Week 75: Referrals Galore and Busiest Sunday EVER

Odds and Ends

●We found an Elder Street! See pics

●We had a game night with the Reynolds after proselyting hours, which comprised of Cover Your Assets and giant Uno!

●I made Sister Clark and her family cookies as a thank you for playing the piano for me, and she asked for cookie recipe! Win right there!

●One house we pulled up to and a teenager saw us and then hurried inside. We knocked, and he knocked right back on the door. Kinda odd!

●So. We got a flat tire on Thursday, and the nail was right where the old tire was patched, so they had to repair it early in the morning because they had no other openings. Flat tire #3... wowzers.

●We were scheduled to eat with Fabio and Jenny and Emily. Often times he has other missionaries or members come join us, but this time it was just going to be us! Or so we thought. We pulled up and Jenny was waiting for us at the gate with blindfolds in hand. She lead us inside, and all of a sudden, people were yelling! We pulled off the masks and Elder Jones, Elder Vaivaka and Fabio are all in little skirt thingies and they are doing the Hakaa! It made us laugh so hard! Video can be sent on request:)

●Later that night, I tried cow stomach at Fabios! Not too bad. But Sister Gibbens almost hurled hehe!

●Arizona has been over 110 the past 30 days... it might need to cool down before imma enter the state!

●I gave the massive Pokémon cards I had collected in Simpsonville to Haven and Evarly!

●We knocked on this one door, and no answer. But while we were writing a sticky note the dogs were barking like CRAZY! Then a man started talking to us on the ring doorbell. He said he wasn't home... but we could hear the dogs barking on his audio end too. So this man lied straight to our faces.

●Sister Mattson made us bracelets, so sweet!

●For my last pday on the mission, we went and had dinner and a game night with the Phillips! Such a perfect way to finish the mission!

Miracles

★We've been receiving referrals galore! Just as our teaching pool seemed to shrink down a little, God provided!

★We were trying to find a member for Donna's lesson, but after asking around, no one was available. Then out of the blue Olivia asked if there were any lessons she could join with us this week. It was PERFECT! GOD KNEW. Anywho, Olivia bore a powerful testimony of Joseph Smith to Donna and invited her to pray! Donna told us later that she felt peace and calm about Joseph Smith. Woohoo! Testimony is an important part of conversion, and it helps to hear others! Donna needed to hear Olivia's!

★We had a lesson with Donna and Sister Emery! She asked about the difference between the law of Moses and law of Christ and Sister Emery swooped right in and answered her questions! Sister Emery made a comment about how Jesus was perfect despite being born in the circumstances He was. We testified to Donna that even with her family circumstances, she can and will overcome the word of wisdom. She also said her son in law Brian was asking questions about Joseph Smith and Donna was able to bear testimony to him of who he is. Donna is really blossoming in the gospel, and God gave her that opportunity to share her new testimony of Joseph Smith!

★Haven understood the Restoration so well when we came by this week! When we talked about Moses parting the Red Sea, she asked if it was like Moana and wow that comparison blew my mind! Then when we talked about how the Book of Mormon was preserved and buried, Haven asked if it was like a time capsule, and that blew my mind too!

★Sister Gibbens and I pulled up to this trailer where someone had made a referral. We both looked at each other once we got out of the car and asked how we felt. The Spirit told both of us we needed to leave. So we drove off, and we probably will never know what dangers would have come to pass if we has stayed!

★We met another referral: Trevor! When he answered the door he told us he didn't make the request but his ex-gf did. So he apologized and turned to go inside. But we were persistent! We talked more and he really does need the peace and hope of Jesus Christ. We talked to him later the same week and he called us in a panic because some terrible events went down. But he told us: "he brought you ladies first, before anything happened, and it won't get out of my mind." Trevor knew we were sent by God. It was so cool!

★As we were driving, I had the bing to call Jasper. He didn't answer, and not his friend Vera either. I kind of brushed it off. But then a few minutes passed and she called back to tell us he died the day before. We were shocked! We are taking this as a sign that he wants his temple work done!

★Our appointments started canceling in the middle of the day and weren't sure why, but GOD HAD A PLAN! Because 20 minutes later, we got a phone call from President Hamblin asking for us to come to the mission home! We were like 🤯 us??? We got there and couldn't stop smiling! President and the Assistants asked us to lead a council with the leadership at MLC on Monday. It was SO COOL to be able to sit there and see the revelation just POUR OUT!

★We went to a referral, and Sister Gibbens knocked and almost IMMEDIATELY a lady opened the door in a bikini. She told us Jennifer wasn't home. But then Jennifer came out and told us we caught her on her work break! She came and and told us she needed God more in her life and to understand him better. She asked us to come back and meet her son Jordyn! We came on Saturday and started talking about the Plan of Salvation and they ate it all up! He was asking questions like where we go after this life and he said he heard there was a "waiting" place. It was so cool! The Spirit was so strong! We invited them to be baptized on August 26th, and they accepted! THEN Jen came to church, and it made my heart soar to see that the woman we asked to give her a ride was also speaking that day! Then she sat with the Hollingers and we were teaching the youth so members fellowshipped her. She learned so much and her and Jordyn are so committed and aware of their baptismal day, it's beautiful!

★Kathy Baker passed away peacefully but she was surrounded by loved ones!

★This Sunday was the busiest Sunday of my mission, and quite possibly the busiest Sunday of my life! We had so many friends and returning members come! James and Kristen, Gay and Earl Cureton, The Robinsons, Jen, Paco. Holy!!! Our day went like this:

-Arrive at the church at 9

-Practice the 1st musical number with Sister Clark

-Greet the Lake Murray Ward

-Lake Ward Murray Ward @10

-Sister Palmer singing "Savior Redeemer of My Soul"

-Sister Gibbens speaking about testifying of Christ

-Visiting a primary class

-Ward Coord for Lake Murray

-Practice 2nd musical number with Brother Mejia

-set up TV for video for youth Sunday school

-Greet the Gilbert Ward

-Sister Palmer singing "I Have Not Seen Yet I Believe"

-Teach 5th Sunday Youth Lesson on building spiritual muscles

-Linger Longer

We were at the church for 8hrs. That's when you wonder if we confirm the rumors that missionaries live at the church...

★Nichole is speaking in stake conference this month!!!! Ahhh I can't wait for her to share her story!

Spiritual Thought

I learned some cool truths of the gospel preparing for the youth! We compared faith to working out, and called them the 7 connections between faith and muscles! Here is what Sister Gibbens and I were taught by the Spirit:

1. We are all born with muscles, we are all born with faith.

2. Faith and muscles are never fully lost, but also not limited.

3. Your faith/body is yours, build it how you want!

4. Different parts of your body, different aspects of your faith.

5. Easier to stay "in shape" than to go out of shape and try and be fit again.

6. You need to lift something heavy to grow and strengthen your muscles/faith.

7. Accountability Partner: surround ourselves with others to encourage progress.

All of these truths help me better understand my own faith! Then, we discussed a few cautions!

1. Do not compare your muscles/faith with others!

2. There is no one right way to build our muscles/faith.

3. Start small and work your way up!

4. Do it for the right reasons! To be healthy, not for looks.

And LAST but not least, Christ is our personal trainer! We are each unique and the Savior will work with us personally on our weaknesses and strengths! HE is the source we can draw upon to increase our faith!

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to my Benny-boy who's now EIGHT! And happy birthday to my uncle JJ!

Pictures