So. Wow. What a week.
Last Monday, Sister Auble and I spent basically the whole rest of our P-Day after emailing packing/cleaning/getting our area in order. Being whitewashed out (both of us leaving and being replaced by two new missionaries) of an area is not my favorite experience.
Tuesday... ha. So. We planned a great, full day of missionary work. Then it had gotten down to the teens the night before. We went to the car to head off to our first appointment.... aaaaaaaaaand the car wouldn't start. Yup. Dead battery. We called some members to help us out, and we spent about an hour trying to jump it... No luck. We called a tow company, they pulled out the big guns and jumped it, and then we had to go to the repair company and wait for them to replace the battery. What a way to end our time in Columbia! Definitely threw a wrench into our plans for the day! But we were able to go see some people, finish packing/cleaning/organizing, and get ready to go!
Wednesday was the first day of my new responsibility as an STL (I'm trying to make it sound as dramatic as possible). We had to get to transfer meeting bright and early so I could be in a leadership training meeting, which was really neat. President Morgan basically taught us about how we should love the missionaries in our stewardship, and how we should live as an example. Then transfer meeting, which was great. I love getting to gather with all the missionaries (or a lot of the missionaries, it's not really all of them...). There's always a special, powerful spirit when there is a gathering of missionaries. I love being a missionary. I am so grateful to be one. There are times when I just have to stop and I have this moment of, "Is this real? Am I really a missionary? Am I really out knocking doors and sharing the gospel with people?" And I love those moments, because it is always such a special reminder that this is a sacred time.
Both Sister Edgel and I have new companions whose names are Sister Martinez! What are the odds? (The one next to me is my new companion :))
So, after transfer meeting, Sister Martinez and I headed off to Springfield! And thus began my next adventure ;)
I love Springfield. This area is fantastic. The ward is so missionary minded, and the missionaries that have been serving in this area have been amazing.
I feel like I have a million things to write about but nothing to say! Friday, we had Missionary Leadership Council, which happens once a transfer when President and Sister Morgan, the assistants, all of the zone leaders and all of the sister training leaders. It's where we discuss the new policies, our areas and the missionaries we have stewardship over, the direction that the mission president wants the mission to move over the next six weeks, and so on. It was an incredible experience! The most exciting this is the new "He Is The Gift" Initiative that the church is beginning. It's a new Christmas video and website that the church is creating: christmas.mormon.org. It launches November 28, so definitely check it out! The Church has also made special pass-along cards for the video, and every missionary companionship is going to be expected to hand out 10 pass-along cards every day through December, inviting people to check out the video. And in the Ensign this month, there will be a booklet explaining the initiative. IT'S GOING TO BE HUGE. We got to preview the video, and it's amazing. Definitely watch it. Watch it, and invite your friends to watch it, and share it.
I want to hear what you all think and how you share it! :)
Other than that... We've gotten to visit several of our investigators. We have some who are really close to progressing towards baptism. There are 17 currently in our teaching pool, and they're at all stages of the process. One woman, Crystal, came to church this week, and she loved Gospel Principles. She made comments, and kept nodding... It was way cool.
Here's a miracle that we saw happen! So, at church on Sunday, we saw a woman in Gospel Principles that we didn't recognize, and then again after Relief Society. So Sister Martinez said, "We have to catch her!" So we were basically chasing her down the hallway after church (okay, not that bad, but close!) and we catch her, and talk to her. And she's been inactive for seven years, and just decided to follow the prompting to come to church yesterday! And showed up! It was amazing. So we asked her if we could come visit her, and she said, "Yeah, sure!" We asked if we could talk to her husband, a non-member, about the church, and she said, "Yeah, sure! I don't know as much as I want to either, so I'd like that."
! Miracles happen! :)
Everyone enjoy Thanksgiving! It's a perfect time of the year to reflect on all of the blessings that God has given us. Here's a super abbreviated list of things I'm thankful for right now:
Modern technology hastening the work!
Good, old-fashioned missionary work
Obedience brings the blessings!
My FAMILY
Temples
The power of the priesthood
Fudge ;)
My Savior
The scriptures and God's answers through them
Inspiration when you're on your knees
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Love,
Sister Barret
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