Wow what a great week we have been blessed to have. Monday we had dinner and a lesson with our recent convert Amina, her son, a less active sister who lives with her and her two boys who we are trying to teach but their mother is kind of stopping their progress. We had a great lesson at a fantastic members house and the boys and their mother came. It was such a blessing. We had a great discussion on the plan of Salvation. Sister S and I made a giant board game almost of the plan of salvation and talked about each part. The members children asked really great questions, and so did the nonmember boys. It was a wonderful lesson!
Tuesday
we taught the Young Womens. It was wonderful. We had one group ask
questions that they get asked at school about what they believe, and
role play what they could say, and the other group role played a
training we got at zone conference about introducing the book of mormon
using the pictures in the front (Which is a great idea by the way. Ya'll
should try it!!) It was wonderful and we got a lot of good feedback. I
really really believe the Youth have the most prepared friends for the
gospel and we want to work with them.
Wednesday
we were out tracting and we met a great lady named Melanie and her
daughter. She let us RIGHT IN (I was shocked, that has only happened
maybe a handful of times. Ever.) She's in her 30's and her daughter is
about 13. They let us right in to share a message about Christ. They are
from Brazil (MIKE!) and they have moved a lot around the country and
haven't stayed in a place long enough to find a church. We had a
wonderful lesson, she was really interested in what we had to say. She
said she would read the Book of Mormon. We had a return appointment,
which she had to miss.. and she called and said her husband isn't really
a fan of her learning about this.. pray we'll be able to get into
contact with her again! That night we went back to meet the guy we were
afraid just wanted to bash with us ( we met them knocking on doors last
week) and his wife. It ended up being a wonderful lesson because we
brought the right members with us. The member we brought had the same
questions he had when he was investigating (alot about the Godhead, and
the Book of Mormon) and was able to answer his questions. It was
wonderful to have a member testify and I know that that is what makes
the difference in lessons!!!! Members are the fellow-shippers, and can
actually be a friend to be there when we are not. His wife was really
interested to and was really getting it and helped her husband
understand. She was quiet, but she was interested. We are going to see
them again on Wednesday
with the same member. Woot! We also met a less active lady who was
basically just too lazy to come to church. Ah. BUT we are studying
Charity in our Christlike attributes study as a mission this week so I
was able to exercise charity towards her :) She is wonderful, and wants
to come back. We'll help her.
Thursday
was interviews with President craven. He gave a great talk about
raising our vision. The train has left the station, the hastening is
happening and we need to be on board. More people than ever are ready
RIGHT NOW. He talked about how one of the presidents of the 70 came to
talk to him and said when they presented as a southern area to Elder
Perry about what their goals were for the south Elder Perry said they
didn't get it, and they needed to get on board with the hastening! Wow!
We need to really have a vision of how broad this hastening is. SO many
people are ready NOW. President shared a scripture from the Doctrine and
Covenants about how the LORD will soften people's hearts, and prepare
them. NOT US. So do we have Faith that the Lord can do that? Again, it's
nothing that we are doing, it's him. We need to have faith in his word
that HE is hastening His work. Not the missionaries or the members. Had a
quick interview with President because he was running behind, but he
asked me about school and made sure I was ready to go for fall and was
on top of class registration and housing and things like that. And I am.
He said he doesn't let anyone go home until they have a plan.
Friday
was Zone Meeting. A really great training from our Zone Leaders. Then
we had lunch with most of the zone. That's always fun. We had dinner and
a lesson with a great recent convert who was baptized right before I
got here. she's on fire. Love her. Tonight we were walking around
talking to people in little Downtown Waxhaw. It was somehow the 125th
anniversary of the town. So there was a celebration with cake and stuff.
It was fun. We talked to a guy dressed up as Andrew Jackson (he was
born here apparently) and he was telling us all about how he had been to
Salt Lake on a business trip. WE think he was just trying to not get us
to talk to people at the party though :)
Saturday
was a "car fast day" which means in the mission we don't use our cars
on Saturdays any more.. it was great though because the weather was
good. We talked to one lady and taught her on her porch, we have an
appointment to go back tonight, and we talked to a former investigator
we found in the area book who set an appointment for when his wife was
home. how great! And there was a way fun Ward Activity at night. It was a
games night, and pig roast. A few people brought nonmember friends or
family, and one of our recent converts brought her nonmember mom and
grandma to the activity, and then to church! WOW!! So great :) :) Hope
we can start teaching them soon, but they looked a little overwhelmed.
Might take some time.
Yesterday was Ward Conference, so all of the Stake
people were at our church. The Stake President gave a great talk. He
talked about how missionaries and members need to work together. He said
Elder Perry (who had a conference call with all 7 stake presidents in
our mission and president craven) said that the missionaries need to
teach people like YOU. ( our stake presidents who are all successful
business men) but the only people they can find on their own are the
really humble people. Who are a great asset to the church, but we need
leadership like you. The only way they can get into those homes are
through YOU and we need to work together. SO TRUE.
Decima (who was baptized a few weeks ago) came to
sacrament but her little boy hit his head on the car on the way in and
it was bleeding and she had to take him home. BUT we went with her home
teachers to see her after church. Her husband who is int he military,
works ALOT. He is home only a few weeks out of the whole year. But she
has been talking with him through this whole process (he was against it
at first) BUT she says he wants to learn, come to church, and is
considering it. WOW! What a miracle. She was so happy. She knows the
gospel has blessed her life so much. The Home Teachers offered to help
her with her yard with the Young Men. A Mom with 2 kids, home by her
self most of the time. She says she always does it by herself, and was
so amazed someone would want to help for free. I have such a strong
testimony of home and visiting teachers :) :)
I know the Gospel is true. I know that this is His work. Have a great week and share the gospel with someone!
Also our Christlike attribute we are studying this week is virtue. Study it and let me know what you learn!
Going up to the church now to play games, I'll email pictures from there :)
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