Monday, July 16, 2012

Week 60!! Lots of rain, Amazing member present lessons (again) and another funeral.‏

Dear Family!!
 
HELLOOO from FlOWOOD MISSISSIPPI!! AND it was another great week!  Can I just say that I love yall so much and am so grateful for your support and prayers. Well..were in the home stretch..and I just wanted you to know how much I love being a missionary. Everyday I am learning something new and repenting and changing. Also I love teaching and feel so grateful that the Lord is blessing us with so many new teaching opportunities each day.
As I have told ya in previous weeks we are really working hard to build back up the repore that was non-existent between the ward and missionaries before we got here. This week we had 3 (almost 4) set exchanges with members and we almost had members present with us at every lesson. phew!  Its caused me to reflect a lot on how members, a lot of the time, have anxiety about sharing there friends with the missionaries..well lately I've been thinking about how missionaries have fears about sharing there investigators with the members! (believe it or not!) two way street..The more I think about how when we visit the members (not because we have a meal appointment..) to see how they're doing, how we can serve them and share a quick scripture.. the more they come to trust us and want to share their friends with us..in turn we are sharing with them the lessons and we come to trust them as teachers. I love this process because this is where our best referrals come from. I remember in one of my other areas we had such a good relationship with the members in that ward we didn't have time enough to see all the referrals we were getting from people. So..my thought for you this week is if the missionaries have not come by to just share a scripture with you (aside from you feeding them..but feeding the missionaries is a good thing too!lol) or set an appointment to leave the saviors peace and blessing or teach you..tell them to come by! When we all trust each other and are on the same page the work goes so well!
 
...So Stories this week...
We have had some wonderful lessons. The first lessons that were great happened to be with our investigator that was supposed to be baptized this Saturday..sadly she will not be..but that's alright! She is still honestly seeking to know if these things are true. We had an amazing lesson with her last night and two of the ladies from the ward. Our focus for the lesson was on the commandment of enduring to the end. The women shared there wonderful experiences of how they came to know the church was true and how they received answers to their prayers. It was apparent that the spirit was very strong and you could tell that her ( our investigators) heart was softened even more. Before we left we left the saviors peace and blessings with her. She enjoyed this also and it brought her peace. I had this feeling that the lesson we had with her last night was going to make or break her continuing to learn more and I feel she is not discouraged and knows that her answer still will come. It has been a real struggle for her because she has been focusing so much on this and learning and researching more about the gospel then on her school work. Question of the soul..How can I find balance in my life? It really is a process and I cannot wait to tell you how this week goes with her. Hopefully she will have a spiritual experience as she attends someones baptism this weekend.
 
next. So I told you about the guy we tracted into right? The one that wanted to give the book back because he didn't think we celebrated Birthdays?..Well we are teaching him now and he is progressing really well! We went back to see him last week and he had read "about 15 chapters.." no big deal right? ha..that just doesn't happen everyday down here. Our return appointment was set for this Thursday at the church. Some background on our investigator, he is divorced with a 15 year old son. First he wants to learn for him, then he wants to share it with his son. Grew up southern baptist and is now going to a nondenominational church.
Thursday comes and we met him at the church with the Miles ( senior office couple). After a church tour we shared with him the restoration and tried to help him understand the need for a restoration and how the authority has been restored to the earth by God  through a living prophet. So.. He has great questions and really wanted to know how he could know these things were true for himself. We are meeting with him this coming Wednesday. Yesterday we got a text from him that said he had downloaded the scripture apps to his phone and had even read some of Doctrine and Covenants. Can you say amazing! ha..ya..amazing!!
 
Blessings are falling down from heaven here in Flowood daily.. Speaking of falling down from heaven..It has been raining so much here the past week. It is supposed to last through this week too. It is difficult because with a new area you tract a lot..but It has been a blessing that we have been able to focus on our investigators and helping them progress. Everything is coming together. :)
 
There was another funeral this week for a sweet sister in the ward. The service was held this last Saturday. One thing I really liked that they talked a lot about at this service was making sure to take time for the one and loving and serving the way the savior would. ( I was supposed to play at it ..but the fiddle broke.everything works out for a reason.)
 
Oh..here is a bummer..one of our favorite investigators ( we blessed there home a few weeks back. it was a really nice couple?) well we went for our scheduled appointment and she had the books and materials we had given her in a bag on her door with a note saying that "they would no longer be studying with us." I was very saddened by this..but I know they are in the area book and one day someone will pick them up and they will be receptive. Its all about the Lords timing.
 
Well..Seems that our week sounds boring..but it was great I promise! There is so much good happening here and the Lords hand is in this work. We have been so blessed with amazing members and investigators and I know none of it would be possible if it were not for his help.
I know we have a loving Heavenly Father who is so aware of our lives and our needs. If we keep the commandments we will have his holy spirit to be with us. I love that we have the Holy Ghost..even more I love that he blesses us with the gift of the holy ghost that we can receive after we are baptized by proper authority. Jesus Christ's Church has been restored again to the earth!! If everyone would just give it a chance and ready and pray about the book of Mormon their lives would be blessed. It has been confirmed to my mind and my heart, by the power of the holy Ghost that it is true and right and good.
I love yall so much and hope you have a wonderful week. keep on keepin on and enjoy to the end
love, Sister Urie
 
Scripture:"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." -Moroni 10:3-5
Southernism: So we went to eat a cracker barrel..and I'm always looking and listening for people from out west..well I heard this family that didn't really have a thick accent. Turns out they were from Texas. ( ill take it.west enough..haha) It was a grandpa and all his older teenage grand kids taking them to the beach. After he found out we were mormon..he said..isn't that Mitt Romney s church. To which I always say.." Yeah I think hes a member of our church.." He then told us that he would be voting for him..and asked me if i would be to. ( were not really supposed to talk about politics.) so I said.."you bet I will be voting (voting in general) so I can complain" .. everyone wants us to say that we'll vote for him..its kinda funny. but no politics for us! hehe..:)
Tracting Tips: 10 cents!..I think. It rained a lot...

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