Wellps
another week has passed by, and this one definitely had its share of good
progress/miracles happen in it. Things are going well, I'm learning
lotsandlotsandlots and we're learning lots together about how to just make
things happen! So, I will give you just a little blow-by-blow of some of the
things that happened this week.
So,
Tuesday night, I think I mentioned to you that our ward mission leader planned
this last-minute branch trip to the VC. We invited as many investigators as we
could, and none of them showed. We were super nervous, because for the first
like 15 minutes only the ward mission leader and his family was there, and we
were bummed because it was a great opportunity to gain more trust of the
members, and we thought it would be a total flop! But then, more people came.
Definitely not the whole branch, there were like 3 or 4 of the main families
that came. But it went really well! The President pulled me aside in the middle
of it and was like "hermana fors, this is a GREAT activity". We have an
activity about the armor of god here in the VC, where we read the passage in
ephesians and have a real suit of armor, and we put it on someone to
demonstrate the different parts. So we did that, adn they totally loved it and
were all taking pictures with their cellphones. Then at the end of the
activity, the president said that they had all come to the VC many times
before, but he didn't think they had ever enjoyed it as much as they did that
night. So it went really well!! It was really a miracle that things just turned
out like that.
Then,
the following night, we had volleyball. We were also nervous about this one,
because they changed it from thursday to wednesday, and we weren't even sure if
it was going to happen. And we had an investigator, David, whos way into
volleyball and he was all stoked for it, "yo les PROMETO que voy a
venir", and then we were scared no one would be there! So then we get to
the chapel, and its filled with cars of the people in the english wards...we
forgot it was mutual night. So we walk towards the cultural hall, hearing the
basketball bouncing, and we're thinking its gonna be covered with a bunch of
american deacons, and we won't be able to play. Then we open the door, and its
our branch! And they said they thought that the scouts would be needing the
cultural hall, so we wouldn't be able to set up a net, but we went and asked
and it was all good. Anyways, so yeah lots of little things like that kept
happening, but in the end, david AND his whole family came, and there were TONS
of people who played volleyball...like 3 times as much as before. Including
people from other spanish wards! So it was SO good! So those were 2 nights in a
row where we really got to know the ward better, and both of those instances
turned out so well against all odds...so it was way good.
Ok,
another miracle. So we were knocking on doors at this apartment complex where
we have a couple of potentials, and we knock on this native american's door.
Here in arizona, the whole native american/hispanic thing can cause some funny
moments for missionaries...they open the door and we're always like
"...hoolllaaa????" not knowing if theyre mexican or just navajo
hahaha. Anyways, so we said "hola??" and turns out he was native
american haha. But we startd talking to him, his name's cali, about 30 years
old, speaks like 8 languages, knows every type of martial arts, etc etc, and
just moved here and is completely miserable. And he talked about how he wants
to start introducing God back into his life. And then he says "Ya, I saw
you guys around here a couple days ago talking to those people down there, and
I just thought to myself how much I wish you guys would come and talk to me.
And then I opened the door right now, and you guys were standing here, and it
was so incredible. I was so blown away that you were here, you guys are like
two angels." !!!!!! Ahhhhh so we just kept talking to him, and we set up
an appointment for the next day. But, he is english, and he's a guy, so we needed
to get an english speaking sister to come with us...so we called a few people
and got this girl from the english ward whose hoping to go on a mission pretty
soon. So she came with us the next day, we taught him, and it was so good. He
just kept being like "I don't know, I've always had that question."
and stuff like that. It was good experience to teach the first lesson in
English. So then at the end I just kept feeling like I should commit him
to baptism, so I just did it, even though we hadn't planned for it. And he
paused, and I was like "bahhhh! what's going to happen??" and he just
goes "Definitely. Definitely." And I couldn't stop smiling! So it was
SO good. So, now we just have to pass him off to the English elders :) 3 of our
investigators with the most potential are all going to end up going to wards
other than our own :(..hahaha that is a problem. Anyways, so this tuesday we're
gonna teach him with the english elders and kind of "hand him off" to
them. So it'll be really good.
Also,
this past week we had this guy that we know from the english ward tell us that
a new hispanic family just moved in to their neighborhood. So then we went and
stopped by and visited them, and they're all really nice...a family with 4 kids
from ages 7-15. So we're hoping we can turn them into new investigators! And
they need lots of help moving in and stuff. That was really cool.
Whaaaat
else. Ok, here is my VC miracle for the week. So, Friday was not my best day in
the VC...just calls were not going well, etc. etc. And I still hadn't confirmed
any calls...which is no bueno, it's been a really long time. I don't know,
something about phones makes it really hard for me to just like be bold and
follow the Spirit and go with it. So then Saturday, I was just like "ok...today
is the day." Because on Friday, we had a "prep meeting" (which
we have every week or every other week or so) and I signed up to give the
"miracle moment" for the next week. So, Saturday I'm in the exhibit,
and I consider talking to a few people that I see come in, and they just don't
seem too interested (it's pretty entertaining being in the VC, where like half
of the members really don't feel like talking to you haha). Anyways, so then
this older lady walks in and I just immediately stand up to talk to her. And we
start talking and she goes "can I tell you something?" and so we sit
down, and she tells me that she was just in the temple, and kinda starts
crying. And she's having a rough time because her kids are on drugs, etc etc.
So she tells me how she just received this total answer to her prayers while
she was in the celestial room, and she shares this mini miracle with me. And
then she goes "so as I was in the temple, I felt like I had to come to the
visitors center to tell someone about this who would understand. So I walked
in, not expecting anyone would talk to me, and I was gonna just walk right out,
and then you just walked right up to me, and it was a total confirmation to me
of this miracle." And she told me that maybe there was someone that I
needed to share her story with. And so at the end, I'm like "well do any
of your kids (who don't live with her) need a call from a missionary?" And
she was like "you can do that?!" and I was like "yes!" and
she told me that one of her kids has been trying to meet with missionaries but
for some reason the referral never goes through. So she gave me 2 names, and
that day I called the one who wants to meet with missionaries, and I confirmed
it! Woohooooo! So that experience was just a total lesson to me that the Lord
is preparing people, and all we have to do is find them, they're already ready.
The Lord is the one that makes the miracles happen, we just have to be in the
right place at the right time. So yeah, way cool!
Also
that day, one of the senior couples invited me and another sister to start
teaching this less active guy that came in that day. He just has a rough life,
and wanted to start changing...so we got to teach him and line up a way for his
bishop to get a hold of him. So that was cool.
Phones
at the VC are so interesting. I had one phone call this past week that lasted
liek 45 minutes, with this guy who goes to college here, and is just a total
intellectual. I dunno, it was really interseting..I felt like I was following
the Spirit while I was talking to him, and I feel like I got him to start
considering things. But then at the end when I asked him (several times) if
he'd let the missionaries come over, he was just like "no." flat out.
Anyways...it just made me thinking if it's posisble for us to soften people's
hearts. We know that there are people that are ready for the gospel, but do
some of those people take a little bit more effort to get through to them?
Idunno, if any of you have insights, let me know.
So
yeah, now that I'm writing this I see just how many mini miracles I experienced
this past week. At church, we only had one investigator :( Work on sunday is
such a roadblock ahhh! But it's all good. Oh, also...we committed Griselda to
baptism as well! So she's gonna talk to her husband. So, we're also plnning on
committing david and guadalupe to baptism tonight. So, if all things go well,
that would mean Jose, Guadalupe, David, and Griselda baptized in
october...enough to make up for the months that mesa grande hasn't had a
baptism. We shall see. So again, it's good to write this out...it has been a
good week. So often during the ups and downs of missionary work I forget just
how many miracles I see, it's easy to just get caught up in the moment. I am SO
excited for general conference,I'm such a nerd. But I'm so excited, I'm hoping
I can really get some good guidance there...things that can help calm my mind
during the tough parts of the day. My overanalytical self is definitely my
biggest discourager here on the mission, and I hope that this weekend I can
figure out more ways to help me stop that from being an issue. So things are
really gooooood. I know that miracles come from the Lord, and there's a quote
that's in PMG that says that no matter your talents and abilities, without faith
you won't be a success...and that is so true. The Lord is the one that really
prepares people and puts them in our path, we have nothing to do with that.
So that
is that! I love you all, thank you for your support. Also, Wendy and Kevin
dropped off a note for me here at the VC! That was cool. Love, Sister Fors
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