Musical Me

This week has been muy bueno in many ways. Sister Seaman and I got a call from Sister Ross, the choir director in our ward, and she said that a last minutes musical number had fallen through, and that she heard that we were some talented gals. We have sung in relief society before, so I guess that the news is circulating that there are some seriously skilled savvy sisters (say that five times fast ;)) in their midst. Haha just kidding, but she asked us to think about songs with prayer. We decided on Did you Think to Pray, which I was a little hesitant on, because it is just so repetitive. There isn't a whole lot to the melody and I just didn't like it very much...but I humbled myself and said that I would go with whatever she wanted us to do. We headed over to her house Friday night and as it would turn out, she had an amazingly cool arrangement of Did you think to Pray! I sang alto (weird for me, I'm usually the loud high one :) ) and Sister Seaman and I clicked really well together. We sing a lot together. As part of our companion study in the morning we'll sing a hymn together. I'm really grateful that I have such a great companion, and that we are so alike in many ways. It was a beautiful number, and at the end of the practice, I felt a little unsure about this one weird harmony. I expressed my wish that we had a piano that was closer to us, or one of those roll up electric keyboards that you can take with you practically anywhere, and Sister Ross was like, "OH, I have a keyboard. Do you want it?" I just kind of sat there stunned for a moment, I couldn't believe that she was actually offering me a keyboard. I turned to Sister Seaman and said in a hushed tone "Is this allowed?" Sister Seaman responded in a hushed voice as well. "I think so...Elder Lavulo has an ukelele.". Sister Ross laughed at our little exchange and had me reach up high in the garage (Superpower-- height) to grab it. She said that I could keep/borrow it...not quite sure when the return date is on that baby, but we went home with a keyboard!!!! I was so excited!!!!!!! I practice on it everyday, just hymns or that arrangement of I know that my Redeemer lives, but it is so wonderful. It's very therapeutic, and I hate to admit it, but I definitely missed practicing the piano.

Sister Seaman and I performed on Monday, and there was an issue of height. If I held the music where I could see it fine, it would cover Sister Seaman's face. So, we decided that she would stand on one of those stools that the kiddles stand on when they bear their testimonies. We got a BIG laugh from the congregation. The musical number was great. I never feel the spirit more than when I am performing. It's like it says in my patriarchal blessing. I will experience the most joy when I am serving others and witnessing the joy that my talents bring to others. And the musical number was good for missionary work too! After the sacrament, we had like, 5 people come up and say that they would like for us to teach some of their friends/relatives. This was truly a wonderful blessing from Heavenly Father.

We had Sister's Conference this week! It was really wonderful. President and Sister Holm talked about our worth as women and how the work really can't move forward without us. I got to see Sister Patterson again and the rest of my district! Sister Seaman got to see her past companions and it was wonderful. There was so much love in that room it was palpable. And the food they fed us wasn't half bad either. :)

Brother Reed is doing really well. He has come to church for a month now and came to the Fall Festival this last Saturday! He is really getting involved in the ward. Now, if we could just get him to stay the full three hours it would be bueno. We're assigning Brother Mastellar to fellowship him...and basically not let him skip out on Sunday school and priesthood. He can kidnap him if need be and coerce him, but hopefully there is never a point where there is duck tape and the trunk of a car involved.:) We'll be inviting him to be baptised again this Friday so we'll let you know how that goes. Pray that he'll say yes!!! Tina is in a really sticky situation right now. She's being stalked by her ex-husband/boyfriend. I'm not exactly sure on the logistics, but she's not allowed to leave her home and she has disconnected her phone. We know that she has a testimony of what were telling her, and I love her and her children and niece SSSSOOOOOOO much. Satan is just pulling all of the strings around her and she is very confused and scared. Please pray for Tina. We haven't heard from Rachel, Lisa, or Brenda at all this week. They skipped out on their appointments.The adversary is working incredibly hard on these incredible women. Please pray for all of them.

 

Well I love all of you and I am so grateful for your letters and the prayers that I receive. I was talking to Sister Titus after Sister's Conference. We carpooled with them, and I asked her why she came on a mission. What she said surprised me. She asked "Why I came on a mission or why I stayed on a mission?" I said both. She said that she came because she knew that it was something that she'd always strived for, and she said that she stayed because of her family. I'm paraphrasing greatly but she said something along those lines. I came on a mission because I knew that it was what God wanted me to do. I'm still here because of all of you. Don't get me wrong, there are many wonderful happy times that fill the mission, and I love at least 1 thing about everyday, but anyone who's been knows of the hardships and adversity. I am here because you inspire me to do better and you fill me with your love and you buoy me up when things are hard. So for that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'll talk to you soon! There is still many a miracle to happen today, and I'm going to go find them.

TLLY, and in case you forgot, I do to.

XoxxOOxOX

The very grateful Sister Jones