This week has definitely been a roller-coaster of a week as we have experienced ups and downs, good and bad, but overall, it has definitely ended on a high note. Leaving us refreshed and ready to go for another round of a week.
Starting last Monday, I was a little stressed because the previous night (Sunday) after a long couple of months of effort, one of our investigators was FINALLY ready for baptism, only to come out of the interview not sure if she was ready for baptism yet. I remember feeling so stressed as we told her (Joyce) that it was up to her, but that she should definitely pray about it before making a decision.
So naturally, throughout the whole Monday, I was feeling a little anxious as we waited to head out and ask Joyce about her prayer. When we first got to her house, she was a little shy to tell us the answer she had received, but by the end of the lesson, tears in her eyes, she testified to us that she knows this message is true and was ready to be baptized.
I have never seen Joyce open up so much as she did in that moment, and was even more surprised when during her closing prayer, she cried! To be honest, I had trouble holding back a few tears myself because the spirit was SOOOOO strong! Leaving their house, I remembered why I am here doing this work and couldn't help but grin from ear to ear as I thought about all the change we have seen in Joyce and her family since we have started teaching them.
So of course, after such a spiritually powerful lesson, we were left in even more shock and confusion when upon arriving at our next appointment with Brother Junner, he suddenly and unexpectedly decided that he does not want to listen to us anymore. I was surprised by how hard the news hit me, especially when after we left, I turned back to see Junner sitting in his house all by himself, crying. For me, walking away from that home was probably one of the hardest moments I have experienced since I have started the mission. Especially since we have really come to care about Junner over these past few weeks. We have seen him change so much and have watched his potential grow. I know he's had a rough life, and we are still not 100% sure what happened, but I know that God will always be there to help him, like He is for all of us.
So this week heading up to Joyce's baptism, we had a lot more cool experiences. Like when we went to teach Francaise at his work place. As we started teaching him and his two friends/workmates (who he had convinced to listen), his other workmates kept passing by, so Francais started shouting out to them to come and listen too! By the end of the lesson, we went from a total of 5 of us, to about 15 of Francais's friends all sitting around, on the edge of their tricey and overturned buckets, as Sister Raneses and I taught them about the Restoration. At the end, they were all super involved and ready to hear the Joseph Smith story. It was really cool, a lot of fun, and we even had a bit of a laugh!
Anyways, Saturday (the day of Joyce's baptism) finally came around and it almost felt surreal as we headed to the chapel to watch as she entered the waters of baptism. For me, I think this is one of the most special baptisms I have seen since the start of my mission, just because of how much it took to help Joyce get to this point and because of how much I have seen her change over the past few months.
After the baptism, and especially her confirmation the following day, I saw a new light shining around Joyce that hadn't been there before. I was so happy for her! Especially to get to be a part of her conversion story and see how happy she was after her baptism. I really do think this will be the start of a new and awesome life for Joyce.
Anyways, besides that I have one more awesome experience from yesterday that I really want to share. After church, we were walking in our area on the way to an appointment when suddenly, a guy called out to us. I turned and was surprised when I recognized the face. It was Jay!
So I met Jay about 2 months ago when Sister Black and I were still companions. We had been walking down that same road when he had suddenly called out, requesting a Book of Mormon. We had never met him before, but quickly complied to his request and handed him one, but after that we were not able to find him again.
Well, yesterday he was there! And when he saw us, he called out saying "I read the Book you gave me!" Shocked, Sister Raneses and I waited as he rushed inside, got his Book of Mormon (now a little battered looking) and came out, showing us that he had in fact read all the way to Alma 56! After that, he testified to us that he knows the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith is a true prophet and that he wants to be baptized!
For me, that was definitely a first and the cherry on top of a great week. As Sister Raneses and I were heading home later that night, reflecting on our awesome week as we jumped from track to track along the railroad, we couldn't help but ask in wonder and amazement "what just happened? What did we do different?" How is it that out of all the weeks, this was the one we managed to return home Sunday night still full of energy and with a total of 25 solid new investigators for the week?
One thing we could definitely agree on was obedience. This week, Sister Raneses and I had made a special effort to be EXACTLY OBEDIENT in doing the work of the Lord.
For me, I know that as all of us continue working hard and being obedient to the commandments of the Lord (even if they seem hard), then even after our bitterest trials, we will always find success.
For me, this week was a success. And now, I am pumped for the week to come! But for now, I just want to say thank you to everyone for all the awesome emails and support I have gotten each week (especially from my mom). They have definitely helped to fuel me through all these months.
So I wish you all the best, success (especially all those other missionaries out there) and the happiest week ever!
Sincerely,
Sister Matheny
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