November 21 - Lumberton, North Carolina

Greetings from good ol' Lumberton! I hope you all had another great week!! We received transfer news this weekend.......drum roll........Sister Smith and I will be staying in Lumberton another transfer! I am actually really excited to be staying because we get to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas together!!! Also, the work we have been doing the last couple weeks has been incredible and it would have been really hard to leave some of our amazing investigators!! We also found out that they are taking the elders out of Lumberton. From now on it will be us and the Brown's. That also means that most likely we will be full time car......no more biking!!!!! It's truly a Christmas miracle!!! We are also apparently moving into the elders apartment which is new and really nice!

Well, this week has been really incredible!! We have been working so hard and have been seeing some really amazing miracles take place here in Lumberton!! In the last couple of weeks, Elder Brown referred us to a woman that they helped during the storm. Her name is Lisa and she is amazing!! She is the kindest and most loving person! We have been teaching her for about two weeks now and she is finding it all truly fascinating! Every time we meet with her, I feel the spirit so strongly! Saturday night we gave her a tour of  the church and she loved it. On Sunday, she came to Sacrament Meeting!! This week, we had 4 investigators at church!!! I have never had that many investigators come to church! Miracles are truly happening all over Lumberton!!

This week, I just wanted to bare my testimony with all of you. I am truly grateful for this time that I have to be serving the Lord. It has been the most amazing experience I have ever had in my life! My testimony has grown and I can say that I have truly become converted to the Lord! I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church once again restored to the earth. I know that this is the one true church and that Heavenly Father desires for all of His children to be worthy members of His church! I am so grateful for the many blessings that my Heavenly Father has given me! The greatest blessing He has given me was to be born into the gospel! Christ's church is not a part of me, it is who I am! I am so grateful for the principles, doctrines, and standards that have shaped me into the person I am today! I know that The Book of Mormon is the word of God! I truly know that it is the only book that can bring us closest to our Heavenly Father! I know that the Joseph Smith was truly a prophet and called to restore Christ's Church!! I know these things to be true with all of my heart!!!

I love you all so much!!! Thank you for all of your prayers and words of encouragement! I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!! I love you!!!

Love,
Sister Paynter

#1: Sister Smith and I

#2: We made Fajitas in honor of Sister Smith's family tradition of having enchiladas the Sunday before Thanksgiving....Fajitas were the closest thing we had to enchiladas

#3: We celebrated Sister Smith's Birthday today by getting 4 for $4 at Wendy's...they are her favorite

#4: Us, the Elders, and the Brown's at Family Home Evening with the Burmese People

November 14 - Lumberton

Hello Family and Friends!! It's so good to hear from all of you and see how things are going!! Sister Smith and I have been doing some really great work this week! We have definitely been continuing to see the fruits of our labors from the storm!!

Things here in Lumberton are continuing to improve.  The students here have been back in school now. They went back to school on Halloween. They basically had a month long fall break!! The service opportunities are starting to become slim. This weekend we showed up to help with Helping Hands, but there weren't as many people and not a lot of work orders left to do. Sunday, we finally went back to regular church!! We even had a couple of investigators come to church this week!! It has been quite a while since I was able to have an investigator come to church and yesterday was just wonderful. Also, we were able to set 7 baptismal dates this week!! I am truly grateful for this amazing work I am a part of.

This transfer, Sister Smith and I have really been working hard to have the spirit with us more. We've made changes in our day to day lives to be more obedient and align ourselves more with our Savior. One thing we have done is we have made a change to the music we listen to. We have made the decision to listen to music that is either a hymn, put out by the church, or simply that which invites the spirit. Before, we listened to music that talked about Christ but didn't necessarily invite the spirit the way music on your mission should...if that makes any sense at all? Anyways, we have been able to see and feel an abundance in the spirit we have had this transfer. For me, it has helped me to become more in tune with the spirit. I have been able to better understand and recognize the promptings that the spirit has given me. For example, one prompting that we felt came from this abundance in spirit was to always have baptism on our minds when teaching and finding. This week we acted on that prompting and do you know what?? We were able to set those 7 baptismal dates!! I truly have a testimony of constantly finding ways to become more obedient!! As we become more obedient, we are able to be more in tune with the spirit. I also have a testimony of the influence that music and other types of entertainment can have on our lives. I came on my mission to be one with the spirit and our Savior. In life, we are here to align ourselves with the spirit and our Savior. I truly believe that the music we listen to, the books we read, and the movies or TV shows we watch have a very strong impact on the spirit that we are able to have in our lives. For me, the times that I am happiest are when I feel the spirit the most and I know that it is and will be the same for all of you!!

I hope you all have a great week!! Keep me updated with life and so forth!! I love you all so much!!

Love,

Sister Paynter

November 7 - Lumberton, North Carolina

I hope everyone has had a good week this week!! This week for Sister Smith and I has been a really great one!! We have continued to provide service on the weekends and have met a lot of great people!! On Saturday, members of the Jacksonville and Garner ward came to Lumberton to help with work orders!! It was really great getting to see some of the members again!!

This week, we have really begun to see the fruits of our labors this week from all of our service opportunities! We stopped by a lot of the people that other work groups referred us to and they have all been more than willing to listen to our message of the restored gospel!! On Saturday, we helped a man clean out his house. While we were working, the lady who rents the house to him came and was so grateful for our service!! She ended up taking all of us to lunch to Cici's Pizza! At lunch, Elder Brown, our senior missionary here, invited her to come to church on Sunday and she came!! It was really neat!! She really seemed to enjoy sacrament meeting and said that it was very refreshing! We will hopefully get to go see her this week and begin teaching her the lessons!

In my studies this week, I finished The Book of Mormon for the second time on my mission. It has been such a rewarding experience on my mission to have an hour to study from the scriptures. Before my mission, I don't think I truly understood how rewarding it really was to prayerfully study the scriptures. If I could suggest one thing for all of you to do is to make more time to study!! The Book of Mormon is by far the best tool that Heavenly Father has given us today!! There is always such an incredible spirit to The Book of Mormon. Each time I read it, I can't help but lose myself in the stories and the teachings of the prophets. It truly is the word of God!! I know that as we take the time to study the scriptures, especially The Book of Mormon, a greater sense of peace and happiness will come into our lives. Things go smoother as we study The Book of Mormon!! I know with all of my heart that The Book of Mormon is true!! I testify to what Joseph Smith said, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” As I read The Book of Mormon every day, I can feel myself coming closer to my Heavenly Father!! 

I hope you all have a great week this week!! Thank you for all of your love and support!! My mission has been the best decision I ever made! I love you all!!

Love,

Sister Paynter

Lumberton, North Carolina- October 24

Hello!!

How has everyone been doing this week? I hope everyone had a good fall break!! We have been doing lots of service this week, but we have also been able to go out after dinner and do regular missionary work!

This week, we volunteered at a clothing donation place during the day. We would go in the morning and sort clothes that had been donated and then in the afternoon we would help the people that came to get clothes find what they need and make sure they didn't take more than what they were supposed to. Thursday, we helped unload two new trucks that the church sent with supplies. It was a lot of fun to work with the youth and a couple of the members during that time. This weekend, the church's representative for Helping Hands in the area was here and several of the surrounding wards came on Saturday and Sunday to help take down trees and clean out flooded houses. I've decided that I would rather help with trees than clean out the flooded houses because there is a lot of mold in the houses and it does not smell too good.

I've been thinking a lot this week about the many blessings that Heavenly Father has given us! It's been really sad to witness all of the suffering that these people here in Lumberton have had to endure the last couple of weeks. It has helped me to appreciate all that my Heavenly Father has given me!! He truly loves each of His children so much!! Even though life is bumpy and we all go through trials, we have to remember that these trials are expressions of our Heavenly Father's love for us because He knows that as we turn to Him during these trials then they will turn us into the men and women that He wants us to be. He is preparing us to inherit what He has!! I love the scripture Romans 8:16-17, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." I know that as we turn to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ during these hard times we will be able to become who our Heavenly Father wants us to be and that we will inherit His kingdom!!

I am so grateful for this time that I have to be serving my Heavenly Father!! I know this church is true!!!

I love you all so much!! Thank you for all of your prayers, love, and support! Have a great week!!

Love,

Sister Paynter

October 17 - Lumberton, North Carolina
 
Hello Family and Friends!!

Sorry about not writing a weekly email last week. Things have been pretty busy down here in Lumberton! Hurricane Matthew has been quite the adventure!! We have been able to help serve the community in so many ways. It has been such a neat experience to watch as the community and other communities come together to help each other. It is something that Lumberton has definitely needed.

This week we have done service every single day. In total, we cut down 18 trees that had fallen down into yards and onto houses. Elder Brown (senior missionary) has loved getting to use the chainsaw that the bishop bought for us to use. We were also able to go help put together bags of food to give out to people. Needless to say, we are very sunburned and tired!!

Something that has stood out to me this week has been the scripture Mosiah 2:17. I have loved the opportunity I have had to serve others on my mission, but this week this scripture took on a new meaning for me. As we have done so much good for these people that have lost so much, it has been such an amazing opportunity to watch as their eyes light up and feel the love of God. So many times we get caught up in the craziness that is life and forget to serve those around us. The greatest blessing we can receive from serving others is having our testimonies strengthened as we see the love of Christ light up in their eyes.

I hope you all continue to have a great week!! I love you all so much and am so grateful for all your love, support, and prayers!! Love you!!

Love,

Sister Paynter

 

I put a few more pictures of our crazy adventure this past week on the google drive, but here are some pictures of us and the.....Daughenbaugh's!!! They came down Saturday with lots of supplies from the members in Garner and Raleigh for several of the shelters. They stopped by our apartment that evening and brought us some supplies as well!! It was really great seeing them. Sister Daughenbaugh called us today and said that her sister is going to be bring us groceries and lunch!! I love her so much!! I love you all!!!

 

**I can't even begin to express my love and gratitude for these dear members of the church who are taking care of my dear missionary. It gives me great peace knowing that in the church we truly are family, despite the fact that we live on opposite sides of this country!

October 3 - Lumberton, North Carolina

I can't believe that it is the last week of my first transfer here in Lumberton!! Where is the time going? I also can't believe that Jordan is home now! Has it really already been 2 years?? WOW!! Time doesn't seem to slow down at all.

This week has been really great!! It was my second week on bike which actually wasn't as bad as I thought the second week of biking would be like. We've been able to get up with many of our investigators this week and set expectations with them. We have been able to determine who in our pool we feel will begin to progress and who we need to turn back over to the Lord for a time! This week, the Elders handed us over one of their investigators and she is really great!!! Her name is Katie and she is from Minnesota and yes she loves the Vikings!!! We talked for a good few minutes about the new stadium and other places in Minnesota! And, believe it or not, she lived in Brooklyn Park for a little bit!!!! She has been meeting with missionaries for a little over a year now. She was introduced to the church through her boyfriend who is also in our ward. They recently ended things for a time recently and that's why the Elders gave her to us. She is really amazing though! She really wants to know if this is what Heavenly Father wants for her. She still has lots of questions, but she is the prime example of an open mind, a sincere heart, and having real intent!! I really look forward to working with her!! We were also able to see our investigator Harold who is also a great example of having a true desire to find out if the church is true!! We talked a little bit about the Plan of Salvation and left him with the pamphlet to read. We also talked to him about General Conference and was very interested in watching it! We will have to see if he was able to watch it when we see him this week.

General Conference was fabulous this weekend!! This weekend was the first time that I actually brought a sincere question to be answered during conference and do you know what?? My question was answered!!! It was truly an amazing experience to seek personal revelation and see how Heavenly Father revealed it to me through His prophets and church leaders! I had many favorite talks from General Conference. I absolutely loved President Uchtdorf's talk about the Plan of Salvation. I think the talk that stood out the most to me was Elder Hales talk. My favorite part of his talk was when he said "Don't be afraid. Have faith to testify of what you know to be true....A you share your testimony of the gospel your faith will grow and your confidence will increase." As missionaries and with all members in general, there is a lot of fears that come into play when you want to share your testimony with others. Everyday, there are fears that flood into my mind and heart as I go out ready to share the gospel to the people of North Carolina, but as I open my mouth and share what I know is true my faith really does grow and my confidence increases. I am so grateful for the opportunity we have every six months to hear from our prophet, his apostles, and other church leaders!!

I absolutely love my mission!!! Everyday I am learning new things and coming closer to my Heavenly Father! It is one of the most amazing experiences I have ever been able to experience in my life! It's even greater than going to Disneyland!!  

I love all of you so much! Thank you for all of your love and support!! I miss you all so much!!

Love,

Sister Paynter

 

Here are some much anticipated pictures of me and my bike!! :)