19 May 2014

Sister Rachel Mullen Ok, here we go with this week. Ready? Go. So remember miracle guy named Goal? Well, his cousin he brought to church all of a sudden has to work everyday so she "can't" learn, and he won't answer our phone calls. What do we do when something goes completely wrong??? Find some more. That's all we can do. We had more inviting days, then we went to Big C one night and it was starting to rain. People just kind of stand under the shelter thing outside. But then it started to get windy so we were getting crazy wet. Just before it got too bad though, I got this guys number... as one side of my face is getting completely drenched. Long story short, we met with him the next day. and the next day. We just need to teach him one more time pretty much but he's amazing. BUT he did not show up to church so he will be baptized next month. We met with another new investigator this week. Her name is Mee. She is Hmong and only concern for her is if she can't participate in her family's rituals anymore once she is baptized. But she is SO open to the Gospel and to God. Just needs to keep learning, and she will be baptized next month hopefully on the 8th. We are going for baptism every week. The Elders said some things that kind of upset me yesterday and then they did something really way nice. They called us and asked if we wanted to teach one of their investigators that came to church that Sunday. We didn't have anyone come to church that could be baptized on the 25th, and that being the last Sunday of the month, we needed someone so that we could make our goal of 3 baptisms for MAYham. "Beware of pride, boy..." What's that from? The Restoration. It was very nice of them and she seems so wonderful. So one day this week, Elder Suki was behind me with scissors trying to fake cut my hair. I turn around and catch him doing it. I see he doesn't have that much and so I'm like... oh yeah. go for it. He grabs a bigger chunk and snips. WHAT?! So the next day after personal study, I remember what he did. So I went over to the garbage can with scissors. And I cut a bunch of my hair. Yup. We invited in front of Big C on Saturday (well really everyday) and there was this event where they were handing out free Mountain Dews to everyone. Crazy. So it was us four missionaries. Against them. You would think people would want some free cleansing of sins over a mountain dew, but no. We still got numbers though which was way cool :) We met with the cutest 15 year old kid. His name is Dotcom. Yeah, best name ever. After we taught him, he was really upset and told us his mom won't let him become a Christian. In helping people with concerns, we as missionaries have been taught to not make it a big deal. Have the most amazing amount of faith on the subject and they will receive strength from you. So after a crazy hard Sunday, where we ended up having no potentials come to church that week that could be baptized the 25th, and feeling bad that we were going to take pretty much the Elders' baptism for next week... We went looking for more. Big C was draining, so we went to the market. Inviting goes by so fast, people are giving us their numbers and it's amazing. I was walking across the street and I see a TWO BAHT COIN on the ground. So I start kicking it across the street so I can pick it up on the other side. A guy on a motorcycle slows down and laughs. We invite him and he's like, you can do that? you can really wash away your sins? Anyways... we've got an appointment with him on Tuesday at 3. We met with a new investigator also. This guy called US. He had gotten a baptism flier in front of Big C but didn't give his number to anyone. We prayed for the spirit before the lesson, but I know I was a little flustered because he was so awesome. We were just going to do an intro lesson but no. We taught him all the commandments and he is now committed to living all of them. He will be at church this coming Sunday and he will be baptized on the 1st of next month. WOW. Rededicating myself to God everyday, because he has Never left me. This last Sunday was a lot of hard realizations. In the fact that our 3rd baptism for the month wasn't at church... And just knowing that we had received AMAZING miracles within the passed two weeks, and couldn't hold on to them?? I wondered what we could have done differently, and I'm happy to know we did all we could. I was blessed to have that peace that it was their agency, not a lack in what we did. Sister Mullen still has got to improve loads though, so that's what today is for :) Love you all, Sister Mullen

Sister Jasmine Mullen Wow wow wow. I don't even know how to start off this email. This week has been amazing. Now I'm 100% sure that President listens to what we say. Haha. He is continually asking us to rise up higher and higher each week. Since the beginning of this month we have been preparing for Elder and Sister Hemula to come. It was actually pretty stressful haha. But I was grateful because we definitely received revelation as he spoke to us. He said lots of things that I can't wait to share with you but I'll just share a few points. The first was so cool. 1. He talked about how there was the 1/3 that went with satan. And if there was say 75 billion people. there would be around 37 billion spirits of satan. And if there are 15 million members and about half of them are active. Then its a ratio of about 1 of us against 5000 spirits. That just gave me chills. I needed to hear it especially because I really do feel like I'm just IN this now. I love it. But at the same time I am constantly being reminded in my thoughts of some of the mistakes I've made in my life. Things from such a long time ago. And it seems now that they just come into my memory. And its so hard to remember that I am no my mistakes. And so when Elder Hemula said that I just started sobbing. It was just so comforting to know that its not because Heavenly Father hasn't forgiven me and its not because I'm weak. Its because I and the missionaries I am serving with are all rising up and we are all being attacked in every way. 2. The other thing I wanted to say was that Elder Hemula made President cry. I know how much Presidents mean to missionaries now. Elder Hemula said that he has been looking for a mission that resembled his mission. That lived up to what their standards were and he said he found it. Presdient just burst into tears. It was such a tender moment to see him like that. He has worked so hard and has been pushing all of us so much. And Elder Hemula told us that as we continued to increase our faith and improve our planning that we would see things happen in this mission that has never been done before. So we are going to baptize 100 in june. Does it give you chills? It just makes me get so excited. Sister Tama and I could barely sleep. But we wanted to be obedient haha. Yeah so we're all rising up. We're all DOING. But aside from all of that spiritual upliftment haha. i mean what could be better... I just wanted to tell you guys a miracle! So its a lot different being stranded out here because I'm used to being able to just drive to the office and get as many supplies as i needed. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE BOOKS OF MORMON HERE. Grr. We will get them soon hopefully. but yeah so we met a less active her name is Sister Laycock and we invited her to church and she was like yeahh! Piece of cake. After the lesson we went finding on a street near her and we met a guy named John, he said we could come back but we didn't think much of it. Then when we were going to go back we realized we would probably need to bring a female with us. We couldn't think of anyone. So we prayed and thought of Sister Laycock. We called her and she just laughed and said she would come. She got all dressed up and was AMAZING. She was sharing her testimony and at the end of the lesson she invited him to church and gave him HER book of mormon. And then we went to church with them the next day. It was soooo cool. Everyone just needs to be needed. Thats it for me though. I love you guys and thank you for everything you do for me. love, sister mullen

12 May 2014

Sister Rachel Mullen This week was weird. We had a few days of 5-6-7 hours of inviting because of pitted appointments and just no investigators to teach. I feel blessed to be perfectly fine with it. My duties are not affected by my attitude. Something falls through... ok, let's go find another one. I know that faith and hard work can make anything happen. So then on Saturday, we taught an RC. He said the closing prayer and then bam. This guy is standing there at the front of the church, just watching us pray. He asks about English, I invite him in to learn about baptism. Long story short, he is committed to be baptized the 18th! That was on May 10th. Even when it's hard, we HAVE to keep the faith and moving forward. God literally did go before my face this week. Never give up, no matter what. This last Sunday was amazing. Beau, he got the priesthood a few weeks ago, he passed the sacrament about 2 weeks ago. Yesterday, he blessed it for the first time. Then after church... he baptized his twin brother. ahhh. that's all for today. no really. I'm crying and a hot mess right now. i love you all. sister mullen #1, the crier. no really. im dying right now haha

Sister Jasmine Mullen Hello! Oh my goodness. You sneaky sneaky parents. Haha thank you so much. they pulled out a cake and a card for me at the end of our dinner. Well the beginning because they couldn't wait but yeah haha. It was a wonderful surprise. Thank you so much for the pictures. This first week of the transfer has flown because mostly i have no idea what happened. But i'll update you the best i can. So Sister Tama and I were in Kawana Waters for 2 days with some other sisters and we were having too much fun so i think thats why they got our flat in order quickly haha so that we could leave. But yeah it was some hard yakka there. We went finding all day erry day. It was so fun being all together though. All the sisters in this zone are in 2 ways so we're always excited to see PEOPLE. But yeah we arrived here 3 days ago after a 6 hour drive. The elder THANKFULLY brought us food. Our flat is so cute! If you want to know what it looks like just open up your scriptures to the picture of Joseph Smith's house. Because its old and cute like that. Everything here is so little. Its like i live in old sacramento. I love it. Our ward has 3 youth from the same family and 4 primary children. The elders have been doing well though, they have had 3 baptisms in the past 2 weeks and "we have" one this friday. The people are so nice. We have been spoiled by our ward. They are ready to get us to work! :) which is great because i was scared of not knowing what to do with opening a new area! haha. Everyone is over the age of 60. We have 765 less actives in our area and 3 active members. So we definitely have a work on our hands but i'm so excited. Sister Tama is the best. I have never been so happy with a companion. I love all of my companions but she is just so loving. And everything she says is hilarious because its in a french accent. haha. It was so good to see you guys yesterday! My golden called me this morning to say happy birthday and she asked me if i cried haha. we were both so happy because we didn't cry. i'm really happy i got to talk to you though. it was just what i needed. I hope you get my card soon mommy. I love you lots and i know daddy made it a special day for you. Oh Brother Rosdedt started playing the video of everybody wants to be a santa haha. it was so funny. i was shocked when i heard it. such a blast from the past. I know that there is so much more but i just can't remember haha. I love you guys heaps. Thank you for making my birthday so special even from on the other side of the world. I love you. Sister Mullen

5 May 2014

Sister Rachel Mullen We are building a branch! For reals. Sometimes it is really overwhelming. But our district is awesome and stress relieving activities. Usually involves a trip to swensen's (ice cream). We have been looking at some places to move (church-wise). It just really is hard, even just the 2 hours of church that we have been doing. It is exhausting being that hot for so long just sitting. Praying we can move into a new place very very soon. Especially because we will now be officially starting 3 hours of church next Sunday!!! Yeah! Our RC James has moved to Chiang Mai. The night before he left he asked to talk to us in private. He pretty much just bore his testimony to us and I was a HOT mess. I'm so sad, but he is going to be SO amazing wherever he continues to grow. This last Sunday, Beau got to pass the sacrament for the first time. AHHH. I felt like a proud mother! haha. His twin brother also came to church for the first time. It was really good he got to see his brother serving in the priesthood. Amazingg Phlooy and Gammon were baptized Sunday! Sorry this email is so awful this week. haha. Next week will be better. I promise. Just loving everyday though, even though no Crazy events happened this week. Really really though. I LOVE being a missionary, so so so so so bad. Love, Sister Mullen #1

Sister Jasmine Mullen Well yes, i've been transferred. i was sooo sad. Sister tempany and sister lindha stayed in chermside. it was really hard saying goodbye to everyone. But its true! Miracles are happening everywhere. I always know when i am going to leave an area because i know that my companions will take care of it. I couldn't leave if i didn't feel at peace. But yeah. Maria bore her testimony on Sunday. She is solid as. I'm grateful for the opportunity i had to witness that miracle. It was hard saying goodbye to her. We had lots of fun, she sang for us and told stories. And oh my goodness her son martin is even more golden (if thats even possible) she said that his dad wrote on martin's facebook and said that he loves him more than anyone/anything. And martin was SO UPSET. he wrote back a long paragraph saying that it is not okay for him to say that because first is God then Jesus Christ then your mom THEN your children haha. it was funny as. But yeah. maria when i was hugging her goodbye in a very tender moment said " i will never forgive you." hahahaha KILLED IT. she was like "AI forget you! hahaha" don't worry i got her laugh on video so i can show you later. Man. Chermside will always be dear to my heart. Oh and to top off my last night. We were reading the Book of Mormon with Melissa and she's like super opinionated so when it comes to animal sacrifice she can't seem to move past it. So we read 1 Nephi Chapter 4 with her. And yeah hahaha. man it was a funny conversation. She was not okay with the fact that nephi just killed someone and i was trying to help her see how we can learn from it. So i told her, Nephi sacrificed so like verse 13 says a nation wouldn't dwindle in unbelief. And just like how she sacrificed not going to church on sunday so that she could support her family and be a good mom. So she took it as i was comparing her breaking the 4th commandment to murder haha. which i pretty much was but yeah it was funny. The guilty taketh the truth to be hard i guess. But she's great. I know that she will be baptized one day. COOOPER CAME TO CHURCH WITH US. Harriet didn't even come and he came! it was the best. It was hard to leave behind Darion and everyone in chermside but i know that i am needed somewhere else and i'm excited and ready for a new adventure. Sooo.. i'm now in Maryborough. Yeah don't ask me where it is because i have no idea. Sister Tama and I are opening up a new area. No one knows much about it. But yeah our flat isn't ready yet so we will be staying with some sisters more south until it is. We won't even be attending our ward haha. Yeah we're as far north as you can get without being the northern zone. Apparently its beautiful though. so i'm excited :) and they told us we live about an hour away from church and we're full time bike, so i'm not sure how thats gonna work out or if we'll be less active sisters haha. But life is great. Everything is going well. :) missions are an adventure and the greatest days are still ahead. Miracle may is amazing. :) thank you for everything i love you guys. your support means the world to me. love always sister mullen

28 April 2014

Sister Rachel Mullen Monday we found out who was being transferred. Stressful, the days before transfers. I'm always on edge. We had Family Home Evening. We created a Tree of Life experience for them. It. Was. A. Mess. Hahaha they just pulled on the string and COMPLETELY messed up the formation of the chairs. It was SO fun though. We are going to be doing a time capsule thing for the unit and so while we were having everyone write their testimonies for it, Elder Kelley gave me a "letter." Haha I always make it a SUPER big deal to district leaders that they have to come up with some creative way to tell us who is moving. On the outside of the envelope it said, the tribe has spoken. Haha he did good. It had all of our names on the inside. I freaked out because I thought we were all being whitewashed out. But on the back it said I was staying. In fact we were all staying except for him. Crazy. I know this area will miss him. He was one of the first here. Everyone was so sad. But at the same time, I think it's SO good for them. It really just feels like they are going to progress and grow in a way that wasn't possible if he was still here. Like, leaving the nest haha. Anyways, I get another 9 with the sweet sister ellis! Ok family. I LOVE this girl to death, but us both not leaving means we didn't get to go to transfers. And you know how much I love transfers. Oh man, I was supposed to do a musical number with Sister Jackson! We were making so many excuses, like Elder Suki would need help bringing all the stuff back, etc. Haha We were even thinking about packing our over night bag as an act of faith. Even on the very day of transfers, we didn't give up hope. You never know. President could call and be like, sister mullen. where are you? here I'm going to send you my private jet. Get to transfers now! That's my dream. "One of these days, God's going to give me a crazy miracle and I just need to be ready." expect the unexpected. i know im ridiculous. Anyways, miracle. We got a hold of Phlooy. A referral that we taught all the commandments to and she was perfect. Her phone had been crazy and not ringing. We thought it was her way of dropping us. But no. She's just as interested as ever. She came to church this last Sunday for the first time and she LOVED it. She'll be interviewed in a few days and baptized hopefully this Sunday! Gammon is crazy as ever, but came to church also. Such a desire, this guy. He fits in really well. Just need to help him with his understanding, haha. But we will prepare him to be interviewed this week also! Met with a woman who has a lot of challenges in her life. She is also missing a toe. She said some crazy things, one of which was that she wants to come back to America with us. She wants to die in a different country. I told her we don't help with that kind of stuff. Taught her Word of Wisdom because I remembered I saw cigarettes in her purse when I invited her. She smokes and drinks tea, coffee. She said she doesn't want it anymore. At first I thought she meant baptism, but she said smoking. She quit right there. She wasn't able to come to church on Sunday, but we will keep working with her to be baptized on the 11th. So, since Elder Kelley is gone, we got a new district leader. We thought it would be like an ex-AP (assistant to the president) or Zone Leader. We were going crazy. Who would it be. Then Elder Suki calls, FINALLY! We are just over here in Kamphaengphet, waiting for the news! He's all sweet and normal, oh how was your day sister mullen? wonderful wonderful. wish you were here so you could have done the musical number. you play piano really good. WHATEVER! he Finally tells us. Elder Delagarza. I was SO excited. We were greenies in Bangkapi together! I started my mission with him and I will end it with him. It is a Real change from our last district leader, but I can already tell all the things that I will learn from him. The Elders brought back triples!!! Triples!!! That means these have Doctrine and Covenants AND JOSEPH SMITH HISTORY! We taught James and Beau about the priesthood. We tell them we have a present for them... I go upstairs, I bring down a mini version of preach my gospel, and a hardback triple. We tell them what it is, and James' eyes looked like he was going to cry. I was Totally tearing up like the biggest baby in the whole entire world. Them holding those books was the greatest thing I've ever seen. Also, they were interviewed for the aaronic priesthood on Sunday. I am SO impressed by them both. God has PREPARED them for everything and they are so willing to serve. I gave another talk. We have to give a lot of talks as missionaries here. It stinks because we don't have AC. just 2 fans. but the fans just blow on the congregation. You know what that does to Sister Mullen, right? Yeah... Sweaty mess. But it went fine. We are planning on moving to 3 hours in a couple of weeks and are working on callings for Recent Converts... aka everyone. Forming a working branch from nothing is crazy and not really something any of us have been trained for, but our district, I think, communicates well and we will be praying a LOT this transfer. I will ask around more for the address of the church, I promise! Sister Mullen

Sister Jasmine Mullen Its beena great week out here again. I don't really remember honestly what happened and i don't have my handy dandy planner to help a sista out. buuuut I do know that it was great. I came across a lot of people who tested my patience and we dropped a lot of investigators but President knew just how to keep us from destroying our spirits. This month is Miracle May. We are praying morning and night for miracles. Every night we text in a miracle to our DL and our DL sends one to our ZLs and then they send one text from our zone to the APs and so its a really good way to RECOGNIZE the miracles. If we don't recognize anything that Heavenly Father is doing for us, He'll stop doing them! So i'm really excited to REPENT and get back to recognizing the Savior and my Father in Heaven everyday. Its important. A few members have been coming out with us a lot this past week. We are experiencing miracles. Our fellowship is getting better and more of the ward is realizing now that its their work. it makes it so much easier! I'm so excited to see what is to come this month. :) I'm so grateful for this experience. It has shown me how to be truly happy. I'm so tired. so so tired. but i've never been so happy to be tired and to have huge bags under my eyes. Having the light of Christ makes all that go away anyways :) i'm so thankful for you guys. i know that two words really seems like nothing but they are filled with a deep sense of gratitude. I love you. I'll probably be skyping on Monday not Sunday, so it'll be mother's day for you :) see you soon! sister mullen