Monday night just as we were ending our Pday we got a phone call from L asking us if we could come over. We had decided to drop her previously because we had tried for several weeks to get in contact with her and couldnt get her to answer her phone or door when we went over. Anyway...it turns out that she has been super sick for the past couple of weeks. We ran into her daughter during Pday and she went home and told her Mom she had seen us and she was feeling better so she called us and asked us to come over. So we went over. It was very brief because we had our night planned out so we just talked to her for a little bit and then set up a time to come back. We then went to Z's to do family night with her and her kids. We sang songs and then talked about Joseph Smith and drew pictures of him. I know I say this every week but her kids are seriously my favorite.
Tuesday morning we went out contacting. The Elders had a potential investigator that is a single woman that they wanted us to go visit. So we went there. We were able to talk to her and set up a time to go back next week. We then had District Meeting. We talked about the importance of asking for referrals and making it more personal to the person so that they know we have thought about them and their situation. I am really good at asking for referrals...we do it in every lesson and with every contact...but we usually dont get them. So we talked about how to actually recieve referrals from people.
We then went and had a lesson with M. He said that he had something that he wanted to show us. So we went and met him and he took us on a walk to a part of the coast that I had never been...it was breathtakingly beautiful (unfortunately I didnt take pictures because I didnt think it was appropriate with an investigator). We were able to sit and teach him outside which ended up being really good (usually I am not a fan of it because it is distracting) but it was super calm and peaceful and there werent a ton of people around. We talked to him about his reading in the Book of Mormon and his desire to find truth. He talked about how he really wants to find truth but he doesnt know how...so we talked to him about how he can do that. He was having a hard time with it because he said he has a hard time thinking about God as a person. So we talked to him about that and at the end of the lesson he prayed! We pointed out the Spirit that he was feeling and were able to help him see that is how he will recieve an answer.
We then went to B's...we hadnt actually broken up with her yet. So we went to talk to her and she actually took it really well. We talked to her about our purpose as missionaries and she told us that she doesnt see herself changing. We told her that she is still welcome to come to church but that we wont be able to come meet with her at her house anymore.
Wednesday we went to D. On the way we saw A and said hi to her and then partway through the lesson A showed up at her house. It actually ended up being really great! Croatians are blunt and straight forward and can say things to each other that wouldnt be good for the missionaries to say to them. So it ended up being a great lesson! We did some contacting and tracting until we had English. We had a good English class and then we did a branch family home evening. Sister Bunker and I taught the lesson and we decided to have the family home evening lesson be based off of Preach My Gospel. We taught about chapter 2 which is effective studying. We taught the lesson and then we had a few activities. We had a pretty good turnout and it ended up being a lot of fun!
Thursday morning we went and met with H. It was a bit of an interesting lesson but it went ok. She is still learning and trying and she is still so happy! We had Branch Council which was good and then we were able to go have a lesson with L which turned out really good. It was probably the best lesson I have had with her. We changed our plan of what to teach her right before our lesson and it ended up being perfect. When we got there she started talking about sacrifice and how she has been making sacrifices and it has helped to strengthen her love for Heavenly Father. We talked to her about fasting and were able to commit her to fast with us this Sunday which she was so excited about! We also talked to her about the Priesthood and Priesthood blessings. It just ended up being a perfect lesson. In the past with her I have left feeling like we have been making baby steps...but today I felt like we actually made a normal person step forward. We are just really hoping that we can start meeting with her regularly...she gets sick often that it makes it hard...because I think that will be the turning point for her when we can actually have lessons and build off of them rather than having to start basically over each time because it has been so long in between.
Thursday night we went and saw A. We talked to her about the Sacrament and the importance of coming to church each week so that we can partake of the sacrament. We were able to commit her to come to church after not coming for several months!
Friday morning we had piano with B. We also went and saw S and M. They are struggling right now...it is so hard with them because their answers to everything are perfect and when we talk with them you would feel like they are fully active members...they just struggle with commitment...they know what they need to do they just let other things get in the way.
After leaving their house we had something we had planned on doing but it ended up not working out. We quickly ran to the church because we had something that we needed to do and got there at the perfect time. The Elders were just finishing up German and had two people that had questions and wanted to talk to us. So they asked us if we could meet with one of them named V. She has had a few lessons with the Elders and has been reading the Book of Mormon and had some questions about it. We ended up having a really great lesson with her. She has been being prepared for this her whole life...and she recognizes that. She tells us how good she feels when she comes and that she wouldnt feel that way if it werent true. We invited her to be baptized but she said she needs some more time but that she really has a desire to find truth. I feel really good about her and our lesson with her was great. I think she knows it is true she is just scared to admit it and is especially scared of what people will think.
We then had a lesson with A which was great. He is still doing great except for the fact that he has been out of town for the past few weekends so he hasnt been to church in awhile.
Saturday we had planned on doing a service project but due to weather it got cancelled so our morning plans were changed. We spent the morning contacting and tracting with not much luck. Saturday night we had English class and V came to help us for personal progress. It ended up being a good English class and after she stayed to help us clean the church then we went to H's. She is such a sweetheart. We had a good lesson with her.
Sunday was church. We had Sacrament Meeting, we taught the youth Sunday School class and then we taught primary. After church we tried to do our finding activity but after a little bit of no one coming we decided it wasnt very effective and that we should try something else and take a break this week (Sunday wasnt very good weather so no one was out and about). Z had asked us to come to her house so we walked to her house and contacted on the way. We had a good visit with Z then Sunday night we went to V's to do Personal Progress with her. She finished another project this week! She is so close to being done with it! V is my favorite! I love when we get to be with her...she is just a unique personality and there is never a dull moment!
This week was a good week! This next week will probably be a crazy week...because my companion is just a mini missionary she is flying home on Wednesday which is 2 weeks before the transfer ends...I have found out that I will be staying in Zadar but they arent sure who will be coming back with me. So we are heading to Zagreb tonight and I will be back to Zadar on Thursday with a new companion.
Our Sunday School lesson that we taught this week was on testimonies. We talked about what a testimony is and how to gain it. It was a really good reminder for me of what a testimony truly is...it doesnt have to be a big miraculous story or experience that happened. It is simple knowledge of truth that is witnessed through the Holy Ghost. I know that this church is true, it is Christs Church that was restored to the earth through Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is true. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and love us. The Atonement is real. Living the Gospel is the only way to find peace and happiness throughout our lives.
Anyway...I hope that you all have a great week! Remember that I love you lots!
Volim vas!
Sister Clark
Shoutouts!
Emails...Dad, Mom, Lex, Grandpa, Zach, Tys
Sretan Rođendan Paul
No comments:
Post a Comment