Week 40

5/1/17

Hello everyone! This was a good week, but there isn't anything huge to report on investigators. We got to read the Book of Mormon with Brooke and Nathan's kids and they really loved that! They were asking lots of great questions and Landon actually asked us if there is a life after this because he doesn't want it to end here. 

We had Zone conference on Wednesday! It was so awesome! I always love Zone Conference so much because I always recieve the answers to my questions and get the guidance needed to help one of our investigators that is struggling. Also, I found out that one of the Sisters in our mission was serving in the same mission that the Elders in the movie, The Saratov Approach, were. She got transferred here because she hurt her knee, but she has some crazy stories! It was a really funny Zone Conference. President and Sister Tateoka kept cracking jokes. It was actually what I really needed, I think just to be reminded that it is okay to have fun as a missionary. And they celebrated birthdays so I got chocolate and sung to :)

We ran out of miles because we have been helping the Hermanas get around. That meant, though, that we had a few days that we had to walk/get rides. One of those days, our dinner appointment cancelled, but they sent us home with food to make for dinner. We went on exchanges with the STL's, on Friday, and I stayed here in Amity with Sister Tedrow and Sis. Judd went to Forest Grove with Sis. Densley. Sister Tedrow and I had a great time and got a lot of opportunities to talk to our investigators. We talked to Judy and she said that she would read form the Bookof Mormon whenever she needs peace. Later that night, we got to read from the Book of Mormon with Dustin. It ended up being exactly what he needed; he opened up about his concerns and we were able to give him a reading assignment and some sdvise to help him find the answers he needs. Him, Katie, and the kids weren't able to make it to church though because they accidently slept in :(

Saturday morning we went to the Emergency Preparedness Fair that the town put on at the Stake Center. We were volunteers there and we got to ring the bell when classes were supposed to begin and end :) So, when we were waiting for the time to ring the bell, we hid out in a classroom doing our studies. Sis. Tedrow gave me some really great advice on how to help my companion. I really needed to hear the things that she told me, it has really helped, a lot. Later, after I got Sis. Judd back, we got to meet with Kelly and that was great! She has been reading the Book of Mormon everyday and she likes it. We still need to help her get to church, but she says that we are getting closer haha.

On Sunday, we presented the Ward Mission Plan to the ward. I gave a talk on the whole plan and then a few of the ward missionaries expounded on each point. I can't remember if I ever told you guys what our plan is so I will. It is based off of Matthew 7:7 and the three points from Elder Oaks talk in Oct. 2016. So it is: Ask for the desire to do missionary work, seek to keep the commandments and be closer to the Spirit, and knock to know who you can bring into the fold. All the members that we have had a chance to talk to about it, really seem to like it. We are just praying that we will see some miracles come out of it so that the members will keep using it. When we got home that night, the Hermanas had heart attacked our door :)

I read a really cool article from the April Ensign titled, The War Goes On by Elder Larry R. Lawrence. He says, "Remember, counterfeits are not the same as opposites. The opposite of white is black, but a counterfeit for white might be off-white or gray. Counterfeits bear a resemblance to the real thing in order to decieve unsuspecting people. They are a twisted version of something good, and just like counterfeit money, they are worthless. Let me illustrate.

"One of Satan's counterfeits for faith is superstition. His counterfeit for love is lust. He counterfeits the priesthood by introducing priestcraft, and he imitates God's miracles by means of sorcery.

"Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, but same-sex marriage is only a counterfeit. It brings neither posterity nor exaltation. Although his imitations decieve many people, they are not the real thing. They cannot bring lasting happiness."

Sister MacKay