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!!

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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