Doing Our Calling 3/12/2012

This week was an interesting and exciting week for us. On Tuesday we saw Carl, who lived with Justin and Carissa who we took to Independence and Liberty Jail. Well Carl didn't really have a strong interest in learning more about the church, he loves his Highview Baptist church but still showed us a lot of respect. We got to talk to Carl for a little while out in front of another investigators house and it was such a tender mercy to our non successful day we were already having. He has a big heart and is hilarious, plus while we were standing there some bird pooped on his head which of course made the experience even better haha. Later that night we went to dinner at our usual Tuesday night dinner, the Hamilton's. The mom and her daughter are the best, we got to talk about the temple which was a lot of fun. Neither of them are members but the mom comes to all hours of church but her husband and daughter leave after the first hour. The daughter Kenzie didn't know what a temple was or anything but we showed her some Mormon messages about temples which was perfect. I LOVE being in their home and talking with them, I feel right at home with them. We also took those beautiful pictures with the wig on our head at their house. I now know what I will look like as an old lady! Nothin but cute and sassy ;-)

The next day was a miracle day! One our less actives we visit with weekly actually read in the Book of Mormon the chapter we assigned them! We got to have a fun discussion about the verses she liked and why she liked them. It was a testimony builder to me of the power of the Book of Mormon because she didn't know very many words in their, isn't highly educated but understood enough which gave her comfort and excitement about life :) Later, we planned out a time and a place to go track-ting because we knew we needed to find new investigators. We drove to the street we planned, parked the car and while we were getting out, a little girl had been watching us the whole time just waiting for us to get out. She stood their waiting for us with her dog by her side and even asked us if we were from the church in a cute little 6yr old Missourian accent. We talked to her for a bit and she brought us to her mom Jennifer who was a little hesitant but welcomed us into her home. Jennifer was so open about her life, trusted us with some of her experiences and was such a warm spirit. Her house looked like the typical Mormon house, "Live. Laugh. Love" and "FAMILY" written on boards and placed all over the walls, it was kind of funny. She even had a hanging quilt! Haha. She was okay with us coming back and is such a great mom. WE went back later this week and she continued to be open with us and telling us how God has really played such a strong role in her life the past few years. I love her, she is such a special person.

By Friday afternoon, we had officially dropped 6 investigators and had 2 cancel on us. Even though we had many struggles, we didn't let it get us down because we know that we are here to help people change and be converted. Many of our investigators stopped progressing and their desire to change had almost diminished. Saturday was our day to find and we did! As we planned out areas to go, potentials to contact and streets to tract, we had many miracles happen to us. A mom and her daughter welcomed us into their home, even though they were getting ready for their house warming party. Stacy and Marissa are their names and they were a little hesitant but did want us to come back. In our track-ting efforts, we got to talk to others who were so friendly and respected what we do as missionaries which was a total surprise and blessing. To end that night, we had dinner with a family that came back into activity about 7 months ago and they have 6 kids all under the age of 11. I made myself some new friends that night, I love those little kids. We taught them about "feed my sheep" in the scriptures and one little boy said to us "I don't want to be a sheep!!!" after we said that all of us are his sheep and we need to help each other. We gave them a drawing of a sheep that they are to put cotton balls on it every time they do service and I asked them what they wanted to name him, that same little boy yells out "JESUS!!" Hahaha. It was the best.

Sunday was a really spiritual day and a good one. With a powerful sacrament meeting, it started to church meetings off on a really amazing point. Sister Barnum and I signed ourselves up to help teach relief society on Sunday which was perfect because it was from the teachings of George Albert Smith about Joseph Smith and the first vision. Something us missionaries tend to know a little bit about ;-) It was a really good lesson right from the beginning, as the mom of the used to be less active family bore her testimony about an experience she had at Liberty Jail in respects to Joseph Smith. I personally felt like I gained a stronger love and appreciation for Joseph Smith from studying that lesson. George Albert Smith talks about Joseph Smith in such a well mannered and highly respectful way that I truly feel a love for who Joseph Smith was and what he accomplished. I was also talking to Sister Barnum about when or how she knew that the Book of Mormon or that Joseph Smith was a prophet. Unlike many of the other companions I have had, she didn't have one experience where she was praying and she just knew. She explained it in a way that I felt I personally gained my own testimony of this church. I knew because of LIVING the gospel, by READING and ACTING on the things that were taught. I knew that when I felt happier or more at peace, then I was doing the right thing. Just like it says in Moroni 7, if it is good than it is of God and I can tell you that is exactly how I gained my testimony. I knew those things that made me feel good and I know that what Joseph Smith taught and what is taught today makes me feel good and that they are truly from God. What a powerful strength that is for me to know and to testify to others. I appreciate all you who helped me gain that testimony! I love you all.

Love,
Sistaaaaa Larson