THIS WEEK!
WOWOWOW!
I've realized I need to be so much more humble. The blessings are literally EVERYWHERE! I get to stay with my awesome trainer at Sister Schows house for the next 6 weeks. Our fridge is full of water bottles from random people. Our ward members give us referrals like the second coming is tomorrow, and we have really seen the hand of the Lord in our work!
Remember our "Primary class"? This group of kids that LOVES to talk about Jesus at this apartments complex? Well this week we had perfect timing and Diana (the main little girl that LOVES reading the Book of Mormon) was outside and her mom was on her way inside. We stopped her and said "Hi! We're the missionaries! We love your daughter, could we share a message with you real quick?" In Spanish obviously but yeah! She let us in!
This little girl is literally changing the lives of those around her because of her Faith. Softening hearts & opening doors all over the place! Holler at your mini-missionary! She even asked us for homework!? So I gave her the first 5 verses of 1 Nephi to read and I made a little fill in the blank paper for her. And Wrote down some questions for her to answer! Then we we came back the next day..
She had it all written out with a note that said "Thank you Hermanas! I love the Book of Mormon and I love reading! and I love you!" LIKE WHAT!? We challenged her to be baptized and her mom gave her a death glare hahah. Because she raised her hand like ME ME YES ME BAPTIZE ME NOW! But then we challenged the Mom and she still wants to learn more so Diana changed her mind a little, too. We'll get there (:
OH! Last night we went to see them, all these little kids are outside and we're going to contact someone else at these apartments but the kids saw us.. they all screamed..
THE HERMANAAAAAAAS! hahah
Hermana Thomas just looks at me.. "Do you want to talk to the contact or the kids?" I said Kids obviously! So I fell to my knees as they all ran to me screaming and gave me hugs! Gahhhhh AND I THOUGHT KIDS HATED ME! hahahah
This week we have also done a lot of singing as missionaries. There are 9 of us in the Del Norte ward. CRAZY! 5 hermanas and 4 Elders. The Zone leaders are in our district and they're over the YSA singles ward so we are mainly just with the other 2 elders. We call our District Leader, Elder LaDuke, our Relif Society President haha. Because he's over 5 hermanas. #AgeChangeProbz am I right!?
Anyways.. We sang at a baptism and we sang the EFY medley in Church yesterday. It's so funny because everyone tells me I can sing.. I just laugh.. I guess that voice class did something for me?
I can just picture dad banging on the bathroom door, "Morgan, your can you turn off your Broadway voice? We're going to bed!!!!!" hahahaha
The congregation loved the song. Some even clapped ;)
Cool Miracle:
We had to park down the street from our appointment because there were so many cars along the street already. While walking to the house, a guy stopped us and was like hey.. who are you? We explained that we're missionaries. His name is Anthony. He has had a really tough life but for some reason he has never given up his faith in God. He really wants to find a church and he saw and and for some reason he felt like he knew we could help him fill the holes in his heart. It was such a tender mercy. He spoke english though so we had to send him in as a referral. SORRY FOR ALL THE MISSION LINGO! Hopefully Mitchell can explain!
HOT DAWGZ AND CABBAGE!
Had dinner at a members home. Hermana Melix. She's a little off her rocker but BOY is she just a bundle of love. She had all 5 of us hermanas over but she wasn't ready.. so she collected what she had in her fridge. Hot dogs and cabbage.. put em together in a pot and TA DA! DINNER! hahah
I've realized that I'm really not a picky eater.. I know how much they sacrifice for us so I was totes fine with the fake meat and vegetable mixture. The other Hermanas kind freaked a little. We also had pupusas (poo-poo-sahs) like pancakes except sometimes filled with meat or cheese. Those were good with Salsa.. lots of salsa.. to cover up any suspicious flavors.. :)
Then there was this Philipino dessert.. All the other Hermanas were like ew.. but Hermana Melix offered it to us so I felt obligated to try it.. NOT TOO SHABBY! Obviously not Cheesecake factory.. but I ate it.. and so Hermana Melix let me take the whole thing home.. and this sunday she brought me ingredients so she can teach me how to make it.. hahahah. I just kills me how much they love us (: I'm so grateful to be here.
WE FOUND GABRIEL THIS WEEK! He was the random guy on the street we picked up one sunday and then lost him because his phone didn't work and he moved or something?
WE FOUND HIM! So we call him and his brothers the 3 mexicans pirates.. and they all showed up at church! We gave Gabriel and one brother Jose, a baptismal date yesterday! So cool!
Now Francisco.. He was at church yesterday and pulled us aside.. He dropped us. He said there are some things in his life that he's not willing to change.. and he doesn't want to come to church anymore. We love him so much. It was rough. But agency is a funny thing. Yeah that's all I'll say about that.
I love being a missionary. Yes, the days are hard. You never know what people are going to do. As soon as someone opens the door, I look in their eyes and I am immediately attached. It's hard when they aren't interested because I know I have what they need they just don't know it. I love these people so much and I am so grateful for everything that has gotten me to where I am today. How great is my calling. It's not a question. It's a statement. It's not open ended. Being a missionary is great. Great reponsibility, great blessings, great trials, and great triumphs. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father that loves me enough to give me the chance to participate, if only for a small moment, in the lives of his precious sons and daughters. I know my Savior lives. I know he not only died but LIVES for each of us and that through him we can find the strength to move forward when it seems impossible.
Matthew 5:45 - Rains & shines on the good and the bad. So it is with Life. Just keep on moving foward (:
Con todo mi corazon - Hermana Skidmore
