"I'd Like To Be Bath-tized This Week If I Can"

THE BAPTISM WAS MOVED FORWARD!! 

J is officially Brother M!! The church is true. On Monday we went over to visit J with Brother Wright. The President had given the ok for J to be baptized but there were a few things that we were worried about, so we sat down, and just asked him about it. He answered honestly, and we were all relieved that everything was still ok. So then we asked him. "Would you want to be baptized this week or next week? There are still some things we can teach you, but you know all you need to know to be baptized." He responded "I want to keep learning, I want to know everything there is to know about the Book of Mormon, and about Jesus, but I would like to be Bath-tized this week if I can?" Sister Allred and I exchanged looks, and then we looked at Brother Wright, and then we said, "Alright! I guess we are having a baptism this weekend!!"  and he had the biggest smile on his face. 

I want everyone to know that J has changed his life, and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to find him and to watch him choose Christ over his friends more times than I can count. He has truly become a disciple of Christ. 

Yesterday after he was confirmed he leaned over to us and said "I am a saint now!" 

He has really become such a different person and I am so excited to continue watching him grow in the church!

We saw so many miracles this week but I want to share one with you. 

On Wednesday,  everything fell through and we were so discouraged, but I looked at the board of names we have in our apartment, and I said "Let's go see her," and pointed to a less active member's name. 

We biked 15 minutes in the heat of the day and when we got there she was not happy. She preceded to tell us how she hates God and that he hates her. That she had lost her job, and her license to be a nurse, and said many MANY bad words along with it. We were speechless until she asked. "Why do you expect me to read and pray when God does nothing for me?" 

 Sister Allred shared her testimony. We were both able to calm her down, and express that when she shows faith in God he blesses us more than we could ever imagine. I challenged her to read and pray every day, and to come to church on Sunday, and then promised her that she would be blessed and that everything was going to work out. 

On Friday we were in the middle of having a waffle party after district meeting for our lunch time, and she walked in with the Relief Society president to pick up some extra food storage stuff that was left at the church for anyone who needed it. She walked in with the biggest smile on her face, and she said "It's working, I don't know how but it is working. I was able to pay for all my bills, for my rent, and for groceries. My children have food in the fridge, and they have Ice cream. I even had some left over.! It doesn't seem like a lot, but It is working!" 

Right then and there My testimony was strengthened. All the other missionaries were just in awe because we had told them what had happened on Wednesday. 

I finally feel like I have a strong relationship with Heavenly Father. Lately I have been praying a lot more than usual, and I have been blessed with the opportunity to see the answers to my prayers. The other day it was 105 outside, with a heat index of 112 and I was DYING! I was so done, and annoyed with the heat, and the hills, and the fact that all of our appointments had fallen through, and in a last ditch effort  I thought of a less active to see, who also was not home. We were on their doorstep and I was contemplating either walking into their house, or laying on the ground (nasty grass with bugs everywhere) and let the Chiggers eat me alive. But a thought in my head said "say a prayer" So I looked at Sister Allred and said, "I am going to pray." 

So on this porch in the middle of the city I bowed my head and offered a prayer to Heavenly Father asking him if we could have some way to cool off because I could not survive another hour in the heat. We said amen, and then got on our bikes and started riding.  I was trying to figure out where the Spirit was going to lead me (expecting a 'turn right then turn left then go to that house') but we kept riding towards our next appointment, and I saw this old man watering his grass and trees. I stopped because we are trying to not let anyone pass us (or us pass anyone) that we don't talk to. He did not say one word to us, he just started smiling and spraying us with his hose, and I was so annoyed. I was trying to talk to him, and then the Spirit whispered "you asked to be cooled off" and I couldn't help but laugh. That was true. I didn't specify how. My prayer was answered, and Heavenly Father did it in a way that I would not have expected. 

The church is true. If you keep the commandments you will be blessed. God sees all that you are doing, and if you ask to be able to see the blessings he will bless you! I promise. I love you all, the church is true. I hope you have a wonderful day:)

Keep reading, Keep praying, and keep doing what God asks, because in the end it will all be worth it!! 

Love you to the moon and back

Sister Webber

Me with all my companions so far. On the left Sister Rees, me, Sister Allred, and then Sister Washburn. It was so great and weird to have them all together. So grateful for them all. I was a different person with each of them. They are all so different yet I love them all so much. Missionary work is cool. 

Great day!

Add caption

Baptism day

And next we will be hearing from Sister Webber.....

I spoke in church. Y'all know how terrifying that is. And I did it. And did it well. I am actually becoming a missionary. President Mansell and his family was there too, which added like 10000000x more stress on me, but I can do hard things. 
After church, President met with Jack and gave us the go ahead!! WOWOWOW! It is official. Jack will be getting baptized. We will probably plan for the 30th so HBD to all those many people who have birthdays on July 30th  (From us to you:) But Jack is so excited, and he wanted to do it this week, but there are still things we need to go over so we can get everything in order before he gets baptized.

This week was a whirlwind. Got a new companion named Sister Allred. She is from Provo/Orem area, and we get along really well. I am really excited for this transfer. we have gone out tracting a lot, and have been able to find so many new people - it is exciting. 

I don't really have much to say this week, but I will make up for it next week I Promise!! I love you all and I am so grateful for your support. You are amazing and I Have been blessed with such amazing family and friends to surround me. You all inspire me to be the best missionary I can be. 

President Mansell challenged us to "Be the missionary your Mother thinks that you are." I really loved that. I want my family to be proud of me, so I am doing all I can to be that missionary, and to love the people here.
I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH

LOVES from your Oklahomie

Sister Webber

Sister Webber and Sister Allred

Another transfer in Poncadise

I am staying In Ponca CITY!!! but Sister Rees is going to OKC, to be a Sister Trainer Leader. I guess I am a pretty great companion, because Sister Washburn was also called as an STL right after she was with me. haha jokes I am blessed to have had them as my companions So lots of things have happened this week, but I want to stay on the spiritual side. I have had the biggest paradigm shift of my whole mission and I want to share it with you. We were in a lesson with an investigator and he asked how he could be a missionary. He said that if he could go around and talk about God all day he wouldn't do anything else. It really hit me, and we went home and I sat on the couch and stared at the wall and just thought. I thought about why I am out here, and why I didn't love being a missionary yet. I was almost frustrated with myself because I thought of how amazing my duty is right now. The next day we had District Meeting, which is just a missionary meeting we have every Friday morning, and Elder Dean lead the discussion. He talked about how to better receive revelation. We then went into the chapel and did Real Plays, and taught our companion as if they were an investigator and we taught them how to recognize the Holy Ghost. While I was teaching Sister Rees I was being chastised by the Spirit, and remembering all the things I had been doing wrong. I was always told by Dad, "If you ignore the spirit long enough, it'll go away" and it is so true. He is not going to waste your time or his time, if you aren't going to listen. I thought about how much I could have done before I came on my mission. I know how everyone says it is in the past, leave it in the past, but I truly believe if you don't learn from your mistakes, what is the point of the past? I was being shown what I want to do better when I get home. How I can be that better self that I want to be, and all I have to do is listen. I need to study, and learn, and listen. I thought of how much of my time was spent with my head in a screen, and with ear plugs in my ears. I was never listening to the right things. I was watching shows, and listening to music, but never to the Spirit. We all need to take more time in our lives to listen. Prayer can literally be a two way communication between God. Are your prayers like that? I know mine are not always like that because I am lazy and tired, and all the other lame excuses in the book. But if we talk with God, rather than at God, every prayer you say WILL be a spiritual experience. I know that this church is true. I wouldn't be in Oklahoma if it wasn't. I know that God is real, and that he knows each and every one of his children individually. I know that he loves me. It is amazing to me how the first commandment we are given is to love God and the first principle we teach is that God loves you. Elder Holland said it best in conference in April. "Heavenly Father loves YOU with all HIS heart, might, mind and strength." I know that is true, because I have felt that love. On amy mission I have lost all of my support systems, and all of the things I do to just get away from the world. But I have him. I can turn to him any time that I want and I know that he will be there. It is such an amazing promise that we have,  that when we call to Him.  He will never abandon us. I Know that this church is true. The scriptures are true, and that this is where I need to be right now. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY I can finally say it. It is amazing and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than Ponca City. I love you all with all my heart. I hope everyone is doing well!much loveSister Webber

President Walkenhorst, Sister Rees, me and Sister Walkenhorst

Enjoying some frozen yogurt

Just a selfie from Oklahoma

I had to clean out the vacuum because missionaries don't clean things
so pulled out a whole head of hair. #IwantedToThrowUp

Shopping Fun

Signing our names in the attic of the apartment

We climbed in the attic of our apt, and wrote our names with the other missionaries, also couldn't get back down, so Sister Rees (while laughing) took a picture of me. 

Also a picture of Sister Leathers because she is the best. 

Hi I'm Sister Webber and I like to Party

So first thing first. Southerners know how to do the Fourth. Gosh yesterday was so fun! We had a ward party and had Biscuits and Gravy and then we went to a farm and did yard work. Then we went to Ponca lake, because It was P-day and we played pickup volleyball, which I didn't even know was a thing. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! I am fried though. Seriously a tomato, but it is ok, because my farmer's tan is looking really good now. 

Now to the real missionary work.  Life in Ponca is slowing down again, but it's all good. We taught J the word of wisdom lesson this week. He was already trying to stop smoking, but we brought Brother Wright, and he gave a great lesson and challenge. He told J that it didn't matter if he had a vapor or not, he needed to quit. He also logically proved that vaping is in no way better than smoking. J was at a loss of words, but when we went back the next day he was still vaping, but he realized that every time he vaped, we paused what we were saying so he could finish. (VAPING IS SO DISTRACTING AND DISRUPTS THE SPIRIT!) Seriously smoke coming out of every opening on someone's face, is so distracting. He realized that and he asked us if we didn't want him to vape, and we explained that it was distracting, and took away from the lesson. He took it really well, and when we came back the next day he hadn't smoked all day, and when he came to church he left it at home.  It is so cool to see people sacrifice for the Lord. He wants this so bad. We haven't talked to him since Sunday, but hopefully he is still doing well.

Tell Noni Happy birthday from me. I think about her all the time. My district knows who she is because I talk about Noni Rose Epsie Emily Fun Parks Garner so much. Jokes I don't talk about her that much, but I do think about her all the time. I miss her so give her some loves from me.

I got on the Family tree website, because I am looking for someone to do family temple work for, and I saw that Papa had a picture, and OH MY GOSH He looks just like Karl. It is crazy! I didn't even make that connection until I saw that. 

Life is great. The members here are becoming my family. I love all of them so much. It wasn't until this week that they love me the same. It is really great how much love comes from sharing your testimony. 

I love missionary work, and I love you even more. 

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK!! I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK. 

-Sister Quincy LaRue Webber

fell asleep on the way home from zone conference, and the elders took pictures of me.. #rude

Our fourth of july friends, and our awkward district. Still trying to figure out how to take pictures without being awkward. Not succeeding. But trying.

More 4th of July fun

This is Gene. He is my favorite. and he was yelling "take the picture I can't hold this pose forever!! 

Baptism Dates upon Baptism Dates

HELLO FROM OKLAHOMA!

We have 4 Baptismal dates!!!!! It is amazing. The work here is picking up and it is the best! We are definitely seeing the fruit of our labors, which our labors have seemed like they are going 100,000 mph since I got here.  So our investigator J who is 27 has a baptismal date for July 23. T and T (20y/o twins) have a baptismal date for July 30th and C for Aug 6th! We are so excited for their progress, and man does it feel good to actually be able to tell the Ward that we have people coming to church, and we have baptismal dates. 

This week has been a rollercoaster. It is amazing. Lots of ups and downs. We met with C for the first time on Thursday and had a great discussion. We did,  "How To Begin Teaching", and set expectations, and Sister Rees said at the beginning of the lesson "don't be surprised when we ask you to be baptized at the end of this lesson" Something neither of us planned to say, or have ever said. He listened to every word that came out of our mouth (like it was the gospel or something.) It was really cool to see. He had some concerns about baptism, but we cleared those right up and we were able to set a baptism date. 

J we met through a less active member, he was doing her yard when we came by. She made him stop, had him sit down, turned on the Restoration video, and everyone was silent. We taught the restoration, and his friend bore her testimony. The spirit was so strong and he said "I want to be baptized. We didnt know what to do with ourselves. It was amazing. We have met with him a few times since, he is going through a lot. His cousin was just diagnosed with Lukemia, and he said she may not make it to the end of the year. . so Keep in him your prayers

T and T are twins and they are the cutest. They push each other to keep the commitments we set, and they both came to church on sunday! T is due to have her baby on the 23rd so we may have to push her baptismal date a week back but I am so excited for them!!

I am so excited for the work that is going on here in Ponca city! Our ward did a fast for mIssionary work, and we have really seen the blessings from that. Our district has 13 baptismal dates as of yesterday, and two weeks ago we had 0. It is really amazing how when you have the faith to drop those who aren't progressing that the Lord puts those who are ready to hear the word in your path. 

I love you all and miss you all 

Have such an amazing week!!

-Your Oklahomie

Sister Webber

Sister Rees, Sister Webber and the Elders in her zone

Being silly - so unlike her

Silly Sister Webber

Getting over her fear of teaching others