Wow, May is almost over! I can't believe how the time flies! If we even blink we'll miss the whole summer!
So last preparation day was crazy. We were doing our normal things when we got a call from one of our investigators Brooke. She said that she was having doubts and negative pushback, so she didn't want to meet with us anymore :( We ended up going over there that night and talking with her about everything, and one of my favorite quotes from the week was "Okay, just forget that I even called you - the baptism is still on!" She is just so darling and I love her with all my heart!! We also had a lesson with Tim that night and it went so incredibly well! We taught the Plan of Salvation and he was understanding everything and the spirit was so there! So amazing!
The next day we had an actual lesson with Brooke and it went so well! We taught her the Plan of Salvation also, and she already knew a lot of things because of her previous meetings with missionaries, so we had a great discussion and answered some of her questions and cleared up some stuff too. She is so prepared and so wonderful!
On Wednesday, we visited a potential investigator in our system named Ellen and she was home! She's 83 years old and so funny. She said she couldn't sit and chat, but we ended up talking for a while and she told us some stories! So cute. Now she's our investigator and we're going back this Wednesday to teach her! We're so excited! Also that day, we had a lesson with Hannah. She is so cute, she has one son who is seven and is very quiet and gentle. we had a lesson with her and she understands because of previous contact with missionaries, but we're trying to help her take it from her head to her heart. I don't think she believes completely, but that's why we're there! :) In the evening time was got a little rain storm, and there was thunder and lighting - the whole bit! I was so excited and the thunder was very far away so it was more pleasant than anything :)
On Friday we had lessons with Brooke and Tim again. A couple hours before Brooke's lesson, she called us AGAIN and told us that she couldn't go through with everything!! No!! We, again, went over and talked with her, and she still really want this. Her testimony is so solid and so strong, it's just the doubts and fears that get in the way. we talked about replying on the Lord and remembering that no one is perfect, we're all mortals, so we're going to slip and fall sometimes. The most important thing is that we get back up and rely on Him! Get back on the path and do all that we can to return to live with Him! Then we had Tim on the evening and it was so wonderful. We went back through the Plan of Salvation and read 2 Nephi 2 together, and we had an amazing discussion. With Elder and Sister Kowallis (self-reliance missionaries) and Brother Gill, we were able to cover so many things and the spirit was enveloping all of us! So amazing.
On Saturday we walked around all morning (which was so fun!) and we found 2 potential investigators! It was a miracle to find them both, they were both very short exchanges but they are willing to meet with us! Jess and Lynette, we're going to try them later this week. On the way back up from trying a couple less active, we found an older gentleman named Dennis (he actually called out to us!). He is a less active member, and we were able to testify to him of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and invite him to church on Sunday. We were put in the right place at the right time to find a lost sheep! Heavenly Father truly does care for His children! Later that day we were able to do service for a woman named Patty who had broken her wrist. it was a good opportunity. Then we visited a less active, also named Patty, and we were able to have a great discussion...while holding puppies!! She had 3 4 week old puppies and they were so darling I thought I could probably die. It was VERY exciting. That night, we had stake conference and the addresses were so amazing. I wish I had my note journal with me, but I remember that there were so many messages about the Holy Ghost and being a disciple of Christ. I received so much revelation! Tim was able to come and President and Sister Bartlett both spoke, it was such a lovely evening.
Sunday we were slammed at stake conference!! We were supposed to have 3 people come but only one did (Tim pullin through every time!) and there were so many others that we needed to talk to and so many slipped out before we could catch them! I felt like we were holding sand and so much was just slipping through our fingers! But we were able to make really good contact with some people. Time well spent, amazing messages shared and SO much revelation received again! In the afternoon we visited a woman named Sister Faith. We found her on Wednesday and she is also a lost sheep. She is a convert of three years and she has a ton of doubts and questions. In our little meeting with her, the spirit was so strong that you could probably cut it like butter. It was surrounding all of us, and it was incredible to see Sister Faith softening. We talked a lot about self worth, faith, and Sister Johnson and I both shared our testimonies and personal experiences. The love in that apartment was strong. At the very end, Sister Johnson asked Sister Faith how she was feeling, and she said "uncomfortable". I shared the quote with her "God loves us more than He loves us to be comfortable" - God gives us these situations and trials so we can grow! I love it! In her closing prayer, she said "...thank you for sending missionaries out to make people uncomfortable..." That's the most accurate description of a missionary's job if I've ever heard one haha!! xD
Also that day, we were prompted to see another less active and we came in a great time of need for her. We shared the video "Because of Him" and it was so powerful. I'm grateful for the Spirit's guiding hand in my mission and my life! ]
That's about everything for the week! Sorry for the long email, so many amazing things happened! God loves His children - that's precisely why He sent His son, Jesus Christ to atone for the sins of the world. Through His sacrifice, we can return to live with our Father in Heaven - may we always be doing the things necessary to return to live in His presence!
Love you all so much!
Sister Carlson
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