Sister Jacobson and I feel immensely blessed to be serving with the YSA Institute wards here. On Monday's we are invited to Family Home Evenings where we do such fun activities. It's been really great for getting to know the kids in our wards. One activity was a bunch of relay races and shorts minute-to-win-it games. Sister Jacobson and I won the egg toss where we went about 50 yards apart and threw the egg like a football back and forth and never dropped it. It's good to see Harley, our recent convert in that ward, make new friends and branch out. He received the priesthood this Sunday and was so excited. Now he's ready to baptize his mom like he wants to.
In Tuesday some of the kids in the wards get together and play sports on campus. We played volleyball this week and we invited a bunch on non-members. While playing, we invite anyone that walks by to join in. Turns out, a couple that was walking nearby decided to come join and we got to know them pretty well. As they were going to leave, Sister Jacobson and I ran over and talked to them about the church and the Book of Mormon. The girl was less-active and happy we told her there was a meeting place for her to attend. The boy was not a member but has really good friends that are LDS. He took a Book of Mormon and they both said they would come back next week (today) for more volleyball. From us being bold and talking to them about the gospel on a whim, the other kids there were really impressed and gave us props when we went back to play volleyball. It was a super good experience and showed the kids we serve with that missionary work is THAT easy.
We spent a lot of time contacting this week because we are continually trying to build up our teaching pool. We decided to meet all of our neighbors because they are almost all college kids and are not members. One house is full of Saudi Arabian students. They are all Muslim, which makes the teaching process a little more complicated, but they are so so nice. We are thinking, if it is alright, that we would go back and see if we could have dinner with them sometime so they can cook us some good Arabian food. They told us that they went to one of the church building one Sunday just to check it out. We think they went to a priesthood meeting because they said they stayed for about 15 minutes and didn't know what was going on and then left haha. They said we could come over anytime though, so we'll try and share more about the gospel if that's allowed.
On Friday I went on a trio exchange with Sister Smith and Davilia in the Central III area. These two sisters are not the same two sisters that were struggling three weeks ago. Sister Smith is a totally new person. She is so much more happy and eager to work than she was as she first started white-washing. Sister Davilia is the perfect companion for her. I cannot imagine a better duo. They wanted to work on teaching more unified and extending bold commitments. I would say they did pretty well. Sister Smith struggles with keeping calm when she doesn't get to say what she feels needs to be said. She is striving to find the balance between reacting and acting. She tends to let things get under her skin. For instance, we contacted a dropped investigator and had a conversation on her doorstep. Sister Smith was great and shared a scripture with the girl. Before we left, we asked the girl if she would be interested in learning more and if we came over again and she said not really. When we got back in the car Sister Smith seemed a little frazzled. We took a minute to talk about the situation. Sister Smith asked us if she should have read the scripture because she felt like what she said lead the girl to not want to learn any more. Sister Davilia and I assured her that it didn't...people have their agency to choose.
At the end of the exchange, we reviewed what was learned and what we wanted to improve upon. Realizing that people have their agency was something Sister Smith said she really needed to hear. We talked about how after all we can do, they can still reject our invitation. We can back down and think we did something wrong, or we can stand tall and know that we tried our best and declared repentance, making sure we leave with no regrets.
We also discussed the morning schedule because the sisters have trouble getting ready in time for studies and working out a full 30 minutes. We came up with a game plan including several alarms and getting out of the house to exercise so their not tempted to go back to bed. In all, the exchange was great. We all learned several things. Something I greatly appreciated was the example of love and patience Sister Davilia showed me. She is understanding, comforting, and uplifting. I learned from Sister Smith that we can push through troublesome and rough times. She fought through an uncomfortable few weeks and is now on the up and up. These sisters are beautiful and I expect to see great things come of them. Combined with their diligence and their area's potential, nothing but miracles!
Last night we had no appointments after dinner so we went to contact some potential investigators. We were at an apartment building that we visit a least every other day. We knock on a few doors and no one is home. We go to get in the car when we see Percy, a less-active student. He tells us that he is locked out of his apartment and no one is home. We let him use our phone but no one answers. While we wait for someone to get home, we ask him if we can share a message with him. We sit on the sidewalk and read a chapter from the Book of Mormon. He tells us that he has really been struggling to get a hold on everything that's been going on. As we are talking, one of Percy's friends walks over with his Bible in hand and asks if he can join in. Thomas introduces himself and we begin to discuss our different beliefs. After talking for about 20 minutes, one of Thomas' friends comes and joins in. Cody begins asking us questions. Sister Jacobson and I were able to testify of the restored gospel and the Book of Mormon and Percy was able to bear his testimony. Neither of them accepted a copy but they said we could come back and discuss more. We left with a prayer, handshakes, and a mutual respect for each others views.
When driving home, Sister Jacobson tells me that she was praying that we could meet someone that would be receptive to our message and she believed that Cody was an answer to her prayer. I believe it was too. It was amazing how through Percy, we were able to teach a lesson to two people of a different faith. I can't wait to see what comes of it!
I know Heavenly Father watches over me. I know things are not just coincidental. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true and I love it.
Love,
Sister Fredrick
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