This has been an interesting week!!
Well to begin I went on exchanges with Sister T to Franklin on Tuesday to Wednesday. We rode bikes and had a good time. Until a dog seriously almost attacked us, I have never been so scared. The owner thankfully came out at the perfect time. We almost crashed on our bikes as well! Haha we went to a members house, and there's a worker that comes and helps with his wife.. It was Sister Ingram from Thompson Station!! It was so fun to see her. Tender mercy. Then the alarm didn't go off so we woke up at 7:05 and I went to use the bath... I just went potty! Then the dang toilet overflowed! Sister T. Was using the other bathroom and I ran in and she was like I'm using the bathroom! I was like I don't care the other toilet is over flowing!! We were laughing so hard, but almost about to cry too! SO GROSS. Ugh.
Then on Wednesday after district meeting we switched again for exchanges and Hermana Rudolph from Wyoming came with me. I seriously love her so much! Haha she is kind of ditzy and forgetful, but so smart! We had a good time. Sister Facer, Bishops wife, came with us to a lesson to see Wanda. It's seriously the weirdest thing she took notes of everything we taught, even in front of Sister Facer! Kind of creepy. But we are still teaching her, she just doesn't come to church! Dangit.
The stake president asked all the young women, Mia Maid and older to go out with the missionaries. We had Emily a young women come out with us, so fun. She is planning on going on a mission. It's so fun to see their excitement!
We are working with a couple people and trying to get them to progress. But I'm in a nice, very nice part of town and people are just set and content in their ways, it's sad really.
We had the trunk or treat as well. We called president Andersen to ask if we could dress up and he hesitated then we said it will be gospel related! So we tried to make the BOM and Holy Bible out of card board! Hahah but it was a major fail. So we just switched name tags and went! We had Nathan our inv. Who is getting baptized on Halloween surprised us and dressed up as a missionary!! Haha it was so cute. He said he is excited to serve a mission.
Okay so this is what really made my week. So we were tracting, our plans had just fallen through, it was at night. We knock on this ladies door, Deborah. And we asked if we could share a message with her. She said yes. So we start going over the restoration and she was not happy. Didn't even crack a smile at us! Then interrupts and says why we don't think Christ and God are one. (She believes in the trinity) you know because it says that in the bible! She went off telling us how they brain wash us, how we are on missions to get "bonus points" in heaven, and all this crap! Oh my gosh. I stood there and cried. It is SO hard to stand there and have someone tell you your testimony is wrong. When you know it's right. I have never had this happen before on my mission. When they say they will pray for us, for our eyes to be opened, for God to show us the truth. We tried to testify... But she kept telling us how wrong we were. I have never been so upset or confused before. We were nice, I smiled the whole time. Thankfully it was dark and she couldn't see me cry. After we left her house I bawled. I know what I believe is true. I wouldn't be out here for a year and a half helping people understand the things I know if I didn't!! It reminded me of the talk by Jeffery R. Holland in April "the cost and blessings of discipleship". MY NUMBER ONE FAVORITE TALK. I can quote the whole thing.
"And therein lies a message for every young man and young woman in this Church. You may wonder if it is worth it to take a courageous moral stand in high school or to go on a mission only to have your most cherished beliefs reviled or to strive against much in society that sometimes ridicules a life of religious devotion. Yes, it is worth it, because the alternative is to have our “houses” left unto us “desolate”--desolate individuals, desolate families, desolate neighborhoods, and desolate nations."
"Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don’t live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and with compassion, but defend them."
"In courageously pursuing such a course, you will forge unshakable faith, you will find safety against ill winds that blow, even shafts in the whirlwind, and you will feel the rock-like strength of our Redeemer, upon whom if you build your unflagging discipleship, you cannot fall."
How good was that? Amazing. It's dang hard to have people tell you your testimony is wrong. I know it's right, I just feel sorry you won't take time to hear what we have to say. I love being a missionary. Even though it's the hardest thing ever. Don't ever back down from the truth.
I love you all. I hope you have a great week! And Happy Halloween
Sister Gates
"And therein lies a message for every young man and young woman in this Church. You may wonder if it is worth it to take a courageous moral stand in high school or to go on a mission only to have your most cherished beliefs reviled or to strive against much in society that sometimes ridicules a life of religious devotion. Yes, it is worth it, because the alternative is to have our “houses” left unto us “desolate”--desolate individuals, desolate families, desolate neighborhoods, and desolate nations."
"Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don’t live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and with compassion, but defend them."
"In courageously pursuing such a course, you will forge unshakable faith, you will find safety against ill winds that blow, even shafts in the whirlwind, and you will feel the rock-like strength of our Redeemer, upon whom if you build your unflagging discipleship, you cannot fall."
How good was that? Amazing. It's dang hard to have people tell you your testimony is wrong. I know it's right, I just feel sorry you won't take time to hear what we have to say. I love being a missionary. Even though it's the hardest thing ever. Don't ever back down from the truth.
Got to see Sister Ingram from Thompson Station while on exchanges in Franklin!! LOVE HER
She was hiding her grills. She seriously has some! Haha love Sister T! I LOVE biking too. I don't know why I haven't been in a biking area!
A giant flip flop? Haha and the beautiful colors of fall
Weekly planning in the conference room!!
FHE with the Waters family!! Follow the prophets word and frost the brownie with your eyes closed!
I made some cinnamon rolls!! Then Hermana Rudolph!! Best exchange ever.
Can fall be year round? So obsessed with it. It's beautiful!!
Seriously loving fall. Perfect missionary weather!
We tried to make BOM and Holy Bible costumes for the trunk or treat.... But it just turned out to be a big disaster!! Hahah
More fall colors. Also they make anything out of hay bails!!
We got some candy for the trunk or treat and gave pass along cards out as well!! Perf missionary opportunity! So fun.
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