April Showers are HERE!

(April '08)

K… Here we go with another whirlwind account of the life of sister Black as a Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Can I first say I would not trade this time in my life for ANYTHING.

I have learned more about God’s love for me and for his children than I ever knew I could. He loves us unconditionally and more than anything wants us to return to live with Him. What trust he has in us. After creating us in His own image and loving us for who knows how long in the pre-mortal life he recognized our desire to have a body. He knew we would have to come to earth and be tried and tested and be out of his presence with that great gift of agency. He knew he had to let us do it… but gave us EVERY possible tool He could to return back to Him, He even sent His Only Begotten as the ultimate sacrifice. Now He watches and he waits and he yearns for our return. He wants more than anything for all His precious sons and daughters to be obedient and return to His presence, but He won't MAKE us do anything. Since He is perfect and the purest of all pure, He cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance. Notice the scripture doesn’t say he “will” not, it says he “cannot” [alma 45:16]. I think about my parents and how much they desire the safe return of the children and cannot begin to imagine how our Heavenly Father must feel. I get to teach people how to get back to Him, it is AmAzing . I definitely feel His help in this work, with Him, anything is possible.

Best news of the Week: JESS HAS A BAPTISMAL DATE. Jess is a 17 year old girl the elders met and have been teaching. She comes from a strong Catholic background and has been attending a Roman Catholic Church here in GB. She lives with a part member family. I bonded with her one pday when I took her on a tour of the church while the boys were playing football in the gym. We only made it to the chapel and had the BEST conversation EVER about the reality of prayer. We both were in tears as I bore solemn testimony that in fact God has been there her whole life. She committed to pray. She did. As the elders continued to teach her, her heart softened. The gospel made sense to her… you know, had that “familiar ring” to it that PMG talks about. She had her step-mom order her a set of scriptures. She started coming to activities. She knew it was true but feared telling her very Catholic Mother who lives a few towns away with her two little sisters, she knew her mom would keep her from them out of spite; Jess raised those girls. She came and had lunch with us at the church on Friday and began again to tell us that she just couldn’t tell her mom. In a matter of minute the conversation changes and she mustered the courage to call her and just get it out there. She did. The missionaries were scattered about the church in our own corners on our knees. She got the reaction she expected. Her mom was not pleased and continued to tell her she was going to Hell. We told her if that is the case we’ll all be there too, at least she’ll have friends!!! She was very upset though. That is a hard thing to hear as a 17 year old girl from your mom. I just think she is so courageous. Elder Oldham asked that we sing her “Do What is Right”. So we did. She cried, so did we thru the whole thing! I couldn’t help but smile though. Afterwards E Oldham asked her what day she was going to be baptized… May 9th! I can’t believe it. The Lord is working miracles in our lives each and every day! He asks us to do hard things, yes, BUT HE BLESSES US! I know she was one of the valiant, I am so thankful to have been able to see her thru this process; she is such a great example to me!!!! This gospel changes life. Jess has physically changed. Her countenance is SO bright now. I love her.

The weather? IT IS GREEN NOW… it turned green right before our eyes, literally. It rained three days straight. This side of the country personifies the saying, “ April Showers bring May Flowers”.

I had a lot more planned to write, I will write it next week… I promise. We must go… I have got to expel some energy after these 3 long days of rain… so It’s off to P-day at the Church Building. 1st lunch provided by the Spanish Branch (leftovers from a wedding I guess) then VOLLEYBALL…. I love pday volleyball with the elders, good times.

Sorry to everyone I didn’t get to write back this week [or the past few weeks]… next week for sure. I love you all.

Love,
Sister Pamella Jo Black

This will be a hard easter to top!

HeLlO hElLo!!!

Ok.. so it is not GREEN yet like people tell me GREEN bay gets... but we're getting closer and closer. ALL the snow is gone, and I haven't worn a coat or nylons that matter for much of this past week... THAT'S monumental FOLKS!

I am SO happy to hear that Sarah's baptism went well! I so wish I could have been there, but there is something about being a missionary and having your family LOVE the missionaries and SEE and FEEL first hand what I do every single day that MAKES Sarah's baptism that much sweeter for me. I almost wouldn't have it any other way! I wish, like Sarah said, you could have recorded it. BUT i understand that rule, it would just be kinda wierd I guess. BUT I LOVE THAT CHLOE THOUGHT DAD WAS DROWNING SARAH! that's priceless. AND i heard Bobby and Brittany's talks were both AmAzing!!! THat's SO GOOD!!! I thought about it ALL day! and I celebrated while it was going on! This will be a hard easter to top!

This was a truly a great week for me! SO SO GOOD!!!! Want some Highlights ?? ... ok here they are:

TUESDAY was Zone CONFERENCE: Elder Oldham and Elder Crane, the zone leaders, and the elders we work with in the 1st ward asked us to train the zone on "Promising Blessings" out of PMG. AH! I felt SO inadequate, but sister bryner and I prayed a lot about it and studied it and followed the spirit and it went really well. The missionaries in our zone participated a lot and we had a BOMB.COM object lesson. (haha yes britt, i just said that... get over it) We had two elders come up and we gave one of them a brown lunch sack with something in it and told him to promise his companion he wanted what was in it... that was funny. Then we let him look at it (a box of girl scout cookies) and then promise his companion again that he wanted it! THat went over MUCH MUCH better. Our point was we can't promise our investigators blessings that we ourselves haven't felt. It went well. thank-goodness. it was good for me though, i learned a lot- that always happens when you have to teach!!!!

OUr investigators have kinda been MIA lately, which = sad days for missionaries.. but Thursday we were able to see almost ALL of them and they all were WAY receptive to us and wanted to set up appointments! CRAZY! It's like those 2 weeks we called, stopped by and left notes and GOT NOTHING IN RETURN was just a little test of our faith!!!! Well, we stayed persistent and now we are back on track. Zone Conference always helps renew our faith and strength and motivation... I LOVE ZONE CONFERENCE.

Friday was CLEANING DAY, mission wide DEEP clean day. Elder Oldham and Elder Crane are REALLY smaRT! they decided we should all clean eachothers apartments [aka the sisters can come and make sure it all gets done... right!] Family you would laugh at me because I kept saying, "when in doubt, THROW IT OUT!" I made the HMONG elders throw away a chair... as elder Chapman was carrying it to the trash he said, "I liked this chair you know!" HAHA elder oldham and I died laughing. IT WAS BROKEN! WHY MUST BOYS KEEP EVERYTHING????? THey reminded me of DAD GRANDPA AND ROCKY! the best examples of KEEPING junk i have in my life!!! haha We got it all done, 3 apartments in ONE day. THey cleaned behind our fridge and stove, that was the BEST. I love the elders we serve around. they are SUCH good missionaries and even better examples to me. I learn from them every single day.

After Cleaning day was over we went to the Huntley's at 6. Their oldest son jacob was home and we are infamous for our Catch Phrase Battles. It was SO fun to play with the whole family. I love the Huntley's. They are methodist but would defend the mormons with all they've got. We love to teach them. They made pizza and then we played Catch Phrase, this time i didn't throw anything OR hit jacob... til after the game was over! babysteps of progress!!! haha Then we had an easter lesson. Their kids know SO much about the gospel, it's so refreshing!!!!

Saturday we had brunch at the Bartells. All of her kids came home for easter from college. SHe is so great to us as missionaries. A returned missionary that served here was there too, elder gordon light. He is from the same place in ALasKA as Layne watson. He knows her well. that was fun. It was there that elder oldham said the quote of the week. . . E. Light said "How many missionaries are in green bay?" E. Oldham, " 8, well 10 if you count the sisters." HAHA he didn't even catch himself. haha WE ALL LAUGHED SO HARD. hilarious. I am not going to let that go for a LONG time!!!!

SUNDAY WAS EASTER! I made a special effort to look really springy! We had stake conference that day. so fun. It was a regional broadcast from SLC. Elder OAKS and PRESIDENT MONSON spoke... it was so cool to hear them speak after we just got to hear them LAST WEEK too. I love the green bay stake! The people are great, they're SO AMAZING. Afterwards the elders and us went "Easter Caroling". I think that might be against some holiday rules but we didn't care... we saw SO many people!!!!!! We baked cookies on saturday with the elders so we could take them to less actives, investigators and recent converts ... we did that all day and sang HE SENT HIS SON from the primary songbook. It was a good day. We had easter dinner at the Ribbens! THEY gave us our own easter treats too! SO GOOD! THEY REALLY LOVE US LIKE THEIR OWN CHILDREN. I feel it while i am there.

I didn't know I could love my mission this much. Nobody can explain the joy you feel when you see people change their lives and turn toward the Savior and find LASTING HAPPINESS. This mission is changing me as I see others change. It is leaving an Indelible mark on my heart! I LOVE IT!

Thanks for all you all do for me! I feel your prayers and strength~

Love, sister pamella jo black

good news has come my way!

Hello Hello ALL

What a week! I am still anticipating spring and that part where "Green" Bay turns GREEN... patience is a virtue right? Welp, to most peoples disbelief I am NOT perfect because I am still lacking that virture of PATIENCE! ha.

Lets see... highlights from the week... Wednesday night we had dinner at the Brudnicki's ... I love LoVe LOVE that family. They are so good to me and to missionaries in general. Little Sam and I play with his farm set, that's always a highlight.

Thursday was transfers. :( elder jolley went to stoughton. some farmish place in the middle of nowhere. He was excited to go and be a "regular" missionary and not be a zone leader anymore. He will get more sleep and get to focus more on the work and less on other missionaries he has stewardship over. We miss him here... BUT ELDER CRANE is hilarious. such a character. a great missionary and is ALWAYS laughing. it's a bit contagious sometimes. other times i want to HURT him and E. oldham because they can't FOCUS! haha good times. I LOVE serving with elders.

Friday we did service at the assisted living place. I love that place. I want to live there!!! haha its so nice. I love the women we get to meet and hang out with. I did a manicure for a lady who was 95 years old and just as sharp and HILARIOUS as could be. SHe said you HAVE to have a sense of humor when you're 95... otherwise YOU are GROUCHY! haha GOing there helps me keep an eternal perspective! ;]

Saturday and Sunday were General Conference... All those speakers gave their talks just for ME! I bet they did the same for you! We spent saturday 11-5 at the Carlsruh's in Suamico. They live on a little lake and Bro Carlsruh got me a fishin' pole all ready so I could fish at what he called "half time"! It was so nice of him. E. Oldham found a BIG rock and broke a whole in the ice so i could fish... i didn't catch anything. :( I told him my dad says it's because i talk too much! HAHA he called today and said the ice all finally melted and a bird caught a fish out there so i can come back anytime. S. warner came to the carlsruh's too. I got to meet her new, BRAND SPANKIN' NEW, companion sister johnson. I hope I get to serve with her some day! SHe's amazing.

Sunday we watched it at the Huzzeys and Brianne EVerette and Jamie and Avarice and Julieanne came. It was SO great! I love the huzzeys. we had lunch and talked in between.

I am overjoyed this week that Sarah will be BAPTIZED at home in Phoenix on EASTER. What a great day! I can't wait for you sarah! It is going to be a day you'll NEVER forget and a day that will bless your posterity for YEARS and YEARS to come! It's been the highlight of my week to get the letters from all of you about this first and important step sarah is making towards baptism! It's just the beginning! Hang on for the ride! It may be bumpy but it's SOOO worth it! You don't even know... i have told EVERYONE and showed your announcement to EVERYONE! I am more than excited for you.

Grandpa HAPPY BIRTHDAY on Wednesday the 8th!!! You'll be 75? IS that right? Are you sure? NOT MY GRANDPA! you've gotta be like 65 still! WELL I will be thinking of you ALL day that day! I LOVE YOU GRANDPA!!!

Grandma- what's the news with the new dog? miss you. love you.

Mexico happends soon....I want to hear ALL the details!!! Take the recorder to MEXICO! I want to hear Panchito voice and letti and pancho...

britt, good work on the announcements, you make me proud! Just like i would have made them!!!!

Dad... keep up the letters! I LIVE for them. You have some HILARIOUS one liners.

Taylor youngblood... did i ever tell you congrats for being on varsity TRACK? thats AmAzing!! woo hoo! I want to HEAR from you little girl!

Tatum... how's softball? i need the update. i miss both of you girls and LOVE you very much!

regina... do you know a Maria Laroe in benson? just moved there? just built a house? let me know. I know her sister here in GB.

Sarah ps... i will be spending april when i get home next year til august at home before i go back to the y. and YES send me videos! if you send them on an sd card i can watch them on my camerA! you asked me that in your last letter!

K i love you all!!!! i have to go beat team bryner at volleyball now!

love sister pamella jo black