July 07, 2014

"True independence and freedom can only exist in doing what's right."

- Brigham Young

Fourth of July Parade in Dublin

Before I say anything I want to say that Dublin KNOWS how to celebrate the 4th of July!!! I think that it is crazy that there are different holidays in some states that are huge and in other states they are small... well here it is a BIG deal! They start off the day with a huge parade down in Old Dublin where all the streets are shut down for a good 4 hours. We did go to the parade and got our names and faces shown. There is not much success in contacting because people just want to be with their families and want you to just be on your way. But once someone asks you a questions or strikes up a conversation, you jump on that opportunity. It was a lot of fun!

Sis. Gale and Sis. McIntyre all dressed up for the Fourth of July!

We were then asked to go to a member's house for a picnic with some recent converts and investigators. We definitely enjoyed the food that was provided. It was so great for Cynthia to join in with the adults; our investigator and her family were there, and we just played games with them. I will say that I am so grateful for Girl's Camp games because we can't play board games as missionaries, and we learned how to play games without boards at Girl's Camp so it was a total blast. What was even greater was the adults could tell that we were having more fun, so they came and joined us a little later. 

Zone Conference

To finish the night we went to the church. The high school is right across the street from the church, and that is where all the fireworks go off. A ton of people park at our building, so we have the right to put pass-a-long cards on everybody's car that parks at our building. I thought it was awesome because Hailey, our investigator, was spending the evening with us, and she went around and put cards on the cars and even handed out cards to people that were trying to find a parking spot. I just laughed, and by the end of the night, she said that she could see herself being a missionary! It was so awesome! :) All in all, our 4th of July was so awesome! It was a late night with very little sleep because fireworks are legal in Ohio, so everyone is lighting up what they want and shooting it into the air. We heard popping noises all night long. Mixed in with our 4th of July was also a plethora of rain/thunder storms.

So if my typing is horrible it's because I am functioning off of very little sleep! Haha We had some wonderful lessons this week with our investigators and have been able to make some wonderful progress with them. We are kind of in limbo because we are waiting to meet with their parents. All of the parents want to learn a little bit more about the religion before they allow their children to join, so we have set times to meet with them before anything moves forward. We had to tell Kacie that we had to postpone her mission, and I thought she was going to cry. I am so glad that she didn't and that she is totally excited for her baptismal date. But it is important for the parents to know what their child is doing. And who knows, we may even have the opportunity to teach the whole family. At least, that is what I foresee happening because who wouldn't want to join this wonderful gospel?!?!

Sisters in the Zone Conference

Sunday was such a great day! I woke-up to a text from our ward mission leader asking us to teach the lesson in gospel principles today. It was such a great opportunity because we have a lesson tonight with Hailey and her mother. Her mother hasn't heard the restoration yet, so I taught that for the lesson on Sunday. BAM! Used time wisely! Haha It was a great lesson because I learned so much! In the manual, there is a section about the Church in the former times and how it is the same in the present times. I love it, and it definitely clarified even more about the truthfulness of this church. Man, I tell ya, it is GREAT!!! We also had a great opportunity this week to help a wonderful recent convert. She got back from her trip, and she was going through a hard time. She was stressing out a lot, and when we were planning, we had a thought to go and visit her. We decided that we would come with some ice cream to cheer her up. That was exactly what she needed. She told us over and over and just texted us a little while ago that she is still so happy that we came by to cheer her up. I tell you, the Spirit knows who needs help. We must always be willing to listen to His still small voice and answer the call.

Sis. Gale and Sis. McIntyre with a few investigators on the 4th of July.

I am so grateful for this wonderful gospel and for the opportunity that I have to go and help those who have fallen or who feel lost. I know that this is the true church on the earth today. I know that we are led and guided by a prophet. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and it will lead us, guide us, protect us, and do what it teaches us to do. I will forever be grateful that the Lord has called me and trusted me to help His children come back to Him. I hope and pray that we all will do as our Lord and prophets have asked us to do, that is to go a "cry repentance unto this nation." It will bring a change of heart, and a change of heart brings a willingness to submit to the will of the Father. I know that as we submit to His will and do as He directs us to do, then we will live with Him and our families again. I love this great and marvelous work, and I love my job!

Love, 

Sister Gale