This week was an amazing week! We worked hard and got to teach a lot of people. Normally we're scrambling to find someone who is home or isn't busy when we go to their house, but this week we were blessed to be received into many homes. Sometimes I wonder why we do this work, we go out all day, every day, just to get rejected or to have someone who doesn't really care or isn't willing to make that extra step, but when we do everything with all of our might, mind, heart, and strength, it all works out in the end. Eventually there's that person who really wants to turn their life around or who actually wants to learn the Gospel or needs the message we bring. The key to it all it patience and hope. If we don't have a hope, that drive that keeps us going because we know it'll get better soon, we won't have the willpower to endure. We'll eventually just give up, allow that hole of despair in our hearts grow and grow until we have nothing to hold on to anymore. We also need patience, to keep that hope for as long as it takes, to not let a speed bump takes us off the track. And when those two things combine and become our foundation, I have a firm testimony that everything works out. There's always a brighter view beyond the horizon no matter how dark it gets. After 3 months of being in Solo we're finally seeing our work progress. People have been even finding us or are already ready to learn by the time we find them. We've gotten a couple new investigators and a couple already on the road to baptism. They're so awesome, I'm so glad I can see the affect that the gospel has in their lives. There are some that love reading the Book of Mormon or love hearing our lessons. I'm so grateful to be a part of this work, even if it's a little bit difficult. We got to see a great view of the city when we visited the hospital to visit a member there. The awesome thing was it was one of the only cloudy days I've seen here, it wasn't hot and it was pretty awesome. I love that there are so many trees and that we could get out of the loud city noise for a while, it was a nice refresher. When going to visit one of our investigators, we didn't have a lot of space to put our bikes, so they told us to just put our bikes in the house that was being built across the street. That works, hehe. This is us being gross and stinky after exercising today. Also, an exclusive look inside our house. This was the sunset from that cloudy day. I always love seeing the sunsets here, they're so beautiful. That building is one of the only tall buildings in Solo, usually they're only a few stories high at the most, but this one's pretty tall. It's a hotel and quite fancy.
The other day I also had a really cool experience. We were just finishing splits with the other sisters in Solo and had stopped by the grocery store to get some food for Sunday. As we were about to leave the store, I noticed there was a woman with a cross necklace and she was waiting with her family. I thought, 'O cool, she's a Christian', but then I got a strong impression that I needed to talk to her. I doubted a little bit, but I kept getting this very strong feeling that I need to talk to her. But, all the other three missionaries were heading towards our bikes. So I just said, "Okay, Heavenly Father, if you really need me to talk to this woman, you need to give me a way to talk to her" so as we were walking through the parking lot, we were stopped by a backing up car. I looked back but they were still at the front of the store. And then, behind that car another car backed out of their space. I looked back again and saw they were making their way through the parking lot. I quietly said a prayer of thanks for giving me a second chance to go up and talk to her. And then, as they were getting our their motor bike, which was actually right by our bikes, I just started talking to them. She was actually interested in talking and we had a good conversation. I gave her a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and asked for her phone number so we could come visit her, but sadly, she said she had her own religion and didn't want to meet with us. But you know what, that's okay, because I know that God loves this woman and her family, and I know He has a plan for her, and whether or not she accept our message or not, I know she will be blessed because some bule from America had a feeling she needed to contact her. I know God places people in our paths so that our light and testimony can bless them, whether or not we see the effects of it. I invite all of you to see others in your lives that you can bless with a compliment or a smile or some friendly advice. I promise you are blessing to those around you as you strive to be a light to the world. Never forget the path that you set, others do see and follow. Everyone, have a great week! Tuhan memberkati! Sampai kelak kita bertemu! Sister Stringham
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorHOLLEY STRINGHAM: Salt Lake City, born and raised; returned missionary from the Indonesia Jakarta Mission.; a simple folk aimed on changing the world Archives
October 2017
Categories
All
|