Canton's on Fire! (Literally)
April 7, 2014
Y'ALL!
Y'ALL!
For explanation of the subject line, see attached photograph. Nothing to worry about. Enough said. We're great cooks.
It's been a whirlwind of a week, but in the best way possible! I got my new companion on Wednesday, Sister Alvey, and I am SO lucky to have her. She is on fire, determined and focused, and she pushes me to be the best missionary I can be. Thus far we get along splendidly. I've felt like I've just been floating and not accomplishing much over the last several weeks in this area, but now I feel grounded and re-focused, and happy. I am so privileged to be working with her!
Classic DOG story. We were climbing a particularly long and steep driveway when a huge dog (Great Dane or boxer I think) came running out at us. Not kidding; it's eyes were like evil dark pits and were red in the center!
We thought we were gonna die.
But we didn't. We slowly backed down the driveway, step by step, while I said "Easy, eeeeeasy" to the dog over and over. Eventually we were safely at the bottom and a little kid came out to get the dog. So apparently it's not a ruthless monster to everyone. Just missionaries probably. But it sure got our adrenaline pounding!
Another funny story. On Tuesday, all of us local missionaries were gathered outside the church waiting to start district meeting, but no one there had a key so we were locked out. From a previous...experience...I just so happened to know that one of the windows had no screen and was unlocked. So, being the problem solver I am, I hopped in through the window and opened the church doors from the inside. Unfortunately I hopped in a little too quickly and scraped up my leg a bit. It's one of those sad occasions when you actually have a good story to go with the injury, but it sounds illegal or sketchy so you can't really explain it casually. "Oh, that? I just got cut on a brick while climbing through a window." Yeah, it's a no go. But a fun story to tell. See attached photo. :)
This week we found and started teaching an investigator, Eileen, who is now progressing. She's in her sixties, has the sweet honey pea southern accent from Alabama, and to say she loves her Bible would be an understatement. She responded well to the message about Joseph Smith and the First Vision. When we asked her to pray about the Book of Mormon to see if it was true, she said, "I don't need to, I know it's true! It must be." Well....okay then! We're excited to work with her.
We have a goal to find someone to baptize or at least put someone on date for April 26th. It's a goal set in faith but I know that good will come from it. Please pray for Eileen and that we'll be able to meet this goal.I learned a valuable lesson on exact obedience yesterday. Between general conference sessions on Sunday, the bishop and his family had offered to feed both us and the elders in the church gym, but we have a mission rule that elders and sisters can't eat together at meals. I was satisfied to have us sit at different tables, but Sis. Alvey insisted we move the tables and close the dividers so we were in different rooms. The bishop and his wife were grateful for the example of obedience we set. Soon after, the bishop's wife told us of a referral she'd like to give us. I was humbled and learned from Sister Alvey, and learned that tangible blessings come from obedience.
I thoroughly enjoyed General Conference this weekend! What a treat and privilege to hear from the prophet and apostles and leaders of the Church. I particularly liked L. Tom Perry's example of the team of horses, because I wrote a similar comparison in my study journal just last week about horses and submitting my will to the Lord.
I feel like my efforts are more real now. I am so grateful for Sister Alvey. Have a lovely week of spring!
Love,
Sister Taylor
P.S. Our house shook from thunder this morning. Hopefully tornado season passes by uneventfully (though it would be cool to say I saw a tornado on my mission. :) ).
P.S. Our house shook from thunder this morning. Hopefully tornado season passes by uneventfully (though it would be cool to say I saw a tornado on my mission. :) ).
My church break-in injuries.
Sister Alvey and I used this photo as a thank you card for ward families who fed us. It had a clever caption involving the lyrics "The Spirit of God like a fire is burning" (hence the burning food).