mix up. From now on I will try to send the letters at the library so I
can do it on a computer. I hope school is going well for everyone. U
of L is in full swing over here so good luck to all the college kids
starting another semester over on the West Coast. Remember you will
always be more effective after an ice cream break. Always :)
Our week this week was great! Just like every week as a missionary it
had its ups and downs but I learned so very much about myself and my
purpose here as a representative of Christ so I am loving every
second. On Monday we went fishing with a couple in our Ward, which was
super fun! Sister I caught like 2 fish and they were huge! There is a
reason she is training me, she has got mad skills.
On Tuesday, we were on our way to go visit two less actives in our
Ward and Sister I's bike tire popped. It just went flat! So we walked
the rest of the way to our appointments and then a sweet member in our
Ward drove us and our bikes home. Luckily, we are super good friends
with the AP's and they live close because they need to be close to the
mission home so they came over that night and replaced her whole tire.
And they got us patches! It was so nice. Chivalry still exists my
friends :)
Wednesday was an emotional roller coaster for us! We started out
companionship study feeling the Spirit so strong and feeling so
motivated about our goal to baptize monthly, especially in October. I
had just had an amazing study in the Book of Mormon about how the Lord
is able to do His work but the work is only done according to our
faith. As we were discussing this, we felt the Spirit testify to us so
strong that this goal is possible and if we have faith in the Lord and
work hard, He will cause great things to happen. Then, in the middle
of this discussion, we got a text. It was from Jackie, our
investigator that I wrote about last week who was really trying to
figure out how to find happiness and peace and was progressing really
well. She told us that she had prayed about if the Book of Mormon was
true and felt that her answer was that she was not ready to become
religious yet and that she did not want to continue being taught. We
were devastated! However, I felt this peace come over me and I
realized that the study we had just discussed was exactly what I
needed at that very moment. The Spirit was able to reaffirm to me that
this goal required a test of faith and it wasn't going to occur unless
we worked hard and did all we could to accomplish it against all odds.
I knew that even if it wasn't Jackie's time to accept the gospel yet,
it would come in the future for her. There are children of our
Heavenly Father who are ready to hear and accept the word. They will
be put in our path or we will be out in theirs. Even if we only plant
seeds, the seed is enough to grow into a beautiful tree with time. I
know that our Heavenly Father is at the head of this work. As we have
faith in His ability to do His work and then act, miracles will happen
and hearts will change.
Speaking of miracles, after Jackie dropped us, a random man that
Sister I talked to on the bus called us and told us he would like to
come to church. And then, a girl I had talked to on the bus named
Alexia (I think I talked about her in last weeks letter. She dances
with a member in our Ward) texted us back! We are actually having
dinner with her and that member and teaching her tonight. I know that
the Lord works in mysterious ways. If we have faith, even when it is
tested, our prayers will be answered and we will see His hand in our
lives.
On Thursday, we had dinner with the Starks. Sam Stark texted us
earlier in the week thinking that we were an elder that he had met
with a year and a half ago. After we told him who the number actually
belonged to, he invited us to dinner! Sister I was immediately on
alert. She had experience in Lexington with some investigators who
invited them over often for food when the hidden motive was for the
investigators to convert the missionaries instead of the other way
around. We went anyway but we're prepared for the worst. They ended up
being the nicest people ever. He told us about how he had dated a
Mormon girl years before and had become very intrigued by the
religion. He started looking for religion in his own life and ended up
becoming Southern Baptist. He is now married to a sweet girl and they
are awesome. He is obsessed with our religion though! It honestly
don't make sense to us or anyone else as to why they aren't members
yet. He has a shelf full of doctrinal books like the Joseph Smith
papers, A marvelous work and a wonder by Legrand Richards (signed by
the way!), other books by Mconckie, a quad, etc. He has read them too.
Our theory is that right now, it is all out of interest instead of
actually looking for the truth, along with the fact that he works at
the seminary and aspires to be a preacher. We had a great lesson about
the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we committed them to read the Book of
Mormon. We hope to help him realize why he is so intrigued...it's
because it's true! We will keep you posted on them. We also have a
lesson with them tonight so we are crossing our fingers! :)
Yesterday was super great! We went to church thinking we were going to
have a few investigators there and were super bummed when they
didn't/couldn't come. We walked into sacrament and were pleasantly
surprised to see Abdul! He is the random man that had called us
Wednesday and told us he wanted to come to church. He actually came!!
We are meeting with him Friday :) it was such a tender mercy. Being a
missionary has helped me to realize that the prepared people will say
yes. They will keep their commitments and find the truth. It is indeed
a privilege to find and teach those people :) i know as we continue to
have faith and bind the Lord, we will find those who are ready to
accept this gospel.
I love you all and I love this gospel. It is so true! It brings so
much joy and happiness. As we learn more about the Atonement and
strive to play it daily into our lives, our desire to share it will
grow. We have been asked by our mission president to study talks on
the Atonement for 15 minutes a day with the question in mind, "Where
is your heart? Who have you given it to?" As we give our hearts to the
savior and accept His love and sacrifice, we will be able to find
greater happiness, peace, and joy. I love my Savior and i am so
grateful for the opportunity to serve as His representative here in
Kentucky. Continue to have faith and find joy in the little things. It
makes a world of difference :)
Thank you for all the love and prayers. I love you all! :) have an amazing week.
Hurrah for Israel :)
Love always,
Sister Dorian
"O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake
unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means
whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus
Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the
world." Helaman 5:9
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