September 15, 2014 - I Saw a Turtle

Hey Y'all!
I will start with Monday of last week. We emailed and then went shopping. Then we wrote letters and some other fun stuff. Then we went to dinner at a members home, she made us these Louisiana pork sandwiches. They where pretty good!  After we went to D. and C.'s and visited with them. Then we  did our planning. The people here in Navarre are some of the nicest people I think I have ever met! The ward is great and I just love it!
 Tuesday we went and visited R. and Sister A. she is a less active. Then went to dinner at the H's. Afterwards we helped out with the young women's activity, which as family history stuff.
 Wednesday we worked at the thrift store. Then we came home and had lunch! I had a horrible headache and my comp was sick so we rested for the last little bit of lunch hour! Then we went to visit A. but she wasn't home so we just did 12 week.  That I will tell y'all is just so great! hahaha... anyway we went and saw a less active named V. who just has had a hard last couple of years. She was diagnosed with breast cancer about like a month or two ago and her family just pretty much disowns her, it is really sad.
We are going to be working with her! Then we went to see A. but she canceled on us, so then we tried another less active who didn't even live at the address on the ward roster, she never lived there, so it was weird.
 Then we saw a potential outside named G. so we talked to him and he came to church last week, but he went to the wrong time and wasn't dressed so he left. He was supposed to come this week but he didn't.  Then we talked to some other really nice people.  I am pretty sure they where drunk but we talked with them for a while, at first they tried to scare us off by telling us that they like to strangle little girls, we just laughed because we knew they where lying and then they took our card after we talked for about 20 minutes. They asked us a ton of questions so we will see if anything comes out of it.  Then we went to dinner at the stake presidents house. He is actually in Africa so it was just his wife home. Then we went and saw brother C. who is a less active and then C. and D. we set up an return appointment, because it was late!
Thursday we visited some members and then went and met with R. he had his baptism interview and he passed. We also talked to him about the Priesthood. While Elder B. was doing the interview Sister Strickland and I talked to Elder Y. who I was in the MTC with. The interview lasted about an hour! R. loves to talk and tell stories! We came home and had dinner then correlation meeting, then we went to a Relief Society activity.
Friday we biked to M.Y's and had lunch with her. We had some delish meatball sandwiches. We did some scripture study with her, we talked about virtue. Then we biked to some less actives and potentials not to many people were home or they were "busy". Then we biked and met with a less active who we are teaching the lessons to and that went really, really, well. Then we went and did a cookout with D. and C. We had a ton of food, it was great! I am getting a lot more comfortable talking to people, which makes me happy.
Saturday, we went to Sister W's for lunch then went to the thrift store and then went to lunch with sister C. she took us to a Italian place, it was good! Then we went to a baptism in Milton for a family Sister Strickland taught there.  The spirit was super strong and it was good! It was a dad and two of his sons.  Then Sister L. and Sister A. took us to "Texas Roadhouse" and we went with the Milton sisters also. That was a lot of fun! I'm telling you, the ward members here are the nicest people!
Sunday we went to church and 4 of our investigators couldn't come because the kids where sick but R. came and that was good. We then did weekly planning and then went to the S. families home for dinner and that was good! They have 5 kids under the age of 10 and the youngest is 5, they are a great family. We had a lot of fun with them, after we went and saw C. and D.  I love them! Then we had "companionship inventory" that was fun!  This week was great and it went by faster than a burning freight train. I just want everyone to know that I love this gospel and it its so true! Also, everyone should read the talk "walking in circles".  I love you all and hope you know that I pray for all of you! Thank you for the support and for the love! Oh,  I saw a turtle. I like turtles. Love you and hope y'all have a wonderful week!

Love you!

Love, Sister Seegrist

September 29, 2014 - Bike Crash

Hey y'all!

 I hope you have had a great week! This week was a week of "Hannah Struggles".

 Monday we went to the beach an y'all know me, I  am just an awkward human being sometimes.
 Tuesday was just really long....we had district meeting, which went well. Sister Strickland and I had to teach. We also did OYMed, we talked to 18 new people and got 5 potential investigators. Then we went to see our recent convert R. he is doing good. His wife is going to start taking the lessons and we are super excited about that. She is super sweet! After we went to dinner with the D. family.  Man, oh man their kids are HYPER! Their 3 year old talks faster than a preacher talking about the end of the world! haha... She is super cute!

 Wednesday we worked at the thrift store and then we went to this delish sandwich place called "All American Hero's." it was really good! Afterwards we went to see C.  We then did OYMed,  then we came home for dinner. I started getting sick! I felt so sore and my throat hurt, it was something else. We went to a lesson with N.  her boyfriend came in and was like hey "I'm going to the" Tom Thumb." do you sisters want  anything?" we just said back "if they have Reese Peanut Butter Cup or Oreo just let us know." He came back and said that they didn't have the ones we wanted so he got us birthday cake ones. They are really nice people. Lol. Then we went and taught the C.'s. That went good.  

 Thursday, I was super sick and I couldn't even move. Thank goodness we didn't have any appointments, because I really felt like I could just die. We did get to watch "Nora's Christmas Gift." great movie, btw. I  want y'all to know that prayer really works. I was praying all day that I would feel better so we could go to our dinner appointment at 5pm. The whole day I was like, nope that isn't happening. But at about 4:30, I felt so much better. It was a real tender mercy. The Lord does listen to our prayers and helps us.
We went to our dinner appointment so that was good. Then we went to our correlation meeting (another place that I really I needed to feel better for)  then we went to our appointment with the K's. which went good! I didn't feel sick at all. When we got home the medicine had worn off and I felt like my head was going to explode, but we got what we needed to done. 

Friday was a extreme "Hannah Struggles" Day. We biked to M. Y's house and on our way we saw one of our investigators who we haven't seen in like 2 weeks. He yelled out "Sisters!!" I look and started waving to him, when I looked forward my companion had stopped (and just so you know we were going really, really fast, because we where late)  she stopped and of course me being me, didn't see her.  I slammed on my brakes but I still hit the back of her bike, my back tire was about 3 feet off of the ground! No joke,  that was the first time I have ever gone over the handle bars.  It was all kind of in slow motion.  I was just sitting on the ground laughing.  When I stood up, I realized that I screwed up my knee pretty bad. Haha, it was gushing blood, but it was totally fine. When we  went over to our investigator's house he was laughing so hard. It didn't really hurt, but all I could think about was what my face looked like as this sister missionary in a skirt is flying through the air.  Our investigator was like "are you going to be alright?" I was like, "yeah I'm fine."  He then he said "you country girl, dust the dirt off your back." Haha it was a pretty epic accident! haha. Anyway we got to M's house and she is like "Oh my gosh, come inside" There were some ward members at her house, so it was actually pretty embarrassing. Lol
 After we  went to R's house and he just pointed out the fact that I am a "Big boned women with wide shoulders." So yeah... then we went and taught C. and D. the gospel of Jesus Christ. They pretty much just laughed at my bike crash.  D. was the one that saw it all happen.. anyway that was a eventful day. 

 Saturday we had a ward barbque at the beach, that was fun. Then we went and did service at the thrift store. Later we  went to the women's broadcast in Pensacola. C. and her Daughter B. came so that was good. I met Krissy's sister! She looks just like her. It was cool to see her. Then we came home and sister K. and C. and B. brought us Krispy Kreme's. I'm telling you the members here are great!

 Sunday was a good day. Sister Strickland and I were asked to bear our testimonies. R's wife came to church and so did A.  Then we came home and went to our dinner appointment.  After we went to A's house and taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We asked him to be baptized and he said yes. He doesn't want to pick a date yet because he wants to learn the rest of the lessons first, but he is a really great investigator. So this week was good and full of excitement. I don't have time to email y'all who emailed me this week. We only have an hour to email this week and I only have about 6 minutes left.   I love you all and want you to know that I read all of your letters. I hope you have a great week! Be the best you can be! God loves you! I love you! Jesus Christ loves you! You are loved.. #SHARETHELOVE #DONTCRASHYOURBIKE. I  love y'all,

Love, Sister Seegrist

 

September 22, 2014 - R's Baptism

Hey Y,all!

This week was great, as always!

Monday we just emailed and wrote letters. Tuesday we went to Pensacola for zone training, which was good. We talked about having faith and teaching by the spirit.  I saw one of my MTC companions.. On our way home from training we got caught in a really bad storm. A sister from Gulf Breeze Ward was driving us. We could hardly see out the front window. We  missed our exit and here in Florida there is about 13 miles between each exit.  So we completely ended up near Crestview which is out of our zone but it was all good and it was a great adventure. We  got back to Navarre and went to teach Andrew S. He is our investigator. His wife is a member and he just has had so many contacts with missionaries but never wanted to take the lessons. Something his daughter said to him made him change his mind. His wife really wants to get sealed by next November. But she doesn't want to push him. But after hearing what his daughter said he wanted to take the lessons.  So we taught him the restoration it went good. Then we went to the T's house for dinner.  We went with sister T. to see a sister that she visit teaches. They are less active, then we did 12 week. On Wed. we went and did service at the thrift store, which was good. Then we went and met with C.. we taught her the law of Chastity. That went pretty good.  After we went and taught a lesson with R.  Sister L. came along also, that went well.  She speaks Spanish so they just spoke Spanish a lot of the time.  We talked about temple marriage and missionary work and service, then we had dinner. After dinner we went and taught N. She is a less active who we are teaching the lessons to. We taught her The Plan of Salvation. Then we went to see the C.'s. They are less active as well,  they are the nicest people! So on Thursday we went to sisters R. house and helped make candles with her. She has her own business where she puts jewelry and money and stuff in her candles. So we helped her for 3 hours. We then went and saw C. again.  We  went to the Young's for dinner which was nice. After that we had our correlation meeting then after that we met with R.  On Friday we worked stuff out for R.'s baptism.  Then we went to Michelle Y.'s house for lunch. We talked with her about gratitude. and remembering to thank the lord for everything we have. For the many blessings we already have instead of just keep asking him for more, say thanks first..etc. later we went and met with R. again and told him everything for his baptism. We went and visited with Sister A. she gave us some cookies and we just talked with her. She is another less active. Then went over to Sister W. house.  She is super sweet but is kind of a  strange situation. She is leaving her husband but I won't go into details.  She is less active as well, we went to see her and eat some cake with her. We watched the "Reflections of Christ." if y'all haven't seen it, somehow find a way to watch them they are great!Then we went to the H.'s house for dinner. They are super nice, we  went to visit with sister C. Her husband is less active and he is currently in Germany working. We met with her. She has the cutest kids! (everyone's kids are cute here).  Saturday we worked at the thrift store then we had R.'s baptism. It was stressful at first but it all turned out good. His wife came which was really good.  We started filling up the font and we left and started setting up in the other room. We went to check the water and it was yellow, like a nasty, nasty yellow. Everyone was showing up and it takes about on hour to fill up the font, so we asked R. if he wanted to go to the beach or do it in the nasty water. He said as long as it was wet he didn't care, so we just did it in the font. It all turned out nice. The talks where  good, Sister L. and Brother R. spoke.  After  the baptism, we went to the M.s for dinner and that was good. The dad really likes hot sauce and I told him about dads hot sauce and he kept saying. " I really like your dad" It was funny! Afterwards we  tried to visit some less actives but no one answered or was home. Florida State was playing football and everyone is really big fans of them here.. wonder why.. anyways. Then we cleaned our apartment because it was super gross! On Sunday we went to church and R. got confirmed, his wife came as well. We are hoping to start teaching her soon. But the confirmation was good, Brother C.(same one who baptized him) confirmed him. Funny story, he was actually suppose to deploy like two weeks ago, but they kept delaying it and we think it was so he could baptize him. lol. After having a great time at church we went to the Smith's families home and they fed us lunch. We then had a GREAT lesson with A.! We taught the Plan of Salvation and then we talked about eternal families. After we finished teaching we sat there in silence and after a little bit we asked him if this was something he wanted. He quietly said yes. His wife started bawling. He was trying not to cry. My companion and I started tearing up. He just held her as she was crying. She has been trying to get him to investigate the church for the longest time, but she never pushed him. She always tells him that if he has questions save them for the missionaries. That was  just a really, really, sweet experience this week. These would be the reasons I Love being a missionary! So after that we went to the L.'s for dinner that was good. We visited the N. family. They are less actives as well. They are super nice! We talked with them and then we went home and did 12 week and daily planning. So today we went to this Mexican place to eat with the sisters from Milton Florida and the sisters from Brewton Alabama. Then we went to Navarre Beach! It is probably the prettiest beach, I think I have ever been too. The water is just so clear and so pretty. Well that is all that has happened this week.  I love you all so much! Oh, I want all of you to read the talk by President Thomas S Monson titled "Are we prepared" it is in the new September Ensign. It is really great! I know that this church is true. I can feel it every single day. I know that what our prophet says is true and that we need to follow his teachings. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that if you read it and pray about it, you will receive an answer for yourself. I know that God loves every single one of his children and he watches over all of us. I know that prayer is so powerful and that it is so important. I say that is the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

 I love y'all so much and miss you all like crazy!  I can feel the blessings already. Oh, and I have been in Navarre for 1 month now. Hehe! Well, I love you and hope y'all have a great week.

Love, Sister Seegrist

September 08, 2014 - Raccoon's and Destin Beach

So this week went by so fast!  Oh, and a saw a real live raccoon.. hehe. My life is almost complete! It will be once I see a gator and a bear! haha.  So this lady is our ward took us to Destin last p-day and it is so pretty. We took pictures on the beautiful beaches. We also went to the outlet malls there.  She took us to McGuire's which is this Irish pub. There are only two in the whole world. They have 1.4 million dollars hanging up.. we put a dollar up that had we wrote down Mormon.org and lds.org on hehe... then we put it on the wall. You will have to look up the place it is super awesome! After we  came back and went to teach B. and J. but they were "busy" so we just dropped off some clothes from the other sisters. We went to see some less actives and this one lady was like yelling at us because we didn't call first.. but we weren't even trying to see her in the first place.. haha anyways that was good.   Tuesday we had district meeting which was good!  After that we went and visited some less actives again.. then we went to D. and C. and taught them about baptism. They both want to work towards it. Later we went to R. and re-committed him to baptism. He is getting baptized on the 20th of this month. Then we went and visited some more less actives and did some street contacting! I am telling you, I have never biked so much in my whole life combine! I love it!  Tuesday we talked to a group of like 5 people who where so drunk it was super funny. One lady  said we could come back and then when we did she was sleeping, so we will see if we go see her again.. Wednesday we did service at the thrift store.. Mom, Charity and Aryn, I am pretty sure you would all love this store! ..Hehe.  Later that day we went to see A. who is a non active member who we are trying to get to come back to church! She just has troubles with Joseph Smith and prophets. We are working with her though. Later we  went on exchanges and I went to Milton for the rest of the day! We taught some less actives and recent converts, that was good. When I got back on Thursday we went and  saw R. again.  then we went to the H. for dinner. They really are a awesome family!  Then we had correlation meeting and let me tell you... the cockroaches here are HUGE! There were some just crawling round the Relief Society room. The Elders freaked out more than I did.. haha even though it was creepy.. haha  Then we went and visited more less actives.. on Friday we went to M. Y. house for lunch. She feeds us every Friday, she is so nice! We talked with her and did some scripture study with her. She is really nice, her husband passed away about a year and a half ago. Then we did weekly planning  then we biked to Sister L.'s for dinner. She is so kind as well. we also brought food that Sister L. made to a non member family. We are hoping to teach them sometime. So funny story, we went and saw R. and we drove this time and when we pulled up the wife thought we were cops ( we drive a super nice Chevy Cruz.) so we knocked on the door and we hear all of this noise and this a few minutes later someone opens the door and there is no one in the house.. so he sees us and is like "Oh, he will be right out," so when he came out everyone was just chilling on the couch.. haha he told us that his wife got up and ran and hid.. haha keep in mind she is like 65 haha and this larger black lady.. haha it was so funny! I love the people here!  Saturday we had kind of a really cool day, our investigators D. and C. don't have a working car, but we have an awesome ward and brother K. came and fixed their car for them. It was so awesome, we were able to visit with them for a while when they where fixing the car. Sister K. is 23 and is expecting a baby. She is in the Air force (just like EVERYONE here in Navarre) but she is getting out in November. They are a really awesome couple! They are ward missionaries! So after they fixed their car we went to another lesson with R. and Sister K.Y.  came with us to that lesson and it was awesome! After that my companion and I were so hungry, so we went to the Waffle house and the waitress asked if we where Jehovah Witnesses. We said "No we are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!" Then we started to talk  with her.  She is confused about churches right now and wanted to meet with us. We are going to her house on Wednesday. It was super awesome! She also said that her sister might have some questions for us.. we are hoping it all goes well. Anyway,  I saved the best day for last.. SUNDAY! We had 4 investigators come to church! D. , C. and her kids all came! They stayed the whole time and loved it! They said they are excited to come back next week! R. was supposed to come but his wife had to got to the ER but he is coming next week.. Then we planned some more on Sunday and then we went to C.and D. house, because we didn't get to talk to them after church. They left with the member they came with so fast.. They are such awesome people! We  got stuck at their house because it started storming super bad.. and we had biked to their house. but Sister L.. came and picked us up. because we had a dinner appointment with her! We ate dinner with them and the C.'s they are another super awesome couple, they are around  22 and 24.  They gave us a ride back to our bikes and we biked home!  This whole week was really good and it went by so fast! I hope y'all had a wonderful week! I love you all and thank you all so much for the support and everything! I know that this church is so true and I know that my life would not be the same without it! I know that our Father in Heaven loves and knows us personally. I know that Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today and he leads and guides us.  I hope you all have a wonderful week! Love you all!

Love, Sister Hannah Seegrist

September 01, 2014 - Half Mission Conference Elder Zwick

Hey everyone!
This week has been good. It went by so fast, but it feels like it was forever ago from last Monday! Tuesday we biked and contacted, my companion was sick so we didn't get out until later, but it's all good. Wednesday we had a half mission conference and Elder Zwick came and spoke, it was really good! He talked a lot about getting members involved and staying focused on the work, it was really good. It was also good to see some of my old MTC friends. Thursday we taught R., he is an older guy who was about to get baptized but he had to wait for a legal issue to resolve.  He is a  smoker and we need to get him to stop and start coming back to church, because he has a wonderful testimony but he just has some stuff to take care of before he can get dunked. So we then biked everywhere! I have bike almost my whole area. Just have to bike area 10 and 11 but we will get those this week. We get fed all the time here. The ward members are so friendly. This one guy in our ward bought us pizza for when we had some other  sisters who were staying in our house over half mission conference. He always ask us do you have food? Oh, I almost forgot, we had a wonderful church tour with our awesome investigators D. and C. They loved it! They have 2 kids both have Autism but it is very mild and they are awesome kids. They were suppose to come to church but their son got sick so they couldn't. But it is probably best they didn't because it was all on temples and I think that would have scared them, we haven't talked about that yet. Friday we taught them again and told them about the Book of Mormon. Actually only C. was there this time but she loved it and was so excepting of it. They really are just ready to learn. She also loved hearing about Joseph Smith and it made so much sense to her and D.  Saturday we biked around and talk to everyone which we do everyday anyways. We biked to the beach here and that was nice..  I loved it! Yesterday we went to church all week I had this feeling that I would see someone I  knew at church but I was like nah that won't happen.. then I am sitting there and the family in front of me looked so familiar I was like "Oh my gosh it's that Caplin dude! ha..ha... I wasn't really sure, then they were signing, so I knew it was them. That was pretty cool! I got some pictures with them. After church were at home for lunch and we were just laying down cause we still had about 30 minutes left of our lunch hour and my companion said to me " My best friend is going to be in Destin tomorrow" (That is where we are going today) She said "I wish I could just run into her but it is so big it will never happen.." not even 2 minutes later we hear a knock at the door and there is this older couple standing there like they were lost. We looked down and there were balloons and candy on our doorstep and the guy was like "Someone left you something." we were like, who are these people.  the guy was like " Who do I look like? I am brother..... so in so.." My companion was like " OH MY GOODNESS IS SHE HERE????" her best   
friend was there and came to see her... haha, just cause they were here in Navarre. Yesterday was a pretty weird day!... haha but it was good one and none of it was planned... haha. Today we are going to Destin as I mentioned before, a lady in our ward is taking us. We are at her house using her computers because the library is closed so we got permission to email at a members house. I will try and send some more pictures next week because I don't really know how to send them off o this laptop. I love you all so much and thank you all for the support! I know the church is true! I know that families can be together forever and that we have a living prophet on the earth today! I love you all and will write you next week!
Love, Sister Hannah Seegrist