Monday, July 1, 2013

July 1, 2013 Massillon, Ohio

Hey friends and familia!

It has been quite the interesting week in Ohio. Sister O'Driscoll has been really sick this week. On Monday night we took her to the Emergency Room because she was having a really hard time breathing. She and Sister Chapman were there until 2 am. It was really scary! We've been to a couple doctors this week and have another appointment on Friday. She seems to be slowly getting better. Scary stuff. (Plus side: I got to drive on Monday haha! Sister Astle and I had to go pick up one of our cars to take home that night. Also- I can drive in general now, too because they are worried about Sister O'Driscoll driving.)

The best part of my week was last night (Sunday). We had our Mission President's Fireside. President Vellinga spoke and so did President Tally (the stake president). Sister Chapman and I also sang a beautiful arrangement of "Be Still My Soul" with two of the Elders from Akron. One of our ward's recent converts also told his conversion story and bore his testimony of the gospel and that families can be together forever (their mom passed away recently). It was so awesome and the spirit was so strong. The best part of all of this is that we had three of the people that we have been teaching there. Susan, John, and Lazaro all said that they had a great time and were so glad they came. Lazaro said that he loved the peaceful, good feeling. It has been so amazing to watch him as he has changed his life over the last several weeks. We are meeting with John tonight and we are so excited. We had to cancel with him on Monday and Thursday night and when we asked when we could come back, both times he wanted us to come back the next day (that never happens!). He is awesome. One other cool thing that happened at the fireside is that one of the members (who helps us teach and translate with Lazaro) one of his friends who speaks Portuguese! She said that she's really interested in learning more. I thought that I was going on an English speaking mission! :) I am going to come home knowing probably 8 different languages. It's fine.

Last night we were sitting in our car totaling the monthly miles when the bushes in front of our car starting sparkling with dozens of fireflies. Sister O'Driscoll had never seen one and she literally screamed. It was the coolest! Are we from out west? No, not at all...

Yesterday at church we had a combined 5th Sunday Priesthood and Relief Society meeting. The most awkward/funniest thing happened. So, not very many members have been signing up to feed us. It has been kind of a bummer, but it's okay. So the Relief Society president stood up and basically yelled at the ward about how they need to feed us because we've been "going without food." It was so awkward. And so hilarious. But then they passed around the binder and we have dinner every night for almost the whole month! Haha.

I hope that you all have a fantastic 4th of July week (we have meetings all day on the 4th... and then we're doing our weekly planning... but then we're going to the Bishop's house for a barbecue for dinner! Excited about that.). It sounds like all you Idaho people have already kicked off the week well. Don't go rolling too many four wheelers or watching too many outdoor movies without me. ;) Even though it's kind of lame that I'm not doing normal 4th of July things this week, there's nowhere I'd rather be than in Massillon, Ohio teaching people about the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is our Savior and Redeemer and I am so, so glad that I have been given the chance to go tell people about Him and our Heavenly Father's plan for us. I know that He loves each one of you so much and wants you to return to live with Him someday.

I love you all!

-Sista Heather Benson

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