Mommy,
THEIR MARRIED! So Saturday Morning was kind of rough for my focus. At 10:00
are time, which Is 9:00 your time, which I believe is when the sealing started,
I started to cry, I told my companion that my brother was getting married right
then. My heart was so happy, I prayed for you and I prayed for them. What a
beautiful wedding it must have been! It sounded amazing, and I got the pictures.
Oh they looked beautiful. YOUR FIRST BORN IS MARRIED!
This week was so long and so fast all at the same time. My mind feels super
blank. I will start out by explaining some of the things that I learned this
week. I learned that being on my mission has magnified weaknesses I didn't
really know that I had, but at the same time I know my Heavenly Father wants me
to notices me weaknesses so I can give them to Him and He can make them into
strengths. I have a lot of wrinkles in my teaching and in my missionary self but
I am so greatful that He is helping me iron them out. I realize that becoming
the Servant of God He expects of me may take my entire mission, but I am going
to give everything I have to become that each day.
I loved my first mission conference with Elder and Sister Perkins! Sister Vandenberg told me that I would feel the spirit so strong and she would have to hold me back from running out early and teaching everybody I saw. She was right about the spirit that is for sure. For the conference we were supposed to prepare a personal talk, and a presentation as a companionship just incase Elder Perkins calls us up. He had 2 sets of missionaries do a roleplay teaching infront of everyone (which was half the mission for our conference) and guess who he picked! Me and Sister Vandenberg! So we were supposed to roleplay a 10 minute lesson on keeping the sabbath day holy. He had a senior couple, Elder and Sister Sasser, be our investigators. When he picked us I knew it was going to happen so I started praying and my heart was SHAKING! So we get up there and my companion told me she wanted me to start us out to get some practice in. We were praying the whole time we were up there but it went wonderfully. The spirit was very strong, Sister Sasser said she was trying to be a difficult investigator but she just didnt know how to be because she was feeling the spirit so much. I know it happened because we were both praying and trying to have the spirit guide what we said. Afterwards Elder Perkins, not knowing how long either of us had been out, said, "I don't know which one of you is the Senior companion!" Then President Mckee came up to me and Sister Vandenberg and told us that he has been looking for powerhouse sisters since we are losing so many this transfer, he then compared us to Sister Jensen (she went home the transfer I came) and Sister Bishop who goes home this transfer. THESE SISTERS ARE LEGENDS! So that was a HUGE compliment. My companion was beaming because Sister Bishop was her trainer and to be compared to her trainer was the biggest compliment anyone could ever offer. Afterwards the assistant came up to us too, he gave great advice, he said "all through your mission people will give you advice and tell you what you did good and what you did bad as you teach, listen to none of it. You focus on the spirit the whole time and you will be powerful."
I loved my first mission conference with Elder and Sister Perkins! Sister Vandenberg told me that I would feel the spirit so strong and she would have to hold me back from running out early and teaching everybody I saw. She was right about the spirit that is for sure. For the conference we were supposed to prepare a personal talk, and a presentation as a companionship just incase Elder Perkins calls us up. He had 2 sets of missionaries do a roleplay teaching infront of everyone (which was half the mission for our conference) and guess who he picked! Me and Sister Vandenberg! So we were supposed to roleplay a 10 minute lesson on keeping the sabbath day holy. He had a senior couple, Elder and Sister Sasser, be our investigators. When he picked us I knew it was going to happen so I started praying and my heart was SHAKING! So we get up there and my companion told me she wanted me to start us out to get some practice in. We were praying the whole time we were up there but it went wonderfully. The spirit was very strong, Sister Sasser said she was trying to be a difficult investigator but she just didnt know how to be because she was feeling the spirit so much. I know it happened because we were both praying and trying to have the spirit guide what we said. Afterwards Elder Perkins, not knowing how long either of us had been out, said, "I don't know which one of you is the Senior companion!" Then President Mckee came up to me and Sister Vandenberg and told us that he has been looking for powerhouse sisters since we are losing so many this transfer, he then compared us to Sister Jensen (she went home the transfer I came) and Sister Bishop who goes home this transfer. THESE SISTERS ARE LEGENDS! So that was a HUGE compliment. My companion was beaming because Sister Bishop was her trainer and to be compared to her trainer was the biggest compliment anyone could ever offer. Afterwards the assistant came up to us too, he gave great advice, he said "all through your mission people will give you advice and tell you what you did good and what you did bad as you teach, listen to none of it. You focus on the spirit the whole time and you will be powerful."
Sister Vandenberg is amazing for giving me so many opportunities to lead
our lessons. She is helping me grow so much. I know the Lord knows what he is
doing when it comes to companions and areas and zones and MISSIONS. I am working
very hard to keep my mind centered on the work. I want to become a missionary in
everything that I am.
Last Tuesday we had a few minutes before a member visit so we went knocking around our apartment. We passed a door that looked like no one was home, I felt I needed to knock on it so we went back. The man on the other side sounded a little gruff and asked who we were through the closed door, when we said we were the missionaries he opened it! He told us he read the bible all the time and so I told him about the Book of Mormon and gave him one, we tried to set up a teaching time but he travels a lot, He took our card and gave us a pamphlet to his church. We prayed with him right there on the door step. I had been hopeing for 2 things that would happen, One I would get rejected to my face so I wasn't scared of it and 2 that I would be able to give away a Book of Mormon to someone on the street or at the door. And both those things happened! Ofcourse I don't want to be rejected but I know that rejection is a part of missionary work and it has been something I have been afraid of and as of last week no one had rejected me to my face, when it happened I still knew how important the work was and hoped that the man would one day be open to hearing the message but knowing I had tried and done what the Lord asked of me that it was it is important.
We taught our second lesson to Shay and the spirit was so strong. She said she has been telling her friends and sister about us. She told them that we could help them with whatever was going on in their life. I thought this was so cool because before this lesson we had only met with her once and she had opened up to us a little bit but not even that much. So I know the spirit must have spoke to her and calmed her fears and worries and helped her with whatever she needed. We will be hopefully meeting with her and her friends when she returns from Thanksgiving break with her family! We invited her to pray about being baptized during Christmas Break when her mom comes to visit.
Last Tuesday we had a few minutes before a member visit so we went knocking around our apartment. We passed a door that looked like no one was home, I felt I needed to knock on it so we went back. The man on the other side sounded a little gruff and asked who we were through the closed door, when we said we were the missionaries he opened it! He told us he read the bible all the time and so I told him about the Book of Mormon and gave him one, we tried to set up a teaching time but he travels a lot, He took our card and gave us a pamphlet to his church. We prayed with him right there on the door step. I had been hopeing for 2 things that would happen, One I would get rejected to my face so I wasn't scared of it and 2 that I would be able to give away a Book of Mormon to someone on the street or at the door. And both those things happened! Ofcourse I don't want to be rejected but I know that rejection is a part of missionary work and it has been something I have been afraid of and as of last week no one had rejected me to my face, when it happened I still knew how important the work was and hoped that the man would one day be open to hearing the message but knowing I had tried and done what the Lord asked of me that it was it is important.
We taught our second lesson to Shay and the spirit was so strong. She said she has been telling her friends and sister about us. She told them that we could help them with whatever was going on in their life. I thought this was so cool because before this lesson we had only met with her once and she had opened up to us a little bit but not even that much. So I know the spirit must have spoke to her and calmed her fears and worries and helped her with whatever she needed. We will be hopefully meeting with her and her friends when she returns from Thanksgiving break with her family! We invited her to pray about being baptized during Christmas Break when her mom comes to visit.
We have two baptism dates but both were either sick or not home this whole
week. Its frusterating but I know that their is great things ahead. I keep
thinking, I am only 3 weeks in! I keep getting happier,. There is so much
happiness ahead I just know it. The best is yet to come.
The thing I am working on this week is trying to get people to feel how important my message is. When I talk to people at the store, in the streets, on the doorstep or in their house I don't want them to think I am just another member of just another church. I am not just teaching A message about Christ but THE message about Christ. This isn't just another Church in Clarksville Tennessee but this is THE church of Jesus Christ, His restored church with His restored Truths. I want people to know that this is something different, that this is something they need because it is just that. This will be the means of their salvation! A missionary in our last mission email said, " Forever Families are what we are out to give!" This message is eternity altering, not just life changing!
The thing I am working on this week is trying to get people to feel how important my message is. When I talk to people at the store, in the streets, on the doorstep or in their house I don't want them to think I am just another member of just another church. I am not just teaching A message about Christ but THE message about Christ. This isn't just another Church in Clarksville Tennessee but this is THE church of Jesus Christ, His restored church with His restored Truths. I want people to know that this is something different, that this is something they need because it is just that. This will be the means of their salvation! A missionary in our last mission email said, " Forever Families are what we are out to give!" This message is eternity altering, not just life changing!
I gave my first Book of Mormon away in Walmart today. I am making small
strides and expect to continue. We are supposed to talk to everybody and I dont
know how to do that but I am trying and I know the Lord is helping me. I just
need to move my feet and open my mouth, it is never as scary as I think that it
is!
Love Sister Oldham!
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