Family!
I didn't write last week... I know I am the worst. I'm
sorry. But I'm doing it now! Repentance
is real! Alrighty, so these past two weeks have gone by at the speed of light
and because of that I can't really remember what happened. I am so lame. Have
no fear though! I do remember 2 things that have happened in the past two
weeks. So for starters there's Jackie. Do y'all remember Jackie? She is the
woman we've been teaching since I got in the area and whom the sisters have
been teaching since like 4 months before that. So she's been in the mix for
quite some time. A little while ago, like 2 transfers ago, we set a baptismal
date for Jackie and when the time got near she totally flaked and disappeared
for 2 weeks and by the time we found her again it was past her date. So we have
been hesitant to set a date with her again, because she obviously wasn't ready.
But, in the name of progression we set another date with her two weeks ago for
April 26. Yes that is in fact this coming Saturday. So we made her a reading
count down calendar that leads up to her baptism, and we've been trying to meet
with her as much as possible to help her keep her commitments. so the whole
time this has been going on she just kept saying that she would leave her
getting baptized on the 26th in God's hands, so if I’m being completely honest
I really did not have faith that she would get baptized on that date. But, she
came to church on Sunday and while we were talking to her she just mentioned in
passing that she had invited her family and friends to her baptism!!!! As in
she is still planning on getting baptized! Unfortunately we don't think she is
quite ready yet, so we pushed it back a week, but that is such good news! Ahhh,
the changes that happen in people are amazing to watch.
The last experience is one that happened this past Saturday
while we were on exchanges. So on Saturday I was with Sister Miller and Sister
Tau was in the Spanish area with Hermana Coley. So we haven't been able to see
Paula in a while because she takes care of her 85 year old mom and her mom's
Alzheimer’s has gotten worse as of late, so she hasn't been able to go to
church in a little while. Anyways so we went up to see her with the elders on
Saturday and Paula ended up inviting us to a neighborhood party. We figured it
would be a good finding opportunity so we went. Turns out, this party was put
on by another church and we definitely stuck out, as Mormon Missionaries, from
everyone else. Basically it was just this big neighborhood bash that they were
doing to give back to the community. Everyone was super kind and welcoming to
us, and except for like one guy, no one made a big deal about the fact that we
obviously weren't a part of their church. Anyways, while we were at this
shindig, I initially started pointing out the differences between our churches
and there's. The biggest difference I could notice though was the music. It was
super loud and because of that I tried not to listen, because I figured that it
was something I didn't want to listen to anyways. But then Paula made us find a
seat and sit down and listen. So, because we had no choice, we sat down and
listened, and something great happened. As I sat and listened to this loud rock
music and I watched the people jump around and dance and smile and have fun, I
felt the spirit. I started listening to the words and the tune and watched how
good it made these people and myself feel and I realized something. Just
because we aren't from the same church and I know that there is more truth to
be found, that does not make the truth that these people have found any less
significant. I could see and understand how someone would want to be a part of
something like this, whereas before I just couldn't understand why everyone
wasn't a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That
doesn't mean that I want them to stay where they are at, because that would
mean that the happiness they feel right now would stop right there, and our
goal is eternal joy. Eternal feels good. But it just made me more understanding
and I was grateful for that, and I know that that was a lesson I needed to
learn in order to teach others with more understanding. Anyways that was that.
So I haven't sent pictures in a long time, but a good
handful is coming this week. Yay! I hope y'all have a wonderful week and a
happy Easter! I love you!
-Love Sister Williams
No comments:
Post a Comment