Monday, June 5, 2017

Miracles where you Least Expect them! -- March 6, 2017

Hello everyone! Well, another week has gone by, so let me see if I can fill you in on some of the things that have been happening here in the mission field for me!

Monday we had PDay. And it was a super productive one! We went to a mall and got a few things there. I even got a haircut! It doesn't look any different, just a lot healthier, so that's good! It's the first one I've had on my mission, so I decided it was about time...then we went to the library cause I needed to print some things and then we went to a charity shop and got some new skirts and then we finally did our grocery shopping. Then we headed out to the chapel and when we got there, we found nobody there. Well the elders forgot about us...they forgot to tell us they were at the other chapel clear across town. So we decided to go back to the mall and eat and email there instead. Then Sister Tanielu got a crazy idea...to dye our hair. So we bought some hair dye and dyed each other’s hair. But neither of us look any different still. So I guess its better the dye was just so cheap it didn't work than so cheap it turned our hair bright orange... anyways, then we went to have a FHE with a less active. We talked about gratitude and committed her to keep a gratitude jar. Then we had pie and hot chocolate :) but the best part of Monday was that I found out one of the guys I'd been teaching in Louth finally decided to get baptized! And I got a picture from Sister Tautkus:)

Tuesday was good. We went on splits with the sister Training leaders and did street contacting for about three and a half hours...so that was fun. We found some great people (spoiler alert, all of them cancelled) and then we switched back and Sister Tanielu and I had a lesson with a recent convert about temples and Family History. She's planning on going on the Ward temple trip next weekend, so it was really good to clarify some doctrine for her and help prepare her a bit for that! Then we went to have a tea appointment with a member of the Bishopric and his family. Then they gave us a ride to our missionary coordination meeting which was also really good and we were able to have some great conversations and see how many miracles are truly happening in this area!

Wednesday went really quickly. I had a driving lesson in the morning and it went really well. He said he thinks I'm ready for the test and he'll just do one more lesson with me beforehand to help me feel as confident as he does in me! So that's good! Then we realized there's no free parking by our flat. So we had to drive to the chapel and park it there. Then we got lunch and decided to do companionship study at the Miller's (the senior couple in our Zone). Which was a HUGE miracle because we looked out the window and what did we see? A less active we've been trying to get a hold of for a few weeks. So I think we terrified the Millers and ran to get our shoes on and stop her on the street! Then we came back in and finished. The member for our first lesson showed up, but the investigator didn't. So we had a lesson with him instead and it was SO GOOD! He said we talked about some things that he'd been struggling with and yeah. It was good. Then our second lesson didn't show up. So we went to see Sister Ford and had a great lesson with her as well. She had a nonmember friend over, so we were able to talk to both of them! Then we got stuck in traffic on the bus. Which just means longer conversations with people next to you :) and we had a Relief Society Birthday Party as a Ward at the chapel. We had to leave a little early so we could be in by 9. But that's ok!

Thursday we had an early and long day. We woke up around 5:15 and went to the chapel where we caught a coach to the Huddersfield Chapel and had Zone Conference. So that was really good! We talked a lot about working with members and the importance of member missionary work. But my favorite part was we had a huge testimony meeting and I feel so many things I needed to hear where said in that. I copied some of my notes for your enjoyment :)
·         Live your mission in a way that the badge becomes in your heart when you have to take it off. Elder Mikkola
·         Our badges have nothing to do with the name at the top, but everything about the name at the bottom. Elder Mikkola
·         Missions are blessings disguised as trials. Sister Rigby
·         Study what you teach and live what you study. Elder Molunga
·         Cherish each day. It may change someone's eternity. Sister Wood
·         Missionary work is not complex. But that doesn't mean it's easy. Elder Liss
·         He loves all our future investigators as well and is preparing them to receive us and us to receive them. Sister Montgomery
·         He's not just there to save us from sin or to relieve us from guilt, but He is there to lift us when we can't lift ourselves. Elder Charman
·         Missions are about looking where we came from, where we are, and where we're going. When we see the change in ourselves, doubt and discouragement will disappear. Elder Boswell
·         Don't you dare say amen until the whole armour of God is on you. Elder Boswell
·         Do you remember the excitement you felt opening your mission call? What about now? Sister Peng 
So yeah, it was pretty good. I think I have a pretty great missionary team here :D
Then President and Sister Turvey spoke some more and it was just a great meeting!

After Zone Conference, we had a member pick us up from the chapel and we went to their friend's house for a lesson! Unfortunately, he thought we were over there for a debate...but that's ok. He was still really nice. The funny thing is, that a few months ago, I was on exchanges with Sister Blair and we knocked his street and the excuse he gave was his wife was sick and he needed to make lunch. I found out he doesn't have a wife...but he let us in this time for an hour and I know a seed was planted. Isn't it amazing what member missionary work can do? When a member approaches someone they know, they're more likely to respond favorably than when a missionary approaches them. Just something to think about!

Friday we had weekly planning all morning and then after lunch, we went to see another less active. We had a lesson about the Liahona and she taught me something quite profound. She said she believed the Sacrament was her personal Liahona because as she looks forward to taking it each week, she can be pointed in the right way of what to do and what to change! (She's only considered less active because she's in a hospital) I really liked that...well obviously because I included it in my letter...well anyways, then we did some more street contacting and a little knocking and our tea appointment fell through. So we went to a restaurant that the Millers suggested since a former works there. Well he recognized the badge and said he'd been thinking of going back to FHE with the Millers. So that was such a tender mercy! And on top of that, his friend gave us his number too and wants to meet up. And on top of THAT they gave us our meal basically for free. So win, win, win! The. We came home and ate and did companionship study!

Saturday was another day of finding. So we chose an area we wanted to go to and asked our district leader if he had any formers who lived in that area and he gave us four names. So we went by! We got to talk to all four of them. One told us to come back on Tuesday because she was just headed out, and two said they weren't interested, but the last one was so amazing! She let us in and we just spoke about God's love and bore our testimonies and all three of us were crying (girls, right?!?) and at the end, she said "I guess I should try praying, huh?" So we're seeing her again next week as well! Then we did a few hours of street contacting with no luck, but talked to some really great people anyways! And then came in for studies and tea!

Sunday we had a Stake Conference Broadcast and then went to try by some members.  So the Stake Conference Broadcast was an Area Broadcast with M. Russel Ballard presiding. They talked a lot about improving our spirituality in our areas, wards, and lives. Anyways, after the conference, we had lunch and then went to an area that has two members we were asked to visit. Neither were in, but we were able to talk to one of their husbands. Turns out he's not a member, but has been to church a few times and he invited us back for later in the week! Then we went to see another part member family in the area since we were there and she wound up giving us a ride to a lesson we had later with another recent convert. We talked to her about the Priesthood and what the role of Priesthood is in our lives and so that was a good lesson! Then we came in for tea and companionship study.

So my spiritual thought this week is from the Area Broadcast. Just something to think about!
The key to enduring to the end is resilience during trials and not cutting ourselves off from Christ and His teachings.

Love you all and hope it's another great week! I know we have a busy one planned :)


Sister Hope

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