November 18, 2013

"Along your pathway of life you will observe that you are not the only traveler. There are others who need your help. There are feet to study, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save."

Thomas S. Monson

Getting ready for a BBQ

No Tracting? 

So you may be looking at my subject and think: she didn’t do anything this week... That’s what missionaries do is tract, right?! WRONG!!! We had a sister specialized training this last Thursday, and one of the challenges that were given was to not tract. We could go through the people that we have previously found and try them again. Also, we are to focus on part member families, visit the less-actives, and find out who some of their friends are. This challenge has led to a pretty successful week!

We found 5 new investigators that seem pretty excited about the gospel. We are meeting with them throughout this week and working on gaining more. We were able to meet with a less-active member, and we got her to come back to church. 

Ready to Compete

Something that was great about this particular less-active is that, ever since she has moved into this wards’ boundary, she has never come to church. The bishop has been over there, and over 20 sets of missionaries have gone. And then there were sisters :) We told the bishopric that she was coming this week to Church, and they said that she was not going to show up. She did, and we gained more respect from them! She will even come next week. I am so excited for her to come back to church and partake of the sacrament. She said that she loved it and that it was great to see new people. That is just one of the successful cases that we have been blessed with because of the “no tracting” challenge. We would have never gone and visited her if that challenge wasn’t extended, and now she is on the path of reactivation. It is super exciting to see the light enter back into her eyes! 

Quick Picture with Sis. Hyer

Thursday night we also had the missionary fireside. It was a HUGE success! We had 50+ members show up, and they are still talking about how great it was and that they have never seen something put on like that in regards to missionary work. After the fireside, we found out a lot of the members have been working with their friends, and a few of them said that they were going to invite them this week to learn from the missionaries or come to church! We are excited to see the enthusiasm in the ward all because of a simple fireside! 

The Elders carried all of the food

Sunday we were expecting a few people to show up but only 1 investigator did and Sis. Chadwick. Unfortunately Emerald did not... We talked to her Saturday night about teaching the lesson with us, and she gave us the biggest NO I have ever had. We talked with her about it and then it led into the church. She said that she didn’t know if this was the true church... We talked with her, and I asked her, "Are you reading The Book of Mormon?", "No", "Are you praying?", "No", "Are you coming to church?", "Not for the past 2 weeks.". "Then you are never going to know if this church is true." I told her that we have taught her all the lessons, and she just needs to read and pray to know if it is true. I told her that there is nothing else that we can do because it was between her and our Heavenly Father. We left her with a prayer and then went home for the evening. We will be talking with her tonight, and it will probably be a sad session BUT I am hoping and praying that she has read and prayed! 

Erin's Bomb.com Zone

Theresa came to church! She is progressing rapidly and has a lot of questions. I love questions!!! We are meeting with her this Wednesday and hopefully another time this week so that we can help her progress and enter into the waters of baptism.  

Mormon Meatloaf. The lady that made this swears it tastes better since she joined the church.

Sis. Hyer got really sick last night... She was up all night throwing up, so it made for a long night. She seems to be feeling better this morning. We got permission to go on splits if she needs to stay home and get sleep so that I can go teach at least the 2 appointments that we do have today!

I loved this past week and learned a lot! It’s amazing how much I constantly learn everyday! I love this work, and I know that it is true. The hastening of the Lord's work is going right now and we need to be a part of it!

At the Sister's Specialized Training... Everyone is dressed in stripes!

"You and I, Today and Always, are to bless all people in all the nations of the Earth. You and I, today and always, and to bear witness of Jesus Christ and declare the message of the restoration. You and I, Today and Always are to invite all to receive the ordinances of Salvation. Proclaiming the gospel is not a part-time priesthood obligation. It is not simply and activity is which we engage for a limited time or and assignment we must complete. Rather, missionary work is a manifestation of our spiritual identity and heritage. We were foreordained in the premortal existence and born into mortality to fulfill the covenant and promise God made to Abraham. We are here upon the Earth to magnify the priesthood and to preach the gospel. That is who we are, and that is why we are here, Today and Always."

This is my testimony! I love my Job!!

-- Sister Gale