Called to Serve: Pouring Rain and Blessings

Hey everyone!

This was an exciting week of crazy weather and good food. One day it began to pour buckets. We knocked on two doors and both of them just let us stand in the rain and talk to them. Eh, it didn't bother us. Somehow the physical discomforts seem to dissipate when you are on the Lord's errand. It makes me want to work harder when the elements seem to be combined in opposition. We were able to teach 23 lessons, and to end the week of with a bang, Sister Shumate headed up a beautiful musical fireside. It consisted of about 10 arrangements, all performed by missionaries and prior to performing the missionary would bear their testimony of the Savior and His Atonement in relation to the piece they were going to perform. Flute, Violin, Piano, Barber Shop, and different languages! There were a solid 350 in attendance. Sister Shumate is a beautiful pianist. She played "There is a Greed Hill Far Away." It brought tears to many's eyes. President Brinkerhoff closed the fireside with a few remarks on the Book of Mormon and his testimony of our divine calling as missionaries. My favorite part of the fireside was the closing hymn, "I Feel My Saviors Love." The first verse was done by all the missionaries, those in the performance and those in the audience. The second was done by the congregation. The Third was done in Spanish. The last was done by the congregation again. When the first verse was sung, we missionaries were dispersed about the whole audience, all sitting with our investigators. The overwhelming feeling of pride for my calling filled me. The testimonies being born through music brought the spirit into my heart. The Holy Spirit speaks through music.

We have a new investigator...funny story of how this happened. SO, sisters who are serving in a near-by area were walking into church and there was a man who walked up to them and asked them what time church started. They told him and then invited him in to show him around the church. They taught him about the sacrament, tithing, priesthood, and baptism. He had been looking to learn more about the church and they taught him just what he needed. Tamen accepted a date to be baptized right then and there and then he went to all three hours of church. Turn out Tamen lives in our area! I sat next to him at the fireside last night as Sister Shumate was on the stand. He thoroughly enjoyed it! I would tell you more about Tamen, but honestly I don't know much at all because we just met him briefly last night. Next week I'll have more to fill you in on :)

I love you all and ponder on the blessing it is to have such a great support system on the home front. The title of the fireside last night was "A Musical Tribute to Christ." This title is so fitting to our calling as either full time missionaries or member-missionaries. Our lives should be lived as disciples of our Savior. Our lives should be our tribute to Christ and what he has done for us. Share what you know! Act as Christ acts! And live for Him because He lived and died for us.

Love,

Sister Fredrick

President,

One of our investigators Justin is progressing quite nicely. He is reading, praying, and finding answers through those outlets on his own. Something Justin is really blessed with is the ability to recognize the spirit. For our second lesson we took him on a church tour and he openly said he felt the spirit speak peace to his heart. He didn't understand the need to be baptized prior to the tour. We invited him to read several chapters from the Bible and the Book of Mormon and he did so. Through reading and praying about them, he came to the conclusion, through the spirit, that he indeed needs to be baptized as the Savior was. This amazing gift of spiritual discernment will take Justin far if he continues to nurture it!
Thanks for your beautiful discourse at the close of the fireside last night. I appreciate your clear and concise testimony of the role of the Book of Mormon. I know many hearts were touched, including mine.

Love,
Sister Fredrick