Skype is probably the best invention ever invented in the history of missionary life, and I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to Skype home :) It was so good to see and talk to everyone :)
But ya know, the work continues with or without me, so back to being a missionary I go! :)
Monday was good!
- We took care of the basics and wrote some letters. Nothing too crazy, and in the evening we went street contacting! After checking on a less active, we drove past a group of guys off to the side of the road who yelled hello at us, so we turned around. One, because I was bored. Two, because who am I to judge who is and isn't ready for the gospel. And three, because the spirit didn't say not to! So we parked our car and walked up to them :) It turns out they had actually seen missionaries in that area a lot, but they are mostly elders, and they've talked to them before! We weren't able to share a message but gave them some pass along cards with the ward info and such, as well as our number just in case they are ever interested :)... in the gospel :)
- We kept walking and found a park!! It was kind of dark outside, so people were starting to head home. We were able to stop and have a couple little lessons with people we saw, and it was so much fun!! We meet the coolest people everywhere we go! :) It's awesome to be able to find common ground with someone and build off of that! A lot of the people we talked to had just got done playing soccer, so I would tell them I grew up going to soccer games for my little brothers and my family on my dads side loves the sport! Also my companion is from England, so that's a plus! ;)
- Making friends comes so easy to me, and it takes less than a whole 2 seconds for me to feel comfortable around someone,so it's cool to be able to watch people go from hesitant to talking to these girls in skirts and name tags, to, oh they're actually pretty normal and hilarious ;) just kidding, I don't know if they think we are funny or not :) haha But the transition is neat to experience :)
Tuesday was the day we have all been waiting for!
- The half mission conference! We talked a lot about building and being bold. Seriously I can't get enough of being bold :) We were instructed to study Nehemiah chapters 1-6 before the conference, which was super cool! I love applying scriptures to my life :) Anyway, those chapters talk about how the wall around Jerusalem was destroyed and Nehemiah gets a bunch of people together to rebuild it! A lot of little groups spread out and worked on a section of the wall; this symbolizes working in our areas within the mission. Nehemiah was bold, and that's how we need to be :) We talked about being bold in:
1. Prayer
2. Scripture
3. Obedience
4. Bearing Testimony
5. Invitations
6. Goal Setting
Nehemiah and the people who helped rebuilt the wall in 52 DAYS
Well, 52 days from the 1/2 mission conference .... Is the WHOLE mission conference.... And it's president and sister Riggs last day in their mission!! So we were asked to set certain goals to accomplish within the next 52 days to rebuild our mission. I guess it needs some work :) It was a good conference! Afterward we had to take some elders home, so we ended up driving for 2 hours stuck in traffic and heavy rain! That meant we had to cancel dinner and an appointment, but we were starving! So we ran to Five Guys before going to institute with a less active :)
District meeting on Wednesday was so good!
- We had it outside because it was such a nice day, and our zone leader sneaked a picture of us from inside. (See below). When that was over we went to a lesson with a recent convert who is already less active. He said he misses us and wants to have the spirit in his life again, so we have been able to see him a few times within the past couple weeks! He used to be super flaky but now he asks when we can come over, and he wants to come back to church :) It went well! We are helping him get back into the habit of prayer and scripture reading so he can feel the spirit more abundantly in his life.
- The rest of the day was so busy I didn't even have time to think about what I wanted to eat for lunch! It was beautiful! :) we went to AFAC for an hour, then came home to plan out a couple lessons before we went to dinner. After dinner we picked up a member and went to Oscars for a lesson! Everything was so great :) my heart is full, and though it could have been a stressful day, I was so calm and relaxed. God is good! :)
We needed to take our car in for a safety inspection Thursday morning. That took a whopping 10 minutes! :) Blessing!! Then we planned for the day because we didn't have time Wednesday night. We have received a handful of referrals from other missionaries this week (6) which is such a tender mercy! I feel like Heavenly Father is handing us people to teach. He truly does take such good care of us when we put our all into the work :) This reminds me of a quote I learned while I was being trained!
"When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place
or drop out of our lives"- Ezra Taft Benson. How right you are President Benson! :)
Later that day we went to the church for wifi so sister Morris could help me learn the boundaries for our area; they're really choppy and awkward. While we were sitting in the foyer, a man knocked on the door! We let him in and in all seriousness he said, "I'm a catholic man but I hate my pastor. I want to convert to Mormonism. How long does it take??"
It took all I had to not let my jaw hit the floor. I was in awe! Was this really happening???
I explained that it didn't have to take very long if we met pretty often throughout the next couple weeks. He said, "why do I have to take lessons?? Do you believe in Jesus? (Yes)
Do you believe that he is the savior of the world? (Yes)
Do you believe that he's the son of God? (Yes)
Do you believe that the true church is restored on the earth today?
Do you believe in modern day prophets and in the priesthood power?"
Pretty much at a loss for words, shocked, I said, "have you already had the lessons??!"
And then the obvious came. He responded....... "I'm a Mormon! :)" ....
That would happen to me -_- hahaha
Sister Morris knew as soon as he walked in that he was a member, but for some reason I just didn't catch on!
Oh well. Pat on the back to me for doing my job ;) haha
The rest of our evening was busy with members and recent converts. 'Twas quite swell I'd say!
Friday was the usual weekly planning, and we tried to do it in the park again but we were sweating puddles after the first hour, so we decided to go into the air conditioned church building of ours for the rest of the time :) For companionship inventory we decided to write each other a letter instead of verbally discussing our strengths, that way we can have it forever :) which is awesome to have on a day where you need to remember how great you really are :)
Sister Morris will most likely be transferred on Thursday (for real this time) and I am so sad! She has been a wonderful companion and truly has helped me develop the Christ like attributes I so desired to cultivate. She said I can come to England any time though, so I'll definitely take her up on that offer! I told her she can come to Idaho, too, but she wasn't as excited ;)
In the evening we checked on some referrals, met with a less active, and then had a lesson with an investigator- T- for the rest of the night. She's one of the miracles that we will have to pass soon :)
Saturday wasn't amazing, but Sunday was :) I love my family! I am so grateful for the knowledge I have that we can be together forever :) I wouldn't want to be stuck with anyone else for eternity :) I know I said it already, but Skype truly is fabulous :)
So good to SEE everyone again!
No more chains left for Mother's Day
The gospel of Jesus Christ truly does change lives. Before my mission I noticed a handful of my weaknesses, and left for my mission determined to overcome them throughout the 18 months that I serve. Through deep studies of the Book of Mormon, wonderful companions, service, and lots of goal setting, I have grown so much closer to Jesus Christ. I have become more like Him! I understand, to an extent, the automatic love that He has for each and every one of us! Especially when we are far from the straight and narrow; He never gives up on us.
When we taught D., the guy with serious word of wisdom struggles, I was FILLED with immediate overwhelming, genuine love for that kid. I wanted to do all I could to help him because I KNOW he can become clean, full of peace, and a whole new person through the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He just had to be willing to do his part. I felt the love that God has for him, and I also felt the sorrow that God feels when we give up, or don't at least try to do what we can.
| I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY |
It's the greatest thing in the history of ever :) If you're even considering serving a mission, DO IT. You will become, "your best self. Your real self", as President Uchtdorf so happily reminds us :)
Ohhhh dear goodness. My heart really is so full :) Skype is awesome, and so is our Father in Heaven :)
If I can do anything for anyone, let me know :) Have a beautiful day!!
Sister Chandler
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