Monday:
p-day was bitter sweet we had elder Martin and sister leudo going home. The joke I am sure with all missionaries is that they die. A lot of our zone is leaving as well so that was a bummer, but i am way excited for this new transfer. I cannot believe I am going into my third transfer. We had dinner at the hogan's tonight. We helped her set up and decorate her tree and we talked about her fun family traditions. I love hearing about all the traditions each family has.
She said we could spend all day at her house on Christmas which is so sweet and she said we could skype on her big computer with her good wifi as well. We did some service today and Heart attacked our three girl ward missionaries. We felt like they needed some extra love. They were all at Kim's house so that one had our hearts beating fast as we silently put them on her door and ran. The other two were easy because they weren't home. It felt good to let them know how much we appreciate them!!! We got a Christmas wreath for our door! No more Halloween decorations haha it smells like pine trees which remind me of home! The elders came and got our car miles and such and totally tricked us. They left our car open and I didn't even notice....I was so mad. They filled our whole car with balloons and streamers and crap as a goodbye party for us. Sister staker had a blast popping all of them with some scissors. We made quite a mess.
Tuesday:
Kassi read 1 nephi 1-10 in less than a week and just loved it. We talked about the chapters and had a great discussion on faith and prophets. We also talked a little bit about the temple, because we are going with her tomorrow after transfers!! We are so excited! We had a lesson with Sonide on faith and testimonies. She is such an awesome girl. We are working on finding her a home where we can teach her in.
The family we were thinking just had a baby. It has Raaaaaaaained so hard all week! It has been so much fun and so crazy. The drains will get clogged and so there will be huge ponds everywhere. Needless to say we were wet all week!! We have been handing out Christmas invites because our Christmas party in on Friday. We made contact with Yuki.
It had been forever but we were able to sit down for a second and really Invite the sprit in as we shared with her a scripture and prayed with her. She is hurting and needs some direction in life. She texted us afterwards which was huge and thanked us! Charnell and Jared are two new members in our ward who are less active. We went over and shared the new Christmas video and invited them to the Christmas party! Jan had a rough day so we bought us all ice cream and we talked and shared a spiritual message and talked some more. She is amazing and just needed a little extra boost!
Wednesday:
transfers were very interesting. I stayed in Portland and attempted to hear the transfer meeting over Skype. It sounded like the whole meeting was under water haha it was pretty funny. President Taylor talked a lot on faith. There were things that he said that was exactly what I needed to hear! After transfers we went to lunch with Kim and Joni and then we picked up Kassi to go to the temple. I will never forget this day! We listened to John bytheway on the way down the spirit just filled the car. Some of what he said was exactly what Kassi needed to hear. I was praying so hard that some of it would soak in. When we got to the temple we heard Christ's speech and as we listened the spirit just flooded the room. We talked with the sister missionaries there for a little bit and then they showed us the wall where they had all the apostles testimonies and last conference talks.
We had the, pick three testimonies to hear. The three that were picked were inspired by the spirit. Kassi started talking about what she had heard in the car and what she felt when she listened to the testimonies. The spirit was so overwhelming and sister staker and I knew we needed to invite her again to be baptized. After sister staker did the room got silent and Kassi put her face in her hands and started to cry. She had us all in tears because of the spirit that bore truth that God was ready for her to make that step towards him.
That sweet feeling never left me that day as we kept talking to Kassi and walked around the temple. I know she is ready and the spirit helped us teach her and testify to her that she is ready to enter the waters of baptism. On a side note I did see the crumps(: We had dinner after we got home and rushed over to Jim Davis's. We read from the Book of Mormon ad challenged him to start reading it every day. He is a little bit of a pill but he has a pure desire to read and learn more of what God wants from him. The rest of the night was spend seeing Less active families and inviting them to the Christmas party (sosas, rich, Yate's). We also shared the Christmas video and a spiritual message afterwards.
Thursday:
Call me Cinderella! Oh boy, we cleaned for joni. She does so much for us so it was the least we could do for her. if we ever need someone - which is often because we teach men too - she is usually able to come.
But she has been soooo sick recently. So we went over to clean. I don't think this place has been cleaned in the entirety of her living there!! And she has loads of cats - which is part of the reason of why she is sick! But it felt so good to clean her house. She told us it was the first time she had woken up not stuffed up....I was like well duh it's because we vacuumed and cleaned up 300 pounds of cat hair and dust!
We passed out more invitations to the dinner. We came in contact with Chris. He isn't doing so hot, he is losing his job, and he is still getting over his friend passing away. We still can't really get through to him - and he didn't come to the party. It's really so sad, but it's God's timeline not mine.
But later that evening we played 007. Sisters James Bond. ;) no we were at a house that we met this lady tracting and was super kind and interested but now she won't talk to us. So we knocked, and we knew she was home but she never came to the door. So as we were walking away someone was walking to the door so we asked him to give the invite this woman. As we got in our car and looked over and she is peering through the blinds at us. So we sat in our car, made some calls, caught up on some things and just watched to see if we were right and if she wa home. She never opened the door for her friend.
She just watched us through the blinds. I felt so bad for the poor guy. But it was exhilarating. You can tell I'm a missionary -- that sounds like the dumbest thing ever.
Friday
Jim! We took a different member this time and it was soooo much better!!! Joni, who we took, bore her testimony about how she reads the Book of Mormon everyday very first before she does anything else and will read for at least an hour sometimes up to 4 hours. With Jim we talked all about faith and testimony and then we asked what are you going to everyday to gain a testimony? And he said that he would read the Book of Mormon and hour a day! And he is the type of person that when he commits he does it. So cross your fingers that stays truth.
But it was so neat to have that member testimony there. I loved it!
Huda. Nothing. It's like pulling teeth, I was so sure a couple weeks ago and now I have no idea. It's just kinda difficult when that happens. But I will advice you -- don't play duck duck goose when a wolf is around. It hurts. A lot.
Christmas Dinner!! It was awesome! We had so many less active members there I didn't even know all of them! It was really fun. And lots if headway was made with each one of them. And so many members brought their friends. And you can tell it's not their time for a couple of them, but the fact they are getting to see the church is a good thing is awesome. It was so fun to meet everyone and see the Ward in a fun setting. The best though, the program was just pictures and then it traded off narration and the Ward singing the first verse of carols.
And at the very end we sand silent night. And next to me was a Jewish woman and that is her favorite song. And the spirit came in so strong while we were singing, I was doing a happy dance inside my brain! I know she felt something different, I just wonder when she will figure it out and want more. Her mom is a convert, that's why she was there.
But that's why we have those events and it rocked!
Saturday
We weekly planned all day!!! Oh boy! It was so productive though. I'm ready for this week!! We helped clean the Adams home for the last time. She sent me an email and told me we would stay in touch. That was so good. (Their house was molding. How do you live in a wet and humid area and still have your house stand?) We came home, and weekly planned more. Had lunch, made a HILARIOUS video. Our apartment only like 5 transfers ago was elders, so there are fists, dart holes, spray painted and carved initials every where, it suffice to me to say their mark has been left more than enough. So we may or may not have had a lot of fun making Santa beards..... :) :) when I found a hole load of shaving cream in my bathroom.
Sunday:
Was awesome! Lyle came to church and Steven (Huda's husband) and the kids came to Church. We set up an appointment with Steven and his wife and we are so excited to talk to them. Steve really wants to start coming to church again. He was glued to the speakers today and said he learned a lot. We was also able to talk to the bishop and I think that really helped!
❤️ Sister Richards
No comments:
Post a Comment