Oh my goodness, this week! So Monday evening till Tuesday evening I had exchanges with Sister Reupena from Samoa! She's just a sweetheart! Okay, so some background information on this experience I had while on exchanges. about a few weeks ago, some members at a dinner appointment tried to give us this referral, but they are actually not in our area. I had even seen them before while on exchanges, funny enough. But I just felt this strong impression about them, but I knew that they weren't even in my area and since they weren't investigating, I thought the chances would be slim that I would seem them while even on exchanges. Well, that Monday evening, the sisters planned to see them, and they don't do so often. They are this super sweet non-member couple, who have LDS children who have even served missions. They go to church every week, but they just aren't actually baptized members. It's funny, because on exchanges before we had visited, and they always seem to change the subject when religion is brought up. After we shared a message, all of the sudden they started to both ask questions, and we were able to teach a lot about the plan of salvation. They admitted that their main hold up is the whole priesthood authority issue, and so we were able to reschedule an appointment for us to discuss (well, for Sister Reupena and Sister Settle to discuss!) the whole Restoration. The spirit was incredibly strong, and it was an amazing testimony builder to me to see their reactions to it.
Thursday I went with Sister Settle to the Missionary Department Leadership Meeting, where two members from the MTC came and trained us, and I just learned so much! It seriously took me back to the MTC, where I felt like I was learning things that was taught there before I came out, but it was just so incredible to learn more of it, and how to improve. They discussed a lot about really using the members here, and to help them with their missionary efforts. We also learned a lot about how to improve our teaching skills, and how to better set effect goals. It was just wonderful, even though it was a very long meeting!!
Just a quick update on Malak! We taught them a few times this week, and both times it went great! The whole family joined for our second appointment, and President Vickery brought along a young man who just returned from serving his mission in Texas, and is originally from Syria. He was able to translate a bit for the rest of the family there. Malak even asked us if she could have an Arabic Book of Mormon, and said that she would go to church! She unfortunately became ill, so she couldn't go yesterday, but she said she would next time.
In Mosiah 21:33-35, it talks about how the people of King Limhi change after some time in being in bondage to the Lamanites, and have that desire to be baptized and follow Christ. I just started to compare them to the people of Alma the Elder, in Mosiah 24 when they were in bondage, and have to submit to the will of the Lord. Both people cry unto God, and they are both able to escape the hands of the Lamanites. For the people of Alma the Elder, they escape because God put the guards under a deep sleep. For the people of King Limhi, they give the guards strong wine, and are able to flee that way. In the videos "Patterns of Light," Elder Bednar talks about how when you have spiritual promptings, you might not need an angel to appear to you to remind you to say your prayers, when all the Spirit needs is to remind you of your angel mother asking you if you have said your prayers. I've learned a lot about promptings of the Spirit, and I just thought about the escape of both of the people, and how they both thanked Heavenly Father for their escape. In Alma 1:8, it even mentions that Gideon, who was the one who suggested that they give the Lamanites wine to drink, served as a "instrument in the hands of God in delivering the people.. out of bondage." I can just testify that you can receive revelation in many different ways, and if it's good, it is from God.
Love,
-Sister Cottrell
Pictures: So, Sister Ganbold and Sister Taperseria attempted to make "cookies"..... We all laughed so much, it just came out as a one giant, gooey, round mess. Sister Ganbold was like "see?! We needed more floor!" They also put in chocolate milk, of all things, haha! I love them tons!! Also, Sister Deuel had a Birthday!
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