Hi family! It was so good to see you this last week over facetime and ohhh man do I miss y'all!!!
This week has been pretty great! We were tracting a lot as usual and found tons of people who were interested in hearing our message. Since it was the holidays most of them didn't have much time but this next week we have booked with appointments with them. We also have been seeing tons of referrals coming in from passing out pass-along-cards and so we will be going to contact them asap!
Over the past couple of days I have collected quite a few interesting stories and situations. Tracting is the best because we get in the weirdest circumstances and people here are just so funny! Mostly the African American boys are the ones who crack me up. They are always hanging outside their windows and yelling out to us as we tract. We were walking down the street just this week when we started hearing some boys yelling at us and we turned around to see these three 20-year old boys poking their bodies out of a tiny little window telling to come talk to them. So then we end up talking to them at their door for a few and gave them a pass-along-card. I don't think they were interested in the gospel message, but they sure were interested in us!
We also were looking for new ways to go contacting because people are no longer outside and now since the holidays are coming to an end, no one is at the mall. So we deiced the other day that we were going to take the bus to save miles and also to meet more people. At first it was great! We contacted quite a few people who were super nice. Then as it started getting later we got a grumpier crowd of people and they didn't like us too much. I was the only white girl on the whole bus so I stood out like crazy. I actually sat next to this lady who did not want to have anything to do with me so she got up and moved to the back of the bus and then she started cussing me out because I sat next to her. I think she was having a bad day... That shook me up a bit so we were ready to head back to our car. We got off that bus to go to another bus and waited at the stop. We were standing there forever and then learned that the bus system was closing earlier because of the holidays. So then we got stranded all the way in South Euclid when our car was in Mayfield Heights. Plus it was the day we got tons of snow so we were freaking out and freezing. So the first thing we started to do was to walk towards Mayfield Heights and made phone calls to people who could possibly pick us up and drive us to our car. As we were walking a member saw us on the side of the road and offered to pick us up, but it was a man and his son so we weren't allowed to drive with them. So we had to pass up the offer. By this point we had already walked a couple miles so we decided to go into a little shop to get warm. Thankfully we were able to get a hold of some of the other missionaries who serve in the area next door (Sister Hardy and Sister Guinn) and they helped us get home. They were life savers! So we were very grateful for that. But basically, that day was the craziest day I think of my mission. But hey we did find some good potentials and I have definitely seen Heavenly Father bless us because of our efforts.
This we saw Mary Claire and I don't think we will be teaching her after this next week. She is starting to avoid talking about the gospel and just wants to hang out unfortunately :( Ugg! But she has introduced us to some people who seem to be interested so maybe thats why we were inspired to start teaching her again.
We also started teaching someone we contacted a while back and he is awesome! Is name is Shelish and he is from India. He was raised Hindu but he is interested in learning about Christ. It was so different teaching someone without a Christian background but it was so powerful! He was crying by the end of the lesson and he can't wait for us to come back. Woohoo!
We also met this lady and her family from Ghana who are super interested in learning about the church so we are scheduled to see them next week! So many people coming out of the blue! Miracles!
Christmas and Christmas eve were awesome! On Christmas Eve one of the members had us over for some seafood pasta. I was a little nervous because I don't do well with seafood, but it was so good! Miracles! It was also the Highams who cooked it and they always make good food so thats probably why I liked it.
One Christmas day we ate with Sister Smith and I swear it was one of the most meaningful Christmases I have ever had. Sister Smith is the sweetest thing and doesn't have much, but she went all out and spoiled us with a wonderful dinner. And then after we ate she started making a bunch of plates that she ended up bringing to those who didn't have a Christmas meal. Even though she has so little, she went all out to serve those around her. Ahh!!! I want to be more like her! She is one of the most selfless people I have ever met. So that was truly an inspiring evening and also helped me think about how grateful I am for all Heavenly Father has blessed us with. Even though I am imperfect and make mistakes everyday, Heavenly Father still loves. He loves us all so much that He even sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ to die for us. Truly the greatest gift we could ever receive. Sister Smith has helped me open my eyes more to how we can serve the Savior and our Heavenly Father back. We can serve Them by loving our brothers and sisters around us.
I love my mission!!!!! I wouldn't take it back for the world. I have learned so much and I just love being able to serve those around me. It has been difficult, but it has been well worth it. I LOVE YOU AND I MISS YOU FAMILY!!!!!
Love,
Sister Katie Call
This week has been pretty great! We were tracting a lot as usual and found tons of people who were interested in hearing our message. Since it was the holidays most of them didn't have much time but this next week we have booked with appointments with them. We also have been seeing tons of referrals coming in from passing out pass-along-cards and so we will be going to contact them asap!
Over the past couple of days I have collected quite a few interesting stories and situations. Tracting is the best because we get in the weirdest circumstances and people here are just so funny! Mostly the African American boys are the ones who crack me up. They are always hanging outside their windows and yelling out to us as we tract. We were walking down the street just this week when we started hearing some boys yelling at us and we turned around to see these three 20-year old boys poking their bodies out of a tiny little window telling to come talk to them. So then we end up talking to them at their door for a few and gave them a pass-along-card. I don't think they were interested in the gospel message, but they sure were interested in us!
We also were looking for new ways to go contacting because people are no longer outside and now since the holidays are coming to an end, no one is at the mall. So we deiced the other day that we were going to take the bus to save miles and also to meet more people. At first it was great! We contacted quite a few people who were super nice. Then as it started getting later we got a grumpier crowd of people and they didn't like us too much. I was the only white girl on the whole bus so I stood out like crazy. I actually sat next to this lady who did not want to have anything to do with me so she got up and moved to the back of the bus and then she started cussing me out because I sat next to her. I think she was having a bad day... That shook me up a bit so we were ready to head back to our car. We got off that bus to go to another bus and waited at the stop. We were standing there forever and then learned that the bus system was closing earlier because of the holidays. So then we got stranded all the way in South Euclid when our car was in Mayfield Heights. Plus it was the day we got tons of snow so we were freaking out and freezing. So the first thing we started to do was to walk towards Mayfield Heights and made phone calls to people who could possibly pick us up and drive us to our car. As we were walking a member saw us on the side of the road and offered to pick us up, but it was a man and his son so we weren't allowed to drive with them. So we had to pass up the offer. By this point we had already walked a couple miles so we decided to go into a little shop to get warm. Thankfully we were able to get a hold of some of the other missionaries who serve in the area next door (Sister Hardy and Sister Guinn) and they helped us get home. They were life savers! So we were very grateful for that. But basically, that day was the craziest day I think of my mission. But hey we did find some good potentials and I have definitely seen Heavenly Father bless us because of our efforts.
This we saw Mary Claire and I don't think we will be teaching her after this next week. She is starting to avoid talking about the gospel and just wants to hang out unfortunately :( Ugg! But she has introduced us to some people who seem to be interested so maybe thats why we were inspired to start teaching her again.
We also started teaching someone we contacted a while back and he is awesome! Is name is Shelish and he is from India. He was raised Hindu but he is interested in learning about Christ. It was so different teaching someone without a Christian background but it was so powerful! He was crying by the end of the lesson and he can't wait for us to come back. Woohoo!
We also met this lady and her family from Ghana who are super interested in learning about the church so we are scheduled to see them next week! So many people coming out of the blue! Miracles!
Christmas and Christmas eve were awesome! On Christmas Eve one of the members had us over for some seafood pasta. I was a little nervous because I don't do well with seafood, but it was so good! Miracles! It was also the Highams who cooked it and they always make good food so thats probably why I liked it.
One Christmas day we ate with Sister Smith and I swear it was one of the most meaningful Christmases I have ever had. Sister Smith is the sweetest thing and doesn't have much, but she went all out and spoiled us with a wonderful dinner. And then after we ate she started making a bunch of plates that she ended up bringing to those who didn't have a Christmas meal. Even though she has so little, she went all out to serve those around her. Ahh!!! I want to be more like her! She is one of the most selfless people I have ever met. So that was truly an inspiring evening and also helped me think about how grateful I am for all Heavenly Father has blessed us with. Even though I am imperfect and make mistakes everyday, Heavenly Father still loves. He loves us all so much that He even sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ to die for us. Truly the greatest gift we could ever receive. Sister Smith has helped me open my eyes more to how we can serve the Savior and our Heavenly Father back. We can serve Them by loving our brothers and sisters around us.
I love my mission!!!!! I wouldn't take it back for the world. I have learned so much and I just love being able to serve those around me. It has been difficult, but it has been well worth it. I LOVE YOU AND I MISS YOU FAMILY!!!!!
Love,
Sister Katie Call