Hello, Happy Monday to you all. ☺️ so a lot happened this week and I want to apologize in advance for the length of this email!
First of, I can't believe I turn 20 this week! So much has happened in the past year and I'm shocked how fast time has gone by. I'm feel so humbled being able to serve Gods children. This upcoming week will be a very bittersweet week for me. One of my dear friends will be going through the temple. A year ago today he came to my birthday party with us knowing little of each other and little did I know in a short three weeks he would be baptized, become my best friend, and go to the temple a year later! My heart is filled with gratitude for the opportunity I had to be a part of his journey this far. I've seen the gospel change his life and being a part of that has been one of my main motivators as I serve my mission.
This week we had Elder Zeballos of the seventy with us! It is such a neat experience as a full-time Missionary to be taught and instructed by a General authority. There was a lot that I took from that. One thing was that we invite others to come unto Christ not to go to Christ. We have to be standing next to Christ to do this. Our purpose states: "We invite others to come unto Christ by helping them received the RESTORED GOSPEL." Personally, I reflected on my testimony of the Book of Mormon, the plan of salvation, and restoration. If I, as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ, am helping people come unto Christ through the restored gospel then I need to be doing that for myself. This week I've really Focused on finding more of a love and testimony of the Book of Mormon. I know as I do that, I will be more sincere in testifying of its divinity. I've really seen a difference in the past week as I have done that. I desire to share the Book of Mormon more and I desire to open it up more...I love it!
Wednesday we went out tracting and nobody was home. As we were getting ready to head in for dinner. We met an 81 yrd old named M weeding in her front yard. We asked if we could help and she said we were dressed up way to nice to help! So she accepted for us to come back the next day. We came back and helped her weed for an hour and then shared a brief message with her and her husband. She then allowed us to come back the next day to share more about the Book of Mormon. We took a member with us and had a great lesson! The member ended up staying for an hour after the lesson to just chat with M. I absolutely love M (': She grew up in Germany and she is like a grandma to me. Don't know how long we actually will teach her but hey, the gospel is for EVERYONE.
We knocked on a ladies door and we talked to her for about 8 minutes. She didn't have time to talk because she was cleaning her house and preparing to move. We asked if we could come by another time and bring her a Book of Mormon. She told us a day but explained that there was a huge possibility she wouldn't be there because her friends 5 yr old son wasn't doing well and if he passed away then they would be on the next flight out. Without thinking much about it I asked if we could pray for her friends family with her before we left. The next time we went back...she was there and waiting for us! She said she had a lot to going on with selling the home and her friends son. She asked where our congregation met and we told her there would be one closer to where she is moving and she was open to still meeting with the missionaries when she moved. She told us more of the 5 yr old boys situation and how there are a lot of prayers for that family but that "ours felt special". She said how we met her at a perfect time. She explained that she and her husband grew up in a church but didn't like the way they practiced their beliefs. She said we met her at a good time because they want to find a religious community to raise their daughter it. I was reminded of my childhood years growing up in the church and the joy it brought me...I testified of the blessings that come from being a member of the church. We have the opportunity to back to her house in the next week to share more. I feel so humbled to have met Kerri. I'm a complete stranger yet she has enough trust in us to share personal information of trials going on and letting us bear pure testimony to her. I feel so privileged to wear my Saviors name on my chest and have these incredible experiences with people I meet! ❤️
We didn't see S and J this week because of someone passing in the family but I'm so excited to share the plan of salvation with them!
We haven't seen J either ): he had to cancel the lessons we set up and now we can't get ahold of him. Please pray that we can get ahold of him...I know this is for him!
We met a guy named Don last Sunday and we had a lesson with him Friday and yesterday. There were so great! He isn't religious but does have a belief in God. Last night we introduced the BOM more and taught using it. We taught a very simple lesson and towards the end I had a thought come to mind..."you are committing him to read Alma 40...how about you read half the chapter with him now to help him understand it and start to keep his commitment?" I knew that was the spirit helping me to know how to help him! It was such a neat experience. As we read from Alma I thought to myself, "Here I am...in Powell, Ohio on a Sunday evening reading the Book of Mormon on the driveway in an old lawn-chair with a man I met a week ago. AND IM SO HAPPY."
A nonmember who is hard of seeing needed some service so her member friend from Florida told her to call the bishop and get ahold of the missionaries. We were able to go help her out and she had shared that she met with missionaries before. During the service project we talked about the Book of Mormon and the crowning event of Christ visiting the Americas. At the end of the service project, I asked if I could share with her one of my favorite chapters from the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 11. She gladly accepted. She sat on the couch and I sat next to her feet reading the Book of Mormon to her. There I thought to myself "here I am at a lady's house that I met an hour ago..reading the Book of Mormon to her on a Saturday morning. AND I AM SO HAPPY." It is such a peaceful and joyful thing to read the Book of Mormon with Gods precious children of Ohio. We have planned to go over this week to help her and she is willing to have us share more of our message! She even had the Book of Mormon on CDs and is going to look for them so she can listen. She even invited us over for dinner this week!
A member discussed sharing the gospel at church yesterday and she shared her experience of giving a chapel tour with us. She thought it was such a neat experience that we taught gospel truths with the paintings on the walls. She said a few days later some people from the community not of our faith were using the building. She directed people all night to the bathroom. She said two men walked out and she directed them to the bathroom then they said they were just wanting to look at the paintings. She then said she could give them a chapel tour. They gladly accepted and she proceeded to give them a chapel tour the same way we did with our investigator! It was such a neat thing to hear this afternoon at church. Because of our example as missionaries, a member was able to do the same for nonmembers...and people she didn't even know!
Wow, I'm sorry for the novel but thank you for reading it...<3 There is so much that happens and I just wanted to share it. This week I've gained a greater sense of love for this gospel and the teachings of Jesus Christ. President Gordon B. Hinckley said: "Happiness lies in living the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ." As I have served the past 8 months, I truly have come to understand this statement better. I’M SO HAPPY. And you can be too (: We are given the gospel of Jesus Christ because our Father in Heaven wants us, HIS children, to be HAPPY. What a loving Father in Heaven we have. I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lords Kingdom on the earth today. I know that President Monson is a man called of God and receives divine guidance from our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ lives. He Loves. He reigns. I so testify in the sacred name of Christ the Lord, Amen. Until next Monday...
XOXO
Sister Detamore
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