Weekly Update: October 14-21, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been one crazy week. First off my schedule was thrown off because of how transfers are happening now with weekly planning on Wednesdays and transfers on Thursdays, I could never remember what day it was. But that's okay. It's better now.

I feel like a big change has taken place within me, not only since I became a missionary, but since I've started training. I can recognize the spirit better, and don't worry as much if it is the spirit or not, I just go and do. I feel the spirit with me more and I'm learning so much. I know this church is true. It has changed my life and will continue to change my life. I'm grateful for all the experiences I've had on my mission. They are awesome!!!

This past week we taught a new investigator our zone leaders passed off to us. She was a referral to them either by the stake president or area seventy, but because she is older than YSA age, they passed her off to us. We had a great lesson and with the help of the spirit we were able to put her on date to be baptized. She has a Roman Catholic background, but stopped going because she didn't like a lot of things about the church. As she talked about those things, we realized is her beliefs match with our beliefs. On Sunday she just came to Sunday School. After the class she told us she's not sure if she wants to make the changes necessary in her life to become a member. She tried to drop us, but we told her to pray and think about it for a couple of days. We will stop by sometime this week and talk about how she is feeling. As for one of our other investigators Bernard who was on date earlier, he came to church on Sunday and stayed the whole time! He has never done that since I've been here. Maybe that means he's feeling ready for baptism. We will see, he says he wants to surprise us with a date. Whatever that means!

We have been trying to work more with less-active members, so that started off with getting a new list from our bishop. I have noticed in the ward the members are starting to trust us more. They are thinking more about missionary work and are not afraid to talk to us. One example is the family we are eating dinner with. It's a part member family and the husband was taught back when there were Elders in the ward. On the teaching record it says don't go over there unless invited to do so. We met him at his nephew's baptism on Saturday, now we are eating dinner with them. I love to see the ward opening up to us and welcoming us.

 

I've learned a lot about the spirit on my mission. I really like this scripture John 16:13"Howbeit when, he the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come." This scripture is a good summary of missionary work. Everything I do and say is guided by the spirit. If I am following the spirit then, I'm fulfilling my calling. I know the Lord lives. This is his true church. I love the gospel so much!

 

Love Sister Barton