Happy Monday!
If you need my new address, please email my Mom!
As
it is President's Day, Sister Stewart and I were really worried that
our library we go to would be closed since it's a college library, and
it's been closed before. So we called them this morning, and the guy
that always helps us with our visitor passes answers, "Georgia Perimeter
College, yes we're open." I laughed, and thanked him because that was
our question. When we call, the caller ID says LDS Missions, so he knew
it was us making sure it was open. :)
Just
like times before, we were having dinner with Sister Trust (shout out
to her family, she's amazing!) and we decided to stop by and see Mi.
again with her, because she was home the Monday we got her on baptismal
date. We taught Mi. the Plan of Salvation, and I loved that she was so
trusting, and willing to ask questions about things she's been
previously taught from church relating to the Plan of Salvation. She had
questions such as "we wouldn't remember or recognize anyone after this
life," and Mi. was happy to hear that it wasn't true because she didn't
like that idea. We were supposed to see her on Valentine's Day, but she
had a family party go over, and our schedules didn't match up with each
other so we haven't seen her since. She's no longer on date because we
haven't been able to teach her enough, but she will be soon enough! :)
It
was so sad because I got the stomach flu on Tuesday after District
Meeting, and it was so fun because all of us missionaries brought each
other Valentine's. The Conyer's Sisters gave us bracelets that say, 'My ♥
Belongs to Jesus.' How cool is that?! Wearing that everyday for the
rest of my life! So anyway, we had to cancel all of our appointments on
Tuesday, and I slept all day on Tuesday practically, (along with doing
more paperwork).
We
haven't been able to get a hold of Sh. and her family this week
unfortunately. We're thinking they went out of town because of winter
break, so we're going to pop in on them since she hasn't been replying
to our texts or calls. Update: Just as I was typing she texted us, and
Sh. still has a cold! Yay, she doesn't hate us! :P
We
have been helping getting both of the apartments ready as the Lamph's
finally left for home. They went to Savannah and Charleston before they
headed for home last week, and while they were gone we took out the old
carpet and we were cutting carpet squares, and tiling the bathroom. I
feel so handy now that I'm learning to do all of these things with
Sister Belleville. :) The Payne's are moving into the Lamph's apartment
(the Payne's house got caught on fire a few months ago) and we're moving
into the apartment that they were living in. So it's going to be a
swaparoo moving on Friday!
V.
and Sha. are still doing well, and still waiting to see if they're
moving to Atlanta. They haven't been reading the Book of Mormon
recently, so we went over the introduction with them, and it created a
new spark for them to read again. As it was winter break, a lot of
members around them were out of town, so it was really difficult getting
Da. (V.'s recently baptized sister) a ride to church. We were trying to
find one that morning, and we're so grateful that a member said yes! We
couldn't find V. and Sha. a ride, and we're bummed because they really
wanted to go. But thankfully we found one for them this week! :)
The
Stake Missionary meeting that we had on Thursday was absolutely
outstanding! The shift of missionary work in this stake is going to be
so pivotal now. Instead of the missionaries worrying about making
appointments with investigators and being there, finding them a ride to
church, activities, and so on.... they have redefined on what a
'fellowshipper' is, and it's up to their fellowshipper so we can focus
more on teaching other people, and setting up more appointments, than
freaking out who's going to pick them up, and which member will come
with us. Brother Avery, our ward mission leader (along with the rest of
them) has been asked to pray about who their fellowshipper should be, so
they will accept their calling because it's been inspired by God. We're
continuing on seeing the members weekly, and more members are getting
on board so it's been monumental I'd say!
So
J. is friend's with Brother Avery's son, Marlin. She was curious to see
what he believed, so she invited herself to church, and she came for
the 3rd time yesterday. Her parents gave her approval to take the
lessons from us, and we were able to teach her yesterday in the Avery's
home. She has already done research about our church on reputable sites,
and when we asked her who Joseph Smith was, J. told us, "He was one of
the prophets of God that led the people in righteousness in the 1800's."
or something like that. Sister Stewart and I were so shocked that she
already had started gaining a testimony of Joseph Smith we couldn't
remember what J. said exactly. :D She understood the restoration pretty
well as we explained it to her. We taught her more about the authority,
and explained the significance between Joseph Smith and the Book of
Mormon, and how they go hand and hand. She has already been prayerfully
reading and is on 1st Nephi 7. She accepted to be baptized on March
14th, and we invited her parents to join us on the discussion, so we'll
see what happens with that family this Sunday! :) There are so many out
there prepared!
As
we were driving, we heard police sirens and saw two police cars
speeding behind us. I was trying to slow down and pull over, I saw in
front of us two parked police cars to the left of us. The police
officers outside of the cars had loaded guns creeping across the street
toward the sidewalk to the right. I realized quickly that where I was
about to pull over, was where the police officers were walking toward so
I quickly sped up. The officers behind me parked, and as we drove on by
we saw a bunch of gangsters underneath the highway bridge on the ground
face down. We weren't entirely sure if they were dead or not, so I
guess y'all can be the judge! It reminded me of Atlanta when I saw a
dead guy in the street a mile or two away from the church. It seems like
God is preparing Sister Stewart to go to Atlanta! ;)
 |
| Downtown Atlanta--My first area! And maybe Sister Stewart's second area?! |
I'd
appreciate prayers as I drive to the temple tomorrow- there's supposed
to be a huge ice storm that hits Georgia and I'd rather not hit black
ice and get into an accident.
I
quote the famous Elder Lamph- "There is nothing quite as contagious as
enthusiasm, except the opposite thereof." I love to relate that to
missionary work, and how, "As your testimony is strengthened, your
desire for the welfare of souls is increasing." If we have a strong
testimony, a desire to share the gospel with enthusiasm, it will radiate
and others will catch the fire of serving our fellowmen. :)
I hope all y'all had a wonderful Valentine's Day!
-Sister Sudweeks
PS We were helping the Reynold's paint their 7 year old girl's room. Sister Stewart accidentally broke the broom handle whoops!
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