Wow! It's Already the beginning of week 5 of my second transfer. How did that even happen? Time is going so fast! I feel like the days are long but the weeks are short. It's totally different than when I first started training. I was exhausted every day and P Day never came soon enough. I wish I would've enjoyed those first weeks more. My time in Terre Haute is becoming shorter and shorter. I assume after next transfer I will be in a new area, but you never know with the way things change!
We had a lot of birthdays in our district this week! It's been really busy! First of all, our investigator Heather's birthday was like 10 days ago, and her daughters were born pretty close to her birthday too! So we called them on their birthdays! Elder Howlett's birthday was on the 25th, Elder Caplin's was on the 1st, and Sister Carpenter's was on the 6th! We had dinners with some members who fed us well but added a big cake and ice cream to the meal! We usually get dessert, but this was way more! We ate with Velma who bought a cake, The Worthington's who bought an assortment of cakes, we had cake at Sunrise Cafe from Pam, the Blanton's gave us brownie cake.. It was insane. I'm pretty sure we all gained at least 5 lbs this week. It's been rough. but, all the birthdays are over for a while, so we can start losing that weight! haha!
This week with investigators has been pretty regular. We have taught Taylor and Xandra and Heather several times. We have experienced a few speed bumps with the girls, but they are overcoming these things and continue to progress. Their baptism is this Saturday. We are so excited, but the last few weeks before the baptismal date are the toughest. We are trying to stay in contact with them every day to make sure they aren't encountering something that will distract them from where they want to be. It's hard because they are teenagers and high school and junior high suck. Kids are mean and it's hard to know how to handle every situation when you are so young in the gospel. They are great though! They invited their Grandma to come to church! They told us it's the only church she isn't freaked out by. Indirectly, I think that is a compliment. Haha. they said she is really busy with school/classes and does most of her homework on Sundays, so she won't come until that is over, but she graduates in December! We are planning to contact her this week at their baptism to invite her to come to church for their confirmation. It's crazy how things are placed in front of you sometimes.
Heather is doing great! She brought her three daughters to church on Sunday! They absolutely loved it! We peeked into the primary and nursery classrooms to check on them before the last hour and they were enjoying themselves! It was so great to see! I can't wait for October to come so Heather will finally be baptized and can progress even further! She has such a strong testimony. There have been a lot of little struggles in their life lately (since she started investigating) but she has seen the blessings of reading the Book of Mormon and praying. It's so rewarding to see the things we have taught being taken into their lives and blessing them. It's hard as a 19 year old girl to teach older adults about something so intense as the gospel. But the testimony I have and the faith and trust I put in the Lord are the way I can help them. There isn't a moment where I have doubted the Lord has been there guiding me and my companion when we have put our trust in him. Half the time we don't know what we're saying, but the Spirit touches their heart, so it doesn't matter. THE CHURCH IS TRUE!
We went on Exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders on Thursday! it was so interesting. They are campus missionaries in Bloomington (IU). We had a full day! It was so much fun! It's a little terrifying talking to people my own age, but sister Kitchen is a magician! She just starts talking and doesn't give them the opportunity to say no. It's brilliant. I am learning to be more bold in talking to people. That's the way you find people prepared for the gospel! I hope I get to work on campus sometime during my mission! Probably the end though because #trunky!
Miracle:
Not really a miracle, but we watched the Because He Lives video with Cheryl an inactive member who feeds us weekly. I've never seen the video before. As I was watching I tried really hard to pay attention to the spirit I felt. In the scene where Mary Magdalene finds the tomb empty and turns to see the resurrected Savior, my heart burst. I had to control the welling of tears in my eyes. The spirit was so strong for me. I thought of how wonderful it is to have a Savior who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us because he loves us. He wants us to return to live with him. He wants us to repent and give all our struggles, pains, afflictions, and trials to him. He will strengthen us. He will not abandon us. A song from Girls Camp comes to mind: Walk Tall You're a Daughter of God
Chorus
Walk tall, you’re a daughter, a child of God.
Be strong please remember who you are.
Try to understand,
You’re part of His great plan.
He’s closer than you know
Reach up, he’ll take your hand.
Third Verse: This life on earth we knew would not be easy.
At times we lose our way
His path we may not see.
But please remember always- please-that you are not alone.
He’ll take your hand.
He loves you!
He will guide you home
It applies to everyone, not just women. We are all God's children and He and the Savior are standing right there waiting for us to reach for their hand. I'm grateful to have a father and three brothers to relate this to. I know I can reach for my brothers or parents hands when I need them. they will not let me drown. That's the same with our Father in Heaven and our big brother, Jesus Christ. Lean on the Lord. Let him be that guide for you!
That's my message today. I love you all. Have a great week!
Sister Mondragon <3
We had a lot of birthdays in our district this week! It's been really busy! First of all, our investigator Heather's birthday was like 10 days ago, and her daughters were born pretty close to her birthday too! So we called them on their birthdays! Elder Howlett's birthday was on the 25th, Elder Caplin's was on the 1st, and Sister Carpenter's was on the 6th! We had dinners with some members who fed us well but added a big cake and ice cream to the meal! We usually get dessert, but this was way more! We ate with Velma who bought a cake, The Worthington's who bought an assortment of cakes, we had cake at Sunrise Cafe from Pam, the Blanton's gave us brownie cake.. It was insane. I'm pretty sure we all gained at least 5 lbs this week. It's been rough. but, all the birthdays are over for a while, so we can start losing that weight! haha!
This week with investigators has been pretty regular. We have taught Taylor and Xandra and Heather several times. We have experienced a few speed bumps with the girls, but they are overcoming these things and continue to progress. Their baptism is this Saturday. We are so excited, but the last few weeks before the baptismal date are the toughest. We are trying to stay in contact with them every day to make sure they aren't encountering something that will distract them from where they want to be. It's hard because they are teenagers and high school and junior high suck. Kids are mean and it's hard to know how to handle every situation when you are so young in the gospel. They are great though! They invited their Grandma to come to church! They told us it's the only church she isn't freaked out by. Indirectly, I think that is a compliment. Haha. they said she is really busy with school/classes and does most of her homework on Sundays, so she won't come until that is over, but she graduates in December! We are planning to contact her this week at their baptism to invite her to come to church for their confirmation. It's crazy how things are placed in front of you sometimes.
Heather is doing great! She brought her three daughters to church on Sunday! They absolutely loved it! We peeked into the primary and nursery classrooms to check on them before the last hour and they were enjoying themselves! It was so great to see! I can't wait for October to come so Heather will finally be baptized and can progress even further! She has such a strong testimony. There have been a lot of little struggles in their life lately (since she started investigating) but she has seen the blessings of reading the Book of Mormon and praying. It's so rewarding to see the things we have taught being taken into their lives and blessing them. It's hard as a 19 year old girl to teach older adults about something so intense as the gospel. But the testimony I have and the faith and trust I put in the Lord are the way I can help them. There isn't a moment where I have doubted the Lord has been there guiding me and my companion when we have put our trust in him. Half the time we don't know what we're saying, but the Spirit touches their heart, so it doesn't matter. THE CHURCH IS TRUE!
We went on Exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders on Thursday! it was so interesting. They are campus missionaries in Bloomington (IU). We had a full day! It was so much fun! It's a little terrifying talking to people my own age, but sister Kitchen is a magician! She just starts talking and doesn't give them the opportunity to say no. It's brilliant. I am learning to be more bold in talking to people. That's the way you find people prepared for the gospel! I hope I get to work on campus sometime during my mission! Probably the end though because #trunky!
Miracle:
Not really a miracle, but we watched the Because He Lives video with Cheryl an inactive member who feeds us weekly. I've never seen the video before. As I was watching I tried really hard to pay attention to the spirit I felt. In the scene where Mary Magdalene finds the tomb empty and turns to see the resurrected Savior, my heart burst. I had to control the welling of tears in my eyes. The spirit was so strong for me. I thought of how wonderful it is to have a Savior who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us because he loves us. He wants us to return to live with him. He wants us to repent and give all our struggles, pains, afflictions, and trials to him. He will strengthen us. He will not abandon us. A song from Girls Camp comes to mind: Walk Tall You're a Daughter of God
Chorus
Walk tall, you’re a daughter, a child of God.
Be strong please remember who you are.
Try to understand,
You’re part of His great plan.
He’s closer than you know
Reach up, he’ll take your hand.
Third Verse: This life on earth we knew would not be easy.
At times we lose our way
His path we may not see.
But please remember always- please-that you are not alone.
He’ll take your hand.
He loves you!
He will guide you home
It applies to everyone, not just women. We are all God's children and He and the Savior are standing right there waiting for us to reach for their hand. I'm grateful to have a father and three brothers to relate this to. I know I can reach for my brothers or parents hands when I need them. they will not let me drown. That's the same with our Father in Heaven and our big brother, Jesus Christ. Lean on the Lord. Let him be that guide for you!
That's my message today. I love you all. Have a great week!
Sister Mondragon <3