Goodbyes, Blessings, & Speaking for the Stake
March 3, 2015
Hey y'all!
Here's a story you don't forget! :)
This weekend was Stake Conference (so several local congregations come together for the conference), and a member of the quorum of the seventy-- Elder Hymas-- came to speak. Prior to the adult session on Saturday night, the Martin family took Sister Porter and I out to get a quick dinner at a sub sandwich place. We'd had a funny conversation that included how much Sister Porter and I would really love to speak at Stake Conference!
Well. When Elder Hymas got up to speak, he started talking about missionary work as members. Then he asked, "Is the young lady Alexa that just got baptized here tonight?" (She wasn't. She's in Florida going to the temple for the first time with her boyfriend!) Silence. He said, "Well, darn. Are the two sister missionaries that met her in Walmart here tonight?" Sister Porter and I stood up. "Then you get to come up and share her story," he smiled.
Sister Porter and I giggled the whole way up to the stand. We'd called it! We shared our story, and everyone laughed when we re-enacted the faces we'd made when Alexa had asked us for a Book of Mormon. A member took a picture of the screen in the back, so I'll attach it. :) It was quite the experience!
The time has come yet again for transfers on Wednesday. I'm grateful for the opportunity to grow through change with transfers, but I do face this transfer change with a lot more sadness than I've ever felt before. Sister Porter and I have become best of friends; we have so much trust, openness, love, and gratitude for each other-- it will be difficult to let her go home. While tracting this week, we just enjoyed every moment. We asked silly get to know you questions, sang hymns in harmony together, shared funny quirks about ourselves and growing up stories, discussed spiritual thoughts...I am really going to miss that girl. But I am grateful we had our time together, and I know our friendship is one that will last.
Usually, there is one Sister Training Leader companionship per zone-- but with so many sisters going home, we're having some interesting changes. In our zone they're taking sisters out of two of the five areas, and my new companion won't be a Sister Training Leader-- I'll be the only one for our zone. It'll be interesting flying solo! I think it will be a good experience because with my companion as one of my zone sisters, I'll have a constant reminder to reach out and to be a good example of exact obedience and wholehearted service.
Because of several previously cancelled exchanges (24 hours where we switch companions with another set of sisters), we went on three this week! It was a crazy, fast paced, all over the place week!
One was when Sister Webster joined me in Athens 1st. She is an incredible example! Sister Webster prayed before we knocked doors that we would have opportunities to share the message of the Restoration and of the Book of Mormon with others. We were invited in two or three times, and each time were able to powerfully testify of those things. I loved that her heartfelt prayer was answered so clearly and immediately! She taught me a lot about exercising faith and truly loving the people we meet.
We had a miracle while tracting in the icy rain on Wednesday. A hispanic woman, Rosa, answered the door and motioned for us to step inside. As we briefly shared the message of the Restoration with her, she nodded and then asked if we could pray with her. We did, and she asked us to pray for a special blessing on her son, who's going through a lot. There was a special light about her. As we were about to leave, she looked in our eyes and in her broken english, said, "Before you knock on my door, I was praying in my kitchen to the Lord. Then you came to my door. I think this is a sign from God." We agreed!
My last exchange was honestly difficult for me. I visited another area, where the sisters have been struggling for several months to have people to teach. Basically, my experience there left me feeling a little angry and frustrated and depressed.
I had a humbling experience in prayer, because I had chosen to let things offend me and make me frustrated. As I prayed and repented, I felt love and patience for these sisters and their situation enter my heart where my frustration and anger had been. I felt so much better. I let those things go and simple reached out in love to them. I was then able to do and say the right things to be an influence for good.
Sister Porter and I received priesthood blessings last night-- which is something I treasure about the Church. Worthy men holding the priesthood-- the power and authority to act in God's name-- can give blessings to those who need it, which is essentially the priesthood holder speaking the Lord's words, as he is inspired, to the receiver. I always feel a sense of peace and comfort, and knowledge that God knows me better than anyone else does when I receive a blessing.
Last night was no different. Mine talked about how my new companion and I would be able to find commonalities and work well together, and that our work would not be hindered by our companionship. I found out today my new companion is Sister Rowley-- she's a good sister just coming from a struggling area. I can see the wisdom in the reassurances given during the blessing that we would be able to work well together and that our work would not be hindered, because I've been her sister training leader for several months, and the behavior and lack of gumption we've seen in her companionship (and preceding sister companionships in that area) has been frustrating and saddening at times. I'm grateful she gets to come to an area that has been flourishing, and I pray that through our faithfulness and diligence, we can help it continue to be that way.
Last night was no different. Mine talked about how my new companion and I would be able to find commonalities and work well together, and that our work would not be hindered by our companionship. I found out today my new companion is Sister Rowley-- she's a good sister just coming from a struggling area. I can see the wisdom in the reassurances given during the blessing that we would be able to work well together and that our work would not be hindered, because I've been her sister training leader for several months, and the behavior and lack of gumption we've seen in her companionship (and preceding sister companionships in that area) has been frustrating and saddening at times. I'm grateful she gets to come to an area that has been flourishing, and I pray that through our faithfulness and diligence, we can help it continue to be that way.
Angela is on date for April 11th-- and that date was prayerfully set by her and the sisters together. She came to Stake Conference on Sunday and loved it.
Pam is still praying about a date. We're teaching her tomorrow, and we may take a similar approach to what we did with Angela in helping her pray for a baptismal date. She's facing a lot of opposition, but she is still faithfully seeking truth.
Jayne is doing her homework and progressing towards baptism. Due to her anxiety and depression, setting a date has thus far been much to overwhelming of a goal-- but we're going to pull out her baptismal calendar and at least set some goals for how we'll progress with the lessons over the next several weeks. She's excited to be baptized. I'm praying for it!
Have a wonderful week!
Sister Taylor
Sister Porter and I's fudge cookie/icing sandwiches. We're super healthy.
A member snapped this photo of the screen in the chapel when we were called up to the stand. :)
A member snapped this photo of the screen in the chapel when we were called up to the stand. :)