4th Floor, Last Door and the Fire Department

This was just a roller coaster of a week. As a mission we have a goal for every missionary to contact 10 new people a day for the past 2 weeks. So as a companionship that's 20 people everyday. Another part of that goal is to get 3 new investigators every week. Sister Garner and I were pumped. We had been low on new investigators so we were excited to get some more. The first week we didn't do so well we had a lot of days of straight lessons so we didn't have very much time for finding. Later in the week we started hitting our goal of 20 people a day but still no investigators. This past week we did better at talking to more people but still not the best. We ended the 2 weeks with only 1 new investigator. That was pretty discouraging especially in this area where people are just everywhere. But we have decided to keep the goal of contacting 20 new people a day so we are looking forward to some good miracles this coming week. 

Our investigators are doing well. We Skyped with Misha against discuss what he has been reading from the Book of Mormon. Hopefully soon we can set up another in person lesson to continue his teaching. He did tell us he's going to take a step back from church. He understands the purpose of a community and everything he was just honest and said he was disappointed with the 2nd hour. We feel that he is just a very smart person and with Gospel Principles being the basics, he can tell it's the basics and doesn't feel comfortable there. He has a lot on his plate with work and everything so we told him we can just focus on the Book of Mormon for now. He said he'll be back at church so that's a good thing. 

Our other awesome investigator is Tom. Tom has been to church twice in a row and really feels included by the ward. The East elder's had a baptism and he came. It was scheduled for 1 and about 1:05 it still hadn't started (because ya know, Mormon Standard Time) Most of us were still out in the hall still and he walks over to us, and goes, "Do these things usually start on time?" Sister Garner and i just looked at each other and then said, "uhh not really yes?" (Fyi it still didn't start for like another 15 minutes after that) We had a lesson afterward and asked him to set a date but he wouldn't. He likes the ward and the people, he just wants to KNOW it's true. We talked about faith and that it's a step in the dark and he seems to understand but I think he wants to pray about it more. 

So about my subject line. Saturday morning there was a couple moving from our area to the West elder's area so we decided to go help them move. Well they live in a row home that has been converted into apartments. They live on the 4th floor.... and their door just happened to be the last. So we spent the morning running up and down flights of stairs carrying boxes and whatnot. So a few of the men are carrying the couch down these flights of stairs. The thing about row homes is they are narrow, so the stairs are narrow. Well they get stuck on like the second floor. As they wiggle and pivot this couch they hit the Fire alarm. So the alarm is going off and the couch is stuck and we are still trying to move. The fire department had to show up so it's a good thing they had 2 sets of stairs. The ward movers and firemen were using one as the couch was taking up the other. Finally they ended up taking the railing off and got the couch down. 

I think the best part of the week was the baptism. The couple that moved that morning and quite a few of the other ward movers showed up for the baptism all sweaty and gross but they were their to support their new sister. That was the sweetest. This ward is made up of a lot of young families but they are all so supportive of each other. I love it. 

I know Christ is my Savior and I love that more and more people are realizing this is His restored gospel. I love being a missionary and I hope all of you are taking the opportunity to be a member missionary as well. I love you all. Have a great week! Don't forget to read the Book of Mormon!

Lots of Love!
Sister Van Buskirk

We made fried chicken because we can. My paper towel only caught a little bit on fire. 

                                                          The moving truck had an AZ license so I just had to.

Do you read books? No, I read Billboards.

Wow what a week. So my subject line comes from my Sister Training Leader. I'll tell you all the story later. 

Tuesday was awesome because we had a Skype lesson with Misha. For those that may have forgotten who Misha is or who may have skipped last week's email, (if you did, please go back. There's some good stuff in there.) He is the super tall Russian that is technically a Millennial but is cooler than all of them. Also, it has been confirmed that he is 6'6. I think one of the elders asked him. Anyway, great lesson. We are using these Skype lessons to have short, powerful lessons where we just read the Book of Mormon. I love technology and the fact we get to use it because now we can have more lessons with Misha and help him progress faster. Okay tangent over. So he accidentally skipped most of 1 Nephi and was reading 2 Nephi which is fine but then he said he had some questions about 2 Nephi 21. If you are familiar with the Book of Mormon that is what we call an "Isaiah chapter". But it was good and he learned some good stuff and he came to church on Sunday! He was only able to stay for the first 2 hours but 2 out 3 is great!

Wednesday we had our mission tour. Elder Kopischke of the seventy came and taught us and it was amazing! We all brought questions because President Randall told us to and we do everything he says and every single question was answered. At the end Elder Kopischke said, "How many of you have been rebuked by the spirit today?" *Hands go up* "And how many of you are still happy?" *Hands stay up* "Only God can do that." It was a great day. I learned so much and can't wait to apply it. 

Thursday and Friday were weird days. I don't even know, but Friday night we went on exchanges. I haven't really liked exchanges in the past. I feel like I don't really take anything away which is what's supposed to happen. But this exchange was different. But first let me explain my subject line. My Sister Training Leader asks me what I like to do. I respond, 

Me: oh ya know I like to read the Book of Mormon.

STL: no for real.

Me: okay for real I like to read.

STL: oh so do you read books?

Me:...

STL:...

Me: no I read Billboards.

Then for the rest of the day we read Billboards and signs and it was great. But the spiritual part of the exchange was amazing. We talked a lot about love and how important it is to love those you teach. And how important it is to put them first instead of other things. It was just a really good exchange and I learned so much. It's awesome to be able to learn from your leaders and I did a lot of that this week. 

Sunday was awesome because 4 of our investigators came to church. We had a couple lessons and talked to some people. Our mission has a goal to find 300 new investigators in 2 weeks so we all have to talk to 10 people a day. We haven't quite reached our goal but we still have this week!

I hope you all have had a great week and were able to read from the Book of Mormon. I know that as we ask Heavenly Father questions, He can guide us to find those answers in the Book of Mormon. I was able to find answers to my questions at our mission tour and at sacrament meeting yesterday. I know all of you can find Your answers in the same way. This Sunday, take a question to church. Then email me about your experience. I want to know if your question gets answered as well. You don't have to tell me your question or you answer, I just want to hear about your thoughts an feelings. I know God loves each and everyone of us and I know that because He loves us, He wants to take the time to answer our questions. I hope you all have a good week and you all know I love you so much!

Lots of Love!
Sister Van Buskirk

                                                               Brother Harris gave us cantelope this week.

Sister Garner doesn't like cantelope so she gave hers away.

 Exchanges!

Sister Nielson is the best. Sorry we look gross, it was raining all day and you know we are missionaries in the city so we walk everywhere...

                                        She's glad the exchange is over. Just kidding we are just not photogenic. 

All Churched out...

Do you ever feel "All churched out" or "spiritually deprived"? Maybe what you need is a break from anything churchy. Maybe stop reading the Book of Mormon and read some anti-Mormon literature. Or don't come to church on Sunday and instead play in a tennis match or go to a rodeo. I'm not saying these are real life problems but they are good options right?

Okay but really our investigator texted us this week and told us she was all churched out and we almost died laughing. Being a member of the church means church 24/7. Okay maybe not church church but being an example of Christ is part of your baptismal covenant. "Stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things, and in all places" Mosiah 18:9...

Our investigator Misha is super cool. He's technically Russian but he has lived in Philadelphia his whole life but he's like the tallest guy I've ever met. Sister Garner is convinced he's like 7 foot but he's probably not that tall. We taught about the plan of salvation and he really liked it. He's been reading a lot from the Book of Mormon and has a lot of questions. He is a very busy person so we plan on having a Skype lesson with him once a week to mostly read and talk about the Book of Mormon and hopefully an in person lesson once a month or so that's longer and we can teach more doctrine. He's really cool because he's a young successful business man aka a millennial but he recognizes that there is something more important and that is God and he's trying to build a relationship and gain more knowledge because he knows this life on earth is not all. It's such a cool opportunity to be able to teach someone that is humble enough to recognize there's more. 

We had a cool miracle this week. We went to go contact this new investigator, Judy who we haven't had much contact with lately. When we got to her house this guy that we met before that knows Judy stopped us and said she moved to a nursing home. Then he asked why we come by. We told him who we were and what we do and he thought that was cool. Then I asked if he would be interested in meeting with us and he said he really would and that his family would as well. We set up a time for the next day but he ended up not being there but we will be trying again this week. There was obviously lots of other cool miracles this week. I just can't remember them and my journal is in our apartment. 

We went to a Relief Society activity and they were sewing pillow cases and right when we walked in Sister Taber asked if we knew how to sew and I wanted to say no but out of my mouth went a "yes". So guess what mom, I sewed and I loved it. Probably because it was service and it was sewing easy straight lines. But advice for all yous, don't hide your talents! Use them to serve others! I'm not good at sewing but I can sew and I was able to help our RS and those kids with cancer that could use a happy pillow case. 

I hope you all are still reading the Book of Mormon. I know it can answer the questions of the soul. If you aren't sure what your soul is questioning or you need o know where to look for the answers, I would suggest Preach My Gospel. There is a great chapter, chapter 5, "What is the role of the Book of Mormon?" and in that chapter is a section called, "The Book of Mormon answers questions of the soul" It's super good. For all yous in the Tuscon area there is a temple open house going on if you didn't already know. Take your family, friends, neighbors, enemies, everyone and give them a Book of Mormon and help them find the answers they are looking for. Okay I'm done telling yous all what to do now. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! 

Lots of Love!
Sister Van Buskirk

 Bennie Harris is a less active we teach and sometimes he gives us stuff like pineapples. 

What the heck Brother Harris...

                    We had to use the church WiFi for some stuff so I took this picture because I can...

                        

Millennials, Philly People, and the Independence Ward

So Philadelphia is made up of essentially 3 types of people. The millennials who are too cool for school and spend the day riding their bikes and writing slam poetry at weird outdoor bars. The Philly People who sit on their steps, cook fried chicken, and tell the skinny white girls (us) to be safe and don't go walking around at night. The Independence Ward is fantastic. There are a lot of philly people who are so funny but there are what Sister Garner calls "Utah transplants". It is the most fun mix of people I have ever met. 

Okay so I guess I should back up a little. Tuesday I was transfered to the Independence South area in the Independence Ward. My new companion is Sister Garner who was actually MTC companions with Sister Crane. But we are not the only missionaries in the Independence Ward. There are not one, not two, but THREE sets of missionaries in this ward! It's crazy and Sister Garner and I are right in Center City so we are literally 2 blocks from the temple. It's crazy. Since we are in Center City we get a take SEPTA! Which is the public transportation in Philadelphia. It's exciting to ride and try and talk to people. I sat down next to this one lady last night and said hi and then I asked her what her name was and she just turned and looked out the window. I was like... okay... Saturday night the trolley was struggling real bad (it never came) so we had to walk home like 20 blocks but it was cool. 

I don't really know what else to tell all yous because I have no clue what's going on half the time. Sister Garner is really good at talking to people, I am not. But I will get better! There are so many people to talk to here. Crazy story: We met a lady named D at the bus stop. We started talking to her but before we could ask to met with her our bus came and we had to go! But later that day we saw her again which was a miracle because you never see to same person twice in Philly. But she told us she would give us a call (she wouldn't give us her number) but she seemed like a really cool lady. A few guys asked us on dates and one guy asked if we were married. But other than that it's just normal missionary work! 

I love you all and I hope you have a great week! I am SO grateful for this opportunity I have to bear testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ in this great city of Philadelphia. I hope you all take the chance to bear your testimony whenever you get the opportunity.

Lots of Love!
Sister Van Buskirk

                                                              My cute new companion, Sister Garner.

                                                  This is the top of our parking garage and there's the temple...