July 3, 2006

Ok, so I don't remember where I left off last week.... But I almost
have everything written in my journal!  Oh so Jasmyn, she contacted us
through a text message and asked that we didn't come by, leave notes or
call anymore..... That made us really sad. :( :(  But I guess things are
ok now.

I'm now in Ponchatoula.  Oh man!  We walked EVERYWHERE the first 2 1/2
days cause we didn't have any miles, we'd already gone 30 over by the
time we got back from transfers, and she didn't have a bike.  Sister
Goertzen is my cousin.  We got her a bike now and so now we just need a
helmet but we also have miles again, so that's good.  But yeah, so Sister
Goertzen being my cousin- Sister Henderson was her Greenie breaker, but
her "mom" (trainer) was Sister Hillard and her mom was Sister Young- my
grandma and her grandma, cause she trained both Sister Henderson and
Sister Hillard, so that makes Sister Goertzen and I cousins.  It's fun! 
She has a really good imagination and teaches really well!  But yeah,
and now that Sister Henderson is getting married to the Ward Mission
Leader in Zachary, I'm going to have a "dad" in the mission too.  I think
that's a first!  Haha....  Anyways, our apt/house is really small and
kinda run down.  We know someone who lives in this ward who used to live
in it when he was on a mission.  Fun stuff.  It's nice tho.  Different. 
It's a REALLY small town and the standard has changed!  We now need 300
contacts a week and it's SO hard to contact people here.  Cause there
just aren't very many.  I mean there's over 300, but as far as being
able to talk to that many people..... There's no real stores, there's a
McDonalds and a Wendys and that's about it.  But it is really big on
strawberries!  I've heard a nickname, saying it's the Strawberry capital of
the world!  I don't know if that's true, but it'd be cool!

Then this town has a pet.  They keep it in the center of town....
It's..... an alligator!  Pretty cool huh? 

Let's see.... what else....  oh, there's this guy who wrote an article
in the newspaper about how God and Jesus Christ are separate beings.... 
The sisters had been teaching him before I came.... but then they
dropped him because he told them that the Book of Mormon was written by the
devil and that although they were nice that they had been deceived by
the devil.....  So they dropped him and said he was always welcome at
church.  So he came and I met him....  We shared a scripture with him-
Moroni 7:16-17 I believe....  he liked it, but I don't know if he caught
the implication.  Then there's some other people the sisters have been
working with, but I'm still getting to know them and the area and so
don't really feel like I have much to report on.  But we'll have some
baptisms here..... The Mission is supposed to triple their baptisms..... 
we have a promise for that.  So Sister Henderson baptized 18 on her
mission, and I have to triple that, so that would make 54- an average of 3
a month, so I have some catching up to do here in Ponchatoula!  I've
been told that I will help many people come into the church and with the
Vision of the South and all the logic behind it- it's gonna happen. 
The South has to blossom.  In General Conference they said that they are
now sending missionaries to the States to keep the gospel strong here. 
And the New Jerusalem, or Zion is going to be built in the South- not
Louisiana, but the South is going to have a lot of growth and Louisiana
will be part of that.  Exciting stuff!  Well.....  for my 54 tho I
might count people that I helped and predominantly taught- for example
Zahkila, and Kim in Alexandria.  They should be baptized sometime this
transfer.... 

Let's see..... we have an investigator- Bernice.  She has problems
reading and so I'd like to get her the Book of Mormon on cd.....  Maybe you
could burn that, or buy one.... that would be awesome!  It seems like a
lot of people here don't read, or at least a lot of people I've met so
far!  I've given a few people your address..... at home- I don't know
if they'll write, but I gave Elise Jennings the home address- she thinks
she'll be moving and wants to keep in contact with me.  I gave her
daughter Lindsey, Cassie's address.... I don't know if she ever wrote tho. 
Let's see.... I like the ward here.  They're very friendly and actively
trying to keep people involved in missionary work!  It's awesome! 
There are two girls here, home from BYU for the summer..... I know I met
one of them before- her name is Megan- she's the bishop's daughter and we
both recognized each other.  I don't know tho, she said she worked at
the MTC too, so maybe I just saw her there, but either way....  it was
neat to recognize someone.  I think at least one of the girls is going
to come on exchanges with us!  That'll be fun!  Well, I think that's
about it for now!  My district now is really cool.....  Well, Elder Jones
seems to be holding back a little, but he was in my Zone the last 2
transfers....  and his companion I've only seen before, but never met. 
But anyways, good times!  I'm having fun, although it is getting hott!!!! 
We're having a BBQ today with the Zone for the 4th!  That should be
fun!  Wll.... I think that's about it!

Love you all!

Sister Jamie Lang!