Wow, so this week hasn't been the greatest for the work, but there has been a lot of spiritual uplift-ment.
Tuesday we had exchanging and Sister Giddins joined Sister Boehula and I in Minden and Sister Cottrell went with Sister Gidddins' companion to Shreveport. Sister Giddins used to serve in Minden before they moved the STLs to Shreveport so she was excited to see people she knew and loved. I think they were almost more excited to see her. We all taught very well together and Sister Boehula showed more openness (it's so much fun to hear her talk and share her thoughts and experiences).
Friday was Zone Conference so besides having to wake up at 5:00am so that we could make sure we were ready to arrive by 7am at the Brownlee Building. Our car didn't win a BOSH award for cleanest car but it was definitely the best Zone Conference on my mission. A good thing considering it was my last. Yep. No more. And that means I bore my testimony as one of the "departing missionaries". I testified of joy and said a few words in Bislama (Sister Boehula's native language). It was such an amazing day.
And our investigator called and dropped us.
WELCOME TO THE MISSION FIELD.
A mission is a roller coaster of emotions and that phone call really hurt because she had been taught for so long with so many missionaries. We visited her Sunday to get the in person explanation and she said she just felt like she was rushing into it. I can understand that it can be a scary thing. We were asking her to change practically everything in her life. So we just reassured her of our love and understanding and asked that we be allowed to continue visiting her and invited her to continue attending church. She said she would like that.
Then this weekend was Stake Conference. Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Blooth of the Area Seventy and President Jones and his wife from the Dallas Temple and of course President and Sister McDonough came. It was another overwhelming spiritual experience. I was kept on the edge of my seat as we were taught. Of course based on the visitors titles most of the meeting was about Missionary Work and the Temple. I was surprised just how much our spiritual happiness of today and our spiritual happiness to come depend on whether or not we share the gospel today. And we don't have to do that much. Sister White shared a talk with us called the "The Missionary Next Door" by Diane Holcher (I think it was an EFY class) but she teaches that Member Missionary Work is mostly the "social conversion." Just invite people and friends to learn about you, come to church, attend a Relief Society activity, play Priesthood Basketball. Not that hard. Its the missionaries job to help them with the "Spiritual conversion". That's the hard part--will you pay tithing? keep the law of chastity? give up coffee?
I can't wait to be a member missionary.
Sister Cottrell leaves this week for home. Saturday we receive transfer calls. We'll see if it'll just be me and Sister Boehula my last transfer, if someone new will join us, or if she or I will be moving to a new area. I think we might train. Sister Cottrell thinks it'll just be the 2 of us. Sister Boehula has no assumptions. And transfers will be next Tuesday so don't expect any emails till then.
I Love Y'all! Happy Birthday to Everyone!
-Sister Stewart
While visiting a less active she had a new roommate. This little guy was so sweet but he was terrified of the kids and decided he would only be quite on my neck. I didn't mind.
Thursday morning weekly planning session. A moment when we don't have to look our best.
O the fun.
The Bossier District. The tall guy with no eyebrows (Elder Anderson) just got called to be Assistant to the President so he'll be leaving us this week too.
I got to go on base! Barksdale Air force Base. (please ignore the messy hair, it's a bad pic)
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