Staying in Converse

Area: Converse
Companion: Sister Sarah Felix

 Good morning!

We got transfer calls yesterday...Are you ready for the news? :D The Lord has called me to be a junior companion to Sister Felix for another transfer in Converse! And she has been called to be a sister training leader!! She is such a great missionary and a wonderful leader. She is going to do a fantastic job. I'm really excited for her and the learning opportunities we'll have. I'll get to go on a lot of exchanges, and hear about MLC meetings! I'm so happy we're together another transfer. :)

We had a pretty awesome experience a few days ago. We were planning on using the restoration video in a lesson later that evening but realized that we probably didn't have it. We pulled over to see if it was in the trunk. The trunk would not close after that. We tried so hard to get it to shut. Usually we fix the weather stripping and it's fine, but we tried everything including slamming it over and over. We called Elder Presser and asked him what we should do. He told us to go to Pep Boys so they could fix it. We took everything out of the trunk, put it in the back seat, and drove to Pep Boys. While we were waiting, a man came up and started asking us a bunch of questions. He was really curious about who we are and what we do. We began teaching him the restoration. We found out that he's homeless and wants to know more about what we have to offer. We gave him a Book of Mormon and got his phone number. We're going to meet him at a park and teach him more. Isn't it interesting how the Lord placed us in that situation at that time? The Lord is at the head of His work. He leads and guides us everyday.

Yesterday we met a woman who let us come into her home. We were actually on our way to an appointment, but were about five minutes early, so we decided to knock on a couple doors. She came outside and started talking to us about God. Then asked us to come in. We walked into her home, and it was very hippie-like. We were there for about 30 minutes because she kept asking us to share something from our heart. When ever we would start to say something she laughed. She explained that she wasn't laughing at us, but that she was praising the Lord. In her own words she said, "This is mah Hallelujah laugh." She wasn't really open to what we had for her, but that woman has incredible faith and a beautiful, soulful look on life. It was such a privilege to meet her. I must admit though, when Sister Felix and I got out, we couldn't help but start laughing! It was a really wacky experience. 

The amazing thing is, we were 30 minutes late to our appointment next door. It is a family in the ward that has really been struggling. When we arrived we saw that they had home teachers over. We hesitantly knocked on the door. They let us in, we came in the middle of an intense spiritual moment. One of the home teachers was speaking very boldly and lovingly with them. He got choked up and said that he couldn't be more glad that the missionaries showed up in that moment. Once again, the Lord placed us exactly where we needed to be when we needed to be there in a way that we did not expect. The Lord's presence through us, His missionaries was needed in that very moment. If we had been there earlier, things would not have gone the way they did. Angels arrived in that families home. Those angels were in the form of missionaries... That was so humbling... There is no way we could have known or planned that. The Lord is in charge!! He knows and loves everyone individually. We can all be instruments in has hands as we are "anxiously engaged in a good cause" and follow promptings to serve one another. I know with all my heart that the Jesus Christ is the son of God, the savior and redeemer of the world. We are laboring beside him in this great cause in bringing souls to Him. His love is beyond anything we can imagine.

Always remember that we all have a part to play in His work! I love you all so much. And I'm so grateful to be a servant in the Lord's vineyard (see Jacob 5). I have been studying Jacob chapter 5 in the Book of Mormon differently the last couple days. Instead of thinking about the symbolism of the apostasy and dispensations, I put that aside and only thought about missionary work. It is very insightful. If you're interested, try reading that chapter with your personal role in the work of salvation in mind.

I invite you again, to pray for missionary opportunities. They will come, and you will feel great joy.

All in!

Love,

Sister Record

Sister Record carving

Sister Felix pumpkin

Sister Felix carving

His Love Demands My Soul

Area: Converse
Companion: Sister Sarah Felix

Hi ya'll!

There are some words in a song that I love, and think about all the time. They've become somewhat of a motto for me. "His love demands my soul... His love demands my soul, my life, my all." How true this statement is! I am coming to learn that on a deeper level as I serve a mission. Being a missionary is really hard sometimes. The Savior is patient, loving and merciful, but he absolutely demands my soul and my all. He knows what I can become and will not settle for less. He shows me my weaknesses so that I can more fully rely on him and become stronger through His loving grace. This process of growing is really painful sometimes. As a servant of the Lord, I feel the joy of His loving service, and the pain of rejection in a way I haven't before. All the joy, however, far outweighs any pain. I am so grateful for how far I have come, and how much further I have to go. I'm most definitely a different person than I was when I came into the MTC. 

This transfer has been amazing! Sister Felix and I have a really good relationship. She is a great missionary. Every single day we have something to laugh about. This week was a little rough, but we're closer because of it. There are a few good stories about this week. :)

We went to a person's home during the week who had met with missionaries previously but hasn't been taught in a long time. Sister Felix and I had never met them before. When we knocked, a woman in her early 20's answered. A giant German Shepherd bolted out the door and ran across the neighborhood. This woman was obviously concerned. She went back in to get her shoes. The dog was taking off, so Sister Felix and I dropped our stuff and ran after the dog. I'm sure with our skirts flowing in the wind (nothing showing, don't worry) we looked very strange as we chased that dog. It went in someones backyard a couple blocks down. When we finally got close enough, we crept up on it so it wouldn't run away again. I finally caught him! Just as we did, some members pulled up in their car. I was holding the dog, so Sister Felix went over to talk to them. The dog owner caught up with us and had a leash. She is the daughter of the woman who the missionaries had previously taught. I didn't want to stand there awkwardly waiting for Sister Felix so I started talking to her about the restored gospel and God's love for us. We got the dog back home and met [M], [B]'s mom. Needless to say, we got a return appointment with both of them pretty easily. Ha ha! :)

While we were knocking on doors in one neighborhood we had a guy answer a door who looked at us and immediately said "I'm not interested, I don't have time!" then shut the door. No big deal, we get that all the time. It didn't even phase us. We just kept walking. When we were two houses away he came back out and tried to give us money for lunch. It was nice of him, but we can't take money. He wanted us to go buy ourselves some lunch. We thanked him but asked him to keep his money. It was a really interesting experience. Ha ha!

[S] is getting closer and closer to baptism! His date is November 1! I'm not sure if I'll be there for that or not. Transfers are coming up. We'll find out this Sunday what our fate will be. :) He still needs to make the change that has been holding him back. We're maintaining frequent contact with him to ensure that he is doing well. He is so prepared and so ready! He is going to be solid once he gets baptized. He already has such a strong testimony. :D

Always stay positive no matter what. Because there is something special about every day and every moment if we open our eyes to it. That is something I am learning so much this transfer! Moments are indeed the molecules of eternity! I love you all! Keep looking for those missionary opportunities, they're out there.

Sincerely,
Sister Record. <3

P.S. Sister Felix and I have discovered a hidden talent of mine... prepare for your minds to be blown. =0) Hahaha!

 

We die laughing every time... :)

Here's some fairly normal pictures. :D

Sister Felix found some dead bugs

Sister Felix and I at a frozen yogurt place called orange leaf

A dead cockroach. We tried to put a little acorn hat on it, but it wouldn't stay on.

 Weekly planning... enough said.

Last ones

This is sometimes how we make phone calls...

Sister Record looking at a cockroach

Sister Record holding one

The Woodlake Sisters

Area: Converse
Companion: Sister Sarah Felix

Hello!

We moved in with the Woodlake Ward Sister missionaries this week. A senior couple is moving into our apartment. It's been kind of crazy because there is one bathroom and five Sister's. Woodlake is in a threesome. It's worked out though. :)

We had an incredible experience with one of our investigators last week. His name is [S]. He's been investigated the church for a little over a year. He is so solid and ready to be baptized, except that he needs to change his living situation. We had the lesson with Bishop Gibson and pretty much laid it down. The spirit was so strong, and he agreed to change his living situation and be baptized on November 1. Please keep him in your prayers! He really needs them. At the end of the lesson we all knelt and prayed individually. By the end he was so choked up. He and Bishop hugged for a long time. Steve exclaimed, "I feel so good!" It was a really special moment. We're trying to keep in as much contact as we can with him to keep him going strong.

President Monson said something in General Conference that really struck me. "Remember the elderly and the home bound." There is an elderly woman in our ward who's husband passed away a couple weeks ago. We went and visited her on October 11th (Grandma Rowley's birthday, right?). It was brief, but we sang a song and shared a scripture with her. Come to find out, that day was her husbands birthday. There is no way we could have known that. The Lord knows the hearts of each of us. I'm grateful to have been there for her on that difficult day.

I'm so glad to be a missionary! I love you all! Always be positive, and things will work out.

Sincerely,

Sister Record

"I have never felt this way before"

Area: Converse
Companion: Sister Sarah Felix

Hi ya'll!

It's been kind of a crazy morning! The internet at the library we usually go to was down. We went shopping first, but the internet was still down when we were done. So we searched the gps for another library, which was about 20 minutes away and had to get a library card before getting on. Ha ha!

General conference was amazing! I really loved President Eyring's talk. I thought about our family. I appreciate now more than ever the foundation we were built upon as children. Mom and Dad, thank you so much for your steadfastness in doing the small and simple things. Your love and support have built a foundation that will bless generations.

We had an experience yesterday with an investigating family. They are so amazing! We've struggled to get in contact with them. They are so prepared and ready, it's just so hard to have a lesson with them because we could never catch them at the right time. We taught them the Plan of Salvation. During this lesson I had the opportunity to bear witness of Jesus Christ's suffering for us in the garden of Gethsemane. This beautiful family, like many others understood that he suffered for us on the cross, but had never heard about his suffering in the garden of Gethsemane. It was so powerful to teach them that He suffered for our sins so we can be made clean, and He has felt every single pain, sickness, infirmity, weakness, and shortcoming of every single person that has ever lived. The mom teared up as she began to understand what that meant for her. The dad was very thoughtful to whole time. We then taught them about the priesthood authority, and why it is necessary to be baptized. I asked him if he believed that was true. After some thought he replied, "Yes... because I have never felt this way before." We testified that what he was feeling was the spirit telling him that this is true. I wish I could fully describe what a beautiful moment this was. It is an important break through for them in their progression. It is so wonderful to help people see the light. So many are not willing to accept what we have to offer. But when we find those who are ready, it really is amazing to see the transformation that takes place.

Earlier in the week we had a really interesting lesson, to say the least. Ha ha! We met an old man at his doorstep and taught him a 2 minute version of the restoration. He seemed fairly accepting, though we weren't sure how receptive he was. We came back another day, and he was there ready for our company. The house was in slight disarray, he sat us down at his kitchen table, which his cats eat at. He then grabbed some papers that he thought were medical papers. He thought we were there to sign papers for him. We reminded him that we were there to teach him about Jesus. He was pretty confused but let us start teaching him. Come to find out, he was very atheist and didn't believe in God at all. He just thought we were regular company. We briefly testified of the restored gospel and left. He was such a sweet man... Ha ha! It was just a really funny experience. It was the last thing we were expecting.

Once again, general conference was so good! They talked a lot about the restoration. I'm really looking forward to studying it in the ensign. The church is true, and we have a living prophet! :D

All in! I love you all!

(Wish I had more time to update today.) :)

Sincerely,
Sister Record