Always More Work to Do in the Building up of the Kingdom.

Hey,> Sorry, I forgot to tell you that its transfer week and therefore Tuesday> P-day. Its just how it works. So I didn't forget to write and I hope you> got more than a ps last week. Sorry. Daddy I am SO proud of you for taking> a nap!! I don't that I have ever known that to happen unless you were so> sick that your free agency was taken from you and you just passed out!! I'm> also very glad to hear that the backyard is coming along!! How's the> fireplace looking? Could you attach some pictures of it for me?? Thanks> Oh and where in Ohio are they from?? Thats where my trainer Sister> Derenthal is from. Cincinnati! And the church isn't too big over there.> She's in the Cincinnati Stake.> SO its been an eventful week as always in the service of the Lord. I got a> typewritter for $15 at the ROund Rock Serving Center that we volunteer at> and a member in my ward is going to order the ink ribbon thing for it... no> more hand writting letters. Its SO cute. And not that important, but still> fun. Dad I know I know I'm on a mission, BUT I'm going to be using it once a> week and its just so cute so I thought it through and although sister> Derenthal thought I was crazy at first I decided it was a good investment> even though I don't really have room in my very cute vintage but kinda small> luggage. SIster Derenthal has been continuing the fight of trying to teach> me how to be practical. But, I think the problems come in when we have two> very different definitions of practical.> Funny story: So we have been working with a lot of inactive sisters lately and> seen absolute miracles in actually being able to get in doors and into hearts> that have been closed for LONG periods of time. SO one sister just kicked> out her non-member boyfriend and we went over to help her clean out and deep> clean her house which she actually hadn't done even when they moved in 2> years ago (yes, I am grateful for weekly chores) Anyways she had her two> boys go into their room, while she gave us a disclaimer. The night before> she found a WOLF SPIDER in her bathroom. That was still there cause she was> too scared to kill it and when her 7 year old son went in to get it in the> morning IT WAS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND!! And that as she has been cleaning> their house they have been disturbing their comfy habitat. And that they> liked dark enclosed spaces. SO guess where we began... THE CLOSET. So> needless to say that although I think I have come a long way in the spider> department, I was a little bit nervous. So as we were taking stuff out,> there was a smaller spider and I calmly asked sister derenthal to kill it.> She told me that I was not allowed to scream unless it was bigger that a> quarter. I agreed. So then 30 seconds later, I ran away screaming. I have> never been so terrified in my life. I saw the biggest spider I have ever> seen...and it was ALIVE!!!!!! Sister Derenthal was even freaked out. SO we> called Ian her 7 year old son and sister Mitchell said, now Ian strike hard> and strike fast and kill it the first time. Well He didn't get it the first> time. THe GIGANTIC spider came running out of the closet and I was> instantly up on a chair. He got it, the brave little kid. But, it was> pretty much a near death experience. So I owe my life to a 7 year old!> Oh and I thought I was on a mission, but I keep having visitors so I am> starting to doubt it a little bit. I saw Sister McFerson on Saturday and it> was fun. But, its weird cause I have gotten so close to my ward here that it> kinda just felt like we were eating doughnuts (yes moma doughnuts) with just> another member of the Brushy Creek ward. And Momma she gave me the stuff.> And I love you, but I realize where I get the impratical stuff from. The> shoes were definately cute, but there is no way I can where bright yellow> open toe shoes or bright pink shoes. So I am going to be sending them> home. But, thanks for the thought!! I loved it.> Oh and a woman from Iran named Pershia (she changed her name from Vita to> Pershia) is going to be calling you. She joined the church in Germany like> 20 years ago, but she didn't know it was here. ANd she does the hair of a> member of the church and they made the connection. ANd the Elders from the> ward she'll belong to asked if I could go visit her and it was wonderful.> She was so perfectly persian. And she really wants to talk to you... And> could you send me my Book of Mormon in Farsi? I am going to give it to her.> English is still hard for her to read.> SO we went to visit Patrick and I can't contain my joy to see the change> that has taken place. We were almost laughing because he couldn't stop> smiling. We walk in and he was COOKING!!! and he had put pictures up in> his place and he couldn't stop smiling. I have never seen a happier person> in my life. THAT IS THE GOSPEL IN ACTION! He said that he was talking to a> lady at work and she asked him why he was so happy. He kinda told her his> story and that he had gotten baptized and stuff. And she was like thats> amazing, what church did you get baptized into? And he said the Mormon> church And her mouth dropped open. SHe was shocked!! He said it was the> funniest thing. He is a perfect example for me that although things aren't> perfect, he's been wating for his wife and she's just been messing with him,> so he's done and work isn't perfect, but he is PERFECTLY happy. He knows> what its like to live without the spirit and sometimes it takes the> perspective of someone else to make you realize how blessed you have truly> been to have that with you always. DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED!! SHow your> gratitude for heavenly father for the blessing of the gospel and the access> to constant companionship of the spirit. I'm here for Patrick I am here for> the Lord I will continue doing everything I can to help people who are> searching to find him. THere is NO GREATER WORK IN THE WORLD. ANd I am> humbled and grateful that He loves me for who I am and is patient with me> through my weakness. I finished the book of mormon and I was really touched> my Moroni's insecurities in his writting. Because he knew how important it> was he was scared that his weakness' would minimize the importance of its> meaning for our generation. But, then came some of the most beautiful> scripture Ether 12:27 The Lord gives us weakness' to help us to be humble,> but through Him weakness' can be made stong. And Ether was comforted by> that.> This was an important thing for me to realize because this next transfer is> going to be character building, very humbling and its going to bring me even> closer to my Savior than I have ever been. President called last night and> told sister Derenthal that she was going to be staying in Brushy Creek and> training again. Which meant that I would of course be leaving this ward and> my companion that are now a part of me. Then President told me that I would> be getting doubled in to a new area. They are taking the Elders out of a> struggling area and putting sisters in and not only that, but he asked me to> train. I said that if he was asking me to do that I knew that I could and> that of course I would do it. So, I am very humbled by this oppotunity that> the Lord has put in front of me. But, He has been preparing my heart and> mind for a while. I wasn't shocked because I knew in my heart that I would> be training. But, I feel a little like Moses or Isaiah, when called to do> something I am not quite sure how I am going to do. I am the youngest> sister in the mission. I am with my trainer and there is SO MUCH I don't know,> and now I will be training and going to a completely new area! But, I know> whom the Lord calls he qualifies so I am excited for the things I will be> learning in the time to come. BUt your prayers would be MUCH appreciated.> I'll get her this thursday and Im actually going to be taking my District> Leaders area so Sister Derenthal and I will stay in the same district.> Which in many ways none of these things ever happen, but the Lord is with me> and although I AM WEAK, with Him I can do all things!>> Well till next monday!> Sister Rooney