This week was really good...our teaching pool is progressively going up and I'm super excited about the work we're getting done. We've been going through our old potential investigator sheets and writing them according to ward and really getting a lot of things compiled. It's cool to be in one ward and something will fall through...we just turn to our book and look for other people to talk to. I had something like that in Hurricane and I've missed it.
We had weekly planning on Friday and planned for 27 lessons with a member present...umm crazy! We averaged about 14-15...this week we had 17 and planned for 21...so it's going up...I think we could make it happen. We're planning on splits this week...and when that happends it means you're busy. :)
We got a couple new investigators.....one is Tyler...and he's 12. He wants to be baptized and do what's right so bad. He just needs some direction. His mom grew up a member but her mom changed to Baptist when she was 14 and she just joined with her....but now she has a desire to come back. YIPPEE. Tyler had been talked to before about taking lessons but his parents were reluctant. We went by and talked to just him and he said he'd talk to his parents. We followed up in two weeks and talked to his mom and she said "yeah he said he's ready so when can we set up a time??" Dude...going back to people's houses is effective...really follow up so people will know you really mean what you say...it's been a cool experience.
On the flip side we've had a couple doors slammed in our face this week...that doesn't happen much but it has like 3 times in the past week or so. At least we know they're not interested and that it's not them giving us the run around. I can't imagine being in a different mission where people don't know who you are but see the tag and are plain rude.
Marcos update:
He's progressing fast. He went to church again...this time with his whole family. They talked about the Spirit World in the gospel principles class...and discussed work for the dead. *BING* a light went on in his head...he LOVED that we remember our ancestors. He said "they're gone but not forgotten...and they all get a chance" He's ready and now we're all praying about a day he could be baptized. He keeps talking about Henry Eyring and how he wants to do God's work like him...it's cool to hear your investigator talk about an Apostle like that. It's been a cool experience and I'm happy to be a part of it.
The weeks have gone by so fast...I can hardly believe it. Next week is the last week of the transfer.
I just want to tell all of you...that I know that this church is true. No doubts. I feel like Satan is forever attacking the work but I'm not letting him in. I'm so greatful for the power of the Spirit and that when there is light there is no darkness. I know that the power of the Atonement covers all of my flaws and more...Jesus Christ's ultimate sacrifice was the greatest act of Love and I want to show others of that love they can feel. The peace and joy we can be filled with is so overwhelming and satisfying..and it's because of the knowledge we have. I know that the Book of Mormon holds that peace and joy of the Spirit and THAT is how we can feel it. I love the gospel. I will forever be a missionary.
I love you,
Sister Page
Monday, October 12, 2009
Monday, October 05, 2009
Partial Week Update and AMAZING Investigators
The week has flown by. I don't even remember what happened...let me look back in my planner:
Monday: We teach a lot of children 9-12 years old...and we are racking our brain with a way to teach AND entertain..well we thought of a good review game...JEOPARDY! Dude...they love it. We played Restoration Jeopardy and all of the kids are excited to test their knowledge. They don't even ask if there's a prize. We are doing it for the next 2 lessons as well. So we started that on Monday....and we started making Plan of Salvation this morning.
Tuesday: ZONE CONFERENCE! Yes...my favorite time of the transfer (one of them...there's so many favorites) We talked about D&C 93:36 about light and truth and intelligence. It was deep...but soooo good. Here's how I broke it down: "The glory of God is intelligence or in other words light and truth." This is what my talk was going to be about if I had to get up: In Abr. 3:22 it talks about us being intelligences...that's what our spirits are made of. And if the glory of God as stated in Moses 1:39 is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man....than we are God's glory. We glorify Him. Light and truth are more names for the Savior. The only way for us to glofiy God is through the light and truth of Jesus Christ. So in other words Christ is the glory of God because with out Him we (intelligence) can't do it on our own. We went into more detail about it...but I don't have my notes...it was good. What President Pitts said was that through light and truth we bring knowledge to our investigators and in that sense Glorify God.
Wednesday: We had some good lessons. One was with Jared and we committed him to stop smoking FOREVER....and asked him to fast the next day for strength. It was a powerful lesson...we felt the spirit very strong.
Thursday: While the kids are in school and parents are at work...we have to find people to talk to. We had a couple of pretty funny things happen as we did this...we went to contact someone...who we thought was an older lady and we knock on the door and a younger man comes to the door instead....in a yellow tanktop, and BOOTY SHORTS! How cow it was weird to see a man in those. He asked us to come back later...so we left...but we couldn't stop laughing. Then we went to some apartments to just meet people and the first door we knocked was a member and we just chatted for a bit and left. Sister Felten and I walk away and she tells me...."umm her husband was in the back room with the door open...BUTT NAKED!" we just busted up laughing. I don't know why the door was wide open to his room but she said he was just standing there....I'm so happy I didn't see anything. hahahah We still randomly laugh about that. Then we went to another door we've been to before but never caught at home. Sis. Felten rang the doorbell and after wards the bell looked like it was going to fall off...so she tried to fix it...instead it fell to the floor and crashed into pieces!!!! Then the lady was walking towards the door...and Sis. Felten scooted the pieces over to the side of the patio. And we just talked to her and everything...and then again laughed after we left. So it was an interesting day.... I'll skip to investigators because some were on more than one day...so here's the...Investigator Update!!!!
We had Marcos (MS...if anyone wants to know if when your muscle atrophy and your body hurts really bad...if anyone knows more info I could use the help)...but Marcos basically wants to be baptized...and he watched the Priesthood session and other parts of general conference...he said "I want that power to do God's work..." talking about Pres. Eyring's remarks in the priesthood session....he's so awesome. I'm excited to get to a point where he knows enough to that we can have him accept a baptism date. :)
We also had Jeff. He's newer...but on the third time meeting with him...he said "after I take all of these lessons...can I get baptized?" Ummm YES! So we just smiled a lot and said yes...and then answered questions and yeah..he's progressing so well. His fiance wants to be baptized too. Can I tell you that we were leaping for joy after that lesson. General Conference was AmAzAzInG....and I couldn't get enough. I'm so thankful for a Prophet and Apostles who really know what I need to hear. So many great talks...and I can't wait to read them next month in the ensign. Anyone want to share what their favorite was?
I love the mission. Hard times no doubt but I love how it helps me grow.
Love, Sister Page
Monday: We teach a lot of children 9-12 years old...and we are racking our brain with a way to teach AND entertain..well we thought of a good review game...JEOPARDY! Dude...they love it. We played Restoration Jeopardy and all of the kids are excited to test their knowledge. They don't even ask if there's a prize. We are doing it for the next 2 lessons as well. So we started that on Monday....and we started making Plan of Salvation this morning.
Tuesday: ZONE CONFERENCE! Yes...my favorite time of the transfer (one of them...there's so many favorites) We talked about D&C 93:36 about light and truth and intelligence. It was deep...but soooo good. Here's how I broke it down: "The glory of God is intelligence or in other words light and truth." This is what my talk was going to be about if I had to get up: In Abr. 3:22 it talks about us being intelligences...that's what our spirits are made of. And if the glory of God as stated in Moses 1:39 is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man....than we are God's glory. We glorify Him. Light and truth are more names for the Savior. The only way for us to glofiy God is through the light and truth of Jesus Christ. So in other words Christ is the glory of God because with out Him we (intelligence) can't do it on our own. We went into more detail about it...but I don't have my notes...it was good. What President Pitts said was that through light and truth we bring knowledge to our investigators and in that sense Glorify God.
Wednesday: We had some good lessons. One was with Jared and we committed him to stop smoking FOREVER....and asked him to fast the next day for strength. It was a powerful lesson...we felt the spirit very strong.
Thursday: While the kids are in school and parents are at work...we have to find people to talk to. We had a couple of pretty funny things happen as we did this...we went to contact someone...who we thought was an older lady and we knock on the door and a younger man comes to the door instead....in a yellow tanktop, and BOOTY SHORTS! How cow it was weird to see a man in those. He asked us to come back later...so we left...but we couldn't stop laughing. Then we went to some apartments to just meet people and the first door we knocked was a member and we just chatted for a bit and left. Sister Felten and I walk away and she tells me...."umm her husband was in the back room with the door open...BUTT NAKED!" we just busted up laughing. I don't know why the door was wide open to his room but she said he was just standing there....I'm so happy I didn't see anything. hahahah We still randomly laugh about that. Then we went to another door we've been to before but never caught at home. Sis. Felten rang the doorbell and after wards the bell looked like it was going to fall off...so she tried to fix it...instead it fell to the floor and crashed into pieces!!!! Then the lady was walking towards the door...and Sis. Felten scooted the pieces over to the side of the patio. And we just talked to her and everything...and then again laughed after we left. So it was an interesting day.... I'll skip to investigators because some were on more than one day...so here's the...Investigator Update!!!!
We had Marcos (MS...if anyone wants to know if when your muscle atrophy and your body hurts really bad...if anyone knows more info I could use the help)...but Marcos basically wants to be baptized...and he watched the Priesthood session and other parts of general conference...he said "I want that power to do God's work..." talking about Pres. Eyring's remarks in the priesthood session....he's so awesome. I'm excited to get to a point where he knows enough to that we can have him accept a baptism date. :)
We also had Jeff. He's newer...but on the third time meeting with him...he said "after I take all of these lessons...can I get baptized?" Ummm YES! So we just smiled a lot and said yes...and then answered questions and yeah..he's progressing so well. His fiance wants to be baptized too. Can I tell you that we were leaping for joy after that lesson. General Conference was AmAzAzInG....and I couldn't get enough. I'm so thankful for a Prophet and Apostles who really know what I need to hear. So many great talks...and I can't wait to read them next month in the ensign. Anyone want to share what their favorite was?
I love the mission. Hard times no doubt but I love how it helps me grow.
Love, Sister Page
Monday, September 28, 2009
Faith + Hard Work= Miracles!
"Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven" (Praise to the Man)
This phrase rings true of my area!!! We are seeing many blessings as we work hard...and we are working hard. Something that's great about Sis. Felten is that she wants us to be better at things...to keep progressing. We are using the Spirit more in every aspect of missionary work and it's been so effective. Sometimes when we go tracting it doesn't feel like success is coming but then we get some solid referrals from others who ARE ready to hear the message to the gospel. It's like for every door we knock something good comes out of it whether we see it as we walk around or later in the week. Here are some of the blessings or miracles we've seen:
Marcos: a new investigator from BOSTON!!! He's lived here for a couple years and I think the missionaries tried to contact him before but he wasn't prepared for it yet. He gave them the run around...but he's so prepared now. He has M.S. and it's caused him to ask a lot of life's tough questions...and he's worried about life after death. His wife is a member who hasn't been active since baptism! So we're teaching both of them. They have so many questions and we're willing to answer them but it's all about line upon line...they won't understand certain things if they don't understand something before...so it's important to go slowly. :) The first time we met with him he told us not to give him our number or he'd cancel the appointment...but when we got there on Friday at 6pm we came into the house and he said "I've been looking forward to this all day!" WOAH....dude...he's so prepared. Then we talked about knowing God loves him and how he can recognize that...the lesson was so powerful. The Spirit was so present...and I know he could feel it. He's a talker so sometimes he goes on about stuff (we don't care) but during one of those times he said "I'm looking for salvation...I need to be baptized..." and then kept talking. We're like WOOT...I think he'll get baptized next transfer...he just needs to understand everything first. We're stoked about him. THEN we went to his ward yesterday and he came to church...he sat with the ward mission leader and then met the bishop afterwards and then went to the rest of the 3 meetings!!! He loved it all...and felt very welcomed and loved. It's amazing. Then we had another lesson last night and talked about prophets...and next time we'll talk about Joseph Smith. He asked is Joseph Smith died of old age...we told him no...and he said "if there's a man preaching about how you get get back to heaven and how you can be with your family...why would they kill him...that don't make sense to me." I wanted to say 'it doesn't make sense to me either' but I didn't...I'm truly greatful for Jospeh Smith!! :)
Hayden (10): He's been taught by missionaries since April...and he's finally getting to church more...and yesterday his dad asked if could be baptized in October...umm YESS!!! We were stoked.
We were going to the church parking lot (we had to use the bathroom) and ran into a bishop in one of our wards...he gave us a solid referral for 2 kids!!!!
Levi (9): he's so excited for us to come over and thrists for knowledge. It's awesome. He wants to be baptized so he can get a gun...we're changing that...ahhaha
Karim and Troy: Karim is from Peru and has been taught before I got here but her husband (who is from Utah) wasn't interested....well he is now. Last night we had our 3 meeting with both of them and he said he'd read and pray about the book of mormon!! He already started reading chapter 1 of it...and the intro. He's excited to keep learning. :) It's been a good refresher for Karim too. :)
There are many more....but I'm just so excited. The work is moving forward...and I know it's because we have shown Heavenly Father that He can trust us with His children. :)
I love this work. I love all of you! Keep being amazing. Missionary work is so important....BUY A PREACH MY GOSPEL and READ IT...such an inspired book. Love, Sister Page
This phrase rings true of my area!!! We are seeing many blessings as we work hard...and we are working hard. Something that's great about Sis. Felten is that she wants us to be better at things...to keep progressing. We are using the Spirit more in every aspect of missionary work and it's been so effective. Sometimes when we go tracting it doesn't feel like success is coming but then we get some solid referrals from others who ARE ready to hear the message to the gospel. It's like for every door we knock something good comes out of it whether we see it as we walk around or later in the week. Here are some of the blessings or miracles we've seen:
Marcos: a new investigator from BOSTON!!! He's lived here for a couple years and I think the missionaries tried to contact him before but he wasn't prepared for it yet. He gave them the run around...but he's so prepared now. He has M.S. and it's caused him to ask a lot of life's tough questions...and he's worried about life after death. His wife is a member who hasn't been active since baptism! So we're teaching both of them. They have so many questions and we're willing to answer them but it's all about line upon line...they won't understand certain things if they don't understand something before...so it's important to go slowly. :) The first time we met with him he told us not to give him our number or he'd cancel the appointment...but when we got there on Friday at 6pm we came into the house and he said "I've been looking forward to this all day!" WOAH....dude...he's so prepared. Then we talked about knowing God loves him and how he can recognize that...the lesson was so powerful. The Spirit was so present...and I know he could feel it. He's a talker so sometimes he goes on about stuff (we don't care) but during one of those times he said "I'm looking for salvation...I need to be baptized..." and then kept talking. We're like WOOT...I think he'll get baptized next transfer...he just needs to understand everything first. We're stoked about him. THEN we went to his ward yesterday and he came to church...he sat with the ward mission leader and then met the bishop afterwards and then went to the rest of the 3 meetings!!! He loved it all...and felt very welcomed and loved. It's amazing. Then we had another lesson last night and talked about prophets...and next time we'll talk about Joseph Smith. He asked is Joseph Smith died of old age...we told him no...and he said "if there's a man preaching about how you get get back to heaven and how you can be with your family...why would they kill him...that don't make sense to me." I wanted to say 'it doesn't make sense to me either' but I didn't...I'm truly greatful for Jospeh Smith!! :)
Hayden (10): He's been taught by missionaries since April...and he's finally getting to church more...and yesterday his dad asked if could be baptized in October...umm YESS!!! We were stoked.
We were going to the church parking lot (we had to use the bathroom) and ran into a bishop in one of our wards...he gave us a solid referral for 2 kids!!!!
Levi (9): he's so excited for us to come over and thrists for knowledge. It's awesome. He wants to be baptized so he can get a gun...we're changing that...ahhaha
Karim and Troy: Karim is from Peru and has been taught before I got here but her husband (who is from Utah) wasn't interested....well he is now. Last night we had our 3 meeting with both of them and he said he'd read and pray about the book of mormon!! He already started reading chapter 1 of it...and the intro. He's excited to keep learning. :) It's been a good refresher for Karim too. :)
There are many more....but I'm just so excited. The work is moving forward...and I know it's because we have shown Heavenly Father that He can trust us with His children. :)
I love this work. I love all of you! Keep being amazing. Missionary work is so important....BUY A PREACH MY GOSPEL and READ IT...such an inspired book. Love, Sister Page
Monday, September 21, 2009
I'm a MOM!
I said goodbye to Sister Harwood...it wasn't too hard because I know I'll see her again relatively soon. But the night before we went to pick up my greenie I got a blessing to guide me. I didn't realize how much I needed it until I was actually getting it.
So being a mom is hard work...and not because my kid is hard...it's just teaching them and giving the correct information but what's even harder is figuring out when they're ready for the next step...like talking in lessons and at doors and such. Because if they're ready and you don't realize it they think that you think they don't know what they're doing..when you really do know that they know what they're doing but weren't sure that they thought they were ready. hmmm if that made sense.
My child's name is Sister Felten. She super awesome...and really ready and willing to work and work hard. She wants no regrets on her mission and I like that attitude. We have been working on doing 20 min. lessons like Pres. Pitts has asked us and also walking around more in neighborhoods because people don't even know they have missionaries sometimes. So it's been good and we found two new people to teach...which we desperately need more people to teach right now. We had a zone fast for us to meet our goals this transfer so we're really putting our faith in Heavenly Father. We are planning on 4 baptisms this transfer...and we had one on Saturday. It was planned for last transfer but it got moved back. But it was a good experience for Sis. Felten to see the process of a baptism.
We've also had some pretty interesting dinners this last week...but I am thankful for anything people feed us...so I won't go into that. haha Things are so different in my area because we baptized a lot of people we were really close too and now the ward is taking over so we don't get to see them as much...so it's kind of weird. But we'll make new relationships with people and have cool stories to tell about them. haha I love my mission...and my new companion. I'm thankful Heavenly Father sent me someone who wants to work hard and is so capable...she knows the doctrine and knows how to study well so she can apply it in our lessons. :)
Love, Sister Page
So being a mom is hard work...and not because my kid is hard...it's just teaching them and giving the correct information but what's even harder is figuring out when they're ready for the next step...like talking in lessons and at doors and such. Because if they're ready and you don't realize it they think that you think they don't know what they're doing..when you really do know that they know what they're doing but weren't sure that they thought they were ready. hmmm if that made sense.
My child's name is Sister Felten. She super awesome...and really ready and willing to work and work hard. She wants no regrets on her mission and I like that attitude. We have been working on doing 20 min. lessons like Pres. Pitts has asked us and also walking around more in neighborhoods because people don't even know they have missionaries sometimes. So it's been good and we found two new people to teach...which we desperately need more people to teach right now. We had a zone fast for us to meet our goals this transfer so we're really putting our faith in Heavenly Father. We are planning on 4 baptisms this transfer...and we had one on Saturday. It was planned for last transfer but it got moved back. But it was a good experience for Sis. Felten to see the process of a baptism.
We've also had some pretty interesting dinners this last week...but I am thankful for anything people feed us...so I won't go into that. haha Things are so different in my area because we baptized a lot of people we were really close too and now the ward is taking over so we don't get to see them as much...so it's kind of weird. But we'll make new relationships with people and have cool stories to tell about them. haha I love my mission...and my new companion. I'm thankful Heavenly Father sent me someone who wants to work hard and is so capable...she knows the doctrine and knows how to study well so she can apply it in our lessons. :)
Love, Sister Page
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
A Missionary Labor Day
How ironic is it that it is Labor Day on a Monday when missionaries have their Pday anyways! haha We still went to work that night though...even though no one was home or really in any condition to have missionaries at their door because they were enjoying a night with the family...but we did talk to some leadership which is always good.
So for our labor day we went to play Lazer Tag as a district. Our friends Chris Peterson and Josh VanSteeter came too (they live in our area...and are preparing for missions). It was much fun. The first game we were on teams and my team dominated (probably because the Elder on our team told us what to do haha.) and then we went to a "every man for himself" game...which I came in LAST! Go figure. That was all good fun, it was much needed after a rather stressful week. (More to come on that later) We went to Walmart and printed pictures and picked up a few groceries, next week is transfers so we don't want to get too much to eat and then have to leave it. We went home and I think I wrote 7-8 letters...mail this week was good and I'm really thankful for that. Then worked on journal pages, which are just little notes to missionaries you know are leaving so they have something to remember you by and also your information to keep in touch. I then got my hair trimmed. The lady said the ends weren't split they looked really good so I think I'll get it trimmed again when I have 6 months left. :)
So this week was awesome but yes stressful. We had planned for a baptism for a boy (10) named Hayden...but it didn't happen AGAIN. BUT Heavenly Father blessed us and had another boy named Jimmy (also 10) get baptized instead. His mom and dad are divorced so he has to go to his dad's on certain weekends but he didn't know when...well his mom found out it was the next two weeks he'd be there so she asked him and he said "I'll get baptized this weekend." It was pretty awesome. Actually him and his 8 year old brother got baptized! So that was the miracle of the week.
On Sunday we stopped by Hayden's to see what was going on and to tell him we'd go to church with him and his dad. They said they'd be there well the whole Sarcrament meeting went by and they didn't show. We went over later that night and they said they didn't have any clothes to go in. (they just moved into this new ward so they're in the process of unpacking still) THEN we come to find out that Brother Shaw (Hayden's dad) got a tatoo the night before. We were just so disappointed. He's been working so hard to get back to church and everything so he can baptize Hayden AND he had gotten the "okay" to do it...but we just don't know what to do. THEN we see our recent converts heading outside (we were on the way to their house) and asked where they were going "to do something bad" they were about to go to get fast food on Sunday. All of these people KNOW BETTER. We told them to go back inside and Sister Harwood made them something to eat. It's just been a hard week all around. That's the life of a missionary...and I'm learning to trust in the Lord more. He know's what He's doing AND I kind of know how He feels because we can't force anyone to do anything...but we want them to make the right choices. Agency is amazing but sometimes I wish we'd use the gift a little better. I was reading in Alma 58 today...in verses 3-10 and how PATIENT the Strippling Warriors were in waiting for supplies..they didn't know why it took so long to get them but they thanked Heavenly Father when they did. I will apply that in my life. I love this work. I'm so incredibly happy to be here and serve the Lord. Thank you for your prayers and love.
Love, Sister Page
So for our labor day we went to play Lazer Tag as a district. Our friends Chris Peterson and Josh VanSteeter came too (they live in our area...and are preparing for missions). It was much fun. The first game we were on teams and my team dominated (probably because the Elder on our team told us what to do haha.) and then we went to a "every man for himself" game...which I came in LAST! Go figure. That was all good fun, it was much needed after a rather stressful week. (More to come on that later) We went to Walmart and printed pictures and picked up a few groceries, next week is transfers so we don't want to get too much to eat and then have to leave it. We went home and I think I wrote 7-8 letters...mail this week was good and I'm really thankful for that. Then worked on journal pages, which are just little notes to missionaries you know are leaving so they have something to remember you by and also your information to keep in touch. I then got my hair trimmed. The lady said the ends weren't split they looked really good so I think I'll get it trimmed again when I have 6 months left. :)
So this week was awesome but yes stressful. We had planned for a baptism for a boy (10) named Hayden...but it didn't happen AGAIN. BUT Heavenly Father blessed us and had another boy named Jimmy (also 10) get baptized instead. His mom and dad are divorced so he has to go to his dad's on certain weekends but he didn't know when...well his mom found out it was the next two weeks he'd be there so she asked him and he said "I'll get baptized this weekend." It was pretty awesome. Actually him and his 8 year old brother got baptized! So that was the miracle of the week.
On Sunday we stopped by Hayden's to see what was going on and to tell him we'd go to church with him and his dad. They said they'd be there well the whole Sarcrament meeting went by and they didn't show. We went over later that night and they said they didn't have any clothes to go in. (they just moved into this new ward so they're in the process of unpacking still) THEN we come to find out that Brother Shaw (Hayden's dad) got a tatoo the night before. We were just so disappointed. He's been working so hard to get back to church and everything so he can baptize Hayden AND he had gotten the "okay" to do it...but we just don't know what to do. THEN we see our recent converts heading outside (we were on the way to their house) and asked where they were going "to do something bad" they were about to go to get fast food on Sunday. All of these people KNOW BETTER. We told them to go back inside and Sister Harwood made them something to eat. It's just been a hard week all around. That's the life of a missionary...and I'm learning to trust in the Lord more. He know's what He's doing AND I kind of know how He feels because we can't force anyone to do anything...but we want them to make the right choices. Agency is amazing but sometimes I wish we'd use the gift a little better. I was reading in Alma 58 today...in verses 3-10 and how PATIENT the Strippling Warriors were in waiting for supplies..they didn't know why it took so long to get them but they thanked Heavenly Father when they did. I will apply that in my life. I love this work. I'm so incredibly happy to be here and serve the Lord. Thank you for your prayers and love.
Love, Sister Page
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