Hurricane?? I thought I was on holiday! - October 10, 2016

Hello family, 

To prevent anyone else from worrying about me I am doing just fine. I survived the hurricane! What a crazy week though!! It all started on Tuesday with the craziness. We were on a trade off and it was raining but we didn't think to much of it because it is Florida and it has the craziest weather ever. Well we go to see an investigator and they ask us about the hurricane and we are like, what hurricane?? Yeah, the joys of being a missionary and not knowing anything about the weather. So later that day the rain just kept getting worse and we finally get a text telling us there will be a giant mission wide conference call that night to discuss the hurricane. Well, of course we were not to worried about the hurricane because the last one was nothing. So finally on Wednesday we get a call telling us that because we live across the street from the St. John's River we will need to be evacuated. We were excited because they told us we would be going to live with Elder and Sister Cengiz! They are my favorite senior couple ever!! It was seriously like a weekend at grandma and grandpa's house but as a missionary! So we get there Wednesday night and they buy us pizza. They bought 4 pizza's and a order of wings for us. We ate that and with in 5 minutes they offer us more food. This is how the whole weekend went! Every five minutes Elder Cengiz would say, "Do you want a cup cake? What about some yogurt? Beef jerky? Chips?" Ok, you get the picture. Now, y'all know me and when I'm bored I could eat anything.. let's just say I ate it all. Every five minutes I was eating what ever Elder Cengiz offered me! Haha 

Thursday we went with the Cengiz to the mission office. That was real fun. Sister McGregor ended her mission that day and her mum and dad met us there and I got to say one last goodbye and meet her parents. They are already planning me to come stay with them in Australia! Thursday night we watched "Meet the Mormons" and placed bets on when the power would go out. I seriously forgot what it was like to just sit around and do nothing. I didn't like it. I was going crazy so finally on Thursday night we broke some rules and went out tracting in our parking lot. It was real windy but we took the umbrellas and went out. We actually met a man who was interested in learning more! His name is Vinny! 

Friday we were stuck inside all day because that was when the hurricane hit. My favorite part was when we got up at 6:30 and were exercising Sister Cengiz came out and said, "Good morning, Happy Hurricane!" It was nice staying with the senior couples because we knew exactly what was going on the whole time because they kept turning on the TV and watching the news.. yeah, basically I went apostate this week and wore sweats, took long naps, ate food all day, watched movies and then watched the news. 

Saturday morning we were watching the news when they show a clip of a place called San Marco that is just down the street from our apartment and it is completely flooded.. I think I almost cried! All I could say is that's where we live!! Our poor house is probably under water! Haha I'm happy to report that not too much damage was done. Just some trees fell down which left millions with out power. 

On Saturday we finally got the approval to go home. We went home and then went right out to do service! We cleaned yards from 12-8... I was exhausted! 

Sunday was probably the most interesting day. We got to church at 7:30 and the giant semi from the church was parked full of supplies so we unloaded it. Then at 9am we had a 30 minute Sacrament meeting combined with the Spanish branch, so it was in half English and half Spanish. After that we all started assembling wheelbarrows and then we went out to work again. We again did service from 10am- 8pm. We cleaned up a bunch of yards and it was awesome! We were able to help a bunch of non-members and members! I managed to walk away with a few bruises, a few slivers, and 1 bee sting. That was the worst part because my hand swelled up! Crazy stuff!! I'm dead tired and my body is so sore I can hardly move but, I have enjoyed every moment of serving my fellow brothers and sisters. 

Here are a few quotes that I found this week about service that I loved. "We are the Lord's hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift his children. He is dependent upon each of us." -President Thomas S. Monson

"When we reach out in love and service even in the smallest ways, hearts are changed and softened as others feel the love of the Lord." -Cheryl A. Esplin 

I know that both of these quotes are true. I have seen so many people's hearts softened just in the past few days and I can't wait to see the many miracles that await us here in the Florida Jacksonville Mission. I will just end with one scripture found in Matthew 7:25. It says, "And the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock." I know that the Lord was watching over all of us as Hurricane Matthew came blowing through but because we had a solid foundation and we heeded the warnings and followed the spirit I know we were truly protected. I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I hope y'all have a wonderful week!  I love and miss y'all so much! I can't wait to come home next month!!  7 more weeks! 

Love, 

Sister Webb