March 03, 2013

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things because we're curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.

Walt Disney

 
Sis. Gale with Sister Miller

There are so many things to do when you get doubled-in and open a new area. We have to get a map, organize it, build up a teaching pool, get to know the neighbors, find out which people are active and not so active, figure out the ward mission plan, figure out who the ward mission leader is, meet with the bishop... etc. Of course this was week 2 of being in a new area (Dublin), but everyone here works so it is very hard to get in contact with certain individuals. We have had meals every night to get to know the members, and then we make it a point to visit 2 extra members a day. It definitely keeps us busy, which is exactly what we need.

 
All of the Sisters in Sis. Gale's new area at the Columbus Temple

There were so many great experiences this week such as working at the food pantry. There are some times of the day where you truly cannot contact anyone, so we do service. There haven’t been many members that have offered to allow us to do service, but there are many food pantries and clothing donation places that allow us to come and serve. At the food pantry, we were able to teach a lesson to one of the helpers, invite 2 others for a chapel tour, and set up some appointments... I would say that we are definitely going back! We also have been working on our map, which occupies a lot of time. BUT, if I do say so myself, it looks dang good! :) It’s big, and it is doing its purpose thus far!

We had a great experience this week with Cynthia, who was handed over to us from the Elders. They have put her on-date, and she took herself off-date. They were about to give up on her until we Sisters came into the area; then they figured that it might be better if sisters taught her. Well, we got to teach her 3 times this week. We brought members with us each time so that she could get to know the members more and feel comfortable coming to church--safety net #1. Then we met with her and made sure that we were bringing up each time the need to be baptized with the proper authority, and one way she could know that that was what she needed to do was by coming to church--safety net #2. We warned the member coming with us that she would use the excuse that she was lazy and would try and make it... so when she said that, our member quickly said "Well, I'll come pick you up at 830"--safety net #3. She agreed, and that finished that appointment. We made a 30 day plan for her with set appointments for the next 4 weeks. We also set times to go eat dinner at a members’ house so that she could feel comfortable with all of that--safety net #4. 

 
One of the beautiful homes in Sis. Gale's new area

Well I could keep going on, but I want to get to the exciting part! We gave her a chapel tour on Saturday, and we had everything set up perfectly! We were going to have the Spirit there so strongly and then we got to the church and saw 30+ cars there... What on earth could be going on? There was a basketball tournament going on AND an employment seminar taking place in the Relief Society room which is where the baptismal font is. We were trying to figure things out, so we decided to take her down into the font and then just show it to her that way. The whole thing went great! Little did we know that the Elders had a chapel tour at the same time, so we went around with them. We took her down into the font separate from the Elders and read 3 Nephi 11:21-26 (I think), and it was so peaceful. Then the Spirit hit her when we took her to the chapel where one of the Elders was playing the piano. We explained the sacrament; then we sat there and listened and soaked up the Spirit. It was great! 

 
Hot water heater wasn't working to fill up the baptismal font so we improvised

Well leading to the great part of the story...

So the day before the Chapel tour, she expressed how she wasn’t going to give up coffee or her wine sampling thing she does with her friend "every other year"... The night of the chapel tour we got a 5 page text from her that said "That 'chapel' feeling is the most peace that I have felt in a very long time and something that I want to keep with me forever. I am excited to be baptized on March 22nd and will do everything that I can to prepare for that date, with your help..." There were other things said, but she committed for the date and at church she went around telling people about her date. HOW AMAZING IS THAT!?!?!

 
Sis. Gale took this picture in honor of her brother, Brandon, who is preparing to put his mission papers in soon!

I want to testify that this is the Lord's work. We had so many distractions during the chapel tour, but the Spirit pushed all of that aside. I know that many of Heavenly Father's children would not come to know this knowledge or even convert to the true gospel if it weren’t for the Savior's hand in this great and marvelous work! I love it so much! I know that if I am having a bad day, then I need to go out and share the gospel. It brings that much more happiness into my life and makes the day so much better! I am grateful for the wonderful opportunity that I have to go out and proclaim His word and His doctrine. I love The Book of Mormon! I am grateful for my family and my friends and for the support that each of you give me so that I could be out here and help those who have forgotten the truth. Thank you! I love my job!

Sister Gale