September 17, 2014

"Hastening the work has to do with the excitement we all feel about sharing the message of the Gospel. It's a natural process that comes out of love."

- Bonnie L. Oscarson

It is really crazy how fast the time goes and what all happens within the time! I was able to drive the team of horses last Monday. I tell you, it was completely awesome, and so many memories were made. They even said that they will have us over again because I did such a good job!!!! ... actually they just invited us over again, I added in the last part! ;)

We also were able to have a zone fun day last week, and we played ultimate Frisbee, football, and capture the flag. I have never been so sore in my entire life! We were all sending text messages back and forth to make sure that others were sore also. We came to the conclusion that the mission doesn’t just mature you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, but also physically as well! Haha it is the ongoing joke in our zone now!

We were able to teach a lot of lessons this week! It has been so great finding all these families that want to learn! We have come to find the biggest barrier for this area... there are so many wonderful families, but they are all young and super busy! Mansfield work is factory work so the working hours are weird, and the times that they can meet are usually at the same time and day as everyone else. So we are going to need to do splits to teach these families... But we also have to get the members more involved in missionary work before we move to that option.

Our neighbors have made some wonderful progress. We were able to go over there last night because he just got out of surgery and talk to him about blessings, and he asked for one. As we were explaining it to him, we told him that it was based upon his faith, and he seemed to accept that really well. The spirit filled the room, and we know that the spirit was there testifying to him that God is aware of him and that he needs to exercise faith in Him. It was a wonderful evening!

We were also able to have dinner with a less-active last night, and we are teaching her grandson. It was a great discussion, and he committed to coming to church last night. In the process of teaching him, the other granddaughter’s boyfriend came in and sat in on the conversation. Sister Mills went to her bookshelf, grabbed a Book of Mormon, showed him where we were at, and told him to follow along. So he did and said that he would also come to church this Sunday! It was awesome, and we are so grateful for our evening! To end that lesson, Sister Mills’ grandson prayed! We were shocked because the last time we taught him he said that he only prays quietly, but this time he said "ok" without any argument! :) It is so great to see the spirit working with these people!

Also we had a lesson planned with this one family yesterday, and he came to the door and almost cried because he had totally forgotten about our meeting and he and his wife had to be somewhere. It was so cool though because he said, "Let’s meet tomorrow at this time! I am so, so sorry!" That was the first time that I have ever had anything like that happen where the investigator was so sorry for forgetting that he planned to meet with us the following day. We decided that it was more important to meet with him then have some personal time, so we are going over there in 10 minutes. I love it so much!!! These people are looking for truth and direction, and the Lord is completely leading us and others across the world to these people!

I could go on and on with all the stories and work that we have been doing like transporting cats, tearing down ceilings in houses, cleaning the church building for a couple of hours, etc... It is so great, and I love every minute of it! I know that this work is led and guided by our Savior, and that the Holy Ghost is the true converter. I love being the mouth piece for our Lord, and I pray each and every day that I can say His words the way He would have them said to His children. I love you all so much, I love this work, and I love my job!!! Have a great week!

-- Sister Gale