I guess I'll start with the depressing news because then it'll force you all to read the whole email to get to the GOOD stuff. And plus, I've realized that I haven't really wrote about stuff that does go wrong. Let me tell you, there are going to be ups and downs as a missionary. What I have realized is you can either focus on the negative or focus more on the positive. I've unconsciously decided to focus on the positive so I want to apologize for not writing a lot about the negative stuff. There are downs almost every single day but the good weighs out the bad.
So three of our investigators (A, R, and M) are not going to be ready to be baptized on October 31st..and it makes me so sad. Two of them were progressing pretty well but this week we sort of hit a stump in the path. all three of them have begun to struggle and I know that Satan is trying to work really hard on them because they are moving to such an incredible spiritual experience. I pray for them every single day and hope that we can help them feel the spirit strongly once again.
Another struggle that I've seen while being out is getting investigators to come to church. We have so many of them we contact/visit Saturday night that say they are going to come but when church comes around, they aren't there. I am going to really try hard this week to help people understand the importance of church attendance and that they can receive personal revelation through church attendance
Oh man, we taught this lady the other day and she was craaaazy. She said how we all had a third eye in our brain and the government was polluting our tap water so that it would dull our third eye. #WHAT Then she went off about this secret organization taking over the government...yeah, I wasn't sure what to say the entire time. Haha But she is going through a hard time right now and I know the gospel can bless her life so we will see where that goes.
We had an amazing lesson with our investigator T on Saturday.
She is probably our strongest investigator BUT she won't set a baptismal date yet. She likes to work in baby steps so we are making steps towards setting a date. Our lesson Saturday was on Faith and it was absolutely amazing. We listened to the talk "Lord, I Believe" by Jeffery R. Holland. EVERYONE PLEASE GO READ IT.
The other day Sister Wolf and I read the talk "The Miracle of a Mission" by Jeffery R. Holland. Let me tell you...that talk brought tears to my eyes. I love Holland so much and that talk pierced my soul. No lie. Please read that talk as well.
We had the opportunity to help an elderly woman garden and it made me think of my dad. He cares so much our yard and always plants the prettiest flowers. #lovemydad
My favorite day of the week had to be Saturday. We had a pumpkin carving activity that was put on by our ward mission leader. Man, did I have the time of my LIFE. It was so much fun. I'll definitely send pictures from that activity. We talked to a 12 year old there and wow, she had such strong faith. She isn't a member so we talked about the plan of salvation with her and she was extremely interested to know more about Gods plan for her. We told her we could teach her more but we wanted it to be okayed through her parents..out of respect you know? Well I don't think her parents were too interested but I hope someday Grace can have the chance to her more about the gospel.
Yesterday we went to check on investigators that haven't been visited in awhile. They weren't home so we decided to knock on the door next to them. We met S and she had thee cutest little 2 yr old boy. The moment he saw us, he looked up and said, "I wanna hold you." (Meaning he wanted to be held). It made my heart ache and made me miss my nieces and nephews so so much. We got to talking to her and before I knew it we were in her house teaching her the restoration. After I recited the first vision to her she said, "that's amazing that God and Jesus Christ appeared to him." Yes, S, it is! We have another appointment with her Wednesday and I can't wait to teach her again.
My favorite lesson of the entire week was probably at dinner last night. We had an awesome dinner at a part-member families home. We shared the Mormon message "The Hope of Gods Light" and then Sister Wolf and I shared our personal "conversion" (not really converts but gaining our own testimonies) stories. It was so powerful and the spirit was so strong. There wasn't a dry eye in the room and I KNEW walking out that we had strengthened their testimonies and helped them come closer to Christ. It wasn't because of me but because of the spirit in the room. I told them that if they had a question, had a desire to receive an answer, went humbly before the Lord in pray, with real intent, that they would receive an answer. I told them that I was called of God and set apart as a representative of Jesus Christ and I had the authority to promise them this. I can honestly say that this has been the most powerful moment as a missionary. God is there for us and He knows us individually. I challenge you all to watch "The Hope of Gods Light" and then pray to our a Heavenly Father having a desire to know the answer to a question you want to ask Him. I PROMISE YOU that you WILL receive an answer if you are humble enough to receive it.
Since my sister is so amazing, she sent me a thing that allows me to transfer pictures from my camera to my iPad. I got it Saturday so I didn't take too many photos on my camera but from now on I will have better quality photos then the lame iPad ones. Lol thanks Jen!
Being a missionary is incredible. As I have said before, there are ups and downs. I have times when I wonder what in the world am I doing out here but I have moments where I know exactly what I'm doing out here!
I am so grateful I have the opportunity to be a sister missionary. I have grown so much in the past month and I know I'll continue to grow the next 17. I love this gospel so much. I've never loved it so much until now. I KNOW I have a loving Savior who is there for us. I KNOW we have a prophet on the earth to lead and guide us. I KNOW that I have a loving Heavenly Father who cares so deeply about each one of us. It's incredibly amazing how much we as indicates can grow in the gospel if we allow ourselves to grow. I love you all so much and I am so grateful for the support!
With lots of love..XOXO,
Sister Detamore
Highlights:
1 Month
First haircut on her mission
Pumpkin carving activity
Fall in Ohio
Halloween Packages
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