Dear little nuggets,
I love Sister Campbell. That is first and foremost what I want to say. I am grateful for her. She was trained wonderfully and her personality just goes so well with mine. We laugh so much. She knows internet humor. That's all that matters. We struggle to keep ourselves from giggling too loud at home.
We've had a wonderful week, and seen miracles! The best was a new investigator named Churie. She showed up to church with some less actives. We had met her before when we were at the less actives house, and she sat it once or twice, but didn't participate a whole lot. But one Sunday she asked them to give her a ride to church. When I saw her, I chased her down and gave her a hug. I invited her to take the lessons. The night before, we couldn't find any members who could come along. We called several people, but no one could make it at that time. Finally we asked the relief society president, and she shot off a list of names. We called the one she most highly suggested. Her name is Carrie. We invited Carrie to come along, and she said she was too busy and would have to babysit. I felt defeated and we said "Thank you anyway" and hung up the phone. I slouched in my chair and texted another person from the list, and rested my head on my desk. The phone rang just a minute later and Carrie said "My husband said he'd watch the kids. I can be there. I've never done this before, so I'm not really sure what to expect." We explained the lesson we'd be going over. We threw out a couple questions that we might asked and told her she could think of answers to those, but that her most important role was to be a friend and offer a sincere testimony.
When she showed up in the morning, we went into Churie's house. On the table was a Book of Mormon, already opened, covered with underlining and highlighting. I asked about it and she said "I've been studying it every day with my bible." We taught the first lesson. Carrie shared how precious the gospel is to her and her family. We asked Sister Fish how she came to know it was true. She shared very personal experiences of her coming to have a testimony, and it seemed to connect and align with where Churie was in her life right now. "I know that you can know for yourself that these things are true, just like Carrie has. God will tell you through the Holy Ghost." Churie smiled, "Oh, I already know." She said. "The book has to be true, I can feel it every time I read, I get the chills. I can feel it when you guys talk. I know it's true." We invited her to be baptized on April 11th. We talked about what we'll need to do to work towards that date. She seems hesitant. She's afraid of being pushed into anything. But I have faith. God has been pushing her this whole way. He will continue to work on her, and all we need to do is be instruments. He does all the miracles behind the scenes. He sets it all up. I love her so much. I know that her testimony of the Book of Mormon will carry her to the waters of baptism. It's a wonderful thing to see someone the Lord has already prepared. It truly is His work.
Yesterday at sacrament meeting, Carrie was able to share her testimony and the feelings she felt as she sat in on our discussion. She testified of the spirit, and that we as missionaries carried that spirit. I hope that her testimony will inspire others in the ward, not just to come out with us, but to share with others. I was so grateful. It was a wonderful testimony meeting.
One of the less actives we teach also came to church! She has horrible leg cramps and has suffered many strokes in the past year. We go mostly to visit her daughter who has been less active since high school. We started sending a scripture to them every day, and when we went back to teach them again, the scriptures were all written on index cards and taped on the front door. They've been reading together every day, often reading more than just what we send. Last Sunday they tried to come, but Cheryl (the mother) got horrible leg cramps just an hour before church. She was crying in pain until about 2 pm when they stopped. I told her that if her legs would allow her to come, I would bear my testimony on fast Sunday. I'm so happy to say I was able to get up on fast Sunday and smile in her direction and testify of a loving Heavenly Father and Savior.
It's just funny, some things just don't count towards numbers. You can't measure how happy I was that she made it there. Or how happy I was that the new less active family we found this month made it there too. They are working towards the temple. For the first time this Sunday their schedules allowed them to come as a family. I was so happy. But there aren't any numbers for that. And that's okay. I keep wondering what I can do to know the Lord is proud of me. Sometimes I think maybe the numbers are the answer. Like maybe when I've brought 25 people unto Christ, then He'll be happy. The line still rings in my head during prayers "Are you proud of me, Father?". But this Sunday as I sat on the back bench and watched the ward surround these less-active members with loving arms, I was overflowing with joy. And I had a feeling of satisfaction, peace, bliss. I know it was just a fraction of the Lord's joy that He is allowing me to feel. I know that He is happy even with small steps, even if they don't add up to numbers. I know He rejoices, because I am rejoicing.
Alma 26: 11 "But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God."
I'm doing wonderful this week. I've learned so much in the past few months. I am so blessed to be in Holbrook and to be trusted by the Lord to work with these wonderful people. I love home, but I never want to leave Holbrook. I hope you're all doing wonderful and I love you all so very much.
We're leaving after this for Farmington and we'll be there until Thursday. I'm not extremely happy with you people because I've gotten no letters this week! What's up with that? I hope it's because you've been doing wonderful things in sunny California. The wind is blowing here, so I'll just pray we don't blow away! I love Sister Campbell. That is first and foremost what I want to say. I am grateful for her. She was trained wonderfully and her personality just goes so well with mine. We laugh so much. She knows internet humor. That's all that matters. We struggle to keep ourselves from giggling too loud at home.
We've had a wonderful week, and seen miracles! The best was a new investigator named Churie. She showed up to church with some less actives. We had met her before when we were at the less actives house, and she sat it once or twice, but didn't participate a whole lot. But one Sunday she asked them to give her a ride to church. When I saw her, I chased her down and gave her a hug. I invited her to take the lessons. The night before, we couldn't find any members who could come along. We called several people, but no one could make it at that time. Finally we asked the relief society president, and she shot off a list of names. We called the one she most highly suggested. Her name is Carrie. We invited Carrie to come along, and she said she was too busy and would have to babysit. I felt defeated and we said "Thank you anyway" and hung up the phone. I slouched in my chair and texted another person from the list, and rested my head on my desk. The phone rang just a minute later and Carrie said "My husband said he'd watch the kids. I can be there. I've never done this before, so I'm not really sure what to expect." We explained the lesson we'd be going over. We threw out a couple questions that we might asked and told her she could think of answers to those, but that her most important role was to be a friend and offer a sincere testimony.
When she showed up in the morning, we went into Churie's house. On the table was a Book of Mormon, already opened, covered with underlining and highlighting. I asked about it and she said "I've been studying it every day with my bible." We taught the first lesson. Carrie shared how precious the gospel is to her and her family. We asked Sister Fish how she came to know it was true. She shared very personal experiences of her coming to have a testimony, and it seemed to connect and align with where Churie was in her life right now. "I know that you can know for yourself that these things are true, just like Carrie has. God will tell you through the Holy Ghost." Churie smiled, "Oh, I already know." She said. "The book has to be true, I can feel it every time I read, I get the chills. I can feel it when you guys talk. I know it's true." We invited her to be baptized on April 11th. We talked about what we'll need to do to work towards that date. She seems hesitant. She's afraid of being pushed into anything. But I have faith. God has been pushing her this whole way. He will continue to work on her, and all we need to do is be instruments. He does all the miracles behind the scenes. He sets it all up. I love her so much. I know that her testimony of the Book of Mormon will carry her to the waters of baptism. It's a wonderful thing to see someone the Lord has already prepared. It truly is His work.
Yesterday at sacrament meeting, Carrie was able to share her testimony and the feelings she felt as she sat in on our discussion. She testified of the spirit, and that we as missionaries carried that spirit. I hope that her testimony will inspire others in the ward, not just to come out with us, but to share with others. I was so grateful. It was a wonderful testimony meeting.
One of the less actives we teach also came to church! She has horrible leg cramps and has suffered many strokes in the past year. We go mostly to visit her daughter who has been less active since high school. We started sending a scripture to them every day, and when we went back to teach them again, the scriptures were all written on index cards and taped on the front door. They've been reading together every day, often reading more than just what we send. Last Sunday they tried to come, but Cheryl (the mother) got horrible leg cramps just an hour before church. She was crying in pain until about 2 pm when they stopped. I told her that if her legs would allow her to come, I would bear my testimony on fast Sunday. I'm so happy to say I was able to get up on fast Sunday and smile in her direction and testify of a loving Heavenly Father and Savior.
It's just funny, some things just don't count towards numbers. You can't measure how happy I was that she made it there. Or how happy I was that the new less active family we found this month made it there too. They are working towards the temple. For the first time this Sunday their schedules allowed them to come as a family. I was so happy. But there aren't any numbers for that. And that's okay. I keep wondering what I can do to know the Lord is proud of me. Sometimes I think maybe the numbers are the answer. Like maybe when I've brought 25 people unto Christ, then He'll be happy. The line still rings in my head during prayers "Are you proud of me, Father?". But this Sunday as I sat on the back bench and watched the ward surround these less-active members with loving arms, I was overflowing with joy. And I had a feeling of satisfaction, peace, bliss. I know it was just a fraction of the Lord's joy that He is allowing me to feel. I know that He is happy even with small steps, even if they don't add up to numbers. I know He rejoices, because I am rejoicing.
Alma 26: 11 "But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God."
I'm doing wonderful this week. I've learned so much in the past few months. I am so blessed to be in Holbrook and to be trusted by the Lord to work with these wonderful people. I love home, but I never want to leave Holbrook. I hope you're all doing wonderful and I love you all so very much.
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