I think that this week my comments will be focused on investigators, because we kind of had a rollercoaster week all over the place... Kind of felt like being on Space Mountain, where you can't really see where you're going, but it's still fun...? Hopefully!
Rollercoaster #1: Tracy
Tracy is a wonderful, wonderful woman. She met with missionaries before, back in the 80s, but then she moved and lost contact. We definitely met her in a miraculous way too: her son stopped us on the street and invited us over, basically. He's not been much interested, but she definitely has been! Well, lessons had been going great with her, and we had a really good lesson on Monday and Thursday. On Thursday, we met at the church, we did a tour of the building, showed her the font, the whole 9 yards. We had a member with us, he bore his testimony, and we set a baptismal date with her! March 9 :)
Then... on Saturday, we received a text from Tracy. She said that she was going to be too busy, because her husband has a liver disease and they were planning on going to the hospital in St. Louis, and if he has to go into hospice, he wants to move back to Louisiana. She said that she needed to put this on hold for now.
We got that text and it was one of those "Thunk." "NOOoooOOOooo" moments. Super sad. We understand, because it's important for her to be supporting her family right now, and her husband IS very ill. But immediately we were scared that she was totally dropping us, wouldn't meet anymore, was more than just putting us on hold, but not investigating anymore. But we texted back, saying that we understood, and we suggested meeting just once a week. She agreed to that, so we are still meeting with her (thank goodness!). I love this woman, she is definitely one of Heavenly Father's loved daughters.
Rollercoaster #2: Edna
This name I remembered! But Edna has been hitting a rough patch. We don't really know what's going on with her. Tuesday, we went to her house for our regular appointment, and her daughter answered the door. She said that Edna was in the hospital, having the pins from her foot removed. Long surgery! Then Thursday, we knocked on her door... and no one answered. That was unusual. So, we tried calling... texting... nothing. Saturday, we tried to stop by randomly, and we caught her as she was getting into someone else's car. We pretty much flagged the other car down, and she said she'd be back in a half hour. So we give her an hour to be safe... no answer at the door. So, we're not sure what's going on there, but we're worried.
Rollercoaster #3: The Turner Family
Okay, I read through old emails, and I couldn't find anything for them. But this is the family that lives with a less active family, a dad and his son and daughter. They are the BEST, oh my goodness, teaching families is so rewarding. Well, on Tuesday, we decided to be bold with them. We invited them to be baptized on March 8. They've been investigating for six or so months now, and we really feel like they are ready. They have accepted the baptismal invitation, but they have been real tentative on setting a date. So, we got a little pushier. They were... noncommittal.
Thursday, kind of the same thing. Amazing news though! The dad has been smoke free for more than a week now! AH! Yay! When you haven't gone more than a couple days without cigarettes in 10 years... Wow. We are so, so happy.
But we were getting a little worried about setting a date. Let's be real--I was especially interested, because I figure that I'm probably leaving on March 12, and after teaching them for 6 months, I really, really want to be at their baptism. But! It is more important that they make these promises to God at their own time and pace. And we told them that.
Then... THEN, on Sunday, they all came to church (yay!) and they were talking to the elders a bit after church, and the son turned to his dad and said, "Is it next Saturday that we're getting baptized?" and the dad replied, "No, it's the next one, March 8."
WHAAAAAAAAT? YAY! Haha. We were shocked/super excited! We are definitely going to have to talk to them more on Tuesday, but yayayayayyayayayy hgahahhahahjkladfhaklsdhf that's how we feel :)
Rollercoaster #4: Exchanges
So, I was SUPPOSED to be heading to Illinois this week, for the first time! And no :( one of the sister training leaders got the flu, so they cancelled our exchange. Instead, they will both be coming to Poplar Bluff tonight, and we'll do the exchange tomorrow, like how they used to do exchanges. Bummer. I was excited to see Illinois. I hear it's flat.
Other news:
found a new investigator this week! he's very nice, young, seems interested
Three investigators came to YM/YW activities Wednesday night!
We taught seminary two mornings this week! It was pretty fun. I taught Alma 36, and Sister Reed taught Alma 37. They were definitely more distracted the second day, it was "Feed-Me Friday."
Had a ward activity celebrating President's Day and ate jelly beans (Ronald Reagan's favorite). There were spicy ones, so I was happy!
I bought some Girl Scout cookies on Saturday. The girls were hilarious. Very good saleswomen.
In my personal study this week, I obviously was reading in Alma quite a bit for seminary. I love love love Alma chapter 36. In my opinion, the story of Alma the younger is one of the best stories of repentance that we have in all the scriptures. In this chapter, he is telling the story of his repentance to his oldest son. He begins by explaining that he went about trying to lead people away from the church. An angel came and stopped him, and warned him that if he were to continue on the path of wickedness, he would be destroyed. For three days, Alma suffers the pains of his sins. Then he remembers the words of his father. It says, "Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me... Now behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more... And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!"
What a contrast we see with Alma. Before he repented, he wished that his soul could be destroyed so he wouldn't face God. He was frightened and in pain, because he realized the magnitude of his sins. And there are times when we can feel pains like this, when we realize the guilt and the sorrow. But then, through repentance, we can feel joy! We will remember the sins, but we won't have those awful feelings attached. Elder Holland said, "Whatever other prayers we offer, whatever other needs we have, all somehow depends on that plea: 'O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me.' He is prepared to offer that mercy. He paid with his very life in order to give it."
Shoutouts:
Happy birthday Owen!
Congratulations, Chelsea and Taylor! And Keri and McKay, can't believe it's been half a year already
I love you all, I think about you all the time. And pray for you lots.
No pictures this week, because my camera's battery died, I charged it and then I forgot to put it back in my purse... Oops!
Sister Barret
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