What Heaven Sees In You

​So I really wish I had some incredible stories to tell you about our investigators this week, but I really can't think of anything more to say other than the fact that once again I'm learning that this work is the Lord's and not mine.

Angie came to the Relief Society Activity, and loved it! We are now teaching a cute new mom named Skyler. But we have not heard from Lauren this week, and it has been heartbreaking. We went by her house for the second time to see if we could talk to her, and that didn't go over well. We thought we'd lost Lauren forever and the tears started welling up in my eyes.

Her neighbor was outside, and I just really felt the need to talk with him. He seemed sad, so we walked up to his door and knocked because he had gone inside. And as it would turn out, he really needed someone to talk to. I don't know if we'll ever be able to teach him the lessons, but I definitely believe that Heavenly Father wanted us to be there right then to be a listening ear and support for one of his struggling sons. So we sat, listened, and prayed with him. And as we sat there, I think I got a glimpse of what Heavenly Father sees in him. I could envision him calm, and dressed in white. Smiling and happy. 

I think that's how Heavenly Father sees all of us. Including myself. But sometimes I just forget that he sees us for who we truly are, and the eternal potential that we have. 

We had Zone Conference this week, and exchanges with the Philadelphia Sisters. And over and over again, I keep seeing all of my imperfections. I'm far from being a perfect missionary. But thank goodness, Heavenly Father makes up the difference for me. So when I feel like I've failed at being a leader, or a companion, or a teacher, or a disciple, he's here to show me that he still loves me. And he sees me all dressed in white, calm, smiling and happy. 

Even if we don't feel that way now, he knows we can all reach that potential and he has placed us each where we need to be in order to make it. 

It may take a long time. And we will still never be perfect. Hard days, and hard weeks happen. But that's all right. Because this is His plan. A plan that he has for each of us, because we are all His children. And I am grateful for that, and for the chance I have to be here and experience a tiny part of his plan for the people of Mississippi. Who I have come to love with all my heart.

Blessings We Don't Deserve

Lauren has a baptismal date!! October 7, the perfect way to end a transfer! Thursday, the Oak Grove Elders had a baptism, so we went with Lauren. Sister Alvey and I got to teach the Restoration in the middle, and it still amazes me how nervous I get doing that. Haha, but then it also amazes me how well it always seems to go! The spirit really is the teacher, I have no doubt about that. After the baptism, we had a lesson with Lauren and got to talk to her about her own baptism. She wants this. She still is looking for a new place to live, but we're all going on faith that Heavenly Father will help work things out so she can reach her date. She said the whole baptism was good, but she loved that you could just see in his eyes that he knows it's true and it's going to change his life. And that's what Lauren wants at her baptism. Gosh, I just love her! 

We found some new investigators this week as well! One is Michelle who was formerly taught. She mostly just had a ton of questions about things, and she was going to cancel with us. But I asked if we could still come and just answer her questions, and she wouldn't need to feel obligated to meet with us again. But then we went, and also ended up teaching the whole Plan of Salvation and she said we could come back! 

Another is a lady named Kishina who is kind of in a rut right now, and is struggling to find true happiness in her life. She lives really close to us, so we're working on seeing her as often as we can so that she can find that. 

And on Wednesday we had our first official lesson with Shelby! She is really shy, but she seems to be getting more comfortable with us. And she has some of the greatest members helping her out, so we are excited for her. Members are the best. There's no way we could do this without them.

Heavenly Father is surely answering our prayers. More often than not, I feel like we don't even deserve the blessings we receive. But I am grateful for a Father up there who is listening and helping us along.

Pictures:

Exchanges with Sister Decamp! 

We found some fuzzy toe socks...I don't really like toe socks.

Goofing off with Sister Alvey after exchanges. 

Most of our area is country! 

It's a Good Time to be in Purvis

How do you find new investigators?? Talk to literally everyone!!!

This week we've been finding, finding, finding!! 

Talking to people as we fill up the car with gas. 

Taking spiritual surveys at the mall. 

Knocking on doors in any spare time. 

Setting up family mission plans. 

Meeting our neighbors. 

Trying former investigators. 

Calling random numbers in our phone. 

And it's actually been really fun!!

On Sunday night we had a youth movie night. We watched "The Cokeville Miracle" (tear jerker, for sure!) and the idea was that all of the youth had to invite at least one friend. And then when they all showed up and there weren't any non-members we had them pull out their phones and try someone else. Well, they still weren't able to find anyone to come, but honestly I was just really proud of them for trying. The youth here are the best!! Solid teenagers for sure. 

But then someone did show up! Her name is Shelby, she's 16 and came to stake conference with  a lady in our ward who used to be her teacher. We met her before the meeting, and talked some more after and invited her to the movie night, and she came with that member's son!! She's great! And we've got a lesson all set up for Wednesday with her! 

We also have been working with a family who moved here a month ago, and have been trying some new churches but haven't loved what they've found. We're super excited about them, because they seem to be genuinely searching. 

And poor Lauren has been sick this week, and then one of her favorite snakes passed away...it's been a rough one for her, but we're seeing her tonight and going to give her some more love. And a baptismal date to look forward to!

So things are picking up, the finding is going well, and I love this ward!!! It's a good time to be in Purvis!

Someone Searching

​I'm exhausted. But it feels so good! Crazy week! 

Sister Alvey and Me

Sister Alvey is awesome, she has so much fire and determination! We're working a lot with the Young Women, and things here are awesome. Still doing a lot of finding, but we're busy busy busy and it feels good! Lauren is still praying about her baptismal date, but she told us that she knows it will be soon. She wakes up at 4:00 in the morning to read her Book of Mormon and knows that when she does that and prays she just feels better. Gosh, I love her!!

Hiding out in the bathroom during a tornado watch.

This past Saturday was like one of the greatest days ever...because I was reunited with Sister Lamb!! She's one of my best friends, y'all. We had so much fun! She got to come meet Lauren with me, and honestly I had forgotten how good it feels to teach with her. I don't know how she does it, but she's very personable and there is so much power behind what she says. I know it helped Lauren. She's just a really, really good missionary. I feel so blessed to have served with her, and to have had her back with me for the day. I love that girl! 

Reunited with Sister Lamb

Yesterday I got to be with Sister Freeman on exchanges, and now we're lifelong friends. She even offered to let me have my wedding reception in her backyard, we got that close!! But she is a very dedicated missionary, and we also had a lot of fun! But one of the neatest things happened in the morning. I had planned to go see a lady in the ward, and after we couldn't really find her house, I parked the car and we decided to knock some doors and ask around. Only to find that she is the lady that lives in the storage unit! So we knock, she let's us right in and says, "Just the girls I was looking for!"

Y'all, she had literally been praying all morning that she could have some way to talk with me. 

I shared my testimony at church on Sunday and she said that she had felt prompted to tell me some things, but held back every time she got the chance at church. That's why she had been praying, and then we showed up! 

And you know what she told me? 

She looked me in the eyes, as tears filled in hers, and she told me that someone was praying for me. That a long time ago, she was that person who wanted the truth so badly, but couldn't find it. And as I shared my testimony she just knew that someone just like her was praying that I will find them before I go home. She pleaded with me to finish off my mission strong, and to do everything I can to find that person. 

I promised her I would. 

I promised God that I would. 

And I will. 

I have loved my time as a missionary, but these past few weeks I have honestly just not felt the drive to keep working as hard as I need to. I have been praying and pleading with Heavenly Father to help me find that again. And well, he did. 

I know he's aware of us, and prayers are answered.