sense of urgency

This past week has been full of amazing experiences. 

We received our first letters in hand for the new proselyting concept! We are so excited to begin contacting these best relations. We did the BRP with another member this past week very unexpectedly. We stopped by to pick up some food she offered us and she talked to us about how she's not sure how to bare her testimony to her friends at work before she moves away in a couple of weeks. We mentioned the BRP, and she begged us to do it. We received 25 refferals from this wonderful sister and will be picking up most of the letters on Tuesday. It was a wonderful experience and I'm excited to work with her friends.

We had an amazing lesson with a couple of our investigators, Eva and Patrick. We've worked with them on and off since I first came to Gaffney and they've been open but not really progressing. We found out a couple weeks ago that Patrick will have to get divorced from a previous wife before they can get married (they've been living together for almost a year but know they need to get married). We knew this lesson was a progress or drop lesson. We started off by talking about the 10 commandments and about their importance...including the law of chastity. Patrick could sense something was on our minds and asked. Sis. Kloepfel poured out her heart in boldness and said that we want to see them progress, but we can't help them unless they do something. Her comment could have led two ways: them kicking us out or them accepting to get baptized. I watched as we were bold in the spirit, how the spirit touched their hearts and helped them understand rather than push away. I've never felt the spirit work so powerfully. Nothing but the spirit could have done that. They understand now that blessings are in store if they will do what it takes to receive them. They are on date for March 3rd! wow....all I can say is wow.

We had a regional stake conference this past week that was broadcasted to our building. Elder M. Russell Ballard was the final speaker. His topic: missionary work. He told us that in the south east there are 65 million people and only 500,000 members...that's about 160 people to every member. He said this is the last dispensation and there is an urgency to get the work done. We need to be in a hurry to do the work of bringing souls to Christ. His words were so powerful and bold (he was basically calling everyone to repentance). He talked about the worth of every soul in the sight of God. This work is so important. We don't have as much time as other dispensations. These are the final days and there are many who are lost and know not where to find the truth. We have the sacred calling to help them, whether they are in our families, among our friends, in our wards, or on the other side. This work is so important and we need to be in a hurry to accomplish it. I am glad that as a full time missionary I get to be in the thick of it :) , but members are truly the key.

Have a wonderful week and may all y'all find an opportunity to share the gospel this week :)

Love,

Sister Cottam

P.S. Transfers are this week...I'm excited to spend another 6 weeks in Gaffney with Sis. Kloepfel and see how much we will learn and grow together!