Friday, June 13, 2014

June 9th- Ok... maybe all her letters are my favorite!

I know I'll probably say this 365 more times but, this week was the SICKEST week I have had since being out on my mission!

 (Mom Insert... Steph is in Heaven with these dog's... Her favorite!)

 Park City is so beautiful!

 
Monday we had a lesson with our recent convert Ellie and her family, just a little fun FHE activity for the kids. We talked about all the things that we could do to bring us closer to Christ, along with all the things that can draw us farther from him. The little kids were giving great answers, after the lesson the family wanted to know a little bit more about how FHE's are run. They wanted to know what other families did and why we do it, we talked about how families are essential to Gods plan. That through family togetherness we can feel the spirit stronger in our homes. Sister Nelson and I could already see a change in their family after experiencing Ellie get baptized, I am so excited to see their family grow together in the Gospel.
 
Wednesday the Relief Society through a baby shower for a lady in the ward who just had twins! We were invited to stop by and say hi, the husband isn't a member and I hadn't had a chance before to meet their beautiful family. While we were walking to the door Sister Nelson goes "What do we do at baby shower?!" (since missionaries cant hold babies) I said "Hold all the babies of course!" hahaha We didn't hold them :( but we were so grateful to be able to get and talk with her and with the other women in the ward.
 
This is what happens when you don't keep our appointment.... WE WAIT! 

 
Joe..not my Joe,  a different one.
Friday I got to meet Joe.  While on exchanges with another Sister, Nelson was able to find a NEW investigator! When we finally met up with each other she starts the conversation by saying "WE HAVE NEW INVESTIGATORS!"  Of course I am so pumped to hear all about them!  She begins "well, when we met the first one..he was higher than a kite, but he said we could come back!" I looked at sister Nelson -___- "wow, we are off to a great start" hahah Boy was I wrong for assuming!  Friday we met with Joe again.  Since we had last seen him he had shaved, and apologized for not being "all there" when the sisters first met him.  We had a great conversation with him out on a  field by his apartment (he's allllll about nature) (don't worry mom im not going out into abandoned fields with boys, it was a soccer field with a bunch of people around).   He is so opened minded and a really positive person, he said he doesn't want to "dive in head first" but that he wants to learn.  We are actually meeting with him today!
 
THEN YESTERDAY HAPPENED!
We were driving out in one of the neighborhoods that we cover when all of a sudden Nelson yells "A WALLET! GO GET IT!" I jump out of the car, (after the car had stopped of course) grabbed it and jumped back in. While looking for a name or number we turned the corner and saw to dudes, one riding a long board and the other on a bike. We drove up to them and asked the one on the long board if he knew the person whos wallet we had found. Turned out it was his buddy on the bicycle! So we handed him the wallet and drove off....Immediately we both thought "IDIOTS! WHY DIDN'T WE GET OUT OF THE CAR!?" So we went down the street and pulled over and waited for them to come down the street, missionary stalker status i know. Sometimes its necessary haha
So they come down the street, we get out of our car all nonchalant like. Then Sister Nelson says something to the effect of "Because I found your wallet you are basically obligated to listen to what I have to say" hahahaha So they came over willingly, we had an interesting conversation (there never seems to be a shortage of those on missions) and we talked a little about them and where they are from. One had never even heard of the church and the other only had a roommate who was LDS but didn't know a whole lot either.  We got their names and numbers and set up an appointment for tomorrow!
We had more lessons this week then we ever have before, the Lord heard our prayers. We were struggling, so we stepped up our game.  We were more obedient and diligent than I think we ever have been and we were able to see a direct correlation to the blessings and miracles we were able to witness this week.  I am so grateful to be a missionary, this growing/learning experience will be irreplaceable.  I love the Lord, my family, my companion, and PARK CITY!  I hope everyone has a great week, I love you all!
 
Keep it Real.  Keep it Righteous, and...Be a good citizen and return peoples wallets.

Love
Sister Efnor




 

June 2nd- Better Late than never!!

Hola!
So I really cant get over how beautiful Park City is, so much green, so much sunshine! I'm in heaven!
With all this warm weather, it given me and Sister Nelson a couple opportunities to just park our car and walk around certain neighborhoods instead of constantly getting in and out of the car every five minutes. Plus...we need the exercise hahaha
Highlight of this week...
On Tuesday we drove down with Davida who was baptized March 3rd, and her friend Deseret to the temple. We met up  with some sisters that we previously had met at the MTC, we talked a little about the points that we would really like to see on temple square and then we were off!  It was Deseret's first time going to temple square and she was in absolute awe of everything.  With the miniature replica of the temple that they have in the visitors center we were able to better explain about baptisms for the dead, this really interested both of them especially since Davida is the first (certainly not the last) to be baptized in her family so she has a lot work she can do!
Out of the whole tour however, the moment that has stuck with me is when we entered into the room where the Christos was.  Previously when going to see the Christos me and my family would walk up the ramp. To me, this gives a gradual build leading up to the Christos, but when we went to go see it this time we came in right through a door that lead to the room where the Christos was.  Sister Nelson and I both looked at each other upon entering the room because as soon as we walked in it was like BABAAAM! SPIRIT IN YOUR FACE! No joke, Sister Nelson and I were talking about it later and realized that we didn't walk up the ramp, there was no gradual build.  It was one of the most inspiring feelings that I have experienced since being on my mission. 
Getting to sit there and watch as the narration play, and seeing Davida and her friend feel the spirit strengthened my own testimony.  After leaving the both could not stop going on and on about how that was such an amazing experience.  Deseret hasn't picked up a cigarette in about a week and is committed to coming to church every Sunday with Davida and her family.  They both have a strong desire to learn more about the gospel, each Sunday they leave gospel essentials amazed, it is a blessing to be apart of their journey.
On Wednesday I believe it was, Sister Nelson and I were out walking around some apartments contacting people.  As I'm walking I remember clearly thinking to myself "Okay, you can literally put anyone in front of me at this point..ANYONE and I will talk to them, just give me someone to talk to you!"..No Joke, two seconds later this guy come walking up around the corner. He has no shirt on, sagged pants, tattoos all over the place, a beard, and a couple piercings..oh gosh hahaha
My next thought was "uhhh, foreal?"  I did talk to the guy, but he wasn't interested in stopping to talk to us. 
So I didn't get a baptism out of it, but I still count it as a success. Ive been reading The Power of Everyday Missionaries in my personal studies, something that really resonated with me was that success is not measured upon if they accept (because if it was id be in deep doo doo) but rather if we invite.  When you ask for opportunities, and are righteous in your desires, the Lord will bless you.
The ward where we are serving just started a 40 day fast towards Hastening the Work. 
 
So I don't ever remember participating in a 40 day fast, so when I heard this my first thought was "uhh, i know we are all trying to be more Christlike but if i fast for 40 days imma die" haha Then my companion explained to me that each day a family of the ward will be fasting, which is a great opportunity to go visited different families on whatever day they signed up to fast. The schedule got a little mixed up the first couple of days so me and my companion said that we would fast on Saturday. Even though we were out and about all day, walking and knocking on doors, the fact that I hadn't eaten all day didn't cross my mind.  I don't say this to be prideful, believe me, fast Sundays haven't always been so peachy keen for me.  Focusing on certain names of people in the ward, and people that we want to teach helped subside my desire to eat because my desire to find new investigators was greater.  This gave me an understanding of how my desire to "find" should be 24/7.  It just gave me an opportunity to realize what I need to work on.
 
Early this week we all got copies of this months Ensign, while I was flipping through I started to notice that there were quite a few sections on family history. When I first got to the Family Tree center I tried to look up my own family to see if I could find anything. Not a whole lot came up, very disappointing since I'm here at the center 25 hours a week! Then after my mom challenged me to find out stuff about certain areas in our line i decided to give it one more go.  After searching and connecting the dots I was able to fill out more of my family tree and find out names of people that my mom had given me. When I had finally found them i yelled out "HECK YES!" and threw my fists in the air hahaha Its was such a fulfilling moment for me, and it gets to be even more so when I have the opportunity to help others find their family members so they can take their names to the temple. There is so much work to be done and millions who never had the chance to be baptized that are waiting on us to get with it!  Once you get into it, there's no stoppin! There is such a great spirit when you have a hand in the Lords work.  
 
Its been another great week here in Park City, its hard, but more than worth it. Im honored to be serving my Heavenly Father, and im so grateful for the opportunities to grow and learn.  I hope you all have a maaavelous week! 
Thank you for all the love, ofa atu!

Sister Efnor