Hello Everyone!
This week was exciting and different. As in, things actually happened! Ha!
This week we had some interesting/unexpected blessings. The first was
Christian. He had been taught by the Elders in Killian before he moved
down to Coral Reef and they found out he is actually 29, i.e. YSA. We
got to drive down and see him on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. He is
incredible! He has such high desires to be baptized. Since he already
came to church in the Killian Ward once, we thought he could get
baptized this Sunday. However, after talking with our Branch Mission
Leader, we decided he should wait until next week to show some
commitment before he makes the covenant of Baptism. Which turned out to
be a good idea, since he didn't even make it to church this week. We had
an awesome lesson on Saturday going over the Restoration using Jenga.
He liked it so much we played it again afterwards! Unfortunately, he has
some schizophrenia so he doesn't always answer the phone . . .
Also unexpected, we received a text from a former branch-member saying
there was a YSA girl attending the Homestead ward who said she was
getting baptized next weekend. It wasn't until after church that the
Elders down there called us and said that she had come to church twice
already and has a baptismal date for this Saturday. I'm not sure why
they waited this long to tell us, but at least she got to go to a YSA
activity yesterday to meet some of the members of the Branch. It is
really frustrating to have to explain why she shouldn't be getting
baptized down in Homestead when she's already attended there twice. It
is so much easier and better for the investigators if the missionaries
pass them as soon as they find them so they can have the fellowship and
support they need.
I've also found out that my idea of what it takes an investigator to be
ready for baptism is a lot different then what the Elders think it is.
We are planning to teach Christian and Jaclyn everything over again,
because they don't have a good grasp on any of the lessons. At least their desires are high! Now we just have to work on them being able to witness their commitment.
We had some great experiences harvesting this week. We actually had
trouble again finding people to bless during our scheduled harvesting
time, but one day we had 10 minutes before correlation and we found 2
people to bless! Then we were waiting for an investigator to get home
and we drove to a nearby street. Sister Chavous saw some guys and jumped
out of the car. Before I had even taken my seatbelt off she was
contacting him and we were able to bless him and a friend, with a member
present! It was an awesome experience as they asked us to pray for
things that really mattered to them and we were able to invite them to
be baptized. They we eager for us to return! I love finding YSA!
We had the opportunity to be present as one of our recent converts
(Anabell)received her patriarchal blessing. It was a very sweet and
spiritual experience! Before the blessing the Patriarch mentioned that
President Monson had asked us to read 3 Nephi before conference. I don't know when he said that, but we started today. It is incredible to
see the way the people see the signs of the Christ coming and still
harden their hearts because of Satan's hold on them. I love the
comforting and timely words of the Savior to Nephi before He comes into the world. I am so grateful for the love Christ has for us, that he
would voluntarily come to Earth to suffer and die for us."
We also had one of my favorite experiences. As church was about to
start, we were feeling a little depressed because no one was coming to
church. As we sat on the stand (so Sister Chavous could finally give her
talk!) we looked up to see the other Sisters walk in with Shan Liu.
They met him the day before and invited him to our ward. He had called
them and they went out to help him find the church, so they sat with him
during Sacrament. We met him after the meeting and Bingyu (a member)
came up and was freaking out because there was someone else who speaks
Chinese. She took him to class, which he enjoyed, and then a member who
just got called to serve in Taiwan took him to Priesthood. Afterwards
(actually, after we went to Anabell's patriarchal Blessing), we talked
with Shan. He told us his whole life story of living all over the world,
being partially paralized, and coming to realize his life was empty,
despite all he had been through physically and intellectually. He talked
with someone at work who told him that if he was living in Utah, he
would be married with 4 kids by now (since he is 29). He decided to look
up the Church, and ordered a Book of Mormon and Bible on Mormon.org,
which is why the Sisters went to visit him in the first place. So
basically, he is super ready for the truth and we can't wait to tell him
about it!
I hope all of you are doing well! Get ready for this awesome thing we
call "General Conference" by reading, praying, and inviting your friends
over!
Love,
Hermana Sheffield!
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