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| Toilets toilet toilets.. everywhere... |
I am halfway done with this transfer.. which is kind of weird. I feel like I just got here. The weather has been crazy. It is cold and snowier here in the month of April than when I was down in Pennsylvania from December to February. Spring please come! That way with all of the walking we have to do, it will be more enjoyable and people will be out.
Fun fact... I learned that my area/branch is St. Lawrence County. Which is the biggest geographical county east of the Mississippi. I have been trying to develop a super hero talent of teleportation so that we don't have to worry about car miles, and be able to go from farm house to farm house. That hasn't quite worked out yet... but we will keep trying. :)
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| lots of rivers up north. |
We did a lot of trying to find investigators this week, we just weren't very successful. However, we did have some bright spots this week.
Blessing #1) I got to eat dinner with President Rogers and we had our President/Missionary interviews at their hotel and go to work with them throughout the evening. That was fun! At first I was really intimidated, because I wanted to act my absolute best around the Mission President and I held my breath... But, I ended up having a lot of fun and it felt like hanging out with family. I event to hand wash the Rogers' car and we went to a nice Chinese restaurant They don't' really talk much while eating, which is awkward... but I do love observing their relationship between them. So much love and concern is expressed. So, I asked about some dating and marriage advice. I asked Sister Rogers what I need to do to snatch someone like President Rogers. Her advice: to see their reactions in all circumstances (stressful, happy, sad, discouraging etc.) and see how they treat their family. All good points of wisdom. Sister Rogers then went with us to see Nick and Hannah who are college students we teach. I really like Hannah. She has potential and asks great questions. She is however, very logical and skeptical, but her heart is in the right place. We will be seeing her more after college finals which are happening in the next 2 to 3 weeks. We tried some other potentials, without any luck We saw the Mathie/Atchie Clan. They are my favorite people to work with. They have struggles and have a ways to go before baptism but they like to be silly and we have pretty good gospel conversations. We see them the most frequently, and I am just about ready to build them a house so they can get married and be debt free and get baptized. Anything is better than tracting for 5 to hours. but o well!
Blessing #2) We had a wonderful Zone Training meeting this week on Tuesday. The missionaries in the Potsdam Zone are great! They work had and are obedient. First tie I can say that about a zone here on my mission. We did a first time experiment of Workshops and we practiced certain skills. I loved it.. President taught us about being urgent missionaries and living the program and then connecting to heaven. I repented and committed to do better which is always a joy! We then saw two new less actives who haven't met us before. they live about 15 miles away, but they are willing to meet u and they want to come to church. So more power to them! We went to the only diner by us and saw some former investigators and also ran into some other less active members. It was hilarious. We should just go to the local diner and wait for people to come to us. It is easier to find the there than at home.
Blessing #3) We had a fun missionary fireside with the Branch this weekend It is the first missionary fireside I have attended. It was very poorly attended. We happened to get Al there, but we did have like 5 members come and it basically turned into a conversion testimony fireside for Al. The Spirit was really strong and we had fun.
So... in between all of those, we have been scraping the bottom of the barrel for any names of people that are potential investigators. We did quite a bit of tracting and OYMing. We talked to a few Italians, and picked up a ton of referrals for other missionaries. We have the most up to date area book in the whole mission. Everyone has been tried so we have been trying to be creative and calling random contacts on the phone and also just trying to offer up service to anyone and everyone. Things are slowly coming around We should be building a few fences and retaining walls soon.
We've been let in a few homes to teach the restoration, but they do not want to investigate further. We are still planting seeds! Trying to have people read the Book of Mormon and also trying to teach people how to read so they can read the Book of Mormon.. That is a extra challenge.
But, God has still been very good to us this week. He has reminded me in Mosiah Chapters 23 and 24 that those he loveth, he chasteneth and tries their patience and also their faith. But, if we submit cheerfully to all of the will of God, we will gain from our afflictions and also grow in many ways than one. I am glad that Heavenly Father gives me trials, it means he trusts me and he loves me. It's a tough love, but a better kind of love.
This week we are going to continue to find, to find service opportunities and try new areas on the corners of our area! The weather should also be warming up! Yayy!!
The gospel is true!
Love you all!
Sister Kylie Williams
