Monday, October 24, 2016

Keep our focus on what the Lord HAS given us :)


Hey y'all!!!
How are y'all doing today? I am doing good!! This week has been awesome, but also crazy (as usual).
So here's the run down:
Monday was spent running around packing like a mad woman! Then in the evening we went and said goodbye to B. and then to S. and S.. With S. and S. we made cookies and then we talked about individual worth with them!!
Tuesday: Transfer day!!! We got there just in time for the meeting to start and slipped in the back. Then transfers were called out! I got transferred to Chapin!!! Chapin is a branch in the West Columbia Zone (my first zone). And my companion is Sister Pickett!! She is from Idaho and she just finished training! She is a lot of fun and funny! She is super friendly with everyone and is an awesome missionary!! So the Lord has again blessed me with an awesome area and an awesome companion! Life is good :) Chapin is only 20 minutes away from the church building transfers are held at. So we came home, ate lunch and jumped right back into the work. We saw a girl named C. She's been meeting with the missionaries for a few weeks now and is really excited to learn more. With her we read Moroni 7 and talked about gaining spiritual knowledge. Then we saw a lady named W. who was baptized in September. With her we talked about the temple because she is preparing to go do baptisms at the temple in just a few weeks! In the evening we had our branch missionary meeting which went very well. 
Wednesday: We went out to meet some people. We met a guy named T. who at first seemed very hesitant to talk with us, but then he opened up and agreed to read the Book of Mormon. So that was cool! We also met a guy named T. and we gave him a Book of Mormon and will hopefully see him again soon! Then we went and saw a lady named K. that has only met with missionaries a couple of times. We shared Moroni 10:32 quickly with her. After dinner we saw a couple named Z. and B. who were baptized in January. We talked about Christlike attributes with them. 
Thursday we had a really awesome zone service project!! Our zone went to the state fair in Columbia and assisted people that were in wheel chairs! So that was awesome!!!! In the afternoon we had a visit with a member in the branch, Sister W.! In the evening we saw a part member family. We only taught the mom (who is a less active member) named J. and her unbaptized son B. With J. and B.  we talked about our baptismal covenants from Mosiah 18. 
Friday was another awesome day! We went and did service at a place called "We Care". It's basically a food pantry. So we were in the back filling up bags of food for people. Then we saw C. again. With her we read the introduction to the Book of Mormon. Then we planned for our next week! In the evening we saw a mom and son, M. and P. We taught them about tithing and fasting! They are really cool! They want to get baptized really badly, but they have a couple things to work through first, but I am so impressed that they have a lot of desire. M. asked if she could start paying tithing before baptism. So that was cool! They have a lot of faith. 
Saturday we had more service!! We went and helped a lady named B. clean her house and start to organize her things for her. So that was good! Around her house we were able to meet a guy named D. who had talked a little bit with missionaries before. And we met a lady named L. who's grandma was actually a member of the church! In the evening we saw a couple named B. and D. and we watched a video called "He lives" with them and talked about the atonement and resurrection of Christ! 
Sunday was great! We had church and I'm already getting to learn everybody in the branch. Chapin is actually really big for a branch so that's really awesome! We meet in the Irmo building (where transfers are held) so that's pretty fun! Church was really good! In the evening we met a lady named L. and talked with her about the Book of Mormon and she told us we could come back!! Then we saw M. again! We watched a video called "Because of Him" and with them we talked about the changes they have seen in their lives as they've been meeting with the missionaries so that was super cool!!
My spiritual thought of the day: 
I read this really awesome talk this morning called "The Laborers in the Vineyard" by Elder Holland from the April 2012 general conference. He talked about the parables of  the laborers in the vineyard that is in Matthew 20:1-15. He talks a little bit about the danger of envy and he said this,
 
  • "Furthermore, envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving. Obviously we suffer a little when some misfortune befalls us, but envy requires us to suffer all good fortune that befalls everyone we know! What a bright prospect that is- downing another quart of pickle juice everyt time anyone around you has a happy moment!"
 I thought it was a funny way to state a very simple truth. The Lord has given us so much, even if it doesn't look like much. And our lives truly are so much better and we can find such greater peace and happiness if we focus on what the Lord has given us, instead of what He has given others.
 
I love y'all so much! I love being a missionary! I am excited for this next transfer! And I hope y'all have a blessed week!
Love always,
Sister Amy Bennett :)
 
With new companion Sister Pickett at the State Fair :)
serving!
With former companion Sister Staheli :)