This week was a pretty average week. Nothing
crazy and nothing really bad! It was a really great week of growth for
me and it is always nice to know you are progressing a little bit
farther every day!
SO, last Monday we taught the restoration to our
awesome new investigator Juliana. She just took it all in so well. When
we invited her to read the Book of Mormon she said "Me parece bien"
Which means, literally, that it seems good to her! She just takes it all
so well! We taught it pretty simply because her kids were there also
and so we are hoping that everyone has the ability to understand. WE
have another lesson tonight, so we are excited!
Tuesday we had our lovely district meeting. I
don't know if I have ever said this before, but as the STL I teach in
district meeting every week - usually just in my own district. I
enjoy it. This last week I talked about how love relates to our
invitation to be baptized, our purpose, but I kind of took it from a
round about way by talking about the basic and first principle that God
is our loving Heavenly Father. Then taking how that love applies to all
of the principles in the first lesson and how it applies to just about
everything that he does for us and everything that we have. Then because
of all that love he has shown for us he obviously wants us to return to
live with him again. The only way we can do that is through baptism. We as missionaries are the only ones who can help them fulfill
that ordinance! I learned so much by teaching them, it was awesome! Then
later in the day we starting teaching a new family, Sandra and Delfino!
It is so interesting to see the different ways that people interpret
the Restoration. One way, and the way of this family, is, that I have
never been taught this before! That is something brand new and something
they accept because they are not very educated on religious things. It
was a very good lesson and we are excited to teach them again tomorrow!
Wednesday, after studies, we went down to
Ukiah to practice a musical number for a baptism on Saturday. It was fun
and short and we zipped back up to Willits. We kind of had an
average night of just finding! But one thing cool we did that I forgot
to mention is that we were invited by President Alba to do a special
fast this Sunday - to fast for Rain to end the drought and also that we
as missionaries would have success finding elect families. He wanted
us to invite ever member on the roster to participate, active or not!
It was quite a fun experience. We just split the list with the sisters
and there were some interesting calls. WE did it progressively
throughout the week with no rain yet. We are hoping to see the
miracles soon!
Thursday we did weekly planning. We zoomed right through it and accomplished everything we needed to! Then we went to the Farmer's market again. There were a lot more people honestly interested this week. Then after dinner is when my little adventure began. So at the beginning/end of the month there is a meeting in Santa Rosa for all of the zone leaders and sister training leaders. It is always on Fridays. I asked for a ride from the Eureka zone leaders/STL. The STL just happened to be Hermana Whitely, so that was some bonus to the whole thing. SO because it takes so long to get from Eureka to Santa Rosa, they left on Thursday night. They picked me up on Thursday night. We drove into Santa Rosa and went to the sister's apartment, where we would be staying. They weren't home or available to let us in, and the the elders wanted to be on time to their apartment so they dropped us off and we were waiting outside. After a 30 minutes the senior couple that lives near by let us come into their home for a little bit and they were kind and nice. Then we got all settled in with the sisters and had a good nights sleep.
On the following day we went to the mission office
for our meeting. The best part was that all of my favorite people are
STLs. That was fun to see them all. They were Hermana Kaiser, Hermana
Gonzalez, Hermana Whitely, Hermana LemMon, Hermana Vance and a few
others! It was great, The whole meeting was focused mostly on members
and missionary work! Sister Alba started with baptismal services, and
how they should be! Then she had to run because she had grand babies in
town! Then President Alba spoke on what holds us back socially from a
successful harvest pertaining to leadership. His 4 points were
unwillingness to accept human qualities, unwillingness to accept change,
unwillingness to follow instructions, unwillingness to be totally committed. It wasn't really that the leaders have these problems, but
that those under the leaders have these problems. Then he shared a quote
a really liked, it was by Theodore Rubin:
"If we let it, life produces endless experiences that demand
change. If you are motivated and willing to struggle, you can change and
grow for as long as you live. This is the challenge, the pain and the
joy of being Human."
That really touched me and it is a true gospel principle. Then the
APs talked about earning the trust of the members, with dinner messages,
members present, ward council meetings, and the roles of our leaders.
It was very good and helpful! It was a really good day, and now we will
teach it all to the zone in Zone Meeting tomorrow. Then we had a fun
drive back - our little road trip! When I got back to Willits the
sisters were in a lesson, so we had coordination meeting at 8 anyway so I
went to the Southwicks (future temple president) to wait for the
sisters. He was such a gracious host of course. The elders and sister
Whitely walked me up to the door and he gave them lemonade and let them
use the bathroom and things, SO nice! Then I had a nice chat with Sister
Southwick about their upcoming assignment! Oh it is wonderful to serve
in the church! Always opportunities to help! Our new ward mission leader
is just amazing. he has so much fire and enthusiasm. He wants everyone
to get comfortable doing missionary work. He has some great ideas and
he is really supportive of any ideas we have too!
Saturday night there was a baptism for the
spanish elders in Ukiah. Hermana Hooton and I sang an arrangement of
"I know that my Redeemer Lives". The one weird part was having learned a
lot of how to improve from Sister Alba the day before, but having all
of the missionaries not know about it. I tried to help in little
ways to help them improve! It was a great a simple day!
Sunday was the fast! It was a good and powerful
testimony meeting! The Spirit was so strong even I was crying! We
didn't have anyone show up for sacrament meeting, but one of the
less-actives we have been working with was in Relief Society so that was
good! We had our lovely hour of prayer! It was just that moment where
everything had come to a head and so I was balling the whole time. I
think a good cry was necessary! I was thinking a lot of how I want to
finish strong, focused and hard working, and what I need to do better to
do that. Plus a little personal counsel is always nice! We had a fun
dinner at one of the past bishop's houses. I was just laughing and
laughing the whole time they were so funny. They are a very sweet
couple. He is passing away from cancer, but they are still so happy and
enjoying it all while they can!
Anyway as I said in my testimony on Sunday - I know that God has a purpose and plan for us. He is more intelligent than us. We can trust in Him that He will show us the way. We can follow with Faith and Hope. When we think that we can handle it all on our own, we usually mess up a lot more! He is always there with love to guide us and direct us! All in all, life is good, even trials are good, because it isn't really about right now. This is just the test and then one day we will receive the score and hopefully we will receive the life of glory he has promised us and wants for us! I love you all so much and I hope you are striving for these things daily!
Les Quiero,
Hermana Cornwall
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