Monday is here. Let me just say off the bat, that I have gained a testimony of journaling. I love it so much, this is my time once a week, to set aside and write down everything. I look forward to it every week and it now is a source of joy. Never thought that would happen. I have struggled with journaling and writing things my whole life. My mind works so much faster than my hands, so that's why I talk so much. It helps me think... but this is real special.
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Monday, I was super tired. After transfers and an MLC, I wanted to sleep... really bad. But instead, we got up, and went to the Zumba class at Church and quickly did everything else. Sister Seader wrote letters and I took a 2 hour nap. I haven't had a nap in 4 months. It was good, but I still had this urgent feeling in my gut that the Lord needed me to do something. So, I got up and impressions about past referrals from members that we never quite followed up on came to mind. I wrote them all down and started making some calls and texts. We received addresses and began our research. We saw Will first, and he is doing great. He should have gotten the Priesthood this Sunday, but due to a massive cold, he was down and out for the count. Actually, many people are sick right now and a few people we are teaching are getting surgery soon. It's the season to go to the doctor I guess.
We then went to the house of Syndey and Dakota. They are related to a member in the ward and we went and knocked on the door. Dakota came out, walked outside and let us teach him the Restoration. Doesn't have a huge religious background, but he liked it and said that he wanted a change. He and his wife want to come to church. That has been awesome. Unfortunately, they work crazy hours and don't see each other very often, so they don't have lot of time to meet with us. They also have 2 little kids. Our obstacle is people working too much. Grrr-- Satan. Always making it so people need to survive and stay afloat, but then they can't go to Church because they are working and then feel like God isn't in their life because they aren't focusing on him. It is a typical downward spiral that I am starting to see in society. Anyway, we will be working with them more in the future. Slowly but surely!
Tuesday was Zone training meeting. We drove to Owego with the Elders. 4 out of the 6 of us feel asleep in the car. We focus on teaching skills, especially how to begin teaching. Our teaching has been so much better with it. People we teach know our purpose and know what they are doing. It is just up to them to decide what to do. We drove home and saw Megan.
We taught Megan the law of the fast. It went well, and she agreed to fast with us. We wanted to meet more with her so she let us come back on Thursday and we taught the dreaded law of chastity. Dun Dun Dun.. It actually went well also. She is living and engaged to her less active boyfriend and we have been afraid of her getting offended and refusing to live it. Plus, I am the world's worse law of chastity teacher. I am so awkward and I look like big red tomato all of the time. But, I prayed the whole morning and also practiced so that it wouldn't be that way with Megan. We got there and she made us the best omelets I have ever tasted in my life and we talked. Then we taught her. She already knew the law and knew the standards because her boyfriends parents told them quite a while ago. It made sense to her, but because she is getting married in April, she said that she would talk it over with him. But she wasn't going to move out or stop doing anything. I guess I could have been better at calling her to repentance, but I have come to realize that people do not want to keep the big three (chastity, tithing and word of wisdom) until they have a strong desire to join the Church and know that the gospel can fill a need and get them closer to God. She right now has the desire, but not too much desire... We're going to work on that.
We saw Jimbo, and he is doing great. We are going to the Houghton's tonight to do a huge FHE on family history and have him work on it on the computer, so he can do work for his ancestors soon. Guy is a stud. A humble one. But, he also works all of the time, so he can have a place to live. If I had the money, I would buy him a ticket to SLC and move him close to temple square in a little apartment. Then he could see the sights and go to conference and find a good Mormon eternal companion.
We went tracting and went into a few homes, but nothing really stuck. It was like, "thanks for the message, but we are all set and have a religion, I don't need anything else. " Ugh, pride. It started to snow and we went to this Chinese buffet with members and got so full. Chinese is not good in New York, unless you are in Ithaca. But, we did pick up a new investigator named Alec, and were pretty sure he would convert, but his mother is a strong catholic and called us and told us to go away. Darn. Next life!
Wednesday, we were running. We picked up this investigator named Norm a few weeks ago and stopped by. He is halfway through the B of M and won't let us come back until he is done. At least he is reading. Praying that nothing crazy happens in the mean time. We went back to this street that I kept feeling good vibes about (Sage Street) and tried like 2 to 3 doors. Nice but not interested. Then I see this lady about 100 feet away walking into her house and I start yelling, "Hey! How are you?" and started running. Sister Gass would be proud, because she did it all of the time. She actually let us in, and her boyfriend came home and we taught them and they said that we could come back. They were both really nice and the boyfriend was really listening. We just need to also work around their work schedules and get them more interested. They are reformed christian, but open to the Book of Mormon. We saw our usual, and also saw this new investigator named Jim. We tracted into him like 1 to 2 months ago. He said we could come back. Well, he let us in and we taught him. He said that we were the nicest proselyting religion and like how we presented ourselves. So, he agreed to read the Book of Mormon and finish it. We are to check up in 2 weeks and if he likes it, we can teach him.
People need to recognize a need in their life and see the Church fill that need... that is what I have really seen this week. People that need something, like a religion for their family, or to get them closer to God, then they are the most receptive and willing to act.
Then, that night we gave Jon and Crystal a church tour. It went well. They are kinda quiet. However, Jon did say his first verbal prayer and followed the proper order for a prayer. Yes! Work in progress. We then had Coordination meeting.
Thursday we saw Megan. We tried teaching people, and saw a few less actives that kinda just stay the same. Always finding excuses, even after spiritual experiences. If you really want to stay active in the gospel, you become a person that does not make excuses. So, I am trying to do that too. Stop rationalizing and be a better missionary!
Brian and Sabrina! They are progressing! We saw them 2 1/2 times this week, which is the most ever. Sabrina especially is increasing her desire. She wanted a hard cover of the Book of Mormon, so that she and her son could read it together. If it wasn't for work and health issues, they would be members. Also, another work in progress. Heavenly Father is starting to teach me patience in this area. Patience and being humble. Sabrina also really likes conference talks and Brian really likes the Book of Mormon. I see them honestly getting baptized in the spring or summer. They are kinda the main focus this month!
I call a man named Don Davis. He is a member referral. He is a super awesome guy, but he talks a lot and gets side tracked. He has tons of potential to be taught and join the church too. But, more importantly, we brought Rachel with us to the lesson. She bore her testimony like a boss! Proud moment! :) Rachel is doing good, the Ward loves her. And during lessons, she asks deep things when we read the Book of Mormon like 'What are the mother gentiles.. in 1 Nephi 13?" Oh, that is England in the Revolutionary war." Thankfully, she puts up with my history lessons and actually understands them.
Friday, we went to the Food Kitchen in Elmira with the High Priests. It was fun. High Priests are just like Elders, same goofy maturity level, they are only 50 years older. It got real cold. Ice cold though. We tried teaching people later, and we taught Nadine We taught the Lockes again and they should be coming to Church next week. We went back to Sage Circle again and tracked into the most solid people I have ever met, the Fitches. "Golden" dry members. They were literally waiting for us. They gave us water and sat and listened. The husband is more interested and started reading the Mormon.org during the lesson. We praying for them all the time now. Because they said that they really want to read the info we gave them, discuss and pray about it and then see if they want to learn more and become members. GRRR I hope it works out. Because they literally are Elder Quorum President and Young Women's President material. If not, a seed has been planted... a big seed.
Saturday it was like -15 below. We planned all day and were told not to go outside. We had a few Facebook and phone call lessons. We started making paper hearts for 'heart-attacking' on Sunday. That was it. When it goes below 15 degrees, you can't do much. Nobody want to talk to yo, so we stayed in and organized.
Sunday was more service. Too cold and people were busy. So, we 'heart attacked' and gave service to 9 RC-investigator families. It was awesome :)
Well, that was this crazy busy week. And who knows what the Lord has planned for this week. The Church is true. :)
Love,
Sister Kylie Williams
