Because
I'm pretty sure we just started November.
We're going to the
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum today (that's a mouthful) so I won't have
as much time to email, unfortunately. But I'm excited to get some pictures and
things.
Ugh, another week where
so much happened that I don't even know where to begin. But Christmas season
has officially begun! We got to go to two Zone Leader Trainings this week, and
we gave a training at both. It was on how this is the season of miracles, so we
dressed for the part.
That was most of our
Tuesday and Wednesday, was going to these meetings.
Thursday was
Thanksgiving, of course. We ate two Thanksgiving dinners: one with some
members, and one with an investigator. It was so delicious though overwhelming.
We had all the classics: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce,
etc... We also had a sweet potato casserole that I swear could have been the
same recipe that we use! Which was cool. Ham. Stuffing (people call it dressing
here). Broccoli salad. Cheesy potatoes. Jello. Raspberry vanilla pudding. A
pumpkin cheesecake. Oh man. You don't know full until you get to eat multiple
Thanksgiving dinners.
Friday and Saturday, I
went on my first exchange to Tuscola with Sister Schwenke!
As far as the work
goes... It's been going amazing. It's been moving so fast. We saw so many
miracles this week. The Lord truly has His hand in the work. Currently, we have
18 people in our teaching pool (the most people I've had since I was in Poplar
Bluff!). The most amazing thing as far as numbers go was that we were able to
teach 8 lessons with a member present this week. That doubled the number of
member present lessons I'd been able to teach in a week ever before.
We also found three new
investigators! And all of them are cool stories. I'll summarize.
One is the husband of
the less active member who randomly came to church last week after seven years
of inactivity. They came again this week and brought his son, and they all
enjoyed it!
One is the
ex-daughter-in-law of a member here in Springfield. The member referred her to
us, and she is so prepared to hear the gospel. She kept emphasizing how even
though her life is really rough right now, she doesn't want to turn to God only
in her time of need. She wants to show consistency... Like by meeting with us
twice a week! Her suggestion :)
The other person we
found by going to try to contact a less active member. We didn't find the less
active (turns out she's living in Michigan or something, and planning on moving
to Texas?) but we have started teaching her mom! Her mom has tons of health
issues... She's had two strokes, brain damage, is bipolar, has cancer, and it
goes on. But she is in a place where she needs the gospel, and hopefully, we
can help her receive answers and peace that she needs!
The gospel blesses so
many lives! I am so lucky to be able to share it with people!
It's so great being so
busy. It's stressful, but I would way rather be too busy than have nothing
going on! We were talking in a meeting yesterday with our ward mission leader,
(we're in the Springfield First Ward, with the Springfield zone leaders) and we
were talking about some of the struggles we've been having... Calling people to
come to lessons, and give people rides, and finding time for things... And at
one point I start laughing, because we're all worked up over these problems,
and I'm like, "I am so grateful that I have THESE problems! Too many
appointments? Too many investigators? It's like how people say
#FirstWorldProblems, but for us, it's #FirstWardProblems."
Puns :)
The other fun thing
that's been going on? The Christmas initiative! He Is The Gift! If you haven't
checked out the video, CLICK HERE and
watch it. If you have seen it, still go watch it! And then share it, because
it's so good.
I feel like I totally
just skimmed over the whole week, but that's because if I tried to list out
everything that's happened, I'd be here way longer than I can be. Have a great
DECEMBER (unbelievable). Share the gift! It's so easy. We have those passalong
cards, and they are the easiest thing to give away. We gave away seven in an
afternoon without even really trying.
Lots of love to
everyone!
Devynne
