To Blessed to Stress!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Wednesday on our way back to the Family History Center Sister Weaver and I decided to make one last stop. While we were walking we saw a guy taking pictures of the scenery, we stopped and chit chatted a little bit and then we moved on. 

When we were about to jump back into the car Sister Weaver looks at me and says "We need to invite him." We have like 10 minutes before we are suppose to be back at our house so I just start running to find the guy. He had walked a little farther, still taking pictures. His back was towards us, as we approached Sister Weaver whipped out the Book of Mormon and we got his attention. He was so nice, apparently he was from St. Louis, has a family, and was just here for work all by himself.

Sister Weaver asked if he had ever seen missionaries "No." and if he had ever read the Book of Mormon "No." She explained to him what it was and then I showed him the two last paragraphs in the introduction. He said he would love to read it and gave us his phone number so we could call him this week when he would be back in St. Louis to see how his reading was doing.

While we were driving back to our place I was thinking about how this guy had a family, he has a job that takes him away from work, really friendly, and has an open heart. I just thought about how my own dad has to leave for work a lot and how much I love him and how grateful I am that missionaries taught him and the difference it's made in not only his life but in the life of his family.

I thought about how this guys whole life could be changed, the lives of his kids, and so on..and it would have all started with just an "invite".

Yesterday we got a text from Davida telling us to come over to meet her new husband! We swung by and finally got to meet the man she has been telling us so much about all these months, turns out he has already read the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price. I started to share a scripture in 1 Nephi about when he is commanded to build a ship. Before I can even start giving background on the scripture Carl (Davidas husband) starts telling me about it LOL  When we asked when we could come back to start teaching him the lessons Davida looked at us with this "What do you think?!) face and said "Tomorrow!". 

Getting to come back to Park City and see this all come full circle..with Davida's daughter in law getting baptized, Davida getting married, now we are teaching her husband.

I know I talk about Davida all the time, but she blows me away. Her influence has bless the lives of so many, including mine.

When missionaries who had a short amount of time left to serve would start freaking out, to be honest, it irritated me. It felt like when you get down to a month or a week there was this expected response from missionaries. Like if you didn't hyperventilate then that means you didn't love your mission..Well..it still irritates me LOL But I have had a couple experiences that have kind of hit me in the face about the reality of things. Like when we went and talked to that guy from St. Louis, or when I finally got to meet Carl..Yes, I'll still be a missionary and I'll share the gospel after I am released, but it won't be the same. 

There is just something so special, something so personal, when you are set apart and getting to devote all your time and attention..just every fiber of your being, to His work.

I can feel it inside, but I can't describe it. The feeling of gratitude that I have for being able to come out on a mission and serve is something I will feel for the rest of my life. Heavenly Father is very aware of the needs of His children and their potential, I am so grateful He saw more in me in times when I saw nothing..

Sister Efnor

Park City, Salt Lake City East Mission!!

Hellerrrrr

As a zone we are having a friendly competition to see who can get the most invites in a day. We are keeping track for the whole month, and we are split up in to teams. Its nice to have a fun competition, but the main reason why I have loved this is because it has kept "inviting" at the front of my mind. Even though I have been out for awhile, there are still times when I have talked to people and veered around inviting them to learn more. Or to invite them to come unto Christ in another way period.

Sister Weaver and I were talking and really wanted to change that, and invite everyone we talk to. We have been struggling with finding people to teach, and obviously, that can be discouraging since that's what we are suppose to do- lol

But, i can feel something brewing, and it's not the enchiladas that I just ate.

Do you remember Davida? If you don't then you're not a true Sister Efnor blog follower LOL Anyways, she got married this past Saturday! Her husband has been reading the Book of Mormon and when they get back from their honeymoon he is going to start taking the lessons. That will commence in about a week.

Other news..I had a very special experience with a recent convert the other day. She moved out of our area but we still keep in contact and check up on her. She has been having a rough time, at the end of our conversation she asked if we could say a prayer together. So I went to the closet since the family Tree is usually pretty noisy and I knelt down. She wanted me to say it..I prayed that she would feel her Heavenly Fathers love for her, among other things. But it was in that moment that I could feel a glimpse, just a spark, of what He feels for His children.

That has been one of the most special parts of serving to me, feeling and

seeing, Gods love for the people that I come in contact with.

I am so grateful for this work, for the lives it changes,including mine... 

Sister Efnor

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

Salt Lake City East Mission Rules!

Sorry this is going to be short..

A couple nights ago we decided to make a stop at this lady's house, since I have been here we had only stopped by a handful of times. With no success on most of our visits, we decided it was worth a shot since it was on the way home. We knock...SHE ANSWERS! Hurray!

She was so friendly and let us in, immediately she starts asking questions about church. How its run, callings, taking the lessons...for some reason, the way she was asking the questions gave me the impression that she was already a member but never went to church. 

So this whole time she is inquiring about lessons, I thought it was because she wanted to come BACK to church. We are there for a good hour visit and set up another appointment..which is actually today :)

On our way back to the car after leaving her with a prayer, my companion goes "YES! We have a new investigator!"...then there's me.."huh? Investigator?" 

I swear guys...actually..I don't swear lol..I promise that I have been a missionary for the past 16 months hahaha I couldn't believe it, the Lord blessed us with someone to teach and I didn't even know it for a whole hour LOL 

Mothers Day was fantastic, getting to talk to the family was such a blessing. It was great being able to share my Mothers Day experience with them...

Ronnie (who was baptized last year) his brother Drake, and his mom (who was baptized a couple months ago) all went up to the front for the primary program. It was so beautiful getting to see their family, all together, on Mothers Day, in church. Even though I'm away from my own, seeing others families brought back together through the gospel is well worth it.

The more homes that I am welcomed into, the more I see the importance for strong women, women where when times get rough..they put their hair in a pony tail and say "Bring it on.". Thank you, to all the strong women in my life who have influenced me for the better, and helped me get to where I am today. 

I am so grateful for my mama, for the life she leads, and who she puts first. The Savior.

If your thinking about serving a mission, and you happen to actually read these emails that I write every stinkin Monday lol Get on your knees, and get in the scriptures and inquire from your Heavenly Father if you should serve..because let me tell you, its the best decision I could have made at this point in my life.

Love, 

Sister Efnor

It's been a great week!!

Remember the lady Teri that I mentioned in my last letter? This past Sat/Sun she was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. May 3rd of last year was also the same day that Davida Martinez was baptized, the Lords timing ain't no joke guys.

Originally Teri was praying about a latter date to be baptized, then her move to California had to be moved up to this coming Wednesday. This all came about on Friday not leaving much time at all for Teri to be baptized when she originally planned. Teri calls our WML and says that she wants to be baptized...tomorrow. So we call our mission president and explain the situation. He didn't feel right about it..mainly because he didn't know her like how we know her. He suggested that he give her a call and feel things out and then he would let us know. When our president called back he informed us that he had given Teri an interview over the phone while getting to know her. He felt that she had a great understanding of the promise she was making and that she was ready.

A baptismal interview over the phone?! I hadn't ever heard of that, but I wasn't going to object to it lol

Once we had the go from the mission president we were on it! Making the program, calling people to talk and say the prayer, people to be witnesses, people to bring cookies..this baptism was happening tomorrow! But really, the whole day things just fell into place..even things that kind of went wrong...like when we didn't start filling the font early enough and had to start filling a cooler and dumping it in...even during that I was smiling lol ( It seems that I have had to do that quite a few times since I have been out, all in the name of the Lords work. lol)

Especially when I saw Teri all dressed up, the sun couldn't out shine her that day. You could tell that she was on top of the world, and was so ready for this. The baptismal service went great..Davida gave the talk on baptism, I couldn't wrap my head around it while I was sitting there. A little more then a year ago she found the elders and sent herself in as a referral and then sisters showed up on her doorstep. Now she was in front of me, bearing her testimony about how the day she was baptized was the best day of her life.

Remember Sam? He has since turned in his mission papers Tuesday of last week so we should be hearing in a little bit where he will be serving. Like I said, the Lords timing is no joke. Sam is 25 and just barely missed the cut off for guys to be able to go on a mission. It was no coincidence when his brother told us we should go visit his family, no coincidence that Sam was so quick to accept out invitation to go to church, no coincidence that he received the priesthood and his patriarchal blessing so quickly..Heavenly Father has big plans.

A great week can't accurately describe my feelings, the Lord has been to good to me.

In the beginning I said that I was going to serve because I wanted to give back to the Lord, because he has given me so much. Boy was that stupid, now I'm in debt! lol 

Each day I see why I am serving, starting with the fact that it was a promise I made. Not necessarily to be a full time missionary, but I promised to spread the gospel. We all made that promise, I have a strong belief in the Lords timing (if you couldn't tell), we are all put in a place at a certain time for a reason. There is a sphere of influence that we wield, we can make it for good or bad...or just sit there like a couch potato. I don't want to be a potato! Their full of starch!

I love you all, I love the Lord.

Sister Efnor

Loving this work!!

This weeeekkkkkkkkkkk.....

Well, I'm still in Park city..and I'm still a missionary..not to much as changed lol

Other then the fact that we are teaching some AWESOME people!

Around this same time last year Sister Nelson and I were teaching Davida and her grandson Ronnie. Living with them was Davida's long time friend Terri. She would sit in on a few lessons here and there, she even came to church. I guess after i left she even taught a gospel principles class on the atonement. Then she moved to California..

Well, around the same time that I got transferred back to PC..Terri moved back from California.

We swung by there house and during our visit Terri just blurts out "I think I want to be baptized. I feel really good about it." Uhhhhh exqueaze me?! Immediately she started laughing because of the look of pure "WHAT THE?!" on my face lol 

Since that visit we have been actively teaching her, and Davida took her down to Temple Square to go see Meet the Mormon and the Joseph Smith movie. She has been absolutely amazing and such a testament to me that it wont be as deep unless they are ready. 

I was writing to my cousin Sammy who is in Korea right now and we were just talking about the difference in spreading the good word in our different missions. He talked about how its been pretty rough to find people to teach, but he is working hard that is for sure. 

There have definitely been times when I felt really down because of what my numbers looked like. Not fully understanding at that point what success really was. This is what I wrote to Sammy in regards to how many people we are teaching right now...

"Even though we only have one, the one is progressing, and in a great way. She fasted about being baptized, on her own! This lady has really helped me see that it can make such a huge difference when their ready, and some just aren't ready. I knew this girl when I served in this area around the same time last year, her friend Davida got baptized but it just wasn't her time. Now, almost a year later..she is ready, we don't have to convince or coax her.  I wouldn't trade having w/s up the wazoo with people who don't want to change, for this one child of God that honestly wants to make these promises with her Heavenly Father."

It's not about numbers, even though I fully believe that setting goals helps you get somewhere. However, at the same time it is about people, our brothers and sisters.

(now ill get off my soap box)

Anyone remember the guy Sam that I always talked about while i was in YSA? Well, I just got this letter from him..

"I'm getting ready to turn mission papers i just have to finish my dental work." HECK YESSS! That is what I am talking about. From getting to be there while Sam made the choices to bring himself closer to his Heavenly Father he has taught me that, you can never predict. By that I mean, you can never predict what effect that you will have. Whether its just planting the seed, picking the flower, or maybe your just the one that dug the hole lol Getting to be a small part of this has given me such a strong testimony of the fact that even though I am just one, I can still make a difference. I cant even imagine all the people that Sam is going to touch, especially with the experiences that he has had.

I feel so blessed to be apart of these moments, they are something I'll hold dear for as long as I live that is for sure.

Sister Efnor