Jocelyn's post on Veterans Day Nov. 11 2013

On Nov 12, 2013, at 12:27 PM, Jocelyn Smith <jocelyn.smith@myldsmail.net> wrote:

> Yeah, the library was closed yesterday so we have the chance to email today! Wow. Our pday yesterday was phenomenal though! We started it off by cleaning and then we went to this vintage store and I talked to this old lady about God and Jesus and stuff and then I gave her a Mormon.org card and that was fun. And then we ate at the hip burger place that reminded me of California. It was surprising to see out here in Georgia, it's not really all the southern, and therefore I really like it ;). Anyway, so we're driving and we decide to stop at this little gift shop called "Eclectic." The cool thing out here is that a lot of little stores and salons and even some dentist offices and the such, are in old houses. It's super cute and very unique, at least to my realm of experience. And the stuff inside is all stuff that is most likely sold in Roger's Garden, it's all so pretty and just mmmm. I loved it! And the owner started talking to me for a little bit and then she mentioned she was LDS, but it sounded like she was inactive. Well, we all started talking to her about her store and what she sells and decorating, etc. And then we offer to help her decorate the store for Christmas and such. Finally, she said she almost didn't want to talk to us, but when she saw us she knew that she needed to go back to church. She has a daughter who is a crack addict and she's so weighed down by the troubles in her house from it that she knows she's been needing some pick-me-ups from church. Needless to say, it was really awesome and we're going to her store next week to help her.
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> Then we go to the number one selling pet store in the nation, (crazy right?! In Kennesaw!) because Sister Madsen is animal crazy and you can hold the puppies while you walk around and she was having a bad day (her grandpa passed away on Sunday), and the puppies are adorable. Well this guy that works there calls us "sisters," so we know he's Mormon and we ask what ward he's in... He's in our branch! He's a less active that is on our 5-5 list and we had no idea he worked there. Well, we didn't talk all that much about church with him, but we did talk about his job and such. When we were getting ready to leave he asked us if he could have a lesson with us! THat is the trick my friends, making them think it's their idea. And it was. To be honest, it was perfect because we legit cared about him and we didn't push anything on him, we just talked to him and since we're missionaries he knows he can have a lesson with us so he asks! So cool!
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> Last week the work was slow slow slow slow slow. Sister Beck has been really sick. She's in denial too hahaha. She's coughing up her lungs at least once an hour and then she's super fatigued. She only tells people she has a cough... Seriously. Anyway, she is feeling a lot better though so we're getting back in the swing of things. It's strange finding that balance between not feeling guilty because she's sick and feeling guilty because our work is so slow. It's something that I think every missionary has gone through and I don't like being in that strange balance. I mean, I can't really be upset, but I just want to work.
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> One really great thing that we had last week was zone conference and that was awesome. I felt the spirit for most of the meeting and I just admire President and Sister Wolfert so much. Sister Wolfert is like the epitome of what I want to be when I am her age. She is so spiritual and classy and beautiful. She's everything. (so are you mom don't worry! I may be biased, but I always think that you are probably the best mom in comparison to my companions' moms hahah!) Lot's of new insight and perspective that I hope to apply to the work.
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> Oh I almost forgot! Andrew. He's a member referral and he's amazing! He's the one that hears the spirit through music and such. Anyway, we finally got to teaching him about the Restoration. We taught him in the cube that the lds student assoc. has on campus, and we found out they have a copy of the Restoration video, so we taught him the first lesson pretty quickly and were already feeling the spirit and then we watched the movie... wow. If nothing, I felt the spirit like a ton of bricks! It's so beautiful, because none of us are caught in any weird emotions or anything, we're just watching a movie on Joseph Smith and bam! The spirit just enters into the heart and testifies like no tomorrow. Well, that increased my faith and Andrew prayed about it and he says he knows it's true. He afraid to get baptized so quickly because of bad experiences in Catholic school growing up, but I know he will eventually. He also said that he didn't realize it, but he felt like he needed to see that movie that day. It was probably the best first lesson I've gone through so far.
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> There aren't really anymore stories to relay... I will be picking up my package today! I couldn't get it because it didn't fit in the locker thing and it came on Saturday, and since yesterday was veterans day we couldn't get it. So hopefully we have some time to pick it up. Hahah in all reality, I might have to get it tomorrow :P. It is really cold today! The wind is so so so so chilly! It looks all nice and beautiful outside and the wind just chills. Man. The leaves falling are gorgeous and we drove through a rainfall of leaves this morning.
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> Happy Birthday Ashley on Thursday! Love you tons! Mmmmm. I wish I could have some Oak Glen Apple cider. So delicious!
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> Love you all like crazy,
> Jocelyn