Last night (monday) were transfer calls. Due to so many missionaries in the mission, they wanted to limit how many phones were calling in. Apparently there can only be one hundred phones per call, so we drove to the other sister's place last night (they live in Blackshear). Both sisters in the other ward already received a training call and Sister Divis (the senior companion) knew that she would be leaving. Guess where she's going? Gainesville! Not my old ward, but she will be in the YSA ward. I know some people she'll be working with, so it was fun being able to talk to her about that. Sister Johnson and I will be staying in Waycross, as I expected. President Craig was saying that the brethren are wanting to keep missionaries in areas for six to nine months. We'll see how long I stay here in Waycross.
This week we were really hoping to get our investigator Shanna to church. I know it is really out of her comfort zone to go to a church where she hardly knows anyone. She has three kids: one is eight (Tyson), seven (Emma), and seven..?(Isabel). They are so cute. We gave her a church tour on Saturday to help her feel more comfortable about coming. It went really well and all three of the kids came. They were so excited to come to church the next day. We walked them around and showed them where their different classes would be. We stopped in the primary room and let the kids look around for a little bit. When we walked outside of the primary room there were two bulletin boards with pictures of all the primary kids in the two wards. Each of the bulletin boards said, "I am a child of God". Emma looked at all of the pictures and said, "I want my picture up there too." I could feel our Heavenly Father's love for sweet Emma. I thought, "me too Emma, me too." We finished the tour and walked them out to their car. Emma and Isabel gave us these huge hugs and wouldn't let go. We told them that we would see them the next day for church and we went our separate ways. Sunday morning came and we waited for them to come. We sent Shanna a text to make sure everything was okay and to see if she would still be able to make it. She texted us back and said she was in a panic. She had accidentally switched her alarm clock to the pm and not the am setting. Hopefully everything will run smoothly for next week and we can get them to church.
It's interesting to see the difference that people see in you as a missionary--but really just any member keeping the commandments. There was a man that Sister Johnson and i walked up to the other day who was with his toddler son outside. His name is Charlie. He started asking us a few questions like why we were serving missions. We both bore short testimonies of why we decided to serve missions. He just stopped and looked at us. He said, "Wow. Most people that I would ask that to would hesitate or not know what to say. I'm just really impressed with the way you answered that." It made me think of Elder Christoffersen's (I think?) talk in conference. We need to have a reason for why we do certain things or keep the commandments. He then started asking us about the word of wisdom. We told him of all the things that we don't drink or do. Charlie: "Coffee!?? and TEA??! Don't you know you're in the south!?" ;) We then explained to him why we don't drink those things. We talked about being more spiritually in tune to promptings of the spirit and being obedient to God's commandments. He talked about how much sense that made. He said he had just started drinking coffee again after some time and noticed a difference. He said he always thought it was just him feeling healthier, but realized now why. He started asking us question after question after question. He couldn't get enough. He wondered where he could get one of "those books" ;) and we gave him a Book of Mormon and set up another date to meet with him. When we keep the commandments, I know how blessed we are. They're not restraints as so many think of them.
I love you all and hope that your weeks go so well! Read your scriptures every day. If I could look back on anything I did before my mission that prepared me most it would be that. Gain a deep love for the scriptures. It doesn't matter where you're at in your life. I feel like I can invite and expect people to read their scriptures every day because I have done that. Pray every day and ask Heavenly Father to help you bring someone closer to their savior (just like was told in conference!). May God bless you and let others see the difference in you from keeping the commandments!
Much love,
Sister Jensen :)
Welcome to Georgia! Cotton fields.
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