March 18, 2014

Week 30 (10 March 2014)

It was a great week!  Wahoo!  The mission is AMAZING and my companion is the bomb.  :)

Segunda- We got invited to a family home evening with a part-member family, a less-active member, and a recent convert.  First miracle, we and didn't have to set-up anything.  This is the perfect example of member missionary work, helping to strengthen the ward and letting the missionaries get involved.  Everyone should do this, plan a FHE [Family Home Evening] and invite friends, less-active [members], and (of course) the missionaries.

Terca- The mom (C~) of a recent convert in the ward said that she would be willing to take our lessons.  She is the sweetest lady, but is a little confused about the Priesthood and the importance of having the actual authority of God in order to baptize, etc.  It was a very frustrating lesson because she said that she knows that the church is true, but then went on to say that she also believes that the [a different] church is true, and so on.  We still love her as if she were family, but it is so sad when someone is this close to the truth, but doesn't understand one IMPORTANT aspect of the restoration.  We will keep working with her and hopefully get somewhere eventually.  :)

Quarta- We ate lunch with a member that I hadn't met before and her cute little girl.  During the entire meal the little girl sang primary songs and told us the story of Branca de Neve (Snow White) at least ten times.  She made our day. Hehe.

Quinta- We had a lesson with a student at the university here in Santa Maria (Camobi).  Her name is P~ and she is very special.  She is very strong in her church, but has curiosity in what others believe.  After we sang a hymn to start out the lesson she asked if she could sing a hymn.  It was super cute that she was also open to share with us her faith.  She also shared a scripture with us.  We are going to teach her again on Wednesday, so we will see what happens.  She is so special though.  :)  Love her.

Sexta- DAY OF MIRACLRES!  We had 9 obvious miracles happen to us today.  It was great.  The Lord put person after person in our path (sometimes literally) today and I know that a lot of good will come from today.

Sabado- V~ and R~ are perfect.  They have been legally married for 16 years (which is rare) and have a 15 year old son.  I have never heard an investigator ask so many inspired/perfect questions during a lesson before, such as "how does God choose/call his prophets?"  They are amazing.

Domingo- out of time... [Missionaries have a limit amount of time to spend on emails.]

Please keep in your prayers these people that I have the opportunity to teach.  Thanks for all of the support!  Love you all!

Te amo.
-Sister Phelps
Santa Maria is really cool :)

March 3, 2014

Week 29 (3 March 2014)

This week was rough.  Almost every single plan fell through, but the Lord used it to His advantage and we met some really great, new investigators.

Segunda- It was a normal p-day for the most part, but around 4pm I started to not feel so great.  Being sick on the mission is no fun.  Luckily after a good night's sleep and a lot of praying the stomach pain had gone away when I woke up.

Terca- Like I said, everything fell through.  We ended up knocking on thousand of doors (more or less).  We marked a few return appointments, but for the most part no one was in the mood to talk to two awesomely fantastic humble missionaries today.  Hehe.  But really, it was a bummer to say the least.

Quarta- MIRACLES!   I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost.  We found a family that is truly perfect!  J~ and J~C~.  They have a little girl named S~.  About a week ago we contacted J~C~ on the stairs of his apartment complex.  He had come down to get the mail and said that it was truly a miracle that we had found him down, out of the apartment at that time of day because he was usually working, or something like that.  So after everything fell through AGAIN today we decided to pass by his house and see if he was home.  We rang the little apartment door bell and his wife let us in right away.  She is perfect and has even met the bishop and his wife.  When we were about to start the lesson she told us to wait and called her husband to see when he would get home from work.  He came home right away when she told him that we were there.  It was the perfect lesson.  We talked about eternal families and J~ cried.  They have been looking for a religion and have even traveled the world studying other churches.  (J~C~ loves Greek Mythology!!)  They want to go to church.  Unfortunately they are on vacation right now, but they have SO MUCH POTENTIAL!  Pray for them please.

Quinta- We were lost trying to find a street that is an hour from our house, yes, walking.  We were lost for about two hours and finally... finally, after asking at least ten people for directions (because we forgot the map at home) found the street.  Found some old investigators and even challenged one woman to be baptized and she accepted.  She understood everything that we explained about authority.  It was amazing!  That is the hardest part for most people to understand about baptism.  The rest of the week was good.  Unfortunately I will be losing sister M~, but will get a new Chileana.  I am also going to lost Sister G~.  We have lived together since I got it he field and have become such good friends.  I am going to miss her so much!

Love y'all!
-Sister Phelps