Got to have Interviews with President Macketeer. I really didn't know
what to expect really. He was running short on time due to his
schedule so my interview seemed really short but that's okay because I
am so happy here. Not much to complain about....just kidding. He asked
the usual get to know you questions and then he asked me to near my
testimony. I was thrown off by that so I probably sounded so dumb as I
stumbled to know how to start and finish. We had a good conversation
and I was really glad I got to meet him a little bit more.
I and sister Wilson got in with Gracie. She had already cancelled on
us but because we were out tracting I didn't feel the text come in so
we went to her house and because we were there she let us stay. My
talent of not looking at our phone is working out to be a blessing. We
had a great lesson with Gracie as we were able to get to know her more
and help her see where she is at. She really has been through so much
but has a desire to get her whole family back to church. Her husband
is very inactive and her two young boys are not baptized yet. We
talked about goals and what baby steps she needed to take to reach her
goal. We all have goals we want to reach but if we take them head on
it is more likely that we won't finish or accomplish them because we
will get too stressed or burnt out. I have seen this apply to my life
in missionary work. Thinking about being the "perfect" missionary
seems nearly impossible...but if I focus on those little baby steps
like being obedient, saying my prayers, being patient with myself and
others ,ect I can become perfect in gods eyes and reach my goal. I
love goals because they push us to greater heights and help us
progress in this life.
Had the opportunity to teach our Book of Mormon class we have every
Tuesday night. We taught on the chapter in 1 nephi 18. I never
realized how much depth this chapter had as I dived into the reading
and the principles taught in this short chapter. It covers so much
time and different events in the journey to the promise land. One of
my favorite parts of this chapter is when lamen and Lemuel won't let
go of nephi therefore his whole family and everyone on the ship suffer
for their pride and stubborn choices. It is a strong testimony to me
that when we choose the wrong it not only effect us but those around
us. I have seen much of this sadness out on my mission. And it is hard
to see this pattern fall into place in many families I have taught out
here. I am also so grateful for the power of mercy through the
atonement allowing those wounds and bad mistakes to heal so when we
do go through what nephi and his family had to go through we can make
it out in the end with the lords help.
Had many opportunities to go Blackberry picking with sister Wilson in
our area. I cannot even begin to describe the joy on sister Wilson's
face when we find a hidden jackpot of blackberries. She is so funny as
she tries to stuff all of the blackberries either into her mouth or in
her bag. This week we made a blackberry caubler with the fresh
blackberries we picked. It was really good! Who knew! Sister Wilson
said if she was homeless she would just pick blackberries and eat them
all the time. It's fun to have an element such as this that does not
exist in Utah.
When we had our first and ever Genealogy class. Bishop and our ward
mission leader set this up to help get investigators and less active
more involved in genealogy work. We had one investigator who said he
was going to come but didn't. We had a less active come named Jean who
just loved that class. Our relief society president helped her find
her dad's side that she has been struggling with. She just lit up with
joy and hopefully this will help push her to get active again so she
can go to the temple again. She shared the sweetest story of when she
was sealed to her deceased husband in the temple. She said she could
feel his presence and the man that was standing in for him squeezed
her had. Later she asked why he had squeezed her had and he told he
hadn't. She knew then he was there accepting everything she was doing
for him.
Hassan to chance to go on Exchanges this week. I was with sister
Neilson in her area which is in my 1st area in Gresham stake. The
STL's out here are over Portland zone and Gresham zone. We had to
drive through Powell butte to get to her area and it was so much fun
to see my area again! Sister Neilson was my STL in Hazel Dell so I was
excited to be with her again. When we were there she was just hitting
her year mark and now she goes home this transfer and I am so happy
for her. It is crazy to think that the time has gone by so fast for
her!! She is an incredible missionary and I was so grateful and filled
with joy to have been able to learn more from her and have a blast
with her as well. We had a miracle story when we were out tracking.
Sister Neilson parked by a mail box and as we were walking back to the
car a lady came out of her garage and nicely asked us to not park
there anymore. Then before we could respond she asked us what we were
all about and we spent the next 20 minutes talking about the gospel
and how she is looking for a church for her and her family to go to.
It was really awesome talking to her and seeing the lord out some
thing that could have been negative into something positive and
spiritual.
When we made contact with an investigator named gary. He has a heart
condition and wants to get baptized. We were able to have a long talk
with him and we are praying for success there. He is very scattered
and has a lot on his plate. Then we saw a less active and her non
member family that we tried by last week. Amy has been a member her
whole life but drifted away and met her husband and lives a happy life
not living the gospel. She did however help her hair and stop all
those bad habits that would kill him so he is now living the word of
wisdom haha. They have three little dogs that both sister Wilson and I
were ready to punch by the end of the evening. We all enjoyed the time
we spent there but it is so sad just to see a lack of desire. It's
hard to teach these situations because when they don't have the string
desire the respect goes out the window. These experiences however
build my testimony in future cases so I don't drift away and get
causal in my conversion or complacent in my eternal progression.
CHRUCH attendance went through the roof. Tera came, the Jimenez family
came, and the olsens came. We had quite a few investigators and lots
of less actives that just showed up. It was a big blessing and a
joyous miracle. The gospel is true and I am so grateful for the
relationship I have with my family, savior and father in heaven.
I hope you all have a wonderful week!! Keep being awesome!!
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