Subject: Woohooooo! Life
is good.
November 11, 2013
Helloooooo family!!!
Sounds like a
great week back home! Sorry you had so many hours dad, you sure are great I
hope you know that!! And I appreciate more and more the things you do the longer
I'm out here serving, being a Bishop is not an easy calling.
We had a pretty
fantastic week!! Man I really just don't want to go home... I mean I'm excited and
I've fully accepted the fact that the day will come regardless of whether I want
it to or not but I just have really enjoyed my time serving here and getting to
be so fully engrossed in the gospel 24/7, I've learned SO MUCH about myself and
about the gospel. I just don't understand why everyone doesn't want to be a part
of this! The church is so true and makes everyone who knows it so happy, I just
wish everyone understood that it can change their lives if they'll let it.
Like I said we
had a pretty great week! We got a baptismal commitment!!! Sister Roundy extended
her first one and she accepted! Her name is Marge -last name still to come haha
sometimes I suck at that part...- she's set for November 30th. I've only met her
once, and that was only for like 5 minutes maybe, that's one of the big downers
to being a sister training leader is that our investigators have 0 consistency,
most of the people we see there is 3 different people each time we go by haha. But
they said they had a really powerful Restoration lesson with her and she accepted
a date on the spot! I still haven't got to meet her again yet because she's got
some health problems, she's probably in her mid to late 60's. So more details to
come with her in the upcoming weeks! :) The majority of people we're working with
are older now.
We had mission
leadership council this week in Knoxville again, this time around it was only a
4 1/2 hour meeting so they're getting a little more time management savey, the ones
in the past have been 5 1/2-6 hours long ugh....... But they're really good and
we learn a lot its just wayyyyy looooong plus a 2 hour drive there and back. I really
have loved being in leadership though, I like knowing what's going on and getting
to give my input on things. It's cool to see the behind the scenes action too, our
leaders really do care about us and put a lot of time and effort into making sure
things run smoothly and that we become Preach My Gospel missionaries.
I went on 2 more
exchanges this week, in Rogersville and Johnson City. Both of which were awesome
exchanges, we've got really solid sisters (well for the most part) in this zone
who really just want to work hard and do the best they can. The one with Johnson
City was kind of a last minute thing, I really felt like Sister Roundy needed to
lead out in our area before the transfer was over so that's exactly what we had
her do, and she did a great job! I knew she would sometimes you just gotta literally
shove people out of their comfort zones in order for them to achieve their full
potential, kinda like what had to happen to me! And I'm soooo grateful it did, I'm
a completely different missionary than I used to be. And Sister Roundy had a break
through realizing that she could do it! Those are the kind of things I LOVE about
being a trainer, is when that light finally turns on and you see people just blossom
into who they really are.
Also while in
Johnson City I had a pretty cool experience. We went to teach a part member family,
the girl is super less active though and is kind of a push over. So we were trying
to teach her husband and father in law both of which are very hard core baptists.
We asked the father in law if he'd read and prayed about the Book of Mormon and
he said, "You bet I have and I know that it's false, it's just a myth, in fact
I think he just copied everything that's in the Bible and put it in there then changed
the names and you will have to account for the lies you are spreading to people.
I don't need no Joseph Smith to tell me how to get to heaven." It's been awhile
since I've experienced someone so hostile but the scary part was is he wasn't really
mad or anything he just said it like it was the truth, which normally people here
scream at you... I had the worst, sickening feeling come over me and I almost started
to cry (I held strong though) but I knew instantly that everything he had said was
a lie, then I had this overwhelming sense of peace that I was doing the right thing
and that the things we teach people are true and that nothing anyone said or did
was ever going to change that! It was such an incredible feeling. I know that this
church is true and no one can tell me otherwise. I read an awesome talk today and
in it he says, "We should be on our knees every morning and night pleading
with the Lord that we never lose our faith, our testimony, or our virtue. There
only has to be one witness, but it must be yourself."
That is what a
mission has done for me, I've gained that witness for myself. I know it, I live
it, I love it!!
We had a break
through with one of our LA this week! Her name is Pam Mathes, I can't remember if
I've mentioned her or not in the past. But she hasn't been to church in several
years, her husband recently committed suicide... It's really sad. Sister Fox and
I went by a couple weeks ago though and had a really spiritual lesson with her,
but it was weird she couldn't remember anything really about her baptism or when
she joined the church and when we invited her to take the lessons again she said
no, so that was kind of a downer BUT this week was a total 180 degree turn around!!
We prayed before going in and when we got there she was happy and excited to see
us, she said she had been going through some old photos and found the ones of when
her and her husband and son had been baptized, she then described in detail how
she felt when it happened and how happy she was at that time. We had another powerful lesson with her and explained
how when you take the sacrament you can feel that way each week, and she said she'd
like to come again sometime! Woo! It was way cool! I tell you what when you let
the spirit do its thing, miracles happen! We're hoping we can teach her and her
son Dalton, whose not a member, the lessons here soon and get them coming back regularly.
Debbie is still
doing great! I love that lady! She is just totally integrating herself into the
ward and absolutely loves it all! Phil still isn't coming around much yet but I
know he'll get there someday!
Sydney is doing
pretty good too, she's no longer living on her dad's porch thank goodness but she's
now living with another guy friend... Not the best of living situations but at least
she has a roof over her head for now. Yep the Elders family came again to church,
they're all set for the 23rd! Sky is 16 and yes her family is members.
About investigators
taking the sacrament, I explain what it is and then just leave it up to them if
they want to take it or not, I'm not exactly sure if that's what you're supposed
to do but it's worked thus far.
I agree with y'all
I think you should just hold my Christmas stuff, I really don't need anything I
don't think. Maybe a new shirt to come home in?? Are you going to wait and do Christmas
for when I get home? I think you should! But I'm good with whatever.
Well I think that
about covers the highlights of the week. Transfers are already next week... I really
hope I get to stay for my last one but you really just never know what could happen!
Y'all are the
best, thanks for all the love, support, and prayers. Love, love, love you!!! xoxoxoxo
Sister Bedke :)
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