So this past week was crazy.
The work hasn't been everything it could be recently, so we
decided as a zone to fast for the people we're teaching, for our areas, for
help to know what we can do to be better missionaries, and let me tell you
what! Fasting is REAL. God blesses us in ways we don't even think about.
So the first thing that started happening, was that we kept
meeting people who were willing to let us use their names when we contacted
people! Also, people who are willing to invite people to take the missionary
lessons!! Wahoo!!!! That almost never happen!!!
Two days after that zone meeting we took two sisters in our
zone on exchanges, and the one I brought to our area is new and hasn't had a
very good start. I kept praying that she'd be able to see see a miracle while
we were together. That afternoon, we were searching on a map for one of the
Relief Society President's houses, but we couldn't find it ANYWHERE. After a
couple minutes I felt like we should go to the house behind where we parked and
then to one of our ward missionary's houses down the street. I ignored it at
first because I was convinced it was just me. Then I felt the prompting a
little stronger, so away we went. We set up a lesson with a part member family
(hurray!) and then went to the other house. We walked up to him as he was
mowing his lawn. The first thing out of his mouth "Sisters. There is no
body I would rather see right now than you two. There have been a series of
events that have happened today, and I know that you walking up to my house,
right now, at this time, after the day I've had, is not a coincidence" and
he had us sit down on his front porch. He told us about one of his family
members who had fallen away from the church for the past 12 or so years, and
about how their heart had been softened recently. The next day this family
member would be moving into their home, and along with him were coming his
fiancee and her daughter. He told our ward missionary that they were excited to
start coming to church, and that because she and her daughter didn't know
anything about the church, he wanted her to see temple square, and the
conference center where "our prophet speaks to us."
We sat on that porch for probably 40 minutes while this man
poured out his heart to us about how much he loves these people and how amazed
he is at how the Lord has softened their hearts and prepared them. He's so
proud of the one who fell away who is
now returning to, and embracing the gospel of Jesus Christ. We sat there and
cried with him. I know that they are being brought here by the Lord's hand. He
is very much in the details of our lives, whether we realize it or not. If we
ask Him to guide us each day, He will, but we have to listen to that guidance.
I was so happy that this new Sister missionary could be with me for that
experience, and I was also happy that these people were listening to the Lord's
guidance. I know that every prayer is answered.
We're also teaching Katie from Korea, and it's difficult
because she only wants to meet once a week, and we have to get the translator
for each lesson. BUT THEN, last night Sister Santos and I, right when the
lesson was totally about to crash and burn because she was confused and we just
didn't know what else to say, were both inspired with a way to help her
progress! First I realized that maybe she'd be better with reading English than
listening to it, so I asked if that was true, she was better at reading to
understand than hearing. Then Sister Santos asked if we could stop by and read
with her in addition to lessons, to help her learn English and to help her
study the scriptures. We tried it out for a little bit, and she probably reads
out loud better than I do! It was so cool. Now she's not only going to progress
with learning English, but she's also going to progress spiritually because of
what she's learning from the scriptures.
THEN! Saturday night came, we had started planning for
Sunday, and set a goal to find 2 new investigators Sunday, we had all kinds of
plans lined up. We had stake conference this past weekend, so we weren't going
to be in church form 9-4 like we usually are. It left us lots of time to go out
and work. In the middle of our planning, we checked our phone, and saw that the
Elders who are over the Tongan assignment (their area covers multiple areas) in
our zone had texted and called us a ton of times.Through a crazy series of
weird things that have happened over the past 2 months with the Tongan Elders
and this man and some people from the Tongan ward, we were actually able to
pick up 3 new investigators yesterday, and they are SUPER interested. There is
a hotel in our area where a man has been
living the past 2 months (it's a weird long term hotel, I didn't actually know
those existed). He isn't a member of the church, and his wife and her son from
China just moved here a week ago, and they want to learn more about our
religion. They went to church yesterday and they said they felt "warm
inside" while there.
I know that they felt the Spirit. I know that when we're
willing to do everything God asks us to do, He'll bless us. I know that
following Jesus Christ not only blesses the follower, but those the follower
comes in contact with also.
I know that the only way these people could be found was
because our zone was working together, not against each other. By all the
companionships in our zone focusing on being exactly obedient and on helping
each other, we've become very unified. Missionary work is not a competition
about who's a better missionary, it's about doing everything we can to help out
brothers and sisters who need the gospel in their lives. It's about finding
those who have been prepared, and teaching them the truth we have been given by
Jesus Christ, through prophets. It's helping them know that they can be close
to God and they can look forward with faith, that because Jesus Christ died for
them, they can be forgiven and they can live with God again.
We should switch the name from the South Jordan zone to the
Zion zone.
Anyways, aside from that. We got a new stake presidency!
That was exciting.
We (as in my and whoever my next companion is) are giving a
training to our ward mission leaders and ward missionaries at the beginning of
next month. I'm excited! We're going to talk about how we are here to help
them, they're not the ones helping us. We're just a tool used to help with the
harvest!
There's a scripture in John 4:37-38 and it talks about how
bringing in the missionaries is just the next step! We're here to teach what we
believe. But usually people aren't going to care about what we have to teach if
they don't have someone who's invited them to hear us, and shared their
testimony with them. Without a friend inviting, we're usually just freaky
people that keep knocking on their door. And who wants to listen to something
freaky people knocking on your door have to say? Usually nobody! So before we
get to the door, make an invitation and make sure they know we're actually
normal and that the message we have to share is one that will change their
life, and that you've experienced that change yourself. And when you've started
sharing the gospel with your friends, then call us up, and the lesson will be
4059834 times less awkward, and they'll
probably be 32089132014 times more prepared than if we met them on the street
or knocked on their door.
Anyways, that's all I've got for this week!
Be happy!! 3 Nephi 11:29 <- hahahahahahahahaha
Choose the right!! 3 Nephi 12:44-45
Be a good example!! 3 Nephi 12:16
Sister Hinkle
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