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
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