Hello, My Name is...

... Sister Black and I will be your SPECIALIST TODAY!

We just had interviews with President Barrett last week and again he reinerated that we are "SPECIALISTS" in both Racine and Milwaukee. He told me that I have the attitute of "I can do it all!" haha and I added, "and do it WELL!". He laughed. He said we are not to try to be "in" both areas doing everything we'd do if we just had one area. We are to focus mostly on our investigators and having daily contact with them. He counseled me to not stretch myself too thin. He knows me so well! He always seems to say JUST what I need to hear. I love that- i know it's no coinsidence! So everytime something comes up that I want to tackle I say to myself, "I am a specialist, I am a specialist!" HAHA

The week at our specialty clinic went as follows:

[MON] was a crazy day. some pday. we had solid appts... that's the life of a missionary with 2 areas! It felt SO good though. We taught Cheryl, I love her. She so reminds me of Sarah, she made us a gourmet italian dinner- the woman is great. She loves to cook, and I love to eat what she cooks! She is 100% in on the gospel. it's the best. Her date is Aug 1st! I can't wait.

[TUES] we tried to teach tina- she left us a note asking for us to give her some time. heartbreaking. We left shortly after because we had district meeting and interviews with President Barrett in Milwaukee. That went SO well as stated ABOVE. I feel so rejuvenated after things like that! That night we had a cottage meeting at the Kozlosky's. IT was really effective- all about The Book of Mormon. President and Sister Barrett came, as did President and Sister Orne [s.kozlosky's parents] and two non-members and their families. We started off with a brief, yet powerful intro of the Book of Mormon by President Barrett... we then watched the Living Legacy Of Testimony DVD about the Book of Mormon. [It was a DVD elders oldham, jolley and tryon put together of all the testimonies of converts in the mission. I loved those elders already, but that dvd is such a great tool... and lots of the converts on there are people I know or have taught... its SO AmAZing!] We then had a few others bear their testimonies, then opened it up to questions. I felt so uplifted after the cottage meeting. President Barrett pulled us aside in a little huddle afterwards and thanked us for putting it together. It was good for the non- members and members alike! [and missionaries... we felt the spirit SO strong]

[WED] we worked a lot in Milwaukee. I met quite a few people I had never met before here. I loved it... it's feeling more like MY area now- I felt like a visitor for SO long [esp since s. behrends has been here for 10.5 months].

[THURS] was the day i got hooked on geneology. beware family: i will be bombarding you with papers to fill out soon. Grandpa... you were born in Silver Lake, Wisconsin? That's in Kenosha County! I serve in Racine/ Kenosha right now! The ward is doing an activity soon in Silver Lake! Crazy! I need more info on that! Sister Orne trained us on family history so we can work the church's family history booth at some festivals coming up in milwaukee.... GERMAN FEST and the SPANISH FIESTA. I am excited. [ps on the comps i got to see all the Family HIstory & temple work done for my family! it was SO cool... i looked at census records and saw my great grandma...etc.] Later that day we made jewelry and had dinner with the Menters.

[FRI] was busy here in Milwaukee. We saw Janice, she's still doing great and keeping her baptismal covenants! We also had to get an LOF and taught the guy there! It was SO COOL!!! Missionaries had taught him just the day before.

[SAT] we played sand volleyball at the Orne's and then did weekly planning at the beach in Racine... I've never loved weekly planning SO MUCH!

[SUN] I stayed at church in Racine. Annette was my companion, she's home for the summer, a BYUI student. After going 3 hours to the Spanish Branch... my brain hurts! It's constantly TRANSLATING! I can't wait for that to come naturally. SO the next 3 hours of church... in english... seem so relaxing! ha... but i did sit with the S.King... her children keep me on my toes! That night we taught Cheryl ... she made us another FEAST! i don't like ham... but she made it tast AMAZING. and such good HOMEMADE spinach/garlic mashed potatoes. i usually can't eat them bc they're from a box and have MSG! i loved it! We talked about the Word of Wisdom! She is on top of it! I LOVE HER! I feel so comfortable with her and her family- they feel like MY family!

I love my mission. I love the work I am doing! This gospel has blessed my life SO MUCH! I don't know where I or my FAMILY would be without it!!!

I love you all! LOVE, sister pamella jo black

PS: Happy Birthday ELLIE! You are FOUR on the 23rd! I can't even believe it- you're so not a baby anymore [i still think of you as that little itty bitty beautiful baby in the moses basket on the coffee table- I never wanted to put you down!!] I miss the Weavers!