Bright Yellow Labels, Zipper Spiders, and Sister Hawkins
August 11, 2014
Family and Friends and All Y'all,
Investigator-wise, we've had several bail on appointments this week, which has been frustrating. However, we've been blessed with three new individual investigators. God is still working miracles, and I dearly hope that our precious families don't drop us. Please keep these people in your prayers:
Love,
Family and Friends and All Y'all,
First things first! The mail policy changed, so now mail is to be sent to me directly. Mail me at this address:
Sister Christa Taylor
1245 Britain Dr
Lawrenceville, GA
30046
This week was exciting because it was my first week of training a new missionary. In the week before transfers, I was really struggling. I doubted my capability to run the area, let alone to train. I finally asked for a priesthood blessing Tuesday night, and it has made ALL the difference. It wasn't terribly specific, but it did specifically mention soundness of mind; and from that moment on, soundness of mind has been my saving grace. My fears and anxieties melted into collected calm, and a gentle confidence in my task has been with me since then.
I prayed for several days that I would have great love for my trainee. The moment I met Sister Hawkins, I felt filled with joy and love for her. I know Heavenly Father answered my prayer.
Sister Hawkins is wonderful. She's from Logan, UT and though more quiet and introverted, she's fun and talkative with me and we get along splendidly. Of course it's a huge adjustment to the mission field, and she's going through the same feelings that I, and probably every missionary, had when new to the field. It's hard. We're always tired. It's awkward and uncomfortable to tract. Talking to everyone is intimidating. Lessons fall through. Investigators bail appointments. There are more religions and cultures out there than you can count, and suddenly your gospel knowledge feels like the size of a pea. You feel inadequate and completely unequipped to teach the gospel. You start to wonder if you really want to do this for 18 months, when it would be easier to simply go home. Sister Hawkins has been open with me about all of these concerns, and I don't know how much help I've been, but I tell her I've felt all that before and that it gets better and easier, and I try to encourage her in every aspect of the work. She is wonderful, and I only hope I'm doing my part to help this incredible missionary start her mission on the right foot.
I prayed for several days that I would have great love for my trainee. The moment I met Sister Hawkins, I felt filled with joy and love for her. I know Heavenly Father answered my prayer.
Sister Hawkins is wonderful. She's from Logan, UT and though more quiet and introverted, she's fun and talkative with me and we get along splendidly. Of course it's a huge adjustment to the mission field, and she's going through the same feelings that I, and probably every missionary, had when new to the field. It's hard. We're always tired. It's awkward and uncomfortable to tract. Talking to everyone is intimidating. Lessons fall through. Investigators bail appointments. There are more religions and cultures out there than you can count, and suddenly your gospel knowledge feels like the size of a pea. You feel inadequate and completely unequipped to teach the gospel. You start to wonder if you really want to do this for 18 months, when it would be easier to simply go home. Sister Hawkins has been open with me about all of these concerns, and I don't know how much help I've been, but I tell her I've felt all that before and that it gets better and easier, and I try to encourage her in every aspect of the work. She is wonderful, and I only hope I'm doing my part to help this incredible missionary start her mission on the right foot.
We did see some awesome miracles this week! Here are some key experiences:
** FIVE investigators, all women, were at church on sunday! Two were ours, Julie (a referral we hadn't met yet) and she brought her friend Theresa with her. The investigator sunday school class was packed with recent converts and investigators. Theresa had lots of questions about the Book of Mormon and the temple, and I was able to answer them for her. We'll be teaching them later this week.
** While tracting, we met this black 30 year-old man named Mike, he's a truck driver. We asked what he knew about the Mormons and he went wayy off with some crazy false stories about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. He wasn't being mean, he was just repeating what he had heard. But then, he also talked about how humans are close genetically to apes, the ancient Egyptians might have had lightbulbs and electricity, and all kinds of random things. I got the impression that he just had no idea what to believe. I said, "Do you believe that there is a God?" When it came down to it, he didn't know.
Sister Hawkins bore a beautiful testimony on how she had been confused about what was true, too-- but she came to know that there was a loving God and that the Church was true when she read and prayed about the Book of Mormon. It was perfect and brought the Spirit, and his whole demeanor changed. You could tell he'd felt the Spirit. So we gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon, and he said he would read it. It makes me so grateful for what I believe. It helps me so much to know that all truth comes from God, and that He will help us discern what is true and what is not.
Sister Hawkins bore a beautiful testimony on how she had been confused about what was true, too-- but she came to know that there was a loving God and that the Church was true when she read and prayed about the Book of Mormon. It was perfect and brought the Spirit, and his whole demeanor changed. You could tell he'd felt the Spirit. So we gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon, and he said he would read it. It makes me so grateful for what I believe. It helps me so much to know that all truth comes from God, and that He will help us discern what is true and what is not.
** We went up to this run down house door that had a sign that said this on it: "Police, some guy is coming to cut the lawn, please don't leave a citation." Umm....so we didn't knock that door. It was super funny though because we have no idea what it meant!
** We saw a zipper spider yesterday. They make webs that are thick enough to wad up into a softball or even a soccer ball, and they are HUGE. It would fill up the palm of your hand, and it's body was the size of a penny. BIG GUY. I'll try to send a picture next time.
***MIRACLE OF THE WEEK***
Yesterday, on Sunday evening, we were tracting on a street we had just felt good about on the map-- nothing too special, no crazy strong impressions to go there. But at one door, Sister Hawkins said "Look down!" There, on the rug on the front porch, was a bright yellow label that said "PROPERTY OF JULIE SO-AND-SO"-- the new investigator we had met at church that day!! A voice from inside said, "Come on in," so we did, and sure enough, it was Julie! God led us straight to her home, and she needed us. She has a lot of mental instabilities and is bipolar with a past (and present) of addictions and difficulty. She started crying and was really struggling. We encouraged her, shared a strengthening scripture, and sang "I am a Child of God" to her. She cried as we sang, and the Spirit was present. She asked if she could sing for us, and sang "Amazing Grace". It was so sweet to see someone just learning about the Atonement reach out to the Savior with a humble song of gratitude for His love. It was an incredible miracle.
Investigator-wise, we've had several bail on appointments this week, which has been frustrating. However, we've been blessed with three new individual investigators. God is still working miracles, and I dearly hope that our precious families don't drop us. Please keep these people in your prayers:
- Shaqkeem, Shaquill, Amber, Prophett, Kedra, Teamo (especially 1st two, that they'll continue progressing towards baptism)
- Jeff & Georgina (that they'll feel comfortable meeting with us again and make friends with the Giggey family, who is fellowshipping them)
- Victor (my first baptism from John's Creek-- his membership is straining his marriage and he needs prayers)
- Keo & family (that they will meet with us and be able to progress towards baptism as a family)
- Sister Hawkins (my trainee, that she will feel loved and that I'll be able to help her the way I'm supposed to)
Thanks, and I love you all SO much. Keep praying for me and look for the missionary opportunities around you!
Sister Taylor
Sister Mallory Hawkins and I :)