That is one of the most common phrases around here right now. Wreathes, signs, decorations....it's everywhere and I love it! So happy fall ya'll! Sorry this email didn't come yesterday because I forgot that yesterday we had interviews with president so our p-day got pushed to today. Next week it will be on Monday though! And speaking of transfers, during interviews yesterday President told all four of us in Florence that we will be staying another transfer!!!!!!! WAHOO!!!! We were all hoping so much and even praying (well I actually couldn't bring myself to say it in a prayer, but I really wanted too!) and so when President told us that we were all SOOO happy!!! Of course transfers is still 2 weeks away, and it is possible that the Lord will direct President to send some of us another way, but it's basically 95% sure that we will all be staying in the Florence ward!
I really have enjoyed and even loved my time here. On Sunday I was looking back over what has happened and the progress that has been made in this area. In Sacrament meeting we had 12 people who were either investigators, less actives, or recent converts. That was amazing.....absolutely amazing. We have gone from 2 missionaries to 6 (Sister Meek and I being numbers 3 & 4). We have had 4 baptisms. I know that success can't be found in numbers alone. But each soul that comes unto Christ is a victory to me. In that sense numbers do matter, because the people they are referring to matter. My joy was so full on Sunday to see with physical and spiritual eyes the growth that has happened in this ward. I feel so blessed to have been able to be apart of it and to be able to stay another 6 weeks (8 from today) to see it grow more. I love the people here. It will be hard to leave when the time comes, but I do feel that I could do it because I feel that I will have left this ward and these people better than I found them. There have definitely been hard days, but looking back I was able to see all the good and that was all that stuck out. My joy was full :)
So to give you an update on everything else that happened this week, I'll start by saying how excited I am that our good friend [and neighbor investigator] is praying about a baptism date! I don't remember how much I have said about him, but he is amazing. He has a personality that he won't go into anything half-heartedly. Once he makes a choice he goes in all the way and sticks with it. So he has done tons of research and we've talked about a lot of things with him and he's decided he feels that this is right - that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. He has stopped smoking and drinking and is planning on separating with his girlfriend to obey the law of chastity (and he has 2 kids). . . . He's talked about marrying a Mormon woman and wants to put copies of the Book of Mormon in all of the churches that our church has donated Bibles to. And he's chosen to do all of this even with his father being a baptist preacher, having a friend who likes to bible-bash Mormons, and so many friends who still drink and smoke. I'm telling you, he is all in. I have so much respect for him and brotherly love. It has been miraculous to watch the Lord work in his life and to see [this man] let Him in. I'm so excited for him and even more excited because the odds are very high that all four of us sisters who have been apart of this journey with [him], will be here when he decides to follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ by being baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God.
This week we (Sister Walker and I) also had a really good lesson with a less-active family (who we also love). This family is awesome too! We talked with them about the plan of salvation and ended up teaching them some things they didn't know. It was so fun and made me so happy to see light bulbs go off as things clicked in their heads. Like the reason why we do baptisms for the dead! I love it when you see someone get it! It makes me so happy! :) Before we taught the lesson we made cookies with them. Then after the lesson we tied it into our cookies. We talked about what it takes to make a cookie - a perfect cookie. You have to put in all of the right ingredients, you can't leave any of them out, and you have to follow the directions. Similarly, in order to get into the highest glory of heaven, you have to do all of the things that the Lord has asked us to do, and you have to follow his directions. Then we ate our cookies with them. Mmmm, yes we did enjoy our "celestial cookies". :)
We were also able to go teach a lesson to one of [our recent convert's] friends at the hospital. [This woman] has her newborn in the hospital for many complications. She is super humble and sweet and is searching to learn more about Jesus Christ because of it. We have given her a Book of Mormon and she is starting to read it. Teaching at the hospital was very different, but also felt so right...like these are people who could definitely use the comfort of the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives. I wanted to talk to all of the people there, but of course I didn't. It was a neat experience though, and we are excited to be teaching [this woman]!
We also had some car fun this week haha. :) So a couple of weeks ago our car was in the shop for a week solid because of transmission problems. I guess it kept slipping because I would be driving and press on the gas pedal to accelerate and all of a sudden the gas pedal would fall to the floor and not do anything....not such a fun experience haha :) So last week we were driving it and it happened again - after being in the shop for a week. I was not happy. I did not want to have to do another week without the car. It is super hard when the border of the area you're working is about 4 miles aways, or a 20-30 minute bike ride, depending on traffic. So when we talked with our vehicle coordinator, we were able to convince him to let us keep going unless it happened again. So Wednesday we were driving back from district meeting in Clinton (about 25 minutes away) and I took a wrong exit on the interstate (these interstates and highways out here are a lot more complicated than just I-15 in Utah). As we were going on the curve-around on-ramp to get back on, the gas-pedal gave out. Yup, on the on-ramp. Super fun! So I pulled over to the side as much as I could, but there isn't a whole lot of room on an on-ramp. We all held our breath as a semi came up and tried to go around us. He made it by. I tried to stop the car, turn it off, turn it back on, and go again, but it gave out again. We were right in the middle of the on-ramp. We ended up sitting there for about 15 minutes. Many cars and semis passed us - including an ambulance and a highway patrol. We had called the elders (who were with a member going back from district meeting) and our vehicle coordinator. But ultimately we sat there. I was nervous to try to start the car again because it was more dangerous if it gave out further up the on-ramp. After we got off the phone we prayed and I started up the car again. Then all of a sudden a pick-up truck stops in front of us and backs up to us. Two guys hop out and ask what's wrong. They take a look and rev the engine and finally decide to have me try and they will follow to make sure we'll alright. Well we get going and end up making it all the way home! The story doesn't end though. The guys also follow us all the way home and guess what?? When I first saw the driver I thought I recognized him. When we got out of our car at our apartment to thank him he looked at my name tag and asked what my name was. I told him he looked familiar and he said, I think I was supposed to meet with you one time and then didn't. Then I asked if his name was ______. He got a smile on his face and nodded his head. This was a guy we had tracted into 2 months ago! I couldn't believe it! The odds of that whole thing happening were unreal. Playing back the list of events that led up to that moment, there was no question in my mind that the Lord wanted us to talk to him that day. He lives in the other sisters area, so we'll see how that goes! But it was a really neat experience and incredible to see how the Lord can and does work in mysterious ways. And as an fyi, we took the car into the shop the next morning and they fixed it in one day...at least we hope :) It's running well right now and we hope and pray it continues to. However, I have no fear of it going out again, because I believe all things happen for a reason and it will all be according to the Lord's will.
Well it's about time to go, but I love you all and am so thankful for the support, prayers, and letters/emails that come from all of you! They really do help! Keep the faith and remember who you are! Be not weary in well-doing, and may THE force be with ya'll!
No comments:
Post a Comment