Last transfer- last companion… Park City where it started…

My new companion is Sister Weaver from TEXAS! She is a hoot and a half, this first week together has been a blast. We had served around each other when I was in Park City last year. I am really looking forward to teaching with her and learning from her. She has such a strong dedication to serving the Lord and takes on each day with a smile, I am so happy to be her companion.

Two days ago when Sister Weaver and I were on shift at the Family History Center. There was a couple that came in right as we opened...they stayed until 4 in the afternoon! Who knew people could research for that long lol Anyways, they went down to the lower level to keep researching..Sister Weaver, Sister Bryan and I were all upstairs talking and cracking jokes. At one point I said "Man, I just want to be able to go out and proselyte." (We haven't found any new people to teach in a long time) After I said that, Sister Bryan looked at me..and then she pointed her finger downstairs and said " How about them?".

Right when she said that I raised my eyebrow and ran downstairs. Scooted myself a seat right next to the wife and started talking to her about what she had found. Eventually she started to tell me that missionaries had stopped by her house before and she would give them water. 

I asked her if she had ever been offered a Book of Mormon, she responded no. So then, I ran upstairs, grabbed a Book of Mormon, and a Meet the Mormons DVD and headed back down.

I started explaining to her what the movies was because she had never seen it, then I got to the good stuff. I told her how the book I was holding was another testament of Jesus Christ and how it is an account of Gods dealing with people in the Americas. She seemed to be more and more interested the more I explained. 

I handed her both the movie and book, then I asked her for her information so I could email her and keep in contact with her while she reads..she was more then happy to write it all down for me.

I said good bye to the couple after their 5 hours of family searching, and then I went over and told Sister Bryan about what had happened downstairs.I thought about how blessed am I that people come into a building where they can immediately feel the spirit and their hearts are softened. It was also a great lesson to me that although we might not have a large number of people that we are constantly teaching, there are people everyday that come into the center that are ready to be taught.

I was also thinking about those who aren't full time missionaries, may  get discouraged because they don't have a particular friend that they are sharing the gospel with...Or they feel that all their friends are set and good to go. 

Everyday we come in contact with people. Even if its just something small like a "How are you?", or being an example out in public, we are in some capacity able to help hasten the work. The need to pray for missionary opportunities, in my opinion, isn't what is needed..it's the courage to DO IT, because opportunities are literally all around us. 

In my case, she was right downstairs...

Love you all,

Sister Efnor

18 months to Serve, a life time to reflect, NO REGRETS!

Dallin H. Oaks gave a talk titled "The Challenge to Become", in it he said..

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.

A parable illustrates this understanding. A wealthy father knew that if he were to bestow his wealth upon a child who had not yet developed the needed wisdom and stature, the inheritance would probably be wasted. The father said to his child:

“All that I have I desire to give you—not only my wealth, but also my position and standing among men. That which I have I can easily give you, but that which I am you must obtain for yourself. You will qualify for your inheritance by learning what I have learned and by living as I have lived. I will give you the laws and principles by which I have acquired my wisdom and stature. Follow my example, mastering as I have mastered, and you will become as I am, and all that I have will be yours.”

Just recently Sister Nelson (MTC, 2nd transfer companion) and I were able to go on exchanges together. Back in the same apartment, same time of year, back doing companion study together. We were doing some role plays and both of us were just so happy, why? Getting to see how much each other had grown since we had been companions. It was insane, I was just so happy! Often times it's hard to see the change in yourself, at times I wasn't sure if I was doing all that I could be doing, or becoming. 

It was just nice to recognize that I have grown.

Going along with "becoming", I really loved this parable that Elder Oaks shared. “All that I have I desire to give you", I've come to feel this for myself. God doesn't distance himself from his children, when we disobey, rebel, whatever..that is what causes the gap. His want to bless us daily is always there.

I've felt what its like to been on the other side of that gap. I can also say that I have come to feel, once again, the arms of His embrace...

" there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you...on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy" 

This is a gospel of change, constant progression to become more like Him. No matter your circumstance, or where you've been, He only sees where you can go."Follow my example, mastering as I have mastered, and you will become as I am, and all that I have will be yours.” 

Much love, 

Sister Efnor