Hola familia y amigos!
This was one interesting week! We worked really hard and enjoyed the much needed General Conference uplift. I LOVED Elder Bednar's talk at the very end. It was like a missionary's dream come true. A talk specifically to all the people we're teaching who are watching and may not feel included. Ahhhh. (Imagine a choir of angels singing)
On Saturday, we watched both conference sessions with a lady named Melissa, who we're teaching. Her husband is a member and has been all his life, but when he came to America, he joined the marines and let that get in the way of staying strong in the gospel. So she never really learned very much about the church and what we believe. The English elders in the area met them about a month ago and told us about them because she prefers to speak Spanish. They both understand and can speak English, but she prefers Spanish. But she is amazing. She told us that since they've been in Idaho and started getting involved in the church, that she's seen a change in David (husband). He's actually excited to go to church and activities, and he's stopping doing some other bad things he was doing. He even got her and their daughter together one Monday night and said they were going to read some scriptures and have a treat. Then he announced that "We just had family home evening!" Hahah
As for other exciting things this week, we are moving houses. We're leaving our beloved family and moving into an apartment. The man who's in charge of houses gave us the address of our new place, so we quickly checked it out on our way to dropping off some other sisters... Yeah... I'm definitely just judging a book by its' cover, but it was preeeeetty sketchy. It's in a building with other apartments, but it looked deserted. Plus there were some broken windows in the other apartments... Hahah Buuuuut we'll have to see how it is next week when we move in. Hermana Ekonomo joked that it'll be a haunted house EVERY NIGHT! Lucky us, we don't have to pay to go to one this Halloween! Hahaha
ALSO, there's a movie coming out all about MORMONS! If you haven't heard about it, it's a full-length movie called "Meet the Mormons." We got to watch it this week to prepare ourselves for questions about it and to be able to promote it. It started out as a shorter version in visitors' centers, but they had such a good response that they decided to make it a full length movie and release it in theaters. HOW COOL! A little bit about what it is, it's just the stories of 6 different people and their families and what Jesus Christ and the gospel means to them. It's not promoting the church at all, just informing people a little more of what we believe and how that affects the daily lives of normal people. How these families have used their gospel foundation to help in the problems they face. That's all. Nothing too big or fancy. And it's really inspirational. I promise you'll like it. It comes out this Friday, the 10th! So you should all go see it, and if it's not in a theater nearby, talk to the manager and request it. It seriously is really interesting and worth seeing.
Also this week, we taught a beehives class about how to be missionaries. I always laugh when people ask us that because I feel like I'm still learning how it's done and I'm not an expert. But we narrowed it down to 3 points.
1. CHARITY. You HAVE TO have charity and love for other people to do missionary work. And any way that we're showing love, it helps in missionary work. When you're serving or inviting or helping other people, it's showing love for them.
2. EXAMPLE. When members are a good example and show their light in the everyday things they do, it makes a difference. Not only in their own family and people they associate with, but those who don't know them. When people stand up for the church, their standards, and what they believe in and don't back down, it really leaves an impression. This shows others that it means a lot and gets them interested in what it is that could have such a big impact on their lives.
3. NO EFFORT IS WASTED. In all the talks about missionary work, it's easy to get disappointed when you have made an effort and reached out, but you were rejected or it seems like nothing came of it. But that is exactly what Satan wants you to feel. I've seen how wrong that is, not only as a missionary, but before as well. That when people reach out, no matter how small, it makes a WORLD of difference. No act of kindness or little invitation is a waste.
And, in all 3 of these things, you don't have to be a full-time missionary to do it. They are crucial as full-time missionaries, and just as important in member missionary work. What I've learned is that it's the little things that make the biggest difference and that it's never too late or too awkward or too much of a hassle to reach out in sharing this gospel and what is important to you. And when we do, it blesses not only their lives, but ours as well.
I hope you all have an amazing week!
Con amor,
Hermana Shirley
I've slacked on taking photos, so we stopped by the side of the road and took a picture by something cool. IT'S A TANK!
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