Tuesday, November 12, 2013

October 28 Part 1: Oi oi oi and HOWDY!


Oi, minha familia e meus amigos!

Tudo bem aqui no estado grande de Texas.

The work is working! It's amazing to see it actually happening!! Every day I meet incredible people and have opportunities to teach and testify, and I've seen God's hand already in this work!

It's been awesome to actually be meeting the names we've been praying for! Haha! We have lists of names of people we've been working with, and at first they were just names to me, but now they are so much more! As I meet each of these individuals, I can't help but love them! They are each so awesome.

Here's a cool experience…

We kept trying to visit a gal named T.  We hadn't been able to contact her by phone or anything. The first day we put her on our schedule and drop by her house to see if she is there, she is home! We didn't have an appointment or anything.  But she saw us, opened the door, brought us inside, and went to her room to get her Book of Mormon! She put it on the table, and was all ready for us!  As if she had been waiting for us!!!  Later we found out that just the day before-I believe- she had been reading her Book of Mormon and praying for some kind of sign or guidance to know more. She had also been praying for a "small group"- like someone to go to church with and study with. When she told us she had been praying for that, she said "yall are my small group!"

We had a lesson with her about the Restoration. She full heartedly believes it all! She just nods and accepts and says she believes it! She believes in Joseph Smith and knows the Book of Mormon is true! She also wants to be baptized! Sister M had visited her a week or two prior with her past companion and they had set a baptismal date for T for Nov. 16th. Sister M said that that time they visited her she was the same as this time- had no idea they were coming but opened the door as if she was just waiting for them. Anywho, by the end of our lesson, Sister C asked T if she would be baptized. T. said "Yeah, November 16th, right?"  Sister C and I were so surprised! Sister M realized she had forgotten to tell us...Haha! But T is truly amazing! It turns out that two months ago she had made some major changes in her life. She's incredible. She wants so much to change, and she already has! She reads the Bible and the Book of Mormon each day and prays! She thanks Jesus Christ each day for his strength, help, and mercy that she can be how she is today. She has a sweet little three year old son, N, and lives with her mom and three siblings. Her mom is very kind. She told T "You know I will support you with whatever decision you make."  T has a few other younger siblings. They are such a fun family! They were all dressed up/getting ready for their school barnyard Halloween party that night and were so cute.  Every time we've given T a chapter of the Book of Mormon to read, she reads it! And then she tells us what she liked about it!

On Sunday, she came to church! And at the end, she showed me her Book of Mormon and the chapter she had read that we had asked her to read, 3 Nephi 11. It was marked and highlighted, and she had even put a sticky note in it with her thoughts written on it. She said "Can you give me another one?" and she handed me her pass-along card (we had written the chapters for her to read on the back). Sister C started fumbling to find a pass along card...and it took us a moment to realize she was asking for another chapter to read!! How awesome is that???! 

On Friday, we went to meet with a recent convert, S. When we got there, her sister M opened the door. M hasn't been opened to the gospel. Last lesson, S had told us about how it was difficult with M and her other sister. They weren't very supportive and weren't open to the message. Well, miracles happen. We sat down with M and talked with her, and she was so friendly and sweet! S was in the shower. When she finished and came in, M stayed for the lesson!!! We talked about the Plan of Salvation, the Temple, and eternal families. And of course, at the center of everything, Jesus Christ. The whole lesson, M was nodding her head and smiling. S too of course :)  ...Both of their parents have passed away. And as we talked with them about what they liked about the Plan of Salvation, they told us their favorite parts and told us about their parents. They love the Spirit World, Temples, and the Celestial Kingdom. At the end of the lesson, the Spirit was so strong. Sister M asked M if she would follow Jesus Christ and be baptized. She said yes. Wow, the Spirit was incredible. That was a complete miracle. The Lord is directing this work! It's all in his hands! I'm out of time for now!

Love yall!!!
-Sister Greenall

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