So sad, we ended up in a Muslim Cemetery.

Week #56: The Good and The Bad: August 1, 2017 – August 7, 2017(Miri)

Hi Friends and Family! 

This week was a great week! We got a new investigator last week who we passed a Book of Mormon, she read it every day, texted us a verse a day, came to church last week, but didn't want to meet. We were perplexed. She even wanted to share a small 2 minute talk in Church. Thankfully, that was our lead in and we were able to meet her not only once this week, but twice! MIracles! She came to church this week, fasted with us, and even shared her testimony in church. She's awesome! 

"Celestial Kingdom" Mattresses

One day, we were having a slow day, and decided to follow the Spirit to where we needed to be. The first time, we ended up in a cemetery. Not just any cemetery, but a Muslim cemetery. We quickly got out of there. The second time, we ended up in a neighborhood. Some sisters called us and we got bit by mosquitos like 50 million times. We also got out of there. The third time, we found a girl, but she was Muslim...but not wearing a hijab. It guess it just wasn't meant to be that day.

On another day, we were with a member who only comes back to the area every 4 months or so to take care of their mom who is getting older now. This member knows everything about the branch and had taken us around to meet less actives and meet their nonmember friends. One of the friends we were introduced to owns a mattress store. Her shop had a mattress brand called the "Celestial Kingdom". What better way to start a conversation than through a mattress?? Haha.

Celebrating Sister Hoeft's birthday.

We also had a birthday this week. It was Sister Hoeft's. She loves her birthday and told everyone when it was coming up. She loves celebrations! She basically had all that she really needed/wanted so we didn't know what to do. Then Sister Steele came up with an ingenious idea. Sister Hoeft is a jokester and she loves presents. We wrapped all of Sister Hoeft's stuff in newspaper, desk, bed, and dresser included. We also wrapped her presents in newspaper, so she had to unwrap everything to find them. She loved it! Everything was like a mini gift for her. The other sisters made a chocolate cheescake, and decorated her study doorway with quotes she says all the time. 

Anyway, one thing that helped my faith grow in the power of prayer and fasting this week, was losing our phone yesterday. After church, we weren't sure where it was. We thought it might be in a member's car that had helped us to bring our investigator to church. When we realized we had a problem, we both immediately prayed, and made it part of our fast. The member had already left, but we felt an overwhelming sense of calm and peace. We were sure it was in the member's car. After the reassurance by the Spirit, we continued to focus on our missionary work. The phone didn't show up immediately. The member was too far away for the things we had planned that day, so we continued to work hard, according to the plans made that morning. That night, as we were about to prepare dinner, miracles happened! First, a member came to our home to drop off some food. Second, the member whose car we thought we had left our phone in, came to our home to drop it off. Miracles! It showed me the power of prayer and the Holy Ghost to give feelings of comfort and peace. It also showed me that the Lord blesses His children for doing His work.

Helping a member with their new puppies.

On Sunday, we gave a lesson in Gospel Doctrine about adversity. The branch has been through Gospel Principles so many times that they got bored, so we studying gospel doctrine. The book we are studying about is Doctrine and Covenants. This is a series of revelations given to Joseph Smith, the prophet of the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this lesson we discussed Doctrine and Covenants, section 121-122. The title is, "O God, Where Art Thou?" In this time, Joseph Smith and other church leaders were jailed for six months without any accusations nor reasons given. They were abused, cold, marched, confined in a small space, and had very little interaction with the outside world. It would be easy to say, "Why Me?" Yet, Joseph Smith never did. Instead, He understood the Lord and His purposes. President Brigham Young said, "Joseph Smith progressed toward perfection more in thirty-eight years because of his trials than he would have been able to do in a thousand years without them." Many of us experience trials today. Adversity is hard to overcome. I know that God doesn't give us anything we can't handle. We need Him to help us today. Think of where you would be without the trials you have. Where would you be? I know I wouldn't be the same person. For that, I am grateful for my trials. I invite you today to look to God for help. He knows the way and He will show you how.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: The Sisters in Miri, all wearing the same pair of levis.