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| Happy St. Patrick's Day y'all! |
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| Service
at Zielinski's sisters, Elder Dewsnup, Elder Randall, Elder Lund, Elder Ray |
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| Begging Elder Winter for more miles |
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| Happy Pi Day! 3.1415 |
This was a truly remarkable week! I could say that every
week.. But it's true!
On our Monday morning leadership conference call the assistants
challenged us to invite someone to baptism everyday--each companion. So Sister
Gillman and I decided to go for it. That night I was able to invite someone
fairly quickly, but the time was ticking and we needed to find someone for a
Sister Gillman to invite. We were running around knocking doors, but no success.
We decided to try a potential investigator on our way home. We knocked and she answered, even though she
had to get out of bed to do so... Oops... at 8:59 Sister Gillman invited her to
baptism!!! We saw miracles like that every day this week, and we achieved our
goal! We each invited someone to be baptized every day and it felt so good!
Most of the people were just at their doors so we didn't get to set specific
baptism dates, and not everyone said yes, but we did our part!
Tuesday we started our trade off with the YSA sisters. Sister
Perkes came to Hendricks with Sister Gillman and I got to go to YSA with Sister
Malm! It was so so so much fun being back in my old area! During our finding
time we decided to make it more fun by rating our awkward moments on a scale
from 1-10. I think we only got to about a 7 though with a man who was on his
porch lifting weights and sweating like none other! Haha, it was fun! That day
we also met with my past branch mission leader! He hasn't been to church for a
while so we went to see him. It was good! We also went to institute that night!
It was great to see a lot of the members I knew!
Wednesday when I got back with Sister Gillman I found out the
assistants had a referral for us! They had a woman walk into the church! They
taught her the first three lessons before finding out she wasn't in their ward,
they thought she lived in our ward, but weren't sure. We stopped by the family
history center and looked up her address and we cheered when we found out she
was! Her name is Lana and we have yet to meet with her, but we have an
appointment tonight and I can't wait! That day we also went back and
taught an 18 year old named Morgan! He is so elect! The sisters before me found
him while doing the survey.
Thursday we had our weekly planning so that made the whole week
seem to go fast! That night we drove to the mission office to pick up some
sisters from Ocala to stay with us for the night.
Friday we had a mission conference in Orange Park! Elder Kopischki
of the 70 came! He is incredible! He is truly a master teacher! I was asked to
play piano again (which was so fun). And he came up when he first walked in and
asked if I could play piano while shaking his hand... It didn't work too well
but I did get to shake his hand, and he thanked me for playing. He
started off by telling us he hadn't come with an agenda. That agenda would be
set by what we wanted to know. He asked us what qualities we admired about
Joseph Smith. He said we need to develop these qualities because we need a generation
that creates not just follows in the world. The rest of the six hour meeting
(which was only supposed to last four hours... But who is going to complain
about extra time with a general authority?) It was opened to asking questions. He taught us a lot of
skills about teaching, testifying, and talking with everyone. He did some role
plays with the Assistants. He is a powerful teacher! I know that I want to
testify of Jesus Christ every chance I get for the rest of my mission! We also
learned tips to better work with members and to get referrals. He talked a lot
about the fair cycle. We have to begin to experiment and work--At the end I was
able to ask a question too. He gave us some good resources to study up on. I was continually amazed at his ability to
take a question and expound and teach off of it. We learned so much!
Directly after the meeting we began another trade off. Sister
Gillman went to Ft. Caroline (her old area) with Sister Case and Sister Mackay
came here with me. Let's just say I don't really know the area yet... Haha
thank goodness for gps! We had a member feed us at Bono's BBQ then met up with
another member for an appointment. The appointment fell through so we walked
around the complex to talk to people-- and invited two people to be baptized!
It was incredible!
Saturday we had coordination and I was confused on the time so we
showed up a half hour early--time to practice lessons! After lunch we went to a
baptism the YSA sisters had. The spirit was so strong and it made us want to
invite more people to baptism!
Sunday was wonderful! We got asked to teach Relief Society last
minute. Then we taught Sunday School. Then I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting.
(Yes that is the order of the meetings) It is a good thing I love
teaching!
So it was really an incredible week! I am excited for this week to
go out and tell more people that I know Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer.
I know that because He lives we can live again. It is through His Atonement I
find strength to do tough things and to love tough things. I do love being a
missionary!
Have a blessed week!
Love,
Sister Murray
