Well, I must say this certainly has been a crazy busy week! But I have absolutely loved it! When you're busy as a missionary time flies and you get a lot done.
It's been nice, since last transfer was like molasses. So many things have happened this past week, I hope I can remember them all... Here it goes-
First off, big news- WE HAVE A BAPTISM ON THE 21ST! Ahhhhh I am so excited. His name is Conny and he is just the coolest guy. He's in the army and his girlfriend is a member and she has been helping him a lot. There's also members in the ward that have really been supporting him and answering his questions. It just goes to show that member missionary work is amazing, and that we, as set apart missionaries, cannot do the work without the members! I haven't been able to see a baptism since last summer when I first got out, and I'll admit, for the longest time I felt like a failure as a missionary- but I've come to learn that a baptism doesn't just depend on your work alone. It's you, your companion, your ward mission leader, the ward and the members, but most important the Lord's will. My work has been to plant seeds these last 6 months, but now I am being blessed to be able to have a little harvest this season :) I love to see baptisms, not because of the baptism itself, but I love to see the change and happiness that comes to that individual who is baptized. It's just... awesome. This truly is the Lord's work, if I haven't said that enough already.
Second off, another bit of big news- The Kansas City temple open house is coming up quick and we get to help out almost every other day at the open house!!!!! AHHHH! I feel so lucky to be able to be apart of this! Sister Stoker and I are pretty pumped up about it, and we are trying to do all that we can to really be prepared for those who come through that have questions! This opportunity is like once in a lifetime! April 7-21st! Here we come!
OK, third off- Elder Evans of the Quorum of the Seventy is coming to our mission tomorrow to speak to all of us for 6 hours!!!!!! How insanely awesome is that. He had us read Alma 17-42 over these past few weeks to prepare us for his talk. I have never felt so prepared to hear a talk in my life. I love the Book of Mormon and as I have read this past week I've truly come to see how the Book of Mormon was written for everyone in this day and age. It has helped me be a better missionary in these past few weeks than ever before, I feel like. Ah, I just love it! I know that if you ever have any questions or concerns, to take those to the Book of Mormon and I promise that you will find the answer that you are searching for as long as you have an open heart and a sincere desire to know! I know that is true, without a doubt!
This past week, has been so much fun. We started teaching a man from Liberia, Africa. And he is the coolest!!!! So humble and so willing to learn, but also very intelligent. He teaches math at the college so he thinks very logically, but he also has an incredible amount of faith. He has 2 little girls that are just the cutest, and I wish I could take them home with me. Having Kansas City as part of my area has been really neat, because I've gotten to meet and teach so many different kinds of people from different cultures. You don't need to go foreign to be immersed into culture, or experience culture shock! It's right here in America! For reals.
We taught another guy on his doorstep the other day and boy was that an interesting experience. I think both Sister Stoker and I have been scarred for life. Haha. Lenny's the name and he certainly has a crazy past. I'm pretty sure he was drunk when we were talking to him, but he's been through a lot so we were trying to help him. After all, it's not the first time I've taught a drunk person on their doorstep. So Lenny's talking to us, and then he stops- leans close to me and says, "Boy you sure are prettttyy," all slurred like. At that point, I stood a little closer to Sister Stoker and said, we should probably come back when he's sober. The poor man had lost his girlfriend, a brother, and his mom, all in the past 6 months. He needs the gospel more than anything, but he just couldn't see how by coming closer to Christ would solve all his problems. He wanted an instant solution, but it just goes to show that instant gratification is never the answer! When we think we're happy by living according to the world, the Lord will show us that we really aren't.
Ok, last story for the day- On Saturday we went up to the Independence Visitors Center with our investigator, Conny and some members. Ah, it was so much fun. It really made me miss serving there. Anywho- I had one of the sisters who had just started serving there last week take us through. Her name is Sister Touile and she is from New Zealand. Just the cutest Polynesian sister. It really made me miss my Polynesian ward too. They're just the most loving people. Anyway, so she takes us through and brought a spirit like no other. I was just amazed at how powerful her presentation was and how in tune she was to the spirit. At the end of God's Plan, she told us how much the plan of happiness had blessed her life because she lost both her parents in a car accident when she was 16. I couldn't believe it. What a powerful example of how the gospel can bless you. When she said that, I thought, "Wow, you just never know the trials that we have to go through in this life, or what people have been through." I love her so much. I hope one day I'll get to serve around her. She has forever left an impact on my life.
Well, before I leave I wanted to leave you guys with some of my favorite scriptures over this past week. Enjoy, love you all!
This is when Alma is speaking to his son Helaman in Alma 37- you should all just go read Alma 37. It's awesome!
13 O remember, remember, my son Helaman, how astrict are the commandments of God. And he said: bIf ye will keep my commandments ye shall cprosper in the land—but if ye keep not his commandments ye shall be cut off from his presence.
46 O my son, do not let us be aslothful because of the beasiness of the cway; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would dlook they might elive; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.
47 And now, my son, see that ye take acare of these sacred things, yea, see that ye blook to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.
Love,
Hermana Conrow
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