TORNADO SIRENS...WE HAD APPLESAUCE SO WE WERE GOOD :)

Hey! So last night was a memory! We were across town and an appointment fell through, which is a huge blessing because as we get back in the car we hear THE TORNADO SIRENS go off!!! So we quickly hurry to our apartment praying our way there. Book it into the house, grab mattress and food and dive into our basement, where we patiently wait for the tornado warning to be over. It was fun bonding times. We had tortias, water, and applesauce so we were good! So grateful we have a basement. This is the 3rd tornado warning I have been in, but the first time the sirens went off. Today though is a beautiful day! We went as a zone to Hocking Hills and explored Old Man's cave. It was gorgeous!! We met some 2 nice men who one had been to church and stuff before, it was great! 

Our investigator came to church, a baptism, and a ward potluck! She talked in Relief Society how much it has meant for people to reach out to her and say hi. 

I have definitely seen on the mission how critical the members are, missionaries can only do so much. The real thing that helps people make the change is the member's reaching out and sharing their testimonies. It makes it more real, because they are "real people". Also the missionaries will eventually leave, so they need that support system there for them. 

I got to go to an amazing Sister Training meeting! It was so great! We have been blessed to do lots of service this week! I love you all!

P.S. Keep reading those 10 pages! Makes a huge difference! Not to late!

Love Sister McDougle

I love being a Missionary

Hey! 

This week was great! 

We have been working with this amazing lady (Our recent concert's friend). She wasn't going to be able to come to church on Sunday. After having lots of opposition and people telling her to stop going to our church, she prayed and asked God that if this is the direction He would like her to go, that He would open a door for her to go to church. And it was opened! 

We had a great talk with her last night and she said she believes the Book of Mormon is true, the Church is true, and that she believes this is the path Heavenly Father is leading her to! She is so amazing!

I got to talk in zone meeting about our mission's goal. I got to share an amazing talk by Elder Bednar, about the enabling power of the Atonement. That we can only do this through Christ's atonement. In the talk he talked about how when Nephi was bound with chords and left in the wilderness to die by his brothers, he didn't pray to be delivered and his brothers to be punished- but instead he prayed for the strength to break the chords. That is the enabling power of the Atonement. 

I need not to pray for baptisms, but for the faith to believe it can happen, the humility to be in tune with the Spirit to be led and guided to those who are ready and prepared. 

Ah, I love being a missionary! 

 I am so grateful for my Savior. I know that is only through Him that I can do any of this. That I can share the joy I feel with others. I love Him. I am so grateful for all the trials I have been through to be honored to get to lean on Him and get to know Him better. 

I love you all!

Love always, 

Sister McDougle

Challenge! Read 10 pages every day!

This week was great!

So we had Zone conference, so half the mission was there. Our mission president had the people stand who have been out 9 months to a year. There was only about 7 or so of us and I was in the back. He went around the room asking them to say one thing we do not stand for in this mission. Well he skipped over me. He didn't realize I was standing. The assistants on the stand were trying to hold it in, when he went through everyone and started to move on to a different subject his wife interrupted him and said, "Sister McDougle is standing". It was really funny, and he apologized.

Our investigator came to church and bore her testimony! It was amazing, and it was so cool to see others go up there and say how her testimony strengthened theirs. She talked about how she died on the operating table and was sent back, and she doesn't know if this is maybe the reason why. The whole reason she became opened to the church is because she saw the ward family reach out to her friend. That and seeing the change her friend has made since she started investigating the church, is what led her to be open to investigating the church.

We helped do service for a man whose wife is a member, he is a baptist preacher. We helped him split and stack wood that he cut for firewood. Just call me Paul Bunion. 

We have been able to serve the sisters we train a lot this week. It is amazing to see how the Spirit can work through you. It's still me and my personality but we have been blessed to be able to help with situations, that I know on my own I could not have been able to and would have no idea how to help. I see it a lot with those we teach. There are so many horrible problems people have to deal with, things that I have never been able to and can't even begin to relate with them on. But it is amazing how the Spirit leads and guides you on what to say to comfort them. I love knowing that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can bless them no matter what circumstances they are in. It shows me how much Heavenly Father loves us, knows us,  and answers our prayers.

Challenge: Starting November 1st Our mission started reading 10 pages of the Book of Mormon every day. So you will be done by Christmas. I invite everyone to join in. I promise if anyone will do it with a sincere and open heart, it will help you come closer to Christ and you will know weather or not the Book of Mormon is the Word of God.

I testify that it is.

 I love you all.

Love Always, 

Sister McDougle