Hello everyone,
This week was one of the fastest weeks of my entire life!!! I can't believe it haha!
Things are going good here though- we worked hard, prayed hard...it's been a little difficult, but really really good and I've learned a lot.
A miracle happened here this week!!! When I first got to Baler, the past sisters had been teaching Sister Gracelyn, a 21 year old college student. Her boyfriend lives in a neighboring town and was also listening to the missionaries. When I got here, the plan was for her to be baptized within the next following weeks, but all of a sudden she said she wasn't ready and that she didn't know if this was right for her. She wanted to keep listening though and so we kept teaching, and trying to focus on getting an answer through the Spirit, but it got to the point where she wasn't reading anymore and not praying, so we evenually stopped teaching her. That was like the first week of September.
But then we saw her last week and just said hi and we asked if we could come over again to teach her. I didn't really think much of it though because she had really stopped progressing before, and so we didn't go by. But this last Tuesday we went to teach Analiza, one of our less-actives, and she said that Gracelyn had dropped by and asked if she knew us. I guess Gracelyn had been asking all her neighbors and friends if they'd seen us and knew where we were and then she told Analiza that she wanted to be baptized!!! Gracelyn didn't even know Analiza and her house is faraway!!! And so of course we went right over to, and now Gracelyn will be baptized December 5! She just said that she's gone through some hard things these last couple months but she's been reading and studying and praying about the Book of Mormon and she's "ready now." She even wants to serve a mission and is already making plans to serve after she graduates next year!! I don't think she truly realizes the miracle that she is, or the conversion that is so evident in her testimony and countenance...she's amazing and I know that missionary work isn't about 'getting more members', but is about helping people come unto Christ. That's what I've realized the most this week- is sometimes if people aren't progressing, I'm too quick to drop them, but we're here to build faith in the Savior, not just get numbers.
Even some of our other investitators- a mother and daughter named Zenidah and Rhoda, are getting a lot closer, their hearts are softening and...oh man, I just love them all so much.
I wish I could truly explain all the feelings I'm feeling...but it's so good. I love being a missionary and I'm so grateful for the gospel. IT'S NOT A GOSPEL OF NUMBERS, but of souls and of lives and of people:)
And it was also my one year mark on Saturday, and how do you think we celebrated it? We got punted (term we use when our lessons fall through) more than I ever have in my entire mission and we had a passionate, interesting discussion with a preacher we met while we were tracting. He asked us question after question, and was telling us that 'many preach, but many are wrong,', but we just testified and my testimony has never felt stronger. I'm so grateful for the peace and the comfort and relief of the gospel in my life.
I love you all and hope you're all doing well!!
Sister Allen :)
This week was one of the fastest weeks of my entire life!!! I can't believe it haha!
Things are going good here though- we worked hard, prayed hard...it's been a little difficult, but really really good and I've learned a lot.
A miracle happened here this week!!! When I first got to Baler, the past sisters had been teaching Sister Gracelyn, a 21 year old college student. Her boyfriend lives in a neighboring town and was also listening to the missionaries. When I got here, the plan was for her to be baptized within the next following weeks, but all of a sudden she said she wasn't ready and that she didn't know if this was right for her. She wanted to keep listening though and so we kept teaching, and trying to focus on getting an answer through the Spirit, but it got to the point where she wasn't reading anymore and not praying, so we evenually stopped teaching her. That was like the first week of September.
But then we saw her last week and just said hi and we asked if we could come over again to teach her. I didn't really think much of it though because she had really stopped progressing before, and so we didn't go by. But this last Tuesday we went to teach Analiza, one of our less-actives, and she said that Gracelyn had dropped by and asked if she knew us. I guess Gracelyn had been asking all her neighbors and friends if they'd seen us and knew where we were and then she told Analiza that she wanted to be baptized!!! Gracelyn didn't even know Analiza and her house is faraway!!! And so of course we went right over to, and now Gracelyn will be baptized December 5! She just said that she's gone through some hard things these last couple months but she's been reading and studying and praying about the Book of Mormon and she's "ready now." She even wants to serve a mission and is already making plans to serve after she graduates next year!! I don't think she truly realizes the miracle that she is, or the conversion that is so evident in her testimony and countenance...she's amazing and I know that missionary work isn't about 'getting more members', but is about helping people come unto Christ. That's what I've realized the most this week- is sometimes if people aren't progressing, I'm too quick to drop them, but we're here to build faith in the Savior, not just get numbers.
Even some of our other investitators- a mother and daughter named Zenidah and Rhoda, are getting a lot closer, their hearts are softening and...oh man, I just love them all so much.
I wish I could truly explain all the feelings I'm feeling...but it's so good. I love being a missionary and I'm so grateful for the gospel. IT'S NOT A GOSPEL OF NUMBERS, but of souls and of lives and of people:)
And it was also my one year mark on Saturday, and how do you think we celebrated it? We got punted (term we use when our lessons fall through) more than I ever have in my entire mission and we had a passionate, interesting discussion with a preacher we met while we were tracting. He asked us question after question, and was telling us that 'many preach, but many are wrong,', but we just testified and my testimony has never felt stronger. I'm so grateful for the peace and the comfort and relief of the gospel in my life.
I love you all and hope you're all doing well!!
Sister Allen :)