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| Smoke cloud from fire |
This may be the most unexciting letter
ever... brace yourselves. Hey, you kept reading! Good job! ;) It has
been pretty dead here. There is a two week break between the summer
semester and the fall semester and all the students have left. Except
for the sororities who are getting ready for rush week this week. We
can't tract the sororities or fraternities though (obviously) so
there really are not any people here who are student age to talk to.
We are so excited for students to come
back! Basically we are preping the area for the return of the
students. We still go out tracting because it is a way to show our
faith, but we are focusing on our teaching skills. We are doing this
by teaching the members the lessons. Yesterday we explained the
situation to the members of the ward and sent a sign up sheet around
to have us teach them. We have quite a few people signed up for the
week. We are pretty excited about it. We will be able to practice our
teaching skills with the members and improve on things. We will then
be "master teachers" (as President Taylor says) and the
work will explode in this area. At least that's the vision. haha! It
may take more than two weeks to become master teachers, but we are
always striving.
We had a meeting with our ward
mission leader. At the beginning of the year the ward set a goal
of 12 baptisms for the year. The ward is only at three. The ward
mission leader, as well as us, feel very STRONGLY
that finding those who are ready to hear the Gospel are going to come
through the MEMBERS. We were talking
about all the baptisms that Sister Nelson has been a part of and they
have all been through the members, except for one and he was a self
referral. I'm not saying we are not going to be knocking on doors
ever again, what I am saying is that those who are introduced to the
church by their friends and family are those who usually stay active
in the church.... which can easily be translated into they make and
keep their covenants with God.
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| Sister Record at district meeting |
I never realized how important member
missionary work was until I became a missionary. I also never
realized how important visiting teaching was until I came on my
mission. There is a quote by Harold B Lee in Preach my Gospel that
says "Missionary work is but visiting (home) teaching to those
who are not now members of the church, and visiting (home) teaching
is nothing more or less than missionary work to church members."
That is pretty intense! Visiting
teaching is vital to the building up of the kingdom of God. I
would challenge you to go and do you visiting/home teaching and don't
do it for the numbers. Really become that person's friend. Help them
know you care about them. I love this quote by President Monson
"Perhaps when we face our Maker, we will not be asked 'how many
positions did you hold?' But rather, how many people did you help? In
reality, you can never love the Lord until you serve Him by serving
His People."
Anyway, I wanted to thank everybody for
the testimonies in the
Books of Mormon! We are excited to give them away. Yesterday we
got a text from a ward member who talked to his neighbor about the
Gospel. He told us that he just felt prompted to share with him. His
neighbor was very receptive and wants a Book of Mormon and our member
is going to teach him the 1st lesson and then maybe we will be able
to teach him. I am giving away the first copy of the Book of Mormon
with the testimony inside. I will keep you updated on what happens
with that. Our member is giving him the Book of Mormon that Valerie
Evans wrote her testimony in. Thanks for all the missionary work you
are doing Canyon Ridge ward!! Y'all are great!!! I sure do love you!
Sister Fraire shared a great scripture
this morning. It was from 1st Nephi 8, Lehi's vision of the Tree of
Life.
12 And as I
partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great
joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake
of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.
13 And as I cast
my eyes round about, that perhaps I might discover my family also, I
beheld a river of water; and it ran along, and it was near the tree
of which I was partaking the fruit.
14 And I looked to
behold from whence it came; and I saw the head thereof a little way
off; and at the head thereof I beheld your mother Sariah, and Sam,
and Nephi; and they stood as if they knew not whither they should go.
15 And it came to
pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also did say unto them with a
loud voice that they should come unto me, and partake of the
fruit, which was desirable above all other fruit.
Sister Fraire pointed out that after
Lehi knew of the Joy of the fruit of the tree he was desirous to
share it. Not only did he want to share it, but he called out to them
with a loud voice.
It is important to share the Gospel
through our example. However, we should still speak up to our friends
and family about it. Share with them why it makes you happy. We don't
have to be preachy, just share the truth about how you feel about the
Gospel. :) The Gospel of Jesus Christ is such a HAPPY message! We
should be happy to share it with all those around us. We can share it
so many different ways too! Sure some people won't want to listen,
that is their choice. Our choice and duty is that we share the Gospel
and when we share it with those who are ready to accept, "How
great shall be your joy." I feel like this is something I am
really coming to learn as a missionary.
OH YEAH! there was something really
exciting that happened this week. We taught [Name withheld] twice,
once on Wednesday and once on Saturday. On Wednesday he expressed his
concern about prophets and apostles. We talked to him about that and
his concern was resolved. On Saturday we showed him 5 video clips
from the Prophet and the apostles. (I'll include the link to the ones
we watched with him) As he watched he told us that all the things
they talked about were things he already believed in. At the very end
of the lesson [Name withheld] told us that he really liked the videos
and that as he watched he had this "feeling in my rib cage that
felt like something expanding and I feel warm inside." I'm
pretty sure the smile on all of our faces were huge. We explained to
him what that feeling was and that it was the Spirit. We told him to
pay attention to those feelings as he goes to church and reads the
scriptures and meets with the missionaries.
[Name withheld] is so great! He is
moving back to live with his parents in Texas so we won't be able to
teach him anymore. We're sad about that because [Name withheld] is
just starting to have great fellowship in the ward and is really
progressing. I'll send a picture of us with [Name withheld] as well.
Yesterday [Name withheld] came to
church for the 3rd time! And he stayed for the first two hours. Turns
out he needed somebody he felt comfortable coming to church with.
Jeff has been the perfect friend for him. [Name withheld] had
accidentally packed all his church clothes and wasn't planning on
coming to church. He asked if he could wear regular clothes. Of
course the answer was yes! :) Then Jeff told [Name withheld] he
would come in regular clothes too so [Name withheld] wouldn't feel so
weird. It was great! Oh! and Jeff got the Aaronic Priesthood
yesterday!! :D
Oh shoot! I just LOOOOOVEEE missionary
work! Thanks for everything y'all are doing to do member missionary
work! I really appreciate it.... even though I'm in Oklahoma. haha!
I love you! Have a great week!
Love Sister Record
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