January 28, 2019

My trainee is going to kill me!!

I thought the longer you have been out, the less chaotic things would be, that is false doctrine. Every week I tell myself, "this week is going to be less crazy," but that's just me in denial because I know what is up ahead lol. Anyway, This has been a week to remember! All of us sisters in the zone got together for breakfast and made crepes! And the whole zone, most of us at least played soccer because it was Elder Gois' last Pday as a missionary! He is from Brazil and is deaf and is the most amazing elder out there. There were around 23 of us all playing and it was a blast! So many funny instances of us ramming into each other on the field..it happens. 

We went on two exchanges this week, I went with Hermana Hall and Penrod while Sister Allen was with Hermana Nygren and Burbank. It was fun! Spanish land is always a party, the people are all so friendly. The Russian sisters came up to give me stuff I left from staying with them last week, they are the best.

Crazy Miracle!

We got a refferal from Headquarters about 4 weeks ago now and his name is Daniel. He was chatting with missionaries on Mormon.org and was so interested in learning more. We got in contact with him and started texting him and set something up to meet. He has so many amazing questions, he has read the Book of Mormon up to 3 Nephi at that point. Before meeting with him, he texted us concerned about an LDS Extremist group that he heard about. He also was concerned about our views on the LGBT community as well. We explained all that we could but he just could not associate himself with a "hate group" so he told us we needed to no longer text him. We were devastated and we told him not to let these things pull you away from what he has already felt and the truths he has been able to discover. 

But here comes he crazy part! 3 weeks later, we got sent his referral again and in this referral it said that some elders set up a time to meet with Daniel tomorrow at our church? We honestly were so confused. We called the missionaries that said they set this up and they are all the way down in Burien in the Seattle mission and they told us they have no idea who Daniel is or anything. Then we call the Sisters who chatted with Daniel from Hawaii and asked if they resent his referral and they said they did not. So we go to the source and decide to text Daniel and ask him. He told us he hasn't heard anything about meeting with any missionaries. But then starts chatting with us again. He told us that when he learned about this extremist group he stopped reading the Book of Mormon, but ultimately decided he "couldn't just not finish it because of a few fringe people online." He started talking again and answering his questions he has. we were able to set up a time to meet with him on Thursday. We had the hardest time finding members to come to the lesson since it was the morning on a week day. But we got our Stake President to come and another lady from he ward and we had our lesson in his office haha. But Holy cow, Daniel is very knowledgeable in the church. he is 40 years old and loves reading. He said he has downloading the gospel library app and has just been reading so many things! He finished the Book of Mormon, has read the whole gospel Principles book, some of D&C, and many talks given by past prophets and apostles and so on. The only thing he has never done is met with missionaries in person and come to church. We had a very powerful lesson on the Restoration with him and it all makes sense to him and says he really relates to Joseph Smith. this is some of the questions he sends us over text, "Question: I've been studying baptism and I know that it symbolically cleanses your sins and even Jesus was baptized even though He didn't need to. If I was to die and not be baptized would that keep me from going to a better place? I'm rereading 3rd Nephi again to get a better grasp on baptism and why people do it. What is receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost?" 

It honestly blows my mind how much he has studied about the church, and it all makes sense to him. He already knows everything about what we teach people in the lessons we share, but just helping him gain that testimony about it all is what we are doing now. He got emotional after reciting Joseph smith's vision and asking him about how he felt. The commitments we leave with him he does that day haha. He is so solid. He told us he read the Plan of Salvation pamphlet we left with him and said that it feels so familiar and it all resonated with him, just so crazy. But we are meeting with him again tonight and we are excited to help him learn more. 

TRAINING CALL!!

Sister Allen and I both got training calls Thursday night. Funny story about that, the ZL's call us and ask for Sister Allen and tell her, and then that was it, We had our Zone Leader Confrence call over FB messenger that night and after that it was pretty late. They then are calling us over the FB Messenger again and it is 10:17 pm and I answer and they ask for sister Allen and they tell her, "You don't have to find a ride to go to the training tomorrow because Sister Stokes will be training too." I flipped! I was not expecting it at all honestly, They told me they forgot if I was training or another sister so they didn't tell me when they told sister Allen haha. But It is so crazy! We got transfer calls today and Sister Allen is leaving so she is most likely white wash training which is crazy. There are 8 of us sisters training and I am exciting and nervous all at the same time! Pray for me and my Trainee! She's gonna need it hahah. Not sure if I'm still going to be a Solo Sister training leader, hopefully not because it was a lot this transfer, and it would be way much while training haha. 

Jennifer was Baptized!

someone I had the opportunity to help teach in my last area was baptized on Saturday! She is honestly the most amazing women ever and I love her so much.

We got some really awful news last night about our recent convert Barbra..the one whos kidney transplant isn't working and found out she has cancer. She started Kemo and it hasn't been working and the doctor gave her 2-3 days to live.. we are devastated, but Barbra is in good spirits about it. She has been through so much this past year and in so much pain. I know she is going to be released from all her pains and in a better place. 

 

I am grateful for the Gospel in my life, it keeps me centered and helps me know the things I need to be doing and what will bring me Joy. I love my Savior and I have grown closer to Him than I ever have been because of the experiences I have had on my mission and helping others come unto Christ. I love you all, have a great week!

love,

Sister Stokes