Week of Miracles

This week has been a week of craziness. With elders in the ward we have bumped into each other both at good times and awkward times. We had a couple lessons together, planned on having others together and tracted where each other had just tracted. I love the elders so much. They are very spiritual zone leaders. They have shown me what great leadership is, even though they are twenty something year olds. I got a blessing from them following a really hard time mentally. It was so awesome to see them get teary eyed, pray to Heavenly Father, and then give me such a profound blessing.

On Wednesday we surprised the world’s best ward mission leader by cleaning his backyard (in conjunction with his wife and children and the elders). It was so much fun. We found tons of spiders, ants, and snakes. Brother Marshall really is amazing. He organized our ward missionaries and gave them each responsibilities (for instance, liaison with each auxiliary president to keep them in the loop; meal coordinator; elders and sisters’ needs coordinator; elders and sisters fellow shipper coordinator;  innovative finding supervisor, etc.). Like he really is amazing so it was only right to do something for him.

We have been working really hard with Sister Fortier. She is a less-active in the ward that just moved in. She is married to a nonmember.  We hit it off when we first met (I am from Michigan and her husband is from Ohio- natural enemies). So it was awesome to go to her house and help her. They came to church for the second time! I love them so much and tonight we have our first real lesson with them.

Trisha is doing so awesome. I cannot wait for the day that she will get baptized. We had dinner with her and her son. We are working really hard to get her husband to stay and just talk to us. He is the only obstacle from her getting baptized.

On Thursday we fed three horses! Sister Sullivan has knee problems and cannot walk down the stairs to her animals so we went and fed them out of the palm of our hands. It was so fun. One of her horses is a great granddaughter of Secretariat.

This week in my studies I have been studying the power of prayer and also obedience. I wish I had time to really tell you everything. Just know that it is amazing!

Brother Marshall, Less-Actives and the Best Ward Ever, and Transfers

This week has been crazy! In anticipation of transfers and also moving into the Bishop’s home we spent a ton of time cleaning, updating our area book, making an area book for the elders, and serving our members. Our Ward Mission Leader, Brother Marshall, is so amazing! We spent some time with him getting the ward prepared for an additional set of missionaries.

We had a miracle happen on Tuesday. A less-active moved into the ward from Georgia with her family who are not members of the church. A member called to inform us so we headed right over. We came a great time as their home had been broken into and they were worried about what they would do (they both are military veterans and felt that there would be better employment opportunities here but they had not gotten a job yet just applied to many of the government jobs). It was awesome serving them and getting the ward involved and they came to church and were very thankful for the help and also the friends that their children made in just one day of living here. Later on in the day one of our investigators,Gilles, got a Priesthood Blessing before heading into surgery and it was awesome to see him going from being so worried and scared to being calm.

On Wednesday we officially moved into the Bishop’s home and were greeted by both a mean little dog, Sasha, and… a garden snake! It was quite hilarious. On Thursday I got my new trainee: Sister Brittney Theurer (Tire) from Orem, Utah. She is so cute and so sweet. I am so excited to take over Aquia with her. We had a lesson right after getting home and dropping off her luggage with Trisha and it was great for Sister Theurer to go right into missionary work. We found out that the new Elders moving into our area are the new Fredericksburg North Zone Leaders Elder Worthington (DC South) and Elder Canova (Richmond). I am so excited they are amazing and maybe the split of the zone will mean the split of the stake. I hope so.

This week I have been studying Joseph Smith History and it amazes me how many times persecution or some word related is mentioned. I am so grateful that even though all of this persecution happened, he continued with his witness of Christ and God and getting the Book of Mormon brought forth. It helps me to know that I can do hard things and even though some people may be mean or rude I can still continue on with my witness of God and Christ and the Book of Mormon. It may not be the easiest thing to do but it is definitely the best.

Reactivation and Trisha

Last week was a pretty slow week for the most part. On Monday we met with a less-active, Sister Golden, who the Bishop and Ward Mission Leader felt prompted that we should visit. It turned out amazing. Sister Golden has not ever let people into her home for over ten years. We went over and knocked on her door and she was so nice to us and invited us to come back. We did and had one of the most amazing lessons ever. She is so amazing. She is an injured, retired Coast Guard and she and her daughter had a bad experience in the last ward that they attended that helped them to stop coming back to church. We shared scriptures with her and she decided that she wants her entire family to come back into full activity in the church! Since then we have had another lesson with her and she is doing great.

 

We had another lesson with a less-active, Sister Bandy, and it was amazing. The last time I was in this ward I met her and she was AWFUL to us missionaries. The Bishop asked us to visit her and get her to either come to church or request her records to be removed. We walked in and she let us sit down and immediately opened up to us. I had been saying prayers that she would be nice and let us help her. She talked about some struggles that her family have been going through. It was so wonderful to help her and invite her to come access the Atonement of Jesus Christ through partaking of the sacrament.

 

On Thursday we had a lesson with Trisha at Sister Hodge's home and it was so great. Trisha wants to get baptized; however, her husband will not allow her to. Sister Hodge received revelation on some thigns that Trisha can do to help him feel like she can be a member while still being a wife, mother, and employee. It was really amazing. On Thursday, the entire mission was on a ' Car Fast' where we do not drive our car until 5pm. It was an adventure! We walked, and walked, and walked, and walked, and got rides from members- even from a member of a different ward who saw us walking and walking and walking. It was actually pretty fun. We talked to more people than we have this entire transfer.

 

On Friday I went on exchanges with Sister Mannchen ( a sister training leader) in the Rappahanock Singles Branch. I served there for three weeks when I was first in Fredericksburg until I was transferred to Centreville. It was so fun to go back and meet people that I taught previously. I love that Branch so much. President Edwards is such a wonderful Branch President (he changed my life back in November with one of his talks). Sister Mannchen is such an amazing missionary. She is bold, yet loving. I am trying to balance that myself. She is also very close to the Spirit. In one of our lessons, she felt prompted to share a talk. I have to tell you the whole story:

Earlier in the day before the exchange I felt that I needed to go over my conference notes during personal study. While I was reading my notes from 'Lord, I Believe' I was reminded of an experience that I had when I was preparing to serve my mission. When Sister Mannchen and I got together and had companion study, she planned to read a talk with a less-active, 'Lord, I Believe.' I got to share the tender experience that I had and it helped Kayleen. When we visited a member of the Branch Sister Mannchen felt prompted to share a talk with her and it was another talk that, during personal study, earlier in the day I read and was reminded of another experience. I am so grateful for the Spirit which prompts us and brings things to our rememberance.

 

On Sunday I received the call about transfers which will be on Thursday. I will be staying. President Wilson informed me that the Lord has asked me to train again. I am grateful that Heavenly Father trusts me to do such a huge thing. I am so nervous and excited. At the same time, our ward is getting Elders too! The Aquia Ward has been amazing. There is so much work to do here. The ward boundaries are HUGE so it will help there to talk to EVERYONE, yet really get to know our investigators without worrying about all of the people that you need to see. It will also limit the flakiness that comes with investigators as well. Because we have a ton of investigators; however, so many are flaky that we now will not have time for becuase we will truly work on finding and strengthening the elect. I am so excited. I have a lot of plans for this ward. Brother Marshall, our Ward Mission Leader, always says that he hopes that this ward is righteous enough to receive baptisms, and not just any baptism but baptisms of converts who will really grow in this ward. I am confident that with the addition of elders and a fresh sister missionary it will happen. I am so excited to be here! I hope that I end in this ward because I only have three more transfers left.

 

With the addition of Elders coming into the ward, we are moving. I will be living in the basement of my Bishop (how cool is that), my address is 7 Aztec Dr., Stafford VA 22554. They are the best ever. Did I say how much I love this ward? Also, Sister (Jacqui) Patten is officially moving into the ward. It is so weird having my old companion here. I need to start utilizing her more because she is amazing.

 

Spiritual Thought:

This week I have been studying Chapter one of Preach My Gospel and two quotes have really been in my head lately:

 

"We are commanded by God to take this gospel to all the world. That is the cause that must unite us today. Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its owen self-destruction. Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family."- President Ezra Taft Benson

 

"The setting apart may be taken literally; it is a setting apart from sin, apart from the carnal; apart from everything which is crude, low, vicious, cheap, or vulgar; set apart from the world to a higher plane of thought and activity. The blessing is conditional upon faithful performance." - President Specer W. Kimball

 

A quote that goes along with the last one came yesterday at church:

" Our struggle is living in a world steeped in sin and spiritual indifference.... Today's wilderness is one of confusion and conflicting messages. The pioneers had to battle the wilderness of rocky ridges and dust- or snow- covered mountain trails, with their faith focused.... We need to commit to serve the Lord and our communities with the same diligence and faith.... We must ever be on our guard that we do not become casual in keeping God's commandments"- Elder M. Russell Ballard

 

I am so grateful that I have this gospel. I have spent so much of my life without it and I never want that again. This world teaches that it is okay to be immoral, it is okay to not have standards, it is okay to be selfish and only care about self-graitfying things. I am so happy that I get to represent Christ and help others to get on the path that does matter. Our salvation does matter, even when other's say that it doesn't. I know that this gospel is the only way that leads to eternal life.

 

Love,

Sister Diamond Evans

3 Nephi 28:23

Trials and Triumphs

On Tuesday we had the opportunity of being trained by the zone leaders. The Assistants to President Wilson came as well. It was so difficult. We learned of some rules that the Richmond Misson has and I felt awful. I must admit that my reaction was not the best. I was so upset. I felt that we were having the "Washington DC South Mission" ripped out of us. There are so many things that we did as a mission that are against the Richmond Virginia rules. But what hurt the most was that the rules were geared towards the missionaries whereas I felt that the rules that we had in the DC South mission were geared towards the investigators and members. In the midst of my frustration Elders Litchfield, Braithewaite, and Felt said some comforting words that helped me:

 

Elder Braithewaite: "While I was looking back on my notes of when President Riggs entered the field I came across: 'Everyone is human. Do no look at people's flaws, look at the good that is in people. Do not compare someone's weaknesses to someone else's strengths.'"

 

Elder Felt: "I am not far from God, He is near me. He will always be near me. Do not give up because you cannot see Him. Maybe instead, you should seek to feel Him.

 

Elder Litchfield: "Train them." That was his response to when I asked him if the Richmond Missionaries do member visits (where you go to the members and ask them 'as you have been praying what revelation have you received on how we can bless you, your family, your friends, or your neighbors).

 

I am following the counsel that President Riggs gave me to be the missionary that President Wilson needs.

 

We have been having dinners and lessons with less-actives. Most of them are progressing well and are coming to church! I love this work so much. It has been amazing to see these member's heart change and decide that they are ready to come back into full activity in the church.

 

I love Trisha so much. I cannot wait for either her husband to get on board with her getting baptized. She wants this so bad.

 

Spiritual Thought:

 

This week I have been studying the Christlike attributes Obedience and Diligence. It has opened my eyes a lot. I am so grateful for the scriptures and Preach My Gospel. I learned how obedience and faith are interconnected. When you have the faith that you are doing the right thing, then it is easier to continue in that pattern.

Week of Goodbyes

This week has been super crazy to say the least. On Tuesday we had our final zone conference with President and Sister Riggs, and the Assistants (Elders Yates and Rasmussen). It was so great but so hard. Poor President Riggs was a mess, I am going to miss him like crazy. On Wednesday we had whole mission conference to say goodbye to everyone. I am not going to start on all of the tears that was shed. At the end, each departing missionary took a picture with President and Sister Riggs and I just sobbed in President Rigg's arm. I am positive it was more hard on him- saying goodbye to 60 missionaries. Afterwards, Elder Litchfield and Neumeyer (the Assistants in the Richmond Mission) talked to some of our about the new mission. I felt so bad, the Richmond Mission lost half of their mission to the Chesapeake Mission AND they got a new mission president. I stopped feeling sorry for myself after that, even when I found out that they do not get to go to the temple.

 

The rest of the week was kind of weird. We did a lot of service and met with a lot of less-actives. Not too much to say this week.

 

Spiritual Thought:

 

With the Anticipation of a new mission president, I have been studying the missionary handbook a lot. I know that there will be a difference in the way that he expresses the rules so I wanted to be most familiar in them. It has been fun becoming Preach My Gospel and the Missionary Handbook. It has been the best thing. My attitude is changing each day to love the rules and guidelines. I know that each rule is important. I have also been studying the christlike attribute Charity and it has helped as well. At first, I was really upset at President Riggs taking me to the new mission. I thought that maybe there was something wrong with me that he didn't want me to stay. But when I talked to him while he was hugging me (yep, he hugged us sisters) he said something like Sister Evans I want you to know that there were a few missionaries that I fought to keep but then I had to remember that when I was set-apart as a mission president I covenanted to ONLY do the Lord's will. I do not know why you have to leave me but I do know that President Wilson needs a Sister Evans. He needs someone who will work hard, be obedient, and stretch. Sister Riggs told me that there were things that they (President and Sister Riggs) needed to teach me but now I need to learn some things from President and Sister Wilson. It really warmed my heart.

 

I am so excited for this.

 

Love,

Sister Diamond Evans

3 Nephi 28:39