We were able to see some not-so-progressing investigators that we haven't seen in a while. I was able to take advantage of the situation with Sister Almanza being with me by breaking the ice with, "Oh hey I wanted to introduce you to this new Sister!"...then we went in and taught a lesson :)
Later on, Sister Jacobson came back from the temple and we went out and taught a few lessons and had dinner. The girl we ate dinner with was going to go out and teach with us the rest of the night. She told us she needed to drop off something at the Institute before we went to our appointments. We got there and whata ya know, about 30 people were there from our wards to wish me a happy birthday. We walked into the room and they sang me happy birthday. I was a little embarrassed, for who knows why, but I really appreciated it. I was really confused how anything could have been set up, but apparently Sister Jacobson went a little behind my back and told Hannah, the girl we had dinner with, and told her on Sunday during sacrament when I was talking to someone else, to get people together to surprise me. That sneaky sister missionary! We had cake and talked for a little while. Everyone stayed and played games and talked but after about 30 minutes I was getting antsy and just wanted to go back out and work. So we said bye and thank you and continued on with the plans we had set. We stopped by an apartment with two guys we had met just a few nights prior and had told us that they would be fine with us stopping by again and discussing what we believe to be true. Jason and Gian were home and invited us in. We read the introduction of the Book of Mormon and shared with them the importance of it, being another testament of Jesus Christ. They told us their beliefs, Jason is very active in his Christian church and Gian is indifferent about religion. We told them that all we share and teach are things that invite us to draw closer to Christ. Not to take away anything they have learned, but to build upon and help strengthen their testimony. Both said they would be baptized when they came to know the truth of what we taught. Jason has since come to a volleball activity with the ward and Gian has since come to a ward activity and we took him on a tour of the institute building. We've got a lesson set for Tuesday night!
Can you say AMAZING BIRTHDAY?! (not discounting the thoughtful gifts and cards from y'all back home!). I felt so blessed and loved. And to top it off, Sister Jacobson had a notebook ciculating through our wards with an invitation for everyone to write a message to me in it for my birthday. I love it! pages filled out with testimonies and thank yous from the great YSA and leaders here in Pocatello. It just made me so so happy. Sister Jacobson is awesome.
Another cool new investigator is Luca! He's a Christan from Egypt and is studying Electrical Engineering. He's roommates with a member and made us super good, get this, LIVER, for dinner. We have had a couple of lessons recently and all of them he has taken notes and asked us tons of really good questions. Questions that tell me that he's definitely been thinking and studying about the church a lot outside of our lessons, which is what every missionary wants for their investigators! At the end of the last lesson, he left us with about 6 topics he wants us to talk about next. Yeah, he likes his questions answered, what's hard is staying on a basic level and teaching the lesson outlined in "Preach My Gospel". We'll see how the next lesson goes...it'll be Sister Shumate's and my first lesson together hahahaha this'll be great.
So I dropped off Sister Jacobson and McKnight off at the mission home about two hours ago. Oh man how I'm going to miss them. We stayed up so late last night just talking about the things we've learned (them a lot more than me so I just soaked it all in). We set up a tent to sleep in the back yard last night but we ended up being too tired to go out and sleep in it haha. This morning we ran to 5th Street Baglery and got really good bagels and a girl in our ward drove us home. We got ready for the day, did our studies, then went roller skating with a couple zones of missionaries. I'll be with Sister Almanza until Wednesday when transfers happen and Sister Shumate comes to town.
These sisters are literally my sisters. I love them so much and will never forget the things they've taught me. I'll miss em, yeah that's for sure, but I know it's time for me to take their example and continue forward and lead as they did. They are both going to BYU in the fall and want me to come so badly when I get off my mission . We'll see :)
RAINBOWS & SUNSHINE,
Sister Fredrick
President,
We had a marvelous last week of Sister Jacobson being here. This week we found two new investigators and three solid potential investigators with fellow shippers. I'm in awe of the fruits coming forth all at once. I'm excited for Sister Shumate to come in and bring her warm spirit and fresh ideas to the area. We will continue to work hard and be united with a willing heart and mind.
I have learned great things from Sister Jacobson. Most of all, I have learned how to be confident in the truth and in obedience. Instances where it would be easy to let something slide or let an investigator "off the hook", I guess you would say, about a commitment or a commandment they need to be following and Sister Jacobson will just recommit or tell them how it is straight up and with bold, confidence. I've always considered myself a pretty bold missionary, but she has shown me how boldness is not so much an act as much as it is the spirit that is brought with such intensity of love. She's easily got intense love for this work and our Savior. She will be missed here at ISU. That was VERY evident yesterday, our last Sunday, in our meetings. We'll miss her here in the IPM, but she's on to shape another area for the better! Thanks so much for blessing me with her as a companion. I know that you make these decisions after much pondering and prayer on our behalf. I appreciate all you do and can't wait till MLC on Friday!
Gratitude and Love,
Sister Fredrick
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