Oct 7 at 1:11 PM
So I got to Norfolk (pronounced
Norfik) on Wednesday. We went to the church and had some meetings and interviews
with the nurse and President Baker and his wife. We then stayed at a hotel that
night. The next morning we went back to a different church for Zone Conference
and I met my trainer/companion. Her name is Sister Stratford. She is 22 and is
from California. I'm her 3rd baby (trainee). We live with a member named Sister
Yonalie. She is a sweet lady, but we have no room.. It is two rooms and two
baths.. but she has a dog.. and I'm allergic as you all know. I have been
taking allergy pills every morning and night though so I haven't broken out in
hives yet. We live by the water right
now. It is so pretty out here and I love it. I learn so much everyday still.
haha I still fall asleep during studies or for general conference since I am
not used to the time change still. But I only fell asleep for one speaker
during conference so I don't feel too guilty. Conference was amazing! The
church talk was super good. And I loved Uchtdorf and Holland.
Here in my mission it is
more country land and there are bugs everywhere! Huge spiders! and you are
outside at night for literally two minutes and you get eaten alive by bugs! We
drive around since everyone lives far away from each other. I feel like I
really relate to people here though. We have about 10 investigators but only
like 4 are good and dedicated. I gave away 2 Books of Mormon the other day! I
just love sharing the gospel so much (: They have cotton fields and tobacco
fields here as well. We went to Brother Baldwin’s Quarter Deck shop out by the
water to get free ice cream and there was a drunk guy there. He came over and
started talking to us and Sister Stratford wouldn't say anything so I talked to
him the whole time. He was telling me that he is giving up (swearing the whole
time, bad bad words and then was like sorry) and then saying that his wife took
everything and his kids left him. So I told him to go talk to Heavenly Father
about everything he just told me, that God wants to hear from him. He told me
heck with that that he tried and God doesn't answer him. I told him to keep trying and it's not in his
time, it's in Gods time. Then he said that we are all good people and we don't
really have trials and we were called to do what we do because we are good
righteous people. I told him that we had to work for it though. We all have to
work for it. We aren't just handed things. He pointed at me and said, "Ya
know, Thank you. You really made me think for a bit." I touch people here, Sister Stratford tells
me.
Some days are really
stressful but I do need to remember to keep going forward with faith. Thanks
Skyler for reminding me to hit my knees hard every day. We say a lot of prayers
every day and they seem to not matter as much as my first prayers. I need to
remember to say each prayer with a sincere heart.
Thanks Logan for telling
me that it will be hard but not to be discouraged. You all have great impact on
me. Thank you for the love and support you all give me.
So it's hurricane
season. Don't freak out Mom haha. I haven't seen or heard of one yet to come.
There is also a little rumor going around that people have seen crocodiles! Good
thing we can't go swimming anyway. Since its P-Day Sister Stratford and I are
going to go pick a cotton ball from the cotton fields because I told her that’s
what I wanted to do. She laughed at me, of course.
I feel like I am
starting to get an accent. They say “idear” instead of idea and “ya’ll”, “ya
know what I’m sayin”, “baby”, and they talk really fast and mumble their words
together. haha Anyways..
General conference was
amazing! Please remember to go to church and attend ALL 3 hours of church! Remember
not to procrastinate repentance! Dress modestly. Remember that just because it
is okay in the world does not mean it is okay with God. God is the same
yesterday, today and tomorrow. Remember that! Everyone here lives with their
boyfriend and calls him their husband. DO NOT LET THAT BE ACCEPTABLE EVER!
PLEASE! I love sharing the gospel here and seeing people change. It hasn't
happened a lot but I know I can make a difference.
Thanks for everyone’s
love and support! I feel so thankful and appreciate all you do!
Sister Putnam
114 B Goose Creek Drive
Washington, North Carolina
27889
Sister Putnam & Sister Stratford
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