HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I love this time of year so much because it gives us a chance to reflect on just how much we have to be grateful for!
Normally for me, Thanksgiving has included eating, Black Friday shopping, no school, etc. Being a missionary here in Houston though, has really given me the opportunity to "count my blessings" and to focus on the things that really matter.
I have so much to be grateful for. I wouldn't ever be able to say all that I have been blessed with. I have the best family and friends, and most of all, I am grateful for the knowledge I have of the gospel. I talk to people every day that don't know that there is a God and that He loves us more than we can ever comprehend. This has been one of the greatest opportunities for me to share this with others. There is nothing better in the world.
Looking back on this week, I have found a lot of things to be grateful for as well!
About two weeks ago, Clement and I were tracting. We had the feeling that we should go a certain way to go back to our car. We met a lady who told us that she would love to have us come and teach her and her family! On Tuesday, we finally were able to visit them and teach them. We had a really great lesson, which ended the daughter and her mom telling us that they believe everything that we taught and that they wanted to be baptized! We experienced a huge miracle with them that night, and continued seeing them throughout the week as well.
A few days later, the elders in our ward had a baptism. The mom told us that if she could get out of work early, she would bring her family. The baptismal service began and they didn't come. After the actual performance of the baptism though, we received a call from her telling us that she was at the church! She came and brought with her four of her kids!
The same night as the baptismal service, we had a ward Thanksgiving dinner. We invited all of our investigators to come, but we weren't too sure if they were actually going to show up. We started the night off with 7 investigators and ended it with 16 (Including their families)! It was such an exciting night!
We have been teaching this family that we found in an old teaching record. We have been visiting them for a few months now and not much progress has been made. On Friday, we were able to visit the wife, who told us that she believes everything that we have been teaching her!
Yesterday, we were finally able to talk to the husband who told us that he is looking for a church for his kids to go to and that he is really considering our church. We then learned that he has been researching the Mormons A LOT. Unfortunately, he hasn't been using the right resources to learn more about us.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said, “Studying the Church … through the eyes of its defectors is like interviewing Judas to understand Jesus. Defectors always tell us more about themselves than about that from which they have departed.”
Nothing is more true than that. The good thing about this was that we were able to learn a lot of the doubts that he has and what is holding them back as a family. We now have more to work with in order to help them progress!
Yesterday, we were finally able to talk to the husband who told us that he is looking for a church for his kids to go to and that he is really considering our church. We then learned that he has been researching the Mormons A LOT. Unfortunately, he hasn't been using the right resources to learn more about us.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said, “Studying the Church … through the eyes of its defectors is like interviewing Judas to understand Jesus. Defectors always tell us more about themselves than about that from which they have departed.”
Nothing is more true than that. The good thing about this was that we were able to learn a lot of the doubts that he has and what is holding them back as a family. We now have more to work with in order to help them progress!
Clement and I had the chance to go to the beautiful Houston Temple! I haven't had the chance to go since before I left on my mission, so it was the best. I am so grateful for the spirit that can be felt there, and the things that we are able to learn!
I am so grateful for the chance to serve a mission! I feel so blessed everyday to be a part of this work and to be able to work with the people here in Houston!
Love,
Hermana Rupp
No comments:
Post a Comment