Buuueennnas Dias!!!!
Well, well, it's transfers week again, thus why you didn't get an email from me yesterday. We're getting one more Spanish sister to complete the 8 this mission is going to have for awhile, and it was me or one other option for who to train her so the speculation has been going around. President called us about something else Sunday, and then as he was getting off the phone, hintingly said, "I'll talk to you tomorrow." In other words, "I'll be calling you to ask you to train." I was so surprised and said, "Are you sure?!" He chuckled and said yes. Here's the thing about the mission that no one ever told me, you NEVER know what is going to happen every six weeks! You just wait for that call Monday night to know, and the texts are flying around, and everyone's trying to figure it out, which doesn't do any good because it's gonna be whatever it is. Anyway, President changed his mind because we got the "official" call last night and now we're staying together this transfer! So I will complete the 2nd half of the training program for the first time, and this will be the longest time I've ever had a companion! ...
It's been a wonderful week. Our number of lessons keep going up, which is exciting because each one of those is a person or family! 12 of our 14 lessons were less actives. So we met that goal, but missed our goal of lessons to investigators (we had 3 that fell through). This is the focus of the ward right now, so I'm bummed those investigator appointments fell through, but not too worried. The only thing is that almost none of the lessons had member’s present at them, and that's a worry. Because that is where success and retention comes: through the members. It's almost like we're fighting this battle to activate members so that we can have enough members to be ward missionaries (right now we have one who, ironically is inactive and whose name always comes up in Coordination meeting).
...
Miracle for the week! I went on exchanges with one of my best friends in the mission, Sis Price. She is wonderful! I had asked if we could go with them (the traveling sisters). It's a great opportunity for us to be able to work with someone who has more experience than us (which I treasure because of how my mission has gone so far!) There is a family that we have been trying and trying to work with to bring them back. They are really great. They have two little boys who are just awesome. But last time we stopped by they didn't let us in, and it wasn't the most friendly thing. But Saturday night I had a feeling Sis Price and I should go there. What?! I thought. They were pretty clear last time. But we went anyway. Right before we knocked on the door, I told Sis Price that I thought we just needed to take some time with this family, and show more love and care about who they are. They let us right in, and the whole family was there (which never happens! He runs a cab company). We talked to them for awhile about nothing gospel related (well, directly :) and eventually shaped the questions into things like how they've seen the gospel bless their family in this last year and a half (when they were baptized). Hugo (the dad) thought and then answered that honestly he couldn't answer that because he doesn't feel they've been doing the things they should to enjoy those blessings the gospel brings. It brought great discussion! The Spirit was there, and for some reason they were trusting us! We eventually taught out of Alma and then at one point Hugo said, "We just need to come to church. Right Maria? It's time. We have to go." Awesome! We hadn't said one word directly about church. The rest of the lesson went amazing. A little later one of them said, "O.k, we'll be at church tomorrow. And you can call us in the morning to help us be there." We left, got in the car, looked at each other, and said, "What just happened?!!" Haha, and they followed through and came! After accompanying in sacrament, I went and sat with them, and it was great. I might as well have had my own family investigating right there. Because the goal is the temple, and I really hope they will now be more open to us coming and maybe working with them toward goals like that. Maria, the mom, is more reserved. I gave her a hug after church and thanked her for coming. She pulled back, looked at me, and said, "No, thank you for coming last night. Thank you." Those are the moments right there that make it all worth it.
...
I sure do love each of you! lds.org has a cool Christmas campaign out right now that we're using a lot as missionaries that you might like. They have free motab Christmas I'm grateful for each one of you! I'm happy and doing well. Have a fantastic week!
Con Amor,
Hermana Marks
Well, well, it's transfers week again, thus why you didn't get an email from me yesterday. We're getting one more Spanish sister to complete the 8 this mission is going to have for awhile, and it was me or one other option for who to train her so the speculation has been going around. President called us about something else Sunday, and then as he was getting off the phone, hintingly said, "I'll talk to you tomorrow." In other words, "I'll be calling you to ask you to train." I was so surprised and said, "Are you sure?!" He chuckled and said yes. Here's the thing about the mission that no one ever told me, you NEVER know what is going to happen every six weeks! You just wait for that call Monday night to know, and the texts are flying around, and everyone's trying to figure it out, which doesn't do any good because it's gonna be whatever it is. Anyway, President changed his mind because we got the "official" call last night and now we're staying together this transfer! So I will complete the 2nd half of the training program for the first time, and this will be the longest time I've ever had a companion! ...
It's been a wonderful week. Our number of lessons keep going up, which is exciting because each one of those is a person or family! 12 of our 14 lessons were less actives. So we met that goal, but missed our goal of lessons to investigators (we had 3 that fell through). This is the focus of the ward right now, so I'm bummed those investigator appointments fell through, but not too worried. The only thing is that almost none of the lessons had member’s present at them, and that's a worry. Because that is where success and retention comes: through the members. It's almost like we're fighting this battle to activate members so that we can have enough members to be ward missionaries (right now we have one who, ironically is inactive and whose name always comes up in Coordination meeting).
...
Miracle for the week! I went on exchanges with one of my best friends in the mission, Sis Price. She is wonderful! I had asked if we could go with them (the traveling sisters). It's a great opportunity for us to be able to work with someone who has more experience than us (which I treasure because of how my mission has gone so far!) There is a family that we have been trying and trying to work with to bring them back. They are really great. They have two little boys who are just awesome. But last time we stopped by they didn't let us in, and it wasn't the most friendly thing. But Saturday night I had a feeling Sis Price and I should go there. What?! I thought. They were pretty clear last time. But we went anyway. Right before we knocked on the door, I told Sis Price that I thought we just needed to take some time with this family, and show more love and care about who they are. They let us right in, and the whole family was there (which never happens! He runs a cab company). We talked to them for awhile about nothing gospel related (well, directly :) and eventually shaped the questions into things like how they've seen the gospel bless their family in this last year and a half (when they were baptized). Hugo (the dad) thought and then answered that honestly he couldn't answer that because he doesn't feel they've been doing the things they should to enjoy those blessings the gospel brings. It brought great discussion! The Spirit was there, and for some reason they were trusting us! We eventually taught out of Alma and then at one point Hugo said, "We just need to come to church. Right Maria? It's time. We have to go." Awesome! We hadn't said one word directly about church. The rest of the lesson went amazing. A little later one of them said, "O.k, we'll be at church tomorrow. And you can call us in the morning to help us be there." We left, got in the car, looked at each other, and said, "What just happened?!!" Haha, and they followed through and came! After accompanying in sacrament, I went and sat with them, and it was great. I might as well have had my own family investigating right there. Because the goal is the temple, and I really hope they will now be more open to us coming and maybe working with them toward goals like that. Maria, the mom, is more reserved. I gave her a hug after church and thanked her for coming. She pulled back, looked at me, and said, "No, thank you for coming last night. Thank you." Those are the moments right there that make it all worth it.
...
I sure do love each of you! lds.org has a cool Christmas campaign out right now that we're using a lot as missionaries that you might like. They have free motab Christmas I'm grateful for each one of you! I'm happy and doing well. Have a fantastic week!
Con Amor,
Hermana Marks