A Calm Spirit Pours Water on the Hottest Fire

Our sweet investigator who is moving to
Florida this week :( It's hard to see people
go through such difficult trials! Sometimes
you feel like a social worker on the mission.
I just love these people though.

Subject line: Sister Anderson and I have had many experience here when we are faced with a "Fire." After one such experience with an upset gentleman, we both felt that we are called to do the Lord's work, not ours. We may want to find all the people who are ready to hear the gospel. He, however, has put us in the path of the fires that need some water quick in order to stop the forest fire from spreading. I have talked with many preachers, ministers, and pastors who have been told untrue things about our church. Often, the Lord simply wants us to soften their hearts and allow them to have at least one positive interaction with the church. Thus preventing a forest fire. Who knows what effect this work will bring. 

In explanation of the emails coming a day late, we had a special zone conference in Macon where we had the opportunity to hear from Elder Uceda (from Lemma Peru and Elder & Sister Meur (from Australia). We switched our P-day from Monday to Tuesday. :) The conference was amazing! We had to get up at 4:00 in order to make it there on time..but it was worth it. I can't imagine how much sleep these members of the 70 and the 12 must have to do without due to their busy schedules. One of my favorite points brought up in the conference was to "Talk less and do more" with our investigators. Elder Uceda was a funny guy. He spoke pretty directly. He told us, "Many of you are struggling to have progressing investigators. I am going to tell you what is stopping them from progressing...you. Your investigators are not progressing because you need to be better missionaries." That is most definitely true. It surprised me how direct he was, but it is much needed. I will do all in my power to become a better missionaries so I don't stop others in truly coming unto Christ. I believe as we apply the instruction we were given, we will see miracles begin to happen.

I made a bunch of cookies so we could say thank you to the
Bishop and some ward members...they turned out more like
a sweet biscuits. so..oops.

During our lesson on fasting with the Davis family we explained that when we fast, we don't eat for 2 meals in a row. The youngest boy really loves food. He's so cute! You can tell he loves food. :) With a dumbfounded expression, he exclaimed, "Why would anyone want to do that?!" Cutest thing ever! We then taught the blessings of fasting and principle of sacrifice. They all committed to live the law of the fast at the end of the lesson. Also, they (the boys at least) should be getting baptized on the 24th! How exciting :D As we left the house that evening, their youngest son called after us, "May the Holy Ghost be with you!" That's when you know your investigators are truly getting it! :) 

Another neat miracle this week was when we visited a less active lady (Brittney. young, single mom about 27) and her boyfriend. We didn't know he would be there. Previously we had introduced to him a little about the church and given him a copy of the Book of Mormon. We were never able to make a set appointment work after that, however. As we were visiting with Brittney, she told us her boyfriend has been really excited about religion lately. He has been studying all the time and asks her all sorts of questions. She is very knowledgeable about the bible. Some of the questions he was asking her were beyond her knowledge to a point that she didn't know how to respond. We visited with her about a few of them for a minute and she said, "Wait, stop. Let me just go get Patrick." We then had a short conversation with the both of them asking about Patrick's reading of the Book of Mormon. By the end of our conversation (which was cut short so we set up another time to come back) Patrick said, "The more I keep studying, the more I feel the Mormons are right." Wow! This never happens. He was finding truth without us even visiting. Everyone has their own path to obtaining light. We were so happy to see his personal efforts paying off.

We picked grapes at the Solomon's!

 Love y'all! Have a Blessed week :D

-Sister Brown