Hello, my dear family and friends!
May I start with a miracle please? Then I'll report the rest.
A couple of weeks
back a set of Elders in the J1 area (a different part of my zone) asked
the mission if there were any deaf branches. Well, our stake does and
our particular building does and we have interacted with them a bit so
we commented that we could help. They explained how they had found a
deaf woman who really wanted to learn more, but neither of the Elders
sign ASL; they used the help of an interpreter. They have taught her
quite a bit, and have even invited her to be baptized on Dec. 17th, they
just need help with church. They got ahold of us asking for help in
getting this woman to church, but then she didn't come and we didn't
hear from them for a while.
Sunday, they got
ahold of us again to confirm the time and location the branch meets and
then asked us to help her when she came. And she came!! She brought her
daughter and they sat in the front with a few members and we got to
speak (sign) with her after sacrament meeting. We introduced her to one
of our friends and that member took this woman to class. After church we
meet up with them again and this woman, who's name is Sunshine, is so
happy! She loved church and so did her daughter! Our friend who signs
told us that Sunshine had many questions and was really excited to learn
more.
This is a miracle
for me though because the members of the branch have been telling us how
much they want to have missionaries and do missionary work, but that
it's been rough lately. The excitement they had when we told them an
investigator was coming to the branch was amazing to see. Also, when we
informed the Stake about Sunshine, they seemed surprised but super
happy. I think this area is growing and it's showing in different forms
than expected, but it's all just as amazing.
We are continuing
to try and find new investigators and contact those we have already met,
and we aren't seeing dramatic differences, but we are starting to make
progress with some people. The wards are starting to step up and offer
help with the people we are teaching and even give us referrals. This
week we hope to have a referral for 2 less-active women who will be
joining us for dinner. We will be going back to families we taught this
past week to follow up on prayers and see who they feel need the gospel
right now. Leaders are excited to work with us and encourage others to
work with us. We have a split chart for each ward and people are signing
up to go out with us each week. I'm really excited to see member trust
building up and to see their excitement levels go up!
Oh! And how could I forget Thanksgiving? :)
We started the day
out with service; a local hospital was hosting a race to raise money
for a charity. Our job was to hold a sign directing the racers to the
correct street. Naturally, I volunteered to wear a turkey hat when they
offered them so that we could be more easily seen. We had a great time
playing in the snow as we waited for the racers, and then when they were
there, cheering them on to the next part! To reach the point where we
were at, the runners had to go up a hill, and so we made sure that
everyone was cheered on and congratulated for completing that hard
segment.
After the service
we gathered as a mission to play Turkey Bowl! We had a great time
playing football in the snow; my companion LOVED it, seeing as it was
her first time playing football. I loved playing and then, as we passed
the 2 hour mark, watching. We were then invited to join another
companionship in visiting a recent convert family in their area to watch
movies and eat food. We decided to go and so we headed out to Clinton
area to be with this family.
We didn't get back
to our area until later that evening so we joined 2 families in their
celebrations. It was so much fun with both because we became their
family members for that time. I love my wards and the members that live
here; they are so kind and warm to others. It was also Sis. Soakai's
first thanksgiving and she had a blast! We ended the night at a member's
home playing Hand and Foot, a card game.
It's been a good
week overall, I'm hoping that this coming week we'll see more people
opening their doors to us and finding more new people. I want to see
miracles and we will do everything in our power to make them happen.
Now, to help those we've found to progress and to find more!
I love you all! Have a great week, be good, and remember who you are!
Love,
Sister Lindh
Hermana Lindh
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