2 Weeks

Since I didn't write an update last week, I am going to try and write an update for 2 weeks.

These past two weeks have been dry in our teaching, and this past week, we had no member presents. Everyone has been getting ready for the school year (which started yesterday) and I am guessing that could be one of the reasons why we couldn't get any members out to lessons (besides a lot of our investigators kept cancelling on us). 

Last week, I encountered two ex-communicated members. We tried to visit this one sister who lived at the same place (their daughter) many months ago, but she wasn't there. This time, she wasn't there either, but we met with her parents, instead. They had committed adultery and they had been recently married as of the first week in July and just got back from their honeymoon. They want to come back to church and they have strong testimonies of the church, regardless of their transgressions. We cannot teach them at this time because they have to wait for a period of time, according to the bishop. These people want us to teach one of their friends about the gospel in their home, and the bishop ok'ed it; we just can't teach the excommunicated members. This is the most interesting situation I have ever encountered on my mission thus far. 

We have also been teaching Jackie the 15 Step Addiction Program to help her quit smoking. As of today, she has made it a week and 2 days. We made signs for her to put up in her home but she likes to flip through them instead and she leaves them on her coffee table, and that's fine. 

At the celebration party of one week (just Sister Mahler, Jackie, and I,) I blew bubbles the moment we walked in and we read about David and Goliath in Samuel and we compared it to her smoking. She conquered Goliath (smoking) with a sling shot (15 steps), and with the strength of God (The Atonement). It was a good little party and we plan on encouraging her this week as well. 

We Taught Natalie the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we have been getting her ready for Baptism. She still does not have a date yet, but hopefully soon.

There was a day where we had a member drive us to a lesson to a less-Active Sister, and it did not go well. My companion and I sat there most of the time while the member and the less-active member kept talking for at least 40 minutes. We couldn't interfere because as missionaries, we cannot council members, or anyone, on their problems or personal problems. It would create an inappropriate relationship, and is against the missionary rules. Because we didn't help the member out on her problem, the member told us in the car that we as missionaries were not fulfilling our purpose (but we were). The less-active member was going through a hard time, and someone had just recently passed (we didn't know that until the next visit) and it was just a... stressful situation. We barely got any of lesson 3 in, but we did mention a little bit on Faith.   

We met with Robbin and Larry last week, but it was brief. As of right now, they have been cancelling and scheduling appointments. 

We haven't been able to meet with Margie for the past 2 weeks, because she wants to focus on moving.  

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This past week has been a little discouraging, but I am still going. 

My companion read a quote to me that said, "We are not obedient because we are blind, we are obedient because we can see" -Boyd K. Packer. 

The  full paragraph of this statement is in here: 

"Those who talk of blind obedience may appear to know many things, but they do not understand the doctrines of the gospel. There is an obedience that comes from a knowledge of the truth that transcends any external form of control. We are not obedient because we are blind, we are obedient because we can see. The best control, I repeat, is self-control." 

There is nothing greater than being free because of being obedience to God's commandments. 

A lot of blessings come from living the gospel, and I hope at some point my investigators see that. 

Another thing I have heard this past week was about how religion doesn't change lives, behavior does. That is also a true statement. Acting on our beliefs, especially in the LDS religion, makes all the difference between someone who doesn't act on what they believe, and those who do. 

Being a missionary is definitely harder than I had expected (I am the first in my family on both sides to serve a mission), and it is definitely an experience I will never forget. 

See you next week,

Sister Marshall