This week i have learned a lot of things. It was slower, and we didn't have as many funny/memorable things happen this week like usual. Probably because a lot of people aren't home for the holidays.
On Tuesday, we did a LOT of service. We helped a family clean their house. It was going quite well, until we moved a book from under a dresser. Then the most awful thing happened. A half eaten mouse was on it. Sister Hill's face was priceless. Then we kept vacuuming, and we were both terrified of what other things we would find. Well, we found multiple dead mice, and it was like a competition between us to see who had to pick it up. It was awful, but it was pretty funny. Sister Hill pulled up her elbow high gloves and rocked it. We also got to help set up a Christmas tree and decorate it. It was like 9 feet tall, so i had to get the lights at the top...as i was standing on the chair, i slipped and almost fell and knocked the tree over. It was quite the adventurous service day. But it made life exciting.
On Wednesday, we had a HUGE miracle happen. That morning, we were sitting in our living room and i was looking at our area book. I said, "Sister, we should check on Shane. I wonder how he is doing." Sister Hill said, "I was just thinking about him earlier." So we made a plan to call him, but we had to get to the jail, so we wrote it down and moved on. We went to the jail and when we finished there and looked at our phone, we had a missed call from Mykala. We called her back and she said, "Guess who i am with right now?" I went through a huge list of people i thought it could possibly be. Then she said, "NO. It's Shane. I called him like 3 days ago and he randomly called me back today." I asked if we could talk to him and asked if he would be interesting in learning about the church again. He said, "Yeah...i'd like to meet as soon as you could." And mykala yelled, "NOW." So we went to her house and did a lesson with Shane. It was SO cool to see how we all thought about each other and worked out a plan on the same day. It is so cool to see how the spirit speaks to all of us and tells us what we need to do. That was definitely a faith building experience. It was incredible.
On Wednesday, we had a HUGE miracle happen. That morning, we were sitting in our living room and i was looking at our area book. I said, "Sister, we should check on Shane. I wonder how he is doing." Sister Hill said, "I was just thinking about him earlier." So we made a plan to call him, but we had to get to the jail, so we wrote it down and moved on. We went to the jail and when we finished there and looked at our phone, we had a missed call from Mykala. We called her back and she said, "Guess who i am with right now?" I went through a huge list of people i thought it could possibly be. Then she said, "NO. It's Shane. I called him like 3 days ago and he randomly called me back today." I asked if we could talk to him and asked if he would be interesting in learning about the church again. He said, "Yeah...i'd like to meet as soon as you could." And mykala yelled, "NOW." So we went to her house and did a lesson with Shane. It was SO cool to see how we all thought about each other and worked out a plan on the same day. It is so cool to see how the spirit speaks to all of us and tells us what we need to do. That was definitely a faith building experience. It was incredible.
Later, on Wednesday night, we were leaving an appointment and Sister Hill noticed her license was gone. She said, "Sister...my license is gone. It was in my pocket when we left the jail." We had gone all over Rolla since the jail, so we had NO idea where it could be. We couldn't find it and we looked everywhere. We went home for the night and prayed that we would be able to find her license. Sister Hill told me that she prayed and prayed that Heavenly Father would put it in the car even if it wasn't there because we needed it to fill out our pre-trunky papers for the airport.
Thursday morning, we woke up and started exercising. Sister Hill was kind of moving things around as she was exercising and clearing off our coffee table. All of a sudden she says, "No WAY." So i stop and look. We had 1 stack of pass along cards on our table when we went to bed the night before. The stack was split and in 2 stacks now, and her license was sitting right on top. It gave me the goosebumps. I KNOW the stack was not split when we went to bed. We have angels in our apartment. I know that miracles truly do happen. I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers. It was the coolest thing i have ever seen.
Friday morning started with a goodbye phone call from my favorite Sister Booms. She was headed to the airport. It was sad. But it was also cool that she got permission to call me and say goodbye. I love that chick. (:
We got to do some service again. We helped wrap presents at a foundation for families that couldn't afford Christmas. It was the most fun service i have done my whole mission. We had a name and age, and then a list of categories and we got to go "shopping" for them and then wrap all the presents. It was so cool to see the community helping to make sure everyone has a good Christmas and getting the things they need. I loved it so much.
Friday morning started with a goodbye phone call from my favorite Sister Booms. She was headed to the airport. It was sad. But it was also cool that she got permission to call me and say goodbye. I love that chick. (:
We got to do some service again. We helped wrap presents at a foundation for families that couldn't afford Christmas. It was the most fun service i have done my whole mission. We had a name and age, and then a list of categories and we got to go "shopping" for them and then wrap all the presents. It was so cool to see the community helping to make sure everyone has a good Christmas and getting the things they need. I loved it so much.
We also had a run in while we were tracting with this super rude guy. We knocked on his door and he said, "Oh look. It's the Mormons. We have mormons living 2 doors down." Then we asked if we could share a Christmas video with him that the church put out. He said, "Don't you believe in the Bible?" "Yes. We do." "Where does it talk about Christmas in the Bible?" "Luke 2." "Does it talk about giving presents to anyone but Jesus?" "No." "Does it talk about putting up a tree?" "No....It is a Christmas video about the Savior." "How do you know he is the Savior?" So...this went on for a few more questions and he said, "I don't believe in any of that stuff." BUT..the dumbest part was that he had Christmas decorations AND a tree in his house. Oh man...i was so irritated. Then as we were walking away, he said some other really awful things and laughed at us the whole way down the street. It was sweet. Definitely not a good experience...but it made for a good story to tell i guess.
Saturday, we went and got ice cream with a family. We met another guy from the church and he was asking us about our missions and how much time we have left. We told him we go home in February and he said, "Guess your next step is a mormon baby factory." IT WAS SO FUNNY!!!!! Sister Hill and i looked at each other and cried we laughed so hard. I don't know what it is about this week that everyone keeps saying ridiculous things to us. We live an awkward/hilarious life.
Saturday and Sunday was stake conference. I learned some really cool things that i want to share.
Side note: We got the opportunity to sing in the choir for the prelude music and the intermediate hymn. It was so cool and it was a lot of fun!
On Saturday, one of the speakers talked about covenants and how they are promises we make with God. He quoted D&C 82:10
10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.
Saturday and Sunday was stake conference. I learned some really cool things that i want to share.
Side note: We got the opportunity to sing in the choir for the prelude music and the intermediate hymn. It was so cool and it was a lot of fun!
On Saturday, one of the speakers talked about covenants and how they are promises we make with God. He quoted D&C 82:10
10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.
He said, switch the end 'promise' with covenant. When we don't do what he says, we have no covenant. Meaning, that we don't receive the promised blessings he guarantees to us if we follow his commandments. I loved that so much. He talked about the baptismal covenant and how we promise to keep the commandments, serve others, and take His name upon us. God promises us the Holy Ghost when we do those things. This speaker said it in a way that really got to me though. He said, "When we keep our baptismal covenant (promise), God promises us that He will give us a part of the Godhead." I loved that so much. I have part of the Godhead with me 24/7. I really enjoyed pondering and thinking about that and how important the Holy Ghost is to me.
On Sunday, President and Sister Loveland spoke. I LOVED Sister Lovelands talk. She spoke about the sacrament. She said, "When i take the sacrament, I pick a piece of bread that is torn and broken, not part of the whole. But I am the same. I am broken and torn, not whole. I sin and make mistakes during the week. As i take the sacrament I become whole, one with Christ. As i take a cup, i think of "Father, let this cup pass. Not as i wilt, but thy will be done." As we take the sacrament, we can become whole through Christ and we promise that we will follow Him and do what he wants us to do.
On Sunday, President and Sister Loveland spoke. I LOVED Sister Lovelands talk. She spoke about the sacrament. She said, "When i take the sacrament, I pick a piece of bread that is torn and broken, not part of the whole. But I am the same. I am broken and torn, not whole. I sin and make mistakes during the week. As i take the sacrament I become whole, one with Christ. As i take a cup, i think of "Father, let this cup pass. Not as i wilt, but thy will be done." As we take the sacrament, we can become whole through Christ and we promise that we will follow Him and do what he wants us to do.
Sunday, we also went to a nursing home and did some singing. A whole crew was supposed to come but it was us, and 3 little girls. SWEET. I didn't even know half the songs. It was sad. I need to up my game in Christmas carols. It was cool to see the ladies smiling faces and them singing along too. I love nursing homes. The people there are just adorable.
We also went to see the Grundy family. It was so funny. A little background story, they NEVER go to church. So we walked in and they all said, "We went to the church and watched stake conference today! It was way good! Then they all shared what they felt and learned. The son walked in and he said, "WAIT. ITS YOU 2. You were on TV! You were singing and jamming out. You two are awesome!" It was so funny to see how happy he was that we were in the choir. We did a Christmas lesson about Christ with them and we were able to leave full of the spirit. It was a cool lesson.
We also went to see the Grundy family. It was so funny. A little background story, they NEVER go to church. So we walked in and they all said, "We went to the church and watched stake conference today! It was way good! Then they all shared what they felt and learned. The son walked in and he said, "WAIT. ITS YOU 2. You were on TV! You were singing and jamming out. You two are awesome!" It was so funny to see how happy he was that we were in the choir. We did a Christmas lesson about Christ with them and we were able to leave full of the spirit. It was a cool lesson.
Sunday night, we watched the Christmas Devotional. I loved David A Bednars talk! I probably won't do it justice, but i loved how he talked about lights. He explained that the sign of Christ's birth was a star. Light. And a sign of his death, was extreme darkness for 3 days. No candle, torch, sun, or moon could penetrate the darkness. The darkness ended, and he was resurrected. Jesus Christ is the LIGHT and life of the world. He is the Light that can guide us as we go through the trials in life. One of our Christmas traditions is to hang lights up. When we hang the lights up, we are representing Christ during the holiday season. I never made that connection, so it was really cool to learn.
Everyone should watch it! https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/first-presidencys-christmas-devotional/2015/12?cid=HP_SU_12-6-2015_dPFD_fMLIB_xLIDyL1-C_&lang=eng
Sunday we had a perfect ending to a rough week.
We have been working with a less active lady for awhile who has gone through a lot of ups and downs since i have been here. One day she loves the church and is full force ahead with studying and coming to church and the next time we see her, she is anti and doesn't want anything to do with it. The past transfer, she has mostly been going up, so it has been a huge miracle. Yesterday, we invited her to come to the Christmas Devotional and she said she wasn't going to because she doesn't like driving at night. We got there, and Cathy was there!!! Then she said that when she walked in the building to watch the devotional, the bishop wanted to talk to her. She left halfway through the interview to go and talk to the bishop. She came back and she was crying and crying. She opened her scriptures and she showed me her brand me temporary temple recommend. It was a huge spiritual moment for me. She is so excited to go and do baptisms for her family members. She has 70 names to take to the temple. Later that night, she text us and said that if we didn't see any success our whole mission, except for her, our mission would be worth it because she was able to go to the house of the Lord. It was an incredible experience. I love Cathy so much and i feel so blessed to have been here from the time we randomly met her when she was smoking and not wanting anything to do with the church, to seeing her bright spirit come alive as she received her temple recommend. It was a huge blessing. I will never forget that moment in my whole life.
Love,
Sister Ritter
Everyone should watch it! https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/first-presidencys-christmas-devotional/2015/12?cid=HP_SU_12-6-2015_dPFD_fMLIB_xLIDyL1-C_&lang=eng
Sunday we had a perfect ending to a rough week.
We have been working with a less active lady for awhile who has gone through a lot of ups and downs since i have been here. One day she loves the church and is full force ahead with studying and coming to church and the next time we see her, she is anti and doesn't want anything to do with it. The past transfer, she has mostly been going up, so it has been a huge miracle. Yesterday, we invited her to come to the Christmas Devotional and she said she wasn't going to because she doesn't like driving at night. We got there, and Cathy was there!!! Then she said that when she walked in the building to watch the devotional, the bishop wanted to talk to her. She left halfway through the interview to go and talk to the bishop. She came back and she was crying and crying. She opened her scriptures and she showed me her brand me temporary temple recommend. It was a huge spiritual moment for me. She is so excited to go and do baptisms for her family members. She has 70 names to take to the temple. Later that night, she text us and said that if we didn't see any success our whole mission, except for her, our mission would be worth it because she was able to go to the house of the Lord. It was an incredible experience. I love Cathy so much and i feel so blessed to have been here from the time we randomly met her when she was smoking and not wanting anything to do with the church, to seeing her bright spirit come alive as she received her temple recommend. It was a huge blessing. I will never forget that moment in my whole life.
Love,
Sister Ritter
pictures:
1) Angels among us.
2) Ice cream party with Roni and Mykala.
1) Angels among us.
2) Ice cream party with Roni and Mykala.
No comments:
Post a Comment