Wednesday we got a new investigator! Audrey was found by elders last March and we were finally able to teach her the Restoration. Such a sweet lady. It felt so good teaching the Restoration again...it's like coming home. We are seeing her again today after we get down e-mailing, grocery shopping etc.
Thursday was flippin cold, my face hurt. But I kept reminding myself I would rather be cold than sweating to death. BUT! I kept smiling the entire time.
Friday was super weird. Our district meeting was all about attitude. Afterwards we had planned on tracting in Lakeville for awhile. Well we got a call from a member that lives there and they told us to come over because the elders were over there. I told him that we had plans to knock some doors and he said he would give me some doors to knock on. Sweet! Member referral! so we headed over there. Long story short, I had some serious repenting to do afterwards because we spent WAY too long at the member's house because then they wanted to feed us dinner. However, a little miracle happened in the end. When we first got there they gave us too referrals. After dinner we convinced them Bro and Sis R. to go contact the referral with us since she lived right down the street. Donna let us in right away. Luckily Bro R. had talked to Donna about the church before and even brought up the idea of meeting with missionaries. We taught her the Restoration. The R.'s bore powerful testimonies of how they came to know the church was true and how the gospel has blessed their family. Bro R. emphasized the importance of praying about the Book of Mormon to know that it is true. It was such a wonderful experience. The first time ever a member introduced us to their friends and it was everything I imagined and more. Donna told us she would read and to give her a call in a week to set something up. The best part was on the way home. Sis. R. said know she understand how important it is for members to be involved in missionary work!!! I just wanted to jump for joy!!!!!!!
So while we were at the R.'s house it started snowing. There was already snow on the ground and the wind started picking up. The R.'s live on a county road and it started drifting pretty bad. Bro. R went first in his car, then the elders, and then we followed. I was terrified that our car was going to get stuck in the foot and a half snow drifts, but we made it home alive! I lost traction a couple of times but had to just keep moving. After this winter I will now be prepared to drive in Rexburg haha.
Saturday morning we hit the pavement to knock some doors. Everyone told us to go home because it was too cold. In fact, this one lady started swearing at us telling us it wasn't worth getting pneumonia. She was definitely a mom. After lunch we walked to see a LA. After her we continued to knock. The second door, this older couple let us in. She said we were crazy for being outside. They made it very clear they were Methodists but were more than willing to let us warm up and talk with them for a minute. A couple houses later another woman invites us in because it was cold. Definitely a tender mercy. In fact she gave us both a huge hug, I think because she was so impressed that we were outside. For those returned missionaries she reminded me of Jynx, unfortunately she didn't want to be taught either :(
Sunday church was cancelled and cars were grounded. I didn't want to stay inside all day. We made the hour walk to our RS president's house and did a lesson with her. By the time we were done the wind had picked up again and we didn't want to walk all the way home. She drove us home and we stayed inside for awhile until we went to see two other members later than evening. I hate when church gets cancelled. I love the fact that I'm in Indiana during the worst winter they have had in 10 years.
With the extra time spend inside I've been blessed with a lot of studying time, something I've definitely taken advantage of. I was writing a letter on Monday, and a thought entered my mind. I was telling her how I have really struggled with comparing myself to other missionaries and being frustrated because I feel like being a missionary doesn't come naturally. I realized that if it came more naturally I probably wouldn't rely on my Heavenly Father as much. I wouldn't search the scriptures diligently, seeking the spiritual strength to fulfill my calling. Feeling inadequate is helping me consistently improve. I immediately thought of 2 Corinthians 12: 9 - 10
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ
may rest upon me. There I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distress for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
A kid shared that in a class my last semester at BYUI. Paul is happy for his trials because then he relies on Christ. Right now, I'm grateful missionary work is a struggle because it causes me to grow more. Then last night I was reading a general conference talk and found this quote, now written in my PMG.
"The Lord doesn't promise to removed our handicaps when we become missionaries; but by making the extra effort it will take, we develop more ability to cope with individual short coming and that coping ability will be needed throughout our lives in our relationships with others, in our employment, and in our families. Everyone has something they must learn to master....a missionary faces many challenges that he has not dealt with previously. Giving the best he knows when he arrives will not fulfill the calling. Enduring requires doing better than your best of today by developing additional gifts as granted from the Lord...of course it is difficult. That's what makes it such a gift and why it has such great rewards". Elder Robert D. Hales
May 1998
That little revelation and that quote were an answer to a prayer. There's a very real possibility that missionary work will never come naturally. I'm grateful because then I will never feel comfortable. I'll be able to continue to refine my skills even once I am home. I'll be able to continue to progress every day. Because I feel inadequate I will always turn to my Heavenly Father for guidance. Now in the last year has my confidence grown? Surely. I've learned a ton and have noticed a huge change in myself. I'm learning what it means to endure to the end. Elder Hales also said "Often we do not know what we can endure until after a trial of our faith". I like that. It isn't until usually after the trials is over that we look back and recognize how much we have grown.
While we didn't have many "missionary experiences" this week, I learned a lot through my studies about myself. Personal revelation certainly is a powerful things. Every day I thank my Heavenly Father for this once in a lifetime opportunity. How grateful I am that he trusted me to be one of His servants. I still feel so unworthy, but grateful for the potential He sees in me, one of His daughters.
Sister
Mayberry
What a missionary wears when you have to stay inside all day.....
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