Gimme a P!
P!
Gimme an I!
I!
Put em together and
what do you got?
SUCCESS.
P.I. Progressing
Investigator. Lex came to church yesterday, which means for the first
time since ever I got to put a joyful and triumphant "1" on my weekly
report next to "progressing." Win. Next step: baptism.
Sploosh!
In other news, another
holiday down. And it was so so so special. Christmas Eve was
fantastic. I stuffed myself into a pair of jeans that seem to magically
shrink every time I put them on and we went out and raked for a sister who lives
close by, then again for a less-active brother who's wife recently passed and
who loves company more than anything in the world. He was tickled when he
saw us out his window. Said he told his brother "Hey! There's
a girl outside rakin my leaves!" "Nu-huh!"
"Yeah! There's a bunch of em out there!" Yessir, three
rake-weilding sister missionaries, and one in the trash can stomping down
leaves to make room for more. He chatted with us while we finished the
job, and when the lawn was pristine I asked, "So we gonna see you at church
one of these Sundays?" and he says "Well yeah! I'm gonna
have to come on over!" And he hasn't been in years. Pretty
awesome what a little service, conversation, and invitation can do.
The rest of the day
was spent at nursing homes. The first
two housed ladies who's records were in the ward, but of course
had not been to church due to their current state. We sang them Christmas
songs out of the hymn book. Francine could barely talk, and labored
hard to get out every syllable. But when we began to sing "Silent
Night," she sang every word along with us. I almost couldn't finish
the song, choking on tears. What a beautiful moment we were able to
share, us and this woman in a place often regarded as "where you go to
grow old and be forgotten." "We haven't forgotten
you." "Neither has your Heavenly Father."
The last nurse care
facility was the one we often go to as a district to sing hymns to the lot of
them. Some of the ladies there know us missionaries pretty well. We
knocked on Mary's door, and she was delighted to see us, hugging and kissing
us, telling us how much she loves when we come as a group to sing and say hi to
them, and how we come to her mind when she prays at night. She's a
Christian woman if ever I saw one, and as such she accepted gratefully the Book
of Mormon we gave her with a bow tied on it. You're never too old to
learn more about Christ, am I right?
We spent the evening
at a member's home in the ward, they gave us presents and played the Christmas
devotional with the general authorities, and we read Luke 2 together, after I
had everyone close their eyes and visualize the faint lights of Bethlehem, the
faint sound of sheep in the fields, readying to hear the story of the greatest
gift God gave the world. Downright lovely.
Christmas morning
replaced our exercise 1/2 hour with present-opening around the construction
paper tree taped to our wall, and staying in our pajamas til 7:30.
Christmas day was three meal appointments and a dessert appointment, more
presents from sweet members who know you can't go wrong with hair accessories,
scarves and journals when it comes to sister missionaries. The Skype-call
hour with our families was screams and tears of joy - even when it wasn't my
family on the screen. Goodness. Frantic talking to try and get
several months worth of our lives across the states to reach our loved ones in
the West who can only picture all the people we meet every day, all the
countless blessings and trials thrown at us by dozens. I have the best
family. I even got to talk to Cassie, serving in New Mexico, for about
five minutes, all her remaining time would allow. But it's cool. I
got plenty of time with the rest of the fam. The evening was spent with
the Shreveport ward - my second family - at the bishop's house for the
Christmas sing-along. Two solid hours of singing Christmas songs with
musical genius Bro Smith on the piano, banging out every song in the book as we
followed along til we lost our voices; I took occasional breaks to rest
my voice/chase all my fave primary kids around the house. I love them to
bits. I've been here so long I can't imagine leaving this ward.
Funny, huh? The level of attachment is ridiculous, when you're a
missionary.
Funny thing about
December 26 in the mission, is that it isn't a depressing day. Not for
me, anyway. It was nice to get back to work and get productive
again. I'll say again, the work has been so incredibly enjoyable with
Sister Sellers around. I told her it's been a brighter place since she's
come, and it has - she has this habit of opening all the blinds in our
apartment. Yesterday, we were laughing about the difference between our
area and South Shreve's area. Alma 31-32 describes our contrast to the
T. They have the poor and humble. We have the Zoramites. But
if that makes us Alma and Amulek, then I have no complaints. The thing
about God, is he can prepare people wherever they live, skidrow or rampeumptom row. We were on one of the richest
streets just a few days ago, and wouldn't you know it, we met a lady who was
really excited we had a Book of Mormon for her! She'd taken her family to
Utah, and Temple Square and thought it was all so nice she wants to live
there. I guess those temple square sisters do get some good work done,
huh? Certainly made this lady happy to see us.
Miracles of the
moment: We contacted a referral the other sisters met at Walmart. She let us in, no problem, and we were able to teach to a
question she had: "Why do bad things start happening when you try to go
back to church?" Plan of Salvation. Purpose of life.
Opposition in all things. Agency. Boom. After a little bit
(we're getting better at 20 min lessons), she asked another, "How come
there are so many churches?" and we were like Booyah, we got an answer for
that, stay tuned. Up next: Restoration. Prophets, dispenstations,
Christ's ministry, great apostasy, Joseph Smith. Holla. Who got the
answers? We do. Tell your friends.
Second miracle.
Last night, it was 8:30, we don't have to go in til 9:00, and there's very
little to do at that hour, but going home early is no bueno. So we drove
around a minute, hoping we were being led by the Spirit, when I finally turned
in the direction of home and then realized we'd be passing a less-actives home
soon. So we stopped at Rae's, and while we spoke with her in the
driveway, her friend comes out of the house, up to us, shakes our hands and
introduces himself. He's about to ship out to the Navy. Sister
Sellers, who's a walking General Conference archive, remembered all the talks
by general authorities who's lives were changed by having a Book of Mormon in
the service, and pulls one out to tell him about. I showed him my fave
scripture in Alma (37:36-37) about prayer, she directed that to Moroni 10:3-5,
the challenge to read and pray, and Rae, the member, was there to
testify. She was also grinning ear to ear, just like we were, at the
prospect of this spontaneous chance to share the gospel with this good friend
of hers before he set sail. And he seemed really grateful for it, being
someone who hadn't been to church since he figured his preacher was corrupt,
and knew he needed Christ in his life again. Goes to show, amazing things
happen when you follow the Spirit, and don't go home early.
15 That ye may be
blameless and harmless, the asons of God, without rebuke, in the midst
of a crooked and perverse bnation, among whom ye cshine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in
the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
[Phil
2:14-16]
What
we have is truly a light. It shines above everything else in this
world. It is the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And of it,
I am not ashamed, not even a little bit. The rich can scoff, the ignorant
mock, and I'll keep running, laboring. The day of Christ is near, and I'm
not scared: I'm stoked!
Sincerely,
Sister
Valdez
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