Hello Family and Friends,
I hope you all enjoyed General Conference!
What a wonderful conference it was. I got a lot of emphasis about
trusting in the Lord. I am really working on that. As I have been doing
that I have seen myself becoming more confident. Sharing the gospel
isn't so hard from me and it has been so wonderful to be able to just go
out and teach with little fear. I still get nervous, but I am beginning
to see that God is right behind me to catch me. It has also been a very
humbling experience as I have needed to let go of my pride and let Him
"take the wheel". I didn't ever realize the pride that I had until I got
out here. My mission has been a very eye opening thing for me and I am
truly grateful for it.
This past week, we have been
struggling to get in with our investigators. It is really frustrating
and sad to me. I wish that these people knew how much this gospel could
bless them. They will sit there and complain to us about how their life
is hard and if they could just give up smoking or if they could just get
a better job then they could start meeting with us because they would
have more "time". I am starting to realize that as we see this
happening with almost everyone that we can all start now! Start where we
are right at this moment because God and Jesus Christ will take in
anyone and everyone at anytime in their life. We just need to take that
first leap of faith. It reminds me of a talk that was given this last
weekend...I wish I could remember who it was by and what it was called,
but it talked about how there is never a time when you are "hopeless". I
know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that anyone can get
back on their feet and missionaries are here to help with that too. If
you are going to start somewhere why not here....? right?
On
the other side though, Leann, who is the elder's investigator, but we
see her as well, and her husband, Chris, are both doing well. They had
us and the elders over for dinner the other night and had a good talk.
Chris made his famous Gumbo...I tried it, but I didn't dare eat the
crawdad. ugh. It wasn't bad. Kind of spicy. I don't mind spicy though.
But one of the elders and Chris finished it for me.
We went
to this less active's house for dinner on Saturday night after the
afternoon session. We got there and she came to the door and told us
that we could all sit outside and talk because her ex brother in-law was
on the couch sleeping (wisconsin can be complicated with their families
:p) So we sat there and talked to her a little bit....still waiting for
her to say something about dinner...Then we finished up and said a
prayer with her. It was a good talk and she did watch some of General
Conference so that made us happy. Then we got in our car and Sister
Brewer looks at me, "Well....Arbys?!"
"Ha I am way ahead of you Sister!"
Sometimes people forget that they are feeding us, but its ok :)
Last
night was kind of an interesting experience. There is this family that
is semi- interested (the kids are excited to learn but the parents are
not). So as we try and teach the kids, the parents and their friends are
talking over us...its weird. But it was kind of cool last night because
the 3 girls were there and then their friend and some other friends of
their parents. It started out with just Savannah listening to us but
then Harmony came over and said,"oh! I want to listen". Then their
friend sat in and it was just this circle of young girls from 7 to 11.
We started teaching the Plan of Happiness and they all had so many
questions! I really felt like Jesus as the circle felt like it was
getting bigger and bigger with children that wanted to listen! I am sure
that the adults were quietly listening though. It went well though and
we hope that we can start teaching them all in better environments.
Well I hope you all have a great week! If you haven't watched conference yet then go watch it!!
I love you all!
Love Sister Emily Sarah Eaton
