Something cool that's been happening is talks and things we've been asked to do and have had no time to prepare for, yet they turn out quite good. We gave talks in two different wards this week and neither of them did we have more than 15 minutes to prepare for. The spirit really leads and guides. I wasn't nervous, and I was never at a loss of words. Its amazing that i'm at a point where I can just talk about the gospel for ever and ever and not want to stop. I had twenty minutes to fill, no notes, and two investigators in congregation listening. All I could do was seek the constant guidance of the spirit. This I am indeed grateful for!
President Email:
President,
This week was filled with many finding opportunities and mini-miracles. Like we talked about on the drive to mission leadership council, Sister Jacobson and I got a little creative. We brainstormed ways to invite people to institute, and as we did so, we decided we would try meeting students as they walked by the institute and inviting them to come in for a short tour of the building. We would then take them in and point out a few pictures and lead them to the chapel where we could discuss the sacrament, the most important meeting on Sundays. We would then ask if they wanted to learn more about Christ and his restored gospel through meeting with us, want to learn more about Christ by coming to an institute class , or want to enjoy wholesome activities that we have every week. Great finding idea right?! We think so. But it turned out that there was someone in the chapel practicing the organ. So that blew our plan of taking them in the chapel and helping them feel the spirit of reverence.
We didn't let that stop us though...here's where it gets good. So there is a rec-room in the institute building with pool, ping-pong, and foosball tables. I'm pretty good at ping-pong and Sister Jacobson is pretty good at foosball. We changed our approach. As we walked around the institute building we asked people if they liked any of those things, and if they did, we were in luck. One guy named Scott told us he liked ping-pong so I challenged him to a game. If I won, we could teach him a lesson. If he won, he could leave. He accepted, CHA CHING! We go play. I beat him. We have a lesson on the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel. He asks us a bunch of questions that he has been wondering about for a while. He had some pretty misconstrued ideas about how the gospel was restored, but we were able to lead him back to the truth, the Book of Mormon. We gave him a copy and invited him to study it himself and to pray to know if it is true. He accepted and said he would be willing to meet again. AWESOME!
This experience lead me to realize, without a shadow of a doubt, that the Lord blesses each and every one of us with attributes, talents, and personalities that will lead us to find those ready to receive the gospel into their lives. Sister Jacobson was able to exemplify this concept at a baptism this weekend that you attended. As she played "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" the spirit was brought in so strongly. I know that our investigator Caleb, who was at the baptism, could feel the spirit. The smile on his face radiated joy. I'm proud to call Sister Jacobson my companion!
I thoroughly enjoyed this months mission leadership council. I'm excited for the new standard of excellence (2 baptisms a month per companionship). This is going to build our faith and reliance on the Lord and lead us to more fully rely upon him. I am ALL IN. We've already seen miracles come of our increased faith. We were at church yesterday and two members brought friends. One of them stayed for all three hours, and then a meal after with the whole ward. Pretty sure that everyone in the ward went up to introduce themselves, including a member of the bishopric who asked if he would want to learn more from us. He said he would love to and as we spoke to him he expressed that he was really busy in school and is writing three books but he definitely wants to continue to come to church and learn more from us. WHAT!!! He is one of the several people that was placed in our path this week.
Needless to say, with increased faith and desire to hasten the Lord's work, we have been blessed. I am grateful for challenges and changed plans, not just so that I can play ping-pong, but because we are lead to work outside our comfort zones and try something new. "There is no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growth zone!"- Sister Jacobson. I know that as we align our prayers and actions with the Lord's, we can expect nothing but miracles. HOORAH FOR ISRAEL.
Love,
Sister Fredrick
P.S. We'll make sure to call you when we're ready for your mad ping-pong skills. We have to mentally and physically prepare ourselves for you, President.
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