The Man with 17 Cats and Pebody

Wow! What a week of miracles!

Sister Crane and I had a really great week. We'll, it started out not great but it ended great! We spent the first couple days tracting which was not super effective but I think later in the week we saw blessings and miracles.

Thursday we had put in plans to go see a less active member that is always in and out of the hospital because she has mental problems. We have tried to stop by every once in a while but she is never there. Sister Crane said we should go see her so we put her in but in my head I was thinking this was just going to be another door to knock. But when we walked up she was sitting in front of her house! We talked and she shared some concerns and we shared the Prince of Peace video and talked about the Book of Mormon. She said she would try to dig her copy out and she would try to come to church. Then on Sunday, there she was! 

Friday we had another crazy miracle. We were tracting on this street that we had planned that morning and then this guy comes out of his house and so we talk to him for a bit and we find out he has 17 cats. 12 inside, 5 outside. Then we left and kept walking down the street and passed a few house and then just automatically I knocked on a door. This is watching happened. 

 Pebody: Hey what's up

Sis. C: We are sharing a message about Jesus Christ and we were wondering if we could share that with you?
P: Oh so this was a random door knock? 
Sis. C: yeah... it was... did you think someone sent us? 
P: Yeah we get targeted. My file is about this thick. *holds thumb and forefinger about 3 inches apart*
Sis. C: *laughs uncomfortably*
P: Well Declen is playing video games so I have a few minutes. 
Sis. C: Okay, what's your name?
P: Pebody 
Me: Wait, Pebody Kennedy?!
P: Yes
Me: We thought you moved! 
P: I did move. *tells us about his moving experience*
A few minutes later
P: So actually I was thinking about meeting with the missionaries again. 
Sis. C and I: ...wha..
P: Yeah I asked my girlfriend if I could give you guys a call and have you come over again. I just never got around to calling you.
Sis. C and I: *jaws dropped, thanking Heavenly Father in our hearts for this amazing miracle*

Back in 2009 the missionaries found this guy named Pebody. They taught him for a few years but dropped him. In 2014 they picked him back up but then dropped him about a year later. The awesome thing about Pebody is that he was always bringing friends to his lessons and he has read the whole Book of Mormon! Also, he's Jewish so he doesn't exactally belive that Christ is the Messiah but we will work on that. There's actually a member of our branch that used to be Jewish so hopefully we can ask him to come to some of our lessons.

Yesterday our Branch building was finished so we were able to meet there! The chapel was full and it was so great! So many less actives were there. We were still missing some people but we hope they will be there next week. Hopefully we can keep it filled. Our branch president believes we can get to phase 3 a lot quicker than they got to phase 2 and as missionaries we are going to work hard to make sure that happens. 

Later that afternoon we were able to get in contact with another former investigator. We knocked on her door but no one answered but as we walked down her street we passed her backyard and there was a lady gardening. We said hi and then I asked her if she was Page. She looked at me like I was crazy and so I thought oh it's not her maybe she moved but then I also felt like I should ask her again. She was like yes how do you know who I am. We told her we were the sister Missionaries and her face lit up! We talked to her for a bit and she told me to get an easier name. One like Crane. She was funny. She wants us to come back soon so she can continue to learn. 

This week was so full of miracles. I am so grateful for the people that were put in our path this week. Heavenly Father does not forget about His children and none of them are truly lost. That was made clear to me this week. We are the Lord's Hands and sometimes He guides us to find His sheep in the strangest or most obvious ways. I hope you all have been reading the Book of Mormon and coming to know that it is true and that it is another testament of Jesus Christ! I love and miss you all! Have a great week! 

Lots of Love!
Sister Van Buskirk

People on the East Coast think they can have cacti but it's just so so sad.

Sister Crane and I repping the Phillies #thankstothewalkers

Zander and his wife are home but Chopper left

{Zander is the Adams oldest son and Chopper is their middle son. They have 3 boys, 3 girls. I have met all but 2. Jamie, who is in CA and Jake who is on his mission. Everyone is married except Chopper and Jake because Chopper just got home in august I think.}

A beautiful week in the great state of Pennsylvania! It was sunny and 75 most of the week except for Saturday when we had the Easter egg hunt... it was cold and windy...

Tuesday we got Steven's large print Book of Mormon because he can only see with one eye. We dropped it off later that evening to Maureen because she was outside and later he called us and was just so grateful that we got it for him and dropped it off. We love Steven so much. We also love Maureen but she talks so much that Steven falls asleep. 

Wednesday we went to the temple and then had dinner with the Derstines. They are the cutest family and are so in tune with the spirit and just wanting to be disciples of Christ, it's amazing. We taught them the Restoration and invited them to read the Book of Mormon and then we asked if we could come back and they said yes! But not till May 31st... We are patient but it's hard. 

Thursday. What even happened Thursday. We did some weekly planning which is not my favorite thing. Then we went and saw Sabrina who I taught a few times with Sister Cragun but then she disappeared but now she's back! That was not the best lesson because she was not feeling well I guess. Sister Crane is not thrilled to go back but she wants to get baptized so... 

Friday we helped Mary clean her house and we gave her a Book of Mormon and she was so happy. We shared Mosiah 24 which talks about the Lord lifting burdens (you should all read it. It's great. While you're at it, just read the whole thing) and she loved it and is going to read it again. 

Saturday was the branch Easter Egg Hunt. The Glaser's do it every year on their farm in the big hay field. Usually it's just the branch but then some people from the stake heard about it and so Sister Glaser was scared they wouldn't have enough eggs (They planned to do 300) so we hid 1100 eggs... It was way fun though. The Kutztown sisters ended up coming too since a member had invited a potential investigator. Then we went to the Walkers to make crafts for our "other less actives" and ate dinner. They are so funny. They made us Pennsylvania Easter baskets and Sister Walker made cupcakes for us to decorate and take to people. 

Sunday was Easter! So we go to church, have sacrament meeting, president Adams is the last speaker, president Adams cancels the rest of church. This is the conversation we had with our RS president getting in the car. Warning: I wasn't trying to be rude. I was just trying to think of what we were going to do for the next 2 hours. 

Sister Mientus: Well this is a nice treat!

Me: For you and the other members yeah.

Sister Mientus: What do you mean? What are you guys going to do?

Sister Crane: Go tracting on Easter Sunday.

Sister Mientus: *awkward laugh because she doesn't know what to say*

Oh well it was good actually. It rained a little while we were out but one guy said we could come back next week.

Miracle Story! 

There's a less active in our area book who we've never met (okay there are active lot of those) but we have been meaning to call her for months and we keep forgetting. Yesterday we were looking for people we could send a "Happy Easter" text to and found her. Well we decided to call her right away and she answered! We asked if there was anything we could do for her and she said "yeah actually. I've been thinking about coming to church. What times does church start? I think I want to go next week." Sister Crane and I were like what the heck oh my gosh yes church is at 9 and we are back in the old building finally. 

We went to the Adams for dinner which is always an adventure. We walked in right as President Adams took off on his motorcycle and Sister Adams was first is hinges her squash pie. I love all of them, they are just crazy. Their son is on his mission in Gilbert and Jess and Chopper both served in Nevada so I'm like yes these people understand that I almost froze to death. 

I hope you all had a great Easter Sunday and took the time to remember our Savior. I finished the Book of Mormon yesterday and what an special experience that was. I hope you all have taken the opportunity to read the Book of Mormon and prayed to know if it is true. I know the answer you will get. It's the same one I received. I love you all and have a great week. 

Lots of Love!

Sister Van Buskirk

 Our Zone

Elder Padilla is dying and everyone insists that if you are dying you have to take a dying picture...

Sister Crane and I at the temple! 

Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple

The eggs are already hidden in the field. You just can't see them.

All the kids lined up to find some candy.

Sister Abbott, Sister Kuta, Sister Crane, me. We tried to huddle together to stay warm.

My Easter basket from the Walkers. Complete with Birch Beer, Tasty-Kakes, a Phillies t-shirt, and a kite. 

Uhh... I got nothin for this week

This week was awesome! Lots of great lessons and last night Sister Key prayed. Okay let's start at the beginning of the week. We had interviews with President Randall, so best day of the week. I hope he's okay with me telling the 10 people that actually read these emails but he was baptized in a hot tube. That's through truth. Sister Crane's district leader told her that once and so we asked him and he was like yup that's the truth. Okay he didn't say it like that because he's a mission president but that's the gist. 

Thursday it rained so that was lame because no one is outside in the rain and then when you knock on people's doors the say, "stay dry!" And close the door instead of, "oh my goodness you poor wet things. Come inside and let's talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ until it stops raining." One day that will happen... One day...

Friday we met with Maureen and Steven. We taught them how to pray and then, we asked them to pray themselves. President Randall told us it might be good to have them both pray because they need to get their separate answers. Steven said a wonderful prayer. It was very meaningful and sincere. I think we may need to reteach prayer for Maureen but that's okay. Everyone needs to review how to pray, even me. Steven was so funny. He sits in his wheelchair and every time Maureen goes off on a tangent he like starts to doze off but as soon as we start to interject he's like the dog in Up that's like "squirrel!" He's focused on us and what we are teaching. We were there for like 20 minutes and we hadn't started the lesson yet because Maureen was telling us about Pottstown and how's it's safe to be there during the day but don't go walking around at night. Steven finally sits up and says, "well I'm just going to take a nap. Maureen, wake me up when you're done talking so we can listen to what these girls have to say." I almost died. Steven is so funny and he just soaks up everything we teach him. 

About a month and a half ago Sister Cragun were tracting this neighborhood and we met this lady named Sharon. We asked if we could share a message and she said she was about to leave and she was really busy the rest of the week. She said if we were back in the area next week we could come back so we did. We again came one a busy day but she said she promised to listen to our message and she didn't want to break her promise. So we went inside and talked to her for about 20 minutes. We briefly talked about the Restoration and some of our basic beliefs and gave her a Book of Mormon. We asked if we could come back and she said call me in a month. Her and her husband were going on vacation and then she wanted to have time to get back into the routine I guess. Well last week was a month and so we called her and she said we could come by. We felt like we should teach her the Plan of Salvation. Logically, we should have retaught the Restoration so we could make sure she really understood but Sister Crane and I both felt like we should teach the Plan of Salvation. We ended up being on exchanges so Sister Burrell and I taught her. She expressed to us that she was attending a memorial later that day for a 17 year old boy who hado committed suicide. She asked us what about the people that haven't heard of Jesus Christ. We talked about how not only those people but the people who did not accept the gospel can be taught and given another chance to hear it. It was a really great lesson. She could definitely feel the spirit and hopefully it brought her comfort as she attended the funeral. 

Yesterday we stopped by a couple less actives. First we had a lesson with Sister Key and shared the Prince of Peace video with her. Also at the end of the lesson she actually prayed! We always ask her to and she always makes an excuse or just flat out refuses to. So that was a miracle and it showed us that her heart was softening. Hopefully soon she will come to church. Then we stopped by the Walkers. They just got married like November but they have been to church like twice since then. We had a good lesson with them and we are going back on Friday to make Easter crafts for our other less actives and have dinner. Sister Walker is a funny. She went on a mission like 15 years ago or something and she knows she's less active but she wants to help us with our "other" less actives. 

This week is Holy Week and there are so many people reflecting on Christ's life and His resurrection. I know that my Savior lives and I know that because of Him I will live again as well. Heavenly Father has a great plan of eternal life for us but the only reason that is possible if because of our Savior Jesus Christ. I hope you all have a great Holy Week and a great Easter Sunday. I love you all!

Lots of Love!

Sister Van Buskirk

Sister Burrell, me, Sister Crane, Sister Crystal (my fav)

Too many subjects, too little subject lines

My goodness, so much happened this week and I thought of so many things I could put as my subject so I thought I would split up my email into Lots of different emails and then maybe you all will read parts of it instead of just looking at my pictures if I even have any. 

Oops I did it again.

I think as missionaries they should have those invisible fences around your area and then give us bracelets that shock us in case we accidentally drive out of our area. Yes, you guessed it. I left the area again. They need to spot planting trees in front of street signs. Also why can't we have straight roads? Oh yes because we have to drive around all the trees. Maybe when the trees look pretty with leaves on them I will appericitate them more. I just feel like Arizona is greener than Pennsylvania. Okay maybe not but you all understand what I'm saying right?

Soft cookies softens hearts

So the Milford Branch has so many wonderful people. It also has people that are a bit grumpy and don't answer the phone or the door when the missionaries come to visit. So the past couple weeks Sister Crane and I (Sister Cragun and i did this a few times as well) have decided to start softening hearts. We started by texting people scriptures or quotes a few times a week. Then BOOM! Sister Coull says maybe we can come by after they come back from vacation. Then we were like okay it's time to step it up a notch. Let's make cookies. We dropped cookies off at a few homes and later that afternoon we get a phone call. Sister Pagatto thanked us for the cookies and said we could come by next week. (Thank you for the recipie father) So pretty much they are less grumpy with us. 

Wait am I in Pennsylvania or South America?

So many much miracles this week. First on Tuesday we stopped by a lady that ordered a Bible and Book of Mormon online like 6 months ago. We decided to stop by and see if she would like us to teach her. She really would but the people in her home don't like religion but for herself she has been going back to church and reading the Bible. We invited her to read from the Book of Mormon and she said she would and then we told her about General Conference and she was so excited! She was like oh yes definitly that sounds so cool. She said she would call us and tell us what she thought so we are crossing our fingers that she calls us. Then we stopped by the Roos family. Sister Roos joined the church in high school in CA. She told us she snuck out of her house for a year to go to seminary! What?! But she has not been active for a very long time. They came to church on Sunday though and her kids loved it. We taught them about the sacrament and what it means and then we asked if we could come back the next week and she said yes! 

Wednesday we met Maureen. So we had gone to drop off some cookies to a lady but she wasn't home so we just left them on the front porch. Across the street is where another member lives/lived. She may or may not be dead. But we saw a woman outside and we were like is that her? So we go over and start talking to her and it's not her so we still don't know own what happened to her. But we asked this lady if we could share a message with her about Jesus Christ. First she says no I'm good I have my own faith. But then she's like we'll actually maybe I need to change religions. We were like what... Anyway we end up talking to her for like an hour. The funny part is she told us like the same 5 things over and over again. But her husband came out and he was really funny. He only has one leg and one time he was like, "I'm 5' 11 on one side and 4' 6 on the other." But we went back yesterday and taught the Restoration and Steven asked what he had to do to get into heaven and we said well you have to be baptized, would you like to be baptized? He was like yeah that sounds good. Steven just kept telling us as we were leaving how much better he felt after talking to us. Maureen is so funny because she just loves to talk. We were there for almost 2 hours and we barely made it in time for conference. But that's how we found 4 new investigators in a week and set one with a baptismal date. 

Well that's all the exciting stuff. I hope you all enjoyed conference! I loved what President Monson said about the Book of Mormon. "If you do not have a firm testimony of these things, do that which is necissary to obtain one." Then Elder Cook talked about how we need to not just have a superficial understanding of the Book of Mormon but we need to actually study and ponder what it says. I know the Book of Mormon can bring peace into our lives as well as help build the foundation we need in Jesus Christ. 

Lots of Love!

Sister Van Buskirk

This is Sister Prince and Sister Adhikari. They had a meeting the next day so they slept at our house so they wouldn't have to get up so early. Sister Prince was Sister Cragun's companion before me and she was Sister Cranes companion once. Sister Adhikari's dad is in Meet the Mormons.