colleen! She was investigating the church a few months ago but the friend she was investigating with had passed away 2 weeks before their baptism date! We got to see Colleen again this past sunday and committed her to reading the scriptures and praying every day. (Hey and whoever is reading this, you should also read every day!) We know that as she reads she is going to find a closer relationship with her Father in Heaven. And she is still pretty broken and shaken from the death of her friend. She is enthusiastic to get baptized and come to church and we are going to help her get there! I feel blessing to be able to be one of the missionaries helping her.

We got back to biking this week and trading off with the Elders again for the car. I am grateful for the muscles God has given me to enable me to bike to the places I need to go!

Friday, we helped Sister Mish's friend, Keirsten, move a ton of stuff outside. She was having a yard sale the next day and we helped organize the toys and get them out and the elders helped get the furniture all out! They got us pizza :) and she also ended up giving us two couches! We had no furniture in our house and I was determined to get a couch, and it happened! We now have couches we can relax! However, there isnt a ton of time for that, but thats okay :)

Saturday, we went to the Temple's Visitor center with Fran and Sister Higby! We watched the restoration! Also while there I saw Kali and Kyle! A couple I taught back in the summer time! Tender mercy from the Lord! They were baptized on Halloween and Kali's mom was getting sealed that day and they were in the visitors center waiting!

Saturday we also had a ward putt putt activity! Each auxiliary made their own hole and the missionary hole was hold to the iron rod! It was pretty cool! I think the dry ice as the mist was what made it awesome!

Love you all! Hope you have a wonderful week and read those scriptures, "holding to the Iron Rod!"

Sister Nakata