Well hello there!
I hope everyone had a fun and safe New Years :) This year was a little different for me, for obvious reasons. Sister Maness and I spent the day doing some contacting and helping the Wambolt family get their house ready for the party that night. We then joined up at their house for a potluck dinner, socialized a bit and then had to be back at our home at 8pm. We got in our comfy pj's, popped some kettle popcorn and watched some church movies. We still had to be in bed by 10:30pm so we figured we could celebrate New York-style at 10pm, but...after our second movie, I looked at the clock and it was 10:04pm. I turned to Sister Maness and was like, "Welp, Happy New Years.". Haha. It was ok, it's just not a big deal while on the mission. That was also our last night of sweets (New Years resolution) so finished off our favorites and donated the rest to the party. Unfortunately, it's hard to control your diet on a mission, but desserts are one thing you can. This is my 4th time trying in on the mission, but with all the major candy holidays behind me, it is more realistic. We just have to figure out how long we're going to do it for haha.
So this week, we have been really gung-ho on talking to everyone and not being afraid if people are going to be intersted or not. The Wambolt's are actually a part-member family (the husband is not a member) and last Sunday we decided we were going to invite him to take the discussions, however, after sharing a message, we hesitated because with his family surrounding him, we didn't want him to feel pressure and being doing it because they want him to. As we left, I just kept thinking, "we need to do it, we should've done it!". So we came by Monday night and were able to just talk to him a little more privately and ask him if we would be interested in learning more about the church. He expressed how he has been thinking about it, but not sure if he's ready (I think it's a commitment issue). But he said he'd let us know. So Friday, we popped by and his daughter was like "I got him to agree to one lesson!". Apparently he did something to upset her and she said the only way he could make up for it was to take one discussion. Not how we would have liked him to agree to it, BUT we are still grateful he is willing and we will be teaching him tonight. Fingers crossed that it will go and he will actually want to continue them for himself. He's a pilot so he's gone a lot and leaving tomorrow for half the month, but I think that will give him time to really ponder.
We are still teaching Miary English and she is doing really well. We've been teaching her rooms so that she can communicate within the house, and so far she has mastered the kitchen and working on the bathroom. We were teaching her phrases to use and things like, "I need more toilet paper". It just so happened that she had run out of toilet paper in her bathroom, so when we came back downstairs, she turned to her daughter and said, "Give me more toilet paper!". Haha we were all laughing so hard. Eva was like, "No Mom, that's not nice" and so we went over how to ask politely. She is doing so good though and I know that Heavenly Father is blessing her with being able to retain so much.
As I was saying earlier, we have been focusing on just talking to everyone and we've been trying to contact lots of people who have not been attending church in a long time and just seeing what they would like in their lives right now. It has been a bit disheartening as we've had a couple people say they don't want us there, or any contact from the church, or even their records removed. It makes me so sad to see how people have forgotten the truth that they once knew and that they close their hearts to those who are always willing to be there for them. But I have to remember that everyone has their agency and that it is better for them to choose when their are ready then feeling pressured or pushed. Yesterday, was just another one of those days, but just when I felt like I couldn't do it anymore, Heavenly Father reminded me that He is there and hears me. We were able to Brenda Gould again which it had been over a week since we had heard anything from her. She even told us that she attended sunday school and Relief Society (she normally only stays for Sacrament if she comes with her husband). The two wards we cover just switched times we were in the other ward during those hours. It brought me such joy though that she is still progressing on her own and still has that desire to learn more about our church. She's going to get baptized this year, I can feel it! And THEN, we went to our dinner appointment at the Haney's, who are members but the parents kind of struggle with being fully committed to the gospel. They invited their friends, the Sparks, over who are all members (though not active), except for their son Hudson (9 years old). We had visited with the Sparks before and they had said we could start teaching Hudson, but every time we've tried to follow up, they aren't home or it's not a good time. So this was great getting to visit with all of them. At the end as the Sparks were leaving, the husband told us we were welcome over anytime and that his family needed more spirituality (kind of in a joking way, but serious at the same time). We were so pumped! I know that there are people ready in this area and that they will either be placed in our paths or us in theirs. I have learned that I just need to keep trying every minute every day, and when it seems like nothing is happening, to just hold on because those miracles and tender mercies are just around the corner.
I continue to learn so much every day of my mission. Just when I start to doubt or hesitate, Heavenly Father reminds me that He is there and that I have received many witnesses before. I know that my Heavenly Father lives and loves me and knows me. He is always there, we just have to turn to Him. I am grateful for these trials and hard times because I appreciate the blessings so much more. I know this gospel is true. I thank you all again for your love and support. I feel your prayers and you are in mine as well. Have a great week!
Love,
Lauren
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