April 21, 2014

Why HELLO!!!  Isn't it just a beautiful day after Easter?  And don't you just love Easter?  Ah!  I just LOVE Easter!

Anyhow, this week has been pretty fun. :)  And eventful.

On Wednesday and Thursday, we were painting apartments for a couple in our ward, the Nicholls.  They're both older, and not in the best of health, but the apartments really needed some painting.  So, along with a couple of other sets of missionaries in the area and their daughter, we got the apartments painted so that they can start renting them out.  It was a lot of fun. :)  There was plenty of fighting with the paint and tape, as well as actual work.  The Nicholls and their daughter really appreciated the help.

And.... we have a few new investigators!!!!!! YEAH!

So, on Thursday nights, we do splits with the South Slope ward.  So, Sister Anderson went over to the Babbs home, a home with a less-active member who's husband is not a member.  Well, Sister Grover, who went with Sister Anderson, is the wife of Will Babb's boss, so the Grovers and the Babbs are actually really good friends.  Heather Babbs has previously expressed to us that she wants to be active again, but doesn't want to be active without her husband.  Well, I guess on Thursday night, Heather expressed that she really wants to be sealed to her husband and kids, and so her husband agreed to take the lessons!  Yay!  So Exciting!!!!!  So, we now get to see them every Thursday night at 7:30.  It does mean that we have to change our split time with South Slope, but it's totally worth it!

And then on Friday, the Puccios to agree to take the lessons!  WOOT!  So, the Puccios are nonmembers who we started visiting like... at the beginning of March, I think.  They are so awesome!  They're both very spiritual-- Dan has been a youth minister before, and studies from probably 5 different versions of the Bible daily, and already is studying the Book of Mormon.  And Nancy is totally involved with all of her little church groups and heads up a couple of prayer circles and such.  We totally love the Puccios, because they have always been so willing to talk religion with us. And so, when we went to go visit them Friday night, before we left, we asked if we could give them the lessons, to practice if nothing else, and they were all like "well, of course you can!  We just love you girls and want to help any way we can!" 

So, on the way home, we were all like "Sweet!  They're totally gonna be baptized and Brother Puccio is going to become Meridian Temple's first Temple President!"

Yeah. We're totally stoked that they're going to take the lessons.

And then on Saturday, we went to Sis Andersons old area, Kuna, so that she could go see the baptism of someone she taught.  It was a really sweet baptism.  He's from a less active family, who literally has no desire to come back to the church.  So it's really great to see him take those steps to be a member of the church, and even though he's only 9, he really seems like he wants to stay active in the church, and set the example for his younger brothers.

And on Saturday night, we went and dyed Easter Eggs with the Earls.

And can I just say, I wanna be like the Earls when I grow up?  Like.... I wanna be one of those families that the missionaries go visit all the time just because they want to and feel so comfortable visiting with that they just walk into my home.  I freaking love the Earls.  LOVE THEM.  And they now set out puzzles all the time for me.  It's pretty fun. :)

Also, have y'all seen the "Because of Him" video on Youtube that the church put out.  Isn't it amazing?!  Love it so much!

Anyways, I think that's about it.

Wait.  

Nope. 

Mary was at church again!  We haven't been able to see her for a couple of weeks because she was in Boise taking care of some stuff, but she's back!  And when we saw her on Sunday, she was all teary and said "I'm ready to be baptized now.  I really am."  And we're all like "Well of course you are ready!  We've been saying that for weeks!"  And we're just super excited for her.  Holy snot, I can't wait to see her tomorrow!

And that's really it.  This week has really been an incredible week.  Three new investigators, two apartments painted, a baptism done and a baptism on the way, and a week focused on the Atonement and the Resurrection of our Savior.  How much better could it really get?

Love y'all!

Love,

Sister Empey