A Week of Faith

Well, This week was certainly a week of Faith. 

We worked hard in inviting people to come unto Christ.

We had Zone Conference, and the conference went great. We learned a lot about Missionary work and also about Tiwi, which is this device that goes in our car and tells us if we're speeding, driving recklessly, etc. It is a pain when I'm driving in a school area and it says to drive a certain speed limit between certain times, and I have the Tiwi. I have to go that school speed limit after hours or it will say I was speeding!

We're teaching a girl named Ciara the Missionary Lessons before her baptism. She is 8, and so all of the lessons won't need to be completed before she is baptized.

We also asked a girl named Skye, if she had been baptized in the church. She said she hasn't, and we asked, "Well, do you want to be baptized?" And she said yes. She is thirteen and she lives with her grandmother. My companion and I wondered why missionaries haven't talked to her before about this, but I guess we're going to find out when we have dinner with her family later this week. 

We also found a man who lives close to a member - he's in his 80s, and he wants to be taught more about our message of Jesus Christ. 

The week ended with me having Food Borne Illness/ or the Stomach Flu. I thew up multiple times Saturday at  3:00 am (the first time I've thrown up on my mission) and then for the next two days I had to rest, and be on the BRAT (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast) diet. We had the District leader go to Harris Teeter (not in our area) and get me the things I needed. Later on, I saw on the receipt that the gluten-free / Dairy-free bread by Udi's  cost $11.00, and then the Martenellis Sparkling Cider cost $5.00. The total cost of my bill was $21.14; Harris Teeter is expensive!

Anyways - I still went to Sacrament Meeting, but right after church we had to head home - I still didn't feel good. 

We got the highest number of IOS again in the district; 

[Whenever I'm on Emails, I find it overwhelming to constantly squeeze in all that I want to say within my emails, so I apologize if I don't give a full account of my days for this week!]

-Highlights in Doctrine:

I loved it when they said in Gospel Principles that the only way we can make righteous choices is when there is opposition. If there is no opposition to make the right choice, then how would we know it would be the right choice?

Someone also talked about the Good/Better/Best. There could be two great choices, but one of them has more of an eternal benefit than the other. 

. . .

This week has also been dry for us in teaching and finding new investigators. Well, I guess we'll just have to keep on working!

. . .

I want to end my email with some scriptures that I found in my studies this morning about being a disciple of Jesus Christ (with my commentaries): 

2 Timothy 3:12-17 

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. [This is very true!] 

 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. [A sign of the times - The wicked will continue to get wicked]

 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; [ Continue doing what is Christian, and what is right, regardless if the people around us do not approve or agree] 

 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [We've been raised up in the Faith, and we've read these scriptures since youth - let us continue to be wise] 

 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [All scripture - is given by God - in the scriptures is our manual for life!] 

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. [To be perfect means to be 'complete, finished, and fully developed' ] 

. . .

I know that the work that I do as a missionary, is true, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored church of Jesus Christ. How do I know this? I have searched, prayed, pondered, fasted, and I have acted on my faith to know if the teachings are true. In Moroni 12:6, Moroni tells us "...dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith". If we are given a commandment, and we are not sure of it's promise, well, we test it. We act on it. Then, we will see the blessings, and the spirit testifying to us that the commandment is true. Also - on another note- God does not leave us. He says right in place. If we feel like He's moved away from us, it is truly us who has moved, not Him. He is always there, and the same yesterday, today, and forever. Don't you doubt it, and don't you forget it. 

This is all I can write for now!

29 Days to give my all! Wish me luck!

-Sister A. Marshall 

 

The Last Finishing Touches

This past week had plenty of opportunities to polish me as a person. There has been a lot of opposition, which meant a lot of time to be on my knees and ask for strength. 

We had a goal of 15 IOs per day. We got 75/105 IOs. It was the highest that has ever been achieved since the IOs started. 

We tracted, and we tried to 'plant seeds,' and we also had moments where we needed to take some down time because of what has been going on. 

Also! We have Spanish Sisters in our ward now! They are amazing, and I know they will find some Spanish people to teach! 

I received one of the most vilest of letters I have ever received in my life from someone who lives within the mission boundaries. I talked to my mission President about it, and he gave me some great council on how to best take, and respond to it. A good thing about this trial is that I have seen the power of the Atonement help make my burden light, to the point where I cannot feel the burden on my shoulders. 

-We also had exchanges and I learned so much from Sister Brewer. When a woman yelled at us and told us that she doesn't want anything from Jehovah's Witnesses or anybody, Sister Brewer exclaimed after the fact that she must be a great singer because of how well her voice projected. 

-Tuesday is Zone Conference, and we are going to get our cars inspected, and the black box installed. This black box will let us know if we are carelessly driving, speeding, or if we are out of our mission boundaries. 

Anyways! It has been a great Preparation Day so far!

-Oh - another thing - I haven't mentioned this before, but many people are surprised that I already have a Wedding Date of December 5th, for the Seattle, WA Temple (10:30 AM). I won't have much time to plan, but with the Lord's help, I'll certainly pull it off!

Have a blessed day, everyone!

-Sister A. Marshall 

(36 Days left) 

Last Transfer in the Mission

I am in my last transfer in my mission now! I have 6 weeks (or - for me - 43 days until I go home).

I get to stay with Sister Brakey in Goldsboro, North Carolina. I can predict that this last week is going to go fast.

I have so many thoughts and I can't believe that my mission is almost over. I've learned so much and I continue to be that piece of silver going through the fire. 

Here are some of the highlights of my week:

We exceeded our goal of 50 IOs when we hit 64. This week, we plan on hitting 105 IOS (15 per day). A good way we have been able to do this is by what I call 'Drive Thru Tracting' where when we see people walking by, we pull over and either Sister Brakey and I will introduce ourselves from our car with the window rolled down and we hand them a card, and state our purpose as missionaries. We get more people than if we just went door-to-door. We also feel much safer than if we were to go tracting in the poorer areas of town. 

-We taught one 'other' lesson this week. We had an appointment with someone we had met the day before, and they weren't home, but the TV was on. Sister Brakey told us that the lady's house was '309'. When we got there, it was 301. I took '309' to be a prompting and so we went and knocked on '309' right after '301'. A woman by the name of Denise answered the door, and we taught her the Restoration. The spirit was very strong when we shared the message and I hoped that she could feel the spirit of the Lord testify on what we had taught her, was true. We don't have a scheduled appointment since she does not live there, but is just visiting for the time being. Even though we only taught one lesson to a non-member this week, it was still just as meaningful. 

-There is a rule in the mission that says we cannot teach males without a third female. There was a guy who sat outside of his house, and we introduced ourselves and told him that we had a message of the restored gospel. He wanted to hear the message right on the spot, and we told him that we couldn't. After that experience, I was pretty depressed, and I hoped that we got a transfer call that said we could be in a trio. It doesn't matter the area that I'm in - it is hard to get females to come out to lessons with us, either because they have kids, are working, are busy, at school, or not feeling well. My companions and I had to schedule a lesson in advance, and we have to call way in advance (we cannot call the day of and expect someone to come). Many times, the people have cancelled and then we have a hard time getting a hold of them, or we usually have to pass these people off to the Elders if they have the wrong intentions. This struggle is real, and I know that as long as I keep the faith to find people, and that I know that things will work out in the Lord's timing, I know that it will all be ok. 

- Most of the work my companion and I have been doing is helping the Less-Active Members come back to church, and, finding new investigators to teach from our own efforts. The greatest way that we can find people to teach is through member referrals, and for the most part, the people here don't know of anyone who they can refer us to. Missionary work cannot progress without the members. Most of the time, they think that we're doing all the work and we are the ones who bring in the people toward baptism. If it's just us, the people will not have the fellowship they need. 

- Oh! I few weeks ago I bought a Veggetti grater and I am able to make pasta out of cucumbers, , zucchini, carrots, and potatoes. I love this gadget, and it saves me money on Gluten Free Pasta.

Anyways! I hope you all have a great week! 

Sickness

On Wednesday, my companion and I both woke up with a sickness, and for a few days (Wed - Friday?) we took the advice from our Mission nurse to rest. We felt nausea, headache, muscle ache, and brain fog. By Saturday I felt better, and my companion is still feeling ill (Monday). 

We mowed a member's lawn on Thursday, and we had Zone meeting on Friday.

Something that my companion and I have started is a companionship jar. We have our own jars, and throughout the week, we write a positive note on a piece of paper on what we had observed what the companion did that day. For example, I could write how I observed how she was very passionate about the Atonement when she explained it to an investigator or something like that. With these notes, we fold them up. During companionship inventory (Step 13 in Preach my Gospel under Weekly Planning,) when it comes to discussing the companion's strengths, we read these pieces of paper. We tried this once and I feel good about doing this. This allows me to look for the good in my companion every day, and I come to grow in appreciation for my companion. 

Since the mission has been reading the Book of Mormon together, I have come to understand the Book of Mormon better as I have marked passages that comply with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is so wonderful, and the scriptures make more sense to me than they ever have. I can follow along, and expound on the words of the prophets, and follow the genealogy of who passed the scriptures down to who. Currently, I am studying 'justice' in the scriptures, along with the gospel principles. 

. . .

I did a lot of baking 'expeditions' and I have made a lot of yummy treats. 

. . .

The Sabbath is a Delight -

On Saturday, my companion and I prepared for the Sabbath by cleaning up the place, through prayer, and other ways. When Sunday came, there was such a peaceful spirit in the home. It was truly a day of rest, and a day of peace. We celebrated the Savior by making home-made gluten-free/dairy-free cupcakes and by making home-made frosting. Sunday was truly a delight to both of us. 

We received a lot of inspiration on how we can help our investigators, especially since it was fast Sunday (where we fast for two consecutive meals). By making the sacrifice, the Lord truly blesses us with revelation (knowledge from God given by the Holy Ghost). 

This is all I can say for now!

50 days left until I return home!

-Sister A. Marshall