Last week Natalie was unable to email as the entire city was "shut down". Not literally, but one of the members was kind enough to call and let us know that she would not be making it to email due to the severely cold weather and the wild amounts of snow. School was cancelled throughout the area and everyone was advised to stay home! Her and her companion stayed in their apartment!

So we were certainly glad to hear from her this week!

Hello Family!

THISS WEEEKKKKK.....we got yelled at a lot.

First time we were yelled at was at lesson :( Tithing is an obstacle! And being a missionary is quite like a game you have to get to the end and try and get through the law of chastity, Word of Wisdom, and tithing! This investigators spouse is not too happy about the paying tithing part. So we are just waiting for a miracle. They came downstairs and actually got really mad at us for talking about tithing...so that was REALLY awkward. The rest of the lesson was....awkward! We are hoping if they get a definite testimony everything will work out!

Then we taught a preacher....he was real fun. hahah it was quite a problem! We were stuck there for 2 1/2 hours (he would not let us leave) being preached to.... oh man though, he was getting into it! And then every time we would try and talk, it would make him mad!!! But I bore my testimony and then said we have to leave, but it was nice talking to you! Best part about it was that he had a VERY HEAVY Jamaican accent so I could hardly understand what he was saying!!!

THEN we went over to teach a family with 4 kids. GOSH I love them so much! Problem though...their dad is from Africa and worships idols. VERY SCARY! They were EVERYWHERE!! And he came in (after saying a prayer to one of his dolls) and yelled at us about how we just dropped in and we were so disrespectful and he doesn't know why were are doing this! He said and I quote "I don't know if you don't got a boyfriend or if you are just bored!!" ....how rude. But yeah, after him yelling at us and us just smiling and taking it, we left. With a very heavy feeling and the Spirit was very distant! It was such a bad feeling and you could tell that he was not worshiping anything good :( and that he did not treat those kids good :( It broke my heart!!! But after we sat in the car and just didn't know what to do so we sang a hymn and said a prayer and I felt SO MUCH BETTER! It was eye opening to see the difference without the Spirit so strong... to feeling the Spirit literally come back in! I cried a little bit; in a good way of course! :)

 Then we were yelled at a couple times on the door step and what not! Story of missionary life! But this week was also good but CRAZY! We didn't have church last Sunday and emailing was off and district meeting was on a different day so everything just was off!! But we still had some good lessons and I learned to so much!

 Friday, one of our investigators was really sick and so we got some priesthood over there for a priesthood blessing and sadly it was HILARIOUS! Okay, if you knew this investigator you would know she is THE FUNNIEST PERSON I HAVE EVER MET! Oh my heck, I love her! They untied her hair before they put the oil on and she like messed it around and rubbed it in and said, "I really just want it to seep it and get in there REALLy good"  I was cracking up the the whole blessing....not very reverent... but the whole thing was just awkward...Gosh I laughed sooo much this week and I also learned so much!

I am really growing to love being on a mission and I love the members so much! Ever since we gave talks they have been fighting to feed us every night! I love it! And we have really gotten to know everyone. I DON'T EVER want to leave!!!  But then Sunday we looked at the program and both of our names were spelled wrong....hmmm...do they really love us that much? hahaha Sister Frei and I laughed so HARD! Missions are the best! They are HHARRRDD HHARRD HARD everyday but the little miracles here and there make it so worth it and I just love sharing this gospel and with everyone! 

My sister training leader told me that a testimony is part of my heart, so every time I bear it I am giving them part of my heart!! :) So to you.... I know that this church is true! That Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration. I know it and I feel it every time I share the first vision! This church is Jesus Christ's church restored back on the earth! How wonderful is that?! :) We get to be a part of Jesus Christ's church! I know that I am supposed to be here and even though it is hard it is the Lord's work! And with his help (and sometimes Him dragging me on) I can make it through! :)

I love being a missionary more and more everyday! I miss you all so much and LOVE YOU ALLL SOO MUCH!! Every time I get the opportunity, I share with everyone how important my family is to me! You all are so important to me! And I am so thankful for our loving Heavenly Father's plan that we can be together FOREVER! So we might want to get used to being with each other...cause it is FOREVER! :) LOVE YOU ALL! And pray for you every night! (mostly for kenz not to get married) 

lots of love from the michiganders! :)

Sister Oswald

my journal