Hello! I hope y'all have had a wonderful week and that you are enjoying the cooler weather (?) Hopefully it is cooling off. I hear it was similar to an oven this summer in the western states.
We had a crazy crazy week! Everything was backwards and upside down. We had district meeting on Monday due to the temple trip which was taking place on Wednesday for the elders. We did 2 hours of preparation day after district meeting (hence, the letter you received last week). District meeting was fantastic. We talked about how we can help investigators come to church and why it is so difficult for them to attend church. We read the sabbath day holy section in PMG and then talked about faith and collateral again. It was great! Members are so important in helping their friends come to church. One thing I've learned a lot recently is that being a disciple of Christ and helping those who are striving to receive the restored gospel doesn't end when they are baptized. We are still expected to love them and treat them the way we would our dearest friends. Sometimes we forget that.
We met with our little investigator, Daisy in the evening and taught her the plan of salvation. She absolutely looooved it! She kept telling us about how it just made so much sense and liked that with the three kingdoms, it does not just end with heaven or hell...the way most of the world views life after death, but that there is more.
We met with a darling older lady named Vyrettie afterwards. She joined the church several years ago, had a stroke, feels frustrated that she can't do anything on her own now and wouldn't accept our numerous offers to help in someway. Some people are so stubborn! Hopefully she'll soften her heart and allow the ward to help her.
We had the BEST training meeting EVER on Tuesday. It was specifically for trainers and their trainees. Elder Brewer gave an amazing lesson on teaching the restoration. He showed us that we are supposed to teach the message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not the message of the restoration of the priesthood or anything else. He used some scriptures from 2 Nephi 31:17-21 and explained that Nephi who was a prophet told us that this is the ONLY way we can return to live with God. It was a nice rebuke. :] We split up afterwards and the trainers went and had a discussion and the trainees had a discussion with the Bernhisels. Elder Brewer opened up the discussion and asked if we had any questions about training. The top two questions? "How do you help your investigator stay awake during personal study?" and "How do you help them overcome homesickness?" We all gave input. My favorite was when we were addressing homesickness. The elders were throwing comments out there like, "just tell them to suck it up" "tell them that we shouldn't talk about it and then it will get better." I suggested that they tell their companion that they knew they had a purpose in being here and that there wasn't a better place for them to be that here. The room went completely quiet. Then after some more silence Elder Brewer says, "Well, we wouldn't have figured that out our own."
Pres. Bernhisel gave a great lesson about how what "astonished" the people more than anything that Jesus Christ taught them. It was his doctrine! (Look up "astonished" in the topical guide)
We met with Reshell on Tuesday and she is doing really well. She cannot read very well so we are going to get the Book of Mormon on CD for her. We asked her how she has felt since she has been meeting with missionaries. She told us that she has noticed a big difference. She explained the peace that she felt now and that she didn't get angry and frustrated as easily. It was great to hear. I am so excited for her. She is such a sweet young lady.
We were temporarily displaced from the Clays this week. They had a wedding and had oodles of family coming into town so, we moved to the Baldwin Estate mansion and lived with a very sweet lady named Sis. Baldwin. Her house is HUGE! I felt like I was in Beauty and the Beast or something. We stayed there until last night and then we were able to return to the Clay residence. A giant rainstorm came through this week. It was like a flash flood. We were out walking around when it decided to dump buckets. Apparently there were toranado warnings. Good thing they were only warnings! :D
Friday we made our trip to the temple and had a great session. Sis.Harper took us and we had a grand time. I was able to receive some good personal revelation on how to prioritize everything. As of late, I feel like I've been drowning in everything there is to accomplish and all the expectations that members have for us and assignments they give us. I came away feeling very much relieved and renewed. It was fantastic! I was able to talk with Sis. Welch and the Bunker family (family with the giant dog that thinks it's a human) that we started teach is getting baptized next week! Woohoo!!! I love miracles...and the gospel that changes people's lives.
We had dinner at the church on Saturday. They were doing an Italian night. It was enjoyable. I think the bread wasn't cooked all the way though. It was kind of doughy. All of the youth looked hilarious with their fake mustaches. :{D
We met with the less active Gonzalez family. They wanted to talk about Mitt Romney. I did not. They thought that the church supported Mitt Romney and that we were giving him donations, etc. At least we were able to clear that up. :] They are such a sweet family though. They really want to get back on track with things and align their will with God's.
Sunday was the primary program for the R2 and R3 wards. It was half spanish and half english. Completely hilarious. I think my favorite was when a couple of the older girls got up to sing "i'm trying to be like Jesus." They go up to the microphone and one of them whispers (really loudly) "wow. this is really scary." Then as they were singing, one of the girls kept singing really high and then she would sing a nice tenor part. I was crying by the end from trying to suppress laughter. After church we got a phone call from Pres. Bernhisel and he informed us that Sis. Wilson would be coming to stay with us for a while. (Trio AGAIN). So, we are in a trio again...and I am with one of my former comps...again. It is great. I love Sis. Wilson so much. She is such a great person. She has a special spirit about her.
We packed our bags last night and moved back with the Clays. Hopefully we will be able to move into our area someday...in the near future and not have to be house-hoppers anymore. :)
It was a good week overall.
I hope y'all have a wonderful upcoming week! Enjoy the fall colors. Don't forget to prepare for General Conference coming up in a few weeks! (read Mosiah 2:5-9)
The Church is true. Try it and test it for yourself. Do it frequently and I know you will be blessed and feel your testimony strengthen.
I love you all so much!
Loves!
Sister J
No comments:
Post a Comment