A lot
has happened this first week in Santa Maria! We got in on Tuesday the
next night we met the bishopric at the church building. We got some names of
some less active families to visit and a copy of the focus 15 list as well as
some other great list such as part member, those without callings, abbreviated
directory. They were all impressed at our "get to work attitude." I
just see it as the only way to make things happen is to get them started! We
asked bishop Sais if we could bear our testimonies in sacrament and they said
we could each have three to four minutes.
We met the relief
society president and the young woman president at a dinner appointment that
was a birthday party for a member of the ward. So we knew people before we even
got to church on Sunday.
There is only one
investigator in the books that we were left with so we have been finding,
finding, finding this week. The area is HUGE. there is the urban/suburb part of
town and then there are the outskirts of town with fields upon Fields of
broccoli and strawberries. we even have 3 outlying small towns (like no post
office small) and the outer streets.
Our ward mission
leader brother Terrazas is great. he texted us with 5 manes that we were to
verify if they still lived in the houses or not. 2 of them we have found do so
far and have reported it back and one moved away. There are A LOT of less
actives on the directory, so we have been trying many names.
My favorite experience
this week was in a senior trailer home park. Sis Higgins and I decided to walk
to one of the question mark residences and on our way realized it was really
far. We were street contacting as we went, and an elderly gentleman making ammo
in his garage wasn’t interested, so we continued walking. I saw a woman at the
sink through her window and thought," We should knock there."
"No," another thought said, "we're walking to so and so's
house," "you should really go." that’s what I felt at least;
again I shrugged it off and thought, "we will knock that door on the way
back." Though I realized that could be over minutes later. a few more
strides and sis higgins realized this was going to be a long walk, "maybe
we should go back to the car," she said. "Ok, but we're going to
knock on a house first." "okay!"
so we went up to the
house I had seen the woman in. there were lots of flowers and things about the
porch. we knocked. she answered
"Hi we're
missionaries! we were walking in the neighborhood and saw your house with all
the flowers and thought, oh this looks like a nice person lives here!"
"oh, yes... well..."
"We are
missionaries for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints!"
"Oh, well, I already have my own church."
"Really? great!
what church?"
"I go to a non-denominational church just off the freeway"
"Ok, so non-denominational,
I don’t know too much about that, did they form because they don’t like how there’s
many different protestant churches or- well tell me about it."
"that’s a good question I actually don’t know, I will have to ask
my pastor about it."
"We know that
there is a prophet on the earth today who leads the church that Christ
established when he was here on earth"
She apologized for not
letting us in "It's so rude, but my sister is inside with a migraine on
the couch and I’m taking care of her. we talked for not too long and she actually
came out to the porch gave her a restoration pamphlet and our number. she then
mentioned something about a friend passing away, sister higgins proceeded to
show her a plan of salvation pamphlet. We had given her our number and she
said, "Well I'm going to call you girls. I'm sure lots of people tell you
that but I really am." there was a change about her. She was open and
listening to us. It was gradual that I couldn't say when it happened, but once
the plan of salvation pamphlet was given to her their definitely was a change.
We asked if we could pray with her before we left. She said a wonderful prayer.
She thanked god for us coming and said something to the effect of, "Lord,
thank you so much for letting me meet these sisters today and for their kindness,
as I was driving back from Ventura today after the funeral and had discouraging
thoughts I prayed to you for answers and and you have answered my prayers.
thank you for being so loving, in Jesus name amen."
A layer of tears cover
her eyes. she gave us hugs. we set up an appointment to call back. Her name is Carmel
and she recognized us as servants of god. We are excited to teach her. We had
no idea what we were going to say when we walked up to her door, but god gave
us the words to say. He gave us the cheerful reply to her, "I already have
a church." "Great!!! what church?!" I am soooooo thankful I
listened to that prompting to knock on her house. it was the only door on that
whole street we knocked on. But god wanted her prayer answered. Luckily he
trusted us to obey that prompting. It gives me chills thinking about all the
unheeded promptings I have had, where blessings and testimony building
experiences went unfulfilled. But I continue to look forward.
Sis Higgins is a great
companion. I never have been able to declare the restored gospel so naturally
than I do when I am with her. the night we got here we talked to 3 people in
the grocery store for 30 minutes and got their information to go back and
visit.
At a ward council Sunday an
area authority came to talk to the council (we go next week to ward council so
we were not there) and spoke. we knew he was coming because the bishop and our
zone leaders had mentioned it. We got to the church and were walking into the
building when a man in the parking lot motioned us to his car. "Hello, I'm
Elder Garnes." (the Area authority) he shook our hands, asked if we were
the sisters assigned to Santa Maria second ward. We replied in the affirmative.
"I don't know WHAT you did. but keep doing it. The bishop just talked to
the ward council telling them how great you are and how he's already met with
you and he has invited you to bear testimony to the ward today. you are both
doing a GREAT job." "Thank you!" we both couldn't stop smiling.
It was such a wonderful exchange. Not because of recognition or praise, but the
assurance that the Lord sees and is pleased with the work we are doing here in
Santa Maria. I am reminded of what is my favorite scripture right now,
D&C 64:25,33
"Wherefore if ye
believe me ye will labor while it is called today. Wherefore be not weary in
well doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small
things proceedth that which is great."
That's what I've been
trying to tell myself every time I think “I am too tired to keep
going."
This work is worth it
and can only be done under the direction and with Christ at our sides. it's a
privileged to be a missionary.
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