Rain, Less-actives and a Mini-missionary

Playing in the rain!  Me, Maddy and Sister Howard, my Companion.

This week was full with interesting things:  The big thing that happened this week was our little mini-missionary named Maddy.  She lives on the east side of the mission and President Wirthlin assigned us to evaluate her to see if she could handle the normal stress of a mission and could teach.  She's had some physical and mental challenges in her life, so she wasn't sure and neither was her Stake President.  However, she was a complete riot this week.  So spunky and feisty for this little 21 year old girl.  She just said everything like it was.  But, the main thing for her, was if she wanted to go on a service mission or a proselyting mission.  I felt so weighed down by the responsibility that I had.  My evaluation would impact the decision of the Mission President and Stake President and it could push her one way or the other.  I really was praying one night and was like, "Lord just please bless us this week to either have the best week ever or the worst week ever so that she and I can know without a shadow of a doubt which one she needs to go on."  HA.. The next day, the three of us had a really deep spiritual conversation about everything and her.  She got the spiritual witness that she needed to go on a service mission and that was the one option for her.  So, she was blessed with the knowledge of which one she needed to go on,  She got to call the President and tell him herself which was nice.  That way she won't ever have to ask those "what if" questions down the road.  But for the last 8 days, its been a trio, but with a non-missionary.  Very interesting.

This is also President Wirthlin's last week :(  But guess who gets to meet President Rogers this week also??  It is going to be fun!  Also, transfers are in 8 days... something is going to happen.  Me and Sister Howard can feel it.  If I stay or if I go, I will "come what may and love it".  Also, I have grown quite attached to some people here that would be so tough to say adios too!!

It has rained almost every day.  I bought a lighter rain jacket at Walmart and it is the best thing ever.  New York is so GREEN!  I feel like my eyes are going to be burnt out by it.  But, I do love it :)

This week we taught the most less-actives ever in my mission.  That was new and exciting and we had some really cool experiences.  1 lady that we've been teaching over Facebook every other night and trying to reignite her testimony came for Sacrament Meeting-- finally!! YAYY!  We got permission to reactivate a family and teach a daughter and prepare her for baptism! That has been great also.  We got in with a few people that we haven't seen in like 6-8 weeks and we also had a few spiritual lessons with them.

Our investigators (well, most of them) have not been progressing.  So, we dropped quite a few and then I just felt like "it's time to bring back the old ones".  So hopefully soon, some more will make better choices and come back to Church!

We also did some finding and had a 'car fast' on Friday.  So we had to walk everywhere.. HA HA Yikes...we got bible bashed a few times.  It doesn't even bother me anymore.  I just get really non-interested in the conversation and I even yawned when this lady kept talking and then she was like "wait.. you yawned!  How dare you!!"  and then just turned away and left.  It reminded me of Chinese handcuffs... it's better when you don't resist.  Then you can free yourself.

I had a crazy guy walk into church and talk about how we were all wrong and filibustered in 2nd hour.  We just kinda laughed to ourselves and when he said he was moving to Hawaii, we were all sadly happy.   Apparently, he comes like 3 times a year and just bashes.  Oh well.  His loss.

But the cool miracles this week was Eddie!  New investigator.  We were walking in the rain and I just felt like we needed to stop by this less active members house that we go to all of the time.  As we walk in, her neighbor is helping make dinner and he's like "oh shoot, the God Squad is here.  Gotta go."  Anyway... the next thing we know (that's when you know that the Spirit inspired us) we were teaching him about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith and he came to church yesterday with his daughter.  It was so cool.  Eddie was looking for 'restored faith'.  And he didn't find it with the Catholics, or the Baptists, but he likes us... so I see a baptism in about a year for him.  He has got some addictions to fix, but such a great guy.

We also saw the Mills twice.  They are doing good, but they have so many questions.  It is awesome.  They are struggling with the whole idea of 'converting' instead of just showing up at church.  Megan is struggling, but we had a great book of Mormon read the other day.  I felt the Spirit and so did she :)

This week I have learned a lot about the Atonement and also the Godhead and also that this is the latter days.  So fun fact:  Most prepared and 'golden' people looking for the Church already believe in the Godhead and /or are looking for a church that believes that the Father and Son are separate beings.  If the 'Trinity' concept is deeply infused into their soul... they don't want a thing to do with the church.  So, funny how the most basic thing and first thing that we believe of the gospel is also the most defining.  I learned so much about utilizing the atonement as a way of allowing others to repent and forgive them.  That was cool.

Also, not gonna lie, but these are the latter days.  Things are only going to get worse.  But, just as I learned on Sunday, Elder cook said that the "Church has never been stronger."  And it is true.  The world is getting stronger.  The Church is getting stronger.  Our investigators are either the most prepared people ever or not at all.  I have come to see that what was once "gray areas" are getting smaller and smaller.  People are getting pulled left or right and there is a huge separation between everything, especially beliefs.  But, basically, if you don't have a rock solid testimony of the gospel  and of the Church... GET ONE... Enough said.

The gospel is true, find joy in living it :)

Love Sister Kylie Williams