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| Gorilla statue reminded me of the San Diego Zoo |
Sounds like a low key week. Mine was kind of like that
too. Monday was very relaxed and we had dinner at the bishop's
house. We then went to a member's house to FHE with them and an
investigator. The investigator wasn't able to make it, so we had FHE with
her. It turned into a two hour appointment because she talked a
lot. All we did was asked her where she works and that turned into an
hour and a half long story with no pauses to breathe. So just remember
everyone, missionaries are supposed to be in and out in an hour, don't keep
them forever because we are too polite to interrupt!!
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| Sis Harrison & Me with the gorilla |
On Tuesday Sister Heaps had to go to a leadership meeting,
so the other sister training leader drove down, met at our apartment, we
switched companions, and then they drove away to the meeting. Sister Harrison
became my companion for the day. We did a lot of walking around. We
tried by potential investigators and less actives, but didn't really get in to
see anyone.
Our companions still weren't back, so we went to dinner at
a members house. They saw Sister Harrison and just laughed and
said, "You have got to be kidding me". They had had a crazy
night with nothing going right and they had been scrambling to find something
fast and gluten free for Sister Heaps, and she wasn't even there. We
apologized and said that she was supposed to be there, but they just laughed it
off which was good. Half way through dinner our companions showed up
because they needed to switch and get to an appointment, so they ended up
feeding all four of us. They are such good people! We then met another
member that we didn't know and went to the library to plan our seminary lesson
for Thursday morning.
Wednesday we went to the horse ranch and we dug more of the
hole. They needed it deeper. It was such an awkward angle and a
small space, that only two could really work at it at one time. Sister
Heaps and I did the first shift while the others cleared some brush. We
then headed home to have lunch and study, and then we had an appointment with
an investigator. It went well, but we are always there too long!!!
We are really working hard to cut down the time we are at people's homes so
they will be more willing to welcome us back again. After our appointment
we had dinner with a family and then went our to tract. We saw a family
and then went in to prepare our lesson for seminary tomorrow.
Taught seminary Thursday morning. It starts at 5:50,
that is so early. I don't remember how I used to do it! It went
well though. We taught from D&C Sections 14-16. They are
basically the Whitmer brothers mission calls, so that was cool. We talked
about some of our experiences, showed the mormon message "Same
Jersey", and then committed them all to be missionaries. It was
really good. Another seminary teacher heard about it and now we are
teaching the same lesson on Wednesday to the seniors. We then took a
little nap before 8 o'clock studies and then commenced weekly planning.
For seven hours. Seven. It was so long. We got a lot done,
but it was so long. We then had a lesson with a recent convert. She
is 17 and so cute. I just love her. She is great, but is so busy
with sports she doesn't have time for church. Her season ends at the end
of the month, so we are hoping she will be able to come more often.
On Friday we had zone meeting and it was really good.
The number of ITLs we have to get has been lowered to 15 (much more achievable
with all the appointments we have). We can go to the temple once a
transfer on a p-day now (changing your p-day to a different day of the week) as
long as a member takes you. So a couple of changes and some really good
training on how to better work with members. They emphasized how our
purpose is to invite ALL people to build their faith in Jesus Christ, members,
investigators, and everyone else we come in contact with. Also how we
need to embed ourselves in the ward council. Missionaries really want to
help the ward and can help in phases. Remember, ask the missionaries,
they can help!
After zone meeting we did some family history training.
We are learning how to do it so we can help others. I feel like I already
know quite a bit, but I can always learn more! We then dropped off a
Korean Book of Mormon to one of our investigators and went tracting. That
was a street full of prepared people!!!!!!!!!! Almost every door that
opened, someone listened to what we had to say and even seemed
interested. We got a referral for the YSA elders, a new investigator who
said "I don't know what prompted you to knock on my door, but I am glad
you did", someone who said they would watch conference, and we talked
about families to a young father for 10 minutes and directed him to where he
could look at a "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" It
was awesome!
We then had a good dinner and met a less active woman.
She was really nice, but clearly stated about 3 times that she was now Southern
Baptist. She said we could come back though, so who knows what will
happen. We also dropped by one of our investigators' and gave her a
present. She is moving into a new apartment since there was a little fire
in her's. We gave her a framed picture of Christ and a copy of "The
Living Christ", the testimony of the 12 Apostles. She wasn't there,
but her daughter was and it was good to talk with her and get to know
her. We have a lot in common.
Saturday was the beginning of General Conference. I
have never loved conference more than I have on my mission. It was
amazing! We watched the first session at the stake center and the second
session with a less active family. I thought it was really neat that some
of the speakers gave their talks in their native language. I loved watching Elder Holland speak. Go back and watch it.
He put so much emotion into his voice and was almost crying in some
places. It is worth it to go watch his talk. I also really like
Elder Christoffersen and Elder Jorg K(I can't spell his last name). We
had a good dinner with a family and then went off to contact some more people.
The Sunday sessions were also really good. We watched
the first session with a family who joined the church in China two years ago
and then we had lunch with them. They are super nice and sent us home
with lots of snacks and gluten free brownies (which are better than regular
brownies). We then went tracting before the second session which we
watched with another member. They have a tradition where they try to
finish a puzzle before conference is over. Though of you mom!! I
know how much you like puzzles. We then had dinner at a park before going
out to tract. We stopped by and visited a member family. They are
super musical so I was able to borrow some music. We then stopped by
another member before returning home.
I just love General Conference!!! I love that we have
the opportunity to listen to a living prophet and apostles. We have the
same organization has Christ's church, and He truly leads us today as He led
His church anciently. I can't wait to get he Conference issue of the
Ensign so I can go over the inspired messages that we received this weekend.
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| Street sign on way to Stake Center |
Love your missionary who is beating the streets in The
Woodlands!
Sister Hudgens
