Sister in Seattle : Week 46: Body, Mind and Soul

Dear Friends and Family,

Hermanas Oliphant and Stoddard
Seattle Temple

The work as been a little slow and a little rough the past week or two. Lots of doors that wouldn't open, lots of doors that opened for a few seconds than closed rather abruptly. I have committed myself to be the nicest person that Jehovah's Witnesses and various salesmen have ever met when they come to my door one day. In my old area, I felt good when I put someone on date for baptism. Here, I am so grateful when someone smiles at us and lets us at least pray with him. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of kind people here, but not so many who are fond of our religion. The cool thing is that most of these people either know or are related to Mormons and they have talked to missionaries a handful of times. They are given many opportunities by our loving Heavenly Father to listen and to change.

Hermana Stoddard & Zorin

Our only really solid investigator, Carol, is going back to China this week so that's kind of a bummer, but she will be back to the United States within the year and she will get baptized! She cannot attend church in China because she is not a member yet.

Carol with Hermanas Oliphant and Stoddard

It's been hard to get in contact with our other investigators lately because there is a lot of illness going on and with the school year winding down everyone is extra busy. We just want to teach them before they all go away during summer break. Good news though is that we have been talking to more Hispanics lately. Granted all of them are workers and don't actually live in our area, but it's nice to get to use the language and let's just face it, I love Hispanics!

Mug shot with my Sweet Ride!

This week we went to our Stake Women's Conference. While I was there I saw some members of the Seahurst branch (my first area) and I almost fell over with excitement! I was so happy to see them! I am praying I will get sent back there someday. I would love that! Back to the Women's Conference....it was all about the connection between the mind and the body. It's so crazy how connected everything is and all of it affects us spiritually. They talked about how your mind is mostly non-cognitive. The cognitive part is the captain and controls the "crew" or the non-cognitive part. If the captain thinks a negative thought the crew believes him and will do everything it can to insure that it happens. That's why it's so important to control our thoughts to be happy. If the captain is happy, the crew will do everything it can to ensure that it's happy too.

They also talked about the essentials of taking care of our bodies: water, exercise, healthy diet, sleep. If we aren't doing these things then our minds aren't going to work properly. It also effects our spirits. But just like our bodies, our spirit has essential things it needs: scriptures, church (sacrament) and prayer. I always thought those things were symbolic, but they literally are the nourishment that our souls need. So, I resolved to take care of myself better both spiritually and physically for the rest of my life. Moral of the story: all of us need to take care of ourselves! Be kind to yourself!

Seattle Temple

Something fun we did this week was we went to the Discovery Center with Don. BYU has this ancestor generator website where you can sign on with familysearch.org and find famous ancestors. I found out that famous ancestors that I am most directly related to are Abraham Lincoln (through mom's side of the family) and King James II. Abraham Lincoln is a first cousin! Maybe that's where my little sister gets her height! I am also related to Elvis Presley and many of the U.S. presidents. It was super cool.

I am on page 208 of the Book of Mormon. Keep eating spiritual food family! Have a great week!

Con Mucho Amor,

Hermana Stoddard
These couldn't grow in Utah!