Fiesta Patrias

Cupcakes

So there's this nice man whose friend gave him an English class invite and he was so excited and came to class and was like "your home is so nice!" Hahaha poor guy thought we live here. We gave him a church tour and he's the nicest. His name is Oscar.

Hermana Benitez (the Little Rock one not the Memphis one) gave us a GIANT dinner. (Eggs, spicy spicy pico de Gallo, tuna and cucumbers, chicken, and veggies.) Pictures to follow. They are so cute and she's going to give me a haircut soon woohoo!

Benitez Dinner

My companions

So we had our specialized meeting this week which was great and exactly what I needed. But then we went on blitz after and Sister Forsyth drove our car. We had sung Dearest Children God is Near You and she was like "hey! Are you related to that Macfarlane? I'm related to Charles Walker!" And it turns out our great great great great grandpas were friends. Cool.

FIESTA PATRIAS: the best. The branch threw a fun party to get to know their countries that they do every year and some of the Russellville members came!!!! :) It was so so fun. And Nitzia (she came to one English class and we taught her once and she came to church) came to the party and she is so awesome. They asked us to look at the tables and then after like 20 minutes we should start eating. She just started eating anyway. We like her. :)

We were Columbian, Hna Barrientos (green) was Bolivian, Hna Lopez (blue) was Chilean. We are not very good at the skirt holding thing.  

We taught relief society about being honest. I never really put it together that when we are dishonest (small lies, cheating, gossiping, denying truth, etc) the spirit leaves us. And the opposite is true too. When we are honest with our leaders and families and honest with ourselves and God, the spirit will be in a much greater abundance and we will be strengthened to tell the truth and be blessed because of it. Honesty is a commandment! It was a cool thing for me to study.

Have a happy week!
Hermana Macfarlane

HOLA FAMILIA Y AMIGOS!!!!

Hermana Macfarlane and Hermana Thornton

This week was a week of miracles! Well, mostly the weekend. We usually go to "Baseline" which is like a really long street with a lot of apartments. It's kind of a ways to bike there but there are always people outside who are prepared to listen to the gospel!! It's so fun. Hermana Thornton is great at talking to everyone and we just give out all the pass along cards and invite everyone to English class.

One of the guys we found, his name is Isidro, I think. We just talked to him briefly but we went by again to see him and he and his wife just let us right in and their kids were so polite and listened very intently. They were curious about the Book of Mormon and mostly the little kids were so cute they all came up and shook our hands and introduced themselves. So sweet.

Another person we are teaching is named Meli. She is a younger adult who is so nice and asks a lot of questions and came to church WOOHOO. She and her mom have been listening to the missionaries and they love the Plan of Salvation. She came to church with her little brother.

We have been studying a lot about baptism and the Atonement. I learned this morning that I need to focus more on The Savior's Earthly Ministry and Atonement but focus on the Atonement part in order for people to understand the purpose of baptism. Because He paid for our sins, suffered on the cross and was resurrected, we can have faith, repent and receive a remission of our sins and be baptized.

Hermana Thornton is SUPER great and I'm so grateful to be her companion. I just want you all to know that.

Hermana Thornton

How is Utah?

Hermana Macfarlane

Goodbye to Hna Madsen y hola to Hna Thornton

Hna Madsen and Hna Macfarlane Retainers and Feast Mode T-shirts.

Here are the tender mercies for my first week in LITTLE ROCK

Monday- The Little Rock sisters had a baptism on Monday and it was a miracle for Hermana Hudson to be able to come! It was so sweet.

Tuesday- We had to bike Tuesday because we were out of miles, and Little Rock doesn't have very many sidewalks or shoulders so we were riding along and a giant nail went through my tire. It was super hot outside and we were halfway between home and the super far place we were going. This nice member saw us try to figure it out and he offered us a ride but we couldn't because it was just a single man, but he referred us over to the Goodyear down the street. So we walked over there and the super nice Goodyear guys, after trying everything they could to fix it the manager hopped in his truck and got me a new tube and tire and came back and fixed it up for me! It was so so nice. (And it's still working woohoo.)

Wednesday- We have been talking to a lot of the kids who are just hangin out and there were these two who were asking about God and like after life and stuff and it was really fun to teach them! Then they took us to their mom who wants us to come back. Later that night we were heading home and we decided to stop by this lady who has been coming to English class, and SHE GAVE US YUMMY ENCHILADAS AND THEY WERE SO SPICY AND GOOD. Tender mercy. And we biked at super speed to get back home and we got home just in time.

Hna Macfarlane and Hna Thornton

Thursday- Last minute, Hermana Barrientos was able to come teaching with us. A few days earlier we were biking around and Hna Thornton talked to a cute Hispanic couple outside and we went back to teach them and they really liked the restoration and they have the cutest little daughter too! 

Friday- We had some good planning on Friday and Hermana Roper came teaching with us! She was really sweet and we found this giant trailer park which we are going back to.

Saturday- NAUN. It was so cool. Hermana Thornton had felt all week that we need to teach this investigator with her whole family and we need to find a way to get them all to sit down with us. We went to see them and the son, Naun, answered the door and long story short he is a member from Honduras and is wanting to learn English and he didn't know where the church is!!! It was so cool. He's the sweetest young guy and we gave him an English Book of Mormon to learn English.

Sunday- We went to see Crescenciana (who came to church! woohoo!) and Hna Lopez helped her feel more comfortable with baptism. She is really in a lot of pain and can't be baptized right now but we helped her overcome her fears and start considering baptism! 

Sorry this might be boring but it was really a great week! Hna Thornton is super awesome and I'm excited to be here in Little Rock.

Read your scriptures and keep the Sabbath Day holy!

 :)

Hermana Macfarlane

Transferred to Little Rock

We went to the temple today! It was so nice.

Bed bugs are still a really fun thing. We have to wash  and dry everything (twice) and put it all in plastic bags. The sister training leaders in Bartlett had a bed bug last week and weren't allowed to do exchanges so we did last minute exchanges with the Trenton sisters. IT WAS SO FUN. It made me want to serve here in Trenton! They had this Bible referral who they were following up with and she asked to come to church and said she really wants to read the Book of Mormon! Super cool. 

Something else really awesome was when we were trying to see one of their people ... I think the town is called Alamo or like flower or something I can't remember. Anyway they weren't available so we went to see a different lady and she got out of the car and said hi to us and all of the sudden her friend hops out of the car and he has no legs!! And he was DRIVING. I guess he got two canes and hooked them up to the pedals and just drives like that. And he like pulled himself up the stairs after. He was pretty cool. 

Hermana Ponce came to visit!
Ponce, Hudson, Madsen, Macfarlane

I'm going to miss Memphis a lot! One night we were biking down to an appointment we had at like 8pm and we look over and the cute Benitez family were following us in their car. Haha they are so nice. Then Hna Benitez and Karina hopped out of the car and tried to come teaching with us but the person didn't answer, sadly. But I will miss this branch! They are going to be a ward in January! The missionaries and the members are working hard and I'm so excited for them!

The Benitez

Hmm... What else. We had MLC this week and learned a lot about working with members and being obedient. The Wakolo's are just super great. Their goal for every missionary is to become a disciple of Christ. They understand that as we work on our discipleship, the people in our areas will be blessed by our testimonies and conversion and love. I know they are called of God and I'm so grateful to be serving in this mission!! I wish I could describe them to you better so you can understand how great they are and how blessed we are! 

New/released/current sisters at MLC-me holding my library of things

Hermana Madsen will be a great trainer! I'm headed to Little a Rock with Hna Thornton and Hermana Madsen will be staying here to train, along with all the other missionaries in Memphis! She has been so so great and I will miss her a lot. 

The Book of Mormon is true and I'm so so grateful for the ways it has blessed my family. I am grateful for the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. I know that baptism is important, the priesthood is very important, and all of the saving ordinances are clearly vital but the most important is the sealing of families for all time and eternity! :) I love my family and the families here in Arkansas/Tennessee. 

Hasta luego.

I look like a chihuahua. (She was asleep in the car. It's sister Evans)

Faith = Miracles

Hello.

Giant watermelon and gift cards (the card says: para Hermana elder misionera)

 "And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."-Ether 12:6

This morning I was reading in the New Testament about the Savior healing the blind man. After he goes to wash his face, the Savior is gone and he is suddenly being interrogated on how he was then able to see. After the "trial of his faith" Jesus finds him, and the blind man can then receive his witness of the Savior.

"Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him."-John 9:34-38

Faith = Miracles.

Memphis sunset and cheap gas

In our zone conference this week, President Wakolo expounded on the Atonement and saving ordinances. He asked us all to prepare by choosing from a list about the Savior in the Book of Mormon (I chose 1 Nephi 19,21 and 2 Nephi 2). One of the verses we talked about is 1 Nephi 19:9 which basically says that the Savior suffered all sorts of things because He loves us. He was rejected and scourged and stoned and still kept going and still performed the Atonement after that because He is loving and kind. We were then all able to bear our simple testimonies of the Savior and the Spirit was so strong! I'm so grateful for the knowledge that I have of Jesus Christ because of the Bible and the Book of Mormon and two or three hours of testimonies from missionaries AND the Spirit that filled the room as we learned and sang and testified of Jesus Christ and the Atonement. I know it is only because of the creation, the fall and the Atonement that we can receive saving ordinances and be sealed as families to return to our Father in heaven.

My gratitude for the gospel and the Book of Mormon has increased a lot this week!!!

Thank you for your prayers and emails and notes! Please keep praying for the people in Memphis, especially all of the cute young couples we are working with that they will want to get MARRIED so they can be SEALED!!! :)

kneeling prayers ... I knelt on gum .. not sure why my knee looks so fat

(P.S. Apparently we are suffering from bed bugs in this mission. Actually not just this mission but all over the U.S.... Gross.) (She assured me they don't have bed bugs right now. Phew!)

Don't let the bed bugs bite,
Hermana Macfarlane

HOORAY FOR ANOTHER GREAT WEEK

This is Thelma. She is the cutest.

This week we had exchanges and Sister Hyer came to Memphis with me (she's an English STL so it was me teaching with the members which is hilarious and fun). She reminded me of the analogy of the trumpet.. If there is a rusty and out of tune trumpet, God can still play the tune but imagine how much easier it would be as a clean new shiny trumpet. God is going to get his work done, but we will get something out of it too if we are submissive and obedient. Sister Hyer came out at the same time as me and we have been sister training leaders for the same amount of time so it was way fun to talk about what we've learned and see how far we have progressed over the past year!

Sister Hyer and Me

MIRACLES WITH THE MARQUEZ FAMILY. So for the last ... like 4 or 5 months the sisters have been teaching and dropping by and trying again with this family. Their grandma is a recent convert so we would go teach her and mostly her granddaughters. We taught the dad last week but this week we focused on the mom and it was BEAUTIFUL. She told us the first time the sisters went over, they prayed with her and her mom and she said she felt the sweetest feeling and she cried. She wasn't sure why but she was so happy. (This is absolutely shocking seeing as since then, she was very quiet and timid and didn't really seem interested.) I guess something changed and she was able to open up to us and she basically asked to be baptized and then THE ENTIRE FAMILY OF 8 CAME ON SUNDAY. It was so sweet and they were so happy. And the little girl got gum stuck all over the pew (is that how you spell the word for church bench??) and it stuck to her bum and followed her in a long string all the way out the chapel hahaha! They are so so sweet and could definitely use prayers as they make changes to accept their first covenant of baptism!!!!

Going to birthday lunch

Most peaceful quesadilla cutter ... Aww

I was studying in 1 Nephi 19 and then I read the last two chapters in Luke and it was really cool to read about the prophesy and then the account of what happened as the Savior performed the Atonement. We have had to testify a lot of the Atonement this week and I learned again that I need to apply the things I learn for others into my own life. I can repent of any sin and ask for help with any problem because God loves me and wants the best for me and for the people that I love so much here in Memphis!! It hit me again this week how profound and cool it is - just the simple statement that God is our loving Heavenly Father.

Hermana Madsen is the best. We are killing off these roaches ONE BY ONE IF WE HAVE TO BUT WE WILL KILL THEM ALL. (P.S. Shout out to Sister Hyer who had a cockroach drop down from our ceiling onto her shirt and handled it very well.)

Hermana Macfarlane

From June when Elder and Sister Arnold came.

Hiiiiii

Little Rock Hermanitas

Hiiiiii-

We are going to get a birthday lunch, woohoo. On my actual birthday we had a zone meeting and we went on exchanges and we ate those delicious coconut Lindt Lindor chocolate truffles. Heavenly. Thank you for the birthday wishes and emails!!!!! :) We had a good long car ride with the assistants and I picked their brains which was super awesome. Turns out President Wakolo is even cooler than I thought. Haha!

My companion is the best best best

The Hermanas in Little Rock are so cute. They have such sweet spirits and pure desires to share the gospel. Same with the Russellville Hermanas who are so dedicated and funny!! It was so fun to go back to Russellville and see the changes since I've left. Also, Sister Watts is the best and got us shakes for my birthday and drove us to Conway at 6:00 in the morning. :)

Fun story for me-Earlier during the week we found a cute group of Hispanic ladies. Saturday we went back to teach one of them and it was so so awesome. She's the adorable young mom who just has the sweetest spirit. We have been praying to find a family who understands the Bible and the need for a restoration. Her name is Dinora and she totally understood the bible and the apostasy and the restoration and wants to get baptized! It was such a fun lesson to teach her the
basics and answer her questions. It's not like it was anything really different but it was such a tender mercy because we had been praying to find those who are ready here in Memphis, and we both felt so good about her! :)

Hermana Olson and Kelly. 

Yesterday at church it was a very sweet fast and testimony meeting, almost every person bore their testimony that they know the church is true. There were a lot of non-members and less active members that needed to hear that. I was especially touched as Jose (the one who just got baptized like a month ago) on his own desire got up and bore his testimony about the Book of Mormon and the true church and that he wants to serve a mission. It was so sweet and so pure and he is such a good example for his older sisters.

We have been reading the New Testament and marking the Christ-like attributes. I know that the Savior loves everyone unconditionally. I don't know how but I know that repentance is always possible because he actually suffered it all, he stood in our place as he suffered for our sins. He is still there for us! I also know that the Book of Mormon is necessary and it is another witness of the Atonement and that repentance is possible, because of the love of our Savior and
Heavenly Father.

Love y'all lots and lots!

Hermana Macfarlane