Our ward mission leader treated my companion and I to Dairy Queen this week which was absolutely fantastic. He gave us $15 gift cards THANKSTHANKSTHANKS. We had been walking many miles that day so it was a good surprise from him :)
We did lots of service this week for less actives which was great. I helped Sister W (she's older and has Huntingtons disease) clear out huge branches in her backyard and my companion did some gardening. She smokes, but her husband is very active now in the church. It's all so weird but we got her to church yesterday!! Yay :)
BAPTISMAL DATE!! Little 10 year old Caryssa has a baptismal date for the 15th of August! We've been teaching her all the lessons and we've noticed her mom who isn't active learning a lot and we've committed them both to pay tithing and fast and attend church. So this was an awesome double wammy!
Now about Dotty....oh dotty....she's our 79 year old investigator and I just love her to death even though she can hardly hear a word I say :) haha but we went and knocked on her door and we talked to her for a while and she told us about how her daughter and her husband both passed away a few years ago, SO as a missionary, we immediately thought of the Plan of Salvation. She was interested and loved hearing that there was a chance to see them again after this life. After she awkwardly complimented my tan for a while, we left and continued our day. A couple days later we delivered cookies to her and caught up with her and she talked about her church (episcopalian) and stuff like
that. She said she likes trying out new churches and is up for anything but she doesn't like the Baptist church because she doesn't feel "a spirit of any sort" there. Soooo I ended up bearing my
testimony to her about our church and the spirit there and I INVITED HER TO JOIN US FOR THE COMING SUNDAY. I was absolutely terrified. It was my first time but it just happened! And guess what..she said yes :)
Day goes by...we get a call from Dotty. "I'm so sorry ladies, I don't think I can make it. My health is horrible and I don't know what I was thinking when I agreed to come with you next Sunday (The 2nd). I was so excited and it felt so right when you asked me and I was so tickled but when you left, it hit me that I wouldn't be able to come due to health and I'm sorry." DEVASTATED. Satan is truly evil. But we will keep working with her because she still wants to learn the lessons!
Life here in Maine is seriously so good. We drive a 2015 Ford Fusion, we have iPads, and our apartment (according to my companion) is extremely nice for a missionary apartment!! And I'm in MAINE. The ocean is so close and trees are everywhere and I'm just literally in love ❤️
Another story..the other day we visited the Waterman's. It was rough..their faith is lacking and their doubts are taking over them. It was hard listening to all the struggles and trials they've been going through and hearing them blame God for it. If they even believe in Him anymore at all..but the whole time I knew I had to say something, I just wasn't sure what. But I knew the spirit would guide my words so I just started talking. I told them that everybody has trials, but it's how we learn. I told them we shouldn't think about the little things that don't make sense in this gospel and let them eat us alive. That's just a recipe for disaster..then, I told them about my cleft lip. (WHAT) I know..they had before talked about not understanding why God sends people down with disabilities and diseases so I guess that's where that came from?? But I told them how much I've struggled with it my whole life with surgeries, self confidence, etc. it WAS hard to live with it, but I wouldn't have the testimony I have now without it. EVERYTHING happens for a reason!!! It doesn't matter what. God does NOT make mistakes. Ugh. Okay anyways..
Now Paul...he's the neighbor to my ward mission leader that we met yesterday. At first glance, I didn't think he'd even be close to interested. He looked like a typical Mainer but we approached him anyways. He told us he was an "independent Baptist" but then he asked us a ton of questions about what we were doing and what we were teaching. He actually asked us if Mormon girls were allowed to date! It's hilarious the things people believe about Mormons...but eventually he became more and more receptive and interested in what we had to say and he took a Book of Mormon with so much excitement! We left, and later that day our ward mission leader called us telling us that Paul went to his house and told him that he'd already read 2 pages and he's excited to read more. Being a missionary rocks :)
My companion and I were in charge of a butter-making booth at a ward Pioneer Day activity on Saturday so that was tons of fun :) I'll post a picture of us at it! We also made homemade donuts at a the Youland's home. She found my mom on Facebook so she should be posting pictures of us on there!
If I've learned anything on my mission so far, it would be to trust in the Lord in EVERY circumstance. I rely on Him and the spirit in absolutely everything I do and I have seen so many blessings and people put in my path because of the faith I've put into Him. I am SO blessed and Heavenly Father is so aware of me and my struggles, but also my joy and successes. I am so deeply indebted to him. ❤️
CHALLENGE: in the MTC, we watched a video by Elder Bednar and he talked about getting regular paperback Book of Mormon, writing a question in the front pages, and reading it while marking everything that answers that question. I'm doing it right now and I absolutely love it. Give it a try :)
Love,
Sister Watson
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