7/14/14

WHERE IS THE TIME GOING???!!! STOP!! 13 months already!

ok, this has been one of the best weeks ever!

so many wonderful experiences, and I really feel SO grateful to be here. and feel so grateful to the lord for these experiences and people ive met, and that he has entrusted me to teach these individuals, and to be able to learn from them as well.

I learned so much this week. one of the greatest things that President Fenn has been teaching us, and our goals as a mission is to seek for and follow the promptings of the spirit. This week I have really focused on that, and found myself praying, in my heart, in the middle of lessons, more often, than before and I have really felt of his help. There have been 3 times this week, that I have been directed to say things in lessons, that I had NEVER thought of before, and I just learned so much and so did the people we were teaching. It has been an amazing experience to really feel the lord using me as an instrument. It is such a blessing and honor to be found worthy of that, and to help others progress in the gospel. I love the Lord.

So this week has been great!

On Monday Sister Bailey and I went to our local McDonalds for the Wi-Fi hot spot. its really quite the unique place, every time we are there we meet some new character, and just keeps me laughing. haha love this place! anyways, as we are there, we met this man Stephen. he was a very unique character but was kind and bought us Ice cream because he doesn't like the idea of anything free, so he felt like he had to buy us Ice cream to talk to us. Anyways so he said he had seen this big marble building in Glenwood, that he called our "genealogy center" haha I thought It was so funny, and actually brought new light to the temple for me. So yes, it was the temple. and we taught him about a lot of things, mainly the restoration. He was very unique. he didn't want to take anything from us, but we told him that this is all that we do, so he took a pamphlet. We hope to have another run in with him at McDonalds sometime.

Ok I just have to testify that the Lord TRULY knows what we need, and when we need it. I felt that way as we had the opportunity to attend the Utah Valley Childrens Choir concert. They came on their church history tour and stopped here for a performance. THEY WERE AMAZING!! The spirit was so strong. there were SO many non members there and they basically taught the restoration through their performance. So it was perfect. we had Patricia there with us for that, and she loved it. I loved having that opportunity to be there. I love music! The directors of the choir, are awesome people. I talked with them after and got to know them a little bit better. Ryan Eggett, was one of them, and he is actually a director at the MTC as well, and he directed me as I sang in that choir at the world wide broadcast, so that was cool and got to talk with him and thank him. and then I talked with Susanne Bowcut, who knows Amanda Crabb, because she is also in the MoTab so that was cool! I just love them. and I told them I was going to look them up when I get home. there was another sister there who is Susannes sister and she is a voice instructor, so I told her I would look her up and take lessons from her! :) YES! - that is if I go to Utah.. anyways, It was sucha blessing to be there. LOVE MUSIC, LOVE THE SPIRIT. LOVE MY LIFE!!

On Thursday we had zone conference, lets just say, 11 pages of notes and 8 hours later I feel like a new missionary. President Fenn is amazing! I love learning from him. So grateful to be in this mission. I love being here. anyways, so many great principles learned, and things taught to me.

We just had so many great teaching moments this week and awesome lessons. We were teaching Linda in the park and this man came up and started talking to us about his church. and obviously that led us into a good discussion. Linda was great! she bore her testimony to him about the church, and told him "if two Mormon missionaries knock on your door, YOU LET THEM IN!" haha she is the best! but I learned a lot in those moments, and I don't know why we were supposed to see him but we actually ended up giving him a copy of the ensign. hopefully he has read it. :) -- its true ya know! :)..

So then we had 4 other really good lessons:

1. the Watsons, they are a less-active couple who are really struggling. We didn't know that we were going to be meeting with them, the day we met with them, but the lord provided for us. Sister Bailey and I decided to focus on the atonement, and I really wanted them to think deeply about it, so I was asking questions in efforts to help them think deeply about things. in my efforts I thought really deeply about it, and some of the things I said just surprised me. It was awesome! I just really felt heavenly father using me as a tool in that lesson. They are really struggling with CPR (church, pray, read .. the basics) and so as I was trying to help them understand the importance of these things I said " obedience in the key to the lock of eternal life, and that lock is never changing. The grooves on the key have to match the lock, and if we don't do something the grooves don't match,and we cannot unlock it. WE MUST do everything God asks of us. "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." D&C 82:10

2. We met with the Merrys this week, We had brother David Wynn from the ward come with us and he Is SO intelligent. Let me tell you. I mean, he KNOWS his bible. and he KNOWS his book of Mormon. It was an incredible lesson. He told us after how proud he was and grateful he was for us to have invited him. He commended us for our ability to handle the situation without contention and with grace. I really loved having him there. He was able to tell them some of his knowledge but show them, what is most important. that they have to turn to God. they have to read things for themselves and ask god to know. Chris merry really wants evidence, he really wants details and facts, but claims he is a man of great faith. so we have been trying to help him see the need for him to act on his faith and actually do what we are inviting him to do. I see so much potential in him and in Hannah, his wife. It was a great lesson, led by the spirit.

3. We have a new investigator! her name is Kaitlyn Perplies and she is 10! her parents are members but less active. so we are excited for their family. We had the BEST time teaching her this week. It was the cutest. She has such a great way of expressing how she is really feeling, and recognizing the spirit. It was so great! I hope I never remember this, but as we were teaching her about the Love Heavenly Father has for her, we related it to her dad, and his love for her. and we asked "what is one example of how you know your dad loves you?" and she said " well, be bought me a trampoline!" we laughed and I said something along the line os " that is a great example of how much he loves you.." trying to go back to help her see how much God loves her, I said "well you want to know something really great! and wonderful, Heavenly Father loves you EVEN MORE than that." and she just looked at us and said "whoa.... that's a lot of trampolines." hahhaa it was so funny and so cute! love her!

4.we taught Patricia and we put her on date for August 9th! WOOT!!! she is the best! I love that she is progressing so well. I have really seen a change in her and I love teaching her. she has such a unique and different way of looking at the gospel. she knows this is true and she is acting on that! I am so proud of her. She came to church, and she participated. It was just great! LOVE HER!!

On Saturday Chris Cain was baptized in Sycamore!! I am SO happy for her! and Tim Dewey baptized her! it was great! I had the opportunity to Skype with her (see pic on facebook) and she was just beaming. she has been so prepared since day one. and just has the sweetest testimony of the prophet joseph smith and of his experience in the grove. She shared with us that this was the third time she had heard that story in her life, and she knew it was true. such a blessing to have had the opportunity to teach her. and know her. I hope to be good friends with her for a long time! she's the best!

Here are some pictures: summer tradition! had to take a picture in the corn fields! the corn is tall!! the times are good.

also some pineapple... yum! -- "joy of joys".. almost.

Thank you all for your love and many prayers on my behalf, I have truly felt my burdens lifted and my prayers answered this week. I have felt so grateful for the way in which things have happened, and the trials we go through. I have some out on the other side a changed person and better missionary. so I thank you, thank you for thinking of me, and helping me as I have been on this journey. I know I could not have done it without you. love you all!

Love from the Midwest,

Sister Jenny O'Neil

July 7, 2014

Monkey Wrenches Part 2

That picture I just sent you is of us with Sister Ashley Akers. She is great! we love her, and love teaching her and her husband Tim. :)

OK. so Not too much happened this week: the 4th of July, sister Baileys birthday, an amazing lesson with Patricia, Missionary work, meeting awesome families, good meetings, powerful Sunday etc.,. etc..

We taught a good and really funny lesson to Patricia this week. (good thing to know is that she is black as well, not sure if I mentioned that before) but I asked her. " do you know what monkey wrenches are?" and she goes. OH YEAH!! Monkey Wrenches in the program! haha I just started laughing SO HARD. I had never heard of that before and I guess it is a phrase used commonly among them people :) haha Aint no problem with me! I can use it too! :) haha just kidding.. but I thought it was hilarious.

So we taught her about the restoration again, because we really felt like she needed to build a stronger testimony in that, and she told us about how she put the book of Mormon in her bedroom and she was only going to go get it if she felt prompted or something. So she told us how she would sit there in her living room, and the spirit would just come to her and say, you need to go get that book, get up and go. after denying it a couple of times she did it, and she said " I felt so much better when I picked up that book." so awesome! So then We were teaching her and we asked her "do you believe god hears and answers our prayers?" and she said YES!~ and then told us all about how she knows the Lord has been preparing her to hear this message and she kept saying, when I know it is right, or when I feel this is right I will come to church. and I just felt the spirit so strongly to say to her " you do know!" so I looked at her and said " I am going to be bold, I think you do know this is what you are supposed to do." And what she did just made my day.. she threw her hands up and smiled and said "praise the LORD!" and she just started laughing. It was so funny! but she knew it was true. she knew this is what she needed. she kept saying " you've been all quite till this point and then yall just come out and say something so bold! like " I am going to be bold with you" and you clasped yo hands togetha." and I thought, OH! what she gonna say?" haha it was awesome. we laughed for a while after that. It was so funny!

She didn't come to church.. :( kinda a bummber) but we are meeting with her tomorrow :) so that is exciting. In her closing prayer she mentioned, her testimony of the prophet Joseph smith and gave thanks for him! it was amazing! THIS IS SO TRUE! how can it not be?! .. I mean seriously!

4th of july was kinda boring. I was sad because this ward does NOTHING for the 4th. so annoying. so it really didn't even feel like the 4th because we didn't do anything, and we only saw ONE firework, and that was yesterday.. on the way home... not even on the 4th! oh well. at least I got to see one.. next year I will go to stadium of fire or something. GOD BLESS AMERICUA!

Loaves and Fish was super fun this week. It is always SO WEIRD going there. They have like 10 pastors that walk around and watch us do stuff, they don't really work. They wear aprons like us, and one of them feeds us lunch, but they had one get on and make an annoucment. His name was Pastor Bob, and he goes "hello! thank you for coming, my message is simple. REPENT!" IT was just so interesting to me because as he continued I realized he was trying to entertain and I just wasn't sure how genuine he was. Christ's church is true.. that is all.

we had sister Baileys birthday dinner with the Carter family last night, and josh carter challenged me to a cook off, so we are doing breakfast food cook off next Monday, should be fun! I am excited!

This week we have a lot of lessons set up, and high goals to reach for our member present lessons and for lessons in general. We really need to find more people to teach, so that we can stay busier. So many things to do, so little time. :)

love you all. hope you are doing well and enjoying your summer. :)

Sister O'Neil     Oh hey! Guess what!!? Saturday is my 13 month mark! Lucky number 13!!! Woot! Yay! #hasitreallybeenthatlong? #whereisthetime? #ifeelold

June 30, 2014

Monkey Wrenches in the program

Dejavu has set in... big time. it feels like I am restarting my mission, it is strange.

anyways, Hilary is the best! thanks for sending those awesome videos and pictures. I will gladly accept and love to watch and view any other pictures and videos anyone else would like to send my way! I am sure you took some! :) I am so glad you all were together this week and had such a wonderful time with all the family! I hope to get a detailed report of all the fun this week, and when I get home! :) woot! YAY FOR FAMILY! #familiesareforever

This week was pretty good. We just got news from President Fenn, that the first presidency has changed some of the missionary standards. So we will be required to work with our investigators more, and help them more before and after baptism, which is great! we are always looking for an excuse to work with these awesome people more. It will just mean more lessons before they are baptized. - also means we are making for stronger/ better converts! :) AWESOME! - obviously this is the lord church.. DUH!

This week I received the best email from Sue Dewey. I had sent her a letter, and she just told me of some of her experiences. I was so sad though, she is facing SO much opposition from her daughter and husband about joining the church, and was given an ultimatum from her daughter... either my kids or the church. so she is going to stop learning. I am so sad about this. I am working on a response to her email, and just hope I can convey the right things. I pray the lord will help me. She is seriously SO CLOSE! and to me this is a testimony builder that this is the true church, or why else would she be facing all this opposition. But, it is hard to help others see that. ya know? So please pray for sue. She is my adopted mother out here, and I just want her to come into the gospel!! she is so close! Dumb Satan! He is REALLY good at what he does.

This week we taught three of the most powerful lessons I have been a part of my entire mission. It was awesome! the spirit in each of them was so amazing and I learned SO much!

the first one was a lesson with Hector, we haven't been meeting with him as regularly because he is a member now, but we felt it important to teach him about what a patriarchal blessing was. Sister Bailey was so impressed by his testimony and strength of his conversion, that she often referred back to that lesson later In the week. It was just great! I love teaching in a way that you know the person you are teaching really understands the things you are saying. I love watching as the shutters close and you can see the mental photograph come into view and be taken in their minds. it is awesome. And hector is really great at understanding these things and then turning them around that gives you a whole new perspective or way of thinking about it. Its like photoshopping the picture, and making it better or clearer, or more contrasted. Its aweomse.. haha (sorry for the weird photo metaphor there.. I don't know.....hahaha)

our second awesome lesson was with Patricia Davis. She has really recognized that The Lord has prepared her to hear our message. She shared with us some of her experiences, and how she has been asking the Lord to help her find the way, and so she knew that when sister Bailey offered to help her carry her groceries in, it was no coincidence. She knew she was sent from our Heavenly Father to give her this message. she just feels so blessed to have us in her home, and we feel so blessed to teach her. She has so many good questions about the gospel and the church. We love teaching her! When we taught her the restoration and the first vision there was SUCH a powerful spirit. I mean there always is, but especially this time. It was amazing! I loved being there and feeling of that spirit. she told us that she is praying about being Baptized on July 26th! woot!! And she did not come to church, but she told us that she needs to really commit to it, she said she wants to really know before she starts coming and wants to be fully committed. I mean I guess I understand, but you will REALLY know when you go to church. so we are going to help her get there next week. :)

Then Yesterday we had a lesson with Linda Johnson and Sister Lakita Harold came with us. Usually when we teach linda, she is so ADD that we have a hard time staying on topic, and a lot of little- pointless questions come up. but Sister Lakita is THE MASTER of boldness but not overberance. she is so bold, yet loving! it is awesome! Sister Lakita was baptized like 3 years ago and just went through the temple 3 months ago. She is preparing to go on a mission, and I am so excited for her. She is Such a good missionary. Anyways, in the lesson she just was perfect for Linda. as I said, linda has a lot of little concerns, that don't actually bother her, she just thinks of them on the spot. So Sister Lakita just went on about the Adversary. it was awesome! I felt I truly learned so Much!! Did I mention sister Lakita is African American, big mama lady who loves ERRYBODY! and just So hilarious. like "for real for real!" hahah :)

So she is teaching her about how the adversary is trying to affect her and get in her head, and tear her down and she says "he is just sittin there throwin monkey wrenches in the program. The closer you get to the water and righteousness the harder and harder he is going to work and the more monkey wrenches he will throw. Once you step into the water you step into the light, and darkness cannot be in the light. Tomorrow is not a promise to you or me. we have to act. If you die in yo sins you go before the Lord, and I don't want to do that, I want to be the purest! So.. Step out on faith." - I took notes. I didn't remember all that :) hahaha I love what she says, "step out on faith" she is the best. Her teaching this from her perspective brought me so much insight! it was aweomse! and I just love her!

on our way home she told me her conversion story and how she knew the lord was with her, every step of the way. It was awesome! I am going to record it the next time she shares it! :) such a powerful story! She is hilarious, and everyone loves her! :) so do I!

seriously- she is like an answer to my prayers. Ever since I knew I was coming to Chicago area I was so excited to teach black people, and I just haven't much... until now!! hahah!! it is so cool!! love this!

Also, in my quest to know what I want to be when I grow up, I received my answer this week to one of my ideas. Sister Bailey had to have some dental work done on her teeth this week, a couple of fillings and then a root canal. And as I sat there watching as they worked on her I realized I do Not want to become a dental hygienist or anything like unto it. haha I thought about it, but no.. not going there. It was nice to sit there and listen to "the real music" for a little bit. couldn't help it.. what do you do when there is good music playing! It took everything in me not to sing along. :) - tender mercy :) .. its too bad she has to go back to have the root canal finished... bummer I will have to listen to the music again... haha just kidding! :)

I love you! miss you all! Remember the church is SO true. Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God and Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today.

not sure what else to tell you except to invite you to read the Book of Mormon Everyday, and also to Pray to our Heavenly Father eerrryyday! :) Those are the keys to happiness. :)

Love you all!

Sister O'Neil

HAPPY 4th Of JULY!! GOD BLESS AMERRUUICA! :)

June 23, 2014

Water Works:

Well family, I am crying because I know where you all are this week, and wish I could be there with you, but I'm actually crying because of all the amazing miracles we saw this week, and how I truly felt heavenly fathers love. So I'm not really that sad, but you should be, because I am doing the best thing on the planet.... Missionary work! And my tears are happy tears. :)

So many things have shed tears this week, for starters, the sky has been. We have had two amazingly fun thunderstorms come rolling through this week, and they just excite me and make me so happy! If I could I would be doing rain dances all day. It was raining this Thursday as we came home to meet our mini missionary, Grace Neema. Sister Neema is from the Kongo and just moved here 3 years ago. She and her family were sealed in the temple one year ago, and she has such a strong testimony. She was so great as a missionary and really has a bright future a head of her. She really is awesome! We loved our time with her, and would always ask her to speak French for us.

One of the funniest things that happened with water this week was in our apartment. On Tuesday morning, sister bailey and I were just coming to a close to our companionship study, when we started hearing drops of water. I kept saying to her " oh! its nothing, let's just finish" but then as we looked up, the ceiling and walls were weeping. There was So MUCH water coming from our ceiling. We put a Tupperware under the water to catch it and in one hour it filled up a total of about 24 cups of water. It was a water fall out of our ceiling. And then it started to come through the walls, and you can see where it was, because you could begin to see the strokes of paint on the walls, and now we have bubbly walls because it has all dried. We were worried because water was streaming out from around the outlet, so we didn't use that one for a couple of days because we didn't want to get electrified.. I guess "what had happened was" the guy on the third floor ran his dishwasher and it flooded, went through the lady's apartment above us, and come down to ours to pool, because we are the basement. We even had water come down through the walls and up from the carpet. It really was that the rains came down and the floods came up - good thing we have a strong foundation :). It was a fun adventure, and sister Bailey and I just laughed through the whole thing. Our apartment has been muggy and smells funny since then, but hey! The Lord will protect us from the germs and mold! Right!?!

Also on my way down here to Peoria it was raining and my suit cases got wet, so all my clothes were wet for a couple of days, And then this week, a water bottle opened in my purse, so a few things got wet. It has just been all about the water this week. pretty funny.

After that incident with the apartment we had the sister training leaders come and do exchanges with us. It was so much fun. For some reason I was really nervous and not excited for them to come, but I ended up really enjoying that. Sister Doxey was my companion for the day, and we saw a ton of miracles. It was fun to learn from her and get to know her better. I would say we are great friends now. She is great! I learned so much this week about how to be a better missionary and continue to improve. AH! the church is true!

On Saturday we had an awesome day! We went and participated at loaves and fish ( aka bread day!). That was fun as always, and I got the infamous " chicken joke" from one of the Methodist ministers. All the elders and sister bailey were telling me about this joke. It was pretty funny. I will tell it to you when I get home.. But after the service we had a baptism! ( hence the water.. Get it.. :) ) Sister Maribell Castro was baptized. She had been working with the Spanish elders and is a result from tracting. It still works! Woot! Anyways, she is so sweet, and she loved being baptized. Sister bailey and I went to help her afterwards and she came out of the water, and put her fist in the air and said, " I iust want to scream! I don't care if they hear me out there!" Haha I thought it was so funny. She is so cute and so sweet, I love her. Afterwards, the elders showed the Mormon message " choose ye this day" and it was so good and so eye opening to me. Heavenly Father loves us so much. He just wants us to do our very best. So I invite you to go and watch that. It's awesome.

This week we saw SO MANY MIRACLES. It's not even funny... while sister Neema was with us we choose a few less-active families to go and stop by with a few extra minutes we had. So we put in this mans address, and we go to the street and that address doesn't even exist! So we are kinda mad- sometimes missionary work feels like a wild goose chase- and then we felt that we should stop and knock on some of the houses. As we park the car sister Bailey and I see a lady loading her car and getting ready to go, and we both felt that we needed to go and talk to her. Based on the situation, I said "no time to pray, say a prayer in your heart as we walk up!" so we get out and head straight for her. So we give the usual " we are missionaries" and guess what!? SHE IS THE WIFE TO THE LESS ACTIVE!! and she was at her parents house. She is not a member and has an interest in learning more about the church. Isint that amazing! we were able to get his correct address and phone number, and she said we could come and teach her and her family. Such miracle!

Sister Bailey and Sister Esplin (while on exchanges) found this other lady , Patricia who met with the missionaries when she lived in Georgia and she was close to being baptized. she is AWESOME! she has such a sincere heart and we got to teach her yesterday, and the spirit was so strong. I loved being there. She is this awesome black lady with such a loud happy laugh. :) I am so happy! my dreams are coming true. I've just wanted to teach a black lady my entire mission and now I am! YES! So we are so excited. We saw like 4 other mini-miracles this week too, like Linda being healed from her Boils again, and the blessings of modern medicine, and meeting this guy Jeff Mantle, who wants his whole family to hear our message. It is just amazing! I love this work! I love being here in Peoria.

We also talked with Debbie- she is a referral from the members here and is so great! she just wants to learn about the church and the basic beliefs that we have. We love teaching her. #shesnotdrunkdebbie #drunkdebbieismymom #ilovedrunkdebbie

Sister Bailey is doing MUCH better. We had our interviews with President Fenn this week and he helped me know of some ways that I can help her. This week we have been so busy and that helps, because then she has less time to think about how she is feeling. I know that sounds weird and harsh, but there has been such an improvement, and she is feeling better. that is a miracle and I am so glad. prayers are answered! thank you for all you do to help us. and for your Faith, The Lord has helped us and been with us.

I heard from Hector this week. He is being So strengthened by the lord through the experiences and trials he is facing. They are hard things that can bring tears to the eyes, but he is an extremely strong individual. I love learning from his testimony and watching as he does his very best to continue on the covenant path. His example has always taught me that, even when we make mistakes, the Lord still loves us all the same and is always with us. And as we turn to him, He is always there waiting and ready to receive us. His testimony gives me hope and faith. I am grateful for Hector and his example. Sister Bailey even told me how impressive he was and how she learned so much from him. The gospel is true!

One of my favorite parts about this week has been our Zone training meeting. I learned so much from President Fenn. I love the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know he is a prophet of God, Who is NO coward to the things he faced while in his mortal journey. He was called of God, and has done so much for me. I am so grateful that President Fenn has taught us so much about Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. They are amazing individuals and I want to live my life in such a way that when the glorious day comes that I meet the Prophet Joseph, I will be able to say "I defended you!" I am so grateful for the gospel and all the knowledge and blessings it brings into my life. I know it to be true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and it supports the bible.

"Hail to the prophet, Ascended to heaven,

Traitors and tyrants, now fight him in vain

Mingling with Gods' he can plan for his brethren,

Death can not conquer the hero again!"

oh! I almost forgot! I LOVE SERVING In Peoria... because... I get to see some of my favorite people from Pekin!! last night as we dropped off our mini-missionary, The Pincocks were there! It was so great!! I love bishop Pincock and Kalynn (their daughter) I just was so happy. and I got to see some of the Simpsons. It was just such a reward! it was the best! I am so happy today!

ok this email is long enough. love you all! have fun this week, hug the cousins and grandma for me.

Love from the Midwest,

Sister O'Neil

p.s. Summer bug bite count : 9