HASTA MANANA!
Family-
HAVE MIRACLES
CEASED?? NO!!
It's been a great final
week:) here's the last email!
Lesson with Richard Boyd-
he is from the church of Christ. They aren't big Mormon fans normally. But
after offering service he agreed to sit down and have a "bible
study." He actually knows the Osmond family- cool right? He has nothing
against Mormons but he told us flat out that he thought we were wrong and that
he would pray for us so we wouldn't go to hell. Haha He made it pretty clear
that he didn't want us to use the Book of Mormon at all and we were only to use
the bible. He got us all sat down on lawn chairs and gave us kool aid and
started preachin to us. He definitely knows his bible. We were able to
take control and taught the Restoration using only the bible. Of course some of
his interpretations were different but there were some scriptures that he was
not able to explain. When we recited the 1st vision the spirit was so
strong. We invited him to read the Book of Mormon. I told him as he read it
that he would want to deny the power that he feels, he probably won't want to
openly admit that he feels the spirit as he reads, especially because it's
against what he believes, but that it will be undeniable as the spirit
witnesses that the Book of Mormon is truth. Ahh the spirit was just so strong
as we testified. He admitted "y'all are converting me..." He
doesn't want to meet regularly but he will be a member one day. Heavenly Father
has been preparing him. I've had the chance to teach the restoration a lot this
week and it's a big tender mercy.
Another miracle- by Friday we
had 0 new investigators out of our goal of 5. We set a goal to have 3 by the
end of the day. We joking talked about getting all 5 new investigators in
one day… Whelp sure enough! By the end of the day we had 5 new
investigators!
MY COMPYS
Sanchez family - another
Spanish family. Every Spanish family I've had the chance to work with have been
miracles. This family has the sweetest spirit to them. I felt at home being in
their home. Can't say enough how much I love their culture and just them.
Everything about them. They speak English too! So they can go to the Morrilton
ward!
So y'all may remember
Thelma Marquez, the mom of a family Hermana Madsen and I taught in Memphis. We
had randomly knocked on their door and found out that a recent convert lived
there with family. None of the family (Marquez family) were members. Our first
visit with them we just got to know them a little, set a return appointment and
left them with a prayer. Missionaries have been working with them ever since.
So this week I get a call from Hermana Madsen and Macfarlane and they told me
they had just gotten out of an appointment with Thelma. Thelma finally admitted
that she had felt the spirit so strongly during that first prayer we had said
when we first met her. She said she cried the rest of the day because the
spirit hit her so hard. She now, 5 months later, has made the decision to
marry her boyfriend and get baptized!! Miracles! Power of prayer!!
For my final sacrament
meeting I was asked to speak on the Restoration. I taught it like I would in a
lesson with an investigator. My final time teaching the Restoration. I felt the
spirit so strongly, especially as I recited the 1st vision. It was a powerful
moment and one I'll never forget.
Although I was only here a
month the members have taken such good care of me. Sad to say goodbye - I'll
miss them tons.
SISTER PETERSON AND JESSIE
PETERSON FAMILY
WOKENFUSS FAMILY
Another miracle- Brian. He
is a chaplain that visits the rest home. We go to the rest home twice a week to
call bingo and I had met him a few times. He really respects us and was always
so kind. He was sad to hear I was leaving and I felt prompted to invite
him to listen to me speak at church. We didn't think much of it. After
church I walked down from the stand to find my companions and right behind them
I see Brian! My mouth literally dropped. He gave me this little bible note book
and was just so kind. How cool right?!
Sunday night, my last
few hours of proselyting- well, back up to a few weeks ago. We all had received
bishop’s blessings. One part in my blessing said "find the one and let
them know of God’s love for them" I had somewhat forgotten about it until
our final hour Sunday evening. We were out knocking a few doors (upon
my request) and I felt so much urgency to find this person and tell them God
loves them! It was such a clear feeling that they were close. We stopped and
said a prayer. Mid prayer, car headlights flashed on our faces and I knew it
was them. They were driving towards us and had to stop at a stop sign. I went
up to the window and had them roll it down. It was a middle aged couple. I gave
them a card and testified of God’s love for them. It was a really simple
experience. But right after I felt like I had completed my work.
Some other funs this week:
I had my last quarterly
interview with President. It's always good to see him. I've missed him. He
renewed my temple recommend :) He talked with us as a companionship and told me
for the last couple days I was going to be more of an "observer" so
Sister Clarke and Fifield would be ready to take over when I leave, and I'd
give feedback at the end of the day. It's been challenging to sit back- after
the first day I was so sad. The reality of me leaving really hit. It's been
good though! They are going to do awesome! Morrilton is on fire! President also gave us
some good life advice.... G.O.I = get over it. Hahaha
I was blessed to see more
Russellville family this week! I saw Jim and Vicki stokes! Bishop Stokes came
to our sacrament meeting. Amber, Jake and Dayvonne came and treated us to
dinner! Amber got a new calling and is now in young women's with
Dayvonne!
Daniela and Jaime also
were in Morrilton getting their temple recommends so I got to see them! THEY
ARE IN UTAH RIGHT NOW!
BISHOP JIM AND VICKI STOKES
DAYVONNE AND AMBER
Elder Ockey invited me to
instruct at district meeting. They also threw me a little funeral. Haha
We met with a member that
has pet raccoons!
For those of you that know
Grey Gardener, his great uncle visited the Morrilton ward today- haha small
world.
My Last supper in the
mission was biscuits and chocolate gravy #blessed. It's a classic southern meal
and somehow I had never had it before. Went out with a bang ;)
Today I'm getting
everything packed and ready to go. So weird. Dayvonne and Amber are taking me
to lunch and then dropping me off at Aleasha,s (from pinnacle Mtn), I'll get to
be with her for a little bit and then she will drop me off at the mission home.
The Wakolos are taking me out to eat, I'll have my final interview and get
ready to head out early tomorrow morning.
Life is not real.
SISTER KING AND ALEASHA
I certainly owe y'all a
big THANK YOU! For your emails, letters, packages, support and prayers. I'm
incredibly blessed to have the support system that I do.
Although he won't read
this, I also wanted to thank President Wakolo who has had a profound impact on
me. I feel closer to the Savior when I am with him. I know he is an inspired
man, called of God to lead and direct the work here in this mission. I always
knew that if I was following President Wakolo's council I was also following
God’s. The Wakolo family has made me feel so loved. I have grown from their
examples and will miss them so much.
To close out the 18 months
worth of emails I want to leave y'all with my testimony. Especially for those
who aren't currently associated with the church.
I will never doubt that I
have a loving Father in Heaven. I do not have to earn that love, it is simply
always there. I know He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue me. I feel of His
love. I know He atoned for me. I can't deny the cleansing and enabling power of
the Atonement, as it has impacted me every day of the last 18 months. As I have
more fully come to understand how to live His doctrine, the Savior has become
very real to me. It has truly been a unique and powerful experience to wear His
name on my heart every day. I know He restored his church and priesthood back
on the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith. As I have studied and prayed
over the Book of Mormon I've had undeniable witnesses that it is the word of
God, and it has brought me closer to the Savior. I know my purpose here on
earth is to prepare to meet God, and I do that by aligning myself with the
Savior Jesus Christ. I have loved being His missionary.
Hasta manana!
Love y'all
Las quiero
Hermana Moore
SISTER KING
