I am so
grateful to be a missionary! I have seen a difference in my work, and
in my time as I have tried to adjust how I use my time wisely. The
first week here was a confusing one and I felt like even though I was
constantly working, I didn't feel like I was using my time wisely. Yet,
as I set the goal this week, I truly saw the progress and blessings in
our work. I studied chapter 5 of Alma and evaluated myself through the
inspired questions and know that we all still have so much work to be
our BEST, but am grateful for the opportunities that we have and
experiences that shape us into the missionary that we need to be! I
finally feel comfortable with the area and most of the people here that
we are focusing on for week 2, as well as visiting new less actives! We
have met so many families and members who are elect and ready to come
back! We have had experiences with them as we visit them and show they
are missed truly by the members! We had 6 less actives at church and are
all excited to return back! We introduced them to members so that they
had friends and they became reliant on the ward and we weren't chauffeuring them everywhere we went. One in particular started with an
"I'll try", but showed up to church and even brought an investigator
referral that we will begin to teach! The blessings of our work and the
spirit is unreal. The members and ward missionaries are supportive and
especially Bishop who noticed even the little details. We wanted to
ask him for his goals for the ward, but instead, that was his first
questions was "We have had elders for the longest time, what can you
SISTER bring to our ward?" It was a self evaluating question and in my
personal study I listed goals I have for the ward and what I want to
accomplish with the help of my companion:
-We need to strengthen the Priesthood in the ward because the
congregation is mostly women and those who are men are wearing jeans, a
t-shirt and that leads me to the other goal that I have which is to get
all priesthood holders worthy and wearing a white shirt, slacks, and a
tie.
-Bishop also expressed that the members and organizations are still
getting used to us as "sisters", and we need their help!! I remembered a
study in PMG that said the best way to gain the trust of members is to
serve them. I want the members to trust us, and be excited about this
amazing work--through our service to them: whether it be a teaching
visit to them to help strengthen them, etc.
-The average attendance here for the past 4 months has been roughly
150-170. I want us to get the attendance up to 240 on average and once
we reach that goal, to keep aiming higher! I know it's possible because
we had 195 last Sunday and 201 this past Sunday!
-I want to emphasize F. History here and emphasize how every member
should have a temple recommend. If they start FH and have a temple
recommend, they'll become excited about going to the temple and
sacrifice to get there.
-We also want 100% RC attendance and last week there were 4/18 and
this week was 12/18 so we're seeing the progress and are hoping to
achieve the 100%!
I know with these goals
presented to Bishop, he'll see that we're here to help him and in return
we need their help! We have set these goals and as I studied Alma
26:26,30 it made me remember a "perhaps goal". The perhaps goal is
realistically a 50/50 chance of achieving it, but we give it our 100%
effort and best to achieve it as if it was 100% possible just like Ammon
and his brethren!
We have 5 investigators with a date and they have a
date for Jan. 19th. Three had something come up and didn't attend
church, but we are going to be following up and doing everything we can
to get them into baptism and see the life long changes the gospel has to
offer! One investigator Mercy, is a wife of a LA and he has two more Sundays to go before returning. She had been taught before but wasn't
interested anymore. When we got there, she went to the room but we
tried fellow shipping her first and she ended up sitting down, listening,
and now is keeping ALL commitments and excited about her baptism. This
was a plead from a less active to help his wife accept the gospel and
we are so excited that now is her time! And we at the same time found
18 more investigators again this week!!
This week was amazing! I love this work! I love 5th
ward! I love the Spirit that guides us, the time that we can use wisely
to achieve our goals and for a companionship to be side by side! I am
grateful for the opportunity given to me to serve with Sister Person!
I am excited for next week when GAY is coming
to work with me in 5th ward!!! I am excited to talk to you on Christmas!
Speaking of Christmas, we were asked to perform a musical number in
church and guess who ended up singing? me. ha Sister Person accompanied
on the piano "He Sent His Son" but it couldn't have gone better..the
Spirit was so strong! The power of music!
I miss you all more than ever and am definitely
missing you all at this time of the year..sorry, but I don't think I'll
make it tear free! :)
Palanga ta ka!!
Sister Arnold
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