Yep, we tracted during the Superbowl!!!!!!!!
WELCOME
TO AQUIA! (uh-kwi-uh) I have been transferred to a new area and I have a
new companion! I felt it coming. It was hard to leave Gainesville, but
it was time. I was becoming too comfortable and a little idle. Neal A.
Maxwell said, "The holy ghost will comfort the afflicted and afflict the
comfortable." I think I shared that with you before, but I love it and
often need a reminder.
|
Sister Kramer and me |
My companion is Sister Kraemer. She just got out of the MTC 4 days ago!
Haha! So I am training her AND we are whitewashing in the city of
Stafford, the Ward is called Aquia. Whitewashing means that my companion
and I are the new sisters in the ward.
Usually, one missionary will stay and a new one will come in. That way
at least one companion knows the area, investigators and ward, but this
time it is all new. And let me tell you. It is all NEW! I love it, but
it is very hard. I love the ward. They are all so welcoming and stoked
about missionary work. The ward is a LOT smaller than Gainesville. I am
now in the city of Stafford. We are
finding people who are interested here. So far, the people here are
quite nice. We have a lot more military families here. We are working
hard to understand the area. I love my companion. She is a sweetheart
from Ogden Utah. I'm excited to work with her.
I feel very blessed.
Although everything is overwhelming me, I can feel the Lord calming my
heart. Someone once said, "God does not call the qualified, he qualifies
the called." I am street contacting a lot more people. I don't feel so
judged by my companion as I have in the past. My companion is so new to
everything that it is overwhelming her, but she recognizes that and is
trying her best to find the strength to move forward. I love her a lot.
I am so glad to be in this new area. I am so glad for new investigators,
potential investigators, ward members, apartment and companion.
There
was a "linger longer"/"break the fast" last night after church, so we
got to meet some more members.
And yes, yesterday, we did tract during the superbowl. haha! It was
pretty funny some of the responses we got, "You know you are tracting
during the superbowl right?" I'd say, "Yep. What's the score?!" Not out
of any curiosity of my own, but so they could calm down and know we are
human, but we are servants of the Lord. We did get a good potential
investigator out of it. My last companion did not like to tract, and it
feels so good to be tracting again. That is just part of missionary
work. I don't love it, but I know it reaps blessings.
Since we both just got here, we have no idea where anything it is. We
have had some funny experiences so far. For example, the first night we
got here, we tried to get into the wrong apartment! haha! The key didn't
work and then the handle started twisting and a lady called from within
and said, "Who's there?" We were so embarrassed but said, "The
missionaries!" She opened the door and talked with us. She is so sweet and formally introduced herself as a Christian. :)
|
Oh dear... |
Another funny thing, we were left in the apartment with ONE roll of
toilet paper. okay... ha! So we had to ask a brother from the ward if it
was okay that we took a roll of toilet paper from the church.
Haha! We
only shop one day a week ya know? Unless it is a dire emergency, but
here we were able to get something settled.
This week I learned that we can truly be forgiven for any mistake ever
made. An investigator asked, "Can you really be forgiven if you murder
someone?" My response, "Yes. Christ's Atonement truly is THAT powerful!
And God KNOWS the intent of our heart. He will know if we deserve
forgiveness no matter how grievous the sin." He was so shocked. I know
the Atonement had to be done. There had to be an infinite and intimate
sacrifice for all. It is very much on an individual level. The Atonement
is real. I have felt it cleanse me and I have felt it enable me.
According to the bible dictionary, the word grace does 3 things:
cleanse/heal, enable, and exalt. I know these things are true, for the
Lord God hath spoken it! :)
-Sister Zibetti