Servus!
:)
This
week waaaaas amazing! Sister McEwen and I are the best of friends. Seriously,
we are constantly laughing and having a good time and doing some incredible
work! We had a couple of appointments fall out and so we had some extra time to
do some... you guessed it - finding! We
went out and just talked with everything that moved and found loads of people
TOTALLY ready to receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We had set a goal to find 10 people this week
and we found 18 in two hours! (And on a not too busy street!) It's so incredible that as we just set our
plans by the Spirit (we like to pray before we set goals and make plans for the
coming day and week and then go on how we feel). It really works so well!
I
loved this quote I read this morning from C.S. Lewis:
“I
pray because I can’t help myself. … I pray because the need flows out of me all
the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God. It changes me.”3
M
is one of our amazing investigators.. I think I've mentioned her before.. can't
remember! Either way, she's a young student and has such a big heart. As we've
been teaching her about God as our Heavenly Father, that she can be cleansed
from her sins and start fresh, we've been able to see this light really just
grow within her. She's received this brightness of hope in her life and is
making huge changes in order to prepare herself for sacred covenants. Our
lesson in Sunday School yesterday was about Baptism (I was translating for
her), and at the very end of the class, she turned to me and said, 'Sister
Harman, I think I am almost ready for my baptism. I think God wants me to be
changed in Him' She was so sincere and so excited that all I could do was give
her a big hug and tell her that God was so proud of the steps that she is
making in her life.
''But
truly our Father knows us and hears the pleadings of our hearts. He
accomplishes His miracles one prayer at a time, one person at a time.'
I've
found that as I take the time to help each person, one at a time. To reach out
in love, to each Child of God that I meet - they respond in that same Spirit, that
spirit of love, appreciation, the Spirit of God.
Spiritual
experiences:
Last
Sunday, a Bruder came up and talked to an investigator (17) and I. He promptly
invited Sister McEwen and I over for dinner for the following Sunday aka
yesterday. I didn't think anything of it. I had never met this Bruderl before
but, members like inviting the new missionaries over so it wasn't too
surprising. We got home after church and I realized this is Familie has 2 less
active sons YSA aged, an 18 year old that isn't sure he wants to go on a
mission, and an 11 year old that is still going strong. Their older 3 sons
served missions, married in the temple and have cute little families. My first
Sunday, I asked about the YSA program and everyone said it was pretty much dead.
Loads of inactives and that I shouldn't bother reaching out because they were
'too far gone'. So last week, I realized
that this family was on the so called 'too far gone' list. But, Sister McEwen and I are both go-getters
so I thought. PFFFT. The Lord put the two of us together here in Linz
So
we went to this appointment (and got our investigator invited as well) and
worked like crazy! We hit it off with the sons.
We talked so much about missions, about how they've changed our lives
and at the end of the lunch and then lesson, the sons agreed to come to the YSA
activity today (they NEVER come!) and our investigator agreed to pray about a
baptismal date!
Then
this morning I read this quote in the GC Liahona, which says:
It
is not yet too late to repent. But it soon may be, because no one really knows
when your four minutes will be over.
Now,
you may be thinking to yourself, “I already blew it. My four minutesare already
a disaster. I may as well give up.” If so, stop thinking that, and never think
it again. The miracle of the Atonement can make up forimperfections in our
performance. As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has taught:
“To
those of you … who may still be hanging back, … I testify of the renewing power
of God’s love and the miracle of His grace. …
“…
It is never too late so long as the Master … says there is time. … Don’t
delay.”10
From
Your Four Minutes by Bishop Gary L. Stevenson
I
just have such a strong testimony that no one is ever too far gone. That there
is always a way and we just need to throw away all our misconceptions and just
love, and talk to people by the Spirit. When we do that, it doesn't matter who
they are; active, inactive, boy, girl, rich, poor, clean or dirty! It just
matters that we treat people with the respect and love due to an Heir in the kingdom of God
We've
started to work more with the ward and really accomplish the goals that they
have set for missionary work. As we work with them, we're seeing this
incredible miracles, just one person at a time!
Thank
you all for being my miracles! Every time I hear about your successes (baseball
for Zach and Josh, jobs for Jeff and Jordan, school for Drew, Katie conquering
wisdom teeth, Mom keeping house and home in order, and Dad leading the family
all the way), I rejoice with you! I love you all bunches and bunches!
Love
your favorite (insert whatever I am to you),
Sister
Harman
Editor's note: No pictures this week. :(
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