Fixin' To

September 2, 2008

The phrase "fixin' to" is a phrase used quite regularly in the most southern states of the United ones of America. The phrase is used in describing the state of "getting ready to" do something, as one would say in the west. Sister Gurr is not quite fixin' to use this phrase yet, however; It is not one that sticks too quickly. This phrase is one that takes a longer period of time to catch on to, one that foreigners to the south may never actually begin using in their vocabulary. (An exception to this rule is Jason Woolsey.)

So this Saturday we find out about transfers, whether we each stay or go to a different area. Part of me is ready for a new area, with new investigators to work with; but the other part of me is really comfortable with my area (Franklin, TN), and I love the family/couple we live with and I love the ward we are in. The members here are so great. So I guess whatever happens will be good.
Things have been a little frustrating lately. We are fixin' to (ha!) go talk to Debbie tomorrow evening, possibly for the last time, teaching-wise, because she has pretty much decided to go back to her church. It is so hard to work with someone for so long and invest so much time and energy and emotion into helping someone to come to know and love the Gospel, just to have them walk away from it. There is still a chance she will change her mind. We made her promise to really ask God if Joseph Smith was a prophet (we have challenged her and asked her to do this many times, but for some reason, she never has directly asked this question to Heavenly Father) on sunday night, and as of last night she still hadn't gotten an answer. But she seemed more closed while talking to her than she has ever been. So pray that some miracle happens and we can hang on to her. Otherwise, we'll just leave her in the Lord's hands, and hope some missionaries knock on her door down the road and try again.
The most exciting thing of the day though, has been the lesson we had this morning with a 40-yr-old black woman (gorgeous woman--those people do not age here! She looks like she's 20! Anyway...) named Tammy. Her son got baptized about 7 years ago when he was about 15 or so, and went to seminary and church and stuff, and then moved out to CA just this year. So our RS Pres. came with us this morning for our lesson, cuz she new Tammy's son and that was a great connection. Plus she is a great woman, returned missionary too, so that's nice (Speaking of which, have I ever mentioned that there are about 60 RMs in our ward, and about 20 of them are Sisters? Crazy, huh! Our whole RS presidency and most, if not all the Primary Presidency are RMs. Crazy.) So we taught Tammy, and she is what we call elect. She is the kind of person we are looking for. She has been looking for the truth and gets the reason why we needed another prophet, and wanted to know how we can say this is the true church (we told her:) and really wants to come to church, and she's going to bring one of her other sons with her on sunday. She was really sincere about everything and we were kindof all emotional, it was great. It was a really great up to the past week or so of not getting a whole lot of new investigators, amongst other not-so-ups. We have been teaching quite a bit still though, so that's been a blessing. We have a good number of progressing investigators, they just seem to all suddenly be really busy or sick or something, and they're just kindof sitting. I'm ready to start setting more baptismal dates or something! Hopefully soon.
Yesterday for Labor Day, we had our usual p-day. Hence the delay in the email. But for it we went bowling with the Elders, and then drove around, trying to find something fun to do in Franklin (not a whole lot to do besides bowling) and then we went to a member's house and borrowed some board games and went back to our house (the Ross's) and played Apples to Apples and Catch Phrase. It was actually one of the funnest P-days I've ever had. Then the Ross's had invited us to their cookout, so we got some good food too. Brisket is always a good thing. :)
Well, that's all for now, folks. Thank you all for your support and prayers, i really appreciate them. I love you all!
love, Sister Gurr
PS--Tisah Marie, i am so sorry i haven't written you back forever, but I did get your last 2 letters, and I SO appreciate and love them! Know that i love you!!
Also, Camilley, did I tell you yet THANK YOU for the Oh's?! Oh my goodness, I loved that! (So did my comp:) For all y'all's info, my dear sister camille wrapped a box of Oh's cereal and mailed them to me. I thought that was the greatest idea in the world. Aim and Cher, i of course thought of you. :)