So...this week was pretty great, I guess, but it was kinda rough! I have had a great opportunity to continue developing my patience. :)
My companion, Sister Strasser, has been really pretty sick. I guess it's kind of an ongoing thing that she has had to go through since the beginning of her mission. She just feels really tired all the time--more so than is normal for a missionary. :) We went in and got her bloodwork done, and the results came back normal. Apparently she doesn't have a thyroid problem or anemia like we thought, so now we're kind of up against a wall. She did get a blessing--the Elders serving with us in Parkwood Ward came over on Friday night. She has a cold on top of everything else (I guess that's just going around!), so the work has had to move forward a little more slowly this week than normally. On Saturday, we had an appointment with the Briggs (our baptismal date investigator), and Sister Strasser didn't want to be around their newborn baby. I went on splits with another member, Sister Jeffrey, and it was a good experience for both Sister Jeffrey and I.
All your words of encouragement really mean a lot to me. I really am trying to do my best, but it has been kind of a slow week, and we really couldn't do anything about it. I continually have to remind myself that the Lord's timing is different than my timing, and though I give it my all, it is up to the people we're teaching to keep their end of the deal. Sundays are great, but I am learning to keep being faithful and hopeful, even when those whom we invite and are sure we will see there, do not show up. Sister Strasser had a previous investigator and member couple whom she taught that took eleven weeks to finally show up to church. Now, he's getting baptized. :) Patience is a virtue! These people are completely changing their lives around. "My purpose is to invite people to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel..." All I can give is my best with the Lord's help.
Funny story for the week: Last night, we were at the Sparks' house for dinner. The Elders had an appointment with them that night, too, but not until 7:30. We were scheduled to eat with them at about 5:30. Elders Jensen and Humphrey specifically told us not to be there until 7:30. I jokingly told them that, "We won't, because we don't stay at dinner appointments for three hours...:)" (They are on bike and sometimes struggle with the cold; they have been known, sometimes, to stay at dinner appointments longer than they probably should ;))
Well, so there we were at the Sparks', eating desert, when we heard a knock on the door. We looked up and realized it was almost 7:30. So....Sister Strasser and I sunk under the table, in an effort to hide ourselves. We didn't exactly think it through all the way, though, because though we were hidden, our car, boots, purses, coats, plates, etc...most definitely were not. There we were, hiding under the table, when the Elders walked in. The Sparks were helping us out, trying to hide us beneath the table. :) They said things like, "Hey Elders! How are ya? Would you like desert? We are definitely the only ones here....!"
It was pretty great. Obviously, they knew we were there. They even left us a message on our car windsheild! (See picture :)) The reason we were there for extra time was because Brother Sparks was late getting home from church because he felta prompting to go back to the church and check the doors to see if they were all locked--they weren't, so I guess all things considered, it was okay that we were still there when the Elders showed up...!
Well, I love you all, and wish you a splendid week!!! :D
My companion, Sister Strasser, has been really pretty sick. I guess it's kind of an ongoing thing that she has had to go through since the beginning of her mission. She just feels really tired all the time--more so than is normal for a missionary. :) We went in and got her bloodwork done, and the results came back normal. Apparently she doesn't have a thyroid problem or anemia like we thought, so now we're kind of up against a wall. She did get a blessing--the Elders serving with us in Parkwood Ward came over on Friday night. She has a cold on top of everything else (I guess that's just going around!), so the work has had to move forward a little more slowly this week than normally. On Saturday, we had an appointment with the Briggs (our baptismal date investigator), and Sister Strasser didn't want to be around their newborn baby. I went on splits with another member, Sister Jeffrey, and it was a good experience for both Sister Jeffrey and I.
All your words of encouragement really mean a lot to me. I really am trying to do my best, but it has been kind of a slow week, and we really couldn't do anything about it. I continually have to remind myself that the Lord's timing is different than my timing, and though I give it my all, it is up to the people we're teaching to keep their end of the deal. Sundays are great, but I am learning to keep being faithful and hopeful, even when those whom we invite and are sure we will see there, do not show up. Sister Strasser had a previous investigator and member couple whom she taught that took eleven weeks to finally show up to church. Now, he's getting baptized. :) Patience is a virtue! These people are completely changing their lives around. "My purpose is to invite people to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel..." All I can give is my best with the Lord's help.
Funny story for the week: Last night, we were at the Sparks' house for dinner. The Elders had an appointment with them that night, too, but not until 7:30. We were scheduled to eat with them at about 5:30. Elders Jensen and Humphrey specifically told us not to be there until 7:30. I jokingly told them that, "We won't, because we don't stay at dinner appointments for three hours...:)" (They are on bike and sometimes struggle with the cold; they have been known, sometimes, to stay at dinner appointments longer than they probably should ;))
Well, so there we were at the Sparks', eating desert, when we heard a knock on the door. We looked up and realized it was almost 7:30. So....Sister Strasser and I sunk under the table, in an effort to hide ourselves. We didn't exactly think it through all the way, though, because though we were hidden, our car, boots, purses, coats, plates, etc...most definitely were not. There we were, hiding under the table, when the Elders walked in. The Sparks were helping us out, trying to hide us beneath the table. :) They said things like, "Hey Elders! How are ya? Would you like desert? We are definitely the only ones here....!"
It was pretty great. Obviously, they knew we were there. They even left us a message on our car windsheild! (See picture :)) The reason we were there for extra time was because Brother Sparks was late getting home from church because he felta prompting to go back to the church and check the doors to see if they were all locked--they weren't, so I guess all things considered, it was okay that we were still there when the Elders showed up...!
Well, I love you all, and wish you a splendid week!!! :D