One of my favorite experiences this week has been with our
investigator Shawna. She came to church a few weeks ago and we got to
teach her 2 times this week. On Monday last week, Momma Sperry came with
us to teach Shawna at her house and it was a very spiritual lesson.
Shawna opened up to Sis Sperry, shared some of her life struggles with
losing her son 4 years ago, being kicked out of her house when she was a
teenager and still holding strong with her faith in God. We continued
talking about what she has learned from us and from her reading, and the
spirit was incredible as she talked about how she understood what she
had been reading and praying about. I was trying to keep little Zoey
entertained so she wouldn't disrupt the lesson so I didn't get to hear the
whole conversation but I did chime in at the most perfect time. Sis
Barnum asked Shawna whether she felt like the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints was Christs' church on the earth today, to which
Shawna looked at her with a strong conviction and said "oh yes,
absolutely." I was speechless, while Sis Sperry put her hand on her
heart and said "oh wow"...the spirit was so strong as she continued
telling us how she knew it was true. It was amazing. She knows she wants
to be baptized and knows that she has to pray about what to do because
she lives with her boyfriend right now. She came to church again on
Sunday with her older daughter Shanda, age 16, her daughters boyfriend,
and lil Zoey (who is Shawna's boyfriends little girl) but no Rusty again
this week. They all stayed for 2 hours again and had to leave but said
that they really enjoyed it! We went by after church to visit with them
and it was another incredible experience. Her daughter Shanda just moved
in with her and we were asking her if she could see a difference in her
mom which she responded real quickly saying she could definitely see a
difference! Shawna told us how she realized that she needed to actually
pray and read like we told her too. Then once she did, things started
falling into place that she had been working on for over 6 months. She
got a full time job, she started feeling healthy so shes been loosing
weight, and she got her daughter to move in with her again. She
testified to us and her daughter about how easier it is to trust in God
to let him take control while she does the little things of simply
reading, praying and going to church. Shanda then said that she wanted
to learn what her mom has been learning, so we gave her a Book of Mormon
and gave her an overview of the Restoration. Both Shanda and Shawna
want to make sure they keep learning because they are working towards
baptism! Shawna has been such a tender mercy for us because we have seen
one of our seeds grow and harvest! She is truly converted in her heart
and we couldn't have asked for anything more amazing.
Sunday was the best Sunday ever. With it being fast Sunday, even
during the opening song, I could feel a strong spirit in the room. We
saw our used to be Less active couple, the Sheltons come in and it was
so good to see them there. Mike joined the church in Nov, his wife
joined awhile ago but they went inactive before he was baptized and even
afterwards. We would have weekly visits with the Shelton's to help them
get on track and eventually tried to get Mike to receive the
priesthood. The challenge for us, is Mike had a stroke and went through
chemo for cancer a little while ago and doesn't like to talk a lot
because he lost his short term memory so his wife Mary Lou talks for
him. We tried for almost 2 months to get Mike to go in to get the
priesthood. We told them on Saturday to make that final appointment with
Pres Coleman since he stopped drinking coffee which was the last step.
Both Mike and Mary Lou weren't too pumped about setting another
appointment, just wanted to set it when they saw him at church. The
branch President got up to do announcements like usual and we were
looking around to see if the other families we committed to come to
church were there. He made an announcement for Mike Shelton to stand to
be sustained for the Aaronic priesthood and we were blown away!! We
couldn't help but get teary eyed, we had NO idea that it was going to
happen that Sunday, our last Sunday too! Pres Coleman had another young
man stand to be sustained and he made eye contact with me and he got
choked up. He explained that he was doing fine till he looked at the
sister missionaries and what a blessing it is to have a member of the
branch receive the priesthood, especially a recent convert of the
church. It was such an amazing moment. Mike was beaming too. He was
ordained after church and even then he was still beaming with an amazing
glow all around him. So excited for both of them.
Testimony meeting was another amazing time, especially for Sister
Barnum and I. The little Weed girls got up to bear their testimonies
which of course where so good. Little Mayanna bore her testimony and
said that she hopes that the missionaries enjoy their mission and
wherever they go. Then Mary Lou bore her testimony which was incredible,
she has changed SO much and I just love her. She also said how grateful
she was for the sister missionaries, which was so special. Another
little boy got up and said how he loves sister Barnum and sister Larson
and that he will miss us. Haha. It was a really special Sunday for us,
we felt so very loved. I got up to bear my testimony for the last time
and I looked out and saw Neal, the dad for the Tuesday night family,
along with his wife Catherine in tears. I had never seen Neal cry before
and that will be a moment that I will never forget.
I cannot say the smallest part of how I feel inside or how much I
truly have grown in Chillicothe or learned since being here. I have seen
how the Lord places people in our path almost every single day who seem
to have blessed my life more than we have blessed theirs. Heavenly
Father truly is aware of all of us and we all have a spiritual
connection. I love being a servant of the Lord and being able to help
see people be changed in their own journeys. Even though this area was
hard, I absolutely love this branch so much. Every soul truly is
precious in the eyes of God. I have seen it with my own eyes and have
felt it every day. I know that serving others around us helps us feel of
that love and helps us know of the Saviors love for us. I love the
mercy of our Father, the peace and freedom it brings to my heart. I hope
to continue on till the end of my mission with sharing His love and
truth to all I can.
I love you all and am soooo grateful for your prayers and support.
Love
Sista Larson
No comments:
Post a Comment