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| 1/2 of the Utica NY Missionaries |
Hello Everyone!! This week has felt like a month in many ways. Lots of changes and crazy goofy things have happened.
Monday: We wen tot Watertown and went shopping. My companion has blood as thick as water and is freezing to death. I am trying to keep from having a Popsicle as a companion and it hasn't even snowed yet! So, it was the usual craziness of running around and trying to get everything done on PDay. We had dinner with our friend Hannah and watched "Two Brothers Two" over the computer. It was the closest thing to a girls night out & watching a soap opera on the Mormon Channel as I'll ever get on my mission. We then tried to set up appointments and see other people.
Tuesday: We spent a fair amount of time around Ft. Drum and on it. We had a slow start and tried to do some administrative stuff. In the morning I literally felt like we needed to be some where, but we had waves of 'un-motion' kept hitting us and felt like I was moving in molasses. Stupid natural man/laziness was kicking in( and Satan was just trying to prep me for what was going to happen later in the week). Finally after an hour or so, we finally were able to go out and talk with some people in Great Bend. We did get in with some less-actives that we have never gotten to visit with before. So that was nice. We saw Abby and we have been trying to help her stay strong and stay in seminary. Life is hard as a teenager, or so they think. In reality, they spend 2 hours on their phone and another 2 hours playing iPad games.. they have plenty of time. Satan is just so good at distractions and changing our priorities. I know that my priorities have totally changed on my mission.
We then tried to save some miles so we walked on the Post. We tried to see some members that we haven't talked to for a while. Many were not home, so kept trying. We were also hungry. So Sister Branch, my companion also known as "Sacajawea" over here, taught me about these edible clover weeds that taste like sour patch kids. Oh my, it was so weird at first, but it was awesome. So while we walked to and from our appointments that night, we would sneak bites of these 'sour hearts' and that was kinda a first for me.
We talked with a new family in the ward and we were trying to meet with the Dad who calls himself LDS, but not really. This is because his family was a branch of a fundamentalist sect and his baptism does not count. WE kinda asked him why he didn't just want to to get baptized so he can go to the temple with his family. He wouldn't tell us why. But a mixture of pride and non belief in a few things that happened in the late 1800's caused him to say, "ehh. I'm good." Thanks for the message and see you at Church. He even had a personal interview with President Holland like 10 years ago and that didn't do anything for him. Agency is a killer.. Things are going great for Cameron. He aced the baptismal interview questions and his baptism is set for the 31st. All of the preparations are don! He is like an 80 year old man in a 16 year old body.
Wednesday: It rained a lot and again the waves of 'un-motivation' in the morning hit. It was really gross. I did not like it whatsoever. It was like having 10 people yell at you in your head and tell you not to do anything. Being exactly obedient in the morning was a struggle with timing and it was slowly starting to effect our communication as a companionship we noticed. We persevered and we tried to go out again and work. No luck. For lunch I did officially make my companion a Carthage missionary by having a Stewart's Pumpkin Pie Milkshake. We went and tried to use some Facebook time and tried to stay dry. We saw some less-actives and had this super awesome lesson with one that I haven't seen in 3 months. It was great. We also helped a member decorate their house for Halloween and that was fun.
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| Fall Leaves!! |
Thursday: We got up, did our weekly planning and set some good goals to try and improve. Something just seemed slightly off, but we kept trying anyway. We have been working with Abby's sister and trying to help her read the Book of Mormon. I just love the Pace family. They are the quirkiest southern family with good baptist upbringing. They have rough edges, but they all sit down and love to read the Book of Mormon with us. WE grabbed dinner, ran home, packed and headed down to Syracuse to stay the night with some other Sisters so we could go straight to Mission conference with Elder Randall K Bennet of the Seventy.
Then, my week all changed.....
Friday morning, I hadn't slept so well on a little couch and it has thunder stormed all night. WE got out late and with downtown traffic, we arrived to MLC late. WE get in after the prayer and sat down. Elder Bennett and his wife jumped right in and immediately started talking about how we are literally in a war council with Captain Moroni right now and we are chief captains for the missionaries in our mission. We started talking about concerns, struggles, problems etc. It was a lot. He quickly squashed some things, and always kept saying how much he loved us. The Spirit was really strong. He said we were great, but that we had a ton of room for improvement. Then, from 10-1 and 2 to 5 we were uplifted, reprimanded, inspired, chastised etc by the Spirit through Elder Bennet. It was awesome. We talked about obedience, faith, sacrifice, consecration, charity, baptismal invitation and spending too much time with members, asking for referrals etc. The Spirit was so strong in the Chapel. It was awesome. He then invited us for lunch to go reverently, go grab a sandwich and talk with our companions.
We basically talked quietly then went back for round two. I can't write everything, it is too much. I quickly came to learn from him and his experiences, that how well you perform with exactness on your mission is how exact you will be in life. Your mission will determine your destiny!
We were all very tired by the time the meetings were done. Basically the biggest change is that from 6 to 9 pm, we must be teaching or finding. No more meeting with members or meals or admin work. Everything that I had been taught by previous missionaries in my mission is now not acceptable from 6 to 9 pm.
Saturday: time to start implementing what we learned. We woke up on time, we worked out and we ate breakfast and showed on time. I cut my hair on my own because it was taking too long in the mornings. WE left before 10. WE saw a ton of people and had some awesome lessons. We ran from appt to appt. We then moved dinner to 5 and left after 6. Then, for the first time on my mission, we tracted at night. It was awesome. We found the nicest family and we are going to teach them this Saturday. First time ever. It was hard, it was scary, my companion and I were freezing, but we did it.
Sunday: We went to Church. WE had one of the best fast and testimony meetings ever. The Spirit was so strong. We were obedient all morning. The elders who have been so disobedient, finally were obedient and miracles happened. People came, some accepted to be baptized. We got referrals from missionaries from the other side of the mission. We had a new less active family come to church and they enjoyed first hour. We got home and had a heart to heart. We needed to set more goals and discuss our fears. We told the ward that we can't do dinner after 6 anymore, some were not very happy, but the Lord said No. We also went tracting for the first time on a Sunday. Guess what, people were actually home. Some said No, some talked to us, but we tried! We did have a stray dog follow us and protect us as we tracked. At 8:30, in the dark, we knocked on two doors. One was this crazy guy named Frank, who said that he might come to Church and we will see where he goes in the future. I also met a lady named Lisa who asked to read the first three pamphlets and we can see her on Wednesday. That was fun. We can't wait to finally get up to Evans Mills and be with the main population of our area. We see now that until we move, this is our opportunity to share the gospel with the southern area we serve. They may be a little crazy, bu the Lord loves them too. It was awesome, I never slept so well that night.
So far today, we have cleaned more than ever, woke up on time and been exact in our schedule We committed to only listen to the Mormon Tab Choir and conference talks and already we are happier and more motivated to work.
Satan was trying so hard this past week to weigh us down before going to Mission Conference. But it is exactly what I needed... I can see the difference more. It was a jump start to change and refocus our missions. Frankly, we weren't doing too much, but now we are paying the price of missionary work so the Lord can bless us and bring more miracles. Already been seeing that and it is awesome!
The gospel is awesome!! Lets pray for charity and that the windows of heaven will be opened!!
Love ya!
Sister Kylie Williams
