Another
week has come and gone. I don't understand how that keeps happening. Time
passes in such an odd way, especially on a mission. But we had a great week!
This week I have felt the power of the message of the Restoration acutely as we
have had the opportunity to teach it.
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| small town Ann works in. |
One
lesson, with a family from PNG went particularly well. We have met with them
several times and invited them to be baptized but they said they didn't feel
like they could, they just enjoyed our visits. So this week we took the
Restoration DVD and watched it with them. The Spirit was so strong. They all
talked about the good feelings that they felt as they watched when Heavenly
Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith. We could tell that even the children
felt it. Although they have always been receptive, it's been the mum who's not
been so into it. But this time she talked about the power she felt from that
story. She even asked if she could say the closing prayer. I think she thanked
Heavenly Father three times for the blessing of having missionaries come over
and how much they look forward to it, but even better than that was that she
told God that she realized that she needs to search like Joseph Smith did and
find out if she's on the right path. She asked God to help her know what path
to take. It was so powerful!
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| parking problems... |
This week
I was studying the Restoration and because I've been on my mission for a bit
now it's easy to just glaze over the study of it. So I prayed and asked if He
would help me know a way I could help it be more meaningful. I felt prompted to
take each section and read it and then right down what it meant for me. How it
had changed MY life. It was so powerful. I felt like my testimony of the
restoration deepened I was able to bear a much more powerful testimony. God is
so good. He knew that was just what I needed.
We also
had a lesson with this AMAZING girl named S. She is what a lot of people would
call a "dry" Mormon. She has been coming to church for a month and a
bit now. She is a young woman who was invited by friends. She knows it all and
comments more in class than the active members sometimes J. She is golden. She just hasn't felt
ready to be baptized. We felt inspired to read Alma 7 with her and apply it to
her situation. As we did she told us how much she loved it and how it all made
so much more sense to her. While we were reading she said, "Wow! I love
these scriptures!" It was so good. God is so good to us. She is now
working towards a baptismal date!
There were
also a few points in the week where I was feeling a bit blah. It's freezing
here so we always have heat going in the car and nothing makes me drowsier than
that. So we were trying to think of ways we could help this and other things we
wanted to improve. So we thought we'd go out on the bikes. That was so
inspired! On Saturday we went out and were on the bikes for hours. We were able
to find investigators and talk to so many wonderful people. I felt great. There
is just a good feeling about biking. You feel like a real missionary. Although,
I'm glad we do have a car, as our area is a bit dodgy at night even in a car,
but during the day biking is the best!
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| Ann's current favorite healthy treat. |
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| favorite PB down under. |
I have
been able to tell a lot this week that Satan is really trying to get me down.
He doesn't want me to finish my time as a full-time missionary strongly. He
isn't a fan of the idea of me going home on a good note. I have felt him try to
tear me down so many times this week, but I'm so happy to say that I haven't
let him. I refuse to. There have been moments where I wanted to succumb, of
course, but it seems those are the moments when the Lord gives me a gentle
reminder of why I'm here.
I love
this work so much. I feel so blessed to be a part of it. I know I say
this every week, but my cup truly runneth over with love as I participate in
the work of salvation. It is the greatest work in the world. I am so thankful
that it's a life long pursuit and it will continue even after I finish my full
time service because I LOVE it!
I love you
all and I hope you make it a great week!
ps funny
story....
So we were
following up at a former's house and there is a huge gate. As we came up to it
I could just feel that there was a
dog... so we slowly open the gate and I very cautiously go inside well behind
Sister W... Then this MASSIVE dog jumps their back fence, which is very tall
and comes running at us.... I of course run and pull the huge gate closed and
I'm just holding onto it while the owner tries to pick up the dog to force him
inside. Then we try to talk to him about the Gospel and he starts showing us
all of his tattoos. He even showed us one on his stomach. I think we both
nearly threw up and we just tried to get out of there as fast as possible... It
was awful, but funny looking back on it. I have learned to be very cautious of
gates on my mission and I can't say my mission has helped me like dogs... not
at all... Just thought I'd share. :) Life is crazy in Kal! Love you!
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