Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Everybody!!!
     
      Easter is one of my favorite holidays and this one was no disappointment! Sis. Coontz and I ran around all week telling everybody about the "because of Him video". It was such fun and so meaningful to spend the week teaching about what is possible in our lives through Christ!  I LOVE Him so much!!! We picked up two new investigators and are really excited about them. Things are going well here. Although progress is slow at times. We rejoice in the knowledge that we are helping people to take steps that will lead them to Christ. Even if they are baby steps...they are still heading in the right direction and that is the whole point!!
           
      I have been really trying to work on loving people harder as that is the revelation I felt I received from General Conference and it has been amazing to see how slowly I am coming to love the work more and more. Not that I don't love it! Its just hard to love the "hard" moments of it. But focusing on our purpose and doing it out of LOVE for my lost brothers and sisters has been amazing. I have been seeing a great change start to take place inside of me:)

         There have been a lot of ups and downs this week..kinda like a roller coaster ride...oh wait.. that's like, my whole mission. Haha! Well, Anyways. We have had a lot of good times this week but it was kinda all dashed when the Banks broke their bad news to us... to quote my journal: 

"We had a great day and had just sat down to plan for the evening when the Banks knock on our door. We let them both in. We are excited because we assume they have come over to talk to us about plans for the next day. We had been planning on going out with them and were  thrilled to tell them we had 7 scheduled appointments! (that's really good for this area). Well they just stare at us for a bit and then Sister Banks being the bold, matter-of-fact kind of person that she is just blurts out. "We have some sad news, We're getting transferred"........... Shut-the-front-door holdthehuhWHAT?????!!!! THE BANKS ARE GETTING TRANSFERRED???!?!?!?!"

   
        It is the most ridiculous thing and for awhile I was in complete and utter denial! How could this happen?! It was one of those things that we always laughed about as we jokingly said "What if the Banks get transferred?! hahahahahaha that would NEVER happen!!!:D" Well now it is and it is the saddest thing of my life! I love them so much! They are such pillars in this ward and I just cannot imagine it without them! I am pretty sure its just going to crumble and fall when they leave. In fact, the whole area is probably just going to go *poof* the second they step out of Ohio. They are getting transferred to Newcastle PA. Which apparently really needs them. I guess the ward is really struggling out there and the Bishop has been asking for some help. Pshw....I mean, I think it will actually be a really good thing, I just am going to miss them so much. Its just hard to imagine them anywhere else but Ashtabula, They have been such an integral part of the ward for over a year now. They only have 4 months left and Sis. Banks has been really emotional over the whole thing. Poor Sis. Banks. Well, God knows what He is doing.

          But, so yeah, while its been a really good week, at random moments we will both remember how the Banks are leaving and we will be in utter despair again. We rely on them so much!!!!
    

         Okay, Next interesting thing was...hmm...well really this week has just been kinda full of awkward moments. We went over to Cameron and Sis. Wiese's house to meet His kids that they have been fighting for in court and what not. Well we ended up just playing with them for an hour basically, sharing a quick message that they wouldn't listen to and getting out of there! haha. They were so sweet but crazy, hyper kids...and so funny but even as kids they were just as socially awkward as their dad. I love them all to death but oh man...so funny! I love that there are just all sorts of people in this world!

       

           We had a lesson with our investigator Christina and in walks her husband wearing a collar and busy tail. I kid you not. He had just come back from running some errands and seriously had a long, bushy tail attached to his pants...Then Christina is like "Oh Steffen show them your tail!"...uh no please don't, But after he saying it several times he is like "okay" and turns around. So we just stared at his backside for an awkward minute and tried to say things like "oh that's nice/cute/ (nervous laughter) busy...haha...whatever!" it was super funny. When we left their house and were walking away we finally were able to laugh about it. Well can't say we were really surprised... It is Conneaut:)
          

          Now to Easter:) We had such a lovely morning at Church. Went over to the Dickey's after for an Easter Lunch. Ham, yams, mashed potatoes, veggies, rolls and pie in the typical Dickey fashion (Remind me when I get home to try and describe what that means exactly:) "Slap a ham on the table and call everyone up!" as Bro. Dickey said. It was really fun and a great day followed...until we got home that is. We went back to our apartment for our dinner break and ended up having a little time to clean a little. So we start deep cleaning our fridge (we have to deep clean this week since transfers are coming up). Well I pull out the large pane of glass that is the bottom shelf and start washing it in the the sink. I have the thought, "man what if I broke this? that would be bad, I better be careful" So being as gently as can be I start drying it off and all I can say is one second I was holding a large pane of glass and the next I had in my hand only a few shards. I have no idea what the heck happened but yup...go figure. I would break the fridge while trying to clean it. Anyways. It completely shattered EVERYWHERE. Ugh, So annoying, it took us an hour to get most everything last night so we finally just left it and went to bed and finished up for another half hour this morning (which by the way was super frustrating because missionaries don't have that kind of time!!) Sigh...so we might be eating glass for awhile...haha. Luckily it only cut me a teeny bit (don't worry mom:).
 

        So yep that was pretty much our adventures for the week. We have some really fun plans today! Bro. Harper pulled some strings with his Amish friends and arranged for us to take a buggy ride!!!! Yipee! I'm a gonna be Amish! I will tell you all about it next week.

        I love you all and hope you have a fabulous week! Thanks for the package Katie and Lizzy. Happy Birthday Leah!!!!!
                 

        "If you don't like service, you won't like Heaven" So says President Vellinga:) So go serve someone today!
          

    Love, your favorite Sister Missionary;) SisN