Well...another week (and a half) down...We have P-Day today because transfers are tomorrow. I can't believe it's already transfers; I'm not quite sure where the time went but it's been incredible. I will be staying in Fairborn with Sister Wolf..yeah! I love being a missionary!!! ❤️ Its been quite a week...lots of lessons, lessons cancelled, challenges, falling down our stairs in our apartment (yes, it was painful but absolutely hilarious), stepping in dog poop two different days, and more. I have so many things that I wanna write about but that would take forever so here is a few snippets of my week:
As we have done some contacting this week, we've had a lot of people challenge our beliefs and our testimonies. I honestly never have had those experiences until my mission and it has opened my eyes. I have experienced things, heard things, and seen things in the past two months that I've never have before. My eyes have been open BUT it has only made my testimony a lot stronger; it makes me realize how true this gospel is.
We were going to find a potential on Wednesday and we ran into some people who were doing a fire in their front yard. We met D and she is such a shy, sweet lady. She accepted our invitation for baptism and we can't wait for her. Every time we teach her, I can feel the spirit so strongly. We had a lesson with her yesterday on the plan of salvation and the spirit was so strong. It made me realize how grateful I am to have the knowledge to know that I can be with my family forever because of Gods plan for us.
We had a lesson with J and B on Thursday but they weren't there. We tried getting in contact with them and we've been to their house multiple times but we couldn't find them. It became extremely frustrating and heart aching because they had felt the spirit so strongly in their first lesson and were excited to be baptized. It came to a point where I felt that they were avoiding us and not wanting to meet with us. Monday night Sister Wolf and I were trying to decide what we should do since our lesson fell through and we both had a feeling to go to J and B just one more time. We got to their house and it looked completely dark but we decided to knock on the door anyways. J opened the door and he was so happy to see us there. He explained to us that they had been staying at his moms home for a couple days and that's why they weren't home. He said that he had talked to his mom about the Book of Mormon and she was completely against it...he said that he was so frustrated with her because he loved the book and really enjoyed it. He said they came back to their house that day because they were sick of getting in fights with his mom about the Book of Mormon. I asked him how far he was in and he said that he was already to 1 Nephi 16; my heart swelled with joy. I had almost lost hope and felt defeated because I felt like they were avoiding us BUT that was not the case at all. They love reading the Book of Mormon and even stood up for it when Justin's mom was bashing on it. I know that this gospel can bless their lives and I'm so grateful we have the opportunity to help them receive the restored gospel.
We went to our lesson with A who has a baptismal date and it was the most awkward lesson. Immediately he explained to us that he hadn't read the Book of Mormon and he didn't know if the church was the right fit for his family and that his girlfriend was uncomfortable with us coming over to teach him. We explained to him that first thing he needed to do was read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it was true. We explained that the gospel can bless his life as well as his families lives. We began to teach him the plan of salvation and I had shared a scripture..he cut me off and said " I don't mean to argue scripture but I don't think that's what that scripture says." This frustrated me because I was literally reading it out of the scriptures. As we were teaching him, his girlfriend showed up and she was frustrated that we were on her porch again. We awkwardly said a closing pray and left his house. I felt like the lesson was a complete train wreck but I know that all I can do is bear my testimony and invite him to know for himself whether we teach is true or not.
We contacted a potential named S this week and he is the cutest/funniest old man; I seriously consider him a grandpa. We had a lesson with him on Monday and as we were sitting there his grandson (S) pulled up so we invited him to join us. We taught them the plan of salvation using the Book of Mormon. S said that he didn't really understand the kingdoms of glory so I explained that God loves us so much that he is going to give a place where we feel comfortable.
He said that he really liked that and that it made sense to him. As we were teaching, we talked a lot about the atonement. I expressed how grateful I was for the atonement because the mistakes I have made are forgiven through the atonement of Christ. We discussed that we have someone who knows exactly what we are going through and that we never feel alone. S turned his grandson and said that he didn't need to feel alone because he had God and Jesus Christ there for him always. I knew there was a reason that S showed up at his grandpas house that day and that he hear something that day that he needed to hear.
We have a lesson with them tonight and I'm so excited to help them feel the spirit more and make steps towards Christ.
On Friday I had a experience that really touched my heart. We have weekly planning and I really have a hard time focusing because I find it soooooo boring. I had no energy that day, I didn't want to do anything, and I just wanted to sleep all day. As sister wolf was in the bathroom, I prayed to my Heavenly Father that I was tired and I didn't know what to do to make it go away. Clear as day I heard the words "Get to Work." Never in my entire life have I had an experience like that before. My heart swelled and my eyes filled with tears. I knew that my Heavenly Father had heard my prayer and immediately he answered it. I am so grateful to know I have a loving Heavenly Father who is always there for me. I want you to know that we DO have a Heavenly Father and he DOES answer our prayers. He may not answer them when we want Him to and how we want Him to BUT I know that He will answer.
NO, missions are not easy BUT they are worth it. I can't begin to explain what I have learned and the experiences I have had. I know that every day my Heavenly Father is molding me into the woman he wants and desires to me. My testimony has grow deeper than it ever has before. I know that this is the Lords Kingdom on the earth once more and that it was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that we can receive personal revelation from it every single day. Because of the Plan of Salvation I can be with my family forever as long as I follow Christ and become like him. If you feel alone, discouraged, lost, turn to our Heavenly Father and Savior...allow them into your life. They love you. They know you. I am so thankful to serve in Ohio and to be a servant of the Lord. I love you all and I am so grateful for all the support I have.
I'd like to end with a part of song that I've grown to love to listen to, it's called Give It All To Him (mom, and anyone else PLEASE LOOK UP THIS SONG AND LISTEN TO IT):
With a pounding heart inside my chest
New shoes on my feet
I tell her goodbye one last time
A tears rolls down her cheek
She says I love you son [daughter]
And just like that I'm gone
With nineteen years behind me
I've got a whole life full of dreams
I spent countless nights asking God
Down there on my knees
Pretty soon I knew
What I had to do
So with a smile on my face
And a prayer in my heart
With my whole world behind me
My life's about to start
I can't count all the blessings that are waiting in the end So I forget myself and give it all to him
Until Monday...XOXO,
Sister Detamore
No comments:
Post a Comment