Sister Inman Letter - February 20, 2017

Death Bed Repentance

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's another week! And President calculated and didn't hesitate to tell me that I only have X amount of weeks left! (Thanks, President). Haha, just kidding. I had interviews last week, (now we do them every transfer) and we discussed how I want to spend these next... x amount... of weeks! I felt pumped and confident that the Lord and I would work wonders together. I have felt of God's love and strength as I have been striving to improve as a missionary, a disciple of Christ, and as an official representative of the Church. I feel like I have never been truly happier than I am now to be a missionary! I finally feel like I'm beginning to understand what I can do with the Lord's help, and despite circumstances of the day, I can end the day still being happy. I finally feel more confident that the Lord can and will work through me in the work of salvation. I feel stronger, like I can take charge of my life and change for the better! I feel like I finally understand the scripture about us being agents unto ourselves, choosing to act rather than objects to be acted upon.

And then as soon as I was geared up and pumped and doing great,.... Satan, that Scumbag, brought out his big guns.

So for the past several weeks, I haven't been feeling too great, and have had lots of congestion and stuff. Well, I never really got over that. I figured that after I had gotten the common (and miserable) cold in my last area that it was just allergies from then on. Well, as of a couple of weeks ago, it got a little worse. More coughing, more congestion. Then nearing the end of last week, Wednesday-Friday, it got BAD. I mean BAD. Thursday we were on exchanges and I tried my very best to be diligent and go out and work, and I pushed through, though I was miserable. I felt awful. But then we got to a blank spot during the day (we had already tried a few different people) and we needed to know where to go. I had no ideas. So I prayed and prayed to know where to go, and as I still don't know the area very well, figuring out who to see was somewhat difficult. But I prayed and said that we would go wherever He led us, but to please help me know where to go. Usually when I pray, my mind has a hard time slowing down and always has hundreds of different thoughts going on. But unlike the usual, my mind was completely empty. Not a single thought. And a clear impression came to my mind that said "Sister Inman, you have done all that you can do right now. You need to turn around, and go back home to rest." What? Since when does that ever happen? Well.... seeing as my mind was completely blank other than that one thought, and then soon after came the second thought, which was, "you will not be doing anyone a favor by getting them sick. Go home, and rest.", I went home.

I waited to see if anything else came, but the same impression came, reassuring me that it's what I needed to do. That started the long weekend of bitter sickness. 

Every day I got worse, and I got a new symptom daily.

So Friday morning, Bro. Bailey and Bro. Merrill gave me a healing blessing-- It was a beautiful and unique blessing. Something it said was: "it is hard to be sick and unable to work as a missionary, and have to rest and take care of yourself. But the Lord wants you to know that it is okay.  During this healing process, though you will not be able to work, and are cooped up at home most of the time, you will be able to experience spiritual growth."

Well, if any of you have ever been sick before, (haha), then you'll know that it's often difficult to feel the Spirit, or feel joy, or peace, especially when it is so miserable to be sick! Well, I can testify that during this time where I have been more sick than I have my entire mission (and probably one of the worst of the times I've been sick that I can remember), that I have had the most incredible spiritual experiences and feelings of joy, humility, GRATITUDE, patience, perseverance, and feeling the love of my God than any other time in my life. For these past 4 days or so when I have been quarantined and unable to work (or really do anything for that matter), I have experienced an incredible strengthening of my spirit testimony, and conversion. 

I have been shown SO much love and selfless service by so many people this week, and I think God allowed me to be to be in a condition where I could not do much for myself, but had to rely on others, in order to open my eyes to how many people love and care about me, that I don't even realize, and to allow me to be aware of the countless blessings He has been pouring out upon me these past few days, that I might have taken for granted otherwise. And I am so grateful that God loved me enough to put me through this awful sickness (which was still extremely miserable, don't get me wrong), in order to allow me to experience and develop these necessary attributes. My companion has done nothing but serve me and do all she can to help me feel better, happier, or more comfortable, and many others have sacrificed so much for me.

Saturday evening, we did splits and I stayed at an elderly lady's home, while Sister Freeman went to a lesson. The lady's name was Sister Tilton, and she is the spunkiest old lady I've ever met. Everything was at it's worst that night. Shaky, weak, blazing fever, (like my whole body felt steaming hot), terrible cough, no energy at all. 

But during my short stay at Sister Tilton's home, after she had brought me some soup and anything else that I might need, she allowed me to pray on my own. I was totally overwhelmed by how much she had sacrificed for me, even something as simple as some soup, tissues, quotes from President Hinkley, and the simple words of comfort and cheer she brought in each time she came in to check on me. As I sat there and just pondered and tried to soak everything up, I was overcome with emotion and just cried and cried. I started to pray to simply bless the food, but my mind reflected on so many other things that people had done for me even just the past few days, and was filled with gratitude like I had never felt before. After awhile, Sister Tilton came in to ask if I was okay, and what was the matter. I told her I was okay, and that so many people have done so much for me. She paused a moment, and then said, "You're worth it, sweetie." And the love I felt kept flowing throughout the day. 

One of my former companions shared with me a motto or quote that she loved, which goes like this: "Sometimes we need to hit rock bottom, so that we can know that He IS the rock at the bottom."

Sunday was a blessed day. We prayed the night before that we would be able to keep the Sabbath Day Holy and still receive the renewal and remission of sins, and joy of the Sabbath, even though we would be unable to go to church. I was unable to go to church, as a missionary! Kind of ironic, huh? Well Sister Freeman, my companion, is an angel, and worked it out so that I could have the sacrament brought to me at home. We did temporary splits with the Pomerene Sisters so my companion could at least go to the sacrament part of the meeting, but then after the end of church, an advisor and two young men came to deliver the sacrament just to me. Let me tell you, that was probably the most special, spirit-filled moment that I partook of the sacrament. I  better understood just how personal and individual the Atonement of Christ really is, as they placed one small piece of bread on the tray, blessed it, and passed it to me, and did the same with a singular cup of water- blessed it, and passed it to me. I was already crying by that point. It is a truly humbling experience that I have never had before. It reminded me just how aware my Heavenly Father is of me, and also of how much love these people in this area have for me, to make sure that I individually was able to partake of this sacred ordinance. Jesus Christ went through all of the pains and sufferings that He did, and was scourged, killed, and he rose again, so that I, Sister Torie Inman, might partake of the blessings of eternal life, forgiveness of sin, and the strength to endure any trial. What a precious, sweet feeling that was for me. Although it was just a couple of young men, I felt as though the Savior Himself was offering me those emblems of His body and blood that was shed and spilt for me. What a wonderful experience to be a part of, and also for those boys to have. :)

Sister Freeman later told me that when she had tried to finagle a way for me to have the sacrament, that several different people wanted to do it for me, and that the other Ward was sad that they didn't know I was so sick, and that they would have done the same. 

A few more acts of love and service and sacrifice given to me that I want to acknowledge: 

-Pomerene sisters sacrificing time in their area to split with us and help Sis Freeman to continue to work in our area.

-Sis Merrill doing Walmart runs to pick up necessities and my meds 

-Less active family who had us for dinner brought us dinner instead and it was AMAZING.

-Sis Freeman keeps making me these luxurious meals, breakfast in bed !

-Brother and Sister Jones, these members in our Ward, drove us all the way to Tucson and back, in order for me to go to Urgent Care, got us breakfast, waited for me at urgent care, and sacrificed so much for me.

God knows what we need. And it is often through our trials that we learn to trust in his plan the most. He always provides a way to help us grow into the people he wants us to become, if we let him.

I have finally come to understand what president Uchtdorf meant when he encouraged us to be "grateful in any circumstance". 

I know my Savior lives. I know He and our Father in Heaven have an unconditional, never ending, ever abiding love for us that we cannot comprehend. When we trust him and accept his will. He can bless us with the strength to overcome all things. And I say this in the name of Him who gave us the greatest gift that any of God's children could ever provide for us, even Jesus Christ, amen. 

I hope you have a blessed week, and remember to count your blessings, name them one by one, and show gratitude for EVERYTHING! I am grateful for all of you, my family and friends. 

Love and miss you!

Sister Inman

Tombstone part 1

 

Sister Inman Letter - February 13, 2017

SUHWEET 16!!! Enrique's Baptism, Rabbits, and Gifts from Strangers

Good morning, good morning!!! Wow, what a rewarding weekend, and what blessings God has bestowed upon us this week!!! My heart is so full and bursting with gratitude, so much that I have "not room enough to receive it"!

Enrique's baptism. Okay. That was seriously one of the happiest days of my mission. I can't fully express the pure JOY I felt when I watched Enrique enter those waters and take part in the sacred ordinance of baptism. By far the most beautiful baptismal ordinance I've ever seen and witnessed. Nobody could have denied the immense Spirit that filled that room and had me in tears as Enrique took his first step towards following his Lord and Savior. Each of these baptisms that I have the blessing to have been a part of reminds me why am am on a mission, and why I am in the ARIZONA TUCSON mission. Enrique and his family is why I am here. There is nothing better and no feeling sweeter than to see the fruits of your labor of love and faith. There is nothing that brings me greater joy as a missionary than to know that I was chosen at that time to be an instrument in God's hands at that time, and to see the power of God work through me to perform miracles.

I echo the words found in Alma 26, as Ammon is praising his God:

"And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?

"Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.

"Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are [we], for [we] did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with [our] might, yea, all the day long did [we] labor; and behold the number of [our] sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted.

"But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."

Enrique was prepared by the Lord. There are so many of those around us who are in preparation to hear the word of God, and sometimes it is their circumstances that humble them enough to receive it. I am so grateful to have been a part of his conversion, and to have been able to see him grow from the very beginning to this first step. I can't wait to see their family all joining and be sealed in the temple.

Enrique! His wife Grisel, and son, Nathaniel, along with 4 of the 5 missionaries that got to work with him! In order from right to left, too! 

Enrique and his friend Joel, who got to baptize him! Joel worked with him, and had simple conversations about the church and gospel with him. It stuck. And here we are! Simple missionary work! :)

Nathaniel! He's my buddy. I used to give him stickers at our lessons. :) (he went outside and picked some "floras!", hence the ones in his shirt pocket)

Okay. And now about the rabbits. So apparently the people down here eat rabbit! So......... I tried rabbit enchiladas a couple nights ago, and it actually tasted really good! probably because it was drowned in enchiladas and other things like cheese and green chiles, etc. But it tastes a lot like chicken. Pretty much the same. However, I have to admit that I felt pretty uneasy the whole time haha. I had to psych myself out the whole time, like "I'm eating chicken, I'm eating chicken..." or "it's okay, you'll be okay!" I probably won't ever eat rabbit again... I felt wayyyy too guilty haha. I ate Thumper :( A couple weeks ago, I ate elk meat mixed with pork, and that was pretty good too. One thing about the boonies is that you get to try new foods and lots of people hunt or kill their own food out here! The people in Saint David are generally pretty self-reliant, which is awesome!

Gifts from strangers. So on our way back from the baptism, we stopped at In-n-Out for lunch, as it's not too expensive, and Sister Graff from California was craving it her whole mission haha. Well, when we got there, we saw an older man and his dog. He pointed out my tag, and seemed like he was curious as to who we were! So we said hello, and I said "we're missionaries!". So we ended up talking to this man for quite a while, and it just came naturally! It wasn't weird, and it turns out that he has had contact with missionaries in the past! 

He had an experience with a Mormon who helped him when his car was broken down. The member asked him if he would be interested in learning more, and if he would allow the missionaries over. So Wayne, (the name of the man we talked to) said sure! You were so kind to me, and I'll show them the same kindness you showed me. So he sent the missionaries over there, and they taught him a little bit. He was very kind to them, and listened to them, but was already involved in a church. But he did tell us over and over again how much he admired us and the work we were doing, and how "if he were to shop for a religion, he'd choose the Mormon one" (he even told his minister that who wasn't too happy hahaha). But it was just a wonderful conversation that we had with him about service and how we should go about doing good and showing kindness to all of those around us, and how that's what Christ did his whole life. Anyway, so we had gone in after awhile and gotten some food, and he invited us to come back and sit with him to talk. So we did! And it was so neat. Wayne was from New York, but he sometimes moves down to Prescott. (Snowbird?) But he traveled a lot and was in Tucson for the Rock and Gem Show. Apparently it's really big here. But he makes jewelry and showed us some of the things he got there! He had some Mexican Opal, that are very beautiful and all unique! he showed us a couple of things he had made, and said that he would make us custom Mexican Opal rings for our kindness and our "bright countenance" or something similar. He appreciated how genuine we were. And so he let us hand pick out which stone we wanted, and told him our ring size. And he said "okay, when you graduate from your mission, send me a letter. And I will send you your ring as a graduation gift for a job well done." He was a sweet man, and he said "you know, I don't think our meeting was a coincidence. I think we were supposed to cross paths. Thank you for touching my life and making my day today." Great experience.

Haha :)

A couple of other things that showed us how much God loves us was how we had FIVE investigators at church on Sunday!!! :) Three of them were not even official investigators yet!! But because they are potentials, and are coming to church, their investigation begins. :) So you know how we had been praying and fasting for new investigators? Well we got a couple new referrals, and we should hopefully be meeting with them soon! :) We should officially have 2 or 3 new ones this week. God is so loving and wonderful!

An official alien from Area 51 in New Mexico!

Weekly planning in the digital age

We had a wicked sweet storm last night, we had a lightning strike right next to us! Less than a mile away... shook our car. But it's BEAUTIFUL!

Yesterday was my 16 month mark. Woo! 

Well, we're going to be headed to Tombstone for P-day today! I'm so excited to hit some museums and take lots of pictures! But that's all the time I have today. I love you and pray for you often!

Have a fantastic week! HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Love,

Sister Inman

Looking for service! We got two takers from widows in the ward!

the things you find

Sister Merrill showed us how to make homemade noodles, and we also made bowtie pasta!!! :)

Sister Inman Letter - February 6, 2017

Has it been a year already???

Hello hello hello! This Friday, I hit my year mark of the day that I went to the MTC! Can you believe that was a year ago?! HOLY COW! Wow, so much has happened since then! 

I had a wonderful week this week! Despite the fact that almost every day someone had to bring up death and horror stories about how things or people died, and also that I somehow managed to knock two of my neck vertebrae out of place and one in my back, or that I've still been feeling very fatigued all of the time and sometimes sick, It was an awesome week! Here's a few highlights! :) (Don't worry, I'm feeling a little better, and I got my bones put back into place aha.)

Let me start with how BOUNTEOUS and INCREDIBLE and MIRACULOUS yesterday was! Blessed Sabbath Day. It sounds like it was a good one for you too! I loved reading about Jesse's testimony. I knew there was something special about that boy. I love him so much and am so proud of him and his growth spiritually. He's a wonderful example to me!

Speaking of Jesse, I think next Monday, we will be doing a district P-day in Tombstone! I want to take him here someday. It is literally a cowboy town, and it is not even staged! People ACTUALLY lived there, in those same places! Some of the people that live there now still keep up some of the lifestyle, too. There are now museums and such, and the O.K. Corrall with gunfights every day, a working saloon (we won't go there, don't worry), jails, horse and buggies, and tons of "historical sites" where so and so was hung, born or this gunfight happened, etc. It's AWESOME. It literally feels like you're walking through history! The original buildings are still there, and it feels like an old western movie. In fact, many of the old westerns actually were filmed there! No set needed! If you dressed up like a cowboy in all your getup, you'd fit right in.

But the experience that I wanted to share with you happened, I believe, as an answer to our prayers and fasting! (That, and because God is so loving and kind to us, and He knew that we definitely needed that reminder that He is very aware of us and our desires!) We both had individually been fasting to find new investigators and to help the less actives, recent converts, etc. in our areas. I also fasted for the strength, stamina, diligence, and ability to help those people I have been given stewardship over. Well, along walks in a miracle! One of our investigators, Don, didn't have a ride to church, and was waiting outside. his neighbor, Jim, offered to take him and wanted to come with! So he took him to church, and stayed all three hours, I'm pretty sure! (at least 2). We sat next to them, and Jim started talking to me. I can't accurately express how excited I was, but to sum it up, he is a GOLDEN! He moved to St. David about 2 years ago, and has had time to ponder and think about things. He mentioned that he had been wanting to be closer to God, and was interested in learning more about our church. This was the first time he had ever been inside a Mormon Church, and it was of his own doing! He was never much of a churchgoer, but went to a Southern Baptist church before. he likes that our church is a lifestyle, and seems to be fully willing to live it "if I decide that I want to join this church". He talked about tithing and how he'd be willing to pay it if he joined our church. And how he was always looking for ways to serve, and offered to help anyone who needed it. And he was very respectful during the sacrament, he pondered and prayed to himself, and sang the hymns, and listened to the testimonies. And he commented in Gospel Principles! Woohoo! He was interested to learn more, and God is so good to us. He provided us with someone who has been prepared, and I am so so so grateful.

I also was able to share something from one of my past areas with our ward mission leader! I shared with him some of the things that helped us be successful in the work and work together as a ward (especially the leadership) when I was in the La Cholla and Coronado Wards in Oro Valley. He was super excited with the new ideas and jumped right on it and it seemed to give him a boost of energy and enthusiasm to get this work going and work more effectively as as Ward Council. I was grateful to have been able to share something that I have learned that has been tried and tested, from the best ward councils I have ever worked with. He told me a little bit of the history of missionary work, and told us that they started a plan, but it failed almost instantly, because there was little to no follow up or commitment from anyone. I am hopeful that this can help the ward get started on a ward mission plan and achieve it!

Our other Ward Mission Leader, Brother Bailey (he's hilarious!!) showed us his sword and sliced some squash to demonstrate. It was awesome. He's a bit of a nerd, but he's so fun to work with and he knows it! We love him!

Another thing about St. David...... everyone is related... and has been here forever..... Judd's, Goodman's, Mayberry's........ oh my!

Also I AM SO EXCITED TO GO TO ENRIQUE'S BAPTISM ON SATURDAY!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, that's all the time I have for today! I love you all and pray for you!

Have a great week! Love you!

Sister Inman

Sister Inman Letter - January 30, 2017

SISTER CHARLES IS REBORN.

Greetings, from Saint David, Arizona!!! How was all of y'alls' weeks? (Not sure how to properly ask that question...) Also, I think that when I get home, I'll probably sound like I've digressed in my grammar and ability to speak like a sophisticated person. I seem to have picked up quite a few phrases and terms on my mission that I didn't ever use before..... Well, I'm certainly morphed into something different! Who'da thunk that the people on this part of the state would communicate so much differently than we do? It's almost like people are from the South here in Southern Arizona. It's the beeeessssstttttt! I love it!

Well, this week was awesome! Monday was super fun, I got to go spend it with my district in Sahuarita in the morning, and then head over to my other district friends in Rincon for the afternoon. I truly have made a lot of great friends in the Southeast Zone. Monday night was pretty stressful, because I had to finish packing, and try to get rid of stuff and things like that. My goal these last two transfers is to dejunk and get rid of a whole lot of stuff. SIMPLIFY will be my favorite word. 

Tuesday morning, Sister Spencer and I drove over to the transfer site, and we parted ways! :( I truly loved my companion. She has become one of my greatest friends, and we both helped each other grow so much as individuals, and as missionaries. When I left, we had just begun to have hope for the work picking up! Sister Spencer is training now, and I am confident that she will do so well! I took the transfer van down to good ole Sierra Vista Zone, and stopped in Benson, AZ! There I met my new companion, Sister Freeman!!! She is seriously almost an exact duplicate of Sister Charles. She looks the same, talks the same, is the same height, haircut, similar style, sometimes, too. There are obviously some significant differences, but sometimes... it's a little scary! She is from Atlanta, Georgia. Woohoo! But she doesn't really have too much of an accent, because she's from the northern part.

Let's see. I've had some interesting experiences this week! I got to hold a bunny.... who belongs to a family who raises them and then eats them... They're an AWESOME family! But when I heard that, I was a little disturbed! Haha.

I also met a dog that is half pitbull, half basset hound....... one of the weirdest looking dogs I've ever seen! It was cute, but what?

Wednesday we had the Worldwide Missionary Broadcast, remember how they had the first one in over 10 years last year? I got to watch another one! And they made some significant changes! They completely changed the daily schedule, and got rid of most of the key indicators that we report on weekly. We only report on 4 of them now. And we no longer have a section to input daily goals. What?! I am liking the new schedule, though, it has alleviated a lot of stress, and we have enough time to get done the things that we need to get done! Including on P-days! Which is a HUGE help!

Speaking of P-day, I just got back from going and visiting the Kartchner Caverns! WOW! What an amazing museum/exhibit/place! A kind member took us and two other sets of missionaries. I think Jesse would absolutely LOVE it!!! We went to the cave called the Throne Room, which was AMAZING! It is so beautiful! And God is such a good artist. He is a genius! To think that something so incredible could have happened naturally, it was truly awe-inspiring. Too bad we weren't allowed to take pictures.

This week we taught a girl named Hailey, who is probably about 25, and she has a 6 or so year old and a baby. She is from the south and has an awesome accent! She is on the search for truth and wants to find something that will strengthen her family. We set a baptismal date for her for February 25th!!! (Happy birthday Mom!) and we have high hopes for her!

Another man we are teaching's name is Don. He's in his 50's. He is also from the South (they're everywhere! haha), and we are trying to help him as he makes his way back to the Church. 

My first Sunday in Saint David was SOOOO LONG! Church and Meetings from 8:30am till 4pm!

In answer to a few questions!

-The Tillett's are actually in either the Pomerene or Patton ward! So sad, they're not in mine, but it's fun to know someone that lives around here!

I cover Tombstone as part of my area! Super stoked, I get to work in the town too tough to die!

I am so happy to get all of these hilarious pictures of Rory! It's so fun to see her mature and see her sense of humor come in. I love her so much. Already!

Well, that's mostly all I have to say this week! I hope you all have a wonderful week, and stay safe, and keep reading your scriptures, and living the gospel, and smiling, and laughing, and sharing the gospel! How is that going with the neighbor, by the way?

Anyway, I love you tons.

Have a great week!

Love, 

Sister Inman

Blessed Arizona! :)

True Statement! I love how fancy it is, and yet it says that haha

Sister Spencer's birthday was on the 20th, and some awesome members, the Demaio's, took us all out to Macayo's!!! It was her husband's birthday too, and also Elder Taylor is somehow related to her too! So the Elders came too. And our former investigator, Rod. Haha. :) It was really good! I missed Macayo's!

One of my FAVORITE families in Vail, the Weitz'!!! They are the family that Jayda lived with when she got baptized!

old district!

Isn't she cute?

Our dog reminds me of Chloe!

Got a haircut!

Ride to kartchner caverns!

St. David

District!

Sister Inman Letter - January 23, 2017

Two Transfers Left... And I AM SO READY TO BEAR DOWN and POUND THE PAVEMENT. IT'S GO TIME!!!!

HEY FAMILY! Sorry, I am so distracted today. And I have a LOT to DO!!!! Lots of packing and cleaning and everything left! Sorry, it's not as long as I'd like it to be. But I will try to make it a good one. :)

Wow. This week has been interesting! I have had some really wonderful experiences this week. Some of my most spiritual moments of my mission. I was still sick for like the first half of the week, and am still getting better, but I am a lot better than I was.

Well, before I forget to tell you, I am being transferred! To SAINT DAVID!!! I'm going back to the Sierra Vista Zone! I'll be in the San Pedro and St. David Wards, and my new companion will be Sister Freeman, who just finished being trained and I will be her second companion. My guess is that this will be my last area. And I am so ready and excited to start new and bust out these next 3 months strong. I'm not trunky, I am not counting down the days. But my companion and the emails I am getting from Headquarters are, haha. I have less than I'd like, but for once, I feel okay. I am ready to do my absolute best, with a new companion, and be a leader and be strong and put everything I've learned to the test. I am so excited. One thing I have also realized is that I have met some of the most incredible people in the world on my mission. I have met so many amazing families that I love and will miss forever, and I am so grateful to have felt their love. I have also met the most incredible missionaries, who have become some of my best friends. I am so grateful to have been able to meet the people that I have, and to have been able to learn so much. 

This week, I was able to defend the faith. I was able to stand up for what I knew to be true and declare with boldness, but not overbearance, that I know that the things which I came out to testify of are true. without a doubt. I have had few other experiences in which I have felt the Spirit testify as strongly as it did there at that moment. I was on exchanges. We went to this former investigator's house, and got there right as he was pulling up. So he got out of his car, and talked to us for about an hour. We essentially taught the entire restoration. He had a lot to say about how religion is manmade and how God is everywhere, and he doesn't need a book or a church to get to/talk to God, but that just talking with us or other people about God that that is church. But after much of his opinions and everything, I was able to be bold and ask if I could speak and say something, etc. I don't think I have been as bold as I was with him ever before. But I prayed that God would help me to not argue or be contentious, but that I could bear my testimony with power and with the Spirit. So God gave me the strength to do it. And it was probably the most powerful testimony I have ever borne. I bore my witness of the Book of Mormon, the Prophet, the Church, and this sacred work which I am a part of. I testified that I knew these things of a surety, and that I did not come out on my mission and go through half of the things I have to be here to spread a lie. I know God directs us through living prophets. I know that I am supposed to be here so I can meet specific people that I can share this truth with. I wish I could repeat everything. But I teared up and it was a much needed experience for me. I had my testimony confirmed once again.

Well, that's all the time I have today. I love you all, and will send you pictures. Have a great week!!!!

Love,

Sister Inman

Sister Inman Letter - January 16, 2017

Zone Meeting, Temple, then Sick, but going strong!

Hey family!

This week was pretty packed but super awesome! We went to the temple, and it was amazing. Such a beautiful place and experience. I just love the feeling that is there, and being able to feel of God's love in greater abundance. I could definitely feel a boost of strength, and I was able to refill on my spiritual tank! I was also able to take a family name to the temple. It was a particularly sweet experience.

Yes, I got my contacts the night before our temple trip. It made things SO much more convenient! Thank you! And thanks for the Nutty Buddies! :)

So today has been kind of crazy, and I'm sorry I'm just now sending you my email. We've been in town and driving and super busy today and didn't really have time for much else. But I wanted to make sure to send you something!

So we get transfer calls this weekend, and my guess is that I'm going to be transferred. I had interviews today with President, and we talked about he next part of my life, but also about how much I've improved the past couple of weeks! I am a lot happier. I have been striving to be exactly obedient. I have been studying harder in the Book of Mormon. I have been searching and have found treasures! Wow, my life is so much better when I am more spiritual and missionary-focused! I have been trying to express more gratitude and focus in my prayers, and as a result, I am more grateful and focused, and ready to do the work!!! Let's go!!!

We had an awesome Zone meeting this week, too! It was about retention and reactivation efforts. We want to spend a lot of our prayers and planning on strengthening less active members in our areas, and strengthen the wards that we serve in. Are there people in your Ward that you haven't seen in awhile? That are struggling? That need service done for them? Even active members? Offer to serve people that come to your mind. Reach out! God will give you opportunities to be a missionary in your area. :)

Well, the last thing I wanted to say is that we had a FANTASTIC lesson with Nathaniel this week!!!! The best one we've ever had with him, and the best one we've taught together. We had been trying to find a member to come with us the previous day, and ended up having to postpone it to another day... and then felt inspired to ask Brother
Turner to come with us, who we JUST SO HAPPENED to eat dinner with the night that we would have had our lesson, and were able to have him come with us the next day. And it was perfect. God provided the way, and they clicked really well!!! We read in Helaman 5 about the Savior's ability to redeem us and restore and repair the damage that we have created by our sins. We also discussed the role that Christ plays as our firm foundation. Nathaniel understood the analogy as he compared it to construction work. Bro. Turner testified of this truth several times throughout the lesson, and you could tell that Nathaniel truly valued what Brother Turner said. He testified of the importance of reading the Book of Mormon every day, and that God gives us everything, so we can give Him 10 minutes a day. Nathaniel really seemed to be taking in what had been said. The Spirit was super strong as we all testified of repentance and the redeeming power of the Atonement, which erases all wrongs and sin. We really feel that this was a turning point for  Nathaniel. We really think this is the starting point of his progression to baptism!!!

I love this gospel, I love being a missionary in the ATM. (Arizona Tucson Mission). I am doing a lot better. Thank you so much for your prayers and support of me!!!


Love you tons! Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Inman

Sister Inman Letter - January 9, 2017

JESSE'S AN EAGLE SCOUT?!?!?!

Hooray! I just wanted to start off by saying CONGRATULATIONS, JESSE! You have worked SO hard for this your whole life, and I am so incredibly proud of you! I shouted for joy when I saw the picture! WOOHOO!!!! GREAT JOB, JESSE!!!!

Second off, Exactly a year ago today, I went to the Phoenix Temple to be endowed. I had my whole family there to support me, and I was able to make sacred covenants with my Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for the temple. I have since been able to see the blessings of these covenants as I have gone throughout my mission. Our zone gets the opportunity to go to the temple this Friday, and I am so excited! I need the temple more than anything right now! I am so grateful that we have one in our mission.

This week I have continued my study of the Book of Mormon, and I have truly rediscovered the joy that we experience through studying its pages. I have found so many new treasures that are particularly meaningful to me, and I have felt my faith strengthened. I can literally feel stronger, and I feel like there is more light inside me! It has been a wonderful experience, and I have the Spirit more with me. In fact, I have had some really wonderful things happen this week, because the Spirit has been with me! I have been trying very hard to obey with exactness the promptings I receive, pray more sincerely, express more thanks in my prayers, be exactly obedient, and work harder every day. I'm not perfect yet, but I am getting stronger! And because of this, I am better enabled to be exactly obedient. It's a wonderful cycle! I am so grateful for the Atonement and the privilege and blessing we have of accessing this power.

I have felt the spirit more strongly and in greater abundance this week! Our district meeting was wonderful, and we each got the opportunity to bear our testimonies. Holy moly, the spirit was so strong. A missionary named Elder Hale's testimony hit me the hardest. He bore bold witness of the truth and it was super powerful. God knew I needed to hear the truth witnessed to me first hand.

On Sunday we had lots of great things happen, lots of people we were working with came to church! Three less active families came to church, Nathaniel, Rod and Diane all came to church and the testimony meeting was really good. I bore my testimony too. I could feel Gods power work through me as I continued to open my mouth. I've been testing that a lot lately, and my faith has been strengthened. I've been trying to act and speak exactly as the spirit directs and it has been neat to watch the powerful experiences emerge from that. We shared a dinner message and at first I thought that they needed something a little more. And then I felt the distinct prompting to open to Moroni 10 and testify of the Book Of Mormon. Wow. The spirit poured in and filled the room. Sister Spencer and I went back and forth testifying of plain and precious truths. The mom was in tears.

Well, that's really all of the time I have, sorry! There was a little incident at the library that I was right next to, so I had to move out of the way for a little while before things calmed down. I'm safe, no worries. :)

I did some fun things too.

-I played pie face (after dinner at a member's house)

-Learned how to hover board (it's really tricky! But I want one! It really works your calf muscles!)

And we had another awesome lesson with Nathaniel.

God is so good to us. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Inman

P.S. Mom: Can you just send it to my address? If possible, I'd love to have them before Friday! (temple trip, and it's just easier) And I shouldn't have a problem spacing them out... I only have about that much time left anyway :/

Transfers are on January 24th. 

Sorry, it's not letting me send pictures :'(