Let's start off with a
little bit of laughter, shall we?
Every morning we get
up at 6:30 (this is an obedience thing, so I've never been able to
sleep in. Ever) and then we roll off the bed and fall onto our knees to pray.
Well, this morning, I rolled out of bed like I am commanded to do, and said my
prayers. I said Amen, and then I started to get up to get ready for the day. My
sleepy brain did not like that. Instead of standing up and being mature about
it, I promptly fell over and snoozed for a little while longer on the floor
(five minutes tops). My companion saw me get out of bed to pray and thought
"Wow, she is getting so mature--she is up before I am!" Well, Sister
Stettler finally got out of bed to say her prayers, and lo and behold, she sees
me sleeping on the floor, snoring slightly. She's sitting next to me cracking
up about it right now. So glad to make her smile. I also started dozing off
during planning this morning. Again. No beauty sleep for the righteous, am I
right?
So here's a tidbit
about the area in which I serve. As missionaries in the country of West
Virginia, our particular area covers has about a fifty mile radius. One of the
towns in which we proselyte is Weston. Guess what's in Weston? A Hogwarts-size
lunatic-insane asylum. Look it up. It's huge. It is the largest hand-cut stone
building in the USA. I housed thousands of mentally disturbed people. I was
shut down about twenty years ago due to funding. Well, right before it closed,
the staff and doctors let go all the crazy people who didn't have a criminal
record. So guess what Weston is populated with? That's right, the insane lunatics
and their posterity. Shnazz, right? We visit Weston twice a week, and our
visits are always very.... crazy. The asylum opens in the summer for historical
tours, so sister Stettler and I plan on going sometime on a preparation day.
Spooky! I kid you not-- the asylum is as large if not larger than Hogwarts
(it's definitely bigger than the theme parks).
This week has been a
roller coaster. Most of the week has been at the bottom of said roller coaster.
It was a hard week. We got really stressed out for out investigators and
roadblocks kept on popping up. People weren't reading, lessons were falling
through, mistakes were made and challenges kept arising. Sister Stettler and I
have been fasting and praying like no one's business. Just as we thought this week
would leave us hanging out to dry, the sun broke through the clouds. Who says
miracles ceased with Christ? Goodness, I have seen the blind gain their
sight!
A recent convert
couple have really been struggling with their faith. They stopped reading the
scriptures and haven't been able to make it to church the past few weeks. The
husband was beginning to question that which did not understand. He was
doubting his faith rather than doubting his doubts. Well, here's the miracle--
they came to church and spoke with the bishopric. Both husband and wife now
have accepted callings and the husband will receive the priesthood soon! We
will work with them to get them to the temple to perform baptisms proxy for
their deceased ancestors.
Another miracle-- We
are teaching a recovering drug addict. He has been clean from drugs and alcohol
for a few months and has really changed. But the programme he is in does not
consider smoking as a drug, so we've been helping him quit smoking. He's done
it before, but then he picked it back up because he was not in a good
environment at work. Well, our ward mission leader offered him a job at the
wood cutting mill, and he's been smoke-free for a week now! He just had his
baptismal interview this week and will be baptized and confirmed next
Saturday!! He is going to be such an amazing member!!
Well, would you look
at that! Another miracle-- One of our investigators is actually the daughter of
the recent-convert couple afore-mentioned. She saw the difference in her
mother's life and began meeting with the missionaries. She's 21, and just had a
baby. This baby has been the best thing that ever happened to her. Her baby
matured her. She wants a good life for her little boy, and her maternal nature
has begun to peak through, preparing her to receive the restored gospel!!!
Guess who is planning a wedding?! WE ARE! She will be married to her boyfriend
in mid-April, and baptized soon after. Her boyfriend/fiance is really
supportive of her, even though he is not interested in the discussions himself
(he'll change, with faith). I AM SO HAPPY!!
Miracle part four-- We
have been teaching a part member family. We have been wanting to bring up the
subject of baptism with her, but have felt that this case was special, and that
the way the Lord wanted us to go about it was to let the wife come to the
conclusion of baptism by herself. Guess who asked us to be baptized next
month?! AWESOME, AM I RIGHT!! That's not all-- she also wants her children to
be baptized!
Oh, look, another
miracle-- The wife of one of our members feeds us dinner and really enjoys
having us over, even though she is of a different faith. We love her and she
makes me so happy. Well, guess who came to church on Sunday?! WILLINGLY AND ON
HER OWN!!!! RIGHT?! MIRACULOUS!
Does this not prove
that God is preparing the hearts of His children to receive the gospel of Jesus
Christ?! There have been other miracles as well, but I'll save them for later.
My testament of the Saviors hand in the lives of those whom He loves. Through
the Book of Mormon the questions of the soul can and will be answered, if we
diligently seek. Oh, speaking of diligence, I gave a talk yesterday! One of the
speakers fell through, so I volunteered to speak in his place. I felt that the
ward needed to hear about becoming diligent missionaries, even when they are
not missionaries, and that we are blessed and are the means by which others
receive blessings. A woman gave her talk before I, and she spoke on
fellow-shipping and working with the missionaries to aid in the kingdom of
heaven. How perfect! I expounded upon some scripture and bore my testimony.
Although I had little time to prepare, I did prepare, and prayed mightily that
the Spirit would guide me. One of the best talks I ever gave. Miracles,
miracles, miracles!
I began a gratitude
journal this week, an example set by my trainer. Instead of dwelling on the
things I miss, I've been able to focus more on the things and experiences that
have blessed me and helped me to grow. I expect that journal to be bulging in
no time at all, hehe! Well, this captain has to clean her Enterprise, vacuum
her T.A.R.D.I.S., and go shopping in Diagon Alley for spells and potions. I
love you all with all my heart, and thank God every day for your prayers. I
love you. Have Courage, and Be Kind.
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