I know I might regret saying this in about ten seconds flat but I think I might actually enjoy training. Yes I know I am a psycho especially because you could scroll down about two letters and see my minor freak out sesh but yes I am finding joy in this. It is bringing back all of my golden power and excitement:That time I wasn't chicken to talk to the man on the bus or when I talked to everyone on sketch alley thinking they had interest in the Book of Mormon or when I had confidence that every person who said they would come to church the next week would actually come or when all my studies included the phrase 'when I was in the MTC' Oh man. It is the greatest I am literally watching myself grow all over again only it's sister Johnson this time. And you know what? That is the way missionary work is supposed to be. So new goal. I am not training her. I am going to let her turn me back into a golden with faith in everyone and it's going to rock.
Actually it is already rockin'. Seriously I don't know what is going on, but I feel like everytime I have doubts in someone we meet Heavenly Father is just calling out to me 'Hello. I prepared them, not you. So don't write them off as not prepared'. His hand is totally in this work. Let me just tell you about one day and if I had time I would tell you about everyday because literally every day this week was like this and I don't understand why we are being so blessed.
First. Missionaries have been working with this one lady Bianca who has forgotten what it is like to have the joys of the gospel since pretty much the stone age... So I try to brace Sister Johnson for the worst and tell her her history but we say a prayer and decide we are ditching the history and giving her a fresh start. Walk in. Literal light. Happy. Motivation. Peace. Love. All those things that we always testify about the gospel bringing I could see right before my eyes. Seriously I was in shock. Her usual I-didnt-have-time-to-read-all-
Before I could even swallow up all of my shock with that experience we are on our way to visit Marcella, a lady we had met last month at a street display that me and Sister Teeples had gone by at least 5 times always leaving a note attempting to contact with no luck. Again zero faith that she was going to be there on my end but... Said a prayer and ring the doorbell. Wait. Not only was she home but she welcomed us right in and we just start jabbing away about Jesus Christ and how important he is to her. I asked her if she had watched the Finding Faith in Christ DVD that we had given her at the street display. Yes. but I don't have it my friend is borrowing it right now. What? you gave your friend one of our DVDs? You are doing missionary work for us? Like who does that? Humble points round 2.
So here we are still trying to fathom what all has happened in the first two hours of our day
and we are waiting for our bus and it just disappears. Literally one minute it says it will be here in 5 minutes and the next minute completely gone. No sign of it being delayed or anything. Before we can even think what we are going to do about it Michel De La Rosa comes up to us. Another guy that we had met forever and a half ago who claimed he was a member but had somehow fallen through the cracks. We talk to him, share testimony, invite him to church, get his number etc. and literally the minute we finish, our bus magically pulls up. Heavenly Father was literally handing us things on a silver platter and I couldn't comprehend it. What is going on? Humble points round 3.
Now after all this craziness of a day we have about 30 minutes before we have to be at a meeting for our branch and so we decide we are going to go do some street contacting, feel a little rejected, and show our grattitude to Heavenly Father. Again no faith on my part that anyone would listen, but assumed that at least it would show Heavenly Father that I appreciate all the things he was giving us. So we set out Book of Mormon in hand and start talking to people. Literally the 3rd person we talk to... Would you like to learn more about us and what we believe and how we have joy and happiness in our life?' yes. I studied in America for a year and I love learning about mormons. When? what? This doesn't happen. Seriously it doesn't. Gah my mind is blown.
What are we doing differently? Golden Power maybe? We have been trying to talk to people more.. maybe that? Exact Obedience? I seriously have no idea. I am overflowing with gratitude. This was one day people. One day. Gah. This is crazy. It is about time I kick my faith into gear and believe that these people will actually listen, wouldn't you say? Humility for the win.
xoxoxox
s. heywood
I don't know if this is a normal thing in germany or not because no one around us was freaking out... but that may have been the coolest thing with wheels I have ever seen.
One of the finer luxeries of waking up at the crack of dawn to go running. I love the cute little German streets.That and we eat more chocolate.
slippers. the size of my face. my favorite.
love her. love her. love her.
And because I severely slacked on pictures this week I quickly snapped a shadow pic on the walk over here. Yes enjoy.
I also got the most wonderful compliment from President Stoddard.... Ahhh it made me feel so good :)
Sister Heywood
You are simply amazing.
I wish I could clone you and send you to every city in our mission.
With your permission (annonymously if you prefer), I would like to use your list for training new trainers.
Pres. Stoddard
