HELLLLLOOOO AMAZING FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!! Shoot the fruit is its already Monday again, my goodness time flies when you're having fun! This week has probably been one of the more stressful weeks I've had on the mission with many disappointments, but also some tremendous miracles and blessings, but without further ado it's time for the spiritual thought with Elder McMullin (I'm excited, are you excited?)! Too give you all a little bit of background context Elder Neilson and I had high hopes of finding two new people that would be interested in the gospel, after all we did have 21 lessons this week half of which were with potential friends. SIKE! Literally 17 of our 21 lessons canceled and didn't reschedule leaving Elder Neilson and I super disheartened. We prayed together a lot begging the Lord to help us achieve our weekly goals, but never felt like our prayers were being answered. Saturday evening, we got a call from the 1st councilor in the Bishopric frantically asking if I could speak in Church tomorrow morning. I excitedly accepted and asked what my topic was, to which Bro. Howard said "I feel inspired to tell you talk about anything you like, but bring your A-game". A little stunned I began frantically preparing an "A-game" talk. The next morning Elder Nielson and I waited for those we invited for Church, and were so blessed to see Tommy and Lynda come for the first time ever in their Sunday best radiating with excitement and peace only the gospel can provide. More on them later :). As Church proceeded, I looked back on all the attempts Elder Neilson and I made and the failures we had and still felt disappointed. I was about to go up and speak when suddenly I saw the chapel doors open and in came Feather, DeAndre, Joeseph, and January, enthusiastically waving to me as they sat down next to Elder Nielson. Then the chapel doors opened again and in came Methina with a friend in tow that was nearly double her size also enthusiastically waving to me as I walked up to the pulpit. I was so overcome with emotion and gratitude that I nearly started crying, then I felt these words impressed into my heart "Did you think I would let you down". Brothers and Sisters, the Lord will never ever let you down as long as you try your hardest. The Lord is also so very merciful and loving and will always bless you with more than you need. Following the meeting I was walking down the steps when an older lady literally ran up to me. She had a huge snake tattoo all the way up her arm, short blond spikey hair, and puffy mascara-streaked eyes. She explained to me that she was the mother of a Sister in the ward who came to visit the grandkids for spring break, she started crying again and told me she wasn't a member, yet felt like she needed to come to Church and feel something. "You told me personally so many things that I needed hear, you were like a beacon of light that I couldn't stop looking at. Can you teach me more about all of this" ? The lord will never ever let you down my Brothers and Sisters, as long as you try your very best and truly bring your A game.
FRIEND UPDATE!!! Although we had many of our friends bail on their lessons with us it was still an amazing week, because Tommy and Lynda are following the example of our Savior and being baptized on May 1st!!!! I am so delighted for them not only because I get to throw their wedding (A personal missionary dream of mine :) but because they really do know that this is the true and restored Church of Jesus Christ and that the Book of Mormon is truly another Testament of Jesus Christ. Every time we talk to them either in person or on the phone, they always tell us how much they love us and how excited they are to be getting baptized next month! As for Feather and Skeets we have begun teaching their teenage sons DeAndre and Joeseph as well as reteaching them in the process. They love the Church and the fact that they can be sealed together as one big happy eternal family and are currently praying and pondering if they are ready for Baptism for May 22nd. Finally, we have started teaching a super less active members son (his name is Brody) and amazing things are happening. Jennie (Brody's Mom) has begun sitting in on our lessons with Brody and has unintentionally started helping us teach Brody by bearing testimony of how she felt when she was active in the Church and her desire for him to feel the same way. Brody wants to be baptized, but wants to learn more first and Jennie wants to go to the temple again to do baptisms for the dead with Brody and possibly receive her patriarchal blessing. It would be so wonderful if you all could keep all of these wonderful people in your prayers that they can receive the conformation that this is the true Church of Christ and that they are ready to make the next step towards coming closer to God and Jesus Christ.
I absolutely love being a missionary!!! I would again like to emphasize that if any of you are thinking about serving a mission, pray about it and JUST DO IT! I have grown so much on my mission and come closer to God and Jesus Christ more than I ever thought possible. I love and miss you all so much, please remember that the Lord will never ever let you down as long as you show effort and try. I know for a fact that the Lord loves each of you, more than you could possibly imagine! Stay safe and have another fantastic week! Love y'all!!!
Your favorite McM in the NDBM
Elder McMullin :)
Photos!!!!
1-3) Hiking with the homies!
4) Gotta love the random snow storms of Sodak
5) Trying to take a selfie with a cat and it goes off eating my hair
6) Hagardies Music- we come every P-day and play the guitars and ukes
