Hello family and friends!
It's the end of my first transfer... crazy! Can you believe it? To answer my own question, I can't really. I have one transfer down out of twelve. Only 11 left. This is going to go by so fast...
It was wonderful hearing from home yesterday! The family is doing well and I loved hearing what's been going on around the house. Because I shared everything with them I may or may not repeat myself about the past week here... I'll see what I can remember.
Sister Browning fell quite ill so we were in the VC for a while. On Wednesday we had exchanges and instead of being on half days, S. Browning and the other sister stayed in the VC all day and my "new" companion and I went out into both areas. My first full proselyting day. We contacted a ton of referrals in my ward and met an awesome and promising new investigator. We had a miracle! They text to us referrals from Mormon.org and we were going to go see a lady in Apt 522. For some reason I read it as Apt 533. We knocked on the door, it was awkward for a moment when we asked if someone lived here, but then shifted right into missionary mode... "Well hi! We're missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints...." and so on. She was very interested in learning more and accepted a Book of Mormon and a restoration pamphlet. That was supposed to happen! We were supposed to find her! Sometimes I love my dyslexia (if I can even call it that in this situation). In the single's branch (the other area) we did service rototilling (sp?) the Branch President's back yard. That was so much fun! Why did I miss out on that when I was home? We had a couple of appointments but unfortunately those young men didn't follow through. We ended up giving a church tour and being productive with members in the branch. Because I was companions with the VC Sister Leader, I had exchanges once or twice every week this last transfer. I got to know a lot of the sisters much better because of it and get a lot more experience outside of my own area. What a blessing and jump start for the remainder of my mission! We didn't get out into the area as much as we would've liked, but we did our best. The RM's can understand this next part: I am at the point where I need to make appointments a week in advance, and my planner doesn't go that far! It's a little frustrating! haha. I've mastered the phone and calling people. A lot of times we are stuck places so we set up appointments, share the gospel, and follow up with people over the phone. Technology is quite nice as a missionary.
I'm very sad to see S. Browning go home, but I know she will rock the world as a civilian. She's never going to stop being a missionary. She's an inspiration! My new companion and I will join together on Thursday. I will most likely stay here in Independence 2nd ward and the VC, but we'll see. My first transfer call is a little intimidating, but I know they are called of by the Lord. This companionship will be awesome!
Ry sent me a hilarious email (sorry Ry, if it was supposed to be serious and uplifting. I was laughing through the whole thing!) and complimented the sisters of the MIM. I know, right? I am surrounded by goddesses and angels constantly. Patience boys... ;) And I got to see Trish and her adorableness! I love how all the answers to the questions I asked Derek appeared in Trish's email. HA! That's teamwork right there! And Will... the detail you shared about the antenna is fascinating! ;) I'm glad you and your boys were good to your wife and mother-in-law on Mother's day. Happy Late Mother's Day to those I love dearly and didn't get to talk to. I thought of you and you were in my heart!
What else... Elder Wilde, our district leader, turned into a civilian on Friday. That was weird. I can't even imagine how hard it'll be to see S. Browning and S. Young (another VC sister) go home... I really like them, by the way. And Sister Young is Canadian.. eh?
I'm starting something called the "Book of Mormon 60 day Challenge" that President Van Koman extends to all around Christmas time every year. Unfortunately, I won't get that challenge from him but I have taken the initiative and began it myself. We are given 4 non-bleed highlighters and a new Book of Mormon. We are to have each color represent something and highlight as we go through. Pink is Jesus Christ and his Atonement, blue is the gift and/or power of the Holy Ghost, green are things that make me happy or "glad scriptures", and yellow is something of our choosing. I'm going to mark vague things about prophets this time through so eventually I can go back through and study BoM prophets. It's great though because you get a whole new perspective on it. It's only 9 pages a day, for 2 months. Anyone care to join with me?
Through the inspiration of talking to Mom about food yesterday (haha), I am going to go back to the no sugar thing and see if that is possible. I know I feel so good after a day with no preservatives and fat... I was reading in 1 Corinthians and came across the awesome scripture in chapter 6, verses 19 and 20: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." Along with not destroying out bodies with drugs, alcohol, coffee, and tea, we are instructed to eat well with fruits and vegetables in season and whole grains. Just as if we pray and read our scriptures everyday to edify our spirits, as we eat well and not take all that junk into our bodies, they will in turn be edified and strengthened, and more blessings will come from that. So... here goes everything.
And here's something fun, too. Ephesians 6:11 - "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil". Satan is real. Please don't think lightly of this. Continue to prepare temporally and spiritually, and we will be protected. I testify of this to you.
I see miracles everyday. The life you live as a missionary differs greatly than that of when you are home. The protection, the order, the peace, the feeling of accomplishment, and the love is so abundant in your life. We are literally set apart from the world and have that authority and power from God as we remain worthy of it. We are so much closer to our Savior, and it is that reason why missionaries love what they do, if they have their heart in the right place. In the 2 short months I've been a missionary, the change in my mindset is wide and it will continue to grow. I hear a lot of people at home, friends or strangers, are deciding to go on missions. They will make such better people, parents, and children of God as they can truly come closer to knowing what is in store for us in the Celestial kingdom. I love my Father in heaven. I love my Savior and Redeemer. I love the scriptures. I know they are the true words of God and that they were written, preserved, and translated at this time for us specifically. The Book of Mormon is the best manual for life we have. Read it often.
I guess I found things to write about. ha! Thank you all for your support and love. Know that I love you and that you are in my heart. Let's continue to walk the straight and narrow together.
Shall we not go on in go great a cause? D&C 128:22
Love,
S.Moore
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