Dear everyone, :)
I don't honestly know where to start, it was such an interesting and yet incredible week! Well, we got everything figured out for Brittany's baptism; she was interviewed, and she passed!! It turns out that her baptism is the same week as Stake Conference, so we didn't know what to do about her confirmation. But after talking to our Ward Mission Leader, Bishop, Mission President, Stake President-to-Mission President....?! we decided the best thing to do is have her confirmed the night of her baptism. Whew!!!!
On Wednesday we went on exchanges, and Sister DeFord and I definitely had some very interesting and memorable experiences...! We tried contacting a less active member after 8:00 (in the dark), and this guy pulled over and started yelling at us for looking in people's mailboxes because, "do you know that's a federal crime?!" I told him, "Sir, we aren't looking in anybody's mailboxes; we're just trying to find a member of our church." I think when he saw we were a couple of little girls in skirts, he didn't feel so threatened anymore. :)
The next day, we went to try to contact him...good "in," right? ;) Anyway, he wasn't home, but as we were in our car ready to drive away, this guy pulled his car right next to ours and rolled down his window. He asked, "Are you Missionaries? Do you like gospel music?.....(awkward pause from us).....Say yes," and he got out of his car, left it running, and walked over to talk to us! Turns out, he was Pentecostal and had all kinds of things to tell us!!! He talked to us for over an hour! We could hardly get a word in; it felt like he was trying to setus straight. We went away from that conversation very confused....and God is not the author of confusion...?!
On a good note.....! :) Conference was incredible, as always!! I just felt like the central theme this time was to strengthen and build the church, targeting subjects that are basic and fundamental, as many of the members of the church are now new or returning to activity. I loved how much they focused on the importance of family, sustaining the prophets, and of course, loving your neighbor. For me, it was huge to hear of the enabling power of the Atonement; it strengthens us and makes us whole! I am not perfect, you are not perfect, no one is, but Him! And we need to always remember that and hold to Him--always. Do not believe Satan's lies that you are doing no good, that you are not making a difference. Like Mother Theresa said, we may be only contributing a drop to the vast ocean, but if it weren't for those drops, there would be no ocean!
I hope you received revelation from the words of God spoken through His servants. What an opportunity! "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." I testify with all that is in me that this is true.
Love,
Sister Budge