This week has been quite stressful and actually the longest week in my entire mission. It has been a lot of work to stay sane this week. But all the weeks of a mission can't be perfect, or we would start to expect to much. So this week was a definite learning week.
Tuesday, we were in Salem. We tried and tried to meet people in the branch and the investigators we had there. No luck. NO one was home, or no one had the time to meet with us. It was very trying to keep getting doors shut hour after hour. Finally, when we thought we couldn't do anything else, we tried one more family. The Taylors. THEY WERE HOME. We got to visit with them and read from the Book of Mormon with them for a little while. They are so sweet. They don't really go to church often, but they are returning. They are super sweet. They love the missionaries and told us all about the granddaughters baptism and the Grandpa's trip to the Nauvoo temple to see the grounds. As we were leaving, Brother Taylor said, "Get permission to go to the Circus with Brittany tonight. She would love to have your company." We didn't know the chances of that, but we asked...and we got to go! Brittany is adorable. She is recently baptized and is 19. We love her. She told us all about her life while we were at the circus and she was happy that there was sister missionaries now. That was a much needed tender mercy.
In Salem, we also met this lady named Briana. We were trying to contact a woman named Peggy, but she had moved. Briana let us come in and talk with her for a few minutes. She is letting us come back for a family home evening. Then as we were leaving, she said, "Are you okay. Do you need a phone or somewhere to stay?" She thought that we were going to stay with the lady that we were trying to find, and that we didn't have an apartment. It was super cute. She is so nice and i am excited to share the gospel with her.
Back in Rolla, We had another meeting with Penny. She is awesome. We watched the Restoration video with her. She loved it. She is the only member in her family who is not a member. She was going to get baptized and then at the last minute she bailed out. Now, 30 years later, we found her, and she is taking the lessons again. She said she believes the "Mormon way" but that she doesn't feel after this many years that she needs to get baptized. She is going to come to church this week and says that it is a huge step that she is willing to try. She is so open to the gospel. I love and adore her so much. She knows a lot about the gospel and wants to do her best to follow Christ. This week we are going to try to help her understand the importance of Baptism and how she can feel so much closer to Christ with the help of the Holy Ghost. I am so happy to know her.
We also had another meeting with Deon. She is so happy in the gospel. She wants to get baptized so bad. Right now, she is working towards the baptismal date of October 10. We taught her about fasting this week. She is going to fast with us on Sunday so that she can receive answers to her prayers and receive help with her concerns so she can be ready for her baptism. I am so grateful for Deon. She is so sweet and genuine. She loves us coming to see her and she thanks us all the time for helping her learn about Christ. I know that she is going to be a strong member in the church one day. I am excited to see how this week goes with her.
This week was incredibly difficult and frustrating. But as i have been typing this, i have learned something. As we look back at our week, we had so many wonderful meetings and opportunities to share our knowledge of the Gospel. We have helped people come unto the Savior. Even though the majority of our week was hard and without much luck, we were still doing our job as missionaries. It is all in the attitude of your service. I know that if i would have had a more positive outlook on life this past week, it might not have been so hard. I might have been able to better enjoy the work in 2 areas.
I am so grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ and the Sacrament. I know that because of Christ i can have a clean slate this week. I know that He forgives our weaknesses as we change and realign our will with Heavenly Father. I know that i cannot do this work without the help of the Savior. It is the Lords work, and sadly, i know that because of my stress and fears, i missed out on blessings that could have been mine if i would have faced the challenge at hand in a different way this past week.
Here is to a great week full of happiness and success in Rolla and Salem.
I love you all so much!
Love,
Sister Ritter
Pictures:
1) Salem Circus day with Brittany!
2) I was obsessed with the elephants. Isn't Sister Hill a pro photographer??
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