Week 7 Austin, Minnesota

Us on Christmas eve

Our tree

My Christmas presents!

It’s so freaking cold in MINNESOTA!

Friends and Family!!

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas!! I sure did!!! This Christmas was so awesome!! I feel so truly blessed to have been able to be in Austin for Christmas!! I love the spirit of missionary work during the holidays and I’m really sad it is over! To re-cap the events of the week(well, the most important ones anyway....):

On Christmas eve, we had one BUSY day!! I’m not even joking, I think that  it was one of the busiest days I have had while serving a mission.  We spent the evening with our recent convert Brother B and his family..who are so AWESOME!! we had a great time....they had us over for dinner and then we played games and they had even gotten us some presents!! they were too sweet to us!! i feel so blessed to know them! On Christmas we woke up and opened our presents and that was a lot of fun!! I would have to say that my favorite gift was wrapping homemade paper that had pictures of all the animals my little brother has killed..Stu sent me a notebook that he had written in each day since i have been gone..it made me cry!!!!!!! it was so sweet! I am so grateful him and MISS him!!!!! i LOVE you STU HU!! After presents we got ready and went over to a member’s house to eat breakfast and play games....we played some card games and then played some "hall hockey" it was really fun and i will for sure have to teach you all when i get home :) Then it was time for the BIG PHONE CALL to the family! We went over to a members home to Skype! it was so awesome to see my family..in my living room that still looks the same.  I'm not going to lie, but i thought that talking with my family would be hard and make me really homesick but i didn't! I totally think this is a HUGE blessing from Heavenly Father!

After talking to my family, we played games and just relaxed at the members home..we played Yahtzee and lets just say that i think i have met my match, if possible, when it comes to how competitive i get when playing any type of game..But no worries, i still won!!! But i though Bro C was going to flip his lid!! it was really funny to watch him get mad! it made me laugh both inside and out!!  Christmas night we had a lesson with our investigators Bro. N and Bro. P..it was a lot of fun..we went over to there home and watched a Christmas movie, and yes it was church-approved! then we had treats and just laughed and talked! I'm so glad we were able to spend part of our Christmas with them!!

On a more spiritual note, we are reading the Book of Mormon as a mission, and every time i read it, i get something new out of it!! it’s so crazy how different versus will stick out to you at different times in your life...I know that the Book of Mormon is true and is the guide for us in our day..I’m so grateful to be sharing it with the people her in MN!!

Thanks for all the Love and Support!! i love all yall and hope you all have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! 

LOVE!

Sister Randi Hulet

xoxo

Week 6 Austin, Minnesota

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!

 

Friends and Family!

I hope that everyone is having a great week! I know that I am! I cannot begin to tell you all about all the miracles that have been happening in Austin! Heavenly Father has blessed me and Sister Amis soooooo much! Speaking of Sister Amis, she is my new companion.  She is from Washington state and is a visa waiter, meaning that she wasn't called to Minnesota to serve, but is here until her visa to go to Brazil.  She is really awesome and I kinda hope her vista doesn't come! hahahahahahahah! Is that mean??? I don’t want her to leave me! But I know she is ready to leave the cold snow of Minnesota and get to warmer weather!

So, this week has been good, we have been so busy and the time flies by, it’s crazy! Saturday was awesome! we had a great lesson with our investigator Brother N. (He is the one that I had my little embarrassing moment with a couple of weeks ago) We taught the plan of salvation and at the end of the lesson he said that he had a question for us..then he asked how he could become a member of the church!!! I’m sure my smile was so big my eyes went ASIAN! It was really out of the blue, he has NEVER expressed much desire about wanted to join the church before! It was awesome!!! We are going back on Wednesday to meet with him and his new roommate and share a Christmas message so that should be good! 
We have been teaching more and more Africans, which is so awesome because they are so spiritual and humble people, the only issue I have with them is that I cannot fully understand them, which could be a problem! But they are such great people! On Sunday we taught a group of them and it was one of the best lessons ever! It seemed to flow perfect! The spirit was totally there and it was just great!
I need a refund on my brown hair because I had a serious blonde moment this week! We were in a lesson this week and we had a member, sister R with us. At the beginning of the lesson she lend over to me and asked if our investigator was Sudanese...I said back to her that he was not danseuses, he was African.  She smiled and closed her eyes and said that Sudan was in Africa! I felt really smart!  I guess no matter what color I change my hair to I will always be kinda blonde!

On Monday I got to walk on water! One of the lakes in town was frozen enough to walk on it and our member friend brother B (who was baptized my first week in Austin) took us out to walk on the lake! It was really cool! and there was even an ice fishing hut out there!!! I totally wish I could go ice fishing! Monday night we also had an early Christmas because sister Wiggins and I didn't think we would get transferred, so we got Christmas presents for each other..we both got each other harry potter t-shirts!!

well, I hope that everyone has a merry Christmas!! thanks for all your love and support!!  

--

LOVE!

Sister Randi Hulet

xoxo

Week 5 Austin, Minnesota

 

Friends and Family!

I hope everyone is feeling the Christmas spirit, I know that I am! for me the icing on the cake is the snow that just keeps on coming! I love looking out of the window each morning before personal study time and seeing the snow falling, it’s really awesome! I’m sure I feel this way because I didn't have much snow in St George, ps I totally love how it snowed pretty good after I left :) but it is really pretty to watch and puts me in the mode to study my scriptures! 

Well, I guess I should get the bad news out first, my awesome comp is getting transferred this week and I’m not happy about it...and I’m super nervous about taking over the area! At the moment, I don't really know how I’m going to do it..

 

 This past week has been great! Monday was district pday and it was quite the day.  Our plan was for our district to all come to Austin to go to the SPAM museum and so the elders all drove down here and when they got here, we found out that the museum was closed for a Private party...we were all super sad, but this didn't stop us from doing our Christmas shopping! Ready or not family because Santa is coming from AUSTIN!! ahahAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH 

Monday evening our district leader was able to come teaching with us and we had some serious miracles! at like 5pm all our appointments canceled on us and we didn't know what we were going to do, so we told the elders that we would just do some stop bys and then they could go back to Rochester.  We stopped by one of our investigators, Brother N and had a great lesson! Having the Elders there was perfect! they were able to answer his questions and relate to him in a way that none us as sister can't! it was  great to listen to him tell the Elders about all the great things that have been happening in his life because of the changes he is slowly starting to make! it was a testimony builder to me that progress at any speed is PROGRESS and to not get down because things are not moving at the speed we want it to.

Tuesday was a good day, we had our Christmas training and guess what!?! we watched a movie!! yup, and it was not a church movie! we watch the movie Miracle about the USA hockey team! it was AWESOME! we also had our normal spiritual meeting, so don't worry!

On Wednesday we had another great lesson with our Spanish friend Brother J.  Again, I couldn't understand a word that was being said, but I felt the spirit! I was even able to say something in Spanish during the lesson! it was pretty neat! Again, it amazes me that even when you don't understand or even speak the language, you are able to feel the spirit testify to you about the truthfulness of what is being said.  

The challenge of the week was that sister Wiggins was under the weather for 2 days and we couldn't leave our apartment! let’s just say that the gift of studying all day was not given to me! I thought I was going to go CRAZY!! I can only read so much of the Scriptures and preach my gospel before I start to go CRAZY, but I survived and sister Wiggins is on her upswing! so that is a Positive!

I feel like I notice more and more each day how much the Lord has blesses us and sends us miracles all the time! it’s crazy how many times a day he will put someone in our path, even when we don't get a return appointment I know that there was a reason we needed to talk to them! All week I have seen the Lord send us a miracle in the form of people we have met and conversations we had..I know that he cares about even the small details of our lives and that he answers all our prayers!

Thanks for all the support and love!

--
LOVE!

Sister Randi Hulet

xoxo

 

Week 4 Austin, Minnesota

bowling with the Rochester sisters!

so my grandma Shakespeare sent us a build-your own Santa
and I thought that I looked pretty sexy with the mustache!

getting ready to face the cold!

Friends and family!

How much I miss all of you! so, I’ve heard that southern Utah is experiencing some snow and let me tell ya: you will not be finding sympathy in me because I truly feel like yall got snow to understand what is happening here in the MMM.  Let me tell you that this morning when me and sister Wiggins went outside to shovel snow it was all of -2* outside and that is nothing compared to what we have experienced the past couple of days..they told us that with the wind-chill it was -20*! but it’s all good because we dress warm! and I wasn't all that cold :)
This past week we have been really busy and I think that it’s crazy the amount of time we haven't been in Austin as of late...Since sister Wiggins is a sister training leader, she has meetings to go to and we visit the other sisters in our zone! This week we were gone a lot!  On Sunday we had an awesome "missionary-style" road trip! We drove to Rochester on Sunday night to surprise the sister serving there! It was funny the look on their face when they opened their door and found us standing outside! We spent our Pday with them and had a party! We went bowling, but of course it was not normal bowling.  We had a beg of M&M and each turn we would pick a M&M and would bowl according to what color we picked...for some reason I would pick orange like every time..and orange was: we would have to spin around a bunch of times then bowl with our left hand! it was crazy..there were a couple of times where I almost bowled in the wrong lane, but my awesome companion helped me find our lane before I damaged someone else's score! 

On Tuesday we went to Bloomington because sister Wiggins had a leadership meeting, so I got to work with the Bloomington sister and a sister who is serving in St Paul.  We had a good time together.  the sister who is serving in Bloomington is new and had only been out 3ish weeks, I kinda felt bad because everything she had planned for us to do fell through! she had a lesson and a service project planned but it didn't happen! so we spent most of the day knocking doors! we were able to teach a couple of people and we got a couple return appointments for her and her companion! so that was totally awesome! 

This weekend sister Wiggins and I went to Rochester with some of our investigators for an activity the stake put on..each year they get 100s of different nativity sets from around the world and put them up for people to come and see. they also had a live nativity and musical numbers..it was pretty neat! we were able to go Friday and Saturday evenings, which was great! our investigators seemed to like it and the nativity sets cool..they had them from all different countries and it was neat to see how each countries looked! I love how they were all different, but had the same meaning and brought the same spirit..it was really cool!

Sunday we watched the Christmas devotional and it was great! I loved the music, maybe not what the choir was wearing, but the music was great!! I really liked Elder Nelsons talk and when the children sang the song: I’m trying to be like Jesus..it was cool beans! 

Well, today is district pday and the elders are ready to party so I hope that everyone has a good week and I love you all!!!

Week 3 Austin, Minnesota

The sweet turkey I helped wrap in BACON!

Thanksgiving with a member and her
non-member family and friends

My sweet Christmas sweater that I totally
wore the day after thanksgiving!

Shower Before

Shower After

Friends and Family!!

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving..mine was great! It was our pday so we were able to hang out with ward members and spend the day relaxing-if that were even possible!! But this week has been great! I've seen so many Miracles and don't know where to start! On Wednesday I had a testimony builder. We were knocking doors and knocking into a Spanish man...for those who don't know, I’m serving in a zebra area-which means that my companion is Spanish speaking and I’m English speaking, so she starting talking to him in Spanish.  Then all of the sudden I felt this overwhelming peace and clam feeling that the spirit brings and I know she was teaching him about the Restoration.  The spirit was so strong and although I had no idea what she was saying I knew it was true..I love that the spirit can testify of truth even when we don't understand what is being said! It was awesome!

Like I said, thanksgiving was our pday for the week and we went to 3 different members’ homes for thanksgiving dinner..the food was great, but nothing like home! At one members home I got to help prepare the turkey and YES I got to wrap it in bacon(see picture)! It was good..inside the turkey was a chicken and stuffing! it was good, but kinda dry.  We also cleaned our apartment and it pretty much made my day because it honestly looked like it had not had a good cleaning in months!!

Another spiritual experience was when we got home from a hard day of working and Sister Wiggins couldn't find her planner anywhere..we looked all over our apartment and in the car and it was nowhere to be found..so we said a prayer then walked back out to the car to see if maybe we had missed it..and it wasn't there.  So I told her not to worry and that we would find it, but in the mean time lets sit down and plan for the next day.  we sat down at the bar and I went to move her gloves and under her gloves was her planner!! It was so not there when we looked the first time! It was crazy! It made me think how much Heavenly Father is really in the details of our lives and cares about the small things! Pray is great!! so don't forget to pray!

This week I finished reading the Book of Mormon for the first time while on my mission and it was the fastest I’ve ever read it! It was so happy!! So, each time I read it cover to cover I pray and ask if it’s true and I got an answer! We were teaching a lesson and I was testifying to our investigator about how the Book of Mormon is true and the spirit came over me and I know that it was telling me that it was really true! It was awesome that while I was testifying to her, the spirit was also testifying to me! the Book of Mormon is TRUE and don't let anyone tell you different!

Again this week, we have been doing more finding to build our teaching pool and we have met A LOT of Africans..they are so hard to understand, but have such a strong testimony of God already..they are so humble and I feel like they are here to teach me, not for me to teach them! We met two new investigators, who both come to church! it was great!! 

So, my embarrassing can't hold a candlestick to last week, but lets be for real..what can! hahaha!! but I had yet another one this week! so we were getting out of the car to go into an appointment and I was getting in the backseat to get me scriptures when I pushed the panic button on the car and the horn started going off..and people were looking out there window to see what was going on..it was really embarrassing! my companion was laughing! 

Sister Wiggins and I have become great friends! it’s awesome! We have so much fun together and it just makes me so happy! she is such a great example to me and has such a strong testimony of the gospel! I’m so grateful to be able to learn from her each day and work with her! 

I love you all and thanks for all the LOVE and SUPPORT!! 

-- 

LOVE!

Sister Randi Hulet

xoxo

 

Week 2 Austin, Minnesota

Me and sister Rebber..she is from st george and

lives in my stake! she is serving in La Crosse

My awesome winter snow coat and boots! yes I feel like I'm one of those goth-kids

that wear the big, black trench coats and big bulky boots! and I'm sure I look it too!!

This is how cold it was on our way home from the baptism!!

Family and Friends!!

Well, it’s for real, winter is here!! I'm kinda having a mini freak-out in my mind because I'm the most south you can go in the mission and its still cold, I don't think it’s been over 30* at all in the last week..I'm so grateful for my snow boots and coat..you have no idea! This week has been so busy I feel like I haven't been able to catch my breath!! On Monday we had a great family home evening with a family and one of our investigators Sister S. We centered it all around how important the book of Mormon is in our lives and how it was truly written for our time. To apply this, we made a cake, but didn't follow the recipe because it was in a book that was made a long time ago and outdated.  It was a lot of fun and I think that they enjoyed it!

On Tuesday and Wednesday it was good bye to Austin and hello to Rochester and La Crosse, WI! my companion sister Wiggins is the sister training leader over both areas and so we went and worked with the sisters in those areas! It was a lot of fun! We met so great people and helped add to both areas teaching pool.  I also got the chance to work with each of the sisters and that was great! I learned so much from each of them and they were able to give me ideas to use back here in Austin.  The only down side to this was sleeping on the floor, my back was NOT a fan..needless to say I'm even more grateful for my bed!!

On Thursday I had one of my top ten most embarrassing moments! so we are teaching this guy, brother N, and our lesson  was on Lehi's dream (1 Nephi 8 in the BofM).  We were helping him understand how he could apply it to himself and what he needed to do to be able to make it to the tree of life.  So we were talking about the iron rod and the mist of darkness and what they represent. As we talked about how the mist of darkness could be the temptations Satan has we got talking about how if we are continually doing the things we know is right and holding to the rod, Satan knows that he can't get us to commit some big sin like robbing a bank..he has to start out by getting us to commit small sin before we would do anything major. So while we were teaching this I used the example of robbing a bank and right after I said it, I remembered that he is on parole for robbing a bank!!!!! My face went tomato red and I thought that sister Wiggins and our joint teacher were going to die..they were trying so hard not to laugh..I felt so bad!! When we got out of the lesson, I told sister Wiggins that I didn't want to go back because I’m sure that Bother N was mad and would never want to talk to me again...But the day after I made Oreos and I told him some and said sorry..forgave me and said that the cookies were AMAZING!! so all is well, but still super embarrassing!

On Friday, i pretty much baked my brains out! it was great! Now i'm sure you are thinking how is that missionary work..well let me tell you: i made oreos for a lesson we were having friday night, which turned out great..both my oreos and the lesson  and then our investigator Brother B wanted us to make cookies for his baptism! Yes!! he was baptized this week! it was awesome! Brother B was so happy after and couldn’t stop smiling! It was awesome!! I'm not going to lie I felt really bad because he was baptized the week after transfers happened, so the sister that had been teaching him left..I felt bad that she couldn't be there to see it.   

 

Thanks for all the Love and Support! I hope that everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Week 1 Austin, Minnesota

me and one of our investigators Sister L..the hard-core baptist!

me and another investigator Ashley

ladies at crochet night

Me and Sister Wiggins!

Friends and Family!!

This week has been great, but it has gone by so fast!  It's weird to be in a new area..and it is totally night and day difference! Andover was about 40ish minutes out of the twin cities and most of the people that live there all work in the cities..where Austin is a small town that is centered around the spam factories..yep Austin is where spam is made..and you can smell it in the air..its great! hahaha..(its not that bad unless you are close to the plants)

My last few days in Andover where hard, I didn't like having to say good-bye to all the great people that I served with.  On Tuesday we taught a great lady Sister C about the book of Mormon and the spirit was so strong. Sister C doesn't have much of a religious background and wants to have more faith..and we were happy to help her do just that! I felt so sad when we set up the return appointment and knew that I wouldn't get the chance to be there, but it was good to help Sister Szabo make appointments for her and her new companion.  I was lucky enough to end my last day with a group of members at crochet (I think that is how you spell that!) night.  I was able to learn the basics of how to crochet and let’s just say that it’s a talent that I was not blessed with, but it was great to learn from the ladies!  One of the ladies even made me a pair of gloves..it was so sweet! Saying good-bye to sister M, was the hardest part..I’m really glad that I was able to help her come closer to Jesus Christ and hope that one day she will be baptized! 

Wednesday was the day I left for Austin.  My new companion is Sister Wiggins and she only has two transfers left on her mission.  She is a Spanish-speaking sister, so that’s kinda cool.  She is great at teaching and has a really strong testimony.  thought we have only be together for a couple of days I’ve learned a lot from her about how to explain the gospel in a simple way and how to invite the spirit into each appointment! I have to keep her humble by reminding her that there is one thing that she is not perfect at and that is saying my name! She has yet to say it right! She normally just calls me siste huler or hullit! its kinda funny!! 

We live in our own apartment and what is really funny it that it is right above another church!  I really like it because it is big and we have room to spread out. I have a whole closet to myself! and we can study in the living room and that is nice..I feel like I’m on a world tour because we have met so many different people here! like yesterday I was told what my beliefs were by a Russian guy..with a really cool accent! The best is when we asked him what brought him to America and he said that "in the future we will know" after he said that the thought came to mind that he was a Russian spy! There are also a lot of Africans living here..and it is really hard for me to understand what they are saying, but I just smile and nod my head. 

I'm still trying to meet the investigators and members, I feel really out of the loop.  when we were at our weekly meeting with the ward mission leader, who's wife just had a really cute baby and it killed me not to be able to hold it!, I didn't know like half of the people on our progress record and so didn't really say much..it made me feel so bad because I hate not knowing what is going on! Hopefully by next week I will be able to know who everyone is when we talk about people...I think that is the part that I hate about transfers..not knowing people! but with time I should be able to get it all down! 

Thanks for all you love and support!!

Week 12 Transfer to Austin!!!

Friends and Family! 

Well, its been another good week! So, pretty much all of our investigators have dropped us-not Sister M though:)- so this week we did a lot of finding..we knocked so many doors, unfortunately we didn't find too much success... on Saturday, we did meet a guy who has been going through a lot of hard times..when we knocked he pretty much told us his life story and how he didn't really know if there was a God anymore..he said he felt totally helpless...we where in shock! who tells complete strangers their life story on their door step?? But we told him about the Book of Mormon and how we can feel Gods love in our lives as we read and pray..he said he didn't know if that would really work, but he would give it a try..needless to say we got a return appointment! As we walked away both Sister Szabo and I felt like he was the MIRACLE from all the doors we knocked all week.  I think that because we were diligent and knocked-even when we thought that it was pointless-God saw that we wanted new investigators and He blessed us with one on Saturday.  

This weekend was our Stake Conference and the Saturday night session was all about missionary work! I felt so pumped up after that meeting! The stake presidency was really BOLD with the members and told them that it was their job to invite people to learn more and to start to be more missionary minded so that the work of salvation could more rapidly! it was great!!! 

Wednesday was our Zone Conference and a member of the 70 came and spoke to us..he was awesome! He talked a lot about how we can turn investigators concerns back to the Book of Mormon..he helped us understand how to use Moroni's promise more effectively..and it totally works! Another part of his talk was about how we can be better missionaries, using a scripture in Alma...but I don't know it off the top of my head, so stay tuned next week to learn which on it is!!

Well, all week I have been a basket-case because this week is TRANSFERS and I’ve been freaking out to know what was going to happen!  it makes me nervous not to know,as they say on Project Runway, if I’m in or out...But this morning we met as a district in the family history center in the church building and looked at the transfer email together...and....I wish I could do a drum roll over email....so do one in your mind and insert it here........I’m being transferred to Austin! I don't really know where that is, all I know is its south. Hopefully next week I can let you know more:) I was really shocked because I really thought I would stay in Andover..but its whatever I guess.  Next, week I will have more info and will send more pictures! Thanks for all the love and support! I’m the luckiest missionary in the world because I have the BEST support group!  

--

LOVE!

Sister Randi Hulet

xoxo

 

Week 11 Andover, Minnesota

Friends and Family!!

Well, it’s been a week of miracles and I don't know where to start!  This week we when on Exchanges with the Shingle Creek Sisters-Sister Ballif and Sister Curtis-and I had a great experience.  Sister Ballif came to Andover to work with me.  She is my Sister Training Leader and holy cow, she is so great..I learned so much from her. We had a great lesson with our progressing investigator Sister M.  We taught the faith and repentance, and the spirit was SO strong..Sister M opened up and shared some personal stories..and no I didn't cry! We taught her again on Halloween-Sister Szabo was back for that lesson-and we taught baptism and the holy ghost..we asked her if she was ready to be baptized on her baptism date-which we had set for November 9-and she said no! I was so shocked!! She told us that she knows she needs to be baptized, but she is still not sure about the Book of Mormon and if the Mormon church is for her. In my mind, I thought "What have we done wrong??" But as I thought about it longer this thought was replaced with the thought that it is all in Gods timing, not mine..I know that she will be baptized when she is ready.  On Wednesday night, one of the BIGGEST miracles happened: I got TWO letters from my brother Stu!! He has not  written me at all while I've been gone and each week I would tell him to write me a letter, and that if I could find time to write him, he could find time to write me and I guess he finally did!! It was the sweetest thing in the world!! I never thought I would miss him that much..getting his letters pretty much made my week!! Thanks Stu!! xoxo

 

Friday was a bitter-sweet day.  So all week we had been trying to get a hold of our investigators Bro/Sis J and Sis T and no with no luck..we had a lesson planned for Friday night and so we headed over to their home...both Sister Szabo and myself had the feeling that they were going to drop us and that they were just not ready to hear the gospel and sure enough when we got to their home..they were gone.  We had been dropped  Now, I know what you are thinking..how is this a good thing and why would you label this as a miracle?? But here is the thing..we had planned for our back-up that we would knock this street near their home and so that is what we did.  We knocked into a family that is so cool! We asked them if and how they have seen Gods hand in their family and they said that they haven't, but want too!! We taught the restoration and now we have a return appointment! Great Stuff!! I totally feel like we were lead to them! It was great!  While we were their they let me hold their pet ferret! I wanted to get a picture with it so bad, but that would have been so unprofessional, so I just didn't even ask. 

 

Saturday was great too! We spent the day finding new investigators by offering to rake people leafs..at first I didn't know if this would work, but it totally did.  We met a girl who is open to hearing about our faith and wants to come closer to Christ...she lives with her boyfriend’s family and come home while we were raking her yard...and they had a HUGE yard!! She gave us some water and said that she wants to learn more about our church..we shared the restoration with her and it was really good..she had to leave, but before she did she said gave us her number and wanted us to call her to set up a time to come back and share more with her!! It's crazy how the Lord prepares people!! Like, we are these two random girls raking leafs and she totally let us into her home and gave us her number and wants us to come back!?! It makes me think how this is truly the Lords work and that he puts people in our path who are ready for the gospel in their life...this totally couldn't be man’s work or it would happen!

 

Overall, it was a good week and its crazy how fast time is has gone by, Sister Szabo told me that this could be the last full week we have together, next week is Transfer..so please send all mail through the mission home address so that if I leave it will be able to find me  I'm still getting used to my hair color and am not 100% sure that I like it..it is soo different and I've confused all the members in my ward! On Sunday they all thought that I was a new missionary..it was kinda funny! I love you all and hope everyone has a great week!!

 

LOVE!

Sister Randi Hulet

xoxo

 

Week 10 Andover, Minnesota

Friends and Family!!

This week has been the most busy of all my weeks out here, we had so much going on!! I feel like each day when by so fast, like I feel like every morning after I said my prayers, I was coming home to do nightly planning! I guess that is how it goes when you are busy.  On Tuesday we had a funny knocking experience..we were really out of the knocking mode and our focus what not all there.  So we walked up to this house and there were no outside lights on and we were wearing our dark heavy coats.  There was a window in the door and a screen door that covered the wooden and we could see people standing inside, so we knocked on the door.  the lady that was standing in the window turned and when she saw us standing there, it scared her and I think she may have said some four letter words....it would have scared me to to see two dark figures standing at the door.  When she opened the wooden door the dog freaked out and started running right at me! I was so scared, I totally saw my life flash before my eyes! at first I thought the dog would stop once it came to the door, but it didn't and ran right into the screen door.  Oh man, I was freaked out! But the dog didn't break through the door..POSITIVE! After all that Sister Szabo started talking to the couple and she was just rambling on and on..not making much since...the couple had the weirdest look on their face, like who in the heck are these girls...then she just stops talking mid-phrase and pass me the Book of Mormon in her hand...I took it while thinking what in the world are you doing?!? it was so bad...like the worst door experience of my life!! But as we walked away all we could do was laugh because I was almost taken out by a dog! 

On Thursday we went to the temple as a district and that was really cool..the St. Paul temple is a lot smaller than the St. George temple, but the spirit was so strong! I Loved it!!  Getting there was a challenge though...so we had a ride all set up last week, so we wouldn't have to worry about that, but on Wednesday night our ride canceled! She was really sick and her eyes were blood-shot, we felt really bad...Luckily we were able to find a ride last minute and that was all good..In the morning all the Elders rides fell through! Satan didn't NOT want us to go to the temple..one of the sets of Elders found a ride from their ward and we were able to squish everyone into the two cars..the members here are so great to help us last minute, the have now saved our bacon twice in the last two weeks!!

 

Friday was our most crazy day of the week! We had back-to-back lessons for the first time! We taught Brother and Sister J and then Sister M! it was great...in the first lesson we committed Sister Johnson to come to church, which was a huge Miracle! She still has not been reading the Book of Mormon, but she committed again to find time to read it! I told her it would change her life!  For Sister M, we taught the Law of Chastity...so as part of my Training, I have to lead out in teaching the commandments, so tonight I was planning on doing just that.  When it was time to start the lesson, my mind went blank and I didn't know what to say, Sister Szabo looked over at me and then started..I was able to follow her up and share the rest of my parts, but for some reason I just couldn't start.  When we got to the car, Sister Szabo just started laughing and said that I should have seen the look on my face during the lesson! She said that the fear in my eyes was priceless..I would think that it was the same look Stu's deer had in its eyes when it was shot! Total fear and nervousness!!! So, all weekend when we would have to report to our leaders about the lessons, she would laugh! I'm glad she I was able to bring her joy! 

 

Our investigator Sister M is so awesome! she brought me Oreo's to our lesson on Friday..she said that when she was at the store, she saw the Oreo's and thought of me so she bought me some!! How sweet is she!!  We have such an awesome investigator!  Saturday was we had our ward Halloween party and it was good! One of you investigators from the apartments cross from the church came..it was fun..there were lots of games and stuff.  Halloween is really big here, I guess that Anoka the town next to Andover is the Halloween capital of the world and people get really into it here..and we all know how much I enjoy this holiday..the stuff people decorate with is so over the top and creeepy!! there are some house that scare me just to walk up to the door.  But it will be all over soon! then Christmas decorations will be out and that is like my favorite time of the Year!! I can't wait!!   On Sunday, both sister M and sister J both came to church and they stayed for all three hours!! it was awesome! as a mission we finally reached our goal of 250 to church!! we ended up with 252! it was a great Sunday with tons of people to church! we were so pumped when we got the text about it!! So, today I got my hair done and I don't really know how I feel about it..what do you think about it..i would love commits..so please share you thoughts..both good and bad..i want to hear :) and I forgot my camera cord so only the one picture of my new hair this week..next week  I should have more pictures of all the fun from this week! I love you all!! Thanks for all the love and support!!

-- 

LOVE!

Sister Randi Hulet

xoxo

 

Week 9 Andover, Minnesota

Friends and Family!

Well, today was my two months in Minnesota mark! It's crazy to think that two months ago today I stepped off the plane here! Time seems to have go by so fast...but not all the time! haha! This week was pretty good it was just kinda normal with nothing super life changing, but  we were able to meet with most of our investigators and teach some really good lessons.  This week we did a LOT of service for members in our ward with was great! On Tuesday we helped the older couple who is moving to Utah again...they are leaving at the end of the week and i hope they will be done packing..its crazy how much stuff you collect over the years and they have lived in their home for over 20 years!! We also were able to do some house work for another lady in our ward that has a handicapped child..holy cow that was a great experience..we went up the the room were she was to give a spiritual thought before we left, which had us all in tears.  The spirit was so strong!

 

Our investigators are all slowly moving along, we were so excited because all of them committed to come to church this week, but Satan that SLY-DEVIL worked his magic and only two of them came.  Sister Szabo and I were so disappointed, we were really hoping to get them all their so that we could introduce them to people in the ward and so they could feel of the strong spirit that church brings...yes there is a good spirit when you are paying attention to the speakers and lessons and not playing angry birds on you iphone!   Sunday was also the President's Fireside and we were able to get two of our investigators there..it was awesome.  The couple that shared their conversion story was from the ward we share the building with, so it was neat to hear their conversion story.  

 

Well, I can say good-bye to warm whether because the winter is here for real! All week I was thinking that the storm would pass, but it’s not gunna happen...it’s been overcast for days, and I have a strong feeling that it’s going to stay that way for a really long time!  I'm getting a little nervous for what lies ahead, because the whether right now is what it is like in the dead of winter in St. George, so I don't really know what I’m going to do when it gets into the negatives! I hope my body will adjust..and FAST!  

 

I hope that everyone has a good week! 

LOVE

Sister Randi Hulet

xoxo

 

Week 8 Andover, Minnesota

Friends and Family!

it’s been another good week and I’ve seen tons of Miracles this week! it’s been great! I don't even know where to begin! This week as a mission we had a goal to have 250 investigators to church..we were told that if each companionship had 3 investigators to church then we would surpass the goal...when I hear this I was a little nervous because we have only have had one investigator to church and so I didn't know where we would get 3 of them!! But then I thought, Randi! Where is your faith!! so this week I invited everyone I talked to to come to church! Now I know what you are thinking, the Miracle is going to be about finding 3 investigators to come to church, but it’s not...so don't hold your breath! On Saturday night at like 10:29 we got a text from one of our investigators Sister T.  We have been teaching Sister T for a couple of weeks, she lives with Brother and Sister J who we are also teaching. I can’t remember if I have said anything about them before, so recap if I have.  We found Brother and Sister J one night getting ready for a yard sale and we asked if we could help them.  From then on we have been teaching them. They know a couple in our ward and that’s why they said we could come back! (See, its important to be good examples!) Sister T has been sitting in on the lessons and we have never really taught to her personal, which is a mistake on our part..In our lesson on Friday we invited them to come to church and they said they had other plans, but maybe next week..we just left it at that and finished our lesson..on our way out I told Sister T  that if she had any questions about the chapter in the B of M we left for her to read to just text us and we can answer them, so when we got the text on Saturday that’s what we thought it was about.  Wrong!! She said that she wasn't going with Brother and Sister J and wanted to know if she could come to church with us! We were freaking out! It was great!! We were so pumped to have two investigators planned to come to church! It was truly a Miracle! On Sunday morning we get a call from our other investigator Sister M..she had a cold and couldn't come to church, we were sad, but we understood where she was coming from..So we didn't get three investigators to church and we didn't make our mission goal, but we did get Sister T to church and it was great...we went over to her house after church to see what she thought about church and to teach her more.  She said that it was different from what she was used to, but thought it was good..we had a great lesson and she is progressing, which is awesome! She is such a great person and had been through a lot of challenges in life..I’m so grateful to have met her.

 On Sunday we also stopped by Sister M to see how she was feeling and to give her a get well bag of goodies! She thought it was so good we would stop by and let us come in..we asked her if she has been reading the B of M and she had read every day since we saw her on Monday of last week!! MIRACLE!!!! We were able to answer some of her questions and it was awesome! She is starting to progress in the gospel and you can see a difference in her spirit since we started teaching her! It is just amazing! I just love Sister M! We are meeting with her this coming Wednesday, so I will give you all an update next week :)

 On Wednesday we went and help a couple in our ward that is getting ready to move to Utah pack more boxes, it was good to wear pants!! Holy Cow! I miss my jeans so much..my companion and I had on our college T-shirts and had to laugh because we are a companionship divided! (See picture)  Yes, she is a BYU fan and I’m a Utah fan...let’s just say in this matter that I know BEST!

 On Saturday I had a proud moment when I made my first kill in the mission field, yes I hit a squirrel, but no worries I was not on my bike, but driving the car! So this is what happened.  I was driving down the road and I saw a squirrel in the road.  It ran across my lane and I looked out the mirror and saw a ball of fur flying in the air behind the car..my companion must have saw the same thing because we then looked at each other and just started laughing! We had to stop and get pictures..(see pictures).  it was really funny because Sister Szabo has been talking about how much she wanted to kill one and it just so happened that I was first to make the kill, she said that it wasn't far because she had been waiting all her mission to kill one I’ve only been out one transfer so it was not fair..I told her we Hulets know how to get the job done!

 The last picture is of one of the 10,000 lakes in Minnesota! 

 Thanks for all the Love and support! I feel like I’m the luckiest missionary in the world because I just have the best support system! I Love and Miss you all!!!

Love!

Sister Randi Hulet

xoxo

 

Week 7 Andover, Minnesota

Friends and Family!

Well, I made it through my first transfer..I cannot believe that the past 6 weeks have gone by so fast! I don't feel like I have been gone that long! It’s started to get colder here and  I’m not gunna lie,  I’m a little nervous for winter, and it’s a little too late for that because ready or not I think it’s coming!! hahaha!  I’m sure I will be fine, one of the Elders in my district was telling Sister Szabo and me about a time that his toes were so cold when he took his socks off that night they were WHITE!! I pray that my shoes will keep all my toes warm because I don't want to be the Lifeguard with only 8 toes when I return to sunny St. George! This weekend it rained pretty much nonstop and  I’m so grateful that it’s a new month and we have miles, I wouldn't have been a happy missionary if I had to pedal in the cold, windy rain...I say that but you all know I would have done it anyway..no promises I would have had a smile on my face! I hope I will not have to experience that anytime soon.

 This week was full of spiritual and not so spiritual moments which is no shock because we all know how spiritual I am! hahaha! And sorry I don't have any animal stories this week...I guess all the dogs got the message that they need to back the HECK up! One funny moment was on Tuesday night.  Sister Szabo and I were riding our bikes-this was before the rain storm came- and we stopped and talked to a guy in his yard.  We asked him how he felt about all the road work that was taking place by his home...well that was the wrong inspired question to ask because he got his soup box about how much he didn't like it and how the city was doing it all wrong.  One of his big problems was that people would speed on the dirt road and it drove him crazy..just as he was saying this a pick-up truck came down the road going really fast, sending a big cloud of dirt and rock flying everywhere behind him....the guy then throw the roll of tape in his hand at the truck and it bounced off the window and flow back and just about hit me in the head..good thing I moved out of the way just in time...the truck came to a sudden stop and this big fat guy steps out with a NOT missionary friendly words coming out of his mouth..the two guys begin a yelling match with Sister Szabo and myself standing in the middle! I look over at Sister Szabo with a look of we are going to have a fight, she then started slowly pedaling away..I followed her lead and slowly pedaled up the road..when we got up the road a little ways we turned to see what was going on and sure enough they were still starting to get a little physical! We looked at each other and just busted up..it was so funny to see and hear them fight about who throw the roll of tape and why! I guess you may have needed to be there, but it was just really funny!

On a spiritual note, we had a great lesson with our investigator Sister M.  We were at a member’s home and watched the Restoration movie about the First Vision and the Book of Mormon. We talked about how it was really important to read the Book of Mormon to come to know if it was true and how it would be the base for gaining a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Restored Church.  I shared how I gained my testimony of the Book of Mormon and how much it was influenced my life since.  She said that she wants to know for herself and so I hope that she will start to read seriously.  We also had a great lesson with an older couple we found a week or so ago.  Again we watched the Restoration movie and had a great experience.  When we asked Sister J how she liked the movie, she said it was really good and she really liked it.  she liked best that it brought back a memory from when she was a kid and watched a movie about Joseph Smith! I looked over at Sister Szabo when she said that because who would remember that! I hope that she will remember that while she reads this week!

 We were able to watch General Conference this weekend and it was awesome! I loved all the talks and can't wait until I can read them and study them! I felt like they were just for me and I hope that I will be able to take the thoughts and feeling I had and apply them to become a better missionary.  I will say that I did miss watching Conference in my living room much better then at the church building...but it’s all good, I only have 2 more to good..right?!? POSITIVE!  I’m sure that when I’m home I will miss watching them in the chapel with the other missionaries and like 3 other people in the ward that come to the church.  Our investigator Sister M came to the Sunday morning session and she said that she liked it, so that was awesome!  

  I’m so grateful for all the love and support from everyone I get each week! I have the best friends and family in the world thanks for all the LOVE!

Love!

Sister Randi Hulet

 

Week 6 Andover, Minnesota

In one of our dinner appointments the little boy could make
balloon animals..we all know how much I love balloons!

My district!

We went to a farmers market and I bought this
cute little watermelon and it was good!!

HOOT! HOOT! it’s been another great week! Today we got the letter about transfers! Can you believe I've been in Minnesota for one transfer!!! Crazy stuff!! But no worries, I’m staying in Andover with my trainer Sister Szabo! POSITIVE! This past week has been good and have had tons for cool experiences! Like I said last week, last Monday was District Pday, so we spent the whole day with our district.  When we met at the church Elder Smith said that District Pday was a normal pday, but this week they could invite the Sisters to be in on all the Fun! haha! After we emailed home we went back to the church and had a marsh mellow gun war! It was so much fun! We played capture the flag! We didn't factor in the fact that cleaning smashed marsh mellows off the gym floor would take forever! Next time we will have to do that outside! Right after that Sister Szabo and I had a dinner appointment and a lesson with our investigator..it was good.  We invited her to come to all the events we had this weekend-baptism of a family in our district and the RS broadcast-she said she would have to think about it.  She did end up coming to all of them!! The baptism this weekend was a family that was found by one of the Elders in our district.  They shared their testimonies after and it was great...I’m glad that Sister M (our investigator) was able to come to that.  It was awesome!! Sister M also said she wanted to get to the RS broadcast with us.  So that was cool! She said she really liked President Monson's talk on Prayer.  I'm glad she was able to come and feel the spirit!  

 One of the crazy things that happened this week was a lesson we had on Thursday with a guy named Brother G...we have taught him a couple of times before and this time we brought a girl with us from the ward who is thinking about going on a mission..and let me tell ya if she still was to serve after this lesson it will be a miracle! The night started with us saying a prayer in the car..in the middle of the prayer we hear a tap on the window..we all looked up and saw this guy standing by the door...we rolled down the window and he asked us if we were lost and needed help..we told him we were just going to visiting his neighbor and then he just walked away..we laughed and then continued with the prayer.  Once we got into the house we were welcomed with the sound of dogs..and yes wen Brother G opened the door the dogs ran right up to us and had to sniff and lick us! GROSS!! But it didn't stop there, when we sat down the dogs totally jumped all over my lap!! I was freaking out!! They were big (like a little bigger than our dog Korver) and where sitting on me and licking me I was having a freak out and Brother G just sat like nothing was wrong..Good thing the only sound that came out of my mouth was laughter! But Sister Szabo pretty much laughed to death..she thought it was so funny..the dogs finally backed the HECK off and we started the lesson..Brother G couldn't stay on one topic..he kept bringing up the fact that we ate pork and it says in the bible that we shouldn't eat it! and we were not even talking about pork!! We were talking about the First Vision!! How he would think about pork from that is beyond me.  During the lessons the dogs would walk back over to me and lick my legs..I had dog spit all over and into my shoes!!! It was SOOO gross I had to like clean my shoes when I got home!  We asked the girl we brought how she liked it and she said that it was good to see what everyday mission lessons were like and not just the super good ones that normal missionaries take their members too! My mouth hit the floor!!! If I were her, I would have said that I was going home to rethink a mission! But I guess we need those types of lessons to laugh about! I will not forget it and I hope to be able to laugh about it like sister szabo did it the future

 I'm so grateful for the members who feed us in the ward! They are so sweet to have us over! However 85% of our dinner appointments we have been fed tacos or soup and we all know how much I love tacos and soup...it was okay the first couple of times, but I don't know how much more I can take! I’m going to have to pray for help if we walking dinner tomorrow and see tacos and soup on the table! haha! it’s not that bad, but I’m just not a fan!  

 One of the greatest miracles this week was found in a package my family sent me....you see this week we only had two dinner appointments (and yes we had soup and tacos no worries there) and the rest we would pack a dinner and eat on the go...our favorite dinner on the go is a peanut-butter and honey sandwich with bananas.  On Monday we forgot to buy more peanut-butter..and by Thursday we were out..that night I got my package and inside was a big jar of peanut-butter! Now, peanut-butter is not one of my favorite foods and so the fact that my mom and dad would sent me some can only be explained as inspiration! (Sorry I don't know how to spell that word and we don't have spell check!)  Also I asked mom and dad to send me some cds because we have been listening to the same one for like the past 5 weeks and the first cd I pulled out was that same cd! We laughed and laughed it was great! Thanks mom and dad for the package it brought us some much joy!! 

 Overall, it was a great week! Thanks for all the Love and support!

Love!

Sister Randi Hulet

xoxo