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| The Dames Point Bridge. The beautiful bridge I love so much. |
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| The cables above. Driving up this bridge you feel like you're going to just keep going into the sky. |
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| Driving down the bridge. You won't see this in Utah! |
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| A Mail Manatee |
Monday, January 13, 2013 9:22 AM
First, I have to clarify the team Jacob thing. We have
been working with a less active YSA named Jacob. He is 29 and hasn't been to
church for probably 7 years, at least. Yet, he is still so sensitive to
the spirit. It really is a gift. We started trying to track him
down when we first got here, and were able to make a great connection. He
has worked on a golf course for several years, where Sunday is the busiest day
and he has been scheduled every Sunday. We got the happiest text this week telling
us he would be having Sundays off so he can come to church. Sister Hale
and I were literally screaming we were so excited for him. We were
driving at the time and had to pull over and call him. He admitted he had
known for a while he needed to make the change, and finally he got to the point
where he was willing to quit his job. Gratefully his manager let him
change shifts instead. Yesterday we saw him come to church with his mom
for the first time in so long! He said it was the best Sunday he'd had in
a long time. Then that evening he made it to the CES broadcast.
Speaking of which, the broadcast was wonderful! It starts at 8:00
here so it was weird to realize it was already 9:00 when it was over.
Sister Hale and I are excited to be able to print out the talks and mark
up all of the Bible scriptures for our Bible loving southern friends!
Backtracking in the week, Tuesday was our P-day because of
transfers. We went to Town Center with Sisters Houtz, Toledo, Fife, and
McCleary. It was fun to enjoy a lunch together of the best gluten free
pizza I've ever had! We also got a little bit of shopping in.
Wednesday night we had a miracle! We set up with the
Beach Boys Bachelor Pad (a house in the YSA ward with about four RMs living in
it) to watch Prophet of the Restoration. We invited several less actives
and investigators. Three less actives made it! (ok, one of them
lives in the house, but it was still great that he stayed for the movie!
One other tried less active YSA tried to come, but got a flat tire).
The spirit was very strong and it was a wonderful experience! It
was also great to let the less active members get to know some other ward
members. We were also very grateful one sister in the ward was able to
come so we could go in and watch the movie! In a couple weeks we're going
to take advantage of the other "bachelor pad" in the branch and watch
The Testaments. We're so excited!
With the transfers the west stake YSA area has been closed.
The sisters there had been teaching a man named Aaron. They told
him he would be leaving and asked him to pray about which missionaries should
continue teaching him. He prayed and felt Sister Hale and I should.
He said when he prayed he remembered the first day we met him, and Sister
Hale said she wanted to hear more of his story. It reminds me of the
quote, "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you
care!" We had our first lesson with him on Friday. It was also
my first time teaching the law of chastity! It went really well! He
has been so prepared for the gospel! He was a medic in the army and spent
time in Iraq. In the last year he received medical release so now he's
going to school. He has a baptismal date in February, and we are so
excited for him! We just have a couple more lessons, but he is definitely
ready!!! He has a testimony, and a desire that we see as we meet with
him! He is amazing! He even made us some delicious gluten and dairy
free ziti!
Thursday we had district meeting and I gave my first
training! I got to play piano too which is so fun! I love every
chance I get to play! Every district meeting Elder Dean asks two
missionaries to give a training and then he will give one. They are
always amazing! So Elder Dean calls Tuesday and asks me to give a training.
I agree and he says, "The topic is kind of broad," which makes
me kind of worried, but interested to see what it will be. He continues,
"But I've prayed about it and I feel like you need to train about
something positive." As soon as he said it I felt it was the right
topic, but I didn't exactly know where to go with it. Being the
self-critical perfectionist that I am I assumed I needed to talk about
remaining positive with ourselves. That's something I often need to
remind myself of, both on and off of my mission. However, when I started
studying that wasn't going anywhere. With a lot of prayer and last minute
organizing I found out I needed to train on seeing the miracles in our lives
every day. I know that Heavenly Father's hand is in each and every one of
our lives! Ether 12:6 teaches us that when we are faithful we qualify to
work miracles. Sometimes we just need to take a step back and see all
that he has done for us. One thing I do to help myself recognize these
blessings is by recording them in a separate journal. Each night I write
at least one tender mercy I saw that day. Looking back I find pages of
miracles in my life, and that reminds me of my Heavenly Fathers love for
myself, for the people I am working with, and even those at home that I love.
I hope each of you will find a way to notice those miracles in your own
lives. I know they are there!!!
Have a blessed day!
Watch for the miracles!
Love, Sister Alyson Murray
