Week 27: Celery and Peaches and Miracles Without Number!

August 29, 2022

Gotta be faaaaast!

Okay

Odds and Ends

-gotta have sushi

-almost hit a squirrel

-had exchanges (where one missionary in each companionship trades areas for a day)in another part of South Carolina, in Spartanburg!

-After a kneeling prayer with the Berry family, Sister Berry said "okay boys now help the sisters up!" Never have I gotten up from my knees faster. My face was so red.

-Our old man friend Peachy gave us a peach!

-A member kept asking if I wanted more food. Not my companion, JUST ME. I was trying to be frugal and get just enough to be satisfied, but I got pressured into leaving with a belly as stuffed as my suitcases were...

-I almost died running with Sister Valentine... she's run 1/2 marathons. It didn't help I had to run in Vans.

-A man had a sign that said "Ringers and Knockers Accept the Terms and Conditions of $50 a minute." Haha we had to make sure it was a joke before we started talking with the man!

Miracles

--We went to a member meal where we had Hawaiian haystacks, and I saw a bowl of green things and was like "oh you use celery too?" They informed me those were green bell peppers. But Brother Berry hopped right up and promptly places a cutting board, a knife, and celery for me to use. It was so sweet! They said celery is just stringy water but I disagree.

--A woman called us randomly and asked when church was. Her husband grew up in the church and fell away and they want to start coming back! They are a young family who needs the gospel! They are a miracle we prayed for!

--This is a silly miracle. We had a member meal at Five Guys with another set of elders. The sister pulls out her debit card and tells is to get shakes. Sister Dayley and I decline, bur Elder Kingsford points at us and says "Two strawberries?" We thought he was kidding until he came out with a two extra. I drank enough that the member next to me couldn't see my milkshake anymore... and threw the rest away hehe!

--Jocelyn Kent, a future missionary who i also knew from junior high, went around with us for an entire DAY! It was seriously the best day of the week. Her testimony shone so so bright and she has a vigor that Arizona is not ready for yet! She continued to keep the pep in her step even when all our lessons canceled. I love her and am glad that the Lord decided I still needed her in my life here in SC!

--Elder Taylor and Elder Nieves had been teaching their friend Judy, and she was baptized this past weekend! She is diabetic and all she wanted for a treat afterwards was watermelon. They even called us and asked how to pick out a good watermelon! Fast forward to the morning of the baptism, the elders have lots to do, and overlook the watermelon. We go to cut it up and see there's a split in the center of it. We taste test...it meets the trash can. There was only 5 minutes before the baptism was going to start, so Jocelyn, Sister Dayley and i RAN to the nearest store and bought precut watermelon. We were slightly late, but it was all worth it, because Judy got her watermelon. She made such an amazing promise with God and the elders helped her start her covenant path. She was GLOWING when she came up out of the water!!! The miracle is that we got a great daughter of God added to the fold, and that she got her precious watermelon!

--Lori, a friend we are teaching, heard we might get transferred, and she told us to tell our mission president "that we have one hooked who's about to be converted." We hope there is some validity to that statement 😉

--Got to ask Richard in another area to pray about a day to be baptized! Sister Valentine and I were able to teach probably the best lesson of this entire transfer. It was so special!

--We came up to Stephanie's house and asked about her husband. She told us "My husband has been dead for 4 1/2 years, he's gone and I'm not interested." Before we turned away, Sister Dayley complimented her sunglasses and that led to a 20 minute conversation which ended lovely and happily. The Spirit softened her heart! I can't even describe how cool that was.

--The elders stayed on the phone with us while we felt unsafe for a moment walking to our apartment. It was so sweet!

--Another miracle. Wednesday not a lot happened, we had a lot of trying with not a lot of success. But we did EVERYTHING in our power to do all we could for the Lord and we ended the day satisfied and happy because we truly did give our all. These days are the best!

Spiritual Thought

A woman reacted a little negatively to us this week, she explained we offended her and no longer wanted contact. This was hard to hear, and we knew there was underlying concerns that we just don't know. But what we DO know is that we are to always share the gospel, and give them that opportunity to accept it. In Mosiah 26:38 it reads "And now all these things did Alma and his fellow laborers do who were over the church, walking in all diligence, teaching the word of God in all things, suffering all manner of afflictions, being persecuted by all those who did not belong to the church of God." We can be diligent in our efforts to be examples, no matter what others say, do, or think. So CONTINUE to be a light. Be diligent in following the Lord. Because people will remember the Spirit you have about you, and that way the Lord can leave a lasting impression on their heart, no matter their choices.

•••Transfers are this week! But I feel like me and Sister Dayley are both staying. We shall see!

Birthdays

None...again

Pictures!