What an adventure a mission is!
We've continued to be uber busy everyday! There's a scripture in Thessalonians about recent converts being the greatest joy of missionaries. Often that is true, but often they are the most stressful part! We've got a lovely lady we're working with who was baptized last month...and she really struggles. She knows that God lead her to this church, and she prayed about and knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet, but she refuses to do any of the other things that build faith (study accompanied by prayer, and obedience) Aaaand she has some pretty severe mental stuff goin' on. And blames my poor companion for all her problems, but not to our face--she tells everything to another member who lets us know. So that's one adventure.
We're teaching another man who is one of the most sincere people we've taught. He loves the Book of Mormon. And he also has been addicted to heroin for 30+ years. So he's been working hard to get off of that. So sometimes he's too sick to meet or come to church 'cause he's suffering so bad from withdrawals. So there's another adventure.
We had a wonderful zone conference
on Friday. We were all sitting, ready for the meeting to begin, when President Cleveland motions me up to the stand. He told me that Sister Cleveland needed my and Sister McKendrick's help. So we went out with her and she told us we were needed to help with Elder Hodges' (the senior missionary who is in charge of mission cars) training. Soooo we dressed up like Indians and waited in the hallway until Elder Hodges (dressed like an Indian chief) came up to the stand. We walked in bare-footed while he gave a presentation: "How...not good" and preceded to talk about how he'd been nice (usually he dresses up as a shepherd with a shepherd's crook) but now he was out for scalps...not killing, just scalps, unless our scalps weren't worth it, then he'd kill. And we were his Indian princesses, standing in front of about 100 missionaries.
President Connolly (of the mission presidency) gave a reeeally good training about increasing faith, and how there are three levels of faith--all involving prayer, study, and obedience. The difference in each level was the degree to which we were involved in each, and our desire. It was purdy empowering.
Right after zone conference we started exchanges with Elkhart, which was good. I enjoy exchanges, but I don't like starting them. Especially if they're with a sister that I don't know very well. But Sister Williams and I had a good time. I hope she learned something useful. I stayed in South Bend, which was kinda tricky, but good.
There were many small miracles throughout the week, and we're excited for all that's going on in the weeks to come :)
Hope all is well, and much love,
Sister Bowen
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