New Area

Hello World!!! :)

I am now serving in Paragould, Arkansas!!! It is just 20 miles from the boot heel of ​Missouri. And for the awesome people in Martin, I am 95 miles southwest-ish from you!!! So that was a fun surprise to see!!

My new address is 913 S. 22nd St #6, Paragould, AR 72450.

Paragould is a branch. This was my first time ever attending a branch... It is so small!!!!! It is going to take some getting used to, but at least I'll be able to meet the members fast! :) And I am now the Branch Relief Society Pianist :)

My new companion is Sister Merita Brunt. Fun fact: she actually came to Arkansas with me. So we are both kind of follow-up training each other, but I am more senior companion. That's only because I know the language. She is actually from Samoa, and she had to learn English. And for only being out here for 3 months, its amazing!!!! I love her so much!! But it was still sad to leave - leaving Hot Springs was soo hard!! Even though it was only 3 months, you still grow attached to the people.

I saw the picture of the car, and it made me laugh! That was the car we had in Hot Springs. It's a good car. In Paragould, we have a silver Toyota Corolla.

This week was interesting. Monday and Tuesday was mostly full of saying good-byes, so not really any work done. Wednesday was transfers in Little Rock, and the drive to my new area is 3 hours away. So we didn't do a whole lot either. Thursday morning, we were in Memphis for a special appointment for Sister Brunt. (No problems, it had been set up before I got here.) But this week has pretty much been me getting to meet our investigators and some of the members. But, Sunday we set a baptismal date!! So that was pretty amazing!! I look forward to teaching him and helping him progress. His name is Greg, if y'all could keep him in your prayers.

I'll have more info next week, I promise!!!

I love y'all!!!

Sister Pochop

Scripture of the Week: 1 Nephi 1:1

 1  I, NEPHI, having been ^aborn of ^bgoodly ^cparents, therefore I was ^dtaught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many ^eafflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a ^frecord of my proceedings in my days.

She knows how much I "love" camo....not!

 

Transfers

May 18, 2015

Hello again!

It's that time again! And yes, I am getting transferred. It's a weird situation. Hot Springs's sisters are being shut down. We aren't entirely sure why, but the Lord has His reasons. I don't know where I'm going, but I find out on Wednesday, so I'll tell you next week. So my address until further notice is 905 Kierre Dr, North Little Rock, AR 72116. It's the Mission Office, and they will get it to me.

I am safe! It's just a lot of thunderstorms, but we are safe!! Thank you for prepping a package for me!!! I look forward to it!!!

The service opportunities depend on the places. Those places need a scheduled time in which you can come, and we can't do that.

Congrats again to the Keller's!! They all must be so proud and happy!!

Sometimes the Lord works in ways that we don't understand. Remember with my decision to serve, I was ready. But then He told me no. THEN He told me yes! There's something you need to learn and prepare for that will come out for the best.

Exchanges were great!! We met a lot of new people that have a lot of potential!! It was great! Sister Thompson was with me. She actually left today. But she is so sweet! That's the really sad thing about transfers! We found so many people, but we have to leave them. We are going to give them to the elders, and know that they will take good care of them.

We did meet with Gary. We gave him a church tour then taught the restoration to him on Saturday. He is so golden!! I don't want to give up teaching him, but I know that what is going to happen is going to happen for the best.

Love you too!!!!
Sister Pochop

Scripture of the Week: Doctrine and Covenants 4

1  NOW behold, a ^amarvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

2  Therefore, O ye that embark in the ^aservice of God, see that ye ^bserve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand ^cblameless before God at the last day.

3  Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are ^acalled to the work;

4  For behold the ^afield is white already to ^bharvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in ^cstore that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

5  And ^afaith, ^bhope, ^ccharity and ^dlove, with an ^eeye single to the ^fglory of God, ^gqualify him for the work.

6  Remember faith, ^avirtue, knowledge, ^btemperance, ^cpatience, ^dbrotherly ^ekindness, ^fgodliness, charity, ^ghumility, ^hdiligence.

7  ^aAsk, and ye shall receive; ^bknock, and it shall be opened unto you.  Amen.

 

 

Hello World!

May 11, 2015

Yesterday was Mother's Day, so I got to see my family!! It was a lot of fun and just getting to talk was a great experience. I appreciate and value the time we had!!! Love y'all!!!
I can't believe this is the last week of the transfer!! No, I don't know who is leaving. It is all in the Lord's hands. Yes, there is a high chance that Sister Zent will be getting transferred. She has been here for about 7 months. But there was a Sister that was in an area for 15 months. So anything is possible. But next week I'll know, then you'll know! :)
This week was a little slow in the work. On Tuesday, we did service almost all day. It was for a family in the ward who's son had died. They were having family come in and needed their house cleaned up. It took a while, but service is always so good.

Wednesday, we visited with the sweetest lady. She just moved here from the town over. She is a member, but lives in a rehabilitation home and doesn't have a ride. Her comprehension is slower than most, but she has a testimony! A member had donated a simplified, coloring book of the Book of Mormon to the mission, so we gave her one. She loves it! Even though she can't quite grasp the entire concept of the Book of Mormon, she understands bits and pieces and knows its true. It's fun to visit her.

We also taught Ethan again. It's slow going with him. He understands what we are teaching him, but I think he lacks the desire to put in the effort to change. He wants to and makes commitments, but he doesn't keep them all the time. That makes it hard, but as long as we have the Spirit with us when we teach I know that he will change. The Spirit is the most powerful member of our companionship, because he testifies of the truth. When we make Him our senior companion, the person we are teaching knows.

Friday was a long day. We had a meeting in Little Rock, then our ride had to pick someone up at the airport. Then they fed us, but we didn't get back to Hot Springs until 8. So we weren't productive with the work at all. But the meeting was good. We focused on raising the culture and the bar of our mission. Focusing on Exact Obedience. Also on strengthening ourselves and becoming better missionaries, then working on our companionships, the district, zone, then mission. All good things.

This week is going to be good! We have recommitted to being the best missionaries we can be. The work is true!!!

Love,

Sister Pochop

Scripture of the Week: Mosiah 28:3

3  Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not ^abear that any human ^bsoul should ^cperish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure ^dendless torment did cause them to quake and ^etremble.

(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 28:3)

 

May the 4th be with you!!

May the 4th be with you!! J

Haha! Get it?! Yes, I am still a nerd and the mission won't change that!!!

Mother's day!

I'm not positive on the time on Sunday, but it should be at 2 or later my time. So 12 or later your time.) We are Skyping! And I was able to get a little more time since I'll be talking to you and dad. So I have 30 minutes with each of y'all!! Why don't y'all just have Griffin on speakerphone? That way he can still hear what's going on and be part of the conversation.

That was my first week of bike/walk week. The way my district works is we are doing a car share. There are 4 sets of missionaries and 3 cars. Every set has 3 weeks with a car, and 1 week walking or riding a bike. Hot Springs isn't very conducive for riding bikes, so we walked. I am back on car though.

Ethan is doing good. We committed him to being baptized on May 17. He is struggling with word of wisdom things, but that is so common here in the South. We just need to do all we can and teach them and help them learn for themselves what they need to do.

I'm good. As the ward mission leader told me last night, "I don't have a look of terror any more!" So that's always a good thing!! But honestly, I'm doing good. The work is long and hard, but it is completely worth it!! The time has been flyin' past! I can't believe transfers are already coming up! We have no idea who is leaving and who is staying. We won't know until the Sunday before. Sister Zent thinks she's going to be a lifer in Hot Springs. She's already been here for 6 months- her first area. We both joke that the other is leaving, but she had a dream that I got the call to be transferred. But we'll just have to wait and see.

I don't think I need anything. Just news and pictures and love and support. Which is what everyone is doing.

Congrats to Griffin and Abby! [I don't have enough time to write him or her that.]

Dom will be a great ward missionary! Same with Cassandra! I'm so proud of her!

Love,

Sister Pochop

Scripture of the Week:
3 Nephi 5:13
13  Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  I have been ^acalled of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.