AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Feb 29 at 11:07 AM

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU GUYS.

KELSEY AND SCOTT GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!!!!!!!

 

This is just a glimpse of the squealing I've been putting my companion through for the last couple of days. Sorry about that, but not really because this has probably been the best week of my life. Like... ever. 

Something about people being happy with the gospel makes me happy and then I squeal. It's weird. It's like I'm a missionary or something.

Haha. 

Okay. But really though. All jokes aside, this week was so so sick. Like, spiritual high all day e'rry day. I'm still super stoked about it all.     Tuesday: We went on exchanges with the STL's in Banff and it was soooo pretty. Ah. I would probably never want to serve in Banff because the work is really tough there and their branch is teeny tiny. BUT it was so pretty. We walked this lady's dogs to the dog park and they got us all muddy and gross but it was way fun. We talked to quite a few people there. Something about people with dogs, they're always so friendly to other people with dogs. 

Wednesday: We did Waffle Wednesday and it was suuuuuper slow, so I found ways to entertain myself. I lined up all the toppings in a V formation with the ice cream bucket at the top and then I flicked the cherries lid around, it bouncing off all the toppings and whatnot. I basically made myself a pin-ball machine and it kept me entertained for a solid half hour haha. I totally took a video of it too, but I still need to figure out how to send it. But take my word for it, it was cool. 

We had a lesson with both Scott and Kelsey on temple work and family history and they're both so flippin' awesome. Kelsey has already started doing family history and is all the way back to the 1600's on her mom's side. So cool. 

And then that night I got a training call. Which means I'm training again. Which means Sister Dean is getting transferred. Sad. But it will be a fun adventure. When you get a training call, we say that you're pregnant. So we've been saying all week that we're going to pick up the fetus on Wednesday hahaha being a missionary is so weird. 

Thursday: We had a really awesome lesson with a returning less-active. Returning as of like two days ago. She came to us a while ago with some concerns and we weren't sure how to address them. But then she watched this movie, God Is Not Dead, and she felt the Spirit super strong and found so many answers to questions she'd been wrestling with. She started making a ton of changes within, like, two days all on her own! This is honestly one of the coolest things ever. After meeting with her and her sharing with us all these cool things, I literally couldn't stop squealing. Poor Sister Dean, hahaha. 

After meeting with her, we had a lesson with our investigator, Ryan, and our member, Tyler, came. It was really cool because both Tyler and Ryan are SUPER smart, so they got along great. We taught Ryan the Plan of Salvation, and questions that he had that we had no idea bout, Tyler was able to answer because he's so smart. It was really cool. YSA are the best, they  just have so many questions and they're so ready to learn more and more and more. 

Friday:  We went into South Calgary for a training meeting with President and the other missionaries that are training. It was funny to see that most of the other missionaries that are training had trained with me when I trained the first time. (How many times can I say train in one sentence?) I joked with some of the sisters that we're always pregnant together lol. I don't think they thought it was as funny as I did, but whatever. The meeting was really sweet. Very inspiring. And kind of scary. Lots of reminders of the responsibility that training is. SO MUCH PRESSURE. But it's always awesome to hear from President. He's literally the best. 

Saturday:  WAS LITERALLY THE BEST DAY EVER!!!!!! 

We got to the church super early to fill up the font, but there was already someone filling it up for a baptism they  had at 11. So that was awesome. No responsibility for us! So we just did our studies in the mother's lounge, had lunch with a member that lived near by, and then went back to the church to start setting up for the baptism at 1. Kelsey and Scott came all ready to go, so we took photos and got started. Kelsey's parents came and it was so cool to see the support they have for her. I swear they'll be baptized some day, literally some of the coolest people ever. The program went well, it was well attended, and there were really good cookies afterwards. So stinkin' cool. 

After the baptism, we went to the retirement home to sing to some of the residents. There were like five people there so it was kind of awkward haha but super fun. 

One of our members took us out for Indian food that was really good, and then we visited with one of our members who is preparing for her mission in, like, a month. It was a good day. 

Sunday: Might have been better than Saturday, if that's even possible. Scott was interviewed by bishop and sustained in sacrament to be worthy to receive the priesthood! They were both confirmed during sacrament meeting and had some of the best blessings I had ever heard. Like, I literally would have squealed, but we were in the chapel, so..... I just grinned instead. I did a musical number with one of my zone leaders who accompanied me. Scott was ordained during priesthood, and then both Kelsey and Scott got their temple recommends after church! They're both wanting to go to the regional YSA temple day this weekend, and, like, holy crap, this is the best thing of my life.  WE HAVE THE COOLEST INVESTIGATORS--NOW MEMBERS--EVER!!!!!! 

So. That was my week. I kind of have a headache from all the excitement. What at terrible thing to get a headache from. (;

Oh. man, you guys. The gospel is seriously so awesome. It literally changes lives. I've seen it. I know it. We talked to someone the other day who said they just didn't like the rules. But when it comes down to it, if you love God enough, the rules don't even matter. I mean that in the way that you love Him so much that following the rules and doing the things that he's asked us isn't hard at all. When we come to understand who our Heavenly Father is and the love that He has for us, it makes us so much happier. 

God is good. 

Love you all so much(: 

<3 Sister Pipkin 

1) Sister Dean and I with Brother LaPlante (left) and Scott (right)

2) Kelsey and Brother Litousky (I think you can figure out which one is which)

 

 

Feb 29 at 11:10 AM

I wasn't ready to send that email, gosh dangit. Let me explain the rest of the photos. 

3) Sister Dean and I matched at church yesterday and didn't even plan it. Honestly. 

4) Elder Ince (really big) and Elder Chen (really small). Idk why. All I can say is elders. 

5) Elder Paihopa turned 22 on Friday and we made him a cake. We rock. 

6) I came out with Sister Tilley and saw her at the training meeting. It's seriously so weird that we've been out for almost a year. 

7) the gorgeousness of Banff. Oh, and the mountains. Lolol. I'm funny.