Sorry this is late...again!
Well this week was very different than last. Still hard, but much
better. So I think I thought that as I went along in my mission, that
things would get easier. I saw older missionaries that seemed like
they had it all together, when really they struggle too. When I was
Redding, everyone talked about the south like it some glorious place,
when the reality is, missionary work is hard no matter where you go.
But this past week, I learned the power of obedience. Waking up
has been THE struggle, but I committed to be better and once I started
to get up on time, oh my goodness the blessings flowed!
This week we had zone meeting which is always fun to get the whole
zone together to talk about the work in this area! This time though,
President and Sister Marston joined us, which was awesome. I love
learning from both of them. We talked about reaching our goal for
finding new investigators. We talked about our OYMING (open your
mouth) and how as we talk to more people each day, we will find more
people. We decided that each day we would have a theme or category of
people to OYM. Obviously talk to everyone you see/feel prompted to
talk to, but having a category helped motivate us to talk to them.
On Thursday I got to go on exchanges with Smith in her area! She
is such an amazing missionary and I learned so much from her! In their
complex they have a bunch of wild peacocks that sound like a dying cat
when they make noise, so my sleep wasn't the greatest that night haha
but we had an awesome day. We went to try to see a potential, but they
went home so we decided to knock on the neighbors door. A teenage boy
named Emmanuel opened the door and started talking with us. We
explained who we are and what we do as missionaries. We talked about
our relationship with Jesus Christ, and he said that his relationship
with his Savior helps keep him out of trouble. It was an unexpected
yet beautiful response. We asked if they would like to hear our
message and he said he was interested. Like actually interested. It
took us both by surprise, because most of the time teens will giggle
out of awkwardness, say no thanks, and walk back inside. He had to
leave so we couldn't share a message right then, but he said we could
come back!! It was so neat to see, that when you take the extra
effort, miracles happen.
That night we ate with the S. family. Brother S. is
an active member but Sister S. isn't a member at all, but she
goes every week AND pays tithing!! Like what!?! We introduced them to the new Families and Temples pamphlets and also gave them the My
Family booklet to fill out! They were super excited to learn more
about eternal families and family history work. She knows the church
is true and plans on getting baptized, but the only thing stopping her
is her mom. She is a devote Christian (or maybe Catholic, I'm not
quite sure) and isn't into changing her ways or views. But she said
she is going to work on her mom getting comfortable with her getting
baptized. So I'm excited to hear about her progress!!
After dinner we went to
see a former who has been too busy to
meet with the Sisters. At first she said she didn't time to meet but
as Sister Smith and her were talking, they were able to work out a
time that would work. But it was completely out of love for her and
wanting to get to know her. I talked to her two granddaughters and
they were the sweetest little girls. They showed me their baby dolls
and we just giggled together. I saw that as we love the people, as we
genuinely care about them as people, as Children of God, they feel
that, they don't feel like a number or project. When they feel Gods
love for them, they want more and will be more accepting.
meet with the Sisters. At first she said she didn't time to meet but
as Sister Smith and her were talking, they were able to work out a
time that would work. But it was completely out of love for her and
wanting to get to know her. I talked to her two granddaughters and
they were the sweetest little girls. They showed me their baby dolls
and we just giggled together. I saw that as we love the people, as we
genuinely care about them as people, as Children of God, they feel
that, they don't feel like a number or project. When they feel Gods
love for them, they want more and will be more accepting.
So we have a new person over the cars in the mission. So every
third Friday of the month we will have a car fast, where we don't
drive our cars all day. It is to help us OYM more and talk to more
people throughout the day. It's our weekly planning day and we have
wifi at the apartment (thank goodness) so we stayed in for most of the
day and planned/clean out area book. That thing was a mess. We had
multiple records of people and people who didn't have way to contact
them, so we merged records and got rid of people that would be 100%
for us to contact. It was pretty productive! We then walked to the
park where our dinner was going to pick us up. They took us to a
sandwich shop and it was SO GOOD! The father is in the bishopric and
they are just a super sweet family. We were able to share the "A
Shower of Heavenly Blessings" video with them. We talked about how
sometimes we are blocking the blessings Heavenly Father wants to give
us simply due to disobedience or just not seeing the Lords hand in our
lives. I really needed that message. The Lord is continually blessing
us, but we just need to open our eyes and hearts and do things to
accept and receive those blessings.
Saturday was the best Saturday this transfer!! We went to visit
some potentials and less actives and like usual they weren't home.
Instead of just moving on to the next name, we decided to knock some
doors. We knocked on a less actives house with a non member husband
and we were able to set a time to come back! When we left their
doorstep, we saw a man outside gardening. His name is R, he was
born and raised Catholic and has stuck with it. He is an a radio club
with some members of the ward and says he likes Mormons. He said
"eventually I'll read the book." So we asked him if he had a copy of
the Book of Mormon. He said he was waiting for his friend to give him
one, so we offered him one and he accepted! We gave him Alma 32 to
read and we really think he will read it! We plan to go back in a
couple weeks. It was such a blessing to meet him. We really saw that
when we are diligent and open our mouths, the Lord gives us people who
are prepared.
Sunday was so good! It was Father's Day and so all the talks at
church were about Fathers. I am so grateful for my Father and the
influence he has had on me. He is the perfect father for me. I am
grateful for his testimony and encouraging words. We don't talk to
much, but when he does write me it is exactly what I need to hear!
After dinner, we went to see a potential but instead we met a young
man named Cole. He's probably around 17 and he answered the door and
actually stepped outside to talk to us. (That doesn't happen) We read
a scripture from the Book of Mormon and talked about our relationship
with Jesus Christ, he said he doesn't really have one but he would
like too. We have him a Book of Mormon and gave him Alma 7 to read,
all about the Atonement! We tried to set up a return appointment, but
he unfortunately lives in SoCal. 😢 So we may never comes from that. I
just thought it was so neat that the Lord really provides. I thought
about what the miracle for the day would be and nothing came to mind,
and then this happened! The blesses those who diligently do his work!
Love you all so much!
Sister Gore🙌🏻
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