"If I get tired of walking, I can always run.": Week 23


Church news: We can sleep in church! You heard it folks. Elder Uchtdorf said it and I quote "Church sleep is among the most wonderful of all sleeps"
(Disclaimer, Sarah sent a separate email to me with this picture saying, “Its getting to hot in Florida, I had to cut it. She is a stinker) Mom I sincerely appreciate your love. But I didn't cut my hair. He-he.
Now when the summers I've heard so much about come.. that might change things.

What a wonderfully exhausting, spiritually fulfilling week it 'twas. So first for some typical mission related stories and then I will get to my commentary on Conference.
So okay, we found a couple new investigators this week, 
One, her name is T. We had a return appointment with a former (someone who used to see missionaries) but he wasn't there. So we went to this other formers house that lived near by. (Side note: Because it is Florida, nearly all our formers if they were over a year ago have moved.) So anyway this former has moved also, but the new lady there was like "Oh I've been looking for a church!" So she let us in and we taught her the restoration. She seemed slightly overwhelmed by the concept. But she said she would be glad to read the Book of Mormon and find out for herself. Still cool though because people never invite you in on the spot.
Another one was an old former from like 6 years ago. (Shocking she does still lives in that house) She's from Haite and she said the missionaries just stopped coming by because she was so busy. So I'm excited about her.
I'm trying to be much better at following the spirit, on the spot. But sometimes it's scary. We went to a member’s house and then went and tried to see a couple formers down the street. They weren't home so as we were walking down the street back to our car, three houses stood out to me. The moment I looked at them I remembered when we came to this member’s house for dinner the three same houses stood out to me, but I didn't knock on them and I can't remember why. So we got in the car. And as I said I'm trying to follow the spirit. I remember just thinking, "That's probably not the spirit, it's just that the houses are in front of me and every time I look at a house I think I should knock it." And then I swear to you as clear as can be a voice echoed in my head. "Are you going to listen to me or not?"
I said to my companion, I think we need to knock those 3 houses.
So we did. First one, not interested at all, second, not really. The third one, this lady came out and we talked to her forever. She said she hasn't found a church, she sees elders all the time and always wondered what they did.
I don't know what will end up happening with her. But it was definitely a lesson I know that I needed to experience. …To really listen to the spirit and be obedient. Not to question.

We got to go to the temple on Friday! It was glorious. I miss the temple so much. I just didn't want to leave. We did someone's family names. Mine was.... Sarah! : ) I thought that was just such a tender mercy. I don't know why it just meant a whole lot to me. And then in President Eyring’s talk he said "When a name on a card seems like more than just a name." It was really cool because that's how I felt. I felt the connection. Not just by our names but by spirit. 

We were a little bit exhausted after when we accomplished our weekly planning.
CONFERENCE! Was sent from above. Seriously. Saturday session we watched at the church. We're not aloud to watch it at member’s houses, but we also can't be in the church without priesthood. Thank goodness (small miracle) some random couple from Ohio was there. But it was freezing.   


Sister McCullough and I trying to stay warm and being dumb

The Sunday sessions we watched two different places. The first session was at the church. Again a miracle. Some guy from Chicago was there. And our investigator L. T. came with us! She loved it. Seriously she was raving, she thought all of it was so cool.
The Sunday afternoon session we had to end up watching it at a member’s. So of course we chose my missionary family, the Sampsons. 
And get this I've had really bad knots in my back. So she gave me a massage while I watched conference. Can you imagine anything better? 

Okay so I have like 16 pages of notes. 
Few things I loved. Brother Brough - "Tolerating bad behavior without correction is false compassion." Woah. If we love people we want them to be their best. 
I loved President Nelson’s council to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and studying them. Something really stuck me with his talk was the intensity. Or I guess the desperation we need to have for answers we really want. 
Elder Holland of course is amazing as always. "Come as you are, but don't plan to stay as you are."
I loved, loved, loved Brother Sabin's talk. New motto of my life: "If I get tired of walking, I can always run." And so so much more that I can't possibly all write.
It seemed to me a lot of it was not looking at others. Stop comparing. Stop criticizing. Look to God. Look to Christ. Focus on what matters. 
I know with all the certainty of my heart that they are our leaders and that our prophet and apostles are called of God. I have no question about it. I'm thankful for the opportunity it's to "Preach what I Practice."  Sister Sorensen


Also. Sister Bromley came to service day this week with us and it was so so good to see her. Seriously it was like seeing Kate or something. Much needed.

CONVERSATION

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Back
to top