Yep, emailing on a Thursday. How strange. But there was snow Monday, so the college closed (right at 10! It was quite sad), and so we headed to the public library. It was open, but the computer system was down... And usually we would then email on Tuesday, but we had a big long meeting then, and then appointments, then another meeting Wednesday and then appointments... so here we are! Just a couple days late :) Hope no one panicked.
Man, remembering the last week feels so long ago! Time to pull out my journal and see what actually happened...
Last Tuesday was pretty darn dull. The snow/ice made it difficult, because EVERYONE was cancelling on us! Which was understandable, there was freezing rain in the morning, but we want to go see people! But we got to catch up on some paperwork, so that's definitely a good thing. We were supposed to have a meeting in Cape Girardeau the next day, but the roads were awful, so it was rescheduled.
Wednesday was better. It was still pretty chilly, but no snow! Hurrah! And the roads were cleared up mostly by the end of the day. We saw a few people, and tried visiting a lot of people.
Thursday, we had our monthly zone meeting. It was up in Cape, and a very nice couple from our ward drove us there. They made some policy changes, including changing the music policy. Mormon Tabernacle Choir only!
That night, we went and taught a woman that has been taking lessons from the missionaries on and off for a year or so. We had a really good lesson with her! She knows that the church is true, and she bore testimony to us. Now we just have to help her make the changes that she needs to in order to move forward :)
On Friday, I got a couple of packages! Thanks Mom! We also had some good lessons, one with an older member of the ward. She's 80 years old, and she loooooooooooves telling stories. They're usually hilarious! We also taught Edna, and she sadly hurt her foot! I don't know what more she can suffer! Pneumonia, kidney being removed, knee replacement, other general illnesses (flu, cold, etc.), and now a broken foot!
Oh my gosh, and we have been making some amazing progress with the family that we teach! The dad and his two kids. They have been coming to church fairly regularly (the kids visit their mom every other weekend), and they have been reading and praying, and they are really on the path to baptism!!! I am so excited for them. I hope that they'll get baptized before I leave, because I'd love to be there, but I'm even ok if I'm not there, as long as it happens! They are the cutest family ever. They live with a family that has been less active for a couple of years, but they've been coming to church as well! It's amazing when you get to see people's lives changing in front of your eyes.
Saturday was a great day too! We had members coming with us to lessons, which is always a positive thing. We saw a few people that we haven't had a chance to see in a while, and they went really well. And we found a new investigator!
Sunday, people came to church :) a lot of them at least. More could, of course, but that's always the case!
I could write about what has happened so far this week, but then I'd have nothing new to write about next time.
Spiritual thought time!
So, I'm still in 1 Nephi in my personal study (I warned you, I've been moving super slow!). I've learned so much by studying this slowly though, even if I won't finish The Book of Mormon at this pace until 2015. Quality over... speed? I don't know. Anyway, I liked this scripture in 1 Nephi 13. In this chapter, Nephi has been prophesying about the last days and what's going to happen then. A lot of confusion and wickedness, and lost people. But he also prophesies this:
"And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be."
So, obviously, my first thought is "Woohoo! Blessings for missionaries! Sweet!" But as I ponder this scripture more, I realize that it's not really just about missionaries. It's about anyone who is doing their best to build the kingdom of God. When we strive to be righteous, to lift the people around us, Christ will lift us at the last day.
As far as the publishing peace and tidings of great joy, that's the same thing that the angels sang at Christ's birth! We do this whenever we are sharing about the gospel, whether through our words, actions, example, conversation, countenance, whatever!
And then the last part... how beautiful upon the mountains. Whenever I read about mountains in the scriptures, I think of the temples, because they truly are the mountains of the Lord. The righteous who seek to bring forth Zion will be able to enter the temples of God and enjoy the blessings that come from it.
Anyway, I love you all! Hopefully the weather will improve here and there! I feel like the grumpy townsfolk in Frosty the Snowman 2 (I know, random reference, but "No more snow!").
Sister Barret
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