This week some members took us out to eat at a place that
was attached to a casino. Thankfully they were separate, but both Sister
Beckstrand and I were a little apprehensive about it. It ended up being good
though and we had a ton of leftovers to take home.
On Tuesday we went to visit the H--- family with Sister S--- our Primary president. We had tracted into them and this was our return appointment. We arrived a little bit early and sat in our car to wait for her to arrive. We could see their house across the street and we were a little concerned because all the blinds were drawn and the lights were off. We watched as this little girl biked up and knocked on the door. No one answered. She rang the doorbell and no one answered. We were a little discouraged as we watched her bike way until we saw movement in the upstairs window. They were peeking out of the blinds! They were hiding from us!
So we didn't want to look like creepers sitting across the street so we pulled farther down the street to wait. When Sister S--- arrived we walked down the street to their house, but right as we got there, their car pulled out of the driveway and they left. It was kind of funny, but very disappointing. So now we have to go back and talk to them and see if they actually want to meet with us.
So we went to some other teaching appointments with her.
Sister S--- gave me an ammonite necklace and it is the coolest thing ever. It's a fossil that is cut in half and polished. It's hard to describe over email, you'll just have to see it later.
We had the coolest miracle this week! We planned to go visit the W--- after Sister S--- dropped us off at our car, but it was too early to go over. We decided to go tracting in J--- trailer park. We felt that we needed to be there but we both felt a little nervous about tracting a trailer park at night.
So we decided to go ask J--- for referrals so that we could go to the safer places. However, she was no help because she doesn't really know her neighbors. So we set out and started knocking on doors but no one answered. Finally, one man opened his door. His name is S--- and we were able to give an overview of the Plan of Salvation because one of his sons had passed away.
We set up a return appointment and he really wanted us to meet his son, S--, but he wasn't home. Steve told us that Seth is super spiritual.
We walked away to continue tracting after praying with S---, but we didn't feel that any of the doors we were passing were right. Somehow we ended up heading back towards S---s trailer after only a couple minutes. I saw that there was a new car in front of the trailer with people getting stuff out of the back, so I called out, "Hey, are one of you S---?" And one of them called back, "yeah, that's me!" And bounded over to shake our hands.
He introduced us to his two friends C--- and B---. They told us they had been out DJing in the park and we told them we had just talked to S---s dad and we asked if we could share a spiritual message with them really quick and they agreed.
We started with an overview of the Plan of Salvation but they had so many questions and became so engaged that we ended up teaching the whole lesson and inviting all of them to be baptized!
S--- agreed and was so excited, C--- agreed a little reluctantly because he still isn't sure if there is a God; B--- is content in his church but said that if he came to know that the things we taught were true that he would be baptized.
It was such a miracle because we had been praying to find people who were prepared to accept the gospel and we have at least two, if not four!
The next day Sister R--- came out with us all morning! We visited B--- first and had a lesson with him. We had planned to extend a baptismal invitation but the lesson got so out of hand that we couldn't. He just wanted to talk about politics, world chaos, disease, etc. so it was hard to get the gospel in and when we did he started talking about how it's possible to have too much religion and "don't we ever talk about anything but religion?". Needless to say, it didn't get anywhere and we explained what our purpose was as missionaries, so we were going to talk about religion. We probably won't be going back for a while because he is clearly not ready right now.
We had our next appointment cancel on us so we took Sister R--- tracting. She definitely got a firsthand look at how rude some people can be. I think it's good for members because it shows them what missionary work can be like and makes them more willing to help us with referrals.
We had our first lesson with K--- after we tracted. As we talked with him and did "how to begin teaching" we came to realize that he knows nothing about the religion he was baptized into. He is super open and we were able to teach him the Plan of Salvation because he cared for his mom when she was terminally ill up until she died. It was a great, spiritual lesson and he really wants to get his answer if the Book of Mormon and the gospel is true. We have a return appointment next week. And he just texted us as I was typing this and he said, "it's funny, after you guys left I got a warm feeling" and we just were like, "Ahhhh!" We are so excited!
If he becomes reactived it will be just like a convert baptism because he has never had a testimony or been active.
We also had our first lesson with P--- this week. I don't know what it is with the Plan of Salvation but everyone seems to need it this week! Sister W--- came to our lesson with us and when we knocked on the door this lady came and looked like she was about to tell us to go away, so I quickly asked for
On Tuesday we went to visit the H--- family with Sister S--- our Primary president. We had tracted into them and this was our return appointment. We arrived a little bit early and sat in our car to wait for her to arrive. We could see their house across the street and we were a little concerned because all the blinds were drawn and the lights were off. We watched as this little girl biked up and knocked on the door. No one answered. She rang the doorbell and no one answered. We were a little discouraged as we watched her bike way until we saw movement in the upstairs window. They were peeking out of the blinds! They were hiding from us!
So we didn't want to look like creepers sitting across the street so we pulled farther down the street to wait. When Sister S--- arrived we walked down the street to their house, but right as we got there, their car pulled out of the driveway and they left. It was kind of funny, but very disappointing. So now we have to go back and talk to them and see if they actually want to meet with us.
So we went to some other teaching appointments with her.
Sister S--- gave me an ammonite necklace and it is the coolest thing ever. It's a fossil that is cut in half and polished. It's hard to describe over email, you'll just have to see it later.
We had the coolest miracle this week! We planned to go visit the W--- after Sister S--- dropped us off at our car, but it was too early to go over. We decided to go tracting in J--- trailer park. We felt that we needed to be there but we both felt a little nervous about tracting a trailer park at night.
So we decided to go ask J--- for referrals so that we could go to the safer places. However, she was no help because she doesn't really know her neighbors. So we set out and started knocking on doors but no one answered. Finally, one man opened his door. His name is S--- and we were able to give an overview of the Plan of Salvation because one of his sons had passed away.
We set up a return appointment and he really wanted us to meet his son, S--, but he wasn't home. Steve told us that Seth is super spiritual.
We walked away to continue tracting after praying with S---, but we didn't feel that any of the doors we were passing were right. Somehow we ended up heading back towards S---s trailer after only a couple minutes. I saw that there was a new car in front of the trailer with people getting stuff out of the back, so I called out, "Hey, are one of you S---?" And one of them called back, "yeah, that's me!" And bounded over to shake our hands.
He introduced us to his two friends C--- and B---. They told us they had been out DJing in the park and we told them we had just talked to S---s dad and we asked if we could share a spiritual message with them really quick and they agreed.
We started with an overview of the Plan of Salvation but they had so many questions and became so engaged that we ended up teaching the whole lesson and inviting all of them to be baptized!
S--- agreed and was so excited, C--- agreed a little reluctantly because he still isn't sure if there is a God; B--- is content in his church but said that if he came to know that the things we taught were true that he would be baptized.
It was such a miracle because we had been praying to find people who were prepared to accept the gospel and we have at least two, if not four!
The next day Sister R--- came out with us all morning! We visited B--- first and had a lesson with him. We had planned to extend a baptismal invitation but the lesson got so out of hand that we couldn't. He just wanted to talk about politics, world chaos, disease, etc. so it was hard to get the gospel in and when we did he started talking about how it's possible to have too much religion and "don't we ever talk about anything but religion?". Needless to say, it didn't get anywhere and we explained what our purpose was as missionaries, so we were going to talk about religion. We probably won't be going back for a while because he is clearly not ready right now.
We had our next appointment cancel on us so we took Sister R--- tracting. She definitely got a firsthand look at how rude some people can be. I think it's good for members because it shows them what missionary work can be like and makes them more willing to help us with referrals.
We had our first lesson with K--- after we tracted. As we talked with him and did "how to begin teaching" we came to realize that he knows nothing about the religion he was baptized into. He is super open and we were able to teach him the Plan of Salvation because he cared for his mom when she was terminally ill up until she died. It was a great, spiritual lesson and he really wants to get his answer if the Book of Mormon and the gospel is true. We have a return appointment next week. And he just texted us as I was typing this and he said, "it's funny, after you guys left I got a warm feeling" and we just were like, "Ahhhh!" We are so excited!
If he becomes reactived it will be just like a convert baptism because he has never had a testimony or been active.
We also had our first lesson with P--- this week. I don't know what it is with the Plan of Salvation but everyone seems to need it this week! Sister W--- came to our lesson with us and when we knocked on the door this lady came and looked like she was about to tell us to go away, so I quickly asked for
P---.
We ended up having to have his lesson outside because his wife wasn't too thrilled that we were there. We had planned to teach the Restoration but then he started telling us about how his ex-son-in-law had just died as he drove to his 8 year old son's birthday party. It was so sad! So we started talking about the Plan of Salvation instead. He listened intently to everything we talked about but kept his answers short. I invited him to be baptized after the lesson and he wanted to know how baptism into our church was different than any other baptism, so we talked a bit about the Priesthood.
He said he would have to study more before he agreed and he honestly seemed to intend to study. I have high hopes for him! He seems very sincere in his approach to all that we shared with him.
After the lesson we went to go visit P--- and found out that she actually has set aside her tithing for the first time in forever! We are so excited! Not only is she paying her tithing but the G--- family also paid their tithing for the first time in years! What a miracle!
This week I hit my year mark and I got to read the letter I wrote myself a year ago. It was interesting to see how much I've changed since I first wrote that letter. I have accomplished to some degree all of the things I had hoped to accomplish so far. Overall I was very pleased as I looked back over my year of missionary service.
Sister Beckstrand celebrated my year mark with sparkling apple cider and weekly planning (it was an unfortunate way to spend a lot of the day, planning.)
I had to go on splits after planning, so I was out of my area all night. I ate tuna casserole on a coffee table for dinner, and we had a few lessons.
When I got back to our ward I found out I missed the most exciting night EVER!
They were walking around when someone called out, "hey, are you the Mormons?" And they replied that they were, and he said, "well, I'm ready to be baptized!" They couldn't believe it! His name is
We ended up having to have his lesson outside because his wife wasn't too thrilled that we were there. We had planned to teach the Restoration but then he started telling us about how his ex-son-in-law had just died as he drove to his 8 year old son's birthday party. It was so sad! So we started talking about the Plan of Salvation instead. He listened intently to everything we talked about but kept his answers short. I invited him to be baptized after the lesson and he wanted to know how baptism into our church was different than any other baptism, so we talked a bit about the Priesthood.
He said he would have to study more before he agreed and he honestly seemed to intend to study. I have high hopes for him! He seems very sincere in his approach to all that we shared with him.
After the lesson we went to go visit P--- and found out that she actually has set aside her tithing for the first time in forever! We are so excited! Not only is she paying her tithing but the G--- family also paid their tithing for the first time in years! What a miracle!
This week I hit my year mark and I got to read the letter I wrote myself a year ago. It was interesting to see how much I've changed since I first wrote that letter. I have accomplished to some degree all of the things I had hoped to accomplish so far. Overall I was very pleased as I looked back over my year of missionary service.
Sister Beckstrand celebrated my year mark with sparkling apple cider and weekly planning (it was an unfortunate way to spend a lot of the day, planning.)
I had to go on splits after planning, so I was out of my area all night. I ate tuna casserole on a coffee table for dinner, and we had a few lessons.
When I got back to our ward I found out I missed the most exciting night EVER!
They were walking around when someone called out, "hey, are you the Mormons?" And they replied that they were, and he said, "well, I'm ready to be baptized!" They couldn't believe it! His name is
T--- and
it turns out that he has received all of the lessons but can't be baptized
because of an open parasitic wound that can't be submerged in water. So we are
working with some nurses in our ward to see if there's a way around that with
airtight, waterproof bandages.
And then they had a lesson that was set up for us by a member with a girl named J---. She accepted the invitation to be baptized, came to all the sessions of stake conference, and told us yesterday that she got her answer that the Book of Mormon is true and is going to be baptized! We are SO beyond excited!!! Member referrals are the BEST!
I had a water-chugging contest with Elder Denslow, one of the elders in our ward and I totally would have won, but he got a .5 second head start.
We have had such a great week of finding! We found a bunch of less actives and part member families that are going to let us come over again to teach them!
We had our first lesson with one of them, J---, last night and he is so ready to come back to church! His dad and step mom who live with him (they're way older, J--- is in his 30s) ramble constantly. They are both members but they smoke pot and think that they're perfect, we are going to start going over when they aren't there to detract from the Spirit.
We also found a potential investigator as we were trying to track down a less active man. It's been such a productive week for finding!
We also got to go to the Priesthood meeting because we are missionaries. Sister Beckstrand and I kept joking about how cool it was to be invited to the "super secret Priesthood meeting". I find it funny that so many people make such a big deal out of going when it's not any more exciting than any other meeting.
Overall this week was awesome!
And then they had a lesson that was set up for us by a member with a girl named J---. She accepted the invitation to be baptized, came to all the sessions of stake conference, and told us yesterday that she got her answer that the Book of Mormon is true and is going to be baptized! We are SO beyond excited!!! Member referrals are the BEST!
I had a water-chugging contest with Elder Denslow, one of the elders in our ward and I totally would have won, but he got a .5 second head start.
We have had such a great week of finding! We found a bunch of less actives and part member families that are going to let us come over again to teach them!
We had our first lesson with one of them, J---, last night and he is so ready to come back to church! His dad and step mom who live with him (they're way older, J--- is in his 30s) ramble constantly. They are both members but they smoke pot and think that they're perfect, we are going to start going over when they aren't there to detract from the Spirit.
We also found a potential investigator as we were trying to track down a less active man. It's been such a productive week for finding!
We also got to go to the Priesthood meeting because we are missionaries. Sister Beckstrand and I kept joking about how cool it was to be invited to the "super secret Priesthood meeting". I find it funny that so many people make such a big deal out of going when it's not any more exciting than any other meeting.
Overall this week was awesome!
I love you all and hope you are having a great week!
Don't forget to write me!
Sister Draney
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