Here's something cool I've been meaning to tell you for six
months, but just keep forgetting...Monopoly, the game, is based off of Virginia
Beach. So the literal actual streets that are on Monopoly, like Park Place,
Atlantic Avenue, etc., are all by Oceanfront. It's pretty cool. I've thought
about taking pictures, but it's a lot of work. The cool part is that the cheap
properties in the game are the kind of run down streets, and the expensive ones
are nicer. So that's cool.
This week was pretty insane. I feel like I can't even
remember most of it. WE FOUND A NEW INVESTIGATOR! It's always really exciting
to have someone to teach. So that's a blessing. His name is Mike. He's in the
navy and he's lived in Virginia Beach for a while. He works with someone in one
of the family wards. He feels like his life kind of went off track for a while,
and so he asked his friend to tell him about his religion...needless to say he
started coming to church, we met him, and now we're teaching him. He's amazing.
He has such great desires to learn.
Our first lesson with him on Saturday was one of the most
amazing experiences of my life. Our recent convert Charles (who by the way,
received the Melchizedek Priesthood a few weeks ago and is preparing to receive
his patriarchal blessing....he's so amazing) came with us. It was truly
incredible to hear Charles bear powerful testimony to Mike and to reflect on my
experiences teaching both of them. I love love LOVE watching the gospel change
people. It's amazing.
We had two great lessons with Tyler as well. I have never
felt the Spirit guide me as much as I do when we have lessons with him. It's
truly amazing to study for and teach him. In planning, we'll feel prompted to
teach him something specific, like scripture study. Then during studies, I'll
feel like I should study something kind of random, like tithing. Then we'll get
into the lesson, and end up talking about something entirely different, like
the Atonement, and then at one point I'll feel prompted to share that scripture
I found during studies about tithing, and it won't really relate, but it will
somehow connect back to the Atonement and then he'll tell us how we answered
these deep questions in his heart. I don't know how to explain it, but it's a
really amazing experience. I'm grateful that I've allowed myself to be the type
of person who can receive that revelation and act on it so that I can have
experiences like that. That is really what missionary work is all about -
learning the Lord's will, and then doing it.
It snowed a lot here. It started snowing yesterday at 4:00
and it snowed all night so there were almost five inches this morning when we
woke up. We're supposed to stay inside so we're safe, so we walked over to the
apartment complex office to send our emails. We were able to go out and do a
lot of service this morning. It was definitely one of the best things I've ever
done. We were sitting on our couch when we got the text message about staying
inside all day. We looked out our window and saw all these people trying to
scrape the ice off their cars in the parking lot, and then we decided to go out
and help them.
We were inspired to purchase an ice scraper at the beginning
of this transfer and so we bundled up and went out and started helping
everyone. We were out there for almost two hours just walking around the
complex offering to help people who were out. It was a great opportunity to
serve and help people get a good impression of the Church. One lady agreed to
let us come by and visit her another time. I was so grateful that we had acted
on our promptings and that we took that opportunity to help others instead of
just sit inside all day.
I reached the one year mark of my mission, which is a pretty
impressive milestone. I can't believe it's been an entire year. It feels like
much longer, but also like much shorter. Time goes by so slow and so fast
almost simultaneously. I absolutely love being a missionary. I still have no
idea what I'm doing, but that's the point - you're supposed to trust the
Spirit, not yourself. I love being a missionary. It's worth all the really hard
sacrifices.
Have a great week!
With love,
Sister Jasperson
Here's a picture of our parking lot this morning when we
woke up...so much SNOW!
No comments:
Post a Comment