This week was a super quick week. We didn't have as many hilarious adventures, but we definitely had a great week. Bishop Nothum was out of town this week, so that is probably why we didn't get into sketchy situations. (;
Monday, we had family home evening and we played volleyball after. There was a few people who were new, so we got to talk with them and invite them to different activities. We also invited a few to meet with us and we got a few appointments for this week. It was really fun. At the end of the night, we went to Andys with Holly and her friends. It was such a great night.
Tuesday was a really great day! We set up a table at MSU and invited everyone to come to the cave on Saturday. The elders took the morning shift and when we got there to cover, their was 3 names written on the paper..i looked at them and realized it was the elders and one of the members. I was super confused and the elders said, "No one was signing up, so we made it look like someone was interested." So then we all made up a bunch of fake names and wrote it down and it was like magic. Everyone started coming and signing up. We thought it was awesome. I was struggling talking to people and just randomly walking up to people. Elder Dye taught me his skills. He said, "Sister Ritter, always compliment the jacket." So i tried it and what do you know....people talked to us. It was a really cool learning experience.
Later that night, we didn't have anything to do. We were talking to Kim and we said, "We don't have anything tonight. Who can you take us to meet?" She had a referral for us and texted the girl she knew and set up an appointment. We got to meet her at Hurts Donut that night. She is so prepared for the gospel. We had a great time with us and said she was so happy we got to meet. Then we invited her to institute and she was really interested. Jasmine is so cool. She is from Malaysia and she knows 4 languages. She is looking for fellowship and for a church to go to. I am so grateful for Kim in being bold and inviting her friend. It was such a blessing to us. After institute Jasmine had a lot of questions and wanted to learn more. Sister Jacobsen was amazing. She told Jasmine what we do as missionaries and our job and Jasmine was excited to meet with us.
Wednesday we had zone training. It was a lot of fun. We also had interviews with President Loveland. I LOVED it. President Loveland is so amazing. He made me laugh so hard during my interview. I am so sad to be going home, (and of course that is all he talked to me about) but he made it okay. I am grateful for the advice i received from him.
I learned something really cool at the zone training meeting. It was all about repentance and why it is such an important doctrine in the gospel. In Isaiah 1:18 it says "18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." That scripture hit me really hard. I was thinking about the contrast in the 2 colors. Red and White. It takes a lot of time and work to make something Crimson red turn white. But through Repentance and Christ, it is possible for our sins to become white. I know that it takes practice and time to get there, but i know that Jesus Christ is waiting for us to turn to him and use His Atonement to become clean through sin. I know that Christ will forgive us if we truly repent. I am grateful for the knowledge and the comfort i felt as i read that scripture.
Sister Jacobsen instructed on the difference between testimony and conversion. I feel that a testimony is a knowledge of a gospel truth and knowing that something is true. Conversion is sacrificing and acting for that testimony. I have been working on my own testimony of Christ being with us 100% of the time. I know its true, but i feel i am not truly converted to the idea because i still struggle walking up to people and talking to them. I get really nervous and i don't rely on that promise. I know that as i keep working on it and exercise my faith i will be able to have a full testimony and be completely converted to that knowledge.
I was asked to speak on how our weakness' are not sins. Sister Loveland once said, "Weakness comes from Heavenly Father and Sin comes from Satan. Satan causes the sins to happen by tempting us." It gives me so much hope knowing that Heavenly Father knows the difference between the 2. I know that he can see us in different eyes than we see ourselves. I read the story and encourage everyone to read it to learn more about Why we have weakness. The story is called the Jadeite Cabbage. I am grateful for my weakness so that i have a chance to grow closer to my Heavenly Father and closer to my Savior Jesus Christ.
On Thursday we had a really cool moment happen. Bishop gave Kierstin money to take us and anyone we invited to lunch. We were walking toward the room on campus we were meeting and we saw this girl. I got the feeling to talk to her, but kept walking, again the prompting came and this time Sister Jacobsen looked at me and we immediately turned around and went and talked to her. She was really excited to come with us. As we got to the lunch room, her mom called and had an emergency, so she had to leave. She gave us her number and we gave her ours. She is excited to meet with us again.
That night, we got a text about 10:15 and it was one of the YSA. He said, "We are on our way to your apartment." A big group of the YSA came to bring us cinnamon rolls. It was hilarious because we were in matching sweatshirts. Then a few minutes later, the elders text us and said, "Matching sweaters? #Unity." We all had on our matching sweatshirts when the YSA went to each of our apartments and they thought it was super cool.
Friday morning, a girl we have trying to meet since we got here texted us and said she signed up to feed us that night. We didn't have anything, so we told her we were free. Turns out, she signed up to feed the elders, but we ended up going instead. It was so cool to see how Heavenly Father blesses us so much everyday.
Saturday we went caving. Basically a party. We had 19 non members there. It was amazing. We got a lot of contacts from that and hope to see them soon. Later that night, we went to the Chinese new year celebration and we saw a ton of the chinese students we met at the cave. They recognized us and were so happy we came to support them that they smuggled us in so we didn't have to pay. It was awesome!!! They had really good chinese food and had so many different performances and songs. It was a really good experience to spend time with them.
This week was so great. I am so grateful for all the many different experiences and opportunites i get as a missionary. I am grateful for Heavenly Father who directs me and guides me. I know he is blessing me so much. I love this gospel.
I hope everyone has a great week.
I love you!
Sister Ritter
pictures:
1)Sister Jacobsen and I wearing our matching MSU hoodies!
2)I LOVE SISTER JACOBSEN <3 <3 <3
3)That awkward moment when you all show up for missionary work matching. (; We are the most unified missionaries in the mission.
4)Partying it up at the Spring Festival
5) The entire YSA group plus friends!
6) Me, Sister Jacobsen, and Dani in the cave....before the mud fight.
7) Hurts Donuts. The coolest donut shop in the world!
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