Area: Virginia Beach, VA
Companion: Sister Szabo
January 20, 2014
Hi Family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So this week started out ridiculous. We went into Norfolk to
see a battleship museum but Sister Whittle didn't know it was closed so we
spent the day walking around downtown Norfolk. It's just like downtown Calgary
but instead of cow statues it has mermaids. I do have a picture of the outside of
the ship that I will send. We have done so much service this week its awesome
mostly helping people organize and pack to move. Wednesday and Thursday this
week were crazy and awesome! I had my first exchanges, and it was a blast.
Usually we exchange at night after everything that day but because of our
schedule we had to do it on Wednesday at 3. I stayed here with Sister Snow and
Sister Szabo went to Great Bridge. Sister Snow is so awesome she's from Cali and
has been out a year (she actually hit her year mark on Thursday.) It was so
awesome on Thursday we went out and contacted former's so I got to do my first
door approaches and we got a new investigator. Also we had an interesting
experience as we were leaving one of the former's houses Sister Snow saw a lady
and just waved to her as we were driving a away but about 10 minutes and a few
blocks later Sister Snow says that we need to go back and talk to the lady so
we turned around and drove back. We knocked on her door and no one opened so we
left a mormon.org card and walked away. I was a
little confused as to why Sister Snow had gotten the prompting to go back and
see her. When we got back in the car Sister Snow turned to me and said remember
this when you have a prompting......I was super confused but then she continued
and said I just waited to long before I turned around. We haven't heard from
the lady but I do know that Sister Snow had a prompting to go see her and I
know that it was a lesson I needed to learn. Saturday we also had a cool
experience. It was the Relief Society breakfast and we had invited a few less
actives and had some sisters invite some as while. Well Saturday morning came
and went and it was interesting to see that that the only ladies that showed up
were those invited my members. It was a moment that Sister Szabo and I realized
was rather important for us to be reminded how important members are. I love
this ward, before I got here the Bishop gave out a ward mission plan and asked
that each family make a family mission plan and so that has been our focus. So
many of the members are willing to do missionary work they just don't know
where to start. Yesterday we went to help the Giffords move. They are a super
awesome couple with a super awesome background. Both were born and raised in
the church and for whatever reason they fell away and then got married. When
Sister Szabo got here they were not active and didn't really want anything to do
with the Church but now only a few months later they went through the temple
on Saturday. It was a super happy moment for both Sister Szabo and I.
Somethings that I've thought about while studying that will
help the family are scripture study, family prayer and FHE. I know I'm not a
great example of any of those things but I have seen the blessing of doing what
the prophets and apostles have told us.
I want you to know that I'm still such a pig honestly I
think I eat more here then I did at home I eat more then Sister Szabo.......and
the Elders. No I don't like pig out at meals in members homes but I easily eat
whatever they put on my plate and sometimes even go for seconds. And I'm still
constantly hungry! :P Couple questions 1. Is it a bad thing that one of my
wisdom teeth has cut through already... I mean it doesn't hurt but I thought I
would ask. 2. What is the Hermanas name that is serving in this mission and had
to go to Walmart to find Spanish people? 3. Could I pretty please have the
story of Nephi that dad used to tell? 4. Mum who was the Elder that you were
reading their blog and you said I would have to check myself? :P and last may I
please get a resent photo of the family and a picture of Daniel closer to the
beginning of his mission?
The most ridicules thing happened yesterday that made me so
homesick I almost started to cry. When we were at the Giffords getting ready to
leave they had closed all the door so the dogs would get out and then opened
the back door to let them in and all of a sudden I heard. "Backdoor beep
beep." man I almost started bawling. I miss you all. Send the family my
love and tell everyone I would love to hear from them whether by email or
especially by letter even though I know how expensive that is!
Chrissy and Teddy good luck with finals I'll be praying for
you!
Kenny hows basketball, school and your drawing?
Benjamin I miss you bud how's school and basketball
going?
Jdog how many days till your birthday you big girl? How's
primary?
Livie I miss you boo!!!!!! Hows sunbeams? Are you taking
care of mummy for me?
Mum I love you and miss you every day!!! The other day I was
feeling gross and all I wanted was to climb into your lap and cuddle with
you!
Daddy........You are amazing!!! I took you and mum so much
for granted. I miss you everyday and I can't wait to give you a big hug when I get
home! Thank you so much for the coat and the sweater I don't think you will ever
fully understand how much it means to me that you sent those! Have you been
able to order my ring yet?
Love Sister Cahoon (Lala, Luki, Kayla, Mikaela, Mac)
(Sister Cahoon's letter to Elder Cahoon, you will have to guess what the questions were, I just have the answers, haha!)
HIIII!!!!!
Um so that's a ton of questions!!! Are those inspired
questions or are you still working on that ?:P
Its not really that cold here I mean the lowest its gotten
is like 20F but mostly it stays around 40 and 50. I'm at least 30 min away from
the ocean but I did get to go my first Sunday here one of the families in the
ward took us. It's messed up!!! They do have accents and they talk way funny
like words like Norfolk and Portsmouth are pronounced Norfik and Portsmith its
weird and kinda really entertaining. I get $150 a month but I don't think I've
spent more then $50. We get fed so well here! I will send them as soon as I
take them I keep forgetting! ;p We went to see formers for the very first time
on Thursday and it scared me to death but it was so cool cuz as soon as the
door opened talking to them about the gospel just felt natural it was way cool!
We have a car and its a little scary the drivers around here are absolutely
crazy!! No we don't have ipads yet...... I'm gonna try cuz theres a ton of them!
Its hard people are so involved in their church already the don't want to change
its insane there's a church on like every corner and a few in between its crazy!
Also EVERYBODY smokes it's so gross! Our area takes like 40 min to drive from
one end to the other....I don't know how big it is really. I love my area the
ward is amazing! Its like Chris and Holly's ward mixed with our ward back
home...honestly my first Sunday here I felt like I was right at home! There's 4
sets and the crazy part is we only cover two wards there is both a set of elders
and sisters in almost every ward in our stake and its so big that it is split
into two different zones! I invite every person I talk to to be baptized but
sadly because we have a car that's not very many people. We are teaching 3
people right now. I have no clue what the baptism rate is around here and I
can't remember the standard of excellence right now.... I know great missionary
huh! He is a boss he's so awesome and so powerful when he teaches I'm so excited
cuz we have interviews tomorrow! There was 6 of us 3 elders and 3 sisters. I
have no idea I haven't heard of anyone who has yet so who knows! pday is Monday,
we usually go play oompa loompa as a zone...well both zones. (its like
ultimate frisbee, basketball played with a football) its our kind of game. Last
week we were going to go to a battleship museum but it was closed so we just
walked around downtown Norfolk. I love personal study
and wish it was longer its so good and I learn so much. I have a love hate
relationship with being trained I know that the 12 week program is good and
helpful and I learn a ton from it but honestly most days and just want to get
out and get going! :PI love you too!!! Its so crazy that we are both serving at
the same time!! I can't wait until the day we can sit down and talk about our
missions together I'm so happy for all the success you are having and dang you
look good seriously your going to come how as fit as you've every been and I'm
going to have to buy all new clothes while I'm out here! Love you long time.
Thank you soooo much for being the best big brother ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love Sister Cahoon
