It's amazing how even in the midst of struggles, the Lord teaches us and lets us see his hand in our lives. I've noticed the little miracles each day this week and rejoiced in them from a cooling breeze in the sticky heat to finally getting in contact with an investigator. We found a couple new investigators this week and have been striving to follow up with our other investigators. After about two or three weeks of no contact with one investigator, Krista, we had the miracle of getting in contact with her again this week. She and her family have had a nasty virus going among them and she didn't want to pass it on. She told us that she has been reading the Book of Mormon and has thouroughly enjoyed it! We set up another appointment to see her this week. We are praying that we will be able to help her gain a testimony that the Book of Mormon is true and help her see how the restored gospel will truly bless her family and her life. We have a member coming with us to the lesson.
One of our new investigators this week actually lives in the other ward, but I'm so grateful for the opportunity we have had to find him. He met with missionaries in the past. We contacted him a week ago as he was outside his mom's apartment building. We invited him to come to church again and to learn more. He promised he would come. We didn't see him that week at church, but the next week, we went over to meet his mom and to teach her and he stopped by as we were leaving. He told us he wanted to talk to us when we had more time. Two days later we were in the same complex for another appointment and he saw us. He told us to come over after the appointment. Our appointment wasn't there, so we went over. He asked us a question about how we stay strong admist all the temptations. We bore frequent testimony as we answered his question, read with him in the Book of Mormon, and committed him to baptism. The Lord has prepared him to receive the gospel again into his life. The elders in the other ward will begin teaching him this week.
I love how the Lord answers prayers. This past week he has answered my pleas to find people to teach by helping me see how we need to improve in order to gain more investigators. We had interviews this week and all of the trainings were exactly what we needed. The Doctrine of Everything has been my theme this week. It means doing everything in your power in every aspect of the work to help people come unto Christ. We have evaluated our efforts and commited to do everything, not just what has been done, to accomplish this work from planning more effectively to working with members. I really feel like true success will come in this area only as we heavily involve the members and work with their friends and family (if only I had come to truly understand this 9 months ago ;) ). I feel that now is the time, that this is what this ward needs.
I'm so grateful for the training program. Sometimes I feel like I learn more that Sis. Koeven does. The Lord is preparing us with the tools to do this work, and we have set goals to work more diligently with members with whom we have meals and with our recent converts to find new investigators through the BRP and other tools to help the work move forward. We're excited to see the results.
I read this quote today that I wanted to share from Elder David F. Evans' talk "Was it worth it?" from this past general conference:
"In addition to the work we will do within our own family...'we labor dilligently to...persuade our...brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God...[2 Nephi 25:23]' ...
"President Thomas S. Monson explained how we can help when he said, 'Our missionary experiences have to be current. It is not enough to sit back and ponder former experiences. To be fulfilled, you have to continue to naturally and normally share the gospel.'
"The work of naturally and normally sharing the gospel with those we care about and love will be the work and joy of our lives...Whenever the gospel is shared, it is never 'just one boy'. Whenever conversion happens or someone returns to the Lord, it is a family that is saved."
Love you lots!!
Love,
Sister Cottam
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