Sorry, I did get your letter last week
& it was great! I can't believe you haven't been to the beach.
Take advantage of it for me!!
So yeah, it's disappointing about M,
but I'm not focused on that. Also, don't worry, sometimes I use
phrases like "downright pathetic" for emphasis. I don't
dwell on things like that. I can't do that, because if I do it will
get me discouraged. But I know there's lessons I can learn all around
me. I realize what I did wrong & figure out how I can improve.
It's something I've learned to do better.
We were at the 4-week
missionary meeting this week & I was telling that story I told you last week about not following my promptings to
President & Sister Hobbs & the other trainers in the meeting, and President said "that's why we have companions!" JUST like YOU said!! haha
Well, the exciting part of this week
begins on Tuesday. After zone meeting & lunch we went to see a
former investigator named Candy. We saw her the week before & she
said we could come back on Tuesday. So that's what we did! Now Candy
is something else. She has tons of questions & she changes the
lessons into Q&A's. It was pretty frustrating for me, but at last
we got her to agree to read & pray about the Book of Mormon.
After that we had about 30 minutes until dinner, but had a loose
appointment set up with another former investigator, Candita. She's
the wife of a less active member in our ward. Really nice lady & we were
able to get in her home & teach her a little about the Book of
Mormon & prayer. She said she will read & pray & wants to
learn more, so we set up another appointment for the next Tuesday.
After dinner we had a lesson with Austin. I don't remember if
I wrote this already, but if not: We normally have lessons every Tuesday with Sammie & sometimes Josh, but Sammie got a new job
where she can't meet with us Tuesdays anymore. She texted us
cancelling, but then she said "but Austin still wants to meet
with you!" Austin is Josh's nonmember brother that lives with
them. So of course we were super excited, because the last lesson we
had with them Austin was really into it. So we got Kellie to
come with us & headed over to his house. We were able to answer a
couple questions & introduce the Book of Mormon to him & set
up another appointment with him to teach him more.
Tuesday was really
odd, but amazing. 3 lessons & 3 new investigators! I know this
was no coincidence & that the Lord blessed us immensely from
fasting & praying the week before for new investigators.
This week we had the 4-week missionary
meeting. I got to see Sisters 'Otuafi & Martinez! It was really
great. Also, as we were heading out Sister Kroff got there to do
something at the mission office, so it was really nice seeing her for
a few minutes. She goes home in a couple weeks! Crazy!
One question/concern I brought up in
this meeting was that it's sometimes hard to feel productive as we go
about doing our work day to day. Driving to houses, their gates being
locked, then moving on to the next locked gate... I've gotten a
little more used to it, but it's hard for new missionaries to feel
like they're doing good work. President didn't address the issue
directly, but he did so by telling a story from his mission. In
essence he said that as long as we are out working, we are doing the
Lord's work, which makes us productive. He also said, "Sister
Viraldo, I don't put just anyone in Phelan." So that was kinda
cool to hear.
Saturday we had the privilege of
singing at Jacob N's baptism. This was such a special
experience, because he is such a special kid. He has some sort of
disease that limits him from walking, but he is still such an active
kid who always looks at the positive side. :)
That's pretty much most of my week. I'm happy. I'm loving being a
missionary. I can't imagine what my life would be like if I never
decided to serve. I know I wouldn't be doing anything with a greater
purpose than that of serving a full-time mission for Jesus Christ.
Missions are hard work. You're always tired. I've never felt more joy
at a more consistent rate than I have out here, and I know it's
because I am serving others, my Heavenly Father, & Jesus Christ.
I wanted to share with you
probably the most important thing I've learned on my mission thus
far, the importance of doing the simple things every day. On our
progression of spiritual development it is so crucial to say our
daily morning & evening prayers, study the scriptures, &
weekly church attendance. I've met too many people who believe the
church is true but are not active for various reasons. No matter the
reasons, it all comes down to the simple things. No matter what comes
up in our life, if we are praying daily, reading the Book of Mormon
everyday, & attending 3 hours of church weekly, we will not fall.
The other important thing is to have real intent while doing it. It
does us no good to simply go through the motions of doing those
things, because if we are doing that, then surely our foundation is
not going to be firmly founded in Jesus Christ, and when the winds &
temptations of the adversary come our way we will not be strong
enough to fight them. Our hearts need to be right. I have a very
strong testimony of the simple things & the plainness of this
gospel. I know it's true & I know there's no other way to joy or
happiness than to follow Jesus Christ.
Thank you for your love & support.
I pray for you daily.
Love you!
xoxo Sister Viraldo
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