Tuesday, February 9, 2016

oh my GOODNESS!

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh  my goodness!!!

Can life even be described right now? Not really. So much craziness, but so much goodness! Since we have been put in a trio we have literally hit the ground running, no time to lose! The time is far spent!!!
Cali Burritos forever!
And TRIOS forever!!
So Tuesday night Sister Steward went with another Sister Steward while she is waiting for her new Temple square companion to come! So Tuesday Sister Purcell and I, my favorite Aussie, stayed in the Santee area while Sister Stewart got to go back to her old area, or our old area of Hillsdale!! She had a blast and so did we! Since we are in a trio it's really easy to be able to divide and conquer and get both areas! And guess what? We added to our teaching pool in both areas!!!!
The other sisters were able to have a rocking street contact and we were able to go back and try some people Sister P and  I found the day before. We were trying a recent move-in, but she moved. But the young couple that was there is interested so we came back and taught the wife! It was so cool! She's looking for a religion. I love those people. And we will add her husband soon too! And they are excited to come to church! Milagros all around!
We also went to go teach a recent convert John, and he cooked us some warm treats. It was so nice. :) And then we taught a nine year old recent convert. Some living conditions are hard to see but I'm grateful he has the gospel in his life! :)
So we were finally able to be all together on Wednesday morning, filled with running around and meeting the other Sister Stewart's new companion from Temple Square. AND GUESS WHAT, SISTER WARDINSKY TRAINED HER!!!! Ahhhhhhh!!! I was so excited to see her! She's so cute and she gets to go into the same area Sister Wardinsky did, it's the best! But we had a stellar district meeting, per usual. But the coolest thing happened that night, we were planning on teaching Julie and it only made sense that if a member were to come with us, which someone was, that we should go on splits and divide and conquer! So Sister Purcell went to go meet Julie with the YWs President and a YW while Sister Stewart and I went out to go find some people! And right as we were walking away I felt prompted to go introduce her to a YSA investigator who lived in the same apartment complex. So she met Josh, we set up a time to meet and then we asked "Who do you know?" and he referred us right across the walkway to his friend Jordan. Now I had met Jordan when I first street contacted Josh. He didn't seem too interested but we did it anyway. He answered, he was happy to listen and he accepted the Restoration so well! And we were able to add him as an investigator!!! IT WAS SO COOL!! Dividing and conquering truly works. Delegation is an attribute of the Lord! Miracles happen! He was so excited for church too! He didn't come to church but we hope to see him soon. Seemed really solid. And also on the way out of the apartment Sister Purcell was able to street contact this other girl, named Ashley. She lives right above Julie and is the same age and she seemed super interested too!!! And the YW President was there to see that and it was just so perfect! The Lord's hand in it for sure!
Thursday was good old weekly planning and preparing for a training we were asked to give at a big mission meeting. BUT we did get to go to the Mormon Battalion with Vanessa, our investigator. It was so fun!! Vanessa loved it! And you all will too, SO YOU NEED TO GO!!! She wants to bring her kids back, I'm so excited for her! She's getting baptized for SURE!!!
with Vanessa
Then Friday we were able to have a FANTASTIC MLC, Mission Leadership Council meeting. It's such an honor to be a part of it, it's definitely helping me to grow and forming me into the person I want to be.
The Mission Leader Conference
When I first became a Sister Training Leader Sister Pilkington gave me this talk by Neal A. Maxwell to read, "Jesus: The Perfect Leader." READ IT. It's way good.
Saturday we had to finish weekly planning and preparation for MTEs. We matched who all the Ssiters would be with, of course prayerfully, and all by the Lord. And then we finished planning our training. We were able to see Eddie though! He is doing so great, I've never seen someone change so much, for the better and really apply the gospel in his life. I'm so proud of him!!!!!!!! Sister Purcell also had a baptism in he rold area in Poway she was speaking in and he came!!! :) It's quite a drive and it was so nice of him to come see and feel of the spirit. He rocks!! And Sister Purcell is a BEAST speaker, and it has nothing to do with her accent. :)
Sunday. GAME DAY. And not because it was the Super Bowl. Keeping the Sabbath Day holy is important, it's a commandment. Just remember that. But it was the best game day ever. WE HAD FIVE INVESTIGATORS AT CHURCH!!!!! It was the best! Eddie, Philip, and Stephanie all came to YSA!! :) And then Vanessa and Julie came to church on Sunday in Grossmont!!! :) :) :) I love these people so much! They are my family. I stayed in YSA with a YSA as my companion adn Sisters Purcell and Stewart went into Grossmont Family Ward. It was so cool!! Jake, our recent convert, HE PASSED THE SACRAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME!! Ah, it was so cool! And being it was fast and testimony meeting, I decided to go up and share my devotion to and love for Jesus Christ because it's so huge! And guess what? Our recent convert Anthony went up and bore his testiomony as well! He's a good guy.  And then, EDDIE WENT UP AND BORE HIS TESTIMONY!!! Ahhhhh my heart was so full of joy and it still is! He talked about how much he's changed. And boy, he sure has! Sunday was great. :)
Sister Stewart also taught Julie again that night with a member and she is so ready to be baptized this upcoming week!!! I AM SOO EXCITED!!!! I love her a lot. She's like my little sister. While Sister Stewart was teaching, Sister Purcell and I were able to divide and conquer and find some potentials! It was awesome. :)
Then Monday morning we headed off to MTEs. We got some wonderful training about achieving our mission goals for 2016 which are
1. Invite someone to be baptized daily.
2. Practice (role play) everyday.
3. Have members present at every lesson and have Bishops contact investigators with baptismal dates within 48 hours.
So we can achieve 1,000 convert baptisms in 2016!!!
We got training for the first two on the first day and then we went out, we switched up companionships and the Lord wanted me to be with Sister M. Stewart, who is currently serving in the Hillsdale/Jamul area!! It was great. We were able to go out into Jamul and teach a self referral, she wanted a Book of Mormon and we taught her the Restoration! :) She just loved the Joseph Smith story, the spirit was so strong. We invited her to be baptized but she doesn't want to change religions. But she does still want to keep meeting with the Sisters. Interesting how these things work out.
We were then able to teach Kevin, an investigator I taught last time with Sister 'Eukaliti, at the Mormon Battalion. We set him a date for Feb 13th but we re-set it with him last night for March 5th. We taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ and we really went over repentance, what it truly means, why it matters adn we committed him to repent! It felt so good! Because if you think about it, Christ wants us to repent. If we don't, there is not point for his sacrifice. He is joyous when we repent! He jumps for joy. So REPENT!! Anyways, it's just great.
The the next morning, this morning, all the missionaries gathered together and reported on their miracles! It was awesome! And then Sister Purcell, Stewart and I gave training on how to get members to every lesson present. I thought it went really well, some interaction, video clips, and a role play. I'm glad that one is over and done with. I also had the pleasure of accompanying an Elder and some sisters to the song of "Come Thou Font of Every Blessing." Great song, great spirit.
And in the words of President Schmitt, "Happy Arizona Day!" February 14th is the day Arizona became a state. What a great day to celebrate and I hope you all share your love for Arizona just like all the missionaries will be! ;)
I love you all, and most of important so does your Father in Heaven! Show some of your love for him this Sunday, on his day.
Love,
Sister Whitcomb

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