Living the Dream - Week 36

Hello Everyone!

This is going to be short but I just wanted to let you all know that I am doing awesome! We work from home now but are still able to teach and reach out to our members. We love being able to have lessons over video chat (modern day technology is AMAZING!). We were able to have a wonderful lesson with our new friend Ted this week and when we asked him if he would be baptized if he came to know what we were teaching  was true, he said yes! We are so excited to get to continue having lessons with him! 

Also, GENERAL CONFERENCE IS THIS WEEK!!! I am so excited! We are so blessed to have a living prophet on the earth today! I invite you all to clear up your weekend this week (you aren't doing anything anyways right?) and listen to the words of living prophets and apostles. It's going to be awesome!

Well, if you are interested in seeing what we are doing as far as online stuff goes, I'd invite you to check out my Facebook page on Sundays. We do a weekly Facebook Live Mini Devotional now and it is a lot of fun! So if you want an extra spiritual boast, take a look at that! 

I love you all so much! This is quite the train ride but I'm just so grateful to know that Jesus Christ is the conductor. Let us all trust in him and he will lead us to green pastures.  Have an amazing week and stay safe and healthy!

Lots of love,

Sister Ferrin

Our new fancy address:

8725 La Riviera Dr. Apt 93

Sacramento CA 95826

United States 

Pic of the week:

1. The Rancho Cordova Zone is doing GREAT!

Week 35

Hello Everyone!

Well.. this has been exciting.

Here's some of the craziness that has been this past week:

- All of the missionaries in my mission have been asked to no longer enter into homes, have face to face contact, and congregate in groups.  We are allowed to go to church buildings, go on walks, and to the store on Pdays.  Sister Brandley and I basically live at the church now.

- We get to do this thing called.... ONLINE PROSELYTIZING!  So yes!  The work still moves forward!  We have been using Facebook and Google in order to connect with our friends and our members.  All our teaching has been done through video calls and phone calls.  It has been actually really cool to be able to connect using technology!  We have loved getting to connect with so many wonderful people and to have lessons via video chat with them!

-  Sister Brandley and I made a new friend!  His name is Ted and we hadn't been able to contact him until this week because we didn't have a complete address.  However, we were able to connect with him via social media and we had our first lesson through video chat!  And, we were able to help him download the Book of Mormon App!  It was so amazing and we are excited to continue to visit with him!

-  We also were able to have a Sunday service (through video chat) with a part-member family yesterday!  It was such a tender mercy because the wife, who isn't a member, usually works on Sundays and hasn't ever been able to come to church.  But this Sunday we were able to have a lovely service with the whole family!  It was such a wonderful experience and the Spirit was so strong!

- We were able to get Chick-fil-a this week so... conclusion: the world hasn't ended quite yet. 

I really don't know what else to say.  There have been so many different emotions felt this past week.  Much laughter and joy from being able to connect through video chat and coming up with creative ideas to spread the gospel online.  Many tears and anxiety from all the different changes and learning that quite a few of the most wonderful missionaries and friends will be ending their missions early.  Throughout all of the craziness and emotions felt this week, I have come to understand that the Savior is the source of all peace.  If you need comfort, turn to Christ.  If you need relief from pain, turn to Christ.  If you need strength, turn to Christ.  I love the scripture D&C 101:16 that says:

Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.

May we all take the time this week to be still and turn to Christ.  I KNOW that it is through Him that we can find relief during these perilous and upsetting times.  I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and for the strength and peace that comes from His Gospel.  I love you all so much and I hope you know that you are constantly in my thoughts and prayers!  Be safe this week and know that the Lord is watching over you!

Lots of Love,

Sister Ferrin

Why is Velveeta the Only Thing Left in Walmart? - Week 34

Hello Everyone!

Yes, things have been pretty crazy here as you probably already know.  So instead of telling you everything you already know, I'll keep it short and simple!

Highlights of the week:

- We had another wonderful lesson with our friend Wayne on Thursday!  We talked about how we can have a personal relationship with the Savior.  We showed him a video called "Hope of God's Light" (such a great video by the way) and testified that by reading the scriptures, praying, and going to church, we can come to know for ourselves who God is personally.  While we were talking, everything all of a sudden clicked for Wayne and he exclaimed, "That's why you keep inviting me to church!  I need to go to church!"  We were so excited but tragically, church is suspended for the time being so we invited him to prepare to go to church by studying the Book of Mormon and praying.  Wayne is super awesome and it has been so neat to see how much he has progressed since the first day we met him!

- We had two awesome lessons with our new friend Cecelia this week!  Cecelia is a super sweet older lady who has a son who is a member of our ward.  The first day we went to meet her, she let us straight in and started talking to us!  The second lesson we had with her, we talked about how the Book of Mormon and the Bible support each other and testify of Jesus Christ.  Afterwards she said, "I think I need to start reading the Book of Mormon a little more".  It was so wonderful and we are excited to continue teaching her!

- Our mission had our Restoration Devotional on Sunday.  Because of all the craziness going on in the world, we ended up live streaming the devotional to all our members, families, and friends so that they could watch it at home.  It went really well and the Spirit was super strong.  I am so grateful for the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for the peace and hope it brings.  I felt so grateful for the opportunity to share my testimony through song and to add it with the testimonies of so many other missionaries and members!  

No matter what is going on in the world, we can stand firm in the knowledge that the Church is true and is led by a prophet of God.  We don't need to fear because we have a loving Father in Heaven who has a plan for all His children.  We don't have to feel alone because Jesus Christ is standing with us no matter what we are going through.  I love the scripture John 16:33 that says:

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

I also love the scripture D&C 50:41-42 which says,

41 Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me;

42 And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate source of peace and hope.  I can promise that as you turn to Him and trust in Him, you will find comfort!  I love you all so much and thank you for all of your support and prayers!  Have a wonderful week and keep your chins up!  We have so much to be grateful for!

Lots of Love,

Sister Ferrin

 

Mailing Info:

8267 Deseret Ave
Fair Oaks CA 95628
United States

Pics of the week:

1- Post-Devotional Selfie

2- Getting ready for Sunday!

I Get to Be Designated Driver Again (in an all biking area) - Week 33

Hello Everyone!

We got transfer calls this Saturday aaaannnnddd... Sister Brandley and I are staying in the River Park Ward!  And we are still on bikes, so whoohoo to more adventures!  This next transfer is going to be super exciting!  We get to go to the temple as a zone, participate in some really awesome missionary firesides, and watch General Conference.  Stay tuned for some awesome stuff over the next 6 weeks!

Highlights of the week:

- We had a couple of really great lessons with some of our friends this past week!  We got to visit with Hillary and her daughter and we had a lesson on CPR (church, prayer, read).  Hillary's daughter was super excited about getting to read the Book of Mormon that she brought it to school and showed it to all her friends!  

- We also had a really great lesson with our friend Wayne!  One of our members came with us and he and Wayne got along really well!  Our member was able to answer quite a few of Wayne's questions which was super neat!  We talked about how we can gain personal knowledge and revelation when we study by ourselves and how we can also get support from others and partake of the Sacrament when we go to church! 

- We got to visit with Brenna this week!  We read the introduction to the Book of Mormon with her and talked about how God can answer our prayers.  She told us that she hadn't prayed to God for a really long time but finally one day, she prayed to the Lord and asked for help to stop feeling so lonely.  Two days later, Sister Brandley and I showed up on her doorstep.  Brenna told us that she felt like us coming by was an answer to her prayers and that she has felt closer to God over the past few weeks than before!  It was such a cool lesson and Brenna is super amazing!  We are so excited to get to introduce her to the YSA sisters and members!  

-  I sang in church yesterday!  It was sad because none of our friends came... BUT, we did have some of our less active members that we have been working with come which was SUPER AWESOME!  Sister Brandley and I also ended up teaching a lesson to this really awesome lady who came to church!  Sundays are the best!

I wanted to share with you a message that our prophet, President Nelson, shared recently:

"In the scriptures, there are very few sacred instances in which the voice of God the Father has been heard.  So, when He says something, we really need to listen.  Repeatedly, He has personally introduced His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, with a specific charge to “Hear Him!”

Have you ever stopped to ask, “Why?”  Why is our Heavenly Father so insistent—and consistent—in His plea that we should hear His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ?

Jesus answered this question Himself.  He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

Our Father loves us and yearns for each one of us to choose to return to His holy presence.  He pleads with us to listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, whom the Father anointed and appointed as our Mediator, Savior, and Redeemer.

In this special year as we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the First Vision, I invite you to think deeply and often about this key question: How do you hear Him?  I also invite you to take steps to hear Him better and more often."

 

I want to invite you all to take a moment and ask yourselves, how do you hear Him?  How does the Lord speak to you?  With President Nelson, I also invite you to do what you need to do to hear the Lord better, especially as we prepare for this upcoming General Conference!  I can promise that as you seek to hear Him more in your life that you will be able to better recognize the voice of the Lord and see His guiding hand in your life!  He loves us so much and He will always listen to what we have to say to Him.  Let us all strive to be better at listening and following what He has to say to us!

I love you all so much and I hope you have a marvelous week! 

Lots of Love,

Sister Ferrin 

Mailing Info:

8267 Deseret Ave
Fair Oaks CA 95628
United States

Pic of the week:

- Pretty River Pics!

Service, Service, and More Service - Week 32

Hello Everyone!

We made it to the final stretch of the transfer!  Stay tuned for next week when we find out the changes (or not... who knows?)

Highlights of the Week:

-  We have been on a service kick this week!  We got to help the Smith family clean and organize their apartment.  We also were able to this single sister in our ward with packing up and organizing boxes in her garage.  It has been a lot of fun getting to serve our friends and our members and hear all their fun life stories!  (however, I still have a major dislike of roaches *shudder*)

-  Exchanges were this week so I got to spend the day with Sister Knaphus!  We ended up meeting a lot of very... interesting people.  For example, we met James who we talked with and ended up giving a pamphlet to.  He was so grateful that he wanted to give us a gift, which was a little nerve wracking considering that he is really homeless.  He gave us a mini pair of binoculars to help keep us safe and a big hug.  We met a couple of other people with very interesting opinions about religion, politics, and pandemics... all which are major topics in the Sacramento Area.  

-  While we were on exchanges, we had two super awesome lessons!  The first was with Anna (the niece of one of our friends), who had read the introduction to the Book of Mormon.  We were able to give her a personal copy of the Book of Mormon and she is really excited to read it!  The coolest part was how strong the Spirit was during the lesson and we promised that if she read the Book of Mormon everyday, she would be able to be successful in the classes she struggles with in school. She also is interested in coming to church and participating in Young Womens!  The other lesson we had was with this young couple, Chris and Melissa (who is expecting a baby this week!!!).  We ran into them while tracting a few weeks ago and they wanted us to come back.  We were able to answer a lot of their questions about the church as well as introduce the Book of Mormon to them and testify that by reading it everyday, they would be able to come close to Christ and that their home would be filled with peace. 

-  I got to introduce Sister Brandley to her grandma! (excuse the mission lingo)  It was so fun to get to see Hermana Lewis today and give her a big hug!  Running into past companions is so awesome! 

Sister Brandley and I have decided that we are going to focus this week on inviting our friends and less active members to come to church this Sunday.  We are super excited and plus, I'm going to be singing in Sacrament meeting, so we are hoping that will help encourage our friends to come!  We are so blessed to be able to partake of the Sacrament every Sunday and to renew the special promises we made with the Lord when we were baptized.  I love being able to go to church each week and to focus solely upon the Savior and His great atoning sacrifice.  We have so much to be grateful for when it comes to Jesus Christ and what He did for us!  If I had to ask for anything for you all, it would be to pray that our friends will have the desire and make the effort to come to church this week!  That would mean the world to me!     

I love you all so much and I hope you all have a fantastic week!

Lots of Love,

Sister Ferrin

Mailing Info:

8267 Deseret Ave
Fair Oaks CA 95628
United States

   

Pics of the week!

1. Generation Photos! (Ft. Hermana Lewis and Sister Brandley)

2. Chalk Art at the park from last week. We asked people to write or draw things that makes them happy!