Yay! Tuesday! I'm glad
that we get to e-mail today, because it makes me feel a little less guilty
about absolutely loving that nap I took instead.
So, last Monday I
cried in front of my companion for the first time. Actually, it was my first
time crying at all since I've been out. The weight of everything just came
crashing down. I have been struggling so much with making decisions and
teaching right and recognizing the Spirit and just feeling good enough. During
companion study I was just feeling useless and during the long silence after
Sister Ward had asked me what was wrong I lost it. It felt good though.
Definitely relieved the stress. But, I guess this whole time I hadn't been
really using Sister Ward to help me with my struggles. I guess I thought I
needed to tough it out. She held me when I cried and when I stopped she
comforted me and said things that I don't remember, but something clicked and I
have felt more confident this week than I have the whole time I've been out.
So, Brother Button
called us that day at 11:00 in
the morning and told us about his friend B and that he wanted to learn more
about the church. Brother Button told us that we were meeting with him that
night at 7:00. We didn't argue with
him. Partially because he's the county Sheriff. B came across someone who was
teaching about some Mormon stuff and because Brother Button is a member an they
work together he asked him about it. B. Button said that he would love to talk
about it and would invite some special friends to come teach him about our
beliefs. B very adamantly pointed out that he did not want to be converted, but
we were excited to come anyway.
Sister Ward had me
practice How to Begin Teaching about 50,000 times which was great because I'm
kind of good at it now. :) Then, we role played the Restoration using the
pamphlet about a hundred times. My confidence definitely boosted, but I was
nervous since this was my first time teaching the first lesson to someone who's
never heard the gospel before.
Brother Button was the
best thing we could have had there. B works at the jail and is hard as a rock
and is about as open as a sealed book. But, with Brother Button there he opened
up just a little and the Spirit was so there! We taught the entire Restoration
with the pamphlet and gave him a Book of Mormon. It was the best lesson I have
ever been in. Brian even wants us to come back so he can learn more.
Let me just tell you
that Brother Button is the best member missionary in the ward. He touches all
the people that he works with in some way, shape, or form. There's even this
one guy named R who may be interested. We love member missionaries. I don't
think people realize how much we need members to share the gospel. It is
essential. Knocking doors is not the best way to find those who are ready.
My confidence in
teaching is definitely boosted. I take part in the lessons more and I'm even
approaching total strangers by myself without blinking. Heavenly Father knew
what I needed that day. I'm not all the way there. but I'm growing.
Funny story time!
So, we tracted into
the last home at the end of the street into this cute woman, J, and her
daughter, C. She wanted us to pray with her whole family there and said for us
to come back. We came back at the appointed time, but no one answered.
As I was looking
through our former investigator teaching records I actually found them and was
really curious as to why they were dropped. The previous Sisters wrote:
We went back to pray
with them and we found a little note on the door explaining that she was
lesbian and wasn't ready to change at the moment Try back!
So, being the
persistent missionaries that we are and thinking that maybe it was a joke to
get us to go away we went back...and J's partner slammed the door in our face.
It was hilarious, but sad...but still funny.
Funny story number
two! We went to Walgreens yesterday to see if they had any instant printing for
pictures. Sister Ward needed to print some for her planner cover. We went in
and asked and the lady called the manager to help us. We stood around for a bit
and when she showed up we asked about it again. She gave us this puzzled look and
said, "She called me up to help you with that?" Confused, we watched
her walk down an isle. She beckoned to us and we followed. Then she showed us
where the instant pudding was. It was so hard to not laugh as she showed
us our options. Needless to say, we went to CVS for our pictures.
We haven't been able
to see the K family for three weeks now. V has stomach cancer and doesn't feel
well all the time. We really hope that he gets better. Kh (his wife) has really
been struggling through it all.
D has been slow and
steady. She's at the high point in her cycle,but is starting to hit the
downward slope. We had a great lesson with her on Sunday with N (she's leaving
on a mission in two years). It was great and the Spirit was there. Everything
that D needed to hear was said. She even voiced that it was exactly what she
needed. We commited her to pray about a baptism date. Then, yesterday she
called us before our lesson to tell us about her headache...she has those a
lot. It's weird how they happen only on days we want to meet with her for a
follow up. She still has the ache today, but we're hoping she takes some
Tylonol and a nap. Slow and steady. Patience, patience, patience.
The weather has gotten
a lot warmer! The sun has been shining all week and it might do the same this
week. It has brought a lot of people out of their homes and into the great
outdoors where we are. Haha!
We met this one
wonderful woman named M. She is awesome. She loved talking to us. We probably
stood there for a good 45 minutes. M talked all about her life. Her daughter
died in a car accident when she was 15 years old and her husband is completely
paralyzed from being hit by two semi-trucks. We talked to her about how the
message that we have has strengthened our families. I even shared about my
awesome brothers. Yeah, you. Josh and Sam. :) She was really intrigued, but was
too busy to set up a return appointment with us. She said to try her in the
Spring. Well...guess who's going to be here in the Spring? Also, she had a
beautiful Great Dane. I loved him. I want one someday, maybe.
Yesterday was the best
member dinner appointment I've ever been to. The F family is young and cute. I
played 'Cars' with their youngest son, Da. He is adorable. H is the next Taylor
Swift and D knows girls have cooties. Except for mom. When it was time to eat
thy realized that the food was completely burned. So, Brother F started the car
so he could go get pizza. The car didn't start. So, we drove into the garage
and jump started it. We played basketball with the kids until he came back with
the pizza. Da insisted that we sit on either side of him.
He turned to me in the
middle of the meal and said, "Do you have a baby?"
"Nope."
"Oh," and
then he turned to Sister Ward. "Are you a Mommy?"
"No, I'm a
missionary."
"Oh..."
"Plus, I need a
Daddy to be a Mommy."
Da quickly turns to
face her, "Why?"
I almost choked on my
pizza and died.
Elder Geary left to
Indian trails and our District Leader, Elder Wallace, got promoted to Zone
Leader somewhere else. Elder Seal went home. I survived my first Transfer! Woo!
Our new District leader is Elder Russel.
Anyways, that's my
week!
Love,
Raye
Pictures:
1- My first District!
Left to right: Elder Seal, Elder Geary, Elder Jacobson, Elder Hardy, Elder
Black, Elder Wallace, Hermana Jensen, Hermana Wilkinsen, Sister Ward, and me.
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