Dear Family and Friends,
This week was interesting, Monday we did
what we almost always do, we hung out with the Bartlett Sisters, hahaha. That
night we ate with the D’s, but our dinner appointment was brief because we had
an appointment with J. and A. at The M's home. It went well, but I am
struggling with them, J. in particular, because I am unsure of his actual
dedication to learn. He came to church, he always wants to meet with us, but he
only wants us to answer his questions and doesn't really let us teach him. All
his questions are about deep doctrine and anti-things that he has read, but he
doesn't understand that he is trying to learn multi variable calculus without
knowing basic algebra. We have tried to teach him the concept of line upon
line, precept upon precept, but he feels like because he is well versed in the
Bible he doesn't need to read the Book of Mormon. I am really struggling with
how we can help him to understand the Book of Mormon, and that if he knows that
it is the literal word of God, then nothing else matters. I just don't know how
to do it; I pray about it a lot. I just hope I can help him understand how much
more there is for him to learn, and how much more joy there is for him to
feel.
Tuesday we spent some time with
Sister W., who continues to improve health wise, but who is still struggling
emotionally with the operation. She really is having a hard time with the
things she can't do that she wants to. We help her out by sending emails and
mailing her bills, etc., but she still gets very emotional whenever we are over
there. She's really excited about getting her dog on the 24th though, and I
pray and pray that it goes well! If you guys could pray for her too it would be
much appreciated; she needs it!
Wednesday we had zone meeting and we
talked a lot about baptism and how we need to help our investigators understand
what a blessing it truly is. Speaking of the importance of baptism, J. set an
official date for August 1st!! It IS happening, J. IS getting baptized, and I am
so thankful that Heavenly Father has blessed me so much by allowing me to be
even a small part of his journey to baptism! He is so solid, I just love that
man and I cannot wait until I get to watch Brother M. baptize him. Honestly,
how did I get so lucky??
After zone meeting we met with J.
and M. again. We issued them the challenge to read the Book of Mormon in 30
days, they said they were willing to try. I am hoping that they will do so with
an open heart and mind so that they may know the truthfulness of it. While we
were there M's mom came over and invited us over to her house to teach her a
brief lesson! We did and we are going to see her again next Thursday.
On Thursday we spent some time with
Sister L., stopped in to visit some people, and tried to catch some former
investigators. Sister L. is such an amazing woman. Her testimony is SO strong,
and she has such an earnest desire to serve others. Every time we go out with
her, I am just in awe of her consistent love and charity towards her fellow
man. She's who I want to be when I grow up! We also completed our Area Book training
that day, and soon enough, our whole area book and planner will be on the iPad!
It's going to be a really useful tool, but I will kind of miss the paper copies
for sure. Writing out a teaching record is just more fun. It will be such a
blessing to have easy access to everything though, and it will be much more
organized.
Friday we knocked doors for a long
time, and while tracting in the Tennessee summer heat is not exactly my idea of
fun, it was a really productive day. We met and set up return appointments with
two families, and also met an awesome lady named K. and her son C. She invited
us in from the doorstep, let us teach her the restoration, and told us she
could feel the Spirit so strong with us. We invited her to church and she
promised to try her hardest to be there!
She did not make it unfortunately,
and Sunday was kind of a disappointment since we didn't have a single
investigator at church, when last week we had 5! I am trying my hardest not to
be disappointed in us, but I feel like recently we have been handed miracle
after miracle, but somehow we mess it up, and the people don't progress. Now
that we've had 5 investigators at church I'm not sure I'll ever be satisfied
with 1 or 2 again, but I know that the key to consistent success is hard work,
and if I want to continue to perform on that level as a missionary, I just have
to work that much harder.
On a positive note, we spent Sunday
evening with the H’s and B. & L. came! We got to teach a lesson about
the importance of the Sabbath, which was particularly applicable considering
they missed church this Sunday. The lesson went really well, they responded positively to it, and we
had such a fun time talking with them and the H’s. Everyone got along so well!
I can tell that Heavenly Father is preparing B. for reactivation, and that if
we will just be kind, loving, and consistent with him we will be able to get
him there. And if B. is reactivated and coming to church consistently, then our
chances of teaching L. and helping her towards baptism are exponentially
higher!
I am so thankful for the opportunity
that I have to be a missionary here in the Lakeland Ward, I know that I have
been prepared to teach these people by a Heavenly Father who loves me, and
them, very much. I am striving to become a better teacher, and to develop
patience for when things don't go my way. I hope that as I work to develop
those skills this week I can be consistent in my application. I continue to
work towards exact obedience, but like always, I have a long way to go. I am
getting there though. I am improving slowly but surely. My biggest hope for
this week is that when Heavenly Father hands me miracles, as he has so
consistently done, I will be prepared to do with them what He would have me do,
and to love His children, and serve them as He would.
I love you all so much. Your prayers
and words of friendship, kindness, and encouragement lift and support me. Thank
you all so much for what you do.
Love, Sister Hannah Thomas
At
the Memphis Zoo on P-day with S., a ward member, and Sister Bryce
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