Zivijo!!
Another week gone! A lot of good things have happened this week! Last Monday for Družinski Večer we watched the Joseph Smith movie at the church. It was really neat for Sister Oakley and me because we actually had a girl come who we met on the bus!! Her name is Kaja and she is a really neat girl but I don't think she is very interested. She is not very religious but thought the movie was interesting. We have tried a couple of times to get together with her to teach her more but she always has an excuse...whether they are real or not we don 't know....We will keep trying! We had another 1st lesson and have a new investigator!! Her name is Andreja and she is great! We met her on the street a couple of days ago and she talked to us for a good half an hour or more about her life and we got some good things in about the gospel as well:) her boyfriend is somewhere for 2 years and told her that God has told him that he should probably stay.(We say yeah, you stay away so she doesn't have anything to hold her back from being baptized!!) She has been waiting for him but now that he is saying he might not come back she is devastated and is really struggling. She is not sure if she believes in God but is interested in learning about religions. Our first lesson with her was pretty good. She didn't say much but afterward there was a relief society activity and she stayed...and then she stayed and talked to us after that as well....and then she lingered a little more! We have great hopes for her!
We are helping one of our member's friends with English. She is going to America in about a week and wants to improve her speaking skills. Her name is Violeta and she is the sweetest woman! We are really trying to bring gospel topics into our English conversations and find out how much she already knows. She came to Sacrament meeting to meet us so I think she is pretty familiar with the church already. We really want to teach her!
So Pres. Majc called us this week and he set up for a primary school class to come and take a tour of the church and wanted some missionaries to be there. It was amazing to see him at work and also the Elders. They are all such good conversationalists and share the doctrine so well and so boldly. Sister Oakley and I were asked to give the first lesson in about 5 minutes and it was a little bit of a struggle...but we did alright. the Elders came in and patched up a couple of important parts that we missed....but overall it was a really good experience. Growth doesn't come without struggle! Well more next week! Thank you for all the prayers and support!
Love,
Sestra Powell
This is part of my letter to president Hill and I just wanted to share some of my thoughts with you as well!
This week I have been noticing a theme in my studies and experiences. Most good things don't come without sacrifice and growth doesn't come without struggle. It is a gradual process and a lot of the time we don't realize that we are making progress! I have been thinking a lot about Joseph Smith and his life and sacrifices and how he was persecuted and then killed because of his work to build the Lord's kingdom on the earth. He had to suffer so much but brought so much good into the world! Because of him we have the restored gospel on the earth again!
I have also been thinking about the Savior and how so many people didn't listen to Him even though her was the perfect teacher. He gave his life and suffered for the benefit of all mankind who have and will ever live on this earth. And then there are the struggles and trials of all the rest of us as mortal beings. I think of my struggles now in missionary work and they seem miniscule in comparison although they feel very real to me now. They are probably the basic struggles of a missionary I am sure. Struggling with the language and homesickness, Learning to work with a new companion, dealing with rejection and working hard daily with little or nothing to show for it.
But it is such a comfort to know that with struggle growth does come. I was looking back through my conference notes and I was amazed to see how many talks touched on this subject- or at least how much the Holy Ghost taught me on the subject while listening to conference:)
Some examples:
"Slow small accumulation of Gold flecks will give us nuggets" M. Russel Ballard
"All things will work together for our good if we keep our covenants" Walter F Gonzalez
" Pain teaches us patience and brings you to humility to ponder." Kent F Richards
"Those who seek to know Christ will come to know him but most often it comes as a puzzle, one piece at a time." Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Paul V. Johnson's entire talk was amazing! about trials that make us stronger
David A. Bednar's talk about gradual discernment of light.
I don't know if this makes sense at all...but because of my mindset when I watched conference it all connected in my mind:) It is truly amazing to recognize how the Holy Ghost works! Anyway I hope my rambling all makes sense!
Love,
Sestra Powell
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