Happy Birthday Sister Mecham!

Jody is now serving in Southfield Michigan

Her new address is:

26580 Berg Rd. #1411

Southfield, MI 48033 

Sister Mecham in Ann Arbor

Hi Family my new address is 2220 Glencoe Hills #12 Ann Arbor, MI 48108 and if you could send me a letter asap so I can get a library card and I won't have to pay $2 dollars every time I email that would be fantastic! My whole area is just the U of M campus. I will be contacting and teaching college kids all day. I'm extremely nervous but mostly excited. And odds are I will be here until at least June. This transfer is only 5 weeks and I will be training here next transfer. Kinda crazy! My new companion is Sister Evans and she's from Australia.She's great! I'm hoping her accent will rub off on me :) And bonus I get to drive!!! Love you all!

Love Sister Mecham

Letter from Sister Mecham

Hi Family,

Can you believe I hit my 6 month mark on Friday? I will be home this time next year. It's kind of hard to believe. It's week 6 and I'm pretty sure I'm getting transferred. We just found out that we are getting 13 sisters in between the next two transfers! We are getting 3 next week and 10 the following transfer. And we only have 11 sisters out. So, that means that next transfer every sister will train including me. SCARY! And some of them will train 2 at the same time. Sister Bishop only has 2 transfers left- so that means that she is going to be training at least 1 next week. So crazy! Everyone is really excited though!

Highlights of the week:

-Monday night we went on exchanges. I went with Sister Hoopes to Hill street. And Mom to answer your question- I LOVED Ann Arbor! If our speculations are correct I think that will be my next area. Contacting on U of M campus was probably one of the scariest things, but I thrived on it. I really feel like I can do a lot of good there. As everyone knows I love the college scene and I felt like I was back in my element. We taught quite a few students and I was really able to relate to them. It's amazing to me how the Lord works because there was one lesson in particular that I knew I needed to be there for. I won't go in to details but we'll just say my educational background and insight was definitely helpful. This girl was really able to open up to me and Sister Hoopes. And Sister Hoopes had gone through a similar situation and was really able to bear testimony that we truly can get through anything through the atonement of Jesus Christ. It was such an incredible lesson. So yes I love Ann Arbor!

-Wednesday was extremely hectic. We ran from one appointment to another. Sister Bishop and I were beyond exhausted by the end of the day.Which I am so grateful for, I love days like that. We had district meeting, taught David, Sheree, Dave, and Vanessa. And we were supposed to teach Jarrett as well but we ran out of time. Teaching is the best part of being a missionary. I truly love seeing how the Gospel of Jesus Christ can bless others as they start to accept it. Dave doesn't have a belief in God and it made me reflect on my life and see how completely different my life would be if I didn't know I have a loving Heavenly Father who is there for me always. It's pretty hard to imagine. But that's exactly why we are here- to give hope to a world that so desperately needs the gospel.
-Thursday, Friday, and Saturday flew by in a blur. We met with Ed & Bobbie Saturday night and Bobbie was having a really rough night. She barely knew who we were. It was so hard to see her like that. I love them both so much! And Ed admitted to us that he watches the BYU channel all of the time. He DVRs everything on there. I was so happy! If we can't get them to church because of Bobbie's health problems at least he can watch it.

-And finally yesterday- we had Ward Conference so all of the stake leaders were there. I love President Medley. He has the driest sense of humor but it's so great! Everyone just laughs the whole time. And Bishop Ostraff talked about the sacrament and making it more meaningful in our lives. That was kind of a call to repentance for me. Sometimes, I'm more concerned about whether or not our investigators are having a spiritual experience at church; that I tend to forget about making sure I do as well. Because I need church just as much as the next person.

Yeah, that pretty much sums up my week! Today we are just going to get things done here in Northville. My zipper broke on my skirt so Sister Sessions is going to fix it for me. And then Sister Rollins is cutting our hair today. My hair is getting out of control, my bangs have a mind of their own so that will be nice. Well family, I love you all so much! Have a great week and Valentines Day! See you when I see you!

Love, Sister Mecham

2/4/2013

 

Highlights of my week:

While tracting we found a man named Pat. He was great! We stood on the doorstep and taught him for an hour in the pouring rain. And he kept not wanting us to leave because he had more questions but we had an appointment. So, I think we will try and see him again this week.

Nate & Vanessa made us dinner and we taught them about the importance of the Book of Mormon. As a mission we are reading the whole thing by Easter, so we committed them to do it with us. They agreed and seem to be excited about it. This will be a first time for Nate (seeing as he's not a member) and Vanessa has never made it past 2 Nephi. Yesterday at church they blessed their daughter Isla. Their home teacher blessed her but then they let Nate hold her up and show everyone. I think it was a neat experience for him. Nate & Vanessa both were all smiles yesterday. We wrote down the blessing for them and they were really appreciative. I love them so much!

We also met with the Harveys this week. They just moved here from Logan and have been our fellowshipper for Matt & Sarah. We asked them to continue to keep track of them and they told us that they talk almost every day. And I guess Matt really opened up to Brother Harvey about his family being against meeting with us. So sad! I truly believe it will all work out in time though. Speaking of families being against meeting with the missionaries :) We are starting to teach Dave this week! We just re-activated his dad, Ernie. And now we want to baptize Dave. I guess when Dave was 13 he met with the missionaries and on the day of his baptism his mom revoked permission. And then she proceeded to make him read anti every day for quite a while. But now he's 20 and living with Ernie. So yeah we're excited to start teaching him.

English class FINALLY starts tomorrow! We're so excited! It has been a long process but it's all starting to work out now. It's all the ward could talk about yesterday. We've had so many members offer assistance. And they're making cookies for it every week until the end of April. I love the Northville ward! They're so supportive of missionary work. Sadly, I won't be there for the first class because President has decided to do exchanges for all of the sisters tonight. But that's alright. I'm going to Ann Arbor and I will be on U of M campus contacting tomorrow. I think it will be good for me. I get so nervous talking to people on the street. Put them behind a door and I'm set though :) I definitely think I'll learn a lot, and I'm excited to help out at the institute tomorrow.

Love, Sister Mecham

Jan. 7, 2013

From Sister Jody Mecham 's letter today about a couple they have been working with, "I'm a little worried about them but I know that this isn't an easy step and it will take time. They are praying, reading, and going to church so when the time is right I know that it will happen. In the words of Elder Holland (well summarized words) "Why is missionary work so hard? If this is the true church why don't we have people lining up to the font? Because salvation is not a cheap experience." And it's not. There's opposition in all things and we all have to make sacrifices. Life isn't easy but it's a lot easier with the Lord." 

"Family, I have sensed that you have all been praying for me more frequently this week and for that I am truly grateful.  The mission is hard and discouraging at times, but I am learning so much.  Sometimes I think my mission is more for my own conversion.  My testimony has grown more than I could imagine. And I am grateful for a Father in Heaven that knows and loves us perfectly."

(The Michigan Detroit Mission is jumping from 90 to 123 missionaries in the next two transfers.)