Week Five: Becoming a Consecrated Misssionary

Hello :)

Sister Lewis and I watched an hour and a half of missionary videos
(because we had to) so we grabbed our pillows and got comfortable :)
these pictures capture the moment :)

This week we had zone conference! At every zone conference, the person with the cleanest car inside and out gets to choose the car (out of every missionary's car in the zone) that they want! Our car was the coveted car, and we didn't want to lose it so we went so far as to hand wax it, and definitely took it to the car wash guys so they could vacuum it out. That's not cheating, don't worry, WE WON :) just look at that shine! You could see your reflection!

At zone conference, President Riggs and his wife talked to us, mainly for the purpose of teaching new ways for us to teach, and to fill our spiritual tank. I took good notes and wanted to share a few good phrases that were said:

• Nothing can stop the work. No matter how discouraged you may get, or if you want to quit, the work will continue. The gospel of Jesus Christ will be spread throughout all nations, to every person and what an adventure and privilege it is to be apart of that!!  

• Accept others agency, but use yours to continue to teach. Everyone has the ability to choose for themselves, and nobody has to accept what we teach them, so when they choose not to listen or learn more, we (as missionaries or anyone with the knowledge of the gospel) need to use our agency to choose to brush it off and knock on more doors. Find more people. Teach everyone!

• You cannot get a 1 million dollar answer for a 5 cent prayer. Prayers need to be sincere and with real intent - meaning you will act on whatever God tells you to do in order to get an effective answer from the Lord.

• Part time Christians cannot overcome full time Devils 

• Have you prayed about it as much as you've talked about it?

I also read a talk entitled, "Becoming a Consecrated Missionary" by Tad R. Callister, Sunday School General President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. A consecrated missionary is someone who is willing to lay everything on the alter of sacrifice. This means your fears, pride, laziness, weaknesses, and disobedience can't hold you back from spreading this glad message! You can't keep one foot at home and the other in the mission.

Nephi is a prophet in the Book of Mormon who felt that the power of man was inconsequential. It was only the Lords power that counted. I hope to grow to have that much faith and trust in the lord. Another prophet in the Book of Mormon, Mosiah, (chapter 4 vs.19) states, "and now, if ye believe all these things, see that ye do them". Eventually we must do more than tell the stories of the Book of Mormon; WE MUST LIVE THEM.

As for the rest of my week... We had 5 people drop us, and almost all lessons canceled. We really felt and followed the spirit really well! We found 2 families, but they used their agency and chose not to listen. Sometimes the spirit will lead you somewhere and it all looks really good until the next day when the people call you and say never mind. That doesn't mean we didn't follow the spirit, or hear him right, it just means we did what we were supposed to and if anything we planted seeds. I love being a missionary!! Despite the drops and cancellations, we didn't feel the drag of them. This week actually flew by, and we constantly counted our blessings :)

One of those blessings is C!! She is getting baptized on the first or second Saturday of December. My favorite part of a mission is watching the gospel of Jesus Christ change lives. As a missionary, all we can do is teach what we know to be true, and the spirit of God is the one who testifies of truth. We can't force anyone to believe what we are telling them; it's their choice, and when they choose to listen and act, miracles happen :)

[Sister Lewis said I sleep walk!?  ...This is new!!]

TRANSFERS: Everyone keeps asking me about it so I'll tell you what I know. They are on the week before Thanksgiving. The zone leaders said they are confident that I am ready to take over the area (what?!?) which means I'll get a new companion and be the driver/person in charge. BUT Sister Lewis wants to stay for the holidays and she also is not done training me, so technically we should have 6 more weeks together after this transfer. Regardless of what happens to her; whether she stays or goes, I will be staying, so my address will be the same until January.

Fun fact: squirrels and wild bunnies are common here!! Like, we see them on a daily basis :)

A family took us out to eat at Texas Road House on Friday for dinner and that was weird!!! It felt so weird to be surrounded with TVs and so much business.

This week was spiritually uplifting and I am really working on becoming a consecrated missionary:) thank you for the
emails/letters/love!! :)

The picture of the clouds is cool because they looked like a painting!

I hope all is well with everyone!! :) God is good and I love being a missionary!! :)

Sister Chandler