Welp, to make a long, sad story short, we dropped Franklin. The adversary most definitely started filling his thoughts with doubts and all he wanted to do was prove the Book of Mormon was not the word of God. We could have sat there all night long and Bible bashed with him (which is what I REALLY want to do all the time cuz we would win), but he was not open to the Spirit and the Spirit is what converts so it would have been no use. Contention is of the devil! Every time we run in to situations such as these it only strengthens my testimony. The Book of Mormon is the word of God, revealed to us through the prophet Joseph Smith. God and his son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820 and restored the true and everlasting gospel on the earth. With it, they restored the proper priesthood that gives us the authority to baptise by immersion and recieve the sacred gift of the Holy Ghost. Our purpose on this earth is to prepare ourselves to stand before God at judgment day and to have performed our works. I want to stand before the Judgement bar of God and know of his love and appreciation for my righteous choices. I want to look to him and know that I did my part in bringing up His kingdom. I want him to tell me "well done, my true and faithful servant". And that, my friends, is much more powerful than any body who pulls out anti mormon literature, versus of the bible they clearly do not understand, or doubts from Satan. Franklin has been warned, and we have done our part. My joy is that he has a desire to follow God and he has a testimony of the Bible. He is not yet prepared to hear the gospel but one day he will be and we have planted the seed.
Random thought occupying my mind:
We had a missionary conference was eye opening. Elder Evans from the 70 asked which of us had talked with someone on the tube over. Sadly, 5 stood of 250 (it was pday but still no excuse). As I sat in my seat, realizing that I had not talked with anyone on the tube ride over, I felt ashamed and embarrassed. If I had only talked with one person out of the hundreds I could have stood up when Elder Evans asked the questoin! How easy it would have been to open my mouth, even just once. As the meeting continued, I started realizing though that I might be feeling this way for the wrong reasons. Was I ashamed because I wanted to look like a good missionary in front of President and Sister Jordan? Was it because I wanted Elder Evans to be impressed with me? Or was it because I truely felt saddened for the woman who did not have the chance to hear the gospel yesterday and may not for a long time? Was it because I felt ashamed in the eyes of the Lord? While all of these reasons are okay to be true, I believe the latter should be the first thoughts that enter my mind. I want to be the missionary that Heavenly Father would be proud of. I want to be the missionary that I can look back on for the rest of my life and know that I gave it my all. To do this, I need to stroke when I don't want to stroke. Or in my case, I need to knock when the day is almost done and I am exhausted from being rejected and I am hungry and cold. Because those are the times, I believe, that the Lord will bless us the most. As you may know, I am a fitness guru and I know that the times that you are able to strengthen your muscles or your capacity are the times when you think you have done all that you can and then you do just a little more. I believe that these are the times that the Lord will bless you the most. I am going to work hard all day, every day, because that is what I have been called to do. Resting comes between 10:30 at night and 6:29 in the morning. And even then, I am focusing on the people of England. And after these 18 months, I can rest, knowing that I have exhausted myself for a strong and noble purpose.
We had a missionary conference was eye opening. Elder Evans from the 70 asked which of us had talked with someone on the tube over. Sadly, 5 stood of 250 (it was pday but still no excuse). As I sat in my seat, realizing that I had not talked with anyone on the tube ride over, I felt ashamed and embarrassed. If I had only talked with one person out of the hundreds I could have stood up when Elder Evans asked the questoin! How easy it would have been to open my mouth, even just once. As the meeting continued, I started realizing though that I might be feeling this way for the wrong reasons. Was I ashamed because I wanted to look like a good missionary in front of President and Sister Jordan? Was it because I wanted Elder Evans to be impressed with me? Or was it because I truely felt saddened for the woman who did not have the chance to hear the gospel yesterday and may not for a long time? Was it because I felt ashamed in the eyes of the Lord? While all of these reasons are okay to be true, I believe the latter should be the first thoughts that enter my mind. I want to be the missionary that Heavenly Father would be proud of. I want to be the missionary that I can look back on for the rest of my life and know that I gave it my all. To do this, I need to stroke when I don't want to stroke. Or in my case, I need to knock when the day is almost done and I am exhausted from being rejected and I am hungry and cold. Because those are the times, I believe, that the Lord will bless us the most. As you may know, I am a fitness guru and I know that the times that you are able to strengthen your muscles or your capacity are the times when you think you have done all that you can and then you do just a little more. I believe that these are the times that the Lord will bless you the most. I am going to work hard all day, every day, because that is what I have been called to do. Resting comes between 10:30 at night and 6:29 in the morning. And even then, I am focusing on the people of England. And after these 18 months, I can rest, knowing that I have exhausted myself for a strong and noble purpose.
Awkward stories for the week:
Sometimes England is a strange place. Sister Hymas and I meet a whole variety of interesting people. The other night, we were on our way to an apt (that hosed us) and 3 guys in their 20's stopped us and one started talking to us (they were all from Russia) and we slowly started to realize he was probably drunk. We spoke to them for a few mins and tried to get in some words about the church and the gospel but i dont think they could care that we were missionaries. Then, all of a sudden, one comes up to me and puts his arms around my legs and tries to pick me up! luckily i got out of it before he could be he hugged me and i felt gross about it! has he not read the missionary white handbook?? So not allowed! We knew, after that, we had to peace out real quick. Before we could, the guy said to me, "i love you, baby". then, he asked if we had boyfriends and when we could meet up. I think we ended up telling them we did have boyfriends (it was the only way out! im sorry if it was a lie but we had to) and that we had to go. He kept shouting, "i love you, babe!", "babe, I love you!" hahaha reminds me of Hot Rod. "Babe, wait!". Haha so ya, sometimes weird things happen but you just gotta laugh at them.
story number 2: I complimented a girls skirt on the bus to try to get a conversation started with her. She just looked at me a little confused. Then i realized it was not a skirt, they were pants! So i said, "oh, are the pants?" Then she just half smiled, said no, and turned away. I sat back and said to myself: "if theyre not pants or a skirt then what are they and why does this woman not want to talk to me!?! Im only trying to strike some conversation!". 3 minutes after i started laughing as i realized that pants in England are called trousers and if you say pants you are referring to underwear...oops!
3rd story: mom trying to talk to me at your FHE is super funny. Thats just embarrassing for all of us. Could somebody please tell her I left for a mission a month and a half ago?
Sometimes England is a strange place. Sister Hymas and I meet a whole variety of interesting people. The other night, we were on our way to an apt (that hosed us) and 3 guys in their 20's stopped us and one started talking to us (they were all from Russia) and we slowly started to realize he was probably drunk. We spoke to them for a few mins and tried to get in some words about the church and the gospel but i dont think they could care that we were missionaries. Then, all of a sudden, one comes up to me and puts his arms around my legs and tries to pick me up! luckily i got out of it before he could be he hugged me and i felt gross about it! has he not read the missionary white handbook?? So not allowed! We knew, after that, we had to peace out real quick. Before we could, the guy said to me, "i love you, baby". then, he asked if we had boyfriends and when we could meet up. I think we ended up telling them we did have boyfriends (it was the only way out! im sorry if it was a lie but we had to) and that we had to go. He kept shouting, "i love you, babe!", "babe, I love you!" hahaha reminds me of Hot Rod. "Babe, wait!". Haha so ya, sometimes weird things happen but you just gotta laugh at them.
story number 2: I complimented a girls skirt on the bus to try to get a conversation started with her. She just looked at me a little confused. Then i realized it was not a skirt, they were pants! So i said, "oh, are the pants?" Then she just half smiled, said no, and turned away. I sat back and said to myself: "if theyre not pants or a skirt then what are they and why does this woman not want to talk to me!?! Im only trying to strike some conversation!". 3 minutes after i started laughing as i realized that pants in England are called trousers and if you say pants you are referring to underwear...oops!
3rd story: mom trying to talk to me at your FHE is super funny. Thats just embarrassing for all of us. Could somebody please tell her I left for a mission a month and a half ago?
Josh- I take all of your advice to heart. I am trying so hard to be
bold. There is no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the
growth zone.
Zane and everybody else- SOOO GOOOD!! you are being a member
missionary and I love it! Your story is exactly what Heavenly Father is
asking you to do. He is not asking the members to go out knocking, or
finding or even teaching. He has called the missionaries for that. Your
duty is simply to invite and look at what happened! For those of you who
zane did not tell, here is a copy of his story he sent me (sorry if you
didnt want me to send it out but too late now!) :I hometeach a family.
Mike and Haley. They are both close to my age. Haley comes to church
every week but Mike has been inactive for some time. Its been really
hard for me to try help Mike. Mary and I try to hang out with them on a
fairly regular basis, but Mike is quiet and very reserved about his
feelings. I've never even been able to find out why he doesnt come to
church. Mary and I found out a month ago that we were going to be
speaking in church and I told him at the time that i wanted him to come
hear us speak. The friday night before we were hanging out with them and
Mike asked if I would go to cross-fit with him on bring a friend day.
(he loves cross fit and is very good at it) I told him I would go if he
came to church and he agreed!!!!! We went to cross fit the next day
(saturday) and he showed up and sat near the front to hear us speak.
Now guess what??? We found out later that the reason he went inactive is
because he struggles with the concept of tithing, and our talks were on
tithing!!!! Tender mercy. I don't know what will come of it, but its a
step in the right direction.
Everybody should follow this example! the Lord will bless you.
Momer- dont worry we have loaded up our fridge for the week so we are
goood to go. But i will probably end up using more of personal money
hope you dont mind. I promise we are being thrifty but things are
expensive here! Everybody should follow this example! the Lord will bless you.
Papa Smurf- youre going to China? thats way cool. Im kinda in china, but not really. Not at all actually. But thats cool! also, got your pics in the mail. thanks!
Sarah-cool i was in your dream. Keep dreaming about me, i like that.
Mary-thank you for your email! i read it all and took it all to heart. I remind myself of it everyday.
Kirsten-THANK YOU FOR YOUR PACKAGE!! oh my goooodness it made me so happy:) i even took a picture with it that i will attach. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!
Pokie- i sent you a letter i hope you get it soon!
Jacob- "oh be wise, what can i say more."
Gil-youre cool.
bandit-please stay alive
jett and jane- remember who is your favorite aunt. jett you drew a fantastic picture of me.
pics:
1) i got "kabaptised" with my district last week. they call these kabobs. they are the size of jupiter. i ate the whole thing though cuz i got dared to so i had to.
1) i got "kabaptised" with my district last week. they call these kabobs. they are the size of jupiter. i ate the whole thing though cuz i got dared to so i had to.
2) i got to see elder Lingham yesterday! 2 days before he heads
home! soo good to see him, we got to talk for a while and he is doin
great and you can look forward to seeing him soon!
3) this is the post i got yesterday when we went in to london for
the mission wide conference. (thank you to dad and kirsten and
krasons!!)
4)got to stop by platform 9 3/4 yesterday cuz it was pday and we
were already in london for the conference! (just ignore the girl in the
back, i was too cheap to buy the picture they take so i just had an
elder take one for me!)
love you all!!!
em
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