On
Tuesday I was in Fort Walton again! With Sister Probst on an exchange. I
am yet to be in the 2nd ward area again, but I always have fun going
back to Fort Walton.
Wednesday we had zone
conference in Fort Walton where we watched the missionary broadcast (the
second time for us). It was awesome to hear how much of an answer to
prayers the mission schedule is for everyone! Afterwards, we exchanged
with the Niceville sisters. Sister Stapley stayed with me in Crestview.
It was super fun!
Friday was Sister Saunders'
year mark!!! We had crepes for breakfast, and after studies we went to
see a former investigator Ashley Richards to help her clean her house.
It was really sad, because she is paralyzed from the knees down and
can't walk. We enjoyed each others' company, and she is interested in
taking the lessons again. When we were done, as we walked out to the
car, a woman sitting on her porch said, "sister missionaries!" Her name
was Josie, and she is a member that just moved to Crestview, and hasn't
been to church for a few months, but wants to start going back. :)
Then
we met another former investigator, Dexter, who is actually Brother
Steele's nephew. And we found out that he's going to be at our dinner
with them tomorrow night, as well as with his cousin Laurie who we met a
month ago, and is also not a member. We're excited! He loves talking
with missionaries about Jesus Christ and the gospel, and was very
respectful about our beliefs, but feels very strongly against even
opening the Book of Mormon to read on his own. And yet when we talked
more about what the Book of Mormon is and why it's important, and
testified of it, he got super excited. And agreed to pray and ask if God
would have him read it. The Spirit ROCKS!
That
evening we went to visit Ashley Vanckerkhoven (member). She made
chocolate covered strawberries for Sister Saunders' year mark. Her
husband Dylan sat in the whole time we were there, and taught us how to
shoot a gun... :) It was just a laser gun, that we pointed at an
electronic target, and when you shot, the lights on the target showed
where the laser had hit. I got a bull's eye, first try!! It was fun! And
it also really softened Dylan's heart, and built his trust in us. He
helped their daughter Capri say the closing prayer! And he's also
becoming best friends with Brother Nelson, who is also in the military,
loves to shoot guns, has tattoos, and drives a Harley. The Lord looketh
on the heart, and that is AWESOME. So should all of us.
On
Friday, we felt like we needed to just go see if our investigator
Angelica was home, because we wanted to talk to her without her
boyfriend Jeff (member) there. Lo and behold, she was there by herself
with her baby, and had been praying for someone to come help her. She's
been struggling with feelings of darkness, and we had a super powerful
lesson about the priesthood and the gift of the Holy Ghost. She is a lot
more open to baptism by someone holding the priesthood, and she asked
for a priesthood blessing. On Sunday,
Michael Baltimore, a recently returned missionary, was able to give her
a blessing (Jeff is out of town) in Spanish, since that is Angelica's
first language. IT WAS SO POWERFUL. Even though we had no idea what was
being said, the Spirit was strong and palpable, and I knew that what he
was telling her was from God. And she knew that, too.
Also,
today we got permission to go with Ashely Vankerckhoven to Destin beach
(the same beach I went to in Fort Walton). We walked the docks, got
frozen yogurt, and played in the sand for a bit. The weather was
PERFECT, sunny, warm, but a cool breeze, and blue skies. I love Florida
SO much!! Ashley is so fun! And of course, P-day wouldn't be P-day
without a few rounds of zombies with the elders. We go in the gym and
have to shoot whoever is the zombie with nerf gun bullets shot from a
pvc pipe, trying to avoid being tagged and becoming a zombie as well.
The elders are crazy, but they're fun.
I love the scripture 1 Samuel 16:7, "for the Lord aseeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."
God knows our desires. He knows our intentions. And even when we make
mistakes, God acknowledges and is pleased with our desires to press
forward, to improve, and to learn and grow. In the end, God simply asks
that we do our very best, and that our best be founded on the principles
and doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ restored through the
Prophet Joseph Smith. When we strive to look at others' hearts as well
as our own, we will find a greater capacity to love, to forgive, to be
patient, and to be kind, both to others and to ourselves. I love you
all!
Cool kids
Oh elders...
Smelling the flowers
The red striped window shades at the state capital building!
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