Hi everyone! So since they changed our Zone Conference from Wednesday to Tuesday (tomorrow) we ended up not switching our P-day, but we will have it changed next week so that we can go to the temple. :)
This week was really good, despite the normal hard missionary moments that always occur! This past Monday night, we shared the Christmas Initiative with the one less active family, and that somehow ended up leading into a conversation of promptings of the spirit. They shared a few experiences when they both had been saved by following promptings. Pretty soon, their teenage daughter who we know pretty well (she's not a member, and a bit of a rebel. She's always friendly enough to us, though!) ended up joining us, and shared a near death experience that took place just a few days ago. She and her boyfriend had slid off the road and ran into a fence. She felt very strongly that God had a part to play in protecting them, and told us that she felt closer to God than she had in a long time. I felt so strongly that I should right there formally invite her to draw close to Him again, and we offered the discussions to her. She really opened up and said that she felt that was something she was ready for, and she right there pulled out her phone to plan a time that worked with her and her mom's schedule. It was just so powerful to me, because I've known her every since I first came into the area. It just added another testimony to me that Heavenly Father really is preparing the hearts of His beloved children! I know I say that like every week, but it's so true!
We also had the opportunity to pop in on a few ward parties, which was really neat because we had both less actives that we are working with and potential investigators that showed up! The greatest part about though, was seeing the ward reach out to them. I'm seriously so grateful for the wonderful members who help us in the work! As we attended one of the wards in sacrament meeting, one Sister who we know came up to us and told us that this one young non-member family went to their ward's Christmas party (unfortunately, we had an appointment and didn't make it to that ward's party) and the wife even mentioned that they would like to go to sacrament meeting! We are working with our Ward Mission Leader in that ward, and we both feel that they would be willing to meet with us through an invitation from the members they are friends with. We are very excited to see what might come from it!
We are still teaching our 12-year-old investigator, who just loves church and has been going for a solid month now! He's grandparents still want him to show that he's really dedicated, so they want to hold off him getting baptized for a little bit longer, but we know that he's on the right path. Another really neat experience was during another lesson with the Brother who we've been working with, and again he read another six chapters from the Book of Mormon (and we only committed him to two chapters last time!) The spirit was so strong while we were keeping the lesson focused on faith in Christ, and we all of the sudden felt prompted to bring up his tobacco, which he always used to jokingly offer to us in the past. He admitted that he would like to get off of it, and he knows he needs to do that to get active in the church, but that he's been chewing tobacco for almost fifty years. We talked about Lord can and will give him strength, and he said that he would think about asking for a blessing to help him. He kind of laughed as he mentioned how funny it would be when he would ask this one friend (who is an amazing member and helps us in the work!) for a blessing, and how he's been trying to get him to go to church for years, and then the Sisters show up! He very seriously though asked his wife though if she would like him to take her to the temple, and we know that he really is thinking about making some changes. He's coming a long way.
We also had exchanges this week, and I was with Sister Naitoko (from Tonga) in our area for a day! I learned a lot and we had a great time. I also just adore Sister Camarena! We teach really well together and are just getting closer each day. It's been neat watching her slowly start to love the people who I've been working closely for awhile now. I can't imagine what it will be like when I'll eventually have to leave.
As a mission, we have a Book of Mormon reading daily chart, and we have now started over to the beginning. In 1 Nephi 4:6-18 it tells of Nephi and his experience of following the Holy Ghost. I think we forget (or, at least I do!) that the spirit often speaks to us through our thoughts in our hearts and impressions in our mind. He will also bring things to our remembrance (just like in verse 14). We need to just follow the guidance and trust in Him. :)
Also, one less active who we are working with was talking to us about how she doesn't understand why God would ever command His people to build a beautiful temple when those funds could be spent on helping the poor and needy. During personal study, I came across D&c 124, where in verse 21 The Lord calls on his servant to care for the poor, and then just a few verses later He gives the commandment of building a temple. It helped her understand that Heavenly Father is mindful of His Children's needs. It also helped her to see that Heavenly Father has always commanded His Children to build temples (D&C 124:38, and then Solomon's temple).
I just want to leave you all with my testimony that Jesus is the Christ. I can't tell you how amazing it is to share that with others each day! I really have felt like I've changed so much already on my mission in ways that I didn't expect. I'm so amazed at how the spirit is able to work through us to declare the gospel. I couldn't do anything on my own, and I'm thankful of the help I receive each day from the enabling power of the Atonement. I hold a deep love for all of the people I have met so far on my mission. I love each of you, thank you for your support!
-Sister Cottrell
This week was really good, despite the normal hard missionary moments that always occur! This past Monday night, we shared the Christmas Initiative with the one less active family, and that somehow ended up leading into a conversation of promptings of the spirit. They shared a few experiences when they both had been saved by following promptings. Pretty soon, their teenage daughter who we know pretty well (she's not a member, and a bit of a rebel. She's always friendly enough to us, though!) ended up joining us, and shared a near death experience that took place just a few days ago. She and her boyfriend had slid off the road and ran into a fence. She felt very strongly that God had a part to play in protecting them, and told us that she felt closer to God than she had in a long time. I felt so strongly that I should right there formally invite her to draw close to Him again, and we offered the discussions to her. She really opened up and said that she felt that was something she was ready for, and she right there pulled out her phone to plan a time that worked with her and her mom's schedule. It was just so powerful to me, because I've known her every since I first came into the area. It just added another testimony to me that Heavenly Father really is preparing the hearts of His beloved children! I know I say that like every week, but it's so true!
We also had the opportunity to pop in on a few ward parties, which was really neat because we had both less actives that we are working with and potential investigators that showed up! The greatest part about though, was seeing the ward reach out to them. I'm seriously so grateful for the wonderful members who help us in the work! As we attended one of the wards in sacrament meeting, one Sister who we know came up to us and told us that this one young non-member family went to their ward's Christmas party (unfortunately, we had an appointment and didn't make it to that ward's party) and the wife even mentioned that they would like to go to sacrament meeting! We are working with our Ward Mission Leader in that ward, and we both feel that they would be willing to meet with us through an invitation from the members they are friends with. We are very excited to see what might come from it!
We are still teaching our 12-year-old investigator, who just loves church and has been going for a solid month now! He's grandparents still want him to show that he's really dedicated, so they want to hold off him getting baptized for a little bit longer, but we know that he's on the right path. Another really neat experience was during another lesson with the Brother who we've been working with, and again he read another six chapters from the Book of Mormon (and we only committed him to two chapters last time!) The spirit was so strong while we were keeping the lesson focused on faith in Christ, and we all of the sudden felt prompted to bring up his tobacco, which he always used to jokingly offer to us in the past. He admitted that he would like to get off of it, and he knows he needs to do that to get active in the church, but that he's been chewing tobacco for almost fifty years. We talked about Lord can and will give him strength, and he said that he would think about asking for a blessing to help him. He kind of laughed as he mentioned how funny it would be when he would ask this one friend (who is an amazing member and helps us in the work!) for a blessing, and how he's been trying to get him to go to church for years, and then the Sisters show up! He very seriously though asked his wife though if she would like him to take her to the temple, and we know that he really is thinking about making some changes. He's coming a long way.
We also had exchanges this week, and I was with Sister Naitoko (from Tonga) in our area for a day! I learned a lot and we had a great time. I also just adore Sister Camarena! We teach really well together and are just getting closer each day. It's been neat watching her slowly start to love the people who I've been working closely for awhile now. I can't imagine what it will be like when I'll eventually have to leave.
As a mission, we have a Book of Mormon reading daily chart, and we have now started over to the beginning. In 1 Nephi 4:6-18 it tells of Nephi and his experience of following the Holy Ghost. I think we forget (or, at least I do!) that the spirit often speaks to us through our thoughts in our hearts and impressions in our mind. He will also bring things to our remembrance (just like in verse 14). We need to just follow the guidance and trust in Him. :)
Also, one less active who we are working with was talking to us about how she doesn't understand why God would ever command His people to build a beautiful temple when those funds could be spent on helping the poor and needy. During personal study, I came across D&c 124, where in verse 21 The Lord calls on his servant to care for the poor, and then just a few verses later He gives the commandment of building a temple. It helped her understand that Heavenly Father is mindful of His Children's needs. It also helped her to see that Heavenly Father has always commanded His Children to build temples (D&C 124:38, and then Solomon's temple).
I just want to leave you all with my testimony that Jesus is the Christ. I can't tell you how amazing it is to share that with others each day! I really have felt like I've changed so much already on my mission in ways that I didn't expect. I'm so amazed at how the spirit is able to work through us to declare the gospel. I couldn't do anything on my own, and I'm thankful of the help I receive each day from the enabling power of the Atonement. I hold a deep love for all of the people I have met so far on my mission. I love each of you, thank you for your support!
-Sister Cottrell
No comments:
Post a Comment