Heyyyyyyya!!!!
This week has been crazy!!!!
I never know where to start.
The Westlake Seminary Skype session was awesome! Everyone was a wee bit tired and shy. (sometimes its weird to talk to a computer screen) but it was still way cool! It was also neat to see my little seeeester. She's pretty great. But I sure hope no one actually recorded that Skype tour. Man I was nervous. Probably my most shaky tour I have ever given. I just can't wait to actually give my family a real tour in person. That's a year away so I have plenty of time to perfect it.
Lets see... We had interviews this week! It was much needed because I started over stressing myself again. Interviews always seem to be at the perfect time. First thing President said when I came in was, "Why are you so good?" I was confused but then he said, "Ya know, you are on a mission, and you love your mission, and you love your companion, and you love the gospel, and you are worthy of a temple recommend etc., ya know?" And I was like, "Oh okay. Sure, ya, I guess you could say that haha." He thought I was hilarious. I think I was more just super spacey. It had been a rough couple of weeks so my brain was everywhere. But President told me I was a good missionary, gave me some advice on how to find more investigators, and that was that. I was super sad after my interview though when I realized that was my last interview with President Vellinga. He is such an inspired man and has such a strong spirit that just overwhelms everyone when he walks into a room.
We had exchanges this week as well. Sister Hardy and I went out to my area and we saw a couple of people. Most importantly we saw Karen and talked to her about faith and baptism. It was kinda a crazy lesson. She wasn't opposed to baptism when we were talking about it and then we asked her to pray about being baptized. Before she responded, she started asking questions about how we baptize. She said, "well there is no way you're getting me into no water." And then I said, " but what if it's Gods will?" and she got quiet and promised to pray about it. Seconds later she said,"well could my friend Janet come to my baptism, and would you be there Sister Call? And how many people would come??? Oh wait, what am I saying?!?! I haven't agreed to this yet!!!" Sister Hardy then jumped in and said, "its because you know its the right thing to do." She smiled and then gave us both big hugs. The only thing about that lesson was that Karen was super sad because she knows I am leaving soon. There is a possibility that she is "converted to me" rather than to the gospel. Oh, I sure hope not! But it will be good once I am gone so she really focuses on the gospel and builds that testimony of the Churches truth.
What else... oh we had the neatest miracle! So during interviews President and I were talking about finding new investigators. He gave me the advice to keep my prayers very specific and to believe in the goals we set. As part of the Ohio Cleveland Mission standards of excellence, we set goals for three new investigators a week at least. He said, "If you believe in that goal and pray everyday for it and really work to find investigators, then Heavenly Father will provide them." After interviews that day, Sister Adame and I were saying a prayer before we headed out the door and we prayed for the opportunity to find three new people to help come closer to Christ. Then we arrived at one of our appointments we had a miracle specific to that prayer. We drove up to Connee's house and looked across the street at Connee's mothers house where Connee was sitting on the steps with three other people. I guess the people worked for AT&T and they were installing a new internet system at Connee's mom's place. Anyway, Connee called us over and introduced us. We told them that we were missionaries and we told them about what we do. They asked what we believe and then we got into a little discussion. We told them about the Book of Mormon and they seemed very interested so we gave each of them a Book of Mormon. Then they asked us (before we even had to ask them) for our contact information and then they gave us their contacts. Now these people didn't actually live in our area but they were truly interested in learning. First, what an answer to prayers! Three people all at once. Maybe not new investigators for our area, but new investigators for other areas. Hey, ya see how the Lord works sometimes? hahaha And the second neatest thing was Connee was there to bear her own testimony of the truth. She was so excited to share the truth she had found through the church and was not one bit to afraid to do so. It was the neatest thing. Just two missionaries, one awesome member, and three other children of God sitting on the steps talking about our Heavenly Father's love for us and the restoration. It was the coolest!
Man am I grateful for prayer! And for specific prayer!!!! I always say that missions are full of miracles, which they are, but I always ponder the many miracles that happened to me before my mission that I didn't recognize or understand. I am glad the mission has helped me open my eyes a little bit more. I feel like I more appreciate and recognize those things that Heavenly Father has provided. Those blessings are everywhere! Its impossible to thank God enough! I love you family!!!!!! Keep safe!!!! and I will talk to you later this week, Mothers day to be exact! LOOOOOOOVVVVEEEE YALLLLLLLLL!!! Take care!!!
Love,
Sister Katie Call
This week has been crazy!!!!
I never know where to start.
The Westlake Seminary Skype session was awesome! Everyone was a wee bit tired and shy. (sometimes its weird to talk to a computer screen) but it was still way cool! It was also neat to see my little seeeester. She's pretty great. But I sure hope no one actually recorded that Skype tour. Man I was nervous. Probably my most shaky tour I have ever given. I just can't wait to actually give my family a real tour in person. That's a year away so I have plenty of time to perfect it.
Lets see... We had interviews this week! It was much needed because I started over stressing myself again. Interviews always seem to be at the perfect time. First thing President said when I came in was, "Why are you so good?" I was confused but then he said, "Ya know, you are on a mission, and you love your mission, and you love your companion, and you love the gospel, and you are worthy of a temple recommend etc., ya know?" And I was like, "Oh okay. Sure, ya, I guess you could say that haha." He thought I was hilarious. I think I was more just super spacey. It had been a rough couple of weeks so my brain was everywhere. But President told me I was a good missionary, gave me some advice on how to find more investigators, and that was that. I was super sad after my interview though when I realized that was my last interview with President Vellinga. He is such an inspired man and has such a strong spirit that just overwhelms everyone when he walks into a room.
We had exchanges this week as well. Sister Hardy and I went out to my area and we saw a couple of people. Most importantly we saw Karen and talked to her about faith and baptism. It was kinda a crazy lesson. She wasn't opposed to baptism when we were talking about it and then we asked her to pray about being baptized. Before she responded, she started asking questions about how we baptize. She said, "well there is no way you're getting me into no water." And then I said, " but what if it's Gods will?" and she got quiet and promised to pray about it. Seconds later she said,"well could my friend Janet come to my baptism, and would you be there Sister Call? And how many people would come??? Oh wait, what am I saying?!?! I haven't agreed to this yet!!!" Sister Hardy then jumped in and said, "its because you know its the right thing to do." She smiled and then gave us both big hugs. The only thing about that lesson was that Karen was super sad because she knows I am leaving soon. There is a possibility that she is "converted to me" rather than to the gospel. Oh, I sure hope not! But it will be good once I am gone so she really focuses on the gospel and builds that testimony of the Churches truth.
What else... oh we had the neatest miracle! So during interviews President and I were talking about finding new investigators. He gave me the advice to keep my prayers very specific and to believe in the goals we set. As part of the Ohio Cleveland Mission standards of excellence, we set goals for three new investigators a week at least. He said, "If you believe in that goal and pray everyday for it and really work to find investigators, then Heavenly Father will provide them." After interviews that day, Sister Adame and I were saying a prayer before we headed out the door and we prayed for the opportunity to find three new people to help come closer to Christ. Then we arrived at one of our appointments we had a miracle specific to that prayer. We drove up to Connee's house and looked across the street at Connee's mothers house where Connee was sitting on the steps with three other people. I guess the people worked for AT&T and they were installing a new internet system at Connee's mom's place. Anyway, Connee called us over and introduced us. We told them that we were missionaries and we told them about what we do. They asked what we believe and then we got into a little discussion. We told them about the Book of Mormon and they seemed very interested so we gave each of them a Book of Mormon. Then they asked us (before we even had to ask them) for our contact information and then they gave us their contacts. Now these people didn't actually live in our area but they were truly interested in learning. First, what an answer to prayers! Three people all at once. Maybe not new investigators for our area, but new investigators for other areas. Hey, ya see how the Lord works sometimes? hahaha And the second neatest thing was Connee was there to bear her own testimony of the truth. She was so excited to share the truth she had found through the church and was not one bit to afraid to do so. It was the neatest thing. Just two missionaries, one awesome member, and three other children of God sitting on the steps talking about our Heavenly Father's love for us and the restoration. It was the coolest!
Man am I grateful for prayer! And for specific prayer!!!! I always say that missions are full of miracles, which they are, but I always ponder the many miracles that happened to me before my mission that I didn't recognize or understand. I am glad the mission has helped me open my eyes a little bit more. I feel like I more appreciate and recognize those things that Heavenly Father has provided. Those blessings are everywhere! Its impossible to thank God enough! I love you family!!!!!! Keep safe!!!! and I will talk to you later this week, Mothers day to be exact! LOOOOOOOVVVVEEEE YALLLLLLLLL!!! Take care!!!
Love,
Sister Katie Call