Week 14: Texas Whoppers!

Monday, Sept. 6, 2016

Howdy, y'all!

First of all, I'm sorry I wasn't able to send this yesterday!  The library was closed for labor day, so we had to wait until today to email!  Which ended up being just fine because we needed to go to Odessa again to buy things and we went to several different stores and didn't get back until about 4 PM, so with emailing, P-Day would have been gone!  I was very grateful for being able to go to Walmart, though.  I was finally able to print out pictures!  That makes me so happy when I can just look through all the pictures I have taken and pick out my favorite ones to print out and keep forever or send to family and friends :)

This week has been NUTS.  Andrews kind of started to fall apart for a second, there.  Our favorite investigator family, Albert, Veronica, and Ariana had something super scary happen on Friday.  Albert wasn't able to get his kids from his ex-wife's house and threw a fit, scared Veronica, she called 911, the police came, Albert was calm by that time, but he had a warrant for his arrest because of a traffic violation, so he spent the night in jail.  It ended up being all okay, though, because of our favorite member family in Andrews, the McArthurs!  After that happened, the next day, we just couldn't focus on anything (Sister Kynaston and I), so we went over to the McArthur's house and helped them with a bunch of chores while we talked about what happened.  Sister McArthur then had us help make homemade bread (with her wonderfully huge kitchenaid mixer that you should be jealous of, Mommy ;) ) and we took a loaf over to Ariana's house along with some homemade peach jam - yum!  We were able to talk to the whole family about what happened and Albert thought he couldn't go to church after being in jail!  I'm so grateful we went over and cleared that up.  We invited them all to come to church the next day and they did!  It was amazing!  They had an amazing time, too.  After church we were able to talk about Ariana's baptism and finish planning the whole thing, so we're all ready to go for Saturday!  Sister Kynaston and I are so so so excited!  Sister K hasn't had a baptism in so long and she is especially excited to be able to be a part of someone taking that step :)

Speaking of Sunday, another miracle happened that day.  Ever since I can remember, fasting has always been something I have not been able to participate in because I get so sick when I go without food for too long.  So, at home, I did a technology fast, where I wouldn't use my kindle or watch TV for that Sunday, or something like that.  Even then, I wasn't great at it.  And I never fasted for a purpose - or never understood the purpose of fasting.  Fasting is something we do when we want answers from God.  But, instead of replacing a prayer, we fast WITH praying and that's when it becomes the most powerful.  We say a prayer at the beginning of a fast and tell Heavenly Father what it is we are fasting for.  Then, periodically throughout the fast, we pray every time we feel pain from hunger or anything like that to ask for strength to continue the fast.  In other words, you put off what you want NOW for what you REALLY want LATER.  In my case, I was fasting for Ariana's baptism to go smoothly and for her to be an example to her family and help them progress towards baptism as well.  Well, I am here to tell you that IT WORKS.  I was able to fully fast for two meals on Sunday with the help of the Lord and with the help from my wonderful companion :)  I did start to feel sick at about 1 PM and then again at about 4 PM, but every time I did feel sick, I found a quiet place with my companion and said a prayer to help me continue with my fast and it worked!  I haven't seen the fruits of my fast yet, but I have this overwhelming feeling that everything will go smoothly this upcoming weekend and that Ariana and her family will be okay no matter what :)  They are progressing, especially Ariana!  I cannot wait to tell you guys all about how the baptism goes this weekend!  Ariana's grandma will be making tomales for everyone and I can't wait to try them!  They are just an amazing family and I am so grateful for them and for the opportunity that I had to fast this last Sunday!  It truly brings miracles!

Also, on Sunday, we went over to our recent convert's house, Abby, and she got a FLUTE!  Oh my goodness, her flute is BEAUTIFUL.  It is a professional flute and she has plugs for it and everything, they paid, like, $1500 plus insurance for this gorgeous instrument and they gave it to an eleven year old!  I'm really glad they got insurance because they are going to need it for that wonderful, gorgeous, beautiful instrument.  Abby pulled it out and I taught her how to put it together and pull it apart CAREFULLY and how to clean it and how to blow in it and make a noise :)  And then I played hymn number 284, If You Could Hie To Kolob and it just felt really really good to play the flute again!  Her flute makes the most gorgeous sound.  I love it so much and I'm so glad Abby is starting the flute this year in school!  She is going to love it and I'm grateful I got to go over there and teach her a little bit or how it works :)  Her cute little arms can barely hold it up!  But she'll be okay soon enough :)

Well, I just need to thank everyone who reads these emails and who sends me letters and emails back because seriously, you guys are amazing and I love you so much!  It makes my day when we open the mail box and there is a letter in there waiting for me!  It's the most amazing feeling :)  I'm also grateful for the support I have had while I have been on a mission!  The Lord truly has provided for me while I have been in this strange western land ;)  Thank you so much!  I love you!

Love, 

Sister Heather Overson

I got a TEXAS DOUBLE WHOPPER...

... FROM BURGER KING...

...AND ATE IT...

...AND IT WAS DELICIOUS!!!

Pomegranate tree!

I made an engagement ring with infinity signs on it
for Veronica and her boyfriend so they can
get married before they are baptized!

Grandpa Mac was actually wearing
something besides his overalls!

 I made us a HUGE breakfast yesterday morning complete
with bacon, sausage, crepes, avocado milkshakes, juice,
homemade bread, and everything to put on our crepes! 
It was delicious.