You know how some weeks just don't go as planned and everything seems to go wrong?? This week was definitely one of them. Obviously we did have some good experiences, but mostly our week consisted of laughing hysterically so we didn't cry.
Monday, it was our turn to teach the YSA family home evening, and we wanted to do something different and fun. We decided to play General conference jeopardy. It was super fun. The teams were going crazy and it was just a loud mess of General conference quotes. I love being a missionary over the YSA. It is a lot of fun to be able to go to the activities and teach people our age.
Tuesday started out GREAT. We got a voicemail from someone and they said, "Hi. I am an investigator trying to get the missionary discussions." We were so excited. Then i said, "Wait...what was the phone number? Sister Hill told me and i said, "That's no investigator....that would be FRANK FLORES." I was so pumped to talk to him. It was definitely a surprise, but it was a good tender mercy to talk to my mission father to start the day.
It was POURING rain nonstop ALL day. It was crazy. We also did exchanges with the St. Robert sisters. I went to St. Robert with Sister Norris. I really love her. She is such a great missionary. She has a super fun personality that makes missionary works super exciting. The people in her area love her and it is so cool to see.
One appointment with Sister Norris was pretty cool. We had to go on base and help a family move. We got to the gate and they scanned my ID and said, "She can't get on...she needs a background check." GREAT. So we pull around and go into the visitor center and go through that whole routine. We finally get on, and the family we are helping move is from Syracuse! How crazy right??? I didn't know them, but we did have people in common we knew.
Wednesday we had a really good district meeting on finding people to teach. We are struggling with that, so we got a lot of really good ideas. Sister Hill and i have set the goal to tract for at least one hour a day. I have grown so much just this week in my faith and testimony on tracting. I know that knocking on doors isn't really the most successful and the most fun, but i believe it is a matter of being obedient and doing all we can to show Heavenly Father we are doing the best to do his work. We had some really cool things happen and some not great things.
We were tracting and we met a very nice man. He talked to us for a long time and we found out that he does a lot of work on the church buildings with the electric. He told us that he has never seen sister missionaries and usually only sees the men. We actually had a really great discussion with him, then he asked us "You serve for 2 years right?" We told him sisters only serve for 18 months. He freaked out and started saying things like, "women are not treated fairly in your church. You should stand up and say something. I don't know why you think that is okay." Sister Hill simply testified of prophets and how she trusts and follows the counsel and guidelines by the prophet. Although it didn't help, and may have actually made the situation more contentious, it was a really cool experience for me. I was able to see the strength Sister Hill had and the power that can come from baring a simple testimony. As we have continued throughout the week, i am having an easier time sharing the gospel at doorsteps and not being so fearful. I have felt my faith grow a lot as we have done that.
We also had dinner with Cathy. She basically taught us the lesson. It was such a blessing to me. A month ago, she was inactive and wasn't even sure she knew the church was true. Now she is teaching us and she was called to be a ward missionary. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has touched her and blessed her in her ability to become closer to him.
This week we had a lesson with Penny and Robert and Lois (Penny's mom) house. It was nuts. Penny is so ready for baptism. She keeps all the commandments. She knows its true, she says she will NEVER stop coming to church, but she just won't get baptized. We planned a lot of inspired questions to help figure out why she feels she can't make that step. We asked, "What do you think will happen to you if you are never baptized Penny?" She said, "I don't know. What will happen to me." Sister Hill said, "It says in the Bible and the Book of Mormon that it is a commandment to get baptized. If you aren't baptized, you aren't going to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ." I really admire Sister Hill. She is so in tune with the spirit. She is an incredible missionary and i have learned a lot from her. Penny responded to that, "Well, i guess it doesn't matter than." My heart was crushed. It is depressing and incredibly sad to see someone who knows with their whole heart that the church is true and not follow the commandments and guidelines.
Robert agreed to baptism and said he wants to read more out of the Book of Mormon before he picks a date, but that he will get baptized. Penny said, "DONT SAY THAT ROBERT. I AM NOT READY." We left that appointment worn down, but grateful that Robert has finally felt the spirit and is progressing in his journey.
Friday, our day was so slow that when we were tracting, our pass along cards wouldn't even stay in the doors. It was hysterically sad. We were crying we were laughing so hard as we went down the streets. It was great. But that basically was that day.
On Sunday, we went to the Hills house because Sister Hill and i hit a breaking point. I needed a blessing so bad, plus the Hills just cheer me up. I am so grateful for them. As we were talking to Sister Hill she said, "I know how you feel. Sometimes you just want to tell them to go to hell, because you know they will end up there anyway." hahahahha(: She is so funny. That was a basic summary of our week.
I am grateful for Jesus Christ. I am grateful that i have him as my Savior. He has been a huge example to me this week. I know that i can do all things if i rely on Christ.
I love you all!!!
Love,
Sister Ritter
Picture:
1) Sister Hill and I running home in the rain so we would make curfew.
We also had dinner with Cathy. She basically taught us the lesson. It was such a blessing to me. A month ago, she was inactive and wasn't even sure she knew the church was true. Now she is teaching us and she was called to be a ward missionary. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has touched her and blessed her in her ability to become closer to him.
This week we had a lesson with Penny and Robert and Lois (Penny's mom) house. It was nuts. Penny is so ready for baptism. She keeps all the commandments. She knows its true, she says she will NEVER stop coming to church, but she just won't get baptized. We planned a lot of inspired questions to help figure out why she feels she can't make that step. We asked, "What do you think will happen to you if you are never baptized Penny?" She said, "I don't know. What will happen to me." Sister Hill said, "It says in the Bible and the Book of Mormon that it is a commandment to get baptized. If you aren't baptized, you aren't going to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ." I really admire Sister Hill. She is so in tune with the spirit. She is an incredible missionary and i have learned a lot from her. Penny responded to that, "Well, i guess it doesn't matter than." My heart was crushed. It is depressing and incredibly sad to see someone who knows with their whole heart that the church is true and not follow the commandments and guidelines.
Robert agreed to baptism and said he wants to read more out of the Book of Mormon before he picks a date, but that he will get baptized. Penny said, "DONT SAY THAT ROBERT. I AM NOT READY." We left that appointment worn down, but grateful that Robert has finally felt the spirit and is progressing in his journey.
Friday, our day was so slow that when we were tracting, our pass along cards wouldn't even stay in the doors. It was hysterically sad. We were crying we were laughing so hard as we went down the streets. It was great. But that basically was that day.
On Sunday, we went to the Hills house because Sister Hill and i hit a breaking point. I needed a blessing so bad, plus the Hills just cheer me up. I am so grateful for them. As we were talking to Sister Hill she said, "I know how you feel. Sometimes you just want to tell them to go to hell, because you know they will end up there anyway." hahahahha(: She is so funny. That was a basic summary of our week.
I am grateful for Jesus Christ. I am grateful that i have him as my Savior. He has been a huge example to me this week. I know that i can do all things if i rely on Christ.
I love you all!!!
Love,
Sister Ritter
Picture:
1) Sister Hill and I running home in the rain so we would make curfew.
No comments:
Post a Comment