This week has been a busy one. We had a lot of lessons with less
active members this week. We are working with them and trying to get a
better relationship with the ward members. We are doing great. But we
are also spending a lot of time finding new people to teach. We got
someone that the elders found this week that is a woman so they gave her
to us to teach. And that meeting went really well. (See below) We are hoping that we can find some more people like her this week to teach as
well. Midori is now back in Japan for about 3 weeks. She went to help
her parents because her mom is sick. But we are hoping when she comes
back that we can be in contact again and at least see how she is ever
now and then. We are hoping that she sees a difference in her life
while she is gone, but she may not. It is hard because we want her to
be happy, but because she is happy she thinks she doesn't need the
church. Sometimes you just want someone to go through a rough time so
they can see how great life really is with the gospel. But everything
happens in God's time. She will come back one day. :)
We actually had one of our less active in Church on Sunday
that hasn't been for about 18 years. It was awesome. She is at one of
those low parts in her life right now. It is helping her to see that
she needs the church. Strange how that works. But she will be ok. It
was awesome to see her there. And one of our other less active who has
been coming really regular since I got here is preparing to get her patriarchal blessing soon and then the next step is the temple. We are
stoked!!! She is awesome!!!
We also had a zone conference this week. So that was great. I
always get so much from the other missionaries and their testimonies of
the gospel. Coming together and realizing that we are not alone. It is
a great blessing to have all of them around us. I have no many new
friends from the mission and I can't believe what a blessing that is.
This coming week will be great. We have some great appointments set
and we are going to go back to the less active on the farm for
service. So of course I am looking forward to that. It will be
amazing. And we have Stake conference this weekend in Vienna. That
will be super exciting. We get to sleep over with the sisters in Vienna
which never happens but it makes more sense to stay there
overnight. We would get back late on Saturday and have to leave really
early on Sunday
for the sessions and it is also cheaper to stay there. We are so
excited. We usually only get to see them once or twice a transfer, because there are so few sisters in the mission we are all so spread
out. And
then of course we are excited for stake conference. But last stake
conference I learned about nothing since I couldn't understand the German. But I could feel the spirit. But I am hoping this time my German is a little better. :)
Thanks for the ensign. It hasn't come yet, but I am sure it will
soon. That is way better than you trying to use the Post. I tried to
send Jaque an email and he either didn't get it or doesn't want to talk
to me. You can tell him he can email me as well. :)
Dad, I thought over your lesson and how you are teaching. And I
don't think I can share anything better than Elder Eyring or better than
you. I learned all I know from you. But I had a great experience the
other day that I think kind of goes with this topic. Feel free to share
or not. :) We were headed into a first meeting with an investigator
that the elders had found on the street. We knew she was a Jehovah Witness, but wanted to talk with us. We got there and she was really
nice and pretty open. We were surprised. She pulled out her bible and
started asking questions with of course the scriptures behind to back her
up. But she wasn't wanting to argue, just to ask out of curiosity.
Which is great. She was really open and something interesting happened.
As missionaries we always have the spirit with us. But sometimes we
forget because we are surrounded by it all the time. And they always
talk about how the words will be given to you what you need to say. I
can truly testify that it is true. She was asking us questions about
certain scriptures in the Bible that I can't remember right now. And I remember thinking when she opened it up that we were in trouble, cuz my
bible knowledge is about nothing. But I felt the spirit working through
me and my companion and we were able to answer almost all of her
questions. And I know where the answers came from. I felt like for
those 30 minutes, the spirit was using me to talk to her. Because I
really know that was not me. The knowledge that I had to answer her
questions and help her to see where we were coming from was not
something I could do on my own. And I know without a doubt that the
spirit spoke to her. She didn't fully understand him, and she isn't yet
convinced of the truth, but I challenged her to baptism. And it was
really funny because in my head I thought I shouldn't do it just yet
even though they say to challenge them in the first lesson. But I was
scared and thought no, and then next thing I know I am asking her if she
will be baptized. She didn't say yes, but she also didn't say no. It
was really interesting to feel the spirit working through me. And I
know that when we do things out of love for others and want them to come
closer to God, he gives us his help. He qualifies us. He makes us
strong enough to bear the burden we have and to touch the hearts of
those whom we are teaching. I know now more than ever that the Holy
Ghost is real. He knows all of us and he uses us to answer others
prayers. He can and will speak to and through us when we allow him
space in our lives and our hearts. And maybe the witness is not for
those with whom we are speaking, but for those whom he is speaking
through. This was one of the greatest experiences I have ever had
regarding the spirit. And I know now that I am stronger because of it.
Whether she is baptized or not, that experience strengthened me. And I
know that it was a part of revelation from God to help me see that I
can rely on him and trust in his promises. He really gives us the
strength and the words that we need. Revelation is available to all of
us if we but study and want to become better. We do our part and God
takes up the slack. He loves us more than we can imagine and he wants
to give us the opportunities to see Him in our life as well as help
others see him through us. I read a quote this week that said "Don't
shine so that others can see you, but shine so that other can see Him
through you." Be that light to those around you and you will see that
your light also grows. It is amazing.
I love you all and think of you always. Keep up the work at home
and know that I am thinking and praying for you. You are all amazing
examples to me and I don't know what I would do with out you. The work
of the Lord is moving forward. Love you!!
Sister Poll
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