Hello Everyone,
What a week it has been. Haha. God likes to give us lots of opportunities to grow and learn and be stronger. Most of the time, when He wants to do that, He gives you something difficult. Well, the last 3 months have been a little bit easier, (or they have seemed to me). So, Heavenly Father decided to ratchet up the furnace and give me reasons to grow. His time is growing short in order to get me to where He wants me to be by June! This week was pretty intense. Definitely opposition, but that isn't going to stop us!
Monday was pretty fun though. It started off great. We began with a new tradion of Monday Zumba and Scatterball at the Church. It is super fun. We then had plenty of time to get everything else done. We had pizza at a members house that has been struggling to come to Church and we brought Him over. He loves pizza and we needed another male with us so that the Elders could come in and eat too. After eating some Domino's we took Jim over to the members that are his neighbors (who are actually members) and borrowed a computer so that he could do some family history work. We are trying to get his 4 generations done so that he can go to the temple. He had lots of fun and worked for 3 straight hours! That is actually a lot since he has never worked on a computer before. Jim also got a calling. He is the 'bell ringer' at Church so that the classes get done on time. It is so perfect for him and he loves it. We then went over to Don's and taught him a super spiritual plan of salvation lesson. He unfortunately left for Virginia for 2 weeks, but I know that he is going to progress and with help, get baptized. I really like Don, he is so humble and loves to learn. He has got potential or in New York language "Hes gots potential. New Yorker's add an S on to everything. We also saw Rachel and she is doing great. She is going to get her patriarchal blessing next month. She is really excited for it and it will be great!
Tuesday was awful... with awful weather. It was raining, snowing and the rain was freezing at the same time so it turned to ice. Ice was everywhere. We had tried a few people, but they are kinda flaky so nothing came of it. We then had District Meeting. Those are always interesting. With the weather, we just struggled to get in contact with people and also to find new people. We are totally in the finding mode. We have found a lot lately in the last few weeks. Most people are spiritually lazy and don't want to find the time or don't have a need or desire to have God or the gospel fill the empty void in lives. Many don't even realize that they have a void. We tried knocking on a few doors, and people would say, "it is cold!" Go home and warm up!" Unfortunately, we can't really do that. We did see a few of our steady recent converts so we didn't freeze to death. Will was feeling much better so we could see him too. Finally, I felt impressed that we shouldn't just sit in the apartment, but to at least go and serve. We grabbed shovels and shoveled people's driveways. I felt impressed to target a specific house. We shoveled and nobody was home. So, we left a card... little did I know that the husband would get home, find our card and come looking for us. We were talking to someone on another street outside at the time. He thanked us and asked if we wanted money. I said "No, just an opportunity to talk with your family." We are going tonight to hopefully teach them the 1st discussion. I really like the kids, and the Dad. They currently aren't going anywhere for church, but I am not sure that the wife liked us. We will have to work on that. Little service = big tender mercy!
Wednesday was also intense. We has a very intense lesson with Megan. She is the first person I know who did not like the Proclamation on the Family. She didn't agree with the whole "homosexuality" thing. She then started nit-picking the prophets and the bible/Book of Mormon and actually got kinda angry. The Spirit left and I was very surprised. We brought it all back to the Book of Mormon being true and it being evidence that if it is true, so is everything else. Upon reflection, I realized that the anger came from not truly understanding the scriptures. When most people don't understand something, they get angry and confused. We need to learn patience and learn line upon line. Thankfully, we talked it over and she is still sincere in her search, she is just going through struggles. That's how testimonies are built.. We tried to find others, but nothing worked out. Everyone we planned to see had some kind of crisis or wasn't home. We did some tracting while it was nice for about an hour or two. Nobody was interested at all. I learned a lot about Lent during that time. If only Protestants realized how Catholic they are... oh well. However I saw someone from high School .... Yup, Prairie View! I had to go to the bathroom at the grocery store and as I walked in, a lady walked out and we both stopped and awkwardly starred at each other and in my head, I was like "Whoa, I know you." Well, she was weirded out and ran out and went to her car. It took me 10 minutes before it hit me. She was my substitute teacher from my English class in High School. I was so made that I didn't recognize her and that I didn't run out and talk to her. But it took me 10 minutes before I could pinpoint how I knew her. From Brighton CO to Horseheads NY... what are the odds??? She is here somewhere. Now I just need to tract into her again. :)
Thursday we had a blitz exchange from the Cortland Sisters. I worked the day with Sister Baxter. It was sweet because I have been wanting to serve with her for almost my whole mission. We had a ton of fun.... finding, teaching crazy unprepared people, and saw some recent converts. It was awesome. We finally taught Caroline (Nadine's Landlord).. haha. She is an English drummer turned Mom and is very Episcopalian. She got really mad when I started by saying "God is your Loving Heavenly Father" She shot back, "Nope, nope, Nope! God does not have a gender, nor a body. That's a traditional view". Let's just say that we couldn't do very much teaching with her. However, her reasoning is super false because Episcopalians are basically Catholic with a King Henry the VIII twist. They believe in the trinity, and even within the trinity God is Christ, and Christ was a male. Yet God has no gender or body?? Most people don't even really know what they believe these days. Pick and choose.. "everything goes." I feel bad for the next generation of missionaries. I've had a few people not let us in because they can't trust anyone in their house, because the world is crazy and if people think upstate New York is bad... I don't even want to think about the bigger, busier areas. We taught this really cute Christian girl that works with a member at a puppy place. We got a few potentials. We worked super hard all day. I was exhausted by the end. The other sisters saw some less actives. The Enrights have been diligently reading and should be at Church this coming week! Oh I hope so! Unfortunately, one of the sisters from Cortland, has had medical problems with her back. Nothing was working. She actually was told that she was being sent home. Sister Seader was a trooper and tried to cheer her up. But that was tough. I slept very well that night.
Friday, we planned and tried to take a breather. We also saw Will. He got the priesthood this week. Yayy! Despite Satan telling him not to go to Church.... he always has to mess with our people. It is so annoying. Satan has millions of people. Can't he just leave our 10 investigators alone?? It was another cold day and nothing worked out with our flakey new tracted into investigators. So, we were kinda bummed. We did get let in by the kindest Hindu family ever and we taught them the restoration. They love learning and know some members and said that they would read everything we gave them. They also fed us and it was like being served at a 5 star hotel... slightly weird, but a very fun experience.
Saturday was a good day. Heavenly Father was kind to us. We did service for three hours at the food bank, we taught Brian and he says he knows the Book of Mormon is true and he has a testimony!! Yayy! He is totally going to be baptized! He also as of March, said that he will take off work to come to Church! YES!! Taught this younger guy named Dan, and he was open and he said we could teach him on Saturdays and he was really nice. We picked up this cool potential family named Beth and RJ. I hope we can get in with them again, super open and nice! We also taught Jon/Crystal and we taught them the gospel of Jesus Christ. Crystal had surgery so she was struggling, but they are open to learning and coming to church when she feels better :)
Sunday... church was great! I taught the 12 to 13 year old's for Sunday School. OMG, what a blast from the past! I felt so old and realized that I could never be a middle school teacher. We had 5 set return appointments with newer people we found... and they all cancelled. GRRR >:( We tried! When finding more people to teach, tracting is not the best way to find people.. but our options are sometimes limited. We have been pushing for referrals and it has been good. We have like 3 to 6 solid new ones because of it!
I know that good things are in the future. Sometimes things just don't work out. In the Book of Mormon this week, we read about Nephi and his broken steel bow. Kinda irritating and he was really sorrowful. He was hungry and his whole family was complaining, even his father... the Prophet. They had previously had so many wonderful experiences, but when things got hard, they turned on God. Nephi however, just got to work, made do with what he had... made new weapons and asked for help from his complaining father. Lehi needed to learn and then was directed from the Lord. Irritation is always a forerunner for instruction. So, yes we had a lot of irritation this week... but it's because the Lord loves us enough to give us instruction. So when you bow breaks, don't complain and don't get sad... keep going and the Lord will lead you to the Promised Land.
New York
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Monday, February 15, 2016
Single digit temps, Double digit investigators
Hello friends.
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.
Well, this week, WOW. So full of opportunities to do the Lord's work in all aspects. We have seen many small miracles. They came from deep prayer and diligence. Just before Sister Seader got here, I was looking at our investigator board and felt the mantle hit me real good. We desperately needed to find new progressing investigators and help the ones we already have get closer to baptism. In my heart, I pleaded that the Lord would give us new people to teach. Well, He fulfilled His promise.
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
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
On the Road Again
Hello Everybody!!
Another week has gone by and I now have 3 transfers or 4 and a half months left on my mission. It is such a weird feeling. So much has happened in a year+. I have seen lots of challenges, miracles, and changes happen. I have been doing a lot of reflecting late, and I am truly blessed, and I am grateful for my Heavenly Father. He has given me so many opportunities and great people to meet. Great companions, and so far, a really great mission that is only going to get better. Sister Gass went back home this week, It was weird. It is the first time ever that I have sent a companion home. It isn't the greatest thing in the world. You think more about home, and most missionaries struggle their last few months with different challenges. But, it has just prepared me for my new companion. Sister Seader, who is also going home in 3 months. Ha Ha. I think Heavenly Father is trying to make me trunky or something.. or testing my diligence and singleness of heart. I think it is the latter. :) But, I guess it is needed. I have been praying more the last few weeks than ever before because I have to wake up and focus myself each morning. I think that is good. It helps me rely on the Lord and now that I am getting pretty confident in missionary work and my abilities, it is good to stay humble.
But anyway, this week has been so crazy. I have been stuck in the Zone Leader van for far too long. I have had lots of driving around and getting organized.
On Monday, I kept telling my companion that we needed to start packing... yeah that just didn't happen. We instead went and played scatter ball with the youth. We were so tired, we didn't go as hard as the last time. We then quickly ran and did everything else and started seeing our 'peoples'. Sister Gass had only 2 days to say goodbye to everyone, so we had lunch with Megan, who is a great cook. She will get baptized one day... In the future... she is still a work in progress. We saw some members, and saw Jim and Rachel.
Jim, he is doing so well. He was ordained a priest this past Sunday and has developed a habit of crying now in Church. Just feeling the Spirit! It is just a funny picture, me sitting next to this guy that looks like a mix of Santa and Gandolf and he is crying all of Sacrament Meeting. His next goal is family history and getting to the temple to do the work for his deceased father. He also had developed a habit of Book of Mormon Bashing with people.. it is funny. We have been telling him to be careful, he just loves talking about the Church to random people and then they slightly argue with why the Mormons are wrong. Then he just shakes his head, throws down some bible verses and walks away. We will continue to work with him on how to share the gospel in a more positive manner.
Rachel, she is doing so well. Cutest thing ever, she bore her testimony at church during Relief Society and she talked about how she knows the Church is true and how she was driving in the night and saw this person on the side of the road and had the prompting twice to turn around and talk to them. Even though her Mom taught her to never talk to strangers, she did. What ended up happening is that the person she saw was a run-away autistic teenager that was lost, confused, and wanted to go home and only had her pajamas on. Rachel was able to call the cops and got the girl back to her family. The teenager was about 30 miles away from home and the family was worried sick. She recognized it as her first real experience with the Holy Ghost and is starting to recognize how to feel it and follow it. I twas kinda a proud Mom moment for me. going to get her a calling and get her to the temple! Retention is the key!
Tuesday, all we did was pack and see members. The house looked like a bomb went off. I can't wait to throw away some of the junk that I have collected on my mission. We did see Will. He is doing great also. Nothing big is up with him, but he should be getting the priesthood also this next Sunday. Just plugging away! He did however, find his parent and grandparents and wrote them in his family history booklet! Ya!
Wednesday, I drove to Ithaca. Sister Gas went on up to Utica and I stayed again with Sister Virgin. We struggled a little... we didn't have a gps and I didn't know what was going on, and poor Sis Virgin was overwhelmed with taking over and she is a new missionary. We ended up taking the wrong freeway and went 10 miles east instead of 10 miles north to an appointment. We stopped at a gas station to look at a map. We found out we were totally in the wrong place and then the Elders in another Zone pull up.. haha. So, we drove back and did some Facebook lessons. Also, I met Helen, the cutest little Asian investigator. It is hard to teach her though. There's simple, and then there's international simple. I picked up Sister Seader and headed back home. Just in time to unpack and go to Coordination.
Thursday, so apparently our apartment was pretty disorganized and cluttered. So, Sister Seader went to work and cleaned a TON. I helped too... but then I couldn't find where anything was. haha. We planned, and then we tried to see people. We are at this period right now in the work where we just baptized some people... so now we have to go find some new ones. Sometimes we ask, "okay what now??" and we have to start with the basics. Tracting, trying potentials, seeking referrals, contracting, trying less active and part member families... basically, we have to pray super hard, ad then run around while listening to the Spirit and find new solid progressing people. It takes a lot of faith and with 5 exchanges coming up.. the pressure is on. Thankfully, we saw some really cool tender mercies. I got a prompting to talk with Will's neighbor and she said that we could teach her, so we will pick her up in the future. We taught Derek, and the Spirit prompted me again to check his car instead of going to the 'meet spot'. Good thing I did. This poor guy hit a low and had just injected with Heroin about 20 minutes before hand. I slightly lectured the poor guy, 'aka called him to repentance' and said that he was beyond our help right now. Until he takes the steps to get clean, we can't teach him. Super sad... you can literally see the chains of habit and addiction that is ruining this guys life. Even though he knows the Church is true and has the desire to be a good man. It was just sad to see. But, I think the boldness helped him. We also went to Nadine's, even though we didn't plan to see her, we ran into her landlord. She is the sweetest lady, but was just so tired and didn't have the strength to bring in her groceries. Now she is interested in the Church and we will go teach her this Saturday. By small and simple things, then we ran to go drive to Utica for MLC.
Friday, MLC was great. Super powerful. I learned more about the priesthood, and how the General Authorities work missionary leadership and how with new changes, how we are going to do thing. The Spirit was there so it pumped us up...even though our legs are shaking because basically as leaders with these new exchanges, you kinda have to be 'a model missionary with a model area'. ha ha right. We are perfect models of finding:) I am secretly hoping to be released as a Sister Training Leader and train a new missionary next transfer. That would be sweet! But, I guess we will see what the Lords wants. We had to drop things off in other areas afterwards, so we were stuck driving until 8 pm, for like 4 to 5 hours of driving. Road trips will no longer be a problem for me.
Saturday, finally I was able to fully proselyte. Yayy! We worked and went tracting and picked up this couple, the Lockes. They are a referral from a member and they are slightly interested, but also very stubborn New Yorkers. But, they want their 13 year old granddaughter to be baptized and if we can get her, then we can get the Grandpa. 2 for 1 special! So if it all goes well, Wednesday, that family will be coming to Church. We then got some referrals from the members that we hope to teach soon in the future and tried less actives that I had never heard of before. I met the Peckhams, super sweet and said that we could come back!
Sunday was Church. I love Church! We taught a bunch of less active families after Church. Nadine is thinking more about baptism, but she will take another month or two I think. Also, I taught the Holis-Poley family, they are also known as the Holy Poleys :) Super cool lesson! We brought a member who is a relative and they have a ton of desire. They work a ton, so we don't meet with them as often as they should. It is hard with Church. But, Brian is set to be baptized in April and said that he has seen changes in his behavior and attitude since reading the Book of Mormon. That was great! work in progress.
Now, it is going to be single digits this week. YIKES. Missionary work gets 100x harder when it is cold. But, we will try our hardest. The Church is true!
Go Bronco's!
Love Sister Kylie Williams
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| I love New York !! |
Another week has gone by and I now have 3 transfers or 4 and a half months left on my mission. It is such a weird feeling. So much has happened in a year+. I have seen lots of challenges, miracles, and changes happen. I have been doing a lot of reflecting late, and I am truly blessed, and I am grateful for my Heavenly Father. He has given me so many opportunities and great people to meet. Great companions, and so far, a really great mission that is only going to get better. Sister Gass went back home this week, It was weird. It is the first time ever that I have sent a companion home. It isn't the greatest thing in the world. You think more about home, and most missionaries struggle their last few months with different challenges. But, it has just prepared me for my new companion. Sister Seader, who is also going home in 3 months. Ha Ha. I think Heavenly Father is trying to make me trunky or something.. or testing my diligence and singleness of heart. I think it is the latter. :) But, I guess it is needed. I have been praying more the last few weeks than ever before because I have to wake up and focus myself each morning. I think that is good. It helps me rely on the Lord and now that I am getting pretty confident in missionary work and my abilities, it is good to stay humble.
But anyway, this week has been so crazy. I have been stuck in the Zone Leader van for far too long. I have had lots of driving around and getting organized.
On Monday, I kept telling my companion that we needed to start packing... yeah that just didn't happen. We instead went and played scatter ball with the youth. We were so tired, we didn't go as hard as the last time. We then quickly ran and did everything else and started seeing our 'peoples'. Sister Gass had only 2 days to say goodbye to everyone, so we had lunch with Megan, who is a great cook. She will get baptized one day... In the future... she is still a work in progress. We saw some members, and saw Jim and Rachel.
Jim, he is doing so well. He was ordained a priest this past Sunday and has developed a habit of crying now in Church. Just feeling the Spirit! It is just a funny picture, me sitting next to this guy that looks like a mix of Santa and Gandolf and he is crying all of Sacrament Meeting. His next goal is family history and getting to the temple to do the work for his deceased father. He also had developed a habit of Book of Mormon Bashing with people.. it is funny. We have been telling him to be careful, he just loves talking about the Church to random people and then they slightly argue with why the Mormons are wrong. Then he just shakes his head, throws down some bible verses and walks away. We will continue to work with him on how to share the gospel in a more positive manner.
Rachel, she is doing so well. Cutest thing ever, she bore her testimony at church during Relief Society and she talked about how she knows the Church is true and how she was driving in the night and saw this person on the side of the road and had the prompting twice to turn around and talk to them. Even though her Mom taught her to never talk to strangers, she did. What ended up happening is that the person she saw was a run-away autistic teenager that was lost, confused, and wanted to go home and only had her pajamas on. Rachel was able to call the cops and got the girl back to her family. The teenager was about 30 miles away from home and the family was worried sick. She recognized it as her first real experience with the Holy Ghost and is starting to recognize how to feel it and follow it. I twas kinda a proud Mom moment for me. going to get her a calling and get her to the temple! Retention is the key!
Tuesday, all we did was pack and see members. The house looked like a bomb went off. I can't wait to throw away some of the junk that I have collected on my mission. We did see Will. He is doing great also. Nothing big is up with him, but he should be getting the priesthood also this next Sunday. Just plugging away! He did however, find his parent and grandparents and wrote them in his family history booklet! Ya!
Wednesday, I drove to Ithaca. Sister Gas went on up to Utica and I stayed again with Sister Virgin. We struggled a little... we didn't have a gps and I didn't know what was going on, and poor Sis Virgin was overwhelmed with taking over and she is a new missionary. We ended up taking the wrong freeway and went 10 miles east instead of 10 miles north to an appointment. We stopped at a gas station to look at a map. We found out we were totally in the wrong place and then the Elders in another Zone pull up.. haha. So, we drove back and did some Facebook lessons. Also, I met Helen, the cutest little Asian investigator. It is hard to teach her though. There's simple, and then there's international simple. I picked up Sister Seader and headed back home. Just in time to unpack and go to Coordination.
Thursday, so apparently our apartment was pretty disorganized and cluttered. So, Sister Seader went to work and cleaned a TON. I helped too... but then I couldn't find where anything was. haha. We planned, and then we tried to see people. We are at this period right now in the work where we just baptized some people... so now we have to go find some new ones. Sometimes we ask, "okay what now??" and we have to start with the basics. Tracting, trying potentials, seeking referrals, contracting, trying less active and part member families... basically, we have to pray super hard, ad then run around while listening to the Spirit and find new solid progressing people. It takes a lot of faith and with 5 exchanges coming up.. the pressure is on. Thankfully, we saw some really cool tender mercies. I got a prompting to talk with Will's neighbor and she said that we could teach her, so we will pick her up in the future. We taught Derek, and the Spirit prompted me again to check his car instead of going to the 'meet spot'. Good thing I did. This poor guy hit a low and had just injected with Heroin about 20 minutes before hand. I slightly lectured the poor guy, 'aka called him to repentance' and said that he was beyond our help right now. Until he takes the steps to get clean, we can't teach him. Super sad... you can literally see the chains of habit and addiction that is ruining this guys life. Even though he knows the Church is true and has the desire to be a good man. It was just sad to see. But, I think the boldness helped him. We also went to Nadine's, even though we didn't plan to see her, we ran into her landlord. She is the sweetest lady, but was just so tired and didn't have the strength to bring in her groceries. Now she is interested in the Church and we will go teach her this Saturday. By small and simple things, then we ran to go drive to Utica for MLC.
Friday, MLC was great. Super powerful. I learned more about the priesthood, and how the General Authorities work missionary leadership and how with new changes, how we are going to do thing. The Spirit was there so it pumped us up...even though our legs are shaking because basically as leaders with these new exchanges, you kinda have to be 'a model missionary with a model area'. ha ha right. We are perfect models of finding:) I am secretly hoping to be released as a Sister Training Leader and train a new missionary next transfer. That would be sweet! But, I guess we will see what the Lords wants. We had to drop things off in other areas afterwards, so we were stuck driving until 8 pm, for like 4 to 5 hours of driving. Road trips will no longer be a problem for me.
Saturday, finally I was able to fully proselyte. Yayy! We worked and went tracting and picked up this couple, the Lockes. They are a referral from a member and they are slightly interested, but also very stubborn New Yorkers. But, they want their 13 year old granddaughter to be baptized and if we can get her, then we can get the Grandpa. 2 for 1 special! So if it all goes well, Wednesday, that family will be coming to Church. We then got some referrals from the members that we hope to teach soon in the future and tried less actives that I had never heard of before. I met the Peckhams, super sweet and said that we could come back!
Sunday was Church. I love Church! We taught a bunch of less active families after Church. Nadine is thinking more about baptism, but she will take another month or two I think. Also, I taught the Holis-Poley family, they are also known as the Holy Poleys :) Super cool lesson! We brought a member who is a relative and they have a ton of desire. They work a ton, so we don't meet with them as often as they should. It is hard with Church. But, Brian is set to be baptized in April and said that he has seen changes in his behavior and attitude since reading the Book of Mormon. That was great! work in progress.
Now, it is going to be single digits this week. YIKES. Missionary work gets 100x harder when it is cold. But, we will try our hardest. The Church is true!
Go Bronco's!
Love Sister Kylie Williams
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Always Running
Hello Everyone!
Monday has come around the corner once again and we have been running around all week! ha ha. That has been my life for all of January. I cannot believe how fast this year is already going. February and March, I am pretty sure, will be gone before I know it. The beginning part of the week we started with Sister Gass going to Palmyra, so that took a lot of planning. Monday we packed and tried to clean up our apartment and after a lesson, we left early for Ithaca where I jumped out of the car and joined another Sister and watched as our companions went up to Syracuse and then to Utica to spend the night. The next day, they went to Palmyra and saw the sights and went to the temple. That plus driving really wiped out Sister Gass. I am actually excited for the upcoming day when I get to go to the temple and finally see the Sacred Grove and the Hill Cumorah before I come home. All in good time.
While she was doing that... Sister Virgin and I were trying to work in Ithaca. It is a strange place. There is a downtown and rough parts, there is Cornell Univ. and all the intellectual professors and PhD's and college dorm housing, and then around that is rural backwoods area surrounded by cascading waterfalls, but inhabited by people suffering from " I have lived here my whole life" syndrome. We had fun though. We saw a few of their RC/LA's and tried a few potentials and went tracting. We picked up this guy named Jay in a trailer park, and he was slightly buzzed, but he loved the Restoration. He read the Book of Mormon when he was in jail a few years ago and found God.... but currently, he is going elsewhere. Hopefully, he likes the message just as much when he is fully sober. I also got to teach this fun lady named Charlotte, who is 75 years old and grew up Catholic, that the Sisters found 6 months ago. She converted to the gospel and she has this heavy New Jersey accent and a gruff voice. When she reads the Book of Mormon, she says out loud, "You guys, wasn't that the most beautiful thing you ever read!"
I was so glad to be back in Elmira on Wednesday after Sister Gass came back and we drove home.... just in time for District Meeting. It was the first time that I truly missed my area and my people on my mission. I really just wanted to go back and see them and teach the people that we have been seeing the last three months. It was interesting. I have always loved the people I taught... but not to the extent of what has occurred now on my mission. It is funny to see the differences over time. We did this weird "Scavenger hunt" that was supposed to be an analogy for how to plan well... yea, wasn't the most spiritual meeting, but it was fun. Then, we just went to work seeing people. We have been seeing our main people lately. We taught Jon and Crystal again over Facebook and they are slowly progressing. We are even doing a church tour with them this Wednesday and I am excited. Once we get them to Church, I know that they will get baptized in the coming months. We got to see Will... we had a slight scare. He hasn't really been the best at taking care of himself and managing his diabetes and his blood sugar dropped to 26 on Sunday night... just before we were to teach him a lesson. We knew something was wrong because he didn't open his door and his car was home. We prayed hard and decided to leave. The next day, he texted us and told us that he had hurt himself bad and the EMT's/ambulance had to break in to his house to help him. It was scary, so we are scared about the baptism... but he just keeps plunking along.
Williams got baptized on Saturday and it was great. His sister came and also the Elders had a baptism. The poor Elder's investigator had to be baptized 9 times because the man doing it, was inexperienced and had a hard time with a low water level font. So that was slightly embarrassing. They all had a good laugh about it afterwards though. We watched Meet the Mormons during the dressing time, and the Spirit was so strong during the Candy Bomber story. Sister Gass and I were on the verge of tears the whole time. We were so glad that things worked out.
However, the coolest miracle happened on Sunday. Will was going to be confirmed. When we walked into the Church, we saw him and and he was talking to someone we didn't recognize. They looked alike, so I thought that he had invited his adult daughter to see it. I was so proud of him as a missionary, but it actually didn't work out quite that way. A month ago, the Elmira central Elders tracted into a family who let them in and they gave a lesson. Over the last 2 weeks, that family became a super solid progressing family. This family was ready to come to Church and the Elders brought them. They walk in, are looking around and the Mom screams and runs over to someone in a suit on the other side of the building. The Elders ask, "What's going on?" The Father says, "Oh, that's her Dad." William's daughter found the gospel just like he did. William has a golden family. It was a family reunion at Church! They both said that they both had been learning more about God and going to Church, they were excited for each other, but had never discussed what the name of the Church was... LOL. What are the odds, that we find William and the Elders find the daughter and her family and we teach both groups simultaneously. Even more astonishing is that they both come to Church for the first time on the same day, in the same building. Boom! They both have instant fellow shippers and a support system. This is not our work, it is the Lord's work. Will had the best confirmation. He loved it. He said that he felt like something "filled him up' and he was the luckiest guy on the earth. He even stayed for an 8 year old baptism afterwards. He is doing great... unfortunately, we just saw him last night while he had a low blood sugar episode. It is tough to watch one of my favorite people be reduced to the level of a teenager and lose all inhibition due to health problems. Agency is a killer. If only people would take care of themselves. But, the Lord knows what he is doing.
Thursday, we kept teaching people. We tracted into this guy named Norm that loves the Yankees and was willing to listen and read the Book of Mormon. Rachel is doing good! We had a Relief Society activity on Thursday and got to know more of the ladies in the Ward. That was Fun!
Humm, other updates. James, still stubborn James... Sabrina and Brian are finally having spiritual experiences over Facebook, but they won't let go of their work responsibilities to let the Gospel help them. But, we will still get there! Jim is getting the priesthood next week! We went on exchanges with the Corning Sisters and picked up 4 investigators and saw little referral miracles. I tracted in the cold for 4 hours ... that was fun. Even though we didn't spend a ton of time in our area this week, we still got work done!
Church on Sunday was so spiritual. Best Sunday speakers and little miracles with our investigators. The Spirit was so strong, it tired me out... but I had to go see all of our people.
Well, this week is transfer week. Sister Gass is going home and Sister Seeder will be my new companion. She has been out for 15 months. She is from Seattle and is super cute and nice, but very shy. We are complete opposites, but I have learned that God gives me companions to learn how to be best friends with people that I would never think to be friends with.
I am going to miss Sister Gass a ton. She has been my favorite companion so far and we have had a lot of good time. But, I am excited for the future!
The Church is true!
Sister Kylie Williams
Monday has come around the corner once again and we have been running around all week! ha ha. That has been my life for all of January. I cannot believe how fast this year is already going. February and March, I am pretty sure, will be gone before I know it. The beginning part of the week we started with Sister Gass going to Palmyra, so that took a lot of planning. Monday we packed and tried to clean up our apartment and after a lesson, we left early for Ithaca where I jumped out of the car and joined another Sister and watched as our companions went up to Syracuse and then to Utica to spend the night. The next day, they went to Palmyra and saw the sights and went to the temple. That plus driving really wiped out Sister Gass. I am actually excited for the upcoming day when I get to go to the temple and finally see the Sacred Grove and the Hill Cumorah before I come home. All in good time.
While she was doing that... Sister Virgin and I were trying to work in Ithaca. It is a strange place. There is a downtown and rough parts, there is Cornell Univ. and all the intellectual professors and PhD's and college dorm housing, and then around that is rural backwoods area surrounded by cascading waterfalls, but inhabited by people suffering from " I have lived here my whole life" syndrome. We had fun though. We saw a few of their RC/LA's and tried a few potentials and went tracting. We picked up this guy named Jay in a trailer park, and he was slightly buzzed, but he loved the Restoration. He read the Book of Mormon when he was in jail a few years ago and found God.... but currently, he is going elsewhere. Hopefully, he likes the message just as much when he is fully sober. I also got to teach this fun lady named Charlotte, who is 75 years old and grew up Catholic, that the Sisters found 6 months ago. She converted to the gospel and she has this heavy New Jersey accent and a gruff voice. When she reads the Book of Mormon, she says out loud, "You guys, wasn't that the most beautiful thing you ever read!"
I was so glad to be back in Elmira on Wednesday after Sister Gass came back and we drove home.... just in time for District Meeting. It was the first time that I truly missed my area and my people on my mission. I really just wanted to go back and see them and teach the people that we have been seeing the last three months. It was interesting. I have always loved the people I taught... but not to the extent of what has occurred now on my mission. It is funny to see the differences over time. We did this weird "Scavenger hunt" that was supposed to be an analogy for how to plan well... yea, wasn't the most spiritual meeting, but it was fun. Then, we just went to work seeing people. We have been seeing our main people lately. We taught Jon and Crystal again over Facebook and they are slowly progressing. We are even doing a church tour with them this Wednesday and I am excited. Once we get them to Church, I know that they will get baptized in the coming months. We got to see Will... we had a slight scare. He hasn't really been the best at taking care of himself and managing his diabetes and his blood sugar dropped to 26 on Sunday night... just before we were to teach him a lesson. We knew something was wrong because he didn't open his door and his car was home. We prayed hard and decided to leave. The next day, he texted us and told us that he had hurt himself bad and the EMT's/ambulance had to break in to his house to help him. It was scary, so we are scared about the baptism... but he just keeps plunking along.
Williams got baptized on Saturday and it was great. His sister came and also the Elders had a baptism. The poor Elder's investigator had to be baptized 9 times because the man doing it, was inexperienced and had a hard time with a low water level font. So that was slightly embarrassing. They all had a good laugh about it afterwards though. We watched Meet the Mormons during the dressing time, and the Spirit was so strong during the Candy Bomber story. Sister Gass and I were on the verge of tears the whole time. We were so glad that things worked out.
However, the coolest miracle happened on Sunday. Will was going to be confirmed. When we walked into the Church, we saw him and and he was talking to someone we didn't recognize. They looked alike, so I thought that he had invited his adult daughter to see it. I was so proud of him as a missionary, but it actually didn't work out quite that way. A month ago, the Elmira central Elders tracted into a family who let them in and they gave a lesson. Over the last 2 weeks, that family became a super solid progressing family. This family was ready to come to Church and the Elders brought them. They walk in, are looking around and the Mom screams and runs over to someone in a suit on the other side of the building. The Elders ask, "What's going on?" The Father says, "Oh, that's her Dad." William's daughter found the gospel just like he did. William has a golden family. It was a family reunion at Church! They both said that they both had been learning more about God and going to Church, they were excited for each other, but had never discussed what the name of the Church was... LOL. What are the odds, that we find William and the Elders find the daughter and her family and we teach both groups simultaneously. Even more astonishing is that they both come to Church for the first time on the same day, in the same building. Boom! They both have instant fellow shippers and a support system. This is not our work, it is the Lord's work. Will had the best confirmation. He loved it. He said that he felt like something "filled him up' and he was the luckiest guy on the earth. He even stayed for an 8 year old baptism afterwards. He is doing great... unfortunately, we just saw him last night while he had a low blood sugar episode. It is tough to watch one of my favorite people be reduced to the level of a teenager and lose all inhibition due to health problems. Agency is a killer. If only people would take care of themselves. But, the Lord knows what he is doing.
Thursday, we kept teaching people. We tracted into this guy named Norm that loves the Yankees and was willing to listen and read the Book of Mormon. Rachel is doing good! We had a Relief Society activity on Thursday and got to know more of the ladies in the Ward. That was Fun!
Humm, other updates. James, still stubborn James... Sabrina and Brian are finally having spiritual experiences over Facebook, but they won't let go of their work responsibilities to let the Gospel help them. But, we will still get there! Jim is getting the priesthood next week! We went on exchanges with the Corning Sisters and picked up 4 investigators and saw little referral miracles. I tracted in the cold for 4 hours ... that was fun. Even though we didn't spend a ton of time in our area this week, we still got work done!
Church on Sunday was so spiritual. Best Sunday speakers and little miracles with our investigators. The Spirit was so strong, it tired me out... but I had to go see all of our people.
Well, this week is transfer week. Sister Gass is going home and Sister Seeder will be my new companion. She has been out for 15 months. She is from Seattle and is super cute and nice, but very shy. We are complete opposites, but I have learned that God gives me companions to learn how to be best friends with people that I would never think to be friends with.
I am going to miss Sister Gass a ton. She has been my favorite companion so far and we have had a lot of good time. But, I am excited for the future!
The Church is true!
Sister Kylie Williams
Monday, January 25, 2016
The Day of Blessings
Hey everyone!
This has been quite a crazy awesome and dramatic week. As things get closer and closer to the new transfer in February, the pace is picking up. We had Rachel's baptism, Will passed his interview, we had a worldwide training with the apostles, double dinner with investigators, Facebook lessons and partying with members. There are times when missionary work is tough, like so hard that you just want to sit in a corner and cry and sometimes that happens. But, you just let it out and the Lord strengthens you, gives you a miracle and then your fine for another month or two. But then there are certain days where everything just goes right and everyone is so happy and you just sit back and revel in it! Those days make a mission worth it!
But, I will start from the beginning! Monday started off sweet! We had tons of appointments so we woke up early and tried to get everything done as fast as possible. We did however, make it to the Ward Zumba night. It was so much fun! I didn't know how much I truly love dancing until I haven been able to do it. These hips don't lie :) We got everything done, just to have our appointments fall through, so what did we decide to do, buy Syracuse pajamas and sleep in the living room and eat chips for 2 hours. It was fantastic. We then continued to teach Rachel and Jon/Crystal over Facebook and we saw Jim. We taught Brenton, who managed a Barnes and Noble store, and he read the whole Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price and he loved it. But he does not want to pray about it or become affiliated with organized religion. I am so confused with people like that... Grrr. They like the knowledge, but not the lifestyle change. Judgement day is going to be interesting for many. We dropped him as an investigator afterwards.
Jim-- THE MAN IS COMING BACK! We made a real effort to bring members this week and review the lessons. It was really good and we kept hammering the commitment of coming back to Church since he hasn't been in 3 weeks. Well, he came this week and personally approached the Bishop and said, "So I am done waiting! I want the priesthood... I want to keep walking the path!" ha ha Jim doesn't mince words. He also said the closing prayer Sunday Night and was so happy that he was able to go back and to feel loved by the Ward and by Heavenly Father. FIST PUMP! With him, I learned that people really do need space and experience opposition sometimes. Unlike like helicopter parents... you can't be a helicopter missionary. If you always protect them and try to control every situation, they are not going to truly grow. Prayer and trusting in the Lord, is all we can do, that and be patient. It was so hard, but he is in a much better place now.
Jon/Crystal: They are a sweet new progressing couple. They have jobs and remind me of really geeky Mormons that just aren't baptized yet. We OYM'd/tracted into them 1 month ago and with patience, they are opening up and keeping commitments. She is a very nonactive Baptist, and he was recently Presbyterian. But, everyone there was in their 70's, so he left. They are engaged and want religion in their lives. I actually like them a lot. They have some things to work on, but very good hearts. They took us out to Ruby Tuesdays on Thursday and we just go to know each other better and gave them the materials for future lessons. They live with the Dad to save money and he does not like us... so we talk over Facebook. Jon always has to update me on football scores too. He feels like it is his duty or something. Thankfully football seasons is coming to a close, so we can get them to church.
Tuesday: We saw some not progressing investigators. Yeah, those are always hard. If people aren't in to what we have to say, the Spirit really isn't present for lessons. We have had quite a few of those lately. Our investigator pool is dropping. It's okay, many of them I knew weren't too interested anyways. I may have to do a lot more finding next month. #findingFebruary. We did a tiny bit of tracting this week. Nothing really came of it. We saw Will and Brian and they are so awesome.
William - AKA Bill: The man is going to be a great Mormon. Because of his diabetes, his brain isn't 100%, but his heart is... and because his heart is, the man says really inspired things sometimes. He came to Rachel's baptism to support and aced his interview this week! He is also so giving. He made Sister Gass Gluten free bread, because of her recent allergy and gave me yogurt. He also gave us apples because we are 'his teachers' and always tries to give us things.. ha ha, just like Jim. He did have a recent blood sugar scare and if we could all just keep him in our prayers this week that would be great. Satan's only way to really mess with him is his health... and Satan is a tool... so he doesn't like to play by the rules. Grr... but Heavenly Father is stronger.
Brian: He knows the Relief Society President and is a great step Dad to the family that we are teaching. Unlike the wife, who has no religious background, he has a ton! And he understands everything we teach him. Unfortunately, the family is all workaholics due to crazy medical bills for the son, so they are never available. He is committed to baptism in April. !!! Yayy!
Wednesday was the missionary broadcast.. and that was pretty good. They haven't done one of these for like a decade. They want us to be bold, teach the gospel of Jesus Christ more, be bold with repentance and work with members. Elder Bednar went hard on these missionaries in the Ogden Mission. Makes me feel better, to know that i am not the only missionary with struggles. They messed up a ton, and Elder Bednar brings in the bold hammer of "umm duh! Why aren't you doing this to have the Spirit!" It was actually hilarious. I then got to practice that boldness on a convert of a year, that never really had a testimony, just joined because his wife wanted him too. Well, all he would do is nick pick and whine, and even distort things in the past, and it was probably the boldest I have ever been on my mission. But, he kinda needed it! We will see what happens. I went to a Book of Mormon Class and missionary Coordination. The usual.
Thursday, we were running around, teaching lessons and saw the usual's. We did pick up a new investigator named Jennifer. The inactive Baptist with anxiety problems. But, she also has a good heart! We had two dinners, thankfully I had the salad bar to help me from not throwing up... and life went on!
Friday we planned, we set goals to be better listeners, and help the Spirit to be in the teaching environment more. We got to practice on Will and then Brian and his family. Those are some of the best lessons this month, we taught the basics of prayer and the Godhead to the family and they asked questions... we waited and let them testify to each other then we answered with scriptures. It was great. Later that night, we got grilled by this Christian kid named Kylie, who is really struggling with his faith. He is intense, so many questions and I feel like I am be interrogated by the FBI, but he always feels the Spirit and commits to do the little things at the end, when at the beginning he doesn't.
Saturday was the best! We woke up and brought some shoes for Rachel (she doesn't have any because she's never dressed up for Church!) Then we went to the baptism of her and Chip. It was the most packed baptism every. I think we had like 40 people there. Great member support and Will and James came. Everyone was happy and the family that Rachel is marrying into, was just crying and so grateful for us teaching her and bringing her into their family with the gospel and they were just beaming to have this new, intelligent, spiritual daughter in law... when many of their 5 sons have given them a lot of grief due to not living gospel standards. We then got taken out to eat with some members, but then we went to another celebration with the member family and Rachel and had pizza. It was really good though. We planned for Primary and then went to another baptism for an 8 year old in the Ward. They are a prestigious family, so they invited like 100 nonmembers and it was a very big showing. So, we talked to the nonmembers. Some were cool, some avoided us like the plague. But, Saturday was a happy day!
Rachel - Man I just love Rachel. She is the most Dry Mormon ever. She is begging for a calling, and already does her family history... and asks questions about the temple, but when we tell her that we can't tell her everything, because it is sacred and H doesn't want the whole world to know, she just sits back and says, "Wow, that makes so much sense.! So do they have preparation classes?" Ah, yup! We pretty much don't teacher her. She teachers herself and we just found her and answer her questions. She is a cutie and really out of the converts I have been blessed to have, Rachel and Will (who is next week) are kinda my favorite... not that I should have favorites, but it still kinda happens. They are the most humble and spiritually prepared people I have taught on my mission. I am just so grateful for them. Her blessing for the confirmation was beautiful. It promised the future of temple blessings, and many callings and service and helping people in the Church. It promised of being a pioneer and helping her family find the church too. So awesome!
Sunday was super funny! James came just to see and we put Will and Jim together and they got along great! We were so proud, we would watch from behind and it is like sending your kids off to school for the first time. They just do so great, and you feel this whole 'proud parent' thing... yep, that's what it was like. We also taught a sharing time in Primary and the kids behaved really well. I was impressed!
Now, I am off to Ithaca for the next two days while Sister Gass goes to Palmyra for the temple trip for departing missionaries. Poor thing freaks out sometimes. I wonder if that will happen to me.
Love you all! The Church is True!!!
Love Sister Kylie Williams
This has been quite a crazy awesome and dramatic week. As things get closer and closer to the new transfer in February, the pace is picking up. We had Rachel's baptism, Will passed his interview, we had a worldwide training with the apostles, double dinner with investigators, Facebook lessons and partying with members. There are times when missionary work is tough, like so hard that you just want to sit in a corner and cry and sometimes that happens. But, you just let it out and the Lord strengthens you, gives you a miracle and then your fine for another month or two. But then there are certain days where everything just goes right and everyone is so happy and you just sit back and revel in it! Those days make a mission worth it!
But, I will start from the beginning! Monday started off sweet! We had tons of appointments so we woke up early and tried to get everything done as fast as possible. We did however, make it to the Ward Zumba night. It was so much fun! I didn't know how much I truly love dancing until I haven been able to do it. These hips don't lie :) We got everything done, just to have our appointments fall through, so what did we decide to do, buy Syracuse pajamas and sleep in the living room and eat chips for 2 hours. It was fantastic. We then continued to teach Rachel and Jon/Crystal over Facebook and we saw Jim. We taught Brenton, who managed a Barnes and Noble store, and he read the whole Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price and he loved it. But he does not want to pray about it or become affiliated with organized religion. I am so confused with people like that... Grrr. They like the knowledge, but not the lifestyle change. Judgement day is going to be interesting for many. We dropped him as an investigator afterwards.
Jim-- THE MAN IS COMING BACK! We made a real effort to bring members this week and review the lessons. It was really good and we kept hammering the commitment of coming back to Church since he hasn't been in 3 weeks. Well, he came this week and personally approached the Bishop and said, "So I am done waiting! I want the priesthood... I want to keep walking the path!" ha ha Jim doesn't mince words. He also said the closing prayer Sunday Night and was so happy that he was able to go back and to feel loved by the Ward and by Heavenly Father. FIST PUMP! With him, I learned that people really do need space and experience opposition sometimes. Unlike like helicopter parents... you can't be a helicopter missionary. If you always protect them and try to control every situation, they are not going to truly grow. Prayer and trusting in the Lord, is all we can do, that and be patient. It was so hard, but he is in a much better place now.
Jon/Crystal: They are a sweet new progressing couple. They have jobs and remind me of really geeky Mormons that just aren't baptized yet. We OYM'd/tracted into them 1 month ago and with patience, they are opening up and keeping commitments. She is a very nonactive Baptist, and he was recently Presbyterian. But, everyone there was in their 70's, so he left. They are engaged and want religion in their lives. I actually like them a lot. They have some things to work on, but very good hearts. They took us out to Ruby Tuesdays on Thursday and we just go to know each other better and gave them the materials for future lessons. They live with the Dad to save money and he does not like us... so we talk over Facebook. Jon always has to update me on football scores too. He feels like it is his duty or something. Thankfully football seasons is coming to a close, so we can get them to church.
Tuesday: We saw some not progressing investigators. Yeah, those are always hard. If people aren't in to what we have to say, the Spirit really isn't present for lessons. We have had quite a few of those lately. Our investigator pool is dropping. It's okay, many of them I knew weren't too interested anyways. I may have to do a lot more finding next month. #findingFebruary. We did a tiny bit of tracting this week. Nothing really came of it. We saw Will and Brian and they are so awesome.
William - AKA Bill: The man is going to be a great Mormon. Because of his diabetes, his brain isn't 100%, but his heart is... and because his heart is, the man says really inspired things sometimes. He came to Rachel's baptism to support and aced his interview this week! He is also so giving. He made Sister Gass Gluten free bread, because of her recent allergy and gave me yogurt. He also gave us apples because we are 'his teachers' and always tries to give us things.. ha ha, just like Jim. He did have a recent blood sugar scare and if we could all just keep him in our prayers this week that would be great. Satan's only way to really mess with him is his health... and Satan is a tool... so he doesn't like to play by the rules. Grr... but Heavenly Father is stronger.
Brian: He knows the Relief Society President and is a great step Dad to the family that we are teaching. Unlike the wife, who has no religious background, he has a ton! And he understands everything we teach him. Unfortunately, the family is all workaholics due to crazy medical bills for the son, so they are never available. He is committed to baptism in April. !!! Yayy!
Wednesday was the missionary broadcast.. and that was pretty good. They haven't done one of these for like a decade. They want us to be bold, teach the gospel of Jesus Christ more, be bold with repentance and work with members. Elder Bednar went hard on these missionaries in the Ogden Mission. Makes me feel better, to know that i am not the only missionary with struggles. They messed up a ton, and Elder Bednar brings in the bold hammer of "umm duh! Why aren't you doing this to have the Spirit!" It was actually hilarious. I then got to practice that boldness on a convert of a year, that never really had a testimony, just joined because his wife wanted him too. Well, all he would do is nick pick and whine, and even distort things in the past, and it was probably the boldest I have ever been on my mission. But, he kinda needed it! We will see what happens. I went to a Book of Mormon Class and missionary Coordination. The usual.
Thursday, we were running around, teaching lessons and saw the usual's. We did pick up a new investigator named Jennifer. The inactive Baptist with anxiety problems. But, she also has a good heart! We had two dinners, thankfully I had the salad bar to help me from not throwing up... and life went on!
Friday we planned, we set goals to be better listeners, and help the Spirit to be in the teaching environment more. We got to practice on Will and then Brian and his family. Those are some of the best lessons this month, we taught the basics of prayer and the Godhead to the family and they asked questions... we waited and let them testify to each other then we answered with scriptures. It was great. Later that night, we got grilled by this Christian kid named Kylie, who is really struggling with his faith. He is intense, so many questions and I feel like I am be interrogated by the FBI, but he always feels the Spirit and commits to do the little things at the end, when at the beginning he doesn't.
Saturday was the best! We woke up and brought some shoes for Rachel (she doesn't have any because she's never dressed up for Church!) Then we went to the baptism of her and Chip. It was the most packed baptism every. I think we had like 40 people there. Great member support and Will and James came. Everyone was happy and the family that Rachel is marrying into, was just crying and so grateful for us teaching her and bringing her into their family with the gospel and they were just beaming to have this new, intelligent, spiritual daughter in law... when many of their 5 sons have given them a lot of grief due to not living gospel standards. We then got taken out to eat with some members, but then we went to another celebration with the member family and Rachel and had pizza. It was really good though. We planned for Primary and then went to another baptism for an 8 year old in the Ward. They are a prestigious family, so they invited like 100 nonmembers and it was a very big showing. So, we talked to the nonmembers. Some were cool, some avoided us like the plague. But, Saturday was a happy day!
Rachel - Man I just love Rachel. She is the most Dry Mormon ever. She is begging for a calling, and already does her family history... and asks questions about the temple, but when we tell her that we can't tell her everything, because it is sacred and H doesn't want the whole world to know, she just sits back and says, "Wow, that makes so much sense.! So do they have preparation classes?" Ah, yup! We pretty much don't teacher her. She teachers herself and we just found her and answer her questions. She is a cutie and really out of the converts I have been blessed to have, Rachel and Will (who is next week) are kinda my favorite... not that I should have favorites, but it still kinda happens. They are the most humble and spiritually prepared people I have taught on my mission. I am just so grateful for them. Her blessing for the confirmation was beautiful. It promised the future of temple blessings, and many callings and service and helping people in the Church. It promised of being a pioneer and helping her family find the church too. So awesome!
Sunday was super funny! James came just to see and we put Will and Jim together and they got along great! We were so proud, we would watch from behind and it is like sending your kids off to school for the first time. They just do so great, and you feel this whole 'proud parent' thing... yep, that's what it was like. We also taught a sharing time in Primary and the kids behaved really well. I was impressed!
Now, I am off to Ithaca for the next two days while Sister Gass goes to Palmyra for the temple trip for departing missionaries. Poor thing freaks out sometimes. I wonder if that will happen to me.
Love you all! The Church is True!!!
Love Sister Kylie Williams
Monday, January 18, 2016
Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts
Hello Everyone!
We had a really cool and funny last couple of days. We are now beginning week 5 out of the 7 for this transfer, so things are starting to pick up the pace. This week flew by! I don't even know where it went, but there was never a dull moment.
It all started off last Monday, typical Monday. just running around and never having enough time to get everything done. We saw Sis E and we showed her the Mormon Channel App on her Roku and had her watch some conference talks. It was like releasing a kid in a candy store, she couldn't get enough of it! Her Mom, who is much older, wants to come back to Church and hopefully they both do soon! The Ward is praying that they do. We had a super crazy meal appointment with this super solid family in the Ward. Their kids are so funny and are flying off the walls and they told around 20-30 riddles during dinner. my head hurt afterwards.. but the chili was great! Especially on a cold winter night. We taught Rachel over Facebook, we try to do that every night and the poor thing wasn't having a good day, but we taught her about the prophets and it changed her night around :)
Let me take a second to talk about Rachel. I love this girl to death! She is the coolest person ever. He faith is equivalent to King Lamoni's wife. In just the last week, she has grown tremendously and just loves everything we teach and it changes her behavior the moment we teach her a new principle. She gave up coffee in 1 day, she immediately started going into withdrawal... so she went to work and just felt gross and even started throwing up... her coworker who hates the Church began to tempt her with coffee and was like, "What are you doing, just take a sip! You will feel better!' To that, she would reply, "And repeat this all over?? NO Thanks!" What a trooper! Even with opposition she got through it and it does not even bother her. She teaches us lessons now before we even teach a principle. We just sit back and watch and smile. I am grateful for Heavenly Father giving me the responsibility over her and being able to watch her grow and now see her in-active boyfriend come to Church and they make such a cute soon to be family. This is the first couple/family that I have taught that has the greatest chance of being sealed in the temple in a year. :)
Tuesday was also very interesting. We had our Owego one training meeting and we learned about planning. Not going to lie, but I haven't been the most "text book Missionary" when it comes to planning. It was good to get called to repentance and learn how I can be more vigilant the next 4 months of my mission. My planning is like Swiss cheese, it has holes". I really have been doing much better with it since being with Sister Gass, but there is always room for improvement.
President Rogers could talk about planning for like 9 hours, but it was only for 3. That took up most of the day and driving and lunch afterwards. It stated to lightly snow. We saw Ilona, and she was in a good mood and also came to church this Sunday! Yayy! Then we went out to this member that actually lives in Pennsylvania. Part of my mission and ward boundary goes across the state border. We were in the middle of no where in the snow, going to this magical winter wonderland where the members have this huge log cabin on a lake that looks like something from a Thomas Kincade painting. We finally found it and had my first dinner appointment in Pennsylvania. That was actually fun and we had homemade cookies right there... mmmm! We saw Will later that night and Rachel again. They are kinda our main focuses since they are getting baptized soon.
We talked about goals and it was hilarious. It just was one of those days where the universe was out of wack. Our plumbing was kinda messed up, we both wanted to eat chocolate all day and sleep, but we couldn't. It was Rachel's baptismal interview day! We got Sis Goette to pick her up (her car is broke) and she passed with flying colors! She is officially to become a member. But, after that, we saw Will again.
William is doing great. We also found out that secretly he goes by Bill, but we have been calling him Will the last 2 months. He is still a William to me! He is getting baptized the 30th! Woop Woop. We keep reviewing the lessons and getting things to sink in and we have had to overcome the obstacle of thing. There was some miscommunication and the poor guy just doesn't have anything and even though he can afford to only eat like one meal a day, he wants to be a full tithe payer. He is another one of those full of faith people. They are the best. The Lord just prepared their hearts. He said that for him to gain a testimony of the gospel, he had to believe it was true first to get the experiences. So deep, I wish most people saw it that way. Our lives would be so much easier. But, I have come to see that missionary work isn't about trying to pry people into accepting the gospel, but rather that I just need to find the Will's and Rachel's. I don't prepare people, God does. I just have to be ready to say something when He throws them at us! More good things to come with Will.
Wednesday was crazy. We taught 9 people. We were running all day! We started off trying to help a crazy less active in the ward by helping her move out of her apartment complex. When we go there, it was a filthy hoarding situation. I had had to deal with that a few times in my life, and I really was not about to just sit there and move one pile from room to room. Plus, when someone had to inspect for bed bugs, I grabbed my companion and ran out of there. Thankfully, we sprayed and checked ourselves. But cleanliness really is next to Godliness!
Then, we went to see Nadine and found her on her bike, in a snowstorm with a giant purple bunny hat on. We were driving in the car and called her over to the parking lot to help her with her bike. She was mad that she was so tired and that it was hard to pedal her bike... but then I told her that the tire was low and she was biking in snow and bikes don't like 20 degree weather. ha ha She rescheduled for an hour later, except we found her again on the road... so we taught her in the parking lot about Adam and Even and the fall. It was actually a very good lesson... but very funny circumstances.
We went tracting and picked up this new guy named Zach and he lets us in the doorway, but we didn't go all the way in since it was just him and there was like 15 different guitars in his house. he is a musician in a band and a elementary music teacher and knows members and is looking for religion because he forsook his Methodist ways to pursue music. He does have some objections to certain commandments, but the Spirit will work on him over time... hopefully! The whole conversation about the law of Chastity and Word of Wisdom was very interesting! Then we were off to drive to Utica for MLC the next day. It was good to see old friends.
We had MLC with Brother Ware and Hemingway. They are directors of Missionary proselyting and referrals for the Church. Very intense. Brother Ware was really nice, Bro Hemingway really intimidated me, he was very business-y! But they basically dropped the bomb on us about planning and things we need to do to baptize those we find. They really know how to get things done.. they taught us about Facebook and taught us everything, so now we have to teach our Sisters! No pressure. ;) Exchanges are changing and a bunch of other missionary things are changing. They taught us about teaching repentance, as in being bold and saying "you are not keeping this commandment. Pray to Heavenly Father for forgiveness and commit to him that you will do it." Because apparently, the Church is suffering with retention. We need to teach people how to change with the Savior's help and teach repentance and baptize converts! That was all day, we only had enough time to teach Will at the end of the day. We were exhausted from everything plus driving back home.
We then saw Megan, taught her the Word of Wisdom and it was okay! She is still working on things and will be investigating for quite a while. Her work schedule is changing and she can't come to church now. :) GRR Satan.!! We prepped Rachel for her baptismal interview and she did great with the questions. We saw Mike, the poor guy is not feeling well. We read scriptures with him. We saw another recent convert family which is struggling with basic doctrine and tithing. For some reason, I am always super bold with them. Apparently, I can be mega bold with older people... but they have been somewhat doing better, so I hope that we can help get them to the Temple! We called James on our way from the Fedenkos. They came to Church!! Yayy. Our Jehovah Witness investigator dropped us. Sad. He just didn't have the real intent to change and was struggling with commitments and loves his church, so he didn't want to study anymore. We had problems getting members to come teaching, so we also had to keep rescheduling. I almost feel like HF did that so we could have more time in our schedule to find others that really do want to change. That was my impression at least! But, I still learned many interesting things with James. Then we had missionary coordination.
Saturday we just worked and did the same things. The only difference was Jim. JIM CALLED US AND WE HAVE HAD LESSONS WITH HIM!!!! He still has a testimony and he just needed space!! Hallelujah!! :) I am so happy. And, he wants to go to Church this Sunday! We also have been doing more online proselyting... just like Bro Hemingway taught us. It really works.
Church was good... the members had a little drama here and there. I always marvel at the miracle of being able to bring people to church and not have them run away sometimes :P ha ha we are all so imperfect! I wonder what Heavenly Father must go through. He must be like "Come on guys, get this together!" We saw some people and went to a missionary farewell. That was weird! We then taught a family that we haven't seen for a month and now we are going to get into the habit of seeing them more frequently! Yayy!
We that is all, the Church is true, and yup... I love it!
Love,
Sister Kylie Williams
We had a really cool and funny last couple of days. We are now beginning week 5 out of the 7 for this transfer, so things are starting to pick up the pace. This week flew by! I don't even know where it went, but there was never a dull moment.
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| The Book of Mormon, the Keystone to our religion |
Let me take a second to talk about Rachel. I love this girl to death! She is the coolest person ever. He faith is equivalent to King Lamoni's wife. In just the last week, she has grown tremendously and just loves everything we teach and it changes her behavior the moment we teach her a new principle. She gave up coffee in 1 day, she immediately started going into withdrawal... so she went to work and just felt gross and even started throwing up... her coworker who hates the Church began to tempt her with coffee and was like, "What are you doing, just take a sip! You will feel better!' To that, she would reply, "And repeat this all over?? NO Thanks!" What a trooper! Even with opposition she got through it and it does not even bother her. She teaches us lessons now before we even teach a principle. We just sit back and watch and smile. I am grateful for Heavenly Father giving me the responsibility over her and being able to watch her grow and now see her in-active boyfriend come to Church and they make such a cute soon to be family. This is the first couple/family that I have taught that has the greatest chance of being sealed in the temple in a year. :)
Tuesday was also very interesting. We had our Owego one training meeting and we learned about planning. Not going to lie, but I haven't been the most "text book Missionary" when it comes to planning. It was good to get called to repentance and learn how I can be more vigilant the next 4 months of my mission. My planning is like Swiss cheese, it has holes". I really have been doing much better with it since being with Sister Gass, but there is always room for improvement.
President Rogers could talk about planning for like 9 hours, but it was only for 3. That took up most of the day and driving and lunch afterwards. It stated to lightly snow. We saw Ilona, and she was in a good mood and also came to church this Sunday! Yayy! Then we went out to this member that actually lives in Pennsylvania. Part of my mission and ward boundary goes across the state border. We were in the middle of no where in the snow, going to this magical winter wonderland where the members have this huge log cabin on a lake that looks like something from a Thomas Kincade painting. We finally found it and had my first dinner appointment in Pennsylvania. That was actually fun and we had homemade cookies right there... mmmm! We saw Will later that night and Rachel again. They are kinda our main focuses since they are getting baptized soon.
We talked about goals and it was hilarious. It just was one of those days where the universe was out of wack. Our plumbing was kinda messed up, we both wanted to eat chocolate all day and sleep, but we couldn't. It was Rachel's baptismal interview day! We got Sis Goette to pick her up (her car is broke) and she passed with flying colors! She is officially to become a member. But, after that, we saw Will again.
Wednesday was crazy. We taught 9 people. We were running all day! We started off trying to help a crazy less active in the ward by helping her move out of her apartment complex. When we go there, it was a filthy hoarding situation. I had had to deal with that a few times in my life, and I really was not about to just sit there and move one pile from room to room. Plus, when someone had to inspect for bed bugs, I grabbed my companion and ran out of there. Thankfully, we sprayed and checked ourselves. But cleanliness really is next to Godliness!
Then, we went to see Nadine and found her on her bike, in a snowstorm with a giant purple bunny hat on. We were driving in the car and called her over to the parking lot to help her with her bike. She was mad that she was so tired and that it was hard to pedal her bike... but then I told her that the tire was low and she was biking in snow and bikes don't like 20 degree weather. ha ha She rescheduled for an hour later, except we found her again on the road... so we taught her in the parking lot about Adam and Even and the fall. It was actually a very good lesson... but very funny circumstances.
We went tracting and picked up this new guy named Zach and he lets us in the doorway, but we didn't go all the way in since it was just him and there was like 15 different guitars in his house. he is a musician in a band and a elementary music teacher and knows members and is looking for religion because he forsook his Methodist ways to pursue music. He does have some objections to certain commandments, but the Spirit will work on him over time... hopefully! The whole conversation about the law of Chastity and Word of Wisdom was very interesting! Then we were off to drive to Utica for MLC the next day. It was good to see old friends.
We had MLC with Brother Ware and Hemingway. They are directors of Missionary proselyting and referrals for the Church. Very intense. Brother Ware was really nice, Bro Hemingway really intimidated me, he was very business-y! But they basically dropped the bomb on us about planning and things we need to do to baptize those we find. They really know how to get things done.. they taught us about Facebook and taught us everything, so now we have to teach our Sisters! No pressure. ;) Exchanges are changing and a bunch of other missionary things are changing. They taught us about teaching repentance, as in being bold and saying "you are not keeping this commandment. Pray to Heavenly Father for forgiveness and commit to him that you will do it." Because apparently, the Church is suffering with retention. We need to teach people how to change with the Savior's help and teach repentance and baptize converts! That was all day, we only had enough time to teach Will at the end of the day. We were exhausted from everything plus driving back home.
We then saw Megan, taught her the Word of Wisdom and it was okay! She is still working on things and will be investigating for quite a while. Her work schedule is changing and she can't come to church now. :) GRR Satan.!! We prepped Rachel for her baptismal interview and she did great with the questions. We saw Mike, the poor guy is not feeling well. We read scriptures with him. We saw another recent convert family which is struggling with basic doctrine and tithing. For some reason, I am always super bold with them. Apparently, I can be mega bold with older people... but they have been somewhat doing better, so I hope that we can help get them to the Temple! We called James on our way from the Fedenkos. They came to Church!! Yayy. Our Jehovah Witness investigator dropped us. Sad. He just didn't have the real intent to change and was struggling with commitments and loves his church, so he didn't want to study anymore. We had problems getting members to come teaching, so we also had to keep rescheduling. I almost feel like HF did that so we could have more time in our schedule to find others that really do want to change. That was my impression at least! But, I still learned many interesting things with James. Then we had missionary coordination.
Saturday we just worked and did the same things. The only difference was Jim. JIM CALLED US AND WE HAVE HAD LESSONS WITH HIM!!!! He still has a testimony and he just needed space!! Hallelujah!! :) I am so happy. And, he wants to go to Church this Sunday! We also have been doing more online proselyting... just like Bro Hemingway taught us. It really works.
Church was good... the members had a little drama here and there. I always marvel at the miracle of being able to bring people to church and not have them run away sometimes :P ha ha we are all so imperfect! I wonder what Heavenly Father must go through. He must be like "Come on guys, get this together!" We saw some people and went to a missionary farewell. That was weird! We then taught a family that we haven't seen for a month and now we are going to get into the habit of seeing them more frequently! Yayy!
We that is all, the Church is true, and yup... I love it!
Love,
Sister Kylie Williams
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Elmira Days
Hello Everyone!
This was a pretty great week. Lots of little things happened. We are currently experiencing a "calm before the storm". Lots of changes in my companionship, the mission and general missionary work over the next 2 to 3 weeks. We have 3 more weeks before transfers again and things are picking up. Sister Gass is slowly prepping to return home... that's been interesting. But, my companion gets to go to the Palmyra temple trip is in 2 weeks! I have to wait until right before I go home to go see the Sacred Grove and go to the temple, but I can still hear about her experience. I miss the temple so much!
We are also going to be starting up exchanges in a week. Due to ta bedbug problem in the mission, things have been at a stand still. Church headquarters just changed how we have to do exchanges now. The Sisters will come to our area for 24 hours and blitz us. They call it "The Laboratory" and we get to use our area and model/be examples. No pressure or anything.. ha ha. Also, this week, we have a GA who is over all of the online proselyting for the church, coming and giving us Facebook training at MLC. That will be interesting. In 2 weeks, there is also going to be a worldwide missionary broadcast as a training for all of us. I have been told that we missionaries are not teaching enough about repentance and having investigators internalize the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. Also, retention is starting to be a problem in the Northeast, but that makes sense. Lately, we have had a few people bombarded at work with anti and opposition literature. Even in medical facilities where you aren't allowed to talk about religion, but yet bosses are putting pamphlets in our investigators lockers. It is times like these that really makes me want to shake my fist at Satan. He is good at what he does. He is also good at starting to make the world so turbulent that people that people sometimes tell us that they don't want to allow us in their homes, that even because we are church people, we still can't be trusted. O well, you just find the select few of super awesome people! And... we have quite a few.
The weather has gotten quite gross over the last few days....rainy, cold, slick and super windy. It even snowed really bad last Monday and went down to 5 degrees. Thankfully things went back to a warmer trend.
The biggest news of the week is that Rachel is now getting baptized on the 23rd!! Fun fact, Sunday there was just not any opening to have a baptism because our Ward is having 6 to 7 of them in the next two weeks (which is super rare) and we were going to bump it to February, but one of the elders investigators who is coming to Church ran up to her and is like, "Rachel? Is that you??" So they were old childhood friends and didn't know that they were both learning about the Church. He said that she could get baptized with him! Super cool! Her desire is top notch and through the roof! We are on the whole rapid fire technique when teaching her. We have to teach lessons 4 and 5 and get all of the baptismal stuff ready in less than 2 weeks! We are meeting every night and she is loving the Church and everything we teach her.... even when people are mean to her about the Church. Thankfully, she is marrying into one of the ward member families!! Yayy for that. Support is key!
I have very strongly come to learn about member support with investigators and returning less actives. If people do not have a close member friend, then with how strong opposition is here, people have a hard time battling it. We have officially lost poor Jim. He is now openly ignoring us and turning off his tv and sitting in silence when we knock on his door. So sad, he was one of my favorites we taught. Doubt is a funny thing, and he let it overcome his literal lover for the Church and for the missionaries. But we are still praying for him and who knows, maybe in the future he could come back. He also was able to quit all of the substance abuse and even though he said he has a problem with Church, he still wants to keep basic commandments and read the scriptures. I hope that hold true, but without baptism and the Church, it is like wearing Swiss cheese spiritual armor!
William is also getting baptized on the 30th. He will probably be my favorite convert for now. He is so faithful and willing and has a humble heart. he loves Church and says he believes the Church is true and keeps all of the commitments and watches Mormon Messages when he can't sleep at night. he gave me his "Williams" (it is a high school in Pennsylvania) sweatshirt because I said it was cool. He has really progressed in the Gospel. He still struggles remembering what he reads in the Book of Mormon, but his prayers are so heartfelt and he prays to be God's right hand man! haha so I am taking everything that we are learning with Jim and applying it to Will. I really want to retain him. I am not too worried, but preparation never hurt anyone!
We have tried a lot of referrals his week and we have this really sweet soon to be investigator that is bff's with the members in Corning. His name is Ray and he is a retired Marine truck driver. He went to Church once for a homecoming talk, but he didn't quite like it. He was used to being Baptist. So, we tried talking with him and at first he was like..."nah, I am not interested." Well, three days later we get a text, "Sisters, I want a Book of Mormon. I love to read it!" He explained how he's noticed things in the bible now and lots of crazy things going on at his Church. Now he is diving into the Book of Mormon and searching for truth! So sometimes the Spirit works on people after we leave :) We also have some solid new investigators. Mary Lou is the old Irish Catholic lady that reads the Book of Mormon and thinks it is the most beautiful thing ever. and The R's! We met them over Facebook and we talk things over. They have strong potential to be super solid investigators in the future. We are eating dinner with them soon to talk things over, but we can't meet at their apartment. Apparently, the manager hates, hates, hates Mormons (of course).
We also did some tracting this week. Nothing too promising there. We did some service at the local food bank with all of the Elders "on accident" and packaged cake mixes for 2 hours to give to starving families. The older volunteers loved having us. We have also seen James a little this week. We brought a member family with us to Jim and Will's lesson. We had 15 minutes extra to kill, so they bought us Frosty's. I love Frosty's! It was fun having a member lesson with a couple. I haven't had that before. The Rogers cam down for interviews and Sister Rogers came out teaching with us for a bit! That was really fun. Sister Rogers is super cute and a very classy lady. We had to clean up the apartment a little bit :)
We taught Young Women's at Church this Sunday. I love the youth, but I don't miss being a teenager, or dealing with school and stupid young adult peer pressure. Well, I still have it now, but it is very different compared to when I was 14. Well that is my week in review.... filled with teaching lots of people and trying to make a difference in the world!
Hope everyone has a good rest of the week!
This was a pretty great week. Lots of little things happened. We are currently experiencing a "calm before the storm". Lots of changes in my companionship, the mission and general missionary work over the next 2 to 3 weeks. We have 3 more weeks before transfers again and things are picking up. Sister Gass is slowly prepping to return home... that's been interesting. But, my companion gets to go to the Palmyra temple trip is in 2 weeks! I have to wait until right before I go home to go see the Sacred Grove and go to the temple, but I can still hear about her experience. I miss the temple so much!
We are also going to be starting up exchanges in a week. Due to ta bedbug problem in the mission, things have been at a stand still. Church headquarters just changed how we have to do exchanges now. The Sisters will come to our area for 24 hours and blitz us. They call it "The Laboratory" and we get to use our area and model/be examples. No pressure or anything.. ha ha. Also, this week, we have a GA who is over all of the online proselyting for the church, coming and giving us Facebook training at MLC. That will be interesting. In 2 weeks, there is also going to be a worldwide missionary broadcast as a training for all of us. I have been told that we missionaries are not teaching enough about repentance and having investigators internalize the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. Also, retention is starting to be a problem in the Northeast, but that makes sense. Lately, we have had a few people bombarded at work with anti and opposition literature. Even in medical facilities where you aren't allowed to talk about religion, but yet bosses are putting pamphlets in our investigators lockers. It is times like these that really makes me want to shake my fist at Satan. He is good at what he does. He is also good at starting to make the world so turbulent that people that people sometimes tell us that they don't want to allow us in their homes, that even because we are church people, we still can't be trusted. O well, you just find the select few of super awesome people! And... we have quite a few.
The weather has gotten quite gross over the last few days....rainy, cold, slick and super windy. It even snowed really bad last Monday and went down to 5 degrees. Thankfully things went back to a warmer trend.
The biggest news of the week is that Rachel is now getting baptized on the 23rd!! Fun fact, Sunday there was just not any opening to have a baptism because our Ward is having 6 to 7 of them in the next two weeks (which is super rare) and we were going to bump it to February, but one of the elders investigators who is coming to Church ran up to her and is like, "Rachel? Is that you??" So they were old childhood friends and didn't know that they were both learning about the Church. He said that she could get baptized with him! Super cool! Her desire is top notch and through the roof! We are on the whole rapid fire technique when teaching her. We have to teach lessons 4 and 5 and get all of the baptismal stuff ready in less than 2 weeks! We are meeting every night and she is loving the Church and everything we teach her.... even when people are mean to her about the Church. Thankfully, she is marrying into one of the ward member families!! Yayy for that. Support is key!
I have very strongly come to learn about member support with investigators and returning less actives. If people do not have a close member friend, then with how strong opposition is here, people have a hard time battling it. We have officially lost poor Jim. He is now openly ignoring us and turning off his tv and sitting in silence when we knock on his door. So sad, he was one of my favorites we taught. Doubt is a funny thing, and he let it overcome his literal lover for the Church and for the missionaries. But we are still praying for him and who knows, maybe in the future he could come back. He also was able to quit all of the substance abuse and even though he said he has a problem with Church, he still wants to keep basic commandments and read the scriptures. I hope that hold true, but without baptism and the Church, it is like wearing Swiss cheese spiritual armor!
William is also getting baptized on the 30th. He will probably be my favorite convert for now. He is so faithful and willing and has a humble heart. he loves Church and says he believes the Church is true and keeps all of the commitments and watches Mormon Messages when he can't sleep at night. he gave me his "Williams" (it is a high school in Pennsylvania) sweatshirt because I said it was cool. He has really progressed in the Gospel. He still struggles remembering what he reads in the Book of Mormon, but his prayers are so heartfelt and he prays to be God's right hand man! haha so I am taking everything that we are learning with Jim and applying it to Will. I really want to retain him. I am not too worried, but preparation never hurt anyone!
We have tried a lot of referrals his week and we have this really sweet soon to be investigator that is bff's with the members in Corning. His name is Ray and he is a retired Marine truck driver. He went to Church once for a homecoming talk, but he didn't quite like it. He was used to being Baptist. So, we tried talking with him and at first he was like..."nah, I am not interested." Well, three days later we get a text, "Sisters, I want a Book of Mormon. I love to read it!" He explained how he's noticed things in the bible now and lots of crazy things going on at his Church. Now he is diving into the Book of Mormon and searching for truth! So sometimes the Spirit works on people after we leave :) We also have some solid new investigators. Mary Lou is the old Irish Catholic lady that reads the Book of Mormon and thinks it is the most beautiful thing ever. and The R's! We met them over Facebook and we talk things over. They have strong potential to be super solid investigators in the future. We are eating dinner with them soon to talk things over, but we can't meet at their apartment. Apparently, the manager hates, hates, hates Mormons (of course).
We also did some tracting this week. Nothing too promising there. We did some service at the local food bank with all of the Elders "on accident" and packaged cake mixes for 2 hours to give to starving families. The older volunteers loved having us. We have also seen James a little this week. We brought a member family with us to Jim and Will's lesson. We had 15 minutes extra to kill, so they bought us Frosty's. I love Frosty's! It was fun having a member lesson with a couple. I haven't had that before. The Rogers cam down for interviews and Sister Rogers came out teaching with us for a bit! That was really fun. Sister Rogers is super cute and a very classy lady. We had to clean up the apartment a little bit :)
We taught Young Women's at Church this Sunday. I love the youth, but I don't miss being a teenager, or dealing with school and stupid young adult peer pressure. Well, I still have it now, but it is very different compared to when I was 14. Well that is my week in review.... filled with teaching lots of people and trying to make a difference in the world!
Hope everyone has a good rest of the week!
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