I have been called to be a trainer

Feb 4 2013

Sister Waldron at Zone Conference

      This week was pretty cool in the mission feild. This friday we had a Movie night. It went great, only a few of the people we invited came but there were less actives, a recent convert, and Melissa and her family all there. It was really wonderful how everything sort of fell into place. We worked and did as much as we could and the Lord filled in the rest and helped it all work out. We got everything set up and the members who brought a projector were trying to get it to work when the first hitch came. The computer would play any video and the projector would display any video, except the movie we were trying to watch. Sister Waldron was talking with the people who had come and I was trying to help resolve the technical issues when both of us had the same thought that what we needed to do was pray. We went out into another room where we could be alone and knelt in prayer. We thanked Heavenly Father for all He had done to help everything work out, for the willingness of the members to pitch in and help and for how perfectly everything had been coming together. Then we prayed that the technical difficulties would be resolved. When we went back into the cultural hall they started wheeling in a TV from the library and the

also at Zone Conference

projector miraculously started working again. It was so wonderful. Our ward mission leader conducted the meeting and told everyone what we had just done, which I found embarassing but as we started watching the movie I was glad for we watched 17 Miracles, and over and over again in the movie people would be faced with a problem, they would pray, and then the problem would either be solved or they would know how to solve it. I felt it was a good testimony builder, especially for our investigators, that the same patterns that existed then still work now. The Movie night was a complete success. Everyone who came enjoyed it imensely and hearts were touched. The Spirit was strong and as we have followed up with those who came it has been a great benefit to them. It was also a perfect preparation for our investigators for the Gospel Principles lesson this Sunday on the Word of Wisdom. Our Gospel Principles teacher is fantastic, she is very good at teaching to where people are at

also at Zone Conference  :)

in the Gospel and when she taught it it made sense to our investigators and Melissa told us after that she was fine with giving up coffee and alcohol and she wanted to give up smoking. It was such a relief for we had worried that the Word of Wisdom was going to be a hard thing for her yet the Lord prepared her so well she accepted it. Our next big hurdle with her will be the Law of Chastity. Church went really well though, Melissa, though this is only her third time, is very comfortable, she is a church-going pro. Her boyfriend Anthony came too, it was his first time, and he was as nervous as she had been her first time, something she got a kick out of. Her son Rodney does really well in his class, better focused than the member boys, and it seems he has already become friends with at least one of them.

Sister Waldron, Me, Elder Larkin and my bike
His bike got a flat and he couldn't borrow a bike from Anyone Else in the Whole Zone
so as a last resort he had to ride my bike, even though its purple
at least it is dark purple

     Also this Sunday we ended up teaching the lesson in Relief Society by the request of the Relief Society President (it was her turn but she is very sick with a flu or something). We taught about Faith, having the Sisters share stories of little things that boosted their faith, their trust in the Lord. Then we moved on to the Book of Mormon as something that increases our faith and read a bunch of scriptures about Jesus Christ from it.It was a missionary work themed lesson (and we launched the Book of Mormon Marking challenge thing Sister Lawrence and Sister Fine and I were doing in my last area) so we worried that it would be too much for Melissa but she loved it and asked to have all the scripture references that we used so she could mark them all and also wants a copy of the marking guide for her own studies. Its so exciting to work with her and see how much she has changed since we first met her.

I love you lots

Alyssa



Feb 11 2013

Chrissy! Recent convert I met here!She is awesome! And now she moved :(

     I have been called to be a trainer. I do not know who I am training yet but there are only two sisters coming in, one from Japan, the other from Switzerland. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to grow as a missionary. I know I am not up to the job but the Lord has prepared and supported me this far so I trust He will make me sufficient for this task also. I will really miss Sister Waldron. I have seen so many miracles on my mission. I see now why they encourage all to serve one. You learn more of God and see more of His power manifest than in any other way. I have seen and felt things I could never explain, which is sad because they are really cool and I want to share them with EVERYONE!

     The area is flourishing. Melissa and her boyfriend are progressing rapidly. They have been enveloped by the ward as Sister Waldron puts it, and been accepted. They are working hard to gain financial independence and they have expressed a deep and sincere desire to be baptized. They are reading and praying consistently and the change in them is as great as night and day. Even Melissa's boyfriend, Anthony, has realized the seriousness of the Gospel and the changes it means but he is willing to change. On Tuesday we had a wonderful lesson at the Turner's home and they said they wanted to be baptized and asked what they needed to do to get there. So we told them. And they took it in stride and are still moving forward. Its going to be wonderful, but very intense too.

     We are still working a lot with less actives in the ward. Most of the ward is less active but it seems that is mending slowly. We also got this amazing 'stop smoking workshop' from a member. It was originally brought home by a missionary from his mission where they used it to help people quit. It is amazing and we feel it would be of great worth to all the missionaries who are facing the challenge of helping someone quit smoking.
Basically things are great. I am really happy and I have learned something cool. 1+2=R   Get it?
A mission is hard but so worth it, keep reading and praying and go to church. If you do those three things consistently it will change every aspect of your life in a positive way.

I love you a lot, you take care mom and always be happy
your daughter Alyssa