Well, Torrington is INSANE. This week we were out tracting and while walking from one door to the next we saw a girl sitting outside her house across the street. We said hi to her but I was lazy and didn’t go talk to her. (Lesson learned! Don’t walk past the elect because you never know who they are!) After we were done tracting and walking back toward our car she called out to us, “Are you Mormons? I want to talk to you.” She told us she was writing a fictional novel with a Mormon girl as one of the main characters, so she had been doing lots of research on the Church and wanted to ask us some questions. She invited us into her house and we sat there for maybe two hours answering her questions. She has been researching for over a year, and knows more than probably most missionaries do about the Church. She has the scriptures and Preach My Gospel on her iPhone and has been listening to them. We figured out pretty quickly that she is already converted and just doesn’t quite know it yet. She has some fears about changing her lifestyle and her friends, so she hasn’t really been able to bring herself to pray about the Book of Mormon or about being baptized. It’s because as soon as she gets an answer, she will definitely act on it. Just needs to bite the bullet and do it. It was CRAZY…CRAZY…I don’t understand what is with Torrington these days. Not complaining a bit, though!
Things are moving right along. One of our investigators is getting cold feet about her baptismal date which we are concerned about, but other than that, the place is on fire still.
Fun fact: Yesterday I discovered something called sausage bread. It sounds disgusting but it’s actually incredibly delicious. Sausage and bread…could there be a more perfect combination?
This week Sister Mortimer and I were talking a lot about our attitudes about our missions and life in general, and how to think about the future. Ever since then messages are coming at us, from all over the place, that basically say to be excited about the future and remember that while the mission is wonderful, life gets even better afterward. We attended a member’s wedding at a Catholic church. Some of her friends there were returned missionaries and they all told us that. I’ve been pondering that a lot since then, and how to enjoy the moment and also look forward to the future. I didn’t realize before how much I tend to hold on to the past.
I’ve also been impressed very strongly with messages about honesty and refraining from gossip. This is something I want to improve on. Gossip is so destructive. It’s so tempting to engage in it as a missionary because day-to-day life can be monotonous, and gossip is entertaining. But it’s dishonest!
That’s all. I’m boring today. That’s okay, the Church is still true!
-Sister Monson
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
19 April 2010
To give you a better visual image of what I have been up to this week, here are some pictures:
1 and 2: Elizabeth Park in Hartford. This place is gorgeous beyond belief. The only thing almost as pretty as autumn in New England is springtime in New England.
3: Um, yeah.
4-14: These are all of a beautiful place in Litchfield called Daffodil Hill. Apparently some person went crazy and planted a gazillion daffodils one day. Or something like that. Whatever its origins, it is a gorgeous place. Ignore the shadows as I attempt to learn by trial and error about taking pictures.
15-17: No, that is not a tiny octopus. It is a SQUID. (I thought it looked like an alien.) And yes, I did eat it, as you can see from the pictures. It was at a Chinese buffet in Torrington called the Lotus Blossom. The red eye makes me look really evil, doesn't it? It tasted pretty good, as long as I didn't look at those tentacles with the tiny suction cups on them...
Miracles this week:
-At the end of Church on Sunday a member of the bishopric approached us and said he needed to talk to us ASAP. Turns out a member's husband, who has attended many times with her, suddenly decided he wanted to be baptized. He felt the Spirit so strongly in church, he almost couldn't contain himself. He was crying and when he talked to us he said, "I've never felt anything like that before in my life." We told him he needs to take some lessons before he can get dunked, and he agreed and set up an appointment to be taught, and set a baptismal date.
-Saturday we taught a referral and her two daughters for the second time. We had assigned them to read 3 Nephi 11. The older daughter pretty much recited the entire chapter to us. During the lesson she said she knew it was true not only because she had a good feeling, but "something whispered to me that it's true."
-On Sunday we taught Miracle Mark (the one who went to Temple Square and has been attending ever since). He taught US the entire third lesson, and about keeping the Sabbath day holy. He was in Salt Lake again this week and bought himself all the missionary packets and has them all memorized.
HOLY SNOT!!! We have 3 baptismal dates right now! Our ward mission leader asked us yesterday if we were putting something in the water. :) We've definitely experienced a great deal of opposition throughout the transfer, and I know this is why...great miracles are happening and the adversary did not want us to make it to this point.
This week I've found many verses that talk about the devil's devices in metaphors such as "chains," "cords," "bands," etc. One I noticed a lot was "snare"- a snare of iniquity, a snare of death, etc. "In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare" (Prov. 29:6). Well, today I was looking for scriptures on courage and I found this: "The fear of man bringeth a SNARE: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." (Prov. 29:25). Fear is also a snare! As I read this and many other verses on fear and courage, I was blessed for a moment to feel completely fearless. Now that I've experienced what that is like, I have more motivation to be courageous and work harder at putting fear and doubt out of my mind. I am so blessed!
Love to everyone,
Sister Monson
1 and 2: Elizabeth Park in Hartford. This place is gorgeous beyond belief. The only thing almost as pretty as autumn in New England is springtime in New England.
3: Um, yeah.
4-14: These are all of a beautiful place in Litchfield called Daffodil Hill. Apparently some person went crazy and planted a gazillion daffodils one day. Or something like that. Whatever its origins, it is a gorgeous place. Ignore the shadows as I attempt to learn by trial and error about taking pictures.
15-17: No, that is not a tiny octopus. It is a SQUID. (I thought it looked like an alien.) And yes, I did eat it, as you can see from the pictures. It was at a Chinese buffet in Torrington called the Lotus Blossom. The red eye makes me look really evil, doesn't it? It tasted pretty good, as long as I didn't look at those tentacles with the tiny suction cups on them...
Miracles this week:
-At the end of Church on Sunday a member of the bishopric approached us and said he needed to talk to us ASAP. Turns out a member's husband, who has attended many times with her, suddenly decided he wanted to be baptized. He felt the Spirit so strongly in church, he almost couldn't contain himself. He was crying and when he talked to us he said, "I've never felt anything like that before in my life." We told him he needs to take some lessons before he can get dunked, and he agreed and set up an appointment to be taught, and set a baptismal date.
-Saturday we taught a referral and her two daughters for the second time. We had assigned them to read 3 Nephi 11. The older daughter pretty much recited the entire chapter to us. During the lesson she said she knew it was true not only because she had a good feeling, but "something whispered to me that it's true."
-On Sunday we taught Miracle Mark (the one who went to Temple Square and has been attending ever since). He taught US the entire third lesson, and about keeping the Sabbath day holy. He was in Salt Lake again this week and bought himself all the missionary packets and has them all memorized.
HOLY SNOT!!! We have 3 baptismal dates right now! Our ward mission leader asked us yesterday if we were putting something in the water. :) We've definitely experienced a great deal of opposition throughout the transfer, and I know this is why...great miracles are happening and the adversary did not want us to make it to this point.
This week I've found many verses that talk about the devil's devices in metaphors such as "chains," "cords," "bands," etc. One I noticed a lot was "snare"- a snare of iniquity, a snare of death, etc. "In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare" (Prov. 29:6). Well, today I was looking for scriptures on courage and I found this: "The fear of man bringeth a SNARE: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." (Prov. 29:25). Fear is also a snare! As I read this and many other verses on fear and courage, I was blessed for a moment to feel completely fearless. Now that I've experienced what that is like, I have more motivation to be courageous and work harder at putting fear and doubt out of my mind. I am so blessed!
Love to everyone,
Sister Monson
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
12Apr2010
We saw some amazing miracles this week.
We are teaching a man who was introduced to the church at Temple Square on a business trip. Since then he has been coming to church regularly. He works in Ohio during the week so he meets with the Kirtland Visitors Center missionaries and has been asking them questions. He’s read everything and is already into the Pearl of Great Price. We met with him for the first time this week and he basically told us, “I don’t need any more convincing, I just want to know what I need to do to get baptized.” Then he taught us the first lesson. J What a miracle!
On Saturday we went to contact a referral and we started teaching her about the Restoration. Her two daughters, ages 9 and 13, hid in the kitchen at first, but apparently they were secretly listening because after Sister Mortimer recited the First Vision account, the 9-year-old poked her head in and said, “That was a great speech!” J Sister Mortimer asked her, “Do you think it’s true?” and she said she did. She and her sister are excited to read the Book of Mormon and learn with their mom. Good heavens, kids are amazing. They are so in tune with the Spirit. That’s something I’ve noticed even when tracting and talking to strangers on the street—kids are drawn to us, sometimes before we even say a word, and even if their parents are not interested.
I had some health challenges this week. But as always, I could feel God carrying me through. I find so many “tender mercies” in times like these. Small things that help me keep going, like tracting into a nice old lady who lets us in, or a member who suddenly wants to take us out for ice cream or invite us over for dinner. It’s like God pats my head and gives me a piece of candy and says, “I PROMISE this is not as hard as you think it is...but because I am perfectly loving and patient, I won't call you a crybaby, but I'll encourage you."
We had a wonderful baptism on Sunday. The Spirit was so strong! They’re already planning to come to Utah for their sealing next year so we can come, along with the sisters who first taught them. Yay!
I’m attaching two pictures of the baptism.
Well, everyone enjoy the spring (Connecticut is on spring break, are you?). Love,
We are teaching a man who was introduced to the church at Temple Square on a business trip. Since then he has been coming to church regularly. He works in Ohio during the week so he meets with the Kirtland Visitors Center missionaries and has been asking them questions. He’s read everything and is already into the Pearl of Great Price. We met with him for the first time this week and he basically told us, “I don’t need any more convincing, I just want to know what I need to do to get baptized.” Then he taught us the first lesson. J What a miracle!
On Saturday we went to contact a referral and we started teaching her about the Restoration. Her two daughters, ages 9 and 13, hid in the kitchen at first, but apparently they were secretly listening because after Sister Mortimer recited the First Vision account, the 9-year-old poked her head in and said, “That was a great speech!” J Sister Mortimer asked her, “Do you think it’s true?” and she said she did. She and her sister are excited to read the Book of Mormon and learn with their mom. Good heavens, kids are amazing. They are so in tune with the Spirit. That’s something I’ve noticed even when tracting and talking to strangers on the street—kids are drawn to us, sometimes before we even say a word, and even if their parents are not interested.
I had some health challenges this week. But as always, I could feel God carrying me through. I find so many “tender mercies” in times like these. Small things that help me keep going, like tracting into a nice old lady who lets us in, or a member who suddenly wants to take us out for ice cream or invite us over for dinner. It’s like God pats my head and gives me a piece of candy and says, “I PROMISE this is not as hard as you think it is...but because I am perfectly loving and patient, I won't call you a crybaby, but I'll encourage you."
We had a wonderful baptism on Sunday. The Spirit was so strong! They’re already planning to come to Utah for their sealing next year so we can come, along with the sisters who first taught them. Yay!
I’m attaching two pictures of the baptism.
Well, everyone enjoy the spring (Connecticut is on spring break, are you?). Love,
Monday, April 5, 2010
5 April 2010
We witnessed two amazing miracles this week:
We have an investigator who lives in Bethlehem (Connecticut) on the weekend but lives in Ohio during the week. He was drawn to Temple Square on a business trip and since then has been spending his free time during the week with the visitors center missionaries in Kirtland, and on the weekends he comes to our ward and we are going to start teaching him. We found out on Saturday that he has already finished the Book of Mormon and is starting the D&C. He came to a session of conference and absolutely loved it.
A husband in a part-member family is being baptized this Sunday. His stepdaughter has expressed a desire to be baptized, and at conference she said she wanted to change her baptismal date from June to May because she was so excited and felt the Spirit so strongly during conference.
The ward and some families gave us Easter presents that were so thoughtful. We are so spoiled! I love this ward. Can't wait to get to know the rest of it.
Here are some fun little pictures:
1- An Easter egg hunt/jam session in between sessions on Saturday with some members of the ward.
2- With Sister Mortimer. She does hair. She did mine. For the first and probably only time in recorded history, my hair held some curl...it was amazing...had to be recorded on camera for posterity.
3- All the sisters at transfer meeting.
4- The aprons were just too darn cute! Sister Mortimer and Elder Reynolds missed out, I tell you. (Dyeing Easter eggs.)
5- Having a little flower child moment, with Elder Carr's guitar. Name that chord! Anyone?
I loved conference so much. I was really surprised at how similar all the talks were. D'you think God's trying to tell us something? :) I started to get almost bored with the repetition of variations of the sentence, "The Church will do all it can, but the ultimate responsibility of teaching children the gospel rests on the parents." How many times did they say different versions of that statement? How many times did they mention the sons of Helaman? Sister Mortimer and I decided there was a secret conspiracy to trunk out the missionaries with all the talk about families and mothers.
I especially loved Sister Beck's talk. And of course Elder Holland delivers the smackdown, like no one else can. I was actually surprised that was the only pornography talk. When President Monson gave the closing remarks, it hit me like a ton of bricks that the last general conference of my mission was ending. I felt like he was speaking directly to me when he thanked us for praying for him, said he loved us, and invoked the blessings of heaven upon us.
Well, guess what...the Church is still true...what more can I say? Happy Easter! Love to everyone,
Sister Monson
We have an investigator who lives in Bethlehem (Connecticut) on the weekend but lives in Ohio during the week. He was drawn to Temple Square on a business trip and since then has been spending his free time during the week with the visitors center missionaries in Kirtland, and on the weekends he comes to our ward and we are going to start teaching him. We found out on Saturday that he has already finished the Book of Mormon and is starting the D&C. He came to a session of conference and absolutely loved it.
A husband in a part-member family is being baptized this Sunday. His stepdaughter has expressed a desire to be baptized, and at conference she said she wanted to change her baptismal date from June to May because she was so excited and felt the Spirit so strongly during conference.
The ward and some families gave us Easter presents that were so thoughtful. We are so spoiled! I love this ward. Can't wait to get to know the rest of it.
Here are some fun little pictures:
1- An Easter egg hunt/jam session in between sessions on Saturday with some members of the ward.
2- With Sister Mortimer. She does hair. She did mine. For the first and probably only time in recorded history, my hair held some curl...it was amazing...had to be recorded on camera for posterity.
3- All the sisters at transfer meeting.
4- The aprons were just too darn cute! Sister Mortimer and Elder Reynolds missed out, I tell you. (Dyeing Easter eggs.)
5- Having a little flower child moment, with Elder Carr's guitar. Name that chord! Anyone?
I loved conference so much. I was really surprised at how similar all the talks were. D'you think God's trying to tell us something? :) I started to get almost bored with the repetition of variations of the sentence, "The Church will do all it can, but the ultimate responsibility of teaching children the gospel rests on the parents." How many times did they say different versions of that statement? How many times did they mention the sons of Helaman? Sister Mortimer and I decided there was a secret conspiracy to trunk out the missionaries with all the talk about families and mothers.
I especially loved Sister Beck's talk. And of course Elder Holland delivers the smackdown, like no one else can. I was actually surprised that was the only pornography talk. When President Monson gave the closing remarks, it hit me like a ton of bricks that the last general conference of my mission was ending. I felt like he was speaking directly to me when he thanked us for praying for him, said he loved us, and invoked the blessings of heaven upon us.
Well, guess what...the Church is still true...what more can I say? Happy Easter! Love to everyone,
Sister Monson
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