Monday, May 6, 2013

Can't Complain!

Well, this was a very good week! We had a few lessons cancel which was a total bummer but we ended up having a total of 5 lessons. I know that doesn't sound like very many but trust me, that's a lot for us! haha

To start out with what happened this week... Monday the 29th was pretty fun! We went bowling as a district and that was fun! It was an unlimited amount of games for two hours for $10. So it was pretty good. By the third game though, Sister Staker and I were done so the Elders decided to hurry and finish our last hour or so of bowling. They were just doing silly bowling moves and Elder Howell did this super funny one and he got a STRIKE!!!! It was awesome! I even got it on camera and would totally send it to you but for some reason I can't send videos. But it was awesome!
 
Then that night we had a FHE with the Hyer's and Bramschrieber's. We talked a lot about the Iron Rod, obedience, and repentance. It was a super good lesson and the spirit was super strong. It was exactly what was needed for everyone.
 
Bowling with the Elders (L to R): Elders Carpenter, Bucholz, and Howell
Tuesday the 30th we got all ready for the day and then the Zone Leaders texted everyone saying that because it was the last day of the month and because no one was even close to reaching their finding goal for the month of April, whoever found a new investigator that day would get lunch bought by the ZL's. So I got all excited and joking around I told Sister Staker that we would find someone! So we went throughout the day doing a bunch of stuff in the morning and early afternoon and then we decided to look in the area book. There was a name on there that I knew because of some members who live on the same street and so we decided to drop by this house. I have to admit, my faith wasn't very strong when we were walking up to the house. I didn't think she would answer and I definitely didn't think she would let us in. But guess what... Heavenly Father showed me!! She did both! We were so excited. We got in and talked to her about her family and got to know her a little bit and then we gave her a DVD called Together Forever. (Found out last night that we accidently gave her the wrong one but hopefully it will be ok...) Anyway, long story short, we talked a lot about families and then said a prayer. It was such a nice little conversation! Then as we were in our car, Sister Staker and I looked at eachother and realized WE GET LUNCH FROM THE ZONE LEADERS!! Not gonna lie, we were happy! BUT we didn't go in there remembering these things which was good that we weren't thinking about it during our lesson.
 
Then that night we went and had a lesson with one of the young women in the ward who was wanting us to teach her to help her learn a little more. It was fun! We talked a lot and had some good conversation. We really enjoyed ourselves and love that the young women are wanting to learn more.
 
Wednesday the 1st (I can't believe it's already MAY!!!!) we did a lot of service with Elders Bucholz and Carpenter. Their investigator is moving and she has a TON of stuff to pack and move but she broke her foot a few months ago and can't be on it for too long. So that was fun to do.
 
Thursday the 2nd we met with Anthony and we decided to push his baptism back til the end of the month. He's still trying to gain a testimony on Joseph Smith and President Monson so we thought we'd give him some more time to pray about it and to have more lessons.
 
Sister Staker being funny!
 
Then that night, a small miracle happened! We were just about to go home because we weren't able to get the 12-week program done earlier in the day because we were so busy but before we went home, we decided to go past a less-actives house who just moved in. As we pulled up and said a prayer, I looked up and this man started walking up to the house we were going to. Thanks to the LDS Tools and Brother Nelson in the ward for showing me a picture of this guy during ward council, I knew that it was the same member we were going to go see. So we got out of the car and Sister Staker yells his name. He turns around and we talked for a good 15 minutes outside his house. (Ariel - if you are reading this email, it was Richard (Sister Frederick's son) from the Diamond Bar ward... If you remember him...) It was cool because he thought the Bishop sent us over. He kind of did but turns out Bishop was coming over that night to visit with Richard. So it was really cool that we got there right before the Bishop and also right as Richard was walking home from work. So trying one last house before we called it a night and it just happened to be right at the perfect time! It was awesome!
 
Then Friday the 3rd we woke up super early and went to help out in seminary. We had to teach on why memorizing the scripture masteries are so important. It was the perfect lesson to teach because I was able to tell them really why it was important. I don't know most of my scripture masteries so it was good to give a different view. Now it's just time for me to memorize them all. Only a few months left and I want to memorize them. haha We'll see how that goes!
 
Another little miracle that happened that night... We went through the area book and found another name that Sister Staker wanted to stop by. We wrote her down for Wednesday but never got the chance to go. So Friday she said she really wanted to go. It was going to be our last stop for the night also. We pulled up, said a prayer, and knocked on her door. She came out and we introduced ourselves and ended up talking for about 10 minutes. She's not completely religious but is interested in learning more. The miracle part... She has three daughters but is no longer with their father and this weekend was her off week. She had just gotten home from work or something and was just on her way back out when we caught her. She told us that next week she'd be available to meet with us! We were so excited! It was truly another miracle!
 
Sister Staker and I at Big Tree Park
 
Saturday the 4th we didn't get much done... We spent most of the day with the Elders again helping their investigator finish the rest of the packing and loading on the truck. She had SO MUCH stuff! It was crazy! It was almost never ending. But it was so fun! She got rid of a whole Uhaul truck full of things and she still had more! It was crazy! But we didn't stop laughing almost all day. It was lots of work but it was good! She was very appreciative and it felt good to help her.
 
Well, I just want to end with a quote that I've been meaning to send in so many emails for a long time but never wanted to type it because it's so long. But the last couple weeks we have been sharing it and one of our investigators wanted me to email it to her and some of the ward members wanted a copy so I finally decided to type it up today. So now you all get it too! It's a quote about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It really changed my perspective on Christ's Atonement. There are some lines in there that hit me hard and it's just my most favorite quote ever! So I thought you all might enjoy it as well!...
 
“We know that Jesus experienced the totality of mortal existence in Gethsemane. It's our faith that He experienced everything – absolutely everything. Sometimes we don't think through the implications of that belief. We talk in great generalities about the sins of all humankind, about the suffering of the entire human family. But we don't experience pain in generalities. We experience it individually. That means He knows what it felt like when your mother died of cancer – how it was for her, how it still is for you. He knows what it felt like to lose the student body election. He experienced the slave ship sailing from Ghana toward Virginia. He experienced the gas chambers at Dachau. He experienced napalm in Vietnam. He knows about drug addiction and alcoholism. On a profound level, He understands about the hunger to hold your baby that sustains you through pregnancy. He understands both the physical pain of giving birth and the immense joy. He understands about rape, infertility and abortion. He understands your mother-pain when your five year old leaves for kindergarten, when a bully picks on your fifth grader, and when your daughter calls to say that the new baby has Downs Syndrome. He knows your mother rage when someone gives your thirteen year old drugs, when someone seduces your seventeen year old. He know the pain you live with when you come home to a quiet apartment where the only children are visitors, when you hear that your former husband and his new wife were sealed in the temple last week, when your fiftieth wedding anniversary rolls around and your husband has been dead for two years. He knows all that. He's been there. He's been lower than all that. He's not waiting for us to be perfect. Perfect people don't need a Savior. He came to save His people in their imperfections. He is the Lord of the living, and the living make mistakes. He's not embarrassed by us, angry at us, or shocked. He wants us in our brokenness, in our unhappiness, in our guilt and our grief.” (Chieko Okazaki, Lighten Up, 1993)
 
Well, it's time to get off and go deep clean our place. Sorry I have been horrible the last month with wishing everyone Happy Birthday but hope that the April birthday peeps had good days!  I love you all so very much!
Love always,
Sister Rachel Wheatley


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