Tuesday, August 14, 2012

July 23, 2012 letter

"Down on My Knees, I Learned to Stand"

Hey everyone! 
Sorry for the lack of letter last week, I wish i would have had time to tell you some stories, but things happen. :) 

This week was GREAT. We saw so many miracles and that was mission wide. President decided that we were going to have a 'power week' where every companionship set their goals ridiculously high and then try their very hardest to achieve them. He decided to do this to see what we were really capable of when we dont limit ourselves to our normal goals or just trying to achieve the bare minimum. 

We were pumped at the beginning of the week and EXHAUSTED by the end. We were trying to think of things that we could sacrifice to show the lord that we wanted his help and that we would give up things for his blessings and all we could think of was to do a fast to start and then cutting our meal times short. We felt like we learned some really great lessons this week from doing power week: #1 that an extra 15-20 minutes at lunch makes all the difference. I have never been so tired in my life.#2 We actually give everything we have. We tried so hard to do more and push ourselves harder and in the end our numbers ended up pretty much like they do on any other week. This was a good realization for both of us, we really are working as hard as we can every day. #3 this is not our work. We've always known that, but especially this week, seeing all the miracles was really cool. We did however work alot harder to give everyone we talked to a Book of Mormon. We usually give away 6 or 7 a week but we wanted to try to give away a whole box during power week (40).... we made half of it, we gave away 20 book of mormons this week. We became alot more persistant when people would say they werent really interested. We testified like crazy and eventually they took one. There is one less active lady that inspires me to get people to take one because she had one for almost 15 years before she picked it up and read it, but because it was there in her house, she is now a member.... not active, but still a member :). 

So here are a couple really great stories from this week: 
#1- We started off power week with an incredible miracle. Last week were were out street contacting on our way to see a less active and on our way home we passed a man, we stopped to talk to him and he was a little sharp when he said "do you REALLY believe his coming again after 2000 years?"... we answered with an "of course we do, absolutely he is coming". He then told us about how he was raised christian, has read the bible, and even prayed and everytime he does he just feels like he is talking to the air and has never gotten an answer back. We didnt want to argue with him so we introduced the book of mormon and asked him if he'd read it, and he said he would. We promised that if he read it that he would come to know the savior for himself and he started to walk away so as he is leaving we practically yelled "read it, and WHEN you know its true. Call us." and that was that.... well monday morning we got a phone call from this man who said "I dont know if this is the girls who gave me a bible last week, but I just wanted to call and let you know that I read some of your book and prayed for the first time in a very very long time and I got an answer. I was about to become homeless because I didnt have a job and today I found a job. I just wanted you to know that after I prayed a peace came into my life that I have not felt for a very very long time" We offered to teach him and he said that he didnt want to be pressured into anything so that when he is ready he will call us. So we are just waiting, and hoping that he calls soon! 

#2- Saturday we got a little change of scenery. The Maddison FL branch was doing a youth activity that required more than the 2 elders that are serving there so 8 of the tally missionaries took the transfer van up to help out. They were having a missionary youth activity where each of the 10 youth got paired up with a missionary and got to go out and do "missionary things" we went to a member who was expecting us, a less active who was not, and tracting. my companion was named kimberly and she was 16 yrs old. she just because active again a couple years ago and loves the gospel. She was such a sweetheart and we had so much fun. They had a testimony meeting after and each of the youth bore their testimonies. It was incredibly powerful and each of them had such strong testimonies to share. The cutest were the two 12 year old boys who talked about being chased by a cat and a dog and having no success but being so happy to give people pass along cards and to talk to people and share their testimony and even though they kept getting rejected, they felt SO good sharing the gospel. It was a sweet experience. 

I love to see members have missionary experiences and seeing how great they feel after doing it. The spirit is so strong when you bare testimony and share what you know to be true with those around you. I know that there is no greater work right now than to share the gospel with everyone around you. I hope each of you will watch for these opportunities in your everyday activities.

love you all! 
Sister Webb

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