Wednesday we had a good chunk of time to find. The sun came out and it was very warm and we enjoyed ourselves a lot. The snow started melting like crazy so the road we were tracting became a river. There is nothing better than wet feet for five hours! Really though it didn't bother me at all. Wednesday night it was about 8 and in our plans we had to stop by a potential, Oliva. Sister McDowell and I met her over a month ago and had given her a Book of Mormon. Every time we had stopped since she either wasn't home or couldn't talk. So to be honest, my hopes weren't really that high. Well she was home and we got to talk to her! She hadn't read yet and we offered to bring her a Book of Mormon in Spanish which she really appreciated (we dropped it off last night). I've realized sometimes it just takes awhile to get things going.
ZONE CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY WAS SO AWESOME. Man I wish we could repeat it. Well first, President Cleveland told us WE GET TO GO TO THE TEMPLE!!!! This was a rumor we had been hearing about, but obviously didn't know if it was true or not. We can go once every six months. President Kelly offered to take us and the elders sometime this transfer. I GET TO GO TO CHICAGO!!! Obviously, I'm WAY PUMPED. I think Sister Bunnell and I will say "guess what? we get to go to the temple" about 10 times a day.
So I had been asked to accompany an elder and sister for the musical number at conference. The sister was running late so I only got to run through it about three times before the meeting started. I was a nervous wreck! There were parts I couldn't play and I my hands were sweating like crazy (disgusting I know). I got up there, messed up, but just kept playing. Sweet Sister Saunders said I did a wonderful job. I'm learning to shrug off the mistakes and move on. That's also a principle I need to apply in life, not just piano playing. I make mistakes all the time, but instead of worrying about what other people think it's just better to move on and try again.
I was so pumped to find new investigators after the meeting. We talked about how to use the temple pass along cards for the temple in Indy more effectively. Then we talked a lot about the Book of Mormon. At the end of conference President Cleveland was talking about how important it is that we ourselves are converted by the Book of Mormon. As a missionary I've seen how so much of the Book of Mormon talks about missionary work because that is my mindset. Taking time to ponder what I am reading is crucial. The Lafayette stake patriarch spoke on patriarchal blessings which was really neat. He said that we will find surprises in our blessings. I definitely agree; being on a mission is an example of that.
We didn't leave Lafayette until about 5:30 and it's a two hour drive home. As the sun set it got really foggy. So bad that there were a couple of times I couldn't see either line. For awhile it was just me in the lane and every once in awhile car would drive going the other way. I was a bit nervous. My eyes were strained on the road. Mostly I was nervous I was going to hit a deer. Anyways, for a short distance a car was in front of me. I could see the road much better and I was no longer scared. But then the car left and I was on my own again. The next morning during studies I was studying the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Spirit taught me a new definition of repentance. Repentance is living in a way that allows God to direct my life. I thought about my experience in the fog the previous night. Prayer is what allows me to come to know God's will. However, I must be willing and worthy for Him to direct my life. I trusted the driver in the car ahead of me even though I had no idea who it was. I can't see God, but I can trust Him enough to follow Him through the mists of darkness (Lehi's dream?!) We will each be much less nervous about life if we choose to follow our Heavenly Father's plan for each one of us. He's given us everything we need, prophets, scriptures, leaders, family etc. It's a cheesy missionary analogy, but I love it!
We got prayer rugs at mission conference! There's so cute and they sit next to our beds. I get REAL excited to pray at morning/night on my prayer rug. Also, we recorded our morning alarm to a song on "The Work" CD. Now I get really excited to wake up in the morning and go to work.
Friday morning we were out trying potentials and some JW's PCed into us! It was kind of fun to be on the other side. They actually saw us and pulled over and started talking to us. She actually travels because she visits all the ASL Kingdom Halls. She immediately recognized who we were and told us she had met ASL Mormon missionaries before. After we were done talking to them Sister Bunnell and I evaluated her according to the things we learn about how to contact people. She did a pretty good job!
Friday night we went out to some member's house for dinner. They live on a farm and so we got to go see their goats and hold their pigs! When I told Sister Johnson that my family raises animals she was sure to take me out there. AND!!! She gave us bacon from their pigs. I'm really excited to eat it. The best part was when Sister Johnson asked us how she should go about giving a copy of the Book of Mormon to her friend. I love when members ask us those kinds of questions!
Saturday afternoon we went country tracting! It was my first time but Sister Bunnell has done it quite a bit. Surprisingly a lot of people were actually home even though we had to walk a bit of a distance between houses. Eventually we reached this "neighborhood" (a street with about eight houses). There was even a burned down house! (Conversion of a Catholic :). I like these kinds of streets because they have so much character rather than a normal street. I should have taken a picture so you know what I mean. Sister Bunnell and I went on a "date" Saturday night to Bob Evans. We had gotten a gift card from a member for Christmas. We are both going to work on being more confident in our ability to be missionaries. Simply all we must do is make a conscious decision to believe that with the help of our Savior we can do all things. Making a conscious decision is choosing to overcome temptation.
Church was great! All the talks were on prayer. We got to go to YWs and helped them role play. They spent the entire month learning about the plan of salvation. So then the adults acted like their friends asking questions that can be answered by the plan of salvation. It was fun to interact with the girls (there is only five) and help them be missionaries. Its taken awhile to build a relationship with the branch members, but it's finally coming. I know feel like a member of this branch. It's great when the members come up to you and say "sisters, give me a hug!". The woman, obviously.
Well still be finding a lot on our own, but it seems like each week members are beginning to understand a little bit more that it is their role to find. Exciting things are happening in the Plymouth branch! I really love it. There are still hard days, but I'm really beginning to LOVE MY MISSION!!!!
Pigs, country tracting, and prayer rugs!!!
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