May 19, 2014
Cheyenne, WY
That awkward moment when...you start talking to people about the distance
between Washington and Colora....Wyoming :)
Actually, yesterday a very cute little girl asked me how far away
Washington was. Not satisfied with "It is a long drive" she said "But was
is the number?" Haha I just do not know. {Editor's note: about 1,020 miles, give or take a few}
So I am super stoked because yesterday I finally was able to attend church
here in the Corner Stone ward! The weather was beautiful and warm so no
snow at all! Already from my visits with the members I have been starting
to love this ward, but oh man I am so excited to be here!
(Mom I can sympathize, with how yesterday went, I am not sure I will be
able to remember the rest of the week before that, but here is the gist!)
Bishop Lopez likes to ask the missionaries when he sees them how many lessons
they have taught thus far in the week, he feels the responsibility of the ward
to reach their goal and our goal of 20 lessons in a week. Yesterday at ward
council was no different, and being informed that both companionships needed
about 10 lessons to reach that goal, he asked if we thought we could teach 10
lessons in one day. I thought he was joking, and was pretty dubious, until he
started counting families in the room. With the members of the ward
council offering their families and homes, we set up lessons for most of the
evening (and as it turned out, they were lacking a Sunday School teacher for
Gospel Principles), with several families having both sets of missionaries over
within an hour. Those lessons would bring each of us up to 19 lessons for
the week.
We were left a few hours in which to contact the people we had planned for
the day, and supply the 20th lesson ourselves. This was a miracle to me in
itself, of the enthusiasm in that room from the ward leaders to achieve that
goal together was incredible. They don't just talk about the goals they
set, they do something about them. More miracles followed, as we were able to
have lessons with 2 of the people we planned for the day ourselves, as well as
contact and set an appointment with one other, and follow up with an
investigator who had not attended church as planned. It was an exhausting, but
wonderful day as we tried to truly bring the Spirit to every lesson and teach
specific to those families, despite the short time in which we were meeting with
them.
One of the people we had planned and were able to teach yesterday was
D. She is an investigator who had her first lesson in February and agreed
to be baptized, but had been unable to have a lesson since then. We committed
her to continue the lessons and explained that though we want to help her, and
will help her all that we can, this is her journey and she must take the action
to make changes in her life. She is excited to do so.
We happened to drive past the Elders last night, close to the close of the
evening. They were also exhausted after the marathon of lessons.
That is the best kind of tired though :) It doesn't always come from teaching 10
lessons in one day, but it comes from working diligently and faithfully
throughout the day, whether that is in lessons or tracting or in one of those
days where no one will answer their door but you went out and did your
best. We read in Doctrine and Covenants section 4 yesterday with the
Bishop's wife about consecrating our whole heart, might, mind, and strength to
the work of the Lord, and truly that is what we are blessed to do here. We
may be tired after, but we did our part and the Lord truly works miracles when
we do so.
Also, I love kids! Talking to them never fails to brighten my
day. As we were teaching several families yesterday, I was blessed to have
some good conversations with 3 and 4 year olds, they have great things to
say!
Yesterday was sure an exercise in teaching and full of opportunities to
apply the things which we practice and study! You never know what is going
to turn into a missionary experience :) Just as I have been typing this at the
library, the man next to me mentioned how fast I type and we were able to begin
a conversation about the Church :) Miracles everywhere ;)
Okay, let's see about the rest of the week...we again had a couple of sick
days as we have not yet been able to get the doctor in Boulder and the Lab in
Cheyenne to coordinate so we can get my companion feeling better. I did a
lot of studying and I think "The Testaments" was played over 5 times....Options
for sick movie watching are pretty limited as a missionary ;) We walked dogs for
hours at the animal shelter and I learned about a 'small world' miracle. A
sister that I served with in Longmont had told me about a woman she taught in
Laramie who was baptized a few months ago. A man in Cheyenne who is less
active and we are working with is dating that new member and she is a
major factor in his motivation to come back to church. it is incredible,
unbelievable, exciting, I love missionary work!
One more plug for the cause of the missionaries. Please, please, I
beg of you, do not forget or cancel on the missionaries! It is hard enough
when people who aren't members of the Church do it. I know sometimes we
think "oh, it's only the missionaries" and we truly do still love you, even when
that happens, but it is sad that these things, the gospel of Jesus Christ, is
often moved to the 'luxury' part of someone's list, something that can be put
off. This is for here and now, today, every day! It is a necessity,
and not only that, but invites the windows of heaven to be opened to bless you
and your family. This I know for sure.
I love you and hope that your week is full of sunshine!
love, Sister Emily DeFord
This week, by request, is stripes!
And I have a super awesome family who sent me a halfway package--complete
with only one sock out of a pair! (Something about sock pictures this
week...) :)
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| Roll of Duct Tape cut in half |
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| Half a Bow |
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| Minionary |
