Tuesday we had another small zone conference while we had interviews. We talked about having the faith find and how sometimes we pray for something to happen in our lives and we just sit there and wait for our circumstances to change and to let Heavenly Father just take care of it. Jesus Christ performed the Atonement so that we could be given added strength to accomplish all he asks us to do. With Jesus Christ, we have the power to change our circumstances ourselves. “Sometimes we pray for the strength to endure yet resist the very things that would give us that strength. Too often we seek the easy way, forgetting that strength comes from overcoming things that require us to put forth more effort than we normally would be inclined to do... No matter what our trials, we should never say, “It is enough.” Only God is entitled to say that. Our responsibility is to ask, “What more can I do?” then listen for the answer, and do it!” -Elder Groberg
We then talked about how we can be more bold, more personable, and use more of the questions of the soul in our missionary work.
Interviews were absolutely wonderful. This was my last one with President Smith so it was extra long. We walked down memory lane and talked about a lot of great things for my future. Weird. AND he took us to dinner!
We went on a district blitz (where all the missionaries in the district serve in our area) and went on campus for a couple hours. As we were walking around Sister Kirkby and I just started getting super nervous. I was really scared to talk to these people because there are just so many who have been so rude to me before. It is hard when everyone looks at you like your nuts. Well, as we were walking around I started to pray really hard to know the things to say. That I would be given the courage to talk to people. Then the thought came to my mind, “Hi, we are the new missionaries in the area and are trying to get to know more people. Can we walk with you?” So that’s what I said to the next person I saw and we walked with them back to their dorm. Then the next person and the next person and this approach was actually working! It was super cool!
One persons name was Noah. He grew up going to catholic school and as we were talking with him he stopped us and said, “You know what, you aren’t going to be able to convert me. But it was nice talking with you.” Okay so we gave him a card and told him to have a good day. And turned around and walked back to the front of the path that we would start. We walked for a while, we were almost at the front and I heard someone behind us say, “Hey!” To get our attention and it was Noah! He said that he didn’t have much to do right now and he did have some questions for us. He asked how our religion was different than other Christian religions, how we were raised, if we have more than one mom, etc. He than said that he grew up religious and it was great and everything but, he doesn’t think he believes it anymore. There are some things that just don’t make sense to him. He said he was looking for a new religion. Woah! Now when people tell me that they already go to church I’m just like, are you sure? It was a cool miracle! Since this was Valentine’s Day he proceeded to ask me if I have any dinner plans...
We also met with this really cool guy that Sister Kirkby found on Facebook. His name is Kieth and he is in the music program, which makes him really busy but he still met with us. He is the fastest talker I have ever met. It is good though because he just speaks his thoughts. He tells us his needs. There were things he learned about himself as we asked him questions and he just kept talking. He goes to the Catholic Church and has been since he was little. He told us that he doesn’t think he would keep going if it weren’t for his friends who go with him, he has been to mass for 20 years and has never felt the Spirit. We promised he would if he read the Book of Mormon and prayed to know if it was true! Excited to meet with him again this week.
Turns out, this area is getting bikes in the near future and so we are moving apartments on Wednesday. Crazy! I know. I made pink German pancakes for dinner on Valentine’s Day. We gave Michael another Russian Book of Mormon for himself, went on exchanges with Sister Dumas, and met Sarah who is super prepared and went to church with her Mormon friend growing up. Overall, it was a super great week!
I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!
GOD SPEED
️ Sister Ruffner
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