My dear Mother (and whomever else gets this email forwarded to ;) ),
This week Sister Johnson and I got to go on exchanges again with Sister Ashcraft and Scott. This time Sister Scott was with Sister Johnson in Waycross and I went to Brunswick with Sister Ashcraft. I always love seeing how different missionaries do things and learn from their talents. Sister Ashcraft is just the most loving, sweet, patient person ever. Something fun that she had thought of or heard of for a finding activity was to do a car wash at the church and then do church tours. I was a little skeptical at first because there were hardly members there due to another event going on at that time. I was worried that it needed to be advertised a bit more. However, to my surprise it turned out exceptionally well!! There really didn't need to be much advertisement. Two sets of elders were also washing cars and then some ward members held "free car wash" signs by the busy road in front of the church. Sister Ashcraft and I kind of assumed we would be washing cars so I was in basketball shorts, a tshirt and crocs ;) Next thing you know, the Elders are telling people we would give them a tour of the building. :) Wow! What a great chance it was to invite people in and talk about the church in a non-threatening way! Almost every single person agreed to go on a little tour with us as their car was being washed and vacuumed. We first stopped in the primary room and talked a little bit about what the kids are taught (I am a child of God, etc). We would point to the different paintings of the Savior on the walls and briefly go over the bible story that it depicted and then we would show them the family history center and talk about family history. And then to my favorite part: the first vision painting where we basically taught the whole restoration. As I told of Joseph Smith's experience to a small group of people the sweet spirit that so often accompanies the telling of the event filled the hall. I could see in each of them that they felt the confirming witness of the Holy Ghost. It was so neat to hear the "peace" that each one of them felt as they toured the building. At the end of the tour, Sister Ashcraft asked if people would be willing to learn more and several individuals gave her their number.
One of the Elders' investigators, Greg, came to get his car washed. He has been to church a couple times so we showed him several rooms (like the primary room). We also showed him the baptismal font. The spirit was strong. He told of his experience in the several churches that he has attended. He said when he was five, he remembers being terrified to go to church. He remembers the preacher yelling and talking about hell. He said every time he is in our building he just feels peace. Everyone is happy. (Mosiah 2:41) He said that he decided a long time ago that he would be open-minded and not throw something off just because he was taught differently. It was so neat to hear his testimony and the truths that he has been learning. I can just feel that he is going to be baptized. He will be such an amazing man in the church.
I'll try to keep this brief. But I just wanted to add something about a couple of ward members, Sister Taft and Brother Taft. Sister Taft is preparing to go to the temple next month and it makes me so happy for her. She wants to be as prepared as possible. She is reading every day in the scriptures and in preach my gospel and basically everything that she can get her hands on. Her husband hasn't been to church in years. Sister Johnson and I were talking to the both of them the other day and then Brother Taft had to leave. Sister Taft was just expressing how she wishes he would come to church with her and could come to the temple also. I asked her if she prays for him. She said she does often. I asked her if they pray together. She said she doesn't think that he would do that. I told her to invite him every night to join her for her nightly prayers. If he says no, then that's okay, but to invite him every single night. On Sunday she was so excited to tell us that he knelt with her every night as she prayed. We got to meet with them again Sunday evening. I have high hopes for Brother Taft. For those whose hearts break for close loved ones who do not share the same feelings of love toward the gospel as us, my suggestion is to hold on there a little longer. Love them unceasingly. Sometimes the best way to teach is to simply listen. Their time will come. I want to express my deepest love to those who haven't been to church in a while and may have harsh feelings about the church or some of the people in it. I want every person to know that I know that we are not just another church on a corner, but the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. If nobody else has done so, I want to invite you back. "We do not preach and teach in order to 'bring people into the Church' or to increase the membership of the Church. We do not preach and teach to persuade people to live better lives.... We invite all to come unto Christ by repentance and baptism and confirmation in order to open the doors of the celestial kingdom to the sons and daughters of God. No one else can do this." -Elder Dallin H. Oaks. Endure to the end my friends and family! May God continue to watch over you and bless you in everything you do!
Much love,
Sister Jensen
p.s. Tom and Barbara King family, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE POST CARD FROM ST GEORGE!! It made my day to get that in the mail. :) :)
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