Well, it was a different sort of week. On Thursday we vacationed to Kentucky with the Clevelands. Sorta. Sister Goldrup needed to go to some doctor approved by some Australian visa board, and the closest one is in Kentucky, so there we went. And it's not 'cause she's sick or anything, she just needed to get some extra stuff done 'cause she's spent so much time outta the U.S. (she's lived in London, South Africa, Beijing, and Jordan.) Wednesdayevening the assistants to the president picked us up and drove us to the mission home. There we had ice cream with President and Sister Cleveland and then stayed the night. We were going to leave at 9:30 the next morning, so President told us we could sleep in! But I couldn't bring myself to do it. I must be crazy.
After Sister Goldrup's appointment, we went to lunch with the Clevelands and the Porters (who are the mission president and wife for the Cincinnati mission--they and the Clevelands got to be good friends in the training center.) Aaand then we drove back. Good times.
But, not everybody gets to leave mission boundaries, eh?
It's kinda funny. We go visit J still. He is progressing more than some of our "progressing investigators." He's still reading the Book of Mormon, and even asks us for assignments. Then we come back and talk about it. And he knows it's true, but he's in denial. But we understand that it will be difficult to change, especially after preaching something different for so long. But it's good. And we can be patient. Even though we want blessings for people NOW. Sometimes they don't want them 'til later. And that's okay.
And L's still being awesome. He still is working with wood, cord, and sharp things whenever we come over. He's still reading and asking good questions. That's a cool thing isn't? We think people are doing well when people have questions, but they're often apologetic about it. Joseph Smith wouldn't have gotten so many revelations if he hadn't asked so many questions. We like questions. My favorite is when people feel bad about asking questions because they're afraid it might weaken our faith. No joke--I like it so much, because they are just so sincere in wanting to protect us and like that we're are engaged in a good cause, even if they don't think it's quite right.
But here's my main thought for the day: Share the gospel with your friends. It might make you nervous to share, but you will never regret inviting them to learn more. And it really is as simple as an invitation.
But really, thinking about all the converts I know, or have heard of, they have only stayed active if they have family, or good friends in the church. Missionaries are sooo tired of baptizing people that stop coming to church within the year. It's ridiculous to expect missionaries to go find people to teach who will remain active without the ward's help. We find whoever will listen, be open, and keep the commitments we extend to teach. That doesn't mean that they will connect with anybody at church. But they need that connection to stay strong.
So. What's the solution? Members inviting their friends to learn! The time for the hastening of the work is here. For what?! The second coming! And that hastening won't come from thousands of extra missionaries trying to find random people interested. But it will come from members "girding up their loins" and taking courage to simply invite their friends to learn more, to give the thousands of missionaries something productive to do. 1 John 4:18
And pictures! Because I've been called to repentance...
My shoe tan-line! It gets better everyday.
Me and Sister Goldrup, the day we became new best friends. She's cute, isn't she? And my smile's uber awkward. Sorry.
Aaand me and Sister Allen. We went on exchanges. I'm purdy sure we had a class together at BYU. And she was in the same ward as Danielle and Ashley two years ago. She's awesome.
No comments:
Post a Comment